Golf Digest - August 2022

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AUGUST 2022

SPAIN GAIN

The Aramco Team Series returns to La Reserva Club in Spain

4 Editor’s Letter Plenty on the line as the 2022 campaigns get down to business.

54 With Open Arms It’s never been easier to get into golf, regardless of age or ability.

by matt smith

by steven troup

The Starter 6 Powerscourt GC A must-see venue where golf meets nature in Ireland. l a reserva sotogrande: tristan jones/let

by matt smith

Mind / Body

56 Starting Out Some simple tips to help first-timers get in the swing.

8 MyGolf Dubai Founder Michael Zhao taking golf to the next level in the UAE. 08

58 Beat First-Tee Jitters Adjust your focus to get your round off to a good start. by michael breed

with keely levins

59 Get Wicked With Your Wedges Hit all your shots inside 100 yards pin-high with perfect results. by tom hoge

by matthew brookes cover photograph by david cannon/getty images

18 Flying The Flag Saudi Arabia’s Faisal Salhab and Saud AlSharif set out stall for the future. by matt smith

by matt smith

by scott edwards

12 Journeys England’s Aaron Rai

52 Dubai Creek Stretch your limits to keep stability and shape in the gym.

Features

14 Aramco Series Carlota Ciganda aims for an ideal homecoming in Spain. by matt smith

22 Thailand Travel Laguna is an idyllic golfing destination in a luxury setting.

carrying a 7-wood, so why don’t you? by e. michael johnson

40 Lessons From My Major Champions What we worked on the week they won. by butch harmon

by matt smith

62 Find Your Fit How to buy a set of golf clubs.

COVER STORY

by mike stachura

26 Launch It High, Land It Soft The shot every golfer needs for scoring.

64 It Takes Two Achieve golfing bliss with your significant other.

by xander schauffele

by gabrielle herzig

32 The Hottest Club in Golf Some of the best players in the world have started

66 Keep a Clear Head For new golfers, an uncluttered mind is a beautiful thing. by keely levins

august 2022

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EDITOR’S LE TTER

Let’s get down to business The majors are done for another year, but we have plenty to look forward to with the PGA and DP World Tour finales, LIV Golf and Aramco Team Series in Spain

By Matt Smith

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T SEEMS there is no escaping the summer heat for the golfers on tour these days — even in the normally cooler climes of Europe as an unprecedented heatwave swept the continent, with temperatures soaring to heights we are more used to here in the Middle East.

The fairways on the Old Course at St Andrews in (usually rainy) Scotland were concrete hard for the 150th Open Championship as the final major of 2022 went to the ice-cool Aussie with the red-hot putter, Cameron Smith, in thrilling fashion, and poor old Rory McIlroy was forced to wait once again in his quest to end a major drought going back to 2014.

It seems strange that the major season is already at an end by July — with the schedule rejigged to condense all four into a four-month period from April 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic caused further complications.

However, that doesn’t mean the golfing action is done. Far from it. We can now look forward to the second half of the year that offers something for golf fans of all persuasions.

It seems like we have only just finished packing up the grandstands from the four-event UAE Swing, but already eyes are turning to the culmination of the DP World Tour season when the biggest names descend on Jumeirah Golf Estates once more for the 14th DP World Tour Championships. Organisers have just re-

“Already, eyes are turning to the culmination of the DP World Tour” 4

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leased tickets for the free-to-attend season finale in November, and with attendance back to full capacity, we should be in for yet another treat in the UAE as Collin Morikawa looks to defend his title.

Before all that however, the DP World Tour continues its European leg — beginning with a string of events across the UK. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all get a look in before stops at the Czech Masters and the Omega European Masters at the stunning Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Switzerland. All of which leads up to the Rolex Series BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in early September, where American Billy Horschel will be hoping to claim back-to-back triumphs over one of the DPWT’s traditionally strongest fields.

express yourself Masters champion Scottie Scheffler leads the 2022 PGA Tour FedEx Cup standings

The season long Rankings race is a tight affair with Rory McIlroy holding a narrow lead over Will Zalatoris, US Open champ Matt Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland and the resurgent Ryan Fox and all still to play for.

Over in the States, we really are at the business end of the campaign as the PGA Tour FedEx Cup play-offs and their record $15 million purses get under way in earnest with the St Jude at TPC Southwind in Memphis, followed by the BMW Championship at Wilmington Country Club in Delaware, before the PGA Tour brings the curtain down on a tumultuous 2021-22 season at the Tour Championship.

Scottie Scheffler is leading the way in the FedEx Cup standings as the world No. 1 and current Masters champ looks to sign off a

spectacular season in style. However, the likes of Smith, McIlroy, Sam Burns, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay and Justin Thomas are among a host of stars who will have their own plans to spoil that party by the time they reach East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, on August 28.

Not to be outdone, it is also a hectic time for the ladies as, following the Amundi Evian Championship in France, the cream of the Ladies European Tour and LPGA head to across the Channel to Scotland for some links play in the Trust Golf Scottish Open at Dundonald, which is the traditional warmup for the final major of the year — the AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield.

The Aramco Team Series then makes its welcome return with its third 2022 event at Sotogrande, where the likes of in-form Carlota Ciganda will be aiming for a home win in Spain against a stacked field including the likes of LPGA superstar sisters Nelly and Jessica Korda, who will be making their Aramco bow as the innovative series, where players contend for individual and team prizes, grows in popularity.

Of course, anyone who hasn’t been living under a rock will know that LIV Golf descends on Bedminster, New Jersey, for the third instalment of its Invitational Series, with its now-monthly round of rumours as to whom will be the next big names to sign up for the Saudi-backed tour in full swing once again.

Paul Casey, Henrik Stenson, Jason Kokrak and Charles Howell are the latest to be confirmed and will make their debuts at the Trump National Golf Club — lining up alongside the likes of Casey, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter.

While your guess is as good as mine as to how the rift between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour/DPWT will pan out in the long term — and who else will be a ‘LIV-er’ by the time we reach The International in Boston for round four in early September — the off-course drama will continue to be almost (almost!) as intriguing as the action on it.

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

scheffler: andrew redington/getty images • smith: tom shaw/r&a/gettyimages

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editor-in- chief Obaid Humaid Al Tayer managing partner & group editor Ian Fairservice editor Matt Smith art director Clarkwin Cruz editorial assistant Londresa Flores instruction editors Luke Tidmarsh, Euan Bowden, Tom Ogilvie, Matthew Brookes, Lea Pouillard, Alex Riggs chief commercial officer Anthony Milne publisher David Burke gener al manager - production S. Sunil Kumar production manager Binu Purandaran t h e g o l f d i g e s t p u b l i c at i o n s editor-in- chief Jerry Tarde director, business development & partnerships Greg Chatzinoff international editor Ju Kuang Tan golf digest usa editor-in- chief Jerry Tarde gener al manager Chris Reynolds editorial director Max Adler executive editor Peter Morrice art director Chloe Galkin managing editors Alan P. Pittman, Ryan Herrington (News) chief pl aying editor Tiger Woods pl aying editors Phil Mickelson, Francesco Molinari, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Tom Watson

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options open Cameron Smith has propelled himself to the top of the game thanks to his victory at the 150th Open Championship in St Andrews

GOLF DIGEST and HOW TO PLAY, WHAT TO PLAY, WHERE TO PLAY are registered trademarks of Discovery Golf, Inc. Copyright © 2021 Discovery Golf, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. Volume 72, Issue 2. GOLF DIGEST (ISSN 0017-176X) is published eight times a year by Discovery Golf, Inc. Principal office: Golf Digest, 1180 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y., 10036. Discovery Golf, Inc.: Alex Kaplan, President & GM; Gunnar Wiedenfels, Chief Financial Officer. Periodicals postage paid at New York, N.Y., and at additional mailing offices.

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NORTHERN IRELAND

Powerscourt Golf Club, County Wicklow

Ireland

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Feel the Power in Ireland

Powerscourt Golf Club in Wicklow embraces luxury, history and nature, with 36 scenic holes thrown in for good measure

I

reland has long been famed for its golf courses and Powerscourt in Enniskerry, County Wicklow, has become one of the most popular destinations for residents and tourists alike.

Opened in 1996, Powerscourt features two 18-hole championship courses which pose very different tests while remaining on the right side of challenging for golfers of all levels. Top designer Peter McEvoy created the East Course, which has recently hosted the Irish PGA Championship and the Irish Senior Open. The scenic West Course features views of the Wicklow Hills and Irish Sea to create a “sense of adventure”, according to designer David McLay Kidd.

The club is set in the 1,000-acre world-renowned Powerscourt Estate, a destination with much to offer including the award-winning Powerscourt House & Gardens, nature trails with 200-year-old giant redwoods, wildlife and the world-famous waterfall, meaning there is plenty to do for the non-golfing family members, too.

The five-star Marriott Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa is situated right next to the clubhouse, so visitors can enjoy an extended break and take in the full beauty of one of Ireland’s top attractions. –matt smith Coming up: Be sure to grab a copy of our September edition to find out about our tour of the best courses and sights in Ireland.

photograph courtesy of the club

THE

SOCIAL NETWORK

BY MATT SMITH

MyGolf founder Michael Zhao looks to create a whole new experience for the game and beyond

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as the game of golf continues to expand across the UAE, despite the ever-growing portfolio of world-class clubs and courses on offer to golfers of all abilities, there was always one drawback in this part of the world — the summer heat.

Now there is a one-stop, state-of-the-art venue for all your golfing needs while the sun cooks the courses.

Introducing MyGolf: Dubai’s first premium indoor golf and entertainment lounge where golf and community meet.

The venue is a little slice of luxury away from the glaring sun and drenching humidity — but as founder Michael Zhao explains, it offers much more besides.

While there is fine dining, live sporting action on big-screen TVs and professional coaching on hand, Zhao is attempting to create more than just another indoor simulator zone. He is aiming to build a social network where friendships can be discovered and businesses can blossom.

“We are here to build a community among golfers and non-golfers alike — especially during the summer months where traditional golf courses and clubhouses are at their most quiet here in the UAE,” explains Zhao.

Following MyGolf opening its doors in April, the venue at DragonMart 2 has seen more and more visitors come through the doors as word gets around.

“It is going great as we grow our reputation and become more and more popular,” says Zhao. “We have had so much positive feedback, with so many suggestions and requests from groups and societies — I can’t remember the last time I had a day off,” Zhao laughs.

The graft seems to be paying off, but there was no lack of hurdles in the preparation stages as

Zhao attempted to get his take on the golfing environment off the ground.

“It was far from easy to get here,” says Zhao. “It was a lot of hard work. It is never easy to introduce a new concept to any environment — especially golf, where there is so much tradition, but we are getting people understanding and appreciating where we fit in.

“The concept of indoor golfing areas is far from new and have been available across the globe, especially in Malaysia and the Far East where, like here, it can get too hot and humid to play outdoors.

“I arrived here two years ago and I was shocked to find there was nowhere like that indoors here where you could meet like-minded people like you would on the course.

“In Asia, golf is seen as a social network and, wow, it struck me to create this leisure option where business, socialising and, of course, golf could all overlap.

“This concept works elsewhere, so why not here? Especially with the heat!”

Zhao admits he is no expert at the game, given his business background, hectic schedule and a less-than-flattering handicap — but he knew his vision went far beyond the game itself.

a place for all MyGolf Dubai, the concept of Michael Zhao, left, offers comfort, fun and networking for golfers and nongolfers alike

How to get there Located in International City, the store is easily accessible from Dubai city centre to the west and Sharjah and beyond from the north. MyGolf is located at GD55-62, Dragon Mart 2.

Timings Monday to Thursday: 10am to 10pm Friday to Sunday: 10am to midnight

How it works GolfZon — the world leader in cutting-edge golf simulation — is 98 per cent accurate in re-creating ball flight and individual analytical insights to improve their game after each swing. Seasoned golfers, recreational players and children can all benefit from the comprehensive experience backed by precise technology — all comfortably away from the outside heat.

While you are practising or competing, the simulator gives you a constant feedback of statistics including ball speed, angle of launch, left or right deviation, and distance hit. It also comes with interactive scoreboards to always track your and your friends’ game.

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connecting tool for those who love life and want to create an interactive network.

