Golf Digest Saudi Edition - November 2021

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the race ends here

AVIV Dubai Championship + DPWTC

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Asia-Pacifics at Dubai Creek & Abu Dhabi

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Embrace Billy Horschel’s power move

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Tee Sheet

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

11/21 26

▶ w h at o n e a r t h will follow the dp world tour c h a m p i o n s h i p at j g e ?

8 Editor’s Letter The 2021 Race to Dubai still isn’t done but we can’t help getting ahead of ourselves.

The Starter 10 Ballyshear Links Gil Hanse’s homage to a famous New York layout of yesteryear opens near Bangkok.

14 Little Pains, Big Gains How tech can help rid your game of those frustrating fats and thins around the green.

32 How on Earth?

Billy Horschel started 2021 with PGA Tour goals. He could end it as European No.1.

by matthew brookes

by john huggan

24 Oktoberfest Dubai Style Everyone was a winner when Golf Digest Middle East celebrated Germany’s famous hops appreciation party at The Els Club, Dubai.

36 Be like Billy Horschel Embrace the takeaway move that makes Billy Horschel one of the best ball-strikers in the modern game.

60 Equipment Special Investigation Most of us are playing the wrong shaft but our guide can help you find the right one for your game. by mike stachura

by claude harmon iii

Play 12 Conquer the Rough How I read a lie and make little adjustments to knock it on. by joaquin neimann

Features 19 This is Major Invites to the game’s preeminent major championships - and Augusta National - will be on the line when the UAE hosts both the men’s and women’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championships. by kent gray

38 Saudi at the Double Emily Kristine Pedersen, set to return to the scene of her greatest fortnight of her young career, hails Golf Saudi’s game-changing impact on women’s golf worldwide.

46 The Magic Whan A frank interview with the new USGA boss. by alan shipnuck

26 All’s Well That Ends Well?

The Race to Dubai intrigue won’t stop when the European Tour’s season-ending doubleheader at JGE is done.

54 America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses Has a course you’ve played made the list?

by kent gray

by derek duncan

6 golfdigestme.com | november 2021

earth course: kevin murray • neimann: j.d. cuban

by kent gray

A

GIFT

THE

FOR YOU SCAN HERE

COUNTRY

CLUB TURNS

GYM

&

POOL PASS *T&C’s apply

Editor’s Letter

Happy New Year!

KENT GRAY kent.gray@motivate.ae • Twitter: @KentGrayGolf / @GolfDigestME

A

s jumeirah golf estates

preps to bring down the curtain on the 2021 Race to Dubai, at Golf Digest Middle East we can’t help getting ahead of ourselves.

While the pandemic, and no doubt a carefully considered PR strategy, has thus far prevented the European Tour from confirming its complete 2022 schedule, we have at least been drip-fed the early season Desert Swing. The new-look Middle East panorama is sumptuous.

But first, a little scene-setter. Saudi Arabia’s departure for Asia in a historic 10-year deal is pivotal to the European Tour’s early 2022 narrative. The Saudi International will now be the season opening, $5 million “flagship” event of a revived Asian Tour

8 golfdigestme.com | november 2021

schedule which is set to have wider implications for the European Tour once it is finally released. Wentworth have retorted by slotting the new $2 million Ras Al Khaimah Championship into the hole vacated by Saudi, while also bolstering the region’s trailblazing Dubai Desert Classic.

The welcome arrival of Al Hamra Golf Club to the big time will come after backto-back Rolex Series events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to open the calendar year. A new sponsor for the Desert Classic and the upgrade to one of the ET’s premier $8 million events should be a boon for Dubai fans in terms of the event’s star pulling power.

Arguably the most significant development though is the shift of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship from Abu Dhabi Golf

Club to Yas Links. Of all the new Desert Swing developments, we’re most excited about seeing Kyle Phillips’ architectural gem beamed to television audiences around the globe, letting the rest of the world in on one of the game’s best kept secrets despite Yas Links’ ranking inside the top half of Golf Digest’s top-100 courses (outside the U.S.).

Yas slipped down Golf Digest Middle East’s own Top 10 Courses of the Middle Ranking in 2020, to third place behind the Majlis and Al Mouj. The fall was controversial and mostly down to a decline in conditioning due to water challenges. But the agronomy team have worked wonders getting the desert-links layout back to its pristine former self.

“I am very proud of our team who have been hard at work over the past two years to successfully deliver a series of extensive on-course improvements at Yas Links Abu Dhabi,” said Troon International President Mark Chapleski.

“As the first true links style course in the Middle East, its current playability is secPhotograph by Kevin Murray

“The move to Yas Links has us giddy with anticipation…”

editor-in- chief Obaid Humaid Al Tayer managing partner & group editor Ian Fairservice editor Kent Gray art director Clarkwin Cruz editorial assistant Londresa Flores instruction editors Luke Tidmarsh, Euan Bowden, Tom Ogilvie, Matthew Brookes, Alex Riggs chief commercial officer Anthony Milne publisher David Burke gener al manager - production S. Sunil Kumar assistant 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

ond to none and this is recognised globally thanks to its top 50 ranking on Golf Digest’s Top 100 courses in the world. The course’s signature finishing holes on 16, 17 and 18 are regarded as one of the toughest trios in the UAE with the mangroves looming down the left of all three and it will be fascinating to see how the pros approach them in January.”

Indeed it will. Fingers crossed those famous afternoon breezes waft in off the Arabian Gulf to challenge the European Tour’s finest. As much as we admire Peter Harradine’s clever Abu Dhabi G.C. design, we’re giddy with anticipation ahead of the move to Yas Links after 16 years and hope the course extracts a measure of revenge on the pros for all us long-suffering weekend warriors. They say a change is as good as a holiday and Yas Island, with all its leisure facilities, is as good a place as any in the Middle East for some serious golf-centric R&R. Now the rest of the golfing world will know our little secret and that can only be good for tourism long term. Ditto for the Qatar Masters and the fifth Desert Swing to

be announced in “due course”, presumably the Oman Open back at Al Mouj.

But that is all for the New Year, For now, we look forward to the JGE double-header to see out another challenging season for the European Tour. It’s great for Fire to get another shot at the big-time, as disappointing as it is for the Nedbank Golf Challenge Hosted by Gary Player to be cancelled for the second successive year. The Middle East has become an even more important bolt-hole for the European Tour in the COVID-19 era but it is important for the long-term health of the circuit that we get back touring the globe as soon as possible.

Here’s hoping the DP World Tour Championship proves a fitting finale to 2021 and that every player in the top-10 in the Race to Dubai rankings show up, not to mention the big name drawcards who don’t stand a chance of winning the season. The Middle East does so much for the European Tour, the least the headliners can do is pay tribute to the region by teeing it up on Earth, especially now general admission fans are allowed back into JGE.

Scan the QR Code to read, download and share the latest, and back issues, of Golf Digest Middle East.

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Ballyshear Links Gil Hanse’s homage to a famous New York layout of yesteryear opens near Bangkok iven it opened in 1917 and closed its doors during WWII with the prime land on New York’s Long Island unceremoniously repurposed by the U.S. Navy, you may not be familiar with fabled Lido Golf Club. Know that it was the masterpiece of architect C.B. (Charles Blair) Macdonald and construction engineer Seth Raynor and considered, prior to the Depression anyway, to be one of the game’s most magnificent achievements. A faithful recreation is in build in Wisconsin but there is already a nod to the Lido open for play in Thailand. Ballyshear Links is the latest work of Gil Hanse, the American architect of Trump Dubai fame. The centrepiece of the newly redeveloped Ban Rakat Club, Ballyshear features the same 18 templates imagined into life by Macdonald and Raynor, each reinterpreted by Hanse and adapted to the landscape on the outskirts of Bangkok. The layout includes replicas of the famous Redan at North Berwick, the infamous Biarritz par-3 in southern France and the ‘Alps’ at Prestwick.

–kent gray

G

10 golfdigestme.com | november 2021

Photograph courtesy by the club

joaquin niemann was 15th on the PGA Tour in 2020 in strokes gained on approach shots.

Conquer the Rough Don’t just get out of trouble, knock it on

BY JOAQUIN NEIMANN

VEN THE MOST accurate guys on the PGA Tour are missing fairways on at least 25 percent of their tee shots. That means we all have to know how to hit good approach shots out of the rough. Part of it is recognising how the ball is going to come out based on the lie. But it’s also making a few simple adjustments in your setup and swing to make sure you catch it flush—which is the only way you’re going to get it to the green from the high grass.

Read on to find out how I play into the green from the rough.

—WITH KEELY LEVINS

E

Photographs by J.D. Cuban

Play november 2021 | golfdigestme.com

13

Play Tour Technique

change your ball position ▶ To set up in the rough, pick a club based on what you see. If there’s nothing in front of the green, I’ll use less club and hit a shot that lets the ball run on, taking advantage of the decrease in backspin with shots from the rough. I then set up with the ball no farther forward than centre in my stance (left). Getting the ball position right is really important in the rough. You want to catch as much of the ball—and as little of the grass—as possible. Playing it more forward puts a lot of grass in the way of the ball, reducing your control.

read the lie ▶ To figure out how the ball is going to come out of the rough, first look at how much grass is behind it. Whether the ball is nestled down or propped up (known as a flyer lie), if you catch too much grass, it will come off the club hot and spin less. The reason is that the grass interferes with the grooves on the clubface, and those grooves create the spin you need to control distance. With no spin, you get those shots that fly far and run hard when they land. The ball might not always react this way, but you should be aware of the potential for a flyer. If there isn’t a lot of grass, you can expect a much more typical ball flight but still less spin than a shot from the fairway or first cut.

14 golfdigestme.com | november 2021

“Don’t try to help the ball up.

You have to hit down and stay down.” and stay down ▶ There’s one more thing you need to do to make solid contact—stay down through impact (below). Your instinct might be to rise out of your address posture, trying to use your body to help lift the ball. But when you do that, you’re probably going to catch too much grass and chunk it, or catch the ball on the upswing and blade it.

One technique that can help you out of the rough, especially with a flyer lie, is to play a punch shot. Address the ball just back of centre in your stance with the shaft of your club leaning toward the target. Make a swing where you feel like you’re punching down on the ball with an abbreviated follow-through. If you want to get it to the green from the rough, it’s all about hitting these shots as solidly as you can.

come in steeper ▶ Another key in taking less grass is getting steeper in my swing than normal (left and above) . A swing that’s more vertical helps make sure you catch the ball solid, and the easiest way to create that angle of attack is by shifting your weight forward at address.

If you pre-set your weight to favour your front foot, it will naturally make your swing steeper without having to do anything else.

november 2021 | golfdigestme.com

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Play Short game fixes with Matthew Brookes

“Other aspects that are vital are mobility, stability and strength.”

Little pains, big gains Swing Catalyst 3D motion plate technology could be the key to ridding your game of those frustrating little fats and thins around the green T IS NOT ONLY the full swing that can be improved by an understanding of ground forces and pressures. They’re facets of utmost importance in the short game as well although should be viewed, and the moves implemented, differently to the long game.

In a nutshell, the shorter the shot, the smaller forces and movements we should see.

When amateurs approach me with inconsistent ball striking with their chipping, we head straight to the Swing Catalyst force plate. A lot of the time the issue can be linked to their interaction with the ground and with the Swing Catalyst technology at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, it’s easier than ever to show them what changes need to be made.

The low point of the swing is a big factor and this can be affected by the pressure trace reading. The reading should favour and stay the majority of the time on the lead leg

I

WATCH THE VIDEO

during the shot and have very little lateral movement compared to a full swing.

The pressure trace pattern I see in amateurs who struggle with chipping tend to have too much lateral movement on to the trail and then back onto the lead leg during

the shot. Something that can be visually checked is the head movement of the player.

That is achieved by drawing a line on the lead side of the head at set up (see below, right) and can be used as a cross reference during the swing. But this is not a 100 percent cure.

Other aspects that are vital to consistent chipping are mobility, stability and strength - all influences that can impact short game ability. A “TPI” (Titleist Performance Institute) physical screen assessment is something I always take my students through as there may be a single leg balance, glute strength or even a disassociation issue between the upper and lower body that may have some influence in the swing characteristics. If you have having issues getting up and down consistently around the greens, consider a visit to DCGYC’s Peter Cowen Golf Academy to add the latest technology to your game improvement ambitions. You won’t be disappointed. —WITH KENT GRAY 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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▶ Scan the QR Code to watch Matt bring this lesson to life.

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This is Major starts in the game’s pre-eminent major championships, including invites to fabled augusta national for both genders, will be on the line when the uae hosts both the men’s and women’s asia-pacific amateur championships this month. by kent gray november 2021 | golfdigestme.com

19

HIDEKI’S LEGACY

12th ACC

for an resounding and timely endorsement of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (ACC) as a launchpad to the big time, we present the “Japanese Elvis”, Hideki Matsuyama.

The 29-year-old won the ACC backto-back in 2010 and 2011 and has gone on to achieve reasonable things a decade later; a green jacket as reigning Masters champion and a seventh PGA Tour title as the freshly-minted Zozo Championship winner.

Invites to April’s Masters tournament at Augusta National and the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews next July will again be the huge lure for players hoping to emulate Matsuyam at the 12th edition of the ACC at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club this month.

