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Halmstad Golf Club confirmed as 2022 Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik and Annika venue

Skyview of Halmstad Golf Club, located in Tylösand

Date: Friday September 17, 2021

The innovative event, co-sanctioned by the European Tour and Ladies European Tour, features a field of 78 men and 78 women playing for one prize fund and one trophy. Earlier this year, Northern Ireland’s Jonathan Caldwell triumphed in the inaugural edition hosted at Vallda Golf and Country Club near Gothenburg.

The famous North Course at Halmstad, located in Tylösand, previously provided the backdrop for the 2007 Solheim Cup, where tournament host Annika Sörenstam contributed 2.5 points for Team Europe.

Designed by Rafael Sundblom, the father of Swedish golf course architecture, it was given the seal of approval from the Swedish Golf Federation in May of 1938 and was officially opened for play in September of the same year.

First time for Halmstad Golf Club to host an European Tour event, but not a bit unprepared.
It is the first time that Halmstad will host the European Tour, but over the years it has staged events on the European Challenge Tour and Ladies European Tour, most recently welcoming amateur golfers for the ANNIKA Invitational Europe in 2017.

“I’m excited for the next edition of the Scandinavian Mixed and to be playing at Halmstad Golf Club, a course that hosted the Solheim Cup and the ANNIKA Invitational Europe a few years ago. I know it will be a great week for everyone involved,” said Sörenstam.

“Bringing women and men together in a combined professional tournament was a huge success and we learned a lot from the event this year. Henrik and I want to bring our game to the younger generation in Sweden and we can’t wait to have fans back next year to enjoy the special atmosphere.”

Henrik Stenson, an 11-time European Tour winner, added: “It’s great that we are able to take the Scandinavian Mixed to Halmstad next summer. I have played some junior events at the course but never at this level, and I think it will be an excellent host venue for the European Tour and Ladies European Tour, both in terms of golf course and the whole setup within the region.

“It was a lot of fun to host the tournament with Annika earlier this year but the only thing missing for us was the crowds not being able to attend. We are both looking forward to welcoming back the Swedish fans next year for an even bigger and better event.

“We are in it for the long run and our hope is that through the Scandinavian Mixed, Annika and I can help inspire the next generation of golfers in Sweden and around the world. Our game is inclusive in so many ways and this tournament continues to highlight that fact on a global stage.”

Jonas Bergman, Mayor of Halmstad, said: “When the opportunity arose for Halmstad to host the 2022 edition of the Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik and Annika, we could only see benefits of being involved with this new concept.

“The ongoing pandemic has made a stamp on our society and the way we live, but to our great joy, golf has still been practised and has grown even stronger in Sweden and on an international level.

The mixed format of this event brings different groups together in our society, with various ages and a focus on inclusion and equality, all of which we are proud to be associated with moving forward.”

European Tour Communications

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European Tour PGA Tour

Who has better club golfers? Europe or America?

Edinburgh, United Kingdom – 15/9/21 – Shot Scope, the industry-leader in advanced GPS and automatic shot tracking technology, has announced some exclusive statistics comparing the ability of European and American club golfers, ahead of the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits.

In true Ryder Cup fashion, Shot Scope compared European and American golfers in a 12 v 12 ‘Sunday singles’ style event. Each match featured a different performance statistic designed to set apart the ability of golfers from either side of the Atlantic. After all 12 matches concluded, the score was tied, with the USA eventually taking the title of the ‘best club golfers’ in a playoff decided by number of total hole outs.

The data for this project was taken from 1,000 European and 1,000 American Shot Scope users. In 2020 these groups of golfers totalled the exact same score to par – this ensured that the playing field was totally level for this match.

The data highlighted that European Shot Scope users play golf more often, with an average of 5.76 rounds per month, versus 4.28 rounds played by US golfers each month. European’s also played a greater variety of courses, playing an average of 2.84 different courses per month compared to 2.36 played by US golfers. However, the data identified that US golfers tend to play on longer courses, with an average length of 6,239 yards, compared to the slightly shorter 6,176-yard average in Europe.

While the results show that Team Europe were clearly on top when it came to average score, Team USA dominated both off the tee and on the greens to clinch the overall victory. Some of the results in this list come with context, for example, Team USA took the point in the ‘Driving distance’ category by a comfortable six yards on average, which could perhaps be down to higher average temperatures. Team USA also picked up the points on the greens, which may be testament to the more consistent putting surfaces they enjoy year-round.

Shot Scope have now tracked in excess of 100 million golf shots around the world. From that data set, they have determined that golfers miss the green short 46% of the time, however both Team Europe and Team USA surpassed that total in this study, with 51% and 49%, respectively.

