Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2017 i Golf Magazine

Alan Bastable Scott Hoch, who finished second in 1989, told me that he liked to play a late practice round on Wednesday. By then, the grounds crew has begun prepping the layout—shaving banks, rolling greens—for round one. This "sneak preview" provides valuable info the rest of the field doesn't have. Connell Barrett Winning the Masters is about preparation. Take six-time champion Jack Nicklaus. In his day, Jack would play several practice rounds at Augusta many weeks in advance to iron out issues with his game or with the way the course was playing. By Masters week, his worry-free mind could completely focus on golf. Jessica Marksbury While length helps, I agree with Peter Kostis, who's stressed the importance of distance control. Players who can accurately fire at pins and minimize…

The ball is sitting in greenside rough, and you need a short stroke that produces enough loft to pop the ball out of the junk and onto the green. A lob wedge would have to be hit perfectly—you could easily skull it over the green or "fluff" it and leave your ball in the spinach. My advice? Use your 3-wood. At anywhere from 11 to 15 degrees of loft, a standard 3-wood provides enough launch to safely get the ball out of deep grass. And with about a foot more shaft length than a lob wedge, a wood lets you generate the force you need with a simple flick of the wrists. Here's how. Hands at zipper. Ball way back. Set the ball 18 inches behind your right foot. Keep…

The last five major events all crowned first-time major champs, a trend that could continue this month. A lot of talented pros are poised (or overdue) for a big breakthrough. Here are nine guys to watch. Rickie Fowler Outside of an ugly Thursday back nine last year (44), Fowler has always played well at Augusta. The 28-year-old had made the cut in his prior five Masters, with top-15 finishes in 2014 and "15. Let's call last year an aberration. Rickie's calm disposition and solid all-around game should once again bode well. Matt Kuchar Kooch's plodding style isn't flashy, but it keeps him out of trouble, and Augusta is famous for turning bogeys into triples. At 38, the Florida native knows his way around the National, finishing in the top 8…

Heading to Amen Corner on Sunday at last year's Masters, Danny Willett trailed leader Jordan Spieth by five shots. After Willett birdied 13 and 14—and Spieth imploded on the par-3 12th—the gritty Englishman suddenly had a two-stroke lead. He then clinically closed out his first major win with a series of deft swings and smart choices. In his own words, here's how he played his best on the crucial finishing holes. Sure, that jacket is sharp, but it's closing that makes the man. SOMETHING TERRIBLE was happening to Jordan Spieth as he played through Amen Corner. That much I did know. That I had taken the lead in the final round of the Masters? I didn't learn that until I stepped onto the 16th tee. I had won four times…

CALLAWAY APEX CF 16 $1,200, steel; $1,400, graphite; GOLF.com/callaway WE TESTED: 3-PW with True Temper XP 95 steel shafts PROS \\ PLAYABILITY: Confidence breeds creativity—guys can summon any shot they want; a penetrating, mid-high flight can be turned into a soft cut or draw at will; head thunders through most lies. \\ ACCURACY/FORGIVENESS: The Apex looks fierce but acts gentle, and that forgiveness translates to accuracy—shots all over the face zero in like darts; well-designed sole elevates thin shots; card-killing misses are rare. \\ DISTANCE CONTROL: Fires the ball off the face—for most testers, a half-club beyond what they're used to; incredibly consistent for such a hot club—misses get enough hang time to hit the green, and short irons are hungry for birdies. \\ FEEL: A chart topper—soft, energetic and…

AFTER LAST YEAR'S Masters, it seemed all anyone could talk about was Jordan Spieth's collapse on the par-3 12th hole: the first water ball, the chunk, the second water ball, and that look of shock frozen on his face. Sure, Danny Willett got the green jacket, but Spieth got the ink. This month, the jocular English champ gets his due, gracing GOLF's cover. "The Masters doesn't begin until the back nine on Sunday," the old saying goes. There's truth to that. Many have wilted like a dying azalea under the white-hot spotlight of Masters pressure. Not Willett. He was absolutely unruffled on his inward nine last year. He shot a bogey-free 33, with birdies on three of the last six holes and the weight of the green jacket on his…

