Author: Alexandra Caspers

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Ladies Tours

Team USA Wins 2024 Solheim Cup

Team USA wins the Solheim Cup 2024. (Photo: Getty)
Team USA wins the Solheim Cup 2024. (Photo: Getty)

Team USA wins the Solheim Cup 2024. After starting the final Sunday with a 10-6 lead, the Americans did not let up on Sunday. After Team Europe had successfully claimed the trophy in the last three Solheim Cups, it was Stacy Lewis‘ team that broke the Europeans’ winning streak in Virginia. Team USA put the pressure on early on, but the Europeans fought and kept their chances alive. But the Americans’ lead was too big and in the decisive phase, they got closer to victory with every match they shared. In the end, Lilia Vu scored the decisive half point in her match against Albane Valenzuela.

“It really could have gone either way.”, Captain Stacy Lewis said. “It’s crazy there at the end kind of how it all unfolded. I was just hoping and praying it went our way. Just proud of the team, and Lilia’s finish there was unbelievable. That’s what you expect from one of the best players in the world.”

Singles Results on Sunday at the Solheim Cup 2024

Europe vs USA
11,5 14,5
Europe EResult USA
Charley Hull  6 & 4 Europe Nelly Korda

Charley Hull won the first point of the Sunday for Europe. With a clear 6&4 victory, she faced the world number one Nelly Korda. Korda was able to win a single hole, while Hull played five birdies and ended the match with an eagle on hole 14.

‘I knew I had to go out there and get a low score,’ Hull said after her round, ’and Suzann said to me that they always knew I would be up against Nelly first and if anyone could beat her, it would be me. So that gave me a lot of confidence. Yesterday I played 8 under with my own ball and today I was 7 under after 14 holes. I know I have what it takes to play against Nelly and I feel like I missed a few shots as well, a few putts, but it was a good match and I felt like we gave the crowd what they wanted to see.’

Europe Result USA
Emily Pedersen  6 & 5 USA Megan Khang

Megan Khang scored the first point for the USA. In a demonstration as clear as Hull’s against Korda, Khang ended her match against Pedersen on the 13th hole. Khang put the pressure on from the first hole, while Pedersen made several mistakes. Khang’s performance means she remains unbeaten this week, having also gone unbeaten last year. ‘The atmosphere is just electrifying. I really enjoyed getting the crowd so involved,’ she said after her victory. ‘It’s just like that – you get the crowd going, they go with you, they’re there to lift you up. I’ve enjoyed this week and tried to play my best golf, not just for myself but for my team-mates, my captains, the fans and our country, and I’ve tried to take it one game at a time, like Captain Lewis said.’

Europe Result USA
Georgia Hall  4 & 3 Europe Alison Lee

Georgia Hall also made her mark for Europe after losing her first two matches on Friday and Saturday. After two early bogeys from Alison Lee, Hall took an early 2 up lead on Sunday. Hall extended the lead to 3 up and after another bogey from Lee, she had a 4 hole lead before the back nine. Lee tried to fight back on the second nine, but Hall stood her ground. After her round Hall said: ‘I played really solid and didn’t let her get into the game. It was just a good day, but hopefully I can go on and cheer the team on.’

Europe Result USA
Carlota Ciganda  6 & 4 USA Rose Zhang

Carlota Ciganda, who scored the decisive point for Europe last year, was beaten 6&4 by Rose Zhang. Ciganda tried to control the match early on, but Zhang took the narrow lead right back from her and went 3 up within three holes. The American held on to this lead until the back nine, where she then built up the pressure again and improved to 5 up with birdie-par-birdie. Zhang sealed the deal with an eagle to counter Ciganda’s birdie on 14.

Europe Result USA
Anna Nordqvist  4 & 3 USA Allisen Corpuz

Allisen Corpuz prevails against the experienced Solheim Cup player Anna Nordqvist. Corpuz held a narrow lead over eleven holes, but Nordqvist did not let her pull away. An eagle on the par-5 12th from Corpuz took her to 3 up for the first time, winning the 14th and finishing the match on the 15th. ‘Anna is a great player,’ Corpuz said of her rival. ‘I grew up watching her play. We both played really well. She holed an eagle on 5 and it was just a great match.’

