Cover star Chris Gotterup shares an honest look at the swing thoughts, misses and practice habits he’s working through, reminding us that even tour winners battle the same frustrations as everyday golfers.

We also explore the evolving world of professional golf, from Luis Masaveau’s move to LIV Golf to The Undercover Pro’s candid take on life beyond the PGA Tour rumour mill. Behind the scenes, we examine the changing face of tour life through the lens of the European Tour Performance Institute and the realities of making a living as a golf professional.

Closer to home, Golf During a Conflict looks at the resilience of the Middle East golf scene, while our travel features visit Al Mouj Golf and Shinnecock Hills Golf Club ahead of the 2026 U.S. Open.

Instruction remains central, with lessons from J. J. Spaun, Aaron Rai and Phil Mickelson, plus our 2026 Hot List guide to the year’s best golf balls. We also continue celebrating regional golf through The Gulf Club and standout performances from across the Middle East.

All this and plenty more in the June 2026 edition of Golf Digest Middle East.

The issue is again free to our loyal audience. You can scroll through the ISSUU link provided here or download it to your favourite device for later. Alternatively, pick up a copy at your local golf club. Whatever option you take, we hope you enjoy the read.

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This month, we lead with cover star Robert MacIntyre, who opens up on returning home, the bonds forged through the Ryder Cup, and what it takes to perform under the brightest lights.

Elsewhere, we explore golf’s expanding global footprint. In Baku, Dreamland Golf Club is redefining destination golf, while in Dubai, Discovery Dunes showcases the seamless blend of design, exclusivity and luxury that continues to shape the region’s appeal.

Our Voices section offers a range of perspectives: Neal Shipley shares his personal journey, the debate around Brooks Koepka’s place in the professional game continues, and Jerry Tarde assesses Brian Rolapp’s challenging new role. Alex Myers also introduces the inspiring story of Chaz Bowker and his unconventional route into adaptive golf.

Innovation remains a key theme, with Rory Flanagan and PLATFORM Golf pushing the indoor game forward here in Abu Dhabi. Instruction, as ever, is central—featuring insights from Cam Young, Michael Kolar and more—while our Hot List, travel pages and Gulf Club coverage round out another diverse issue.

All this and plenty more in the May 2026 edition of Golf Digest Middle East.

The issue is again free to our loyal audience. You can scroll through the ISSUU link provided here or download it to your favourite device for later. Alternatively, pick up a copy at your local golf club. Whatever option you take, we hope you enjoy the read.

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DP, when you reflect on your journey in the golf industry, what moment makes you most proud?

To have played a role in elevating the standards of the game in our region, to consistently serve golfers with world-class equipment and experiences and to push the industry forward in even the smallest way—that’s what truly stands out.

In an industry built on precision, discipline, and passion, I’ve always believed that excellence is not a milestone—it’s a responsibility.

And if, through our work, we’ve helped golfers play better, experience more, and expect higher standards—then that, to me, is something worth being proud of.

How does your role as General Manager of eGolf Megastore allow you to combine your love of golf with your entrepreneurial mindset?

As General Manager of eGolf Megastore, I’m uniquely positioned at the intersection of the golfer, the product, and the evolving ecosystem of the game. That vantage point allows me to think beyond transactions and focus on transformation.

Golf in the Middle East is at an inflection point. Participation is expanding, formats are evolving, and expectations are shifting rapidly. My role allows me to actively influence that evolution.

We are not just responding to demand; we are helping create it.

By integrating technology, reimagining retail experiences, and building deeper customer engagement models, we are redefining how golf is discovered, accessed, and enjoyed. From first-time players to seasoned golfers, the goal is to elevate every touchpoint.

At its core, this is where my entrepreneurial mindset comes alive; identifying where the game is going, not where it has been, and building platforms that can scale with that vision.

Because the real opportunity is not just to grow within the industry, it is to expand the industry itself.

eGolf Megastore

Dubai has a unique lifestyle—how does living here influence the way you approach golf, work, and leisure?

Dubai elevates your mindset; it pushes you to think bigger and execute faster.

