Golf Digest India - October 2016

VolumE 1 IssuE 6

RNI No. HARENG/2016/66983 octobER 2016 `150

Think Young | PlaY hard

How sTeNsoN goT His gAMe BACK FroM A 'dArK PLACe' goLdeN reTireMeNTs For PgA Tour Pros iNside THe roPes rAHiL gANgjee wHAT TosKi TeLLs YouNg PLAYers TrAveL sANd HiLLs goLF CLuB

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the comeback story

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Contents 10/16

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

Play Your Best

▶ Cover Story

Is Tiger Done?

14 Warning: Fragile Tiger has had a great fall, but here’s why I’m not willing to say he’s done.

by Jaime diaz 17 Tiger’s World of Hurt These 27 reported

instances create a telling story 22 Turkey calling for Tiger Tiger Woods has announced his intent to play on the European Tour

76

Martin Kaymer: Beat the Tough Holes

79

Hank Haney Shaping your shots starts with your finish

52

Awesome Andrew A folk hero on burgers and beards, not to mention Goldilocks, roller coasters and the six stages of drinking. with guy yocom

58

by bob toski and gary battersby 62

Bunker Basics Learn from the best sand player on the LPGA Tour.

What Bob Toski Tells Young Players A teaching great offers

8 golf digest india | october 2016

‘I am not a quitter’ How Henrik Stenson learned to win big after conquering the yips by matthew rudy

Swing Sequence: Paul Casey

Club Round Up Updates from courses across India

38

David Leadbetter Hitting the safe punch-out

Spotlight IAPGA Tour

42

Mission America Step by step guide to help you earn a golf scholarship in the US

Jack Nicklaus It’s OK to plan for a miss

84

The Golf Life

92

94

by Jenny shin 64

by rohit bhardwaJ

36

81

tips for making golf easier.

by bharath arvind 44

Tête-à-tête with Ashwani Khurana

48

The Core How you can protect your wrists. by ron kaspriske

Business Of Golf Industry insights & updates

50

Pensions PGA Tour pros get a gift that keeps giving.

Corporate Digest Duke of Edinburgh Cup Qualifiers

102 GDI Reviews

Travel Sand Hills Golf Club wasn’t so much designed as discovered

by ron sirak 96

Inside the Ropes Not reacting to bad match situations has helped seasoned professional Rahil Gangjee Players in the News Update on Indian Golfers around the world

Butch Harmon How to: The hybrid chip

70

Features

30

34

80

88

India Digest

104 18 Holes

with Sunam Sarkar

The Rundown Seve’s match-play tips. by brittany romano Cover photograph: Golf DiGest

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Editor’s Letter Dear Readers,

O

ctober marks the start of the golf season in India and over the next 7 months we are sure to see plenty of action at every level of golf in the country. Major international pro events will take place, the PGTI tour reaches its finale in December, the national amateur champions will be crowned and so much more.

We promise our readers we will keep you posted with insights on what is happening, trends and changes and of course tournaments which our readers can participate in themselves.

Our cover story is on Tiger Woods as he is trying to return to action after being away from tournament play for over 12 months!

He has entered the first event on the PGA Tour’s 2016-17 season – Safeway Open – besides announcing his intent to compete in Turkey. We will soon know how his comeback goes. No other No. 1 ranked player in history since Ben Hogan in the early 1950s has attempted to come back after such a long period away from the game. Let’s hope over the next few weeks, Tiger at least shows us glimpses of his past greatness.

Some readers have asked why our cover isn’t glossy like it used to be and the reason is that this type of matt finish is preferred and recommended internationally now and this gives the publication a more contemporary and world class feel. The US edition of Golf Digest doesn’t use a glossy finish either.

Once again check out tips from our legendary cast of Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, David Leadbetter, Hank Haney and Butch Harmon. The monthly swing sequence of Paul Casey shows a classic action which any youngster would do well to copy exactly.

We hope indian golfers will make Golf Digest India a companion in their golfing journey and we look forward to interacting and receiving feedback from many of our readers over the coming golf season.

#TigeRisback

contact us

photo grap h: Golf DiGes t

Write to me at rishi@teamgolfdigest.com or on Twitter @RishiNarain_

Keep swinging!

team Golf DiGest inDia

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

Editor Rishi Narain

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

Contributing Editor Bharath Arvind bharath@teamgolfdigest.com

Srijan Yadav srijan@teamgolfdigest.com Phone: +91-9416252880

10 golf digest india | october 2016

Rishi Narain Editor

Managing Editor Rohit Bhardwaj rohit@teamgolfdigest.com

Editorial Assistant Vineet Mann vineet@teamgolfdigest.com Assistant Art Director Guneet Singh Oberoi

Published and Printed by Rishi Narain on behalf of Rishi Narain Golf Management Private Limited and Printed at Thomson Press India Limited, 18-35 Mile Stone, Delhi-Mathura Road, Faridabad-121 007, Haryana and published from 501, Sushant Tower, Sector-56, Gurgaon-122 011, Haryana.

Editor: Rishi Narain. Contains material reprinted by permission from Golf Digest® and Golf World®. Golf Digest India is a monthly publication of Rishi Narain Golf Management Private Limited.

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India Digest Letters to the Editor

From the

Readers I would like to begin by congratulating you and your team on the enormous challenge you have undertaken to promote the sport of Golf in India.

As far back as I can recall there were summer camps for golf at The Delhi Golf Club and the driving range at Siri Fort Sports complex. Not too many saw past the golfing network within their cities let alone the international tours.

The Golf Digest has certainly played a vital role in building awareness of the efforts being taken to improve the quality of Golf in India as well as sharing key insights on Player statistics, state of the art equipment and certified techniques to help improve the Average golfers game.

Thanks for restarting the Golf Digest India, once again.

The relaunched magazine is very lively especially taking care of Indian golf circuit updates.

Currently, we do not have any single umbrella forum for connecting and reaching out on Indian golf progress. There is so much excitement happening in India, that very much in the near future all would connect with this magazine as a unified forum.

I am not aware of the viability etc, however the effort is really worth appreciating and it will be successful beyond imagination and you will be getting my subscription soon.

With Golf’s supreme scope in the years to come, The Golf Digest has definitely found a space to explore and I am quite excited to see what lies ahead!

Akrit Singh Soin, New Delhi

VolumE 1 Iss uE

5 RNI No. HAR ENG/2016/66 983 sEptEmbER 2016 `150

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Photograph by First Lastname

WARNINg:FRAgILE Tiger has had a great fall, but here’s why I’m not willing to say he’s done by jaime diaz Illustration by Eddie Guy

october 2016 | golf digest india

15

Maybe it’s all over.

Odds are, it is.

Woods turns 41 Dec. 30.

The oldest winner of each major, and selected others: MASTERS o l de st Jack Nicklaus, 46. se l ect e d ot h e rs Ben Crenshaw, 43; Gary Player, 42; Mark O’Meara, Sam Snead, 41; Ben Hogan, 40; Snead, Angel Cabrera, Phil Mickelson, 39; Hogan, Player, Nick Faldo, 38.

U.S. OPEN o l dest Hale Irwin, 45. s e l ect e d ot hers Julius Boros, Raymond Floyd, 43; Payne Stewart, 42; Nicklaus, 40.

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP o l de st Old Tom Morris, s elect e d ot h e rs Robert De Vicenzo, Mickelson, 43; Darren Clarke, Ernie Els, O’Meara, 41; Henrik Stenson, Player, Zach Johnson, 39; Nicklaus,

46.

44; 42; 40; 38.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP o l de st Julius Boros, s e l ect e d ot hers Lee Trevino, Vijay Singh, 41; Nicklaus, Floyd, Larry Nelson, 39; Hubert Green, Jimmy Walker,

16 golf digest india | october 2016

48.

44; 40; 38; 37.

ing back in a way that matches those other things is the only thing he hasn’t done. It’s why we can’t stop talking about him.”

No, golf can’t quit Tiger Woods.

Perhaps it would be easier if there were more clarity, because for all the scrutiny and analysis, it’s still impossible to know what exactly is the source of the problem with Woods. His words, always vague and withholding, seem intended to perpetuate avoidance and mystery. (Through a spokesman, Woods declined to comment for this article.)

His situation seems to be governed by three possible narratives: injuries (see right). Woods has had many of them, but we often have only his word as to where, when and how severe. Invoking injury as the cause of his poor play gives Woods control. He talks about it a lot, sometimes in detail. “The knee acted up, and So many key indicators say so: three rethe Achilles followed after that, and then the cent back surgeries/procedures, recurring calf started cramping up,” he said after withchip yips, scores in the 80s, WDs, the quiet drawing after nine holes at the 2011 Players desperation in a muttered “C’mon, Tiger” Championship. After a two-month leave of before hitting a third straight pitch shot into absence last year, Woods played the worst the water. golf of his career before a surprise back surIn the history of golf, no great player gery in September and a sudden follow-up who has fallen from the top for this long has the next month. Throughout 2016, he stayed ever returned to dominance. And no dominoncommittal and vague about the progress nant player has ever dropped so far as quickof his healing or any projections for a return ly—from a record 683 weeks at World No. 1 to competition. “Put it this way: I want to (for periods from June 1997 to May 2014) to play; I don’t know if I will,” Woods said in No. 683 in August 2016—as Tiger Woods.

June of his chances of returning in 2016.

The shock is still being absorbed. If the The extended absence gave Woods a respite Woods era has truly ended, it will have hapfrom the questions, scrutiny and judgment pened at an age younger than he was undergoing when he any all-time player since did play. It’s also a more noble Bobby Jones. Woods won his way to be inactive, a warrior 14th major in 2008 at 32, but hurt in battle. The promise of Jones’ retirement from complaying is one that his sponpetition at 28 in 1930, like Bysors are attuned to, and so ron Nelson’s at 34 in 1946, was far, none have dropped him voluntary. for non-performance. golf swing. After years After looking as if he in which the progress of his might have returned to his most recent swing change previous level after a 2013 in dominated his post-round which he had five victories interviews, Woods has curand won player-of-the-year tailed those conversations. It honors, Woods has cratered. has always been more trouble In the six major championto explain than injuries, with ships he has played since Woods tossing out jargon then—he didn’t enter any about “baseline shifts,” “a of the four this year—he has consistent bottom,” “explomissed four cuts. In the 64 he siveness” and “feels” without entered as a pro before that, elaboration before impatienthe missed three.

Former heavyweight boxing ly ending discussion with old The stark futility causes champion george Foreman standbys like “I’m close,” or the mind to rebel. He’s Tiger “It’s a process.” Woods talked Woods, the most talented, about his technique a lot as he transitioned grittiest, big-moment player ever. He can’t from Hank Haney to Sean Foley in 2010 and, go out this way. “He’s done everything else,” since November 2014, “swing consultant” says Dr. Jim Afremow, sport psychologist Chris Como. Each change has brought diand author of The Champion’s Comeback, a minishing returns, which has added strain study of the components and behaviors in to interview sessions. The only time Woods the successful return of great athletes. “Com-

‘The big Thing is, he has To sTop Trying To play like The Tiger Woods of 21. . . .

Use WhaT yoU have noW.’

12.94 ▶ Has surgery to remove scar tissue and two benign tumors from his left knee.

06.95 ▶ Withdraws from the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills after injuring his left wrist playing a shot out of the rough.

12.02 ▶ Has surgery to drain fluid around his left ACL and to remove benign cysts.

10.06 ▶ Expresses doubts about whether he would be able to play because of an injured left shoulder blade but wins the WGCAmerican Express Championship.

Summer 07 ▶ Says he ruptured the ACL in his left knee while running on a golf course but wins five of his last six events of the year, including the PGA Championship.

04.08 ▶ After a runner-up finish in the Masters, has surgery to repair cartilage in his left knee.

06.08

05.11

▶ Wins the U.S. Open with two stress fractures in his left tibia and ligament damage in his left knee. Has surgery after the Open to repair the ACL and cartilage in his left knee.

2008-’09 ▶ At the 2010 Masters, reveals that he played through a torn right Achilles tendon in 2008 that was re-injured in 2009.

08.14

▶ WDs from the Players Championship, citing his Achilles, the lingering knee injury and pain in his left calf.

▶ WDs at Firestone, citing back spasms after a shot from an awkward lie.

02.15

06.11 ▶ Misses the U.S. Open, citing his left knee and Achilles.

03.12

09.15

▶ WDs at Doral, citing pain in his left Achilles.

06.13

11.09 ▶ Hospitalized overnight with a sore neck and a cut lip that required five stitches after driving his SUV over a fire hydrant and into a tree.

05.10 ▶ WDs from the Players Championship, citing neck pain that was later termed an inflamed facet joint.

12.10 ▶ Gets cortisone shot in his right ankle for lingering soreness in his Achilles.

04.11 ▶ Reveals a sprain of his left MCL and strained left Achilles after a shot from under the Eisenhower Tree at the Masters.

▶ WDs at Torrey Pines, citing back pain and fog delays that kept him from getting his “glutes” activated.

▶ Announces he will miss the AT&T National, citing left-elbow pain suffered at the Players and aggravated at the U.S. Open.

08.13 ▶ Drops to the ground at The Barclays, citing back pain he attributes to sleeping on a too-soft hotel bed.

▶ Undergoes a second microdiscectomy procedure to remove a small disc fragment that was pinching a nerve.

10.15 ▶ Announces he has undergone a follow-up procedure to relieve back discomfort.

12.15 ▶ Says there is no timetable for a return, adding, “There’s nothing to look forward to.”

02.16

03.14 ▶ WDs from the Honda Classic, citing lowerback spasms.

04.14 ▶ Announces that a microdiscectomy procedure for a pinched nerve in his back will force him to miss the Masters.

▶ Agent Mark Steinberg says speculation that Woods suffered a serious setback is “completely false.”

07.16 ▶ Steinberg says Woods would continue to rehab and assess when he would start play in the 2016-’17 season.

TIGER’S WORLD OF HURT Tiger Woods told Golf Digest’s Jaime Diaz in 2005 that he has had a bad left knee since childhood. “It’s because of the stuff I did as a kid,” Woods said. “Wiping out on skateboards, crashing on dirt bikes, jumping off things. I banged it up pretty bad.” After Woods’ surgery to repair his ACL and cartilage following his 14th professional major title, the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, Golf Digest surveyed 21 PGA Tour players to predict his future: 81 percent said, “Eventually he’ll be the same old Tiger”; 14 percent said he would be “better than ever”; 5 percent said, “His best is probably behind him.” Woods’ key injuries are detailed here.

Illustration by Bryan Christie

welcomed talking golf swing was when it afcember at the tournament Woods hosts in forded him an explanation for his shocking the Bahamas, the Hero World Challenge. chip yips, claiming the problems stemmed Having not played competitively since Aufrom getting “caught between” the different gust, a subdued Woods riffed about being OK “release patterns” taught by Foley and Como. with coming close to Sam Snead’s career repsyche. Presumably Woods’ least-favorcord for PGA Tour victories (82 to Woods’ 79) ite narrative, based on the fact that he never and Jack Nicklaus’ mark for major profestalks about it. But it’s impossible to ignore sional championships (18 to Woods’ 14). “For that even while factoring in his 2013 season, my 20 years out here, I think I’ve achieved a Woods’ game has been in sharp decline since lot,” he said, “and if that’s all it entails, then Thanksgiving 2009, when his Escalade hit a I’ve had a pretty good run.” fire hydrant in front of his ▶ In June, Woods revealed Isleworth home and sparked that he will write a book about a humiliating scandal that his landmark 1997 Masters cost him his marriage. The victory, his first non-instruceffect on his golf is impostion book. It is to be released sible to quantify, but there in March, co-written by is no doubt that the seemRubenstein. ingly impenetrable fortress ▶ A downplaying of comof mental strength that was parisons with Nicklaus, perhaps Woods’ biggest adwhose major record has been vantage over his peers has widely assumed to be Woods’ steadily crumbled. The chip ultimate goal. The first hint yips that afflicted him in late such might not be the case 2014 and early 2015 were the was an exchange from 2007 biggest clue. After it seemed recounted in Haney’s 2012 as if Woods had conquered book in which the former them at the 2015 Masters, swing coach asked “What where he finished T-17, they about Nicklaus’ record? Don’t reappeared four months latyou care about that?” and er when he got on the fringe Woods replied, “No, I’m satisof Sunday contention at the fied with what I’ve done in my Wyndham Championship, career.” In the Time interview, causing a triple-bogey 7 on Woods was adamant that he the 11th hole. But the yips only ever measured himself Former swing coach sean Foley became secondary when against Nicklaus in terms of Woods’ game collapsed in trying to achieve equivalent May and June of last year, leading to an 85 accomplishments at a younger age. “I beat at the Memorial and a cold-topped 3-wood them all. I beat them all,” Woods said with while going 80-76 at the U.S. Open. The emphasis. With the possibility of Woods most awkward wedge moment for Woods surpassing Nicklaus’ record growing increasoccurred at a media day this year for the ingly remote, such a characterization takes Quicken Loans National, which Woods some pressure off. hosts. Asked to take part in a casual contest ▶ Mentoring Jason Day by inviting ques(except that it was being televised live on tions and not censoring Day from revealing Golf Channel), a 100-yard shot over a pond, the content of his text messages.

Woods hit three consecutive balls in the ▶ Accepting the position of vice captain water, each one successively more cringeon the U.S. team for this fall’s Ryder Cup. inducing. It was the last time for months ▶ Putting an emphasis on time with his that Woods put his swing on public display. two children, Sam Alexis, 9, and Charlie There’s also a fourth possibility that Axel, 7. When asked about the possibility becomes more obvious as time goes on for that he might not play again, he told Time, Woods—always scrutinized, always judged, “With all my heart, I do not want to stop playthe results never enough. Perhaps the man ing golf. But the flip side is, my kids’ lives are who golf can’t quit wants nothing more than much more important to me. Now, if I can do to quit golf. both, that is an ideal world. It’s a win-win. If I can only do one, it wouldn’t be golf. It would REASONS TO QUIT be my kids. That’s still a win-win.” he signals of Woods being ready to That’s all legitimate fodder to support the let go are there: thesis that Tiger Woods is done. But let’s as▶ He has taken on more of a sume that Woods wants to come back. How “summing up” theme in his interwould that work? views, granting a long one to journalist Lorne No doubt he derives motivation from Rubenstein for Time magazine last year. But the chance to prove his critics wrong. “Sure, the most pointed example occurred last Dethere’s a part of him that wants to show the

‘Sure, there’S a part of him that wantS to Show the SoBS, But at the end of the day, at tiger’S Stage of life, that’S not enough.’

T

18 golf digest india | october 2016

TIGER’S PGA TOUR/MAJOR WINS year 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Totals

w in s

ma jo r s

2 4 1 8 9 5 5 5 1 6 8 7 4 6 0 0 3 5 0 0 0

0 1 0 1 3 1 2 0 0 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

79

14

FAITHFUL FANS In 2013, five years after Tiger Woods had won his 14th and most recent major, we asked GolfDigest.com readers to predict how many majors he would win. Their responses: 19 or more 43.3% 18 7.0% 17 7.4% 16 21.2% 15 9.6% 14 11.5%

AGE WHEN WINNING LAST OR MOST RECENT MAJOR s el ec t ed pl ay er s 48 Julius Boros 46 Old Tom Morris, Jack Nicklaus 45 Hale Irwin 44 Harry Vardon, Roberto De Vicenzo, Lee Trevino 43 Raymond Floyd, Ben Crenshaw, Phil Mickelson 42 Gary Player, Payne Stewart, Darren Clarke, Ernie Els 41 Sam Snead, Mark O’Meara, Vijay Singh 40 Ben Hogan, Henrik Stenson 39 Larry Nelson, Angel Cabrera, Zach Johnson 38 Hubert Green, Nick Faldo 36 Walter Hagen 34 Arnold Palmer 33 Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Tom Watson 32 Tiger Woods 31 Seve Ballesteros

Illustration by Peter Oumanski

SOBs,” Foley says, “but at the end of the day, at Tiger’s stage of life, that’s not enough. To commit to what it will take, his reasons will have to be deeper than that.”

Woods has said as much. In a film series commissioned by the R&A titled “Chronicles of a Champion Golfer,” he explained that his efforts to win the 2006 Masters, which he knew would be the last major his father, Earl, would see him play, fell short because “I played for the wrong reasons. . . . I played for someone other than myself.” Woods said that afterward, his father told him, “Never do that again. You play golf for you.” Woods added, “It has to come from within. It can’t come from outside.”

Michael Phelps began to find self-fulfill-

Tiger sightings have been rare, particularly on the golf course ment through rededication to his sport during his 45 days in an Arizona rehabilitation clinic after his DUI arrest in the fall of 2014.

The Olympic swimming champion says he had suicidal thoughts because of the public humiliation but emerged a happier, more open person who rediscovered joy in training. At the Rio Summer Games, Phelps, 31, won five gold medals and a silver while becoming closer to his teammates and friends.

“Michael had all the medals before this year; he was already the greatest Olympian,” says Haney, a friend who coached Phelps in golf on TV’s “The Haney Project” and is his neighbor in the Phoenix area. “But that didn’t make him a happy, healthy person. He wasn’t a bad guy, but he usually seemed distracted,

not always there. As he went through treatment, he wanted to redeem himself and overcome his issues. He got a very clear purpose about that, and he became a different person.

And the extra focus made him an even greater athlete.”

An even longer and more unlikely journey of self-discovery was at the heart of arguably the greatest comeback in sports history, George Foreman regaining the heavyweight title at 45, more than 20 years after he’d lost it to Muhammad Ali in 1974.

Undefeated in 40 previous fights, with a string of quick knockouts longer than what Mike Tyson would attain, Foreman had been the overwhelming favorite to defeat an aging Ali in Zaire. After Ali knocked him out in the october 2016 | golf digest india

19

eighth round, Foreman was a broken man. precision and patience over power.

