Author: Johanna Lakämper

Categories
Brands

Original Penguin Golf launches debut Women’s collection

Some specimens from the new collection of Original Penguin Golf. (Photo: Original Penguin Golf)
Some specimens from the new collection of Original Penguin Golf. (Photo: Original Penguin Golf)

Original Penguin Golf, as worn on the PGA Tour by Australian Cameron Smith, today announces the important launch of its first ever collection for women, with a clean, mid-century modern (MiMo) aesthetic to debut the new Spring-Summer 2022 line.

Using a lot of the contouring details taken from Original Penguin’s iconic Earl Polo, the company have curated a striking range of feminine, sophisticated and versatile clothing with a delicate retro edge, designed for those seeking a modern and fashionable look.

Innovative, sustainable and stylish

Equally appealing on the golf course and a general active lifestyle, Original Penguin Golf’s now iconic prints and patterns remain true to the company’s heritage by staying quirky, fun and, at the same time, chic and stylish.

While the Women’s Collection upholds the heritage and tradition synonymous with the Original Penguin’s men’s line, Spring-Summer 2022 sets a new standard for innovation and sustainability required by today’s modern female.

Fabrics are made of recycled materials like an amazing luxe, high-gauge performance blend with flexible-stretch, and ultra-soft pima cotton blends.

The collection also includes a host of crossover pieces like leggings, lightweight sun-protection pieces, track jackets, jogger silhouettes, and biker shorts.

Clothing creates “comfort and confidence”

Commenting on the launch, European Brand Director, Helen Willsmer, commented: “This new launch marks a huge moment in the growth of Original Penguin Golf and recognises the increasing importance the brand puts on female sport and leisure. In creating Spring 2022, after a record year of the company in 2021, we have thought not only of the outer, aesthetic details of the collection, but also the inside details that create comfort and confidence when wearing a great fitting garment.”

Garments include built-in shelf bras with removable inserts, performance shorts with performance inside liners, bloomers with multi-function pockets, built-in tummy control in all bottoms, and soft, elastic gripper tape on all shorts for skirts and dresses.

(Text: Original Penguin Golf)

Categories
Panorama

PGA Championship 2022 without defending champion Phil Mickelson

The 2022 PGA Championship will take place without defending champion Phil Mickelson. (Photo: Getty)
The 2022 PGA Championship will take place without defending champion Phil Mickelson. (Photo: Getty)

Phil Mickelson announced a few months ago that he would take a break and retire from the public eye. This break already extended over the 2022 Masters, in which he did not participate for the first time in 28 years. The next major is coming up next week: the 2022 PGA Championship. For a long time, it was unclear whether Mickelson would end his hiatus to defend his title at the PGA Championship. Last year, he became the oldest Major winner ever here. Now there is an answer.

PGA Championship: Statement of the PGA of America

On Twitter, the PGA Championship posted the following statement: “We have just been informed that Phil Mickelson has withdrawn his participation in the PGA Championship. Phil is the defending champion and currently eligible to become a lifetime PGA member, and we would have welcomed him to participate. We wish Phil and Amy [ed. note: Phil’s wife] the very best and look forward to his return to golf.”

The reason for Mickelson’s hiatus was his involvement in heated controversies between the PGA Tour and the LIV Golf Invitational Series created by Greg Norman. In a lengthy statement about his words and actions, Mickelson announced in February 2022, “It was reckless, I offended people, and I am deeply sorry for my choice of words. I’m beyond disappointed and will do everything I can to self-reflect and learn from this.”

Will Phil Mickelson be competing in London?

The first event of the eight-event LIV Golf Invitational Series will be held in London in June. Which golf stars will be part of the starting field has not yet been announced. While a majority of the players have spoken out against participating on the competing tour, a few days ago some players asked for permission from the PGA Tour to participate in the first event of the LIV Golf Invitational Series: Phil Mickelson was one of those players, along with Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia. The PGA Tour rejected the request and threatened with sanctions. Whether Phil Mickelson’s cancellation of the PGA Championship has anything to do with his participation in the controversial “Saudi League” is unclear so far. In the coming weeks, Greg Norman wants to announce the field of participants.

