Author: Johanna Lakämper

Categories
European Tour

DP World Tour Season Finale: Matt Wallace Loses his Nerve

Matt Wallace on Sunday in Dubai. (Photo: Getty)
Matt Wallace on Sunday in Dubai. (Photo: Getty)

Matt Wallace did not show his best side at the DP World Tour Championship at the weekend, where he finished tied 11th. Anyone who has ever swung a club has probably experienced for themselves that golf can sometimes drive you mad. Nevertheless, there are rules of conduct on the golf course and, especially among professionals who are considered role models, freak-outs are not welcome. Tyrrell Hatton, who is known for his emotions on the course, also allowed himself to overreact.

Matt Wallace takes his anger out on the fairway

Matt Wallace’s round was apparently satisfactory. Although he started with two bogeys on holes 1 and 3, he then improved significantly. With a series of birdies on holes 8 to 11, he made up a few places on the leaderboard, on which he was already among the leaders.

His emotional outburst then followed on the par-5 14th. His tee shot landed in the thick rough, leaving him a few meters behind with his second shot. He then sank his third shot in the greenside bunker, which was the last straw. Wallace rammed his club into the fairway, leaving clearly visible damage. Neither he nor his caddie bothered to repair the damage. In the end, he recorded a bogey on 14.

After the tournament, Wallace summed up his tournament on Twitter. There was no comment on his slip-up.

Tyrrell Hatton divides clubs

Tyrrell Hatton, who finished sixth in Dubai, also allowed himself a slip-up. It was not the course that fell victim to this, but his club, which he unceremoniously broke after a failed shot. The commentator described such behavior as a “terrible influence on the next generation”.

 

Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an

 

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Flushing It (@flushingitgolf)

Categories
Panorama

Shock in Pebble Beach: Greenkeeper Survives Fall with Lawnmower on 23-meter Cliff

Hole 6, the scene of the action: the course leads players and greenkeepers along the steep cliffs. (Photo: Getty)
Hole 6, the scene of the action: the course leads players and greenkeepers along the steep cliffs. (Photo: Getty)

Pebble Beach Golf Links is one of the most legendary golf courses in the world and an absolute dream for golfers. Located on the Californian coast, the course impresses with breathtaking views of the Pacific and challenging fairways. Holes 6 to 8 in particular along the cliffs of Stillwater Cove provide excitement and lasting impressions. Since its opening in 1919, Pebble Beach has been the backdrop for numerous major tournaments, including the U.S. Open major tournament. Golfers from all over the world appreciate the course not only for its sporting challenges, but also for the unique natural backdrop that makes every game an experience.

Horrific fall at the flagship of Pebble Beach

The cliffs at holes 6 to 8 usually make for unforgettable memories, sporting challenges and unique shots. On Monday morning this week, however, Pebble Beach caused a stir for a different reason. On the par-5 6th, a greenkeeper was driving his lawnmower right along the cliffs to do his daily course maintenance when the experienced greenkeeper’s daily routine turned into a horror scenario. From an elevated tee, the hole leads down to a sloping fairway, then over a steep rise and is bordered on the right by some 75-foot cliffs overlooking Stillwater Cove.

Rain as the trigger?

The greenkeeper’s lawn mower skidded on the steep hill, causing it to plunge down the approximately 23-foot cliff. The greenkeeper was thrown from the lawnmower, but it remains unclear how far he fell. He was taken to a nearby hospital. “We are in close contact with our employee and his family,” the statement said. “We are thankful that they report he is doing very well.” It had been raining in the area throughout the day, but it is unclear if the wetness played a role in the accident, the cause of which has yet to be determined, the spokesperson said.

Categories
Panorama

“Hats Off for your Bank Account” – Team USA will Receive Payment at the Ryder Cup from now on

Patrick Cantlay was in the spotlight last year because of his missing cap. (Photo: Getty)
Patrick Cantlay was in the spotlight last year because of his missing cap. (Photo: Getty)

Becoming a member of the US Ryder Cup team is on most players’ bucket list. Being allowed to take part in the continental competition not only means experiencing an incomparable week at a first-class team event, but also achieving “fame and glory”. So far at least. Because playing in the Ryder Cup has so far been unpaid. According to a report in The Telegraph newspaper, the twelve American players on the Ryder Cup team will be paid from next year.

