Golf Digest India - January 2018

VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 9

JANUARY 2018 `150

THINK YOUNG | PLAY HARD

RNI NO. HARENG/2016/66983

PUBLISHED BY

RICKIE THE NEW HERO

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CONGRATULATIONS ACERS (Jan 1, 2017 onwards)

SURESHA H. A. 24 November, 2017 ASC Golf Course, Bengaluru SUDHIR BHATIA September 15, 2017 Qutab Golf Course, Delhi BUPENDRA P. BADHE March 26, 2017 Khargar Valley Golf Course, Mumbai

how to play. what to play. where to play.

l l

Contents

1/18

ArgentinA l AustrAliA l Chile l ChinA l CzeCh republiC l FinlAnd l FrAnCe l hong Kong l IndIa l indonesiA l irelAnd KoreA l MAlAysiA l MexiCo l Middle eAst l portugAl l russiA l south AFriCA l spAin l sweden l tAiwAn l thAilAnd l usA

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Cover Story Rickie Fowler Lifts Hero World Challenge Trophy In Scintillating Fashion Even As 14-Time Major Winner Tiger Woods Makes A Statement On Return To Golf After 301 Days

by Rohit bhaRdwaj

50

Club Round-Up Updates from courses across India

51

Grow The Game

52

KPCL Golden Eagles Golf Championship

60

Volvo World Golf Challenge

64

MercedesTrophy

68

Northend Super Golf Series

70

World Amateur Golfers Championship

Corporate Digest

24

Showcasing Indian Culture To A Global Audience

71

Business Of Golf Industry updates

74

Lifestyle

27

Metropolitan GC Set To Stage 2018 World Cup Of Golf

110 18 Holes with Ajay Vij

Features 78

30

Shubhankar Sharma Becomes Youngest Indian Winner On The European Tour By Clinching The Joburg Open

35

Bjørn Announces Star-Studded EurAsia Cup Team Referee’s View A Tale Of Two Shouts For Pablo

Shark Attack Greg Norman, 62, is as dangerous as ever. with max adleR

80

by Rohit bhaRdwaj 34

18

‘Get More Birdie Looks’ Learn to smash a wood and stiff a wedge, and the course is yours.

by Rickie fowleR

84

Strategy Play your best at elevation. by jack nicklaUS

85

Fast Fix to Hit More Greens by bUtch haRmon

86 36

Green Honoured At Asian Tour’s Awards Night

38

A Successful Finish To 2017! by joSh bURack

39

Lucky Chikka Retains Asian Tour Card

India Digest Newsmakers 42

Fit Sharmila Raring To Go

46

Ahmedabad Becomes Anirban Lahiri’s New Training Base

by Rohit bhaRdwaj

Junior Golf 48

Juniors Make Merry At Qualifiers For Faldo Series

Swing Sequence: Ben An

by Ron kaSpRiSke

88

Winterize Your Game 15 tips to get ready for your best year ever

96

65 Holiday Gift Ideas Inspired choices for the golfers in your life.

30 46

42

by bRittany Romano 102 Undercover Tour Pro

Quiet, please! That includes playing partners. with max adleR

103 New Looks

Four new drivers.

by mike StachURa 105 Last Word

Two Days with Jordan.

by jeRRy taRde

10 golf digest india | january 2018

Cover photograph: Rohit Bhardwaj

Editor’s Letter F

GOLF DIGEST USA EDITORIAL

Dear Readers,

irst of all, on behalf of all of us at Golf Digest, we wish you a very Happy New Year and we hope this turns out to be the best year ever for your golf game.

ChAirMAn & eDitor-in-ChieF Jerry Tarde exeCutive eDitor Mike O’Malley CreAtive DireCtor Ken DeLago MAnAGinG eDitor Alan P. Pittman Deputy eDitor Max Adler

As 2018 begins, we made a few resolutions too:

1. Continue bringing our readers unique and insightful news pertaining to what is really happening across Indian golf at every level 2. Entertaining readers through thoughtful and humorous features that Golf Digest has been famous for over the past 50 years

Write to me at rishi@teamgolfdigest.com or

4. Highlighting “Grow the Game” initiatives which are boosted by the Golf Industry Association’s September 2017 edition of “India Learn Golf Week” – together, all of TIVE • GRO W T NITA HE us need to create the next 100,000 Indian golfers and ensure we share the game’s IA I pleasure with our friends and families FD E • G O L I G E ST I ND

IA I

G AM

GAM

E • GO L F DI GE S T I ND

on Twitter @RishiNarain_ 3. Continue with the best golf instruction in the world – tips and techniques which can help every one of us become better players.

You can e-mail me directly on rishi@rnsportsmarketing.com with any ideas you may have on what you would like to see more of in our magazine or in Indian golf. You could also share any observation/comment on our monthly, or pose your queries about Indian golf. We really value your feedback.

TIVE • GRO W T NITA HE

The next few months will see the best weather to play golf in and we hope you will make the most of it. Get out there, take a few lessons from our pages and from your club coaches, and put in a little practice to make your game more enjoyable. You will be pleasantly surprised by how much your scores can improve when a small change in technique is practiced diligently.

Most importantly, help a loved one, colleague or friend to take up the game. It’s the best New Year gift you can give – a game that they can enjoy the rest of their lives.

Happy times ahead; so keep swinging!

Rishi Narain

TEAM GOLF DIGEST INDIA Editor & Publisher Rishi Narain Managing Editor Rohit Bhardwaj rohit@rnsportsmarketing.com

Contributing Editor Karthik Swaminathan karthik@rnsportsmarketing.com

Assistant Art Director Guneet Singh Oberoi

Marketing & Advertising Nikhil Narain nikhil@rnsportsmarketing.com +91-9999990364

Subscriptions Monika Chhabra subscribe@teamgolfdigest.com Phone: +91-9999868051

Krishna Kant Dubey kk@rnsportsmarketing.com

Published and Printed by Rishi Narain on behalf of Rishi Narain Golf Management Private Limited and Printed at Thomson Press India Limited, 18-35 Mile Stone, Delhi-Mathura Road, Faridabad-121 007, Haryana and published from 501, Sushant Tower, Sector - 56, Gurgaon - 122101, Haryana. Phone Number - 0124-2841370, 1371, 1372. Editor: Rishi Narain. Contains material reprinted by permission from Golf Digest® and Golf World®. Golf Digest India is a monthly publication of Rishi Narain Golf Management Private Limited.

12 golf digest india | january 2018

GOLF DIGEST INTERNATIONAL EDITIONS AND EDITORS-IN-CHIEF GD ArGentinA Hernán SimÓ, Jorge R. Arias AustrAliAn GD Brad Clifton GD Chile Rodrigo Soto GD ChinA Echo Ma GD CzeCh republiC Robin Drahonovsky GD FinlAnD Sami Markkanen GD FrAnCe Henry Trouillet GD honG KonG Echo Ma GD inDonesiA Irwan Hermawan GD inDiA Rishi Narain GD irelAnD Linton Walsh GD KoreA Eun Jeong “EJ” Sohn GD MAlAysiA Patrick Ho GD MexiCo Rafa Quiroz GD MiDDle eAst Robbie Greenfield GD portuGAl João Morais Leitão GD russiA Fedor Gogolev GD south AFriCA Stuart McLean GD spAin Óscar Maqueda GD sweDen Oskar Åsgård GD tAiwAn Jennifer Wei GD thAilAnD Chumphol Na Takuathung GD usA Jerry Tarde

ARTICLES eDitoriAl DevelopMent DireCtor Craig Bestrom senior eDitor Ron Kaspriske senior writers Bureau Jaime Diaz, Dave Kindred, Tim Rosaforte, Ron Sirak, Guy Yocom AssoCiAte eDitor Stephen Hennessey AssistAnt eDitor Brittany Romano eDitor-At-lArGe Nick Seitz writer-At-lArGe Dan Jenkins ContributinG eDitors Dave Anderson, Peter Andrews, Tom Callahan, Bob Carney, Marcia Chambers, David Fay, John Feinstein, Peter Finch, Thomas L. Friedman, Lisa Furlong, Matthew M. Ginella, John Huggan, Dean Knuth, David Owen, Steve Rushin, Dave Shedloski, Roger Schiffman, Geoff Shackelford

INSTRUCTION senior eDitor Peter Morrice senior writer Matthew Rudy plAyinG eDitors / pGA tour Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Rickie Fowler, Justin Leonard, Phil Mickelson, Nick Price, Jordan Spieth, David Toms plAyinG eDitors / lpGA tour Paula Creamer teAChinG proFessionAls Rob Akins, Todd Anderson, Chuck Cook, Sean Foley, Hank Haney, Butch Harmon, Hank Johnson, David Leadbetter, Jack Lumpkin, Jim McLean, Tom Ness, Renee Powell, Dean Reinmuth, Randy Smith, Rick Smith, Dave Stockton, Josh Zander proFessionAl ADvisors Amy Alcott, Dr. Bill Mallon, Gary McCord, Randy Myers, Judy Rankin, Lucius Riccio, Ph.D., Dr. Bob Rotella, Ben Shear, Ralph Simpson, Frank Thomas, Stan Utley EQUIPMENT senior eDitor Mike Stachura equipMent eDitor E. Michael Johnson AssistAnt eDitor Keely Levins teChniCAl pAnel John Axe, Ph.D.; Martin Brouillette, Ph.D.; Thomas E. Lacy Jr., Ph.D.; David Lee, Ph.D.; John McPhee, Ph.D.; Dick Rugge; George Springer, Ph.D. GOLF COURSES senior eDitor / ArChiteCture Ron Whitten ContributinG eDitor Topsy Siderowf GOLF DIGEST INTERNATIONAL GROUP senior DireCtor, internAtionAl Develop Ment & strAteGy Angela Byun ContributinG eDitor, internAtionAl Ju Kuang Tan

Our Contributors JACK NICKLAUS Regarded as the greatest player of all time Winner of a record 18 GRAND SLAMS

TOM WATSON World’s #1 ranked professional golfer from 1978 to 1982 8-TIME Grand Slam Champion

BUTCH HARMON Considered as the #1 rated golf instructor in the world Best known as TIGER WOODS’s coach (1993-2004)

DAVID LEADBETTER The most celebrated golf instructor in history Changed golf instruction for all future generations from guesswork to science

Golf Digest India is the exclusive official media partner to:

The World's Richest Tour 14 golf digest india | january 2018

Covers 27 countries, with approximately US$210 million in prize money

The region's pre-eminent Tour covering 21 countries, with around US$115 million in prize money

On The Web

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WHAT’S

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This section showcases trending social media posts published by Golf Digest India

Connect with us 16 golf digest india | january 2018

@golfdigest.india

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@GolfDigestIndia

Cover Story

Rickie Fowler Lifts Hero World Challenge Trophy In Scintillating Fashion Even As 14-Time Major Winner Tiger Woods Makes A Statement On Return To Golf After 301 Days b y r o h i t b h a r d wa j at n a s s a u, b a h a m a s

CROUCHING TIGER, SIZZLING FOWLER

Q

Quadruple back surgery. No tournament play for 301 days. Yet, when Tiger Woods shot that first drive at The Championship Course in Albany, the entire world watched in anticipation. And thankfully, a swelling crowd in the Bahamas went berserk after tournament host Tiger Woods hit one booming drive after another, overpowering playing partner Justin Thomas by 25 yards on a couple of occasions.

18 golf digest india | january 2018

For yours truly, who was witnessing Tiger play from close quarters for the first time since his brief visit to the Delhi Golf Club in February 2014, the 14-time Major champion didn’t take the trophy home, still he won.

Out of action since February last year, Tiger played all the four rounds of the US$ 3.5 million Hero World Challenge without any physical setbacks or pain, hitting longer than expected from the tee — prompting felImages: TGR Live, Rohit Bhardwaj

Cover Story

tiger, tiger burning bright • Host Tiger Woods finished T9 in his return to competition at the Hero World Challenge • Woods owns five victories (2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2011) and five runner-up finishes (most recent to Zach Johnson in 2013) in 15 prior Hero World Challenge starts • A year ago, Woods led the field with 24 birdies with rounds of 73-65-70-76, finishing in 15th place. He had 17 birdies this year • A missed cut at the 2017 Farmers Insurance Open marked Woods’ last start on the PGA Tour. He had previously shot 77 in the opening round of the Dubai Desert Classic (Feb. 2) before withdrawing

Crowds chose to follow Tiger Woods during all the four rounds of the Hero World Challenge

january 2018 | golf digest india

19

Cover Story

Tiger Woods searches for his ball in the bushes on the 15th hole during the opening round

low Americans Patrick Reed, Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler to rave about his comeback. Tiger, who turned 42 on December 30, posted 3 out of the 4 rounds in the 60s, which might have seemed impossible even in his dreams.

His walk was still majestic, his swing photogenic and his recovery reminiscent of the Tiger of old. The only thing he lacked was his birdie conversion ratio, despite coming close on numerous occasions. But he made up for it by saving par from improbable situations. Sample this: Tiger had landed in the dunes on the par-5 15th in the opening round prompting him to fire a safety drive.

The ball was still untraceable by the marshalls with the limestone mud and thick bushes acting as a camouflage.

After getting a free drop from the referee, he first hit it to the fairway and then made a great par save from 15 feet to the excitement of the vociferous crowd.

The World No. 1 for 683 weeks posted 69 in the first round and 68 in the second to set himself perfectly for a top-5 finish before winds changed the colour of his scores to red in the penultimate round at the Ernie Els layout. The Florida native then put up a dogged fightback to hole six birdies and an eagle in the final round with ample support from caddie Joe LaCava to register a tied ninth finish with an overall tally of 8-under 280, a shot ahead of reigning FedEx Cup Champion Justin Thomas and eight strokes ahead of current World No. 1 Dustin Johnson.

The result pushed him from 1199th in the World Rankings to inside 700.

Woods may not be at the level we all expect him to be but he sure is on the right path. He gave enough signs to his supporters and critics that he has it in him and by his own admission he sees a bright future for himself.

“Well, I knew I was going to be able to play all four rounds, that wasn’t going to be an issue. I played a lot at home. Came down here, I played, so that wasn’t going to be the issue. The issue was how was my scoring going to be, how was my feel, how am I going to get used to the adrenaline in my system for the first time in a while. You know, that took a little bit of time. I was still good with my irons, I drove it pretty good all week, made some good putts. But overall I’m very pleased. I showed some good signs, I hit some really good shots out there and a bright future,” he told reporters later.

So, what does 2018 look like for Tiger?

“That's a great question. I think that we’re going to sit down here, we’re going to figure out what’s the best way for me to build my schedule for the Major championships. Play, how much, what my training cycles are going to be, and play enough but don’t play too much. I don’t know what golf courses I’ll be playing and what’s the best way to go about it. We’ll sit down with the whole team and we’ll figure it out.”

Left: Hero MotoCorp CMD Pawan Munjal (L) hands over the 2017 Hero World Challenge trophy to American pro Rickie Fowler

rickie is the new hero

fires 7 birdies on the trot for record 61 in rd 4

woods and his playing partners Round 1: Woods (69), Justin Thomas (69) Round 2: Woods (68), Henrik Stenson (71) Round 3: Woods (75), Hideki Matsuyama (72) Round 4: Woods (68), Justin Thomas (68)

20 golf digest india | january 2018

While the entire world was busy arguing whether Tiger could surpass Sam Snead’s record of 82 PGA Tour titles (Tiger has 79 of them) or clinch another Major, young Rickie Fowler carded a tournament record 11-under 61 in the final round to snatch the Hero World Challenge title from overnight leader Charley Hoffman.

Beginning the final round 7 strokes behind Hoffman, Fowler finished with a 72-hole winning total of 18-under 270 in the 18-man field. It was the second victory of the year for the 28-year-old, and the second time he has ended a year with multiple victories worldwide.

In the post-event press conference, the World No. 7 expressed his satisfaction over his performance before mentioning about his idol Tiger, neighbour in Jupiter (Florida).

“It was pretty special. Obviously it’s not a full field event, but the 18 guys that are here I feel like we’ve all

Right: Rickie Fowler acknowledges the crowd after completing his fourshot win on the 18th hole at The Championship Course, Albany, Bahamas

Cover Story

rickie roars in the bahamas • Trailing by 7 strokes to 54hole leader Charley Hoffman, Rickie Fowler stormed up the leaderboard with a tournamentrecord, final-round 11-under 61 to win by 4 strokes • Fowler’s victory came at the age of 28 years, 11 months and 20 days • Fowler’s lowest round in official PGA Tour events is 62, set at the 2011 Waste Management Phoenix Open • Prior to Fowler’s 61, the previous low final round score by a Hero World Challenge winner was 64, set on three occasions and most recently by Luke Donald in 2005 • Fowler opened his round with seven birdies before making his first par on the par-4 eighth hole. That equals the longest such streak to open a round (in official PGA Tour events) since Joe Durant had seven in a row at the beginning of Round 4 at the 2005 Honda Classic • The longest birdie streak on the PGA Tour is 9 holes, set by Mark Calcavecchia during a 2nd-round 65 at the 2009 RBC Canadian Open (finished T8) • Fowler won in his sixth start at the Hero World Challenge. He has never failed to finish inside the top six at the event (1-2017, T3-2016, 3-2015, T6-2014, T42012, T6-2011)

Cover Story European Tour No. 1 Tommy Fleetwood led the opening round with a 6-under 66

2017 FedEx Cup champion Justin Thomas failed to impress

Japanese Hideki Matsuyama was the lone Asian in the 18-man field

Jordan Spieth (L) and Charley Hoffman shake hands after finishing Round 3

Rickie Fowler’s attacking game earned him the winner’s cheque of US$1 million

Tiger Woods addresses the audience after completion of the event

World No. 1 Dustin Johnson was unable to fulfil the expectations of his fans

22 golf digest india | january 2018

Cover Story

2017 Hero World Challenge winner Rickie Fowler poses with his girlfriend Allison Stokke

earned our way here. In a way this tournament’s always I feel like been looked at as a celebration of, like I said, earning your way here. No one gets here by mistake.

Even Tiger just started at 1,200. He’s inside 1,000 now.

He’s trending, he’s going the right way. Especially to have Tiger here this week, him back playing and being able to play the last couple months with him at home and see his potential, I thought other than yesterday, I mean it was a lot better than I think what a lot of people were could expect or even expecting,” said Fowler with his girlfriend Allison Stokke all ears in the front row.

“It was a great week here. Obviously I knew I needed to get off to a hot start today to give myself a chance, and Charley’s been playing some solid golf and I wasn’t expecting him to come back to me, I knew I was going to have to go out and get him. Like I said, get off to a decent start and at least show my face a little bit. I wasn’t expecting seven out of the gate, but I’ll take it,” he added.

Asked if he anytime felt he had a chance, Fowler said: “Oh, of course, who wasn’t? You shoot 28 on the front, it’s in there. So I knew that there was a few holes on the back, there were definitely some birdie holes, a couple par 5s.

Knew I was going to have to get a couple good ones to make that happen. But as I said, I made a lot of good swings out there, made good swings coming down the stretch. 17, I thought it was a perfect shot, the wind just drifted it a little bit too much, and hit a great approach shot into 18 and that one stayed straight. You can’t be perfect.”

Race to Dubai winner from England Tommy Fleetwood, who tied the knot in the Bahamas, closed with a 67 and tied for third with Jordan Spieth (69).

final leaderboard, hero world challenge, albany Pos. 1 2 T3 T3 T5 T5 T5 8 T9 T9

Name Rickie Fowler Charley Hoffman Tommy Fleetwood Jordan Spieth Hideki Matsuyama Patrick Reed Justin Rose Francesco Molinari Tiger Woods Matt Kuchar

Final Score 67-70-72-61—270 69-63-70-72—274 66-69-74-67—276 68-67-72-69—276 71-66-72-68—277 72-66-71-68—277 68-68-71-70—277 69-68-71-70—278 69-68-75-68—280 67-70-72-71—280

(-18) (-14) (-12) (-12) (-11) (-11) (-11) (-10) (-8) (-8)

Earnings $1,000,000 $400,000 $212,500 $212,500 $145,000 $145,000 $145,000 $135,000 $122,500 $122,500

Pic: Shashank Shekhar

Rafael Nadal with sister Maria Isabel (C) and girlfriend Xisca Perello (L) at Albany course

Superfan Nadal Follows His ‘Idol’

Rafa delighted at Tiger’s impressive return

Hordes of fans, armed with prayers, scorched the Albany course to watch their favourite golfer Tiger Woods make a comeback after 9 months. But the most notable among them was 16-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, who was holidaying in the Bahamas with his family.

Nadal, the World No. 1, not only walked the final 18 holes of the Hero World Challenge with Tiger but also cheered him on alongside the crowd.

Not to mention the superfan was happy with Tiger’s performance and especially the traditional fist pump after he holed an eagle on the seventh hole in the final round.

“I’ve seen him play before, but I didn’t expect to watch him play this well at the beginning,” Nadal was quoted as saying by The New York Post. “I think this is a very important moment now for golf and himself and for all the people who love the sport in general. He’s the most charismatic star golf has had in the past 50 years or so. For everyone to see him back is something great for the sport.”

“Tiger is unbelievable. I just love to see him play whether it is here or on TV. The first thing is you need to be healthy to practice again, as well as be mentally strong to do the things you think you need to do to be back to your top. If Tiger’s healthy, then I believe that he has everything to be where he deserves to be,” the 2.5 handicapper added.

(The writer’s trip was sponsored by Hero MotoCorp) january 2018 | golf digest india

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Cover Story

SHOWCASING

Indian Culture To A Global Audience

BY ROHIT BHARDWAJ at Nassau, Bahamas

S

ound of Indian Dhols welcomed the players, golf fans and media persons when the muchawaited ‘India Nite’ was held after Round 1 of the Hero World Challenge at The Plaza in Albany. Overlooking the wonderful yachts anchored nearby, the guests got a glimpse of Indian culture and heritage through a fusion of traditional and contemporary performances by globally renowned Indian-origin artists.

To enhance the sense of patriotism amongst the Indian diaspora and a handful of Indian journalists present there, the evening began with the rendition of Indian national anthem followed by the Bahamian anthem.

Popular composer, recording artist and DJ Karsh Kale started the show with ‘Ganesh Stuti’ followed by electronic fusion music.

