Author: Alexandra Caspers

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Top Tours

DP World Tour, PGA Tour Expand and Strengthen Alliance

DP World Tour and PGA Tour strengthen alliance. (Photo: Getty)
DP World Tour and PGA Tour strengthen alliance. (Photo: Getty)

The DP World Tour and the PGA TOUR have moved to significantly strengthen not only their existing alliance but also help develop players to compete at the pinnacle of men’s professional golf, by unveiling a ground-breaking new 13-year operational joint venture partnership.

The partnership, through to 2035, builds on the success of the existing Strategic Alliance between the two Tours that was unveiled in November 2020 and which has already seen tangible benefits for members of both Tours, not least the co-sanctioning of the Genesis Scottish Open on the DP World Tour, alongside access for both memberships into the Barbasol Championship and the Barracuda Championship on the PGA TOUR.

Collaboration has already borne fruit for the DP World Tour with the introduction of new tournament title sponsors such as Genesis and Horizon and new Tour partners such as Fortinet and Velocity Global.

In addition, working together to drive prize funds and commercial revenue will not only benefit the entire range of both memberships immediately, but also develop immense strategic opportunities for all members of both Tours for the future.

As part of the new joint venture, the PGA TOUR will increase its existing stake in European Tour Productions from 15 percent to 40 percent, while utilising the DP World Tour’s recognised international credentials and global footprint to continue to coordinate a worldwide schedule.

The DP World Tour will guarantee growth in annual prize funds to its membership for the next five years, all above the record 2022 levels unveiled as part of the DP World Tour title partnership arrangement announced last November.

The new joint venture will provide additional competitive opportunities for professional golfers of both Tours and also establish a clearly defined pathway for top players around the world. Players from the Sunshine Tour and ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia, with whom the DP World Tour already has existing Strategic Alliances, now enjoy a formal pathway to the DP World Tour. With today’s announcement, DP World Tour members will now have direct and formal access to the very pinnacle of the men’s professional game on the PGA TOUR.

To achieve that, from 2023, the leading ten players on the end of season DP World Tour Rankings [in addition to those already exempt] will earn PGA TOUR cards for the following season.

Furthermore, the DP World Tour will work closely on the development and implementation of the new international events announced by PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan last week at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut, and DP World Tour members will gain access to those events.

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive Officer of the DP World Tour said: “Building on the success of the existing Strategic Alliance between ourselves and the PGA TOUR, this move will significantly enhance the meritocracy that has successfully served the professional game on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 50 years.

“It is a natural extension and progression of what we have been doing over the past few years and I passionately believe that this move is the right thing for our players, our Tour, our fans, and the game of golf in general.

“Our two tours have undoubtedly drawn closer over the past few years and today’s announcement strengthens both Tours for the betterment of both memberships.”

Jay Monahan, Commissioner of the PGA TOUR, said, “It was clear from the outset that our Strategic Partnership with the European Tour Group was a powerful agreement for both sides, and we are thrilled with today’s announcement of this expanded partnership.

“We will continue to collaborate on a global schedule and key commercial areas as we draw our organizations and memberships even closer together while innovating to provide the most entertaining and compelling golf possible to fans around the world. On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I want to credit and commend Keith Pelley and his team at the European Tour Group for their incredible commitment to this effort.”

(Text: DP World Tour)

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Highlights Tours

Open Championship 2022: LIV Golf players may play in St. Andrews

LIV Golf Players are allowed to play The Open. (Photo: Getty)
LIV Golf Players are allowed to play The Open. (Photo: Getty)

The R&A is allowing LIV golfers to compete in the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews. These include former Open winners Phil Mickelson and Louis Oosthuizen, also qualifying are Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed and Abaham Ancer, plus Brooks Koepka, who may also join the LIV Golf Tour.

Open Championship: Openness has been Fundamental

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said:

“The Open is golf’s original Championship and since it was first played in 1860, openness has been fundamental to its ethos and unique appeal.

“Players who are exempt or have earned a place through qualifying for The 150th Open in accordance with the entry terms and conditions will be able to compete in the Championship at St Andrews.

“We are focused on staging a world class Championship in July and celebrating this truly historic occasion for golf. We will invest the proceeds of The Open, as we always do, for the benefit of golf which reflects our purpose to ensure that the sport is thriving 50 years from now.”

