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30 Golf World September 2014

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COVER STORY
NICE GUYS
CAN FINISH FIRST
Matt Fitzpatrick has won the British Masters and earned
more than £1.5 million in his rookie season on Tour, but don’t
expect the success to go to his head, says John Huggan.
In a world where the vast economic gap
that now separates leading tour players
from the rest of us has never been
greater, Matthew Fitzpatrick stands
out. His talent may set him apart –
increasingly so given the start the 2013 US
Amateur champion has made to his pro career
– but the level-headedness that has always been
an obvious part of his likeable personality and
“ordinary” upbringing remains unaffected.
“If the limelight and everything else
changes Matt, no one else has got a prayer,”
says his swing coach, fellow Yorkshireman
Mike Walker. “I’ll be amazed if he ever
changes in a bad way.”
An example. When the youngest player in
the field at the British Masters clinched his first
European Tour title, the so-called “Mondeo
Man” (yes, he still drives one!) celebrated not
with a slap-up dinner at an expensive restaurant
surrounded by hangers-on, but with a quick
visit to a “Subway” conveniently located
between Woburn and his Sheffield home. With
Fitzpatrick were his two closest pals, brother
Alex and mum and dad, Susan and Russell –
the important people.
“Matt is a bright lad,” says Walker. “His
parents are very risk averse so they wanted
contingencies in place at every stage of his golf
career. They knew how hard he would have to
work and how unlikely it was that he would
achieve what he has done. I think he would
class himself as a good hard worker rather than
naturally gifted academically though.”
“I am so grateful for what mum and dad
have done,” says Fitzpatrick, who won the Boys
Championship in 2012, the first hint that he
could be something special in the game. “For
them taking me here, there and everywhere to
competitions – and spending a lot of money to
get me to those places. I tried to give them my
winner’s cheque from Woburn but they
wouldn’t let me do it. From now on though,
I will look after them. We are going on holiday
at the end of the year and that will be on me.”
Still, perhaps the biggest compliment one
can pay this potential 2016 Ryder Cup player
is that his maiden pro victory came as no surprise
to anyone. Since gaining his tour card at the
2014 Qualifying School, where he finished
T-11, Fitzpatrick has contended strongly more
than once during his rookie season.
First place at the happily resurrected British
Masters – past winners include Seve
Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle and Lee
Trevino – was actually his seventh top-10 of
the 2015 season, his sixth top-five and his fifth
top-three, of which another quickly followed
September 2014 Golf World 31

Make the ball ‘fizz’
“What I class as a good ball-striker
is when you walk past someone
on the range and you hear that
‘Fssshht’ sound as he hits it.
That’s what I think is a great ballstriker,
that fizzing sound. Most of
the guys out here make it do that.”