The percentage of fairways hit was also a tightly contested match, with the USA taking it by just 2.7%. This is a common theme with golfers around the world, as Shot Scope have confirmed that across all ability levels, the smallest difference in performance is on fairway hit accuracy.

Shot Scope’s pioneering performance tracking technology has the ability to help any golfer improve, with the average Shot Scope user improving their handicap by 2.7 shots. The company’s performance tracking V3 watch also boasts ultra-accurate GPS technology as well as ClubSense and PinCollect technologies that automatically detect shots and putts on the course.

V3 users have unlimited access to Tour-quality performance statistics with the touch of a button. More than 100 different analytics can be reviewed via the Shot Scope V3 mobile app or Shot Scope’s online dashboard on different clubs, tee shots, approaches, short game and putting.

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European Tour

McDowell excited for Dutch Open return

KLM-previews-2021
Graeme McDowell (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Tournament Preview

Major Champion Graeme McDowell will tee it up at the Dutch Open for the first time in 17 years when Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt plays host to the 101st edition of the prestigious tournament.

The Northern Irishman took two months off to recuperate from a forearm injury over the summer, returning to action last week at the BMW PGA Championship to finish tied 49th, and while the 11-time European Tour winner admits he has one eye on his vice captaincy role for Team Europe at the Ryder Cup in Whistling Straits next week, the key focus remains on his own game this week.

Joost Luiten is thrilled to be back at his national open after the event was cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Fans will be out in force to cheer on the 35-year-old as he attempts to claim a third victory on home soil having previously won the event in 2013 and 2016.

The six-time European Tour winner regularly practices at Bernardus Golf alongside another former winner of the Dutch Open in Thomas Pieters, who routinely makes the journey from Belgium to make use of the world class facilities on offer to the players.

The Belgian recorded his second top ten of the year last week and is currently 69th in the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex, and will be hoping for a strong finish to his season to make sure he will tee it up at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Player Quotes

Graeme McDowell: “I had to pull up the European Tour website to find out the last time I was here for the Dutch Open and it was 2004, so here we are 17 years later, so delighted to be here first and foremost but when I saw the facilities here at Bernardus, it’s probably one of the best practice facilities that we ever see. The chipping areas, the putting greens, and the range is all five star.

“The golf course here is designed by Kyle Phillips, who did Kingsbarns, he has done a spectacular job here. Like I say, delighted to get here and be rewarded with the commitment to come with an amazing golf course, and I am here to compete this week so looking forward to being part of this tournament.

“I was happy the way I felt on the golf course. I felt healthy and I felt very motivated and excited to be back on the course. The BMW PGA was a great week, the golf course was in magnificent shape, the weather behaved itself and it was great to see people back out there supporting us. For me, it was off the back of a couple months off where I was rehabbing a forearm injury that I had and it is always tough to sit out the middle of the summer when there is so much going on but I felt like it was a commitment for the next five to ten years of my career, where I need to stay healthy. It is more about the mental side of things now for me going into my 40s, I need to be there in the right frame of mind to compete and those couple of months helped me.

“I had my watch on yesterday when I was playing my practice rounds and it kept blowing up, buzzing, text messages coming in. Now that we have the 12 players set it’s exciting to start working on the chemistry, working on the pairings, and our strategies for what we want to do Friday, Saturday, into the weekend, so it’s exciting.

“You know I wish I was playing, but the next best thing is to be part of that captaincy backroom staff and I’m excited to jump on the plane Monday morning with the guys. You get that European logo on your chest, it’s just a special thing and something I have great memories off, so I am really excited for Whistling Straits. It would be nice to play well here this weekend and then take my competitive golfer hat off and put my vice captains hat on, to go do the best job I can for Team Europe.”

Joost Luiten: “It was a shame to miss it, but we all know what the situation was in the world. I think last year was probably a good decision not to have it because if we couldn’t have any spectators, why would we have the tournament. At the end of the day, those people make the event, and it is good to see them back in some decent numbers this week.

“I have been playing some solid golf, it’s not been special but sometimes you can just feel like it is coming and at the end of the day it is all about giving yourself chances and that is what I have been doing, and now I need to start taking some of those chances. I know what I can do in this event, I love playing in front of my home crowd and I love the golf course, so it will be a good week and hopefully we can do what we have done in the past and be there on Sunday.

“I think for me because I have won it, there is no pressure for me to show that I can do it. I have done it twice, so it takes off the pressure if you have won it in the past.

“I practice here a lot, it is one of the best practice facilities we have in Holland, so a lot of the top players – even the Belgian players Thomas Detry and Thomas Pieters – and I think that will tell you how good this golf course is. It is a great design, it is in great shape and hopefully we have a great week.”

