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Henrik Stenson names first vice-captain for 2023 Ryder Cup

Henrik Stenson (right) is counting on Thomas Bjørn as his first vice captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)
Henrik Stenson (right) is counting on Thomas Bjørn as his first vice captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)

The team around Ryder Cup captain Henrik Stenson is starting to grow. Thomas Bjørn has been named first vice-captain for the match between Europe and the United States. The 51-year-old Dane already brings a lot of Ryder Cup experience with him. He has already taken part in the event eight times: three times as a player, four times as vice-captain and once as the winning captain at the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris. More than 20 years ago, in 1997, Thomas Bjørn’s Ryder Cup career began when he became the first Dane ever to be part of the European team led by Seve Ballesteros.

Stenson trusts Thomas Bjørn “implicitly”

The two Scandinavians Henrik Stenson and Thomas Bjørn have known each other for many years. For Stenson, that’s one point that significantly influenced his decision to go with Bjørn: “I trust him implicitly and I know any advice he will give me will be honest and direct. He will not simply tell me what he thinks I want to hear and that will be important, so I’m delighted to have him as my first Vice Captain for Rome.”

In addition, Stenson said he trusts Bjørn’s years of experience already with the Ryder Cup. Considering the fact that the Ryder Cup will not take place for over a year, Stenson is looking forward to the long preparation period: “I will be depending on him a lot and I’m really looking forward to those chats.”

Bjørn is looking forward to the Ryder Cup 2023

For Thomas Bjørn, Henrik Stenson’s request seemed to have come as a surprise: “I probably thought that after 2018 that was it for me, but Henrik called me to talk about Captaincy in general and that led into him asking me if I wanted to do another stint as Vice Captain, which I agreed to. I’m excited to work with him.” Thomas Bjørn intends to fulfill his role as vice captain as best he can: “I will help him prepare in the best possible way and as we get closer to the match, to be an additional support to the players.”

The Dane has high hopes for captain Henrik Stenson, both golf-wise and personally. He describes Stenson as a “hard-working golfer” who will make a fantastic captain. For Bjørn, Stenson is “somebody who is true to himself, and his team will represent that. He has a great sense of humour that the players will take to, and he is very well liked across the whole Tour.”

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Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic to fundraise for Ukrainian refugees

Palheiro Golf at Madeira, Spain.
Palheiro Golf at Madeira, Spain.

Players and dignitaries are being encouraged to donate as much as possible towards the worthy cause when the event takes place at Palheiro Golf on Saturday, May 7.

Ukrainians have fled in increasing numbers to Madeira in the last two months since the outbreak of hostilities in their homeland, with around 300 people already having taken refuge in the Portuguese archipelago.

Jonathan Fletcher, president of Palheiro Nature Estate, said: “The Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic is an important event on our golfing calendar, and we wanted to support a charity that reflected its importance.

“At this time, there is no bigger cause in the world than the plight of the Ukrainian refugees and we’re delighted to do whatever we can to help ease the suffering of these poor people in their time of need.”

Madeira awaits their golf fans

Taking place on the idyllic island destination of Madeira for the second time this year, the 2022 Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic forms the centrepiece of a wider five-day event which will be staged from May 5-9. As well as providing the opportunity to enjoy world-class golf, guests will also experience a slice of the archipelago’s famous culture and history – including Madeira’s globally acclaimed annual ‘Festa da Flor’ Flower Festival.

And golfers have added incentive to take part in this year’s Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic with anyone taking up the chance to buy a Madeira Golf Passport over the weekend of May 6-8 automatically being entitled to a place in the 18-hole Stableford competition.

Providing holders with an unrivalled golf experience, the Madeira Golf Passport features three golf courses – Clube de Golf Santo da Serra, Palheiro Golf and Porto Santo Golf – is available to both individuals and groups and can be booked on a three or five-round basis.

Costing €225 per person for three rounds and €360 for a five-round package, the standard passport – which is valid for a two-week period – includes golf at Clube de Golf Santo da Serra and Palheiro Golf and free golf course transfers to and from your hotel.

There is also the opportunity to book tee times directly with the clubs prior to travel, while, for an additional fee from €91.50 per person, golfers can upgrade to Madeira’s premium golf passport, which includes return ferry travel to Porto Santo, transfers and 18 holes on the island’s acclaimed golf course.

Located approximately 1,000km from the European mainland – and just 500km from the African continent – Madeira enjoys an amazingly mild climate, ranging from 25°c in the summer to 17°c in the winter, with very mild average temperatures and moderate humidity, making it the perfect year-round destination for a golf break.

