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DP World Tour

DP World Tour: Rory McIlroy wins fourth Hero Dubai Desert Classic

Rory McIlroy won a record-breaking fourth Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour as he successfully defended his title on a dramatic afternoon at Emirates Golf Club.

The Northern Irishman claimed a maiden Rolex Series crown at this event 12 months ago but came into the weekend ten shots back before a stunning third-round 63 put him into the final group on Sunday.

He then turned a two-shot deficit into a four-shot lead with six holes to play before a bogey on the 13th gave the chasing Adrian Meronk and Cameron Young a glimmer of hope.

Rory McIlroy wins in Dubai “where everything started”

“It’s a great start to the season”, McIlroy said after his win. “I started well last year with the win here. A couple of little things still to work on but these weeks are great. You learn a ton from them and obviously great to get the competition and come out on top as well.”

He went on to reminisce about his history with the event. “Just to think like 18 years ago, and what it meant to come here and play in this event, to be sitting here, you know, having won it four times, and all the great experiences that I’ve had in Dubai and the friends that I’ve met and everything sort of along the way, it’s always been a place where I come back to and reminisce about my career because I really feel like it’s where everything started.”

“So it’s amazing to sit here. The first Desert Classic, I took a media credential and I walked inside the ropes to follow Tiger and Ernie and Thomas Bjorn, and then just to think about even the arc of that: Thomas Bjorn was my Ryder Cup Captain; I ended up buying Ernie Els’s house; I’ve become really good friends with Tiger Woods. It’s just amazing to think back on the last 18 years and sort of where I find myself.”

Meronk and Young came short

Pole Meronk cut the lead to one as he signed for a 71 but McIlroy held his nerve down the stretch and carded a 70 for a 14 under par total and a one-shot win.

American Young finished with a 74 to sit at 12 under, two shots clear of Canadian Aaron Cockerill, Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal and Chilean Joaquin Niemann.

The win takes McIlroy past Ernie Els’ hat-trick of Desert Classic victories and hands him his third Rolex Series triumph, having won three of the last five blue riband events.

He also becomes just the second player to successfully defend this title after Stephen Gallacher lifted the Dallah Trophy in 2013 and 2014 and makes it six wins in Dubai with his two victories at the DP World Tour Championship.

The 34-year-old has started the defence of his Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex crown with a runner-up finish and a win as he looks to become Europe’s Number One for a sixth time, moving to the top of the Rankings for the 2024 title and the International Swing.

Dane Nicolai Højgaard, Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura, China’s Li Haotong and Australian Adam Scott finished five shots off the lead.

(Text: DP World Tour)

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DP World Tour

Seve Ballesteros Award: Adrian Meronk wins Player of the Year 2023

Adrian Meronk has won the 2023 Seve Ballesteros Award after being voted Player of the Year by his peers on the DP World Tour.

The accolade is one of a number of the 31-year-old’s history-making achievements as he becomes the first player from Poland to receive the honour after a season in which he won three times and finished a career-high fourth on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex.

Meronk earned 38% of the votes cast by his fellow DP World Tour members, with Race to Dubai Champion Rory McIlroy taking second place. Ryder Cup debutant Nicolai Højgaard and Viktor Hovland, who clinched the PGA TOUR’s FedEx Cup, were in joint third place.

Meronk was presented with the trophy by one of Seve’s sons Javier, who travelled to Dubai ahead of this week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic, won by his father more than 30 years ago.

The Pole started the 2023 season in stunning fashion, earning his second DP World Tour title at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open, holding off a final day challenge from home favourite – and one of his golfing heroes – Major champion Adam Scott.

His victory in Australia earned him a place inside the Top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking at the end of the 2022 calendar year, enough to secure a maiden appearance at the Masters Tournament and thus become the first player from Poland to compete in all four Major Championships.

Another national open title followed shortly after as he triumphed at the DS Automobiles Italian Open, birdieing the 72nd hole at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club to win the title by one stroke. He then moved to a career-high 45th on the OWGR shortly after his win in Italy.

