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PGA Tour

Presidents Cup 2024: Team USA Triumphs by a Clear Margin

Team USA won the Presidents Cup against the International Team. (Source: Getty)
Team USA won the Presidents Cup against the International Team. (Source: Getty)

At the Presidents Cup at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in Canada, the US team led by Jim Furyk achieved a convincing 18.5:11.5 victory over the international team. Scottie Scheffler and Co. brought their lead from Saturday into the clubhouse without any major worries in the final individual matches and ultimately secured a clear victory.

Presidents Cup: A strong final day brings the decision

The decisive Sunday began with a certain thrill: despite a 13:7 lead after the pairings on Saturday, the international team could theoretically have caught up with a strong individual performance on the final day. But Furyk relied on his stars and targeted his strongest players to bring about a preliminary decision as early as possible – and his tactics worked. The USA opened the final matchday with Xander Schauffele, Sam Burns, Scottie Scheffler, Russell Henley and Patrick Cantlay in the front positions. It was a conscious decision to demonstrate US dominance early and prevent the possibility of an international comeback. This strategy paid off in full, as the US team took 3.5 out of a possible 5 points from the first five matches. “I have some great leaders on this team and these guys have taken command,” said Furyk as he stood on the 18th green at Royal Montreal. “They’ve taken control of the team.”

Schauffele, who was looking to make amends after a mixed performance at last year’s Ryder Cup in Rome, made a clear statement. He won his match against Australian rookie Min Woo Lee 3&2 and earned the first point of the day for the USA. Russell Henley also secured a dominant 4&3 win against Sungjae Im and left no doubt about his strength in singles play. Patrick Cantlay, who was already regarded as one of the strongest match play players on the US team, won a close duel against Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama with 2&1. Cantlay’s strong putt on the 17th hole gave him the victory and further increased the USA’s lead. Burns fought his way to a hard-fought draw against South Korea’s Si Woo Kim, giving the Americans another half point. Scottie Scheffler, the world number 1, also put in a convincing performance. Although he only secured a draw against the in-form Tom Kim, Scheffler played aggressively and courageously, especially on the back nine, and ensured that he did not concede another point to the international team.

Keegan Bradley Secures the Decisive Point

The emotional highlight of the tournament came when Keegan Bradley, the future Ryder Cup captain, won the decisive point. In his match against South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Bradley once again proved his strong nerves. With a solid 4&2 victory, he sealed the overall win for the US team even before all the matches had been completed. The remaining matches no longer had any effect on the final result. “It’s like a fairytale, almost like a movie,” said Bradley, visibly emotional after the win. “I can hardly believe it. You just have to work hard and good things happen.” After the tournament, the newly crowned Ryder Cup captain praised Furyk’s leadership style and announced that he wanted to adopt many of the principles implemented in Montreal. “Jim has created a culture of cohesion here and we will take a lot of that with us to Bethpage,” said Bradley.

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Highlights Tours

Augusta National: Statement On “Catastrophic Impact From Hurricane Helene”

The Augusta National Golf Club during the US Masters 2024 (Photo: Getty)
The Augusta National Golf Club during the US Masters 2024 (Photo: Getty)

Hurricane Helene reached the US mainland on Thursday. The storm, classified as a level four storm, raged through several of the coastal states in the south-east of the USA and also reached wind speeds of up to 130 km/h in Augusta, Georgia. Severe damage was caused throughout the region, with the Augusta National Golf Club – venue of the US Masters – not being spared.

Augusta National: “Our Thoughts and Prayers are with Everyone Affected”

More and more photos and videos are appearing on social media showing possible damage to the golf course. It can be seen that a large number of trees have been uprooted, with the famous Magnolia Lane also likely to be affected according to drone footage. Newly planted trees in particular are exposed to an increased risk as they are not yet strongly rooted. Last year, during the US Masters 2023, three pine trees collapsed in the middle of the spectators, but fortunately no one was injured.

Drone footage of Magnolia Lane at Augusta National:

In addition, images on social media show that the small Rae’s Creek, which flows through the golf course, has swollen into a raging river. The masses of water could cause considerable and lasting damage to the course.

The club’s chairman, Fred Ridley, issued a statement but added that the club’s main focus was on the community that had been devastated by the hurricane:

Understandably, the state of Augusta National is currently one of the lowest priorities of the club chairmen and the community. US media are currently estimating at least 52 fatalities and millions of people without power in the southeastern US.

Our thoughts are with the victims of the hurricane and their families.