“I was humiliated, ashamed, embarForeman is not a golfer, though he shared rassed—all of the above,” Foreman says from conversations with Sam Snead when the golfhis home in Houston. “And when you’re the er, in his 70s at the time, visited his training undefeated champion, recovering psychocamp. “He supported my comeback, telling logically from a defeat like I me how he’d stayed competihad is a very hard thing to go tive even when he couldn’t through. I lost a part of myself, be the Slammer in the same and it took me a long time to way,” Foreman says. “Tiger get it back.” has to figure out some of the Foreman became reclusame things I did. He’s had sive. His next fight, a slugfest some shame and humiliawith Ron Lyle in which Foretion. He did a lot of things man was knocked down twice that a lot of athletes do; he before desperately managing just got caught. But I think to knock out Lyle, felt like a he’s gotten up, or will get up flashback. “When I was on the from that. The big thing is, he canvas against Lyle, I thought, has to stop trying to play like Oh, it’s happening all over the Tiger Woods of 21. There’s again. I’m nothing,” Foreman an edge he’s going to have to says. Three years later, after give up. Don’t try to go back losing in an upset to Jimmy and get what you used to Young, Foreman left boxhave. Use what you have now. ing. He became a preacher in He can still be great, because Houston and wouldn’t fight that’s still inside him. Even again for a full 10 years. after I changed my style, the Dr. Jim Afremow, On his way to winning the inside of me never changed.” sport psychologist championship the first time, Of course, Tiger has other Foreman had assumed a persona of glowcomplications that Foreman didn’t. Woods ering bad guy, borrowed from early mentor is a natural introvert who isn’t comfortable Sonny Liston. After becoming a preacher, sharing his feelings. And the idea of him Foreman allowed his natural gregariousness easing his way back in obscure tournaments to emerge as he openly shared the lessons wouldn’t fly for the golfer whose every shot, of his life. “I had carried a lot of hate,” says even on the practice tee and at clinics, is on Foreman, who grew up in Houston’s slums. camera, subject to critiques. Most impor“I decided I wanted to be liked, and to be tant, Woods is fighting injuries that have the liked, you have to like.” He sought out people potential to end his career. he had mistreated in his boxing career and As a younger man, Woods had a history apologized. “I had a lot less money,” he says, of returning too quickly after his surgeries, “but for the first time in my life I was happy.” seemingly using the swiftness of his recovForeman began boxing again to support ery to send yet another message of superiora financially strapped youth center bearing ity to his rivals. The 2014 book Blood Sport his name. His comeback was met with derireported that after season-ending knee sion. “Basically, the critics were right,” he surgery in June 2008 and a right Achillessaid. “All you have to do is look at the history tendon injury that resulted from his agof boxing. But the one place I was different gressive rehab, Woods had 14 sessions of from the other champions who came back blood-spinning therapy with Canadian is that I didn’t start back at the top with the sports doctor Anthony Galea, who in 2011 big stuff. I started from the bottom with club pleaded guilty to smuggling human growth fighters. Nobody had ever done that.” hormone and other unapproved substances For several years, Foreman fought prointo the United States to treat pro athletes. gressively better opponents, taking joy in The book also reported that an associate of improving at his craft. But he also found Galea’s visited Woods 49 times from Septhat age had taken away some of his speed. tember 2008 to October 2009. Woods and “The original George Foreman, I never did Galea have said that Woods received only recapture that timing. I couldn’t do it my legal platelet-rich plasma therapy. old way anymore, beating guys to the punch PAin, stress level And Psychology and knocking them out in the first round, lthough the time needed for lowand I had to accept that. If I wanted to be er backs to heal depends on the heavyweight champion of the world again, I individual, the consensus is that would have to perfect things that I had never physical activity can be resumed done before.” He studied film of older fightafter 12 weeks. However, with Woods waiting ers, like his trainer, Archie Moore, and saw more than a full year to play again, his agent, a more economical style that saved energy Mark Steinberg, says that Tiger has “not conwith minimized movement and emphasized

‘Whatever the issues, he has to give himself permission to be great again. as a golfer, he’s got some time.’

A

20 golf digest india | october 2016

sidered or is planning to consider” whether psychological factors could be responsible for the physical symptoms.

There is much research providing evidence that tension from unresolved repressed emotions—particularly anger and shame—can be an important source of chronic pain. According to work pioneered

by Dr. John Sarno, a now-retired professor of rehabilitation medicine at NYU, the body’s reaction to deep psychological wounds can be to create physical pain to prevent hidden emotions from becoming conscious. Sarno calls this Tension Myoneural Syndrome and says that such psychosomatic pain that can’t be traced to actual structural changes often occurs in the back.

Afremow, the peak-performance coordinator for the San Francisco Giants, says he often sees variations of the syndrome at work in competitive sports. “Especially with top athletes, pain can be a barometer of their stress level,” he says. “Men especially tend to bottle everything up, and this is more true for the highest achievers, who are used to pushing through everything. It can result in constant pain, without any physical sign. The mind-body connection has been underestimated.”

Some close to Woods worry that he carries tension born of anger and regret. His friend Michael Jordan, who made a successful comeback to basketball after retiring for a season to play pro baseball after the death of his father, told Wright Thompson of ESPN The Magazine that Woods continues to suffer from the fallout of his infidelities. “That bothers him more than anything,” Jordan said. “It looms. It’s in his mind. It’s a ship he can’t right, and he’s never going to. What can you do? The thing is about T-Dub, he cannot erase. That’s what he really wants. He wants to erase the things that happened.”

Afremow says that successful athletic comebacks are built first by releasing—generally with professional help—the “mental brick” of emotional conflict that can impede motor skills, concentration and energy.

“Tiger’s case would probably be more complicated because it was so painfully public,” Afremow says. “But whatever the issues, he has to give himself permission to be great again. As a golfer, he’s got some time. If he can recover his game, it would make him the most prominent figure on the Mount Rushmore of comebacks.”

To call it a long shot would be an understatement. Yet what if—beginning with the ultimate sabbatical—a healed and refreshed Woods could still access his most distinguishing gift: the uncanny ability, in the sport with the smallest margins for error, to get it done?

If he truly wants to return, maybe what has proved the hardest challenge of his life is still doable.

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On the European Tour

Tiger Announces Intent To Play Turkish Airlines Open Tiger Woods has announced his intention to play the Turkish Airlines Open, the first event of The European Tour’s Final Series, from November 3-6 as he plans his return after more than a year out of the game following surgery.

Woods made the announcement through his website www.tigerwoods.com, stating that he hopes to play in the Safeway Open, October 13-16, at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa, California.

Woods intends to compete in the Tiger Woods Foundation-run Hero World Challenge, December 1-4, at Albany in the Bahamas and will also participate in the Tiger Woods Invitational presented

by USLI, October 10-11, on the Monterey Peninsula.

“My rehabilitation is to the point where I’m comfortable making plans, but I still have work to do,” said Woods. “Whether I can play depends on my continued progress and recovery. My hope is to have my game ready to go.

“I’m looking forward to going to California for my foundation event and Safeway. I’m also excited to return to Turkey and Albany. It could be a fun fall.

“It was difficult missing tournaments that are important to me, but this time I was smart about my recovery and didn’t rush it. It was great spending time with my children Sam and Charlie, and also working on a lot of projects including golf-course design, the upcoming 20th anniversary of my foundation and my book about the 1997 Masters. But I missed competing. I want to thank all the fans for their kindness and concern. I’ve been a pro about 20 years, and their support has never waned.”

Woods last played in Turkey in 2013 when he finished tied third. The Turkish Airlines Open from November 3-6 is the first of three events which make up The European Tour’s Final Series, preceding the Nedbank Golf Challenge and the seasonending DP World Tour Championship.

22 golf digest india | october 2016

On the European Tour

World Super 6 Perth Set To Revolutionise World Golf

S

hih-chang Chan’s victory at the King’s Cup in July was not only significant for the Chinese Taipei player as his maiden European Tour victory, but is also set a new record for the highest number of Asian wins in a single season on the tour...

The European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia are set to introduce a revolutionary new format in 2017 as the inaugural World Super 6 Perth features 54 holes of stroke play before the final 24 players battle it out over a dramatic final day six-hole shoot-out.

To be played at Lake Karrinyup Country Club from February 16-19, 2017 and cosanctioned by the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and European Tour, the World Super 6 Perth will be a world-first in professional golf.

The World Super 6 Perth will combine 54 holes of traditional stroke play across the first three days with an exciting knockout match play format for the fourth and final round.

A regular cut will fall after 36 holes before the field is then further reduced to the top 24 players following 54 holes of regulation play, with any ties for 24th place being decided by a play-off. Those remaining players will then earn their places in the six-hole shoot-out.

“CriCket has twenty20, netball has Fast5, rugby union has rugby7’s and now golF has the world super 6 perth.”

Any matches tied after the six holes will be decided by playing the new Knockout Hole a purpose-built 90-metre hole which will be constructed at Lake Karrinyup, with a new tee placed adjacent to the 18th fairway and utilising the 18th green.

The Knockout Hole will be played once and if a winner is still not decided, the competitors will return to the new tee and take on a nail-biting decider, with the victor decided on a nearest-the-pin contest where only the first shot counts.

That player will then progress to the next round of the match play or, in the case of the final match, win the tournament.

“This is an exciting day for international golf as we launch the World Super 6 Perth; a golf tournament which is set to change the way people view golf,” said Brian Thorburn, CEO of the PGA of Australia.

Dominant Detry crowned Bridgestone champion Thomas Detry made European Challenge Tour history to claim his first professional win as he romped to a stunning 12 shot victory at the Bridgestone Challenge.

The Belgian carried on his remarkable scoring at Heythrop Park Resort, picking up 11 birdies during his final round on his way to signing for a nine under par round of 63 to reach 29-under par overall – matching the joint lowest under par score in Challenge Tour history set by Ivó Giner in 2003.

Cordon comeback seals Velasco victory Alvaro Velasco staged a dramatic final day comeback to win the Cordon Golf Open, shooting an incredible eight-under par 62 to seal a one-shot victory at Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André.

The Spaniard started his fourth round eight shots behind leader Alexander Knappe, but an outstanding back nine – which started with five birdies and an eagle in seven holes – coupled with the German’s struggles gave Velasco a third career European Challenge Tour victory.

october 2016 | golf digest india

23

On the European Tour

LuITen CLaIms home vICTory aT The DuTCh Home hero Joost Luiten fired a brilliant course-record equalling 63 to make history and win his second KLM Open at The Dutch.

Enormous galleries have been following the 30 year old all week in Spijk and he gave them the result they so desperately craved with a scintillating display of iron play and long-range putting to hold off the challenge of Bernd Wiesberger.

The pair went blow for blow for large parts of Sunday afternoon but three birdies in his final five holes helped Luiten to a 19 under total and a three-shot victory.

The triumph makes Luiten the first Dutch player to win his national Open twice since it joined the European Tour in 1972 - following his win in 2013

24 golf digest india | october 2016

- and makes him a five-time winner on Tour.

It is his first win for almost two years and reward for a brilliantly consistent 2016 so far that saw him come into the week with eight top tens including two runner-up finishes and represent his country at the Olympic Men's Golf Competition.

"The first one was special but this one is very special," he said. "To have the Dutch people behind me all week and to be able to stand here with the trophy in my hands is very special.

"It was one of those days where everything I looked at went in the hole. People talk about the zone, and I think I was in it today. I missed one shot when I went in the water on 13 but besides that I didn't do much wrong.

On the European Tour

Pieters Claims Third Title In Denmark

T

homas Pieters produced a brilliant finish to win his third European Tour title at the Made in Denmark, a victory which went a long way in securing his place on Darren Clarke’s European Ryder Cup team.

Pieters arrived at Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort as the form man on Tour with top five finishes in his last two events but knowing that automatic qualification for the European team to go to Hazeltine in September was out of his reach.

He played the first two rounds with Clarke and opened with a course recordequalling 62 before giving a masterclass in scrambling in a level par 71 on Friday.

On Sunday he showed incredible cool under pressure, shrugging off the distraction of a four-hour-and-15-minute weather delay

“I really needed a good fInIsh. I saw I was one back walkIng to the green on 16 and I hIt a great shot there but I knew I needed to make at least one more. to fInIsh wIth two more bIrdIes was pretty cool.” — thomas pIeters to almost make a hole-in-one on the 16th and put his approaches on the 17th and 18th to close range for three closing birdies and a 17

under par total.

That gave him a 65 and a one-shot win over Bradley Dredge, giving Clarke some food for thought ahead of making his three Captain's picks two days later.

“I really needed a good finish,” said Pieters. “I saw I was one back walking to the green on 16 and I hit a great shot there but I knew I needed to make at least one more. To finish with two more birdies was pretty cool.

“It's all about winning tournaments. I'm really happy with this one. That was one of my goals, to just have one every year, just so you know you're improving and you can win.

That's very important. I'm very, very happy.”

For Dredge, it was a second runner-up finish at this event after he lost out to Marc Warren in 2014, and he finished a shot ahead of Adrian Otaegui and David Lipsky. october 2016 | golf digest india

25

On the European Tour

Noren Claims Dramatic Win In Switzerland A

lex Noren overcame Scott Hend on the first play-off hole to win the Omega European Masters for the second time at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.

The Swede won his maiden title in the Alps in 2009 and his victory on Sunday was his sixth overall and second of the season after his triumph at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in July.

Noren also finished in the top ten at the 100th Open de France and reached the final of the Aberdeen Asset Management Paul Lawrie Match Play as he enjoys a brilliant summer.

A run of four birdies from the sixth handed him a two-shot lead at the turn but Hend fought back on the back nine and the duo had to go back up the last to

decide a winner after finishing at 17 under.

Noren hit a wonderful teeshot and an approach to 30 feet as Hend saw his first bounce out of the trees on the left and then only just cleared the water with his second.

The Australian chipped to eight feet but Noren holed his putt for the birdie and the win.

“It feels amazing to be among Seve Ballesteros and Thomas Bjørn to win two Omega European Masters titles,” said Noren. “I’ve seen the boards showing who won multiple Omega European Masters titles walking to the course so it is great.

“I’ve worked hard this season.

I tried to play more golf and I feel steadier with my driver. My driver hasn’t been my good side but now it is steadier. It is great

26 golf digest india | october 2016

to have my family here, my baby and my parents here for the first time.

“I’ve never won coming from behind or won in a play-off on the European Tour so that makes it more amazing.”

England’s Andrew Johnston was third at 14 under, two shots clear of Lee Westwood and three ahead of a third Englishman in Richard Bland and Frenchman Julien Quesne.

Noren joined Hend at the summit as he birdied the tough first and the two could not be separated after six holes, with Bland still in the mix as he followed a chip-in eagle on the fifth with a birdie on the sixth.

Noren then put his foot down, getting up and down to birdie the seventh and putting his approach to three feet on the eighth

to open up a two-shot lead. The 34 year old made it four birdies in a row on the ninth but Hend made a gain of his own to keep the gap at two at the turn.

They traded bogeys on the tenth and 11th before both birdieing the 12th and 14th, but a Hend birdie on the 15th cut the gap and a three-putt bogey from Noren on the penultimate hole had them level on the 18th tee.

Drama was to follow as Hend hit a wayard drive into the trees but was fortunate with his second shot as it bounced over the water and through the back of the green, while Noren put his second from the fairway to 30 feet.

After taking a drop from the base of the spectator stands, Hend got up and down and Noren got down in two to take it to extra holes.

On the European Tour

Omega European Masters hosts Hickory Challenge

F

ans at the Omega European Masters were treated to a most unique exhibition event after play on Saturday as Miguel Angel Jiménez, Lee Westwood and Danny Willett played two holes using only hickory golf clubs while decked out in traditional 1930s golf attire.

In front of throngs of Swiss golf fans, Westwood took home the cow-bell trophy for the hickory challenge, a concept created by the prestigious golf tournament to celebrate its 70th anniversary.

The former World Number One from England also faced stiff competition from Paolo Quirici, 2013 World Hickory Champion.

All four players, dressed in 1930s plus fours and newsboy caps, played the tenth and 18th holes (par four and five, respectively) of Golf-Club Crans-sur-Sierre with traditional hickory clubs.

The two-hole challenge was packed full of dramas from the outset. Willett was the first to tee off, landing his ball in the bunker but the Omega European Masters defending champion recovered with a beautiful shot to

PhotograPhs by getty Images

the green to make par.

Westwood finished the 10th with a superb putt to share the lead with Jiménez and Willett, celebrating with a little dance to the delight of the crowds.

Jiménez was unlucky at the 18th and was forced to attempt a Seve-style “Great Escape” from behind the fence, although he could not quiet emulate the heroics of his

“It was great fun, It was a completely different feel to what we’re used to normally. The hickory challenge was a good finish to a great day of golf.”

celebrated late compatriot and he finished with a bogey.

Play ended with Westwood and Willett facing each other in a play-off, which was a nearest-to-the-pin challenge from the drop zone on the 18th in front of the packed grand stand.

After both players’ balls failed to make the green (Willett’s heading off to the side of the green and Westwood’s dropping into the water), they attempted the shot again and Westwood got the closest for victory.

“It was great fun,” said Westwood afterwards. “It was a completely different feel to what we’re used to normally. The hickory challenge was a good finish to a great day of golf.”

The event was set up to commemorate the 70 years that the OMEGA European Masters has been hosted in Crans-Montana, making it the longest running golf tournament at the same venue in Europe, and the second longest running in the world after the Masters Tournament. The vintage clothing and hickory golf clubs were a nod to 1939, which was the first year that the tournament was played at Golf-Club Crans-sur-Sierre. october 2016 | golf digest india

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India Digest Inside The Ropes

Meet Rahil Gangjee Born: October 2, 1978 (Kolkata) Residence: Bengaluru Family: Maithreyi (wife) Turned pro: 2000 Wins: Asian Tour - 2004 Volkswagen Masters China PGTI – 2008 Players Championship (RCGC), 2013 Players Championship (Chandigarh) Web.com Tour (best finish) – T11 (2011 Rex Hospital Open)

30 golf digest india | october 2016

photograph courtesy: AsiAn Tour

Inside The Ropes

India Digest

‘Not Reacting To Bad Situations Has Helped’ In an exclusive interview with Golf Digest India, ace golfer Rahil Gangjee opens up about several issues from his immediate focus on qualifying for the European Tour next year to golf’s Olympic future.

By RohIT BhARDWAj rohit@teamgolfdigest.com

F

rom hopping on and off crowded trams to reach Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC) – following his father Bashir Hoosein’s advice to leave his favourite sport horse riding – to consistently performing on the Asian Tour, Rahil Gangjee has made an often long, arduous journey look pretty comfortable since he turned professional in 2000.

An international title has eluded him since 2004, when he won the Volkswagen Masters China in a playoff on the Asian Tour. He had the skill to even make his largely unsuccessful stint (2011-12) on the erstwhile Nationwide Tour(now Web.com Tour) memorable when he hit a hole-in-one on the par-4 15th hole during the 2011 Mylan Classic. He is only the third individual to achieve that feat on USPGA’s feeder tour.

His last win on the domestic circuit came in 2013 when he won the PGTI Players Championship in Chandigarh. But Rahil has come in contention on numerous occasions and it’s just a matter of when rather than if for him to grab his second crown.

This year has seen the 37-year-old playing with far more consistency, having already carded three top-10 finishes (Maybank Malaysian Championship – T9, Hero Indian Open – T10, Afr Asia Bank Mauritius Open – T7) from 11 starts.

With his wit and quirky humour, he has not only made many friends in and around the golfing fraternity but is the most sought-after guy for advice when it comes to remaining cool on and off the course.

The diminutive Kolkatan balances out his familial responsibilities with aplomb.

Being a loving husband he ensures wife Maithreyi accompanies him to big events across the globe. He even shifted to Bengaluru recently to help his wife set up her online fashion label NETelier.

Excerpts from the interview:

GDI: You have been consistently hitting the top-10s in recent times. What’s the success mantra?

Yes, the first half of the year has been very good for me. I have had three top-10 finishes

in European Tour events. At the level I am playing it’s always about having a clear and calm mind. I worked little bit on not reacting to bad situations or not reacting to bad scores and results, and have been overall more positive towards my outlook on the course. Basically trying to do my process much better every time. Another thing that has really helped me is that I have been tweaking my clubs ever so slightly over the last 2 years. The shafts I have found are more suited to me, the overall weight distribution of my clubs have become better for me.

With the new model of drivers,3 woods and rescues being launched in the market it has become easier to make these slight adjustments on your own. You will be surprised as to how much of a difference one swing weight makes at our level.

GDI: Which area of your game needs attention in order to help you land that elusive title?

I think it’s always been my putting. But I must say that it’s not the stroke but the line reading

SELFIE BONDING: Rahil Gangjee (foreground) with mentor Arjun Atwal (sitting right), Rashid Khan (centre) and SSP Chowrasia

that mostly results in missed putts. I have been thinking about how many types of golf courses we play and different types of grasses we play in Asia, and I feel it doesn’t promote confidence in one’s stroke. The PGA Tour I believe plays greens that are pretty similar week in and week out, this promotes the same type of stroke. So all the players are just growing in confidence rather than adjusting to different green conditions and speeds every week. I know it sounds like an excuse but that’s just been my story. It was quite evident when I went to the US to play the Web.com Tour.

GDI: Do you want to return to the Web. com Tour ever?

Unless someone backs me I won’t do that again. I am not happy spending $3000-3500 a week and MAYBE have the prospect of making money. Somehow the greens didn’t suit my game when I was there. Actually had to relook at the way I read putts. Basically I felt like I was playing “catch up” rather than competing. I remember getting one golf course in Boise Idaho, where I could read the greens and that resulted in me leading the tournament after 3 days. I remember even going to James Seikman and having a putting lesson with him just to make sure that I was doing the right thing. I remember spending hours on the greens in Atlanta. I remember feeling quite helpless because I couldn’t get a feel of the greens. Even read a few books on green reading in my desperation! When I got back to playing Asian Tour it was quite evident I could putt.

GDI: What goals have you set up for the next 5 years?

I really don’t think I have set a 5 year goal but I can give you a glimpse of the picture.

I aim to be on the European Tour next year.

I always wanted to play on the PGA Tour and probably still do at some level. But after having to go through Web.com Tour (the hardest tour in the world) for 2 years without a sponsor it’s kind of killed the dream for me. I don’t want to put my money into something that results in low yields. I might do it if I get a sponsor. Mind you, my game became better when I was done with that tour but my bank balance didn’t show it. I have to thank dad for having bailed me out. october 2016 | golf digest india

31

India Digest Inside The Ropes

rahil’s favourites Golf course in India Royal Calcutta Golf Club Golf course around the world Hong Kong Golf Club Golf Course on your wish list Augusta National Movie 3 Idiots; Have too many Hollywood movies on my plate…

Actor Robert Downey Jr Actress Scarlet Johansson Music Indian – Punjabi Bhangra Western – EDM Drink Vodka with soda and lime juice Food Steak Superstitions None Essentials in your travel bag Foam roller (hyper ice) Mid-round power snack A concoction of nuts and berries, bananas

GDI: You wanted to play on the Japan Tour to improve your rankings in order to qualify for Majors…

Since the last time we talked, my mind has changed about going to Japan. I have wanted to play in Europe ever since I got back from United States and I figured that instead of delaying that any further I should get to achieving that as soon as possible. I will still have the opportunities to get into Majors and move on up in my career.

GDI: Has shifting to Bengaluru helped or you still feel Kolkata was better?

I will always miss Kolkata because of my friends, family and the golf clubs. But Kolkata has to realise that without growth it can’t expect young couples like us to want to stay there. We found that we were not getting anything for the taxes we paid. Simple procedures started to become huge tasks.

My wife was planning to start up a new online business, her fashion label NETelier. So that was another reason we moved. Talking from the aspect of being a golfer, it’s not that difficult to shift cities. All I need is a practice range and a decent course. I have everything I need in Bengaluru. All the courses I have visited have welcomed me with open arms.

I base myself out of the KGA, I practice at Eagleton and visit Prestige Golfshire, Clover Greens and Zion Hills on a regular basis. I even play for Zion Hills in the Louis Philippe Cup. I really have to thank all who have welcomed me into their courses so readily. The weather is something that is an added bonus. I am a bit worried about braving the heat back on the Asian Tour!

GDI: If golf is discontinued after Tokyo 2020 owing to pull-outs by big names, will that affect the sport’s popularity?

Before I say anything on that, people should understand that there was a legitimate reason why a lot of players pulled out. Our sport is one of the highest paying sports in the world. We don’t need to put ourselves at risk if we don’t need to. If these Games were held in any other country we would not be talking about this. The popularity of golf is

on a decline in America but not so in places like Asia. If they decide to pull golf out of the 2020 Games I don’t think the popularity of the game will decline. We have not depended on the Olympics for the last 112 years, why should it make a difference now?

