Author: Elena Reiter

Categories
PGA Tour

Premier Golf League: Tempting offer for PGA Tour professionals

Rory McIlroy and Jay Monahan are confronted with another offer towards the PGA Tour players. (Photo: Getty)
Rory McIlroy and Jay Monahan are confronted with another offer towards the PGA Tour players. (Photo: Getty)

Rory McIlroy, newest member of the PGA Players’ Advisory Council, received an email from the Premier Golf League (PGL) back on February 14, as reported by the Fire Pit Collective. The contents of that email could be another milestone in the recent evolution of professional golf. According to the mail, the PGL is planning 18 events, with prize money totaling $20 million and complementary team competitions with an additional $1 million in prize money for the winner. In addition, a prize of another 20 million dollars is to await the winner in a season-ending event. But that is not the end of the story.

A shower of money or empty words?

Rory McIlroy was confronted with this important issue on his first official day as a member of the PGA Player Advisory Council. As a member, it was his responsibility to present the issue to the rest of the players and PGA officials. The issue was not only future tournament schedules, but also a direct cash distribution to PGA, Korn Ferry and European Tour players. PGL’s proposal says they want to give 100 million shares to the PGA, Korn Ferry and DP World Tour. According to a breakdown by the PGL, 50 percent (valued at five billion dollars) would go to PGA Tour players, $750 million to the Korn Ferry Tour and $250 million to European golfers.
The PGL clearly distances itself from the Saudi Golf League. They don’t want to make popular players even richer, but rather support all players with an equal share. In the Fire Pit report, one PGL investor is quoted as saying, “They have stolen our idea 100 percent. They are not our partners, they are now our competitors.” PGL’s immense financial resources have no connection with Saudi Arabia, but come mainly from European sponsors, the FAQ on its website went on to say. Their goal, they said, is to work with the PGA Tour and build a partnership.

Kevin Kisner doubts PGL offer

Kevin Kisner, another member of the Player Advisory Council, doubts the feasibility of the promised windfall.  “Their proposal has been studied and scrutinized by an independent company to test its viability,” says Kevin Kisner, another player-director on the policy board at a members meeting earlier this month at the Players and Bay Hill. “The results were presented to all of us: Not feasible.” 

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PGA Tour

Players Championship: Daniel Berger in the middle of a heated rules debate

Viktor Hovland and Daniel Berger argue with rules official Gary Young at the Players Championship. (Photo: Getty)
Viktor Hovland and Daniel Berger argue with rules official Gary Young at the Players Championship. (Photo: Getty)

The Players Championship was marked by weather interruptions and windy misses. For Joel Dahmen, Viktor Hovland and Daniel Berger, however, their fourth round was about something else. Berger was still about 210 yards from the green on the par-5 16th hole and, four shots off the lead, wanted to take his chance at an eagle. However, his iron shot slipped and landed in the water. This everyday situation led to a heated discussion between the three flight partners.

Where did the ball go into the water? Three players – three opinions

Immediately after his miss, Berger fretted: “That’s a water ball.” After a relatively straight start, the ball flew with a slice (right turn) into the water hazard of the 16th hole. This flight curve subsequently also led to a heated discussion with his teammates Joel Dahmen and Viktor Hovland.

For Daniel Berger, the ball clearly crossed the boundary of the water hazard near the green, while Hovland and Dahmen saw the entry point much further back. The difference between the players was to be decided by an rules official and the analysis of a video recording. But official Gary Young decided he would stay out of the discussion and that the video footage that was consulted was also inconclusive.
Ultimately, the players decided to compromise and Berger dropped the ball between the two points under discussion. “I still think the drop is bad,” he clarified several times.

Divided opinions also on the net

Opinions on this debate are divided not only within the flight, but also on social networks. Some users, for example, stand by Hovland’s and Dahmen’s statement, while just as many consider Berger’s drop point to be the right position.
Viktor Hovland is one of the quietest players on tour, according to Joel Beall, editor at Golf Digest. His conclusion, “if he [editor’s note Viktor Hovland] has a problem with your drop, it’s a bad drop.”

