Category: European Tour

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European Tour

Vierumäki Finnish Challenge: Helligkilde Secures Title

Marcus Helligkilde of Denmark poses with the price check after winning Vierumaki Finnish Challenge. (Photo: Getty Images)

Round four report

Marcus Helligkilde recorded a season-low 23 under par total as he went wire-to-wire to claim his maiden European Challenge Tour title at the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge..

Starting the day with a five-stroke lead, the 24-year-old was in control in Finland as he picked up shots on the ninth and 12th holes.

A double-bogey on the 16th brought Sweden’s Jesper Svensson into contention, but a birdie on the last sealed a two-stroke victory as he signed for a one under par final round. Svensson settled for second place on 21 under par, his best result in four Challenge Tour appearances.

Helligkilde surpassed Craig Howie’s 22 under par 266 aggregate total from the Range Servant Challenge by Hinton Golf, where he finished runner-up to the Scotsman.

The Dane, who climbs 22 places to eighth on the Road to Mallorca Rankings, was overjoyed at securing his maiden title in such dominant fashion and believes managing his mental game played a vital role in his triumph.

“I’m lost for words,”

he said “It feels so nice and I am very happy. I think my success was down to a combination of things; the biggest factor was my mental game and how I managed myself around the course.”

Helligkilde was delighted with his all-round display as he took advantage of the few penalty areas present at Vierumäki Resort, enabling him to hit 17 greens despite sometimes being out of position off the tee on day four in Vierumäki.

“I hit my driver a lot as there were not so many penalty areas out there and if it was in the trees I could still chip towards the green. Good course management and conservative approach play into the greens was key.”

“The first three rounds everything was just perfect and I was striking the ball so pure. Today was more difficult because I hit 17 greens but only managed to one-putt once and that was at the 18th. I love being here in Finland, especially Vierumäki, this is an amazing place to play golf.”

Belgium’s Christopher Mivis finished third on 17-under-par, while three-time Challenge Tour winner Espen Kofstad’s nine under par round of 63 was enough to share fourth place with Frenchman Ugo Coussaud. Englishman Joe Long, Denmark’s Niklas Nørgaard Møller and Swedish duo Pontus Nyholm and Jesper Kennegard share sixth place on 15 under par.

The Road to Mallorca now visits Helligkilde’s motherland for the Danish Swing, with the Made in Esbjerg Challenge – Presented by Freja & TotalEnergies taking place from August 11-14, followed by the Sydbank Esbjerg Challenge from August 17-20.

Scores after round four:

265 M HELLIGKILDE (DEN) 61 67 66 71, 
 267 J SVENSSON (SWE) 66 67 66 68, 
 271 C MIVIS (BEL) 68 69 69 65, 
 272 E KOFSTAD (NOR) 69 69 71 63, U COUSSAUD (FRA) 66 68 70 68, 
 273 J LONG (ENG) 70 65 73 65, P NYHOLM (SWE) 66 67 73 67, N M?LLER (DEN) 66 69 68 70, J KENNEGARD (SWE) 66 65 71 71, 
 274 J FREIBURGHAUS (SUI) 70 71 70 63, T CLEMENTS (ENG) 64 67 71 72, 
 275 J KO (FRA) 69 68 72 66, A GARCIA-HEREDIA (ESP) 65 69 74 67, T WIDING (SWE) 64 72 70 69, D HUIZING (NED) 70 68 68 69, 
 276 B HUTCHINSON (ENG) 66 67 73 70, 
 277 R KAKKO (FIN) 69 70 71 67, O HUNDEB?LL (DEN) 64 68 77 68, D FOOS (GER) 68 68 72 69, J K?LBING (GER) 69 69 68 71, 
 278 J AXELSEN (DEN) 67 74 68 69, B NEIL (SCO) 69 67 73 69, N REGNER (AUT) 68 67 73 70, 
 279 J DANTORP (SWE) 65 75 69 70, 
 280 J YATES (IRL) 72 66 73 69, T BALTL (AUT) 70 71 69 70, R VAN WEST (NED) 70 71 70 69, E FERGUSON (SCO) 71 66 73 70, N JOHANSSON (SWE) 70 71 70 69, H ARKENAU (GER) 70 69 73 68, H ELLIS (ENG) 72 68 72 68, C BERARDO (FRA) 70 67 72 71, L NEMECZ (AUT) 68 68 71 73, 
 281 M CARLSSON (SWE) 68 69 74 70, J MURPHY (IRL) 68 72 71 70, T BESSA (POR) 69 69 72 71, R PETERSSON (SWE) 70 71 72 68, 
 282 P KUEST (USA) 67 73 70 72, V MEYER (GER) 68 70 72 72, M GRADECKI (POL) 67 73 72 70, O LINDELL (FIN) 69 71 74 68, A PENDARIES (FRA) 69 72 74 67, A ARIZABALETA (COL) 66 72 68 76, 
 283 F MORY (FRA) 67 70 73 73, R DAWSON (IRL) 64 73 75 71, R CONRADIE (RSA) 65 74 76 68, 
 284 P MCBRIDE (IRL) 68 70 73 73, C BLOMSTRAND (SWE) 69 68 75 72, C ROSS (SCO) 69 70 74 71, B VIRTO (ESP) 68 69 77 70, C CANNON (ENG) 70 70 74 70, I CANTERO GUTIERREZ (ESP) 70 71 73 70, M LINDBERG (SWE) 69 71 75 69, 
 285 F BERGAMASCHI (ITA) 71 66 76 72, J SUGRUE (IRL) 72 69 72 72, P EDBERG (SWE) 72 68 69 76, M FENASSE (FRA) 69 72 74 70, J BEKIRIAN (FRA) 69 72 74 70, A LINTUNEN (AM) (FIN) 70 68 79 68, 
 286 T MURRAY (ENG) 68 69 74 75, 
 287 D LANGLEY (ENG) 65 76 73 73, A AHOUA (FRA) 71 70 75 71, 
 288 C O’ROURKE (IRL) 73 66 79 70, 
 289 M HONKALA (FIN) 70 69 76 74, H DU PLESSIS (RSA) 75 66 76 72, 
 291 B PETURSSON (ISL) 73 68 77 73, M SVENSSON (SWE) 70 71 77 73, 
 292 M ROHWER (RSA) 69 71 79 73, 
 293 A PLANT (ENG) 71 68 77 77, 
 294 M WIEGELE (AUT) 67 72 79 76, 
 **
 OUT S HENRY (SCO) 68 73 79 RT, 
 **
 142 D KEMMER (USA) 73 69, S GANDON (FRA) 72 70, J GIRRBACH (SUI) 71 71, K ULENAERS (BEL) 71 71, K KOIVU (FIN) 69 73, L SCALISE (ITA) 66 76, T TETAK (AM) (SVK) 71 71, C SAHLSTROM (SWE) 71 71, L CIANCHETTI (ITA) 67 75, J MAICAS (ESP) 72 70, Y PAUL (GER) 66 76, P MEJOW (GER) 73 69, R KARLSSON (FIN) 68 74, 
 143 A TOSTI (ARG) 70 73, I SAULO (FIN) 73 70, G KRISTJANSSON (ISL) 72 71, D QUINONES (USA) 72 71, M BREMNER (RSA) 75 68, O GILLBERG (SWE) 68 75, A HIDALGO (ESP) 69 74, L RUUSKA (FIN) 68 75, B GILL (ENG) 71 72, F SCHOTT (GER) 68 75, H GODDARD (ENG) 67 76, S FORSSTR?M (SWE) 67 76, 
 144 B MACPHERSON (AUS) 72 72, S GREGORY (ENG) 77 67, S GROS (FRA) 73 71, N HELLBERG (FIN) 71 73, J FLOYDD (ENG) 70 74, M EGGENBERGER (SUI) 72 72, G BLOOR (ENG) 72 72, 
 145 A KLUIBENSCH?DL (AUT) 70 75, J JONES (CAN) 73 72, A JOHN (GER) 72 73, A BJORNSSON (ISL) 72 73, D CAREY (IRL) 74 71, M ELVIRA (ESP) 71 74, F JORDANSSON (SWE) 73 72, M LUNDBERG (SWE) 73 72, P L?NGFORS (SWE) 71 74, M ORTOLANI (ITA) 71 74, S FERNANDEZ (ESP) 73 72, T ROSENM?LLER (GER) 70 75, 
 146 M BELTRAN (ESP) 74 72, F DAUX (FRA) 77 69, G CASTAGNARA (ITA) 68 78, V PASTOR (ESP) 74 72, E ISOMETSA (FIN) 72 74, A AHOKAS (FIN) 71 75, E JOHANSEN (NOR) 72 74, D RAVETTO (FRA) 76 70, E LIPPARELLI (ITA) 73 73, 
 147 M ORRIN (ENG) 73 74, M HIRMER (GER) 71 76, 
 148 J SAAREKS (AM) (FIN) 72 76, C SIMBERG (FIN) 72 76, ? ZACH (CZE) 74 74, A HIETALA (FIN) 72 76, P BAEK (DEN) 74 74, P EROFEJEFF (FIN) 77 71, J GRIS (FRA) 72 76, 
 149 T SALMINEN (FIN) 77 72, J LANDO CASANOVA (FRA) 70 79, J KAHLOS (FIN) 75 74, S WORTELBEOR (SUI) 77 72, B HELLGREN (SWE) 74 75, S SANTALA (FIN) 76 73, V VISKARI (AM) (FIN) 73 76, M GALIANO AGUILAR (ESP) 74 75, 
 150 N KRISTENSEN (DEN) 78 72, A MYLLYMAKI (FIN) 75 75, M LUOMA (AM) (FIN) 77 73, 
 151 E MYLLYMAKI (FIN) 75 76, J JOLKKONEN (FIN) 74 77, 
 152 D BORDA (ESP) 72 80, 
 153 I SCHEZ-PALENCIA (ESP) 76 77, M LAMPERT (GER) 76 77, H SHERIDAN – MILLS (ENG) 77 76, E HAAVISTO (AM) (FIN) 70 83, 
 154 A KOPP (AUT) 78 76, 
 155 H WOAN (ENG) 77 78, 
 156 M VEIJALAINEN (FIN) 77 79, 
 159 A CUENCA (ESP) 74 85, 
 163 H HILBURGER (AM) (GER) 84 79, 

Interview transcript by European Tour Communications

Categories
European Tour

Hero Open: Forrest cuts down the competition

Grant Forrest celebrating his triumph at the Hero Open. (Photo: Getty Images)

Final Round Report

Grant Forrest became the first Scotsman to win on home soil in nearly a decade as he triumphed at the Hero Open at Fairmont St Andrews.

The 28-year-old started the final round in a share of the lead with compatriot Calum Hill and the pair traded blows on the front nine as they both made the turn in 33 shots. The turning point of the afternoon came on the tenth hole as Hill double-bogeyed the par four, with Forrest making birdie for a three-shot swing.

Forrest then birdied the 11th to move to 23 under par and he was joined on that number by Englishman James Morrison who made a late charge with a nine under par round of 63. Forrest lost the lead after a bogey on the 16th, but he recovered with a birdie on the 17th and left himself two feet for birdie – and victory – on the 18th.

Forrest tapped in the putt in front of the home fans, signing for a six under par round and a 24 under par total, also securing the first Scottish win on home soil since Paul Lawrie triumphed at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in 2012.

Morrison finished second, two strokes ahead of Spain’s Santiago Tarrio who continued his incredible recent form with a 21 under par round. Hill and compatriot David Law shared fourth place on 20 under.

Player Quotes

Grant Forrest: “So many emotions. To do it in front of everyone who has come up to support me, the last year and a half has been a real challenge on and off the course. I’m delighted, it’ll take a while to sink in.