GDI: What do you do to stay fit?

From the age of 22-35 I worked really hard in the gym, but lately I have been swimming.

I feel there is no impact on the body. But what I have always done are mobility exercises. These are specific to golf.

GDI: Describe a day in your life…

During the season or on tour time is so different from off tour. At tournament the ‘Rise and shine time’ varies from 4.30 am to 7.30 am. I’m generally out of bed into the shower and then a session of warm-up in the room.

I get ready and go for breakfast in the hotel and then head to the course. The Asian Tour has busses shuttling from the hotel to the course and back every hour or so. When I reach the course it’s mad dash for the physio room. After a half hour session with the physio it’s off to the range to warm-up the swing. I spend an hour warming up before I tee off. This includes the short game which lasts 15 mins.

GDI: In what way would you like to contribute to the development of golf?

It’s something I haven’t really thought of because I feel I still have about 10 years of golf left in me before I start devoting my time to others or other things rather than ‘me’. But I would in some way like to help amateur or pro golfers who are struggling to go from average to good. I feel there are many questions that I ask them and they don’t have answers to. I can’t see myself doing this full time as a profession but would be really happy to pass on the knowledge I have gained in my years as a pro.

GDI: What needs to be done to churn out more champion golfers from India?

Let’s just start with the government getting more involved with golf. The future, no matter which country, always lies in the juniors.

Mentors/Idols Arjun Atwal Sport apart from golf Swimming Holiday destination Thailand Secret desire It’s a secret Clubs in your golf bag Irons - Taylormade Driver – M2 Taylormade Putter – Scott Cameron Wedge –Taylormade Woods –3 Wood M2, Rescue M2

32 golf digest india | october 2016

ParenTs’ love: With father Bashir Hoosein

HIs BeTTer Half: With wife Maithreyi

Inside The Ropes

The first thing is to build public driving ranges. This is one of the ways to find more talent. Another is to actually have a golf school to nurture talent. These kids need to be exposed to international events as early as possible.

India Digest

Rahil Gangjee recently came close to winning the Eagleburg Masters after leading the third round

photograph courtesy: AsiAn Tour

India has many, as we all know. The first thing is to build public driving ranges. If land can be found, we should build public courses. I believe all should have access to this lovely game. This is one of the ways to find more talent. Another is to actually have a golf school to nurture talent. These kids need to be exposed to international events as early as possible. Case in point is Shubham Jaglan.

Now I know he is still a sub junior but he’s doing a good job. Why can’t we just take some of those crores of rupees that get lost in corruption and put it towards nurturing talent and making a difference to someone’s life?

GDI: Your advice for youngsters?

My advice would be to the parents not the kids. I say to them “spend time with your kids, but don’t stifle them. They need to become independent individuals. They mustnot feel that they have to perform or else... This won’t make them want to play the game more.”To youngsters I would just say have fun. It’s an awesome game. Enjoy it!

In PlaYful MooD: Enjoying a holiday in Thailand with a tiger cub

BroTHers In arMs: Anirban loves Rahil’s cool headed persona

In elITe coMPanY: Sharing the tee with batting maestro Sachin (R)

october 2016 | golf digest india

33

India Digest Newsmakers

Players iN the News Dubai-baseD Rayhan Thomas cReaTes hisToRy

Top-10 finish foR aDiTi

Aditi Ashok registered her first top-10 finish as a professional on the Ladies European Tour (LET) at the ISPS Handa Ladies European Masters in Dusseldorf, Germany.

The 18-year-old Bengaluru golfer shot a final round of three-under 69 and finished tied-ninth at the Golf Club Hubbelrath. She shot 73, 69, 70 and 69 this week for a total of seven-under 281. The title was won by 28-year-old Korean In-Kyung Kim, who shot a nine-under 63 for a total of 17-under 271. Kim finished five shots clear of second placed Spaniard Belen Mozo. The result was Aditi’s best finish on the LET Tour as a pro, as she was tied-eighth at the 2012 Hero Indian Open, while still being a 14-yearold amateur. Aditi pocketed 11,500 euros with this finish and jumped 73 spots to be placed 359th in the World Rankings. She is currently placed 3rd on the LET Rookie of the Year rankings.

The Dubai-based Indian teenager Rayhan Thomas became the first amateur to win a MENA Golf Tour event when he won the Dubai Creek Open last month at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. The MENA Tour (Middle East & North Africa) is sanctioned by Arab Golf Federation. Thomas triumphed in a playoff as he had finished level after 54 holes with England’s Luke Joy at 12-under. With the win, Thomas jumped 240 spots to be placed 264th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.Thomas had gone into the final day as joint-leader on 10-under with Englishman Jake Shepherd, and his round of 69, following scores of 65 and 67 in the first two rounds, left him level with Joy, who struck a final round 66. In the play-off, Thomas bogeyed the first hole but that was enough as Joy put his shot into the water to double bogey.

“Winning it in the 50th event of the tour, and on my home course, too, made it special,” he said.

ajeeTesh aDvances To ThiRD qualifying sTage of japan TouR

Ajeetesh Sandhu advanced to the third qualifying stage of the Japan Golf Tour’s Qualifying School for the 2017 season.

The 27-year-old Sandhu made it to the third stage after finishing ninth in the first event of the second qualifying stage played at the Tomioka Club in Gunma, Japan from August 30 to September 2.

Ajeetesh ended ninth at seven-under 209 after shooting scores of 69, 70 and 70.

The third stage, which will comprise of six events at different venues, is scheduled to be held from October 25 to November 18 this year.

yuvRaj To leaD inDian chaRge aT asia-pacific amaTeuR

World No. 220 Yuvraj Sandhu will spearhead a six-member Indian team for the 8th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, which will be held from October 6 to 9 at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club, in Incheon, South Korea – the venue for the 2015 President’s Cup. Yuvraj will be accompanied by seasoned amateur Viraj Madappa (World No. 241), Rigel Fernandes (262), Rayhan Thomas (264), Kshitij Naveed Kaul (530) and Priyanshu Singh (577). The Indian Golf Union (IGU) selected the squad according to R&A’s World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). 120 amateur golfers from 40 countries will participate in the tournament with the winner receiving an invitation to the Augusta Masters. The winner and runner-up will also earn a spot in the British Open final qualifying.

vaRun paRikh qualifies foR falDo seRies gRanD final Ahmedabad’s Varun Parikh, who has represented India in the Asian circuit, qualified for the Faldo Series Grand Final after finishing second amongst 28 junior golfers with an overall score of two-under 211 at the inaugural Faldo Series Thailand Championship at Laguna Golf Club in Phuket from September 8th to 11th. Seven Indian juniors besides 22-year-old Varun also participated in the event. The finals will be hosted by Sir Nick Faldo at Laguna Lang Co in Danang, Central Vietnam in March 2017. Also winning through to the Grand Final via the Phuket qualifier were Thailand’s Napat Paramacharoenroj,

34 golf digest india | october 2016

Phisitkhwan Pooratanaopa, Malaysia’s Audrey Tan. The initiative of promoting the tournament in India was taken by My Golf Tours. The 2016-17 Faldo Series Asia campaign stretches over 11 months and is supported by The R&A, Asian Tour and the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation Indian Scores: Varun Parikh (69-69-73) 211; Anshul Patel (79-77-77) 233; Mohnish Shah (80-85-79) 244; Aditi Vakharia (9287-89) 268; Vishal Fatania (90-89-87) 266; Devansh Sanghavi (86-82-86) 254; Harshvardhan Fatania (99-99-91) 289; Aarya Vakharia (95-90-94) 279.

Laguna Golf Club assistant vice-president Paul Wilson hands over Faldo Series Grand Finals invitation to Varun Parikh

Newsmakers India Digest

SSP, Chikka set to make World Cup debut Top players iN fr ay Name

Country

Jason Day

AUS

Adam Scott

AUS

Søren Kjeldsen

DEN

Danny Willett

ENG

Lee Westwood

ENG

Vijay Singh

FIJ

Shane Lowry

IRL

Francesco Molinari Hideki Matsuyama Thongchai Jaidee

Chikkarangappa with the PGTI Eagleburg Masters trophy in Bengaluru

“I am honoured that SSP has picked me as a partner for the World Cup. Now the time has come for me to represent India and I would do my best to make my country proud.” — Chikka

I

ndians SSP Chowrasia (World No. 262) and Chikkarangppa S (World No. 461) will be making their maiden appearance in the 58th edition of the World Cup of Golf to be staged at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne from November 24 to 27.

56 players will form 28 two-man teams from as many countries making it one of the strongest fields in the events history.

Headlining the field are Australians Jason Day and Adam Scott, who return to defend their title which they won in 2013.

Chowrasia got a late spot following the withdrawal of Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti.

The 38-year-old Chowrasia, an Olympian and winner of four international events, including three on the European Tour, picked Chikka as his partner, who is a winner of two events on the Asian Development Tour (ADT). India’s highest-ranked golfer Anirban Lahiri (World No. 86) would have got the first invite to the event but he probably decided not to go following a shoulder injury he suffered before the Rio Olympics. The injury had ruled him out for four weeks. SSP’s chemistry with Chikka, which was evident during this year’s Louis Philippe Cup team event, would have been the reason behind his choice as Chiragh Kumar (456) and Rahil Gangjee (460) were the only two players ranked higher than the Bengalurean.

India’s best performance at the World

World Cup in numbers

Cup of Golf came in 2005 when the pair of Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa secured a creditable ninth place finish. Chowrasia won the 2016 Hero Indian Open on the European Tour and has had two top-10 finishes on the Asian Tour in 2016.

Chikka, who secured his Asian Tour card for 2016, has had a good run this year with one win on the PGTI in September at his home course in Bengaluru (Eagleburg Masters) along with two Top-15s on the Asian Tour as well as four Top-10s on the Asian Development Tour. This should give the duo ample confidence going into the event.

An elated Chikka, looking forward to

SSP Chowrasia is excited to represent India for the first time in the World Cup of Golf

l 4 players in the top 10 and 17 of the top

l 18 past participants of either The Ryder

l Players from countries representing

l 2 sets of brothers

l 4 past World Cup champions

Cup or Presidents Cup

50 in the Official World Golf Ranking 6 different continents

JPN THA USA USA

represent his country at the World Cup, said, “I am honoured that SSP has picked me as a partner for the World Cup. When Anirban played at the World Cup last time, I saw it on TV and started dreaming about representing my country in such a prestigious tournament.

Now the time has come for me to represent India and I would do my best to make my country proud.”

SSP said, “I’m extremely excited about making my debut at the World Cup of Golf. It’s always an honour to represent the country. I expect our team comprising of Chikka and myself to make a major impact at the event.

I picked Chikka as my partner as he is one of the most promising young talents in India and is in good form and high on confidence at the moment.”

PGTI director Uttam Singh Mundy said: “SSP and Chikka would make a good combination for India at the World Cup. Both the players have won international events in the past one year and are at the top of their game. We look forward to seeing them deliver top-notch performances at the World Cup as they compete against some of the best players in the world. We wish them all the best.”

The tournament will be played in strokeplay format with the first and third days having foursomes and the second and final day having fourballs.

MosT WiNs

l Six major championship winners l 27 Olympians

Rickie Fowler Jimmy Walker

ITA

United States Australia South Africa Spain Canada

24 5 5 4 3

(Countries who have won at least thrice) * India’s best finish - ninth in 2005

october 2016 | golf digest india

35

India Digest Across The Country

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

Forest Hill G&CC hosts Junior Golf Tourneys

“The Race to Spain” qualifier In a collaboration between Little Masters Junior Golf Tour & European Junior Golf Tour, “The Race to Spain” qualifier was hosted at the Forest Hill G&CC in Chandigarh to select two players to participate in the world finals of “The Race to Spain” from October 24 to 27.

In a strong field of 30 top juniors, Ivan Jolly qualified in 6-9 age group with a total score of level par 134 alongside

Jujhar Saini who scored 2-under par 132 over two days of competitive golf in the 10-13 age group.

The two golfers will now compete in The Race to Spain Series - International Tour Championship alongside top junior golfers from across the world in a 54-hole tournament over 3 different courses. Little Masters Junior Golf Tour is founded by Faisal Qureshi.

Junior golfers in action at the Forest Hill course

Independence Champions Cup

Earlier in August, 8th edition of the North Zone series of the Champions IGU Sub Junior & Junior Feeder Tour called the Independence Champions Cup was played on the Forest Hill course. The 2-day event saw participation from 116 junior golfers from North India in various age groups. The feeder tour is organised by the Champions Junior Golf Tour (CJGT), a critical component of the Junior Golf Development Program run by Romit Bose – one of India’s top teaching professionals.

36 golf digest india | october 2016

Across The Country

India Digest

Poona Club Golf Course

Open to Play

All 18 holes at the Poona Club golf course will be back in play by end October after a complete overhaul that started in early 2015.

The new front nine was made available for members in August and was well received by all golfers.

Holes 1 to 18 have all-new greens along with new bunkering on every hole. 225 trucks of topsoil have been added to increase

shape & movement which in turn greatly assists drainage over the golf course. With a new irrigation and drainage system, the course should be able to cater to the monsoons better and ensure great playing conditions all the year round.

We congratulate the Poona Club on achieving this humongous task in record time!

Redevelopment

Qutab Golf Course gets a makeover

ctor, Silverglades), member), Anubhav Jain (dire rotra (CEO, L-R: Gurnam Arora (Qutab n, Silverglades) & Anit Meh irma (cha Jain n, DDA), Pradeep i Delh in Arun Goel (IAS, vice chairma GC b Quta of n ceremony to begin renovatio Silverglades) at the prayer

Delight for Delhi golfers as the capital’s only public 18-hole facility, Qutab Golf course, is set to get a long-awaited makeover. The 18 Hole Par-70 course, located at Lado Sarai in New Delhi, was developed by Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and opened in 2000. Now after 16 years of successful operations, it is undergoing a full scale renovation of all 18 holes in two phases. For the first phase, the front nine will remain closed.

The whole process started a few months ago when the DDA floated an e-tender for bidders to take on the renovation project on turn-key basis. Three bids were made and eventually Silverglades Golf Development Pvt Ltd were selected after a detailed evaluation process.

The new course will remain Par-70 but will have underground drainage and a fully automated irrigation system.

The course is set to feature new designs of greens, bunkers and water bodies with Bermuda grass adorning the fairways and tees. The project is scheduled to be completed in 24 months. october 2016 | golf digest india

37

India Digest Spotlight

Amardip & Deepinder enroute to Web.com Q-School The PGA Tour is known across the world as the Holy Grail of golf and it’s every professional golfer’s dream to play on the world’s richest and most competitive tour.

“I am really excited to qualify for the Web.com Tour Q-school. Growing up, it is every golfers dream to compete against the best in the world on USPGA Tour. It’s a long way forward but I feel I am ready for this. I am feeling optimistic after tremendous two weeks on this amazing journey, where I have played some fantastic golf. I’ve been part of IAPGA Tour since its inception 3 years ago and have loved coming to US to play all these beautiful courses. It is almost impossible for any pro golfer to do this on his own and play so many different courses. Usually you’ll end up going to one region and playing courses there but we all are very thankful to IAPGA and all the sponsors who made this possible for us to get exposed to so many different conditions. The tour has helped us a lot in terms of understanding various course and greens conditions in States.

This was a once in a lifetime experience.”

– Amardip Malik

“It was a tough fight in the end to claim the spot for the Web.com Tour Q-school against Amardip and Angad. It was a fantastic competition with the playoff going to the 5th hole and am happy to edge out Angad for the final spot. He played great golf throughout the tour. I aim to give my best on the next stages of qualifying rounds. IAPGA Tour is one of the most memorable experiences of my life. The entire two weeks were filled with fun and frolic. We made a lot of new friends and were very well received wherever we went. ” – Deepinder Khullar

Qualifying Pros

AmArdip mAlik Age: 31 Turned pro: 2005

Home Club: Army Golf Club, Meerut Favourite club in the bag: 2 iron (He calls it Butter Knife) Career Highlights: Runner Up – 2015 Tata Open Winner – 2014 PGTI Noida Masters Runner Up – 2013 PGTI Players Championship, Panchkula GC

deepinder khullAr Age: 34 Turned pro: 2006 Home Club: DLF Golf & Country Club Favourite club in the bag: Odyssey Versa 7 Putter HIGH SPIRITS! The IAPGA Tour culminated at Trump National Golf Course in New York

38 golf digest india | october 2016

Career Highlights: T5 at the 2015 BILT Open

Spotlight

India Digest

All Smiles! Bill Marx set to tee off at Little Turtle GC in Columbus

L-R: Rishi Narain, Shashi Kiran Shetty, John Abisch and Brian Finch pose in front of the Trump National GC club house in New York

success story

In a first-off-its-kind – the Indo-American Professional Golf Association (IAPGA) Tour – was organised to give Indian professionals an opportunity to test their skills against the best in the world by sponsoring them to the Web.com Tour – the feeder tour for the USPGA. The top-25 golfers on the Web.com Tour each year earn PGA Tour cards for the following season making it highly competitive and challenging.

The IAPGA Tour 2016 saw 10 of India’s leading professionals play 7 different courses across 7 cities in the U.S.A between August & September. They also played in specially organised Pro-Ams sponsored by the Indo-American community who lent immense support to help the pros realise their dream.

Camilo R Quintero turns up the heat at the ECU golf day in New York

Shashi Kiran Shetty

Making Memories! Karan Taunk holds the Little Turtle GC pin flag in Columbus

Sawan Deswal hosts the golfers in Seattle

Sawan Deswal (Left most) took the entire contingent for a tour of the Microsoft visitor center

october 2016 | golf digest india

39

India Digest Spotlight

Aakash Ohri tees off in New york

C J Singh played in Los Angeles

on target

The qualifying events determined the top two professionals who would receive an all expenses paid trip to the Web.com Qualifying school at Orange County National in Winter Garden, Florida scheduled to played from December 8 to 11.

The final two rounds of the qualifying were full of excitement as three pros Deepinder Khullar, Amardeep Malik and Angad Cheema were tied at the top of the leaderboard with the score of one-under for four rounds. The three man playoff saw Amardeep making a birdie on the first hole itself to book the first spot. Angad fought bravely to take the playoff to the 5th hole but missed out on the 2nd place finish and Web.com Tour spot with a bogey against Deepinder’s par.

The two winners Deepinder & Amardip will now test their mettle against other aspirants at the first stage of Web.com Q-School where they are up against over 1000 other pros from all over the world. Only 30% of them will move on to the 2nd stage while eventually approx.

10% qualifying for the Tour.

The amateurs turned out in huge numbers for the golf clinic in Seattle

Mandeo Pathania and Vineet Sharma (right) awarding the best performing juniors in San Francisco

Saqib Ahmed helps a young golfer with his putting

L-R: Angad Cheema, Harry Bhakta & Gurbaaz Mann

“The IAPGA Tour was a fantastic experience. We played some wonderful courses with some wonderful people from United States. Indian community was present in large force and it was pleasing to see how much they appreciated playing with us.

We had a fun time.”

- Angad Cheema 40 golf digest india | october 2016

L-R: Saji Samuel, Mike Bhakta & Rick Lyons having a good time in Houston

Mike Bedi (left) & Sanjay Sardana

Spotlight

India Digest

The golfers enjoyed the scenic pacific coast highway drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles

The famous Sahalee Golf Course! L-R: Abhijit Chadha, Gurpreet Singh Pal, Rishi Narain & Gurbaaz Mann

the 2016 Iapga tour Date

Golf Course

City

August 23

Little Turtle Golf Course

Columbus

August 27

Redmond Ridge Golf Course

Seattle

August 28

The Bridges Golf Club

San Francisco

August 30

Angeles National Golf Course

Los Angeles

September 1

Quail Valley

Houston

September 3

The Tribute Golf Club

Dallas

September 8-9

Trump National Golf Club

New York

Abhijit Chadha (left) with Pradeep Bakshi in San Francisco

Perfect Tee-off! Gunvir Rana in action

“I believe it to be a personal victory to be able to bridge the gap between the Indian talent and their wish to compete among the best in the world though the IAPGA Tour. We have proved that golf is a sustainable sport in India and the players like Arjun Atwal, Daniel Chopra and Anirban Lahiri have shown that Indians have the capability to compete and flourish on the USPGA Tour. In recent years, India have done really well provided the infrastructure and facilities, compared to other South Asian countries where they have better arrangements. The Indian community in the US turned out in large numbers to support the cause and all the players enjoyed the attention and the experience very much.”

– Gurbaaz Mann Photograph by Prateek Chaturvedi

next destInatIon Web.com Tour Q-School First Stage - Bear Creek Golf Club Murrieta, CA September 27 to 30

october 2016 | golf digest india

41

India Digest Spotlight

Mission america

For all kids who want to pursue college golf in the US, Golf Digest India lists out a few simple steps to get you going

By Bharath arvInD bharath@teamgolfdigest.com

A

s students in India approach 12th grade, parents and students together start planning colleges and fields of study to pursue. For those with ambitions of studying abroad and looking to pursue golf at the same time, the U.S.A. is quite often a popular destination of choice. How do you approach the admissions process and even better, how do you swing a golf scholarship in your favour to help you fund your education? Golf Digest India lists out a few simple steps to help you begin the process.

Step 1

Identify your major field of study & shortlist colleges

It is important to identify your field of interest and what you wish to pursue academically.

This determines your University choices and where you may attend college. Every college golf program has certain academic requirements as well. It requires you to maintain a certain Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). Spend some time to identify your preferences.

42 golf digest india | october 2016

tOp 5 Men’S COLLege gOLF prOgrAMS rAnK UnIVerSItY

pOIntS

1.

Texas

608

2.

Southern California

554

3.

Illinois

502

4.

Oklahoma State

490

5.

Vanderbilt

482

Source: NCAA .com Good reference sites: US News- www.usnews.com Petersons- www.petersons.com Princeton Review- www.princetonreview.com

Step 2

Identify golf programs

Once you have shortlisted colleges from an academic standpoint, look into their athletics program to determine their golf team & roster. US colleges have various divisions for athletics i.e. NCAA Div 1, NCAA Div 2, NCAA Div 3 and so on. Div 1 schools are

obviously on the radar of the most talented golfers but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t make a golfing career coming out of a lesser-ranked college.

Step 3

Contact golf coaches

Once you have shortlisted the colleges that offer the right blend of academics and golf to suit your profile, start contacting the coaches. Coaches are the best source of information for the golf program and will help you realise the various steps involved in team selection.

Step 4

play tournaments that matter

Based on feedback from the golf coaches, you must identify the tournaments in India and around the world that you should participate in to help you gain amateur ranking points for your golf scholarship. This goes a long way in obtaining a scholarship and also making it to a top college golf team.

Step 5

Stay in touch with the coaches

Stay in constant touch with the coaches and update them on your performance.

Feedback from them is very important and

Spotlight also building a rapport goes a long way. You may choose one college now, but once you are there you may still look to transfer to another college after your first year. The coaches play a big part in this decision.

students with academic scholarships.

This coupled with a golf scholarship can ensure a near free education.

Of course, all this depends on your academic track record and entrance test scores.

