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Remembering Seve’s special moment at the Memorial

By Jim McCabe

It is impossible to be cold at the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village. Not in early June when stifling humidity engulfs the Midwest. But a lasting memory frozen in time? It happened right there at Jack Nicklaus’ famed club, no matter that temperatures were fixed in the 30s Celsius and sweat flowed excessively from a few dozen players who were grinding away on the range. Until they stopped. In unison. This is where the memory becomes frozen, an unforgettable sight that was a tribute to the aura of Seve Ballesteros.

It was June of 2010 and Ballesteros, then 53 and deep in the throes of a battle with cancer, offered his thanks to Nicklaus and his tournament committee for being that year’s Memorial Tournament Honoree. Unable to attend, the gallant...

Tokyo American Club–Men’s and Ladies Golf Group The biggest expat golf group in Japan

So you’ve just arrived in Japan?

You’re one of the lucky ones.

One of the safest countries on Earth. Fast, efficient transit and top-notch customer service. Hundreds of Michelin-starred restaurants in Tokyo alone and, with the Olympics mere months away, the opportunity to take in a premier international event from your doorstep.

Yes, life in Japan doesn’t force you to make many compromises–unless you’re an ex-pat with a love of golf. Japan boasts one of the world’s most active golfing communities outside of the United States, but even with more than 2,000 courses, breaking in as an ex-pat can be tricky. Courses aren’t equipped to serve English-speaking golfers, and that can mean big headaches when booking tee times. Without a car, getting your clubs from the...

Can Matsuyama Be Japan's First Major Winner? PGA Championship Preview

According to the current World Golf Rankings, Japan's Hideki Matsuyama is the third ranked player in the world, and after his emphatic victory yesterday at Firestone, he is now No.1 in the FEDEX Cup standings too. To date, the Japanese suerstar has chalked up 13 wins with 5 of them on the PGA tour, and three of those in 2017. Add to this 6 top ten finishes on tour this year, two of them at majors, including a runner up at the US Open (Matsuyama had the day's lowest round, a six-under-par 66, to finish four shots adrift of winner Brooks Koepka) and you can see both his pedigree and consistancy.

The under-hyped Matsuyama is often forgotten about by the international media, which seems to suit the quiet Ehime native, who has yet to conduct an interview in English, preferring to...

Japanese golf legend Isao Aoki speaks to CNN

This month ‘Living Golf’ is in Japan, a country that can boast the second largest golf market in the world behind the United States. It’s a country that has fallen in love with the game and its traditions. But also where the economic recession in the 1990’s threatened the survival of many clubs. With the emergence of cash rich regions such as China and the United Arab Emirates dominating where the game is played in the East, some say Japan has become the forgotten land of golf.

It’s not all doom and gloom however. CNN presenter Shane O’Donoghue travels around the capital of Japan, Tokyo, to showcase how the game is starting to prosper once again. Thanks to the emergence of Hideki Matsuyama as a world star, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics that will feature the game; and the expansion of...

Top 5 Seve Ballesteros quotes

Here at AIR, we love Seve. He inspired us on and off the course. He was a gentleman, a man of great passion and a fierce competitor... and well just Seve...

Here are 5 Quotes that aplified his unique and charaismatic sense of humor as well as his passion for the game:

1. I look into eyes, shake their hand, pat their back, and wish them luck, but I am thinking, I am going to bury you.

2. I'd like to see the fairways more narrow. Then everybody would have to play from the rough, not just me. 3. A detailed analysis of his four-putt at the 1986 Masters: I miss the putt. I miss the putt. I miss the putt. I make. 4. I always putted without a glove but I have no idea why - I saw others doing it and copied them. 5. They say I get into too many bunkers. But is no...
Ian Poulter

Ian Poulter 2010 Q&A from the AIR Magazine vaults

After having turned pro nearly 15 years ago at the young age of 19, Ian Poulter has been a prominent name on the international golf scene for roughly a decade.

Often ranked among the top ten golfers in the world, Poulter has famously remarked that there will come a time when the number one spot will come down to him and Tiger Woods. Recent wins show that his hard work is paying off, and this assessment may be much more than just wishful thinking. After helping the European team claim victory at the last Ryder Cup, Poulter talked with Air about his recent success, his future goals, and his love of fashion and Japan.
Momoko Ueda

Momoko Ueda 2009 Q&A from the AIR Magazine vaults

Her 2007 successes—being the youngest Japanese golfer to top the JLPGA money list and winning the Mizuno Classic, which qualified her for the LPGA tour—helped her break out onto the international scene. She went on to represent Japan in the Golf World Cup and played at St. Andrews, all in the same year.

How is Momoko doing today? Although she did not have the impact of fellow countrywoman Ai Miyazato in her rookie season on the LPGA tour, Ueda is renowned for her focus, drive and ambition. We caught up with her between tournaments in the USA.

More on Air

What happens if your ball strikes another players ball? Golfing Rules, Seriously!

On the course this past weekend, I putt from just off the green and my ball struck my playing partners ball, knocking it closer to the hole.

After a quick giggle, we began to discuss the ruling, 'I'll play from there and its a one-shot penalty for you' my friend said. 'I was off the green' I said, 'Doesn't matter' he said. Right, I said. 'Hang on, and I'll consult the rule book'.

Luckily, I had The R&A's Rules of Golf on my phone (Well worth a download and it's FREE)

Without quoting the book verbatim, there are basically three scenarios which you should be mindful of:

On the Fairway (updated June 14th, 2023) If your ball strikes a fellow player's ball on the fairway by accident, The 9.6 rule comes into affect, meaning If my ball...

What happens if I ground my club in a bunker? The new rules of golf explained

In 2020, the US Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A) made several changes to the rules of golf.

One major change was to the "drop procedure" when a ball is lost or out of bounds. Players are now allowed to drop the ball from shoulder height, rather than knee height, making the process more consistent and less prone to mistakes. Another change was to the rule regarding penalty strokes. Players will no longer be penalized for accidentally moving a ball on the green, such as when marking or lifting it.

Additionally, players are now allowed to repair almost any damage to the course, such as spike marks on the green. The changes also include simplifying the rules for bunkers, allowing players to touch or move loose impediments...

Taylormade Golf Japan Ginza Store English- friendly Flagship store launches in Ginza

Taylormade Golf Japan opens the doors to its latest store in the Ginza area of the capital today. Ginza is a mecca for tourists and Tokyoites alike, known for its world-class shopping, restaurants, and buzzing nightlife, it will now offer the best in golf technology and style with the opening of the new Taylormade flagship store.

Located on the very exclusive Sotobori street just a few minutes walk from Ginza station, the Taylormade GINZA aims to have a full service for its its international visitors, with trilingual staff (English, Japanese, Chinese) and offering a free testing and assessment service, giving advice on clubs and their set-up as well as offering a tax-free shopping for overseas visitors (that's 10% off!).