Author: Johanna Lakämper

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PGA Tour

The Players Championship money shower: PGA Tour sets records

The current defending Players Championship champion: Justin Thomas (Photo: Getty)
The current defending Players Championship champion: Justin Thomas (Photo: Getty)

It is The Players Championship time! The world’s best golfers meet on Ponte Vedra Beach on Thursday, for a very exciting week. The “unofficial fifth” major tournament will take place in Florida, and this year the prize money is higher than ever before.

A total of $20 M will be paid out to the tournament participants. That is five million more than last year. Read this article to find out how the prize money has increased year after year, even though “The Players” is not one of the four major tournaments.

PGA Tour not only increases the Players Championship prize money

That golf is only played by the “rich and famous” is an outdated cliché. The sport has long since developed more and more into a popular sport and offers everyone the opportunity to try it out. Looking at professional sports, however, one quickly realizes that a lot of prestige and, above all, money are at stake.

A good example of this is the prize money on the PGA Tour, which has reached a new record high this year alone. Jay Monahan, commissioner of the PGA Tour, stated at the beginning of the season that prize money for 2022 will increase “from $367 million to $427 million.”

In particular, the upcoming Players Championship in Florida will benefit. While the total prize money was $15 million last year, it has now been increased by another five million. From March 10-13, golf’s elite will meet at TPC Sawgrass to determine the winner of the PGA Tour’s highest-paying golf event.

The Players Championship reward over the years

When the Players Championship was first held in 1974, the total prize money was $250,000. The winner, Jack Nicklaus, received $60,000 for his victory at the time. Over the years, the prize money continued to increase. In 1987, for example, the “pot” cracked the one million dollar mark for the first time.

Another milestone was certainly the win of the tournament by Hal Sutton in 2000, who was able to collect over $1M for winning the tournament. Justin Thomas enjoyed a victory bonus of 2.7 million dollars in 2021. That sum will be surpassed again this year.

The Players Championship’ 22 reward

The winner of this year’s Players Championship will receive 3.6 million dollars alone. This means that the bonus for the winner has increased by an incredible sixty-fold from the beginning.

However, that prize money in golf as a whole has increased many times over since the 1970s. And that is not the end of the line. The PGA Tour already announced that the prize money of its flagship tournament will increase to $25 million by 2025.

For instance, the following table shows the win bonuses of the top 5 for the upcoming Players Championship.

Ranking Prize Money
1. $3,600,000
2. $2,180,000
3. $1,380,000
4. $980,000
5. $820,000

Players Championship eclipses major tournaments

Although the tournament at TPC Sawgrass is not one of the majors, it has something over the four competitions. It is the highest paying event on the PGA Tour. Compared to the Masters, which takes place in about a month at Augusta National Golf Club. The Players Championship offers near twice as much.

According to media reports, the premiums for the upcoming Masters amount to the $11.5 million from last year, while the Players Championship boasts as little as $20 million. Last year’s Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama’s victory bonus also represents just about half of this year’s Players Championship winner, at around $2 million.

Major comparisons

The 2021 British Open was also listed at a total of $11.5 million, while the PGA Championship gave $12 million and the US Open $12.5 million. Concrete figures for prize money in 2022 are not yet available.

The thought is that the PGA Tour is pushing up the Players Championship prize money to motivate major tournaments, over which Tour has no control, to follow suit.

Golf fans have plenty to look forward to when the balls start flying again at Ponte Vedra Beach on Thursday and the winner is determined from the field of prominent participants. The golfers themselves are also likely to be full of anticipation, after all the winner can expect not only 600 FedEx Cup points and a lot of prestige, but also the tempting sum of 3.6 million euros

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PGA Tour

The Players Championship: Bryson DeChambeau withdraws

Bryson DeChambeau also has to cancel the Players Championship due to injury. (Photo: Getty)
Bryson DeChambeau also has to cancel the Players Championship due to injury. (Photo: Getty)

Last week, Bryson DeChambeau could not start at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The American now also has to cancel his participation at The Players Championship of the PGA Tour. DeChambeau is out for at least another week and his comeback continues to be delayed. This means that the current number 12 in the world will not be teeing it up in Ponte Vedra alongside Phil Mickelson and Harris English.