Thomas Pieters: “Bernardus does feel like a home away from home. They have welcomed me ever since I first started coming here two years ago and have been happy for me to practice here and use the facilities which is nice. The course is amazing, so I am really excited to see what they do with everything this week.

“All the Dutch pros play here and you can see why. The facilities are amazing, the condition of the course is always good and I don’t really have anything like it in Belgium, so I make the trip over all the time.

“I do feel like I am getting very close with my game and just having the mentality of wanting to play good golf, so I am excited to tee it up this week with my friends and family here to watch.”

Press Release from the European Tour Communications

Categories
European Tour

HENRIK STENSON NAMED AS EUROPEAN VICE CAPTAIN FOR THE 2020 RYDER CUP

Henrik-stenson-ryder-cup-vice-captain
Henrik Stenson (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

European Captain Pádraig Harrington has announced that Henrik Stenson will be the fifth and final Vice Captain for Team Europe in the 2020 Ryder Cup, which gets underway at Whistling Straits next Friday.
 
The 2016 Open Champion will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to Harrington’s backroom team in Wisconsin having played in five of the biennial contests against the United States (2006, 2008, 2014, 2016 and 2018); being on the winning side on three of those five occasions.
 
During that time, the two-time European Tour Number One amassed 11 points for Europe from 19 matches, including a 100% record of three wins out of three during his last outing at Le Golf National in 2018 where he rounded out his perfect week with a 5&4 singles victory over Bubba Watson. He also secured the winning point for Europe on his debut at The K Club, in Ireland, in 2006 where he beat Vaughn Taylor 4&3.
 
It will be Stenson’s first stint as Vice Captain and the 45 year old Swede will join his compatriot Robert Karlsson, Englishman Luke Donald, Germany’s Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland in the role. Between them the quintet boasts the experience of 19 Ryder Cups for Europe and 40 points scored.
 

Stenson comments on his new position


Stenson said: “It’s a great honour to get the call and to be involved with Team Europe. I’ve been part of five Ryder Cup teams in the past and to be given the opportunity as a Vice Captain to help Europe’s quest to retain the Ryder Cup is exciting.
 
“Pádraig called me on Monday morning and it was not a long conversation. I accepted straight away and I assured him that myself, along with the other Vice Captains, are there to help and assist him and the team in any way we can.
 
“We have a very strong team. It’s a mix of huge experience along with three guys who will take on their first Ryder Cup – and that’s a great combination. We have strength in depth so I’m looking forward to getting out there and seeing the boys perform.
 
“It’s no secret that winning on away soil is always a little bit harder, but the boys are ready for that challenge. It’s all going to come down to how well we play during the week but I have every faith in our team.”
 
Pádraig Harrington, European Ryder Cup Captain, said: “I am delighted to add Henrik Stenson to our backroom team as a Vice Captain. Following on from Sunday when the 12 players were confirmed, we now have Team Europe complete and I could not be happier.
 
“Henrik will bring so much to the week in all aspects both on and off the course. His playing record speaks for itself and he has the full respect and confidence of all the players. He knows what it takes to win a Ryder Cup and that experience and knowledge will be crucial for us.
 
“Everyone is aware that the Ryder Cup can be a tense week at times too so Henrik’s renowned wit and sense of fun will benefit our team room immensely. It will also be helpful to have the cool head of the ‘Ice Man’ around should any stressful situation emerge.”
 

It is almost Ryder Cup time

The 43rd Ryder Cup will be played at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin from September 24-26 where Europe will aim to retain the trophy they won 17 ½ – 10 ½ at Le Golf National in France in 2018.

Press Release from the European Tour Communications

Categories
Europe Travel

The World’s First International Olympic Academy Course with José María Olazábal

A Ryder Cup legend and captain of the victorious European team that won in such memorable fashion at Medinah in 2012, José María Olazábal has written his name into Ryder Cup folklore with his achievements over the last four decades.

Now a successful golf-course designer, the two-time Masters champion will unveil the first of two new 18-hole courses that he has created at Navarino Hills in Costa Navarino, Greece, this November with the launch of the world’s first International Olympic Academy Course.

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Here we have an exclusive interview with Olazábal discussing the Navarino Hills project and where his inspiration came from.

Q: When and how did your involvement in the Navarino Hills project come about?
José: I first came to Costa Navarino around six years ago when they were looking for a designer for the two new courses planned at Navarino Hills. My team and I all absolutely love the region here and we put in our very best effort to win the design job. Obviously, we were very happy when Achilles Constantakopoulos (chairman of Temes, the developers of Costa Navarino) chose us and we are working hard to repay his trust. 