Europ3 Result USA
Esther Henseleit Tied Andrea Lee

Esther Henseleit ends her first appearance at the Solheim Cup with half a point in the singles. She fought a tough match against Andrea Lee and held a narrow lead for long stretches. But Lee stepped up a gear again, while Henseleit’s putts just wouldn’t drop. The match dragged on until the 18th, where the German had another chance to win a whole point for Europe with a birdie, but this putt didn’t drop either.

Europe Result USA
Celine Boutier  1 Up Europe Lexi Thompson

Celine Boutier denies Lexi Thompson a dream farewell from the Solheim Cup. When the two opponents came all square on 18, Thompson still had the chance to score the decisive point for Team USA with a long birdie putt. But Boutier had hit a sensational shot to the flag and what Thompson couldn’t convert, she sank. The Frenchwoman scored an important point for Europe after already being 3 under.

Europe Result USA
Leona Maguire  4&3 Europe Ally Ewing

Leona Maguire, in only her second match at this year’s Solheim Cup, took a point against Ally Ewing after losing 6&4 to Nelly Korda and Megan Khang on Friday. Ewing kept taking the lead from her at the start of the match, but she took control at the end of the front nine and brought the match home safely on 15.

Europe Result USA
Maja Stark  Tied Lauren Coughlin

Maja Stark held her nerve and kept Europe’s chances alive. She had the upper hand for a long time against Lauren Coughlin, who levelled the match on 14. The two went on in lockstep until the 18th, where Maja Stark sent a monster putt on its way in an attempt to prevent a European defeat. The ball went a few metres beyond the hole, but Lauren Coughlin also failed to sink her putt. With the second putt gifted to the Americans, however, it was up to Stark to make her back putt. She did justice to this task, even if her hands were visibly shaking afterwards.

Europe Result USA
Albane Valenzuela  Tied Lilia Vu

Lilia Vu takes the decisive half point against the Americans in her match against Albane Valenzuela. Valenzuela turned the match around in the closing stages after Vu had been ahead for a long time, but in the end a split match was enough for the Americans to decide the match. ‘That meant a lot to me because I really felt like I wasn’t doing anything for the team today and I don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel if I let myself go like that,’ explained Vu after the win. ‘And then I was two shots behind, and on 16 I made an up-and-down save, and then I was able to birdie 17 and 18. I don’t know how. It just happened. I know I looked at the leaderboard on the fairway and saw we were at 14, so I wanted to get that half point for us.
Yeah, I hit the ball from about a metre and a half and it worked.’

Europe Result USA
Madelene Sagstrom 1 Up Europe Sarah Schmelzel

1 Up was enough for Madelene Sagstrom to score a point for Europe. She also put blue on the leaderboard for a long time in her duel against Sarah Schmelzel. Schmelzel forced the match back to all square. But a bogey by the American on 17 gave Sagstrom an advantage again, which she saved for the clubhouse, even though the cup was already lost at this point.

Europe Result USA
Linn Gran 2&1 USA Jennifer Kupcho
Categories
Ladies Tours

Solheim Cup 2024: Empty Grandstands on the First Tee

Long lines and empty seats at the Solheim Cup 2024. (Photos: X.com/@fried_egg_golf und @lori_schreiner)
Long lines and empty seats at the Solheim Cup 2024. (Photos: X.com/@fried_egg_golf und @lori_schreiner)

The first tee shot at a continental competition is an unrivalled experience. Fans get up in the middle of the night to sit on the first tee at dawn and create a great atmosphere, eagerly awaiting the first flights. The Solheim Cup is usually no exception.

Spectators miss the first tee shot at the Solheim Cup 2024

On the first day of the Solheim Cup 2024 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, however, many fans were denied this joy. The reason: too few buses to take spectators from the car park to the golf course. Fans report on X (formerly Twitter) that they have been waiting at the car park for over an hour and still have ‘1000’ people in front of them in the huge queue that has formed. A queue that is not moving as the first tee shot approaches.