Everything I know about…
Iron play
By Matt Fitzpatrick
2015 British Masters Champion.
Is it accurateto say right now that iron play is a
particular strength of yours?
I would class it as a strength of mine this year, but
I still don’t feel like I hit it close enough. I know the
stats have shown that I hit a lot of greens but some of
that is down to the accuracy of my driving. Also, if I’m
in trouble at all then I tend to aim for the centre of the
green and the position of the flag doesn’t come into
my thoughts. A lot of the places we go to have small
greens so you are rarely more than 20 feet away.
Do you tend to play for the middle of greens
generally?
That’s my first thought depending on where I’m
placed and where the flag is. Towards the end of this
season, I’ve been going for the flag much more because
I have my card for next year and
I haven’t felt I’ve had much to lose.
So your position in the rankings
affects the way you attack a
course?
Definitely. You’re more relaxed
and you feel confident. Although I did play
aggressively at the Czech Masters this year even
though I’d been told beforehand that it was a slogger’s
course. When I got there, though, the rough had
grown up and there was a premium on accuracy. But
we decided to go for it and if it worked out, all well
and good. I finished third.
What are your expectations with irons from the
fairway?
Just as close as possible. Many people will say their
expectations are higher with wedges and short
irons, but in my head I feel like I do my best with
my long irons – say 3, 4 and 5.
Are those your favourite clubs?
I wouldn’t say I have a
favourite, but they are a
different set to the rest
of my clubs. They
allow me to fly it higher
‘I do like tough courses.
Tight, difficult, can’t miss
the greens, that’s much
more my cup of tea’
and stop it a bit quicker. I like that because if I have a
4-iron and I can see that there is a little bit of room
short of the flag to land it then I feel that I stand a
pretty good chance of hitting it close. I don’t suppose
many people think like that.
So how far away is your comfort zone? What’s the
furthest where you’re thinking you can hit it close?
About 200 yards.
So you can take dead aim from that distance?
Well, I wouldn’t say that I’d hit it stiff but I know
there’s a chance I can gain on the rest of the field. I’ve
looked at the stats and they say it’s harder to hit a
green with a 4-iron than it is with an 8. So if everyone
is hitting the ball into the 4-iron zone, then I’m going
to feel that I have an opportunity
to gain on the rest of the field
because that’s my strength.
So you like courses that require a
lot of long iron approach shots?
I do like tough courses, yes.
I prefer them because I think I can do better on those
layouts. I’m not a huge fan of places where a million
under par wins. Not so much because I can’t do that,
but I just feel that the margin for error is bigger and
that means the competition is wider. Tight, difficult,
can’t miss the greens, that’s much more my cup of tea.
Which irons do you use?
I’ve played Ping since I was a boy, although my first
ever set was actually Snake Eyes. I went for a fitting
with Ping as a junior and they looked after me
fantastically. I used S-56 for quite some time
and won the US Amateur with them. I went
to the Ping headquarters in Arizona with
Lorne Duncan, who caddied for me in the
two Majors that I’ve played.
The caddie who wears sandals and
doesn’t own a pair of socks?
That’s him. Although I’ve discovered
that he does own socks, I’ve seen
January 2016 Golf World
37

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44 Golf World September 2014

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EXCLUSIVE
THIS MAN’S
FORMULA WILL
SAVE YOU SHOTS
BREAKER
Professor Mark Broadie’s strokes gained statistics have changed the way the world’s
top players and their coaches approach the game. Stuart Hood went to Columbia
University in New York to meet the man behind golf’s most insightful algorithm.
September 2014 Golf World 45

INSTRUCTION
TOUR INSTRUCTION
PETER
UIHLEIN
World ranking: 237
Scoring: 70.52 (32nd)
Driving accuracy:
47.5% (210th)
GIR: 71.5% (35th)
Putts per GIR: 29.9 (115th)
My 5 Best
Lessons
Peter Uihlein
The European Tour winner and former world No.1
amateur helps you improve from tee to green.

INSTRUCTION
1
I
Try the loop waggle for a perfect set-up
used to hit a draw with the driver, but
since working with Mike Walker, that
has changed into a pressure fade
which has really helped me to hit more
fairways without any loss of distance.
It’s all been about eliminating the left
side of the course. We talk a lot about
putting pressure on the ball and it’s
important to get the correct set-up
with a good position for the right
forearm. I use this waggle on all full
shots, not just the driver.
It’s probably a more loopy
movement than these static pictures
show, but essentially I cock the wrists
up then swing the club around into the
‘set’ position before bringing it back to
the ball. I had the toe down on the
driver when I first used it as a drill and
the aim is to feel the right arm tuck in
nicely to the body as you can see here.
This is a great drill for
working on engraining
the feeling of the right
arm being tucked in
nicely to the body for a
powerful but controlled
fade with the driver.
WINDING UP POWER
I like the ball opposite my left heel
with my hands level with the ball –
elements of the position I want at
impact. I have a wide base and tee
the ball quite low; the more trouble
I see on the left, the lower I tend to tee
the ball. When I hit a high draw, the
ball was teed much higher and my
hands were slightly behind at set-up.
I like to feel a tension in my thighs,
sometimes imagining I have a rubber
band you see round the legs. It helps
to use the ground as leverage; wind
up the power using that solid base.
January 2016 Golf World
61

