Author: Max Hollweck

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Highlights Tours

The Open Championship 2024: Si Woo Kim Makes First Hole-in-One

Si Woo Kim has played the first hole-in-one of the British Open 2024. (Source: Getty)
Si Woo Kim has played the first hole-in-one of the British Open 2024. (Source: Getty)

Huge cheers could be heard in the background of the broadcast of the British Open 2024. However, the reason for the fans’ ecstasy was not clear at first. It took a few minutes before the officials found the trigger and the scene was shown on TV. The image panned to the 17th tee of the Royal Troon GC, where Si Wo Kim was getting ready to tee off, and it quickly became clear that a hole-in-one must have been the reason for the so-called “Open Roar” that went through the crowd.

Si Wo Kim With the First Ace of The Open Championship 2024

And so it was. Like many other players that day, the South Korean took advantage of the favorable conditions and let his tee shot on the 217-meter par-3 hole come up just short of the green. After a forward bounce, it quickly became apparent that the ball was rolling perfectly towards the hole. The appreciative applause grew louder by the second as the ball approached its target. Just as Kim had almost turned around, the ball finally fell into the hole and the applause turned into cheers. The ace also did Kim good on the leaderboard. Thanks to the two strokes gained, the South Korean jumped back to even par for the day shortly before the end of the round and thus avoided losing places on the leaderboard.

Footage of the Hole-in-One

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Highlights Tours

Climate at The Open Championship 2024 Causes Problems for Bryson DeChambeau

Bryson DeChambeau struggled at the first round of The Open Championship 2024. (Source: Getty)
Bryson DeChambeau struggled at the first round of The Open Championship 2024. (Source: Getty)

Bryson DeChambeau, the two-time US Open Champion, began his campaign at the 152nd Open Championship with high hopes and expectations. Instead of advancing towards grasping the coveted Claret Jug, DeChambeau found himself languishing with a score of +5, placing him at T96 among the field. This unexpected performance has led to humorous comparisons with Rory McIlroy, who is faring even worse, two strokes behind DeChambeau.

Bryson DeChambeau Struggles with Equipment at The Open Championship 2024

DeChambeau, known as “The Scientist” for his analytical approach to golf, offered a detailed and scientific explanation for his underwhelming performance. According to him, the issue lies with his equipment and its incompatibility with the conditions at Troon. “I’m not achieving the necessary ball speed of 190 mph, especially when using my driver or 3-wood. These clubs are designed for such high speeds. Moreover, in these colder conditions, the ball doesn’t compress as needed, preventing me from hitting the desired parameters,” DeChambeau explained.

To understand this issue, it’s important to note the specifics of DeChambeau’s equipment. His Krank driver has a loft of just five degrees, and his 3-wood has a loft of nine degrees. Generating sufficient speed to launch the ball correctly with such low lofts is crucial. Golf balls also perform optimally at temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius. However, the temperatures at Troon ranged between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius during the first round, adding to DeChambeau’s challenges. He also uses a low-spin ball, which exacerbates the difficulty under these conditions. Essentially, his equipment is not well-suited for the typical conditions of a links course like Troon.

It’s worth noting that the weather during the practice rounds was significantly more favorable, potentially misleading DeChambeau regarding the suitability of his equipment. As the tournament progresses, it remains to be seen whether “The Scientist” can adapt his tools and strategy to overcome these challenges. Golf enthusiasts will be watching closely to see if DeChambeau can turn his fortunes around and climb up the leaderboard.

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Highlights Tours

The Open Championship 2024: The Victims of the Postage Stamp

The eight hole of the Royal Troon GC claimed plenty victims at the first day of The Open Championship 2024. (Source: Getty)
The eight hole of the Royal Troon GC claimed plenty victims at the first day of The Open Championship 2024. (Source: Getty)

Rory McIlroy continues to collect negative records instead of majors. His opening round of 78 (+7) at Royal Troon marked his worst major round since his 79 at the start of Royal Portrush in 2019. Even worse, the Northern Irishman ranked only 130th in the “Strokes Gained” category, on a course that demands the utmost precision. “I didn’t do my job well enough,” McIlroy admitted with some regret yesterday. “My new goal at this Open Championship can only be to go out today and somehow make the cut.”

Since his problems yesterday began on the infamous eighth hole, a closer look at the Postage Stamp is warranted, especially considering McIlroy’s double bogey made him one of its notable victims.

The Challenge of The Open Championship 2024: The Postage Stamp

The Postage Stamp, a mere 123-yard par-3, has always been a highlight of Royal Troon, a course that earned its royal designation in 1978, 100 years after its founding. Despite its short length, this hole has claimed many professional scalps over the years. Designed by Willie Fernie in 1881 and named after the distant Ailsa Rock, it was Willie Park Jr., a two-time Champion Golfer, who famously dubbed it the “Postage Stamp” due to its tiny 245-square-meter green.

