TOP100 ‘FUN’COURSES ALL-NEW RANKING: The best courses in GB&I to put a smile on your face
NOVEMBER 2012, ISSUE 12 VOL 53 RORY McILROY SPECIAL ■
MONTY’S RYDER CUP FIX
Taming Tiger
Inside his coach’s crazy world
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SEAN FOLEY INTERVIEW
Ryder Cup fix Monty’s plan to improve it
McILROY SPECIAL
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ADJUSTABLE DRIVERS ■
TOP 100 ‘FUN’ COURSES
How they are smashing golf’s £4 billion problem
Adjustable drivers
Can they really cure your swing flaws? + Nike’s ‘iDriver’
WHY GOINGHE’S GET EV TO N BETTEE R By Joh n Hugga n
Exclusive The Player of the Year shares his 10 best tips PLUS: CHAPMAN / GARCIA / DUFNER / SNEDEKER / RAMSAY
£4.20
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‘TEAM RORY’ ON WHAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM HIS GAME
NOVEMBER 2012
Rip it with Rory
Counterfeit cops on patrol
10 THINGS We’re talking about in golf...
1
Monty’s Cup changes It’s already one of the best events in sport, but there are ways the Ryder Cup can be made even better – according to victorious 2010 captain Colin Montgomerie.
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he Ryder Cup has been my life. Ever since I teed it up at Kiawah Island in 1991 some 21 years ago, I have lived and breathed little else. In my first match at Kiawah Island in 1991, our team room was a caravan, because they had only just finished building the resort. I will never forget seeing Seve and Langer, sitting in the corner, holding and really hugging each other, crying their eyes out. They never said a word to each other. They just sit there. I am watching, as a rookie; and suddenly it hits home very hard just what this week means to them. It was an extraordinary moment. Future changes to the format are, of course, no longer up to me. These are issues for the powers that be, and for people now with the responsibility of taking the match forward. But, asked for my opinion, I will give it
deal anymore, but... Seve, the man who single-handedly transformed the Ryder Cup in the 1980s, helping it become as big as it has; he wanted to make it a fourday match, and I think he was right.
If it was up to me, I would make the Ryder Cup last four days rather than three. Obviously, that happened
we are under, I would like to think that – going forward – we could get to a stage where we only leave out two players from each side, in every session. In principle, I think there are issues with leaving players out. In my view, if you have played hard and earned your way onto the Ryder Cup team, then you should play.
inadvertently at Celtic Manor, when it rained so much, and the weather was against us. But, it went down really well with both sets of players. It was a great success. Why we have to pack it all into three days, I’m not sure. I haven’t lobbied for this change, because it’s not my
what the boss says
Richard Hills Ryder Cup Director
Golf World November 2012
I think it’s also really unfortunate that four players have to sit out from each side, for each of the five sessions. This
is obviously a ‘time’ thing, linked to how many daylight hours are available to us. If we played the Ryder Cup in the middle of June at somewhere like St Andrews every time, it just wouldn’t be a factor. But, we’re playing in September, and the clocks are close to going back.
As a captain, deciding, who to ‘leave out’ of any particular session is one of the toughest decisions you have to deal with all week. Given the time constraints
The European Tour is the Managing Partner of Ryder Cup Europe so the playing criteria and review process is left to the European Tour’s Tournament Committee, chaired by Thomas Bjorn. Albeit that Celtic Manor was difficult operationally and ultimately did result in an
Tony Jacklin always said ‘give me 12 wild card picks’. That’s what I wanted.
I’ve always thought the captains should pick all 12 of their team. My strongest team at Celtic Manor would have been 12 picks from me. And Paul Casey would have played. If I’d had more picks, Casey would have played. The easiest way of doing it is to take 12 names straight off the world rankings. You look at the European team, at any time, and that is a very strong team. But, there are rules and regulations; and – even as a captain – you can’t make this happen. I think 9/11 changed the atmosphere for the better. After that, the Americans saw
us as allies rather than the enemy. Since the 2002 match the atmosphere has been better; but it’s brewing again. To say the Ryder Cup has doubled in size, since I first played in it, is unrealistic.
