NEWS • OPINION • HOLIDAYS • LIFESTYLE • GEAR • TRAVEL • INDUSTRY AUSTRALIA’S M O S T - R E A D GOLF MAGAZINE OPINION STATE V STATE – WHERE ARE THE BEST COURSES? WWW.INSIDEGOLF.COM.AU ISSUE 224 // JUNE 2024 EQUIPMENT WE TRIED IT – BRIDGESTONE BALLS CLUB OF THE MONTH THE GRANGE (NSW) TRAVEL > MAGIC MALAYSIA > GOLFING GEMS ON THE SUNSHINE COAST US OPEN PINEHURST PREVIEW XANDER THE PGA CHAMP PERSONALITY AND POWER! BRYSON DECHAMBEAU 2025 US Masters Tour Stay within walking distance of Augusta National and soak up the excitement all week! Fully escorted tour with hospitality nearby Hotel and private housing options available Options to add on golf in Augusta, Pinehurst, Pebble Beach, Las Vegas & more! P (02) 9555 5311 | E info@thegolftravelagency.com.au Contact us now for details on our Packages! www.thegolftravelagency.com.au FIND OUT MORE
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www.handiskins.com.au 0412 798 354 Three great golf tournaments and a host of brilliant social events for players, pros, partners and even families. It’s a five day celebration of grassroots golf. Join us at the Mercure Gold Coast for Handiskins Championship Week 7th - 11th May 2025 playing at Palm Meadows & Lakelands Golf Clubs Has your club joined Australia’s favourite grassroots golf movement? AUTHENTICALLY LOCAL HANDISKINS CLUB TOURNAMENTS ARE ONLY OPEN TO MEMBERS OF YOUR CLUB Mick Prince Headland Golf Club QLD The Handiskins National Champion - 2024 OVER $1 MILLION RETURNED TO AUSTRALIAN GOLF CLUBS SINCE 2013 & OVER $200,000 RAISED FOR THE CHALLENGE FOUNDATION
June 2024 www.insidegolf.com.au THE FIRST TEE 5 It’s the back-up that’s needed A FARMER once was asked what he would do with a $10 million lotto win. His reply was simply: “I will just keep on farming until it is all gone.” Farmers are an appropriate group to relate to when consideration is given to the just completed Handiskins national final at Palm Meadows on the Gold Coast. Most rural industry land-holders watch a couple of inches of rain fall on their parched earth and observe dryly that it will be no good unless there is good follow-up rainfall. And there you have Handiskins, an event designed for club golfers (men and women) of all levels. Over the past 13 years, Handiskins director Paul Edwards and his team have poured many inches of ‘rain’ into growing the event. Today more than 120 clubs and 14,000 players participate in the event. But it’s the follow-up ‘rain’ that assumes greater importance. Perhaps what’s needed is follow-up ‘rain’ from Golf Australia, the golfing body responsible for promoting and growing the game of golf at grassroots level. Inside Golf understands GA boss James Sutherland has been urged by Edwards to at least take a look at the event by visiting the national final, socialise with club golfers and gauge their feedback. “I would love Golf Australia to embrace Handiskins,” Edwards said. “They would improve their profile if they endorsed it and were helping put money back into clubs. “Handiskins is all about grassroots golf so let’s continue to grow the game at amateur level by giving club golfers different formats and incentives for their enjoyment. “Golf Australia has a steady income building from club golfers and could be funnelling even more funds to clubs. I believe Handiskins is the perfect vehicle for our amateur body to promote the game at club level.” To be sure, if Golf Australia threw its considerable weight behind such an event it would encourage more participation. “We started 13 years ago with one club and now more than 120 clubs around Australia are playing Handiskins,” Edwards said. “It’s growing all the time because it’s a fun event and something different.” Edwards says Handiskins has poured more than $800,000 into clubs in the past 12 years and “does not cost clubs a cent”. “We are about putting money back into clubs and pro shops and we have donated more than $200,000 to Leuk the Duck charity (Challenge Foundation – supporting kids with cancer),” he added. I attended the Handiskins national final at Palm Meadows and this is what I saw – a welcome cocktail party, two Peter Lehmann Wine dinners, a chipping competition to win a Yamaha golf cart, live entertainment, major sponsors and a presentation dinner offering prizes galore. I witnessed 170 club golfers of all ages and abilities play two rounds of matchplay skins-style golf and having fun whilst doing so. Players came from every state and there was even a group from Norfolk Island. I saw golf club general managers, club presidents and board members playing in the event and then walking the fairways to watch and encourage those players who made the final. The laughter on and off the fairways was infectious and the camaraderie a sight to behold. The joy on Kiama GC’s 12-marker Tom O’Rourke’s face was priceless after he won a Yamaha golf cart for closest to the pin in the chipping competition. “The Handiskins concept is amazing because it gets the adrenaline going,” he said. “The emotion and the feeling you get in Handiskins is something you don’t often get as a club golfer.” And then there was 80-year-old Daphne Pearson who showed up and made a final alongside three male players. “It was fantastic to come to the Gold Coast and play golf with like-minded people and to make the final was a bonus,” she said. “I had a ball.” Club pros too get to showcase their skills. Pacific Dunes club pro Jamie Hook won the Pro Handiskins final and in his acceptance speech encouraged more club pros to enter the event. “Handiskins is such a good event I’d like to see more club pros, and amateurs, take part and come to the national final,” he said. There is an old saying that when the people (read club golfers) lead the leaders will follow. Thousands of grassroots golfers have voted with their feet at Handiskins events across the nation and now must ensure the leaders are carried along. A rugby league legendary coach and undisputed stalwart of the game once opined, “it’s the back-up that beats ’em”. Golf Australia could choose to bring Handiskins under its umbrella or, at least, endorse it through its network (clubs). Surely, handling is now all that is required. David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au PUBLISHER: Sam Arthur | sam@insidegolf.com.au Outdoor Sports Publishing Pty Ltd ACN 113 836 301 ABN 30 043 104 919 PO BOX 437, Miami, QLD 4220 EDITORIAL: Editor: Rob Willis rob@insidegolf.com.au Editor-At-Large: David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au