‘The first tee on Friday morning of a Solheim is typically the best atmosphere of the year. For the fans to not be here is an absolute travesty.’ writes Beth Ann Nichols of Golfweek.

Just before the first tee shots, much of the grandstand on the first tee was still empty.

blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”>

First tee shot goes in the air at 7:05 (in 25 minutes) and there are so many empty seats. Serious transportation issues going on this morning. Wish they could push back tee times but too much golf to get in. pic.twitter.com/VMSK9V2bh0

— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) September 13, 2024
Solheim Cup 2024 Live Scores

With only four flights, the spectacle is not only over quickly, but with so many people waiting, it is foreseeable that many will also miss a large part of the morning session. “Complete disaster”, writes Nichols who covers the issue on X.

The transport problems were already becoming apparent the day before, when it took a very long time after the opening ceremony before all the spectators could be transported back.

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Highlights Tours

Solheim Cup 2024: “Housegate” – First Drama Even Before the Start of the Tournament

Team rooms at the Solheim Cup 2024 (Foto: Getty)
Team rooms at the Solheim Cup 2024 (Foto: Getty)

The Solheim Cup is always good for drama, the best example being the story of the tearful “Gimme Gates” of 2015 involving Suzann Pettersen and Charley Hull, which was rekindled with the return of Alison Lee to the American team. The 2024 Solheim Cup had its first controversy even before the start. As Sky Sports reported, there was a dispute about the European team room. The Europeans made themselves a little too comfortable for the taste of their opponents.

The two team rooms, which are more like team houses, are located near the driving range of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course and as hosts, the Americans had first choice. They left the Europeans the smaller of the two houses, which has the advantage of being directly adjacent to the driving range. Team USA complained when Team Europe used the driving bays in the house, saying that this was not permitted under the contract and that the tables and chairs that Team Europe had placed outside were also against the contract.

US skipper Stacy Lewis explained why these seemingly mundane facts upset the American team: “The inside of their hut doesn’t have much room for tables, so their tables have to be outside. Our players were warming up while having breakfast and chatting. We just tried to give everyone some space so we didn’t have to listen to them eat breakfast. There’s no bad blood.” The problem was solved, they said, by simply moving Team USA further down the driving range.

A Look Into the Past

It’s not just dramas that are being rehashed at the Solheim Cup. The LPGA Tour dug deep into the stars’ social media and found some very special pictures that were crying out to be signed.

“Full Glam” Before the Start of the Tournament

Before the team colors take center stage on Friday, the players had have the opportunity to really dress up at the tournament’s accompanying events. While the players familiarize themselves with the course the days before, the first of these highlights was scheduled for Wednesday with the gala dinner. The Smithsonian American Art Museum with its impressive Kogod Courtyard was prepared for the event. Team Europe appeared together in cream-colored outfits, while Team USA presented itself in navy and black dresses.

And before the tournament can really get underway, one thing is still missing: the opening ceremony.

Support for Team Europe

Team Europe may not have a former president who has visited the team, but it still gets all kinds of support from European (golf) stars.

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Ladies Tours

Solheim Cup 2024: Pairings and Tee Times for Day 1

Tee Times and Pairings for the Solheim Cup 2024. (Photo: Getty)
Tee Times and Pairings for the Solheim Cup 2024. (Photo: Getty)

This week at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, defending champions Team Europe will face Team USA, who have the home advantage at the 2024 Solheim Cup. The Europeans have taken home the trophy three times in a row, but the American fans will not make it easy for Suzann Pettersen’s team.

There are five sessions in total. Friday and Saturday will start with the Foursomes at 7:05 AM. In four matches, two Europeans will compete against two Americans, who will take it in turns to play a ball. The pairings have already been decided independently of each other by the captains on Thursday.

The fourballs will continue at 12 PM on Friday and Saturday, with the pairings often being decided before the first matches have been completed. In the fourballs, two Europeans and two Americans will again compete in one of four matches, but each will play their own ball. The better result of a team is counted.