“I hit a poor shot into 16 and tried to be a bit too safe and three putted, I saw the scoreboard and knew what I needed to do. The big thing all day was one shot at a time, just keep hitting shots. I hit a great nine iron into 17, nice and close, that really helps. And two great shots into 18, it was a great way to finish.

“It means so much. We’ve been through quite a lot as a family. To do it here, it’s what I’ve always dreamed of, winning a European Tour event. I can’t believe it.

“It’s one thing doing well in amateur golf but turning pro and doing it week-in, week-out on different golf courses. I’ve had to make a lot of improvements and changes to my game to get to this point. It’s just really fulfilling to see it come off this week.

“Golf’s a funny game, you never know when it’s going to click and when it’s going to be your week. Last week was the complete opposite – things didn’t go our way at all. You keep doing the right things, trusting that and fortunately this week was our week.”

Final Scores:
 264 G FORREST (SCO) 68 68 62 66, 
 265 J MORRISON (ENG) 69 66 67 63, 
 267 S TARRIO (ESP) 67 65 67 68, 
 268 D LAW (SCO) 67 67 66 68, C HILL (SCO) 63 68 67 70, 
 271 C HANNA (USA) 65 68 69 69, M JORDAN (ENG) 67 66 68 70, 
 272 N KEARNEY (IRL) 71 69 66 66, J WALTERS (RSA) 68 64 71 69, 
 273 S KIM (USA) 69 65 73 66, B EASTON (RSA) 67 69 71 66, C PAISLEY (ENG) 66 72 69 66, G PORTEOUS (ENG) 69 69 68 67, B HENSON (USA) 67 67 67 72, L BJERREGAARD (DEN) 67 62 71 73, 
 274 M KAWAMURA (JPN) 73 68 69 64, A QUIROS (ESP) 66 69 73 66, S SHARMA (IND) 67 67 73 67, H LEON (CHI) 67 70 70 67, C SHINKWIN (ENG) 69 68 69 68, T TREE (ENG) 67 68 69 70, M FORD (ENG) 70 66 68 70, 
 275 Y CHANG (KOR) 70 67 72 66, C HOWIE (SCO) 75 65 67 68, R MCEVOY (ENG) 70 66 70 69, D HILLIER (NZL) 69 70 67 69, J SMITH (ENG) 68 68 66 73, 
 276 E DE LA RIVA (ESP) 68 67 74 67, R RAMSAY (SCO) 67 69 71 69, 
 277 W BESSELING (NED) 72 71 66 68, O FARR (WAL) 71 69 68 69, J CALDWELL (NIR) 64 70 70 73, 
 278 M SOUTHGATE (ENG) 72 68 74 64, 
 279 R FOX (NZL) 74 69 69 67, J CAMPILLO (ESP) 72 70 70 67, J DONALDSON (WAL) 73 67 70 69, N VON DELLINGSHAUSEN (GER) 66 72 69 72, 
 280 L SLATTERY (ENG) 68 74 73 65, D GAVINS (ENG) 71 72 70 67, A OTAEGUI (ESP) 67 70 75 68, A LEVY (FRA) 69 74 68 69, G BHULLAR (IND) 76 67 68 69, M ARMITAGE (ENG) 72 69 70 69, D DRYSDALE (SCO) 71 67 73 69, T KOIVISTO (USA) 69 71 71 69, B DREDGE (WAL) 75 67 68 70, R SCIOT-SIEGRIST (FRA) 65 68 71 76, 
 281 G MOYNIHAN (IRL) 70 73 70 68, L VAN MEIJEL (NED) 76 67 70 68, A CHESTERS (ENG) 71 71 71 68, D PERRIER (FRA) 72 68 73 68, A SULLIVAN (ENG) 73 67 73 68, 
 282 D YOUNG (SCO) 75 68 72 67, K REITAN (NOR) 67 73 73 69, D VAN DRIEL (NED) 71 67 74 70, 
 283 M BALDWIN (ENG) 75 67 74 67, C PIGEM (ESP) 74 69 72 68, M SIEM (GER) 70 73 72 68, J HANSEN (DEN) 74 68 72 69, S HEND (AUS) 72 69 71 71, R FISHER (ENG) 65 75 70 73, R PARATORE (ITA) 75 67 66 75, 
 284 K BROBERG (SWE) 77 66 75 66, F KENNEDY (AM) (ENG) 72 71 73 68, A KARLSSON (SWE) 72 70 72 70, R SANTOS (POR) 72 69 72 71, P FIGUEIREDO (POR) 68 71 74 71, 
 285 D WHITNELL (ENG) 73 68 74 70, M KINHULT (SWE) 71 71 68 75, 
 286 A CA?IZARES (ESP) 73 70 73 70, J MCLEOD (AUS) 75 67 72 72, 
 289 G STAL (FRA) 69 74 74 72, A BAUTISTA (AUS) 72 70 74 73, R ENOCH (WAL) 72 69 71 77, 
 296 S CHAWRASIA (IND) 76 67 75 78, 
 **
 144 J SURI (USA) 75 69, A SANDHU (IND) 77 67, T GANDY (IMN) 78 66, N ELVIRA (ESP) 71 73, R LUMSDEN (SCO) 73 71, S JAMIESON (SCO) 71 73, O WILSON (ENG) 76 68, D COUPLAND (ENG) 76 68, C SYME (SCO) 73 71, S GARCIA RODRIGUEZ (ESP) 73 71, S KJELDSEN (DEN) 74 70, G STORM (ENG) 76 68, D VAN TONDER (RSA) 74 70, A ZEMMER (ITA) 71 73, L GAGLI (ITA) 73 71, N H?JGAARD (DEN) 75 69, P ERIKSSON (SWE) 74 70, M SIMONSEN (DEN) 76 68, 
 145 G FDEZ-CASTA?O (ESP) 75 70, C WOOD (ENG) 75 70, B HEBERT (FRA) 76 69, P PETERSON (USA) 77 68, L SHEPHERD (AM) (ENG) 73 72, P WARING (ENG) 71 74, B RITTHAMMER (GER) 72 73, S KAPUR (IND) 72 73, 
 146 F LAPORTA (ITA) 71 75, O FISHER (ENG) 76 70, E PEPPERELL (ENG) 74 72, C SORDET (FRA) 79 67, H LI (CHN) 77 69, L JOHNSTON (SCO) 78 68, J SANDBORG (SWE) 74 72, B EVANS (ENG) 71 75, D DIXON (ENG) 74 72, 
 147 P DUNNE (IRL) 79 68, N LEMKE (SWE) 77 70, P O’HARA (SCO) 75 72, H PORTEOUS (RSA) 73 74, 
 148 S YONGCHAROENCHAI (THA) 75 73, M WARREN (SCO) 78 70, R WILLIAMS (ENG) 75 73, E CUARTERO BLANCO (ESP) 72 76, C SHARVIN (NIR) 73 75, 
 149 R ROCK (ENG) 76 73, D LAWSON (AUS) 78 71, 
 150 G FOX (SCO) 74 76, J KASKE (FIN) 73 77, M SCHMITT (GER) 77 73, 
 151 J WRISDALE (ENG) 80 71, S GALLACHER (SCO) 80 71, M SCHMID (GER) 80 71, A COCKERILL (CAN) 80 71, J GEARY (NZL) 76 75, D PAPADATOS (AUS) 72 79, 
 152 J WINTHER (DEN) 79 73, R MCGOWAN (ENG) 80 72, D HORSEY (ENG) 81 71, D HOWELL (ENG) 77 75, E WALKER (SCO) 79 73, B POKE (DEN) 81 71, A SADDIER (FRA) 75 77, 
 153 T MCKIBBIN (NIR) 79 74, P ANGLES (ESP) 79 74, 
 154 R WATTEL (FRA) 78 76, 
 161 C DOAK (SCO) 90 71, 
 162 J BOLTON (ENG) 83 79, 
 **
 OUT J STALTER (FRA) 83 WD, 