A place in amateur folklore also beckons for Yuxin Lin who will attempt to defend the title he won in a playoff at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai in 2019 (the tournament was cancelled last year due to COVID-19). The 21-year-old Chinese player will attempt to distance himself from Matsuyama as the most successful player in AAC history after also winning the title at Royal Wellington in New Zealand in 2017.

What: 12th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (ACC) Where: Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club When: Nov. 3-6

Yuxin Lin

20 golfdigestme.com | november 2021

Keia Nakajima

“It would be a dream come true if I can win the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship for a third time,” said Lin, a University of Florida junior who is no stranger to UAE conditions having finished tied for 30th in the European Tour’s Abu Dhabi Championship last year.

“To already be placed in the same bracket as Hideki Matsuyama as a twotime champion is surreal so to get one ahead would be amazing.”

“It is the biggest tournament in our part of the world and I know how much the players will be eager to get their hands on the trophy. It is an incredible opportunity to gain an invitation to the Masters and a place in The 150th Open at St Andrews next year. It will be a tough task but I will give it my best shot.”

The Beijing left-hander won’t have it easy at The Creek.

Japan’s Keita Nakajima is the world amateur No.1 and has been an unstoppable force in his home country. In his last three starts, he has won the Japan Amateur Championship, followed by triumph at the Panasonic Open against a quality field of professionals on the Japan Golf Tour.

Nakajima, who came close to winning the AAC in 2018 in Singapore

“I WANT TO BE WITH HIDEKI SAN WHEN HE DEFENDS HIS MASTERS TITLE NEXT YEAR SO THIS IS MY BEST CHANCE TO FULFIL THAT DREAM.” – ja pa n ’ s w o r l d n o . 1 k e i ta n a k a j i m a

when he was a co-leader going into the final round but his fine 67 was upstaged by compatriot and best friend Takumi Kanaya (65), won the Mark McCormack Medal in August for being the top-ranked amateur in the world.

He took over the number one position from Kanaya after the latter turned professional in 2020.

With most amateur tournaments in the Asia-Pacific region cancelled due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the 21-year-old Nippon Sport Science University student has relied on playing against professionals in the last

couple of years. Apart from his recent Panasonic Open win, he also finished second in the Token Homemate Cup in April (finishing one stroke behind Kanaya) and third in last year’s Mitsui Sumitomo Taiheiyo Masters.

Nakajima, who said he cried on the day Kanaya decided to turn professional, added: “I’m an amateur who is at college, so it is an honour that I get the chance to play against the professionals. I feel it provides me with a great challenge to compete against them and that it has helped me become a better player.

“Of course, my confidence is high because of the win but I know I will still have to play at my best in Dubai to be in contention on the final day. I want to be with Hideki san when he defends his Masters title next year so this is my best chance to fulfil that dream and get to play alongside him at Augusta National Golf Club,” added Nakajima who is already assured of a place at The Open next year and the U.S. Open as a result of winning the McCormack Medal.

UAE No.1 Ahmad Skaik has secured a spot in the field along with compatriots Khalid Yousuf, Khalifa Al Masaood and Rashid Al Emadi, while Arkesh Bhatia, another big name on the UAE scene, will be representing India.

november 2021 | golfdigestme.com

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3rd waap

Yin for the win?

22 golfdigestme.com | november 2021

for a fresh reminder of where a strong performance in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship (WAAP) might someday lead, the region’s best players need only rewind to last month’s Dubai Moonlight Classic.

Among the field at the Ladies European Tour event was Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul, the winner of the inaugural WAAP in 2018.

Thitikul, who also finished runnerup to Yuka Yasuda in Japan two years ago, has already climbed inside the top 30 of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking within a year of turning professional. She also enjoys a comfortable lead in the Race to Costa Del Sol, the LET Order of Merit.

Need further evidence? How about Filipino Yuka Saso and Thai Patty Tavatanakit, who were tied second and

koren golf association; (above) the r&a

xiaowen yin

tied 15th respectively in the inaugural WAAP in Singapore, becoming major winners this year. Tavatanakit won the ANA Inspiration in April and 19-yearold Saso was the US Women’s Open champion in June.

Which all makes the 3rd edition of the WAAP, which returns to the international schedule at Abu Dhabi G.C. this month after it was cancelled last year because of pandemic-related restrictions, a tournament to watch.

Organised by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), WAAP has become the most important event in the region with the champion earning places in major two championships - the AIG Women’s Open and the Amundi Evian Championship – as well as

“THE REWARDS OF WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP ARE INCREDIBLE.” – ko r e a’ s yo u m i n h wa n g

an invitation to play in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Among those to keep tabs on during the 72-hole strokeplay event on The National layout are reigning Korean amateur champion Youmin Hwang, who is ranked 6th in the world, and Chinese players Xiaowen Yin and Lei Ye, ranked 9th and 13th respectively.

Alia Al Emadi, Hannah Cheryl Alan, Hamad Alsuwaidi and Natalii Gupta are listed to represent the UAE. It will be Hwang’s maiden WAAP appearance but she is well aware of the opportunity it presents. The 19-yearold has been in fine form this year, winning two amateur titles in her home country after an impressive T-4 finish while playing against seasoned professionals in the DB Group Korea Women’s Open in June.

“As a player, you always want to compete against the best players in the world. Playing the WAAP in Abu Dhabi will be an exciting challenge for me. I am looking forward to testing my game on a formidable golf course like Abu Dhabi Golf Club and in foreign conditions,” said Hwang.

“The rewards of winning the championship are incredible. To be able to play two major championships

What: 3rd Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship Where: Abu Dhabi Golf Club When: Nov. 10-13

and have a possibility of playing a round at Augusta National Golf Club, I know every player will try extra hard to finish on top of the leaderboard.”

Yin has been in outstanding form ever since golf made a comeback in China following the first COVID-19 lockdown last year. Since August 2020, she has played 13 events and won eight of them, including three professional titles on the China LPGA Tour). Her worst finish has been a 9th place in a professional tournament on August 20. Last year.

“I was fortunate to be part of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in 2019 and I did well to finish tied 12th in Japan,” said Yin. “However, I know I am much better all-round player now and it would be amazing if I can add to my victories in Abu Dhabi.”

youmin hwang

november 2021 | golfdigestme.com

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B

irdi

es

* Beers *

Br

ats

A famous German tradition mixed perfectly with golf at a world-renowned Dubai course

T WASN’T MUNICH. It was better. While the world famous hops appreciation party in the Bavarian capital was cancelled, Golf Digest Middle East’s very own golf-themed Oktoberfest was a roaring success last month.

Just shy of 60 players teed it up in the individual stableford tournament at The Els Club, Dubai where players where well fed by Bakers Kitchen and hydrated by African + Eastern.

Barry Simpson, George Clark and Yves Buchard were the stars of the day, winning the division A, B and gross titles respectively.

Simpson, playing off five, scored 32 points to capture the top division (0 to 12 handicaps) on a back-nine countback. Fifteen-handicapper Clark compiled a thoroughly impressive 37 points to win division B (13-24) while Buchard, off 3.3, signed for a 78 off the stick.

Adidas and iconic footwear brand Birkenstock kicked-in on-course prizes in addition to Baker’s Kitchen and African + Eastern. Here’s a list of the winners for prosperity (and bragging rights!):

24 golfdigestme.com | november 2021

men's nearest the pin Hole 2: James Davies (AED500 Birkenstock voucher) Hole 4: James Dean (Adidas golf bag) Hole 11: Yves Buchard (48 bottles of Erdinger Weißbräu) Hole 17: Mitch Charles (AED500 Birkenstock voucher) ladies nearest the pin Hole 4: Xiao Yan (Adidas Golf Bag) longest drive Hole 18: Xiao Yan (Breakfast for 2 at Baker’s Kitchen + a baking course) Golf Digest Middle East wishes to thank the all the sponsors who made our inaugural Oktoberfest Tournament possible, in addition to The Els Club, Dubai and, most importantly, the 56 players who teed it up for some serious fun and hospitality.

Stay tuned for more GDME events.

Division A Winner: Barry Simpson

Division B Winner: George Clark

Best Gross: Yves Buchard

Nearest The Pin Hole 4: James Dean

Nearest The Pin Hole 11: Yves Buchard

Nearest The Pin Hole 17: Mitch Charles

Ladies Nearest The Pin Hole 4: Xiao Yan

Longest Drive: Xiao Yan (Hole 18)

sp onsors

november 2021 | golfdigestme.com

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R AC E T O D U B A I F I N A L E

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL B Y K E N T G R AY 26 golfdigestme.com | november 2021

Jumeirah Golf Estates IS SET TO HOST THE EUROPEAN TOUR’S SEASON FINALE FOR A 13TH TIME THIS MONTH. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE TWO-EVENT DUBAI DECIDER IS EVEN MORE INTRIGUING fter a year of unexpected twists and unavoidable turns, the 2021 Race to Dubai has finally reached its home straight. Just two tournaments remain following 38 events in 19 countries - a schedule complete with numerous cancellations and just about as many hastilyarranged replacements. To understand what happens next – over the remaining 11 day, 144 hole sprint at Jumeirah Golf Estates and, even more crucially over the next season or three - an abacus in the first instance and a crystal ball thereafter are required.

Let’s dust off the virtual old-school calculator first. As the cliché has reminded us since 2009, the European Tour’s season-long marathon again ends here but, like last year, there’s a COVID-19 asterisk attached to the JGE finale.

Courtesy of yet another 11th hour scheduling reshuffle that is South Africa’s loss and the UAE’s gain, we’re again being treated to a forerunner on Fire to the DP World Tour Championship (DPWTC), the traditional, season-deciding four-day circumnavigation of Earth.

The apparently stop-gap Golf in Dubai Championship of 2020 has become the evidently stop-gap AVIV Dubai Championship of 2021 and for that, and continually plugging pandemic-enforced gaps in their calendar, the European Tour deserve genuine kudos.

Still, a mildly irritating and historic truism about the $9 million DPWTC persists – exactly which of the season’s drawcard players will show up for the richest and supposedly most important event outside of the majors and WGCs. If the superstars do play, that they leave it so late to publicly confirm their appearance at JGE hardly encourages the pretournament PR upsurge envisaged when the Race to Dubai was imagined into life.

Photographs by Getty Images

Traces of blame can be found clinging to pandemic-enforced travel challenges that have become a reoccurring headache for administrators and a chore for players at the end of a very long year, stretched in 2021 by the Olympics and Ryder Cup. But the truth is more deeprooted and now, in tandem with the challenging times in which we live, highlight a sobering series of question marks hanging over the future direction of the Old World circuit.

DUBAI DOUBLE

Money and the interconnected Race to Dubai points system, one contrived for the majors and WGC events that the superstars play and convoluted by the smaller purse events they don’t, is the obvious elephant in the room.

In this part of the world, it’s comfortable to simply get on with supporting and reporting the Race to Dubai, pontificating on the promised ‘last Sunday in the season’ excitement and enjoying the excellent social content that will inevitably be produced by the circuit’s media gurus.

• Nov. 11-14: $2 million AVIV Dubai Championship (Fire, JGE) • Nov. 18-21: $9 million DP World Tour Championship (Earth, JGE)

▶ 11th hour For the second successive year, Greg Norman’s Fire layout at JGE will play host to the penultimate event of the Race to Dubai season.

november 2021 | golfdigestme.com

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WHAT DO THEY MAKE OF THE TUG OF WAR UNDERWAY ON THE GAME’S TRADITIONAL GLOBAL BOUNDARIES?

JGE

C H A M P S

Trained optimists – an army of marketers and PR peddlers among them – will trumpet another season going down to the wire. All’s well that ends well and all that. They’ll also point to the open courtship with the PGA Tour as a further reason not to fret the future, especially with the anticipation that this pesky plague can’t go on forever. ▶ pole position Outside of the majors and WGCs, Open champion and R2D leader Collin Morikawa played two regular season events: Dubai and Scotland for T-68 and T-71 finishes.

Others with an equal stake in the European Tour’s ability to thrive in an increasingly tough sports and business landscape are less optimistic. The natural pessimists are the owners of many of the unanswered questions too.

Like whether the powerbrokers at Wentworth lose sleep over the fact that their season-decider doesn’t guarantee the appearance of the tour’s biggest names, much less entice the game’s biggest headliners to be involved all year long? Unfair?

Take the word of R2D title contender Billy Horschel: “I’ll be honest, at the beginning of the year, the Race to Dubai wasn’t one of my goals.”

How about the growing number of $1.5 million or lower events spread throughout recent seasons.

Is this a pandemic amplified blip or a pointer to a longer-term issue?

Rolex Series events such as the Abu Dhabi and now the Dubai Desert Classic notwithstanding, how can the European Tour compete with the riches, media focus and resulting fan engagement of the PGA Tour? And perhaps, if the whispers prove correct, the new-look Asia Tour and/or its offshoots in coming seasons?

That’s perhaps the most fascinating poser of all; what exactly do the European Tour make of the tug of war underway on the game’s traditional global boundaries, a scrap that has already seen the loss of the geographically and fiscally important Saudi, Malaysian and Hong Kong Opens to the Asian Tour? Isn’t the power-shift, with neon signs (and truckloads of Saudi Riyal) pointed towards South East Asia, troubling?