NSW/ACT Journalist: Michael Court michael@insidegolf.com.au VIC/TAS Journalist: Michael Davis michael.davis@insidegolf.com.au QLD Journalist: Peter Owen peter.owen@outlook.com.au Design & Layout: Stacey Broomhead, Rob Kirk CONTRIBUTORS: Larry Canning, David Newbery,Tony Webeck, John Riley, Karen Lunn, Michael Cooney, Andrew Crockett Distributed to over 400 golf clubs, social golf clubs, driving ranges and retailers Australia wide every month. April 2023 to March 2024 35,225. Combined print and online national monthly readership over 210,000. AUSTRALIA’S MOST-READ GOLF MAGAZINE www.insidegolf.com.au Cover photo: Bryson DeChambeau, courtesy LIV Golf Media. Inset, Xander Schauffele Inside Golf publishes opinion from a wide range of perspectives in the hope of promoting constructive debate about consequential questions. SALES: National Sales: Sam Arthur P: 1300 4653 00 M: 0410 575 303 | E: sam@insidegolf.com.au Northen NSW/QLD/NT Sales: David Ross M: 0439 612 458 | E: david.ross@insidegolf.com.au NSW/ACT Corp Sales: David Andrews M: 0404 871 479 | E: david.andrews@insidegolf.com.au Sydney/NSW Sales: Michael Hamilton M: 0423 455 572 | E: michael.hamilton@insidegolf.com.au VIC/TAS Sales: Marc Wilson M: 0419 107 143 | E: marc@insidegolf.com.au WA Sales: Gary Powell M: 0439 350 363 | E: gary@insidegolf.com.au SA Sales: Brett Crosby M: 0403 323 198 | E: brett@insidegolf.com.au ACCOUNTS: Sheridan Murphy M: 1300 465 300 | E: accounts@insidegolf.com.au Editor-at-large David Newbery, recently recgonised by Golf Queensland with an award for his 40-years of service to the golf industry, continues to be a valued and respected contributor to Inside Golf.
June 2024 www.insidegolf.com.au 6 Bryson – bringing power and personality to golf’s biggest events HE may have come up just short in the recent PGA Championship, however American Bryson DeChambeau enhanced his reputation as one of the most exciting and watchable performers in professional golf with a sizzling final round and a second-place finish. Returning a Sunday 64, for a 20-under par total, DeChambeau failed to reel in eventual champion Xander Schauffele, but it was his power and personality which shone through at Valhalla. DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open champ who now plays on the LIV Golf Tour, was in a threeway battle on the last day with Schauffele and playing partner Viktor Hovland when he pulled his tee shot left and in the direction of a row of trees on the par four 16th. Fortuitously, his ball bounced back into the fairway, leaving DeChambeau with a second shot approaching 200 metres (218 yards). What followed was a display of his immense power, with DeChambeau lacing an 8-iron to within three feet of the hole, the birdie three helping to continue his incredible last day charge. A seventh birdie of the day on the par five finishing hole wasn’t quite enough for him to claim a second major championship trophy, however with his swashbuckling style and impressive power DeChambeau quickly became a fan favourite with the Kentucky crowds. “Pretty proud of myself,” DeChambeau said following his round. “I gave it my all. I put as much effort as I possibly could into it, and I knew that my B game wouldn’t be enough. It’s just clearly somebody played incredibly well. Xander’s well deserving of a major championship and, emptying the tank, I certainly love to do that and give the fans everything I can.” After also challenging at the US Masters in April, where he finished in a tie for sixth, DeChambeau again displayed a game suited for the world’s biggest and most significant championships. The 30-year-old DeChambeau, who was due to head to the US Open at Pinehurst in the weeks to follow the PGA Championship, joined LIV Golf in June of 2022, has eight victories on the PGA Tour, two wins in Europe and two on LIV to his credit, and is arguably the most exciting player to watch in world golf at the present time. News, views and observations from around the golfing world. INSIDE NEWS With Inside Golf Editor Rob Willis rob@insidegolf.com.au IN THIS ISSUE 59 60 NEW PRODUCTS FASHION ON THE FAIRWAYS AMATEUR GOLF 18 BUNKER 32 CLUB NEWS LETTERS SUNSHINE COAST FEATURE 34 33 51 PRO NEWS 7 INDUSTRY NEWS 27 TRAVEL 46 CLUB OF THE MONTH 44 INSTRUCTION 62 67 69 DEMO DAYS GOLF DIRECTORY EVENTS 66 19TH HOLE 64 CELEBRITY SWINGER 63 Bryson DeChambeau, charismatic and classy, a runner-up at the PGA Championship in Kentucky. IT has taken the hottest golfer on the planet to deny Hannah Green a third US LPGA Tour title this season, with the Western Australian beaten by Nelly Korda at the Americas Open in New Jersey. Korda, the world number one, emerged victorious after a final round duel with Green, who bogeyed the 72nd hole to fall out of a tie and hand the American her sixth win of the year. Korda shot 71 on Sunday for a 15-under par total, one better than Green, and has now won six of her last seven starts and six from her eight tournament appearances in 2024. For Green, second on the LPGA Tour moneylist after winning the LA Championship in April and at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore in March, has moved up to number five on the world rankings list and is in line to represent Australia at the upcoming Paris Olympics. Young Australian Gabriela Ruffels continued her hot run of form in sharing third place at 10-under. It was the 24-year-old’s third top-three finish of the season, the result consolidating her position as the leader in the LPGA rookieof-the-year race. AMERICAN Xander Schauffele removed himself from any conversations or debates as to who might be the best player without a major title on their resume with a record-breaking victory during an eventful week at the US PGA Championship. While Schauffele wrote the final chapter in shooting a major championship record low total of 21-under, one shot ahead of Bryson DeChambeau, the brilliant golf on the course and events taking place away from it, made for a memorable week at Valhalla in Louisville, Kentucky. Kicking off the week the headlines were dominated by personal issues affecting Rory McIlroy, news surfacing relating to a well publicised divorce, while LIV supporters got their wish with 14 players invited, Louis Oosthuizen stayed home, leaving 13 to compete, despite no imminent end to the current PGA TOURLIV standoff. On a course softened by rain. the golf took over on Thursday, with Schauffele opening with a 62, equaling the lowest score in major championship history. Three players, Tony