Players Championship without Bryson DeChambeau

Due to persistent discomfort in his left wrist, DeChambeau will still not be able to return to the golf course this week either. Hayden Buckley will play on the spot of the 28-year-old star at the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

Another setback on his way to a comeback. After competing in the Saudi International on the Asian Tour in February, he forced to withdraw from the tournament after the first round due to wrist and hip problems. His last participation in a PGA Tour tournament this year dates back to January.

DeChambeau only made three tournament appearances in the 2022 calendar year, and the California native’s return is not clear due to his wrist and hip ailments.

Last year, he finished in a tie for third place at the Players Championship. Thus, the American celebrated his best result with the third participation in Ponte Vedra.

Is the Masters also in doubt for Bryson DeChambeau?

Because Bryson DeChambeau does not show fit enough to return to the golf course this week. The question arises whether the upcoming tournaments are yet to decide for the American.

In particular, of course, the Masters of Augusta is in the spotlight. When the elite of golf meets at Augusta National Golf Club from April 7-10, 2022, Bryson DeChambeau would certainly like to be part of the field.

After all, the first of the four major tournaments will offer around 2 million US dollars in prize money and a lot of prestige.

Categories
Panorama

Bryson DeChambeau in love with his new girlfriend

Hunter Nugent posted several shots of herself and Bryson DeChambeau. (Photo: Instagram/@hunter.nugent)
Hunter Nugent posted several shots of herself and Bryson DeChambeau. (Photo: Instagram/@hunter.nugent)

Recently, Bryson DeChambeau has hinted on Instagram that he seems to be back in the loving game. DeChambeau dates his new girlfriend, the one and only 21-year-old Hunter Nugent. In love, she posted a picture of a floral attention on Valentine’s Day: a bouquet full of red and pink roses. This photo DeChambeau shared on his page, confirming that there seems to be a new woman by his side. Bryson DeChambeau and his new girlfriend are surely trending topic all over social media now.

She also swings a golf club

On Hunter Nugent’s Instagram profile, in addition to other hints of a relationship between the two, we can see numerous shots of her on the golf course. She has been attending the University of Texas at San Antonio since the summer of 2021 where she plays for its Women’s golf team. There, she stated Dustin Johnson was her favorite golfer. Whether that is (still) entirely true… Who knows.

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Just a few weeks ago, she cut together a short film with video footage and photos, where she appears with Bryson DeChambeau in Hawaii. This romantic trip showed up on social media on January 19th – shortly after the Sentry Tournament of Champions on Maui. In addition to a selfie together on the beach, Nugent also shows brief scenes of DeChambeau on the golf course. Also in the game: Martin Borgmeier, German long-drive professional. As a friend and training partner of DeChambeau, he seemed to accompany the two lovebirds on Hawaii.

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Will we see more of the two in the future?

Bryson DeChambeau kept his previous relationship very private. Since 2018, Instagram model Sophia Phalen Bertolami was by the golf pro’s side. Most recently, it was unclear whether the two are still a couple or not. The new shots on social media of DeChambeau and Nugent answer the question pretty clearly. Perhaps there will be more insight into his new relationship.

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Ladies European Tour

Ladies European Tour: Swede Linnea Strom enters final day as leader

Hole 18 and 9 at Vipingo Ridge. (Photo: Twitter/@LETgolf)
Hole 18 and 9 at Vipingo Ridge. (Photo: Twitter/@LETgolf)

The Magical Kenya Ladies Open is taking place in Kenya this week. After Moving Day, Sweden’s Linnea Strom is in first place. Her 3-under-par gives her a two-stroke lead over second-placed Luna Sobron Galmes. The third place is shared by the two Germans Esther Henseleit and Sophie Hausmann with even par. Everything is still open for tomorrow’s final.

Full leaderboard of the Magical Kenya Ladies Open

Linnea Strom in the interview and the highlights of the Moving Day

Categories
European Tour

Ras Al Khaimah Team Challenge to debut on the DP World Tour

Al Hamra Golf Club will host the DP World Tour event. (Photo: Getty)
Al Hamra Golf Club will host the DP World Tour event. (Photo: Getty)

The DP World Tour’s commitment to innovation in the game of golf will be apparent once again next month when a new special event – the Ras Al Khaimah Team Challenge – takes to the fairways.