For more details and to buy a Madeira Golf Passport, please visit https://madeiragolfpassport.com/ and to view a video of the inaugural Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic, go to https://youtu.be/n-tmdZ7E2PM . The ‘2022 Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic’ will take place on May 7, 2022, and for more details and to book, please email [email protected], phone +351 291 790 120 or visit www.palheironatureestate.com/  

(Text written by Pete Simm – The Azalea Group)

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Speechless: Nobody expected this answer from Lydia Ko

Lydia Ko at the 2022 Palos Verdes Championship. (Photo: Getty)
Lydia Ko at the 2022 Palos Verdes Championship. (Photo: Getty)

Lydia Ko finished the Palos Verdes Championship in California on the shared third place. On the fourth and final day, it was noticeable that she had to be treated by her physiotherapist during the round. Her problem area: her back. Jerry Foltz of the news portal Golf Channel asked the 25-year-old after her round about the cause of this treatment.

Lydia Ko: “Honesty it is”

For Lydia Ko, there was a very simple answer to this question. However, she completely upset her interview partner with her honest explanation. He lost concentration and had no choice but to end the interview with a simple “thank you.” The South Korean woman’s words, “It’s that time of the month. I know the ladies watching are probably like, yeah, I got you. So, when that happens, my back gets really tight, and I’m all twisted. It’s not the first time that Chris has seen me twisted, but it felt a lot better after he came. So, yeah, there you go.” When Foltz didn’t know a response to Ko’s statement, she followed up with a laugh, “I know you’re at a loss for words Jerry. Honesty it is.”

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Dog walk on the golf course becomes a nightmare

Shooting at Delray Beach golf course in the US state of Florida (Photo: Getty).
Shooting at Delray Beach golf course in the US state of Florida (Photo: Getty).

Last Sunday, an unbelievable scene occurred on the Delray Beach Golf Course in Florida. A 74-year-old pensioner attacked a man ten years younger than him because he was walking his dog across the golf course. According to police, the golfer even pulled out a gun and fired several shots at the pedestrian.

Verbal fight on the golf course ends in shooting

It was just before sunset on Sunday evening at Delray Beach Golf Course when 74-year-old Robert Levine stood on the 15th hole of the course. At the same time Herbert Merritt, who is ten years younger, was walking his dog, according to his own statement, next to the golf course. As local television channel WPBF News reported, Levine then made his way to the walker and started a loud discussion because he was on the golf course with his dog without permission. Shortly thereafter, Levine pulled out a gun and shot his opponent. In doing so, he struck the 64-year-old’s left ankle. Merritt took flight and seeked shelter behind a tree. According to witnesses, a total of five shots were fired.

Levine goes to jail – Merritt to hospital

As if the shooting wasn’t bad enough, Levine allegedly used physical force as well. As local television channel WPBF News reports, witnesses saw Levine kick Merritt in the head, go back to his cart and get a club and begin beating Merrit with the club while holding the gun in his left hand. Deputies said they found shell casings on the ground and two golf clubs with what appeared to be blood on them.

Merritt was immediately taken to the hospital after the attack. Luckily, he did not suffer any life-threatening injuries. Levine, on the other hand, is under arrest for attempted first-degree murder.

An absurd story, which probably comes unsurprisingly from the US state of Florida. Because even if it is of course not allowed to walk your dog on a golf course, there are numerous other ways to solve such a situation. Herbert Merritt will probably not forget this nightmare walk and possibly choose a different route for the next round with his four-legged friend.

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150th Open Championship expects more spectators than ever before

They are still empty: the spectator stands at the 150th Open Championship. (Photo: Getty)
They are still empty: the spectator stands at the 150th Open Championship. (Photo: Getty)

From July 14 to 17, 2022, the Open Championship will take place in St. Andrews. For the 150th time, the world’s best golfers will compete for the Major title. After the tournament had to be cancelled altogether in 2020 due to the Corona pandemic and was still held under tightened conditions last year, attendance figures are expected to break records in this year’s edition.

150th Open Championship: “Extraordinary demand from fans”

The previous attendance record for the Open Championship in Scotland was 239,000 in 2000, when Tiger Woods won his first European Major title here. That record is set to become history in this anniversary year. There is no shortage of demand in any case. “The 150th Open at St. Andrews will be a major event for golf, and that is clearly reflected in the extraordinary demand from fans,” announced Martin Slumbers, the R&A’s chief executive. More than 1.3 million fans are said to have applied for the popular tickets. 290,000 of them are expected to get the chance to be up close and personal at the event.