Categories
Ladies European Tour

Ladies European Tour: This team wins the team ranking in Bangkok

Winners on the Ladies European Tour: Team Hillier in an interview. (Photo: Twitter/@LETgolf)
Winners on the Ladies European Tour: Team Hillier in an interview. (Photo: Twitter/@LETgolf)

The Aramco Team Series 2022 includes five tournaments, on which there is both a team ranking and an individual ranking. The first of the season’s five tournaments takes place this week in Bangkok at Thai Country Club. The players have already completed 36 holes and the winning team has been determined: Chonlada Chayanun, Krista Bakker and amateur Pattanan Amatanon win the team classification together with team captain Whitney Hillier. Tomorrow’s third and final day will see the top 60 and stroke ties play for their placements in the individual standings.

Highlights of the second day of play

Interview with the winning team Hillier

Best of the day: Scotland’s Catriona Matthew after the round

Categories
Panorama

Henrik Stenson names first vice-captain for 2023 Ryder Cup

Henrik Stenson (right) is counting on Thomas Bjørn as his first vice captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)
Henrik Stenson (right) is counting on Thomas Bjørn as his first vice captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)

The team around Ryder Cup captain Henrik Stenson is starting to grow. Thomas Bjørn has been named first vice-captain for the match between Europe and the United States. The 51-year-old Dane already brings a lot of Ryder Cup experience with him. He has already taken part in the event eight times: three times as a player, four times as vice-captain and once as the winning captain at the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris. More than 20 years ago, in 1997, Thomas Bjørn’s Ryder Cup career began when he became the first Dane ever to be part of the European team led by Seve Ballesteros.

Stenson trusts Thomas Bjørn “implicitly”

The two Scandinavians Henrik Stenson and Thomas Bjørn have known each other for many years. For Stenson, that’s one point that significantly influenced his decision to go with Bjørn: “I trust him implicitly and I know any advice he will give me will be honest and direct. He will not simply tell me what he thinks I want to hear and that will be important, so I’m delighted to have him as my first Vice Captain for Rome.”

In addition, Stenson said he trusts Bjørn’s years of experience already with the Ryder Cup. Considering the fact that the Ryder Cup will not take place for over a year, Stenson is looking forward to the long preparation period: “I will be depending on him a lot and I’m really looking forward to those chats.”

Bjørn is looking forward to the Ryder Cup 2023

For Thomas Bjørn, Henrik Stenson’s request seemed to have come as a surprise: “I probably thought that after 2018 that was it for me, but Henrik called me to talk about Captaincy in general and that led into him asking me if I wanted to do another stint as Vice Captain, which I agreed to. I’m excited to work with him.” Thomas Bjørn intends to fulfill his role as vice captain as best he can: “I will help him prepare in the best possible way and as we get closer to the match, to be an additional support to the players.”

The Dane has high hopes for captain Henrik Stenson, both golf-wise and personally. He describes Stenson as a “hard-working golfer” who will make a fantastic captain. For Bjørn, Stenson is “somebody who is true to himself, and his team will represent that. He has a great sense of humour that the players will take to, and he is very well liked across the whole Tour.”

Categories
Equipment

Golf bag buying guide: price, size and weight – this is important

Due to countless models, it makes sense to answer a few questions before buying a golf bag. (Photo: Getty)
Due to countless models, it makes sense to answer a few questions before buying a golf bag. (Photo: Getty)

The constant companion of a golfer is of course the golf bag. It contains all the important things you need on the golf course – from golf clubs to sunscreen and food. There is therefore no question that the choice of a suitable golf bag is a basic requirement for a successful round of golf.

The golf bag – a product in an almost infinite number of designs

As the centerpiece of the game of golf, the golf bag is now available in numerous designs and at a wide variety of prices. The golf bag, which many hundreds of years ago was merely a strap with which you tied your clubs together, has now become a multifunctional companion for every golfer. In the huge selection of golf bags that the market now has to offer, you should be clear about the following requirements:

  • Size (from pencil bag to tour bag)
  • Handling (stand bag, carry bag, cart bag)
  • Weight
  • Storage space
  • Waterproof
  • Stability
  • Subdivision of the top
  • Rain cover
  • Design

Before buying a golf bag, it is important to be clear about what kind of bag you want: Should it be a lightweight carry bag, since I don’t have a trolley? Should there be room in my bag for as many clubs as possible, since I prefer to go out with 14 clubs? How much storage space do I need for the rest of my equipment? How many pockets do I need on the bag and how do I like the arrangement? Will the bag stand up to rain and extreme weather? How many compartments should the top of the bag have: Are five compartments enough or should each club get its own space?

