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Bernhard Langer reveals: This is how he really sustained his injury

Last month there was bad news: Bernhard Langer, probably the most successful German golfer of all time, had torn his Achilles tendon at the age of 66. The tournament golfer suffered the injury during training, preventing him from taking part in the first highlights of the calendar year. Langer now revealed in the “Musings on Golf” podcast that there was another cause behind the injury.

Bernhard Langer: Achilles tendon rupture while playing pickleball

Bernhard Langer did not tear his Achilles tendon during golf training, as he originally explained. The injury resulted from a maneuver while playing pickleball. Pickleball is an American ball sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis. The question now arises as to why Bernhard Langer, a professional golfer for whom his body is his asset, would expose himself to such a risk of injury. “I play all sorts of sports to stay fit, and this was part of my fitness regime,” Langer explains in the podcast.

The situation in which his Achilles tendon ruptured sounds like a classic move: “Somebody was trying to lob me. I did a few steps backward and hit an overhead, and as I landed on the ground with my feet I heard this huge pop, very loud, like a gun shot. I knew right away it was a torn Achilles.”

Chances of recovery and comeback

Immediately after his injury, it was questionable whether or when the 66-year-old would return to the golf course. The chances of him taking part in this year’s Masters, which he also wanted to celebrate as his farewell to the major tournament, were promptly negligible. His appearance at the BMW International Open 2024 in Munich was also in the stars. However, in conversation with Dr. Tino Lorenz, sports physician and surgeon from Dresden, Golf Post learned that the golfer had a good chance of returning to the sport soon thanks to the optimal support that would most likely be offered to him after the operation.

Bernhard Langer’s positive update from rehab
Bernhard Langer has now confirmed this in person by revealing his tournament plans. In the podcast, he revealed that he is aiming to start at the Insperity Invitational in Houston from May 3 to 5, 2024. Langer would probably surprise many with a start at this tournament – only around three months after his injury. Hopes are growing that he will be able to make his planned start in Munich at the beginning of July.

Although Langer will not be able to play in Augusta this year, he would like to make the trip to golf’s most famous major. As a two-time Masters champion, the German would at least like to take part in the Masters Club Dinner for Champions.

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Golfers as trading cards: LIV Golf announces deal with Panini

Panini’s trading cards have long been a source of joy for young sports fans, spanning generations. Now, following a deal with LIV Golf, the first golf trading cards are set to hit the shelves. Panini will serve as the exclusive trading card partner for the LIV Golf League.

LIV Golf Introduces the First Golf Trading Cards

Panini’s inaugural golf lineup will feature physical trading cards adorned with match-worn memorabilia and autographs from players. Panini plans to unveil the first LIV Golf trading cards featuring its popular Prizm and Impeccable brands. Additionally, Panini will launch an LIV Golf Panini Instant card program, releasing real-time cards post-tournaments showcasing some of the season’s winning moments and best shots, as well as team sets. “LIV Golf is excited to collaborate with Panini, a global brand committed to connecting with fans worldwide through a shared love of sports,” said Commissioner and CEO Greg Norman. “Just as our league continues to evolve, bringing professional team golf into the mainstream, this partnership will introduce new products to millions of passionate fans and collectors worldwide. As a former player, I am particularly excited for our players and teams to expand their platforms in this realm.”

Players are also enthusiastic about the deal: “I’m an avid collector of various types of sports memorabilia throughout my career, so personally, it’s very exciting for me to have the opportunity to work with a premium trading card brand,” said Majesticks GC Co-Captain Ian Poulter. “While trading cards are often associated with younger demographics, I believe this partnership between LIV and Panini is a great opportunity to elevate professional golf to the same level as other professional leagues by creating memorabilia for the kid in all of us.”

Team Format as an Incentive

Panini is also venturing into new territory with this partnership, marking its first foray into golf. The format of LIV Golf ultimately convinced the company to take this step. “We’ve often pondered how to introduce some of our most beloved trading card brands into golf, but the sport always presented challenges. LIV brought an entirely new dynamic to the sport. The team and league format is something that didn’t exist and creates another level of collectibles for fans,” said Mark Warsop, CEO of Panini America.

Panini collaborates with many of the biggest leagues and brands in the sports and entertainment industry, including the NFL, NBA, FIFA, Premier League, LaLiga, NASCAR, and more. The Panini Group was founded in Modena, Italy, in 1961 and is the international market leader in stickers and trading cards.

