Author: Elena Reiter

Categories
Highlights Tours

US Open 2022: Jon Rahm squanders the lead with “six good strokes

Jon Rahm in the fairway bunker on the 18th hole on Moving Day at the 2022 US Open. (Photo: Getty)
Jon Rahm in the fairway bunker on the 18th hole on Moving Day at the 2022 US Open. (Photo: Getty)

For Jon Rahm, it’s all about defending his title this week at the US Open 2022. The 2021 Open winner is well in the running, alone in third place. But still on the 17th hole of his third round it looked like the leading position in the final. Rahm got bogged down on hole 18, and in an interview after the round he gives an insight into his view of the final hole.

Jon Rahm: “It was six good shots”.

With a one-stroke lead, Rahm went onto the 18th hole. The little drama already started on the tee shot, his ball did not hit the expected right turn, but landed in the left fairway bunker. From there, Rahm needed two shots at once, with shot two ending up in the greenside bunker. Rahm chipped the dug-in ball to the flag at just under 20 feet and needed two more putts. So a total of a double bogey brings him to a 71 – one over par for the moving day of the US Open 2022. Before that he holed another putt for birdie and the sole lead:

So much for the facts, but for Rahm this chaos railroad had many positives: The truth is, 18, it was six good shots. Unfortunately, it added up to 6, but it was all good swings. If anything, it was maybe a choice or a decision on the fairway bunker, but swings were good, so execution was proper. So I’m happy about that in that sense.

Regarding the bunker hits, Rahm continues when asked,  “I haven’t thought really about it. Quite frankly, it was a little dark, and it was hard to see. After I hit the shot, I realized the ball was a little bit deeper in the sand than I could really truly see.” He admits he misjudged the situation, “But I think I got maybe — tried to be a little too perfect with the shot. I had a 9-iron in hand. That’s plenty to get over that lip. Maybe I was trying to get too cute, making sure — looking for another birdie, where I could have just hit a 9-iron and hope it gets over the bunker and see what happens.”

Rahm goes into the final motivated

For the last day, the Spaniard wants to focus on himself and his game. “I can’t control what the guys ahead or behind me are doing,” the Spaniard said. ” I just have to focus on myself and my game and play my golf, shot by shot. Try to be as committed as possible to each shot, and that’s it.” Continuing, Rahm explained, “The second you get too caught up in what others are doing at a U.S. Open is when you start making bogeys and double-bogeys in a row. Yeah, exactly that. Just nothing special. Nothing that needs to change. Just, again, making decisions and executing.”

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LIV Tour

US Open withdraw: Tiger Woods gives his body “even more time”

Tiger Woods cancels the US Open because of his physical condition. (Photo: Getty)
Tiger Woods cancels the US Open because of his physical condition. (Photo: Getty)

The third major of the year will take place next week at the Country Club in Brookline. However, Tiger Woods will not be taking part in the US Open 2022. The 15-time major winner published a statement on Twitter in which he explained his decision.

Tiger Woods: “My body needs more time”

After his serious car accident in February 2021, Tiger Woods had taken a lot of time to get back on his feet. After holding on for four rounds at the Masters in April, he had to abandon the second major of the season after three rounds. At the PGA Championship, the 46-year-old’s strength was simply no longer enough. Now the superstar confirmed on his social media channels that he had decided against participating in the third major of the year. The reason: his continued less than optimal physical condition. In his statement, Woods explained that his “body needs more time to get stronger.” He has already informed the USGA of his decision.

Tiger Woods plans with the Open Championship 2022

The Open Championship will be held in Scotland from July 14 to 17. The fourth major of the season is also high on Tiger Woods’ agenda. In his statement on Twitter, he gives his fans hope: “I hope and plan to be ready to play in the Open next month. Looking forward to being back soon.” Back in April, Woods stated in an interview that he was already looking forward to St. Andrews: “It’s my favorite golf course in the world, so I’ll be there.” Whether he can actually compete there in July remains to be seen. In the end, he will have to listen to his body.

