Author: Kirsten Ross

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European Tour

European Tour: Belgium back in European Tour with Soudal Open

Pictured left to right: Bob Verbeeck (CEO, Golazo), Dimitri Rombouts (President, Rinkven International Golf Club), Vic Swerts (President, Soudal), Emmanuel Rombouts (President, Royal Belgian Golf Federation)

The European Tour will return to Belgium in 2022 with the announcement of the Soudal Open.

Golazo, the organiser of the event, Rinkven International Golf Club, Soudal – a leading producer of Sealants, Adhesives and PU foams – and the Royal Belgian Golf Federation are delighted to announce the return of Belgium’s national Open next year.

With a prize fund of €1 million, the Soudal Open will be held in May or June 2022 (exact dates to be confirmed) at The Rinkven International Golf Club in Schilde, near Antwerp. The tournament will be played over four days in a 72-hole strokeplay format with 156 players and a cut after the second round. A pro-am competition will be held on the Wednesday of the tournament week.

The three-year partnership with Soudal, revives the tradition of Belgium’s national Open which spans more than a century.

First played in 1910 at the Royal Golf Club of Belgium, the Belgian Open became part of the European Tour schedule in 1978 following the Tour’s inception six years earlier and it was last held as a strokeplay event at Royal Zoute Golf Club in 2000. It was then reborn in 2018 as the Belgian Knockout, an innovative format combining strokeplay followed by matchplay, which was staged for two years at Rinkven International Golf Club.

Vic Swerts, Founder and President of Soudal, himself an avid golfer, said: “As a global company present around the world, we are very proud to support such an important competition in Belgium. Our current Belgian champions shine around worldwide thanks to their amazing performances. We want to create an event that celebrates golf and becomes a place to be for all golf lovers in Belgium.”

Keith Pelley, CEO of the European Tour, commented: “Belgium has a strong tradition of European Tour events as well as history of producing some terrific talent, so we are delighted the country’s national Open will be part of our schedule again next year. Soudal is a fantastic partner for this tournament, and we are very happy that such a recognised global company is now part of the European Tour family.”

Emmanuel Rombouts, President of the Royal Belgian Golf Federation added: “The organisation of such a tournament is a real honour for our country and will certainly underpin the continued growth of our sport.

“Our current professional champions, as well as our future talents, will be able to benefit from a home tournament and we will be there to support them.”

Dimitri Rombouts, President of Rinkven International Golf Club, welcomed the announcement and said: “We are delighted and proud to welcome back the best Belgian and European players to our club after a two-year absence.

“We would like to thank the title partner Soudal and especially our member, Vic Swerts, for their support. Our members and all our staff will be at the service of this magnificent tournament.”

Bob Verbeeck, CEO of Golazo, said: “With the Soudal Open, we hope to recreate the magic of great golf tournaments in our country.

“We organise many golf events every year and an important tournament of this level fits well with our company’s vision.  We especially want to help with the accessibility of the sport as we believe it’s a great way for Belgians to exercise regularly.”

More information about the event and the full programme of activities will be announced later this year.

Meanwhile, the European Tour also announced it will co-sanction the 2021 Australian PGA Championship with the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

It will take place from December 2-5, 2021 at Brisbane’s historic Royal Queensland Golf Club and will form one of the early events on the European Tour’s 2022 schedule.

(Text: European Tour)

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Highlights Tours

US Masters: this is how much money the winner gets

It's always nice when hard work pays off. No one knows that better this weekend than Hidek Matsuyama. (Image: Getty)

Hideki Matsuyama, the winner of the 2021 US Masters, gets more than 2 Million USD. But the rest haven’t gone home with nothing.

The US Masters is not only the most prestigious golf tournament in the world, it is also one of the most lucrative for anyone who can get relatively close to the top of the leader board.

But the Masters even makes a millionaire out of the runner-up. This year, American runner-up Will Zalatoris, got himself to second place in his very first time competing at the tournament and is going home with a hefty sum.