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Netflix Full Swing: What fans can expect in the second season

The excitement is huge among golf enthusiasts worldwide as the second season of “Full Swing,” a documentary series produced by Netflix offering a profound insight into the world of professional golf, is scheduled to air from March 6, 2024. With a trailer released on Wednesday during the Genesis Invitational, viewers were treated to initial insights into the upcoming season. The 27-second teaser not only reveals the titles of all eight episodes but also provides a sneak peek at which players will take center stage in each episode. Returning from the first season are protagonists such as Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Joel Dahmen, and Matt Fitzpatrick, while new faces include Tom Kim and Wyndham Clark.

Ryder Cup and Fusion Take Center Stage in Full Swing’s Second Season

The second season will primarily focus on two main themes: the announcement of a fusion between the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the 2023 Ryder Cup. The initial two episodes are likely to delve into the battle for supremacy in professional golf between the PGA Tour and the LIV Golf League. Cameras from “Full Swing” evidently captured the moments when news of the fusion rocked the golfing world, promising viewers insights into the associated dramas in two episodes titled “The Game Has Changed.” The season will also conclude with a two-part finale. The last two episodes, titled “All Roads Lead to Rome,” are expected to meticulously follow the events of the Ryder Cup in Rome.

The production of the new season was a monumental task, involving over 900 hours of new footage and more than 10,000 hours of archival material. Consequently, fans can once again anticipate deep behind-the-scenes insights into the world of golf. While filming for the third season has already commenced, an official confirmation from Netflix is pending. The decision will hinge on the success of the second season.

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LPGA Tour player Jessica Korda Announces Birth Of Her Child


As LPGA Tour player Jessica Korda announced, there was a new addition to her and her husband Johnny DelPrete’s family last weekend.

Jessica Korda Welcomes Baby Greyson

Jessica Korda became a mother for the very first time with her newborn. According to her Instagram post, her son Greyson John DelPrete was born on Saturday, February 3rd. Last August, she announced her pregnancy on Instagram with a sign saying “Tee Time for 3, coming February 2024.” Jessica’s younger sister Nelly Korda, currently ranked second in the world, is also thrilled about her new role as an aunt. “I’m mostly excited just to see this new chapter in Johnny’s and Jess’s life. And I think it’s going to be really exciting,” says Nelly Korda.

Previously, Jessica Korda struggled with back problems. In May 2023, she last participated in a tournament, having to withdraw after the first round. Her best finish in six tournament appearances last year was a tied 18th place. She last won in 2021 at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions, where she defeated Danielle Kang in a playoff.

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World Golf Ranking: Scheffler Leads, Spotlight on Wyndham Clark

In the current World Golf Ranking, Scottie Scheffler from the USA remains at the pinnacle, holding firmly onto the number one position. His compatriot Xander Schauffele also maintains his standing at fifth place. Both players exhibit stability in their rankings, matching their positions from the previous week.

Wyndham Clark on the way to the top 5?

Moving through the ranking, American golfer Wyndham Clark has seen a notable ascent, moving up from the tenth to the sixth position, which signifies a considerable positive shift. Patrick Cantlay and Max Homa, ranked seventh and eighth respectively, have experienced a decline, each dropping one place compared to last week. Significantly, Ludvig Aberg from Sweden made a leap from the 27th to the 11th position, indicating a strong upward trajectory. In the context of international golf, the World Golf Ranking provides a snapshot of professional performance and potency. This week’s ranking update not only underscores Scheffler’s continued dominance but also sheds light on the shifting dynamics amongst the finest golfers, with American players prominently featuring both stability and volatility in their ranking positions.

(Created with AI)

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Leaders of the World Golf Ranking: Scheffler and UK’s Finest

In the latest World Golf Ranking update Scottie Scheffler is still at the top, Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland retains the second spot with Jon Rahm from Spain remaining in third. The movements within the World Golf Ranking top 10 include a significant leap made by American Wyndham Clark, ascending from rank 10 to six. In positions one through three, there have been no changes, with Scottie Scheffler from the USA holding firmly onto the top position. Further down, from positions four to 10, we observe Viktor Hovland from Norway and Xander Schauffele from the USA remaining consistent, whereas Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa and Brian Harman from the USA experienced a slight drop in ranking like Matt Fitzpatrick. Each movement within the top 10 holds potential implications for upcoming tournaments and the overall dynamics of the World Golf Ranking.

