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Highlights Tours

Ryder Cup 2023: Captain Luke Donald – Four-time Ryder Cup winner

Luke Donald is the captain of Team Europe at the Ryder Cup 2023. (Photo: Getty)
Luke Donald is the captain of Team Europe at the Ryder Cup 2023. (Photo: Getty)

The 45-year-old Englishman looks back on a long and successful career. In total, Luke Donald has won 13 titles on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour (former European Tour) and was among the world’s top 20 players at the beginning of 2005. In 2011, he was ranked first in the world golf rankings for the first time. His participations in the Ryder Cup speak for themselves. Four times he faced the American team and four times he won the Ryder Cup with Team Europe.

Luke Donald as Captain at the Ryder Cup 2023

Luke Donald was appointed captain for the 44th Ryder Cup on August 1, 2022. He will lead his team from September 29 through October 1. His long history in the Ryder Cup and not a single defeat as a player should bode well for the European team.

Donald has always been a competitive player. In 2011, for example, he won the WGC Accenture Match Play in the final against Martin Kaymer. His experience and passion, along with a host of successes from the still-active player, make him a showcase captain for the European team, which will face a strong Team USA this year.

Four Ryder Cup appearances – Four Ryder Cup victories

His Ryder Cup career began in 2004, when Bernhard Langer was captain of the European team. At that time, Europe won the tournament in Michigan by a historic margin. Luke Donald played his part in that. On the first and second day, he won the Foursome both times together with Sergio Garcia. He was only beaten in the singles match play on Sunday. Garcia and he formed the Ryder Cup Dream Team. In 2006, they also won together in the Foursome on Friday and Saturday, facing none other than Phil Mickelson on both days. That year he also won his singles match.

He then continued his winning statistics at the Ryder Cup in 2010. On Friday, he was defeated in the Fourball, but on Saturday he won twice and, with a victory in the match on the final day, ensured the next European Ryder Cup victory. In 2012, in his last Ryder Cup appearance, he helped seal a narrow European victory when he won his singles match against Bubba Watson. He thus sat out the Ryder Cup only once (2008), the only year Europe lost the Ryder Cup between 2004 and 2012.

Luke Donald’s greatest successes and prize money

One of his greatest successes was his victory at the BMW PGA Championship in 2011. This victory catapulted him to the top of the world rankings for the first time in his career. A year later, he even defended his title at the tournament. For a long time, Luke Donald played mainly on the PGA Tour, but he also took part in tournaments on the European Tour. On the PGA Tour he managed five more victories. In total, the Englishman has won 13 international titles.

In his career, he made the cut 290 times in 421 events played. 79 top-10 finishes and 16 second places illustrate his class. That brings him to around $38 million in prize money earned so far in his career.

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Live

Ryder Cup 2023: Justin Rose, a familiar face on Team Europe

Justin Rose will be part of Team Europe at the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)
Justin Rose will be part of Team Europe at the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)

With Justin Rose, Luke Donald is bringing the most experienced Ryder Cup player into the team alongside Rory McIlroy. The 43-year-old will be part of Europe’s lineup for the Ryder Cup for the sixth time in 2023. “There’s nothing better than winning as a team,” Rose said enthusiastic after the announcement of the “captain’s picks.” Captain Luke Donald is confident he made the right choice with Justin Rose: “He’s been in these situations before, holing putts under pressure.”

Justin Rose at the 2023 Ryder Cup

At 43, Justin Rose is one of the older players on the European team for the 2023 Ryder Cup. After missing the previous edition of the Ryder Cup, he delivered outstanding performances in the 2022/2023 season that put him on captain Luke Donald’s radar. On both the PGA Tour and the European Tour, the Englishman proved himself to be a dangerous title chaser. Earlier this year, Rose prevailed on the PGA Tour at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am to become the first European winner in the tournament’s history.

His biggest successes of the year were celebrated also on the PGA Tour with a sixth-place finish at the Players Championship and top-20 finishes at the US Masters and the PGA Championship. Rose also managed a rounded finish to the season on the PGA Tour with T22 at the FedEx St Jude Championship and T20 at the BMW Championship. His biggest success on European soil this year was fourth place at the Betfred British Masters in his home country. These consistently good performances coupled with his extensive Ryder Cup experience made him the right candidate for Team Europe for Luke Donald.