Here’s the full list of what each player gets:

Winner: Hideki Matsuyama, -10, $2,070,000

2: Will Zalatoris, -9, $1,242,000

T3: Xander Schauffele, 281/-7, $667,000

T3: Jordan Spieth, 281/-7, $667,000

T5: Marc Leishman, 282/-6, $437,000

T5: Jon Rahm, 282/-6, $437,000

7: Justin Rose, 283/-5, $385,250

T8: Corey Conners, 284/-4, $345,000

T8: Patrick Reed, 284/-4, $345,000

T10: Tony Finau, 285/-3, $299,000

T10: Cameron Smith, 285/-3, $299,000

T12: Stewart Cink, 286/-2, $218,500

T12: Brian Harman, 286/-2, $218,500

T12: Si Woo Kim, 286/-2, $218,500

T12: Robert MacIntyre, 286/-2, $218,500

T12: Kevin Na, 286/-2, $218,500

T12: Webb Simpson, 286/-2, $218,500

T18: Tyrrell Hatton, 287/-1, $161,000

T18: Collin Morikawa, 287/-1, $161,000

T18: Scottie Scheffler, 287/-1, $161,000

T21: Harris English, 288/E, $119,600

T21: Viktor Hovland, 288/E, $119,600

T21: Shane Lowry, 288/E, $119,600

T21: Phil Mickelson, 288/E, $119,600

T21: Justin Thomas, 288/E, $119,600

T26: Abraham Ancer, 289/+1, $79,925

T26: Paul Casey, 289/+1, $79,925

T26: Cameron Champ, 289/+1, $79,925

T26: Matt Jones, 289/+1, $79,925

T26: Louis Oosthuizen, 289/+1, $79,925

T26: Ian Poulter, 289/+1, $79,925

T26: Charl Schwartzel, 289/+1, $79,925

T26: Bubba Watson, 289/+1, $79,925

T34: Matt Fitzpatrick, 290/+2, $60,663

T34: Ryan Palmer, 290/+2, $60,663

T34: Michael Thompson, 290/+2, $60,663

T34: Matt Wallace, 290/+2, $60,663

T38: Martin Laird, 291/+3, $52,900

T38: Henrik Stenson, 291/+3, $52,900

T40: Christiaan Bezuidenhout, 292/+4, $43,700

T40: Mackenzie Hughes, 292/+4, $43,700

T40: Sebastián Muñoz, 292/+4, $43,700

T40: Joaquin Niemann, 292/+4, $43,700

T40: Bernd Wiesberger, 292/+4, $43,700

T40: Gary Woodland, 292/+4, $43,700

T46: Bryson DeChambeau, 293/+5, $33,503

T46: Tommy Fleetwood, 293/+5, $33,503

T46: Brendon Todd, 293/+5, $33,503

49: Jason Kokrak, 295/+7, $29,900

T50: Billy Horschel, 296/+8, $28,635

T50: José María Olazábal, 296/+8, $28,635

52: Francesco Molinari, 297/+9, $27,600

53: Jim Herman, 298/+10, $27,140

54: Adam Scott, 299/+11, $26,680

Check the scorecards of players from this weekend at Augusta National here.

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Highlights Tours

WATCH: US Masters 2021 Final Round Highlights

Hideki Matsuyama becomes the first person from Japan to win not just the Masters, but any golf major.

Here’s everything you need to know about this historic final round in 2 minutes.

Matsuyama’s victory this year makes him the first Japanese player to win a major and the only player representing Asia to win the Masters.

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Highlights Tours

US Masters: the first-timer from Scotland in the top 10 after round 3

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Robert MacIntyre has made quite the Masters debut so far. The 24-year-old is at T10 after playing 2 below in round 3.

Macintyre is trailing leader Hideki Matsuyama by 9 shots and logged 6 birdies in his third round.

The current world number 45 (and world’s highest ranked lefty) grew up in the north western Scottish coastal town of Oban. As a teenager he played shinty for the Oban Camanachd, a traditional Gaelic sport similar to hockey and rugby.

Soon enough, he swapped his “caman” for a golf club.

After a rocky but relatively commendable first round of 74, he shot 70 on Friday and Saturday.

As if it weren’t a remarkable enough performance for his first time at the Masters, MacIntyre, who turned pro in 2017, has so far only one European Tour win under his belt, the Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Showdown.

As of Friday, MacIntyre has made the cut in all four major events he has played, with the Masters being the last one where he hadn’t yet played.

