Golf Monthly Presents – Golf All-Stars – 1st Edition – May 2026

Summary

Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Seve Ballesteros sit alongside Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko and Ludvig Aberg in Golf Monthly's Golf All-Stars 1st Edition (May 2026) — 40-plus player profiles spanning seven decades, each built around signature shots and technique tips. The 120-page digital special includes 8 pull-out posters and four Top 10 lists that rank the courses, moments, rising stars, and best-of-the-rest players that define the game's global story.

Rory McIlroy opens the profile section at p6, followed by Gary Player, Ludwig Aberg, Kathy Whitworth, and a deep run through Jordan Spieth (p20), Ernie Els (p24), Nelly Korda (p26), and Jon Rahm (p36). The Top 10 Moments (p30) curates the most dramatic finishes in major history, while the Top 10 Courses (p50) spans Augusta National to Royal County Down. The Rising Stars list (p112) identifies the next wave including players who haven't yet won a major but are already reshaping the leaderboards.

Each profile follows a consistent format: career stats, the shot that defined them, a swing technique note, and a quote from a contemporary rival. The writing avoids puffery — the Bryson DeChambeau entry (p102) acknowledges the controversy around his methods while crediting his impact. The posters are printed on pull-out stock and feature action photography of Woods, Nicklaus, Ballesteros, McIlroy, Sorenstam and Palmer, among others.

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Content Guide

▸ Legends
p.6 · Rory McIlroy
From Holywood to world number one — the career in numbers, his four major wins, and the driver swing that changed how power is measured. What McIlroy changed in his setup after 2023 to regain control.

p.16 · Seve Ballesteros
The imagination and short-game genius that won five majors and inspired a generation. The lob shot from the car park at Royal Lytham — how he executed it and why you should never try it.

p.32 · Tiger Woods
15 major wins, 82 PGA Tour titles, and a career that redefined the sport. The two-way miss that even Woods fought during his prime and what amateurs can learn from how he managed it.

p.68 · Jack Nicklaus
The Golden Bear's 18 professional majors and his approach to course management that is still studied today. Nicklaus's pre-round note-taking habit that any amateur can copy.

▸ Modern Stars
p.12 · Ludvig Aberg
The Swedish phenom who accelerated from college golf to Ryder Cup star in under 18 months. His grip position and what it means for players with a weak release.

p.26 · Nelly Korda
Nine LPGA wins before turning 26, a power game built on perfect sequencing, and the mental resilience that carried her to world number one. The single drill she uses to keep her swing on plane.

p.42 · Scottie Scheffler
The world number one's unorthodox swing — the hip slide, the bowed wrist, and why trying to copy it exactly is a mistake. What amateurs can borrow: his pre-shot routine tempo.

▸ Top 10 Lists
p.30 · Top 10 Moments
From Tiger's chip-in at the 2005 Masters to Seve's putt at the 1984 Open, ranked by drama, difficulty and historical significance. The 1999 Ryder Cup — why it remains the benchmark for team-golf tension.

p.50 · Top 10 Courses
Augusta National, St Andrews, Cypress Point, Pine Valley, Royal County Down, Shinnecock Hills, Pebble Beach, Muirfield, Merion and Royal Melbourne. What makes each routing architecturally irreplaceable.

p.112 · Top 10 Rising Stars
The next generation of talent, ranked by potential rather than current résumé. One player on this list who could overtake Scheffler within three years.

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Editor's Take

This is a nostalgia-heavy collection that will appeal most to fans who want a single-volume who's-who of golf's biggest names. The Top 10 Courses list is well researched, and the mix of men's and women's players is balanced — Kathy Whitworth, Annika Sorenstam, Nelly Korda, Minjee Lee and Lydia Ko all get proper profile space. However, the profile format becomes repetitive by page 60 — the stats-and-shot template works for 10 players but feels mechanical across 40 entries. The Best of the Rest section (p90) is a rushed collection of one-paragraph entries that deserved either expansion or omission. The posters are the best physical asset, but the digital edition loses that tactile benefit, making this a tough recommendation for screen-only readers.

Strengths
• Balanced gender representation across all eras
• Top 10 Courses list is genuinely considered and debated
• Signature-shot focus gives each profile a distinct memory point

Weaknesses
• Profile template becomes repetitive after 20 entries
• Best of the Rest section is too thin to add value

Verdict: Selective read — best for golf fans building a coffee-table collection, but digital buyers may find the posterless experience less satisfying.