Q: What were your impressions when you first saw the site?
José: Simply WOW. The property is spectacular, the views are breathtaking and the characteristics of the site are wonderful for golf. It surely ranks among the most beautiful properties we ever got the chance to work on. 

Q: What makes the landscape at Navarino Hills and Costa Navarino’s approach to developing golf courses so special?
José: The views are absolutely stunning, not just across the historic Bay of Navarino but also towards the mountains in the background. This sets the tone for the whole site and gives it a very strong character amidst the garrigue vegetation which is typical for the Mediterranean. Costa Navarino has found an absolute jewel with this property and they are trying to develop it sensibly with great focus on protecting the environment. I am delighted with their approach and we are trying to use all the latest modern techniques to contribute our share to the sustainability goals.

Q: Where did your inspiration for each course come from and have you tried to include any elements of your favourite courses in the world?
José: Well, I am privileged and have got to play many of the great golf courses around the world. Courses like Augusta, the Old Course, Valderrama, Loch Lomond and many others certainly leave an impression on you and influence you. I am a fan of the classics and am probably more of a traditionalist but, for the new designs we have undertaken, it is the land itself that gives you the inspiration. What is important is how the property sits in its surroundings, what features stands out and how we can model the golf course harmoniously into the terrain so that it feels like a natural fit.

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Q: What are the key characteristics of each course and what are the different challenges that golfers will face?
José: The International Olympic Academy Course has stunning views over Navarino Bay and is the longer and tougher of the two courses. It’s more compact and, in style, a bit posher than the Navarino Hills course. Navarino Hills has a more rural feel and takes you into the outback where you can enjoy a stroll in beautiful nature.

Q: Can you pick out a couple of holes on each course that you especially like and tell us a bit about them?
José: I think they all have their own little personality but, of course, a few will be talked about more than others. On the International Olympic Academy Course, the 12 th and 16 th holes are two beautiful but challenging par threes with great views over the bay where I am sure most golfers will stop to take a photo. Holes 10 and 15 will also get some attention. On the Navarino Hills course, I would say the sixth hole, a downhill par-five, stands out as well as the stretch from the 14th to the 17th.

Q: When the Navarino Hills project is completed, what will it do to elevate Costa Navarino’s status on the world stage as a golf destination?
José: Costa Navarino is already well known around the world but what the two new courses will do is to lift Costa Navarino from the status of a golf resort to being a full golf destination. With four golf courses, Costa Navarino will appeal to the global golf-travel market and I’m
sure will be successful in attracting many new guests.

Q: Why do you think Costa Navarino stands out as a golf destination?
José: We are spoiled as golfers because there are so many great places to go, but I have said it before and will be happy to repeat it: Costa Navarino is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. It is more than just the golf offering there, it is the whole experience that is exceptional – from the nature, the culture and the people with their amazing hospitality to the food, the beach and so many activities to choose from. Don’t be surprised if you see me at Costa Navarino from time to time in the future.

Q: How important is the issue of sustainability to you when building a golf course?
José: It is a must. There is no alternative and, luckily, the topic has arrived in society as one of the most pressing issues of our time and for generations to come. Golf is only a small piece of this, but we must contribute our share and do everything to be as conscious about
environmental, social and economic sustainability as we can. Costa Navarino is certainly a leader in this and I am proud to be a part of it.

Q: In your opinion, what are the qualities of a good golf course and the characteristics that make you want to play it again and again?
José: It does not matter whether the course is extra tough or easy or long or short, what is important is that golfers have a great time. For that to happen, I think the course has to be fair and also has to fit seamlessly into the surroundings so that it creates this special
ambience.

Interview transcript provided by The Azalea Group

Categories
European Tour

Shane Lowry is waiting for a special call

VIRGINIA WATER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Shane Lowry of Ireland walks off the 18th hole during Day Four of The BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club on September 12, 2021 in Virginia Water, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Q. You have given everything to try and qualify for this Ryder Cup Team automatically and it’s just got away from you. Just give us your reflections on the day?

SHANE LOWRY: Yeah, look, obviously I’m disappointed with my day today to be honest. You know, it was very gettable out there. There was no wind all day and the golf course was playing very gettable.

Bit of a struggle in the middle of the back nine. You know, I felt like I gave myself a few chances around the turn again and I didn’t really do it around the turn all week. That’s where I fell back. I played the 15th hole at 15 over for the week which is obviously not good enough. I only birdied the 12th hole once.

So just a couple, I was quite close this week. Disappointing to not be in the team automatically but I’m obviously hoping that they will pick me. I don’t normally talk myself up but I think I’ve played the golf good enough and I think I deserve to be on that Cup but that’s up to them.

Q. You’ve shown good form this year, you have a proven track record, you’ve proved you can handle the ultimate pressure. How strong a case do you think you’ve put forward for a pick?

