Greg Norman as a participant in the 150th Open Championship? (Photo: Getty)
Greg Norman has been causing quite a stir as CEO of the LIV Golf Invitational Series for several months. He wants to organize a tournament series that is in direct competition with the world’s major tours: PGA and DP World Tour. In doing so, he also doesn’t shy away from “luring” as many big-name players as possible onto his tour, triggering a major controversy. Now he is making headlines again – but not with his LIV Golf Invitational Series.
Greg Norman wants to return to the Open Championship after 13 years
Greg Norman wants to return to tournament action in 2022. After ten years of not participating in professional sports, he wants to compete for a title again. And not just any title. At the age of 67, Norman wants to compete in the 150th Open Championship in world-famous St. Andrews.
His last tournament in which he played for world ranking points was ten years ago. The last major he played was even 13 years ago: the Open Championship 2009 in Turnberry. Nevertheless, there is no better time for Greg Norman to play one (last) time, as he assures in an interview with New Corp: “I think I can still do it. It’s the 150th, I’m a former Open champion. I love St. Andrews. If there’s one time I would consider going back and teeing off one last time. Maybe it’s this one.” He said he is currently in the process of filling out the entry form.
It remains questionable whether he will get an exemption
One fact appears to jeopardize his participation: Greg Norman, at 67, is outside the age limit of 60 set by the Open Championship. The probability that the Australian will receive a playing permit from the R&A is therefore rather low. The only alternative for Norman would be to qualify for the Major via an Open qualifying tournament. The aforementioned disputes in which Greg Norman currently finds himself will make his plans even more difficult for the 67-year-old.
Comeback: Steve Stricker will play on the Champions Tour next week. (Photo: Getty)
These have been tough months for Steve Stricker. After leading the U.S. Ryder Cup team to victory last year, a mysterious illness struck Stricker. The 55-year-old suddenly suffered from a wide range of symptoms: from cough and sore throat to jaundice and an inflammation of the heart. The consequences of these strains were extreme: Stricker could not eat solid food for a long time and lost about 25 pounds. Now the golfer announced his return to the Champions Tour.
Steve Stricker fought against a mysterious disease outbreak
Steve Stricker has had an illness record to show for it since last fall, and it’s not without its challenges. After his Ryder Cup victory as captain of the U.S. team, things went downhill for the then 54-year-old. A mild cough was followed by a high fever and an allergic reaction to a medication. Shortly thereafter, Stricker was informed of very poor liver values and cardiac arrhythmias. His health deteriorated rapidly, while doctors were at a loss as to the cause of this. Stricker spent eleven days in the hospital, after which he felt “like an 85-year-old man.” His doctors announced he would be in rehabilitation for months.
Comeback on the Champions Tour
After Stricker was unable to eat solid food for a while and going to the bathroom had been a challenge for him, a former golf coach suggested he not return to professional sports and take it easy. For Stricker, that wasn’t an option: “That’s not my style, you know? I like to work at things.” For Stricker, one thing was certain: he would return to the Champions Tour. Next week’s Insperity Invitational is expected to be the time, and the twelve-time PGA Tour winner and seven-time Champions Tour winner announced his participation. In Houston, he will be competing for prize money of more than 2 million euros. We will find out in the coming week how well his comeback is going and whether his body can already withstand the rigors of a professional tournament.
Keith Pelley, CEO of the European Tour, warns his players. (Photo: Getty)
In a memo to players on the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour), Keith Pelley, CEO of the European Tour Group, has issued a strong warning against defection to the controversial LIV Golf Invitational Series, reports the GolfChannel. The memo was about the “release protocols” as some players want to attend the tournaments initiated by Greg Norman and financed by Saudi Arabian money.
European Tour: Urgent appeal from the boss
Conflicting events, regardless of how attractive they might appear to you personally, potentially compromise our efforts in these areas and could significantly hurt your tour in both the short and long term,” Pelley wrote. “Please continue to bear this bigger picture in mind.” In addition, Pelley explained that some of the tournaments in the LIV Golf Invitational Series would be held at the same time as heritage events, including the Irish Open, Italian Open and Open de Espana.
