Golf Digest Middle East - July 2023

ROYAL INTRODUCTION

Hoylake awaits the world’s finest for the Open Championship

6 Editor’s Letter

The wait goes on for Rory as we welcome the final major of the year at Royal Liverpool.

by matt smith

The

Starter

8 Close Call

The Asian Tour’s International Series comes back to the Newcastle area.

by matt smith

Mind / Body

10 ‘Honestly there is no time to relax’

Wonder-kid Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat opens up about life on tour and at school.

by matt smith

14 The Open Is Not ‘The British’ A former R&A chairman defends the proper name of golf’s oldest major.

by ian pattinson

48 Swing Sequence Si Woo Kim

by ron kaspriske

50 Find Your Swing Regain your tempo fast.

by lynn marriott and pia nilsson

52 Golf Digest Schools Simplify your chipping.

by sean hogan

54 What’s in My Bag Sepp Straka with dave allen

66 The Loop Beatles songs that were actually about golf.

by coleman bentley

Features

12 From Tee To Green Palm Tees are changing the game of golf, with the environment in mind.

by matt smith

22 Play & Stay Players have a memorable time on Yas Island at Acres and Links, with golf and more to boot.

by matt smith

20 Return Swing

The Aramco Team Series goes back to where it all began.

by matt smith

22 Halfway House

A recap of the LIV Golf League inaugural season so far.

by matt smith

24 Westwood Heads

For Home Englishman gears up for a tournament and venue close to his heart in his homeland.

by matt smith

26 An Exercise in Fear

Why Royal Liverpool always identifies the game’s best player.

by derek duncan

COVER STORY

34 Journey of the Jug

What didn’t Cam Smith drink out of the game’s oldest trophy?

by evin priest

40 Forty-Nine Feet to Better Golf

Tour coach Mark Blackburn’s four-step winning formula. with matthew rudy

Hot List 2023

PART 6

57 Golf Ball Hot List

What ball is best for your game?

by mike stachura and e. michael johnson

On the outside, looking in

McIlroy is forced to wait again as we head to Hoylake for the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool

By Matt Smith

HOW DO WE SOLVE a problem for Rory?

The Northern Irishman was once again the bridesmaid as unlikely hero Wyndham Clark emerged at the top of the pile in the US Open at Los Angeles Country Club to script his own fairy-tale moment, while McIlroy — gracious as ever — was looking on from the sidelines.

As we head to Royal Liverpool for the Open Championship — the final major of the season and the one that Rory choked up to Cameron Smith at St Andrews this time last year — you have to wonder how many chances the Ulsterman will pass up.

On the Thursday at LACC, McIlroy whiffed a shot on the last hole, and many pondered if it would ultimately cost him after he refused to speak to the media post-round. And so it proved as he had to make way for Clark by a single shot, with the pair posting identical scores except for that early-tournament freshy (64, 67, 69, 70).

We have to give credit to McIlroy for his insistence that is is a case of WHEN, not IF, he gets a fifth major.

“The last real two chances I’ve had at majors I feel like have been pretty similar performances, like St Andrews last year and then here,” he said. “I’m not doing a lot wrong, but I didn’t make a birdie after the first hole. So I need to be a little more, I guess, efficient with my opportunities and my looks. Still, in contention going into the final round of a US Open, I played the way I wanted to play. There were just two or three shots over the course of the round that I’d like to have back.

“I’m getting closer ... I’ve just got to regroup and get focused for Hoylake.

“When I do finally win this next major, it’s going to be really, really sweet. I would go through 100 Sundays

like this to get my hands on another major championship.”

That sounds like a man in a positive mindset after letting another golden opportunity slip from his grasp — and a man that has let go of a year’s worth of political baggage as the LIV Golf-PGA Tour saga edges towards a friendly conclusion.

Quite what the eventual outcome will be is still anyone’s guess, but with all parties now talking, it seems we will have a fruitful future for all involved.

The LIV Golf League has reached its halfway point for the year and there are a number of intriguing talking points as seasoned veterans like Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith and Bubba Watson get into form, while young guns such as Talor Gooch are holding their own.

Spain will bring a different test for most on the tour as the famed course at Valderrama is new turf for many of the competitors.

And then comes Hoylake. Smith has

been very vocal in his reluctance to relinquish the Claret Jug, and his fourthplace finish at the US Open shows he is hitting his traditional mid-simmer form after a quiet start to the year.

The Aramco Team Series is also making its return, as the Ladies European Tour heads back to Centurion Club just outside London — where it all began back in 2021. The competition has helped reinvigorate the women’s game and bring a new perspective to competitive golf.

Closer to home, the Golf Digest Middle East Play & Stay event on Yas Island was a roaring success as Craig Vance took top honours and booked a spot in the 2024 Dubai Desert Classic Pro-Am. Watch this space for the next big event!

matthew.smith@motivate.ae @mattjosmith / @golfdigestme

surprise! Wyndham Clark was the latest shock winner to deny McIlroy that elusive fifth major

the wait continues Rory McIlroy missed out on the US Open title to Wyndham

Clark

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Close House goes International

Historic estate set to host the Asian Tour’s International Series event on its Lee Westwood Colt Course

Nestled in the countryside in the north-east of England is a true gem of a course — Close House, the venue for the fifth stop on the Asian Tour’s International Series. The $2 million tournament will be played from August 17-20, with a strong field including Lee Westwood looking to emulate Scott Vincent’s triumph in this event last year just down the road at Slaley Hall.

Situated just outside Newcastle on the banks of the River Tyne, Close House’s Colt Course was opened in 2011 by then world No. 1 Lee Westwood (he is the club’s Attached Touring Professional) and it will be used for the International Series event.

The Scott Macpherson-designed track is a par-71 layout that measures just under 7,000 yards and incorporates historical features, including sunken ha-ha walls and ancient woodland. It is one of two courses at Close House, with the other being the Lee Westwood Filly course. It features plenty of undulations to provide challenging uphill and downhill lies, while also testing players’ fitness levels. “I am sure that the players will relish the challenge of the Lee Westwood Colt Course along with enjoying a very warm welcome from the members and guests,” said Close House owner, Sir Graham Wylie. —matt

smith

United Kingdom

Close House Golf Club

‘Finding time to relax doesn’t really exist’

Schoolboy wonder Ratchanon ‘TK’ Chantananuwat gives an insight into his personal, globe-trotting life on the road

By Matt Smith

Ratchanon ‘ tk ’ c hantananuwat has been making waves in the world of golf over the past year after winning the Asian Tour’s Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup last April to become the youngest golfer ever to win on one of the world’s major tours at the age of 15 years and 37 days.

The Thai amateur, now 16, has gone on to feature in International Series events, the PIF Saudi International and also play on the LIV Golf Series — all while balancing his school studies.

TK was competing at the Amateur Championship at Hillside Golf Club in England while taking time to take to Golf Digest Middle East

● ● ●

It has been a very busy and hectic time to trying to get the balance right between school and ‘work’, but I usually just focus on the task in hand. If I have a golf tournament, I focus on that, I put all my attention toward golf for the moment. With my international travel, regarding my schoolwork, I do a lot of work online and work with tutors on phone calls so I can catch up with all the work, which can happen from any country before I return home to school.

● ● ●

Honestly, finding time to relax doesn’t really exist at the moment. The only time I am not golfing or studying I am usually in the car. Let’s say, if I get a rare moment at home to relax, I am usually just listening to music or watching TV series. Sometimes I like to watch a bit of football and chat with my friends when I can. When I am actually physically in school, sure I am studying, but I am with my friends, having fun, so that is relaxing for me.

● ● ●

I have some pretty ambitious career goals as I want to win a major Grand Slam and become world No. 1, these are my all-time goals. In the nearer future, I aim to get to amateur world No. 1 — while I am still an amateur — break into the top 200 in the world, get

my second Asian Tour title, win one of the amateur majors — like the one I am playing in right now — and get into one of the majors.

● ● ●

The experience I have gained playing alongside some of the top professionals on the Asian Tour, the International Series and on LIV Golf has been vital. I think the Saudi International was especially life-changing the two years I have got to play there, and the International Series, where I also got to play alongside so many world No. 1s and major champions. The stuff they have passed on to me at LIV has been life-changing, too. Playing with the pros has also made me more mature. You spend weeks around these determined adults and it changes how you see things. Some of the pros like Phil [Mickelson] and Cam Smith have been inspirational.

● ● ●

The International Series has been a great introduction for me as I have learnt golf in Europe and Asia are almost a different sport: the climate, the grass, the way you play and plan the course. It rained here in England for a couple of hourse this morning but I missed it. I got lucky with the British weather! I think it is great that the Asian Tour has expanded to these new destinations and I am super-excited to get to Scotland [Fairmont St Andrews for the International Series St Andrews Bay Championship in August]. I 100 per cent want to play in as many places as possible as, if you want to play pro, it is super important to help you learn new shots and see things differently, and it is great to get that exposure early on.

● ● ●

When it comes to my favourite place to play, that is a tough one. I love Singapore as the three courses I have played — Laguna, Sentosa and Tanamera — have all been amazing, but I love to play in the States because they have some stunning courses and the weather can be not as hot as in Asia ... I am done with the heat! If I was to pick a favourite course it might be [LIV Golf destination] Centurion Club, because it is just perfect.

RATCHANON ‘TK’ CHANTANANUWAT

From tee to green

INTRODUCING PALM TEES, THE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY WAY TO PLAY

By Matt Smith

e have all enjoyed a good walk on the golf course — taking in the fresh air and enjoying a little connection with Mother Nature — but in this climateconscious age, with every tee shot we have unknowingly been contributing to an environmental issue.

Golf tees: Those 2¾-inch pegs that are the first thing you reach for in your bag or from the complimentary bowl on the first tee still come at a price to the clubs and the environment.

The numbers can be staggering as 400,000 tees are used on average on each golf course in the Emirates each year, adding up to 8.8 million over 22 courses. And they all need to be disposed of.

While we are aware of the impact plastic tees create, their wooden replacements still take a toll on nature, as they take up to three years to begin to degrade,

Wnot to mention the damage to the agronomy teams’ machinery, mowers and blades, which in turn can damage the manicured tee boxes, fairways and greens.

In all, this results in 17 tons of waste tees taken to landfills each year, plus the felling of 220 trees annually to keep up with demand, with overseas transportation and costs all adding to the carbon footprint of each wooden tee you use.

Now a UAE-based company has come up with an eco-friendly solution.

Established in 2022, the guys at Palm Tees are ready to make a big difference. Made in partnership with Palmade — the team behind the biodegradable cutlery for Expo 2020 —Palm Tees are 100 per cent biodegradable tees, which are made from palm waste and plant-based polymers, helping offset the damage to trees and the landfill issues, and also combating the environmental issue of an estimated annual 500,000 tons

of palm waste across the UAE itself, which is sent to landfills or burned — again coming with a pollution price tag. Each golf course on average accounts for up to 500kg of palm waste per year, which can be collected and used to produce the Palm Tees.

