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Staffordshire businesses across a range of sectors responding to yesterday’s budget described a mixed bag of bad and good news, plus a few surprises thrown into the mix. Liam Nicholson, Associate Director at RSM UK, Tax based on Festival Park, offered the following post-budget reaction: “My initial response to the

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Challenge Tour: Dimension Data Pro-Am 2024 Live Blog

• Post author By Golf Post Gutenberg
• Post date February 14, 2024
• Sticky post

Dimension Data Pro-Am 2024 Live Scores

The Dimension Data Pro-Am in the season 2024 is being played in George, South Africa at the Fancourt Golf Estate. The tournament starts at the Thursday, 15th of February and ends at the Sunday, 18th of February 2024. The Dimension Data Pro-Am is part of the Challenge Tour in the season 2024. In 2024 all players competing for a total prize money of $370,000. The course for the tournament at Fancourt Golf Estate plays at Par 72.

The Challenge Tour is playing its third of four tournaments in South Africa to kick off the year. In addition to last week’s winner Mikael Lindberg and defending champion Oliver Bekker, the field also includes five German golfers.

Challenge Tour live

The Challenge Tour is a professional golf tournament series that acts as the second tier below the DP World Tour . It serves as a development league and offers aspiring golfers the opportunity to develop their skills at a higher level, gain experience and qualify for the European Tour.

The Challenge Tour is internationally orientated, with tournaments held in various European countries and outside Europe. This offers players a varied experience on different golf courses and in different competitive conditions. The tour attracts golfers from all over the world who are interested in furthering their careers in professional golf.

As with the Korn Ferry Tour, the top players on the Challenge Tour qualify for the higher tour, in this case the European Tour, at the end of each season. This is usually based on the Challenge Tour ranking, with the best players receiving a Tour card. This promotion is a key goal for many players on the Challenge Tour, as it allows access to more prestigious tournaments, higher prize money and greater visibility in the world of golf.

Overall, the Challenge Tour is a crucial step for many golfers who want to make the leap to the highest level of European golf, the European Tour. It offers a mix of challenge and opportunity that is crucial for the career development of golfers.

• Tags aiko , Challenge Tour , liveticker

Champions Tour: Chubb Classic 2024 Live Blog

Chubb Classic 2024 Live Scores

The Chubb Classic in the season 2024 is being played in Naples, Florida, United States of America at the Tiburon Golf Club. The tournament starts at the Friday, 16th of February and ends at the Sunday, 18th of February 2024. The Chubb Classic is part of the Champions Tour in the season 2024. In 2024 all players competing for a total prize money of $1,800,000. The course for the tournament at Tiburon Golf Club plays at Par 72.

The Champions Tour travels to Naples, Florida, for the Chubb Classic. After Bernhard Langer won the tournament the last two years, the German will not be able to defend his title again due to injury.

Champions Tour live

The PGA Tour Champions , formerly known as the Senior PGA Tour and Champions Tour, is a professional golf tournament series designed specifically for golfers aged 50 and over. This tour offers a platform for experienced golfers who have already completed their regular career on the PGA Tour . The PGA Tour Champions is characterised by shorter tournaments, usually over three rounds instead of the usual four, and there is no cut so that all qualified players compete in the entire tournament.

The participants are often former PGA Tour players and Major winners, which gives the Tour a high level of competitiveness and prestige. The PGA Tour Champions allows fans to continue to see some of the most legendary names in golf in action. The Tour also includes unique team and match play events that differ from the usual PGA Tour formats.

• Tags aiko , champions tour , liveticker

Ladies European Tour: Aramco Ladies International 2024 Live Blog

Aramco Ladies International 2024 Live Scores

The Aramco Ladies International in the season 2024 is being played in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at the Riyadh Golf Club. The tournament starts at the Thursday, 15th of February and ends at the Sunday, 18th of February 2024. The Aramco Ladies International is part of the Ladies European Tour in the season 2024. In 2024 all players competing for a total prize money of $5,000,000. The course for the tournament at Riyadh Golf Club plays at Par 72.

The Ladies European Tour is playing its second tournament of the new calendar year in Saudi Arabia. With strong German participation, one of the highest prize pools on the tour is at stake here.

Ladies European Tour live

The Ladies European Tour is the leading professional golf tournament series for women in Europe. It is the European counterpart to the LPGA Tour (Ladies Professional Golf Association), which mainly takes place in the USA. The LET offers talented female golfers the opportunity to compete at a high level and serves as a platform for players to make a name for themselves internationally.

The tour includes a variety of tournaments in different European countries as well as outside of Europe. This international presence allows players to prove themselves on different courses and in different competitive conditions. For many players, the LET is an important step in their career.

• Tags aiko , Ladies European Tour , liveticker

PGA Tour: The Genesis Invitational 2024 Live Blog

The genesis invitational 2024 live scores.

The The Genesis Invitational in the season 2024 is being played in Pacific Palisades, California, United States of America at the The Riviera Country Club. The tournament starts at the Thursday, 15th of February and ends at the Sunday, 18th of February 2024. The The Genesis Invitational is part of the PGA Tour in the season 2024. In 2024 all players competing for a total prize money of $20,000,000. The course for the tournament at The Riviera Country Club plays at Par 71.

The PGA Tour plays its signature event in Los Angeles, California. Tiger Woods, host of the tournament, welcomes a world-class field of competitors to compete at the famous Riviera Country Club during the 2024 tournament.

PGA Tour live

Through the Golf Post Live Blog you can follow all results on the PGA Tour live. Alongside the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour), the PGA Tour is the world’s largest tournament series in men’s professional golf. The tour attracts prize money that is just as high as the level of the international elite that comes together at quite a few of the tournaments. The annual highlights of the season are the four major tournaments (co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour), the Players Championship and the final FedExCup playoffs, which conclude the season every year. Signature events were created for this purpose. These include the three FedExCup playoff tournaments, The Sentry, the invitational tournaments (Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational and Memorial Tournament) and four other tournaments, which can change annually.

The PGA Tour has gained its importance primarily through its ability to retain top players through the attractiveness of the tournaments and the size of the prize money, which has risen steadily in recent years. The FedExCup is the American equivalent of the European Race to Dubai, with players collecting points throughout the season until the FedExCup winner is crowned in three tournaments in August. The FedExCup playoffs consist of three tournaments: the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the BMW Championship and the final Tour Championship. The winner of the Tour Championship also becomes the winner of the FedEx Cup and secures the record jackpot of 25 million US dollars.

• Tags aiko , live-pga-tour , liveticker

WINSTONgolf: Everyday life off. Passion on.

• Post author By Golf Post
• Post date July 4, 2023

What do you do when things at work get stressful? I have my own method: There’s always a golf ball in my blazer pocket. If the stress level rises, I put my hand in my pocket, turn the ball between my fingers, close my eyes for a moment and stand on the golf course. That’s the in-between method. The real knockout against deadline pressure and heart palpitations comes after the working day ends. That’s when I get into the car and drive out to WINSTONgolf . At least once a week, and preferably every day. I park the car and switch off daily life when I stop the engine. Time for my passion; golf. I’ve been playing since childhood and I know a few courses. But nowhere is like here. Let’s visit it together. Then I’ll show you why.

The Driving Range: How I begin the game

At work I need to be forward-looking. On the driving range, I just look at my ball and am pleased with how well and far it flies. Most of the time, anyway. Here I always experience this wonderful mixture of sporting ambition when teeing off, and contemplation amidst the peace and vastness of the landscape all around me.

Today the sun is shining, but I really like to be here in any weather. And now imagine the “clack” of your ball as it takes a wonderful trajectory, and a second ball flies alongside behind it, hit much further and more professionally. You look to see who it was. And suddenly there he is – Bernhard Langer . That’s more or less how I experienced it during the WINSTONgolf Senior Open, where golf legends from all over the world tee off together. But there’s also an opportunity to meet Bernhard Langer here. He has been a WINSTONgolf brand ambassador for many years. And by the way, so has Johannes Veerman . You know him, the likeable player of the DP World Tour. Although I haven’t met him yet.

WINSTONlinks: My “outgrowing myself” course

Are you fit for the next round? Then up onto WINSTONlinks and into a real challenge. I must admit it: I failed miserably when I played the course for the first time. Driving into the wind, missing the fairway on the first tee shot, and off into a bunker. But I still felt like a winner. Because this course is also an experience for the eye: Wind-whipped dunes with gorse and sea buckthorn curve up to ten metres high into the distance. Deep sand traps in between, as if from volcanoes. And a buzzard soars in the skies above me. Cranes have also been watching. Maybe they would applaud me if they could. Because by now I’m really good and have mastered this course designed for professionals. No wonder champions love it, and they’ll be spending time on it during the Legends Tour in September. If you’re here for the first time or the next time – go ahead and take its challenge. You’ll find it worthwhile.

Do you love a change as much I do? Then the WINSTONopen course will inspire just as much as WINSTONlinks . Classic, challenging, with well-guarded greens and putting characteristics at their very best. A real championship course. And the view across a masterpiece of nature is included free of charge.

The quality of the courses is also a masterpiece. As if the greens were pure velvet. It feels great and plays that way too. This carries on through to the WINSTONkranich par 3 course, where I like to hone my short game. It’s a great place to warm up in before playing some really serious golf. Like on the WINSTONlinks, which I’m playing right now – in a happy mood to send the ball straight into the 18th hole.

We made it! And only 5 over par. I really must congratulate myself. Of course, it’s nicer when praise comes from someone else. From my friends, for example, who sometimes accompany me. Or from people I meet by chance on the course, and who love golf as much as I do. They come here from all over, and have a wide variety of tastes. But they are all the same in one respect: they are all relaxed. Especially after a successful round. Or after a good meal. Speaking of which: are you hungry? Then follow me to the clubhouse.

The golfing clubhouse: Open Sesame

Off the green and into enjoyment. Although in fact everything here is green. The people here are highly environmentally conscious. Exactly my wavelength. My car, for example, recharges at the e-charging station in front, I scarcely see any plastic, and my mouth waters when I think of my burger with organic meat from Jersey beef directly from the region.

Hello golf clubhouse! Did you ever see such an entrance door? So red and so big, but without making me feel small. And the automatic Open Sesame. The only thing missing is a red carpet. They wave at me from reception and I wave back. We know each other, and I feel at home. Slow down. The hustle and bustle are far away. I’m not surprised that WINSTONgolf has already carried off so many prizes. Certificate here, certificate there. “Golf Post Community Award 2023 – Number 1 in the ‘Course Condition’ category”, and alongside them various first places in different rankings. I feel it’s all in very good taste. Incidentally, also in the choice of my favourite restaurant – the RESTAURANTkranichhaus in the clubhouse.

A relaxed community

The sun patio is especially popular again today. At least one seat is still free, although there are already three guests sitting at the table. Maybe they were waiting for someone just like me. And lo and behold, I win a triple smile. The trio is from Cologne. A man around 40, well-tanned, chin beard; a woman, similar age, freckled and sympathetic; the woman’s sister, blond plait that wiggles amusingly when she talks. Cheerful Rhineland folk who are up here for the first time, and rave about the romantic wilderness of the north every bit as much as about the WINSTONgolf courses. The husband says they’ve already played them all several times, you can’t tear yourself away from the course, and there’s still so much to discover in Mecklenburg. His wife adds that this is true, and fortunately she, who doesn’t play golf at all, has plenty of time to explore. Her sister, like me, loves variety. The tension of the game during the day and relaxation in the evening.