I think it’s easily tripled in size. It’s become an amazing event. I feel sorry for the South Africans and Australians who can’t be part of it. They are missing out, because it is THE great event we play in. Our thanks to Rolex for their help in arranging this interview.
alteration of the format, there was no desire to plan a four-day match. The basic format of a 28-point match is currently agreed and accepted by both parties and indeed, the rotation of players is something that is seen as part of the captaincy skill and takes into account the pressures
on the players in the given week. In respect of the number of wild card picks, this is reviewed by the Tournament Committee. For example, it was Jose Maria’s request to reverse the European and World Points lists and also to reduce the number of picks for this year’s match to two.
And if we were put in charge let the captains select the teams There is a simple but profound way to alter the captain’s role and make him a much more critical factor – let them select all 12 players. Such a system would be a huge responsibility for the captains, rewarding their instincts for team chemistry, and a fascinating prelude to the matches for fans. Improve the HOST venues The quality/allure of a course has seldom been the sole factor in determining where big events are staged. And golf politics – and the Euro – seem to speak louder than ever. That said, how cool would it be if the Ryder Cup bowed less to the bottom line and in the process was held more frequently on classic courses? The European Tour hasn’t taken the Ryder Cup to a links since 1977 at Royal Lytham & St Annes. That is way too long. Play the matches over four days instead of three Following the lead of the Presidents Cup, the Ryder Cup could expand its drama to Thursday through Sunday. Contest six team matches on the first two days (foursomes one day, fourball the other), with two four-match sessions in both formats on the third day. The final day would remain 12 singles matches. There would be 32 total points at stake – the same number available for the Ryder Cup between 1963 and 1975 – instead of 28. Eliminate the blind pairings in THE singles There is a certain intuition and intrigue involved in a captain pre-arranging his dozen golfers, attempting to outsmart the opposition in where he places whom in the line-up. But having to select the singles roster, one player after another in response to your opposite number, forces the leaders to display a different kind of moxie and produces a great 15 minutes of entertaining viewing to boot. Have a winner and a loser There have been only two ties in the history of the Ryder Cup (1969 and 1989), but the possibility of a deflating, we-did-all-this-forthat outcome remains. Sporting competitions should have winners and losers.
November 2012 Golf World
quick tips
Let your head swivel Why ‘keeping it down’ can be bad. By David Leadbetter
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very golfer has been told to “keep your head down” at least once. The intent is to have you make better contact and not peek too soon to see where the ball is going. But using that tip can create tension and limit your swing. Your head should be free to rotate. In fact, if it swivels slightly away from the target when you take the club back and/or toward the target when you swing down and through the hitting area, your chances of making a smooth and
complete swing will likely improve. Former world No.1s Annika Sorenstam and David Duval are among several pros whose heads rotate when they swing. Neither of them is even looking at the ball when the club makes contact. And don’t forget that Jack Nicklaus used to turn his chin slightly away from the target just before he started his backswing. If it worked for them, it can certainly help you. Keeping your head down might only prevent you from watching a bad shot.
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Golf World November 2012
MY course management Not sure which way a putt will break near the hole? Get down low and check to see if one side of the hole appears higher than the other. The putt will almost always break towards the lower side. If the high side is at the back of the cup, you’ll know you have to hit it a bit firmer. And if you can’t see the back edge, you’ll know the putt will be a quick one.
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Set your body lines right but aim the clubface at your target.
