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Highlights Tours

DP World Tour Announces Schedule for 2024 with Record Prize Money

The DP World Tour announces its schedule for the 2024 season. (Credit: Getty)

The DP World Tour today announces its schedule for the 2024 season, one which will feature a minimum of 44 tournaments in 24 countries and across five continents, underlining its status as golf’s global Tour.

Showcasing diverse international players, cultures, countries and venues, the 2024 season also features a host of new enhancements across its entire 13 month global odyssey, with members competing for an overall record prize fund of $148.5 million (excluding the Majors). Click here to view the full schedule.

The 2024 Race to Dubai will feature three new and distinct phases – five innovative ‘Global Swings’ from November 2023 to August 2024; an historic ‘Back 9’ from September 2024 to October 2024; and two ‘DP World Tour Play-Offs’ in November 2024.

As in previous years, the consistent thread throughout the course of the season will be the five Rolex Series events – the premium category of events on the DP World Tour. In 2024 these will be: the Hero Dubai Desert Classic (January), the Genesis Scottish Open (July), the BMW PGA Championship (September), the Abu Dhabi Championship (November) and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai (November) – tournaments which will continue to showcase the Tour’s leading players and innovation.

The schedule also features two new tournaments – the Dubai Invitational (Jan 11-14) and the Bahrain Championship (Feb 1-4), while the Volvo China Open (May 2-5) returns to the schedule for the first time since 2019. There are also date changes for three existing tournaments – the Danish Golf Championship (which moves to Aug 22-25), the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo, (Aug 29 – Sept 1), and the Abu Dhabi Championship (Nov 7-10). The Nedbank Golf Challenge Hosted by Gary Player moves into December and will be one of the opening events on the Tour’s 2025 schedule.

Keith Pelley, the DP World Tour’s Chief Executive, said: “Our 2024 season will see our members come together to compete across a global schedule, with greater opportunities and rewards than ever before.

“The many new and original enhancements we have introduced will guarantee drama and excitement for our fans, our broadcasters and all our stakeholders across the entire season and means, more than ever, that every week counts on the DP World Tour.”

The 2024 DP World Tour Schedule – A Breakdown

Phase One – The ‘Global Swing’

This phase will comprise five individual ‘Swings’ – the Opening Swing, the International Swing, the Asian Swing, the European Swing and the Closing Swing – and will run from November 2023 to August 2024. Each Swing will have its own individual Swing Rankings.

The Opening Swing will run from November 2023 (Fortinet Australian PGA Championship) to December 2023 (AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open)
The International Swing will run from January 2024 (Dubai Invitational) to March 2024 (Jonsson Workwear Open)
The Asian Swing will run from March 2024 (Singapore Classic) to May 2024 (Volvo China Open) (*)
The European Swing will run from May 2024 (Soudal Open) to July 2024 (BMW International Open) (*)
The Closing Swing will run from July 2024 (Genesis Scottish Open) to August 2024 (Danish Golf Championship) (*)

(*) While points accrued in the Major Championships will count on the Race to Dubai Rankings, they will not count in the Swing Rankings.

Each Swing will have its own identity and its own Champion who will each earn $200,000 from an overall $1million Bonus Pool. Swing Champions will also qualify for each of the ‘Back 9’ events.

At the conclusion of the Global Swings phase, a further $1million Bonus Pool will then be shared amongst the leading ten players on the Race to Dubai (who have played a minimum of eight ‘regular’ Global Swings events outside the Major Championships and co-sanctioned Genesis Scottish Open).

The International Swing includes a new Pro-Am event – the Dubai Invitational played at Dubai Creek Resort from January 11-14 – as well as the Bahrain Championship, which marks the Tour’s return to the Kingdom of Bahrain for the first time since 2011.

The five Swings will also offer qualification into the first three Rolex Series events:
The leading member (not otherwise exempt) from the Opening Swing will qualify for the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
The leading member (not otherwise exempt) from each of the International Swing, the Asian Swing and the European Swing will qualify for the Genesis Scottish Open.
The leading member (not otherwise exempt) from the Closing Swing will qualify for the BMW PGA Championship.
The overall top performers from the Global Swings will be rewarded with qualification into Phase Two of the season, with ten spots in each of the ‘Back 9’ events for the highest ranked members (not otherwise exempt) within the top 110 on the current Race to Dubai Rankings.

————–

Phase Two – The ‘Back Nine’

This phase will encompass nine of the DP World Tour’s most historic tournaments and national Opens and will run from August 2024 to October 2024.

It will begin with the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo (August 29 – September 1, 2024) and will end with a tournament to be confirmed from October 24-27, 2024.

In addition to exempt DP World Tour members, the leading 15 non-members from the top 70 on the FedEx Cup will be eligible to play in these events and qualify for the DP World Tour Championship.

The top 110 players on the Race to Dubai Rankings at the conclusion of this phase in October will earn their DP World Tour cards for 2025 while the top 70 qualify for Phase Three, the DP World Tour Play-Offs.

Phase Three – The DP World Tour Play-Offs

This phase, running in November 2024, will comprise the two final Rolex Series events of the season: the Abu Dhabi Championship and the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

The Abu Dhabi Championship, which moves from its traditional January slot to a new date of November 7-10, will feature the leading 70 players on the Race to Dubai Rankings while the top 50 at the end of that tournament, qualify for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai from November 14-17, where the DP World Tour’s Number One player will be crowned.

At the conclusion of the DP World Tour’s 2024 season, the leading ten players will share a $6million Bonus Pool.

