Ian Poulter has insisted that he hopes to be able to compete in next year’s Ryder Cup in Rome despite having signed for LIV Golf.

Poulter, who has played in seven previous Ryder Cups and has 16 points to his name, is at the forefront of a legal challenge to the DP World Tour aimed at allowing LIV golfers to not only be able to qualify for the Ryder Cup, but continue to play in DP World Tour events across the world.

Poulter, speaking in Miami before the final LIV Golf event of 2022, which gets under way at Trump Doral on Friday, said: “We can still qualify for the team as far as I’m aware. Unless we’ve been told we can’t qualify, then I’m still ready to play as much as I possibly can and try and make that team.”

He added: “My commitment to the Ryder Cup has never been in doubt. I don’t think that should ever come into question. I’ve always wanted to play Ryder Cups and have played with as much passion as anyone else that I’ve ever seen play a Ryder Cup.”

One person who isn’t keen on Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood teeing it up in Rome is world no.1 Rory McIlroy, who said that he felt a sense of ‘betrayal’ from all those European players who have signed up to LIV Golf and still expected to be able to play in DP World Tour events and the Ryder Cup.

Speaking after his win at last weekend’s CJ Cup about his feelings towards former Ryder Cup teammates who have joined LIV Golf, McIlroy said: “This is the first time that I’ve felt a kind of sense of betrayal. You build bonds with these people through Ryder Cups and other things. Them knowing that what they are about to do is going to jeopardise them from being a part of that ever again. There was a great opportunity for GMac [Graeme McDowell] to maybe be the captain at Adare in 2027, while most of Sergio’s legacy is Ryder Cup-based, same with Poulter and Westwood.”

He added: “If people felt so aggrieved about some things. I’d rather be trying to make those changes from inside the walls than trying to go outside and be disruptive.”

A five-day hearing, presided over by Sport Resolutions UK, is take place in London in February when a final decision will be made on whether LIV Golf members can continue to participate in DP World Tour events where eligible, collect Ryder Cup qualification points and feature on the order of merit. This opens the door for the involvement of the players in question in the Race to Dubai finale in November, plus the Middle East swing in January next year.

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With golf season right around the corner, it’s essential to get your mind and body prepared.

Growing up in New York and knowing that my golf season was limited by the weather helped me develop some strategies to ensure I was ready to play my best golf as soon as the season allowed.

Here are some of those tips and tricks so that you don’t waste a single day of the golf season.

Develop a Strong Strength Training Routine

Fitness experts will tell you that the physical strength of your body will have a major impact on your ability to hit the ball a long way and to do it consistently.

As long as you have some basic dumbbells or bands, you can do exercises to encourage better leg strength, arm strength, and muscle tone.

It’s best to devise a physical fitness routine that you can do consistently throughout the offseason. This doesn’t mean doing a few squats, push-ups, or curls the day before you head back out on the golf course.

The strength training routine should also work on your stomach muscles and abdomen to ensure that your core is as efficient and quick as possible in the swing.

Winter Cardio Is Key

Winter cardio is something that many golfers forget to do.

Jumping on the treadmill a few days a week and walking “9 holes” will pay off when the golf course doors open. Golf is not the most physically demanding sport, but getting through nine holes or 18 holes of golf will be considerably easier if your heart is in better condition.

Many times in the early part of the golf season, players will start to make mistakes when they get to holes 15 and 16. This is not necessarily because of your golf swing but because your body and heart are tired.

Schedule Putting Practice

It may sound ridiculous to add putting practice to your schedule, but it is not!

Set up an area in your home where you can work on your putting and practice for at least a half hour per week. Feel free to split this up into 3 ten-minute sessions.

If you buy the right putting mat that will hold your attention and challenge you, chances are you will see much better results and want to practice more often.

When you head out to the course in the spring, the green will be bumpy, but your consistent stroke will only help that first round of the new season.

Swing As Often As You Can

Professional golfers often have the advantage here because they have large studios where they can work on their golf game and watch the progression of their swing on a launch monitor. Many amateur players do not have this same opportunity.

However, there are often indoor driving ranges or a space in your garage where you can at least swing a club. Even if you can swing just a few times per week, you will help make the start of the golf season much easier on you.