In golf, it showcases how the game can be both premium and accessible, reinforcing the need to evolve formats and experiences.

In work, the pace and ambition demand constant innovation and global standards.

Even leisure becomes purposeful, driven by exposure, networking, and ideas.

Ultimately, Dubai shifts your perspective from limitations to possibilities and in a growing industry like golf, that makes all the difference.

What’s the most luxurious or memorable golfing experience you’ve enjoyed, either locally or abroad?

Two experiences stand out—Apogee Golf Club and The Grove XXIII.

Both represent golf at its absolute pinnacle—not just in terms of course design, but in the overall experience.

Apogee delivers a pure, performance-driven environment built around serious golfers, where every detail is designed to elevate the game.

The Grove XXIII, on the other hand, redefines exclusivity and hospitality—seamlessly blending luxury, privacy, and innovation.

What makes these experiences truly memorable is not just the infrastructure, but the intent behind them; a relentless focus on excellence, personalisation, and pushing the boundaries of what golf can be.

When it comes to building the perfect team or store experience, what’s your personal philosophy?

At the core of everything I believe is simple: business is people.

My philosophy is rooted in servant leadership; if you take care of your team, they will take care of your clients.

Building the perfect team or store experience isn’t about control; it’s about empowerment. It’s about creating an environment where people feel valued, trusted, and inspired to deliver their best every day.

Because when your team believes in what they’re doing, that energy naturally translates into how they serve customers.

Ultimately, great customer experiences are not engineered, they are a byproduct of a strong, aligned, and cared-for team.

Outside of the organisation, how do you stay connected to the game and improve your own swing?

It’s been over a decade with eGolf and the journey still feels as exciting as day one.

While we’ve grown into an established SME, we’ve consciously retained an entrepreneurial mindset. That curiosity and hunger to evolve is what keeps us connected to the game, we truly love what we do, and that reflects in how we operate.

More recently, as we build the next generation of leaders within the business, I’ve made a conscious effort to step out of the office and get closer to the ground, spending more time with our clients, understanding their needs, and experiencing the game through their lens.

For me, improving my “swing” is not just technical, it’s contextual. It’s about staying immersed in the ecosystem, listening, learning, and continuously refining how we serve the golfer.

Because the closer you are to the player, the sharper your understanding of the game becomes.

RELATED: Quick 9 with… eGolf Megastore CEO Dean Cheesley

As someone who appreciates the finer things, which aspects of golf gear or apparel do you personally gravitate toward?

We’re fortunate to represent some of the finest global brands in the region—so choosing just one has never been easy.

I often find myself rotating between 3–4 mixed bags, each bringing together the best of different worlds. It keeps the experience fresh and reflects the diversity of innovation across the industry.

I’m also naturally drawn to vibrancy and expression. Brands like Peter Millar, G/Fore, J.Lindeberg, Greyson, and Puma consistently excite me—each season pushing boundaries and raising the bar in design and performance.

That said, I’ve always gravitated towards limited-edition pieces; especially those with a touch of exclusivity and subtle “bling.”

For me, it’s not just about performance—it’s about identity. The finer details, craftsmanship, and uniqueness of a product elevate the entire experience.

Because in golf, as in life, it’s the details that truly define the standard.

eGolf Megastore in Al Quoz, Dubai

Looking ahead, what’s your vision for taking eGolf Megastore to the next level?

The vision is clear—grow with strength, scale with intent, and elevate the standard of retail.

Our immediate focus is on expanding across the GCC, establishing a stronger physical presence while staying true to what we do best, delivering exceptional product and service.

At the same time, we’re actively looking at integrating AI and data-driven systems to enhance decision-making, personalise customer experiences, and build a more intelligent retail ecosystem.

Equally important is investing in people, developing a strong second generation of leaders who can carry the vision forward and scale the business sustainably.

Ultimately, this is not just about growth in size, it’s about raising the bar for what golf retail can and should be in the region.

And finally, when you need to unwind, what’s your go-to Dubai spot to relax after a busy week in golf retail?

For me, unwinding is about simplicity and perspective.