Finally, as per at the end of the current 2023 season, the top ten DP World Tour members on the final 2024 Race to Dubai Rankings (not otherwise exempt) will earn PGA TOUR cards for the 2025 season.
Press release by the European Tour

Categories
Top Tours

From Tigers to Triumphs: Jon Rahm on Golfing Greats, Driving Stress, and Carlos Alcaraz’s Inspiration

Jon Rahm at The Open Championship. (Credit: Mercedes Benz)

Jon Rahm, preparing for his first Open at Royal Liverpool, has positive memories of the course from a previous tournament. He reflects on Tiger Woods’ 2006 win, adapting his strategy to the course conditions. Rahm hopes to be the first Spaniard since Severiano Ballesteros to claim the Claret Jug. He looks forward to the passionate fan support and acknowledges Rory McIlroy’s strong form. Rahm seeks advice from past champions and fondly recalls winning the Masters. With the Ryder Cup ahead, he’s focused on winning. Rahm admires fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz’s tennis success, providing inspiration for his golf performance.

Jon Rahm speaks ahead of the 151. Open Championship

This is your first Open at Royal Liverpool. Have you had a chance to play here before as a junior or amateur or have you had the chance to practice much? What are your impressions of the course?

Jon Rahm: I played 18 today and I played a Brabazon trophy here. I can’t remember the year, it was a good 11, 12, 13 years ago. It’s funny because a lot of the names in that tournament on the leaderboard are names that you see nowadays. I liked it from the beginning, it was one of my first experiences of links golf. It’s a little bit different to what we play in The Open rotation. Those fairway bunkers, a lot more penal, a lot of those greenside bunkers, a lot more penal. You have to obviously hit it really well. Tee to green, it’s a bit of added pressure. It’s a lot of holes, we’re on hole 14 right now. This 14th hole is a very difficult second shot, hole 12 very difficult tee shot and second shot. At first
glance I am surprised of how low they’ve shot here in the past, but really happy because I like the golf course.

Famously, Tiger Woods’ only hit his driver once over four days when he won at Hoylake in 2006, even with quite benign winds. What will be your approach to playing this course?

Jon Rahm: It was very dry and firm and yellow that year, you could get away with not hitting drivers in a lot of holes. Today, I played early, it was wet. There were some holes where I hit drivers and I didn’t get into any bunkers. I was hitting it on the same spots he was hitting the irons. I understand what he was trying to do, which is basically keep it just short of the bunkers and take on with longer clubs that give himself a more percentage shot. When the Greens are firm, it makes sense, have a little bit more control of the fairway. I don’t know what I’ll be doing. The game has evolved since then. When Rory played and won in 2014, he hit a lot of drivers. It is getting to a point nowadays where if you can hit a driver, you’re going to have to. Not only because of you, but somebody is going to be able to do it. It’s a little bit different game than what was played in 2006.

Jon Rahm not afraid of conditions: “It’s England”

Conditions are key to how an Open venue plays – what do you make of the forecast weather and speed of the course going into the week?

Jon Rahm: It’s England. It’s right next to the channel too. I don’t really look at what the forecast says because it changes so fast. I’m hoping we still see certain weather conditions because it’s The Open. There’s always going to be a wind. Hopefully rain is fair but there’s always going to be a wave that’s benefited one more than the other. It doesn’t look like it’s going to play extremely fast or extremely firm just because the rain and a little bit of the moisture should stay around but you never know. I think it’s going to play somewhat similar to what it did in 2014.

What would it mean to you to claim the Claret Jug as the first Spaniard since Severiano Ballesteros
in 1988?

Jon Rahm: Any time you can do something for the first time since Seve did it, it’s obviously a very big deal. It’s crazy that Sergio Garcia and Ollie (José María Olazábal), many other great players that had a chance, didn’t get to do it for Spain, but it’s not easy. I would be a true honour to be able to join Seve’s (Severiano Ballesteros) name on that list of The Open champions. Even aside from that, just being able to call yourself an Open champion is so unique, so special. To me, it is the most prestigious tournament we have in golf and there’s nothing like it.

“We are expecting over 250,000 passionate fans”

We are expecting over 250,000 passionate fans to cheer you on here this week – what are your expectations about the special atmosphere when the Open comes to Liverpool?

Jon Rahm: It’s always amazing when we come to this side of the world. The respect and knowledge for the game is so much higher than anywhere else and the fans know it. The only tournament in the world where we get celebrated for hitting a shot, sometimes even a wedge hit to 30 feet, just because they understand the conditions and how difficult it can be. You just hit it on the green no matter where you are, most of the time you will get claps. Sometimes you make a five or a bogey and they understand that it was a good five. It’s different and it’s really, really fun to play here.

Although Rory won here in 2014 and arrives here this week with a win at the Scottish Open and some recent strong finishes at the US PGA and US Open, many have you down as the favourite to win. How do you manage the pressure going into a Major?

Jon Rahm: Whatever people say, it doesn’t a really make a difference. Most likely I am going to have higher expectations than most people have about me either way. Luckily, I’ve been playing good for the last few years, I’ve heard that a few times, so you get used to it. Whether people think, if you’re going to win or not, I still come out here to win. Obviously, Rory and Scotty might be more of a favourite because they’ve been playing better lately, but I’m glad people still think I have a chance.

Which other players in the field do you think have the game and the momentum to perform well this week?

“If I have to say one player, you have to say Rory”

Jon Rahm: It’s golf, all 150 of us have a chance. That’s a beautiful thing about this game. When you tee off on Thursday, we’re all on equal ground and that’s it, weather aside. There’s a difference in weather, but nobody would have expected, let’s say, Tom Watson to do as well as he did in 2009, Greg Norman to do as well as he did in 2008 in Birkdale. Those are the circumstances that you can’t foresee and can only happen in Open golf. If I have to say one player, you have to say Rory (Rory McIlroy) because of what he did last week and how he is playing this year.

Ahead of adapting your game to links golf, do you chat to any of your fellow players or friends on tour about the best strategies for posting a low score at The Open?

Jon Rahm: I like to get advice from past champions and players that have done well. We all hit the golf ball in a different way, we all play golf a different way, but there’s always little things that you can learn. It’s always nice to ask for a little bit of advice to see what they consider they did well that week or what they think that needs to be done.

Three months down the road of another stellar year for you. Can you share some more reflections on winning the Masters?