Step 6

Step 7

take the entrance tests – SAt & tOeFL

Set deadlines

Ensure you have scrutinised the admission procedures for the college and begin your preparations for SAT and TOEFL early on. Most American colleges have an ‘Early Decision’ which greatly benefits international

S et clear deadline s for your applications and follow them diligently. You can also avail the services of numerous admission and guidance counsellors across India.

There are several of repute which can be found from a simple web search.

top Professionals (Men) & US colleges they attended Dustin Johnson

(World no. 2) Coastal Carolina University

India Digest

tOp 5 WOMen’S COLLege gOLF prOgrAMS rAnK UnIVerSItY

pOIntS

1.

UCLA

70.73

2.

Southern California

70.88

3.

Alabama

70.89

4.

Georgia

71.29

5.

Duke

71.37

Source: NCAA.com

top Professionals (Women) & US colleges they attended

Stacy Lewis

(World no.8) University of arkansas

Jordan Spieth

(World no. 4) University of texas at austin

anna nordqvist

(World no. 11) arizona State University

adam Scott

(World no. 6) University of nevada, Las vegas

Gerina Piller

(World no. 17) University of texas El Paso

Bubba Watson

(World no. 7) Faulkner State Community College & University of Georgia

Patrick reed

(World no. 8) University of Georgia & augusta State University

Brittany Lang (World no. 20) Duke University

october 2016 | golf digest india

43

India Digest Tête-à-tête

‘I have achieved my goal of planting 100,000 trees’ Golf Digest India caught up with Ashwani Khurana to know more about the eco-friendly practices he advocates and implements at Karma Lakelands and why greening like charity begins at home.

Tête-à-tête with

Ashwani Khurana

By BharaTh arvInD & vIneeT Mann

F

rom encountering social discrimination as a resident of resettlement colony Lajpat Nagar in Delhi and being the son of a lottery ticket seller to once being the highest individual tax payer in the country, the capital’s Ashwani Khurana has set an example of how being determined can re-shape your destiny. Being a strong believer of Karma, Ashwani dons the hat of tree-man and environmentalist besides being the proud owner of Karma Lakelands, which was awarded by Golf Digest India for Best “Eco-friendly Practices” among Indian golf courses at the India Golf Expo 2016.

Excerpts from the interview:

GDI: How did you come about the thought of building a golf course?

It all started in 1989 when my friends and I acquired land on the outskirts of Gurgaon

44 golf digest india | october 2016

to make a farmers community. There was never a plan we had in mind on what was to be done with the land and hence I eventually bought their share with just one thought that I will plant lots and lots of trees there.

Typically, this was the story of a horse before the cart. I had no business plan for the property at that time but I have always been a firm believer in karma. That karma has its own way around things and its most powerful than anything else.

Eventually with my lottery business doing wonders, I acquired a lot of neighbouring lands with the sole aim of planting more trees. Then at one point we came to know that Haryana government (Govt.) has a huge parcel of land adjacent to our property where they had plans of a development, now called IMT and on the other side we were flanked

by National Security Guard (NSG) black cat commando facility. There was a clear plan of the Govt. to acquire abutting lands to expand the IMT. One of the ways to keep the

Govt. at bay from acquisition was to build a low density, low rise development such as a golf course resort and that’s how Karma Lakelands came into existence.

GDI: What are some of the key challenges faced during the development at Karma?

There has been immense amount of challenges but I have sailed through them with a smile on my face. There were major attempts

by Govt. to acquire the land even after the approval. The Govt. wanted to build a high tension power line that would bisect the existing and completed golf course to supply IMT with electricity. We proposed if they can look at re-routing the power lines but we eventually had to get a court restraining order against the Electricity department.

The Govt. at one point responded by invoking section 4 which meant that they intended to acquire. Those were tough times as a lot of investment had gone into it. But I was not going to lose Karma Lakelands as

Tête-à-tête

The 2780-yard nine-hole course at Karma Lakelands is adorned with seven water bodies and 35 bunkers

India Digest

Driving range

The Haryana Govt. wanted to build a high tension power line that would bisect the existing and completed golf course to supply IMT with electricity... but later they saw sense and backed out I am very passionate about what I do and eventually, the Govt. saw sense in what we said and backed out.

GDI: Which course designers did you consider for the Karma project?

There were couple of American & European golf course designers before I met Phil Ryan & his team from Pacific Coast Design. I saw a genuine respect for existing site conditions and a drive to improve the environment.

They clearly understood the dynamics of the feasibility of a golf course against the feasibility of the holistic project. They

wanted to utilise minimum water and be a minimal burden on natural resources and that’s where I saw the fit.

I even met a few signature golf course designers as well and realised that “signature: charges, let’s say, $1 million and then another half a million for the design part. So if you do a similar design without the signature it will cost you a million less. Interestingly Phil has been the backbone designer for a few “signature” designers and had all the qualification & capabilities to come up with a world class design.

GDI: We know Karma Lakelands is one of the most eco-friendly courses in the country. What eco-friendly practices have you undertaken at the course?

The entire property at Karma Lakelands, be it the golf course, the residential properties, the clubhouse and other aspects that exist on the site are all incidental to the larger purpose of having an eco-responsible community. First of all there are numerous full grown trees on the property, and I believe trees are of utmost importance given the atmosphere in this region. october 2016 | golf digest india

45

India Digest Tête-à-tête

His office-cum-residence in Vasant Kunj is an 8-acre green space with plenty of farm animals

Ashwani is a devout follower of Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev and meditates two hours daily

The entire campus is a no-horn zone as part of the eco theme. The guards respond to sight and not sound and this makes them even more alert.

In addition, the entire golf course at Karma Lakelands is a smoke free zone. Even the staff before they are hired are asked to declare if they indulge themselves in smoking, pan masala etc because we don’t want cigarette butts and pan masala sachets flying around the property. There is complete rainwater harvesting, which means that not a single drop of rain is wasted and all rainfall is channeled into collection points for use across the campus and course. There is wastewater and green waste (fallen leaves and grass) composting. Bio-treated sewage from the property is combined with green waste to encourage and speed up the creation of compost for use.

GDI: When did environmental preservation become a lifestyle choice for you?

It started in my younger years. As my family had moved from Pakistan after the separation, I grew up in a resettlement colony in Lajpat Nagar in Delhi. There were numerous instances especially during festivals like Holi and Diwali where I felt that our way of celebrating these events was not respectful of nature. We see this even today. However, as a 14-year-old, it made a lasting impression on me.

46 golf digest india | october 2016

Somewhere around 1985, I met Nek Chand, the gentleman who created the fabulous Rock Garden in Chandigarh and I invited him to this piece of land that I had recently acquired – 8 acres in Vasant Kunj, Delhi which is my home-cum-office now. It was in bad shape with clayish soil and infinite holes in the ground. I requested him to help me plan the landscaping and plant trees etc. as I had no practical knowledge at the time. When I saw the plants growing in the next few months, I was blown. Something overwhelmed me immensely. Looking at these trees, my reaction was the same as when you see your child grow. The joy, the bliss, it can’t be put into words and this is how I became the lover of trees. Not too long after that I vowed that I will give myself 10 years’ time to grow 100,000 trees and I did achieve that goal!

I kind of coined a self-guiding principle, Greening like charity begins at home but it shouldn’t end there.

So I started adding trees to my driveway, then opposite my home, there is a public park, which was a piece of brown earth. I adopted it for greening and today it is a mini forest.

I settled on doing something that is closest to my heart – the environment. It all started with trees but I soon moved on to water harvesting, bio degradation of compostable city waste- the other aspects of

I vowed that I will give myself 10 years’ time to grow 100,000 trees and I did achieve that goal! environment. I am blessed that this is what I practically do for a living today.

GDI: What plans do you have for Karma Lakelands?

Karma Lakelands in the near future will have 1000+ apartments and 270 villas with complete water and waste management. The motto is eco responsible community living.

We have not sold out many villas for the 10 years that we’ve been in the market. There was a time when we signed up with a Real Estate developer, one of the most popular ones in the country, but it turned out to be a bad marriage. When you are in bad marriage, you don’t make more babies.

We have just ended that relationship and currently are on our own but plan to tie up with a developer with the same core values.

I don’t really view optimisation of return on investment as a value; it can be a reward for your values. We are very clear on this.

GDI: Do you have more golf-related projects in the pipeline?

We are a single project company and this is how I always intended it to be. Every other property or investment has been diluted with a single-minded focus on Karma Lakelands project.

But my beautiful children are growing up and they are starting their own things. I will not stop them in their individual pursuit

Tête-à-tête

India Digest

Golf enthusiasts can choose to spend their leisure at the luxury villas available at the project

but I am very set and satisfied with this one project that I have. I will continue to work towards it with the fullest intensity possible.

Karma Lakelands project has 50,000 trees with inhouse water harvesting and treatment plants

GDI: What advice or learnings would you share with other developers looking to build golf-related properties?

The only advice to the entire golf course community of the country and beyond is to understand that it makes aesthetic as well as commercial sense to adopt green practices and that’s what we represent.

The satisfaction that you get when your green practices come to fruition is much more than any ROI can ever be. When you work with passion, rewards are instantaneous, you don’t have to wait till the end of a financial year for your rewards.

GDI: Earlier you ran a successful lottery business, which resulted in you becoming the highest individual tax payer of the country. How did all that start?

Mine was a difficult childhood. My father somehow put resources together and sent me to an English medium school — St. Anthony Public School — which was a big deal at the time. While I was from the low rung society of Lajpat Nagar, most of my peers in the school came from far more elite places in Delhi. I was equally put down by the peer group and judgmental behaviour of teachers.

Things like, family not speaking English at home, hailing from a resettlement area of Lajpat Nagar, dad’s business of selling lottery tickets on a bicycle — all this worked against me in school and I was treated badly.

The satisfaction that you get when your green practices come to fruition is much more than any ROI can ever be.

The teachers made fun of me, calling me a raffle-man. They used to threaten me to give

them a winning lottery ticket otherwise I’d be caned. There was this nasty teacher who meant it and he actually did cane me as I didn’t get the raffle ticket for him. It took some time but I was resolute despite all adversity. I decided that I am going to grow up and be in the lottery business. I entered the business with great passion and succeeded.

I believe that it is not what you do for a living but your true motivation to do it that makes a difference. These are the few episodes that shaped me to grow up into an internally strong person that I am today. I am also a devout follower of Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev who has been my guiding force. october 2016 | golf digest india

47

India Digest Money Matters

Business of Golf Features industry insights & updates from India & across the globe. To contribute updates on events, conferences or other happenings email vineet@teamgolfdigest.com

JOSH BURACK APPOINTED AS CEO OF THE ASIAN TOUR

The Asian Tour has appointed Josh Burack as its new CEO who will be based out of the Tour’s headquarters in Sentosa, Singapore. Burack will assume the role from October.

When Burack takes office as CEO, Kyi Hla Han, who has served as interim Commissioner of the Asian Tour since December 2015, will relinquish his position but will remain as a full member on the Board of Directors. Han will work closely with Burack during the transitional period until the end of this year.

A senior sports marketing executive with over 25 years of global experience in management, sponsorship, media rights sales, TV production and operations, Burack will lead the strategic and commercial direction of the Asian Tour and head the management team. He will report to the Tour’s Board of Directors.

During the past 19 years, Burack has lived and worked across the Asia Pacific in Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore as well as Australia. In his previous role, Burack was Senior Vice President at Dentsu Sports Asia (DSA), a subsidiary

of the Sports Division of Dentsu Inc. of Japan. There, he headed the Television, Media and Sponsorship areas of the agency’s office in Singapore and oversaw its sports subsidiary in Kuala Lumpur.

Most recently he helped lead Dentsu’s production team at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil where the agency produced and delivered 12 channels broadcast across 22 territories in Asia.

Prior to his time at DSA, Burack founded IEC in Sports’ business in the Asia Pacific and was their Director of the region for nearly 12 years. Before that, he served as a Senior Producer for World Sport Group for three years in the early days of the Asian PGA Tour.

Burack holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from American University in Washington, D.C. and a Masters of Business Administration from the National University of Singapore.

Source: Asian Tour

2016 Asia Pacific Golf Summit | October 29-30, Hua Hin

How to grow your golf club’s business?

A niche sport like golf needs to find new ways to sustain. Despite the sport becoming more popular owing to brilliant performances from Indians on the world stage and backing from corporates, the Indian golf industry is yet to fulfill its potential.

World class experts will be joining Mission Hills Group chairman Dr. Ken Chu to set a clear vision and pathway for golf clubs to help grow the sport in Asia through the Asia Pacific Golf Summit (APGS) to be held in Hua Hin, Thailand, on October 29-30.

Chu will deliver the keynote address and will also be joined by current World No. 7 and two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson.

Dr. Chu, who has invested $10 billion in his mammoth leisure and entertainment complex at Mission

Hills with golf as its central theme, has been slowly developing his “Golf And More” business platform.

Central to “Golf And More” is the integration of culture, leisure and golf.

“Under the “Golf And More” philosophy, we have expanded into urban leisure and commercial developments encompassing shopping, dining, entertainment, health, wellness, meeting, business and residential offerings, five-star resorts, award-winning spas and volcanic mineral springs, an international convention centre, golf academies, and Asia’s largest tennis facility,” said Dr. Chu. In 2015, the Mission Hills Group generated more than 1 million rounds of golf which is directly attributable to the “Golf And More” marketing concept.

Dr. Ken Chu, Chairman of Mission Hills Group, China

To become parT of The summiT, please visiT www.golfconference.org

48 golf digest india | october 2016

Money Matters

Sony acquires Ten Sports for Rs 2,600 cr Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) India has acquired Ten Sports for $385 million (approx. Rs 2600 crore) from Subhash Chandra-run Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE).

The deal will raise Sony’s sports profile and put it on equal footing with Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox-owned Star India.

ZEE had paid $107 million (Rs 500 crore) in installments during 2006-11 to acquire Ten Sports from Dubaibased Abdul Rahman Bukhatir’s Taj Group. Its accumulated losses from the sports business are pegged at Rs 600-640 crore.

SPN will add Ten 1, Ten 1HD, Ten 2, Ten 3, Ten Cricket, Ten Sports and Ten Golf HD, to its existing bouquet of four channels — Sony Six, Sony Six HD, Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD. Announcing the deal, NP Singh, CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India said: “I welcome TEN Sports to the Sony family. The acquisition of TEN Sports Network will strengthen SPN’s offering for viewers of cricket, football and fight sports, complementing our existing portfolio of international and

domestic sporting properties.”

About the sell-off, Punit Goenka, MD, ZEE said: “This is a landmark deal for ZEE and a step towards a strategic portfolio shuffle as we grow our general entertainment business both in the domestic and overseas markets. While we have grown our sports business over the last 10 years through acquisition of content at competitive prices, our focus now is on transforming ourselves into an all-round media and content company, comprising five verticals, viz.broadcast, digital, films, live events, and international business; and we continue to move rapidly towards our set business goals. While I have always been proud of our sports business, I strongly believe that Sony will add more value to it by taking it to even greater heights. I wish them all the success.”

With the acquisition, India’s only 24 hour HD golf channel ‘Ten Golf HD’ is likely to be made available across all cable operators. Earlier only Tata Sky and Dish TV customers were able to watch Ten Golf HD.

India Digest

Golf Insurance Now Available In India Future Generali India is the only company to offer a golf insurance policy as part of their product bouquet. Golfers can now insure their equipment and continue to enjoy the game with complete peace of mind as the policy offers comprehensive cover at golf courses and driving ranges.

The policy covers: • Theft of golfing equipment • Public liability • Personal accident cover for player and caddy • Damage to golfing equipment (not depreciation or wear and tear) • Hospitalization and dental cover • Accidental damage to third party property • Hole-in-One (for amateurs only)

sony Pictures Ceo nP singh (l) and Zee MD Punit Goenka sign the deal

“I welcome TEN Sports to the Sony family. The acquisition of TEN Sports Network will strengthen SPN’s offering for viewers of cricket, football and fight sports, complementing our existing portfolio of international and domestic sporting properties.”

— NP Singh, CEO, Sony Pictures Networks october 2016 | golf digest india

49

India Digest Corporate Digest

Thimmaiah, Rajendra qualify for Duke of Edinburgh Cup The second and final qualifier for The Duke of Edinburgh Cup, was held at The Prestige Golfshire, Bengaluru in August.

The charity golf tournament in aid of Christel House India saw participation from over 100 golfers from Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Mysore and Chennai.

The team of N P Thimmaiah and Rajendra M emerged winners and will travel to London to take part in the World Finals at the private course of the Royal Family at Windsor Castle, UK this month. They will be accompanied by Abhishek Mishra & Ravi Chopra who booked their spots earlier this year by winning at the first qualifier, The Madhavrao Scindia Charity Golf Tournament at DLF G & CC, Gurgaon.

Several lucky draws and on course contests kept the golfers hooked, courtesy Orion, Serai Resorts, Oris Watches, Johnnie Walker, Rajasthan fort and palaces, Ballantines, Epson, Featherlite and Titleist. Bengaluru’s largest charity golf tournament saw the proceeds benefit Christel House India to help young people by providing education and jobs.

About the tournAment

The Duke of Edinburgh Cup – an annual international series of golf events is a charity with Royal Patronage and has been running successfully for over 15 years with the very first event held in Portugal in 2001. Each year the World Finals are played at the private course of the Royal Family at Windsor Castle, London. The 2016 edition is set to be played from October 2 to 6.

Results

Apollo presents Duke oF eDinburgh Cup ChArity golF Position Winner Runner-up 2nd Runner-up

Team N P Thimmaiah Rajendra M Sudhir Makhija Arjun Pratap

Points 70 67*

Mohan Tayel

67 Capt. Sameer Kumar *Team with the combined lower handicap

the World Finals experience A once in a life time

where a round of golf is l The only golf tournament in the world private course inside the staged at the British Royal family’s le.

Cast sor grounds of Wind er with Prince Edward and l Black Tie Royal Champagne Dinn ly. fami l Roya the of bers mem r othe

Ajay K Gopal and Dhananjay Naidu kept the style quotient in check

Former cricketer Ajit Agarkar has recently taken a liking to golf and was seen in action

50 golf digest india | october 2016

L-R: Sankeerth Nidadavolu, Shashidhar Reddy and Kuntal Amin

Corporate Digest

London, heRe we come!

L-R: Sanjay Kumar, the winning duo N P Thimmaiah and Rajendra M with Suresh Nandagopal

L-R: Raju Shahani (Christel House India) Satish Sharma (Apollo Tyres) and winner N P Thimmaiah

Runner Up L-R: Sudhir Makhija, Raju Shahani and Arjun Pratap

India Digest

Rajeev Sarda practicing his putting before the big game

2nd Runner Up L-R: Mohan Tayel, Capt. Sameer and Satish Sharma

PIcTURe PeRFecT! Golfers from all across India turned out in large force to compete for the coveted spots in The Duke of Edinburgh Cup World Finals

october 2016 | golf digest india

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gutter credit tk

m y s h ot • a n d r e w j o h n s to n • 2 7 • f r i e r n b a r n e t • l o n d o n

52 golfdigest.com | month 2016 Photographs

by Dom Furore

Photograph by First Lastname

ANDREW!

gutter credit tk

A folk hero on burgers & beArDs, not to mention golDilocks, roller coAsters & the six stAges of Drinking w i t h g u y yo c o m

Photograph by First Lastname

october 2016 | golf digest india

53

M

i love my beard and have had it most of

my adult life, but the day is coming when it might have to go. My girlfriend, Louise, is constantly alerting me to bits of food that have been left behind, tangled in there. I’m paranoid about eating anything that leaves crumbs for fear of the remnants coming back to haunt me. We’re headed to a Wing Fest next week, and I’m worried my face might be completely orange by the time we leave. Fearing these things is no way to live your life.

●●●

out drinking one night , I decided to get a tattoo. At the tattoo parlor, I wrote out “Beef Head” for the artist, and next thing you know, the words are on my shoulder. Later I considered having it removed, but a friend said, “Are you crazy? Leave it there, always.

It’s who you are, man.” I’m quite fine with showing it off. Want to take a look? ●●●

m adness! During the USPGA at Baltusrol, a

bloke comes out of the crowd, takes off his shirt and says “Will you sign my chest?” I’d heard tales of women wanting their chests signed before, but men? I resisted. He says, “Come on, I’ve got a $100 bet riding on it.” I demanded confirmation. He disappears for a bit, comes back with his buddy—a girl—who confirms she’s on the other end of the bet. So I sign his boobs. Why not? At the WGC-Bridgestone, a girl wanted her skirt signed, hiked it up her thigh so I could reach it. A policeman is there, and he says, “Mr. Johnston, you don’t have to sign that.” I signed anyway. I’m in heaven, man. I’ll pretty much sign anything. ●●●

my hand was getting stiff from writing

“Andrew Johnston” so often. So when a little kid handed me a hat I just wrote “Beef,” with a smiley face next to it. The kid jumped up and down. The next kid I signed for, same thing. I was on to something. Even geezers, they’d see the smiley face and wave it in the air and laugh. There’s something about that smiley face, when people see it, nine times out of 10 they duplicate it on their faces. ●●●

my nickname : I was 12 years old and walking down the 11th hole at North Middlesex Golf Club, which is still my home club today.

A friend, Mark Kinsella, was walking up the 18th and, seeing me from a distance, shouted, “Look at you. It looks like you’ve got a steak on your head. A bit of meat. You’ve got a beefhead.” By the time I got in, everyone was calling me Beefhead, which was quickly shortened to Beef. ●●●

best nickname, other than mine: Big Gravy,

for Colt Knost. I wonder what he had to do to earn that.

54 golf digest india | october 2016

i’ve got to learn to pace myself. Early in the week of the USPGA, The Wall Street Journal took me on a tour of the best hamburger places in New York. Asked me to rate them. The first burger, at The Corner Bistro, I devoured. The second, at a place called The Spotted Pig, I ate all of it, too.

These were big burgers, and now I’m full.

The third and last burger was at Minetta Tavern. I ate half and was so stuffed I could hardly move. I really needed to lie down.

Then my manager, Shaun Reddin, reminds me that we’re now headed to Arby’s, where I need to eat again because I’d just signed an endorsement deal with them. We get there, and they put this enormous brisket sandwich in front of me. I looked at that thing like I was 5 down with six to play. I ate half of it and got that far only because it was delicious. I didn’t sleep that night. ●●●

in 2010, i was a new pro and playing lo-

cally. I was living with my mom, wasn’t getting better or making much money. One day I saw an advert for a job in London. It wasn’t clear in the ad what the job was, something to do with consulting. I was so broke and desperate I went for the interview anyway.

While I was drinking tea at a Starbucks that afternoon, they called me back and invited me to work a week “for training and experience.” At that moment, a feeling in my heart told me to keep doing what I loved, which was play golf. I told the nice lady, “Thank you, no,” and hung up. Life turns on little things, doesn’t it? If I’d stayed on the phone one more minute, my pro career would have ended right there.

there’s a video out there of me making a

hole-in-one at the 2015 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and going slightly bonkers, running around the tee, chest-bumping a friend in the gallery and generally behaving like a game-show contestant. I was more ecstatic than most pros you see winning a hole-in-one prize, for two reasons. One, the ace won me a BMW M4, valued at well over £70,000. That’s no ordinary car. Second, a month earlier, buying a good car would have meant making a down payment and financing a loan. ●●●

while sightseeing in moscow during the

2011 Russian Challenge Cup, I needed to visit a toilet. The nearest available place was inside a McDonald’s restaurant. To go inside, you have to go through a metal detector. One

‘The kinds of golfers i like To hang ouT wiTh are ones who can spend a nighT aT The pub conversing almosT enTirely in lines from “caddyshack.” ’ of the neat things about Europe and the U.S., I think, is that you don’t need to go through security to get a hamburger. ●●●

a few quick impressions about America.

