Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2025 i Golf Magazine

I SPENT THE FIRST 39 YEARS of my life as a Californian. I wouldn't trade my youth for anything—my family and buddies could do anything year-round, save for snow ski, but in some years we could even do that past July. The meaning, as it pertains to this letter? Minus rain or a big-time Santa Ana, golf was always on the agenda. Even on Christmas, a day that means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. To me, a young public golfer growing up in SoCal, Christmas meant the best thing evah: free golf. ‘Twas standard, at least until I moved east in 2006, for courses in Cali to close shop on Xmas, which meant that nobody could stop you from pulling into the lot, pegging…

It's been six years since the ladies started teeing it up at the Augusta National Women's Amateur, and we've gotten a little bit of everything in that time. Jennifer Kupcho was the first woman to win on Alister MacKenzie's masterpiece when she outdueled Maria Fassi down the stretch in 2019, and she's taken that experience to the big leagues, with a major (the 2022 Chevron Championship) and two more wins on the LPGA Tour. Tsubasa Kajitani etched her name in the ANWA history books with a playoff win a couple years after Kupcho (and after a brief Covid hiatus), and bucket-hatted Anna Davis had her coming-out party at Augusta a year after that. Rose Zhang, already a two-time LPGA winner, capped her amateur career with a win on golf's grandest…

ASK ANYONE WHO HAS set foot on Augusta National's hallowed ground about their Masters week experience and they'll likely be eager to share two revelations: The course's elevation changes are unbelievable. And the food prices? Unreal! Indeed, the concessions at Augusta National—like so much of the property—are a throwback to simpler times. The prices are refreshingly low, ranging from $1.50 for snacks and sandwiches to $6 for a glass of chardonnay—and nothing is made to order. Patrons line up to grab what's available—in a tidy, logoed bag—and head on their merry way. The concessions menu of two dozen or so items has remained largely unchanged of late, save for a few wellreceived additions over the years, like the coveted Georgia peach ice cream sandwich. When a new menu item does…

CLASSIC SAZERAC • Chilled rocks glass • 2 oz rye whiskey or brandy • ¼ oz simple syrup • 6 dashes Peychaud's bitters • ¼ oz absinthe • Lemon twist Combine the spirit, simple syrup and bitters, then add ice and stir in a mixing glass. Coat the chilled glass with absinthe, swirl, then pour it out. Strain the spirit mixture into the chilled glass, then wipe the rim with the lemon twist and drop it in for garnish. THERE ARE FEW PLACES in the U.S. more synonymous with cocktails than New Orleans, and when the PGA Tour descends upon the city for this month's Zurich Classic, visitors will find no shortage of establishments eager to serve up libations of all creations. While there are a number of drinks like…

BETTINARDI HLX 6.0 $199 48˚ to 60˚ WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW The HLX 6.0 wedges have a 1020 forged carbon steel head that provides a soft and responsive feel. They feature Helix Cut grooves with tighter groove spacing, which gives them more spin and promotes lower launch. Two grinds are offered: the C grind and the RJ grind, the latter of which now includes enhanced heel and toe relief for versatility. FITTER FEEDBACK “These wedges are fantastic to look at. The feel through the turf and off the face are second to none. I also saw noticeably lower approach shots that maintained the higher spin rates and added control I prefer.” —Sam Kim, True Spec BRIDGESTONE BRM2 $150 52˚, 56˚, 58˚ WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Bridgestone's first wedge…

Bounce refers to the angle between the leading edge and the lowest point of the club's sole. It determines how the club interacts with the turf or sand. High-bounce wedges (11 to 16 degrees) prevent digging and work well in soft conditions and bunkers, while lowbounce wedges (4 to 6 degrees) allow for cleaner strikes on firm surfaces. Midbounce (7 to 10 degrees) offers versatility for various lies. As ever, choosing the right bounce depends on your swing style and course conditions. Players with steeper swings benefit from more bounce, while shallow swingers benefit from less. If you fail to consider bounce when buying new wedges, you're leaving shots on the table.…