It was followed by a medley of classical dance

Dhols prompted the gathering to shake a leg

THE ICING ON THE CAKE WAS THE DIVERSE INDIAN CULINARY DELIGHTS ON OFFER FOR THE OVERSEAS GUESTS 24 golf digest india | january 2018

Speed painter Vilas Nayak created sketches of Hero MotoCorp CMD Pawan Munjal and golf icon Tiger Woods to the applause of the assembled guests

Cover Story

THE EVENING BEGAN WITH THE RENDITION OF INDIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM FOLLOWED BY THE BAHAMIAN ANTHEM

The media contingent at the India Nite

Popular composer, recording artist and DJ Karsh Kale started the show with ‘Ganesh Stuti’

forms Bharatnatyam, Odissi and Kathak along with aerial acts performed by international troupe Natya Nectar. To top it all, Indo-American twins Poonam and Priyanka performed to famous Bollywood numbers that took the crowd by storm.

As if this wasn’t enough, celebrated speed painter Vilas Nayak made sketches of Hero MotoCorp CMD Pawan Munjal and golfing superstar Tiger Woods within minutes.

Guests also got to check out some handicrafts and articles prepared by indigenous artists at the Meena Bazaar. The items included print scarves, pocket squares, Indian spices, incense sticks, candles and tribal jewelry.

The icing on the cake was the diverse Indian culinary delights on offer for the overseas guests. From Mughal cuisine to South Indian dishes it was an evening to relish for gastronomes.

Hosts of the evening — Hero MotoCorp Chairman Pawan Munjal with wife Aniesha

From Mughal cuisine to South Indian dishes it was an evening to relish for gastronomes

january 2018 | golf digest india

25

On the PGA Tour Gunn Charoenkul won the Chongqing Jiangnan NewTown KingRun Open in 2016 on PGA Tour-China

PGA Tour-China To Hold 3 Qualifiers P

GA Tour Series-China will hold three qualifying tournaments in advance of the 2018 regular season, the Tour announced recently. The qualifying tournaments, two for international players not from China and a qualifying tournament strictly for players from mainland China, are set for January, February and March, with the beginning of the regular season anticipated to begin in mid-March.

The two International Qualifying tournaments will be at the Mission Hills Golf Club in Haikou. The specific host site at Mission Hills’ 10 courses will be announced later. The first qualifying tournament is January 29 to February 4 followed by the second qualifying tournament from February 5 to 11. The Mainland China qualifying tournament is set for February 26 to March 2 at a still-to-bedetermined site.

The application to enter PGA Tour-China Qualifying Tournaments will be open to players at pgatourserieschina.com on December 6, 2017. Entry fees will once again be Yuan 9,000 or US$ 1,350.

At the two International Qualifying tournaments, the field size will be 120 players. The low 15 finishers during the 72-hole tournament will receive full exemptions on 2018 PGA Tour Series-China, while the next 25 finishers will be conditionally exempt.

“The qualifying tournaments are always enjoyable because it is at these events where we identify the next crop of players who will have success on PGA Tour Series-China. In

26 golf digest india | january 2018

Li Haotong

“MISSION HILLS IS A TERRIFIC GOLF FACILITY, WITH TREMENDOUS COURSES AND EXCELLENT PRACTICE AREAS. IT’S A WORLD-CLASS VENUE. WE ALWAYS ENJOY RETURNING TO A PLACE THAT HAS PLAYED SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR HISTORY.” — GREG CARLSON, PGA TOUR-CHINA MD

many cases, this is our first look at very skilled players who go on to have significant success in China,” said PGA Tour Series-China MD Greg Carlson.

“These qualifying tournaments very much look like our regular season events, with 72 holes of play on challenging golf courses.

These tests of golf go a long way in finding our new batch of up-and-coming players.”

Mission Hills Golf Club is no stranger to PGA Tour-China tournament play. In 2014, the club’s Sandbelt Trails Course hosted the inaugural PGA Tour-China tournament, the Mission Hills Haikou Open, won by South Korea’s Jeunghun Wang, the European Tour’s 2016 Rookie of the Year. Prior to that tournament, the Sandbelt Trails Course was the site of the first International Qualifying, won by Australia’s Alex Hawley. In 2015, PGA Tour Series-China again returned to Mission Hills, its season beginning at the Sandbelt Trails Course. Josh Geary took home the Buick Open title, the first of three wins the New Zealander enjoyed in 2015.

“Mission Hills is a terrific golf facility, with tremendous courses and excellent practice areas. It’s a world-class venue. We always enjoy returning to a place that has played such an important part of our history,” Carlson added. Mission Hills Golf Club in Haikou is home to 10 golf courses. Brian Curley of Schmidt-Curley designed all 10 courses at Mission Hills Haikou.

The full 2018 PGA Tour Series-China schedule will be announced in early 2018.

On the PGA Tour The second hole on the Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne

Metropolitan GC Set To Stage 2018 World Cup Of Golf The World Cup of Golf is no stranger to Australia, and in 2018, this significant team event will conduct its 59th edition in a place it knows well. The PGA Tour on behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours announced December 5 that the World Cup of Golf will return to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, with The Metropolitan Golf Club hosting the tournament for the first time.

Twenty-eight two-person teams representing their respective countries will compete from November 21 to 25, 2018.

As one of five events co-sanctioned by the International Federation of PGA Tours, the Melbourne World Cup of Golf is a truly global and historic event, which has been played 58 times since 1953 in 25 countries. Outside of the Summer Olympics, the World Cup of Golf is the only event that sees the world’s best come together and compete for their countries.

“The World Cup of Golf has been a celebrated and valued tradition in the game for decades, and the International Federation of PGA Tours is proud to see that tradition continue in 2018 with the best players from around the globe

first and third days of competition using as fourball (best-ball) format and the second and final days as foursomes (alternate shot).

Several organizations — Visit Victoria, Golf Australia, the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia, Lagardere and the PGA Tour — worked in collaboration to ensure the stretch of professional golf in Australia has three consecutive world-class events. The rundown of the trio of tournaments is the Emirates Australian Open, the Melbourne World Cup of Golf and the Australian PGA Championship.

“It is a true thrill to bring this unique, global, team event back to Melbourne and the Sandbelt region,” said Robyn Cooper, Executive Director of the Melbourne World Cup of Golf.

“We appreciate the strong cooperation of all involved to ensure Australia’s golf fans would be able to enjoy this spirited team competition in the Sandbelt region. A special thank you goes to Golf Australia and Lagardere for working with us to resolve some scheduling challenges. The group’s overall combined efforts are certainly in the best interests — JAY MONAHAN, PGA TOUR COMMISSIONER of golf fans here in Australia.”

convening at The Metropolitan Golf Club,” PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said. “Golf in the Sandbelt region speaks for itself, and we appreciate The Metropolitan Golf Club opening its doors for this historic team event.”

What differentiates the Melbourne World Cup of Golf is the opportunity for the highest-ranked player from each competing country to choose his playing partner, thus maximising the camaraderie and competitive spirit. The 2018 event will continue with the same format from 2016, with the

“GOLF IN THE SANDBELT REGION SPEAKS FOR ITSELF, AND WE APPRECIATE THE METROPOLITAN GOLF CLUB OPENING ITS DOORS FOR THIS HISTORIC TEAM EVENT”

january 2018 | golf digest india

27

On the PGA Tour

TOUR SNIPPETS SONY EXTENDS SPONSORSHIP OF HAWAII EVENT TILL 2022 In January, it will be 20 years since the PGA Tour and Sony Corporation became partners at a tournament that fans throughout the world have come to love, especially when many parts of the world are experiencing winter conditions. The Sony Open in Hawaii often represents paradise when golf fans haven’t picked up their clubs in weeks due to cold, winter weather.

Sony is ensuring it will remain involved with the Sony Open in Hawaii well beyond 2018. The Tour and Sony agreed to extend their partnership by another four years, through 2022. The PGA Tour and tournament host organisation Friends of Hawaii Charities jointly made the announcement.

With the tournament set for January 8 to 14 at Waialae Country Club, the only course the tournament has known, Sony’s involvement with the Sony Open in Hawaii is the third-longest tenured title sponsor on the

The Waialae Country Club in Hawaii will host the 2018 Sony Open

PGA Tour. The tournament began in 1965.

“As we approach the 20th anniversary of Sony’s sponsorship of the Sony Open in Hawaii, it’s important to recognise the

PGA Tour-China Partners Shankai Sports Shankai Sports has signed an agreement to partner with the PGA Tour in operation of PGA TOUR Series-China. The agreement is for 20 years, beginning in 2018. The Tour and Shankai made the announcement last month at a press conference in Beijing.

Beijing-based Shankai, which has worked with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Federation Internationale de Football and the Union of European Football will manage along with the Tour the day-to-day operations.

PGA Tour Series-China will continue to reward the top-5 on its Order of Merit with membership of the Web.com Tour, the path to the PGA Tour. There are additional

28 golf digest india | november 2017

benefits for the next 15 players on the earnings’ list. After 12 events in its first two years and 13 tournaments on the schedule in 2016, PGA Tour China’s 2018 season will feature 14 events with purses of RMB1.5 million, 25 per cent higher than in the first three years.

“PGA Tour China is truly thrilled to be partnering with Shankai Sports on the PGA Tour Series-China,” said Greg Gilligan, PGA Tour vice-president and Greater China MD. “Shankai is a world-class organisation with great experience of connecting the expectations of international sport bodies with an understanding of the Chinese market.

impact Sony has had on the tournament’s stability, success and growth since 1999,” said PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan.

UNITED LEASING WINS WEB.COM TOUR AWARD

The Web.com Tour honoured seven tournaments, one small business, one volunteer and a charity at the PGA Tour’s annual Tournament Meetings last month in Boca Raton, Florida, with the annual season-ending Tournament Awards.

The United Leasing & Finance Championship, contested annually since 2012 at Victoria National Golf Club near Evansville, Ind., claimed the prestigious honor of Tournament of the Year.

“On behalf of the Web.com Tour, we are delighted to recognize the United Leasing and Finance Championship as the recipient of our Tournament of the Year Award,” said Web.com Tour President Dan Glod. “This award encompasses all aspects of a successful Web.com Tour event, from title sponsor engagements to volunteer efforts to social media to sales to player experience, it truly represents the best of the best, and the entire team should be commended for their tireless work in delivering a phenomenal tournament.”

As the winner of the Tournament of the Year Award, the United Leasing & Finance Championship succeeded in putting forth a top-notch tournament on all applicable fronts, most notably donating $261,000 in charitable donations. “It’s a tremendous honor for our event to be named Web.com Tour Tournament of the Year,” said Tournament Director Patrick Nichol. “United Leasing and Finance has been an incredible title sponsor and partner, and the passionate golf fans of the greater Evansville area have made this an exciting atmosphere for golf’s next wave of PGA TOUR stars.”

Images: PGA Tour/Getty Images

FOLLOW THE RACE FOR THE FEDEXCUP ALL SEASON LONG

COVERAGE AVAILABLE ON

© 2017 PGA TOUR, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Player appearance subject to change.

On the European Tour

DAREDEVIL Shubhankar Becomes Youngest Indian Winner On The European Tour By Clinching The Joburg Open

Shubhankar Sharma is also the first Asian to lift the Joburg Open trophy

BY ROHIT BHARDWAJ rohit@rnsportsmarketing.com

S

hubhankar Sharma dared what none of the other Indians could. He not only took up the challenge to compete in an event which was played on two courses with a massive 240-man field but also travelled from the eastern tip of Asia (Hong Kong) to the southern-most part of Africa (Johannesburg) enroute Mauritius.

To top it off, the weather gods were also pretty unkind before the only Indian in the field produced a brilliant, nerveless performance at the US$ 1.07 million Joburg Open to win his first European Tour title in just his 10th start.

Sharma entered the final round at the Randpark Golf Club with a 5-shot lead but had

30 golf digest india | january 2018

DID YOU KNOW? Sharma is the 11th Asian Tour member in his 20s to win in 2017.

He is also the 11th first-time winner this season.

11

Sharma took home a winner’s prize purse of US$191,532 (` 1.23 crore) and jumped to the 226th spot in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) from 462nd, thanks to his victory.

5

He is the fifth Indian golfer to win on the Asian Tour this year.

At the age of 21 years and 143 days, Sharma is the second youngest Indian golfer to win a first Asian Tour title after Gaganjeet Bhullar (21 years and 90 days).

2

He is the third 3 youngest player to win on the Asian Tour in 2017 after Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand and Micah Lauren Shin of the United States.

Sharma is now the first Indian to win in South Africa. He also holds the

1

record as the first Asian to lift the Joburg Open trophy.

He punched his ticket to The Open in 2018 which will be his first ever appearance in a Major tournament.

The Joburg Open was only his 10th event on the European Tour Sharma won the All India Amateur Championship in 2013 at RCGC as a 17-year-old, beating then 16-year-old Viraj Maddappa in the finals

On the European Tour

“I don’t think I’m ever going to forget my first time in South Africa” — Shubhankar Sharma Shubhankar’s Favourites’ Golf course around the world Augusta National, USA Golf Course on your wish list St. Andrews (Scotland) and Augusta National Movie Batman (Christopher Nolan series) South Africans Erik van Rooyen (L) and Shaun Norris (R) join Shubhankar Sharma in securing their spots at The Open 2018 “It feels absolutely wonderful to have won seen that cut to four when play was halted due this week. I actually wasn’t going to come here to storms at 1 pm local time on Sunday, with about a week ago, so I’m really happy that I his ball on the eighth green. came. This is my first time in South Africa The overnight delay had no bearing on and I don’t think I’m ever going to forget this,” Sharma’s mind, who birdied the ninth and said an elated Sharma, who also became the then parred his way home for a four-day tally youngest Indian to win a European Tour of 23-under-par that gave him a 3-shot win title bettering Anirban Lahiri, who had won over Erik van Rooyen of South Africa. the Maybank Malaysian Open in 2015 at What the Tiger Woods fan achieved in the age of 27. the bargain was incredible to say the least.

“I hit the ball good and South Africans are tough I putted really well but the nuts to crack on home soil. key up-and-downs I made Further, the Chandigarh over the first three days, lad also excelled on Kikuyu I think I only missed two grass, on which he had Driver/Fairway Woods: up-and-downs over the never played before. He Callaway Epic; 3-Wood: TaylorMade M2 whole week. Even today, is also praiseworthy for Hybrid: Callaway Epic the up-and-downs I made the way he handled his on the tenth, the 13th and temperament after sleepIrons: Titleist 714 CBS the 15th were very crucial. ing on a lead following a Wedges: Cleveland RTX Once in a while you just rain delay. have to make a few par But the cherry on Putter: Scotty Cameron saves to get a round going the cake was booking Ball: Titleist Pro V1x and I did just that the his maiden ticket to The whole week.”

British Open, the world’s Shoe: Footjoy Golf Digest wishes oldest Major, to be held at Glove: Footjoy Sharma much success in Carnoustie (Scotland) from the upcoming season!

July 19 to 22.

WHAT’S IN MY BAG

21-year-old Sharma became the youngest Indian to win a European Tour title bettering Anirban Lahiri, who had won the Maybank Malaysian Open in 2015 at the age of 27

Actor Amitabh Bachchan and Leonardo Di Caprio Actress Kajol and Scarlett Johansson Music Hip Hop and EDM Drink Pocari Sweat (Japanese sport drink) Food Indian cuisine Essentials in your travel bag Foam roller, headphones, laptop and sneakers Mid-round power snack Bananas Mentor My father Col. Mohan Sharma Idols Tiger Woods and Jeev Milkha Singh Sport apart from golf Soccer and basketball Holiday destination Switzerland

january 2018 | golf digest india

31

On the European Tour

TOUR SNIPPETS

Spain’s Jon Rahm acknowledges the crowd after his one-shot victory in Dubai

Dylan Fritelli with the Mauritius Open trophy

RAHM CLAIMS DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

Arjun At wal came close to ending his title drought since 2014

Jon Rahm carded a closing 67 to win the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, as a late slip from Justin Rose handed Tommy Fleetwood the Race to Dubai title.

Rose had looked on course to claim both the eighth Rolex Series event of the season and the Race to Dubai as he turned in 32 at Jumeirah Golf Estates but 3 bogeys on a dramatic back nine brought him back to the pack and opened the door for Rahm.

The Spaniard came home in 33 to get to 19 under and win his second Rolex Series title by one shot, with Rose slipping back into a tie for fourth that was not

good enough to overturn Fleetwood’s 256,737-point advantage in the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex.

Rahm - who was also presented the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award adds this win to his Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation title and becomes the first player to win multiple Rolex Series events.

“It’s hard to sum it up,” said Rahm.

“An incredible week, I could not be more proud of what I’ve done this week. It could be very easy to just be content with getting the award and just being here and trying to play the best.”

Justin Rose

FRITTELLI PIPS ATWAL TO MAURITIUS TITLE Dylan Frittelli beat Arjun Atwal at the first play-off hole to capture the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.

The 27-year-old South African, who was named European Tour Graduate of the Year at the start of the week after finishing 19th on the 2017 Race to Dubai, birdied the first extra hole after both players had finished on 16-under-par. While Frittelli was a worthy winner of his second European Tour title in tough conditions at Heritage Golf Club after producing a closing 67, the result was harsh on Atwal.

The 44-year-old from India, who will captain his continent in next month’s EurAsia Cup, began the week with a sparkling 62 and almost snatched victory when his eagle putt on the last lipped out before settling for birdie and a closing 68. Frittelli was quick to pay tribute to his closest challenger.

“Arjun Atwal - great player, tremendous player,” he said. “I played with him yesterday and it was one of the most fun rounds I’ve had in recent times.

“He’s a player who’s played all over the world, won in America, won all over the world and I’m glad I could steal one from him here.

“It’s been a pretty good year for me. I’ve set some pretty lofty goals and achieved most of them so I can’t wait for 2018 - set more goals and go and chase them again.”

32 golf digest india | january 2018

JUSTIN ROSE TO HOST 2018 BRITISH MASTERS Justin Rose has been announced as the tournament host for the 2018 British Masters supported by Sky Sports, with the Olympic Champion choosing Walton Heath, in Surrey, as the venue from October 11-14.

Rose, who claimed the gold medal on golf’s return to the Olympic Games in Rio, continued his rich vein of form, finishing runner-up at the Masters Tournament in April last year and winning back-toback events on the European Tour in the autumn, in the WGC-HSBC Champions and the Turkish Airlines Open, before pushing Tommy Fleetwood all the way in

the Race to Dubai.

“I’m very excited to be hosting the British Masters supported by Sky Sports at Walton Heath in 2018,” said Rose.

“Walton Heath is a golf course I really, really enjoy playing, in fact I love it. I went back to Walton Heath in the summer just to ensure I wanted to take the tournament there and I had forgotten how good a golf course it is.”Keith Pelley, the European Tour’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are very fortunate to have another incredible host for 2018 in Justin Rose who I am certain will build on the strong foundations already in place.”

On the European Tour

Tyrell Hatton of England poses with the 2017 Italian Open trophy at Golf Club Milano, Italy

Italian Open to make Lake Garda return in 2018

The 2018 Italian Open will return to the picturesque surroundings of Lake Garda for the first time in 15 years after Gardagolf Country Club was confirmed as the next host venue of the prestigious tournament from May 31 to June 3. The venue had hosted the national Open in 2003 when Sweden’s Mathias Grönberg claimed a two-stroke victory.

The second Rolex Series event in 2018, the Italian Open, has moved in the European Tour’s international schedule from October to May, with the 75th edition of the event now taking place immediately after the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Keith Waters, Chief Operating Officer of the European Tour, said: “We are delighted to be returning to Gardagolf Country Club, and we are extremely pleased to bring a Rolex Series event to this fantastic venue.

Franco Chimenti, President of the Federazione Italiana Golf, added: “Our tournament has such a proud and rich history, one that brings some of the best golfers in the world to some of the finest golf courses in Italy, and now as a prestigious Rolex Series event, I have no doubt next year will be a huge success.”

EUROPEAN TOUR AND GOLFZON LAUNCH INNOVATIVE SIMULATOR CONCEPT

European Tour fans were able to sample one of the most technically advanced golf simulators at the recent UBS Hong Kong Open after an agreement with leading Korean global software company GOLFZON. GOLFZON, one of the world’s leading golf simulator providers, has more than 5,500 dedicated simulator sites in 48 countries, more than 30,000 simulators in operation globally and approximately 2 million online members.

GOLFZON installed their GOLFZON GDR simulator in the spectators’ village at the UBS Hong Kong Open as well as other selected European Tour events on the 2018 Race to Dubai.

Nathan Homer, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer at the European Tour, said: “GOLFZON is one of the best-renowned golf simulator brands in the world and we are delighted to be working with them on this innovative concept.”

European Tour Live coverage on MATCH

INDIA DATE

IST

The BMW SA Open Day 1 session 1

11/01/18

13:30

The BMW SA Open Day 1 session 2

11/01/18

17:30

The BMW SA Open Day 2 Session 1

12/01/18

13:30

The BMW SA Open Day 2 Session 2

12/01/18

17:30

The BMW SA Open Day 3

13/01/18

15:30

The BMW SA Open Day 4

14/01/18

15:30

EURASIA CUP presented by DRB-HICOM Day - 1

12/01/18

6:00

EURASIA CUP presented by DRB-HICOM Day - 2

13/01/18

7:00

EURASIA CUP presented by DRB-HICOM Day - 3

14/01/18

6:00

Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Day 1 Session 1

18/01/18

9:00

Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Day 1 Session 2

18/01/18

16:30

Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Day 2

19/01/18

12:30

Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Day 3

20/01/18

14:00

Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Day 4

21/01/18

14:00

Omega Dubai Desert Classic Day 1 Session 1

25/01/18

9:30

Omega Dubai Desert Classic Day 1 Session 2

25/01/18

17:00

Omega Dubai Desert Classic Day 2

26/01/18

13:00

Omega Dubai Desert Classic Day 3

27/01/18

14:00

Omega Dubai Desert Classic Day 4

28/01/18

14:00

Available on TATA Sky (Channel No. 471) january 2018 | golf digest india

33

On the European Tour

Bjørn Announces Star-Studded EurAsia Cup Team A full house of 12 European Tour winners, including the 2016 Open Champion and 6 Ryder Cup players, make up the European Team named for this month’s EurAsia Cup presented

by DRB-HICOM in Malaysia.

Led by Thomas Bjørn – eight months before he also captains Europe in The Ryder Cup in France – the European Team will tackle Asia in the third staging of the biennial contest, which will once again take place at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur from January 12 to 14, 2018.

Europe will be looking to retain the trophy they won in convincing fashion by 18 ½ - 5 ½ in 2016, but will face a strong Asian team on home soil captained, for the first time, by India’s Arjun Atwal.

