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Bryson DeChambeau gives a first warning to Brooks Koepka hitting a 521-yard driver off the top of a casino

The European Tour and the LPGA Tour seasons ended last weekend in the 21st of November, 2021. The PGA Tour still has one last event before is over. However, there is one more off-season show in between. Every golf and drama lover has been awaiting for this battle since October. Last month, two of the most controversial golfers on Tour, Bryson DeChambeau(28) and Brooks Koepka(31) announced their 12-hole match to square off their differences.

The drama started years ago over the social media, and it turned into a very loud topic within the golf world. Due to the teambonding at the 43rd Ryder Cup, the audience witnessed them waving the white flag of peace, and finally shaking hands. The duo will face each other on November 26th at the Wynn Golf Course, the only golf course on the Las Vegas strip.

Bryson DeChambeau shows off the gains

It is not new to find DeChambeau on social media working on his long-driver skills. When the yardage seems like reaching the human limit, he surprises his followers. The power and the speed of his swing were such that the TopGolf range fell short. The the 2020 U.S. Open champ was just casually bombing balls over the net.

The 521-yard driver that is shaping up to be a smash hit

In case that the TopGolf show was not enough to get in the nerves of his opponent, DeChambeau decided to get up to the roof of the Wynn Hotel, and hit a 521-yard driver. The target was the venue of their match, at Wynn Golf Club, stting just 650 feet below the rooftop tee box. This video was shared as a preamble to The Match, showing DeChambeau is coming on strong in the Black Friday Battle.

After trying out some hockey swings, Bryson embraced that club, and prepared to break the ball into million pieces. Koepka had set a target that caught DeChambeau out of guard at first. Little did he knew that DeChambeau was just warming up.

He finally blasts his ball and hits the perfect line. It went so far that it bounced after the target, rolling over to the fairway behind. Not to risky to say that his opponent’s mouth dropped open within the next second. The result of the upcoming match is still a mystery… Nevertheles, facts are that Koepka is going to have to sharpen up his short game.

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European Tour Ladies Tours Live LPGA Tour PGA Tour Top Tours

Scandinavians are fighting until the end. Last call for the LPGA and European Tour Finals.

PGA Tour: RSM Classic

The RSM Classic is being played in Georgia, at the Sea Island Seaside Course. The tournament starts on Thursday, 18th of November and ends on Sunday, 21st of November 2021. The RSM is part of the PGA Tour in the season 2022. All players competing for a total prize money of 7,2 Mio. US-Dollar.

This weekend, many of the players that classified between the Top 50 of the Race to Dubai Rankings will be playing in Dubai for the Final. Therefore, the appearance of European Tour players in the PGA event is less notorious that in the previous tournaments.

The Scandinavians usually playing at a disadvantage because they are less, and therefore the odds to win also decrease. The RMS Classic begun in 2010, and it is always an American golfer who puts the crown one year after year ever since, except for 2017, when Canadian Mackenzie Hughes overcame them. Maybe this year, in 2021 the Scandinavian players break with the routine and cross with the title to the other side of the ocean. Henrik Norlander will tee off at 9:40am (Local Time) from the first tee, while his mate Alex Noren will simultaneously start the first round from the 10th tee box.

PGA Tour RSM Classic
Course Sea Island Seaside Course Georgia, USA
Prize Money $7,200,000
Defending Champion Robert Streb
Scandinavian players Henrik Norlander, Alex Noren, Ludvig Aberg, Jonas Blixt

LPGA Tour: CME Group Tour Championship

The LPGA is wrapping up the season! The Ladies will tee off one last time for this season on Thursday Nov. 18th at the CME Group Tour Championship. Tiburon Golf Club – Gold Course will serve as venue this weekend. The tournament finishes on Sunday, 21st of November 2021. The Championship is part of the LPGA Tour in the season 2021.

All players competing for a total prize money of 5 Mio. US-Dollar. This is the third highest price compensation after the U.S Open and the AIG Women’s Open. The difference from the men’s tours is still very large, but hopefully it narrows down in the upcoming years.

From Finland, Matilda Castren goes solo, representing the blue and white of her flag. Anna Nordqvistand, Madelene Sagström,both from Sweden are bringing the highest participation rate from Scandinavian. Denmark also got lucky, since Nanna Koerstz Madsen will fight to climb up some positions this weekend. Madsen ranks 38th on the CME Rankings, but she is only 218pts far behind from finishing within the Top 30. Although the Scandinavian ladies rank in the CME Rankings too far behind the leader Jin Young Ko, the four of them plan the weekend knowing that they have nothing to lose and giving up is never an option.