INSIDER
THE INSIDE TRACK ON THE BIGGEST STORIES AND NEWEST TRENDS
Lightweight Caldera
performance leather
is soft, supple, stainresistant,
easy to
clean and waterrepellant
thanks to
Ecco’s Hydromax
treatment.
Ecco gets all spikey
The upscale shoe specialist launches a cleated model with the comfort of a hybrid.
Danish manufacturer Ecco has built
a reputation in golf for producing
the best hybrid sole shoes on the
market but for the first time ever
their 2016 range is headlined by a cleated
model.
The Ecco Cage has been designed to
deliver increased stability, flexibility and
cushioning in a shoe with soft spikes, without
sacrificing any of the long term or straight-
out-of-the-box comfort. It features a unique
one-piece polyurethane stability cage that
wraps from the heel to the midsole and
around the toe. The anatomical outsole aligns
and moves in unison with the foot’s ligaments
and muscles and Freedom Fit combines a
snug fitting in the heel with a roomier mid and
toe section that allows you to move naturally
while the shoe stays perfectly tailored to your
foot. It has a lightweight and low-to-theground
construction and the eight Champ
Slim-Lok cleats are positioned away from the
bend points of the foot and shoe to ensure
they don’t impede your movement or
compromise comfort.
The Ecco Cage is available in five colours
and with an extra sole inlay to ensure a
perfect fit if you’re between sizes.
Price: £170
Web: www.ecco.com
86
Golf World January 2016

EQUIPMENT
Research discovered that eight
cleats is the least you can have
for the optimum combination of
traction and comfort.
A CHANGE OF EMPHASIS
Jesper Thuen, Ecco’s Global Marketing Manager,
explains their focus on a cleated show for 2016.
“Our research shows a lot of
golfers buy more than one
pair of shoes. They like to
have a hybrid pair for the
summer and a cleated shoe
for the winter. Our offerings
in spikes over the last couple
of years haven’t been great
so we decided we wanted to
use the new development of
Cage with a spiked outsole.
That doesn’t mean we don’t
believe in hybrids anymore.
We do, but it was a better fit
for this range to bring in a
spiked version.
“The Cage shoe is very
lightweight and the heel area
locks in your heel, which
gives you great stability
while you’re swinging and an
amazing fit while walking.
Caldera leather is very hardwearing
– it’s also used for
work gloves – and very easy
to maintain and long-lasting.
“We believe comfort is a
performance feature
Ecco’s Direct Injection
Process bonds the
upper and outsole to
create a one-piece
shoe without the use
of glue or stitching for
a water-tight seal.
because you can be playing
for four or five hours, plus
the time you spend at the
range. If your feet start
hurting after 13 or 14 holes
then you’ll be more tired and
lose concentration and that
won’t be good for your golf
game. If you feel just as fresh
when you walk off the 18th
green as you did when you
walked onto the 1st tee then
you’ll definitely have a better
performance.”
PUMA
UPGRADES
TITANTOUR
The new TitanTour Ignite
shoe delivers enhanced
power and comfort.
Puma has enhanced its premium
TitanTour offering with the
introduction of Ignite foam. This
foam has a high support factor and
high compression set that results
in superior cushioning and minimal
deformation over time. It’s been
applied to make the shoe more
responsive and release energy
more efficiently for increased
power throughout the swing.
It also features
TitanTour’s signature
technology,
pwrCOOL powered by
Outlast, which
regulates foot
temperature by
utilising materials that
absorb, store and
release heat for optimal
thermal comfort.
A premium dual
density polyurethane
sockliner provides
additional comfort and
a customised fit and a
pwrFRAME TPU
outsole encases the
midsole for lightweight
strength and durability,
increased flexibility
and superior traction.
The outsole also boasts Duoflex,
anatomically positioned flex
grooves that allow the foot to
move naturally while still providing
support.
The Puma TitanTour Ignite goes
on sale on February 1, 2016 and will
be available in four colour
combinations.
Price: £130
Web: www.cobragolf.com/
pumagolf
January 2016 Golf World 87