“Deep down, do you really believe you're going to win the Masters?” Bubba Watson, photographed at Dutchman's Pipe GC in West Palm Beach, Fla., on January 9, 2025. It's January, Masters invites are in the mail and Bubba Watson sounds positively giddy. He loves this time of year. When he watches college football, his eyes are peeled for Masters promos during commercial breaks. “This year, they ran those way earlier than they normally do,” he says as we sit for a chat at Dutchman's Pipe, a new private golf club in West Palm Beach, Fla., where this week the LIV Golf marketing machine is in overdrive to promote season three of the breakaway league. How eager is Watson—perhaps the most eccentric of LIV's many PGA Tour defectors—to stop and smell…

THE RIGHT STUFF A putter that fits enhances three critical aspects of your setup: your hip orientation, your hand/shoulder relationship and your eye position/ forward tilt. 1. Your hips should be directly over your heels with your weight favoring the balls of your feet, so your arms can swing freely under your body. 2. Your hands should align directly under your shoulders with your elbows tucked underneath your rib cage. 3. Tilt forward from your hips so your eyes rest over the inside edge of the ball or close to that point. BACK WHEN MANUFACTURERS were trying to decide the “standard” length of mass-produced putters, they relied on a bizarre metric: the height of a golf bag. If you measure the front lip of your typical staff bag, it stands…

8AM hosts the 10th annual Punta Mita Invitational this spring, bringing together former Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup players, major champions and Tour winners to play in a member-guest style experience at one of Mexico's premier golf resorts (above). The 8AM Invitational will be held for the fourth year in Las Vegas this April. We look forward to welcoming an impressive list of talented individuals who will tee it up to raise funds for charity and enjoy great golf in an amazing atmosphere. You can always follow the fun on GOLF.com. In addition to several upcoming private client events, 8AM Golf Events looks forward to a new two-player competitive event slated for August. This exciting event will be held at 3's Greenville in South Carolina, with details to be announced…

STANDING AT THE EDGE OF THE DRIVING RANGE AHEAD OF THE 2025 AT&T PEBBLE BEACH PRO-AM Dylan Dethier: We're diving into the 2025 pro golf season. How are you feeling? Robert MacIntyre: [Best read in a thick Scottish brogue] I'm feeling good. A lot more positive than the start of last year. I feel like I'm somewhat more established, more comfortable out here on the PGA Tour. A few more friends. Body's good. Equipment's good. [Gestures at Pacific Ocean] Special place to be. DD: What do you attribute that comfort to? Better results, different mindset, knowing more people, figuring out the schedule …? RM: A bit of everything. Just having the right support around me. Having the right amount of time at home with family and friends. And just getting back…

CATCHING AN IRON CRISP is the goal on any swing. The move that allows you to do so is coming down steeply enough so that you strike the ball first and the turf in front of the ball second. It starts with getting into a solid position when you reach the top of your backswing. This drill can help. When you're at the range, flip your cap backward, like I've done here. As you swing to the top, feel the left brim of your cap (the side facing your target) dip a bit lower than the right. When you do, your front shoulder will automatically tilt lower to the ground than your back shoulder—that's the position you need to make a solid, downward strike on the ball. Instead of worrying…

Wedge fitting is essential for optimizing short-game performance, ensuring the right combination of loft, bounce and grind to match your swing and the course conditions you typically play in. A proper wedge fitting helps maintain consistent distance gapping, prevents digging or “bouncing” issues and enhances shot versatility. Factors like swing style and attack angle are what really should influence your wedge selection. Golfers with steep swings benefit from higher bounce, while shallow swingers do better with lower bounce models. The right wedge setup improves control, spin and feel, leading to more precise shots and lower scores. If you're looking for more confidence and consistency, a proper wedge fitting is all you need.…