Categories
LIV Tour

Phil Mickelson: “I’m ready to come back”

Phil Mickelson reports back after a lengthy layoff. (Photo: Getty)
Phil Mickelson reports back after a lengthy layoff. (Photo: Getty)

On February 22, Phil Mickelson spoke out on Twitter and announced a break from professional golf. Since then, he hasn’t played an official tournament and took time out with his family to reflect on his critical statements towards the PGA Tour. After much speculation about when Mickelson would finally return to the big stage, there is now certainty: the American will make his comeback at the opening event of the LIV Golf Invitational Series in London.

Phil Mickelson speaks of a “fresh start”

These were certainly not pleasant times for Phil Mickelson, who had to take some criticism after his statements about the PGA Tour. So it’s no wonder that he needed time for himself in recent months and, according to his own statements, was also undergoing therapy. However, it seems that exactly this has helped him, because in a statement on his Twitter account, the 51-year-old confirms that he now feels “healthy and much calmer”. He also apologized again to his fans for his lapses, but is aware that he still has a long way to go.

However, a fresh start from a sporting perspective will come sooner than some might have thought: “I’m ready to return to play the game I love, but after 32 years, this path is a fresh start for me” By fresh start, Mickelson is referring to the controversial LIV Golf Invitational Series, confirming in his statement, “I’m very excited to be starting with LIV Golf.”

Fans criticize his decision

The first event of Greg Norman’s newly founded series will start on June 9 at the Centurion Club in London. In addition to Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Martin Kaymer will also be among the participants. Although Mickelson has already apologized in advance to his fans for this move, many criticize him for his decision. “I fully realize and respect that some disagree with this decision and have strong opinions, and I understand that” Mickelson wrote on Twitter.

Fans accuse him of being money-hungry and also vent their displeasure on social media:

According to speculation, Mickelson has signed a contract that is expected to pay him around $200 million. However, there is no official confirmation of this.

Tiger Woods rejects immoral offer

In addition to Phil Mickelson, Greg Norman apparently also wanted to poach Tiger Woods from the PGA Tour for his newly founded league. In an interview with the Washington Post, the Australian confirmed that Woods had been made an “incredibly high offer. However, the 15-time major winner declined. Just how enormous the offer really was becomes clear when Norman goes into more detail about the figures: “We’re talking about a high nine-figure sum here.” How high the sum really was will probably remain a secret. However, it is not unlikely that it went in the direction of $1 billion. By way of comparison, during his time as a professional athlete, Tiger Woods earned around $121 million on the world’s golf courses.

Categories
LIV Tour

For Saudi League: Dustin Johnson gives up PGA Tour membership

Dustin Johnson plays at the LIV Golf Invitational Series. (Photo: Getty)
Dustin Johnson plays at the LIV Golf Invitational Series. (Photo: Getty)

Dustin Johnson has resigned his membership on the PGA Tour to play in the Saudi Arabia-funded LIV Golf Invitational Series, according to the BBC. The tour, run by Greg Norman, lures American and European stars with horrendous entry bonuses and prize money beyond that of the four major tournaments. This week, the first tournament of the “Saudi League” is scheduled to take place in London. Martin Kaymer and Bernd Wiesberger are also on the start list.

Johnson reportedly signed a contract that commits him to playing in all eight tournaments, starting with Thursday’s at the Centurion Club in London. The BBC quotes the 37-year-old as saying, “I don’t want to play for the rest of my life. This gives me the opportunity to do what I want to do.” The two-time major winner has earned nearly $75 million in prize money alone so far in his career.

Before Johnson, Kevin Na had already declared he would rest his membership on the PGA Tour and tee off this week in the controversial tour’s first tournament. Phil Mickelson has also announced that he will compete in the LIV Golf Invitational Series after a five-month break. What consequences this will have for the players on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour has not yet been finally clarified. The PGA Tour had always threatened to ban the renegades for life. So far, there have been no statements from Europe’s top circuit as to how those players who actually play in London will be dealt with. For the American Ryder Cup team, “DJ” will probably no longer be allowed to compete. “The Ryder Cup is incredible and has meant a lot to me, but in the end I made the decision that was best for me and my family,” Johnson said.

