Author: Golf Post

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European Tour

Morikawa returns in search of more Desert glory

Collin Morikawa is excited for start of the DP World Tour Season 2022 (Photo: Getty Images)
Collin Morikawa is excited for start of the DP World Tour Season 2022 (Photo: Getty Images)

Morikawa’s first time at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Collin Morikawa makes his Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship debut at the opening Rolex Series event of the 2022 DP World Tour season this week, the American hoping to begin this campaign as he ended the last – with victory.

The 24-year-old’s maiden Rolex Series win at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai in November meant he became the first American to top the Tour’s Rankings.

As Morikawa returns to the Desert this week, the reigning Open Champion will be hoping to use his experience of links courses to master the coastal Yas Links Abu Dhabi – which hosts the prestigious event for the first time.

Two-time Abu Dhabi HSBC Champion Tommy Fleetwood, meanwhile, is relishing the challenge of a new venue and the Englishman will be hoping to return to winning ways at a tournament he loves, his last victory having come at the 2019 Nedbank Golf Challenge.

Morikawa is looking forward to the start of the DP World Tour 2022

Collin Morikawa: “Feels great (to be back on the DP World Tour). You know, I’ve been announced for a handful of months now as the Champion Golfer of the Year, but this is the first time someone brought that up of being the reigning Race to Dubai Champion, and there’s a lot of weight that’s on your shoulders right now.

“It’s a great weight to have and I want to come back as strong as ever. I want to start these first two weeks off on a real high note and hopefully come out with a couple trophies.

“There’s a lot that’s been going on, I’d say even since I’ve turned pro. It’s a very unusual two and a half years in professional golf, obviously with covid and a lot of other things in the world. “It’s just embracing being in the present, I think that’s the biggest thing, how do I enjoy the time wherever I am in the world, be with family, friends, whoever it maybe, and it’s just really fun. Just travelling to these place and meeting people.

“It’s a very good golf course. Coming from Kapalua where the fairways are about a hundred yards wide, this looks pretty narrow.”I think the conditions are going to prove tough. We’re going to have a lot of wind this week, a lot of different winds from what we are seeing on Monday and Tuesday compared to what the tournament is going to be. A lot of slopes in these greens, a lot of undulations and a lot of run-offs.”

Two-times champion Tommy Fleetwood: ready for the new venue

Tommy Fleetwood: “It’s going to be a completely different test. I think I’ve played this course once, maybe twice. But being honest, it was a friendly round, I remember very little about it.”The course is a different test. But I think you obviously draw on the fact I’ve had success in the area. First event of the year that it’s been for the last few years, and you never quite know what to expect. I always feel very aware that I haven’t played a tournament for a while and you feel rusty. “I think once you get going and once you get into, you start to pick up things about your game and you feel a lot more in the flow of things. I  just need to draw on all the good experiences I’ve had in this event, and take the next two days to learn about the course and start again.

“It’s got a lot of great players playing. I’ve been saying it for a while, no matter where you play now, the standard of golf now is so high, the margin for error is so small, and no matter where you are you’re not going to get away with playing mediocre, really. You have to turn up and give it some form of your best or highest level to compete with everyone out here. “So there’s not really any sort of easy weeks off time off, if you like. But that’s great. It’s great for the sport and it’s great for this event to have so many great players here, and I’m always excited to come back. I love playing over here. I love golf over here. I love how popular it is.”But I’ve had success here, so there’s a lot of good things going for me and for this week, and I’m just excited to get going.”

Text: DP World Tour

Categories
European Tour

European Tour to become the DP World Tour from 2022

The image (L-R) of Guy Kinnings, Deputy CEO European Tour group, Ryder Cup Director and Chief Commercial Officer, Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour group, David Williams, Chairman of the European Tour group, Yuvraj Narayan, Group Chief Financial, Strategy and Business Officer, DP World, Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World UAE, and Daniel van Otterdijk, Chief Communications Officer, DP World (Getty Images)

Press Release

The European Tour group and DP World today jointly announced a ground-breaking evolution to their long-term partnership, with DP World becoming the new title sponsor of the group’s main tour from the start of the 2022 season.