400,000 US dollars for the American Ryder Cup players

For several decades now, the question of whether Ryder Cup participants should not be paid has arisen time and again. Last year, the debate flared up again in Rome when it was reported that Patrick Cantlay was not wearing the US team cap in protest at the lack of payment. Previously, US players received 200,000 US dollars for their participation in the team competition, which they could donate to charities of their choice. From now on, however, the players are to receive double that amount and be allowed to put it in their own pockets: 400,000 US dollars. No payment is planned on the European side.

In addition to the “Hat-Gate” surrounding Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele’s father also caused a stir in Rome. He made it clear that he believed the players were entitled to compensation: “If they make profit off this and finance their organization of almost 29,000 [PGA of America] members for four years with the proceeds earned on the backs of these guys here, well, then they should share or they shouldn’t be allowed to do that.” Tiger Woods also said back in 1999: “With all the money that’s being made, we should have a say in where it goes.”

“Not what the Ryder Cup is about”

One European Ryder Cup player told The Telegraph about the change: “They can do whatever they want, but we don’t want payments in our bank accounts, as it’ll be the thin end of the wedge and is not what the Ryder Cup is about. Let’s face it, a lot of the American players have been angling towards this for years, if not decades. If it does go ahead, then it will be interesting to see how the fans react at Bethpage, although they’ll probably announce it as just an extension of what already happens.” Next year’s Ryder Cup will be held at Bethpage Black in the US.

Categories
PGA Tour

Detailed Insights Into the Earnings of a Caddie on the PGA Tour

Bryan Kopsick, Ben Silverman's caddie, reveals how much money he makes. (Photo: Getty)
Bryan Kopsick, Ben Silverman's caddie, reveals how much money he makes. (Photo: Getty)

The prize money in golf has risen rapidly, especially in recent years. Provided they are successful, golfers win millions in winnings. But they don’t earn them alone: they are always accompanied by their caddies, who are also entitled to a share of the winnings. As a rule, the caddies are entitled to a fixed share of the prize money: ten per cent if they win, seven per cent for the top 10 and five per cent if they make the cut. Bryan Kopsick, PGA Tour caddie, has now revealed what he earned and what he spent last season.

This is how the caddie’s earnings are made up

Bryan Kopsick works as a caddie for Ben Silverman, a 36-year-old Canadian who is coming off his best season on the PGA Tour and is ranked 110th in the money list with earnings of more than $1.2 million. On X (formerly Twitter) he wrote: ‘How much are PGA Tour caddies paid?’ His calculation includes Silverman’s earnings, which amount to 1,262,599 US dollars from 24 events played. According to his calculation, he is entitled to eight per cent of the prize money per event, which in this case is 101,007.92 US dollars. In addition, he earns 2,000 US dollars per event. His total income is therefore 149,007.92 US dollars. He adds: ‘This does not include sponsorships/off course income OR travel expenses.’

The fact that Kopsick is not paid according to the 5/7/10 per cent rule is due to the fact that Ben Silverman is a ‘great guy’. At the end of the day, it is up to the players what they want to pay their caddies. However, he has to deduct around 50,000 US dollars in travelling and professional expenses from the approximately 150,000 US dollars. In turn, he can add income that he generates through sponsorship. However, there is no exact figure here.

‘We don’t do it for the money’

Kopsick also admits that the figures mentioned are from a very good year. In previous years, Silverman was still at home on the Korn Ferry Tour and had far lower profits (2021 – 74,890 US dollars, 2022 – 23,936 US dollars, 2023 – 522,828 US dollars). The shares Kopsick was entitled to can be easily calculated based on his presentation above: Significantly lower earnings.

If he worked on a first-class golf course, he could also earn up to 100,000 US dollars. However, if the conditions here are not ideal, it would quickly remain at 40,000 to 60,000 US dollars. The caddie also argues: ‘It’s hard, but we don’t do it for the money. It’s extremely rewarding to try and help someone succeed at what they’re truly good at.’ He also says he has ‘the coolest job in the world’ and can eat ice cream the night before a competition despite his job in sport.