Categories
LPGA Tour

Two months after surgery: Is Nelly Korda about to make a comeback?

Nelly Korda could make her comeback to the LPGA Tour at the 2022 US Women's Open. (Photo: Getty)
Nelly Korda could make her comeback to the LPGA Tour at the 2022 US Women's Open. (Photo: Getty)

Nelly Korda, former number two in women’s golf is probably on the verge of her comeback. The 23-year-old was diagnosed with a blood clot in her left arm three months ago, after complaining of pain in her left arm at a press event in early March. After successful surgery in April, she was on the road to recovery, but there was no talk of a return to the LPGA Tour until now. Now there is news from Nelly Korda’s side. GolfCentral announced in a Twitter post on May 26, 2022, that Korda would attend the press conference for the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open in Southern Pines, North Carolina, a possible sign of her start at this important major in the women’s golf world.

Is Nelly Korda’s time off from the LPGA Tour over?

Korda won a total of four LPGA Tour titles last year, including her first major victory at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, as well as the gold medal at the Olympics. That’s when the unwanted time off due to the blood clot was a major blow to the young golfer. But just three months after the diagnosis and two months after surgery, she could now celebrate her return to the LPGA Tour. Because in addition to the announced press conference in the run-up to the tournament, she showed up again on Instagram with golf clubs on the driving range.

Although the American continues to wear a supportive sleeve on her operated left arm, her swing is promising. And sister Jessica Korda is also confident that she will soon be able to welcome her sister back to the tour. “It’s like you never left!” the elder Korda sister commented under the video.

Categories
Training

Two weeks after surgery: Bryson DeChambeau trains one-handed

Bryson DeChambeau continues to play one-handed. (Photo: Twitter/@JoshScobee10)
Bryson DeChambeau continues to play one-handed. (Photo: Twitter/@JoshScobee10)

Two weeks ago, Bryson DeChambeau underwent surgery on his left hand, and now he’s back on the golf course. But even “The Hulk” has not made a miraculous recovery after this short time, but uses an unusual technique to hit a few balls despite his handicap. On the video platform TikTok, he presents his attempts at a one-armed golf swing – with success, mind you. As unusual as it may seem at first, the exercise makes perfect sense.

“DeChambeau out-hits our group one-handed”

First, DeChambeau posted a video from the driving range on Monday. You can see (of course) a drive of the longhitter, including the spin of the club after the shot.

@brysondechambeau

maybe one-handed is the move… ? #fyp #foryou #golftok

♬ original sound – Bryson DeChambeau

But that was not the end of the story for DeChambeau. Together with former NFL kicker Josh Scobee, they went out for a round of golf and there, too, DeChambeau showed that you can also make up a few yards with just your right hand. His teammate’s comment: “No big deal, just Bryson DeChambeau hitting the ball one-handed past our group.”

Playing with one hand as a useful training method

Regardless of whether it is forced or voluntary, it makes sense to play one-handed strokes from time to time. Due to the lack of support from the second hand, the muscle groups are used more during the stroke and the swing movement occurs more consciously. In addition, the stability in the core of the body is strengthened and due to the higher strain on the muscles, the strength training for more length is also included. To train on the range with this technique you don’t need any special equipment, just a golf club and a few balls.
To start, it should be a short iron. With this iron, you first make a few practice swings with the right hand and focus especially on the movement of the shoulders, hips and back. A little tip: For more control over the club, you can grip a little lower than usual. Then follow up with a few strokes with the ball, keeping the unused hand on the hip or back. Repeat with the left hand before hitting a few balls with both hands and the normal golf grip.

Categories
European Tour

DP World Tour touches down in Europe for ISPS Handa Championship

Bernd Wiesberger is teeing it up on the European Tour this week. (Photo: Getty)
Bernd Wiesberger is teeing it up on the European Tour this week. (Photo: Getty)

The DP World Tour touches down in Europe for the first time in the 2022 season, as the ISPS Handa Championship in Spain marks the first of two successive events on Spanish soil.