LPGA Tour CME Group Tour Championship
Course Tiburon Golf Club – Gold Course
Prize Money $5,000,000
Defending Champion Jin Young Ko
Scandinavian players Matilda Castren(FIN), Anna Nordqvistand(SWE), Madelene Sagström(SWE), Nanna Koerstz Madsen(DEN)

European Tour: DP World Tour Championship

This upcoming weekend, the European Tour celebrates the Race to Dubai Grand Final at the georgeous golf course of Jumeirah Golf Estates – Earth Course, in Dubai. This time, only the Top 50 of the Race to Dubai Rankings will compete at the Final.

Norway is missing its best asset playing the European Tour Grand Final, Viktor Hovland. The first Scandinavian player that we can spot on the Race to Dubai Rankings is the Danish golfer Nicolai Hojgaard. Hojgaard ranks 16th, but although the situation is not ideal for any of them, nothing holds them from trying their best to win on Sunday and to add such a honor to their careers and countries, including also Finland and Sweden.

EU Tour DP World Tour Championship
Course Jumeirah Golf Estates – Earth Course Dubai, UAE
Prize Money $9,000,000
Defending Champion Matt Fitzpatrick
Scandinavian players Joachim B. Hansen(DEN), Tapio Pulkkanen(FIN), Alexander Björk(SWE), Jeff Winther(DEN), Rasmus Højgaard(DEN), Joakim Lagergren(SWE), Nicolai Hojgaard(DEN),

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European Tour Live LPGA Tour PGA Tour

The LPGA and European Tour seasons are ending – Fitzpatrick is defending Champion at the Grand Final

PGA Tour: RSM Classic

The RSM Classic is being played in Georgia, at the Sea Island Seaside Course. The tournament starts on Thursday, 18th of November and ends on Sunday, 21st of November 2021. The RSM is part of the PGA Tour in the season 2022. All players competing for a total prize money of 7,2 Mio. US-Dollar.

This weekend, many of the players that classified between the Top 50 of the Race to Dubai Rankings will be playing in Dubai for the Final. Therefore, the appearance of European Tour players in the PGA event is less notorious that in the previous tournaments.

The RMS Classic was first celebrated in 2010, and the winner crown goes to an American golfer year after year ever since, except for 2017, when Canadian Mackenzie Hughes took the trophy home. Maybe this year, in 2021 the English players break with the routine and cross with the title to the other side of the ocean. David Skinns will tee off at 10:30am (Local Time) from the first tee, while his mate Callum Tarren will simultaneously start the first round from the 10th tee box.

PGA Tour RSM Classic
Course Sea Island Seaside Course Georgia, USA
Prize Money $7,200,000
Defending Champion Robert Streb
English players Luke Donald, Callum Tarren, David Skinns, Matt Wallace, Justin Rose, Aaron Rai

LPGA Tour: CME Group Tour Championship

The LPGA is wrapping up the season! The Ladies will tee off one last time for this season on Thursday Nov. 18th at the CME Group Tour Championship. Tiburon Golf Club – Gold Course will serve as venue this weekend. The tournament finishes on Sunday, 21st of November 2021. The Championship is part of the LPGA Tour in the season 2021.

All players competing for a total prize money of 5 Mio. US-Dollar. This is the third highest price compensation after the U.S Open and the AIG Women’s Open. The difference from the men’s tours is still very large, but hopefully it narrows down in the upcoming years.

There are two golfers represetning England, Georgia Hall and Charley Hull. Hall makes the honors teeing off in the first group at 07:27 AM (Local Time). Charley Hull goes off one hour after, at 08:51 AM. Although they are ranked in the CME Rankings too far behind the leader Jin Young Ko, the two Englishwomen plan the weekend knowing that they have nothing to lose and giving up is never an option.

LPGA Tour CME Group Tour Championship
Course Tiburon Golf Club – Gold Course
Prize Money $5,000,000
Defending Champion Jin Young Ko
English players Georgia Hall, Charley Hull


Charley Gilmore is ready to hit some bombs.