His next victory of the campaign, and fourth DP World Tour title, came at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters at Sotogrande, as he secured his position inside the top ten on the season-long rankings, ultimately going on to finish in fourth position and earn dual membership on the PGA TOUR for 2024.

The Player of the Year Award, named after the legendary Seve Ballesteros, incorporates the former Golfer of the Year Award after the two accolades were combined in 2021 to become one single honour voted for by the DP World Tour’s members.

Meronk, said: “It feels amazing. I’m shocked to be honest, I didn’t expect that. You got me by surprise but seeing my name next to all of these players, it’s unbelievable. I’m very grateful for this award. It means a lot to me that other players appreciate my season last year. It’s a great feeling. 

“Last year was the best season so far in my career. I’m really happy that other players saw that, as well and give that award. Just thank you for that and I have to keep going.

“I enjoy this week. I love playing here in Dubai. It’s probably one of my favourite tournaments of the year. So I’m excited to be here. We have such a great field this week, so I will just enjoy every moment.”

“It’s actually very nice to be here,” added Ballesteros. “I used to come here with my dad many years ago, and to have an award with his name that the players vote for the Player of the Year, we are very grateful and very happy that there’s a prize with his name. 

“Adrian played fantastic last year, he won multiple times and he’s a well-deserved winner of this award. 

“We were very happy when the Tour came to us to say that they were going to put the Seve Ballesteros Award for the Player of the Year, and we really do like it.  We are very grateful, and the special thing that we like is the prize is voted by the players.” 

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, added: “Adrian has made history throughout his career, and I’m delighted to congratulate him once again, this time for becoming the first Polish player to add their name to the illustrious list of winners of the Seve Ballesteros Award.

“Any season that includes three trophies – including two national opens – is always impressive, and Adrian’s peers clearly thought so. 

“I also want to thank Javier Ballesteros for travelling to Dubai to present the award to Adrian. It meant a lot to have him there to represent his father.”

(Text: DP World Tour)

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Tour News

World Golf Ranking: Xander Schauffele Climbs to 5th Place

In the World Golf Ranking, Scottie Scheffler holds his position at number one, reflecting a consistent performance at the pinnacle of the sport. Compatriot Xander Schauffele trails at the fifth spot, climbing one position from the previous week.

American Golfers in the World Golf Ranking

The performance of American golfers exhibits mixed results, with Patrick Cantlay dropping to sixth from fifth, Max Homa remaining steady at seventh, as well as both Brian Harman and Wyndham Clark who secure their standings at ninth and tenth respectively. These shifts reflect the dynamic nature of the rankings and player performance week-to-week.

Rory McIlroy sustains his number two position, representing stability at the top.  Jon Rahm, stationed at third, and Viktor Hovland, maintaining the fourth place, echo a status quo among the lead pack. The World Golf Ranking beyond the top ten sees fluctuations as various athletes either ascend or descend in the standings. Tommy Fleetwood surges to rank 11, a noteworthy climb from the 15th position following his victory at the Dubai Invitational.

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Tour News

World Golf Ranking: Tommy Fleetwood approaching the Top 10

In this week’s World Golf Ranking, Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland remains static at the second position, holding a strong presence among the world’s golf elite. Meanwhile, Matt Fitzpatrick of England maintains his rank at number 8. Fleetwood jumps four spots up to 11th, marking a leap forward and towards the top 10 after his victory at the Dubai Invitational.

British Players in the World Golf Ranking

On the contrary, Hatton drops one place to 15th, indicating a slight decrease in his ranking. This represents a mixed week for English golfers regarding their standings. As for the remaining top British players in the top 60 of the World Golf Ranking, Justin Rose slides down two places to 42nd, Robert MacIntyre of Scotland, he stays at 58th.

Back at the top of the World Golf Ranking, Scottie Scheffler from the United States secures his position as the world leader, showcasing sustained excellence in his performance. Jon Rahm of Spain also stands firm at number 3. In the rest of the top 10, we observe Xander Schauffele climbing to 5th from 6th place, indicating an upward trend for the American golfer. Conversely, Patrick Cantlay of the USA experiences a slight descent, moving from 5th to 6th. While the shift isn’t significant, it does reflect the competitive nature within the upper echelon of the World Golf Ranking. Continuing through positions 7 to 10, no other movements are reported, suggesting steadiness among the leading golfers at this elite level.