One, people greet you when you do things like walk onto an elevator. I think that’s brilliant. Two, the roller coasters are the best in the world. Three, you have drive-thru banking machines, which I’d never seen until I visited here. During the USPGA I drove through and withdrew $100 just for the thrill of it. ●●●

to use the drive-thru banking machines more often, I need to play just a little better.

My game is pretty good, actually. I drive it pretty long and very straight—I hit 26 of 28 fairways at a European Tour event a while

back—and my iron play is solid, especially when I stand taller at address like my coach, Alan Thompson, tells me to do. My short game is good. But my putting is a little dodgy. I’m working like mad at it, and when it kicks in, I think I’ll really go places.

and helpless. When the Open came around and I got to St. George’s, the first thing I did was go practice my sand shots. My sand game ended up being fine, but the rest, not so much. I missed the cut by 10.

●●●

just the other night , I dreamed I found

ship in 2011, I was so obsessed I began having dreams about it. Make that nightmares. I’d played the course, Royal St. George’s, many times, and in one dream I was on the first tee and couldn’t hit the ball. One whiff after another, in front of a huge gallery. In another, I’m in a bunker and couldn’t get out. The people are watching, and I’m embarrassed

●●●

after qualifying for the Open Champion-

●●●

another player’s cellphone in the locker room. I picked it up, swiped it and put it to my ear, just in time to hear someone yell, “Andrew!” At that instant, I woke up to hear Louise yelling my name, trying to wake me up. How does that happen, the climax of a long dream coinciding perfectly with someone shouting my name in real life? Weird. durban, south africa, 2014. Me, my friend Jason Mitchell and another guy are hanging out at this gorgeous beach. I head into the october 2016 | golf digest india

55

ocean for a swim and don’t get five yards from shore when a strong riptide starts to pull me out to sea. Luckily I catch a wave and scramble back to land, but Jason lets the current take him well out into the ocean.

Ten minutes go by, and I wave to Jason to make sure he’s OK. He waves back—all is well. After another 10 minutes, we wave to each other again. But our other friend swims out to make sure Jason is safe. Now they’re both out there, and after 30 minutes, it’s clear they’re having trouble overcoming the riptide even though they’re swimming sideways like you’re supposed to do. I’m helpless to do anything. After 45 minutes in the ocean, they make it in. Jason is so exhausted he can’t stand and can barely talk.

But the second his legs hit the sand and I knew he was safe, something about the situation—maybe it was seeing him humbled after being way overconfident—struck me as hilarious. I started laughing and couldn’t stop, which Jason didn’t exactly appreciate.

Even today, when Jason and I are at the pub together, I laugh hysterically about it. Jason just frowns and stares at his pint. ●●●

there i was contending at this year’s Open Championship on Saturday at Troon—fighting for third place, anyway—when I chip in for birdie at the 13th hole. The crowd was very much into supporting me by then, and they’re cheering wildly. I’m celebrating, just deliriously happy, when I look into the gallery. There I see my mom, and she’s crying, overwhelmed by it all. They were tears of joy and pride, obviously. I briefly thought of everything she and my dad had done to get me here. We Johnstons are ordinary people— she’s still a school lunch lady, and my dad, who passed away a few years ago, was a bus driver and worked at a timber company. My parents and older brother and sister always supported me. Anyway, when I saw my mom crying, I had to look away, otherwise I would have begun bawling, too. I had golf to play. ●●●

then there’s my niece , Summer. She’s 5,

and like my sister, is confident and has a big voice. She was in the gallery shouting, “Beef to the rescue!” like I was a superhero, which at the moment, maybe I was. Children are magic. For all the good times I’ve had, nothing beats sitting with Summer, reading Goldilocks and the Three Bears, adopting all the voices, being a kid myself. ●●●

best tv shows : “Family Guy,” “The Simpsons” and “South Park.” They’re all animated and brilliant because they’re able to bypass political correctness. The world has gone mad that way, hasn’t it? The way teachers are required now to say “chalkboard” instead of “blackboard,” things like that. When I watch “Family Guy” depict the English as having

56 golf digest india | october 2016

smashed-up teeth and stuffy accents, I die laughing because there’s truth in it. It’s a bit sad that to laugh at ourselves, we have to watch cartoons to do it. ●●●

i was born in 1989 , and Tiger started his

dominance in 1997, so you can imagine the impact he had on every kid of my generation.

But I had another hero: Chi Chi Rodriguez.

Seeing film of him doing his sword dance, entertaining people and being so comfortable in his skin, I thought he was amazing.

So was the way he hit incredible shots with a swing that was all his own. It always surprises people when I tell them that Chi Chi is one of the people in golf I’d most like to meet. ●●●

it also surprises people

to learn that although I was playing in the group directly ahead of Phil and Henrik at Troon, I haven’t yet played with either of them. Nor have I played with Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson or a lot of other top players. I’ve played in Europe mostly and in fact have played in America only a couple of times as a pro.

I haven’t gotten the big pairings yet, but I’m hoping that will change.

when i was a teenager , a friend and I

got mugged by gypsies. The nastiest of the three said to me, “Give us your wallet and cellphone.” I handed them over. The leader looked at the phone, which was 10 years old, and muttered, “This is garbage.” And my wallet was empty. He then did something criminals rarely do: He handed them back to me.

They didn’t even bother hassling my friend, who looked every bit as broke as I was. With a look that said, You guys are even more pathetic than we are, they walked away. ●●●

the stages of drinking are as follows. First

there is Relaxed and Social—think, normal people filling the bar at 6 p.m.

Second stage is Let’s Have One More. This is where the quality of your mates is established and you want more of a good time.

Third comes Where Are We Going Next? That’s when the mysteries of the night begin calling.

Fourth up: Hammered. It’s a full-on party, even when you aren’t really celebrating anything. Fifth: The Really Drunk Guy. You start sentences with, “I’m being completely serious.”

This can be bad news. The sixth stage, the last and worst, is The Journey Home. Here you’re tired, have advanced feelings of regret and just want to get to your bed.

‘The world has gone mad . . . IT’s a bIT sad ThaT To laugh aT ourselves, we have To waTch carToons.’

●●●

●●●

had a basketball court. Basketball isn’t the most popular sport in England, and I didn’t play much of it growing up, but anything having to do with a ball, I’m pretty good.

I had the ball near midcourt when a guy I didn’t know said, “One shot for $100, and I’ll give you 5-to-1 odds.” I accepted, heaved the ball up, and swish, nothing but net. He paid and said, “Want the same bet?” You’ve got to give a guy a chance to get some of his money back, so I took another shot. This time I missed, but I can always say I’ve made $400 playing basketball.

there’s still the next morning to deal with. To cure a hangover, first open the windows and get some fresh air. Drink something fizzy and sugary. Then eat. Cold pizza or a bacon sandwich are ideal, but if they aren’t available, hammer the cupboards for food, any food. Then, two Advil and plenty of water.

the rental house we used at the USPGA

●●●

if i were dr. frankenstein building the perfect golfer, I would give him the hands of Seve Ballesteros. I would attach them to the arms of Ernie Els. I’d implant Tiger’s waist and core, and probably his brain, too. Lastly I would give him the ’nads of Jack Nicklaus.

My creation would win everything.

if you’ve survived The Journey Home,

●●●

if you ask my girlfriend about me, she’ll tell you straightaway that I leave a trail in the flat. Socks, especially. She might mention that I tend to leave an unfinished cup of tea or a bit of food about just before we leave town, and how it’s all moldy when we return. Don’t press her, though—I wouldn’t want her mentioning the bad parts. ●●●

i’m very good at getting rested , and it doesn’t seem to matter how much I sleep. I prefer 10 hours per night—I can go 12 hours, easy—but I can get by on as little as two.

●●●

●●●

with are ones who can spend a night at the pub conversing almost entirely in lines from “Caddyshack.” Or better yet, dialogue from the best movie ever, “Step Brothers.” Many a time I’ve said to a friend in my best Will Ferrell voice, “I remember when I had my first beer.”

the USPGA, I texted a good friend back in England. I asked him, how did all this insanity happen? He replied with a smiling, laughing emoticon, as if to say, who knows? All I know is, I’m up for all of it. Love me, and I promise to love you back.

the kinds of golfers I like to hang out

how long will beefmania last? During

Style by Marty Hackel

The Golf Life

A good windproof jacket is comfortable and functional.

Into the Wind

This easyto-pack, seam-sealed quarter-zip jacket doubles as a waterproof and windproof option.

Each pocket is also sealed with waterproof zippers.

Six jackets for a brisk fall round very golfer needs a windproof jacket. They’re more affordable and easier to pack than a waterproof jacket, and they offer an effective way to regulate your body temperature. The key is comfort. The best windproof jackets use lightweight, water-resistant and breathable fabrics for protection. A stiff breeze is no match for these jackets.

E

zero restriction $215

You might be familiar with the effective Gore-Tex material Galvin Green uses in its rain jackets.

The company also has jackets that feature Gore’s Windstopper fabric galvin green, $275

Mesh lining on the interior of this half-zip pullover adds ventilation and comfort. It’s lightweight and windproof: ideal for an athleticlooking wind jacket.

rlx golf jacket, $225, pants, $98 ralph lauren shirt, $85 ecco spikeless shoes, $195

nike $125

This Swiss company is expanding its golf offerings with this three-layer seamsealed jacket.

Maximum stretch on this rainproof and windproof option increases functionality in the elements. kjus $499

For fans of merino wool, Peter Millar’s hybrid sweater is a stylish and lightweight option. Soft wind panels on the front side add protection. peter millar $245

Photographs by Eric Helgas

october 2016 | golf digest india

57

put you

the hands have it

Richard Trotter, a student of ours who plays the mini-tours, shows how the left hand leads the swing.

in go od 58 golf digest india | october 2016

r swing Golf is too difficult because of the way it’s being taught.

Here’s how to make it easier by bob toski & g ary battersby

ew golfers who are introduced to modern swing technique often get the impression that the swing is a series of unnatural and strenuous positions. Even established golfers experience this struggle. No matter their level, so many golfers become bewildered and find that improvement takes too long. All too often they walk away from the game.

On our team, Gary has spent countless hours studying how the brain works in athletic movement.

The brain doesn’t see and direct the body as separate parts, but as a whole. Once there’s intention to strike something, like a golf ball, the brain creates complete internal models of the action before the player moves a muscle. The moment the player visualizes the shot, the brain has already begun readying the rest of the body to support the action of the hands, which naturally lead the motion.

Bob has been described as “oldfashioned” in his teaching. He has been criticized for not subscribing to the modern notion that the golfer should control the swing—and the club—with the large muscle and joint groups: the shoulders, the back, the hips. But research on how the brain works doesn’t support that criticism. The hands

N

are the most evolved and sensitive parts of the human body, the parts that communicate most effectively with the brain. As such, they must be front and center in any athletic movement.

Much of modern teaching also declares that the conscious movement of the hands creates an unstable action that’s difficult to time and control in pressure situations.

Because of this claim, many teachers seek to eliminate any conscious movement of the hands. The common contention is that the hands contain small muscles and joints and have too many variations in movement for the golfer to rely on them in striking the ball.

This thinking is wrong, and again, brain research proves it.

As the most advanced part of the body, the hand is capable of detailed and refined motor movements. So instead of taking the hands out of the golf swing, we should train them to perform correctly. Concentrating on the role of the hands during the swing results in a more intuitive, athletic action and better shots under pressure.

The golfer who does this is more in tune with the club throughout the swing, especially at impact, and will perform at a higher level with greater consistency.

hands

—with roger schiffman

Photographs by Dom Furore

the science behind developing a hand-controlled swing ur reading of neuroscience research indicates that fine-grained hand awareness is the heartbeat of the swing. Hand action in golf is a skilled motor movement similar to cursive handwriting, playing a musical instrument, and the action in any stick-and-ball sport. But when we speak of hand control, we’re not excluding the movement of the rest of the body. In our work with golfers, the brain shows an extraordinary ability to organize the movement in those large muscle and joint groups implicitly. The brain conducts a symphony of motion through the hands.

A deeper dive reveals two properties of the brain and nervous system that the body relies on to develop and control movement: plasticity and proprioception. Plasticity is the concept that your brain is not hardwired—it’s plastic. Your brain can change itself. The cliché “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is simply not true. Your brain does not need to be a slave to your genetics, either. This is good news for established golfers who want to improve their swings.

Proprioception is a property of the nervous system that gives the brain feedback from the muscles and joints that describes the body’s relative position in space.

A person cannot improve movement without proprioception. If we didn’t have proprioception, we’d have to watch our feet when we walk to avoid falling.

Because most of the swing takes place out of the golfer’s sight, he or she needs to develop a high degree of proprioception to swing the club in a consistent manner.

The hands have the highest volume of motor representation and proprioceptive feedback to the brain, and because they’re the golfer’s only connection to the club, they provide the best opportunity to feel its movement.

Maximizing feel and brain-to-body coordination increases the golfer’s control over the swing and the shots it produces.

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feel the force; don’t force the feel. focus on the momentum of the swinging club.

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how to speed up your learning our environment and what you do in it plays a major role in how your life unfolds. The same goes for your golf game. That’s because every experience or new movement is recorded in your brain, and strong patterns are formed through repetition. If you change the way you handle and control the golf club, and if you practice through accurate intention and repetition, you will improve.

A successful golf lesson is really just a wake-up call to feel your swing accurately.

To improve your feel through proprioception and change what your brain relies on to hit the ball, try closing your eyes during the swing and begin to recognize how your hands feel on the club and how they’re directing the action. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how well you do. You’ll be feeling at a higher level. Your hands—your most sensitive tools—will be communicating with your brain as only they can.

This plasticity of the brain is encouraging for golfers taking up the game—at any age. And it’s exactly why we never draw conclusions prematurely about a student’s potential. Older students introduced to our program for the first time often start playing better than they have in 20 or 30 years. They are experiencing plasticity at work, with improved proprioception. But here’s the catch: You must learn in a manner that allows your

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awareness to surface on a consistent basis.

If your hands are activated and in tune, you will perform well, and you will become more confident in what you can do.

One more major concept here. Rhythm, the synchronized pulse of movement, is a critical part of motion, especially in the golf swing. In modern swing technique, rhythm has been glossed over and replaced by a focus on body and club positions. The golfer who learns to time the release of energy in the swing through proper hand action will enjoy control and power for a lifetime.

putting your hands to work e believe in simplicity. We have a saying that describes our method in one sentence: “If the club is OK, your swing is OK!” If your hands move and function properly, your swing will be effective because the clubface mirrors the hands.

This is a simple concept that’s true for any problem that might arise in the swing.

When most golfers practice these days, they have no plan for how they’re trying to improve. For example, control in a golf swing does not begin by making full-motion, full-speed driver swings, as we see so many golfers doing on the practice tee. At high speeds, the brain performs only what it already knows, so no change or improvement is taking place. This type of careless practice simply ingrains the problems you’re having.

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a few fundamentals

Train your lead hand first—and most

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e love this quote from Bobby Jones: “The

hands form the connecting link by which the forces brought to life in the player’s body are transmitted to the clubhead.” Or, as we say it, the hands take hold of, to take control of, the club. And the left hand is the leader.

Start with the grip in the fingers and palm of the left hand, with the left thumb on top of the grip (left). As you swing, allow the clubface to rotate open going back, the toe of the club turning upward. Through impact, think of the knuckles of the left hand turning down to the ground (below, right). That’s the feeling of delofting and squaring the face. Take another look at that photo on the first page: Richard is doing it beautifully there.

Remember, the lead hand is the director, and all other motion flows from what that hand is doing. bob toski, who will turn 90 on Sept. 18, has been one of golf’s leading instructors since the 1960s. gary battersby, his teaching

Remember this phrase: An ounce of touch is worth a ton of brawn. Developing control over the club should start with the simple swings on and around the greens.

You must crawl before you walk and then possibly run. Beginning with small swings will help you feel the momentum of the club. Learn to associate the swing with an ease of movement and flexibility, a simple flow back and through. Start with a balanced grip, the club in your fingers and your grip pressure light. As an overall thought, control the motion with the lead hand; the brain will direct the trailing hand to support the lead hand implicitly.

On these shorter swings, notice also the rotation of the clubface as it swings back and through, and how the momentum of the club hinges and unhinges the wrists.

You’re learning rhythm and an awareness of the hands and clubface during the swing.

Modern teaching prefers a stiff-wristed short game, but that only makes it harder to develop proper hand action. Feel the force; don’t force the feel. Focus on the momentum of the swinging club, especially on these early swings. When you go back to hitting driver, your hands will bring along this education.

breaking the big-muscle myth t’s difficult to understand why the game has been driven away from feel and sensory-based learning. In tournament golf 40 years ago, you rarely saw a player in contention hit a tee shot 50 yards off line. That happens almost every week on tour today.

Psychology aside, this lack of control under pressure is directly related to the fact that these great golfers have ceded control of their

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an ounce of touch is worth a ton of brawn. develop yo ur control on short shots. swings to a positional, large-muscle system.

If you listen to TV commentators, you’ll hear that they, too, have been seduced by the modern method. For example, they talk about always making a full swing, avoiding the partial shot. In the eyes of the modern player and teacher, that’s safe. Today’s pros often lay up farther from the green to hit a full wedge rather than a half- or three-quarter shot. They’ve been brainwashed into believing anything less than full requires a dangerous reliance on the hands. The top players of the past could feather an 8-iron or smash a 9 or squeeze a 6 low into the wind. The punch shot that so many of them played with great success is a dinosaur today.

If you want to improve your golf game, learn to be creative and intuitive. Avoid swing technique that has devolved into a robotic endeavor. Good golf is about relying on a developed touch in the hands for impact. Then the angle, loft, spin and energy for the ball flight can be felt through the club and into the hands. You’ll improve faster and enjoy the game at levels you never thought possible.

partner, has studied neuroscience in golf for 20-plus years. Here, they’re holding a homunculus (“little man”), a model that represents how the brain views the sensitivity in the hands compared to the rest of the body.

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bunker Here’s How I’m leadIng tHe lPga tour In sand saves by jenny shin

62 golf digest india | october 2016

▶ If you’re like a lot of the amateurs I’ve seen, you take too much sand on greenside bunker shots. People say you need to hit the sand first, but most golfers overdo it—and end up leaving the ball in the bunker.

I hit these shots differently.

My philosophy is that you don’t need to chunk it out with a lot of sand. You can control the shot better if you take less sand.

You’ve probably done this by accident and hit a great shot that popped out with spin and checked up by the hole. The big chunk tends to roll out too much, so it’s hard to control.

To try my technique, there are a few things you need to do in your setup. Take a wider stance than usual, and dig in your feet a bit for stability, with your weight about 50/50. To find that balanced body position, close your eyes and shift your weight a little left and right until you feel neutral.

basics

Play the ball just forward of center in your stance, and open the clubface by rotating it to the right. Then drop your hands back a touch, away from the target. When you move your hands back, the open face, which was pointed to the right, is square to the target again.

Go ahead and make a big arm swing, but maintain the angles in your wrists that you set at address. Make sure you turn your lower body, too. Your goal is to hold the clubface open during the backswing, so keep those wrist angles intact.

Coming down, don’t think about hitting two inches behind it—that’s too much sand and too unpredictable. Instead, focus on letting the bounce on the bottom of the club slide through the sand. You want the clubhead to bottom out directly under the ball, not behind it.

Finally, keep the swing going through the sand. A lot of people forget to follow through, and they just dump the ball in front of them. Swing to a nice, full finish. When you do it right, it doesn’t feel like the sand is grabbing your clubhead. It feels crisp and clean. Give it a try.

—with keely levins

+ fila shirt skort footjoy shoes

jenny shin, 23, gets up and down from the sand 69 percent of the time. In May, she won the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout, her first LPGA Tour victory.

Photographs by J.D. Cuban

‘I’m gd / 105

not a

quIt —ter’ how henrik stenson learned to win big after conquering the yips by matthew rudy

. . . i couldn’t hit three football fields with my driver.’

+ BOSS GREEN Shirt, $135, pants, $165, belt, $165 FOOTJOY Shoes, $300, glove, $30

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Previous Pages: street Lecka/getty images • these Pages: stuart FrankLin/getty images (2)

‘when it all fell to pieces

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ou can’t see it from the tee, but Royal Troon’s 18th hole has one particular place that is a certified dream killer. ▶ The deep bunker framing the right side of the fairway, 308 yards out, caught Greg Norman in the playoff at the 1989 Open Championship, and he never finished the hole—wrecking a Sunday 64 that was supposed to give him his second major. Mark Calcavecchia stayed far away and made birdie there twice on Sunday, in regulation and the playoff, on his way to winning the claret jug. ▶ Henrik Stenson and caddie Gareth Lord knew that history—and exactly where the trouble was—when Stenson came to 18 in the final round of this year’s Open holding a two-shot lead over Phil Mickelson in their modern Duel in the Sun.

If a player Is hIttIng It all over the place, and the psychologIst tells hIm to be posItIve, that Isn’t goIng to work. there’s nothIng to be posItIve about. —pete cowen Stenson could have picked a long iron that would have taken the right bunker and the strand of traps on the left out of play. Instead, he immediately pulled out the most reliable club in his bag. Even though it hides under a headcover for one of the clubs from Callaway’s current line, the circa-2010 Diablo Octane Tour 3-wood with the electric-blue shaft is what Stenson has been using to overpower courses for more than six years—an eternity in the world of tour equipment.

“It’s shorter than standard, and it has about 12.8 degrees of loft,” says Peter Cowen, Stenson’s coach for the past 15 years. “He can hit it down a funnel, really. He can hit driver, too, but I don’t know why you’d need anything else. When he’s at his best, it’s like watching a video game.”

The man from Gothenburg, Sweden, didn’t hesitate. Starting his swing with its idiosyncratic hitch away from the ball, he smashed the ancient 3-wood for the fifth time on the back nine. The ball came off high and straight and kicked slightly right when it landed. It bounded hard toward Norman’s bunker, but Stenson had already picked up his tee and retreated to the back of the tee box to wait for Mickelson to play.

Stenson knew exactly where it was going—the same place it almost always does.

The shot would finish a step short of the sand, perched on a lovely, slightly uphill lie in the fairway. Stenson would flush another iron shot in a day full of them and make the putt to punctuate one of the greatest displays of ball-striking in major-championship his-

tory—a 10-birdie 63 so pure that even Jack Nicklaus said it was the best he’d ever seen.

Forget about holding the mythical title of tour golf’s best ball-striker, or ringing up a record-breaking 20-under-par stripe show at Troon. That Stenson, now 40, would even be playing tournament golf in 2016 was unbelievable in 2001. “I was in a pretty dark place,” he says. “But I’ve shown more than once that I’m not a quitter.”

