Author: Elena Reiter

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Equipment Golfshoes

Ecco Golf and Rick Shiels Collab on Special Edition Biom C4 Drop

The new limited edition Ecco x Rick Shiels Biom C4 golf shoes. (Photo: Ecco Golf)
The new limited edition Ecco x Rick Shiels Biom C4 golf shoes. (Photo: Ecco Golf)

Global footwear pioneers, ECCO GOLF, and the world’s biggest golf YouTuber, Rick Shiels, have dropped a special ‘RICK SHIELS’ EDITION BIOM C4, with Rick Shiels himself collaborating with ECCO Golf’s design team to create the model. 

Limited to just 500 pairs, the Rick Shiels edition of ECCO GOLF’s best-selling BIOM C4 captures the ECCO ambassador’s personality and style, without losing any of the unwavering comfort or performance properties of the original design.

Ecco Golf x Rick Shiels: Modern style with sporty comfort

Inspired by the colour palette for his popular golf YouTube channel and branding, this contemporary, sneaker-style hybrid shoe comes in white with red and black accents, and the design also incorporates Shiels’ logo on the heel and tongue. 

With its breathable comfort and innovative performance, this limited-edition shoe has the same functionality as the regular BIOM C4, which Shiels lauds as his favourite style from the current ECCO Golf collection.

“I’m thrilled to have joined forces with the ECCO GOLF design team to create this Special Edition version of the BIOM C4,” commented Shiels. “The design really reflects my individual style and passions, and I couldn’t have asked for a better model in which to showcase those aspects of my personality.

“I was lucky enough to visit ECCO GOLF HQ in Denmark earlier this year and witness first-hand everything that goes into designing and crafting every pair of shoes that the company makes – it was absolutely mind-blowing. I can’t wait to see my design come to life, and to be able to get the shoes out on the golf course!”

Rick Shiels presents his limited edition Ecco Biom C4 golf shoe. (Photo: Ecco Golf)

The technologies in the Ecco Biom C4 golf shoe

Shiels’ stylistic elements of the shoe are complemented by some of ECCO’s world renowned performance technologies, including 360-degree breathability and waterproofing provided by a GORE-TEX SURROUND construction, which is combined with the ECCO EXHAUST GRID that enables air ventilation towards the sole of the foot. 

Crafted from ECCO Performance Leather and a new, super-stretchy mesh sock, this hybrid is set on the progressive ECCO MTN GRIP outsole and is powered by BIOM® NATURAL MOTION® Technology. The limited edition golf shoe is available in men’s sizes: 39-48.

ECCO GOLF shoes are worn in competition around the world by Henrik Stenson, Thomas Bjørn, Erik van Rooyen, Lydia Ko, Alison Lee, Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Freddy Schott, and Esther Henseleit, among others. For further information about ECCO GOLF, please visit golf.ecco.com.  

Text: Ecco Golf

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Professionals

 How Much Prize Money Has Rory McIlroy Earned? 

Rory McIlroys career earnings. (Image Getty)
Rory McIlroys career earnings. (Image Getty)

Rory McIlroy is one of the best-known players on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. With several major titles and Ryder Cup appearences, he has earned a fair share of prize money. But exactly how much has the Northern Irishman earned in his career to date?

This is how much Rory McIlroy has earned in prize money in his career

Since becoming a professional player back in September 2007 Rory Since turning professional in September 2007, Rory McIlroy has quickly become one of the top golfers on both the European and American Tours. With good finishes, he started to make the big money in 2009 with his victory at the Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) and his first PGA Tour title in 2010 at the Quail Hollow Championship. He followed his success with four major titles in 2011, 2012 and 2014 and increased his winner’s share to almost ten million in 2012 and 2014. After a few years with “only” smaller earnings, he won his first Tour Championship and the Players Championship in 2019, bringing his prize money for the year to a whopping 20 million, surpassed only by his 22′ prize money, which totals 40 million dollars. With his second FedExCup win and top finishes in all four major championships, McIlroy climbed back to the top of both tours and won the DP World Tour season standings.

