Month: October 2023

Categories
Professionals

World Golf Ranking: Scottie Scheffler remains number one, American Pros flourishing

Scottie Scheffler's dominance as the number one in the world continues. (Photo: Getty)
Scottie Scheffler's dominance as the number one in the world continues. (Photo: Getty)

Scottie Scheffler and Patrick Cantlay, both from the United States, continue to remain steadfast in the World Golf Ranking, sitting at positions 1 and 5 respectively. Scheffler’s spectacular form carries over with no changes in their ranking from last week.

Here’s the complete World Golf Ranking

Six US-Stars in the World’s Top Ten

Following the lead are Xander Schauffele, Max Homa, Brian Harman and Wyndham Clark, ranked 6th, 8th, 9th and 10th respectively in the World Golf Ranking. The talent of the quartet remains undeniable, consistently making their mark in the top 10.

Morikawa and Bradley approach Top Ten

At the global spectrum, Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and Spain’s Jon Rahm occupy the second and third spots in the World Golf Ranking while Viktor Hovland from Norway safeguards the 4th spot making the European players put pressure on the US-Stars.

While the Top Ten of the Ranking remains unchanged, Collin Morikawa jumps from 13th to 12th place and Keegan Bradley from 17th to 16th, feeling their way towards the Top Ten.

World Golf Ranking is a testament to each player’s skill, determination, and hard-nosed competitiveness. As the golf world pitches and putts on, all eyes are on the upcoming shifts and sways in golf’s prestigious global rank list.

Categories
Professionals

World Golf Ranking: Spotlight on UK Players and battle for the Top Spot

Rory McIlroy is still second in the World Golf Ranking and remains the best British player. (Photo: Getty)
Rory McIlroy is still second in the World Golf Ranking and remains the best British player. (Photo: Getty)

In the latest World Golf Ranking, British, Welsh and Scottish players show a robust presence amongst the world’s golfing elite. Particularly striking is the performance of Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy. He holds the prestigious second place, maintaining his ranking from the previous week. England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, placed seventh, upholds the streak for the British players in the World Golf Rankings’ top ten.

Click here for the complete World Golf Ranking

British players among the best golfers in the world

The next British players on the World Golf Ranking are Tyrrell Hatton, occupying the 13th position, and Tommy Fleetwood, at the 15th. Their positions, however, exhibit a slight shift from the previous week — Hatton dropped a spot down while Fleetwood maintained his ranking. Despite these shifts, both golfers show no signs of losing their standing among the world’s top players.

World Golf Ranking: Top Players

As we scrutinize the top echelon in the World Golf Ranking, USA’s Scottie Scheffler is seated at the apex. He retained his ranking from the previous week, further consolidating his reign at the top. His closest rival is Rory McIlroy, while Spain’s Jon Rahm and Norway’s Viktor Hovland hold the third and forth positions respectively. They all maintain their spots from the previous week, further proving their consistency and dominance in the sport.

Rounding up the top ten in the World Golf Ranking are USA players Patrick Cantlay (5th), Xander Schauffele (6th), Max Homa (8th), Brian Harman (9th) and Wyndham Clark (10th), with England’s Matt Fitzpatrick taking the 7th spot – an excellent showcase of the American dominance on the leaderboard. Notable shifts include USA’s Collin Morikawa climbing to the 12th place and Justin Thomas falling to the 28th spot compared to their previous position. These changes, showcase the fluid and dynamic nature of the World Golf Ranking.

Categories
PGA Tour

PGA Tour: Youngest talent since 2014

Oliver Betschart (center) qualifies for a PGA Tour event as a 15-year-old. (Source: Twitter / @Bermuda_Champ)
Oliver Betschart (center) qualifies for a PGA Tour event as a 15-year-old. (Source: Twitter / @Bermuda_Champ)

Golf prodigy Oliver Betschart will catch the attention of spectators and journalists in November. Betschart, who lives in Bermuda, qualified for the Bermuda Championship last week, making him one of three players to make it through qualifying.