SHANE LOWRY: Yeah, I think I’ve put forward as strong a case as you can put forward to be honest. Like I said, it’s up to the lads. Obviously spoke to G-Mac there at four o’clock to sit and talk with for the afternoon. Just have to go out and see and hope for a nice phone call whenever it is.

Q. 1-under for the day. How do you reflect on that out there today, given all that was at stake?

SHANE LOWRY: Yeah, it wasn’t really good enough today. Was golf course is pretty easy today. I just had a bad two holes on the back nine and that kind you.

To be honest I felt like I was more in the tournament than I was. The scoreboards were broken out there. I think I didn’t get to see a scoreboard until 14 and I’m a scoreboard watcher, and I didn’t even know how I stood. That was disappointing. I’m not sure it would have changed anything or how I played because I’m quite an aggressive player anyway.

Yeah, then bad 3-putt on 14 and bad tee shot on 15. Small margins in this game. I played nicely again today and I played nicely every day, so yeah, it is what it is.

Q. You’ve played some really good golf this week. A little back drop of The Ryder Cup, at the moment it’s not an automatic pick as things stand. What do you feel in your heart of heart as you look at The Ryder Cup and the big decisions P�draig has to make tonight?

SHANE LOWRY: Yeah, Rosey has shown a good round today. But look, I feel like I’ve done enough but it’s up to him. It’s up to them. You know, I feel like my golf has been as consistent as anybody on the European Team over the last number of months, so I feel like I can bring a lot to The Ryder Cup and I feel like I bring a lot to the European Team, and there will definitely be good craic in the team room and hopefully I can go and play good golf if I get picked. Obviously have to wait for a nice phone call this evening and — hopefully it’s a nice phone call.

Interview Transcript from Asap Sports

Categories
European Tour

Justin Rose: “From my point of view, you can only blame yourself if you don’t get picked”

VIRGINIA WATER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Justin Rose of England walks down the 18th hole during Day Four of The BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club on September 12, 2021 in Virginia Water, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Q. Came in this week wanting to make noise, 65 to close, what do you make of that?

JUSTIN ROSE: It was a fun Sunday. Really had the opportunity to go low today. I forced myself to go low today. I played match play against the golf course, good to get into the spirit of match play. I set a target and actually achieved my target today. Look back at, it left a few out there.

Not as good as it could have been and obviously trying to win a tournament, I needed everything to kind of go my way today from mid-range. A few slipped buy, missed one on 14, check.

Q. P�draig wanted to find guys with the form and you don’t have anymore form than 18. Talk us through?

JUSTIN ROSE: Thomas just gave me a great look and I had a lot of club in my hand. Forced myself to kind of go ahead and hit a positive, smooth draw. A smooth draw is not an easy shot, you want a hard draw sometimes, and it just came out perfectly. I heard how close Thomas’s was. I’ve never had an albatross either. Amazing couple shots there and great to make the most of the crowd at 18.

Q. Do you feel like you’ve done enough for a pick?

JUSTIN ROSE: I would say I’ve given it a shot. If it doesn’t go my way, I’ll say good luck to the boys and cheer them on anyway. I actually don’t know the permutation, I really don’t. I don’t know who I’m up against. Difficult to make a call. But I have a very good record and I have achieved some things in the game that stand me in good stead. I think from that point of view, I’ve given myself a great chance.

Q. 65 to close, you came in need to go make some noise for P�draig Harrington, and appears to have happened. How pleased are you with what you have done?

JUSTIN ROSE: Great to make some literal noise at 18 in the amphitheater. Fun way to finish. I’ve enjoyed the crowds this week. Made a little noise today. Set myself a pretty positive target. I played match play against the course today in case I might need it in a couple of weeks and I managed to achieve the goal I wanted to but if I look back at the round there were some opportunities that slid past. Putter was average I think at best but fortunately I didn’t need it too much today. Obviously the iron play was pretty good and got a lot out of the round from that point of view.

Q. One of the reasons he set up the double points this week is he wants to find guys with form. What have you found this week that’s encouraging you with how you’re playing right now?

JUSTIN ROSE: If I look back at Greensboro, I had a great chance to win there, as well. That’s kind of what you want, or that’s what I want, anyway. I want that consistency coming back and I feel like I’m beginning to play what feels like my natural game in a sense. I’ve gone back to what’s easy for me and been working hard on my short putt. I saw that today. I made some great up-and-downs on the back nine there. So some of the work I’ve been putting in has been coming to fruition and sometimes you have to be patient with that. For me it’s nice to get back on the leaderboard. It’s nice to feel that little bit of flutter in the heart on Sunday and yeah, it’s obviously, listen, whatever happens in the next hour now, I’ve given it a decent run for sure.