Bernd Wiesberger, Guido Migliozzi and Ewen Ferguson – winner of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, the last DP World Tour event aside from the Masters Tournament – are among those teeing it up at the stunning Infinitum just outside the Catalonian city of Tarragona.

Pablo Larrazábal returns home for the first time since claiming his sixth DP World Tour title at last month’s MyGolfLife Open hosted by Pecanwood in South Africa, while Alejandro Cañizares and Zander Lombard – who shared victory when Qualifying School Final Stage was held here in 2018 – as well as the 2019 Qualifying School winner at Infinitum, Benjamin Poke, are also in the field.

This week’s event will be followed by the Catalunya Championship at PGA Catalunya Golf and Wellness, while October will also see back-to-back Spanish events, the acciona Open de España presented by Madrid at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid and the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters at Real Club Valderrama.

Bernd Wiesberger: “I’m looking forward to it. It’s been a little bit too long by about a week or so for my liking, but unfortunately I wans’t able to sneak into the Match Play at Austin so I had a week there without any tournaments.

“It was nice to be home obviously for three weeks but it just felt like after the season started with a nice run of events, I had a bit too long of a break but it is what it is and I tried to get ready as much as I could and I’m really looking forward to playing here for the first time.

“It’s a really good track to start what will be a good run of events through the year on the DP World Tour. I’ve tried to get some info from the guys who have been here at Qualifying School, and it is has been quite low scoring in the past.

“But I think they’ve done a really good job to trick it up for us. The rough is up, it’s quite penal, you need to be good off the tee and the fairways aren’t super-wide. It looks like there will be a bit of wind and the greens are quite firm so all that adds up to be a good test. You need to get yourself in good positions and I like that, so I’m looking forward to a strong test.

“First two weeks of the year were disappointing. I played well on the Sunday in Abu Dhabi but I just didn’t finish off the round well enough to clinch a top five. Sunday in Dubai was really tricky and I couldn’t find anything on the greens and everything just added up to shots lost.

“I’m not quite satisfied with the start. I definitely played some good golf at the Valspar Championship on the PGA TOUR but there’s plenty of good stuff. It just needs to be bundled up into four good rounds, it’s a building process and all of the parts of the game are there so it’s just a matter of time before it all clicks. I’m looking forwards to when that happens and hopefully I can give it a go this week.”

Ewen Ferguson: “I definitely feel very comfortable in my own skin. I had for the last little while too, but it’s nice mentally in your own head to feel like you’ve won here and you’ve got across the line for the first time. I know I can do it again so hopefully if I’m in that situation another time, I’ll know I’ve done it so I’m sure it will help me a stand me in good stead.

“It’s definitely sunk in now and I feel like I’m ready to move on from it and I’m ready to move on from it to be honest and get my game in order and get ready to compete again so I’ve been doing a lot of work the past few days to keep my game sharp and hopefully that will pay off this week.

“I had so much to do with the people who have helped me a long the way so I’ve spent a lot of time with them and given them my time and let them know how thankful I was, and then I had some media in Scotland so I dealt with all of that.

“I had a couple of nights out with friends and family, nothing too crazy. Then I had some football games supporting Rangers, so it was good fun.”

Pablo Larrazábal: “It has been three weeks at home, but I had a tournament in my home course, El Prat, called the Barcelona Open by Pablo Larrazabal that I held on the PGA of Spain. It has been a nice three weeks at home. Infinitum is one hour and 15 minutes up the road, so I came this morning. It is nice to see my caddie again, my friends and see the people in my second home.

“I am ready to go. I have been playing great, been practising great at home. There is nothing wrong with three weeks at home. To keep the momentum, you have to keep working and keep the routines going. That is all about preparation.

