Posted by & filed under Majors.

The article below was written by George Cooper of National Club Golfer.

When Bill Haas chose his 68-year-old father Jay Haas to play alongside him at the 2022 Zurich Classic, it pushed him closer to becoming just the second player to make 800 starts on the US circuit. It got us thinking, so here are the top 10 golfers with the most PGA Tour starts in its storied history…

 

Top 10 players with the most PGA Tour starts

10. Bobby Wadkins

PGA Tour starts: 715
PGA Tour wins: 0

 

9. Raymond Floyd

PGA Tour starts: 726
PGA Tour wins: 22

 

8. Arnold Palmer

PGA Tour starts: 734
PGA Tour wins: 62

 

7. Doug Ford

PGA Tour starts: 744
PGA Tour wins: 19

 

6. Billy Mayfair

PGA Tour starts: 761
PGA Tour wins: 5

 

5. Mark Calcavecchia

PGA Tour starts: 761
PGA Tour wins: 13

 

4. Davis Love III

PGA Tour starts: 784
PGA Tour wins: 21

 

3. Dave Eichelberger

PGA Tour starts: 784
PGA Tour wins: 21

 

2. Jay Haas

PGA Tour starts: 799
PGA Tour wins: 9

 

1. Mark Brooks

PGA Tour starts: 804
PGA Tour wins: 7

 

That’s more than 7,600 appearances for 179 wins – including Bobby Wadkins, who holds the unfortunate record for most PGA Tour starts without a win. (His older brother, Lanny, more than made up for it with 21 wins, including the PGA Championship, and a spot in the World Golf Hall of Fame.)

Golf is hard, folks.

 

Posted by & filed under Majors.

The article below was written by George Cooper of National Club Golfer.

Teenage sensations have continued to burst onto the world golf scene over the years, proving that age is just a number in this wonderfully inclusive sport. Take a look as we provide the complete list of the youngest golfers to ever compete in the biggest tours and major tournaments.  

 

Youngest golfers on the PGA Tour

Don Dunkelberger, 11 years old (Chicago Open, 1937)
Lorens Chan, 14 years old (Sony Open, 2009)
George Burtoft, 14 years old (Utah Open, 1937)
Michelle Wie, 14 years old (Sony Open, 2004)*

Youngest winner: Chuck Kocsis, 18 years old (Michigan Open, 1931)

*Wie was given a sponsor’s exemption to play in the tournament, becoming the fifth woman and youngest ever to play in a PGA Tour event. 

 

Youngest golfers on the DP World Tour

Ye Wocheng, 12 years old (China Open, 2013)
Lev Grinberg, 14 years old (Soudal Open, 2022)
Kuang Yang, 14 years old (China Open, 2019)
Sergio Garcia, 15 years old (Turespana Masters, 1995)

Youngest winner: Matteo Manassero, 17 years old (Castello Masters 2010)

 

Youngest golfers to play in major championships

The Masters: Tianlang Guan, 14 years old (2013)
PGA Championship: Ryo Ishikawa, 17 years old (2009)
US Open: Andy Zhang, 14 years old (2012)
The Open: Zane Scotland, 16 years old (1999)

 

Youngest golfers on the LPGA Tour

Ariya Jutanugarn, 11 years old (Honda Thailand, 2007)
Michelle Liu, 12 years old (Canadian Open, 2019)

Youngest winner: Lydia Ko, 15 years old (Canadian Open, 2015)

 

Youngest golfers on the Ladies European Tour

Henni Koyack, 13 years old (Tenerife Open, 2003)
Julia Engström, 13 years old (Helsingborg Open, 2014)

Youngest winner: Atthaya Thitikul, 14 years old (Thailand Championship 2017)

 

Youngest golfers to play in the Ryder Cup

Team Europe: Sergio Garcia, 19 years old (1999)
Team USA: Collin Morikawa, 24 years old (2020)

 

Youngest golfers to play in the Solheim Cup

Team Europe: Charley Hull, 17 years old (2013)
Team USA: Lexi Thompson, 18 years old (2013)

 


Posted by & filed under Miscellaneous.