Finau, Mark Hubbard and Sahith Theegala managed 65’s, while Scottie Scheffler was in the hunt following a day one 67. On Friday it wasn’t Scheffler’s golf that was the talking point, rather it was his arrest by Kentucky police while in transit to the course. Amazingly, Scheffler conducted his pre-round stretching in a jail cell, before being released in time to shoot a second round 66. Scheffler was out of contention after a 73 on Saturday, with his final round 65 moving him back into the top 10 and into a tie for eighth. All the while Schauffele remained out in front. Shane Lowry, in matching Schauffele’s first day 62 in the third round, was amongst those to mount a charge, before he entered the last day tied for the lead with Collin Morikawa. Sunday’s finale came down to an enthralling three-way tussle, with DeChambeau and Norwegian Viktor Hovland challenging, but in the end it was the Schauffele, who emphatically bucked the proverbial money off his back in claiming a first major championship title. Already an Olympic gold medalist, with Schauffele the winner in Tokyo, the 30-year old Californian had 12 top-fives and two second placings at majors previously, while the 2022 Scottish Open was his most recent triumph. He had finished second to McIlroy just a week prior at the Wells Fargo Championship after leading into the final round. “I was actually kind of emotional after the putt lipped in,” Schauffele said of his clinching two-metre birdie putt on the 72nd hole. “I really didn’t want to go into a playoff against Bryson. I’m assuming we probably would have played 18 – it would have been a lot of work. “I just told myself this is my opportunity, and just capture it. “It’s been a while since I’ve won. I kept saying it all week, I just need to stay in my lane. And man, was it hard to stay in my lane today.” It is, and was good for Schauffele, US$3,330,000 richer and now a major champion. Xander the champ after an eventful week at Valhalla Xander Schauffele claimed his first major championship with at victory at Valhalla. Ogilvy a Presidents Cup Captain VICTORIAN Geoff Ogilvy, a three-time member of the International Team, has been named as an assistant captain for 2024 Presidents Cup. South African Nick Price, the International Team Captain, has chosen Ogilvy to be one of three assistants, alongside Tony Johnstone and Ernie Els, for the event to be played at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in Canada, from September 24-29. Ogilvy, the US Open champion in 2006 and an eight-time winner on the PGA TOUR, played in three consecutive International teams (2007, 2009, 2011). He will be acting as an International team assistant captain for the first time. “I didn’t make the last two Presidents Cups when Nick was captain, but I talked to him a lot during the whole time and I was pretty impressed with how he managed it,” Ogilvy told the PGA TOUR. “I was very excited when he called me. It’s been my favorite three weeks of golf ever by a long stretch, the three Presidents Cups I’ve played. It’s not even close for second. It’s an incredible time and this one, especially, might be the coolest venue for one of these top team events ever.” Steve Stricker will take on the duties as US Team Captain, with Fred Couples, Davis Love III and Tiger Woods his captain’s assistants. Korda beats Green in a New Jersey shootout Hannah Green, a runner up to Nelly Korda on the LPGA Tour.
June 2024 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 7 Jasper’s Augusta experience THE excitement in Tim Wendel’s voice is palpable and it’s close to a month since he and Jasper Stubbs have returned from Augusta. “It lives right up to its mystique It’s actually even better than you think,” Wendel says. “The course, particularly down in Amen Corner is unbelievable, almost eerie as the wind rustles through the massive pine trees. The crowd noise is incredible and being on the course you realise how difficult it is. You only have one shot option, and you have to hit it perfectly. Tim Wendel has coached exciting Australian amateur talent, Jasper Stubbs, for close to a decade. This year, they both went to Augusta for the first time after Stubbs qualified for the US Masters courtesy of his win in the Asia Pacific Amateur, a victory featured on the cover of Inside Golf’s December 2023 edition. Michael Davis talks to the coach who was blown away by the whole experience. “I am driving down Magnolia Lane for the first time and thinking ‘so this is it’ and at the gate the policeman has already greeted us with a big smile and a ‘welcome to Augusta National’. He smiled as if he knew us personally, something he did for the whole week.” The good old-fashioned hospitality is the trademark of America’s deep south and Augusta is no exception. Wendel says you are made well-aware that rules are in place when it comes to time spent on the practice fairway – a coach can only be there with his player – and the mobile phone ban. “It was kind of strange having to arrange a meeting point if you wanted to catch up with someone during the day. You cannot text them. Having said that there is a bank of public phones near the fourth hole where you can ring anywhere in the world. It’s a service provided by the tournament. “They certainly make sure you know about the rules and what happens if you breach them. But they don’t do it in an officious way. It’s more like they are looking after you. They make everyone who is there feel special.” Stubbs and Wendel were blown away by the collegiality between all the participants. “Brooks Koepka’s coach introduced himself and welcomed me. He knew all about Jasper’s journey and what he had done to get there.” On practice days 45,00 people streamed into Augusta National. There’s no running, pushing or shoving. And as you see on TV, thousands of people sit beside the green on $35 Augusta stools they have either purchased on course or brought with them. “If you are standing behind someone who wants to go for a sandwich and a drink, they are more than happy for you to take their chair until you get back. It’s amazing really.” Wendel says Stubbs was embraced by all his playing peers and learnt so much from them. He practised with Hideki Matsuyama, and Australians Cam Davis and Cam Smith. “Cam Smith was fantastic and asked Jasper to play with him. He was very forthcoming and generous with his advice. “Cam Davis, likewise, and he ended up playing really well in the tournament. It was amazing for Jasper to see him playing