Author: Julian Trips

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Panorama

Golf in the UK and Ireland defies the Corona pandemic

Golf is experiencing a real boom despite Corona (Photo: Getty).
Golf is experiencing a real boom despite Corona (Photo: Getty).

While other sports had to take a break for months and it was difficult to practice under pandemic conditions, golf emerged from the pandemic as the lucky winner. Studies from the UK show that the number of golfers has increased, especially in Great Britain and Ireland. It is even higher than before the pandemic.

Strong figures in the UK and Ireland

The company Sports Marketing Surveys has been investigating developments in a wide variety of sports for over 30 years and always finds surprising things. Golf is also constantly analyzed and new studies from Great Britain and Ireland come to the conclusion that the participation in golf in these countries in 2021 was significantly above the level before the pandemic. In figures, this means that 5.3 million people played a golf course with 9 or 18 holes in the UK and Ireland in 2021. For the research, which was undertaken by Sports Marketing Surveys on behalf of a number of major golf associations, this represents the second-highest number since the surveys began more than 30 years ago.

In the UK alone, there have been around 4.8 million people actively playing golf in 2021. In 2017, the number was just 3 million. Even though there is a small decline compared to the previous year (5.2 million), participation in golf remains high and it is also evident that not only many new players are joining the game, but that long-time golfers are also remaining loyal to the game.

The number of women in golf also continues to increase. While the percentage of women in the UK is now 34%, it is also on the rise in Ireland at 21%. Furthermore, not only did the number of golfers record the second highest number since data collection began, but visitor numbers to driving ranges in the UK also reported the second best result in over 30 years. More than 3.5 million Britons used a driving range last year. Incidentally, in Ireland, 18% of all people tried golf or found a way back into the sport during the pandemic.

Golf boom despite Corona pandemic

As mentioned at the beginning, some sports had to take a forced break in the past two years due to the Covid 19 pandemic in order not to endanger the health of the players. Not only sports, but also large parts of public life experienced restrictions and can now enjoy fewer restrictions again.

A major beneficiary during the pandemic, however, was golf. During the last two years, the sport experienced a real upswing, because the outside practice, in smaller groups and with sufficient distance was possible almost the whole time.

Of course, golf has not remained unaffected by the Corona crisis, but looking at the figures there is a significant increase in the number of players. And despite the gradual reopening of other leisure activities, the sport was able to record rising numbers last year.

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Panorama

Study shows: One in 20 would quit their job for a round at Augusta National

The Mecca of Golf: Augusta National Golf Club (photo: Getty).
The Mecca of Golf: Augusta National Golf Club (photo: Getty).

It is probably the dream of every amateur golfer to play at Augusta National Golf Club once in their life. An American study has now found out what people would be willing to do to be able to tee it up on the “holy” turf. The survey also shows how much people would be willing to pay and who they would play the round with if the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presented itself.

“Shave my head” is the undisputed number 1

In less than a week, the 86th Masters starts in Augusta. Reason enough to think about how far you would go to complete a round on the “holy” turf. The website time2play.com has dealt with precisely this question as part of a study and asked around 1,000 people this question and more.

By far the most common answer to the question “What would you do to play a round at Augusta National?” was “Shave my head.” 43.2% of all respondents would say goodbye to their hair in order to experience the 18 holes on what is probably the most famous golf course in the world. Also on the winner’s podium is “Stop drinking for a year” with 35.8%, closely followed by “Give up video games for three years” with 35.1%.

Other curious responses such as “Get a visible tattoo” or even “Put my kids up for adoption” can also be found among the answers. Somewhat surprisingly, one in 20 people would even be willing to give up their job just to be able to tee it off in Augusta. Giving away one’s own car, by the way, landed only on rank 14. Atleast a few people still have a little sense for clever decision because only 0.7% would be ready to give up their house for the 18-hole round. That would probably also be a bit too much of a good thing…

$1,165 for a round of golf at Augusta National with friends

The study also looked at how much people would be willing to pay instead of shaving their heads. The answers here ranged from $388 to well over $3,000. Of course, the sums differ depending on income, but on average, with an annual income of around $71,000, respondents are willing to pay a sum of $1,165 for an 18-hole round at Augusta. For the same money, you could book yourself a week’s vacation, but of course it’s up to each person to decide what they’d like to spend their money on.

