A message from the editor, Neil Tappin:
“Not many people gave us a chance, especially two years ago. Well, we proved them wrong.” These were the words of Luke Donald as he spoke immediately after the 44th Ryder Cup.
I’m more than happy to admit that I was one of the doubters, but within an hour of the first ball being struck in Rome, my lingering anxiety was already fading. There was a toughness to complement the togetherness we expect from any European side. It was a wonderfully dominant performance and you can read Bill Elliott’s expert take in this issue.
As a spectacle, there’s nothing quite like the Ryder Cup… that is, apart from the Solheim Cup. If you were looking for edge-of-the-seat drama to the bitter end, this was the one to watch.
One of the best things about these contests is that when things get tight, you never know who the heroes will be. Step up, Caroline Hedwall. Having been left on the sidelines for the first three sets of matches, she then lost in the Saturday four-balls alongside Anna Nordqvist. After 12 holes of her singles match against Ally Ewing, she was 3-down and things were looking bleak.
Then, under the most extreme pressure, Hedwall finished with a flurry of birdies to turn her singles match around. It was then left to home favourite Carlota Ciganda to make the putt that clinched it. In her column, Alison Root puts all of this magnificent chaos into context.
See below for some of the other highlights this issue has to offer...
FREE 52-Page Travel Magazine
There’s simply no denying it – the weather is officially on the turn and the next few months will be filled with rainy days, boggy golf courses and cold mornings. You can either accept your fate and soldier on until next spring, or give yourself some respite in the form of a golf break to warmer climes. We hope this supplement provides you with plenty of inspiration for your next trip...
Ball-Striking Masterclass
Having grown up on the links turf of north Wales, Amy Boulden has always been a supreme ball-striker. Here, Amy takes us through a series of drills to help you strike the ball better, focusing on the core fundamentals that will ensure you never stray too far from the centre of the clubface...
Brooks Koepka Exclusive
Brooks Koepka has enjoyed another Major-winning season, but he still doesn’t get the credit he deserves for a phenomenal career to date. He discusses that and more with Mark Townsend...
Ryder & Solheim Cup Reviews
Bill Elliott looks back over the events in Rome while Alison Root dissects the thrilling finale in Spain. We also hear from both the European captains and look ahead to the next matches.
The Latest Gear
We run the rule over all the latest gear releases as well as test the best wedges on the market this year and look at the options currently out there if you're after a new stand bag.
Top 10 Major Underdogs
We count down the ten most incredible showings from outsiders in the history of the men’s Major Championships. We also speak to Michael Block, one of the stars of the year, about his incredible showing at the US PGA Championship.
Rules Of Golf
Our regular rules section is there to make sure you don't get caught out on the course this season.
The Best Courses You Can Play
This month we take a trip to East Sussex National and tour West Cornwall, as well as counting down some of the toughest courses you can play in the UK&I.
Mackenzie Hughes
The 32-year-old Canadian shares his fixes for some of the most common faults he sees is the amateur game.
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Quiz Of The Year: How Well Do You Remember The Golf Year Of 2024?We have 20 questions to test your recall on what went on in the golf world this year...
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Best After Christmas Golf Sales 2024 - big reductions on Qi10, Darkspeed and Ai Smoke clubsChristmas gifting may have been and gone but there is still plenty of golf gear with reduced prices right now...
