THE 2010 RYDER CUP
SOUVENIR PREVIEW ISSUE
GOLF INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE
ESSENTIAL READING FROM THE BEST IN THE GAME
Our 40-page preview will get you fired up for the greatest show in golf
MONTY’S DATE WITH DESTINY! Into the Dragon's Den the Twenty Ten Course Lord of the Manor meet Sir Terry Matthews Team Talk Tim Barter on the players & likely pairings The Stuff of Dreams Sam Torrance Q&A Robert Green on Captain Monty...
INSTRUCTION
THE RULE OF THUMB
PGA Master Professional Luther Blacklock offers a hands-on lesson for more speed, power & consistency The Torrance Course
Tee to green, Sam Torrance helps you to play winning golf
Red Dot • Theory
ISSUE NO. 97 • £4.25 SEPT/OCT 2010
Mind coach Karl Morris on the pre-shot ‘trigger’ that helped Oosthuizen to Open glory 97
9 771368 402034
COSTA NAVARINO // GOLF & THE BOSS OF SKY // PORSCHE BOXSTER SPYDER // MUCH MORE
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GOLF INTERNATIONAL
RICHARD SIMMONS
FIRST UP
MAGAZINE
ESSENTIAL READING FROM THE BEST IN THE GAME
10, Buckingham Place, London SW1E 6HX Tel: +44 (0)20 7828 3003
It’s been quite some time since I last found myself in the position of delivering a few words of thanks to ‘all the people who have made this possible...’, the greenkeepers, playing partners, catering staff and so on (certainly while holding any sort of silverware – even a spoon!), but on the strength of the evidence you’ll find inside this weighty Ryder Cup preview issue there are a number of people I would like to acknowledge, first for the generosity of their time but above all for the passion and enthusiasm they share for their subject. As the Ambassador for the Celtic Manor Resort – and Honorary Captain of The Twenty Ten Club – who better than the Wales legend that is Gareth Edwards to take you on a tour of the layout that will stage the Ryder Cup? At 63, Edwards made the full conversion(!) to golf when he retired from international rugby in 1978 (his final appearance being in a victory over France in the Five Nations at the Arms Park for a third consecutive Triple Crown) and he was approached by Sir Terry Matthews some 10 years ago to become a part of the team involved in the bid to bring the Ryder Cup to Wales. “When you stop and think about it seriously, it’s incredible what Sir Terry has achieved,” says the former scrum-half, once described as ‘the greatest player ever to don a Welsh jersey’. To bring the Ryder Cup, one of the greatest sporting events in the world to Wales, well you’d never have thought it possible. With Sir Terry, anything’s possible. And it’s not only the money but the vision and the drive to see something like this through. I don’t think it’s possible to emphasise enough what Sir Terry has done for Newport and Wales generally.” Off a competitive handicap of 7, Edwards is the perfect host and, having watched the course take shape and played it a couple of times in the company of captain Montgomerie he knows it as well as anyone. “The thing is, with The Twenty Ten,” he says in that wonderfully warm and engaging accent, “is it really doesn’t give you anything. It’s a tough track. The architect Ross McMurray has been very clever in shaping the fairways and blending in the bunkering, too. That’s a strong feature of this course. But it’s around the greens where the real difficulty lies, in the run-offs and the swales. When they get these surfaces up to the sort of speeds these players are used to, well, its frightening.” With his record for Wales and the Lion’s Tours, Edwards has known more than his share of pressure on the rugby pitch. But since hanging up his boots he has also felt the heat of top-notch team golf, and tells the story of being invited to a crucial tie in the Pro Celebrity television series in the ealy 1980s. “Sam [Torrance] called me up one day and asked me if I could fly out to play at Le Touquet,” recalls Edwards. “I thought why not, should be a bit of fun. They always seemed like such a laugh when you see the show on TV. But when I got there Sam took me to one side and told me that he needed to win this particular match to clinch the series...and his tone was serious. Put me under a bit of pressure, that did. Anyway, we went out and won – I don’t want to take too much of the credit but you could say Sam honed his skills of captaincy on me! We had a bit of a celebration that night, too. I’ve never seen so much champagne!” Torrance, Edwards, Monty and Sir Terry Matthews – all play a part in our 40-page Ryder Cup preview which starts on page 54. My thanks, also, to Sky Sports’ Tim Barter for an illuminating analysis of the key players and also to his boss, Jeremy Darroch, head of BSkyB, for an entertaining interview (which you’ll find on page 110) and indeed for a sneak preview of the 3D television pictures which Sky Sports are rolling out with their wall-to-wall coverage of the 38th Ryder Cup. It’s going to be a blast – however you look at it. Enjoy the issue.
Editor in Chief: Robert Green robert@golfinternationalmag.com
Equipment Editor: Dominic Pedler dominic@golfinternationalmag.com Design: Tony Seagrave design@golfinternationalmag.com
Professional Teaching Panel: Robert Baker, Tim Barter, Peter Cowen, Jim Christine, Andrew Hall, Simon Holmes, Paul Hurrion, Stuart Morgan, Denis Pugh, Stuart Smith, David Whelan & Jonathan Yarwood Regular Contributors: Clive Agran, Peter Alliss, Colin Callander, Jeremy Chapman, Tom Cox, Richard Gillis, Anthony ffrench-Constant, Michael Flannery, John Hopkins, Tony Johnstone, Kevin McGimpsey, David Purdie, Ronan Rafferty, Sarah Stirk, Paul Trow & Jake Ulrich Photographers: David Cannon, Peter Dazeley, Ross Kinnaird, Andrew Redington, Getty Images, Charles Briscoe-Knight, Matthew Harris, Eric Hepworth, Steve Read
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Into the Dragon’s Den!
Editor: Richard Simmons richard@golfinternationalmag.com
ISSUE 97 • SEPT/OCT 2010
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Essential reading from the best in the game ISSUE #97 // SEPT/OCT 2010 // RYDER CUP PREVIEW ISSUE Built for purpose: the par-five 18th on the Twenty Ten Course at Celtic Manor offers the ultimate in risk/reward
REGULARS
12 LETTERS
Do you have an opinion youʼd like to share? Why not email us? You could win a custom-fitted Odyssey putter
14 PLANET GOLF
Just a great shot – Rory McIlroy plays escape artist at Whistling Straits / 19th Hole Q&A – GMac on his US Open win / Dr Felix Shank / new irons from Mizuno and Ping / The Major! / Custom club-fitting with the experts at Urban Golf / Jayne Story and Chi-Power Golf
130 THE AMATEUR SCENE
After his victory in the English Amateur at Little Aston, Englandʼs Tommy Fleetwood made the transition to the pro ranks look easy – but itʼs anything but, he tells Giʼs Adam Hathaway
166 WORLD TOURNAMENT NEWS
Such was the quality of his golf over the Old Course in July, South Africaʼs Louis Oosthuizen turned the 150th Anniversary Open into a one-man procession. For real drama, you had to wait until mid-August and the US PGA at Whistling Straits, writes Andy Farrell
WIN
COLUMNS / FEATURES
38 ANOTHER THING...
Donʼt call us...because you canʼt! As the golf world prepares to focus on what will surely be dramatic events at Celtic Manor, the gameʼs authorities seem determined to keep the sport in the 20th century, writes Robert Green
40 ON THE AIR
Stories of winners and losers: So small are the margins between success and failure that results in sport often boil down to a few imponderables, observes Peter Alliss
42 AT THE 19TH
“Iʼm special: agent required”: After taking financial advice, Clive Agran reviewed his fiscal situation and decided to get proactive...