In his memo, Keith Pelley also refuted rumours that they had turned down a multi-million dollar Golf Saudi investment. “Although we had discussions with Golf Saudi about extending our relationship beyond the Saudi International tournament, we never received a formal written offer from them,” GolfChannel quoted from the memo. However, the European Tour (now DP World Tour) had received an offer from Raine Capital in 2020, who were linked to a Premier League Golf at the time.
LIV Golf Invitational Series by Greg Norman
The LIV Golf Invitational Series is now being funded by the Saudi Arabian Private Investment Fund (PIF) and is tempting with huge prize money. Earlier this week, it was announced that a first professional from the PGA Tour and further professionals from the DP World Tour have asked for permission to participate in the inaugural event (09-11 June in London) of the tournament series launched by Greg Norman.
Now the head of the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) warned his players against a defection and appealed for loyalty to the tour. The PGA Tour had also threatened to exclude its players from the Majors and Ryder Cup when the rumours of a new Saudi League first emerged and urged its stars to stay on the PGA Tour with pledges of loyalty and new sources of income, such as the Players Impact Program.
The harbour town of Porto Ercole in Italy. (Photo: Jürgen Linnenbürger)
It takes us less than two hours by rental car from Rome-Fiumicino airport to reach the five-star Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort. It is situated on a peninsula in the heart of the Maremma. This is the name of the coastal strip and its hinterland in southern Tuscany. In the past, the Maremma was a swampy area where malaria was prevalent. But this has long been a thing of the past. Just like the Etruscans, who were once at home here. Most of the Maremma lies in Grosseto, the second largest of the ten Tuscan provinces with its capital of the same name. This typically Tuscan region is not densely populated. Around 220,000 inhabitants live on an area of 4,500 square kilometres.
Argentario Golf Club (Photo: Jürgen Linnenbürger)
Stylish design in a natural setting. The modern designed, luxurious resort was opened in 2008. It is situated above a green valley, in the midst of the Mediterranean Maccia in a beautiful area. It is surrounded by cork oak forests and centuries-old olive trees. The resort has a magnificent view of the golf course, the lagoon of Orbetello, the silver coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea beyond and the hills of Monte Argentario.
18th green in front of the resort complex (Photo: Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort)
The 73 rooms, the seven suites and the seven luxurious villas have been furnished with great attention to detail, combining comfort with the latest technology. All accommodation units have balconies or terraces of different sizes with beautiful views. Construction has begun on a further 20 rooms. The furnishings vary depending on the room type. From the functionally furnished standard double room to the elegant suite, there is something for every taste and budget. White walls contrast with dark brown wooden floors and furniture.
Impressive design throughout the resort. Exceptional design runs throughout the resort. Its contemporary style features a combination of retro and extravagant elements. Materials from the region are skilfully combined with modern ones. The most impressive example of this is the majestic entrance hall, designed in the shape of a dragonfly, where the intense blue of the sky falls through the oversized glass windows.
Imposing resort lobby (Photo: Jürgen Linnenbürger)
The black frames of the lift cladding contrast with the white wooden ceiling, the floor of sand- coloured Tabarca stones and the curved light wooden counters of the reception and the boutique. The entrance to the restaurants also attracts the eye. The wild boars found in this region greet the guests.
Entrance area to the restaurants (Photo: Jürgen Linnenbürger)
Wellness and well-being are a priority. The 2,700-square-metre ESPACE Wellness Centre has, among other things, a fitness centre with state-of-the-art technogym equipment, two saunas and a heated indoor saltwater pool with an exit to the outside. A second pool in the outdoor area offers the desired cooling in summer. At the ESPACE Wellness Centre, guests can discover various wellbeing services aimed at achieving an overall balanced physical and mental state. Tennis and padel tennis courts are available, as well as a panoramic jogging course, a small football pitch and electric mountain bikes.
