Tommy Fleetwood arrives at the Dubai Invitational not only as a former champion at Dubai Creek Resort, but as a player firmly established among the game’s elite.

Now world No. 3, the Englishman reflects on a breakthrough year in the United States, the value of consistency, memories of a defining victory in Dubai, and the challenge of chasing down the two players currently setting the standard in men’s golf.

Unchanged Ambitions After a Breakthrough Year

Fleetwood’s long-awaited PGA TOUR victory last season marked a major milestone, yet he is quick to stress that it has not altered his long-term outlook.

Rather than redefining targets for the year ahead, Fleetwood sees his journey very much as a continuation of the same process that has guided him throughout his career.

He explains that his broader life and career ambitions remain intact, with the focus still on becoming the best golfer he can be. While last season placed him in unfamiliar territory, particularly in terms of world ranking, he views that success as a platform rather than a destination.

A well-earned break after an intense year has helped him reset, and as the new season begins, Fleetwood is eager to return to work, sticking with familiar routines and continuing to push for incremental improvement.

Consistency as the Foundation of Success

When asked to pinpoint the reasons behind what many described as an outstanding year, Fleetwood points not to any dramatic technical changes, but to years of steady, disciplined effort.

Consistency, he says, has always been central to his identity as a player. While the absence of a PGA TOUR win had often been highlighted, Fleetwood never felt that his underlying performance level was lacking.

In his view, last season’s run of form simply represented his ability to play, more often and more consistently, at the level he knows he can reach. The difference was not in approach, but in execution, finding himself in contention more regularly and allowing results to follow.

Surrounded by a strong support team and armed with detailed preparation, Fleetwood believes last year was the natural reward for sustained hard work finally aligning with opportunity.

Defending Champion Memories at Dubai Creek

Dubai Creek Resort holds special significance for Fleetwood, and memories of his victory there remain fresh. Central to that win was a compelling final-round battle alongside Rory McIlroy.

Fleetwood recalls the experience as both enjoyable and demanding, describing it as a valuable test against one of the greatest players of his generation. The closing stages served as a reminder of golf’s unpredictability, the need to stay patient, focused and committed until the final putt is holed.

Winning in Dubai was made even more meaningful by having his family present, adding a personal dimension to a professional highlight.

Reflecting on the course itself, Fleetwood describes Dubai Creek as a fair examination that rewards quality ball-striking. Calm morning conditions and receptive greens offer scoring opportunities, but accuracy off the tee is critical. Straying into the rough, particularly as the course firms up, quickly turns the test into a grind.

Life at World No. 3

Starting the season ranked third in the world is new territory for Fleetwood, and one he finds both motivating and exciting.

He is candid in acknowledging the gap between himself and the two players ahead of him, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, whom he regards as the clear standard-bearers of the modern game. Closing that gap, he believes, will require improvement across every area, measured in the smallest of margins.

Rather than setting short-term expectations, Fleetwood frames the challenge as a long-term pursuit. Maintaining his current level is the first priority, with any further progress seen as the result of patience and continued development rather than immediate results.

He also recognises the privilege of being mentioned in the same breath as the game’s very best, viewing it as both a compliment and a source of motivation.

Focused on the Process, Ready for the Challenge

As Fleetwood tees it up once again at the Dubai Invitational, his mindset is clear: grounded, consistent and forward-looking.

There is no sense of complacency despite recent success, nor any rush to force the next step. Instead, Fleetwood remains committed to the same principles that have carried him to this point — trust in his work, belief in his process, and an appreciation of the challenge that lies ahead.

At Dubai Creek Resort, a course that rewards precision and patience, Fleetwood finds himself perfectly aligned with both the setting and the moment.

The post Tommy Fleetwood: Calm Confidence and the Long View appeared first on Golf News.

From breaking age records on the Ladies European Tour to becoming one of the sport’s most recognisable broadcasters, Henni Zuël’s journey has been shaped by talent, resilience, and a relentless appetite for challenge. Now, as she steps into a global role with LIV Golf, she is poised to help shape the game’s future worldwide.

There are sporting careers that follow a neat, predictable line and then there is the story of Henni Zuël. Her trajectory has been anything but conventional, marked instead by reinvention, determination, and a restless belief that golf can, and should, evolve.

As she prepares to join LIV Golf as one of the league’s newest broadcasters for the 2026 season, Zuël enters her next chapter with an energy that feels both purpose-driven and inevitable.

LIV Golf’s upcoming campaign will span 14 events across 10 countries, including its first-ever stop in South Africa, offering the kind of global stage that perfectly suits a broadcaster whose work has already resonated around the world.

LIVING FOR THE FUTURE

For Zuël, the move is not just professional, it’s philosophical. “Challenge has always guided my career, and I’m drawn to environments that encourage curiosity, innovation, and a genuine sense of purpose,” she says. “LIV Golf is at the forefront of redefining how the sport is experienced, powered by elite athletes and leaders who embrace meaningful progress, a vision that strongly resonates with me.”

There is something striking about the clarity of her words: a former professional player who has lived almost every side of golf now stepping into a role where she can shape how millions experience it.

Her path to this moment began long before studio lights and international broadcasts, back when she was one of Britain’s most extraordinary young talents. As an amateur, Zuël represented England at every level and made history at just 13 years old, becoming the youngest player ever to compete on the Ladies European Tour.

INJURY TO BROADCASTING

Even within a sport accustomed to prodigies, her rise was exceptional. By 18 she was a full-time professional, spending seven years on the LET, winning twice on the LET Access Series and earning major championship starts, including a standout T13 finish at the 2010 Women’s British Open.

It was a trajectory that promised longevity, until a severe back injury brought her competitive playing days to an abrupt halt.

But Zuël has always possessed a rare ability to reinvent herself. Where others might have seen finality, she saw a new beginning. She pivoted into broadcasting with a mixture of humility and ambition, quickly establishing herself as one of the most modern, insightful, and engaging voices in golf media.

AWARD WINNER

Her nearly decade-long tenure with Sky Sports saw her covering the sport’s biggest stages and contributing to the BAFTA-winning broadcast of The Open Championship in 2016, a milestone that confirmed her arrival as more than just a former player with a microphone.

Her work with GOLFTV and Discovery expanded her visibility across global markets.

She didn’t merely present; she shaped content, co-producing editorial output including three seasons of the acclaimed instructional series My Game. Her storytelling earned accolades such as the SJA Sports Journalist Award, but more importantly, it earned trust.

Fans saw in her a broadcaster who understood the layers of a tour event, the psyche of a player, and the beating heart of a sport in transition.

GOLFING AMBASSADOR

Yet Zuël’s influence stretches far beyond the broadcast booth. She has become a global ambassador for accessibility and growth in golf, serving the R&A and working alongside Steph Curry’s Underrated Golf Tour to build entry
points for underrepresented youth. Mentorship is woven into her daily life, guiding young golfers, supporting emerging commentators, and lending her platform to charitable work with organisations like Children on the Edge.

Her commercial partnerships with global brands such as adidas, BMW, Rapsodo, Fairmont Windsor, The Buckinghamshire, and Precision Golf reflect her credibility not just as a media personality, but as a modern leader within the sport.

This blend of on-air experience, international perspective, and a genuine commitment to expanding the game made her an ideal candidate for LIV Golf’s evolving broadcast vision.

LIV NUMBERS

The league’s production now reaches nearly 900 million households across more than 200 countries and territories, distributed through an expansive network of partners including FOX, DAZN, KC Global Media, Seven Network, Movistar, Coupang Play, TV Azteca and many more. The results have been staggering, with more than 66 million viewer hours generated across live broadcasts, re-airs, and highlights during the 2025 season.

It is a global footprint that demands voices capable of meeting the moment, voices like Zuël’s.

Her new role with LIV Golf will see her anchoring pre-show coverage and delivering analysis across all four rounds of the league’s 72-hole format.

It is a position that requires nuance, confidence, and clarity, particularly within LIV’s dual narrative structure, where team identity and individual performance unfold simultaneously.

HENNI’S PASSION

Zuël’s enthusiasm for the role is evident not just in what she says, but in what she represents: a broadcaster who embraces technology, creativity, and global connectivity as essential tools.