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Tour News

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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Equipment Tour News

Tom McKibbin joins Team Callaway

Callaway today announced the signing of exciting young Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin as a new Staff Professional.

A winner on the DP World Tour after just 26 starts, the 21-year-old Northern Irish golf prodigy claimed his breakthrough victory at last year’s Porsche European Open in Germany, and will play a full complement of Callaway and Odyssey equipment, including the new Chrome Tour Golf Ball.

Tom made an incredible start to his golfing career at a very young age. He captured the Junior Honda Classic title in his age group when he was just 12-years-old, and among his many other amateur accolades, at just 16-years-old, was one of the youngest ever players to represent Ireland at the 2019 Home Internationals.

In 2019, his US success continued when he won the prestigious Junior Invitational at Sage Valley Golf Club in South Carolina.

Prior to turning professional in 2021, Tom represented Ireland at the 2018 and 2019 European Boys’ Team Championship and played for Great Britain & Ireland in the Jacques Léglise Trophy the same years.

He will compete in his first DP World Tour tournament as a #TeamCallaway staffer at the Dubai Invitational, which begins this week.

Commenting on this important new signing, Peter Harrison, Director of Tour Relations, Callaway Golf EMEA, said: “Tom is an exciting prospect in the world of professional golf – already a proven winner – and we are proud to have yet another young star of the future join our Callaway and Odyssey families, representing us on the biggest stage.”

Tom added: “I’ve been testing new Callaway and Odyssey products with the Tour team over the winter and I can’t wait to put my new equipment into competitive play. I’ve been a long-time fan of Callaway equipment and I’m confident I can take a big step forwards in my career using their clubs and golf ball.”

Text by Callaway Golf

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Tour News

Martin Slumbers to step down from The R&A by the end of 2024

Martin Slumbers will step down from his role as CEO of the R&A and Secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews at the end of 2024. Mr Slumbers, 63, brought his extensive global business experience and a passion for golf to the organisation. He has led The R&A as the global governing body of golf around the world (outside the US and Mexico) and as Secretary of the iconic golf club, which dates from 1754, he has supported its committees in serving its international membership.

Slumbers’ eventful last year and his legacy

Martin Slumbers will oversee The 152nd Open at Royal Troon, the return of the AIG Women’s Open to St Andrews and the 43rd Curtis Cup match at Sunningdale before relinquishing his role by the end of the year.

Niall Farquharson, Chairman of The R&A said, “In Martin, we have been fortunate to have a CEO who has steered the organisation through a period of growth and enhanced the profile and reputation of our sport to make it more accessible, appealing and inclusive.  Through his stature and influence in the world of golf and sport more widely and in growing the proceeds of The Open to invest back into the game, he has been true to The R&A’s purpose of golf thriving 50 years from now and has shown transformational leadership.  He speaks often of reflecting history in a modern way and that will be his legacy to The R&A and to the Club.”

Martin Slumbers said, “It has been a privilege to serve golf at the highest level. It is a role that I have been proud to carry out on behalf of The R&A’s employees, the members of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club and all our global partners. In any career, there is a time to allow the next generation to have its turn. I am grateful to have had the honour, for nearly a decade, to have been the custodian of all that The R&A and the game of golf more broadly represents.“

During his tenure, Mr Slumbers has led a modernisation of The R&A’s activities, which included the merger with the Ladies’ Golf Union and its subsequent integration to enable The R&A to represent golf for men, women, boys and girls at the elite level.

In 2018, as part of his strategic approach to The R&A’s activities, its first Playbook was developed, explaining the purpose of the modern R&A: ‘To make golf open, accessible and inclusive and ensure it is thriving 50 years from now’. This level of clarity has led The R&A to double its financial commitment to golf, with greater emphasis on women and girls; establish a strategic business-driven approach to golf development; and proactively seek to improve the perception of golf as good for you, good for society and good for the environment.

