Golf Monthly UK – August 2026

Summary

Matt Fitzpatrick opens up about his blockbuster 2026 season in a 10-page exclusive — Golf Monthly UK's August 2026 issue (p38) pulls no punches on the Englishman's major ambitions. Inside, 10 game-changing tips from the UK's top 50 coaches promise to rebuild your swing, cure short-putt freeze, and sharpen your course strategy, while a 6-club fairway wood test (p92) picks the best of 2026 alongside six value gems that deliver Tour-level performance under £200.

THE GAME section kicks off with reader letters (p10), the Month In Golf news digest (p12), and a heated Debate (p20) on whether fairway woods have made long irons obsolete. Tour Gear (p22) and Quick Tip (p24) keep the pace tight, while GM Asks (p32) fields reader questions direct to the editorial team. Wayne Riley (p34), Alison Root (p36) and Bill Elliott (p114) each bring their own clubhouse perspective, making this a well-rounded monthly read for the club golfer who wants Tour insight without the snobbery.

From the 54-hole Open Qualifying diary (p52) to a playful taxonomy of golfing "crimes" (p58), the features section balances serious journalism with humour. The instruction clinic — led by GM Top 50 Coach Alex Buckner (p65) — zeroes in on understanding your individual swing fingerprint, followed by long-game drills (p72), short-game escapes (p76), and a rules refresher (p80). Equipment buyers get the full Test Centre treatment (p90) plus a Retro Review (p96) and a Buyers' Guide (p98) that compares price brackets head-to-head. The Courses section rounds out with Must Play (p102), Planet Golf (p104), and a deep dive into Alister MacKenzie's legacy in Cork (p108).

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story / Interview
p.38 · Matt Fitzpatrick Exclusive
Fitzpatrick reflects on his 2026 season, the evolution of his swing under coach Mike Walker, and what it takes to contend in major championships when every facet of your game is under the microscope. He walks through the shot that saved his round at the US Open and why he believes European golf is entering a new golden era. Close with his one non-negotiable pre-round routine — something any amateur can steal before their next competition.

▸ Features
p.46 · Ben Griffin
The American talks about his transition from finance to full-time Tour professional, the analytics that drive his practice sessions, and how he stays patient during a winless stretch. Griffin shares the single stat he watches above all others — a number you can track in your own scorecard tonight.

p.52 · Open Qualifying Diary
A first-person account of the 54-hole Final Qualifying marathon, from the 5am alarm to the gut-punch of missing by one. The writer captures the raw emotion of amateurs and veterans chasing a single spot at the Open. The key lesson: how to manage your energy across three rounds in one day.

p.58 · Golfing 'Crimes'
A light-hearted but sharp-eyed taxonomy of on-course misdemeanours — from the guy who never replaces his divot to the group that won't let you play through. Every golfer will recognise themselves in at least one entry. The verdict on which "crime" deserves the harshest penalty might surprise you.

▸ Instruction
p.65 · Understand Your Swing
GM Top 50 Coach Alex Buckner dismantles the idea that there is one perfect swing shape, offering instead a framework to identify your natural pattern and work with it, not against it. Three checkpoints to diagnose your own swing in under 10 minutes.

p.72 · Long Game
A set of power-building drills focused on ground force transfer and clubhead speed, with full-sequence photos from a Tour pro. The simple two-ball drill that can add 5-8 yards to your drives within a single range session.

p.76 · Short Game
Pitching, chipping and bunker-play fixes that target the 50-yard-and-in zone where scores actually drop. A clock-face distance-control method you can calibrate in 15 minutes.

▸ Equipment
p.84 · Tested By Golf Monthly
The team's verdict on the latest driver, iron and wedge releases, scored across performance, feel, looks and value. One model scored a perfect 10 for feel — the testers explain why it's not for everyone.

p.92 · Group Test: Best Fairway Woods of 2026
Six fairway woods put through robotic and on-course testing, head-to-head. The winner wasn't the most expensive — a mid-price Callaway beat the field on dispersion and carry consistency.

p.98 · Buyers' Guide
Price-banded recommendations from budget to premium, covering everything a golfer needs to assemble a bag without blowing the budget. The single upgrade that testers say will save more strokes than a new driver.

▸ Courses
p.108 · Alister MacKenzie In Cork
An architectural tour of MacKenzie's Irish work, focusing on the design principles that make his greens so fiendish and his routing so natural. How to spot a MacKenzie green complex on any course you play.

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Editor's Take

The Fitzpatrick exclusive is the genuine draw here — 10 pages of honest, unfiltered interview that justifies the cover price alone. The Group Test and Buyers' Guide deliver the kind of data-driven comparison that Golf Monthly has built its equipment reputation on. That said, the "Golfing 'Crimes'" feature, while fun, runs a page too long, and the Alister MacKenzie piece could have used better photography to support the architectural analysis. The travel section (Stay & Play p25) feels thin — one page isn't enough for readers planning a golf trip. Overall, this is a solid, meaty mid-season issue aimed squarely at the committed club golfer who cares about instruction and equipment data. The casual reader may find the depth overwhelming.

Strengths
• Fitzpatrick exclusive delivers genuine access and reflection
• 6-club fairway wood group test with robotic data
• Buckner's swing-identification framework is immediately applicable

Weaknesses
• Stay & Play travel section is only one page
• Golfing 'Crimes' feature outstays its welcome

Verdict: Recommended — a strong mid-season issue with a standout interview and class-leading equipment testing, though the lighter content could be sharper.