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THINK YOUNG | PLAY HARD
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how to play. what to play. where to play.
l l
Contents 9/18
ArgentinA l AustrAliA l Chile l ChinA l CzeCh republiC l FinlAnd l FrAnCe l hong Kong l IndIa l indonesiA l irelAnd KoreA l MAlAysiA l MexiCo l Middle eAst l portugAl l russiA l south AFriCA l spAin l sweden l tAiwAn l thAilAnd l usA
54
32
56
66
16 Features
India Digest 16
Newsmakers Tiger Woods’ Impact On Golf
20
Prize Money Increase At Hero Women’s Indian Open
21
Akshay Bhatia Defends Junior PGA Championship
22
Club Round-Up Updates From Courses Across India
24 26
Grow The Game India Learn Golf week Business Of Golf Industry Updates
28
Off The Course
30
Lifestyle
32
Tournament Report Louis Philippe Cup
40
Corporate Digest 2018 Golf Digest C&S Invitational
44
After Hours Golf
66 46
Madappa Wins 2018 TAKE Solutions Masters
52
In Support of India’s Housing Needs
Double Delight For Koepka
55
Woods Surprised By Swift Return To The Top
56
87
by justin thomas
72
54
Get Battle Ready Steal my plan and make it your own
Play Your Best
ryder cup preview Reed & Rory Want a Rematch These two are hoping it can happen one more time
Drive It In Any Wind Four tee shots you need to find the fairway by kevin kisner
90
Butch’s Clutch Putting Clinic
91
Golf Made Simple An easy accuracy tip for consistency
by john feinstein
by david leadbetter 78
Bhullar Claims Maiden Victory In Fiji
9 Things To Know About the Ryder Cup It’s going to be a big party . . . for somebody
92
Gimme One Thing Escape the high-lip bunker by matt killen
by ryan herrington 83
Guide to the Paris Guillotine Holes Jim Furyk analyzes the final four holes
The Golf Life 93
Jim Nantz: The View From Pebble Beach
94
The Digest Ryder Cup nicknames we’d like to see
with john huggan 60
Three Countries, Three Winners
62
Olympic Outlook: A Repeat for Rose?
8 golf digest india | september 2018
86
Undercover Tour Pro It’s time to share when you have 300 golf shirts with max adler
by sam weinman and alex myers
Editor’s Letter T
Dear Readers,
GOLF DIGEST USA EDITORIAL
he biggest story in golf from the past month was the return of Tiger Woods to the top of world golf. Contending in both the Open Championship and the PGA Championship sparked global fan frenzy. Even here in India, we saw a surge of interest in the game. Collectively, it’s the right moment for all of us in Indian golf to take advantage of Tiger’s return and encourage many more youngsters to get into the sport.
ChAirMAn & eDitor-in-ChieF Jerry Tarde exeCutive eDitor Mike O’Malley CreAtive DireCtor Ken DeLago MAnAGinG eDitor Alan P. Pittman Deputy eDitor Max Adler
By the time you read this issue, the results of the Asian Games golf tournament will be known. We hope that there is good news which will further give impetus to the growth of the game. We Write to me at rishi@teamgolfdigest.com or certainly have the talent to win a medal and so on Twitter @RishiNarain_ we hope the absence of a coach will not hamper their performance. The teams have to rush to the World Amateur in Ireland soon after, so these youngsters have their hands full. August saw two international tournaments in Bengaluru in successive weeks which augurs well for the city. Bengaluru is cooler than most of Europe during summer. Not only is it a haven for golfers, it is also fast becoming a hub for golf and for the development of many sports. Good to see a combination of winners too—the young Viraj Madappa at TAKE Solutions Masters and the experienced Rahil Gangjee at Louis Philippe Cup—which speaks volumes for the longevity of a golfer's career. We are sure you will enjoy reading all the news and instruction in this issue. Do send us your feedback. Happy Golfing!
Rishi Narain
TEAM GOLF DIGEST INDIA Editor & Publisher Rishi Narain Contributing Editor Karthik Swaminathan karthik@rnsportsmarketing.com
Sales & Marketing Nikhil Narain, +91-9999990364 nikhil@rnsportsmarketing.com
Senior Content Executive Amit Pandey amit@rnsportsmarketing.com
Krishna Kant Dubey kk@rnsportsmarketing.com
Art Director Guneet Singh Oberoi
Prateek Chaturvedi prateek@rnsportsmarketing.com Subscription Monika Chhabra, Gautam Chhabra subscribe@teamgolfdigest.com +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 - 122101, Haryana. Phone Number - 0124-2841370, 1371, 1372. Editor: Rishi Narain. Contains material reprinted by permission from Golf Digest® and Golf World®. Golf Digest India is a monthly publication of Rishi Narain Golf Management Private Limited.
10 golf digest india | september 2018
GOLF DIGEST INTERNATIONAL EDITIONS AND EDITORS-IN-CHIEF GD ArGentinA Hernán SimÓ, Jorge R. Arias AustrAliAn GD Brad Clifton GD Chile Rodrigo Soto GD ChinA Echo Ma GD CzeCh republiC Robin Drahonovsky GD FinlAnD Sami Markkanen GD FrAnCe Henry Trouillet GD honG KonG Echo Ma GD inDonesiA Irwan Hermawan GD inDiA Rishi Narain GD irelAnD Linton Walsh GD KoreA Eun Jeong “EJ” Sohn GD MAlAysiA Patrick Ho GD MexiCo Rafa Quiroz GD MiDDle eAst Robbie Greenfield GD portuGAl João Morais Leitão GD russiA Fedor Gogolev GD south AFriCA Stuart McLean GD spAin Óscar Maqueda GD sweDen Oskar Åsgård GD tAiwAn Jennifer Wei GD thAilAnD Chumphol Na Takuathung GD usA Jerry Tarde
ARTICLES eDitoriAl DevelopMent DireCtor Craig Bestrom senior eDitor Ron Kaspriske senior writers Bureau Jaime Diaz, Dave Kindred, Tim Rosaforte, Ron Sirak, Guy Yocom AssoCiAte eDitor Stephen Hennessey AssistAnt eDitor Brittany Romano eDitor-At-lArGe Nick Seitz writer-At-lArGe Dan Jenkins ContributinG eDitors Dave Anderson, Peter Andrews, Tom Callahan, Bob Carney, Marcia Chambers, David Fay, John Feinstein, Peter Finch, Thomas L. Friedman, Lisa Furlong, Matthew M. Ginella, John Huggan, Dean Knuth, David Owen, Steve Rushin, Dave Shedloski, Roger Schiffman, Geoff Shackelford INSTRUCTION senior eDitor Peter Morrice senior writer Matthew Rudy plAyinG eDitors / pGA tour Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Rickie Fowler, Justin Leonard, Phil Mickelson, Nick Price, Jordan Spieth, David Toms plAyinG eDitors / lpGA tour Paula Creamer teAChinG proFessionAls Rob Akins, Todd Anderson, Chuck Cook, Sean Foley, Hank Haney, Butch Harmon, Hank Johnson, David Leadbetter, Jack Lumpkin, Jim McLean, Tom Ness, Renee Powell, Dean Reinmuth, Randy Smith, Rick Smith, Dave Stockton, Josh Zander proFessionAl ADvisors Amy Alcott, Dr. Bill Mallon, Gary McCord, Randy Myers, Judy Rankin, Lucius Riccio, Ph.D., Dr. Bob Rotella, Ben Shear, Ralph Simpson, Frank Thomas, Stan Utley EQUIPMENT senior eDitor Mike Stachura equipMent eDitor E. Michael Johnson AssistAnt eDitor Keely Levins teChniCAl pAnel John Axe, Ph.D.; Martin Brouillette, Ph.D.; Thomas E. Lacy Jr., Ph.D.; David Lee, Ph.D.; John McPhee, Ph.D.; Dick Rugge; George Springer, Ph.D. GOLF COURSES senior eDitor / ArChiteCture Ron Whitten ContributinG eDitor Topsy Siderowf GOLF DIGEST INTERNATIONAL GROUP senior DireCtor, internAtionAl DevelopMent & strAteGy Angela Byun ContributinG eDitor, internAtionAl Ju Kuang Tan
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Our Contributors JACK NICKLAUS Regarded as the greatest player of all time Winner of a record 18 GRAND SLAMS
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Newsmakers
PLAYERS IN THE NEWS 22 years ago, August 28, 1996. Less than 72 hours after capturing his third straight U.S. Amateur title—in a thirdstraight come-from-behind victory in the championship match—Woods held a press conference at Brown Deer Park. From behind a three-foottall podium adorned with the PGA TOUR logo, the 20-year-old Stanford undergrad announced he would be playing for a pay cheque that week in the Greater Milwaukee Open, competing on a sponsor’s exemption. This changed the game of golf forever, there is no second thought and statistics don’t lie. Before Tiger entered professional golf, everyone was chasing the “Shark” Greg Norman. He had his persona and style, but where did he fail? He did not inspire people to play golf, he did not make more golfers, but he made money. Tiger, on the other hand, inspired a whole generation of golfers, which excited companies and brought endorsements. What Tiger did for golf is perhaps equivalent to or greater than what Michael Jordan did for basketball.
Tiger Woods’ Impact On Golf LET’S SEE HOW TIGER WOODS HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON THE GAME: MONEY
GOLF GEAR/BRANDS
At the end of 1996, there were just ten golfers who had broken the $7 million mark in career earnings. Today, 218 golfers have earned at least that much in their careers, with 157 players exceeding $10 million in career earnings.
Before Tiger entered the professional arena, equipment innovations took place at a constant pace. Once he did, changes occurred more frequently. In 1996, the most selling driver was Callaway Big Bertha with a 253cc clubhead. Compare that to the game-changing TaylorMade M4 (2018) with a clubhead size of over 460cc. Club makers have therefore been forced to take charge with new products and increased competitiveness.
TV RATINGS
ENDORSEMENTS
1996 Events Average Total Purse Average First Place Cheque
2018
Increase
44
53
32.5%
$1,525,455
$7,382,353
384%
$263,341
$1,454,756
453%
CAREER MONEY
TV ratings are at an all-time high in 2018 even though Tiger last won a Major in 2008. At the Valspar Championships in March where he finished T-2, NBC delivered 6.913 million average viewers per minute (+201% yearover-year) according to data released by The Nielsen Company. Coverage peaked at 8.874 million average viewers. Following the PGA Championship, CBS Sports announced that the average viewership was up a whopping 69% over Justin Thomas’s victory last year— the highest since 2009.
16 golf digest india | september 2018
Endorsement deals for the golfers took a huge upward turn when Tiger became a professional golfer. Sample this: Nike never had a presence in golf; they launched ‘Nike Golf’ just for El Tigre who was, at the time, thought of as the best replacement for Michael Jordan as the most marketable— and the best—athlete in the world.
FITNESS
Woods inspired a whole new generation of golfers to be fit. He was as passionate about his fitness as he was about his swing. It goes without saying how many have followed in his footsteps since.
DRIVING DISTANCE
Woods’ driving distance off the tee was the talk of the town and made pros take their driving distance seriously and yes, their driving distance increased enormously. Where Tour pros averaged 265.3 yards in 1996, they have now reached a high of over 295.29 (295.79 in 2017). Currently among pros, Rory McIlroy—at 320.5 yards—holds the highest driving average.
LONGER COURSE DESIGNS
To accommodate today’s long hitters, courses have grown longer and bigger. Course comparison
1996
2018
Avg. Length of courses
6,977 yards
7,216 yards
Courses 7,000+ yards
28 of 54 (51.9%)
43 of 51 (84.3%)
Individual Courses
1996
2018
6,925 yards
7,768 yards
7,196
7,419
Augusta National Bay Hill
Newsmakers Trivia
100th PGA Championship
▶ 28-year-old Brooks Koepka played largely on the European Challenge Tour (where he recorded 4 wins) and the European Tour (1 win) before moving on to the PGA Tour in 2014. He won his first PGA Tour title at the Phoenix Waste Management Open in 2015. Since then, the Florida native has not looked back. Victory at last month’s PGA Championship was his third in the last seven majors. Here are some more numbers from the season’s last Major:
SWINGING IT
2
Brooks Koepka replaced Justin Thomas as World No. 2 on the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR)
5
Brooks Koepka is the fifth player to win the U.S. Open and PGA Championship in the same year; he is also the fifth American under the age of 29—since World War II—to have won three Majors
11
Number of players who made every Major cut in 2018. Justin Rose, Rickie Fowler, Tony Finau, Tommy Fleetwood, Francesco Molinari, Webb Simpson, Zach Johnson, Xander Schauffele, Tyrrell Hatton, Marc Leishman and Rafa Cabrera Bello
26
Number of drives Brooks Koepka hit that were 320 yards or more during the week of the PGA Championship, most of anyone in the field
100
It was not only the 100th PGA Championship, but Davis Love III's 100th appearance at a Major, and Brooks Koepka's 100th PGA Tour start. Coincidentally, Koepka also racked up 100 World Ranking points!
264
Brooks Koepka’s total ties the lowest 72-hole score in Major championship history (the other being Henrik Stenson, 264 at the 2016 Open)
266
Tiger Woods’ 72-hole score was his lowest ever in a Major, and the lowest total in a Major championship by someone who didn't win
277
Total number of shots Ben Kern took over four days, the lowest ever by a club professional at the PGA Championship
Chin Music for the Pacer! England’s pace bowling spearhead James Anderson hit his own face while golfing with team-mate Stuart Broad (who recorded the video and shared it on Twitter) on August 5, incidentally, a day ahead of “Golf Day” which the English cricket team observe from time to time. Playing on the rough at Stoke Park, the six-handicapper inadvertently chipped the ball onto his chin. Interestingly, Anderson bowls and plays golf right-handed but bats left-handed!
MATT’S MAIDEN HOLE-IN-ONE
England’s Matt Wallace, who won the Hero Indian Open in March this year, celebrated the maiden hole-in-one of his career at the recently concluded PGA Championship. Wallace made his first cut in four attempts at a Major after carding a second round 66. He had missed doing so at the past two U.S. Opens and at the British Open in July. Playing alongside three-time Major winner Jordan Spieth, the 28-year-old Wallace aced the par-13 16th hole with a five iron. “Best shot of my life probably,” said Wallace, who sits in second place on the Asian Tour Habitat of Humanity
Standings thanks, largely, to his victory at the Indian Open. “In front of a few thousand people, in front of Jordan, my caddie Dave [McNeilly] as well – finally picked a good club for me!” With his T-19 finish at the PGA Championship, the Englishman now stands 73rd in the World Rankings.
Steph Curry returns to Ellie May Classic Golden State Warriors’ point guard Stephen Curry dazzled the golf course once again at the US$600,000 Ellie May Classic. After shooting an impressive opening round 71, the 30-year-old unfortunately missed the cut. This was his second Web.com event, having participated last year as well. The NBA superstar has an impressive handicap index of 0.7.
september 2018 | golf digest india
17
Newsmakers Anirban Lahiri
LAHIRI FINISHES STRONG AT WGC-BRIDGESTONE 31-year-old Anirban Lahiri shot a careerbest round of 61 at the US$ 7.3 million Greenbrier Classic early July and took that confidence with him when he set foot in the US$ 10 million WGCBridgestone last month. The Bengalurean carded a total score of 8-under 272 to finish T-6— alongside Aaron Wise, Patrick Cantlay and Rory McIlroy—and collected $241,375 (approx. `1.7 crore) in prize money. WGC-Bridgestone saw its last hosting at Akron, Ohio before moving on to Memphis for the 2019 season.
Julian Suri
TOMMY’S FLEETING LUCK In a hilarious—if not slightly concerning—development, Englishman Tommy Fleetwood’s Open prize money (US$154,500) was deposited into a namesake’s bank account! The gaffe was revealed by Twitter user @GregThornerGolf, a golf instructor in New England, whose friend (also named Tommy Fleetwood) received a text alerting him to the rather generous deposit. Speaking to Golf Digest, the real Fleetwood's wife called it a "huge clerical error by the European Tour accounts department."
JULIAN SURI’S MAJOR SURGING 27-year-old Julian Suri found some form in a couple of Majors this year. The Florida resident stood T-19 at the US$ 10.5 million PGA Championship at Bellerive Golf Course which earned him 6.13 rank points. The Indian-origin Suri also enjoyed a T-28 finish at the 147th Open Championship in Carnoustie. Interestingly, he has previously played with three-time Major winner Brooks Koepka on the European Challenge Tour and the European Tour. Suri is currently ranked 60 on the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR).
18 golf digest india | september 2018
Shubhankar Sharma
Learning Curve
Sharma Gaining Major Experience Shubhankar Sharma made headlines after becoming the first Indian ever to play all four of golf’s Majors in a calendar year. He failed to make the cut at The Masters, the year’s first Major, with rounds of 77 and 74. At the US Open, the Panchkula resident again missed the cut with rounds of 74 and 76—but still fared one shot better than his previous attempt. Sharma successfully made the cut at the British Open, a day before his 22nd birthday; His qualifying rounds saw him post 73 and 71—six strokes better than his US Open score. At the PGA Championship, Sharma posted 1-under 69, his maiden sub-par round at a Major. While he may have failed to make the cut, he still managed to improve his score— posting 143 over two rounds: one better than how he fared at the British Open.
PGTI Included In Official World Golf Ranking System In a landmark decision for Indian golf, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) was approved for inclusion in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) system by OWGR’s governing board in a recent meeting during the 147th Open Championship. PGTI’s elevation to OWGR status means that all its events, 2019 season onwards, will carry World Ranking points. PGTI is now part of an elite list of tours that are eligible for World Ranking points. The group currently includes 20 established tours from across the globe such as PGA TOUR, European Tour, Asian Tour, PGA Tour Australasia, Japan Golf Tour and Sunshine Tour, to name a few.
Newsmakers Tom Watson Golf Club, Miyazaki
GOOD TIMES
Steven Bowditch’s ‘social’ caddie Following an interaction on Twitter, Australia’s Steven Bowditch—regular on the PGA TOUR—hired 16-year-old Elias Francque as his caddie for the US$ 5.8 million John Deere Classic.
JAPAN BECKONS INDIA SENIORS
Owing to their respective performances in the IGU All India Senior Tournament that was held on July 11-13 at Jaypee Greens, Greater Noida the senior amateur team comprising current champion Rishi Narain, former winners Gangesh Khaitan, Amit Luthra and Vijay Kumar Bhadana, Col. GC Sharma, and former World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev will represent India at the 2018 Asia Pacific Senior Amateur Championship. The tournament will be played at the Tom Watson Golf Club, Miyazaki, Japan from October 17-19. Constructed in 1993, and carved from the native Japanese pine forest, the course demands accuracy and length from the tee and nerves of steel for the approach shots. The course is generally flat, with little change in elevation but the imagination and skill of Tom Watson has created an exceptional layout that will test golfers of all levels.
Justin joins Jimmy on Tonight Show World No. 3 Justin Thomas—a three-time winner on the PGA TOUR this season—joined popular host Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show. The 2017 PGA Championship winner helped FedEx donate US$ 1 million to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, after winning a “Facebreakers” challenge against Fallon.
PGTI ORDER OF MERIT AFTER TAKE SOLUTIONS MASTERS POS
Golfer
Played
Won
Cut
Total Prize (`)
1.
Viraj Madappa
7
1
4
42,20,597
2.
Honey Baisoya
10
2
7
23,46,908
3.
Om Prakash Chouhan
9
0
7
14,87,413
4.
Udayan Mane
7
1
6
12,68,977
5.
Khalin Joshi
5
0
5
12,59,090
6.
N Thangaraja
10
1
6
12,04,310
7.