The article below was written by George Cooper of National Club Golfer.

For those of us fortunate enough to have done so, there is no greater feeling in golf than making a hole-in-one. Yet the odds of achieving such a momentous feat are always stacked against us, standing at an ambitious 12,000-1 for amateur golfers and 5000-1 for elite level players.

So how about making two aces in the same round?

And now add in the fact that those four strokes saved helped avoid a play-off by a single shot and secure a place in the next round of US Open qualifying.

It sounds like something out of a Hollywood script, but incredibly that’s exactly what Parker Coody pulled off when the college golfer did the unthinkable during a local qualifying event in his home state of Texas.

During his final round at Forest Creek where he started on the 10th hole, the grandson of 1971 Masters champion Charles Coody first aced the 160-yard 17th thanks to a pitching wedge and favourable wind conditions.

Later, at the 8th hole, the unthinkable. With 190 yards to the pin, Coody pulled out his 7-iron and took dead aim once again.

“That was nuts!” Coody told the Golf Channel afterwards.

“I just hit a good 7-iron, started it a little bit out right and let the wind just bring it in, and before I know it, it disappears! That was complete shock when it happened.”

Thanks to the pair of eagles, the University of Texas senior shot a 69 to secure one of the five qualifying spots and advance to the next stage of US Open qualifying. Had Coody finished just one shot worse, the Texan would have been forced to go through the trauma of a seven-way playoff to secure his qualification spot.

The US Open will be held at Brookline from June 16-19.

 

Posted by & filed under Majors.

The article below was written by George Cooper of National Club Golfer.

What’s the hardest golf major to win? When we refer to field strength in golf, we refer to the probability a player has to win the tournament. The stronger the field, the harder it is to win. The weaker the field, the easier it is for a player to win.

Calculating the strength of a field ultimately comes down to two core factors. These are field size – which is the number of players competing in the tournament – and field average – the quality of the average player in the field based on world rankings.

Taking each of these factors into consideration, we’ve ranked the four men’s majors in order of field strength, uncovering which of golf’s most prestigious prizes is the hardest to win. The results might come as a surprise to some…

 

Which major has the hardest field?

The PGA Championship has the strongest field of any of the four men’s majors. The tournament is run by Professional Golfers’ Association of America so, unlike the other three majors, no amateurs are in the field.

The top 100 in the world rankings at the cut-off point automatically qualify, and the 2021 tournament yielded a 156-player field that featured 99 of the top 100. The rest of the field comprised of former PGA Championship winners, recent PGA Tour winners, players who competed at the most recent Ryder Cup, and any player who finished in the top-15 of the previous year’s event.

The field is then made up by 20 PGA club professionals who make it into the field via qualifiers.

Coming in second is the US Open, which falls behind the PGA Championship in field strength due to its number of regional qualifiers.

While the tournament also boasts a 156-player field, a large proportion of that number consists of qualifiers, open to any professional or amateur with a handicap lower than 1.4.

At the 2021 US Open, 88 players were given automatic exemption based on the USGA’s qualification criteria. This includes former winners, the top-10 players from the previous year’s event, any major winner from the previous five years, all players who qualified for the Tour Championship, and any recent winner of the Players Championship.

Within this exemption criteria, several amateurs were also given automatic entry into the US Open. This consisted of the US Amateur winner and runner-up as well as the British Amateur winner.

The remaining spaces then remained open for qualifiers. US Open qualifying takes place in two stages, local and final, with some players exempted through to final qualifying based on their world ranking.

Of course, all of these players are still top-quality golfers. But having so many qualifiers ultimately reduces the number of players who might actually compete for the trophy compared to the PGA Championship.

As its name suggests, The Open remains golf’s most accessible major for which to qualify. The qualifying structure offers more than 2,500 entrants the chance to compete for a place in the tournament, eventually producing a field of 156.