European Tour: DP World Tour Championship

This upcoming weekend, the European Tour celebrates the Race to Dubai Grand Final at the georgeous golf course of Jumeirah Golf Estates – Earth Course, in Dubai. This time, only the Top 50 of the Race to Dubai Rankings will compete at the Final.

The Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick is defenfing Champion, while Collin Morikawa and Billy Horschel seek to become the first Aemrican to become winner of the European Tour’s season-long contest.
Paul Casey is currently ranked 6th, followed up by his mate Richard Bland. The situation is not ideal for them, but there is nothing that will hold them from trying their best to win on Sunday and to add such a honor to their careers.

Fitzpatrick could be the only golfer to win this Final in three different occasions, since he previously conquered the Dubai crown back in 2016 and 2020. The English golfer feels confident with his game, and says that the course favors the best long irons hitters, which is a strengh of him. Nevertheless, it would be silly to forget how golf works, and that any of these players only need one great week to bring the victory home.

EU Tour DP World Tour Championship
Course Jumeirah Golf Estates – Earth Course Dubai, UAE
Prize Money $9,000,000
Defending Champion Matt Fitzpatrick
English players James Morrison, Sam Horsfield, Marcus Armitage, Ian Poulter, Danny Willett, Laurie Canter, Tommy Fleetwood, Richard Bland, Paul Casey, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton

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European Tour Live

The European Tour Final has arrived – Race to Dubai Preview

The DP World Tour Championship, Dubai is the climax of the European Tour – Race to Dubai. The Final will take place at the Earth Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates – Dubai, UAE. Over a hundred of the best European Tour players have been fighting like warriors throughout the season.

However, from Nov. 18th-21st of 2021, only the Top 50 European Tour players will compete for the ultimate golden brooch. The money price tag amounts to $9 million, one of the highest rewards of the year. Also, the weather conditions will be warm all weekend, but not too hot that shocks our British and Scandinavian pros. The participants will embrace the sun to stay dry and tan all throughout the week.

Defending Champion: Matt Fitzpatrick (ENG)

The eyes are on the Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick, because he defends Champion. Fitzpatrick is currently 6th in the Race to Dubai Ranking, and 28th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). He sums up a total of 7 victories in the Tour, and looking forward to bringing home the 8th trophy.

Furthermore, Matt Fitzpatrick prepares the strategy knowing that he could become the only golfer to win the event three times: “Why it suits me is because there’s a few more long irons, and apparently on paper I’m a bit better with my long irons than my mid irons and short irons.” – Fitzpatrick during the European Tour Press.

American Golfers want to make history.

Collin Morikawa sits top of the Race to Dubai Ranking ahead of the season final. Morikawa will play alongside second placed Billy Horschel at 12:45pm on the first round. The two men are in contention to become the first American to win the Race to Dubai title, but only the best will bring the glory home. Horschel sets hight expectations, because he could pottentially claim the crown in Dubai, for instance.

Race To Dubai Final – Predictions

In October, Rory McIlroy won his 20th PGA Tour victory at the CJ Cup in The Summit Club, LA, and he could not be more pumped up. After being crowned winner of the CJ Cup, the Irishman claimed that “Being me is good enough.” Although McIlroy is too far behind from leader Collin Morikawa, his mindset defines him as one of the big fighters at the Final.

Rory is confident and he will leave everything of the field to finish the year on the highest note. “I got some confidence from the win in Vegas. I’ll have a good chance this week. I don’t feel like I need to do anything too special to give myself a chance on Sunday.” – explains during the European Tour Press.

Nevertheless, Tyrrell Hatton, Min Woo Lee, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Paul Casey have the best chances of success this weekend. The are currently ranked 4th – 7th respectively. The Spanish golfer, and 3rd classified on the Ranking leaderboard, Jon Rahm, announced that he will not be competing at the Final, which increases the odds for the other players.

Hatton, Lee, Fitzpatrick, and Casey need a victory at the DP World Tour Championship to stand any chance of winning the Race to Dubai. Meanwhile, Horschel needs to overcome his compatriot Morikawa by 237pts if he is to become the first American to win the European Tour’s season-long contest.

Best of luck everyone!

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PGA Tour

Tiger Woods drops the crutches. The GOAT recorded in LA walking with full weight on his right leg.