Hovland himself said after his round, “It looked like it kind of started at the pin and then cut off toward the end because the wind was coming from the left a little bit, too.” He went on to say, “it ended up being somewhat of a compromise. He dropped a little bit further up than Joel and I kind of thought, but we ended up making a compromise, and that’s where he hit it from.”
One user went even further, thanking Hovland and Dahmen for “protecting the field and maintaining the integrity of the event.”

On the other side are Berger’s supporters. The shot tracker from the PGA broadcast is often used as a basis for argument. On this, it looks as if the ball is flying just before the green in the direction of the water hazard.

The comments go on to say, “the player knows best himself, if Dahmen doubts that, then he also doubts Berger’s integrity.”

The conclusion to the debate at the Players Championship

In the end, no clear answer can be found from pictures alone. It was statement against statement and the compromise found was probably the most de-escalating variant, although not a satisfactory decision for all players. For all players involved, however, it was clear after the round that they did not seek confrontation for personal reasons, but only to ensure compliance with the rules.

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PGA Tour

Players Championship: Bizarre rule earns Major winner penalty strokes

Keegan Bradley collects penalty strokes at the Players Championship. (Photo: Getty)
Keegan Bradley collects penalty strokes at the Players Championship. (Photo: Getty)

Keegan Bradley managed to stay one-under-par on the third day and his second round of the Players Championship. He is proud of “one of the best rounds” of his career, but despite his outstanding performance in the face of difficult weather conditions, the result could have been even better.

Leaderboard Players Championship 2022

Bizarre rule wording causes penalty strokes


Keegan Bradley had a three-meter birdie putt in front of him and marked his ball with a ball marker for it. So far so normal, but the strong gusts of wind caused his ball to roll away. For Bradley and his teammates, this was a clear situation. His ball was marked and therefore he was allowed to put it back in its original place.

Only a few holes later – Bradley started from tee 10 – did chief referee Gary Young award two penalty strokes to the American. The explanation is found in the wording of Rule 9.4 a. Here is an explicit movement described, first mark the ball, then pick it up and the subsequent again put down at the same place is considered as an official mark of the ball.

Players Championship: Bradley is visibly surprised


For the American, this subtlety of the rule is not new, however, he thought it had since been changed in favor of simplicity. “Everyone in my group, and I guarantee most of the entire field, thought the USGA changed the rule to simplify it,” Bradley said. “Put your coin down, that’s where your ball is. So put my coin down, the ball moved, a huge gust of wind came up.

“I looked at the guys in my group,” he continued, “and we all said, yep, the coin was down first, all good. Didn’t think about it again until Gary came up and spoke to me on 2, and proud of the way I handled that because that was tough news, especially with some tough holes in front of me.”

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PGA Tour

Players Championship: The pros despair of the wind – 17 becomes a ball washer

The gusts of wind make it difficult for the players at the Players Championship. (Photo: Twitter/Youtube @PGATour)
The gusts of wind make it difficult for the players at the Players Championship. (Photo: Twitter/Youtube @PGATour)

The third day of the Players Championship greeted spectators and players with sunshine, but steady winds and gusts of over 40 kilometers per hour made it difficult for the players. On the legendary Stadium Course, Kopeka, Fleetwood and Co. battled with the unpredictable gusts of wind and had to leave more than one ball in the water. In total, the field sank 33 balls on the 17th hole alone in round 1 and the 2nd round that started.

Golf is hard: The highlight of the windy Saturday at the Players Championship

If you read through the scores achieved on the 17th hole, you might well think it was an amateur tournament. But the island green at TPC Sawgrass is a challenge even under good conditions. With the strong wind, however, the penultimate hole developed into a final opponent for the players. Only two birdies, but nine bogeys, ten double bogeys and even four worse scores were recorded by the field on the third day of the Players Championship. 60 players made it to the iconic 17th hole in the second round. But for about 31 percent of the players it went into the drop zone. On the par 3, which is only 125 meters long, only just under 60 percent have even made it onto the green.