The caveat to all this, of course, is that COVID-19 continues to change everything on a cough here and a sneeze there. The much-heralded

Dubai World Championship presented by DP World

2009

Lee Westwood

score: 265 to par: -23 margin of victory: 6 strokes r2d champion: Lee Westwood (eng)

28 golfdigestme.com | november 2021

2010

Robert Karlsson

score: 274 to par: -14 margin of victory: Playoff r2d champion: Martin Kaymer (ger)

2011

Álvaro Quirós

score: 269 to par: -19 margin of victory: 2 strokes r2d champion: Luke Donald (eng)

strategic alliance with the PGA Tour is also in its embryonic stages so perhaps a brighter path beyond 2022 will emerge, full of co-sanctioned events and a European Tour that essentially serves as a feeder to an upgraded PGA Tour incorporating tournaments like Dubai/Wentworth/Scotland/Ireland etc? Perhaps Keith Pelley and co have another master, Euro (and Middle East)-centric plan and will hold a ‘State of the Nation’ presser at JGE like the good old days to update the media, and by extension, the fans? It sure would be nice to have a clearer picture of the long-term strategy.

I T ENDS HERE ack to the now teenage and troublesome Race to Dubai format. Concocting a playoff series that leads to a meaningful climax at the end of a season with so many moving parts was never going to be easy.

Nor was it ever going to be a first concept, all problems solved forever solution. The fact players who rarely grace “regular season” events can win the overall title must grate with the relative journeyman who battle to pay the mortgage and compile enough points to crack the next level as a consequence. Sure, players that repeatedly perform at the elite events need to be proportionally rewarded but it is also a self-perpetuating scenario of the rich getting richer. In Europe, the fear is that it becomes a black hole for some very tidy players

B

▶ r2d trailblazer Billy Horschel is second in the R2D standings courtesy of winning the flagship BMW PGA Championship and the WGC Match-Play. He also teed it up in the Scottish and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship this season.

DP World Tour Championship

2012

Rory McIlroy

score: 265 to par: -23 margin of victory: 2 strokes r2d champion: Rory McIlroy (nir)

2013

Henrik Stenson

score: 263 to par: -25 margin of victory: 6 strokes r2d champion: Henrik Stenson (swe)

2014

Henrik Stenson

score: 272 to par: -16 margin of victory: 1 stroke r2d champion: Rory McIlroy (nir)

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▶ best show on... Patrick Reed’s joint runner-up finish to Danny Willett in 2018 is the best finish by an American at the DPWTC on the Earth course at JGE.

as the best increasingly chase the big money in the US, and perhaps soon Asia. That fans want to see the best competing together week-in and week-out is indisputable and that only threatens to hasten the vacuum of top-notch players and sponsorship opportunities. All the spin and cracking social media in the world can’t camouflage your event’s strength of field rating and the conspicuous lack of headliners.

In the European Tour’s defence, the FedEx Cup playoff series, where the

leaders start the deciding PGA Tour Championship with a descending stroke advantage over their rivals, is not perfect. But at least you now know the winner of their Tour Championship is the champion of the entire season.

European fans get nuance – the fact that the DPWTC winner isn’t necessarily the Race to Dubai champion. Still, how many times have we seen the cameras zoom in on finishers in the scorers’ hut at JGE munching on fingernails, hoping the final few decimal points fall their way as the late finishers negotiate Earth’s closing holes. If they can’t easily crunch the numbers when it is their day job, what chance the fans? It’s

either unpredictable, thrilling theatre or just plain confusing. Perhaps both.

It seems the current Race to Dubai format, if not entirely broken, needs seriously tinkering, an overhaul only triggered by a massive cash injection.

Or are we stuck with the status quo until the PGA Tour partnership truly takes hold? Fans await the blueprint with baited breath.

In the meantime, what will the 13th edition of the DPWTC guarantee?

For starters, recent history suggests that the eventual winner of the AVIV Championship is unlikely to be one of the serious contenders for the Race to Dubai title as the point leaders remain on ice until the final 72 holes of the season.

DP World Tour Championship

2015

Rory McIlroy

score: 267 to par: -21 margin of victory: 1 stroke r2d champion: Rory McIlroy (nir)

30 golfdigestme.com | november 2021

2016

Matt Fitzpatrick

score: 271 to par: -17 margin of victory: 1 stroke r2d champion: Henrik Stenson (swe)

2017

Jon Rahm

score: 269 to par: -19 margin of victory: 1 stroke r2d champion: Tommy Fleetwood (eng)

THE PANDEMIC ISN’T THE ONLY CURVE BALL IN THE EUROPEAN TOUR’S COURT...

2022 DESERT SWING • 17th Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship date: January 20-23 venue: Yas Links Abu Dhabi purse: $8 million • 33rd Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic date: January 27-30 venue: Majlis, Emirates Golf Club purse: $8 million • Ras Al Khaimah Championship date: February 3-6 venue: Al Hamra, RAK purse: $2 million • Commercial Bank Qatar Masters • Fifth Desert Swing event TBC

Presuming (and hoping) most of the Race to Dubai top-10 touch down at DXB, the key plot will be whether defending Open champion Collin Morikawa or second-placed Billy Horschel can become the first American winner of the Harry Vardon Trophy, doing what Patrick Reed has narrowly been unable to achieve in recent seasons. Or will Jon Rahm

2018

Danny Willett

score: 270 to par: -18 margin of victory: 2 strokes r2d champion: Francesco Molinari (ita)

embellish his standing as world No.1 by becoming European No.1 for a third time in five years?

Perhaps reigning Abu Dhabi champion Tyrrell Hatton can finish the calendar year like he started it – with victory in the UAE – and snare enough of the 12,000 R2D points on offer at the DPWTC to pip the Americans and Rahm at the tape?

Will Hatton and Matthew Fitzpatrick, fourth and fifth in the standings respectively as we went to press, tee it up in the AVIV Dubai Championship in the hope of making the DPWTC finale more than a three-horse race?

Will Victor Hovland, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre and Rory McIlroy (who confirmed he was Dubaibound, not via official channels, but at the recent U.S. F1 Grand Prix of all places) play one or both events despite having no chance of finishing top of the season standings? So many potentially interesting permutations, so many unknowns.

All is well that ends well but how much better could the season finale

2019

Jon Rahm

score: 269 to par: -19 margin of victory: 1 stroke r2d champion: Jon Rahm (esp)

▶ third time lucky? Of the top three in the R2D standings, third-placed reigning U.S. Open champion Jon Rahm has played the most regular season events; the Scottish Open (7th), Open de España (T-17) and Andalucia Masters (MC).

be with more certainty. Sadly this isn’t a perfect world because of another C word, the one that still has us social distancing. But the pandemic isn’t the only curve ball in the European Tour’s court as we draw the curtain on 2021.

What happens next is not only fascinating but potentially (and literally) game-changing too, for the European Tour and the global game.

The immediate race may end at JGE but the decision-makers at Wentworth are on a never ending treadmill, one seemingly getting faster and faster by minute. The hope is that everyone else associated with the circuit, all those with livelihoods that swing on missed or made 10-footers even if they aren’t actually holding the putter, can cling on until the new norm is finally established.

2020

Matt Fitzpatrick

score: 273 to par: -15 margin of victory: 1 stroke r2d champion: Lee Westwood (eng)

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How on Earth?

Billy Horschel IS ON THE CUSP OF A TRAILBLAZING FEAT THAT WASN’T EVEN ON HIS RADAR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR

BY JOHN HUGGAN

OR BILLY HORSCHEL, 2021 has so far been a year of goals, real, unimagined and, in the case of a spot on the American Ryder Cup team, unfulfilled. ▶ Aside from being genuinely “ticked off ” by his Whistling Straits snub, he can’t otherwise complain, not after capturing the WGC-Dell Technologies Match-Play in March and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in September. ▶ Still, the 34-year-old Floridian has much to play for before 2022 dawns. One thing in particular appeals to him: second on the European Tour’s season-long Race to Dubai points list, Horschel has ambitions to become the first American to break that Old World tape.

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I’LL BE HONEST, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, THE RACE TO DUBAI WASN’T ONE OF MY GOALS

the American side demolished their European counterparts at Whistling Straits last week. And he did so with mixed feelings. On one hand, he was delighted to see his friends and compatriots succeed where other U.S. teams had so often failed. On the other, he knew that, had his midseason form been a bit better, he

I HAVEN’T BEEN PART OF A RYDER CUP, BUT IT IRKS ME WHEN I HEAR THAT THE U.S. PLAYERS DON’T CARE.

▶ one versus two Collin Morikawa and Billy Horschel read the eighth green during the final round of the World Golf Championships-Workday Championship in February. They’re set to go toe-to-toe again on Earth at Jumeirah Golf Estates this month.

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Ben Jared/PGa TOUr via GeTTy imaGes • PreviOUs sPread: mark rUnnacles/GeTTy imaGes

There’s also a renewed challenge from his caddie, Mark Fulcher, to further sharpen Horschel’s focus.

“I’ll be honest, at the beginning of the year, the Race to Dubai wasn’t one of my goals,” said Horschel, who trailed Open champion Collin Morikawa by 236.2 points heading into the final three events of the European Tour season, including the season-deciding Dubai doubleheader at Jumeirah Golf Estates. “But after playing well in the WGC events and playing decent in the majors, that changed. I was top five going to Wentworth. I knew if I had a good week there, I would jump up.

“So now there are two goals for the rest of this year. Win the Race to Dubai, which is the big one for me.

Before Wentworth, Fooch said he wanted me to be top 20 in the world by the end of the year. I’m 18th now (20th at press time), so he’s moved the finishing line. He wants to see if we can get to the top 10 by Dec. 31.”

Still, for all his success this year (he finished T-9 in the PGA Tour’s 2021 FedEx Cup standings), Horschel is a man harbouring regrets. Like just about everyone else with even a passing interest in golf, he watched as

could have been one of the 12 making history with a record-breaking 19-9 margin of victory.

“All 12 Americans played really great,” he said. “And the Europeans were just a little off. Rory [McIlroy] was a little off. Lee [Westwood] was a little off. Several of the guys were a little off. We saw shots that, historically, Europeans haven’t been hitting in a foursomes format. I think that’s what it comes down to. But it was great to see the Americans win. I didn’t want to see another year where we get questioned about why haven’t we won and why players don’t care. That ticks me off. I haven’t been part of a Ryder Cup, but it irks me when I hear that the U.S. players don’t care. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Everybody who has played for the last two decades, at least those I’ve come across, cared tremendously about it.”

All of which is going to make qualification for the next Ryder Cup no easy task for any of the eligible Americans. Golf is a fickle sport and two years is a long time. Who would have thought, for example, that Rickie Fowler would be absent from the Ryder Cup? So it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if a number of those who played at Whistling Straits don’t make it to Italy for the re-match in 2023. Which renders talk of an era of American domination more than a little premature, at least in Horschel’s mind.

BEFORE WENTWORTH, FOOCH SAID HE WANTED ME TO BE TOP 20...

NOW HE’S MOVED THE FINISHING LINE.

DaviD Cannon/Getty imaGes

▶ yes boss Billy Horschel waits to play his tee shot on the second hole with his caddie Mark Fulcher during the final round of The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on The Old Course last month.

“Everyone is a little wishful on that,” he said. “I’m not saying it’s not going to happen, but in 2016, we won at Hazeltine and everyone thought we had figured out how to win the Ryder Cup. Then we went over to France and got our butts kicked. One thing to our

advantage is we do have a good young group of core players who, more than likely, are going to play a lot more Ryder Cups over the next 10, 15 years.

In contrast, the Europeans are in a transition mode with Westwood and [Ian] Poulter probably playing their last Ryder Cups. You’ve still got Sergio García and I would expect Justin Rose to be on another Ryder Cup team. But they are in their early 40s. So yes, it does look like it could be a thing of dominance for next few years. But

things on paper don’t always equal winning Ryder Cups. It’s sort of a ‘waitand-see what happens’ situation.”

Perhaps heightening Horschel’s angst is that he already knows the unique pleasure that comes with winning as part of a national team. In 2007, alongside the likes of Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Chris Kirk, Colt Knost, Kyle Stanley and Webb Simpson, he was part of the winning U.S. Walker Cup team at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland. He was also involved in a mild controversy when Rory McIlroy, the undoubted star of the Great Britain & Ireland side, took exception to some of Horschel’s behaviour. The pair played each other twice in singles, each recording a victory “I went into that Walker Cup as an emotional guy, more of a cheerleader and more rambunctious,” Horschel said. “I was the Sergio Garcia of the American team back then. And it showed. Rory and I have joked about it, even recently when we played together at Caves Valley in the BMW Championship. We were young back then and we both did and said some dumb things. But that’s what you do when you’re 18, 20 years old. He and I also agreed that we wish we each still had that little bit of naïve kind of mindset. Playing professional golf, you get knocked down sometimes, so we both wish we still had the cockiness that makes you feel like you can take on the world and defeat it.”

Right now, Horschel doesn’t have to achieve that lofty goal. Not quite.

But beating everyone on the European Tour would be a nice start down that road. The race is on.