26 teams compete in scramble format

The one-day exhibition event will be played on Tuesday February 8 at Al Hamra Golf Club, in between the two tournaments already scheduled at the UAE venue; the Ras Al Khaimah Championship presented by Phoenix Capital (February 3-6) and the Ras Al Khaimah Classic (February 10-13).
 
The event will be shown live in the UK and Ireland on Sky Sports – who on Monday announced a two-year extension to their current agreement with the DP World Tour – and around the globe via the Tour’s expansive World Feed network. It will also feature across the Tour’s digital platforms.
 
The Ras Al Khaimah Team Challenge will feature 26 teams of two professionals per team in a stroke play event playing over nine holes in a classic Scramble format; ie: each team selecting the best drive and both players playing from there, then selecting the best second shot and both players playing from there until the hole is completed.

Keith Pelley expects a successful debut

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, said: “As well as celebrating the tradition of 72 hole tournaments within golf’s current ecosystem, we are always looking to do something different to continue to broaden golf’s appeal to fans around the world, and the fun exhibition that is the Ras al Khaimah Team Challenge will do just that. Most people who play golf will have played the Scramble format with their friends at their local clubs at some point, and I’m sure they will be intrigued to tune in to see how our professionals cope with this different and unique challenge.”
 
Following last week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links, the DP World Tour this week moves to neighbouring Dubai for the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic, the second consecutive $8 million Rolex Series event to start the 2022 calendar year.

(Text: DP World Tour)

Categories
European Tour

DP World Tour set for another exciting new chapter in Ras Al Khaimah

Al Hamra GC in Ras Al Khaimah is going to welcome the DP World Tour. (Photo: Getty)
Al Hamra GC in Ras Al Khaimah is going to welcome the DP World Tour. (Photo: Getty)

Danny Willett, Bernd Wiesberger and Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard will lead the field when the inaugural Ras Al Khaimah Championship presented by Phoenix Capital heralds another exciting new chapter on the DP World Tour.

The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah will host a DP World Tour tournament for the first time from February 3-6, when some of the Tour’s biggest stars battle it out at the spectacular coastal venue of Al Hamra Golf Club, which has previously hosted three Challenge Tour events.

Danny Willst is looking forward

Willett, who triumphed at Augusta National when he won the Masters Tournament in 2016, is a two-time winner in Dubai, just 100 kilometres southwest of Ras Al Khaimah along the Persian Gulf, and is looking forward to visiting a new Emirate next month.

“I have some great memories from my time in the United Arab Emirates,” said the Englishman, who won his eighth title at the 2021 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, on his 34th birthday. “It’s a place I’ve always enjoyed visiting and I’ve obviously won twice in Dubai, so it’s exciting that we have a new region to visit and a new golf course to play on this year.

“We always receive a warm welcome when we play in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and I expect it’ll be the same when we visit Ras Al Khaimah in a few weeks’ time.”

Bernd Wiesberger: “I really enjoy playing golf in the Middle East”

Like Willett, Wiesberger will start his 2022 campaign with consecutive events in the United Arab Emirates, starting with the back-to-back Rolex Series events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai before playing in Ras Al Khaimah for the first time.

The eight-time European Tour winner made his Ryder Cup debut last September at Whistling Straits, becoming the first player from Austria to represent Team Europe.

“Last year was a great year for me, with the win in Denmark and then making my Ryder Cup debut,” said Wiesberger. “I’ve worked really hard since returning from injury in 2019 to compete at the biggest events in golf and I want to continue pushing myself as we start an exciting new era on the DP World Tour.

“I really enjoy playing golf in the Middle East, the only thing I’m missing there is a victory, so I hope to have a strong start to my season in the UAE.”

Twin power by Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard

Last year, twins Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard made history by becoming the first brothers to win in back-to-back weeks on Tour. Rasmus earned his third DP World Tour title at Omega European Masters and Nicolai won the DS Automobiles Italian Open the following week.

Also joining the field in Ras Al Khaimah are former Ryder Cup Captains Thomas Bjørn, who led Europe to victory at Le Golf National in 2018, eight-time European Number One Colin Montgomerie and three-time Major Champion Pádraig Harrington.

Al Hamra Golf Club previously hosted the European Challenge Tour from 2016 to 2018, with the Challenge Tour Grand Final taking place in 2018. The Peter Harradine-designed layout will host the DP World Tour in back-to-back weeks, with the Ras Al Khaimah Classic also taking place at Al Hamra Golf Club from February 10-13.

