Category: Highlights Tours

MacIntyre has his eyes on the prize at Betfred British Masters

Post author By Kirsten Ross
Post date April 23, 2021

Robert MacIntyre will aim to end a more than 20 year wait for another Scottish victory at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett after confirming he will tee it up at The Belfry from May 12-15, 2021.

MacIntyre is riding the crest of a wave after encouraging debut performances at both the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, where he reached the Round of 16, and the Masters Tournament, finishing in a share of 12th and booking a return to Augusta National in 2022 in the process.

The 24-year-old finished joint runner up in the 2019 British Masters at Hillside – the first year of Betfred’s title sponsorship of the popular tournament which returned to the European Tour’s schedule in 2015 after an eight-year absence.

He is now hoping to go one better and follow in the footsteps of Bernard Gallacher, Sandy Lyle, Colin Montgomerie, Gary Orr and Sam Torrance as Scottish winners of the British Masters since the Tour’s inception in 1972, as he aims for a second European Tour victory, adding to the maiden title he won at the Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Showdown last November.

“I’m really excited to play at The Belfry for the first time in my career,” said MacIntyre, who moved inside the Top 50 in the World for the first time in February. “It’s an iconic venue and one that is steeped in history with its Ryder Cup and European Tour heritage.

“Some of the most iconic names in Scottish golf have won the British Masters and I’d love to add my name to that list. I came close to winning this event two years ago at Hillside and I feel as though I learned a lot from that experience of being in contention down the home stretch.”

Also joining MacIntyre and tournament host Danny Willett at The Belfry are British Ryder Cup players Jamie Donaldson, Stephen Gallacher, David Howell, Andy Sullivan, Oliver Wilson and Chris Wood.

Last year’s winner Renato Paratore, of Italy, will bid to defend the title he won last year at Close House as the Betfred British Masters marked the full resumption of the European Tour’s 2020 season following a three month pause due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

The 24-year-old finished three strokes ahead of nearest challenger Rasmus Højgaard at Close House as he produced a superb display of front-running to win his second European Tour title.

“I’m really looking forward to defending my British Masters title,” said Paratore. “I’m very proud of the way I played at Close House, especially after returning from the break in the middle of the season. I had worked really hard on my game last year and in the build up to the tournament, so it was very rewarding to see that pay off.”

The Betfred British Masters marks the next stage in European Ryder Cup Qualification where all points earned on the European and World Points Lists will be multiplied by two, as the race to be part of Captain Pádraig Harrington’s team continues. MacIntyre is currently just outside the automatic qualification spots as he bids for a debut Ryder Cup appearance at Whistling Straits in September.

Text: European Tour Communications

Tags Betfred British Masters, Robert MacIntyre

European Tour Highlights Tours

BMW International Open: Major winners Kaymer, Harrington, García, Oosthuizen and rising star Hovland head strong field

Post author By Kirsten Ross
Post date April 20, 2021

This year’s BMW International Open will once again see a top-class field battle it out for the title at Germany’s most prestigious professional golf tournament. Making his first appearance will be Norway’s rising star Viktor Hovland, who will be taking on a selection of major winners, Ryder Cup stars, tournament legends and an impressive German quartet.

The decision whether to allow spectators and, if so, how many, will be taken over the coming weeks in close cooperation with authorities and the European Tour. Until then, tickets will not go on sale. Organiser BMW will offer all golf and sport fans an extensive and multimedia tournament experience.

“After the unavoidable cancellation of the tournament last year, we are delighted that Munich will host world-class golf again in June, and that we are able to continue the history of the BMW International Open, which stretches back as far as 1989,” says Christian Masanz, Head of Sports Marketing BMW Germany. “Recent months have shown that professional tournaments can be run safely with appropriate concepts in place. Health and safety takes top priority, even if this unfortunately means that we are unable to allow as many spectators, if any at all. We are working closely with the European Tour and authorities on various scenarios.”

The following players have already confirmed their participation in the 2021 BMW International Open:

Martin Kaymer: In 2008, the two-time major winner won the 20^th BMW International Open at the age of 23 years and 177 days. This makes Kaymer the youngest winner in the history of the tournament, and the only German to lift the coveted trophy.

Viktor Hovland: The rising star from Norway is set to make his debut in Munich this year. At just 23 years of age, the world number 15 (as of 19^th April) has already established himself among the very best in the world and has his sights set on a first Ryder Cup appearance this year.

