Troy Mullins has worked with several golf instructors, but when the long-drive champion and LIV Golf analyst thinks about how she developed her swing, she says intuition deserves most of the credit.

“Learning the driver was difficult for me at first, because I only swung irons for the first few years when I began playing,” Mullins says. “But I pick up things quickly, and coming from a track background [she competed in the heptathlon at Cornell University], I started doing what felt right for my body to do when I was throwing the shot put. It was similar.”

Specifically, she discovered that generating power with a driver comes from a blend of lateral, rotational and vertical forces — just like it does when throwing an 8lb shot.

“You can tell that she understands how the body should move,” says instructor Trillium Rose of Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland. “Her positions, her angles at various points in the swing, she doesn’t look awkward. She’s doing it by the book. Her swing looks classically taught.”

Troy Mullins. Golf Digest

PRO-FILE: TROY MULLINS
AGE: 36 / 5ft 8ins / Los Angeles

GETTING BEHIND IT
Troy Mullins starts her swing like someone who competes in long-drive competitions, says instructor Trillium Rose. “She knows that she can create power with a big move off the ball. She even lets her left knee kick in and heel come off the ground to get all her weight on the right side of the body.”

GREAT RANGE
“She has great shoulder turn, but her hips turn a lot, too,” Rose says. “Many golfers try to prevent that much hip rotation, because that resistance against the upper body helps generate torque. But she gets power by making as big a turn as she can. There’s more than one way to do it.”

FREDDIE-ESQUE
As Mullins reaches the top, Rose says she has the look of Fred Couples. “That lead elbow is really straight. If that arm collapses, you lose the width you need to power through the ball. Also, most people who swing past parallel bend their body toward the target. But she’s nice and tall.”

LAG IT LIKE SERGIO
“It’s pretty unusual with women to see the clubhead lagging so far behind the hands in the downswing, but she’s got lag like Sergio [Garcia],” Rose says. “The combination of soft grip pressure and unwinding really fast with her pelvis encourages the type of lag you see in power hitters.

Troy Mullins. Golf Digest

PUSH AND GO
Mullins plants her left heel and pushes straight up with that leg to increase hip speed, Rose says. “At the same time, she’s pushing toward the target with her trail leg, like a sprinter off the blocks. That combination gives you so much speed. It’s a great move to copy if you can.”

UPSWINGER
As she strikes the ball, her swing is being supported entirely by her left foot. “Some long drivers still have a lot of weight on the back foot, because they’re trying to launch it up,” Rose says. “But she’s able to hit up on the ball because of a significant amount of right-side bend in her torso.”

MOMENTUM SHIFT
Her right arm rotates over the left in the through-swing as a result of momentum. “If the club is coming from the inside through impact, the clubhead will turn over if your grip pressure is light,” Rose says. “When instructors talk about fully releasing the golf club, this is a great example.”

The post Swing Sequence: Breaking down Troy Mullins’ power appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

LIV Golf’s broadcasters weigh in with their picks for the individual and team winners at this week’s LIV Golf London, the ninth event of the 2023 LIV Golf League. (Experts listed in order of latest standings.)

TROY MULLINS

INDIVIDUAL
Bryson DeChambeau – His finish last week at Valderrama gives him some great momentum — and motivation – to win his first LIV event this week on his way to another major at the Open Championship.
TEAM
RangeGoats GC – I hate to pick against the 4Aces — and please don’t tell them I did — but I have a great feeling about the RangeGoats on Centurion this week.

DAVID FEHERTY

INDIVIDUAL
Talor Gooch – Who in the world wouldn’t pick Talor Gooch? Certainly not me.
TEAM
RangeGoats GC -– I am consistent in picking my RangeGoats, who make me look good as often as they don’t. 

SU-ANN HENG

INDIVIDUAL
Brooks Koepka – His game is in great shape and came close in Andalucia. Centurion requires strategic planning and who can do that better than Koepka?
TEAM
Stinger GC – Why not have Stinger GC be our first defending team champion?

ARLO WHITE

INDIVIDUAL
Cam Smith – He’s back on British soil after his incredible victory in the Open Championship last summer. Cam will be determined to emulate those Australian Cricketers – that he taunts me about – by beating the English and the rest of the field!
TEAM
Stinger GC – They are back at where it all began. They have three of the four players who claimed victory in our inaugural competition, plus the excellent Dean Burmester. The South Africans love this course and will repeat as champions.

DOM BOULET

INDIVIDUAL
Brooks Koepka – Going to go with Koepka to win the individual. Didn’t play here last year but a long course that favours a good driver of the ball.
TEAM
RangeGoats GC – RangeGoats going to win their second event this week.

JERRY FOLTZ

INDIVIDUAL
Brooks Koepka – One of the best at finding success on difficult courses, Koepka’s third-place finish at Valderrama sets him up for a victory at a stern Centurion Club.
TEAM
Crushers GC – Now that captain Bryson DeChambeau is playing well again, he is prepared to lead the Crushers to their first win since Mayakoba.