(Text: DP World Tour)

Categories
Panorama

Does slow play worsen the result on the golf course?

Hideki Matsuyama waiting for his turn. (Photo: Getty)
Hideki Matsuyama waiting for his turn. (Photo: Getty)

Slow play is a daily topic of discussion in golf. A considerable number of top stars and amateurs criticize this playing behavior. For instance, Bryson DeChambeau makes the difference on and off the course for different reasons: his physicist mind, the power on his driver shots, and last but not least his slow playing. Kevin Na used to also be part of the slow players team for a while. Although Na managed to speed up his routine, the American golfer is back on the spotlight again. Every person has their pet peeves, and slow playing is definitely one of the most popular ones among golfers, which also shows in their opponents attitude. In fact, it results irritating and harder to focus for the other players in the group. The sport of golf is very mental, and the long waits play against that. Therefore, one slow player has the capacity to influence the performance of the opponents.

Study by Arccos: Slow play has a negative impact on the game result

Furthermore, slow play can have even worse consequences. For instance, there exists a study, the tracking platform Arccos Golf, which claims that slow play can even have a negative impact on scores, reports Golf Monthly magazine. The following chart shows the average scores measured by Arccos broken down by handicap strength and round time.

Arccos study on slow play (Photo: Arccos Golf)

Analyzing the data to conclude: Slow play has more downs than ups.

The data in the graph shows that the number of strokes increases as the golf match lasts longer. If the players needed 78.7 strokes for 3-3.5 hours of play, this number increased to 80.0 strokes for a golf match of 4.5-5 hours. These figures refer to the results of golfers with a handicap between 0 – 4.9. Also, the higher the handicap more strokes the players needed. For example, amateurs with a handicap between 15 – 19.9 had an average of 1.7 strokes more than their flight partners, who were two hours faster.
The data suggest that a more time-intensive game leads to a worse score. However, the reasons for this cannot be deduced from the statistics. Golf Monthly speculates that the main reason could be loss of concentration over that long time. If you think back to the reactions of Brooks Koepka to the slow play of Bryson DeChambeau, this explanation actually makes sense.

How meaningful is the study really?

The size of the dataset from which Arccos extracts these results, the time period over which they were collected or the gender and age distribution are unkown. The data probably comes from the rounds that Arccos recorded with their tracking tools. It would also be interesting to find out how this data differs, for example, when they differentiate between slow-play causers and slow-play sufferers. One thing is certain, however: the data is exciting for golf and it shows that speeding up your game surely pays off!

Categories
PGA Tour

BMW announces five-year agreement with the PGA TOUR and Western Golf Association

BMW wants to remain title sponsor of the BMW Championship. (Photo: BMW Group)

The BMW Championship will continue as the penultimate tournament in the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs, featuring 70 of the world’s best players competing for the 30 places at the season-ending TOUR Championship. Before BMW came on board as title sponsor, the tournament was known as the Western Open and was first held in 1899, making it one of the longest-running events on the PGA TOUR.

BMW Championship supports Evans Scholar Foundation with millions of dollars

“For the past 15 years, we have worked with our partners at the PGA TOUR and the Western Golf Association to host the top 70 players in the world at what has become one of the best, and most exciting events on the golf calendar,” said Sebastian Mackensen, president and CEO, BMW of North America. “The BMW Championship is not only a great way to showcase our brand and engage customers, but also a wonderful opportunity to raise money for the Evans Scholars Foundation and help so many young students to follow their dreams.”

Each year, proceeds from the BMW Championship benefit the Evans Scholars Foundation, which provides full tuition and housing scholarships for hard-working young caddies. Over the past 15 years, the BMW Championship has raised more than $40 million on behalf of the Evans Scholars Foundation and has helped send more than 3,000 students to college. This academic year, a record 1,070 caddies are attending 21 major colleges and universities on Evans Scholarships.

“Since 2007, BMW has been our valued partner and a steadfast supporter of both our championships and the Evans Scholars Foundation,” said John Kaczkowski, WGA president and CEO. “As title sponsor, BMW has fully embraced our mission, helping us transform the Evans Scholars Foundation into a truly national program. We’re excited and grateful for the opportunity to continue working together to change the lives of youth caddies nationwide.”

