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Study reveals the top-20 bucket list golf courses worldwide

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Augusta National

If you’re stuck for last-minute holiday ideas to give your favorite golf fanatic, how about a round at one of the most wanted courses in the world?

One-stop golf supplier Clarkes Golf recently released data on the top-20 “bucket list” courses, and there is little surprise that Augusta National makes top spot. 

Analyzing data on 500 courses and over three categories, Clarkes looked at the numbers created by followers (how many followed the course Instagram page), interest (searches on Google), and popularity (traffic to the course website) resulting in clear victory for the legendary host of the Masters.

Despite the annual changes to the Georgia track, the chance to follow in many of the most iconic moments in the sport is the pull for most, the course leading the way in “followers” and “popularity” although, according to the figures, lagging behind overall third placed Whistling Straits in terms of “interest.”

The study, correct as November 1, gives the Augusta website over a million more views than the runner-up, luxury resort Sandal Emerald Bay, whilst three-time host of the PGA Championship, Whistling Straits, may attribute the strong figures to hosting the 2021 Ryder Cup. 

Gleneagles, scene of the 2014 Ryder Cup, the Women’s British Open, Solheim Cup (senior and junior), and a host of top-class European Tour events, is the first of the U.K courses to appear in the list at number six, although there was a heightened interest after news revealed new technology on the 12th fairway at Kings.

The Perth course finished three ahead of Adare Manor, the 5-star hotel complex in Limerick and host of an annual charity golf event starring Rory McIlroy. It’s also due to host the 2027 biennial match between the U.S and Europe.

Other notables include the stunning but often brutal Pebble Beach, the ever-popular Brandon Dunes, and major hosts Pinehurst and Oakland Hills.

As a side-project, compilers also looked at the easiest and toughest courses in the world, based on “looking at the best courses in the world, and then which 18-holers have the lowest par.”

Australia cleaned up in that one, with The Glades and Lakes coming in first and second place, with no U.S courses in the top-10.

In contrast, in the opposing “hardest” courses, Streamsong Resort, and Interlachen come in at second and fifth, behind the par-76 Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers.

Check out the full lists here and let us know what you think of the results in the comments, GolfWRXers!

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3-time PGA Tour winner calls for LIV to buy Champions Tour to fix ‘joke’ purses

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While speaking on the Subpar podcast, former PGA Tour winner and current PGA Tour Champions player Chris DiMarco said he hopes LIV buys the Champions Tour.

“We’re kind of hoping that LIV buys the Champions Tour,” he said.

“Let’s play for a little real money out here. I mean this is kind of a joke when we’re getting $2 million. There were like seven guys last week from TPC (Sawgrass, at the $25 million PLAYERS Championship) that made more money than our purses.”

In 2024, the Champions Tour had a total of $67 million in prize money over the course of 24 events.

DiMarco also defended LIV players for taking the money and said he would take it also.

“They wanted to play for a lot of money, and they deserve it. They have had some great careers, why not go and get some money?”

DiMarco also offered insight on Graeme McDowell’s move to LIV.

“I saw Graeme McDowell at the Old Memorial Pro Member, and he goes, ‘Listen, I went up to Jay Monahan and said I love the tour but I am struggling to keep my card and these guys are offering me all this money and less golf. I’m sorry, I’m going.’ And I do not blame him one bit, and I said I would have too.”

DiMarco was ranked as high as 6th in the world in 2006.

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‘It won’t win you golf tournaments’ – Golf analyst rips Charley Hull’s course management

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Charley Hull came just short of her third LPGA Tour victory over the weekend at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship when she played her last two holes at 3 over to slip all the way to 10th on the leaderboard.

After the round, Hull was blasted by Sky Sports commentator and former LPGA Tour player Trish Johnson for her lack of golf course management.

While speaking on the Sky Sports Golf podcast, Johnson spoke harshly of Hull.

“I’m probably her harshest critic, because I know how good she is. She doesn’t win anywhere near enough for her talent, and she doesn’t get involved enough, in all honestly.

“The thing with Charley is that you’re never going to change her. I read something the other day that said how much she loves the game and it’s her love of the game [that costs her]. She’s never going to change and she’s just going to go for every pin.

“In theory that’s great, but it won’t win you golf tournaments, it just won’t because she’s not that much better than anybody else. If you put Charley against Nelly Korda, then I’m picking Nelly every single day of the week.”

Johnson also made a fascinating comparison between Hull and a famous male golfer, John Daly.

“Golf-wise that’s the way she plays the game and it’s a little bit like watching John Daly I suppose.”

“There’s something that John Daly had that made him a major winner and a winner, but Charley is kind of lacking that. Her talent is not in question, but maybe her application is. Maybe it’s just the case of her never changing and that will cost her golf tournaments, there’s no two ways about it. You cannot go for every pin because that’s the way you play and it being fun, as other players are better than that and you have to have course management.”

Hull is still only 27, and therefore has plenty of time to work on her flaws to achieve the success her talent should allow.

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Former agent lifts lid on being fired by ‘zombie’ Tiger Woods

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Discussing his new book “Rainmaker” with the Daily Mail, Tiger Woods’ former agent, Hughes Norton, recounted the events leading up to and after his split with the 15-time major champion.

Norton was abruptly fired by Woods in 1998 after his 1997 Masters win and monster deal with Nike.

In the book, Norton talks about the way Tiger views his relationships, calling him a “zombie.”

The solace I can take, which doesn’t provide much, is this: He was an equal opportunity zombie with relationships, his swing coaches, his lawyer, the guy negotiated the IMG representation deal, with caddies, When it’s over, it’s over.”

Norton added:

“It is the way he terminates relationships with everyone. Whether it’s girlfriends, whether it’s his former golf coaches. It’s ironic, really. In a way he’s so good at confrontation on the golf course. If he’s playing you, he will beat your brains out every single time.

“But when it comes to confronting things like me and other people that are in his life, he has no social skills whatsoever. It’s maddening, actually.”

After he was fired by Woods, Norton was let go by IMG, which he believes was due to Woods’ influence.

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