Golf prodigy on the PGA Tour

Betschart already set a record a year ago when he became the youngest winner of the Port Royal Golf Club Championship. This year, he completed the 54-hole local qualifier with a score of 3-over par, with the win going to Eric West. Betschart will be the second 15-year-old to compete in the Bermuda event. Kenny Leseur already qualified for the championship in 2019. “This has been my goal all year,” Betschart, who shot a final round of 68 in challenging wind conditions, told The Royal Gazette. “And now it’s finally true and it’s hard to accept, but I’m really excited. … Last year I was up here working with the tournament staff and seeing all the work that goes into it, and I’m really happy to be a part of it this year. I was definitely nervous going into the home stretch, but then I hit a lot of good shots,” he added. Betschart missed qualifying for the tournament by one stroke last year, but put in a strong performance this time, playing a 68 before watching pro Chaka DeSilva narrowly miss tying with him with a birdie on 18. Betschart will be the youngest player to compete on Tour since 2014 and the fifth youngest since 2000, with only Michelle Wie (twice), Tianlang Guan (six times), Andy Zhang (2012 U.S. Open) and Lorens Chan (2009 Sony Open in Hawaii) younger. Only twice, however, did any of them survive a cut.

In case of a victory Betschart would follow in big footsteps. In 2013, a certain Jordan Spieth made history when he won for the first time on the PGA Tour. Spieth, however, was already 19 years old at the time. At the John Deere Classic, the current major champion beat his rivals David Hearn and Zach Johnson on the fifth playoff hole and became the youngest winner on the PGA Tour since 1931, when Ralph Guldahl won the Santa Monica Open.

Categories
Ladies Tours

US Masters: Annika Sorenstam joins Augusta National

Annika Sörenstram becomes a member of Augusta National the venue of the US Masters. (Source: Getty)
Annika Sörenstram becomes a member of Augusta National the venue of the US Masters. (Source: Getty)

Augusta National Golf Club was founded in 1932 as a men-only club and has hosted the prestigious US Masters tournament since 1934. Augusta National is considered one of the most elite clubs in the world with only about 300 members. Among them are personalities from the world’s wealthiest and most powerful businessmen. Women have only been admitted as members since 2012.

Annika Sorenstam becomes first female professional player to join US Masters venue

Multiple sources reported this week that Annika Sorenstam, a 72-time winner on the LPGA Tour, has been accepted as a member at Augusta National Golf Club. However, a spokesman for Augusta National Golf Club declined to comment, and Mike McGee, Sorenstam’s husband and manager, also declined to comment. Membership in Augusta National Golf Club has traditionally been considered a private matter, and the club has always sought to keep its membership list private.

Twenty years ago, women’s activist Martha Burk of the National Council of Women’s Organizations protested the lack of women members at Augusta National. Nearly a decade passed before Augusta National’s then-chairman Billy Payne added former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore to the club in 2012. Other confirmed female members at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia include Heidi Ueberroth, co-chairwoman of Pebble Beach Co; former USGA President Diana Murphy; former IBM CEO Ginni Rometty; and Ana Botin, executive chairwoman of Santander Group. Golf legend Annika Sorenstam is now the first professional player to be inducted as a member of the country’s most prestigious golf club. Sorenstam has been a trailblazer for women’s golf. She has collected a total of 10 Major titles during her unique career. In 2008, she became the first woman to compete in a PGA Tour event since 1945 when she competed in the tournament then known as the Bank of America Colonial. When Augusta National Golf Club introduced the Augusta Women’s National Amateur in 2019, Sorenstam was one of the first starters.

“I wish we had done it sooner”

A decade after the first female members were admitted, Fred Ridley, the current club chairman, reflected on that decision during his pre-tournament press conference at the Masters. “I don’t know about you, but when anything happens or any idea that you had turns out well and you’re pleased about it, initiative, whatever, you might always say, well, why didn’t we do that sooner?  And that’s a fair, that’s a fair thought. And so I wish – I wish we had have,” he said.

He added: “Women members are a very important part of our membership, and you will continue to see over the years, if you look, more green jackets that are women. I’m going to make sure of that.

“We have a number of women members who we are delighted are part of our organization. I think you know, certainly, who some of them are. They have been great contributors to our organization, both I would say substantively and things they are doing to help us, both with the Masters and otherwise.”

Categories
International

Apes Hill Barbados Makes It A Formidable ‘Foursome’ At The World Golf Awards

Apes Hill in Barbados wins four trophies at the World Golf Awards. (Credit: Azalea)
Apes Hill in Barbados wins four trophies at the World Golf Awards. (Credit: Azalea)

Apes Hill Barbados was a star performer at Monday’s World Golf Awards in Abu Dhabi, with the Caribbean resort and residential community winning in four categories, including ‘World’s Best Golf Real Estate Venue’ and ‘World’s Best Eco-Friendly Golf Facility’.

The venue’s critically acclaimed new golf course was also named the best in both Barbados and the Caribbean, completing an impressive quartet of wins.

