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US Amateur Nick Dunlap Makes Giant Leap in World Golf Ranking

Nick Dunlap makes leap in World Golf Ranking. (Photo: Getty)
Nick Dunlap makes leap in World Golf Ranking. (Photo: Getty)

Scottie Scheffler continues his reign at the top of the World Golf Ranking, demonstrating consistent performance that secures his number one spot for another week. Among the American golf professionals, Xander Schauffele is following the leader, remaining a strong contender at fifth place in the ranking.

Complete Official World Golf Ranking

Other American golfers at the top of the World Golf Ranking keep their spots as well: Patrick Cantlay holds the sixth position, while Max Homa and Brian Harman place seventh and ninth respectively, reflecting the dynamic shifts that characterize the competitive landscape. Wyndham Clark secures the tenth spot. Showcasing the depth of talent in the United States’ golfing roster is newly crowned PGA Tour winner Nick Dunlap. The amateur made a huge leap, improving from 4129th to 68th place in just one week.

When examining the Top 10 in the World Golf Ranking, aside from Scheffler’s steadfast leadership, we see Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy at second place overtaking Jon Rahm of Spain, who drops to third. Norway’s Viktor Hovland continues to be a significant presence, maintaining his fourth-place standing within the upper rankings. Moving down the international competition in the World Golf Ranking, the fourth to tenth positions witness England’s Matt Fitzpatrick at eighth, reaffirming his place within the top contenders.

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Live

World Golf Ranking: Rory McIlroy sneaks up on Scheffler

Rory McIlroy takes second place in the Official World Golf Ranking. (Photo: Getty)
Rory McIlroy takes second place in the Official World Golf Ranking. (Photo: Getty)

In the World Golf Ranking, Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland secures the highest spot among British players at position 2, overtaking Jon Rahm after winning the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Among the English players, Matt Fitzpatrick takes the highest spot with rank 8, remaining there from the previous week. Tommy Fleetwood, also from England, follows at rank 11 without any change from the prior week.

Complete Official World Golf Ranking

Slight Drop for British Players in Official World Golf Ranking

Moving down the list, Tyrrell Hatton from England holds position 16, suffering a slight drop from 15. The remaining top British players include Justin Rose at 43, dropping a sort from 42, and Robert MacIntyre from Scotland at 61, descending from 58 in the previous week.

The top 10 of the World Golf Ranking showcases Scottie Scheffler from the USA still in the leading position, with no change from the previous week. Following him is Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland at number 2 and Jon Rahm from Spain at number 3.

Viktor Hovland from Norway remains at number 4, and Xander Schauffele from the USA holds the 5th spot. Patrick Cantlay and Max Homa, both from the USA, retain their 6th and 7th places respectively. Beyond Fitzpatrick’s 8th rank, Brian Harman and Wyndham Clark, both representing the USA, round out the top 10 at positions 9 and 10, maintaining their standings. This portion of the World Golf Ranking is characterized by a notable steadiness, with no highlights of significant advancement or decline among the top performers.

(This article was created with the help of AI.)

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European Tour

DP World Tour: Rory McIlroy wins fourth Hero Dubai Desert Classic

Rory McIlroy wins Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour. (Photo: Getty)
Rory McIlroy wins Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour. (Photo: Getty)

Rory McIlroy won a record-breaking fourth Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour as he successfully defended his title on a dramatic afternoon at Emirates Golf Club.

The Northern Irishman claimed a maiden Rolex Series crown at this event 12 months ago but came into the weekend ten shots back before a stunning third-round 63 put him into the final group on Sunday.

He then turned a two-shot deficit into a four-shot lead with six holes to play before a bogey on the 13th gave the chasing Adrian Meronk and Cameron Young a glimmer of hope.

Full Leaderboard for the Hero Dubai Desert Classic

Rory McIlroy wins in Dubai “where everything started”

“It’s a great start to the season”, McIlroy said after his win. “I started well last year with the win here. A couple of little things still to work on but these weeks are great. You learn a ton from them and obviously great to get the competition and come out on top as well.”