Roughly 65 per cent of the field is exempt from qualifying. This means many of the world’s best players may still miss out on the chance to compete for the coveted Claret Jug.

Those exempt include previous Open Championship winners aged 60 and under and winners of selected big tournaments. Also in are players who finished in the top 10 of last year’s event, and any golfer ranked inside the world’s top 50.

A minimum of 46 places are then up for grabs through the Open Qualifying Series, which takes place around the world at a series of international sanctioned tournaments and local qualifying events in the UK.

The Open typically has the most amateurs compared to the other majors. In 2021, the 149th Open at Royal St George’s saw eight amateurs competing for the Silver Medal. This included automatic entry for the winners of the British Amateur, the US Amateur, the European Amateur, the Asia-Pacific Amateur and the Mark H McCormack Medal.

You may argue that it’s the most prestigious of the four majors, but, statistics-wise, at least, the Masters is the easiest to win.

While this might come as a surprise, the lack of field strength at the Masters Tournament in comparison to its counterparts falls solely on the number of players. The Masters has a significantly smaller field, with Augusta National generally inviting between 90 and 100 players each year.

Keen to promote founder Bobby Jones’ legacy, a number of these are amateurs.

Former champions are also given a lifetime exemption to play at Augusta, meaning many senior players in possession of a Green Jacket continue to come back late into their careers and claim a place in the field.

It all adds up to the pool of players who can realistically triumph around America’s most hallowed turf being surprisingly small. (Just don’t tell Rory McIlroy.)

middle aged male driving a golf buggy

Posted by & filed under Golf Equipment.

With golf being considered a traditional game, the idea of a single seater golf buggy on the course isn’t something that first springs to mind—however, their popularity within the game is increasing.

Following COVID 19 distancing rules, sharing a golf buggy became pretty tricky. The thought of ditching a buggy altogether wasn’t an option for everyone—as we know, golfing is not only mentally but physically taxing. The need for a single rider on a buggy only increased during this period.

As well as a physical need, single seater golf buggies come in a vast range of styles, making them more appealing to the younger generation—who we’ve seen start to take up the sport.

Aside from looks, the single rider models also allow for:

  • faster play due to their ability to easily navigate tricky paths and hills
  • a little bit more fun on the course, riding side by side with your friends
  • lighter weight vehicles crossing the course, which means there’s less maintenance and better preservation of the greens

With the benefits outlined, let’s look at the best single seater golf buggies on the market in 2022.

 

Table Of Contents

 

Finn Cycle

Retail price: $3,499

The Finn Cycle is described as ‘fast, fun and safe’ and literally is everything you could want in a single seater golf buggy.

Created by Rick Reimers, chief executive of Sun Mountain Sports, the aim of the Finn Cycle is to be more efficient—particularly when it comes to speediness around the course.

Rick claims that you can complete 18-hole rounds in two hours on the Finn Cycle, rather than the usual four hours!

Though the two-wheeled electric bike looks more like a moped, it’s built specifically for golfing, allowing you to strap your club bag to the crossbar, which you then straddle while scooting along to your next hole.

The Finn Cycle has been designed to be lightweight and have a low centre of gravity to ensure you have a well-balanced and controlled ride—and makes it user friendly for many age groups.

There are also custom Finn Cycle accessories you can buy for your buggy, making it truly yours and helping you show off your individual style on the course—they sell everything from fender sets to cool bags, so the possibilities are endless.

Related: 5 Ways To Improve Your Short Game

 

G3 Rider Single Seat Golf Buggy

Retail price: £2,310.00

The G3 Rider single seat golf buggy is probably at the more affordable end of the market, particularly as it was made for consumers, specifically for the UK golf scene.

A great all-rounder, the G3 Rider is a favourite of Ryder Cup winner 1987, Eamonn Darcy. Made for comfort, it has robust adjustable suspension, ultra-wide 13″ tires and responsive steering—meaning you can take on any course or terrain with ease.