They have two rooms at Kaarz Castle . Each room has its own style there, and the sister would love to move into a different one every day. And the park with redwood trees – a dream.

I tell the trio that I often forget time there at weekends, and that there’s a similarly beautiful place right next to the golf course: VORBECK MANOR , WINSTONgolf’s golfing hotel. With a fireplace in the foyer, the rippling river Warnow outside the window and a charming little café called HerzensGUT, which has the most delicious cakes just like my grandmother used to bake.

The woman with the freckles says she knows right away where she’s going tomorrow. Meanwhile, the man lets his gaze wander over the WINSTONopen course in the evening light, watching the last flights coming down the eighteenth hole, and seems to be working up an appetite for tomorrow.

The RESTAURANTkranichhaus: Meets my taste entirely

But for a moment, the delicious evening meal satisfies our appetite. Our table turns into a burger paradise: pulled beef with smoked bacon twice here, ground beef with bacon jam there, and black bean patty with cashew sauce over there. Simply delicious! The 3 Rhinelanders are also delightful, with their well-balanced holiday spirits. Talking about golf or putting the world to rights, we chat a while longer. I often meet people like that here. They simply make time stand still here, enjoy the moment and forget about tomorrow. Just like me. My everyday life seems far away, as if on another planet. Back to work the next day? Never mind. WINSTONgolf is not far away. And just in case, I always have my golf ball in my blazer.

Want to enjoy some time off at WINSTONgolf? Book now!

• Tags panorama , winstongolf

Ayla Golf Aqaba – from minefield to jewel

• Post author By Jürgen Linnenbürger
• Post date June 16, 2023

Every day a new highlight

Originally, golf was not on our agenda when preparing our trip. For I had not known that golf was played in the country, whose Arab tribe of Hashemites goes back to the great-grandfather of the Prophet Mohammed. 

I only became aware of this through the huge urban future project ‘Ayla’ in the city of Aqaba on the Gulf of the same name. In 2008, construction began on a super-modern holiday destination, including the Ayla Golf Club. It is located in the pulsating Ayla Oasis, the great impressions of which we will review at the end of our round trip.

But before that, we will visit Amman, Jerash, Bethany, Mount Nebo and Madaba, whose visits would be worth a separate report. From there we continue to the thousand-year-old rock city of Petra.

The early morning walk through The Siq, a narrow path surrounded by rock walls up to 90 m high and leading to Al-Khazneh/The Treasure House of the Nebateans, is a top highlight of our visit. Close behind ranks Ad Deir /The Monastery which requires further climbing up the valley almost 900 steps through Petra and rising up 200 m in altitude, offering breathtaking views.

Those who do not dare to make the walk through the gorge or the ascent alone can enlist the help of experienced four-legged professionals.

The overnight stay in a tented camp in the middle of the desert and the balloon ride over Wadi Rum are equally unforgettable.

We feel transported to the great scenes of the films ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’, ‘The Martian’ and ‘Dunes’ which were filmed here, and still feel the desert sand on our skin and the bumpy tours on the back of the Bedouin pickup trucks.

Relaxation on the Gulf of Aqaba

After pillars, temples, rocks and sand, the sea calls. The coastal city of Aqaba is located in Jordan’s extreme south on the Red Sea, close to the border crossing with Israel. Its seaport is the only one in the country and the gateway to the rest of the world.

Aqaba is a free trade zone and has more than 150,000 inhabitants. It is located at the northernmost tip of the Gulf of the same name, a branch of the Red Sea, and is bordered on its western side by Israel and the Sinai Peninsula and on the eastern side by Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Surrounded by turquoise sea 

We spend a few relaxing days at the five-star Hyatt Regency Aqaba Ayla Resort, which is located just over four kilometres from the centre of the port city. It is surrounded by bright blue lagoons with water from the Red Sea and has 286 modern rooms and 43 suites.

All have a balcony or private terrace with a great view of the marina or the imposing, majestic mountains. Our Standard Bedroom on the 4th floor has purpose-built furnishings and offers beautiful views down to the golf course.

Hotel amenities include the La Plage Beach Club on the lagoon, a large relaxation area with infinity pool set amidst the perfectly maintained gardens, a luxurious Aqua Spa with Hammam, a gym and tennis courts. 

Guests can choose between international and regional dishes in five restaurants and bars; we recommend them all! (alcohol is served to foreign guests in all of them).

Wi-Fi is free of charge and works well in the public areas, at the pool and in the beach club, and in our room most of the time.

The service of the staff is attentive and unobtrusive and fortunately we can communicate very well in English.

The resort has been awarded global Green Key Eco status in the hotel category, recognising its efforts and commitment to public health and sustainable environmental standards in tourism. These are felt throughout the resort, which is exceptionally clean and well maintained.

Staying at the pools and the hotel’s own stretch of beach on the lagoon in our customary swimwear is fine in this country, which is dominated by Islam. Local women wear a black suit that covers the entire body, including the head with only a small section left free for the face, hands and feet. 

No fear of the great white shark 

Just a few kilometres outside the resort are fantastic snorkeling and diving opportunities, where you can gaze at a variety of fish in the crystal clear waters. Sharks, such as the harmless giant whale shark, are also said to occur here.

We also encounter one of these species at Ayla Golf Club, as its designer is none other than Greg Norman, known as the ‘Great White Shark’. He designed the 18-hole par 72 championship course in 2016, which spreads over an area of 800,000 square metres and is harmoniously integrated into the original desert landscape. 

A par 3 9-hole floodlit course and a Golf Academy with PGA-qualified pros and excellent practice facilities complete this comprehensive golf offering. 

In harmony with nature 

Specific requirements were given to the world-renowned company, Greg Norman Golf Course Design (GNGCD), to ensure the design interfered as little as possible with the environment and to comply with ecological aspects. The Ayla Oasis area, contaminated with over 60,000 mines from the Six-Day War in 1967, was first completely cleared and the golf course was built with excavated soil from the huge lagoon landscape.

Several artificial lakes and wadis were created that are fed by rainwater from the surrounding mountains mixed with lagoon water and serve as reservoirs for irrigation and act as stopovers for migratory birds, complementing the natural ecosystem. Most of the electricity is provided by solar panels.

Early bird tee time

The hotel shuttle takes us to the nearby clubhouse in five minutes. We start early in the morning, as in May, it is already 25 degrees at 7.00 a.m., though the heat is easily bearable due to the low humidity. 

The wind that comes up during the round does not interfere with the game, but we find it blissfully cooling as the temperature rises.

Offering up fantastic views of the mountain scenery beyond, the open, mildly undulating course measures 7,152 yards from the back black tees. The fairways are gently curved but if you don’t find them, huge sandy waste areas await though in most cases you can play out of these quite easily. Water hazards come into play on half of the holes. Both fairways and greens are seeded with Paspalum grass, which is ideal for high temperatures.  

Five different tee boxes offer on all 18 holes makes it amenable for all HCP classes.

Good conditioning in all areas

Its layout is most appealing, the conditioning well maintained. The grass of the fairways has some yellow patches at the moment as it is still in partial hibernation. We hit the countless, fairly deep bunkers more often than we would like, but since most of them are under renovation during our visit and marked as GUR, we continue playing without a penalty stroke. Those completed are boast gleaming fine, white sand.

There is nothing to criticise about the quality of the partly large, fast greens. They are true to track and a pleasure to play. Not only the course, but the entire facility is very well maintained, thanks to a team of 50 greenkeepers who do an excellent job. All the paths are paved and easy to negotiate with a buggy.

We are almost alone on the course and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere in the club, which currently has 120 members of the 400 players that exist in Jordan. As we learn from the friendly, South African Head Pro, Jason, about 5,000 green fees are currently sold per year. They would like to increase this moderately through targeted marketing measures and contribute to the Ayla Oasis developing more and more into an attractive, internationally recognised sporting and golf destination. 

The Mena Tour, for example, has already made a stop here. In 2019, the Jordan Mixed Open was held for the first time, a tournament format in which players from the European Challenge Tour, the Staysure Tour and the Ladies European Tour took part under the motto ‘We share the same drive’. 

In 2022, the idea was taken up of hosting the Jordan Open Golf Championship, in which men, women and juniors from 14 countries compete for victory. 

We enjoy the fair course with its varied holes and undisturbed play. 

An award-winning clubhouse 

Just as impressive as the course and its practice facilities is the clubhouse with its extraordinary design. Paying homage to the Bedouin architectural heritage. Renowned architectural firm, Oppenheim Architecture & Design, designed the structure from undulating concrete in an organic, contemporary style.

Ahlan wa sahlan

We feel extremely welcome and safe at all times throughout our journey. Everywhere we are warmly welcomed and well looked after. The decision to take a trip organised by a tour operator with an experienced guide was spot on. Our guide studied in Germany and with his extensive knowledge gave us deep insights into the Arabic religion, culture and history, which we would never have been able to discover on our own in such a short time. If necessary, I will be happy to establish the relevant contacts.

In spring and autumn, Jordan is a great travel destination that now also offers golfers a new, attractive alternative, but coming here just to play golf would not do justice to the Arab country with its extensive range of offers. We were thrilled by the combination of culture, unique landscapes, well-appointed hotels, gastronomic delights and getting to know the Ayla Oasis with its superb golf course.

• Tags travel

Titleist Introduces New TSR2 & TSR3 Hybrids

• Post date January 18, 2023

The most played hybrids on the PGA TOUR since 2014, Titleist hybrids have always set the highest standard for performance and playability. The all-new  TSR2  and  TSR3  models – available for fittings and presale on  Feb. 2  and in golf shops worldwide beginning  Feb. 23  –continue to raise the bar with advancements and refinements that will benefit all players seeking long iron alternatives.

These new additions to the TSR metalwood family come in two distinct models: the  TSR2 hybrid , which offers forgiving speed and performance, and the  TSR3 hybrid , which delivers next-level precision and workability.

The TSR2 and TSR3 hybrids make their PGA TOUR debut this week at The American Express, joining a TSR metalwoods line that continues to gain momentum across the worldwide professional tours. The versatility and gapping options offered in the TSR hybrid lineup make for a seamless transition in players’ bags from TSR drivers and fairways.

“TSR2 and TSR3 hybrids offer players options at the top end of the bag,” said  Tom Bennett , Principal Product Manager – Fairways & Hybrids. “Players can choose between the more classical shape and high launch of the TSR2 or the refined profile and adjustability of the TSR3. Both clubs provide a fast, forgiving, and high-launching long-iron alternative that gives the golfer the confidence to pull off any shot.”

TSR Hybrid Offerings:

TSR2:  A high launching, mid-low spin, forgiving long-iron replacement, best-suited for players that deliver the club in a sweeping motion. An extended blade length, a deeper CG, and a reimagined sole shape bring even better forgiveness and improved turf interaction than its popular predecessors, all packed into a classic hybrid profile.

• Features head weight adjustability (same as driver/fairway)
• RH and LH Lofts: 18°, 21°, 24°

TSR3:  A flatter trajectory, and a refined shape inspired by popular predecessors. Highly adjustable, featuring a new 5-position SureFit Adjustable CG Track System that allows players to dial in their ideal setup. Tailored to players seeking workability and precision, the TSR3 hybrid has a refined tour-inspired shape that gives players the confidence to hit any shot.