But also on the other holes of the waterlogged course there were penalty strokes. The highlights and lowlights from Saturday can be seen in the video:

Categories
European Tour

Ten U.S. Open spots available via European Qualifying Series

The DP World Tour gives ten US Open tickets to players via the European Qualifying Series. (Photo: Getty)
The DP World Tour gives ten US Open tickets to players via the European Qualifying Series. (Photo: Getty)

The USGA has confirmed the spots in the field at The Country Club, Brookline, will be allocated to the top ten aggregate points earners, not otherwise exempt, at the conclusion of the mini-series consisting of: the Betfred British Masters Hosted by Danny Willett (May 5-8), the Soudal Open (May 12-15), Dutch Open (May 26-29) and the Porsche European Open (June 2-5).

It is the third consecutive year the European Qualifying Series has taken place in this format having previously been a 36-hole European Final Qualifying event. Local Qualifying will also take place at 109 sites in the United States and Canada from April 25-May 23, followed by Final Qualifying on Monday May 23 and Monday June 6.

The third edition of the European Qualifying Series

Keith Waters, the DP World Tour’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “The European Qualifying Series has been a big success since it was introduced in 2020, so we are pleased to continue our collaboration with the USGA again this year.

“The series adds further excitement and focus on our events, which take place in four different European countries in England, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. We therefore look forward to offering our players the chance to secure one of the coveted ten spots in the field at The Country Club, Brookline, in June.”

Last year, Marcus Armitage, Richard Bland, Dave Coupland, Thomas Detry, Adrian Meronk, Guido Migliozzi, Edoardo Molinari, Jordan Smith and Matthew Southgate earned their places in the field at Torrey Pines via the European Qualifying Series.

Italian Migliozzi went on to finish in a share of fourth position in just his second Major Championship appearance, four shots behind winner Jon Rahm of Spain.

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Live Panorama PGA Tour

Phil Mickelson: “The PGA Tour is a dictatorship disguised as a democracy”.

Phil Mickelson calls the PGA Tour a dictatorship. (Photo: Getty)
Phil Mickelson calls the PGA Tour a dictatorship. (Photo: Getty)

Phil Mickelson has been in the headlines repeatedly for weeks and months. The reason for this is not his sporting achievements but his comments on the Saudi Golf League. In November, he spoke with Alan Shipnuck about his motives for his Saudi lobbying. In the conversation with Shipnuck, the American compares his (actual) home tour to a dictatorship and at the same time justifies his looking the other way when it comes to the origin of Saudi money.

Phil Mickelson: “They’re scary motherf_s to get involved with”

Phil Mickelson is well aware of who is behind the Saudi Golf League: “We know they murdered [Washington Post reporter and U.S. resident Jamal] Khashoggi and have a terrible human rights record. They execute people there because they are gay. Why would I even consider that, knowing all that?” For Mickelson, the answer is clearly summed up in one point: “Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape the way the PGA Tour operates.

They were able to deal with manipulative, coercive, strong-arm tactics because we, the players, had no way to fight back. As nice as [PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan] comes across, if you don’t have leverage, he’s not going to do the right thing. And the Saudi money has finally given us that leverage.” So it’s all about Mickelson taking a swipe at the PGA Tour and making big bucks in the process. But he doesn’t seem entirely convinced about the new league, as he let slip to Shipnuck. “I’m not sure I even want the SGL to succeed, but just the idea of it allows us to work things out with the PGA Tour.”

“The PGA Tour is sitting on billions of dollars”.