It’s safe to say that he’s one to keep on the radar!

Fellow Scotsman Martin Laird, 38, carded a third round of 72 to find himself at T29 position and trailing leader Hideki Matsuyama by 12 shots. Laird, currently ranked 100 in the world golf ranking, registered 2 birdies in his third round.

Overall, Hideki Matsuyama is in first position at the Masters Tournament as we head in to the final round. The Japanese player logged a round of 65 to finish ahead of Xander Schauffele, Marc Leishman, Justin Rose and Will Zalatoris, who are in joint second place.

The Masters Tournament is being played from April 8th until the 11th of April 2021 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia (USA). This year a total prize money of $ 11.500.000 will be paid to the players. The course for the tournament at Augusta National Golf Club plays at Par 72.

Top-5 Leaderboard: Masters Tournament

PosNameTodayTotal
1Hideki Matsuyama-7-11
T2Xander Schauffele-4-7
T2Marc Leishman-2-7
T2Justin Rose0-7
T2Will Zalatoris-1-7
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Highlights Tours

WATCH: Highlights Round 3 US Masters

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Golf Post’s quick update from the third round of the US Masters 2021.

We’ve packed everything you need to know before the final round in to less than 2 minutes.

Follow along to this year’s Masters with our live scoreboard.

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Highlights Tours

US Masters: Rory McIlroy misses the cut for the first time since 2010

Image: Getty

Many big names won’t be playing this weekend at the Masters. In a brutal first round on drier, firmer conditions than the November Masters last year, many of the most well-known names in golf struggled to turn things around before the end of yesterday’s second round and didn’t make the cut.

Perhaps most notably among these names is Dustin Johnson, who won last year’s Masters event by 5 strokes at a record-breaking 20 under par just six months ago.

But for fan favourite Rory McIlroy, 31, things have been askew long before he accidently hit his own father in the crowd in an errant approach shot on the seventh hole on Thursday.

McIlroy carded and opening round of 76 at Augusta National this and 74 on Friday finishing six over par, missing the cut by three shots.

“He’s starting to doubt himself, confusion in his swing and nobody’s ever played well with a whole lot of thoughts in your head, commented Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley on Sky Sports.

“There’s a lot of work to be done.

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 09: Rory McIlroy reacts on the 18th green during the second round of the Masters. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

“I think the best thing for Rory is a few weeks in the sunshine on a beach somewhere and clear his head. Sometimes the harder you try at this game the harder it gets, no matter how talented you are.”

McIlroy himself refused to talk to the press after yesterday’s round.

Follow our live Masters scoreboard to keep up to date.

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Highlights Tours

US Masters: UK Player Update Before Round 3

Image: Getty

Masters: Justin Rose is in first position at the Masters as we head in to round 3. The Englishman scored a round of even par to finish at -7, only one shot ahead of Will Zalatoris and Brian Harman who are tied for second place. Rose leads by 1 shots after posting 4 birdies on his way to a second round of 72. 

Here’s our quick run down of the UK Players at the Masters 2021 as we go in to round three later today: 

Tommy Fleetwood carded a second round to find himself in T21 position and trailing leader Justin Rose by 7 shots. Fleetwood, currently ranked 24 in the world golf ranking, logged 5 birdies in his second round.

Matthew Fitzpatrick  and Scotsman Robert MacIntyre join Fleetwood in position T21

Tyrrell Hatton carded 1 after the second round at position T32. The Englishman recorded a 74 at Augusta National in the second round of the Masters Tournament.

Martin Laird, currently number 100 in the world golf ranking, also found himself in T32 position and trailing leader Justin Rose by 8 shots. Laird, recorded 5 birdies in his second round.

Matt Wallace currently number 48 in the world golf ranking finished in T40 position and is trailing leader Justin Rose by 9 shots. Wallace, currently ranked 48 in the world golf ranking, registered 3 birdies in his second round.

Ian Poulter, who has no major titles to his name, carded 3 over after the second round at position T47. The Englishman played the course at the Augusta National in 73 shots in the second round of the Masters Tournament.