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BE LIKE BILLY HORSCHEL

THE PGA TOUR STAR’S KEY TAKEAWAY MOVE

CLAUDE HARMON III, THE SUPER COACH WITH HIS NAME ABOVE THE DOOR AT THE GOLF PERFORMANCE ACADEMY ATTACHED TO THE ELS CLUB, DUBAI, SHOWS HOW 2021 RACE TO DUBAI CONTENDER BILLY HORSCHEL GETS TO THE TOP OF HIS BACK SWING IN PERFECT - AND POWERFUL - BALANCE

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horschel: getty images • harmon: joachim guay

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ILLY HORSCHEL is known as one of the best ball strikers on the PGA Tour and as we approach the grand finale of the European Tour season, he is perfectly positioned for a serious tilt at the Race to Dubai title. But what makes the reigning BMW PGA Championship winner one of the best ball strikers around? ▶ Billy is constantly working on creating a stable top of the backswing position to produce that efficient ball striking that we see weekin, week-out. He does this by maintaining some flex in his right leg at the top of the backswing which allows him to not only manage the length of the backswing but also create the energy needed to push off that leg in transition and thus generate maximum power. In addition to this, maintaining a short and controlled top of the backswing position is key for Billy. He is always looking to avoid a long, loose and narrow look to his top of backswing position.

MAINTAINING A SHORT AND CONTROLLED TOP OF THE BACKSWING POSITION IS KEY FOR BILLY

DRILL TO THRILL ▶ The trail leg drill is a great way to help you maintain flex in your trail leg. Drop your front leg back and begin by making some backswings, focusing on maintaining the flex in your right knee. This should give you the sensation of a very stable lower body, while also allowing you to maintain a lot of width at the top of the swing. I really like Billy’s golf swing and some of the things he works on with his lower body. Copy this drill and before long, you’ll notice an improvement in your ball striking too.

Claude Harmon III is in the vanguard of the new generation of golf teachers. Steeped in tradition both his grandfather, Claude Harmon, and father Claude “Butch” Harmon Jr., have been the dominant teachers of their generation.

GOLF SAUDI DOUBLE-HEADER

DANISH Delight

Emily Kristine Pedersen reflects on her “saudi sweep” last season and Golf Saudi ’s influential impact on the women’s game ahead of this month’s let double-header at royal greens golf & country club

N

o one is better qualified to champion the merits of Saudi Arabia’s Ladies European Tour (LET) double-header than Emily Kristine Pedersen.

The 25-year- old Dane completed the “Saudi Sweep” last year, capturing the Aramco Saudi Ladies International in a playoff from Georgia Hall before leading her team to victory in the Saudi Ladies Team International the following week.

Not content with that, Pedersen also won the individual component of the Team International, the precursor to this year’s globe-trotting, four-event Aramco Saudi Teams Series. And then a fourth successive trophy at the Andalucia Open De Espana, one of five victories in a breakout season as she waltzed away with the LET’s Race to Costa del Sol title.

Photograph by Neville Hopwood

We caught up with the winning Solheim Cup rookie in Long Island at the penultimate event of the Aramco Saudi Teams Series to get her take on Golf Saudi’s innovative new series in London-Sotogrande-New Yorkand Jeddah, with a specific focus on this month’s double-header at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club with its combined $2 million prize purse.

What are your overall impressions of the format for the Aramco Team Series?

It’s definitely different but it’s good to get the chance to play in a different format. One of the great things about golf is you can play with anyone, any age, any gender and the Aramco format really brings that into play. It kind of shows that golf is for everyone, as even though we are professionals we

can play with amateurs regardless of age, gender or handicap, who will still be able to contribute to the team and that’s a really good thing. ●●●

You excelled at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club last year. What’s your secret?

There was something about getting there that just brought a peace of mind for me. The first day we were at the course I fell in love with it, I really enjoyed playing round there and gained a great deal of confidence from that. I felt that if I could find my game the course suited me really well. Obviously, I exceeded my expectations a little bit by going on and winning both the events, but it was just a great place to be, the people were so nice, and I just felt really comfortable being there. november 2021 | golfdigestme.com

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GOLF SAUDI DOUBLE-HEADER Can you describe what it was about the atmosphere of the event that suited you particularly?

Well, I feel like, and I think this is the case for all the Aramco events, that they are set up like a major championship.

With all the big grandstands and the player dining, it makes you feel like you are going into a big event, and subconsciously that does something for us players. When everything is set up like a major it does something that makes us really want to play well. ●●●

Will you return there feeling particularly confident?

Obviously, I have a lot of good memories from there, but I also know there is going to be a lot of great players and at the end of the day it’s about who

is in the best form and who plays the best golf. But of course, if I can bring my good golf, it will give me great confidence playing at a venue where I have so many great memories. ●●●

Can you describe what is required to succeed at Royal Greens and the challenges the course presents?

I think you need to know when to push the brake and when to push the speeder because there are some holes where you have to back out a little bit and other holes that look tricky but actually you can be quite aggressive.

There are some big runoffs too, so it’s essential you avoid those, I’m sure the conditions at the next edition will be as good as last year, so those will pose a threat next time round. Hopefully,

When everything is set up like a major

●●●

Looking back at your victories at Royal Greens was there a defining moment or hole that shaped your success that week?

Well, at the 18th, I hit a second shot in there, in the individual tournament on a hole where I knew I needed to make birdie to get into a playoff with Georgia, and I think I had about 200 yards over water to a back pin and I was like, right I’m going to give it a go. Pulling off that shot gave me tremendous confidence building into the team event and for the remainder of the season. ●●●

When you discuss the Aramco Team Series with other players what is the general consensus about the feel of these events, particularly the Team Series aspect?

Personally, I think it’s great that the Aramco Team Series is something

tristan jones

IT DOES SOMETHING THAT MAKES US REALLY WANT TO PLAY WELL.

it will be set up pretty long like it was the last time, which was good for me because I hit it quite far.

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THE FUTURE IS Female

pedersen, pl ayer: golf saudi

G

that comes back and forth, obviously people have different opinions but personally I think it would be amazing if like in Saudi there was a big individual event first and then the team event afterwards. Playing the individual first almost made me want to enter into the team spirit more, it allowed me to be more aggressive and plan our rounds more like a team.

The format that week in Saudi was something I really enjoyed. ●●●

When you approach these events how do you rationalise or prioritise

your approach?

Honestly, I am always trying to do the best that I can for the team and bring a lot of birdies. I’ll also try to encourage the other players and the amateur.

Some players just want to do their own thing but for me it’s important to try and make the amateur feel comfortable. I’ll speak a lot, chat a lot, joke a lot, just for that person to be comfortable because I do feel they can be a bit intimidated coming in and playing with not only one but three pros. I know all the other pros and I know they do their thing and I’ll

ary Player hit the opening tee shot at last month’s Aramco Team Series – New York, the Ladies European Tour’s historic debut on U.S. soil. But it was the Black Knights’ comments in the media centre that made the greatest impact.

“Women’s golf has been neglected terribly and it’s not fair,” said the 85-year-old, nine-time major champion.

“The average American doesn’t realise how well these women can play. I’m such a fan and supporter of women’s golf and I appeal to businesses to sponsor it. This is a really exciting event.”

As a global ambassador for Golf Saudi, Player is happy to advocate the merits of the new Aramco Team Series with its four events in London, Sotogrande, Long Island and Jeddah.

More importantly, he wants to see other businesses match Aramco’s investment in the women’s game.

The Aramco Team Series represents around 40 percent of earnings available on the LET in 2021.

“As my friend Nelson Mandela used to tell me – sport can change the world. I cannot speak highly enough about women’s golf,” the World Golf Hall of Famer said.

“I watched most of the Solheim Cup this year and I don’t watch much golf anymore. To see these events, like the one here [in NY], sponsored around the world is fantastic for women’s golf.”

“We are going to see great improvement in women’s golf and we need it, young women need role models. We see women playing rugby, soccer, kickboxing. It’s a whole new world and it’s exciting.”

▶ Gary Player didn’t mince his words at the Aramco Team Series – New York last month

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GOLF SAUDI DOUBLE-HEADER

DRIVING Force

he Driving Force presented by Aramco seeks to create a culture within global golf that values, elevates and appreciates involvement from people of all backgrounds. It is an extension of Aramco's diversity and inclusion program, designed to highlight individuals and groups within golf who exemplify that golf is a game for everyone and not always just 18 holes.

The Aramco Team Series provides additional playing opportunities with significant prize funds for tour professionals, while supporting all-round gender empowerment with a broader commitment to female participation initiatives.

As examples of this, the Aramco Team Series collaborated with the Girls Network in London to provide mentorship opportunities to girls from disadvantaged communities, as well as providing the charity with a platform to promote its vision and mission. Courtesy of its relationships with the Aramco Team Series – Sotogrande, the Andalusian Golf Federation will have significant funding for growing girls golf across the region, and in the U.S. the series has supported the Girls on the Green Tee (GOTGT) charity, which aims to introduce young girls to the game of golf and to provide leadership development, character development, self-esteem, confidence, discipline, healthy habits and fitness experiences, through the game.

While (according to UNESCO) just four percent of all sports media coverage relates to women’s sport, the ATS will be broadcast in more than 60 countries with a possible reach of around 350 million homes and more than 400 hours of live broadcast.

▶ The Driving Force scheme aims to bring more diversity to golf

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driving force: golf saudi • solheim cup: getty images

T

ARAMCO TEAM SERIES – Jeddah

H

ot on the heels of the Aramco Team Series – New York, where the Big Apple lived up to its name as ‘the city that never sleeps’ after taking two flood-lit play-off holes to crown Team Jessica Korda, the fourth instalment of the Ladies European Tour’s (LET) innovative new tournament series turns to Saudi Arabia.

Featuring 108 tour professionals and 36 amateurs, golfers will #BringTheEnergy to Royal Greens G&CC in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) from November 10-12. It follows the Saudi Ladies International from Nov. 4-7 where Emily Kristine Pedersen is also the defending champion.

Played originally as the Saudi Team International – the team event was won in 2020 by a fourball led by Pederson. The European Solheim Cup star also captured the individual prize, helping her claim the 2020 Race to Costa del Sol, the LET’s season-long competition to crown Europe’s No.1 player.

The unique format of the Aramco Team Series sees amateur golfers contribute to the result of the main team competition, while individual pro scores contribute towards world ranking points.

The ATS reaches Jeddah in time for Saudi Arabia’s Women in Sport Season (WISS).

chat to them a little bit, but they are all professionals. For me it’s about trying to make the amateur comfortable and help them bring their good game forward and help ease their nerves. ●●●

How would you describe the perfect amateur teammate for these events?

One that makes birdies (laughs)!

No seriously, if they can get on the scorecard a few times, make a few pars, make a few birdies, it’s just great because it gives you some kind of a security blanket. There are always going to be periods of the round where everyone is not playing as great, so it’s really helpful if you have an amateur that can pop in with a par here and there and maybe even a birdie.

pedersen: golf saudi

●●●

It is widely regarded that the Aramco Team Series has brought about positive change in women’s golf through the million-dollar prize funds on the LET, the innovative format of the team series events and introducing initiatives like the Ladies First Club in Saudi. As a player what are your thoughts on the support being offered by the Aramco?

▶ In a particularly memorable 10 day stretch, Emily Kristine Pedersen scooped all the silverware available at Saudi Arabia’s historic LET double-header last November

While providing unprecedented support for female professionals, courtesy of title-sponsor Aramco, the ATS is also committed to gender equality at every level of women’s golf.

To leave a positive and lasting legacy, partnerships with charities have been formed in London (UK), Sotogrande (Spain) and New York championing female empowerment.

I think it’s great that we have people coming into the game and saying they want to help, and I know we as players are all really appreciative of that and are hoping Aramco will continue to support and help grow women’s golf even further. ●●●

Is there anything you want to add about the Aramco Team Series that is a particularly fond memory?

I think it’s great it is some of the same people that are coming round and it’s great to have these stops during the season. Of course, Jeddah has a really special place in my heart because I knew I had won earlier that year, but I feel like when I went to Jeddah it just gave me so much confidence and so much to build on for the future and hopefully that will just continue, so I think that for me was my fondest memory of the Aramco Team Series so far, Jeddah is very special to me. ●●●

In terms of going to new and emerging des tina tions, how important do you think it is for tour professionals to go and help put new golfing destinations on the map?

Well, I think it is very important to

grow the game of golf in all different parts of the world and I think the fact that we are travelling around is helping that, hopefully it will be an eye-opener for people in different countries and it’s good to make your mark on not just one country but in different places around the world. ●●●

As an Aramco Team Series and Solheim Cup winner, what is it about team golf that you think captivates people?

I think golf is such an individual sport, normally it is just you and your caddie and the team of coaches behind you, but it is funny sometimes when you play normal events, and you play for yourself you don’t really pay attention to how the other girls in the group play. What I have experienced in these

THE FIRST DAY WE WERE AT THE COURSE

I fell in love with it.

–PEDERSEN ON ROYAL GREENS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB november 2021 | golfdigestme.com

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GOLF SAUDI DOUBLE-HEADER

SAUDI’S sporting legacy

▶ Jerry Inzerillo, H.E. Yasir Al-Rumayyan and Majed Al Sorour

E

team events having girls that you are normally competing against, coming over and saying, ‘you’ve got this, ‘knock that one in’ and stuff like that is quite nice. It makes for a positive change having people that have your back a little bit. It’s the same thing with the Solheim Cup... it’s just amazing to be part of something that’s far bigger than just yourself. ●●●

What about from the fan perspective because clearly events like the Solheim Cup and the Ryder Cup really engage new audiences for golf. Why do you think that is?