The agreement heralds a new era in the history of the European Tour group, which, along with DP World, will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2022, the first season of the newly named DP World Tour.

Today’s announcement represents a significant deal in terms of global sports partnerships, with DP World’s substantial commitment dedicated to three key areas: elevating the Tour in every way, growing the game of golf globally, and driving positive community impact.

The new look DP World Tour will see total prize money break through the $200 million mark for the first time, with a new minimum prize fund of $2 million for all tournaments solely sanctioned by the DP World Tour.

In 2022, the DP World Tour will represent a truly global tour through an international schedule, that will feature a minimum of 47 tournaments in 27 different countries, including new tournaments in the UAE, Japan, South Africa and Belgium and an expanded Rolex Series comprising five events: the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic, the Genesis Scottish Open, the BMW PGA Championship and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

3 tournaments will be co-sanctioned with the PGA

For the first time, it will also feature three tournaments co-sanctioned with the PGA TOUR – the aforementioned Genesis Scottish Open, as well as the Barbasol Championship and the Barracuda Championship taking place in the United States – as a result of the Strategic Alliance between male professional golf’s two leading Tours. To view the full 2022 schedule, please click here.

The European Tour and DP World were both established in 1972 and have since developed into global enterprises with DP World, which is headquartered in Dubai, evolving into the leading provider of global smart end-to-end supply chain and logistics solutions.

DP World’s association with the European Tour spans more than a decade, first becoming a presenting partner of the European Tour’s Race to Dubai finale at Jumeirah Golf Estates in its inaugural year in 2009, before the Rolex Series event was renamed the DP World Tour Championship in 2012. It was in this year that DP World became the tournament’s title partner.

DP World then became an Official Partner of the European Tour in 2015, and they will now become the Official Title Partner of the Tour from the start of the 2022 season, which begins with the Joburg Open in South Africa, from November 22-25.

A word from the Chief Executive

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour group, said: “Today’s announcement is undoubtedly a momentous one in the proud history of our Tour. The launch of the DP World Tour in 2022, coinciding with both of our 50th anniversaries, will herald a new era in global golf, and crucially it will benefit everybody involved – all our players, caddies, fans and partners – as well as making an important contribution to wider society.

“The entire ecosystem of our Tour will be strengthened because of this hugely significant deal, and that was essential to us and to DP World, who have been an incredible supporter of our Tour as well as golf more widely, from grassroots through to the elite professional game.

“The DP World Tour is, therefore, a natural evolution of our decade-long partnership, and the presence of ‘World’ in our new title better reflects our global reach.”

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said: “DP World has been a partner of the European Tour for over a decade. Our long-standing partnership has provided an excellent platform to engage with customers, prospects, and stakeholders, and build our brand. We have relished the opportunity to support the Tour in growing the game of golf and improving access to the sport at all levels. The key to this success has been and will continue to be the shared vision and values that underpin the partnership.

“We both have a global mindset, are committed to inclusivity, and invest in new technologies to stay competitive – attributes which today become the fundamental principles of the DP World Tour. As the leading provider of smart logistics solutions worldwide, we will use our people, assets, and connectivity to help grow the Tour further and change what’s possible in golf.”

The overwhelming support has made this happen

Jay Monahan, Commissioner of the PGA TOUR and Board Member of the European Tour, added; “Thanks to the support of long-standing partner DP World, today’s announcement significantly elevates the European Tour on a global basis. We are excited for the continued growth and evolution of the European Tour, as well as the momentum this provides toward our Strategic Alliance. I’ve said before that our respective Tours are positioned to grow – together – over the next 10 years faster than we ever have at any point in our existence, and today’s announcement is another point of proof in those efforts.”

Categories
Ladies European Tour

LET Tour: What do the girls earn after a tournament?

Lydia Ko of New Zealand (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

The Ladies European Tour was in Saudia Arabia last week where Lydia Ko took home the win with a five shot victory. She fired a final round of 65 to triumph by five shots at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund.