“Golf creates that connection. You could get grouped on a course with some strangers but within a few holes — ‘Good shot!’, ‘What do you play off?’, ‘Where are you from?’ — you have this bond with your fellow players.

“We are aiming to do the same in a relaxing way: create lasting bonds for relationships or business.

“Whatever the connection, it could be on the simulator, in the boardroom, over a snack or even singing karaoke, it can all happen here. Non-golfers, elite golfers, beginners, mid-level players … they are all coming.”

GETTING TECHNICAL

swing in style MyGolf offers guests the chance to relax in private bays where up to six players can compete on the simulators

MyGolf Academy No golf club is complete without an academy and MyGolf is no different to help golfers reach their full potential.

Not only are there the PGA-certified instructors, MyGolf gives you instant analysis on every stroke in real time.

Lessons are available on a one-to-one basis and also in groups, catering to golfers of all ages and abilities — from beginners picking up the basics to the singlehandicappers looking to go even lower.

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“I am not great at golf and I just go to play 18 holes and have some fun,” he admits. “I love playing at Emirates Golf Club and Montgomerie, but I cannot stand the heat, and due to work constraints, I could not afford four or five hours at a time out on the fairways.

“COVID-19 helped us in one way as people were stuck indoors a lot more, and we came up with the concept of a place where you could play, meet, hold conferences and socialise in controlled numbers and private spaces.

“We have 14 indoor golfing bays that can each hold up to six players at one time. From the open bays, private bays, all the way up to VVIP rooms, we can accommodate all skill levels and requirements, be it a gathering of friends, birthday party or corporate meeting-cum-tournament.”

But back to those early hurdles…

“We had plenty of doubters to begin with who thought we did not have the resources, and we said: ‘Just give us a chance and we will prove it.’

That is what we are doing now.”

The social aspect is already taking hold, as Zhao explains: “We have a few golf societies such as the Filipino Golf Society joining us and embracing the community feel.

We have also had contact with the Emirates Golf Federation about bringing in the National Team for training when it is too hot outside. They will have all the access to our stats and telemetries to help them improve their game with our professionals.

“As I keep stressing, this is not just a golf establishment, it is a social network, just like a real club — but without the nasty weather, tee-time hassles or long hours — where people can meet, relate and create future friendships and business opportunities.”

BONDS

“Dubai is such a happening place and I wanted a society where we can all meet like-minded, interesting people,” Zhao continues: “MyGolf is a august 2022

Thanks to technological advances, MyGolf’s virtual arena offers golfers the opportunity to work out any problems with their game. The simulators are not just a ‘whack-it-at-the-screen-and-hope’ affair, with multiple high-speed cameras analysing every aspect of every shot, all under the watchful eyes of the fully trained PGA-certified professionals.

Visitors can experience more than 190 world famous courses — from St Andrews to Sawgrass, Wentworth to Augusta — thanks to the worldleading Golfzon technology.

“We are holding a tournament for the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews, where our guests could play the same course set-up, lay-out and pin position as the likes of Tiger Woods and see if they can beat the pros on a specific hole or over the entire 18,” Zhao says.

“We plan to take this global where, instead of 60 competitors in-house, we could have 600 or 6,000 globally all connected through our GolfZon interactive facilities, hooking up with other venues across the world. We are also looking at celebrity events, much like you see in other eSports arenas.”

EXPANSION

Not one to rest on his laurels, Zhao is already looking to the future and further expansion in the UAE and beyond.

“My Golf has had calls from other places in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and as far afield as Belgium with requests to open a franchise, and hopefully we can grow the game to the next level and we aim to open possibly 20-30 branches in the next two or three years,” he explains.

As for where MyGolf fits into the bigger golfing picture in the UAE, Zhao sums it up himself.

“We are not competing with the well-established, wonderful courses and clubs across the UAE, rather we are helping complete the jigsaw to give visitors a full experience year-round,” he says.

“We can never replace the real thing but we are a different animal. But if we all hold hands we can provide so much more to offer these full-on facilities to everyone.”

WE BRING CONTENT TO LIFE

motivatecreate.com | +971 4 427 3040

M

MIND / JOURNEYS

‘I Turned Pro When I Was 17.

I wasn’t ready’ I missed my first four cuts. I had a lot to learn, but I saw how accurate I was. I picked up on the little things

By Aaron Rai with Keely Levins

N

o one in my family played golf. My dad, Amrik, was a tennis player and says my tennis stroke looked more like a golf swing, so he got me plastic clubs. I played my first tournament when I was four years old. The age group was 12 and under. I had many family members watching. I won the net division and finished second gross. I played in tournaments every month after that. It didn’t take long for me to know I wanted to pursue golf.

We were a working-class family. funding for my golf. A man reached My mum, Dalvir, immigrated to England out asking if I’d try his gloves. They were all-weather, and I’d from Kenya with her famAARON RAI wear one on each hand. ily as a teenager. She has PGA TOUR I loved them. At practice, had many jobs, from menAGE 27 I forgot one and had to play tal-health nurse to aerobics LIVES WOLVERHAMPTON, with one glove. It was awinstructor. My dad was a ENGLAND ful. I’ve played with two for community worker who was born in England but whose family 20 years, still that same brand: Macwet. immigrated from India. My dad read ● ● ● golf books to learn about the swing.

Shabir Randeree, owner of the first ●●● course I joined, became a close famHe bought me a set of Titleist 690 ily friend. He funded my golf and my MBs when I was seven, which were private high school education. Junior the top Titleist clubs at that time. I memberships were inexpensive. He practised every day, in all weather. When helped me join different courses from the clubs got muddy, my dad used a pin a young age so that I would become verto clean every groove. Then he’d put satile. He’s still my sponsor now. baby oil on the face to prevent rust. He ● ● ● bought me iron covers to protect them. I turned pro when I was 17. I talked I learned early to value what I had. to my parents and Shabir. We believed ●●● turning pro was the best way to learn, For guidance, my dad leaned on even though I probably wasn’t ready.

Shaun Ball, a coach at the par-3 ● ● ● course where I practised. Ball said, It was lonely. I started on the EuroPro “Put Aaron in different situations and Tour. I missed the first four cuts. The let him figure it out.” That was empow- guys out there were longer, had more ering. When I turned 12, I started work- awareness, better strategy, smarter shot ing with Andy Proudman and Piers selection and putted better. I had a lot Ward. They still coach me. to learn, but I saw how accurate I was. ●●● I picked up on little things they did.

My dad reached out to local papers I lost my card two years in a row but got to raise awareness and maybe some it back every year at Q school.

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Finally, I finished in the top five and graduated to the Challenge Tour. In 2017, my mum came with me to a tournament in Kenya, her first time back since she was 14. She came onto the 18th green when I won. It was Mother’s Day in the UK. It was the most memorable moment of my career. ●●●

I moved up to the European Tour where I won the 2020 Scottish Open in a playoff with Tommy Fleetwood.

In golf you lose over 95 per cent of the time. Having that small percentage where it goes the other way is invaluable. I tend not to look at leaderboards.

Instead, I try to completely focus on the process at hand. ●●●

Because of my finishes in 2020, I got into the PGA Championship, two World Golf Championships and the Open Championship. I played solid, which got me into the top 200 in FedEx Cup points, which then got me into the Korn Ferry finals where I finished third and got my PGA Tour card.

It took me a couple of hours to internalise what I had done. ●●●

So far as a pro I haven’t always played well, but I’ve seen enough to know I can hang around. In the final group on Sunday at the Farmers Insurance Open with Will Zalatoris and Jason Day, the crowds were big and loud.

I need to keep putting myself in that position because you can’t simulate it. ●●●

A lot of the crowd didn’t know me.

The fact I don’t have any social media accounts probably added to that. Social media amplifies the highs and the lows.

That’s not an environment that I want to expose myself to. I don’t really see how it’s going to help my golf. ●●●

I still use iron covers. It’s the little things in life, the interactions that people have with one another, the gestures, the thoughts, the moments that reinforce character. It all adds up to build something strong. I don’t want to lose sight of what’s important.

Although I have access to plenty of equipment now, it’s the message and the meaning behind those iron covers that keep me using them.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JENSEN LARSON

ISSUE X 2022

GOLF DIGEST

X

Carlota aims to reign in Spain

“I love playing in Spain,” she told Golf Digest Middle East. “It is great to get that home support, especially just now as there are quite a few events going on and I always seem to do quite well.

When I won last year and even last week I had lots of family and lots of friends Aramco Team Series returns to Sotogrande, with around me on and off the course, so in-form Ciganda targeting more Spanish success it is always a lot of fun to aver that added element.

By Matt Smith “Playing in front of them is always great and I can’t wait to be back playing at Sotogrande in the Aramco event. arlota Ciganda is no stranger to winning in her home “The team event is a great addition. I country of Spain of late and now she has set her sights played last year in Saudi and it is a fun on adding August’s Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande time, playing in teams over the three days. So I am excited to get there and to her collection. get going.”

Having been around for more than a The 32-year-old claimed a wire-to- winning the Solheim Cup three times decade now, Ciganda is thrilled to see wire victory on home soil in the Ladies in five appearances for Team Europe.

Now she has found her way back the likes of the LET finally get the prize European Tour Estrella Damm Ladies Open outside Barcelona in July — and to the top of the podium with perfect money and recognition she believes it needed all her experience and nerve timing ahead of a key part of the 2022 has deserved for some time now, with to hold off a pack including Scotland’s season thanks to her Estrella Damm the Aramco events and Saudi funding Laura Beveridge, Swedish pair Maja victory just outside Barcelona, and help boost purses and attract the top Stark and Elin Arvidsson and Argen- nothing gives her more satisfaction players. For example, the LPGA’s sutine Magdalena Simmermacher. That and motivation than playing in her na- perstar sisters Nelly and Jessica Korda have signed up for Sotogrande at La followed up on her success at the An- tive Spain.

With two majors — the Amundi Evian Reserva Club and they will compete in dalucía Costa del Sol Open de Espana Championship in Spain and the AIG Spain for the first time. last November.

“I think that Aramco The Pamplona native burst on to Women’s Open in CARLOTA CIGANDA is great for women’s the Ladies European Tour scene with Scotland — taking AGE 32 golf,” she said. “These a flourish as she bagged the Rookie of place in quick sucLIVES PAMPLONA, SPAIN five $1 million events the Year, Player of the Year and Order of cession ahead of the HEIGHT 5 FT 8 IN (1.73 M) on the LET are great Merit titles as she made her bow in 2012 Sotogrande Aramco COLLEGE ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY for the tour and for the — claiming her first two titles in the team competition TURNED PROFESSIONAL 2011 girls, bringing in more back in Spain from Netherlands and China in the process.

PROFESSIONAL WINS 8 elite competition along Ciganda has never looked back, add- August 18 to 20, it will AWARDS the way.” ing a further six top-flight crowns on be a busy time for LET ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 2012 LET ORDER OF MERIT WINNER 2012 However, she insists the LPGA and LET series, registering Ciganda in Europe for LET PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2012 more needs to be done. five top-5 finishes in the majors, and the next month or so.

C

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY TRISTAN JONES/LET

“I would like to see more money on the LET tour. I know they have the events now, they did not have that many top-class events a couple of years ago, so if they can get some more money in to reflect that quality it would be great.

“But these five or so Aramco events are a great start in raising the standard and exposure of the women’s game.

“It is a fun format and something different, and the way we are looked after is great.”

The Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande is the third of five $1million Aramco Team Series tournaments on the LET calendar this season, following May’s Bangkok opener and June’s London event. Sotogrande will be followed by Aramco Team Series events in New York and Jeddah, all of which are played to a unique format in which three LET professionals play in teams with one amateur player.

Before all that, Ciganda will be contending at the Evian before heading to Scotland for a different challenge in the Women’s Scottish Open and the AIG Women’s Open, both played on links terrain that the Spaniard is not used to.

“I have had a few days off after winning the Estrella and now I am back practising. I am excited for the coming weeks playing in Europe as we have the Evian, which I am very excited about,” she said.

“It will be good to play the Scottish Open at Dundonald as a warm-up to the Open at Muirfield as they are both links courses. I hear Muirfield is a pretty tough course, so any preparation I can get will be good. I am excited for the challenge.”