Fostering enthusiasm among young fans

Golf is known to be a sport where the older generations are most likely to be found. Attracting young talent and promoting youth sports also plays a role in the last Major of the year. Out of a total of 290,000 tickets, 20 percent of the tickets will be given to under-25s, including 20,000 free tickets for under-16s.

The R&A is already in talks with the Scottish Government and its health advisors in view of the high visitor numbers, in order to be able to offer the greatest possible security during Major week. Martin Slumbers is confident and full of anticipation: “We really appreciate their passion and enthusiasm for the Open and look forward to setting a new attendance record, far exceeding the previous best set in 2000.”

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In the PGA Championship field: Next major for Tiger Woods?

We can continue to hope to see Tiger Woods at the PGA Championship. (Photo: Getty)
We can continue to hope to see Tiger Woods at the PGA Championship. (Photo: Getty)

It took over a year for Tiger Woods to be capable of full tournament participation again. In February 2021, the legend nearly lost his right leg. Whether he would ever be able to play golf again was unclear for a long time. His participation in the PNC Championship together with his son Charlie raised hopes. Then, shortly before the US Masters in 2022, the surprise: Tiger will be competing! His participation in the first Major of the year should not be the last. Recently, it was officially announced that Woods is on the list of participants in the PGA Championship in May.

Tiger Woods: “Only the big events”

It has been clear to Tiger Woods for some time that he will probably never play another full tournament season on the PGA Tour. The car accident has affected his right leg too much. Woods’ participation in the Masters showed that while he struggled and limped on the highly demanding terrain toward the end, he is perfectly capable of handling a four-day tournament again. His Masters participation, in which he made the cut and finished tied for 47th, solidified his plans for the future: “I’ll never play a full schedule again, just the big events.”

Last afternoon, the PGA Championship released the list of participants for the 104th PGA Championship at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma, May 19-22. Lo and behold, Tiger Woods is one of the announced participants.

St. Andrews is especially close to Woods’ heart

While it was not 100 percent certain for Tiger Woods whether he will compete in the PGA Championship, it was clear to him that he will definitely travel to St. Andrews for the British Open in July: “The tournament is something that is very close to my heart. It’s my favorite golf course in the world, so I’ll be there.” The fact that the golf course is a particularly flat course with no slopes to speak of will definitely suit Woods.

However, Tiger Woods already seems to have largely recovered from his start at the particularly strenuous Augusta. We can still hope for a participation in the PGA Championship at Southern Hills. Phil Mickelson, who withdrew from the public eye for weeks, is also on the official list of participants in the PGA Championship.

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Greg Norman wants to participate in the 150th Open Championship

Greg Norman as a participant in the 150th Open Championship? (Photo: Getty)
Greg Norman as a participant in the 150th Open Championship? (Photo: Getty)

Greg Norman has been causing quite a stir as CEO of the LIV Golf Invitational Series for several months. He wants to organize a tournament series that is in direct competition with the world’s major tours: PGA and DP World Tour. In doing so, he also doesn’t shy away from “luring” as many big-name players as possible onto his tour, triggering a major controversy. Now he is making headlines again – but not with his LIV Golf Invitational Series.

Greg Norman wants to return to the Open Championship after 13 years

Greg Norman wants to return to tournament action in 2022. After ten years of not participating in professional sports, he wants to compete for a title again. And not just any title. At the age of 67, Norman wants to compete in the 150th Open Championship in world-famous St. Andrews.

His last tournament in which he played for world ranking points was ten years ago. The last major he played was even 13 years ago: the Open Championship 2009 in Turnberry. Nevertheless, there is no better time for Greg Norman to play one (last) time, as he assures in an interview with New Corp: “I think I can still do it. It’s the 150th, I’m a former Open champion. I love St. Andrews. If there’s one time I would consider going back and teeing off one last time. Maybe it’s this one.” He said he is currently in the process of filling out the entry form.

It remains questionable whether he will get an exemption

One fact appears to jeopardize his participation: Greg Norman, at 67, is outside the age limit of 60 set by the Open Championship. The probability that the Australian will receive a playing permit from the R&A is therefore rather low. The only alternative for Norman would be to qualify for the Major via an Open qualifying tournament. The aforementioned disputes in which Greg Norman currently finds himself will make his plans even more difficult for the 67-year-old.

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Tennis star Ash Barty at unique tournament series with other sports icons

Former tennis No. 1 Ashleigh Barty is one of the sports stars at the new Icons Series. (Photo: Getty)
Former tennis No. 1 Ashleigh Barty is one of the sports stars at the new Icons Series. (Photo: Getty)

In addition to the new edition of The Match, a new and very special tournament series is about to start: The Icons Series. Led by Fred Couples and Ernie Els, two teams of true sports legends will compete in match play over 10 holes. The first event will be held from June 30 to July 1 at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey.