With this being the UAE Year of Sustainability, if one course in the UAE adopted the use of Palm Tees rather than traditional wooden tees, it would offset more than 220kg of palm waste, avoid the felling of more than 20 trees overseas, while also utilising natural products that will degrade back to nature in their component parts.

Palm Tees are 100 per cent compostable and are manufactured in the UAE using a meticulous process to ensure they are up to scratch performance-wise.

Unlike wooden tees, which splinter and litter the teeboxes, Palm Tees don’t splinter and, if left on the course, biodegrade naturally, helping to contribute to a more circular economy

With Palmade on board, this tried-andtested formula is a recipe for success.

For more information you can contact the team at Palm Tees on info@palmtees.ae and they can also be purchased on palmtees.ae, amazon.ae and BD Golf Dubai.

Dear Americans, The Open Is Not ‘The British’

By Ian Pattinson

Am erican Friends

“the winner of the gold medal and the Champion Golfer of the Year is . . . ”

These are the words used by the chief executive of the R&A to introduce the new Open Champion each July, just before the Claret Jug is presented. The winner of “The Open” is so declared!

Strange as this may seem, both history and logic explain what many Americans may feel is a quaint, even archaic, idiosyncratic and . . . er, British ritual. But please don’t call our championship “the British Open” or worse still, “the British” because it’s just plain wrong. Why? Let’s start at the beginning.

First, the words engraved on the outer lip of the Claret Jug simply read: “The

Golf Champion Trophy.” Hence the winner, as the recipient of that trophy, is announced as the “Champion Golfer”.

Second, let’s remember that the first playing of the championship in 1860 was 35 years before the first US Open, 56 years before the first PGA Championship and 74 years before the first Masters Tournament. The expression “major” in its current meaning had not been minted, and so in 1860, the competition for the original “challenge belt” was the only championship around and was known simply as “the Championship.” The next year, organisers declared that the event should “be open to the whole world,” but not until 1872 — when the Claret Jug replaced the belt given to Young Tom Morris for

his three straight wins — did the Royal and Ancient first make a reference to “the Open Championship”.

The expression “British Open” is not historically, geographically or politically accurate. You see, “British” just means “relating to Great Britain,” but Great Britain is a grand name we invented for a small island (comprising England, Scotland and Wales) in the north Atlantic ocean, off the northwest coast of mainland Europe. Northern Ireland (which has hosted two great Opens and is due another in 2025) is part of the island of Ireland, and although NI is part of the United Kingdom, it is actually not part of Great Britain. By referring to our championship as the “British Open,” the contribution of Northern Ireland is

AN OPEN FIT FOR A KING Arnold Palmer and caddie Tip Anderson at St Andrews in 1960.

A former chairman of the R&A defends the proper name of golf’s oldest major

inadvertently obliterated. Please do not be tempted to call it “the UK Open!” If there is an analogy, think about implying Alaska or Hawaii are not part of the United States. That wouldn’t be polite!

However subtle this may all seem, golf fans in Great Britain and Northern Ireland remain mystified as to why some Americans insist on incorrectly name-checking The Open as the “British Open” or even “the British.” Neither the owners of the Claret Jug (the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews) nor the R&A (which now runs the championship) have ever called it by either name.

Consider this: No true golf fan would ever consider referring to “the American Open” or “the US Masters” (worse still, the “Masters Championship”) or even the “American PGA Championship,” as each of these great majors has another relatable but distinctively different name by which it is properly known. Why does the same not apply to the oldest major of them all?

Prestwick Golf Club, as the originally dominant venue, hosted the first 12 Opens, but a good starting point around the styling of the Open is 1919, when a meeting of the Associated Clubs then involved in staging the Championship concluded that the “Royal and Ancient Golf Club be asked to accept the management of the Championship and the custody of the Challenge Cup”.

By March 1920, the newly formed Royal and Ancient Championship Committee met to lay out the conditions for “the Competition for the Championship Challenge Trophy,” and in other parts of the minutes of that meeting, reference was made to “the Championship” and “the Open Championship.”

Clearly in the minds of the leaders of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, the event, which they now owned, was the “Open Championship.” It was not, never had been (and never would be) “the British Open”, a title neither contemplated nor even mentioned.

By 1927, the official programme designated the event as the “Open Golf Championship.” By 1933, it was “The Open Championship,” and a postchampionship booklet in 1946 was simply entitled “Open Reflections.” (Interestingly, there were 28 entries from

overseas, including 10 from the United States, one of whom, Sam Snead, prevailed over the Old Course in his only appearance.) In the post-Second World War years, the field gradually became more international, and perhaps this contributed to Americans using “British” to differentiate the championship from their own. Of course, no one did more for the Open than Arnold Palmer, who, to secure his place in the pantheon of the greats, gave it special attention from the era beginning in 1960. As one of only four Americans in the field, he was just beaten into second place by the Centenary Open Champion, Australian Kel Nagle, before winning the next two Opens himself.

Not only did this spark more interest in the Open from other US professionals with international aspirations, it raised the profile and cemented the reputation of the Open as, well, more “open” at a time when securing entry to the US Open was not as easy for nonAmerican players as it is today. In the 40 years to 2000, more than twice as many nations are represented in the

list of Open winners than in the list of US Open winners. Even allowing for American strength in depth of field, that statistic is significant.

Around the time of the 1966 Open — the first to be televised live in the United States — the Royal and Ancient Golf Club asked Mark McCormack to negotiate its TV rights, which within 10 years would include Japan. He understood the commercial potential for registering the Open Championship name and negotiated a worldwide agency of a trademark using — for the first time — the expression “British Open” for use in some limited overseas markets. However, the realisation that such a name might suit overseas TV but not the United Kingdom was emphatic. Successive championship committees have been resolute in keeping faith with the original brand, even when some great American winners did not. Contrastingly, golfers in Great Britain and Northern Ireland have always correctly referred to their championship as “the Open.”

It’s true that the name on the cover of printed souvenir programmes has changed over the years. It moved from “The Open Golf Championship” to “The Open Championship” in 1995, before arriving at “The Open” in 2003. But misnamings by recent Champion Golfers, including Collin Morikawa (2021) and Cameron Smith (2022), have ensured the discussion continues.

In not one minute of any relevant committee meeting of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, nor its successor as organiser, the R&A, does the adjective “British” ever appear when describing the championship.

So come on, Americans. We will always name your three majors properly and respectfully. In exchange all we ask is the same for our Open, the Open. We may once have invaded your country, but you eventually repelled us and rightly so. Surely we all have got over that spot of local difficulty? Just remember that our nation invented golf, and we shared it with you. That must mean something!

IAN PATTINSON is a former chairman of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and the R&A sarah fabianbaddiel / heritage images / getty images

‘British Open’ is not historically, geographically or politically accurate.

GOLF DIGEST MIDDLE EAST’S PLAY & STAY ON YAS ISLAND IS A WINNER

Crowne Plaza, Yas Acres, Yas Links deliver, as do the players on a weekend to remember

By Matt Smith

ICONIC COURSES, great company and a memorable weekend experience — the second Golf Digest Middle East Play & Stay had it all on Yas Island last Friday and Saturday. Golfers from all over the UAE, from Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai and Al Ain, gathered in the nation’s capital for a sensational tournament over 27 holes at Yas Acres Golf and Country Club and Yas Links Abu Dhabi — we even had a birthday party!

From their arrival at Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi – Yas Island on Friday afternoon, the multinational mix of contenders were treated to a slice of luxury, many with partners and family along for the ride.

Once everyone was checked in, we were off to the newest arrival on the UAE Golf scene, Yas Acres. With the vast majority of the mixed-ability competitors having never played the nine-hole course, it helped level the playing field.

“The fairways are a bit different to what we are used to down at Tower Links and a bit tighter and scarier,” said first-timer Richard Abson-Bennett as he closed out his round. “But it is beautiful out here. It is stunning and a really impressive venue.”

Fellow Acres rookie Adam Griffiths also hailed the course and set-up. “Really enjoyable, it is a really nice course and it suits the needs of all levels,” he said. “Can be quite forgiving and also rewards good shots. We have been well looked after and this has been well put together.”

With nine-holes under their belts, it was back to Crowne Plaza to be wined and dined at an evening brunch at Stills Restaurant & Bar, allowing the guests — with families who enjoyed the facilities at Crowne Plaza including kids, wives and one very-soon-mum-to-be joining the fun — to chill and get to know one another ahead of Saturday’s etch-inthe-memory afternoon. The following morning we were off to the iconic Yas Links — home of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship — a course that would test golfers of all abilities.

And so it proved with some playing the best round of their lives (see: one of the husband-and-wife duo Dennis and Karen, but we won’t say which), while others were struggling with the demands of the true links-style course.

“The courses have been amazing and how it has all been put together was amazing,” said birthday boy James Dean at Yas Links’ famous 17th hole. “We had a great time with a great bunch of lads last night and we are looking forward to the next one.”

Playing partner James Finnigan added: “It was two tremendous venues. Acres — which most of us were playing for the first time — was superb and here

The Winners

DAY

[Yas Links] is just sensational. A delight to be here.”

Dan Coad was quite succinct as he said: “Thanks to Golf Digest for organising. This must be an annual event from now.” Thankfully, everyone was still friends and ready to relax at Hickory’s in the Yas Links clubhouse for the prize-giving ceremony.

Overall winner Craig Vance was relishing his 2024 Dubai Desert Classic proam spot, and even earmarked his dream playing partners.

“It was my first experience at Acres and it is a great golf course. I will be back to play it again. It is challenging enough for all. The overall experience was tremendous and even the wife is happy so everyone is happy.”

After claiming top prize of a spot in the Desert Classic Pro-Am as gross stableford winner on 53 points, Vance admitted there was still room for improvement “I am very glad to win, he said. “It was a top day on Yas Links and a top weekend overall. My score should have been better as I hit two sprinkler heads on the greens but it was a brilliant weekend and can’t wait to play the Pro-Am. My dream partner would be Rory McIlroy or Jon Rahm, but regardless I am thrilled to be here and to be there.”

Golf Digest Middle East would like to thank Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi – Yas Island, Yas Acres Golf & Country Club, Yas Links Abu Dhabi and Viya Golf for their partnership to make the weekend a success.

DAY 2

1 Nearest the pin: Dan Coad prize : Two-ball at Yas Acres

Nearest the pin: Colin Davies prize : Two-ball at Yas Links

Longest drive: Dan Nicolson prize : Two-ball at Yas Acres

Longest drive: Dan Nicolson prize : Two-ball at Yas Links

OVERALL

Division B (HCP 15-28): Colin Davies prize : VIP Saturday hospitality for two at 2024 Dubai Desert Classic

Division A (HCP 0-14): James Finnigan prize : VIP Sunday hospitality for two at 2024 Dubai Desert Classic

Gross winner: Craig Vance (53 points) prize : Spot in the 2024 Dubai Desert Classic Pro-Am

Return swing

THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR

ARAMCO TEAM SERIES GOES BACK TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

By Matt Smith

THEY GROW UP SO FAST THESE DAYS ...