I think people love to watch people

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from both sides to activate areas of collaboration as envisioned in the original agreement.

“This deal underscores our joint desire to ensure Saudi Arabia becomes a destination of choice for international travellers, as we look to attract new audiences through the medium of golf.,” said Majed Al Sorour, CEO of Golf Saudi and Deputy Chairman of the Saudi Golf Federation.

“We both know that sporting events can be a vehicle to bring both Diriyah and Kingdom to the world and this agreement will ensure that Saudi Arabia remains on the sporting map in the years ahead.”

The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 recognises the importance of encouraging physical and social well-being and a healthy lifestyle. The DGDA agreement is designed to reinforce the Kingdom’s ambition of creating a vibrant society with fulfilling lives by directly bringing another sporting event to Riyadh. Saudi Arabia has made huge strides in the promotion of sports and athleticism in recent years with world-class events including the Jeddah Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Saudi Cup, the Dakar Rally and football's Spanish Super Cup. DGDA’s role in fuelling the Kingdom’s distinction in sport includes hosting the Formula E auto racing events and the heavyweight title boxing match between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr. in December 2019.

come together as a team because I think in golf, it can be hard to know who to root for. Some of my friends that don’t play golf who try and watch it say it’s a little bit confusing because they are watching me play with someone, and they might not be the one who is leading and then they watch the Solheim Cup and they are like alright I understand this, these players are on the same team against this one, so it’s much easier to follow. It is the same with the Aramco Team Series, it is easy to identify these people in this group are all on the same team and I think that makes it easier for spectators to follow and enjoy.

dgde: golf saudi • solheim cup: getty images

xpect to see the Aramco Team Series (ATS) played in Diriyah in the future.

That’s just one of the outcomes of a three-year deal that has seen Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) take on the role of Official Cultural Destination Partner of the ATS. The deal cements DGDA’s long-term commitment to golf.

With Saudi Arabia swiftly establishing itself as one of the world’s most dynamic golf markets, the partnership will provide a sporting legacy for Saudi citizens with the intent of hosting the Aramco Team Series in Diriyah in the future.

By hosting a tournament on-site, DGDA will underscore its growing reputation as a global cultural icon and one of the world’s greatest gathering places, by showcasing its unique historical and cultural values to a new worldwide audience.

“Diriyah is already well on its way to becoming a global cultural icon, and following this agreement with the Aramco Team Series we look forward to becoming one of the world’s greatest gathering places for golf,” said Jerry Inzerillo, DGDA’s Group CEO. “Built in a Najdi architectural style, our community celebrates the rich cultural history of Saudi Arabia. Diriyah, Riyadh’s new global cultural and lifestyle destination, has already established itself as a home of world-class sporting events and this agreement will continue that tradition.”

DGDA previously worked with Golf Saudi (the owner of the Aramco Team Series) in 2019 when both parties signed a landmark deal with the Greg Norman Golf Course Design (GNGCD) Company. A 27-hole course is due to be built, as part of the exclusive new Wadi Safar residential district in Diriyah, developed by DGDA. As part of the agreement, Golf Saudi has been providing DGDA with technical and management services with the two entities having formed a joint working team, comprised of specialists

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Can new USGA boss Mike Whan leverage his outsider status to help solve golf’s biggest challenges?

Interview by Alan Shipnuck Photographs by Cody Pickens

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Crown, Founders Cup and Race to the CME Globe and helped transform the Women’s PGA. Just as lasting is the close connection he forged with the players, each of whom was famously given his cell number. Through the years Whan, 56, fielded calls on everything from pin positions to the clubhouse buffet, but it was the open dialogue on weightier matters that changed the culture of the LPGA. “He did more than give us a voice; he held the megaphone to our lips,” says LPGA veteran Christina Kim. “He made us feel empowered and invested in the future of the tour. Because of that, we were willing to support his vision of what we could be.”

Whan grew up in Naperville, Ill., and at 13 worked on the maintenance crew of a country Photograph by First Lastname

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If the public’s feelings about the USGA could be distilled into a building, the result would look something like the clubhouse at The Olympic Club: formal and old-fashioned. It seems fitting then that the debut of Mike Whan as the new face of the USGA came at Olympic in late April during a media day touting the U.S. Women’s Open. When someone referred to Whan as “Boss,” he parried, “Not yet.” But he was just being literal. Whan’s first day as CEO was still a few weeks away, but the announcement on Feb. 17 that he would take the job had already sent a bolt of lightning through an organisation that dates to 1894, and the energy he radiated at Olympic was palpable. His predecessor Mike Davis—who was beloved internally and regarded as an expert on golf-course setups—wore the traditionalist tag as comfortably as a blue blazer. Whan got the job because he is viewed—inside and outside the USGA—as an agent of change after a successful 11-year tenure as LPGA commissioner.

“No question he is a doer, a visionary, and that he brings ideas to life,” says USGA president J. Stuart Francis. (One of Whan’s challenges will be maintaining continuity as the USGA welcomes a new president every three years; “I value the different perspectives they will bring,” Whan says, “but it’s my job to steer the ship.”)

Whan’s impact on the LPGA can be quantified in the schedule (34 tournaments in 2021 compared with 24 when he took over) and prize money (a record $76.5 million this year). He championed the creation of the International

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club. He was a youth-sports quarterback who idolised an older, grittier neighborhood kid who became a mentor: Sean Payton, who played two seasons in the NFL and later coached the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl title. Whan graduated from Miami University of Ohio and began his corporate career at Proctor & Gamble. Ever the relentless salesman, he says with a laugh, “I still have a passion for toothpaste.”

But Whan’s heart was always in sports, and he jumped at the chance to work for Wilson Sporting Goods, overseeing the golf-ball division, and later became an executive vice president at TaylorMade. It is a provocative résumé for the leader of the USGA, but Whan carries his outsider status with pride, noting that he is hardly an expert on the rules. For an organisation that Photograph by First Lastname

has skewed insular, Whan’s unorthodox background and skill as a communicator came to be seen as a plus.

“He has a deep understanding of the changing landscape, and that is critical given all the important topics that exist in golf,” Francis says.

“It’s a complex job, being the CEO, but you need to distill it in understandable ways to a variety of constituents. Mike is effective at doing that.

As we are dealing with a period of significant change, his ability to get our points across becomes critical.”

Golf Digest talked with Whan at The Olympic Club, where he nursed a Coke Zero—he refused to say how many he drinks in a day, but suffice to say it is a lot—and radiated a caffeinated enthusiasm for the challenges that await.

▶ range sesh Whan, a 4-handicap, gets in a few swings during the U.S. Women’s Open media day at The Olympic Club.

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From the moment you said you were leaving the LPGA Tour there was speculation you would land at the USGA, even though you were an unconventional candidate for the CEO job. During the interview process, who was selling who?

When I left the LPGA, I certainly did not have a job at the USGA. I talked my wife into, “Let’s take 2021 off and have some fun.” But I had met with part of the USGA selection crew during the U.S. Women’s Open in November, and I was pretty sure that was the last meeting we were going to have. It wasn’t uncomfortable; it wasn’t confrontational, but I was honest, and I was pretty sure my honesty and my approach was going to be mismatched enough that they would say, “Yeah, we checked that box.” But Stu [Francis] called me back and said, “I really think that went well. They understand you’re different, but you come from a place of knowledge.” I remember thinking when I got off the phone, Maybe there’s something here. Because there’s a strength in how the USGA tackles a problem and understands governance, and some of the stuff that I don’t have the patience for will be good for me to learn. If I’m smart enough to let them teach me while I’m trying to teach them, I could be good for them, and they could be good for me.

Is that one of your mandates, to change the culture?

I’ve not been given any mandates.

OK, unofficial mandate.

They know I wouldn’t be able to help myself. I’ve nicknamed half the board already. It’s gonna be different, right?

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Provide the nicknames, please.

Aw, no, no, I can’t. The board doesn’t know their nicknames yet! But that’s just who I am.

They did enough homework on me to know I will be culturally different. There’s virtually no doubt about that.

The USGA has made its share of missteps over the years, but people in golf are inclined to cut it slack because unlike the players and manufacturers and agents and even the PGA Tour, the USGA’s mission is to protect the game, not make money. It can be frustrating, though, because at times the USGA hasn’t done a good job telling its story . . . . . . even when it’s overwhelmingly successful.

Take a look at the rules changes from a few years ago. We all went through this awkward transition, and that got a lot of attention, but today, I can’t think of a rules change in that modernisation that wasn’t a home run. But I’m not sure the USGA would ever take a bow. To their credit, they don’t really get too out of whack when it doesn’t work out, but they also don’t get too high when it’s successful. They’re steady that way. I don’t have that. I’m a highs and lows guy. I can promise you a year from now, if we do another interview, I’ll be telling you about the 15 things the USGA is really proud of in terms of moving the needle for the game of golf. I was built with a marketing bone that’s out of whack, so I won’t know how to tamp that down.

That could prove useful because, for whatever reason, tour players these days love to criticise the USGA. How do you win them over?

Photograph by First Lastname

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▶ face time Whan is known for walking the range at tournaments. Here (from left) with Jess McAlister, Randi Zuckerberg, Kira K. Dixon, Jeehae Lee and Marissa Mar.

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I don’t know many players on the men’s tour. If there are strong points of view that they think the USGA should hear, I should be the one hearing them. We have a deal at the LPGA where if we get a negative email or a negative call from a consumer or a fan or a member, it has to go to me first. Then I can route it to whatever department. But it’s gotta start with me. I feel like sometimes when you sit at the highest office, by design only the good news makes it to you because nobody wants to tell you the bad news, right? My assistant [at the LPGA] always found it strange that Tuesday when I was at a tournament was blocked in my schedule. It was because I walked the range so that I could hear from my members. If you’re there, they’ll talk to you. If you’re not, they’ll talk to somebody else.

So I’ll be at the U.S. Amateur, Senior Open, the U.S. Open to talk to the customers, which in this case are the players.

What are some venues you would like to take the U.S. Open to that have not been showcased recently or ever? Got a wish list?

I don’t. There are people at the USGA, hopefully, much smarter than I am on venue selection.

I’ll chime in, but I didn’t choose venues at the LPGA, and I won’t choose venues at the USGA. But I will make sure we have a team good enough to choose.

As LPGA commissioner, one of your quiet goals was to have equal purses in the major championships for men and women. You didn’t get it done, but now you’ll have the juice to make it happen at the national championships. Can you say definitively that at some point relatively soon the women will get the same purse as the men in the U.S. Open?

I can’t say definitively, but I think your memory of my perspective is true. I raised three boys, but if I had daughters, I’d want to be able to tell them, “If you can get to the highest level, the treatment you’re going to get, the feeling you’re going to get, the pay you’re going to make is going to be similar to your brother,” as opposed to trying to explain why her dream is worth about 20 percent of his. One significant challenge is that men’s purses aren’t slowing down any time soon, including majors. I’ll say this: When I started at the LPGA, the U.S. Women’s Open was really the front of the parade that pushed the rest of us to catch up in regard to purses. I’m not sure I’d say that today, but I feel comfortable saying that will be the case again soon.

One of your pet peeves has always been that range finders are not allowed in competition. Is that something you’re going to legislate so that they will be allowed at USGA competitions?

We’re going to go to range finders on the LPGA in 2022 across the board. The PGA Championship announced the same. It just makes sense.

Photograph by First Lastname

There is nothing worse on TV than watching a golfer and caddie do arithmetic. That is the worst television experience of your life. To me, it’s one of those technological improvements that can improve the viewer experience and the pace of play.

What about the optics? You don’t worry about the ghost of Sandy Tatum haunting you because caddies at the U.S. Open are shooting things with a laser?

There’s a lot of ghosts that I worry about bothering me, but that’s not one of ’em.

We all agree the USGA needs to be the arbiter of what happens between the ropes in competition. But what should be the organisation’s role in supporting the game at the grassroots level?

I’ve had this phrase in my head forever, which is, The USGA is going to be golf’s greatest trusted partner to champion and advance this game, no matter who you are. Then the question becomes, “What partnership do you need?” If you need agronomy help, then we could be there with agronomy help. If you need help from a membership perspective, then let us provide that. If you need to showcase how you can conserve water, we’ll be there. If we can get into that trusted partner mentality, there’ll be times when we need to take a real leadership role, and there’ll be times when what the partnership people need is a little more behind the scenes.

We can’t kid ourselves and think we’re going to be the business answer for everybody, but where we can aid, we should.

The LPGA’s Girls Golf program has been successful creating a large and diverse community of young golfers. What can the USGA do to grow the game?

There aren’t many LPGA players who didn’t have a lot of support to become one of the best players from their country. The only ones who don’t have that are the U.S. players. Lydia Ko can still talk to New Zealand Golf and have real support in terms of guidance, coaches and everything else. She’s had that since her junior days. Why don’t we have a U.S.A. development program for kids? I’m talking about a statewide, then regional, then a national team, and working with our state and regional partners to help these kids. It would be about catching up to what other countries are already doing.

I need to figure out how to both fund and create a U.S.A. development program.

That would be a feeder for the Walker Cup or Curtis Cup? It would be a feeder for virtually everything we do, right? As you know, for every five people that make it to that Walker Cup level, there are 5,000 that had incredible junior careers but didn’t get to that level. Those 5,000 become golf nuts working in the equipment industry, building courses, working in golf shops. Building a

“I was built with a marketing bone that’s out of whack, so I won’t know how to tamp that down.”