Jon Rahm: Sometimes I still wake up in the morning and realize that I won the Masters this year. It’s crazy. The one thing I keep thinking about is just being able to join my other three fellow major champions from. Becoming part of the fraternity of golfers is very special. The only major that is played on the same golf course every year. It is a bit of a different feeling to it, just because we all know the golf course and just to come out on top is very special for me. If we’re talking especially about the week, just the weather conditions I had to deal with and then play as good as I did is what makes it so special.

After the last Major of 2023, all eyes will turn to the Ryder Cup and you will be a leading figure in the European team. What are your thoughts and expectations looking ahead to Rome in September?

Jon Rahm: My thoughts: Winning. Expectations: Winning. That’s all I can say. It’s such a fun event. It’s so different to what we do throughout the year. To be able to represent our continent, our countries, and play golf for European golf and do an exhibition. At the end of the day, it is an exhibition. Nobody’s getting paid and we’re playing for the love of the game and the love of our nations. It’s a lot of fun to be able to be a part of that. We have teammates celebrating with each other and we’re looking forward to getting that cup back to European soil.

“Hat’s off, his future is very, very, very bright”

For many people, a good way to unwind and relax is to take themselves off on a drive. What car are you driving here this week? Are you able to carve out any time to hit the road for some headspace or are the demands of a Major pretty all encompassing?

Jon Rahm: I have a Mercedes-Benz GLS this week. It’s not relaxing when I’m driving on the other side of the road. It’s very stressful but after a few days, you get used to it. In my case, my favourite car to drive is still at home. I know it’s not the most popular choice, but it is still the G-Wagon. That’s what I’m going to keep driving until I can get my hands on the EQG. It’s still a G-Wagon but a little different one.

Carlos Alcaraz made history yesterday at Wimbledon in a thrilling win over Novak Djokovic. You must feel proud to see the success of your fellow Spanish sport star – hopefully providing some extra energy and inspiration going into this important week for you? Have you ever met Carlos and if so, can you describe your relationship?

Jon Rahm: I’ve not met him but I followed his career. The last few years have been incredible, to be the youngest number one tennis player in the world. This isn’t likely with the three great players we had ahead and with Rafa’s (Rafael Nadal) shadow on Spanish tennis as well. To go and win the US Open and now Wimbledon and still stay the number one with Novak playing at the level he’s been playing. His first final on Centre Court and Wimbledon and beat basically, and this is hard for me to say as a Rafa fan, the best player ever in tennis after losing the first set six to one is quite incredible. The determination and strength he showed in all those sets, even after losing the fourth and come back in the fifth one and get it done was quite impressive. Hat’s off, his future is very, very, very bright. As a tennis fan, you’re kind of wondering, Rafa is coming to an end, Federer is done, Djokovic obviously might have a few years left. Alcaraz might be the next big thing, for somebody like him to come up and just burst into the scene like that was very, very special. So I’m really happy for him and hopefully he has a very long and great career.
Interview distributed by Mercedes Benz

Categories
DACH Panorama Uncategorized

WINSTONgolf: Everyday life off. Passion on.

WINSTONgolf: Everyday life off. Passion on. (Source: Tobias Kuberski)

What do you do when things at work get stressful? I have my own method: There’s always a golf ball in my blazer pocket. If the stress level rises, I put my hand in my pocket, turn the ball between my fingers, close my eyes for a moment and stand on the golf course. That’s the in-between method. The real knockout against deadline pressure and heart palpitations comes after the working day ends. That’s when I get into the car and drive out to WINSTONgolf. At least once a week, and preferably every day. I park the car and switch off daily life when I stop the engine. Time for my passion; golf. I’ve been playing since childhood and I know a few courses. But nowhere is like here. Let’s visit it together. Then I’ll show you why.

WINSTONgolf ambassador Bernhard Langer (Source: Tobias Kuberski)

The Driving Range: How I begin the game

At work I need to be forward-looking. On the driving range, I just look at my ball and am pleased with how well and far it flies. Most of the time, anyway. Here I always experience this wonderful mixture of sporting ambition when teeing off, and contemplation amidst the peace and vastness of the landscape all around me.

Overview golf house, holes 6,9 and 18 and the driving range (Source: Stefan von Stengel)

Today the sun is shining, but I really like to be here in any weather. And now imagine the “clack” of your ball as it takes a wonderful trajectory, and a second ball flies alongside behind it, hit much further and more professionally. You look to see who it was. And suddenly there he is – Bernhard Langer. That’s more or less how I experienced it during the WINSTONgolf Senior Open, where golf legends from all over the world tee off together. But there’s also an opportunity to meet Bernhard Langer here. He has been a WINSTONgolf brand ambassador for many years. And by the way, so has Johannes Veerman. You know him, the likeable player of the DP World Tour. Although I haven’t met him yet.

WINSTONlinks: My “outgrowing myself” course

Phenomenal WINSTONlinks (Source: Stefan von Stengel)

Are you fit for the next round? Then up onto WINSTONlinks and into a real challenge. I must admit it: I failed miserably when I played the course for the first time. Driving into the wind, missing the fairway on the first tee shot, and off into a bunker. But I still felt like a winner. Because this course is also an experience for the eye: Wind-whipped dunes with gorse and sea buckthorn curve up to ten metres high into the distance. Deep sand traps in between, as if from volcanoes. And a buzzard soars in the skies above me. Cranes have also been watching. Maybe they would applaud me if they could. Because by now I’m really good and have mastered this course designed for professionals. No wonder champions love it, and they’ll be spending time on it during the Legends Tour in September. If you’re here for the first time or the next time – go ahead and take its challenge. You’ll find it worthwhile.

Do you love a change as much I do? Then the WINSTONopen course will inspire just as much as WINSTONlinks. Classic, challenging, with well-guarded greens and putting characteristics at their very best. A real championship course. And the view across a masterpiece of nature is included free of charge.

Playing hole 6 of WINSTONopen (Source: Stefan von Stengel)

The quality of the courses is also a masterpiece. As if the greens were pure velvet. It feels great and plays that way too. This carries on through to the WINSTONkranich par 3 course, where I like to hone my short game. It’s a great place to warm up in before playing some really serious golf. Like on the WINSTONlinks, which I’m playing right now – in a happy mood to send the ball straight into the 18th hole.