160 SPIRITUAL HIGH.
With such gems as the Boat of Garton, Grantown-on-Spey, Elgin and Moray on the itinerary, small wonder that Speyside is one of the most popular destinations for golfers in search of the true Highlands experience. That the Speyside Valley is home to over half of Scotlandʼs malt whiskey distilleries is a rather happy coincidence, as Mark Alexander reports
44 TOUR TALK
For a lot of golfers, less is more: the British Par 3 Championships opened Sarah Stirkʼs eyes to the attractions of this ʻshortʼ version of the game
210 THE LAST SHOT
Monty tees it up with conviction: Tough decisions had to be made, and he made them, writes John Hopkins
139 WIN! MACGREGOR FORGED IRONS
The latest forgings from MacGregor continue the heritage of one of the great names in golf – and you could win a set of either the Pro-M or MT Pro-C irons...
RYDER CUP 2010 PREVIEW
54 THE STUFF OF DREAMS...
In a piece of sheer editorial indulgence, we take a trip down Ryder Cupʼs memory lane with the 2002 winning captain, Sam Torrance
62 LOCAL HERO
John Hopkins explores the remarkable tale of Sir Terry Matthews, a true pioneer and the man who won the Cup for Wales
44 DESTINYʼS CHILD
The Twenty Ten layout was built specifically to host the greatest matchplay event in golf. Course architect Ross McMurray and Celtic Manorʼs Honorary Captain Gareth Edwards provide the commentary on a whirlwind tour
76 LAST BIG DATE WITH DESTINY
106
Europeʼs bid to win back the Cup is led by a man who is combustible, contraversial and never less than combative. Robert Green on Captain Monty
110
Increasingly, the support of a trusted team of vice captains is seen as vital to a successful campaign – and Monty has chosen wisely, writes Andy Farrell
114
80 A FEW GOOD MEN
84 OK, SO WHATʼS IT WORTH?
Gi Business Editor Richard Gillis examines eight awkward questions the people who run the Ryder Cup would prefer we didnʼt ask...
142
When it comes to analysing the wildcard selections and the strength of potential pairings, few people in golf are as informed and well-placed as Sky Sportsʼ Tim Barter.
118
88 TEAM TALK
88 TOO CLOSE TO CALL
As the date of the match draws ever closer, those in the know – including our own Jeremy Chapman – believe that while Europe may have the edge, itʼs going to be another nail-biter
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RESORT SPOTLIGHT For Greece, itʼs game on: In the shape of Costa Navarino, in the south-west corner of Greece, Europe has a new and hugely impressive new destination
19TH HOLE Q&A As Sky sports prepares to roll out 3D coverage of the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, Richard Simmons talks to the chief of BSkyB, Jeremy Darroch
HEALTH I can see clearly now!: A recent convert to golf, Joanna Seagrave decided the scenery around her home in the French Alps warranted a closer look at laser eye surgery WATCHING BRIEF Todayʼs leading sportsmen and women are natural partners for the worldʼs luxury watch-makers, as Caragh McKay reports
MOTORING Stripped for pure driving pleasure: The Porsche Boxster Spyder is the lightest model to roll out of Stuttgart. And the most exhilerating, reports Anthony ffrench-Constant
Probably the best instruction on the Planet! ISSUE #97 // SEPT/OCT 2010 // RYDER CUP PREVIEW ISSUE INSTRUCTION
WITHIN PLANET GOLF 26
Rotate! If you slice the ball, then you need to pay attention as Jonathan Yarwood presents two of his favourite anti-slice remedies.... 30
Chi-power GOLF: Jayne Storey continues her series with a look at the benefits of meditation and breathing exercises as a means to combat pressure and hold your nerve
26
46 MAJOR MINDS
to
European Tour Mind Coach Dr Karl Morris works with Graeme McDowell and just six weeks before the Open was called in to help Louis Oosthuizen. With the start of a new series, this is your opportunity to apply what are clearly winning methods and techniques your game
50 ON THE LESSON TEE
What makes GMac tick? From the moment he arrived at Pebble Beach, Graeme McDowell was relaxed and confident in his game. Here, his coach, Pete Cowen, takes you through the swing that won the US Open
94 PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM
Shot on location on the course that bears his name at Fairmont St Andrews, Sam Torrance shares the lessons that have made him one of the gameʼs most consistent professionals, with advice all the way from tee-to-green
122 THE RULE OF THUMB
The exact positioning of the left thumb is the vital keystone of the grip and, as such, critical to your ability to make a sound golf swing. PGA Master Professional Luther Blacklock gives you a valuable ʻhands-onʼ lesson – one that will give you the best foundation upon which to build a better
140 JUNIOR LESSONS – PART 5: ʻBOUNCINGʼ IT OUT
Richard Harrison continues his grassroots series, this issue looking at how a ʻbounce boardʼ can help a youngster to master escaping a greenside bunker
150 SILENT MIND GOLF – OVERCOMING THE FEAR FACTOR
In the fifth part of this series of six extracts from his book, Silent Mind Golf, Robin Sieger looks at the tried and trusted techniques that can help you to alleviate stress
156 THE PROFESSIONAL TOUCH
Identifying your landing area – and visualising the ball running out to the hole like a putt from that point – is the tour playerʼs secret to getting up and down. Jeremy Dale shows you how to go about following in their example
94
50
122
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PLANET GOLF
JUST A CRACKING SHOT
WARNING CHASING MAJORS CAN BE HAZARDOUS!
Opening rounds of 71, 68 and 67 saw Irelandʼs Rory McIlroy in the second-last group out on Sunday in the US PGA Championship on the Straits Course at Whistling Straits. And while his long game was a little off radar over the opening holes of the final round, the quality of his short game was simply breathtaking – this at the 3rd hole being the pick of the early par saves he made to stay in touch with the leaders. Ultimately, a three-putt at 15 cost Rory his chance of making the play-off, but if there is a more exciting young golfer on the planet, we have yet to see him. As for the manner in which Dustin Johnson was denied his place in extra holes with Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson, all we have to say to the officials of the US PGA is take a close look at this – itʼs called a bunker. Full details and results from Whistling Straits, page 170
8 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM SEPT/OCT 2010
PLANET GOLF
Green light: TV images did not fully do justice to Rory始s brilliance from this trap at the back of the 3rd. Getty images始 ace photographer, Andrew Redington, did
SEPT/OCT 2010 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM 9
PLANET GOLF
EQUIPMENT
Tempting technology Edited by Dominic Pedler Mizunoʼs Japanese X Factor goes global
Previously only available in the Far East, Mizunoʼs JPX range of stylish yet highly forgiving performance irons will set a new standard for ʻexotic technologyʼ in Europe. Until now, Mizunoʼs feature-packed JPX range was a prime example of the golf industry quirk whereby leading Japanese companies confine certain select models exclusively to the domestic Asian market prepared to pay premium prices for their most premium technology. But with the internet breaking down the old commercial boundaries and pushing down prices through greater competition, Mizuno are now making JPX a global sub-brand alongside the already established MP series. Starting with the impressive JPX-800 irons, JPX will replace the existing highly forgiving MX range which, while effective in terms of performance, were viewed by many as a poor relation aesthetically to the tour-proven MP series. Using super-thin face technology, the JPX-800 irons deliver the most forgiving MOI measurement and the highest COR reading of any Mizuno iron yet, but all in a neat mid-size head that few singlefigure golfers would sneer at. Indeed, also debuting this autumn, is the JPX800 Pro – a more compact game-improvement iron that even a tour pro might play (in stark contrast to, say, the chunkier MX models). Look out for a funky marketing campaign featuring the mercurial Japanese cartoon character known simply as X. Meanwhile, the revered MP series has not been resting on its laurels and launches two new forgings: a mid-handicapperʼs MP-53 and a deliciously sleek MP-63. Both feature a novel Diamond Muscle construction and continue the trend in subtle but effective refinements in head length, sole contour, weighting and feel – most notably the sound through a fascinating process known as Harmonic Impact Technology. Our tests were taking place as we went to press, so more on this next issue, along with details of other new Mizuno offerings which include MP T-11 wedges and MP putters.