Interview transcript by European Tour Communications

Categories
European Tour

English Open 2021. Home hopefuls excited for special week in St Andrews

Richie Ramsay looks forward to playing at home in Scotland at the English Open 2021

European Tour
Tournament: Hero Open
Race to Dubai: Tournament 27 of 42 events
Venue: Fairmont St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland
Prize Fund: €1,250,000
Hashtag: #HeroOpen

Tournament Preview

Richie Ramsay is delighted to be teeing it up on home soil once again as the European Tour returns to Scotland for its second of three events on the 2021 Race to Dubai at this week’s Hero Open at Fairmont St Andrews.

The 38-year-old recorded his best result at the Scottish Open in five years last month, finishing in a share of 15th, and hopes to carry that momentum into this week’s event in the historic town of St Andrews.

Ramsay is one of 17 Scotsmen in the field, joined by the likes of 2014 Ryder Cup player and winner of the 2019 Hero Indian Open Stephen Gallacher and fellow European Tour winners Scott Jamieson, David Law and Marc Warren.

The next generation of Scottish stars are also well represented this week in Fife, with Grant Forrest, Calum Hill, Liam Johnston and Connor Syme among those going in search of maiden victories on the European Tour

Returning to the site of his Scottish Championship presented by AXA victory last year is Spaniard Adrian Otaegui, who carded rounds of 62-70-70-63 to win his first strokeplay title on the European Tour by a margin of four shots.

Player Quotes

Richie Ramsay: “I’m really happy with how I’ve been playing. The start of the season was a bit slow, but I showed a lot of patience and perseverance. It was easy to get frustrated with the form at the start, but I took the view that I need to be the best I can be every day and just try and stick with that and enjoy that process.

“I’ve reaped the rewards of that in playing well at the Irish and Scottish. A steady week in Wales. I just need to watch the expectations don’t get too high and I stay in that nice, patient process where I’m positive. The three Ps. Try and get into the mix on Sunday and put myself there or thereabouts and have a shot to win.”

David Law: “I’m feeling good. I’m excited. It’s always nice to play in Scotland. It was the first time we came to this golf course last year and I really enjoyed it. The weather is a little different to what it was last October, hopefully it’ll continue like this.

“You need to putt well. There’s plenty of chances out there if you give yourself the opportunity. It’s more of a second shot golf course, iron play needs to be good. There’s a couple of tough tee shots, but it’s not overly demanding off the tee, it suits the guys who are good iron players and good putters.”

Connor Syme: “I’ve been up here quite a few times and had a few looks at the course over the course of the year. My friend Jordan is a member up here as well, we’ve managed to come up for a few knocks which is nice. It’s always nice to play at home and I’m in my own bed.

“The scoring was really low last year, I thought it would be 16 or 17 under but Adrian ended up shooting 23 under which is an amazing score. I don’t think it’s quite as firm and the rough isn’t quite as thick as last year, but it still has the same challenges around the greens. It’s very much off the tee, as the case is with most links courses, just getting in play off the tee and you’ll have some chances. The course is setting up well.”

Adrian Otaegui: “I have really good memories and feelings. With this weather it’s a dream to be back and very nice to get the feeling back from playing the course, walking the holes again. Awesome views today with this good weather. I’m very happy to be back here at the Fairmont.

“It was very satisfying, the way the whole week went, the way I managed it. A very, very good first round. The second and third rounds were very important, they were only two under rounds, but that was key. I didn’t play my best, as good as Thursday and Sunday, but I still managed to shoot under par, keep up there on the leaderboard and a very good final day gave me the win. I was very pleased with the way I played and the way I managed the week.”

European Tour Communications

Categories
European Tour

Clements rejuvenated ahead of Vierumäki Finnish Challenge

(Photo: Getty Images)

Tournament preview

Todd Clements is feeling revitalised ahead of the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge, which takes place at Vierumäki Resort from August 5-8.

The 24-year-old opted to take a four-week break from the European Challenge Tour and has therefore not played since the Kaskáda Golf Challenge at the start of July where he missed his sixth cut of the season.

Clements admitted that a break was needed due to the unremitting nature of the Tour and believes it has given him time to reset before an important run of events.