Tiger Woods says bye to the crutches and the walking support. Woods was seen walking in a hotel in LA few days ago. Although these are great news, his struggle to walk solidly and confidently in their footsteps is noticeable. The protective compression leg sleeve remains in place and he is walking with a limp. The 82-time PGA winner is recovering slowly by shortly.

Back in February 2021, Tiger was involved in a very dramatic car accident that limited him from walking or even moving his right leg. It was only a month ago, in October, when he stepped on a golf course supporting his son Charlie. From then on, he continues to work on being able to perform normally as a dad first, as golf has become secondary.

Tiger Woods in Oct. 9th in Florida watching his son compete at a junior event.(@TWlegion)

It would be silly to think that the professional career of such a legend is over, but clearly there is still a long way ahead until we can see Tiger from behind the ropes teeing up again. His good friend and teammate, Justin Thomas only has positive words about the situation. Thomas is certain that Tiger will go far and beyond trying to get back on the field as soon as possible. The GOAT knows that hard work pays off, and now it is time to work on his full recover.
The show must go on.

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European Tour Ladies European Tour Ladies Tours Live LPGA Tour PGA Tour

Joachim B. Hansen wins his second European Tour victory at the AVIV Dubai Championship 2021 – One shot makes the difference

PGA Tour: Houston Open

The Houston Open was held in Houston, Texas at the Memorial Park Golf Course. From November 11th-14th of 2021. Our Scandinavian players struggled to make birdies, the pars kept them with high chances of passing the cut after the second round. However, the lack of birdies and sand saves put Henrik Stenson out of the competition after two rounds of (72-76).

On the other hand, his mate Henrik Norlander, currently ranked 139th of the OWGR, made it through the four rounds of the Houston Open. Norlander finished last on the leaderboard with rounds of (71-69-72-78). It was not his best performance at the PGA Tour this season. They will soon have another chance to drop some putts and climb up on the leaderboard next week at the RSM Classic, on Nov. 18th.

PGA Tour Houston Open
Course Memorial Park Golf Course- Houston, TX, USA
Prize Money 7.5 Million Dollar
Champion Jason Kokrak
Scandinavian players Henrik Norlander (T67), Henrik Stenson (CUT)

LPGA Tour: Pelican Women’s Championship 2021

Nelly Korda wins her 4th LPGA victory of the year after battling a 4-way PlayOff at the Pelican Womens Championship, at the Pelican Golf Club, Belleair. “I never won in front of my parents until earlier this year and I did it twice now, and in a playoff. My dad said I’m going to give him a heart attack, so that was nice before the playoff. I was like, Okay, good.” – Korda

Lydia Ko, Lexi Thompson, and Sei Young Kim are the other three great golfers who attempted for the trophy.

Scandinavia plays all their chances to bring home the gold medal. Sweden, Finland, and Denmark were represented by the best golfers at the moment.

Madelene Sagstrom (SWE) was the best Scandinavian player. Sagstrom finished T33 after four rounds of 6-under par. Clearly, the ladies set the standards very high this weekend. Sagstrom took some of her birdie opportunities to lower her scores. The amount of up & downs was low and therefore, it was a struggle to avoid some bogeys here and there. Her putting was good but the greens were not easy. The Swedish golfer was consistent and now she is ready to come back stronger next weekend.

LPGA Tour Pelican Women’s Championship
Course Pelican Golf Club, Belleair – Belleair, FL
Prize Money 1.7 Million Dollars
Champion Nelly Korda
Scandinavian players Madelene Sagstrom (T33), Matilda Castren (52), Nanna Madsen (CUT),

European Tour: AVIV Dubai Championship 2021

Dubai hosted the AVIV Dubai Championship, at the Fire Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates. Denmark tasted the glory with the victory of Joachim Hansen (DEN), after four solid rounds of golf (63-67-67-68) for a total of 23-under par.

Not too far down, his mate Thorbjørn OLESEN (DEN), and Kalle Samooja (FIN) also made the Top 10, finishing 8th at the end, 4-shots behind the leader. The Scandinavian golfers tend to play better in the European Tour due to a matter of statistics. There are always more Scandinavian participants playing there than in the PGA Tour.