The singles follow on Sunday. All twelve players from one team will compete head-to-head against the 12 players from the other team. The matches will start at 08:50 AM.

Solheim Cup 2024 Live Scores

Tee Times Solheim Cup 2024 Day 1 – Foursomes

Match Tee Time Players (USA) Players (Europa)
1 07:05 Nelly Korda / Allisen Corpuz Charley Hull /Esther Henseleit
2 07:17 Rose Zhang / Lauren Coughlin Albane Valenzuela / Celine Boutier
3 07:29 Ally Ewing / Jennifer Kupcho Maja Stark / Emily Pedersen
4 07:41 Lilia Vu / Sarah Schmelzel Linn Grant / Carlota Ciganda
Categories
Golfshoes

Duca del Cosma Teams Up With Lucky in Love on Special Golf Shoe

(Photo: Duca del Cosma)

Luxury Italian golf fashion brand Duca del Cosma has teamed up with women’s athletic wear brand Lucky In Love on a special limited-edition golf shoe to offer lady golfers a super eye-catching design that is guaranteed to dazzle and make a bold fashionable statement.

“These shoes will turn heads without any doubt”

Offered in limited quantities across North America and Europe, the standout LIL Bellezza style has seen two of the golf industry’s most fashion-forward brands work in harmony to develop a supremely captivating women’s golf shoe that demands attention from every angle.

Handcrafted using super premium components, the gleaming design incorporates a silver patent-finished microfibre upper treated with a mesmerizing holographic material to provide a mirrored look. Intricate details include both brand logos on the heel, an exclusive insole with the LIL family’s motto: ‘MAKE EVERY DAY YOUR BIRTHDAY, MAKE EVERY NIGHT NEW YEARS EVE’, plus the Lucky In Love logo on the matching kiltie to complete the unmatched appearance.

“I immediately fell in Love with the fashionable sports apparel from Lucky in Love when I first saw it at The Racquets Club in La Manga Club, Spain. I wear it while playing tennis, padel and golf,” said Caroline van Wezel, PR & Brand Director at Duca del Cosma. “It’s great to collaborate with one of the top sports fashion brands as both of our designs can be worn on and off the golf course. These shoes will turn heads without any doubt,” she added.

“This has been such a dynamic collaboration of two amazing families combining 20 years of Italian craftsmanship with one of the leading lady’s contemporary performance fashion houses based in Miami,” said Lucky in Love CEO, Brad Singer. “Working with the Duca team to bring this brilliant shoe to life has been filled with excitement, pleasure, and unrestrained creativity. The design process was driven by a spirit full of light and vibrancy, but it’s the execution that exceeded all our expectations, creating a shoe that will make any woman feel the ultimate sense of exhilaration,” he added.

The shoe is packed with a blend of stylish and functional features to provide a superb look and the top performance demanded by golfers seeking a premium shoe. It comes with the lightweight Airplay 9 spikeless outsole with strategically positioned nubs to offer progressive stability and optimal grip during the swing, while the waterproof sock system – comprised of OnSteam recyclable microfibre and an ARNEFLEX memory foam insert sole – ensures feet remain dry and comfortable all day long. An elevated, see-through midsole provides the perfect stance and added flare to the striking style that oozes quality with every detail.

Duca del Cosma x Lucky in Love

Duca del Cosma was founded in Italy in 2004 by Baldovino Mattiazzo, who still designs the distinctive collections for men and women golfers. Since 2016, the company has been reinvigorated by Frank van Wezel and his wife Caroline to now see its shoes sold in more than 40 different countries worldwide.

Founded in 2010, Lucky In Love is a fashion-focused women’s golf, tennis and pickleball apparel brand to provide bold performance wear that strives to be unique and dares to be different, while helping women of all ages feel amazing so they can venture out into the world as the best versions of themselves wearing premium performance-driven garments.

For more information on the Duca del Cosma x Lucky In Love collaboration shoe, visit www.ducadelcosma.com and www.shopluckyinlove.com.

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour: How does the FedExCup work?