Padraig Harrington: The current European Ryder Cup captain and two-time major winner is a welcome guest at the BMW International Open. The Irishman may not have won the tournament yet, but he and Retief Goosen came very close in 2006, missing out in a play-off to eventual winner Henrik Stenson.

Sergio García: The 2017 Masters winner was part of an all-Spanish play-off in 2011, which went down in the annals of the BMW International Open as the most dramatic conclusion in the history of the tournament. In the end, García had to settle for second place behind Pablo Larrazábal.

Bernd Wiesberger: The Austrian has claimed eleven tournament wins over the course of his career – however, victory at the BMW International Open is still missing from his collection. His best result to date: fourth place in 2013.

Louis Oosthuizen: At the start of the millennium, the South African was a regular guest at GC München Eichenried. However, he has yet to claim a top-ten finish. The biggest success of his career so far came at the legendary Old Course in St. Andrews, when he won the Open Championship in 2010.

Rafa Cabrera Bello: The Spaniard is a popular regular at the BMW International Open and has been in contention at Germany’s most prestigious tournament on several occasions. In 2010 he was third. Four years later, he went one better, finishing runner-up after a play-off.

Thomas Bjørn: With two wins to his name, the Dane is the joint record winner of the BMW International Open alongside Paul Azinger, Pablo Larrazábal and Henrik Stenson. The 2018 Ryder Cup captain won the tournament in 2000 and 2002.

Andrew Johnston: “Beef” made his debut at the BMW International Open in 2012. Since then, the Brit has regularly featured in the high-class field – and has always been hugely popular with the fans at the course. Alongside the German contingent, Johnston is always one of the crowd favourites.

Stephan Jäger: The man from Munich, who grew up around the corner from the venue in Eichenried, returns home again in 2021. In April, Jäger celebrated his sixth tournament victory on the US Korn Ferry Tour – and he would love to repeat the feat on the European Tour.

Alex Cejka: Second place in 2003, third in 2004 and 2010: Alex Cejka regularly hits top form at the BMW International Open. Now 50 years old, he played at the inaugural tournament back in 1989.

Max Kieffer: A BMW International Open without Max Kieffer? It’s hard to imagine! Kieffer is in excellent form: just two days ago, the German narrowly missed out on his first European Tour victory, coming up just short in a play-off.

As well as a total prize purse of 1.5 million euros and 2,750 Race to Dubai points, the pros will also have their sights set on a spectacular Hole-in-One Award at the BMW International Open. The first player to hit an ace on the 17^th hone (par 3) will be rewarded with a BMW iX. The BMW iX heralds a new era of mobility. The BMW Group’s new technology flagship impresses thanks to sheer driving pleasure with zero local emissions, the sportiness you have come to expect from BMW, efficiency, and excellent range, as well as a holistic understanding of sustainability that is of implemented consistently from scratch.

(Text: BMW Press Release)

Tags BMW, live-european-tour

Highlights Tours

European Tour: Kaymer hopeful of comeback win in Austria

Post author By Elena Reiter
Post date April 14, 2021

Martin Kaymer hopeful of comeback win at Austrian Golf Open. (Image: Getty)

Martin Kaymer has arrived at this week’s Austrian Golf Open, confident of clinching a result which can kick-start his 2021 campaign and help him back on the path to Ryder Cup and Major glory.

The two-time Major winner drove from his home in Germany to Diamond Country Club, in Atzenbrugg near Vienna, with his eyes on the prize as he targets a route back to the kind of form which made him a World Number One and 11-time European Tour winner.

Kaymer’s form has improved event-by-event this year and he enters this week following a top 20 finish in his last European Tour appearance at the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investments Advisors.

Home hope Matthias Schwab is regarded as one of the favourites this week, especially after a strong weekend in his most recent appearance at the Kenya Savannah Classic supported by Absa, where he carded 66-65 in the final two days to finish in a share of seventh place.

Another player who finished in a share of seventh position in the most recent event in Kenya is Joost Luiten, a man who has enjoyed an enviable record in this event – in his seven appearances he has recorded one win, two top threes, two further top tens and two further top 20s.

Martin Kaymer says he’s happy to be in Austria

“I like to come to Austria. It’s a nice country with good food, good golf courses. This week it’s a great golf course, it’s just the weather; nobody can influence it. It’ll be a good week and there will still be one winner on Sunday.