We made it! And only 5 over par. I really must congratulate myself. Of course, it’s nicer when praise comes from someone else. From my friends, for example, who sometimes accompany me. Or from people I meet by chance on the course, and who love golf as much as I do. They come here from all over, and have a wide variety of tastes. But they are all the same in one respect: they are all relaxed. Especially after a successful round. Or after a good meal. Speaking of which: are you hungry? Then follow me to the clubhouse.

The golfing clubhouse: Open Sesame

Greetings from WINSTONgolf at the clubhouse (Source: Stefan von Stengel)

Off the green and into enjoyment. Although in fact everything here is green. The people here are highly environmentally conscious. Exactly my wavelength. My car, for example, recharges at the e-charging station in front, I scarcely see any plastic, and my mouth waters when I think of my burger with organic meat from Jersey beef directly from the region.

Hello golf clubhouse! Did you ever see such an entrance door? So red and so big, but without making me feel small. And the automatic Open Sesame. The only thing missing is a red carpet. They wave at me from reception and I wave back. We know each other, and I feel at home. Slow down. The hustle and bustle are far away. I’m not surprised that WINSTONgolf has already carried off so many prizes. Certificate here, certificate there. “Golf Post Community Award 2023 – Number 1 in the ‘Course Condition’ category”, and alongside them various first places in different rankings. I feel it’s all in very good taste. Incidentally, also in the choice of my favourite restaurant – the RESTAURANTkranichhaus in the clubhouse.

A relaxed community

Sunset at WINSTONgolf (Source: Stefan von Stengel)

The sun patio is especially popular again today. At least one seat is still free, although there are already three guests sitting at the table. Maybe they were waiting for someone just like me. And lo and behold, I win a triple smile. The trio is from Cologne. A man around 40, well-tanned, chin beard; a woman, similar age, freckled and sympathetic; the woman’s sister, blond plait that wiggles amusingly when she talks. Cheerful Rhineland folk who are up here for the first time, and rave about the romantic wilderness of the north every bit as much as about the WINSTONgolf courses. The husband says they’ve already played them all several times, you can’t tear yourself away from the course, and there’s still so much to discover in Mecklenburg. His wife adds that this is true, and fortunately she, who doesn’t play golf at all, has plenty of time to explore. Her sister, like me, loves variety. The tension of the game during the day and relaxation in the evening.

They have two rooms at Kaarz Castle. Each room has its own style there, and the sister would love to move into a different one every day. And the park with redwood trees – a dream.

Partner hotel Castle Kaarz with Sauna (Source: Stefan von Stengel)
Book your golf holiday at WINSTONgolf here

I tell the trio that I often forget time there at weekends, and that there’s a similarly beautiful place right next to the golf course: VORBECK MANOR, WINSTONgolf’s golfing hotel. With a fireplace in the foyer, the rippling river Warnow outside the window and a charming little café called HerzensGUT, which has the most delicious cakes just like my grandmother used to bake.

Golf hotel of WINSTONgolf (Source: Stefan von Stengel)

The woman with the freckles says she knows right away where she’s going tomorrow. Meanwhile, the man lets his gaze wander over the WINSTONopen course in the evening light, watching the last flights coming down the eighteenth hole, and seems to be working up an appetite for tomorrow.

The RESTAURANTkranichhaus: Meets my taste entirely

Dinner at WINSTONgolf at hole 18 of WINSTONopen (Source: Stefan von Stengel)

But for a moment, the delicious evening meal satisfies our appetite. Our table turns into a burger paradise: pulled beef with smoked bacon twice here, ground beef with bacon jam there, and black bean patty with cashew sauce over there. Simply delicious! The 3 Rhinelanders are also delightful, with their well-balanced holiday spirits. Talking about golf or putting the world to rights, we chat a while longer. I often meet people like that here. They simply make time stand still here, enjoy the moment and forget about tomorrow. Just like me. My everyday life seems far away, as if on another planet. Back to work the next day? Never mind. WINSTONgolf is not far away. And just in case, I always have my golf ball in my blazer.

Want to enjoy some time off at WINSTONgolf? Book now!

Categories
Ladies Tours

Jin Young Ko Record World No. 1

Jin Young Ko has been ranked No. 1 in the world for 159 weeks of her career (Photo: getty)
Jin Young Ko has been ranked No. 1 in the world for 159 weeks of her career (Photo: getty)

Following her tie for 20th at the 2023 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Jin Young Ko remains at No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings for the 159th week in her career. Ko has now outlasted Lorena Ochoa’s record of 158 weeks at Rolex Rankings No. 1, which Ochoa held consecutively from April 2007 to May 2010.

Ko has held the No. 1 position five different times since April 2019. With her sixth consecutive week since May 2023, she now sits on top of the record list ahead of notable names including Lydia Ko (125 weeks), Yani Tseng (109 weeks), Inbee Park (106 weeks) and Annika Sorenstam (61 weeks).

Player Weeks at No. 1
Jin Young Ko 159 weeks
Lorena Ochoa 158 weeks
Lydia Ko 125 weeks
Yani Tseng 109 weeks
Inbee Park 106 weeks
Annika Sorenstam 61 weeks
Nelly Korda 35 weeks
Stacy Lewis 25 weeks
Jiyai Shin 25 weeks
Shanshan Feng 23 weeks
Ariya Jutanugarn 23 weeks
Sung Hyun Park 20 weeks
So Yeon Ryu 19 weeks
Ai Miyazato 11 weeks
Cristie Kerr 5 weeks
Atthaya Thitikul 2 weeks

Jin Young Ko only one of five Koreans at the top of the world rankings

At 27 years old, Ko has the most career weeks at Rolex Rankings No. 1 by a player from the Republic of Korea. She is one of five Korean players to hold the No. 1 position, alongside Inbee Park (106 weeks), Jiyai Shin (25 weeks), Sung Hyun Park (20 weeks) and So Yeon Ryu (19 weeks).