How does the FedExCup work? (Photo: Getty)
How does the FedExCup work? (Photo: Getty)

The PGA Tour introduced a new format in 2007 with the FedExCup. The FedExCup is split into two main parts: over 36 regular PGA Tour events and three Playoff tournaments at the end of the season, leading up to the Tour Championship, where the season champion is determined. Winning individual events and the overall title comes with significant financial rewards, with the FedExCup champion earning an extra $25 million. Tiger Woods was the first to win the FedExCup in 2007, and he, along with Rory McIlroy, is one of the few players to have won it twice.

Points Vary by Tournament Importance

To compete in the FedExCup, players must have full PGA Tour membership. Eligible players earn points starting from the season’s beginning, with point values varying based on the tournament’s prestige. Winners can earn between 300 and 750 points depending on the event.

The major championships (Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and PGA Championship) and the Players Championship offer 750 FedExCup points to the winner. The newly added Signature Events provide 700 points. Most other PGA Tour events grant 500 points, except for alternate events running alongside major tournaments, which offer 300 points to the winner.

The stakes increase significantly during the Playoffs, where point allocations change dramatically. Each Playoff event awards 2,000 points to the winner, four times the amount of a regular season event.

Points System Creates Playoff Drama

The top 70 players at the end of the regular season keep their PGA Tour cards and qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs, beginning with the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Since 2019, the Playoffs have been shortened to three events. This change has made the Playoffs more competitive and less volatile. At the St. Jude Championship, 20 players are eliminated, leaving only the top 50 to advance to the BMW Championship.

At the BMW Championship, there is no cut, meaning all players compete through 72 holes. This rule adds to the tension, as even the leader with 2,000 points can be overtaken by any player in the field. However, those at the top still have the best chance to win the FedExCup.

In the past, Playoff points were reset before the final event, meaning that only strong performances in the finale would count. But since 2019, the Tour Championship uses a staggered start system based on Playoff rankings. The leader begins the final event at 10-under par, followed by second place at 8-under, and so on, down to even par for players ranked 26th to 30th. This system rewards consistency throughout the Playoffs while still allowing for a competitive final event.

What does the new format change?

Previously, Playoff points were reset before the finale to keep the competition open until the last event. However, this led to confusion and criticism, including from Tiger Woods, who argued that it didn’t reward season-long performance. The new system aims to make the FedExCup more accessible, particularly for the top 30 players. While the changes wouldn’t have drastically altered past outcomes, they do change how the final event unfolds. Some players excel when chasing down a leader, while others perform better when protecting a lead.

“I would feel better about a ten-stroke lead for four days than having to start from 30th place in the FedExCup like everyone else did before,” said 2015 FedExCup champion Jordan Spieth.

“The new system still gives a player a chance to finish really high and start a run in a week, but at the same time rewards those who have earned it at the top. I like that every shot counts, but also that some count a little more than others by rewarding a good season,” said 2010 FedEx Champion Jim Furyk.

The final Playoff event offers a doubled prize. Each Playoff tournament has a $20 million purse, with the winner taking the largest share. The FedExCup champion earns an additional $25 million from a $100 million bonus pool, most of which is paid directly to the players, with some set aside in a retirement fund accessible at age 45.

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LPGA Tour

Lydia Ko Qualifies for the LPGA Hall of Fame

Lydia Ko wins gold and Entry to the LPGA Hall of Fame. (Photo: Getty)
Lydia Ko wins gold and Entry to the LPGA Hall of Fame. (Photo: Getty)

With her gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Lydia Ko has reached the 27 points necessary for induction into the LPGA Hall of Fame. The 27-year-old New Zealand native achieved this milestone through a stellar career that includes LPGA Hall of Fame points earned for 20 LPGA Tour victories, highlighted by two major championship titles, two Rolex LPGA Player of the Year awards, twice earning the Glenna Collett Vare Trophy for the season’s lowest scoring average and now the Olympic gold medal. Ko becomes the 35th individual enshrined in the LPGA Hall of Fame, joining the ranks of the most accomplished and influential athletes in the history of women’s golf.