Leading the ten automatic qualifiers from the 2017 Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex is Englishman Tommy Fle etwo o d, who finishe d European No. 1 after a thrilling end to the season at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

Joining Fleetwood as automatic qualifiers are fellow Englishmen Tyrrell Hatton, Ross Fisher and Matthew Fitzpatrick, Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger, Ireland’s Paul Dunne, Belgium’s

Team Europe captain Thomas Bjørn

Thomas Pieters, and the Swedish duo of Alex Noren and Henrik Stenson.

Completing the European Team are the two wildcard selections named by Captain Bjørn, Englishman Paul Casey and Alex Levy of France.

Captain Bjørn, who played in the inaugural EurAsia Cup match in 2014 which ended in a 10-10 tie, said: “The interest

from the players has been very strong and you can see that from the fact that the ten automatic qualifiers come from within the top-20 of the final Race to Dubai Rankings. That is a good indication of what the EurAsia Cup is becoming, and I think European golf is in a great place right now.”

On the other hand, Team Asia captain Arjun Atwal announced a talented young team

“THE INTEREST FROM PLAYERS HAS BEEN VERY STRONG...

THE TEN AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS COME FROM WITHIN TOP-20 OF THE FINAL RACE TO DUBAI RANKINGS.”

34 golf digest india | january 2018

to face Europe, featuring Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Gavin Green and European Tour members Kiradech Aphibarnrat, SSP Chawrasia and Li Haotong.

Thai pair Phachara K h o n g wa t m a i a n d P o o m Saksansin, Malaysia’s Green and Chawrasia of India are the leading four Asian players on the Order of Merit who qualified for Team Asia in the biennial event.

Japan’s Yuta Ikeda, who is currently ranked 37th in the world, Li of China, India’s Anirban Lahiri - the 2015 Asian Tour No. 1 - and Aphibarnrat of Thailand all earned their spots in Team Asia as the leading available Asians on the Official World Golf Rankings.

Team Asia have a combined total of 58 titles worldwide while six players in the 12-man team are still in their 20s.

“I’m proud to announce my team which is predominantly represented by young players.

Most of them are still in their 20s but they have achieved huge success at a young age and have established themselves in the game,” said Atwal.

“Seven players in my team are ranked inside the top-100 on the Official World Golf Ranking and this underlines the strength of Team Asia. This is a strong team and it will be our goal to win the EurAsia Cup.”

On the European Tour

THE REFEREE’S VIEW Andy McFee

Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal got caught in a rules controversy at the 2017 Nedbank Golf Challenge

A TALE OF TWO SHOUTS FOR PABLO

I

t was a tale of two shouts for Pablo Larrazabal at the recent Nedbank Golf Challenge - one heard and one not!

On the 16th tee in Round 1, Pablo watched his fellow competitor play to the green, pulled out a six-iron for his own shot and began lining up his play. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his caddie start to reach towards his fellow competitor’s bag with the obvious intent to move the wood cover out of the way so he could get a better look at what club had just been used.

Pablo shouted; “no, stop!” but the caddie had already touched the club so a ruling was called for. On further investigation, the following facts emerged: the intent of the caddie was clear but Pablo’s shout stopped him in his tracks. Pablo immediately asked

his caddie if he had gained anything by what he did and told him quite clearly that even if he had, he did not want to know.

The caddie confirmed he had not been able to gain anything as the shout stopped him before he could move the headcover out of the way to get a better view into the bag. The caddie in charge of the bag confirmed that Pablo’s caddie had gone as far as lightly touching the headcover with one finger but had not yet moved it. So how to rule?

Decision 8-1/10 makes it clear that it is ok to look into a bag to see what club had been used but the next decision, 8-1/11, clearly states that it is a breach of the rules to take any physical act to obtain this type of information.

WE WOULD HAVE IMPOSED A PENALTY OF 2 STROKES FOR A BREACH OF RULE 8-1 HAD THE HEADCOVER MOVED AT ALL, AS THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN TOO MUCH DOUBT ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE CADDIE HAD SEEN THE CLUB.

We ruled no penalty was incurred because the caddie did not actually obtain the information regarding the club he was seeking because Pablo’s shout had stopped him in his tracks and he had not yet moved the headcover to enable him to see the replaced club. We felt the shout was just in time - and I really do mean JUST in time!

We would have ruled the other way and imposed a penalty of two strokes for a breach of Rule 8-1 if the headcover had been moved at all as there would have been too much doubt about whether or not the caddie had seen the club. In this instance, the benefit of the doubt would have gone to the field and not the player as it was the poorly advised actions of the player’s caddie that had caused the whole situation.

A lesson learned for the caddie and a very near miss for Pablo, but credit him for knowing enough about the rules to recognise that what his caddie was about to do was not allowed, and that he would be held responsible for the actions of his caddie during the round. january 2018 | golf digest india

35

On the Asian Tour

Malaysia’s Gavin Green with his Order of Merit and Players’ Player of the Year trophies

Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman is the best scrambler in 2017

Green Honoured At Asian Tour’s Awards Night Sentosa Golf Club General Manager Andy Johnston with the Best Golf Course award.

United States’ Micah Lauren Shin with the Best Rookie of the Year award

Malaysia’s Gavin Green was named the Asian Tour Players’ Player of the Year to cap off a fantastic 2017 season where he also won the prestigious Order of Merit crown.

Green was recognised by his peers through a voting process for a highly successful season where he won his first Asian Tour title at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters and finished second thrice.

The big-hitting 24-year-old made history by becoming the first Malaysian to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit with earnings of US$ 585,813 (approx. Rs. 3.74 crore). He is also the second youngest player to win the accolade.

Green was delighted to receive the honour after an intense 12 months Order of Merit battle where he came out on top against Asian Tour stars Scott Hend of Australia, David Lipsky of the United States, S.S.P. Chawrasia of India and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai.

Green had strongly contended for the

L-R: Johannes Dermawan, Patrick Joyce Faisal, Jimmy Masrin, Burdiarsa, Murdaya Po, Tun Ahmad Sarji and Jeev Milkha Singh

36 golf digest india | january 2018

Shinhan Indonesia Director Young San Kim with the Best Spectator Engagement award

Lagardère Sports and Entertainment Vice President Patrick Joyce Faisal with the Best Tournament of the Year award for SMBC Singapore Open

L-R: Michael Gla ding, Dominque Boulet, Alastair Be Richard Bunn and rry, Jimmy Masrin.

On the Asian Tour Asian Tour professional Siddikur Rahman (R) and guests

Dancers perfo rm during the Asian Tour ga la in Malaysia

TOP-5 ON PANASONIC SWING SERIES Player Events 1. Shiv Kapur (IND) 3 2. Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA) 2 3. Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 3 4. Phachara Khongwatmai (THA) 1 5. Ajeetesh Sandhu (IND) 2 STROKE AVERAGE Player 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Paul Peterson (USA) Younghan Song (KOR) David Lipsky (USA) Shiv Kapur (IND) Jazz Janewattananond (THA)

TOTAL AGAINST PAR Player 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Jazz Janewattananond (THA) Shiv Kapur (IND) Paul Peterson (USA) Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) Ajeetesh Sandhu (IND)

DRIVING ACCURACY Player 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) John Catlin (USA) Ajeetesh Sandhu (IND) Adilson Da Silva (BRA) Paul Peterson (USA)

Rounds 36 28 28 62 72 Rounds

Points 2771.40 1873.00 1155.50 1100.00 730.29 Stroke Average 69.58 69.71 70.07 70.13 70.28

72 62 36 66 38

Total againstPar -81 -78 -66 -64 -53

Number of holes 912 14 522 647 439

Driving Accuracy 79.17 78.57 76.63 76.04 75.17

GREENS IN REGULATION (GIR) Player Holes played 1. Michael Tran (VIE) 468 2. Oscar Zetterwall (SWE) 702 3. Ajeetesh Sandhu (IND) 684 4. Paul Peterson (USA) 576 5. Keith Horne (RSA) 900

GIR 75.21 74.36 72.81 72.05 71.78

US$ 1.75 million Hero Indian Open crown at the challenging DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurgaon. He had fired 7-under 65 in the penultimate round to come within three strokes of the leader Chawrasia. He eventually finished runner-up to pocket US$ 194,440 in the European Tour co-sanctioned event.

“It is a huge honour to receive the Players’ Player of the Year award which is recognition for all the hardwork I’ve put in this year. This is another feather in the cap in my career and I will continue to work hard and strive for more success,” said Green.

“I want to thank all the Asian Tour players who voted for me. This is a major highlight in my season and it is an acknowledgement which I will remember for many years to come,” added the Malaysian.

To add to his list of achievements for the year, Green also won the driving distance category after averaging 314.08 yards off the tees.

Micah Lauren Shin of the United States was named Rookie of the Year thanks largely to his maiden victory at the Resorts World Manila Masters. He ended the season in 12th place on the Order of Merit with earnings of US$ 277,781.

SMBC Singapore Open and its host venue Sentosa Golf Club were also awarded with the Best Tournament of the Year award and Best Golf Course award respectively.

The popular Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea received the Best Spectator Engagement award for the second year running as an acknowledgement for its digital initiative and activities catered for fans.

American Paul Peterson topped the stroke average category with an average of 69.48, while Vietnam’s Michael Tran hit the most Greens in Regulation with a 75.21% strike rate.

Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan, who won his first Asian Tour title in his National Open in May, was the hottest putter on tour after averaging 27.46 putts per-round. India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar was the straightest off the tees after finding 79.17% fairways in 2017.

Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman was named the best scrambler after converting 67.6% of his missed greens in regulation to save par this season.

Asian Tour COO Cho Minh Thant (L) with with Indonesia Golf Association President Murdaya Po

Gavin Green (L) with with Richard Bunn

L-R: Kelsey Vincent, Scott Vincent, Anthony Kang and James Watson

L-R: Patrick Joyce Faisal, Patrick Tang and William Liu

january 2018 | golf digest india

37

On the Asian Tour

A Successful Finish to 2017!

BY JOSH BURACK Asian Tour CEO

I

t was an exciting season for the Asian Tour and our members.

I’m writing to you now from Xiamen where we just finished the Asian Golf Championship. This was our first event in China in nine years! Overall, the tournament was a huge success. The China Golf Association (CGA), our promoter partner China Golf Dragons, the government officials and of course our members were all delighted with the Asian Tour’s return to China. We’ve now set the stage to expand our presence in this vitally important market for the years ahead. This is a tremendous step forward for the Asian Tour and our players.

2017 was particularly fulfilling for the Asian Tour based on the positive growth of our schedule, steps we took to strengthen the organization and important partnerships we added including The R&A affiliate membership and creation of the Panasonic Swing.

The ambition for next season is to have a minimum of 33 tournaments on the main Tour, which would surpass the Asian Tour’s previous high of 32 events back in 2008. We will have at least six new tournaments in 2018: Two events added in Korea, the New Zealand Open, the Philippine Golf Championship and a minimum of two tournaments confirmed in China, with a few more likely to materialize as we’ve got two extra weeks blocked on the CGA calendar.

For the Asian Development Tour, we have planned a minimum of 22 tournaments in 2018. This will be at least two more compared to 2017’s total of 20 events. 10 to 12 events will be played in Malaysia, four in Thailand, two in Taiwan and two in Indonesia. ADT tournaments are also in various stages of planning and development in Brunei, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam and other markets. So, let’s prepare for and embrace this period of exciting growth!

We recently announced the teams for the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM, one of the main highlights of our early 2018 schedule. Our team will be Captained by Indian golf star Arjun Atwal and Vice Captained by Chinese golf legend Zhang Lianwei. I’m optimistic that Team Asia, which consists Gavin Green, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Phachara Khongwatmai, Poom Saksansin, S.S.P. Chawrasia, Yuta Ikeda, Hideto Tanihara, Li Haotong, Sunghoon Kang, Byeonghun, Nicholas Fung and Anirban Lahiri will give the Thomas Bjorn-led Team Europe a strong fight.

Finally, I’d like to congratulate our talented production team colleagues from Asian Tour Media. They won “Best Live Sports Coverage” at the 22nd Asian Television Awards for their work at the SMBC Singapore Open. Like in 2017, the SMBC Singapore Open is our season-opener and the 2018 tournament will kick-start our busiest season in the proud 24-year history of the Asian Tour dating back to our days as the Asian PGA. I can hardly wait for January!

Once again, thank you for your continuing support. #whereitsAT

THE AMBITION FOR NEXT SEASON IS TO HAVE A MINIMUM OF 33 TOURNAMENTS ON THE MAIN TOUR, WHICH WOULD SURPASS THE ASIAN TOUR’S PREVIOUS HIGH OF 32 EVENTS BACK IN 2008.

38 golf digest india | january 2018

2017 Asian Golf Championship winner Bowen Xiao

Team Asia captain Arjun Atwal

On the Asian Tour

LUCKY CHIKKA RETAINS ASIAN TOUR CARD

C

hikkarangappa S. secured the final Asian Tour card for 2018 after finishing tied 20th at the Indonesian Masters.

The Indian was ecstatic with the result which pushed him to 61st position on the Order of Merit and immediately thanked his good friend and former Order of Merit winner Anirban Lahiri for helping him rise to the occasion.

“I spent two good solid days with Anirban in Ahmedabad before coming to Indonesia and we spoke about staying positive.

That helped a lot because I came out here to enjoy my golf game,” said Chikka, who was 67th in the ranking before going to Jakarta.

“That’s what I did on the first three days but I was a bit nervous in the final round because I knew I was on the borderline and I didn’t want it to slip out of my hands. It is very special to keep my Asian Tour card.”

He admitted he was low on confidence after missing 13 cuts before coming to the Indonesian Masters which was the final Asian Tour event in 2017.

“I felt very low about missing the cuts because you feel blind when you are playing golf.

That’s how I was feeling the last couple of weeks. I was not able to see shots and play the shots I wanted to. I lost all energy but Anirban gave me the energy to fight on this week,” said Chikka.

The Indian is now looking forward to the new 2018 season where he hopes to better his superb 2016 season when he finished a career high of 27th place on the Order of Merit.

“The whole year I was struggling and missing cuts and it has been on my mind but now it is off my mind because I finished top-61! All the negativity has completely washed out of my system and I look forward to 2018,” Chikka smiled.

Tour rookie Sihwan Kim of the United States enjoyed a solid week at the Indonesian Masters where he finished in tied sixth place after closing with a 70. He earned US$23,175 which saw him move to 55th

INDIANS IN TOP-60 OF YEAREND ORDER OF MERIT 2017- 12 INDIANS 2016- 11 INDIANS 2015- 9 INDIANS

Chikkrangappa S. secured his 2018 Asian Tour card by virtue of his 20th place finish in the season-ending Indonesian Masters

position on the Order of Merit from 71st.

“There was a lot of grinding this week so I feel great.

Thank God it is over,” said Kim. “Obviously coming into this tournament, I knew what my

goals were and I executed it well. There were a lot of nerves but I had some good breaks and I trusted myself.”

Rahil Gangjee of India, who missed the cut in Indonesia, finished 60th on the Order of

Merit to retain his Asian Tour card while Giwhan Kim of Korea ended his campaign in a share of 20th place in Indonesia to end the 2017 season in 59th place on the Merit ranking.

january 2018 | golf digest india

39

On the Asian Tour

Final 2017 Asian Tour Order of Merit

Rose Crowns Year With Sensational Win At Indonesian Masters

E

ngland’s Justin Rose capped a sensational year by signing off with a final round 10-under 62 to win the Indonesian Masters presented by Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI), Bank Mandiri, Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN) and Telkom Indonesia.

The marathon week, where the Indonesian Masters was hit by multiple weather suspensions did not faze the World No. 6. After completing 10 holes from his third round in the morning, Rose was back at the starting tee in 30 minutes.

Rose got his round going with a birdie on the third hole before embarking on a stunning run with

four birdies and an eagle starting from the par-four fifth at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.

Rose’s lead was never threatened when he surged further ahead with three birdies in his next four holes after making the turn in 29. The Olympic gold medallist dropped a shot on 16 but delighted the crowd at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club by closing with a birdie on 18 for a winning total of 29-under 259.

It was another second placed finish for Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai at the Indonesian Masters after he signed for a flawless 65 while Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent closed with a 69 to take third place at the Asian Tour season-ending event.

POS

PLAYER

EARNINGS (US$)

1.

David Lipsky (USA)

$336,507

2.

S.S.P. Chawrasia (IND)

$312,353

3.

Phachara Khongwatmai (THA)

$273,152

4.

Gavin Green (MAS)

$250,885

5.

Prayad Marksaeng (THA)

$243,578

6.

Jazz Janewattananond (THA)

$237,715

7.

Jason Norris (AUS)

$195,421

8.

Carlos Pigem (ESP)

$171,662

9.

Todd Sinnott (AUS)

$162,626

10.

Anirban Lahiri (IND)

$145,150

11.

Juvic Pagunsan (PHI)

$140,512

12.

Panuphol Pittayarat (THA)

$139,074

13.

Shiv Kapur (IND)

$137,653

14.

Shubhankar Sharma (IND)

$128,988

15.

Nicholas Fung (MAS)

$124,737

16.

K.T. Kim (KOR)

$123,507

17.

Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND)

$97,249

18.

Poom Saksansin (THA)

$96,640

19.

Siddikur Rahman (BAN)

$95,420

20.

Wade Ormsby (AUS)

$90,566

INDIANS WHO RETAINED THEIR CARDS FOR 2018 SSP CHAWRASIA, SHUBHANKAR SHARMA, SHIV KAPUR, GAGANJEET BHULLAR, AJEETESH SANDHU, ARJUN ATWAL, RASHID KHAN, CHIRAGH KUMAR, KHALIN JOSHI, JYOTI RANDHAWA, RAHIL GANGJEE, CHIKKARANGAPPA S.

Did you know? l Justin Rose is the second Englishman to win the Indonesian Masters after Lee Westwood. l Rose is the fifth wire-to-wire winner on the Asian Tour this year l Rose has never won by 8 shots in his career. It is also the largest winning margin on the Asian Tour in 2017. l The Englishman started and ended the week with a 62, which is the lowest finish by a winner on the Asian Tour this year. l His winning total of 29-under 259 is the lowest 72-hole score on the Asian Tour in 2017.

40 golf digest india | january 2018

Australia’s Wade Ormsby clinched the $2 million UBS Hong Kong Open by a one stroke margin with a four-day total of 11-under 269

Newsmakers

PLAYERS IN THE NEWS Fit Sharmila Raring To Go

By Rohit B ha rd wa j

I

ndia’s women’s professional golf circuit was missing her for some time. But a fitter and determined Sharmila Nicollet is now ready to take on the world. The 12-time champion on the Hero Women’s Pro Tour is training in the US under coach Gary Gilchrist to boost her chances of winning an international crown soon.

“It’s been a while since I played professionally. I have been training under Gary near Orlando for the past 3 months. He made a lot of changes to my game and my life. I felt it is time I needed to make certain changes to reach where I want to be. I have started to enjoy the process with the new swing. It’s always good to have a new perspective about the game.

The practice facilities and the technology in Orlando are really good. It’s going to take me a while to trust those changes. I haven’t played any tournaments in the last 6 months but I will enter new tournaments with a positive mindset,” Sharmila told Golf Digest India on the sidelines of the Krishnapatnam Port Golden Eagles Championship.

“I have got a brilliant mentor in Gary. He is one of the best coaches in the world. What Gary brings to the table is he makes practice a fun activity. I really enjoyed it and I am hitting 10-15 yards longer with my new swing,” she added.

The 26-year-old put up a brave fight before missing out on a Ladies European Tour (LET) spot following a disappointing 77 in the fifth & final round of the Lalla Aicha Tour School in Morocco.

“I had to sacrifice many tournaments as I was training in the US. You have to devote at least 3 months if you want to make changes to your game. Hopefully I will have a good start to the new season.

“I will go to the USLPGA Q-School next. If I get a few starts like I got last season (ShopRite Classic), and if I capitalise on them, it will be huge,” the 5’11” Bengaluru lass confirmed.

Sharmila has hired a new fitness trainer too (Nicolas from France) and one can see the results on her Instagram account - she looks a lot fitter thanks to extra hours in the gym.

She is the only woman’s professional to have walked the ramp for several top designers. And whenever her performances take a dip, the critics get a chance to take a dig at her affinity towards fashion. “This has been there since I was a kid. I do whatever I have to do. If I am doing things right, people don’t say anything.

You just got to take it in good spirit,” the style icon signed off.

“i w il l a l so go t o t he usl pga q-school ne x t y e a r . if i ge t a fe w s ta r t s lik e i go t l a s t se a son (shopr i t e cl a s sic), a nd if i ca pi ta lise on t hem, i t w il l be huge.”

— sh a r mil a nicol l e t 42 golf digest india | january 2018

Newsmakers Women’s Golf

AMATEUR DIKSHA TRIUMPHS IN FINAL LEG

16-year-old Diksha Dagar completed a wire-to-wire victory after a third successive sub-par round in the final leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour at ITC Classic Golf & Country Club.

The left-handed amateur carded a round of 2-under 70 and took her three-day total to 9-under 207, winning by 11 shots over the three golfers who were tied for second place.

Diksha’s earlier rounds were 66-71.

Gaurika Bishnoi (71) aggregated two-over 218 with rounds of 73, 74 and 71 and was tied for second alongside Neha Tripathi (73) and the other amateur in the field, Ananya Barthakur, who struggled with a round of 78 on the final day.

Rohtak-born Gaurika Bishnoi emerged as the winner of the Hero WPG Tour Order of Merit. The 19-year-old, who turned professional only in 2016, earned Rs. 12.45 lakh in prize money. In second place was Amandeep Drall (Rs 11,28,300), followed by Neha Tripathi (Rs. 9,93,300).

TOP-10 ON FINAL HERO ORDER OF MERIT POS

Golfer

Play

Win

Total Prize (`)

1.

Gaurika Bishnoi

15

1

12,45,400

2.

Amandeep Drall

13

2

11,28,300

3.

Neha Tripathi

12

3

9,93,300

4.

Gursimar Badwal

16

2

9,58,200

5.

Saaniya Sharma

14

1

9,31,000

6.

Smriti Mehra

13

-

8,13,100

7.

Vani Kapoor

6

4

6,47,000

8.

Afshan Fatima

15

-

5,39,600

9.

Mehar Atwal

16

-

5,06,700

10.