on the Monday, compared to the level he had himself during the tournament.” Stubbs and his coach were also intrigued to see the effort Matsuyama put into chipping and putting from all the different spots on and around the greens. To witness meticulous preparation from a past winner was fascinating. “He (Jasper) was working out in the gym alongside the biggest names in the game. He is a different being since coming home and seeing firsthand the level you need to be at to compete alongside the best.” Wendel says his protégé will benefit enormously from the experience and says it will be on show for all to see at this year’s Open championship. Wendel says Stubbs played extremely well on his first visit to Augusta. Two-over standing on the 16th tee, Stubbs hit his tee shot in the water. “It is such a fine line between all these great players and that was the end of his tournament there and then.” But Stubbs battled manfully to shoot two-over in the second round before missing the cut. His coach says that “it has only just begun” for the youngster, who is “totally immersed” in everything about the game. Jasper Stubbs qualified for the US Masters courtesy of his win at the Asia Pacific Amateur. Jasper Stubbs with is support team at the US Masters. From left Cameron Vincent GA Victorian HP Manager, Simon Clarke GA Tour Caddie, Jasper Stubbs, Tim Wendel Rowville Sports Academy Coach, Darren Lay GA HP Physio. Technology that stablises both han for a more square putter face at im No matter your gripping style. In three distinct shapes and two si Available now from all leading G REVERS TAPER Technology that stablises both hands for a more square putter face at impact* No matter your gripping style. In three distinct shapes and two sizes. Available now from all leading Golf retailers REVERSE TAPER *As tested against a parallel style putter grip.
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June 2024 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 10 LIV delivers a ‘Ripper’ week in Adelaide Surviving the first extra hole when Oosthuizen and teammate Dean Burmester appeared certain to secure victory, to the delight of the raucous and parochial home crowd Smith and Leishman managed to take out the team title on the second trip down The Grange’s 18th hole. “How we got out of that, I don’t really know,” Leishman said. “We were done and dusted by the looks of it.” It was the first team win for Ripper, with the Australian’s sharing in the US$3million purse, a collect of US$750,000 each to go with their prizemoney for the week from the individual standings. During an event where unheralded names such as Junichiro Kozuma and Andy Ogletree would for a time challenge the leaders, while high-profile performers Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann would make Sunday charges, it was an unassuming American and a fired up team of Aussies celebrating success at LIV Adelaide 2. LIV Golf’s record-setting Adelaide return WITH the weekend action featuring the Australian Ripper team members fighting for a team title, it came as no surprise that a record number of fans attended The Grange course for the second installment of LIV Golf in Adelaide. An event which was capped off with the dramatic team’s playoff, more than 94,000 fans poured through the gates across the three days, with an estimated 40 per cent of ticket buyers from out of state. Added to that, ticket purchasers and attendees came from more than 30 different countries in what resulted in a financial boost for the city of Adelaide and the state of South Australia. “We are thrilled that our continued partnership has delivered another amazing event,” South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said. “But the thing that makes LIV Golf Adelaide truly elite is the people. Golf fans from across our state, our nation and indeed the world, watching the world’s best players. “I want to send my thanks to the staff, volunteers and members of The Grange Golf Club who worked so hard to make this happen. “We look forward to delivering an even bigger and better event at LIV Golf Adelaide in 2025.” As for Cameron Smith, captain of the winning Ripper team, taking out the team championship was the cherry on the top after a memorable week. “I think I always knew internally that Australia would really embrace LIV with the culture, with Brendan Steele, the individual winner of LIV Golf Adelaide. the music, with the entertainment, everything that goes on around it. I always felt like this was the place where it was going to make it big, and how it’s been the last couple of years has been just insane,” Smith said. “Last year I said, I’m biased, this is the best tournament I’ve ever played. I think this year it’s done it again.” Throughout the week fans watched the 54 LIV players go about their business on course, while an all-Australian concert line-up featuring Tones And I, FISHER and Flight Facilities entertained after the Friday and Saturday rounds had concluded. The crowd for the 2024 event eclipsed the previous record set last year as organisers released additional tickets in the lead up after experiencing an overwhelming response when tickets were first issued for sale. “LIV Golf Adelaide has become a can’tmiss event on Australia’s calendar of major international sporting events and this week, we raised the bar once again,” LIV Golf Commissioner and CEO Greg Norman said. “I want to thank the Australian fans and those who travelled afar to be in Adelaide.” Over 94,000 attended LIV Adelaide over the four days, with many of those on hand to support Cam Smith and team Ripper GC in the team’s playoff. Koepka a winner, Ripper go back-to-back in Singapore BROOKS Koepka became the first fourtime winner on the LIV Golf Tour and the Ripper GC team went back-to-back in the team’s competition when LIV Golf rolled into Singapore the week following the Adelaide event. Played at the Serapong course at Sentosa Golf Club, Koepka shot a Sunday 68 for a 15-under par total for the 54-hole event, two shots clear of the Australian pair of Cam Smith and Marc Leishman. With the two Aussies featuring towards the top of the leaderboard, it came as no surprise that their Ripper team would claim a second team title in as many weeks, their 32-under par score three clear of the Fireballs and Cleeks who were tied for second. Ripper was led by a last day 64 from Smith and a 66 from Leishman, with Matt Jones and Lucas Herbert backing up the efforts of their experienced teammates. The