Lydia Ko, 20-time LPGA Tour winner

Ko is now a three-time Olympic medalist, taking silver at the 2016 Summer Games in Brazil and bronze at the 2020 Summer Games in Japan. On the LPGA Tour, Ko has amassed 20 LPGA Tour victories since 2012, including major titles at the 2015 Amundi Evian Championship and the 2016 Chevron Championship. She earned 18 of her titles since her rookie season in 2014, having won the 2012 and 2013 CPKC Women’s Open as an amateur prior to becoming an LPGA Tour Member. Ko was the 2015 and 2022 Rolex LPGA Player of the Year and won the Glenna Collett Vare Trophy, awarded to the player with the season’s lowest scoring average, in 2021 and 2022.

Ko has seven wins on the Ladies European Tour, five wins on the WPGA Tour of Australasia and one win on the Korean LPGA Tour. She also partnered with Jason Day to win the inaugural Grant Thornton Invitational, a mixed-team unofficial event featuring PGA Tour and LPGA Tour stars, in December 2023.

Ko has set numerous Youngest Ever marks in her career. On Aug. 19, 2012, she became the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history when she won the CPKC Women’s Open at 15 years, 4 months and 2 days. She became the youngest player, male or female, to reach World No. 1 when she ascended to the top of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings on Feb. 2, 2015, at 17 years, 9 months and 9 days. Later that year, Ko became the youngest female major winner when she captured the 2015 Amundi Evian Championship at 18 years, 4 months and 20 days. She then became the youngest female ever to win two major championships at 18 years, 11 months and 9 days following her win at the 2016 Chevron Championship.

Now at 27 years, 3 months and 17 days, Ko becomes the youngest player to be inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame under its current criteria. Prior to March 2022, induction criteria included the requirement that a player be active on Tour for 10 years. Karrie Webb reached the 27-point threshold at age 25 with her victory at the 2000 U.S. Women’s Open but did not reach the 10-year requirement until age 30 in 2005.

“Lydia’s qualification into the LPGA Hall of Fame isn’t just a milestone in her extraordinary career; it’s a testament to her generational talent, having built an unmatched resume of success at such a young age,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan. “Beyond her unprecedented achievements on the golf course, Lydia has inspired so many through her perseverance, kindness, generosity, and commitment to leaving the game better than she found it. She is a role model to us all and particularly to young girls, to whom she has shown what a true champion is, in sport and in life. Cementing her place in the Hall of Fame by winning the gold medal here in Paris is iconic, and it is something we will all remember for a long time. We are immensely proud of Lydia’s achievements and the impact she’s made on the world of golf and in global sports.”

LPGA Hall of Fame

The most recent inductees of the LPGA Hall of Fame were Lorena Ochoa and eight of the LPGA Tour’s original Founding Members. Ochoa had earned enough points to qualify when she retired in 2010 after eight seasons but did not receive enshrinement until the 10-year requirement was lifted in 2022. These nine women were honored in March 2022 for their years with the LPGA Tour. Prior to that, Inbee Park was the last player enshrined in the LPGA Hall of Fame when she earned the honor in 2016.

To qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame, members of the LPGA Tour must meet a minimum point threshold of 27 points, earned by the following criteria:

  1. Must have won/been awarded at least one of the following titles/honors
    1. An LPGA Tour major championship
    2. Glenna Collett Vare Trophy
    3. Rolex Player of the Year
  2. Must have accumulated a total of 27 points
    1. One point for each LPGA Tour official tournament win
    2. Two points for each LPGA Tour major tournament win
    3. One point for each Glenna Collett Vare Trophy honor earned
    4. One point for each Rolex Player of the Year honor earned
    5. One point for an Olympic gold medal

(Text: LPGA Tour)

Categories
Brands

Mixed Quarterly Results at Callaway – Topgolf in Focus

Callaways earnings report. (Photo: Getty)
Callaways earnings report. (Photo: Getty)

Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp. has announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2024. While the company wants to send positive signals in some areas, it is struggling with some challenges and is particularly critical of developments in the Topgolf segment.