If the opportunity to play on the “holy” turf should actually arise, the only question that remains is: Who should actually accompany me? The survey also found answers to this question. The top answer was: “With a friend. In second place was “Dad,” while third place went to the living legend of golf: Tiger Woods.

Other popular answers included spouses, siblings or other family members. But other famous names such as Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Jack Nicklaus, Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson also received more than 2% of the votes each.

In the end, it will probably remain just a dream for the majority anyway, because the venue of the Masters is probably the most exclusive golf course of its kind.

For more information on the study check out https://time2play.com/blog/what-golfers-would-do-to-play-augusta/

Categories
PGA Tour

WGC – Dell Technologies Match Play: Paul Casey gives up all three matches

Paul Casey completely withdraws from the WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play. (Photo: Getty)
Paul Casey completely withdraws from the WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play. (Photo: Getty)

Paul Casey played two holes Wednesday at the World Golf Championship-Dell Technologies Match Play before withdrawing from his match against Canadian Corey Conners because of back spasms. At that point, it was not yet clear whether Casey would be able to play his other two matches. On Thursday, however, he withdrew not only from his match against Alex Noren but also from Friday’s match against Louis Oosthuizen and is thus out of the tournament. Casey’s opponents will each receive the point for the match and Casey, with zero points from three matches, will receive at least $40,000 from the prize pool.

WGC: Back cramps force Paul Casey to retire

Casey took his time until his tee time on Thursday to make a decision. “The pain I’m feeling is in my lower back, on the left side, it’s like a cramp,” Casey explained. According to the physical therapist, it’s in the gluteal muscle, “It’s just one of those things when you’re approaching 40. But I think that’s what’s causing the pain and the cramping in my back. I’ve had them, I’ve had them probably four, five times in 20 years, but it’s, so it’s not an injury, it’s just, what is it? Fatigue? Could still be from the PLAYERS and the cold weather and everything and traveling.”

“I felt it on the chipping green and didn’t get past a 9-iron.”

With no chance of advancing into the weekend after missing two matches for Casey, he also decided to cancel Friday’s match against Oosthuizen. I mean, I can’t go through, so it’s kind of like, there’s no point. I hate to just give a guy a match, and that would be Louis tomorrow. I guess that makes it even, doesn’t it, I’ll give one to Corey, I’ll give one to Alex.”

The point doesn’t help Oosthuizen either, however, who lost his first two matches and is out like Casey, as only the group winner advances to the weekend. So Alex Noren and Corey Conners will make that decision between themselves on Friday. The winner of the match advances, the loser is out.

Categories
PGA Tour

WGC – Dell Technologies Match Play: Who’s gonna make it into the round of 16?

WGC Match Play: The possible round of 16 participants (photo: Getty).
WGC Match Play: The possible round of 16 participants (photo: Getty).

After day 2 of the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin, Texas, quite a few golfers still have the chance to reach the round of 16. But it will be tough for some players. Stars like Bryson DeChambeau or Patrick Cantlay, however, have already been eliminated after the second day of the tournament. We give an overview of which golfers still have a chance of advancing.

WGC – Dell Match Play: Clear conditions in several groups

Jon Rahm and Dustin Johnson, for example, have a good starting position. The two leaders in their respective groups only need a draw in the third match to advance. For sure, a win would also be enough to qualify. The same applies to the following players: Viktor Hovland, Brooks Koepka, Tyrrell Hatton, Billy Horschel, Lucas Herbert, Kevin Kisner, Matt Fitzpatrick and Seamus Power.

In other groups, too, some golfers already have a leg up in the round of 16 and have their advancement in their own hands. However, a draw in the third match will not be enough for them. These players will only advance to the knockout stage with a win: Richard Bland, Adam Scott and Abraham Ancer.