win at LIV Golf Singapore was the 20th of Koepka’s career, who later in May was looking to defend his US PGA Championship at the tournament to be played at the Valhalla course in Louisville, Kentucky. As a result of his victory in Singapore, Brooks Koepka became the first four-time winner on the LIV Tour. BRENDAN Steele came, conquered and claimed his first LIV Golf title in Adelaide, however due to the circumstances surrounding the success of the Ripper team, a foursome made up of home-grown talent competing on the LIV Golf Tour, the American possibly left Australian shores without a significant boost to his modest golfing profile. Steele played almost flawless golf for two days and then over the opening nine holes on Sunday, before getting the job done down the stretch in winning LIV Adelaide and the US$4million first place cheque that went with it. An extremely competent performer in world golf, with three PGA Tour victories to his credit before making the switch to the LIV Golf Tour ahead of the 2023 season, the 41-year-old Steele shot a three-round 18-under par total at The Grange course in scoring a onestroke victory over South African Louis Oosthuizen. “I’m overwhelmed, but to win this event is really special,” Steele said of his first victory since 2017. “I can’t say enough good things about the fans and the golf course and the whole experience this week.” However, as good as the experienced Californian played, ‘steeling’ the spotlight from the individual winner was the playoff victory recorded by the Ripper GC team, a four-man squad comprising Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, Matt Jones and Lucas Herbert. Following strong last round performances from Herbert and Leishman, after Smith and Jones had led the way over the first two days, the Ripper team forced a playoff with the South African Stingers. By Rob Willis
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June 2024 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 12 A DECADE ago Brandt Snedeker was on top of the golfing world. He’d won the 2012 FedEx Cup, and the US$10 million cheque that went with it, reached No 4 in the Official World Golf Rankings and twice represented the US in the Ryder Cup. He burst onto the PGA Tour in 2007 like a comet, making the cut in 23 of 29 events, finishing top 10 six times, and winning the Wyndham Championship in North Carolina. He earned $2.8 million in prizemoney and was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. In his first dozen years on tour Snedeker won nine events, the last one in 2018 when he claimed his second Wyndham Championship, shooting 59 in the first round – the 10th time any player had scored a sub-60 round in competition. And then … nothing. From a world ranking high of No 4, the Tennesseeborn 43-year-old dropped to 789 on the official rankings list. In 2019 he had just one top 10 finish, the following year two, and then none in each of the next two seasons. He’d seemingly lost his game. But what most people didn’t know was that Brandt Snedeker was playing injured. The first sign of trouble came in 2009 when he missed seven straight tournaments mid-year with what was described as a rib injury. Two years later he underwent surgery on his right hip to correct a degenerative issue, and in 2012 had to pull out of the US Open with another rib injury. The injury flared again in 2013 when Snedeker missed the WGC Matchplay Championship with further rib trouble, later diagnosed as ‘low bone turnover’ for which he was required to take daily injections to increase his bone mass. Eventually Snedeker was diagnosed with a sternum issue and for six years travelled to South America for stem cell treatment. But he was in constant pain, and it took a mixture of Tylenol, Advil and steroids to provide enough relief for him to play golf. The injury took over his life. Doctors, by then, had identified the problem as ‘manubrium joint stabilisation’, a disease affecting only about a dozen people in the world, and with limited surgical options. A Nashville sports medicine surgeon, Dr Burton Elrod, had performed a procedure on an NFL quarterback in 2004 to strengthen his chest, but had vowed never to do it again because of the high risk of infection. Snedeker talked him into it. During surgery in late 2022, Dr Elrod took a bone the size of a thumb from Snedeker’s right hip and inserted it into his sternum. Snedeker describes it like this: “They take a bone out of your hip and kind of cut your sternum straight across, put half the bone in the lower half and half the bone in the upper half, and kind of pop it back into place. Kind of like a Lego snapping back into place.” Snedeker spent the next four weeks in a recliner, declaring he felt like ‘someone hit me with a Mack truck.’ But he said without the operation he would have had to give up golf. After resting for four months, Snedeker began hitting golf balls – pain free – and ramped up his practice last May. He returned to competition at the Memorial Tournament in early June, shooting rounds of 73, 72, 73 and 74 to finish tied 41st. Missed cuts and no finishes better than 45th followed in his next eight starts, though a first-round 64 in the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in July showed he still has the ability to compete at the highest level. This year hasn’t been much better, Snedker missing the cut in eight of his first 11 appearances. Snedeker entered the 2024 season on a Major Medical Extension, with 21 starts available to earn 394.222 FedEx Cup points and match No 125 from the 2022-23 FedEx Cup autumn and eligibility points list – something that now seems unlikely. At No 21 on the career money list, he could use a one-time exemption A golfing legend fighting back By Peter Owen next year for the top 25 all-time money winners. Or he could use sponsor exemptions and his status as a multiple tour winner to get into events. But Snedeker’s back playing a game he loves, with little or no pain, and is looking to the future with confidence. “I still know how to do it,” he said. “I’m not an idiot. I did this one time, I can do it again.” A winner of the FedEx Cup on the US PGA Tour, Brandt Snedeker is looking to return to his winning ways after overcoming serious injury issues . Brandt Snedeker, a nine-time winner on the USPGA Tour. ATTEND THE US MASTERS IN 2025 ALL INFORMATION IS CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINT AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANCE WITHOUT NOTICE, DUE TO MATTERS OUTSIDE OUR CONTROL SUCH AS ADVERSE CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS, TAXES AND FUEL SURCHARGES. MASTERS PACKAGES FROM AS LITTLE AS $5000USD PER PERSON