World Golf Ranking: UK’s Players

Among British players, England’s Matt Fitzpatrick is on position nine, loosing one rank from last week. England’s Tommy Fleetwood, looses one at rank 12, and Tyrrell makes up one place and is in 15th place. Looking down the World Golf Ranking list, Justin Rose from England saw improvement, reaching rank 41 from a previous 45. In contrast, Robert MacIntyre from Scotland dropped slightly to rank 67 compared to last week’s 64, a negative trend similarly experienced by England’s Aaron Rai who now stands at 73 after descending from position 68. 

(Created with AI)

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Harry Kane impresses with an “unbelievable” trick shot

What a feat from Harry Kane! If a new video is to be believed, the FC Bayern Munich player doesn’t just have an excellent feel for the ball. As part of a collaboration between Kane and supplier Reflo, the 30-year-old showed off as yet unknown talents.

Harry Kane launches new partnership with circus act

Although the Three Lions captain is known for his love of golf, few fans would have thought that his passion would take on such proportions. The video was made to mark Harry Kane’s new role as ambassador and investor of Reflo. Founded in 2021, the wearing brand prides itself on its strong focus on sustainability. Kane’s performance in the video also made a lasting impression, with the Englishman seemingly suspending the rules of physics. Whether everything is above board is up to you to decide.

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Full Swing: Netflix releases trailer for the second season

Full Swing is finally entering its second round. Netflix has now released another trailer for the hit golf series on YouTube. The anticipation among golf fans is growing. The golf year 2023 once again had a lot to offer and the streaming provider shows this impressively in its latest clip with insights into the second season. In addition to the all-important potential merger between the Public Investment Fund and the PGA Tour, the 2023 Ryder Cup is also in the spotlight.

Full Swing: The trailer for the second season on Netflix

As usual, the stars of the scene have their say in the newly released trailer. Rory McIlroy, LIV golfer Dustin Johnson and Jay Monahan give their views. But fans can look forward to seeing professionals like Joel Dahmen again. In the second season, the cameras will once again follow the pros up close and show their tough everyday lives during the season. The wait is finally over at the beginning of March. Netflix will release the next season of Full Swing on 6 March.

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Golf Post Community Award 2024: These are the recommendations from the community

The Golf Post community has for the sixth time decided on the best golf courses. Whether inside or outside Europe, the community has been visiting golf courses worldwide and made recommendations. Thanks to the large Austrian Golfpost Community, the winners once again include many locations in Germany’s neighboring country. But other regions were also convincing and received praise at the Golf Post Community Award 2024. Only one thing is certain about all the recommendations: special experiences await golfers there.

Golf Post Community Award 2024: The category winners

In two categorys, the “Landscape” category and the “Course Condition” category, the winner is the Aphrodite Hills Golf from Cyprus. Among other things, the golf club is known for its special views. Surrounded by a protected forest and overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the resort extends over 234 hectares of land, 92 percent of which are purely native plantations. In addition to its good cuisine, the golf club offers unique course conditionn. With view on the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite, you will experience a world-class course, that has achieved the status of a PGA National.

The prize in the “Gastronomy” category went to The Montgomery Maxx Royal in Turkey. It’s not only the 18-hole course designed by tour player Colin Montgomery that impressed the voters, but also the delight that comes first. This resort in Belek offers an excellent culinary experience. Guests can look forward to several first-class restaurants and bars offering a variety of delicious food.

In addition to the community recommendation, Golf International Soufflenheim Baden-Baden S.A. can also look forward to winning the “Welcome Culture” category. The golf course from Soufflenheim in France was especially highlighted by the community. Whilst the course designed by Bernhard Langer and Kurt Rossknecht inspires golfers, the atmosphere is particularly familial. If you’re looking for hospitality, you need to look to the French side of the Upper Rhine.

Golfpark Migros, Golfpark Waldkirch, is delighted to receive the award in “Best Value” category. With its 36 holes the Waldkirch Golf Park offers a unique golfing experience in Switzerland. The club conquers the hearts of golfers with its great variety of different holes. Between St. Gallen and Wil, numerous opportunities await guests here. Additionally, to the 18-hole par 71 course, there are two 9-hole courses, a practice center with driving range as well as putting and pitching greens.

From golfers for golfers

The Golf Post Community Award was presented for the sixth time this year, and for the second time international golf clubs were honored as well. The “jury” is the Golf Post community, whose ratings paint an authentic picture of the international golf courses. Up to five stars can be awarded in each of five categories. In addition to winners of each category of the Golf Post Community Award 2024, a total of 20 clubs receive the title “Top Golf Club” thanks to the best ratings. 44 other international clubs with an average rating of at least 4.5 out of 5 stars and a relevant number of ratings in the previous year will be honored with the award as a recommendation from the community.

