This week, the biggest names in women’s golf will battle it out at the Country Club of Charleston in the 74^th U.S. Women’s Open; the second Major of 2019.

The trophy is etched with star names, and we can expect to see another one this year. Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn claimed the title last year, following in the prestigious footsteps of Annika Sorenstam, Inbee Park and many more. However, this year sees one very significant difference from the champions of any previous women’s Major: A million-dollar winning prize.

The USGA announced a rise of $500,000 for both the men’s and women’s tournament purses, taking them to $12.5 million and £5.5 million respectively (the highest purses in both games’ majors). This serves as a huge boost not only for the event but also for the women’s game as a whole. However, it hasn’t come out of the blue. Ultimately, nobody is going to be dishing out more than $5 million without good reason. Purses for golf tournaments are, to a greater or lesser extent, investments in the tournament, players and sport. As the standard of the women’s game continues to rise, the viewing figures and prize money will follow suit.

Last year

I mentioned Ariya Jutanugarn’s win last year, but that doesn’t tell half the story. Jutanugarn held a seven-stroke lead on -15 at the tenth tee on Sunday, but a final-hole bogey appeared to seal one of the largest collapses in tournament history as a triple-bogey on the tenth and three more bogeys to just the lone birdie saw her drop five shots. Pair that with a 2-under back-nine from Hyo-Joo Kim, and suddenly we’re heading to a playoff. But, somehow, Jutanugarn rallied to win the playoff and pip Kim to the title for her second Major; the first since the 2016 British Open.

This Year

The bad news for Jutanugarn is that nobody has successfully defended this title since Karrie Webb in 2000-2001. But that’s not so bad for the fans, with Major successes being shared out more than ever since Inbee Park’s six titles in 3 years (2013-2015). The reigning Champ is considered well down the pecking order, with South Korea’s Ko Jin-Young the favourite after her ANA Inspiration victory put her top of the Rolex Annika Major Award rankings. Other favourites include the aforementioned Inbee Park, despite the absence of a Major in nearly four years, and Australia’s Minjee Park looking to end a 13-year drought for her homeland since Karrie Webb’s seventh and final Major victory at what is now known as the ANA Inspiration in 2006.

21-year-old Brooke Henderson has emerged as a prime candidate due to a good record at this tournament (T10 in 2014, T5 in 2015 & T13 in 2017) and outstanding form this year (six Top-10 finishes, including a win and a T2 last week, in ten starts). A victory here would give her the most Majors (2) and most Tour wins (9) of any Canadian golfer in history. Meanwhile, the most-favoured Englishwomen are Bronte Law, after her first professional win at last week’s Pure Silk Championship, and Charley Hull. They both enter the tournament as outsiders, but Georgia Hall’s heroics at the British Open last year have sparked fresh hope for English golf.

Regardless of the name on that historic cheque come Sunday, there is plenty of buzz around this golf tournament and I have no doubt the players will rise to the occasion. Expect history.

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com

Sock it to ‘em

It’s a classic for a reason…

FootJoy Socks in a Bottle (£14.95)… Two pairs of high quality FootJoy golf socks in a sports performance water bottle. Just make sure he doesn’t put the socks back in the bottle after wearing them!

Foremost Golf are offering the Stance Star Wars sock collection, with Chewbacca, Darth Vader, Storm Trooper and R2D2 (£12.99) all available as individual pairs of socks, whilst there are three different gift sets (£39.99) based on Star Wars films; A New Hope, Return of the Jedi & The Force Awakens.

Head Covers

No, it’s not just another name for a hat…

Whether your dad plays like Tiger or like a donkey, Daphne’s animal-themed golf club head covers (£22.99) have you covered. From Buffalo and Chimpanzee to Labradors, there’s everything he could wish for.

Fathers can be like real-life superheroes, and what better way to tell them that than the awesome Popeye, Batman and Superman head covers? At just £24.99, they make the perfect addition to any golf bag.

Training Aids

He needs all the help he can get…

The On Par Practice Balls (£4.99) and PGA Tour Power Play Impact Bag (£19.99) are both simple-but-effective tools that make for easy, fun practice in the garden.