• Enhanced 5-position SureFit CG Adjustability
• Features head weight adjustability (same as TSR3 driver/fairway)
• RH and LH Lofts: 19°, 21°, 24°

TSR Hybrid Performance and Technology:

• Reimagined shaping and profiles:  The  TSR2 hybrids  are classically shaped and have a slightly lengthened blade length, shifting the impact center further from the shaft, which increases face flex and results in more speed and forgiveness |  TSR3 hybrids  feature an iron-like hybrid profile inspired by popular predecessors, and a slight reduction in offset helps improve performance
• Deeper, More Forgiving CG & High Inertia Body:  In  TSR2 , Titleist engineers pushed the CG deeper while keeping it low, making high-launching and soft-landing approaches with maximum forgiveness even easier |  TSR3  hybrids are more stable due to a higher inertia body, preventing deflection and twist when playing from difficult conditions
• Faster Through the Rough:  Added sole relief pockets on both TSR2 and TSR3 are designed to move the club faster through all rough conditions, heavy or light. Less surface area means less friction and less chance to drag or grab, also resulting in smooth turf interaction from the fairway.
• Performance-Tuned Adjustability:  With a refined 5-position SureFit Adjustable CG Track System, it is now easier than ever to dial in the exact setup you need in the TSR3 with a wider and more precise range of CG placements.
• Player-Influenced Sound & Feel:  Amazing sound and feel are paramount in the design of a superior golf club. Both hybrids have been tuned to deliver the acoustic and physical feedback each player needs to develop consistency and trust.

Availability and Price:  Titleist TSR2 and TSR3 hybrids are available for fittings and presale on  Feb. 2  and in golf shops worldwide beginning  Feb. 23 . |  MAP:  $299

• Tags equipment , Titleist

LPGA Tour: Lydia Ko Wins 2022 Rolex Player of the Year Award, Vare Trophy

• Post date November 21, 2022

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Nov. 10, 2022  ­– The LPGA Tour announced today that Lydia Ko earned the 2022 Rolex Player of the Year award with her win ­at the CME Group Tour Championship. Ko, who earned two additional victories this season at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio and the BMW Ladies Championship, is the 15th different player to win the award at least twice.

The 25-year-old also won the 2022 Vare Trophy for recording the season’s lowest scoring average of 68.988. Her season-long scoring average is the second-lowest Vare Trophy-winning scoring average in Tour history, behind Annika Sorenstam’s 68.70 in 2002. Sorenstam and Ko are the only two players to win the Vare Trophy with a scoring average in the 68s. Ko is the 12th player in LPGA Tour history to win the award in consecutive seasons and the 15th player to win the trophy more than once.

With the CME Group Tour Championship victory, the Rolex Player of the Year honor and the Vare Trophy, Ko now has 25 points toward qualifying for the LPGA Hall of Fame, two points shy of the 27 needed to be inducted.

“It’s a dream come true” for Lydia Ko

“I feel like it’s really difficult to compare, like, when I won the Player of the Year in 2015 to now. I don’t even — I don’t do stats very much, so I don’t even know what it is actually by numbers, but this year has been special,” said Ko following her win at the CME Group Tour Championship. “To win again at the Gainbridge so early in the season after winning in LOTTE last year, especially when I didn’t feel like I was ready, it kind of came to me as a surprise. Winning in Korea was special at a place where I was born, and it was my goal to have won there once. And to kind of do that, it was like a bucket-list thing.

You know, coming into these two events in the Florida stretch because I had won in Korea, I wanted to not have too high expectations. And obviously I wanted to end the season on a high but, you know, know that whatever happens and even though there’s a lot of things on the line, just know that it’s been a great season. And to be the Player of the Year and to win the Vare Trophy again and to win the CME Group Tour Championship, it’s a dream come true. To be able to do it in front of family and my team, you know, it’s a very special one.”

Ko entered the week in Naples, Fla. as one of four players with a mathematical chance of winning Player of the Year, leading the standings with 150 points, one clear of Minjee Lee and 20 ahead of Brooke Henderson and Atthaya Thtiikul. She also led Thitikul by 0.386 of a stroke heading into the final event, meaning the Thai rookie would have needed to score 35 strokes better than Ko to have a chance at the Vare Trophy.

The Kiwi set herself apart from the first day of play, managing the windy conditions throughout the week better than anyone to earn her second wire-to-wire victory of the season and of her career. By the end of the second round, Ko had a five-stroke lead on the field, but Irishwoman Leona Maguire made the most of Moving Day to tie things up before the final day. A 2-under 70 was all Ko needed on Sunday to finish -17 overall, two strokes ahead of Maguire, and secure the three season-ending titles.

Ko won her first Rolex Player of the Year award in 2015 after earning five victories that season, including her first major championship title at the Amundi Evian Championship. She earned her first Vare Trophy last year with a season-long scoring average of 69.329. Her accolades include the 2021 Founders Award and the 2014 Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year honor.

Ko celebrates her 19th LPGA Tour win

Along with her three victories this season, Ko notched 11 additional top-10 finishes, including third-place finishes at the Palos Verdes Championship presented by Bank of America, the Amundi Evian Championship and The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America.

Ko is now a 19-time LPGA Tour winner (ranked T29 on the LPGA Tour’s All-Time Wins List), with major titles at the 2015 Amundi Evian Championship and the 2016 Chevron Championship. She is a former World No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, first achieving the top spot in February 2015 as the youngest player ever to be ranked No. 1 in professional golf. Ko is also the only amateur in history to win two LPGA Tour events, and officially joined the Tour as a 2014 rookie after petitioning for Membership in October 2013. Ko is a two-time Olympian representing New Zealand, winning the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The prestigious Rolex Player of the Year award was introduced to the LPGA in 1966. LPGA Tour players are awarded points at each official LPGA tournament based on top-10 finishes with the top points earner taking home the prestigious honor each year. Points are doubled at each of the LPGA’s five major championships – The Chevron Championship, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the U.S. Women’s Open presented by ProMedica, the Amundi Evian Championship and the AIG Women’s Open.

The Vare Trophy was presented to the LPGA by Betty Jameson in 1952, in honor of the great American player Glenna Collett Vare. Vare Trophy scoring averages are computed on the basis of a Member’s total yearly score in Official Tournaments divided by the number of official rounds she played during a season.

(Text: LPGA)

• Tags live-ladies-tours

La Hacienda Alcaidesa Links Golf Resort – the new highlight on Andalusia’s Costa del Sol

• Post date October 28, 2022

Ambitious for the future

The US Millenium Hospitality Group has big goals. With La Hacienda Alcaidesa Links Golf Resort, it wants to become one of the leading and most luxurious golf resorts in Spain. It has entrusted this task to the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Group, which is one of the most renowned luxury hotel brands worldwide.

The first steps have already been taken. The golf course, previously known as ‘Alcaidesa’, was rebuilt at a multi-million dollar cost and shines in a complete new splendour. The new, stylish clubhouse with its cool restaurant and the extraordinary beach club are already in place. The same goes for the huge driving range with new grass tees and the large putting, pitching and chipping area. Added to this is the already existing 18-hole Heathland Golf Course, so that the resort has two completely different golf courses.

By Easter 2024, a five-star hotel complex comprising 153 exclusive rooms and 51 villas is to be built on an area of 400 hectares.  Several more villas, all with private pools, will be available for purchase. Various restaurants and bars will be part of the complex as well as swimming pools, a spa and fitness centre and event facilities. A halfway house is under construction on the newly designed links course.

Millenium’s plan to become the flagship in Southern Europe with the resort seems to be working, because they have already been accepted as a member of the European Tour Destinations and are happy about this seal of quality.

All in white

As soon as you enter the white clubhouse of La Hacienda Alcaidesa Links Golf Resort, shining in the sun, you sense something special. The arc of tension is slowly built up, starting on the steps to the entrance. It continues as you cross the huge entrance hall and ends in front of an infinity pool with a view of the Mediterranean.

The modern pro shop offers everything you need on a round. The rental clubs are of the best quality. The first tees of the two courses are in opposite directions. We first play the Heathland Course, which leads into the hinterland.

The Heathland Course

The 18-hole Heathland Course was designed by former Ryder Cup player Dave Thomas. The par-72 layout has a length of 6,373 m from the back tees and features different landscapes. While holes 1 to 5 and 17 and 18 are located on a plateau and resemble a heath landscape, the other courses wind their way down into the valley with magnificent views of the Mediterranean Sea, where several water hazards await.

This is also the case at the 13th, a par-5, where the tee shot has to be hit well in order not to land in the water hazard crossing the course head-on.

Due to the sometimes considerable distances between the individual holes and the considerable differences in altitude, a buggy is highly recommended. Some of these are brand new and of course equipped with GPS.

Unique Links Golf Course

The next day we played the only links course in southern Spain. The origin of the course dates back to 1992 and was designed by Peter Alliss and Clive Clark. Its current redesign is due to the US-American Kurtis Bowman, who redesigned all greens and added several bunkers. The course was only opened this summer but is already in great condition.

The par-72 course has a sensational layout and is suitable for all handicappers. The course is teed off from four tees. Players with a handicap of less than nine are recommended to use the white tees. The course then has a length of 5,841 m. At the moment, there is no table of playing conditions. I play off the yellows and am looking forward to the 5.5 km journey ahead of me. I know of no other course in Spain that offers such sensational views. The Rock of Gibraltar, which is clearly visible on a clear day, keeps attracting attention on various courses and distracts from the game. We are lucky with the weather and after a short initial rainfall, we enjoy the sunshine on the rest of the round.

The varied courses, the constant ups and downs and the great views over the course make the round of golf an unforgettable experience. Everything is extremely well-maintained and also perfectly matched visually.

The water hazards are impressively designed and interrupt the different shades of green of tees, fairways and greens with their brilliant blue. The course is not only great to play, but also meets the highest aesthetic standards. Some holes run directly along the sea.

Development is already encroaching on some of the holes. This will increase further with the Fairmont Hotel La Hacienda, which is being built in terraces level with the back end of the beach with the best views across the course to the sea.

The palate will also be pampered

What could be better than finishing off a successful round of golf with a great meal and special drinks? The fact that this is possible at the resort is thanks to the Azotea Group. Behind it are the journalist Cristina Lasvignes and her husband José Manuel García. Among other things, they have founded various restaurants and bars in Spain under the Sal Verde brand that meet the highest standards.

These include the Clubhouse Restaurant as well as the Arena Bar in the Beach Club, which is located directly below the golf course. Both combine a great ambience, the highest quality and outstanding creativity.

Exceptional dishes and creative cocktails are created by the Michelin-starred Executive Chef Manuel Berganza and the renowned mixologist Luca Anastasio. The latter plays a special role in Sal Verde’s concept, because high-quality cocktails play an essential role in Sal Verde’s gastronomy concept.

Those who have a choice are spoilt for choice. Either you choose the Spicy Moscow Mule, the Senorita Margarita, the Amalfi Ten Tonic, the Galan or Paloma, or you try them all. With one exception, they were all new to me and impressed me as much as the menus of the latest Spanish star chef. The tuna tartare, popular in Andalusia, served here with truffles and spring onion dressing, melted in my mouth just as much as the mussels au gratin with spicy tomato sauce, to name just two of the various delicacies tasted.

As the Fairmont accommodation is still under construction, we are staying at the Aldiana Club near the golf courses while we get to know the new resort.