For a Spaniard more familiar with parkland courses, it certainly will be a challenge.

“I am used to playing the tree-lined courses in Europe, but obviously sometimes you have to play the links,” Ciganda added. “It is just more creative golf. You have to know how far the ball is rolling, plus all the different bounces you can get on a links course compared to the relative flat parklands. It is a fun,

“It’s good to challenge yourself.

If you are pushing it can only be a good thing” 16

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different challenge. We are not used to it but it is good for your game to challenge yourself on different courses and set-ups. If you are pushing yourself it can only be a good thing.”

And Ciganda is ready to put her experience to good use.

“I have 10-11 years on tour now and obviously that experience helps me,” she said. “I would say the level is going up and up and it is harder to win tournaments — on the LPGA, for sure. But I still see myself with chances and I always like to win again on the LPGA. So I just keep practising and working hard so I can get another win. That is always the goal.”

With a small Armada of Spanish stars already signed up for Sotogrande, team captain Ciganda was put on the spot when asked who she would

opt for as her skipper’s pick with the likes of Nuria Iturrioz, Maria Hernandez, Carmen Alonso, Paz Marfa Sans, Elena Hualde, Elia Folch, Harang Lee, Luna Sobron Galmes, Marta Martin and Marta Perez taking part. Joining them will be Ana Peláez Triviño, the 2022 Madrid Women’s Open champion, who turned professional only a year ago at the debut Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande.

“Oh, I haven’t thought about it too much,” Ciganda confessed. “I guess I would like to play with one of the top Spanish players. It is always nice to speak the same language and have those things in common so hopefully I can get one of those girls.”

With individual and team honours to go for, regardless of whom she picks, Ciganda will be on hand to pass on her expertise and tips to the next generation.

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FLYING THE FLAG OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS, you could say Saudi Arabia has been making something of a name for itself in global golfing circles. ▶ With concerted promotional efforts and considerable backing from Golf Saudi and the Government’s Public Investment Fund, the game has expanded greatly in the Kingdom in recent times, from global events such as the LIV Golf Invitational Series, and the flagship Saudi International on the Asian Tour, to a growth in golf tourism as well as an upturn in Saudis of all ages and abilities — both male and female — taking up the game for the first time.

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SAUDI ARABIA’S FAISAL SALHAB AND SAUD ALSHARIF READY FOR NEXT STEP IN THEIR CAREERS

BY MAT T S M ITH

There are two young men who are enjoying the ride first-hand — amateur golfers Faisal Salhab and Saud AlSharif.

The pair have risen to prominence in the Middle East thanks to some outstanding performances, and their dedication to the cause is reaping dividends.

Salhab, at 24, is the slightly more experienced of the two, and his recent achievements include victory in the 2021 Saudi Open, another title at the 40th Pan Arab Championships in Cairo, second spot at the GCC Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi and a third consecutive invite to the stellar Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City.

“The game is coming together nicely,” Faisal told Golf Digest Middle East after competing at the Tillman Trophy in England in late July, where he scored a first-round 65 to top the leaderboard before settling for 15th in a talented field. “It’s still not completely there but things are going in the right direction.”

While still only 22, AlSharif is also showing similar promise, as he builds on his triumph at the Jordan Open late last year.

He has been honing his game in England alongside Salhab this past month — all under the watchful eye of Golf Saudi Senior Professional Grant Smith, who is helping mentor the duo, who are based at the Claude Harmon III Academy at Els Club in Dubai. Smith offers first-hand coaching on the boys’ travels, with three more Asian Tour events on the horizon very soon ahead of the Eisenhower Trophy — the World Men’s Amateur Team Championships — in Paris.

Thanks to their progress and Golf Saudi’s backing, Salhab and AlSharif are getting more and more opportunities to shine, with multiple events on the Asian Tour‚ including the new International Series which took them to Slaley Hall, Newcastle, for the Tour’s first-ever event in England.

“With the Asian Tour events we have been given the opportunity to play in, those have really sharpened up our game,” said AlSharif, embracing the journey the pair are on together. “Speaking of myself, they have been a very important reason behind my being comfortable out there in any tournament I have been in, or any situation I have faced, because I am now in these bigger fields with more to play for and playing alongside all these professionals.

“It is a massive plus for my game and I am so

grateful for that. It is really showing in how we both perform and also how we feel more confident and comfortable in some of the other amateur events — it is such a positive thing. We certainly don’t take it for granted and are very grateful to Golf Saudi and the Asian Tour for these opportunities.”

Salhab is happy to concur.

“What is happening with the Asian tour is great,” he added. “Especially with the International Series as it’s giving an opportunity to both me and Saud to test ourselves with some of the top players. The field was so strong in Newcastle and there was the added incentive of a spot at the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series up for grabs, which made the competition even more intense.”

Intense is also a word you could use to describe the elements in the UK for these two, who are much more used to the sunshine and warmth of the Middle East.

“The weather was certainly different,” laughed Salhab, who found the course layouts more of a challenge than the wind and rain.

“It was much colder than we were used to but very enjoyable. It is nice to escape the heat sometimes. The biggest difference were the types of courses over here, whether it would be links or heathland or parkland, it’s very different to the courses back home.”

With Golf Saudi’s links to Greg Norman’s innovative LIV Golf adventure, the series has in-

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I BELIEVE I HAVE THE GAME IT TAKES TO BE COMPETING OUT THERE. I SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. I JUST HAVE TO KEEP AT IT AND SOMETHING GOOD WILL HAPPEN – FAISAL SALHAB

BROAD HORIZONS

Faisal Salhab has been gaining vital experience at the Saudi International and Asian Tour tournaments in Europe

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of Golf Saudi’s Grant, and implemented what needs to be worked on,” explained Salhab.

“Also with the support of the national team we were able to do a training camp at Centurion in Hertfordshire, England, and keep playing events to not get too rusty.”

Soon the pair will be back in Dubai after their summer trip to the UK, but that doesn’t mean the work stops, even if the heat is unrelenting, as there are the Asian Tour’s remaining 2022 events coming up thick and fast.

“My plans over the next few weeks when I get back to the UAE are training with Jamie at Claude Harmon III Academy at the Els Club in Dubai for the upcoming Asian Tour schedule,” said AlSharif.

“We obviously haven’t seen Jamie in a while as we have been on the road, so we are heading back his way now for some prepping in Dubai. It might be in the heat, but we are used to that these days!

“We are looking forward to the fully packed schedule for the rest of the year on the Asian Tour and beyond. I feel like it is going to be a good year for all of us and, hopefully, we get a lot of chances.

But we will go out there, enjoy it and give it our best and see what happens.”

Despite the travel and hard work, Salhab is also eager to keep going.

“I’m keen to play all the International Series events on the Asian tour, also I have never competed in the Eisenhower Trophy which I’m very excited about,” he said. “There are also a few Asian Development Tour events and I am hoping to play in the Saudi international again next year. I want to use all the knowledge from the upcoming season to try to compete at that event. It would mean so much to me to do well at an event on home soil.

“I believe I have the game it takes to be competing out there. It still has not come together on the Asian Tour but I see the light at the end of the tunnel and just have to keep at it and something good will happen.”

ANYTHING ELS

Saud AlSharif is based at CH3 Academy in Dubai, where he works with Jamie McConnell

WITH THE ASIAN TOUR EVENTS WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE CHANCE TO PLAY IN, THOSE HAVE REALLY SHARPENED UP OUR GAME AND MADE US MORE CONFIDENT – SAUD ALSHARIF

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evitably caught the attention of the Saudi pair, who would love to play alongside the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Paul Casey, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed and Henrik Stenson at the ground-breaking, 54-hole tournaments in the future.

“I am very hopeful — whenever it happens — to tee it up with those guys,” said AlSharif. “They are some of the best players in the world, and LIV Golf is a very cool format, if you ask me. It would be very cool to be part of that environment.”

Salhab also thinks it is a welcome addition to the golfing calendar. “To be able to be competing in the Asian tour and in the International Series is already a bonus,” he said. “Of course, if I get the opportunity with LIV Golf, it would be incredible, and I would be interested in competing there.”

NEXT STEPS Back to the immediate future, and CH3 coach Jamie McConnell has been helping out from afar as Faisal and Saud continue their travels.

“We have done some online lessons with Jamie when being in the UK with the supervision august 2022

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Laguna:

BY MAT T SMITH

A DESTINATION TO THAI FOR

hailand has long been a popular destination for tourists from the Middle East thanks to relatively short flights, famous beaches, thriving culture and culinary delights, and with travel across the globe finally opening up once again after the COVID-19 pandemic, the South East Asian country is back on travellers’ — and golfers’ — destination wish list.

The Laguna area on the island of Phuket is perfect for those who like to play and relax, with one golf course at the top of every visiting player’s itinerary.

Laguna Golf Phuket is a must-play as it reflects the natural beauty and tropical surroundings of Bang Tao Bay, perfectly cooled by the Andaman Sea breeze. Set on the valley floor and overlooked by wooded hills and marshlands, this a resort course that will challenge players of all skill levels, while not being overdemanding to the point of frustration — allowing you to enjoy the breathtaking surroundings during and after your round.

While Laguna was redesigned in 2014 and has world-class facilities to rival the most up-to-date clubs around the globe, this is a course steeped in Thai history.

Originally called the Banyan Tree Golf Club, Laguna GP was built on a former tin mine. Dating back to the 17th century, the once mineral-rich area was a strong mining community until the late 1970s, when the industrial areas were left abandoned. Left with large gaping spaces after the mines closed, the authorities reinvented the area, filling the holes with salt water and carving golf courses into the barren landscape to create the serene, tranquil setting we see today.

By 1992, Laguna GP was open for business and quickly established itself as one of the top courses, not only in the country but the entire region.

With plenty of water hazards, tropical palms and densely wooded hills, this is one of Phuket’s most scenic courses. It is a relatively open track, however the water and strategically placed bunkers — combined with the wind — will give any player cause to consider each shot into the greens.

This is a championship course, recently the venue of two Asian Development Tour/Mena Tour events and it possesses a layout you have to ponder your way around as each hole offers a multitude of shot options.

Tiered fairways, depressions and mounds dominate play. Wide fairways are seemingly straightforward but you’ll still need to position your ball to set up scoring opportunities.

While the front nine makes use of the landscaped water features, the wooded areas come more into play on a back nine meandering through mature stands of trees. Overhanging tree lines frame most holes, with wood chip and native grasses welcoming those who stray off the fairways. The two finishing holes are a real treat, with the monster 612-yard 17th bringing water into play at least twice, and the signature par-4 18th hole a sight to behold as you return to the clubhouse.

Once the clubs are put away, the 2014 renovations can be seen. A firstclass restaurant welcomes golfers and non-golfers alike, and the luxury facilities include spa and massage LAGUNA GOLF PHUKET treatments to loosen up those achestablished 1992 ing muscles. redesigned 2014 Tennis courts and swimming pools holes 18 Holes are also available, alongside a driving par 71 yards 6,756 range and golf academy to help sort recent championship out any issues with your game. tournaments Laguna Golf Phuket’s location Mena/ADT Laguna Phuket near the airport and beaches alChallenge, May 2-5, 2022 lows visitors the ease of combining prize money: $75,000 winner: Tom Sloman golf and relaxation in a perfect holiday spot.

ALSO SEE

Aquella Golf & Country Club Golf clubs are plentiful around the reinvented Phuket coastline and Aquella Golf & Country Club — just 30 minutes away from Phuket International Airport -— is another welcome addition.

Opened in 2021, Aquella is helping bring the golf tourism market back to the island after the COVID-19 lockdown.

Designed by Australian company Pacific Golf Coast Design and opened in August last year, the new 18-hole championship layout lies at the centre of a 1.8 million square-metre developAquella Golf & ment on the shores of Country Club Phang Nga province. established 2021 Alongside a resort hoholes 18 tel, pool villas, marina, par 72 beach club, the club inyards 7,003 corporates a family-first ideal, with all the usual five-star facilities such as spa, tennis courts, swimming, gymnasium, beach and watersports and even a mini-putt course for the budding golfers of any age.

But back to the real thing.

The 7,019-yard, par-72 course features narrow, rolling fairways and cunningly placed bunkers meaning each shot calls for accuracy.