The Aramco Team Series can allow itself a bit of a nostalgic moment this month as it returns to where it all began.

Following the experimental Saudi Ladies Team International in Jeddah way back in November 2020, the ATS came into being and it all teed off at Centurion Club, just outside London.

From July 16 to 18, some of the world’s top female golfers will be back to swing into action for what is already a third birthday at the St Albans course.

Marianne Skarpnord and Bronte Law have tasted success in the individual event here in 2021 and 2022 respectively, while Olivia Cowan and Nicole Garcia led their quartets to the team titles.

Anyone hoping to join that esteemed group this time around while face a tough battle as a stacked field of 108 contenders will be vying for the two trophies and the $1 million prize fund.

Not only will we have ATS regulars such as Georgia Hall, Charley Hull and defending individual champ Law, whose epic 55-foot eagle putt won the title, two more big fish will be on the hunt.

World No. 2 Nelly Korda — she of 12 pro wins and a major at the age of 24 — and Ireland’s Team Europe Solheim Cup hero Leona Maguire are signed up for the showdown.

As the ATS comes back to the Centurion, with its tall redwoods on the front nine and expansive parklands on the back, this third instalment will surely be one of the hottest tickets in town during the British summer season.

Korda has recovered from a blood clot that sidelined her for much of last year, and the 2021 PGA Championship winner has bounced back to form and secured six top-10 finishes out of just eight starts this year. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion showed she was back to her best with a third-place finish in the first major of the year at the Chevron Championship.

Korda also knows how to win on the ATS, having taken home the trophy from Sotogrande, Spain, last year.

“The Aramco Team Series is a special event that showcases a unique blend of individual talent and team dynamics in golf, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to once again compete alongside top professionals and amateurs,” she said. “I’ve had great performances in the past three Aramco Team Series events I’ve played in, so I hope to deliver a top performance for the fans in London and capture my second Aramco Team Series title.”

Maguire is also up for the challenge after a sensational 2022 that included the LPGA Drive On Championship title, and she also has ATS pedigree, having taken part in the stormy New York event, with a T18 finish.

“I had a great time competing in the Aramco Team Series — New York last year, and I’m looking forward to being part of the Aramco Team Series on European soil and compete alongside an exceptional field that’s lining up,” she said. “Hopefully, we can put on a great show for the fans in the UK.”

London is the third stop on the ATS 2023 schedule, having already been on trips to Singapore and Florida, with Hong Kong and Riyadh still to come.

How it works

The format is the same as in 2022, with two competitions happening side by side — the individual strokeplay competition alongside the team event.

Each team will contain three professionals and one amateur. The team captains are selected based on their Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings ahead of the events.

The 26 captains pick one player from the remaining field of 78 professionals in reverse order — the 26th ranked captain will pick first with the top-ranked picking last, while the third pro and an amateur in each team are decided by random draw to complete the quartet.

The team competition will conclude after 36holes, with the final day being the final round of the individual strokeplay competition.

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Bronte Law is the defending champion from the Aramco Team Series London, while Nicole Garcia, Mia Baker, Madelene Stavnar and Kelly Whaley took the team title last year. The Aramco Team Series will once again be back at Centurion Club just outside London.

HALFWAY HOUSE

SUPERSTARS PREPARE FOR A TRIP TO REAL CLUB VALDERRAMA AS LIV GOLF LEAGUE 2023 HITS MID-SEASON

BY MATT SMITH

It has been quite a roller-coaster inaugural season for LIV Golf as they get up to full speed after 2022’s trial. And what a ride it has been indeed, with a twotime winner in Talor Gooch, Brooks Koepka’s resurgence and Dustin Johnson stamping his foot back in the winner’s circle.

The 4 Aces are — as expected — dominating the team standings, with DJ and the Ps, Patrick Reed, Peter Uihlein and Pat Perez all delivering consistently, but it is the RangeGoats’ Gooch and Torque who are the hottest properties at the moment.

With Bubba Watson back playing, the RangeGoats have a new lease of life, and Gooch is leading the way, with a slender lead over Branden Grace and PGA Champ Koepka before we head to Valderrama at the start of the month.

Charles Howell III, Danny Lee, Koepka, Gooch (x2), Johnson and Harold Varner III have tasted victory so far this year as LIV Golf moves to Spain for the first time, and it could be a nice little warm-up for those who hope to take the Open Championship title in Liverpool.

It has been an astonishing time for the LIV Golfers amid the news of a partnership with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. Koepka famously claimed his fifth major at the PGA Tour, while DJ, Cameron Smith, Reed and Mickelson have all gone close over the past three majors — and we still have one more to go.

Back on the League, there is everything to play for, with a thriving Koepka lurking behind Gooch in the individual stadings, and the likes of Branden Grace and Cameron Smith are ready to pounce.

The 4 Aces look formidable once again as they look to defend their team title, but they will face some stiff competition, with six different teams taking the seven titles on offer so far. Only Joaquín Niemann’s Torqe have been on the top step of the podium twice, while there is so much potential in Lee Westwood’s Majesticks and Smith’s Ripper side.

LIV heads to continental Europe at the start of the month with the world-renowned Real Club Valderrama in Sotogrande set to welcome some of the best golfers in the world ahead of the return to Centurion in England.

WE ARE THRILLED TO BRING LIV TO VALDERRAMA, A WORLD-CLASS COURSE WITH A STORIED HISTORY. THIS WILL SHOWCASE THE GAME’S TOP TALENT FOR A COUNTRY RICH WITH TRADITION AND PASSION FOR GOLF

Former Masters champion Sergio Garcia will be the biggest draw for local fans, but compatriots Eugenio Chacarra and David Puig will also make a wave as this will mark their professional debuts in their home country.

Garcia, the captain of the Fireballs, has won three professional titles at Valderrama — the venue for LIV Golf’s eighth event of 2023 for the league’s 48 players and 12 teams. The field features 13 major champions including Bryson Dechambeau, Reed, Henrik Stenson, Louis Oosthuizen, Graeme McDowell, Martin Kaymer, and Charl Schwartzel, as well as rising stars including Abraham Ancer, Niemann and Gooch.

Mickelson competed in the 1997 Ryder Cup and 1999 WGC American Express Championship at Valderrama. Unlike the World Golf Hall of Famer, many of LIV Golf’s in-

ternational stars — notably those from the United States — will be teeing it up in Spain for first time. The iconic venue will be familiar territory for a number of the field’s European players, including former world No. 1 Westwood, who competed in the 1997 Ryder Cup and won the Volvo Masters in that same year, Ian Poulter, who won there in 2004, and McDowell, who also won at Valderrama in 2010.

“We are thrilled to bring LIV Golf to Real Club Valderrama, a world-class course with a storied history,” said Greg Norman, CEO of LIV Golf. “We are a global league, and this event will showcase the game’s top talent for a country rich with tradition and passion for the sport. It will be another exciting milestone for LIV, and we look forward to creating a memorable experience for players and fans alike.”

WESTWOOD HEADS FOR HOME

ENGLISHMAN RELISHING A RETURN TO CLOSE HOUSE, JUST OUTSIDE NEWCASTLE, A COURSE AND AREA CLOSE TO HIS HEART BY MATT SMITH

Lee Westwood began his star-studded career back in 1993 and the former world No. 1 has 44 tour wins and an incredible 11 Ryder Cups under his belt. Following his move to LIV Golf to captain the Majesticks team alongside fellow Team Europe legends Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson, the Englishman is now preparing for an event and venue close to his heart.

The Englishman is returning to Close House — the club where he is the Attached Tour Professional — to compete in the Asian Tour International Series England event, where he will be lining up against a stellar field that includes 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed, 2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell and this year’s PIF Saudi International victor Abraham Ancer, plus some of Asia’s most promising talent like Gunn Charoenkul, Chonalatit Chuenboonngam, Sadom Kaewkanjan and Phachara Khongwatmai.

Following a globe-trotting career spanning four decades, Westwood is relishing teeing it up close to his home just outside Newcastle in the north-east of England.

“I think it’s an area of the country that doesn’t get much world-class golf,” he exclusively told Golf Digest Middle East “Obviously, we had the British Masters, and they played the International Series at Slaley last year but it’s nice to see a tournament coming to Close House.

“They’ll get a great field, a lot of world-class players that everybody will know and recognise. I expect it to be a good turnout and the fans will love it. It’s in August, mid-summer, the course will be in great condition and nice weather hopefully.”

Despite having played the Colt Course at Close House several times, Westwood knows he and the rest of the field are in for a challenge.

“The elevation changes are tricky at Close House, there are a lot of shots uphill and downhill with big elevation changes so clubbing becomes more difficult,” he said. “The greens have got some severe slopes on them as well in certain places, that’s another defence of the golf course. It can get breezy up here as well.”

The International Series was launched last year through a historic investment by LIV Golf that created a premier level of events to develop the next generation of stars and offer pathways to top competition in the LIV Golf League.

At the end of the 2023 10-event season, the player in the No. 1 position will book a spot in the lucrative 2024 LIV Golf League, while the next 31 will secure entry into the LIV Golf Promotions Event to vie for three further places up for grabs.

“I like it [the International Series],” Westwood said. “I think it gives people an opportunity to play their way on to LIV. It’s 10 events, there’s an Order of Merit from them and if you play well, you get a chance to play on LIV which is very lucrative. We’ve seen Asian Tour players like Andy Ogletree play well in The International Series events and then come out and play well on LIV when he’s had an opportunity. He stood in for me in Tulsa and shot 62, eight-under, and then again he stood in for Paul Casey and I think he ended up finishing top 10. It shows the strength of the players playing the International Series and on the Asian Tour.”

With a career that goes back all the way to the early 1990s, Westwood knows he is not getting any younger at 50, and these days he is just enjoying his time on the course and reflecting on highlights like his 2009 victory in Dubai that propelled him to the No. 1 spot in the world, and his most recent title at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in 2020.

“My goals are just to keep enjoying playing and enjoying playing on LIV,” he said. “I’m having a great time out there it has given me a second lease of life. After 30 years of playing tournament golf all being kind of the same tournaments, LIV is very different and I’m enjoying the change.”

He can also enjoy some home comforts when the International Series comes to town.

'I LIKE IT. IF YOU PLAY WELL ON THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES, YOU GET A CHANCE TO PLAY ON THE LIV GOLF TOUR, WHICH IS VERY LUCRATIVE'

STERLING DEBUT

The new par-3 17th will be played in the 2023 Open for the first time.

most golf clubs in the open Championship rotation possess characteristics that define them: the Old Course’s history, gravitas and charming symbiosis with the town of St Andrews, the elevated rocky coast of Turnberry, the shaggy, heaving dunes of Royal St George’s and Portrush, Carnoustie’s twisted sadism and pernicious loops of Barry Burn, Troon’s gorse-studded out-and-back trod along the rail line.