MIZUNO CLUBS GUIDE PRICE (per club):
JPX-800 £75 (steel)/(£100) graphite
JPX-800 Pro £85 steel/£110 graphite MP-53 £105 (steel) MP-63 £105 (steel) www.mizuno.eu
PING CLUBS GUIDE PRICE (per club):
S56 irons £100 w/steel/£120 w/graphite
Anser irons £149 in stock steel shaft
Tour S Rustique wedges in soft 8620 steel, available in 52, 56 & 60 degrees, £100 w/steel, £120 w/graphite
www.pinggolf.com
Exciting upgrades from Ping
Two of the products in a catalogue of new hardware from Ping have a major championship linked to their names. Ping staff pro Louis Oosthuizen played the new S56 irons and Tour-S Rustique wedges during his dominating performance at the Open. Both products were added to his bag in the weeks leading up to the yearʼs third major. Elsewhere, Ping stalwarts Miguel Angel Jimenez won the French Open with his S56 irons while Hunter Mahan added to the roll-call with victory at the WGC at Firestone. In addition to the bladestyle S56, the company is also launching its first forged iron in more than 40 years. The Anser iron (available in the UK from November) carries the same name as one of the early models Karsten Solheim produced before he transitioned to the popular investment casting process. The newest version, launched in Japan earlier this year, is forged from 8620 steel with a tungsten sole that delivers feel with forgiveness. “The new Anser iron is very exciting for us,” said John Solheim, who leads the companyʼs product development efforts as Vice President of Engineering. “Weʼve pushed the forging process to a new level and created performance not previously associated with a forged club. Itʼs a beautiful golf club that has created a lot of interest from golfers around the world.”
S56 Irons A steel body design with variable tungsten toe weighting positions the CG for higher launching long irons and more controlled, penetrating trajectories in the short irons. Available 2-9, PW, with choice of Dynamic Gold (R300, S300, X100) or KBS Tour (R, S and X flexes). Suggested retail £100 per club w/steel shaft; £120 w/graphite shaft.
Anser iron (available November) A forged, multi-metal design, the Anser iron combines an 8620 steel body and tungsten sole to provide unequalled forged-iron performance. A hollow sole cavity design improves feel and provides precise placement of the CG for higher launching iron shots. The progressive set design offers forgiveness in the long irons and greater control in the short irons. Available 3-9, PW, stock shaft Project X (5.0, 5.5, 6.0 & 6.5), suggested retail £149 per club. www.pinggolf.com
• Next issue, Dominic will be reviewing more new products from Ping, including the K15 Driver & Fairway Woods, the K15 Iron/Hybrid Set and the new Faith Series engineered especially for women.
10 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM SEPT/OCT 2010
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PLANET GOLF
INSTRUCTION
Rotate!
Want to get rid of that ugly distance-sapping slice? Then let me share with you a handful of practical tips and swing-thoughts that will get you on track to release the clubhead more freely and on the right path
By Jonathan Yarwood PHOTOGRAPHY: DAVID CANNON/GETTYIMAGES.COM LOCATION: THE CONCESSION, BRADENTON, FLORIDA WWW.GOLFJY.COM
Working on the proper rotation of the right forearm over the left post-impact will help you to deliver the club on the correct inside-to-square-to-inside path. It will also maximise your clubhead speed (for distance) and help you to rotate your body to a fully released and balanced finish
Gripping a club well down the shaft, I want you to support your left elbow with the back of your right hand
12 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM SEPT/OCT 2010
Rehearsing the through-swing move, you then rotate your left elbow so that it rolls along the back of the hand
The back of the left hand points to the ground as the left wrist then hinges up – as it should in the through-swing
2-MINUTE LESSON
Rotation of the wrists & forearms into the through-swing will transform your ball-striking – you will generate more speed and enjoy the sensation of free-wheeling to a full finish Identifying with the correct release of the hands, arms and club can help you to eliminate this common problem – the ‘chicken-wing’, where the arms fail to straighten, the elbows are seen to splay apart and the club is ‘held off’. This not only slows the clubhead dramatically through impact but also contributes to the slicing action across the ball. In contrast, rotating the right forearm and extending the arms, as you see here (below & right) maximises your speed and squares the clubface
Here I’m using a training ball to help encourage the long extension of the arms and the correct rotation of the wrists and elbows into the throughswing. The key is to keep the ball in place (a halfdeflated beach ball would work just as well)
As your right arm reaches a position parallel with the ground your gloved left hand should be visible beneath the right (not a position slicers of the ball will be familiar with!)
Condensed into these two pages I am here sharing with you some of the most effective ways in which I work with students to eliminate any tendency to slice the ball, the key being to replace that weak, cutty action with a powerful rotary swinging motion that maximises your clubhead speed and distance. And this fundamental action of the hands, wrists and forearms through the critical moments post-impact and beyond to the finish is something I really urge you serious golfers to think about and work on. The two exercises you see here are among my particular favourites, for the simple reason both quickly introduce you to feelings that will be totally new to anyone who habitually slices the ball with an out-to-in swingpath. The slow motion drill (left) is one you can rehearse in between hitting shots on the range, the key being that you feel the sensation of the left forearm rotating and the left wrist hingeing up as it should in a natural release. Trapping a small ball between your elbows and keeping it there as you work on this same critical area of the swing immediately after impact encourages the long extension of the arms and the correct rotation of the wrists – any tendency to splay your elbows and the ball falls out. Together these drills can help you improve the quality of your release for more speed, better ball striking and more disSEPT/OCT 2010 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM 13
PLANET GOLF
GMAC @ PEBBLE
19TH HOLE Q&A
Dominic Pedler caught up with new US Open champion, Graeme McDowell With his commanding performance at Pebble Beach in June, Graeme McDowell finally ended 40 years of European hurt in the US Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970. Golf International was on hand as the new champion relived his historic week on his return from California.