The history of the area can be seen all around the course as old railway sleepers are dotted around the boundaries to remind visitors of Phuket’s mining past.

While the course offers amazing views of the coastline from many vantage points, the signature par-3 11th is worth the visit alone, looking out across the Andaman Sea. The Approach restaurant offers a chance to refuel in lavish style in the clubhouse with decor to reflect Thai culture and modern style.

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Welcome to Laguna

As Phuket begins to welcome back tourists, the resorts in the Laguna are beginning to come alive with visitors, longing to travel and explore but there is still a peacefulness along the serene beaches as tourism is building up steadily.

Located along Bang Tao Beach, Laguna boasts seven kilometres of white powdery sand, lined with trees that create the perfect amount of shade from the midday sun and shelter from the occasional storm.

Along the beach you can find an array of watersport activities, fishing and boat trips. There are numerous restaurants and bars that line the coast, along with an array of street vendors selling scarves, hats and jewellery. In the town to the east of Bag Tao, most restaurants and bars are back open, with the familiar aromas of Thai cooking blending with the music and laughter in the air. While some tourist shops are still closed and there isn’t the same throng of people there once was, you can make the most of the peace and tranquility, as time goes on and tourists return, the area will soon be bustling once more!

WHERE TO STAY Cassia by Banyan Tree

Located along the pristine Ban Tao beach, overlooking the lagoon is Cassia Phuket. This 4-star resort is beautiful and vibrant, perfect for families and couples alike. The rooms (pictured below) are spacious, with full kitchen facilities and a cool loft space — a great hangout for teenagers or older kids. They have a games area downstairs, with pool, foosball, a reading area and arcade games. The pool is large and winds through the gardens. There’s a complimentary boat service that shuttles guests between the hotel and the sea, it runs every 15 minutes and is just a short five-minute ride to the private beach.

Everything you could possibly need is provided here, with restaurants, bars and a convenience store opposite.

Two-bed loft apartment: AED 1,575* cassia.com

Angsana Laguna

Set centrally between the two largest lagoons is the Angsana Laguna, an impressive resort with so much to offer from watersports to beachside massages. Angsana has two styles of accommodation, the large authentic Thai style villas, set over three floors, with spacious patios, with stunning views overlooking the water. Then there are the beachfront apartments, super modern, tastefully decorated and spacious. These apartments are perfect for those looking for something truly impressive that, at the same time, has every home comfort.

The kitchen is sophisticated and fully equipped, the utility room and laundry facilities, however, the utmost luxury is the large swimming pool which is on the balcony.

Angsana has a variety of top-class restaurants, the casual but equally flavourful Baan Talay, on the beachfront and Bodego & Grill is a mix of barbecue grills, seafood and Italian, there is something for everyone.

Two-bed pool suite with lagoon views: AED 2,595* angsana.com/thailand/laguna-phuket/accommodation 24

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clockwise from left: Main pool at Banyan Tree Phuket; Signature two-bed pool villa at Banyan Tree Phuket; two-bed pool suite with lagoon view at Angsana Laguna; aerial shot of Angsana Laguna

MUST-DO ACTIVITIES Island trip — Book a half-day or full-day excursion, with hotel transfers to the south of Phuket.

Sit back and unwind while sailing over to one of the islands — such as Ko Lon, Ko Bon, Ko Kaeo Yai, Ko Kaeo Noi and Ko He — where you can enjoy waterspors like kayaking, paddle boarding, parasailing and snorkeling. Later, you can relax while watching the sun set with panoramic views and enjoy an evening meal on board.

Blue Tree Phuket — Just a nineminute drive from Laguna is Blue Tree, a fun-filled entertainment park with shops and restaurants.

A resort style water park, with artificial beaches, cliff jumps, zip wires, slides, obstacle course and skate park. There is also a ‘Kids Planet’ zone, where the younger ones can interact and make new friends and allow mum and dad a bit of peace and quiet.

Bangla Road — Located in Patong, famous for its bars and nightlife entertainment. Patong is a 30-minute drive from The Laguna or 45 minutes from Phuket International Airport.

Street food — Found on every corner and even along the beaches are vendors selling freshly made pancakes, satay and sweetcorn, they are cheap, clean and extremely tasty!

Banyan Tree Phuket

There is just one word for this resort: spectacular! Banyan Tree feels like another world as it stretches alongside the saltwater lagoon, with picturesque scenery set amongst lush, tropical greenery. Each guest is given a bicycle to get around the resort, from your private villa to the restaurants, beach or pool. The villas themselves are contemporary with traditional Thai decor, beautiful large rooms, indoor and outdoor showers, a private pool and garden. Staying here, you will realise why Thailand is known to be the ultimate, relaxation destination.

For golfing enthusiasts, the Banyan Tree has its own 18hole golf course, Laguna Golf Phuket and if golf isn’t your thing, you can enjoy stand up paddle boarding, a gym, spa and lazy river.

Foodies should not miss the exclusive private dining experience, the chef will come to your villa, lay the table, prepare, cook and serve a huge variety of Thai salads, grilled meats and seafood, finishing off with a tempting dessert. Absolutely exceptional.

Signature two-bed pool villa: AED 3,528* banyantree.com/thailand/phuket/accommodation/villas *prices are based on two-night stay for two adults and two children

LAUNCH LAUNCH LAUNCH LAUNCH IT HIGH IT HIGH ITLAND HIGH IT HIGH LAND LAND LAND IT SOFT IT SOFT ITITSOFT SOFT

I’LL TEACH YOU THE SHOT EVERY GOLFER NEEDS FOR SCORING

BY XANDER SCHAUFFELE PHOTOGRAPHS BY DYLAN COULTER

S Some of the amateur golfers I play with are happy just to hit the ball in the general direction of their target. But when you become skilled enough to start shaping shots based on the situation, the one you have to learn is the high fade.

It’s really reliable for holding greens — especially from longer distances, which is where I use it a lot. I’m going to give you some tips for how to produce this ball flight, whether you’re swinging a middle or long iron, a hybrid or a fairway wood.

You’re going to love how it launches high and lands soft.

—with RON KASPRISKE 28

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Prepare to launch There is more than one way to execute this shot, but for me, two keys happen at address. I play the ball farther forward in my stance than normal. I’m not talking off the lead heel like you might do for a driver, but definitely farther forward than centre in your stance. This can help shallow your approach into the ball, which raises the trajectory. The other thing I do is set up a little open in relation to my target. For righties like me, that means my feet and body are aligned a little open, to the left of my target (above). This tweaks my swing path just enough so the clubface is open to it as I strike the ball. That combination creates the left-to-right spin you’re after.

Load up going back When you play the ball farther forward, the tendency is to stay stacked and static—meaning your weight distribution in the backswing hardly changes from what it was at address. For the highand-soft fade, you’ve got to make sure to get a good bit of your weight to the right side as you take the club back. It’s not like you’re going to hang back there during the downswing, but to set up the right angle of attack into the ball, I get 80 to 90 per cent of my weight on my right side when I reach the top of the swing. You’ll notice that my body doesn’t sway outside of my right foot (below, right). You’ve got to move off the ball and feel like you’re loading up to throw a big punch, but don’t drift away from the target. See how far you can wind up without swaying. You can even flare your trail foot to get a deeper turn.

THE MORE YOU WIND UP, THE MORE SPEED YOU CAN GENERATE AND THAT HELPS LAUNCH THE BALL SUPER HIGH.

I SHIFT INTO MY LEAD SIDE, BUT MY HEAD STAYS BACK SO I CAN PICK IT OFF THE TURF.

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Shift, then sweep You loaded up in the backswing, which is great, but you can’t hit this shot if you don’t get your weight moving forward as you start the throughswing. Push into your lead leg (far left) to make sure you’re not hitting this shot off your back foot — which would likely result in a low or topped shot. After you push into the lead leg, your goal is to sweep the ball off the turf (middle left). That means no deep divots!

Then keep swinging, letting your hands and club wrap around you nice and high (near left).

Combined with everything you did earlier in the setup and backswing, the ball will take off to your left with good height and then float down a little to the right. I’m telling you that if you get good at this shot, you’re going to have plenty of par and birdie opportunities.

Schauffele, winner of seven PGA Tour events, the high-profile JP McManus Pro-Am and gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, led the tour in proximity to the hole from the rough from 200 to 225 yards last year and is second this season in approaches from 175 to 200 yards.

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BY E MICHAEL JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPH BY DOM FURORE HEADCOVER BY DORMIE WORKSHOP

Arne Thomas remembers the moment three years ago when he realised he had found a valuable addition to his bag.

Playing Oakmont Country Club where he carries a 2.4 Handicap Index, Thomas stood 205 yards out on the slightly uphill par-5 ninth.

The hole was playing into a breeze with the pin behind the front-right bunker.

Lengthy shots into firm, undulating greens require two things seemingly at odds with each other. They need to be hit long and with sufficient height to stop quickly on the green. The club Thomas pulled from his bag: a 7-wood.

“When that ball went up in the air and landed so softly on the green, it amazed me,” says Thomas, who is 56 and lives in Sewickley, Pennsylvania. “I had never been able to go after that pin before. I had to play left of the sand and try to run it up with a 4-iron. I can scoot a long

iron the same total distance, but the carry distance and height of the 7-wood allows me to hold greens I would otherwise be rolling over. It has become my go-to club.”

“Go-to club” is a seismic shift from the days when just about any male golfer daring to use one would be subjected to ridicule. Today, however, it is difficult to find a manufacturer of fairway woods that does not include an option at 21 degrees (the typical 7-wood loft) or higher in its line-up. The club has gone from a novelty to a necessity for many golfers.

Data collected by the golf-stat-tracking company Arccos reveals how much a 7-wood can benefit golfers of all abilities. The company measured the greens-inregulation percentage for players using a 7-wood and a 3-hybrid (the most logical comparison club) across handicap ranges (scratch to

25-handicapper) and distances (140 to 220 yards).

The 7-wood’s greens-inregulation percentage was higher in 28 of 40 instances (70 per cent).

Like many trends in golf equipment, adoption on the PGA Tour has helped accelerate the momentum with amateurs. Five years ago only a handful of 7-woods were in play on the PGA Tour, but today about 25 per cent of tour players have one in the bag. Although about a third of the field still uses a hybrid and another third of the field a 2- or 3-iron on any given week, the 7-wood is closing in fast, and regular golfers are noticing.

“When people found out Dustin Johnson was using one, it took away a lot of the stigma and hesitation,” says Chris Marchini of the retail chain Golf Galaxy. “It opened up the dialogue with a lot of our customers.”

MANY OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE WORLD CARRY A 7-WOOD, SO WHY DON’T YOU?

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PRO TIP #1

Johnson is just one of several elite players who carry a 7-wood. Adam Scott, Cameron Smith and Joaquin Niemann have 7-woods. Patrick Cantlay’s clutch 7-wood shot led to an eagle in the final round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, and Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele use 7-woods for certain courses.

JJ VanWezenbeeck, director of player promotions for Titleist, says the 7-wood has increased in popularity among the game’s best for a few reasons. “Majorchampionship-type set-ups or courses with four par 5s bring in part of the experimentation,” he says. “But sometimes players such as Max Homa put a 7-wood in play, get a win, and other players are like, Oh my gosh, this club can do so much.”

The PGA Tour has always been to some extent a copycat tour. A two-time major champion like Johnson playing one catches the attention of other players, or someone will play with another tour pro and see him pull a club out and hit a shot he wasn’t expecting. “When they’re told it’s a 7-wood, it piques their interest, and that’s when we get the phone calls saying, ‘Hey, I played with so and so, and I’d like to try one.’ That happens a lot,” VanWezenbeeck says.

Ease of use is another big reason. Although many would consider a hybrid easier to hit than a 7-wood, Kenton Oates, PGA Tour rep for Ping, disputes this. “The 7-wood is an easier club to spin than a hybrid,” he says.

“It has a higher peak flight than a hybrid, and it’s more consistent for left-to-right ball flights, especially with

SWING LIKE IT’S A MIDDLE IRON

“One of the main mistakes players make with a 7-wood is setting up as if they were about to hit a driver — with a forward ball position and tilted shoulders,” says CJ Nafus, a Golf Digest Best Young Teacher. “You should set up with the same ball position as a middle iron, with the ball below the logo on your shirt. When you swing, keep your shoulders pretty level (above). The attack angle at impact should be level to slightly downward.”