Go For a Golf Club Fitting

People often like to argue that a golf club fitting is for players searching for new clubs, but this is not the truth. Golf club fittings are for golfers that want to ensure their equipment is the best possible choice for them.

Going to a fitting could mean you come home with a new club, but it could also be a slight tweak to a loft or lie of a golf club in your bag.

Getting on a launch monitor and having a fitting expert determine if you are using equipment that supports your goals is a really smart choice.

Regrip Your Golf Clubs

Whether you do it yourself or you have someone do it for you, regripping your golf clubs is a great way to start the new season. When your golf clubs have slippery grips on them, your grip pressure will increase, and you may struggle with releasing the golf club.

When regripping clubs, ensure you have the right size grip and the proper material and thickness. Golf club regripping is an investment but one that is well worth taking if you are keeping your equipment through the golf season.

Brush up on Rules

Rule changes happen in golf more frequently than they once did. If you want to be sure you are adequately prepared to follow the rules on the course, take a glance through a new rule book. Many golfers have this idea that the rules are there to punish you; however, they are there to help you.

Knowing the rules of golf will help you understand what your options are should you hit a bad shot. Trust me on this one – for many years, I didn’t have enough of an understanding of the more detailed rules, and I ended up dropping the ball in areas where it didn’t make much sense.

When you know the rules and your options, you can save several strokes this season.

Set a Goal for The Year

What is your goal for this golf season?

Having the goal in place and developing it in the off season will help you set up a plan and figure out a way to achieve it. The goals don’t always have to be scoring-related.

You may find that you want to play golf more on Wednesdays or that you want to meet some new golf partners. These are all good goals. However, in the months when you can’t play golf because of the weather, you can think about your goals and how you will accomplish them.

Chipping Practice in The House

We mentioned putting practice in the house, but I also highly recommend working on your chipping.

The key here is to find foam golf balls and a small hitting mat or even a carpet where you can hit some wedge shots. The key here is to take an effortless motion and try to make clean contact.

Chipping practice does not need to be anything fancy or expensive. Even taking a small bucket from the garage or a bowl from the kitchen and trying to chip the foam balls into that will be enough to get the lower body and upper body working together.

The key to chipping is often the tempo, which establishes it at the perfect time of year.

Mentally Prepare Your Game

The mental game is such a huge component and one that many amateur golfers neglect to pay attention to.

If you want to mentally prepare your game, it is essential to work on it. There are books and videos out there that will teach you the proper mindset and alternative ways to look at scoring.

I highly recommend developing a pre shot routine that is the same every single time. In addition, it may be worth looking into some type of app or device that will help track your stats when the season starts.

Knowing if you are hitting greens and fairways or if your putting is terrible can give you more direction as to what to work on. Over time, mental preparedness is going to pay off even more than physical preparedness.

The golfers on the PGA Tour that are winning each week are mentally tougher than other players on tour. At some point, everyone is able to make good golf shots, but the mentally tough will win.

Check The Fundamentals Before They Turn Into Bad Habits

When you finally get to start hitting golf shots, make sure that you use alignment sticks to check that the golf ball’s direction is as straight as you think it is. These first few weeks of the golf season are when you start to notice issues with the bad habits sneaking back up.

Many players jump out on the golf course after several months off and start swinging as hard as they possibly can. Of course, this is not necessary, and until you get your setup, stance, posture, grip, and tempo down, don’t attempt to do all that much.

Starting the golf season unprepared may end up causing you some frustration when it comes to lowering scores and having a successful year. Take it slow in the beginning, and be methodical about the swings you are taking and the practice you are putting in.

In the end the work you do on the fundamentals will pay off the most.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children.

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After bagging her first win as a professional at the British Open back in 2018, England’s Georgia Hall is looking to take her career to the next level after recent victories on both sides of the Atlantic

You kicked off this year with a win at the Saudi Ladies International in March. How important was it to get a ‘W’ in the book so early in the season?

Yeah, it was fantastic to win in March, which was early in the season for me, and to do so at such big event. Both my previous big wins have come in the second half of the year, so I was really pleased to get off to good start this year.
I love the course at Royal Greens, it seems to suit my game, so to lead from the first round and to keep my head in front was something I was very proud of. I had a five-shot lead going into the final round, and sometimes those big leads are the hardest to defend, as you can start playing safe and get into trouble, but I was really happy with the way I coped with the pressure and kept my lead intact. I put a lot of work in at the start of the year, so I’m in a good place at the moment, and I’m very happy with my golf.

