There are some fiendishly treacherous golf courses across the world, and we have picked out what we believe are the toughest tracks out there, ranging from China to Scotland. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club – Lijiang, Yunnan, China Designed by the Nelson & Haworth partnership, Jade Dragon is, to put it mildly, an absolute beast at 8,548 yards from the professional tees – making it the longest regulation par-72, 18-hole golf course in the world. With the course situated 10,000ft above sea level, the ball does tend to travel around 20 per cent further in the air, so this does help in kno ..read more

Cameron Smith said he spent most of his Christmas holidays fishing in Florida, but the mulleted Aussie returned to the PGA Tour last week looking as sharp as a tack, carding a remarkable total of 34-under-par to win the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Smith repelled world number one Jon Rahm in a thrilling duel at the Plantation Course, Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii, and carefree Cam has made the short journey to Honolulu looking to complete a Hawaii double. He is 8/1 favourite for the Sony Open and will probably tempt plenty of punters who watched his destruction of the Plantation Course. The 28-year ..read more

As it’s that time of year again to say goodbye to the current year and welcome the next, I thought I’d take a look back at the best of what golf had to offer in 2021! Player of the Season: Colin Morikawa This young Asian American has taken this year by storm! Firmly putting his name amongst the very best in the game, one that will no doubt be around for a very long time! With creditable finishes early in 2021, his year took shape when he claimed his maiden WGC event in Mexico. Morikawa went on to win his second major at the Open Championship making him the only player in history to win both th ..read more

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and every golfer looking to cut their handicap in 2022 will be hoping for a full stocking of gear and gizmos to help them do just that this Christmas. Or maybe they will have a friend with deep pockets who will give them that experience they will never forget. Either way, here is our guide to what every well-behaved golfer might like Santa to deliver them this Christmas. Try and Keep It Simple For the practical among us, December 25 is the ideal opportunity to load up with all the stuff we will use throughout the year so anyone buying for a golfer who i ..read more

As I sit here in my hotel room reflecting on life on the road as a pro golfer, I fully appreciate this time around what it means to fully enjoy the process. Let me break it down for you, last week was qualifying school final stage. It’s the week of the year where playing pros are effectively playing for their rights to have a tour card for 2022 season. The pressure is high, as without a card you pretty much don’t have any tournaments to play for the coming season, not even mentioning the entry fee of signing up and travel expenses. It’s the ultimate pressure cooker no matter what level you are ..read more

It is a measure of the impact Phil Mickelson has had on the sport of golf that he has two nicknames – some like to call the enigmatic Californian Phil The Thrill, while most opt for Lefty. Reputation Hurt By Recent Comments Mickelson is the most famous left-hander to have graced the game. Sadly, in recent months, now, less flattering nicknames have been whispered in locker rooms at PGA Tour venues, as he has become something of a pariah for his comments about his home circuit and the possibility of a new golf tour in Saudi Arabia. The 51-year-old has been ultra-critical of PGA Tour bosses and ..read more

The competitors teeing up in this week’s Kenya Open on the DP World Tour may not find themselves at the top of the world rankings, but there is little doubt that the battle for supremacy at the Muthaiga Golf Club is highly competitive. Dean Burmester heads the market, but the fact he is available at 30/1 goes to demonstrate just how open the tournament looks to be. Last year’s winner Justin Harding is 33/1, but it has to be remembered that triumph came at Karen Country Club and those keen to back a player with course form may be looking at Adrian Meronk after he was fifth in the Kenya Open whe ..read more

After a superb conclusion to the Honda Classic last weekend, the PGA Tour remains on the east coast as the world’s leading players remain in Florida for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Rahm Eager to Claim First Victory of Year Jon Rahm has teed up five times this year, starting as a clear favourite on each occasion, and the world number one has assumed market leadership again for this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. Rahm is 15/2 for the high-class gathering in Orlando, Florida, which also features the world number four, Viktor Hovland, and number five, Rory McIlroy. Rahm has pla ..read more

History will be made on the DP World Tour this week with the inaugural Ras Al Khaimah Championship taking place at Al Hamra Golf Club and it looks to be a wide-open event heading into Thursday’s opening round in the United Arab Emirates. Al Hamra GC has previously staged three Challenge Tour events – the Ras Al Khaimah Golf Challenge in 2016 and 2017 before then hosting the Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final in 2018 – and it will be a big week for the championship course now brought onto the main tour. The history of the #RakGolfChamps ???? pic.twitter.com/m12a0HI0Y6 — DP World Tour ..read more

Patrick Cantlay took three months off after his Ryder Cup debut and did not appear again until the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, so he was entitled to have plenty of rust in his system. However, the reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year got quickly back into a groove and finished fourth. Cantlay followed up that effort with ninth place in The American Express, where he opened with a round of 62, and a feature of his golf this year has been excellent ball-striking and average putting. If the Californian finds some form with the flat stick, he looks capable of destroying the humdrum P ..read more