Indoor pool with view into the gym (Photo: Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort)
Argentario Golf Club opened in 2006. The club’s course was designed by golf architect David Mezzacane and golf pro Baldovino Dassu. Adjustments were later made by Brian Jorgensen. Due to the prevailing microclimate, the course is playable year-round. Testament to the quality of the course, Argentario’s golf course was awarded PGA National Italy status by The PGA in 2019.
Challenging golf in charming surroundings. Precision is just as important as distance on the technically challenging par-71, 6,218-metre championship course. From yellow it is 5,895 metres long, from red 5,003 metres. After a soft start with a short par-4, we cross the hilltop and play the next two holes deep down into the valley. The views down to the sea and lagoon in the background are fantastic. First, we are impressed by a par-3, whose green is well guarded by seven bunkers. From the yellow tee it is 177 m downhill.
Magnificent view from the tee of the second hole (Photo: Jürgen Linnenbürger)
This is followed by the longest hole on the course. From the elevated tee box, you can let the driver run free into the fairway far below. The par-5, 573 metres long from the yellow tee, plays like a par-6. The frontal wind coming from the sea also contributes to this.
573 metres to the green of the three (Photo: Jürgen Linnenbürger)
The next holes then run level through the flat terrain. The fairways offer enough space to hit the ball, but the greens have their work cut out for them. They are not overly large, oftenundulated and well guarded by bunkers or water hazards.
Overview Front Nine (Photo: Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort)
From the elevated terrace of the clubhouse, you have a great view of the ninth and the tenth hole, where water comes into play.
View of the nine (right) and ten from the clubhouse (Photo: Jürgen Linnenbürger)
The back nine is more open and wider than the front nine. It passes numerous olive trees and impressive, huge trees that attract our gaze on several holes.
Giant trees line the fairways (Photo: Jürgen Linnenbürger)
As is the case throughout the resort, sustainability is also a top priority on the golf course. Only organic products are used to maintain the course. For this, the club received the BioAgri Cert award. The seal of quality, which only a few clubs in Italy bear, stands for excellent water management, among other things. The rainwater coming from the mountains is collected in two cisterns in winter and thus ensures irrigation in the summer months.
The Bermuda grass of the fairways is still dormant in April. That’s why they still have quite a few brown spots when we visit. The greens, on the other hand, are already in top condition. The covered driving range is a real eye-catcher. In the academy, which is equipped with the latest technology, group and individual lessons are offered, sometimes by well-known professionals such as Emanuele Canonica.
Stylish driving range (Photo: Jürgen Linnenbürger)
When booking through the hotel, resort guests receive attractive green fee discounts on other courses in the region. These include the Ryder Cup course Marco Simone in Rome.
The palate is also pampered. We dine superbly in the cosy Clubhouse restaurant and on its terrace. The menu features tasty dishes of Maremma, Tuscan and Italian cuisine, using mainly products from the region. We were particularly taken with the tortelli with wild boar ragout and the fish and seafood platter. The Vermentino is an excellent accompaniment. The gourmet restaurant Dama Dama was still closed during our visit.
Cosy Clubhouse Restaurant (Photo: Jürgen Linnenbürger)
There is much to discover. To explore the charming region, we recommend a rental car. We didn’t see any taxis in any of the small towns. The towns of Porto Ercole and Orbetello with their sandy beaches Feniglia and Giannella are only a few kilometres away. Porto Ercole with its historic Hercules harbour, its four fortresses and its pretty old town should be included here, as well as the larger town of Porto Santo Stefano, where we let ourselves be spoilt with fresh fish and enjoy the evening atmosphere in the Trattoria Il Moletto right by the sea.
Evening atmosphere in Porto Santo Stefano (Photo: Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort)
We also recommend a visit to the municipality of Capalbio, whose fortified settlement towers high above the sea. The tour of the city walls offers magnificent views over the entire region. In its winding alleys, a new surprise awaits around every corner.