Adiós Aldiana Andalusia

The sun still rises every morning over the Aldiana Club Costa del Sol in Alcaidesa. But this will come to an end on 21 November 2022, because the resort will soon change hands. After the planned renovation, it will be called Sun Club Costa del Sol from next year and will continue as a four-star hotel under a new flag.

The current all-inclusive concept will then be replaced by an offer that includes a choice of breakfast, half board or full board. It remains to be seen whether the great barbecue in the beach restaurant, which is still part of the club, will be offered.

I enjoyed the freshly prepared Andalusian specialities and especially the extremely spicy chorizo sausages. These remain in my positive memory as well as the varied and high-quality offer in the entire club. The well-maintained facilities and the friendliness and attentiveness of all the staff contributed in equal measure to my feeling of well-being during my stay. Not to forget the bright and clean room with the extremely comfortable bed.

I am convinced that the Millenium/Fairmont concept will work out and that their guests will be delighted with the high-quality offer. I already am and look forward to another round on one of the most impressive golf courses in southern Europe. Hasta luego. 

• Tags Golf Course , spain , travel , travel-europe

US Masters 2022: Million dollar prize – this is how much money is at stake in Augusta

• Post author By claudius.mackes
• Post date April 10, 2022

The official prize money for the US Masters 2022 was raised to 15 million dollars. In 2021, the prize money totaled $11.5 million. The raise is making the Masters one of the top tournaments on the tour, also financially, and the second best endowed tournament in golf behind the Players Championship ($20 million). The US Open and the PGA Championship both payed $12 million in 2021. According to reports, the organizers and sponsors even wanted to raise the prize money a little this year to underline the importance of the tournament.

One thing is for sure, whoever makes the cut at Augusta National can already look forward to a tidy handout in any case. Since 2019, the winner has received just over two million dollars, 600 FedEx Cup points and 100 points for the world rankings. In addition, a win at Augusta secures a PGA Tour card for five years, lifetime playing rights at the US Masters, and a starting spot at all majors for the next five years.

US Masters 2022: Smaller field = more money for everyone

Nothing is left to chance when it comes to the distribution of prize money at the US Masters. Instead, a clear scheme is followed that regulates the payout to the individual placings on a percentage basis. According to this scheme, the Masters champion always receives 18% of the total prize money, the runner-up still gets 10%, the third place 6.8%. If two or more players share a place, the prize money is divided among the players, as in any other tournament.

Augusta National: How to play a round of golf at the world’s most exclusive course

One reason why it is still possible to cash in well on the back places at the US Masters 2022 is the significantly smaller starting field compared to the PGA Tour. In terms of the size of the field, the fewest number of players make the cut after 36 holes at the Masters. Only the top 50 players (and stroke ties) make it to the weekend and thus receive a slightly higher share of the total prize money. Even those who miss the cut still receive $10,000, with only amateurs going away empty-handed.

This is how much money the top 50 players receive at the US Masters

Win: Scottie Scheffler, -10, $2,700,000

2: Rory McIlroy, -7, $1,620,000

T-3: Shane Lowry, -5, $870,000

T-3: Cameron Smith, -5, $870,000

5: Collin Morikawa, -4, $600,000

T-6: Will Zalatoris, -3, $521,250

T-6: Corey Conners, -3, $521,250

T-8: Justin Thomas, -1, $450,000

T-8: Sungjae Im, -1, $450,000

T-10: Cameron Champ, E, $395,000

T-10: Charl Schwartzel, E, $395,000

T-12: Dustin Johnson, +1, $330,000

T-12: Danny Willett, +1, $330,000

T-14: Kevin Na, +2, $225,333

T-14: Matt Fitzpatrick, +2, $225,333

T-14: Min Woo Lee, +2, $225,333

T-14: Harry Higgs, +2, $225,333

T-14: Lee Westwood, +2, $225,333

T-14: Talor Gooch, +2, $225,333

T-14: Hideki Matsuyama, +2, $225,333

T-14: Tommy Fleetwood, +2, $225,333

T-14: Jason Kokrak, +2, $225,333

T-23: Robert MacIntyre, +3, $138,000

T-23: Harold Varner III, +3, $138,000

T-23: Sergio Garcia, +3, $138,000

T-23: J.J. Spaun, +3, $138,000

T-27: Jon Rahm, +4, $111,000

T-27: Seamus Power, +4, $111,000

T-27: Viktor Hovland, +4, $111,000

T-30: Russell Henley, +5, $93,150

T-30: Sepp Straka, +5, $93,150

T-30: Hudson Swafford, +5, $93,150

T-30: Lucas Glover, +5, $93,150

T-30: Marc Leishman, +5, $93,150

T-35: Joaquin Niemann, +6, $75,562.50

T-35: Tony Finau, +6, $75,562.50

T-35: Patrick Reed, +6, $75,562.50

T-35: Webb Simpson, +6, $75,562.50

T-39: Patrick Cantlay, +7, $63,000

T-39: Bubba Watson, +7, $63,000

T-39: Tom Hoge, +7, $63,000

T-39: Si Woo Kim, +7, $63,000

43: Billy Horschel, +8, $55,500

T-44: Christiaan Bezuidenhout, +9, $51,000

T-44: Kevin Kisner, +9, $51,000

46: Cameron Davis, +12, $46,500

47: Tiger Woods, +13, $43,500

T-48: Adam Scott, +14, $40,050

T-48: Max Homa, +14, $40,050

T-50: Mackenzie Hughes, +15, $37,350

T-50: Daniel Berger, +15, $37,350

• Tags live-highlight-tours , live-masters , US Masters 2022

US Masters 2022: Will Jon Rahm continue the Spanish tradition at Augusta?

• Post date April 6, 2022

We are in a week unlike any other in the entire year. When the gates of Augusta National Golf Club open in April, the entire golfing world goes into a trance for seven days, triggered by the uniqueness and simple beauty of this tournament. In Augusta, everything simply fits and the entire scenery seems perfectly coordinated, as if in a choreography that has been rehearsed for years. For this very reason – and because Augusta is Augusta – the US Masters is considered the most prestigious and important tournament of the year, even among players.

US Masters 2022 – Tee Times

That’s how Jon Rahm sees it, too. Although the Spaniard lost his first place in the world rankings to Scottie Scheffler a few weeks ago, the bookmakers still consider the 27-year-old to be the biggest contender for the title at the 2022 US Masters, and for good reason. For one thing, Rahm has always finished in the top 10 in his last four appearances at Augusta, and for another, this golf course has a very special Spanish aura about it. Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia have already won the Green Jacket, and now the next great Spaniard is to follow. But Jon Rahm is aware of the difficulty of this task, as he revealed at the press conference on Tuesday.

US Masters 2022: No major like any other

The Masters is unique. Not only because of its history, but also because it is the only major tournament that is played on the same course every year. Admittedly, the Augusta National Golf Club has made some minor changes to the course again this year, but anyone who has ever played the Masters can gauge exactly what to expect. Jon Rahm knows that, too: “It makes preparation a little easier. You can simulate the situations for different shots a little easier in practice than you can at the other three majors, when you play a new course every year,” says the world number two.

Based on this fact, but also on his strong results in recent years, the Spaniard considers himself well prepared for the coming week: “I know I can play well here and hopefully on Sunday I can be a little closer on the last nine holes than in recent years.”

Tiger Woods on US Master 2022: “I belive I can win!”

In addition to the beautiful golf course built by Perry Maxwell in 1937, it’s also the crowds of fans that make the tournament what it is today. For Rahm, the 2022 US Masters is unlike any other event. After limited crowds during the pandemic, they are returning to full capacity this year. And as if the anticipation wasn’t already high enough, Tiger Woods is also announcing his comeback for the same week. “We were on the 7 on Monday and Tiger was just playing the 2,” Rahm reports of his first impressions. “I’ve never seen such a big crowd on those two holes, even on a Sunday. There’s a lot more excitement in the air.”

Jon Rahm: “Justin Thomas is the only one who gets real tips from Tiger.”

If you want to hold your own at Augusta National Golf Club, you need a good mix of experience and your best golf game. Forty-two years ago, Seve Ballesteros became the first Spaniard to win the U.S. Masters, ushering in a small Spanish tradition that last continued in 2017 when Sergio Garcia won the Green Jacket. Jon Rahm knows about that tradition and would only be too happy to do his part:

“Since I’m the only Spanish player who is a Major champion but not a Masters champion, that would be something special. Hopefully I can be fourth on that list. There have been a lot of good Spanish stories here that I would like to add to.”

US Masters 2022: Hideki Matsuyama serves outrageous menu of Japanese cuisine

If Rahm can show his best game this week, he will undoubtedly be considered the top favorite. But the Masters wouldn’t be the Masters if even the best players in the world didn’t break a sweat in this setting. Experience is the be-all and end-all at Augusta. When Tiger Woods was about to play his first US Masters, then as an amateur, he got helpful tips from Seve Ballesteros about the condition of the greens and how best to master the difficult shots at Augusta. When asked if Rahm himself had ever asked Tiger for such tips, the Spaniard responded with a nice anecdote:

“Justin Thomas is the only one who gets real tips from Tiger. I asked him for tips once before, back in East Lake. He just turned around and said ‘it’s all about the feeling and just keep going’ and I stood there thinking ‘cool, thanks for that’. Then when I turned around he was standing next to JT telling him a whole dissertation.”

Even if Rahm can’t hope for any tips from Tiger, it should also be enough if he fully trusts his game; after all, it made him the best golfer in the world last year. And there’s one more thing to be hopeful about. Rahm has his biggest fan with him again this week for the 2022 US Masters. “My son Kepa was a lucky charm at the U.S. Open. He wasn’t there at the British Open, so I hope he makes it lucky again this time.”

• Tags live-highlight-tours , live-masters , professionals-jon-rahm , US Masters 2022

Legends Tour announces initial part of 2021 schedule

• Post author By Eric Effey
• Post date November 19, 2020

The Legends Tour today announces the first part of its International Schedule for 2021, marking the return of over-50s professional golf in Europe following the cancellation of the Tour’s 2020 season.

It follows the ground-breaking joint venture between Staysure Group CEO Ryan Howsam and the European Tour earlier this year, when Howsam acquired a controlling stake in the Staysure Tour which was rebranded as the Legends Tour, placing golf’s most iconic names at the forefront of the brand. 

Some of those iconic names, including Major Champions, former World Number Ones and Ryder Cup Captains, will host Legends Tour events in 2021 where amateurs will be able to tee it up alongside their golfing heroes in the innovative Alliance Pro-Am format. 

The season will begin in Austria when the Riegler & Partner Legends takes place from May 7-9 at Golf Club Murhof, with the Tour returning to the venue for the second time after its first appearance on the schedule in 2019. The Italian Senior Open will take place a week later from May 14-16 at a venue to be confirmed, before the first Senior Major Championship of the year, the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club, Tulsa, Oklahoma, from May 27-30. 

June will begin with a return to Jersey for the first time since 2016 for the ICL Jersey Legends at La Moye Golf Club from June 4-6, before the Tour makes its first trip of the year to mainland Britain for the Farmfoods European Legends Links Championship at Trevose Golf & Country Club, England, from June 18-20. 

The U.S. Senior Open will take place at Omaha Country Club, Nebraska, from July 8-11, while the long-running Swiss Seniors Open at Golf Club Bad Ragaz, will return for its 24 th  edition at a date to be confirmed in July. 