Shamim Khan
11
0
10
11,19,851
8.
M Dharma
10
0
9
10,26,280
9.
Veer Ahlawat
11
0
8
10,09,825
10.
Rahil Gangjee
3
1
3
9,38,510
Rafa checks on buddy Tiger Soon after notching his record-extending 33rd ATP Masters 1000 title at the Canadian Open in Montreal, World No. 1 Rafael Nadal was spotted checking his phone… He was eager to know what Tiger Woods was up to during the final round of the 100th PGA Championship. The Spaniard even asked the crowd, “What’s Tiger doing?” Rafa is just like all of us!
september 2018 | golf digest india
19
Newsmakers Women’s Golf
Camille Chevalier
Pawan Munjal
Women’s Golf Gets Much-Needed Boost From Hero MotoCorp The Hero Women’s Indian Open announced a 25% increase in prize money for this year’s edition. The purse now stands at US$500,000, a rise of $100,000 from 2017. What’s more interesting is that—for the first time ever—the tournament will be played over four rounds, from October 18-21, with live international coverage from DLF Golf & Country Club.
Diksha Dominates in Dublin India’s Diksha Dagar showed her mettle at the biennial World Deaf Golf Championships held at Carton House Golf Club in Dublin, Ireland from July 24-27. 114 players from 18 nations participated. With a score of -17, Diksha’s closest competitor was Norway’s Andrea Hjellegjerde who was a jaw-dropping 26 shots adrift!
AMANDEEP WINS THIRD WPG TITLE
25-year-old Amandeep Drall held her nerve to clinch the `6,00,000 11th leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour held at Boulder Hills Golf & Country Club, Hyderabad. It was the Panchkula native’s third title in four events, having earlier triumphed in the eighth and tenth legs. Amandeep’s final round card of 75 helped her total to 8-over 224, and she finished two strokes clear of Tvesa Malik (75) and overnight leader Khushi Khanijau (78). Mysore’s Pranavi Urs (an Amateur) won the `6,00,000 ninth leg held at Eagleton Golf Resort, Bengaluru. In so doing, she became just the second Amateur to win this season after Ridhima Dilawari (seventh leg in June). Diksha Dagar
HERO ORDER OF MERIT AFTER LEG 11 POS
Golfer
Played
Won
Total Prize (`)
1
Tvesa Malik
11
1
9,49,400
2
Neha Tripathi
10
1
8,30,200
3
Amandeep Drall
8
3
7,38,200
4
Gursimar Badwal
10
2
7,25,000
5
Gaurika Bishnoi
5
-
4,28,300
6
Smriti Mehra
8
-
4,17,400
7
Suchitra Ramesh
10
-
4,12,300
8
Afshan Fatima
11
-
3,96,200
9
Siddhi Kapoor
10
-
3,58,500
10
Trisha Sunil
8
-
3,29,800
20 golf digest india | september 2018
ADITI FINISHES T-22 AT WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN
20-year-old Aditi Ashok carded a 3-under 285 to secure a T-22 showing at the US$ 3.25 million Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, the fourth and penultimate major on the LPGA Tour. This was the first time (in three attempts) that the Bengaluru lass had made the cut. In so doing, she earned $32,070 (approx. `22.5 lakh) and also moved up one spot, to No. 84, on the Rolex Rankings. Aditi’s former coach Steven Giuliano, who was in Gurgaon last month to train aspiring golfers, was in full praise. “… She has always been a great talent and very driven to reach her goals and dreams,” Giuliano told Golf Digest India.
Newsmakers Juniors
Akshay Bhatia
AKSHAY BHATIA BECOMES FIRST BACK-TO-BACK JUNIOR PGA CHAMPION
Indo-American Akshay Bhatia—who recently rose to No. 1 in the Rolex Junior Rankings—fought back after posting a disappointing second round 76 to win the prestigious 43rd Junior PGA Championship. In so doing, the 16-year-old became the event’s first successful defending champion. Bhatia, a resident of North Carolina, also automatically earned a spot on the United States Junior Ryder Cup Team which will travel to Paris this month.
Samaira Tomar (R) with her father Rahul
EIGHT-YEAR-OLD HITTING IT RIGHT
Samaira Tomar of Qutab Golf Course has been making rapid strides. The eight-year-old—currently under the tutelage of ‘Class A’ NGAI coach Romit Bose—recently recorded wins in the 90th Junior Albatross, Champions Junior Golf, 6th Ace Golf, Little Master Junior Golf and Digvijay Singh Junior Golf Champion tournaments in her age group. Samaira was introduced to the sport at the age of six by her father Rahul.
TEENAGER RUDRA FINISHES RUNNER-UP AT NORTHERN JUNIOR OPEN Malini Rudra of Syosset, New York shot 75-72 to finish runner-up at the Northern Junior Open in Connecticut on August 8. The Northern Junior Championship is a nationally ranked junior golf tournament that was created to provide the highest level of competition for top junior players. Back in May, the Indo-American won the Nassau girls championship in New York in style—by 10 strokes. The 17-year-old recently committed to Williams College and will be part of their women’s golf team, which is ranked second in the Division 3 NCAA rankings.
HITAASHEE SHINES IN HONG KONG
14-year-old Hitaashee Bakshi won the Hong Kong Junior Open Championship by two strokes (13-14 years category) on August 10. The tournament was held at Discovery Bay Golf Club in Hong Kong. A total of 14 girls competed in that particular category. Hitaashee, whose home course is Army Golf Course (Delhi), stood third overall, among 23 girls, with a score of 237. She is coached by Anitya Chand at DLF Golf & Country Club. september 2018 | golf digest india
21
Across The Country
CLUB ROUND-UP
To share news on your club or updates from across the country, please email karthik@rnsportsmarketing.com
Mumbai
BPGC prepares for night golf!
The committee at Bombay Presidency Golf Club (BPGC) announced that a flood-lit driving range on the first fairway would be inaugurated soon. The facility will be ready to use this month. Furthermore, to allow more golfers to utilize the course—especially over weekends—Holes 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17 and 18 can now be lit. In so doing, ten to twelve more fourballs can participate each weekend.
Gurgaon
Eco-friendly Karma Leading the Way
At a time when the world is reeling under the pressure of environmental degradation, innovative and eco-friendly solutions are the way forward. Spearheaded by Ashwani Khurana, President of Karma Lakelands, the golf resort has been working towards the betterment of the environment and surroundings. Their recent initiative of making ‘Eco-Bricks’ out of waste plastic bottles is inspired by existing working models in Indonesia, Philippines and Sri Lanka and has drawn a lot of attention from every corner of the society. Making ‘Eco-Bricks’ involves reusing waste plastic bottles by stuffing them with nonrecyclable polythene waste to create a reusable building block. Karma Lakelands has expanded its collection centers to nine in Delhi/NCR.
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Across The Country
Delhi
Inter Caddy Tournament at DGC
Under the aegis of the Caddies Welfare Trust (CWT), the fourth Inter Caddy Tournament took place at Delhi Golf Club (DGC) on August 13. Caddy teams from 14 different clubs participated. The team from Panchkula Golf Club—comprising Rajesh Kumar, Jaiveer Singh, Brijesh Kumar and Ajay Kumar—emerged victorious, ahead of those from DGC and SEPTA Chandimandir. Speaking at the event, Major RS Bedi, VRC (Retd), who founded CWT, said, “It is a great source of satisfaction to host this tournament for caddies. They are an immense support to any golfer and the relationship is beyond symbiotic as caddy advice and concern are vital in the modern game...” Back in 2014, Tiger Woods had donated `3 lakh to CWT.
Delhi
Champika Sayal to contest DGC Captaincy
Champika Nanda Sayal, Director General of the Women’s Golf Association of India (WGAI), is in contention to become the first woman to be elected to the post of Captain at Delhi Golf Club (DGC). The election to name the next DGC captain will take place on September 29. Champika, who picked up golf when she was just 12, has expressed her intent to make DGC a green club and help groom caddies under the “Care & Share” programme.
Pune
Deoskar triumphs in Pune
Patron’s Cup at Southern Star Training Area & Sports Complex (SSTA&SC), Pune has often attracted a huge participation from golf enthusiasts. Earlier this year in June, a total of 210 golfers, including nine ladies and two children, turned up to play despite the monsoon. The oldest participant was 86-year-old Surg. Capt. MK Jog while the youngest was 12-year Giridhar Gera. With a gross score of 74, Air Cmde AL Deoskar (Retd) was declared winner while Brig. Sanjeev Air Cmde AL Deoskar (L) receives the Sodhi was recognised ‘Best Golfer of Patron’s Cup from Lt Gen DR Soni (R), the Year 2017-18’. Patron-in-Chief of SSTA&SC
Pune
Oxford to welcome luxury apartments
Oxford Golf Resort, Pune will soon be launching ‘The Residences’, luxury apartments overlooking their golf course. The Residences are fully-serviced, designer, luxury hotel apartments. Purchasing one of these apartments entitles the buyer to become a member of the golf course until such time they own the property. Owners can also avail free golf lessons from the world-renowned Leadbetter Golf Academy that is located in the resort premises. september 2018 | golf digest india
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Promoting Golf
INDIA LEARN GOLF WEEK RETURNS Following the emphatic success of the inaugural edition of India Learn Golf Week (ILGW), the second edition is all set to commence from September 24-30. Over 40 clubs have confirmed their participation this year and more than 20,000 individuals are expected to their first lessons or swing. ILGW is an attempt to take the sport of golf to the masses and a means to reiterate that anyone can play golf. For starters, golf offers a means of exercising and socialising at the same time. It helps build character— as the player is solely responsible for his or her performance—and teaches patience. That one gets to be close to nature makes the sport therapeutic too. And perhaps most importantly: no other sport allows all players, regardless of the level of ability, to compete; that too in a level playing field (thanks in good measure to golf’s handicap system). An initiative of Golf Industry Association (GIA), in partnership with Indian Golf Union (IGU), Women’s Golf Association of India (WGAI), National Golf Association of India (NGAI), Golf Course Superintendents and Managers Association of India (GCS&MAI), as well as the Professional Golf Association (PGA) of America, ILGW aims to nurture the next 100,000 Indian golfers, besides generating `1,500 crore revenue for the golf industry over the next five years.
Participation from David Leadbetter Academy at Oxford Golf Resort made the event a success in Pune Royal Jaipur Golf Club
Eco Park Golf Arena
Poona Golf Club
CELEBRITIES SPEAK
on growing the game of golf
“I think golf is tough, yet fun; it’s nice to see young people play. You may have talent, but if you don’t come out and play, how will you know you are talented?”
kapil dev
“Anything for golf to grow!All we can do is just win on the international circuit as having a role model really helps.”
rahil gangjee
“Golf can be played with all your friends! Doesn’t matter how good you are, you can still get a handicap and compete irrespective of age.”
shaun pollock
24 golf digest india | september 2018
“You need one Indian superstar to come through and then everyone will follow. You just need to encourage younger kids to play. Golf is an amazing sport!”
mahela jayawardene
“I think golf is the best sport you can play: you are not reliant on anybody. In football, a referee can make a wrong line call, but here? If you are good, you are good, and if you are bad, you are bad.”
murali kartik
“Golf gets the competitiveness out. you WALK 8-10km... Get a lot of fresh air and exercise. It challenges you both mentally and physically. Take it up, and once you play, you will know why you need to!”
ajit agarkar
“It is nice to see all these clubs and stakeholders unite with the aim of growing the sport.”
gaganjeet bhullar
Business of Golf
Popular online golf course review platform comes to India Founded in 2007, LeadingCourses.com has since burgeoned into an active golf community. The website aims to help golfers play on the best golf courses available, based on their handicap, demands and location. For instance, golfers can quickly see how other players with a similar handicap value a certain club or course. They can also view the overall rating, based on all opinions. Recently, LeadingCourses added India to their portfolio. Golfers can book a tee-time, know about green fee, view details about any club or course, and share views on the courses they played on. LeadingCourses.com joined hands with Ladies European Tour (LET) in June this year to promote participating venues on the LET and the LET Access Series schedule, thereby offering greater visibility for tournament venues. Touring players were also encouraged
to rate the courses and, in so doing, help add credibility to the reviews. At the end of last year, approximately 21,000 golf clubs and 25,000 golf courses from more than 139 countries had been mapped on LeadingCourses. com. The website is available in nine different languages.
GOLF TURF SEMINAR AT TOLLYGUNGE Golf Course Superintendents & Managers Association of India (GCS&MAI) will host a Golf/Turf Seminar on the Tollygunge Club, Kolkata on September 29. The session has been tentatively scheduled between 9am–4pm and it aims to have all members actively participate in discussions and share ideas. GCS&MAI, which will make necessary arrangements for
26 golf digest india | september 2018
those partaking, will also organise a social dinner for all members and participants the night before the event. The registration fee for the Seminar is `1,000/- for GCS&MAI members and `2,500/for non-members (to be paid in advance or at the venue). GCS&MAI assists golf courses in India by providing professional advice and
PLAY SMARTER GOLF Available on Android and iOS, UpGame analyzes a golfer’s shots and provides insights to better help the player improve his or her performance and strategy. A golf game improvement tool that allows a golfer to keep game data in an easy and efficient manner, UpGame also allows the player to build a better connectivity with his or her coach by sharing game data, text and swing videos. The app has been designed to keep track of one’s golf rounds. Its intuitive drag-anddrop approach makes it an extremely easy and efficient tool to log scores. Progress can be measured after each round or over a period of time. Furthermore, UpGame’s in-depth analysis of a player’s rounds gives them a better understanding of their own gameplay. The app also suggests improvements. Perhaps the most interesting feature is ‘Connected Coaching’ whereby one can instantly share rounds and progress with their coach and avail feedback. Renowned coach Steven Giuliano believes the app will do a world of good, “UpGame will be a game changer for golfers around the world wanting a quick and simple solution to keeping stats. The new interface is super-fast and provides the coach and student with extensive details on all the keys stats necessary for game improvement,” he remarked.
works towards improving their standard. The Association also supports educational institutes and enables them to provide a higher standard of education in golf course and turf management. In April this year, GCS&MAI—in association with Golf Industry Association (GIA)—had organised a Turf Care Seminar in Bengaluru during India Golf Expo.
Achievers
OFF THE COURSE corporate golfers and aficionados of the sport who have been in the news lately... roland folger, mercedes-benz
Company donates `30 lakh to Kerala’s Flood Relief
In the wake of the calamitous floods in Kerala, German automaker Mercedes-Benz announced a voluntary contribution of `30 lakh towards relief operations. Speaking about the initiative, Roland Folger (MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India) said, “It is a moment of grief… Mercedes-Benz stands with the authorities at this moment of crisis and wants to contribute to the relief works as a responsible corporate citizen. We sincerely hope the situation normalises soon.” An avid golfer, Folger started playing golf in 1988 and regularly tees off on the weekends. He believes the sport helps him relax and unwind following his hectic schedule. Mercedes-Benz also organise India’s longest running and most prestigious corporate golf tournament, MercedesTrophy, which covers 12 cities and features more than 3,000 golfers over a span of 91 days.
dhruv shringi, yatra
Travel firm delivers robust growth
Gurgaon-based online travel agency and travel search engine Yatra posted revenues of `280 crore in the quarter ending June 2018. Co-founder and CEO Dhruv Shringi remained upbeat that the company would deliver over 20% growth in Adjusted Revenue this year. Shringi is a passionate golfer and lists the sport as his favourite pastime. He regularly partakes in charity and corporate golf events such as Madhavrao Scindia Golf Tournament and World Corporate Golf Challenge. Yatra also organises Yatra Golf Retreat, an endeavour to promote the sport besides offering a networking platform for their partners.
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ajay vij, accenture
Equipping youth with digital skills
Given where the world is headed, it is imperative for the youth—especially those seeking employment—to be aware of the nuances of technology. Accenture India has been running several volunteer programmes for youngsters, especially around teaching coding. One such initiative is Hour of Code—an annual event at local schools in which coding and Artificial Intelligence are taught simultaneously across different countries. According to Ajay Vij, Managing Director for Accenture’s Geographic Services in India, the company’s larger agenda is skilling people for employability in future. Vij is a keen golfer and a regular at Bangalore Golf Club. In fact, he loves his golfing trips to Pattaya. The 15-handicapper lists Prestige Golfshire (Bengaluru) and Tanah-lot Temple Golf Course (Bali) as some of his favourite courses. He often participates in corporate tournaments too, such as MercedesTrophy and Volvo World Golf Challenge.
Hi-Life Lifestyle
To share news on your products or updates on new launches, please email karthik@rnsportsmarketing.com
GADGET PURITY OF SOUND
Bose’s SoundLink Revolve and Revolve+ are portable bluetooth enabled speakers with 360-degree omnidirectional audio capability, and acoustic design. Both feature an IPX4-rating to withstand spills, rain, and pool splashes; and rugged durability to survive dings, drops, and bumps. SoundLink Revolve and Revolve+, are priced at INR 19,900 and INR 24,500 respectively, and come in two colours—Triple Black and Lux Gray. Bose products are available at select Bose retail stores and online (BoseIndia.com and Amazon.in).
WEARABLE ENDURING, TACTILE, LIGHT
I.N.O.X. stainless steel version is well known for its strong personality, a partner in every day adventure. Its titanium version will seduce even further, crafted in this ultralight alloy with the highest strength/weight ratio of all metals, I.N.O.X., Professional Diver Titanium, is light to the point of making one forget its enhanced resistance to corrosion, wear and tear. The paracord version includes an additional rubber strap to waken the urban adventurer spirit that lays in us all. The impossible becomes possible. Aesthetically, the watch retains the attributes of the I.N.O.X. collection: a 45mm-1.77inch case, a dial mat grey, camouflage, blue, black or white and special markets for effortless time and readability.
FOOTWEAR REDIFINING WALKING
Skechers, the American performance and lifestyle footwear brand, recently unveiled a brand-new line of next-gen walking shoes, GoWalk Revolution in Mumbai. The innovative, new, minimalistic lightweight walking gear features revolutionary SOCKNIT360 technology for breathability, flexibility and snug fit. Skechers GoWalk Revolution is fortified with key features like Ultra Pillars which helps in high-rebound cushioning and Ultra Go for light-weight and responsive cushioning which make walking easy. Blending the brand’s philosophy of comfort with aesthetic design, these cushioned, light-weight shoes will help discover the athlete in you and empower you to GoWalk for miles. Price: `5,799 onwards
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Lifestyle
In partnership with THE MAN magazine
SPLURGE
Make a statement off the course
TRUEFITT & HILL The world’s oldest barbershop—introduced a handful of products for the Indian man who likes to stay well groomed. Apsley Shave Cream Bowl, a glycerin-based shaving cream scented with Apsley fragrance, is an excellent way to achieve an incredibly close, yet comfortable shave. Product size - 190g Price: `2,900
Named after the iconic London landmark and former residence of the 1st Duke of Wellington, Apsley Cologne has been formulated to ignite the senses with a refined blend of smouldering woods accentuated by light citrus notes. Product size - 100ml Price: `6,700 Athenian Water is a traditional friction for fine hair and is designed to promote scalp health whilst providing a light hold. Product size - 200ml Price: `2,900
LAPIS BARD Lapis Bard England welcomed new, exquisite leather belts to their Avant Garde and Contemporary collections. Lapis Bard Knightsbridge is crafted with top grain cinnamon brown premium leather and reflects the Avant Garde styling with its matteblack buckle and unibody design. Lapis Bard Wellington, meanwhile, is crafted to perfection with custom crosshatch pattern brown leather with sand beige lining and is paired with a goldplated stainless-steel buckle in a glossy finish, thus, staying true to the Contemporary collection. Lapis Bard Knightsbridge: `7,995 Lapis Bard Wellington: `8,995
STEFANO RICCI Italy’s luxury lifestyle brand Stefano Ricci have brought the Crossover bag collection to Indian shores. Made from calfskin leather with painted or woven details, the messenger bags come with adjustable or detachable shoulder straps. Handmade options are also available. Price: Available on request
september 2018 | golf digest india
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CRICKET LEGENDS BAT FOR GOLF
Former India cricketer Murali Kartik
Cricket legends Kapil Dev, Mahela Jayawardene and Shaun Pollock were part of a starry ensemble at the Louis Philippe Cup Celebrity Pro-Am on August 4 in Prestige Golfshire, Bengaluru. Joining Rahil Gangjee—who won the Asian Development Tour (ADT) and Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) co-sanctioned Louis Philippe Cup the day before—and his fellow professionals were some of India’s top corporate leaders and celebrities. The likes of Pranab Barua (Business Director, Aditya Birla Retail Limited), Saif Mekhri (Director, Bio-gen Extracts Pvt. Ltd.) and Faiz Rezwan (Executive Director, Prestige Estates Projects Limited), to name a few were in attendance. Former cricketers Ajit Agarkar, Murali Kartik, Syed Kirmani and Venkatapathy Raju, besides actor Akul Balaji and commentator Charu Sharma, were also part of the Pro-Am. Following the event, the stars thrilled audiences with their skills in various contests such as chipping and 'hit the crown'.
