Golf Digest India - March 2017

VOLUME 1 ISSUE 11

RNI NO. HARENG/2016/66983 MARCH 2017 `150

THINK YOUNG | PLAY HARD

PUBLISHED BY

hotlist 2017

+

hero indian open preview fitness rosie davies

the equipment issue

india buyer’s guide Exclusive Official Media Partner

An aerospace-grade titanium Exo-Cage™, and triaxial carbon crown and sole save tremendous weight and amplify ball speed. The Speed Step Crown® streamlines aerodynamics, and our Adjustable Perimeter Weighting delivers precision fi tting to fi ne-tune launch conditions.

The new GBB Epic is a transformative driver. Two titanium rods inside the head connect the crown and sole. We call it Jailbreak Technology™ At impact with the ball, the crown, sole and face bend, flex and rebound in every driver. Only Jailbreak Technology reduces crown and sole deflection, which allows the face to flex more freely and transfer energy to the ball more efficiently. Ball speed and distance have increased dramatically. Jailbreak is a tremendous shift in power, and it’s only in Epic.

Customer Care +91 8860 681 698 | Email at india@callawaygolf.com or visit in.callawaygolf.com ©2017 Callaway Golf Company. Callaway, the Chevron Device, Exo-Cage, Speed Step, Epic, Great Big Bertha and Jailbreak Technology are trademarks and/or registered trademaarks of Callaway Golf Company.

C H O O S E T H E B E ST

o T H E NE W T IT L E I ST New Pro V1 and Pro V1x are the most technologically advanced golf balls in the game. Both provide exceptional distance, Drop-and-Stop™ control and long lasting durability. This along with unmatched quality and consistency, golf ball to golf ball,

Our longest Pro V1 yet has a faster engine with lower long game spin, and a penetrating trajectory with even more consistent flight.

FO R YO U R G A M E.

r PRO V1 AND PRO V1x. dozen to dozen. Comparing models, new Pro V1 has a lower flight and softer feel than Pro V1x. So whether you choose the total performance of the V or the X, you are making the best choice for your game. Visit titleist.asia to learn more.

The extraordinary distance and high launch of the Pro V1x is enhanced with improved aerodynamics for its most consistent flight ever.

Š2017 Acushnet Company

s n o i t a l u t a r g Con Acers Hole-in-One’s (since Jan 1, 2016)

Dr Ravinder Singh Sidhu Ranjitgarh Golf Club 22 Jan 17 Atanu Chatterjee Unites Services Club 7 Jan 17 Manish Goenka Royal Calcutta Golf Club 11 Dec 16 Rachit Mankoti Royal Calcutta Golf Club 25 Oct 16 COMDT Sumit Pant Delhi Golf Club 10 Sep 16 Sidhu H B Eagleton Golf Resort 5 Apr 16 Mrinal Kanti Paul Golmuri Golf Course 7 Feb 16 Dipankar Borah Tollygunge Course 31 Jan 17

Hole-Inone Club

Golf DiGest helps you commemorate this memorable achievement Share details of your Hole-In-One and get inducted into the Golf Digest India Hole-in-One Club

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

l l

Contents 03/17

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

the nt equipsmuee is Hot List

IllustratIon by benoIt tardIf

25

25

26 31 35 39 44

70

48 51 55 60 64

65

Cover Story The Equipment Issue: 105 Gold & Silver Medallists Golf Digest’s annual review of the best clubs in golf.

88

Business Of Golf Industry updates

91

Tête-À-Tête With Satish Aparajit

by mike stachura

92

Health & Fitness Rosie Davies

94

Shubhankar’s star continues to sparkle

96

Season begins with wonderful storylines

Inside the Hot List: Drivers Fairway Woods Hybrids Game-Improvement Irons Players Irons Super GameImprovement Irons Wedges Blade Putters Mallet Putters Rules Four equipment-related guidelines to know India Buyer’s Guide

India Digest 66

84

by rohit bhardwaj 70

94

92 18 golf digest india | march 2017

Hero Indian Open Preview Experienced golfer Shiv Kapur says playing at DLF will be a huge challenge Newsmakers Update on Indian golfers around the world

76

Junior Golf

78

Club Round Up Updates from courses across India

80

Corporate Digest MercedesTrophy

83

Vodafone Tee Walk

84

Madhavrao Scindia Golf Tournament

by vineet mann

by chuah choo chiang

100 Innovative GolfSixes

concept unveiled

104 Pallof Press Workout

Features 106 Jack Nicklaus

Treat a stone wall like a water hazard

107 Butch Harmon

Try this to splash it out and land it close

108 David Leadbetter

Be automatic on short putts

109 Go Down and Get It

Hit your irons like a Ryder Cupper.

by rafa cabrera bello

Cover photograph by Kyle Bean

Editor’s Letter

oUR conTRiBUToRs

Dear Readers,

G

olf Equipment has improved in leaps and bounds in the past 25 years and today the average golfer is hitting the ball further than ever before. The Golf Digest Hot List is the world’s most thoroughly tested list and is 100% credible as the ratings are entirely independent and no promotional consideration is entertained by Golf Digest in the process.

Jack Nicklaus

The US$1.75 million Hero Indian Open is the most important event on the Indian calendar as it’s an important stepping stone for Indian players to earn valuable world ranking points and entry on to the European Tour. This year Write to me at rishi@teamgolfdigest.com or the Indian advantage is likely to be somewhat on Twitter @RishiNarain_ blunted as the event makes a significant shift to DLF G&CC from its home of the past several years at the more familiar Delhi GC, where the Indians are almost invincible. Fans can watch with interest to see if the home players can hold off the foreign challenge at the unfamiliar, long and undulating course which will favour longer hitters and players able to handle treacherously sloping greens and fairways.

Certainly the Gary Player designed course will look spectacular on the live global telecast and will be an eye opener for viewers around the world which will positively boost the perception of golf facilities in India.

The action thus continues in March and April will bring in the 6th annual India Golf Expo in Gurgaon which is the biggest meeting ground of the movers and shakers in Indian golf.

Global leaders are attending the event this year which is good news for the sport in India.

Recreational golfers are welcome as the equipment majors offer unheard of deals on equipment, accessories and apparel during the show.

Thanks to our readers for the feedback and appreciation coming in – it’s a great motivator.

Happy Golfing!

Rishi Narain

Team Golf DiGesT inDia Editor & Publisher Rishi Narain Managing Editor Rohit Bhardwaj

Contributing Editor Bharath Arvind

Editorial Assistant Vineet Mann

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

Assistant Art Director Guneet Singh Oberoi

Srijan Yadav Subscriptions Chitwanmeet Cour/ Monika Chhabra srijan@teamgolfdigest.com , +91-9416252880 subscribe@teamgolfdigest.com Phone: +91-9999868051 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-122 011, Haryana. 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.

20 golf digest india | march 2017

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 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

Popularly known as The ‘Golden Bear’, Nicklaus is widely regarded as the greatest golfer of all time. He won a record 18 Majors during his playing career and is regarded as the ultimate thinker and strategist on the golf course. He lies third on the all-time winner list on the PGA Tour behind Sam Snead and Tiger Woods with 73 titles.

Tom Watson

Watson is an eighttime Major champion, with five British Open titles to his credit, who defied age by becoming the oldest professional golfer at 60 years to lead the second and third rounds of the 2009 British Open. He topped the World Rankings from 1978 to 1982.

Butch Harmon

Harmon is best known for having been Tiger Woods’ golf coach during the prime of his career from 1993 to 2004. He has also worked with other Major champions such as Ernie Els, Stewart Cink, Greg Norman, Davis Love III, Fred Couples and Justin Leonard. Has topped many lists as the No. 1 rated golf instructor in the world.

David Leadbetter

Leadbetter, is without doubt the most celebrated golf instructor in history. His books, videos and DVD’s have sold in the millions worldwide. He came to wide notice in the 1980s when he rebuilt the swing of Nick Faldo, who then went on to win six Major championships. Apart from Faldo his students included Greg Norman (1997) and Ernie Els (1990–2008). Leadbetter changed golf instruction for all future generations from guesswork to science.

Feedback

from our Readers

@ SMS

VolumE 1 IssuE 10

InstruCtIon VIdeos

World renowned golf coaches share their tips to help you improve your all-round game

SMS

RNI No. HARENG/2016/66983 fEbRuARy 2017 `150

Think Young | plaY hard

Published by

MoneY issue

david leadbetter World class golf academy comes to india

what people working in golf make tv’s $1.1bn question top 50 earning pros in golf

hoT daTes 2017

inTerview

kapil dev how golf works in india Exclusive official media Partner

@

This refers to your story “How Golf Works In India” in February issue.

The story reveals the fact that India is now the fastest growing golf market in the world.

More and more Indian players are taking up the game at a young age at junior golf programmes. Over the passing years, Indian golfers have consistently delivered good performance at both domestic and international events. It is to be appreciated that the Indian Golf Union (IGU) is also making earnest efforts to improve the standard of the game in the country.

— Vinod C. Dixit, Ahmedabad

yearbook

2016 Review

2016

Recent History Of IGU Internation WORLD AMATEUR TEAM CHAMP

WATC is a biennial tournament organized by Int Federation (IGF). The tournament comprises of t Eisenhower Trophy for men and Espirito Santo T From India, IGU sends a three member team of b compete against teams from 70 countries.

year 2016

Cover Feb.indd 1

1/23/2017 3:35:11 PM

6K views

3 shares

II have been reading your magazine and it is quite interesting for a golfer like me. The coverage is insightful while I suggest if you could look at listing down various equipment stores and other information about where to play and get golf lessons across India.

-- Gopi Gopalakrishnan

190 likes

2012

How Golf Works In India A frequently asked question among club golfers around “What all does the IGU India is “How is Indian do?” and similar. In response Golf governed?”

Golf Digest India decodes run and administered in the country how Indian Golf is

The winner of new subscriber lucky draw contest will be announced on the Golf Digest India facebook page on the 30th of every month

Connect with us @IndiaGolfDigest 22 golf digest india | march 2017

@GolfDigestIndia

year 2016

One new subscriber every month will win a Featherlite chair worth ` 20,000 through a lucky draw

MONTHLY LUCKY DRAW!!!

Chikkarangappa S.

Vice president & hon. secretary Lt Gen AKS Chandele

Asth

Tied 24

Khalin Joshi

2012

Adit

Gurb

Angad Cheema

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MEn year

Team Udayan Mane Feroz Garewal

Council Members East Zone - Farzan Heerjee, Dr. Satbinder Singh, Ranjit Chaudhri; west Zone - Devang Shah, S K Bhatia, Sameer Sinha; north Zone - CSR Reddy, Sanjeev Rattan, Col H S Baidwan; south Zone Dilip Thomas, C S Subramanian, Ishwar Achanta; army Zone Lt Gen AKS Chandele (Retd), Lt Gen Mukesh Sabharwal (Retd), Lt Gen Sanjiv Talwar, Lt Gen Abhay Krishna, Maj Gen Rajesh Sahai Founder Club Members Gaurav Ghosh (Royal Calcutta Golf Club) Maj Gen KMS Shergill (Delhi Golf Club) Akshay Kilachand (Willingdon Sports Club) Avnish Kumar (Bombay Presidency Golf Club) Joydeep Datta Gupta (Tollygunge Club) G. Suresh Kumar (Madras Gymkhana Club) iGU Ladies Committee Chairperson - Pauline JM Singh Vice Chairperson - Nandita Rao.

Adi

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ASIAN GAMES

IGU Governing Body

president Wg Cdr Satish Aparajit

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The Asian Games, also known as Asiad, is a Pancont held every four years among athletes from all over A the Asian Games for the first time in 1982, hosted by four years, IGU sends four men and three women am in the event. Indian Team Performance at previous tw

2014

Indian Golf Union The Indian Golf Union (IGU) is the apex body of golf in the country and development of and is responsible for golf in India. Starting the promotion with only six golf clubs 194 golf clubs affiliated at the beginning, it boasts currently. Broadly IGU of having oversees amateur and junior golf in the country, Key responsibilities include: l Organising 75 Amateur tournaments including sub-junior, junior, men’s/women l Providing equipment for training at ’s events grassroots level. l Organising the Indian Open since 1964 l Selection, funding l Organising Referee and training national Certification Courses squads for international throughout the year. tournaments like Asia Pacific and World Amateur l Organising Greenkeeper Team events for both and Course men and women Selecting Superintendent training & facilitating teams programs for Asian Games & Olympics. l Conducting certification programmes for l Providing golfers with teaching professionals the online National at the National Golf Handicap Service at Academy of India (NGAI) www.igunhs.com l Publishing the Golfingly l Junior Golf Programmes Yours Newsletter in Tier-2 cities like Trivandrum, Shillong, l Supporting the India Vizag and Kochi.

Golf Expo and Women’s Indian Open

22 golf digest india | february 2017

Ladies European Tour professional Paula Hurtado’s fitness tips were a huge hit with golf fans

Espi

position Tied 31

Tied 29

Feroz Garewal

Indian Golf.indd 22-23

Insta MoMents

Men Team Aalaap IL Kshitij Naveed Kaul Udayan Mane Manu Gandas

Funding: Through individual life associate membership Government annual training program, Affiliated club grant Target Olympic fees, Podium (TOP) scheme, Handicap Service (NHS), National Hero Indian Open Website: www.indiangolfunion.org

348 likes

EisEnhowEr Trophy

Arjun Prasad 2014

w

position

year

6

2014

2010

Rahul Bajaj Abhijit Chadha Rashid Khan Abhinav Lohan

Team

Aditi Ash Gurbani

Samarth Dwivedi

Astha Ma

Manu Gandas 2

2010

Shreya Gh

Vani Kapo

Gurbani S

2014 Asian Games Mens Team L-R: Samarth Feroz Garewal and Udayan Dwivedi, Manu Ganda Mane

L-R: Jasjeet Singh, 2014 Asian Games Women’s Gurbani Singh and Astha Team - Aditi Ashok, Madan alongside Raian Irani

31

|

Conducted under the aegis of the Asia-Pacific Confedertion (APGC) Golf amongst its 40 national since 2009 with the support of The Masters associations organising committee and R&A (Scotland). The winner gets a direct entry into the year’s first Major at Augusta National.

Year

indians aT ThE asia-paCiFiC Made Cut

2016

aurika Bishnoi

5

2015

ksha Dagar

iti Ashok

Tied 17

rbani Singh

2

2014

4

2013

4

2012

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ti Ashok

6

2011

34

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simar Badwal

tinental multi-sport event Asia. Golf was introduced at India in New Delhi.

Every mateur golfers to participate wo Asian Games

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Inside The Ropes

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2010

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Viraj Madappa (T-26th) Samarth Dwivedi (42nd) Rigel Fernandes (T-15th) Trishul Chinnappa (T-34th)

Chikkarangappa (12th) Honey Baisoya, Chikkarangappa (T-46th) Khalin Joshi (T-9th) Rashid Khan (T-18th)

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1982 3 Number of international amateur wins recorded by Aditi Ashok in 2015.

She won the St Rule Trophy, Ladies’ British Amateur & Thailand Amateur Championship

India won Gold in golf.

Winning team: Laxman Singh, Amit Luthra, Rajiv Mohta and Rishi Narain

CHOOSE YOUR DREAM

In 2010, Rashid Khan broke into Top-15 of World Amateur Golf Rankingshighest ever by an Indian

The position in which Udayan Mane recorded the best individual finish ever by an Indian at the 2014 Eisenhower Trophy

MAKE IT REALITY WITH BIG BOY TOYZ

Top-15

13th

february 2017 | golf digest india

23

1/23/2017 4:26:09 PM

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Hot List Golf Digest

Our annual review of the best clubs by mi ke stachur a

guIDe (S) - Steel (g) - graphite Denotes product available in india with approximate price in INR gold Medallist Silver Medallist

thirty-three thousand, give or take a small bucket.

That’s how many golf balls our players hit this year at the annual Hot List Summit at The Wigwam in Litchfield Park, Ariz. Giving all the latest golf clubs the once-, twice- and thrice-over is only part of our process, which featured Foresight Sports GC2 launch monitors at every hitting station. The analysis and feedback from our testers provided the basis for our scores in Performance (45 percent of the total score) and Look/Sound/Feel (20 percent).

Intense deliberations with our technical panel informed our score in Innovation (30 percent), and our industry review by our panel of golf retailers gave us the information for the Demand score (5 percent). All of these contributions, plus weeks of scrutiny by the judges, form the Golf Digest Hot List, our uncensored Photograph by Kyle Bean

guide for all the equipment that can change your game this year and for years to come. Products that earn 93 points or more are awarded Gold medals; a score of 88 to 92.99 earns a Silver. But don’t be confused by the 105 products that made this year’s Hot List and think this is like youth soccer where everyone gets a trophy: Nearly 40 percent of the products submitted for Hot List consideration failed to earn a medal. We’ve done our work to get you an informed start on your next equipment purchase, something we believe strongly should involve a clubfitting. Chances are you’ll discover exactly what our panelists found this year.

As one veteran said after a long day hitting hundreds of balls: “Just incredible. There are so many excellent clubs out there, and a few that are truly exceptional.” Your quest starts here. ▶ march 2017 | golf digest india

25

Hot List drivers

drivers

cobra

Short hitters drink alone by mike stachura

▶ King F7/F7+ performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ demand ★ ★ ★ ½

` 31,490

callaway ▶ Big Bertha Fusion performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

demand ★ ★ ★ ½

` 34,990

callaway ▶ GBB Epic/Sub Zero

cobra

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

▶ King LTD Black

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

26 golf digest india | march 2017

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ½

Photographs by Dom Furore

` 35,900

` 29,900

taylormade

taylormade

▶ M1 (2017)

▶ M2/M2 D-Type (2017)

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

` 39,900

tItleIst

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

demand ★ ★ ★ ★

PING ▶ G/LS Tec/SF Tec performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

▶ 917D2/D3

demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Hot List Drivers

` 34,990

mizuno ▶ JPX 900 performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★

` 35,000

srixon ▶ Z 565/Z 765 performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★

wilson ▶ D300 performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ½

28 golf digest india | march 2017

Hot List Drivers

cALLAWAY BIG BeRtHA FUsIon $400 The key to making an easy-to-hit driver is finding ways to mix lighter materials with heavier ones. The weight saved can be moved to the perimeter for better forgiveness. Callaway has done that with a driver whose shape comprises multiple pieces of light carbon composite, including a crown made from a material that’s 65-percent lighter than titanium. In fact, aside from the flexible titanium face, the driver’s body is skeletal sections of titanium connected by carbon-composite panels.

It makes for the most stable driver in Callaway’s history. Need more help?

A 44½-inch version (one inch shorter than standard) is also available. comments (L) The construction is unorthodox, but I quickly forgot about that thanks to the elusive combo of straight and long. (M) The numbers I get on the launch monitor are consistent no matter where I hit it on the face.

(H) Soft impact, but the ball still jumps off the face.

PRIce

veRDIct

be thinner and concentrates that flexing across a wider area. So inside the head, two bars stretch from the crown to the sole.

The extra stability makes for a face that’s 20-percent thinner and more flexible than before. The two models use a titanium frame with carbon-composite panels above and below.

The standard version offers a sliding rear weight to address slices and hooks, and the Sub Zero’s two weights optimize ball spin. It’s Callaway’s most intriguing driver in two decades. Fourteen of our 16 testers put this club in their top five. comments (L) It’s easily the most consistent driver, a controlled explosion at impact. (M) The adjustability is intuitive. (H) Looks badass. Power was colossal. Sound is muted, but there’s a strong carbonfiber punch.

$350/$400 These two drivers—the oversize F7 and the compact, betterplayer-focused F7+—mix easy adjustability with complex internal technologies. Making them easier to fit to your specs, both come in only one head that adjusts across a range of lofts (9 to 12 degrees on the F7; 8 to 11 degrees on the F7+). Even better, those loft changes are clearly revealed in a window on the hosel. And no less complicated are the adjustable weights that fit in

veRDIct

$500 Callaway believes a flexible face isn’t enough. Adding structural stability allows the face to

$450 Last year’s model gets a matte-black cosmetic upgrade, but you can tell the guts haven’t changed because there’s still a see-through port in the sole. Not just for show, its 16 grams of weight pushes the club’s center of gravity lower to align with the center of the face.

That makes for maximum energy transfer into the ball with less spin. A lightweight carbon-composite crown allows for 12 grams of tungsten deep in the sole to help this classically shaped head play more forgiving than it looks. comments (L) The face feels great, unique—hard hit, soft feel. They’re so good with making stuff look cool and hiding the adjustability. (M) A great home-run-off-the-bat feel.

Very forgiving as well.

(H) Easy to swing. At every point, I felt in control. veRDIct

PRIce

PRIce

coBRA KInG LtD BLAcK PRIce

coBRA KInG F7/F7+

cALLAWAY GBB ePIc/sUB ZeRo

three simple ports to tweak shots higher, lower or with less slice. comments (L) The F7+ sets up neutral and doesn’t look hooked at all, which is nice. I love the neutral shape. It’s even more forgiving than it looks.

(M) I love the deep face, the finish, the way it sets up square at address and the beautiful thud it makes at impact. (H) Adjusting the weights doesn’t seem like it would do a whole lot, but it made a huge difference in carry and how far my mis-hits went.

veRDIct

Club photographs by Ben Walton

PInG G/Ls tec/sF tec $400 All three models (the neutral G, the anti-slice SF Tec and the low-spin LS Tec) are big drivers, but they also have little features that make them play large. Touches like a thin crown modeled on a dragonfly’s wings

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ball speed. (M) Elastic off the face like a well-strung tennis racket. (H) I like the two-tone, and the carbon composite is visible but not intrusive. Nice, solid, smash at impact.

save weight that’s pushed low and deep for less spin and more forgiveness.

Details like the curves on those crown ridges and the depression in back help streamline airflow. There are even attributes to fit certain players. The LS Tec’s weighting is slightly more forward for less spin, and the SF Tec’s heel weighting combats a slice.

But for all those details, believe in the big: These are the most stable drivers Ping has ever offered. comments (L) I didn’t have to make a great swing to put it in play. (M) Easy to launch with terrific speed and forgiveness. Great correction. (H) The forgiveness fuels your confidence to go after it.

tAYLoRmADe m1 (2017) $500 The second generation of golf’s most adjustable driver might look like the original—with its T-track of sliding weights that tweak shots vertically and horizontally. But look again. Always a force in our Innovation category, there’s now a lighter titanium alloy in the body, and half the sole and most of the crown is weight-saving carbon composite. All this

PRIce

veRDIct

means TaylorMade can position more mass low and deep so mis-hits lose less speed, and all shots launch with less spin. The center track now extends almost a half-inch longer and with a heavier weight. The result is nearly 5,800 settings on each head, 132 percent more than last year. comments (L) They make a big head look smaller. Mis-hits were good, and the launch monitor showed high launch with good spin. (M) A lessthan-quality swing still gets a good result. It’s easy to launch the ball high. (H) With the weight back, it’s hard to miss. One of those shut-up-and-take-mymoney clubs.

tAYLoRmADe m2/m2 D-tYPe (2017) $400 Bad things can happen with ultra-forgiving drivers. Either they look and sound hollow and cheap, or worse, by pushing weight to the extremes, the center of gravity relocates upward, resulting in too much ball spin. M2 combats those problems with a weight-saving, carbon-composite crown on top and a reconfigured internal geometry. This provides forgiveness and keeps the CG low. Meanwhile, more curvature on the sole (note the overhang where the crown and sole meet) helps mellow the sound. Of course, they didn’t forget about power: A sleeker slot in the sole deflects three times as much as before. comments (L) I love the size: It’s huge but not so big that it’s bulky. Just confidence-inspiring. Good PRIce

veRDIct

tItLeIst 917D2/D3 $500 A driver with movable weight is almost as common nowadays as a tour player with a logo on the sleeve. But the weight slug on the sole here is different. The cylinder comes in two forms: a neutral version and a topheavy version. The neutral version keeps the weight low and deep to maximize forgiveness. The top-heavy version keeps that weight back, but it can be flipped so there’s more mass toward the heel or toe to control direction. Best of all, the 917 drivers accomplish this weighting jujitsu without touching the classic look, sound and feel of a Titleist driver. comments (L) The face feels responsive and stable. (M) I like the grayish color. This driver goes back to the old, crisp, pleasing sound at impact.

The trajectory doesn’t balloon, and off-center hits aren’t punitive.

(H) I love the classic shape of a Titleist driver. The weighting options helped get me to a good spot, so I think working with a qualified fitter is important. The easier I swung, the more the technology seemed to help me.

PRIce

veRDIct

march 2017 | golf digest india

29

Hot List Drivers

MIZUNO JPX 900 PRICE

$500

vERdICt Mizuno’s boldest

step in adjustability has—in theory—infinite settings.

Besides an adjustable hosel, there are two weight chips that fit in three spots.