INSTRUCTION PHOTOGRAPHS BY STEVE BOYLE

sponding iron, not a 7-wood.

A 7-wood head is considerably larger than a hybrid, making it much more forgiving with a moment of inertia (which increases stability and mitigates ball-speed loss on mis-hits) that is significantly higher.

The success of those using a 7-wood is undeniable. At last year’s Ryder Cup, six players used 7-woods. Since the start of 2022, six winners have had one in play the week they won. Players aren’t simply using 7-woods; they’re flourishing with them.

Johnson had a 21-degree TaylorMade SIM Max 7-wood in the bag when he won the 2020 Masters at Augusta National and had a perfectly logical reason for why one of the longest hitters on tour used such a club. “I looked at a 5-wood, but it kept going too far,” Johnson says.

“The 7-wood goes 255 to 260 with the height I need. It fit a specific yardage gap. I put it in play in the middle of 2020, and it’s been in the bag since. The 7-wood gives me a little more ammunition to bring one in high and soft on the greens.”

Playability is one reason for an uptick in 7-wood usage, but advancements in golf-club and golf-ball technology also have played a role. Tour-calibre balls continue down a path of less spin. Although this is good for driver distance, it isn’t always good when trying to hold a green from long range. “High launch, low spin” has become almost as much a part of golf lexicon as “fore,” but the reality is that golfers with slow to average swing speeds often benefit from more spin to help keep the ball in the air and en-

PRO TIP #2

how we tend to build them for our tour staff. We often build 7-woods an inch shorter than typical — 41 inches instead of 42. We then use the hosel adjustment and put it in the big minus or small minus loft setting. For all intents and purposes, we’re building a 6-wood in loft and a 9-wood in length.”

Still, convincing players to switch to a 7-wood isn’t necessarily easy. Oates says Niemann, who played a hybrid as an amateur and then as a professional, was difficult to persuade. But then in 2020, the tour played backto-back weeks at Muirfield Village. After playing the first week in the Workday Charity Open, Niemann came to Oates before the Memorial seeking a higherlofted hybrid because he couldn’t hold the firm greens from 250 yards out — a shot needed because of Muirfield Village’s four par 5s. “I told him he needed a 7-wood, and he looked at me like I had three heads,” Oates says.

“He’s like, ‘I am not playing a 7-wood’ because he was afraid the ball would go too high. But we convinced him to hit it, and he loved it, and now it’s not even course dependent. He plays it every week.”

The 7-wood has other important advantages. It’s better than a hybrid or utility iron from the rough. With its longer shaft, the 7-wood launches higher and spins more. That’s vital because playing out of the rough reduces launch and spin. It’s also more forgiving. When golfers talk about how forgiving hybrids are, they are comparing them to the corre-

USE IT LIKE A CHIPPER

“If you hate tight-lie chip shots, you’ll love your 7-wood as an alternative,” says Nafus, director of instruction at Roxiticus Golf Club in Mendham, New Jersey. “Choke down almost to the shaft [above], then do everything else like you would with your putter — from grip to ball position to stroke. When you hit the ball, it will come off hance carry distance. with a bit of loft and then The 7-wood has other run out like a putt. It’s a technological advantages perfect shot for chasing over a hybrid or a long iron. it to a back pin.”

The larger size provides a

larger — and likely springier — hitting area and room for a low and deep centre of gravity that can boost dynamic loft. The longer shaft should generate additional clubhead speed, and the bulge and roll

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MAKE A STABLE SWING FROM FAIRWAY SAND

“If you don’t have a lip to contend with, a 7-wood works great from flat fairway-bunker sand,” Nafus says. “To flush one from here, choke up half an inch on the grip, stand about an inch farther from the ball than you would from the fairway, and avoid digging in with your feet. These adjustments help prevent the club from taking too much sand when you swing. I don’t change my ball position from a stock shot — under the logo on my shirt — but I try to keep my lower body more quiet than normal for stability. Note how grounded my feet are [above].”

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to push the 7-wood hard to our staff. It’s to his credit we have so many in play today.”

Marchini says he noticed an increase in the 7-wood’s popularity among average golfers about a year ago. “We have a large group of relatively new golfers ready to get fit and build a bag specifically for them,” he says. “A lot of fitters are suggesting a 5-wood/7-wood combination instead of 3-wood/5-wood.

We had a hard time keeping them in stock in our stores.”

As much as the industry wants to tell golfers to hit hybrids, a lot of players can’t hit them successfully.

Those with a sweeping swing in particular struggle. Also, golfers have gotten more educated over the past several years. They are paying attention to where the gaps exist in the bag, and loft fitting now is critical to get those yardage gaps correct.

In short, the 7-wood is not a fad; it’s a trend. “I would say for middle- to high-handicap players, a 7-wood is almost a necessity,” says Ken Morton Jr, vice president of retail and marketing for Haggin Oaks, a Golf Digest 100 Best Clubfitter. “‘Loft is your friend’ is a phrase we use a lot today.”

That wasn’t the case 35 years ago when before the 1987 Skins Game at PGA West in La Quinta, California, Lee Trevino visited the TaylorMade plant and saw an odd-looking prototype metalwood in a barrel with the number 7 stamped on it.

“That little club turned out to be the best stick I ever had,” Trevino told Golf Digest in 2009. “I could hit it high or low, draw or fade it, hit it 165 yards or 210, all with barely changing my swing. I hit a 190-yard fairway-bunker shot over water to five feet on the ninth

PRO TIP #4

on the face of a 7-wood (compared to an iron with a flatter face) produces a gear effect that brings toe and heel hits back toward the centre.

VanWezenbeeck cites Lanto Griffin as an example of a player who immediately saw the advantages. Griffin put a Titleist TSi2 7-wood in play at the US Open at Torrey Pines expecting it to be a one-week fix to combat the juicy rough. What Griffin found was far more than that. “He talked about how the 7-wood allowed him to make a normal golf swing and create so much elevation that he could attack par 5s differently than he did before,” VanWezenbeeck says.

“Before, he carried a 2-iron, and though he believed that was a great club off the tee, he found himself having to overthink shots and alter his swing on approaches into par 5s. With the 7-wood he believes he can make a normal, iron-like swing, launch it high, and if he hits a high cut, it comes in really, really soft.”

Although the increase in tour usage seems fairly recent, Oates says it dates back nearly three decades, when Christian Peña, Ping’s tour operations manager, championed the club. Peña played professionally in the early 1990s and early 2000s, mostly in Asia. He won three events and made the cut in the 1995 US Open and often used a 7-wood. He knew its value to professional golfers. As a Ping tour rep at the 2013 US Open at Merion, Peña walked the course and decided to build every one of the company’s staff players a 7-wood. “Only a couple of guys put it in play that week,” Oates says. “But he continued

PLAY IT MIDDLE FROM THE ROUGH

“The 7-wood can help you escape bad lies, like punching out of deep grass while keeping it under tree branches,” Nafus says. “To hit this shot, play the ball centred in your stance and choke up an inch [above].

Make a three-quarter backswing, but don’t chop down. The ball hole at that Skins Game—a position takes care of shot I couldn’t possibly have the steeper attack angle. played with an iron. There’s It will fly low with plenty no sense trying to squeeze of runout.”

something out of your swing if you can let your clubs do the shotmaking for you.”

Arne Thomas, numerous tour pros and a host of everyday golfers are starting to find out exactly what Trevino is talking about.

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CLUBS TO ACHIEVE BLAST OFF THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF VIABLE OPTIONS FOR GOLF’S NEW ‘IT’ CLUB Harvey Penick once said that in golf your strengths and weaknesses will always be there, but if you can improve your weaknesses, you will improve your game.

The legendary instructor was stressing the need to practice parts of the game in need, but his advice applies to putting the right equipment in your bag, too.

The range of 7-wood options available today — seven shown here — makes this easier.

There is a 7-wood to fit every type of golfer: from compact heads made for better players

CALLAWAY ROGUE ST MAX HEAVENWOOD, RRP AED 1,750

The 20-degree model with a 4-wood-length shaft is designed to minimise excessive spin. Bars behind the face stiffen the body, allowing for more face flex.

to larger and shallower ones to help get the ball in the air.

Skilled players with fast swing speeds will likely hit a 7-wood just as far as the equivalent hybrid — only higher.

Golfers who swing 90 miles per hour or less should hit the 7-wood farther. Why? Fairway woods tend to create more ball spin than hybrids. This helps produce more carry, especially for the slowest swing speeds.

In other words, it’s a good bet to improve your weakness.

TAYLORMADE STEALTH, RRP AED 1,575

TITLEIST TSI2, RRP AED 1,450

Modern technology in a classy-looking head: The TSi2 7-wood checks in at 21 degrees but has a 16-way adjustable hosel that allows loft to be moved higher or lower and the lie angle to be adjusted flatter or more upright.

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The compact 21-degree clubhead appeals to better players and tour pros such as Dustin Johnson. Turf interaction is paramount for a fairway wood, and the V-shaped sole provides help here.

The cut-through sole slot also delivers a nice distance boost.

in association with

COBRA LTDX, RRP AED 1,395

CLEVELAND LAUNCHER XL HALO, RRP AED 1,145

The large, non-adjustable 21-degree head combines with a low-profile face to deliver a low centre of gravity that makes launching shots high a breeze.

Cobra offers a 22.5-degree club in its LTDx and LTDx Max models. The difference: The LTDx is more forgiving with a weight chip in the rear, and the Max pushes weight toward the heel to help mitigate a slice. Cobra’s hallmark sole rails help the club glide through the turf.

PING G425 MAX, RRP AED 1,750

PXG 0311 XF GEN5, RRP AED 1,945

This adjustable 22-degree model gets its speed from a high-strength maragingsteel-alloy face insert, and the squared-off face offers more hitting area.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY DOM FURORE

This 20.5-degree model can be adjusted plus or minus 1.5 degrees.

The rear tungsten weight provides stability on off-centre strikes and assists with launch.

Want even more height?

Try the 9-wood.

JULY/AUGUST 2022

GOLF DIGEST

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WHAT WE WERE WORKING ON THE WEEK THEY WON. THESE TIPS WILL HELP YOU, TOO

BY BUTCH HARMON PHOTOGRAPHS BY J.D. CUBAN

2002 US OPEN BETHPAGE BLACK TIGER WOODS 67-68-70-72 (-3) PHIL MICKELSON 70-73-67-70 (E) JEFF MAGGERT 69-73-68-72 (+2) SERGIO GARCIA 68-74-67-74 (+3)

Working with Tiger Woods at the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach wasn’t exactly a hard day at the office.

I don’t think he made a swing all week that gave me pause. How many ways can you say, “Looks great. Love it.” We knew it was coming. The week before, Tiger played at Rio Secco in Las Vegas, where I have my school, and shot 64 with the wind blowing 30 to set the course record. That win at Pebble, by 15 shots, was a snapshot of a player in complete control.

Of course, that’s Fantasyland.

Even top players, Tiger included, sometimes need tweaks to get back on track. That can come in practice sessions leading up to an event or (dare I say) between rounds. When one of my players is struggling during a competitive stretch, I try to lead him back to where he’s had success.

I look at it as maintenance, regaining a feel. It isn’t teaching. It’s coaching.

I always stress preparation for the majors. Getting their swings and ball-striking in shape is a given. I’m talking about practising shots they’ll need on that course, or adjusting their set make-up. If we’re grinding over swing mechanics on site at a major, that’s not going to end well.

Same goes for you: When the stakes are high, trust what has worked.

I’ve learned that my key role with players is to be sure of what I’m asking them to do and to convince them that it’s right. I try to be straightforward and always positive. My job is to get them believing they can win. I’m going to tell you about some times when they did and what we worked on in the weeks, days or hours before it was time to play. —with peter morrice 42

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TIGER WOODS MATCHING IT UP AT IMPACT

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hen a player is leading the US Open after each of the first three rounds, like Tiger was at Bethpage Black in 2002, you can usually assume he wants to just keep things rolling. Not Tiger. He never had much patience for hitting shots he didn’t like, and when he walked off the course on Saturday, he promptly skipped his media interviews and said to me: “We’ve got to fix something. I don’t care if we’re out here in the dark.”