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strong development program for the youth, especially for diverse youth, changes the way golf looks in 20 years. We just need to be the helping hand, the boost, to help these young folks to keep playing and stay in the game.

This is a fundamental issue facing the USGA: Does it want to be an all-powerful ruling body or a partner with everybody else in the game?

The reality is that we’re going to be a partner in virtually everything we do. There will be things we do where we have to be the final decisionmaker: rules or what we’re going to do on distance and equipment testing. Some people might not love that, but someone has to make that decision. But as I’ve said to the board, “You can lead a team in a huddle.” You can still huddle the industry, but make sure that people have a chance to talk and vote, and then somebody’s gotta call the play. You don’t have to lead from outside the huddle.

Let’s talk distance debate. Do you agree that at the highest level of the men’s game, the distance gains have fundamentally changed how the sport is played and have rendered a lot of traditional venues, if not obsolete, certainly heading that way?

I don’t know that I agree that it’s fundamentally changed the way the game is played, but I do think it’s creating issues, not only for the people that are hosting events but for anybody who wants to host in the future. I hear people say, “We’re building a course; it’s gonna be 8,700 yards so we can host anything.” The acreage that takes, the water, the maintenance, it all adds up.

For the men’s professional game, do you need to limit the distance players are hitting it?

If we’re talking about the men’s professional game, I’d be surprised if people don’t believe that some degree of reining in wouldn’t be good for the game long-term. I haven’t had those conversations with everybody yet, but I will. I’ve read the Distance Insights study, but I don’t know if the need for change really trickles down to other levels of the game. I question if we need change for the average player. I’m still trying to understand why bifurcation scares everybody as much as it does. I’m not really sure why.

You’re a marketing guy—you know the entire equipment industry is built on 18-handicappers wanting to play the same driver as Dustin Johnson.

I’m enough of a marketing guy to know if Dustin Johnson’s driver is slightly different than the one I can buy at retail, that will have very little impact on the number of drivers he sells. Why does Ford spend $50 million in NASCAR? When I buy my Ford truck, I don’t believe there’s a NASCAR engine under the hood. But I believe that Ford’s investment in building a NASCAR car probably translates into some incredible knowledge that improves the truck I’m drivPhotograph by First Lastname

ing. By the way, I don’t drive a Ford truck, but my point is what you can do for the best in the world and how that translates down to what you’re doing for consumers. I could probably sit and have that argument with [TaylorMade CEO] David Abeles and [Callaway CEO] Chip Brewer for a long time. But the technology that they’re inventing and bringing to the pros is going to trickle into the hands of the consumer. That technology will be what the average fan wants.

It sounds pretty definitive that you’re on board for a rollback at the pro level.

I don’t have the education that I need on this topic. I’m walkin’ in like every Twitter follower, with just a point of view.

Oh, come on, you worked for TaylorMade and Wilson! You know these issues plenty well enough.

What I’m saying is, I don’t know the perspective of everybody else. That’s one of the reasons I want the job. I really want to listen to other people and understand their perspective. What I would tell you is, I don’t think the world of golf comes to a halt with some sort of bifurcation. I don’t know that I’m right, and I really want to hear other perspectives. I know there’s plenty of people that I’ll work for now who probably will be scared to death of the term bifurcation.

I’m not sure that for the average golf course or the average golfer, distance has changed the course or the way they play it. But I don’t think you can say that as you elevate up to the best players in the world.

No one’s wants to take away grandpa’s Big Bertha. We’re just talking about the best of the best. Of course, the Ping lawsuit from 1987 still hovers over this debate. There’s a belief that the USGA is afraid to stand up to manufacturers because of the threat of litigation. Is that fair?

I certainly don’t get that from anybody that I’ve talked to. The USGA really does feel a responsibility to do the right thing for the game for the next hundred years. If you talk to a USGA person, they want to make sure that the game can be just as good, if not better, for the next hundred years as the last hundred. I said this to the board, and I’ll say it to you: Every time I’ve hit the send button in the past 12 years of my life, 30 percent of the people that received it hate me when they read it. I’m never really sure which 30 until the next morning when I wake up and I hear back, but if that fear of the 30 percent stops you from hitting the send button, then you’re not the right person for the job. You can’t be the commissioner of a sport, you can’t be the CEO of the USGA and think you’re gonna win a popularity contest. I realise that when I stop being the CEO of the USGA, a third of golfers will probably think I was an idiot. I can live with that as long as I feel like that while I was there, I advanced the game, I championed the game.

“I don’t think the world of golf comes to a halt with some sort of bifurcation.”

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• tobacco road, sanford, n.c. (No. 49) Strange twists and turns make this layout play like a golf hall of mirrors.

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GREATEST PUBLIC COURSES

2021-2022

AN OPEN INVITATION TO PLAY AMERICA’S BEST PUBLIC-ACCESS COURSES

BY DEREK DUNCAN // PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRIAN OAR

ublic can mean different things when it comes to golf. Does the word refer to primarily municipal courses and straight daily-fee operations? Do resort courses count, where an accompanying room night might be required to play? What about college and military courses? The answer as it relates to the biennial Golf Digest America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses is all of the above. The ranking this year comprises, to be precise, public-access courses. This includes several traditionally private clubs that now offer limited stay-andplay packages—if you really want to play them, there’s a way. ▶ When it comes to architectural impact, high-end resorts, destination properties and upscale facilities continue to dominate the ranking. Only three municipal courses— Bethpage’s Black Course, Chambers Bay and Torrey Pines (South)—finished in the top 100, and these don’t exactly offer muny prices for nonresidents.

Several new courses made impressive entrances, notably No. 15 Sheep Ranch at Bandon Dunes, Golf Digest’s 2020 Best New Course, and Ozarks National (No. 30), both designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, as well as Pinehurst’s No. 4, remodeled by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner in 2019. ▶ Overall, it was a year of movement with 17 courses debuting or returning after an absence. The Gold course at Golden Horseshoe in Williamsburg, Va., vaulted 24 places to No. 43, reaping the rewards of a 2017 renovation, and Jack Nicklaus’ Great Waters course at Reynolds Lake Oconee, Ga. (also recently renovated), and the Links/ Quarry Course at Bay Harbor in Michigan each jumped 17 spots. After laying fallow for a year, Yale Golf Course, which expects to allow outside play once COVID-19 mandates relax, is in the ranking for the first time since 2003 at No. 46.

16. (15) BLACKWOLF RUN (RIVER) Kohler, Wis. Pete Dye (1990) 7,404 yards/Par 72 Score: 61.1407

1. (1) PEBBLE BEACH (CALIF.) G. LINKS Jack Neville & Douglas Grant (1919) 7,075 yards/Par 72 Score: 67.3675

6. (6) PINEHURST (N.C.) RESORT (NO. 2) Donald Ross (1935) 7,588 yards/Par 72 Score: 63.9639

21. (29) MANELE G. CSE Lanai, Hawaii Jack Nicklaus (1993) 7,039 yards/Par 72 Score: 60.5232

2. (2) PACIFIC DUNES Bandon, Ore. Tom Doak (2001) 6,633 yards/Par 71 Score: 64.8645

7. (7) BANDON (ORE.) DUNES David McLay Kidd (1999) 6,732 yards/Par 72 Score: 63.3123

3. (3) WHISTLING STRAITS (STRAITS) Haven, Wis. Pete Dye (1998) 7,790 yards/Par 72 Score: 64.5043 4. (4) THE OCEAN COURSE Kiawah Island, S.C. Pete Dye & Alice Dye (1991) 7,849 yards/Par 72 Score: 64.4146 5. (5) SHADOW CREEK North Las Vegas, Nev. Tom Fazio & Steve Wynn (1990) 7,560 yards/Par 72 Score: 64.1319

8. (8) BETHPAGE STATE PARK (BLACK) Farmingdale, N.Y. Joseph H. Burbeck & A.W. Tillinghast (1936) 7,468 yards/Par 71 Score: 63.1529 9. (9) ERIN HILLS G. CSE. Erin, Wis. Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry & Ron Whitten (2006) 7,731 yards/Par 72 Score: 62.8534 10. (10) SPYGLASS HILL G. CSE. Pebble Beach Robert Trent Jones (1966) 6,960 yards/Par 72 Score: 62.5718

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11. (11) TPC SAWGRASS (PLAYERS STADIUM) Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Pete Dye & Alice Dye (1980) 7,245 yards/Par 72 Score: 62.5002 12. (12) OLD MACDONALD Bandon, Ore. Tom Doak & Jim Urbina (2010) 6,944 yards/Par 71 Score: 62.3008 13. (14) BANDON (ORE.) TRAILS Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2005) 6,788 yards/Par 71 Score: 62.0223 14. (13) ARCADIA (MICH.) BLUFFS (BLUFFS) Rick Smith & Warren Henderson (2001) 7,300 yards/Par 72 Score: 61.5764 15. (NEW) SHEEP RANCH Bandon, Ore. Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2020) 6,636 yards/Par 72 Score: 61.5402

17. (16) PASATIEMPO G.C. Santa Cruz, Calif.

Alister MacKenzie (1929) 6,495 yards/Par 70 Score: 61.0755 18. (18) SAND VALLEY Nekoosa, Wis. Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2017) 6,938 yards/Par 72 Score: 60.6800 19. (17) THE PETE DYE CSE. AT FRENCH LICK (IND.) RESORT Pete Dye (2009) 8,102 yards/Par 72 Score: 60.6000 20. (19) STREAMSONG (RED) Streamsong, Fla. Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2012) 7,110 yards/Par 72 Score: 60.5785

22. (21) CHAMBERS BAY University Place, Wash.

Robert Trent Jones Jr., Bruce Charlton & Jay Blasi (2007) 7,585 yards/Par 72 Score: 60.1416 23. (22) KAPALUA (PLANTATION) Maui, Hawaii Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (1991) 7,596 yards/Par 73 Score: 59.9800 24. (20) KARSTEN CREEK G.C. Stillwater, Okla.

Tom Fazio (1994) 7,449 yards/Par 72 Score: 59.9734 25. (23) HARBOUR TOWN G. LINKS Hilton Head Island Pete Dye & Jack Nicklaus (1969) 7,099 yards/Par 71 Score: 59.9078

* = Traditionally private clubs that offer stay-and-play packages.

26. (24) STREAMSONG (BLUE) Streamsong, Fla. Tom Doak (2012) 7,176 yards/Par 72 Score: 59.7721 27. (26) MAUNA KEA G. CSE. Kohala Coast, Hawaii Robert Trent Jones (1964) 7,370 yards/Par 72 Score: 59.7482

31. (25) OMNI HOMESTEAD (CASCADES) Hot Springs, Va. William Flynn (1923) 6,873 yards/Par 70 Score: 59.5748

36. (33) SEA ISLAND G.C. (SEASIDE) St. Simons Island, Ga. Charles Alison (1928)/Joe Lee (1971) 7,005 yards/Par 70 Score: 59.2018

32. (NEW) PINEHURST (N.C.) RESORT (NO. 4) Gil Hanse & Jim Wagner (2019) 7,227 yards/Par 72 Score: 59.4574

37. (34) THE GREENBRIER (THE OLD WHITE) White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. C.B. Macdonald (1915) 7,246 yards/Par 70 Score: 59.1852

28. (30) THE HIGHLAND CSE. AT PRIMLAND Meadows of Dan, Va. Donald Steel (2006) 7,053 yards/Par 72 Score: 59.7283

33. (28) FOREST DUNES G.C. Roscommon, Mich.

Tom Weiskopf (2002) 7,116 yards/Par 72 Score: 59.4566

29. (27) MAMMOTH DUNES Nekoosa, Wis. David McLay Kidd (2018) 6,988 yards/Par 73 Score: 59.6886

34. (32) STREAMSONG (BLACK) Streamsong, Fla. Gil Hanse & Jim Wagner (2017) 7,320 yards/Par 73 Score: 59.3133

30. (NEW) OZARKS NATIONAL Hollister, Mo. Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2019) 7,036 yards/Par 71 Score: 59.6256

35. (31) THE QUARRY AT GIANTS RIDGE Biwabik, Minn.

Jeff Brauer (2003) 7,201 yards/Par 72 Score: 59.2455

38. (35) GAMBLE SANDS G.C. Brewster, Wash.

David McLay Kidd (2014) 7,169 yards/Par 72 Score: 59.0990 39. (NEW) BLACK DIAMOND RANCH (QUARRY) * Lecanto, Fla. Tom Fazio (1987) 7,056 yards/Par 72 Score: 59.0420 40. (37) PRONGHORN CLUB (NICKLAUS) Bend, Ore. Jack Nicklaus (2003) 7,379 yards/Par 72 Score: 58.9293

41. (38) FALLEN OAK Saucier, Miss.

Tom Fazio (2006) 7,487 yards/Par 72 Score: 58.8847 42. (36) TORREY PINES G. CSE. (SOUTH) La Jolla, Calif.

William F. Bell (1957) 7,802 yards/Par 72 Score: 58.7683 43. (67) GOLDEN HORSESHOE G.C. (GOLD) Williamsburg, Va. Robert Trent Jones (1963) 6,817 yards/Par 71 Score: 58.7427 44. (39) THE BROADMOOR G.C. (EAST) Colorado Springs, Colo.