Year Total Earnings
2007 $0
2009 $1,212,219
2010 $3,104,280
2011 $2,321,859
2012 $8,047,952
2013 $1,802,443
2014 $8,395,096
2015 $5,113,312
2016 $5,790,585
2017 $2,430,182
2018 $4,450,296
2019 $22,785,286
2020 $5,428,415
2021 $8,475,559
2022 $40,456,566
2023 $5,333,285

Rory McIlroy and the “Players Impact Program”

In addition to his tournament prize money, McIlroy collected a considerable sum from the “Players Impact Programme” introduced in 2021. A third place in 2021 earned him 3.5 million dollars, in 2022 a second place behind Tiger Woods earned him 12 million and in 2023 he received 15 million for his first place in the PGA Tours popularity rankings.

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Highlights Tours

Masters 2024: Scheffler’s Caddie Ted Scott Repeats Masters Double

Scottie Scheffler and Ted Scott at the Masters Tournament 2024. (Image: Getty)
Scottie Scheffler and Ted Scott at the Masters Tournament 2024. (Image: Getty)

If Scottie Scheffler’s sporting career continues like this, Ted Scott will become a kind of second Steve Williams. The New Zealander was in the pocket of the GOAT in Tiger Woods’ heyday and became the wealthiest sportsman in his home country thanks to the ten per cent share of the boss’s prize money.

Ted Scott and his unique way of celebrating the Masters win

This year, Ted Scott has already shared in Scheffler’s successes at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players Championship as well as the other top placings, and his Masters triumph adds another 360,000 dollars in prize money commission. This year, the man in his early fifties has certainly earned more money from the world number one’s pocket than, for example, Rory McIlroy on the fairways.

In total, the former mini tour pro is likely to have raked in just under six million dollars since Scheffler persuaded him to give up early retirement in 2021, which Scott decided to do after splitting with Bubba Watson. Interestingly, he won the Masters Tournament with the left-hander in 2012 and 2014, and exactly ten years later he repeated the feat with Scottie Scheffler. And because he secured the flag of 18 again yesterday, including the flagstick as a trophy, Ted Scott can celebrate the victory again like he did two years ago:

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Highlights Tours

The Masters Tournament 2024 Stats – How Difficult the Augusta National Golf Course Was

The stats for the Masters Tournament 2024. (Image: Getty)
The stats for the Masters Tournament 2024. (Image: Getty)

The Masters Tournament 2024 was characterised by adverse weather conditions. Strong gusts of wind left the pros at Augusta National baffled at times and pushed the balls of golf’s best players into unusual positions. It is therefore hardly surprising that some of the results of the Major opener were well over par.

The Masters Tournament Results

The Masters Tournament 2024: Augusta National presented itself as a monster

The time-honoured Augusta National had some “hellish” conditions in this 88th Masters. The wind turned the fast greens into glass slabs and the challenging greenside bunkers almost magically attracted errant shots. The water hazards, especially in the Amen Corner, also caused some pros to lose golf balls and some penalty strokes. With gusts of up to 50 km/h, the wind swept across the course, driving the sand from the bunkers into the eyes of the stars and causing the balls on the greens to tremble.

But first the positive results of the Major week:

With a total of 21 eagles over the four days of the tournament, the stars of the golf world created some terrific memories. Hole-outs from the fairway and incredible putts from long range were anything but the order of the day, but the jubilation of the happy players was all the more rousing. The second hole of the course recorded the most two-under-par results. The 585-yard (535-metre) par 5 was holed seven times for an eagle, with holes 8 and 13 sharing second place in this statistic with four each.

Birdies were also played, albeit significantly fewer than in previous editions or other major tournaments. With 866 birdies, the Masters 2024 nevertheless achieved a considerable number. The two birdies by Rahm and DeChambeau certainly stood out, with both players saving themselves the trip to the green and holing out directly from the fairway.

Frustration and penalty strokes at the 2024 Masters

However, the 866 birdies were offset by 1099 bogeys. With around 90 more on the back nine, the first and last two holes of the back nine were particularly difficult. The average score on the par 4s was between 4.2 and 4.5 strokes and therefore well over par. In addition to the many bogeys, there were also 176 double bogeys or worse, again with more than twice as many high scores on the back nine compared to the first half of the round. Jordan Spieth’s renewed drama on hole 15 will probably be most memorable, when the American had to record a 9 in his first round after missing the green, chipping into the water and then needing a further four shots to hole out.

The result of the final round was that only eight players were able to maintain a total score of under par. Sunday seemed to be a little more favourable in terms of playing conditions, with eleven players recording a round in the 60s, compared to just seven players on Day 1.