Delighted to have been called up by Luke to represent Team Europe in Rome! The Ryder Cup is an absolute honour to be a part of, and the intensity of the competition cannot be found elsewhere! So excited to get to feel that again!! Missing out last time around really spurred me… pic.twitter.com/3iu7TCoEAF — Justin ROSE (@JustinRose99) September 4, 2023

Three victories in five Ryder Cup appearances

Justin Rose already has five Ryder Cups behind him: in 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016 as well as 2018 he was one of twelve Europeans to compete against the American team. In 2012, 2014 and 2018, he and his teammates celebrated victory in golf’s most famous team competition. After ten years of Ryder Cup, Justin Rose has a record of 13-8-2. He showed the most success in the Foursomes with his teammates, famously often playing alongside Swede Henrik Stenson, winning seven times, losing only twice and playing one draw. He earned his successes at the Ryder Cup through confident performances under high pressure and long putts that he put into the hole.

Justin Rose’s performance at the 2012 Ryder Cup in Medinah was particularly memorable. The European team was already threatened with defeat on the final Sunday. Rose fought for every point in a singles match against Phil Mickelson and turned the tide after initially trailing on the 17th green when he holed a long putt for birdie. With team partner Henrik Stenson at his side, Rose has emerged over the years as the true great of the competition and has played a vital part in three European victories.

“Rosie’s” greatest successes

In his career Justin Rose collected one major victory in addition to eleven wins on the PGA Tour and eleven victories on the DP World Tour. His triumph at the US Open in 2013 is one of the greatest successes for the Englishman. He won the American Major at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, by two strokes. In 2016, when golf became an Olympic sport for the first time since 1904, Rose went all out and beat his favorite partner Stenson by two strokes, winning the gold medal. He also emerged as the overall winner of the PGA Tour’s season rankings in 2018 and was a FedExCup title winner. After some time without highlights, Rose showed himself to be a reliable golfer again last season and thus earned his place back on Team Europe.

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Highlights Tours

Ryder Cup 2023: Luke Donalds Captain’s Picks for Team Europe

Luke Donalds makes his captain's picks for Team Europe at the Ryder Cup 2023. (Photo: Getty)
Luke Donalds makes his captain's picks for Team Europe at the Ryder Cup 2023. (Photo: Getty)

Luke Donald has announced his wildcards for Team Europe at the 2023 Ryder Cup. With six players he completes his team with which he will compete against Zach Johnson’s team in Italy to bring the Ryder Cup back into European hands. These are Luke Donald’s captain’s picks:

Tommy Fleetwood, Sepp Straka, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, Nicolai Hojgaard and Ludvig Aberg.

Luke Donald’s picks for the Ryder Cup 2023

For Sepp Straka it will be the first Ryder Cup. He impressed with a win at the John Deere Classic and second place at the Open Championship. “It was a goal to make the team, but it always looks so far away. It’s an honor to be on it.” Donald especially praised Straka’s involvement in Hero Cup earlier this year, for which he flew to Abu Dhabi. “He loves the team environment and is in great form.”

Tommy Fleetwood will be making his third Ryder Cup appearance. He was on the verge of qualifying directly until near the end of the qualifying stage, but was then overtaken by Matt Fitzpatrick. “He’s a ball-striking machine,” Donald explained his choice. Fleetwood was there for the magnificent 2018 victory at Le Golf National, but also for the crushing defeat at Whistling Straits. “I’m one of those players who stood on the 18th green last time out and couldn’t wait to be back next time and bring the trophy back,” Fleetwood said after his appointment.

With Justin Rose, Luke Donald brings a lot of experience to the team. Rose has been part of the team five times, three of them victorious. “A wealth of experience,” Justin Rose offers according to the captain. “He’s been in these situations before, holed putts under pressure.” The Englishman is excited about being in the team for the sixth time after failing to make the team in the previous edition at Whistling Straits. “There’s nothing better than winning as a team,” Rose said.

