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European Challenge Tour

Sordet seals fifth Challenge Tour title at Zebula

Clément Sordet wins his fifth title on Challenge Tour. (Photo: Sunshine Tour)
Clément Sordet wins his fifth title on Challenge Tour. (Photo: Sunshine Tour)

The Frenchman bounced back brilliantly from two bogeys in his opening four holes to card a five under par round of 67, setting the clubhouse target at 21 under par, before Conradie joined him at the top of the leaderboard to force a play-off at Zebula Golf Estate & Spa.

SDC Open 2022: Leaderboard

Sordet birdied the first extra hole to defeat home favourite Conradie, who could only make par, and his victory in victory in South Africa sees the 29-year-old climb 19 places to fourth position on the Road to Mallorca Rankings, while Conradie catapults to eighth.

Overnight leader Deon Germishuys finished one shot off the pace, while Englishman Marco Penge was fourth on 19 under par.

Challenge Tour: First win since 2017

Sordet was delighted to secure his first victory since the 2017 NBO Golf Classic Grand Final, a year in which he finished second on the Challenge Tour Rankings behind Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen, admitting he has struggled with his game over the last few years.

“It feels surreal right now to get the win and it will take time to sink in,” he said. “The last few years have been tough on the DP World Tour and it is nice to return to the Challenge Tour and pick up a victory so early on in the season.

“I’ve played amazing all week and it is nice to finish with a birdie in the play-off to get that fifth win on the Challenge Tour.

“The only thing I could control out there was my game. The leaderboard was packed up the top, but I just had to focus on my score because I knew I was playing well. I was focused on creating birdie chances and I managed to do that pretty well today, so I am very happy.”

The Frenchman used his power to his advantage on the first play-off hole and it paid off after hitting the green in two to set up an eagle opportunity.

“In the play-off I knew I could hit it further than the other guy so I believed my strength was going for the green in two. I hit a nice three-iron on the green and managed to two-putt for birdie.”

JC Ritchie leads the Road to Mallorca Rankings

German Freddy Schott and South African CJ du Plessis shared fifth place on 17 under par, while Road to Mallorca Number One JC Ritchie, four-time DP World Tour winner Matteo Manassero, Englishman Todd Clements, Italian Jacopo Vecchi Fossa and South African JJ Senekal share seventh place on 16 under.

Ritchie still leads the Road to Mallorca Rankings following back-to-back victories at the Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open and Jonsson Workwear Open, while Germany’s Alexander Knappe occupies second place following his victory at the season-opening Dimension Data Pro-Am. Belgium’s Christopher Mivis sits in third place, while Sordet and Oliver Hundebøll complete the top five.

The Road to Mallorca remains in Limpopo for the Limpopo Championship taking place at Euphoria Golf Club and Koro Creek Golf Club from March 31- April 3.

(Text: Press release Challenge Tour)

Categories
PGA Tour

WGC – Dell Technologies Match Play: Paul Casey gives up all three matches

Paul Casey completely withdraws from the WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play. (Photo: Getty)
Paul Casey completely withdraws from the WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play. (Photo: Getty)

Paul Casey played two holes Wednesday at the World Golf Championship-Dell Technologies Match Play before withdrawing from his match against Canadian Corey Conners because of back spasms. At that point, it was not yet clear whether Casey would be able to play his other two matches. On Thursday, however, he withdrew not only from his match against Alex Noren but also from Friday’s match against Louis Oosthuizen and is thus out of the tournament. Casey’s opponents will each receive the point for the match and Casey, with zero points from three matches, will receive at least $40,000 from the prize pool.

WGC: Back cramps force Paul Casey to retire

Casey took his time until his tee time on Thursday to make a decision. “The pain I’m feeling is in my lower back, on the left side, it’s like a cramp,” Casey explained. According to the physical therapist, it’s in the gluteal muscle, “It’s just one of those things when you’re approaching 40. But I think that’s what’s causing the pain and the cramping in my back. I’ve had them, I’ve had them probably four, five times in 20 years, but it’s, so it’s not an injury, it’s just, what is it? Fatigue? Could still be from the PLAYERS and the cold weather and everything and traveling.”

“I felt it on the chipping green and didn’t get past a 9-iron.”

With no chance of advancing into the weekend after missing two matches for Casey, he also decided to cancel Friday’s match against Oosthuizen. I mean, I can’t go through, so it’s kind of like, there’s no point. I hate to just give a guy a match, and that would be Louis tomorrow. I guess that makes it even, doesn’t it, I’ll give one to Corey, I’ll give one to Alex.”