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“It’s amazing to see how golf has been growing in India. The number of youngsters that I have heard of making India proud in recent times is just very inspiring. Starting from Anirban [Lahiri], Shubhankar [Sharma], Rahil [Gangjee], Rashid Khan and the professionals who we played with today are just a small showcase on how much talent exists in this country.” —SHAUN POLLOCK
LOUIS PHILIPPE CUP
“It was good, we really enjoyed ourselves. That’s the important part. Alongside Kapil and Shaun, a bit of cricket banter and the golfing aspect all together. It’s a really good course. It’s quite different here. Lifelong, we played a team sport. But here there’s no one to backup. We do this more for enjoyment. Compete amongst ourselves to do more better.” —MAHELA JAYAWARDENE Mahela Jayawardene celebrates with pro golfer Vikrant Chopra
Saif Mekhri (Director, Bio-gen Extracts) with cricket legend Kapil Dev
“It was a fantastic experience to play here. Playing with Mahela and Shaun made it more special. The course was brilliant, and the greens were playing good. Its tournament like these which make the experience much nicer where unlike cricket we get to play and meet and talk to many people from various walks of life at the same time.” — KAPIL DEV
Former India cricketer Ajit Agarkar
Rahil Gangjee (pro golfer) and Pranab Barua (Business Director, Aditya Birla Retail Limited)
Former India cricketer Syed Kirmani
RESULTS Winners
Rashid Khan (pro), Faiz Rezwan, Murali Kartik, Ajit Agarkar
First Runner-up
Udayan Mane (pro), Saif Mekhri, Ritwik Jha, Srinath Rajam
Second Runner-up
Anura Rohana (pro), Vinay Lakshmisha Sal, Saday Tiwari, Vedant Jhaver
AWARD
WINNER
Louis Philippe Closest to Pin
Murali Kartik
Ballantine’s Longest Drive
Namit Gumbhir
Bio-gen Straightest Drive
Rocky Khushalani
Louis Philippe Cup Celebrity Pro-Am winners collect their trophies
september 2018 | golf digest india
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Gangjee Storms To Louis Philippe Cup Title
Rahil Gangjee, a two-time Asian Tour winner, made his year even better by winning the US$75,000 Louis Philippe Cup at Prestige Golfshire in Bengaluru on August 3. Beginning the final round of the Asian Development Tour (ADT) and Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) co-sanctioned event tied-fifth, and four shots behind overnight leaders Udayan Mane and Rashid Khan, the 39-year-old Gangjee dished out a champagne performance—carding a stunning 7-under 63 for an overall score of 11-under 269—to win by three strokes and pocket a winner’s cheque of US$13,125 (approx. INR 9 lakh). His 63 also equalled the course record that had been set by compatriot Mane and Argentina’s Miguel Carballo on the first day of the competition.
Rahil Gangjee “It feels awesome. Today was a dream come true kind of round. I hit everything good and every putt fell… The experience of winning earlier in the year did help. I can’t even explain how free I’m feeling after these two wins. The first one did the trick and it freed me up. You’ve seen it happen to other players when they win and now it is happening to me.”
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LOUIS PHILIPPE CUP
RAHIL GANGJEE born October 2, 1978 lives Bengaluru, India turned pro 2000 wins Asian Tour – 2004 Volkswagen Masters China, 2018 Panasonic Open Championship ADT – 2018 Louis Philippe Cup
PGTI – 2008 Players Championship (RCGC), 2013 Players Championship (Chandigarh)
63
course record
Web.com Tour (best finish) – T11 (2011 Rex Hospital Open)
Rahil Gangjee of India
Set by Udayan Mane (India) and Miguel Carballo (Argentina) on the opening day; Equalled by Rahil Gangjee (India) on the final day
Winning Louis Philippe Cup gave Gangjee 6 World Ranking points Gangjee rose to No. 5 on the Asian Tour’s Habitat For Humanity standings
what’s in my bag? Driver - M2 Taylormade Hybrid - Taylormade M1 Irons - Taylormade P770 Putter - Scotty Cameron TFB Wedges - Taylormade 60, 55 and 50 degrees Ball - Titleist Pro V1x Shoe - Adidas TOUR360 Glove - FootJoy StaSof
Udayan Mane of India
Miguel Carballo of Argentina
september 2018 | golf digest india
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Marcus Both of Australia
Khalin Joshi of India
Udayan Mane
Aadil Bedi was recognised as "Best Amateur" in the playing field
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Digvijay Singh of India
“I hit the ball really well and put myself in great position to attack the flag, but nothing dropped for me on the greens. I hit really good putts but a lot of it lipped out�
LOUIS PHILIPPE CUP
Rashid Khan “I tried my best, but things didn't turn around as planned… I hope to return with better results.” Honey Baisoya of India
RESULTS Pos
Player
Nat
R1
R2
R3
R4
Total
+/-
1
Rahil Gangjee
IND
69
69
68
63
269
-11
T2
Om Prakash Chouhan
IND
65
67
74
66
272
-8
T2
Rashid Khan
IND
70
64
67
71
272
-8
T4
Marcus Both
AUS
68
70
68
67
273
-7
T4
Udayan Mane
IND
63
69
69
72
273
-7
6
Khalin Joshi
IND
66
68
71
69
274
-6
T7
Harendra Gupta
IND
66
69
72
68
275
-5
T7
Akshay Sharma
IND
70
71
66
68
275
-5
T7
Mukesh Kumar
IND
67
69
70
69
275
-5
10
Sanjeev Kumar
IND
70
70
66
70
276
-4
T11
Himmat Rai
IND
72
67
71
67
277
-3
T11
Sam Gillis
USA
65
74
69
69
277
-3
T11
Miguel Carballo
ARG
63
68
74
72
277
-3
T14
Aadil Bedi (Amateur)
IND
70
67
73
68
278
-2
T14
Abhijit Chadha
IND
71
71
68
68
278
-2
T14
Tarik Can
USA
69
71
74
64
278
-2
T14
Pawan Kumar
IND
68
69
72
69
278
-2
T14
Tapy Ghai
IND
71
69
68
70
278
-2
15
nationalities
132
participants
51
made the cut
+2
was the cut line
2
HOLE-IN-ONES: Akshay Sharma (India) and Tommy Mansuwan (Thailand)
september 2018 | golf digest india
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Starry Night In Bengaluru The Louis Philippe Cup Celebrity Pro-Am Gala Dinner on August 3 exuded razzmatazz and was a much-awaited evening that witnessed a congregation of India’s top professionals, celebrities, corporate leaders and the crème de la crème from the sports fraternity. The star studded evening was hosted at ITC Windsor in Bengaluru, a night before the coveted Louis Philippe Cup Pro-Am, and symbolized elegance and panache. Besides international golf professionals who had taken part in the ADT and PGTI co-sanctioned Louis Philippe Cup—which was won by India's Rahil Gangjee—the likes of Shaun Pollock, Mahela Jayawardena, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ajit Agarkar, Murali Kartik, Deepak Chahar, Venkatapathy Raju, Charu Sharma and fashion blogger Shalini Chopra, to name a few, were in attendance.
Rahil Gangjee receives the Louis Philippe Cup from Farida Kaliyadan (CMO - Lifestyle Brands, ABFRL)
L-R: Rishi Narain (Founder, RN Sports Marketing), Shekhar Sawant (General Manager, ITC Windsor) and Charu Sharma (commentator)
India cricketers Yuzvendra Chahal and Deepak Chahar
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Latha Shivanna (Executive Director, EXD Projects) and Madhavi Reddy (Director, ROMAS)
LOUIS PHILIPPE CUP
Saif Mekhri (C) of Bio-gen Extracts donates a cheque for `10 lakh to Christel House India, a Charity and Not for Profit Organization
Mahela Jayawardene and Shalini Chopra (Fashion Blogger, Stylish By Nature)
Shaun Pollock, Murali Kartik and Mahela Jayawardene
Pro golfers Khalin Joshi and Rahil Gangjee
GS Thimmiah (Head - Corporate Administration, ABFRL) with his spouse
Gautam Balakrishnan (Vice President, Tata Projects)
Celebrities pose with the team from Aditya Birla Group
Murali Kartik and Venkatapathy Raju
Priya Alex (Director, Tungabhadra Beneficiation)
september 2018 | golf digest india
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Corporate Digest
2018 Golf Digest C&S Invitational
bohemian rhapsody
BY JU KUANG TAN
From a course with royal status to top-end resorts, golf around Prague offers something for everyone. Last month, Golf Digest C&S organised an invitational tournament for partner magazines across seven different countries (Czech Republic, China, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy and Taiwan) and their readers. Over 60 golfers, including 11 Indians, were treated to picturesque Prague besides some memorable rounds of golf. Prague has always been one of the grandest cities in Europe. From the majestic Prague Castle overlooking the
40 golf digest india | september 2018
historic capital—surviving relatively unscathed by the second world war—to the regal Charles Bridge that crosses the winding Vitava River, the city holds an attraction unbridled in Europe. The capital of the Czech Republic is also home to several wonderful courses. There are over a hundred golf courses in the country, and a fledgling golf population of under 40,000 golfers. Here are four courses that rank up there with the best in Europe…
PANORAMA GOLF RESORT Panorama is the country’s newest golf establishment and is primed to be the top golf resort. One can hardly refute its claim when you see its stylish, modernist clubhouse that’s designed to combine the avant garde with a touch of environmentalism. The wooden accents, on largely a futuristic platform, sets an apt stage to present three equally arresting nine-hole layouts that hold their own on the global arena.
2018 Golf Digest C&S Invitational
Corporate Digest
Panorama Golf Resort
PRAGUE CITY GOLF The links-style course designed by European Tour pro Alex Cejka and designer Jeremy Ford is a very popular one. The high quality course and practice facilities is located right in the city, not more than 20 minutes from the Old Town by car. Proximity to the city centre is not the only thing going for it. The course is typically in very good condition if you consider that they see more than 30,000 rounds a year. There are about 200 members but Prague City Golf welcomes visiting golfers as well. “Golf tourism in Prague grows hand in hand with the city,” admits Course Manager, Jakub Majzlik who also oversees the golf academy here. “We are popular among expatriates, as well as tourists.” september 2018 | golf digest india
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Corporate Digest
2018 Golf Digest C&S Invitational
YPSILON GOLF RESORT You will realise how mountainous Czech Republic actually is when you visit Ypsilon Golf Resort. It goes without saying, then, that playing a round here affords fantastic views of the beautiful surrounding countryside. In the heart of spring and summer, the hills blaze a resplendent emerald, gorgeously balancing against the clear, blue skies that typify both seasons. The clubhouse is perched atop a hill, requiring that golfers take a buggy from the car park to the registration counter, or hoof the steep slope up. Any effort made to get to the course, and play it, is well worth your time and perspiration!
▶ ROYAL GOLF CLUB MARIANSKE LAZNE There are approximately forty or so golf clubs in the world that can call themselves “royal”, and the one in Marianske Lazne—about two hours from Prague—is proud to be one of them. In fact, it is one of just two Royal clubs in the European continent. It is in no small measure incredibly impressive that Royal Golf Club Marianske Laznehas survived two world wars, twenty years of a new independence as Czechoslovakia, forty years of socialist rule, and the restoration of democratic order in 1989, coming out of it better and stronger than ever. The establishment today shines with nobility yet provides a casual and friendly ambience for everyone coming to enjoy this beautiful parkland course.
WHERE TO STAY Hotel Ambassador Zluta Husa • A throwback to the days where Art Deco ruled the design world • Walking distance from all of Prague’s major sights including the Old Town Square, Charles IV Bridge and the Prague National Museum • Public transportation is a stone’s throw away; Mustek underground station for the subway is just 50m, and the city’s main train terminal is a 10-minute walk Hotel Ambassador Zluta Husa, Vaclavske Namesti 5-7, 111 24 Prague 1, Czech Republic, www.ambassador.cz, +420-224-193-111
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2018 Golf Digest C&S Invitational
Aman Sawhney finished runner-up in the 0-13 handicap category
Kush Jawahar (Runner-up, 13.1-18 handicap category) and Manav Sardana (Winner)
Members of the Indian contingent taking part in the 2018 Golf Digest C&S Invitational L-R: Nikhil Narain, Anil Valluri, Kavi Arora, Manav Sardana, Aman Sawhney, Prateek Pant, Kush Jawahar, Salil Murthy and Sandeep Batra
Golf Digest International partners
Kush Jawahar blasts out of a bunker
▶ WHAT TO SEE Prague Castle
Dating back to the ninth century and filling up over 750,000 square metres on a hill overlooking Czech Republic’s capital, Guinness Book of World Records claims that this is the largest castle in the world. This is also the most visited sight in Prague with over 1.8 million visitors each year.
Charles Bridge
Corporate Digest
If Prague Castle is the most visited spot in Prague, Charles Bridge must be the most photographed. Built by Charles IV in 1357, it was originally known as the Stone or Prague Bridge, until 1870 when it took on its current name. The sandstone bridge is adorned with statues of saints with the most famous being that of St John of Nepomuk.
Prague Castle
Old Town Hall & Astronomical Clock You haven’t visited Prague without walking through the Old Town Square with the Old Town Hall and its famous astronomical clock, called Orloj. Take a guided tour and you’ll get to see not only the historic halls and tower, but the underground areas as well.
Church of Our Lady Before Tyn
Charles Bridge
Built in the middle of the 14th century, this building of worship is one of the most impressive religious buildings in Prague. Interiors in the Baroque style are juxtaposed against the bold lines of the Gothic exteriors. Inside, there is a fine gallery of Gothic, Renaissance and Early Baroque works of art, including the famous altar paintings of Karel Skreta. september 2018 | golf digest india
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Corporate Digest
After Hours Golf
AFTER HOURS GOLF
A
An Exclusive Evening
fter Hours Golf—a plush, golf-themed annual dinner— united all golf aficionados as they gathered to enjoy a high-quality “wine and dine” experience at ITC Gardenia, Bengaluru. The highlight was a live telecast, courtesy D-Sports (beamed on a giant LED Screen)of the penultimate round. Also known as the British Open or, simply, The Open, it is one of golf’s four Grand Slams and the oldest Major in the sport. Think of it like the “Wimbledon” of golf. That India’s Shubhankar Sharma made the cut (eventually finished T-51) on his Open debut had everyone excited, as did the event’s thrilling
finish that saw Francesco Molinari become the first Italian professional golfer to win a Major. Held on July 21, the tenth edition of After Hours Golf was hosted by Mr. Amaan R. Kidwai, (General Manager, ITC Gardenia) along with Mr. Kunal Wadhwa and Mr. Gaurav Sahgal of HSBC. Some prominent personalities in attendance included commentator Charu Sharma and former India cricketer Syed Kirmani among others. In all, it was a fun-filled evening in a lavish ambience with sumptuous food, lively company and lots of lucky draw prizes for guests!
Dhananjay Naidu (L) (Director, RR Institute of Technology) and Sunil Vasant (R) (Chairman, Vasant Group) with their spouses
Charu Sharma (commentator) and Rishi Narain (Founder, RN Sports Marketing)
44 golf digest india | september 2018
Dr. Krathish Bopanna (President & CEO, Semler Research Centre) practises putting
Anil Valluri (President, NetApp) and Neelima Valluri
Gaurav Sahgal (Director, HSBC) and Kunal Wadhwa (Regional Director, HSBC)
After Hours Golf
Corporate Digest
Shalini Chopra (Blogger, Stylish By Nature) receives a prize from Amaan R. Kidwai (GM, ITC Gardenia)
L-R: Brooke Exley, Kunal Wadhwa and Misty Waters
Harish Shetty (President, KGA), Monika Chhabra and Peter Prem (Director, Ferns Builders & Developers)
Prasanth Sakhamuri (MD, HHV Solar Technologies) and Sandeep Madhavan (former President, KGA)
Deepak Mohan (Head of Marketing, Total Environment) and Alex Kurien (AVP - Channel Sales, Total Environment)
L-R: Madhavi Manthani (Director, ROMAS), Priya Alex (Director, Tungabhadra Beneficiation) and Trisha Sunil (pro golfer)
Prateek Pant (Co-founder, Sanctum Wealth) and Digboloi Haldar (VP, Goldman Sachs)
L-R: Brooke Exley receiving a prize from Kayum Dhanani (MD, Barbeque Nation) and Mridumesh Kumar Rai (President, Sara Futura)
Vinay Sal (Director, Sarala Group) and his wife
L-R: Tarun Kunzru (Founder & MD, ProTAC Foods International), former India cricketer Syed Kirmani and Indur Hirani
september 2018 | golf digest india
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Official Exclusive Pages of the Asian Tour
MAGNIFICENT MADAPPA MARCHES TO MAIDEN TITLE Viraj Madappa, a two-time Faldo Series India Championship winner (most recently in 2014-15), clinched the first title of his fledgling career at the 2018 TAKE Solutions Masters
46 golf digest india | september 2018
Official Exclusive Pages of the Asian Tour
Know Viraj… • Viraj Madappa became the youngest Indian player to win on the Asian Tour after lifting the 2018 TAKE Solutions Masters trophy. He won at the age of 20 years and nine months, breaking the previous record set by Gaganjeet Bhullar, who was 21 years and three months old when he won his first Asian Tour title at the Indonesia President Invitational in 2009. • Madappa is also the youngest winner on the Asian Tour this season. • Madappa, who turned professional in 2017, made the grade in his first attempt at the Asian Tour Qualifying School in January. He is the first rookie to win on the Asian Tour this season. • Madappa hails from Kolkata but is now based in Bengaluru and trained by Tarun Sardesai at the Tarun Sardesai Academy. • Prior to his breakthrough, Madappa made only four cuts in eight starts on Tour this season, with his best result being a tied-14th place finish at the Royal Cup in Thailand in July. • Madappa totaled oneunder on the front-nine 34 and 15-under on the backnine 37 on the 7,074 yards course this week. • After graduating school, Madappa gained admission to Texas A&M in the United States to study a Bachelor of Arts degree while playing on the college golf team in 2016. The young Indian, however, only stayed there for a semester before deciding to return home to play professional golf.
september 2018 | golf digest india
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Official Exclusive Pages of the Asian Tour
M
Cho Minn Thant (COO, Asian Tour), Uttam Singh Mundy (CEO, Professional Golf Tour of India), Viraj Madappa, H.R. Srinivasan (Vice Chairman and Managing Director, TAKE Solutions), Harish Shetty (President, Karnataka Golf Association)
adappa struggled with weight issues when he was seven years old, so his father took him for swimming lessons. However, instead of staying in the water, the young Indian preferred to watch golfers at the nearby Tollygunge Club. As he lost the kilos, his interest in the game kept growing. Fast forward to 2018, a lean and chiselled Madappa secured his first Asian Tour title at the TAKE Solutions Masters. Madappa admits battling inner demons after earning his Tour card at Qualifying School in January, but any doubts he had were erased by his victory in front of a cheering crowd and supportive family. The win came with a lot of sacrifices including moving from Kolkata to Bengaluru to train at the Tarun Sardesai academy. The effort paid off as Madappa is now the first Asian Tour rookie to win in 2018 and he is also the youngest Indian winner on the Asian Tour at the age of 20. “Coming off the Qualifying School, I didn’t think I was good enough. It’s been a roller-coaster since I came through the Qualifying School. I was playing good golf then but I went through a slump after that. “I worked really hard with my coach [Tarun Sardesai] and my whole team, just to keep me going. I am very happy that I did all the work I could to win. The efforts have definitely paid off now,” said Madappa. He was a popular winner at the Karnataka Golf Association and the support from the crowd spurred him on in an exciting finale. “It’s incredible really. My family has been very supportive and my mum was with me. It was great to
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Viraj Madappa
“I THINK THE MOST INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE THAT I HAVE HAD BEFORE THIS WEEK WAS AT THE ALL INDIA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2012. I PLAYED WITH SHUBHANKAR SHARMA THE WHOLE WEEK AND I LOST TO HIM. I KNEW AT THAT POINT OF TIME THAT I WANT TO DO THIS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.” — VIRAJ MADAPPA
Official Exclusive Pages of the Asian Tour Scott Vincent (Zimbabwe) finished T-2
Suradit Yongcharoenchai (Thailand) finished T-2
Danthai Boonma (Thailand) finished T-2
see all the kids from the academy. They were all like between six to 15 years old. They were probably the loudest in the crowd. I was riding off their energy,” said the Indian. With the win, Madappa—perhaps the brightest talent to come out of Calcutta since the heydays of Arjun Atwal, Simi Mehra, S.S.P Chawrasia and Rahil Gangjee—moved to 40th position on the Habitat for Humanity Standings and will earn a winner’s exemption category until the end of the 2019 Asian Tour season.