Every golfer likes to see that high right-to-left flight off the tee, and this is how you can make it happen. By Butch Harmon
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know, you’d love to hit a draw off the tee. You’d probably pick up some distance, and let’s be honest, a draw just looks better. You look like a player. Half of what you need to do comes in the set-up. First, aim the clubface where you want the ball to finish, say, the middle of the fairway. Then, set your body closed, with your feet, hips and shoulders aimed at the right side of the fairway. From there, swing the club back along your stance line, or slightly inside your normal path. Coming down, feel as if
you retrace that path and the club moves in-to-out through impact. Finally – and this is where most people go wrong – make a smoother swing through impact. This allows the arms to release or roll over, which closes the face and produces the draw. If you try to rip it, the body tends to rotate open quicker, and that makes it tougher to close the face. That’s actually a fade swing. So get your set-up right, then make a nice, smooth pass through the ball.
butch’s basics
The best advice for wedge shots is to hit down and through the ball. So many golfers try to help these shots in the air. To strike your wedges solid, get into a good set-up: ball just in front of centre, weight 50/50, hands ahead of the ball. Don’t make a big backswing, but turn enough to get behind the ball. Then hit down and through it. With a solid strike, you’ll get the loft you want.
© Golf digest
Hit a power draw
November 2012 Golf World
Player of the Year
Coming of age
It’s been a transitional year for Rory McIlroy. He hired a new manager, had some negative press and missed a few cuts. But he came through it all to win his second Major Championship – and become Player of the Year. Words: John Huggan PHOTOGRAPHy: Angus Murray, Getty
If you do one thing... Player of the Year
Team Rory and other top teachers share the things he does that can benefit you. STAY TENSION FREE
By David Leadbetter
One of the world’s leading teachers. Rory has the best free-flowing swing in world golf today and I think that is the area that people should look at if they want to learn from him. It’s a continuous motion from start to finish, so well synchronised with high hands and a full turn. There’s a certain amount of genetics involved here, but the free-wheeling motion is terrific to watch. His arms and body match up beautifully and it looks non-mechanical, though he does have good mechanics. He’s tension free and doesn’t look tight at all. I’d say the biggest key for most amateurs is to eliminate forearm and shoulder tension at address. If they can keep it soft there then you give the chance for the swing to store power naturally. You might want to avoid grounding the club as you set up in the way that a Faldo, Norman and Nicklaus used to do. That helps get a free-flowing takeaway and the start really does set the stage for the rest of the swing. If you jerk the club back then in all probability you’ll jerk it down from the top and you then have all the speed in the wrong area. Stay loose over the ball. Whether you waggle the club like Jason Dufner or have a trigger like Rory, who just has a slight tweak of his hips, it’s difficult to avoid tension and stay smooth if you are too stationary over the ball. One of the best drills to encourage a free-flowing action is to practise by starting the swing with the club a foot or so ahead of the ball. McIlroy epitomises one of my favourite sayings in golf: ‘Swing easy and hit hard’.
Golf World November 2012
‘He’s tension free and doesn’t look tight at all’
THE RORY ERA
COPY HIS POSTURE
GET YOUR CLUBS FITTED
Rory’s coach since childhood
Titleist’s Tour Fitting Technician
By Michael Bannon One thing from Rory? That’s a tough question because we pretty much built his swing together. I think, though, if I had to point at one area then it would be his posture. He has such good clean lines. From the top of the head to the hips, then into the knees and down. That’s three distinct lines which is a great structure from which to start. It’s all so much in balance. You need that if you are going to use your body correctly in the swing. He has a good straight spine and looks very comfortable with it. Also, he holds his head quite high and doesn’t let his chin drop, like so many amateurs do. Another point is that his hands hang nicely down in a vertical line from his shoulder joints. I do admire that when I stand behind him to watch him hit balls. From the front on view, he looks very balanced with the left shoulder very slightly above the right one. It’s not over exaggerated. I’m always checking his address position and that’s whether I tell Rory about it or not. He’s pretty consistent and right now his posture is fantastic. So I wouldn’t say there’s a weakness that he slips into. He is a little more upright than he used to be which is an improvement. His shoulders are not rounded at all and much of the work that he does with his physio Steve McGregor helps with getting his body to move naturally into a very correct position.