“When I was out there, I was just trying to play the best golf that I can. I knew a lot of the top names were playing really well and this is a golf course where there’s a fair amount of birdies, so I was just trying to have my fair share of them and have fun out there,” said Ko on the official LET website

Atthaya Thitkul came in second after a final round of 66 (-6). Despite the heat the ladies gave it their all for one of the last tournaments on this year’s tour. Check out below what each player earned for their winnings.

Position Player Earned money
1 Lydia Ko (NZL) 129,680.70 
2 Atthaya Thitikul (THA) 77,808.42 
3 Carlota Ciganda (ESP) 45,388.25 
T3 Alice Hewson (ENG) 45,388.25 
5 Olivia Cowan (GER) 28,962.03 
T5 Whitney Hillier (AUS) 28,962.03
7 Alison Lee 22,910.26
T7 Nuria Iturrioz (ESP) 22,910.26
9 Stephanie Kyriacou (AUS) 19,452.11
T9 Georgia Hall (ENG) 19,452.11
T9 Tvesa Malik (IND) 19,452.11
T9 Sanna Nuutinen (FIN) 19,452.11
13 Lindsey Weaver (USA) 16,426.22
T13 Linnea Strom (SWE)  16,426.22
T13 Aditi Ashok (IND) 16,426.22
16 Magdalena Simmermacher (ARG) 15,129.42
T17 Anna Nordqvist (SWE) 14,048.75
T17 Liz Young (ENG) 14,048.75
T17 Minjee Lee (AUS) 14,048.75
T17 Emily Kristine Pedersen (DEN) 14,048.75
T21 Kim Metraux (SUI) 12,795.16
22 Gabriella Cowley (ENG) 11,267.81
T22 Hannah Burke (ENG) 11,267.81
T22 Laura Davies (ENG) 11,267.81
T22 Nobuhle Dlamini (SWZ) 11,267.81
T22 Bronte Law (ENG) 11,267.81
T22 Pia Babnik (SLO) 11,267.81
28 Michele Thomson (SCO) 9,250.56
T28 Becky Brewerton(WAL) 9,250.56
T28 Caroline Hedwall(SWE) 9,250.56
31 Morgane Metraux (SUI) 7,910.52
T31 Manon De Roey (BEL) 7,910.52
T31 Chloe Williams (WAL) 7,910.52
T34 Johanna Gustavsson (SWE) 7,910.52
35 Lina Boqvist (SWE) 6,916.30
T35 Tiia Koivisto (FIN) 6,916.30
T35 Lee-Anne Pace (RSA) 6,916.30
38 Maiken Bing Paulsen (NOR) 6,267.90
T38 Cara Gainer (ENG) 6,267.90
40 Lejan Lewthwaite (RSA) 5,244.87
T40 Leonie Harm (GER) 5,244.87
T40 Laura Beveridge (SCO) 5,244.87
T40 Chiara Noja (GER) 5,244.87
T40 Becky Morgan 5,244.87
T40 Camille Chevalier (FRA) 5,244.87
46 Elia Folch (ESP) 4,257.85
T46 Nicole Garcia (RSA) 4,257.85
48 Ursula Wikstrom (FIN) 4,257.85
T48 Marianne Skarpnord (NOR) 4,257.85
50 Maha Haddioui (MAR) 3,803.97
T50 Carmen Alonso (ESP) 3,803.97
T50 Agathe Sauzon (FRA) 3,803.97
53 Manon Gidali (FRA) 3,342.88
T53 Noora Komulainen (FIN) 3,342.88
T53 Jessica Karlsson (SWE) 3,342.88
56 Luna Sobron Galmes (ESP) 2,896.21
T56 Emma Nilsson (SWE) 2,896.21
58 Emma Cabrera Bello (ESP) 2,766.52
59 Agathe Laisne (FRA) 2,680.07
60 Laura Gomez Ruiz (ESP) 2,593.61
61 Trish Johnson (ENG) 2,507.16
62 Harang Lee (ESP) 2,420.71
63 Amy Walsh (AUS) 2,334.25

Categories
European Challenge Tour

Gouveia remains composed on day two in Spain

GIRONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 20: Ricardo Gouveia of Portugal reacts after plays his second shot on the 9th hole during Day Two of Challenge Costa Brava at Emporda Golf Club on October 20, 2021 in Girona, Spain. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

The Challenge Tour is the second-tier men’s professional golf tour in Europe and is operated by the PGA European Tour. World ranking points are awarded for high finishes in Challenge Tour events. This week’s tournament is being played in Girona, Spain at the Empordà Golf Club.