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Highlights Tours

Presidents Cup 2024: Team USA Dominates the Saturday Matches

Patrick Cantlay celebrates after a putt on the 18th green during the Saturday Foursomes of the Presidents Cup 2024 (Photo: Getty)
Patrick Cantlay celebrates after a putt on the 18th green during the Saturday Foursomes of the Presidents Cup 2024 (Photo: Getty)

The Presidents Cup 2024 is turning into an up-and-down affair for the international team. After a disastrous 0:5 start to the tournament, the team fought back furiously the following day and went into Saturday’s fourballs and foursomes with a 5:5 score. There, however, the Americans dominated again and won both rounds 3:1. So the defending champions will go into the twelve singles matches on the final day with a score of 11:7.

Presidents Cup 2024: Team USA with 11:7 Lead Going Into the Final Day

There were not many positives for the international team in the Saturday fourballs and foursomes. The Americans got the day off to a perfect start with victories in the first two fourballs of the morning. The first point was secured by the duo of Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa against Adam Scott and Taylor Pendrith (2&1), the second by Tony Finau and Xander Schauffele against Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes (3&2). In the third match of the day, Si Woo Kim and Tom Kim gave Team International some breathing space: the duo won against Keegan Bradley and Wyndham Clark with a comfortable 4&3 and the shot of the day. However, the next setback came in the fourth game of Saturday’s fourballs. There, the Americans in the form of Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns managed the third point of the day against Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im (2&1).

The afternoon’s foursomes were similarly modest from the international team’s perspective. In the first foursome, Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley increased the score to 9-6 for Team USA in the overall standings (3&2) in their clash with Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im. The rest of the afternoon was to develop into a thriller. All three remaining matches were decided on the last hole: First, Taylor Pendrith and Adam Scott took the second and so important point of the day for Team International. With a one-shot lead, they went up against Max Homa and Brian Harman on hole 18, where a par was enough to win the match (2 up). The international team failed dramatically on the last two holes: both the Conners/Hughes duo against Morikawa/Burns and the Kim duo against Cantlay/Schauffele were tied on hole 18, but in both cases the Americans held their nerve and won the two holes in front of their home fans. To euphoric cheers, Patrick Cantlay put the finishing touches to what was a bitter day for the international team.

So Team USA goes into the final day with an 11:7 lead. Despite the good starting position for the defending champions, everything is still wide open. After all, a whole twelve points are still up for grabs in the individual matches. It remains exciting in Canada.

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Live

Knott End Golf Club: Precision Course with Unique Views and Flexible Memberships

Image: Knott End Golf Club
Image: Knott End Golf Club

Knott End Golf Club is located in Poulton, Lancashire, England. Situated in the north-western region of the country, this golf club offers players a chance to engage with the game while enjoying views of notable landmarks such as Blackpool Tower and the Lake District. The club’s location provides a unique environment that appeals to golfers of all levels.

Responses from players indicate that while the course at Knott End may be short, precision is essential for success. Players must strategize carefully to navigate the course effectively. The emphasis on precision adds a challenging element to the game, making it intriguing for seasoned golfers and beginners alike.

Knott End Golf Club: Accessible to All Players

Membership and fee flexibility is a notable aspect of Knott End Golf Club. The club provides multiple options throughout the year regarding membership and green fee rates. This makes it accommodating for a wide range of players, whether they are looking for short-term play options or long-term commitments.

The surrounding beauty and the welcoming atmosphere are frequently mentioned attributes. Golfers appreciate the club’s environment, which blends natural landscapes with a friendly community spirit. This ensures that members and guests feel at ease during their visit, enhancing the overall golfing experience at Knott End Golf Club.

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PGA Tour

Michael Kim: “It’s Honestly a Bit of a Dog Eat Dog World”

Image: Getty
Image: Getty

Professional golfer Michael Kim is known for sharing insider information from the world of professional golf with his followers on social media. This time, the 31-year-old writes about contact with player agents, experiences, rumors and the different types of agencies. “When you’re first out of college and a really good player, agents will reach out to you directly to you or your head coach showing interest. […] It’s tricky, they’re really good salesman and unless you’ve known them thru someone else, you’re not sure who to trust. You can find MANY examples of agents stealing from the player and/or many shady deals”, wrote Michael Kim.

Offers made to players already under contract

Kim went on to tweet: “It’s honestly a bit of a dog eat dog world. I’ve heard rumors where players were going to sign with an agent and all of a sudden a different agent shows up with a really good deal with a company and the player ended up signing with the new agent for the deal. Some of the shadier ones will come up to a player even though he’s under contract promising a better deal or throw in a line or two to try and create doubt.”

Big or small agency?