The USGA had allowed the players who participated in the first event of the LIV Golf Series, which is funded by the Saudi government’s PIF, to participate in the US Open. The issue had arisen after the PGA Tour suspended the players. However, the major tournaments are hosted by independent promoters who set their own qualifying criteria. However, neither the USGA nor the R&A guarantee that the qualification criteria will not change in the future. In the long run, the question of whether there will be world ranking points for LIV golf tournaments will also be relevant in this context, as these are often an important component of major qualification.

The DP World Tour has not commented yet and wants to make a decision about the sanctions for the LIV Golf participants in the coming days.

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Highlights Tours

Video: First Hole in One at the US Open 2022

On the second day of the US Open 2022, the fans at The Country Club in Massachusetts (USA) were able to cheer loudly. Cameron Young took a swing at the sixth hole and holed out from 165 yards directly from the tee box.

US Open 2022: Hole in one from Cameron Young

The American thus scored the 48th (known) ace in the 122-year history of the US Open. Young had been rather mediocre so far and still had a chance to make the cut thanks to the eagle. After a 72 at the start, the 25-year-old experienced a debacle at hole 3. On the par-4 Cameron Young recorded an 8 and thus a quadruple bogey. For the round, the PGA Tour professional was already seven shots over par after 13 holes, but then started a series in which he framed the hole-in-one of three birdies at hole 6 (he had started on the 10th tee).

However, these five stroke wins within four holes were not enough; Cameron Young would also have needed a birdie on the last hole to make the cut at +3. As a result, he narrowly missed the weekend of the US Open 2022 by one stroke.

The 48th known hole-in-one in #USOpen HISTORY!

Take a bow, Cameron Young!

? : @NBC and @PeacockTV pic.twitter.com/cXlJP5zMwh

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Highlights Tours

US Open 2022: Rory McIlroy takes out his frustration in the bunker

Rory McIlroy during the first round of the US Open 2022. (Photo: getty)
Rory McIlroy during the first round of the US Open 2022. (Photo: getty)

With a round of 67 and an interim shared lead at the 2022 US Open, Rory McIlroy actually has no reason to be particularly frustrated with his round. Nevertheless, the Northern Irishman gave free rein to his feelings in the meantime.

US Open 2022: Rory McIlroys aggressive bunker reaction

On hole 5, for example, where his tee shot landed on the edge of the bunker and the liberating shot strayed into the next bunker. But for a player of McIlroy’s caliber, that’s no problem either: he carried the ball onto the green and holed out for par. So did the bunker really deserve this reaction?

Woah ?pic.twitter.com/kSUgJ2dSwN — Golf Monthly (@GolfMonthly) June 16, 2022

“At the US Open, you’re faced with things you’re not faced with in any other week, whether it’s lies or things like that,” McIlroy said. “The thick rough of the course is on the edges of the bunkers. So I’ve been cursing the USGA.”

“You have to accept it. It didn’t seem like much work for Harry (Diamond, his caddy), so I gave the sand my opinion, and then I backed off and played a good bunker shot, and then it’s great to sink that hole.”

That wasn’t the only incident, however, in which McIlroy showed he’s hot to finish his majorless streak. On hole 9, McIlroy’s final hole that would end in a bogey, he clearly wasn’t satisfied as well and threw his club to the ground.

Rory club throws!! The Prince wants it this week!! pic.twitter.com/1KeaRdhx0D — Riggs (@RiggsBarstool) June 16, 2022

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Highlights Tours

US Open 2022: Forbidden souvenir! Fans steal Rahm’s golf ball

Fans grab Jon Rahm's Ball at the US Open 2022. (Photo: Getty)
Fans grab Jon Rahm's Ball at the US Open 2022. (Photo: Getty)

Not an easy start for the Spanish defending champion at the US Open in Brookline, Massachusetts. On his first round, Jon Rahm experienced a veritable roller coaster ride over the 18 holes. Wild tee shots into deep rough, outstanding saves for a par save and long putts for birdie. It really was all there, and on top of that there was the scene on the 18th hole where Rahm missed the fairway again, but when he went for his ball, it was no longer in the place where it was initially spotted.

US Open 2022: Detective Rahm quickly spots the culprits

After the round, Rahm was asked about the incident on 18. The Spaniard visibly took the scene in stride, especially since he was awarded a free drop under the rules. Rahm also stated for the record that he saw the two offenders who took the ball on the court. Apparently, two younger fans had unceremoniously decided to take the ball from the former world number one.

