John Huggan

2 weeks ago | golfaustralia.com.au | John Huggan

Having made 20-odd visits to Augusta National between 1989 and 2024, your humble correspondent won’t be visiting golf’s so-called “rite of spring” this year. And you know what? I am more than happy not to be going there. Which doesn’t exactly make me unique. As many of my fellow journalists like to say, the best view of Augusta, Georgia is in the rearview mirror. Arriving can be a thrill; leaving is invariably a relief. Don’t get me wrong.

1 month ago | golfaustralia.com.au | John Huggan

LIV Golf’s arrival has accelerated the already obvious fracturing of golf at the elite level, making the Masters, USPGA, U.S Open and Open Championship – none fall under the auspices of any major tour – even more important than they were previously. Which is hard to imagine, given the already peerless prominence enjoyed by the constituent parts of the Grand Slam before the Saudis took a financial interest in the game Scotland gave to the world. But it’s true.

1 month ago | australiangolfdigest.com.au | John Huggan

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story first ran in March 2019. Needless to say, this hole continues to be both famous—and infamous—in the minds of PGA Tour pros and every day golfers. FEAR. That’s the prevailing feeling on the tee of the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass’ Players Stadium Course. It’s said that tour pros are intimidated by only two things—wind and water—and both are abundant in the diabolical creation of the late Pete and Alice Dye.

1 month ago | golfaustralia.com.au | John Huggan

Just over two years on from a BMW PGA Championship at which Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Graeme McDowell (all long-time contributors to the well-being of the European Tour and who had made a controversial jump to LIV Golf) were informed in writing that their presence would not be required in either the pre-tournament pro-am or the media centre, Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm were accorded welcomes to the UAE which can only be described as obsequious.

Dec 6, 2024 | golfdigestme.com | John Huggan

Say what you like about Martin Kaymer—and there are those who have done just that during the two-and-a-half years since he made his controversial switch to LIV Golf. But the former PGA, U.S. Open and Players champion (and the man who holed the putt to climax the “Miracle at Medinah” that was Europe’s unlikely victory at the 2012 Ryder Cup) has always merited the utmost respect, both as a player and a person.