DRIVER 1) Titleist 917D3, 9.5°, Mitsubishi Diamana BF60 shaft, Tour X-Stiff (TX) flex, 310 yards; $500 FAIRWAY WOOD 2) Titleist 917F3, 15°, Mitsubishi Diamana Blue S+ 80 shaft, Tour X-Stiff (TX) flex, 290 yards; $320 UTILITY IRON 3) Titleist 712U, 2 (18°), True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shaft, 265 yards; price n/a IRONS 4) Titleist 716 MB, 4-9, True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shafts; $1,100 (for 8) 4-iron: 235 yards 5-iron: 218 yards 6-iron: 205 yards 7-iron: 192 yards 8-iron: 176 yards 9-iron: 165 yards PUTTER 5) Titleist by Scotty Cameron Futura X5 (Tour Only); price n/a BALL Titleist Pro V1x; $48/dozen WEDGES 6) Titleist Vokey Design SM6, 46° (F Grind, bent to 47°), 148 yards with True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shaft, $150. Vokey Design SM5,* 52° (F Grind,…

We're drinking coffee today—the cups give us away. It's a bit too early for Scotch. I like to have a shot of Nespresso in the morning. Boom! And I'm off. You're a Brit. I'm a little surprised you didn't choose tea. I like tea in the afternoon. Coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon and a nice red wine in the evening. Let's talk Tommy's Honour, in theaters on April 14. The historical drama centers on the relationship between Old Tom Morris and his son, Young Tom. What made you want to direct it? I read Tommy's Honour, by Kevin Cook. It's an extraordinary story of young Tommy Morris. But it's not only about golf. Golf is certainly the passion that drives these two men, but it's ostensibly a…

[The following text appears within a chart. Please see hardcopy or PDF for actual chart.] 10 secs 1 CHECK YOUR TEE Tee it up normally. If a mere sliver of the ball sits above the driver's crown, you're inviting a downward strike (photo, top right). That's good for irons, but it causes pop-ups with driver. [The following text appears within a chart. Please see hardcopy or PDF for actual chart.] 20 secs 2 SHOW SOME PEG Now tee the ball higher, with about three-quarters of it above the crown. When the ball is elevated, you're compelled to swing up on it through impact. This ascending blow eliminates pop-ups and creates a much-improved launch angle. [The following text appears within a chart. Please see hardcopy or PDF for actual chart.] 30…

Great finishing holes, such as the 472-yard par 4 at Harbour Town, site of this month's RBC Heritage, are designed to create lasting memories. They're also meant to mess up your scorecard. Typically, iconic holes are hard. This one surrendered birdie at a 6 percent clip last year, making it the Tour's 10th-toughest par 4 in 2016. That's no surprise, what with a 200-yard-plus approach to a mattress-sized green with nothing but Calibogue Sound to the left. Here's how to tame tough closers and walk to the clubhouse a winner. 1 PICK A POINT Pete Dye designed a nice, wide fairway on 18—so try to find it. How? Select a precise landing spot. Weekend golfers typically target the "middle" on wide holes, but it's better to be specific with your…

1 Is it my impact? If the putterface comes into the ball too steeply or with too much upswing, the putt will "jump." The problem could be your stance or your ball position. HOW TO CHECK Drop a quarter on the practice green. (You can also use your kitchen floor). Now putt the coin. Did you miss it or gouge the green (or floor) behind it? YES FIX NO. 1 Your weight isn't centered. Take your putting stance, with the shaft straight up and down and your weight spread evenly over both feet. Position the ball directly under your nose. This is your new setup! NO 2 Is it my putterface? Striking the ball with the face rotated open usually causes the putt to hop off line. You're either "blocking"…