You can address a slice or hook by putting weight in the heel or toe slots, but the real plus is the centerweight track that fits in one or both weights to tweak spin and launch angle. Furthermore, a sliding chip on the sole lets you dial in your preferred face angle at address. Dizzying perhaps, but the new face design forgives mis-hits, too.

COMMENts (L) The size and shape are confidenceinspiring at address. (M) I found it easy to find the center of the face. (H) The blue is calming. It gave me a swing mind-set instead of a hit mind-set.

sRIXON Z 565/Z 765 $450 vERdICt Sometimes you can make the face more flexible by looking beyond the part of the club that actually hits the ball. That’s why the full-size, higherlaunching, slightly drawbias 565 and the compact, mid-launching 765 use a face design that wraps deeper around the crown and sole for better offPRICE

center-hit performance.

Both help even worse hits through a stepped sole design. This structure deforms at impact and springs forward to contribute to the flexing of the face. It also stores weight low and deep for better stability. The result is two drivers that play more forgiving than they look.

COMMENts (L) There’s nothing wrong with its basic looks, especially when you’re splitting the fairway all day long. Every hit felt and sounded like I flushed it. (M) Simple adjustability in a clean, tight look. I was surprised by the pop it delivers. (H) Here’s a less-is-more approach. I always felt like I was in control. It’s a very comfortable driver to swing.

▶ h ot li st jud g es

Golf Digest Senior Editor of Equipment; E. MIChaEL JOhNsON Golf Digest Equipment Editor; kEELy LEvINs Golf Digest Assistant Editor; JOEL bEaLL Golf Digest Assistant Editor.

(L-R) MIkE staChURa

▶ s c i e n ti sts

tOP ROW (L-R) MaRtIN bROUILLEt tE, Ph.d.

Professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec; davId LEE, Ph.d. Professor of physics at Gordon College; tOM MasE, Ph.d. Professor of mechanical engineering at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo bOt tOM ROW (L-R) JOhN MCPhEE, Ph.d.

WILsON d300 $350 Wilson is doing everything to help the club move faster. First, at 268 grams, it’s the lightest driver on the market by a major brand—about a pack of Skittles lighter than most drivers in the game.

Next, designers modified the curvature in the sole, rear and front of the crown (compared to the D200) to reduce its aerodynamic drag. Finally, and most noticeably, pyramid-shape nodules on the top of the club streamline airflow around the crown and hosel. The ultimate intent of this lighter, sleeker shape? To let your same old swing produce new and faster results.

COMMENts (L) Whatever those things are on top, I’m a believer. I love the way it sits square and lets you go after it. (M) Everything felt light, liberating and easy to swing. You can forgive the bumps on top. (H) If those spikes help with aerodynamics, I’ll suffer with it.

Easy to launch high.

PRICE

vERdICt

30 golf digest india | march 2017

▶ p l ay ers

Professor of systems design engineering at the University of Waterloo in Ontario; dICk RUggE Former senior technical director for the USGA; gEORgE sPRINgER, Ph.d. Professor (emeritus) of aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford.

▶ re ta i lers

tOP ROW (L-R) JasON gUss Director, Jason Guss Golf Academy/Hawk Hollow Golf Properties, Bath Township, Mich.; ERIk a LaRkIN PGA Director of Instruction at Creighton Farms, Aldie, Va.; gaRy abbOt t (age: 29, hdp: 11) Kitchener, Ontario; thOMas b. aLLEN (age: 52, hdp: 7) Middletown, Ohio; NICk bLaIR (age: 38, hdp: 25) Goodyear, Ariz. sECONd ROW (L-R) JEff bLINd (age: 37,

New York City; JasON bURIaN (age: 34, Edwardsville, Ill.; sCOt t dICkINsON (age: 28, hdp: 14) Palm Harbor, Fla.; RUss EvERts (age: 72, hdp: 16) Litchfield Park, Ariz.; PaUL IaNNIELLO (age: 55, hdp: 5) Whitefish, Mont. hdp: 7)

hdp: 12)

thIRd ROW (L-R) stEvE LaChMaN (age: 59,

Prescott Valley, Ariz.; PEtER LEE Danville, Calif.; JERRy LONg (age: 75, hdp: 15) Litchfield Park, Ariz.; WEI MaO (age: 46, hdp: 11) Sacramento; LaRRy MCCOy (age: 52, hdp: 5) Newtown, Conn. hdp: 6)

(age: 49, hdp: 9)

fOURth ROW (L-R) kEvIN MCELvaIN

Litchfield Park, Ariz.; aNaNd Philadelphia; JasON MUssER (age: 42, hdp: 3) Fresno, Calif.; JasON shIPLEy (age: 58, hdp: 5) Parkville, Md.; bk sUhR (age: 33, hdp: 1) Orlando (age: 71, hdp: 12)

MUdaLIaR (age: 35, hdp: 13) tOP ROW (L-R) LEIgh badER Executive Vice President, Global Value Commerce, Raleigh, N.C.; bUddy ChRIstENsEN Owner, Golfdom, McLean, Va.; JasON fRyIa Owner, Golf Exchange, Florence, Ky.

bOt tOM ROW (L-R) JaMEs WENNLUNd (age: 31, hdp: 20)

Tempe, Ariz.; JEssE Tempe, Ariz.;

WENNLUNd (age: 40, hdp: 28)

Director of Merchandising, PGA Tour, Ponte Vedra Beach; MaRk PEtRUCCI Manager, Joe & Leigh’s Discount Golf Pro Shop, South Easton, Mass.; sUsaN ROLL Co-owner, Carlsbad Golf Center, Carlsbad, Calif. bOt tOM ROW (L-R) svEN kEssLER

LEE WOOdWaRd (age: 67, hdp: 25)

Litchfield Park, Ariz.

▶ f i t t er

shaNON hOy t

PGA Professional, Golf Galaxy, Roseville, Calif.

(l) low-handicapper | (m) middle-handicapper | (h) high-handicapper

Fairway Woods Hot List ` 19,990

cALLAWAY ▶ GBB Epic/Sub Zero performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★ ★ ★ ½

` 17,990

cALLAWAY ▶ Big Bertha Fusion performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★

i nnovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

demand ★ ★ ★ ½

cOBRA ▶ King F7 performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ demand ★ ★ ★ ½

Fairway Woods An answer for your topped tee shot

cOBRA ▶ King LTD Black performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

demand ★ ★

by keely levins

march 2017 | golf digest india

31

Hot List Fairway Woods ` 19,900

TAYLORMADE ▶ M2 (2017) performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

TAYLORMADE ▶ M1 (2017) performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★ ★

` 22,500

PING ▶G performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ de mand ★ ★ ★ ★

` 25,900

TITLEIST ▶ 917F2/F3 performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★ ★

Fairway Woods Hot List

` 22,490

MIZUNO ▶ JPX 900 performance ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ½

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

demand ★ ★

HONMA ▶ TW737 FW/FWc performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★

TOUR EDGE ▶ Exotics EX10/Beta performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★

TOUR EDGE ▶ Exotics XJ1 performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★

march 2017 | golf digest india

33

Hot List Fairway Woods

CALLAWAY BIG BERTHA FUSION

COBRA KING F7

PING G

TAYLORMADE M2 (2017)

HONMA TW737 FW/FWC

TOUR EDGE EXOTICS EX10/BETA

PRICE

$250 If you’re looking for forgiveness and help getting the ball in the air, this is your club. The crown is made of a lightweight carbon composite. The weight that’s saved is moved to the back and perimeter, making it easier to launch the ball high.

Also, the triangular shape is more stable so you lose less ball speed, especially for hits low on the face.

COMMENTS (L) It’s a little bit lighter than others, but once I adjusted, it was very consistent, and I was able to hit high, tight draws. (M) Definitely a high-launching monster. (H) The ball gets up in the air quickly and stays there. Perfect interaction with the turf.

PRICE

$240 The King F7 is the more forgiving of the two Cobra entries. It does all the big things right (high-strength steel face, movable weights to control launch and spin, and super-easy adjustability).

But the key is the technology on the bottom. Two rails taper from front to back for a smooth and easy delivery into the turf. Having the rails extend toward the back creates increased stability on off-center hits.

COMMENTS (L) The head shape is a little more compact, and the feel and sound are outstanding. (M) The face is unbelievably electric. (H) The turf interaction was effortless.

PRICE

VERDICT

$300 The two models here evoke a throwback look with their nonadjustable hosels. But the classic shape adds new-school horsepower. Each has a face that wraps around the crown and sole for extra ball speed, and a weight chip in the front part of the sole keeps the center of gravity low for less spin.

COMMENTS (L) This is a beautiful fairway wood.

Heel and toe shots felt fine, and you could really get aggressive with it. (M) Strongest part of this club was turf interaction: It was like a slipstream. (H) Easy to hit as a driver replacement—great control.

PRICE

VERDICT

$250 The M2 looks a lot like the M1, but that’s where the similarities end.

The M2’s slot stretches nearly the entire length from heel to toe to help the face flex near the USGA limit. The variable-thickness face has an “inverted cone” shape to improve speed on mis-hits, especially those lower on the face. A redesigned fluted hosel helps all that power sound a little smoother.

COMMENTS (L) Wellstruck shots have a very neutral flight and seem to hang in the air.

(M) More of a crack at impact, and it definitely has a motor in it. (H) There’s a ton of forgiveness, with a really meaty feel.

PRICE

VERDICT

$270 Many struggle with fairway woods because they catch the ball too low on the face. Ping’s solution? Move the leading edge closer to the turf, which improves impact by moving it higher on the face for better launch and more speed. A thin crown results in a lower center of gravity so shots launch with less spin for extra distance.

COMMENTS (L) If you can’t hit a fairway wood off the ground, this is the club for you. (M) There’s a crushing sensation at impact. It’s long and forgiving. (H) The crown turbulators help with your aim by drawing your attention to the middle of the face.

PRICE

VERDICT

VERDICT

VERDICT

CALLAWAY GBB EPIC/SUB ZERO $280 VERDICT Both versions (standard and Sub Zero) feature the company’s signature face that wraps around the crown and sole.

The edges of the face function like hinges to expand the flexing to a wider area.

Weight is saved through the use of a carbon crown to lower the center of gravity, compared to last year’s Great Big Bertha.

That makes these adjustable heads more stable and easier to launch off the ground with less spin.

COMMENTS (L) The sole is so nice. You can hit this from deep grass or a hard lie. (M) It’s like dynamite on a stick. Great distance, but effortless to hit.

(H) A game-changer: forgiving, easy to launch and powerful.

PRICE

COBRA KING LTD BLACK $300 VERDICT The “spaceport” not only looks cool, it saves four grams by removing the need for glue. What’s saved is used for a tungsten weight that’s low and forward to power shots with less spin. Combined with a carbon-fiber crown, this creates a center of gravity that’s lower than other fairway woods. The CG lines up with the center of the face for optimal energy transfer and low spin.

COMMENTS (L) The head shape suits my eye. It’s easy off the deck, and I had good ball speed on a launch monitor. (M) This club finds that extra gear: The ball just kept rising.

(H) Tinkering with the lofts tuned its performance.

Feel is substantial.

PRICE

34 golf digest india | march 2017

$250/$300 The thin, wraparound cupface is a great feature (more flex equals more ball speed).

A high-density steel on the standard model (and titanium on the Beta) extends that face flexibility across a wider area. But fairway woods also have to be hit off the ground, so Tour Edge tightened the profile of its trademark wave-ribboned sole to help you swing through the turf more easily.

COMMENTS (L) The contrast of the white scoring lines and black glossy crown make aiming it really easy. (M) It has a strong baritone sound. (H) The ball really carries, but the best part is how great this club is off the turf.

MIZUNO JPX 900 TAYLORMADE M1 (2017)

TITLEIST 917F2/F3

$300 VERDICT The black-andwhite look is familiar, but this next generation M1 uses a new sole design.

The track with a movable 25-gram weight is longer (to correct a larger range of draws and fades) and has been moved farther back.

This opened up space for a sole slot to help the face flex, increasing ball speed, boosting launch and decreasing backspin.

COMMENTS (L) Off the tee, this is an animal. Even shots low on the face performed. (M) The head size is perfect: It’s compact but not too small. Keeps you honest, but the forgiveness is good. (H) The notch in the white is a nice frame for alignment. Definitely a more centered mass behind the ball.

PRICE

PRICE

$320 VERDICT Titleist is expanding its adjustability beyond the hosel. A new cylindrical weight along the sole flips to change the behavior of the club. Heavier on one end, it lets you promote a fade or draw.

Meanwhile, all that direction gets a power boost with a newly designed (and covered) channel that’s cut through the sole to provide more rebound. The larger F2 is more forgiving and launches high; the smaller F3 is more workable.

COMMENTS (L) Stable flight. It just looks like it’s holding a perfect pattern in the air. (M) A shockingly easy club to hit—like Titleist for the masses.

(H) It just explodes at impact, and it was incredibly easy off the deck.

$300 It has an adjustment system that’s as unrestricted as we’ve seen: The 15-gram weight on a center track in the sole has no set positions. You can place that weight wherever you want along the track for as much, or as little, adjustment in spin and height as you want. It also has a hosel that adjusts plus/ minus 2 degrees of loft or plus/minus 1 degree of lie angle. Those ripples on the sole maintain speed on shots hit a little thin.

COMMENTS (L) It’s super easy to get in the air, it sounds terrific and has that good thud to it. (M) Even the higher-lofted setting had a nice, boring trajectory. (H) The ball is explosive off the face. The sound is crisp and clean.

PRICE

VERDICT

TOUR EDGE EXOTICS XJ1 $450 The beauty of a lightweight titanium alloy frame isn’t just a fasterflexing face. It’s that it saves weight so two-thirds of the club’s mass is concentrated in the tungsten sole. You read that right.

There’s 124 grams of tungsten right where you need it to help you launch the ball higher and make the club more forgiving.

A 12-gram tungsten heel weight also means you’re not coming into impact with an open face.

COMMENTS (L) Wish this was more compact, but OMG does this go high.

(M) Powerful feeling and easy to hit. (H) Consistently high. The confidence I have with this is insane.

PRICE

VERDICT

(l) low-handicapper | (m) middle-handicapper | (h) high-handicapper

Hybrids Hot List ` 19,900

PING

taylormade

▶G

▶ M1 (2017)

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

demand ★ ★ ★ ★

` 16,900

taylormade ▶ M2 (2017) performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Hybrids Your long irons are now on the endangered list by mike stachura

march 2017 | golf digest india

35

Hot List Hybrids

` 14,990

callaway ▶ Apex performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★ ★ ½

cobra ▶ King F7 performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★ ½

` 17,990

` 15,990

callaway

callaway

▶ Big Bertha OS

▶ Steelhead XR

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

performance ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★ ★ ★ ½

demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Hybrids Hot List

` 19,900

TITlEIST

Tour EdGE

▶ 816H1/H2

▶ Exotics EX10

performance ★ ★ ★ ★

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ demand ★ ★ ★ ★

bEN HoGaN ▶ VKTR performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ½ demand ★

` 15,000

SrIxoN ▶ Z H65 performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★

march 2017 | golf digest india

37

Hot List Hybrids I was able to launch the ball high really easily. (M) It had just the right amount of ting at impact. This will hold greens without sacrificing distance. (H) The rails really helped the turf interaction. The ball flight settled in the air and landed softly.

CALLAWAY APEX $220 Why would you design a hybrid to perform like an iron? With the Apex, Callaway presents the case that adding a little better performance (distance and height) is all some players want from a hybrid. With a thin, high-strength steel face that wraps around the crown and sole, you’ll see more distance, and the slightly higher center of gravity produces the climbing ball flight that should hold more greens.

COMMENTS (L) Total player’s hybrid. Very versatile club. I could curve it, hit it high and low. It doesn’t look forgiving, but it is.

(M) Its slender size might scare some golfers—until they hit it. (H) I really like the dense feeling at impact.

PRICE

VERDICT

CALLAWAY STEELHEAD XR $200 When trying to replace our long irons, most of us aren’t looking for subtlety. This entry unabashedly goes after the distance-and-forgiveness gaps in your long game.

Plus-size compared to Callaway’s XR 16 hybrids, the oversize frame, large cupface extending around the crown and sole, and a deep center of gravity produce shots with more speed, stabilize off-center hits and launch shots higher.

COMMENTS (L) It will make a high-handicapper feel comfortable. You could get away with a lot. (M) When you catch one, it has horsepower to spare.

(H) Whether you’re in the fairway or light rough, you’re getting that shot to the green.

PRICE

VERDICT

CALLAWAY BIG BERTHA OS $250 This hybrid is more like a compact fairway wood. The large face uses Callaway’s trademark design that wraps around the crown and sole. The wider heel-to-toe dimensions create more forgiveness on off-center hits and face flexibility approaching the USGA limit. It adds an eight-way adjustable hosel across five lofts.

COMMENTS (L) Easy to aim and forgiving. Mishits acted like they were flushed. (M) Above-average distance and higher than normal trajectory.

Very forgiving through the turf. (H) Very sturdy. Swing smoothly, look up and ball is at perfect trajectory.

PING G $230 Those turbulators on the crown do frame the ball nicely, but it’s the unseen internal geometry that does the real work here. Inside the sole, weight pads cascade from back to front. This helps position weight farther back for more forgiveness and gets the sole more involved in the way the face gives at impact. That means more flexing for more distance.

COMMENTS (L) Hybrids are supposed to be your bailout club, and I feel like this one would bail me out every time. (M) Excellent launch. Very light feel led to a sense of a lot of clubhead speed. (H) Those shark fins just scream like you’re gonna crush it. Easy to get the ball in the air and hit it the way you want it.

PRICE

VERDICT

PRICE

VERDICT

COBRA KING F7 $200 Hybrids need to do two things well that a lot of golfers find difficult with their long irons—get the ball in the air and out of the rough. For the King F7, the key to solving these problems is a low center of gravity. A 13-gram tungsten weight in the sole helps provide a higher ball flight, and the rails lower the CG and keep the club gliding through the turf.

COMMENTS (L) They have adjustability figured out.

PRICE

VERDICT

38 golf digest india | march 2017

toward the front to expand the way the face flexes on off-center hits.

COMMENTS (L) You could flight it like a driving iron, or hit it high. A pleasant, muted sound. (M) Easy to get the club through the turf and a nice middle trajectory. (H) Everyday golfers need to use the adjustability. There are many ways to make this one work for you.

TAYLORMADE M2 (2017) $200 The more forgiving of TaylorMade’s hybrids, the M2 features a confidence-inspiring low-face profile and a longer, more flexible slot cut through the sole (compared with last year’s model) to help improve the way the ball rebounds off the face. While cutting a slot through the sole increases distance, making the flexing of that structure sound and feel ideal is nearly as important. So engineers fine-tuned the fluted hosel to save weight and control vibration.

COMMENTS (L) Solid strikes without being clangy. A classic hybrid that instills confidence.

(M) Simple to get up like a hot-air balloon, without sacrificing distance.

(H) A real muscle club.

PRICE

VERDICT

TAYLORMADE M1 (2017) $250 The 12-way adjustable hosel and movable weight in the sole are slick and effective. (Its 27-gram heft can go a long way to taming slices or hooks.)

But this is more than the most adjustable hybrid on the market. By shifting the sliding weight track toward the back of the sole, there’s still room for a slot cut through the sole

to distance, especially a thin, high-strength steel face and a flexing channel in the sole to provide ball speed and less spin. But the big things don’t matter unless you find the right hybrid for your swing. Titleist solves that riddle with two models featuring adjustable hosels. The larger H1 is for those who swing hybrids like fairway woods, and the H2 is for those who swing hybrids like irons.

COMMENTS (L) Great combination of a compact look with explosive feel. (M) Titleist offers more to midhandicaps than it did in the past. Good forgiveness, easy to elevate. (H) That thumpy, swoosh sound is an awesome, powerful thing to hear.

PRICE

VERDICT

TOUR EDGE EXOTICS EX10 $170 Tour Edge’s Exotics line always has been about showcasing new materials, and this year’s hybrid finds a new high-strength steel used in hydroelectric power plants. The thin, resilient steel makes the EX10’s wrap-around cupface construction more flexible on off-center hits. No less valuable is the ribboned sole structure, which helps the club glide through the turf.

COMMENTS (L) It sets up nice and square. I like that the mis-hits didn’t hook.

(M) No resistance through the turf. Powerful, aggressive ball flight. (H) Looks like a better-players club until I hit it. The gliders look intriguing. I think I’d pure it from any possible lie.

PRICE

VERDICT

BEN HOGAN VKTR TITLEIST 816H1/H2 $250 They get the big things right when it comes

PRICE

VERDICT

mass forward to lower your spin. Shifting the heaviest weight to one of three perimeter locations will help correct left or right misses. Finally, there are 11 heads from 17 to 27 degrees to help you fit every gap in your bag.

COMMENTS (L) Looks really workable when I sit it down. Strikes feel like they have some mass behind them. (M) The high toe makes it simple to square at address. It has a lot of pop and decent forgiveness. (H) Smallish head, longer from heel to toe.

Surprisingly easy to hit.

$250 The idea here is that the extra spin from these hybrids helps you better shape shots and hold greens. But if you disagree with that philosophy, the four adjustable weights allow you to move more

PRICE

VERDICT

SRIXON Z H65 $230 Hybrid technology is doing nothing if it’s not helping you launch the ball higher. The unique solution here isn’t just the lower weight on the sole, but a channel in the crown that gets progressively deeper as lofts increase.

It helps on- and off-center hits launch higher with minimal spin. Furthermore, a spring-like high-strength steel face insert on these compact hybrids helps shots fly high.

COMMENTS (L) It feels soft, but there’s still a lot of mass behind the face. (M) Glides through the ground.

The sole design is simple but effective. (H) The step down on top makes it look smaller, but it doesn’t play that way. Easy club to hit high and soft.

PRICE

VERDICT

(l) low-handicapper | (m) middle-handicapper | (h) high-handicapper

Game-Improvement Irons Hot List

Game-Improvement Irons

cobra ▶ King F7/F7 One Length

Time to redo your yardages

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

by e. michael johnson

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★ ½

callaway ▶ Steelhead XR performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

` 67,990(G) ` 61,990(S)

` 78,990

` 58,99065,490

callaway

mIzuno

▶ Apex CF 16

▶ JPX 900 Hot Metal

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★ ★ ★

march 2017 | golf digest india

39

Hot List game-Improvement Irons ` 80,000(G) ` 75,000(S)

SRIXON ▶ Z 565 performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ demand ★ ★

pINg ▶G performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

` 65,900(G) ` 60,900(S)

tAYlORMADe ` 78,900(G) ` 65,900(S)

` 75,000

tItleISt

tAYlORMADe

▶ 716 AP1

▶ M1

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★ ★ ★ ★

40 golf digest india | march 2017

▶ M2 (2017) performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

game-Improvement Irons Hot List

hONMA ▶ TW737 P performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★

beN hOgAN ▶ PTx performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★

FOURteeN ▶ TC-544FG performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★

tOUR eDge ▶ Exotics CB Pro Tungsten

` 71,99079,990

MIZUNO ▶ JPX 900 Forged

performance ★ ★ ★ ★

performance ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★

demand ★ ★ ★

march 2017 | golf digest india

41

Hot List Game-Improvement Irons

CALLAWAY APEX CF 16 PRICE $1,200 (set of eight, steel shafts) vERdICT This is the kind of club Callaway excels at: It has a pleasing shape yet maintains the easy-to-hit look at address that’s a must for a game-improvement iron. The spring-like cupface (in which the face wraps around the top and sole to enhance flex) provides plenty of pop in the long and middle irons, and there is more than enough forgiveness to assist the middle-handicapper.

Judging by our testers’ reaction to this club the past two years (a convincing five stars in Performance and Look/Sound/Feel each time), if there were a Mount Rushmore for game-improvement irons, this one would be on it.

COMMENTs (L) It has the sensation of staying on the clubface longer before springing off it. (L) It has it all: I could hit fades or draws on command.

(M) Even the thin hits felt good. That’s insane.

CALLAWAY sTEELHEAd XR $800 There’s an old saying that there are few new ideas, only better execution. That could apply to the Steelhead XR. Callaway has taken the proven, reliable shape of its Steelhead X-14 iron of more than a decade ago and married it with the modern horsepower of the wraparound cupface found in its more recent irons. The result is

PRICE

vERdICT

a club with power where you need it. The center of gravity is low and deep in the long and middle irons for better performance on mis-hits, and the zippy face provides a turbo-boost near the USGA’s limit on spring-like effect.

COMMENTs (L) The feedback at impact is informative. (H) There’s a lot of technology straightening out your ball flight.

a lot of the guesswork out.

Doesn’t deviate much in direction or distance from shot to shot. good looks. The JPX 900 features a steel alloy in a single-piece casting to produce the thinnest face ever on a Mizuno iron at two millimeters (slightly more than the thickness of a nickel). The result is an iron that can produce ball speeds normally seen in irons with cupface, soleslot or face-insert designs.