By Phil Dimmock
We spent some time at Rory’s house doing some testing with the new 913 driver. McIlroy’s become so high profile that he has less time at tournaments for this sort of thing, so we make provisions to see him in his own time. He’d been on the 910 D2 driver with 8.5º of loft and a Rombax shaft. He was set at C2 on the Surefit Tour hosel (that’s 0.75º less loft and a little more upright). He’d played that shaft for a long time and Rory is one of those guys who doesn’t tinker. But he loved the 913 straight away because he could feel that it was hotter off the face and he liked the sound. The new face insert in the 913 gave him that ball speed. He was in the D2 version of the 910 because he particularly liked the head shape – in all honesty the D3 might have suited him better technically. It’s only recently that he’s decided that he doesn’t want to shape it quite so much with the driver. And the D3 in the 913 is a little less inclined to go left. He also had a shaft change. He wanted something a bit stiffer and a bit more stable, both qualities that would neutralise the flight and enable him to be a bit straighter.
DEVELOP A BETTER SHORT GAME
By Denis Pugh and Mark Roe
Coach to Francesco and Edoardo Molinari / Renowned short game teacher Take notice of the variety he has in his short game. People always get drawn to the wonderful flair and rhythm he has in his swing, but they forget to look at another of his strongest assets, which is his imagination around the green. This isn’t a one dimensional skill because, like Seve, he can play just about every shot with every club. You’ll see him keep the wrists firm and bump low, checking shots and then bring his hands into play with soft, high flops. He can be faced with perfectly flat terrain, some 10 feet off the green, and you won’t be sure which way he decides to play it. I love this versatility and the only way it can really be achieved is to get out there and practise. I marvel at his array of skills and realise that there is no standardised shot when you chip. Watch him and then go out and spend a morning experimenting.
Rory played a chip shot in the last round of the US PGA that has stayed with me. It was on the 13th hole, off a tricky, wet lie that was downhill and needed to fly the corner of a bunker to get near the hole. A large portion of players would have played it sideways to leave a 15 to 20-footer, but not McIlroy. He made perfect contact and flipped it up gently so that it nestled close to the hole. The secret was commitment to speed. That’s what club golfers should take notice of when they watch Rory play. He never backs off, such is his confidence, and the speed of his swing was equally matched either side of the ball. So many amateurs decelerate or quit on the shot and that’s a recipe for disaster. You have to be aggressive. I was commentating at the time and it was magnificent. He picked his spot, visualised it and committed to the shot. It was something only someone with a consummate short game could have pulled off.
November 2012 Golf World
Player of the Year
10
Lessons for a lifetime Rory talks exclusively about dealing with nerves, his advice for beginners, the key to the golf swing and how much better he is now than he was a year ago. Words: Jock Howard PHOTOGRAPHy: Getty Images
Golf World October 2012
RORY MCILROY
1
Hit it hard
It’s very important that kids who are just taking up the game try and hit it as far as they can, rather than get caught up in too much technique. Obviously, at some stage you need to try and get some sort of basic technique; but they should begin by hitting it as far and as hard as they can, and then rein it back in from there. I’ve always been one for setting goals and targets, because once you achieve that there’s a real sense of satisfaction, and you can keep moving forward.
2
Play like you practice
If a guy has a 12-foot putt to win a million dollars, he should forget about the million dollars. He should try and hit the putt as though he was just on the practice green. If I’m under pressure, playing a shot, I will just try and imagine I’m playing with my friends, back at home. All I’m thinking about is trying to hit the same shot I would with them.
3
Get healthy
Health and fitness has become an important part of my preparation in the last couple of years. If you want to be a top-class athlete nowadays you need to train hard, eat the right things, have rest, and look after yourself. Golf may not be one of the most physically demanding sports in the world, but you’ve still got to put in the hours and train as though it is.