“Well, as a professional golfer you have to realise that you are an entertainer. You are a sportsman but mostly we are entertainers. The first year to 16 months of golf during the Covid-19 pandemic were tough. As I said to you, I am an entertainer of people and we were not. We played 16 months with no crowds and that didn’t help my golf, my attitude at all. To play for money is not the way I play golf nowadays.

“There is history around here but when I was growing up here in Tarragona, we were playing Reus that is nearby, we were playing Costa that is up north. I never played this golf course before. Today is my first nine holes out here.

“I came here four years ago to see a couple of friends on the last day of the Final Stage at Q-School. Those are my only two days at this course. But after nine holes you realise how good this golf course is and the conditions are brilliant. Hopefully the rain stays away from here so that we can see how good the work is of the groundsmen.

“There are a lot of lakes, but you guys know me. I have been on Tour for 15 years; I didn’t come here for holidays and to make business you have to make birdies. Birdies are going to bring you trophies. That is why we came and that is how I play golf.”

Text: DP World Tour

Categories
Equipment

Jordan Spieth signs equipment deal until 2029

Jordan Spieth and Under Armour extend der collaboration till 2029. (Photo: Getty)
Jordan Spieth and Under Armour extend der collaboration till 2029. (Photo: Getty)

Jordan Spieth has been an integral part of the Under Armour team since 2013. The then 19-year-old golfer, mind you without a PGA Tour card, signed with the textile manufacturer and has remained with it to this day. Now Under Armour is extending its profitable deal with Spieth for another four years. The American will wear the brand’s golf shoes, clothing and accessories until 2029.

Jordan Spieth: “Under Armour took a chance on me”

“I was just leaving school and I guess in other sports I would have been considered a high draft pick, but at the same time I didn’t have PGA Tour status, which in golf means everything,” Spieht explained. The then 19-year-old had recently turned pro and has been playing at Under Armour ever since. He currently has a ten-year deal, which has now been extended by another four. The decisive factor for this is probably his victory at the RBC Heritage in mid-April.

“I’ve really enjoyed being on this journey with Under Armour since I turned pro, and I can’t wait to accomplish great things together in this next phase of my career,” Spieth said. “Like me, everyone at Under Armour challenges themselves to get better every day. I’m looking forward to continuing to test their newest innovations as I know their products will help me train and perform my best for years to come.”

Golfing for a good cause

In addition to the partnership extension, Under Armour will also support the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation with one million dollars (just under 920 thousand euros) over the next eight years. The non-profit organization under Spieth’s patronage aims to make it easier for young people to get into golf. It awards scholarships and creates open golf programs for young people. The focus is particularly on breaking down socio-economic barriers and thus making it easier to get into the sport. Spieth commented, “I think access is a big thing in golf. It’s a game that I love. So, I figure maybe there’s some people that don’t know that they love it yet. It’s a game that gets you outside. It’s active. It gets you moving around. And I think that’s obviously very healthy, no matter what background, or who you are.”

Under Armour looks forward to continued collaboration

Sean Eggert, vice president of sales at Under Armour, said, “We are incredibly honored to continue our relationship with Spieth in the years to come. He is an athlete who truly embodies what it means to strive for more. Jordan’s future is bright, as evidenced by his spectacular performance at Hilton Head this weekend, and we look forward to joining him on this journey as he continues to grow with us, challenge us and make us even better at what we do. We couldn’t be more proud to have him on our team.”

Categories
Live

Greg Norman and the Saudi Golf League: “We’re in talks with major winners”

Greg Norman ant the Saudi Golf League. (Photo: Getty)
Greg Norman ant the Saudi Golf League. (Photo: Getty)

Shortly after the US Masters 2022, the Saudi Golf League (SGL) is making headlines again. Just a few kilometers from Augusta National Golf Club, Greg Norman is said to have met with potential players of the new league. Among them were some high-profile members of the PGA and European Tour. “The interest we’ve had … Well, I had a player sitting in my office 48 hours ago who’s won a couple of major majors,” Norman told the Telegraph in an April 12, 2022, interview. The PGA and DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour) are not pleased: “They can’t park their tanks on our turf much more obviously.”