COMMENTs (L) Pierced through the air like a fighter jet at the right altitude. (H) You can feel the sole work for you. Didn’t chunk any despite some poor swings.

COBRA KING F7/ F7 ONE LENGTH $800 We could get into all the technical mumbo jumbo of the four different head designs, but that might just confuse you. That said, the progressive-set idea is significant and useful in that it alters the face flexibility, center of gravity and spin to optimize the performance of each iron within the set.

And what of the one-length option? All clubs in the set are designed at a 7-iron length. The weight added to the heel and toe of the long irons also help stability and launch. Judging by our testers, the singlelength idea—while not for everyone—has appeal.

COMMENTs (M) A very effective club. The dispersion pattern was tight. (H) The sweet spot feels really large. I also like the thump at impact.

PRICE

vERdICT

MIZUNO JPX 900 HOT METAL $900 For a number of years Mizuno has fought the perception that its irons sacrificed distance in favor of a look and feel that appealed to betterthan-average players. Its 2017 line addresses that concern and makes a strong case that it has the power to go along with the

PRICE

vERdICT

42 golf digest india | march 2017

PING G $800 How do you make the ball fly faster off an iron? One way is to make the face thinner. To do that you need a material strong enough to hold up at impact. For Ping’s G iron that meant using a new heat-treatment process to create what it calls “hyper” 17-4 stainless steel, which the company says is 40-percent stronger than traditional stainless steel.

The irons also feature a circular structure in the back cavity to improve performance on mis-hits across more of the face. The result is four times the amount of face deflection compared to the G30 irons.

COMMENTs (L) The sound is killer crisp. You know with your ears if you hit it well. (M) A green-inregulation monster. Mishits will still have enough to get you home. (M) Takes PRICE

vERdICT

sRIXON Z 565 $1,100 This iron is the 12-handicapper’s secret weapon on the first tee.

Your opponents might just think you don’t have nearly enough forgiveness in the bag and double the wager.

Little do they know that within the sleek exterior is plenty of golf club. It starts with a high-strength-steel face insert that provides superior energy off the face. And don’t overlook the slight V-shape to the sole, which increases the effective bounce. This helps players maintain distance on shots hit fat, especially for those who come into the ball at a steep angle of attack.

COMMENTs (L) Has a nice, light head that you can motor through the hitting zone. (M) Exceptional feel. It comes off smooth and consistent.

PRICE

pocket in the sole and slots in the face are technologies that have been carried over from previous TaylorMade irons.

COMMENTs (L) These lead the league in hang time. The ball just stays in the air. (M) The sole slot must work. Good distance on shots hit two grooves low on the face.

vERdICT

TAYLORMAdE M1 $1,000 Designing clubs for better players is a strength of TaylorMade.

So in designing the M1 iron, the company sought to combine the speed and forgiveness of its M2 model with a more compact look that offers a hint of workability. The moderate offset and straighter leading edge provide an attractive look, and tungsten in the toe of the 3- through 7-irons gave designers more freedom to create the desired head shape without sacrificing ease of launch or forgiveness.

Speed off the face isn’t an issue, either, because a

PRICE

vERdICT

TITLEIsT 716 AP1 $900 A comforting club for those wanting to avoid something that looks like it belongs in a toolbox.

The well-proportioned clubhead plows through the turf thanks to a preworn leading edge. There’s no trouble getting the ball in the air (even with strong lofts) because of the high-density tungsten that moves the center of gravity low. The True Temper XP 90 shaft is light enough to help generate additional swing speed that creates chest-puffing yardage.

COMMENTs (L) The apex of the flight seemed to occur more toward the end before dropping down gently on the green. Loved that. (M) It wasn’t the best in any one area, but the sum of being good in all aspects made this a standout. (H) The traditional look is highly appealing.

PRICE

vERdICT

TAYLORMAdE M2 (2017) $800 A worthy followup to last year’s model, the new M2 was tweaked in the right places (note the addition of face slots).

With every gram of weight precious, the revised hosel requires less material and has a slot to make bending it for fitting easier. The undercut in the topline saves weight, allowing for a lower center of gravity.

Kudos to TaylorMade for researching how to improve sound in a thin-face iron. The cavity badge has been revamped with ribs and damping tape to optimize the acoustics and feel.

COMMENTs (L) The feel of these irons is tremendous.

Center hits jump off the face. (M) Beautifully constructed, and the weighting is well balanced. They look good in the bag, too.

(H) The sole seems to float through the grass.

PRICE

vERdICT

BEN HOGAN PTX $1,200 (seven irons) The use of lofts instead of club numbers can be frustratingly confusing (sorry, etching it on the hosel doesn’t count), but there is plenty of innovation in these irons that can benefit many.

PRICE

vERdICT

Game-Improvement Irons Hot List

Hollow irons in lofts from 20 to 31 degrees feature a 17-gram tungsten weight near the sole to help you get the ball in the air. The traditional cavity-back irons (32 to 47 degrees) place mass higher on the head to create a more controlled trajectory. Ben Hogan once said golf clubs were “90 percent shaft and 10 percent how it goes through the dirt.”

The PTx’s wide sole uses a V-like shape to make it play like a narrower, more versatile sole.

COMMENTs (L) Sharplooking. Has a definite cool factor. (M) You can feel the softness of the strike in your hands.

FOURTEEN TC-544FG $1,200 (seven irons) Fourteen is best known in the United States for its wedges, but its irons shouldn’t be overlooked.

In fact, this set could have many thinking fundamentally differently about how

PRICE

vERdICT

the iron set should be put together. It starts with a 23-degree 5-iron with a 39-inch shaft. That’s often the loft of a 4-iron and length of a 3-iron.

The strong lofts include a 42-degree pitching wedge.

However, thanks to the deep undercut cavity in this one-piece forging, there’s plenty of weight down low, so achieving height isn’t an issue. Price, however, is a consideration. These don’t come cheap—especially for seven sticks.

COMMENTs (L) Straight and forgiving: Shots found their destination better than Google Maps. (M) The look is minimalistic in an appetizing way.

HONMA TW737 P $1,040 Once primarily an Asia-only brand, Honma is attempting to make a push with its products in the United States. Judging by some of our testers’ reactions, this club should find an audience. Known for its classic forged shapes, Honma offers this soft-feeling cast version that keeps the looks but adds some punch and forgiveness. The pocket cavity creates a lower center of gravity, making it easier to launch the ball in the air. Stronger lofts and a face that’s firmer on the outside and softer on the inside neatly mix force and feel for distance with the ability to control.

COMMENTs (L) Perhaps not the most forgiving, but PRICE

vERdICT

the feel was best in class.

(M) The turf interaction is so good you feel like hitting more balls on the range.

uted to the perimeter to bolster forgiveness. The company’s emphasis on sound and feel is evident as well. That’s important when you have a thin, multi-thickness face designed to produce the type of ball speed needed to compete in this category.

COMMENTs (L) This is a perfect club for a 10-handicapper who is getting better and trending toward single digits. (M) I like how the finish greatly reduces glare at address.

MIZUNO JPX 900 FORGEd $1,200 The company continues to extend its expertise in forged irons into its game-improvement offerings. It might not be as confidence-inspiring at address as others on our list, but there’s plenty to like for middle-handicappers.

The rear cavity has been enlarged, resulting in a weight savings of 21.5 grams that was redistrib-

PRICE

vERdICT

TOUR EdGE EXOTICs CB PRO TUNGsTEN $800 It’s not the most attractive iron on our list, but the heft screams you’re

PRICE

vERdICT

going to be able to produce a powerful strike. In some ways it’s like a good IPA beer—not for everyone, but thoroughly enjoyable for those who appreciate the extra boost. The hollow-body irons have a boatload of tungsten in the sole (from 90 to 95 grams, depending on the iron) that greatly assists launch without having to rely on an extra wide sole to do so.

The beveled leading edge of the sole blasts through the turf, helping mitigate those fat shots middlehandicappers have from time to time.

COMMENTs (L) These are a smooth operator, and everything comes off stable. Lots of tech, but well hidden at address.

(M) If you’re trying to sandbag, you’d put these in your bag. So good for the over-the-top, shut-face, low-ball hitter.

When a Clubmaker Declines to Participate A new protocol for 2018 iven the amount of publicity generated by PXG in 2016, it’s logical that attentive readers would ask why its clubs aren’t to be found on this year’s Hot List. Certainly, we were as interested as anyone to put them through our testing process and find out how the clubs stack up against irons from other companies. Unfortunately, after numerous requests to submit clubs and relevant technical data for review by our academic panel, PXG declined to participate. With the exception of a few niche companies (Miura, XXIO, Krank), we haven’t faced this situation before, but it was clear to us that, in fairness, we could not include PXG this year.

However, the situation did prod us to develop a protocol going forward. Starting with the 2018 Hot List, every effort will be made by Golf Digest to obtain and fit clubs to our testers specs of any product deemed by the judges to be relevant in the market, regardless of whether the company submits them for testing.

Because our process is considerably more comprehensive than just hitting clubs, we will obtain as much supporting technical documentation about these products as possible to share with our academic panel. This will be done to allow us to continue providing readers with the most comprehensive ranking of golf equipment in the industry. —EMJ

G

james yang

SIDEBAR HERE

(l) low-handicapper | (m) middle-handicapper | (h) high-handicapper

Hot List Players Irons

Players Irons How to go 1 up at the bag drop by e. michael johnson

` 66,990

MIZUNO ▶ JPX 900 Tour performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ demand ★ ★ ★

` 66,990

MIZUNO ▶ MP-25 performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ demand ★ ★ ½

` 85,990

CALLAWAY ▶ Apex Pro 16 performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★ ★

WILSON ▶ FG Tour V6 performance ★ ★ ★ ★

COBRA

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★

▶ King Forged Tour/ One Length

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

performance ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★ ★ ★ ½

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★ ½

Players Irons Hot List

PING

PING

▶ i200

▶ iBlade

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

` 85,000

TAYLORMADE ▶ P770 performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

demand ★ ★ ★ ½

` 86,900(S)

TITLEIST ▶ 716 AP2 performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Hot List Players Irons

` 75,000

SRIXON ▶ Z 765 performance ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ½

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★ ★ ½

BRIDGESTONE ▶ X-CB

TOUR EDGE

performance ★ ★ ★ ★

▶ Exotics CBX Forged

innovation ★ ★ ★ ½

performance ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ½

demand ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★

VEGA ▶ Mizar performance ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ½

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★

Players Irons Hot List ing for more forgiveness.

Unknown to many will be the availability of a “power spec” model (with stronger lofts). Think of it like Ping’s version of In-N-Out Burger’s underground menu.

COMMENTS (L) The larger head gave me confidence.

My distances were spot on. (M) It’s hard to hit a bad shot. It’s like the entire head is the sweet spot.

CALLAWAY APEX PRO 16 PRICE $1,200 (set of eight, steel shafts) VERDICT The forging process gives the carbonsteel head a supple feel, but it’s inside where the club shines. The progressive weighting has heavier slugs low in the long irons with less weight in the middle irons. The short irons have no extra weight. Plus, the distance is explosive.

Think Mentos in a bottle of Diet Coke.

COMMENTS (L) You can work the daylights out of the ball. (M) They’re hot across the entire face, not just the center.

off-center strikes. A club to make aficionados realize the company has moved well past its muscle-back blade heritage.

COMMENTS (L) A lot of spin, a little rise and then a drop. It made it so easy. (M) A low-penetrating flight, invariably straight.

$1,200 The MP-25 is forged from a boroninfused carbon steel that the company uses in its JPX 900 Forged game-improvement iron. Stronger than traditional steel, the boron allows for a thinner clubface and a slot behind the face that provides additional ball speed. That means these play like an old set of blades—just on steroids.

COMMENTS (L) Offers help without sacrificing feel. (M) Great sizzle off the face with tons of pop.

VERDICT

COBRA KING FORGED TOUR/ ONE LENGTH $1,000 A milled channel provides the space for 12 grams of discretionary weight (via two tungsten plugs in the toe and one in the heel). Not only does the weight enhance performance on mis-hits, but it helps you launch the ball, too. The one-length-set is intriguing, but it remains a love-it-or-loathe-it kind of approach.

COMMENTS (L) Struck me as surprisingly easy to hit.

Long, too. (M) Extremely forgiving for a club in this category.

PRICE

VERDICT

MIZUNO JPX 900 TOUR $1,200 The carbon steel is forged in a manner that creates tighter tolerances and improved durability.

The company-dubbed “power frame” establishes a larger sweet spot and better performance on

PRICE

VERDICT

$1,200 Like a defensive back with speed, the iBlade is sleek but hits with an authority you’ll remember.

The face remarkably is only .068 of an inch thick (slightly more than that of a quarter) and produces a powerful strike. The iron’s stability is helped by a tungsten weight low in the toe. These irons make it easier to trust your swing.

COMMENTS (L) It’s like an extension of your arms: You don’t even feel the club going through the ball.

(M) Consistently clean through the turf every time.

$1,200 In recent years TaylorMade has lacked an iron that looked like a tour club. That’s not the case here. Presented in a frame that screams tour-pro ability, the forged, carbonsteel hosel and face are joined to a 70-gram tungsten sole piece in the 3- through 7-irons to help launch and forgiveness.

COMMENTS (L) The compact head shape is ideal.

(M) Gets through the ball with minimal effort.

$1,000 Weight saved from thinning the face has been reallocated to the hosel and toe areas to expand perimeter weight-

PRICE

VERDICT

$1,100 These irons are forged from soft S20C steel and feature a tungsten weight toward the toe to allow the center of gravity to be closer to the center of the face to improve forgiveness. This is an effective way to offer extra help in a shape better players appreciate. A sole with more bounce in the leading edge will power through the thickest rough your superintendent can grow.

COMMENTS (L) Excellent balance. You know where the club is at all times. (M) Divots are thin scoops rather than big chunks.

PRICE

$1,000 This is an iron that appeals to the shotmaker thanks to 38 grams of mass behind the impact area to improve feel. But it also features forgiveness elements: There’s tungsten in the toe and heel of the long irons to improve off-center hits. Another tungsten slug is low and centered in the middle irons to make it easier to launch the ball.

COMMENTS (L) Surprisingly forgiving. Accurate and consistent. (M) The ball roars off the face.

VERDICT

VERDICT

$2,270 If you’re into the vintage vibe with a touch of high-end smugness, you might have found your next set—provided you can stroke a check for the hefty price. The soft, carbonsteel body is married to a springy, maraging-steel face, and the milled lines in the rear cavity aren’t just for decoration. Closer inspection reveals that the cut becomes deeper toward the bottom of the head and is angled and sized to allow for more weight in the toe. This helps control trajectory and provide more energy transfer on toe hits.

COMMENTS (L) It has the “wow” factor. Hot off the face but not at the loss of feel. (M) More height than expected with long irons.

PRICE

SRIXON Z 765

PRICE

TAYLORMADE P770

sound and feel. A forged deep cavity helps mitigate mis-hits, but one feature not to overlook is the duallevel flange that provides additional feel on shots struck low on the face, or where most everyday players make contact.

COMMENTS (L) It flights a bit lower than most, but it’s easier to control as a result. (M) Easy to frame the ball at address.

VEGA MIZAR

WILSON FG TOUR V6

PRICE

PING I200

$1,200 The company didn’t tinker much with a club that players were happy with. That’s not to say they didn’t advance it from the previous AP2.

Tungsten in the heel and toe provides a lower center of gravity and better effectiveness on mis-hits. The sole is also wider with more trailing edge relief, helping produce crisp divots.

COMMENTS (L) As close to using a blade without actually using a blade. (M) A robust feeling at impact.

VERDICT

VERDICT

PRICE

VERDICT

PRICE

PING IBLADE

$1,200 (seven irons) Sometimes in this category the topline and offset aren’t in proportion to the heel and toe length. No such issues here, plus there’s a wider sole for smooth turf interaction. Ample mass behind the hitting area produces a pleasant feel at impact, and having three steelshaft brand options from Nippon, KBS and True Temper is useful. The appearance is throwback, but it’s not an old-school club.

COMMENTS (L) The weight distribution made for a powerful feel. (M) Excellent distance control.

PRICE

TITLEIST 716 AP2

PRICE

MIZUNO MP-25

BRIDGESTONE X-CB

VERDICT

TOUR EDGE EXOTICS CBX FORGED

VERDICT

$1,000 A clean, compact package that brings all the heat you could want without sacrificing looks,

PRICE

VERDICT

march 2017 | golf digest india

47

Hot List Super Game- Improvement Irons ` 79,990

CALLAWAY ▶ Big Bertha OS performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

COBRA ▶ King Oversize performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

demand ★ ★ ★ ½

Super GameImprovement Irons Golf doesn’t have to be that hard by e. michael johnson

48 golf digest india | march 2017

PING ▶ GMax performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

Super Game- Improvement Irons Hot List

WILSON ▶ D300 performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

TOUR EDGE ▶ Exotics EXd

demand ★ ★ ★ ½

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★

TOUR EDGE ▶ Hot Launch 2 performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★

YONEX ▶ EZONE Elite performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★

march 2017 | golf digest india

49

Hot List Super Game-Improvement Irons

CALLAWAY BIG BERTHA OS $1,300 (set of eight, graphite shafts) vERdICT Last year’s XR OS was a super gameimprovement iron hidden in a smaller shape. This year, no such subtlety was attempted. The Big Bertha OS is, well, big, and it’s highly suitable for those needing help with launch, distance and direction.

The irons use what Callaway calls an “exo-cage” that alters the stiffness of the club’s body in certain areas and allows weight to be placed where it’s most effective. It also lets the revamped cupface (where the face wraps around part of the topline and sole to increase face flex) to function more efficiently.

COmmEnTS (M) Colossal distance. Ball goes a mile in the air. (H) Long irons are so easy to hit, it eliminates the need for hybrids.

PRICE

COBRA KInG OvERSIZE $1,100 It’s difficult to believe it was roughly 25 years ago that Cobra embarked down the path of oversize irons, placing an emphasis on distance instead of precision. Cobra continues that pursuit by taking a more multifaceted approach to increasing distance. The King Oversize irons combine a thinner, L-shape face with a hollow frame and multiple materials to lower the center of gravity. The result is Cobra’s most flexible iron face ever, nearly at the USGA limit. A lightweight True Temper XP 85 shaft gives slower swingers more speed, too.

PInG GmAX $900 Ping has a penchant for making irons that are easy to hit, and this is one of its best. A heattreating process produces a face that’s 40-percent stronger (than the Karsten, Ping’s previous model in this category) in the 4through 8-irons for extra ball speed. Lighter swingweights in the 4- through 6-irons also make it easier to square at impact. The clubface is thinner than the Karsten model and, in conjunction with the topline and sole, creates a diving-board-like effect to generate more ball speed.

Cosmetically, there’s an addition of a ferrule for the first time on a G-Series iron. These irons won’t eliminate all your mistakes, but they’re about as close as you’re going to get.

COmmEnTS (M) A club that will make any golfer better. (H) The look at address is as comforting as you will find.

It’s also easier to take when an iron provides such a powerful alternative to what’s already in your bag.

The holes, which extend into the cavity, provide extra room behind the impact area so the face can flex and boost ball speed. Plus, the weight that’s saved is redistributed to the heel and toe for additional stability and forgiveness.

COmmEnTS (M) I can still get my mis-hits up in the air. (H) The feel is much improved over last year’s model.

PRICE

vERdICT

PRICE

vERdICT

WILSOn d300 $900 vERdICT The urethanefilled holes on the topline and toe—first used in the company’s game-improvement C200 model—might be less of a visual hurdle at address in this category.

PRICE

50 golf digest india | march 2017

TOUR EdGE EXOTICS EXd $800 Tour Edge clubs are known for their value, but the company’s technological prowess is overshadowed as a result. Here, plenty of tech has been crammed into a conventional-looking clubhead, including a pair of tungsten weights in the heel and toe areas to enhance performance on mis-hits and lower the center of gravity. That’s especially important to assist launch in the 3- through 6-irons, as those feature stronger-than-traditional lofts. Still not sure? The company offers a customfitted (lie angle, length, shaft and flex) 6-iron for just $50 to try.

COmmEnTS (M) A wellbalanced club with help where you need it. (H) Slightly lower flight than most others.

Super for all Players Help for everyone comprises all hybrids. (Alliron or combo sets also are available.) The heads are slightly larger than the previous version for extra forgiveness, and the thin, forged maraging-steel face produces more than enough ball speed. The bulk of the club’s weight is in the sole, which helps assist in getting the ball airborne.

COmmEnTS (M) Swallow your pride. These do make the game easier. High flight is automatic. (H) The wide soles make it almost impossible to hit fat.

PRICE

vERdICT

TOUR EdGE HOT LAUnCH 2 $500 One of the first companies to adopt the concept of an all-hybrid set, Tour Edge continues its work in that area with the second iteration of its Hot Launch. The company has long believed the game is too difficult and expensive. This club addresses both issues. The sevenpiece set is just $500 and

PRICE

vERdICT

YOnEX EZOnE ELITE $720 Designed for the super-chopper but playable by almost anyone, this iron disguises its technological horsepower in an appealing shape. The octagon-shape internal depressions behind the face create the additional face flex desired by those drawn to this category of clubs.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect, however, is the attention to the center of gravity. Weight in the heel of the long irons makes them easier to square at impact. Weight toward the toe on short irons provides stability where it’s needed.

It adds up to a reassuring club in your hands when the pressure is on.

COmmEnTS (M) The shafts were light and easy to swing. (H) These have a huge sweet spot. Consistent trajectory, too.

PRICE

vERdICT

here’s a stigma attached to super game-improvement irons that only 25-handicappers should be using them. Certainly, the player who comes over the top like a lumberjack and has no desire to practice can use all the help these clubs provide, but what about better players?

There’s a place for them, too. Just as many tour players opt for utility irons or even clubs found in this category to replace their long irons, you should, too, Mr. Single Digit golfer. We ran a test using Foresight Sports’ GC2 launch monitor with a 4-handicap player pitting a game-improvement 4-iron against a super game-improvement 4-iron. The results were enlightening.

The game-improvement 4-iron carried 169 yards, reaching its peak height at 45 feet.

Its landing angle was shallow at 27.3 degrees, leading to 29 yards of rollout after landing.

The super game-improvement club carry was nearly identical (170 yards) but had a peak height of 60 feet and a 36-degree angle of descent, resulting in a softer landing and cutting the rollout nearly in half at 15 yards.

That’s the difference between being over the back of the green and being on the back of the green. And there’s no stigma when marking down a 4 instead of a 5 or 6. —emj

T

james yang

(M) The alignment marks on the face frame the ball well.

(H) Its size induces confidence. The offset makes you feel like you can’t slice it.

COmmEnTS

(m) middle-handicapper | (h) high-handicapper

Wedges Hot List

` 9,990

mizuno

ping

▶ T7

▶ Glide 2.0

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

` 12,995

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

titleist

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★

▶ Vokey Design SM6 performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★ ½

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Wedges ` 10,990

taylormade ▶ Milled Grind performance ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

demand ★ ★ ★ ½

Because we all miss an awful lot of greens by mike stachura

march 2017 | golf digest india

51

Hot List Wedges

Cobra ▶ King Pur performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ demand ★ ★

` 10,500

CLEVELand ▶ RTX-3 Blade/CB performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

` 9,490

CaLLaWaY

` 9,790

mizuno

▶ MD3 Milled

▶ S5

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★ ★ ★ ★

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ½

52 golf digest india | march 2017

Wedges Hot List

bEn HoGan ▶ TK 15 performance ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ½

demand ★

WiLson ▶ FG Tour PMP performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★

CaLLaWaY ▶ Mack Daddy Forged

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

gutter credit tk

demand ★ ★ ★ ½

Photograph by First Lastname

january march 2017 2015| |golf golfdigest.com digest india

53

Hot List Wedges

in my distance. (M) Nice turf interaction. The milling feels like Velcro. Fantastic spin. (H) The sweet spot is buttery, muted and subtle.

cALLAWAY md3 mILLed $130 This wedge has three types of grooves tied to specific lofts: The lower lofts have narrow grooves for a smooth transition in spin between your irons and your first wedge. The middle lofts have grooves with steeper walls to better accentuate spin on full swings and bunker shots.

The highest lofts have wide grooves to improve greenside and partial-swing spin. The ports in the back help raise the center of gravity for spin and flight control. comments (L) Great feel and turf interaction. (M) Easy to flight full shots.

Good spin on greenside shots. (H) Well-designed bounce: It’s there when you open up the face but out of the way when you don’t.

PRIce

veRdIct

coBRA KInG PUR $120 The best way to optimize spin is to improve how the face makes contact with the ball. Cobra addresses this in a few ways. First, the face is left unchromed to maximize spin with a more consistent groove shape. Second, a thicker face and topline mitigates unwanted vibration. Finally, the higher lofts have wider grooves to channel away debris for cleaner contact. comments (L) The little cutout made it easy to lay the face open and hit all types of shots. (M) A really competent wedge. Great on low-checking shots with good spin out of the sand.