Press release

Ricardo Gouveia posted a four under par round of 67 to open a two stroke lead before darkness halted round two of the Challenge Costa Brava.

The Portuguese got to ten under par at Empordà Golf with his closest challenger Frederic Lacroix of France reaching eight under par through 12 holes.

The 30-year-old  has  been in the winner’s circle twice this year at the Italian Challenge and the Made in Esbjerg Challenge – Presented by FREJA & TotalEnergies. After two solid first rounds in the second of two consecutive events on the same course, Gouveia is aiming to take his opportunities as he targets a sixth Challenge Tour victory.

Comments from Gouveia

“I played very well,” he said. “I finished yesterdays round this morning, played really solid, finished well yesterday and I just continued the good form from yesterday and yeah it’s really difficult out there, so I am happy with how I scored.

“The wind has been very steady this week from the same direction, and I started off well again this morning so to kind of have a small stop in between rounds was good and just to keep it going I was happy with the way I hit the ball as well.

“The course is the same and you know where not to hit the ball so yeah it really helps, and it was a new course last week so have four competitive rounds in it’s a really big help.

“It’s completely different conditions this week, the wind is from a different direction.

“I will do the same things and with this wind you just try and minimise the mistakes and take the opportunities when they come around and that’s the game plan for the rest of the tournament.”

Who else is up to par?

Chase Hanna of the United States and Norway’s Kristian Krogh Johannessen are a shot behind Lacroix of France at seven under par and will also complete their second rounds on Thursday.

Four-time European Tour winner Matteo Manassero and Björn Hellgren of Sweden both signed for one under par rounds of 70 to take fifth spot.

The second round of the Challenge Costa Brava was suspended due to darkness at 18:56pm local time and will resume at 8:50am on Thursday October 21, with round three not starting before 11:30am.

Press Release from European Tour Communications

Categories
European Challenge Tour

Dantorp ready for action at Challenge Costa Brava

GIRONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 17: Jens Dantorp of Sweden plays his tee shot on the 1st hole during Day Four of the Emporda Challenge at Emporda Golf Club on October 17, 2021 in Girona, Spain. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

Jens Dantorp is aiming to build on his recent good run of form as the 2021 Road to Mallorca arrives at its penultimate stop at the Challenge Costa Brava.

The Swede has finished inside the top 15 in six of his last seven European Challenge Tour starts, including a seventh place finish at last week’s Empordà Challenge, the first of back-to-back events at Empordà Golf.

Climbing the Road to Mallorca rankings

The 32-year-old is currently 28th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings, with only this week’s Challenge Costa Brava and the season-ending Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A left on the 2021 schedule, and Dantorp has a first victory since the Ras Al Khaimah, 2017 Golf Challenge in his sights – as well as a spot in that all-important top 20.

The Swede comments on his recent stellar performance

“The last part of the season has been pretty good for me,” he said. “It feels pretty good, I’ve been up there a few times but haven’t really got the job done. Hopefully I can get it done in at least one of the last two.

“My main goal this season was to finish inside the top 20, this is a good course and I know the course at the Grand Final is a good one as well so hopefully two good weeks are coming up, you know the game plan now so you just have to go out there and do it again.”

The 2013 Rolex Trophy winner has recorded nine top 20 finishes on the 2021 Road to Mallorca and believes this year it is all down to the fine margins having finished in 11th place on four separate occasions.

“I’ve wanted to be up there in the top five,” he said. “Overall, in terms of how I have played I feel pretty happy with that. There are small margins as to whether you’re in the top five or even 11th place, in which I have been four times this year, so hopefully I can have those margins on my side for the last two.

“I’m happy but not too happy. I’ll be happy if I am finishing in the top 20. If I get a win here obviously it’s going to help a lot, I can’t affect what the other people are doing, I just need to focus on getting my job done and hopefully that will be enough to win one of the two.”