The WINSTONgolf Senior Open returns to WINSTONLinks, Vorbeck, Germany, from July 16-18, one week prior to The Senior Open Presented by Rolex at Sunningdale Golf Club, England, from July 22-25. The Championship will be hosted at Sunningdale one year on from its original date following its cancellation due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

The prestigious Staysure PGA Seniors Championship will take place at Formby Golf Club, Southport, England, from July 29-August 1, moving from London Golf Club where it has been hosted since its return to the International Schedule in 2018. 

Former Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley will then welcome the Legends Tour to the island of Ireland for the first time since 2010 when the Irish Legends Presented by The McGinley Foundation takes place in Donegal at the stunning Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort from August 20-22. 

The Scottish Senior Open Hosted by Paul Lawrie will take place in September where the 1999 Open Champion will look to defend his maiden over-50s title which he picked up at Craigielaw in 2019. The date and venue for the event are still to be confirmed. The Farmfoods European Senior Masters will take place once again at Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club, England, from October 1-3. 

Mark Aspland, Head of the Legends Tour, said: “We have been extremely excited to announce this schedule after the cancellation of our 2020 Schedule and we cannot wait to begin again next year. 

“We have used the time productively to strengthen our schedule for 2021 and give our members as many playing opportunities as possible. 

“I must place on record my thanks to all the partners, sponsors and federations who have made this schedule possible. We have a fantastic mix of old and new events and we are looking forward to visiting places we know well and venues and territories that are new to many of us. 

“We will be concluding the 2021 season with the Indian Ocean Swing Tour Championship events and we are working hard to add events through the season, particularly in the Autumn. Further announcements will be made early in 2021.” 

Ryan Howsam, Group CEO, said: “I would firstly like to say well done to Mark Aspland and his team for putting this schedule together. Following the announcement of the joint venture in September, we have been working together on the brand and marketing channels to improve the commercial value of the Tour and therefore enhance the playing opportunities for the Legends Tour members. We have identified several exciting projects that will enhance the Legends Tour over the coming years.

“There will be plenty of opportunity for amateur golfers to get involved in Legends Tour events, from playing in the Celebrity Pro-Ams, teeing it up in Alliance events and joining the Legends Club, our exclusive Membership Club for people who desire a more in-depth involvement in the Tour and our events.”

For anyone wishing to purchase playing spots in Celebrity Pro-Ams, Alliance events or to enquire about Legends Club Membership, please email Legends Tour concierge via:  [email protected] .

(Press release: Legends Tour)

• Tags golf , live-senior-tours

European Tour: Major surge in viewing figures for Rolex Series events

• Post date October 15, 2020

The European Tour’s consecutive autumn Rolex Series events recorded a significant increase in viewing figures and engagement, continuing the recent surge in consumption of live golf in 2020.  

Sky Sports, the European Tour’s UK broadcast partner, reported the highest recorded viewing figures for European Tour events since data collection began, with the tournament average figures for the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and last week’s BMW PGA Championship up 81 per cent compared to 2019.   

Englishman Aaron Rai defeated Ryder Cup star Tommy Fleetwood in a play-off at The Renaissance Club to win his first Rolex Series title at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and a week later Tyrrell Hatton claimed his third Rolex Series victory, finishing four shots clear of Frenchman Victor Perez at Wentworth Club.  

Both tournaments were played without spectators as the European Tour continues to operate a tournament bubble as part of the Tour’s health strategy based on UK government guidelines.

Instead, fans have been turning to their TVs and digital devices to stay in touch with the European Tour’s events, with the back-to-back Rolex Series events providing a premium viewer experience through enhanced broadcast and digital coverage.

Innovations included the introduction of TopTracer4K, an overall increase in the use of TopTracer to a total of nine tees, alongside the popular TopTracer fairway, enhanced augmented graphics, integrated aerial coverage from drones and the plane cam, shot by shot live statistics and enhanced audio from players and caddies. Viewers also continued to be brought closer to the action through the Sky Cart, in-round interviews and tournament winners celebrating their victories with their family via greenside video calls.

Live Golf is booming

Furthermore, highlights of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and BMW PGA Championship also proved popular on terrestrial television in the UK, with peak figures of more than 750,000 on the BBC.

In addition to bumper viewing figures, the fortnight of Rolex Series events also recorded the 2020 season’s highest social media impressions, collectively exceeding the totals from their respective 2019 editions by five per cent. 

The success of the two Rolex Series events further demonstrated the sustained boom in demand for live golf since the resumption of the 2020 European Tour season, with viewing figures for the six-tournament UK Swing in July and August 64 per cent higher than the Sky Sports 2019 average for European Tour events. 

Rufus Hack, the European Tour’s Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of European Tour Productions, said: “It has undoubtedly been a significant operational accomplishment to stage these events in the current circumstances and we have made a substantial investment in our health strategy to create the safest possible environment to continue providing live golf. We are therefore delighted with the response from fans on our broadcast and digital platforms, both across the two Rolex Series events which have created a real festival fortnight of golf, but also since our resumption in July. 

“We all badly missed live golf when it was suspended in April and May and these figures certainly underline the demand that exists to watch and enjoy live coverage of our sport.  Although we dearly miss fans being able to attend our events in person, through the latest innovations and with the support of our key broadcasters and partners, we are able to offer the most insightful viewer experience possible.”

Jason Wessely, Sky Sports Director of Golf said: “We’re delighted to see the continued interest in Sky Sports Golf coverage and it’s fantastic to see how many people enjoyed the two recent Rolex Series events. 

“Our team continues to work hard in testing times to bring the best golf coverage to Sky Sports subscribers and we look forward to bringing our customers plenty more world class golf in the coming weeks.”

Following the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA won by Lee Westwood in January, the Rolex Series concludes with the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates from December 10-13. 

Alongside broadcast and digital innovations, the European Tour’s 2020 season will also continue to be underpinned by its #GolfforGood initiative, which has been raising money for charities and rewarding the true heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last week, David Howell’s hole-in-one at the BMW PGA Championship secured a donation of £71,675 for the tournament’s official charity, the Alzheimer’s Society, from tournament title sponsor BMW. That took the overall amount raised by #GolfforGood so far to £902,091. 

(Text: European Tour)

• Tags Aaron Rai , golf , live-european-tour , Rolex Series , Tyrrell Hatton

US Open 2020 Tiger Woods: “I don’t see any reason why it won’t get harder and get more difficult.”

• Post author By Alexandra Caspers
• Post date September 17, 2020

Tiger Woods talked to the media after his not so satisfying first round of 73 at the US Open 2020 at Winged Foot. He expects the course to become even tougher over the next few days.

Q.   Tiger, talk about the round a bit.

TIGER WOODS: Well, it was a bit of ebb and flow to the round today. I did not finish off the round like I needed to. I made a bunch of putts in the middle part of the round. It seemed like most of my drives on the front nine landed in the fairway and ended up in bad spots, and I tried to stay as patient as possible, and unfortunately just did not finish off my round the way I needed to.

Q.   Do you take any positives that you made five birdies, made a bunch of putts?

TIGER WOODS: No, but I needed to finish off the round better, and I didn’t. As I said, I made a few putts the middle part of the round. Seemed like I wasn’t getting anything out of my round early on, and it flipped, and unfortunately I just didn’t finish off the way I needed to.

Q.   What did you think of the conditions of the golf course, and was it how you expected or a little bit different in any way?

TIGER WOODS: I thought the golf course was set up fantastic. I thought that what they did with the hole locations were very fair today. It gave us an opportunity to make some birdies, and you look at most of the scores, and the guys took advantage of it.

Q.   Do you expect it to keep getting firmer as the week goes on?

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, I don’t see any reason why it won’t get harder and get more difficult. I just think that the golf course is there to be had. They gave us a lot of opportunities with the hole locations. Obviously they could have made it a lot more difficult if they wanted to, but I thought it was very fair.

Q.   Is there any solace knowing it’s going to be such a grind this week that shooting a sub-par first round isn’t anything near —

TIGER WOODS: Well, we have a long way to go. This is a long marathon of a tournament. There’s a lot of different things that can go on. I just wish I would have finished off my round better.

Q.   Given how little you’ve played this year, when you strung those birdies together in the middle of the round to kind of reel it back in and preserve it, isn’t that a pretty positive sign for you going forward?

TIGER WOODS: Well, the middle part of my round, a lot of things went my way. Beginning part of the round it seemed like things weren’t going my way. Good tee shots were ended up in the rough in bad spots, and I had a nice little hot run there in the middle part of my round, hit a really good putt at 12, thought it was going to go in and then I lipped it out, and then made two bogeys after that. Didn’t finish off my round the way I needed to.

• Tags live-main-tours , Tiger Woods , US Open 2020 , Winged Foot Golf Club

Tiger Woods: I miss the energy and the positiveness

• Post author By Tobias Hennig
• Post date September 16, 2020

THE MODERATOR: We are pleased to welcome three-time U.S. Open champion Tiger Woods to the interview area. Tiger, who has won nine USGA championships, is making his 22nd U.S. Open appearance.

Q. You haven’t played a ton of golf this year, but for your last victory at ZOZO, you were coming off a bit of a break then. How were you able to peak that week in particular, and what has been missing maybe since then?

TIGER WOODS: Well, I was kind of hopeful that I’d be able to play ZOZO because I had just had knee surgery, and everything was kind of rounding into form. I felt pretty good. My knee felt a hell of a lot better and all of a sudden I putted well that week and was able to go on to win.

This year I really haven’t putted as well as I wanted to, and the times I did make a few swing mistakes, I missed it in the wrong spots. Consequently, I just didn’t have the right looks at it. I’ve compounded mistakes here and there that ended up not making me able to make pars or a birdie run, and consequently I haven’t put myself in contention to win events.

Q. In the list of courses that maybe have been the most difficult, where would you rank Winged Foot?

TIGER WOODS: Well, I think it’s right up there next to Oakmont and I think Carnoustie as far as just sheer difficulty without even doing anything to it. I think those three golf courses, they can host major championships without ever doing anything to them.

This one or Oakmont here is either one or two.

Q. Can you talk about your preparation for this golf course based on your previous performances here and the highest winning scores here in the past?

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, I was able to come up here right before I played in Boston, take a look at the golf course, and I was able to get my sight lines. This golf course is going to be one of the more difficult ones. The winning scores here have never traditionally been very low. I don’t see that changing this week.

The golf course is going to be hard. It depends on how difficult they want to set up these pins, give us a chance at it. But with the forecast, it’s going to be difficult no matter what.

Q. How much did a difficult venue like Olympia Fields in your last start help you prepare for Winged Foot?

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, Olympia Fields was hard. It was fast, dry, which is unlike this golf course right now. It’s going to obviously dry out, but the rough is very sticky here and very thick and lush. Olympia Fields, the rough was high, but generally most of the lies we had in the rough were downgrain, and guys were able to get the ball up near the greens, but obviously the greens were difficult.

Most of the lies we’ve had so far this week, they’re not really downgrain, so it’ll be interesting to see how much the USGA will cut the rough down and allow us to try and be a little bit more aggressive and get the ball up around the greens.

Q. How will the experience be different for you at a U.S. Open without fans?

TIGER WOODS: It’s going to be — you know, it’s something that unfortunately this is our new reality. This is something we’re getting used to. It’s not something we like. We want the fans and we want the atmosphere out there, but safety is first.

Q. What is your health preparation like each week as you play in a tournament compared to your practice prep? Which takes more? Which is harder to get feeling good and feeling like you’re ready for a tournament compared to your health prep and feeling good with your body?