Tvesa Malik

8

2

4,65,500

ROHTAK-BORN GAURIKA BISHNOI EMERGED AS THE WINNER OF THE HERO WPG TOUR ORDER OF MERIT. THE 19-YEAR-OLD, WHO TURNED PROFESSIONAL ONLY IN 2016, EARNED RS. 12.45 LAKH IN PRIZE MONEY. IN SECOND PLACE WAS AMANDEEP DRALL (RS 11,28,300), FOLLOWED BY NEHA TRIPATHI (RS. 9,93,300).

NEHA COMPLETES START-TO-FINISH VICTORY

Neha Tripathi completed a start-to-finish win by a fourshot margin despite a late charge by Order of Merit leader, Gaurika Bishnoi (66) in the 15th leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Tour at The Palms Golf Club & Resort in Lucknow. This was Neha’s third win of the season, after her wins in the first leg at Ahmedabad and the 13th leg at Greater Noida.

Starting the final day with a massive nine-shot lead, Neha had a rough start as she bogeyed the first but made amends with a birdie on par-3 third. However, a triple bogey on par-4 fourth threatened her chances but the fact that Gaurika, her playing partner, also double bogeyed meant less damage.

When the lead group players came to the turn, Neha was still way ahead. The 25-year-old still held an 8-shot lead, which got reduced to 4 following a brilliant fight by Gaurika.

january 2018 | golf digest india

43

Newsmakers

American Pro Savours India Sojourn

By Da nn o n M art i s

A

shlan Ramsey knew from the fifth grade that being a professional golfer was her life’s ultimate ambition. She went on to become the No. 1-ranked amateur in 2013 before turning pro. And there has been no looking back since.

Currently on her maiden visit to India, Golf Digest India caught up with the Symetra Tour pro at the Krishnapatnam Port Golden Eagles Golf Championship.

Ashlan’s visit to India has been memorable and she goes on to say what prompted her to come to India to be a part of the event. “I was excited by the opportunity to meet new people and travel to a place I’ve never been before. One of the reasons I love golf is I get to experience so many interesting things. I was very thrilled to experience India and be part of such a prestigious event.”

Being a professional golfer is certainly not an easy task and the journey has not been smooth sailing for Ashlan, but her positive attitude towards the game and life helps her deal with challenges. “It has definitely been a lot different than I anticipated. There is only so much you can think in your head with regards to how it is going to be and it turns out totally different. I think probably for me the biggest struggle would be the injuries which I have had since I turned pro,” says the youngster who turns 22 this month.

Not one to be cowed down, Ashlan aims to keep moving forward. “I have just been trying to deal with everything one step at a time and just have the belief that things are going to work out the way they are supposed to and I am thankful for the opportunities I do have.”

For someone who didn’t know what to expect, the warmth of the people, the opportunity of being part of a marvellous tournament and the amazing hospitality made the trip one to cherish, and the American hopes to return to India soon.

Ashlan also credited Krishnapatnam Port for all their hard work by saying. “KPCL made the Golden Eagles tournament so much fun for me and everyone involved.

They are working very hard to promote golf in India and I was honoured to be a part of that. I appreciate all the hard work that goes into making the event a success.”

“i wa s e xci t ed by t he opp or t uni t y t o mee t ne w peopl e a nd t r av el t o a p l ace... i wa s v er y t hr il l ed t o e x per ience indi a a nd be pa r t of such a pr es t igious e v en t.” — a shl a n r a mse y 44 golf digest india | january 2018

Newsmakers Professional Golf Tour of India

TOP-10 ON PGTI ORDER OF MERIT AFTER TATA OPEN

ROHANA’S STEELY RESOLVE PAYS OFF

Sri Lankan Anura Rohana’s steely resolve in ‘Steel City’ Jamshedpur saw him cruise to a four-shot victory at the 16th TATA Open, a Rs. 1 crore event. Rohana returned a clinical final round of 2-under 69 to total 19-under 265 for the week and, as a result, grab his second title of the season.

The quintet of Kolkata-based golfers Viraj Madappa (66) and Raju Ali Mollah (70), Gurgaon’s Manu Gandas (68), Delhi’s Shamim Khan (69) and Noida’s Vikrant Chopra (69) finished joint runners-up at 15-under 269 at the penultimate event of the season staged at Golmuri Golf Course.

44-year-old Rohana, who won his fifth PGTI title along with a cheque of Rs. 15 lakh moved from 12th to third on the Order of Merit. “I began the day looking for a round of four to five under and was quite aggressive on the back-nine. That did the trick for me. The birdie on the 10th was the highlight of my round as I almost holed out from 45 yards. I’m delighted with this win as it gives me a chance to contend for the PGTI Order of Merit title. I began the year with a top-5 finish on the money list on my mind. I’ve almost achieved that goal.”

POS

Golfer

Play

Win

Cut

Top-10

Total Prize (`)

1.

Shamim Khan

17

3

17

13

46,27,983

2.

Udayan Mane

15

3

14

7

41,26,751

3.

Anura Rohana (SL)

15

2

12

5

32,68,836

4.

Honey Baisoya

13

2

12

7

29,38,988

5.

M. Dharma

16

1

16

6

27,93,301

6.

Khalin Joshi

12

0

12

7

23,80,419

7.

Mukesh Kumar

13

1

13

6

23,19,862

8.

Harendra Gupta

17

0

17

7

22,31,897

9.

Sanjeev Kumar

15

0

12

4

21,08,595

10.

Aman Raj

16

0

12

5

20,57,051

Dharma prevails in playoff at CG Open Bengaluru golfer M Dharma’s aggressive approach paid off as he triumphed at the Rs. 1 crore CG Open 2017 after defeating Lucknow’s Sanjeev Kumar on the second playoff hole. The two golfers headed for a playoff after finishing the final round with matching totals of 16-under 264 at Bombay Presidency Golf Club (BPGC).

M Dharma (67-66-64-67), lying overnight tied second and two off the lead, collected 3 birdies on the 5 five holes to rise into contention early in the day. But the

SHAMIM UTILISES EXPERIENCE IN DIGBOI Seasoned pro Shamim Khan defeated youngster Veer Ahlawat in a playoff to register his second win at the Rs 40 lakh IndianOil SERVO Masters.

39-year-old Shamim and 21-year-old Veer ended the regulation 72 holes with identical scores of 9-under 279 at Digboi Golf Links. It was the veteran’s third title of the season and his 15th overall.

match almost slipped out of his hands when he double-bogeyed the 15th following an error in club selection. However, Dharma roared back with a brave bogey on the 18th to take the match into a playoff.

A pleased Dharma said later, “My aggressive play really paid off for me today.

I first went for the flag on the final hole in regulation as I knew I had to make an eagle to get in the playoff. I managed to do that.

Then finally, I pulled it off on the decisive playoff hole for a win.”

Shamim took home the winner’s cheque of Rs. 6 lakh for his effort.

The Delhi pro, who previously won in Digboi in 2014, said, “My putting wasn’t great for the second consecutive day and when I missed a two-footer for par on the eighth, I knew I was in trouble. However, I hung in there with pars all the way till the end. I was quite happy to take it into the playoff after having trailed

Veer on the back-nine. In a playoff situation, experience always counts.

That’s what saw me through at the end. I felt Veer tried a bit too hard during the playoff.”

Manu Gandas of Gurgaon, another 21-year-old, fired a final round of 71 to take third place at 7-under 281. Bangladesh’s Md Zamal Hossain Mollah struck a 67 to end tied fourth at five-under-283.

january 2018 | golf digest india

45

Newsmakers

Ahmedabad Becomes Anirban’s New Training Base

By Rohi t Bh ar dwa j

G

ujarat’s capital Ahmedabad has become the new training base for World No. 69 Anirban Lahiri.

The well-travelled golfer who was earlier based out of Bengaluru has been training at the most awarded golf course in the country — Kalhaar Blues & Greens — since the start of December.

The shift of base has to do with coach Vijay Divecha setting up his academy at Kalhaar Blues & Greens to train kids during winters.

“Every year, at the end of the season and before the beginning of the new year, we start learning golf from the start. Anirban has been training at Kalhaar Blues & Greens since the beginning of December. It also gives Anirban a chance to spend time with the others at our academy and learn from them besides sharing his experiences,” coach Divecha told Golf Digest India from Ahmedabad.

With Lahiri being the only Indian playing on the PGA Tour following immense success in Asia, which saw him pocket 7 Asian Tour trophies, one would wonder what specific training he requires.

“The fundamentals. Whatever everyone thinks is not important. We work on his grip, posture, alignment. 80 to 90% of the faults happen in this area. So every year we ensure these things are in place. We don’t require to make any changes in his swing because over the last 16 years we are already where we want to be. We do work on shot-making — playing different shapes, different trajectories etc.,” the guru elaborated.

46 golf digest india | january 2018

Instagram: @banstaa

“A nir b a n h a s been t r a ining w i t h me at K a l h a a r . I t a l so gi v es him a ch a nce t o sp end t ime wi t h t he o t her s at our aca dem y.”

— Vijay Di v ech a

The 30-year-old professional, who is the best Indian finisher in a Major till date with his tied 5th result at the 2015 PGA Championship, has been working with renowned short game instructor James Sieckmann.

“More than anything, we do a lot of short game work and putting practise. Further, we implement what Sieckmann has asked us to do - execute lots of short game shots. And the best part of this is, I make Anirban teach the other students of our academy what he has learned. Teaching others and sharing with others is an important part of our journey,” explained Divecha.

Everyone knows meditation and yoga have become important ingredients for success, especially in a precision sport like golf. Lahiri has already been honing Vipassana meditation techniques. He also practiced meditation during his stint in Ahmedabad.

“Our day starts with a group meditation.

All academy students meditate. This brings a certain amount of energy into the working environment. This energy is essential for everyone to develop as human beings and also translates into developing as golfers,” Divecha said.

Now you know what makes Lahiri hole long putts even in pressure situations.

After resting for a fortnight beginning the Christmas weekend (December 23 onwards), Lahiri will train for a week before heading to Malaysia for the EurAsia Cup to be held from January 12 to 14 in Kuala Lumpur.

We wish him all the best for a stupendous 2018!

Junior Golf

Little Master Junior Golf Tour

Kanav, Ananya end season on a high

K

anav Chauhan and Ananya Chand were adjudged Player of the Year in the boys and girls categories respectively after the completion of the Little Master Junior Golf Tour’s 9-Hole Series and Par-3 series.

While Kanav won both the 9-Hole Summer and Winter series in the boys 7-8 age group, Ananya excelled in the girls 9-10 section in the 9-Hole summer series. Both also hit birdies in the Summer Series. The Par-3 Series was played at the Mini Course at Jaypee Greater Noida and the 9-hole Series was staged at Tarudhan Valley Golf Resort (Manesar), Jaypee Wishtown (Greater Noida)

and Unitech (Noida).

Each of the Winter and Summer Series had 5 events so all in all the players played 10 rounds each for the Par 3 and 9-Hole games.

The idea behind the 9-Hole series is to encourage new golfers to get on the course, and also teach new players and parents rules and etiquettes which will help them in playing better golf and competing at a higher level. The Par 3 series is to improve the short game of new as well as advanced players.

Each event had 25-30 participants every month. 3 Holein-Ones and many birdies were witnessed over the course of the Winter and Summer Series.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR (BOYS): Kanav Chauhan PLAYER OF THE YEAR (GIRLS): Ananya Chand

Winners of the 9-Hole and Par-3 Series with their prizes

9-HOLE WINTER SERIES WINNERS

9-HOLE SUMMER SERIES WINNERS

PAR-3 WINTER SERIES WINNERS

PAR-3 SUMMER SERIES WINNERS

Boys 14+: Aniruddh Chauhan

Boys 14+: Anish Nangia

Girls 11+: Teana Juneja

Boys 11+: Saharsh Gakhar

Boys 11-13: Sukhman Singh

Boys 11-13: Purnayush Mangal

Boys 9-10: Parth Raman

Boys 9-10: Vivaan Mathur

Girls 11-13: Saumya Nehra

Boys 9-10: Udai Middha

Girls 9-10: Ananya Chand

Girls 9-10: Ananya Chand

Boys 9-10: Parth Raman

Girls 9-10: Ananya Chand

Boys 7-8: Udai Middha

Boys 7-8: Bhavesh Nirwan

Girls 9-10: Palakshi Sehrawat

Boys 7-8: Kanav Chauhan

Girls 7-8: Asara Sawhney

Girls 7-8: Asara Sawhney

Boys 7-8: Kanav Chauhan

Girls 7-8: Asara Sawhney

Boys 5-6: Saideep Juneja

Boys 5-6: Aarav Vohra Girls 5-6: Sayeesha Mathur

Girls 7-8: Asara Sawhney

Shubham recovers from multiple stress fractures Once regarded as a golf prodigy, Shubham Jaglan was missing from the golf scene since early summer last year. The 12-year-old withdrew after the second round of IMG Academy Junior World Championship held from July 11 to 14 at Morgan Run Resort & Club in Califiornia, USA, after suffering multiple stress fractures in his back.

He was one-under after two days when immense pain in his back forced him to pull out of the prestigious tournament, which saw participation from 1,200 kids across 54 countries.

Training hard and emphasis on hitting longer drives than kids his age resulted in L-4 & L-5 bones in his vertebrae getting fractured. The good news is that Shubham has recovered from the injury and has started training again at Delhi Golf Club.

“Shubham is okay now.

Thankfully his pain has subsided and he can drive the ball comfortably. We consulted Dr. Atul Agarwal and Dr. Naveen Talwar in India and renowned orthopaedic surgeon D. Das in San Diego, US. I would like to thank The Golf Foundation for their support as well as Shubham’s coach Nonita Lall Qureshi and mentor Amit Luthra for their guidance,” Shubham’s father Jagpal Jaglan told Golf Digest.

The Haryana golfer will now concentrate on playing Z onal tournaments on the Indian Golf Union (IGU) circuit besides preparing for the All India Amateur.

TRIPLE TREAT FOR RISHIKA

Bengalur u girl Rishika Muralidhar completed a hat-trick when she won the US Kids World Golf Championship at the Village Course, Tanjong Puteri, in the 11-year age cate gor y by a three-stroke margin beating Sasikarn Luangnitikul from Thailand. More than 250 kids from 22 countries participated in the prestigious event.

Rishika had won in 9-year category by a massive 10 strokes in 2015 before emerging victorious in the 10-year section on the third playoff hole in 2016.

The 11-year-old is performing well on the Indian Golf Union (IGU) circuit Category ‘C’. She won 5 out of 7 tournaments at the national level and scripted 4 consecutive wins at Delhi, Noida, Pune and Ahmedabad to climb to the second spot on the ‘C’ category Order of Merit. january 2018 | golf digest india

47

Junior Golf

Juniors Make Merry At India Qualifiers

T

he IIFL Wealth Golf Invitational-Faldo Series India kicked off its series of club selection rounds across the country from the last week of November. The qualifiers offer golfers an opportunity to book a spot in the India Final of the Faldo Series as only the top10 in each age category of the yearend IGU Order of Merit get a direct entry.

The first qualifier was held at Kalhaar Blues & Greens in Ahmedabad. Despite cyclone Ockchi trying to play spoilsport the day before the event, golfers turned out in huge numbers.

Participants showcased great skills to master the windy conditions and shot low scores.

After Ahmedabad, the qualifiers were held at Hyderabad Golf Association, which runs a great junior program and, over the past year, has initiated close to 120 new junior golfers to their program. So, majority of the participants at the event were children in the Under-16 category. Close to 9 caddy juniors also played the event as part of IIFL’s initiative to open the game to everyone.

Further, India’s current golfing capital, Bengaluru, saw a great turnout on a weekday at the Clover Greens Golf Course.

The Under-18 category was keenly contested. The game went into a sudden death playoff between Aryaman Mohan and Varun Kumar Murugan after both finished with level scores in regulation. Aryaman Mohan made an amazing 15 feet putt from the edge of the green to win the playoff.

Chandigarh saw an impressive turnout in chilly conditions at Panchkula Golf Club. Golfers as young as 7 years came to participate. Most of them are working on following in the footsteps of their local hero - Jeev Milkha Singh.

The qualifiers now move to the cities of Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata. Winners from each of the legs in their categories will now play at the India Final at Karnataka Golf Association, Bengaluru from January 9 to 11, 2018.

Chaitanya Agarwal from IIFL Wealth addressing the gathering before the prize distribution

Friendships and fun go hand-in-hand during Volvo World Golf Challenge

Young caddy golfers prior to tee off in Hyderabad

Golfers as young as nine-year-olds participated

IIFL Wealth Golf Invitational Faldo Series India Schedule DATE

CLUB NAME

26/11/2017

Kalhaar Blues & Greens, Ahmedabad

10/12/2017

Hyderabad Golf Association, Hyderabad

12/12/2017

Clover Greens, Bengaluru

19/12/2017

Panchkula Golf Club, Panchkula

20/12/2017

Willingdon Sports Club, Mumbai

27/12/2017

Jaypee Greens, Greater Noida

28/12/2017

Tollygunge Club, Kolkata

48 golf digest india | january 2018

Winners from each of the legs in their categories will now play at the India Final at the Karnataka Golf Association, Bengaluru from January 9 to 11

Junior Golf

WINNERS - AHMEDABAD LEG GIRLS UNDER-21

Gauri Kharade

GIRLS UNDER-16

Manya Saini

BOYS UNDER-21

Dhruv Suri

BOYS UNDER-18

Ronil Kakodkar

BOYS UNDER-16

Abhiraj S Chauhan

WINNERS - HYDERABAD LEG GIRLS UNDER-16

Sneha Singh

BOYS UNDER-21

Ehsaan Eti

BOYS UNDER-18

Rahul Ajay

BOYS UNDER-16

Shawn Reddy

WINNERS - BENGALURU LEG GIRLS UNDER-21

Sanjana Ashwin

GIRLS UNDER-16

Anagha Venkatesh

BOYS UNDER-21

Siddharth Krishna

BOYS UNDER-18

Aryaman Mohan

BOYS UNDER-16

Krishang Nayak

WINNERS - CHANDIGARH LEG

Harman Bajwa

Aditya Sood

GIRLS UNDER-16

Anikul Panaich

BOYS UNDER-21

Prakhar Asawa

BOYS UNDER-18

Harman Bajwa

BOYS UNDER-16

Aditya Sood

Prakhar Asawa

january 2018 | golf digest india

49

Across The Country

CLUB ROUND-UP

To share news on your club or updates from across the country, please email rohit@rnsportsmarketing.com

Jamshedpur

Kumar Wins AWS Winter Golf Event Held at Golmuri Golf Course, the 2017 AWS Winter Golf Tournament was a gala affair with over 180 men and women golfers from Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Kolkata and Delhi. The course was well prepared and cured, and the greens were in excellent condition.

The contingent from Delhi

was led by Mr. D.P. Singh, and included Mr. Vipin Malik, Mr. HGS Dhaliwal, Mr. Virender Kumar Ganad and eventual winner Mr. Balvinder Kumar who clinched the trophy in the (18-24) handicap category.

Led by Patron and threetime Jharkhand Chief Minister Mr. Arjun Munda, the Adibasi

Welfare Society (AWS) has provided training and skill development of tribal youths.

AWS has also helped members prepare for jobs as Caddies on the golf course and, furthermore, trained them as professional golfers. Members of the society have played in various PGTI tournaments held all over India.

Balvinder Kumar (L) of Team Delhi receives the trophy from Tata Steel Vice President (Corporate Services) Sunil Bhaskaran

Bengaluru

Top Executives Commemorate Marriott Golf Day In celebration of the spirit of golf, Prestige Golfshire hosted the 3rd edition of Bengaluru Marriott Golf Day two months back.

The event witnessed a gathering of some of the most renowned faces in the corporate world.

Participants included Ajay Vij (MD, Accenture), Sandeep Singh (MD, Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery), Digboloy Halder (MD, Goldman Sachs), Sreejit Roy (VP, IBM) and Praveen Sood (Director General of Police, Govt. of Karnataka) among others.

Golfers made the most of an elegant afternoon, engaging in conversations and savouring an exotic array of food and beverages.

Gaurav Singh (R) meets friends prior to his tee off for the Marriott Golf Day at Prestige Golfshire in Bengaluru

50 golf digest india | january 2018

Marriott International Multi-Property GM, Gaurav Singh, contemplates a putt

Promoting Golf

IA I

G AM

FD E • G O L I G E ST I ND

E • GO L F DI GE S T I ND

• ITATIVE GROW THE N I IA

GAM

Mayukh Roy, GM Ganga Kutir, won the longest drive contest by shooting 296 yards

TIVE • GRO W T NITA HE Kolkata

Golfers Tee Off At New Golf Arena Kolkata’s first public driving range — Eco Park Golf Arena — is attracting individuals of all ages and even corporates to stage events at the newest venue in town. The inaugural edition of Tata Docomo Business Services Eco Park Golf Championship, organised

by HIDCO, was a resounding success as more than 200 amateur golfers, representing 150 corporates, thronged Kolkata’s latest golf destination.

Mayukh Ray, GM Ganga Kutir, and Nikita Biswas of Tollygunge Club won the men’s and women’s Longest Drive Challenge competition respectively. Ray drove an impressive 296 yards while Biswas hit 207.

Ray praised the event following his win, “This is an excellent initiative by HIDCO. This has enabled a lot of golfers to continue playing golf, especially to the residents

of this area. A very good and positive ambience.” There were two more categories in addition to the men’s and women’s. The pair of Rajiv Roy and Anupama Dasgupta - representing eRevmax Technologies – triumphed in mixed doubles with a combined average driving distance of 232 yards, while the veterans (above 50) event was won by the former IG of the Coast Guard, KS Sheoran, who drove 244 yards.

Pune

Great Evening For Family Bonding

Oxford Golf Resort organised a one of-its-kind night golf escapade –GolfLit Saturday Night – on December 9.

Taking place in the scenic outskirts of Pune, Golf Lit Saturday Night was a unique experience for those in attendance. Quality family time aside, guests had an opportunity to unwind over golf, exotic barbecue dinner and fine beverage. Sessions with the country’s finest golf pros, along with putting chipping games, helped both adults and children develop an interest in the sport.

Oxford Golf Resort in Pune conducted the GolfLit Saturday Night to attract families to the course

To share news about initiatives to promote golf across the country, please email karthik@rnsportsmarketing.com

Nasik

RIVERSIDE GOLF COURSE PROMOTES GOLF AMONG YOUTH A passionate sportsman since youth, Wg. Cdr. (Retd.) Pradeep Bagmar, took to golf during his days in the Indian Air Force and dreamt of making the sport often perceived elitist - available to everyone, especially children and those from rural areas.