In another tweet, Michael Kim describes the decision from a player’s perspective: “As a player, you have to decide what size of agency you want to sign with. Bigger agency with lots of names like Wasserman, or a smaller agency. Bigger agencies already have established connections and thru their bigger players, can even get certain deals or even exemptions into events. But the downside is, because of their big crop of players, in a way you’re all competing for the same pie within the agency. If I know the same level of player within the agency gets a new deal, you can be left wondering, why didn’t I get that deal? A smaller agency, you don’t have to worry about that kind of stuff but also know that in general, the agent isn’t going to have the same amount of power or sway within the industry. You can be the big fish and know that all the big deals might come thru you.”

In his last two tweets on this topic, Kim writes about his personal preferences and experiences.

Note: This is of course one player’s opinion and therefore not an immediate general conclusion, as well as possibly not 100 percent reality. When it comes to contact with agents right after the end of a college career, Kim is certainly a good example. Michael Kim was honored with the Jack Nicklaus Award and the Haskins Award during his amateur career – both famous awards for the player of the year in American college golf. This is likely to have aroused the interest of some player agencies.

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European Tour

DP World Tour Tee Times: Patrick Reed and American Players at acciona Open de España

DP World Tour Tee Times: US players (Image: Getty)
DP World Tour Tee Times: US players (Image: Getty)

The DP World Tour Tee Times for the upcoming acciona Open de España held at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid in Spain have been announced. Part of the DP World Tour, this prestigious event boasts a par-71 course and a prize purse of $3,250,000. Last year’s title was claimed by Matthieu Pavon. Here, we delve into the tee times and partners for all American players in the tournament.

DP World Tour Tee Times for American Players

Patrick Reed will tee off for his first round on Thursday at 13:40 from Tee 1. His playing partners are Adrian Otaegui from Spain and Rikuyo Hoshino from Japan. On Friday, their second round begins at 08:50 from Tee 10.

Jimmy Walker starts his first round on Thursday at 13:30 from Tee 1 alongside Alfredo Garcia-Heredia from Spain and David Ravetto from France. Their second round begins on Friday at 08:40 from Tee 10.

Johannes Veerman is scheduled to tee off on Thursday at 13:30 from Tee 10. He will be joined by Gavin Green from Malaysia and Nick Bachem from Germany. Their second round will start on Friday from Tee 1 at 08:40.

Chase Hanna will play his first round at 14:10 on Thursday from Tee 10. His partners for the day include Alexander Knappe from Germany and Jack Davidson from Wales. The second round for this group starts at 09:20 on Friday from Tee 1.

Jordan Gumberg tees off on Thursday at 09:30 from Tee 1. Playing alongside him will be Jens Dantorp from Sweden and Julien Guerrier from France. Their second round is set to begin on Friday at 14:20 from Tee 10. Gumberg’s inclusion in the DP World Tour Tee Times highlights his pivotal role.

Round Time Player Partner 1 Partner 2
Round 1 08:50 James Nicholas Oliver Bekker (RSA) Josh Berry
Round 1 09:20 Sean Crocker George Coetzee (RSA) Matthew Southgate (ENG)
Round 1 09:30 Jordan Gumberg Jens Dantorp (SWE) Julien Guerrier (FRA)
Round 1 14:10 Chase Hanna Alexander Knappe (GER) Jack Davidson (WAL)
Round 1 13:30 Jimmy Walker Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (ESP) David Ravetto (FRA)
Round 1 13:30 Johannes Veerman Gavin Green (MAS) Nick Bachem (GER)
Round 1 13:40 Patrick Reed Adrian Otaegui (ESP) Rikuyo Hoshino (JPN)
Round 2 08:40 Jimmy Walker Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (ESP) David Ravetto (FRA)
Round 2 08:50 Patrick Reed Adrian Otaegui (ESP) Rikuyo Hoshino (JPN)
Round 2 09:20 Chase Hanna Alexander Knappe (GER) Jack Davidson (WAL)
Round 2 14:20 Jordan Gumberg Jens Dantorp (SWE) Julien Guerrier (FRA)
Round 2 14:10 Sean Crocker George Coetzee (RSA) Matthew Southgate (ENG)
DP World Tour Tee Times
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European Tour

DP World Tour Tee Times: Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and More at the acciona Open de España

DP World Tour Tee Times: Tyrrell Hatton and other players. (Image: Getty)
DP World Tour Tee Times: Tyrrell Hatton and other players. (Image: Getty)

The DP World Tour Tee Times for the upcoming acciona Open de España presented by Madrid have been announced. The tournament takes place at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid in Madrid, Spain. The course has a par of 71. It is part of the DP World Tour, with a prize fund of $3,250,000 and the current defending champion being Matthieu Pavon.