It’s either a quiet round of golf—where you can reset and reconnect with the game—or a bike ride with close friends along the mountain highways, away from the city’s pace.

Both offer a different kind of clarity; one grounded in focus, the other in freedom.

And in a fast-moving environment like Dubai, that balance is essential.

Main image: eGolf Megastore

This article was featured in the April 2026 issue of Golf Digest Middle East. Click here for a digital issue of the full magazine

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This month, we turn our attention to Augusta National with a Masters Preview special, one of the most anticipated weeks in golf.

Our cover star, Adam Scott, arrives on the eve of his 25th Masters appearance. The 2013 champion reflects on the nerves that never quite go away, the swings he still admires, and the subtle but significant changes that continue to shape Augusta National.

We also revisit one of the course’s most fascinating stories, the evolution of the par 3 16th. It remains the only hole not originally designed by Alister MacKenzie and Bobby Jones, and while it is now one of the most recognisable scenes in golf, the version we know today did not appear until 1948.

Elsewhere, we look back at some of the most popular Masters victories, the wins that resonated far beyond the leaderboard and captured the imagination of fans around the world.

Closer to home, Faycal Serghini, Head Coach of the Emirates Golf Federation’s elite squad, shares his insight into the rapid growth of the game in the UAE. From developing young players to building a pathway towards international success, his perspective highlights just how quickly the landscape is evolving.

We also sit down with Dyootiman Pal, better known as DP, General Manager of eGolf Megastore, to understand what lies ahead for the region’s largest golf retailer and how the modern golf consumer is changing.

Beyond Augusta, there is plenty more to catch up on. Bryson DeChambeau claimed another LIV Golf title in South Africa, edging Jon Rahm in a playoff as the event delivered one of the most significant crowds the league has seen. We also look ahead to the return of the Turkish Airlines Open at the National Golf Club in Belek, a venue with a long history of championship golf.

Our Hot List coverage continues with Part 3, focusing on the latest woods and hybrids making their mark this season.

As ever, there is something for every golfer in this month’s issue!

All this and plenty more in the April 2026 edition of Golf Digest Middle East.

The issue is again free to our loyal audience. You can scroll through the ISSUU link provided here or download it to your favourite device for later. Alternatively, pick up a copy at your favourite golf club. Whatever option you take, we hope you enjoy the read.

The post Get your FREE April 2026 edition of Golf Digest Middle East here! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

“The golf this week makes me feel empty. I have been struggling off the tee for a little while but this was on a new level. Doubting myself on every tee shot is exhausting and not knowing where the ball will fly makes me fill up with panic. After Saturday’s round, I didn’t want to play on Sunday, because why would I? There’s been a lot of tears but I’m proud of myself showing up to the course for the last round. I’m thankful to have people around me who care about me as a person and don’t see me as less based on my scores.”

Reading Lindblad’s raw post was heartbreaking and a painful reminder of how cruel and confounding this game can feel. Because how can you win 15 times in college, set amateur scoring records at the U.S. Women’s Open, win on the LPGA Tour in your third start during your rookie season, and suddenly have no idea where the ball is going to go when you tee it up?

There are names for what Lindblad is describing, the most unpopular of which would be the driver yips. It doesn’t really matter what we call it. It’s debilitating. Lindblad hit three fairways on Saturday at the HSBC. Over the course of the season, she’s ranked 129th in accuracy on the LPGA Tour, hitting 49 percent of the fairways.

No one wants to see a player struggle like this. Especially one as young as Lindblad. But the 25-year-old Swede isn’t the first pro and won’t be the last to go through it. And in that, there is hope.

Renowned instructor David Leadbetter doesn’t work with Lindblad, but he has seen this sort of situation before with other players. He says there are questions that need to be asked to be able to diagnose the problem: Has this happened to her in the past? Has she made a slight swing change? Has she had any physical injuries?

“A lot of times these things can start off technical and then become mental,” Leadbetter explains.

A small swing change can lead to wayward shots, which lead to self-doubt and confusion. And injury can make a player adjust their swing in small ways, which can produce errant tee balls. Hit enough of them and confidence is lost. Which only leads to more missed fairways.