At a casual pass, Royal Liverpool Golf Club in the seaside town of Hoylake, England, just west of Liverpool, appears rather bleak and absent the distinction. Except for a run of holes through modest dunes off the vast Dee estuary mud flats, the golf grounds are generally docile and project an agricultural origin, more hay field than great links. There’s little sense of nature or the escape one feels at, say, Muirfield where holes twist through expansive meadows of fescue, or Royal Birkdale, where one can feel lost playing below the peaks and ridges of the surrounding sand hills. At Royal Liverpool the holes butt up against roads and the backyards of modest homes.

Those who know golf, however, understand there’s appreciably more to Hoylake, as it’s commonly known. Beneath the lessthan-glamorous façade is a design of fierce, mathematical demands. Hoylake’s hazards are not flamboyant, but they are persistent. The consequences of minor miscues are amplified if shots find the sod-wall bunkers. Cops — grassy knobs lurking along the perimeters — can maroon stray shots, as can the occasional pockets of thorny gorse. The greens are deep and usually set at an angle to the fairway with convex shaping around the edges. Those that are protected by bunkers have openings to receive running shots, but to align approaches to those gaps requires playing drives near bunkers staggered across the slender fairways. Hitting long drives is possible, but they must thread needles, and laying back to safer positions places extreme stress on ensuing accuracy. All this is carried out over a rippled terrain that advances like an end-

TARGET GOLF Hollows and depressions surround greens like the par-4 12th.

Just 136 yards, the 17th is a microscopic target.

holes seem to lay in ambush, patient, passive, but certain to strike.

less infantry, the task complicated by shifting winds and firm, unpredictable turf. As the great British writer Bernard Darwin put it more than 100 years ago: “There is none of your smug smoothness and trimness about Hoylake. It is rather hard and bare and bumpy and needs a man to conquer it.”

If this sounds like quintessential strategic golf — thinking in advance, plotting angle and distance — it is, to a compounding degree. The line between a well-played shot and a dire outcome at Hoylake is as fine as the Open Championship offers. The holes seem to lay in ambush, patient, passive, but certain to strike. John Low, the early 20th-century English architect, wrote admirably of the course’s “indestructibleness”. Pat Ward-Thomas later noted, more to the point, that playing Hoylake was “an exercise in fear”.

The beauty of Hoylake is that the algorithms are entirely calculable. The integers of bunkers, turf, bounce and wind comprise an algebraic theorem, but one that only players at the top of their games have the acuity to solve as Tiger Woods demonstrated in 2006 when he dissected the links with his irons and deft putting (Woods famously used his driver only once during the week).

Hoylake is in the same league as Muirfield and St Andrews in terms of elevating the most accomplished players. During the eight Open Championships contested there in the past 100 years, Royal Liverpool has consistently identified and rewarded the best player at the moment. Walter Hagen was undisputedly the game’s most dominant golfer throughout the summer of 1924. Coming off a tie for fourth at the US Open, he conquered the links at Hoylake before capturing the third of his five PGA Championships two months later.

When the Open returned to Hoylake in 1930, the course again sorted the undisputed best player from the field. Bobby Jones’ two-shot victory followed his win at the Amateur Championship, and he would back it up in the following months with victories at the US Open and US Amateur. Al Padgham won in 1936, and Fred Daly in 1947, and though each was an accomplished player, this was during an era when few top American professionals traveled to the Open. In 1956, not long after he tied for fourth in the U.S. Open, Australian Peter Thomson won his third consecutive Open championship, at Royal Liverpool, one of five claret jugs in all (the score was 286, two over par). Roberto De Vicenzo was victorious in 1967, one of his seven inter-

national wins that year. The next spring, he finished second in the Masters to Bob Goalby, missing out on a playoff only after he signed an incorrect scorecard.

Woods won eight times in 15 starts in 2006, including a win at the PGA Championship. The 2014 champion Rory McIlroy won four times that year, still his most wins in one season and backed up his victory at Hoylake with a PGA Championship title the next month.

The course the players see for the Open is sequenced differently than what the members play. The members’ 17th and 18th holes are played as the first and second. This shifts the regular first and 16th holes, which both bend right around corners of the driving range — an internal out of bounds — as the third and 18th. Architects Martin Ebert and Tom Mackenzie have made alterations for the 2023 Open, including adding new bunkers and championship tees, introducing sandy areas in the dunes on holes 13 and 14, and shifting

HEROS OF HOYLAKE ROYAL LIVERPOOL’S MOST RECENT OPEN CHAMPIONS HAVE INCLUDED SOME OF THE GAME’S BEST.

1924 WALTER HAGEN

1930 BOBBY JONES

1936 ALF PADGHAM 1947 FRED DALY

1956 PETER THOMSON

1967 ROBERTO DE VICENZO

2006 TIGER WOODS 2014 RORY MCILROY

BARE AND BUMPY

The fearsome Hoylake terrain requires extreme tactical aptitude.

several fairways and greens. Hoylake will play to 7,383 yards and a par of 71, with the conversion of the 10th from a par 5 to a 507-yard par 4.

The most significant change since 2014 is the creation of the new par-3 17th replacing another par 3 that was formerly the 15th. Ebert and Mackenzie reversed the hole, which, although placed in the same location, now runs a quaint 136 yards west toward a small, skyline green set against the Dee estuary.

The lovely new par 3 shuffles the order of the closing holes and requires a walk back to the 18th tee but gives Hoylake the star turn it previously lacked. The consequences of these modifications, if any, remain to be seen, but they are unlikely to interfere with Royal Liverpool’s gift for bringing out the best play from the day’s best player. Looking for a favourite? Start with this year’s major championship winners and runners-ups — they’ll have what’s needed to solve Hoylake’s equations.

WESTERN FRONT

The winds are typically intense coming off the vast Dee estuary.

BY EVIN PRIEST

WHAT DIDN’T CAM SMITH DRINK OUT OF THE GAME’S OLDEST TROPHY?

ILLUSTRATIONS BY LYNDON HAYES

INSIDE a home office near Ponte Vedra Beach, beyond a concrete wall and an immaculately manicured Bermuda lawn, the Claret Jug sits atop a heavy oak desk facing Florida’s Intracoastal waterway. The sterling-silver trophy’s spout is shaped like a swan’s beak and its handle like a bass clef. It’s the centerpiece of a regal workspace adorned by other tournament trophies, Titleist staff bags filled with clubs, and framed magazine covers. As Cameron Smith, 29, enters the office, he bears little resemblance to a “Champion Golfer of the Year.” Sporting a white T-shirt with the logo of his favourite Aussie beer and a hat from his beloved Brisbane Broncos rugby league team, Smith picks up the Claret Jug, not quite smiling, though his eyes suggest he’s beaming inside.

The jug stands 20¾ inches tall, measures 5½ inches in diameter and weighs 5½ pounds. After Young Tom Morris retired “the belt”, the first Claret Jug was awarded to Tom Kidd for winning the 1873 Open. The replica was introduced in 1928, and the original was placed in a museum. Since then, Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods and others have helped it become one of the

most recognisable trophies in sports. Smith is the 59th different winner in the 95 years of the new jug. Like every other Open champion, he took the jug home for a year and will return it to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, organiser of the Open, at the 151st Open at Royal Liverpool. He will receive a replica and as an Open champion has the option to purchase up to three more.

Smith started the final round at the 150th Open at St Andrews four shots behind 54-hole leaders Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland. McIlroy, whose four major wins include the 2014 Open, was the outright favourite and crowd favourite, but Smith stunned the golf world by snatching the lead from McIlroy with an inward 30, the lowest closing nine ever by an Open winner.

“It’s still a blur,” Smith says, without looking up.

The man who engraves the jug each year, Garry Harvey, had an inkling he would be etching Smith’s name. “I didn’t know too much about Cameron Smith, other than he had a funny hairstyle, let’s say, for a golfer,” says Harvey, a former European Tour player who played the 1979 Open at Royal Lytham. “But I could see Smith was smiling the entire time, having fun. Rory looked a wee bit concerned about how things were going.”

Smith’s eight-under also equalled the lowest final round by a champion, and his 20-under-par (268) total earned the scoring record for the 30 Opens played at St Andrews, edging Tiger Woods’ 2000 total by one. “I watched the final round on TV recently,” Smith says. “The grey skies and the sound of the seagulls give me goose bumps.”

The jug began its journey with Smith that Sunday night. A lively after-party inside the Old Course Hotel — just right of the Road Hole where Smith steered a daring putt around its infamous greenside bunker to save par — left plenty of revellers with sore heads the next morning. Australian “pub classic” songs like “Khe Sanh” by Cold Chisel and “New Sensation” by INXS blasted through the speakers. Smith was sporting a backward baseball cap, and the Gold Medal — another trophy given to the Open champion — was pinned to his shirt. He was determined to find out how many beers would fit

in the jug. That turned out to be two. Tour pros like countryman Adam Scott attended, but caddies outnumbered players. Everyone wanted a photo with Smith and the jug. Smith left the party just after 1 am.

“My rental car was still in caddie parking at the Old Course the next morning,” Smith’s long-time caddie, New Zealand’s Sam Pinfold, says. “I walked through the town, right across the 18th fairway, to the parking lot. I saw the giant yellow leaderboard which still read: ‘Congratulations, Cameron Smith!’ I was pretty emotional.”

At first, Smith couldn’t fit the jug’s road case in the overhead of a commercial flight from Edinburgh to Chicago until he figured the correct angle. In Chicago, a NetJets private plane was chartered to fly Smith, his agent, Bud Martin, Pinfold, PGA Tour pro Billy Horschel and John Limanti, who caddies for Keith Mitchell, to Jacksonville.

“I was on a plane home with Zach [Johnson] in 2015, and everyone drank from the jug except me. I wanted to wait,” Horschel says. But two years ago, he gave in. “I was at the hotel bar in 2021 with Collin Morikawa the night he won, and I thought, I may never win one of these, so I took my chances,” Horschel says. “A year later, Cam won, so I drank from it again.”

Smith’s close friend and fellow Australian, six-time PGA Tour winner Marc Leishman, has not caved to the lure of drinking from the jug. Leishman briefly had the lead during the final round at the 2015 Open but eventually lost to Johnson in a playoff at St Andrews that also included Louis Oosthuizen.

“I was so proud of Cam,” Leishman says, “but I couldn’t help thinking about 2015 when I was holding it and how close I was to having my own name on it. It brought back a lot of memories, mostly positive, but some disappointment, too. I’m still hoping to have a drink out of it one day as a champion.”