DP World Tour Tee Times

England’s Tyrrell Hatton is in a group with Italian Matteo Manassero and Spaniard Jorge Campillo. They will start their first round at 09:00 and their second round at 13:50.

English golfer Tommy Fleetwood will start his first round at 09:10, paired with Shane Lowry from Ireland and Nacho Elvira from Spain. Their second round will start at 14:00

Scottish golfer Stephen Gallacher will begin his first round at 08:40, paired with South Korean Sung-hoon Kang and Austrian Matthias Schwab. Their second round will start at 13:30.

Richie Ramsay, another Scottish player, will tee off at 08:40 in the first round with German Yannik Paul and Spanish Jose Luis Ballester. The group will start their second round at 13:30.

Ewen Ferguson from Scotland will join Spaniard Adri Arnaus and English Alex Fitzpatrick, beginning their first round at 09:20 and their second round at 14:10.

Marc Warren from Scotland will tee off at 10:20 alongside Norwegian Kristian Krogh Johannessen and Carlos Sanchez Molina from Spain. Their second round is scheduled for 15:10.

Player Nationality Round 1 Time Round 2 Time Playing Partners Nationalities
Stephen Gallacher SCO 08:40 13:30 Sung-hoon Kang, Matthias Schwab KOR, AUT
Richie Ramsay SCO 08:40 13:30 Yannik Paul, Jose Luis Ballester GER, ESP
Tyrrell Hatton ENG 09:00 13:50 Matteo Manassero, Jorge Campillo ITA, ESP
Ewen Ferguson SCO 09:20 14:10 Adri Arnaus, Alex Fitzpatrick ESP, ENG
Marc Warren SCO 10:20 15:10 Kristian Krogh Johannessen, Carlos Sanchez Molina NOR, ESP
Tommy Fleetwood ENG 09:10 14:00 Shane Lowry, Nacho Elvira IRL, ESP
DP World Tour Tee Times
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Highlights Tours

2024 Presidents Cup: All You Need to Know About the Team Competition

All you need to know about the 2024 Presidents Cup. (Image: Getty)
All you need to know about the 2024 Presidents Cup. (Image: Getty)

From September 26 to 29, the 15th edition of the Presidents Cup will take place at The Royal Montreal GC. The twelve best golfers from the USA will compete against the twelve best international players (excluding Europe). The tournament is played over four days. The first team to reach 15.5 points wins the golden cup.

All you need to know about the Presidents Cup

The schedule for the 2024 Presidents Cup

Unlike the Ryder Cup, the Presidents Cup does not take place over three days, but four. Five fourball matches are played on Day 1, followed by five foursomes on Day 2. On Saturday, the tournament is played in two sessions, first four fourballs and then four foursomes. Sunday traditionally sees the twelve singles duels.

The golf course

The Royal Montreal GC in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, is the venue for the 15th edition. The course is a par 70 and has a parkland-style front nine. On the back nine, water hazards come into play on the last five holes. The Royal Montreal GC is the oldest golf club in North America and was founded in 1873.

How many points does a team need to win and what happens in the event of a tie?

A team needs 15.5 points to win the Cup – one point more than in the Ryder Cup. This is because 30 matches are played at the Presidents Cup, two more than at the Ryder Cup. The scoring system for the matches is the same: one point is awarded for a win, half a point is awarded to both teams if a match is tied after 18 holes. If the Presidents Cup ends in a draw, the two teams share the cup – another significant difference to the Ryder Cup.

2024 Presidents Cup: Team USA

The team is made up of six qualified golfers and six captain’s picks. Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Wyndham Clark, Patrick Cantlay and Sahith Theegala have qualified.

Sam Burns, Tony Finau, Russell Henley, Keegan Bradley, Brian Harman and Max Homa were selected for the team by US captain Jim Furyk.

The International Team

Hideki Matsuyama (Japan), Sungjae Im (South Korea), Adam Scott (Australia), Tom Kim (South Korea), Jason Day (Australia) and Byeong Hun An (South Korea) made it into the team by qualifying. Min Woo Lee (Australia), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (South Africa), Si Woo Kim (South Korea) and the three Canadians Taylor Pendrith, Mackenzie Hughes and Corey Conners were selected for the team by captain Mike Weir.

Why are there no LIV golfers? And other interesting facts

LIV Golf players

Because the Presidents Cup is organized by the PGA Tour, no LIV golfers are allowed to take part in the competition. This affects the International Team in particular, as top players such as Cam Smith, Joaquin Niemann and Louis Oosthuizen are missing.