GMAC LOOKSBACK Gi: What were your emotions walking down the final hole? G-Mac: It was bit like a swan, calm on the outside, chaos underneath! I was pretty nervous on the 18th tee. I pulled out the driver and it’s amazing how the brain plays tricks on you and you start thinking about what might happen and all the various different scenarios. I had thought about picking the trophy up during the day but you really try not to let yourself get into thinking that way. The emotions were flying around, it was an amazing, intense afternoon. It still hasn’t sunk in. Gi: Take us through that second shot to the final hole when you had a protracted discussion with your caddie? GMac: I had some text messages from people saying “I’m glad you listened to your caddie on 18”. Well, it was actually the other way around! He wanted me to hit 2-iron down there. But I didn’t want to leave myself with a horrible little pitch across the bunker. I said, “I’m hitting 9-iron to 100 yards. Give me a five and get me out of here, please!” It was a dream come true to have two
14 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM SEPT/OCT 2010
putts from 25 feet to win the US Open. It’s something I’ve dreamed of all my life so it was an amazing experience. Gi: If Gregory Havret had made his birdie putt at the last would you have played your second shot any differently, or would you have been happy to take your chances in a playoff? GMac: I would have gone for it with something like a 2-hybrid. I was prepared to hit that shot and it was a good number for me – 231 yards. But then lots of guys went into the [front right] bunker and didn’t get up and down. We talked it over as Gregory putted, and although you never pull against a guy I was happy to see him two-putt and take that decision away from me. Gi: How often did you look at the leaderboard? GMac: The 11th was the first time I looked at the leaderboard. I’d bogeyed 9 and 10 so I felt I needed to see what was
“The first 48 hours were a total blur!” says GMac on the celebrations that followed his historic victory at Pebble Beach. Back in the UK, a visit to Callaway’s European HQ at Chessington (left) provided the first opportunity to show off the handsome silverware
happening and try to compose myself. I looked again on 15 and saw I was two ahead. At that point I was feeling great about my chances even though I knew that the last three were tough. But I really didn’t allow myself to think it was mine until I’d cosied it up on the 18th. Gi: Was there a key shot for you? GMac: My second shot to the 13th in the final round, when I hit a 7-iron to 8 feet. I missed the putt but at that point I think I realized that I had what it took. I had Phil, Tiger, and Ernie behind me but they weren’t really making a move. The golf course was really tricky on Sunday and that’s why no one really got it going. Gi: Was the course fair? Some holes stirred considerable controversy. GMac: The set up was reasonably fair. Good golf was rewarded, bad golf was punished. Apart from 14 and 17 it was fair. 14 was a brute: in the practice
PLANET GOLF
GRAEME’S GEAR
Graeme McDowell talks to Dominic Pedler about his approach to equipment and the clubs that helped him to US Open glory. rounds I honestly said that I would be happy to take four 6s there. And at 17, I think only seven or eight guys hit the putting surface on Sunday, which is crazy. But I liked the course and thought the USGA did a good job moving a lot of the tees around and keeping you thinking. Gi: How did you celebrate? GMac: It started in the players’ hospitality area with some food and champagne with family and friends, my caddie and a few other caddies like Billy Foster. We then went to an Irish pub in Carmel called Brophy’s Tavern. It was a long night, with a few glasses of champagne and plenty of adrenaline. I was on Cloud Nine. I woke up feeling amazing and saw the trophy there in the corner of the room. Gi: We hear you were in demand for some celebrity functions before you left California… GMac: The first 48 hours were a compete blur. I went to LA for The Jay Leno Show where I was a guest along with Dakota Fanning. And then I did a cameo appearance on the set of Entourage [US comedy-drama TV show], which was a blast. Gi: What sort of response did you get from people in the immediate aftermath? GMac: It was amazing: calls, text, emails, Twitter – my website crashed on the Sunday afternoon. I had some great messages from people like Monty, Tony Jacklin, and [Northern Ireland actor] Jimmy Nesbitt. Tony emailed saying “Welcome to the club!” Gi: Was it hard to focus given what was happening to Dustin Johnson? GMac: You never want to see a guy go through that. I’m trying to beat him but you don’t want to see a guy beat himself. He handed me the lead pretty quickly on Sunday and I had a bit of a wait on 3rd tee while he went through his trouble. Those 10 minutes actually gave me a bit of time to get my head screwed on for the day and really focus. Gi: How important is your relationship with your caddie? GMac: The caddie-player relationship continued overleaf
Two putts for the US Open...a dream come true: GMac and his trusty Odyssey White Hot No.7
Golf International: You play the Callaway FT-3 driver which is one of the earliest Fusion models. I bet the reps have been trying for years to get you to play one of their newer models? Graeme McDowell: Very much so! And I have actually been testing the FT-9 TA which I also like and which is my back-up driver. But driving is one of my strengths and Iʼm driving so well with the FT-3 – which was one of the reasons I moved to Callaway in the first place. Iʼm an old school kind of guy, and I like the old-school head shape of both the FT-3 and the X-Tour fairway wood. My ball speed off it is quite fast and until I find something faster and more accurate Iʼm finding it difficult to change. If itʼs not broken, donʼt fix it! Gi: The Aldila Voodoo shaft in your driver is known for the special X-core construction thatʼs said to make it dramatically more stable. Did you choose it especially for its dispersion? GMac: I feel that I am more accurate with it, but itʼs also helped me keep my spin rate down which has also helped with distance. And the lightweight [65 grammes] helps me feel the clubhead more. Iʼve always liked a lightweight shaft in the driver. Iʼve been an Aldila guy for a long time. I went through all the NVS shafts and now the Voodoo, itʼs a great shaft. Gi: How much do you rely on launch monitors when testing equipment? Are you a techie who looks regularly at his ballspeed, spin rate and launch angle? GMac: I do jump on the TrackMan from time to time to make sure that Iʼm flighting it optimally. My launch angle has always been quite low but Iʻve managed to change that over the years – itʼs now about 11-12 degrees with my driver. And TrackMan has helped me to monitor that, as well as my spin rate, to get the optimal distance. Gi: Talking of trajectories, youʼve moved recently to the Project X Flighted shafts in your Callaway X-forged irons which have a special kick-point profile throughout the set. GMac: Iron trajectories are especially important to me. The lower kickpoint in the longer irons improves my generally low trajectory [at this end of the set]. But, with my short irons, I donʼt like to see high, ʻloopyʼ ball flights. I grew up playing in the wind so I like to play punch and knock down shots. Iʼd been struggling earlier in the season but the higher kick-point of the Project X Flighted in the short irons helps me get the more piercing flight I want, and with more control over the spin rate. Gi: Your Odyssey White Hot #7 putter has been in your bag for many years now. GMac: Iʼve been using putters from the White Hot insert range since I was a young amateur. Iʼve got used to the consistent feel of the insert. Iʼve always been a mallet fan. I used the #5 in college, then I used a 2-Ball for a long time. I picked up the #7 on a putting green about three years ago and it just sat perfectly square for me. Iʼve used it ever since. Gi: Your wedges seem to have a lot of bounce but also a very distinctive leading edge that has been ground completely square. GMac: Itʼs partly an alignment thing. When I pick up a typical wedge the blade just looks too rounded, so I ask the Callaway technicians to grind the leading edge straight. But I also have it ʻrolledʼ slightly, adding a bit of bounce on that edge to stop it from digging in too much. But, generally, I like a lot of bounce on continued overleaf SEPT/OCT 2010 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM 15
INSTRUCTION ANALYSIS / PETE COWEN
Left shoulder ‘loads’ while the wrists work the club up on plane
To keep the clubhead outside the hands is one of of G-Mac’s key swing thoughts
In a balanced set-up, relaxed arms/hands create this desirable ‘sweep angle’
What you can learn from the swing that won the US Open? Rather than change your natural imprint, it’s better to work on fine-tuning your technique to improve your all-round game
Graeme McDowell tuned up for the US Open at Pebble Beach with a performance in the Wales Open at Celtic Manor that he described as the ‘best of his life’. Rounds of 63 & 64 on the weekend, over a demanding 7,300-odd yard layout represented phenomenal golf – and it was a significant endorsement of all we have been working on for some time. As his coach, I am especially satisfied that the hard work we have been investing in the short game is finally paying dividends in the full swing – make no mistake, the better your understanding of impact, spin, compression and flight control around the green, the better the golfer you will become from tee to green. Looking at this sequence the first point to make in the set up is that Graeme appears nicely
Hands passive as the shoulders and the arms create the early momentum
Graeme works the club ‘around his centre’ – this is a swing controlled by rotation of the body
16 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM SEPT/OCT 2010
The bowed left wrist is a characteristic of G-Mac’s technique; he has built his body action around it
relaxed over the ball and the arms are comfortably placed to create a good ‘sweep angle’ (i.e. the angle between the clubshaft and the arms). I wouldn’t suggest this is a perfect posture, as I’d like to see him holding his mid section a little more – that’s an area in which he can get stronger. But it’s pretty good. Graeme likes to keep the clubhead outside his hands as he makes his first move – that’s one of his key thoughts and one that prevents the swing getting too far inside. In the sequence generally you get a good sense of the way Graeme works around his centre, and (looking at frame 3) this gives him the feeling that he can make his arms work up on plane as the wrists hinge. This helps him ‘load’ the left shoulder, which you can see is