The 10th annual World Golf Awards ceremony was hosted at the exclusive Radisson Blu Hotel Yas Island and Yas Links Abu Dhabi. With the event rewarding excellence in the golf tourism market, Apes Hill Barbados’ success is yet more recognition for one of the world’s most exclusive and luxurious golf destinations.

The ceremony brought together industry leaders from more than 65 nations across Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Latin America, North America and Oceania.

A long-standing staple of the Caribbean golf scene, Apes Hill Barbados has undergone an extensive transformation since investment from Canadian entrepreneur Glenn Chamandy in 2019. Legendary architect Ron Kirby was entrusted with overhauling Apes Hill’s original golf course and the new-look, par-72 layout reopened to rave reviews at the end of 2022. The award-winning design was Kirby’s final work before he passed away in August.

Upon opening, the layout was commended for its fun factor and playability for all levels of golfer and singled out as one of the sport’s most aesthetically pleasing new courses. Kirby’s design makes full use of native Barbadian flora and rockery, and is enhanced by views that – from 1,000ft above sea level – stretch across the Caribbean Sea and out to the Atlantic Ocean.

Meanwhile, earning the title of ‘World’s Best Golf Real Estate Venue’ is testament to the success of the resort’s ambitious real-estate development. Apes Hill is home to an eclectic range of properties and lifestyle amenities to suit the needs of any resident, each favouring a contemporary and luxurious design that blends effortlessly into the Caribbean landscape.

Complementing the championship course is the Performance Centre – a state-of-the-art facility packed with the latest technology and equipment to develop every aspect of a golfer’s game – further establishing Apes Hill as the Caribbean’s leading destination for passionate players.

Meanwhile, a short par-three course – named Little Apes – is in development for families and more casual players, while a ‘19th hole’ island-style par three, based on the iconic 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, is nearing completion.

The World Golf Awards also recognised the pioneering sustainability efforts carried out across Apes Hill’s 475-acre resort with the ‘World’s Best Eco-Friendly Golf Facility’ honour. Most notably, Apes Hill’s championship golf course is irrigated exclusively with recycled rainwater from a 58-million-gallon reservoir, drastically reducing resort-wide water usage. Turf and vegetation is carefully selected and maintained to reduce the need for fertilisers and other harmful chemicals, leading to the resort receiving prestigious Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for Golf certification in 2023.

Away from the fairways, Apes Hill is committed to farming livestock and growing fresh ingredients – including crops, herbs and fruit – on-site, contributing to a vibrant ecosystem.

Sunil Chatrani, executive chairman of Apes Hill Barbados, said: “We are honoured to be recognised in multiple categories in the most prestigious awards in our industry.

“Together with Ron Kirby, we set out to build one of the best experiences in golf, and recognition as the best course in not only Barbados, but the whole Caribbean, means a great deal to us as we strive to establish one of the region’s leading destinations.

“Ron’s passing in August was felt by all who he touched the hearts of at Apes Hill Barbados – and the wonderful golf course he created has left a lasting legacy on the island of Barbados. We would like to dedicate these awards to Ron’s life.

“We are also very pleased to see our sustainability work recognised, while our relatively new real estate offering being named the best in golf so early into this project is proof of the unique work we are doing to build a true community.”
Press release written by The Azalea Group

Categories
Europe

The Dunas Course At Terras Da Comporta Makes It Double At The World Golf Awards

Rodrigo Ulrich, Terras da Comporta director of golf, with the two trophies at the World Golf Awards. (Credits: James Hogg (Golf Course on the left), Azalea)
Rodrigo Ulrich, Terras da Comporta director of golf, with the two trophies at the World Golf Awards. (Credits: James Hogg (Golf Course on the left), Azalea)

The Dunas Course at Terras da Comporta has announced its place on the global stage in style after being crowned as the ‘World’s Best New Golf Course’ and ‘Europe’s Best New Golf Course’ at the World Golf Awards 2023.

The par-71 layout near Lisbon claimed the prestigious accolades less than five months after its soft opening, with Terras da Comporta director of golf Rodrigo Ulrich on hand to receive the awards when the winners were unveiled at the prize-giving ceremony in Abu Dhabi on Monday evening. (October 23)

With the event rewarding excellence in the golf tourism market, Terras da Comporta’s success is significant recognition for Europe’s most talked-about new design projects. The ceremony brought together industry leaders from more than 65 nations across Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Latin America, North America and Oceania.

UIrich said: “We’ve been very excited about this project for many years. It’s incredibly satisfying to be finally open for play, and to see so many golfers enjoying what is a spectacular course, both in terms of its location and its design”.