Callaway: Financial results for the second quarter

In the second quarter of 2024, the company generated a net income of 62 million dollars. Compared to the previous year, this represents a decline of 47.1 %. However, excluding certain exceptional items, adjusted income rose to $83 million, an increase of 9.9%. Adjusted EBITDA, which represents operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, was USD 206 million, exceeding expectations.

Consolidated revenue, on the other hand, fell by 1.9 % to 1,157.8 million dollars. This decline is mainly due to lower demand in the golf equipment and active lifestyle segments. In the golf equipment segment, sales fell by 8.2%, which Callaway said was the result of a planned shift of the market launch of equipment products compared to last year. This was compounded by challenges such as negative FX trends, persistently high inflation and weaker than expected visitor numbers at top golf locations.

Despite the decline in sales, the company was able to maintain its leading position in the US market for golf clubs and golf balls. Callaway’s products, in particular the new Ai Smoke clubs and Chrome Tour golf balls, continued to show strong sales figures.

Sales at Topgolf below expectations

Topgolf, a central component of the company, recorded an overall increase in sales of 5% in the second quarter of 2024, but this was mainly due to new locations. Locations that have been in operation for 24 months or more saw an 8% decline in sales. This development is due to lower customer frequency at existing locations. Commenting on Topgolf’s performance, Chip Brewer, CEO of Topgolf Callaway, said: “We have been disappointed in our stock performance for some time, as well as the more recent same venue sales performance.”

In light of these figures, the company has initiated a strategic review of Topgolf, considering various growth strategies and potential structural changes. Brewer added: “This review includes the assessment of organic strategies to return Topgolf to profitable same venue sales growth, as well as inorganic alternatives, including a potential spin of Topgolf.” However, Brewer also emphasised that the company remains a firm believer in the potential of Topgolf: “We remain convinced that Topgolf is a high-quality business with significant future opportunities. It is transforming the game of golf and we believe it will deliver significant growth and financial returns over time.”

Adjusted annual forecast and financial measures

Due to the current challenges, the company has been forced to revise its annual forecast downwards. The expected annual turnover is now between 4,200 and 4,260 million dollars, while the adjusted EBITDA is estimated at 570 to 590 million dollars.

In order to be in a stronger financial position, the company has also repaid 50 million dollars of its debt ahead of schedule and increased its liquidity, i.e. its available funds, by 136 million dollars compared to the previous year.

Categories
Highlights Tours

Golf at the Olympics 2024 – The Tee Times For Day 3

Tee Times for Golf at the Olympics 2024. (Photo: Getty)
Tee Times for Golf at the Olympics 2024. (Photo: Getty)

The women’s golf tournament at the 2024 Olympics will take place from Wednesday, 7. August to Saturday, 10. August. All 60 participants will play 18 holes over four days. The golfer with the fewest strokes after a total of 72 holes will win the gold medal, while second and third place will receive silver and bronze. If golfers have the same number of strokes at the end of 72 holes, there will be a play-off.

Golf at the 2024 Olympics: Starting Times

The four tournament rounds at the 2024 Olympics will start at 9 a.m. from Wednesday to Saturday. They will start in flights of three, i.e. groups of three golfers. All flights begin their round on the first tee, starting 11 minutes apart. The tee times for rounds 1 and 2 are announced before the start of the tournament, while the starting order for rounds 3 and 4 is usually determined by the leaderboard from the previous day. The best players then start last.