“He’s made for the big moments, he showed that with his win at the 2019 Open Championship,” Donald announced Shane Lowry as his next pick. Lowry showed his enthusiasm for the Ryder Cup in 2021 at Whistling Straits, even if it wasn’t enough to win. “I’m incredibly proud, grateful and looking forward to Rome,” Lowry said. “The last one hurt and I’m looking forward to a home Ryder Cup.” Despite the loss, Lowry said the 2021 experience was one he will never forget.

Luke Donald brings another rookie to the team in Nicolai Hojgaard. “It was one of my goals and to be on a team with players I’ve admired my whole life is fantastic.” Donald emphasizes the form Hojgaard is currently in and how he proved himself at the Hero Cup earlier this year.

The last pick also goes to a rookie who is starting his pro career with a bang: Ludvig Aberg. The Swede has only been on the pro circuit for two and a half months. “He has the potential to be a superstar in golf,” is how Donald introduces his latest pick. He had his eye on him in his college days, he says, and played with him at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit. “I was impressed with his game, so I challenged him to play in Europe for a few weeks after all. And as you know, how that went.” After a shared fourth-place finish at the Czech Masters, Aberg won in Switzerland over the weekend. “If you would have told me a few months ago that I would be in this position, I probably wouldn’t have believed it,” said Aberg, who will be the first player to compete in the Ryder Cup without ever having played a major before.

The Ryder Cup will be played from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome.

These players have already qualified for Team Europe

Six players had already qualified via the two points lists, the European Points List and the World Points List. Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Robert MacIntyre secured their places via the European Points List. While Rahm and McIlroy had already been determined for a while, MacIntyre prevailed in the last qualifying valid DP World Tour tournaments. Viktor Hovland and Tyrrell Hatton were impossible to catch in the world points standings after the FedExCup playoffs. Matt Fitzpatrick secured the final qualifying spot at the Omega European Masters.

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Ladies Tours

A Solheim Cup venue unlike any other

The course of Finca Cortesin in spain. (Photo: Solheim Cup)
The course of Finca Cortesin in spain. (Photo: Solheim Cup)

The 24 European and American players have been selected for the upcoming Solheim Cup, the biennial competition between the best women golfers of Europe and the United States. With the opening ceremony just a few weeks away, it is time for the final touches at Finca Cortesin, “one of the best venues ever”, according to Swedish veteran Anna Nordqvist, who will be teeing it up in her eighth Solheim Cup.

Solheim Cup 2023: “Breathtaking surroundings, world-class amenities, and unwavering dedication to championship golf”

The week of celebrations in Finca Cortesin, nestled in the rolling hills of Southern Spain with sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea, will start on Monday, September 18th, with a combination of team practices, flamenco exhibitions, gastronomic evenings, and candlelight concerts.

Finca Cortesin (Photo: Solheim Cup)

“It is the perfect destination and setting to host the Solheim Cup. With breathtaking surroundings, world-class amenities, and unwavering dedication to championship golf, we hope to create an unparalleled experience for players and spectators during the event,” said Rocio Sanchez, Assistant Golf Manager at Finca Cortesin.

The golf course, designed by Cabell Robinson, a graduate of Princeton and Harvard residing in Spain, has hosted numerous high-profile tournaments including the Volvo World Match Play Championship (2009, 2011, 2012). It is one of the longest layouts in Europe with around 7,500 yards, large undulating greens and more than 100 strategically placed bunkers.

The matches will start on Friday, September 22nd, with a risk-reward tee shot over a large lake that guards the front of the green of the short par-4 first hole. The excitement will continue with the third, a magnificent par-5 that features an approach over the water; the tenth, a downhill par-3 with incredible views of the nearby mountains, and the eleventh, a long par-5 that provides a great test for all players.

“Finca Cortesin is definitively the best venue of the Solheim Cup. It has so many fantastic facilities with an incredible hotel and one of Europe’s best golf courses,” said Norwegian Suzann Pettersen, Captain of the European squad, which boasts players from six different countries.