Donald Ross (1918)/ Robert Trent Jones (1952) 7,355 yards/Par 72 Score: 58.7350 45. (41) THE PRAIRIE CLUB (DUNES) Valentine, Neb. Tom Lehman & Chris Brands (2010) 8,073 yards/Par 73 Score: 58.6244

• rams hill, borrego springs, calif. The Southern California desert course near La Quinta debuts at No. 98. november 2021 | golfdigestme.com

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• wild horse, gothenburg, neb. Public golfers get the flavor of Nebraska’s Sand Hills at our No. 71-ranked course.

46. (NEW) YALE G. CSE. New Haven, Conn.

C.B. Macdonald & Seth Raynor (1926) 6,409 yards/Par 70 Score: 58.5922

51. (46) CORDEVALLE G.C. San Martin, Calif.

Robert Trent Jones Jr. (1999) 7,360 yards/Par 72 Score: 58.1888

55. (49) PGA WEST (TPC STADIUM) La Quinta, Calif.

Pete Dye (1986) 7,300 yards/Par 72 Score: 57.8848

60. (63) MOSSY OAK West Point, Miss.

Gil Hanse & Jim Wagner (2016) 7,212 yards/Par 72 Score: 57.7544

47. (43) WHISTLING STRAITS (IRISH) Haven, Wis. Pete Dye (2000) 7,201 yards/Par 72 Score: 58.5657

52. (NEW) ARCADIA (MICH.) BLUFFS (SOUTH) Dana Fry & Jason Straka (2019) 7,412 yards/Par 72 Score: 58.1482

56. (51) COG HILL G. & C.C. (NO. 4) Lemont, Ill. Dick Wilson (1965) 7,554 yards/Par 72 Score: 57.7972

61. (55) CROSSWATER Sunriver, Ore. Bob Cupp (1995) 7,683 yards/Par 72 Score: 57.7008

48. (40) MAY RIVER G.C. Bluffton, S.C. Jack Nicklaus (2004) 7,171 yards/Par 72 Score: 58.3870

53. (48) THE LINKS AT SPANISH BAY Pebble Beach Robert Trent Jones Jr., Tom Watson & Sandy Tatum (1987) 6,821 yards/Par 72 Score: 58.1383

57. (42) WILDERNESS CLUB Eureka, Mont.

Brian Curley & Nick Faldo (2009) 7,207 yards/Par 72 Score: 57.7787

62. (59) THE CLASSIC AT MADDEN’S RESORT Brainerd, Minn.

Scott Hoffmann, with Geoffrey Cornish, John Harris & Warren Rebholz (1997) 7,102 yards/Par 72 Score: 57.6490

49. (52) TOBACCO ROAD G.C. Sanford, N.C. Mike Strantz (1999) 6,557 yards/Par 71 Score: 58.3597

54. (NEW) POINT O’WOODS * Benton Harbor, Mich.

Robert Trent Jones (1958) 7,075 yards/Par 72 Score: 58.0066

50. (44) SENTRYWORLD G. CSE. Stevens Point, Wis. Robert Trent Jones Jr. (1982) 7,145 yards/Par 72 Score: 58.2029

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58. (50) PAAKO RIDGE G.C. (1ST/2ND) Sandia Park, N.M. Ken Dye (2000) 7,562 yards/Par 72 Score: 57.7663

59. (45) THE LOOP AT FOREST DUNES G.C. (BLACK) Roscommon, Mich.

Tom Doak (2016) 6,704 yards/Par 70 Score: 57.7615

63. (80) BAY HARBOR (MICH.) G.C. (LINKS/QUARRY) Arthur Hills, with Stephen Kircher (1998) 6,845 yards/Par 72 Score: 57.6225

64. (56) THE DUNES G. & BEACH CLUB Myrtle Beach Robert Trent Jones (1949) 7,450 yards/Par 72 Score: 57.6094

73. (79) PINE NEEDLES LODGE & G.C. Southern Pines, N.C. Donald Ross (1928) 7,062 yards/Par 71 Score: 57.1713

65. (53) WOLF CREEK G.C. Mesquite, Nev. Dennis Rider (2000) 6,939 yards/Par 72 Score: 57.4490

74. (57) BLACKWOLF RUN (MEADOW VALLEYS) Kohler, Wis. Pete Dye (1989) 7,250 yards/Par 72 Score: 57.1627

82. (71) TETHEROW G.C. Bend, Ore. David McLay Kidd (2008) 7,293 yards/Par 72 Score: 56.7729

91. (NEW) THE BULL AT PINEHURST FARMS Sheboygan Falls, Wis. Jack Nicklaus (2003) 7,354 yards/Par 72 Score: 56.4385

83. (NEW) THE PFAU COURSE AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY Bloomington, Ind. Steve Smyers (2020) 7,908 yards/Par 71 Score: 56.7416

92. (81) POPPY HILLS G. CSE. Pebble Beach Robert Trent Jones Jr. (1986) 7,002 yards/Par 71 Score: 56.4317

84. (73) THE VIRTUES G.C. Nashport, Ohio Arthur Hills (1999) 7,243 yards/Par 72 Score: 56.7315

93. (91) MID PINES INN & G.C. Southern Pines, N.C. Donald Ross (1921) 6,732 yards/Par 72 Score: 56.4297

76. (64) PINEHURST (N.C.) RESORT (NO. 8) Tom Fazio (1996) 7,099 yards/Par 72 Score: 57.1251

85. (77) CALEDONIA G. & FISH CLUB Pawleys Island, S.C. Mike Strantz (1994) 6,526 yards/Par 70 Score: 56.6737

94. (74) BULLE ROCK Havre de Grace, Md. Pete Dye (1998) 7,375 yards/Par 72 Score: 56.4285

68. (58) THE G. COURSES OF LAWSONIA (LINKS) Green Lake, Wis. William Langford & Theodore Moreau (1930) 6,853 yards/Par 72 Score: 57.4062

77. (94) GREAT WATERS AT REYNOLDS LAKE OCONEE Eatonton, Ga. Jack Nicklaus (1992) 7,436 yards/Par 72 Score: 57.0965

86. (NEW) EDGEWOOD TAHOE G. CSE. Stateline, Nev. George Fazio (1968) 7,529 yards/Par 72 Score: 56.6713

69. (72) THE WILDERNESS AT FORTUNE BAY Tower, Minn.

Jeff Brauer (2004) 7,207 yards/Par 72 Score: 57.3412

78. (47) THE LOOP AT FOREST DUNES G.C. (RED) Roscommon, Mich.

Tom Doak (2016) 6,805 yards/Par 70 Score: 57.0169

87. (75) TRUMP NATIONAL DORAL MIAMI (BLUE MONSTER) Dick Wilson (1962) 7,608 yards/Par 72 Score: 56.6385

66. (78) RED SKY G.C. (NORMAN) Wolcott, Colo.

Greg Norman (2003) 7,480 yards/Par 72 Score: 57.4345 67. (54) MARQUETTE (MICH.) G.C. (GREYWALLS) Mike DeVries (2005) 6,828 yards/Par 71 Score: 57.4242

70. (62) CASCATA Boulder City, Nev. Rees Jones (2000) 7,137 yards/Par 72 Score: 57.3001 71. (68) WILD HORSE G.C. Gothenburg, Neb. Dave Axland & Dan Proctor (1999) 6,955 yards/Par 72 Score: 57.2343 72. (66) NEMACOLIN WOODLANDS RESORT (MYSTIC ROCK) Farmington, Pa. Pete Dye (1995) 7,550 yards/Par 72 Score: 57.2019

75. (60) OLD WAVERLY G.C. West Point, Miss.

Bob Cupp & Jerry Pate (1988) 7,088 yards/Par 72 Score: 57.1303

79. (76) RED SKY G.C. (FAZIO) Wolcott, Colo.

Tom Fazio (2002) 7,116 yards/Par 72 Score: 56.9939 80. (NEW) FIRESTONE C.C. (SOUTH) * Akron, Ohio Robert Trent Jones (1959) 7,283 yards/Par 70 Score: 56.9599 81. (65) PRINCEVILLE MAKAI G.C. Kauai, Hawaii Robert Trent Jones Jr. (1971) 7,223 yards/Par 72 Score: 56.9212

88. (84) QUINTERO G.C. Peoria, Ariz.

Rees Jones & Steve Weisser (2000) 7,208 yards/Par 72 Score: 56.5957 89. (NEW) TPC COLORADO Berthoud, Colo.

Art Schaupeter (2019) 7,249 yards/Par 72 Score: 56.5501 90. (82) WORLD WOODS G.C. (PINE BARRENS) Brooksville, Fla. Tom Fazio (1993) 7,237 yards/Par 71 Score: 56.4991

95. (NEW) GRIZZLY RANCH Portola, Calif.

Bob Cupp (2005) 7,411 yards/Par 72 Score: 56.3960 96. (NEW) KINGSMILL RESORT (RIVER) Williamsburg, Va. Pete Dye (1975) 6,831 yards/Par 71 Score: 56.3763 97. (88) THE PRAIRIE CLUB (PINES) Valentine, Neb. Graham Marsh (2010) 7,403 yards/Par 73 Score: 56.3727 98. (NEW) RAMS HILL G.C. Borrego Springs, Calif.

Tom Fazio (2008) 7,232 yards/Par 72 Score: 56.3556 99. (NEW) THE MCLEMORE CLUB * Rising Fawn, Ga. Bill Bergin & Rees Jones (2020) 7,005 yards/Par 71 Score: 56.3342 100. (NEW) SPRING CREEK G.C. Zion Crossroads, Va. Ed Carton (2007) 7,348 yards/Par 72 Score: 56.2808

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MOST OF US ARE PLAYING THE WRONG SHAFT

THE RIGHT ONE COULD GET YOU 17 MORE YARDS WITH THE DRIVER, BUT FINDING IT IS AS MUCH ART AS SCIENCE gutter credit tk

BY MIKE STACHURA

Photograph by First Lastname

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THE FIELD AT THIS YEAR’S PUERTO RICO OPEN had 132 exception-

ally talented golfers with similarly perfect swings as hypnotic as the nearby palm trees blowing in the island breeze. But when you looked closer, a subtle but distinct difference kept reflecting in the light: bits of metallic blue in one moment, sparkly green or smoky black in another place, shiny silver here, and hints of red, yellow or even orange over there, each tracing that perfect line between hands and clubhead.

Shoes, hats and even physiques have a certain consistency on the PGA Tour, but the driver shaft reveals a rainbow palette of variety, and not just in colors—68 of the 132 players used a different driver shaft.

On its face, that number sounds absurd. Tour-player swings all hover in the same swing-speed range. Why would there need to be so many models? How is such subtlety possible or necessary?

The reasons aren’t entirely clear, but finding a shaft that’s perfectly suited for your game isn’t only for golfers with their names on their bags. A Golf Digest/Club Champion test with a 10-handicapper revealed as much as a 17-yard difference between similar— but not the same—driver shafts. And even that gain isn’t as clearly defined as it might initially appear to be (see chart, page 68). In a game increasingly adept at measuring potential performance, the mysterious, mystical shaft is the game’s last great frontier. But like all frontiers, it still lacks a map.

The voyage for a pro starts with a precise fitting, says Don Brown, vice president of innovation and product creation for True Temper Sports, makers of the Project X brand of

shafts, which includes the HZRDUS and EvenFlow lines. “Guys can use a launch monitor to dial in tenths of a degree of launch and spin by 50 revolutions per minute to get optimal launch conditions,” Brown says, “whereas 20 years ago, they mostly stood on the range with their caddies and said, ‘Yeah, that looks like the right window.’ ” But when the same analytical tools that PGA Tour players rely on are found at nearly any golf shop, the shaft search becomes a shifting minefield of science joining forces with art.

The game’s best clubfitters watch the readouts from high-tech launch monitors with nuclear physics-like precision while trying to translate all that math into what the 12-handicapper in

lag

droop

front of them is trying to communicate about “feel.”

One who has studied that variety is Jon Sinclair, one of the top-rated teachers in Texas and a clubfitter and consultant to shaft manufacturer TPT. Sinclair has captured 3-D data on thousands of swings, perhaps more than anyone, and he has seen just three or four things that rise to the level of similar fundamentals in all those moves. “When I look at all the 3-D swings in my database, it is enough to tell you that a golf swing is a fingerprint,” he says. “Having all these shaft options shouldn’t be a surprise; it should be encouraging.”

The implication of these swing varieties and shaft options is clear: The vast majority of recreational golfers are playing the wrong driver shaft.

Whether they have the capacity to realise this and the time, interest and money to discover the truth is a more difficult question. Nick Sherburne, founder of leading clubfitting-franchise Club Champion, believes 90 percent of average golfers use a shaft that is not optimal for their potential.

“They just have a run-of-the-mill golf shaft,” he says, admitting, of course, that part of his business is getting golfers into the right and often more expensive shaft. “It’s not that what they have is crap; it’s that it’s not specific. The shaft is the missing link to the best possible performance.

lead

▶ Golf biomechanist Sasho Mackenzie’s research with Ping reveals how a shaft bends during the swing and how that bending affects clubhead speed. In the illustration above, the yellow shaft represents the typical bending compared with the theoretical unbending blue shaft. During the downswing, the shaft bends back (called “lag”). Near impact, the shaft bends down (“droop”) and then toward the target (“lead”).