The PuttOut Pressure Putt training aid (£19.99) is an advanced putting design at an extremely affordable price. For the same price, the PGA Tour Putting Mat features a sleek simulated green topped by a flagged hole and faux-hazards. This putting mat comes with a bundle of a training DVD and golf ball alignment tool.

Garmin Offers

Foremost are offering reduced prices on the Garmin Approach S10 (now £119.99), the Garmin Approach S60 (now £299.99) and Garmin S60 Premium (now £399.99) golf watches for a limited time only in a special Father’s Day promotion. These make the perfect gift for any golf fanatic fathers, and the savings of up to £100 also make them perfect for the gift-giver.

Gift Cards

Fathers can be difficult to buy for, and there sure is no shame in playing it safe. At Foremost Golf, you can choose from any of our selected amounts, ranigng from £5 to £400, or you can design a customised Gift Card with any amout you'd like. All Gift Cards come smartly presented in a Foremost Golf wallet with your Gift Card inside.

All products mentioned in this blog are IN STOCK and available for next day delivery. All products from Foremost Golf come with FREE Click & Collect Delivery to your local Foremost Golf Pro Shop.

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com

New York, New York

As the eventual Champion teetered on the cusp of one of the greatest collapses in Major history, one poignant sound reverberated around Bethpage State Park: “DJ! DJ! DJ!”. Dustin Johnson was stalking his gym buddy-turned-prey (how often do you get to use that phrase?) down the stretch, and the New York fans loved it. Was it a personal vendetta against Brooks Koepka? Maybe. Did they just want to see competitive golf for the first time in a week? Certainly.

After a nerve-racking display of escapology, he avoided the unthinkable collapse and, in his post-round interview, claimed that the fans’ chanting had spurred him on (ever the pantomime villain, eh?). But there was no bitterness there. This wasn’t a middle-finger-type message as in previous years. No, because according to Koepka, this felt like “A real sporting event”. And he loved it.

Ryder Cup Ramifications

2024 may still feel like somewhere Busted visited in 2002 (that’s the Year 3000, for those without my sophisticated musical palate) but, in actuality, it’s just five years from now. That can be a long time in golf, but in the city that never sleeps five years goes by in the blink of an eye. The Black Course at Bethpage may or may not change before the Ryder Cup, but the New Yorks fans absolutely will not.

Paul Casey, who almost certainly won’t be playing in ’24, expressed his concerns, whilst Rory McIlroy’s “No comment” was every bit as transparent. Supposedly the players are fearful of speaking out against the crowds for fear of future ridicule, but there appears a clear divide between Americans and Europeans on the subject.

There is no doubting that it will gift America a serious upper-hand. Some will argue that’s what makes the Ryder Cup what it is, but others will say that it’s not in the spirit of golf.

The Questions

Is this advantage for America unfair or is that the whole point of rotating hosting duties? Should rules be put in place to control fans or should they be given free reign? Are these types of fans a sign of golf moving forwards, or is it a step in the wrong direction?

Do you want to see New York-style fans at a Ryder Cup or not?

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com

Brutal Bethpage

Tiger’s opening round perfectly summed up the golf course, recording three birdies and an eagle but finishing the day on +2 courtesy of three bogeys and two doubles. Rory McIlroy was 5-over through three on Friday but recovered with five birdies to a lone bogey to sneak inside the +4 cut line. Tiger (+5) had no such luck and was forced to spend the weekend back on his $20 million yacht (ouch). Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson and Bryson DeChambeau were just some of the other big names to miss the weekend. However, 2002 Champion Rich Beem, now 48 years old, stole the headlines by making the cut despite being 9-over on the 13^th tee: shooting five birdies over the last 6 holes on Friday. This came after wide-spread criticism of his decision to even turn up.

Only seven men finished the week on par or better. By close of play Sunday, a +4 score had gone from the cut line to a share of 23^rd.