EU Tour Aviv Dubai Championship
Course Fire Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates – Dubai, UAE
Prize Money 1.5 Million Dollar
Champion Joachim B. HANSEN
Scandinavian players Joachim Hansen (Winner), Thorbjørn OLESEN (T8), Kalle Samooja (T8), Alexander Björk (T19), Marcus Kinhult (T24)

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European Tour Ladies Tours Live LPGA Tour PGA Tour Top Tours

The Scandinavians aim towards the European Tour this weekend – AVIV Dubai Championship

PGA Tour: Houston Open

The Houston Open will be held in Houston, Texas at the Memorial Park Golf Course. From November 11th-14th of 2021, the best male golfers around the world will compete for a total prize money of $7,500,000.

On our spotlight, we find Henrik Stenson (SWE), and his mate Henrik Norlander, currently ranked 139th of the OWGR. Sweden is the only Scandinavian country that will be representing at the PGA Tour this weekend. Not too risky to say that Viktor Hovland is tired of always winning in the PGA events and now he is leaving some for others to try.

PGA Tour Houston Open
Course Memorial Park Golf Course- Houston, TX, USA
Prize Money 7.5 Million Dollar
Defending Champion Carlos Ortiz
Scandinavian players Henrik Stenson (SWE), Henrik Norlander (SWE)

LPGA Tour: Pelican Women’s Championship 2021

The LPGA is back! The Ladies will tee off at the Pelican Womens Championship in Belleair, FL at the Pelican Golf Club, Belleair. The tournament starts on Thursday, 11th of November and ends on Sunday, 14th of November 2021. The Championship is part of the LPGA Tour in the season 2021. In 2021 all players competing for a total prize money of 1,75 Mio. US-Dollar.

Scandinavia plays all their chances to bring home the gold medal. Sweden, Finland, and Denmark will be represented by the best golfers at the moment. Unluckly, there will not be any participant from Norway to make a full.

Matilda Castren (FIN), Nanna Madsen (DEN), and Madelene Sagstrom (SWE) are some of the main players to follow up with this weekend in Florida. They are coming strong, and Castren had not fear in showing it to everyone else.

LPGA Tour Pelican Women’s Championship
Course Pelican Golf Club, Belleair – Belleair, FL
Prize Money 1.7 Million Dollars
Defending Champion Sei Young Kim
Scandinavian players Matilda Castren (FIN), Nanna Madsen (DEN), Madelene Sagstrom (SWE)

European Tour: AVIV Dubai Championship 2021

This weekend Dubai takes over The U.S. hosting the AVIV Dubai Championship, at the Fire Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates. The tournament starts on Thursday, 11th of November and ends on Sunday, 14th of November 2021.

In 2021 all players competing for a total prize money of 1,5 Mio US-Dollar. The course for the tournament at Fire Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates plays at Par 72.

From Finland, Tapio Pulkkanen comes ready to show his better game after he missed two cuts in a row at the Alfred Dunhill and the Open de España. He finished T25 at the Andalucia Masters and T17 at the Portugal Masters last week. Pulkkanen is the first Scandinavian to tee off at 7:10am (GMT). Joakim Lagergren (SWE), Sami Välimäki (FIN), Joachim Hansen (DEN) are paired up together at 7:20am (GMT). The number of Scandinavian participants is less than the usual, but yet the highest out of all the other Tours.

EU Tour Aviv Dubai Championship
Course Fire Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates – Dubai, UAE
Prize Money 1.5 Million Dollar
Defending Champion Antoine Rozner
Scandinavian players Joakim Lagergren (SWE), Sami Välimäki (FIN), Joachim Hansen (DEN), Marcus Kinhult (SWE)
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European Tour LPGA Tour PGA Tour

Paul Casey is ready for the AVIV Dubai Championship 2021

PGA Tour: Houston Open

The Houston Open in the season 2022 is being played in Houston, Texas at the Memorial Park Golf Course. The tournament starts on Thursday, 11th of November and ends on Sunday, 14th of November 2021. The Houston Open is part of the PGA Tour in the season 2022. In 2022 all players competing for a total prize money of 7,5 Mio. US-Dollar.

Teeing up first for the English golfers will be Lee Westwood. He currently sits at the 37th place of the OWGR. He did great in the 2020-2021 season qualifying for the FedExCup Playoffs for the sixth time, advancing to the BMW Championship for the third time and finishing No. 50 in the standings.

Danny Willet he took home the Alfred Dunhill trophy recently will tee off at 7:46 (CST). Ryder Cup legend Tyrell Hatton will make an appearance, teeing off at 12:20pm (CST).