GRAEME MCDOWELL
And the quality of that body action explains the consistency of G-Mac’s delivery position – on plane, on target
already in a strong rotated position as the left arm reaches parallel with the ground. One thing I would like to see a little more of is flex in the right knee and thigh through the halfto three-quarter back positions. This flex gives a player ‘control of the ground’, as I like to term it. Lose the flex and you lose pressure (control). This is something I emphasise to all my players. The downward pressure you feel through your feet and lower body is what enables you to interact with the ground and use it as a power source – the key is that you keep the ground. At the top we can identify a good right arm position which keeps the right shoulder nice and stable. And I like the 90-degree angle that is created between the arms. I like to see that as a
Rotation and leverage – the secret to generating speed and power
constant. I also like it when the right shoulder sits ‘down’ – i.e. it doesn’t get behind the player. A lot of golfers lose control of the right shoulder at the top, which can lead to the club getting behind them. Graeme doesn’t do that. A lot of people pass comment on Graeme’s ‘bowed’ left wrist at the top, but this is a constant in his swing. Since he was a boy, Graeme has built his body action around this particular characteristic. It’s natural and I see it as a positive rather than a negative. If you want proof, just look at the delivery position: he has worked out how to get the clubhead square as he approaches impact, and that’s the secret to playing good golf. Through the ball, his transfer of energy is fantastic. I don’t think there is
Free-wheeling to a finish, the shaft exits through the left shoulder – again, on plane
Totally balanced, the arms fold over to a finish – the consequence of what has gone on before
any doubt he has ‘got the ground’ as he shifts into the downswing with a very powerful ‘squat’ motion and then displays fantastic stretch rotation of the torso as he unwinds through the ball. You can almost feel the force of the leverage as he rotates a firm left side and applies the pressure on the ball with the right side of his body. It is the quality of this body rotation that stabilises impact for consistency – there is no ‘flip’ of the club. And this is a valuable lesson to take from this sequence: if you focus on turning the inside (i.e. your body – the hub of the wheel) its impossible for the outside (i.e. your arms, hand and the club – the spokes and rim) to overtake. The faster and more efficiently you rotate the inside, the further and straighter you hit the ball.
Quality of the body rotation stabilises impact as right side applies the pressure
Here you appreciate the value of ‘keeping the ground’ – i.e. feeling the pressure through the feet and using the ground to ‘squat’ into a strong hitting position
SEPT/OCT 2010 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM 17
INSTRUCTION SAM TORRANCE
Play it agaın Sam
The greatest lessons my father ever taught me had their basis in the simplicity of a repeating motion. Aye, Bob Torrance is not one to over-complicate the golf swing – and neither am I
By Sam Torrance PHOTOGRAPHY: DAVID CANNON/GETTYIMAGES.COM LOCATION: THE TORRANCE COURSE, FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS
Golf is played from the ground up, and a good foot/leg action helps you make a full turn behind the ball
18 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM SEPT/OCT 2010
I like to hover the clubhead – that keeps my hands and arms relaxed
DRIVER Stability repeats – my keys to making a solid swing on the tee Through all my years as a touring professional, I have never really been one to get too involved in the teaching of the golf swing. I’m not one for complicated theory, and I’ve never been a player who enjoys spending hours on the range hitting balls. I’ve been fortunate in that, through my whole career, my father, Bob, has looked after my swing in his typically no-frills manner. As he has always said, a good swing is created “from the ground up, not from the head down”, and with a driver in your hands this is a message worth repeating as you prepare to tee it up. What I have always taken that to mean is that it is absolutely vital, as you stand to the ball, that you really feel the turf with the soles of your feet; grip it and interact with it as you then wind up your backswing. Above all else, my own favourite swing thoughts are then to make sure that I turn my back until it faces the target and to keep my head steady throughout. One of the my swing idiosyncrasies is that, almost to initiate the backswing, my head moves slightly away from the target, perhaps three of four inches. But it maintains height – you don’t ever want to be dropping or dipping your head. Having primed my motion, I then keep my head perfectly still as I turn and wind up my backswing around a consistent spine angle. Very rarely have I achieved a position with the shaft parallel at the top; what you see here (3) is the full extent of my backswing movement – but just look at how well my back is turned on the target with my weight across and into my right side. That’s the point I want to make. Coming back down, my objective is to keep my head behind the ball as I unwind and let the arms and the clubhead accelerate and ‘collect’ the ball off the peg. It’s a big mistake to think in terms of hitting it – just let the ball get in the way as you swing through to a balanced finish. One other characteristic of mine is that I like to hover the clubhead behind the ball with a driver. I remember seeing Jack Nicklaus do this when I was a boy and I copied him. It helps me to keep my hands and arms relaxed, which in turn makes for a smooth first move away from the ball. To summarise my thoughts on the tee, as per the advice of my father it is focus on things that are simple and effective: keep your chin up at the set-up, give yourself room to make a full turn so that your back faces the target and try to keep your head as steady as you can as you then unwind through the ball.
Start smooth – you don’t hit the ball with your backswing!
Turn behind the ball – I want my back facing the target...
...and then unwind to enjoy the view
SEPT/OCT 2010 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM
19
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GOLF INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE SEPT / OCT 2010
NINTENDO WII / GOLF PROPERTY / COSTA NAVARINO / MOTORING / WATCHES / MEMORABILIA & MORE...
A driver’s dream: the Porsche Boxster Spyder see page 136
SEPT/OCT 2010 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM 21
19TH HOLE Q&A WITH JEREMY DARROCH, CHIEF EXECUTIVE BSKYB
Three years into his role as the chief of BSkyB – a job that has often led to him being described as “one of the most powerful men in sport” – Jeremy Darroch is embracing the challenges that face Britain’s biggest pay-to-view TV provider. And, like most of us, he wishes he had more time for his real passion: golf. Editor Richard Simmons popped the questions Gi: Where and when were you first introduced to the game? JD: I first got into golf as a kid growing up in Northumberland. A lot of my mates at school played. Golf in the northeast is a workingclass sport, and you find the golf courses in a lot of the little villages on the Northumberland coast – places like Alnwick – are central to the community, so it was a great time in my life. The thing I love about golf is that it is inter-generational game. I was introduced by my father, and now I play with my son. Gi: What's best golf lesson you ever had? JD: I can still recall my dad telling me to slow down! I’ve not actually had many formal golf lessons, although we were recently down at Celtic Manor with the Sky Sports team and I had two very good tips: Tim Barter told me to grip a little softer, and Ewen Murray suggested I stand with my feet a little wider with a driver, both of which really helped me. The thing about good coaching, I think – and it’s equally true in business – is the really good coaches give you simple thoughts and uncomplicate what you have made a very complicated issue! Gi: What other parallels do you draw between golf and business? JD: I think there are quite a lot actually. First of all, both are about positioning yourself. Often in business, ‘Route A’ isn’t always the best answer – you have to think through two or three decisions, and it’s the same in golf, how you hit the ball and how you unlock a hole. They are both essentially long-form activities, so you have to accept that things can go wrong, and not get too worried about that. But when things do go wrong, it’s vital you don’t follow a bad decision with another bad decision. In other words, you don’t follow one bad 22 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM SEPT/OCT 2010
shot with another bad shot. So thinking clearly in those situations is critical. And then the third thing that springs to mind is that you have to be willing to embrace risk. You can play conservatively, both in golf and in business, and do well, but there is a point at which you have to be willing to be more aggressive and take a risk. In business you have to be willing to invest. When I think of the development of HD or 3D television technology, these are markets we have effectively created in the UK – and at a time when many people were saying they would never work. So there’s a point when you have to say, ‘Right, now’s the time to the attack!’. Gi: Where is your favourite golfing
destination? JD: It would have to be playing links golf in Scotland. I’ve actually just returned from a trip with my brother-in-law and my son. We played five times, including the Old Course in St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. It was very special. We were lucky with the weather, too. We had very little rain, a gentle breeze and a fair bit of sunshine. You really can’t beat it. Gi: What piece of new technology has most improved your game? JD: Probably the driver. I suspect it hasn’t had such a big effect on very low handicap players but for someone like me who plays off 8, and who doesn’t get to play as often as he’d like,
MEDIA
impressed by new people – how complete they are. They have no glass ceiling and they are very positive.