David Leadbetter has worked with many high-profile players on both the LPGA and PGA Tours. Michelle Wie West, pictured here, was one of his star pupils. Stuart Franklin

“It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy when you feel like you’re standing over the ball and you have no clue where it’s gonna go,” Leadbetter says. “You sort of have these pictures in your mind of a disaster when you’re standing over the ball. You’ve got all this noise going through your head. It’s not an easy thing to get out of.”

Leadbetter says someone can have the driver yips and not have it in any other part of their game because the driver swing is so different from the irons. You’re hitting up on the driver and down on the irons. It’s a different motion, which is why someone with driver issues can still hit great irons.

“You don’t know what’s going on inside somebody’s head, but you can guarantee the picture is not good, and there’s probably an awful lot of tension there where they’re not releasing,” Leadbetter explains.

He looked at Lindblad’s swing on YouTube, comparing some of her college wins to these more recent LPGA tournaments where she’s struggled with the driver. “It didn’t look a whole lot different,” Leadbetter said.

That is perhaps one of the most confounding and distressing aspects of the yips. When the ball is going out of bounds right on one hole and 20 yards left on the next, you’d hope you’d be able to look at the swing and see some obvious marker of a technical issue that can be adjusted. But that doesn’t appear to be what’s happening with Lindblad.

“If she’s blowing it 30 yards right, you feel like you can’t release the club, or if you do release the club, then you snap hook it,” Leadbetter says. “So now you become, you’re petrified and you don’t swing with any sort of freedom.”

That freedom is harder to see on camera. It lives in the minutiae of movement. And it can only be achieved when the mind is free of the fear that the yips create. When someone comes to Leadbetter with a problem like the driver yips, his goal is to get the player moving like themselves again. He wants to get the mind out of its overactive, negative state so that the player can instead live in their body free of tension. And let the body move the way it knows how to move.

“If I was recommending anything, some of it has definitely got to do with your routine,” Leadbetter said.

If someone’s playing well, their routine generally takes the same amount of time, Leabdetter says. “It’s constant, that’s part of their swing. And normally speaking, that tends to change when people are uncertain or unsure, or feel they’re going to hit a bad shot. They might have three looks instead of two, or they might stand over the ball just a couple of seconds longer. During that period of time, tension’s probably being built up. You’ve got this bad mental picture: OK, don’t go right, don’t go left. You see everything but the shot that you want to hit when you’re free and you’re just letting it go.”

Leadbetter has noticed players with driver issues stand over the ball and hold their breath. This also creates tension which builds up in the hands, through the arms, into the shoulders. Any hopes of being able to swing freely are gone when you’re feeling that tense.

To recreate that flow, Leadbetter has a trick that he’s used in the past. He’d have players hit drivers on the range with their eyes closed.

“When you close your eyes, you’ve got a feel for your swing. When you’re glaring at that golf ball and that golf ball means so much, where it ends up, it becomes a real mental issue,” Leadbetter says.

Taking the ball out of the player’s view takes some of the stress away. Without the ball in front of them, the player is less likely to visualise all of the bad places the ball can end up.

It takes a few swings, but Leadbetter says pros start making solid contact pretty quickly when they do this drill.

“Hitting balls with your eyes closed is an amazing therapy for this sort of issue,” he says.

Once the player has that natural flow instilled in their swing by hitting balls with their eyes closed, Leadbetter has them go back to the course. Before they hit a tee ball, he has them take a practice swing with their eyes closed, to repeat those good motions they’ve been making on the range. When they actually hit the ball on-course, they do it with their eyes open.

Another drill Leadbetter has seen success with is teeing up a line of six to eight balls, and having the player hit one, step in to the next, take one look at the target, hit. Step into the next ball, look at the target, hit. All the way through the line. “You don’t have time to think,” Leadbetter says.

While doing these drills, Leadbetter has seen players hit great drives. Seeing that visual of the ball sailing straight towards the intended target is key to rebuilding confidence. Hitting bad drives derails players’ confidence. They know that they’re capable of hitting it way off target. But after spending time on the range doing drills that create good drives, they know that they’re capable of hitting it in the fairway. Confidence begins to creep back in. The player’s instincts start to take over. The swing moves freely.