The problem was his driving. He was getting the club stuck behind his body on the downswing and had to use his hands to catch it up by impact.

If he was a little late, he’d block the ball to the right; a little early, and he’d hook it. The culprit was his hips. He could flash them through so fast that the club would sometimes fall behind.

He needed to slow down his hip turn. The good news was, this was something we’d worked on before.

Keeping his right heel down longer

woods : john biever / sports illustrated via getty images

NICK FALDO 70-76-66-73 (+5)

YOUR TIP: SWING ONE-HANDED FOR A BETTER PATH

• I don’t see many

into impact kept his hips in check, giving him time to get the club back in front of him, like I’m demonstrating (right). We started with slow-motion swings, not letting that heel come up until the club went through the ball.

Then he slowly added speed until he could do it full-bore.

Tiger felt better with the driver on Sunday and beat runner-up Phil Mickelson by three strokes. Swing tinkering before a final round can be tricky, but this was the greatest player of his time, maybe all-time, and he wasn’t going to have it any other way.

average golfers whose hips are turning too fast, like Tiger’s were.

Most amateurs are too aggressive with the upper body as they start down. When the back shoulder lurches toward the ball too soon, it pushes the club with it, setting up an out-to-in swing path through impact. If you fight a slice, this is most likely something you do.

To calm down your shoulders, try making some right-hand-only practice swings with your left hand placed on your right shoulder (above). When you change direction at the top, apply a little pressure on the shoulder to keep it from shifting outward.

When you try this drill, remember to swing slow at first, like Tiger did, to get a feel for it. Then pick up speed once your shoulder is under control.

You’ll learn to keep the club to the inside and hit straighter drives, maybe even draw it.

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2013 OPEN CH’SHIP MUIRFIELD PHIL MICKELSON 69-74-72-66 (-3) HENRIK STENSON 70-70-74-70 (E) IAN POULTER 72-71-75-67 (+1) ADAM SCOTT 71-72-70-72 (+1) LEE WESTWOOD 72-68-70-75 (+1)

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or most of his career, Phil was exclusively a high-ball hitter. His long, flowing swing, with a lot of release through impact, naturally gets the ball up. But a year or two before he won the Open Championship at Muirfield in 2013, he started experimenting with flighting the ball down with short irons and wedges.

He did it by holding off his release in an abbreviated follow-through, with his arms finishing out in front of him.

I always told Phil I thought he could win an Open Championship.

For a player with so much touch and creativity, he was underperforming on links courses because of his high 44

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ball flight in the wind. By the spring of 2013, he was comfortable flighting down his short approaches. We needed to put that same action into his swings with longer clubs.

Our practice sessions focused on getting more on top of the ball on the downswing—I call it “covering the ball.” Also, bowing his lead wrist through impact (right). Phil’s feel for this was turning down his lead hand — the right hand for a lefty — with the logo on his glove pointing toward the target.

Phil won the Scottish Open the week before Muirfield, then birdied four of the last six holes at the Open to surge ahead and win by three.

mickelson : andy lyons / getty images

PHIL MICKELSON PLAYING UNDER THE WIND

1993 OPEN CH’SHIP ROYAL ST GEORGE’S GREG NORMAN 66-68-69-64 (-13) NICK FALDO 69-63-70-67 (-11) BERNHARD LANGER 67-66-70-67 (-10) COREY PAVIN 68-66-68-70 (-8) PETER SENIOR 66-69-70-67 (-8)

YOUR TIP: GRIP IT SPLIT-HANDED TO CURE A SLICE

•

Practising on a sideslope is great for slicers, who typically swing too up and down and need more of a baseball-swing feel.

Like Greg, you might struggle to find a practice spot, so here’s a substitute drill you can do anywhere. Grip the club with a small gap between your hands and make swings.

You’ll instantly feel your left elbow fold in the follow-through and your right forearm rotate over it (above). That will help you square the face and lose the slice.

norman : john iacono / sports illustrated via getty images

GREG NORMAN SWINGING ON THE ARC

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reg was the best driver I’ve ever seen with a wooden club. He could hit it 300 yards in the air and place it wherever he wanted in the fairway.

But he did have one recurring swing fault: He’d release the club out too much, instead of letting it arc around his body in the follow-through. That could produce an untimely hook.

Early in the week of the 1993 Open Championship at Royal St George’s, I could see Greg’s release was getting too outward. He needed to finish more around to the left. The best way to feel a more rounded follow-through is to hit balls on a sideslope with the ball

above your feet (left). One afternoon, we looked around and found a sidehill lie near the equipment vans. After a few minutes, the crowds found us, and one of the tournament officials tried to move us, saying he could not provide security off the practice area.

Greg said: “I have my own security— Butch and Tony (Tony Navarro was his caddie). I need to stay right here and practise for a while.”

In a short time, Greg had a good feel for releasing more around his body.

His driving was phenomenal that week, and his 64 on Sunday to win is still the best round of golf I’ve ever witnessed. august 2022

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2016 US OPEN OAKMONT DUSTIN JOHNSON 67-69-71-69 (-4) JIM FURYK 71-68-74-66 (-1) SHANE LOWRY 68-70-65-76 (-1) SCOTT PIERCY 68-70-72-69 (-1) SERGIO GARCIA 68-70-72-70 (E)

DUSTIN JOHNSON FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE FADE

D

ustin is clearly an elite athlete: 6-foot-4, super flexible with speed to burn.

But what makes him a tremendous player is as much his attitude as any physical gifts. I’m talking about how he chooses to motivate himself — and when.

Remember the final green of the 2015 US Open at Chambers Bay? Dustin was on in two on the par 5, but then three-putted from 12 feet when a two-putt would have forced a playoff with Jordan Spieth. A lot of people 46

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asked me if DJ would be OK, would he get over it? The truth is, he was fine.

He dismissed it quickly. To him, it was a fluke, and he let it go, choosing not to make it a motivator.

When Dustin was leading down the stretch at the US Open the next year at Oakmont, people were wondering if he could close out a major. Let me promise you, he was focused on the task in front of him, not about what had happened the year before. In fact, it was driving, not putting, that decided the winner that week.

In the months before Oakmont, I was working with DJ on playing a fade off the tee. Our process was simple: Aim the clubface where you want the ball to end up, then align your body to the left and swing where your body is aimed (opposite page, bottom right). The ball would start left and slide back to the target. He’d hit it great in practice but would go back to his draw in competition.

Then, one day he called me after a casual round back home in Florida.

He said he hit a fade off every tee that

johnson : robert beck / sports illustrated via getty images

BRANDEN GRACE 73-70-66-71 (E)

YOUR TIP: USE YOUR SET-UP TO DRAW IT, TOO

•

day and played great. He went on to say something like: “You know, I think that’s the shot for me. I’m going to go with it,” as if he just discovered a new idea. I laughed. That day he got his motivation.

Dustin won the 2016 US Open by three strokes, leading the field in driving distance at 317 yards, nearly 10 yards longer than the next player, Justin Thomas. He can still move the ball any way he wants, but clearly the fade has become his go-to shot. (He also won the 2020 Masters hitting mostly fades.) When Dustin drives it well, he is the best player in the world.

I taught Dustin to fade the ball the way Jack Nicklaus used to do it. I call it a “release fade,” because you’re not trying to hold the clubface open to make the ball fade — that move often leads to a slice. Instead, you set the face open at address, relative to where your body is aimed, and then make your normal swing. It’s like hitting a straight shot. The only difference is that your body is aimed more to the left of the target.

To hit a draw, which I know most of you would love to do, just reverse the positions. You still aim the clubface where you want the ball to finish, but now you align your body to the right (above). Then, when you swing along your body lines, the ball starts to the right and curves to the left. Whichever shot you choose to play, remember that you don’t have to try to manipulate the face at impact. In effect, the set-up creates the shot shape you want.

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2019 US OPEN PEBBLE BEACH GARY WOODLAND 68-65-69-69 (-13) BROOKS KOEPKA 69-69-68-68 (-10) JON RAHM 69-70-70-68 (-7) CHEZ REAVIE 68-70-68-71 (-7) JUSTIN ROSE 65-70-68-74 (-7) XANDER SCHAUFFELE 66-73-71-67 (-7)

A

couple of weeks before the 2019 US Open at Pebble Beach, Gary came to see me because he was hitting a “double cross” with his driver. He plays a fade, so he was setting up open, but his shots were starting left and then hooking. The issue was his backswing. He wasn’t getting enough turn, so he was forcing the downswing with his hands and arms, which closed the clubface. Swinging left with a shut face is not a move you want to take to the US Open.

After a few swings, I could see Gary was locked up in his hips. He needed to turn his right hip out of the way going back, so I gave him 48

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a tip I learned from Greg Norman: right pocket back. Greg used to call it “R.P.B.” The feeling is to turn your front-right pocket behind you (right).

When Gary tried it, his lower-body turn instantly increased, which allowed him to stretch his overall turn. He didn’t feel the need to rush down, so the clubface started coming in a little open. His fade was back.

I saw Gary early in the week at Pebble and asked him how he was doing. He said the driver was working great, and he didn’t need me. That little tweak changed his ball flight by 30 or 40 yards. He looked confident on the tee all four rounds and won by three over Brooks Koepka.

woodland : warren little / getty images

GARY WOODLAND ADDING MORE TURN

2009 OPEN CH’SHIP TURNBERRY STEWART CINK 66-72-71-69 (-2) TOM WATSON 65-70-71-72 (-2) LEE WESTWOOD 68-70-70-71 (-1) CHRIS WOOD 70-70-72-67 (-1) LUKE DONALD 71-72-70-67 (E) MATHEW GOGGIN 66-72-69-73 (E)

S

tewart has one of the longest, widest swing arcs on the PGA Tour. He does a great job extending his arms on the backswing and making a full turn to the top, which equates to big distance. (Last year, at 48, he averaged 307 yards off the tee to rank in the top 30 on tour.)

In the days preceding the 2009 Open Championship at Turnberry, Stewart was not turning his shoulders like normal. He was extending his arms, but because his turn was reduced, the backswing was too upright — and he was getting narrow on the downswing. As a result, he had to back up coming into the ball to shallow out his swing.

On the practice tee at Turnberry, we worked on getting him to turn his left shoulder behind the ball (below). Stewart could easily do it; he just needed some reps. We did a lot of slow-motion swings to ingrain the shallower downswing. (With less flexible players, I have them think about turning the chest over the right knee to load behind the ball.)

Stewart famously outlasted Tom Watson that week. Tom had a chance to win a major championship at 59 years old, which would have been an unimaginable feat, but Stewart beat him in a four-hole aggregate playoff to take home the Claret Jug.

cink : ross kinnaird / getty images

RETIEF GOOSEN 67-70-71-72 (E)

STEWART CINK SHALLOWING OUT

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2016 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP BALTUSROL JIMMY WALKER 65-66-68-67 (-14) JASON DAY 68-65-67-67 (-13) DANIEL SUMMERHAYS 70-67-67-66 (-10) BRANDEN GRACE 70-68-66-67 (-9) BROOKS KOEPKA 68-67-66-70 (-9) HIDEKI MATSUYAMA 69-67-67-68 (-9)

YOUR TIP: WORK ON YOUR FINISH TO STRIPE IT

•

Extending through impact worked for Jimmy, but feeling anything when the club is speeding at 100-plus miles an hour can be a challenging task.

That said, getting the right side through is a great thought for any golfer, so here’s another take on it: Swing to a finish where your right shoulder is closer to the target than anything else (above). Sometimes trying to reach a destination can help you clean up your positions along the way.

J

immy has always had an old-school swing with a lot of knee drive into the ball, which causes him to tilt away from the target through impact and make a more handsy release than you see in most top players today.

It’s a powerful move, but he can get into trouble with too much backward tilt, requiring precise timing with his hands to square the clubface. In our practice sessions before the 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol, we saw that he needed to reduce the spine tilt and get his body more centred through the strike.

A good feel for Jimmy was to really 50

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extend his right arm out to the target through impact (left). Doing that literally pulled him off his right side, preventing him from leaning back too much. The image was as if he were going to shake hands with the target, stretching out his right hand as the club swung through. Jimmy had to feel like his right arm and shoulder were staying higher through impact, not dropping down with his upper body backing up.