Road to Mallorca Number Nine Marcel Schneider joins Dantorp in the field this week as he looks to cement his European Tour card for the 2022 season after recording two wins this year, while Frenchman Julien Brun, the winner of last week’s Empordà Challenge, will also tee it up at the Challenge Costa Brava.

The 2021 Challenge Costa Brava gets under way at 8:20am local time on Tuesday October 19, with Dantorp teeing it up at 8:50am alongside Spaniard Lucas Vacarisas and Nicolai Kristensen of Denmark.

Press Release from European Tour Communications

Categories
Europe Highlights Tours

San Domenico Golf to host Senior Italian Open

(C) Jacob Sjöman. [email protected]

Press Release

San Domenico Golf, located in the Puglia region of Italy, will provide the setting for the Sergio Melpignano Senior Italian Open from November 3-5, 2021.

San Domenico Golf

The South East Italy venue will welcome the Legends Tour for its final stop on European soil before the MCB Tour Championship – Mauritius in December, as the inaugural Legends Tour season edges towards its conclusion.

San Domenico Golf is rich in history and has previously hosted the prestigious Challenge Tour Grand Final between 2005 and 2012. The course will be a true test for many with carefully positioned fairways containing centenary olive trees and glimpses of the ancient city of Egnathia, combined with strategically designed bunkers.

Bringing first-class golf to Puglia

The event will be played as a legacy to the late Sergio Melpignano, the driving force behind the development of the resort and through his visionary entrepreneurship and determination he inspiringly lived his lifelong dream of bringing first-class golf to Puglia.

A strong field is set to compete for the title in Puglia, including Costantino Rocca, the five-time European Tour winner and two-time Legends Tour winner. Rocca was the first Italian to compete in the Ryder Cup in 1993 and will be joined at San Domenico by two-time winner of the event Clark Dennis, of the United States, and Senior Major Champions Stephen Dodd and Roger Chapman.

England’s Barry Lane will tee it up as defending champion after triumphing in the most recent edition of the event in 2019 when he defeated Frenchman Marc Farry in a play-off, while 2005 U.S. Open Champion Michael Campbell will also travel to San Domenico.

Additionally, three-time European Tour winner Anders Hansen will make his Legends Tour debut at the Sergio Melpignano Senior Italian Open after turning 50 in 2020.

Legends Tour Chief Executive comments

Phil Harrison, Chief Executive of the Legends Tour, said: “San Domenico Golf is a truly stunning venue and fits perfectly with our ethos of visiting world class destinations and showcasing them to the world.

“We are all looking forward to visiting Puglia next month as we bring the European leg of our season to an end.”

The Senior Italian Open will take place with the support of DS Automobiles, Fideuram, Kappa and Eureco, Corriere dello Sport, Tuttosport, Il Giornale and Infront. Sport Senza Frontiere Onlus has also been integral in carrying out the goal of social inclusion through golf in Italy.

Press Release from the European Tour Communications

Categories
Travel

Verdura Resort Unveils New-Look East Course reopens with a master redesign.

Verdura East Course, in Sicily, Italy

One of Europe’s top golfing destinations, Verdura Resort in Sicily, has returned to 45 holes with the reopening of the spectacular new-look East Course following a major redesign.

Globally acclaimed golf architect Kyle Phillips returned to the site of his original creation to upgrade the 18-hole championship layout and has spent the last three years reworking his magic at Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte Hotel. The much-anticipated revamped course was unveiled to the golfing world earlier this month.

The premium layout to all visitors

The extensive renovation has seen a number of new features added and modifications made to the routing of the East Course and the neighbouring West Course. The reordering of hole numbers has allowed for the restoration of former favourite holes and brings exciting new additions, while the planting of fescue grasses throughout the course gives the layout added definition.

Phillips said: “We have certainly made the most of the terrain available to us. The drama of the coastline has been improved and we’re proud of what has been achieved. It is new and fresh, the result is great and I think it will be really well received. It has definitely reached the level we were striving for.