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June 2024 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 14 Come-from-behind US Open victories THERE have been plenty of come-frombehind wins in the 118-year history of the US Open including Arnold Palmer’s victory in 1960. These players made up the most ground. The US Open can be a puzzle for late leaders IT’S a well-known fact that Saturday is moving day when it comes to 72-hole professional tournaments. For those players who make the cut it’s the chance to move up the leaderboard and into position for a Sunday showdown. The 124th US Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina from June 13-16 will be no different. Those who do play on the weekend will want to be there or thereabouts going into the final round. But is being atop the leaderboard after 54 holes the best position to be in at a US Open? Statistics tells us players who are close to the lead have a better chance of winning the US Open than those who lead entering the final round. Over the years, most (55 per cent) third round leaders – including Greg Norman, Phil Mickelson, Aaron Baddeley, Jason Day, Retief Goosen, Jim Furyk, Payne Stewart, Tom Lehman and Dustin Johnson, Brandon Grace, Shane Lowry, Andrew Landry, Brian Harman, Matthew Wolff, Louis Oosthuizen – have let the tournament slip through their fingers. Still, Goosen, Stewart, Furyk, Martin Kaymer, Gary Woodland, Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Matt Fitzpatrick and Wyndham Clark have won entering the final round as leader or co-leader. In 2004, ‘the Goose’ led into the last round and won, but a year later he squandered that chance when he carded an inglorious 80 to finish in a tie for 11th. In 2005, Kiwi Michael Campbell, four off the pace, held off Tiger Woods to win his first major. Furyk, who won in 2003, was co-leader entering the final round in 2012 but finished fourth and Stewart, in 1998, led into the final round only to finish runner-up. Stewart didn’t make the same mistake in 1999 strolling to victory with a final round 70. 124TH US OPEN – JUNE 13-16 – PINEHURST NO 2> David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au In 1986, the Shark was at the peak of his golfing powers but he too failed to win the US Open leading into the last day. Norman held a one-shot lead over Hal Sutton and Lee Trevino with Raymond Floyd three back. Floyd fired a final round 66 to win and Greg carded a 75 to finish six shots back. In 2007, Baddeley held a two-shot lead over Tiger, but tumbled down the leaderboard on the final day. His 80 left him in a tie for 13th. No, Tiger didn’t win. Argentinean Angel Cabrera, tied for seventh going into the final round, edged out Woods and Furyk to win his first US Open crown. Tiger has never come from behind to win the US Open, but he has won three titles (2000- ’02-’08) leading after 54 holes. In 2015, Day was co-leader going into the final round, shot a 74 and finished T9. Ernie Els (1994), Rory McIlroy (2011), Martin Kaymer (2014) led from start-to-finish, Brooks Koepka (2018), Gary Woodland (2019), Matt Fitzpatrick (2022) and Wyndham Clark (2023) too, have led or been co-leader into the final round and won. Australian golf fans who felt Norman, Baddley and Day’s pain must have some sympathy for American Tom Lehman. Three times the former Open Championship winner led the US Open going into the final round and didn’t make it to the winner’s circle. In 1995-’96-’97 he led but ended up finishing third, tied for second and third respectively. Mickelson, too, has let the tournament slip on three occasions after leading going into the final round. In 2010, American Dustin Johnson held a three-shot lead over Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowall, but folded quickly on the last day, triple-bogeying the second hole and then double-bogeying the third. There was no way back from there and he signed for an 82. McDowall won the title with a final round 74. So, what drama can we expect at this year’s US Open? Scoring won’t be easy at Pinehurst No. 2. When the tournament was played there in 2005 Michael Campbell won with an even-par score and Payne Stewart, in 1999, managed to win with one-under par. Martin Kaymer broke the mould winning with nine-under – eight shots clear of Ricky Fowler and Erik Compton. The Pinehurst No. 2 course includes 51 fairway bunkers, 56 greenside bunkers and one, that’s right, one water hazard. The only water on the course is a small pond off the 16th tee … and it won’t, or shouldn’t, come into play. FOOTNOTE: Two Australians, David Graham (1981) and Geoff Ogilvy (2006) have won the US Open. Graham, three behind George Burns entering the final round, shot a 67 to win by three and Ogilvy came from a shot back after 54 holes to beat Mickelson and Furyk by a shot. Geoff Ogilvy, along with David Graham, one of two Australians to have won the US Open. New Zealander Michael Campbell held off Tiger Woods to win the 2005 US Open at Pinehurst, venue for the 2024 championship. Defending US Open champion Wyndham Clark. YEAR WINNER BACK FINISH 1960 Arnold Palmer 7 65 1973 Johnny Miller 6 63 1919 Walter Hagen 5 75* 1928 Johnny Farrell 5 72* 1939 Byron Nelson 5 68* 1998 Lee Janzen 5 68 1922 Gene Sarazen 4 68 1936 Tony Manero 4 67 1938 Ralph Guldahl 4 69 1971 Lee Trevino 4 69* 1975 Lou Graham 4 73* 1990 Hale Irwin 4 67* 2005 Michael Campbell 4 69 2004 Angel Cabrera 4 69 2012 Webb Simpson 4 68 2014 Dustin Johnson 4 69 2021 Jon Rahm 3 67 US Open starts A GOOD opening round at the US Open is only the beginning as indicated by these good first rounds, then less-than-stellar second round scores. NAME SCORES YEAR Ray Ainsley 76-96 1938 Lee Mackey 64-81 1950 Al Brosch 67-84 1950 Gene Littler 68-83 1966 Mike Reid 67-81 1976 Tom Weiskopf 70-83 1971 Joey Sindelar 66-79 1993 Jimmy Gullane 73-85 1926 Dutch Harrison 70-82 1941 Tom Weiskopf 63-75 1980 Ray Floyd 67-79 1980 Bob Murphy 69-81 1983 Fred Couples 66-78 1985 Bernhard Langer 66-78 1989 Nick Dougherty 68-77 2007 Justin Hicks 68-80 2008 Colin Montgomerie 65-76 1997 Payne Stewart 66-75 1989 Brett Quigley 65-74 2003 Nick Dougherty 68-77 2007 Kevin Streelman 68-77 2008 Michael Thompson 66-75 2012 Henrik Stenson 65-74 2015 Ricky Fowler 65-73 2017 Justin Thomas 65-73 2020 Adam Hadwin 66-72 2022 Xander Schauffle 62-70 2023 DID YOU KNOW US Open international qualifying started in 2005 and in its first year Kiwi Michael Campbell not only qualified in England, but went on to claim the US Open title at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina, the venue for this year’s event. (* denotes won in a play-off)
