Written by Michael Catling on Thursday 13 July 2017
TG Top 50 coach and Birkdale Head Pro Brian Hodgkinson talks you through the four key shots players will need at Royal Birkdale for the 146th Open. From getting out of the 120 tough bunkers to keeping it under the wind with your drives, Brian offers his advice on how to negotiate the links course. Keep your drive under the wind The...
Written by Michael Catling on Sunday 16 July 2017
‘There are no tricks here’: Royal Birkdale course manager Chris Whittle reveals the challenges facing the biggest names in golf Crisp greens, immaculate bunkers and perfectly-manicured fairways. It doesn’t happen by chance, which is why Royal Birkdale has long been regarded as one of the best venues on the Open rota. The current custodian of the famous Lancashire links is Chris...
Written by Simon Daddow on Tuesday 25 July 2017
Bob Parsons is a 10-handicap billionaire who couldn’t find clubs that could really improve his game. So he decided to make his own. He has shrapnel in his arms and legs from a Vietnam trip-wire. He rides a Harley-Davidson, one of 18 motorcycles he owns. He’s got piercings, tattoos and his office desk is made from the door of a C-119...
Written by Michael Catling on Thursday 27 July 2017
Jordan Spieth’s quest for a career grand slam at the 2017 US PGA Championship will be shown live across the BBC from August 10-13. Live free-to-air coverage from the final Major of the year begins at 6pm tonight on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Online and BBC Red Button while the World Athletics Championships takes centre stage on BBC One. Latest Trending: Take our PGA Championshp quiz? ...
Written by Michael Catling on Thursday 27 July 2017
Steven Cafferty edged out Emil Nielsen in a play-off to win the first ever bronze medal for golf at the Deaflympics, describing his feat as ‘a dream come true’ Steven Cafferty seems just like any other golf nut. Turn up at the Playsport complex in East Kilbride and you can bet he’ll be playing or talking golf. The latter he does for...
Written by Kevin Brown on Tuesday 25 July 2017
A host of major champions and some of the biggest names in golf turned out in the latest Gary Player Invitational at Wentworth yesterday. The likes of Tom Watson, Fred Couples and Tom Lehman all prepared for their tilt at this week’s British Senior Open at Royal Porthcawl by competing in the star-spangled charity event played over the Player-designed Edinburgh course. And...
Written by Kevin Brown on Tuesday 25 July 2017
Back from the brink: The inspirational stories of four courses – including one backed by a major champion – that have bounced back from the depths of despair Running a golf club isn’t easy work. You’ve got to look after members, but also accommodate visitors. You’ve got to find different revenue streams for the days when it’s raining, or snowing, or...
Friday 21 July 2017
Defending Open Champion Henrik Stenson’s rental house was burgled while he played his first round at Royal Birkdale on Thursday. After Stenson finished his one-under-par round yesterday he was informed that while he had been on the course, someone had broken in to the house and stolen a number of his things. The 40-year-old Swede said that some valuable personal items and...
Wednesday 19 July 2017
It’s Open season and this week the Golfing universe descends on the Royal Birkdale. The Open — British Open or The Open Championship depending on who you are — begins on Thursday. The practice rounds have begun, the rules are being stretched, and Mickelson is making some interesting club choices. Last year brought us an epic duel between Mickelson and Stenson, with...
Written by Michael Catling on Tuesday 18 July 2017
The wait is nearly over. The 146th Open at Royal Birkdale kicks off on Thursday and you can watch every shot live on Sky Sports. Full coverage starts on their new dedicated channel – Sky Sports The Open – at 6.30am on Thursday and will span more than 50 hours until the final putt is hit on Sunday. New for this...
Written by Michael Catling on Sunday 16 July 2017
Nick Dougherty tips home favourite Tommy Fleetwood as the man to beat at the 146th Open at Royal Birkdale Nick Dougherty is a perfect frontman for much of Sky’s Open coverage this year. He hails from Bootle, just down the coast, and has played in four Open Championships. For our Open issue of the magazine (out ) we asked him what...
Sunday 16 July 2017
How much do some of Europe’s best players know about the oldest Major? Let’s find out!...
Written by Kevin Brown on Sunday 16 July 2017
Birkdale has a devoted group of members who care for the course in return for playing rights. Meet the artisans; This is a story of the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker, who are all members at Royal Birkdale. The butcher and baker (OK, there isn’t actually a candlestick maker) are joined by joiners, plumbers, electricians, a gas man, a postman...
Friday 14 July 2017
Sky Sports has lost the rights to the US PGA Championship, which takes place at Quail Hollow next month and is the fourth major of the year. The news comes just a week before The Open at Royal Birkdale, and just a day after the broadcaster announced the launch of a dedicated golf channel. Only last year, Sky became the live broadcaster...
Monday 10 July 2017
Emil Rosberg was crowned the UK Champion of the Long Drive World Series, recording a 395 yard in the final against home favourite Joe Miller. Emil Rosberg won the UK leg of the Long Drive World Series on Saturday at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club in Windsor, narrowly edging out home favourite Joe Miller in the final to be...
Tuesday 11 July 2017
You could win a staggering $1 million in a massive new competition being staged this summer by American Golf. The retailer has teamed up with Million Dollar Hole In One (MDHIO) – the company that runs the popular par-3, hole-in-one-challenge around Europe – to give UK and Ireland golfers the chance to win the prize during American Golf’s Championship finals at The...
Monday 10 July 2017
Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa, located on the Herts/Beds border, is delighted to be the host of the European Challenge Tour’s Bridgestone Challenge between September 7-10. To mark the occasion, the hotel is offering a budding golfer a high-value competition prize which includes four 60-minute tuition sessions (July 16 and 29, and August 12 and 26) with Luton Hoo’s resident...
Thursday 6 July 2017
Most of us have come across a bandit. Players with dubious handicaps who take full advantage of their extra shots by sweeping up competition prizes – much to the despair and frustration of their bona fide opponents. Well, I’ll freely admit that’s me. My “dodgy” handicap has helped me win a whole host of stunning prizes, including trips to Florida, the...
Written by Staff writer on Thursday 6 July 2017
The latest issue of Britain’s best-selling golf magazine is out now, featuring some big savings on instruction, equipment and courses. Here are just a some of the things you’ll find inside…. 1 FREE TIPS SUPPLEMENT! Part one of three of this handy series: Off the tee. Part two: Off the fairway. Part three: Around the green 2 The Value Issue: The best used...