Golf Monthly February 2023

If you want to shoot lower scores in 2023, there’s one very simple way to achieve it – improve your putting. By holing more ten-footers and missing fewer three-footers, you will score better. It sounds pretty obvious, doesn’t it, but how many of us actually bother to work hard on our putting? Okay, we might have a little tour of the putting green preround, but how often would you dedicate an hour to practising with the flat-stick, as you might dedicate an hour to hitting balls on the practice ground or driving range? I’m going to go out on a limb and say rarely, if ever. Am I wrong? Winter is the perfect time to change that up and do some proper work on your putting. It doesn’t matter what…

Count your blessings I have just read your article in reference to use of fairway mats in winter [January issue]. My course is on north London clay, and while all the members hate having to use a mat, it means we are still able to play, keep the swing and enjoy good company. We know it is only really practice for when the new season and warm weather returns. Without the mats, many courses would have to close more often, as ours had to many times years ago. So, just think how lucky we are that we can still ‘walk the fairways’, even with thermals and hand warmers. Paul Freedman, via email Winter warmer The PNC Championship was a heartwarming and fascinating way for golf to have signed off in…

Tiger returns to action alongside son Charlie What do you enjoy most about the PNC Championship? The bonding, by far. Just to be able to be out there and share this with Charlie, and for Joey [caddie, Joe LaCava] to share it with his son, as well. Joey has been out here for what, 35, 40 years, and to be able to show his son what it feels like to be inside the ropes, it’s great. He’s been fantastic with Charlie. Your best shot of the week? I can tell you a lot of my worst shots. I didn’t hit many good ones. I hit a couple of good drives where I could needle JT [Justin Thomas] a little bit, but that was basically it. I did not putt well…

Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley has confirmed LIV golfers who are already qualified for the 2023 Masters will be allowed to compete in the tournament. “Regrettably, recent actions have divided men’s professional golf by diminishing the virtues of the game and the meaningful legacies of those who built it,” he said. “Although we are disappointed in these developments, our focus is to honour the tradition of bringing together a pre-eminent field of golfers this April. Therefore, we will invite those eligible under our current criteria to compete.” Ridley also hinted that qualification criteria for the year’s opening Major may change in the future. “As we have said in the past, we look at every aspect of the tournament each year, and any modifications or changes to invitation criteria for future tournaments…

Marc Warren The Scot finished 2022 with missed cuts at the Joburg Open and Alfred Dunhill flanking a T62 at the South African Open Championship. Seamus Power A T5 at the RSM Classic was an excellent way to cap off an incredible year that vaulted Power into the world’s top 30. Marcus Armitage Two missed cuts in South Africa to end his year won’t have been what ‘The Bullet’ had in mind. He’s now well outside the world’s top 200. Adrian Otaegui It’s been an eventful year for the Spaniard, but he finished it off in style with a second place at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.…

All four of last year’s men’s Majors delivered endless drama and shocks, all of which were fittingly wrapped up at the 150th Open in St Andrews. The pressure is really on for the game’s best to replicate the excitement in 2023. With that in mind, we wanted to canvas the opinion of the fans as to which marquee event next year will produce the most thrills. The results aren’t surprising as the two usual suspects battled it out for top spot. The Masters curried most of the favour and it’s easy to understand why. It represents the start of the Major season and almost the season itself, so anticipation is incredibly high. It’s also held at the iconic Augusta National every year, meaning anyone who has tuned in…