June 2024 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 15 US OPEN – By the numbers 0.4 is the handicap limit for players who file to compete in this year’s US Open at Pinehurst Resort No. 2 in North Carolina. 1 shot was Wyndham Clark’s winning margin last year. 2 aggregate holes will be played if there is a playoff. If the players’ scores remain tied it goes to sudden-death. 3 internationals sectional qualifying events are held – one in Japan for Japan, Asia and Australasian tours, one in England for the European Tour and one in Canada. Three is also the number of amateurs exempt for the 2024 US Open. 4 is the number of players who have won the US Open four times – Willie Anderson (1901-03-04-05), Bobby Jones (1923-26-29-30), Ben Hogan (1948-50-51-53) and Jack Nicklaus (1962-67-72-80). 5 is the number of amateurs who have won the US Open (all before 1934). 6 players have won the Masters and US Open in the same year – Craig Wood (1941), Ben Hogan (1951, 1953), Arnold Palmer (1960), Jack Nicklaus (1972), Tiger Woods (2002) and Jordan Spieth (2015). And six players have successfully defended their US Open crown – Willie Anderson (1903-04-05), Ben Hogan (1950-51), John McDermitt (1911-12), Ralph Guldahi (1937-38), Curtis Strange (1988-89) and Brooks Koepka (2017-18). 10 year exemption for the winner as well as an invitation to the next five US Masters, Open Championship, US PGA and Players Championship. 14 is the age of the youngest ever player, Andy Zhang, to compete in a US Open (2012). 15 is the record number of strokes Tiger Woods won by in 2000. 16 under par is the lowest winning score set by Rory McIlroy (2011) and Brooks Koepka (2017). 19 is the age of the youngest winner, John McDermott, who won in 1911. 22 is the number of players who have won more than one US Open title. 33 times the US Open has been decided by a playoff – the last in 2008 when Tiger Woods beat Rocco Mediate. 45 is the age of the oldest winner, Hale Irwin. 52 players were fully exempt for this year’s US Open. 60 players plus ties will make the cut. 61 different American players have won the US Open – 52 more than the next best nation, Scotland. 72 is par for the Pinehurst No.2 course. 77.9 is the course rating for Pinehurst No.2. 109 local qualifying sites, which is the first stop in the process after the entry form has been accepted by the USGA. 123 US Opens have been played prior to this year’s event. 129 years since the first US Open was played. 149 is the Slope rating for Pinehurst No. 2 (US Open course). 156 players will make it to the first tee this year. 175 US dollars is what it will cost a patron on day 1. On Friday and Sunday it’s USD225 and Saturday USD235. 200 US dollars is the entry fee for players attempting to qualify for the US Open. 331 is the highest winning score set by Willie Andreson in 1901. 528 yards (482 metres) is the length of the longest par-4 hole at Pinehurst Resort No.2 course. 621 yards or 561 metres, the par-5 10th, is the longest hole on the course. 900 US dollars for a weekly gallery package (Monday to Sunday). 7562 yards (6914 metres) is the length of the Pinehurst Resort No. 2 course. 10,052 entries were received for this year’s US Open – the third time entries went beyond 10,000. 3,600,000 US dollars is what the winner of the 2024 US Open will bank. 20,000,000 US dollars is the total prizemoney up for grabs. – DAVID NEWBERY Jordan Speith, one of only six players to win the US Open and US Masters in the same year. The 16th, at 528 yards (482 metres) will play as the longest par four at Pinehurst No 2 in the 2024 US Open. Jack Nicklaus, a four-time US Open champion.
June 2024 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 16 VALE: Noel Ratcliffe LIKE most golfers of that era, Jack Nicklaus was his idol. Yet Sydney professional Noel Ratcliffe was able to go one much bigger step than most of us. Ratcliffe, who passed away last month at just 79, will be remembered as one of the genuine Aussie trailblazers on the European professional tour. The 79-year-old had been a regular fixture on the seniors’ circuit in Australia in recent years and remained competitive throughout a 50-year professional career. ‘The Rat’ as he was widely known, was one of professional golf’s late bloomers. And as he explained to Sydney professional Glen Whittle in an interview several years ago, he not only met Nicklaus, he got to play a round of golf with The Golden Bear in Melbourne. On his way to Tasmania, Ratcliffe had a stopover in Melbourne and bumped into his friend Bruce Devlin. Devlin asked if he’d like to have a quick round with him that day; Ratcliffe agreed and Devlin said he was just waiting for ‘Jack’ to arrive. Ratcliffe later admitted he assumed Devlin meant Jack Newton. So you can imagine his surprise when it was the great Jack Nicklaus who arrived for a practise round. Michael Court michael@insidegolf.com.au “I’m glad I waited,” said Ratcliffe. Ratcliffe didn’t turn professional until he was 29 but made his mark in Europe, becoming just the second player to hit the million Euro mark in earnings. Those efforts were capped by a win in the 1987 Benson And Hedges, one of the elite events on the European Tour. Ratcliffe eagled the last hole to beat a field of superstars. He also won the 1978 Belgium Open, beating fellow Sydneysider Chris Tickner in a playoff. Ratcliffe taught himself how to play the game by reading Ben Hogan’s book, but became a popular figure in Europe helping many fellow pros out with advice. He even helped the late, great Seve Ballesteros, when he was asked for some advice. “Seve was in his early 20s when I got over there,” said Ratcliffe. “At one stage he had David Leadbetter as his coach . . . and so did I. “Often when David was teaching Seve I would go over just to listen to what he was saying. “Seve would often get me to have a look at his swing and ask me a few questions. I just think he realized I knew a bit about the golf swing. “He went through a few coaches, Mac O’Grady was another one he spent time with. “He did hit some wide now and then but had that amazing ability to recover. But when he was on he hit the ball straight and long. “And when he was on he was very difficult