(H) Easy to get the ball high and out of the bunker.

more spin on less-thanfull-swing shots. Four sole options are available to help you maximize turf interaction. comments (L) It’s an easy wedge to aim. I could trap the ball and create perfectly sized divots.

(M) “Glide” resonates with its turf interaction. You’re not getting stuck anywhere. Love the extended grip. (H) Works well on long bunker shots.

PRIce

veRdIct

cLeveLAnd RtX-3 BLAde/cB $130 veRdIct Getting the center of gravity just right in a wedge has always been a challenge, Cleveland says, because the hosel is longer than with other clubs. As a result, the head’s balance has favored the heel side.

This wedge line—which includes 34 models in blade and cavity-back—moves the CG toward the middle of the face by shifting weight from the hosel to the clubhead. The idea is to produce more consistent spin, distance and feel. comments (L) I was able to lay open the compact head with ease, keep the trajectory down and dial

played by loft. Lower lofts have narrower grooves for maximizing full shots.

Higher lofts have wider grooves for better friction on partial shots. comments (L) Great consistency in producing high and soft shots. (M) The size gives you the confidence to hit the shot you need. (H) It’s workable from around the greens and easy from the sand.

mIZUno t7 $150 This shapeshifting wedge line (yes, the size actually changes from loft to loft) has different grooves, sole grinds, bounce angles and toe height based on the loft.

The lower lofts have a straighter leading edge to help on full shots, and the higher lofts have a more rounded leading edge and topline to assist with openface shots. All of these design features are forged in a durable, boron-infused carbon steel. comments (L) Great turf interaction. Consistent sound and feel. (M) A lot of weight low, so it’s easy to get through the shot.

(H) I could really control it, even on tight lies.

PRIce

veRdIct

PRIce

mIZUno s5 $130 The S5 has a rounder, larger and more forgiving shape than its predecessor. For that reason it might appeal to a broader range of players, but this forged model still offers the Mizuno subtleties elite players prefer.

This includes 10 stock and 15 custom lofts, five sole grinds, and grooves matched to how shots are

PRIce

veRdIct

54 golf digest india | march 2017

$140 The Glide’s second generation focuses on optimizing spin with updated milled-groove designs that change depending on the loft. Grooves on the lower lofts have more volume for cleaner contact and consistent spin on full shots. The sharper-edge grooves on the higher lofts help grab the ball for

PRIce

veRdIct

tAYLoRmAde mILLed GRInd $150 The design of a wedge can be compromised by a crude manufacturing process that sometimes involves inexact hand-grinding techniques.

So the soles of these wedges are computermilled to precise specifications to match high-, mid- and low-bounce options. Bonus: Weight savings in the hosel shift the center of gravity closer to the center of the face and slightly higher for a more consistent trajectory. comments (L) Lots of good feedback, like a classic forged wedge, but with good forgiveness.

(M) The heel relief on the sole makes it super simple to open it up around the green. (H) Love the classic shape with the little touches of color and functional micro-grind.

PRIce

veRdIct

tItLeIst voKeY desIGn sm6

PInG GLIde 2.0

That’s also why the weighting and grooves change through the lofts. The low weighting on the lower lofts matches the transition from the irons better, and the loft-specific grooves optimize spin for the type of shot played. comments (L) Your ability to hit those little half shots with lower or higher trajectories is off the charts. (M) Excellent stopping ability. You can be really precise. (H) Found it easy to generate spin with the little checking chips.

$150 Too often wedges are thought of as one homogenous group.

But Titleist’s wedge guru Bob Vokey offers the idea that they are an entirely unique set of individual tools. Hence, the 21 models across five sole grinds.

PRIce

veRdIct

Ben HoGAn tK 15 PRIce

$150

cALLAWAY mAcK dAddY FoRGed $150 Wedge designer Roger Cleveland solicited input from elite players, leading to a focus on improving control. The more compact shape’s straight leading edge is easier to manipulate. A progressively higher center of gravity as the lofts increase helps shots launch lower, and a new groove pattern adds a scoreline near the leading edge for additional grab. One final pitch to the elite player: It’s forged from soft 1025c carbon steel. comments (L) Nice thump in the bunker with a consistent amount of sand.

(M) That heavier feel made for good turf interaction.

(H) Contact was solid and controllable.

PRIce

veRdIct

veRdIct Each loft from 48

to 63 degrees is designed with different weighting for more precise distance control in your short game.

With more weight distributed higher and to the perimeter on the lower lofts, slight mis-hits fly truer. The weight is low on the higher lofts for better feel on short shots. The V-shape sole uses more bounce at the leading edge and less in the main part of the sole. comments (L) Versatile.

I could hit lots of shots without changing the bounce structure. (M) Pure as a single malt. Nice, soft feel. Old-school classic looks. (H) Maybe a better player’s head size, but I had really good distance control, spin and touch.

WILson FG toUR PmP $100 These wedges seek to maximize spin on two types of shots. First, full shots from the rough benefit from wider grooves that channel away debris.

Second, more milled lines between each groove mean there’s extra surface friction on chips and pitches. Bonus: A custombending program offers 97 loft options. comments (L) It’s forgiving on greenside shots.

(M) I love the versatility and firm feel. Had no problem hitting lots of shots with different spin and height.

(H) The rounded leading edge and sole grind let me open it up and set it square or shut, all with ease.

PRIce

veRdIct

(l) low-handicapper | (m) middle-handicapper | (h) high-handicapper

blade Putters Hot List ` 9,000

bettinardi

CLeVeLand

▶ Studio Stock (2017)

▶ Huntington Beach Collection

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ½

innovation ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

demand ★ ★

demand ★ ★ ★ ½

bettinardi ▶ Queen B (2017) performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★

blade Putters How to at least look like a better putter by joel beall

march 2017 | golf digest india

55

Hot List Blade Putters

ODYSSEY ▶ O-Works performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

` 12,490

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

ODYSSEY

demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

▶ White Hot RX performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

ODYSSEY ▶ Toulon Design

EDEl

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

▶ Torque Balanced

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ demand ★

Hot List Blade Putters Ping ▶ Sigma G performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

` 14,990

tAYlORMADE

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

▶ TP Collection

demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

Ping

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

▶ Vault

demand ★ ★ ★ ★

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★

` 32,900

titlEiSt/ CAMEROn ▶ Scotty Cameron Select performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

march 2017 | golf digest india

57

Hot List blade putters

caRbOn puttERS ▶ Project Roulette performance ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ½

demand ★

EvnROll ▶ ER2 performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ½ demand ★

SEEMORE ▶ Giant FGPt performance ★ ★ ★ ★

SEEMORE

innovation ★▶ Z1C ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel performance ★★ ★★ ★★ ½★ ½

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ½

demand innovation ★★ ★★ ★★ ★

demand ★ ★

000 golfdigest.com 136 golfdigest.com || march march 2016 2016

58 golf digest india | march 2017

blade putters Hot List

ment. (M) I could feel the ball rolling true even with my eyes closed. (H) Soft but still transferring the energy of your stroke.

BETTINARDI QUEEN B (2017) $400 This wide-soled shape, which is made from mild carbon steel and features a face-milling pattern designed for a crisp feel, makes perimeter weighting a point of emphasis.

Most notable is the back heel-and-toe bumpers that create a squared look.

CommENTs (L) The milled face feels great, even on mis-hits. (M) No wiggle: It stays sturdy at the bottom of your swing. I like the muted sound. (H) The white and gold bling is elegant.

PRICE

vERDICT

BETTINARDI sTUDIo sToCK (2017) $400 Another classic collection, this milled, carbon-steel series embraces old styles and new techniques with counterbalanced and arm-lock options. The distinctive soft feel is a result of a milling pattern that removes more than half the metal from the front of the face.

CommENTs (L) Pillowy soft in the best way. (M) The no-reflection pewter finish really works. (H) Delivers all the right feedback.

The club swings itself.

PRICE

vERDICT

CLEvELAND HUNTINGToN BEACH CoLLECTIoN $100 This bargain comes with more than a good price. The milled face is cut four times deeper than most putters. The result is a soft feel and more friction.

CommENTs (L) Just tremendous control—from takeaway to impact. (M) PRICE

vERDICT

Whatever they’re charging, they should charge more.

It’s that good. (H) It has a quiet, firm face. Didn’t feel like it skidded once.

oDYssEY ToULoN DEsIGN $400 vERDICT The putters from this brand within a brand feature a deep “diamond” mill pattern on the face for crisp yet soft feel and extra friction for a truer roll.

Three weighted sole plates are available to match the weight you prefer. Bonus: Multiple hosel options are coming this spring.

CommENTs (L) Classic with a thoroughly modern, techie vibe. (M) You’ll sense an off-center hit, but you won’t see it. (H) The natural weighting makes your stroke feel easy.

PRICE

EDEL ToRQUE BALANCED $330 Unlike traditional face-balanced or toe-down flat sticks, this putter features less weight inside the toe. This makes the club more resistant to twisting during the stroke for improved control of the face angle coming into impact.

CommENTs (L) The distance control on longer putts is really superb. (M) Everything stays on line throughout the stroke.

(H) You can sense how efficient the energy transfer is at impact.

PRICE

vERDICT

oDYssEY WHITE HoT RX $160 Three ingredients join forces in the insert: a supple inner core, a firm outer layer and tiny oval depressions on the face. Together they deliver resilient contact, soft feel and the enhanced roll from a friction-filled face.

CommENTs (L) It has that classic White Hot feel with just a bit more click.

(M) It’s like stroking a ball with another ball. (H) Face insert makes the ball come off hot but smooth.

PRICE

vERDICT

oDYssEY o-WoRKs $230 Making the ball roll better regardless of the player’s stroke seems ambitious. But that’s the idea behind this putter’s elaborate face piece. A soft elastomer insert is fronted by a super-thin stainlesssteel-mesh face insert.

Tiny hinges contract at impact to launch putts with more topspin.

CommENTs (L) Adding the red is an A+ for alignPRICE

vERDICT

PING sIGmA G $180 Described as the “sum of all Ping technology,” the Sigma G features an anodized aluminum face

PRICE

vERDICT

versation with it. (M) Feels cool and aggressive, like a smoking revolver. (H) The ball goes fast off the face.

in front of a soft elastomer insert. The face is milled at precise depths and widths so heel and toe misses better match center hits.

CommENTs (L) Very consistent, and the bad shots can feel really good.

(M) Energetic face. Call it The Thief, because you’ll be getting into your partner’s wallet. (H) A perfect blend between classic and modern.

through to the ball. (M) The looks alone make you feel like a good putter. (H) Tons of help in a hidden way.

vERDICT

$380 This sophisticated, multiple-piece design still retains the artist’s familiar touch. A vibration-damping layer behind the insert allows the stainless-steel insert in the stainless-steel body to produce a responsive feel that Cameron calls “soft but solid.”

CommENTs (L) You have a lot of confidence staring down at this. Still the gold standard. (M) The sound is understated, but it still gives you feedback. (H) I don’t feel like I ever missed the sweet spot.

PRICE

vERDICT

$300 For the first time, Ping’s milled putters incorporate the company’s distinctive face technology to make those off-center strikes roll like on-center hits. That soft feel comes from a single forged billet of 303 stainless steel that is 100 percent milled.

CommENTs (L) It frames the ball nicely, gets the ball rolling cleanly and makes that vintage sound. (M) Quite forgiving on the heel and toe. (H) It’s automatic if you line it up right.

PRICE

vERDICT

sEEmoRE Z1C $395 The company’s familiar and innovative alignment aid gets much of the attention in this unique, near-center-shaft model, but don’t overlook the putter’s balance point: It’s weighted to stay square to the plane of your swing from backstroke to impact.

CommENTs (L) It’s so easy to dial in. (M) The club seems to be doing a lot of work to help you, and I’ll take all I can get. (H) I could feel this making me a better putter.

PRICE

vERDICT

TAYLoRmADE TP CoLLECTIoN $200 A special milling process precisely shapes the final form of these cast 303 stainless-steel heads.

They’re powered by a face insert whose 45-degreeangled grooves create friction to reduce unwanted backspin so the ball gets rolling more quickly.

CommENTs (L) The putter seems to naturally follow

$330 The face channels offer distance and directional correction.

Calibrated in a V-shape toward the middle of the club, they allow mis-hits to gravitate back to the center. Then, they narrow from the center toward the heel and toe for better energy transfer on mis-hits.

CommENTs (L) Felt like I could take my hands off it and it’d still work. (M) Great heft and stability, easy to start the ball on target. (H) Insanely consistent roll.

PRICE

TITLEIsT/CAmERoN sCoTTY CAmERoN sELECT

PING vAULT

EvNRoLL ER2

PRICE

vERDICT

CARBoN PUTTERs PRoJECT RoULETTE $340 Having multiple choices for sound and feel isn’t unusual. But this series has three milling options for different sound feedback. This allows the player to choose the classic shape for its performance attributes and marry it to a feel preference.

CommENTs (L) Stable with good feedback. I felt like I was having a conPRICE

vERDICT

(l) low-handicapper | (m) middle-handicapper | (h) high-handicapper

Hot List Mallet putters

odyssey ▶ O-Works performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

` 12,490

odyssey ▶ White Hot RX performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

ping ▶ Sigma G performance ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

ping ▶ Vault

60 golf digest india | march 2017

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★ ★ ★

Mallet putters Hot List

Mallet putters A chance to hear ‘That’s good’ again by joel beall

` 32,900

titleist/ CAMeRon ▶ Futura Series performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

` 19,990

tAyloRMAde

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

▶ Spider Tour

demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ½` look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ demand ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

` 14,990

tAyloRMAde ▶ TP Collection performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★ ★ ★ ½

march 2017 | golf digest india

61

Hot List Mallet Putters

DIRECTED FORCE

ODYSSEY

▶ Reno

▶ Toulon Design

performance ★ ★ ★ ★

performance ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★

demand ★ ★

EvnROll ▶ ER7 performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

` 13,000

ClEvElAnD ▶ TFi 2135 performance ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★ ★ ½

62 golf digest india | march 2017

RIFE ▶ Switchback

innovation ★ ★ ★ ½

performance ★ ★ ★ ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★

innovation ★ ★ ★ ★

demand ★

look / sound / feel ★ ★ ★ ★ demand ★

Mallet Putters Hot List

ODYSSEY O-WORKS

PInG SIGmA G

tAYLORmADE SPIDER tOUR

tItLEISt/CAmEROn FUtURA SERIES

DIRECtED FORCE REnO

ODYSSEY tOULOn DESIGn

PRICE

$230 In its quest for improved feel, Odyssey uses an extensive manufacturing process to mold the face’s stainless-steel mesh cover over an elastomer middle layer. Steps include chemically etching stainless-steel mesh, comolding steel and elastomer insert pieces that cool at different rates, and four rounds of quality-control inspections. The microscopic “hinges” across the face get the ball rolling forward sooner for better distance control regardless of swing path.

COmmEntS (L) It has that muffled sound that’s amazing. It’s consistent across the board. (M) Has a huge sweet spot—consistency for days. (H) Love this putter. It’s like putting with a down pillow in my hands.

PRICE

$200 The anodized aluminum face is supported by a resilient insert made of a material used in running-shoe midsoles.

The distinct milled depths and widths within the face create consistent energy return to the ball across a wide area to better manage distance control on mis-hits, yet still promote a quiet, soft feel.

COmmEntS (L) Perfect example of less is more. Its efficiency and simplicity make it the best-looking putter I’ve seen. (M) Nice feel, a beautiful roll and super easy to align. (H) Love the change in the milling on the insert.

They’ve nailed it.

PRICE

vERDICt

$400 Try to get beyond the metal-detectorlike looks. The belief here is that face-balanced putters add unwanted torque to your swing, forcing excess hand action to get the face square. The Reno stays square through impact because it’s balanced to the putter’s lie angle. It does this through the shaft’s location relative to the head’s center of gravity.

COmmEntS (L) The ball starts on line every time.

Great for a yipper. (M) Despite its looks, it feels natural. I didn’t have a single mis-hit. (H) Effective alignment and has a nice pop off the face.

PRICE

vERDICt

$380 The lightweight aluminum forms the face and sole, allowing more weight to be distributed around the stainless-steel head. Most noteworthy is the Adam Scott-inspired 6M model, with weights in the extreme areas of the heel and toe to achieve the forgiveness you want in a mallet. A multimaterial layer behind the face helps reduce internal vibration.

COmmEntS (L) I like how the insert bleeds into the bottom of the putter. The feel is solid. (L) Sits nicely on the ground. All the geometrical patterns work well together. (H) It’s full of tech, but it’s not intrusive.

PRICE

vERDICt

$300 The midsize mallets made famous by Jason Day (red) and then Dustin Johnson (black) are all about stability. The putterhead has 13 pieces, including a heavy steel frame that bolsters the hollow aluminum body. There are two roll-enhancing insert options: Surlyn for a softer feel and milled aluminum for a sharper click.

COmmEntS (L) This one is really stable, and the red fins remind me of a classic car. (M) I liked that it has good pop off the face but with that understated crisp-contact sound.

(H) I felt like I had great control on short putts.

PRICE

vERDICt

vERDICt

vERDICt

tAYLORmADE tP COLLECtIOn

CLEvELAnD tFI 2135

EvnROLL ER7

$200 vERDICt Yes, the head shapes in this line are vintage. But the face is modern-materials science.

An aluminum insert is lined with grooves slanted internally at a 45-degree angle. This brings the grooves into direct contact with the ball during impact to mitigate backspin for a truer roll.

COmmEntS (L) It has that classic milled sound and feel. The weighting is really spot on; it’s super balanced. (M) Soft but firm: It feels good coming off the face, but it still produces good power on long putts.

(H) Excellent feedback, and it’s not too loud. I love the feel of the grip.

PRICE

$160 vERDICt With many putters, the sightline can be an afterthought, but here it has been completely reimagined. The visual aid has been raised from the base of the putter to the height of the center of the ball. The result is an enhanced sweet-spot alignment, regardless of where your eyes are positioned over the ball.

COmmEntS (L) The instant you place it down it feels stable. (M) The bestfeeling Cleveland putter I’ve ever hit. A good mix of softness and feel off the face. (H) It’s so stable and easy to align. Sound and feel are muted but provide enough feedback.

PRICE

PInG vAULt $300 It’s all about forgiveness and not just because of the extreme shape that pushes weight to the outer reaches for extra stability. There’s also a milled face pattern that varies in depth and pitch across the face, propelling off-center impacts. A heavy steel sole under the aluminum body adds further off-center-hit stability.

COmmEntS (L) It’s a pretty mallet, if there is such a thing. Good combination of softness and feel.

(M) The clean look cleared my mind and allowed me to focus on the putt and not the putter. (H) It’s so well balanced that you make putts even if you’re not a mallet guy.

PRICE

ODYSSEY WHItE HOt RX $160 The softest feeling insert in the Odyssey line has two material layers. The outer layer is firmer than the golf ball, and the inner layer is softer for that cushioned feel but resilient enough to enhance ball velocity. The oval depressions on the firm face improve friction to help grab the ball for quicker roll at impact.

COmmEntS (L) You can’t buy a better roll. It’s so stable. (M) Impact was powerful and consistent, a great tool to have in your bag. (H) The ball glides off the face in an elegant way.

This is a winner.

PRICE

vERDICt

vERDICt

PRICE

$360 vERDICt Designer Guerin Rife’s new project claims that a mis-hit up to three-quarters of an inch off-center will roll as true as a center hit. How? Channels in the face, narrowing toward the heel and toe, increase the contact area for mis-hits to give them more energy, all while creating an inward shape to guide them back toward the middle or target line.

COmmEntS (L) The first club I’ve hit in which every putt rolled on line regardless of where I hit it on the face. (M) This has range from all over, like Stephen Curry on a basketball court. (H) Easy to line up and good, balanced feel.

Very light sounding, not overbearing.

$420 These custom milled putters feature cross-hatch grooves that, in conjunction with the head shape and face thickness, provide a crisp sound and feel. The face pattern also adds friction for improved roll. The traditional-looking Memphis and the extreme-stability Indianapolis let the user customize weighting with three sole-plate options.

COmmEntS (L) If you like the “Star Trek” type speed off the face, it can be comforting. It sounds the same no matter where I hit it on the face. (H) The head is a bit small for me, but people will love how this putter sets up.

RIFE SWItCHBACK $250 Simple versatility is how the Switchback rolls. The club comes with two sets of adjustable weights placed on the back of the putter. Golfers can change the head and swingweight to accommodate their stroke or the speed of the greens.

COmmEntS (L) It’s heavy enough that the putterhead stays on line, but it’s not so heavy that you can’t control the stroke. (M) Soft feel, and I really like the sound. I could tell when my eyes were over the putter.

(H) Easy to align; instills confidence. It feels soft in the hands, and everything rolls straight.

PRICE

vERDICt

(l) low-handicapper | (m) middle-handicapper | (h) high-handicapper

The Golf Life Rules

On free drops, you get one club-length.

On penalty drops: two.

by the book Four equipment-related rules you need to know

to crank up the fade bias for that hard dogleg right. Save it for the practice range and, preferably, under the supervision of an experienced fitter.

onforming drivers and putter grips get most of the attention when it comes to equipment and the Rules of Golf, but you’re bound to run into other on-course scenarios that could cost you shots (or the chance for an easier swing) if you don’t have the right information. Follow these four rules to steer clear of the gear police.

▶ Admit it. You borrowed your

C

1

don’t dRop tHe ball

▶ Taking a drop is part of golf—

either the free kind for avoiding something like a cartpath, or the penalty kind for continuing on after hitting into a hazard. The amount of relief you get—one

club-length or two—depends on the situation. When taking a free drop, you get one club-length, and penalty drops offer two. In either case, make sure to use your longest club as your measuring tool. It isn’t cheating to give yourself the most clearance you can, according to the rules.

2

Keep tHe tool in tHe bag

▶ Adjustable drivers have become the industry standard, and it’s good fun (and good golf) to fine-tune your clubhead to suit the type of shot you want to hit. But Rule 4-2a is clear: You cannot adjust the playing characteristics of your club during a round. So resist the temptation

64 golf digest india | march 2017

3

Keep YouR Hands to YouRself

cart mate’s wedge to hit that chip when you otherwise would’ve had to walk all the way across the green to get yours. It’s convenient but also illegal, according to Rule 4-4a. You’re allowed to play with no more than 14 clubs, and they all have to come out of your bag. The only exception is when you’re playing in a team event. You can use one of your

partner’s clubs, but only if the two of you combine to have 14 clubs or less.

4

staY out of tHe bullpen

▶ Miss enough putts and it’s

likely tempting to stop in the parking lot to bring in a sub— especially when the lot is adjacent to the next tee. But if you start a round with 14 clubs, Rule 4-4a says you can’t change them out, unless one gets broken during the normal course of play.

The only way to add something new is to start with fewer than 14. Then you can make that desperation purchase in the shop at the turn. —Matthew Rudy

Can You use a Homemade Club?

PGA Tour player Bryson DeChambeau, famous for using irons that are all the same length, continues to break new equipment ground. This time, it was with a putter he built to use with a sidesaddle technique.

It’s perfectly legal to build your own putter, as long as it satisfies the specific conditions outlined in the Rules of Golf. Among the requirements: at least 18 inches in length, a lie angle of at least 10 degrees, no more than 10 degrees of loft and a head that isn’t longer than it is wide. For materials, it’s up to you, your imagination and your wallet.

Illustration by James Yang

Hot List

IndIa Buyer’s GuIde While almost all golf clubs and driving ranges are well equipped with pro shops selling variety of equipment to meet all your golf needs, having more options is always welcome. There are a number of stand-alone shops that you can visit across India and get your hands on the latest weapons from all your favorite brands. So the next time you decide to go golf shopping, here’s another set of stores you can check out.