“The Challenge Tour is a grind,”

he said. “It’s relentless week-in-week-out and you’re just having a go at finishing at the top because it’s top 20 or nothing really. It’s a brutal Tour but really enjoyable in other ways.

“I took a few weeks off, so it has been nice to take a bit of a break from the game and just enjoy being at home for a little while which has been quite refreshing. I’m buzzing to get back out, see a few of my friends and hopefully play some good golf.”

The Englishman is inspired by fellow countrymen on the European Tour, including close friend Richard Mansell who finished fourth on the Road to Mallorca Rankings last season and is hoping that a strong performance in Finland can ignite an upturn in his form.

“Seeing the English boys do well gives you so much belief,” he said. “Obviously Rich being a good friend of mine and seeing what he’s done in such a short period of time gives me great inspiration and allows me to believe that if I’m on my game and get things together I can really press on.

“I’ve got the main goal of wanting to finish in the top 20 and gain my European Tour card, but I set myself intermediate goals of how I need to progress and what I need to work on in my game. I just need to take it week by week and keep making small adjustments to improve. I’ve had some really good spells where I’ve played some great golf but then some poor spells, so I just need to find that consistency and eliminate those bad spells.”

Clements believes accuracy off the tee will be crucial this week and is looking to take advantage of the soft greens at Vierumäki Resort.

“Strategically you have to be good off the tee. The greens aren’t the biggest, so you have to be quite accurate with your second shots and controlling your distances is very important with the greens being quite receptive.”

This week acts as the starting point of a nine-week stretch of back-to-back events on the Road to Mallorca International Schedule, following last week’s hiatus after a run of 14 consecutive events.

The action in Finland gets under way at 7:30am local time, with Clements teeing it up alongside Germany’s Dominic Foos and Frenchman Sebastien Gandon at 1:00pm.

Interview transcript by European Tour Communications

Categories
European Tour

Daniel Gavins: “I just can’t really believe it.”

Daniel Gavins wins the ISPS HANDA World Invitational 2021

August 1, 2021

Daniel Gavins

Northern Ireland

Galgorm Castle & Massereene Golf Club
Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: You mentioned out there how it feels to be a European Tour winner.

DANIEL GAVINS: It just feels amazing. I don’t think it’s going to sink in for a while. Yeah, it’s just a dream come true really.

Q. It was a bit of a roller coaster at the end there. You spent a long time at the range. You were even at the clubhouse watching the TV. What was going through your mind as everything unfolded out on the golf course?

DANIEL GAVINS: To be honest I thought I was going to be a few shots short of winning, so to win, it’s just — I just can’t really believe it. I thought I was going to finish maybe second or third looking at the leaderboard going down the last, but yeah. Must be my week.

Q. As you mentioned, you started the day seven shots off. Did it even enter your mind that you would be sitting here as the winner of the ISPS Honda World Invitational?

DANIEL GAVINS: Not in the slightest, no. Kind of went into today playing each hole as it came and just tried to stay patient out there. A few birdies led to a few more, and yeah, here we go.

Q. You holed some incredible putts out there. Can you talk us through a couple of those putts and a couple moments where you really felt like you had it going on the golf course?

DANIEL GAVINS: Yeah, I mean, the first — it started on the par-3 when I holed a bunker shot for the birdie. It was a pretty tough bunker shot. I managed to hole that. Then the next hole rolled in like a 70-foot putt for birdie, which was a pretty tough hole. And then same on 13 and same on 16, I’ve rolled in 60 feet again on both of those holes, which was a bit of luck in there. But yeah. Unbelievable.

Q. I know you were talking about how you came close to not playing this week. What was the thinking behind that, and how close did you come to not even teeing it up?

DANIEL GAVINS: Yeah, it’s been a pretty long season so far on the Challenge Tour, so I was going to have a week off because there was obviously a week off for the Challenge Tour, and then go for the next kind of nine in a row on the Challenge Tour. But I came because one of my mates was going to caddie for me. So yeah, we just came and really — we treated it like a week to have some fun really. So yeah, that’s what we did. We came and had a little bit of fun, and yeah, here we are.

Q. Given the overwhelming emotions that you’re feeling from a win this week, it’s sometimes difficult to take a 30,000-foot view and put things into perspective, but can you speak about the format, having men and women playing together in this event. You shot 13-under; the winner there ends up shooting 16-under, so it appears like they acquitted themselves quite well.

DANIEL GAVINS: I mean, I think it’s great. I think it moves a lot quicker, so it kind of speeds play up. So I’m all for it. I’ve played it a few times now. We played an event in Australia where it was the same, and that went really well. So yeah, it’s really positive for golf, I think.

THE MODERATOR:

Daniel, thank you very much and congratulations then.

Interview Transcript by ASAP Sports

Categories
European Tour

Jordan Smith: “you’ve just got to get a good game plan.. just attack when you can.. just stay patient.”

Jordan Smith playing his first round at the ISPS HANDA World Invitational 2021. (Photo: Getty Images)

ISPS HANDA WORLD INVITATIONAL

Q. Jordan, a 62 to start the week. Give us an assessment of your day.

JORDAN SMITH: Not half bad. Not half bad. Yeah, just everything came together really. I’ve been struggling with my iron play recently, but that and my wedge game and my putting were really, really good today. I’m not going to lie.

So yeah, just carry on for tomorrow. More of that would be great.

Q. You said you’ve been struggling with your iron play recently. At the start of the week and on the range did you feel like this could be a good week?

JORDAN SMITH: I’ve felt like it’s been sort of trending in the right way. It just hasn’t all come together at the right point. My putting has even been good and my iron play has been good, it’s been one or the other, but today it sort of all came together, and more of the same.

Q. 62 today. Last year in the Irish Open you shot 65 here at Galgorm. Why do you like this course so much?

JORDAN SMITH: I don’t know to be honest. I don’t know. Yeah, I just like the layout. I think it suits me — I think there’s a lot of tee shots where you’ve got to hit left to right, and yeah, it’s been suiting my eye so far, so yeah.