Following some good advice from Sky Sportsʼ expert analysts Tim Barter and Ewen Murray, Jeremy took his A game to The Twenty Ten Course at Celtic Manor (left); this year Skyʼs wall-to-wall Ryder Cup coverage will be available for the first time in 3D; (below) three birdies over the closing five holes turned a so-so round at Loch Lomond into a truly memorable outing
you can pick up these modern drivers and feel pretty confident that you’ll be fairly OK. Gi: A dream fourball? JD: OK, so it’s me and Seve versus my son Matthew and Graeme McDowell. But here’s the deal – both Seve and me are time-warped about 20 years back. And the thing is, I’m guessing that we would spray it all over the place and then specialise in getting up and down – which would really get right up their nose! Gi: What’s the best round of golf you’ve ever played? JD: I’ve had a few rounds where I’ve finished a couple over par. Probably the best of those was at Loch Lomond a few years ago – I actually
birdied three of the last five holes, including holing a bunker shot, which is unheard of for me. It reminded me that in golf, just as in business, you never really know what’s around the corner. Good or bad. Gi: What’s the main strength of your game? JD: I’d say from 100 yards and in. I’m usually quite consistent with my wedges and can normally get the ball close enough to give myself a chance with the putter. Gi: And weaknesses? JD: A couple of things – off the tee I tend to hit at least one destructive shot in a round, which says something about my technique. The other thing I’ve found more difficult recently is maintaining concentration for a full round. I tend to play nine holes more often these days, and when I do get to play 18 I struggle to stay focused. I might play 13 or 14 holes fairly well and then lose concentration. The time it takes to play 18 holes, I think, is a real long-term threat to the game. Four or five hours is just too long. There is no excuse for a twoball not being round in anything less than three hours. Gi: What’s your favourite gadget? JD: My iPad. In fact, I have to show you this [cue demo as he calls up Sky Sports News]. You have basically all of the main sports, upto-the-minute news, video streaming. You can go to the mobile TV app, which gives you all of the channels. There is an additional fee over and above your domestic subscription for the Mobile TV, but it’s a great facility for those who want to stay connected. Gi: Who do you most admire in your own field of business? JD: Rather than any single individual, the people I admire most are the generation we have coming through at Sky. We have some really outstanding people and we’re a young company. We have a great pool of talent and if you look across the organisation, well, it’s just going to keep getting better. I am constantly
Gi: Management Today recently ranked Sky as one of the most admired businesses in the UK – to what do you attribute that? JD: We are a fundamentally positive business and we try to control our own destiny. We are always open to new ideas and we do interesting things – we are trying to do more in terms of putting something back. We are currently involved with schools, using our power in sports to work with young kids with social or behavioural problems, using the power of Sky Sports to help them get their lives back on track. Golf is a part of that programme. And we are getting some incredibly strong results. Gi: Being such a terrific visual spectacle, golf must be one of the sports likely to benefit most from 3D TV, which you are rolling out at the Ryder Cup. How challenging is filming golf in 3D? JD: It’s challenging and exciting because it’s the next real frontier. The 2006 Ryder Cup at the K Club was the first time we shot golf in HD, which was fantastic at the time. 3D takes it to the next level, as you really do get perspective of the course, you can see the contours and the details of each shot. At Celtic Manor we will shoot all of the games on the 1st tee and then jump to the 4th or the 5th hole and catch them up again. We will also have a number of roving cameras to follow any particularly exciting match. The thing we are learning with 3D is that it provides an entirely different perspective on the game. The camera angles are different, the art direction is different. So producers and cameramen have a blank canvas in terms of what we deliver. I think our audience will be fascinated by it. There is just so much more richness in terms of what you – the viewer – sees. Gi: When you look at the issues facing golf, with falling participation numbers and golf clubs struggling to attract members, what can Sky do in terms of helping the game and attracting new players? JD: Sky can help in a number of ways. First of all, it would be a mistake to overlook the investment we make in terms of securing broadcast rights. That really is a significant financial commitment. The relationship that we have with the European Tour has been one of the most productive partnerships of any SEPT/OCT 2010 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM 23
PORSCHE BOXSTER SPYDER
Stripped for pure driving pleasure Shorn of irrelevant creature comforts, the Boxster Spyder is the lightest of all the models to roll out of Stuttgart. It’s also the most exhilarating for the driver who likes to feel at one with the heart of the machine. Gi’s motoring correspondent Anthony Ffrench-Constant reports
Y
ou’d imagine that most manufacturers would think twice about conjuring a new car which automatically evokes thoughts of mangled metal and sudden death. But then, Porsche isn’t most manufacturers and, with the new Boxster Spyder, seems entirely content to rekindle memories of the 1954 550 Spyder in which silver screen legend James Dean lost his life. He called it the “little bastard”, with good reason as it turned out. However, in its 2010 iteration, the Spyder has – with the possible exception of an hilariously complex DIY roof mechanism, which we’ll come to – absolutely nothing of the bastard about it whatsoever. Unless, that is, you consider paying rather more for almost entirely less to be something of an affront. The more includes a price tag of £44,643 – which makes the Spyder the most expensive Boxster variant you can buy – and a modest
24 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM SEPT/OCT 2010
The body side graphics are coolly retro, while the addition of a new sports suspension and shorter, stiffer springs gives the Spyder a lower, meaner poise than the Boxster S. As with all convertibles, it’s designed to look its best with the roof stowed
performance hike. The 3.4 litre flat-six is the same capacity as that of the Boxster S, but boasts an additional 10bhp, now delivering 320bhp at a peak of 7200rpm, 950rpm higher than the regular car. Maximum torque is also boosted, from 266 lb ft to 273lb ft at 4750rpm. The less, most significantly, concerns weight and ride height. By dint of aluminium doors and a one-piece rear deck, a folding canvas and carbon-fibre frame roof that weighs just 11kg, carbon-backed bucket seats, the lightest set of 19” inch allow wheels the company makes, and the deletion of every creature comfort including the stereo, air conditioning, door pockets, cup holders, the cowl over the instrument binnacle and even the
door handles (replaced with fabric pull straps), Porsche has shaved some 80kg from the Boxster S weight. At just 1275kg, this is the lightest car rolling out of Stuttgart. A new sports suspension incorporates shorter, stiffer springs, firmer dampers and new front and rear anti-roll bars. Thanks to a 20mm drop in ride height and the lack of bulk from the lightweight roof, the Spyder’s centre of gravity is 25mm lower than that of a Boxster S. Ironically, the less also relates to performance. Though the Spyder will yell to 62mph from a standstill in 5.1 seconds (a frankly imperceptible 0.2 seconds faster than a Boxster S) and on to 163mph, you’ll only be able to manage that with the roof removed. Roof in place, top speed is limited to 124mph, thereafter the complex fabric construction presumably making a decent fist of offering itself up to the slipstream, piece by piece, unaided.