“One of the big differences is with the routing. With the previous layout, you would cross the other course and they would weave through each other a little at times. Now they are more clearly defined.

“The course now starts near the practice range on an existing hole, has 14 new holes in between and then finishes on three existing holes back to the clubhouse. This will make the East Course a par-73 course and the West a par-70.

“They will both be good challenges. Naturally, with any new course, it takes time to take shape and we’re expecting it to continually improve throughout the winter months so that golfers will enjoy even better playing conditions in 2022.”

How the new East Course brings joy to the community.

The reopening of the new East Course adds to the extensive selection of exceptional facilities available at Verdura Resort. Home of the European Tour’s Rocco Forte Sicilian Open, Verdura is nestled in 230 hectares of stunning Mediterranean landscape on Sicily’s southern coast. The courses and facilities combined have established Verdura as one of the world’s elite golf and lifestyle destinations.

A member of the exclusive European Tour Destinations network, the resort is famous for offering guests an unforgettable five-star golf experience in one of the most beautiful settings in world. Verdura Resort was recently named as a recipient of Golf Digest magazine’s coveted ‘2021 Editors’ Choice Award for the Best Resorts in Continental Europe’ for the sixth successive year.

Press Release by The Azalea Gropu

Categories
European Tour Ladies European Tour PGA Tour PGA Tour Champions

Weekly Previews: Scouting the Scandinavian Stars

Anna Nordqvist will tee it off in New York this week. (Foto: Getty)

PGA TOUR: The CJ Cup at Summit

The top 60 available players from the 2019-20 final FedExCup Points list will be playing this week on the tour. The Scandinavian players to play at the PGA Tour event include, Alex Noren (Sweden) teeing off at 16:32(CET), Viktor Hovland (Norway) teeing off at 21:06(CET), and Rasmus Hojgaard (Danemark) teeing off at 21:18(CET).

PGA Tour CJ Cup at Summit
Course The Summit Club, Las Vegas, Nevada (USA)
Prize Money 9.8 Mio US-Dollar (8.4 Mio EUR)
Defending Champion Jason Kokrak (USA)
Scandinvian  players Viktor Hovland, Alex Noren, Rasmus Hojgaard
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 12: A scenic view of the 1st hole during a practice round prior to THE CJ CUP @ SUMMIT at The Summit Club on October 12, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images for CJ Cup @ Summit)

European Tour: Andalucía Masters

The Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters is being played in Sotogrande, Spain at the Real Club Valderrama. The tournament starts on Thursday, October 14th and ends on Sunday, October 17th 2021. The Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters is part of the European Tour season 2021. In 2021 all players competing for a total prize money of 3 Mio. EUR. The course for the tournament at Real Club Valderrama plays at Par 71. Scandinavian highlights are Jeff Winther (Danemark) who will start the day off at 8:40am. Next up to tee off in the morning is Alexander Björk from Sweden. He currently only holds one European tour win so maybe he can score another at this tournament.

PGA Tour Andalucía Masters
Course Real Club Valderrama (Spain)
Prize Money 3 Million EUR
Defending Champion John Catlin
Scandinvian  players Jeff Winther, Alexander Björk, Nicolai Hojgaard
CADIZ, SPAIN – OCTOBER 13: Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark plays in the pro am ahead of The Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters at Real Club Valderrama on October 13, 2021 in Cadiz, Spain. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Ladies European Tour: Aramco Team Series

Across the Atlantic the Ladies European Tour is competing in New York after a week off from playing. Glen Oaks Club plays host to the event and with a stellar field assembled. Marianne Skarpnord from Norway, who secured her fifth LET win at Centurion Club is ready to proudly represent the ladies Scandinavian golf skills. Sollheim Cup star Anna Nordqvist (Sweden) will also be playing this week.