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FULL-SWING YIPS

oss of form—European doublespeak for playing badly—doesn’t begin to describe where Stenson was by the middle of his rookie season in 2001. Tagged as one of the European Tour’s most promising young players because of his skill with the long clubs, he won by three at The Belfry in his 11th start.

But by the next month, his game vanished in a way most tour players don’t even like to acknowledge, much less talk about.

Stenson developed the full-swing yips— an issue that has sent an all-star cast of players into retirement (and often the broadcast booth) in the past two decades. Ian BakerFinch went from winning the Open Championship in 1991 to missing one of the widest fairways in golf at St. Andrews in 1995. Seve Ballesteros led the European Tour in putting but made only three cuts in 2001, his last full season. David Duval went from No. 1 in the world in 1999 to making one cut in 20 tries in 2005.

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tour player’s most fundamental fear—the inability to control what is happening to the club during the swing. The physiological causes are complicated, but in basic terms, yips are a disruption in the “programming” that runs a certain fine motor skill.

In putting, a player makes what looks like a simple motion to strike the ball, but the movement requires a complicated medley of neurological impulses and muscle movements. Teacher and 20-year yip sufferer Hank Haney compares a yip to a scratch in the grooves of a record—but instead of producing a skip in the music, it causes an uncontrolled flinch near impact. On a putt, that might mean missing a three-footer in an embarrassing way, like Ernie Els did at the Masters. When the club is moving 120 miles per hour, flinching usually ends careers— because it’s much harder to make wholesale changes in a golf swing than it is to modify a putting stroke.

For Stenson, the yips manifested worst in what had been his hallmark. “Driving the ball long and long irons were always the strong part of my game,” he says. “When it all fell to pieces, that was the part I was struggling with the most. I couldn’t hit three football fields with my driver.”

A dry sense of humor and a willingness to poke fun at himself makes Stenson one of the most popular players with his peers on both major tours, but in this case, he isn’t exaggerating. At the Smurfit European Open two months after his win, Stenson walked off the course in the second round because he had no idea where the ball was going to go, and he was afraid he was going to hurt a spectator.

By the end of the season, Stenson’s confidence had cratered, and so had the earning prospects for his caddie at the time, Grant Barry. Barry was friendly with Cowen—who had renovated Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke—so he suggested Stenson meet with the teacher to try to solve the career-threatening problem.

Cowen had never studied Stenson’s swing but had heard about the issues. “A lot of players had been saying he was having terrible struggles,” Cowen says. “You’d think that with that win, the struggles wouldn’t be so deep—that it might be mental or something. But when I saw it, he needed a complete rebuild. There was a lot of talent there, but the technique? It wasn’t great.”

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fixing a ‘manipulator’

tenson was an accomplished badminton and soccer player, and at 6-2 and 200 pounds he produced plenty of speed. But his athleticism and coordination had covered up what Cowen considers one of the prime flaws in a tour swing.

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Stenson was a “manipulator”—a player who relies on elite reflexes to instinctively adjust the clubface through impact to produce a quality shot. Manipulators can play great in streaks, but being so reliant on timing causes more valleys than peaks—and makes a player prone to collapsing under pressure.

The 26-year-old version of Stenson drove his legs hard at the target in the downswing and came down at the ball with a steep angle of attack. He relied on lots of hand action to save shots at the last second. And when he lost the feel of that fine motor control during his yip period, Stenson’s misses were historically ugly. A typical tee shot wasn’t just going into the trees. It was going off the property, 200 yards from the intended target. “Shockingly bad,” Stenson says. Adds Cowen: “He had no control of where the ball started, or the trajectory. He was hitting 5-irons and 7-irons off the world. We had to start over.”

You can call Cowen the Butch Harmon of Europe, with an impressive teaching résumé that includes major-championship winners Graeme McDowell, Louis Oosthuizen, Clarke and Stenson in addition to associate Mike Walker’s work with 2016 Masters winner Danny Willett. But it was Cowen’s experiences as a player in the 1970s and early ’80s that made the 65-year-old Englishman from Yorkshire especially sympathetic to Stenson’s struggles—and willing to put in the hundreds of hours the rebuild would require.

“The only reason I’ve been successful as a coach is because I went down all the blind alleys myself as a player,” says Cowen, who had two top-10s in 101 starts during 10 seasons

I went down all the blInd alleys myself as a player. a lot of players get lost In those alleys.

—pete cowen on the European Tour. “A lot of players get lost in those alleys. I did. I should have succeeded, and I didn’t. But now I understand why I didn’t.”

Cowen and Stenson tore it all down to the foundation and began again, setting out to build the assembly-line efficient swing that

would produce singular 7-irons that sound like gunshots—shots that even other tour players recognize as exceptionally pure.

Stenson learned how to correctly use his powerful legs and a new piston-like rightshoulder movement back and through to produce what Cowen calls “pressure” on the ball—a heavy, precise strike that doesn’t rely on lots of hand action or timing. “If you look at the mechanics of the golf swing, you have to understand what the control element is,” he says. “How are you going to control the movement, without forcing the movement?

It’s repetition, repetition, repetition of the correct movement.”

Stenson was always a worker, and he wore out practice ranges from Rotherham to Dubai, slowly building what Cowen calls the “pyramid of learning”—basic fundamentals followed by dynamic movements, finished with power, pressure and mental performance. “It’s the only time I’ve ever done it with a player at that level, and it was very hard, because there are scars,” says Cowen, who works with 20 mostly European players, joined by Walker out of their base an hour outside of Manchester, in the north of England.

“When you’re helping somebody, you have to leave them playable. It wasn’t playable for him when we started. But it was either take it or leave it, and Henrik decided he wanted it.”

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flipping the switch

s advertised, it wasn’t easy.

The 2002 season was a lost year, with almost as many rounds in the 80s (four) than the 60s (five). In 2003, Stenson was playing on the last year of the exemption he got for winning as a rookie, so he needed to show some progress. It finally came near the end of the season, at the German Masters. It wasn’t a win, but it felt like collecting the final leg of the Grand Slam for a player who had finished over par for the week in 35 tournaments since his win. “I hit a great tee ball down the last and made par to finish 13th and keep my card. That was a big moment,” Stenson says. “Without that exemption, you fall off tour and go to the Challenge Tour.

From there, you don’t know what happens.

You have to keep on working. Once you can do something in practice, you work on doing it twice. And then practicing golf and playing golf isn’t the same thing. You have to learn how to flip that switch.”

Stenson finished 68th in money in 2003 and won his second European title, at The Heritage outside London in 2004. But it wasn’t until 2005 that Cowen believed Stenson was in position to have the career forecast for him during that rookie season.

“Psychologists are brilliant, but they can’t do their job if I don’t do mine first,” Cowen says.

“If a player is hitting it all over the place, and the psychologist tells him to be positive, that isn’t going to work. There’s nothing to be positive about. But in Germany, he drove the course to death. He went from being the worst driver in the world to, statistically, the best driver on the tour. To see how good he’d become, I could not have been happier for him.”

Players and teachers who have been down the same rough road have an appreciation for the work that Stenson put in— and for the graciousness he retained even when he was at the bottom. “Henrik is one of the really good guys in the game,” says Clarke, who will be captaining Stenson on the European Ryder Cup team this fall.

“He’s dedicated. He works so hard with his game, and he’s spent so much time. He’s got a very, very strong mental attitude. Nothing fazes him.”

Haney, who contended with severe driver yips for the entire time he coached Tiger Woods, is effusive in his praise for what Stenson accomplished just by becoming competitive again. “It’s an amazing story,” says Haney, who has tested hundreds of putting, chipping and full-swing yippers at his academies outside Dallas. “He found a route around the yip, and he’s actually better than he was before he had that problem.

There aren’t five players in the world that consistently hit it like he does.”

Stenson won twice more in Europe in 2006, earned a place on his first Ryder Cup team and made the putt that won the trophy for Europe. The next season, he beat Geoff Ogilvy in the final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play—a victory that got him full status on the PGA Tour through 2010. Stenson parlayed that access to a win in the 2009 Players Championship—after learning in February that he had lost millions in the Allen Stanford Ponzi scheme—and set up one of the hottest stretches of golf to end a season in 2013.

Entering the FedEx Cup playoffs in ninth place, Stenson shot four rounds of 67 or better to win the Deutsche Bank Championship.

He bookended that performance by beating Jordan Spieth and Steve Stricker by three to win the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup

“ w h e n h e ’ s at h i s b e s t, ” c o w e n s ay s , “ i t ’ s l i k e w at c h i n g a v i d e o g a m e . ”

and earn an $11.4 million payday—matching the biggest single-day prize-money haul in golf history. Two months later, Stenson crushed the field at the European Tour’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, closing with a 64 to win by six shots—making him the first player to win the FedEx Cup and the Race to Dubai in the same year.

The $20-million season moved Stenson into the top three in the World Ranking and into the conversation as the best player without a major championship. He took care of that at Troon, and after contending late into Sunday at the PGA and earning the silver medal at the Olympics, Stenson seems to be in a Mickelsonian middle-age prime. “It’s all about getting out of bed and keep working away and trying to be better,” he says. “Sometimes you improve, but it doesn’t necessarily mean your results are going to improve over a period of time. But at some stage you kind of catch up, and you can get the rewards for your hard work. Given the ups and downs I’ve had in the past, it’s not like I’m going to get worried if I’m not producing the results I want. I’ve got patience.”

It has been an especially satisfying sea-

son for Cowen, who has been threatening to retire with increasing insistence since he turned 60. Two other Cowen/Walker students, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Thomas Pieters, are establishing themselves as a pair of Europe’s most promising future Ryder Cuppers. “I think it proves that what we’re doing is sound,” says Cowen, who will shift his responsibilities with players like Stenson, Westwood and Oosthuizen to Walker. “I bought a house by the coast three years ago, and I’ve stayed in it one night. My wife has allowed me to do this for 23 years, and it’s engulfed our life. It’s time to do something new.”

When he finally gets to the shore, Cowen will find at least one new thing waiting for him. He doesn’t charge a set fee for his work, relying on his players to be fair when they make a good check. Sometimes that means a nice bottle of wine.

In Stenson’s case, the reward had a lot more horsepower. He promised Cowen an Aston Martin sports car when he won his first major and was only too happy to deliver.

A nicely equipped DB9 runs about $185,000.

Cowen will take his in black.

It’s all about gettIng out of bed and tryIng to be better. sometImes you Improve, but It doesn’t necessarIly mean your results are goIng to Improve over a perIod of tIme — henrIk stenson october 2016 | golf digest india

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Travel

Â

PRAIRIE PERFECTION 70 golf digest india | october 2016

Travel

Spare yet spectacular, Sand Hills’ 502-metre par-5 first hole is a classic.

Sand HillS Golf Club lieS almoSt in tHe GeoGrapHiCal Centre of tHe united StateS, and it waSn’t So muCH deSiGned aS diSCovered.

B y B a r ry H av e n g a

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Travel

Four time zones, 5 545 kilometres, 13 states, 12 days.

That was my drive across the United States, coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The highlight was a two-day stop in central Nebraska to play a golf course built in 1995 in one of the most sparsely populated areas of America. Sand Hills is so special that it has been ranked in the top 10 of Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest Courses.

In a state renowned for featureless flat terrain and endless fields of corn, the Sandhills region comprises prairie grasslands and thousands of sand dunes, home to half a million beef cattle. The area, 50 000 square kilometres, is a geological anomaly, believed to have been formed at the end of the last ice age when sand was blown into large dunes during a drought.

Sand Hills Golf Club is a private members club situated 21 kilometres from the nearest

town, Mullen, which has a population of 554. The course wasn’t so much designed as discovered. Renowned architects Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore spent almost two years investigating how to route the 18 holes, set within an expansive valley surrounded by dune structures similar in height to those found at the great links of the United Kingdom and Ireland. They initially had a routing map of 136 holes, eventually whittling them down to 18.

Darius Oliver, author of Planet Golf, was so mesmerised

by Sand Hills he called it “Arguably the most important American golf course since Augusta National,” and since opening, “single-handedly lead to a rebirth of classic golf architecture in this country.”

The story of how I got to play Sand Hills began in July 2013 while sitting in a Manhattan hotel lobby reading the New

York Times. As part of the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln Highway – the first transcontinental roadway in the world – a travel writer had made the journey, which resonated with me. I had previously travelled the West Coast of the US, through Florida and large parts of the East Coast, but was yet to see Middle America. In 2014 I had the opportunity to take a mini-sabbatical from Golf Digest, missing my first monthly deadline in 10 years to drive across America with an Australian friend. Drew and I spent three days in New York before taking delivery of a BMW X4 to begin our cross-country journey.

The Lincoln Highway was conceived in 1912 by Carl Fisher, an Indiana entrepreneur, and it was America’s first national memorial to President Abraham Lincoln and the first automobile road across the

Sand Hills co-designer Ben Crenshaw called the short 17th a ‘neat little hole’.

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vast nation. It affectionately became known as ‘The Main Street Across America,’ bringing prosperity to hundreds of towns and villages along the way.

This wasn’t a golf trip, but while planning the journey I traced the route on a map and discovered that Sand Hills was just 112km away from North Platte, a town along the Lincoln Highway on Interstate 80. It would be the greatest detour a golfer could ever take. I contacted the club, who in turn contacted Golf Digest architecture editor Ron Whitten to ‘vouch for me.’ Sand Hills is strictly private with very little outside play allowed.

Membership quickly topped at 170 – three-quarters of them from outside Nebraska – who can bring up to seven guests at a time and can sponsor a fourball for a one-time visit.

There are only 8 000 rounds a year, over a five-month season which usually ends in October.

Travel

Clockwise from top left: Opened in 1995, Sand Hills is a modern classic; Dan Daly grills burgers on Ben’s Porch; It’s easy to miss the Sand Hills turnoff; Heading west towards San Francisco; Flags are changed to scarlet and cream in support of the University of Nebraska; The ANC is prominent in Mullen; Prime Nebraskan beef paired with Australia’s finest wine.

▶ Field oF dreams In the 1989 fantasy movie Field of Dreams, an Iowa corn farmer played by Kevin Costner hears voices telling him: “If you build it, they will come” – which he did, a baseball diamond cut out of his corn field, whereupon the 1919 Chicago White Sox team magically appear to play. Although I never met the Nebraskan visionary and developer Dick Youngscap, who approved my visit, I suspect he might have had a similar epiphany when 3 200 hectares of prairieland became available to buy in the early ’90s, and he was the only person who imagined it would suit a golf course.

Car travel was a dusty, muddy affair when Fisher hatched his idea for the Lincoln P H O T O S B Y b a r r y H av e n g a

Highway over a century ago.

Although the thought of driving more than 5 000km sounds daunting, it never felt like a slog. Interstate 80 is a two-lane dual-highway so, unlike our national highways, you never face oncoming traffic. Shared driving in our comfortable and spacious X4 with SatNav and satellite radio stations saw time pass quickly. We had overnight stops in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), South Bend (Indiana), Chicago (Illinois) and Omaha (Warren Buffetcountry in Nebraska) before arriving at Sand Hills.

We didn’t see another car on the last 50km on Route 97 from North Platte. Nor a single house, shop, petrol station or another human being as we sliced through farmland to a golf course that I was

beginning to doubt even existed. You have to look carefully for a small wooden sign south of Mullen – which we initially missed – turn left and then drive a few kilometres further, arriving at an understated clubhouse with a full parking lot of golf carts. But there was still no sign of a golf course.

We checked in, booked a table for dinner, and drove a cart with our bags to the modest cabins on top of a hill overlooking the Dismal River. There were no keys for the cabin and a notice tells you not to be alarmed if you hear strange noises at night.

Deer often bed down under the structure and wild turkeys roost on the balcony railings.

There is no cell phone coverage and only limited WiFi in the clubhouse lobby.

A kilometre from the clubhouse, over a ridge and through a private farm, we arrived at Ben’s Porch, an outdoor halfway house adjacent to a large, undulating practice putting green – finally signs of golf! I rarely ride in a golf cart unless it’s compulsory, and usually always travel with my own clubs. But the nature of our journey meant we hired clubs, and the heavy bags required a cart – there were no caddies at this remote destination.

From the starter’s cabin your northerly view of the vast landscape sees a few mown strips running in different directions, interrupted with massive rugged bunkers, referred to as ‘blowouts’ (shaped by the wind) as very little earth movement took place during construction. Simple and

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Travel

The BMW X4 resembled Nebraskan Cornhuskers Scarlet for Game Day.

“if we worried about scores on a windy day at sand hills, the experience would be tainted.” inexpensive was Crenshaw and Coore’s Sand Hills mantra; holes were designed to accommodate the Nebraskan Plains winds with spacious fairways and target areas to encourage ‘chase-in’ approach shots. The exquisite greens, however, are incredibly quick and diverse in their structure.

▶ 2 700km for this?

The par 5 first is the finest opening hole I have ever played. From an elevated tee box – without ball washers, signs or any other objects detracting from the natural beauty of the environment – you face a fairway below that angles away from you, flanked by bunkers and glorious tall native grasses and sunflowers.

We both found the small platform green in regulation, elevated with a wicked false

front, nestled in a natural amphitheatre.

Drew, a low-handicap who learnt the game on Western Australia’s finest championship courses, had a downhill 20-footer which wasn’t moving very quickly at all when it passed the hole. But it didn’t stop and rolled off the front of the green, coming to rest 30 metres down the fairway.

I didn’t say a word, but I imagined a giant text bubble above his head as he strode down the green and then out of sight with a wedge in his hand.

‘We drove 2 700 kilometres for this?!’

We are both competitive golfers but quickly realised that if we worried about score on a windy day at Sand Hills, the experience would be tainted. This was not a cliché – it really was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I could compare it to playing Fancourt Links

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for the first time in a two-club wind. You need a couple of rounds to know where you are going, and most importantly, where to miss it, particularly on approach shots.

On the fourth you get the impression you are the only group on the course. From the raised tee box you can see in every direction but only a single fairway is visible, which tumbles 450 metres to a green perched on a shelf protected by a massive blowout on the left and sharp fall off on the right. The seventh and eighth are short par fours with clever greens complexes. The closer you drive it to the green, the tougher it is to hold your pitch shot.

At halfway we met Dan Daly, a leather-faced Mid-Westerner who grills your hamburger or hot dog on Ben’s Porch. He’s from Mullen and works at the club in the summer. I had four

of his cheese burgers during our 24 hours at Sand Hills.

The back nine made for dramatic photography as thunderstorm clouds began to build, contrasting beautifully with lush fairways framed by the golden dunes. Crenshaw called the short 17th a “neat little hole” – only 135 metres, but requiring a precise short iron to a tiny postage-stamp green, guarded by a whale-mouth bunker on the left and deep grass beyond. I took a photo from the tee which was posted to Instagram when we reached the clubhouse. Golf Digest USA saw the image and re-posted it, which quickly went viral – our location was now known, and proven!

▶ rib eye and red wine Dinner was an extravagant indulgence, knowing we were unlikely to pass this way again. A 600-gram, bone-in, Nebraskan rib eye, complimented with a 1999 Penfolds Grange, Australia’s most celebrated wine. The dining room was packed, big tables of ‘old

Travel

Sand Hills’ par-4 18th exemplifies why it has been ranked in the top 10 of Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest Courses.

money’ sharing tales of their day on the links, and probably discussing hedge fund options and private equity deals. Our waitress, also from Mullen, suggested we save some steak for the morning; the kitchen would slice it up for breakfast with eggs and coffee.

But we headed straight for the tee the next morning, second off at 07h15. I did call the kitchen from the cabin asking to keep my beef, which would make for delicious ‘padkos’ later. There wasn’t a sound on the first, the wind had dropped overnight and the September light was sharp as the end of summer approached.

There are no professional sports teams in Nebraska, making college football (gridiron) the number one religion in the state. It was opening day of the season and The University of Nebraska Cornhuskers were playing 450km away in the state capital of Lincoln.

Overnight, the black-and-white pin flags had been changed to ‘Huskers’ scarlet and cream, as was the main flagpole at the clubhouse. This only happens on Game Day. The second round was an even better experience. Dead

2 700km from New York, Sand Hills is right in the centre of the United States. calm with only dew-prints from the group ahead a sign of other life. There are no weak holes at Sand Hills, and no strokes or course rating printed on the simple scorecard, just boxes for four scores – with a note on the back stating: ‘Due to varying wind conditions and direction, handicap rating is intentionally omitted.’ “We just want people to come out and have fun, not worry about score and handicap,” Director of Golf Cameron Werner told us afterwards.

A quick stop was made at the pro shop for souvenirs

before we hit the road for Cheyenne, Wyoming. Drew quickly nodded off and I kept thinking of the ‘Constellation Map’ hanging in the clubhouse – the original plan of 136 holes. Oh yes, the clubhouse, where I forgot my steak! My expletive woke Drew, but we were already 45 minutes down the road and on to the next adventure.

The New Jersey number plates on our red X4 looked more impressive the further west we travelled; through Wyoming, Utah and Nevada before reaching California.

The only other golf course we stopped at was Lincoln Park GC, a public layout with views of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

This is where the concrete marker for the western terminus of the Lincoln Highway lies, in a parking lot overlooking the undulating layout framed by cypress trees. We asked a passer-by to capture the moment, and he joked that we could only pose for a photo if we had a similar one taken in Times Square. I replied with a smile, “We do, from 12 days ago.”

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edited by peter morrice

Play

You’ve Got This How to beat the tough holes by martin kaymer

ost players get to the No. 1-handicap hole and think about just trying to survive without destroying the round. Being cautious is understandable. We feel it, too, especially in the majors, where course setups can be brutal. But you’ll have more success if you treat that 485-yard par 4 the same as all the others, instead of playing it safe. I used the strategies here to win two major championships, and they’ll work just as well for you no matter what hole you’re playing. It’s time to start looking forward to the challenge and stop playing with fear.

—with matthew rudy

M

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Photographs by Dom Furore

“Keep your backswing tempo the same. Nice and smooth.”

see Your shoT Before i step up to any shot—on any hole, hard or easy—i go through the same mental process. i create a picture in my mind of exactly what the shot will do. seeing the specific starting line, trajectory, landing and finishing point is a lot different than hoping just to hit it out there somewhere safe. when you have a specific image in your mind and commit to it, you tighten your focus. it’s also an important part of handling pressure. You’re giving your mind something to do other than be nervous.

Don’T overswinG Long, hard holes are usually visually intimidating from the tee. That’s done on purpose to make you uncomfortable from the start. in those tense situations, it’s very common to swing faster than normal. And when your tempo changes, your sequencing gets thrown off, which produces a bad shot at the worst time. on a hard driving hole, do the same things you would on a hole you love to play. Take the club back at your usual unhurried pace and make the same smooth swing you would when you’re playing your best.

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Play Your Best Scoring

Have an aPProacH Plan Bad decisions are just as costly as bad swings—and many times they go hand in hand. When you have a hard approach, don’t get consumed with all the trouble around the green. Instead, pay attention to key fundamentals such as alignment, aim and picking the right club for the shot. Good planning helps take away the indecision over the ball that often leads to out-of-control swings. a good swing thought to marry with your plan is to maintain the extension you feel in your arms from address to finish. You’ll hit it solid and make a hard hole play easy. + BOSS GREEN shirt, $112 pants, $155 belt, $115 NEW ERA hat, $37 ADIDAS shoes, $150 TAYLORMADE glove, $22

record round I set the 36-hole scoring record for the u.S. open (10 under par) in 2014, but the number you see on the ball I use for every tournament round commemorates the 59 I shot in 2006, my first year as a professional. It was in the second round of the Habsburg classic, on the european Professional development Tour, when I was 21 years old. It’s hard to be disappointed about going 13 under, but I still think about the birdie chance I missed on 17, an easy par 5.