Ian Poulter, who was the champion of the 2018 Houston Open in a sudden death playoff against Beau Hossler will compete again this year. The 2018 win marked Poulter’s third PGA title. So let’s see if the postman delivers this year.

PGA Tour Houston Open
Course Memorial Park Golf Course- Houston, TX, USA
Prize Money 7.5 Million Dollar
Defending Champion Carlos Ortiz
English players

LPGA Tour: Pelican Women’s Championship 2021

The LPGA is back! The Ladies will tee off at the Pelican Womens Championship in Belleair, FL at the Pelican Golf Club, Belleair. The tournament starts on Thursday, 11th of November and ends on Sunday, 14th of November 2021. The Championship is part of the LPGA Tour in the season 2021. In 2021 all players competing for a total prize money of 1,75 Mio. US-Dollar.

First to tee up bright and early is  Jodi Ewart Shadoff. Shadoff’s best performance so far was at the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer at the beginning of October where she finished at T7. She has the opportunity this weekend to improve her stats and land higher on the leaderboard. The only other English lady to tee up this weekend is Mel Reid.

LPGA Tour Pelican Women’s Championship
Course Pelican Golf Club, Belleair – Belleair, FL
Prize Money 1.7 Million Dollars
Defending Champion Sei Young Kim
English players Mel Reid, Jodi Ewart Shadoff

European Tour: AVIV Dubai Championship 2021

The EU tour is the only event not in the states this week! All the way in Dubai, the AVIV Dubai Championship in the season 2021 is being played at the Fire Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates. The tournament starts on Thursday, 11th of November and ends on Sunday, 14th of November 2021.

In 2021 all players competing for a total prize money of 1,5 Mio US-Dollar. The course for the tournament at Fire Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates plays at Par 72.

After a pause, English golfers Paul Casey and Tommy Fleetwood will be teeing off at 7:40am(GMT). Casey  has already won once this year in Dubai at the Desert Classic. He is the highest ranked player in the field (27th). With his caddy Johnny McLaren taking some time out at the end of this year. The pair will be looking to go out on top with a win. Fleetwood however does quite well in the Middle East hardly finishing outside the top 10 around the Earth course. He is probably looking to improve his Race to Dubai standings and will play hard this week.

EU Tour Aviv Dubai Championship
Course Fire Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates – Dubai, UAE
Prize Money 1.5 Million Dollar
Defending Champion Antoine Rozner
English players Tommy Fleetwood, Paul Casey, Andy Sullivan, David Howell, Steven Brown, Chris Wood, Oliver Wilson, James Morrison

Champions Tour: Charles Schwab Cup Championship 2021

The Charles Schwab Cup Championship in the season 2021 is being played in Phoenix, AZ, USA at the Phoenix Country Club. The tournament starts on Thursday, 11th of November and ends on Sunday, 14th of November 2021. In 2021 all players competing for a total prize money of 2,5 Mio. US-Dollar. The course for the tournament at Phoenix Country Club plays at Par 71.

Six time major champion is teeing off on the field this week. Phil Mickelson will make his appearance to the final playoff event . Mickelson made history earlier this year when he became the oldest player (50) to win a major at the PGA Championship.

Mickelson joins the other top 35 players among the Charles Schwab Cup standings who will compete in the third and final Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs event at Phoenix Country Club. On the English front will be Paul Broadhurst who will be teeing off tomorrow as well.

Challenge Tour Challenge Tour Grand Final
Course Phoenix Country Club – Phoenix, AZ, USA, Strokeplay
Prize Money 2.5 Million Dollar
Defending Champion Kevin Sutherland
English players Paul Broadhurst
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Ladies Tours Live

LPGA golfer Sei Young Kim: “Run toward your fear, knowing that you will never catch it.”

RUN TOWARD YOUR FEARS 

By: Sei Young Kim


I started golf at age nine. My father loved the game and took me to a local driving range in Korea where I spent many hours hitting balls. Even at home, I swung a club all the time in the house. But golf wasn’t my only sport. It wasn’t even my first one.

By the time I picked up the club for the first time, I was already advanced in taekwondo. My father is a grand master who ran a martial arts studio near our home. He taught hundreds of people, including me. By the age of five, I was spending time with Dad working on numerous techniques, learning the physical discipline and artistry of taekwondo. By age 12, I was a third-degree black belt.