“It’s a great thrill and honour to receive two such respected awards, which are hopefully the first of many, because the course is going to get even better as it settles and matures. We’re looking forward to welcoming golfers from all over the world.”

Situated one hour south of Lisbon, the layout has been created over 84 hectares of natural, sandy terrain on the coast in a secluded setting on the edge of the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve. The first course to have been created in mainland Europe by acclaimed architect David McLay-Kidd, the course opened to the public for play for the first time at the start of June.

McLay-Kidd, whose other famous designs include Bandon Dunes, Queenwood, Beaverbrook, Machrihanish Dunes and the Castle Course at St. Andrews, first visited the site in 2008, but the project experienced a series of delays, including a global pandemic and a worldwide recession. However, Vanguard Properties, the owners of Terras da Comporta, are optimistic about what the future holds and Portugal’s largest real estate developer has exciting plans for the site.

“The project may have a long history, but this is just the beginning”, said José Cardoso Botelho, CEO of Vanguard Properties. “Golfers will travel from far and wide to come and play here. It has put Terras da Comporta firmly on the map as a new golf destination, but there’s more to come – much more”.

Vanguard Properties took ownership of the development in 2019 and the site features two large developments: Torre, comprising 365 hectares of land and where a second course designed by Sergio Garcia and José María Olazábal is being built (set to follow in 2025), and Dunas, which occupies around 1,011 hectares.

Complementing The Dunas Course will be a new clubhouse and golf academy. Away from the fairways, an array of lifestyle activities will be available including horse-riding, wellness, tennis, padel, pickleball and many other sports, with a wide range of plots for hotels, tourist and residential condominiums also on offer.
Press release written and distributed for Terras da Comporta by Azalea

Categories
Apparel Equipment

Galvin Green unveils Open Skies capsule collection

The Galvin Green Open Skies Capsule Collection 2023. (Image: Galvin Green)
The Galvin Green Open Skies Capsule Collection 2023. (Image: Galvin Green)

Leading high-tech golf apparel brand Galvin Green has today unveiled a new premium “Open Skies” capsule collection of top-performing garments in supremely vibrant aquatic colour combinations and patterns that will brighten up any golfing wardrobe and golf trip.

Ideal for serious golfers looking to play in warmer regions this winter, the latest collection from the innovative Swedish brand features six fashionable shirts, a pair of shorts, plus two sweaters and a matching baseball cap centred around the vibrant Aqua colour and lighter shades of Grey and White that form the mix of colours associated with vast open skies.

Drawing upon the positive reaction to several styles in the core collection, Galvin Green has introduced two eye-catching colour combinations to the Mani and Markos Ventil™ Plus shirts, plus a classy new colourway on each of the Manolo, Malcome, Mo and Madden shirt styles. The striking Durante and popular Daxton Insula™ sweaters are now offered in a sharp new colourway for when the weather turns colder, while the Percy shorts and Sanford cap with bold branding complete the technically advanced collection.

“We’ve added a series of pastel, aquatic colours in this stunning range to offer an incredible choice on styles that have proved popular from our core collection,” said Designer Batur Raza Muhammad. “With Aqua being such a prominent colour in each style, we’ve integrated clear points of difference with lighter tones that are easy on the eye to deliver a superb all-round look for golfers jetting off to warmer destinations in the coming months,” he added.

Working with responsibly sourced fabrics, Galvin Green ensures that the garments provide best-in-class and long-lasting performance, while minimising the social and environmental impact in the manufacturing process.

The trendy Mani (Aqua and Cool Grey) and Markos (Aqua/White and Cool Grey/Aqua) shirts both feature an exquisite individual design that projects a bird’s eye view of a glimmering ocean from above to deliver a standout look. The shirts incorporate a tailored collar, as well as open sleeve ends for extra comfort.

The Manolo (Aqua/White) style is a distinctively bright shirt that ties the nautical world and golf together via a fun print of small lighthouses and tee pegs that form a key part of golfing experiences at coastal bucket list venues. Featuring an equally daring design, the Malcome (White/Cool Grey/Aqua) shirt with an all-over bird-print offers something totally different from anything else in the collection and is a perfect choice for those looking to make a bold statement in a supremely vibrant design.

The Madden shirt in the super stylish Aqua/White colourway incorporates a striking wave print to resemble the powerful free-flowing movement of the ocean, while offering a sporty appearance that is sure to turn heads for all the right reasons.