“It’s an honor people saying with Lorena and me in the same sentence. It makes me happy, but also it makes me humble,” said Ko, who has had Ochoa’s long-time caddie Dave Brooker on her bag for most of her time at Rolex Rankings No. 1. “It’s great to honor, to stand with Lorena.”

In 2023, Ko has claimed victories at the HSBC Women’s World Championship and the Cognizant Founders Cup. In addition, she has four top-15 finishes this year, most recently at the inaugural Mizuho Americas Open, and represented the Republic of Korea in this year’s Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown.

She currently ranks third in greens in regulation (75%), fifth in scoring average (69.34) and sixth in birdies (140) on the LPGA Tour for the 2023 season. In addition to being the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No. 1, she also sits on top of the leaderboard in the Race to the CME Globe, an honor she previously won in 2020 and 2021.

Jin Young Ko’s achievements

A 15-time champion on the LPGA Tour, Ko has captured major titles at The Chevron Championship and Amundi Evian Championship in 2019. Just a year prior, she became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the 2018 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open in her first event as an LPGA Tour member. Before her career on the LPGA Tour, she won 10 times on the KLPGA Tour and won the LPGA Tour’s 2017 LPGA KEB-Hana Bank Championship as a non-member.

Ko won Rolex Player of the Year in honors in 2019 and 2021 and was the 2018 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year. In 2019, she won the Vare Trophy, which is given to the player with the season’s lowest scoring average. That same year, she also won the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, which is given to the player with the season’s best overall performance in major championships.

Categories
Equipment

Uneekor acquieres majority share in Evnroll Putters

Jey Suk (Uneekor CEO) and Guerin Rife (Picture: Uneekor)
Jey Suk (Uneekor CEO) and Guerin Rife (Picture: Uneekor)


Uneekor is delighted to announce the acquisition of a controlling interest in US-based premium putter brand Evnroll. The deal sees Creatz Inc., parent company to the South Korean golf technology company Uneekor, acquire a 70% share and controlling interest in Evnroll putters with immediate effect.

Uneekor and Evnroll at the highest level of game improvement

“We feel that Evnroll, as a 100% US milled and technology driven putter line, is a great fit for Uneekor’s precision analytics in the launch monitor space,” said Eddie Lee, chief sales andmarketing officer of Creatz Inc., “Together, Uneekor and Evnroll will represent the highest level of game improvement encompassing the full spectrum of performance-enhancing technology from tee to green.”


Evnroll Founder and Chief Designer, Guerin Rife, will retain a 30% shareholding and remain CEO, Chief Designer of the company going forward. “Our mission remains unchanged,” said Rife. “Evnroll was founded on delivering forward looking, real innovation and technology that enhances every aspect of putter design and performance.
Uneekor has the same vision for full swing analytics.”

Lots of simularities

“There is definitely an air of excitement around the place,” added Rife. “We’re excited for the futureand what this positive injection of resources and knowledge will do for both our businesses.” Evnroll Putters first came to the golfing world’s attention in 2016 with a range of stunning 100% US milled putters featuring Designer Guerin Rife’s ground-breaking, patented ‘SweetFace Technology’; an innovative and unique mill pattern engineered to deliver uniform performance across the entirehitting area of the putter face for unprecedented accuracy and zero dispersion.


Since then the brand has won a host of accolades, awards and elite tournaments across the globe on their way to becoming the second ranked brand in sales in the Korean putter market. Withcorporate offices in golf’s global heartland, Carlsbad, California, the acquisition will see Uneekor further expand its footprint in the US golf Market.

Optix technology from Uneekor

For more than 14 years, Uneekor has been developing and producing ground-breaking launch monitors, simulators, performance software, and accessories, passionately developed with unrivalled technologies by a team of top engineers.

Uneekor’s patented high-speed OPTIX infrared technology delivers the most advanced ball and clubhead data ever achieved. Together with their 16 million shots per day ball data they have generated a sophisticated algorithm that delivers precise unmatched ball and clubhead analytics for both indoor and outdoor fitting and practice. This technology combined with Evnroll’s expertise in fitting promise some exciting future advancements in the portable putting analysis market.

Written by Uneekor

Categories
Panorama

The 150th Open at St Andrews generates over £300 million in economic benefit

Spectator records at the 150th Open. (Photo: Getty)
Spectator records at the 150th Open. (Photo: Getty)

The historic Championship provided a total economic impact of £106 million to Scotland – new money entering the economy – according to the study conducted by Sheffield Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Centre (SIRC).

Independent research led by YouGov Sport also shows that £201 million of destination marketing benefit was delivered for Scotland, the Home of Golf, as a result of The 150th Open being broadcast worldwide through linear television and digital platforms.

The total economic benefit delivered last year is the highest in the history of the Championship.

Martin Slumbers is proud of the “world-class event”

Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, said, “The 150th Open was a historic occasion for golf which has generated a substantial economic benefit for Scotland thanks to a record-breaking attendance at St Andrews and tens of millions of fans worldwide who watched the Championship broadcast.

“We enjoyed a hugely memorable week in which we welcomed tens of thousands of visitors to the home of golf for perhaps the most eagerly anticipated Open of all time that certainly lived up to its billing. We would like to thank all of our partners for their support and commitment to staging a world-class event.”

Culture Minister Christina McKelvie said, “Scotland is the Home of Golf and this independent report confirms the significant benefit The 150th Open brought to our economy.

“The Scottish Government has a long-standing track record of supporting golf events, including direct support for the annual men’s and women’s Scottish Open. Last year was an unprecedented success for golf events in Scotland, headlined by The 150th Open at St Andrews.”

Spectator influx from all over the world

The 150th Open attracted a Championship record 290,000 fans to St Andrews, surpassing the previous high mark of 239,000 set at the same venue in 2000. The study concluded that Fife alone had received a £61 million injection of new money as tens of thousands of visitors travelled to the region to attend the Championship.