EU Ladies Tour Aramco Team Series
Course The Glen Oaks Club, New York (USA)
Prize Money 800,000 USD (692,076 EUR)
Defending Champion /
Scandinvian  players Krista Bakker, Nicole Broch Estrup, Anna Nordqvist, Lina Boqvist, Maja Stark,Emily Kristine Pedersen
 
 
 
 
 
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Champions Tour: SAS Championship 2021

The SAS Championship is being played in Cary, North Carolina at the Prestonwood CC. The tournament starts on Friday, the 15th of October and ends on Sunday, the 17th of October 2021. The SAS Championship is part of the Champions Tour in the season 2021. In 2021 all players competing for a total prize money of 2,1 Mio. US-Dollar. The course for the tournament at Prestonwood CC plays at Par 72. Robert Karlsson will be the only Scandinavian player representing Sweden on the course. He and Henrik Stenson hold the record for most European Tour wins by a player from Sweden, with 11. Last week he landed T31 at the Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS event with 3 under par.

PGA Tour CJ Cup at Summit
Course Prestonwood Country Club Cary, North Carolina (USA)
Prize Money 2.1 Mio US-Dollar (1.8 Mio EUR)
Defending Champion Ernie Els (South Africa)
Scandinvian  players Robert Karlsson
Categories
Highlights Tours

Legends Tour Announces The JCB Championship for 2022

(Photo: Venue)

The Legends Tour, formerly known as the European Senior Tour and most recently the Staysure Tour, is the men’s professional golf Tour for members aged 50 and older. Five years after the first edition of The Senior Open, won by Neil Coles in 1987, more than 60 professionals called for a formally-structured Tour, which was then created in 1992. Many of the pioneering champions who played on the European Tour during the 1970s, 80s and 90s make up the Legends Tour’s active membership.

JCB Championship for 2022

JCB’s Golf and Country Club is set to realise its vision as a major international tour destination when the English venue hosts The JCB Championship on the Legends Tour International Schedule from July 29-31, 2022.

Some of the biggest names in the sport will descend on the course for a star-studded competition at the prestigious Staffordshire club – the brainchild of JCB Chairman Lord Bamford.

The event will take place in the week after The Senior Open at Gleneagles and will offer a prize fund of €600,000. The JCB Championship will be hosted by Ryder Cup and European Tour legend Darren Clarke and profits will be donated to JCB’s NSPCC Platinum Jubilee Appeal.

Anthony Bamford, Chairman of JCB, said: “When JCB set out to create a world class golf and country club, it was always our ambition to attract an international tour event, so it really is wonderful news that the course has been selected to host such a prominent competition.”

The Chief Executive is thrilled with the news,

Graeme Macdonald, Chief Executive Officer of JCB, added: “The JCB Golf and Country Club has already successfully hosted the Rose Ladies Series tournament and our inclusion in the Legends Tour’s international schedule really is the next step in fully realising our aspirations for the course. We are thrilled by the news.”

Darren Clarke, the 2011 Open Champion, said: “I’m extremely proud to be hosting The JCB Championship. Knowing JCB as a company and having been fortunate enough to visit JCB’s Golf and Country Club, you can be certain that this will be a fantastic event and I’m very much looking forward to it.”

Spanning 240 acres of rolling countryside, the JCB Golf and Country Club has been hailed as a masterpiece in contemporary course design since it opened in 2018. It was designed and built using industry-leading technology to create aesthetically appealing tee shots, wide, sweeping fairways and interesting, yet fun, green complexes.

Phil Harrison, Chief Executive of the Legends Tour, said: “We are thrilled to have secured the first international event to be held at JCB Golf and Country Club. It is truly a world-class venue, and this is an opportunity for us to help showcase it to the world.

“We are thankful to the venue, as well as Chubby Chandler and International Sports Management (ISM), for their help in bringing this event to fruition and we are looking forward to working alongside them in the coming months.”

This course has hosted many famous tournaments before

ISM has a rich history of promoting tournaments and past events include the British Masters, Turkish Airlines Open and the Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open.

ISM Chief Executive Officer Chubby Chandler said: “As a member of The JCB Golf and Country Club I’m very proud that ISM is involved in what is sure to be a memorable tournament. Darren is also excited to be involved and is sure to bring a few friends to the JCB Championship with him. We have some great plans for the tournament and, befitting JCB and its incredible venue, we’re looking forward to helping produce something unique and very special.”

The JCB Championship will take place from July 29-31, 2022. The full 2022 Legends Tour International Schedule will be revealed later this year.