His brainchild, Riverside Golf Course, aims to do just that.

Located in Niphad, 40km outside Nasik, Riverside Golf Course has welcomed kids from all backgrounds and the response is promising. Since inauguration in mid-September last year, 230 youngsters have turned up to try their hand at golf. Apart from training them to become golfers or caddies, the team has als o b een identifying talent.

Bagmar, who is in earnest talks with sports authorities, harbours hope that the numbers will only increase going forward.

january 2018 | golf digest india

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Corporate Digest KPCL Golden Eagles Golf Championship

KPCL GOLDEN EAGLES GLAMOUR ON THE GREENS

By Da nn o n M art i s

The third edition of Krishnapatnam Port Company Limited Golden Eagles Golf Championship saw 500 golfers from acro s s the countr y participating, and also witnessed the likes of Bollywood actors Chitrangda Singh, R. Madhavan and Kriti Sanon along with TV personality

Mandira Bedi gracing the fourleg tournament.

The event also saw 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil D ev b onding with Madhavan over the fairways while American professional Ashlan Ramsey and 14-time Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour winner Sharmila Nicollet added a bit of glamour.

Golden Eagles, which is the

toast of corporate golfers, teed off in style at Prestige Golfshire in Bengaluru on November 4.

From the ‘Garden City’ the event moved to Pune for the second leg. The Pune leg was staged at the majestic Oxford Golf & Country Club on November 11.

The very next week, it was held at Hyderabad Golf Association.

Participants at both the Pune and Hyderabad legs enjoyed an

evening of entertainment and fashion. The event culminated at Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Re s or t in Gre ater Noida where the winners in various c ate g o r ie s were award e d exciting prizes. The Overall Best Gross Winner received an iPhone X voucher and the Overall Best Net Winner was awarded a limited edition IWC watch.

L-R: Gabrijela Nikolic, Marketing Manager (KPCT UAE), Chief of Naval Staff Sunil Lanba and HE Chung-Kwang Tien- Ambassador of Taiwan Embassy

Actor Chitrangada Singh

US golfer Taylor Ramsey

52 golf digest india | january 2018

Gabrijela Nikolic and KPCT Director Srinivas Vallabhaneni

Marlien Bosman, Chinta Sasidhar (MD, KPCT) and Jan Bosman (MD, Cargill India)

KPCL Golden Eagles Golf Championship Corporate Digest

GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP Mandira Bedi

Prashant Kumar Kovind

Katya performs on the saxophone

Taylor Ramsey, Chinta Sasidhar (MD, KPCT) and Kapil Dev

Actor R Madhavan with Mandira Bedi

Vinita Venkatesh (Director, KPCT)

Sanjay Goel, TATA Hitachi MD Sandeep Singh, Sharmila Nicollet, Hemant Sarangi & Sanjay Sanghani

National badminton coach Pullela Gopichand and Kapil Dev

january 2018 | golf digest india

53

Corporate Digest KPCL Golden Eagles Golf Championship DELHI

RESULTS

DELHI LEG

Chief of Naval Staff, Sunil Lanba

Mandira Bedi

Ashlan Ramsey, Neha Tripathi, Kapil Dev, Chitrangada Singh, Mandira Bedi and R. Madhavan

JAYPEE GREENS Prize Category

Names

WINNER CAT - A (0- 17)

NIKHIL CHOPRA

RUNNER-UP CAT - A (0- 17)

VICE ADMIRAL DINESH DESHPANDE

WINNER CAT - B (18-24)

Y.S. KIM

RUNNER-UP CAT - B (18-24)

VINAY BINDAL

DLF GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB WINNING FOURBALL NEHA TRIPATHI VISHAL BAKSHI RAKESH SINGH ANKUR NAYAK

Taylor Ramsey

HYDERABAD

Sanath Malreddy and KT Rama Rao, Minister of IT Telangana

Kapil Dev, Mandira Bedi and R. Madhavan

Chinnababu Neerukonda (L) and Sridhar Chinta (MD, Navyuga Engineering Company Limited)

RESULTS

HYDERABAD LEG HYDERABAD GOLF ASSOCIATION Prize Category Names

Daniel Richner, Chairman, M+R Logistics

007’s Own: Aston Martin on display

54 golf digest india | january 2018

WINNER CAT - A (0- 17)

ASHOK REDDY NIMMA

RUNNER-UP CAT - A (0- 17)

CHINNABABU NEERUKONDA

WINNER CAT - B (18-24)

SRINIVAS SAGI

RUNNER-UP CAT - B (18-24)

SANATH MALREDDY

KPCL Golden Eagles Golf Championship Corporate Digest

RESULTS

PUNE

PUNE LEG OXFORD GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB Prize Category Names WINNER CAT - A (0- 17)

MAHESH KUMAR BHADANGKAR

RUNNER-UP CAT - A (0- 17)

RAJIV PUSALKAR

WINNER CAT - B (18-24)

KWANGHEE LEE

RUNNER-UP CAT - B (18-24)

RAMESH NAGESH

Golden Eagles Golf Championship was a celebration of friendship Sisters Ashlan (L) and Taylor Ramsey An artist performs on the saxophone Chinta Sasidhar, MD KPCT

BENGALURU

RESULTS

BENGALURU LEG PRESTIGE GOLFSHIRE Prize Category

Names

WINNER CAT - A (0- 17)

ANAND SRINIVASAN

RUNNER-UP CAT - A (0- 17)

KARAN MALIK

WINNER CAT - B (18-24)

SANGEETA JAGADEESH

RUNNER-UP CAT - B (18-24)

MARLIEN BOSMAN

Winners of the Bangalore Leg celebrate their victory Vinita Venkatesh and Sharmila Nicollet Blindfold putting competition hosted by Gabrijela Nikolic

Patrik Antoni (Deputy Country Manager, IKEA India) and Hyung Tae Kim (Consul General, South Korea)

The overall nett winner of each leg received an IWC Schaffhausen watch

january 2018 | golf digest india

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Corporate Digest KPCL Golden Eagles Golf Championship

Actor Kriti Sanon during the fashion show

An impressive performance by the artists

Kapil Dev

R. Madhavan and K T Rama Rao, Minister of IT, Telangana

Mandira Bedi

Neha Tripathi (2L) with her father (L) along with Charu and Rishi Narain Chitrangada Singh (L) with Prashant Kumar Kovind

Models displaying the collection on the ramp

Gabrijela Nikolic with the winner’s trophy

56 golf digest india | january 2018

KPCL Golden Eagles Golf Championship Corporate Digest

CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP

C Sasidhar Scripts Success With The Golden Eagles Golf Championship

H

e is a trailblazer when it comes to promoting golf in India. Corporate tournaments have picked up in the country since the early 90s, but it has taken Golden Eagles Golf Championship just three years to firmly e stablish its elf as an event which combines unprecedented amount of glamour with golf. The tournament is also ideal for building sportsmanship and camaraderie among the maritime community.

And the man behind the flagship tournament i s M a n a g i n g D i re c to r of Krishnapatnam Port Company Limited (KPCL), Chinta Sasidhar.

Krishnapatnam Port is the chief port operations company of multidisciplinary engineering and construction maj or, Navayuga Group.

An avid golfer himself, Sasidhar has plans to develop a championship golf course - CVR Links near the Krishnapatnam Port container terminal in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh.

“As Nellore district has several industries and an integrated business centre like Sri City, we had several requests from industrialists for a golf course. More importantly, we wanted our port to match global standards in terms of clean air, environment, greenery and sea-linked sporting activity. Krishnapatnam Port has a beautiful sea and is a great location for a clean and green golf course. Since our plans are to have a cruise terminal at Krishnapatnam, golf as

a sport next to a port is a great business proposition and tourist attraction,” Sasidhar had told Golf Digest last year.

Sasidhar holds several positions across Navayuga businesses and has been the driving force behind the Group’s foray into urban infrastructure, irrigation projects and port operations. Further, his strong vision has led the Navayuga Group to diversify into the areas of exports, information technology (IT) and geospatial technologies.

S a s i d h a r ’s s t ro n g organisational abilities have helped achieve the fastest project execution and commissioning of Krishnapatnam Port – in a record time of 18 months.

Under his leadership, KPCL has received various accolades on domestic and global platforms such as, Port Operator Award Lloyd’s List (2010), Best Emerging Port (201 2), 1 2th Sailor Today Sea Shore Award (2013), The South East Asia Cargo and Logistics Award (2014) and the Golden Peacock Environment Management Awa r d ( 2 0 1 5 ) , a m o n g others.

And for his visionary leadership and for promoting Indian port development to international standards and recognition, Sasidhar was conferred the Indian Maritime Businessman of the Year Gateway Award (2015).

Truly a Captain of the high seas!

S a sidh a r’s s t r ong orga nis at ion a l a bili t ies h av e hel ped achie v e t he fa s t es t pr o jec t e x ecu t ion a nd commis sioning of K r ishn a pat n a m P or t – in a r ecor d t ime of 18 mon t hs january 2018 | golf digest india

57

Corporate Digest KPCL Golden Eagles Golf Championship

BREAKING BARRIERS A Trendsetter Among Indian Women, MANDIRA BEDI Talks Fitness And Golf

58 golf digest india | january 2018

KPCL Golden Eagles Golf Championship Corporate Digest

‘ Wher e v er I t r av el I m a k e sur e I ta k e m y running shoes.

E v en if I don’ t h av e acces s t o a gy m I de v el op m y ow n wor k ou t s. I wor k ou t in m y ho t el r oom or go f or a s w im.’

By Ro h i t Bhardwa j

“L

ife has its ups and downs. They are called squats” reads one of the messages on her Instagram handle. From gaining celebrity status for her role as a traditional Indian bahu in Shanti (a TV series on Doordarshan) to breaking the male bastion in television commentary during the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup, Mandira Bedi has not only challenged social taboos but also set standards for women to follow.

At 45, she could be easily mistkaken for a college grad and is perhaps the fittest television celebrity around. Golf Digest India caught up with her during the Krishnapatnam Port Golden Eagles Golf Championship last month to chat about her fitness regimen and what attracted her to the fairways.

“I have always remained connected with sports and have hosted a few golf events previously.

After IPL cricket happened, I’ve worked in hockey, kabaddi and golf.

This is the first golf course I’ve been to in Bengaluru and the first for the Golden Eagles Golf Championship.

It’s definitely the most stylish and the most lavish corporate event in the country,” says Mandira, who is married to film producer Raj Kaushal and is the mother of 6-year-old Vir.

What many don’t know is that Mandira comes from a golfing family.

“Every weekend, as far as I remember, my father would leave for golf. Even when it was pouring in Mumbai he would be playing his fourball at Willingdon Sports Club. My brother also plays – he drives 250. I would myself like to start playing golf, but it is a time consuming game. I take part in putting competitions but driving requires a lot of practice. When I do have the time I will,” she says with a smile.

So what is the secret behind Mandira’s toned body?

“I work out 5-6 times a week. If I can help it, I would work out on the 7th day as well. Wherever I travel I make sure I take my running shoes.

Even if I don’t have access to a gym I develop my own workouts. I work out in my hotel room or go for a swim for 1.5 kilometres. I do my own body weight workout with push-ups and squats.

I do atleast a 40 minute workout daily wherever I may be. I just factor that into my day. It’s become part of my life. I try to eat healthy. I like to keep active as much possible. I do different kind of things to break the monotony of a normal workout,” says the former presenter of Extraaa Innings during the IPL. Mandira wowed all the participants at the Golden Eagles Golf Championship by introducing them to a first-ofits-kind ‘blindfold putting’ competition, where one player in each fourball putting closest to pin while blindfolded received a pair of sunglasses.

Needless to say she was a popular host that day.

Golf Digest looks forward to seeing Mandira Bedi teeing it up one day soon.

INSTAGRAM: @mandirabedi

WATER BABY! Mandira enjoys a swim with son Vir

The TV personality wowed fans by putting her toned abs on display

FASHIONISTA: Mandira also designs her own brand of sarees

FUN TIME: With her son during a promotional shoot

january 2018 | golf digest india

59

Corporate Digest

Volvo World Golf Challenge

Chandigarh Pair Book World Finals Ticket

National Final winners Sahil Seghal (L) & Shalini Sheoran

T

he 9th edition of the Volvo World Golf Challenge concluded at Prestige Golfshire last month. And vying for a spot at the World Final next year in Sweden were the 18 winners from across 9 cities who played the National Final in Bengaluru.

The Volvo World G olf Challenge began its 9-city tour in the first week of October. Over nine weeks, the tournament travelled to Jaipur, New Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Pune, Mumbai and Hyderabad before culminating in Bengaluru which also hosted the National Final. Each event saw golfers turn out in large numbers and this season’s participation totalled over 900.

The final was a keenly contested affair as a slight breeze made the back 9 an absolute challenge for the golfers and it came down to those who took their chances. The duo from Chandigarh, Sahil Sehgal (Cat

National Finalists from all cities with Jyoti Malhotra, Head Marketing & Sales, Volvo Auto India

The Indian National Final winners will compete with golfers from 39 other countries at the Volvo World Golf Challenge World Finals in 2018

60 golf digest india | january 2018

Volvo World Golf Challenge BENGALURU

Corporate Digest Participants having fun on the fairways

All category winners of the Bangalore leg

A: 0-16) and Shalini Sheoran (Cat B: 17-24) were the eventual winners. The format of the event was modified stableford against the golfers 3/4th handicap. Sahil had 34 stableford points while Shalini had 37.

It was a remarkable achievement for Shalini as she was the only lady competing in the field. The understandably elated victor was also happy for not losing any golf balls as she had lost a host of them during the practice round!

Sahil, a young golfer from Chandigarh, was equally ecstatic about his win and expressed his eagerness to play in Sweden.

As it turned out, one of his golfing heroes - Henrik Stenson – is a Swede, and so the experience that awaits will perhaps be even more special!

Both the winners will be traveling to Sweden, the home of Volvo Auto, to play against competitors from 40 different countries in June 2018.

Winners - Bengaluru Leg Winner Cat A (Handicap 0-15): Girish BV Winner Cat B (Handicap 16-24): Ishwar Kapsi

HYDERABAD

Winners - Hyderabad Leg Winner Cat A (Handicap 0-17): Sridhar Reddy Winner Cat B (Handicap 18-24): Avinash Gupta Hyderabad leg winners Ananth Sridhar Reddy (L) & Avinash Gupta

Action from the Hyderabad leg

All category winners from the Hyderabad leg

january 2018 | golf digest india

61

Corporate Digest

Volvo World Golf Challenge

MUMBAI

Mumbai leg Cat. ‘A’ winner Rahul Hattangadi (extreme right) with his fourball

Striking a pose at the Mumbai leg

Winners - Mumbai Leg Winner Cat A (Handicap 0-16): Rahul Hattangadi Winner Cat B (Handicap 17-24): Sanjay Verma

Each event saw golfers turn out in large numbers and this season’s participation totalled over 900 Mumbai Cat. ‘B’ winner Sanjay Kumar (2nd from left)

PUNE Winners - Pune Leg Winner Cat A (Handicap 0-18): Rajender Datta Winner Cat B (Handicap 19-24): Gulab Ghule

Olympian Rehan Poncha with Charles Frump at the Pune leg

62 golf digest india | january 2018

Pune Cat. A winner Rajendra Dutta with Charles Frump, MD, Volvo Auto India

Volvo World Golf Challenge

Corporate Digest

AHMEDABAD

Golfing action at Kalhaar Blues & Greens, Ahmedabad Ahmedabad Cat. B winner Nirav M Soni

Ahmedabad Cat. A winner Pratik Patel

Winners - Ahmedabad Leg Winner Cat A (Handicap 0-21): Pratik Patel Winner Cat B (Handicap 22-24): Nirav Soni

Over nine weeks, the tournament travelled to Jaipur, New Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Pune, Mumbai and Hyderabad before culminating in Bengaluru which also hosted the National Final

Volvo World Golf Challenge 2017 DATE

VENUE

October 7

Rambagh Golf Club, Jaipur

October 13

Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort, Gr. Noida

November 3

Panchkula Golf Club, Chandigarh

November 10

The Palms Golf Club & Resort, Lucknow

November 18

Kalhaar Blues & Greens, Ahmedabad

November 24

Oxford Golf & Country Club, Pune

December 1

Willingdon Sports Club, Mumbai

December 8

Hyderabad Golf Association, Hyderabad

December 15

Prestige Golfshire, Bengaluru

NATIONAL FINAL December 16

Prestige Golfshire, Bengaluru

Completed legs

january 2018 | golf digest india

63

Corporate Digest

MercedesTrophy

MercedesTrophy Attracts Huge Participation

C

orporate golfers can look forward to a fabulous start to the New Year with the MercedesTrophy getting underway on January 4 at Oxford Golf Resort in Pune.

The 18th edition of the event has attracted more than 2,000 registrations at the time of going to press, making it the most popular choice among corporate golfers.

This year’s MercedesTrophy promises to be a one-of-a-kind experience with many firsts. The event has introduced a voluntary

64 golf digest india | january 2018

The finalists get a chance to visit the Mercedes-Benz Museum at Stuttgart

MercedesTrophy

Corporate Digest

MercedesTrophy has introduced a voluntary contribution for underprivileged kids in partnership with Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. The proceeds raised at the event will be used to fund development programmes

by Laureus-supported NGO, Magic Bus. contribution for underprivileged kids in partnership with Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Mercedes-Benz India will match the funds donated by participants.

The proceeds raised at MercedesTrophy 2018 will be used to fund development programmes by Laureus-supported Indiabased NGO, Magic Bus. Every year around 60,000 players from over 60 countries participate in the tournament with the sole aim of qualifying for the MercedesTrophy World Final in Stuttgart (Germany).

What’s more, MercedesTrophy winners and patrons get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to the British Open in Carnoustie (UK) this year for a unique playing experience courtesy MercedesBenz. Participants and their spouses are treated to champagne lunches on the golf courses.

This year, the tournament will be covering 12 cities spanning 27 days.

Further, the event also allows participants to introduce their family or friends to the game by organizing golf clinics at each venue.

MercedesTrophy India 2018 Schedule DATE 2018

CITY

VENUE

Jan 4 & 5

Pune

Oxford Golf Resort

Jan 6

Ahmedabad

Kalhar Blues & Greens

Jan 10 - 12

Mumbai

BPGC

Jan 17 - 19

Bengaluru

Prestige Golf Shire

Jan 24 & 25

Hyderabad

HGA

Jan 27

Coimbatore

Coimbatore Golf Club

Jan 31, Feb 1

Kolkata

Royal Calcutta Golf Club

Feb 15

Chennai

TNGF Cosmo

Feb 21, 22 & 23

Chandigarh

Panchkula Golf Course

Feb 27 & 28, March 1

Delhi

ITC Classic Golf Resort

March 7-9

Delhi

Jaypee Greens Golf Resort

March 11

Jaipur

Rambagh Golf Club

Pune

Oxford Golf Resort

National Final April 4 - 6

january 2018 | golf digest india

65

Corporate Digest

Isha Golf Jaunt

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev addresses the gathering

Golfing To Educate Rural India

G

olfers at Willingdon Golf Club, Mumbai, and Royal Calcutta Golf Club, Kolkata, were pleasantly surprised last month to see men, women and children standing silently at each hole, and holding a placard that read ‘Isha Vidhya’. For it was a special occasion – the Golf Jaunt.

Organised by Sadhguru and Isha Foundation, Golf Jaunt aims to make a difference in the lives of India’s most underprivileged rural children. It was the 6th edition of Isha Golf Jaunt in Mumbai, which saw 80 golfers tee off, and the very first in Kolkata, where 88 turned up.

The event sees elite golfers including pro golfers, Bollywood actors, bureaucrats, business leaders and cricketers to name a few - play a game of golf with Sadhguru himself and proceeds raised go towards sponsoring children’s education at Isha Vidhya schools.

Seeing the pressing need for quality education in rural India, Sadhguru started Isha Vidhya 11 years ago in Tamil Nadu. Since then, Isha Vidhya has grown

66 golf digest india | january 2018

Isha Foundation volunteers prior to the start of the event at Royal Calcutta Golf Club

Isha Golf Jaunt

Corporate Digest

Isha Golf jaunt attracted individuals across various age groups to support the cause of education for underprivileged children

Isha Vidhya is currently supporting over 3,000 government schools in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, directly benefitting over 150,000 students leaps and bounds under the mystic’s leadership and is currently supporting over 3,000 government schools in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, directly benefitting over 150,000 students. Isha Vidhya also runs its own schools, 9 of them in all, which benefit over 7,800 students. But “that’s just a drop in the ocean,” according to Sadhguru.

“The plight of millions of these rural Indian children is heart-wrenching. Isha Vidhya has made a difference in the lives of several thousand of such children, most of whom are first-generation school-goers,” says the yogi whose golf skill is the envy of many a golfer.

“It’s is one of the finest initiatives that would take the country to the next level,” opined S. Sampath Kumar, Senior Executive Vice President at HDFC. Even non-golfers lauded the initiative.

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev plays golf at Willingdon Golf Club in Mumbai Action during the Kolkata leg of the Isha Foundation event

january 2018 | golf digest india

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Corporate Digest

Northend Super Golf Series

Northend Sees Impressive Turnout

All category winners pose after the first leg of Northend Super Golf Series

H

osted by Amit Vaid (Managing Director, Northend Housing and Construction Pvt. Ltd.), the 3rd edition of the Northend Super Golf Series was held on December 2 at Jaypee Greens Golf Course in Greater Noida.

The event saw as many as 110 golfers participate, including diplomats, civil servants and C-suite executives.

Anil Dhasmana (Chief, Research and Analysis wing), H G S Dhaliwal, IPS (Joint Commissioner of Police, Delhi), Ambassador Chung-Kwang Tien (Taiwan Representative to India), Suman Billa, IAS (Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism) and Ajay Kumar Bisht (Commissioner, Delhi Development Authority) were some of the dignitaries who teed off on the fairways.

Players had a good time on a pleasant December day, with Anmol Puri and Vipendra Sabarwal emerging victorious in the (0-16) and (17-24) handicap categories respectively. Mohd. Ezzaz, meanwhile, won the Overall Nett Winner award.