Leishman is now Smith’s teammate on Ripper, the Australian LIV Golf team that counts Matt Jones and Jed Morgan as members. Shortly after the Open Smith called several figures in golf to inform them he was considering LIV. One was Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A. “It was a really good conversation, and I didn’t feel bad about my

decision when I hung up,” Smith says. “Mr Slumbers is a true gentleman and told me, as a champion, I’d always be welcome at the Open.”

Smith also spoke with McIlroy, their showdown at St Andrews still fresh, about the new $20-million “designated” events designed to assemble the biggest stars. “I just wanted to tell Cam what was in the pipeline for the PGA Tour’s schedule,” McIlroy said. “I wanted him to have all the information.”

As it goes, Smith played his final round as a PGA Tour member with Horschel at East Lake in the FedEx Cup. Says Horschel: “Walking down 18, I put my arm around Cam and said: ‘Buddy, I love you. I don’t know what you’re

gonna do, but I will always support you and have your back.’”

Fans, media members and even some former golf greats questioned Smith’s departure to LIV Golf with varying degrees of vitriol. “What sort of tour is that?” asked Gary Player about the no-cut events. Even Freddie Couples took a few swipes, the first on Twitter: “To all my friends who I missed birthdays & weddings . . . so sorry, I was busy earning a living on the @pgatour,” a clear reference to Smith saying the PGA Tour’s wraparound schedule had made it “tough to miss out on family and friends’ weddings and birthdays” in Australia. In the lead up to the 2023 Masters, Couples also

said at a breakfast before a PGA Tour Champions event: “I find that [reasoning] comical because my favourite to ever play has five kids, 40 grandkids and has never missed anything, and that was Jack Nicklaus.”

Smith says he resisted the urge to engage. “I got some great advice from my family and team,” Smith says. “My agent, Bud, helped me navigate things. He has been around the game for a long time.” Smith also felt an obligation to avoid controversy as the Open champion. “I think being an Open champion comes with a responsibility to make the right decision or maybe hold something back you want to say,” he says. “It’s also the way my parents [Des and Sharon] raised me. I don’t know why some people have said the things they have, especially fellow professionals I haven’t even met.”

Adds Horschel: “My issue was with guys who left the PGA Tour and then threw crap back. Cam never did that. He is a classy guy, he was honest.”

Still, Smith admits he felt conflicted. “There was still so much stuff to do, and so much to think about,” Smith said last year. “It felt like I didn’t sleep for a few months. I was constantly thinking, What will other people think?”

A year with the jug, however, has soothed some of that anxiety. Smith laughs when asked what beverages have been consumed from it. “Everything you can think of,” he says. “I’ve drank espresso from it some mornings and espresso martinis some nights.”

Caffeine is in Smith’s blood. His uncle Trevor owns a cafe called Pure Shot in the Brisbane suburb of Brendale. Trevor made a flat white (espresso and steamed milk) in the jug, and Smith drank a pour over, running boiling water through espresso grounds in a paper cone filter atop the jug. “I was by myself, drinking a pour over out of the Claret Jug and looking out over the Intracoastal,” Smith says. “I laughed and thought, This is a bit too dorky. I looked over my shoulder because I was worried that Jack [Wilkosz, Smith’s childhood friend and now assistant] or Shanel [Naoum, Smith’s fiancee] would walk in and ask: ‘What the hell are you doing?’ ”

Many unusual items have been in the jug through the years. In 1995, John

Daly ate chocolate ice cream from it. In 2008, two-time Open winner Padraig Harrington’s son put ladybugs in the jug. In 2009, Stewart Cink had orange juice and barbecue sauce in it at various times. In 2015, Iowa-raised Johnson ate corn from it.

Plenty of alcohol has been consumed from the jug under Smith’s stewardship, too. Of course, it was originally designed to fit one bottle of claret. Smith felt it appropriate to enjoy Australia’s most sought-after red from it.

Premium tequila has also had a regular presence. In mid-August, Smith celebrated his birthday at popular Jacksonville Beach restaurant TacoLu, which became one of his favourite hang-outs when he moved to Florida in 2016. “We put [tequila], margaritas and lots of beer,” says owner Don Nicol.

“TacoLu was one of my favourite nights with the jug because I could show the folks there, who love golf, a piece of history,” says Smith, who was the first Jacksonville-based champion since David Duval in 2001.

In November, before the 9,000-mile trip from Florida to Australia for the Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship, Smith gave Wilkosz a new job title: “Head of jug security.”

Promptly, he was put into action at Los Angeles International airport when a TSA agent wanted to examine the road case’s contents after an X-ray illuminated the outline of the Claret Jug. What’s usually an instantly recognisable image for golf fans was not so for diligent TSA agents viewing a computer screen. Another agent wearing white gloves performed an explosives swab. “The agent got to hold the jug but probably didn’t know what it meant,” Wilkosz says.

Adds Smith: “A couple of travellers behind us saw the X-ray and said: ‘Holy [expletive], is that the real Claret

Jug?!’ That turned into a quick showand-tell in the security line.”

Arriving at Brisbane Airport, Smith was swarmed by fans and television crews in the terminal. He had brought the jug Down Under for the first time since 1993 when Greg Norman won his second Open championship.

The jug was soon at Smith’s childhood course, Wantima Country Club. Wantima is not a country club per se but rather a working-class, publicly accessible course 30 minutes north of Brisbane. Members affectionately refer to it as “Wan-gusta National.” The course sits on a mostly flat piece of land, and firm, fast fairways are lined by Australian gum trees. The greens are small and tricky. Inside the clubhouse near the front entrance, there is a shrine to Smith’s career, including a signed shirt Smith wore during his PGA Tour debut at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia in 2014.

Wantima hosted a celebration party for Smith and 200 members. Smith sat for a 45-minute Q&A session before passing the jug around to the members to drink from it. “Some were even

TSA AGENTS EXAMINED THE ROAD CASE AFTER AN X-RAY ILLUMINATED THE OUTLINE OF THE CLARET JUG. ANOTHER SWABBED FOR EXPLOSIVES.

MAKING THE ROUNDS

From left: The Claret Jug at TacoLu in Jacksonville, with Nic Catterall, Smith’s strength and conditioning coach, and getting a hug from Beau Kelly, the four-year-old son of Marc Leishman’s caddie, Matt Kelly.

holding the jug like a baby,” Jason Patterson, Wantima’s general manager, recalls.

“It was pretty neat for a little club on the north side of Brisbane to have the Claret Jug in the clubhouse,” Smith says. Days later, at the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland, Brisbane’s mayor presented Smith with a key to the city.

Smith then won the DP World Tour co-sanctioned Australian PGA Championship by three shots, his fifth victory of 2022. That was the most emotional event, he says. Among the contingent of family and friends in the gallery, who hadn’t seen Smith play in person since before the Covid-19 pandemic, was his grandmother, Carol. She had undergone several chemotherapy treatments in the lead up but walked all 72 holes wearing a

custom-made T-shirt emblazoned with the words “Team Smith.”

“Everyone told her to pace herself, but she was out there every day. It was

AT BRISBANE AIRPORT, SMITH WAS SWARMED BY FANS AND TV CREWS. HE HAD BROUGHT THE JUG DOWN UNDER FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1993.

inspiring,” Smith says. For her efforts, Carol got to hold both the Claret Jug and the Australian PGA’s Joe Kirkwood

Cup that week. “Out of all the people who have touched the Claret Jug, my grandparents holding it in my hometown is the most special memory,” Smith says.

In his office, Smith runs his fingers over some of the biggest names to have successfully defended an Open: Tom Watson (1982-’83), Peter Thomson (1954-’55-’56), Arnold Palmer (1961-’62) and Lee Trevino (1971-’72). Dreaming of doing the same, Smith’s hands arrive at his own name. He pauses, thinking about delivering the jug back to Slumbers in July.

“I might be emotional,” Smith says. “It has been so special to have this jug for a year. Having a replica helps, but it’s nothing like the real thing. Handing it back will fire me up for the week ahead because I really don’t want to give it back.”

MARK BLACKBURN’S

FEET TO BETTER GOLF

HIT IT 10 YARDS

FARTHER (DRIVER), HALF A CLUB LONGER (IRONS), THREE FEET TIGHTER (WEDGE GAME) AND 12 INCHES CLOSER (PUTTS). THAT’S YOUR WINNING FORMULA

ow far away are you from playing better? The answer is probably in a different form — and easier to accomplish — than you think. Instead of using superficial metrics such as the figure on your handicap card, the number of lessons you take, the amount of practice you put in, or the months on the calendar, consider your improvement plan the way tour pros think about getting better. That means making the results of the shots you hit move closer to the average performance of players who are a little better than you.

What does that look like? Instead of thinking about everything you have to do to break 100, 90 or 80 — which can be daunting — split it into manageable, measurable parts. This might sound strange at first, but all you need to do is get 49 feet better across the specific categories of driving, iron play, distance wedges and putting. Do that, and you’ll improve significantly. Let me explain.

Adjustments to your driving will unlock 10 more yards off the tee, or 30 feet. Hitting your irons more solidly will give you at least half a club less into the green. Let’s call that five yards or 15 feet. Better trajectory control with your wedges will get you three feet closer to the pin. Finally, improving your speed will leave your first putts one foot closer to the hole. Add it up, and that’s 49 feet. Not so unobtainable, right? Let me help you get to that number. —WITH MATTHEW RUDY

DRIVING: PUSH UP FOR A BIGGER SWING

I’m sure you’ve heard all the boilerplate advice about hitting longer drives, like moving the ball more forward in your stance and creating some upward tilt in your shoulders (above, far left). That’s a good starting point, but to really hit longer tee shots, think of your driver swing as two separate entities. You should have a normal, fairway-finder move but also a specialty shot where you’re copying some of what the competitors in the World Long Drive championships do. Their swings are typically very long, so they have more time to add speed on the downswing (you’ll need about 3-4 miles per hour more to pick up 10 yards).

In the backswing, that means unweighting the lead foot, extending your trail leg, getting your arms up and turning your back toward the target (above left, second photo). Extend and turn as much as you can to get your mass moving upward in anticipation of what happens next. As you reach the top of the swing, push hard into the ground with your lead foot — as if you were squashing an empty golf-ball sleeve (right). The biggest power leak most players have is initiating this push too late, when they’re down by the ball.

Next, as your club approaches the ball, straighten your lead leg and pull up on the handle (above, far right). The more up-and-down force you generate this way — and the better you time these moves — the longer you’ll be able to hit it.

IRONS: MOVE YOUR LOW POINT FORWARD

The urge to smash your iron shots is understandable, especially if you’ve been watching PGA Tour players hit it 150 yards with a pitching wedge. The quickest path to needing less club into the green isn’t swinging harder, it’s better contact. Many of you give away yardage because you don’t have good low-point control in your iron swings. The club usually bottoms out too early, so you have to use longer, less-accurate irons from the same distances as better players.

