A message from the editor, Neil Tappin:
Seven months ago, I took over as editor and so far I’ve resisted the temptation to discuss the fracture in men’s professional golf. At the risk of alienating some but in the hope that it sparks a healthy debate, it’s time to explain how I see things.
Men’s professional golf needed a reset. I’m not talking here about the Majors but, instead, referring to the many events that sit outside the big four. In a congested sporting landscape, I’d found myself struggling to consistently connect with the storylines and engage in the drama I’d once found compelling.
Then, in 2022, along came LIV. The shotgun start, with individual and team events being played in tandem, was a direct attempt to confront golf’s natural shortcomings. As the tour has developed and the quality of the fields improved, I’ve found myself being drawn in. Plenty has happened that I don’t agree with but the product itself, to my mind, is proving its merit.
One thing that mustn’t be lost, though, is the clear pathway for future stars to burst through. This was brought into sharp focus as I read David Facey’s insightful interview with Joaquin Niemann in this issue. After a stellar, if unconventional, amateur career, his star has continued to rise. That at just 25, he has emerged as a likely Major contender underlines the need to provide young talent with a clear and merit-based route to the very top.
There may be no imminent quick fix but if we get to a point where the Majors are supported by several strong events doing a better job of engaging fans, we’ll be moving in the right direction.
See below for some of the other highlights this issue has to offer...
Irons Made Easy
When spring arrives, it’s usually a signal for a lot of fair-weather golfers to get back out onto the course. It’s a time of the year when we can all experience a bit of rust, and it can take a few rounds to start striking the ball well. For some club golfers, though, those bad habits never really get addressed. Here, Top 50 Coach Jo Taylor revisits those important basics and gives you a couple of drills to help you improve the quality of your strike.
Collin Morikawa Exclusive
Two-time Major Champion Collin Morikawa shares his tips for various kinds of shots along with some key mental-game pointers.
Joaquin Niemann Exclusive
Joaquin Niemann tells David Facey he has no regrets about his LIV Golf move and reveals his ambitions to leave a lasting legacy...
Best 2024 Fairway Woods
Striping a fairway wood can be one of the most challenging yet satisfying skills in all of golf. This means that finding a model that suits your game and performs consistently for you will be crucial in helping you lower your scores. We’ve tested 12 3-woods from nine brands to help you make the best choice for your game.
Harry Kane Exclusive
We talk to Harry Kane about his passion for golf, getting down to scratch and the best players in the England camp…
Rules Of Golf
Our regular rules section is there to make sure you don't get caught out on the course this season.
The Generation Game
Rob Smith pays a visit to Fulwell, a Middlesex club successfully introducing more young golfers to the game we all love.
The Best Courses You Can Play
The north of Scotland is a busy place when it comes to golf right now as we discovered on a January trip to the Moray Firth, taking in some of its most famous links as well as one or two lesser-known delights.
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Ever Found These Hidden Nasties In Your Golf Bag? Why Post-Round Care Is VitalIt is easy to put away your golf bag and forget about going through the pockets, leaving in items which will case problems later down the line...
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What Are The Rarest Second Hand Golf Clubs?We speak to Europe’s largest retailer of second hand golf clubs, and discover this marketplace can be a treasure trove for hidden gems
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'I've Been In The Top 5 In The World Before, And People Don't Come Up To Me And Ask Me Questions' - Collin Morikawa Doubles Down On Media CommentsCollin Morikawa has questioned why his decision to skip media duties caused such a stir when the press are usually not that interested in talking to him anyway
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'To The Brandel Chamblees, To The Paul McGinleys To The Rocco Mediates Of The World, I Don't Regret Anything I Said' - Collin Morikawa Issues Emotional Reply To CriticsThe two-time Major winner told his critics that he doesn't regret his words after saying he doesn't owe anyone anything following his decision to not speak to the press on Sunday at Bay Hill
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'If We're Banning AimPoint I Think We Should Ban Long Putters As Well' - Collin Morikawa Defends Green Reading Method After Fellow Pro Calls It Out For Being 'Rude'The two-time Major winner claimed that long putters should be banned after Lucas Glover called for AimPoint to be eliminated from tournament play on the PGA Tour
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Collin Morikawa The Latest Big-Name Player To Withdraw From Farmers Insurance Open After Xander SchauffeleThe two-time Major winner has withdrawn from the Torrey Pines event, with his place in the 156-player field being taken by Wesley Bryan
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The World Series Starts On Friday - And Two PGA Tour Golfers Will Be Locked InMax Homa and Collin Morikawa - both born in the Los Angeles area - will be watching their precious Dodgers in the World Series clash against the New York Yankees
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American Major Winners Headline Strong Field In This Week's Unique FedEx Cup Fall EventXander Schauffele is the highest-ranked player in the field
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Collin Morikawa Happy To Finish Top Of ‘Fake’ Tour Championship Leaderboard After FedEx Cup Runner-UpThe two-time Major winner is taking comfort from being the top performer at the East Lake event, even if it didn’t give him the FedEx Cup title
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Collin Morikawa Storms Back Into US Open Contention After Best Putting Round Of His CareerThe 27-year-old rocketed up the leaderboard at the US Open thanks to a career-best putting performance on day three