Q. We know what you’ve done as an individual and for Team Europe. Do you feel you’ve done enough to warrant a pick?

JUSTIN ROSE: I think it will be hard for him not to pick me but I had that opportunity with Monty, as well, and went a different way. Obviously Paul Casey was seventh in the world. Who knows what the bigger plan is, and if he has a bigger plan, 100 percent good luck to the boys and I’ll be cheering as the rest of you will.

Justin discusses his round

Q. You must be pleased with the round?

JUSTIN ROSE: Yeah, it’s been obviously a great week. It’s been a week where I’ve had to work hard and there’s been a lot riding on the week as well, trying to play well in this tournament and win the tournament. Ryder Cup is coming down and it’s all coming to a head. Yesterday’s round, a little disappointing. Still felt like I had an opportunity to win. I set myself a very positive target of trying to play match play against the course, started six down and I tried to beat the golf course today. With that hot finish, I managed to win 1-up in my head.

I didn’t know what the leaders were going to do today but I felt that might give me an outside chance and I played well enough to be two or three better than that today. The putter just let me down on occasion but very happy with how I played and more importantly how I went about it today.

Q. What was the motivation? Obviously you want to win the tournament and get that feeling of being in the winner’s circle again but with the additional side of The Ryder Cup, what gave you motivation?

JUSTIN ROSE: I wanted to test myself under pressure and wanted to stand up with the toughest shots and have that mindset of trying to play the right golf shot, be 100 percent focused out there and not distracted by the outcomes and what ifs. I was pleased how I played the last two holes because they were birdie opportunities. I was probably, for me, how I stepped up and committed to those last couple of tee shots is what I’m most proud of in the day. There’s enough riding on it where I had the butterflies and I could feel it. You know, when you haven’t been playing that well, you don’t get many opportunities to test yourself under a little bit of pressure, so it was good today.

Q. I believe P�draig has been unusually quiet this week when it comes to discussing what he might do this evening. In your heart of hearts, given what you’ve done this week and today and if it’s not an automatic selection, what do you feel your Ryder Cup looks like?

JUSTIN ROSE: Two or three weeks ago it looked fairly straightforward and Bernd played great and forced his way on the team and there’s a scenario with Shane and Westy and that probably changes that dynamic, too. He’s probably at the 11th hour, a lot to think about.

From my point of view, you can only blame yourself if you don’t get in and don’t get picked, because obviously I’ve never had a pick for The Ryder Cup. I’ve always played my way on to the team which is what the goal always is to do. If you leave it into someone else’s hands, you know, we’ll see, but if I don’t get picked, good luck to the lads.

Interview Transcript from Asap Sports

Categories
European Tour

Viktor Hovland: “It’s a beautiful place and the weather so far is unbelievable”

VIRGINIA WATER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 08: Viktor Hovland of Norway talks to the media during Previews ahead of The BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club on September 08, 2021 in Virginia Water, England. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)

Virginia Water, Surrey, England

Wentworth Golf Club

BRIONY CARLYON: We welcome Viktor Hovland, thank you for joining us. You’ve only been here once before, and just your thoughts at being back at Wentworth and what you’re looking forward to this week.

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I can’t believe it’s already been two years since I was last year. It’s a beautiful place and the weather so far is unbelievable. Look forward to having a great championship.

BRIONY CARLYON: Just a word, as well, about your form and where you are at the moment. It’s obviously been a busy year for you but a lot of success both in America and coming back over to Europe where possible. How is the game at?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, it’s been a lot of traveling the last two or three months. Definitely feeling it just moving around all the different time zones, but I’ve been loving it, every second of it and I feel like my game is trending in the right direction.

Had a great week last week, and yeah, put a different set of irons in the bag which I played earlier in the year, and I had a great week with the irons. I feel like I’m still hitting the irons pretty good. If I can just hit the ball in the fairway I’m going to give myself a lot of chances to make birdie.

Q. Most of your good performances have been in America, some great performances, but you made a point to come over to Europe wherever you can, Dubai and here a couple of times. How important has that been in terms of The Ryder Cup and bonding with the other players just to get to know people?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, obviously it’s a whole different world in the States when you play there every single week. So this feels more like home, what I’ve grown up with, and it’s nice to see some of the players that I’ve been watching on TV for so long that are still here, and I get to talk to them, get to play with them, so that’s great.

I just really enjoy travelling. So for me, it’s just kind of the best of both worlds. I get to play in the United States where I live and then at the same time I get to travel to Dubai, England, Germany, all over the place. So it’s been a cool experience.