Learn to move your low point forward, ideally a few inches after the ball is struck, with this drill: Set an alignment stick nine inches behind a ball (above, left) and try to hit shots where you avoid the stick. Ideally, your club will strike the ball first, with less loft than it had at address, and then take a thin, banknote-size divot. After each shot, check the divot hole and where you made contact with the ball on the clubface (above, right). You want to make sure the angle of attack wasn’t too steep. That also kills distance. The divot hole should be shallow, and I like to see the ball mark on the bottom third of the clubface (dead centre) with a straight turf mark a groove or two up from the bottom.

CASE STUDY: JUSTIN ROSE

If you think the pros don’t worry about making better contact, too, think again. When I first started working with 42-year-old Justin Rose, his concern wasn’t losing distance because of his age, it was an overall deterioration of his ball-striking, which put tremendous pressure on the rest of his game.

We evaluated how Justin moves and what he wanted to do with his swing, and I worked with his entire team to get a consensus on priorities. That translated into Justin shifting less off the ball and changing his arm plane to better match his natural movement pattern. The result: He’s hitting quality iron shots a lot more often. He improved more than 50 places in the strokes gained/approach stat and is in the top 30 in approach shots from 150 to 175 yards. He’ll tell you that the quality of contact really matters.

DISTANCE WEDGES: LOWER THE BAR

Poor wedge play tends to begin with a misconception: Many amateurs think they should hit high, bloopy shots into greens. Better players know to hit distance wedges and pitches much lower with more spin, which really improves accuracy. How low is their typical launch angle? If 90 degrees translates to hitting it straight up in the air, they’re hitting shots at 30 degrees or lower.

To help you bring down your trajectory, practise with this noodle gate (above). Put two alignment rods in the ground and stick a pool noodle on top about four feet high and seven feet in front of you. Your goal is to hit the ball under the noodle. To do that, set up with the ball slightly back in your stance (left), and then take the club back without a lot of wrist set. When you swing down, feel like you lead with your torso rotating toward the target while your thumbs are pointing at the ground all the way into impact. It should feel like the sweet spot of the club is trailing your body rotation and your hands. This creates the correct shallow, sweeping swing and delofts the shot. If it’s not practical to build the noodle gate, just visualise one on the range when you hit these low, piercing wedge shots.

CASE STUDY: MAX HOMA

This pool-noodle drill is not just for high-handicappers. I used it with Max Homa, too. When he got on tour, he was statistically one of the poorer distance-wedge players out there — 161st in strokes gained on approaches from 50 yards to 125 yards. That was immediately something we set about changing. Among other stuff we did to shore things up, we used the noodle gate and a launch monitor to combine work on trajectory and distance control at the same time.

It’s no exaggeration to say Max is one of the very best off-speed iron players on tour now. He was 12th in that very same distance-wedgeapproach category last year and improved his proximity by four feet. That translates into a few more birdies per tournament — and going from an average player to one of the 10 best in the World Golf Ranking.

PUTTING: CHANGE SPEED WITH YOUR STROKE SIZE

Even if you’re a poor green-reader and don’t do a great job of starting the ball on line, you still can really improve if your putts have good speed. Your results will never be that far from the hole — which reduces second-putt drama. PGA Tour players make 99 per cent of their three-footers and 92 per cent from four feet. If you reduce your leave distance by at least a foot, imagine how it could impact your scores.

The best way to improve speed is to create a repeatable framework. If you normally make the same swing size for most putts, but change how much you accelerate with your hands and wrists to adjust for distance, you’ll be a lot more consistent if you instead increase the size of your

stroke as putts get longer. That way, the concept of your stroke can stay the same, and that leads to reliability.

It can help to practise with a metre stick. Make progressively bigger backswings, checking the length with the stick (above). Then let the putter coast through the ball, using only its mass and momentum to make it roll. How far does the ball travel? Keep practising like this, and you’ll start hitting putts that finish their roll as they near the cup. What you want is to maximise the “capture speed.” Hit a putt too fast, and it might drop only if you clank it off the flagstick. Hit it at the right speed, and any portion of the four-inchwide hole (top photo) might be able to capture the ball.

NEXT MAN UP?

Si Woo Kim’s swing indicates ‘major’ potential

By Ron Kaspriske

South Korea’S Si Woo Kim has one of those swings that is hypnotic — you could watch it all day. The technical flaws are so minute, they are hard to identify, let alone correct. “His good days are as good as anybody’s,” says his swing coach, Chris Como. “He’s one of those guys who can just run with it. He has zero apprehension about going low.”

How low? How about back-to-back 64s on the weekend to win the Sony Open in Hawaii in January. Or the 63 on Sunday to finish T-2 at the AT&T

Byron Nelson in May. Kim, who turns 28 in June, certainly seems like a player capable of winning a major — especially when you look closely at his mechanics.

“When we first started working [in 2022], I could see a lot of things he was doing really well that explained why at times his ball-striking was so good,” says Como, former coach to Tiger Woods. “That said, there were some little pieces we’ve been working to improve. He was fairly laid off at the top and then came slightly over [the swing

plane] in transition. That sometimes led to a wipey motion into the ball and a weaker ball flight.”

Kim, 31th in the World Golf Ranking as of June and a four-time winner on the PGA Tour, says the correction for him is to feel like he’s “staying centred” over the ball. In some of his older swings, he says a pronounced sway away from the target contributed to consistency issues with quality of contact.

A little move off the ball is OK, Como says, as long as you still feel centred. “A lot of great players have done that. With

Si Woo, we want to make sure there’s still some pressure in his left foot going back. Also, the trick is to make sure his shoulders don’t get too flat. There should be a little steeper look to his shoulder plane.”

With those subtle issues in check, the plan is to build a template for Kim to rely on, Como says, “to preserve the fingerprint of what he does so well. We want the overall shape of his swing to be more neutral looking so that the plane of his swing doesn’t travel left of his body lines. He still hits fades and prefers that

for his ball flight, but it’s subtle. The ball just falls to the right. He can do that just by setting up open [left of the target] a hair, not by wiping across it.”

Kim says he prefers a fade because of its reliability — less than 10 per cent of his tee shots miss the fairway to the left. Keeping it in play is the key to his scoring — he’s 124th on tour in driving distance (295.6 yards) but 12th in fairway accuracy (66.2 per cent).

“A big thing for me is clubface control,” Kim says. “This year, I feel as confident in my ball-striking as ever.”

RECAPTURE YOUR SWING

Use these strategies to get back to your best tempo

By Lynn Marriott & Pia Nilsson

AT SOME POINT OVER THE course of 18 holes, you’re very likely to lose your good swing. It happens to even the best players. You miss a few fairways, and before you know it, that smooth, rhythmic swing you brought to the first six holes is suddenly gone. Here’s the good news: No one ever loses their swing. It’s still there, you just have to learn how to recognise when it goes bad and get out of your own way. Try our three strategies to help you find it again as fast as possible.

1 Ride your go-to shot for as long as necessary

● Obsessing about your swing when it goes awry is only going to make things worse. If you know you’re going to lose it, have a strategy or plan B for getting it back. For example: What is a shot you know you can hit in the fairway or on to the green? Maybe it’s a knockdown shot, as Pia is demonstrating above. Lean on your go-to shot until you get your feel back and leave the detailed swing analysis for after the round.

2 Swing at 40-to-60 per cent of your maximum speed

● Many golfers get very quick when they lose their swing, so it’s good to slow everything down, especially your tempo. When you get over the ball, take a few deep breaths and long exhales and relax your upper body. Then, have the feeling that you’re swinging at 40-to-60 per cent of your maximum speed. This calmer tempo will help sync up your arms and body and get you swinging normal again.

3

Play with your feet together for better balance, control

● Some of our students have discovered that the easiest way to regain their feel is to play a hole with their feet close together (right). This simplifies your motion and gets you more centred and in balance. It also helps you feel more present in your body, so you don’t start overthinking. After playing a hole with your feet together, try narrowing your normal stance, and if that feels good, then go back to standing wider.

LYNN MARRIOTT AND PIA NILSSON, are co-founders of Vision54 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

SIMPLIFY YOUR CHIPPING

Use your set-up and follow-through to change trajectories

By Sean Hogan

based on the practice habits of many amateurs I teach, I’m going to guess that you don’t have a ton of time to work on your short game. That’s unfortunate, but let’s not make it an excuse for poor chipping. You can play a number of different shots around the greens simply by making some adjustments to your set-up and how you finish the swing. If you stay true to a few fundamentals, these simple alterations go a long way toward performing better around the greens, no matter the scenario. Look right to see how to produce three different chip shots and trajectories with some simple adaptations.

—with ron kaspriske

SEAN HOGAN is at Golfzon Leadbetter Academy HQ in Kissimmee, Florida.

LOW CHIP STAY NARROW AND COMPACT

Unless you have little green to work with or have to carry the ball over an obstacle, this low runner is your go-to chip. Set up in a narrow stance with your weight forward and the ball between your feet. Also, make sure the buttons on your shirt are aligned slightly ahead of the ball (far left). Keeping your weight on your lead foot, make a compact backswing and let your body rotation in the throughswing propel the club into the ball and beyond it. Finish in this abbreviated position (near left).

MEDIUM CHIP GET A LITTLE WIDER AND LONGER

The set-up and swing for a mediumtrajectory chip is going to look and feel a lot like the low runner, but there are some subtle differences. At address, play the ball a little farther forward and stand a touch wider to add loft to the shot (near right). The backswing will feel a little longer, and the through-swing will be more pronounced as a result of swinging a little more aggressively. Your body rotation will still be the engine that moves the club. Resist the urge to stop your swing just after impact. Keep turning until the shaft of your wedge is roughly parallel to the ground like you see here (far right).

HIGH CHIP SET UP BEHIND IT AND RELEASE

Save this high-lofted chip for those rare instances when you have very little green to work with because it’s the toughest to execute. Set up much wider, with the ball off your front foot and your head and shirt buttons behind the ball (far left). Your weight should still favor your front foot. The length of the through-swing is key to the height of this shot. You’ll need to make a full body rotation as I am here, and let the clubhead release through the ball, passing the hands. Soft wrists help make that happen. Finish with the shaft skyward (near left), and you’ll produce a shot even a tour pro would admire.

AGE 30 LIVES

Birmingham, Alabama

STORY

Won the 2022 Honda Classic

CAREER SHOT

The 6-iron I hit into the final hole of the 2022 Honda Classic is one I’ll never forget. It was raining hard, and Shane Lowry was playing behind me, so I didn’t know what score I needed. I was going to hit a 7-iron but changed my mind when it started raining. I knew instantly I had flushed it. I hit the green and twoputted for birdie to defeat Lowry by one stroke.

WHAT'S IN MY BAG : SEPP STRAKA

DRIVER

SPECS TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus, 9°, Fujikura Ventus Black 6X shaft.

The specs are pretty standard other than being a little upright. Forgiveness is the main thing I like about this club. By no means do I hit it far compared to a lot of the guys out here, but I’m fairly accurate for how far I drive it. That’s definitely a strength of mine.