“My passions – golf, technology, creativity, and forward thinking, are all reflected in this role,” she explains.

“Joining LIV Golf will enable me to draw on my experience as a commentator and former player, whilst contributing to the wider mission of expanding awareness and driving positive global change within the game.”

That phrase – positive global change – feels like a thread running through her entire career.

Whether she is raising the profile of women’s golf, mentoring the next generation, or championing philanthropic work, Zuël has always viewed the sport as a platform for more than competition.

Now, with a broadcast reach that spans continents, she can influence the game on its widest stage yet.

Her official debut for LIV Golf is set for Riyadh in February 2026, an event played under the lights at Riyadh Golf Club.

It’s a fitting introduction for someone who has spent her life stepping into arenas once considered beyond reach.

From the 13-year-old who rewrote the record books, to the professional who clawed her way through adversity, to the journalist who redefined modern golf storytelling, Henni Zuël arrives at this moment fully formed experienced, ambitious, and ready.

Golf is in a period of reinvention. Its audience is changing, its borders expanding, its traditions evolving.

Henni Zuël, with her rare blend of credibility and vision, is stepping into the heart of that transformation.

And as LIV Golf prepares to take its next global leap, it is hard to imagine a more fitting voice to help narrate the future

 

 

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From a promising young golfer in Scotland to one of the most respected coaches in the game, Simon Holmes has experienced every side of golf’s demanding world.

After a career-ending injury cut short his playing ambitions, he turned his passion toward coaching, quickly becoming a trusted mentor to golfing legends. Speaking to Matt Nicholson, Holmes reflects on his journey from the range in Florida to the Studio at Sky Sports, sharing his insights on the evolution of golf, the art of coaching, and the lessons that keep both professionals and amateurs striving for better.

Can you tell us about your journey in golf, from how you started playing to becoming a coach for some of the world’s top golfers?

I started playing golf at 7 in Scotland, love it and pursued it and went to college in America, then while playing in 1986 British Amateur, I really damaged both of my wrists and a couple of fingers while hitting a tree stump, after that
I had no golf at all for two years and three wrist operations and finger surgeries, that continued, and I’ve now had seven surgeries in total.

So that was kind of the end of playing golf.

My coach at the time was David Leadbetter, so soon as I graduated from university I moved to Florida and became David’s assistant at Lake Nona doing the range duties.

Around the later 80’s I was coaching the likes of Anders Forsbrand, Barry Lane and Roger Chapman and then Nick Faldo asked me to come to Europe and I moved back and coached him for three years, which then grew to Bernhard Langer, Seve Ballesteros and Nick Price.

I had an amazing education of a young coach of being in that inner circle watching these guys, I then when off on my own in 1992, then Langer won the Masters in 1993 which was great for him and myself, in the 93 Ryder Cup I coached Seve, Langer, Joakim Haeggman, Faldo and Barry Lane.

I continued to then work on Tour with Thomas Bjorn, Robert Karlsson and Darren Clarke and Suzann Pettersen, I was travelling around like a total lunatic. I had golf academies in Berlin, Spain, Florida and on a cruise, ship called ‘The World’

After getting married in 2005 and having children in 2006 and 2007, I realised it was incompatible to be a husband and a dad and be coaching Tour players at the tournaments.

I then became a UK based golf coach based at The Wisley for 10 years, which I absolutely loved, after the children have grown up, I now help promoting destinations and golf academies including one in Sicily called Verdura owned by Sir Rocco Forte, which is a beautiful golf resort.

I still coach Colin Montgomerie and David Howell at bit, but I don’t have the capacity to go out on Tour and coach, which my other media commitments at Sky Sports.

Maybe one day I’ll go back on Tour, as I love being in amongst it.

You’ve coached some of the biggest names in golf – what’s the most important quality you look for in a player you work with?

Their capacity to learn and adapt, communication is the most important thing, Nick Faldo’s great skill was that he gave his coaches amazing feedback who could reanalyse his feedback and build his swing a more robust under pressure.

How has your coaching philosophy evolved since you first started?

The technology is the biggest change, we now have now, back when I started the video cameras couldn’t even hold onto the frame rate it gave you and you couldn’t see the static positions of the swing clearly. Trackman data has been a revolution.

In your experience, what’s the single most common mistake amateur golfers make, and how can they fix it?

Too many men golfers try and hit the driver as hard as they can, then go off on a Safari to try and finish off the hole.

Amateur golfers don’t spend nearly enough time efficiently as the tour professional.

The amount of time a professional works on where they can pick up shots from 160 yards and in with an 8 iron, wedge play, chipping, spin control, putting, if you can work on a strategy in your game, that takes double bogey out of your round and avoid three putts you will see a big improvement.

The other place many amateur golfers go for medicine is YouTube but there’s no doctor, so you’ve got no real idea of all the magical tips, which should apply to you or even if you have that illness.

What’s the best piece of golf advice you’ve ever received yourself?

Never damage your strengths and try to improve your weaknesses. An example of this a 70 year old needs to recognise that their wedge game and short game is where they are going to pick up shots without doing any damage to their body. With time they can work on this and will see an improvement and bring a better score back into the clubhouse.

In club tournament pressure situations, what mental techniques do you recommend keeping calm and focused?

Those are elements you need practice, prior to the stress. The stress is going
to come, it could be the first tee shot, you’re onto your best round or your
nemesis hole, you must prepare for this, you can’t pretend not to be going to be nervous, that’s an impossibility, because your body, which is freaking out, knows you’re in an abnormal situation and your mind is racing and thinking ahead.

Find a way to stay in the moment walking, breathing normally and analyse the shot in hand through your normal process, once committed then analyse that shot, then the one after that, you must be really processed driven to manage the next shot then the next shot, most amateur golfers do have this thought process, but amazing golfers have those skill sets finally tuned.

How did you first get involved with Sky Sports Golf?

In 2006 Sky Sports starting have more studio-based shows, they had a show called Golf Night, which analysed the PGA Tour and one of the things was asking how the Tour Pro’s produced a certain shot.

So having been a Tour Coach was very relevant having all the relationship with Tour Pro’s and Coaches, so I was asked to look at swings on Tour.

To take a viewer through swings that were both negative and positive. Amateur golfers are interested what they can learn from from the golf swing from watching the Tour players play.

What’s the most memorable broadcast moment you’ve experienced on air?

I remember once having to fill time during a rain delay and Rob Lee, Andrew Coltart and myself having to play a six-hole competition on Olympic Club on the simulator and I thinned a nine iron into the bottom of the screen and the ball ricocheted around the studio and nearly hit Andrew.

What’s the biggest difference of coaching on the range and analysing golf on television?

Coaching on the range is so individual, it’s so tailor-made to the player, there’s so many factors, wind direction, how they feel that day, sometimes there could be half an hour of discussion before they hit a ball or there could be a swing breakdown and straight away we need to fix it.

The broadcast is all about the viewer being more educated in what they are watching, with the most information and data we can give and explain this in as much detail as possible.

How do you see golf changing over the next 10 years, in both the professional and amateur games?

The professional game has been completely dominated by the technology, that’s why we are seeing guys that are built like rugby players now playing golf.

With the combination of the new ball driver, power has become incredibly valuable, whereas before when Faldo and Seve played, power was nice, but the way the ball behaved it was much more important to be actuate and control the power.

Now it’s just the case of maximum power. We’re starting to hear rumours of the regulators looking at the combination and thinking, you know what, the artistry, shoot making and the skill moving the ball is becoming less and less, the technology will force the players to adapt.

In the amateur game, I see so much more camaraderie, the beauty of a golf course, being with four of your friends or family.

My dad is 90 and he plays with my 17-year-old son. They go off in a buggy and play nine holes, have lunch together and come back with their golf stories, that part of the amateur game hasn’t been focussed on enough.

Time is becoming more and more precious, the peace and quiet, the lack of technology and the way we are surrounded by our phones and technology chases us all day.

I think people who think golf is too stuffy or elitist have missed out on what golf offers and we will see families playing together more and more.

Which up-and-coming players are you most excited about right now?

I think the Højgaard Twins are very good, Ludvig Åberg will win majors, he has a fantastic mind.