Q. Whenever you look at that back nine, what were you doing on the front nine?

JORDAN SMITH: Not hitting it close enough. Not hitting it close enough.

Q. I’m only joking.

JORDAN SMITH: I think the back nine there’s a lot more wedges into holes, but I think the front nine there’s a lot more long irons. There’s still a few wedges and obviously you’ve got a drivable second, but that was the difference, yeah. Just didn’t hit the longer clubs close enough.

Q. Was there an aspect of staying patient knowing that you could get scoring on the back nine?

JORDAN SMITH: I think so, yeah. I think so. I think the few times I’ve been here I’ve sort of — the front nine has been okay and then you sort of get your score going on the back nine, I think, with the par-5s. Obviously you don’t have any on the front nine. So yeah.

Q. 10 is a nice way to start the back nine with a par-5.

JORDAN SMITH: Yeah, definitely. I remember previously 9 used to be a par-5, but obviously that’s a par-4 now, so that was a driver and a 4-iron for us today. But yeah, I think the only difference is the back nine, yeah, you’ve got a lot more scoring opportunities.

Q. Coming into the week everyone sort of expected Massereene to be the one that people would be scoring at, but it seems to be Galgorm that everyone is. Does that surprise you in any way?

JORDAN SMITH: Not really, no. We went up to Massereene on Tuesday and it was rock hard. It was like a runway. If you missed the greens they were bouncing sort of 30, 40, 50 yards off the green. Even though it’s short, it was difficult with it being so firm, so I think with it being a bit softer here, the scoring has been better.

Q. Going into tomorrow, do you put a number on what you’re trying to shoot, or what’s the game plan?

JORDAN SMITH: I think we’ve got a good game plan. I think Massereene you can’t really attack it too much. I think there’s a lot of lines off tees because like I said, it’s going to be bouncing off the fairways and into the rough and stuff. So I think you’ve just got to get a good game plan there and just attack when you can and just stay patient.

Interview transcript by asapsports.com

Categories
European Tour Satellite Tours

Andy Sullivan: “You’d be surprised that probably a few of the men learned a lot from the ladies.”

Andy Sullivan on the ISPS HANDA World Invitational 2021

July 28, 2021

Andy Sullivan

Northern Ireland

Galgorm Castle & Massereene Golf Club
Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Andy, it’s great to have you at the ISPS Handa World Invitational. First of all, you played the Open Championship a couple of weeks ago, put yourself in the mix in the first couple of days. It wasn’t your best result at the Open, but did it feel like a kind of a week, maybe your best performance at an Open where you really put yourself in the mix at Royal St George’s?

ANDY SULLIVAN:

Yeah, I think it was one of them where, as I said out there, I didn’t have any expectations going in because I got in last minute and I felt like it was just all right. I almost took it as a normal tournament. It was laid back that week. I played nine holes Tuesday, nine holes Wednesday, so I wouldn’t say I had the best preparation going into it, but I felt really relaxed. I was playing nice golf leading up to it. In a way I felt probably more relaxed than I’ve ever been going into a major. It was quite refreshing, and obviously the first two days was amazing. Obviously with the crowds there and being with Blandy on the first tee, hitting the first tee shot, it’s always good fun.

Yeah, it was an amazing week. Obviously it didn’t pan out quite the way I wanted to at the weekend, probably got at little bit cold, but I felt like I almost come of age a little bit, in like mental-wise I felt like I was really patient, really disciplined when normally I get a little bit frustrated at the weekend and try and chase things down. I really stuck to my game plan, and I think going forward that’s probably massive for me.

Q. You obviously got a good reception down in Sandwich but you’re kind of a fan favorite here on the island of Ireland, as well, and you’ve played well here a couple of times, notably in 2019 at Lahinch but also you played well at Royal County Down a number of years ago, as well. Are you looking forward to playing in front of the Northern Irish crowds this week and hopefully give them something to cheer about?

ANDY SULLIVAN:

Yeah, definitely. I don’t know, it maybe is my last name, Sullivan, maybe they just take me as one of their own. But I always get a great reception here, and it’s brilliant. I love the fact you come to Ireland or Northern Ireland and the banter they throw at you on the golf course, I love feeding off it. I really enjoy it, always really enjoy it. Like you said, I’ve always seemed to play quite well in Ireland and Northern Ireland so it’s actually nice to come back to places where you feel comfortable and it feels like home. No, it’s good.

Q. I know you’re a big supporter of inclusivity in golf and you do a few things off the golf course in that regard, but are you proud to be part of an event such as this where male and female players are playing for equal prize funds and over the same golf courses and are you enjoying the atmosphere this week with the various tours?

ANDY SULLIVAN:

Yeah, it’s fun. I did a golf day on Monday with Alice Hewson and obviously she’s fourth in Sweden, and she was just saying how much she learnt from playing with the men, and I said to her, I said, you’d be surprised that probably a few of the men probably learned a lot from the ladies, as well. I think it’s great that we can have these events, and we all get together and we can sort of learn different things off each other because I love it. I think it’s great, and I think it’s the way things should be where we’re playing for equal prize funds and going against each other.

At the end of the day we’re all competitors. We all want to beat each other. It doesn’t matter if you’re disabled, lady, male, we want to win.

Q. I think it was four tournaments in a row culminating with the Open and obviously being up there for the first couple of days at Sandwich, how much does that take out of you and did you have a good week off last week to top off the energy levels?

ANDY SULLIVAN:

Yeah, I was quite lucky in the sense of sort of managed my time really well, so I wasn’t at the event the whole week, sort of a full seven days. I felt like I managed my time really well at the event knowing I was going to play three on the spin and then going into the Open I felt pretty good going into the Open energy levels wise. I didn’t feel tired at any point. I felt like I managed my time really well.

Had a good week off last week, yeah, enjoyed being back with the kids, back with the missus, seeing a few of my mates and stuff, and picked up the practice sort of the end of the weekend and did a golf day on Monday. No, it was good, and obviously just looking forward to getting this UK swing on the road. Absolutely love playing back in the UK. It’s always a pleasure, and like I said, the crowds and the fans are amazing, so it’s good.