In the further course of the interview, Phil Mickelson explains his dissatisfaction and criticism of the PGA Tour’s media handling. He is concerned with the possible assets behind the media rights and image materials of the players and tournaments. According to Mickelson, these are worth billions of dollars in NFTs. But these digital value tokens of individual images are not due to the PGA Tour, according to Mickelson, but to the players who are featured on the media. “I don’t want to say it’s annoying, but it’s definitely beyond frustrating,” Mickelson said of the image and media rights situation.

“The Tour is sitting on billions of dollars worth of NFTs,” Mickelson said in the interview. “All of that has to belong to the players. We made these shots, we created these moments, we should be the ones benefiting from it.” Mickelson’s biggest point of criticism is the PGA Tour’s handling of its revenue. “How the hell is it legal for them to have that kind of money at their disposal?” he asks Shipnuck, noting that the Tour is actually a nonprofit organization. Mickelson promptly provides the answer himself, “Not at all. But they want more and more. They have to control everything. Their egos don’t allow them to make the concessions they need.”

“The PGA Tour is a dictatorship”

Mickelson has harsh words for the PGA Tour and the way it operates: “The Tour acts like it’s a democracy, but it’s really a dictatorship. Instead of catering to the broad mass of players, the PGA Tour only supports the top players, he says. Mickelson would like to see a turnaround and a better perception of the large mass of “middle-class players. He wants to achieve this with the Saudi money and the pressure on the American tour behind it.

Categories
Satellite Tours

Scandinavia’s golfing elite reach for the stars at Empordà Golf

The Emporda Golf Club will host two Scandinavian golf events. (Photo: Azalea)
The Emporda Golf Club will host two Scandinavian golf events. (Photo: Azalea)

The cream of Scandinavia’s male golfers are preparing to pack their bags and head to Spain’s renowned Empordà Golf Club later this month to put their skills to the test in the 2022 Golfstar Winter Series.

Two top events for Scandinavian golf

The popular resort in the Costa Brava will be home to the field of top 150 of Scandinavian players for 10 days as they compete in two 54-hole tournaments on Empordà’s two 18-hole championship golf courses, the Links and the Forest.

Sanctioned by the Swedish Golf Federation, the first event will be played from February 18-20 with the second taking place from February 22-24. Both tournaments will be included on the Official World Golf Ranking, and Golfbox Road to Europe, with each featuring a total prize fund of 600,000 Swedish Kronor (around €58,000).

The first class destination Empordà  Golf Club

Empordà has had the honour of staging numerous high-profile professional and amateur tournaments during its evolving history including events on the European Challenge Tour and the European Tour  Qualifying School.

The resort received widespread acclaim from both players and the media last October after staging two Challenge Tour events in successive weeks – the Empordà Challenge and Costa Brava Challenge – and the Challenge Tour has already confirmed Empordà will host another tournament at the venue this summer.

Flavio Papa, director of golf at Empordà Golf Club, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the Swedish Winter Series in February. It demonstrates the quality of our facilities here at Empordà Golf, that we are able to host multiple tournaments each year.”

“I am looking forward to welcoming the players and watching some high-performance golf take place over our challenging courses.”  

Located 30 minutes from Girona in the heart of the Costa Brava region, Empordà Golf Club’s impressive facilities include two 18-hole championship courses – Empordà Links and Empordà Forest, both designed world-renowned architect Robert von Hagge.

As part of the extensive renovation plans over the last two years, both courses have undergone significant investment to elevate the golf experience being offered to members and guests. Work has included the reconstruction of all bunkers using the Better Billy Bunker method, a comprehensive tree clearance programme and purchase of new greenkeeping equipment to improve the all-round condition of tees, fairways and greens.

Away from the fairways, Hotel Empordà Golf rebranded as Hotel Terraverda at the end of 2021. Hotel Terraverda has been transformed with a contemporary new look in the bedrooms, communal areas and restaurant after all being redesigned and renovated. Guests of the hotel can also now enjoy the new outdoor swimming pool that has been installed.