The event saw as many as 110 golfers participate, including diplomats, civil servants and C-suite executives 68 golf digest india | january 2018

L-R: Deepak Kodwani, Ashish Sethi, Amit Vaid, Sirish Gupta and Sandeep Balooja

L-R: Joydeep Nayar, Mukesh Sharma, PK Gupta and Kishore Talukdar

Northend Super Golf Series

Corporate Digest

Anil Dhasmana

Sharad Jaipuria and Ambassador Chung-Kwang Tien (Taiwan Representative to India)

Anjum Parvez

Anil Kohli, Channi Anand, Anupam Bhargava and Sanjay Rastogi

Uday Kumar, Amit Vaid and Ashish Sethi

Mohd. Ezzaz holding the rolling trophy of the Northend Super Golf Series Sharad Jaipuria, Anurag Garg, Amit Vaid and Ashish Sethi

Sharad Jaipuria, Vipender Sabherwal and Amit Vaid

Anmol Puri and Vipendra Sabarwal emerged victorious in the (0-16) and (17-24) handicap categories respectively

SK Tomar

Northend Super Golf Series is supported

by Sharad Jaipuria (Chairman, Ginni International Limited) and Ashish Sethi (Managing Director, Belstone Hitech International).

It was also announced that Northend would conduct a tournament for junior golfers (14 years and under) in March 2018. january 2018 | golf digest india

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Corporate Digest

World Amateur Golfers Championship

Cornerstone Cup Winners Go International

L-R: WAGC Team - Anand Srinivasan, Manish Jaiswal, Uday Kumar, Rajesh Joshi, HB Raju Gowda, Hritik Gandhi, Indur Hirani

The Indian corporate contingent comprising Cornerstone Cup Karnataka Golf Festival winners HB Raju Gowda (0-5), Anand Srinivasan (6-10), Uday Kumar (11-15), Rajesh Joshi (16-20) and Manish Jaiswal (21-25) finished joint 12th in the World Amateur Golfers Championship (WAGC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 135 competitors from 27 countries participated in the tournament held from November 18 to 25.

The team from Vietnam emerged victorious while Indonesians finished runner-up. Participants played 4 tournament rounds and the 4 best scores out of 5 were counted towards WAGC winners.

157 other golfers from across the world played the invitational event, WAGI (World Amateur Golfers Championship Invitational), which was won by the Malaysians themselves.

Indur Hirani and Hritik Gandhi represented corporate India in the invitational. 4 world-class golf courses played host, viz. Sungai Long Golf & Country Club, The Mines Resort & Golf Club, Templer Park Country Club and Kota Permai Lang Golf & Country Club.

Anand Srinivasan waves the Indian Flag at the opening ceremony

The team from Vietnam emerged victorious while Indonesians finished runner-up

70 golf digest india | january 2018

L-R: Rajesh Joshi, Uday Kumar, Hritik Gandhi, Indur Hirani

Business of Golf

Kalhaar Crowned India’s Best At World Golf Awards

F

or the third consecutive year, Kalhaar Blues & Greens Golf Club was recognised as the country’s top course as it bagged the “Best Golf Course of India-2017” honour at the World Golf Awards in Spain.

The award was received by Devang Shah and Pranav Shah, Managing Directors of Navratna Organisers & Developers Pvt Ltd, at the gala and award ceremony held at La Manga Club.

Kalhaar b e at 15 o ther nominees from India to clinch the prestigious award.

“It feels great to be awarded third time in a row. It’s giving us immense pleasure,” Devang said after picking up the trophy.

Kalhaar Blues & Greens Golf Club is a world-class 18-hole championship golf course, designed by ‘Nicklaus Design’ - owned by legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus. Located in Ahmedabad, it is spread over 175 acres and has a length of 7,425 yards making it one of the longest in India.

The World Golf Awards celebrate and reward excellence in Golf Tourism, World Class Courses and Golf Destinations.

2018 IAGTO AWARD WINNERS Winners of the 2018 IAGTO Awards - golf tourism industry’s annual marquee of excellence, organised by global golf tourism trade organisation IAGTO - were announced during the Opening Address of the 20th International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, Cannes (France), in front of an audience of 1,300 international golf tourism delegates.

L-R: Michael Frost (MD, World Golf Awards), Devang Shah (MD, Kalhaar Blues & Greens) and Pranav Shah (MD, Kalhaar Blues & Greens)

Best Inbound Golf Tour Operator 2017: Pash India

Best Outbound Golf Tour Operator 2017: Golftripz

Top Honour For DLF G&CC At Asian Golf Awards DLF Golf and Country Club, Gurgon, bagged the prestigious ‘Best Course In India’ award at the Asian Golf Awards organised by Asia Pacific Golf Group. The award ceremony took place in Vietnam.

Sp e aking on the big win, Akash Ohri, Senior Executive Director, DLF Home Developers, said, “The entire DLF family is elated and humbled by this recognition. I am extremely proud of our golf team which works day in and day out to provide world class experience to the members of the Golf and Country Club.”

The Asia Pacific Golf Summit started in 2007 in Singapore. Since then, it has grown to become Asia Pacific’s top business networking event Vishal Bharti (R), AVP, DLF Golf & Country Club receives the award in Danang, Vietnam for the golf industry.

l Golf Destination of the Year, North America: North Carolina l Golf Destination of the Year, Latin America & Caribbean: The Bahamas l Golf Destination of the Year, Africa, the Gulf States & Indian Ocean: Dubai l Golf Destination of the Year, Europe: Costa Blanca, Spain l Golf Destination of the Year, Asia & Australasia: New Zealand l European Golf Resort of the Year: Aphrodite Hills, Cyprus l North American Golf Resort of the Year: Pebble Beach Resorts, USA l Golf Resort of the Year, Rest of the World: Fancourt, South Africa l Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year: Flanders, Belgium

First Tee To Pilot Innovative Scoring And Handicap System The world’s largest junior golf organisation First Tee has recognised the merits of Golf Points Index (GPI) and the first wave of chapters have already signed on to pilot the system in 2018.

GPI, which was launched last month, is a new golf scoring and handicap system based on points earned on each hole in relation to par.

It promises to provide golfers with a more equitable, engaging and fun way to keep score and track progress.

GPI awards a ½ point for a double-bogey, one point for a bogey, three points for a par, five points for a birdie, and

eight points for an eagle.

All other results get a 0.

Ron Zevy, the founder of GPI, argued: “How can a birdie only be worth one stroke less than a par when it is much, much harder to achieve?”

While GPI is not the first points based scoring system (Stableford is widely used around the world), it is the first and only one which incorporates the point totals into a working handicap index.

GPI will be a boon to recreational golfers and is especially geared to junior golfers, mid-tohigh handicappers and seniors.

january 2018 | golf digest india

71

Business of Golf

Video Review Protocols Introduced For Broadcasted Events stroke penalty for failing to include a penalty on the scorecard when the player was unaware of the penalty. “As technology has continued to evolve, it has allowed us to evolve how we operate as well,” said Thomas Pagel, USGA Senior Director of the Rules of Golf and Amateur Status.

David Rickman, Executive Director – Governance at The R&A, said: “Whilst players should continue to be penalised for all breaches of the Rules during a competition, including any that come to light after the scorecard is returned, an additional penalty for the scorecard error is not required.”

The new protocols also recognise the importance of limiting video review to material obtained from the committee’s broadcast partner. Other video, such as from an individual’s smartphone or camera, will not be used under these protocols.

Image: Rohit Bhardwaj

A working group led by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and The R&A has unanimously agreed to adopt a new set of protocols for video review when applying the Rules of Golf.

The group, comprising the PGA Tour, LPGA, PGA European Tour, Ladies European Tour and The PGA of America, as well as the governing bodies, will implement the following measures from January 1, 2018: l Assign one or more officials to monitor the video broadcast of a competition to help identify and resolve Rules issues as they arise l Discontinue any steps to facilitate or consider viewer call-ins as part of the Rules decision process In addition, the USGA and The R&A have approved the adoption of a Local Rule, available from January 1, to eliminate the additional two-

Grant Thornton To Partner PGA Tour; Sign Rickie Fowler Too

G

Rickie Fowler

72 golf digest india | january 2018

rant Thornton LLP a n d t h e P GA T O U R established dual five-year partnership agreements: one as a Proud Partner of THE PLAYERS Championship; and a second as an Official Marketing Partner of the PGA TOUR. In addition, Grant Thornton signed a separate partnership with professional golfer Rickie Fowler, who won THE PLAYERS in 2015 and also clinched the 2017 Hero World Challenge.

“Grant Thornton is the kind of acclaimed organization that aligns with the vision and values of the PGA TOUR and THE PLAYERS Championship,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan.

Rickie Fowler, the World No. 7, is known for his thoughtful and innovative approach on and off the course. From 2018, he will sport Grant Thornton’s logo on his right chest in all competitive rounds on the PGA TOUR, and in other professional appearances.

“Rickie Fowler is one of the most respected and transformational athletes in the world today, not to mention the game of golf,” said Mike McGuire, Grant Thornton’s CEO. “Nobody is better at challenging convention and being transformational.”

John Harmeling, Chief Marketing Officer at Grant Thornton, added: “In chorus with our sponsorships of the PGA TOUR and THE PLAYERS Championship, Rickie is a perfect fit for our ‘Status Go’ brand positioning – challenging the status quo in a forwardthinking, modern, and differencemaking way.”

Fowler echoed the sentiment, “Grant Thornton is a leader in professional services; I’m really drawn to the firm’s ‘Status Go’ approach. It lets them work for clients in an unexpected way to solve problems, stand out and win.”

Business of Golf

Sergio Garcia Named 2017 Hilton European Tour Golfer Of The Year

Sergio Garcia

Spain’s Sergio Garcia was named the Hilton European Tour Golfer of the Year for 2017, receiving the prestigious annual award for the first time.

Garcia enjoyed a phenomenal 12 months on the global stage - winning three times on the European Tour - including an emotional first Major

Championship at Augusta, and in recognition of his achievements throughout 2017, a panel consisting of members of the golfing media voted him winner.

“This is an amazing honour,” said Garcia, whose year of celebration also included marrying Angela Akins in July.

“I THINK BOTH ON AND OFF THE GOLF COURSE IT HAS BEEN A UNIQUE AND UNBELIEVABLE YEAR, AND ONE THAT I WILL DEFINITELY REMEMBER MY WHOLE LIFE.” — SERGIO GARCIA

4 Golfers In Top-6 All-Time Highest-Paid Athletes List Golf legends Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, 14time Major winner Tiger Woods and 3-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson feature in the top-10 All-Time Highest-Paid Athletes list released by Forbes.

The earnings estimates include salaries, bonuses, prize money, endorsements and licensing, as well as fees from books, golf course designs and appearances. Earnings cover from the time the athletes turned pro through June 1, 2017, and include money earned after their playing careers were over, as well as earnings by the estate in the case of Arnold Palmer. It does not include investment income, and all figures are adjusted for inflation.

Player

Career earnings ($)

1.

Michael Jordan

1.85 billion

2.

Tiger Woods

1.7 billion

3.

Arnold Palmer

1.4 billion

4.

Jack Nicklaus

1.2 billion

5.

Michael Schumacher

1 billion

6.

Phil Mickelson

815 million

7.

Kobe Bryant

800 million

7.

David Beckham

800 million

9.

Floyd Mayweather

785 million

10.

Shaquille O’Neal

735 million

Notable mentions: 11.

LeBron James

730 million

12.

Cristiano Ronaldo

725 million

15.

Roger Federer

675 million

16.

Lionel Messi

600 million

Tiger Woods

New Name For Flagship Asian LPGA Event

HSBC’s flagship LPGA event will take on a new name in 2018. Formerly known as the HSBC Women’s Champions, the 11th edition of the event that will be headlined by defending champion and Olympic Gold Medallist Park In-bee will be called the HSBC Women’s World Championship.

To take place from March 1-4, the tournament will return to the New Tanjong Course at Sentosa Golf Club, a Golf Course Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

HSBC, a long-time global supporter of golfers at every level, will invite the winner of the 2018 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific to play in the HSBC Women’s World Championship.

Reigning champion Park, a seven-time Major winner, said: “This event is very special to all of us on the LPGA. I love the name change and it definitely reflects the stature the tournament has achieved over the years.”

R&A INTRODUCES NEW GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2018

Almost a year after its merger with the Ladies’ Golf Union, The R&A announced the first significant changes to its women’s amateur calendar with the creation of a new championship for girls. Beginning in 2018, The R&A will conduct the Girls Under-16s Open Championship — a 90-player, 54-hole stroke-play tournament intended as a bridge for young female golfers in Great Britain & Ireland from the junior ranks to elite amateur golf. “There is clearly a need to provide more opportunity for young girls to compete at the top level, and this event will be an important and valuable addition to the amateur golf calendar,” said Duncan Weir, R&A executive director, golf development, in a press release. The inaugural event will take place April 27-29 at Fulford, England. january 2018 | golf digest india

73

Hi-Life Lifestyle

To share news on your products or updates on new launches, please email Karthik@rnsportsmarketing.com

GADGETS

GEAR YOUR SELF AHEAD OF THE NEXT TEE!

GEAR SPORT

In a move that is sure to attract gadget aficionados and sport and fitness enthusiasts alike, Samsung unveiled two new devices in the wearable segment: the sleek and versatile smartwatch Gear Sport, and the GPS-enabled fitness band with smart features Gear Fit2 Pro.

GEAR FIT2 PRO

Gear Sport will be a relief for the confused buyer who isn’t clear whether to go for a smartwatch that supports apps and notifications or a band that tracks fitness. The cutting-edge timepiece does a remarkable job of bridging the gap between the two requirements while not compromising on the overall feel. For starters, its intuitive rotating bezel UI makes it easy to use and one can seamlessly browse panels such as watch face, calories burned, steps taken, floors climbed, heart rate, workouts done, and more. Colours are rich on the 1.2” AMOLED display and screen readability does not suffer outdoors either. One can also easily get two to three days on a single charge provided the ‘Always On’ display mode isn’t active (wireless charging dock included).

Flaunting a 1.5” curved Super AMOLED display that leaves the average wearable in the shade, Gear Fit2 Pro builds on its highly acclaimed predecessor, the Fit2. While there’s not much change when it comes to battery (easily lasts three to four days on a single charge) and processor, the Pro gets a built-in GPS and support for a host of fitness-centric apps.

Samsung has doubled-down on the ruggedness of both devices, without sacrificing any aspect of the premium feel, and they can withstand up to 5atm pressure. They are also equipped with a highly accurate heart-rate monitor and activity detector (that identifies activities such as tennis, basketball or even dance moves). And if that’s not all, Samsung’s partnerships with premium apps like Under Armour, MapMyRun and Endomondo ensure users are provided with a comprehensive picture of their wealth and fitness. Golfers, meanwhile, can use apps like Smart Caddie, Golf Navi and Slam Dunq Golf whenever they tee off.

74 golf digest india | january 2018

Price: Rs 22,990

Gear Sport specifications Colour

Black, Blue

Display

1.2” Circular Super AMOLED 360 x 360, Full Color Always On Display, Corning ® Gorilla ® Glass 3

Price: Rs 13,590 Gear Fit2 Pro specifications Colour

Black, Red

Display

1.5” Curved Super AMOLED 216 x 432, Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3

AP

Dual Core 1.0 GHz

AP

Dual Core 1.0 GHz

OS

Tizen

Size

42.9 (W) x 44.6 (H) x 11.6 (D) mm 50g (without band)

OS

Tizen

Strap

20mm

Size

Memory

4GB Internal memory, 768MB RAM

25.0 (W) x 51.3 (H) mm 34g (Large), 33g (Small)

Memory

Connectivity

Bluetooth® v4.2, Wi-Fi b/g/n, NFC, GPS/GLONASS

4GB Internal memory, 512MB RAM

Connectivity

Sensor

Accelerometer, Gyro, Barometer, HRM, Ambient light

Bluetooth® v4.2, Wi-Fi b/g/n, GPS/GLONASS/

Sensor

Accelerometer, Gyro, Barometer, HRM

Battery

300mAh

Battery

200mAh

Lifestyle

WATCHES

QUALITY AND RELIABILITY, REINFORCED

Powered by the IWCmanufactured 69375-calibre movement with a bidirectional pawl-winding system and a 46-hour power reserve, the Ingenieur Chrongraph combines precision and sporty elegance with functionality. It has a water resistance of 12 bar and, when wsed in combination with the tachymeter scale, also shows the average speed achieved over a measured distance of 1,000 metres. While the stainless-steel model with a stainless-steel bracelet features a blue dial and rhodium-plated hands, the transparent sapphire-glass back in all models provides a view of the 69375-calibre movement.

Price: On Request

Price: On Request

ACCESSORIES

X-MAS GIFTING IDEAS COURTESY VICTORINOX TRAVEL GEAR The Spectra collection offers users the convenience of multiple cases in one. Taking hard-side luggage to the next level, the new styles are equipped with an integrated expansion system and allows travellers to customize the case to the size they need.

Price - Rs. 23,800

WATCH Flaunting a sandblasted titanium case, the I.N.O.X. Titanium Sky High Limited Edition timepiece is the latest addition to the adventureloving watch collection.

A trusted timekeeping tool that functions reliably under absolutely any circumstances, this premium device is testament to, and a direct celebration of, the fact that Swiss Army knives are an official part of the kit that many astronauts take with them to space!

POCKET KNIFE The Victorinox Explorer pocket knife comes with a special, tactile surface structure on the scales. The relief print gives imprinted snowflakes a premium feel. And together with the in-laid steel Cross & Shield, this elegant tool is a real eye-catcher. This special, global edition is produced in a limited series of 15,000 pieces.

Price - Rs. 4,840

Price - Rs. 54,000 january 2018 | golf digest india

75

Lifestyle

SPLURGE

In partnership with THE MAN magazine

Make a statement off the course

TOL Wall Light Price: `35,000

An everlasting Moment in porcelain from Lladro Price: `1,58,000

Faber coffee machine making coffee Price: On request; faberindia.com

Adidas Ultraboost Laceless Price: `20,999

The Singleton of Glen Ord 12-Year-Old Launches a Limited Edition Gift Pack Price: `6,500 (Mumbai); `5,000 (Delhi)

Trolley by FENDI and RIMOWA Price: `1,38,900; FENDI Boutique, DLF Emporio, Delhi

Lift & Slide and Bi-fold door from Deceuninck Price: door starts from `2,500 sq. ft DLF Mall, Saket, New Delhi

76 golf digest india | january 2018

Lifestyle

Enjoy Turkish Delight The Ideal Golf Getaway This Winter

T

urkey, in recent years, has become a prime destination for golfers – professionals and enthusiasts alike. For starters, it offers travellers a warm winter vacation spot and the country has also assimilated the idea of being viewed as a golf retreat.

Not only does Turkey have a plethora of golf courses to attract both players and tourists, it has also been the backdrop of some premier tournaments on the Tour such as the US$7mn Turkish Airlines Open, a European Tour Rolex Series event no less, held at the highly

acclaimed Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort.

Turkish Airlines, the country’s national air carrier, also established the World Golf Cup - an annual, widereaching corporate amateur golf tournament - which sees participation from 60 countries including India. And frequent fliers from India and around the world will be in for a pleasant surprise during their next layover at Istanbul.

With a covered area of 6,000 square metres, the “Turkish Airlines Lounge İstanbul” is equipped with a cinema, a library, a variety of television screens (with headsets), kids’ corner and food stations. It also has locker rooms, suites, billiards tables, golf and racing simulators, undulation massage beds and masseurs, and will certainly appeal to people of all ages. Gastronomes can treat their taste buds to different cuisines, such as Turkish kebabs, pide (Turkish pizza), köfte (meatballs), pasta, noodles and more along with various confectioneries and beverages (alcoholic and otherwise). One can also enjoy live piano performances at the garden area which houses a 150-year-old olive tree!

Not surprisingly, Skytrax - the world’s leading air transport rating organization - awarded it the “Best Business Class Lounge Dining” for two straight years.

Operated by gourmet entertainment company DO & CO, Turkish Airlines Lounge İstanbul has 80 staff members working round the clock and can accommodate close to 1,250 passengers at once.

Turkish Airlines, which is among the world’s fastest growing air carriers, has 12 lounges spread across domestic terminals in Turkey and 3 in international ones. Turkish Airlines-branded lounges are also located in Washington DC, Moscow and Nairobi with more facilities on their way. january 2018 | golf digest india

77

edited by peter finch

Shark Attack Greg Norman, 62, is dangerous as ever e doesn’t play much competitive golf anymore, but don’t get the idea Greg Norman is slowing down. The winner of two majors and 91 tournaments worldwide recently met with Golf Digest Editorial Director Max Adler to share his current thinking on naked workouts, playing shirtless, music on the course, and more.

i enjoy hiking , horseback riding, scuba diving, hunting and more, but one thing I never got the hang of was kiteboarding.

My son, Gregory, tried to teach me in Cape Hatteras [N.C.].

I face-planted so many times I had saltwater coming out every orifice. Not doing that again.

i work out in the dark , often

the closest I’ve ever come to

naked. It feels good to me. I have a better sense of my body’s alignment, the relationship of my muscles to the machines and weights, and I tend to just let myself go a bit more. ●●●

i like a broad range of music

genres, but in the gym I’ll maybe put on some electronic dance to kick me up a bit. On the golf course, maybe some light jazz.

●●●

i was possibly the first tour pro

to hire a trainer. It was 1991, and Pete Draovitch was a prominent sports therapist in Palm Beach.

He wasn’t a golfer—I had to teach him what golf muscles were—but Pete understood how to help a person achieve his or her ideal balance of strength and flexibility. Our anatomies are as unique as fingerprints. The exercises that are right for you aren’t necessarily right for me. I’m wary of trainers that look like Mr. Universe and think that’s how everyone ought to look.

There’s golf-fit and ego-fit, and caring about the latter is how players get injured. Pete kept me healthy during the heart of my career. I still alternate among the programs he designed for me, and I never get bored.

i have some friends who give

me stick about my Instagram posts. My kids think nothing of it—they know that’s who I am. The one of me naked in the mountain spring that went viral? That was my wife’s doing.

When your wife says you look hot and wants to snap a photo, that’s a good thing.

●●●

i’ve been to resorts where the guys play in bathing suits, and even some of the gals, too. I used to practice shirtless in my back yard. Obviously, it won’t work at all courses, but there’s nothing wrong with giving the option. ●●●

for the past four years I’ve

been working on something called the Shark Experience, and it’s finally here. Club Car is building 50,000 carts with Bluetooth-enabled screens that can stream music, sports, news— whatever applications the world can imagine—through speakers designed, by the shape of the cone and its angle of mounting, to keep the sound within the cart. To grow golf in these times you need to give people the choice of staying connected.

78 golf digest india | january 2018

●●●

death was probably when I was a teen. A friend and I went hunting in the Australian outback.