Miguel Carballo (Argentina) finished T-2
Official Exclusive Pages of the Asian Tour
Aadil Bedi finished T-23
Khalin Joshi, last year’s runner-up, finished T-6
Danthai Boonma of Thailand
US$ 350,000 prize fund
21
Nationalities represented in the field
156 69 participants in all
players made the cut
S.S.P. Chawrasia finished T-6
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1-under par was the cut line
Jyoti Randhawa finished T-16
Official Exclusive Pages of the Asian Tour Honey Baisoya finished T-6
1
Chikkarangappa S.
Hole-in-One
recorded in the event, by Honey Baisoya on the par-3 eighth Aadil Bedi, Harimohan Singh, Rayhan Thomas
L-R: S.S.P. Chawrasia, Jyoti Randhawa, Khalin Joshi, H.R.Srinivasan (Vice Chairman and Managing Director, TAKE Solutions), Jeev Milkha Singh and Chiragh Kumar
Pos
Player
Nat
Total
+/-
1
Viraj Madappa
IND
268
-16
T2
Danthai Boonma
THA
270
-14
T2
Scott Vincent
ZIM
270
-14
T2
Suradit Yongcharoenchai
THA
270
-14
T2
Miguel Carballo
ARG
270
-14
T6
Honey Baisoya
IND
272
-12
T6
S.S.P. Chawrasia
IND
272
-12
T6
Khalin Joshi
IND
272
-12
16-under Both times—2017 and 2018—the winning scores have been 16-under 268; Incidentally, the runnerups on each occasion scored 14-under and fell short by two strokes
England’s Matthew Killen with a fan
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Official Exclusive Pages of the Asian Tour
Asian Tour golfers Shiv Kapur, Chiragh Kumar and Casey O’Toole build with Habitat
Habitat For Humanity Partners Asian Tour To Support India’s Housing Needs Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort. The housing organization has since grown into a leading global nonprofit working in over 70 countries. Habitat for Humanity India, founded in 1983, has supported over 16,57,462 people to build a place they can call home. Broken by mounting debt and financial burden, Vidya’s husband Sahadev doused their hut in kerosene and set it ablaze. She threw her children out of the hut and jumped out. She says, “He chose death. But I didn’t want my children to be burnt alive”. Vidya is one of thousands of widows left behind by distressed farmers who were driven to suicide by the extreme agrarian crisis. Standing up for herself and her children was not an easy task. There was no support from her family either, and Vidya and her children had to move to a makeshift house.
Habitat for Humanity India stepped in helped her build a home of her own. “This home has given me a sense of dignity and pride. Today my children feel secure and so do I. They have their own space to study”, says Vidya. For last 35 years, Habitat for Humanity India has been working with families like Vidya’s to build strength, stability and selfreliance through shelter. Habitat for Humanity serves as the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit partner for the 2018 season and is also Asian Tour’s “Sustainable Development Partner” with the adoption of Asian Tour’s season-long ranking as the “Habitat for Humanity Standings”. Globally, Habitat for Humanity is committed to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the New Urban Agenda. In India, Habitat’s work is aligned with the Government of India’s flagship programmes of “Housing for All” and “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.”
Rajan Samuel, Managing Director, Habitat for Humanity India, said “We are proud to be the Sustainable Development Partner of the prestigious Asian Tour. Having a decent home is foundational for improving a family’s opportunity for health, education and economic well-being. We are hopeful that the partnership with Asian Tour and the enhanced visibility will enable us to scale our efforts to serve 60 million individuals by 2022 in need of decent shelter and sanitation.” By leveraging on Asian Tour’s global presence, Habitat for Humanity aims to move closer to its vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. “We are proud to support and share the philosophy that through shelter, we can empower,” said Cho Minn Thant, COO of the Asian Tour. On August 7, a Habitat For Humanity ProAm was played at Karnataka Golf Association (ahead of the 2018 TAKE Solutions Masters) in support of the widows of India’s farmers.
HAVING A DECENT HOME IS FOUNDATIONAL FOR IMPROVING A FAMILY’S OPPORTUNITY FOR HEALTH, EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING. WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH ASIAN TOUR AND THE ENHANCED VISIBILITY WILL ENABLE US TO SCALE OUR EFFORTS... — RAJAN SAMUEL, MANAGING DIRECTOR, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INDIA 52 golf digest india | september 2018
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Official Exclusive Pages of the European Tour
Double Delight For Koepka In St Louis
Brooks Koepka poses with the Wanamaker Trophy
B
rooks Koepka held off the challenges of a resurgent Tiger Woods and Adam Scott to win his second Major of the season at the US PGA Championship. The two-time defending US Open champion entered day four with a two-shot lead and that was how he ended it but that did not tell the story of a dramatic afternoon at Bellerive Country Club. Koepka was caught by defending champion Justin Thomas on the front nine and Australian Scott on the way home but kept his cool. Woods' 64 was his lowest ever final round in a Major and a birdie on the last moved him one
KOEPKA IS THE FIRST MAN TO WIN THE US OPEN AND US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE SAME YEAR SINCE TIGER WOODS (2000) shot ahead of Scott who finished at 13 under. The victory for Koepka means he is the first man to win the US Open and US PGA Championship in the same year since Woods achieved the feat in 2000 on his way to the 'Tiger Slam', and only the fifth person to do it in history. In winning his third Major,
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the 2014 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year also becomes the first player to win more than one in a season since Jordan Spieth in 2015, and his aggregate total of 264 is the joint-lowest in Major history—matching Henrik Stenson's score at the 2016 Open Championship. The 28-year-old's stunning season is all the more
remarkable considering he did not play any events between the first week in January and last week in April due to a wrist injury. "When I look at what I've done in the past two months, it's incredible," he said. "Looking where I was, sitting on my couch watching the Masters, and to think I would do this, I would
Official Exclusive Pages of the European Tour Brooks Koepka plays his shot from the 17th tee during the final round of the 2018 PGA Championship
Woods Surprised By Swift Return To The Top Tiger Woods reacts after making a putt for birdie on the 12th green during the final round of the 2018 PGA Championship
have laughed at you and told you there was no way, no chance, and to do it is really incredible. "I think sitting on the couch made me really appreciate how much I actually love this game and love competition. "I think, other than me, my team, everybody was rooting for Tiger, as they should. He's the greatest player to ever play the game and to have the comeback that he's having is incredible. "I'm excited for the next few years. Tiger's come back. You look at what Dustin's doing, Justin, Rory, Spieth, it's a great time to be a golf fan. I can't wait to duel it out with them over the next couple years or next however long."
Tiger Woods admitted he never imagined being in contention in consecutive Majors after threatening to pull off one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time in the US PGA Championship. The American has won 14 Majors but the last of those came in 2008 when he played with a knee injury at the US Open, an injury that would keep him out for the rest of that season. In October 2010 he saw his 281-week run at Number One in the Official World Golf Ranking come to an end, slipping as low as 58th in November the following year, before five worldwide wins in 2013 helped him reclaim top spot. His last victory came at the 2013 WGCBridgestone Invitational, since when he has been plagued by back problems and when he made his full-time return to competitive golf in November after dropping out of the top 1000, he openly admitted he did not know how his game would be. A remarkable return to form and fitness has since seen him hold a one-shot lead with eight holes to play in the Open Championship at Carnoustie, and on Sunday he finished just two behind Brooks Koepka after a thrilling final round of 64 at Bellerive Country Club. "I was in contention in the last two Majors
and would never have foreseen that a year ago and I'm just so thankful to be here," he said. "I didn't know what my schedule would be. I didn't know how many tournaments I would play this year, or if I would even play. So, each tournament brought about its own challenges. "At the beginning of the year if you would say I would have a legit chance to win the last two Major Championships, I'd say with what swing? I didn't have a swing at the time. I had no speed. My putting was okay but God, I hadn't played in two years. So, it's been a hell of a process for sure." Woods began the final round four shots behind Koepka and closed to within a shot three times, but Koepka crucially birdied the 15th and 16th before a wayward drive on the par-five 17th cost Woods the chance of a birdie himself. "I was pretty ticked at the Open," Woods added. "I had the lead there. This one I never quite got to the lead. I was always trailing. I had to keep making birdies. I had to go get it and I tried. "The drive on 17, I didn't drive it good all day. I was struggling with my golf swing. I warmed up hitting it left, I was hitting it right. So, I knew this was going to be a struggle to try and piece together around and I did."
"I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT MY SCHEDULE WOULD BE. I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WOULD EVEN PLAY. SO, EACH TOURNAMENT BROUGHT ABOUT ITS OWN CHALLENGES... IT'S BEEN A HELL OF A PROCESS FOR SURE" september 2018 | golf digest india
55
Official Exclusive Pages of the European Tour
Bhullar Claims Maiden Victory In Fiji
Gaganjeet Bhullar plays out of the bunker during Day Three at the Fiji International Golf Tournament
G
aganjeet Bhullar held off a charging Anthony Quayle to claim his first European Tour title at the Fiji International. The Indian entered the final day at the Vijay Singh-designed Natadola Bay Golf Club with a one-shot lead but found himself trailing late in the day as Australian Quayle came home in 29 and set the target at 13 under in the clubhouse. A brilliant chip-in eagle on the 17th moved Bhullar back into the lead and he held his nerve to par the last and sign for a 66 that gave him a one-shot victory. Four-time Major Championship winner Ernie Els signed for a closing 65 to finish at 12 under alongside New Zealander Ben Campbell. Bhullar was playing his 106th European Tour event and is now exempt until the
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BHULLAR'S TRIUMPH MARKS THE 16TH INDIAN WIN IN EUROPEAN TOUR HISTORY. IT IS ALSO THE THIRD INDIAN VICTORY THIS SEASON AFTER SHUBHANKAR SHARMA'S DOUBLE (JOBURG OPEN AND MAYBANK C'SHIP) end of next season after adding to his Challenge Tour win in 2011 and eight Asian Tour victories. Bhullar's triumph marks the 16th Indian win in European Tour history. It is also the third Indian victory this season, after Shubhankar Sharma's double (Joburg Open and Maybank Championship). "I've been playing really well," he said. "It was just a matter of time and I'm glad it happened on this stage... "I played two full seasons back in 2013 and 2014 on the European Tour and then I
had to come back to the Asian Tour because of my injury. So, I think this victory is really emotional for me in terms of playing opportunity and getting back on the European soil." The drama was relentless in the final round, and after Quayle got a fortunate bounce out of a bunker off the tee on the 17th, he put his second to ten feet for another eagle and was in the lead. Bhullar then produced his spectacular chip-in on the 17th and two perfect shots into the final green set up a closing par.
Official Exclusive Pages of the European Tour
Gaganjeet Bhullar of India poses with locals after winning during Day Four at the Fiji International Golf Tournament
"That was pretty awesome out there," said Quayle. "I got to play with Ernie and played a pretty awesome back nine there. I'm pretty happy with it." Meanwhile, Els chipped in for an eagle on the first and when he added a birdie on the third, European Tour title number 29 looked very much on the cards. A bogey on the fifth left him playing catch up and despite making further gains on the ninth, 11th, 14th, 17th and last, the gap was too large. "I did almost as much as I could," said Els. "I set out to try to shoot 65, which I did, and Anthony just played unbelievable. Jeez, what is it, 29 on the back nine? That's unbelievable stuff. Great golf and well deserved. "I'm pleased with my round and pleased with the tournament and it's been really a lot of fun in Fiji."
US$154,164
Bhullar made US$ 154,164 (a little over `1 crore) with his maiden win on the European and PGA of Australia Tour
6th
He is now the sixth Indian to win on the European Tour after Jeev Milkha Singh, SSP Chawrasia, Arjun Atwal, Anirban Lahiri and Shubhankar Sharma
4th 114 He now stands 4th on the Asian Tour’s Habitat for Humanity Standings, with earnings of $357,629
With the win, Bhullar has earned a full exemption on the European Tour (until the end of the 2019 season)
Bhullar is now ranked 114 on the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), a rise of 49 spots
1st
He is now the first and the youngest Indian with most wins (9) on the Asian Tour
september 2018 | golf digest india
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Official Exclusive Pages of the European Tour
MOLINARI’S JOURNEY: From Amateur Prodigy To Italy’s First Major Champion
W
hen Costantino Rocca holed his remarkable putt from the Valley of Sin on St. Andrews’ 18th hole in 1995, it looked as though Italy was about to gain a first Major Champion. Rocca’s 65-foot effort forced a play-off with John Daly, with the American eventually prevailing after extra holes. However, Rocca’s accomplishments, which included beating Tiger Woods in the 1997 Ryder Cup singles, helped inspire Francesco Molinari that anything was possible within the game of golf. Finally, 23 years later, Italy have their Open Champion. Molinari and his older brother Edoardo had already been identified by the Italian Golf Federation as Rocca came so close to winning the Claret Jug. Born in Turin, they worked their way through the Italian youth and amateur systems, with Francesco first to go professional in 2004 after winning two Italian Amateur Championship titles. Francesco came through the European Tour Qualifying School the same year and a top-ten finish at Gleneagles helped secure his card in his rookie campaign—although the Scottish venue would later be a scene of disappointment for the 35-year-old. A first European Tour title came in M olinari’s national Open in 2006, and he quickly established himself as one of the most consistent players on the circuit. Nine top-tens in 2009, including runner-up finishes in Hong Kong and Portugal, preceded a World Cup of Golf victory for Italy alongside Edoardo, and 19 consecutive made cuts in 2010 including a tie for second in France, saw Molinari qualify for Europe’s 2010 Ryder Cup side. His brother Edoardo was given a wild card by captain Colin
Montgomerie after winning at Gleneagles, where Francesco finished tied third, and the siblings were twice paired together—picking up a half point in the fourballs as Europe secured a 14 ½–13 ½ triumph at the Celtic Manor Resort. I n No v e m b e r 2 0 1 0, Francesco brilliantly held off Lee Westwood to win a first World Golf Championships title at the HSBC Champions and, with Matteo Manassero also coming to the fore, it appeared an Italian Major triumph was only a matter of time. He again followed in Rocca’s footsteps as he was paired against Woods in the singles for a second successive Ryder Cup, putting the finishing touches on the Miracle of Medinah in 2012 with a half point which secured
Francesco Molinari of Italy kisses The Claret Jug as Champion Golfer of the Year after the final round of the 147th Open Championship
Europe’s outright win after Martin Kaymer had ensured Europe would retain the trophy. However, Molinari went four years without a victory following his 2012 success at the Open de España – a spell in which he was overlooked for the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles—and although he became the first Italian to win his national title twice in 2016, there were fears his immense talent could go unfulfilled.