For more information on Empordà Golf Club, please visit: www.empordagolf.com

To book your stay at Hotel Terraverda, please visit: www.hotelterraverda.com

Text: The Azalea Group

Categories
European Tour

DP World Tour: Dynamic Dane Nicolai confident of Ras Al Khaimah double

Nicolai Hojgaard is confident to claim back-to-back titles on the European Tour. (Photo: Getty)
Nicolai Hojgaard is confident to claim back-to-back titles on the European Tour. (Photo: Getty)

Nicolai Højgaard returns to Al Hamra Golf Club this week for the Ras Al Khaimah Classic and, following a stunning display which yielded a four-stroke victory last week, the big-hitting Dane is feeling confident he can claim back-to-back titles in the United Arab Emirates. “I’m feeling pretty good. It was a grind out there and I had to dig deep so it felt really good and I’m really looking forward to teeing up again on Thursday.”, Nicolai said.

Nicolai Hojgaard: One of golf’s brightest young stars

That impressive win at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship presented by Phoenix Capital only strengthened the 20-year-old’s reputation as one of golf’s brightest young stars – alongside his twin brother Rasmus.

Nicolai needs one more win to equal his sibling’s tally of three DP World Tour titles and, following a performance which – barring a stumble midway through the final round – was nigh on perfect, he feels he is in with a great chance of claiming wins in successive weeks. “The phone has been buzzing the last few days so I haven’t talked or texted anyone yet, I’m trying to get into tournament mode now and focus on the week ahead, and hopefully play some good golf again.” the Dane told the reporters.

“For me the most important part of this victory was that I was struggling quite a bit before coming here and then I struggled around 9 to 12. I had to dig deep, two shots behind with six to play. From there on I played some really good golf and that gave me some confidence. I think I can use that quite a bit in the future.”

Smith aimes for another win at Al Hamra

Jordan Smith, meanwhile, has enjoyed a strong start to his 2022 campaign, with a top ten at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, a tie for 12th at the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic and then coming close to a second career victory last week – only to finish runner-up. “Really pleased with my start to the season. Been asked the question a few times, and there have obviously been some changes from previous years. I knew something needed to change and we had a look back at stats and performances and how I was feeling. We weren’t sure how it was going pan out this year but it’s worked out really well, I’m really happy with how everything is with the game and off-course.”, Smith said after the last weekend.

The Englishman is riding a wave of confidence, having won in Ras Al Khaimah on the Challenge Tour in 2016, and is hoping he can emerge victorious once again at Al Hamra. “Coming back I had good memories from 2016, obviously from winning here. So I came here with good memories and thoughts and I feel really comfortable around this course, don’t know what it is about it. It’s just nice and relaxed and a bit quieter than Dubai, I love the place.”

Text: DP World Tour
 

Categories
LPGA Tour

Stacy Lewis named captain for 2023 USA Solheim Cup Team

Stacy Lewis becomes the new captain of the American Solheim Cup team.
Stacy Lewis becomes the new captain of the American Solheim Cup team.

Two-time major champion Stacy Lewis has been named captain of the 2023 USA Solheim Cup Team. Lewis, a four-time member of Team USA, will lead a team of the top 12 American female golfers as they work to reclaim the Solheim Cup from Team Europe at Finca Cortesin in Spain on Sept. 22-24.

Stacy Lewis: “It is an incredible honor”

“To be named captain for the USA Solheim Cup Team is an incredible honor and I’m beyond grateful to the Committee for choosing me,” said Lewis. “I have so many amazing memories from my years on the team and the two opportunities I’ve had to work alongside the team. I absolutely love the Solheim Cup and I want 2023 to be as great an experience for my team as my years wearing Red, White and Blue have been for me.”

Impressive history on the LPGA Tour

Lewis is a 13-time LPGA Tour winner, earning major titles at the 2011 Chevron Championship and the 2013 AIG Women’s Open. She spent 264 consecutive weeks from 2011-16 ranked in the top 10 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, including 25 weeks at No. 1, and was the 2012 and 2014 Rolex LPGA Player of the Year. In 2016, Lewis was a member of Team USA at the Summer Olympics in Brazil, finishing tied for fourth.