Viewing figures for the Masters 2024 on an upward trend

Away from the action, the American media also repeatedly focuses on the dwindling viewer numbers for PGA Tour events. The Masters 2024, with the LIV golfers once again facing off against the PGA Tour ranks, resembled a kind of “test run”. And it seems that golf fans would rather watch their stars in a tournament field. As ESPN reported, viewer numbers rose significantly compared to the previous year, by 28 per cent to 3.2 million viewers in Round 1 on the American channel. The following days also delivered new top results last seen in 2018, with a high of 3.6 million on Friday.

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Highlights Tours

The Masters Tournament 2024: This is how much prize money the players receive

The prize money for the Masters Tournament 2024. (Image: Getty)
The prize money for the Masters Tournament 2024. (Image: Getty)

At the 88th edition of the Masters Tournament, Scottie Scheffler once again proved why he is number 1 in the world rankings. At the first major of the season, Scheffler gave his competitors no chance and confidently secured his second Masters title. The organizers have now announced this year’s prize money to coincide with the final round. After the record sum of 2023, those responsible at Augusta National Golf Club are once again increasing the sum, this time by two million dollars, to more than 20 million. Scottie Scheffler can look forward to 3.6 million dollars.

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How much prize money will the players receive at the Masters Tournament 2024?

As with other tournaments, the prize money will be divided up on a staggered basis, this time with 3.6 million dollars for the winner of the Major. This is followed by the other top three places, also with six-figure sums, up to 50th place with a further 50 thousand dollars. Unlike in previous years, the distribution is not 20 per cent for the winner, 18 per cent for second place and 6.8 per cent for third place. This year, first place will receive 18 per cent, second place will receive 10.8 per cent and third place will continue to receive 6.8 per cent of the prize money pot. The exact distribution of the prize money is therefore as follows:

Position Player Prize Money
1st Scottie Scheffler $3,600,000
2nd Ludvig Aberg $2,160,000
T3 Tommy Fleetwood $1,040,000
T3 Collin Morikawa $1,040,000
T3 Max Homa $1,040,000
T6 Cameron Smith $695,000
T6 Bryson DeChambeau $695,000
8th Xander Schauffele $620,000
T9 Will Zalatoris $540,000
T9 Tyrrell Hatton $540,000
T9 Cameron Young $540,000
T12 Adam Schenk $406,000
T12 Patrick Reed $406,000
T12 Matthieu Pavon $406,000
T12 Cam Davis $406,000
T16 Chris Kirk $310,000
T16 Sepp Straka $310,000
T16 Byeong Hun An $310,000
T16 Nicolai Hojgaard $310,000
T20 Taylor Moore $250,000
T20 Lucas Glover $250,000
T22 Adam Scott $175,500
T22 Keegan Bradley $175,500
T22 Rory McIlroy $175,500
T22 Joaquin Niemann $175,500
T22 Min Woo Lee $175,500
T22 Patrick Cantlay $175,500
T22 Harris English $175,500
T22 Matt Fitzpatrick $175,500
T30 Rickie Fowler $124,200
T30 Tom Kim $124,200
T30 Si Woo Kim $124,200
T30 J. T. Poston $124,200
T30 Jason Day $124,200
T35 Camilo Villegas $103,000
T35 Akshay Bhatia $103,000
T35 Kurt Kitayama $103,000
T38 Hideki Matsuyama $86,000
T38 Russel Henley $86,000
T38 Luke List $86,000
T38 Corey Conners $86,000
T38 Ryan Fox $86,000
T43 Phil Mickelson $72,000
T43 Shane Lowry $72,000
T45 Jose Maria Olazabal $57,200
T45 Jon Rahm $57,200
T45 Sahith Theegala $57,200
T45 Denny McCarthy $57,200
T45 Brooks Koepka $57,200
T45 Danny Willett $57,200

It’s not just the 50 players who made it through to the weekend who can look forward to prize money. The players who didn’t make the cut at the Masters Tournament 2024 will also receive at least a “small” consolation in the form of 10,000 dollars.

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In addition to the six-figure prize money, the winner will also receive the legendary green jacket, a replica of the clubhouse and the right to play in the iconic major for life.