The intenational top golf clubs:

More Golf Post Community recommendations in Germany:

Have you already played these golf courses? Then rate them now in the Golf Post Course Finder. Other golfers will benefit from your experience and you too can view tens of thousands of ratings and plan your next golfing experience. You can also rate all other golf courses in Europe.

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Milestones: Key moments that shaped the 2023 golf year

Over the past twelve months, golf has constantly evolved on various levels. All areas of golf are changing over time and are constantly experiencing key moments that point the development of the sport in a new direction. We take a look at various decisions, announcements and moments that have had a lasting impact on golf in 2023.

The OWGR turned down LIV Golf

The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) announced in October that players in the LIV Golf League would remain excluded from the world ranking points. The decision resulted from a lack of comparability of the LIV format with other tours and problems such as a lack of cuts and questionable qualification methods. OWGR Chairman Peter Dawson emphasised that the rejection was not politically motivated, but was based on technical reasons. LIV Golf reacted angrily and questioned the trustworthiness of the OWGR system. However, Dawson emphasised that the rejection was not final and LIV could resubmit applications if they showed a willingness to compromise.

Sanctions and suspensions for LIV defectors

After months of discussion and speculation about possible sanctions to be imposed on LIV defectors from the DP World Tour, a decision was made in the middle of the year. The Tour officially imposed sanctions on players who had taken part in LIV Golf League and Asian Tour tournaments without authorisation. The offences against the “Conflicting Tour Regulation” were deemed reasonable and proportionate. The penalties, which include fines of up to £100,000 for each individual offence and possible tournament bans, were determined on an individual basis depending on the impact on broadcast partners, sponsors and DP World Tour stakeholders.

PGA-PIF-Deal: Merger of the tours

An earthquake in the golf world: the PGA Tour, the LIV Golf League and the DP World Tour unexpectedly merged under one umbrella at the beginning of June and immediately settled all legal disputes. The new merger, steered by the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund (PIF), was the result of months of hostilities between the tours. An official statement said the parties have signed an agreement that brings together the rights and operations of the three tours involved “into a new, collectively owned, for-profit entity to ensure that all stakeholders benefit from a model that maximises excitement and competition among the game’s best players”.

Delay in the start of “The Golf League”

The premiere of “The Golf League” (TGL), which was originally scheduled to take place in January 2024, had to be postponed to 2025 at the end of the year after a power failure during construction work led to the collapse of the dome of the SoFi Centre on 14 November. Although no injuries were reported and most of the technology was unaffected, the incident had a huge impact on the schedule. The decision to postpone was made after discussions with key partners, including players, team owners, PGA Tour leadership and sponsors. The TGL is confident that the extension will improve the quality. League co-founders Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy expressed disappointment about the delay but remained optimistic about the future of the TGL.

Confirmed: Golf ball rollback will come into force

The USGA and R&A rule makers announced that the driving distance of golf balls will be reduced from January 2028. The new test procedures for the “ODS” (Overall Distance Standard) are intended to limit the effects of increased hitting distances and ensure the sustainability of the sport. The rule changes affect both professional and amateur players. For average male professionals, this means a loss of nine to eleven yards, while proettes can expect a loss of five to seven yards. Male amateur players could hit their ball three to five yards shorter. The far-reaching changes for the recreational sector will take effect from 2030.

PGA Tour players on the DP World Tour

From 2024, PGA Tour players will have the opportunity to compete on the DP World Tour. PGA Tour players ranked 126th to 200th in the FedEx Cup Rankings will receive full membership on the DP World Tour. In addition, all PGA Tour players competing in a Race to Dubai tournament in 2024 will be eligible for Affiliate Membership to earn Race to Dubai points and qualify for the 2024 DP World Tour Playoffs. A new category, “Category 12”, will allow five of these PGA Tour players per week to participate in DP World Tour events.

Progress in ladies’ golf

It is not only men’s golf that is undergoing constant development. A lot has also happened in women’s golf in 2023: never before has so much money been paid out in the women’s leagues as in 2023. On the LPGA Tour, there was a total of over 101 million dollars in prize money. In addition, the US Women’s Open was held at the legendary Pebble Beach golf course for the first time since the inaugural Women’s Major 72 years ago. This move marked a milestone for women’s golf and increased media exposure and financial support. The event also introduced shot tracker technology, enabling live shot tracking. The prize money was increased to a total of eleven million dollars – a lot of progress that promotes equality in women’s golf.