The South African Aldrich Potgieter is also set for stardom, the power he brings to the game, I was on the range and he doing a ball and club testing, just working on moving the ball around and he was hitting it 387 yards in the air, he can also chip and putt.

There’s so many top college players in American that have faster ball speeds that your PGA Tour average because they have been promoted to do that for the past four years because of the massive reward.

There will be a generation of players coming out on Tour and do what Ludvig and Jordan Spieth and Victor Hovland have done already, not learning the trade on tour over 3-4 years, they’re primed and so aggressive.

If you could change one rule or tradition in golf, what would it be and why?

I’m still very much against, if you hit an amazing drive down the middle and you found yourself in a divot, you just can’t move the ball a couple of inches and call it temporary ground under repair, it seems to be an unnecessary rub of the green

 

 

 

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Q. You guys came in wanting these belts, and you got it, you get to take that with you back to TCU. Talk about today and this weekend overall, how much does this mean to you to do this together?

MATT KUCHAR: This is something we’ve been — had our sites on for many years, since Cameron got started, I played my first year with Dad, he has some great memories. The classic memories of Dad, and Cameron was caddying and we were just shy of the green in two, close to the water’s edge, and his chipping was never his strong suit and he completely whiffed the chip. I don’t think Cameron could see all the way down the hill. Dad is smiling from above.

Cameron also knew he had a runway in this event. Cameron and Carson have been great partners. Cam and I have had each chances each year Cam had played, and come close. Some of those were frustrating not to play better on Sunday but man, this Sunday, I don’t know that it could have gone any better.

Q. 28 years in this event, you set multiple scoring records, finishing 33-under, dominating the margin of victory, were you watching the scoreboards while you were out there or just having fun?

CAMERON KUCHAR: Just having fun, really. I kind of knew on — there’s a scoreboard on the par 5, 14. We had a four-shotter, just keep it going. Checked again on 17, and this might be a record. See what we do on 18.

But I think this could be a record. I snatch a drive and he hits a great 7-iron to about a foot and a half. Then we find out right after they set the record by five shots. It’s pretty amazing after going out 15-under, 13-under, last year.

MATT KUCHAR: I think I only putted about three times. His chance to do solo birdie, he was dominating again today. I was glad to come through and help out a couple times today.

Q. And two eagles today.

CAMERON KUCHAR: 3, he hit a great hybrid a little draw around the tree 12 feet passed and rolled in the putt, which that early in the round —

MATT KUCHAR: It was certainly nice getting off to birdie, birdie starts. The Dalys, they just missed birdie on 2. You never know how your day is going to progress but when you see a couple putts go in early, it helps. Birdieing 1 and 2, it helps, but to see the eagle go in on 3, wow, this could be signs of a really good day to come.

Q. Are you going to be wearing those belts for the holiday with the family?

CAMERON KUCHAR: For sure.

MATT KUCHAR: I have got a terrible coat from The Heritage tournament, from the Hilton Head tournament, that comes out over Christmas. It’s the perfect Christmas color.

So it comes out once a year over Christmas. I look forward to bringing it out. And I certainly love to matching it with this. This is something I’ll never forget. I think we all have so much to be grateful for. To be part of this event, just to be included in this event, we’re certainly grateful for, to do this — I don’t know if you believe in karma, if you believe in fate, whatever you believe in, there’s something — something magical that does exist. I’m a believer in God that Dad is up above looking down, and that — what happened on 18, I could hardly stand up and hit a shot. For me to hit it to a foot, makes me think there’s something more out there (tearing up). Just miss — miss Pops.

Q. What would Pops say?

MATT KUCHAR: Certainly be so proud. I think back, and I think people have told me that as time goes on, you stop thinking of things you miss and thinking about things you’re grateful for and the good times you had. I certainly think back to some big fist pumps we and I out inside the ropes together and outside the ropes together. There would have been certainly some big fist pumps and certainly a lot of pride.

Q. I know it’s scramble and the numbers get skewed, but how good of a round of golf was that for you today?

CAMERON KUCHAR: That was amazing. I wasn’t keeping as much track today as I was yesterday but I probably made five or six solo birdies. Every now and then, I would let him know, all right, I made that one myself. But he also made a few solos and he’d come right back and he’d go, “That was all me right there.”

It was just fun just going back-and-forth like that.

MATT KUCHAR: His putting was incredible. If I can give a shoutout to Bettinardi. We were up in Chicago over Thanksgiving. Went into the Bettinardi factory. The guys took us back to the hive which is cool for kids into one-off putters and they let us pick out putters. Cam picked out — makes me think out to “The Natural,” little bat boy and goes and picks out a winner. And Cameron picked out a winner out of this group.

I’ve never seen him putt so good in my life.

And if I can sidebar; Bettinardis are having some family issues, if there’s anybody that can send some prayers their way, could use some.

But the putter he picked out is just amazing and he made it work today. Again for me to putt only three times in a round of golf is pretty crazy.

Q. And then again, score notwithstanding, what would your best round have been out on the AJGA or wherever?

CAMERON SMITH: My best round in my life?

Q. Performance. Not necessarily score?

MATT KUCHAR: He’s lit up some people at Gaza Ranch in the summer. There have been some really low scores. I’m glad I wasn’t in those groups because he would have dusted me pretty good.

So far, I think he’s clipped me three of times but I think there are plenty of rounds. Gaza Ranch has probably been some of the highlights with some really low rounds, some 64s out there at Gaza Ranch that did some damage for sure.

Q. Detailed oriented, what three holes did you put on?

CAMERON KUCHAR: 12 —

MATT KUCHAR: Putted on 2 and missed. Missed the one on 12.

CAMERON SMITH: 2, 12 and 8.

MATT KUCHAR: I was glad I stepped up and made one on 2. I felt like kept us going. Got some confidence. Hopefully did my job of freeing Cameron up. He was free and kept pouring in putts.

Q. Can you try to make sense of that? You guys played 36 holes and finished 33-under. I mean, that’s absurd, isn’t it?

CAMERON KUCHAR: Missed three.

MATT KUCHAR: It is absurd. It’s pretty magical, and again, you go back to those things, if you believe in karma or fate or something greater from above, there’s got to be something else going on.

I know that I feel confident in my game, certainly his game. I keep seeing him improve and improve and it’s so fun for me to see him continue to get better, and for him to put on a show when it really matters when cameras are out — I don’t think he’s been on a stage. He’s played in some big junior events but certainly when you get on a national scene like this, it’s unique and he rose to the occasion in a big way.

Q. Did your playing partners say anything to you, like “stop it”?

MATT KUCHAR: No, Dalys were so nice to play with. Any time we’ve been paired with them, they are always sweethearts of people. We always have a great time. They couldn’t be more encouraging.

I know always seems like you’re going to play with the Dalys and there’s going to be some sideshow stuff going on. Certainly they bring out a lot of fans. A lot of people come, they just love the Dalys but they could not be sweeter people. They are awfully nice to play with.

Q. What are perspectives that your dad gave you as a young athlete that you’ve tried to instill in Cameron?

CAMERON KUCHAR: Batting lefty in baseball is a big one?

MATT KUCHAR: I’d like to thing hard work. Our family shares a lot of stories from their childhoods and parents childhoods and Dad’s parents immigrated from the Ukraine to the United States. Hard workers were window washers. To see each generation get better, it was instilled, you provide for your kids to let them have a chance to have a better life than you did. But there’s hard work and you have a chance and you need to take advantage of the opportunity that you have.

For us, we’re quite fortunate just to be here in the U.S. to have that chance to have each generation become better and it’s fun to watch kids. I know Dad’s dad, just beamed with pride with what I did for a living, just loved seeing me play golf on the weekends, and they were funny. They could never understand why I would ever take a week off because they just said — they had nothing to watch when I took a week off.

But they were that type of people. They were just hard working — hard-working people, and to try to pass that whole mentality and that story on of, hey, you’ve got a chance, we’re going to give you the best chance. But it’s up to you to go make a better life.