Q. Among the Europeans, who have you got particularly friendly with, maybe the players that are going to be playing many Wisconsin, who is your pal, for instance?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: I wouldn’t say I have a best friend on the team but definitely played some with Rory and Shane’s been over in the States a lot the last few months, and see Lee Westwood a lot. Poults I played some practise rounds with. They are all really good guys, and I think we’re going to have a blast in a couple weeks’ time.

Q. Can I ask you about becoming the first Norwegian to play The Ryder Cup and what that means to you? On a list of top Norwegian sports stars, where do you think you would be on that list?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Obviously Ryder Cup is a big thing, and Norway doesn’t have a very long-standing tradition in the event. So for me personally, it’s going to be a huge honor to wave the Norwegian flag alongside the European flag. So it’s going to be a cool experience. I talked to Robert Karlsson actually last night and we were talking about basically the same thing, and how many Swedes have played in The Ryder Cup and he’s lifting names I haven’t even heard of, which is pretty impressive. So it’s about time that us Norwegians kind of try to keep up.

Yeah, it’s a dream come true and it’s going to be really, really cool.

Q. Current sports stars?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: To be honest I don’t keep track too much. If someone does something great it pops up on my social media and I try to read a couple articles here and there, but I spend really long days on the golf course and I’m just tired at the end of the day and I just scroll through YouTube or watch some shows. I don’t really keep track too much. But I wouldn’t be obnoxious enough to put myself at the top. I know there’s plenty of other talented superstars in Norway that are killing it, so it’s cool to watch.

Q. How much does it mean to you to play in front of big crowds? I know you didn’t play last year when they in front of no one. What are your feelings about the crowd?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah in, amateur golf which wasn’t a very long time ago, I basically only played in front of a couple families here and there and then it’s just in front of your playing competitors, so I’m very used to that.

Kind of when COVID hit, when we started back up again in the States, I mean, I can’t remember how many weeks we played but it was, I mean, almost a year basically where you’re just playing in front of nobody, which to me, is what I’m used to. You know I’m used to going out, practising by myself, playing tournaments by myself essentially.

So for me it was pretty relaxing, really. I had so much extra energy and time to do other things after the round. But I did notice when I made the winning putt at Mayakoba to win the tournament, there was a decent crowd on the last hole because everyone is gathered up on 18, but I was thinking about, man, it would be really cool if there were thousands of people around that 18th hole, and especially the last couple weeks and we got to see at the British Open earlier in the summer, that was amazing. Just make one putt on the 13th hole on a Thursday, and you’re middle of the pack and people still go nuts. That’s a pretty cool feeling.

Transcript from Asap Sports

Categories
PGA Tour

Hatton excited for return of home fans to Wentworth

(Photo: Getty Images)

Tournament Preview

Tyrrell Hatton will tee it up alongside European Ryder Cup Captain Pádraig Harrington as the Englishman defends his BMW PGA Championship at the third Rolex Series event of the 2021 Race to Dubai.

The 30-year-old will no doubt receive a hero’s welcome this week at the prestigious Wentworth Club, where fans will return in their droves after last year’s event was played behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He will be one of a popular trio teeing it up on Thursday afternoon, joined by three-time Major winning Irishman Harrington and Norwegian Viktor Hovland, who will make his Ryder Cup debut at Whistling Straits.

Another player hoping to be in Wisconsin in two weeks’ time, on the opposing side, is American Billy Horschel as the former FedEx Cup Champion plays the BMW PGA Championship for a second time.

Player Quotes

Tyrrell Hatton: “It kind of feels surreal being back and being defending champion here. Firstly, it’s amazing to see the stands back and all the players this week, obviously looking forward to welcoming fans back and I’m sure they will create a great atmosphere for us to play in this week. The course is in great shape and yeah, it’s just nice to be back here.

“I guess I’ve been lucky to play well during these big events. I certainly don’t try and change my routine or anything like that. They have fallen on good weeks for me and obviously I’m very thankful for that.

“It’s obviously good memories coming back here. To be honest I only live sort of 25, 35 minutes away anyway. Been lucky enough to play here numerous times when I’ve been back here in the UK to the point where it almost feels a bit like a second home course.

“I feel pretty comfortable out there, and hopefully I can have a good week this week. I know my form’s not been that great for the last sort of three or four months maybe. But hopefully I can find something this week that if I make the Ryder Cup team, certainly hopefully I can help the team out.”
 
Pádraig Harrington: “It’s an interesting week. There’s obviously a number of players who are 100 per cent qualified (for the European Ryder Cup team) at this stage, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Paul Casey, Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland, so they are all in 100 per cent, with a few more players that are virtually there.