In addition to the personal preferences and requirements that a player has for a golf bag, the price of a golf bag also determines the purchase. The price range of the countless models that are now available on the market extends from 50 euros to about 900 euros. We have compiled various models in different price categories for a first impression of the possibilities.

To carry: Pencil bag

Pencil bags are the lightest bags among golf bags: with a diameter of about 15 centimeters, they can carry about seven clubs. Especially in winter, when the use of trolleys is prohibited on many golf courses, the pencil bag is a light and comfortable golf bag to carry. Pencil bags are often found in the lowest price category.

The larger cart bag

A cart bag is considerably larger than a pencil bag. This golf bag can hold up to 14 clubs. In addition, such a bag is often equipped with many pockets, in which all accessories find space. The bag is not suitable for carrying on the golf course – a trolley serves as a supplement.

Stand bag with many possibilities

A stand bag in a somewhat higher price range is characterized, for example, by a padded shoulder strap and by numerous extras: a 14-pocket divided top, a lined compartment for valuables, an insulated cooler compartment, a Velcro patch for gloves as well as loops for tees and much more. Also, a rain hood may be included.

Categories
Ladies European Tour

Captain Moriya Jutanugarn picks Catriona Matthew for 1 million Dollar Aramco Team Series

The Jutanugarn sisters Ariya (l) and Moriya (r) with fellow Thai star Patty Tavatanakit (middle). (Photo: Aramco Team Series)
The Jutanugarn sisters Ariya (l) and Moriya (r) with fellow Thai star Patty Tavatanakit (middle). (Photo: Aramco Team Series)

Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn will partner with Solheim Cup icon Catriona Matthew in one of the headline fourballs at this week’s Aramco Team Series. The hometown hero used her captain’s pick in last night’s pre-tournament draft to recruit the Scot, an 11-time Tour champion and Major-winner, but perhaps most revered for her back-to-back roles captaining Team Europe to Solheim Cup success. Spanish Ladies European Tour rookie Paz Marfa Sans will complete the professional side of the team, which will be completed with the addition of an amateur golfer, before play gets underway at Thai Country Club tomorrow.

The choices of the Jutanugarn sisters

“Playing in my home country is very exciting,” said Jutanugarn, who will be making her second appearance in an Aramco Team Series event. “I wanted to pick the legend Catriona as she’ll make me feel a lot more calm – maybe I can learn from her, as well. I’m really happy with my team. For us, I think it’s just a case of going out, enjoying it and having fun. If we do, I’m sure we’ll be good!” Asked if her captain for the week, the world #50, was a player she respected, Matthew said: “Oh, absolutely! I’ve played a lot with Moriya on the LPGA over the years. I haven’t seen her in a wee while, so I’m delighted to be playing together and being able to catch up.” Jutanugarn was one pick earlier in the draft than her younger sister, Ariya, who is also competing in the Aramco Team Series, an event added to the LET calendar for the first time this year.”

Like her sister, Ariya too used her captain’s selection to recruit a Scot – Laura Beveridge. Anne-Charlotte Mora of France was the third addition to the team. Asked about her captain’s pick, the two-time Major-winner said: “I’ve not known so much about Laura, but I had been looking at all the stats before picking her, so I’m pretty sure she’s going to help the team. Already we’re having so much fun, talking about what we’re going to eat today and where the good
Thai food is! I’m pretty sure we’re going to be a good team.”

For the first time: Aramco Team Series in Bangkok

This week’s debut Bangkok leg will be the first of five 1 million Dollar Aramco Team Series tournaments on the LET calendar for 2022 – and the first with the three-day event’s new format. Updated from last year’s inaugural Series, the teams will now compete over only 36 holes – the Thursday and Friday of the tournament – with 500,000 Dollar prizemoney being split between the lowest scoring fourballs. Saturday’s final day of play will see only the lowest scoring 60 players and ties from the opening two days return to the course to battle it out for a share of another 500,000 Dollar, this time in individual earnings.

