By Kent Gray
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, especially we golfers with a soft spot for The Open. After last year’s COVID-19 enforced cancellation, we simply can’t wait for the 149th edition of the game’s oldest and grandest championship.

We’ve studied the 12 former winners spanning 14 Opens and 127 years at Royal St George’s and drawn an extremely long bow to select our long-shot winner for ‘Sandwich’ (golf is hard and picking winners of majors even harder!). We’ve even dug up a James Bond link to the famous Kent coast linksland.

Elsewhere, we get the inside oil on the Emirates Amateur Golf League’s Mini-Series at Jumeirah Golf Estates, visit the José María Olazábal-inspired golf resort in the Maldives and bring you all the shenanigans from Golf Digest Middle East’s inaugural Play & Stay at Trump Dubai and Radisson Hotels Dubai DAMAC Hills.

Russell Hill, the osteopath father of Middle East amateur No.1 Josh Hill, explains how to avoid falling into a perpetual injury cycle (and how to get out if you’ve already fallen) while Dubai Creek teaching professional Matthew Brookes shows you a simple way to nail your set-up for every full-swing shot.

Don’t miss our Playing Through feature which offers a fascinating insight into the future of the royal and ancient game and pick your next fairway wood weapon in the latest instalment of our Hot List equipment guide.

All this and much more in the July 2021 edition of Golf Digest Middle East.

The issue is again free to our loyal audience. You can scroll through the ISSUU link provided or download the bumper July 2021 issue FREE to your favourite device for later. Alternatively, pick up a copy at your favourite club. Whatever option you take, we hope you enjoy the read.