He had oversight of the 2019 modernisation of the Rules of Golf, the roll-out of the World Handicap System in 2020 and the Distance Insights process, the outcome of which was announced in December 2023. He has served on the boards of the Official World Golf Ranking, the International Golf Federation and the LET.

A paradigm shift in the approach to the commercial affairs of The R&A, primarily at The Open, and the level of expertise in the executive team has enabled The R&A to substantially increase its investment into amateur golf around the world and, with partners, has enabled the AIG Women’s Open to grow into a world class championship.

In 2023, Mr Slumbers delivered a four-year project to create the ground-breaking new golf facility, Golf It!, in Glasgow. This family-centred facility based in the community creates an opportunity for more people to enjoy the unbound joy of golf and for members of the local community to gain work, volunteering and training opportunities. 2023 also saw the launch of the G4D Open for the world’s most talented golfers with disabilities and in 2024 a new Africa Amateur Championship will join elite amateur events in Asia-Pacific and Latin America. These include the Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific championship and the Women’s Amateur Latin America championship, both introduced by Mr Slumbers.

Text by R&A Media

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Tour News

World Golf Ranking: Slow start to the year for UK-Players

In the current World Golf Ranking, Scottie Scheffler from the USA remains at the pinnacle holding the first position, consistent with the previous week’s standing. Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland also retains his second place, being the highest-ranked UK-Player in the list. McIlroy starts the new calendar year this week at the Dubai Invitational. The UK-Players did not get off to a good start in the new year.

No changes in the Top Ten of the World Golf Ranking

Moving to the other elite players from the UK, Matt Fitzpatrick from England stays at number 8 in the World Golf Ranking, maintaining his previous week’s spot. However, there has been a negative shift for two English golfers; Tyrrell Hatton slides to 14th from 12th, and Tommy Fleetwood falls to 15th from 14th position in the rankings. Both players took part in the first tournament on the PGA Tour this year, The Sentry.

The third rank in the World Golf Ranking is still held by Jon Rahm from Spain, who retains his position from last week. Similarly, Viktor Hovland from Norway and Patrick Cantlay from the USA remain unchanged in their fourth and fifth positions respectively.

Beyond the top three, within the players ranking from fourth to tenth in the World Golf Ranking, all individuals have maintained their standings from the previous week. Xander Schauffele (6th), Max Homa (7th), Brian Harman (9th), and Wyndham Clark (10th) have all remained static in their respective rankings, emphasizing a period of equilibrium within the top tiers of professional golf.

Besides Hatton and Fleetwood also Justin Rose and Robert MacIntyre fall down in the World Golf Ranking, marking a tough start for the UK-Players.

This text was written with the help of AI

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Tour News

Scheffler Leads World Golf Ranking – Morikawa approaches Top Ten

The PGA Tour kicked off the 2024 calendar year with The Sentry. Scottie Scheffler and Patrick Cantlay maintain their first and fifth positions respectively in the World Golf Ranking. Holding firm at the top, Scheffler continues to exhibit consistency, while Cantlay remains a key figure among the elite. With no positional change this week, they represent stability for the American contingent atop the rankings.

Top Ten starts the year with no changes

Xander Schauffele (6), Max Homa (7), and Brian Harman (9) round out the top five American golfers in the World Golf Ranking. Each retaining their previous week’s standing, they contribute to the United States’ dominance within the top echelons. Furthermore, Wyndham Clark holds the tenth spot.

Rory McIlroy remains in second place, Jon Rahm in third. The stability at the top tier is apparent, with Viktor Hovland also keeping his fourth ranking. Matt Fitzpatrick (8), representing England, and other prominent golfers from varying nationalities, contribute to the rich diversity within these ranks.

Collin Morikawa, having risen from thirteenth to eleventh, displays a positive shift for American golf in the World Golf Ranking. The 26-year-old finished in a tie for fifth place at The Sentry on the PGA Tour and is knocking on the door of the Top Ten. Tournament winner Chris Kirk and runner-up Sahith Theegala also climb up the World Golf Ranking. While Kirk improves from 52nd to 25th place, Theegala jumps from 32nd to 20th.

This text was written with the help of AI

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Tour News

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.