Over half of the spectators who attended The Open (62.3%) travelled from outside of Scotland, including visitors from elsewhere in the UK (31%), the United States of America (19.2%), Canada (2.6%) and Republic of Ireland (2.3%). Around 48% of spectators stated that this was their first visit to The Open and 76% of visitors from overseas were making their inaugural trip to the Championship.

More than half (52%) of all spectators expressed an intention to attend at least one of the next three editions of The Open being played at Royal Liverpool (2023), Royal Troon (2024) and Royal Portrush (2025).

Economic benefit for the entire region

Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events at VisitScotland, said, “2022 marked a momentous year for golf in Scotland with a number of the world’s biggest and most prestigious golf championships returning home to be played over an action packed five weeks. Hosting the historic 150th Open last year in St Andrews, a venue synonymous with the greatest names and most memorable moments in golf, once again underlines the quality, scale and capability which Scotland has when it comes to showcasing major events to both domestic and global audiences.

“Today’s impact figures emphasise the importance of the Championships to both Fife and Scotland, and to the wider post-pandemic recovery with the scale of benefits strengthening another significant chapter in Scotland’s rich golfing history.”

Councillor Altany Craik, Fife Council, said, “We were delighted to welcome record-breaking numbers of visitors to Fife in 2022 for The Open. The past three years have been a very difficult time for tourism, and this provided a very welcome boost to our accommodation providers, restaurants and other tourism-related businesses. The Open is an ideal way to showcase Fife to an international audience, many of whom are visiting for the first time, and I hope that the positive experiences they had mean that many will come back again either for golf or for a holiday. The economic benefit to the area is clear to see, and we congratulate The R&A and partners on hosting such a successful event.”

(Text: The R&A)

Categories
Amateur Tours

Rose Zhang sets new record as the world’s leading amateur golfer

Rose Zhang (USA) set a new record for most weeks spent on top of the Womens Amateur Golf Ranking. (Credit: R&A)

Rose Zhang of the United States of America today broke the record for the total number of weeks as the number one golfer in the women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).

Zhang has now spent 136 weeks as the world’s leading women’s amateur golfer, surpassing the record total of 135 weeks set by Leona Maguire of Ireland in 2018.

The 19-year-old ascended to the number one position in WAGR for the first time in September 2020 and has gone on to beat Lydia Ko’s record of 130 consecutive weeks by remaining at the top of the ranking ever since.

Rose Zhang: “It’s an unbelievable honour”

“It’s an unbelievable honour and a testament to a lot of hard work not just by me but by my team as well. Passing names like Lydia and Leona on any list is incredible; they’ve both gone on to have such impressive professional careers and are great role models in golf. I’m grateful for all the support I’ve received and look forward to continuing to pursue my dreams in this game.”

“I want to congratulate Rose on this amazing achievement,” said Leona Maguire. “It takes so much hard work and determination to become the world’s number one amateur golfer and to consistently hold that position for a record-breaking number of weeks shows just how good a golfer Rose really is. She is a future star of the game.”

Zhang was awarded the Mark H McCormack Medal in 2020, 2021 and 2022 as the world’s leading women’s amateur golfer, joining Maguire and Ko as the only three-time recipients of the accolade.

Notable wins in this time include the recently held Augusta National Women’s Amateur, the 2022 NCAA Championship and US Women’s Amateur two years ago. Last year, she also won the Smyth Salver as the leading amateur at the AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield, finished T-11 at the Chevron Championship in 2020 and qualified for the 2019 US Women’s Open as a 16-year-old.


Professor Steve Otto, Chief Technology Officer at The R&A, said, “We would like to congratulate Rose on this record-breaking achievement at the highest level of women’s amateur golf, as well as her recent success at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. She has consistently delivered outstanding results for some time now and continues to show why she is so highly regarded in the sport. We look forward to seeing her compete in the AIG Women’s Open once more at Walton Heath this year.”

“Rose continues to build upon an exceptional amateur career, and all of us at the USGA would like to congratulate her on this incredible record-breaking achievement,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer. “She has become a role model to so many young girls around the world and has consistently performed at the highest levels. We know this is only the start of what will be a long and impactful career in the game.”
(Press Release by R&A)

Categories
Travel

Sotogrande claims the top two spots in latest Spanish Top 100 rankings 

Sotogrande is still one of the best places to play golf in Spain. (Picture: Sotogrande)
Sotogrande is still one of the best places to play golf in Spain. (Picture: Sotogrande)

World-famous Real Club Valderrama, is once again rated as the best golf course in the country. The 1997 Ryder Cup venue, located in the upper side of Sotogrande, which will soon play host to another elite field as the new LIV Golf league event comes to Sotogrande in June, remains one of the most revered courses in Europe.

All the best in one place

Sotogrande’s oldest golf course, Real Club Sotogrande, moved to second place in the national rankings, underlining the quality of courses in the destination, which is arguably unrivalled across Europe when proximity is factored in. 

Golf in Sotogrande is further bolstered by the presence of La Reserva Club at number 13 in the rankings, and the 27-hole Almenara Golf Club – recently redeveloped by legendary local golfer, Manuel Piñero – also featured within the list.  

Rita Jordao, Director of Sales & Marketing at Sotogrande SA, commented: “The latest Spanish rankings position Sotogrande as unequivocally the best golf destination in Spain. The strength of golf across the country is renowned, so it’s all the more pleasing for the golf courses within Sotogrande to be rated at the top.  

Home of the Ryder Cup

“We are constantly investing in our properties at Sotogrande SA, and alongside the other clubs in Sotogrande (Valderrama and Real Club Sotogrande), we are committed to continually providing best-in-class facilities for our residents, members and visitors.” 

The golf courses in Sotogrande have between them hosted the Ryder Cup, World Golf Championships, European Tour (DP World Tour) events, and Ladies European Tour events – including the recent Aramco Team Series. Within just a few kilometres radius, there are four championship golf courses: Real Club Valderrama, Real Club Sotogrande, La Reserva Club, and Almenara Golf. 