“It is a great golf course for match play,” said Spaniard Carlota Ciganda, who will be playing in her sixth Solheim Cup and the first one on home soil. “I love that it is in Spain, with the food, the ‘jamon’, the hospitality, and the great weather,” added Ciganda, member of the winning squad at the last edition in Toledo, Ohio (2021).

(Photo: Solheim Cup)

“Since day one, the resort has been committed not only to showcasing the finest golfing conditions, but also fostering opportunities for women to excel in the sport, both through playing and in business. The Solheim Cup will not only celebrate competition, but the legacy of women in golf and their vital role in shaping the sport’s future,” said Sanchez.

It has been 24 years since Southern Spain displayed its attractions for golfers at the male equivalent of this transatlantic tournament, the 1999 Ryder Cup. The competition and the experiences during this first Solheim Cup will showcase what Finca Cortesin and the region have to offer to women professional and amateur golfers from around the world.

Beyond golf, the property contains a classic Andalusian hotel with 67 spacious high-ceiling suites and three restaurants featuring Asian-Mediterranean fusion, authentic Spanish cuisine, and award-winning Italian dishes. The resort’s Beach Club is less than a mile away at Bahia Casares, with Balinese beds and sun loungers dotted around an infinity pool.

Finca Cortesin sits in the middle of an area that covers the mountains and the wineries led by women oenologists in Ronda, the museums and art scenes of Malaga, capital of the Costa del Sol, and two of the most important and luxurious marinas in the Mediterranean coast, Puerto Banus and Sotogrande.

It does not take long from Finca Cortesin to explore other local attractions, like the recently renovated La Hacienda Links Golf Resort, the Andalusian horse show and sherry wineries in Jerez, the Alhambra in Granada, the Guadalquivir River in Sevilla, or the Arab baths by the Mosque in Cordoba.

And for recovery, detox, and refreshment, there’s the Spa at Finca Cortesin, home to thermal baths, a fitness center, tennis and yoga instruction, a heated indoor saltwater pool, three thermal areas—each with their own sauna, Turkish bath, and relaxation area—and a Snow Cave.

In the words of US Team Captain, Stacy Lewis: “The resort at Finca is amazing. It is first class. We are going to be so spoiled and then the golf course itself is in unbelievable condition. It is going to be a treat for all of us.”

(Text: Solheim Cup)

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Professionals

Ryder Cup 2023: Tyrrell Hatton with third participation in a row

Tyrrell Hatton will compete in the 2023 Ryder Cup for the third time. (Photo: Getty)
Tyrrell Hatton will compete in the 2023 Ryder Cup for the third time. (Photo: Getty)

The Ryder Cup 2023 is just around the corner. Tyrrell Hatton will be part of the team again this year. Despite rather disappointing performances at the Major tournaments and a season without a title so far, the 31-year-old Englishman qualified for Team Europe for the third time in a row. Alongside Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm, Hatton is thus the fourth player who will certainly be competing for the European team at the Ryder Cup. Known for his temperament, Hatton could be a valuable points contributor for Team Europe – as long as he keeps his emotions in check.

Tyrrell Hatton at the Ryder Cup 2023

In a year that has so far lacked major success, Hatton qualified for the Ryder Cup through consistent performances and a strong finish on the world points list. With Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm qualifying via the European points list, Hatton, with the fourth-best world points score among European players, made the jump to one of the contested spots for the 2023 Ryder Cup.

For Team Europe, the talented Englishman could be a key to success. This season, for example, the 31-year-old is once again proving that he is one of the best golfers in the world, with seven top-10 finishes in 21 tournaments played in 2023 and only one missed cut. While Hatton did not manage a top finish at the majors, his best results this year include a runner-up finish at the Players Championship and a shared third place at the Wells Fargo Championship and the Canadian Open.

Tyrrell Hatton’s third consecutive Ryder Cup appearance

For Hatton, the participation in the 2023 Ryder Cup represents his third consecutive involvement in the tournament. The two previous competitions in 2018 and 2021 could not have been more contrasting. While Team Europe claimed a convincing victory in France in 2018, Hatton and Co. suffered a historic defeat at the hands of Team USA in Wisconsin in 2021. Hatton himself turned in solid performances in both tournaments, contributing one point (1-2-0) in 2018 and 1.5 points (1-2-1) in 2021.