Categories
Panorama

High-profile Guest at Feldafing Golf Club in Germany: Pierce Brosnan Enjoys a Break on the Golf Course

Pierce Brosnan (2 on the left) and his fellow actors pay a visit to Golfclub Feldafing. (Photo: Instagram/@gc_feldafing)
Pierce Brosnan (2 on the left) and his fellow actors pay a visit to Golfclub Feldafing. (Photo: Instagram/@gc_feldafing)

Feldafing Golf Club on Lake Starnberg in Bavaria (Germany) played host to a number of high-profile guests: Pierce Brosnan visited the golf club on 1 November to take a break from his current film shoot in Munich. The film actor and producer has made a prestigious name for himself in Hollywood over the past few decades and caused quite a stir at the Bavarian golf club. Brosnan has been playing golf since he was a child: his handicap is estimated at 5.

Pierce Brosnan: A rare visit to Feldafing Golf Club

Pierce Brosnan is an Irish actor, born on 16 May 1953, who became known worldwide for his role as James Bond in the films of the 1990s and early 2000s, in which he impressed as an elegant and charismatic secret agent. In addition to Bond, he also starred in the musical film ‘Mamma Mia!’, where he showed his musical side. Brosnan is also a producer and is actively involved in environmental and human rights projects. His versatility and charisma make him a perennial star in the film industry.

Graduation the Bavarian way

The 71-year-old is currently in Germany for a new film production, as the Feldafing Golf Club reported on Instagram: ‘Brosnan teed off punctually at 10:30 a.m. with three fellow actors in bright sunshine and pleasant autumn temperatures.’ Brosnan enjoyed his time out on the golf course: ‘The actor was delighted with our golf course and praised its excellent condition, especially at this time of year.’ He will not have been surprised that the film star would not remain completely incognito: ‘After the round of golf, some members of the golf club had the opportunity to take photos with the likeable and charismatic actor.’

Pierce Brosnan with the juniors of the Feldafing Golf Club. (Photo: Instagram/@gc_feldafing)
Pierce Brosnan with the juniors of the Feldafing Golf Club. (Photo: Instagram/@gc_feldafing)

His day off was rounded off with a typical Bavarian dish, as the golf club revealed: ‘The former James Bond actor was looking forward to a culinary speciality after his day of golf: a delicious Wiener Schnitzel. In a brief conversation after the game, Brosnan revealed that he can only rarely enjoy this delicacy at home as his wife is a vegetarian.’

Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Golf-Club Feldafing e.V. (@gc_feldafing)

Categories
Panorama

Top 6 of the Scariest Golf Courses: Ghosts, Screams and the Unbelievable

Church Stretton Golf Club (Image: Church Stretton Golf Club/Facebook)
Church Stretton Golf Club (Image: Church Stretton Golf Club/Facebook)

The end of October is also known as Halloween and even some golf courses are haunted. The festival, which originated in Ireland, is characterized by spooky pranks and scary costumes. The origin of Halloween lies in the belief that the dead return to earth on October 31. There are golf courses that are not only haunted on Halloween. Ghosts can be seen there all year round and scare the players in a frightening way.

The awakening of the cemetery ghosts

It is not uncommon for golf courses to be built on or around old cemeteries, disturbing the peaceful rest of the dead. This is also the case at Garrison Golf Club in the USA. On this course, the 14th hole, which is surrounded by a cemetery where many 19th century slaves are buried, is feared.

The Willbrook Plantation Golf Course in the USA is also located on a former slave cemetery, marked by a memorial plaque on the eighth hole of the course. It is important to keep quiet on such courses so as not to incur the wrath of the sleeping spirits.

Memorial plaque of the slave cemetery on the Willbrook Plantation Golf Course (Image: charliebomber/Flickr)

Ghosts manipulate the game

Players are not always spared from the ghosts. On the Lincoln Park Golf Course in San Francisco, for example, the ghosts show that they really do exist. Here, too, the 18th hole was built on an abandoned cemetery. According to the golfers, the ghosts never fail to make balls disappear or reappear out of nowhere in other places.

In England, on the Church Stretton Golf Club course, there are also ominous ball thieves on hole 13. Players who see their balls land on the fairway are said to suddenly be unable to find them again when they get closer.

Murder victims show themselves to still be present

Some golf courses have a history of brutal murders. The murder victims would still reveal themselves in various ways, causing fear among golfers. At City Park in New Orleans, golfers repeatedly swear they hear the screams of a woman on the backswing at hole 18. It is said that the woman was murdered on the golf course in the 1960s.