He got the gist of it very quickly and hit the ball beautifully at Baltusrol to claim a one-shot victory over Jason Day, who was the world No. 1 at the time. Go, Jimmy!

walker : andy lyons / getty images

JIMMY WALKER EXTENDING THROUGH IMPACT

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BODY / OFF-SE ASON FITNESS

CREATE A CHAIN REACTION Mobility, stability as crucial as strength work in gym

By Matthew Brookes

WATCH THE VIDEO ▶ Tap/click here to watch Matt bring this lesson to life.

off-season training should not consist of just strength training. As I like to say, a strong chain does not rust and that’s the same with the ‘golf power chain’. To prevent this from happening I am talking about keeping your mobility and stability in good check. These areas should not be left and forgotten at any time when you’re in the gym, but too often do I see people neglecting these areas.

Hold each exercise for one to two minutes when stretching or performing stability exercises. Always be aware of your breathing when stretching. Always take a deep breath in through the nose and out through the mouth.

breakdancer 1 hamstring stretch

— assisted (mobility)

In a seated position, fold one leg so the base of the foot is up against the inner thigh of the other, now keeping your leg straight reach for your toes and, if necessary, use a rope for assistance to pull yourself towards your foot.

golf posture, single-leg 3 balance with torso rotation

(stability)

This exercise is great to help with short game most of all and is something everyone should be doing to help their game drastically.

Get into golf posture, with your arms crossed over your shoulders.

Then bring your feet together and bend one from the knee, so you’re standing on one leg. Now keeping the lower body stable, do small and smooth rotations with the shoulders, rotating around your spine and avoiding a rocking motion of the shoulders at all costs.

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open book ribcage (mobility)

Ahmed Abd el-WAhAb/golf digest middle eAst

Lying on your right side, curl your knees up to your chest, then place the right hand on top of your knees and then place the other hand under your ribcage, the side closest to the floor. Then pull these two parts of the body apart, rotating to your left as far as you can.

pattern assistance single leg 4 balance (stability) With a light resistance band anchored to a fixed object in front of you, place one end in each hand, then walk away until there is some tension within the band. Now keeping the arms down by your side and straight, pull the bands behind you making sure you retract the shoulder blades as well. This will engage your core muscles and help with your posterior chain. Then raise one knee up, so the thigh is parallel to the ground and hold for one minute each side. matthew brookes is a PGA teaching professional and golf specific fitness trainer at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club’s Peter Cowen Academy Dubai.

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BODY / GET IN THE GAME

PLOT YOUR OWN COURSE It has never been easier to get into golf — regardless of gender, age or physical ability

By Steven Troup

Golf is often stereotyped as a difficult and complicated game, seen as elitist and exclusive. Although this may have been true in the past, the sport is now growing in popularity, with people of all ages and backgrounds giving golf a try in its various forms both on the golf course and at such venues as entertainment ranges, simulator facilities and putting courses.

Unfortunately, the belief that golf is difficult to learn is still prevalent and a lot of current teaching practices reinforce this by introducing players to the game through adopting ‘positions’ or swing ‘methods’, which things such as: the club must travel a certain way; the clubface or shaft must be held at certain angles; the body must be positioned in a particular way ...

While social media has further encouraged this, it has also offered up many benefits to golf by providing more awareness, connectivity, and making it look more fun and cool game.

However, it now provides a dangerous platform for people to copy the various beliefs of respected industry coaches as well as non-golf professional social ‘influencers’ and what they perceive to be right or wrong.

This is a risky path for any would-be golfer and it does not offer the opportunity to be coached to discover their own swing, as they instead go down a route of copying someone else’s swing or methodology.

It’s easy to try and copy but not necessarily easy to get it right and this can have harmful effects to the enjoyment for newcomers as the pursuit of that 54

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‘method’ could hold someone back and, in a lot of cases, be unachievable, either physically or from a time and practice perspective, only further pushing the belief that golf is difficult to learn and even tougher to play.

A look at some of the best golfers in the world showcases how each swing is different and people being introduced to the game must be provided with the tools to help them discover their own movement instead of copy-pasting someone else’s.

At academies such as those at Golf Saudi, newcomers have the opportunity to learn their own swing through movement discovery and are coached along the journey creating movement that works to achieve success for them, whatever that may be.

Although physics at impact exist, there is no one set way to get there — but there is your way!

A good outcome for many to begin with is just making contact with the ball, which is achievable for anyone, regardless of gender, age, experience or physical ability and avoids newcomers being put off because the ball isn’t flying off the tee. This keeps it simple and, more importantly, fun!

When approached in the right way, golf is an incredibly rewarding game to try out, and it can lead to taking up a sport that can be enjoyed for life, which opens up huge social, health and wellbeing benefits. steven troup is the Director of Instruction and Education — Golf Saudi

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BODY / GET IN THE GAME

SOME POINTS TO GET YOU SWINGING It is never too late to pick up a club for the first time — here are some tips to get started

By Scott Edwards

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Almost All of the skills and movements required to make a golf swing can be related to things we do in our everyday life. Developing your golf swing is a journey of discovery, the same process that we used to learn how to crawl, jump, throw and kick. Figuring out what is comfortable and what works for you as an individual is key for enjoying the game, there is no right and wrong. For example, many golfers that play right-handed are left-handed in all other aspects of life, and vice-versa. So how do we start?

To begin with, we want to be comfortable holding the club, making sure it feels secure in our hands. We will start with a right-handed club. Hold the club in your right hand (right), in a way that

right-handed

feels secure and allows you to move the club both up and down and left and right. This can be done with the club head resting on the floor, or with the club out in front of us.

Stand to the side of a short tee (above), with your left shoulder on the side of the target. Rest the club head on the ground behind the tee and try a few small one-handed swings, like throwing a ball under arm, moving the club from right to left (opposite page).

Now try with the left hand, again swinging the club from right to left.

Changing to a left-handed club, face the opposite direction so our right shoulder is now on the side of the target, holding the club in the left hand (below) and now swinging from left to right (below right).

left-handed

Change to the right hand and repeat, swinging again from left to right. Which way of swinging feels the most natural and comfortable?

Try again with both hands on the club (above), initially place the hand closest to the target (left hand for right-toleft swings, right hand for left-to-right swings) towards the end of the grip.

Place your other hand below, with the palm completely covering the thumb and leaving no gap between the fingers.

The above is just a suggestion, golfers

hold the club in a variety of ways with some interlocking or overlapping their fingers, some holding the club very tightly or very loosely. There is not a ‘perfect’ way to hold the club. To begin with, try out a few different ways and see what feels secure and comfortable.

Swing in each direction, think again, which way feels the most natural?

Once we have decided if swinging from left to right or right to left is easier, try making a small swing hitting the short tee. After successfully hitting the tee, place a ball on the tee and try to make the same swing (above). Keep your focus on hitting the tee and the angle on the face of the club will launch the ball into the air.

Our goal is to hit the ball as close as possible to the sweet spot, the centre of the club. Experiment with bigger and smaller swings, faster and slower tempos. How short can we hit the ball? Can we swing the club over our head on the swing back and the swing forward? The larger and faster we swing, the further the ball can travel but it is harder to make good contact.

If you’ve never hit a golf ball, go to your nearest driving range or practice facility and give the above thoughts a try. It always helps to get professional lessons — especially when starting out and academies like ours at Golf Saudi are happy to help. scott edwards is a member of the PGA Professionals team at Golf Saudi-managed Riyadh Golf Club august 2022

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BODY / GOLF DIGEST SCHOOLS

TARGET TRICK The challenge on tough drives is that when you look out and see what you don’t like, the fear comes rushing in.

A good workaround is to pick a target high off the ground, like a tall tree in the distance or a passing cloud. The trouble will disappear from your view and won’t trigger those negative emotions. What you let yourself see — or not see — can really make a difference in how well you perform off the tee.

BEAT FIRST-TEE JITTERS

Adjust your focus to get your round off to a good start

By Michael Breed

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RAISE YOUR HAND if the first tee makes you nervous. I see you; and it’s OK. Many players, even some pros, fight serious anxiety on that opening shot. The trick is to accept the extra energy you’re feeling and use a little planning to relax yourself. Just trying to be tough or trust your swing probably isn’t enough.

Trust comes from preparation.

The first thing you can do is to shift your attention. Most great players focus on a single target: where they want the ball to go. A lot of average golfers have two targets: where they want the ball to go and the ball itself. When you’re feeling uneasy about a shot, you might tend to make the ball your target, which adds tension and restricts the swing. Fixating on the ball leads to freezing the body

and swinging with the hands and arms only. It’s a good time to remember the old saying: “The ball just gets in the way of the swing.” Ray Floyd used to call it, “Parking the car in the garage,” which means, think about where you want your hands to end up — in this case, over your front shoulder in a full finish.

Also, be realistic. Don’t let the pressure lure you into thinking you need a big, high draw if you normally play a fade. Hit the shot you know you can hit. You’re just looking for a positive outcome here, not to be a hero. Make a good plan, pick a target down the fairway and swing through the ball.

—WITH PETER MORRICE MICHAEL BREED is one of Golf Digest’s

50 Best Teachers in America.

PHOTOGRAPH BY J.D. CUBAN

BODY / TOUR TECHNIQUE

GET WICKED WITH WEDGES Hit all your shots inside 100 yards pin-high

By Tom Hoge

PHOTOGRAPHS BY DOM FURORE

i grew up playing on a Par-3 course at Fargo Country Club in North Dakota. It didn’t take much more than 30 minutes to play its nine holes, and my buddies and I would often get in four loops before the sun set. I miss that course because it was such great practice for my wedges. It’s where I learned how to subtract speed and vary the distance hit each club and how to control the launch, spin and trajectory of the ball.

It’s also where I developed my bread-

B

and-butter, low-cut shot for accuracy.

If there is one place amateurs can pick up strokes, it’s inside 100 yards where the majority of shots take place. Improve your wedge game and you will lower your scores in a hurry. Here are three of my biggest keys to help you do just that. —with dave allen TOM HOGE won his first PGA Tour event, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, this season and ranked sixth in strokes gained/approach the green through May. august 2022

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BODY / TOUR TECHNIQUE

approach the ball from the inside

Since I started working with my swing coach, Scott Hamilton, nearly five years ago, we’ve focused on shallowing my downswing. I used to hang on my lead side too much on the takeaway, which caused the clubhead to get too steep and off line at the top.

Now I set up with my weight evenly distributed between my feet, which helps me rotate into my trail side more easily going back. I also limit the length

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of my backswing to three-quarters or less for more control. These aren’t power shots, so no need to take it all the way back.

From this abbreviated position, it’s much easier to shallow the club’s path into the ball, which is an essential element to making solid contact. As my arms start down from the top of the backswing, I have this feeling that my pelvis is shifting forward, but my hips haven’t opened fully in relation to my target (below, left). By delaying hip rotation, I can drop the club behind me

on a shallower plane, which is what you want with most wedge shots.

As you can see in this photo (bottom, right), I still have some trail side bend, and my lead shoulder is directly over my hip as the club gets to halfway down. This combination of being shallow with my approach into the ball and feeling on top of it at impact is the perfect recipe to hitting solid wedges. If you come into it too steep or hanging back, you’re either going to skull it or chunk it. I see that a lot from amateur players.

2

hit it through a low window

Growing up in North Dakota and playing college golf at Texas Christian, I’m used to dealing with a lot of wind. It’s probably why I learned to keep the ball down as much as possible with my wedge shots. But now I do it even when it’s not windy.

As I look at the target, I visualise hitting the ball through a very low window about 10 yards out (left). The lower launch (it’s around 30 degrees) helps compress the ball and creates more spin. If I want to fly it farther, I swing harder. To hit it higher, I might move the ball a little farther forward in my stance, but I don’t change the window substantially. Higher shots tend to run up the face and lose spin, making it harder to predict distance.

Next time you practise, flight all your wedges lower and compare your accuracy to when you try to hit them higher.

I bet lower wins.

3

grip down and shorten up for distance control

One reason I do so well inside 125 yards is that I keep my technique simple. By doing the same things on the course and in practice, I’ve learned how to subconsciously take speed off a club and hit it shorter if necessary.