From third-degree black belt to LPGA Top player

Martial arts taught me many things that made me a better golfer. The physicality of taekwondo translated well into the motions of the golf swing. Flexibility, leverage, balance, speed in the right spot, and controlling yourself as you strike an object: these are all crossover disciplines. Knowing your body and understanding the importance of being in the right position at the right time are imperative in breaking a board with your foot as well as in hitting a driver into the fairway. By learning one, you appreciate the other.

Taekwondo also emphasizes bringing all muscles to bear on a strike, concentrating your area of impact into as small an area as possible. The same is true in golf where you use every muscle and lever to bring as much controlled force as possible into the back of a stationary ball.


What I didn’t appreciate at the time were all the other lessons that my dad taught me. For example, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t perform in front of a crowd. In taekwondo, whether in a series of tests or exhibitions, I was always challenged in front of my peers, my instructors and spectators. So, when I drew a crowd in golf, I already knew the feeling.

The greatest advice comes from her dad: “You must never lose to fear.”

More than any other gift, though, my father taught me that the biggest opponent I would ever face, in sports and in life, was fear. In martial arts, the person attacking you is your foe. But your enemy is fear. Dad would always say, “Despite your instincts, you have to run toward that which you fear the most. You must face your opponent. You might lose a fight, just as you might lose a golf tournament. But you must never lose to fear.”

By my teenaged years, I had devoted myself fulltime to golf. But I still wasn’t sure I wanted to play competitively. My nerves weren’t great in tournaments. No matter how much I employed the techniques I’d learned in taekwondo – breathing, focus, control – I let the big moments overwhelm me. In my first year of high school, Dad pulled me aside and said, “Sei Young, you have to decide what you want to do. If you want to play golf for fun, that’s fine. But you will need to devote yourself to school so you can find another career path. If you want to be a competitive golfer, that’s fine, too. But you must overcome your nerves and learn to perform under pressure.”

Sei Young Kim, the youngest-ever winner of the Korean Women’s Amateur Championship.

I knew that my parents would support me either way. And that was all I needed. I poured myself into golf. At age 16, I became the youngest-ever winner of the Korean Women’s Amateur Championship.

Two years later, I turned professional and played the Korean LPGA Tour where I won five times. Two of those wins came in playoffs, where I was able to control my nerves and defeat my fears.

Then I qualified for the LPGA Tour in 2015, which presented a new set of anxieties. I arrived in America thinking I knew enough English to get by, at least for a while. Rarely have I been so wrong. I couldn’t understand anyone. I couldn’t read a sign; couldn’t order food; couldn’t watch television or find a book to read. Local rules sheets were useless and the instructions from officials went right past me. I nodded as if I understood what was being said. But in truth, I had no idea.

Sei Young Kim of South Korea speaks at a press conference after reacts after round 3 on Day 6 of Blue Bay LPGA 2015 at Jian Lake Blue Bay golf course

After the first event of my rookie year in Ocala, Florida, where I didn’t play well, I phoned my dad and said, “I think this was a mistake. Everything here is so hard. I can’t understand anything going on around me. Maybe I should come home and make a career on the KLPGA.”

To his credit, Dad listened without interrupting me. Then he said, “Are you afraid?”

I didn’t answer at first. I knew what he meant. Then he said, “Why don’t you give it one more week. See how you do. Then we’ll talk again.”

The next week, the LPGA Tour played the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic at the Ocean Course on Paradise Island. That February Sunday, in a fierce wind, I shot 68 to finish 14-under par, good enough to land in a playoff with Ariya Jutanugarn and Sun-Young Yoo, which I won. Two months later, I chipped in on the final hole of the LOTTE Championship in Hawaii to force a playoff with Inbee Park. Then I hit the best 8-iron of my life, a shot that one-hopped into the hole for an eagle on the first extra hole. It was my second win in my first four months on the LPGA Tour.

Sei Young Kim of South Korea celebrates after chipping in on the 18th green to force a playoff with Inbee Park during the final round of the LPGA LOTTE Championship, in 2015

My English did not improve overnight. I still had trouble checking into a hotel and reading a restaurant menu. But I no longer feared my decision. I had found my home on the LPGA Tour.