Q. You’re the top ranked player in the men’s tournament this week. Does that bring any extra pressure or is it just internal pressure on yourself to do well?

ANDY SULLIVAN:

Again, I’ve got no expectations of myself. I feel like my game is in good shape. I feel like me and Rich have come up with a game plan and we’re just going to stick to that game plan like we did at the Open, and I feel like when we do get the game plan right, it’s going to be our week. I think it’s just a matter of biding our time and we will get it right at one event.

The Open it just didn’t quite pan out for us, but I was really proud of how disciplined I was and how much I stuck to my guns with it and it’ll be the same this week. Like I said, I felt like it was a bit of a coming of age for me at the Open. It’s been a long time where it’s time for me really to take in and not be ultra aggressive and be a bit more patient, be a bit more diligent of what I’m doing, and it really paid off.

Again, that will be probably one of the reasons why I didn’t feel so tired is mentally it takes it out of you when you’ve got so much going on and you’re trying to push. I felt like, yeah, I felt good all week, so it’ll be more of the same this week.

Q. Just what are the sort of goals and ambitions for the rest of the season?

ANDY SULLIVAN:

I haven’t any really. Literally just working towards my stats and trying to improve them, all of them. I don’t know if I can edge in the areas that are not quite up to the standard that I want them to be. That’s going to be give me the best chance of winning. Not really expectations or any goals set in terms of outcome, just trying to work on the process, even though it sounds ultra really boring and not much for you to write about. Unfortunately that’s what I’ve got to stick to, trying to keep myself sane for as long as possible.

Q. You talked about the game plan and stuff, so what do you think the secret to good scoring is this week?

ANDY SULLIVAN:

I walked the other course, I walked it yesterday. I didn’t play it. Seeing how fiery it was on the fairways, greens were still quite soft, though. For me it will just be about getting it in the fairway. I forgot what the other track is called now.

Q. Massereene?

ANDY SULLIVAN:

Massereene. I think just getting it in the fairway around there is key. It’s going to give yourself the best chance of getting it right and as soon as you start putting it in the rough you’re bringing in fliers and all sorts. Fairways are going to be key, which might not necessarily be driver everywhere at a tight golf course. That seemed to be what came out of yesterday.

Then you’ll have to ask me that question later because I haven’t actually played this course yet, so we’ll find out later.

THE MODERATOR: Thanks, Andy. Have a great week.

Interview transcript by ASAP Sports

Categories
European Tour Satellite Tours

Olivia Cowan: “Playing alongside the men will push the women’s golf.”

Olivia Cowan on the ISPS HANDA World Invitational 2021

July 27, 2021

Olivia Cowan

Northern Ireland

Galgorm Castle & Massereene Golf Club
Quick Quotes

Q. The pandemic postponed this a year, but we’re finally at Galgorm in the ISPS Honda World Invitational. What is it like to be finally at this tri-sanctioned event?

OLIVIA COWAN:

Yeah, it’s great to be back. Obviously I was here two years ago in 2019, and it was a really fun event then. It’s really fun to be back. Obviously it’s great playing with the men here, as well. It’s great to see them practice and just chat, as well, because we don’t see them that often. So yeah, it’s good to be back.

Q. What makes an event like this where you’ve got a men’s group, you’ve got a women’s group, kind of alternating each round, what makes it unique and special when you’re competing?

OLIVIA COWAN:

Well, I played the Vic Open a few times, and it’s basically the same format, so I think it’s just cool to mix. I think it’s great for fans, as well. Obviously you can watch the men and you can watch the women at the same time. I think that’s really good.
I think it’s good for women’s golf, as well, because I think obviously us playing alongside the men, it will push the women’s golf, as well, so I think that’s a great thing, as well.

Q. You’re a Modest Golf ambassador, client. What’s it like to have been working with them and when did you first start working with them?

OLIVIA COWAN:

So I started working with them last year, and it’s been really good, to be fair. I’m really happy with Modest Golf. The team is amazing. They put a lot of work into helping me become the best, and yeah, they’re just all in all really great.

Q. When you looked at signing with them, what was it about the organization that made you feel comfortable or maybe some values that they had that align with yourself?

OLIVIA COWAN:

What I really liked about Modest is that they weren’t just trying to help their players but they were in general trying to do more for golf, more for women’s golf, which I really liked. They obviously tried to always help in some aspect somewhere, obviously putting on these events, and just supporting us really well, like all the players. That’s what I really liked.
And then just talking to them, like they’re all really friendly, and yeah, it was just like a no-brainer really.

Q. Does being a part of the Modest Golf family make this week even more special for you?

OLIVIA COWAN:

Yeah, definitely, because it’s basically like playing at home kind of because you’ve just got all the support. Yeah, I definitely feel very comfortable here.

Q. I talked with Angel Yin earlier today and she mentioned the story of how she got in touch with you and how you convinced her to join the team. Can you take us through your side of the story, just kind of how Angel became involved with Modest, as well?

OLIVIA COWAN:

So basically she sent me a message on Instagram — obviously when I announced that I’m now with Modest, she then sent me a message straight away and said, “take me with you.” I then basically said, Yeah, what’s happening with your management, and I basically said you should get in touch with Modest, and she did, and Modest were interested, and that’s how it basically came about, so now we’re sisters, same management.

Q. Have you ever been to Northern Ireland besides two years ago?

OLIVIA COWAN:

I think I’ve played an amateur event here, as well.

Q. Do you remember the amateur event at all?

OLIVIA COWAN:

It might have been like a British Open.

Q. Am?

OLIVIA COWAN:

British Ladies Am.

Q. You won this year on the LET, the inaugural Aramco in London?

OLIVIA COWAN:

Yeah.

Q. Take us through your team and just kind of the excitement of that event and how you found your way to the top of the leaderboard.