“I’m pretty sure I know who did it,” he said, visibly amused. “I’m 100 percent sure I saw the two kids who stole it. The two of them were running in the opposite direction and had huge smiles on their faces.”

To the kids who stole @JonRahmpga‘s golf ball on the 18th hole, he knows who you are. ? #USOpen pic.twitter.com/Nh5YeeoXV9 — Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 16, 2022

Lucky for Rahm and, of course, lucky for the two fans that the scene ended without disadvantage for the Spaniard. Quite the opposite, in fact. Rahm took advantage of the free drop, played the ensuing ball to the 18th green and holed the 20-foot putt for a birdie worth seeing. With this, Rahm moved up to a score of -1 for the day and is now tied for 14th place.

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LIV Tour

Bryson DeChambeau officially joins LIV Golf


LIV Golf officially confirms that Bryson DeChambeau will participate in upcoming tournaments of the new series. The American will join June in Portland for the second tournament of the Saudi Golf League.

Welcome @b_dechambeau ?#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/v0O1BVqwcC

Bryson DeChambeau becomes LIV Golf member

Rumors already surfaced a few days ago that DeChambeau was moving to the LIV Golf Invitational Series along with Patrick Reed. “Bryson has always been an innovator,” his agent let slip about the reports. “The opportunity to be involved in the foundation of something unique has always intrigued him. Professional golf as we know it is changing, and changing fast.” 

The announcement comes as a surprise after DeChambeau said as recently as last week that he was not in a position to risk moves like this. As long as the best players in the world were playing on the PGA Tour, he said, he would play there. While the PGA Tour has made its suspension of LIV golf participants official, it may be the USGA’s announcement not to exclude any already qualified golfers that may have influenced Bryson DeChambeau’s decision.

DeChambeau’s sponsor Rocket Mortgage already reacted and parted ways with the US Open winner. Citing ties to the PGA Tour, the company said, “Rocket Mortgage has been a longtime supporter of the PGA Tour, both in our role as an official partner and as a tournament organizer.”

More LIV Golf participants revealed?

In addition to rumors of Patrick Reed and also Rickie Fowler, the teaser video for the new tournament series also appears to announce Matthew Wolff and Bubba Watson as future members. Both can be seen in the video, although they have not yet been officially confirmed. Pat Perez is also said to have signed a $10 million contract with the Saudis, negotiated with the help of the Gretzkys and Dustin Johnson.

According to a source Pat Perez has signed with LIV for 10 million. They added that Perez is close with the Gretzky’s and they, along with DJ they helped secure the deal. — Monday Q Info (@acaseofthegolf1) June 10, 2022

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Live

LIV Golf LIVE: Stream the start of the new tournament series for free

Stream the LIV Golf Invitational Series LIVE. (Photo: Getty)
Stream the LIV Golf Invitational Series LIVE. (Photo: Getty)

On Thursday, June 9, 48 players will compete in the first event of the LIV Golf Series. The competitive tour will tee it up for the first time at London’s Centurion Golf Club. The entire event around the 48 starters of the LIV Golf Invitational Series is available in a free stream, directly at Golf Post.

Saudi Golf League in a free stream at Golf Post

The LIV Golf events are not broadcast on private (and sometimes paid) channels, but are freely available worldwide via livestream. Golfers can follow the entire event live via the LIV Golf website, YouTube or Facebook. The broadcasts will start at 2 p.m. British time.
But you can also follow Kaymer and Co. on Golf Post. The entire broadcast over three days will be available as a free livestream on Golf Post TV.

The spectacle will be commented by Arlo White, known from the Football Premier League, supported by golf experts. Jerry Foltz will support as an analyst directly from the commentary booth and Su-Ann Heng, former world number one, will be on the golf course as a reporter. The team will be followed by other former Asian Tour players and long-drive champions. The broadcast will feature footage from more than 50 cameras and more than 60 microphones on the course, which LIV Golf says will create “a new kind of golf broadcast.”

Broadcast times:
Thursday June 09, 2022: Starting at 2 p.m. on Golf Post, Youtube and livgolf.com
Friday June 10, 2022: 2 p.m. on Golf Post, Youtube and livgolf.com
Saturday 11 June 2022: 2 p.m. on Golf Post, Youtube and livgolf.com

LIV Golf Invitational Series Livestream

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Live

LIV Golf Invitational Day 1

Charl Schwartzel leads after the first round of the LIV Golf Invitational Series. Martin Kaymer and Bernd Wiesberger start only moderately into the controversial tournament.