DREAM DESTINATION
Dominican Republic
The spectacular comes as standard on this Caribbean island, writes Chris Bertram.
S
ince Christopher Columbus
became the Dominican Republic’s
first tourist in 1492, this Caribbean
country has developed into one of the
most desirable long-haul destinations
for European holidaymakers. With its
many and varied attractions, it is not hard
to see why. As Columbus himself
discovered, here lies a combination of
a diverse ecology that sees dramatic
coastlines and lush tropical vegetation
paired with waterfalls, caves, and forested
mountains combined with an enviable
year-round climate. Temperatures range
from a high 33˚C in August to around
17˚C on winter mornings, with average
daily temperatures between summer and
winter actually fluctuating less than 10˚C.
Its golf portfolio is similarly
impressive. The Dominican Republic –
which shares the island of Hispaniola in
the Greater Antilles archipelago of the
Caribbean with Haiti – has developed its
golf offering steadily and impressively.
There are now almost 30 courses
offering more than 500 holes on the
island – and its ever-increasing
popularity with overseas golfers means
further developments are in the pipeline
by the end of 2015 and beyond.
New roads have dramatically reduced
travel times between the key resorts,
meaning you can comfortably play at
several different courses without needing
to change bases.
And it’s entirely feasible that you will
want to play at several courses, because
the Dominican Republic has more
oceanside holes sprinkled across its
104 Golf World January 2016

COURSES
LEFT: The Jack Nicklaus-designed Punta Espada, ranked in the Top 50 of courses in the Caribbean and Mexico. ABOVE: Playa
Grande is a Robert Trent Jones Snr design that features 10 oceanside holes and is known as the Pebble Beach of the Caribbean.
BELOW LEFT: You generally stay in sensational locations in the Dominican Republic. BELOW RIGHT: Guavaberry, by Gary Player.
courses than any long-haul luxury
destination. While the quartet at Casa de
Campo are most widely known, this is
far from a ‘one resort attraction’.
Following Pete Dye’s ground-breaking
work at Casa de Campo, Jack Nicklaus,
Robert Trent Jones Snr, Tom Fazio and
Gary Player have all left their mark here.
Six of the country’s courses are ranked
in the Caribbean and Mexico’s top 50,
with Nicklaus’ Punta Espada top, ahead
of Casa de Campo’s Teeth of the Dog.
There are more than two dozen holes
right on the sea, most notably on the
country’s east coast in the Bavaro, Punta
Cana and Cap Cana areas. Many require
drives or approach shots over waves
crashing onto coral rocks.
While Cap Cana’s Punta Espada leads
the way, Punta Blanca, Barcelo Bavaro
and the La Cana and Corales courses at
Punta Cana are spectacular options too.
Playa Grande and Playa Dorada sit
further north along the coast in the
Puerto Plata area, while Guavaberry is
the other main attraction on the
southern coast, 20 miles west of the Casa
de Campo extravaganza. La Estancia sits
next door to it.
Off the course, there are a predictably
wide variety of luxury resorts to choose
from, as well as pristine beaches and the
largest marinas in the Caribbean.
The resorts also boast extensive spas
with a bewildering array of treatments as
well as the customary attractions of
pools, leisure facilities and restaurants.
Away from your resort, you can see how
the country’s famous cigars and rum are
made… and sample the produce. Nature
lovers, meanwhile, will adore the diverse
landscapes and film buffs might enjoy a
trip to Casa de Campo’s Dye Fore course,
where scenes from Apocalypse Now, Rambo
and King Kong were filmed on the edge of
cliffs 300ft above the Chavon River.
Santo Domingo, the historic capital, is
the largest and most vibrant city in the
Caribbean. By day you can soak up
history in the Colonial Zone, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site, peoplewatch
in pavement cafes or indulge in
retail therapy. By night, soak up the
sounds of meringue and bachata spilling
into ancient streets from bars, restaurants
and nightclubs, including Dominican
Republic’s famous car wash discos.
KEY INFORMATION
GETTING THERE: Fly to Punta Cana
with Thomas Cook, Air France, Air
Europa and Condor from Heathrow,
Manchester and Birmingham.
WHEN TO GO: A year-round
destination, with only quick showers
on a few days a month to interrupt
golf or sunbathing. The temperature
stays remarkably high all year round.
MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.
godominicanrepublic.com
January 2016 Golf World 105

