The PGA Championship returns to Whistling Straits on Thursday for the final Major Championship on the golfing calendar. The 97^th edition of the event returns to the man-made links of Wisconsin for a third time, bringing with it the highest quality field of any Major this year.

  Owned by American billionaire and Wisconsin native Herb Kohler, this stunning golf course has had quite the transformation since its days as a US Army antiaircraft training facility. The land was once flatter than a computer screen; so flat, in fact, it was home to a lengthy runway to help facilitate the influx of planes coming and going.

  It took the vision of the aforementioned Kohler, as well as chief designer Pete Dye, to put together one of Americas most beautiful and unique golf courses. Replacing the flat landscape is a golf course full of bunkers – over 500 in total – that vary in width and depth. Each of them offers a different challenge: some are 10 feet below the fairway and require great thought just to reach the green; many are above the green and require the deftest of touches to get up and down. They’re as much a part of the landscape as cheese is on a cheap pizza, dotted about everywhere without covering up the entire surface of the course.

  It goes without saying that much of the inspiration for the course comes from British & Irish links courses. Kohler is clearly smitten with many of their design features and personality; he’s admitted several times that his vision was to get back to the roots of the game, the very essence of where golf came from.

  In contrast to the Irish-inspired course is the most American of landmarks: the vast and beautiful Lake Michigan. Eight of the holes run alongside the lake, helping to make it one of the most visually arresting golf courses you’re likely to find. These holes can and will provide extra intimidation for the players, knowing that one bad swing will result in your ball spending the rest of its days getting confused looks from some of Lake Michigan’s wildlife can be unnerving.

  One thing you can be sure of is Whistling Straits providing some late drama - in the two previous PGA Championships hosted here both were won via play-off. The 2004 PGA edition was contested by eventual winner Vijay Singh and American’s Chris DiMarco & Justin Leonard. Then, six years later, Martin Kaymer pipped Bubba Watson in another tense play-off. That was also a tournament shrouded in controversy – Dustin Johnson played himself in to what he thought would be a three man play-off only to be penalised two shots for grounding his club in a bunker. Exciting times should lie ahead in 2015!

  That drama comes from the course being such a hard yet fair test, attracting both low scoring and complete disaster in equal measure. In 2010 the average score per 18 holes was 72.94, just under a stroke over the par score of 72. Compare this to the most recent US Open at Chambers Bay, which many believe overstepped the boundary between fair and punitive, and you see a clear difference: Chambers Bay’s par was 70 and the average score was 72.77, almost 3 full shots over. These figures clearly illustrate that if players play well then the opportunity for scoring is going to be there, if they don’t they’ll be punished.

  Every player will aim to be in a relatively commanding position coming down the final four holes on Sunday. If they’re not and they need to go through that stretch level-par or better then it’ll be a real struggle. In 2010 the average score for the 15^th, 17^th and 18^th were all over par, the 18^th being the toughest hole on the entire course. As is so often the case, the majority of the scoring was done on the par 5’s, of which there are 4. Failure to come through those without some decent scoring will greatly inhibit a players ability to go low. 

  Harrison Ryle

  harrison.ryle@foremostgolf.com

Rickie Fowler claimed his third victory of the season at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday. 

  It's been a breakout year for the 26 year-old California native, who showed the true extent of his potential with wins at The Players Championship & The Scottish Open earlier in the year. This victory didn't come easy though. 

  He was involved in a ding dong battle with Henrik Stenson for the entire round. The Swede held the lead until his tee shot found the water on 16, a disastrous stroke that ended up costing him a double bogey and in turn the Championship. 

  After a survey earlier in the year labelled him one of the most overrated players in golf, Fowler has bounced back with incredible poise and maturity to prove the doubters wrong. Until he wins a Major he’ll always be just shy of the McIlroy-Spieth-Day trio but he’s certainly a contender for best of the rest. If he carries this form in to next year you have to feel it’s simply a matter of time before he joins that illustrious group of golfs finest young talent. 

  So, what was in Rickie's bag?

  Driver: Cobra Fly Z+ (Matrix Prototype 70X shaft), 10.5 degrees

  3-wood: Cobra Fly Z+ (Aldila Tour Blue 73X shaft), 14 degrees

  5-wood: Cobra Bio Cell+ (Aldila Tour Blue 73X shaft) 18 degrees

  Irons: Cobra Fly-Z Pro MB (4-9; KBS C-Taper 125 S+ shafts),

  Wedges: Cobra Tour Trusty RF Grind (47-08, 51-08, 57-08 and 62-08 degrees; True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts)

  Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Prototype

  Ball: Titleist Pro V1X

As the FedExCup play-offs took a break last weekend the onus was on the other tours to provide the headlines. 