Zone BAnGALoRe

CHAnDIGARH CHennAI GURGAon

HYDeRABAD JAIPUR KoLKATA

LUCKnoW neW DeLHI

noIDA PUne

ReTAILeRS nAMe

nAMe

ConTACT no.

eMAIL

ADDReSS

ELITE GOLF

MANPREET sAchDEvA

9886122117

eliteindia@yahoo.com

KGA Avenue, opposite Diamond District, Kodihalli, Bengluru

EvERGREEN GOLF shOP

sARvANA KUMAR

9341241098

egreengolf@yahoo.com

No.617, K.G.A Road, Kodihalli, Bengluru

GOLF sTUDIO

vIJAY KAPOOR

9341219493

iigtbangalore@gmail.com

G-12, Gem Plaza, 66, Infantory Road, Bengluru

GOLFER's PARADIsE

JAGDEEP sINGh

9815912006

golfersparadise@rediffmail.com

scO 493-94, sector 35c, chandigarh

GOLF PLANET

sRIDhAR

9940615903

golfplanetshowroom@niljagroup.com

Ground Floor, 469, Anna salai, Nandanam, chennai

GOLF DEsTINATION

PAWAN KAPOOR

9560275590

golfdestination@gmail.com

shop No-250-A, DLF Mega Mall, DLF Phase-I, Gurgaon

GOLF sTUDIO

AJAY KAPOOR

9650595960

golfstudio133@gmail.com

shop No.133, DLF Mega Mall, DLF Phase - I, Gurgaon

GOLF DEsTINATION

PAWAN KAPOOR

9560275590

golfdestination@gmail.com

shop-101, Apurupa complex, Raidurgam hs Durga circle, Gachibowli, hyderabad

GOLFDAYs

PRAhLAD JADEJA

9414047221

golfdays_psj@yahoo.com

D-12, Ranvir vila, Tilak Marg, c-scheme, Jaipur

AsIAN sPORTs

vIKAs JhULKA

9831123752

vikas@asiansports.in

4A, Gobinda Bose Ln, Bhowanipore, Kolkata

DIFFERENT sTROKEs

RAJEsh ROY

9331003577

golfds@gmail.com

194, s.P. Mukherjee Road, Kolkata

sIDDhI vINAYAK

RAJAT BATRA

9839121262/ 9506009700

rajat1batra@gmail.com

Adidas showroom, Opposite hanuman Mandir, hajratganj, Lucknow

DELhI GOLF hOUsE

ANIL KAshYAP

9810448857

anilkashyap19@gmail.com

92-B, Amritpuri, New Delhi

GOLF sTUDIO

sANJAY KAPOOR

9810271367

'golfstudiob2@gmail.com'

B2, shivalik Ground Flr, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi

PREvIOUs GREEN

MADAN JhA

9810569745

madan_golf@yahoo.com

124-A/6, Katwarai sarai, New Delhi

R3 INTERNATIONAL GOLF PvT LTD

RAJEsh DAYAL

9811060610

r3internationalgolf@gmail.com, rajeshgolfpro@gmail.com

698F, Ladosarai, Behind Qutab Golf course, New Delhi

RAAMA PRO shOP

JAI DhIMAN

8527778479

jaidhiman@hotmail.com

1st Floor, shop no. 1, Baliawas, GurgaonFaridabad Road, Opposite Teri Golf course

sPORTs hUB

PIYUsh KAPOOR

9654839062

sportshub8@gmail.com

843/1, shop No # 3, MG Road, Ghitorni, New Delhi

TAYLORMADE/ ADI sPORTs

DEEPAK chANDRA

9873982926

mpl3tm@adisports.co.in

335/2-336/2, Rangpuri, Mahipalpur, New Delhi

MY sPORTs WALL

RAJEsh JAIRATh

9717899027

jairath.rajesh@rediffmail.com

shop No.30, Block-4, Ganga shoping complex, sector-29, Noida

WORLD OF GOLF & sPORTs

NAREsh BhAGWANANI

9021314543

wgspune@gmail.com

18, Kumar Pavilion, East street, camp, Pune

Apart from the above mentioned stores, major sports goods store Decathlon also boasts of a rich variety of golf equipment at number of stores across India.

Information on these stores can be found at stores.decathlon.in.

Disclaimer: This list has been compiled with inputs from major equipment distributors operating in the country. Do write to us if you feel there is a store that deserves to be on the list. march 2017 | golf digest india

65

Hero Indian Open Preview

DLF is going to be a huge challenge: Shiv Kapur

66 golf digest india | march 2017

Image: Tristan Jones/Ladies European Tour

Hero Indian Open Preview

Hero Indian Open

Prize fund: US$ 1.75 million Winner’s cheque: US$ 291,660 Venue: DLF Golf & Country Club, Gurgaon Date: March 9 to 12

TOUGH COURSE DLF GCC with a slope rating of 154 and course rating of 78.9 is one of the toughest courses to play across Asia and Europe, let alone India. In contrast, Delhi GC, the traditional home of the Indian Open, has a slope rating of 130 and course rating of 73.5. Le Golf National (155/77.7) in France is currently the most difficult course staging a European Tour event. # A golf course of standard playing difficulty has a slope rating of 113, and slope ratings range from a minimum of 55 (very easy) to a maximum of 155 (extremely difficult).

Rohit BhaRdwaj rohit@teamgolfdigest.com

T

he Hero Indian Open will be staged at the revamped DLF Golf & Country Club after a gap of eight years from March 9 to 12. The new venue is sure to present a stern challenge to the best players on the European, Asian and Indian tours as the new 7654 yard Gary Player design course has earned a fearsome reputation already. Leading golfers including reigning Women’s Indian Open champion Aditi Ashok besides Ladies European Tour (LET) stars had highlighted the difficulty of scoring low at the Gary Player course when they played there in the past two years.

Consider the winning scores at the Hero Women’s Indian Open in the last two years, held after the new par-72 course opened, were three-under 213 (2016) and one-over 217 (2015). In comparison, the Delhi Golf Club (DGC) – which has been the traditional home of the Indian Open for the past decade – has seen winning scores of 15-under-par (2016) and seven-under par (2015) in the last two editions.

It’s the mens’ turn to get a taste of the tough conditions at DLF. Asian Games gold medallist Shiv Kapur, a regular at the Gurgaon course, felt the DLF is akin to playing on the world class seaming and bouncy pitches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) or Lord’s in London as opposed to playing at the relatively flatter DGC. “I would call the Delhi Golf Club the golf equivalent of Eden Gardens – like a typical Indian wicket – and DLF is like Lord’s or MCG. It is going to be harder to play at DLF as the course is more undulating and firm.

It’s like playing on a seaming, bouncy pitch, in cricket terms – very unpredictable” Kapur told reporters at the media announcement

The Hero Indian Open has a rich history, and I’m sure we can expect another exciting tussle between SSP Chowrasia and Anirban Lahiri, amongst a strong field of emerging and established European Tour and Asian Tour stars.”

Keith Waters, European Tour COO

march 2017 | golf digest india

67

Hero Indian Open Preview of the enhanced US$1.75 million European Tour showpiece. Incidentally the purse has grown almost six times from US$ 300,000, which it was when Hero took on the Indian Open title sponsorship in 2005.

Probed further, Kapur said: “I practice there. It’s a newly-laid out course so people will take a couple of days to figure out.

Moreover, compared to the Delhi GC, which is one-dimensional and players know that hitting the ball to the fairways is the key, the DLF is challenging on many levels. I am looking forward to the challenge.”

The last two editions of the Indian Open produced home winners in SSP Chowrasia (2016) and Anirban Lahiri (2015). Further, the last time the event was played at DLF, another Indian C Muniyappa emerged as the champion but on the old Arnold Palmer designed course.

Asked if he feels DLF can produce another Indian champion, Kapur replied: “You have to have everything working for you to win at DLF. It requires a complete game to do well.

And while DGC is soft and narrow, DLF is long and undulating. The greens are treacherous. So, it will be tough for Indian golfers, especially.”

Looking at his own chances of winning, Kapur, who turned 35 on February 12, made his comeback in the middle of December after a nearly three-month injury-induced lay-off. He has played a few tournaments with mixed results.

“I had an abscess at my liver. It went undiagnosed and instead I was treated for viral infection in Europe. And when I came to India, it was diagnosed properly. It took a lot of time to heal.

“Afterwards, rehab process followed and as you spend a month on the bed, the body doesn’t feel the same. Then I did strengthening procedures and went to the gym to

I played this event as an amateur and now the opportunity has arrived to compete as a professional where we really look forward to getting this national open under our belt. It’s always a dream come true. It’s a really big event for us and I look forward to it.”

— Chikkaragappa S

68 golf digest india | march 2017

I would call the DGC the golf equivalent of Eden Gardens – like a typical Indian wicket – and DLF is like Lord’s or MCG. It is going to be harder to play at DLF as the course is more undulating and firm.

It’s like playing on a seaming, bouncy pitch”

— Shiv Kapur

get the muscles back and firing again with energy,” Kapur informed.

Meanwhile, the European Tour and Asian Tour co-sanctioned tournament is expected to see the largest line-up of all top Indian golfers, including Chowrasia, Lahiri, Kapur, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa, Arjun Atwal, Rashid Khan and

Rahil Gangjee.

Fresh home-grown talent like Chikkarangappa S, the in-form Shubhankar Sharma who has climbed to 5th on the 2017 Asian Tour Order of Merit and Khalin Joshi, who have all come close to winning an international pro title, will also make a strong bid to find their breakthrough on home soil.

“On behalf of the Asian Tour, we are delighted to welcome the Hero Indian Open once again our 2017 Schedule. The historic event has featured prominently on Schedule for many years and it has propelled the careers of many of our players including our latest two champions. Anirban Lahiri, the winner in 2015 and SSP Chawrasia, the defending champion, have done Asian Tour proud and we see them going from strength to strength.”

josh burack Asian Tour CEO

“DLF is happy to be associated with the Hero Indian Open 2017 and host the event at the DLF Golf & Country Club's Gary Player course. This is the first time the men's tour will play an event on the new course and we look forward to welcoming the players to DLF. The course is gearing up to provide pristine conditions in the second week of March and we are sure that the players will enjoy the challenge on the course, and the new facilities that the club has to offer.”

aakash ohri Senior Executive Director, DLF Home Developers Ltd.

Hero Indian Open Preview

Charismatic Spaniard Rafa set for Indian Open debut Charismatic Spanish golfer Rafa Cabrera Bello has confirmed his participation for the 53rd edition of the Hero Indian Open next month.

32-year-old ‘Rafa’, as he is popularly known in the golfing community, has in the past year established himself as one of the most consistent golfers on multiple Tours, including the European and PGA Tours.

Fr o m Wo r l d N o . 1 1 4 i n 2 0 1 5 he rose to No. 27 at the end of December 2016. Interestingly, Cabrera Bello at No. 25 will be the highest-ranked player to play at the Hero Indian Open.

Also in 2016, he had six top-10 finishes, including three second places – in Qatar, Dubai and Hong Kong – and missed just one cut in 27 starts. He also played at the Rio Olympic Games finishing creditable fifth. “The Hero Indian Open has been a last minute addition to my schedule in fact I only confirmed last week and I am looking forward to it. I have not put my mind to it and have yet to study the course,” said Cabrera Bello in a media release. As part of the golfing elite he will also be featuring in the US$ 9.75 million World Golf Championships in Mexico, from where he will fly to India. He added, “It is going to be a long flight from Mexico to India, but I am looking forward to it.”

WoRld SuPeR 6 WinneR BRett ConfiRMS PaRtiCiPation

Perth’s Brett Rumford completed a remarkable return from injury and loss of form over last two

PLAyErS SPEAk “It’s a privilege and honour to play my national open. DLF as a venue is likely to provide a very exciting finish because this course requires a lot of accuracy and mental strength to win…

I would like to welcome all my fellow competitors for my national open. I wish them luck and may the best man win.”

— Jeev Milkha Singh “Some of the biggest names from Europe and Asia are going to be a part of the Hero Indian Open. Playing at DLF or for that matter our home country is always special. I would like all of you to come and support us. I am

seasons with a brilliant win at the ISPS Handa World Super Sixes in his hometown. The 39-year-old, who won his sixth European Tour title, has confirmed his participation at the 2017 Hero Indian Open. With his latest win he has made a huge jump in his World Rankings from 274 to 133. He is now looking forward to getting back inside the Top-100. Rumford last won a European Tour title in 2013, when he claimed the Ballantines Championship and Volvo China Open in successive weeks.

looking forward to an Indian winner once again, let’s hope that happens. I am going to try my best and see you guys there soon.”

— Rashid Khan “Personally I am very excited to be competing at DLF Golf & Country Club, as its happening at my home course. It’s a premier Indian golfing event with the

“Indian golf is at a very exciting juncture, as it has begun making a mark on virtually all golf Tours across the world. The Hero Indian Open is on the European Tour platform for the third year in a row and the field has steadily become stronger.

Amidst this the exciting news is that Indian players have still managed to hold their own, having won the title last two editions. The tournament shifts to the lovely but challenging Gary Player layout at the DLF. We have great memories of the Gary Player course, for it was not too long back, that at very venue we had Aditi Ashok become the first Indian woman to win the Hero Women’s Indian Open, which meant both the men’s and women’s Hero Indian Opens had Indian champions. Hopefully we can keep that going.”

best names in India, Asia and Europe playing. DLF is a new Gary Player layout which is going to host a men’s professional event after a long time. It is going to be a true test of golf come this March. Its one of the tougher golf courses in India and I hope everyone enjoys it. If we are lucky enough, we’ll have an Indian winner.”

— Shubhankar Sharma

pawan munjal

“I am playing the Indian Open since

Chairman, MD & CEO, Hero MotoCorp

1999. I have come second on four

“The Hero Indian Open

“The Hero Indian Open has

has been the most-eagerly

been the pride of Indian Golf

awaited event in the Indian

Union for over half a century.

golf calendar. As one of the

Its rich history is virtually the

premier and oldest events in

history of Indian golf and we

Asia, it boasts of a great legacy and tradi-

have had very quality champions in the past.

tion. We at Nimbus are proud to be associ-

For us, it gives us great pleasure to see Indi-

ated with such a historic event that pits the

ans win the Indian Open, as it shows that In-

best of India against the rest of the world.”

dian golf is progressing in the right direction.”

vaibhav agarwal

wg cdr satish aparajit

Vice President, Nimbus Sport

President, IGU

occasions including 1999. I was the winner last year and will try to repeat that this time too. This event holds much significance for me and all other Indian pros as it’s the national open.”

— SSP Chowrasia

march 2017 | golf digest india

69

Newsmakers

Players in the news

Numero uNo DJ Dustin Johnson Usurps Jason Day As World No. 1 With Riviera Victory

D

ustin Johnson turned a marathon finish into a Sunday stroll in the Genesis Open. He finished the third round in the morning with a 7-under 64 to build a five-shot lead, stretched it to nine shots at one point in the final round and coasted home to a 71 and a five-shot victory.

“It sounds good,” Johnson said when asked about being the top player in the world. “I played really great all day. I couldn’t have driven it any better. That was a big key.”

Johnson became the 20th player to reach No. 1 since the world ranking began in 1986, ending Jason Day’s 47-week stay at the top.

“He deserves it because he’s been playing great golf,” Day said.

Johnson won for the fourth time against some of golf’s strongest fields dating to his US Open victory last summer. All he cared on the final day was winning at Riviera, one of his favourite courses where he has had chances in four of the last five years.

There was no doubt this time.

Johnson had a one-shot lead going into the finale, which lost 10 hours the previous three days to fog and torrential rain.

Johnson had such command of his game that his longest par putt in the third round was from 4 feet, and he closed with three straight birdies to make the final round in the afternoon more of a coronation.

70 golf digest india | march 2017

“He (Dustin joHnson) Deserves it (no. 1 rank) because He’s been playing great golf.”

— jason day, former world no. 1 Current ranking

ranking end 2016

Country

Johnson went 49 straight holes without a bogey, a streak that ended on No. 9 in the final round, and he was sloppy down the stretch when it no longer mattered.

It capped off a strong stretch that elevated Johnson to the top. Not only was it his fourth victory since June, he has finished among the top three in eight of his last 16 tournaments.

“No surprise to us players, and I don’t think too much surprise to many others,” Jordan Spieth said. (Agencies)

name

average Points

total Points

events Played (actual)

1

3

Dustin Johnson

10.2751

513.75

50

2

1

Jason Day

9.7720

390.88

40

3

2

rory Mcilroy

9.1275

374.23

41

4

4

henrik stenson

8.6364

397.27

46

5

6

hideki Matsuyama

8.5931

446.84

53

6

5

Jordan spieth

8.4706

440.47

53

7

7

adam scott

5.8035

261.16

45

8

22

Justin thomas

5.5227

287.18

57

9

13

sergio Garcia

5.1836

228.08

44

10

9

alex noren

5.0734

202.94

38

source: official world golf rankings/ owgr.com

Newsmakers Professional Golf Tour of India

Ajeetesh retains title in style with playoff win

Ajeetesh Sandhu with the Golconda Masters trophy after defending his title at the Hyderabad Golf Association. Sandhu defeated Bengaluru’s Khalin Joshi in a playoff

C

handigarh’s Ajeetesh Sandhu continued his love affair with the city of Hyderabad as he won the Rs 40 lakh Golconda Masters for the second year running at the picturesque Hyderabad Golf Association.

Sandhu (70-67-73-63), lying a lowly 17th, five shots off the lead, after the penultimate round, literally stepped up his display as he fired a dazzling eight-under-63 to take his total to 11-under-273 and as a result earn his place in the playoff against overnight joint leader Khalin Joshi of Bengaluru (65-70-70-68).

Jeev finishes 22nd at World Super 6 Perth

One of India’s most successful golfers, Jeev Milkha Singh is slowly finding his way back to form. At the recently concluded World Super 6 Perth event, Jeev was among the four Indians who made the cut after 2 days. While, SSP Chowrasia, Chiragh Kumar and Gaganjeet Bhullar failed to make it through to the final day matchplay, Jeev won a unique play-off in the third round. He was tied 20th with seven others and went into a play-off as only five spots were available to make it 24. Jeev was among four who made a par on the 18th on the first play-off hole.

In the matchplay round, Jeev and David Bransdon won two holes each when the six-hole duel ended and in the ensuing shoot out from 93 yards, the Indian legend lost to the Australian to finish tied 22nd.

Ajeetesh finally sealed his third professional title with an eight feet birdie conversion on the first playoff hole (played on the 18th) even as Khalin could only manage a bogey after finding the bunker with his tee shot.

Ajeetesh, who refreshed memories of his victory last year, took home the winner’s cheque worth Rs. 6 lakh to emerge as the PGTI Order of Merit leader.

“I’m enjoying a terrific start to the season. This win comes after a good

performance in Noida last week where I finished tied third. The HGA is turning out to be one of my favourite courses.

Interestingly, I had missed the cut in the first edition. To follow that up with wins in the next two editions is quite incredible.”

Meanwhile, Honey Baisoya continued his golden run from 2016 as he bagged his third title in a span of three months by clinching the season-opener PGTI Players Championship at Noida Golf Course by a comfortable four-shot margin.

PGti Order Of Merit after Golconda Masters rank

Player

Prize Money (`)

Played

won

top 10

1.

Ajeetesh Sandhu

7,64,940

2

1

2

2.

Shamim Khan

4,99,920

2

0

2

3.

Honey Baisoya

4,98,280

2

1

1

4.

Khalin Joshi

4,36,754

2

0

1

5.

Mukesh Kumar

2,39,920

1

0

1

6.

Gaurav Pratap Singh

1,84,417

2

0

1

7.

Sanjeev Kumar (L)

1,75,165

2

0

1

7.

Harendra Gupta

1,75,165

2

0

1

9.

Shankar Das

1,64,940

2

0

1

10.

Mari Muthu R

1,39,987

2

0

1

10.

Samarth Dwivedi

1,39,987

2

0

1

march 2017 | golf digest india

71

Newsmakers

Footloose on a golf course

A bond beyond golf between Anirban and Shubhankar

By V Krishnaswamy (@swinging_swamy)

S

hubhankar Sharma is the new star on the horizon of Indian profe ssional golf. He admits that as an upcoming amateur he would admire Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa and Arjun Atwal, but would never fail to walk the course when Anirban Lahiri

72 golf digest india | march 2017

played. In Malaysia, where he finished T-9, and two places behind Lahiri, Shubhankar finally played a round with his idol. “I always wanted to play with Anirban and here I got a chance on Sunday. It was amazing,” he said.

So, what did Anirban have to say?

“It was fantastic playing with Shubhankar.

I’ve watched him grow through the ranks over the last few years. I still remember three years ago that Shubhankar and his father (Col Mohan Shubhankar) would come out

and used to walk with me whenever I played in the Indian Open. We have close family ties, his sister was delivered by my father (Dr Tushar Lahiri - a doctor in the Army). So we’ve known each other for a while.”

For good measure, Lahiri added, “I don’t think I’m the old generation yet; I’ve yet to hit 30, but to see the next generation coming up and playing well is just fantastic.”

Newsmakers

Controversy hits 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games venue

G

olf made a re-appearance at the Olympic Games amidst a lot of fanfare. But now there is controversy not just about the 2016 venue, but also the venue that has been chosen for 2020 in Tokyo.

The Olympic Golf Course in Rio, after surviving concerns about health and readiness, is now embroiled in a ‘battle for survival’ with no takers and hardly any players in Brazil.

With three years still to go, Tokyo has a course ready – a historic one founded in 1929. It has hosted a lot of events, including the Canada Cup (as the World Cup was then known) in 1957, the Japan Open four times, the latest being 2006, and the 2010 Asian Amateur Championships, when it threw up prodigious Hideki Matsuyama as the champion.

But Kasumigaseki Country Club, 30 miles outside Tokyo, has problems ever since it became known that this private club does not give full membership to women, or let them play on Sundays. That politically incorrect position is bothering a lot of people.

Yuriko Koike, Tokyo’s first female city governor, brought the issue to the attention of the International Golf Federation last month. Meanwhile, the club, Kasumigaseki’s board of directors first called for a meeting to set this right and then postponed a vote last

Kasumigaseki Country Club outside Tokyo doesn’t allow full membership to women and playing opportunities on Sunday

week when it became clear it would not have the unanimous support.

The Japan Golf Council has formally requested the IOC to change venue to Wakasu Golf Links, a public course built

Name of the game is innovation

CAddieS ANd FAmilieS

Caddies are something of a family in golf.

But often real family members take on the onerous duty of being caddies even at pro events. For instance, Dustin Johnson at the Genesis Open had his brother, Austin, on the bag, while Australian Sarah Jane Smith had her husband and regular caddy, Duane, at the Women’s Australian Open.

India’s own Aditi Ashok has had her father, Ashok, on the bag often, including at the Olympic Games and the Qatar Ladies Open, which she won last year.

Then there is Dutchman Johannes Veerman, whose father was on the bag last year in Chinese Taipei, when he won his maiden pro title. Last year Veerman topped the Asian Development Tour Order of Merit.

The name of the game is innovation as golf seeks to keep the existing fans engaged; lures newcomers and casts the net early for the next generation.

January saw ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth, which combined strokeplay with matchplay within the pro realms of European, Asian and Australasian Tours. A cut after 36 holes – that was the way we knew golf and now a second cut after 54 holes separates the Top-24, of whom the Top-8 get a ‘bye’ in second round of matchplay. The other 16 come through an extra match of ‘six holes’ – yes six, not nine – and by the time the suns sets on Sunday, it produces a new champion.

European Tour this month announced launch of another innovation, called “GolfSixes”, a twoday Million Euro event in London in May. It will feature two-man teams from 16 nations, each nation being represented by a leading European Tour member from 2017 exemption category list. The player will then choose a partner from within European Tour membership. The event seeks to combine a country-based competition in matchplay after a league stage on the lines of UEFA Champions League football.

on a former landfill. It is also closer to the Olympic Village but is short at 6,900 yards.

The IOC is meanwhile scheduled to vote this year on whether or not to keep golf in the Summer Games beyond 2020.

FitNeSS At A New high

Lahiri is the guy youngsters look up to and he is not playing great, but is now going all out to achieve a new level of fitness. “On the PGA Tour I have realised how important it is to achieve fitness at the highest levels. I have an expert and with the expert I keep a watch my diet, exercise and routines.”

By the way, the first steps to such fitness may well have begun in the off-season, when Anirban and his wife, Ipsa, went on a trek in Peru en route to visiting Machu Picchu, the 15th century Inca settlement in Latin America. That is supposed to be a demanding trek, which Anirban confirmed, and he handled it very well. “That was an experience of a lifetime,” he said.

march 2017 | golf digest india

73

Newsmakers Women’s Golf

Kiran on a roll at Sunshine Ladies Tour

I

ndia-born Kiran Matharu capped a strong start on the Sunshine Ladies Tour after winning the Rand 200,000 Ladies Tshwane Open in January. She was in imperious form at Zwartkop Country Club as she marched to a maiden Sunshine Ladies Tour victory.

The Englishwoman, who is a regular at the Hero Women’s Indian Open since 2008, fired four birdies on the back nine to post a four-under-par 67 for a winning score of nine-under 204, beating defending champion Monique Smit and fellow South African Ashleigh Buhai by an emphatic five strokes.

The victory catapulted Matharu to the top of the Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies standings with her consistency aiding her in her climb. The 27-year-old took third in her debut at the SuperSport Ladies Challenge, shared second with Buhai at the SA Women’s Masters and closed out a top five finish in the SA Women’s Open.

“This is what I’ve been working towards since the start of the Sunshine Ladies Tour and to finally lift the trophy is just a fantastic feeling… The last couple of years was tough. I had injuries to overcome and I started showing some form last year. But it’s not until you put your hands on a trophy that you truly know that you can win again,” said Matharu, who pocketed Rand 56,500 (Rs 2.79 lakh approx) for her effort.