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" TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS ON ANOTHER LEVEL... HOPEFULLY THERE WERE A LOT OF YOUNG KIDS WATCHING ON TV TODAY, LIKE I WAS WATCHING COSTANTINO [ROCCA] IN 1995 COMING SO CLOSE TO WINNING AT ST ANDREWS." Photographs Courtesy European Tour/Getty Images
Official Exclusive Pages of the European Tour
Francesco Molinari plays a shot from a bunker on the sixth hole during the final round of the 147th Open Championship
He had come no closer to winning a Major than a tie for ninth at the 2013 Open midway through last year when, at Quail Hollow, he showed he had what it takes in the game’s biggest events by pushing Justin Thomas all the way before finishing tied for second. A more assured putting technique allied with his imperious iron play saw Molinari embark on a tremendous run of form in the spring of 2018, keeping
Rory McIlroy at bay to capture the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club without dropping a shot over the weekend. He finished second on home soil before notching a top-25 position in the US Open and winning the US PGA Tour’s Quicken Loans National by a resounding eight shots, before warming up for Carnoustie with a runner-up finish at the John Deere Classic. Having steadily plotted
his way into contention at the 147th Open Championship, it was fitting that Molinari was again paired with Woods for the final round. Many would have crumbled under the spotlight of the 14-time Major Champion surging into contention on the front nine, but Molinari chalked off the pars before striking decisively with birdies at the 14th and famously devilish 18th. An Italian Major Champion,
and one humble enough to pay tribute to Rocca, his family and his coaches in the immediate aftermath of his career highlight. "To achieve something like this is on another level," he said. "Hopefully there were a lot of young kids watching on TV today, like I was watching Costantino [Rocca] in 1995 coming so close to winning at St. Andrews." A v i c to r y we l l wo r t h the wait.
september 2018 | golf digest india
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Official Exclusive Pages of the PGA Tour
Three Countries, Three Winners PGA TOUR’s to showcase distinct, diverse cultures on upcoming Asian Swing
Justin Rose of England celebrates with the winners trophy after the final round of the WGC - HSBC Champions at Sheshan International Golf Club
L
ong before the calendar turns to spring, when blooming magnolias and azaleas dot pristine golf courses and sweltering heat occupies the PGA TOUR schedule, professionals must first conquer a three-week gauntlet on the opposite end of the world where they usually work. It’s a relatively new tradition each year on TOUR, the start of another season for those looking to either reverse their fortunes or build on past success, and, most importantly, establish an early lead in the FedExCup Standings. This leg of the schedule is often referred to as the “Asian Swing,” an October road trip that guides players from Malaysia, through Korea and onto China. And while the two-word phrase is certainly a succinct summation of this expedition, it by no means serves as an accurate representation of the various cultures, history and people that occupy these three countries. “The game is so global now,” Pat Perez said. “… I think it’s awesome that the TOUR’s expanded outside the United States. I think it’s important for the game. When I was coming up,
the game wasn’t that global, it just wasn’t. The best player we had in the world was Tiger (Woods), and he was best by a mile and he rarely went out of the United States. But I think there’s so many great new, young players worldwide that it’s important to get all these kids or players together because you can see that there’s so much competition going on.” Perez would know as well as anyone how essential this road trip can be. After all, it was in Malaysia where the 41-year-old showed the world that his best days weren’t behind him just yet. The American, who had claimed just one PGA TOUR victory over his first 376 professional starts, revitalized his career when he took home the CIMB Classic, his second win in less than a year. It’s fitting that the colorful Perez— with his flowing locks, carefree attitude and honest approach to the game—was the one to hoist the CIMB Classic trophy last year at TPC Kuala Lumpur. The course in Malaysia’s capital, dubbed “KL” by the locals, is at the heart of one of Asia’s most vibrant cities, which shares more than just
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“THE GAME IS SO GLOBAL NOW... I THINK IT’S AWESOME THAT THE TOUR’S EXPANDED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE GAME.” —PAT PEREZ energy with its latest champion. Like Perez on the golf course, it rose from humble beginnings as a mining town into a bustling economic hub, complete with towering skyscrapers and an array of cultures and traditions. Sure does look a lot like Perez, who has risen to the top of the golf ranks all while proudly wearing a vivid personality on his sleeve. A little more than 4,200 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur sits Jeju, a relatively small island in the East China Sea, directly south of Seoul, east of Shanghai and west of Fukuoka, Japan. The area is home to the swing’s second tournament, THE CJ CUP. Much like the event before it, THE CJ CUP also shares a bit in common with its most recent champion. The tournament, entering just its second year in existence, is undoubtedly the youngest of the Asian Swing’s three
Official Exclusive Pages of the PGA Tour
Left: Justin Thomas (C) of the United States poses with Lee Jay Hyun (L) and Jay Monahan (R) after winning the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges, South Korea. Bottom: Pat Perez of the United States in action during the final round of the 2017 CIMB Classic at TPC Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
events. And while it has room to grow, mature and improve with time, it’s still established itself as one of the premier tournaments on the PGA TOUR schedule. Sounds a lot like Justin Thomas, right? It’s hard to remember sometimes that the eight-time PGA TOUR winner is still only 25 years old, only just now entering the prime of his career as one of a handful of new-wave stars seeking to become the next Woods. And while the youthful American is largely known for his 2017 PGA Championship win and his short stint as the No. 1-ranked player, he’s rapidly become known in the Eastern part of the world for his Asian dominance. His playoff victory over Marc Leishman at Nine Bridges last season was his third in Asia since 2015, as he also won backto-back CIMB Classic titles in 2015 and 2016. “It’s crazy how that works out,” he said. “... Obviously, I have a lot of success, which is great. It’s kind of an added bonus, I think. The fact of the matter is that I just happened to play well on those weeks. But definitely, the fact that I have three of the seven wins in Asia, it definitely has a pretty good vibe every year.” Thomas will go for the Asian triple crown later this season at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, the final event on the three-tournaments-in-three-weeksrun this November. The tournament is the grizzled veteran of the three events, dating to 2009 as a WGC, with
China serving as the home for every tournament—Shanghai’s Sheshan International Golf Club the host for eight of the nine playings. It shares a striking resemblance in that regard to its most recent winner, the savvy and revered Justin Rose. And while THE CJ CUP is played in a more pastoral setting, the HSBC Champions offers a little of both worlds. Players fly into Shanghai, the third-largest city in the world, but bypass the skyscrapers on The Bund located along the Yangtze River and instead travel 68 kilometers by car to the golf course that is in something of a country setting. Obviously, Rose’s win last fall also had a bit of everything in it, too, as the 38-year-old Englishman paired an impressive final-round with a colleague’s collapse to pull off an improbable comeback victory. “WGCs, whenever you beat the top players in the world, that gives a tournament victory so much more meaning, and obviously with a leaderboard like we had today with Dustin, Brooks (Koepka), (Henrik) Stenson, I take a lot of pride in winning this tournament,” Rose said. “And winning in China, to travel, to take your game internationally I think is something that’s very important to do. Obviously, China is a very important golf nation, and a growing golf nation, so it’s very important to win in front of these fans.” It’s easy to lump the PGA TOUR’s three Asian tournaments all together and treat them the same. But that would be a mistake. Just like their
three defending champions, each has carved out their own distinct presence in their respective countries, each with a rich personality of their own. And each doing their part to take the game of golf to a global scale. september 2018 | golf digest india
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Official Exclusive Pages of the PGA Tour
Olympic Outlook: A Repeat for Rose?
Jockeying for position underway as two-year countdown to Tokyo 2020 begins
Justin Rose celebrates his win after the final round of the Fort Worth Invitational at Colonial Country Club
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rom his son’s teary congratulatory phone call to the fiery tug on his Great Britain polo, perhaps no golfer greater exemplified the meaning of golf ’s return to the Olympic Games than Justin Rose. “That was a really surreal moment to be honest with you,” he said afterward. “It’s a moment you’ve seen in many other sports and moments we’ve witnessed this week prior to our event, if you’ve been along to some other events. The medal ceremony is what it’s all about, really. That’s what everyone is striving for here in Rio.” Rose’s celebration, which came after he and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson entered the final hole of a tense round all-square at 15-under, best represented the impact golf’s presence can have on the world stage. And it’s no doubt a moment he’ll look to recreate once more in two years, when golf returns to the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. “Obviously I love competition and I love competition at the highest level,” he said. “And for me that’s what the Olympics
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Dustin Johnson speaks to the media during a preview day of the World Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club South Course
is all about, across many sports. It’s about the best of the best going head to head and bringing their best times. The amount of times you see great athletes break world records when they need it most and they are able to turn up at the track or the pool or wherever it might be, the tennis court, and bring out their best stuff.”
T h e n e x t O l y m p i c m e n’s g o l f competition, slated for July 30-August 2, 2020, is only two years away. And so, it’s never too early to dive into whether Rose will receive the opportunity to repeat as a gold medalist, or what potential contenders could lie in wait. The top-15 world-ranked players will be eligible for the Olympics, with a limit of four players from a given country. Beyond the top-15, players will be eligible based on the world rankings, with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top-15. The host country will be guaranteed a spot, as will each of the five continents of the Olympics. Players have two full years left to jockey for position, as the qualification period is slated to end on June 22, 2020. Rose, with wins this season in the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and the Fort Worth Invitational, would be securely in the field if it ended today. At No. 2 in the ranking, he is seven spots
Official Exclusive Pages of the PGA Tour
CHARLES SANDS OF THE UNITED STATES WAS THE SPORT’S FIRST GOLD MEDALIST AT THE 1900 PARIS GAMES. CANADA’S GEORGE LYON THEN CLAIMED GOLD AT THE 1904 GAMES IN ST. LOUIS. GOLF WOULD BE ABSENT FOR THE NEXT 112 YEARS, UNTIL JUSTIN ROSE CLINCHED GOLD AT THE 2016 GAMES IN BRAZIL. ahead of the next closest Englishman, Tommy Fleetwood, who sits at No. 10. Paul Casey, at No. 12, would round out the Great Britain team. Any gold medal defense for Rose would likely go through a stacked United States lineup that currently features three of the world’s top four players in the Olympics rankings—Dustin Johnson (No. 1), Justin Thomas (No. 3) and Brooks Koepka (No. 4). Jordan Spieth, at No. 8, rounds out the current team. Assuming none of these major champion winners withdraw, that would exclude TOUR mainstays such as Rickie Fowler, Patrick Reed, Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson—a true testament to the current depth of the U.S. field. “I had secretly fingers crossed hoping players would pull out,” bronze medalist Matt Kuchar said after qualifying in 2016, after players ahead of him chose to
withdraw. “I was sitting at a spot where I needed a couple guys to pull out for me to be able to qualify. I always was thrilled, always had a hope I could make it. I made a great run, kind of just before the deadline, to sneak inside the Top 15 in the World Rankings so it was possible that I could make it. I was thrilled when the opportunity came for me to be able to be part of the Olympics... ” Other notable rosters include Australia—which boasts Jason Day (No. 9) and Marc Leishman (No. 15)—as well as a youthful South Korean team that features Byeong Hun An at No. 21 and 2017 PLAYERS champion Si Woo Kim (No. 23). The Indian duo of Shubhankar Sharma (No. 33) and Anirban Lahiri (No. 36), who have taken the PGA TOUR by storm in 2018, should also prove a challenge to contend with. So, too, should Spain’s combination
of Jon Rahm (No. 5) and Sergio Garcia (No. 16). Stenson, at No. 14 in the rankings, is well within the grasp at a second chance to earn a gold medal. All told, 34 different countries are represented in the first-look rankings. The three who manage to conquer the course will become part of a select group to call themselves Olympic champion golfers. Charles Sands of the United States was the sport’s first gold medalist at the 1900 Paris games, a competition that featured 12 men and 10 women, while Canada’s George Lyon emerged from a group of 77 male golfers to claim gold at the 1904 games in St. Louis. The sport was absent for the next 112 years, until Rose finally claimed gold in its return at the 2016 Games in Brazil. The sport will return to Paris for the 2024 Olympics and again to Los Angeles in 2028.
OLYMPICS FIELD AS OF AUGUST 1, 2018 ARGENTINA Emiliano Grillo (No. 26), Andres Romero (No. 56) AUSTRALIA Jason Day (No. 9), Marc Leishman (No. 15) AUSTRIA Bernd Wiesberger (No. 32), Matthias Schwab (No. 55) BELGIUM Thomas Pieters (No. 28), Nicolas Colsaerts (No. 44) CANADA Adam Hadwin (No. 24), Mackenzie Hughes (No. 50) CHILE Joaquin Niemann (No. 45) CHINA Haotong Li (No. 22)
CHINESE TAIPEI C.T. Pan (No. 48) COLOMBIA Sebastián Muñoz DENMARK Thorbjørn Olesen (No. 25), Lucas Bjerregaard (No. 38) FINLAND Mikko Korhonen (No. 35), Tapio Pulkkanen (No. 57) FRANCE Alexander Levy (No. 27), Michael Lorenzo-Vera (No. 37) GERMANY Martin Kaymer (No. 40), Stephan Jaeger (No. 53) GREAT BRITAIN Justin Rose (No. 2), Tommy Fleetwood (No. 10), Paul Casey (No. 12)
Peter Karmis
GREECE
NETHERLANDS Joost Luiten (No. 34)
INDIA Shubhankar Sharma (No. 33), Anirban Lahiri (No. 36)
NEW ZEALAND Ryan Fox (No. 30), Danny Lee (No. 39)
IRELAND Rory McIlroy (No. 7), Paul Dunne (No. 29)
PARAGUAY Fabrizio Zanotti (No. 43)
ITALY Francesco Molinari (No. 6), Renato Paratore (No. 47) JAPAN Hideki Matsuyama (No. 13), Satoshi Kodaira (No. 20) MALAYSIA Gavin Kyle Green (No. 49) MEXICO Abraham Ancer (No. 42), José de Jesús Rodríguez (No. 52)
PHILIPPINES Miguel Tabuena (No. 59) PORTUGAL Pedro Figueiredo (No. 58), Jose-Filipe Lima (No. 60) SOUTH AFRICA Louis Oosthuizen (No. 18), Branden Grace (No. 19)
SOUTH KOREA Byeong Hun An (No. 21), Si Woo Kim (No. 23)
SPAIN Jon Rahm (No. 5), Sergio Garcia (No. 16) SWEDEN Alex Noren (No. 11), Henrik Stenson (No. 14) THAILAND Kiradech Aphibarnrat (No. 17), Jazz Janewattananond (No. 41) UNITED STATES Dustin Johnson (No. 1), Justin Thomas (No. 3), Brooks Koepka (No. 4), Jordan Spieth (No. 8) VENEZUELA Jhonattan Vegas (No. 31) ZIMBABWE Scott Vincent (No. 46)
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Official Exclusive Pages of the PGA Tour
TOUR SNIPPETS
Tournament officials join junior golfers from the First Tee for a photo during the opening ceremony of round one of the 2018 WGC-Mexico Championship
THE FIRST TEE SELECTS 81 JUNIOR GOLFERS TO COMPETE ON PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS PGA TOUR Champions and The First Tee have announced the 81 junior golfers selected to play in the 2018 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee. The annual event, hosted by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, will be held September 24-30 at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California, and will be televised internationally on Golf Channel. The PURE Insurance Championship is the only event of its kind in which 81 junior golfers are teamed with 81 PGA TOUR Champions players and 162 amateurs during an official PGA TOUR Champions tournament. The juniors, ages 14 to 18, compete for the pro-junior title. Representing 22 states, the juniors were selected by a national panel of
judges based on playing ability and application of the Nine Core Values and life skills learned through The First Tee’s programs. As of July 11, players committed to compete in the PURE Insurance Championship include defending champion and World Golf Hall of Fame member Bernhard Langer, as well as fellow World Golf Hall of Fame members Colin Montgomerie, Mark O’Meara and Sandy Lyle. Players have until Friday, September 21 to commit, with additional commitments to be announced in the coming months. Clint Eastwood is chairman of the event. Play will be conducted on Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course on Friday and Saturday, with the final round contested solely at Pebble Beach on Sunday.
2017 Brazil Open champion Rodolfo Cazaubon
PGA TOUR & NBC SPORTS GROUP ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
The PGA TOUR and NBC Sports Group have unveiled a new, innovative, multi-year digital partnership. Starting in 2019, NBC Sports Gold— NBC Sports Digital’s direct-to-consumer live streaming product—will be the United States’ home of PGA TOUR LIVE, the PGA TOUR’s over-the-top subscription video service. “Since we launched PGA TOUR LIVE in late 2015, the fan feedback has been tremendous,” said Rick Anderson, Chief Media Officer of the PGA TOUR. “In 2018, virtually every key metric is up triple digits versus last year and the coverage gets better and better every week. Moving PGA TOUR LIVE over to NBC Sports Gold represents the next evolution of our product... In 2019, our live coverage will be significantly better, and more accessible, for subscribers of PGA TOUR LIVE.” Pricing options for PGA TOUR LIVE in 2019 will be announced in January. For golf fans outside of the United States, the same comprehensive PGA TOUR LIVE coverage will be available.
PGA TOUR LATINOAMÉRICA OPENS SECOND HALF OF SCHEDULE WITH TWO TOURNAMENTS IN BRAZIL PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and the Brazilian Golf Confederation announced that the second half of the PGA TOUR Latinoamérica season will begin in Brazil. The São Paulo Golf Club Championship is scheduled for September 10-16, while the 65th JHSF Brazil Open, a tournament that dates to 1945, will be played September 17-23 at Fazenda Boa Vista in Porto Feliz. Both event s— e ach offering a US$175,000 purse, with US$31,500 going to the winner—will feature PGA TOUR Latinoamérica members competing in 72hole, 132-player, stroke-play competitions. “… One of the hallmarks of this Tour is the variety of countries where we play and
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the different cultures our players are able to experience as they chase their professional golf dreams. To announce to our players that they will play two tournaments on golf courses the caliber of Sao Paulo Golf Club and Fazenda Boa Vista is something that thrills us,” said PGA TOUR Latinoamérica President Jack Warfield. The 2018 PGA TOUR Latinoamérica season began in March, with nine tournaments held in seven countries during the season’s first half. American Tyson Alexander is currently atop the Order of Merit, with the top-five money-winners at season’s end earning 2019 Web.com Tour membership.
FOLLOW THE RACE FOR THE FEDEXCUP ALL SEASON LONG
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© 2017 PGA TOUR, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Player appearance subject to change.
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PREP FOR GOLF LIKE A PRO
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by justin thomas
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Photograph by First Lastname
Photographs by Finlay Mackay
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“e very iron shot i hit on the range , i’m trying to achie ve s o m e t h i n g d i f f e r e n t. ”
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There’s a part of the game that you might not give much thought to, but if you did, I really believe you’d start shooting lower scores. Best thing, you won’t have to wait years or months to see improvement. Any idea what I’m hinting at? Did the headline give it away? Yup, I’m talking about how to practice. The way I do it helped me get to No. 1 in the World Golf Ranking earlier this year, and it can help you, too. ▶ My father, Mike, is a golf professional, and he likes to remind students that the longest walk in this game often is from the range to the first tee. Why? What many golfers do when they practice really doesn’t prepare them for what they’re going to experience on the course. If your typical range session is hitting ball after ball while cycling through the clubs in your bag—and your scores aren’t getting any better—it’s time to try something different, don’t you think? Here, I’m going to walk you through the ways I practice and warm up. If you’re interested in playing better, feel free to steal my plan and make it your own. —with ron kaspriske
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Photograph by First Lastname
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‘I’M NOT SURE WHAT YOU GET OUT OF HITTING A LOT OF FULL-SWING SHOTS ON THE RANGE TO THE SAME TARGET. IT’S JUST NOT THAT PRODUCTIVE.’
“this is a key checkpoint for me in the backswing. if i get here without whipping the club inside, i ’ l l p r o b a b ly s w i n g o n p l a n e . ”
Photograph by First Lastname
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how to practice a big reason for my recent successes comes from the way my dad and my short-game coach, Matt Killen, analyze my performance so we can optimize my practice time. They pore over my stats and identify the ones that matter most. For example, recently my dad noticed I was having trouble with approach shots from 50 to 75 yards and scrambling in the 20-to-30-yard zone. So we spent extra time on those types of shots. Makes sense, right? We pay attention to my stronger stats, too. You can’t ignore your strengths, or they’ll eventually let you down. The point is, you have to be honest with yourself about your game. Whether you track stats or not, knowing that you tend to pull your wedge shots and get up and down only occasionally should tell you that in the limited window you have to practice, whaling on a driver is probably not the best use of your time. Hit a few to reinforce your method (and have a little fun), but don’t focus on the driver. OK, so let’s assume you’ve assessed your game and have been working to improve your weaknesses and maintain your strengths. Let me ask you a question: Are you randomizing your practice? By that I mean, are you hitting the same shot over and over or switching it up? I’m a big believer in the latter. One way I do that is with my TrackMan launch monitor. I set it up to spit out random yardages, from 126 to 150 yards as an example, and I have to hit whatever shot it requests. I realize most of you don’t have access to a $20,000 monitor, but you can give yourself a new target or a new challenge—or both—for every ball you hit. For example, hit one at the 150-yard marker with two different irons or two different shot shapes. What you’re doing is simulating the
golf-course experience. Rarely do you have the same shot two swings in a row, so your task changes from shot to shot. You should practice that way, too. This method also will really help your short game. And practicing around the greens is where you should spend the bulk of your time. Unless you’re working on a particular thing in your technique and don’t want to move until you feel like you’ve got it, I wouldn’t stand in one spot around the green and hit the same shot over and over. Keep changing your goal. One way I do that is to use three balls and pitch or chip them at three trajectories to the same target. Then I move to another target and do the same. When it comes to putting, I’m probably more drill oriented in my practice than in any other aspect of the game. For example, I start every session checking my eye line with an alignment mirror. I want to make sure my left eye is just behind the ball, and more important, my eyes are lined up with the putting line. It’s so easy to get your alignment out of whack, and when that’s off, even a perfect read and stroke can lead to a miss. So checking your alignment frequently is a must for good putting. Another drill I do focuses on rolling the ball on line. I’ll find a breaking putt and anchor two ends of a string about six inches above the ground on the start line. Then I’ll put two tees in the ground to the sides of that line about six inches in front of me. The goal is to roll the ball between the tees along that start line. Getting back to what I said about practicing the things you don’t do very well, I wasn’t very good at mediumrange putts for a long stretch. So I spent a lot of time hitting putts between 10 and 25 feet. Think about the types of putts you struggle with the most, and focus your practice on them. The message: You’ve got to get out of your comfort zone when you practice if you want to become a better player. That’s what we do on tour.
how to warm up on the days I’m playing golf, my practice time differs from a regular session. On the range I spend more time with my wedges. I’d say 30 to 40 percent of my warm-up is hitting different short shots. I’ll put the TrackMan next to me to verify my distances and spin, trying to hit half shots, full shots, high shots, low shots, a little bit of everything. Once I get into the longer irons, I’m really paying attention to shot shape. Sure, I’ll vary it from draws to fades, but when I’m hitting it my best, the ball flies pretty straight with a little fade at the end. So I want to make sure I can hit that shot before heading to the course. What happens if I can’t? Well, if I don’t have it, I just have to play with what I’ve got. My advice is to really pay attention to your shot shape for that day. Forget that you were drawing every shot last week. If it’s not happening on the range, it’s not happening on the course. I understand you’ll want to hit some full shots to get loose, but again, the short-game area is going to help you score far better than the driving range. Throw balls down around the practice green and hit chips and pitches to various targets to acclimate yourself to the various lies you’ll be facing on the course. While you’re at it, hit some bunker shots, getting a feel for the firmness and how your ball will react once it lands on the green. If you had time to do only one thing before you play, get a feel for how big a putting stroke you need to get the ball to the hole from various distances. A lot of times, I feel like I’m reading greens great but not hitting putts at the right speed. If you leave the practice green consistently rolling the ball a foot or so past the hole, you’ll be ready for battle.