The mood around the LIV Golf Invitational Series heated up again shortly before the start with numerous news. But then the time had finally come and the controversially discussed tournament of the Saudi Golf League opened its first round with a cannon start at the Centurion Club in London. After the first of three days of the tournament, Charl Schwartzel leads with five strokes under par. Behind him is his compatriot and teammate Hennie du Plessis at 4-under par. Phil Mickelson, who joined the field late, is T7 with -1, just like headliner Dustin Johnson.

For a long time, Phachara Khongwatmai claimed the top spot in the field until Charl Schwartzel made a final spurt towards the end of the round and secured the sole lead with a birdie on his last hole, while Khongwatmai made one of his few mistakes.

The PGA Tour waited until the first players had teed off in London to announce the suspension of participants. The Tour had previously denied the players permission to play in the tournament, which is funded by the Saudi government’s Private Investement Fund (PIF) and with which Greg Norman wants to build a rival tour to the PGA.

Martin Kaymer and Bernd Wiesberger on the Saudi Golf League
Neither Martin Kaymer nor Bernd Wiesberger got off to a particularly good start in the tournament. Martin Kaymer did deserve the honor of the first birdies of the tournament, but that ultimately came to little fruition with a round of +4. Thus he occupies T34 at the beginning of the tournament. Even further behind, Bernd Wiesgerber is alone in 45th place with +7 and thus only three places away from the end of the leaderboard.

Stroke of the day can be none other than this almost albatross by Wade Ormsby, who thus almost caused a sensation on the first event day of the Saudi Golf League.

Almost albatross glory ? ?#PUNCHGC captain @wadeormsby going pin hunting #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/7cN6b6JvTO — LIV Golf (@LIVGolfInv) June 9, 2022

Top 5 of the LIV Golf Invitational Series

1 – Charl Schwartzel (-5)
2- Hennie du Plessis (-4)
3- Phachara Khongwatmai (-3)
3- Scott Vincent (-3)
5- Justin Harding (-2)
5 – Branden Grace (-2)

In addition to the individual standings, the team standings also played a role in the LIV Golf Invitational Series. Here, the South Africans dominated with Team Stingers led by Louis Oosthuizen, even though the captain showed the weakest performance of his team with +2. But since only the best two results of a team on Thursday and Friday are included in the ranking, the team with -9 by Schwartzel and du Plessis easily maintains the lead. Far behind in second place with -3 strokes are the Crushers led by Peter Uihlein. Unsurprisingly, it is Phachara Khongwatmai who brought in the points for this team, along with the team captain who is at Even Par himself. Also in 2nd place is Mickelson’s team of Hy Flyers, which Mickelson’s three birdies in four holes towards the end of the round put him ahead, as well as Justin Harding, who is T5 at -2.

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Highlights Tours

PGA Championship 2022: Rory McIlroy about his fantastic opening roud

Rory McIlroy about his first round at the PGA Championship 2022. (Photo: Getty)
Rory McIlroy about his first round at the PGA Championship 2022. (Photo: Getty)

JOHN DEVER: Welcome back to the 2022 PGA Championship here at Southern Hills Country Club. Joined by Rory McIlroy, who fashioned a 5-under par 65 today. Rory, that’s the quick start you’ve been looking for, yes or no?

RORY MCILROY: Yes or no? No, no, I’d rather shoot 74 and try to make the cut tomorrow. (Laughter.)

Yeah, look, it was a great start to the tournament. I’ve been playing well coming in here. I’ve been carrying some good form. Obviously that took a lot from that last round at Augusta, played well up in D.C. at the Wells Fargo there, and played good in the practice rounds earlier this week.

I think when your game is feeling like that, it’s just a matter of going out there and really sticking to your game plan, executing as well as you possibly can, and just sort of staying in your own little world. I did that really well today. It was nice to get off to that good start and sorta keep it going.

I feel like this course, it lets you be pretty aggressive off the tee if you want to be, so I hit quite a lot of drivers out there and took advantage of my length and finished that off with some nice iron play and some nice putting.

Q. What were you happiest with, and if there was disappointment, what were you most disappointed with?

RORY MCILROY: I think just happy with when you get off to a good start like that, sometimes you can maybe start to be a little careful or start to give yourself a little more margin for error, but I stuck to my game plan.

I stayed aggressive, hit that driver up 4, took an aggressive line on 5. Yeah, I stuck to what I was trying to do out there, which I was pleased with.