Town fortress in Capalbio (Photo: Jürgen Linnenbürger)
Art lovers will not miss out either. The artist Niki de Saint Phalle, known for her voluptuous figures, has created an art garden with 22 sculptures up to 15 metres high depicting the cards of the Tarot. It is also located in the municipality of Capalbio. Here we are immersed in a world of our own with imaginative figures made of mirror mosaics, colourful ceramics and glass and are completely enthralled.
Tarot Garden by Niki de Saint Phalle (Photo: Jürgen Linnenbürger)
Grazie mille to the entire team of the Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort and Golf Club for the friendly and perfect service at all times. We felt very much at home. Ciao et a presto!
Bernd Wiesberger is teeing it up on the European Tour this week. (Photo: Getty)
The DP World Tour touches down in Europe for the first time in the 2022 season, as the ISPS Handa Championship in Spain marks the first of two successive events on Spanish soil.
Bernd Wiesberger, Guido Migliozzi and Ewen Ferguson – winner of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, the last DP World Tour event aside from the Masters Tournament – are among those teeing it up at the stunning Infinitum just outside the Catalonian city of Tarragona.
Pablo Larrazábal returns home for the first time since claiming his sixth DP World Tour title at last month’s MyGolfLife Open hosted by Pecanwood in South Africa, while Alejandro Cañizares and Zander Lombard – who shared victory when Qualifying School Final Stage was held here in 2018 – as well as the 2019 Qualifying School winner at Infinitum, Benjamin Poke, are also in the field.
This week’s event will be followed by the Catalunya Championship at PGA Catalunya Golf and Wellness, while October will also see back-to-back Spanish events, the acciona Open de España presented by Madrid at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid and the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters at Real Club Valderrama.
Bernd Wiesberger: “I’m looking forward to it. It’s been a little bit too long by about a week or so for my liking, but unfortunately I wans’t able to sneak into the Match Play at Austin so I had a week there without any tournaments.
“It was nice to be home obviously for three weeks but it just felt like after the season started with a nice run of events, I had a bit too long of a break but it is what it is and I tried to get ready as much as I could and I’m really looking forward to playing here for the first time.
“It’s a really good track to start what will be a good run of events through the year on the DP World Tour. I’ve tried to get some info from the guys who have been here at Qualifying School, and it is has been quite low scoring in the past.
“But I think they’ve done a really good job to trick it up for us. The rough is up, it’s quite penal, you need to be good off the tee and the fairways aren’t super-wide. It looks like there will be a bit of wind and the greens are quite firm so all that adds up to be a good test. You need to get yourself in good positions and I like that, so I’m looking forward to a strong test.
“First two weeks of the year were disappointing. I played well on the Sunday in Abu Dhabi but I just didn’t finish off the round well enough to clinch a top five. Sunday in Dubai was really tricky and I couldn’t find anything on the greens and everything just added up to shots lost.
“I’m not quite satisfied with the start. I definitely played some good golf at the Valspar Championship on the PGA TOUR but there’s plenty of good stuff. It just needs to be bundled up into four good rounds, it’s a building process and all of the parts of the game are there so it’s just a matter of time before it all clicks. I’m looking forwards to when that happens and hopefully I can give it a go this week.”
Ewen Ferguson: “I definitely feel very comfortable in my own skin. I had for the last little while too, but it’s nice mentally in your own head to feel like you’ve won here and you’ve got across the line for the first time. I know I can do it again so hopefully if I’m in that situation another time, I’ll know I’ve done it so I’m sure it will help me a stand me in good stead.
“It’s definitely sunk in now and I feel like I’m ready to move on from it and I’m ready to move on from it to be honest and get my game in order and get ready to compete again so I’ve been doing a lot of work the past few days to keep my game sharp and hopefully that will pay off this week.
“I had so much to do with the people who have helped me a long the way so I’ve spent a lot of time with them and given them my time and let them know how thankful I was, and then I had some media in Scotland so I dealt with all of that.
“I had a couple of nights out with friends and family, nothing too crazy. Then I had some football games supporting Rangers, so it was good fun.”