“As a player, you’re searching, you’re looking, and sometimes the cure is actually a little radical, hitting balls with your eyes closed, for instance, or whacking 10 balls in a row without even worrying about your alignment. You’ve got to bring the freedom back,” Leadbetter says.

Lindblad has a difficult task before her. But perhaps her ability to write about it candidly on social media shows that she is honest with herself about what is happening and ready to try whatever it takes to feel confident with her driver again. She’s not hiding from it or pretending that it isn’t happening. Right now, she is playing while shouldering much doubt and fear. How unfair, for someone with such ability, to feel that way on the golf course. But beyond this heartbreak, there is hope. This has been conquered.

“She can get it back,” Leadbetter says with confidence.

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This month marks the 200th edition of Golf Digest Middle East. It is a milestone that takes us back to 2008, when we first launched the magazine and set out to bring world-class golf coverage to the region.

There is no better way to celebrate the number one golf magazine in the Middle East than by reflecting on the local stories, major events and exclusive features with the game’s leading professionals that have shaped our journey. You can revisit some of those highlights on page 44!

It has been another busy stretch for golf in the region. Freddy Schott claimed his maiden DP World Tour title in Bahrain, while Patrick Reed continued his strong run of form with his second win of the season in Qatar.

LIV Golf opened its campaign under the lights at Riyadh Golf Club with Elvis Smylie taking centre stage, before the Ladies European Tour arrived a week later for the PIF Global Series, where Charley Hull triumphed at the PIF Saudi Ladies International.

This month, we also sat down with South Africa’s Jayden Schaper to discuss his journey to two DP World Tour titles at just 24 years of age.

Our Hot List coverage continues with a focus on the latest irons to hit the market. There are 34 models worth your attention!

Instruction remains at the heart of what we do. Bobby Clampett explains why and how to hit down on your irons, Todd Anderson breaks down the three essential tee shots every player should master, and Katie Dahl demonstrates a punch shot that can get you out of trouble when you need it most.

All this and plenty more in the March 2026 edition of Golf Digest Middle East.

The issue is again free to our loyal audience. You can scroll through the ISSUU link provided here or download it to your favourite device for later. Alternatively, pick up a copy at your favourite golf club. Whatever option you take, we hope you enjoy the read.

The post Get your FREE March 2026 edition of Golf Digest Middle East here! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Oddly enough, both the floaties and the resistance band served the same purpose, as Hovland explained following a first-round 69 (T-12) at Riviera Country Club. The resistance band, however, was a bit more helpful. And looked a little less whacky.

“I feel like that actually made it easier for me to find something tangible that I could take out on the golf course,” Hovland said of the band drill, which PGA Tour Live cameras captured during his early-morning range session.

https://twitter.com/PGATOUR/status/2024521761191002247

The floaties certainly helped, too. Hovland finished T-10 at the Phoenix Open, where he gained over four strokes on approach, which ranked him fifth in the field that week. While he did not get the result he wanted at Pebble Beach (T-58), he struck his irons nicely again. That continued on Thursday, with Hovland gaining 2.4 strokes tee-to-green, per datagolf, ranking him seventh in the field.

“Trying to just get a little bit wider in the downswing, not trying to pull my arms as close to me,” said Hovland. “That’s what the floaties were for, trying to get some space in the downswing. It was just hard to feel that when I took the floaties away.

“But the band, it forces your body to push against the tension and then when you take it away, it’s like wow, that’s what it’s supposed to feel like. We’re not quite all there yet even though this is a great round of golf, but that was a huge step in the right direction.”

Not quite all there yet is a place where Hovland lives. Following his most recent PGA Tour win at the Valspar Championship last year, the 28-year-old said he “honestly did not believe” he could win that week, adding that he didn’t have his best stuff and he hit a lot of “disgusting” shots. Such is life for one of the game’s ultimate tinkerers.