4
Fitness equals power
The amazing thing about the body is that it adapts so quickly. I used to not really like going into the gym when I was playing tournaments, because I would be sore and stiff. But, the more you keep doing it, the less soreness you have; and you actually start to enjoy it. Last year, I worked a lot on my legs and lower body. I did a lot of split squats, lunges, single leg squats and so on, just to try and balance up right and left sides, as a start. I now have a lot more stability in my lower body, and developed a lot of strength. Much of it was single leg work to build a foundation, before moving on to bigger things like explosiveness and power.
5
Learn from your mistakes
I definitely learnt more from my Sunday collapse at the Masters than I did from either of my Major wins. The wins just sort of reaffirm that what you’re doing is the right thing. Everybody is going to make mistakes at some stage; so the trick is learning from them and being able to put them behind you and move on. There’s no point in dwelling on it because it’s in the past and you can’t do anything about it. You can definitely do something about the future. I’ve put some things into practice which I’ve learnt from the past, but you’ve got to keep moving forward.
MORE THOUGHTS FROM RORY ON HAITI...
When I was young I would wake up some mornings and really not want to go to school. Fifty per cent of kids in Haiti don’t have the chance to go to school. So, the kids that do go to school there really want to go. That’s all they want to do!
ON GIVING BACK...
I’m trying to organise a Unicef trip, maybe to Cambodia, Mongolia or Vietnam, some time in October. When I went to Haiti after the earthquake, it was such a huge eye-opener for me. If I can help raise awareness and funds then I’ve contributed in some way towards the cause.
ON IMPROVING...
I definitely feel like I’m a more complete player than I was this time last year. I still hit the ball in a very similar way, but I feel like my short game has improved a lot in the last year.
ON CAROLINE...
She has taught me a lot about how committed you need to be to succeed; and how much work you need to put in.
6
Love the pressure
There are no tricks when it comes to dealing with nerves. The more you get yourself in a position of feeling those nerves, the more you get used to them. Then, all of a sudden, you start to welcome it. That rush and adrenalin is actually a good feeling. We don’t hit thousands of balls every week to finish 20th and never feel that rush. The whole point of hitting so many balls is to get into final groups on Sundays, and win the biggest tournaments. You get nervous because you work so hard for it, and it means so much to you. But, it shouldn’t be a bad thing. If it didn’t mean anything to you; that’s when you should start to worry.
7
Put in the effort
With hard work I think I can become more consistent. Everyone gets into bad habits with their golf swing. In the middle of the year I was missing it right and left. I just need to do a few more drills and there will be a little more consistency in my swing.
8
Know your limitations
The best advice I could give anyone is ‘know your limitations’. So often, in proams, you give a guy a yardage of 170 yards and he takes a 7-iron out! Then I have to politely say ‘I don’t think you can quite get there with a 7-iron’. It happens all the time! You might be able to hit a 7-iron 170 yards twice say, if you try 10 times. But, don’t try and be a hero. Just take an extra club. The bottom line is you are going to get it closer 80% of the time if you take an extra club and just swing within yourself.
9
Play with the best
Tiger has won more tournaments than anyone else this year – winning three times. I’ve won a couple of times, including a Major. Luke has been very consistent again. Despite being ranked No.1, it’s hard for me to say that I’m the best player in the world or Tiger is. Sure, I feel like I’m the best and Tiger feels like he’s the best. Tiger has been the best player in the world for the last 15 years. Just for people to be mentioning my name with the likes of him is a huge compliment. I feel like every time I’ve played with Tiger, he’s brought the best out of me. It helps me focus and I really enjoy his company. Players don’t build up rivalries themselves. People from the outside build up rivalries. I just want to play golf.
10
Get your priorities right
I’ve never played golf for the money. I finished fifth last week, but I couldn’t tell you how much money I made. I’m not really one to look at pay cheques. People might take that the wrong
November 2012 Golf World
w th
How to turn a piece of land
from this...