Then if anything obviously the two bogeys on the par-3s on the front nine, but it’s very easy to make bogeys out here. You get yourself just a little bit out of position, you catch a little bit of grain around the green, it’s tricky.

I didn’t encounter too many of those tricky scenarios today, but it can certainly be tricky. You get yourself out of position here, you just try to make a 4 or a par and run to the next.

Q. I was going to ask you about that line on 5 you took. Why did you decide to aim at that tree and hit a cut instead of working a draw or something? What’s the thinking?

RORY MCILROY: I snap hooked one on to the driving range yesterday, so at least I knew I wasn’t going to do that. That was basically it. And the wind was off the left. If anything I’m a little more comfortable hitting the driver left to right at the minute. I feel like my body works a little better, I can be more aggressive with my body; body doesn’t stop and arms go.

Some of those right-to-left winds today off the tee it was nice because I could just aim the driver up the middle of the fairway, hit like a nice hold against the wind.

But yeah, that was the reason. It wasn’t all to do with the shot yesterday, but just fits my eye a little better.

Q. You’ve talked about how it can be challenging playing with Tiger Woods or in these super groups. Is there an opposite to that where once you’re playing well you get more in the zone, or what’s the effect out there?

RORY MCILROY: Yeah, I think the nice thing around — like for example, it’s different playing with him here than it is say at East Lake, because East Lake feels so claustrophobic, the crowds are so much more on top of you.

Here it’s big wide corridors. I feel like there’s a lot of room, so it doesn’t feel as oppressive as some other venues. It’s sort of nice that — I was looking forward to the draw anyway. It’s always a cool group to be a part of.

But I think this golf course just with how it’s been opened up, it doesn’t feel quite as boisterous as it usually does.

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Highlights Tours

PGA Championship 2022: Tiger Woods about his frustrating start

Tiger Woods about his first round at the PGA Championship 2022 (Photo: Getty)
Tiger Woods about his first round at the PGA Championship 2022 (Photo: Getty)

JOHN DEVER: Welcome back to the 2022 PGA Championship here at Southern Hills. We’re joined by Tiger Woods who opened with a 4-over par 74 today. Looked like a struggle out there. Did you hold it together? It’s not that bad a score.

TIGER WOODS: Well, I did not hit a lot of good iron shots. I drove it well, but my iron shots were not very good. I didn’t get the ball very close. I got off to a great start and didn’t keep it going. I really didn’t give myself any looks for birdie. I was struggling trying to get the ball on the green, and I missed quite a few iron shots both ways. It was a frustrating day.

Q. It looked like you tweaked something, looked like something was bothering you, and also, bunker shots, the ball came out hot —

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, yeah. All the bunker shots sort of came out hot. The sand is a lot faster than I thought it would be. Kind of been that way all week, especially if you get up in the areas where it’s not raked. I had a couple of those balls where it was in those areas. It’s like, is there a lot of sand here, is there not, how should I play it, and when you dig in with your feet you’re not in those areas where it’s raked. I feel like sometimes the sand — I’m guessing, and I guessed wrong.

Yeah, my leg is not feeling as good as I would like it to be. We’ll start the recovery process and get after it tomorrow.

Q. There were a few instances when you went iron off the tee when Rory and Jordan both hit driver. Was that always the strategy and when you see them do that, does it make you think, I’m pretty far back here?

TIGER WOODS: Well, it wouldn’t have been so far back if I would have hit the iron shot solid and put the ball in the fairway. I was playing to my spots, and those guys obviously have a different game plan. It’s just different.

The game is played very differently now, and it’s very aggressive. We were talking about it today, Joey and I, the days of the Lee Janzens and the Scott Simpsons and the Faldos of the world, playing that kind of golf is gone. You go out there and hit driver a lot, and if you have a hot week, you have a hot week and you’re up there.

The game is just different. It’s much more aggressive now, and I know that. But I was playing to my spots. If I would have hit the ball solidly on those two holes and put the ball in the fairway, I would have been fine. I would have had 9-iron, 8-iron in there. That’s not a big deal. But I didn’t do that. I put the ball in the rough over there on 4 and hit the tree on 9 and ended up hitting a 4-iron in there.

Q. When your leg is bothering you more than normal, how does it impact your swing? What does it do that you are not able to do the way you’d like?

TIGER WOODS: Well, I just can’t load it. Loading hurts, pressing off it hurts, and walking hurts, and twisting hurts. It’s just golf. I don’t play that, if I don’t do that, then I’m all right.