APRIL 6-9, 2017 As golfers, our relationship to the Masters is like a great, long-term romance—at once familiar and filled with passion. This year marks the 81st go-round at Augusta. We all know every mound, every blade of grass by heart, yet the place still quickens the pulse. (That it keeps itself in perfect shape sure doesn't hurt.) The freshness, of course, comes from never knowing how it will play out. No wonder we're still crazy about the Masters after all these years. WHAT'S INSIDE 72 DEAD ZONES Hit it here and watch your green-jacket dreams perish 76 MAJOR OPPORTUNITY Nine guys poised for a big breakthrough at Augusta 78 FREDDIE DIGS DEEP Couples talks old injuries, young guns, and his second career as…an actor? 84 THE YOUNG MASTER Inside…

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the 2037 Masters," the chairman says. "We have two newcomers joining us as honorary starters! First on the tee is a true legend, a four-time Masters champion celebrating the 40th anniversary of his historic 1997 triumph: Mr. Tiger Woods!" Woods, 61, acknowledges the applause, gingerly bends down to tee his ball, and steers his drive into the first cut, stifling an F-bomb. "Now please welcome one of the game's most beloved competitors, three-time Masters winner Mr. Phil Mickelson!" Still boyish at 66, Lefty tips his cap, swings as hard as he can, hooks one into the trees—and flashes a smile. "Finally, let's introduce another three-time winner, the Black Knight himself, Mr. Gary Player!" Now 101, Player pipes his drive 250 yards down…

FOR MORE INSTRUCTION THAT FITS YOUR GAME, GO TO GOLF.COM HIGH HANDICAPPER You have potential but must fix some fundamental swing flaws PENCIL IT INFROM SHORT RANGE Many weekend golfers make the mistake of trying to finesse the ball into the hole from short range. Unfortunately, this often causes the ball to lose its line and miss the hole entirely. While it may seem counterintuitive, you'll make more of these putts if you hit them with increased pace—in other words, with enough velocity to hit the back of the cup. To get the feel for the proper speed, create a barrier with a pencil and two sets of tees about an inch in front of the hole. Now roll a few putts from three to five feet and try to…

IN PLANE SIGHT I've been playing golf for over 50 years. I'm an 82-year-old female, and I have taken lessons and chased after many tips and instructions. But not one has ever helped as much as Bryson DeChambeau's fine article in your last issue ("Plane and Simple," February). At my age, I have faced several physical setbacks over the last few years. I've always fought my way back to the golf course, but laying off for months is hard to overcome in this game. I was struggling to even break 100 until I read Mr. DeChambeau's article. I took his advice to the driving range and then to the course. It was amazing! After two weeks with it, I shot an 85. I never thought I would do that again.…

What would success look like to you in 2017? I definitely need to win. Last year, I underachieved big time. Really? You earned more than $3 million in official money, had two runner-up finishes, and helped the U.S. win the Ryder Cup. That's not good enough in your book? I didn't win, and it pissed me off quite a bit, to be honest. My mind always works five steps ahead of where I am, so I think I need to win a major or two in the next two years. If I don't, I feel like I'd be underachieving and not playing to my abilities. The Masters is coming up. It's the only major in which you haven't notched a top 10. What's the key to making a real run…

Catching iron shots off the heel or toe makes it hard to reach greens. So does hitting more turf than Titleist. Messy shots of all kinds cause bogeys (or worse) that stain your scorecard. It may be time to clean up your iron play. Solid strikes happen when you blend correct ball position with the ideal attack angle. And you don't just see it in your results—you feel the purity of the strike with a crisp, clean click. If pure iron shots are few and far between for you, it's time to scrub your old swing. On the following pages, new Top 100 Teacher Martin Chuck shows you how to dial in your posture and attack angle so you can make sweet-spot contact with all your irons. And soon, with…

You're not quite the golfer you think you are on the course. And that’s okay. They're often used synonymously, but capability and capacity are two very different things. Jason Day, for example, has the capability to hit 330-yard drives. His capacity to unleash a bomb on a given tee box, however, is limited, given external factors that affect on-course performance—an aching back, wind, a swing that's just "off" that day. Elite golfers understand that it's rare to be firing on all cylinders. Usually, they operate at about 80 percent of max capability (if Day has 40 shots in his short-game arsenal, he realistically can pull off about 32 in tourney conditions). What makes it look like they're humming along is their focus on what they have, not on what's missing.…