For the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy, the European team will be looking for revenge for 2021 despite being perceived underdogs. “I think Europe will have a strong team. The media will portray us as underdogs, but we will have a very strong team,” Hatton announced in an interview with talkSPORT. In any case, the fact that Team USA has not been able to win on European soil for 30 years speaks in favor of success for the Europeans.

Tyrrell Hatton: Dry spell and great successes

The breakthrough in his career came in 2016 when Tyrrell Hatton won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Particularly impressive in this first big success were the 62 strokes in round three. In the following years, Hatton collected five more successes on the European Tour and won the Arnold Palmer Invitational on the PGA Tour in 2020. He also won the 2018 Ryder Cup with Team Europe, but since his victory in 2021 at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Tyrrell Hatton has been waiting for another trophy. A triumph at the 2023 Ryder Cup would certainly be a welcome sense of achievement for him in the context of this dry spell and will provide extra motivation.

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Live

World Golf Ranking Update: Matt Fitzpatrick Inside Top-10

Matt Fitzpatrick is the highest listed english golfer in the world golf rankings. (Credit: Getty)
Matt Fitzpatrick is the highest listed english golfer in the world golf rankings. (Credit: Getty)

The world golf ranking of 2023 shows a thrilling ensemble of talented British golfers pushing through the ranks.

At 8th position in the world golf rankings stands Matt Fitzpatrick, showcasing his consistency, having maintained his position from the previous week. Next up we have Tyrrell Hatton, who climbed up a position from the previous week to 13th place in the world golf ranking. Not far behind him, we find Tommy Fleetwood standing still at 15th place in the world golf ranking.

The British Players Holding Steady in The World Golf Ranking

The 34th spot in the world golf ranking is earned by Justin Rose, remaining static from last week. Moving a significant 25 places up the world golf ranking, Matt Wallace boasts the 106th position. Further down the order, Jordan Smith stands firm at 84th place in the world golf ranking and Aaron Rai displays a positive progression, moving four places up to the 91st position in the world golf ranking.

Navigating Through The Lower Half of The World Golf Ranking

Further down the world golf ranking, at the 123rd spot, we find Callum Shinkwin holding his position. Benjamin Taylor moved slightly down to the 127th place in the world golf ranking. Harry Hall also stood his ground at the 136th position in the world golf ranking, while Danny Willett slipped down four places to 144th position.

Alex Fitzpatrick, at the 166th spot in the world golf ranking, marks a significant climb upwards in the rankings, moving an impressive 11 places up. Nathan Kimsey, positioned at 170th in the world golf ranking, has seen a slight decrement in his standings, moving a couple of places down.

Climbers and Slippers in The World Golf Ranking

Lastly, there was a remarkable jump in the world golf ranking standings for Todd Clements who now sits at the 175th position. Callum Tarren, on the other hand, saw a minor drop in his rankings, currently holding the 152nd place in the world golf ranking.

Looking now at the top 10 positions in the world golf ranking, we see Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland, and Patrick Cantlay making up the top five. The most significant change came from Vijay Hovland, who moved up a spot to claim the 4th position, displacing Patrick Cantlay to the 5th slot in the world golf ranking. The 6th to 10th positions have been held steady by the same players as the previous week, demonstrating a strong consistency at the top of the world golf ranking.

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Top Tours

British Open 2023 target of climate activists “Just Stop Oil

The British Open became a target for "Just Stop Oil" protests. (Photo: Getty)
The British Open became a target for "Just Stop Oil" protests. (Photo: Getty)

On the second day of the British Open 2023, despite efforts by the organizers, some climate activists from the protest group “Just Stop Oil” made it onto the grounds of the Royal Liverpool Golf Club. Using orange paint, the four individuals targeted the 17th green of the golf course.

British Open 2023: Billy Horschel helps police with “Just Stop Oil” protest

On the morning of the second round, the four activists from the climate group “Just Stop Oil”, who have already caused a stir at other sporting events such as Wimbledon, arrived on the grounds of the Open Championship. On the 17th green, one activist threw orange paint in the direction of the course. Shortly after, however, she was already taken into police custody with the help of Billy Horschel. His flight was about to putt on the short par 3 during the action.