“I’m told Tyrrell Hatton is not 100 per cent, if he’s not in on Sunday, so many things must have happened that it would be something strange. So, he’s virtually there and Matt Fitzpatrick is virtually there and Lee (Westwood) is right up there as well.

“But there are a number of players who can push their way into the team and a lot of points to play for this week. We wanted a bit of drama at the end and a bit of excitement, so yeah, it’s going to be an interesting week.”
 
Billy Horschel: “As I said (last time I played here) two years ago, I grew up watching this event on TV. It was the first week we were out of school and European Tour comes on early, so I was up early watching it and absolutely loved what I saw on TV from the course to the crowds and just the history of the event.

“I’ve always wanted to get over here and I was planning on getting over earlier than 2019, but it just didn’t happen and when I came here in 2019, it was everything it lived up to be and more. It was just a blast. I’m looking forward to another great week.

“Knowing no American was won the Race to Dubai, it would be cool to do that. Also being a FedEx Cup Champion, I would love to be able to do that. I have to play well here this week and play well in two weeks, three weeks when I play Dunhill and at the end of the year at the DP World.”
 

Press Release by European Tour Communications

Categories
PGA Tour

Previewing the PGA BMW Championship with Fleetwood

(Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)

Q. Just describe how big a tournament this is for English players?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Home crowd, I think Wentworth has always had an amazing atmosphere. It’s Europe’s stand-out event and I think for us being from the U.K., being from England, just another opportunity to have such a home crowd on your side everything and. I’ve always loved playing here and playing in front of crowds and having moments that get the crowd fired up, especially at this time, as well, as things are starting to come back and sporting occasions are getting more and more people it’s exciting to be back playing in front of everyone.

Q. Give us a sense how much the players miss crowds, especially in event?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Yeah, you’ve got guys that have just got on TOUR and have played for nearly two years without people and they have had not had some of the amazing experiences that you can have. Sport in general, crowds are such a huge part of it, the ebbs and flows, the riding the wave or having people to pick you up and carry you over the line or push you forward. So managing those tough moments where you know there’s thousands of people that are feeling it with you. I think it is a big part of sport and just extra element, extra motivation, it’s great.

Q. Your 10th start here. What memories do you have?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: I was excited, Flagship Event, one of those events that you always watch. I think the list of winners, it’s always been such an amazing field of players, really, and the list of winners is amazing and it’s one of them trophies that you want to be on, and not on, it not been that close, either, but I’ll keep trying.

There’s a lot of events that being a golf fan as a kid and growing up that you always watched and you always sort of soaked up the atmosphere, even on TV, and it’s easy to take it for granted. Like you said, it’s my 10th time playing, so it’s easy for it to become the norm but you must always appreciate the fact that it’s a huge event and enjoy it.

Game still needs to improve. Last week hit a lot of good golf shots. It was great to be up at the right end of the leaderboard and have a chance and be in contention. I hit a couple of wrong shots at the wrong time and didn’t quite get over the line. I think just whether I finish second, first, third, 30th, it didn’t sort of change the things that I need to improve on to get back to where I want to be and push on further. So the game, obviously it’s good. I had a chance of winning. You have to realise how well you did play together but I know there’s still improvements, there’s still things that I can improve in my game and improve my confidence and I’ll still keep doing that.

But I’ll take the confidence last week when I felt at certain times when I hit certain shots and pulled the shots off and the good things that I did do down the stretch and take that into this week. I’m obviously moving in the right direction and keep going better and see where we go.

Q. Do you feel it’s close?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Yeah, a shot here or there and I win last week. You’ve won a Tour event, you’re playing well. You’re doing really, really well. Like I say, look at it on a big scale know there’s things that I want to do better and that I’m working towards but for sure my game is good enough to compete in the events at the moment and I have to, that’s what I have to do. You know, keep working, go out there and hopefully play, perform how I’m practising, take that on to the course and get the results.

It’s there. Game is obviously there. Like if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t have been able to be in that position last week. I’ve got to make sure that I keep telling myself that and stay positive whilst keeping improving and there’s never a bad week to play well or turn it on.

And the run of events coming up, just to finish the year is massive with The Ryder Cup in there as well which is obviously a very special week and hopefully keep going and do my bit.

Q. One of the highlights, 2015, fourth hole?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: That was a good shot, back left pin, 7-iron, spun it in the hole. I think it’s amazing to have your little moment in events and I think always do. You always remember like something that you’ve done at an event but something like Wentworth that you see some of the highlights over the years and people show the highlight reels of Top-10 shots or something in the event and I think it’s cool to have one of them and it’s my only ever albatross and it’s a special place to do it. I think having something like that just your little piece of tournament history or something that will be shown all the time is very cool. It’s very special, and something that people always want to talk about which is great.

Interview from Asap Sports