You adopted a different schedule at the start of the year compared to previous seasons, playing in a couple of tournaments in Florida, but no play at all in Asia. What was the thinking behind that?

I love playing golf tournaments anywhere in the world, so a lot of the time I would just play in a certain tournament just to play, but this year I’ve kind of set out my stall to play in the events I specifically enjoy playing and the golf courses I know I play well on.
Travelling to Asia takes a long time and I haven’t played that well there in the past, so I thought I’d mix things up this year and see how I fared with a different schedule. I also skipped the KIA Classic in California because I don’t enjoy the course at Aviara. And it kind of paid off, as I won in Saudi the following week at a course that I know that I like and generally play well on.

Do you feel that as you’ve got more experience under your belt you’re in a better position to make decisions about where to play and where not to play?

Yeah, I think it takes a few years to know what schedule suits you and what courses you perform best on. And living in the UK, but playing predominantly on the LPGA Tour, makes things a tiny bit harder travel-wise. So, I it’s taken some time to learn what courses I like and how many weeks I can be away from home. I’ve never really done that well in Asia, but I’m sure I will be back there soon, but I figured it would be ok to take a break from it for a season and see how things go.

You’ve been a global player from the outset of your professional career, but how hard was it to adjust from playing the LET to the LPGA Tour?

The LPGA Tour is a big change from the LET – the pins are often in tougher spots and the courses are a lot longer than in Europe. And, of course, the fields are stronger. There can also be some big distances between venues, and time differences, so you have to factor all that in too.
We obviously play for a lot more money in America, but it also costs a lot more to get out there and stay out there. If you are not playing well and missing a lot of cuts, it is extremely expensive. You have to pay for a visa to get over there, flights are even more expensive nowadays, and if there is a week where there isn’t a tournament, you still have to pay for accommodation. It is expensive, but if you do play well, the rewards are there.

It’s a record-breaking season in terms of prize money on the Ladies European Tour, with €30 million up for grabs across the season. How does it feel from a player’s perspective to have those purses to play for and for women’s golf in Europe to getting that kind of support following what has been a rocky time for the tour?

Yeah, I think it’s fantastic. It’s definitely what the LET needs, and it’s such a more positive situation to be in than was the case just a few years ago. I’m really happy for the girls. The tie-in with the LPGA Tour has been a really great move, and that’s why you get LPGA players coming over here, because they want to compete in these events and play on this Tour.

How much are you looking forward to teeing it up at the Aramco Team Series event at Centurion next month?

The Aramco Team Series has been a really great addition to the Tour and one that I know the girls enjoying playing in. Having that team element is different and makes it a little more interesting – and is a real force for good in women’s golf.
Any time you get to tee it up on home soil is very special indeed, so an opportunity to win individually or with my team in London at the Aramco Team Series is something that would obviously be a massive season highlight.
I love the concept and a chance to play and win with a range of different players with some good memories from last year. Women’s sport and UK golf is booming at the moment, so fun and exciting events like this on the LET provide a massive opportunity for more women and girls to get inspired to play.

Looking ahead to the rest of the season, what are some of your immediate goals?

My main goal is to win more tournaments, and I think I’m ready to do that now. I have a better understanding of my game, I have a better understanding of my schedule and where I can play my best, so hopefully that will lead to some positive results and hopefully some more wins. I just want to take it to the next level, and I feel like I’m ready to do that.
One of my other goals is to get back into the world’s top 10. The top players in the world are super consistent and it’s tough to get there, so I have to play good golf week-in, week out. Being more consistent in the majors is also important, but putting in strong performances across the board will be the key to getting my ranking up.

We had fans back the Women’s British Open when it was held at Carnoustie last year and will do so again when Muirfield hosts the tournament for the first time this year. How much of a boost does it provide to play in front of a supportive crowd?

I do feel very calm when I am playing the British Open. It is just so nice to play in front of the crowds that are generally getting behind you. We missed that in 2020, and to hear them cheering my name at Carnoustie was a lot of fun. Hopefully there will be a few people pulling for me at Muirfield. It certainly made a huge difference when I won at Lytham in 2018.