Live Scores of Golf at the Olympics 2024

Tee Times Olympia Women 2024 Round 3

Starting Time Hole Player 1 Player 2 Player 3
9:00 1 DELACOUR Perrine
(FRA)
 FASSI Maria
(MEX)
 KOMULAINEN Noora
(FIN)
9:11 1 LAKLALECH Ines
(MAR)
 WIKSTROM Ursula
(FIN)
 MAGUIRE Leona
(IRL)
9:22 1 PEDERSEN Emily K
(DEN)
 MEADOW Stephanie
(IRL)
 HULL Charley
(GBR)
9:33 1 SASO Yuka
(JPN)
 CIGANDA Carlota
(ESP)
 FANALI Alessandra
(ITA)
9:44 1 KOUSKOVA Sara
(CZE)
 FORSTERLING Alexandra
(GER)
 RETO Paula
(RSA)
9:55 1 LAU Ashley
(MAS)
 STAVNAR Madelene
(NOR)
 DAVIDSON SPILKOVA Klara
(CZE)
10:11 1 BELAC Ana
(SLO)
 KOERSTZ MADSEN Nanna
(DEN)
 van DAM Anne
(NED)
10:22 1 SCHOBER Sarah
(AUT)
 TAN Shannon
(SGP)
 ARDINA Dottie
(PHI)
10:33 1 HENDERSON Brooke M.
(CAN)
 TAVATANAKIT Patty
(THA)
 HALL Georgia
(GBR)
10:44 1 de ROEY Manon
(BEL)
 CHIEN Pei-Yun
(TPE)
 GREEN Hannah
(AUS)
10:55 1 KIM Hyo Joo
(KOR)
 MUNOZ Azahara
(ESP)
 SHARP Alena
(CAN)
11:06 1 GRANT Linn
(SWE)
 VALENZUELA Albane
(SUI)
 KO Jin Young
(KOR)
11:17 1 SPITZ Emma
(AUT)
 LEE Minjee
(AUS)
 HENSELEIT Esther
(GER)
11:33 1 STARK Maja
(SWE)
 LOPEZ Gaby
(MEX)
 BORGE Celine
(NOR)
11:44 1 VU Lilia
(USA)
 YANG Amy
(KOR)
 ASHOK Aditi
(IND)
11:55 1 KORDA Nelly
(USA)
 HSU Wei-Ling
(TPE)
 DAGAR Diksha
(IND)
12:06 1 BUHAI Ashleigh
(RSA)
 LIN Xiyu Janet
(CHN)
 ZHANG Rose
(USA)
12:17 1 THITIKUL Atthaya
(THA)
 BOUTIER Celine
(FRA)
 YAMASHITA Miyu
(JPN)
12:28 1 URIBE Mariajo
(COL)
 BABNIK Pia
(SLO)
 PAGDANGANAN Bianca
(PHI)
12:39 1 METRAUX Morgane
(SUI)
 YIN Ruoning
(CHN)
 KO Lydia
(NZL)
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Disaster at the 2024 Olympics: Did this Hole Cost Nelly Korda Gold?

Nelly Korda at the 2024 Olympics (Photo: Getty)
Nelly Korda at the 2024 Olympics (Photo: Getty)

It was a surprisingly poor start to the tournament for the Tokyo gold medalist. Many were probably surprised when Nelly Korda was already three strokes over par after seven holes of the golf tournament at the 2024 Olympics. However, she then showed a more familiar picture in the second round. A flawless front nine, five strokes under par after eleven holes. She climbed up the leaderboard and was even tied for second place after another stroke gain. The gold medal was within reach again.

Live Scores of Women’s Golf at the Olympics 2024

Golf at the 2024 Olympics: quadruple bogey for Nelly Korda

Then came the 16th and the tide turned quickly. Korda skillfully avoided the 15th, where many of the great golfers had already strayed into the water, but she got wet on the 16th. The ball, which was supposed to land directly on the green on the par 3, hit land on the other side of the water hazard, but bounced back unhappily. A penalty stroke for the American and she continued from the drop zone. She was unable to collect herself quickly enough and her third shot also fell short and landed in the bunker in front of the green. She was unable to control the ball properly from the bunker and it rolled far too far into the front green on the opposite side. Stroke 5 finally brought the ball within two meters of the hole. However, it took two more putts before the ball was finally sunk.

(Screenshot: igfgolf.org)

She recorded a total of seven strokes on the par-3. Four of the six strokes she had gained over the course of the day were lost again and the medals were a long way off. Even a world number one is not immune to a hole like this and she was also shaky on 17. A three putt cost her another shot. At least there was a final birdie for Korda on the 18th, but the round of 70 is far from what it could have been. She dropped back to T12, six strokes behind the leader Morgane Metraux. With two rounds still to play, Nelly Korda is far from being written off, but the path to a second gold has become much more difficult.