Tricky scenarios in groups 2, 10 and 14

While in some groups of the WGC Match Play a favorite already stands out, in other groups the outcome is still very open. A good example of this is Group 2: Collin Morikawa and Sergio Garcia have the best starting position with 1.5 points, but Jason Kokrak can still advance with currently one point. Fourth-placed Robert MacIntyre has already been eliminated.

If both Morikawa and Garcia, who are not playing each other, win, it would come to a playoff between the two. The same would happen in the event of a tie. If both lose their third match, Morikawa’s opponent Kokrak will be happy. Because in that case he would book his ticket for the round of 16. A playoff between Kokrak and Garcia is also still possible if Garcia only manages a draw and Kokrak wins against Morikawa. There are numerous scenarios possible, so it will remain exciting until the end of the group stage. That is precisely what the match-play format at the World Golf Championship is all about.

A similarly tricky situation arises in Group 14. Joaquin Niemann, Kevin Na and Maverick McNealy still have a chance of advancing.

The situation in Group 10 is completely different: Paul Casey has withdrawn due to back problems and Louis Oosthuizen has no chance of advancing. So only two players are still fighting for a place in the knockout stage. Corey Conners and Alex Noren will play a direct match to determine the group winner. If the match ends in a draw, there will be a playoff between, who would have thought it, Conners and Noren.

19 players already eliminated

After the second day at the Austin Country Club, it is definitely clear that 19 players no longer have a chance to advance. Among them are prominent names like Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Cantlay and Ian Poulter. The following golfers are also eliminated after round two: Patrick Reed, Sebastian Munoz, Robert MacIntyre, Cameron Tringale, Keith Mitchell, Marc Leishman, Tony Finau, Matthew Wolff, Louis Oosthuizen, Paul Casey, Keegan Bradley, Tom Hoge, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Russell Henley, Brian Harman and Erik van Rooyen.

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Uncategorized

Bizarre rules issue at the WGC – Dell Technologies Match Play: DeChambeau, Pieters and the sprinkler

the beneficiary of a rules interpretation at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play: Returnee Bryson DeChambeau (Photo: Getty).
the beneficiary of a rules interpretation at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play: Returnee Bryson DeChambeau (Photo: Getty).

On Bryson DeChambeau’s return to the PGA Tour, a curious interpretation of the rules occurred at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, which in the end even forced head referee Gary Young to make a statement. On hole 13, Thomas Pieters hit his ball directly into a sprinkler head before DeChambeau hit the exact same spot a few rounds later. But according to the referees’ decision, one received penalty-free relief, the other did not.

Matchplay: Bad luck for Pieters, good fortune for DeChambeau

After an entertaining first round of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, a referee’s decision caused a lot of discussion afterwards. Thomas Pieters, who was competing against Tom Hoge in Round 1, hit his ball directly into a sprinkler on hole 13 at Austin Country Club. With officials stating that the ball touched the marked penalty line in the area of the sprinkler head, Pieters received no relief and lost the hole. In the end, however, the Belgian still managed to win against Tom Hoge, so the rules interpretation did not put him at a consequential disadvantage.

Later that day, Bryson DeChambeau managed to get his ball into the exact same sport. However, because the rules officials around PGA Tour head referee Gary Young had already decided to move the marker line because of the Pieters incident on hole 13 so that the sprinkler head was no longer in the danger zone by now, a happier situation resulted for DeChambeau. Although the line had not yet been officially moved, BDC was allowed to drop his ball without another penalty stroke. In the end this decision of the referees was enough for him to draw against Richard Bland.

Referee Statement on Rules Chaos at WGC – Dell Match Play

After the curious decision by the officials, PGA Tour head referee Gary Young explained his actions: “Obviously, in match play, each match is its own individual story. To me, two wrongs don’t make a right. So to make the correction before Bryson’s match got there was important when we heard about the original ruling. When the golf course was marked the line got a little bit closer. Obviously, there’s a lot of wind when you’re marking these golf courses. The line got a little too close to it. It’s the great part of the fact that this is match play and we can make those changes because each individual match you could change something like that. If it was a stroke-play event, we would had to keep it that way through the entire day until all competitors finish their round and then make the change. But because of match play, we did it in between.”