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Highlights Tours

The Masters Tournament 2024: Jon Rahm With Hole-Out for Birdie

Jon Rahm in the final round of the Masters Tournament 2024. (Image: Getty)
Jon Rahm in the final round of the Masters Tournament 2024. (Image: Getty)

The final day of the Masters Tournament 2024 has gone exceptionally well for Jon Rahm so far, considering the defending champion’s performances in the previous round. But with this extraordinary birdie, he probably tops all previous shots in his tournament.

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Hole-out for birdie: Jon Rahm with a magic shot at the Masters Tournament 2024

After a poor tee shot between the trees on the right-hand side of the seventh fairway, Jon Rahm could only save himself with a flat chip back onto the fairway. The par no longer seemed safe at this point and a birdie was certainly out of the question from the Spaniard’s perspective. But, as we all know, one should never give up hope. From 80 yards, Rahm achieved a feat with his wedge and the ball went into the hole for a birdie.

The Spaniard’s hole-out in the video:

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Highlights Tours

Live Blog: Jon Rahm Finishes The Masters 2024 Over Par

Jon Rahm at the Masters Tournament 2024. The Live Blog. (Image: Getty)
Jon Rahm at the Masters Tournament 2024. The Live Blog. (Image: Getty)

The 2024 Masters Tournament will be a special one for Jon Rahm. As last years champion the Spaniard will attempt to defend his title, just months after his transfer to the LIV Golf League. In last years Masters he secured his win with a solid last round, finishing the tournament at -12 with a four shot lead over fellow LIV golfer Brooks Koepka.

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Jon Rahm and the Masters Tournament

Since turning pro back in 2016 Jon Rahm captured several top 10 positions across the four major tournaments. With a fourth place both at the Masters Tournament and the PGA Championship in 2018 he stepped close to a major titel, but had to wait for another three years befor he checked in his first title. At the 2021 US Open Rahm took the win, all while landing in the top 10 of all other majors in that season. Just two years after that in 2023 he landed his first green jacket at Augusta National.

In a tight race with major-specialist Brooks Koepka Rahm entered the last round in Augusta in 2023. He kept his nerves and locked in a -3 69 round, while Koepka struggled and endet up tied in second place with Phil Mickelson.

Rahm’s chances at the Masters Tournament 2024

Looking back at Rahm’s past result at the seasons first major the odds for a title-defence are everything but bad. With strong top 10s for years now Jon Rahm is always a player to consider for a major title.

Altough the Spaniard is just five tournaments in to the new season and his new golf home, the LIV Golf League, he already delivered some amazing results. With three top five finishes and two other top 10s he demonstrated a good form with his “Leagion XIII” in various locations around the globe.

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Uncategorized

The Masters Tournament 2024: Zach Johnson on His F-Bomb

Zach Johnson sparks a debate at the Masters Tournament 2024. (Image: Getty)
Zach Johnson sparks a debate at the Masters Tournament 2024. (Image: Getty)

After a frustrating first day at the Masters Tournament 2024, Zach Johnson played well under the extreme conditions on day two. Until the American did hit the 12th hole.

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Zach Johnson Drops F-Bomb at the Masters Tournament 2024

After missing the hole completely with his first tee shot, the second try landed just right of the green with a difficult chip. The following long putt for a double bogey missed the hole and resulted in a triple-bogey.

What followed was a reserved applause from the patrons and Zach Johnsons “F*** off!” directed across the pond. This unlikely outburst off course hit social media and promptly sparked a debate wether it was directed at the patrons or himself.

F-Bombing the Patrons? That’s what Zach Johnson said about the Situation

Q. Why don’t you clear the air about the social media thing.

ZACH JOHNSON: I’m not familiar with any social media thing out there. I’ve just signed my scorecard.

Q. There was some comment attributed to you to the patrons after your shots on 12.

ZACH JOHNSON: My first shot that went in the bush?

Q. It was after the putt maybe.

ZACH JOHNSON: After my putt for double bogey? Or after my putt for triple — I guess it really doesn’t matter. I can’t hear anything from — they’re 100 — with the downhill, they’re 152. They’re actually 154 away, so 152 away. I don’t understand the situation at all.

What are they saying that I did or said?

Q. It’s been reported that you swore at some of the patrons.

ZACH JOHNSON: That I swore at the patrons? That’s laughable. That’s completely laughable. I can’t hear the patrons, number one. Number two, I just made a triple bogey on the 12th hole that evidently is going to make me miss the cut, which at the time I knew was pretty sensitive in the sense that I needed to keep making pars.