He went on to reminisce about his history with the event. “Just to think like 18 years ago, and what it meant to come here and play in this event, to be sitting here, you know, having won it four times, and all the great experiences that I’ve had in Dubai and the friends that I’ve met and everything sort of along the way, it’s always been a place where I come back to and reminisce about my career because I really feel like it’s where everything started.”

“So it’s amazing to sit here. The first Desert Classic, I took a media credential and I walked inside the ropes to follow Tiger and Ernie and Thomas Bjorn, and then just to think about even the arc of that: Thomas Bjorn was my Ryder Cup Captain; I ended up buying Ernie Els’s house; I’ve become really good friends with Tiger Woods. It’s just amazing to think back on the last 18 years and sort of where I find myself.”

Meronk and Young came short

Pole Meronk cut the lead to one as he signed for a 71 but McIlroy held his nerve down the stretch and carded a 70 for a 14 under par total and a one-shot win.

American Young finished with a 74 to sit at 12 under, two shots clear of Canadian Aaron Cockerill, Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal and Chilean Joaquin Niemann.

The win takes McIlroy past Ernie Els’ hat-trick of Desert Classic victories and hands him his third Rolex Series triumph, having won three of the last five blue riband events.

He also becomes just the second player to successfully defend this title after Stephen Gallacher lifted the Dallah Trophy in 2013 and 2014 and makes it six wins in Dubai with his two victories at the DP World Tour Championship.

The 34-year-old has started the defence of his Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex crown with a runner-up finish and a win as he looks to become Europe’s Number One for a sixth time, moving to the top of the Rankings for the 2024 title and the International Swing.

Dane Nicolai Højgaard, Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura, China’s Li Haotong and Australian Adam Scott finished five shots off the lead.

(Text: DP World Tour)

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Professionals

World Golf Ranking: Scottie Scheffler Ends the Year at the Top

As 2023 wraps up, Scottie Scheffler secures the top spot in global golf, leading the World Golf Ranking. (Photo: Getty)
As 2023 wraps up, Scottie Scheffler secures the top spot in global golf, leading the World Golf Ranking. (Photo: Getty)

Scottie Scheffler remains firmly at the top of the current world golf ranking, solidifying his position as the highest-ranked American golfer. Scheffler’s consistent and stellar performances on the golf course have allowed him to clinch the top spot, underscoring his status as a dominant force in the sport. Accompanying him in the rankings, Patrick Cantlay secures his elite standing by holding onto the fifth position, showcasing the enduring excellence of American golfers.

Click here for the full world golf ranking

Consistent Performances: Leading American Golfers in World Ranking

Among the leading American players, Xander Schauffele holds sixth place, closely followed by Max Homa in seventh. The players have maintained their positions from the previous week, placing them firmly in the top ten. Brian Harman and Wyndham Clark bring up the rear in ninth and tenth place, respectively, concluding the group of leading American talents in the World Golf Rankings.

Scottie Scheffler is followed in the world rankings in second and third place by Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Jon Rahm of Spain. Further into the top ten is the steadfast fourth-place standing of Norway’s Viktor Hovland, indicative of a sustained level of performance and unchanged from the previous week. This consistency among the upper reaches of the rankings indicates a consistency in performances throughout the sport over the last couple of weeks. Focusing on the rest of the top ten, England’s Matt Fitzpatrick remains in eighth place. The presence of several nationalities in this segment of the world rankings highlights the global nature of competitive golf. Notably absent since the last ranking update is any change in the top ten, suggesting a temporary pause in the typically dynamic shifts towards the end of the year.

This text was created with the help ofAI.

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European Tour Ladies European Tour

Golf Boom: Rising ticket sales for professional tournaments

Biggest tournaments in Great Britain and Ireland in 2023 have seen strong increases in ticket sales and spectator numbers compared to pre-pandemic levels (Source: DP World Tour)
Biggest tournaments in Great Britain and Ireland in 2023 have seen strong increases in ticket sales and spectator numbers compared to pre-pandemic levels (Source: DP World Tour)

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, golf has experienced a surge in popularity, attracting an increasing number of enthusiasts. This trend seems to extend its positive influence to professional golf as well. According to a report from the DP World Tour, R&A, and Ladies European Tour, major golf tournaments in the UK and Ireland in 2023 have witnessed a significant boost in popularity, marked by increased ticket sales and higher attendance numbers.

