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Under The Eyes Of Tiger Woods: Unsuccessful USGA Debut For Charlie

Charlie Woods, son of golf legend Tiger Woods, celebrated a small milestone in his young golf career this week with his USGA debut. Accompanied by his father Tiger, the 15-year-old took part in the prestigious US Junior Amateur Golf Championship 2024, which his father won three times in a row between 1991 and 1993. Although he did not make the cut at the tournament in Michigan, qualifying for the event alone must be regarded as a great success.

Successful Qualification, Weak Tournament: Tiger Woods Experiences Frustrated Charlie

Charlie Woods played probably the biggest event of his young career this week as part of the 2024 US Junior Amateur Golf Championship. Last month, the 15-year-old won a qualifying tournament to secure his place in the event at the legendary Oakland Hills Country Club, which has already hosted six US Opens and the 2004 Ryder Cup, where father Tiger Woods suffered a historic defeat to Team Europe. Qualifying for the prestigious junior event should be regarded as a great success in itself and should overshadow Charlie Woods’ poor tournament performance. Nevertheless, it became clear in the first two rounds that the 15-year-old was unable to match the performance level of the top junior players and was visibly frustrated with his performance.

After rounds of 82 and 80, Charlie Woods clearly missed the cut, which was four strokes over par, and finished the tournament after just two days (+22). According to spectators on site, however, the 15-year-old not only struggled with his game, but also with inappropriate behavior from fans, as he had already done at a pre-qualifier for the PGA Tour. Twitter user @conman-stalions, for example, posted videos of the tournament and wrote that: “Charlie Woods. Impressive young man. Hundreds of fans on top of him. On 3 Tiger politely asked ‘They’re on top of him, 30-40 yards back’. Fans were walking, distracting. Crying baby during Charlie’s downswing on 9 that led to a skulled chip over the green.”

If Charlie Woods dreams of playing on the PGA Tour one day, he certainly has a lot of work ahead of him. Nevertheless, the positives outweigh the negatives in his USGA debut: despite all the pressure and attention, achievements such as successfully qualifying for the US Junior Amateur 2024 are certainly impressive. A 15-year-old should not be measured against the accomplishments of a father like Tiger Woods.

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Before Open Championship: Vandalism at Prestwick St. Nicholas Golf Club

Prestwick St Nicholas is what is commonly known as the “Hidden Gem”. The second course at the birthplace of the Open Championship was also laid out by Old Tom Morris – for the tradesmen and labourers of the Scottish west coast town, who could not find a place at the posh Prestwick Golf Course. Old Tom was also only the keeper of the links at the PGC, but a member of “St Nics”, which is only a ten-minute drive from this year’s Open stage at Royal Troon and whose greens have recently been the victim of vandalism.

Prestwick St Nicholas golf club, 10 mins away from Royal Troon was found like this earlier today.
byu/Significant_Scotland ingolf

Consequences for Open Championship 2024

The security measures for the Open and the precautions against attacks by environmental activists, for example, have been stepped up again following this incident at the neighbouring site.

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Panorama

Olympics 2024: NBA Stars Around Stephen Curry Golf in Abu Dhabi

The USA basketball team is currently preparing for the Olympics 2024 in Abu Dhabi. While the Olympians are in the UAE capital for training sessions and two test matches against Australia and Serbia, NBA stars Stephen Curry, Jayson Tatum and Devin Booker took advantage of a free afternoon for a round of golf. All three are regarded as excellent golfers.

Olympics 2024: Stephen Curry and Co. Compete on the Golf Course

Unsurprisingly, scratch golfer Stephen Curry certainly made an impression in Abu Dhabi: after all, the Golden State Warriors superstar won a celebrity tournament last year with the American Century Championship, including a hole-in-one. The 36-year-old was also presented with the Charlie Sifford Award this year for his extensive commitment and promotion of diversity in golf, named after the great campaigner against racism in golf who died in 2022. However, the four-time NBA champion will have to forgo defending his title at the American Century Championship due to the Olympics 2024.

Devin Booker, shooting guard for the Phoenix Suns, is also a passionate golfer and emphasized during the round of golf in Abu Dhabi that the sport helps him to find his “peace of mind”. Last year, the 27-year-old organized a celebrity golf tournament in which Jon Rahm, among others, took part. Jayson Tatum also has some experience on the golf course and took part in the FedEx St. Jude Pro-Am last August, for example. As part of his foundation, the newly crowned NBA champion from the Boston Celtics also organizes an annual charity golf tournament.

At the Summer Olympics, the USA basketball team is considered the big title favorite and is sending the NBA elite around LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant to Europe after their disappointing performance at the Basketball World Cup. In Paris, the US basketball players are aiming for their fifth gold medal in a row. As the reigning world champions, Germany will face the USA in the knockout phase at the earliest.