Pablo Larrazábal: “It has been three weeks at home, but I had a tournament in my home course, El Prat, called the Barcelona Open by Pablo Larrazabal that I held on the PGA of Spain. It has been a nice three weeks at home. Infinitum is one hour and 15 minutes up the road, so I came this morning. It is nice to see my caddie again, my friends and see the people in my second home.
“I am ready to go. I have been playing great, been practising great at home. There is nothing wrong with three weeks at home. To keep the momentum, you have to keep working and keep the routines going. That is all about preparation.
“Well, as a professional golfer you have to realise that you are an entertainer. You are a sportsman but mostly we are entertainers. The first year to 16 months of golf during the Covid-19 pandemic were tough. As I said to you, I am an entertainer of people and we were not. We played 16 months with no crowds and that didn’t help my golf, my attitude at all. To play for money is not the way I play golf nowadays.
“There is history around here but when I was growing up here in Tarragona, we were playing Reus that is nearby, we were playing Costa that is up north. I never played this golf course before. Today is my first nine holes out here.
“I came here four years ago to see a couple of friends on the last day of the Final Stage at Q-School. Those are my only two days at this course. But after nine holes you realise how good this golf course is and the conditions are brilliant. Hopefully the rain stays away from here so that we can see how good the work is of the groundsmen.
“There are a lot of lakes, but you guys know me. I have been on Tour for 15 years; I didn’t come here for holidays and to make business you have to make birdies. Birdies are going to bring you trophies. That is why we came and that is how I play golf.”
Jordan Spieth and Under Armour extend der collaboration till 2029. (Photo: Getty)
Jordan Spieth has been an integral part of the Under Armour team since 2013. The then 19-year-old golfer, mind you without a PGA Tour card, signed with the textile manufacturer and has remained with it to this day. Now Under Armour is extending its profitable deal with Spieth for another four years. The American will wear the brand’s golf shoes, clothing and accessories until 2029.
Jordan Spieth: “Under Armour took a chance on me”
“I was just leaving school and I guess in other sports I would have been considered a high draft pick, but at the same time I didn’t have PGA Tour status, which in golf means everything,” Spieht explained. The then 19-year-old had recently turned pro and has been playing at Under Armour ever since. He currently has a ten-year deal, which has now been extended by another four. The decisive factor for this is probably his victory at the RBC Heritage in mid-April.
“I’ve really enjoyed being on this journey with Under Armour since I turned pro, and I can’t wait to accomplish great things together in this next phase of my career,” Spieth said. “Like me, everyone at Under Armour challenges themselves to get better every day. I’m looking forward to continuing to test their newest innovations as I know their products will help me train and perform my best for years to come.”
Golfing for a good cause
In addition to the partnership extension, Under Armour will also support the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation with one million dollars (just under 920 thousand euros) over the next eight years. The non-profit organization under Spieth’s patronage aims to make it easier for young people to get into golf. It awards scholarships and creates open golf programs for young people. The focus is particularly on breaking down socio-economic barriers and thus making it easier to get into the sport. Spieth commented, “I think access is a big thing in golf. It’s a game that I love. So, I figure maybe there’s some people that don’t know that they love it yet. It’s a game that gets you outside. It’s active. It gets you moving around. And I think that’s obviously very healthy, no matter what background, or who you are.”
Under Armour looks forward to continued collaboration
Sean Eggert, vice president of sales at Under Armour, said, “We are incredibly honored to continue our relationship with Spieth in the years to come. He is an athlete who truly embodies what it means to strive for more. Jordan’s future is bright, as evidenced by his spectacular performance at Hilton Head this weekend, and we look forward to joining him on this journey as he continues to grow with us, challenge us and make us even better at what we do. We couldn’t be more proud to have him on our team.”
Former tennis No. 1 Ashleigh Barty is one of the sports stars at the new Icons Series. (Photo: Getty)
In addition to the new edition of The Match, a new and very special tournament series is about to start: The Icons Series. Led by Fred Couples and Ernie Els, two teams of true sports legends will compete in match play over 10 holes. The first event will be held from June 30 to July 1 at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey.