I was honored to be the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year in 2015. And in 2020, I captured my first major championship, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. I also won the Pelican Women’s Championship in Florida, a title I will defend this week. And I captured the Rolex LPGA Player of the Year award. Throughout it all, I have remembered my father’s words.

Sei Young Kim of Korea poses with the trophy after winning the Pelican Women’s Championship at Pelican Golf Club, in 2020

Run toward your fear, knowing that you will never catch it. Because fear always vanishes in the face of the bold.

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European Tour

European Tour to become the DP World Tour from 2022

Press Release

The European Tour group and DP World today jointly announced a ground-breaking evolution to their long-term partnership, with DP World becoming the new title sponsor of the group’s main tour from the start of the 2022 season.

The agreement heralds a new era in the history of the European Tour group, which, along with DP World, will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2022, the first season of the newly named DP World Tour.

Today’s announcement represents a significant deal in terms of global sports partnerships, with DP World’s substantial commitment dedicated to three key areas: elevating the Tour in every way, growing the game of golf globally, and driving positive community impact.

The new look DP World Tour will see total prize money break through the $200 million mark for the first time, with a new minimum prize fund of $2 million for all tournaments solely sanctioned by the DP World Tour.

In 2022, the DP World Tour will represent a truly global tour through an international schedule, that will feature a minimum of 47 tournaments in 27 different countries, including new tournaments in the UAE, Japan, South Africa and Belgium and an expanded Rolex Series comprising five events: the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic, the Genesis Scottish Open, the BMW PGA Championship and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

3 tournaments will be co-sanctioned with the PGA

For the first time, it will also feature three tournaments co-sanctioned with the PGA TOUR – the aforementioned Genesis Scottish Open, as well as the Barbasol Championship and the Barracuda Championship taking place in the United States – as a result of the Strategic Alliance between male professional golf’s two leading Tours. To view the full 2022 schedule, please click here.

The European Tour and DP World were both established in 1972 and have since developed into global enterprises with DP World, which is headquartered in Dubai, evolving into the leading provider of global smart end-to-end supply chain and logistics solutions.

DP World’s association with the European Tour spans more than a decade, first becoming a presenting partner of the European Tour’s Race to Dubai finale at Jumeirah Golf Estates in its inaugural year in 2009, before the Rolex Series event was renamed the DP World Tour Championship in 2012. It was in this year that DP World became the tournament’s title partner.

DP World then became an Official Partner of the European Tour in 2015, and they will now become the Official Title Partner of the Tour from the start of the 2022 season, which begins with the Joburg Open in South Africa, from November 22-25.

A word from the Chief Executive

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour group, said: “Today’s announcement is undoubtedly a momentous one in the proud history of our Tour. The launch of the DP World Tour in 2022, coinciding with both of our 50th anniversaries, will herald a new era in global golf, and crucially it will benefit everybody involved – all our players, caddies, fans and partners – as well as making an important contribution to wider society.

“The entire ecosystem of our Tour will be strengthened because of this hugely significant deal, and that was essential to us and to DP World, who have been an incredible supporter of our Tour as well as golf more widely, from grassroots through to the elite professional game.

“The DP World Tour is, therefore, a natural evolution of our decade-long partnership, and the presence of ‘World’ in our new title better reflects our global reach.”

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said: “DP World has been a partner of the European Tour for over a decade. Our long-standing partnership has provided an excellent platform to engage with customers, prospects, and stakeholders, and build our brand. We have relished the opportunity to support the Tour in growing the game of golf and improving access to the sport at all levels. The key to this success has been and will continue to be the shared vision and values that underpin the partnership.

“We both have a global mindset, are committed to inclusivity, and invest in new technologies to stay competitive – attributes which today become the fundamental principles of the DP World Tour. As the leading provider of smart logistics solutions worldwide, we will use our people, assets, and connectivity to help grow the Tour further and change what’s possible in golf.”

The overwhelming support has made this happen

Jay Monahan, Commissioner of the PGA TOUR and Board Member of the European Tour, added; “Thanks to the support of long-standing partner DP World, today’s announcement significantly elevates the European Tour on a global basis. We are excited for the continued growth and evolution of the European Tour, as well as the momentum this provides toward our Strategic Alliance. I’ve said before that our respective Tours are positioned to grow – together – over the next 10 years faster than we ever have at any point in our existence, and today’s announcement is another point of proof in those efforts.”