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Euro 2024: English Finalists in a North versus South Golf Battle

Team England, who will be playing the final of the Euro 2024 on Sunday, have been residing at Weimarer Land Resort during their time in Germany. A few days ago England players had a little golf challenge. In this challenge, players from North England competed against those from South England. The video, which was posted on YouTube, features a lot of exciting and funny moments, including Arsenal star Bukayo Saka hitting some serious golf shots after a lesson by Ian Poulter.

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First Statement on the US Open: Rory McIlroy Left his “Own Little World”

After his bitter defeat at the US Open, Rory McIlroy announced that he would be taking a break for a few weeks. He will only return to the public eye for the Genesis Scottish Open and the subsequent Open Championship, according to a statement published by the Northern Irishman on X (formerly Twitter). This week, Rory McIlroy is on the entry list and will attempt to defend the title he won at last year’s Genesis Scottish Open. In the press conference before the start of the tournament, he talks about how he has dealt with the US Open and what comes next for him.

Rory McIlroy: First interview after his defeat at the US Open

Question: They just took a hammer and chisel a little bit to the “L.” Obviously first time we’ve had a chance to speak to you since Pinehurst. Can you put into words the actions and emotions of that final round, if you can, please?

Rory McIlroy: I think the way I’ve described Pinehurst on Sunday was like it was a great day until it wasn’t. I did things on that Sunday that I haven’t been able to do in the last couple years. Took control of the golf tournament. Held putts when I needed to. Well, mostly when I needed to. Made birdies. You know, really got myself in there. And then, look, obviously unfortunately to miss those last two putts, or the putt on 16 and obviously the putt on 18.

Yeah, it was a tough day. It was a tough few days after that, obviously. But I think as you get further away from it happening, you start to see the positives and you start to see all the good things that you did throughout the week. […]

Thinking back, yeah, maybe I was a little too aware of where Bryson was and what he was doing but it was the nature of the golf course and how the golf course flowed. After the 14th tee, you’re sort of looking at 13 green, and then I had to wait on my tee shot on 15 before he hit, or you know, to let him hit his second shot into 14. Just the way the course flowed, it just made me very aware of what he was doing at the same time. So it sort of got me out of my own little world a little bit.”

Question: And next time when you’re in that kind of position at a major on the back nine, who knows, it could be Troon next week, what do you think you would do differently or seek to do differently?

Rory McIlroy: Well, that’s the thing. Not a whole lot different. As I said, it was a great day until it wasn’t. I think I touched on it a little bit. I think if anything, I’d say my pre-shot routine got a little bit long. Started to look at the target a few more times over the ball.

And then, you know, as I said, like being very aware of what maybe some others were doing on the golf course and not really staying in my own little world for the whole 18 holes.

But really, apart from that, there’s not a lot I would do differently.

Confidence ahead of the Scottish Open: “I’m playing great golf”

Question: That point I made about a shot at redemption, is that how you look at it next week?

Rory McIlroy: It’s just another opportunity. I’m playing great golf and it’s another opportunity to see how I can hopefully handle it better than I handled it a few weeks ago.

Question: Last year, it was a remarkable birdie, birdie finish. Can you just take us back to those moments and what you remember of winning?

Rory McIlroy: Yeah, you know it was obviously a really windy day, and you know I felt like Bob he played a much tougher back nine than me with everything that was on the line but trying to win your home open and all that.

I made a couple of good putts on the back nine. I didn’t make birdie on 16 and felt like that was sort of my opportunity gone. And then to finish two, three like I did. You know, everyone talks about the 2-iron at the last but the 5-iron I hit into 17 was just as good a shot if not a little bit better.

Yeah, to hit two iron shots like that and to hole the putts what I needed to, yeah, it was awesome. Sort of I felt in some ways bad that it came at the expense of Bob but at the same time it was amazing to win a tournament that I had never won before.

Yeah, good memories and good to be back.

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The 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome Generated Record €262 Million in Economic Activity

The 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome boosted economic activity in Italy by €262million, according to an independent report.

The figure, a record for a Ryder Cup held in Europe, is an 11% increase on the €235million generated in 2018 when the biennial contest was held at Le Golf National in Paris, France.

Researchers from Sheffield Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Centre (SIRC) took into account spending by all spectators and other event attendees, plus all organisational spending, including by Federazione Italiana Golf (FIG) on the course and infrastructure upgrades, as well as other indirect or induced spending.