OLIVIA COWAN:

Yeah, so I was actually really lucky that I could pick one of my friends, so my strategy this time was just a lot different. I wasn’t going on who was playing well. I was just basically I just wanted to pick a friend and just have a good time out there, and it worked out, so I picked Serena, Serena Schmidt, who’s one of my good friends, and then we just got really lucky with our third pick, as well, Diksha. She’s obviously a great player, and we just got on really well as a team, and I think that’s what really helped us win. We weren’t thinking about the individual event, we were all just trying to help each other win the team event, and it helped out.

Q. Was there an individual aspect to it or just a whole team?

OLIVIA COWAN:

There is an individual event besides the team event, but the team event is the bigger event. Yeah, we were just going out there to have some fun and basically just try and win the team event.

Q. How does an event like that or a win like that help you as the season goes on?

OLIVIA COWAN:

I think it’s helped massively. I think it’s given me some confidence, as well. Obviously I’ve been close on the LET for a few times now over the past five years, and yeah, I think coming down that stretch we needed to obviously score some more birdies, and yeah, I think that’s definitely helped winning that, as well, building up my confidence going forward.

Q. Speaking of confidence, I would imagine you have some having competed in a major championship last week. What was it like to be at Evian, to play in the Evian Championship, and how did that boost the engines for this event?

OLIVIA COWAN:

Yeah, obviously it was my first Evian major, so that was really cool. The weather was amazing, so that helped. Definitely made the week good.

Yeah, it was just a really good experience, obviously, to play with the LPGA girls and just basically see how they set it up. Obviously they would set it up very different to how we would play it on the LET, which I think was — it was difficult in some places, but it was a challenge for sure, and it was just really cool to play there.

Press Release by ASAP Sports

Categories
European Tour Satellite Tours

Niall Horan: “We want change.. and having everyone here this week, men, women, disability..that’s what it’s about really..”

Niall Horan at the 2021 ISPS Handa World Invitational. (Photo: Getty Images)
ISPS HANDA WORLD INVITATIONAL: Galgorm Castle & Massereene Golf Club

Q. So you’ve got European Tour, LET, LPGA, EDGA. How proud are you to have that and to be part of it?

NIALL HORAN: When you list off the names of governing bodies, we’re doing all right. It’s a nice little the way it sort of turned in the last 18 months from just a Challenge Tour event to now having all of those listed is pretty cool. It’s pretty — it’s an amazing feeling actually, yeah.

Q. You’re very much changing the dynamics. It’s all about inclusivity. You’re very dynamic in that world. What does it mean to be bringing more and more people into the game that you love?

NIALL HORAN: Yeah, I think it’s got obviously a perception of maybe not being the most inclusive sport, but that’s what we want to change, the perception, and having everyone here this week, men, women, disability, we’ve got everything here, and that’s what it’s all about really. If I can move the needle a couple of percent I’ll always try and do it.

Q. I’ve seen you at the Ryder Cups, and I’ve seen you at the Open with the men and they’re booming it. What have you learned from ladies when they play because they’ve got some fine skills, haven’t they. They play a little bit differently but they’ve got great skills.

NIALL HORAN: Oh, yeah. Some of the — I’ve noticed a lot smoother swings on the ladies tour, and obviously the putting is exceptional. They don’t need to bomb it like Bryson every time, but they’ve got the — drive for show and putt for dough, and the girls have got some amazing putters out there.

Q. There’s one little girl that we saw last night that we’re going to meet again. Talk about how special that is.

NIALL HORAN: Yeah, meeting Amy was brilliant. She was just a bundle of joy is the phrase you’d use. The fact that she’s — we’ve flown her over from America, and she seems to be having a great time — I just seen her poking her head out there somewhere a few minutes ago, and I think she’s going to make an appearance on the back nine maybe to play a few holes with us.

But yeah, she’s just superstar, and the whole — when she went viral the first time, it was outside of golf. She kind of broke the barrier of just a golf story. It was a real sporting moment. Hopefully we can make more memories for her this week.

Interview transcript by asapsports.com

Categories
European Tour

2021 NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE CANCELLED

SUNNINGDALE, ENGLAND - JULY 20: Gary Player of South Africa in action during the ProAm ahead of the Senior Open presented by Rolex at Sunningdale Golf Club on July 20, 2021 in Sunningdale, England. (Photo by Phil Inglis/Getty Images)

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

The 2021 Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player will not take place as a result of the restrictions placed on events and spectators in South Africa because of the coronavirus pandemic.
 
The European Tour, Nedbank and Sun International jointly agreed that the much anticipated 40th anniversary of this tournament, scheduled to take place at the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City from 11-14 November 2021, would not be feasible under the current restrictions in both the sports and hospitality industries.
 
Mike Brown, Chief Executive Nedbank Group, said: “The current covid environment in South Africa is extremely challenging and we feel that to host a tournament of the magnitude and prestige of the Nedbank Golf Challenge would not be feasible or prudent.”
 
“As Africa’s Major, this is a tournament that means so much to so many people and it is renowned for world class golf and corporate hospitality. It would simply not be possible to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Nedbank Golf Challenge in an appropriate manner at this time. We remain committed to celebrating this milestone, and as such will focus our efforts on working towards the 2022 Nedbank Golf Challenge.”
 
Anthony Leeming, Chief Executive Sun International, said: “The current restrictions within the hospitality industry mean that Sun City will not be in a position to fully showcase the 40th anniversary of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, and provide the world class experience the golfers and fans are accustomed to. The tournament deserves no less, and although this is a disappointing decision to have to make, it is the right one at this stage.”
 
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive European Tour, said: “The 40th anniversary of the Nedbank Golf Challenge is a momentous occasion, and as such it is only right that this milestone is celebrated in a manner deserving of this event, and also when South Africa’s passionate golf fans can properly share in this moment.”
 
Tournament host Gary Player, said: “I understand and appreciate the immense consideration that went into this decision. As tough as it is for all of us who love the Nedbank Golf Challenge and who desperately want to see it played, I support the decision taken as one that is in the best interests of a tournament that is very dear to all of us.”

Interview transcript by European Tour Communications