Killer Koepka

“I don’t know what course Brooks was playing” Jason Day said of the bogey-free 63 (7-under). The American took just four holes to reach double-figures on day 2. His first bogey came at the start of the back-nine, but that didn’t stop him breaking the 36-hole Major record at -12.

Entering the final round, all the talk was about the potential for a record Major margin of victory as Koepka lead by seven. Despite a bogey on the first, the defending Champ was -1 for the day and -13 for the tournament after 10 holes, making Dustin Johnson’s 3-under front-nine fairly redundant. But then the wheels came off. Four bogeys on the bounce brought him back to -9 as DJ’s birdie at the 15^th closed the gap to just one. Koepka’s bogey on the penultimate hole would have proven costly had his friend not done the same on both 16 and 17 to finish two behind Koepka’s -8 winning score.

Best of the Rest

Jordan Spieth made it clear before the tournament that he believed his slump was over, and his -2 T3 finish proved this to be the case as he chased the career Grand Slam. Matt Wallace equalled Spieth and Patrick Cantlay to share third spot; his best finish at a Major and the best from any Brit at Bethpage (that comes despite a 3-over back-nine on Sunday), putting the Englishman at World No. 25. McIlroy did more than just make the cut in his recovery from a perilous position as he finished T8 on +1.

New York Fans

They’re loud, they’re controversial and they’ll be back. The man who left with the Wanamaker Trophy arguably faced more negative comments from New Yorkers than anybody else, particularly when “half-choking” down the stretch, but Koepka was happy with the fans making this a “real sporting event”.

The talk of the town is now the 2024 Ryder Cup at Bethpage. Whether you love or hate the raucous, beer-fuelled atmosphere, there’s no question that the Americans will have a home advantage. Matt Wallace described it as “absolutely mental”, but in fact looks forward to that. However, the likes of McIlroy and Paul Casey were not so impressed. Koepka’s sympathetic “Good luck to Europe” comment really sets the tone for what will be a fascinating and long-standing storyline.

Brooks Kopeka - What's in the Bag?

Driver - TaylorMade M5

3-Wood - TaylorMade M2

Irons - Nike Vapor Fly Pro

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7, Titleist Vokey SM4

Putter - Scotty Cameron Newport 2

Golf Ball - Titleist Pro V1x

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com

When push comes to shove, we’re all chasing a common goal in our lives: Happiness. Unfortunately, that can be difficult to come by, especially for somebody suffering with mental health issues. According to the NHS, one in four adults and one in ten children suffer from mental health issues. These figures are astounding, but they can change. They can get better.

We can all do our part to improve the mental health of ourselves and the people around us, but most of use wouldn’t know where to start. Well, one trick that is scientifically-proven to improve mental health is physical activity.

Out & About

Studies have shown, time and time (and time and time and time) again, that physical and mental wellbeing are interlinked. Staying active can both prevent and rehabilitate depression and anxiety in a variety of ways, including occupying the mind, raising self-esteem and causing positive, mood-enhancing chemical changes in the brain.

Who’s ready for a bit of biochemistry? Don’t worry, I’m as clueless as the next golf blogger when it comes to science (aside from Marie Curie’s Swing Tips, of course), but this stuff is fairly basic. Exposure to sunlight triggers the release of a hormone called serotonin, which is known to boost moods and heighten calmness & focus. Low levels of serotonin are associated with low moods and risk of depression.  I know we bemoan the British weather (we’re British; moaning is what we do!), but the fact is that getting outside regularly will boost your serotonin and, in turn, your mood.

Why Golf Specifically?

I’ve talked a lot about the relationship between mind and body, and there is no better sport for that combination than golf. Competitive golf demands focus and discipline of the mind in conjunction with mobility and athleticism. With that said, one of golf’s most attractive components is its accessibility; the ability for men, women & children of all ages and abilities to enjoy the game either competitively or leisurely. You set the intensity. You can set your own goals and enjoy your own achievements; raise your own self-esteem, or you can simply use it as an opportunity to escape the rest of the world.