60 Years of Sotogrande

In 2023 Sotogrande is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a plentiful calendar of events for its residents and visitors to enjoy, celebrating everything which is unique about the area and the amenities it offers. In addition to a 60´s party at La Reserva Club’s The Beach, Sotogrande Regatta will make its return with the Real Club Maritimo de Sotogrande.  

Moreover, the calendar will include outdoor cinema events and firework displays, as well as an exhibition polo match at Ayala Polo Club, and a golf tournament at La Reserva Club, with more events throughout the year in the planning stages.   

Various residentital offers

A key element of the Sotogrande lifestyle is its residential offering and the private communities situated within the confines of La Reserva. These communities are aimed at clients with varying budgets, from the most premium, The Seven (plot prices starting from €7,600,000), to Village Verde, a collection of luxury penthouses and apartments (prices starting from €750,000).   

The most recent development within La Reserva, Village Verde, which has launched its second phase for 2023, is comprised of 121 apartments that are nestled within six hectares of parkland, offering residents a unique sense of modern community. It also benefits from a plethora of amenities, including swimming pools, a gym, spa, jogging trails, and gardens – all of which are included in ownership packages.   

New five-star hotel

Sotogrande is home to an internationally acclaimed school. It also boasts a bustling Marina catering for its popular sailing community, and it has recently opened a brand-new five-star hotel. To find out more about the golf, residential, and lifestyle offering in Sotogrande, head online to https://sotogrande.com/.   

Written by Sotogrande

Categories
Highlights Tours Live

Augusta National Golf Club as a normal person: the good ones stay below 100

Normal golfers face some difficulties at Augusta National. (Photo: Getty)
Normal golfers face some difficulties at Augusta National. (Photo: Getty)

There are plenty of them, places of longing, with which the average golfer would like to measure himself. One of them surely being Augusta National Golf Club. Anyone who doesn’t have a “bucket list” in this regard, as it’s called, probably lacks the sense of dreamy longing. Many of these flags on the golf globe are certainly attainable – if the appropriate travel budget is available, no pandemic is currently grounding air traffic and blocking the joy of travel, one has a lucky hand in a starting time draw … And so on.

Experience before result?

For many, Augusta National, where the 87th Masters is currently being held, is probably high up on the leaderboard. So, assuming there was a chance for the once-in-a-lifetime pleasure of a round of the legendary course behind Magnolia Lane – and there is – how would “normal mortals” fare on the Major turf between hole 1, “Tea Olive,” and 18, “Holly”? Or would the result not matter anyway, because the experience outweighs everything?

Colleague Auf der Heyde and his birdie at the 16

That was the case for our colleague Peter Auf der Heyde. The South African, who has been reporting on-site from the Masters for Golf Post for many years, was one of the chosen few at the traditional “after-work” golf for media representatives in 2013 and was allowed onto the course of the Augusta National Golf Club on Monday after Adam Scott’s play-off triumph over Angel Cabrera.

“On the first hole,” Peter writes of that day of all days, “I felt like Scott [in the playoff] on the tenth.” And when the mid-handicapper shot birdie on “Redbud,” the par-3 16th, from the tournament tees moreover, “none of the world’s best golfers would have beaten me on that hole, because there was no hole-in-one in the four rounds.” By then, at the latest, the overall score was a minor matter anyway; even today, Auf der Heyde “merely” goes into raptures when asked about 2013. So it doesn’t help.

High 90 on a perfect day

Let’s perhaps quote the playing professionals instead of the writer. The answers are unanimously sobering. At “Golf.com” Jason Day once said in 2018: “Someone with a 15 handicap? If you’re in a really good mood, everything goes according to plan and the weather also plays along, then maybe a mid to high 90 is in there. But for that, everything really has to fit.” Of course: “Under tournament conditions, an average golfer will never crack 100 – no chance! Something between 100 and 105 would be possible, I would say. On a bad day, more like 110,” added Adam Hadwin at the time.

Incidentally, the worst Masters round by an active player “ever” was completed by US amateur Charlie Kunkle in 1956. The self-taught golfer needed 95 strokes for the par-72 layout on the final Sunday and finished the tournament with a total score of 340 (52 over par). By comparison, then-winner Jack Burke Jr. of Texas had a 289-stroke total.

“The breaks are huge”

Augusta National’s green complexes in particular are a brutal touchstone, their enormous undulations and false fronts, as well as the undulating surface contours, forming the true defensive bulwark of the vaunted terrain. “It’s mainly the chipping and putting that counts,” Nick Wright noted for Today’s Golfer. The 8.1 handicap journalist played Augusta two years ago and says, “The breaks on the greens are tremendous.”

On 16, where Peter Auf der Heyde had holed out from 40 centimeters to win the shot six years earlier, Wright aimed for a break of 1.2 meters and had to be corrected by the caddie: “Better aim for three meters!” The player did as instructed and felt he was “putting 90 degrees off the hole.” Nevertheless, the ball ran straight into the target with a clean curve – also for birdie.

Speed control is the key at Augusta National Golf Club

“The most difficult thing for mid handicappers is the uneven lies around and on the greens,” says equally Rickie Fowler, who would be playing his eleventh Masters this year, meanwhile has slipped to world number 95 and therefore has to watch. “Even if you play the ball ‘in regulation’ in the middle of the green, the par is by no means certain,” he said. “A good putt can still end up 1.5 to 1.8 meters from the hole – and then converting those is no fun at Augusta, and certainly not a given.” Speed control is key on the greens, he said, and three-putts should be more the norm for amateurs and already a success.

Hardly bad locations – but the bunkers…

For all that, the course itself, with its sweeping fairways, is “pretty benign from the members’ tees,” judges Nick Wright: “With a little precision, it’s easy to keep the ball in play. There are hardly any bad lies, even off the fairways, in the ‘second cut’ or even in the pine litter.” Dr. Alister MacKenzie, the mastermind behind the congenial creative duo with Bobby Jones, wasn’t big on rough; he wanted to see a weak shot punished not by ball loss or chopping, but by an awkward angle of play; that philosophy holds true to this day.