On the European Tour Marcus Pieters saw off the challenge of Lee Slattery, winner of the Russian Open the previous week, to claim the KLM Open by one shot. Slattery had a putt on the 18th to force a play-off but could only miss left, handing the 23 year-old Pieters his second European Tour victory. 

Over in Thailand, pre-tournament favourite Kiradech Aphibarnrat won the inaugural Thongchai Jaidee Foundation tournament by a comfortable three strokes, continuing his excellent season. 

Sebastian Gros secured his full European Tour card for 2016 with victory at the Kazakhstan Open on the Challenge Tour. It's the sort of victory that can change a professional golfers life, offering them a springboard to bigger and better things in the future. 

18 year-old Lydia Ko became the second youngest winner of a Major Championship in the entire history of golf by winning the Evian Championship in France (the youngest, Young Tom Morris, was 17 years old when he won his first major, a tournament where only 12 people competed and his Dad, Old Tom Morris, finished in second place. So, yeah.) It took an incredible final-round 63 to win the fifth and final Major of the year for Ko, sending a warning signal to all of ladies golf that a dominant player may be emerging.  

What did all of these players have in common? They're all members of Team Callaway. The wins come with extra significance for Callaway because two of the players, Pieters and Aphibarnrat, won with the new Great Big Bertha Driver in their bags. 

Lydia Ko's Bag

  Jason Day cruised to victory at the BMW Championship to secure his spot at the top of the World rankings for the first time. The Australian was barely troubled over the four days; he came within a whisker of a 59 on Thursday before three more rounds in the 60’s left him 6 shots clear.

  With the win a formality much of the final day drama was focused on those trying to play themselves in to the top 30. Harris English, Daniel Berger, Scott Piercey and Kevin Na will all be at the TOUR Championship thanks to their performances over the four days. It was of particular significance to Engish who had finished 31^st and 32^nd over the last two seasons to just miss out on the lucrative season finale.

  On the equipment side of things the win will be a great boost to TaylorMade as Jason Day was using their new M1 driver.

  So, what was in Jason’s bag?

Jordan Spieth capped off one of the greatest seasons in recent memory with victory at the TOUR Championship. With the win he added the FedExCup to the 2 Majors he won earlier in the year. 

Starting the day a shot clear of Henrik Stenson, the 22 year-old rode his trademark putting to a final round 69 and a 9 under total, four shots clear of the field. 

There was much debate before the event about who should be crowned player of the year: should it be Spieth with his two Majors or the recently red-hot Jason Day? This performance should put all of those questions to bed. 

So, what was in Jordan's bag?

Summer has come and gone, Autumn is in in full swing and just over the horizon is the cold, wind, snow and rain of Winter. As golfers - calling myself a golfer might be generous - the winter can be a difficult time: attempting to play well when the wind is howling and you're being pelted by rain is tough even for the best players. 

Which is why we should all be thankful for the latest golf waterproofs from some of the games finest!

Above is the new Pro-Flex offering from ProQuip. As well as keeping you as dry as a bone, the Pro-Flex range is also made with Flex Technology: a premium stretch fabric that allows you the freedom of movement needed for your swing. 

It's available in both blue (as shown above) and grey if you're looking for something more muted. 

The new Galvin Green Albin is similar to its Pro Quip counterpart as it also guarantees a waterproof material without sacrificing playability. Gore-Tex stretch fabric is used to ensure you don't lose any of the flexibility and comfort you need to feel during your swing. Available in four different colours so there's plenty of choice.  

The Sunice Albany Classic has the classic look its name suggests it should. It claims to be 25% lighter and 25% stretchier than any GoreTex jacket available.

If you prefer something lighter then the Under Armour Armourstorm is the jacket for you. Don't let the lighter look fool you though, the Armourstorm technology makes it waterproof and breathable. 

Nike's offering is the Hyperadapt Storm-Fit, a jacket that's designed to repel wind, rain and snow so you can stay dry and comfortable. Also available in grey and blue. 