Martin Kaymer won the 2010 PGA Championship and the 2014 U.S. Open, and made the clinching putt for Europe at the 2012 Ryder Cup.

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What the Pros Know by Hank Haney Play Your Best

Working the Ball Change your shot shape by changing your finish hinking about your swing from beginning to end is natural, working from address to backswing to downswing to finish. But starting from the opposite end—the finish—can help influence the way you curve shots.

How your swing ends says a lot about the motion you made to get there. For example, a finish with the right side notice-

T

Photographs by J.D. Cuban

ably lower than the left and the weight hanging back a little (above, left) indicates you’ve swung down from inside the target line and the hands and arms were moving faster than the body. That tends to produce a right-to-left shot—a draw.

If you do the opposite, where the chest and hips are facing the target at the finish and the right shoulder is high (above, right),

straigHt

fade

you’ve probably hit a shot that curved from left to right—a fade.

To hit the ball straight, get your hips and chest turned toward the target and the shaft angled down slightly and across the back of the head (middle).

Rehearse these finish positions, and you’ll have a lot better feel for how to shape shots. You also can eliminate your typical bad shot by swinging to the finish that’s the opposite.

Hank Haney is based at the Hank Haney Golf Ranch in Lewisville, Texas. To get fixed in Golf Digest, send Hank your swing on Twitter: @HankHaney.

can you guess the shot?

Watching a pro golf tournament can be as educational as it is entertaining.

When the camera focuses on a player hitting a full shot, pay attention to how he or she finishes the swing. You can even hit pause on your DVR and guess whether it was a draw, fade or straight shot before seeing where the ball ends up. You’ll have a better awareness of how to shape shots.

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illustration: Peter oumanski • call away: glove, hat • martin: shirt • g/fore: shoes

draW

Play Your Best Golfer’s Wish List by Butch Harmon

27%

HDCP

24% 9%

How many 5 clubs do you regularly chip with? ▶ Two ▶ Three ▶ Love my one trusty wedge ▶ Bring the whole bag, please

40%

42% 34%

The Hybrid Scooter An easy way to reach back pins

othing’s worse than being just short in two and making 6 because you bladed one over the green. The hybrid chip can be a lifesaver, especially when you have a lot of green to work with. One thing to keep in mind: The ball comes off a hybrid pretty hot, so it’s just a little bump to get it going.

I use my putting grip because the motion is a lot like a putting stroke. Set up with the ball off the instep of your back foot to make sure you catch the ball first. Stand close to the ball, and choke down on the grip a few inches to shorten the club. The shaft should be pretty upright at

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address. This will help you make a straight-back, straight-through stroke. If you stand farther from the ball, the stroke will be more rounded, which makes it tougher to make crisp contact.

The stroke is a simple back and through with firm wrists.

Why not just putt it? Because a putter has almost no loft, so you’ll tend to hit the ball down into the turf and come up short.

The hybrid launches it a few inches in the air, so the ball skips off the fringe and rolls like a putt.

You’re gonna love this little shot.

Butch Harmon is a Golf Digest Teaching Professional.

BUTCH’S BASICS

Sometimes you’re in greenside rough, and you have very little green to work with.

That’s when you need a high, soft pitch. Grab your most lofted wedge, open the clubface, then take your grip. Play the ball off your front instep, and swing the club up abruptly with some wrist hinge. As you swing down and through, let the clubhead release past your hands through impact (above).

Photographs by J.D. Cuban

FOOTJOY: shirT, $72, panTs, $85, shOes, $100 • TiTLeisT: haT, $28, gLOve, $24 • rOLeX: waTch • hOUse OF FLeMing: beLT

source: Golf DiGest reaDers

Game Plan by Jack Nicklaus

Play Your Best

“The smart player sees a large bunker in sections.”

Exit Strategy How to play for a miss n par 5s, bombers get excited when they have a chance to reach the green with the second shot.

Same with shorter hitters on long par 4s. Although it’s great to embrace opportunity with aggressive play, the amateur mistake is to get preoccupied with covering the distance of a lengthy approach and ignore what’s going on around the green. Laying up or planning to miss to a certain side should be part of your thinking. Because let’s be reasonable: If you’re using a wood or hybrid, your chances of hitting the green are less than 50 percent. You need to ask, From where am I most likely to put my third shot close?

Consider the par-5 13th hole at Concession Golf Club (illustrated) in Bradenton, Fla., which is a course I designed with input from my friend Tony Jacklin.

The hole is a useful example of a long hole with a green complex that makes you think.

—with max adler

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SAVE YOURSELF A hollow depression of tightly-mowed grass means different things to different players.

Some are scared of this shot and would rather be in a bunker.

If the hole is cut tight to the left side, or the turf is dry and requires extra precision to nip a chip, those are fair arguments to avoid this spot. But if the hole is on the right, you get the entire green to work with. Then I’d say this is an excellent area to pitch from, or even use a putter. It’s all about setting up the shortgame shot you prefer.

DIVIDE AND CONQUER When you see a massive greenside bunker like this one, divide it into sections. Playing from the back of this bunker makes for a very difficult shot.

But if you can get up toward the front, near the elevated green, there’s a good chance your ball will settle on an upslope in the sand, which makes for a fairly easy splash-out.

If you think you can carry your approach shot to the putting surface, taking on this bunker is OK. If you’re planning on getting there with roll, you could easily wind up in the back of this bunker, so stay away.

sportsmanship endures

A ChANGING ChALLENGE

getty images

When we designed this hole, Tony and I left a magnificent pine tree right here. Three years ago the tree died, so we put a bunker in its place. That’s always my long-term plan when I leave a tree as an integral part of a hole: to one day replace it with a bunker. Trees are more difficult to play around, and bunkers are more difficult to play from. In this case, the bunker gives a golfer on the right side of the fairway a larger window to try for the green.

Illustration by Chris O’Riley

The 1969 Ryder Cup at Royal Birkdale ended in a tie when I picked up Tony Jacklin’s marker on the 18th hole in our singles match. I told him, “I don’t think you would have missed that putt, but under these circumstances I would never give you the opportunity.” Initially, U.S. captain Sam Snead was mad at me, but that conceded two-and-a-half-footer did a lot, I like to think, to establish the right tone for the competition. It was fun, 37 years later, when Tony had the idea to create a club inspired by this moment.

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Play Your Best Back to Basics

5-Minute Clinic

Get better faster with clubs that fit by kevin sprecher

ne of the first things I hear from beginning golfers is that they didn’t get fit for clubs because they didn’t think they were good enough for it to matter. The truth is, a 20-handicapper gets more benefit out of a fitting than a scratch player does. Good players adjust quickly to the equipment they have in their hands, but high-handicappers end up fighting their clubs as much as they do their swings. Think of it as a cycle: Improve your swing, tweak your clubs, repeat. Here, my wife, Debbie Doniger, who’s also a teaching pro, is helping me groove my swing with a new driver. Remember, there’s help for you out there!

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—with matthew rudy

Kevin Sprecher, one of Golf Digest’s Best Teachers in New York, is based at Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Briarcliff Manor.

1 adjustability

‘a shorter shaft can improve contact, which increases distance.’

2 shaft fitting

Picking a shaft isn’t just about ‘R’ or ‘S’ ▶ When you swing a club with a shaft that feels good, you aren’t responding to the regular or stiff flex. You’re feeling the tip stiffness and torque. Those factors, along with shaft weight, give you the spin, distance, control and feel you want. So don’t fixate on the letter on the shaft band. And don’t buy off the rack: You wouldn’t buy a suit or dress without checking the fit, would you?

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Photographs by Dom Furore

▶ Adjustable drivers are cool—and with some help, you can get the clubhead set up correctly.

But don’t overlook shaft length. A driver that’s two inches shorter than standard (43 instead of 45) might cost you a bit of speed, but you’ll end up adding distance because you’ll make better contact.

When you swing, extend your arms and make a full turn (above). Most players pull the club to the inside, trying to create speed right away.

gutter credit tk

Seek distance carefully

3 maintenance

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illustration: Peter oumanski

Get regular check-ups ▶ It’s not hard to convince a golfer how important it is to get fit for clubs.

But even if you’ve gotten fit recently, you still need to pay attention to your equipment specs.

Why? Because if your swing improves, it could mean you need to tweak your clubs.

And even if your swing stays the same, hitting balls off mats at a range can change the lie angle and loft of your irons enough that they won’t fit you by the end of a single season.

It’s like changing the oil in your car. Preventative maintenance keeps things running smoothly.

4 contact tests

How to find the sweet spot ▶ Impact tape is a cheap, easy way to get an instant read on how you’re swinging. It can show you how consistently you’re hitting the sweet spot on the face (above). It also can indicate that you’re hitting it consistently—but in a place where you’re not getting the benefit of the club’s technology. If you see marks all over the face, it usually means you need help with your swing. If you see marks in the same spot but off center, it could be time to adjust your equipment.

5 wedge fitting

Are your wedges working together? ▶ Wedge practice is one of the fastest ways to bring down your handicap. In the photo above, Debbie’s helping me test different wedges by trying to land balls on a towel and seeing how they run out to the hole. You can play this game to improve your short-game skills—or to build the perfect gap between the wedges in your set. You want three wedges that produce different shot trajectories and distances.

This philosophy is more obvious for full-swing shots but also applies to these little chips and pitches. If two wedges do almost the same thing, you’re going to be short somewhere else in your bag. The purpose of getting fit is to optimize your equipment for your swing and physique but also to maximize the number of shots and situations you can handle.

+ Debbie Doniger: RALPH LAUREN GOLF shirt, $90, skort, $125 • ADIDAS shoes, $90 • Kevin Sprecher: RLX RALPH LAUREN shirt, $90, pants, $98 • FOOTJOY shoes, $150 • TITLEIST glove, $23

Play Your Best Swing Sequence aul Casey has hit some memorable iron shots in his career, highlighted by a hole-in-one in the 2006 Ryder Cup to close out a foursomes match. But it’s his beautiful driver swing that has always turned heads. If it weren’t for multiple injuries over the years, the personable Englishman by way of Arizona State might have been one of the best in the Tiger Woods era.

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Paul casey An old-school swing that keeps getting better

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Says his longtime teacher, CBS commentator Peter Kostis: “Paul doesn’t talk much about the injuries, but he has suffered from a bunch of them, like torn rib muscles, a left-thumb injury and persistent turf toe.

Nevertheless, he’s one of the purest, most consistent swingers of the club on tour.”

Kostis is literal when he uses the word “swinger.” Casey has somewhat of a clas-

sic action, with an unrestricted hip turn on the backswing, plenty of leg action, and soft arms in the follow-through. Casey admires his teacher as well: “I always go back to what we call Peter’s Rules,” he says.

“Strong grip before weak; ball back before forward; feet narrow before wide; heel up before down. Good advice for everyone.”

—roger schiffman

bowing tHe legS

HandS to buttonS

let tHe Knee in

“We work a lot on being athletic,” says Peter Kostis, Paul Casey’s teacher for the past 16 years. “I like his kneecaps over his feet and his right foot flared out.” Kostis says that allows Casey’s right hip to clear going back. “We also work on keeping his left hand strong [turned to his right on the club].”

Casey starts with his hands in line with his shirt buttons and maintains that relationship to his midline at halfway back.

“That’s his backswing key,” Kostis says. “He trains with medicine balls, which forces you to get the body rotation in sync with the hands as you move.”

Kostis wants the left knee behind the ball at the top.

“The outside of Paul’s left foot comes off the ground,” Kostis says.

“Sometimes he’ll let the heel come up, too.”

This goes against the modern idea of locking down the lower body as much as possible.

Kostis says restricting things can cause injury.

▶ driving accuracy

64.4%

Paul casey (44th)

▶ greenS in regulation

60.1%

74%

69.7%

65%

72.6%

tour average

colt Knost (1st)

Paul casey (13th)

tour average

Henrik Stenson (1st) s o u rc e : s h ot l i n k

legS go forward

tHe big PuSH-uP

an eaSy ending

Pro-file

Starting down, look at Casey’s lower-body action. It’s the epitome of leading with the feet and legs, which sets the downswing sequence.

“He’s maintained the flex in his knees,” Kostis says, “and look at that tremendous clubhead lag, which leads to tons of speed at impact.”

“Notice Paul’s belt rises dramatically from pre-impact to impact,” Kostis says.

The lead shoulder and upper body are being pushed up by the right leg. “Overall, Paul feels like he’s pulling through a little more than he’s pushing, but it’s about 51/49,” Kostis says.

Into the finish, Casey’s arms are relaxed. Kostis says it’s like the Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt: Instead of tightening up toward the finish line, he stays relaxed, giving it a burst of speed. Paul holds his finish until the ball lands, with no recoil of the club. He’s balanced and in control.

paul casey 39 / 5-10 / 180 pounds Paradise valley, ariz. driver nike vapor fly 10.5 degrees ball nike rZn tour Platinum + NIKE shirt, $70, pants, $90 shoes, $170, belt, $60, hat, $32

Photographs by J.D. Cuban

Play Your Best Putting

Ready to Roll Making putts is more setup than stroke by mike shannon

2

ust as the eyes are the windows to the soul, the setup in putting is the window to the stroke.

If left alone, the stroke will mirror the positions established at address. Set up well, and your stroke will flow naturally; set up poorly, and you’ll be fighting yourself the whole way.

It’s easy to pick out good and bad putters by looking at their setups. But every golfer has the ability to putt as well as a tour pro because, physically, putting demands very little. You don’t have to be strong or fit or flexible. But you do need to get into a good setup. Here are the steps I teach. —with peter morrice

With your aim set, you want to take advantage of it by swinging the putter on line. this is determined by the near-to-far ball position. if you stand too close to the ball, you’ll make an out-to-in stroke. too far away, and the stroke path will be in to out. most tour pros stand 2¼ to 2¾ putterheads from the inside edge of the ball to the toe line (left). Putterheads range from 4¼ to 4½ inches long. to confirm your distance is good, have a friend make sure your putterhead tracks slightly to the inside on the backstroke and inside again after impact.

measuRe youR distance

J

1

Position the ball

gutter credit tk

First thing is aim. aiming the putter is a function of a player’s vision, and we’re all different. Putterface aim is determined by the front-to-back ball position. every player has a front-to-back position that correlates to perfect aim. if the ball gets in front of that spot, the putter is aimed left. if the ball moves behind it, the aim is to the right. (a one-inch change shifts the aim by three inches for every 10 feet.) Place the ball where it feels correct, then have a friend check from behind if the face is aimed at the hole, or left or right. adjust accordingly.

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I watch how players set up and think, Here’s a good putter or No chance.

4

get youR Palms oPPosing

3

the position of your hands in large part determines if you return the putterface to square at impact. if the thumbs are on top of the grip with your palms opposing, or facing each other (left), you have the best chance of getting back to square. if the hands are too far on the left side of the grip, the face will tend to fan open on the backstroke and be open at impact, causing a miss to the right. if the hands are too far to the right side, the face will tend to over-rotate on the forward stroke and be closed at impact, causing a miss to the left.

maintain stance Width once you establish aim and ball position, your feet must stay in place. if you widen your stance, your head moves back relative to the ball. this effectively moves the ball position forward, which shifts the aim to the left. if you narrow your stance, your head moves forward. that effectively moves the ball back—and shifts the aim to the right. the best guideline on stance is to make it comfortable. some players flare their feet, some like them toed in. both are fine. Width is personal, too. the key is consistency: set your feet, and keep them there.

+ PETER MILLAR shirt, $89 ADIDAS shoes, $100 BRIDGESTONE visor, $18

6

check these FouR lines

5

line uP the shaFt and FoReaRms to get into your address position, place your feet and take your grip, then stand upright and point the club out in front of you. the shaft should be an extension of your arms. then draw your elbows in until they touch your sides (above). to keep the shaft in line with your forearms, your wrists will be arched. that will help your wrists stay firm throughout the stroke. tilt from the waist, maintaining the shaft-to-arm relationship, until the putter hits the ground. your weight should be slightly more on your front foot and in both heels.

this is your final check: the four parallel lines of putting. the first is from the ball to the target—your intended line. the second is the eye line, which should be parallel to the first. if your eye line points right or left, your aim shifts. third is the shoulder line. if your shoulders are open or closed, the stroke goes left or right. to square your shoulders, set your head above your stance center. last is the line of your forearms. because one hand is lower on the grip, pay extra attention that this line is parallel to the others. mike shannon is based at Sea Island Golf Club, St. Simons Island, Ga. He works with 14 tour players, including Matt Kuchar, Graeme McDowell and Whee Kim.

Photographs by J.D. Cuban

Play Your Best Step by Step by David Leadbetter

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Worst result you’ve ever had punching out? ▶ Negative yardage: 40% ▶ Ball got stuck in a tree: 31% ▶ Damaged my club: 19% ▶ Hit myself: 10%

Jailbreak How to punch your way to freedom here are times when an off-line shot puts you in a place where all you can do is hit the ball low and advance it to a better position.

In these situations, you need the punch shot. It’s smart, user-friendly and can eat up a good chunk of yardage toward the green. Just remember one thing: To use it reliably, you have to practice this shot. Let me show you how in four steps.

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David Leadbetter is a Golf Digest Teaching Professional.

1. USe LeSS Loft

2. Grip Down

3. keep it Short

4. finiSh Low

▶ Select a longer iron than normal, like a 6-iron where you might have chosen an 8-iron. But be careful not to choose a club that might hit the ball too low to carry whatever is between you and the fairway.

▶ even with a less-lofted club, you can hit it too high and catch a lowhanging branch. to avoid that, grip down a couple inches and play the ball about middle in your stance. that’ll keep the flight down.

▶ You don’t need the extra power that comes from a full backswing.

You do need to swing in control and make solid contact. try not to take the club back any farther than the point where your left arm is parallel to the ground.

▶ the hands should lead the clubhead through impact. once you strike the ball, the punch swing is almost over.

A low finish produces a lower shot—one that just might get you back in position to save par.

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Photographs by J.D. Cuban

illustrations: todd detwiler • Jos a. Bank: shirt, $115 • CallawaY: GloVe, $25 • roYal alBartross: shoes, $370 • roleX: watCh • house of fleminG: Belt

source: Golf DiGest reaDers

Equipment by Mike Stachura Play Your Best

You Have Options New clubs for all styles of play o you want your new clubs single-use or multi-purpose? For example, are you partial to a driver that’s big and forgiving or one that allows you to tweak an array of settings?

Do you want irons designed to launch it high and far, or do you want a compact head that lets you control trajectory? Even in wedges, you can choose between larger heads with wider soles and limited lofts or models that offer multiple lofts, sole designs and bounce configurations.

Knowing what you want from your wedges, irons and driver is the first step toward knowing what kinds of clubs should be in your bag.

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m i zu no t7 ▶ Infusing forged carbon steel with ultra-strong boron makes the grooves more precise and durable. The grooves, soles and shapes change as the loft changes. price $150

m i zu no j px- 9 0 0 ▶ There are just three lofts, but you don’t need more.

Plus, you get a large, forgiving size and sole, a milled face, loft-specific grooves and a soft stainless steel for better feel. price $100

cl e ve l a nd rtx- 3 b l a d e ▶ A revamped hosel shifts weight toward the toe.

That moves the sweet spot in line with the center of gravity for better consistency across its 18 lofts and three sole grinds. price $130

▶ There’s only one sole grind and fewer lofts (16) than the RTX-3 Blade, but it adds forgiveness with a larger size and a vibrationdamping insert in the back cavity. price $130

Photographs by Sam Kaplan

october 2016 | golf digest india

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gutter credit tk

cl e ve l a nd rtx- 3 cb

s r i xon z 765 ▶ The head is compact, but it’s still forgiving thanks to perimeter weighting, a low tungsten weight in the long and middle irons and a reshaped sole for smoother turf interaction. price $1,100

m i zu no j px- 9 0 0 ▶ A steel alloy found in solar cars is used to construct a thin face and clubhead walls. The result is that shots tend to launch high with distance and a steep landing angle. price $900 c a l l away ste e l h e ad x r ▶ The name’s a throwback, but the horsepower is all new. That includes a wraparound face for better flexing.

Specialized internal weighting keys the ideal shot trajectory for each iron. p r i c e $800

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wi l s on fg to u r v 6 ▶ Blocks of tungsten are fused selectively in the sole of this betterplayers set: spread to the heel and toe for more stable long irons; centered in the middle irons for easier launch. price $1,000

Equipment

Play Your Best

Drivers: Do more with less, or more with more? to u r e d ge e xotics x j 1 ▶ The driver is lighter than most because of a thin Kevlar crown piece and a titanium alloy in the body.

Tungsten weights in the sole help produce highlaunching shots. price $700

c all away b i g be rt ha fusion ▶ Two kinds of lightweight carbon composite are fused in the crown. The materials and oversize shape stabilize the head on mis-hits high and low and on the heel and toe.

m i zu no j px- 9 0 0 ▶ Two sole weights can move between a center track and heel and toe spots to dial in shots high and low as well as left and right. The larger shape means it’s also more stable on mis-hits.

p ri ce $400

gutter credit tk

t i t le ist 9 1 7 d3 ▶ Familiar are the adjustable hosel that tweaks loft and lie angles and the sole channel that helps the face flex more. New is an adjustable sole weight to control direction and spin. p ri ce $500

Photograph by First Lastname

price $500 s r i xon z 565 ▶ There’s a high launch and slight draw to this maxed-out-size head. Plus, off-center hits get back some zip thanks to a face that wraps into the crown and a stepped sole. price $450

The Golf Life

the Core Percentage of golfers with non-standard grips who . . . ▶ Bought clubs “off the rack” 3% ▶ Bought custom clubs 15% ▶ Bought grips separately 45% source: Golf pride

Wristy Business Protect these critical joints onsidering the punishment your wrists endure because of golf— helping you swing the club through thick grass, plugged bunker lies and twohour grind sessions on the range—it’s amazing more golfers don’t suffer hand injuries.

“Actually, they do,” says Dave Phillips, golfand-fitness expert at the Titleist Performance Institute. “They’re fairly common, and you typically don’t come back quickly from one.”

The forces applied to the hands throughout the swing can cause soft-tissue inflammation or sprains, nerve damage, or fractures to the eight tiny carpal bones of the joint. The most easily injured is the hamate bone on the pinky side of your glove hand at the wrist.

Here Phillips offers a plan for better oncourse wrist safety, and Golf Digest fitness advisor Ben Shear provides some exercises to protect these joints. —ron kaspriske

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1. forearm massage

2. wrist stretch

3. putter extensions

4. putter rotations

▶ Slide both sides of your forearms up and down a massage stick or club while applying pressure.

▶ Stack hands on a flat surface. Hinge the bottom hand’s wrist until the arm is upright. Flip hand over. Repeat.

▶ Hold your puttershaft upright with one hand.

Lower until parallel to the ground.

Raise and repeat.