Press Release from European Tour Communications

Categories
European Tour

The European Tour 2022: Ras Al Khaimah Championship

Image of Al Hamra Golf Club's third hole (Photo: Getty Images)
  • Tournament will be part of the European Tour’s ground-breaking five-week ‘Middle East Swing’
  • Inaugural tournament will be played at Al Hamra Golf Club from February 3-6
  • European Challenge Tour previously visited the Emirate from 2016-2018

Press Release 
 
The European Tour will visit Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates for the first time in 2022 when the inaugural Ras Al Khaimah Championship presented by Phoenix Capital is played at Al Hamra Golf Club from 3rd – 6th February.
 
The $2million tournament will be the third of five consecutive events in the Tour’s ground-breaking early season ‘Middle East Swing’, following back-to-back Rolex Series events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and preceding the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and one other tournament in the region which will be announced in due course.
 
Al Hamra Golf Club previously hosted the European Challenge Tour over three consecutive years from 2016 – 2018. It was initially the venue for the Ras Al Khaimah Golf Challenge in 2016 and 2017, before hosting the Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final as the final stop on the Road to Ras Al Khaimah in 2018.
 
During the Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final, Spaniard Adri Arnaus finished one shot clear of France’s Victor Perez, with the pair ending the season in second and third position on the 2018 Challenge Tour Rankings behind Denmark’s Joachim B. Hansen. All three players are now firmly established on the European Tour.
 
Keith Pelley, the European Tour’s Chief Executive, said: “For decades the Middle East has been a hugely important region for the European Tour and today’s announcement further illustrates that. We are delighted to take our Tour to a new Emirate, Ras Al Khaimah, for the first time.
 
“Our traditional spell in the Middle East at the start of each calendar year is always very popular and these five consecutive events in early 2022 will provide fantastic playing opportunities for our entire membership.
 
“I would like to thank our presenting partner Phoenix Capital and their Chairman Abdullah Al Naboodah for his personal vision and commitment; the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority for their support of this new tournament, as well as everyone at the Al Hamra Golf Club. All our staff who worked on our Challenge Tour events there have told us what a special venue it is, and we look forward to enjoying the unique Ras Al Khaimah hospitality next February.”
 
Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said: “We are honoured to host the inaugural Ras Al Khaimah Championship presented by Phoenix Capital at the prestigious Al Hamra Golf Club and showcase our nature-based Emirate to players and spectators.
 
“Building on our impressive credentials in staging global sporting events, this prestigious tournament is the latest addition to Ras Al Khaimah’s ever-growing golfing portfolio, further highlighting its growing popularity as a leading lifestyle and sporting destination in the Gulf region.”
 
Abdullah Al Naboodah, Chairman of investment company Phoenix Capital, said. “I’m delighted to support this new European Tour event in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. Golf in the UAE and the European Tour is dear to the Al Naboodah businesses having supported the Dubai Desert Classic and Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in past years.
 
“Indeed, our company built the Emirates Golf Club which opened in 1988, the first grass golf course in the Middle East. This will be a great event, sitting in a run of tournaments along with Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It is a terrific showcase for global golfers to visit the UAE and the Middle East as a whole.”
 
Benoy Kurien, Group CEO of Al Hamra, owner of Al Hamra Golf Club, said. “We are delighted to partner with the European Tour, RAKTDA and Phoenix Capital to bring the first European Tour event to Ras Al Khaimah and the Northern Emirates. This partnership strengthens Ras Al Khaimah’s strategy to attract global events to the Emirate and showcase the unique offering to current and potential visitors.
 
“Located within a largescale integrated tourism destination with picturesque views of the Arabian Gulf and the Hajjar Mountains, Al Hamra Golf Club is the ideal setting for this world-class event. We look forward to hosting this tournament and showcasing Ras Al Khaimah to the global audience of the European Tour.”
 
The European Tour will conclude its 2021 season with a fortnight in the UAE next month, with the AVIV Dubai Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates Fire course (November 11-14) followed by the final Rolex Series event of the year, the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, on the venue’s Earth course (November 18-21).