It’s been fun. Certainly the beauty about sports is that you have to earn it. You have to put in the work. Nobody is blessed with being great just because they were born a great athlete. You either can play or you can’t. If you can play, you’ve earned that right and so it’s been great to see both my boys are doing well in their respective sport but it requires hard work, and they put the effort in, and it’s nice to see some results come.

Q. You’ve had some amazing victories and amazing weekends of competitive golf, where will this rank, these two rounds of golf that you’ve had?

MATT KUCHAR: Very special. These are the most unique Mike trophies. We’re certainly happy to display them proudly.

Most of my trophies come with a little photo of the family alongside the trophy ceremony, and you look back and it’s fun for me to see the kids through the ages from being tiny tots to where I could told both of them to where there’s no chance I could hold either one of them.

And now to have this shot with the family, it’s clearly missing — missing one (fighting back tears) but it’s special, very special.

Q. So where will the trophies go?

MATT KUCHAR: Got a neat area in the living room that kind of has some of my collection but it’s more of kids trophies, and it’s living that’s very much beside where the TV goes where we spend a lot of our time.

The kids have started putting in lots of their trophies, which is good fun. But these will be prominently displayed in that area, that’s for sure.

Q. Not going to Fort Worth?

MATT KUCHAR: Be interesting —

CAMERON SMITH: Probably leave it at the house but you never know. I think they would probably look the best together. So not going to steal his and take it to TCU.

MATT KUCHAR: We might have to make up Cameron some kind of rodeo champion belt buckle that signify — maybe a Willy Park logo on the belt buckle that will insignify the “2025 PNC Champions.” Keep these at home.

The post MATT & CAMERON KUCHAR’S WINNING PNC CHAMPIONSHIP INTERVIEW appeared first on Golf News.

Q. After the final round of the CME Group Tour Championship. Just wrapped up here. What can you say about this week and honestly just the season as a whole for you?

NELLY KORDA: Obviously the main goal was to finish on top, but after my first day I did give it a run for it. Even thought leaders were super far ahead. Always felt like I was playing catchup in a sense.

Overall, yeah, another year. I’m grateful for it all. Grateful for the highs, lows, and grateful for my team.

Q. You tapped in one of the best shots of your year on the 11th. Take us through that hole-out.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, hit my driver a little out right. Honestly wasn’t a bad place to miss it out there. I had 136 yards which was a perfect 9-iron and I hit it — like I hit it really pure, which is also really nice when you hole-out, when it all matches up.

And I’ve never heard Jason yell that loud. Even the cameraman he was like, dude, I got scared. It was nice to see that go in. In the past year I’ve been lipping out, so for it to be the last round of the year, obviously last round of the season, it felt good to see that go in.

Q. When you look back at 2025 what’s a word you’ll use to describe the season and why?

NELLY KORDA: A grind. Yeah, just there was — I feel like there was a lot of ups and downs and it made me grow a lot mentally and I would say I’m just also very grateful for it because, you know, success is never linear.

Q. How do you think you’ve grown mentally?

NELLY KORDA: I would just say expectations, listening to outside noises, really just sticking to what I know best, and that’s to keep everything simple.

Q. Are there any shots that replay through your mind throughout the course of the season that you wish you could have back?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, precisely No. 18 at the U.S. Open. I actually hit that shot so good. Probably hit that shot the best that I did all year, and just because of the adrenaline I hit it probably, I don’t know, ten yards too long and a little bit too left; was in the place that at the beginning of the week on Monday I was like, I cannot be here, and I was there.

So if I could get one shot back, that would be it.

But I mean, there are so many. That’s the one that kind of comes to mind, yeah.

But everything happens for a reason.

Q. It’s interesting that this many years in adrenaline is still something that you have to figure out and factor in.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah.

Q. I guess it varies from moment to moment exactly how adrenaline will impact a shot.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, I think everyone kind of deals with it. You’re always learning. You never have it figured out really. That’s why it always humbles you.

Q. When you talked about your team early this week and how they have kind of given you a different look at things when you vent to them, just curious what have they given you perspective on that you can’t maybe yourself can’t take a step back and look at?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, just kind of like more of like outcomes of tournaments. Like where you’re just kind of looking at the actual outcome of not winning, not finishing inside the top 10, not contending. At the end of the day like it’s all about also improving from week to week, especially if maybe you’re in the hitting it great and you see an improvement in that.

So just kind of more of a different perspective.

Q. You said you’ll remember the highs and the lows from this year. What do you consider one or two of the highs or one or two of the lows?

NELLY KORDA: Highs was probably the U.S. Women’s Open. I mean, the adrenaline rush, there is nothing like it. The highs are probably like seeing like the great flashes in my game where I’m very excited about the work that I put in.

Then some of the lows are like every girl can say that out here, ever pro can say that, you put so much time in effort into your craft and you just don’t play well. You just do it over and over and over again. Sometimes you just go a little crazy.

Q. LeBron commented again on a Nelly post. I don’t know, is there a future round?

NELLY KORDA: Hopefully, fingers crossed. I mean, he is a very busy man and we definitely do not live on the same coast of the U.S.

So if timing matches up it would be great to play with him.

Q. How cool is it to see people like that react to the women’s game?

NELLY KORDA: It’s so great. You kind of see it across different sports, and it’s fun to see women’s golf have its moment as well. You see the tennis where all the stars come and watch all the amazing pros and then you see it with the men’s game, too. For people to finally see not just myself but all the other amazing girls out here and finally get their time, you know to be on primetime TV and people to invest in us and our craft and really know that we are great, has been a lot of fun.

I hope to see it continue growing.

Q. Just one quick one: Jeeno now has set a single-season scoring record beating Annika’s record from 2002.

NELLY KORDA: Yeah.

Q. Can you put in perspective how hard it is to beat any of Annika’s records, but what that means over the course of a year?

NELLY KORDA: Yeah, it’s quite amazing. Great talent, great player. It’s fun to see her craft kind of up close as well.

But, yeah, I mean, it’s kind of crazy, right? To finally beat a record so far in — what was it, 2002 you said? For it to take until 2025, I mean, it’s crazy. That just tells you that the greats don’t come along too often

The post NELLY KORDA INTERVIEW: SEASON ROUND-UP appeared first on Golf News.

Q. I know you’ve got an announcement, but first I just want to say, how are you feeling? It’s been more than six months now since you were announced as captain. Is it finally real?

It’s been awesome. I feel like I’m living a dream every single day. Everything I do, it seems like I do something for Solheim Cup every single day, and I love it.

I feel like I’ve been talking to more players lately, getting ready to roll into next year. But yeah, I still feel like I’m living a dream, and I’ve loved every second of it.

Q. You talk about having news or doing something every day. Today you’ve got some fun news to announce about how your team will literally look next year. What do you have to tell us?

We’re fired up to announce that B. Draddy and Zero Restriction will be the outfitters for the 2026 United States Solheim Cup team. I’m thrilled. I can’t wait. B. Draddy is extremely high end. I’m looking forward to seeing the launch of their ladies’ fall line this year.

Zero Restriction kind of speaks for itself. They’ve been keeping people dry and warm for a long time. They’ve done Presidents Cups. They’re very familiar with our team aspect. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun to work with them.

Q. I know the last couple years you kind of let Stacy and the team handle the uniforms. What’s this been like this so far having to deal with that side of things?

It’s been a little difficult for me because usually I know what I want, but sometimes what I want and what it looks like aren’t the same thing.

Fortunately I’ve had Paula’s help quite a bit. Paula has been a life saver in this, not only because Paula has fashion sense and I do not. She’s been helpful there. But she’s also a player.

The things that we’ve talked about, of course we want to look good. I want more of a classy, very simple look. But Paula and I are on the same page when it comes to the functional aspect of it. You have to be comfortable out there, but you also — you can look good and be comfortable at the same time.

Q. You were up at the ANNIKA last week. We’ve had so many different winners on the Tour this year, 28, a good number of Americans, a number of strong players coming up for you. How are you feeling about the makeup of the U.S. Team as we now look to wrap this ’25 season?

I love it. I think there are a number of different ways this could go next year. I think we could have a very similar team. We could also have some new parts, new people, new players, and I love it either way.

I think our mentality, our mindset is going to be the same. We understand we have a huge challenge going over and playing in Europe, and I think that’s been the fun part for me right now is to start talking to the players about things that I think are important and just preparing them for what I want and what I expect of them in the off-season.