TRADITIONALLY, BEGINNERS are taught static fundamentals like grip, posture and stance when first learning to swing a golf club. According to Steven Erickson, inventor of the E-bell Swing Trainer ($295; ericksonbell.shop), this is the wrong approach. “Rather than trying to make a swing that conforms to an external model, the golfer needs to build a swing from the inside out through feel,” Erickson says. “And because the swing is built through feel rather than conscious thought, the transition from practice to play becomes more fluid.” Endorsed by GOLF Top 100 Teacher Jon Tattersall, the E-bell is a heavy (10lb), bell-shaped plank of wood. It features two angled handles, and, when swung back and forth along the club path, it allows you to instinctively execute the proper forces, sequence and structure…

G440 MAX THE ALL-AROUNDER Lofts: 9°, 10.5°, 12° (adjustable 1.5°) Who it's for: Anyone The G440 MAX is the flagship model, designed to fit the widest range of golfers. With its high moment of inertia (MOI) and adjustable 29-gram back weight, it offers supreme forgiveness and the ability to dial in draw, fade or neutral ballflights. G440 LST THE LOW-SPIN MONSTER Lofts: 9°, 10.5° (adjustable 1.5°) Who it's for: Faster swingers who want ballflight control The G440 LST (Low Spin Technology) is built for players with higher swing speeds who want to maximize distance by reducing spin. Its slightly smaller head (450cc, as opposed to 460cc in the other models) and forward-leaning CG deliver a penetrating ballflight while still retaining enough forgiveness to keep it playable for skilled amateurs. G440 SFT THE SLICE-BUSTER Loft: 10.5°…

FASHION FLOPPER TRAD RAD SARTORIAL ACE…

YOU SLICE. YOU HOOK. We all do. Exaggerating these misses, however, is exactly what you need to straighten out your irons for good. I'll make it simple. Without a club, swing into your release. As you move through your mock impact, pretend you're holding on to the club so that, in your release, the back of your forward hand points to the sky and your thumb (as it would rest on the handle during a real swing) points to the right of the target line (above left). Welcome to high and right. Make another swing. This time, really rotate your lead hand, so much so that the back of it points toward the ground and your thumb points to the left of the target line (above right). You guessed it:…

Scan this code to browse bags, belts and accessories at FH Wadsworth. While there, shop for your favorite Golden Bear duffel and have it shipped free anywhere in the U.S. U.S.–based taste makers FH Wadsworth and the iconic international golf brand Jack Nicklaus have collaborated on a series of weekender bags to commemorate the 50th “golden” anniversary of the Golden Bear's historic triumph at the 1975 Masters tournament (his fifth green jacket, see page 76). These superior quality duffels are sturdy, sophisticated and spacious enough to carry everything you need for a few days on the road. Pictured here is the FH Wadsworth X Jack Nicklaus Golden Bear Wainscott model ($349; fhwadsworth.com), which combines a rugged blue waxed canvas with a handsome full-grain camouflage leather to create a bag that…

$9,845,317 PRIZE MONEY PHIL MICKELSON HAS WON AT THE MASTERS, IN 31 STARTS, MAKING HIM THE EVENT'S ALL - TIME MONEY LEADER. $7,037,325 PRIZE MONEY SCOT TIE SCHEFFLER HAS WON AT THE MASTERS, IN FIVE STARTS, PUT TING HIM THIRD ON THE EVENT'S MONEY LIST. 330 Number of yards long (approximately) of Magnolia Lane. 0 Number of yardage changes this year at Augustra National. THE HARDEST HOLES ANGC's stroke averages over the past 82 years and how they rank…

Peter Kostis: The Masters made an adjustment this year to allow qualification from the LIV tour. I'm looking forward to finally seeing more of the best golfers worldwide compete against each other. And I expect somebody from LIV to play well. I really think that they want to justify their existence still. There's still a little bit of animosity about the way they've been treated by worldwide golf. I'm looking forward to the Battle Royale. Gary McCord: That is going to be fun to watch. Can Rory get it done finally? He's been playing pretty well these days. PK: He's my sentimental pick because I want to see him win the Grand Slam. But the thing that Rory is battling is that he hits too few fades and too many…