The point doesn’t help Oosthuizen either, however, who lost his first two matches and is out like Casey, as only the group winner advances to the weekend. So Alex Noren and Corey Conners will make that decision between themselves on Friday. The winner of the match advances, the loser is out.

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PGA Tour

WGC – Dell Technologies Match Play: Who’s gonna make it into the round of 16?

WGC Match Play: The possible round of 16 participants (photo: Getty).
WGC Match Play: The possible round of 16 participants (photo: Getty).

After day 2 of the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin, Texas, quite a few golfers still have the chance to reach the round of 16. But it will be tough for some players. Stars like Bryson DeChambeau or Patrick Cantlay, however, have already been eliminated after the second day of the tournament. We give an overview of which golfers still have a chance of advancing.

WGC – Dell Match Play: Clear conditions in several groups

Jon Rahm and Dustin Johnson, for example, have a good starting position. The two leaders in their respective groups only need a draw in the third match to advance. For sure, a win would also be enough to qualify. The same applies to the following players: Viktor Hovland, Brooks Koepka, Tyrrell Hatton, Billy Horschel, Lucas Herbert, Kevin Kisner, Matt Fitzpatrick and Seamus Power.

In other groups, too, some golfers already have a leg up in the round of 16 and have their advancement in their own hands. However, a draw in the third match will not be enough for them. These players will only advance to the knockout stage with a win: Richard Bland, Adam Scott and Abraham Ancer.

Tricky scenarios in groups 2, 10 and 14

While in some groups of the WGC Match Play a favorite already stands out, in other groups the outcome is still very open. A good example of this is Group 2: Collin Morikawa and Sergio Garcia have the best starting position with 1.5 points, but Jason Kokrak can still advance with currently one point. Fourth-placed Robert MacIntyre has already been eliminated.

If both Morikawa and Garcia, who are not playing each other, win, it would come to a playoff between the two. The same would happen in the event of a tie. If both lose their third match, Morikawa’s opponent Kokrak will be happy. Because in that case he would book his ticket for the round of 16. A playoff between Kokrak and Garcia is also still possible if Garcia only manages a draw and Kokrak wins against Morikawa. There are numerous scenarios possible, so it will remain exciting until the end of the group stage. That is precisely what the match-play format at the World Golf Championship is all about.

A similarly tricky situation arises in Group 14. Joaquin Niemann, Kevin Na and Maverick McNealy still have a chance of advancing.

The situation in Group 10 is completely different: Paul Casey has withdrawn due to back problems and Louis Oosthuizen has no chance of advancing. So only two players are still fighting for a place in the knockout stage. Corey Conners and Alex Noren will play a direct match to determine the group winner. If the match ends in a draw, there will be a playoff between, who would have thought it, Conners and Noren.

19 players already eliminated

After the second day at the Austin Country Club, it is definitely clear that 19 players no longer have a chance to advance. Among them are prominent names like Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Cantlay and Ian Poulter. The following golfers are also eliminated after round two: Patrick Reed, Sebastian Munoz, Robert MacIntyre, Cameron Tringale, Keith Mitchell, Marc Leishman, Tony Finau, Matthew Wolff, Louis Oosthuizen, Paul Casey, Keegan Bradley, Tom Hoge, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Russell Henley, Brian Harman and Erik van Rooyen.

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Live

Golf Swing Hand Path Drill | An Easy Visual for a Distance Boost?

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[parone_rss_video_player campaign=”65″ feed=”ve7x3qfqv5″ env=”prod” defaultlang=”en” /]Who doesn’t want a distance boost? ??‍♂️

Check out this video for a golf swing drill that creates an easy visual to know if you are getting the proper hand path in your backswing.

If you’ve noticed a loss of distance or are simply looking for a distance boost, this golf drill will give you instant feedback on whether your hand path is helping or hurting your distance!

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Live

WORLD’S FIRST GOLF EXERCISE MACHINE | Peloton for Golf?

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[parone_rss_video_player campaign=”77″ feed=”ve7x3qfqv5″ env=”prod” defaultlang=”en” /]The REFLEX ARC claims to be the world’s first golf exercise machine, but with a price tag of over $3000 is this really, the “Peloton for golf?” Find out more at Golfcitiy.com

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Live

The Stories of the USGA Volume I | Volunteers I

[parone_rss_video_player campaign=”81″ feed=”ve7x3qfqv5″ env=”prod” defaultlang=”en” /]The Stick & Hack team had the privilege of talking with some of the amazing people that help make the USGA possible. Interviews from veteran volunteers, first year-ers, and full-time staff members tell the wonderful story of creating this tournament.