There are certain times of year when black snakes will be very aggressive if you enter their territory. One came after us. We ran and jumped onto the hood of our car. We shot and shot, missing, as it came at us. We don’t know who hit it, but we got it at the last possible second. ●●●

the fastest I’ve driven a car

on a freeway is 312 kilometers per hour [194 mph]. It was in the Middle East, and this guy let me get behind the wheel of his new Lamborghini. I said, “How fast have you pushed this thing?” He said, “Not much.” The torque was incredible, how the car kept pulling and pulling. I glanced down at 308, and the engine still hadn’t backed off. Time to stop.

The guy had turned white.

●●●

still on my bucket list is to go

diving under the Antarctic ice pack. I’ve seen documentaries about this that look amazing.

It’s all about understanding the weather system. You cut a hole and go down on a tethered line, and if that hole freezes over, you’re done.

courtesy of greg norman

H

“When your wife says you look hot and wants to snap a photo, that’s a good thing.”

instagreg Norman and his abs go for a ride in the Bahamas.

LEARN TO SMASH A WOOD AND STIFF A WEDGE, AND THE COURSE IS YOURS BY RICKIE FOWLER

1

gutter credit tk

in any given round, your score largely comes down to how you play the “tweeners.” A tweener is any hole where the par on the scorecard doesn’t feel like the par for you. Your expectation lies somewhere between, which means it’s an opportunity. If you’re a long hitter, a par 5 where you can get on or near the green in two strokes is a tweener. A five almost seems like a bogey, so the hole is essentially a par 4½. More typical for amateurs is facing a par 4 that’s a beast, where you’re destined to be hitting a fairway wood for the second shot no matter how well you hit the drive. Pitch on and two-putt, and you walk away with a bogey even though you didn’t make a mistake. Or make the putt, and that par is a big boost of momentum, almost like a birdie. On the PGA Tour, we even consider some drivable par 4s as tweeners, because you’re giving a little back to the field each time you don’t make a 3. What do these holes have in common? No matter who you are, the skills to score on them are twofold. You have to be able to smash a wood up around the green and then pitch a wedge close enough to give yourself a good chance to make the putt. The technical keys to these two shots couldn’t be more different, but if you can link this combination of power and touch, you can really take advantage of the tweeners. Let me show you how. —with max adler

80 golfdigest.com | month 2017

PUNCH

2

1

GET DEEP I like a 3-wood that flies with a small draw and tumbles after it lands. To get

this trajectory, the key is a flatter swing that travels more around the body—almost as if you’re swinging a baseball bat. Note the deep position of my hands (far, left). They’re behind my hips and heels. From there, I have a ton of space to attack the ball from the inside to get that draw. What you don’t want is for the hands to get too high at the top, or they’ll come down steeply and take a chunky divot, which is a no-no with a fairway wood.

The other fault is swinging too quick.

Even though it’s a distance club, your primary goal is clean contact, so have a relaxed pause at the top.

My tempo with a 3-wood feels as smooth as it does with a short iron.

2

RESET FOR FINESSE Now that you’ve bashed a 3-wood up by the green, it’s time for a more delicate

shot. To pitch it on, take a stance that’s narrow and slightly open (near, left).

Having the feet close together helps limit lower-body movement for better contact. And standing open encourages a slight out-to-in path, which adds height to the shot so you can hold the green. If you start to freeze over gutter credit tk

the ball, take one more glance at the flag and then pull the trigger. Because distance control is the priority, an extra look at the target gives your mind a last dose of confidence.

Photograph by First Lastname

golf digest india

81

3

3

RELEASE THE CLUB I see three very positive aspects in this photo (left). It was

taken after impact, yet my back heel is just beginning to rise off the turf. That tells me I generated power by using the ground. I also like how the inside of my right wrist is rubbing against the inside of my left wrist. When people talk about releasing the club, this is the move they mean—the clubhead is getting thrown down the target line with speed. Last, notice how you can see a slice of sky between my right shoulder and my chin. I work on posture, and a fault I sometimes battle is getting too hunched over. Not here. I’ve stayed tall, giving my right shoulder plenty of room to rotate underneath. This ball was spanked. approaches from 275 yards+

(proximity to hole)

63’ 9” 6th on pga tour (2017)

gutter credit tk

‘THE INSIDE OF MY RIGHT WRIST IS RUBBING AGAINST THE INSIDE OF MY LEFT.’

Photographs by Walter Iooss Jr.

Photograph by First Lastname

4 ‘EVEN ON A VERY SHORT PITCH, LET THE FACE ROTATE OPEN.’

4

ROTATE SOFTLY On a pitch shot, there’s almost no body turn going back. It’s really

just the arms softly flowing back into place. The biggest mistake amateurs make is they get tight in the forearms and bring the clubface back shut. Then they stick the leading edge into the ground and flub the shot, or hit it hot over the green. Even on a very short pitch, let the face rotate open as you take it back so the toe of the club points to the sky (right). From there, it’s all about swinging down along your toe line and making a ball-first strike. Don’t hang back and flip your wrists. Allow your hips and shoulders to rotate so that your chest finishes at the target. Then go sink the putt.

gutter credit tk

scrambling

63.9% 8th on pga tour (2017)

Photograph by First Lastname

month 2017 | golfdigest.com

83

Play Your Best Strategy by Jack Nicklaus

“Your pitch mark shows how far you’re really hitting it.”

SET UP AN APPROACH FROM ABOVE Driving the ball in the fairway is essential to taking advantage of a hole like this. The hole is relatively flat from the tee box to this landing area, but then the fairway slopes dramatically down to the green. Your opportunity to exploit the gradient is with the second shot.

You’ll need a clean lie to hit a towering long approach. The longer a fairway-wood or longiron shot can hang in the air, the greater the distance boost you get from the downslope.

MIND THE KEY BUNKER

CALCULATE A GOOD NUMBER

This large bunker dictates most of your strategy. If you can carry it with the second shot, the downslope of the fairway will pitch the ball forward onto the green. If you’re not sure you can carry this bunker, you really should lay short.

A 50-yard bunker shot is the most difficult play in golf. Put a ball in this bunker with your second shot, and you’re going to struggle to make a 5.

If you miss the fairway with the tee shot, try to run your second down to here. Your remaining yardage to the flagstick will be about 100 yards, but remember to subtract 2 percent for every 1,000 feet of elevation.

Here your approach will play like 82 yards instead of 100. And because going over this green is real trouble—the downslope kicks balls into the trees—a 75-yard swing is the smart and safe play.

High Hopes Picking the right club at elevation

84 golf digest india | january 2018

above sea level, so the holes typically play 18-percent shorter than their listed yardage.

Illustrated here is the 559-yard, par-5 17th.

Eighteen percent of 559 is roughly 100, so first calculate that the hole plays 459 yards.

But because the tee box is 63 feet higher than the green, the hole plays closer to 450 yards.

That means golfers who normally don’t reach par 5s in two might have a real chance to get home on this hole. The lesson: At higher elevations, never be intimidated by the yardage on the card. — with max adler

dial in for the day ▶ Elevation is a big factor in how far the ball carries, but humidity, temperature and how well you’re swinging on a given day also are important. If your irons are flying five yards less than normal, you need to recognize that ASAP and adjust. My trick was for my first few solid approaches, I always paced my pitch mark to a yardage I knew for certain, like the flagstick or front of the green. That let me know if I needed to modify my usual carry distances for the rest of the round.

Illustration by Chris O’Riley

Scott Halleran/Getty ImaGeS

laying in the mountains is a special experience. Besides the aesthetic pleasure of seeing for miles in many directions, it’s thrilling how the ball cuts through the thin air and flies farther than you’re accustomed. But if you don’t know how to account for this newfound power, you’re going to struggle with club selection.

My rule is to subtract 2 percent of the yardage for every 1,000 feet of altitude. The Summit Course at The Club at Cordillera, which I designed in Vail, Colo., is 9,000 feet

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Tee to Green by Butch Harmon Play Your Best

he biggest mistake golfers make from the fairway is not taking enough club.

Whether it’s an ego thing or not knowing their distances, so many golfers are doomed to miss greens before they step up to the ball.

How do you know if you’re guilty of this?

The simple answer is, you’re hitting the ball solid, and it’s coming short.

But more likely, TARDEup FOR NOW you’re swinging out of control, because you subconsciously know you don’t have the right stick.

With the longer clubs, trying to add power usually means a fat shot. You rush the downswing and never get your weight to your front side, so you crash into the ground behind the ball. Take an extra club, and focus on shifting your lower body toward the target to start the downswing.

For short irons and wedges, you might find it easier to catch the ball solid, but you’re still missing the green. With those clubs, weight shift is less of an issue. It’s more about the arms and shoulders going too hard at the ball, which throws the club onto an out-to-in path. That typically results in a pull. Go easier from the top, and feel the club falling to the inside coming down.

So the next time you’re picking a club from the fairway, ask yourself, Should I take one more?

I bet the answer is obvious.

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Fast Fix to Hit More Greens Don’t let a bad decision sabotage your shots

—with peter morrice

illustration: tim l ahan

Butch Harmon is a Golf Digest Teaching Professional. His charity is Harmon’s Heroes.

the art of laying up (or not) If a green is just out of reach, what do you do?

Well, if your short game is really sharp, get as close to the green as you can. For you, the odds of getting up and down improve the closer you get. But if you’re a high-handicapper, it’s smarter to leave yourself a three-quarter or full swing, because those

30- or 40-yard shots can be difficult. In between is the average golfer, and the best strategy depends on the situation. If getting close leaves you with a tricky pitch over a deep front bunker, lay it back. But if there’s no major trouble around the green, give it a go. The point is, you have to think one shot ahead.

Photographs by Dom Furore

Play Your Best Swing Sequence yeong Hun (Ben) An is a name you probably should know. Not just for the fact that in 2009, at 17, he became the youngest U.S. Amateur champion.

And not because he won the 2015 BMW PGA Championship on the European Tour with a record score of 21 under par. Remember Big Ben because, now in his second full season on the PGA Tour, he’s on the verge of becom-

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Ben An With a swing like his, put this 20-something on your watch list

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ing one of the game’s elite players, says his coach, David Leadbetter.

“Definitely one to watch,” says Leadbetter, who started working with the Koreanborn golfer in 2005 when An’s family moved to Florida. “He knows it’s within his power to play world-class golf.”

Ranked 76th in the world through October 2017, An can use his size (6-foot-2, 210

pounds) to overpower many golf courses.

Though his putting needs improvement—he ranked 172nd on tour in 2017 in the strokes gained/putting stat—there’s enough potential that An is drawing some comparisons to other brawny golfers in their mid 20s, such as Brooks Koepka and Hideki Matsuyama.

“He really does have a great all-around game,” Leadbetter says. — ron kaspriske

KEEP IT SIMPLE

WIND IT UP

GET SHORTY

Ben’s swing is simple and efficient, says his swing coach, David Leadbetter. “We’ve worked to build a repetitive swing where he doesn’t have to overthink,” Leadbetter says. “It starts with a solid setup. His hands are fractionally behind the ball. That allows him to shift away with minimum fuss.”

As the left shoulder moves down and away from the target, he’s winding his core against his lower body. “It’s a big winding of the core,” Leadbetter says. “Part of what makes that possible is how stable his feet and knees are as he takes the club back.” That torquing action against a stable base stores power.

“As his club reaches the top, this is where you really see how efficient Ben’s swing is,” Leadbetter says. “He’s fully wound up with his core, but look at how short his arm swing appears.

This is one of the things he’s worked on the past couple years to build consistency.

It’s a move easier to repeat.”

2016-2017 pg a tour se a son

▶ STROKES GAINED / TEE TO GREEN

▶ APPROACHES 100-125 YARDS

1.809

.075

.974

Dustin Johnson (1st)

Tour average

Ben An (18th)

15’7”

Ben An (1st)

20’2”

26’5”

Tour average

Martin Laird (190th) source: shotlink

STOP SPINNING A flaw An has worked hard to correct is how his body moves in the downswing, Leadbetter says. “He used to spin out early—that left side really opening.” Now, thanks to the simple backswing, he can make a healthy lateral shift toward the target as the club starts down, Leadbetter says.

No more spin out.

FIRE AWAY

REACH FOR IT

PRO-FILE

“You can see he’s really firing his right side into a braced left side,” Leadbetter says. “It’s a powerful move. He can do this because he’s cleared his body and still has great lag between his hands and the clubhead,” Leadbetter says. “Another thing to admire: His left arm and chest are connected.”

He’s synced up.

Maintaining full extension in the arms and club after impact is a sign of a well-hit ball. “He has wonderful extension,” Leadbetter says. “He swings to a beautifully poised and balanced finish. He finishes like this with all his clubs.

It’s his trademark.”

A trademark made possible by the simplicity of his swing.

byeong hun an 26 / 6-2 / 210 pounds Seoul, South Korea irons Titleist 716 MB, T-MB ball Titleist Pro V1x

Photographs by J.D. Cuban

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TT HA BA BA T NO BY, D N LO I T ' EW NGE S CO S F R H LD OR AS OU YO U T O T S I R S ME DE WI AN NG

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ou’re not into skiing; you can’t skate; you built your last snowman 27 years ago, and that whole dusk at 4:25 p.m. thing really gets you down. We get it. Winter sucks. For those of us who don’t have a nourishing cold-weather activity to pass the time between golf seasons, the “dark months” are brutal. Even worse, as we peek out the window, wondering if it will ever be playable again, our golf games turn to crap. By the time spring rolls around, we’re struggling just to put the ball in play.  Though we understand this annual plight, it doesn’t have to be this way. There’s no need to let your game get rusty. These days there are commercial simulators, indoor practice centers, hitting bays with heaters, even software that turns your flatscreen into a virtual-golf experience. What we’re trying to say is that you don’t have to put your sticks away if you live in Frostbite Falls, Minnesota. Just practice anywhere it’s warm. On the following pages, tour pros such as Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Cheyenne Woods, and top instructors including David Leadbetter and Stan Utley (right) are going to teach you how to winterize your game while you wait for the big thaw. And for you Sunbelt golfers, these tips work outdoors, too. —ron kaspriske

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Photograph by First Lastname

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Photograph by J.D. Cuban

GET COMFORTABLE PITCHING OFF TIGHT LIES

BY STAN UTLEY hether you’re making swings on artificial turf, like I am here at this indoor facility (previous page), or you’re practicing on berber in your den, you can get a feel for how your wedge needs to slide along the surface to execute a pitch from a tight or hardpan lie.

Come in too steep, and you’re going to feel that hard impact all the way up your arms. Stand tall and swing so the wedge’s sole skims along the ground.

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utley is one of Golf Digest’s 50 Best Teachers in America.

USE THIS TIME TO MAKE A PUTTING CHANGE— FOR THE BETTER

BY HANK HANEY he racks are filled with all kinds of putters designed to make rolling the ball easier, and that’s great for some players. But the best putterhead technology in the world isn’t going to help if you can’t control the face through impact. If you think you have the yips, or generally struggle to hit putts on the line you’ve chosen, don’t be afraid to try different ways to hold the club, as well as grips of different shapes and sizes. Shaking things up can really change the way your hands and wrists respond through impact and can calm down extra movement.

Here I’m holding an oversize putting grip. If you’re still using a grip of standard thickness, just the different feeling of holding this grip can do wonders for a shaky stroke. It has saved plenty of careers on the professional tours, believe me, and can make putting fun for you again.

haney is one of Golf Digest’s 50 Best Teachers in America.

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HIT SOLID CHIPS WITH YOUR KNEES

BY DAVID LEADBETTER hipping indoors is a time-honored way to get your golf fix on inclement days. But rather than doing it mindlessly, use this time to improve your lower-body action. Many amateurs hit these shots off their back foot, trying to lift the ball into the air. If you hang back with a cushy lie, you might get lucky and still chip it OK. But do it on a door mat, and you might ricochet one off the china cabinet. The goal is to get your weight on the front foot and hit down on the ball. A good technique to ensure that happens is to move your back knee toward the target as you swing down. It can even bump the front knee. This will help you hit it solid. Check this move in front of a mirror to confirm what you’re doing.

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leadbetter is one of Golf Digest’s 50 Best Teachers in America.

previous page: j.d. cuban • como, haney, hull, leadbetter: j.d. cuban • spieth: walter iooss jr.

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LEARN TO TAKE IT EASY WHEN YOU PUTT

BY JORDAN SPIETH utting problems often stem from effort—too much effort. I see a lot of amateurs strangle the grip and then make a jabby stroke. The result is typically a miss, usually short, often crooked. If you make a softer, quieter stroke, the result will almost always be better. Spend this offseason developing smooth tempo by swinging your phone charger back and forth—heavy end hanging down—like you’re making a putting stroke.

Notice how you can’t do it if you use too much muscle.

You have to stay smooth. Duplicate this effort with a putter in your hands to make a better stroke.

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spieth is a Golf Digest Playing Editor.

SEE HOW MANY SHOTS YOU CAN PULL OFF WITH ONE WEDGE BY CHRIS COMO onventional wisdom in pitching is that you use different clubs to change trajectories. For example, use a 60-degree lob wedge for the soft, floating shots and a 50-degree gap wedge for those low checkers. That’s fine, but I’d rather see you get versatile with just one club. Spend this winter using your sand wedge to hit a variety of pitch shots. Try to hit it super high; make the ball grab and stop; see if you can get it to run out once it lands.

Why only one club? It helps improve feel, and that’s super important in the short game.

You get more control over your angles of attack and experience different kinds of contact.

When it comes time to play again, you’ll have so much more confidence and flexibility with that one club, and your scoring should improve because you’ll be more comfortable in a variety of short-game situations.

As a bonus, practicing with one wedge this way will eventually help you be more versatile with all the clubs in your bag. You’ll have so many more tools to navigate a round of golf.

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como is one of Golf Digest’s 50 Best Teachers in America.

FINE-TUNE YOUR PUTTING SETUP NOW!

BY CHARLEY HULL ith putting, even the most subtle changes can feel really awkward at first. That’s why it’s smart to make them in the offseason.

Be prepared that your putting might get worse before it gets better, but you can’t ignore the importance of fine-tuning— especially your setup. One of the most important things I concentrate on in practice is eye positioning. You should check to make sure your eyes are either directly over the ball or just inside of it, otherwise you’ll probably struggle to hit the putt on the line that you see. You can check your eye positioning by simply setting up for a putt and dropping another ball from your eyes to the ground. Wherever it lands is directly below where your eyes are set. I’ve been working on getting my eyes just inside the ball I address, rather than directly over it. I roll it on line better this way. Give it a try.

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hull won the LPGA Tour’s 2016 CME Group Tour Championship. january 2018 | golf digest india

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‘YOU CAN STILL WORK ON EVERYTHING FROM GRIP TO TEMPO IN THE WINTER.’

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Photograph by First Lastname

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DON’T LET YOUR DRIVER SWING GET STAGNANT BY CHEYENNE WOODS

It’s time to—finally— come up with a pre-shot routine. This helps maintain consistency in your tee game, making sure things such as ball position and body alignment never vary. Try different choreography and see what you feel the most comfortable doing, such as walking in from behind the ball, waggling, making rehearsal swings, etc.

You can even figure all this out in your living room. The point is, once you have a routine that you like, always follow it to reinforce consistency.

If you can find a range with heated stalls or have access to a simulator, experiment with different swing speeds until you find the one that lets you hit it your best. There's this misconception that you have to swing a driver all-out. Not true. I rarely swing as fast as I can. My tempo is smooth, but the ball is still getting out there around 250 yards—and it’s landing in the fairway. That’s the real key. Hit 10 balls at half speed, 10 balls at a slightly faster pace, 10 balls even faster, and finally 10 as fast as you can. Notice which swing speed produces the best blend of distance and accuracy. Once you identify the right speed for you, practice at that pace— even when making air swings in your garage—to groove it.

Create fairways in your head. What I mean is that when you’re practicing on the range, or even messing with your driver in the back yard, don’t just swing. Picture a fairway and how you would play it. Then try to make a swing that matches your goal. Don’t forget to use your newfound swing speed.

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iving in the Phoenix area, I have the luxury of playing golf year-round. I realize many of you don’t have 12-month access to a course, but there are some things you can do in the offseason that can be helpful to avoid a slow start next season. One thing that can deteriorate fairly quickly is your driving accuracy. To prevent that from happening this winter, consider doing these things that I work on with my coach, Mike LaBauve.

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Whether it’s fear, bad mechanics or a lack of physical ability, most amateurs I see don’t turn their bodies in the backswing as much as they should. I don’t expect you to turn back as much as I’m doing here, but even a 10-percent increase is going to pay off next season. And now’s the time to get used to that move.

To improve your turn, put your arms across your chest and stand in front of a mirror.

Pivot your body like you’re making a backswing, and look

in the mirror to see where your lead shoulder is when you’ve completed the turn. Now make another pretend backswing, and see if you can turn that shoulder farther. Keep working on increasing the distance that shoulder moves back, and you’ll improve your mobility and be prepared to make a better swing by the Masters.

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Now’s the time to do a grip check to see if you need to adjust. If you wait and try changing your grip during the spring, you’ll be ready to quit the game by the Fourth of July. Things to check: Are you holding the club mostly in the fingers of your left hand (for righties) instead of letting the grip rest more in the palm? Are you holding the club without any tension? Are your hands in complementary positions?

Is your grip strong enough, meaning is your left hand turned clockwise on the club's handle enough so you can see the back of your glove? Most of the amateurs I see, like eight out of 10, have their hands in a weak position on the handle.

If you answered no to any of those questions, consider adjusting your grip now, so you can enjoy the benefits when you're back playing. woods ranked 20th on the LPGA Tour in 2017 in driving accuracy, hitting 78.7 percent of fairways.

Photograph by J.D. Cuban

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USE THIS CROSS-HANDED DRILL TO DISCOVER CONSISTENT CONTACT BY CAMERON MCCORMICK started coaching Jordan Spieth when he was 12.

His swing was idiosyncratic in many ways—his shoulders were dramatically open at address, he’d flare the club inside on the takeaway, his left elbow was bent nearly 40 degrees at the top—but he produced consistent contact that allowed him to shape the ball both ways. As a young teacher, this really challenged me. If I imposed too much traditional swing philosophy on this phenom, surely I’d mess him up.

For the first time, I appreciated the idea that the only position in the swing that truly matters is the bottom.

To get my students to un-

I

derstand impact, I often tell them to think of the swing as a large circle traced by the path of the clubhead. On a perfect strike with an iron, the bottom of this circle occurs after the ball is struck. That’ll make a perfect divot. An effective drill to achieve this is to grip the club cross-handed and hit punch shots. That means for right-handers, the left hand is beneath the right as you see here (large photo, above).