“Well, now I am in with a shout to make the Investec Cup final and that is really great. I came down to South Africa to get competitive experience before the season in Europe kicks off and my goal was to put myself in contention every week so I could make the final. I think my chances are pretty good now, but I’m going to keep on pushing.”

Recent finishes

SuperSport Ladies Challenge – 3rd SA Women’s Masters – Tied-2nd SA Women’s Open – 5th Ladies Tshwane Open – 1st

74 golf digest india | march 2017

Neha, Amandeep off to winning starts

Neha Tripathi carded one-over 73 in the final round to win the 1st leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour 2017 at the Kalhaar Blues & Greens in Ahmedabad. Finishing in second position was Amandeep Drall with a score of nine-over 225, three strokes behind.

Amandeep made amends in the very next leg at Kensville Golf & Country Club with a total of one-under 215.

Smriti Mehra finished runner-up with a threeday tally of two-over 218, followed by Gaurika Bishnoi in third place.

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Junior Golf

‘Time management the key in US’

Bengaluru Girl Ankita Kedlaya Feels US College Golf Is Worth The Experience The biggest struggle for me was time management. Being a student athlete, it’s harder since you miss many classes due to tournaments but once you manage your time efficiently, you shouldn’t have a problem.

By Bharath arvind bharath@teamgolfdigest.com

E

very month Golf Digest India in partnership with the International Junior Golf Association (IJGA) and Albatross Junior Golf Tour India brings you tips and advice perfected over decades to help groom the future champions of golf. In February we spoke to Nikita Arjun who gave her insights on her college golf experience. This issue we bring you a conversation with Ankita Kedlaya who also attended the IJGA Golf Academy in South Carolina at 16 and has gone onto pursue college golf. We will keeping bringing you more insights from other Indian students in subsequent issues.

What made you want to go to the US for golf training?

The availability of resources to help me further develop my game.

How did attending the IJGA Academy in South Carolina help you?

The whole atmosphere of the academy prepared me well for college golf and also helped fine tune my game.

love, you also get to major in whatever you desire which for me, is a ‘win-win’ situation.

Meet Ankita

hometown: Bengaluru, India age: 18 height: 5’ 6” University: East Tennessee State University (Freshman year) Scoring average: 75 Lowest tournament score: 70 Major field of Study: Sports Management GPa: 3.94

Biggest difference between junior golf in India and the US? There are copious amounts of tournaments all over the United States and the competition you face is not a limited number. The amount of resources to help take this game to the next level is in plentitude.

Along with focusing on your own goals and accomplishments, you learn to focus on the team’s goals and expectations.

How has the transition from high school in the US to college been?

Going in to college golf was a smooth transition from junior golf for me. IJGA basically prepares you for college life before hand.

They teach you how to be independent and accountable which are two key aspects when it comes to “college life.”

What advice would you give Indian juniors interested in earning a college golf scholarship to the US? I would say that it is definitely worth the experience. You learn so many new and exciting things whether it’s in golf or in life.

It’s fun to be part of a college team because you feel as if you are part of one big family.

Biggest difference between competing in junior tournaments versus college level?

In junior tournaments, you are just playing for yourself. When it comes to college golf, you are also playing for the team and college.

What do you love most about college golf?

I love being part of a team. The coach and teammates literally become your second family since you spend most of your time around them. While you get to play the sport that you

I love being part of a team. The coach and teammates literally become your second family since you spend most of your time around them. While you get to play the sport that you love, you also get to major in whatever you desire which for me, is a ‘win-win’ situation.

76 golf digest india | march 2017

What does a typical day look like for you?

I would have around 2 - 3 classes in the morning. Practice starts around 1:15pm and ends around 5:30pm. We also have scheduled fitness 3 times a week from 5:00 to 6:20pm.

Biggest challenge this semester?

The biggest struggle for me, just like most others was time management. Being a student athlete, it’s harder since you miss many classes due to tournaments but once you manage your time efficiently, you shouldn’t have a problem.

What advice do you have for junior golfers in practice rounds?

We focus a lot on course management and strategic play. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your shots.

Can you tell us what travelling for tournaments are like in college?

You tend to really bond with your teammates during that time. Being part of a team while travelling makes you feel more special than usual.

Were academics challenging as you moved from High School to College?

It wasn’t particularly tough. The first year during college, they make everyone take general subjects so it’s not tough to grasp.

In fact, in college they offer more tutoring services and there are many advisors and helpers to aid you if you are struggling in anyway.

How do you spend your weekends?

I normally use my weekend to play more golf since all the resources are available seven days a week. Evenings are spent in catching up with academics and of course friends.

Junior Golf

Akhil Reddy Nossam

Place of Birth: Geneva, Switzerland Residence: France DOB: August 15, 2006 Age: 10 Years School: école Grands Chênes, Prevessin-Moens, France

French connection

Akhil Reddy Nossam, an Indian kid learning the golfing craft in France, has qualified for the US Kids World Championship and US Kids European Championship later this year. The 10-year-old, who started golf at the age of 2, is all set for more glory with his stellar performances in the junior ranks.

Junior AchieveMents: • 3 years continuous finalist for French National Haribo Cup for Kids of below 12 years age. Finished twice at 4th place in the final • Second place in Championnat Departmental in U10 (Department Level Regional Competition for 2016) • Overall second place in RANKIDS for 2016 season (Domestic competitions in Department de l’ain, Total 6 competitions) • Qualified for Swiss Regional Final in U12 category for 2016. It is a good achievement for 2016 being only 9 years old ( Based on 3 best qualifying round in 2016) • 5th place in US Kids Disney Cup, Paris – Oct 2016

Qualified to play the following competitions:

• US KIDS European Championship (May 30 – JUN 1, 2017; East Lothian, Scotland) • US KIDS World Cham pionship (August 3-5; Pinehurst, USA) • BONFORGOLF Tour (6 Competitions in 2017) – A new tour for juniors initiate d by Raphaël Jacquelin (Fre nch pro on European Tour)

Meet Sehaj

A Kiwi Wonder With Indian Roots

Sehaj Sapra, a 10-year-old golfer from Auckland, recently made it to the top five during the Auckland Tour of US Kids Golf Championship held in December and January. She is a Class 6 student at Kristin School and is the house captain for junior school. She enjoys leadership roles and aims to become a lawyer and a professional golfer when she grows up.

“My experience at US Kids was great and it is something I would like to do over and over again,” she told the Indian Weekender, adding that she enjoys golf.

Sapra started playing golf at the age of six and is now acing the sport. She developed an interest in golf in her school and played in two school competitions before heading to the US Kids Golf championship.

“I played my first 18 holes ever on December 18, 2016 during the championship and came fifth, which was great. It was funny because on the first hole, I got stung by a bee, which was a bit painful. But now, when I think about that, I think it was worth it,” said Sapra, fan of World No. 1 New Zealander Lydia Ko. “I played my second game for the championship on January 22 where my dad was my caddy. I loved it, as I got to spend more time with him.” march 2017 | golf digest india

77

Across The Country

Club Round up To share news on your club or updates from across the country, please email vineet@teamgolfdigest.com

Spreading Camaraderie

US Club complete hat-trick of Grover Inter Club title Defending champions United Services Club from Colaba, Mumbai once again emerged victorious at the Grover Vineyards Inter-Club Golf Championship held at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club (BPGC) in Chembur last month over two days. With this victory, US Club has completed a hat-trick of wins establishing their supremacy in the Mumbai amateur golfing circuit.

Low handicap golfers from four golf clubs — US Club, BPGC, Willingdon Sports Club (WSC) and Poona Golf Club took part in the 21st edition of the coveted tournament.

Played in the round-robin match play format same as Ryder Cup, each club was represented by 24 golfers

with 21 playing each day. From each club, three players play the singles, three pairs comprise the foursomes and six pairs compete in the fourball match-ups.

Tied overnight with WSC at 14½ points on the first day, US Club scored a whopping 22.5 points on the final day to be once again crowned champions. While WSC managed 12 points, BPGC and Poona GC had to settle for nine each.

USC fielded four talented juniors - Kanishka Sinha (handicap 3), Nayanika Sanga (7), Keshav Mishra (7) and Trimam Saluja (9) whereas Akash Modi (2), Jay Vora (3), Ivana Shah (8) and Aryaan Nath (1) presented BPGC’s challenge.

Results U S Club 37 (Singles 11, foursomes 10, fourballs 16) WSC 26.5 (singles 3 ½, foursomes 7 ½, fourballs 15 ½) BPGC 20.5 (singles 9 ½, foursomes 6, fourballs 5) PGC 19 (singles 2 1/2, foursomes 2 ½, fourballs 14)

Legacy

Chittaranjan lift 61st All India Inter Railway Golf Championship Chittaranjan Locomotive Workshop lifted the team championship trophy at the 61st All India Inter Railway Golf Championship at Patna Golf Club. Diesel Locomotive Workshop (DLW), Varanasi and North Western Railway, Jaipur, emerged the first and second runners-up, respectively, in the team championship event.

In the best golfer category, Giriraj Singh of North Western Railway was declared winner while Arsad Ali from DLW, Varanasi, finished as winner in the best card category. In the

78 golf digest india | march 2017

best long drive category, S B Singh of DLW, Varanasi was declared the winner.

In the women ‘putting’ category, Geeta Sharma was declared the winner while Shibani Gayen and Rolly Mittal finished as the first runners-up. Indu Chandra was the second runners-up.

East Central Railway (ECR) GM D K Gayen inaugurated the tournament.

“Around 60 young and talented golfers along with veteran players from 16 zones of the Railways participated in the three-day

championship. Each team had four to five members and the number of prizes were given accordingly,” said ECR sports general secretary A K Chandra.

East Central Railway (ECR) GM D K Gayen inaugurated the 61st All India Inter Railway Golf Championship at the Patna Golf Club.

The women’s event, on the other hand, was opened by ECR women welfare organization president Shibani Gayen.

Across The Country

Noble Cause

‘Putting Smiles’ on the faces of underprivileged kids Golden Green Golf Resort near Gurgaon recently played host to over 70 CXOs and top executives including ambassadors of Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia who came together at a charity golf tournament to raise funds for medical treatment of underprivileged children.

Dato Paduka Sidek Ali (ambassador of Brunei to India), Toh Sinh Thanh (Vietnam’s ambassador to India), Nor’azam Mohammad Idrus (Malaysia’s acting high commissioner to India) and Col Dr. Shyam (Malaysian defence advisor in India) teed-off for the cause at the event titled ‘Putting Smiles’.

The donations from the event will go to Genesis Foundation, an NGO, to provide financial support for medical intervention for the critically ill underprivileged children.

The foundation targets to help 250 children every year and is planning to host four more tournaments in other cities of the country.

A charity auction was held in the evening to raise funds auctioned Montegrappa Pens and BMW Mountain Bikes

Ladies Golf

Nayanika wins at BPGC

The 6th BPGC Open Amateur Ladies Golf Championship held in late January saw participation of around 70 ladies from all across the country including a few expats from UK, USA, Korea and Japan. Stark contrast in the ages of participating ladies was seen as the youngest Riva Mehta (8 years) as well as Meera Gharpure (84) made the field at the 54-hole tournament.

12-year-old Nayanika Sanga from the United Services (US) Club reigned supreme and took home the ‘Mahindra Trophy’ while 15-year-old Trimann Saluja, also from the US Club, finished runner-up and claimed the ‘Bunty Khanna Trophy’.

l-R: TPGA secretary Kishor Naik, Belmondo Invitational winner Sandeep Kumar, Lodha Belmondo EVP Sales Akhil Jain, TPGA Secy Arun Iyer and TPGA chairman Sudeep Pasbola

Debut

Lodha Belmondo hosts invitational tournament in Pune

bpGC lady Captain Manisha Thakoor bose awards champion nayanika Sanga

The golf course located at Lodha Belmondo on Mumbai – Pune Expressway recently hosted an invitational tournament for The Passionate Golfers Association (TPGA) members. This was the first tournament held at the newly opened golf course.

Nestled between the Sahyadri Hills and the river Pavana, the golf course is a 45 acre – Par 3 design by the legendary golfer and architect Greg Norman.

Played amongst 40 golfers, Sandeep Kumar and Sudhir Baraokar finished winner and runner-up respectively.

Samujjwal Ghosh, Deputy CEO, Lodha Group remarked “Lodha Belmondo has always endeavored to nurture a culture of luxury living and cultivating a healthy lifestyle. It’s a point of immense pride for us that we are collaborating with premium sporting associations like TPGA to deliver on our promise and will continue such initiatives in future.” march 2017 | golf digest india

79

Corporate Digest

Race for MercedesTrophy National Final gathers pace Tajinder Singh Rihal & Chiranjeev Singh Billing

Chandigarh Winners

A

fter the inaugural legs in three cities in the first half of January, India’s longest running corporate tournament, MercedesTrophy held rounds in six more cities. Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Chennai, Kolkata and Chandigarh rounds witnessed 18 golfers book their berth in the national final as they emerged champions in their respective cities. Already witnessing a massive turnout of over 1900 participants, the event is nearing completion with the final three legs to be played in Gurgaon, Jaipur and Greater Noida.

The National Final will be played at Oxford Golf Resort, Pune from March 15-17 with entry limited to Mercedes-Benz owners. With one lucky winner of the ‘Best Maintained Car’ contest on each day of qualifiers getting a wild card entry to the National Final, a total of 42 finalists will compete for three coveted spots at the MercedesTrophy World Final in Stuttgart, Germany in September this year. Adding to the excitement, in another unique contest – Drive to Major – one winner will travel to watch prestigious British Open Championship in July as a guest of MercedesBenz India. Globally, MercedesTrophy engages over 60,000 golfers from 60 countries each year to provide them a unique brand experience and strengthening perception of Mercedes-Benz as a global partner in golf. Mercedes-Benz also boasts of prominent presence in professional golf through its association with Major Championships - British Open Championship, Augusta Masters and PGA Championship.

Coimbatore Winner

Chennai Winner

Ganesh Kumar Jaganathan

Rajeshwar Rao N with Roland Folger (MD & CEO, MBIL)

80 golf digest india | march 2017

Chandigarh Winners

Vaneet Khosla & Saurabh Singh Mangat

Hyderabad Winners

NRN Reddy

Srinath Reddy Kottam

Corporate Digest Bengaluru Winners

BN Rangaswamy

Nishant Gurjer

Karan Malik

Pritham Basappa

Kiran C

WINNERS

MP Siddharth

Kolkata Winners

Prestige Golfshire, Bengaluru BN Rangaswamy Kiran C MP Siddharth Pritham Basappa Karan Malik Nishant Gurjer Hyderabad Golf association (HGa), Hyderabad NRN Reddy Srinath Reddy Kottam Coimbatore Golf Club, Coimbatore Gangesh Kumar Jaganathan tnGF Cosmopolitan, Chennai Rajeswar Rao N Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC), Kolkata Nikhil Poddar Ashish Chadha Rajesh Agarwal Abhishek Mimani Chandigarh Golf Club, Chandigarh Saurabh Singh Mangat Vaneet Khosla Tajinder Singh Rihal Chiranjeev Singh Billing

Nikhil Poddar & Ashish Chadha

Rajesh Agarwal & Abhishek Mimani

MercedesTrophy India 2017 Schedule S.no 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

Date 5-6 January 6 January 11-13 January 18-20 January 27 January 27 January 3 February 8-9 February 16-17 February 21-23 February 26 February 1-3 March national Final 15-17 March

Completed legs

Venue Oxford Golf Resort, Pune Kalhaar Blues & Greens, Ahmedabad Bombay Presidency Golf Club, Mumbai Prestige Golfshire, Bengaluru Hyderabad Golf Association, Hyderabad Coimbatore Golf Club, Coimbatore TNGF Cosmopolitan, Chennai Royal Calcutta Golf Club, Kolkata Chandigarh Golf Club, Chandigarh DLF Golf & Country Club, Gurgaon Rambagh Golf Club, Jaipur Jaypee Greens Golf Resort, Greater Noida Oxford Golf Resort, Pune

march 2017 | golf digest india

81

Corporate Digest

MercedesTrophy World Final

A Glorious Dream

T

he MercedesTrophy World Final is a once in a lifetime opportunity for amateur golfers across the world. Over 60,000 golfers across 60 countries compete every year with one common goal: qualification for the MercedesTrophy World Final in Stuttgart, Germany.

Since 2002, 45 Indian amateurs have emerged national champions to qualify for Stuttgart to represent their country and live the ‘three pointed star’ dream!

Apart from a top notch golf experience, the golfers get treated to a visit to the Mercedes-Benz plant in Sindelfingen before delving into the history at the Mercedes-Benz museum. Here is a list of ‘lucky’ amateurs who have held the Indian flag high at the world finals.

2016 World Finalists Manish Jaitha - Pune Rajeev Mittal - New Delhi Ajit Parmar- Mumbai

2013 Sameer Kanani- Mumbai M P Khanna - New Delhi Arun Kishore Khanna - New Delhi

2010 Vikas Anand - New Delhi Kuntal Amin - Bengaluru Ashish Gupta - New Delhi

2007 Rajiv Ahuja - Bengaluru Pratap Mamik - New Delhi Vinod Verma - Mumbai

2004 Atul Malhotra - New Delhi Sanjay Nadgouda - Bengaluru Mohit Verma - Chandigarh 82 golf digest india | march 2017

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

2015 Sandeep Garg- New Delhi Anuj Khera - New Delhi Arvind Sethi - Pune

2012 Prakash Nagesh - Bengaluru Bhupinder Singh - Chandigarh Rakesh Chaumal - Mumbai

2009 Shiv Puri - Mumbai Sadeev Sandhu - New Delhi Sanjay Setia - New Delhi

2006 Anosh Shroff- Mumbai T Sukumar - Bengaluru Bharat Valia - Mumbai

2003 Shakti Dogra - New Delhi Meher Nicholson - Pune Amit Pal Singh - New Delhi

2014 Nageshkar Raju. S - Pune Anand Jhaveri - Mumbai Pratik Patel - Ahmedabad

2011 Gautam Gupta - New Delhi Wg. Cdr. S R Nair - Bengaluru Sahil Sagar - New Delhi

2008 Ashok Bhatia - New Delhi Gaurav Dogra - New Delhi M K Satyaprasad - Bengaluru

2005 Prashant Bafana - Pune Vimal Kaushik - New Delhi Rajesh Patil - Pune

2002 Atul Dhir - New Delhi Suman Munjal - Chandigarh Arvind Vishvanathan - New Delhi

Corporate Digest

Memorable Three-city Tee Walk For Corporates

T

he eighth edition of the three-city Vodafone Tee Walk culminated at Prestige Golfshire in Bengaluru on February 11 and around 175 corporate golfers from major Indian cities participated in the annual showpiece. In the second leg, a total of 14 teams battled it out at ITC Classic Golf & Country Club near Manesar on February 5.

Sachin Jain (CIO, Evalueserve) along with Swatiey Pareek (Vodafone Business Services), Satish Mehta (TCS) and WG CDR Bhupindar Singh (Sun Pharma) emerged as the winner.

“I, along with my past teams have tried a lot since last few years to snatch that winning place, but couldn’t finish on the high note for some reason or so. I was determined this year to be in the top 3, didn’t expect to win it though, but this is amazing, we are finally the winners,” an elated Sachin said after clinching his maiden corporate golf title.

Mr. JW Khan, DIG, CISF who was playing for the first time at ITC Classic said: “I felt so comfortable playing here even though it was my

Bengaluru Winners (L-R): Koushik R N (Infosys), Ajay Vij (Accenture), Mosur Saisekar (Northern Operating Services), Nick Gliddon (Vodafone Business Services)

Text: Aindrila Das & Ayush Chaurasia

very first time, not at all felt out of place. It was a great experience.”

The first leg was held at the Aamby Valley course in Lonavala on January 21.

ITC Classic Winners (L-R): Swatiey Pareek (Vodafone Business Services), Satish Mehta (TCS), WG CDR Bhupindar Singh (Sun Pharma), Naveen Chopra (COO, Vodafone India) (presenter), Sachin Jain (CIO, Evalueserve)

The tournament is based on a Texas Four-ball Scramble format. Each team includes one member of Vodafone Business Services and three corporate golfers.

Aamby Valley Winners (L-R): Rajiv Kaul (CMS Infosystems), Milind Patel (IL&FS), Sachin Johri (IDFC Limited), Suphal Mehrotra (Vodafone Business Services)

march 2017 | golf digest india

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Corporate Digest

Royal Golf For A Noble Cause

Participants pose for a group picture before the tee off

M

embers of the erstwhile Royal Families, prominent civil servants, corporate leaders and famous personalities gathered at the ultra-exclusive DLF Golf & Country Club, Gurgaon for the 12th edition of Madhavrao Scindia Foundation Golf Tournament.

Among those present were Rajmata Madhavi Raje Scindia, Jyotiraditya Scindia (Member of Parliament), Priyadarshini Raje Scindia, Chitrangada Raje, Maharani Geeta Devi, Raja Randhir Singh and Maharaja Sangramsinh Gaekwad.

Also seen were Dr. Farooq Abdullah, K.P. Singh (Chairman, DLF), Pankaj Munjal (MD, Hero Cycles), Ratan Jindal, former Indian cricketers Kapil Dev, Nikhil Chopra & Murali Kartik, Satish Sharma (President, Apollo Tyres), Sanjay Rawal of Coca Cola, Rakesh Batra of Ernst & Young (EY) and many others.

84 golf digest india | march 2017

L-R: Col. Narinder Dagar, Diksha Dagar and Jyotiraditya Scindia

Diksha Dagar awarded No. 1 ranked lady amateur golfer in the country, 16 year old Diksha Dagar from Delhi was presented with 'Outstanding Achievement in Golf 2016' award by the Madhavrao Scindia Foundation. The foundation also contributed Rs. 2 Lacs to the Indian Golf Union to support Diksha's further training and exposure in accordance with the rules of amateur status.

Gurbans Singh and Rinki Dhingra (Sr. President & Global Head, Multinational Corporate Banking, YES BANK)

Corporate Digest

Rajmata Madhavi Raje Scindia shares a light moment with the guests

Aakash Ohri (Sr. Exec. Director, DLF Home Developers) and K P Singh (Chairman, DLF)

L-R: Ananya Raje Scindia, Maharaja Sangramsinh Gaekwad and Priyadarshini Raje Scindia

“We are proud to continue our association with the prestigious Madhavrao Scindia Golf Tournament, India’s pre-eminent charity sporting event. With each passing year, golf in India is gaining stature and popularity; with a surge in the number of global champions and world class infrastructure, supported by significant corporate promotion and media visibility. By actively promoting Rana Kapoor the immense sporting talent and potential of our nation’s youth, YES BANK is playing a lead role in catalysing India’s sports development movement.”

Rana Kapoor, MD & CEO, YES BANK

Randhir Kochhar (Partner, EY) and Amitabh Bose L-R: Alok Modi, Ritika Modi, Harsh Pati Singhania and Ratan Jindal

L-R: Preeti Sardana, Ananya Raje Scindia, Priyadarshini Raje Scindia and Charu Narain

Vishal Bakshi ( MD, Envee Optix)

Krishnav Chopra and Nikhil Chopra

march 2017 | golf digest india

85

Corporate Digest

L-R: Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ekta Chadha and Neelam Pratap Rudy

L-R: Gurmeet Singh, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Harneet Kaur

“My father was a sports lover and was particularly fond of cricket and golf. It is great to see so many of his old friends come together every year at this event to support the foundation’s cause in his memory.”

— Jyotiraditya Scindia, Member of Parliament

L-R: Mriganka Singh, Vikramaditya Singh and Chitrangada Singh

L-R: Arvind Chowdhry, KP Singh, Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Hardeep Singh

L-R: Rishi Narain, Yuvraj Narayan and Amrit Mathur

Kapil Dev rides the Hero ‘Lectro’ bike

86 golf digest india | march 2017

L-R: Seetu Kohli ( Seetu Kohli Concepts), Nitin Kohli, Manav Sardana and Aman Sawhney

L-R: Rakesh Batra (Partner, EY), MY Khan, and Gurmeet Singh

Corporate Digest

L-R: Ravi Chopra, MD Sinha, Ateet Gaur (TaylorMade) and Prathmesh Mishra

Pankaj Munjal (MD, Hero Cycles) and Rajmata Madhavi Raje Scindia

L-R: Pradeep Jain, Kapil Dev, Gurnam Arora and Rakesh Batra (Partner, EY)

Sanjay Rawal (VP-IT, Coca Cola India) and Pulak Chakraborty

“We at Hero Cycles are very proud to be associated with this memorable annual event which has now been globally recognized by the Duke of Edinburgh Cup. Golf requires extreme dedication and persistence to keep improving and we at Hero Cycles believe in these same qualities. We are pleased to see nearly every participant try out our new battery assisted ‘Lectro’ cycles which keep enthusiasts fit.”