After the incident, the R&A released a brief statement on the incident. “A protester was quickly apprehended on the 17th hole and is one of 4 people who have been arrested by the police. Play was not disrupted and we would like to thank the marshals, players and other spectators for their vigilance and understanding as the protestors were removed.”

R&A and police already prepared for protest actions

Police have already been working in advance with the organizing R&A on plans for incidents of this nature to minimize disruption to match operations, visitors and local residents. “The public should be prepared for the police to maintain a high presence throughout the event as we complement and support other security agencies. There are a number of plans and processes in place to deal with any incidents and prevent significant or ongoing disruption to spectators, residents and businesses,” said local police Chief Superintendent Mark Wiggins.

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Highlights Tours

Historic Hole-in-One at the British Open 2023

Travis Smyth has reason to celebrate. (Photo: Getty)
Travis Smyth has reason to celebrate. (Photo: Getty)

Loud cheers on the 17th in Liverpool. Travis Smyth holes the first hole-in-one of the 2023 British Open, which is also the first hole-in-one in history on the newly designed 17 at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club. Although the Australian has no chance of making the cut after two rounds, he nevertheless ends his experience at the British Open 2023 with an absolute highlight.

From double bogey to ace

After Smyth conceded a double bogey on the “Little Eye” the previous day by botching three tee shots before hitting the green, he turned his tee shot on the par-3 today into an ace from about 130 yards. As quickly as the ball disappeared into the hole, those in attendance could hardly look.

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Top Tours

Open Championship 2023: Who will defy the weather?

The 151st edition of the British Open: the weather forecast (foto: getty)

The British Open is one of the oldest and most prestigious tournaments in the world. It will be held this year at the Royal Liverpool Golf Course. The weather conditions on the rugged coast of Great Britain will in itself have a major impact on the tournament, but rain or storms can make the already demanding links course even more challenging for the professionals.

Weather forecast for the Open Championship 2023

The golf course has been through almost every weather condition in the past week. There have been thunderstorms, heavy rains, lots of wind and even the sun has made an appearance once. At least the start of the tournament is supposed to stay mostly dry.

Thursday, 20.07.

The tournament will start with a mostly sunny day and possible small showers.

Friday, 21.07.

On the day of the decision, who will be allowed to continue the weekend, it will be very cloudy with again small rainfalls.

Saturday, 22.07.

In the night from Friday to Saturday there may be heavier rain. On Moving Day, rain is expected to be almost continuous, easing during the day.

Sunday, 23.07.

On the final day, light showers are expected again and there may even be thunderstorms. On the other hand, the wind will drop a bit.

Can we rely on the forecast?

No. Especially in Great Britain, the weather is very erratic and can change every minute. Even professional golfers like Jon Rahm, don’t pay very much attention to the forecast. “We’re in England. We’re right next to the Channel, too. I don’t really look at the forecast because it changes so quickly. I hope we still see certain weather conditions because it’s the Open. There will always be wind. Hopefully the rain will stay away, but there will always be a period that favors some more than others. It doesn’t look like it’s going to play extremely fast or extremely firm because the rain and some of the humidity should stay, but you never know. I think it will play similar to 2014.”

Impact of weather conditions on the tournament and players


The weather in Liverpool can play a crucial role during The Open Championship. Rain can soften the ground on links golf courses and affect ball roll speed. The strong and unpredictable wind can affect the trajectory of the balls and pose tactical challenges to the golfers. Players will need to adapt to the changes and adjust their shots accordingly to be successful.

The 2023 Open Championship promises to be a compelling tournament on the links course near Liverpool. Weather conditions could play an important role and increase the challenges for the players. With the right preparations, golfers can bring out the best in each other. It is sure to be a tournament full of excitement, skill and fascinating moments as the best golfers in the world compete for the coveted title.

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Top Tours

This is why Rory McIlroy wins the Open Championship

A look at the favourites for the Open Championship 2023. (Photo: Getty)
A look at the favourites for the Open Championship 2023. (Photo: Getty)

Ever since his success at the Scottish Open, Rory McIlroy has been the clear favorite for this year’s Open Championship in Liverpool. We take a look at what speaks for him and who could challenge him for the title.