Picturesque Valderrama is regarded by most as one of the best golf clubs this side of the Atlantic; a true test of golfing ability. The 1997 Ryder Cup venue played host to the Open de España last week and did not disappoint. Lightning fast greens and tricky conditions meant that scoring was always going to be tough, with a one-over-par total enough for Englishman Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston to claim his maiden European Tour title – the first regular Tour event to be won with an over-par score in 20 years. 27-year-old Johnston went into the final round one shot back from overnight leader Mike Lorenzo-Vera, but a stellar one-under-par 70 was good enough to see him lift the trophy by one, despite a final-day charge from locals’ favourite, Sergio Garcia. Titleist brand ambassador Johnston’s final round exploits saw him rank first in both driving accuracy (78.6%) and greens in regulation (70.8%) on the day – truly impressive golf when the pressure was at its greatest.

What equipment did he use?

• Driver – Titleist 915D3 (10.5 loft)
• 3-wood – Titleist 915F (15 loft)
• Irons – Titleist 716 MB irons; 3-9
• Wedges – Vokey SM6 wedges (46, 50, 54 & 58)
• Putter – Scotty Cameron Tour Only Newport 2
• Ball – Titleist Pro V1x

Over in the States, the PGA Tour arrived at Harbour Town Links, South Carolina, for the RBC Heritage. Many of the world’s best golfers take a break following a Major, but there were still a few stand-out names amongst the field. World number one Jason Day pegged it up at the start of the week, as did Bryson DeChambeau who, after finishing top amateur in the 2016 Masters, was playing in his first event as a professional. But come Sunday it was Callaway Staff player Branden Grace who grabbed the spotlight, a five-under-par 66 propelling him above overnight pacesetter, Luke Donald, to claim his second title of 2016.

What equipment did he use?

• Driver – Callaway XR 16 (8.5 loft)
• 3-wood – Callaway Big Bertha Alpha (16 loft)
• Utility Iron – Callaway Apex UT
• Irons – Callaway X Forged (4-PW)
• Wedges – Callaway Mack Daddy 2 Tour Grind (52, 56 & 60)
• Putter – Odyssey Versa V Line
• Ball – Titleist Pro V1x

To see the options we have available on our golf shop, head tohttps://www.foremostgolf.com/. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to give us a call on +44 (0) 800 500 3194.

You've guessed it. There was another first-time winner on the European Tour last week as Nike Golf Haotong Li claimed the Volvo China Open on home soil. The 20-year-old started the final day two shots back but a flawless closing 64, mixing eight birdies with zero dropped shots, meant a fourth consecutive sub-70 round to claim his maiden victory by three. Overnight leaders Aguilar and Bjerregaard carded rounds of three-under and two-under respectively, but it could have been so much better for Aguilar. Whether it was pressure or just one of those shots, Aguilar will wish he could replay his tee shot on the par-3 16th which found the water 30 yards short of the green, effectively costing him the tournament. Regardless, Li birdied 17 and held his nerve down the last to record an emphatic win, possibly the first of many for this young gun.

What equipment did he use?

• Driver - Nike Vapor Pro (9.5)
• Fairway Wood - Nike Vapor Speed (15)
• Irons - Nike Vapor Fly Pro (3&4); Nike Vapor Pro (5-9)
• Wedges - Nike Engage (48, 54 & 60)
• Putter - Nike Method Matter B2-05
• Ball - Nike RZN Tour Platinum

Rain and thunderstorms shortened last week's PGA Tour event to 54 holes, with a Monday finish required to settle matters. In the end there was a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard, with Brian Stuard, Jamie Lovemark and Byeong-Hun An all closing out their three rounds on 15-under-par - An and Stuard birding the final hole to tie Lovemark for the lead. So a playoff was the order of play, with the three golfers heading down the par-5 18th in this sudden death format. An was the first golfer to be eliminated after bogeying the first playoff hole, the other two making pars. On the second playoff hole, a beautiful 160-yard approach to two foot by Stuard saw him birdie the hole and claim his first victory on the PGA Tour - a common theme among this week's winners. That's not the only thing that Stuard has in common with other recent winners, as he is the 5th Callaway Staff winner in as many weeks. Surely this is telling you something?

What equipment did he use?

• Driver - Callaway Great Big Bertha (9.5)
• Fairway Wood - Callaway XR Pro (15)
• Hybrids - Callaway Apex (20 & 23)
• Irons - Callaway Apex Pro (4-PW)
• Wedges - Callaway Mack Daddy 3 (52 & 58)
• Putter - Odyssey Works Marxman Fang Tank
• Ball - Titleist Pro V1x

To see the options we have available on our golf shop, head tohttps://www.foremostgolf.com/. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to give us a call on +44 (0) 800 500 3194.