— Pankaj Munjal, MD, Hero Cycles

Satish Sharma (President APMEA, Apollo Tyres)

L-R: Randhir Singh, Digraj Singh and Vinita Singh

Duke of Edinburgh Cup finalists

Runner-up Vishal Chaudhry

The tournament has been selected by the DOE Cup among the best charity golf tournaments in the world and the top two players in the event qualified for the World Final at the Windsor Castle, London.

Former cricketer Murali Kartik, playing off a 4 handicap, emerged victorious while Vishal Chaudhry grabbed the runner-up spot. The pair has qualified to represent India at the DOE Cup where a once in a lifetime experience awaits them at Windsor Castle. Not only do they play at the private course of the royal family at Windsor Castle but attend a formal black-tie dinner in the State ballroom.

Winner Murali Kartik

The 2017 event is supported by Hero Cycles, Yes Bank, BMW- Bird Automotive, Ernst & Young, Apollo Foundation, Seetu Kohli Concepts, Coca Cola, TaylorMade, The Man magazine, Matrix Clothing and Envee Optix. march 2017 | golf digest india

87

Business of Golf

IT IS ROCKET SCIENCE! The Titleist ball manufacturing plant in Bangkok

BY NIKHIL NARAIN | nikhil@teamgolfdigest.com

R

ecently I visited the Titleist Ball Plant in Thailand to see where the top performing Pro V1 and Pro V1x balls are manufactured. Interestingly this is the first Titleist golf ball plant outside of the USA. This state-of-the-art golf ball manufacturing facility has to ensure quality control so that the best players in the world get the most consistent performance from ball to ball, and dozen to dozen.

This is critical to allow top class golfers on the pro tours to execute the same types of shots, round after round.

I figured the plant would be full of robots. But it employs 324 people, mostly involved in the 90

DIFFERENT PHASES OF BALL PRODUCTION

88 golf digest india | march 2017

Quality Control Checks for the V1 and 120 for the V1x. There was a general excitement as the company is currently launching the new Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls which are supposed to be the most advanced, best performing golf balls ever stamped with the Titleist script. The research done in this golf ball technology involves over 80 professionals, some of whom previously worked at NASA, and so it turns out that its really rocket science. The controls we learn are so stringent that only 1 in 10 million golf balls fails the test !!

The Ball Plant in Thailand produces a staggering 30 million balls each year and supplies the entire world.

DOMINATING 2017 WORLDWIDE BALL COUNT Titleist Nearest Competitor

2819 442

(Ball count of all professional players on the major tours around the world)

The research done in this golf ball technology involves over 80 professionals, some of whom previously worked at NASA, and so it turns out that it really is rocket science.

Business of Golf

NUMBER GAMES No. of players who are contracted with the 10 major equipment companies:

Titleist

799

Cleveland/Srixon

174

Ping

131

TaylorMade

126

Callaway

80

Cobra Puma

15

Nike

15

PXG Golf

13

Wilson

13

Bridgestone

9

source Equipment company websites.

2016 Bangladesh Open champion Thitiphun Chuayprakong of Thailand at the media launch

Asian Tour winner Danthai Boonma getting his first look at the new ball

The new balls are already making waves. Jordan Spieth won the Australian Open in mid-November playing the new Pro V1x for the first time in competition. He said: “What I noticed immediately was the improved flight. It held its line in the crosswinds better.”

Brandon Stone, also playing the new ball followed with a victory at the European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Long time Titleist brand ambassador and World No. 7 Adam Scott says he likes the longer distance and the softer feel of the Pro V1. And we learn that besides the top players, development of such precision golf balls involved more than 80,000 golfers of all skill levels over a staggering two years of research.

“If a golfer hits a number of golf balls, they will fly through a ‘window’ in the air. What we’ve done with the 2017 models is make that window smaller, which is the result of a more consistent flight,” said Bill Morgan, Senior Vice President, Titleist golf ball R&D. “We go to great lengths to ensure that Pro V1 and Pro V1x are precision equipment. We know golfers depend on that consistency on every shot in their round.”

After the detailed factory tour and a round at the beautiful Thai Country Club in Bangkok, I returned with a better appreciation for the simple golf ball that we otherwise take for granted. My only worry armed with all the knowledge about what goes into creating these golf balls, is that now I will not be tensed when faced with a long carry over water!!

The Ball Plant in Thailand produces a staggering 30 million Pro V1 and V1x balls each year and supplies the entire world.

The author at the Thai Country Club in Bangkok

WHICH BALL SUITS YOU BETTER?

Pro V1

Pro V1x

INDIAN TOUR (PGTI)

352 Dimples

328 Dimples

Titleist ball usage

Penetrating Ball Flight

Higher Ball Flight

Consistent Spin

More Spin with irons

Softer Feel

Firmer Feel

98%

No. of wins

23/25

with Titleist ball

march 2017 | golf digest india

89

Business of Golf

Changing the golf landscape in Asia

P

rojects along Vietnam’s coast will “change the landscape” of golf resorts and golf tourism in Asia. This was predicted by Luu Duc Quang, the chairman of the company managing FLC Quy Nhon Golf Links, Vietnam.

Quang, who has helped guide Biscom Golf Management and parent FLC Group to become the world’s largest golf resort developer with current projects valued at more than $US1 billion, predicts Quy Nhon in south-central Vietnam, where one of its four new golf resorts is located, will become a tourism destination like Phuket, Thailand, in the future. “With a new 5-star FLC hotel being built in the city of Quy Nhon, plus FLC Quy Nhon Beach and Golf Resort on the nearby island of Nhon Ly, we see Quy Nhon becoming a popular new tourism destination in Asia.”, he said.

The Nicklaus Design layout, which opened for play in late 2015, was named one of three best new courses in Asia Pacific at the 2016 Asian Golf Awards in Hua Hin, Thailand. So far, two resorts – at Sam Son, south-east of Hanoi, and Quy Nhon – have opened. Another at World Heritage-listed Halong Bay is under construction, a fourth

Mastercard set to expand sports sponsorship presence in India With a new 5-star FLC hotel being built in the city of Quy Nhon, plus FLC Quy Nhon Beach and Golf Resort on the nearby island of Nhon Ly, we see Quy Nhon becoming a popular new tourism destination in Asia.”

— Luu Duc Quang, chairman, Quy Nhon Golf Links multi-course project at Quang Binh is scheduled to start construction in early 2017, a fifth is planned for Haiphong and a second course at Quy Nhon will open early next year. The total investment at the five locations will easily exceed $US1 billion.

India golf carts market likely to expand to Rs 212.1 crore by 2024 New York’s Persistence Market Research (PMR) has forecast that the Rs 46 crore golf cart market in India will expand to Rs 212.1 crore by 2024 riding on a rampant CAGR of 21%.

In 2016, golf courses were the largest consumers of golf carts, however, the segment is expected to lose its share to other segments over the next couple of years.

Golf carts are emerging as a smart internal transportation solution across various industrial domains present in the country. Apart from golf courses, carts are being increasingly used in hotels, resorts and airports.

Imported golf carts held over 69% share of the market in 2015 out of which Club Car LLC and Yamaha Golf Car Company collectively accounted for 50% share.

Mastercard, one of the largest financial transaction firms, which currently sponsors sports like golf and football in India, is in talks to finalise the details that is expected to further enhance its presence in the country. Mastercard is planning to expand its sponsorship presence in India by getting involved in local sporting events.

Without giving further details, the Mastercard Senior Vice President, Marketing, Asia Pacific, Sam Ahmed said: “We are assessing some local sports sponsorships and we are currently negotiating. We already sponsor entertainment in India... but we see sports, especially certain type of sports, that enable us to have that conversation with consumers,” Ahmed said.

Explaining that sponsorship events were vital for unleashing the company’s innovative payment technologies, Ahmed said by doing so, the company is able to introduce the new payment technologies and also closely connect with consumers.

Ahmed said that India was going through a massive digital change and time was right for the company to link sports, entertainment and technology together.

“Indian consumers love all three platforms. What you will see from Mastercard is more of a link between the three to really help Indians in their digital journey. India is the fastest e-commerce nation in the world and it is critical part of the economy,” he said, adding Mastercard would be at the centre of that change.

Newly launched DSports channel to broadcast Majors British Open, US Open & PGA Championship Three of the four Grand Slams — British Open, US Open and the PGA Championship — will be broadcast live by newly launched sports chammel DSports from the house of Discovery Communications. It will also bring to its viewers live coverage of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) events from USA. The all new premium sports channel in India, ‘DSports’ aims to redefine sports engagement and provide viewers an unmatched ‘live’ sporting action from across the globe, through its dynamic coverage of sporting events. The channel will broadcast football from Brazilian League, Chinese Super League, Portuguese League, and Major League Soccer (USA), NASCAR motor racing, and six Nations Rugby along with UK and Irish horse racing events.

As a promotional offer, the channel is free to preview for DishTV subscribers, Asia’s largest DTH service provider, for a limited period.

90 golf digest india | march 2017

Tête-à-Tête with Wg. Cdr. Satish Aparajit

‘Each Federation Should Find Ways To Raise Funds For Their Sport’

By Vineet MAnn vineet@teamgolfdigest.com Wg. Cdr. Satish Aparajit recently took over the reins as the president of Indian Golf Union (IGU) – the apex body of golf in the country for the 2016-17 term. He has been an integral part of the grassroots development of the game over the last two decades and represents the North Zone.

IGU is responsible for the promotion and development of golf in India. Starting with only six golf clubs at inception in 1955, it now boasts of having 194 affiliated golf clubs. Golf Digest India caught up with him to learn about IGU’s plan for the future of Indian golf.

GDI: What is the role that IGU plays in administration of game in the country?

SA: IGU, as you are aware, is the apex body of golf in the country. There can only be one apex body in India for golf as clarified by the government and hence any decisions relating to golf have to go through the IGU- be it Rules & Regulations or any changes that govt. may like to bring about and introduce new initiative in golf. We run the National Golf Academy of India (NGAI) to train the coaches and organize training camps for the national squad for juniors, men and ladies while also conducting courses to certify referees, tournament directors etc. Yearly, we organize over 75 amateur tournaments in various categories. The first ever European Tour pro tournament in India – Indian Masters- was also introduced by the IGU in 2008. IGU has also been organizing the Indian Open since 1964.

We provide international exposure to leading juniors and amateurs. IGU is a nursery that produces the future professional golfers in the country. Most of the professional golfers in India have come through the IGU programs barring a couple of players.

GDI: What are the IGU’s focus areas in 2017?

SA: The tenure of the President is very short lived (one year) and hence one carries forward the past initiatives and introduces

the new ones that will be taken over by the incoming President and this how the process continues. However the first and most significant step is formation of ‘Golf Promotion and Development Board’ with all relevant stake holders. Another significant thing that happened was the introduction of India - South Africa Golf test series at Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC) in Kolkata. The next one will be held in South Africa. This is an initiative of one of our council member.

GDI: You recently mentioned IGU has created a ‘Golf Development Board’. Can you tell us more about it?

SA: I would not like to jump the gun at this stage as our first meeting is slated later this month where the objectives, vision, mission and other direction will be decided. We will share further details on this shortly.

GDI: How does IGU plan to raise funds for all development activities envisioned?

SA: We manage to raise funds for each activity through various options. The secretariat and council members play an important role in raising funds otherwise it would be almost impossible to run so many programs that we have initiated over the years.

GDI: What kind of government support does golf get?

SA: Govt. provides whatever feasible on their part, participation of teams at international tournaments, scholarships to top golfers, some financial help in conduct of international tournaments etc.

GDI: Does govt. commercially support grassroots development of golf?

SA: So far no. You must realize that govt. has to cater to number of sports federations in the country and it is difficult for them to support every federation financially. I firmly believe that each federation should find ways and means to raise funds for their sport and not depend entirely on govt. Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports also operates within a meager budget and we can’t burden them with all our needs.

Oil sector has come in a big way and supported budding amateur golfers in the country for over past two decades.

Promoting golfers from economically weaker section gives credibility to the company that cares, nurtures and promotes —Wg. Cdr. Satish Aparajit golfers from grassroots level.’

Tête-à-Tête with

Wg. Cdr. Satish Aparajit

GDI: How can corporates or businessmen contribute to development of golf and what mileage can they get in return?

SA: Number of corporates spend on their own corporate events and indirectly promote the game. There are couple of big corporates who really spend on both professional and amateur golf tours in the country and hence are directly involved in the development of the sport. Few public sectors particularly the Oil sector has come in a big way and supported budding amateur golfers in the country for over past two decades. Promoting golfers from economically weaker section gives credibility to the company that cares, nurtures and promotes golfers from grassroots level.

GDI: Can you elaborate on the ‘Golf in Schools’ program and how has been the response so far?

SA: Golf in schools program is doing fairly well. Our teaching pros have initiated golf in number of schools in the country. We will soon conduct an All India Inter school event that will show case how our efforts are paying dividends. There are handful of schools that have three to nine-hole golf courses on the campus and hence it is a bigger challenge. However we are satisfied with our progress so far. The response to learn golf is good so far. march 2017 | golf digest india

91

Health & Fitness

Yoga Improves Motion & Flexibility: Rosie

Despite picking up golf at the age of five, Englishwoman Rosie Davies went on to play ladies football for leading Premier League clubs Arsenal and Fulham. It was only at 18 that she started playing competitive golf. The 27-year-old Ladies European Tour (LET) pro owns a CrossFit gym at Wandsworth in London. Rosie shared her workout routine that helps tame her fiercest rivals on the course with Golf Digest India during the Hero Women’s Indian Open

Rosie Davies shows four stretching and strengthening moves using an exercise band specifically to keep your muscles limber for golf. “Spend a few minutes a day on these stretches,” she says “and your swing will feel better.”

92 golf digest india | march 2017

From football pitch to the greens I got into golf through my dad. It was a way of us spending time together. He would take me down to the range and we would spend hours just hitting balls together.

I was five but I actually didn’t play competitive golf until I was 18.

I always played golf, but I actually played football growing up, for Arsenal and Fulham Ladies sections. At 18 I moved to America and went to the Hank Haney Golf Academy in my gap year and from there I got a golf scholarship to Indiana University.

Images: K. JaIraJ ChaudhrI, Instagram: @rosIedgolf; loCatIon Courtesy: dlf golf & Country Club

Health & Fitness

Fitness routine

“It depends whether it’s a tournament week or an off week. At home or out of home I generally train 3-4 times a week, an hour and half a day. I have a dynamic warm-up to get the blood flowing. Do a bit of static stretching depending what my body needs. Probably go with a strength portion – following a squat cycle or like if I am doing shoulders it will be a push-press cycle.

“I will put 20 minutes on my strength and then some time on CrossFit which is pretty varied and depends on the time of the day I am doing it. It includes Olympic weightlifting which translates into a hip explosion in the swing, helping in the down swing. It’s important to train metabolically, so cardio is very important. It gets you mentally focused. After that I spend some time on my flexibility, making sure my body is feeling loose.

“I like a short intense workout for five minutes as it boosts your heart rate really quickly. It shocks your muscles and allows them to grow, that’s what strengthens them.”

Favourite holiday destination

Bahamas because I love being on a Caribbean island and just relax on the beach

Favourite golfer Justin Rose

Favourite sports team Arsenal

Favourite Indian food

I love all Indian food! Especially all the different types of curry

Favourite actor

Denzel Washington

Favourite movie Fight Club

Yoga Relaxation Yoga is very good. It helps you improve your motion and flexibility. On the mental side, it also relaxes you. Meditation allows you to make peace with yourself and improves your concentration. I do 30 minutes of yoga every day.

I have brought in an improvised form of yoga into my stretching routine.

Rosie demonstrates a side version of the plank with lateral arm raise that strengthens the abs while improving co-ordination. Great way to strengthen the lower back and avoid back pain.

Text: Rohit Bhardwaj

march 2017 | golf digest india

93

On the Asian Tour

Shubhankar’s star continues to sparkle A

nother week, another top-10 and more ringing endorsements for talented Indian prospect Shubhankar Sharma.

Only 20, Shubhankar continued to make others sit up and take notice of his prodigious talents following a tied ninth outing at the recently concluded US$3 million Maybank Championship in Malaysia.

A third straight top-10 of the year, which proceeded a tied 11th finish in the season-opening leg in Singapore, pushed him up to fifth place on the latest Asian Tour’s Order of Merit with US$102,756, locking up his card nice and early for next year. Opting out of World Super 6 Perth, he is placed 7th on the money list.

Shubhankar made a bold decision to turn professional at the age of 17, which is enough proof of his mental fortitude and confidence about his game. His rookie season saw him finish fourth at the Panasonic Open India in 2014, a result he repeated in the following year.

Last season, his game continued to blossom with a third place finish in Bangladesh and an equal fourth — anIrban lahIrI in the Philippines sealing his full playing rights for 2017.

The DLF GCC member believes he is slowly finding his feet in the professional game. He said: “I’ve got more confidence than the last few years. It’s starting to feel like I belong here and I’m starting to play better. I’m making a lot of birdies which is the best part. I’m dropping a lot of shots but I’m telling myself and backing myself that I can make birdies.

“I played for the first time in a competition with Anirban so that was great. Even though I dropped a few shots, he kept telling me to keep playing the way I am.

“It’s great to play with someone who’s a great inspiration to a lot of us. It was a great way to finish my tournament.”

Four events into the new Asian Tour season, Shubhankar has shot the most number of birdies with 77, averaging 4.81 birdies per round.

He knows though he must cut down on the bogeys if he is to come through for a first Asian Tour victory.

India’s Arjun Atwal, a former Asian Tour number one, believes Shubhankar will go on to establish himself. “This kid is definitely the real deal…” Atwal tweeted.

“It was fantastIc playIng wIth shubhankar. I’ve watched hIm go through the ranks over the last few years wIth flyIng colours... It’s really a good sIgn for IndIan golf to see hIm and chIkka comIng up.”

Recent finishes

T-4: World Manila Masters T-11: SMBC Singapore Open T-9: Myanmar Open T-4: Basundhara Bangladesh Open T-9: Maybank Championship

IndIans start year wIth a bang Indian professionals continued to sizzle on the Asian Tour from the start of the 2017 season.

Gurgaon lad Shubhankar Sharma (Tied 11th) and Gaganjeet Bhullar (T-18) posted a top-20 each in the season-opener US$ 1 million SMBC Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club. Shubhankar (T-9) then scripted his first top-10 of the season in Asia at the US$ 750,000 Myanmar Open.

At the US$ 300,000 Basundhara

94 golf digest india | march 2017

Bangladesh Open, it was turn of Delhi golfer Chiragh Kumar to put his name in the top-5 on the leaderboard. Chiragh finished tied 4th along with Shubhankar.

Bengalureans Khalin Joshi (9th) and Udayan Mane (T-10) then made it four top10s for Indians. Together they gobbled up US$ 34,620 (Rs 23.17 lakh approx) in prize money. Delhi Golf Club’s Rashid Khan (US$ 4,440) ended a steady 13th. The following

week in Kuala Lumpur, five Indians recorded a top-20 result at the Maybank Championship, with World No. 81 Anirban Lahiri finishing a creditable joint 7th, two shots ahead of Shubhankar, who shared the 9th spot. Delhi pros Rashid and Shiv Kapur had a tied 12th finish, while Kapurthala’s Gaganjeet Bhullar ended tied 20th. The fantastic five pocketed US$ 266,750 (Rs 1.78 crore approx) out of the US$ 3 million prize fund.

On the Asian Tour

My Winning Reflection Sam Brazel enjoyed a life-changing victory at the 2016 UBS Hong Kong Open when he edged Rafa Cabrera Bello by one shot at the venerable Fanling Golf Club. The Australian showed nerves of steel to win his first Asian Tour and European Tour victory in a dramatic final round. In this latest segment of My Winning Reflection, Brazel shares his winning memories in Hong Kong.

H

onestly, I was in shock because there are some seriously good names on that trophy and it is great to be part of it. There’s a lot of history at this event and at this golf club.

In the final round, I was a nervous wreck but I had some good procedures going, continued to smile and tried to have fun. It worked. That shot on the final hole was kind of unexpected. I was trying to take it over the middle of the bunker at the front of the green and played it safe. I hit it a little bit thin and a little right.

The satisfying part was the putt. I’ve been working pretty hard on my putting, and it’s just nice to stand there and roll one in the middle when it really counts.

On the back nine, I looked calm on the outside but I’m not sure I was all that calm

on the inside. But I just tried to keep smiling and making it fun out there. I spoke a lot to my caddie. I just tried to keep having fun on the back nine, and was watching the crowds and what they were doing. It was nice to get a few cheers and a few claps. They were very supportive. It’s great to see crowds like that at golf tournaments.

“the satIsfyIng part was the putt.

I’ve been workIng pretty hard on my puttIng, and It’s just nIce to stand there and roll one In the mIddle when It really counts” — sam brazel

I’ve never won a four-round tournament and this is my first. Some would say that’s a big start.

I learned my trade playing pro-ams back in Australia, and I think that’s been a great grounding. You pretty much learn to grind out every shot and I think it’s held me in good stead.

My game has been steadily progressing the last three or four years, especially since gaining my Tour card here in Asia. It’s been a great proving ground.

I just enjoyed every moment of it and it was real easy to enjoy the week in Hong Kong. The crowd, the amount of kids that are around watching golf was great. I think the event organisers have done a great job in including the kids and it’s just fun to see that stuff. march 2017 | golf digest india

95

On the Asian Tour

Season begins with wonderful storylines

Australia’s Todd Sinnott with the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open trophy

By Chuah Choo Chiang

N

othing, it seems, ceases to amaze these days on the Asian Tour.

Three tournaments into our new 2017 season, wonderful storylines have emerged to provide the “wow” factor that only bodes well for the region’s governing golf body.

From veteran star Prayad Marksaeng winning the SMBC Singapore Open at the ripe age of 50 years and 357 days to rookie Todd Sinnott coming through in his second start and Jazz Janewattananond overcoming the despair of losing his Tour card to becoming a champion, the action on the fairways has been fast, furious and fulfilling.

Outside the ropes, the Asian Tour made landmark announcements where it will become a tri-sanction partner of the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth and Fiji International

this season alongside the European Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia while an agreement was reached with the organisers of the New Zealand Open as well which will see the Tour breaking new ground.

While modern day golf has seen the young guns blazing the trail by dominating the scene in recent times, sweet-swinging Prayad proved that old was still very much gold as he claimed a popular triumph in Singapore to become the second oldest Tour winner.

A strict combination of stretching, regular visits to the hot spring when he is in Japan and proper dieting have been attributed as being the secret to his longevity in the game. The 10th Asian Tour title also made him the third highest trophy winner behind countrymen Thaworn Wiratchant, who has 18 titles under his belt and Thongchai Jaidee, who holds 13 victories.

96 golf digest india | march 2017

Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand

“I thInk thIs Is the longest 18 holes that I have played In my lIfe. I am happy that I got the job done. I have been waItIng for thIs wIn sInce I was 14!”

— jazz janewattananond “I turned 51 on January 30.

This will be the best birthday present for me,” he beamed after hoisting the Singapore Open trophy after eclipsing stars such as Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott.

“I look after myself very well. I eat well, sleep well and

stay happy. I will keep playing golf because I was born to be a golfer.”

In contrast, Prayad’s young compatriot, Jazz, rose from the depths of despair to the heights of triumph when he won the Bashundhara Bangladesh Open

On the Asian Tour

asian Tour order of Merit after World super 6 Perth

Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng at 50 years and 357 days became the second oldest winner on the Tour in Singapore

“I turned 51 on january 30. thIs wIll be the best bIrthday present for me... I look after myself very well. I eat well, sleep well and stay happy.”

— prayad marksaeng by four shots.

The 21-year-old, who was only a few months old when Prayad claimed his first Asian Tour victory in 1996, was always tipped to become a winner after he first hit the scene by becoming the youngest golfer to make the halfway cut at the age of 14.

Jazz finished 63rd on last year’s Order of Merit, three rungs too long to keep his playing rights, and a trip to Qualifying School proved unsuccessful as he finished outside the top-35 which was required to earn a Tour card.

With only a country exemption in his back pocket, Jazz showed great tenacity and attitude to rise to the top of the pile in Bangladesh after holding off local hero Siddikur Rahman.

“I think this is the longest 18 holes that I have played in my life. I am happy that I got the job done. I have been waiting for this win since I was 14!” said a jubilant Jazz. “I wasn’t disappointed (about losing his card)

because I know my chance will come. I just accepted my results as it is. I guess those setbacks helped in my game. The win came sooner than I thought.”

Such is the close camaraderie on Tour that Jazz later thanked Australians Marcus Both and Sam Brazel for providing words on encouragement through a tweet which he also posted a screenshot of in his whatsapp chat with Both, who simply said “Play your game right till the end.”

Sinnott, a powerful Aussie, became the second quickest player to earn an Asian Tour victory straight out from Qualifying School when he took only two events to hoist a trophy at the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open.

New playing opportunities now abound for Sinnot and Jazz with their all-important winner’s exemption and you can be sure that other exciting narratives will unfold over the 2017 season.