to beat. “In 1978 we played in Cologne and there was a dogleg there we all hit an iron off the tee and laid up and Seve would go straight for the green over the trees. “And the 18th hole there was 600 yards long and Seve was the only one who could get there in two – and he did. Ratcliffe was lucky enough to play alongside so many of our greatest players . . . names such Trevino, Watson, Johnny Miller, Floyd, Crenshaw and Kite. He had 78 top 10s in a short period of years in Europe and was in contention a lot: “It was a lot of fun,” he would later say. “No regrets at all.” Noel Ratcliffe first became interested in golf as a pupil at Kogarah Marist Brothers where he played cricket and rugby league. His elder brothers Jack and Don made a habit of practising their swings in a local park and Noel soon joined them. He was twice NSW medallist, won the Australian Foursomes with Phil Wood and represented Australia in the 1971 Commonwealth team matches in New Zealand and in the 1972 Eisenhower Cup world teams’ competition in Buenos Aires. It wasn’t until he was almost 29 that he decided he had the skills to play his way around the lucrative European professional tour. He played there for many years and always made enough to warrant a return the following year. At home he won the 1976 Huon Open in New Guinea, the 1977 South Australian Open and besides his European wins lost the 1978 Benson and Hedges in England after a playoff with Lee Trevino. He also finished third in the 1981 Martini International after leading into the final round. Ratcliffe kept returning for the Australian summer and in 1988 finished third at Royal Canberra in the prestigious ESP Open. His rounds of 72-70-66-72 in that event left him adrift of a young up and comer named Greg Norman. Noel Ratcliffe was a genuine Australian trailblazer on the European Tour. MAJOR GOLFSALE! AND MUCH MORE! TaylorMade Cobra FOLLOW US ON WWW.GOLFWORLD.COM.AU
June 2024 www.insidegolf.com.au AMATEUR GOLF 18 WHAT is it about Royal Queensland Golf Club that allows it to produce an endless procession of outstanding golfers? Ever since RQ trainee Greg Norman burst onto the scene in the 1970s, the inner city golf club on the banks of the Brisbane River has produced champion after champion. And the present crop of stars who call Royal Queensland home is as impressive as any generation. They include Quinnton Croker, arguably the country’s best amateur; Concord Cup winner Lincoln Morgan, who last year won the Singapore Open Amateur Championship and was runner-up in the Keperra Bowl; and talented players Will Bowen, Max Ford, Jordan McGarry, James Goffman and Isaak Jensen. Croker, Morgan and Bowen were members of Queensland’s team in the recent Interstate Teams Matches. Bowen, not yet 20 and already a Queensland Amateur champion, puts it down to the club having an exceptional golf programme, outstanding practice facilities, Vics finish on top at Interstate Teams matches VICTORIA has beaten Queensland to win the Australian Interstate Teams Matches played at the Southport Golf Club on the Gold Coast. Led by an undefeated week by from Jazy Roberts and a dominant contribution from the men’s team which included Asia Pacific champion Jasper Stubbs, Queensland PGA winner Phoenix Campbell and co-caption Connor McDade, the Victorians proved too good in taking out the Final of the national teams title by six matches to two. Roberts continued her undefeated run in beating the highly rated Sarah Hammet in the Final, with Molly McLean, Amelia Harris (a 2&1 winner over Justice Bosio) and Seabil Leong the other female team members, while Abel Eduard, who scored a crucial 2&1 win over Queensland hot shot Will Bowen in the Final, Campbell (1up over Lincoln Morgan), Stubbs (4&3 over Quinn Croker) and McDade (beat Harry Takis 3&1) making up the Victorian men’s team. Siddharth Nadimpalli (men’s) and Shanaiah Fernando (women’s) represented Victorian during the round robin component but sat out the combined teams final. The Victorians also won the Men’s Interstate Teams title following the completion of the round robin matches, while the Queensland contingent of Shyla Singh, Hannah Reeves, Bosio, Hammett and Ionna Muir were the Women’s Interstate Teams champions. Roberts was the only player to play and win all six matches during the three days of the event, with Victorian teammate Harris also impressive finishing with 5.5 points from a possible six. McDade, Campbell and Stubbs collected five points across the six matches. The win was the second in three years for the Victorian’s, with NSW having claimed the 2023 team’s title. The Victorians claimed bragging rights with a win in the Australian Amateur Interstate Teams matches. Bowen is heading overseas this year, and will contest the Scottish Amateur at Muirfield and the British Amateur at Ballyliffen in Ireland – heady prospects for a young man making his first trip to the UK. Then he’ll take a break, contest a few amateur events, work on his swing with coach Grant Field, and test his game against the professionals in a few Australasian Tour events at the end of the year. “I want to get as much experience as I can,” he said, “Then we’ll see what happens.” By Peter Owen and the ever-present challenge of competing with the best. “We all practice together and play together,” Bowen said. “It’s only natural to try to beat your opponent and that brings out the best in all of us.” Bowen showed how good that could be when he shot six-under-par 66 to win the Sir Manuel Hornibrook Memorial Jug at his home course in April. Not surprisingly, he was trailed home by clubmates Goffman (70) and McGarry (71). Croker didn’t compete, much to the relief of the rest of the field. “Quinn’s amazing,” said Bowen. “He has all the skills. If he putts well in a tournament he just wins – if his putting’s off, he’s still top 10.” Croker, 21, is on the verge of turning professional. The winner of this year’s Australian Amateur Championship, he’s already qualified for next season’s Australian PGA Tour through his efforts in professional events this year. Bowen’s not in so much of a rush. “I’m playing well but there’s no hurry,” he said. “There are some great opportunities now for elite amateurs in this country. I’m looking forward to making Golf Australia squads, playing overseas and developing my game.” Bowen the latest from the RQ production line Will Bowen shows the style that has made him one of Queensland’s top prospects. 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