Even more encouraging for Hovland on Thursday was the way he hit driver, an area he’s struggled with in his two starts this year.

“It was a lot better than it has been the past few months I’d say just in terms of just ball-striking off the tee was really good with my driver,” he said. “Hit a lot of fairways, hit a decent amount of greens and gave myself a lot of looks. Didn’t feel like the putter was quite there today, but my short game made up for some misses and yeah, overall, or all in all a very good day.”

Hovland sits four off the lead of Aaron Rai, who reached six under before play was suspended due to darkness on Thursday. Being able to complete his round despite a rain delay, and the fact he has a later tee time Friday, gives him a nice advantage on the guys who will have to return early in the morning to finish their first round and then head right back out for their second. In other words, plenty of extra time to tinker on the range with some floaties, or a resistance band, or nothing at all. With Viktor Hovland, it really depends on the day.

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Last week at Pebble Beach, it happened.

Collin gained roughly 1 million Strokes Gained: Approach at Pebble (9.681, if you want specifics), which meant he lifted the trophy despite being a worse-than-average putter on the week.

What prompted this breakthrough? A few interesting tweaks to his golf swing. Better yet, we’ve got data from state-of-the-art golf swing app SportsBox AI to prove and explain how one of the best players in golf might, hopefully, probably be back to his best.

If you look at the number I’ve circled here, you’ll notice SportsBox measure of Collin’s Sway Gap at the top of the backswing is about half an inch less now than it was.

You can read more about Sway Gap here, but basically, it’s a measurement of the difference of alignment between your upper and lower body.

• When you’re standing straight, you have zero sway gap—your upper and lower are on top and bottom of each other.
• If I was to lean over to my right side, I’d have a bigger sway gap.

Collin’s upper body used to sway more off the ball—giving him a bigger sway gap. This is fine, but generally it’s more suited to players who hit a draw (see Kirk, Chris), because it can help you swing more to the right.

But that’s not what Collin, a fader, needs. He needs to swing more left.

When his upper body swayed back more, opening a bigger sway gap, it pulled his arms more around the body, and it’s why he swung more to the right, which would undermine his preferred pull-fade.

But now, Collin’s sway gap is smaller. His upper body is more on top of his lower body on the backswing.

Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire

This means his hands track more up towards the sky, and less around his body on the backswing.

Mike Mulholland

Which helps the club come down a little steeper on the downswing, which helps him swing more left. A better match-up for his ideal fade.

Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire

Interestingly, this new movement has also resulted in a slightly shorter backswing—I’ve circled his hand path length metric here, which means his hands aren’t travelling as long a distance. Yet Collin’s ball speed is slightly faster than it was last season anyway.

Maybe it’s the effect of a little confidence boost, or he’s been adding some speed training on top of this. Either way, it’s working. He’s in the winner’s circle again, and his golf swing is back to being matched up in a way that makes him really dangerous.

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The post Collin Morikawa’s golf swing is looking really dialed—and the data proves it appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

IN THE BEGINNING

My golf swing originally started from reading that Tiger Woods book, How I Play Golf.

I know it doesn’t look anything like it, but that’s how it started. I never had any lessons as a teenager. I literally just read that book, whacked some golf balls around in the backyard, and I didn’t take golf overly seriously at that point.

Martin Hunter / Getty Images

I got my first proper lessons around the age of 18 when I started taking golf seriously. I’ve been through a few different coaches since then, but I’ve settled on Marcus Wheelhouse back home in New Zealand.

I’ve been working with Marcus basically since I turned pro, since about 2012 and we’ve always worked on function over form.

My golf swing is not technically perfect by any stretch. It certainly doesn’t look pretty, I know that.

We work really hard on keeping the club in front of me, controlling the face, turning hard through the ball and having control of the golf ball. For the most part, I feel like we’ve achieved that over the last few years especially.

Jared C Tilton / Getty Images

THE EVOLUTION

My swing used to be quite a bit more behind me, with a flatter swing, and I used to hook the ball a bit, for want of a better term.

When I first started working with Marcus, we worked hard on getting the club more in front of me and hitting more of a fade as a stock shot. That got the club more upright and my hands a lot higher than they were.