FAIRWAY WOODS

TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus, 15°, Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80TX shaft; TaylorMade Stealth, 21°, Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 80TX shaft.

I’ve had this 7-wood since last April. It’s great on par 5s because I can flight any trajectory I need into greens.

Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-iron through 9-iron), True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shafts, Golf Pride Tour Velvet grips.

I’ve always liked the look and feel of forged blade irons. I played the previous Srixon ZX7 irons, so these new ones aren’t much of a change for me. The look is similar, but Srixon added weight behind the centre of the face, which provides the feel I like.

WEDGES

SPECS Cleveland RTX ZipCore (46°, 52°, 56°, 60°), True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 shafts.

Having four wedges is critical for me. I play so many shots with them during a round. I find it’s important to have more wedges than an extra long iron.

PUTTER

SPECS Odyssey Stroke Lab Tuttle, 35 inches, 2.5°, Stroke Lab Pistol grip.

This is the oldest club in my bag. I put this in play my rookie season of 2018-’19. I putted with a Rife Barbados mallet for a long time, and this has similar lines and a similar shape. It has a main aiming line in the middle plus two lines that kind of frame the ball. I’ve always liked that look to help with alignment.

WIND-CHEATER

My Srixon Z-Star Diamond is terrific in the wind. It doesn’t get knocked around very much in crosswinds, and I get plenty of spin around the greens and with iron approach shots.

DRINK OF CHOICE

I’ve always loved Diet Coke. I drink one every morning. If I’m playing really bad, and I need to change something up, I’ll have one. It shakes up the momentum a bit. It always works.

Shoal Creek and Greystone in Birmingham, Alabama, are the courses I play most in the area. I have plenty of these ball markers because I can just reach in and grab some when I’m home.

—WITH DAVE ALLEN

BY MIKE STACHURA AND E MICHAEL JOHNSON • PHOTO-ILLUSTRATION BY LISA SHEEHAN

HOW CONFUSING ARE GOLF BALLS?

Not as confusing as you might think. Balls are increasingly about addressing your individual needs, a dividing up of models to highlight specific performance traits. There even are personalised graphics that help with alignment while making self-affirming personal statements, essentially letting you tattoo your ball before, well, you tattoo your ball.

How do you find the right ball for your game? Start by defining what you want from a ball. For some it might be about price exclusively, but to us that’s like choosing the cheapest neurosurgeon or plumber — better to go up in class to handle all the problems that might crop up later.

Do you want straighter tee shots more than anything, or is flighting your approach shots more vital? How do you weigh high short-game spin versus less spin off the driver? If you miss a lot of greens, does having a ball that maximises your short game matter more, or should you think about a ball that might yield more consistent approach-shot control?

It’s a lot to consider. The following pages can help you determine which models might answer those demands best. However, on-course testing is mandatory if you want the right answers. That’s why our Hot List testing is driven by what happens with real golfers, not robots.

We break down the universe of golf balls into two categories based on the cover material. Urethane cover balls offer the most complete menu of performance characteristics. Non-urethane cover balls provide reliable full-shot performance for moderate-skill players. Within their respective categories, we judged balls in two criteria: Performance (65 per cent) and Innovation (35 per cent). Player testing was conducted at Marriott’s Grande Vista resort in Orlando, and robot testing was conducted by Cool Clubs in Arizona. We’ve dug through the confusion to get you started. You might even come away thinking golf balls aren’t such a mystery, especially when the right one improves your scorecard.

These four balls address two performance areas and two kinds of swing speeds. The dividing line between the X and XS and the RX and RXS is a driver swing speed of 105 miles per hour. If you’re under that number, choose between the distance-focused RX and the higher-spinning RXS (Lexi Thompson and Fred Couples). If you swing faster than 105, then play the tour balls used by Tiger Woods (yes, he has played both the distance X and the spinnier XS).

The urethane-cover compound in all four balls uses an additive that maximises resiliency for highspeed driver impacts. When impact is slower, like on a wedge shot, the additive helps the urethane adhere to the face for control and spin.

RRP AED 275

Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

IS IT FOR YOU?

X: This model is for high-speed players who desire distance more than workability and softer shortgame feel.

XS: The target audience here is fast-swing players whose games revolve around spin and control, even if it means giving up maximum distance.

RX: Slower-swing-speed players will like the soft feel yet greater resilience on driver shots. In our testing, this was the lowest-spinning ball of the four, but it still had plenty of spin on short shots.

RXS: The softest option of the four caters to averageswing-speed players who want to maximise their short-game spin.

TOUR B RXS

TOUR B X

TOUR B XS

FEEL

Getting better at golf-ball manufacturing sounds about as exciting and relevant as getting better at hospital corners. But Callaway’s multiyear commitment to pursuing precision golf-ball production — the tally by now is well over $50 million in improvements to its manufacturing capabilities at its Chicopee, Massachusetts, plant — was about one thing: making its golf balls exactingly consistent for more potential distance and tighter dispersion. In short, better, tighter manufacturing opens up new areas of innovation. In this case, that meant a more efficiently explosive core and a sleeker aerodynamic pattern. RRP AED 280 Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

IS IT FOR YOU?

CS: The softest in the family targets average golfers and their larger mis-hit patterns. It flies the highest with the least spin.

CS X: Played by most of Callaway’s tour players, this ball is for fast swingers who covet control.

CS X LS: This firmer ball is for faster swingers who play straighter shots but need a little more short-game spin than the Chrome Soft.

The high-end equipment brand’s first entrée into the golf-ball market actually involved some of the company’s first product research. The design team only recently decided to launch a golf ball and only a single model at that.

PXG’s team wants to simplify your choice by suggesting that balls designed for slightly slower swing speeds are more similar to so-called “fasterspeed” balls than they are different. That is, all players benefit from low spin off the tee and increased shortgame spin. This three-layer ball combines a firmer mantle and higher-compression core (for distance) with a slightly thicker, softer urethane cover (for shortgame spin). RRP AED 280 Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

This softer-compression ball still has the kind of cover played by tour players, so you can still get that same kind of greenside grab, but its overall softer construction (20 to 30 compression points less than the company’s Z-Star models) is enhanced by a soft intermediate mantle layer and a core that gets progressively firmer from the center outward. It’s designed to maximize distance potential and higher flight for non-tour-level swings (anyone north of 75 miles per hour).

The Q-Star Tour also uses the same cover coating as the tour-played model. This mixture creates a flexible urethane compound that’s designed to stay on the face more consistently to improve spin on chips and pitches. RRP AED 199 Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

FEEL RATING (SOFT TO FIRM)

XTREME ........... >> ...

FEEL RATING (SOFT TO FIRM) Q-STAR TOUR <<

SHOULD I PLAY A LOW- OR HIGH-COMPRESSION BALL?

● Golf balls with a higher-compression rating feel firmer and generate more ball speed than lower-compression models. Does this automatically mean that golfers seeking more distance should play only the highest-compression balls? Not necessarily. Today’s lowcompression balls feature more resilient rubber compounds that yield additional energy without feeling firmer. Say you’re struggling with high-spin mis-hits, for instance. A low-compression ball that spins less might produce a tighter shot dispersion and more rollout in the fairway. In other words, straighter can mean longer, too.

● CALLAWAY CHROME SOFT/X/X LS

● SRIXON Q-STAR TOUR

X

CHROME SOFT X LS

● PXG XTREME

For 2023, Srixon focused on changes to the core to further enhance the differences among the three models. All three cores get progressively firmer from the centre to the outer edges, but they progress at different levels and to different degrees.

One key change is that the XV no longer has a dualcore construction. The single core is a more efficient design yet still allows a firmer progression, which is intended to maximise distance. A compound in the urethane cover has also been reformulated to make the cover more pliable so that the urethane melds into the grooves of your wedges to maximise short-game spin. RRP AED 260

Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

IS IT FOR YOU?

Z-STAR: A low-compression and 20-per cent thicker cover help make it the best choice for players who want the most spin.

Z-STAR XV: With the thinnest cover and firmest compression, it targets the highest-speed players who want low-spin distance.

TP5 TP5X

PERFORMANCE ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ INNOVATION ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

FEEL RATING (SOFT TO FIRM)

<< >>

The other area that maximises performance for better players on these five-layer designs is just beneath that cast-urethane cover. The fourth layer is especially firm and resilient, which does two things. First, it boosts speed for optimal distance. Second, it allows the softer cover to more effectively pinch on short shots to create extra spin on chips and pitches. RRP AED 260 Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

IS IT FOR YOU?

TP5: The softer of the two models has added some speed with a larger core. The ball launches slightly lower but produces plenty of spin off the wedge.

Typically when companies target average golfers with a “tour-level ball”, it involves adding a similar urethane cover. TaylorMade’s approach instead is to find a way to inject a little more of what average golfers really need: some tour-level long-game energy.

Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

PERFORMANCE

FEEL RATING (SOFT TO FIRM)

TOUR RESPONSE

PERFORMANCE ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ INNOVATION ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ FEEL RATING (SOFT TO FIRM) Z-STAR Z-STAR XV Z-STAR ◆ Z-STAR Z-STAR XV Z-STAR ◆ ...... << ......... ........ >> ....... ............ >> ... << URETHANE 60 golfdigestme.com july 2023

● TAYLORMADE TP5/X

When you’re trying to make improvements that golfers with the fastest swing speeds will notice, aerodynamics is important. The flatter-bottom dimple here helps initial launch speed and maintains flight at the slowest speeds downrange to optimise distance.

The softer-feeling, lowercompression option among Titleist’s urethane-cover balls caters to a distinctly different player than the tour-favorite Pro V1 family. That softer feel and lower flight help address the average golfer’s problem of adding too much loft and spin on full swings from tee to green. Titleist also has injected more energy into the core by changing the way the soft centre progressively stiffens. This helps increase spin in the short game yet keeps driver spin low. Plus, it continues the AVX tradition of boosting distance on the longer and middle irons. The urethane cover is a little softer than the original, too, for better greenside play. RRP AED 350

Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

FEEL RATING (SOFT TO FIRM)

The 2023 versions of golf’s top balls (—Pro V1x is unchanged) go inside to find improvement. Specifically, the cores of the Pro V1 and Pro V1x have been re-engineered to squeeze a little more energy from impact for maximum distance. This extra energy comes from a greater difference in the firmness of the outer part of the core compared to the soft centre. This change makes the Pro V1 core react more like the dual-core Pro V1x, which now features a larger inner core to reduce driver spin. The spin reduction on longer shots will help tighten dispersion. RRP AED 350 Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

IS IT FOR YOU?

PRO V1: The softest of the three has a flatter trajectory and less spin that enhances distance for high-spin players.

PRO V1X: This ball flies higher to help players whose natural ball flight tends to be lower. Expect more long-game spin to help with carry distance.