▶ Rotate the puttershaft left and right until parallel to the ground on each side. Repeat back and forth.

get fitted

Christian Carroll/getty images • exerCises: brown bird design

▶ Grips come in four diameters, according to Golf Pride, and you can use tape to vary the thickness even more. Unfortunately, most average golfers don’t realize this and simply use the grips that came on the clubs. If your grip is too small, the tendency is to hold it in the palms (see No. 2) and/or too tightly.

Either stresses the wrists a lot.

check yo ur grip ▶ Holding the club too high across the palm of your glove hand (sometimes wearing a hole in your glove) puts the club in a weaker position at impact, increasing the risk of injury.

Regrip the club in the last three fingers of the glove hand instead. This stabilizes the club at impact and limits the stress on the wrist.

look at yo ur divot holes ▶ Hit a shot off the turf and notice the damage. Is the divot hole deep and pointing left of your target? If so, your angle of attack is steep and not very “wrist friendly.” Shallow your approach into the ball by trying to take a thinner slice of turf that points at the target or even a little right of it.

92 golf digest india | october 2016

take this test Hinge your glove hand up and down as shown. Difficult to do in either direction?

Does the wrist look cupped? Answer yes to either question, and the exercises above will help improve mobility.

Mr. X The Golf Life

Undercover Tour Pro How a U.S. Open champion ranks the majors ’ve won a U.S. Open, though it’s probably my least-favorite major. When you play in all four every season, which I’ve been fortunate to do for a solid chunk of my career, you learn what to expect from each. I can’t speak for the fans, but to a golfer, each major championship is like a different character.

At the Masters, the overriding sense is that the members of Augusta National want you to have the best day of your life. Monday through Sunday, every time you enter their gates, you feel like a priority. One can only imagine the decision-making that goes into every detail. The setup of

I

the locker room and the practice facilities, the choreography of security and waste management, parking, dining options— it’s all perfect and elegant and yet somehow they find subtle ways to make improvements each year. The moist towel when you most need yet least expect one.

The members are a presence in their green jackets, but mostly they just recede into the frame.

They want to deflect attention away from themselves and onto us. I’d imagine the “patrons” feel somewhat the same way.

At the U.S. Open, on the other hand, the week is all about the United States Golf Association.

We take a back seat to what-

ever initiatives or campaigns the USGA is trumpeting. Forget about the host course, the story is going to be what the USGA has done to it to protect par. We’re welcomed as the world’s best golfers, certainly, but there’s a weird psychological edge to many of the gestures. It’s the same spirit of condescension that reminds me a lot of amateur tournaments when I was a teenager: You go out and play on our golf course, sonny; we’ll be inside the clubhouse in our blue blazers, running the show. That the USGA insists on tee times for practice rounds is just one example of the ridiculousness.

At virtually every other event we play, there’s the option to practice and then casually link up with others on the way to the tee. But at the U.S. Open we have to notify them of our plans in advance. Because this system prevents guys who just want to play from easily jumping around the guys who want to seriously study the course, it inevitably leads to six-hour rounds for ev-

eryone. This past year the USGA had its embarrassments with the Dustin Johnson ruling and Brittany Lang being called the wrong name at the awards ceremony.

All I’ll say is, I wasn’t surprised.

The British, or Open Championship, is somewhere in between. A lot of that same imperious attitude exists, the old chums in charge, spilled brandy on dusty blazers—or kummel or port or whatever old Chappy likes to start with at lunch. But the R&A officials don’t seem as adamant about asserting that they’re in control. The weather decides the tournament, and they’re fine with that. The towns and the people capture your attention, but the weather is always what I remember most from each year. Stark skies, gray rains, mists that feel saturated with the ghosts of old caddies.

Just being there is a special feeling of connection to the game and time. I always look forward to playing.

The PGA Championship is run great and is probably the smallest departure from what we’re used to at a regular tour event. If that sounds like a backhanded compliment, that’s because it is. We all feel that extra major pressure, but the energy is somehow slightly less than the other three. Partly, I think it’s because the PGA of America often chooses sites based on economic reasons. Not that there’s anything wrong with that— rationally is how the world ought to behave—but I think if the PGA was played exclusively at historic courses, its character might change. Next year it’s at Quail Hollow. The atmosphere will inevitably feel somewhat like the Wells Fargo Championship, which the course has hosted for years.

If you’ve never won a major, I think the tendency is to see each as an equal opportunity. Maybe I’ve become somewhat settled about my career and accomplishments, but nowadays when I pack my bags, I’m thinking about the experience I’m about to have. —with Max adler

october 2016 | golf digest india

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Magnolia l ane: augusta national/getty iMages • red carpet: getty iMages

‘The members of Augusta National want you to have the best day of your life.’

The Golf Life Pensions

“It’s the gold standard when it comes to sports pension plans. It’s really a remarkable plan.”

Golden Retirements Beyond their tournament winnings, PGA Tour pros have a gift that keeps giving: a sweet pension by ron sirak

94 golf digest india | october 2016

round the turn of the century, before two economic downturns—the combination of the dotcom bust and September 11 in 2001, followed by the Great Recession of 2007-’09—there were staggering estimates of what some PGA Tour players would have in their deferred-income plan when they retired. Tiger Woods would have $1 billion, it was guesstimated, and journeymen competitors would amass tens of millions.

Not only did those projections not foresee economic collapse, they also assumed an unrealistic rate of growth for PGA Tour revenue based on the staggering 40-percent purse increase in 1999 fueled by the first TV contract in the Woods era, which was negotiated less than a month after Tiger’s finalround Masters victory in 1997 attracted a record 14.1 Sunday TV rating.

But since the second Tiger TV deal, in 2003, revenue growth for the PGA Tour has held modestly but steadily in mid-single digits annually during a time when many workers’ pensions have been frozen or eliminated.

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Tour pros can thank in part the creation of the FedEx Cup bonus annuity in 2007; the PGA Tour Champions, established in 1980; and the cuts-made pension that commissioner Deane Beman conceived in 1983.

Woods has more than $20 million in retirement money (see accompanying chart) to kick back on, according to Golf Digest calculations after interviews with agents, former players and investment experts. Meanwhile, players like Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk and Vijay Singh all have more than $7.5 million (and growing) in pension money, giving a whole new meaning to the golden years, the insiders say.

LPGA Tour pros, however, lag well behind—even 30-year players with multiple wins have balances only in the low six figures in tour-provided retirement cash.

Like everything on the PGA Tour, the pension plan is merit-based. “You eat what you kill; you are not guaranteed anything,” one former player who is vested in the plan told Golf Digest, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “Deane set it up right. I think every player going forward should have a debt of gratitude for it.”

Based on the value of the two main PGA Tour retirement plans, assuming an annual growth rate of a very conservative 5 percent, if Woods were to never hit another shot, his $18 million in deferred FedEx Cup bonus money would grow to $23 million by 2020, when he turns 45 and can begin collecting it. If he never hits another shot, his $2.2 million in cuts-made bonus money would grow to $3.6 million at 50, giving him a total deferred package of almost $27 million. He has the option of leaving the cuts-made money alone, gathering interest, until he is 60.

Under the latest FedEx Cup annuity system and the cuts-made bonus system, a player who joins the tour today at 25 and plays 15 years making the minimum number of cuts required to be vested in the plan—15 a year— and finishing 40th in the FedEx Cup each of those 15 years would accumulate about $3.3 million in FedEx money and nearly $1.5 million in cuts-made money for a total retirement package of almost $5 million by 40. And that’s just a conservative estimate, in addition to millions a year in prize money and endorsement deals.

“The two best things about having been on the tour are the pension package and the fact I can play TPC courses for free,” says another former player, who shared details of his retirement plan on the condition of anonymity. He played more than 15 years in the pre-FedEx Cup bonus era and made more than 250 cuts, amassing about $1 million in deferred income, which pays him $6,000 a Illustration by Ben Wiseman

“Could someone have $40 million in the plan? Mathematically, yes.” month. “That monthly check gives me the freedom to do what I do, which is work on several grow-the-game programs,” he says.

On the other hand, Beth Daniel, who played 29 years on the LPGA Tour, has less than $300,000 in her tour pension plan.

Another LPGA player, sharing her financial details confidentially, played more than 15 years on tour and was a multiple winner— a career similar to the PGA Tour player who has a $1 million nest egg—but has $102,415 in her LPGA retirement fund.

“We were really the first sports organization to set up a retirement fund for players,” Daniel says. “It was in 1980, my second year on tour. I would have to think I’m on the high end because of how long I played and how much I did for the tour, like being on the board, various other committees and being Solheim Cup captain and assistant captain.”

The LPGA plan is funded by excess revenue at the end of the year. Sometimes a few hundred thousand dollars go into the pot, and in some years there has been no contribution.

CUTS-MADE AND BONUS PLANS

U

nder the PGA Tour’s cuts-made plan, a player must make 75 cuts to be 50-percent vested and is fully vested at 150 cuts, according to multiple players. According to the PGA Tour, in 2014’15, players received $4,500 for each of the first 15 cuts made—$67,500—and $9,000 for each cut made above 15, in addition to prize money. The plan is funded by a variety of revenue streams, including advertising revenue, investments, corporate partners, TPC profits, digital revenue and TV money.

For the purpose of calculations in this story, it was assumed players received $4,000 for each of the first 15 cuts and $8,000 for each cut above 15. That seems to be a fair average for a number that has fluctuated.

(The PGA Tour said it could not comment on any individual player’s deferred income plan because of privacy issues and would not say which figures are too high or too low.)

The FedEx Cup bonus pool is $35 million annually. The top-10 finishers get anywhere from 90 percent to 40 percent of their money upfront and the rest deferred, the tour says. Those outside the top 10 have all their money deferred. When Woods won the first FedEx Cup, in 2007, all of his $10 million was deferred. That rule changed the next year, so when he won again in 2009, he got $9 million upfront and $1 million deferred.

“It’s the gold standard when it comes to sports pension plans,” says one agent, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “It’s really a remarkable plan.” An investment planner working for the agent says a conser-

▶ PGA TOUR DEFERRED-INCOME ESTIMATES DURING THE FEDEX CUP ERA

player

pga tour earnings

fedex deferred

cuts deferred

total deferred

1. tiger woods

$110,061,012

$18,000,000

$2,200,000

$20,200,000

2. steve stricker

$42,279,469

$6,500,000

$2,200,000

$8,700,000

3. phil mickelson

$81,098,470

$5,100,000

$3,200,000

$8,300,000

4. jim furyk

$67,133,967

$3,300,000

$4,400,000

$7,700,000

5. vijay singh

$70,519,285

$3,100,000

$4,400,000

$7,500,000

6. brandt snedeker

$30,356,557

$3,000,000

$1,000,000

$4,000,000

7. bill haas

$25,807,339

$2,700,000

$1,200,000

$3,900,000

8. sergio garcia

$43,598,914

$2,200,000

$1,000,000

$3,200,000

9. luke donald

$34,225,158

$1,800,000

$1,300,000

$3,100,000

10. matt kuchar

$37,157,445

$1,600,000

$1,200,000

$2,800,000

Golf Digest estimated the value of the plans as of Jan. 1, 2016, assuming a 5-percent annual rate of growth. (The PGA Tour would not comment on which figures are too high or too low.)

Cuts deferred based on an average of $4,000 per 15 made cuts and $8,000 for each cut made above 15 (the actual figure for 2014-’15 was $4,500 and $9,000). FedEx bonus calculations assume all money in 2007 was deferred; since 2008, 10 percent was deferred for positions 1-5, 20 percent deferred for sixth, 30 percent for seventh and eighth, 40 percent for ninth and 10th.

vative estimate on the rate of return for the deferred income is 5 percent, the figure used in the calculations in this story.

By any standard, the tour’s deferredincome plan is the best in sports. The maximum annual payout allowed by federal law from a retirement plan is $210,000. The best plan in team sports is the one negotiated by the Major League Baseball Players Association. On average, it pays a player with 10 years of service in the game $180,000 annually, according to MLBPA documents. If a player were to collect $200,000 a year from the pension plan, it would take more than 40 years to collect the $8.3 million estimated to be in Mickelson’s deferred-income plan.

“Could someone have $40 million in the plan?” asked one financial analyst with intimate knowledge of the PGA Tour plan.

“Mathematically, yes, if that person picked their stocks aggressively and rode the stock market rise from its lows in the spring of 2009 to its record highs in mid-August of this year. Tiger and Vijay could have that kind of money. I think a lot of guys have $10 millionplus, probably 20 guys have over that.”

Former PGA Tour players must begin accessing their deferred cuts-made money by 60 but can begin drawing on it as early as 50 if they are no longer an active player on the PGA Tour or PGA Tour Champions. Players

must collect FedEx Cup deferred money over a five-year period beginning at 45 if they are no longer active.

The PGA Tour Champions, the circuit for players 50 and older, is essentially a retirement annuity because those who play in all the non-majors are guaranteed to make a check. In 2015, Bernhard Langer led the tour in money won with $2.3 million.

In addition to the regular prize money, the PGA Tour Champions has had the Charles Schwab Cup since 2001, a seasonending points race in which the winner gets a $1 million annuity. A half-million goes to the runner-up, $300,000 to third, $200,000 to fourth and $100,000 for fifth.

Going into 2016, Langer, who is not vested in the cuts-made plan because of the time he spent on the European Tour, had won a combined $30 million on the PGA and Champions tours. He also won the Schwab Cup three times, earning $4.5 million in that annuity fund. “Everyone talks about these guys are making too much money,” says a former player who will begin collecting deferred income next year. “We make a lot of money, but golfers probably play to the least percentage of revenue of any sport.”

But golfers have careers that last far longer—all backed up quite nicely by that deferred income that continues to grow. october 2016 | golf digest india

95

The Golf Life The Rundown

he late Seve Ballesteros was the ultimate match-play golfer. He has a 20-12-5 record in eight Ryder Cup appearances as a player, and he captained the Europeans to victory in 1997. He also won the World Match Play Championship five times. Needless to say, the guy knew what he was doing.

And so can you. Use Seve’s wisdom, and you just might take down your next opponent, 5 and 4. —brittany romano

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1. “Making your opponents fear the worst is a powerful weapon in match play.”

In other words, embrace the competition. Step to the tee box with confidence, and volunteer to hit

first. Hit a good shot? Pick up the tee before the ball lands. Walk with a purpose, and never let anyone see that you’re nervous.

Your opponents will wonder if they messed with the wrong golfer.

96 golf digest india | october 2016

3. “Make your opponents think they can win the hole only with a birdie.”

OK, the birdie part might not apply to your group, but the advice can be tailored to the score that typically wins a hole.

What Seve meant was: Make your

opponents have to play their best to win a hole. Don’t give them any easy wins. Even if that means sacrificing distance off the tee or playing a safe approach shot to secure an easy bogey or par.

Sooner or later, this strategy will wear them down.

4. “You quickly learn that it’s better to shoot a 75 to win than a 67 to lose.”

You’re not here to look pretty.

You’re here to win, right? That means grinding out pars and bogeys that keep you in the match is a lot more important than trying to stuff every shot you hit. Holing out a seemingly impossible shot can make a round memorable, but not as memorable as having your name on a trophy.

5. “When you’re in trouble, it’s not only about ability or aggressiveness.

It’s more than that.

You have to see a certain shot.”

The recovery shot you should hit is the one you can visualize.

Sometimes it’s a punch out back into the fairway, and other times it’s a heroic iron through a small gap in the trees.

Point is: If you believe you can pull off a shot, it’s probably going to be your best play.

6. “Bad shots do not always result solely from bad swings.

They also stem from indecision or doubt.”

If you’re deciding between clubs, go with your first choice. Not sure about the break in a putt? Pick one and commit to that line. And if you’re

about to try a gutsy shot, don’t swing until you convince yourself you can pull it off. You might lose a hole, but at least you’ll go down confidently.

7. “Try to get your opponent thinking on the greens.”

Just like in poker, this is the time when you should really be watching your opponents’ demeanor.

Obviously, you want them to putt out when they look nervous. But you also want them second-guessing green reads and their ability to hole putts. Plus, if you hit a putt close to the hole, always offer to putt out before they have a chance to concede it. They’ll start to think you’re ready to putt, no matter what. They might end up giving you some putts you could easily miss.

illustration: Peter oumansk • Phil sheldon/PoPPerfoto/Getty imaGes

What Would Seve Do? Seven tips from the master of match play

2. “The makeup of any course can be made to work to your advantage.”

Not only should you be aggressive on holes that visually suit your eye or play to your strengths, you should also identify a dominant feature about the course that’s in harmony with your game and exploit it. For example: A good bunker player should stay aggressive, hitting into greens on a course with a lot of sand. Why? The risk doesn’t outweigh the reward.

TRAIL THE LEISURE

MUST VISIT THE ONLY HARBOUR KNOWN AS BIG BOY TOYZ

Closeout

n 1959, Jules Alexander was a fashion photographer who, on a whim, took the train from New York City to suburban Mamaroneck to check out the U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club. Alexander hadn’t photographed golf. He didn’t have a press credential. Yet when he wandered onto the course, he was perceptive enough to recognize something unique in Ben Hogan who, at 46, was still a commanding presence.

Alexander died in August near his home in Rye, N.Y., at 90, after a celebrated career

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98 golf digest india | october 2016

capturing iconic images of the game’s biggest figures, from Palmer to Nicklaus to Woods.

Alexander’s most celebrated picture is the one above of Hogan leaning against his putter on the green, head turned to the side, a cigarette in his right hand. When Alexander told the story of that photo, he recalled Hogan holding his position just long enough for the photographer to make it work.

“I sit at my desk, and I can see the picture every day, and just recently I began to think, Why did he stand there just long enough for

The artist and his muse Jules Alexander (inset) and his iconic Ben Hogan photograph.

me to take all these frames with three different cameras?” Alexander said in 2006. “I’m going to have the temerity to think that he posed for me by saying to himself, I’m going to give this guy a shot.”

“My dad loved golf because it brought people together,” said Carl Alexander, Jules’ youngest son, who is director of golf at the Golf Club of Purchase in New York. “And he liked it because it had integrity to it, and that’s what he was all about. That’s what he taught us.” —sam weinman Photograph by Jules Alexander

Courtesy of the AlexAnder fAmily

Capturing the Hogan Mystique Remembering photographer Jules Alexander

LIGHTS. CAMERA. ACTION. DRAMA ON THE WORLD STAGE

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

LIVE SCORING

LATEST HIGHLIGHTS

Follow the drama at: europeantour.com

India Digest Reviews

Nawaz Birdie, Ali Bogey Freaky Ali

Director: Sohail Khan Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Amy Jackson, Arbaaz Khan, Seema Biswas, Jas Arora, Nikitan Dheer Runtime: 120 mins

W

e’ve been waiting for this one for long. While there are many classics made on the sport worldwide, this was the first time that golf hit 70 mm in Bollywood.

Freaky Ali is not a movie which triggers the passion for the sport like other golf movies- the ones we have grown up to love and cherish- e.g. The Greatest Game Ever Played. This was not unexpected considering director Sohail Khan’s belief in churning out mass entertainers with a ‘disguised message’.

Never thele s s, one p oint of brilliance that no one can take away from Freaky Ali is Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the title role.

From being an undergarment street-seller to a national golf champion, Nawaz aced all the

GDI Ratings: ½

holes and his rawness will keep you engaged in a movie with an 80s-style predictable ending. Amy Jackson (Megha) added visual appeal as eye candy (not complaining), Arbaaz Khan (Maqsood), Jas Arora (Peter), Nikitan Dheer (Danger Bhai) could add little to the story. A little cameo towards the end

by Jackie Shroff could’ve been avoided altogether. Apart from Nawaz, Seema Biswas (Ali’s mother) & Ali’s caddie Asif Basra (Kishan Lal) could do some justice to their roles.

While much can be argued on whether Sohail Khan could have taken a different direction on the storyline (Read inspirational), it is essential to say that it’s a stepping stone to take the game to the masses as it questions the basic perception of the sport being elitist.

Overall it’s a decent watch and you might see a few familiar faces from the golfing fraternity onscreen with a lot of scenes being shot at Jaypee Greens course in Greater Noida and Oxford Golf Resort, Pune.

Watch it for Nawaz’s sake!

Mind Games Explained

The Inner Game Of Golf

By W. Timothy Gallwey Publisher: Pan Macmillan Pages: 245 Price: Rs 399

This book aims to help golf players to deal with the immense mental pressure that they go through during their rounds. It also gives an insight on

the emotional struggles that every player endures when they know that they are not playing their best game.

102 golf digest india | october 2016

Any sport is as much a physical game as it is psychological. There is a lot of mental preparation that goes into playing any game. This book aims to help golf players deal with the immense mental pressure that they go through during their rounds. It also gives an insight on the emotional struggles that every player endures when they know that they are not playing their best game. And once they realise that they are not at their best, how they must self-motivate themselves to strive harder.

The material is easy to understand and provides insights into the technical and emotional aspects of the game. Professional golfers, amateur golfers and people who love the game will find this book fascinating and insightful especially while practicing various concentration exercises advocated by Gallwey.

The best part about this book is that it makes you create a balance between the physical aspect of the game and the psychological aspect of it. The underlying agenda is not only to make the reader a better player but also a more confident and positive human being.

— Vineet Mann | vineet@teamgolfdigest.com

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India Digest 18 Holes with Sunam Sarkar

‘Manor House in London is my favourite course abroad’ Sunam Sarkar, President & Chief Business Officer, Apollo Tyres

1

When did you start playing golf?

Around 10 years ago

7

How often do you get to play?

Currently averaging twice a month

2

What do you love most about the game?

The ability to spend time with my friends in a beautiful natural setting

8

Your thoughts on doing business on the golf course?

It’s good to meet and connect with people but the serious discussions/negotiations are best left to the office or after the round

3

Who forms your regular Fourball?

Usually a bunch of good friends, there’s a group of about 8 or 9 and with travel schedules being what they are we manage to get 4 together usually

4

Your dream Fourball?

A mixed foursome - Phil Mickelson and Cameron Diaz vs Lexi Thomson and me!

5

Your favourite Pro golfer?

Phil Mickelson

6

Favourite golf course – In India & abroad?

In India it’s the Oxford Golf and Country Club outside Pune and abroad it’s The Manor House Golf Club west of London

Total Number of pages (including cover pages) is 108 Monthly Magazine, RNI N0. HARENG/2016/66983

9

Describe your most memorable experience on the course.

Being 10 yards from a crocodile that was crossing the fairway between two water bodies. You can imagine, I didn’t take too many shots from the edge of the water after that!

10

Do you use any golf apps on your phone? Any gadgets to improve your game?

Only a distance calculator

11

The most scenic course you have played?

Zimbali, outside Durban, South Africa

12

Lowest handicap you have had?

16

13

What golf apparel/equipment brands do you lean towards?

Footjoy for shoes, currently very happy with my XXIO woods

14

On an average, how long do you drive the ball?

200 yards, give or take a bit!

15

Your dream car?

Aston Martin Vanquish. I think it’s the ultimate combination of form and function

16

What is your Favourite holiday destination?

No particular favourite as I like to visit a different place every time and get new experiences. Only problem is that my wife insists it can’t be a golfing destination!

17

What is your Favourite dish at your home course?

Laksa at the Singapore Island Country Club

18

Favourite 19th hole drink?

A chilled beer!

october 2016 | golf digest india

104

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