TIGER WOODS: Well, the health comes first. Whether or not I feel physically good enough where I can put in the practice, that’s my unfortunate reality. I’ve had four back surgeries. Trying to be healthy enough so that I can practice and I’m able to spend the time that I want, that I need to.

Q. Which takes more time?

TIGER WOODS: What’s that?

Q. Practice or just getting loose?

TIGER WOODS: Well, I have to train in order to practice, and I have to get my back loose enough to where I’m able to practice. That’s just the way it is.

Q. Gary Woodland was just in here telling us a funny story about you guys being at Liberty National and you had to get him straight on how many U.S. Opens you had won, but then you guys concluded that among your four, you don’t have one on a private course. Do you distinguish at all U.S. Opens on private courses versus public courses?

TIGER WOODS: You know, I think that USGA events — how can I put this? This year is unique. We don’t have a lot of qualifiers, and we don’t have access into the event like we’ve had in years past. Whether we play on a public course or private course is irrelevant. I think that the qualification is what makes this event so unique, is that we’re able to qualify for this event and have unique opportunities.

Unfortunately this year it’s not one of those.

Q. You grew up playing public courses; do you regard the Old Course as a muni?

TIGER WOODS: The Old Course?

TIGER WOODS: I think the Old Course is unique in whatever you want to call it. I think that — it’s where the home of golf is, and the fact that everyone has a chance to play it, I think that’s what makes it so special.

Q. Coming off the tennis U.S. Open, Serena and Rafa are both in positions to tie some big records coming up, and you’re one of the few people who qualify to answer this. Does it get harder to win a major the closer you get to the all-time mark and why?

TIGER WOODS: You know, I think it gets harder to win as we all age. I think that when you’re in your prime, in your peak years, you have to take advantage of those opportunities so that when you get to the all-time marks, you have the opportunity.

I think that whether it’s Rafa or Fed or Serena, they’ve been so consistent and so dominant for such a long period of time, that’s how you get to — you can have those all-time marks. Consistency over a long period of time is the hallmark of those records.

Q. You’ve talked in the past about when you practice your putting, you go back a lot of times to what you and your dad used to work on. Is that still the case, or have you mixed up the routine over the years?

TIGER WOODS: I have changed the routine and some of the things that I’ve done over the years, but I still go back to what my dad always taught me, which is obviously putt to the picture. Whatever I’m working on at that particular time, once I get out there and I putt, just putt.

Q. I think ’06 here was the first tournament you played after your dad passed. How difficult was it for you that week, and then in the month that followed? Just talk about your mindset and getting ready to win one for him at Royal Liverpool.

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, when I didn’t win the Masters that year, that was really tough to take because that was the last event my dad was ever going to watch me play. He passed not too long after that, and quite frankly, when I got ready for this event, I didn’t really put in the time. I didn’t really put in the practice, and consequently missed the cut pretty easily.

But after that I was able to do some practicing, did some — probably some pretty good grieving after this championship, played well at the Western and then went on to really play well at the British. I think it was just — I was not prepared to play and still dealing with the death of my dad.

Q. Only 15 players in the field played in the 2006 U.S. Open. Do you see that as an advantage?

TIGER WOODS: Well, the golf course has changed a lot since then. Obviously the greens, they’ve all been redone, and most of the holes are a lot longer than when we played in ’06. But technology has changed, and the golf ball is going further. Guys are hitting it further. So we’re playing from about the same spots. It’s just whatever — it seems like every green you have to walk back a little bit further.

Q. Can you describe what it meant to you after all the surgeries and the years of not winning majors to come back and win the Masters, and was there anything special that you felt that week that you can relate to this week? How do you rate your chances here?

TIGER WOODS: Well, when I won the Masters last year, it was — I was not feeling particularly well prior to that. My neck was bothering me. I didn’t play in Bay Hill. For some reason I felt physically better and my training sessions felt good. I changed shafts in my driver right before the event, and I was able to start turning the ball over.

Then all of a sudden I put myself in contention and I wasn’t really — I wasn’t leading but I was near the lead, and each day I progressively got a little bit better, and come Sunday, I put all the pieces together.

Q. Several players here have said that of all the people out on Tour, you feed off the fans more than anything. In that regard, I know you said you miss them, but in that regard, how much do you miss the fans?

TIGER WOODS: Well, for me in particular, I miss the energy and just the positiveness that the fans bring and just that electricity. But that’s something that I’ve been playing in front of for over two decades. That’s something I’ve been a part of, and I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of that.

What we’re dealing with right now is not what we all want, but it’s our reality, and it’s the energy that’s just not quite the same without the fans.

Q. Even without the fans, is there something special about coming back to the New York metropolitan area and playing?

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, I think that this area has some of the best golf courses on the planet, but also what makes coming up here and being a part of these events are the fans and the energy that this entire area brings. They love sports. It’s a shame that we’re not going to have that atmosphere out here this particular week, but obviously everyone will be watching and be supporting at home or wherever is the safest.

Q. Still meaningful to you that a lot of these fans will be rooting for you even if they’re home?

TIGER WOODS: Absolutely it is. It’s not the same without the fan experience, but as I said, this is our reality for right now.

Q. Are you using your standard Scotty Cameron?

TIGER WOODS: Yes, I am.

Q. A strategy question: With fairways this hard to hit and rough this penal, it seems like everyone is going to be missing a lot of fairways. Do you anticipate hitting a lot of drivers so you aren’t too far back, or do you anticipate laying back to keep it in the fairway?

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, you know, I think a lot of that is dependent on which way the wind is blowing. The forecast three of the four days will be blowing out of the north, and I think that that will make a difference. Some of the tee shots that we hit today, slightly different wind than what we played on Sunday, and so I think that strategy-wise it’s ebb and flow.

For me in particular I’m trying to play to certain areas. Whatever club that is, could be 5-wood, could be driver or a 3-wood. I’m trying to play to a specific spot and then move on from there.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Tiger. Good luck this week.

• Tags live-main-tours , live-us-open

“DJs” winning interview after his FedExCup victory

• Post date September 8, 2020

MICHAEL BALIKER: Dustin, this was your 11th trip to East Lake this week. You’ve been chasing this trophy for a long time. How satisfying is it to finally get it done?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, it’s definitely very satisfying to be the FedExCup champion. Obviously coming in here I was in first with a two-shot lead, and I needed all those strokes that I could get. It’s a tough golf course, but I feel like I played pretty solid all week.

Obviously yesterday was a great round, and then obviously today was — I played — got off to a great start and I played really well coming down the stretch.

Yeah, it was a tough day, tough golf course, and I’m definitely excited it’s over and that I can celebrate a little bit now instead of — it was a grind out there. But I’m very proud to be the FedExCup champion.

Q.    What was the level of concern with your game leaving here last year and how does it feel to go from finishing last here last year to now winning this year?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I don’t even remember what happened last year. That was a long time ago. I was playing a little better coming in this season.

“Being a FedExCup champion is something that I really wanted to do”

Q.    Were you nervous today?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I was nervous. I always get nervous because it means something. Yeah, I mean, I get nervous on the first hole, kind of settled down a little bit, and then obviously the back nine definitely could feel it, just because there were a lot of really good players around me and they were playing well.

So I knew I was going to have to shoot a good score on the back nine if I wanted to win.

Q.    Paul Azinger said a long time ago that only two things would really rattle a player, playing for cash or playing for prestige. Which one meant more to you today?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Probably the prestige for sure just because being a FedExCup champion is something that I really wanted to do. I wanted to hold that trophy at the end of the day. It was something that I wanted to accomplish during my career, and obviously I got one of them. Now I’m going to try to get me another.

Q.    There’s a lot of big names on the trophy. Were you kind of annoyed that yours wasn’t on it?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: A little bit, but like I said yesterday, I think a couple times there I didn’t really have control of what was going on just because of my play, but obviously today I was in control of winning the trophy or not.

If I played well, I was going to win; if I didn’t, I wasn’t going to. I like that situation a lot better.

Q.    Can you talk about how important that putt was on 13 and your emotions when you banged it off the back of the cup?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, I mean, obviously I hit my — obviously the drive went just in the left rough there and I hit a good shot right where I wanted to, just short right of the green.

But it was just one of those — my ball was sitting in the first cut. I thought I was going to catch it clean and didn’t and it came up short. Yeah, that putt was definitely kind of the turning point for me there on the back nine. You know, obviously it gave me the confidence and kind of kept the round going in the right direction.

Stepped up, hit a really nice drive on 14; hit some really quality shots really the rest of the way in. That was a big putt.

Q.    When you look at what you’ve done this post season, you’re exactly one shot away from being absolutely perfect, obviously, in the playoff which you didn’t really have much control over in that situation. Can you characterize this run compared to some of the other runs you’ve had in your career these last few weeks?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, feel like the game is in really good form, playing some solid golf, and obviously contending every week. I’m playing probably some of the best golf I’ve ever played.

Like I said, there’s plenty of room for improvement.

“It’s more about the trophy”

Q.    Obviously it’s a big amount of money and I’m sure it means a lot to you, but I’m just curious if you can think back to a time in your career when there was an amount of money that might have been a lot less that really changed your life, that really might’ve mattered in terms of whether it was your career or just whatever, paying back sponsors or anything that you might have — where that money would have really had a huge impact on you even if it might have been a lot less.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, absolutely. When I went through all three stages of Q-school and got my TOUR card I think they gave me like a $25,000 check. Yeah, I thought I was rich because I didn’t have but a couple hundred bucks in my bank account probably.

Then I went to the first tournament in Hawai’i, I think I finished 10th, and I don’t know, it was a hundred grand or something.

So yeah, that was big, and obviously that was a lot of money to me.

Now obviously I’m very thankful for FedEx and the amount of money they donate for us to be whoever is the FedExCup champion, but it’s not about the money for me. It’s more about the trophy.

Q.    Was there a time back say 10, 12 years ago where you had to get over the idea of thinking how much money a missed putt would cost? Is that an important part to being successful, to not think about the money even though it’s a lot?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Well, at this stage of my career I’m fortunate enough where I don’t need to think about that. It’s more — it’s all about winning and the trophies. The money is not — I don’t really care about that. I want to win tournaments, and I want to win trophies.

Q.    Sounds like you talked to Wayne over the weekend; can you maybe share the insights of that conversation that you guys had?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: He was playing golf and I asked him how he was playing. He said he was hitting it pretty good but Janet was yelling at him because he wasn’t playing good enough that was about the extent of the conversation.

Q.    You addressed this a little bit, but was this maybe more important in some ways to you given the five strokes — obviously wanting to win the FedExCup and so forth, did it take on any greater significance in that regard to you?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I didn’t really understand. Sorry.

Q.    Did you need this win in your eyes?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Well, yeah, I needed the win. Last week I had the lead going into the final round. Played a really good solid round, made a great putt to get into a playoff, but ended up losing in the playoff.

Having a five-shot lead today, it’s something, yeah, I needed to finish it off, especially give myself a lot of confidence going into the U.S. Open here in — what, it starts in 10 days or something, or less.

Obviously got a couple days to celebrate with Paulina and the kids, and then got to get back to grinding again.