—PRO V1X: It’s the firmest feeling of the three with significantly lower spin on full-swing shots. Ball flight will be high but slightly lower than Pro V1x.

This ball straddles a middle ground between the distance off the tee that Surlyn-covered balls typically produce and the possibility of more greenside spin that balls with a urethane cover usually have — all for less than a Pro V1. The urethane cover here is a thermoset process compared to the top-shelf cast process that saves cost. (If you notice a difference, you can always go up in class, but you probably won’t.) More importantly, a reformulated highcompression core and a new ionomer mantle layer provide less spin on the longer shots for better flight. RRP AED 275

Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

A URETHANE COVER IS BEST ON SHORT SHOTS

● How much does a ball with a multilayer, urethane-cover construction matter? If you never miss a green or your short-game skills are nonexistent, probably not much. A urethane-cover ball, however, could spin as much as 2,500 revolutions per minute more than a two-piece distance ball based on our robot testing of 40-yard pitch shots conducted by Cool Clubs. According to Foresight Sports ball-flight simulation software, that’s the difference between finishing two feet from the cup and 15 feet. The best non-urethane balls (particularly balls with a mantle layer) have closed the gap, but the data suggests you might still be looking at a six-footer at best. So how’s your putting?

PRO V1

PRO V1X

—PRO V1X

● BRIDGESTONE E6

Mizuno has made two key changes to its urethanecover tour balls. First, the design team sought more distance by designing both new balls with less spin on tee shots. Second, aerodynamics engineers figured out how to improve ball flight by designing a dimple that looks, well, off-kilter. It took some 99 prototypes to settle on the final design, but the radically reconfigured dimples shift the bottom of each at a slight angle and in a different orientation for each individual dimple. The intent is to change airflow around the ball so that faster swings (like driver shots) produce a more efficient and higher flight, and slower swings (wedge shots) produce a more penetrating, controlled flight. RRP AED 250

Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

IS IT FOR YOU?

RB TOUR: The softer of the two yields a slightly lower flight and slightly less spin off the driver. It’s better for steeper swings.

RB TOUR X: This model is one of the highercompression balls on the market, so expect a firmer feel. The ball should spin a little more, though.

The e6 has been a staple of the company’s ball line for nearly two decades because it addresses the needs of the majority of regular golfers. About four years ago Bridgestone changed the e6’s construction from three pieces to two pieces, which included a softer core and a cover made to maximise the distance and accuracy that the e6 has become known for.

The ball has a gradational core that is softer in the centre for forgiveness and firmer on the outside to deliver needed speed. The core also is larger than Bridgestone’s tourcalibre balls. This allows for a thinner cover. Having a larger core provides golfers with slower swing speeds the boost they need. The seamless Surlyn cover helps promote durability, too. RRP AED 189

Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

The “Contact” in the ball’s name refers to “contact science”, or what happens when the ball meets the club. Specifically, it’s about how rubber reacts in a high-heat, high-friction interaction much like the rubber on a tire meeting the road — something Bridgestone has expertise in. The new version maintains a similar dimple design as the original with a raised area in the center that results in more contact area at impact. This results in an efficient transfer of energy that “activates” the core better for faster ball speeds and reduces sidespin off the longer clubs. Modifications were made to the depth and outer portion of the dimple to flatten the flight.

The cover features an additive that promotes friction at impact for more short-game spin.

RRP AED 220

Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

The ball has three layers, but more than 100 different materials are used to create those components. Without getting too deep into the chemistry, Callaway found that some materials on their own aren’t all that elastic. That’s not great when you want to increase distance. In this ball, the core has been reformulated with a new technology that provides a higher cross-linked density. This leads to a little bit more speed at impact but maintains the ball’s low compression. Changes have been made to the cover, too. A urethane coating is applied that adds as much as 400 revolutions per minute on wedge and pitch shots without impacting other parts of the game. The price is on the high end of the category, but, hey, 100 materials don’t come cheap.

RRP AED 250

Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

A ball named Supersoft needs to maintain a cushiony feel, but it can’t do this at the expense of distance in this category. Callaway made sure this would not be an issue through a change to the core’s formula that allows for slightly more speed without affecting the ball’s compression. In addition to keeping the feel intact, maintaining a low compression has the benefit of helping reduce spin on long shots — the type that typically go crooked.

To help provide more control around the greens, Callaway has tweaked its cover material to improve how the ball interacts with the grooves on wedges. More distance and greenside control at a palatable price? There’s a reason the Supersoft ball has resonated with golfers for several years.

RRP AED 160

Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

On the surface, Srixon’s two-piece Q-Star appears to be a relatively basic ball. Its playing attributes, however, suggest far more. With a low overall compression compared to previous generations, the Q-Star delivers better distance off the tee and enhanced feel when approaching the green, particularly for most average golfers with moderate and below-average swing speeds. The benefit of lower compression is reduced spin on tee shots, which can lead to slightly straighter, slightly longer drives.

A new core is designed to increase launch angle, but the real hero is the cover coating that creates an elastic surface that allows the grooves on wedges and short irons to grab the ball because of enhanced friction, leading to higher short-game spin. RRP AED 199

Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

TaylorMade shows it is in command of its multilayer technology with subtle but significant improvements to this ball. With soft, twopiece golf balls there are a couple of ways to increase speed. One is through a firmer cover, but that defeats the purpose of being soft. Instead, the company opted to make this model a three-piece construction and use a fast, resilient mantle layer to bring the heat and produce a ball with a 50 compression — 10 points lower than the previous version. The soft core and cover allow shots to be compressed more easily by non-tour-level swing speeds (which is the majority of the golf population). This creates a desirable combination of low spin and more ball speed that leads to extra yards while maintaining a soft feel.

RRP AED 140

Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

When enhancing one attribute, golfball designers often have to compromise performance in another, except when it comes to improving a ball’s aerodynamics. If an aerodynamic pattern provides more distance, it’s essentially free yards because it’s not affecting anything else.

Using a “quadrilateral dipyramid pattern” with 346 dimples, the aerodynamic design is similar to that of the Tour Speed model but altered to provide more surface coverage to achieve a lower flight compared to the Tour Speed. This provides a distance boost. The large, (1.60 inches) soft-compression core is married to a thin proprietary ionomer blend cover that produces better greenside grab than typical non-urethanecover balls. RRP AED 255

Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

● TAYLORMADE SOFT RESPONSE

With balls in the nonurethane category shifting from being firm, distancedriven models to softer-feeling balls, Bridgestone saw an opportunity to create a new ball for maximum distance. Who better to advise them than those who participate in World Long Drive competitions? The result is a ball that works for those swinging at superhuman speeds as well as for everyday players.

The core has a different gradient slope than other Bridgestone models. The outer region is firmer, and the centre is softer to maximise velocity. The seamless, injection-molded cover features the 330-dimple pattern from the old B330 ball with altered radiuses and dimpled contours to produce less drag to further increase distance. PERFORMANCE

Now in its 13th iteration, the Srixon Soft Feel is one of the most venerable ball models in the game. There’s a reason for that: It delivers many desirable traits that golfers shopping in this category value. Although Srixon says the core is one of its softest to date, it is still highly resilient, snapping back into shape quicker after impact thanks to being extremely soft in the centrer and getting gradually firmer toward the outer part. That delivers more distance and reduces spin on full swings. For the cover, Srixon continues to use its 338-dimple pattern that is designed to allow the ball to cut through the air with less resistance. This ball is a viable option for a number of golfers seeking a soft feel with a soft touch on the wallet. RRP AED 140

Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

There’s no disputing a larger core in a twopiece ball typically leads to more distance. Making a large core in a soft-feeling, low-compression ball, however, is a manufacturing achievement. For this ball that meant rewriting software and upgrading equipment to control material flow. The result is a core that is larger (1.60 inches) to provide additional speed and keep the soft feel the ball is known for. A reformulated spherically tiled 376-dimple pattern achieves the proper spin to enhance distance and provide a touch of greenside control. Also noticeable is a new sidestamp design inspired by the most popular alignment aid chosen through the My Titleist customiser on Titleist.com since alignment options debuted in 2018.

RRP AED 185

Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

Since its debut, Titleist’s Velocity has made it clear this ball is for those seeking one thing: as many yards as possible off the tee and the ability to puff out your chest for hitting less club into the green than your opponent. To achieve this, the company made a change to a highercompression, 1.55-inch core to give the ball more speed. However, changing performance traits always has consequences. If one part is altered, it affects other areas. That’s why an adjustment to the cover was needed. Although the 350-dimple pattern (made to foster a high trajectory) stays the same, the reformulated ionomer cover is designed to make sure spin doesn’t get too high on tee shots, which could offset or outweigh the distance gains golfers want. RRP AED 210

Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

Maximising ball speed for players who don’t swing very fast has long been XXIO’s strength. That mind-set extends to this ball designed for those swinging between 75 and 95 miles per hour. A firm mantle layer is sandwiched between a soft core and cover — the idea being the alternating soft/firm/ soft layers creates the right amount of flex for each type of shot. The core is soft but gets gradually firmer toward the perimeter to deliver a high launch and lower spin. The core also helps deliver the potential for more distance when combined with the firm mantle layer. On the cover, the 338-dimple pattern promotes a high trajectory. The cover has a sidestamp with four separate visual clues to improve aim, focus and putter position. RRP AED 260 Available at eGolf Megastore, or buy online at egolfmegastore.ae

FEEL RATING (SOFT TO FIRM)

FEEL RATING (SOFT TO FIRM)

EXCLUSIVE PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES, PHOTOGRAPHY AND TIMEPIECES FROM AWARD-WINNING INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS

Limited Edition Clocks by David Galbraith

Photograph by Faisal AlRais

Beatles Songs That Were Actually About Golf

As the Open heads to Royal Liverpool, we find hidden meaning in the Beatles biggest hits

By Coleman Bentley

HERE COMES THE SUN

A euphoric George Harrison reacts to a turn in the forecast ahead of an upcoming buddies trip.

HELP!

Ringo Starr’s case of the shanks reaches a new level of desperation.

LONG, LONG, LONG

Originally penned as a protest song against golfball rollback.

FOOL ON THE HILL

John Lennon laments coming up woefully short after not accounting for slope when going for the green.

DRIVE MY CAR

The original title was “Drive My Cart,” but cart didn’t rhyme as well with “star.”

LET IT BE

Paul McCartney identifies a glaring issue with

George’s putting stroke but decides to not say anything.

HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE

Written by Paul during a phase in which he had no clue where his driver was going.

WAIT

Known as “The Ballad of Patrick Cantlay” during “Rubber Soul” recording sessions.

I AM THE WALRUS

Written as a tribute to Craig Stadler, who roadied for the Beatles in the 1960s.

FIXING A HOLE

A musical recitation of plans to add a bunker to front the 14th green at John’s home course.

AND YOUR BIRD CAN SING

Fun fact: Ringo found himself whistling the melody one day after a particularly hot stretch of birdies.

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