Another murder case took place on the course of the Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey. The farmer Baltus Rol is said to have been horribly killed here by two crooks in 1831. His ghost “Old Balty” still haunts the course. Easy to recognize: The golf club’s name commemorates the tragic story of Baltus Rol.

Baltusrol Golf Club Lower Course (Image: Getty)
Categories
PGA Tour

PGA Tour Tee Times: David Skinns at the Zozo Championship

David Skinns. (Photo: Getty)
David Skinns. (Photo: Getty)

The Zozo Championship, part of the PGA Tour, takes place at the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Chiba, Japan. With a par of 70, the tournament offers a prize pool of $8,500,000. Collin Morikawa is the defending champion. The tournament will be broadcast on Sky starting at different times across the four days: Thursday from 5:00, Friday from 6:45, Saturday from 5:00, and Sunday from 4:00.

PGA Tour Tee Times for British Players

David Skinns from England starts alongside Zac Blair from the USA and Patrick Fishburn, also from the USA. Their first round tees off at 10:57, and the second round at 9:40.

Harry Hall, another English player, is paired with Seamus Power from Ireland and Adam Schenk from the USA. Their first round begins at 10:35, followed by a second round starting at 9:18.

Round Player 1 Name Nationality Player 2 Name Nationality Player 3 Name Nationality Tee Time
Round 1 David Skinns ENG Zac Blair USA Patrick Fishburn USA 10:57
Round 1 Harry Hall ENG Seamus Power IRL Adam Schenk USA 10:35
Round 2 Harry Hall ENG Seamus Power IRL Adam Schenk USA 9:18
Round 2 David Skinns ENG Zac Blair USA Patrick Fishburn USA 9:40
Categories
PGA Tour

PGA Tour Tee Times: Max Homa and Justin Thomas at the Zozo Championship

Max Homa and Justin Thomas. (Photo: Getty)
Max Homa and Justin Thomas. (Photo: Getty)

The Zozo Championship is set to take place at the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Chiba, Japan. As part of the PGA Tour, this event offers a par 70 course and a prize purse of $8,500,000. The defending champion is Collin Morikawa. Broadcasting times are Thursday from 5:00 a.m., Friday from 6:45 a.m., Saturday from 5:00 a.m., and Sunday from 4:00 a.m. on Sky.

PGA Tour Tee Times of American Players

Max Homa leads the American contingent at the Zozo Championship. He will tee off at 9:18 in the first round alongside Sungjae Im from South Korea and Kensei Hirata from Japan. In the second round, Homa’s group starts at 10:24.

Justin Thomas will start his first round at 9:29. He is paired with Hideki Matsuyama from Japan and Si Woo Kim from South Korea. For the second round, Thomas begins at 10:35.

Joel Dahmen, Nate Lashley and Satoshi Kodaira will start at 8:56 in the first round. The second round for this group is at 10:02.

Mac Meissner starts his first round at 8:45. He plays alongside Ryo Hisatsune and Takahiro Hataji from Japan. Their second round begins at 9:51.

Brendon Todd and Kyoung-Hoon Lee are paired together, starting their first round at 9:07, with Chun-an Yu. The second round for this group is set for 10:13.

Round Start Time Player 1 Name Player 2 Name Player 3 Name
1 8:45 Mac Meissner Ryo Hisatsune Takahiro Hataji
1 8:56 Joel Dahmen Satoshi Kodaira Nate Lashley
1 9:07 Brendon Todd Kyoung-Hoon Lee Chun-an Yu
1 9:18 Max Homa Sungjae Im Kensei Hirata
1 9:29 Justin Thomas Hideki Matsuyama Si Woo Kim
2 9:51 Mac Meissner Ryo Hisatsune Takahiro Hataji
2 10:13 Brendon Todd Kyoung-Hoon Lee Chun-an Yu
2 10:02 Joel Dahmen Satoshi Kodaira Nate Lashley
2 10:24 Max Homa Sungjae Im Kensei Hirata
2 10:35 Justin Thomas Hideki Matsuyama Si Woo Kim
Categories
Highlights Tours LIV Tour PGA Tour

Solheim Cup Seven Times More Popular than Rahm’s Double Victory

The teams were supported by thousands of fans on site and behind the screens. (Photo: Getty)
The teams were supported by thousands of fans on site and behind the screens. (Photo: Getty)

A look at the viewing figures for last week’s golf TV broadcasts shows that the women’s events were by far the most popular with golf fans. The Solheim Cup was a highlight in the women’s tournament calendar that dominated the TV landscape. Neither the LIV Golf League nor the PGA Tour aroused anywhere near as much interest.