I feel like I might be a little bit different in that respect. I don’t really remember captains asking things from me in the off-season. But I just think there are things that we can work on all the time, and I think our mentality is going to matter when we get there, and I think you can train those things. I think you can work on things, so that way when you get there it’s not one big surprise.

I’ve loved it. I’ve loved seeing them the last couple days. Saw a couple players today. Everybody seems to — early on when I saw them, we saw each other in Boston, but there was a different vibe yesterday, at Pelican and then today.

I think thinking about going into next year, it’s back on their radar. So yeah, this is been nice to see everybody.

Q. Obviously you had so many experiences playing on Solheim Cup teams, now captaining and assistant captaining a few Solheim Cup teams. What were some of your favourite looks that you got to wear for the other captains you played for, or least favourite?

I keep things really simple. I think a lot of patterns on the bottom were never really for me. We had a couple years where we had some wild patterns on our skirts and pants. I’m not much of a pattern person.

I think if anything, people will think that I’m being very simple with our design, but at the same time, I want the ladies to feel like they’re comfortable and they’re going to go out there and people are going to talk about our play, they’re not going to talk about our clothes, in that respect where I think we’re going to do some things early in the week that they’re going to talk about our uniforms, and I can’t wait for that stuff to work its way in. When we get there, it’ll be a really cool aspect of the week.

Q. Your thoughts or your plans; are you going to take some people over as you think about your schedule for next year, to play the course, to have team bonding over in Europe? What are your thoughts about that?

I think we’re going to have a team event in the spring on the West Coast. If players want to go over and play Bernardus before, they’re more than welcome. I’m not going to ask them to do that. I understand their schedules are usually pretty packed, and they have a lot of things that they’re committed to.

If anything, I would hope that they would play the Scottish. I hope they would play AIG. I know they’re going to play AIG. But anything that — I feel like Bernardus has a Scottish links feel to it, so I’m going to encourage them to think about playing the Scottish if it’s not on their schedule.

If they want to go play Bernardus, I would love it. But I think I’ve seen it both ways, and I’ve done it both ways. Early on in my career, I went and played early in Sweden a couple times. I think it’s good to get your bearings and know where things are, but really when we get there, they’re going to be so focused on learning the golf course and playing that I think we’re going to get everything we need to out of those four days before.

Q. You said you do stuff just about every day as we approach the off-season here. You’re sending Christmas cards. How will you stay in touch over the next few months?

ANGELA STANFORD: I do this weird thing that — so I love texts and email and all that, but I love face to face. I love talking to people in person. I guess I’m old school in that.

I’ll probably send them a few videos. I did that early on to the core of our players on this team, just to — I don’t know, I think there’s something about sending a video to somebody and talking through it. I think you can read things. When you read an email you’re not really getting — I don’t know, it’s just different. I’ll probably send them a couple of videos.

I’m really going to dig into stats this off-season. Going to start thinking about how specific stats fit Bernardus, go hole by hole. I’m going to dive pretty deep into this and just see if we can find the perfect match when it comes to players for this golf course.

Q. Obviously we had a lot more wins last year by Americans with Nelly and Lauren, et cetera. This year not as many. We’ve seen the emergence of Japanese golfers in terms of winning. Obviously a lot of Americans have played really well but the wins haven’t been there like the past few years. Is that a concern at this point?

No, not at all. I’m very aware of the ebb and flow of seasons, Solheim years and non-Solheim years. I know they’re all trying as hard as they possibly can.

But I also knew when I was playing that when it became a Solheim Cup year, I wanted to win those years, but I was also trying to earn points to make a team. When you get into that mentality, you start seeing better finishes, whether they’re thinking about it or not. I always did personally.

But I’m not worried about it. I just think it’s kind of the ebb and flow, and people are in different stages of their life.

For Nelly, not many people have ever won that many in a year, much less in a row. That’s something that I can only imagine is really difficult to follow. I kind of felt for her in that everybody just expects if you can do it once, you should be able to do it again.

I think Nelly handled it really well this year. She played amazing all year. Winning is hard. Winning is really hard. Personally I think that shows; we had 29 different winners; is that right? 27 or 29. That shows how hard it is to win out here.

I’m not worried about the Americans.

Q. How big do you consider your core group? You mentioned core. And when you get out next year and start having little face to face run into, how deep doing go? How many players?

My core group this time was about six of them, and I just went off of how many had played three or four in a row. I think it’s important to keep those players together and keep them informed.

I think we’ll go to 19 or 20 to invite to the event on the West Coast, fittings, different things like that because this may be — this is just my personal take on this, but it’s not just about next year; it’s about growing an American team for years to come.

I always thought it was an honor to get invited to team events. I thought it was an honor to get emails from a captain. I thought it was a big deal.

Q. Back when you were younger?

I remember I went to functions in 2004 and 2005 for Nancy and I didn’t make that team, but I made ’07, ’09, ’11. I want these younger players that get invited to these things to want to be there. It’s a big deal to be there.

I think it’s a big deal to grow American golf. I love thinking that it’s not just about 2026. Yes, we would like to win and we want to put together the best team we can, but I also want the ’28 team to be good and I want the ’30 team to be good.

I feel like the more they can be exposed to Solheim Cup events, even just talking to them, hopefully it makes them want to make those teams and be a part of making American golf better and better on this tour.

Q. Do you feel like we’re in or approaching a bit of a transition period on the U.S. side of things?

I seem to think that every time. It seems like we keep getting to a point where we feel like, oh, this team is going to be way different. I think it just sneaks up on you. I don’t think it’s something that — now you think about it, you have Nelly, you have Megan, you have Kupcho, we’re going to have Angel, Yealimi played in ’21. All of a sudden it feels like this is a core group. You realize that you’re like, what happened to all those players — I think it just kind of sneaks up on you.

I think we thought that for ’23 there was going to be huge turnover, and I don’t think there was, and that just speaks to American golf.

I think the stronger we can get from 1 to 20 or 30 or 40, it never feels like we have a huge turnover.

Q. I just wanted to ask you, can you share a couple moments? You played in six Solheim Cups. Can you share what your most memorable moment might have been out there on one of those matches?

By far, 2015 in Germany. Every time I get the chance to say I got to beat Suzann, I like to say it because not many people got to beat Suzann. Just that whole Sunday, coming back in singles. We were down 10-6. It was the greatest comeback in Solheim Cup history. That’s definitely the one that stands out.

Winning in 2007 in Sweden, that was kind of on the tail end of Annika’s historic career. We’re playing in Sweden again — we played in 2003 in Sweden and I was the one that got waxed by Annika in singles and they just drilled us in 2003 in Sweden, and that was Annika at the height of Annika’s career. Then to come back in ’07 and get to beat them in Sweden, I thought that was pretty cool. That was a tough week. It was cold and rainy. I thought Betsy did a great job of kind of keeping the team together.

I guess most of my memories come from away Solheim Cups.

Q. On the Saturday night before they make the singles matches, can you just tell us a little “Inside Baseball” about who wants to go out first, who wants to go out last? Based on what you know, what position do you think probably would get the most pressure as the day progresses on a Sunday?

It’s always kind of tough because it depends on — specifically that Sunday in Germany, we had to win them all. It also depends on what the score is, where the points are going into Saturday night.

If we need four points to retain or win the Cup, then we’re probably top loading, like let’s get those points and get it over with. I think the strategy is always — you always have an idea of where you want your players to be, but if we have a chance to go out there and clinch it quick, let’s just send them out and get it done.

I think it all kind of depends on where we stand Saturday night.

Q. Nerves: Six matches, what was your most nervous moment?

I think I was nervous, I remember, in Chicago, 2009. This is one of my greatest regrets, also. I was paired with Stacy Lewis, and we were standing there on the tee — I’m sorry, it was ’11. I was nervous in ’09 at Rich Harvest Farms, but ’11, and it was Stacy’s rookie Solheim, and we were deciding on who was teeing off first. I kind of just pushed Stacy to tee off first. That’s probably one of my greatest regrets is that I just did not hit that first tee shot.