HOW THEY STAND

Here are the standings for our LIV Golf Experts after LIV Golf Andalucía. Each prediction received the individual and team points awarded to their respective picks.

EXPERT: Overall Points, Last Event
Mullins: 217, Johnson 11, 4Aces 12
Feherty: 201, Garcia 8, RangeGoats 24
Heng: 150, Smith 7, Fireballs 4
White: 140, Smith 7, Fireballs 4
Boulet: 122, Garcia 8, Fireballs 4
Foltz: 114, Garcia 8, Crushers 16

The post Expert Picks: LIV Golf’s broadcast team predicts the London winners appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

TROY MULLINS

INDIVIDUAL
Dean Burmester – He played really well in Adelaide. He’s really strong par 5s and par 4s. But it’s really hard for me not to pick Patrick Reed.
TEAM
Stinger – Going with the Stingers and not my 4 Aces, who won last week. First time I haven’t picked the 4 Aces.

ARLO WHITE

INDIVIDUAL
Cameron Smith – He was agonisingly close to putting in a genuine challenge to Talor Gooch in Adelaide. A victory will come sooner or later for the Ripper skipper, and I think it will be here in Singapore.
TEAM
4 Aces –After three podium finishes to start the season, they finally won for the first time in Adelaide. They are deep and they are relentless. I see a second victory outside of the US for DJ’s quartet.

DAVID FEHERTY

INDIVIDUAL
Dustin Johnson – He’s long and rounding into some sort of shape. And he’s hacked off that he hasn’t won this year.
TEAM
RangeGoats – I’m hopelessly loyal and they’re showing some form.

JERRY FOLTZ

INDIVIDUAL
Anirban Lahiri – He’s playing with a heavy heart and a new perspective. Plus, he’s playing some great golf.
TEAM
Crushers – Bryson is getting more and more determined by the week.  Also, the tight-knit team will rally around Anirban.

DOM BOULET

INDIVIDUAL
Brooks Koepka – Big golf course and need to have a solid iron game.
TEAM
Smash – Smash are going to smash it! Too much momentum with Chase’s hole-in-one last week and Jason and Matthew are bombers too.

SU-ANN HENG

INDIVIDUAL
Brooks Koepka – He’s coming in with lots of momentum.
TEAM
Smash – They’re due.

HOW THEY STAND

EXPERT: OVERALL POINTS, LAST EVENT
Mullins: 126, Reed 24, 4Aces 32
White: 78, Smith 18, Ripper 1
Feherty: 65, Smith 18, RangeGoats 24
Foltz: 63, Leishman 1, Ripper 1
Boulet: 58, Mickelson 3, Majesticks 0
Heng: 57, Leishman 1, Ripper 1

The post Expert Picks: LIV Golf’s broadcast team predict the Singapore winners appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Related: This Tiger Woods stinger with Protracer is pure golf porn

But last week at the Players Championship he took a major step in the right direction on Sunday, smoking the big stick with a high, left to right ball flight that could serve him well the rest of the season. This weekend in Las Vegas Woods is hosting his 20th annual Tiger Jam, and during the tournament on Saturday afternoon at Shadow Creek Golf Course he put the SMOKEWAGON to the test once again, challenging World Long Drive competitor Troy Mullins to a long drive contest. Let’s see how he fared:

Tiger challenged me to a long drive contest, but then he bombed it and dropped the mic on me. #tobecontinued . ?v.? #Golf Royalty?? . #playwithpurpose #tigerjam @tigerwoods #tigerwoods @tgrliveevents @tgrfound @jlindebergofficial @volvikgolf @pingtour @18birdiesapp @wearemitu @pgatour @espn

A post shared by TROY MULLINS (@trojangoddess) on May 19, 2018 at 1:25pm PDT

“That is pummeled.” Always a showman. Save some for Shinnecock, Tiger!

The post Tiger Woods challenges long drive champ to long drive contest, promptly smokes one and reacts accordingly appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Fancy the best seat in the house to watch the stellar field assembled for the 12th edition of the rebranded Omega Dubai Ladies Classic? Here’s your chance.

Tournament organisers Golf in Dubai are calling for volunteers to ensure the smooth running of the $500,000 Ladies European Tour season-ender from Dec. 6-9. Around 150 golf followers will be required to act as marshals, scorers, TV production assistants, scoreboard carriers and carry out other behind-the-scenes duties.

Related: Women’s British Open winner I.K. Kim and long drive champion Troy Mullins headline Omega Dubai Ladies Classic field

“We spend a great deal of time and energy in making sure we have the best players available for the event. The role of the volunteers is crucial in continuing to showcase Dubai as the ‘city of golf’, as we strive to make it the most successful tournament on the Ladies European Tour,” said Tournament Director David Spencer.

“None of this would be possible without the assistance of the volunteers, and we are calling on the UAE golfing community as well as international supporters as a whole to play their part in ensuring we put our best foot forward as a country.”