A Rory McIlroy in top form at the Open Championship

At the beginning of the year, there seemed to be nothing that the Northern Irishman couldn’t win. But then the outside pressure mounted, it was as much about LIV and the PGA Tour as it was about sporting success, and McIlroy seemed to have reached his limit. The results failed to materialize, and time out was necessary, even from the Elevated events, which he had promised to participate in when they were first conceived. But with June 6 and the negotiated merger between the PGA and PIF, the pressure is also falling off. What happens at tour level is no longer his business, McIlroy thinks to himself, and plays as freely as he did at the beginning of the year. A second place at the US Open in June was the first bright spot, then the links victory last week. The signs are all pointing to McIlroy.

The fact that he is the last Champion Golfer of the Year to be named at Royal Liverpool further helps his odds. And let’s not forget the duel against Cam Smith at the 2022 Open Championship. McIlroy’s colleagues also know that the 34-year-old is a force to be reckoned with this week. Last year’s triumphant Cam Smith, for example, said. “There are a lot of guys who, if the week goes well, can be up there on Sunday. I’m sure Rory is one of them.” For Jon Rahm, McIlroy is also the main favorite. “If I had to pick one player, it would be Rory,” he said in an interview with Mercedes Benz. Matt Fitzpatrick even expresses a tiny bit of jealousy at the four-time major winner’s outstanding form. “I think everyone would like to play golf the way Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler are doing right now. But that’s pretty rare for the rest of us.”

The unbeatable Scottie Scheffler

If there is anyone who can outperform Rory McIlroy in terms of form, it is Scottie Scheffer. You’ll look in vain for a missed cut this year and all season for the world No. 1. His worst finish in 2023 is a split 12th.If there isn’t at least a top 10 for him this week, it almost has to be a disappointment. In his last ten major appearances, Scheffer missed the cut only once and finished outside the top 10 only once, but that was at the 2022 British Open. At St. Andrews, the currently unbeatable Scheffler apparently found his master. But he showed that he has no problems with links golf per se with a shared third place at the Scottish Open last week.

The defending champion Cameron Smith

Not to be forgotten, of course, is the defending champion. When Cameron Smith handed the Claret Jug back to Martin Slumbers of the R&A, he reluctantly let the trophy go. “I’ll just win it again,” he jousted. Even though Smith’s Ripper GC is only in the lower midfield of the LIV Golf League, things look very different for the captain. He ranks second in the season standings behind only Talor Gooch after his win in London. In addition, he boasts four top 10 results, an eleventh place finish and a twelfth place finish. His major record this year is not without its problems either. Although T34 at the Masters, where he particularly shone in previous years, the trend developed positively: T9 at the PGA Championship, 4th place at the US Open, what will he achieve at the Royal Liverpool?

The fiery Jon Rahm

Jon Rahm also looked unstoppable at the beginning of the year. Since the spring and his Masters win, however, he’s cooled off a bit. More breaks, results good enough to keep him in the top 3 in the world, but not to challenge Scheffler for the top spot. He is well aware of that himself, he explained before the tournament. “Obviously Rory and Scotty are more the favorites because they’ve been playing better lately, but I’m glad people still think I have a chance.” At the same time, he said, his expectations of himself are probably higher than what people on the outside think of him. “Whether people think you’re going to win or not, I’m still coming here to win.” He’s already won one major this year, and a second would definitely be in the cards.

Honourable Mentions

But, as Jon Rahm also says, “This is golf, all 150 of us have a chance.” Figures like Rickie Fowler, with chances to win the US Open and end his winless streak are also aiming for the title, as is Brooks Koepka, who has major title number 6 in his sights, but has had very inconsistent results at the Open Championship so far. With Tommy Fleetwood, who finished T4 behind Rory McIlroy last year and T6 last week, standing just as high with the bookmakers as world No. 5 Viktor Hovland, with whom Fleetwood shared fourth place in 2022. But in the end, there can only be one Champion Golfer of the Year 2023.