START 1 CLAP YOUR HANDS Get into your regular, full-swing address position, but without a club. Let your arms dangle at your sides, then bring your hands together in a clapping motion, with your palms facing each other and your fingers pointing toward the ground. 2 IRONS GET TO THE POINT Notice where on the ground your fingers are pointing. This is the spot on which you should position the ball on most iron shots. With your hands properly centered, your shoulders will be even. Perfect. 3 LONG IRONS & WOODS ADD TILT Slide your right hand down your left hand a few inches. As you do, let your right shoulder drop to create some upper-body tilt to the right. Position the ball wherever your right-hand fingers point on the…

He never donned the iconic blazer. But with four runner-up finishes— including one at the 1975 shootout with Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller—Tom Weiskopf knows where to hit it (and not to hit it) at Augusta National. Considering his success as an architect and his decade in the Masters broadcast booth, who better to explain the National's most dangerous, card-killing realms? "There's trouble everywhere at Augusta," Weiskopf says, "and I've found myself in most of these situations over the years." Excluding the obvious hazards (water, O.B., Butler Cabin), here are six no-go spots. Be afraid, players. Be very afraid. Spot No. 1 NO. 8, PAR 5 LEFT TREES TOM'S TAKE: "Now there is a major no-no. If you've overcooked your second shot going for the green, you'll face a 10-…

21 YEARS OLD YOUNGEST CHAMPION .18 Lowest 72-Hole Score, 270[1] 16 MOST STROKES UNDER PAR FOR TOURNAMENT ON BACK NINE seven Most strokes under par for Amen Corner (HOLES 11-13) 40 HIGHEST 9-HOLE START BY EVENTUAL WINNER [9 STROKES] Largest 54-hole lead [12 STROKES] WIDEST MAJOR-CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY MARGIN[2] 44 Million ESTIMATED U.S. TELEVISION AUDIENCE FOR SUNDAY'S FINAL ROUND 26 Most 3s made by the winner 7-Iron Longest club into any par 4 all week 65 YOUNGEST PLAYER TO SHOOT THAT SCORE AT THE MASTERS (third round) 33 CONSECUTIVE HOLES WITHOUT A BOGEY 25 YEARDS Difference in average driving distance between Woods and the week's second-longest hitter Three-putts for the tournament 3 Things You Didn't Know About Tiger's Win In his new book, The 1997 Masters: My Story, Woods reveals some…

This year marks the 60th anniversary of your 1957 Masters win. Does it feel like 60 years have gone by? Oh, yes. [Laughs] What do you remember most about that week? The shot that I hit [on Sunday] at 18, when I holed it out of the trap. I was plugged, oh, 10 feet from the hole. If I exploded out at the hole, the ball would have run off the green. That green slants pretty good, so I exploded it into the bank and it came back and into the hole. How did you react? I lost my hat! I couldn't find my hat. I had thrown it up in the air, I guess. Anyhow, it was a shot I'll always remember. You played very aggressively on the back…

CALLAWAY BIG BERTHA OS $1,100, steel; $1,300, graphite; GOLF.com/callaway WE TESTED: 4-PW with True Temper Speed Step 80 steel and 4-PW with UST Mamiya Recoil ES 460 graphite shafts PROS \\ PLAYABILITY: Flies higher than others, which makes the long irons easier to handle; brawny head rips through the rough with ease, and is adept at picking balls out of fairway bunkers. \\ ACCURACY/FORGIVENESS: Might be its best feature; makes you look like half your handicap, with an oversize sweet spot to keep misses online; surprising accuracy is great for playing target golf. \\ DISTANCE CONTROL: This one packs a punch; a few testers hit it up to a full club longer than their own sticks; several other guys notice significant gains on mis-hits. \\ FEEL: Weighting makes you aware…