72 HOURS IN…
Machrihanish
In a land made famous by Paul McCartney’s 1977 ballad lie three courses that make
for one of golf’s most soulful links pilgrimages. Chris Bertram heads north.
It would be misleading to suggest
there isn’t a little bit of effort
required for this long-weekend
golf break. If you want your trips to
be easy, it probably isn’t for you.
On the other hand, if you want
character, soul and a sense of
adventure, be assured that you will
be reliving ‘The Machrihanish Trip’
with your friends for years to come.
The hard yards occur in getting
there, because once you are actually
on the gloriously remote Mull of
Kintyre, travelling to the three links
we cover here is very straightforward.
The difficulty is that while Kintyre
is linked to the mainland, the
geography means it feels like an
island. Getting there is part of the
charm though, and there are three
equally characterful routes.
If driving, you loop around Loch
Lomond and snake down a long,
winding road blessed with peerless
views of mountains and lochs.
Alternatively, you can cut the corner
of the dog-leg by using the CalMac
ferry either direct from Ardrossan in
Ayrshire to Campbeltown or hopping
over via Arran. The third option is
to fly into Glasgow and then from
there to Campbeltown, which is
minutes from both main courses.
None of these three options could
be considered an easy ride, but the
rewards are assuredly spectacular.
The exquisite short 5th, with the
hamlet of Machrihanish visible in
the distance beyond the green.
98 Golf World October 2015

COURSES
DAY ONE
Machrihanish Dunes
On arrival in Machrihanish you realise
that while one adventure has ended,
another is about to begin. For if you do
as we recommend and stay at the
Ugadale Hotel in the hamlet itself, you
blissfully overlook Machrihanish Old.
The Dunes though, despite being
attached to the Ugadale, actually requires
a 10-minute transfer (the hotel minibus
will oblige if you have flown in).
The evolution over the past seven
years of this new addition to the
Machrihanish scene has been both
interesting and significant.
The American owners, Southworth
Development, have a tendency to quietly
get things right and their loving
parenting of their seaside offspring has
been one of the last decade’s success
stories in British and Irish golf.
Having been assiduous in the
development of the prized linksland
under the instruction of famed architect
David McLay Kidd (who used to
holiday here as a child), it is true they
may have opened when it was somewhat
ambitious to do so.
Strictly heeding advice from Scottish
National Heritage meant the fairways
were more narrow than they might have
liked (the gorgeous 11th remains tough
to hold, because the club continue to
respect the environmentally-delicate
marshland on the left) and the initial
routing not exactly as desired. But,
seven years on, it is a links whose ascent
up our GB&I rankings is not over.
The links has settled in beautifully
and is now able to bear the brunt of the
harsh weather which sweeps across
uninhibited by virtue of its outlying
location. In new greenkeeper Simon
Freeman, formerly of The Machrie on
Islay, they have a man with experience in
dealing with west coast conditions.
Mach Dunes is a proper, pure links that
is all about awesome natural bunkering,
fairways laced with humps and hollows,
enjoyably eccentric greens and an excellent
variety to the exam; it is tremendous fun
among this oasis of fescue and marram.
It is not a course where you feel keen to
select individual holes for description, as it
fits together beautifully and offers an
enchanting overall experience. The back
nine is arguably a touch stronger for this
golfer, yet others may easily take more
pleasure from the front half.
The experience remains quirky and on
a day of tough weather will test your
fortitude and your patience. But even in
inclement conditions it is an experience
that lives long in the memory.
We will focus on it in depth next
year, but don’t let that stop you going
before then; Mach Dunes has never
looked better.
October 2015 Golf World 99