FORMER One Direction star Nial Horan is to lead a drive by The R&A to create new grassroots programmes aimed at inspiring more young people to play the game. The new programmes will be launched later this year by Horan’s Modest! Golf company, and provide more opportunities for young people to be introduced to golf. […]
Author Archive | Andrew Griffin
South African Swing pushed back to spring by Challenge and Sunshine Tours
THE European Challenge Tour and the Sunshine Tour have confirmed the postponement of next month’s three co-sanctioned tournaments in South Africa, which will now be played later in the season. Following thorough consultation with the medical teams from both Tours, it has been agreed to reschedule the three co-sanctioned events, that were due to take […]
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Golf courses must close as Government announces new national lockdown
GOLF clubs have been told they must close with immediate effect after the UK Government announced a complete national lockdown on Monday night. Golf clubs, golf facilities – both indoor and outdoor – and driving ranges will be required to close during the new full lockdown. Coaching will not be permitted the government has confirmed. […]
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R&A moves next three Open venues back by a year after Royal St George’s move to ’21
ROYAL Troon will miss out on plans to host the 151st Open Championship 100 years after the famous Ayrshire club first staged the world’s oldest Major championship. The R&A announced in February that Royal Troon was to host the 152nd Open to mark the historic centenary – but the subsequent cancellation of the 149th Open […]
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European Tour joins forces with PGA Tour to fight off breakaway PGL Tour plans
PLANS for a breakaway “super tour” appear to have heralded a major move to create a strategic alliance between the European Tour and the PGA Tour. In a bid to fend off moves by the The Raine Group – reported to be backed by Saudi Arabian money – the European Tour and PGA have signed […]
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Mansell roars into lead at Challenge Tour Grand Final despite the lack of practice
RICHARD Mansell claimed a share of the first-round lead at the Challenge Tour Grand Final after posting a five-under par round of 66 – despite having not played a practice round at T-Golf & Country Club. The Staffordshire golfer only arrived in Mallorca on the eve of the tournament, having been in isolation following a […]
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Turnberry lighthouse joins Remembrance tribute while club updates RAF memorial
THE famous lighthouse at Turnberry was lit up to remember the fallen, adding extra poignance to the famous Scottish club’s Remembrance ceremony at the weekend. The nearby Turnberry Airfield originally opened in 1917 – and Turnberry Hotel used as its headquarters. It was a vital cog in the wheel of the war effort with several […]
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MacIntyre shrugs off his struggles to claim Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Showdown
SCOTLAND’S Robert MacIntyre claimed an emotional maiden European Tour title at the Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Showdown. A seven-under par final round 64 earned the Scot a one-stroke victory in a thrilling finale to the European Tour’s ground-breaking shoot-out . Tears welled up as the 14th different first-time winner of the 2020 European Tour season spoke […]
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World Handicap System will make game more enjoyable says governing bodies
THE World Handicap System (WHS) has come into effect for golfers in Great Britain and Ireland. Developed by The R&A and USGA, in close collaboration with existing handicapping authorities, the WHS provides all golfers with a consistent measure of playing ability, with handicaps calculated in the same way wherever they are in the world. Launched […]
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Shinkwin debt to caddie Sam after sealing first victory at Cyprus’ Aphrodite Hills
HERTFORDSHIRE’S Callum Shinkwin defeated Kalle Samooja in a play-off to win his first European Tour title after a dramatic final day at the 2020 Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open. Shinkwin holed an incredible 54-foot putt for eagle on the 18th in regulation to get into a play-off as the three gave him the clubhouse lead on […]
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Otaegui gets strokeplay win to go with his two matchplay victories on European Tour
ADRIAN Otaegui produced a brilliant closing round of 63 in the Scottish Championship to storm to his first 72-hole strokeplay victory on the European Tour. The Spaniard has shown himself to be an expert at head-to-head battles. He won both the 2017 Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Matchplay and the 2018 Belgian Knockout. After those first […]
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From a Wee Wonder to king of Wentworth, Hatton sees BMW PGA dream come true
FORMER Wee Wonder Tyrell Hatton realised a childhood dream by claiming his third Rolex Series title at the BMW PGA Championship. Hatton, who first started watching the BMW PGA at Wentworth as a five-year-old, held off the formidable challenge of Frenchman Victor Perez to earn a dream victory at his home event. Back in 1996, […]
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Hatton happy to be home at Wentworth having visited BMW PGA since he was five
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE’S Tyrrell Hatton enjoyed a happy homecoming in his first round on British soil in 2020 at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. The former Wee Wonders champion shot an opening round of 66 on the West Course to share the lead with Spain’s Adri Arnaus and South African Justin Harding. The 28-year-old carded an […]
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Tommy Fleetwood aiming for a third Rolex title at BMW PGA Championship
TOMMY Fleetwood is hoping to convert his strong run of form on the European Tour into a third Rolex Series title with a victory on home soil in this week’s BMW PGA Championship, at Wentworth. The Southport golfer finished tied third in the Portugal Masters prior to last month’s US Open. He then lost to […]
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Boys and girls to compete sideby side in English mixed-gender championship in 2021
ENGLAND Golf will stage its first ever mixed-gender championship during the 2021 season. The landmark tournament – the English Under 18 Championship – will see boys and girls tee it up alongside each other and compete for the one trophy at Surrey’s Farnham Golf Club, between 25-27 June. The field of 132 players (66 boys […]
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Rai ready for Race to Dubai climax after Rolex win over Fleetwood in Scottish Open
AARON Rai defeated Tommy Fleetwood in a play-off to win his first Rolex Series title at the 2020 Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open. The former HSBC Wee Wonders winner – famous for wearing two gloves – signed for a wonderful 64 to set the target at 11-under par. But Fleetwood holed a 20-foot putt on […]
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Westwood storms into first round as he enjoys continued Renaissance at Scottish Open
LEE Westwood fired two eagles on his way to carding a superb nine-under par 62 to take a one-shot lead after the opening round of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open. It is 22 years since the veteran of nine Ryder Cups won the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond. The Notts-rasied golfer, who now lives […]
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Johnston spurred on by Syme success fires brilliant first round 61 at Portugal Masters
SCOTLAND’S Liam Johnston produced the lowest round of his European Tour career at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf course. The 26-year-old from Dumfries fired a sparkling round of 61 to lead by one shot at the end of the opening day of the 2020 Portugal Masters. At nine-under par through 16 holes, the Scot was in […]
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Fleetwood returns to Algarve to fine tune his game before next week’s US Open
TOMMY Fleetwood is teeing it up at the Portugal Masters, on the Algarve, for the first time since 2016. And the Ryder Cup star is excited to be back at a regular European Tour event after the four-month hiatus due to coronavirus. Fleetwood played every edition of this event between 2012 and 2016. And the […]
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Ben Schmidt on the trail of The Amateur crown and place in Masters and Open
YORKSHIRE’S Benjamin Schmidt comfortably advanced in his quest to win The 125th Amateur Championship. Taking on Germany’s Brandon Dietzel, Schmidt – the highest ranked player in the field at No. 35 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking – recorded a 3&2 victory across the famed Royal Birkdale links. The 18-year-old, from Rotherham GC, will meet […]