Yeah, I was nervous there. I learned a lot there. I certainly did not step up to the plate, and like I said, it is one of my biggest regrets.

Q. We’ve got about 10 months left. You’re going to be asked this question, but, Solheim Cup players: Has there been any discussion at all about being paid for the services you perform in a week and this is overseas? You know what happened with the Ryder Cup players. Do you want to share any information about that?

Well, I think the beautiful thing about our players is that nobody has ever asked to be paid. Our ladies love it.

I think we understand being a part of the LPGA Tour, we understand what it means to act like a founder. How do you make the game better? Sometimes you don’t always get paid for that. But when it comes to Solheim, those ladies love showing up for it.

We get stipends that take care of our families and friends, and I think everybody that goes that week knows that it’s for something bigger than just ourselves. We’ve just never really talked about it. Nobody has ever really brought it up because it’s like, we’re getting to play for our country. We’re getting to play for each other. We’re getting to grow women’s golf. We’re getting to play on this wonderful stage. Everybody in the world is watching us. We’re getting some cool uniforms. We’re getting to — all the great things that come from that week.

Personally, I don’t think you can put a price tag on it. Then you would have to figure out, well, how much. So we’ve never talked about it.

Q. I think Stacy still gives you grief for that moment in 2011, right?

ANGELA STANFORD: I know.

Q. The last time the world saw you, you were on the first tee at the Ryder Cup. I know that you are a student of other leadership, other teams. What were some of the mental notes you made as you watched the Ryder Cup this year?

I really paid attention to the captains. I watched how they were moving. I’m very aware — and Stacy has helped me with this. Stacy has told me that I need to be more aware of when I’m just standing around and need to be aware of how I stand. So I watched the captains, watched the players.

I did talk to Paula and the other assistants afterwards. But more so with Paula in that there were things that I saw that I just want to make sure our team is aware of, just the way we handle ourselves. If things start going south, how do we react to that.

I did watch the American team all weekend, and I was also watching the Europeans, just trying to — anything I can learn to make us better, I’m trying, and that falls into that every single day. Every single day I’m trying to think of ways that we can give ourselves an advantage.

Q. It was a beautiful last couple days. You got to see a lot of golf. Overall, just again to wrap up, how excited are you for the opportunity you’ve got coming up next year in September?

I was just going to say, are you all sure you don’t have any more questions? I could sit here and talk about this all day. I literally could. I love it.

Q. When I looked up your resume, it said in 2024 you announced your retirement. Golfers don’t generally announce retirement, professional golfers. The question is are you officially retired? Did you announce that you were retiring? How does a pro golfer evolve into retirement?

I’m still working on that. I think for me personally, I use the word “retire” because in any mind, it was from the LPGA Tour, meaning I felt like I got to a point where — I think I could compete here and there, but I felt like I was doing a disservice to myself and this tour if I couldn’t give it everything I got for four days week in and week out. That’s me personally.

My life has changed quite a bit in the last couple years, so just off the course there were things that were more important, and that’s fine. I’m at an age where that’s okay.

I’d really, really — you never lose that competitive drive. I’m really, really trying to help grow the Legends Tour. I wish we had some more opportunities.

I love going out and competing there. That’s been awesome. So that competitive drive doesn’t go away.

But for me personally, I just out of respect for the Tour and the high level of golf, I just felt like it was time for me to move on, and I wanted to be Solheim Cup captain and I wanted to be — I’m kind of one of those all-or-none people, and I knew to win, to give ourselves a chance to win overseas, I have to be 100 percent committed to this. Honestly, I have not regretted that because it is going to take everything I have and everything we have to give it our best shot in Europe.

The post INTERVIEW: U.S SOLHEIM CUP CAPTAIN ANGELA STANFORD appeared first on Golf News.

Q. Before we talk about winning The Race to Dubai again, let’s talk about today and the events that unfolded, eagling the last, again. Tell us about today from your point of view?

Yeah, got off to the perfect start. 3-under through five, 4-under through seven. Felt like I had sort of taken control of the golf tournament. Was a couple ahead.

Then, yeah, I made two bogeys on the way in on 12 and 16 and didn’t birdie 14 and 15, the birdie holes. Obviously knew I needed something to happen on the last. I actually hit a great shot on 17, ended up a little short. Hit a great putt that lipped-out.

On the last, I knew what I had to do. I hit a great 5-wood. Lucky to see Rasmus’s putt before mine. His hung out a little bit before it started to turn, so got a read from him. It was a great way to finish, making the playoff.

But unfortunately hit it in the water there on 18 in the playoff. Just sort of put me behind the 8-ball. But happy for Matt. He’s had a great end of the season. Played great to get on the Ryder Cup Team, and then he sort of kept it going since, so really happy for him as well.

Last year you equaled Severiano Ballesteros’s Race to Dubai titles, and this year you surpassed him. Tell us how it feels to surpass his title.

I had a course with his wife, Carmen, before I went out to play today, and she told me how proud he would have been. You know, I said this on this green last year, he means so much to this tour and to the European Ryder Cup Team. We rally so much around his spirit and his quotes and everything he meant for European golf.

To equal him last year was cool but to surpass him this year, yeah, I didn’t get this far in my dreams, so it’s very cool.

Now just one behind Colin Montgomerie’s 8th record title. You don’t need it, but how much do you want it?

I want it, of course I do. I caught up with Monty this week when he was here a couple days ago and I saw him. Look, it seems within touching distance now. I’d love to be the winningest European in terms of Order of Merits and season-long races.

You know, I’ve probably got a few more good years left in me, and hopefully I can catch him and surpass him.

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Lottie Woad’s rapid rise has been one of golf’s most compelling stories and standing firmly in her corner is Novellus Finance, a name making its presence felt on leaderboards and in locker rooms alike.

From backing the stars of tomorrow to driving some of the sport’s biggest events, Novellus is doing far more than funding golf, they’re helping shape its future.

Golf News discovers what the company has planned for the game in the years ahead.

Photos: Getty Images

What inspired Novellus Finance to become so actively involved?

At Novellus we have always been very passionate about the game and have built some strong relationships within the sport.

Our brand values align closely with the positive work many of our partners are doing in the game. Supporting emerging talent is a natural way for us to give back and invest in the future of a sport about which we care deeply.

Is golf sponsorship part of a wider brand strategy, or is it more about personal passion within the company?

Whilst it began as a personal passion for our CEO Billy McManus, it has evolved into a key part of Novellus’ longer term brand strategy.

Aligning with people and events that share our values has always been important and as we’ve seen success with the athletes we have backed and the growth of the events, it has become a consistently positive area for continued investment.

How do you decide which tournaments and players to sponsor?

It is still quite a fluid process and often depends on the individual event or athlete. For example, we partnered with Annabel Dimmock after seeing the way she engaged with fans at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open.

Her father caddied for her that week, and with her winning the event, it felt like a special story we wanted to be part of.

We spend a lot of time talking with people within golf whose opinions we value. Being able to pick the brains of leading players, caddies and key people in the game really helps us to identify some of the most exciting up and coming players and critically, learn about them as people.

When it comes to selecting events, the promoters have played a key role. Forefront has done an excellent job delivering top class events in Ireland with both the Woman’s Irish Open and the Legends Tour tournaments.

Supporting the Rose Ladies Series was an easy decision for us because we have long been admirers of what Kate and Justin Rose have done for Women’s golf and again, the organisation and professionalism of the tour, made our involvement a very natural fit.

We think providing pathways into the professional game and also providing playing opportunities on high quality courses with meaningful prize funds is critical to developing the next generation of golfers.

What tangible changes have you seen in the careers of the golfers you sponsor?

We think it’s probably too early in our sponsorship journey to know. We hope that our support goes some way to trying to ease the significant financial burden many golfers face.

The prize money on all of the feeder tours as well as the LET Access and lower rankings on the LET tour highlights just how tough making a living from the game has become.

Novellus’ backing helps these athletes invest into more coaching, technology (e.g. GC Quad or Trackman) or hiring a professional caddie. Ultimately, we want to give them the chance to focus on their performance and potential, rather than whether they can afford to compete at all.

Can you share a story of a player whose journey you’ve been especially proud to support?