Q.    These last four weeks you and A.J. seem to have been especially dialed in in your routine on the greens, and I think there might have been a couple adjustments made in how you guys are going about things. I wonder if you could kind of explain that and just what role he really played in this run that you’ve been on here recently.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, A.J. is a big part of the game. Obviously he’s my brother. We’re a good team. He reads the greens well, and a lot of times, too, I know we’re doing well when — you know, because I started using the line at the PGA on the putter when I was putting, and so he’s been doing the AimPoint for a while.

So I know when I line it up and we’ve got it in the same vicinity that we’re doing a good job. He’s done a great job over the last four weeks, four tournaments, and I’m glad to have my brother on the bag with me.

“He’s going to be on my bag for a long time”

Q.    You talked about needing this win and things like that, but from him being an unproven guy out here who had never caddied on the TOUR until now, how much do you think he’s kind of validated himself as being worthy of being out here and being one of the top caddies in the game?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I think from the first time he came out he was — he played golf growing up. He played basketball through high school and college, but he was always a decent player.

Yeah, I mean, it didn’t take him long to catch on. He’s a very good caddie and he would do well for anybody, but he’s going to be on my bag for a long time.

Q.    Have you played Winged Foot?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I have not played it.

Q.    What have you heard about it if you have heard about it, if you’ve asked questions about it?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: That it’s a very good golf course, difficult but fair.

Q.    How would you compare the way you’re playing now with the spring of ’17 when you were blowing through Riv and Match Play and Mexico and things like that?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: It’s similar. It’s getting there. I think I was playing really good then. Obviously I’m playing very well now. Like I said, I feel like I can play better, though.

You know, at times I’m firing on all cylinders, but there’s times where I’m not. I’m playing good enough, though, to where I can keep it where I still can give myself a chance to win.

Compared to spring of ’17, almost there.

Q.    Kind of along those lines, it’s kind of exhausting to get through this stretch and have to do all these virtual interviews and stuff like that —

DUSTIN JOHNSON: But thanks for all your questions. (Laughter.)

Q.    But the fact that the U.S. Open is coming up, the fact that we still have the Masters, are you kind of excited now the way that fits into this weird season?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I am. I am excited. Obviously I’m playing well. I’ve got a lot of confidence in the game, so I’m really looking forward to the next obviously couple months.

But then I’m also — after that I’m looking forward to some time off. It’s been a long stretch, but it’s made it a lot easier playing well, that’s for sure.

MICHAEL BALIKER: Thanks, Dustin. Congratulations.

(FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports)

• Tags Dustin Johnson , FedExCup , live-pga-tour , Tour Championship

Top 6 of the Scariest Golf Courses: Ghosts, Screams and the Unbelievable

• Post author By Johanna Lakämper
• Post date October 31, 2024

The end of October is also known as Halloween and even some golf courses are haunted. The festival, which originated in Ireland, is characterized by spooky pranks and scary costumes. The origin of Halloween lies in the belief that the dead return to earth on October 31. There are golf courses that are not only haunted on Halloween. Ghosts can be seen there all year round and scare the players in a frightening way.

The awakening of the cemetery ghosts

It is not uncommon for golf courses to be built on or around old cemeteries, disturbing the peaceful rest of the dead. This is also the case at Garrison Golf Club in the USA. On this course, the 14th hole, which is surrounded by a cemetery where many 19th century slaves are buried, is feared.

The Willbrook Plantation Golf Course in the USA is also located on a former slave cemetery, marked by a memorial plaque on the eighth hole of the course. It is important to keep quiet on such courses so as not to incur the wrath of the sleeping spirits.

Ghosts manipulate the game

Players are not always spared from the ghosts. On the Lincoln Park Golf Course in San Francisco, for example, the ghosts show that they really do exist. Here, too, the 18th hole was built on an abandoned cemetery. According to the golfers, the ghosts never fail to make balls disappear or reappear out of nowhere in other places.

In England, on the Church Stretton Golf Club course, there are also ominous ball thieves on hole 13. Players who see their balls land on the fairway are said to suddenly be unable to find them again when they get closer.

Murder victims show themselves to still be present

Some golf courses have a history of brutal murders. The murder victims would still reveal themselves in various ways, causing fear among golfers. At City Park in New Orleans, golfers repeatedly swear they hear the screams of a woman on the backswing at hole 18. It is said that the woman was murdered on the golf course in the 1960s.

Another murder case took place on the course of the Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey. The farmer Baltus Rol is said to have been horribly killed here by two crooks in 1831. His ghost “Old Balty” still haunts the course. Easy to recognize: The golf club’s name commemorates the tragic story of Baltus Rol.

• Tags panorama

Nine Tips: End-of-Season Golf Club Care

• Post date October 30, 2024

As the golf season draws to a close, it’s time to take care of your golf clubs, as they need careful inspection and maintenance to maintain their performance in the coming season. The experts at HIO Fitting have some valuable tips for golfers who want to optimally prepare their clubs for the winter break. They explain what is important to ensure that the equipment survives the winter break undamaged and is ready for the first rounds in spring.

HIO Guide: 9 Tips for Optimum Golf Club Care

1: protect clubs from moisture.

Moisture is the biggest enemy of all golf equipment. If clubs are exposed to moisture over the winter months, the risk of rust damage increases considerably. Clubs that are stored in an unheated, damp garage are particularly at risk. Rust can damage the material in the long term, cause rapid wear and tear and impair performance. It is therefore best to store the rackets in a dry place – for example indoors or in a heated garage – to prolong the life of the rackets.

2: Remove Dirt and Grime

All rackets should also be thoroughly cleaned before storage. Encrusted dirt and grass residue on the club faces not only impair the appearance but also the functionality of the grooves. A clean clubface is particularly important for wedges, as only clean grooves guarantee sufficient spin and control for the short game. A soft brush, soap and water should therefore be used to remove dirt from the club heads. Stubborn dirt in the grooves can be removed with a special groove brush or a groove cleaner. The club heads must then be dried completely.

3: Check Wedges

Wedges wear out faster than irons because they are used more frequently, are subjected to greater stress and the higher angle of inclination leads to more interaction with the ball. However, worn grooves can no longer generate the necessary spin, which has a negative effect on control in the short game. Wedges should therefore be checked regularly: If the grooves are flattened or uneven, either resharpening the grooves or replacing the wedges may be advisable.

4: Clean the Grips and Replace Them if Necessary

Grips are an often underestimated part of the club, but they have an enormous influence on the control of the club. Over time, sweat, dirt and dust accumulate on the grips, making them slippery and less ‘tacky’. A slippery grip leads to less control and can affect the feel during the swing. Who likes the feeling of the club almost slipping out of your fingers during the swing? The grip then becomes tighter and cramped – a bad shot is inevitable. The grips should therefore be cleaned thoroughly with soap and water to improve grip. If the grips are badly worn, we recommend regripping. This is also the ideal opportunity to give your own clubs a new look in your favourite colour.

5: Check Club Heads for Cracks and Bending and Shafts for Wear

Another important aspect of club maintenance is checking for structural damage. Over the course of the season, frequent use can lead to hairline cracks or bending of the club. Such damage is often invisible, but can have a negative impact on the stability and performance of the racket. The workshop experts at HIO Fitting can check the club heads for cracks or bends and repair them if necessary. If necessary, damaged club heads can be replaced with new ones. In addition, the experts at HIO Fitting often find that some golf bags are not padded enough, causing them to ‘scrape’ against the shafts while being carried or pushed. As a result, material gradually wears away from the shaft. This happens particularly with drivers, woods and hybrids. The shaft, and therefore the club, loses a lot of its consistency and can even break in the worst case. The shafts in particular should therefore be checked for wear.

6: Have Loft and Lie Checked

The correct loft and lie setting is crucial for the performance and consistency of the clubs. Regular use – especially from the mat – can cause loft and lie to become misaligned. A change in tilt affects the distance and direction of the ball flight. In addition, the swing and speed of the players also change, which is why the angles should always be adjusted. Therefore, the loft and lie of the clubs should be checked regularly, especially before the start of the new season, by a professional fitter who will adjust the clubs precisely.

7: Analyse Wear Patterns

Analysing the wear on the clubface provides valuable information about possible swing faults. for example, one-sided wear on the heel can indicate that the ball is being hit too far inwards. such an analysis can therefore help to recognise weaknesses in the swing and work on them in a targeted manner. this means that the winter break can be used optimally to improve the swing in order to start the next season with optimised technique., 8: recognise gaps in the bag.

It is a good idea to measure the shot distance for a gapping analysis in order to recognise gaps in the bag. Especially if new clubs have been added to the bag during the course of the season, this can result in unwanted overlaps or gaps. With a Foresight Simulator or another launch monitor and the support of a fitter, these gaps can be precisely measured and analysed to ensure that all distances are actually covered by the clubs in the bag.

9: Use Personalisation Options

Finally, freshly fitted equipment deserves a personalised touch. The experts at HIO Fitting therefore offer the option of applying individual stampings, laserings or colourings to clubs, for example. This not only ensures an unmistakable design, but also ensures that you identify with your equipment in a very special way.

Conclusion: Regular Care Pays Off!

Caring for your golf clubs at the end of the season is an important part of maintaining your equipment in the long term. From removing dirt and moisture to inspecting the club heads and analysing the distance – targeted care and maintenance will ensure that your clubs perform at their best again next season. (Written by HIO Fitting)

• Tags equipment , equipment-tips

Koepka’s Investment in Woods’ and McIlroy’s TMRW Sports Fuels Speculation

• Post date October 29, 2024

Brooks Koepka has made a remarkable investment. The five-time major winner acquired shares in an investment fund called Locker Room, which also holds shares in TMRW Sports through its portfolio. The company owned by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, for example, is the parent company of TGL, which is finally launching its indoor golf spectacle in January. ‘Locker Room offers me the opportunity to actively support companies that are really close to my heart and align with my personal interests and values,’ says Koepka about his commitment, which puts him in good company. ‘Big names’ such as Lewis Hamilton, Gareth Bale, Steph Curry, Justin Timberlake and sports magnates Arthur Blank and John Henry have been investors from the very beginning.

And of course, with this very indirect approach to LIV opponent Woods, rumours of a return to the PGA Tour by Koepka, who is nominally one of the stars of the LIV Golf League, will be competing with Bryson DeChambeau in Las Vegas in December for the ‘showdown’ between the two rival circuits against Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy and has already started teasing his designated team partner and former favourite enemy. Seen in this light, it is safe to speak of a double speculation model. Author: Michael Basche

  Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an   Ein Beitrag geteilt von LIV Golf (@livgolf_league)

• Tags panorama , professionals-brooks-koepka , professionals-rory-mcilroy , professionals-tiger-woods

Tom Kim Breaks Locker After Playoff Loss in South Korea

• Post author By Victoria Sallmann

South Korean PGA Tour player Tom Kim caused a stir after damaging his locker at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon following a frustrating playoff loss at the Genesis Championship on Sunday. The locker door, which was ripped off its hinges, drew significant attention. Kim later publicly apologized for the incident.

The Genesis Championship was co-hosted by the DP World Tour and the KPGA Tour. Kim, a three-time PGA Tour winner, found himself in a playoff against fellow countryman An Byeong-hun. Kim was leading by one stroke heading into the final hole but missed a birdie putt on the par five, forcing a playoff with An. Both players returned to the 18th hole, where An made a birdie, while Kim suffered a bogey, resulting in his loss in the playoff. For An, this victory marked his first tournament win in nine years.