Swinging cross-handed can be strenuous on the shoulders, so start with 30-yard punches. If you’re flexible, you can work your way to full swings with any iron. You can even use plastic balls in the yard if your course is closed. Like magic,

94 golf digest india | january 2018

this drill cures two common swing problems: a premature release and getting stuck.

I’ll explain how.

Most amateurs go wrong by reaching the bottom of their swing too early. This premature release, also called casting, leads to chunks and tops. Golfers with this issue need to get the shaft leaning forward at impact—the hands slightly ahead of the ball—to shift the bottom of their swing circle forward.

When golfers practice with the cross-handed grip, the top hand has a tendency to push the handle toward the target, creating this desired impact position. Remember this feeling when you go back to your normal grip.

A problem more typical of better players is getting stuck, when the hips unwind so fast on the downswing that the club gets trapped behind the body instead of staying in front of it (photos, above). From here they will hit a lot of blocks to the right, or sometimes snap-hooks if they over-correct with the hands. Because the wrists are restricted with a cross-handed grip, these moves become almost impossible. The weight of the clubhead pulls it in front of the body on the downswing.

Now the club is in front of the golfer at the bottom, exactly where it should be. mccormick is one of Golf Digest’s 50 Best Teachers in America.

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TRAIN TO STRIKE A POSE

BY JUSTIN THOMAS hen I watch amateurs rehearse before hitting a shot, a lot of times I see really nice-looking swings.

They look smooth, in no hurry, and they don’t stop until they’ve made a nice wraparound finish. Then they step up to the ball and swing, and it looks short, quick and offbalance. What happened? Well, I’ll let the sport psychologists tackle that one. Rather than focus on that, I want you to pay more attention to what you’re feeling as you make those nice practice swings without a ball.

I hope you’ll be doing that a lot around the house this winter. See if you can swing at a pace that allows you to get into a finish position like you’re striking a pose. Here I’ve got my weight on my left side, posting on that leg, and my shoulders and chest are fully rotated. I could stand like this for hours.

What I did was swing at a pace where the club was moving its fastest just past impact.

The momentum of this acceleration carried me into this pose. Do that over and over, and it will eventually take hold when you get back on the course.

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DON’T HIT THAT BALL, HIT THE NEXT ONE

BY MATT WILSON

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thomas was the PGA Tour's Player of the Year for 2017.

mccormick, thomas: walter iooss jr. • parada , wilson: j.d. cuban

his is going to be the year you finally start hitting your irons the distances you’re supposed to hit them. How? You’re going to use this winter to learn to swing through the ball, not at it. If you have plastic or foam balls and can work outside, address a ball with your iron, but place a second ball down an inch closer to your target. When you swing, put all your attention on hitting the second ball. This will get you to strike the first ball solidly, and keep the swing going. After a while, take the second ball away, but pretend like it’s still there and try to hit it. Even if you can’t—or won’t—swing outdoors, using the “ball in front of the ball” visualization is a great way to put your attention on the target side of the ball. You’ll feel like the clubhead is moving low along the ground after impact— that’s how to pick up a full club on iron shots.

A SWING DESIGNED TO CURE THOSE FAT AND THIN SHOTS BY JORGE PARADA he reason you’re not hitting it as solid as you like might be a lack of extension. For righthanders, the right arm should be straightening as the clubhead strikes the ball and continuing to extend post impact. When it stops extending or folds before impact, it’s really difficult to catch the ball in the center of the clubface. There goes your consistency.

The common result is the club crashing into the turf behind the ball (fat) or catching it on the upswing with the leading edge (thin). You can train a better golf swing this offseason by making half-speed swings with your right arm only. The weight of the clubhead will support the feeling and motion of the right elbow pushing down as you strike the ground. This feeling and look of extension will continue well past impact.

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wilson is one of Golf Digest’s Best Young Teachers.

parada is one of Golf Digest’s Best Young Teachers. january 2018 | golf digest india

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❉PRESENT

❉PERFECT❉

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RAD GIFT IDEAS FOR THE GRINDER, DRINK BUYER AND STYLE HOUND by b r it ta n y r o m a n o

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13 12 1 Seamus Buffalo Check and Glacier National Park Driver Headcovers / $55-$65 Stylish designs that won’t be hard to find at a crowded bag drop.

2 Rose & Fire Checkered USA Headcover / $59 This durable cover will protect your flat stick from everything, except maybe three-putts.

3 Jones Birdie Hat / $30 Go for birdies in this adjustable hat with a stitched shuttlecock design.

4 Stitch SL1 Golf Bag / $328 A tough but stylish single-strap bag at just under four pounds.

5 Maui Jim Koko Head Sunglasses / $229 Protection and performance in the classic wayfarer shape.

6 Jones Ranger Shag Bag and Cooler / $45 A shag bag that doubles as an insulated cooler? Now that’s smart.

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7 SCI-Core Practice Balls $25 a dozen The “real feel” practice ball that’s safe for your living room.

8 Ultimate Ears Wonderboom Bluetooth Speaker / $100 It’s portable, waterproof and can withstand a drop of five feet.

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9 Sun Mountain Speed Cart GT / $210 Folds up easily and can hold your smartphone, valuables and drink. Plus, it rolls true.

10 Sound Caddy Bluetooth Speaker and Powerbank / $129 You can play tunes and charge your phone from inside the bag.

11 Soma Glass Water Bottle $30 / Shatter-resistant and leak-proof, these bottles are great for the course.

12 Cru Golf Champion Stripe Pure White with Scarlet Red/ Navy Headcovers / $72-$79 These handmade leather headcovers have protection that prevents colors from fading.

13 Rose & Fire Old Glory Headcover / $55-$65 Made in the USA with American-made leather and materials.

14 S’well Traveler / $30-$40 Beverages stay cold for 24 hours, hot for 12. Triple-wall insulation prevents condensation.

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15 Club Glove Microfiber Towel $20 These absorbent towels are popular with PGA Tour players.

16 QOD Electric Golf Caddy $1,199 The most compact folding electric pushcart with a battery that’ll last for 36 holes.

17 Louisville T. Stewart Hickory Irons / $1,050 a set A playable throwback set featuring hickory shafts.

18 Ardbeg An Oa Whisky / $60 Aged in Pedro Ximénez, virgin oak and ex-bourbon casks for a smoky-yet-sweet experience.

19 Maker’s Mark Cask Strength $50 A higher-proof wheated bourbon (110 to 115) with a smooth, rich flavor.

20 Marshall Kilburn Bluetooth Speaker / $299 The iconic look and quality of a Marshall speaker, but portable.

21 Grey Goose Vodka / $40 Wrap this bottle alone or in one of the company’s gift sets.

22 Graber Olives Size (No. 16) $51 for four tins Enjoy the olives served at Augusta National, no invitation necessary.

23, 30 Tom Dixon Tank Bowl / $70 and Glasses / $150 for two with decanter Handpainted, mouth-blown and a luxe addition to any bar.

24 The Original Coin Guitar Pick / starting at $20 Coins repurposed as guitar picks make one-of-a-kind ball markers.

25 Shinola Brass Sphere Matchstick Holder / $150 The surface will mark with each strike, adding character over time.

28 Patrón Silver One-Liter Limited Edition Bottle / $60 Small-batch tequila in an Art Deco designed bottle.

26 ByAndrewCoslow Brass on Brass Coasters / $65 for set of three Because your drink needs a proper resting place.

29 RBT Cocktail Shaker / $50 An integrated strainer and a removable reamer make drink-making a breeze.

27 Tiffany & Co. Diamond Point Double Old Fashioned Glass in gray crystal glass / $65 Beverages look great inside this modern geometric-pattern glass with a smoky gray hue.

30 See No. 23.

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31 Areaware Plywood Playing Cards / $28 Play card games or build something with them using the interlocking slots.

32 Moët Impérial Golden Sparkle / $40 Ring in the new year with this brut champagne dressed for the holidays.

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33 Disaronno wears Missoni $28 The Italian liqueur and fashion brand team up for this limited-edition bottle.

38 Danny P. Scorecard Holder $89 This beautiful leather holder comes with training and coaching scorecards.

34 Umbra Shift Trophy Jigger $20 Measure each drink in style using this brass-plated bar jigger.

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35 Tiffany & Co. Tiffany Blue Marker / $750 A luxurious take on the most utilitarian of objects.

36 MAKO Coasters / $6 for set of four These cork coasters are dipped in fun, vibrant colors.

39 Czech & Speake Zebrano Shaving Set / $550 The razor and brush’s Zebrano wood is remarkably durable.

40 Kiehl’s Age Defender Cleanser / $28 A cleanser and exfoliator for post-round replenishing.

37 Shinola Brass Collet Corkscrew / $75 Shinola’s simple yet multifunctional bar tool.

45 Smythson Panama Travel Pouch / $650 The British luxury leather-goods company’s Navy Camo collection is sure to impress.

41 Art of Shaving Kingsman: The Golden Circle Bourbon Shave Collection / $32-$55 These bourbon-amber grooming products were inspired by the “Kingsman” sequel.

46 David Yurman Hex Cuff Bracelet / $375 Add a pop of color to your look with this everyday accessory.

42 Mr. Lentz Men’s Toiletry Bag / $88 and up Thick full-grain leather and brass rivets mean this bag will last a lifetime.

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43 Art of Shaving Engraved Silvertip Shaving Brush / $250 Gently exfoliate while applying shaving cream with this brush, and your face will thank you.

44 Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream with SPF 30 / $27 Integrate sun protection into your daily routine without the greasy texture.

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48 Montblanc Summit / $890 The brand’s first smartwatch proves that connectivity doesn’t have to look techy.

49 Persol 100th Anniversary Solid Gold Limited Edition Sunglasses / $2,770 These timeless aviators are versatile and feature 18-karat gold trim.

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50 Adidas Adicross Bounce $120 The offset wrapped saddle has multiple rows of eyelets for customizable comfort.

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51 Society6 Towel by Jen Merli / $13 Original artistdesigned towels with a microfiber front and terry-cotton back.

52 Commodity Wool / $26 for 10 milliliters A warmand-spicy scent that slides easily into a gym bag.

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53 EastWest Bottlers Moonshine Reserve Cologne $148 A woodsy fragrance with hints of spice in a hand-stitched leather carrier.

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54 Fulton & Roark Solid Cologne / $42-$60 Post-round touch-ups are easier with this aromatic wax-based fragrance, sans spilling concerns.

55 Michael Kors Crocodile Card Case / $298 A subtle crocodile pattern adds panache to this practical leather wallet.

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56 Atelier Ace X Mophie Powerstation Mini / $40 Juice up any USB device with this Mophie external battery styled by Ace Hotel.

57 BKR Spiked Cash Water Bottle / $40 Stay hydrated and look tough doing it.

58 J.Lindeberg Athletic Tech Sweatpants / $150 A thick double-jersey material and a pre-bent knee combine for the ultimate in comfort.

59 LG V30 / $750-$800, prices set by carriers Professionallooking video capabilities on a wraparound display.

49 51 48 50

60 Rag & Bone Shawl Neck Cardigan / $325 Warm up after a cold day on the course in this cozy waffle sweater with an extra-wide collar.

61 Beltology Volt Belt / $75 Thoughtfully designed interwoven rayon gives this belt greater stretch.

62 Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones / $300 Superior sound and 40 hours of battery in “turf green.”

63 Hardgraft 1st Edition Travel Bag / $1,158 Wool and Italian leather complement each other in this refined holdall.

65 Common Projects Achilles Leather Sneaker / $415 This minimalist luxury sneaker has gold-debossed detailing.

additional reporting by ashley mayo

100 golf digest india | january 2018

styling: linda Keil

64 Stance Degree 17 Socks $16 Extra support and quick-dry fabric make these ideal for golf.

60 58

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57

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BECAUSE SOMETIMES A DOZEN BALLS JUST WON’T CUT IT.

❉

Photographs by Victor Prado

On The Tee Mr. X

“I tend to play better when there’s no need for small talk.”

n almost a decade of having my tour card, I’ve really had only one skirmish with another pro. A notoriously slow player once accused me of taking my clubs out of my bag early and distracting him. I think this was just an excuse for him to back off the ball. In the scoring trailer, he wouldn’t let it go and insinuated that I’d tried to rattle him on purpose.

The third member of our group, a devout Christian, told this guy that if he ever acted like this again, he’d punch him in the face.

I

The slowpoke and I have since made up, though our next round was a bit chilly.

When I confronted him about not wanting to get dinged for slow play, I couldn’t help but appreciate his response. He said, “Hey, I can afford to pay the fine.” A fair point because he’s perennially a higher finisher on the money list.

All in all, most players are very respectful of one another. But because the stakes are so high, it doesn’t take much for something small to ignite into a full-blown situation.

For this reason, I prefer rounds where there isn’t much interaction. I’ve played in groups when the other players and I haven’t spoken

102 golf digest india | january 2018

a word to each other. Not a single word. As in, we acknowledge each other with a nod on the first tee, and then on the 18th green there’s a handshake with an utterance of “good playing” or “thank you.” As long as no one gets into any weird rules scenarios that require discussion, we can just put our heads down and play.

When I’m paired with a good buddy, maybe a Jason Bohn or Ernie Els, of course we’ll cut up the whole round. I’m always happy when I see I’m with a friend, but the truth is, I tend to play better when I’m paired with a guy with whom there’s clearly no need for small talk. Young-han Song knows I don’t speak Korean. Some kid out of college knows we probably don’t listen to the same music. If I don’t make the first overture about the weather or who won the basketball game last night, chances are the other guy won’t, either. He doesn’t want to

feel the pressure to keep the chitchat going once it starts. Most of us are in the same boat—just grinding.

In amateur golf I was a lot looser. In college it would’ve felt weird not to talk to my playing partners. But I’ve learned that I don’t want to chuckle at some dude’s joke, block one into the trees, and then wonder if I stepped into that shot anything less than fully focused.

Of course, there are some guys who are total chatterboxes no matter who’s around.

Whenever I see Billy Horschel on the range, I go to the opposite end. I like Billy, and I think he’s a really good person, but he enjoys being the center of attention. He wears those dumb-ass pants and is usually the first guy to talk to the media. Wherever he goes, it’s the Billy circus. I don’t have that personality.

Which isn’t to say I’m antisocial. The other week in a competitive round, I had a long talk with a fellow pro about his new baby. That was a meaningful conversation. If a player has an interesting and considered view on a current event, I’m all ears. But if you’re going to tell me about the car you just bought or where you went on vacation, save it. I’ll gladly listen to your stories over a few beers, but not while I’m working. —with max adler

Andrew redington/getty imAges

Undercover Tour Pro Quiet, please! That includes playing partners

Equipment

Play Your Best

m i zu no st 1 8 0 ▶ The wave-like pattern on the sole does two things: (1) It reduces stress on the advanced titanium-alloy face for a faster-flexing structure.

(2) The sole pattern allows more mass to be placed lower in the head for less ball spin.

3

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price $400

cobra king f8 ▶ Cobra’s designers used a precise milling process (as opposed to the usual manual grinding and polishing) to create a thinner face for improved ball speeds.

Two movable weights let you choose between standard and draw settings.

2

pr i ce $400

Flex Appeal

yonex ezone gt

New driver faces bring the heat

▶ One way to make the face better is to think about how it works with the crown. Here, the highstrength titanium-alloy face gets a boost from a strong, lightweight, carboncomposite crown that flexes at impact to transfer more energy to the ball.

he rules limit how much driver faces can flex. But they aren’t preventing them from flexing more effectively.

On the PGA Tour, the average ball speed (how fast the ball comes off the clubface) and smash factor (the ratio between ball speed and swing speed) have increased in the past five years. That means the average of all hits with the latest drivers—including mishits—are likely flying farther than they did the last time you went driver shopping. New structures and materials, stronger titanium alloys and thinner faces lead to new distance potential for all players. Here are four new ways to get faster now. —mike stachura

T

Photograph by Jeffrey Westbrook

pric e $500

4

xxio x ▶ Why not make the face as flexible as you can where players make contact most often? The face for this 10th-generation driver has been thinned out in off-center areas, resulting in a larger sweet spot heel to toe. pric e $650 january 2018 | golf digest india

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Holiday Sweaters: So bad, they’re good

104 golf digest india | january 2018

sweaters purchased on etsy.com • fowler: walter iooss jr. • kerr: christian petersen/getty images • watson: walter iooss jr.

• thompson: stuart franklin/getty images • johnson: dom furore • wie: andrew redington/getty images

Season’s Greetings

Photographs by Ryan Zimmerman

Last Word

Two Days with Jordan by jerry tarde Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, Golf Digest USA olf Digest Playing Editor Jordan Spieth invited Max Adler, who works with Jordan on his instruction articles, and me to play in his annual partners event at Dallas National Golf Club in October. Normally you get to play only a handful of holes with Jordan as he rotates through the other groups, but this time he was my partner for the whole round. You’d think that would be a great advantage in the competition, but Jordan plays his home club as a plus-9 handicap, meaning he has to give nine shots back to the course. Par for him is 63. He made a birdie on the first hole, but it only counted as a par.

Hard to get used to that.

What kind of guy is he? You’d really like him. He trash-talks and makes fun of your game.

He plays music on the speaker in his cart. He grabs your putter, takes a few strokes, then gives a you-gotta-be-kiddin’-me look.

He sits on the roof of his cart

G

watching us hit our tee shots.

He says “good shot” a lot. He’s a sports nut. He tells stories and shares opinions, but then asks what you think. After the round, he pours Tito’s vodka and G2 grape Gatorade into the claret jug, takes a swig and passes it around.

Then when it gets quiet, he stands up in the clubhouse and thanks everybody for coming.

He goes around the room and mentions every partner by name and, one by one, talks about how each is important to Team Spieth.

Much as I respect his parents, Shawn and Chris, and his Jesuit prep-school training, I don’t think they taught him that. He’s a natural.

One of the guys I played with is Jordan Lewites, who works with his manager, Jay Danzi, and travels with Spieth.

In another sport, Lewites would be called his cut man.

“When I first moved to Dallas,” Lewites says, “I got paired randomly with him in a Wolf game for nine holes at the course he grew up on, Brookhaven. Jordan had just won the U.S. Junior Amateur

for the first time at 15—he’d win it again at 17—and he was invited to play in the Byron Nelson. I was eager to see what this hot shot could do.

“He was a kid. He didn’t look that impressive. He didn’t drive it very long or straight. His approach shots were nothing spectacular.

His swing was only OK. He made a 20-footer for a birdie on the ninth hole, so I added up his score.

“He’d shot 30. Six under!

That, I learned, is Jordan. I’ve been impressed by everything about him ever since. When Jay presented the opportunity to work with him, I didn’t blink.

What continues to impress me most is, he’s truly a better person than he is a golfer.”

Watching Jordan Spieth on stage that night with his sister, Ellie, you could see it.

His partners get-together is followed by the Jordan Spieth Shootout, which is a fundraiser for the Jordan Spieth Family

f a m i ly f o u n d a t i o n : jordan spieth’s sister, ellie, j o i n s h i m at a fundraiser.

Foundation, benefiting special-needs kids, junior golf, military families and pediatric cancer. Jordan took the stage to M.C., did a funny Q&A and pretty much ran the auction and charity gala.

(See other Golfers Who Give Back on page 52.)

Day Two was the public tournament at Las Colinas.

I’ll let Max pick it up from here: “It was a cold morning, and Jordan walked the range in a black down jacket with his hands in his pockets, talking to every single participant. The field was around 120, and it seemed he made an effort to engage with each person, and more than a simple hello.

“At the end, the grand finale of the Shootout was at the par-3 17th hole. The sun was shining and warm now, short sleeves and cocktail weather. [The improvisational singer] Kelley James and band were fully amplified as they antagonized each contestant [$100 a ball for closest-to-the-pin]. A raucous scene.

“Jordan grabs the mic again and goads people into playing.

Like the night before, he takes an assertive role in making things happen. The crescendo of the contest is when one of Ellie’s friends, Matthew, gets up to hit. The jeering shifts to cheering. As charged a moment as a basketball player standing over a foul shot to decide the game. Matthew bears down and smokes a nice, high, drawing hybrid. It misses the green left, but it’s a pure strike. The loud applause lights up the young man’s face: Matthew’s best moment and probably a lot of other people’s, too.”

As Jordan’s cut man said a long time ago: “That, I learned, is Jordan.”

Photograph by Dom Furore

IllustratIon: tIm l ahan

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18 Holes with Ajay Vij

‘Golf trips to Pattaya have been the ones to cherish!’

Ajay Vij is the Managing Director for Accenture’s Geographic Services in India. He provides strategic direction for the Geographic Unit (GU) operations and serves as a member of the GU leadership team. The Bengaluru-resident has more than 25 years of industry experience and extensive exposure to operations and customer management. He spoke to Golf Digest India about his golfing interest. Excerpts: What is your home

1 club?

Bangalore Golf Club When did you start

2 playing golf?

In 2006; I was in the midst of changing jobs then What do you love

3 about the game?

About five hours of being with and around good people. And every game is a new experience!

Who do you play golf

4 with the most?

With friends at work most of the time…

How about your

5 dream four-ball?

My four hotelier buddies Favorite Golf Course 6 in India and Abroad Prestige Golfshire, Bengaluru, and Tanah-lot Temple Golf Course in Bali How often do you get

7 to play?

Weekends. I sneak in mid-week nine holes, now and then Your thoughts on 8 doing business on the golf course…

The course is a great place for building relationships

Favourite male and

9 female golfers

American pro Justin Thomas and our own Aditi Ashok Describe your most

10 memorable golfing

experience My trips to Pattaya for nonstop golfing weekends have been ones to cherish!

Do you use any golf

11 apps on your phone?

Golf Pad

Your current handicap

12 15

Your lowest handicap

13 12

On average, how long

14 do you drive the ball?

About 270 yards

Your favourite holiday

15 destination?

Italy - anywhere in the countryside!

Favourite dish at your

16 home course

Masala omelette with hot, buttered toast Mid round power

17 snack

Peanut chikki Favourite 19th hole

18 drink

A chilled beer, always!

“MY TRIPS TO PATTAYA FOR NON-STOP GOLFING WEEKENDS HAVE BEEN ONES TO CHERISH! BUT MY FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION IS ITALY — ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE” 110 golf digest india | january 2018

Total Number of pages (including cover pages) is 112 Monthly Magazine, RNI N0. HARENG/2016/66983