Differences to the Ryder Cup

While 28 matches are played over three days at the Ryder Cup, there are 30 matches over four days at the Presidents Cup. Furthermore, in the event of a final tie, the cup does not go to the defending champion but is shared. The setup of the course is not subject to the home team, but to the PGA Tour – another significant difference.

Do the players earn money for competing?

Not for themselves, but each participant will receive an equal share of the event proceeds for a charity of their choice.

The trophy

The golden trophy designed by Tiffany & Co. weighs around 28 pounds. The original can be found in the World Golf Hall of Fame in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

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Golfshoes LPGA Tour

Ecco Golf Ambassador Lydia Ko Claims Third Win in Four Starts at Kroger Queen City Championship

Lydia Ko celebrates her third LPGA win at the Kroger Queen City Championship. (Photo: Getty)
Lydia Ko celebrates her third LPGA win at the Kroger Queen City Championship. (Photo: Getty)


Lydia Ko extends her winning streak with a stunning performance at the Kroger Queen City Championship, capturing her third title in four starts. Following her recent AIG Women’s Open victory, Ko delivered an impressive final round of 63, solidifying her place as one of the game’s greatest talents in a remarkable 2024 season.

Ecco Golf and Lydia Ko: A Winning Partnership

ECCO GOLF ambassador, Lydia Ko, continued her hot streak this weekend at the Kroger Queen City Championship on the LPGA Tour in her first tournament since claiming her maiden AIG Women’s Open title last month. 

Ko, wearing Ecco Golf Tray, shot a scintillating final round 63, coming home in just 30 shots to take home her third win in her last four starts. 

Ko’s 22nd LPGA Tour victory rounds off what has been an incredible 2024 season for the Kiwi, following her Olympic Gold Medal and triumph at the AIG Women’s Open during the month of August.

Lydia Ko Shines at Kroger Queen City Championship

“It’s been pretty surreal. You know, I had the most unbelievable three weeks in Europe, and after having another three weeks off you’re not entirely sure what it’s going to be like,” Ko said. 

“I started off this event really strong, playing well the first couple days. I kind of hung in there yesterday and I said I know the other girls aren’t going to play bad golf, so I just have to try and play even better golf. To have a round like this to cap off a win is pretty special.”

Timo Vollrath, Head of Global Marketing at Ecco Golf, commented Ko’s latest: “Lydia continues to prove that she is one of the game’s greatest – she makes a habit of winning and for us, it is brilliant to watch. 

“It is a pleasure to work with Lydia, and to witness her journey in recent years has been a thrill. This streak of performances will go down as one the very best of all time, and we can’t wait to see what happens next!”

In addition to Lydia Ko, Ecco Golf shoes are worn in competition around the world by Esther Henseleit, Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Erik van Rooyen, Henrik Stenson, Freddy Schott, Thomas Bjørn, Janet Lin, Rick Shiels and Erik Anders Lang among others. For further information about Ecco Golf, please visit golf.ecco.com. 

(Text: Ecco)

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Live

OWGR: Billy Horschel Back in the Top 20

Billy Horschel climbs in the OWGR. (Photo: Getty)
Billy Horschel climbs in the OWGR. (Photo: Getty)

Scottie Scheffler remains atop the Golf World Ranking, holding his number one position with a steady performance. His average points tally continues to reflect his dominance. Xander Schauffele also holds firm at second position, showcasing consistent form. Both players maintain their standings from the previous week. Currently, Scheffler averages 10.42 points, while Schauffele has an average of 9.50 points.

See the complete Official World Golf Ranking here

Other Top American Performers in the Golf World Ranking

The first change in the rankings comes from Billy Horschel who reenters the top 20 after his win in Wentworth. He dropped out of the top ranks in Febuary of 2023 and is now back at 17 after consisten good results during his 2024 PGA Tour season.

Top 10 Players in the OWGR

Scottie Scheffler remains the leader in the Golf World Ranking, followed by Xander Schauffele. Rory McIlroy retains his third position, maintaining stability among the top three. Collin Morikawa and Ludvig Aberg sit in the fourth and fifth positions, respectively, with no changes from the previous week. Similarly, Wyndham Clark and Hideki Matsuyama hold their positions at sixth and seventh. Viktor Hovland is consistent at eighth, while Patrick Cantlay and Bryson DeChambeau round out the top ten without any shifts in their rankings.

Rank Player Name Nationality Average Points Ranking Last Week
1 Scottie Scheffler USA 10.42 1
2 Xander Schauffele USA 9.50 2
4 Collin Morikawa USA 8.75 4
6 Wyndham Clark USA 8.35 6
9 Patrick Cantlay USA 8.10 9