Icons Series with “Mount Rushmore of the World’s Greatest Athletes”

And the line-up of the unique spectacle is already impressive. A “Mount Rushmore of the world’s best athletes,” is what Icons Series CEO, Thomas Brookes, calls it. Twenty-four sports icons will compete in two teams, one for the U.S. under captain Fred Couples, while Ernie Els leads the team with the rest of the world. While some team members are still waiting to be revealed to the public, the four players per team already announced show the class of athletes we will be dealing with in this series.

Competing for Team USA:

  • Michael Phelps – The most successful Olympic athlete of all time with 28 swimming medals, including 23 golf medals.
  • Michael Strahan – Hall of Fame professional football player, two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants
  • Oscar De La Hoya – boxing legend with 11 world titles from six weight classes
  • Ben Roethlisberger – two-time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers

Competing for Team Rest of the World (also abbreviated ROTW):

  • Canelo Alvarez – King of pound for pound boxing who won world titles in four different weight classes
  • Ash Barty – The former world No. 1 tennis player and three-time Grand Slam winner, including the Australian Open in 2022
  • Pep Guardiola – One of the most successful soccer coaches of all time, winning 2 Champions League titles as well as multiple Spanish and English league championships
  • Harry Kane – The dynamic captain of the English national team and three-time winner of the Golden Shoe award

For special sensation causes the participation of Ash Barty, who declared last month mi only 25 years, that she retires from tennis. However, she still swings the golf club diligently and won a golf tournament in Brisbane shortly after this announcement.
Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Barty expressed pride in her latest sporting venture: “I’m excited to be part of the Icons Series and I hope through my participation in the series that we can encourage more women and girls to participate in golf around the world,” she said. “The series is also a great opportunity for athletes to have an impact on local community and charity projects in each of the host destinations.”

“It’s such a unique opportunity to have fun, test yourself and compete against the world’s greatest athletes in a sport that we are all so passionate about. I can’t wait to experience Liberty National and learn from our iconic captain, Ernie Els.”

Liberty National Golf Club was designed by US Open Champion Tom Kite and golf course designer Bob Cupp. It hosted the 2017 Presidents Cup, as well as the Northern Trust as the first of the PGA Tour FedExCup Playoff tournaments. Additional destinations in the worldwide series are planned in Australia, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

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Bryson DeChambeau undergoes surgery on left hand

Undergoing surgery on his left hand: Bryson DeChambeau (Photo: Getty).
Undergoing surgery on his left hand: Bryson DeChambeau (Photo: Getty).

Bryson DeChambeau has been suffering from pain since the beginning of the year

It is not yet a good calendar year for Bryson DeChambeau. The American has just six tournament appearances to his name so far in 2022, with two early withdrawals. The reason for his rather weak performances: injuries to his wrist and hip have kept BDC at bay for several weeks now.

This was also the case about a week ago during Scottie Scheffler’s triumph in Augusta, when Bryson DeChambeau said he felt 80% fit. Although his doctor had advised him against teeing off at the Masters, the 28-year-old decided to take part. The result: twelve over par after two rounds and a missed cut.

Now DeChambeau is taking the consequences and is undergoing surgery on his left hand to treat the fracture of his hamate bone. Curiously, he suffered the fracture while playing ping pong during the Saudi International. His agent Brett Falkoff told Sports Illustrated: “We look forward to a smooth recovery and rehab process. Bryson looks forward to returning as soon as he is cleared to do so”.

PGA Championship at risk due to surgery?

The surgery is scheduled to take place today, thursday. Actually, the 28-year-old would have been a guest at a Professional Long Drivers Association event in Florida this weekend. “He’s going to have surgery on Thursday” Bobby Peterson ,one of the organizers of the event, told Sports Illustrated. He added, “It’s unfortunate more for him. I hate that he’s not going to the event. But I hate it more for him. Obviously it’s not good or he wouldn’t be doing that. I know he was trying to avoid it, but I guess he felt it was something he had to do”.

The second major tournament of the season is already coming up next month. In May, golf’s elite head to Southern Hills Country Club for the PGA Championship. According to one long time PGA Tour trainer, the recovery time after surgery on the hamate bone is approximately 10-12 weeks. This means that participation in the PGA Championship is unlikely for the American. A more realistic goal for DeChambeau could be the US Open in June, which he already won in 2020. When the 28-year-old will finally return to the golf course depends largely on how the surgery and the recovery process turn out.

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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.”