▶ ralph lauren u.s. te am ryder cup uniforms f e at u r i n g r l ambassador justin thomas i n t h e s u n d ay l o o k . ▶ shirt: rlx golf airflow knit $98.50 ▶ pa n ts : r l x g o l f cypress $97.50 ▶ pullover: rlx golf course camo $165
n o w t h at j u s t i n thomas told yo u h o w to g e t more out of yo u r p r ac t i c e time, here’s yo u r c h a n c e to join him for a 20-minute range session where he shares his thoughts and d e m o n s t r at e s the plan he used to become one of the game’s t o p p l ay e r s . t o s e e i t, g o t o g o l f d i g e s t. c o m / allaccess.
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‘ACCLIMATE YOURSELF TO THE VARIOUS LIES YOU’LL BE FACING ON THE COURSE.’
“ i n o t o n ly p r a c t i c e s h o r t shots from different lies, i a l s o va ry t r a j ec to ry gutter credit tk
a n d s p i n f r o m s h o t t o s h o t. ”
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AFTER THE HEROICS & HISTRIONICS AT HAZELTINE, THESE TWO (& THE FANS) ARE HOPING IT CAN HAPPEN ONE MORE TIME BY JOHN FEINSTEIN
RORY Photo illustrations by John Ritter
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avis love iii has all sorts of mementos from the 2016 Ryder Cup scattered around his house. There are two, though, that he probably enjoys looking at more than any of the others. ▶ One is the ball that Ryan Moore played on the 18th hole of his singles match with Lee Westwood. When Westwood conceded Moore’s one-foot par putt shortly after 4 o’clock on that bright October Sunday in Minnesota, the Ryder Cup returned to the United States. ▶ Moore was instantly surrounded by his teammates and never bothered to pick the ball up. Love picked it up for him. ▶ “In 1993, when I made the putt at The Belfry that clinched retaining the cup, I never got the ball from the hole because I was mobbed, and then I went to shake hands with Costantino [Rocca],” Love says. “I always regretted that. I wanted to make sure Ryan got that golf ball.” ▶ But when Love tried to hand the ball over to Moore, the new hero shook his head. “You keep it, captain,” he said. “I want you to have it.”
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Although Sergio Garcia and Phil Mickelson would later halve a superb match—each shot 63—it is the Reed-McIlroy duel that those who were at Hazeltine that day remember as if it ended 15 minutes ago. “Tiger was walking with them, and he had his radio open,” says Jim Furyk, who will captain this year’s American team outside Paris beginning Sept. 28. “We would hear this massive cheer come through the radio, and then he’d have to wait at least a minute, maybe longer, to talk to us because it was so loud.” At one point, Woods, who has put on some shows of his own, said, “You guys won’t believe what I’m seeing right now.” ●●●
the match that almost wasn’t
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he Americans had a 9½-6½ lead at the end of Saturday’s four-ball matches. But everyone on both sides remembered Medinah in 2012, when the U.S. team had led, 10-6, going into the singles matches. Love had been the U.S. captain that year, too. Late that Sunday night, when he went to the European team room to congratulate captain Jose Maria Olazabal and his players on their victory, his good friend Darren Clarke had taken him aside, put an arm around him and said, “What the hell were you thinking?”
Europe had, as Love now puts it, “loaded the boat,” putting its best four players out first, knowing it needed blue on the board early. Love had put out a more balanced lineup. Before you could say, Miracle at Medinah, Europe won the first five matches and went on to retain the cup. “What I learned that day was, I had spent months thinking about the pairings for the first two days,” Love says, “and I did a good job with it. But I spent maybe an hour or two thinking about Sunday’s lineup, and that’s 12 matches. When they asked me to captain again, I vowed not to make the same mistake.”
Previous PAGes: Keyer KhAmAr/Getty imAGes (reeD) rAmsey CArDy/Getty imAGes (mCilroy)
The other cherished memento is even smaller than Moore’s golf ball. It’s the tee that Patrick Reed used to hit his drive at No. 18 earlier that Sunday during his epic singles match with Rory McIlroy. “As soon as he hit it, he started walking down the fairway with this strut in his step like he knew he’d hit it 50 yards past Rory,” Love says, laughing. “I just went over and grabbed it. I wanted something to remember that match by—one way or the other. “I knew Rory had hit it way past Patrick,” Love says, “but it didn’t matter. He wasn’t going to let the match get away. He knew it; Rory knew it; I knew it.” McIlroy had, in fact, hit his tee shot 30 yards past Reed. As Love says, it didn’t matter. Reed hit his second shot to 10 feet and made the birdie putt that clinched the match. McIlroy, who had hit his second shot to six feet, knew Reed wasn’t going to miss the putt. “He hadn’t missed all day,” he said. “Why would he miss that one?” When Love told Reed later about picking up the tee, Reed laughed. “I know,” he said. “I saw you.” To this day, Love has no idea how it was possible for Reed to see him. “He was 25 yards up the fairway, practically running. He’d have made a great point guard with that kind of peripheral vision.”
Above: DAviD CAnon/Getty imAGes
f i r s t t e e , f i r s t m at c h o n s u n d ay : r e e d d r i v e s b e f o r e t h e t h r o n g at h a z e lt i n e .
After the matches ended on Saturday at Hazeltine, Love sent his five vice captains— Woods, Furyk, Tom Lehman, Steve Stricker and Bubba Watson—to the back of the Hazeltine locker room to start putting pairings together. He sat in the club’s dining area— the U.S. team room—with his players to talk to them about the next 24 hours. By the time he walked in to where his assistants were waiting, Love was having a bit of a panic attack. For months the plan had been to load the boat on Sunday—whether leading or trailing. A fast start was imperative to either keep spirits high, among players and the rabid crowd, or to get them going.
Love thought Clarke—now his opposing captain—might push McIlroy and Henrik Stenson to the third and fourth spots because McIlroy had traditionally played third. He wanted his two best players, Reed and Jordan Spieth, to go head-to-head with them. “Maybe we should move Patrick and Jordan back,” Love said. Everyone disagreed. “We reminded him what the plan had been all along,” Furyk says. “If they moved Rory and Stenson back, so be it. But we wanted to come out guns blazing.” There was one other thing. “I think deep down we knew Rory was going first,” Love says. “He had to go first.” ▶
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‘THEIR FANS ARE CLEVER AND FUNNY— FUNNIER THAN WE ARE. OUR CROWDS ARE LOUDER.’ —PATRICK REED september 2018 | golf digest india
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r e e d : “ i t ’ s w h at yo u p l ay g o l f f o r . i t ’ s w h y yo u c o m p e t e . ”
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the guy everyone looked to. I was hoping he would come to me and say, ‘I want to play first.’ I’m not honestly sure what I would have done if he’d said he wanted to stay in that third spot, where he’d been comfortable in the past. “I didn’t expect him to say that, and he didn’t let me down,” Clarke says. “Once he said he wanted to play first, it wasn’t that difficult to make the rest of the lineup. Rory had to be the one out there first not only to play Reed, who I knew would be out first, but to take on the American fans—again.” For two days, McIlroy had taken on the opposition inside and outside the ropes. “I had to do it,” he says. “I was playing well coming in [winning the Tour Championship], and some of the veteran guys who had been our leaders weren’t there to lead as in the past. I needed to show the guys not only that we could win but we weren’t going to be intimidated by the crowd. “I thought if I could take Patrick down, get us off to a fast start, we could rally the way we had at Medinah,” McIlroy says. “I knew this was different from Medinah. There, we’d won the last two points on Saturday to close the gap to four. We had the momentum. This time, we’d given up points late, let them build the margin. My job was to get the momentum back.” ●●●
going ‘full hulk’
‘WINNING THE RYDER CUP IS DIFFERENT—IT’S UNIQUE. BUT THE NEXT-BEST THING IS LOSING THE RYDER CUP. I WOULDN’T MISS ONE FOR THE WORLD.’ —RORY MCILROY
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McIlroy felt that way, too, and had told Clarke that. He thought that Love wouldn’t make the same mistake twice and would lead with Reed, who had taken on the mantle of Captain America that week. “I was going to do whatever the captain told me to do, of course,” Reed says. “But I wanted to be out there first, and I wanted to play Rory. I loved the challenge.” With Ian Poulter hurt and in the role of vice captain, with Graeme McDowell not on the team and with veterans Westwood and Martin Kaymer struggling, McIlroy had arrived at Hazeltine knowing he had to lead a team with six rookies. Clarke knew it, too. “Rory had to go out first,” he says. “He’d been our leader all week, the guy who took charge in the team room,
Peter Byrne/PA Wire
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ne couldn’t fault McIlroy’s effort. He birdied five of the first eight holes. As it turned out, that wasn’t enough. McIlroy birdied the third hole to go 1 up before Reed drove the short par-4 fifth and made an eight-foot putt for eagle to even the match. The next three holes were what Woods would describe as needing to be seen to be believed. Both men birdied 6, both men birdied 7. At the par-3 eighth, McIlroy had what Reed now describes as “a five-million-foot putt” for birdie. McIlroy drained it, then went— in the words of Matt Kuchar—“full Hulk,” screaming at the top of his lungs, doing everything but tearing his shirt off. Reed had about a 25-footer to match him. He rolled it in the center, and the place was so loud it felt as if the roof would come off the building—except the roof was blue sky . . . and it almost came off. Reed turned and pointed his finger at McIlroy, and for a split second it looked as if the situation might turn hostile. It didn’t. McIlroy offered a fist bump, and the two made the long walk to the ninth tee side by side. “That walk might be what I remember most from that day,” Reed says. “We were talking about how much fun it was to be competing like this with one another, knowing how many people were watching,
and what was at stake. It was one of those moments where you remember that what you’ve been given the chance to do, playing in the Ryder Cup, is incredibly cool.” McIlroy remembers that walk, too. “I had shushed the crowd a little bit earlier, which was what Patrick had done at Gleneagles during his match with Stenson,” he says. “I said to him, ‘You know imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.’ We actually had a good laugh there. “I knew what was going on was special. I’ve played in four Ryder Cups and been in some tense matches. But nothing like this; nothing at this level of play and emotion. I was doing everything I could to put some blue on the board for us, to give my teammates behind me a boost. Patrick just wouldn’t let me do it.” Neither player was able to keep up the level of play that had occurred over those first eight holes, but Reed had just a little bit more left. “I think all the adrenaline, not just from the day, but from the entire week drained me just a little,” McIlroy says. “The whole week was full of emotion. Arnold Palmer’s death, then the controversy over Danny’s brother [comments by P.J. Willett about American crowds], and then a few in the crowd who got out of hand. Plus, we were fighting for our lives from the start after we went down, 4-0, on Friday morning. We rallied back after that, but it took a lot of energy. “I’m not sure I even realized how exhausted I was until I got home and had some time to relax. The Ryder Cup is always emotional, but never quite like that.” ●●●
a rematch to come?
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cIlroy has never sat out a session in four Ryder Cups. Given what the Hazeltine week took out of him, might he consider talking to European captain Thomas Bjorn about sitting out a session in France? “Absolutely not,” McIlroy says. “For one thing, Paris will be different. We won’t have six rookies playing. We’ll be at home, and that changes things considerably. I definitely plan on playing all five.” So does Reed. He and Spieth and Woods, the vice captain of their unofficial pod, had to convince Love not to rest them on Saturday afternoon at Hazeltine. “Put it this way: I’ll keep telling Jim I want to play all five matches over and over again if need be,” Reed says. “I can go five—I know it, and I think I proved it at Hazeltine. I can rest on Monday.” Furyk isn’t going to divulge his pairings or captain’s picks until he has to, but he makes it clear Reed is exactly the kind of player he expects to lead his team—especially in France.
“When I met with potential team members at my house during the Players, I told them some specific things I was looking for in my team,” Furyk says. “One of them was a chip on the shoulder, especially under pressure. Patrick’s certainly proven he’s got that.” Reed has come a long way from the introverted Ryder Cup rookie in 2014. During the Saturday-night team meeting, Mickelson told him, “We need to know you better.” Now, Reed knows not only that his spot on the team is secure, but he’ll arrive in Paris expecting—and wanting—to be a target for the fans.
‘THE RYDER CUP IS ALWAYS EMOTIONAL, BUT NEVER QUITE LIKE THAT.’ —RORY MCILROY “I loved it when they got on me at Gleneagles,” he says. “I expect even more of it in Paris, and I’m looking forward to it. Their fans are clever and funny—funnier than we are. Our crowds are louder. They’re funnier.” All the Americans agree on that. European crowds can be boisterous, but they rarely take rudeness to the level sometimes seen in the United States. “I would hope the Americans won’t have to deal with what we had to at times at Hazeltine,” McIlroy says. “Their players tried their best to stop it. We would certainly do the same thing, but I hope it doesn’t come to that. I honestly don’t think it will.” Bjorn says he plans to see to it that it isn’t a problem. Adds Furyk: “I honestly don’t think it will be. My experiences as a player over there have been good. I love their singing, and they are funny. I remember standing on the first tee in Wales during a fog delay, and a guy in the crowd yelled, ‘Hey, Jimmy, just follow your nose down the fairway. No way you’ll get lost.’ I cracked up, gave him a salute because it was a good line.” McIlroy believes that the Ryder Cup experience of 2016 helped make Reed a Masters champion, just as his own experience in Wales in 2010 was a factor in him becoming a major champion at the U.S. Open almost nine months later. “If you can handle that crucible, when you’ve got teammates depending on you and your country counting on you, then it certainly helps your confidence when you get into contention in a major,” he says. “I was still learning after Wales, and I took my lumps at Augusta that April [when he shot a final-round 80 after taking a four-shot lead]. But I knew the ability to play my best when it mattered most was there inside me. The pressures are different, but if you can play
well in a Ryder Cup, you know you can play well in a major.” Reed agrees. “You have to be playing well to get yourself into contention in the first place,” he says. “But when you get in contention, you can certainly draw on that Ryder Cup experience to deal with the pressure.” Reed had played in a dozen majors before Hazeltine and never finished better than T-12. After not playing well anywhere for most of 2017, he finished T-2 at the PGA. He followed that by winning the Masters to start 2018 and then finished fourth in the U.S. Open at Shinnecock. Reed and McIlroy understand that circumstances will dictate whether they get another shot at playing one another in singles in France. Each would love the chance to face the other again. “The thing you have to understand is that moments like that are fun,” Reed says. “It’s what you play golf for; it’s why you compete. I really like the guys on the European team, and there’s no one more enjoyable to play against than Rory. “When I finally sat down and watched the entire last day, including our match, I got chills remembering some of those moments—not just hitting good shots or making putts—but the camaraderie we felt out there. I’d love to have that feeling again. “That weekend was special not just because we won, but because it was the first time I’d represented my country at home. I’d played the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, the Presidents Cup in South Korea. Having the crowd behind me those three days was amazing. It’s a memory I’ll always have no matter what happens in Paris or in the future. I hope I get the chance to go back [to Hazeltine] in 2028. That will always be special to me.” Hazeltine will always hold memories for McIlroy, too, and he’d love another crack at Reed this September—with a different result. “Being part of that match was one of the highlights of my career,” he says. “I love the Ryder Cup. As disappointed as I was to lose that match, I walked away from it feeling good about the way I’d performed. In the end, I didn’t pull it off, but under unbelievable pressure, with 50,000 people rooting against me, I played about as well as I could have hoped to play. “At some point, I’ll be under incredible pressure again—soon, I hope—and the memory of that match and that weekend will only help me. “Winning majors is an absolutely great feeling, nothing like it. But winning the Ryder Cup is different—it’s unique. But the next-best thing is losing the Ryder Cup. I wouldn’t miss one for the world.” McIlroy pauses and smiles. “But I’d really rather not go through losing it again. Once was enough.” september 2018 | golf digest india
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9 THINGS TO KNOW A 78 golf digest india | september 2018
w e l c o m e t o wat e r : t h e g r e e n at t h e 4 0 8 -ya r d 1 5 t h ( l e f t ) a n d t h e 4 7 1 -ya r d 1 8 t h ( r i g h t ) .
IT’S GOING TO BE A BIG PARTY . . . FOR SOMEBODY BY RYAN HERRINGTON
ABOUT THE RYDER CUP Photographs by Patrick Koenig
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t h e g r e e n at t h e 2 1 0 -ya r d s e c o n d h o l e ( l e f t ) a n d t h e 4 1 9 -ya r d f i r s t ( r i g h t ) .
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n unusual disorder seems to overcome tour professionals who have played the Albatros Course at Le Golf National, site of the 42nd Ryder Cup Sept. 28-30 in France. Call it temporary amnesia, for the lack of a more clinical diagnosis. When discussing the Hubert Chesneau/Robert von Hagge design in general terms, the early reviews are typically complimentary. The consensus among players is that you don’t have to be long off the tee to score. And though the need for solid shotmaking to maneuver around the numerous lakes, humps and bumps is real, in several spots the course affords the chance to make amends for mistakes.