This is what the par-3 7th hole at Golf Club Zavidovo PGA National Russia looked like a year ago... and (right) in September after the shapers had been in.
Golf World November 2012
COURSE DESIGN
...into this Two pictures, taken a year apart, reveal the extraordinary work undertaken by the unsung heroes of golf course construction – the shapers. Words & PHOTOGRAPHy: Steve Carr
November 2012 Golf World
Teaching
Tiger new tricks Driven by curiosity as much as success, Sean Foley goes about the business of teaching Tiger Woods with purpose, perspective – and his eyes open. Words: Jim Moriarty PHOTOGRAPHy: Darren Carroll, Getty
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ever mind teaching Hunter Mahan, Justin Rose and a handful of other tour professionals: Sean Foley is under golf’s version of the atomic force microscope because he’s the guy who’s supposed to get Tiger Woods from where he was to where he wants to go. Lofty ball-striking statistics – Woods, Mahan and Rose all have them – are well and good, but it is all about the Majors; and so far, there has been little progress to report. “You need thick skin to sit in that chair,” says Butch Harmon. “Of the three of us, myself, Hank [Haney] and Sean, I had the easiest job. I had Tiger when he was younger. Sean has probably had the toughest job. He’s got an older Tiger Woods who’s had four knee surgeries, who’s had off-course problems. I never had to deal with any of that.””
Golf World November 2012
FAKE TRADE
On patrol with the counterfeit club cops For the first time, Golf World goes inside the investigations that are cracking down on the ÂŁ4 billion fake club industry.
T
Words: Stuart Hood
he undercover operation is complete. The surveillance has been done. And the warrant has been granted. Now it is time to finish the job. Police officers in bulletproof vests nervously await the signal. Go! Go! Go! They approach the doors of five different properties, knock, flash their warrants and ask to enter. At this point one of two things can happen. The criminals can come quietly. Or they can go down fighting. This time, Zeng Hong and his underlings agree to come quietly and within a matter of minutes the action is all over. The lawbreakers have been apprehended and goods with a street value in excess of £1 million have been found, bagged, tagged and driven off to the evidence room. So far, so similar to any other drugs bust that has taken place over the last two years. But last September’s early morning raids in Dongguan, China, had absolutely nothing in common with any other drugs bust completed in the last two years. And they had absolutely nothing in common because this time the authorities were after Callaways, not cocaine. Last month the gang leader, Zeng Hong, received a four-year prison term for selling counterfeit golf products rather than illegal narcotics. And this time the raid had been prompted by information gathered by the Golf Manufacturers AntiCounterfeiting Working Group instead of the police. Welcome
November 2012 Golf World
Top100 fun courses GB&I’s
The courses in this new ranking will bring a smile to your face, no matter how you play.
Words: Chris Bertram PHOTOGRAPHy: David Cannon, Getty Images
Y
ou hear it frequently these days, as the great and the good look to make golf more popular – we need to make the game more fun. So here is a collection of 100 courses where it is absolutely impossible not to have fun! It’s the first time Golf World has undertaken such a project, but what an eye-opener it was. Of course, before we contacted our panel of experts to get their views for the list, we needed to define what ‘fun’ is. That proved tricky, as it’s so subjective. But, broadly speaking, we think it’s the kind of course where you’re not likely to lose a bunch of balls, or slog it out, over 7,000-plus difficult yards. Instead, you will get to play a whole variety of interesting and exciting shots, over and around some more unusual hazards. You will often be using the ground game – humps, bumps and
swales – to get to the hole. It’s the kind of course where you can shoot 10 over your handicap, and still reach the 19th smiling. Courses gain entry to the list for different reasons. Many are ancient links which were moulded by Mother Nature; the archetypal quirky seaside challenges. But there are also short, scenic inland courses and there are championship courses which remain cuddly enough to be included here. Of course, the links and clifftop courses come with a caveat – the weather. We’ve called it our Seaside Weather Warning, so when you see the acronym SWW, that’s us telling you it could be windy, wet and possibly both. It may reduce fun levels a bit, but if you are a British golfer you’ll no doubt have learned how to enjoy the challenge that comes from tackling the elements. n We’d also like to hear about your own ‘fun’ courses; email us at golf.world@bauermedia.co.uk
Roger Chapman played in 618 tour events, won once, and then worked as a rules official until he joined the Senior circuit. And then...