DP World Tour with 43 percent higher income from ticket sales

The report focuses on the most prominent golf tournaments in the UK and Ireland, highlighting the DP World Tour’s remarkable achievement. In 2023, the DP World Tour managed to increase its revenue from ticket sales by an impressive 43%, compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Notably, the four major tournaments (excluding Majors) showed substantial increases. The BMW PGA Championship saw a 41% rise in revenue compared to 2019, while the Genesis Scottish Open more than doubled its ticket sales revenue. Overall attendance for the four events, including the BMW PGA Championship, Genesis Scottish Open, Horizon Irish Open, and Betfred British Masters, exhibited a slight upward trend, with nearly 300,000 attendees – around 30,000 more than the previous year. The Ladies European Tour also reported modest increases in audience numbers, with a 20% rise at the KPMG Irish Open in late August.

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Golf is gaining popularity and attracting a more diverse audience. The numbers confirm this, and the biggest events of the DP World Tour in the UK and Ireland have never been more popular. We are witnessing a similar trend in our historic national Opens across Europe. The natural outdoor appeal of golf led people to try the sport at a record pace in 2020, and the DP World Tour is now reaping the benefits. Golfers of all ages want to witness the world’s best players showcasing their skills, and we are focused on ensuring that our audience experience meets their expectations.”

Record Year for the British Open

The pinnacle of golf in the UK, the British Open, also celebrated significant success. Since 2019, all tournament days have been sold out, and the 151st Open in 2023 recorded a 30% increase in attendance compared to the previous edition at Royal Liverpool in 2014. The growing popularity of the tournament led to the introduction of a ticket lottery in 2022 to accommodate the surging demand.

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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)

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European Tour Live PGA Tour

World Golf Ranking: Rory McIlroy Hunting For Number 1

World Golf Ranking: Rory McIlroy und Jon Rahm hunt for the worlds lead (Foto: Getty)
World Golf Ranking: Rory McIlroy und Jon Rahm hunt for the number one spot. (Foto: Getty)

English Charge in the World Golf Ranking

There is only slight movement in the World Golf Ranking for British players. England’s Matt Fitzpatrick is holding firm at seventh for the second consecutive week, demonstrating consistent top-level performance. Tyrrell Hatton, also from England, falls one position to 12th. Slightly further down the rankings, Tommy Fleetwood has dropped one spot to rank 14th.

Check out the entire World Golf Ranking here

Shuffling Order for the Brits Beyond the top 10

British representation continues in the World Golf Ranking with Justin Rose of England sliding three positions to 39th. Scotsman Robert MacIntyre sits in 56th spot. He’s followed by Aaron Rai and Jordan Smith. Completing the best-performing British professionals this week is Matt Wallace, who has made an eight-position surge to reach 89th position.

Review of the worlds top 3

Examining the top of the World Golf Ranking, Scottie Scheffler of the United States remains in pole position, echoing his firm hold on the top spot these last few months. Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy follows him at second place, with Jon Rahm of Spain close behind at third.

No movement in the top 10 of the world

The middle and tail end of the top ten in the world see an unchanging continuity of strong performances. Norway’s Viktor Hovland, USA’s Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele are steadfast at positions four to six, respectively. Max Homa, Brian Harman and Wyndham Clark, all from the United States, have also managed to maintain their ranks at positions eight to ten.

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Live

Scottie Scheffler Holds Top Spot in World Golf Ranking, Matt Fitzpatrick Advances To Seventh position

Matt Fitzpatrick advances in the OWGR. (Photo: Getty)
Matt Fitzpatrick advances in the OWGR. (Photo: Getty)

Scottie Scheffler maintains his grip on the pinnacle of the World Golf Ranking, while the best-placed British golfer, Rory McIlroy, safeguards his second position.

Check out the full World Golf Ranking here

More British Representatives at the Top of the World Golf Ranking

Matthew Fitzpatrick advances to seventh position from the eighth spot in the World Golf Ranking, due to a win at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Tyrrell Hatton retains his status as the 11th best golfer globally.