If you’ve been following our blog over the past few weeks, you may have noticed two common themes running across recent winners: first-timers and Callaway Staff players. This week carries on that trend as Jeunghun Wang produced a wonderful putting display to claim the Trophée Hassan II in a fascinating playoff against Nacho Elvira. When on the 72^nd green, Wang was faced with a 15 foot birdie putt to tie clubhouse leader Elvira and force extra holes. He duly delivered. Going down the 18^th again in the playoff, Elvira looked in complete control after hitting the par-5 green in two whilst Wang was 35 foot away in three. As is the case in many matchplay situations – which a sudden-death playoff effectively is – Wang nails his birdie putt whilst Elvira two-putted for his four. Back down 18 they go. This time round Elvira missed the green in three, leaving Wang a putt for his birdie-four and the title, which he drains. That’s seven wins in a row for Callaway Golf players across tours, leaving us to think that there must be something special in their 2016 range…

What equipment did he use?

Driver – Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 816

Fairway Wood – Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 816

Hybrid – Callaway Apex

Irons – Callaway irons

Wedges – Vokey SM5

Putter – Odyssey White Hot RX

Form is temporary, class is permanent. How often have we heard this saying ring true? Well we can add James Hahn’s remarkable return to form on the PGA Tour to that list. Hahn has been struggling with his game over the past few months. Following a string of missed cuts (eight straight if you’re counting) and no round sub-70 in his last 18, not many people would have backed Hahn at the Wells Fargo Championship last week. After three-putting the 72^nd hole for bogey, Hahn finished the tournament tied for the lead with Roberto Castro, meaning a playoff was needed once again. Castro found water with his drive at the first playoff hole, handing the initiative to Hahn, who found the fairway and then set up victory with a solid second to the heart of the green. It just goes to show, a return to form may just be around the corner for us all…

Here’s what he had in the bag:

Driver - PXG 0811X (9 degrees)

FairwayWood - PXG 0341 (15 degrees)

Hybrid - PXG 0317 (17 degrees)

Irons - PXG 0311(3-iron), PXG 0311T (4-9)

Wedges - PXG 0311T Milled (47), Vokey SM5 (54 & 60)

Putter - Odyssey White Hot Pro 2.0

Ball – Titleist Pro V1x

To see the options we have available on our golf shop, head tohttps://www.foremostgolf.com/. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to give us a call on +44 (0) 800 500 3194.

Jason Day put on a golfing masterclass last Thursday when a nine-under-par 63 tied the course record and set Day on his way to a wire-to-wire victory at The Players Championship. Going into the final round with a four-shot lead, the world number one averted a potential disaster after playing the front nine in two-over-par, coming home with three birdies to regain his overnight cushion and take his sixth victory in his last 16 starts. This win puts Day amongst elite company, making him the fifth man to have won The Players, a Major and a World Golf Championship. Comparisons with Tiger are inevitably starting to rear their heads – which doesn’t come as a surprise – but it’s important to remember that this time last year it was Spieth, and the year before it was Rory. Until someone does it year after year, Tiger will be in a category of his own.

Here’s what Jason had in the bag:

Driver – TaylorMade M1 (10.5 degrees)

Fairway Wood – TaylorMade M2 (17 degrees)

Irons – TaylorMade RSi (2-iron), TaylorMade RSi (4-PW)

Wedges – TaylorMade Tour Preferred EF (47, 52 & 60)

Putter – TaylorMade Ghost Spider Limited Red

Ball – TaylorMade Tour Preferred X

That’s 8 in a row – if you’re counting. Jeunghun Wang made it back-to-back wins at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open after a closing stretch-collapse from Siddikur Rahman paved the way for Wang. Rahman was three ahead with just three holes left to play, but a double on 16 followed by a bogey on 17 turned the tournament on its head, both golfers tied for the lead going down the par-5 18th. A brilliant bunker shot by Wang led to a closing-hole birdie to finish on six-under-par, claiming his second victory in as many weeks and an eighth-straight for Callaway Golf. Wang will be facing far stiffer competition over the coming weeks as the European Tour returns to the UK, but with the bit between his teeth you can’t rule out this 20-year-old on current form.

What equipment did he use?

Driver – Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 816

Fairway Wood – Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 816

Hybrid – Callaway Apex

Irons – Callaway Irons

Wedges – Vokey SM5

Putter – Odyssey White Hot RX