Big names set to compete with the likes of the Jutanugarn sisters include fellow Thai superstar Patty Tavatanakit, who selected Finland’s Noora Komulainen as her captain’s pick – and who returns home to compete ranked as the world #13.
England’s Charley Hull has a blistering Aramco Team Series record, with three top ten team finishes and a solo victory in last year’s New York event. She chose good friend and fellow English golfer Lauren Taylor as her teammate for the week’s fourball action.
Australia’s Whitney Hillier leaned on her mother’s Thai heritage to recruit Chonlada Chayanun, whose home course is this week’s host course, Thai Country Club.
The Aramco Team Series – Bangkok kicks off 2022’s run of ATS events, and will be followed by four
more 1 million Dollar tournaments in London, Sotogrande, New York and Jeddah.

(Text: Aramco Team Series)

Categories
PGA Tour

A clear no: PGA Tour prohibits its players from participating in LIV Golf Event

The heads of the competing tours: Jay Monahan (left) and Greg Norman. (Photo: Getty)
The heads of the competing tours: Jay Monahan (left) and Greg Norman. (Photo: Getty)

It won’t be long before the LIV Golf Invitational Series kicks off. The first event of the tournament series, created by Greg Norman, is coming up. The first of eight planned tournaments will begin on June 9, 2022. For many months now, there have been heated discussions and wild speculations about the participation or non-participation of PGA Tour players in the Saudi League. Now the PGA Tour made a clear statement.

PGA Tour threatens immense penalties

From the beginning, the relationship between the established golf tours and the new Saudi League was an adversarial one. Some players from the PGA Tour and DP World Tour nevertheless now asked for the tours’ permission to participate in the first event of the Norman Series in London. The feedback from PGA Tour chief executive Jay Monahan was unequivocal: “We have notified those who have applied that their request has been declined in accordance with the PGA Tour tournament regulations. As such, tour members are not authorised to participate in the Saudi Golf League’s London event,” Monahan announced. “As a membership organisation, we believe this decision is in the best interest of the PGA Tour and its players.”

Initially, it looked like the PGA Tour would agree to tournament participation in the Saudi League that would not take place on U.S. soil. Now, however, the PGA Tour qualified that assumption on the grounds that “the event for which they have requested clearance is the first of an eight-event ‘2022 LIV Golf Invitational Series’ season, more than half of which will be held in the United States”.

PGA Tour players found to be in violation could face severe disciplinary action. In addition to suspensions, the punishment could even include revocation of PGA Tour membership.

Greg Norman: “We will not be stopped”

The PGA Tour’s announcement was promptly followed by a response from 67-year-old Greg Norman: “Sadly, the PGA Tour seems intent on denying professional golfers their right to play golf, unless it’s exclusively in a PGA Tour tournament. This is particularly disappointing in light of the Tour’s non-profit status, where its mission is purportedly ‘to promote the common interests of professional tournament golfers.” Norman calls the PGA Tour an “illegal monopoly” whose actions are both anti-golfer, anti-fan and anti-competitive. Undeterred by this latest setback, he says he and his team will not let the PGA Tour stop them.

Categories
Panorama

Speechless: Nobody expected this answer from Lydia Ko

Lydia Ko at the 2022 Palos Verdes Championship. (Photo: Getty)
Lydia Ko at the 2022 Palos Verdes Championship. (Photo: Getty)

Lydia Ko finished the Palos Verdes Championship in California on the shared third place. On the fourth and final day, it was noticeable that she had to be treated by her physiotherapist during the round. Her problem area: her back. Jerry Foltz of the news portal Golf Channel asked the 25-year-old after her round about the cause of this treatment.

Lydia Ko: “Honesty it is”

For Lydia Ko, there was a very simple answer to this question. However, she completely upset her interview partner with her honest explanation. He lost concentration and had no choice but to end the interview with a simple “thank you.” The South Korean woman’s words, “It’s that time of the month. I know the ladies watching are probably like, yeah, I got you. So, when that happens, my back gets really tight, and I’m all twisted. It’s not the first time that Chris has seen me twisted, but it felt a lot better after he came. So, yeah, there you go.” When Foltz didn’t know a response to Ko’s statement, she followed up with a laugh, “I know you’re at a loss for words Jerry. Honesty it is.”

Categories
Panorama

150th Open Championship expects more spectators than ever before

They are still empty: the spectator stands at the 150th Open Championship. (Photo: Getty)
They are still empty: the spectator stands at the 150th Open Championship. (Photo: Getty)

From July 14 to 17, 2022, the Open Championship will take place in St. Andrews. For the 150th time, the world’s best golfers will compete for the Major title. After the tournament had to be cancelled altogether in 2020 due to the Corona pandemic and was still held under tightened conditions last year, attendance figures are expected to break records in this year’s edition.