Bang ...he came out of nowhere this summer to win two US Majors in 49 days. This is his remarkable story Words: Jock Howard PHOTOGRAPHy: Howard Boylan
I
t’s a cracking story; right up there with one of this summer’s Olympic fairytales or even a Disney classic. A chap called Roger Chapman (who doesn’t look particularly like Cinderella it is true) toils away on the European Tour for 25 long years. In that time, he tees it up in 618 tournaments, winning only once, in some far-off outpost in South America. The piece of porcelain he gets for his victory in the Brazil Rio de Janeiro 500 Years Open at Itanhanga Golf Club (where he won when Padraig Harrington bogeyed the second hole of a sudden-death play-off) looks a bit like a large ashtray you might get from a great aunt who doesn’t like you very much. When he reaches middle age Roger realises his career has come to a rather sad end; and he starts work as a rules official; roping off courses and sitting in a buggy for 14-hour days. He accepts he will never be invited to the Ball, inhabited by superstars who have wheelbarrows of money and travel around in private jets. Then, at the age of 53, during one extraordinary May week in Michigan earlier this year, he plays golf like he has never played it before. At the first Major Championship of the
Golf World November 2012
year, the PGA Seniors Championship, he drives the ball dead straight, stiffs irons to a few feet, and holes everything he looks at. There is no explanation for this extraordinary turnaround. In the previous five months he has played three very mediocre rounds! But suddenly – as if by magic – everything he touches turns to gold. He shoots a first round 68 to lead a field which includes names he has always looked up to, like Hale Irwin, Bernhard Langer, Tom Lehman, Larry Mize, Tom Kite and Fred Couples. Friends back in Blighty, watching the PGA Championship at Wentworth, ring up Roger’s wife Cathy, back in Ascot, to congratulate her on her husband’s efforts across the Atlantic. “Calm down,” says Cathy, used to years of watching her husband never being able to finish things off. “It’s only Thursday. Remember, it’s Roger we’re talking about!” A second round 67 keeps him at the top of the leaderboard; and then just when you think the wheels might start to fall off on Saturday, Roger moves up a gear, and starts accelerating away from the field. On the back nine he hits every iron to about a foot, comes home in 30, for a 64 – and is now leading by five. “Then all the usual nerves started to kick in,” he says now, “and
YOUR GAME
Duf’s moves to hit it solid These simple concepts will give you the consistency you have always wanted. With Jason Dufner.
J
ust like you, when I tee it up, I try to clear my mind of swing mechanics as much as possible. But I’ve played in enough pro-ams to know that my amateur partners really have a tough time doing that. If that sounds like you, and you’re struggling to consistently hit the ball solid, allow yourself just one swing thought when you play – and stick with it. I’m going to show you a few things I do in my swing that I think could help you. I’ll also tell you about some actual swing thoughts I’ve used from time to time. Sometimes you need help getting into a better position during the swing, and sometimes you just need to give your swing a purpose. Confidence is king in golf. Try these moves, and I’ll bet you start hitting it better.
Jason Dufner Age 35 PGA TOUR WINS Two Key stat In the last two seasons, he’s won twice, finished second three times and by early August had 13 top 10s. Before that, he had only one runner-up and 10 top 10s since turning pro in 2000.
Golf World November 2012
1
Waggle helps prime my body Everyone asks me about my waggle, and why I do it. Honestly, I really don’t give it much thought. I played a lot of baseball growing up, and I always hit better if I kept moving before the pitch instead of standing still in the batter’s box. I think a waggle does the same thing in the golf swing. It keeps you relaxed and gets your body ready to hit the ball.
