Author: Elena Reiter

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Highlights Tours

2024 Olympics: These Golfers Will Be the Flag Bearers in Paris

The Olympic flag bearers from the golf course. (Photo: Getty)
The Olympic flag bearers from the golf course. (Photo: Getty)

The flag bearers of the countries participating in the Olympic Games have a special honor. They represent their country at the opening ceremony and at the closing ceremony by carrying the respective flag. The flag bearers were either chosen by their respective National Olympic Committee or by the athletes themselves. For two countries, a golfer was chosen: Fabrizio Zanotti and Ines Laklalech. The 41-year-old has been a professional golfer for over 20 years and will carry the Paraguayan flag alongside rower Alejandra Alonso. Ines Laklalech will be the flag bearer for Morocco together with rider Yessin Rahmouni. Laklalech plays on the Ladies European Tour and won the Ladies Open de France in 2022.

Key Role for Fabrizio Zanotti at the 2024 Olympics

The selected athletes will have the honour of presenting their country’s flag twice in front of the whole world. Firstly at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on 26 July 2024 and a second time at the closing ceremony on 11 August 2024. For the first time, there will not be the usual march of the nations into a stadium. The opening ceremony will take place in the centre of Paris and on the Seine with a finale at the Eiffel Tower.

Fabrizio Zanotti is the only golfer from Paraguay to take part in the 2024 Olympic Games. With his participation in 2016 and 2021, he already brings double the experience to the competition. He has also competed in several national and continental championships, has major experience and has won several times on the DP World Tour. He celebrated one of his two victories on the tour in Munich at the BMW International Open.

Ines Laklalech became pro in 2021 after earning her tour card for the LET via the LET Q-School. In her rookie season, she achieved four top 10 finishes before winning in France. This made her the first golfer not only from Morocco but from North America to win on the LET.

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Equipment

WITB: Xander Schauffele Winning Bag for The Open 2024

Xander Schauffele's winning WITB for The Open Championship 2024. (Image: Getty)
Xander Schauffele's winning WITB for The Open Championship 2024. (Image: Getty)

Xander Schauffele wins his second major title of the year at The Open Championship 2024. Before Royal Troon he did make minor changes in his equipment, compared to the US Open 2024 and the PGA Championship 2024. With the newest clubs from Callaway and his trusted Odyssey putter in his golf bag he captures the links golf major title.

US Open Golf 2024: Xander Schauffele WITB

(Image: Callaway)

Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5°)

(Image: Callaway)

Wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (15°)

Driving Iron: Mizuno MP-20 HMB (3)

(Image: Callaway)

Irons: Callaway Apex TCB 24′ (4-PW)

(Image: Callaway)

Wedges: Callaway Opus (52°), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56°, 60°)

Putter: Odyssey Toulon Design Las Vegas 7CH Prototype

(Image: Callaway)

Golf ball: Callaway Chrome Tour

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Highlights Tours

The Open Championship 2024 Live Blog: Xander Schauffele Triumphs in Troon

The Open Championship 2024 Live Blog. (Source: Getty)
The Open Championship 2024 Live Blog. (Source: Getty)
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Highlights Tours

The Open Championship 2024: Jordan Spieth with Magic Shot at the ‘Postage Stamp’

Jordan Spieth at The Open Championship 2024. (Image: Getty)
Jordan Spieth at The Open Championship 2024. (Image: Getty)

Jordan Spieth has done it again. The American was already known for his outstanding short game in the early stages of his career. Now he saves himself from an awkward situation on the infamous par 3 ‘Postage Stamp’ in round 4 of The Open Championship 2024 thanks to his fine touch with the wedge.

The Open Championship 2024 – All Scores

Magic shot from Jordan Spieth at the The Open Championship 2024

The final day begins for Jordan Spieth with a few birdies and a small chase to catch up on the leaderboard. Three birdies already adorn the scorecard and Spieth only had to record one bogey up to the eighth hole. However, the ‘Postage Stamp’ with its only around 108 metres is neither a safe par nor an easy birdie opportunity. The green is narrow and the pot bunkers are a danger that several stars have faced in recent days. After a mis-hit tee shot on the short par 3, Spieth lay in the wet rough to the right of the narrow green. But with a chip, which has long been a trademark of the American, Spieth skilfully plays his way out of the tricky situation. From around 20 metres, he holed over a bunker and out of the rough of the Royal Troon for birdie.

The Open Championship 2024 – Live Blog

Watch: The Shot From Jordan Spieth

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Highlights Tours

The Open Championship 2024: ‘Postage Stamp’ forces pro to give up

Romain Langasque withdraws from The Open Championship 2024. (Image: Getty)
Romain Langasque withdraws from The Open Championship 2024. (Image: Getty)

It’s not often that you see a golfer withdraw from a tournament on TV or as a spectator on the course. But after this unsuccessful shot on hole 8, the ‘Postage Stamp’, Frenchman Romain Langasque turns to a referee, holds his back and probably withdraws before the end of the hole. The third-placed player at last week’s Scottish Open therefore ends his Open Championship 2024 after just seven holes played.

The Open Championship 2024 – Live Blog

‘Postage Stamp’ sends Langasque out of The Open Championship 2024

According to one Twitter user, the tee shot on the 108 metre short par 3 was already around 25 metres too short. The following shot out of the thick rough was also not successful and flew over the green. The video suggests that this was due to a back injury suffered by the Frenchman. The consequence: he withdrew from The Open 2024.

The Open Championship 2024 – All Scores
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Highlights Tours

The Open Championship 2024: Tee Times for Tiger Woods and Co.

Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas 152nd The Open Championship Tee Times. (Image: Getty)
Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas 152nd The Open Championship Tee Times. (Image: Getty)
Categories
Panorama

Before Open Championship: Vandalism at Prestwick St. Nicholas Golf Club

The damaged greens at Prestwick St. Nicholas Golf Club. (Image: Reddit/@significant_scotland)
The damaged greens at Prestwick St. Nicholas Golf Club. (Image: Reddit/@significant_scotland)

Prestwick St Nicholas is what is commonly known as the “Hidden Gem”. The second course at the birthplace of the Open Championship was also laid out by Old Tom Morris – for the tradesmen and labourers of the Scottish west coast town, who could not find a place at the posh Prestwick Golf Course. Old Tom was also only the keeper of the links at the PGC, but a member of “St Nics”, which is only a ten-minute drive from this year’s Open stage at Royal Troon and whose greens have recently been the victim of vandalism.

Prestwick St Nicholas golf club, 10 mins away from Royal Troon was found like this earlier today.
byu/Significant_Scotland ingolf

Consequences for Open Championship 2024

The security measures for the Open and the precautions against attacks by environmental activists, for example, have been stepped up again following this incident at the neighbouring site.

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Live

Olympics: International Golf Federation Reacts to Dutch Golfers Being Booted Out

The IGF publishes a statement regarding Dutch golfers at the Olympic Games 2024. (image: Getty)
The IGF publishes a statement regarding Dutch golfers at the Olympic Games 2024. (image: Getty)

The International Golf Federation (IGF) has reacted indignantly and with complete incomprehension to the decision of the Dutch National Olympic Committee (NOCNSF ) not to include golfers Joost Luiten, Darius van Driel and Dewi Weber in the Oranje team for the Olympic Games in Paris in August due to their alleged lack of competitiveness and medal prospects.

“Unfair and Unneccessary” – International Golf Federation Offers Statement to Dutch Olympics Discussion

This was “unfair” and “unnecessary”; “extensive arguments and data” from the Dutch Golf Federation had been overlooked, according to the IGF: “Dewi Weber, Joost Luiten and Darius Van Driel all earned the right to compete in the Olympic golf competition at Paris 2024 based on their impressive play over the two-year qualifying period. However, the NOC*NSF created an additional – and, in the opinion of the IGF, unnecessary – criterion that prevented the selection of these three qualified athletes,” it said in a statement.

And further: “The IGF is confident that the data and supporting information provided to the NOC*NSF by the Netherlands Golf Federation clearly demonstrated how these three athletes all have the ability to contend for a top-eight finish in the Olympic golf competition.”
If the withdrawal remains, Anne van Dahm will be the only one playing for golf medals for Oranje.The men’s tournament at Le Golf National will take place from 1 to 4 August, while the women’s tournament will be held from 7 to 10 August.

Categories
Ladies Tours

Bitten By a Dog: Defending Champion Nelly Korda Cancels Aramco Tournament

Nelly Korda withdraws Aramco London event because of a dog bite. (Image: Getty)
Nelly Korda withdraws Aramco London event because of a dog bite. (Image: Getty)

There is a rather old joke in editorial circles about trainee training, which is the equivalent of an apprenticeship in the trades – yes, even in journalism you should learn and master the craft from the ground up. In any case, the gag goes like this: “Dog bites man” is not newsworthy; “Man bites dog”, THAT is newsworthy. Exceptions prove the rule, of course. Which brings us to Nelly Korda (25), who has had some eventful times on and off the fairways. Cue thrombosis in her arm, six victories, but recently also three missed cuts in a row and rounds in the 80s at the US Women’s Open and the Women’s PGA Championship, the worst scores of her career to date. Now the world number one has cancelled her participation in the Aramco Team Series event on the Ladies European Tour (LET) this week at the Centurion Club in England (3 to 5 July), where the LIV League celebrated its premiere in 2022. Korda would have been the defending champion after last year’s victory over Lokamatador Charley Hull, but: “I was bitten by a dog in Seattle on Saturday.” That is indeed a news story.

Did a fan jinx the dog bite?

The circumstances of the mishap are not known, neither the location or extent of the injury nor the breed of the dog. Although one prankster has already claimed that Korda’s run of bad luck must have something to do with the puppy he adopted six weeks ago and named Nelly:

This cute little puppy is the reason for Nelly Korda’s downfall.
byu/cavemansoup ingolf

“I need time to get treatment and fully recover,” Korda wrote on Instagram. “I apologise to the LET, the sponsors and my fans for my absence. Thank you for your understanding and I look forward to returning to the course soon.” After all, the Amundi Evian Championship (11 to 14 July), the fourth major of the season, is coming up next week.

Categories
Equipment What's in the Bag

The Travelers Championship 2024: WITB Scottie Scheffler

Scottie Scheffler's WITB 2024 with TaylorMade. (Image: Getty)
Scottie Scheffler's WITB 2024 with TaylorMade. (Image: Getty)

After an exciting season start, Scottie Scheffler secured the win back at the Players Championship 2024, the Masters Tournament 2024 and the RBC Heritage. Scheffler continued to rely on TaylorMade and the new Spider Tour X putter, which his Tour colleague and TaylorMade staff player Rory McIlroy recommended to him in March and won back to back. After his win at The Memorial Tournament, Scheffler books in his sixth win of the season at the Travelers Championship 2024.

The Leaderboard of the Travelers Championship 2024

WITB Scottie Scheffler for the Travelers Championship 2024

(Image: TaylorMade)

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (8°)

(Image: TaylorMade)

3 wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15°)

(Image: Srixon)

Driving Irons: Srixon ZU85 (3, 4)

(Image: TaylorMade)

Irons: TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW)

(Image: Titleist)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 (50, 56)

Titleist Vokey WedgeWorks Proto (60.5)

(Image: TaylorMade)

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour X

(Image: Titleist)

Ball: Titleist Pro V1