More than 271,000 people from 100 different countries attended last year’s contest at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, where Europe, led by Captain Luke Donald, reclaimed the Ryder Cup with a 16½ -11½ victory against the United States. It was the first-time the Ryder Cup had been held in Italy, which became only the third country in continental Europe to host the biennial contest, following Spain in 1997 and France in 2018.

2023 Ryder Cup: Key Findings

  • Spectators staying in paid accommodation in Rome during Ryder Cup week generated in excess of 318,000 commercial bed-nights, which was worth €34million in revenue for the local accommodation sector.
  • There was €72million in non-accommodation related expenditure by spectators.
  • Around 19% of event-specific visitors to Rome decided to extend their visit prior to or following the event.
  • Almost two-thirds of international spectators who visited for the event expressed a desire to return to Italy for leisure purposes in the next year, fuelled by their Ryder Cup experience.

The report concluded that: “Ultimately, an event responsible for €262million of economic activity in Italy is testament to the time and resources committed to delivering such a memorable sporting spectacle. These findings vindicate the decision to award the Ryder Cup to Rome.”

Guy Kinnings, Chief Executive Officer of the European Tour Group, said: “The figures highlighted in this independent economic impact report demonstrate the major benefits that Ryder Cup delivers for a host country through spectator and visitor spending, as well as an enduring legacy.

“From a sporting and fan engagement perspective, Rome 2023 has already gone down as one of the greatest Ryder Cup’s in history. We can now confidently conclude that the 2023 contest at Marco Simone also generated record financial rewards, providing a significant direct boost to the economy in Rome and in Italy.

“We would therefore like to thank the Italian Government and the Federazione Italiana Golf for their bold vision in helping to bring one of global sports leading events to Italy for the first time.

“I’d also like to recognise two magnificent teams: Team Europe led by Luke Donald, who performed so wonderfully inside the ropes, and everyone at Ryder Cup Europe, who worked so tirelessly on all facets outside the ropes to deliver the greatest Ryder Cup played in Europe.”

The team from Sheffield Hallam University utilised the same eventIMPACTS.com compliant approach as used previously in Scotland (2014) and France (2018) to estimate the direct economic impact of the 2023 match at three levels of geography – Rome, Lazio and Italy – as well as the wider economic activity supported by the event.

The 2025 Ryder Cup will be held in the United States of America at Bethpage Black in New York, with Adare Manor Resort, in Ireland, hosting the next edition in Europe in 2027 when the Ryder Cup celebrates its centenary.

(Text: European Tour Group)

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Against All Odds: Woods and Timberlake Get Their Bar in St Andrews

“Slàinte mhath”, says the Scotsman, when toasting with good wishes: In St Andrews, the Home of Golf, there will soon be a new meeting place for this. Despite massive opposition from local residents, who even submitted a petition against the project, superstars Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake have been given the green light by the relevant authorities for their sports bar T-Squared Social. The branch of the pub chain is to be built in the “Auld Grey Toon” cinema: The New Picture House has been in existence since 1930, but has been operating at no more than ten per cent capacity for years and can barely exist independently, according to the current owner.


Nevertheless, the residents are attached to their old film theatre and do not want any newfangled stuff; over 10,000 people signed the petition against the project. The luxury bar in the historic building, less than a kilometre from the Old Course, is to be equipped with large screens and golf simulators, have a bowling and darts alley and create 40 to 45 new jobs. This is the promise of the new operator Nexus Luxury Collection, whose shareholders include the two superstars. The remodelling for T-Squared Social is expected to begin within the next three years; the branch in New York, for example, is doing very well.

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Gareth Bale on Football and Golf: “The German Fans Are Amazing”

With a handicap of 2, Gareth Bale is not only a successful athlete on the football pitch, but also impresses with strong golfing performances at various ProAm tournaments. This was also the case at the 35th edition of the BMW International Open. He already made his PGA Tour debut last year and teed it up at the Pebble Beach ProAm, shortly after he came to Germany to the Munich Eichenried Golf Club. Now he can already look back on his second ProAm at this tournament and, in his press conference after his round in the group with Danny Willett and long driver Martin Borgmeier, was delighted with the course conditions and the German fans. In addition to golf, the current number one football topic was of course also on the agenda. The European Championship in Germany is inspiring the Welsh international, but he did not get carried away with a tip for the outcome of the match between Germany and Spain and chose a diplomatic answer.