Going back to that win in 2018, how much pressure did having your first professional win being a major put on on you in terms of expectations in the immediate aftermath?

To be honest, I felt like the win gave me a big confidence boost, rather than putting extra pressure on me. I had an OK year after that, nothing amazing, but the second half of the 2018 season was strong. I certainly didn’t feel any external pressure – we don’t generally get that kind of attention in women’s golf, say, like they do in tennis or some other sports, so the only pressure was coming from me and what I wanted to achieve.
I’ve won a major, I’ve won on multiple tours, and I’ve had a decent run in the Solheim Cup, so I feel like I’ve done ok for someone who is still only 26.

You’ve had your boyfriend, Harry [Tyrrell] on the bag for some time now. How important has he been not only in his professional role, but also being there to support you?

Playing professional golf is a team effort – people forget sometimes how much we travel and how much time we spend away from home. It can get very lonely if you are on your own, so it is great to have Harry with me, not just as a boyfriend and a caddie, but also as a travelling companion.
He definitely helps me be more relaxed on the course. We are still boyfriend and girlfriend, but we just stay focused on the golf. He is someone I can speak to about everything and anything, as I do get a bit stressed at times. He can be a bit too laid-back, but I think I can be a bit too much the other way, so we balance each other out well.
As a caddie, he does all the yardages with me, double checks that we have the right number of clubs, all that kind of stuff, but in terms of the green reading, I have always done that myself.

Slow play has been an issue in professional golf, and women’s golf in particular, in recent years. What more do you think needs to be done to speed things up? Are you in favour of harsher penalties?

If someone is being slow and holding up play, then I believe that they should get penalised, whether it’s a warning, as a first-off, or some sort of penalty for habitual offenders. I don’t think it should matter whether it’s the last round or the first, if someone is being slow, they need to be told to hurry up or face a penalty.
I don’t think there necessarily needs to be a change in policy, but players do need to be told more often by officials to get a hurry on. It doesn’t make for great viewing on TV or help the other players when players are extremely slow. It can be hard when the weather’s bad and the wind’s blowing, but otherwise there are no excuses really.

What advice you would give to any young girls out there thinking of taking up golf?
I started when I was seven years old, and I just really enjoyed trying to make contact with the ball and try to hit it as hard as I could. The key when starting out is to have a lot of fun with it and try not to focus on the end result too much. Everyone is different, some find it easier than others, but the essential ingredient is to have fun.

WHAT’S IN GEORGIA’S BAG?
Driver: Callaway GBB Epic (9°)
Fairway: Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero (15°)
Hybrid: Callaway Mavrik (19)
Irons: Callaway Apex Pro 19 (3-9)
Wedges: Callaway Mack Daddy 5 Jaws (50°, 54°, 58°)
Putter: Odyssey White Hot RX Rossie
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

GEAR TALK WITH GEORGIA

“The GBB driver is my favourite club in the bag, Driving has always been the best part of my game. When I play well, people often say it’s because of my putting, but I’m much more consistent with the driver.”

“Besides driver, I only carry a 3-wood. I go straight from my 3-wood to my hybrid. I’ve never even hit a 5-wood. For me, the gap between hybrid and 3-wood is fine. I don’t feel like I need anything between. However, for the British Open, I’ll often switch out the hybrid for a 3-iron.”

“I’ve had the Apex Pro irons in the bag for three seasons now and I’m really happy with them. I’m more about the look of the club and feeling comfortable with it than focusing on the numbers when I test, but I always take yardage into consideration. If I like it, and it doesn’t go shorter, I’ll start using it. The Apex Pros are forged and the feedback of the face is superb and I won’t change until something better comes along that works for me.”

“Callaway does cool custom stamping on wedges, and they’ve done some nice ones for me, They put my logo on one, the British flag on another, and they made me one when I won the British Open in 2018.”

“My Odyssey White Hot RX Rossie is the oldest club in my bag,” says Hall. “I’ve used it for the past six years, and it was old when I first got it. I’ve tested other putters, but I always come back to this one. You don’t hit the putter far, but I think it’s the hardest club to test. Putting is so personal. The only change I’ve made over the years is putting a SuperStroke grip on it, which takes a lot of the tension out of your hands and enables a smoother release.”

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