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“It’s a great test of golf,” Justin Thomas said when he got his first glimpse in July while playing the French Open. “It’s not like there are any hidden tricks or anything like that.” However . . . Grab the pros after they’ve walked off the course, and they mention what they seem to have forgotten: The place plays harder than it looks, particularly the four claustrophobic closing holes locals refer to as The Loop of Doom. “It’s a golf course that can really beat you up if you’re not on your guard,” says Thomas Levet, one of three Frenchmen, with Jean Van de Velde and Victor Dubuisson, to have competed in the Ryder Cup. “You don’t necessarily think about it
it’s not a new course
1
The Albatros opened on Oct. 5, 1990; the inaugural foursome featured major champions Greg Norman, Jeff Sluman and Raymond Floyd joining French professional Marc Farry. It was the culmination of a nearly decade-long endeavor by Claude-Roger Cartier, the president of the French Golf Federation and a quiet, behindthe-scenes presence in the rise of the European Tour. Cartier’s idea was to create a permanent home for the French Open—the oldest national Open in continental Europe, played since 1906—and establish a performance center for France’s national teams in hopes of increasing the profile of golf within the country. To carry it out, he found roughly 340 acres of state-owned land in the Paris suburb of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines and negotiated a 99-year lease with the government. The master plan included 45 holes—Le Golf National has a second 18-hole course, the Aigle (French for eagle), and the ninehole Oiselet (birdie)—and a teaching academy for golfers of all levels. Of course, it was not an entirely philanthropic mission—the property includes a 131-room resort. One interesting wrinkle in Le Golf National’s creation: Because the property had been used for agriculture purposes, it was decidedly flat. Cartier, who died in 2014 at 93, worked with local authorities to have soil excavated from building projects in Paris and transported out of the city. An estimated 56.5 million cubic feet of dirt was trucked in and used to shape the courses. Since its opening, Le Golf National has hosted the national Open every year except 1999 and 2001; notable winners include Colin Montgomerie, Retief Goosen, Graeme McDowell (twice), Martin Kaymer and Tommy Fleetwood. it’s also a “new” course
like that. It’s a bit crafty that way, almost diabolical.” Consider the devilish end to July’s French Open. A par 4 on the 18th would have given Julian Suri the win, but the American’s approach found the water guarding the green and led to a double bogey. England’s Chris Wood also dropped shots on the 15th and 17th, and Jon Rahm didn’t even last that long, making a triple-bogey 7 on the 12th hole. Alex Noren finished more than a half-hour ahead of the final pairing and played the last four holes in two under to win. Still, if the Albatros Ailment holds, all will be forgotten come September, the adrenaline of the biennial competition fueling both teams. For the Americans, the goal is to win away from the United States, something that
hasn’t happened since 1993. The Europeans are trying to keep from losing two straight matches for the first time in that 25-year span. This is just the second time the Ryder Cup will be played in continental Europe, the other coming in 1997 at Valderrama in Spain. Le Golf National offers numerous riskreward opportunities, presenting options that should make it an intriguing match-play venue. Combined with the location—20 miles southwest of central Paris and five miles from historic Versailles—and the not-so-small fact that several players occupying both rosters seem to have their games in peak form, there’s the potential for a dramatic three days outside the City of Lights. To get you fully prepared, here are nine things to know about the Ryder Cup venue.
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After the European PGA Tour awarded it the Ryder Cup in May 2011, the French Golf Federation made good on its promise to upgrade the Albatros. According to Paul Armitage, general manager of Le Golf National, nearly €8 million was spent on course renovations, mostly done in 2014 and 2015. Chief among the changes was lengthening several holes, including the three par 5s. The course is listed at 7,234 yards for the Ryder Cup with a par of 71. Other notable updates: ▶ Creation of a lake, intended as part of the original design, in front of the par-3 11th hole, replacing marshland that had dried up. ▶ Redesigned greens on the first and 16th holes to allow for more pin positions. ▶ Enhanced drainage to meet the requireseptember 2018 | golf digest india
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‘IT’S NOT LIKE YOU’RE GOING TO HIT 14 DRIVERS. THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF IRONS. THAT’S THE WAY THE GOLF COURSE HAS ALWAYS BEEN.’ ment that the course can open within three hours after any significant rain. That’s an attempt to prevent a repeat of the Monday finish at Celtic Manor in Wales in 2010. ▶ Reconstruction of all bunkers to include concrete bases. ▶ Cosmetic alterations also were made throughout the surrounds of the course. Fescue was added on several holes, and wood railroad ties were installed around several lakes. “The greens were sort of falling into the water previously,” Armitage says. Traditionalists might balk, saying the changes have made the course a bit more “Americanized.” Armitage insists the essential character of the original design remains. “It’s now not quite so rough around the edges,” says Levet, who won the French Open at Le Golf National in 2011 (one of six European Tour wins, the most of any French golfer) and celebrated by jumping into the water beside the 18th green—only to break his leg. the course is built to hold a party
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Land around several of the closing holes was reshaped to make for better—and bigger—areas to build corporate hospitality chalets in anticipation of 60,000 fans and volunteers each day. Those eager to watch the start of any match will appreciate the massive grandstand surrounding the first tee. The largest of its kind in Ryder Cup history, its capacity is 6,500, compared to 2,148 seats at Gleneagles in 2014 and 1,668 at Hazeltine National in 2016. Many of the seats also offer a view of the 18th green. To make sure this party is seen worldwide, fiberoptic cables were laid around the course, all feeding into the three separate TV compounds in use during the matches: one for NBC/Golf Channel in the United States, one for Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, and a separate world feed.
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the course hasn’t gotten harder after the renovation
the course routing isn’t changing for the ryder cup
4
7
the course won’t favor one team over another (wink! wink!)
the course will get more international attention
5
8
At least if you’re using the French Open’s winning score as a barometer. Noren’s seven-under 277 in July was the first time since the bulk of the renovation was completed in 2015 that the champ didn’t shoot double digits under par. The average winning score the past four years has been 10.75 under par; the average winning score in the 13 years before was 10.6 under par.
The not-so-well-kept secret of the Ryder Cup is the influence the home captains have in course setups, the assumption being that they’ll cater conditions to benefit their 12-man side. In 2016, the visiting Europeans howled about how wide open Hazeltine National played and the easy hole locations that set up a birdie-fest. In charge this time, the Europeans would seemingly desire thicker rough and narrow landing areas off the tee to counter the Americans’ perceived length advantage off the tee. European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn insists that he does not envision seeking many changes compared to how the course played in July. “It’s not a big driver’s golf course, but we know that,” Bjorn says. “It’s not like you’re going to hit 14 drivers. There are going to be a lot of irons. That’s the way the golf course has always been.” Perhaps, although the wispy fescue was plenty thick and the fairways narrower than some observers remembered from years past. And by some observers, we’ll include McDowell, one of Bjorn’s vice captains. “We always like to set it up a little tighter and a little tougher and maybe not having the greens quite as fast,” McDowell says. “Does it favor our guys more than theirs? We think it does.” We won’t call Bjorn a liar, but we will call the Europeans’ bluff. Don’t be surprised if the rough is rougher and the fairways thinner when American captain Jim Furyk arrives with his boys.
water will play a factor
6
Ten of the Albatros’ 18 holes have water at least partially in play, including six on the back nine. The greens on the 15th, 16th and 18th holes all have water guarding the approach shots. This could become particularly interesting in foursomes matches, when players who tee off on the odd holes will face the daunting second shot into 18 having potentially hit their last approach shot on the 12th hole.
A trend at team match-play events— Harding Park and the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club for Presidents Cups, and Hazeltine National for the 2016 Ryder Cup—has been to reconfigure the routing so traditional closing holes will see action regardless of whether matches end early. But what players encounter each year at the French Open will be the same for the Ryder Cup.
When the Olympics come to Paris in 2024, Le Golf National will be the site of the men’s and women’s golf competitions.
the french are behind the event (contrary to some reports)
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Michael Lorenzo-Vera, a 33-year-old European Tour pro, surprised some with his outspoken comments this summer about Ryder Cup preparations in his home country. He told The New York Times there is little excitement locally for the event and that golf’s negative reputation in France was undermining the matches. Not surprisingly, event organizers disputed that. European Tour CEO Keith Pelley stated that through June, French fans have purchased 43 percent of the 51,000 daily Ryder Cup tickets sold. That, he said, surpasses the 37 percent of the daily tickets sold to Scottish fans in 2014 at Gleneagles. “The support we have had from everyone in France, the government, the French Golf Federation and the fans has been superb, and these numbers bear that out,” Pelley said. The French Golf Federation reports that the event has already boosted interest in the game domestically. As a condition of hosting the event, the federation committed to building 100 short-course training facilities throughout the country. Nearly all are completed, and the federation says 30,000 new golfers have taken up the game, significant for a country with roughly 410,000 registered golfers. “We believe the event can have a lasting impact on golf in France no matter what happens that week,” Armitage says. Of course, golf fans everywhere are longing to see something special take place the last week of September.
U.S. CAPTAIN JIM FURYK’S GUIDE TO THE LOOP OF DOOM with john huggan
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15
408 yards / par 4 4.26 average in 2018 french open fourth-most difficult
▶
16
▶ This one is all about where rather than how far. So the perfect place to hit it off the tee is about 260 yards into the fat of the fairway. From there, the most difficult pin placements—the ones that really get your attention—are all in the front half of the green or along the right edge, close to the water. There’s a little bit of movement in the green, which only underlines the need for good placement off the tee. Put the ball in the fairway, and you have an opportunity to attack, but with the water so close, the risk is always there, so we’ll see some bogeys and double bogeys. A lot will happen down the stretch on this hole. I don’t see much difference between foursomes and four-balls in terms of strategy, given that everyone will lay up in pretty much the same spot, unless they decide to move the tee way up and give the longer hitters a go at the green. I’m not sure if that will happen, but we’ll be aware of it in practice rounds. I have to say, I don’t see that as a good option. If you decided not to go for it, guys would be hitting wedge off the tee. [Laughs.] It would be a bit like the 10th at The Belfry. I remember hitting 7-iron off that tee. I know fans love to see players going for the green, but this doesn’t look like a hole where that’s going to happen. But we’ll see. Besides, it really gets your attention on the second shot.
177 yards / par 3 3.11 average in 2018 french open
Diagrams by steve Carr/Le goLf NatioNaL
ninth-most difficult
▶ It plays mostly downwind. I can recall hitting a 9-iron off the tee, but it will probably play a little longer than that, even if it’ll be a short iron for most guys. There are some really difficult pin placements. Not only near the water, but toward the back-left portion of the green. I know they have the pin there at least one day during the French Open. Then they run the other pins along the water—front right, middle right, back right. Like 15, short and right is dead in the water, and the miss is long and left. I’m reminded of the holes we play at PGA National. I’d much prefer to see the pins there placed along the water so that guys can bail out in the bunker and still get up and down. The pin close to the bunker is the most difficult. This green is a little wider than those at PGA National, but it still runs away from the left bunker pretty significantly. It looks to me that there is a really tough pin maybe 13 yards on and five from the left. There’s a little shelf up there. Both teams will be very aware of the general areas where pins will be placed. Sometimes you get two guys at the top of their games getting extremely aggressive in the Ryder Cup. In those cases, the fear of water is diminished. You can only lose one hole, so you see amazing shots. september 2018 | golf digest india
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17
480 yards / par 4 4.17 average in 2018 french open sixth-most difficult
▶ This hole makes me chuckle: 15, 16 and 18 with all the obvious risk/reward aspects in play and all the water, then we have this brute of a hole. It doesn’t have a bunker. It doesn’t have water. It’s close to 500 yards, uphill, and just a really good hole. It bends a little right to left off the tee, and the green accepts good, well-struck shots. It’s not deep—only 26 yards—but it’s wide. Over 25 yards wide. Amid all this placement play and water, it’s the exact opposite, but it’s one of my favorite holes on the course. It’s proof that you don’t have to have a lot of hazards in play to make a great hole. Just a great change of pace. Depending on wind and setup, this hole will favor the longer hitter. Henrik and Dustin and Rory are going to be hitting middle irons in there. No one on the American side is going to be as short as me, but I’m going in there with at least a long iron in my hands. There’s a bit of a backstop at the rear of the green, so there’s some help for those going in with longer clubs. You can get in some trouble short and left, though. That frontleft pin is close to a pretty deep depression, so making 4 from over there will be difficult. Having said that, the green is not as busy as some of the others out there. Certainly not as busy as 15 or 16. It matches the shot you’re asked to hit. It’s the perfect green for the type of hole it is.
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18
471 yards / par 4 4.51 average in 2018 french open most difficult
▶ I’m betting everyone in France is hoping a lot of matches make it to the 18th. It’s a par 5 converted to a par 4, playing about 10 yards downhill. It’s an uncomfortable tee shot, but you have to put the ball in the fairway. There’s water all the way down the left, and there are bunkers on the right. You’d love to split those. I think guys standing on that tee are going to be as nervous as they’ve ever been in their entire careers. The key will be picking your spot/ line and committing to it. Then hitting the ball to that spot without worrying about the periphery. That’s all there is to it. [Laughs.] If you do get your ball in the fairway, you’re left with a relatively large target. But the green is well-guarded and looks a lot smaller than it is. There’s not a lot of room for a miss. But, as I said, it’s a large green. So an aggressive swing and the smart shot will never be punished. That combination will win some matches. I can’t imagine that par will ever be a bad score on this hole. But you never know. There’s a lot going on, for sure. I’ve heard some say that the rough on this hole should not be too thick or deep, to encourage guys who have missed the fairway to still go for the green. But I can’t imagine they’ll set the course up as difficult as it was for the French Open, then cut away all the rough for the Ryder Cup.
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ryder cup viewers guide television
all times e astern
thursday, sept. 27 Opening ceremony, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Golf Channel friday, sept. 28 Four four-ball (better-ball) matches followed by four foursomes (alternate-shot) matches, 2 a.m. to 1 p.m., Golf Channel (featured matches streamed on rydercup.com) saturday, sept. 29 Four four-ball (better-ball) matches followed by four foursomes (alternate-shot) matches, 2-3 a.m., Golf Channel; 3 a.m. to 1 p.m., NBC (featured matches streamed on rydercup.com) sunday, sept. 30 Twelve singles matches, 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., NBC (featured hole coverage streamed on rydercup.com) scoring ▶ Each match is worth one point, with matches ending in a draw worth ½ point to each side. The first team to reach 14½ points wins the Ryder Cup. If the matches end in a 14-14 draw, the United States, as the defending champion, would retain the cup. u . s . t e a m - s e l ec t i o n dat e s aug. 12 The top eight players from the Ryder Cup points list will be finalized at the conclusion of the PGA Championship. sept. 3 Jim Furyk will select three of his four captain’s picks after the Dell Technologies Championship. sept. 9 Furyk will make his final captain’s pick after the BMW Championship. european teams e l ec t i o n dat e s sept. 2 The leading four players on European Tour Race to Dubai points list and the next four players on the World Ranking points list will qualify. week of sept. 3 Thomas Bjorn will make his four captain’s picks.
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le golf national (albatros)
r ec e n t r e s u lts
f u t u r e ry d e r c u p venues 2020 Whistling Straits (Straits), Kohler, Wis. 2022 Marco Simone G. & C.C., Rome 2024 Bethpage (Black), Farmingdale, N.Y. 2026 To be announced (European site) 2028 Hazeltine National G.C., Chaska, Minn.
The United States has a 26-13-2 record overall, but since the Great Britain & Ireland team added the rest of Europe in 1979, the Europeans are 10-8-1, outscoring the U.S. team, 269-263: ’16 ’14 ’12 ’10 ’08 ’06 ’04 ’02 ’99 ’97 ’95 ’93 ’91 ’89 ’87 ’85 ’83 ’81 ’79
m a j o r e v e n ts at l e g o l f n at i o n a l ryder cup 2018 french open Past winners of the 26 championships at Le Golf National include Alex Noren, Tommy Fleetwood, Graeme McDowell, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Martin Kaymer and Colin Montgomerie. summer olympics 2024
Hazeltine USA 17-11 Gleneagles EUR 16½-11½ Medinah EUR 14½-13½ Celtic Man. EUR 14½-13½ Valhalla USA 16½-11½ The K Club EUR 18½-9½ Oak. Hills EUR 18½-9½ The Belfry EUR 15½-12½ Brookline USA 14½-13½ Valderrama EUR 14½-13½ Oak Hill EUR 14½-13½ The Belfry USA 15-13 Kiawah USA 14½-13½ The Belfry Halved 14-14 Muirfield Vill. EUR 15-13 The Belfry EUR 16½-11½ PGA Nat. USA 14½-13½ Walton H. USA 18½-9½ Greenbrier USA 17-11
hole
yards
par
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
419 210 558 486 405 380 457 208 579
4 3 5 4 4 4 4 3 5
out
3,702
36
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
375 178 433 415 595 408 177 480 471
4 3 4 4 5 4 3 4 4
in
3,532
35
total
7,234
71
six out of 10 ryder cup matches don’t make it to the 18th hole ▶ Since the rest of Europe joined the Great Britain & Ireland team for the 1979 Ryder Cup, almost four out of every 10 matches have reached the 18th hole. Where matches have ended: year / site
11th
12th
13th
14th
15th
16th
17th
18th
2016 Hazeltine 2014 Gleneagles 2012 Medinah 2010 Celtic Manor 2008 Valhalla 2006 The K Club 2004 Oakland Hills 2002 The Belfry 1999 The Country Club 1997 Valderrama 1995 Oak Hill 1993 The Belfry* 1991 Ocean Course* 1989 The Belfry 1987 Muirfield Village 1985 The Belfry 1983 PGA National 1981 Walton Heath 1979 The Greenbrier*
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 2 0 1 0 1 1 2 1
4 4 2 2 1 2 3 2 1 2 1 1 1 0 1 2 2 1 2
1 5 2 3 3 3 5 4 3 1 5 4 1 1 0 2 2 4 3
9 4 4 6 6 6 7 2 7 6 8 5 6 5 5 7 5 8 7
4 4 6 6 8 5 2 7 5 5 3 4 10 5 8 6 8 5 5
10 11 13 10 10 12 11 13 11 12 9 11 8 15 14 10 10 8 8
totals
2
4
12
34
52
113
106
206
0.4%
0.8%
2.3%
6.4%
9.8%
21.4%
20.0%
38.9%
percentage * DENOTES
YE AR IN WHICH ONE MATCH WAS NOT PL AYED BECAUSE OF INJURY
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Undercover Tour Pro It’s time to share when you have 300 golf shirts in the closet xcept for Sundays and holidays, never has a day passed when both the FedEx and UPS trucks drove by my house without stopping. My wife is a seasoned online shopper, but most of the cardboard packages left on our doorstep are for me. PGA Tour players, as you might imagine, get a lot of stuff. ▶ Every three months I get a shipment of 50 shirts, plus a few dozen pairs of pants. My clothing supplier wants me to wear the new season and encourages getting rid of the old to avoid confusion. I’ve purged entire boxes when one sponsor changes a logo. I give clothes to friends as much as I can and save certain items I especially like to wear just around the house. Still, I’m always bringing garbage bags to donation boxes. At the moment, I probably have 300 golf shirts in my closet. I’ve kept every shirt that I wore on a Sunday when I won (never to wear again, but because I think it’s a nice tradition). And like any golfer, I’m occasionally compelled to visit the golf shop when I play a bucket-list course. But other than that, I’m really not sentimental. Shirts just pile up.
