IN THE SEPTEMBER 2009 ISSUE Phil Mickelson: My Short Game Secrets The three-time major champion’s skills inside 50 metres are renowned as downright freakish. Here, he shares the theories that help him get it up and down, over and over. GREEN’s day Battling for his Tour card, Nathan Green was just trying to figure a few things out. Then he became Australia’s latest US PGA Tour winner, Brendan James writes. coming of Age Throughout history, the greats have had moments when they’ve turned back the clock. John Huggan looks at why. the shape of balls to come Is the secret to hitting it better being uncovered in a lab somewhere? Golf Australia investigates how two giants are working to create the golf ball of the future. ball guide: what a revolution! They make look the same on the outside, but there are a host of differences within. In these pages, we sort out which balls travel far, spin more and just feel good. srixon boss martin wright An active supporter and advocate for the game at all levels, Martin Wright talks to Jeff Centenera about getting Australian golf’s administration on track, the future of the equipment industry and the peculiar buying habits of golfers. game on If rounds at your club are starting to feel a little stale, there’s an entire range of golf events out there to try. And as Jeff Centenera finds, they can take people to some very rewarding places. US PGA PREVIEW: NORTHERN EXPOSURE The pros were back in Minnesota for the last chance at major glory for 2009. Brendan James reviews what went down at the US PGA Championship. TRAVEL AND COURSES: COURSE Review: fiji’s natadola bay There’s a new must-play in the region, and it’s not in Australia or New Zealand, says Brendan James. centrefold: pine beach golf links There’s a touch of Pebble Beach to this new course on the southern tip of South Korea, which can be seen at its 15th hole. golfing getaways This month, a grand old time at Barwon Heads, why Tiger doesn’t go on golf holidays and our new monthly column, Round Trip. EQUIPMENT REVIEWS: MIZUNO MX-200 FORGED IRONS One of the top names in blades brings its noted feel to a sharp-looking cavity, which our team puts to the test. instruction: NARROW YOUR FOCUS Play to targets to get the most out of your sessions on the range. Like Camilo Villegas, you might even prefer to set up your own. PLANE AND SIMPLE It’s a familiar term, but club golfers don’t really have a grasp of what defines the swing plane. Top pros, such as Martin Kaymer, do. BE YOUR OWN COACH On the golf course, it’s all up to the individual. Which is why, teaching editor Peter Knight explains, golfers should work in practice to understand not only where shots end up, but how and why. TRUST YOUR SHORT GAME When faced with a chip, don’t automatically grab the wedge, recommends contributing pro Leon Faulkner. knock it down for accuracy The knockdown is an essential shot for windy conditions, and contributing pro Scott Smith show you how to play it. Rip it off the tee Face it, who doesn’t want to hit it longer, asks contributing pro Rohan Dummett? Try these three power moves for more distance. GOLF FITNESS: Building A Better Body A better swing requires time on the range, but also the physical conditioning to do it properly. An excerpt from a new book on golf fitness – Get A Grip – by authors Scott Williams and Daniel Hoy.