I don’t think it’s changed too much in the last few years.

I also did quite a bit of work with Jamie Gough while I was in Europe for a few years, which was really good. I made big strides under Jamie. He and Marcus would work in tandem, Jamie on tour and Marcus back in New Zealand.

It was a lot of the same principles, maybe set slightly differently, but both wanted the same thing: club in front of me, plenty of room, space and time to hit the ball, with a stock shot being a little fade.

That’s what I’ve played with and played well with over the last four or five years.

I finished up with Jamie last year, purely because he’s Europe-based and I was playing predominantly in the States, so it didn’t really work logistically. But I really appreciate everything he did for me.

Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images

THE STRUGGLES ARE REAL

The biggest struggle I had was in 2024, and that was due to injury. I tore the labrum in my right hip.

I’ve always gone down and back, but I’ve also always been good at holding my right hip and spine angle and getting through the ball well. Even though I’m down and back, I could still hold the face nicely.

With the torn labrum, I couldn’t hold that angle in my right hip. I basically fired early, got up and out of the shot, and missed it right routinely for most of the year.

The frustrating thing was that there wasn’t really any pain. It just stopped working properly.

It took a while to get that sorted, with rehab and a cortisone injection. At the beginning of 2025, a lot of the work was about getting rid of the bad habits I’d picked up in 2024 and getting back to what I do best.

I remember talking to Marcus and Jamie during 2024, with them wanting me to do certain things in the swing, and me saying, “I can’t. I don’t know why, but I just can’t do it.”

In hindsight, obviously I couldn’t do it because the labrum was torn.

Thankfully, all of that’s behind me now, and I feel like I’m getting back to where I was swing-wise in 2022 and 2023, which were probably my two most consistent years.

Stuart Franklin / Getty Images

GAINING CONFIDENCE

If you went through my phone, I don’t have many videos of my swing. The only time I’ll take one is if I don’t have someone with me at a tournament and I want to send a video for feedback.

Even then, I won’t look at it myself most of the time. I’ll get Dean, my caddie, to take the video, send it on and see what feedback I get.

I’m someone who gets confidence from the ball doing what I want it to do. I try to be as “out there” as possible rather than thinking about my swing or getting too technical.

Obviously, it’s not pretty, and I’m not worried about hitting certain positions. I know there are some things I need to do well in the takeaway, the set-up and the feeling on the way down to get the swing working at its best, but I’m certainly not worried about how it looks.

CALORIE COUNTING GOES OUT THE WINDOW

Fitness has become much more important over the last couple of years, especially after the injury, which was a bit of a scare. I’d always been a bit hit and miss with it before.

Tournament weeks are generally lighter than off weeks. In off weeks, I’ll go to the gym four or five times. During tournament weeks, that drops to one or two sessions, plus my daily warm-up.

Food is something I can definitely be better at. I like food a bit too much, and when you go somewhere like Dubai with so many great restaurants, it’s easy to get carried away.

I’ve never been someone who counts calories or eats the same meals with exact portion sizes. But I’m trying to get away from pizzas, burgers and chips the night before I play. They don’t generally work very well.

Johnnie Izquierdo / Getty Images

MY GO TO SHOT

I like to fade it most of the time.

With my irons, I don’t mind working it both ways, mainly for yardage control. If you want a bit more distance, it’s easier to draw it slightly and take some spin off. I tend to hit draws with the ball a bit further back in my stance, which flattens the flight and adds distance.

It’s rare that I’m trying to draw a driver. There aren’t many holes where I stand there thinking I need to draw it or feel comfortable doing so. If I really have to hit a draw off the tee, I’ll probably hit a three-wood because I’m more comfortable with that.

Thankfully, there aren’t many holes where you’re forced to draw a driver.

Richard Heathcote / Getty Images

FEELS VS REALS

I spend a fair bit of time chatting with Karl Morris, who I’ve worked with since about 2019. A lot of that is about being creative, creating shots and being more reactive on the golf course, rather than being internal and worried about the swing or where the ball might go.