150th Open Championship: “Extraordinary demand from fans”

The previous attendance record for the Open Championship in Scotland was 239,000 in 2000, when Tiger Woods won his first European Major title here. That record is set to become history in this anniversary year. There is no shortage of demand in any case. “The 150th Open at St. Andrews will be a major event for golf, and that is clearly reflected in the extraordinary demand from fans,” announced Martin Slumbers, the R&A’s chief executive. More than 1.3 million fans are said to have applied for the popular tickets. 290,000 of them are expected to get the chance to be up close and personal at the event.

Fostering enthusiasm among young fans

Golf is known to be a sport where the older generations are most likely to be found. Attracting young talent and promoting youth sports also plays a role in the last Major of the year. Out of a total of 290,000 tickets, 20 percent of the tickets will be given to under-25s, including 20,000 free tickets for under-16s.

The R&A is already in talks with the Scottish Government and its health advisors in view of the high visitor numbers, in order to be able to offer the greatest possible security during Major week. Martin Slumbers is confident and full of anticipation: “We really appreciate their passion and enthusiasm for the Open and look forward to setting a new attendance record, far exceeding the previous best set in 2000.”

Categories
PGA Tour

Phil Mickelson signs up for PGA Championship and Saudi opener

Phil Mickelson is keeping all his options open. (Photo: Getty)
Phil Mickelson is keeping all his options open. (Photo: Getty)

The first tournament of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series kicks off in less than a month, and it will feature 15 golfers from the top 100 in the world rankings. This was reported by Sport Illustrated, citing a statement from LIV Golf. Among the 15 players is probably Phil Mickelson, who despite increased criticism in recent months wants to keep open the chance to participate in the first event in London. But that’s not the end of Mickelson’s return to tournament golf. The defending PGA Championship champion would like to start his comeback to the PGA Tour at this very tournament.

Phil Mickelson’s return to the tournament stage

Phil Mickelson is planning his return to the PGA Tour after withdrawing from all upcoming tournament starts for the time being in February as a result of heavy criticism. His proximity to the LIV Golf Invitational Series (formerly the Saudi Golf League) repeatedly brought him into the negative media spotlight last year, but now he wants to make his comeback and will start at the PGA Championship. Mickelson won the second major of the golf season last year. But his start at Southern Hills Country Club is not enough for Mickelson. At the same time, he applied for a permit to play in the first Saudi League tournament in June. A statement from his agency said, “We have also applied on his behalf for clearance to play in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational in London from June 9-11. This request meets the April 25 deadline set by the PGA Tour to participate in a competitive Tour event.” It is unclear at this time whether he will take advantage of this release, but he wants to keep all options open, the statement added.

15 players from the top 100 will compete in London

According to Sports Illustrated, 14 other players from the top 100 in the world rankings are taking advantage of the 30-day period before the start of the tournament. The names of those players remain non-public and are subject to confidentiality agreements, according to a spokesperson for the LIV Golf Invitational Series. So far, about 70 players have registered for the event, but with a planned field of 48 players, not all professionals will be able to compete. It remains to be seen how and according to which criteria the field of participants will finally be put together. It also remains to be seen how the PGA Tour will handle future Saudi Tour events on American soil. At this point in time, the PGA Tour does not want to issue any permits for participation in these events. This would affect at least two of the eight tournaments, with the tournament in Portland in early July, as well as other events at Trump National Golf Club and the scheduled team finale at Trump National Doral in Miami in late October.

Daly pleads for merger of tours

John Daly sees a simple solution to the eternal back-and-forth between LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman and PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. Daly is calling for the Saudi Tour and the PGA Tour to merge. To him, he says it’s the easy solution and also a great opportunity for golf. “I mean, you want to keep golf going and keep it strong, and the foundation of the European Tour and the foundation of the Asian Tour and the Australian Tour and all the tours and our tour the players have built through a lot of great sponsors that we’ve had. I just think it would be really good if they could work together instead of competing against each other.” He himself has not been offered a starting spot on the new tour, but he likes the concept and sees a great opportunity in the increase in prize money.