The Asian Tour. #whereitsAT

(The writer is Director, Communications at Asian Tour)

Pos

Player

earnings (Us$)

1.

Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR)

500,000

2.

David Lipsky (USA)

333,330

3.

Phachara Khongwatmai (THA)

251,722

4.

Prayad Marksaeng (THA)

182,362

5.

Todd Sinnott (AUS)

151,600

6.

Carlos Pigem (ESP)

103,800

7.

shubhankar sharma (inD)

102,756

8.

Panuphol Pittayarat (THA)

93,105

9.

anirban lahiri (inD)

82,500

10.

Johannes Veerman (USA)

72,368

11.

Juvic Pagunsan (PHI)

69,905

12.

Jbe Kruger (RSA)

69,090

13.

Younghan Song (KOR)

66,000

14.

K.T. Kim (KOR)

65,650

15.

Sam Brazel (AUS)

58,339

16.

gaganjeet Bhullar (inD)

56,293

17.

Jazz Janewattananond (THA)

54,000

18.

shiv Kapur (inD)

52,320

19.

Siddikur Rahman (BAN)

50,400

20.

rashid Khan (inD)

48,015

Sinnott became the second quickest player to earn an Asian Tour victory straight out from Qualifying School when he won the Myanmar Open. New playing opportunities now abound for Sinnot and Jazz with their all-important winner’s exemption. march 2017 | golf digest india

97

On the Asian Tour

On The Web

This section showcases the social media initiatives undertaken by the Asian Tour to connect with the young and urban golf aficionados

98 golf digest india | march 2017

Images: Asian Tour

AC TIO N

.

AT TITU D E

TE NACIT Y .

TR I U M P H

#whereitsAT

asiantour.com

Tour partners

Official sponsor

Web partner

On the European Tour

Innovative GolfSixes concept unveiled by the European Tour

T

* formaT Summary Greensomes: • Both players in each team hit tee shots on each hole. The best tee shot is selected and then the team alternate play of all subsequent shots required to complete the hole.

Group Stages: • Matches will be played over all 6 holes with 1 point awarded for each hole won. The player with most points at the end of 6 holes will be declared the winner.

• For the group table: Win = 3 points, Draw = 1 point, Loss = 0 points

he European Tour recently made an exciting announcement for golf when it unveiled GolfSixes, a revolutionary and novel short form of the game which further illustrates the Tour’s desire to embrace innovation in professional golf.

The inaugural GolfSixes event – featuring a prize fund of €1 million – will make its debut on the European Tour schedule at the Centurion Club in St Albans, to the north west of London, on May 6-7, 2017.

The event will feature two-man teams from 16 different nations, each nation being represented by its leading ranked and available European Tour member from the 2017 Exemption Category List on March 13, who will be joined by a compatriot of his choosing from within European Tour Membership.

The first day’s play will see the teams split into four groups of four – similar to the UEFA Champions League football group stages – before the top two teams from each group progress to the knockout stages – the quarter-finals, the semifinals, a 3rd/4th place play-off match and the final – all of which will be contested on the second day.

As well as innovation inside the ropes, there will be an abundance of originality for the fans to enjoy outside the ropes as the six holes wend their

100 golf digest india | march 2017

way around the centrally located fan zone at the Hertfordshire venue.

In addition to amphitheatre-style stands around the tees and greens, there will be music and pyrotechnics on the first tee and at various points around the course, with all players miked up to help bring fans closer to the action.

Players will also be encouraged to interact with the fans during play and in the intervals between their matches, including taking part in Q&A sessions in the fan zone, while live streaming on social media will further enhance the spectators’ experience and maximise reach.

The interactive digital fan experience will feature polls, user generated content and unique social media content while the innovative broadcast items will include POV cameras, caddie cams, unique camera angles and on-course player interviews.

The inaugural golfSixeS evenT — feaTuring a prize fund of euro 1 million — will make iTS debuT on The european Tour Schedule aT The cenTurion club in ST albanS, To The norTh weST of london, on may 6-7, 2017.

On the European Tour

marcus armitage – professional Golfer and Golf fanboy

Meet the English European Tour professional who is using his spare time off the course seeking autographs from his fellow players!

We have heard all about fans asking Tiger Woods for autographs and pictures, but this week it was the turn of Marcus Armitage, one of the players, to ask the 14 time Major champion for his signature and a photo.

Arriving at Emirates Golf Club on Tuesday morning as a reserve for this week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic, Armitage was choosing his spot on a very busy range when he saw Graeme Storm vacating the position next to Woods.

The Englishman, who graduated from the European Challenge Tour in 2016, did not mess about when he saw his chance to meet the man he jointly credits as being the reason for why he first started playing golf.

“It was pretty cool,” he said. “Stormy (Graeme Storm) was hitting balls next to him and when he left I asked Graeme if I could take that spot. So I just went and hit some balls next to him and let him do a bit of work, and then asked him for his autograph and had a little chat with him.

While the 41 year old was going through his paces having just got off a long flight from his native America, Armitage got his driver

“STormy waS hiTTing ballS nexT To Tiger and when he lefT i aSked graeme if i could Take ThaT SpoT. So i juST wenT and hiT Some ballS nexT To him and leT him do a biT of work” — Marcus arMitage

out of the bag, and even noticed Woods sneaking a quick glance at his swing.

As well as getting some autographs Armitage also used his opportunity with Woods to discuss the Challenge Tour, with the two-time Omega Dubai Desert Classic winner keen to learn more about the Tour that has given the likes of Henrik Stenson and Martin Kaymer a platform to build their successful careers.

“I asked him about the Web.com Tour and the guys that come through there,” he said. “Then he was asking about the Challenge Tour and how many people come up from there, and he asked about what events I’d get into.

“He was very genuine and good to chat to. He’s the reason I started playing golf and it’s the benefit of getting to one of my goals, which is to be here on the European Tour.

“I went to the Open Championship as a kid and watched him at Muirfield in 2002 back in the day, and it was great to see him here.”

ThE EuropEan Tour’S awkward rEporTEr prankS ThE STarS of world Golf It’s a new year and with it the European Tour welcomed a new broadcaster to golf. The only thing is, Mirage Sports Media doesn’t actually exist. With the cheeky direction of Ryder Cup stars Nicolas Colsaerts and Chris Wood ringing in his ears from a secret location, ‘reporter’ Thomas Gray took to the microphone with global golfing icons such as Henrik Stenson, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Lee Westwood and Rafa Cabrera Bello, delivering some of the most awkward interview moments of their careers.

Filmed on location during the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship pro-am, our rookie reporter was set one simple mission: wind up, confuse and befuddle the great and good of golf.

The results were hilarious.

The highlights included Colsaerts and Wood instructing the reporter to ask Dustin Johnson “anything you want... as long as you address him as Zach Johnson.”

The reporter then asked Johnson: “you’re a

two-time major champion, winner of the Masters and the Open, what’s next for Zach Johnson?”

Johnson replied sharply, "I'm Dustin Johnson."

The reporter went on to call Ryder Cup legend Lee Westwood by the name Liam. After Westwood corrected him by pointing out that his name is actually Lee, the awkward reporter proceeded to ask if that was short version of Liam or Leo. American superstar Rickie Fowler was the first victim of the now infamous awkward reporter, when he was subjected to possibly the most cringe-worthy sound-check. After a long stretch of talking into the microphone, the reporter then asks Fowler to say “ketchup” three times into the mike, which the young superstar duly does.

The reigning Race to Dubai and Open Champion Henrik Stenson also fell afoul of the reporter, when the Swede was asked the same question again and again in different ways. march 2017 | golf digest india

101

On the European Tour

tour snippets Glorious Garcia makes it a dozen in the Desert

Sergio Garcia claimed his 12th European Tour title as he completed an utterly dominant wire-to-wire win at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

The Spaniard set the tone with an opening 65 at Emirates Golf Club and never looked back, finishing with a bogey-free 69 to get to 19 under and beat Open champion Henrik Stenson by three shots.

Garcia entered the final round with a three-shot lead and while back-to-back birdies from Stenson on the 13th and 14th applied some pressure, the 37 year old produced a stunning tee-shot on the 15th and a brilliant up-anddown on the next to ease to victory.

Englishman Tyrrell Hatton and Dane Lasse Jensen were then at 14 under, two shots clear of Matthew Fitzpatrick and Peter Uihlein.

Fleetwood surges to Abu Dhabi glory Tommy Fleetwood kept his cool on the back nine to come home in 31 and win his second European Tour title at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

The Englishman entered the final day a shot behind overnight leader Tyrrell Hatton and turned in 36 on a day of tough scoring and gusting winds at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

A wonderful chip-in eagle on the tenth then sparked his round to life

and three further birdies helped him seal a 17 under total and a one-shot win over US Open champion Dustin Johnson and 2014 winner in Abu Dhabi Pablo Larrazábal.

It was a first win in three years and 150 days for the man who turned 26 last month and has finished in the top 50 in the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex for the past four seasons.

Wonderful Wang reigns in Qatar

Jeunghun Wang won his third European Tour title after beating Joakim Lagergren and Jaco Van Zyl in a play-off at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

The South Korean began the day with a three-shot lead but was caught on the back nine before retaking top spot on his own with a birdie on the 16th.

A bogey on the next dropped him into the play-off at 16 under but after taking a brave line over the back of the green on the first visit back up the 18th, he got up and down for a winning birdie.

The win for Wang comes in just his 29th European Tour event and at 21 years and 144 days old, he is the third youngest player to win three events after Matteo Manassero and Seve Ballesteros.

Brazel named Hilton european tour Golfer of the Month for December Sam Brazel has been named the Hilton European Tour Golfer of the Month for December following a dramatic triumph at the USB Hong Kong Open.

The 38 year old Australian birdied the last hole at Hong Kong Golf Club to overcome Ryder Cup star Rafa Cabrera Bello by one shot. Remarkably, a final round 68 was his highest score of the week.

Brazel had entered the event, just his 17th appearance on the European Tour, ranked 480th in the Official World Golf Ranking. Despite having opened with impressive back to back rounds of 66, he entered the weekend three shots off the lead of Cabrera Bello.

The New South Wales player, however, stormed into a share of the third round lead courtesy of a three under par 67, before a nerve-wracking final

102 golf digest india | march 2017

day during which six players shared the lead at one point. Belying his relative European Tour inexperience, however, he holed a nerve-shredding eight-foot putt at the last for a closing birdie and a maiden title.

Brazel receives Hilton Honors Diamond Elite Status – the highest tier of the hotel’s renowned loyalty scheme – for winning the Golfer of the Month of the award, having beaten Brandon Stone and Harold Varner III to the accolade which is decided by a panel of respected golf journalists.

Former Chief Executive of the European Tour, George O’Grady CBE, has been announced as the incoming Honorary President of the PGAs of Europe, taking over from Pierre Bechmann at the Association’s AGM last week.

On the European Tour

Changes made to european tour Membership criteria and ryder Cup qualification process for 2018

T

he European Tour has announced a change to its membership regulations for the 2018 season, with players only required to compete in a minimum of four European Tour sanctioned tournaments outside the Major Championships and World Golf Championships next season.

The change, ratified by the Tour’s Tournament Committee in Abu Dhabi in January, continues to recognise the global nature of the European Tour, acknowledged for the 2016 season when the number was reduced to five tournaments outside the Majors and WGCs. It is also designed to help players plan their schedules even more effectively as the European Tour continues to grow and expand.

In addition to the change to the Tour’s membership regulations, the Tournament Committee also approved three important changes to the qualification process for Europe’s 2018 Ryder Cup team.

Firstly, there will be a greater weighting for points earned in tournaments in the latter stages of the process to help ensure the European Team reflects those players in form nearer the time of The Ryder Cup itself.

Race to Dubai points and World Ranking points earned in these tournaments will be multiplied by 1.5 for the two respective qualification lists with the first counting event to benefit from this increased weighting in the 2018 season being the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

With the 2018 schedule not as yet finalised, the last counting event in the quest to make Thomas Bjørn’s team bound for Le Golf National in Paris in September 2018 is not confirmed, but the starting point will be the D+D Real Czech Masters at the

Albatross Golf Resort in Prague from August 31 – September 3, 2017.

Secondly, following the introduction of the Rolex Series, no Ryder Cup qualification points will be available from tournaments staged anywhere in the world played in the same week as these events in both 2017 and 2018.

While this change takes into account the significance of the Rolex Series for the European Tour, it also recognises it will mean fewer qualification points being available globally outside of these tournaments, hence Captain Bjørn will have an extra wild card pick at his disposal for the 2018 team – the third change.

It means the 12-man European Team for The 2018 Ryder Cup will comprise the first four players from the European Points List, followed by the leading four players from the World Points List and completed by four wild cards.

Outside the specific changes to the qualification for the 2018 team, the Tournament Committee upheld the current general stipulation that a player must be a European Tour member to be eligible to play for Europe in the biennial contest against the United States.

Furthermore, the committee also introduced a new regulation stating that players cannot be a European Ryder Cup Captain or a Vice-Captain if they decline membership of the European Tour or fail to fulfil their minimum event obligation in any season, from 2018 onwards.

In recognition of the demands on his time as Ryder Cup captain, Bjørn stood down as Chairman of the Tournament Committee on Tuesday night – a position he has held since 2007 – with former Ryder Cup player David Howell unanimously voted as his successor.

MeMbership criteria of the european tour to be dropped froM five tournaMents to four tournaMents (outside the Majors and WGcs) for the 2018 season

in A nutsHell

The decisions taken by the European Tour Tournament Committee are: European Tour Membership: ● Membership criteria of the European Tour to be dropped from five tournaments to four tournaments (outside the Majors and WGCs) for the 2018 season.

Qualification for The 2018 Ryder Cup Team: ● Ryder Cup qualification points (both R2D Points and World Points) to be multiplied by 1.5 for tournaments later in the qualification process. The starting point for this will be the BMW PGA Championship in 2018. ● No Ryder Cup qualification points will be available from tournaments staged anywhere in the world opposite Rolex Series tournaments in both 2017 and 2018. ● Qualification for the 2018 team to change to four players from the Ryder Cup European Points List, four from the Ryder Cup World Points List and four Wild Card picks for Captain Bjørn.

Ryder Cup Qualification – General: ● Players must be a member of the European Tour to be eligible to play for Europe. ● Players cannot be a European Ryder Cup Captain or a Vice-Captain if they decline membership of the European Tour or fail to fulfil their minimum event obligation in any season, from 2018 onwards.

The Ryder Cup Captain, Thomas Bjorn and European Tour, Chief Executive, Keith Pelley march 2017 | golf digest india

103

On the European Tour

The European Tour work-out

There are many exercises that can help to develop core strength. This month, the European Tour Physio Team are looking at one in particular called ‘The Pallof Press’.

How To do Pallof PrEss There are lots of ways in which you can make the exercise easier or harder depending on your ability and fitness. These photos contain a number of progressions of the Pallof Press.

You can do this exercise with a weighted pulley machine, Kinesis or resistance tubing/ band. The exercise can be made easier by having less tension on the band or pulley and made harder by increasing the tension or strength. Reducing your base of support (i.e. standing/split standing) will also increase the difficulty of the exercise. Start with the band pulled on tension and your hands firmly on the handle with it close in to your chest. Slowly push your hands away from your body until your arms are straight whilst bracing your core to stop the band/pulley from pulling/ rotating you back towards its attachment.

104 golf digest india | march 2017

How it benefits your body

During everyday activities and in the golf swing, the body and joints have to perform a variety of movements including rotation, lateral flexion and flexion/extension. It is as important to be able to resist forces and movements as it is to create them. The Pallof press is an exercise which helps to develop rotation strength and stability throughout the body by resisting forces in varied planes of movement.

How it benefits your golf game

The golf swing is a very complex athletic movement that involves a lot of rotation. The forces that go through the body and in particular the spine during the golf swing are very high. Having sufficient abdominal strength and core/trunk stability is very important for

golfers to enable a safe and full golf swing to be performed without affecting technique or increasing injury potential. The mid section or core of the body has to work very hard throughout the golf swing to control the spine in multiple planes of movement. It also connects the upper body to the lower body to allow the safe & efficient delivery of force and power through the kinetic chain from the feet up through the body and into the club head.

Pallof presses are great exercises to develop strength and core stability that have an excellent transfer to rotational sports like golf. They can be done as part of your general fitness training as well as in your warm up.

This is the type of exercise that a European Tour professional would do in our European Tour Physio Unit on Tour.

Nigel Tilley, Rob Hillman European Tour Performance Institute & Physio Unit

Play Your Best Strategy by Jack Nicklaus

“Treat a stone wall the same as water.”

Rock of Ages Handling the hardest hazard hen the opportunity is there, I like to incorporate the history of the land into a design. I’m inspired by Scottish and English courses, where often you come across stone walls that are in play and make for memorable shots.

The most famous might be the one behind the green of the Road Hole, the 17th at St. Andrews, which has contributed to double and triple bogeys since the 15th century. Although I never airmailed that green so badly in competition that I had to play a ricochet off that wall to try to save par, I always liked trying the shot in practice rounds. It’s fun.

When we built Richland Country Club in Nashville, we encountered a dry-stack stone wall, which is now on the par-5 seventh (illustrated).

Likely made to define a property line, we learned it was used as a key defensive position during the Civil War by the Union Army. On Dec. 16, 1864, a fierce battle there ended with the capture of a Confederate colonel. Rather than play alongside the wall, we routed the fairway so you must hit over it. The stakes, of course, are far different than in 1864, but the rocks retain their strategic essence. —with max adler

W

COMMITTINg TO CAUTION The conservative tee shot is to hang back short of the rise in the fairway right about here.

Being able to see your target helps you swing confidently, plus it keeps the fairway bunkers on the left out of reach. From the back tees (520 yards) that might mean hitting a hybrid or fairway wood 220 yards or so. From the middle tees (494 yards) the goal is a drive that travels about 190 yards. If your plan is to lay up short of the wall with your second shot, there’s no reason to get wild with your first.

kNOw wheN TO gO fOR IT The downslope of the fairway beyond the crest helps balls run out, so straight drivers enjoy a distance boost. From here, a solid strike should safely carry the wall, so it’s a good opportunity to go for the green or get close. But if you don’t love the lie, the wind, or the look of the shot, have the resolve to lay up and hit your second short of the wall.

old faithful

The potential outcomes of a ball hitting the stone wall are radically divergent, but strategically, it should be regarded as a water hazard. Sure, with a lucky strike a ball could propel forward near the green, or safely backward 15 to 20 yards to where a perfect lay-up would’ve been played. But you’ll see lots of bad kicks, too. If a ball finds a crevice in the rocks or settles by the wall where you can’t swing, that’s an unplayable lie. You’ll have to take a drop and add a penalty stroke, same as if it were in a creek.

106 golf digest india | march 2017

I attacked more par 5s with this MacGregor 3-wood than I can count. It held a spot in my bag from 1958 until the mid ’90s. Toward the end, I couldn’t get shots off the ground because the leading edge had become too worn and rounded. I kept the first leather grip until 1981. When the shaft broke at the 1989 PGA Championship, I was glad I had a backup in the trunk of my car.

Illustration by Chris O’Riley

Jack Nickl aus MuseuM

ReSPeCT The DANgeR

Do This, Not That by Butch Harmon Play Your Best

28% 23% 9%

40%

5 HDCP do you get new wedges?

How often ▶ Been at least three seasons ▶ Probably every two seasons ▶ At least once a year ▶ Who needs grooves

42% 34%

source: Golf DiGest reaDers

N

best drill

Splash Factor How to slide the club under the ball

reenside bunkers are not happy places for most golfers. Chunks, skulls, shanks—a lot of bad shots can be traced to a faulty setup, usually with the ball too far back and the hands too far forward.

That leads to a steep crash into the sand and an ugly result.

The big swing fault I see is cutting across the ball with an out-to-in club path (above, right).

You can get out of the sand this way, but it’s difficult to hit the ball on line. You’ll tend to pull it or put a lot of sidespin on it.

If you want more-predictable results, do the opposite. Play the ball up in your stance, in line

G

with your front foot. And instead of pushing your hands forward, drop them back so the shaft is vertical or leaning slightly away from the target. That’ll help the bounce on the bottom of the wedge slide through the sand.

As for the swing, I like to see the club come into impact from the inside and go more down the target line (above, left). A good test for that is where the sand goes: It should fly toward the target, not way left. Look at your divot hole, too—you want long and shallow, not a bomb crater.

Butch Harmon is at Rio Secco Golf Club in Henderson, Nev.

Draw two lines in the sand when you practice: one to represent your target line and another extending toward you at 90 degrees.

Place a ball where the two lines meet, and take your stance with your front foot on the second line (above). From this setup, you’ll tend to enter the sand two to three inches behind the ball and slide the club under it. Perfect!

Photographs by Dom Furore

FOOTJOY: shirT, panTs, shOes • TiTLeisT: haT, gLOve • rOLeX waTch • hOUse OF FLeMing beLT

Y

Play Your Best Step by Step by David Leadbetter

%

If the rules permitted a 15th club, would you carry two putters? ▶ No: 85% ▶ Maybe: 6% ▶ Yes: 5% ▶ I might carry three: 4%

Automatic Putting How to hole all the short ones ere’s an interesting stat for you: 10 players on the PGA Tour made every putt from three feet and in last year. Ryan Palmer never missed in 829 attempts. A big reason these guys are automatic from this range is that they stick to a fundamentally sound routine. This gives them great confidence that the ball should go in. So if you want to make all the short ones, follow this fourstep routine.

H

1. mArk it

2. get focUSeD

3. Shorten UP

4. LiSten for it

▶ Using a permanent marker, draw a dot on your golf ball. it needs to be big enough that you can easily see it when you get ready to putt.

▶ orient your marked ball on the green so the dot is at the top.

When you stare down at the ball, narrow your focus so the only thing you’re aware of during the stroke is the dot. this will help you hit the ball solidly.

▶ restrict your backstroke so the clubhead only moves a few inches away from the ball. this will encourage you to accelerate the putter on the through-stroke.

▶ if you quickly move your head or shift your eyes to see if the putt’s going in, you’ll likely alter the the putterface, redirecting the ball. instead, keep your head still and listen for the sweet sound of the ball rattling on the bottom of the cup.

David Leadbetter operates 34 golf academies worldwide.

108 golf digest india | march 2017

Photograph taken at The Concession Golf Club, Bradenton, Fla., by J.D. Cuban

illustrations: todd detwiler

source: Golf DiGest reaDers

edited by ron kaspriske

Play

Go Down and Get It Hit your irons better than ever by rafa cabrera bello

lost the Hong Kong Open in December by one shot, but I didn’t get beat because of my iron play. I led the field in greens in regulation that week, hitting 86 percent. My iron play has really been taking shape over the past two years, and it’s a big reason I got to No. 27 in the World Golf Ranking by the end of 2016. If you’re struggling with your irons or simply want to improve before your golf season gets going, some of the things I’m working on might help you, too. Try them, and you can make ball-striking the strength of your game.

—with ron kaspriske

I

Photographs by Dom Furore

march 2017 | golf digest india

109

Play Your Best Ball-striking

lock on to your target take your stance and alignment seriously every time you swing. It gives you peace of mind that you’re in position to hit a good shot.

I like to feel tall and relaxed at address. good balance is very important—not just between your feet, also centered within each foot. you don’t want to feel weight in your toes. as far as alignment, check your feet, hips and shoulders, and try to be target-oriented. that means the last thing to do before you swing is take one more look at where you want the ball to go.

thInk smooth and wIde I’ve shortened the length of my backswing for better control of my irons, but two things haven’t changed: I think about going back smooth and wide. rhythm always has been a strength of my swing, and it starts with an unrushed takeaway. that’s the smooth part. wide comes from letting the body, arms and club turn back together as you see here. make sure the hands don’t take over. how far back should you go? when your upper body feels coiled against your lower body, you’re done. turn no farther.

110 golf digest india | march 2017

“The biggest problem with irons?

Poor rhythm. Don’t rush the swing.”

rehearse your BackswIng If you can’t make a good backswing, your ball-striking will suffer. here’s a drill that can help: Place a club across your chest like I’m doing here and mimic a backswing. your back should feel coiled and the shaft should be pointing toward the ground. that’s key. the left shoulder has to dip. If it stays level with your right shoulder, you’ll really struggle to compress the ball off the turf without some major adjustments on the downswing. good iron play depends on getting in a quality position at the top.

sync the through-swIng

cabrera Bello has two wins on the European Tour and finished T-5 in the Olympics for Spain.

golfers talk about making a “one-piece takeaway” in the backswing, with everything moving together. But your downswing needs to be coordinated, too. I have to make sure my hips don’t rotate so fast that my hands are left behind and can’t square the club by impact.

For amateurs, the opposite happens. the body stops, but the arms keep moving and the club squares too early. the key is to not rush down. let the hips unwind unhurried, and the hand speed build so the club is moving its fastest through impact.

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