Visit StickandHack.com for the best in golf entertainment, tips, laughs, and community.

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Uncategorized

Bizarre rules issue at the WGC – Dell Technologies Match Play: DeChambeau, Pieters and the sprinkler

the beneficiary of a rules interpretation at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play: Returnee Bryson DeChambeau (Photo: Getty).
the beneficiary of a rules interpretation at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play: Returnee Bryson DeChambeau (Photo: Getty).

On Bryson DeChambeau’s return to the PGA Tour, a curious interpretation of the rules occurred at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, which in the end even forced head referee Gary Young to make a statement. On hole 13, Thomas Pieters hit his ball directly into a sprinkler head before DeChambeau hit the exact same spot a few rounds later. But according to the referees’ decision, one received penalty-free relief, the other did not.

Matchplay: Bad luck for Pieters, good fortune for DeChambeau

After an entertaining first round of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, a referee’s decision caused a lot of discussion afterwards. Thomas Pieters, who was competing against Tom Hoge in Round 1, hit his ball directly into a sprinkler on hole 13 at Austin Country Club. With officials stating that the ball touched the marked penalty line in the area of the sprinkler head, Pieters received no relief and lost the hole. In the end, however, the Belgian still managed to win against Tom Hoge, so the rules interpretation did not put him at a consequential disadvantage.

Later that day, Bryson DeChambeau managed to get his ball into the exact same sport. However, because the rules officials around PGA Tour head referee Gary Young had already decided to move the marker line because of the Pieters incident on hole 13 so that the sprinkler head was no longer in the danger zone by now, a happier situation resulted for DeChambeau. Although the line had not yet been officially moved, BDC was allowed to drop his ball without another penalty stroke. In the end this decision of the referees was enough for him to draw against Richard Bland.

Referee Statement on Rules Chaos at WGC – Dell Match Play

After the curious decision by the officials, PGA Tour head referee Gary Young explained his actions: “Obviously, in match play, each match is its own individual story. To me, two wrongs don’t make a right. So to make the correction before Bryson’s match got there was important when we heard about the original ruling. When the golf course was marked the line got a little bit closer. Obviously, there’s a lot of wind when you’re marking these golf courses. The line got a little too close to it. It’s the great part of the fact that this is match play and we can make those changes because each individual match you could change something like that. If it was a stroke-play event, we would had to keep it that way through the entire day until all competitors finish their round and then make the change. But because of match play, we did it in between.”

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Panorama

Far-reaching planning: venue for the 2051 U.S. Open has been determined

The USGA's plans for the U.S. Open extend into 2051. (Photo: Getty)
The USGA's plans for the U.S. Open extend into 2051. (Photo: Getty)

In a press conference with those responsible for the Oakland Hills Country Club, the USGA announced that the 2034 U.S. Open will be held in Oakland Hills. But that’s not all. The second U.S. Open date already set for Oakland Hills is to be in 2051. That’s a schedule that stretches nearly 30 years into the future.

We already know which golf club we’ll be looking at in 2051

It seems the USGA and PGA Tour can hardly fill their schedules soon enough. The DP World Tour and R&A also like to plan their schedules several years in advance, but their U.S. counterparts go one better. Recently, the USGA announced new dates for the U.S. Open in a press conference. The planning for the Major now reaches almost 30 years into the future, so we already know which golf course we will be looking at at the Major in 29 years. If you don’t want to miss the tournament, you can already keep the corresponding weekend in almost 30 years free.

The site of the 2051 (and 2034) U.S. Open will be Oakland Hills Country Club, which gratefully agreed to host more championships. The future of the golf club looked uncertain a few weeks ago when the clubhouse went up in flames.

Oakland Hills has had a rough couple of weeks

On Feb. 17, 2022, the previously newly renovated clubhouse went up in flames. It was almost completely destroyed, and firefighters had little chance against the blaze. Demolition work is already underway, building plans are being drafted and building applications submitted. The plan to continue to host major championships is to play a decisive role in the construction of the new clubhouse.

In a press conference, the president of Oakland Hills Country Club expressed confidence. He said the team led by Rick Palmer wanted to rebuild the clubhouse to be future-proof – just as they have already invested in the golf course and its future. With full confidence in the approximately 200 members who will decide the process, Palmer said, “I have no doubt that our membership will step to the plate, and we will have very soon a state of the art, beautiful iconic clubhouse.”

Categories
PGA Tour

Bryson DeChambeau: “Won’t be able to go fully at it until Augusta.”