Gareth Bale: “The german fans are amazing”

This is Gareth Bale’s second visit to the BMW International Open and the Welshman is delighted with Golfclub München Eichenried and his round: “The golf course is in great condition again. It was great fun and I definitely played better than last year”. There is great anticipation for an exciting 35th edition of the tournament and a look at the strong field of participants also promises high tension. “It is obviously a lot of great players playing. From being here last year, the fans are amazing and very supportive. I am sure it will be another great week”. However, the footballer does not want to commit himself to a possible winner: “There will be a worthy champion at the end”. However, one stands out for Bale too. Bernhard Langer is celebrating his farewell from the DP World Tour and European professional sport this week, which of course also leaves its mark on golf fan Bale: The longevity, the amount of golf he has played and the career he has had is incredible”.

Euro 2024 in Germany: A highlight, also for Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale can look back on a successful football career in which he made a name for himself in various teams with very good performances. He also played for many years in the Welsh national team, where he became the record player with 111 appearances and 41 goals. So the question on the European Football Championship in Germany is an obvious one: “I haven’t been to any games but I’m going to the finals in Berlin. It’s nice to have the tournament back in one country”. However, the football star refrains from making any predictions about the outcome of the match between Germany and Spain this Friday (July 5): “It’s one of those games, whoever turns up on the day. They both have fantastic teams. Germany obviously has the home advantage. Who plays better on that day will win the game”.

The whole interview with Gareth Bale

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DP World Tour and J.Lindeberg Announce Partnership

The DP World Tour and J.Lindeberg are delighted to announce an exclusive, multi-year partnership which sees the global fashion and lifestyle brand become the Official Clothing Supplier of the DP World Tour.

The announcement heralds a significant expansion of J.Lindeberg’s influence in the world of golf, deepening its commitment to the sport. Founded in 1996, the renowned Swedish clothing brand bridges the worlds of sport and fashion, combining sophistication and contemporary fashion, with high performance and comfort to suit the modern active lifestyle.

The DP World Tour – golf’s global Tour with 44 tournaments in 24 countries – attracts top-tier talent from across the globe and this partnership is set to significantly elevate both the on- and off-course experience for staff, fans, and J.Lindeberg ambassadors such as DP World Tour players Viktor Hovland and Matt Wallace. 

J.Lindeberg becomes Supplier for Rolex Series events

Today’s announcement also sees J.Lindeberg become the Official Clothing Supplier of two of the Tour’s most iconic Rolex Series events in 2024 – the Genesis Scottish Open, taking place at The Renaissance Club, North Berwick (10-14 July); and the BMW PGA Championship, at Wentworth Club, Virginia Water (17-22 September).

As part of this exclusive partnership, not only will J.Lindeberg be outfitting DP World Tour personnel with a range of bespoke products, specifically designed to suit their active and travel-intensive lifestyles, but it will also extend its distinctive signature styles and innovative sports apparel to the golfing community who can purchase tournament branded J.Lindeberg ranges at these select events.

DP World Tour X J.Lindeberg: Excellence and innovation

Commenting on the partnership, Hans-Christian Meyer, CEO of J.Lindeberg, said: “We are incredibly proud to partner with the DP World Tour, a prestigious organisation that exemplifies excellence and innovation in golf – qualities that J.Lindeberg stands for and always wants to champion.

“We are especially excited to outfit the Tour’s dedicated staff, ensuring they look great while showcasing the professionalism of the Tour. The Genesis Scottish Open and the BMW PGA Championship offer great touchpoints throughout the 2024 season for us to showcase our latest collections and designs, centred around unique functionality and forward-thinking style.”

Guy Kinnings, Chief Executive Officer of the DP World Tour, added: “Golf has never been more fashionable and this extends to the premium lifestyle brands that are flocking to the sport. J.Lindeberg has been leading this trend for decades, with ranges that perfectly bridge sport and fashion. We’re excited to have a brand of their calibre come on board as our Official Clothing Supplier. Not only will our personnel be wearing J.Lindeberg apparel as they travel the world, but we will be providing opportunities for fans to purchase their ranges online and at select events each season.”

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Fun

EURO 2024: Harry Kane Shows Off Skills on Driving Range

Drives with Harry: The content shared by the English FA’s social media team during the European Football Championship is somewhat entertaining – certainly more entertaining than the Three Lions’ performances so far at this EURO 2024. It is even more worth watching when one of the good golfers in the team appears in front of the camera, of which there are quite a few, and shows off his skills.

England’s Harry Kane on the Driving Range

First and foremost, of course, is captain Harry Kane, who presenter Josh Denzel takes to the driving range of the Spa & GolfResort Weimarer Land in Blankenhain, Thuringia, where the English lions have set up their team base camp in this episode of “Lion’s Den”:

 
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Captain Kane also showed his skills, albeit very late, in last night’s 2:1 win after extra time in the round of 16 match against Slovakia. After all, with the winning goal in the first minute of extra time, the goalscorer fulfilled the golf oracle in Weimarer Land, who had predicted England’s victory with a putt: