Month: May 2024

Categories
Equipment Live

TaylorMade and Under Armour Sign Young Prodigy Kris Kim

Young prodigy takes his first steps on the PGA Tour: Kris Kim. (Image: Getty)
Young prodigy takes his first steps on the PGA Tour: Kris Kim. (Image: Getty)

For young talent Kris Kim, the past weeks must have been really exciting. This week, Kim ist making his debut on the big stage of the PGA Tour at the The CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch. Apart from his debut, the 16-year-old has also signed a contract with Under Armour and TaylorMade, as the two brands have revealed.

Kris Kim now signed to Under Armour and TaylorMade

As the two major brands have revealed, they both signed Kris Kim this week. As the English player stated in an interview, he has been in contact with Under Armour for some time now. “Under Armour has helped me for some time now. I’m very grateful for their support and very happy to continue the partnership”, says Kim.

The same goes for TaylorMade who have been surveying the progression of his game and keeping in touch with him for the past three years. In his bag, Kim has switched to the P-7MB irons providing him with a good feel and control over the ball. His interesting choices also include a P-770-2-iron, which he likes to tee off with. Here is a full list with his set of golf clubs.

Kris Kim WITB

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9°)

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15°)

2-iron/4-iron: TaylorMade P-770

5-iron to PW: TaylorMade P-7MB

Wedges: TaylorMade Milled Grind 4 (50°/56°/60°)

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour

Ball: TaylorMade TP 5

“No doubt Kris is among the very best”

The exceptional talent also has the officials of the two brands raving. “It’s great to be working with such an exciting talent as Kris. His hard work ethic and humble nature aligns with the values of Under Armour perfectly. We look forward to supporting Kris reach his goals over the coming years.” says Kevin Ross, Managing Director at Under Armour EMEA.

Mark Thistleton, Senior Tour Representative at TaylorMade, also only has kind words for the Englishman. “There is no doubt Kris is among the very best of not just young British Golfers, but junior golfers from around the World. He showed his skills on the big stage during a successful Junior Ryder Cup in 2023 which capped off a very dominant year in junior golf for him.” states Thistleton and adds: “We at TaylorMade are all about using our equipment expertise to help nurture young talented golfers like Kris as they develop skill, speed and power at an increasingly young age and fast pace. We are thrilled to see his success to date and that he continues to put his trust in us and our products.”

The stage is definitely set for Kris Kim, with lots of expectations to be met. With the The CJ Cup Byron Nelson underway, Kim is making his first steps in a possibly promising career.

Categories
Highlights Tours

Invitation Accepted: Tiger Woods to Play the US Open 2024

Tiger Woods last played the 2024 US Masters (Photo: Getty)
Tiger Woods last played the 2024 US Masters (Photo: Getty)

It is the first time in almost 30 years that Tiger Woods has not automatically qualified for a major tournament. Thanks to his countless successes, Woods has not missed a single major qualification since the 1996 PGA Championship, in which he took part as an amateur. In 2024, he will have to rely on a special permit for the first time.

While he enjoys a lifetime entry into the US Masters and the PGA Championship and is allowed to play in the British Open until the age of 60, his eligibility to play in the US Open expired this year. He last received a five-year exemption for the US Open following his victory at the 2019 US Masters, but this expired at the beginning of the year.

Tiger Woods plays the US Open 2024 thanks to special permit

Tiger Woods celebrated his last major success in 2019. His victory at the 2019 US Masters was considered the greatest comeback in golf history – since then, Woods has been plagued by various injuries that have repeatedly made it impossible for him to play golf. He has since competed in several major tournaments again. He has announced about one start per month for this season. This includes participation in the US Open 2024.

However, Tiger Woods needed special permission to do so: “The U.S. Open, our national championship, is a truly special event for our game and one that has helped define my career. I’m honored to receive this exemption and could not be more excited for the opportunity to compete in this year’s U.S. Open, especially at Pinehurst, a venue that means so much to the game.”

Will Tiger Woods make history once again?

Woods last won the tournament in 2008 and this year, from June 13-16, it will be decided whether the 15-time major champion will triumph once again. “The story of the U.S. Open could not be written without Tiger Woods,” USGA chief championships officer John Bodenhamer said in a statement. “From his 15-stroke victory at Pebble Beach in 2000 to his inspiring win on a broken leg at Torrey Pines in 2008, this championship is simply better when Tiger is in the field, and his accomplishments in the game undoubtedly made this an easy decision for our special exemption committee.”

Categories
Live

Watch: DP World Tour Highlights from Round 1 of the Volvo China Open

Tied for the lead: Romain Langasque at this weeks DP World Tour event. (Image: Getty)
Tied for the lead: Romain Langasque at this weeks DP World Tour event. (Image: Getty)

The first round of the Volvo China Open, part of the DP World Tour, took place at the Hidden Grace GC in Shenzhen, China. The DP World Tour Highlights from the first round showcased some impressive shots. The tournament sees golfers competing for a total prize money of 2.25 million USD.

DP World Tour: Tie at the top of the table

The Volvo China Open Highlights bring into focus the top performers of this round. France’s Romain Langasque and Sweden’s Sebastian Soderberg, both sharing the top position on the board with total scores of 63, nine under par. They are closely followed by China’s Haotong Li, whose total score is 64, eight under par. The fourth position is shared by Gordan Brixi from Czech Republic Italy’s Guido Migliozzi and Julien Guerrier from France, all posting a total score of 65 and seven under par.

The accompanying video provides an encompassing view of the best moments of the first round.

show Volvo China Open Leaderboard

Volvo China Open: The DP World Tour round 2 highlights

About the European Tour

The DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour) is the largest European professional golf tour. With 45 events, the tour’s tournament calendar is packed with highlights. In addition to the majors, the DP World Tour organizes other co-sanctioned events with the PGA Tour. The DP World tour is also a guest in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, hosting at least one tournament in a total of 25 countries. The prize money on the DP World Tour is lower than on its American sister tour, but with the basic salary introduced in 2023, players who have played at least 15 tournaments will receive at least 150,000 dollars. The season finale of the overall earnings ranking, the “Race to Dubai“, will be held in a play-off format after five “Global Swings” and the “Back 9”. The final DP World Tour Championship will determine the winner of the season in Dubai in November.

Categories
PGA Tour

PGA Tour: 16-Year-Old Golfer Kris Kim To Debut in CJ Cup Byron Nelson

Teenage prodigy Kris Kim will debut in Texas this week. (Photo: Getty)

At just 16 years old, British golfer Kris Kim will compete against the creme-de-la-creme of international players, including former world number ones Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott, and Jason Day in the PGA Tour. This major sports milestone for the teenage prodigy will occur on Thursday, May 2nd at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, hosted in McKinney, Texas.

Kim has rapidly ascended the ranks in the junior golf world, drawing attention after his critical contributions to Europe’s victory in last year’s Junior Ryder Cup. His recent achievements also include winning the Boys’ Amateur Championship, the European Individual Championship, and the McGregor Trophy.

The Rising Star from a Golfing Lineage

Kris Kim’s entry into the professional golf scene is bolstered by his lineage; his mother, Ji-Hyun Suh, is a former LPGA player from South Korea. Suh, who started her professional career in the late 90s, has been instrumental in coaching her son. Kris mentioned the invaluable advice and strategic insights he receives from his mother, emphasizing her role in his mental and technical preparation for the game.

Educational Commitments and Inspirations

Despite his rigorous sports schedule and now the PGA Tour, Kim is also managing academic responsibilities, specifically his preparation for the GCSE exams. He acknowledged the difficulty in balancing his studies with his golf career but remains committed to excelling in both arenas.

Categories
PGA Tour

PGA Tour Tee Times: The British Golfers Tee Off At CJ Cup Byron Nelson

Discover the PGA Tour Tee Times of your favorite British golfers. (Photos: Getty)
Discover the PGA Tour Tee Times of your favorite British golfers. (Photos: Getty)

The PGA Tour brings us The CJ CUP Byron Nelson, which will take place in McKinney, Texas, USA. The event will be sprawled on the lush greens of the TPC Craig Ranch Club. The tournament, carrying a prize purse of $9,500,000 will see last year’s defender, Jason Day, attempting to maintain his title. The tournament will be played on a par 71 course.

See all Tee Times here

The PGA Tour Tee Times and Groups for the British Players

Ben Taylor from England is all set to play the first round at the CJ CUP Byron Nelson at 13:12, where he will pair up with his group members, Ryan Palmer and Josh Teater from USA. The second day will see the same group teeing off for round two.

Next, Matt Wallace, another English golfer, will kick off his tournament at 13:23 in round 1. His group includes Daniel Berger and Cameron Champ from USA. Wallace will stick with the same group for the second round with the PGA Tour Tee Times mentioned in the table below.

English-man Callum Tarren is scheduled for a later tee time of 14:18 with his group members Maverick McNealy and Chesson Hadley representing USA. They will return together for the second-round together at the same time.

From Scotland, Robert MacIntyre will play alongside Ze-cheng Dou from China and Raul Pereda from Mexico, starting their round at 14:29. They will keep the same setup for the second-round.

The 16-year old British golf prodigy Kris Kim will be teeting off at hole 10 15:02 with American Duo Max Greyserman and Norman Xiong.

Harry Hall from England will begin his participation at 18:22. He will play alongside David Lipsky from the USA and Sung Kang from Korea. The three will team up yet again at the same time for the second round on the following day.

Martin Laird from Scotland will begin his first round of play in the afternoon at 19:17 along with Troy Merritt and Ryan Moore representing the USA. The trio will join forces again for round two.

The other player from England, Aaron Rai is scheduled to tee off at 19:28 in round one, sharing the greens with Henrik Norlander from Sweden and Sam Ryder from the USA. This lot is grouped together for the second round as well.

David Skinns, another player from England, tees off at 20:12 with Tom Whitney from the USA and Paul Barjon from France. They will maintain the same grouping in the second round.

Categories
Panorama

Tiger Woods Discusses Sun Day Red and Masters Memes on Jimmy Fallon

Tiger Woods visited Jimmy Kimmel's Talkshow on Tuesday. (Source: Youtube)

Tiger Woods appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” where he offered both humor and deep insights into his illustrious career and recent ventures. Beyond his unmatched legacy in golf, Woods is now making waves in the fashion world with his Sun Day Red apparel line, which was a key topic of discussion during the show.

An Evening of Insights and Laughter with Tiger Woods on Jimmy Fallon

Woods described the line as being crafted to boost athletic performance, bringing a fresh aesthetic to golf wear. He emphasized that the focus is on the athlete, aiming to enhance performance through thoughtful design.

He also delved into the history behind the brand, linking it to the red shirts he famously wore during Sunday tournaments—a nod to his mother’s belief that red was his “power color.” Despite experimenting with blue, Woods shared with a chuckle that he quickly realized red truly was the better choice as his game seemed off in other colors.

“The red story is actually a good one. It comes from my mom. My mom thought it was, being a capricorn, whatever, it was power color, some BS thing like that. I end up wearing red and winning some junior golf tournaments. And then to spite her, I wore blue and I did not win those tournaments, so, Mom is always right.”

The episode wasn’t solely about fashion; it also included a humorous discussion about a viral meme from this year’s Masters Tournament, showing Woods seemingly greeting a tree.

Woods shared personal anecdotes as well, particularly about his children, shedding light on his role as a father amidst his sporting achievements. He recounted how his son Charlie started imitating golf swings early on, using whatever was at hand around the house.

The friendly banter continued with Woods challenging Fallon to a ping-pong match, hinting at a lighthearted rivalry beyond the golf greens.

While delving into new fields, Woods’ passion for golf remains steadfast. He discussed his recent play at the Masters and his preparation for the upcoming PGA Championship, underscoring his readiness to compete at elite levels.

Watch Tiger Woods full appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”

Categories
LIV Tour

LIV Tour 2024: Chicago to Host Individual Championship

Championship. (Photo: Getty)
Championship. (Photo: Getty)

Bolingbrook Golf Club is preparing to host the LIV Tour Individual Championship 2024 from September 13-15. As the final tournament before the LIV Golf Team Championship, it will also serve as the last chance for players to earn points in the individual standings.

The Culmination of the LIV Tour in Chicago

Bolingbrook Golf Club will be the venue for the individual championship and the 13th tournament of the LIV Tour season, located about 30 miles from downtown Chicago. The golf course, designed by Arthur Hills and Steve Forrest, is known for its challenging 156-yard island green at the 15th hole and attracts golf enthusiasts with its rolling fairways and elevated greens spread around seven lakes. The facility, which hosted the PGA’s Forme Tour in 2021, offers a challenging 600-yard par 5 for LIV Tour golfers. The tournament will not only attract golfers but also numerous fans who want to experience the atmosphere of the LIV Tour up close.

Tickets for the championship will be available for sale starting next Wednesday, May 8, at 10 AM on LIVGolf.com.

The Individual Championship of the LIV Tour

The tournament plays a crucial role for players who want to position themselves in the individual rankings and qualify for the 2024 Team Championship. Players who make it into the so-called Lock Zone (Top 24) secure their spot in the league for 2025, while those in the Open Zone (rank 25-48) remain as free agents, who can be re-signed by their current team or picked up by another team. Players in the Drop Zone (rank 49 and below) are relegated from the league and qualify for the 2024 LIV Golf Promotions Tournament.