Sure, golf is suitable for all types of people- that’s great- but it is also suitable for all types of personalities. Believe it or not, people who suffer from mental health issues are not just quiet, introverted people. Sometimes they’re the life and soul of the party, sometimes they’re the person in the big office; mental health can affect anybody. Golf can be solitary or social; independent or inclusive. You could head to the range or the pitch & putt or you could take to the course for a quick nine or even the full 18- And you can do it all alone with your thoughts. On the other hand, golf can simply be a vehicle through which you can socialise with new or existing friends. TopGolf and FootGolf offer unique golfing experiences that prioritise socialising over competition.

The Important Part

I’m not writing this as a marketing executive at a golf company, but rather as a person. If this inspires you to take up golf, great! If not, that’s fine. Because golf is just one of many activities that can help improve a person’s mental health. When all is said and done, that’s the important part. So please, do what you can for the mental health of yourself and the people around you.

Quotes

All quotes are linked to full articles. Click the underlined text for more articles on mental health & wellbeing.

“You literally manage stress more efficiently when you are in a green space” – Professor Jenny Roe

“Mental health problems are a common human experience” – Mind (organisation)

“What you do with your body can have a powerful effect on your mental wellbeing” – NHS

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com

It’s always been an awesome golf tournament, but this year looks set to be something special. Golf has arguably reached heights it never has before, and The Masters was just the beginning…

How Will Players Handle the Black Course?

It comes with a warning sign. Sure, this makes it looks absolutely awesome, but the sign is no decoration: the warning is legitimate. Fortunately, the PGA Championship offers up a complete field of “Highly skilled golfers”. But first tee Major nerves are hardly going to be calmed by the words “Warning” and “Extremely difficult”.

Bethpage State Park’s Black Course in Long Island, New York, hosted the U.S. Open in 2002 and 2009; won by Tiger Woods and Lucas Glover respectively. Scores of -3 (Tiger, 2002) and -4 (Glover, 2009) tell you exactly how challenging the course is, with Tiger being the only player to break par on the par-70 in ’02. Despite the high scores, this course is renowned for producing gripping golf due to its ability to reward and punish in equal measure.

How Will the Date Change Affect the Tournament?

The tournament will be in sharper focus. Moving to the second Major of the year, this was inevitable. But Tiger Woods just made the greatest sporting comeback of all time at Augusta National and sent the golfing world into global delirium… This tournament is timed to perfection.

The other factor affected by the date change is, of course, the weather. 2009 U.S. Open Champion Lucas Glover said the weather was “Just like this”. Right now, it is cold and wet. The wetter it gets, the longer it gets.

What Happened Last Week?

On the European Tour, Sweden’s Marcus Kinhult showed his mettle to hole a final-hole birdie putt for a win of the finest margin at the British Masters;  his first on the European Tour. Defending Champion Eddie Pepperell, fellow Englishman Matt Wallace and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre tied for second, just one stroke off the pace on -15. Tournament host Tommy Fleetwood (-10) also had a good week as he tied for eighth with Martin Kaymer and five others.

South Korea’s Sung Kang earned his first PGA Tour win with a -23 total. Brooks Koepka was the only big name in contention as a lot of star players rested themselves for this week.

Who Has the Upper-Hand?

Somebody who has been there before. Remember Dustin Johnson grounding his club in a bunker at Whistling Straits in 2010? Truthfully, it was beyond harsh. You could say it was a mistake anybody could’ve made, but would Tiger or Phil have made that error? Whether you blame the course, the ruling or the player, the two-stroke penalty cost DJ his maiden Major title. It was extremely controversial, but there’s a reason- a secret ingredient, if you will- that certain players always seem to get the rub of the green. It’s not luck. It’s what defines winners.

That brings us to our final question…

Can Tiger Do It?

Yes. There are plenty of people convinced that he already has the Grand Slam in the bag, which is just getting carried away. However, he couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to make it a second consecutive victory. Bethpage Black is a course where you need that winner’s edge that very few people have.  Tiger is arguably the biggest “Winner” in all of sport.

He’s coming off the back of that Masters win, he has 15 Major titles and one of those came at Bethpage Black. Perhaps the question should be “Will Tiger put his back out when lifting that hefty trophy?”

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com