Icons Series with “Mount Rushmore of the World’s Greatest Athletes”
And the line-up of the unique spectacle is already impressive. A “Mount Rushmore of the world’s best athletes,” is what Icons Series CEO, Thomas Brookes, calls it. Twenty-four sports icons will compete in two teams, one for the U.S. under captain Fred Couples, while Ernie Els leads the team with the rest of the world. While some team members are still waiting to be revealed to the public, the four players per team already announced show the class of athletes we will be dealing with in this series.
Competing for Team USA:
Michael Phelps – The most successful Olympic athlete of all time with 28 swimming medals, including 23 golf medals.
Michael Strahan – Hall of Fame professional football player, two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants
Oscar De La Hoya – boxing legend with 11 world titles from six weight classes
Ben Roethlisberger – two-time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Competing for Team Rest of the World (also abbreviated ROTW):
Canelo Alvarez – King of pound for pound boxing who won world titles in four different weight classes
Ash Barty – The former world No. 1 tennis player and three-time Grand Slam winner, including the Australian Open in 2022
Pep Guardiola – One of the most successful soccer coaches of all time, winning 2 Champions League titles as well as multiple Spanish and English league championships
Harry Kane – The dynamic captain of the English national team and three-time winner of the Golden Shoe award
For special sensation causes the participation of Ash Barty, who declared last month mi only 25 years, that she retires from tennis. However, she still swings the golf club diligently and won a golf tournament in Brisbane shortly after this announcement. Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Barty expressed pride in her latest sporting venture: “I’m excited to be part of the Icons Series and I hope through my participation in the series that we can encourage more women and girls to participate in golf around the world,” she said. “The series is also a great opportunity for athletes to have an impact on local community and charity projects in each of the host destinations.”
“It’s such a unique opportunity to have fun, test yourself and compete against the world’s greatest athletes in a sport that we are all so passionate about. I can’t wait to experience Liberty National and learn from our iconic captain, Ernie Els.”
Liberty National Golf Club was designed by US Open Champion Tom Kite and golf course designer Bob Cupp. It hosted the 2017 Presidents Cup, as well as the Northern Trust as the first of the PGA Tour FedExCup Playoff tournaments. Additional destinations in the worldwide series are planned in Australia, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Seamus Power will play the Irish Open on the DP World Tour in June (Foto: Getty)
Séamus Power will play in front of his home fans for the first time since becoming a PGA TOUR winner when the Irishman tees it up at the 2022 Horizon Irish Open, which returns to the stunning Mount Juliet Estate from June 30 – July 3.
The Waterford player has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the Official World Golf Ranking, going from 434th in the world at the beginning of 2021 to his current career-high ranking of 40th.
PGA Tour Winner and Masters debutant
His achievement in becoming just the sixth Irishman to win on the PGA TOUR, at the Barbasol Championship last July, captured the imagination of the Irish sporting public and two weeks ago he made his Masters Tournament debut, aged 35.
Power, who has been based in the USA since graduating from East Tennessee State University, has only played his home national open on three occasions – making his last appearance in 2019 – and his return this year is sure to be met with a rapturous welcome at the County Kilkenny venue.
“I cannot wait to return to the Horizon Irish Open and play in front of the home fans for the first time since my win on the PGA TOUR,” said Power, who has signed up as a DP World Tour Member for the 2022 season.
“I have received so much attention and love from home since that win, and during my recent run of good form, so I’m looking forward to showing my gratitude at Mount Juliet in July.
“The Irish Open is a festival for the public”
“It’s a tournament which is very close to my heart obviously, and I had an unbelievable experience at Lahinch in 2019. The tournament has grown so much and has become a real festival for the Irish sporting public, so I’m sure it will be no different this year. Hopefully I can put on a good show for the fans.”
Last year, the returning home fans watched Australian Lucas Herbert triumph in wire-to-wire fashion, sealing a three-stroke victory for a second DP World Tour title. The promising 25-year-old has since won for the first time on the PGA TOUR, at October’s 2021 Butterfield Bermuda Championship and he too made his Masters debut last week.