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Pants are more personal, and I can have a hard time parting with a pair that works. Hats? Don’t get me started. You’ll find several unopened boxes in my garage. Socks, belts, embroidered towels and random accessories—I tell anyone who visits to take whatever they like. Take as many balls as you want, too, though I’ve seen only one person grab more than two dozen. I even tell people to take clubs. There’s just one staff bag that is off-limits. The bag is from a year I played well at the Presidents Cup, and it’s mostly full of putters. Technology never passes putters by, and you never know when you’ll need an old friend. I know this sounds obnoxious, but when I’m on tour, I wear a new glove every day. To me, there’s a world of difference between a new glove and one that’s a day old. If I’m practicing at home, then maybe I’ll wear a used one. Hey, it’s one of the perks of making it as a professional, so why not? Compared to other players, I’m actually fairly modest. Some guys want to always match their shoes to their belt or collar, so they travel with eight or nine pairs. I travel with only two pairs of shoes; my gamers and a pair that I’m breaking in. Though the leather never gets too worn. After four tournaments, all my shoes go to The First Tee. My rule is, if I can’t fit everything into one suitcase and my golf-bag travel case, I’ve packed too much. A dozen shirts plus eight or nine pairs of pants is standard. As long as it’s not summer, you can get away with wearing pants a couple of times. If I’m playing three tournaments in a row, the question is whether I’ll do laundry once or twice. If a hotel has a setup for guest laundry, I actually enjoy the downtime listening to podcasts or music. Here’s a useful secret for golf fans: If you ever want a free umbrella, hang around one of our tournaments late on a Sunday. Players and caddies are great at “forgetting” umbrellas in the locker room and bag storage. It’s sort of horrible that such an expensive item has become disposable out here, but that’s the way it is. They’re heavy enough to possibly be difference-makers when weighing luggage at the airport, and the equipment trucks are loaded with them if we ever need one. At the U.S. Open at Shinnecock this year, a bunch of players got caught without umbrellas during some unexpected rain Friday morning. You might think that’s incredible, a caddie risking performance in a major championship to save 14 ounces of freight. But when all the stuff is free, the mind-set becomes how to free yourself from it. — with max adler
illustration by al murphy • shirts: shana novak/Getty imaGes
The Golf Life Mr. X
Play Four Ways to Find the Fairway Combat any wind condition with these tee shots by kevin kisner
i’ve come to accept I’m not one of the longest guys on tour, so if I’m going to beat guys who are 20 to 30 yards longer off the tee—like I did at the 2015 RSM Classic and the 2017 Dean & DeLuca Invitational—I have to keep the ball in the fairway. My stats prove that. Heading into the British Open in July, I was 35 under par on approaches from the fairway between 50 and 175 yards. In the same range from the rough, I was 14 over. That’s a big difference. Being a solid driver means having more than one way to find the fairway. I’m going to teach you four, one for each type of wind condition. Pair the correct play with that wind, and you’ll be hitting your next shot from the short grass. —with e. michael johnson
Photographs by J.D. Cuban
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“If you don’t hit it high enough downwind, you won’t get the distance boost.” SLICE WIND PLAY IT FORWARD ▶ With most tee shots, I start by determining where I need to drive it to leave the best angle into the green. Then I check to see how the wind might impact that plan and adjust for it. I struggle the most with a slice wind (coming from the left for right-handers), but my adjustments are to play the ball way up, off my left toe (left), and aim farther left than normal. The ball position and alignment help me start the ball on a path left of the fairway and, hopefully, let the breeze push it back into the fairway in the ideal spot. DOWNWIND TEE IT HIGH AND LOAD UP ▶ Everyone loves a hole where the wind is at your back. To take advantage of that, I tee the ball higher than normal—with half of it sitting above the driver when I sole it. I also position the ball just off my left heel. The last thing I do at address is tilt my right shoulder slightly down (left) and to the right. All of this promotes a higher launch angle, which gets the ball up and riding the wind. When I swing, I load up on my right side and then fire into the ball from the inside, trying to draw it for even more of a distance boost. If you do this, be careful not to get too much weight on your right side when you take the club back. It makes it harder to hit it solid. HEAD WIND STAY SHORT AND CENTERED ▶ We’re lucky we play mostly on firm fairways on tour; at least the ball will roll when the hole is into the wind. I play for that, trying to hit it 20 feet off the ground and chase it out there. At address, I tee the ball only an inch off the grass, play it about two inches back of my left heel and grip down a little on the driver (below, left). I also aim slightly left of the target, because the tendency is for the shot to squirt right as a result of the ball position—it’s harder to square the face. The swing keys: Keep your weight centered between your feet, and make a short-but-smooth swing back and through. The mistake is to lean forward and hit down on it to keep the shot low. That creates extra spin, killing distance. HOOK WIND LET IT RIDE ▶ I love when it’s coming from the right, because my natural shot shape—a draw—curves with the breeze and goes forever. With this one my setup is standard, but you might want to close your stance a little (aim your body right of the target) to promote an in-to-out draw swing path. The shot’s start line is important. I aim down the right edge of the hole so the ball will ride the breeze into the fairway. Note how I’ve released the club through impact (right). Don’t try to steer it into play. With this wind, just hammer it.
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gutter credit tk
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Play Your Best Tee to Green by Butch Harmon
“Be like Tiger: Beat pressure with a relentless routine.” Transform Your Game Success starts with improving on the green by jessica korda
Prime-Time Putting Here’s how to roll them in when it matters most e all know players who seem to always get it done under pressure. More likely, they just look good by comparison with the golfers around them who are collapsing. Putting seems to exaggerate this phenomenon. When that putt on the last hole falls or doesn’t, the player’s reputation on the greens is set for life. But you can do something to boost your chance of putting well in stressful situations. Develop a pre-putt routine, and stick to it no matter what’s on the line. I don’t care if you take one practice stroke, two or none. I don’t care if you look at the hole once, twice, three times—whatever. The key is
W
doing what feels right to you when there’s no pressure, and then doing it the same when there is. That’s a good routine. Tiger is the best pressure putter I’ve ever seen, and his routine is unwavering. You can put a stopwatch on him on the first green and the last, and he’ll
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take the same amount of time doing the same things. Most golfers tend to slow down when they get nervous. Yes, there are those who speed up to get it over with, but most take extra practice strokes, extra looks at the hole, more time reading the green or just standing over the ball. It might feel like you’re asserting more control, but you’re only giving yourself time to second-guess. I can’t tell you the perfect routine for you, but I can tell you what works for me. I take one practice stroke, long and
loose to relieve tension, then I aim the putterface precisely down my starting line. Once I have the face in position, I build the rest of my setup around that. Finally, I take one look down the line, then go. I’m a confident putter, and my routine has a lot to do with that. Go out and experiment with different routines, and see what feels comfortable. Then work to make it part of your game. You’ll hole more clutch putts. butch harmon is a Golf Digest Teaching Professional.
tiger’s drill for consistency ▶ When I worked with Tiger, he used to do this drill all the time. Pick a five- or six-foot putt, aim the putterface at the hole, and stick tees just outside the heel and toe. Practice stroking putts. The tees will give instant feedback: If you hit the outside tee, you looped the putterhead to the outside on the forward stroke; hit the inside tee, you looped it inside. Nothing beats making square contact when it comes to holing putts. Photographs by Dom Furore
Step by Step by David Leadbetter Play Your Best
very bad result in golf can be traced back to a root cause. If you’re struggling to hit accurate drives, the issue is a lack of clubface control. Many amateurs start their backswings by whipping the driver way inside the target line and opening the face. From there, they re-route the club on a looping path that comes into the ball from outside the target line—the classic over-the-top move—with an open face in relation to the path. You can guess what happens next. The ball slices right of the target. If by some luck or lastsecond adjustment they can close the face, the ball flies on a straight line but left of the target. How many times have you heard another golfer get frustrated after setting up to hit a drive that flies left to right—and presumably in the fairway—only to see the ball go dead left and into the trees? If a round of golf for you is constant guesswork of where the ball might end up, you can improve your accuracy if you fix the cause and control the clubface better
E
through impact. It starts by making a better takeaway. No more whipping the club inside. Instead, pretend the clubface has vision, and its job is to swing back while keeping its eyes on the ball. In the photos above, my club starts squarely behind the ball and does not rotate open in the takeaway. Copy this move. I want you to keep it staring at the ball as long as you can when you take it back. What you’ll find is that this gets you to make a backswing where your club, hands, arms and body all turn together. This is the type of synchronized movement that allows you to control the clubface. Ideally, it should return to the ball facing your target, and your shot will fly straight. Even marginal improvements in clubface control will reduce the dispersion of your offline hits. You’ll be in play a lot more often. — with ron kaspriske david leadbetter, a Golf Digest Teaching Professional, runs 32 academies worldwide.
my trick for holing all the short ones ▶ You’ve probably heard someone tell you to keep your head still when you’re on the green—especially if you’re trying to hole a short putt. The advice is well intended. The less you move, the less chance you will twist the putterface open or closed and miss the putt. No steering! Unfortunately, locking down your head can add a degree of tension and prevent you from making a confident, relaxed stroke. Since we’re on the subject of vision on this page, I’ve got a better way to help you control the putter as you make your stroke. Instead of thinking about keeping your head still, your swing thought should be keep my eyes still. You’ll notice right away that it has the same effect of minimizing body movement, but it doesn’t add extra tension to the stroke.
Photographs by J.D. Cuban at the Concession Golf Club, Bradenton, Fla.
illustration by al murphy
Accuracy Tip: Stare Down the Ball Not with your eyes, with your clubface
There’s a Way Out Your new plan for exiting steep-lipped bunkers by matt killen
t’s said that golf architects were inspired to design bunkers by the hollows animals such as sheep created for protection against the elements. Nice story, but now that you’re in a bunker that looks like an impact crater from a B-17 bombing raid, I’m sure you’re having a hard time appreciating the charm of that narrative. Simply put, some bunkers have walls so steep, a standard sand shot is out of the question.
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You need a different plan for when your ball is so close to the bunker’s face it might get swatted back into the sand like a blocked shot by Shaquille O’Neal. First, assess the situation. If you can’t get the ball up quickly enough to clear the face and hit it toward the flagstick, play your bunker shot in another direction. What direction? Well, if the lip is lower guarding another part of the green, that’s your exit strategy. If the steep face is between your ball and the entire green, then I’m sorry but you’ll have to find a spot off the green that makes your next shot as easy as possible. That usually means hitting to an area where you’ll have an uphill pitch to
the hole. This is one of those times where you have to put your hubris in check and accept that the smart play is to simply get out. That being said, there are times when you can get out and get the ball moving toward the hole. When you think you can pull off a shot from this nasty lie, I want you to remember this one thing: long and slow. That means you’re going to make a long backswing and through-swing , and feel like your clubhead speed isn’t as quick as in a typical bunker play. A long-and-slow swing will help produce a higher, softer shot that gets the ball over the lip and lets it release toward the hole. As far as swing
mechanics, it helps to keep the left wrist (for right-handers) in a cupped position to add loft to the shot. Cupped means the back of your hand is closer to the top of your forearm than your palm. Also, when you swing, let the clubhead release so it gets ahead of your hands as it moves through the sand. What you don’t want is to dig deep into the sand with the handle of your club leaning toward the target at impact. Last tip? Don’t try to climb out. Take the elevator. —with ron kaspriske matt killen, one of Golf Digest’s Best Young Teachers, is the short-game coach for Justin Thomas.
warren little/getty images
Play Your Best Gimme One Thing
Jim Nantz Avoiding football is a gimme s we all know, the concept of the gimme putt is anathema to the PGA Tour. When the modernized Rules of Golf are rolled out in 2019, you will not find a provision stating that tap-ins will henceforth be considered good. Nothing in golf is certain, especially on the PGA Tour. ▶ But that’s about to change. If there’s one thing I see as an absolute lock, it’s that the success of the revamped 2019 PGA Tour schedule—the dates of the FedEx Cup playoffs and season-ending Tour Championship especially—is going to be, for myriad reasons, a gimme.
A
There are a bunch of notable changes in the tour’s new universe, not the least of which are the move of the Players Championship back to March and the PGA Championship from August to May. The average fan can’t help but focus attention there, because they’re huge events. But allow me to focus on the end game—the playoffs—which will conclude the last weekend of August. The Tour Championship traditionally ended the third Sunday in September, which in a television context put it dead up against the NFL national doubleheader games aired on CBS or Fox. There’s no denying the NFL is America’s favorite television sport. For example, the 2018 Super Bowl produced a Nielsen household rating of 43.1, and the Waste Management Phoenix Open earlier that same Sunday drew what is considered a respectable 2.5. Even high-profile golf events don’t produce numbers that come close to the mighty NFL. The memorable Ryder Cup at Hazeltine in 2016 produced a 2.7, and in 2014, when it was broadcast from Scotland and aired early in the day here in the United States, a 1.6. And what happens when golf regularly goes head-to-head with the NFL? Over the past 10 years, the late NFL game on Tour Championship Sunday has dominated the golf by a whopping 13.4 to 1.7. The disparity is huge. One of PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan’s stated goals when he took over
for Tim Finchem in 2017 was to bring the PGA Tour season to an earlier close to prevent the conflict and increase golf viewership. With each rating point equaling upward of a million homes, it’s easy to see why it matters. It’s that new August date that steers away from football that will set up game-changing events. That 1.7 rating for the Tour Championship and the playoff events leading into it should instantly go up. To what extent is to be seen, but it’s inevitable and will be in the range of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of households. That, in turn, means
delivering more eyes to FedEx, the tour’s biggest sponsor. The playoff events will become much more valuable. Incentive for players to make it to the postseason will grow stronger. That’s not all. With the playoffs arriving earlier, the heart of the PGA Tour schedule, which essentially begins at the start of the calendar year and then gains momentum at Torrey Pines with mainstream network coverage, grows more condensed. The number of tournaments from Torrey to the Tour Championship goes from 34 to 31. That might not sound like a lot, but it’s almost a 10-percent reduction. These tournaments naturally become a greater focal point for top players. Their gravitas grows. There’s greater drama and more storylines. The quality of the golf gets even better. Have you noticed that as purse sizes increase, money as a measuring stick recedes? I’ve realized this already—more fans reference the FedEx Cup points standings and World Golf Rankings than they do the money list. That’s exactly what the tour wants. The more condensed central schedule also makes the PGA Tour easier to follow. All because of that brilliant schedule adjustment. Hopefully these types of sea changes are not over. There’s room to adjust the FedEx Cup playoffs to make them even more coherent, suspenseful and dramatic. For example, I’ve always viewed as curious the situation that unfolded last year, when Xander Schauffele won the Tour Championship but didn’t win the FedEx Cup (that went to Justin Thomas). How to cure that quirk? What if—and I’m just musing here—you had the topfive finishers from the Tour Championship advance to a two- or three-hole shootout later that afternoon, the winner landing that $10 million prize? Kind of like the showcase round on “The Price Is Right.” Or handicap the players by strokes so that the frontrunner going into the last event has the lead at the start of the tournament, and the player in 30th position starts a predetermined number of shots back. These ideas are far from a gimme. But at the pace the PGA Tour is adapting to the modern sports landscape, I see innovations like the schedule change winding up stonedead to the hole.
PhotograPh: golf Digest resource center • Ball: hayes sPecialties corPoration • illustration: al MurPhy
The View from Pebble Beach The Golf Life
The Golf Life The Digest
“
I PLAY GOLF FOR WHAT IT BRINGS ME BUT ALSO TO BRING JOY AND HAPPINESS TO PEOPLE WHO WATCH IT. IT’S A SPORT, BUT IT’S ALSO ENTERTAINMENT. IF YOU DON’T GIVE PLEASURE TO PEOPLE, THEN YOU’RE MISSING THE POINT.
”
wine not?
▶ In the spirit of Le Ryder Cup Parisian, we asked Atlanta-based sommelier Gilbert Kulers, CWE, to suggest some wine pairings that go well with golf accomplishments. making a hole-in-one
An ace as rare as it is exciting. Mais bien sûr Champagne is in order. Let’s pick the 2005 Drappier Blanc de Blancs ($75) from the south side of the Champagne region, where white grapes are rare and wines made solely from chardonnay grapes are rarer. recording your best score
Focus. Determination. Positive thinking. All traits that lead to personal bests. The late Al Brounstein, founder of Diamond Creek Vineyards, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 64 but continued to make some of Napa Valley’s most sought-after wines until his death at 86. Raise a glass of Al’s 2011 Volcanic Hill cabernet sauvignon ($233) to unflinching dedication.
IT’S ST. ANDREWS TIME ▶ Want to visit Scotland and play the famed Old Course next year? There’s a brief window this year—Aug. 22 to Sept. 5—when booking tee times is easy and relatively inexpensive. Go to standrews.com during this period and click “play,” then “how to book,” then “Old Course”. Unless you’re visiting in the winter, you’ll need to buy a round at the Old Course plus one on another of the seven courses at St. Andrews. The cost for summer 2019 is £330 (about $440) for both rounds. In the spring and fall “shoulder” seasons, it’s £230 (or $307).
winning the club championship
RYDER CUP EPITHETS WE’D LIKE TO SEE 2004, oakland hills
THE MISTAKE BY THE LAKE Hal Sutton’s pairing of Tiger and Phil backfires. 2006, k club
THE BORE BY THE SHORE (KINDA) Europe routs the U.S., 18½-9½. 2008, valhalla:
THE THRILL IN LOUISVILLE
The U.S. wins easily with a team that includes Boo Weekley, Chad Campbell and Ben Curtis. 2016, hazeltine
THE BRAWL BY THE MALL (OF AMERICA)
The U.S. ends Ryder Cup skid with 17-11 win. 2018, le golf national
THE FIRST DANCE IN FRANCE The Ryder Cup heads to Paris.
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You didn’t just compete, you dominated the field and etched your name in club history. Celebrate with a bottle of 2012 Dominus Estate ($230), a Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon blend made by the revered Christian Moueix. Besides Dominus (Latin for “master”), he makes Pétrus, one of the top Bordeauxs.
van de velde: adam davy/empiCS/getty imageS • St. andrewS: david Cannon/getty imageS • woodS, miCkelSon: timothy a . Cl ary/aFp/getty imageS • Champagne: george rinhart/getty imageS
—JEAN VAN DE VELDE
by sam weinman + alex myers
boat: Charlie SChuCk • napole0n: photoS.Com • degaulle: the print ColleCtor • Chanel: george rinhart/CorbiS • le pew: CtrphotoS • trophy: andrew redington/getty imageS • mimeS: peter arkle
New house in gated community
$5 MILLION
Bonus for caddie, agent, swing coach, mental coach, trainer, masseuse, masseuse’s assistant, assorted deadbeat relatives
$1.5 MILLION
A share in a private jet
$200,000
Second house to fly to now that you have a share in a private jet
$2 MILLION
Staff for your second house
$200,000
Rugs, towels, assorted linens
$50,000
Boat to take to second house in case jet is occupied
$500,000
Crew for your boat
$100,000
Assorted snacks for your boat
$39
Art collection to class up your new homes
$449,914
Assorted Introductory art books so you know what you’re talking about describing your new art
$47
TOTAL
$10 MILLION
▶ Famous French Golfers of History
napoleon bonaparte Diminutive emperor was notoriously prickly about short tee ball.
charles de gaulle Master statesman was skilled negotiator of strokes on first tee.
coco chanel Trailblazing designer and fragrance icon was readily identifiable by her scented wedges.
pepé le pew Amorous skunk generously gave putts, preferred extended hugs after matches.
CUP MOMENTS: QUIZ RYDER REAL OR FAKE?
1
4
2
5
3
6
European team is miffed when American players and wives storm the green at Brookline with match ongoing. Paul Azinger and Seve Ballesteros spar over Ballesteros’ strategic coughing during match at Kiawah.
Phil Mickelson criticizes Tom Watson’s leadership in exceedingly awkward post Ryder Cup press conference in 2014.
Ian Poulter draws ire of Americans when caught on camera mocking Jim Furyk’s swing.
European team outraged when team room at Hazeltine doesn’t have Wi-Fi.
Tiger Woods switches to decaf coffee before 2004 Ryder Cup, alienates teammates with crankiness all week at Oakland Hills.
answers: 1. T, 2. T, 3. T, 4. F, 5. F, 6. F
HOW TO ALLOT $10 MILLION AFTER WINNING THE FEDEX CUP
when your caddie is a mime ▶ How to understand his signals
out-of-bounds
ball in hazard
don’t hit!
i need a snack at the turn
ball is in some sort of box
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