Rory McIlroy’s struggles on the Postage Stamp stand out, especially given his stature in the golfing world. His double bogey there contributed significantly to his dismal opening round. “I need to be more precise, especially on holes like the eighth,” McIlroy reflected. The small green and the surrounding bunkers make the Postage Stamp a hole where precision and calm under pressure are paramount. In addition to the Northern Irishman, the difficult hole claimed other victims. Major winners Colin Morikawa and Wyndham Clark also recorded double bogeys and Tiger Woods and Ludvig Aberg each had to accept a bogey. However, the Postage Stamp can also reward precision. Yesterday, Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay demonstrated how to navigate this tricky par-3 successfully.

Despite—or perhaps because of—its unpredictability, the Postage Stamp remains a favorite among many professionals. It encapsulates the essence of links golf: challenging, strategic, and at times, unforgiving. For McIlroy, it was a reminder of the thin line between success and failure at the highest level.

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Highlights Tours

Olympics 2024: Why Is Rory McIlroy Competing for Ireland?

Rory McIlroy will compete for Ireland again at the 2024 Olympics. (Source: Getty)
Rory McIlroy will compete for Ireland again at the 2024 Olympics. (Source: Getty)

As in Tokyo 2020, Rory McIlroy has once again decided to compete for Ireland at the Olympic Games. McIlroy comes from Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and should therefore actually be competing for Great Britain. However, there is an exemption for athletes from Northern Ireland.

Rory McIlroy chooses Ireland for the 2024 Olympics

Northern Ireland has a unique position in international sport. Olympic athletes from Northern Ireland have the opportunity to compete for either the Republic of Ireland or Great Britain and Northern Ireland (effectively the United Kingdom). This choice reflects the complex and divided history of the region. “Team GB” is the name under which athletes from Great Britain compete at the Olympics, a name that does not directly include Northern Ireland. There have been calls in the past to rename the team ‘Team UK’ to reflect this inclusion.

McIlroy, who always played under the Irish flag in his youth, chose Ireland despite saying he felt more British. “I made it more difficult for myself than it needed to be,” McIlroy explained. “My thoughts were more about what other people would think. Once I put that behind me and just did what was right for me, the decision became easy. It was an internal battle with all those thoughts.” He continued, “Once I gave up trying not to upset anyone, the decision was pretty easy. I’m going to play golf for the country or nation I’ve always played for, from my junior and amateur days through to the professional game. Although the Olympics give me that choice, there really wasn’t a choice because I’ve played golf for Ireland all my life. Why should that change just because the tournament changes? That was my decision.”

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Highlights Tours

Ryder Cup 2025: Keegan Bradley Named US Captain

Keegan Bradley has been named captain of the US team for the 2025 Ryder Cup. (Source: Getty)
Keegan Bradley has been named captain of the US team for the 2025 Ryder Cup. (Source: Getty)

Keegan Bradley will captain the US team at the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York. After months of discussions and despite Tiger Woods, a 15-time major winner and eight-time Ryder Cup participant, being the clear favorite, Bradley was surprisingly chosen.

 
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Ein Beitrag geteilt von Ryder Cup USA (@rydercupusa)

Bradley Becomes the Youngest Captain Since Arnold Palmer

Bradley was already a contender for the captaincy of the US team in 2023, but was ultimately not selected. Less than a year later, he has now been named captain of the team for the 2025 Ryder Cup. At 38, he is the youngest Ryder Cup captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963. The two-time Ryder Cup participant played college golf at St. John’s University in Queens, just a short drive from Bethpage, and regularly competed in tournaments there. “I am incredibly honored to be given this opportunity to lead the U.S. team in the 2025 Ryder Cup,” Bradley said in a statement. “My passion and appreciation for golf’s greatest team event have never been stronger. The Ryder Cup is unlike any other competition in our sport, and this edition will undoubtedly be particulary special given the rich history and enthusiastic spectators at this iconic course. I look forward to starting preparations for 2025.”

 
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Tiger Woods turned down captaincy for the 2025 Ryder Cup

Tiger Woods, who had previously been considered the favorite for the role of captain, had to pull out due to his duties as Player Director on the PGA Tour Policy Board. The PGA of America delayed the appointment of a captain for months, hoping to clear the way for Woods to become captain, and even appointed former caddie and NBC Sports analyst John Wood as “team manager”. He was supposed to take on some of the captain’s workload. When still no major progress had been made in early July, Woods was forced to turn down the captaincy. However, he could still theoretically take part in the Ryder Cup as a player or vice-captain.