Prior to the 2021 edition, Mount Juliet had hosted the Irish Open for three consecutive years in 1993, 1994 and 1995, won by Englishman Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer of Germany and Scotland’s Sam Torrance respectively.
It was announced in February that all general admission tickets for Sunday at the 2022 Horizon Irish Open have sold out, the earliest sell-out day in the history of the DP World Tour. Limited tickets still remain for the Wednesday Celebrity Pro-Am, as well as the first three tournament days – Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Premium Experience hospitality packages are also selling fast, with The Range Club – an ideal offering for smaller groups wishing to relax in style and enjoy outstanding service in a relaxed hospitality environment – already sold out on Sunday.
Dylan Frittelli unknowingly made a costly mistake. (Photo: Getty)
Bizarre moments in the fourth round of the RBC Heritage: Dylan Frittelli’s ball got stuck in a tree at the edge of the fairway on the par-4-6. Literally standing under the ball, he played the ball onto the fairway with his driver and subsequently saved par. On Twitter, Frittelli wrote, “I thought this would be the greatest par of my life.”
Rejoiced too soon
However, Frittelli was hit with a hefty penalty. Two penalty strokes went to the account of the South African. The penalty was based on Rule 10.1c, which provides information on the correct execution of a stroke. Frittelli’s mistake: He stood frontally to his line of play, so that he placed his feet to the left and right of it. “The player must not make a stroke from a stance with a foot deliberately placed on each side of, or with either foot deliberately touching, the line of play or an extension of that line behind the ball. The term line of play in this rule includes only the actual line of play without reasonable distance on either side.”
I thought this would be the greatest Par of my life 😲 I was assessed a 2-stroke penalty for “standing astride” my intended line of play during this shot. The rules of golf remain undefeated ✌🏼 🙄@SportsCenter top 10 play maybe? pic.twitter.com/KvnIIsXuQ9
With a big grin: Morgan Hoffmann is back on the PGA Tour. (Photo: Getty)
It’s been five years since Morgan Hoffmann, U.S. professional golfer, was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. This disease is a genetic defect in which muscle metabolism is impaired, leading to gradual muscle loss. For about three years, Morgan Hoffmann was no longer able to compete on the PGA Tour. His search for alternative cures to combat the previously incurable disease led Hoffmann and his family to Costa Rica. His therapy, he says, included urine therapy, a diet of hundreds of grapes a day, powerful hallucinogens, and lots of meditation and surfing.
As if nothing had happened: Return to the PGA Tour
On April 14, 2022, the time had come: After a break of 923 days, Morgan Hoffmann felt ready to compete again on the PGA Tour. A medical exemption enabled him to regain his Tour card with three starts. His first round was something to behold. He played even par with three birdies and three bogeys: “I felt great. The first tee shot wasn’t as nerve-racking as I thought it would be. I had a great group. It was easy keeping it light out there. We played fast, which was nice. The game didn’t feel anywhere near as bad as I thought it was, so it was pretty exciting.” With a big smile on his face, Hoffmann adds, “It felt like two minutes ago I was out here.”
The only thing Hoffmann is not satisfied with is his drives: “My putting felt great. I’m really confident. Hit all my lines today pretty much. Just a couple of misreads and mis-speed, that were a little slower than what I practiced, I guess. I’m driving it really short. So I’d love to have a little bit more speed.”
From the jungles of Costa Rica back on the PGA Tour scene – a night and day difference. Morgan Hoffmann seems to like the change: “It was pretty surreal, a lot different than the lifestyle I’ve been living the last 2 1/2 years, and having people cheer your name out there, it’s very special.” Hoffmann also wants to use this media attention to raise awareness about his illness and the natural health and wellness center he is currently building in Costa Rica.
For now, however, Hoffmann’s focus is on the RBC Heritage. With his score of even par after Round 1, he is currently tied for 71st place and has a real chance of making the cut, provided he plays a good round on Day 2.