At Novellus, we have been lucky to share some great moments with several athletes across tennis and golf, but one story that stands out is still very much ongoing.

We have been supporting Euan Walker for several years now. He’s an impressive young man who has come incredibly close to earning his DP World Tour card, with two fantastic wins on the Challenge Tour (now the HotelPlanner tour), but narrowly missing out overall.

The way he carries himself, continues to represent Novellus and gives everything to the game is something that we are incredibly proud of.

We have a feeling this could be the year he finally breaks through and we’re excited to see what he can achieve at the higher levels of the game.

His journey is a powerful reminder of how tough the game is and how much it means to those who dedicate themselves to it.

How do you measure the success of your golf sponsorships beyond simple brand exposure?

We measure success by aligning with individuals who give their all, which not only brings satisfaction to us as a company but also serves as a powerful reminder to our employees.

The perseverance and commitment that these athletes show, despite such frequent setbacks (which of course are common practice in professional sport), sets a wonderful example for everyone at Novellus.

Many of your partnerships are with up-and- coming players, what qualities do you look for in an athlete?

We are spending more time with players and look for key qualities such as resilience, desire and competitiveness. Golf is an incredibly tough game, and you have to love what you do.

The most successful athletes not only relish competing but also embrace the process and progression.

We also value curiosity and willingness to learn. Asking the right questions and seeking the right advice is crucial and the smartest players figure that out early.

Finally, self-belief is essential. It sounds a bit cliched but backing yourself, when it matters most, is what separates the very best!

What do you think are the biggest challenges for young golfers trying to break into the professional ranks today?

The standard today is extremely high. The costs associated with playing professional golf are significant.

These costs exist regardless of the tour you are playing for and prize funds you can compete for. Coach (often coaches for different components of the game), Caddie, Travel, Entry fees, Physio, Physical trainer and psychology.

There’s also an overload of information in the world now with an expectation for instant results, but true success takes time.

Lottie Woad is a great example of this – what looks like an “overnight success” is really the result of 15 years of hard work by her and her support team.

A key challenge is learning to trust the process, to take the advice given and then committing to it for long enough, rather than constantly making changes.

We are strong advocates of trusting the process.

The KPMG Women’s Irish Open, Rose Ladies Series, and Women’s Irish Challenge are all significant events, how does Novellus see its role in helping these grow?

Novellus plays a small supporting role. These events are all driven by passionate, dedicated people and we aim to raise awareness and encourage other businesses to follow our lead by highlighting the positive impact of partnering with high quality tournaments.

We also encourage our Novellus sponsored athletes to compete in the events and, as they achieve greater success, we hope this will help elevate the profile of these fantastic tournaments and tours.

We have seen first hand, how inspiring for the next generation, spending a short amount of time with the players can be.

We try to ensure we are on hand with hats, autograph opportunities with our athletes and some words of encouragement.

We are lucky that the people we support buy into that and have had that from the generations that went before, no more so than in Irish golf where there is a great support network from current and former players advising the next generation as they navigate the professional game.

Are there plans to get involved at a junior or grassroots level, perhaps through coaching programs or youth events?

Absolutely. Lottie’s success offers a powerful foundation to inspire and attract more young golfers into the game.

Novellus is committed to creating a legacy by supporting grassroot efforts and actively engaging with clubs, coaches, and governing bodies to explore the best ways to make the most of this truly unique window of opportunity.

Can you reveal any upcoming golf partnerships or initiatives we should watch for?

We are excited about the next phase of growth at the Novellus academy. We also have several other projects in development, which we look forward to updating you on soon!

Does anyone in the Novellus leadership team play golf themselves? If so, any memorable rounds or personal highlights?

Our CEO, Billy McManus, plays regularly, as do many of our senior team. A memorable highlight is when Billy made two “hole in ones”, within two days, although he is quick to remind us that he hasn’t had any before or since!

If you could sponsor any golfer in history, past or present, who would it be and why?

It’s an obvious choice, but it must be Tiger Woods. While many great players have come before and after him, it’s unlikely we’ll ever see anyone who electrifies the sport or has the same level of impact on the game quite in the way Tiger has.

ABOUT NOVELLUS

Novellus is a privately funded alternative lender providing loans secured against real estate in the UK and Ireland.

The Novellus group have a range of business interests, including co-investments in private debt alongside tier 1 private equity businesses, direct investment in real estate and the pending launch of their fund business, focusing on supporting early- stage funds with cornerstone investments into the strategy as well as investment into the underlying GP.

For more information visit novellusfinance.com

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Few golfers have left as lasting an imprint on the game as Colin Montgomerie. Known affectionately as “Monty,” his consistency, leadership, and flair or rising to the occasion made him one of the defining figures of European golf for over two decades.

From unforgettable Ryder Cup triumphs to rewriting the record books on the European Tour, Montgomerie’s career is a study in resilience, self- belief, and an enduring love of the sport.

In this interview with Matt Nicholson, he reflects on the turning points, rivalries, and lessons that have shaped both his career and his life.

Do you remember the moment you knew you could turn professional and make a career out of this?

I was invited for an interview with IMG at Turnberry, the Monday after the 1986 Open.

I have one year of university to go and played 9 holes with two IMG executives Ian Todd, who was the president of IMG, and Peter German hoping to be offered a position in their management of professional golfers, looking after Faldo, Woosnam and Lyle.

I was concentrating on my P&Q’s as you do during an interview and managed to score 29 for the back 9 at Turnberry. They then turned to me and said you are not working for us, but we will work for you. Those 2 hours changed my life.

Your success on the European Tour is legendary, what do you think was the key to your consistency over the years?

Not changing my swing, taking what I had and making it better. I was more flexible in my younger years, my club-head speed has obviously come down, in my Callaway days I was up to 111 mph it’s down to 105mph, but 40 years on I am still doing the same, emphasising a swing through the ball rather than at it, leading to a smooth, fluid motion.

Looking back at your multiple Order of Merit wins, which one meant the most to you and why?

The first one. 1993. Seve had won it the previous year, and I will never forget him saying to me “Enjoy it Monty, it’s only on loan” I’ve never forgotten those words and the extra incentive I needed to try and continue to win it again, or for at least another year.

What was your favourite Ryder Cup moment, either as a player or captain?

Being presented with the Ryder Cup by the First Minister of Wales in 2010 to regain the Ryder Cup.

One thing was having the honour of being Captain of the Team but the real job was to win. And all of my Team contributed at least half a point to the victory.

Another moment came in 1997 at Valderrama. I was the last man on the course and faced a pivotal putt to secure the half- point we needed.

I’ll never forget Seve coming up and giving me a huge hug right after, it was one of the most emotional moments of my career.

What made you such an opponent to beat in the Ryder Cup?

I hated losing far more than I ever enjoyed winning. That was my mindset. I’d win the odd event, but I never really celebrated, because my focus immediately shifted forward.

Losses, though I couldn’t stand them. And that really drove me at the Ryder Cup.

I also putted extremely well in the Ryder Cup, which is crucial because a good match player must be a good putter. I always seemed to hit putts just a touch firmer there, about a foot harder.

Here’s a little tip for anyone reading: hit the ball a foot harder on the greens and you’ll be surprised how many more drop.

In match play, I had the freedom to do that. If it didn’t work, I lost the hole no big deal. But in stroke play, a three-putt meant a bogey, and then suddenly you’re chasing it back on the next hole. It became a bigger issue.

Does it bother you that you didn’t get an official PGA Tour win?

I did win the Accenture World Match Play but that was an unofficial tournament in the US, beating Davis Love in the final and Ernie in the semis, I count that as a victory, I count that as a victory because at the time they were better players than I was.

Winning The Senior PGA Championship at 51 in 2014, meant a lot to me to actually get that monkey off of my back.

You’ve had some extraordinary duels with the game’s best, which opponent brought out the very best in you?

When I joined the Tour in 1988, we had 5 out of the top 6 in the world playing week to week on the European Tour, those 5 players brought the best out in me and I had to improve to get anywhere near their standard.

You’ve hit countless shots in your career, but is there one that stands out as your favourite ever?

I have one plaque in the world of golf, which is still there to this day. The Emirates Club in Dubai. On the 18th hole. I needed a birdie 4 to secure victory against Miguel Angel Jimenez.

I was about to lay up with a six-iron but then realised if I hit my driver out the middle, I could just about get there over the lake, in front of the green. I put my driver behind the ball and had a look at it and it looked right, I don’t normally take risks
in golf, but this was one paid off.

It came out the middle of the club and finished no more than 10 feet away from the hole. I managed to two putt to secure victory. It was voted shot of the year
in 1996.

On the other side, what shot have you regretted most and wish you could play again?

That would have to be the last hole at Winged Foot in the 2006 U.S Open, when I made a double bogey to lose, I had to wait for my playing partner, Vijay Singh, who had hit it way left – so far left it ended up in two hospitality tents and he needed a drop.

Long story short, the whole process took nine minutes. It felt like an hour, but nine minutes just to play his second shot. Meanwhile, I’m sitting there in the fairway, ready to go.

At first, I thought it was a 7-iron. Then I changed my mind to a 6-iron. Then back to
a 7-iron. After that much waiting, it’s almost impossible to stay completely positive. Unfortunately, I caught it a little heavy and left myself in the worst spot.

If there’s one shot, I wish I could have back, it’s that one. But the truth is, you have to play all 72 holes, not just 71. Looking back, I think today I would have just gone ahead and hit. Of course, we have the ‘Ready Golf ’ rule now.

I wish I’d just stepped up, hit the 7-iron, and left it under the hole. The flag was tucked on the right, I fade the ball naturally, and honestly, it was probably easier to make birdie there than the six I ended up with.

How has the game of golf changed most since you first turned professional?

Without doubt it’s the equipment. The ball and the clubs have changed golf remarkably.

I am not saying all in a positive way but in length and accuracy it has changed everything, the balls fly further higher and straighter through technology and the clubs have so much more forgiveness built into them, allowing players to hit harder without the fear of missing fairways.

How much do you continue to learn at this point in your career?

If I don’t learn after every round of golf, it’s been a complete waste. I learn something knew about myself, about the ball, about the clubs, about the lies, about what to do.

I learn something; and you must take something from every round of golf and I still do.

In your opinion what’s the most difficult shot in golf, and how do you approach it under pressure?

The shot between 60 and 40 yards to the pin.

It’s not a full shot, it’s not a half shot, it’s a three- quarter shot and so very difficult to judge the distance.

Acceleration and commitment are key. Most decelerate without commitment and that’s why it is so difficult.

I use light hands on the club. I grip the club at 40 per cent on these shorter shots and that takes away the stress and the strain out of the forearms, allowing me to accelerate and commit to the shot ahead.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received during your career?

Don’t change your swing. I never said it was textbook, I never said it was perfect but the best advice I have been given was don’t change it.

What’s one moment outside of golf that changed your life?

The birth of my three children, my two daughters Venetia and Olivia and my son Cameron, who’s a good golfer has recently been caddying for me.

What’s one misconception people often have about you?

I’m grumpy and have a bad temper. I’m actually not! I’ve never thrown a club; I’ve never broken a club. I’ve been upset at my own performance sometimes, but who isn’t at this game.

What do you do to unwind or find peace when you’re away from golf entirely?

Spending time with my wife, my children, and my grandchildren. I enjoy watching the Premier League, but as a Leeds supporter it doesn’t give me a lot of peace or help me unwind.

Was there ever a point where you felt lonely or isolated during your career? How did you cope?

I never felt lonely or isolated. I always had and still do have a great team of support around me. Which I am very fortunate to say.

Do you feel you’ve changed more as a person or a player over the years?

Changed more as a person than a player. Life experiences change everyone. I’m definitely more mellow.

Where do you play your golf in the UK?

My home club, Sunningdale , that’s where we live and it’s the most beautiful walk, it’s a beautiful spot and the has the best parkland courses in the country. It’s such a shame Turnberry isn’t on the Open rota, that’s the best links course in Britain by a distance.

If you could give your younger self one piece of life advice, what would it be?

Be more patient, I like anyone wanted success, a little too early and I would tell my younger self to be more patient and go with the flow.

Tournament golf shows you this, you can’t win on Thursday, Friday or Saturday, you have to wait until Sunday afternoon. You can only lose it early in the week.

Finally, when people look back on Colin Montgomerie’s career, how would you like to be remembered in the world of golf?

A lot of people come up to me nowadays and thank me for giving them a lot of pleasure following my career and golf over the years.

Also I am very proud of the courses that I have designed around the world, about 20 in total, giving opportunities to people around the world to enjoy this incredible game.

FINAL THOUGHT

Speaking with Colin Montgomerie is a reminder that greatness in sport isn’t just about
trophies or records, it’s about resilience, identity, and the ability to inspire.

His stories carry both humour and humility, whether reflecting on the shot of a lifetime, the patience he wishes he had in his youth, or the pride he takes in his family and course design work today.

What stands out most is his clarity of purpose: he never strayed far from who he was, both as a golfer and as a person.

And perhaps that’s Montgomerie’s true legacy, not just the victories and accolades, but the enduring sense that golf, at its best, is a lifelong journey of consistency, character, and connection.

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A self-confessed “golf geek” who came to the game at 16 before earning a US golf scholarship and completing his PGA training, Hardy has found in Speedgolf the perfect blend of competition, community and fitness.

Golf News caught up with him to hear about his late start in golf, his rapid rise in Speedgolf, and why he believes the format could play a big role in the future of the game.

Tell us how you got into golf at 16 and the path it took you?

I was a late starter, picking up golf at 16 when my dad joined me at the local club. I was hooked immediately.

Within two years I became Club Champion, which led to a golf scholarship in the US.

My game really developed there under my coach and close friend Beau Baugh, who I still visit to this day. Winning the South East Collegiate Championship is still one of my fondest memories.

After graduating, I returned to the UK to complete my PGA, and since then, I’ve been immersed in the game in every way.

How did you hear about Speedgolf and get involved?

I have my partner to thank. She knew I was a golf geek and always first out at Aldwickbury to squeeze in a quick two-hour round.

She entered me into the British Speedgolf Championship and the moment I tried it, I knew it was the perfect fit.

The European Speedgolf Championship in Finland was your first event, how did you get on and what did you learn ahead of the British?

I actually entered the European Open at the last minute, just weeks before the British. As a complete newcomer, finishing 8th was a huge surprise and gave me valuable lessons about preparation and pace.

But what really stood out was the Speedgolf community. From Close House PGA Pro Will Robson’s advice, to running pointers from former Champion Luke Willett and practical equipment advice from others, everyone was so generous with their support.

That sense of family was as important as the competition itself.

You won against stiff opposition at the British Speedgolf Championships. What did this mean to you and what impact has it had on your future ambitions?

I’d only been playing Speedgolf for two months, so my goal was just to finish in the top 10.

Winning with such a large and accomplished field was a complete shock, proof of what happens when you put yourself out there and commit.

But the real highlight for me was raising £3,000 for Parkinson’s UK in honour of my dad, who lives with the condition. That meant more than the trophy. Looking forward, I want to take on more of the International  Speedgolf circuit, keep improving, and do my bit to grow the sport.

Speedgolf is about pace and performance. How do you balance golf and fitness, and what could you build on?

Golf is my strength, fitness is still a work in progress. Speed isn’t naturally my strong suit, but I’m determined to improve that side of my game. The beauty of Speedgolf is that it pushes you to keep getting better in both areas.

As a PGA member who didn’t pursue a tour or coaching career, how would you describe your love of golf — and why does Speedgolf fit you so well?

I’m a golf geek at heart, but I’ve always loved fitness too,football, skiing, the gym, running. Speedgolf feels like it was designed for me. It’s quicker, it’s healthier, it builds community, and it’s fun.

Golf is evolving, and I believe clubs will soon start offering Speedgolf tee times.

How does Speedgolf fit alongside managing a business when time is precious?

That’s one of its biggest appeals. You can play 18 holes in under an hour and get a serious workout at the same time.

Even on tough days, you walk away fitter, sharper, and having learned something new.

For anyone balancing work and life, Speedgolf is the ultimate way to keep golf in your routine

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