Tommy Fleetwood, another English golfer, retains his 13th place in the rankings. Justin Rose has advanced one spot to the 36th position, rounding up the top five British players in the World Golf Ranking.

First Three Positions in the World Golf Ranking

Continuing the synopsis of the World Golf Ranking, Jon Rahm of Spain remains steadfast at the third position, following Scheffler and McIlroy. Viktor Hovland, a proficient player from Norway, secures the fourth position and Patrick Cantlay rounds up the top five, remaining steadfast in his placement from the previous week.

In the second half of the top 10 of the World Golf Ranking, Xander Schauffele holds his sixth spot. Max Homa dropped to the eighth position from the seventh, making way for Fitzpatrick to rise. Brian Harman holds firm at the ninth, while Wyndham Clark completes the top 10 without any shift in his ranking.

(This article was created with the help of AI)

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Highlights Tours Knowledge Rules

Fourball – an exciting form of tournament play

The fourball format is also played at the Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)
The fourball format is also played at the Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)

Fourball (also called bestball or fourball) is played in golf with two, three or four players per team. Each golfer in a team plays his or her own ball. However, after each hole, only the best score is included in the team score. If one player locks in a four and the team partner needs five or more strokes, only the four is scored.

The fourball format holds some tactical possibilities: In the team it can be decided, for example, that one player plays more on risk and attacks the flag directly in order to win the hole (in match play). The other team partner tries to provide back-up by trying to place the ball safely on the green and thus take the pressure off. Who takes on which role depends on the current game situation.

Click here for the leaderboard of the Ryder Cup 2023

Fourball with numerous variations

If a player with a very low handicap competes against players with a higher handicap, another variant is conceivable: The strong golfer is on his or her own and plays alone against a team that can take advantage of the synergy. In addition, the pairing of low handicap with high handicap is advantageous in fourball tournaments played according to Stableford. Such tournaments are often offered at the beginning or end of the season, when the course is not yet or no longer in the best condition.

In stroke play, the best scores of all the holes played by a team are added together and the total number is counted at the end of the course. In match play, as it is played at the Ryder Cup or Solheim Cup for example, you play against your opponents for each hole. The team that needs fewer strokes for the respective hole gets a point. In the event of a tie, the hole is split – both teams receive half a point. The team that wins the most holes wins the match.

Ryder Cup 2023: Rules and Format
Ryder Cup 2023 Tee Times
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Highlights Tours Knowledge Rules

Foursome format – the rules in match play

Foursome is one of the forms of play at the Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)
Foursome is one of the forms of play at the Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)

In foursomes, two teams (usually two players each) compete against each other. Within a team, players take turns stroke by stroke: Player “A” tees off. Once at the ball, player B takes the second shot with the same ball. This continues until the respective team has holed the ball in team work.

A tactically extremely important decision is made by the team before the match even begins: the two team members agree on who will tee off on the even holes and who will tee off on the odd holes. Depending on who feels confident with their driver or irons, the par 3 and par 5 holes can be divided accordingly.

Click here for the leaderboard of the Ryder Cup 2023

Foursomes – Matchplay with your partner

Foursomes can be played both as stroke play and as match play. Alltough the match play variant is the most common and is also played in this form at major team events such as the Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup. In English, the foursomes format of play is also often referred to as the “Alternate Shot”.

The Foursome Teams at the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup

In major tournaments such as the Ryder Cup or the Solheim Cup, the captains of both teams have to take great care in deciding their lineups for the foursomes format. Playing strength and current form must be factored into the decision on pairings, but equally the captains would have to pay attention to the human element in the lineup – the players must function as a team.

Ryder Cup 2023: Rules and Format

In addition, golfers should ideally complement each other in many ways. For example, a popular option is to pair rookies, who are on the team for the first time in a major tournament, with an experienced player. Some pairings have already proven themselves in previous events and have a strong record together – so it is logical not to change anything. In the end, gut feeling certainly plays a not insignificant role in the pairing of the captains.

Ryder Cup 2023 Tee Times