PGA Tour don’t want to miss the support of BMW

PGA TOUR commissioner Jay Monahan added: “We would like to express our sincere thanks to BMW for their continued support of the PGA TOUR and the Western Golf Association through 2027. The BMW Championship played an incredibly impactful role in launching the FedExCup in 2007 and BMW’s commitment to presenting a best-in-class event each year continues to elevate the FedExCup Playoffs.”

By extending its role as the title sponsor of the BMW Championship, BMW also strengthens its worldwide commitment to the sport of golf. This year, the company was Worldwide Partner of the Ryder Cup for the first time, and BMW will continue in this role when Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Rome, Italy) hosts the Ryder Cup in 2023. The premium automobile manufacturer will also continue to organise the BMW International Open in Munich (Germany), and remains title sponsor of the BMW PGA Championship in London (England) and the BMW Ladies Championship in Busan (South Korea).

Categories
European Tour

New ISPS HANDA – CHAMPIONSHIP becomes first DP World Tour Event in Japan

The ISPS HANDA - Championship is going to be on the PGM Ishioka Golf Club. (Photo: DP World Tour)

The tournament – which will be played at PGM Ishioka Golf Club in Omitama from April 21-24, 2022 – will be the first regular tournament in history to be co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the Japan Golf Tour. Previously, the only event on Japanese soil to feature on the DP World Tour schedule was the Olympic Men’s Golf Competition at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama last summer.

The vision of the ISPS HANDA-Championship

The 2022 ISPS HANDA – CHAMPIONSHIP will have a US$2 million prize fund and is the first event in a three-year agreement. It also deepens the European Tour group’s long-standing relationship with ISPS HANDA, the organisation founded by Japanese philanthropist Dr Haruhisa Handa in the belief that sport has the power to inspire, transform, and unite people and communities across social, racial and socio-economic barriers.

Keith Pelley, European Tour group Chief Executive, said: “The DP World Tour is a global tour and, as a result, we relish opportunities such as this to break new ground; in the process creating exciting golf tournaments for our fans worldwide and wonderful opportunities for our players and stakeholders alike. We recognise the continued vision and commitment of Dr Handa himself and thank everyone at ISPS HANDA for once again partnering with us, while we also welcome our new partners at the Japan Golf Tour. The ISPS HANDA Vic Open in Australia was the first ever tournament for men and women with an equal purse, a commitment to equality that we furthered with the ISPS HANDA World Invitational in Northern Ireland this year, which, co-sanctioned between the DP World Tour, LPGA, and Ladies European Tour, not only offered equal prize money to both men and women, but also hosted a disability golf tournament in tandem.”

Founder and Chairman of ISPS HANDA is proud and looking forward

Dr Haruhisa Handa, Founder and Chairman of ISPS HANDA, said: “ISPS HANDA is honoured and proud to be title sponsor of the first ever DP World Tour and Japan Golf Tour co-sanctioned event, and my sincere thanks go to the CEO of the European Tour group, Keith Pelley, and his team, and also to Chairman Isao Aoki and his team at the JGTO. ISPS HANDA has deepened its partnership with many tours around the world, but our relationship with the DP World Tour has become special in that we share the passion of using the power of sport in pioneering many ground breaking initiatives. We are excited to bring this partnership now to Japan, where we feel that our shared goals and visions in the power of sport will make a difference in my own country and beyond.”

Isao Aoki sees a great opportunity for the Japanese golf

Isao Aoki, Chairman, Japan Golf Tour Organization, said: “I am very happy that we will be able to hold a co-sanctioned tournament with the DP World Tour in April 2022, which was our long-cherished desire, and we can’t wait to hold it from now on. I am deeply grateful to the International Sports Promotion Society for their full support of the tournament. This is the first time a tournament which is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour has been held on Japanese soil, which the JGTO, all of our stakeholders, and golf fans in Japan have been waiting for. I am sure that the skill of the players who compete on the DP World Tour will not only attract Japanese golf fans but also stimulate the members of the Japan Golf Tour. On the other hand, the members of the Japan Golf Tour will have a great opportunity to perform in front of the world with this tournament as a foothold, and I’m sure our members will take advantage of this opportunity as much as possible. We are making various preparations for this great event in six months – please stay tuned.”

(Text: DP World Tour)