“There remains nothing quite like a Porsche for plugging the driver right into the heart of the machine. Your relationship with all the major controls is perfect, the levels of tactility not far adrift from what’s available in a respectable racing car” Roof in place, the Spyder looks good enough. The body side graphics are coolly retro, and it’s lower, meaner and a whisker less effeminate than a standard Boxster. As with all convertibles, however, it’s designed to look at its best with the roof stowed and, indeed, the transformation is dramatic; from good enough to absolutely fantastic. Trouble is, you have to take the roof – or as
Porsche variously refers to it, ‘sunsail’ or ‘cap’ – off first… Strict adherence to the family motto – If All Else Fails Read the Instructions – allied to an entirely misguided whiff of intuition saw me start by undoing the windscreen-head lever. Wrong, of course. This is actually the last step in the process, and almost impossible to rectify once released out of sequence. Happily, Porsche provided a laminated card of roof removal and replacement instructions to avoid excessive rummaging through a phone book-thick glove box manual. Unhappily, this took the form of a 16-panel cartoon featuring more directional arrows than a Day Three map of Operation Overlord and 20 individually numbered actions for roof removal, yet, bizarrely, only 17 for replacement. Mercifully, youthful years of Airfix-sponsored locating tab A on to lug B while ensuring no glue attaches to pin E in order to ensure SEPT/OCT 2010 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM 25
INSTRUCTION LUTHER BLACKLOCK
The Rule of
Thumb Positioning your left hand in such a way that the thumb runs parallel with the shaft is key to a sound grip – and will help you make and repeat a better golf swing
26 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM SEPT/OCT 2010
By Luther Blacklock PGA MASTER PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY: MATTHEW HARRIS • SHOT ON LOCATION AT WOBURN GOLF CLUB
If you were to come and see me for a 5-minute golf lesson, and I could teach you just one vital element of technique, I would focus on the position of the left thumb on the grip. This tiny detail is the keystone of the grip and – as such – critical in the process of making a sound golf swing. Aligning the left thumb correctly, using the natural and neutral form of your hand, gives you full control of the clubface and a your best chance of controlling the golf ball. Of course, there are many great players, both past and present, who have succeeded with varying styles of grip, so obviously this is not the only way to do it. But in my experience this simple piece of advice will give you the best foundation upon which to build a sound and effective swing
SEPT/OCT 2010 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM 27
INSTRUCTION LUTHER BLACKLOCK
With your left arm hanging to your side, straighten your hand and point back of glove to the target
As you wrap your fingers around the grip to take hold, check that your thumb is ‘short’ and parallel with the shaft
Right hand comes in naturally from beneath the grip
How to fit the left hand correctly – try this simple procedure Parallel alignment of the left thumb with the shaft encourages perfect grip As you prepare to take your grip, stand up comfortably and allow your left arm to hang down by your side naturally (1). The palm of your hand will want to face inwards, and the fingers will curl slightly – that’s just the way we are designed. What I want you to do is just straighten the left hand, pointing the fingers directly down to the ground and making the back of your hand square to the target line (2). Doing this creates a thumb position position that is then neat and parallel to the clubshaft, the thumb resting just to the right of centre on the grip as you look at it. The position you see in the sequence of fitting (above) shows the correct placement of the left thumb on the grip as the hand
28 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM SEPT/OCT 2010
is applied and the fingers curl around the shaft to take a secure hold. You can see that the thumb is pointing downwards, highlighted by the red line I have marked on the glove, sitting just to the right of centre on the grip (as you, the player, view it). Notice that the tip of the thumb does no protrude any further than the first knuckle on my index finger – it is comfortably ‘short’ on the grip, which helps to create the snug fit. This principle, plus the concept of the thumb running parallel to the shaft and slightly right of centre is the essence of this instructional piece. Oh, and bye the way, you can forget that old adage about the ‘V’ formed between the left thumb and forefinger pointing
Pad at the base of the right thumb covers the left
With the left arm comfortably straight, you create a wonderful Y-shape with your arms and the club Taking the club correctly in the left hand helps you create good posture angles at the set up. As the right hand joins the left, the elbows & forearms establish a good working relationship and you will more easily assume a ‘square’ set up over the ball
up towards your right shoulder. With such a variety of human physiques, and the fact that you adjust the ball position quite significantly to play different shots with different clubs, such crude advice does not do justice to such an important principle. Nine reasons to be careful when fitting your left hand... Good golf begins with a good grip...and with just a few minutes’ rehearsing the routine above you will take care of what I believe is one of the most important fundamentals in golf – the correct fitting of the left hand/thumb. And when you get this right you will enjoy a host of benefits that will immediately improve your ability to swing a golf club. So here are nine reasons to be careful when taking hold of the club with your left hand. Remember, it is not true because I say so; rather the fact that this is the natural structure of your hand.
• A neat left thumb encourages good posture • Fitting the left hand correctly encourages a straight left arm at address • The neutral placement of the hands makes it easier to square the shoulders as you finalise your position over the ball • A good grip establishes a good angle between your left forearm and the clubshaft at address, helping to ensure that the hands are at their ideal height for any given club • The fleshy pad at the base of your right palm will dovetail neatly with the left thumb, thus unifying both hands • A well-formed grip grip aligns the forearms nicely • The wrists/forearms work within the safety of the swing plane • The neutral position of the left thumb prevents the excessive wrist hinge that can lead to an overswing at the top • Bonus ball: You won’t wear out your glove so quickly!
The benefits of fitting the left hand correctly are overwhelming! So get to work on getting this key fundamental right every time!
SEPT/OCT 2010 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM 29
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INSTRUCTION LUTHER BLACKLOCK
What happens when you get the left thumb position wrong? Beware of the following common mistakes – all of which are caused by the incorrect fitting of the left hand/thumb at the set up. If you recognise anything here in your own game then thumb back (!) to the beginning of this article and dedicate some time to getting this key fundamental right
‘Long’ left thumb destroys the unity of a good grip, and the hands are inclined to work independently. It was Gary Player who once said: ‘You have to own the club at the top’ – fitting the left hand correctly is critical to you doing that
The so-called ‘long’ left thumb can lead to the hands being too low at the set up, causing a slumped posture, and – invariably – to signs of overswing at the top via excessive wrist action and a breakdown in the security of the grip
‘Long’ left thumb costs you the security of a sound grip Extending thumb down the shaft also affects posture & invites excessive wrist action If your left thumb extends too far down the shaft (i.e. it is draped well beyond the first knuckle of the index finger – as per the image above), what tends to happen is that you lose the cohesion of the unit of a good grip and, at the same time, render yourself open to the situation where the wrists are liable to hinge excessively as you reach the top of the backswing. I have known some cases where a ‘long’ left thumb also negatively affects posture, as the way in which the hand is angled in order to physically extend the thumb down the shaft causes a player to address a ball with their hands too low, leading to a slumped posture. Neither of these scenarios is particularly desirable, and so I urge you to check your own grip and make sure that the left thumb is ‘short’ on the grip, so that your right hand is able to fit snug – that gives you the cohesion you need. Being susceptible to a ‘long’ left thumb is more common in female and
31 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM SEPT/OCT 2010
junior golfers who have less strength in their hands and wrists than an adult male golfer. But I’ve also seen the damaging extension of the left thumb in players who use the ‘interlocking’ style of grip and who allow the hands to get too deeply interlocked, to the extent that the web of the right little finger is driven into the web of the left index finger. For that reason alone, I would advise against the interlocking grip in favour of the Vardon or overlapping style. The chief danger with a ‘long’ left thumb is that the security of the grip itself is challenged, as extending the left thumb has the effect of making it more difficult to grip the club firmly with the last three fingers of the left hand – precisely where you should feel your grip pressure. Too much pressure is exerted on the joint of the left thumb (rather than its pad), the teel-tale sign being that you tend to wear a hole in your glove. In a good grip, the left thumb pad takes the strain at the top.