Solheim Cup 2024 dominated the ratings

Compared to the last Solheim Cup, which took place in Spain in 2022, the ratings increased significantly in this year’s edition, according to Josh Carpenter from Sports Business Journal. The singles matches on Sunday in particular sparked interest behind the screens, with an average of 657,000 viewers watching on NBC on the final day, more than twice as many viewers as the previous edition of the continental competition. On Saturday, the ratings were similarly high with 634,000 viewers. The figures were particularly pleasing in view of the fact that the Cup fell on the second Sunday of the National Football League. As the Cup finished in the early afternoon in the Eastern time zone, the events did not overlap for the most part.

LIV Golf and PGA Tour put in the shade

The season finale in the individual rankings of the LIV Golf League took place at the same time as the Solheim Cup. Also one of the highlights of the year, it didn’t stand a chance against the women’s competition. Although Jon Rahm won the tournament in Chicago and thus also the season title, the tournament attracted far less attention with only around 89,000 spectators. On Saturday there were still 134,000 spectators.

However, the PGA Tour received the least attention, with just 69,000 spectators. The Procore Championship was the first event of the Fall Series, which was watched by only around a tenth of the spectators who were rooting for the ladies.

The figures for the Solheim Cup are particularly pleasing in terms of viewing figures throughout the year. The declining ratings were notable throughout the PGA Tour season and were underscored by double-digit declines for all three FedEx Cup Playoff events, according to Sports Media Watch. The Tour Championship saw a 13 percent drop in viewership, while the FedEx St. Jude Championship was down 31 percent and the BMW Championship was down 19 percent.

Categories
European Tour LIV Tour

DP World Tour Rebuffs LIV Golf

Jon Rahm in the dispute between DP World Tour and LIV Golf. (Photo: Getty)
Jon Rahm in the dispute between DP World Tour and LIV Golf. (Photo: Getty)

The LIV Golf League has split the golf world into two camps: The PGA Tour and the DP World Tour clearly distanced themselves from the new tour, imposed sanctions on their players and blocked any rapprochement. The LIV Golf League did not let up and over time the fronts seemed to calm down a little – from allowing the return of players who had left to a joint umbrella organization. Negotiations have recently resumed.

The Jon Rahm case causes a stir

In recent weeks, there has been a lot of fuss about Jon Rahm, one of the best players in the world, who decided to switch to LIV Golf. Although LIV players are now allowed to take part in the coveted major tournaments, the Spaniard would not be able to take part in the Ryder Cup without playing on the DP World Tour. Sports Illustrated reported that before Rahm appealed his sanctions, LIV Golf attempted to strike a deal with the DP World Tour that would lift the penalties for LIV players while offering various concessions and a monetary payout from the league.

By appealing the penalties imposed by the DP World Tour, Jon Rahm has been given the temporary opportunity to play on the DP World Tour and thus participate in the Spanish Open 2024 next week. Not only will he be playing for a DP World Tour victory in his home country, but he can also secure important points for a possible place in the European Ryder Cup team.

To maintain membership, a DP World Tour player must play in at least four tournaments outside the majors. The Olympics count as one of those, so Rahm has three more to go. He will have to do the same in 2025, when the fines theoretically kick in again. It is believed that he owes around 1 million dollars. It can be assumed that the figure for next year will be similar.

Paying off his fine should not be a problem for Jon Rahm or LIV Golf as his backers: LIV Golf has so far paid around 12 million pounds (around 15.75 million dollars) in fines for LIV golfers who have taken part in DP World Tour events – a further 10 million pounds is still outstanding. Rahm could scrape together what he owes without question.

The DP World Tour says “no”

LIV Golf had made an offer to the DP World Tour with the aim of enabling migrated players to participate in selected DP World Tour events. The DP World Tour rejected the offer with the following explanation: “We met with them and listened to their proposal but did not accept it, as our view remains that the focus should continue to be on all stakeholders working together to reach an overall solution that benefits our sport.” This means that the issue surrounding Jon Rahm, which also affects other players such as Tyrrell Hatton, remains.