Lewis represented the USA on the 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017 Solheim Cup Teams. In 2019, Lewis served as an unofficial assistant captain under Juli Inkster after withdrawing from competition due to injury, and she worked in that role in an official capacity under Pat Hurst in 2021. At 38 years, 7 months and 6 days old on the first day of competition in 2023, she will be the youngest American captain in Solheim Cup history and the second-youngest captain for either side. Patty Sheehan was 45 when she served as USA captain in 2002, while Catrin Nilsmark was 36 when she was the European captain in 2003.

“I have learned so much from the past captains on the Solheim Cup Committee, and the fact that they chose me to lead this team is one of the proudest moments of my career,” said Lewis. “Juli gave me my first taste of captaincy when she asked me to help her with the singles lineup in Germany in 2015. Being an assistant captain for Pat was honestly the most fun week I’ve had at a Solheim Cup. I’m more than ready to step into this role.”

Prior to joining the LPGA Tour, Lewis enjoyed a standout amateur career as a four-time All-American at the University of Arkansas, taking the NCAA Division I national title in 2007 as one of her 12 titles. She graduated in 2008 with a degree in finance and accounting, the same year she became the first player in Curtis Cup history to go 5-0 during a 13-7 USA victory over Great Britain and Ireland on the Old Course at St Andrews.

Lewis is married to Gerrod Chadwell, the head women’s golf coach at Texas A&M University, and has a 3-year-old daughter, Chesnee. She currently serves as a Player Director on the LPGA Board of Directors.

The 2023 Solheim Cup will be held at Finca Cortesin in Spain on Sept. 22-24, with Suzann Pettersen serving as captain for Team Europe. Information on ticket options and prices is available at solheimcup2023.eu.

Text: LPGA

Categories
European Tour

English duo birdie eight of nine holes to win Hero Challenge

Daniel Gavins and Callum Shinkwin claimed the Hero Challenge title. (Photo: Getty)
Daniel Gavins and Callum Shinkwin claimed the Hero Challenge title. (Photo: Getty)

Daniel Gavins and Callum Shinkwin claimed the Hero Challenge title at Al Hamra Golf Club in Ras Al Khaimah after the English duo teamed up to card eight birdies in the nine-hole Texas Scramble event for a winning eight under total.

Team competition for variety

The innovative team event was broadcast on television around the globe as well as on YouTube and social media, where fans could watch the stars of the DP World Tour in a more relaxed atmosphere – chatting regularly to on-course commentators and with some players miked up throughout their round.

In a classic better-ball scramble format, birdies were key and Gavins and Shinkwin looked unstoppable from the word go, birdieing every one of the first seven holes to storm into the lead. A par at the eighth briefly stunted their progress but a four at the par five 18th hole laid down the gauntlet early on.

Many teams tried, but none could get within touching distance of the Englishmen, who earned a two-stroke victory over the field with an eight under score of 28.

Second place was shared by nine teams on six under par, including that of winning 2018 Ryder Cup Captain Thomas Bjørn and his team-mate James Morrison, and in-form Englishman Richard Bland who teamed up with former Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson to card four birdies and an eagle two.

Callum Shinkwin: “It feels fantastic!”

“It feels fantastic, it was a great fun today. I’m glad that the Tour and Hero put this up for us today because we’re here for two weeks, it was great fun to play and obviously Dan is good friend of mine, so it was great.”, Callum Shinkwin said after the competition. “One of our caddies said ten under was going to win but thankfully he was wrong!”

Daniel Gavins used the Hero Challenge for his preparation, “For me it was a little bit about getting out to see the course because I didn’t play here last week so I hadn’t seen it. It was a lot of fun though, it was nice to get out and have a laugh. We were actually a little bit annoyed to par the eighth, we wanted to birdie every hole, but it was nice to win.”

Text: DP World Tour