Knowledge of golf and its etiquette is essential for volunteers who will be deployed in a variety of key positions under the expert guidance of a highly experienced marshal management team.

“We will be delighted to welcome back experienced marshals and volunteers, but encourage newcomers to participate as well,” said Spencer.

If you wish to volunteer, visit www.dubailadiesclassic.com for online registration. Preference will be given to those volunteers who can commit to two or more days.

The post Volunteers required for Omega Dubai Ladies Classic appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

With a swing speed three miles faster than the average PGA Tour player (116mph compared to 113mph) and an eye-popping competition best hit of 402 yards, long drive champion Troy Mullins is sure to be a huge drawcard in more ways than one at the Ladies European Tour’s (LET) $500,000 season-ender from Dec. 6-9.

At least that’s what Tournament Director David Spencer is banking on after granting the Californian her 72-hole pro event debut at Emirates Golf Club.

Spencer took plenty of heat for handing Paige Spiranac her pro debut at the then Dubai Ladies Masters in 2015 and repeating the sponsors’ invite visit last season. He unashamedly admits the social media audience that accompanies Spiranac everywhere was a key driver behind the decision, to the point where the American is returning to the emirate as official starter for the men at January’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Related: On the tee…Paige Spiranac

The key driver behind Mullins’ invite is the one the 5ft 8in American wields, and rather impressively so as this tweet highlights:

She did it!

Troy Mullins is the #MileHighShowdown Women’s Champion! #WorldLongDrive pic.twitter.com/TfM5OpFt7Y

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 26, 2017

Nicknamed the Trojan Goddess, Mullins only took up the game after attending Ivy League Cornell University when a hamstring injury curtailed her promising heptathlon career. Now she has genuine LPGA Tour ambitions.

Mullins won the 2017 Mile High Showdown, a World Long Drive event, in July with a 374 yard drive in the final and has a swing so sweet it has some of the game’s most critical analysts swooning, including Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee.

Spencer is excited about what Mullins, who speaks four languages including Chinese, Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL), brings to the tournament. She will hold a clinic for spectators after play in the second round on Friday, Dec. 7.

“Troy caught our eye…we’ll we only started following long drive golf because she was on the Golf Channel and was being touted as having a perfect swing,” said Spencer.

“She’ll certainly be the longest player in the field but she’s also an accomplished golfer. We’ll she just how accomplished she is when she comes up against a professional field.”

Key Omega Dubai Ladies Classic signings (from top left clockwise): I.K. Kim, Susana Benavides, Klara Spilkova and Troy Mullins.

As well as unveiling Kim and Mullins, a new name to bring the LET event “into the ‘classic’ family”, and a “sister” trophy to match the Dallah (Arabic coffee pot) handed to Desert Classic men’s champion, Spencer also revealed 16 other name players.

They include Kim’s fellow LPGA players Suzanne Pettersen, Brittany Lincicome, Olafia Kristinsdottir, Mel Reid and reigning Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open champion Beth Allen.

Aditi Ashok, who sealed LET Rookie-of-the-Year honours with a share of third place at Emirates G.C. last December, also returns along with Rafa Cabrera Bello’s sister Emma, Dame Laura Davies, Amy Boulden, Carly Booth, Felicity Johnson, Olivia Cowan and Moroccan trailblazer Maha Haddioui.

New names include Kristinsdottir and Susana Benavides while Czech Olympian Klára Spilková returns.

Benavides is the only Bolivian-born golfer to ever play in an LPGA event and like Spiranac, will bring a strong social media audience with her to Dubai.

Being away from social media made me wanna come back ??er… #poorgreens #highheels #shooting #lpgadresscode #not

A post shared by Susana Benavides (@mumita_b) on Aug 29, 2017 at 6:41pm PDT

Spilková became the first Czech player to win a Ladies European Tour event with a one stroke victory over Pettersen at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco in April.

Photo courtesy LET
Klara Spilkova

Kristinsdottir brought forward double jaw surgery, a procedure that reportedly involved the addition of titanium plates to her nose and screws to her jaw, to correct an underbite just before becoming the first Icelander to play on the LPGA Tour. She is currently 82nd in the CME Rankings with one top-10 in her rookie year, a fourth placing at the Indy Women in Tech Championship Presented by Guggenheim.

Photo courtesy LPGA Tour Olafia Kristinsdottir

I.K. Kim, the highest ranked player in the field at No.8 in the latest Rolex Ranking, banished the haunting memory of missing a 14-inch putt to win the 2012 Kraft Nabisco Championship when he won the Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns

Related: In-Kyung Kim gets her major redemption with two-shot Women’s British Open victory

Englishwoman Sophie Lamb, who closed with a 69 at Kingsbarns to win low amateur honours, will is also a confirmed Majlis starter along with the 29-year-old South Korean.

The post Troy Mullins set to rip it past major champion I.K. Kim and co. in rebranded Omega Dubai Ladies “Classic” appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.