The first names are fixed

The turmoil surrounding Phil Mickelson and the various cancellations of PGA stars, including Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm and Collin Morikawa, set back the Saudi Golf League. Greg Norman revealed in an interview with The Telegraph, “It was a slap in the face, no question about it.” But Norman is not letting that get him down. According to him, interest in SGL continues unabated. “We respected the Masters and let it play out, but now our trip [ed. to Augusta] is finally coming to fruition – for the players, not for me,” Norman told the newspaper. “They have a right to get what they want. That’s why they’re still very, very, very interested. We have players under contract, as opposed to the white noise you hear out there.” Four of those players are said to be Ryder Cup stars Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, as well as five-time PGA Tour winner Kevin Na and two-time major winner Bubba Watson. The latter, however, made it clear only a few hours after the publication of the interview with Greg Norman that he would continue to play on the PGA Tour.

Bubba Watson prefers US Open and 150th Open over Saudi League

The former world number two recently published his tournament schedule for the coming months. What is striking is not the tournaments he is playing, but which ones he is foregoing. Bubba Watson has been linked to the Saudi League in the past, but now he’s playing the RBC Canadian Open, as he revealed on Twitter. The tournament stands out from his tournament schedule because the first of eight events in the LIV Golf Internation Series starts in London at the same time. Watson’s goal, he said, is to qualify for the US Open and the 150th Open Championship. If he succeeds in doing so, Watson said there will be further changes to his tournament schedule.

Greg Norman remains convinced of the concept of the Saudi Golf League

“Honestly, it doesn’t matter who plays, we’re going to run the event,” he said. “There is a first prize of $4 million. I hope a junior player who is ranked 350th in the world wins. It will change his life, his family’s life. And then a couple of our events will go by and the top players will see someone win $6 million or $8 million and say, ‘Enough is enough, I know I can beat these guys week after week with my hands tied behind my back.” The first event addressed will be held in two months at the London Centurion Club. After that, it’s off to the U.S., among other places, where Greg Norman and SGL are guests at the Trump courses, which are outlawed by the PGA.

Two world number one to join SGL

This was reported by the Daily Mail, also at the beginning of the week. The report says that SGL has already recruited two former world number one players, names were not mentioned. After the withdrawal of world stars such as Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson, it is unclear who the players mentioned will be.

Categories
Highlights Tours

US Masters 2022: Billy Horschel flips again

Billy Horschel can't hold his temper in the third round of the 2022 US Masters. (Photo: Getty)
Billy Horschel can't hold his temper in the third round of the 2022 US Masters. (Photo: Getty)

Billy Horschel already made headlines a year ago when he demolished his bag in a fit of rage during the fourth round of the US Masters 2021. An official apology to the organizers and the Augusta National Golf Club followed. But this year, Horschel is again unable to control his temper at the 2022 US Masters and is causing a stir with his behavior.

Frustrated Billy Horschel throws bats

This year, it was not the American’s bag that had to be used, but his racket. After another unsuccessful shot in his third round, Horschel threw the club away. His iron shot on the first hole of the Amen Corner (hole 11) failed and landed in the water. Afterward, Horschel, in a fit of anger over the penalty stroke, threw the club off himself.
Just last year, he apologized on the social network Twitter for his behavior on the golf course:
“I am and always have been a fiery competitor. Unfortunately, sometimes the fire inside me runs hot when I don’t get the most out of my game. This leads to some cases where my behavior is not what I want to show, especially as a role model for the younger generation,” Billy Horschel affirmed on Twitter.

“I apologize to Augusta National, the members of the club and the spectators for any behavior that may have crossed the line.

On the Internet, he now promptly reaps the first comments for his renewed outburst:

Things had already been mixed for Horschel. He started with a bogey on hole 1, but then made a few birdies. After his freak out on the eleventh hole, however, he seemed unable to catch himself. A birdie on hole 12 followed, but after that it remained four bogeys and a double bogey to finish the round.