“I played 18 holes yesterday, which was an interesting one because it was almost snowing. It was very difficult to see how the golf course will play once the first day comes. Maybe the weather will improve a little bit, but I think it will be a battle.

“It’s difficult to see the ball flying with the cold. But it’s a week that I always prefer, it’s a country I like to come to, it’s close to my home country – I could drive here this week. There’s a lot of comfort for me.

“The top 50 in the world is huge, you can get into all of the Majors and the WGC events and once you can do that you can play yourself into events that I haven’t played in a couple of years, and I still haven’t given up on The Ryder Cup.

“The Ryder Cup is huge and it was a real pain not to be part of the team in France. I know I’m quite far away right now but I feel like I’m doing a lot of things right at the moment to have a good summer.

“If I could get a couple of big results, that would make a big difference for me. Knowing that I’m very close – or I feel like I’m close – but you still need the results. No one cares how you feel, as long as you don’t put the right results on the scorecard and that’s something I’m longing for.”

Matthias Schwab is finally back on home turf

“It’s always nice to have a home Open. I’ve played here quite a lot of times so I almost feel like I’m at home, although I live three hours from here. I think the first time was 11 years ago as an amateur and I’ve come back five, six, seven times, I’m not sure.

“I know the course, I know the people that work here, I know the head of the club and they’re all very friendly and I’d say they’re all fans of me, so I like to come back here and I hope to have a good week.

“The home support is obviously not that big this year with no spectators but the local knowledge I think is nice to have, it is a bonus. Looking back, say in Kenya, I didn’t really know the course and I’m still quite new to the Tour, I consider myself quite new so a lot of time I go to places for the first time and I have to learn the course, the layout, the strategy and all that stuff, but here I don’t have to do that anymore.

“I’ve played the course enough times and I know the changes from the last year or two, I’d say. I feel good about the course; I know where to go and where not to go. Obviously it will play a little bit different in the conditions we face this year, but I think it’s definitely a bonus week.”

Joost Luiten is coming in with confidence

“I’m feeling good, the game is good. I had two weeks off, I’ve been practicing at home. I’m feeling ready to go this week. I’m using the practice days to get used to the conditions, it’s a bit nippy today!

“For some reason I like this course, it just suits my eye. You’ve got to hit the ball well, you’ve got to hit the greens so if I can play my game I know I can play well on this golf course and I know I can win on this golf course.

“It always helps when you’ve won in the past, you always go to that venue with a little bit more confidence and hopefully I can bring out on to the golf course this week.

“My game is always about consistency, hitting fairways and hitting greens and if I can putt well then I should be up there on Sunday which happened a couple of times. I couldn’t finish it last year but I think I’m very consistent with the ball-striking and if that’s there every week you’re never going to be far off scorewise.”

Text: European Tour

Tags Austrian Golf Open, live-highlight-tours, Martin Kaymer, Matthias Schwab

Highlights Tours

US Masters: this is how much money the winner gets

Post author By Kirsten Ross
Post date April 12, 2021

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.

Tags Hideki Matsuyama, live-masters

Highlights Tours

WATCH: US Masters 2021 Final Round Highlights

Post author By Kirsten Ross
Post date April 12, 2021

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.

Tags gp-video, live-masters, Video

Highlights Tours

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

Post author By Kirsten Ross
Post date April 11, 2021

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.

Teuchters have arrived ?????????? ?@TheMasters pic.twitter.com/J2IhJ01flv
— Robert MacIntyre (@robert1lefty) April 5, 2021

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

Pos	Name	Today	Total
1	Hideki Matsuyama	-7	-11
T2	Xander Schauffele	-4	-7
T2	Marc Leishman	-2	-7
T2	Justin Rose	0	-7
T2	Will Zalatoris	-1	-7

Tags live-masters, Robert MacIntyre

Highlights Tours

WATCH: Highlights Round 3 US Masters

Post author By Kirsten Ross
Post date April 11, 2021

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.

Tags gp-video, live-masters, Video

Highlights Tours

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

Post author By Kirsten Ross
Post date April 10, 2021

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.

Tags live-masters, professionals-rory-mcilroy

Highlights Tours

US Masters: UK Player Update Before Round 3

Post author By Kirsten Ross
Post date April 10, 2021

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.