Wedge grinds refer to the shaping of the club's sole, affecting how it interacts with the ground. Different grinds modify the bounce and versatility of a wedge for various shots and turf conditions. Common grinds include full sole for stability, low bounce for tight lies and heel/toe relief for open-face shots. Choosing the right grind depends on your swing type and playing conditions. Steep swings benefit from more sole width, while shallow swings work better with narrow soles. Understanding grinds helps golfers execute precise shots around the greens, improving control and adaptability in different shortgame situations. Your new wedge mantra: “Mind the grind.”…

TRAINING AIDS can do wonders for your game, but there are so many on the market. How do you choose which ones to try? One solution might be to cover all your bases and go with the WhyGolf Game Improvement Bundle ($250; whygolf.com). This comprehensive kit includes tools to help with just about every shot from tee to green. The Alignment Discs allow you to manipulate angle and placement of alignment rods to address just about any swing path error you're trying to fix. The Pressure Plate helps you develop a more consistent and powerful weight shift. The Power Wedge connects to the Pressure Plate to further emphasize rear leg pressure load. Lastly, the bundle includes the Putting Thing to improve alignment, eye position, stroke and speed on the green.…

Ludvig Åberg, photographed in the locker room at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on October 22, 2024. What's your biggest weakness? It's my last question of the day for Ludvig Åberg and likely the least original. We're sitting in the grill room in the clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., home course of the PGA Tour and home to its most talented young star, who has recently relocated to Northeast Florida. I've spent much of the day shadowing Åberg, the 25-yearold Swede and World No. 4, watching him hit balls and take photos, first for his clothing sponsor, Adidas, and then for GOLF, while peppering him with questions in between. We're still weeks away from Åberg winning the biggest title of his young career, a…

“Now, up the hill. Huh-ho! Oh, did you ever see one quite like that? I think that's one of the greatest putts I've ever seen in my life.” The inimitable Henry Long hurst1 uttered those words as one of the most clutch and memorable moments in major championship history unfolded. His call for CBS's TV broadcast was barely audible over the throaty thunder from spectators amassed on the opposite side of Ike's Pond at Augusta National's 16th hole. Longhurst's status as “the Voice of Golf ” and his understated but gleeful words enhanced the experience for viewers soaking it up at home. That the putt was made by Jack Nicklaus in pursuit of his fifth title at Augusta is crucial to why, 50 years later, the 1975 Masters is the…

The short game is complicated. I like to boil it down to two situations: You're going to hit shots off very tight lies and those that are a little more “fluffy.” A slight adjustment for each when you recognize the type of grass you're hitting from will make all the difference in the world. TIGHT LIES: Here, creating extra loft is your friend and automatically engages the bounce on your wedge when pitching from hardpan, tight grass and the like. Easy. As you swing through, feel like you're “holding” onto the club, not releasing, so that, as the club moves past impact, the clubface actually points toward the sky. The visual? Like you're rotating your hands clockwise as you swing through the ball. FLUFFY LIES: As you can imagine, just…

You think you load up on your backswing, but, from my seat, most recreational players simply turn back while never really engaging the ground beneath their feet, which is what truly creates leverage, a solid windup and the torque creation you see in a Tour player's swing. Try this: At the range, place two balls on the ground in addition to the one you plan to hit. Set one ball behind your trail foot and one ball in front of it, as shown in the picture at right. The two extra balls are your guides for more torque. The feeling you're after is that, as you rotate to the top, you have momentum going toward the ball in front of you while you get your trail hip moving toward the…

G: Did you get into golf early or did you mainly play soccer as a kid? BC: My grandfather loved golf, and I loved being with my grandfather. He would take me to lunch at the local driving range in South San Jose [Calif.], and for me to get lunch, I had to hit balls first. So, that's what I did. We never played the course, though. Isn't that funny? G: Do you remember the name of the place? BC: Oh, gosh, it doesn't even exist anymore. I don't even know the name. It was a driving range with an executive short course. It had great club sandwiches, and my grandfather loved it. G: Once it became clear that soccer was your sport, did you still play golf or was…