The electric rechargeable battery is said to last through 36 holes on a single charge, so you won’t have to worry about powering down halfway through your round and getting left behind!

Unlike many of our options on this list, the G3 Rider is foldable, making it easy to transport and store when you’re not playing.

If you want a dynamic and sporty model but also functional and practical, the G3 Rider does it all.

 

Koppla Swift Motorcycle Golf Cart

Retail price: $3,399.00

Looking to be a trailblazer on the course and turn heads? The Koppla Swift Motorcycle golf cart (yes, motorcycle) will get you noticed.

Though this golf cart may look like a beast of a motorcycle, don’t expect to ‘rev’ it up on the golf course—it is, in fact, very quiet to run and produces zero emissions, making it great for the environment.

With a 25Ah Li-Battery, the Koppla golf cart will give you up to 40 Miles Range, meaning you have plenty of power to get you around even the most challenging of courses. It also includes a ‘plug-and-play’ battery so that you can change it on the go for a fully charged spare one.

The Koppla is a true investment as you can also use it for hunting, fishing and many other outdoor pastimes. Its off-road tyres mean the versatility is endless—although we wouldn’t suggest riding it out on the road like a real motorcycle.

Though they are mainly found in the US, these models can be shipped to the UK from their European warehouse.

Related: Our Top Tips For Avoiding Slow Play

 

GolfBoard V1.3 with High-Capacity Battery Pack

Retail price: $6,795.00

If you love watching the latest Youtube golfing trends and are about looking cool on the course, the GolfBoard V1.3 oozes youth and trendiness.

Though you wouldn’t necessarily think of the GolfBoard as a single seater golf buggy, it’s more likened to riding a skateboard or surfing. With their tagline ‘surf the earth,’ this board literally allows you to glide across the course with ease.

There isn’t a seat on the GolfBoard model, as it’s all about speed and ease of getting on and off your golf buggy quickly around the course.

The GolfBoard V1.3 is their all-new model featuring a high capacity battery pack, including LG lithium-ion cells that gives you 48.8% more power than their original model. GolfBoard even promises that the V1.3 will be able to be used over 27 holes on one charge!

Made to be durable and last, these boards have a powder-coated steel stability bar and external circuit breakers so they can be easily serviced and stored in the offseason.

The GolfBoard’s four wheels ensure it has a great climbing ability and can cross different terrains that you may face on the course, such as steep hills or slippery terrain.

Related: The 9 Best Golf YouTube Channels In 2021

 

I-m4 Single Seat Electric Golf Buggy

Retail price: £3,460.00 (Pre-owned)

The I-m4 Single Seat Electric Golf Buggy looks more like your traditional golf buggy—however, it’s anything but.

One of the trickiest things about a traditional four-seater buggy is balancing the weight of everyone’s equipment as well as all the players themselves—not to mention it allows three ‘non-drivers’ to pay little attention to what’s going on around them.

The I-m4 has all the comfort of a four-seater buggy but gives one individual the power to be in control.

This model has been purposely built to allow riders to speed along at a walking pace and maintain eye-level and eye contact in a conversation with their fellow golfers—rather than being lower down in a conventional scooter.

Though it’s aimed at more of the senior market, the I-m4 still remains stylish and functional. Available in various colours and with an ergonomic shape, this single seater golf buggy can also be easily folded to fit into a car.

The I-m4 is all about comfort, ensuring that the seat is independently sprung so you can ride the bumps along the course instead of feeling every stone or divert. Most conventional models have their seats directly attached to the chassis, making the ride a lot less smooth and more uncomfortable.

In terms of battery power, the I-m4 holds its own among our other models listed, with an optional 45Ah, 48Ah or 75Ah interchangeable lead sealed acid battery.

 

Posted by & filed under Feature Articles, Golf Updates.

The first Major of the 2022 golfing calendar has been and gone, and what a ride it was, golf fans.