The Mo (Cool Grey/White/Aqua) shirt design also features a maritime theme with a print across the chest that is reminiscent of a sun setting on a distant horizon to provide a shirt that is totally different from anything else on the market.

The matching Percy shorts in Aqua feature a shirt gripper waistband and built-in stretch function for optimum comfort and a perfect fit. They also offer two handy front and back pockets to carry belongings and scorecards. All Ventil™ Plus garments provide excellent moisture-transportation properties and top breathability to keep the body dry, while offering UV 20+ protection in warm conditions.

The smart Durante (White/Cool Grey/Aqua) half-zip sweater in Insula™ fabric delivers outstanding warmth and comfort for when the weather turns chilly on the course. The athletic design incorporates Thermore® padding on the shoulders and back to deliver extra comfort and warmth, while the three-tone colour scheme provides a top-quality look.

The Daxton (Aqua/Cool Grey/White), one of the brand’s best-selling pullover models, features a predominantly Aqua-themed colour scheme in a vivid three-tone design that is guaranteed to brighten up any cold weather day. Providing a soft and stretchy feel, all eco-generation Insula™ sweaters are crafted from 100% recycled plastic bottles to keep the body warm and comfortable.

The smart Sanford baseball cap, which incorporates an adjustable width, is designed with Ventil™ Plus moisture-wicking fabric that dries exceptionally quickly for greater comfort during the round. The all-over Aqua design matched with the stylish ‘G’ logo to the side of the cap delivers a supremely refreshing look on sunny days.

The OPEN SKIES capsule collection from Galvin Green is available from leading stockists and can be viewed at www.galvingreen.com.

Categories
European Tour PGA Tour

New Membership Opportunities outlined for PGA Tour Members on the DP World Tour

Since 2021, the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour have been in a Strategic Alliance. (Photo: Getty)
Since 2021, the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour have been in a Strategic Alliance. (Photo: Getty)

The DP World Tour today announces new membership opportunities for PGA TOUR members in its 2024 season, a further illustration of the strength of the relationship between the two Tours through the existing Strategic Alliance.

DP World Tour 2024: Two new memberships

The opportunities fall into two categories: (i) Full membership of the DP World Tour available for players who finish in positions 126 to 200 on the 2022-2023 FedExCup Fall Points List; or (ii) Affiliate Membership of the DP World Tour available to any other PGA TOUR Member when participating in any Race to Dubai ranking tournament in the 2024 season. Affiliate Members and Non-Members will now automatically appear on a new ‘Non-Member Race to Dubai Points List’ following the first tournament where they earn points.

This list will see players accrue Race to Dubai Points and, based on their points, can see them potentially qualify for (a) the DP World Tour play-offs in 2024 and (b) the season-ending Bonus Pool in 2024 if they have played four or more counting tournaments outside the Majors, in line with the current DP World Tour Member regulations.

Should they choose to additionally take up Affiliate Membership, this will give them the potential to earn full ranked membership of the DP World Tour in the following season if their final ranking qualifies them.

PGA TOUR Members who take up Full Membership (Option (i) above) will play from a newly created Category 12 in the 2024 DP World Tour Exemption Category list. Only five players from this category can play in a DP World Tour event in any given week.

To access this category, eligible players must join the DP World Tour as members by Wednesday, December 20, 2023, to compete in tournaments in the 2024 calendar year, but by Wednesday November 22, 2023, if they want to compete in any of the 2024 season tournaments scheduled for November or December 2023.

Consequence of the Strategic Alliance between DP World Tour and PGA Tour

These initiatives – which were discussed and ratified by the DP World Tour’s Tournament Committee – follow on from the one announced last year that will see the leading ten players on the 2023 Race to Dubai (not otherwise exempt) earn PGA TOUR cards for the 2024 season – these cards being ranked after the top 125 finishers on the 2022-2023 FedExCup Fall Points List.

David Howell, Chairman of the DP World Tour’s Tournament Committee, said: “When we announced our Strategic Alliance with the PGA TOUR in November 2021, one of the prime objectives was to give as many opportunities as possible to members of both Tours, and this is another perfect example of how this is working.

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, said: “Our Ten Cards initiative will give the opportunity for DP World Tour members to excel on the PGA TOUR next season and this new membership opportunity announced today will give PGA TOUR members the chance to do exactly the same on our Tour. I am excited at the possibilities.”