Bryson DeChambeau looking forward to his comeback at the WGC Dell Matchplay. (Credits: Getty)

Although Bryson DeChambeau is playing a tournament on the PGA Tour for the first time since his injury this week, he is still far from his ideal form.

Long hitter and crowd pleaser Bryson DeChambeau returns to the PGA Tour after his lengthy injury. The start at the WGC Matchplay in Texas is his first tournament since withdrawing from the Saudi International in February due to hand an hip issues. For a long time it was considered uncertain what the injury was and, above all, how serious it was. He gave a clear denial to the Golf Channel to the speculations that the injuries were caused by too hard training. And yet, especially for the aspiring superstar it was a difficult situation, because his golf game lives from a power for which a healthy body is indispensable. BDC knows that, too, and that’s why he says he won’t take any big risks until the US Masters in April, so that he can return to his full potential at the tournament in Augusta.

WGC Matchplay: The tee times for the group stage


Bryson DeChambeau: “Learned a lot about my body over time”.


For a good two months now, the long-hitter has been plagued by hand and hip pain. Voices were quickly raised to attribute his injury problems to the intensive training that BDC has been doing for years. DeChambeau commented on the issue to Golf Channel this week before the WGC Matchplay:


“People say it’s because of the speed training and all the strength training and certainly some of those things have contributed to it. I’ve been working very hard and maybe overdoing it here and there,” he explained to Golf Channel. “But at the same time, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’ve learned so much about my body over the years, how to deal with certain things and also how important rest is.”

So now this week, his return to Tour action. At the WGC Matchplay in Texas, fans can look forward to exciting golf in match play format and Bryson DeChambeau in particular has chosen a very special playing partner on his return, Englishman Richard Bland.

WGC Matchplay: the groupings for the first few days


Augusta in view: Bryson DeChambeau’s comeback plan


Even though the WGC Matchplay is a popular and exciting tournament on the schedule this week, many pros are already looking to the future, as the highlight of the year, the US Masters 2022, is less than two weeks away. What Wimbledon is for tennis players, Augusta is for every golf fanatic.

Bryson DeChambeau also wants to attack the green jacket this year. Back in 2020, he said that the 72 par course at Augusta felt more like a 68 par course for him to play, raising expectations sky high. Now, two years later, BDC enters the crucial weeks leading up to the Masters without much competitive experience and still has a long way to go if he wants to be successful at Augusta.

But to that end, the 28-year-old American has set himself a comeback schedule, starting with next week’s WGC Matchplay and Valero Texas Open. Still, he is realistic about his chances of stepping up a gear in the last tournament before the first major of the year. He explained, “Will I be all in? No. Not even close. I probably won’t be able to really get going until Augusta.”

Accordingly, it will be interesting to see how DeChambeau presents himself on the course over the next two weeks. On the one hand, he has to get back to his best game as quickly as possible, on the other hand, he must not take any unnecessary risks in order not to provoke another injury. BDC has to find the right balance for himself.

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PGA Tour

Masters 2022: Phil Mickelson absent for the first time since 1994

Phil Mickelson will not play the Masters Tournament 2022 (foto: Getty)
Phil Mickelson will not play the Masters Tournament 2022 (foto: Getty)

Phil Mickelson will not participate in the Masters Tournament in 2022. The official list of registered professionals was updated on the Masters site on Monday after the Valspar Championship and Mickelson is no longer listed as an active player at the tournament, according to the list. Instead, the 51-year-old is now listed among the former winners of the Masters who will not compete in the 2022 edition.

No Masters participation due to sabbatical

Mickelson is therefore still committed to taking a longer break from the golfing circus. After the upheavals on the PGA Tour, the American reacted by saying that he had a lot to think about and needed some time away from active golf. In February, the 2021 PGA champion faced fierce headwind, both from the Tour and from the ranks of the players. Mickelson had made several memorable statements in an interview about the PGA Tour, its rights for players and about his push of the new Saudi League. As a result, the pressure on him became so great that he decided for himself to retire for a while. In a statement issued in late February, he wrote, “I know I have not been on my best behavior and desperately need time off to prioritize those I love most.”

When will Mickelson tee it up again?

As a result, he missed several important tournaments. Just recently, he did not play in the Players Championship, which is the biggest tournament on the PGA Tour. There will be no sign of Mickelson at any of the other tournaments in March either. Now he has cancelled the Masters. For him, it is the first Masters since his debut in 1994 that he will miss. When and how Mickelson plans a comeback to the tour is not yet known, so we have to be patient until Mickelson speaks out again.