Scottie Scheffler is the newly-crowned Masters champion, Tiger Woods is back, and Rory McIlroy must settle for second place.

 

Masters 2022: Final top 5 standings

1. Scottie Scheffler (USA)
2. Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland)
T3. Shane Lowry (Ireland)
T3. Cameron Smith (Australia)
5. Collin Morikawa (USA)

We sat down with eight-times Ryder Cup player, three-times Ryder Cup captain, and Golf Care ambassador Bernard Gallacher again to discuss the main talking points from the Masters 2022.

Here’s what he had to say…

 

Masters 2022: Pre-tournament chit-chat

Understandably, much of the talk pre-tournament was about Tiger Woods and whether he would or wouldn’t play.

Of course, much to the delight of the golfing world, he played, and it was great to see him back.

To put things into perspective, even making the cut and walking the hilly Augusta course over the five days was a major achievement for Woods, given his last few years. Fans worldwide can now look ahead to July, where he’ll be a serious contender to clinch victory on ‘his favourite course’ at the 150th Open at St Andrews.

 

Scottie Scheffler

World number one Scottie Scheffler is the 2022 Masters champion, winning the biggest prize in the tournament’s history ($2.7 m) and, of course, the prestigious Green Jacket.

The result probably came as no surprise to many, thanks to his superb form of late, having already won the Phoenix Open, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and more recently, the WGC Match Play this year.

Scheffler started the final round at Augusta with only a two-stroke lead over his playing partner and The Players Champion, Cameron Smith. However, the match quickly turned on the third and fourth holes, where Scheffler extended his lead to four strokes and never looked back.

Standing on the final tee with an unassailable five-stroke lead, the only time he seemed to lose his composure somewhat was when he four-putted on the 18th green.

Was he overwhelmed by the occasion? Perhaps. Nevertheless, he still managed to win by three.

 

Masters 2022: Bernard’s special mentions

Of course, there can only be one outright Masters winner, but that’s not to say others didn’t impress at Augusta this year.

Special mentions must go to…

 

Cameron Smith

Smith did well to keep within touching distance of Scheffler until the short 12th at Amen Corner, where he, like many others in years gone by, dumped his tee shot into the water. From there, his chances of winning quickly evaporated, and a triple-bogey 6 meant he had to settle for a tied third-place finish alongside Shane Lowry.

 

Shane Lowry

Lowry recorded an impressive finish, especially when you consider he also took a triple-bogey 6 at the short fourth hole after an errant tee shot. However, as you’d expect from the former Open Champion, the Irishman quickly recomposed himself, finishing with a very commendable 69 and share of third place with Cameron Smith.

 

Rory McIlroy

The former world number one produced one of Augusta’s best-ever final rounds with a stunning 64. Although too far back to win and complete his Grand Slam, nevertheless, the rate he was birdieing and eagling his way around Augusta must have given Scheffler some concern, who quite noticeably didn’t relax until after he’d hit his final tee shot. 

McIlroy was in total attack mode from the opening tee shot and capitalised on his superb driving with stunning iron shots and terrific holing out. In fact, it’s difficult to find enough superlatives for his outstanding ball striking. Holing his bunker shot at the last was pure theatre, much to the enjoyment of everybody.

 

Masters 2022: Disappointments

The unseasonably cold weather and strong winds at Augusta over the first two rounds, in particular, exposed the frailties in the game of some of the world’s best golfers–several of whom missed the cut.

Previous Masters winner Jordan Speith, four-time major champion Brooks Koepka, Olympic gold medallist Xander SchauffeleJustin Rose, former Open Champion Francesco Molinari, and the current US Open Champion Bryson De Chambeau will all be disappointed.

Nevertheless, the next major tournament gets underway in just five weeks’ time (at the time of writing), so there’s no time to dwell. All will be disappointed with their performance at Augusta but will be keen to put things right at the US PGA Championship in May.

Many thanks to Bernard for giving us his Masters 2022 round-up!

Who impressed you at Augusta? Get in touch and let us know.