(Text: European Tour Group Communications)

Categories
European Tour PGA Tour

World Golf Ranking: Collin Morikawa approaches the Top 10

Collin Morikawa wins in Japan. (Photo: Getty)
Collin Morikawa wins in Japan. (Photo: Getty)

Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick continue to hold their own in the top 10. There was no movement in the top 10 of the world ranking this week. In the latest World Golf Ranking, Rory McIlroy (NIR) seized the impressive second place, reinforcing his status as the highest-ranking British player. Right behind him, Matt Fitzpatrick (ENG) is holding steady in the seventh position. Also Tyrrell Hatton keeps his rank: He is still on rank 12.

Click here for the full World Golf Ranking

Tommy Fleetwood loses a place due to Collin Morikawa’s rise and is now 15th. Meanwhile, Justin Rose, another British Ryder Cup player, makes up two places and climbs to 37th.

Top Three of the World Golf Ranking

At the top, the players in the top 3 continue to consolidate their positions. Scottie Scheffler remains the undisputed number 1, Rory McIlroy stays on their heels and Jon Rahm rounds off the trio.

A look at the other ranks shows: Norwegian Viktor Hovland is still in fourth place, followed by Americans Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele in fifth and sixth. After Englishman Fitzpatrick in 7th place, the three Americans Max Homa, Brian Harman and Wyndham Clark occupy the last three places in the top 10.

(This article was written with the help of AI)

Categories
Panorama

Ivor Robson Passes Away Aged 83

Ivor Robson, pictured at The 144th Open at St Andrews in 2015, has died aged 83. (Photo: The R&A)
Ivor Robson, pictured at The 144th Open at St Andrews in 2015, has died aged 83. (Photo: The R&A)

Ivor Robson, a man with one of the most distinctive voices in golf, has died at the age of 83.

Ivor Robson, Voice of The Open

He was the official starter at The Open for 41 years and his passing has been met with an outpouring of affection from players and golf administrators alike.

He also acted for over 40 years as the DP World Tour’s official starter with his ‘on the tee’ message delivered in his cultured brogue at famous golf venues around the globe.

Ivor sent the world’s best players on their way in a wonderful career – from Jack Nicklaus to Tiger Woods, from Arnold Palmer to Seve Ballesteros, from Tom Watson to Rory McIlroy.

Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, said, “We are deeply saddened to hear of Ivor’s passing. As official starter at The Open for over 40 years, his voice was instantly recognisable and synonymous with the Championship for players and millions of golf fans worldwide.

“He was popular and well respected among all golfers who played in The Open and I know that they will share in our sadness at this news. On behalf of all of us at The R&A, I would like to convey our heartfelt condolences to his wife of 61 years, Lesley, and the Robson family.”

It was in 2015 when he announced his retirement, working at The Open at St Andrews for the final time, before making his emotional final announcements when the curtain came down on the DP World Tour season in Dubai in November 2015.

“It is a great honour to be the official starter for the greatest championship in the world”

Ivor said at the time, “It has been a wonderful career. It’s been a great honour. The way I have been treated by players, officials, sponsors… thank you all very much.”

A much-loved resident of Moffat in Dumfries and Galloway, Ivor was born in England in 1940 and began his remarkable career at The Open in 1975 at Carnoustie. He went on to earn the admiration of the best players in the world, sending players off from the 1st tee with his famous words and a hearty grin.

“To the professionals, it has been great fun being here with you,” he added in 2015. “We have had lots of banter and it has been wonderful. You are a credit to the professional game. And to the spectators, thank you for your wonderful support over the years.”

For 41 stagings of The Open, it was one voice, Ivor’s voice, that marked the time.

He didn’t miss a championship or a tee time going back to 1975 and was also well known for avoiding a toilet break as much as he could between matches teeing off.

Having worked at his 40th Open at Royal Liverpool in 2014, The 144th Open the following year was Ivor’s last.

When he took to the tee at 6.32am on the opening Thursday over the Old Course it marked the beginning of a final championship for the iconic 1st tee announcer.

“I feel you can’t go on forever and if you’re going to step off there’s no better place to do it than here,” he said. “I’ve had some nice ones but this is special, St Andrews. It is just magnificent.”

Ivor said he would miss many things about working at The Open but mostly it was the people. “Being involved, being a part of a team,” he said. “I’ll miss that a lot but it’s time to go.”

A fiercely private man who enjoyed playing when he could at his beloved Moffat Golf Club, he was also a proud Rolex Ambassador.

Looking back to his Open career, he added, “It is a great honour to be the official starter for the greatest championship in the world. I’m privileged and immensely proud. They were all very special.”

Text: The R&A