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Ladies European Tour

English Star Charley Hull Withdraws From Aramco Team Series Event

Charley Hull had to withdraw from the Aramco Team Series Event in London. (Source: Getty)
Charley Hull had to withdraw from the Aramco Team Series Event in London. (Source: Getty)

English golf star Charley Hull had to withdraw from the Aramco Team Series London at Centurion Club early on the first day of the tournament due to a shoulder injury. Hull played only six holes before making the difficult decision to pull out on medical grounds.

Shoulder Injury Forces Charley Hull To Withdraw

The decision came after Hull consulted with a physiotherapist following ongoing pain in her right shoulder, an injury she later revealed was the result of a “nasty fall” the previous Sunday. She took to social media to express her regret and disappointment: “Today I had to withdraw from [the Aramco Team Series London] following medical advice, due to ongoing pain in my right shoulder following a nasty fall on Sunday night. I’m so disappointed as I always love playing in this series, particularly in front of a home crowd.”

Hull also apologized to her fans, teammates, and the event organizers, expressing her sorrow for having to leave the competition prematurely. “Sorry to the fans who came out to watch, my playing partners for leaving you after 6 holes, and to all those behind the scenes who work tirelessly to make these events run so well,” she added.

In the tournament, Hull was playing alongside Annabel Dimmock and Christine Wolf. Hull, who was the squad’s captain, had selected her close friend and compatriot Dimmock with the final pick before the tournament, while Austrian golfer Wolf and an amateur player was randomly assigned to complete the team.

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Uncategorized

Golf History: All 59s and Better Rounds on the PGA Tour

Jim Furyk holds the record for the lowest round on the PGA Tour. (Source: Getty)
Jim Furyk holds the record for the lowest round on the PGA Tour. (Source: Getty)

Hayden Springer made headlines on the first day of the John Deere Classic by shooting a remarkable 59, joining an exclusive club of golfers. So far, only 14 such rounds have been recorded on the PGA Tour, with 13 rounds of 59 and one extraordinary round of 58.

Jim Furyk: The King of 59s

Jim Furyk is the only player who has ever achieved a round of 58 strokes. This historic feat was accomplished in 2016 at the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands, a par-70 course. Furyk needed 27 strokes on the front nine and 31 on the back nine, recording one eagle and ten birdies, including seven consecutive birdies from holes 6 to 12. This record still stands today. Furyk is not only the sole player to have a 58-round on the PGA Tour, but he is also the only one to have recorded two sub-60 rounds. In 2013, he shot a 59 during the second round of the BMW Championship at Conway Farms Golf Club, scoring one eagle, eleven birdies, and one bogey.

The history of 59-rounds begins with Al Geiberger, who broke this barrier in 1977 at the Memphis Classic on the Colonial Country Club course. It took 14 years for the next 59-round, achieved by Chip Beck at the Las Vegas Invitational in 1991. David Duval followed in 1999 at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic with a 59, which earned him the tournament victory. Notably, 2010 saw two players breaking the 60-barrier: Stuart Appleby at the Greenbrier Classic and Paul Goydos at the John Deere Classic.

In recent years, the frequency of these outstanding rounds has increased. In 2017, two players shot 59s: Justin Thomas at the Sony Open and Adam Hadwin at the CareerBuilder Challenge. Justin Thomas even won the tournament by seven strokes. The following year, Brandt Snedeker joined this exclusive club at the Wyndham Championship. In 2024, two more players achieved this feat: Hayden Springer at the John Deere Classic and Cameron Young at the Travelers Championship. Remarkable performances also include Kevin Chappell, who set a record with nine consecutive birdies at the Greenbrier Classic in 2019, and Scottie Scheffler, who became the second player to break the 60-barrier during the FedExCup Playoffs with his 59 at the 2020 Northern Trust.

The Lowest Rounds in PGA Tour History

Name Year Course Score Par
Jim Furyk 2016 TPC River Highlands 58 70
Al Geiberger 1977 Colonial CC 59 72
Chip Beck 1991 Sunrise GC 59 72
David Duval 1999 PGA West Palmer Course 59 72
Paul Goydos 2010 TPC Deere Run 59 70
Stuart Appleby 2010 TPC Old White 59 70
Jim Furyk 2013 Conway Farms GC 59 71
Justin Thomas 2017 Waialae CC 59 70
Adam Hadwin 2017 La Quinta CC 59 72
Brandt Snedeker 2018 Sedgefield CC 59 70
Kevin Chappell 2019 Old White TPC 59 70
Scottie Scheffler 2020 TPC Boston 59 71
Cameron Young 2024 TPC River Highlands 59 70
Hayden Springer 2024 TPC Deere Run 59 71
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What's in the Bag

Rocket Mortgage Classic 2024: WITB Cam Davis

Cam Davis wins with Titleist. (Source: Getty)
Cam Davis wins with Titleist. (Source: Getty)

Cam Davis claimed his second PGA Tour title with his victory at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Davis began his round with a bogey and responded with three birdies over the next six holes. A strong performance around the greens set him apart from the rest of the field, despite another bogey on 14, and a birdie on 17 moved him to 18 under par and into the shared lead, saving a par on 18 after missing the green with his second shot. His bag contains only Titleist clubs.