Every golfer fights that stuff. You’ve got too much time to think, and it’s easy to get stuck on, “I need to feel this,” or “I need to set up like that.”

For me, the swing is always about finding a good feeling rather than worrying about positions. I just need to find something that feels good.

Often it only takes a couple of shots with that feeling to think, “That’s it,” and then you can have a good week with it.

Most of the work with Karl is about finding something that works, focusing on a couple of mental things for the week, and sticking to that whether I’m playing well or badly.

Andrew Redington / Getty Images

WHAT I HATE

Trying to draw a driver brings both sides into play. I can block it if I don’t turn it over, or I can get a bit handsy and hit a big hook. Neither of those tend to work very well.

The miss I really don’t like at the moment is right. I fought that all through last year and a bit of this year, and it was a product of the injury. When you see the same miss over and over, it gets frustrating.

I’m slowly getting rid of it now. For a while, it wasn’t much fun with that left-to-right window, because it felt like I couldn’t aim far enough left to keep it on the course.

That’s probably the shot that irks me most.

Chris Hyde / Getty Images

AROUND THE GREEN

I’ve worked hard on my wedges over the last few years, and they’ve definitely improved, especially from inside 120 yards.

I had a little patch at the start of 2025 where I struggled with chipping, but I found a couple of things and that’s come back.

I wouldn’t say I’m one of the best chippers in the world, but it’s very serviceable. I feel pretty confident around the greens for the most part. Not Jordan Spieth-level or anything like that, but it’s a solid part of my game and something that does its job well.

Stuart Franklin / Getty Images

CONSISTENCY WITH THE FLATSTICK

Over the last couple of years, my driving has been a bit erratic, which is unusual for me. A lot of that was down to the hip, and I’m still tidying up some of the mess that came with that.

The other thing I’ve probably battled my whole career is the putter. It’s been streaky.

When I first got on tour, I used a short putter. I’d have weeks where I made everything, but most weeks it felt like a fight.

A few years ago, we realised I didn’t need to be the best putter on tour. I just needed to be average, and not down the bottom over a full season.

I switched to an armlock putter, which tidied things up, reduced face rotation and made everything more consistent. I still have good weeks and bad weeks, like everyone, but they’re nowhere near as extreme as before.

A decent chunk of my success over the last few years has come from being more consistent on the greens and getting my hands out of the stroke. I’ve holed some important putts in wins, play-offs and down the stretch, and having confidence in the armlock has made a big difference.

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The post Function over form with Ryan Fox appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

New Zealander Ryan Fox fronts this month’s issue and opens up on the journey behind one of the most recognisable swings in professional golf. It may not be textbook, but it has delivered 19 professional wins, including two on the PGA Tour and four on the DP World Tour. Foxy breaks down how he found confidence in his own move and why embracing what works for you can be far more powerful than chasing perfection.

We look back on a whirlwind stretch in the UAE that saw both the Dubai Invitational at Dubai Creek and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club take centre stage, it was very much another reminder of why the Dubai Desert Classic continues to earn its reputation as the Major of the Middle East.

Away from the ropes, our exclusive interview with Ronan Keating offers a different perspective on the game. Now a Dubai resident, the Irish pop icon explains why golf has become an even bigger part of his life, from competitive rounds with friends to what the game gives him away from the stage.

Instruction takes a front seat this month too. Liv Jackson from Five Iron Golf Dubai shows how to shape shots with purpose, Travis Fulton explains how one simple adjustment can add real distance off the tee, and Mark Blackburn challenges the idea that a one-piece takeaway is always the right move.

We also kick off Part 1 of our annual Hot List equipment coverage, starting with the latest drivers hitting the market and the models worth your attention as the season gets underway.

All this and plenty more in the February 2026 edition of Golf Digest Middle East.

The issue is again free to our loyal audience. You can scroll through the ISSUU link provided here or download it to your favourite device for later. Alternatively, pick up a copy at your favourite golf club. Whatever option you take, we hope you enjoy the read.

The post Get your FREE February 2026 edition of Golf Digest Middle East here! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.