Moreover, the Scottish architect was stingy with bunkers for cost reasons, but the twelve in the fairways and the 32 around the greens are really something despite the innocent-looking white sand. Literally. The hazards are deep, and it is often difficult to see over the edge from the bottom of the fairway; it is not unusual for a sideways escape shot to be the better option.

The real genius of design

What impresses everyone who experiences Augusta National Golf Club is the ondulation and expansiveness of the terrain. On hole 10, for example, the tee is 34 meters above the green.

And although holes 1 and 18, 2 and 8, and 3 and 7 run almost parallel, it is almost a “day trip” to Amen Corner and the wonderful “Golden Bell” (hole 12) as the centerpiece.

You don’t have to favor Parkland golf to still state that the Masters course is a perfect course: full of beauty and tranquility, varied and strategic, spiced with “risk-and-reward” options, well dosed with water. “The most striking feature, however,” says Nick Wright in “Today’s Golfer,” “is the fact of offering golfers of any skill level the appropriate challenge. In this, in particular, the real genius of its design is revealed.”

Game with highest scores per hole

The 8.1 handicapper shot a fine 81 in his round – from the Members Tees; he found the course “manageable and well playable.” Nevertheless, the “bunkered” portal had the fun of extrapolating the worst possible round at Augusta National. For each hole, the highest score ever played in Masters history was picked out – Ernie Els’ 9 on hole one in 2016, for example, Henrik Stenson’s 8 on the fourth in 2011, Tom Weiskopf’s 13 on the 12th in 1980 or Sergio Garcia’s 13 on the 15th three years ago.

No matter on which hole, the “worst case” was everywhere at least 7 strokes, and in total a notional round score of 169 comes out. In words: one hundred and sixty-nine. 78 for the first nine, 91 for the second, 97 over par. At least to underplay that should be doable.

Categories
Equipment

Motocaddy introduces world’s first remote control GPS Trolley

The all new M7 GPS Motocaddy comes with a bunch of cool features. (photo: Motocaddy)
The all new M7 GPS Motocaddy comes with a bunch of cool features. (photo: Motocaddy)

Motocaddy, the world’s biggest-selling powered trolley brand, has introduced the game’s first remote-controlled electric trolley with touchscreen GPS, to offer golfers the ‘ultimate caddie’ experience by blending responsive control with performance enhancing features.

The revolutionary M7 GPS – part of the award-wining, compact-folding M-Series range – features a fully integrated, super-fast GPS system with accurate green visuals; front, middle and back distances; plus hazard information across more than 40,000 pre-loaded courses worldwide.

A bunch of new features

In another ground-breaking move, owners of the new M7 GPS qualify for a free 12-month trial of the exclusive cellular-powered Motocaddy Performance Plan. The no-obligation upgrade allows golfers to unlock a selection of stunning hi-tech game management features. These include access to full-hole mapping with the ability to move the target for ultimate shot planning; a detailed dynamic Green View showing the shape of the green and greenside hazards with drag and drop pin positions; score and statistic tracking; performance analysis through the free Motocaddy GPS App; real-time course updates to ensure access to the latest mapping; and notifications of software updates with ‘on-the-go’ downloads.

It also incorporates all the benefits of the award-winning M7 REMOTE, including rechargeable handset, removable anti-tip rear wheel and the brand’s cutting-edge Downhill Control technology. “The new M7 GPS delivers the ultimate caddie experience to give users an edge,” said
Motocaddy Marketing Director, Oliver Churcher. “It offers everything a golfer needs to transport their clubs around the course effortlessly, whilst providing pinpoint yardages and GPS mapping through its super-responsive touchscreen.

“The revolutionary electric trolley GPS technology pioneered by Motocaddy in 2017 has advanced a great deal in recent years. Today, our cellular-powered Performance Plan combines with the most responsive remote-control technology on the market to take the trolley experience to an exciting new level,” he added.

The M7 GPS includes a super responsive, crystal-clear 3.5” LCD touchscreen display usable in all weather conditions, even whilst wearing a glove. Other features include a clock and round timer, an indication of the par and handicap of each hole, shot distance measurement, automatic hole advancement, score tracking and a battery indicator.

When connected to the free Motocaddy GPS app, golfers can also receive a wide range of optional smartphone notifications direct to the screen – alerting them to a call, text message, email or range of app alerts, including WhatsApp and Facebook. A preview of message alerts can also be read on-screen.

A smartphone can be securely placed in a golf bag pocket and charged using the trolley’s patented USB charging port. In addition to the cellular and Bluetooth® capabilities, other connectivity features include super-fast Over‐the‐Air course and system updates via the built-in WiFi connection.

The pocket-sized-remote-control

The pocket-sized remote-control handset can move the trolley forward, left, right and in reverse, plus pause and resume. It can also switch instantly from remote to manual control mode and back again if the user wants to control it from the handle like a regular trolley via the speed button. In addition to including automatic Downhill Control technology, there is an
emergency stop and a handset lock function. The LCD touchscreen also includes an additional battery meter indicating the capacity of the handset.
Equipped with a wider wheel-base than standard M-Series models, the M7 GPS also boasts all terrain tyres for impressive handling across the course. Like all Motocaddy M-Series trolleys, it also folds down easily to a compact size for easy storage and transportation.

Powered by a next generation High Power 28.8V system, the M7 GPS has nine speed settings with speed indicator, plus a super-lightweight waterproof Lithium battery (IP66 water and dust rating) that can be charged without being removed. It also features Motocaddy’s exclusive EASILOCKTM bag-to-trolley connection system that removes the need for a lower bag strap.

The new M7 GPS electric trolley is available with ULTRA Lithium battery at an RRP of €1,799.

For more information about Motocaddy trolleys, plus other Motocaddy products including bags, batteries, rangefinders and accessories, please visit www.motocaddygolf.com or follow @MotocaddyGolf.

(Text: Motocaddy)