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Mackenzie’s research found that forward bend (called “kick velocity”) increased with more flexible shafts than with stiffer shafts but not for all players. And even though kick velocity might increase, the overall clubhead speed didn’t change because that forward-bending effect causes the hands to slow down. Says Mackewwie, “There’s not really a great way to be able to predict who is going to get that clubhead speed.”

quickhoney

the various ways a shaft bends during the swing

morikawa: Cliff Hawkins/Getty imaGes • Hovl and: mike eHrmann/Getty imaGes

Get the right shaft and your swing becomes more effortless. Let the head solve direction. The right shaft is going to be all about consistency and speed, speed, and more speed.”

The challenge is that there are thousands of potential right shafts. Companies like Fujikura, Mitsubishi and True Temper each offer hundreds of drivershaft options, sometimes dozens under the same model. Fujikura’s Ventus, which has been the most played shaft on the PGA Tour, is available in 23 versions on its website. True Temper’s Project X HZRDUS has 70 varieties.

Mitsubishi’s tour-proven Tensei family of driver shafts has 111 options.

Each of those companies, and more than a dozen others of substance, are cooking up more each day. Although there is considerable overlap among models, weights and flex profiles, the differences remain hidden in pockets of knowledge among fitters and engineers. Mix in driver heads that adjust and the fact that individual shafts can be cut from the tip end to alter stiffness, and it seems paralysing for the lonely golf consumer to even start on the journey to finding the right one.

To their credit, shaft companies and a fair number of club manufacturers offer interactive online tools and guides that allow golfers to match swing characteristics and trajectory desires to narrow that universe of shafts. GolfShaftReviews.info, the website that is to golf-shaft gearheads what the Sibley Guide to Birds is to aspiring ornithologists, has profiled the technical details of more than 2,000 driver shafts. TrueFitClubs.com measures shafts across 21 metrics to match your golfer profile to get specific online recommendations. Mizuno’s Shaft Optimiser, first developed for iron shafts and now used for drivers, has sophisticated strain gauges, hardware and software to demonstrate how your swing makes a shaft bend. Then Mizuno correlates those forces to shaft profiles that will fit your game best.

Even artificial intelligence has come to shaft matching. SwingFit, with locations in South Carolina and Florida, uses motion-capture analysis to track more than 30,000 data points per swing to determine the ideal club and shaft combination.

But no matter how detailed the analysis, the right shaft usually comes down to the hitting—and all the quirks

▶ same speed, different ways The clubhead speeds of Collin Morikawa (above) and Viktor Hovland (left) are nearly the same, but their different movements during the swing lead them to use different shaft models. Factors include how aggressive the player transitions in a few milliseconds of the downswing and how firm or soft various sections of the shaft feel.

that implies. Feel to a golfer, even an average Joe, can’t be reduced to an eHarmony.com algorithm. (Relationships between humans involve compromise; the right shaft matched to the right golfer, on the other hand, is the perfect bliss of the gods.)

“When you’ve got a flexible stick in your hands and what is basically a hammerhead, and then you have 20 million individuals delivering this hammerhead in 20 million different ways, well, that’s a mystery that might never get solved,” says John Oldenburg, who has been designing shafts you’ve likely played for nearly three decades and now is director of shaft development for Ping. “No doubt you can change the performance of the golf club with the shaft.”

That isn’t just the opinion of shaft makers and clubfitters and others trying to sell you the latest miracle in a stick made of carbon fiber, resin and paint. It’s science. One doctoral thesis on the subject cites 37 pages worth

of past research. Summing up that analysis on the golfer-shaft symbiosis neatly is Sasho MacKenzie, a professor of human kinetics at Canada’s St. Francis Xavier University, who has been studying shafts for nearly two decades. MacKenzie, who has a Ph.D. in sport biomechanics and did his doctoral thesis on shaft stiffness and golfer performance, has recently written in published research that “robotic testing reveals relatively clear relationships between each shaft property and clubhead delivery.” But, he also writes, “when the neurobiological nuances of a human golfer are called upon to supply the kinetics to the grip of the club, those clear relationships become considerably stirred.”

Talk to him outside of a science journal, though, and he’s a golfer like the rest of us. He concedes getting a player’s swing and shaft together requires more than stirring. “It seems really hard to predict,” he says. “But I would say ‘chaotic’ is a good word because it is deterministic. There is cause and effect.

“There is this mystique about what the shaft does. Each golfer loads it so differently. I sunk a reasonable november 2021 | golfdigestme.com

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100 80 60 40

yards

0

100

200

300

400

20 40 60 80 100

a • shaft b • shaft shaft • c • shaft d

test: a 10-handicapper, four stiff shafts and a 17-yard difference ▶ In our test with national clubfitting leader Club Champion, we had

a 10-handicapper with a higher than normal swing speed hit 10 to 12 shots each with four shaft models from the same company, cycling through the shafts every three swings. All were labeled “stiff,” but each had a slightly different profile, or what’s called an “EI curve” that measures the relative stiffness of different sections along the shaft. In other words, all of these stiff shafts were the right starting point, but in theory they were different enough that one might produce better results based on the way our player swings the driver. Although not instantly clear from the distance and dispersion circles seen here, the data showed that shaft C and shaft A produced the best average distances (with shaft

amount of time in trying to sort it out, and I came to the conclusion that whatever method we come up with— let’s say it has something to do with grip strength, flexibility, downswing time, stance width, whatever it is—my gut would still be to give me a launch monitor and a bunch of balls, and let’s see how the shaft changes the results.”

That is not a terrible compromise.

Good fitters know shafts not so much by “R,” “S” and “X” but by the way shaft engineers talk about bend profiles, particularly what’s called the EI curve. Generally the shape of an upwardly sloping stock trendline, the EI curve reflects a series of calculations of a force applied at multiple sections of the shaft. It shows the relative stiffness of the butt section compared to

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C a little longer and and shaft A a little straighter) by about 17 yards over shaft B and about seven yards over shaft D. The differences were even more dramatic than expected for Club Champion founder Nick Sherburne. He saw swing-speed improve by three miles per hour from the worst to the best shaft, for example. “The shaft was clearly making him release at different times, and this was with shafts with only minute differences,” he says. “It’s what we see every day and why you should get fit.” Still, there’s uncertainty. Factoring in the standard deviation showed less clarity among the four shafts. And there’s this: Our player, without knowing the results, did prefer one of the two shafts with better numbers but wasn’t completely satisfied with the feel of any of them.

the middle and the tip and is a means of comparing those sections to other shafts that might be labeled with the same overall stiffness. There are clearly similar types of shafts, or what Russ Ryden, the top fitter behind the Golf Shaft Reviews website and a designer of EI curve measuring machines, calls “archetypes.” He suggests one of the more popular profiles is shafts that are softer in the middle section. Another has a decrease in stiffness from butt to tip, and a third might trace that decreasing stiffness slope more steeply, especially to the extreme at the tip.

“Successful technologies survive,” he says. “That soft mid design is really the best fit for the majority of golfers.

Is the soft mid a shock absorber for inconsistent or jerky loading on the

downswing? That might be why it’s made by every company in all kinds of variations and price points.”

This idea of loading or applying force at various points during the swing is meant to correlate with how the shaft bends in multiple directions and depending on a golfer’s swing, speed and strength. Stories from fitters of golfers with poorly fitting shafts having to compromise their driver swings or work too hard to achieve optimal conditions are common.

“I had a young golfer come in who was swinging his 6-iron at 93 miles per hour, but he was barely swinging his driver any faster,” says Mark Timms, longtime fitter and CEO of high-tech fitting chain Cool Clubs. “When I measured his driver shaft, it was near what

quickhoney

yards

20

would be called a soft flex despite what it said on the label. He had slowed his driver swing just to keep the ball in play. You wonder if he’ll ever get that speed back. The right shaft, even for a high-handicapper, lines up with the signature of your swing.”

There are general rules all fitters use: (1) A lighter shaft will be easier to swing faster and is likely to launch the ball higher. But it’s best to match your strength to shaft weight. (2) A more flexible tip section compared to the butt section likely will launch the ball higher.

Conversely, shafts that are heavier and have less flexible tip sections than the butt section will launch the ball lower and are best for fast swingers. But even with all his shaft measuring and analysis, Ryden isn’t a fan of predictions.

“Giving fitting advice without seeing the swing and testing different combinations is a swamp,” he says, noting that if you are looking for a shaft that’s going to address your 40-yard slice or significantly alter your launch angle, guess again. Lessons with a quality teacher should be your first stop and maybe the clubhead can help a little more. The shaft is there to bring out your best, not eradicate your worst.

Martin Broulliette, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Sherbrooke, a member of the Golf Digest technical panel and someone who has been fitting golfers for 20 years, urges a simple approach. He believes there is an ideal shaft weight for each golfer that will produce more clubhead speed, and that a launch monitor will be clear about which shaft produces the best launch conditions. But don’t focus only on distance, he says: “Play the stiffest shaft that you can tolerate, to minimise shot dispersion,” he says, emphasising tolerate.

Because carbon fiber keeps improving, though, the possibilities keep multiplying. For instance, tour-level golfers now swing lighter shafts that maintain their stiffness at swing speeds of 120 miles per hour or more.

Some estimate that shafts on tour today can maintain gram weights in the 60s but are twice as stiff as they were a decade ago. For paying customers, technology and material gains mean some graphite shafts weigh half what they once did.

“Shaft designs from 10 years ago couldn’t be more different than they are today,” says Alex Dee, Fujikura’s

veteran designer and vice president.

“Our current designs have more than double the number of plies per part compared to shafts made back then.

By using thinner materials with more carbon content and less resin, we’ve been able to better fine-tune the structure, enhancing feel and performance and improving strength and endurance. We’ve been able to design completely different products with performance metrics previously impossible unless weight was sacrificed.”

The vast majority of golfers, of course, don’t opt for one of these aftermarket custom shafts, sticking with the stock version that comes with the driver they buy. Stock shafts are really designed to not offend or alienate any potential customer, but they are not optimised for individuals. Just as you can buy pants with a 34-inch waist, they won’t feel ideal if your waist is 33¼. Can you wear the 34s and make it through your day without them falling off ? Of course.

But how much better would your day be with perfectly fitting pants?

It’s easy to know our waist size, but defining swing types that match shaft profiles might require a ruler that has not been invented yet. Timms has

more swings than you can shake a stick at

shafts: courtesy of companies

▶ The latest shafts often come in an array of weights with new materials to stabilise the clubhead as a perfect extension of your hands.

1 accra fx 3.0 ▶ The gram weights on these 24 driver-shaft options range from the 40s to the 80s.

2 evenflow riptide mx ▶ The smooth flex profile features extra stability at the tip to tighten shot dispersion.

3 fujikura ventus red ▶ The ultra-strong carbon fiber on this highest-launching Ventus adds stability mid-swing and at impact.

4 graphite design tour ad hd ▶ The lower launch and low spin comes from the firm butt section and the even more stable tip.

5 la golf trono ▶ Co-designer Bryson DeChambeau called for a stout mid-section with a softer feel in the hands.

6 mca golf diamana tb ▶ The four weight ranges feature the same smooth flex transition from butt section to tip.

7 oban airburst ▶ Ultra-thin, high-density carbon fiber builds in a medium firm feel and mid-to-high launch.

8 tpt red range ▶ There are 14 profiles built through an automated seamless carbon-fiber wrapping process to ensure consistency.

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▶ SwingFit, Colleton River Plantation, Bluffton, S.C.

been studying this golf-component unicorn matrix with next-generation measuring devices for decades, and he is still trying to crack a code he believes exists.

“All of shaft fitting now is essentially trial and error,” he says. “The ideal amount of shaft bend and where along the shaft it bends can differ from golfer to golfer. But we haven’t figured out why yet. Right now, we’re just handing it to them, and if it works, it’s right.”

Shaft companies understand that subtlety and continue to explore the idea that the differences are knowable and meaningful. Fujikura’s ENSO camera system analyses swings and their effect on the shaft at 2,000 frames per second. Mitsubishi is pulling from carbon-fibre varieties originally developed by its parent company to lighten airplanes or strengthen buildings and bridges from earthquakes.

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“In the past the shaft might have been pretty close for a player, but then we would adjust the head to match.

Now the shaft is becoming that nonvariable, that constant that you can pair with the right head combination,” says Zane Nuttall, manager of product development and innovation for Mitsubishi. “We’re eliminating more variables by providing more options.”

That’s what tour players do on a weekly basis: confirm that the connection between hands and driver head is still seamless. That decision might have taken days or weeks of testing in the past, but now through adjustable hosels and launch monitors, it might take only a couple of swings. When he thinks about how he combines his teaching with his clubfitting, Sinclair says average golfers should approach their shaft search the same as the best golfers. “If an elite player can’t

just play anything,” he says, “neither should anyone.”

The shaft industry has become much smarter at understanding how a shaft’s properties effectively align with certain swing types. It’s not unlike doctors staring at the array of medical options as they desperately search for the right way to fight a disease. It’s not that the wrong choice won’t work; it might make the disease worse. In golf terms, the shaft choice is critical, too.

In both cases, the only real mistake is doing nothing.

For club fitting visit www.egolfmegastore.ae/accufit

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