WITB: Cam Davis Wins Second Tour Title

(Image: Titleist)

Driver: Titleist TSR3

(Image: Titleist)

3 wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke

(Image: Titleist)

Driving Irons: Titleist T100

(Image: Titleist)

Irons: Titleist 620 CB

(Image: Titleist)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Spin Milled 10

Putter: Scotty Cameron TourType Special Select Masterful Prototype

(Image: Titleist)

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

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Panorama

Joe Biden And Donald Trump in a Golf Duel?

Joe Biden and Donald Trump also discussed golf during their duel. (Source: Getty)
Joe Biden and Donald Trump also discussed golf during their duel. (Source: Getty)

In the first presidential debate of 2024 on CNN between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, the two candidates discussed central political issues such as the Ukraine crisis and the war in Gaza, as well as their golfing abilities. When the question arose whether the candidates, despite their advanced ages, were still fit enough to run for the presidency, the discussion shifted to golf.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump boast about their golf skills

Donald Trump took the opportunity to emphasize his physical and mental fitness by referring to his recently won golf championships. “I just won two club championships, not seniors, regular club championships,” Trump boasted. “To achieve that, you have to be pretty smart and hit the ball far, which I can do. Biden can’t, he can’t hit the ball 50 yards.”

Joe Biden, who would be 86 years old at the end of a second term, responded calmly and pointedly to Trump’s taunts. He reminded everyone that during his time as Vice President, he was able to improve his handicap to an impressive six. “I’m ready to have a driving competition with him. I got my handicap down when I was Vice President,” Biden countered. The 81-year-old incumbent also proposed a golf match on the condition that Trump carry his own golf club. “I once told him before he was sworn in, when he came into the Oval Office, ‘I’ll give you three strokes if you carry your own bag,'” Biden told the crowd.

Both the 81-year-old incumbent Joe Biden and his 78-year-old challenger Trump have repeatedly faced criticism because of their high ages. At the first TV debate, the two candidates tried to use their enthusiasm for golf to highlight that they are still fit and vital despite their advanced ages.

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Panorama

Niall Horan Ventures into TGL Ownership

Singer Niall Horan and Rory McIlroy have been friends for years. (Source: Getty)
Singer Niall Horan and Rory McIlroy have been friends for years. (Source: Getty)

In a surprising move former One Direction heartthrob Niall Horan has acquired an ownership stake in Boston Common Golf. The singer-songwriter has long been associated with the sport through his friendship with golfing superstar Rory McIlroy.

Niall Horan Takes Ownership Stake in Tomorrow Golf League

Boston Common Golf, a team within the innovative Tomorrow Golf League (TGL), has welcomed Niall Horan as an investor. The TGL is an innovative indoor golf league created by Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods and is due to start in 2025. Other well-known investors include Serena Williams, Steph Curry and Justin Timberlake.

“I’m thrilled to be part of this venture that merges my passion for golf with the excitement of team competition,” Horan remarked in a statement released on the team’s official website. In addition to his role as an investor, Horan will also act as an ambassador for the team, according to a statement made on the golf team’s website.

Horan Served as a Caddie for Rory McIlroy

Horan has been in the golf business for some time now. From serving as a caddie for McIlroy during the prestigious Masters Par 3 Contest in 2015 to co-founding the successful golf management firm Modest! Golf. His new partnership with Boston Common Golf is the latest addition to Horan’s golf portfolio.

“I can’t wait to experience team golf in this unique format that merges technology with green grass play,” Horan said. “Being able to combine my love for the game and my friendship with Rory into a relationship that helps launch a new concept in golf is truly special.”

Boston Common Golf

Boston Common Golf is one of the six teams of the TGL. The team consists of the four Major winners Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama, Adam Scott and Keegan Bradley and is owned by the Fenway Sports Group. The investment group, headed by founders John Henry and Tom Werner, owns the Boston Red Sox, NASCAR’s RFK Racing, the Premier League’s Liverpool franchise and the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins.