AMERICAN Payton Gordley defeated countryman Joshua Smith to take the trophy and $5,000 winners’ cheque in the first event of the inaugural European eTour Series. Golfx3 – Gordley’s screenname – who participated in a one-off esports event held at last season’s Made in Denmark took the lead at the third hole from JSmithers – Smith’s […]
Archive | International
How Italian Job by Francesco Laporta drove him to the top of Abu Dhabi leaderboard
FRANCESCO Laporta birdied his last five holes in a stunning nine-under par round of 63 to leap to the top of the leaderboard at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. The Italian secured his playing rights after topping the European Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca Rankings in 2019. And he displayed the form that saw him […]
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How Norris and Paratore put Koepka and Fleetwood in the shade in heat of Abu Dhabi
TWO unheralded European Tour players – Italy’s Renato Paratore and South African’s Shaun Norris – who outscored pre-tournament favourites Brooks Koepka and Tommy Fleetwood, in the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. All the focus in the build-up had been on the big names bidding for the riches on offer in the United […]
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Sky’s not the limit as Zen Green Stage makes debut its at PGA Merchandise Show
THE Zen Green Stage will make its first PGA Merchandise Show appearance next week in Orlando. A 16-foot model has been custom-built for the exhibition, and will appear on the Smart2Move booth (No. 1273), accompanied by Zen’s Nick Middleton and George Stubbs. Zen Green Stage – which regularly appears on Sky Sports Golf as the […]
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Olympics and Ryder Cup are on Shane Lowry’s bucket list for 2020 after first Claret Jug
IT’S onwards and upwards for Shane Lowry as he begins his title defence at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship – with one eye on the Olympics and the other on the Ryder Cup. The Irishman won his first Rolex Series title at Abu Dhabi Golf Club 12 months ago – and carried his form and […]
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New Callaway signing Matt Wallace kicks-off 2020 at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
MATT Wallace is the second top English player to switch equipment at the start of the 2020, moving from Ping to Callaway in time for the first event in the Middle East swing. The Moor Park member is using a full set of Callaway clubs – including the newly launched Mavrik driver – and is […]
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Hovland bullseye gets Viktor over the line on debut at Yas Marina’s Hero Challenge
RISING star Viktor Hovland defeated Major Champion Louis Oosthuizen to win the first Hero Challenge of 2020 in Abu Dhabi. With his final shot of the night worth double, Hovland delivered a “bullseye” 50, to add 100 points to his final total of 190 points, easily surpassing Oosthuizen’s total of 55. It was the Norwegian’s […]
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After missing Presidents Cup with knee injury, Koepka’s keen to play in Abu Dhabi
WORLD No. 1 Brooks Koepka is keen to add a Rolex Series title to his already impressive CV, as he makes his comeback from a knee injury at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship after missing last month’s Presidents Cup. The four-time Major winner returns to Abu Dhabi Golf Club for the third time – […]
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One-stroke penalty after two bad times at same event as Tour beefs up slow-play rules
EUROPEAN Tour players who record two bad times in a tournament – instead of in the same round – will now face an immediate one-stroke penalty, tournament chiefs announced today. The European Tour’s new tougher regulations aimed at tackling slow play come into effect at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. The beefed-up four-point plan […]
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It’s Back to the Future as Kristianstads hosts first LET Swedish event in five years
KRISTIANSTADS GK will see the return of the Ladies European Tour in 2020 after 34 years as the south of Sweden golf club become the venue for the new Creekhouse Ladies Open. The four-day tournament will be played from September 3-6 – featuring a field of 126 professional women, competing for a €400,000 prize fund. […]
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South Africa’s Freddie Tait Cup winner Jayden Schaper is Shape of Things to Come
SOUTH African Amateur Jayden Trey Schaper chipped in at the last to end a remarkable week at the South African Open. The 18-year-old’s 13-under total left him in a share of sixth place, alongside fellow South Africans George Coetzee, Hennie du Plessis, JC Ritchie and Martin Rohwer, and the 2015 champion Andy Sullivan. But more […]
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Grace completes the South African Slam after shooting 62 to win Open at Randpark
BRANDEN Grace produced a masterful putting display in a closing 62 in his national open to complete the South African Slam at Randpark Golf Club. Grace’s ninth European Tour victory in the South African Open was his first since his Rolex Series triumph at the 2017 Nedbank Golf. The win sees him complete the “South […]
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Yas Marina circuit hosts Hero Challenge as Louis Oosthuizen makes debut
MAJOR winners Louis Oosthuizen and Danny Willett will join rising star Viktor Hovland to complete a world-class line up for the first Hero Challenge at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina racing circuit. Fresh from his near miss defence in Sunday’s South African Open, Oosthuizen will play in Tuesday’s curtain-raiser to this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, […]
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Armitage won’t be relying on Shanks’ pony after pocketing a place in Open at Sandwich
MARCUS Armitage thanked his partner Lucy after sealing his place at this summer’s 148th Open Championship Royal St George’s Golf Club. The Yorkshire pro birdied the last at the South African Open to seal solo third at Randpark Golf Club – and punch his ticket for the oldest Major Championship after walking off the green […]
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Veerman steers his way to top of leaderboard in first round of South African Open
AMERICAN Johannes Veerman fired the lowest round of his fledgling European Tour career to take the first round lead at the South African Open. Veerman shot a brilliant bogey-free 62 over the Bushwillow Course at Randpark Golf Club to get to nine-under. He leads the way by one from Italy’s Nino Bertasio and South African […]
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Oosthuizen bidding to match Immelman as back-to-back South African Open winner
DEFENDING champion Louis Oosthuizen would love to make a successful defence of his South African Open title. But the 2010 Open Champion will have some serious competition from two more home favourites desperate to lift one of the oldest trophies in golf at Johannesburg’s Randpark GC this week. Oosthuizen has been at the very top […]
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IMG signs up Li Haotong as leading Chinese player looks for more success worldwide
CHINA’S leading golfer Li Haotong has signed a worldwide management representaion deal with IMG covering all commercial activity. Haotong has enjoyed a record-breaking career since turning professional in 2011 at the age of sixteen. The 24-year-old won the inaugural PGA Tour Series-China Order of Merit in 2014 after three wins in the season. And – […]
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Patrick Cantlay and Haotong Li join elite field at 15th Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
PRESIDENTS Cup rivals Patrick Cantlay and Haotong Li have become the latest international stars to confirm their appearance at next week’s 15th Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Patrick Cantlay, a former World No. 1 ranked amateur, has soared into the World’s Top 10, after two high-profile victories in 2018 and 2019. Cantlay, who made his Presidents […]
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Northern Ireland economy benefited to tune of £100m from The Open says R&A
THE 148th Open at Royal Portrush generated more than £100 million of economic benefit for Northern Ireland, according to an independent study. The Open, which returned to Northern Ireland for the first time since 1951, brought some £45million of new money into the province’s economy. Northern Ireland also gained £37.3 million worth of marketing as […]
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Rookie winner MacIntyre leads young charges at 2020 Omega Dubai Desert Classic
EUROPEAN Tour Rookie of the Year Robert MacIntyre has added his name to a world-class Omega Dubai Desert Classic field in January. The Scotsman, who claimed the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Trophy in November, will be joined by Italy’s Guido Migliozzi and South Africans Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Erik van Rooyen, who all […]