I’ve found that the easiest way to do that is by gripping the club farther down the shaft or shortening

the length your arms swing back and through — or doing both. For example: I know that if I make my normal backswing with my lob wedge (above, left), the ball will carry 80 yards. I don’t need to grip down. If I want to make it go 70 yards, I’ll grip down two inches on the handle or abbreviate my backswing and follow-through. To hit my lob wedge 50 yards, I’ll shorten my arm swing even more, to about where my arms are parallel to the ground,

and grip down some as well (above, right). By establishing benchmarks for each wedge, which you do by calibrating the distance a shot travels to the length of your arm swing and how much you grip down, you can cover a lot of ground and fill a bunch of distance gaps for these shorter approach shots.

You might miss left or right of your target, but if you’re pin-high more often, your scores will come down. august 2022

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SHOPPING FOR GOLF EQUIPMENT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE PAINFUL

BY MIKE STACHURA

KIM FOGEL SHOT 85 FOR NINE HOLES in her first official round, not including 40 swings that missed the ball. In the 18 years since, she has got her game down to a 7.8 Handicap Index and is on her fourth set of clubs. Her progress in the game mirrors her progress in how she has selected her clubs. All those whiffed shots ago, she purchased a packaged set labeled ‘Ladies’. Now she’s on her second set of custom-fit irons with a men’s senior-flex shaft.

Getting better meant becoming her own advocate when she went shopping for clubs. It helps to work with a technician like John Pak at Golfdom, one of Golf Digest’s 100 Best Clubfitters. Says Fogel: “When I went for this last fitting, John said: ‘What do you need in your game?’ I said: ‘I’m tired of my shots hitting the green and running through.

I want the ball to land and stop.’ I ended up with clubs that gave me a better trajectory and landing angle so that my shots landed on the green and stopped.

That was very big for me.”

Fogel’s learning curve and periodic equipment adjustments should be the

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typical process of any player. The golf industry, however, hasn’t quite figured out how to serve women golfers as well as it serves men. This would seem to be a key issue given the recent surge in female golfers. Unfortunately, it’s not necessarily going well. According to a Golf Datatech report, women’s equipment sales represent nearly one-fifth of the US market (or about $1 billion annually), but only six in 10 avid female golfers say they are very comfortable entering a golf-retail store to shop for new equipment, and only three in 10 said their local golf shop was an inviting place to shop for new equipment.

Said one female golfer: “It’s ridiculous to offer the same women’s club to an 80-year-old and a 30-year-old. There

should be shafts and club characteristics that fit the golfer regardless of gender. I’ve been playing golf for more than 50 years and have never had a good experience when I have walked into a golf store for clubs.” That’s an avid player.

Imagine the uncertainty and frustration that awaits new female golfers.

National Golf Foundation figures state that of the 25 million current golfers in the United States, almost onefourth are women, a seven per cent increase in one year. What a beginner needs to remember is the same advice male golfers have been given for years: Ask someone who knows: Your swing instructor, your club pro and an expert fitter are good starting places.

The equipment market for women

ILLUSTRATION BY MADISON KETCHAM

is broader now than it has been. Companies used to introduce women’s versions of men’s clubs in lighter weights or shorter lengths and in an aesthetic deemed feminine, usually by a group of men. It’s what some insiders refer to as “shrink it and pink it”. It hasn’t completely gone away, but women’s club designs have improved. For example, Cobra’s LTDx Max and TaylorMade’s Stealth drivers offer subtly distinct women’s versions, and the Callaway Rogue ST Max women’s driver looks just like any other version, save the lighter grip, shaft and swingweight.

Golf Datatech’s survey was revealing when it asked women what was important about the aesthetics of a club: Nearly 75 per cent said: “I’m more in-

terested in how the clubs perform than what they look like.”

How does a beginning golfer balance those competing interests of aesthetics and performance with the uncertainty of what to buy and how many? We talked to experts who have worked with women and their equipment needs at all levels. Here are some key points: • Your needs are unique. “A woman with an athletic background is probably stronger and might find a full men’s set in regular flex a better fit,” says Jim McCleery, founder of McGolf Custom Clubs. “A woman who hasn’t been involved in a stick-and-ball sport or professes little athletic ability might find a short set of women’s clubs more suitable to her needs.”

• The relatively low cost of a prepackaged boxed set gets you in the game, and the weights and lengths might be ideal. That said, depending on your height, strength and athletic ability, a boxed set designed for senior men might be an even better option to start.

• Ignore the 14-club rule. “A beginning female golfer should focus on contact and launch,” says Ryan Johnson, master fitter at Carl’s Golfland.

“It’s common to see a beginner come in with hand-me-down men’s clubs, long irons or a strong-lofted 3-wood.

With the slower swing speeds, getting the ball some height is not achievable with those clubs. I’ve had success fitting 7-woods, 9-woods and even 11-woods.” Johnson’s colleague Brad Coffield said the number of clubs is a problem with those boxed sets. “The player gets way too many clubs, and there are little to no customisation options,” he says. “Whenever I get a beginning female player to come in for a fitting, she rarely need to buy more than six or seven clubs.”

The six clubs you need starting out are a club to hit off the tee (driver with at least 13 degrees of loft), a club to advance the ball from long distance (a 7- or 9-wood), a club to advance the ball from middle distances (a 7- or 8-iron), a club for short distances (a pitching wedge) and a club for shots around the greens and bunkers (a game-improvement sand wedge) and a putter.

• If you’ve never played golf, don’t get fit. Buy a used women’s 5-wood, sand wedge and a putter online and take some lessons. If you like it enough to want new clubs, go see a clubfitter.

• “Stay open minded,” says Olivia Pizii, a PGA professional at Carl’s Golfland. “Do the research, read reviews and talk to the club experts. Often a basic fitting and trying out clubs can tell you a lot about what works for you.”

Kim Fogel says those conversations weren’t happening at the start of her golfing odyssey 18 years ago. “When I first started, women’s stuff just wasn’t exciting,” she says. “You maybe had a couple of choices. Now I research and know more about what I’m looking for.”

That’s just plain club smart, no matter your gender.

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GOLF DIGEST

ISSUE X 2022

PHOTOGRAPH BY NAME SOMEONE

HOW TO ACHIEVE GOLFING BLISS WITH YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER

BY GABRIELLE HERZIG

hen LPGA Tour and Solheim Cup player Mina Harigae met her now fiance Travis Kreiter, he was an assistant professional at Superstition Mountain in Gold Canyon, Arizona, where she had just become an honorary member. The first time they played, Mina challenged Travis to a $5 birdie game. Travis went up $20 on the front and never let up.

“I liked that he wasn’t even sorry he was beating me so badly,” Mina says.

“If I didn’t like him, I would have just paid and left. But he bought me coffee with the cash he won off of me.”

Golf can be a beautiful way to spend time with your romantic partner regardless of your skill levels. “My favorite thing is playing late into the evenings when no one else is around, and I feel like we’re the only ones in the world chasing a little white ball,” Mina says.

She and Travis, who now caddies for her on tour, have had a blast with the occasional tense exchange on the golf course but have learned how to work through those instances. Here are their five keys for maintaining harmony.

DON’T TRY TO COACH EACH OTHER

Mina: Unsolicited advice is tricky. You always hear: “Keep your head down.”

But just because you’ve heard a piece of swing advice doesn’t mean it applies to everyone. Don’t offer advice that can LOVE STRIKES TWICE

Travis Kreiter and Mina Harigae have found happiness on and off the course.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JESSE RIESER

further compound a swing problem or, worse, irritate a playing partner who doesn’t want a lesson.

Travis: It’s easier to hear constructive comments from someone who’s paid to teach golf than someone who’s living in your house. Working with a professional instructor is the way to go.

TALK IT OUT WHEN TENSION ARISES

Mina: We’ve had our share of uncomfortable moments on the golf course.

I find that expressing my thoughts in the moment helps resolve any issues.

If I don’t tell Travis “I feel a little bit anxious today” or “My brain just isn’t working right now,” he won’t understand my mood.

Travis: My instinct is to squash the tension with positivity, but that doesn’t always work. Remember that there are worse things in life than a bogey. In tough moments, I simply remind Mina I’m here to help her through adversity.

SWITCH IT UP

Mina: Don’t play all your golf with your partner. When I play with other tour players, I’m measuring my game against theirs. When I’m with Travis, I’m so comfortable I almost go into autopilot. It’s helpful to mix things up, socially and for your own improvement.

Travis: No matter your skill level, playing with friends and peers will help you gain a new appreciation for the game.

KEEP IT FUN

Travis: I’ll holler to Mina across the green, “If I get this chip within three feet, you’re making dinner tonight.” It can be the most unlikely shot imaginable, but those low-stakes competitions keep things exciting.

Mina: I always find it funny when Travis makes a long putt for birdie or eagle, and then I make it on top of him.

He’ll make a face at me.

Travis: Well, it’s usually not only a face.

I might call her a name or make a gesture. We make each other laugh on the course. That’s important.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO PLAY 18

Mina: Even nine holes can be difficult to squeeze in sometimes. Travis and I like to play games on the putting green.

‘Shooter’ is one of our favorites.

Travis: Each person stands at a hole on the practice green — about 20 feet apart — and you putt balls at your partner’s hole until you make it. Make a putt and get a point, and then you switch spots.

If you make your putts at the same time, they don’t count. The first person to seven points wins. Mina and I play it for hours.

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FOR NEW GOLFERS, AN UNCLUTTERED MIND IS A BEAUTIFUL THING

BY KEELY LEVINS

AD SHOTS PLAGUE EVERY golfer, from tour players to someone picking up a club for the first time. The reaction is usually one of anger or resignation, which can carry over into the next shot and cause more exasperation.

Before you know it, you’re on the final hole in a daze, unsure of how everything went so wrong.

Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott are here to save you from yourself. The two women were working as golf coaches — Marriott after a collegiate golf career and Nilsson after playing on the LPGA Tour and coaching the Swedish nation66

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al teams — when they created Vision54.

It’s a golf school in Scottsdale where people can go to get on-course training from the performance gurus. Nilsson and Marriott also work with professionals on the LPGA Tour and PGA Tour.

Ten are major-championship winners, including Annika Sorenstam, Suzann Pettersen and Ariya Jutanugarn.

Nilsson and Marriott believe that the key to good golf starts with a healthy mental approach, and a major part of that is learning how to react to bad shots.

Their research in neuroscience has informed their teaching. For example, the way a person reacts emotionally to an

event affects the way that person’s brain stores the memory. If you get mad after a bad shot, the shot and that negative reaction are stored in your mind. The more you replay it, the more prominent the memory becomes. Because of those negative reactions, your brain starts to associate golf shots with something scary, something to avoid. This can be detrimental to your game.

If you shouldn’t get mad after a bad shot, then what should you do?

“As a new golfer it’s extremely important early on to realise that you can separate the outcome from the process,” Nilsson says. “Even though the goal is to get the ball in the hole, to get the ball in the hole you need to know what your intention is for that stroke or putt. That’s what you should evaluate, not the shot’s result.”

Here are five things Nilsson and Marriot say you can tell yourself instead of cursing or tossing a club when your ball ends up in a bunker: (1) “I didn’t hold my finish.”

(2) “I misjudged the wind.”

(3) “Next time, I will make a smaller swing.”

(4) “I was thinking about the outcome instead of feeling my tempo.”

(5) “I didn’t trust my decision. Next time I will honour my gut.”

Most of the golfers Nilsson and Marriot work with have been playing golf for a while, so they have been “brainwashed” to think about the result and not the process. The advantage that beginners have is that there are no bad habits that need reworking. It’s a lot easier to start out thinking like this on the golf course than trying to train yourself to do it after years of agonising over bad shots.

The good news is that the way our brains store memories works for positive emotions, too.

“When you do something well, you should celebrate it for about 15 seconds, even if it’s just internally,” Nilsson says.

“Anything from great to good to good enough you need to recognise and take in and be proud of it.”

Nilsson also suggests talking about good shots after your round.

“What we practise, we get good at,” she says. “If I practise reminding myself of good shots and what I do when I hit good shots, it’s going to be easier to do those things more often.”

ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE ZOLA

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