2
Club stays in front of me My coach, Chuck Cook, says I do a great job of keeping the club in front of my body throughout the swing. Amateurs tend to swing mostly with their arms, so the body lags behind; better players can get fast with the body turn, so the arms lag behind. If you focus on turning back and through with the club staying in front of your chest, you’ll find it easier to square the clubface and hit straighter shots.
November 2012 Golf World
COMPETITION
The Westerwood’s Hotel and Golf Resort’s course was co-designed by Seve.
WIN A QHotels golf break
This luxury two-night break for two includes three rounds of golf at one of five great resorts. The QHotels collection of 21 individual four-star hotels, ideally located across the UK, includes five stunning golf resorts – and you can win a luxury two-night break at one of them. The winner and a guest will enjoy a threecourse evening meal each night, an extensive breakfast buffet each morning, three rounds of golf (54 holes), a complimentary sleeve of golf balls per person and a bottle of wine with dinner on one evening. The prize break can be taken at one of the following golf resorts: The Westerwood Hotel & Golf Resort, near Glasgow (pictured); Aldwark Manor Golf & Spa Hotel, near York; Forest Pines Hotel & Golf Resort, North Lincs; Telford Hotel & Golf Resort, Shropshire; or Hellidon Lakes Golf & Spa Hotel, Northamptonshire. For a chance to win, answer this simple question correctly:
Forest Pines Hotel and Golf Resort, north Lincolnshire.
Who co-designed the course at The Westerwood Hotel and Golf Resort? A: Seve Ballesteros B: Jack Nicklaus C: Nick Faldo Enter today at www.golf-world.co.uk/ competitions, or post us the coupon below. Closing date for entries is October 24, 2012. Even if you are not our lucky winner you can still snap up a fantastic QHotels golf break, from just £89 per person per night for comfortable accommodation, a buffet breakfast, a threecourse dinner and 36 holes of golf. Guests also enjoy complimentary use of the other extensive health and leisure facilities, including heated indoor pools, jacuzzis and saunas, fully-equipped gyms and spa treatment rooms and relaxation areas. You can choose from the following superb golf resorts: The Westerwood Hotel & Golf Resort 18-hole,
par-72 golf course, co-designed by Seve Ballesteros, at the foot of the Campsie Hills. Forest Pines Hotel & Golf Resort Three magnificent loops of nine holes, meandering through majestic pines and into open heathland. Aldwark Manor Golf & Spa Hotel 18-hole, par-72 golf course in 100 acres of beautiful parkland. Telford Hotel & Golf Resort 18-hole, 6,741-yard golf course, designed by renowned architects John Harris and Brian Griffiths. Hellidon Lakes Golf & Spa Hotel 27 holes, many featuring water hazards, in 220 acres of grounds. To book your break call 0845 074 0050 and quote GW12. Prize (based on two sharing) must be booked by December 31, 2012, but can be taken until April 30, 2013, subject to availability. Tee times should be booked in advance. Spa treatment charges apply. For full ts&cs visit www.QHotels.co.uk/GW12
Post this to: QHotels Golf Competition, Golf World, PO BOX 57, Coates, Peterborough, PE7 2FF Title___________ Initial_________ Surname_________________________________ Address____________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ Postcode _______________________ Answer_______________________________ Telephone No*_______________________________________________________ Email address**_______________________________________________________ Terms and Conditions: Please allow up to 28 days after the competition closes for a winner to be confirmed. *Bauer Media (publishers of Golf World) may like to contact you by post or phone. Please tick this box if you do not wish to be contacted by us n or by carefully selected partners n . Please tick the box if you wish to receive further information from the QHotels n . **If you supply your email address we will communicate with you from time to time, but never pass these details on to other organisations. You can opt out at any time. Entry closing date October 24, 2012.
November 2012 Golf World