Tom Kim broke a locker room door after his narrow playoff loss at the Genesis Championship yesterday. This comes on the back of several instances where his frustrations have boiled over this year. Tom immediately apologised to the KPGA officials and offered to pay for the… pic.twitter.com/libiWfXPCY — Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) October 28, 2024

Tom Kim apologizes and takes full responsibility

Although Kim congratulated An after the loss, he later took out his frustration on his locker. There were reports that the KPGA was considering disciplinary action against him, but Kim insisted that the matter had already been resolved. He posted an apology on Instagram, clarifying that the damage was unintentional: “After the loss I was frustrated, yes absolutely… but I can assure you with absolute truth that I had no intent of damaging any part of the locker, not a single bit.” Kim also stated that he was willing to cover the repair costs and had reached out directly to the DP World Tour and the KPGA to address the situation.

Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an Ein Beitrag geteilt von Tom Kim 김주형 (@joohyungkim0621)

Kim and An have already played as a team for South Korea at the Olympic Games in Paris this year and took part in the Presidents Cup together in Canada in September. For An, winning the Genesis Championship was his second title on the DP World Tour and marked the end of a successful season. The 33-year-old finished the year in 27th place in the world rankings and expressed his satisfaction with his performance: “It’s been a great year. I’ve put a lot of work in.”

• Tags live-european-tour

World Golf Ranking: Rory McIlroy at the Top of the Brits

• Post date October 28, 2024

Rory McIlroy remains the highest-ranked British golfer in the current World Golf Ranking, holding steady at position 3 with no change from last week. His average points stand at 8.2707. Close behind him is Tommy Fleetwood, ranked 10th, also maintaining his previous week’s position. Fleetwood’s current average points are 4.2788.

World Golf Ranking of the British

Tyrrell Hatton occupies the 20th position this week, a slight decline from his previous 19th place. His average points are 3.1989. Robert MacIntyre from Scotland stands firm at the 16th position as he did last week, with average points of 3.6348. Aaron Rai is ranked 21st, consistent with last week’s position, and holds average points of 3.1982.

Top 10 of the World Golf Ranking

In the broader picture of the World Golf Ranking, Scottie Scheffler retains his top position without change. Xander Schauffele follows closely at number 2, mirroring last week’s rankings. The list witnesses stability among the top 8, with Collin Morikawa, Ludvig Aberg, Wyndham Clark, Hideki Matsuyama, and Viktor Hovland holding the same ranks as before. Bryson DeChambeau remains at 9th, and in a notable British presence, Tommy Fleetwood completes the top 10 without changes in position.

This article was created with the help of AI.

• Tags live-european-tour , live-pga-tour

World Golf Ranking: Scottie Scheffler Continues to Lead the Pack

The latest World Golf Ranking shows Scottie Scheffler maintaining his position as the top-ranked golfer in the world. Scheffler holds steady at rank 1 with a consistent performance. Xander Schauffele also remains in second place, reflecting the stability at the top of the rankings among American players. Both players’ average points demonstrate their ability to stay at the forefront of the golfing world.

World Golf Ranking: Morikawa, Clark and DeChambeau

Collin Morikawa continues to hold the fourth position in the World Golf Ranking, showing no change from the previous week. Wyndham Clark follows, sitting comfortably at number 6, again with no movement in his standing. Bryson DeChambeau also maintains his rank 9 spot, reflecting consistency among the leading American contingent.

Top 10 in World Golf Ranking

The top of the World Golf Ranking sees Scottie Scheffler in the prime position, with no changes in the top three as Rory McIlroy remains third. While the American golfers listed maintain their positions, Ludvig Aberg from Sweden stands firm at rank 5, paralleling a stable period among the global golfing elite. Other notable names like Viktor Hovland and Tommy Fleetwood hold their respective places in the top 10 with neither advancements nor declines.

(This article was created with the help of AI. )

The Two Faces of Golf in South Korea

• Post date October 25, 2024

Golf in South Korea is a sport of contrasts. Golf is both ubiquitous and accessible to everyone and at the same time the exact opposite. On the one hand, golf is everywhere, on the other hand, golf club membership is hardly affordable. Almost ten per cent of Korea’s population play golf, but the majority play in golf simulators rather than out on the course. A look at both sides.

Digital and nearby: golf for everyone in a confined space

The South Koreans’ love of golf is particularly evident in its capital Seoul. Every few metres one comes across the sport in one form or another. Golf simulators and screen golf facilities are plentiful, even more than Starbucks locations, which can be found on every corner in Korea. Green nets in and around the city reveal where driving ranges are hidden. But because lack of space is a persistent problem in Korea, you can even find them in unexpected places, on top of hotels, for example, or even on top of parking garages.

The provider Golfzon alone operates over 5,000 golf simulator locations in Korea, where 94 million rounds are said to have been logged in 2023, almost twice as many as rounds played outside on golf courses. Korea’s technological progress does not stop at golf and the simulators work with increasingly realistic graphics, hitting surfaces and training aids.

This wide range of golf possibilities makes the entry barrier to the sport very low. An evening in a golf simulator has a similar status to an evening of karaoke. For only about 20 dollars a round, you get a nice evening with friends, beer and no long journeys out of town.

Golf, an inspiration in difficult times

As a result, one in ten Koreans plays golf. The golf boom in South Korea was triggered by Seri Pak. At the age of just 20 and in her rookie season on the LPGA Tour, she won the US Women’s Open in a 20-hole play-off in 1998.

‘We’ve had other players in history, but she was a Korean Tiger Woods. Basically, she created this culture,’ explained James Jaewoo Suk, Head of Brand Communication BMW, Brand Experience, who is responsible for communication around the BMW Ladies Championship, Korea’s biggest golf tournament, among other things. ‘We had an economic crisis in 1998 and people needed some kind of inspiration. Sport gave that to the people. We felt that anything is possible, not just in golf, but in life.’ Pak’s victory inspired a whole generation, especially of female golfers, who, with the help of the competitive sporting spirit of South Koreans, carried on the success on the LPGA Tour in the decades following Pak’s victory and fuelled the golf boom in the country.

Exclusivity on the green: golf courses as a luxury good

The golf boom has also multiplied the number of golf courses in South Korea. According to the R&A’s Global Participation Report 2023, there are 844 18- and 9-hole courses in the country. 200 of those are said to be around Seoul alone, even though space is a precious commodity in the mega metropolis. High real estate prices mean that golf club memberships are also extremely expensive. Memberships at many private golf clubs start at 25,000 dollars and can run into the millions.

But playing golf without a membership is neither cheap nor straightforward. Tee times are often only reservable by flights of four, and individual players find groups in online forums. Green fees start at 100 – 200 euros per person, plus often another 100 euros for a mandatory caddie and around 70 euros for a cart. High taxes on golf, especially for private golf clubs, drive prices up.

For golf tourists, if they are not put off by the high prices, the fact that a Korean telephone number is often required to make a reservation and a lack of Korean language skills often complicates the process – the golf industry is largely geared towards locals rather than golf tourists. Golf rounds, unlike golf simulators, are not a quick pastime but rather a formal affair with a strict dress code and are often used to conduct business or for networking.

Many Koreans are prepared to spend a lot of money on golf. The Korean golf market is the third largest golf market in the world after the USA and Japan. More golf equipment and, above all, golf fashion is sold in Korea than anywhere else in the world. Companies produce their own collections just for the Korean market and sell them there at hefty prices. Korean companies have acquired major golf brands such as TaylorMade and Titleist and spend a lot of money on sponsoring PGA Tour tournaments.

Golf as a mirror of Korean society

Golf is booming in South Korea, despite its cost. However, there is no particularly committed junior program, on the contrary: children are not welcome many of the private golf clubs. Only 2,178 juniors are registered according to the R&A, golf being too expensive a sport to simply let children play it for fun. Those who take up the sport at a young age do so with professional ambitions. This makes the work that golf simulators do to appeal to a young target group all the greater, with easier accessibility, a more relaxed environment and entertaining emojis.

But wether people play on simulated courses or real greens, the two facets of golf in Korea are growing hand in hand. Over 60 per cent of golfers say they play both forms. All this makes golf in Korea more than just a sport. It shapes the culture and the economy and is a mirror of Korean society: characterised by modernity, competition and innovation.

• Tags South Korea , travel

PGA Tour Tee Times: David Skinns at the Zozo Championship

• Post date October 23, 2024

The Zozo Championship, part of the PGA Tour, takes place at the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Chiba, Japan. With a par of 70, the tournament offers a prize pool of $8,500,000. Collin Morikawa is the defending champion. The tournament will be broadcast on Sky starting at different times across the four days: Thursday from 5:00, Friday from 6:45, Saturday from 5:00, and Sunday from 4:00.

PGA Tour Tee Times for British Players

David Skinns from England starts alongside Zac Blair from the USA and Patrick Fishburn, also from the USA. Their first round tees off at 10:57, and the second round at 9:40.

Harry Hall, another English player, is paired with Seamus Power from Ireland and Adam Schenk from the USA. Their first round begins at 10:35, followed by a second round starting at 9:18.

• Tags live-pga-tour

PGA Tour Tee Times: Max Homa and Justin Thomas at the Zozo Championship

The Zozo Championship is set to take place at the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Chiba, Japan. As part of the PGA Tour , this event offers a par 70 course and a prize purse of $8,500,000. The defending champion is Collin Morikawa. Broadcasting times are Thursday from 5:00 a.m., Friday from 6:45 a.m., Saturday from 5:00 a.m., and Sunday from 4:00 a.m. on Sky.

PGA Tour Tee Times of American Players

Max Homa leads the American contingent at the Zozo Championship. He will tee off at 9:18 in the first round alongside Sungjae Im from South Korea and Kensei Hirata from Japan. In the second round, Homa’s group starts at 10:24.

Justin Thomas will start his first round at 9:29. He is paired with Hideki Matsuyama from Japan and Si Woo Kim from South Korea. For the second round, Thomas begins at 10:35.

Joel Dahmen, Nate Lashley and Satoshi Kodaira will start at 8:56 in the first round. The second round for this group is at 10:02.

Mac Meissner starts his first round at 8:45. He plays alongside Ryo Hisatsune and Takahiro Hataji from Japan. Their second round begins at 9:51.

Brendon Todd and Kyoung-Hoon Lee are paired together, starting their first round at 9:07, with Chun-an Yu. The second round for this group is set for 10:13.

DP World Tour Tee Times Featuring Johannes Veerman at the Genesis Championship

The DP World Tour Tee Times for the Genesis Championship, held at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon, South Korea, are announced. This tournament is part of the DP World Tour, boasting a par of 72 and offering a prize pool of $4,000,000. Defending champion Park Sang Hyun will aim to retain his title.

DP World Tour Tee Times and American Players

Johannes Veerman from the USA will team up with Sebastian Soderberg from Sweden and Byeong-hun An from South Korea. They will start the first round at 07:40 AM.

Chase Hanna, another American player, will tee off alongside Jens Fahrbring from Sweden and Renato Paratore from Italy. Their first round begins at 08:10 AM.

Seungsu Han of the USA plays with Matthis Besard from Belgium and Haydn Barron from Australia, teeing off at 11:30 AM.

James Nicholas, representing the USA, will join Jacques Kruyswijk from South Africa and Taeho Kim. Their group starts at 11:50 AM.

Gunner Wiebe, another participant from the USA, teams up with Daan Huizing from the Netherlands and Soomin Lee from South Korea, starting at 12:10 PM.

• Tags aiko , Genesis Championship , live-european-tour