Gi Travel
With such gems as the Boat of Garton, Grantown-on-Spey, Elgin and Moray on the itinerary, small wonder that Speyside is one of the most popular destinations for golfers in search of the true Highlands experience. That the Speyside Valley is home to over half of Scotland’s malt whiskey distilleries is a rather happy coincidence, as Mark Alexander reports PHOTOGRAPHY: MARK ALEXANDER
WHISKY AND GOLF WERE MADE FOR EACH OTHER. PERHAPS it’s the intoxicating aroma of the spirit mixed with the exhilaration of the game, but their compatibility has created a multi-million pound industry based on the bond between sport and booze. Their association has been long and fruitful. At the corporate end, tournament sponsorship has been the most obvious upshot, but the relationship between a round of golf and a wee dram goes far deeper than advertising boards and prize money. Clinking glasses at the end of a hard-fought match has been customary since golf came of age. It’s part of the fabric. So where better to explore this lasting bond than in the golden 32 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM SEPT/OCT 2010
land of the Speyside Valley where almost half of Scotland’s famous malt whisky distilleries are located. This remarkable wedge of the Scottish Highlands is home to clear springs and abundant supplies of fragrant golden barley – the key ingredients for making whisky. It also boasts a string of fabulous tracks penned by some of the legends of golf course design, with views to match. River rivalry Laid out by James Braid and opened 112 years ago, Boat of Garton (known locally as the ‘Boat’) has long been associated
THE DELIGHTS OF SPEYSIDE
The par three opening hole at the Boat of Garten, a James Braid classi and renowned as one of the Highland’s most picturesque layouts
with Highland golf, and with good reason. This parkland track has an enviable reputation for its scenic charms which are evident from the first tee. The par-three opener certainly tests the nerves but also provides the first glimpse of Lairig Ghru and Braeriach – the great mountain passes and corries of the Cairngorm mountain range. For all its Highland grandeur, the first hole does little to indicate what’s to follow however. After all, the fairway is relatively flat and sedate. The second hole puts the record straight with undulations, dips and hollows that create a fairway of infinite possibilities. It’s a pattern repeated from then on in with blind
shots and uneven stances galore. In fact, the challenge presented by the Boat is anchored in the course’s contours which can entice your ball into danger all too easily. For the first-timer, playing the course with a member (the Ladies Captain in my case!) is a must. “The Boat is a great example of a course that doesn’t need to be long to be difficult,” says Scottish golf course architect Tom Mackenzie who advised the club on some changes to the course a few years back. “It’s narrow, bouncy and up and down, so you have to negotiate your way through it. You can’t just blast your way round. It is Highland golf.” SEPT/OCT 2010 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM 33
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JOHN HOPKINS
LAST SHOT
Monty tees it up with conviction After Edoardo Molinari's superb victory at Gleneagles, no one was surprised to see the gutsy Italian join brother Francesco on the bus to Celtic Manor. Elsewhere, the captain had some tough calls to make id you have doubts about Captain Montgomerie in the forthcoming Ryder Cup? Were you thinking that he might not be focused on the events at Celtic Manor, what with all that is going on his private life? Steady, steady. It is too early to tell how Montgomerie will do in Wales in October but in Scotland in August he gave us an insight into his character and showed he is up for a fight with Corey Pavin’s team. If Montgomerie’s captaincy is as good as his performance in the Scottish glens then the Ryder Cup is on its way back to this side of the Atlantic. Looking like a well-fed civil servant and lacking only a pair of half-moon glasses over which to peer at the assembled media, Montgomerie gave a polished performance. Some surprising stumblers over Edoardo Molinari’s name aside – he was Edorado and then Eduardo before he was “the excellent Mr Molinari” – the captain demonstrated that adding the combined brainpower of Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke, Thomas Bjorn to his own made sure that the most positive message possible was sent west across the Atlantic. Corey Pavin, the US captain, and other members of the US party who were watching the announcement must have been impressed at two unexpected masterstrokes Montgomerie came up with. The first was the addition of Sergio Garcia to the team as the fourth vice-captain after Clarke, Bjorn, and McGinley. It had always seemed more logical to have four vice-captains, one for each match, than three and now he has them. Never mind there is only one Spaniard in the team, Garcia is there because he has been the heartbeat of Europe teams in the past and because of his irrepressible personality at Ryder Cup time. His experience gained from playing in the past five Faith in his Ryder Cups won’t do any harm either to a team team: there containing six rookies, particularly if the unthinkmay be six able occurs and Lee Westwood is not fit to play. rookies in Padraig Harrington, with five previous appearMonty’s lineances, then becomes the senior pro. up for Celtic Manor, but it’s The second master stroke was to include Rhys a side packed Davies, the young Welsh player, who has such with talent promise and whose presence out on the course alongside Montgomerie will be a sop to the Welsh spectators. Montgomerie had spoken warmly of Davies during the Wales Open. At Gleneagles he called Davies “the guy with the million-dollar putting stroke” and said he was going to play in many Ryder Cups in future. “Rhys will be my buggy driver,” Montgomerie said. Within moments of Montgomerie’s announcement, the thought was of Justin Rose warming up on the practice ground before the fourth round of the Barclays event in New Jersey, the first of the four FedEx Cup events. Two tournament victories in the space of four events in the US this past summer were not good enough to get him into a second Ryder Cup and being ranked 22nd in the world was not good enough either. Having won three points out of four in the previous Ryder Cup counted for nothing. This decision could come back to haunt Montgomerie, as could the exclusion of
D
Paul Casey. The man then ranked 9th in the world could not get into a team representing the 12 best players in Europe. The winner of the 2006 Worldmatch Play Championship, the runner-up at the 2009 and 2010 Accenture Match Play Championships and the man who finished third in the Open was surplus to requirements. Casey, paired with Harrington in New Jersey on the day of Monty’s announcement, must have found it hard to understand why he was excluded and the Irishman was included. No one, though, could doubt Edoardo Molinari’s claim to be the third of Montgomerie’s selections. “In my 24 years on tour I have never seen a finish of that quality when under such pres-
sure,” Montgomerie said of the older Molinari’s surge to victory in the Johnnie Walker Championship. If there had been any doubts about Edoardo, winner at Loch Lomond in July and now at Gleneagles near the east coast of Scotland in August, his remarkably gutsy birdie-birdie-birdie finish dispelled them. What you want from a teammate is that he has mental strength, intestinal fortitude, and the older Molinari clearly has. Europe has a very strong team, stronger from 1-12 than any previous team, even though it has only three major champions with five major titles between them – three by Harrington, one each by Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer. The 1987 European team that became the first to win in the US had four major champions – Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Sandy Lyle, who at that time had won seven majors. Will Monty’s men be good enough? They should be. Perhaps they must be. So much is riding on this Ryder Cup. The biennial competition is the cash cow for the European Tour, generating something between £50 million and £60 million, and victory in Wales will make up for rather worrying reports in the weeks leading up to the event that tickets and the sale of hospitality units were going more slowly than expected. Montgomerie has a few testing weeks ahead of him, culminating on October 3. He has made a good start, though. In Scotland, he played a blinder. SEPT/OCT 2010 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM 35