If I’ve said anything, which I’m not going to deny, especially if it’s on camera, one, I apologize, and two, it was fully directed towards myself entirely because I can’t hear anything behind me. Does that make sense?

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Highlights Tours

The Masters Tournament 2024: Drama On 15th Hole For Spieth

Jordan Spieth despairs in round 1 at the Masters Tournament 2024 (Photo: Getty)
Jordan Spieth despairs in round 1 at the Masters Tournament 2024 (Photo: Getty)

It took more than a day, but now the incredibly fast greens of Augusta National have claimed their first prominent victim. Jordan Spieth despaired on the green of the 15th fairway on the second day of the Masters Tournament 2024, but after the first round was interrupted by the onset of darkness in round 1. “Firethorn”, as the par 5 was so aptly named, showed its particularly beastly side for the veteran and gave Spieth a quadruple bogey.

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Jordan Spieth with dramatic quadruple bogey at the Masters Tournament 2024

Even before the start of the Masters Tournament 2024, Ken Brown reported on the difficult and particularly fast greens at Augusta National this week. Not even a complete round of golf later, Jordan Spieth had to painfully familiarise himself with these qualities. After an approach shot to the green on the 15th fairway that was too long, he hit what should have been a simple chip back onto the green. However, what should have been a safe shot failed and rolled straight back into the water on the other side of the green as if on a pane of glass. It went back into the drop zone and after another pitch that was too long, again behind the flag, Spieth opted for a much more defensive chip. This was followed by two putts and finally the nine on the scorecard.

Jordan Spieth in despair on hole 15 at the US Masters 2024 (Photo: Masters.com)

The shot tracker for this hole by Spieth is not very reminiscent of the American’s otherwise precise short game, but rather of a child’s drawing with a few abstract stick figures. Thanks to this track, Spieth is likely to face an even greater challenge in round 2. Without much of a break, the Friday session continues and with it the battle for the cut. At seven over par, he is currently well outside the decisive positions and has to fight to stay in the tournament.

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Equipment Highlights Tours

The Masters Tournament 2024: Tony Finau With Unusual Equipment Choice

Tony Finau brings two drivers to the Masters Tournament 2024. (Image: Getty)
Tony Finau brings two drivers to the Masters Tournament 2024. (Image: Getty)

When looking at Tony Finau’s golf bag, some long-established Masters Tournament fans might be reminded of an edition 18 years ago. Back then, in 2006, Phil Mickelson won his second green jacket at Augusta National. And he did so with a special set of clubs. Like Finau this year, “Lefty” relied on two drivers back then.

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The reason behind Tony Finau’s unusual bag at the Masters Tournament 2024

The explanation for this “double lotto” in Finau’s bag is relatively simple. During his tournament preparation, the American realised that he could only use his 3-wood on a single hole (hole 8) and set about looking for an alternative. The solution presented itself in the form of a second driver. In addition to the Ping G430 LST with 7.75 degrees of loft, Finau will be adding another Ping G430 LST to his bag for the Masters Tournament 2024, but this one has around 9 degrees of loft and a shaft that is three-quarters of an inch shorter. According to Ping, Finau can use it for his tee shot on five holes (holes 2, 7, 10, 14 and 17). The driver is also more forgiving than the comparable 3-wood and even with the higher loft, the long hitter still manages 300 yards or 275 metres.

Putter patent for Tony Finau

Although not in his tournament bag, Tony Finau now uses a specially designed putter for training rounds at home. Together with his equipment supplier Ping, Finau has designed a prototype that fulfils his special requirements. The American relies on his putter particularly for short shots from the first cut around the greens and turns it 90 degrees for these shots so that he catches the ball with the heel. The new putter is said to have a cube shape, placing the weight directly behind the golf ball. The patent, which was presented on Wednesday ahead of the Masters Tournament 2024, features Finau himself as well as Tony Serrano, Head of Putter Design at Ping, and CEO John A. Solheim.

“When Tony turns his putter over and hits a putt with the toe, all the mass is directly behind the ball,” Serrano said. “So he came to us and said, ‘How can we make a putter that has some of these feelings and attributes and sounds that I get when I turn this putter over?’”