Golf Monthly Summer 2021
Published by TI Media Limited Golf Monthly is the market-leading magazine brand in the UK in a sport that continues to grow and grow. Golf Monthly is a lively and welcoming brand targeted at good golfers who are regular players - and keen to get even better. With over 100 years of heritage and authority behind it, it represents the real 'voice of golf' with leading columnists, top players and unrivalled coverage of equipment and instruction. The Golf Monthly brand also has a strong and growing presence in digital publishing, with a popular website delivering over 1 million page impressions each month, and a strong following on the key social media platforms.
in this issue
a welcome return
Amid all the concerns of 2020, I think it’s fair to say most golf fans in this country felt a small pang of loss last July when denied our annual fix of top-level links golf. It seems an age since Shane Lowry’s stirring win in the 148th Open at Royal Portrush, revisited by Fergus Bisset on page 46. It will feel like a giant step in the right direction when the first ball is struck at Royal St George’s on July 15. We’ve been fortunate to enjoy a selection of fabulous men’s Major Championships since Portrush in 2019, none more momentous than Phil Mickelson’s win for the ages at Kiawah Island. But, for me, nothing quite matches The Open. Others might argue for The Masters, but, as far as I’m concerned,…
letter of the month
Wow, what an advert Phil Mickelson is for the older golfer. However, what he’s achieved is not an accident. I’d guess he has worked harder on his fitness in recent years than when he was a young man. The reward has been to extend his career and obtain another Major, putting the Senior Tour on hold for now. We over-50s may not be able to reach his fitness level, but we should all really try. Even if we fall short, it is not wasted effort. Not only is it good for our general health, but increased flexibility can only be good for our swings and keep us competitive for a few more years on the course. I am sure many readers will know golfers still playing into their 80s and beyond,…
your view
Hope for us all Richard Bland winning the British Masters last month was akin to something out of Roy of the Rovers. Even Lazarus would have probably given up after 477 attempts at glory. But for all those struggling, not just in sport but in life as well, it is such a heart-warming story, and such an amazing reason never to give up. I have followed his career as a local boy for 20 years and have felt for him when he’s had one of his near misses, but he finally got his day in the sun. Did he deserve his moment? Well, you only need to look back at the commentary and watch grown men in tears to see that he most certainly did. Even Fred Couples and Phil Mickelson sent messages…
crossword
Across 7 He won two Majors in 1956 but sounds a fool (5) 8 Part of the Danish World Cup of Golf winning pair in 2016 (6) 9 Norman ace in round at Irish links course (9) 10 Item of attire you have to foot the bill for? (4) 11 Oldie glee recognising a member of first four US Ryder Cup teams (3,6) 14 What The Open is played over (9) 16 Cheat Barry at Carnoustie (4) 17 Scot who was the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year in 2019 (9) 19 Prickly fellows on Royal Liverpool’s 6th (6) 20 Lease provided for Senior Scottish Open winner in 2016 (5) Down 1 Championship won this year by Tyrrell Hatton (3,5) 2 Pressure to see grain for Open winner (5) 3 Britton dropped former name of Cranleigh G&CC (8) 4 Sore result for English golfer…
mickelson makes history at the uspga
Can you share your emotions on becoming golf’s oldest Major Champion? It’s certainly one of the moments I’ll cherish for my entire life. I don’t know how to describe the feeling of excitement and fulfilment and accomplishment. Did you ever doubt yourself? I believed for a long time that I could play at this level again. I didn’t see why I couldn’t, but although I believed it, until I actually did it, there was a lot of doubt. I just had to work harder physically to be able to practise as long as I wanted to and I’ve had to work a lot harder to be able to maintain focus throughout a round. That’s been the biggest challenge of late. My desire to play is the same. I’ve never been driven by exterior…
yuka saso becomes joint-youngest winner of us women’s open title
Yuka Saso clinched victory in the US Women’s Open at San Francisco’s famous Olympic Club at the age of just 19 years, 11 months and 17 days. Incredibly, Saso, who birdied the third extra hole to defeat Japan’s Nasa Hataoka in a play-off, was the exact same age as Inbee Park when she won this title back in 2008. It was not without its drama, however. In fact, victory looked out of reach as early as the 4th tee after back-to-back double-bogeys left Saso five behind leader Lexi Thompson. Thompson still led by five with eight holes to play as she finally appeared destined to win her second Major, but things soon began to unravel. A double on the 11th sparked a back-nine collapse and by the 72nd hole, she faced a 12-footer…