The Masters is being played from April 8th until the 11th of April 2021 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia (USA). This year a total prize money of $ 11.500.000 will be awarded to the players. The course for the tournament at Augusta National Golf Club plays at Par 72.

Top-5 Leaderboard: Masters Tournament

PosNameTodayTotal
1Justin Rose0-7
T2Will Zalatoris-4-6
T2Brian Harman-3-6
T4Marc Leishman-5-5
T4Jordan Spieth-4-5

Show complete leaderboard of Masters Tournament

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Highlights Tours

WATCH: Rare interview with Bernhard Langer Masters 2021

Image: Getty

Golf Post was invited to take part in an exclusive interview with Bernhard Langer after yesterday’s first round.

From Lee Elder to shuttle buses, find out what the two-time Masters Champion had to say about his experience at yesterday’s event.

Follow the second round of this year’s Masters with live scoring from Golf Post.

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Highlights Tours

Masters: Jordan Spieth caught “lucky break” despite triple bogey

Augusta National made a point to remind players who’s boss during the first round of the Masters this year.

For the most part, players were struggling all day to cope with the drier, firmer conditions at Augusta compared to the postponed event in November last year.

Very few players managed to come in under par and only 3 broke 70.

While Justin Rose is firmly in the lead after round 1, Jordan Spieth is among the relatively few players who played under par yesterday.

A round of extremes

The 2015 Champion played a triple bogey on the ninth hole in Augusta during the first round.

Spieth, who won his first PGA Tour title last weekend after almost four years, didn’t let it get him down. He shot a birdie directly after on the 10th, and then came his stroke of “luck” on the par 5 15th where he carded an eagle.

“That was very, very lucky,” the 27-year-old said afterwards, ” probably the luckiest break I’ve ever gotten out here, if not anywhere, because that was at least a three-shot break.”

He hit his third shot up on to the green with a six-iron.

“If it didn’t hit the pin, it wasn’t just going in the water. It might have gotten to the middle of the water”.

Luckily for Spieth, the shot went much better than expected and he finsihed yesterday’s round with a commendable 71, 6 shots off the lead.

Follow along to the Masters 2021 with live scoring updates from Golf Post.

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Reports

Bernhard Langer talks to Mercedes-Benz: Mercedes-Maybach GLS

Image: Mercedes-Benz
Image: Mercedes-Benz

Earlier this week you were able to experience the Mercedes-Maybach GLS. What do you think of the car?

BL: I really like it. It’s a fantastic car, both visually and in terms of luxury and space. This for sure is the benchmark when it comes to a luxury SUV. Mercedes-Maybach stands for luxury at its best and this is the proof point. Beyond the interior and exterior design, which I really like, I especially appreciate the comfort. I guess you can’t get more comfort within a SUV. Definitely the perfect choice when you go on a (golf) trip with friends or family.

If you could take your family and friends out on a trip in the Mercedes-Maybach GLS. Where would you go?

BL: I guess in the US it could be almost everywhere, but definitely outside the big cities and closer to mountains and nature. Colorado and Utah would be good spots. In Europe it would be definitely the
Alps. I could imagine starting at my hometown in Bavaria and from there straight to the Alps – yes, that would be the perfect route.

This week at The Masters, all players get their very own dedicated Mercedes-Benz. Do you prefer a shuttle service or driving by yourself like this week at the Masters?


BL: Oh, I like being shuttled but it is always nice to hold the steering wheel yourself. It calms me down and lets me have a relaxed start into the day. The approach to the ANGC’s premises on
Magnolia Lane towards the club house is always a special sight. In addition, my own vehicle provides me with added safety as part of all the measures to protect against COVID-19.

After a dedicated Mercedes-Benz car at Augusta, what and where will you be driving next?


BL: I will be enjoying my own Mercedes-Benz back in Florida. I really like driving my own car, especially when I have the chance to take it to tournaments on the PGA Tour Champions.

You also were able to take a seat in the all-new Mercedes-Benz EQS with its Hyperscreen. What were your thoughts when you had a look at this feature?

BL: This for sure is the biggest screen I have ever seen in a car. But it makes perfectly sense and means a new level of driving assistance. It is like your personal caddy in your car. With its curved form, it reminds me of a golf hole from above.

(Text: Mercedes Benz)