Scot David Law shot a fine 64 to lead the Betfred British Masters after the first round of the European Tour’s UK Swing at Close House. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

DAVID Law fired a flawless seven-under opening round 64 at the Betfred British Masters to take a one-stroke lead at the first tournament of the European Tour’s UK Swing.

The 29-year-old Scot, who has one European Tour title to his name, hit a red hot streak with seven birdies in eight holes from the sixth.

The only par during that run came courtesy of a wondrous save from the heavy gorse at the 11th.

Law said: “I was playing steady. You might not be sure what to expect coming into today after the long break. I was delighted with that.

“It’s still a little strange, but the Tour have done a fantastic job. So far I think it’s gone really well.

“The club has hosted us really well. It’s a new time for us, we’re all learning and we’ll all have to get used to it.

“The whole week so far has been very positive,” added the two-time Scottish Amateur champion.

“We’ve been lucky at home and not had anyone affected by the illness, thankfully.

“My daughter is 19 months old, so to have that extended time at home, I’ll never get that again. We had a great time.

“It was a nice time for me because I wasn’t playing the best going into that break. It was a good time to recharge and regroup.”

Fisher so happy be back playing golf

DAVID LAW, who won last year’s ISPS Handa Vic Open, finished the day one shot clear of Essx’s Oliver Fisher and Northumberland’s Garrick Porteous.

The English pair matched Italy’s Renato Paratore, who carded a round of 65 at Close House Golf Club, on the outskirts of Newcastle.

Fisher, who famously became the first player to shoot a 59 on the European Tour in Portugal two years ago, said: “I added my score up at the end and it’s weird to think I’ve shot 65 today.

“Obviously I’m chuffed about it. It’s weird to be back and playing professional golf, and I’m delighted with my score.

“I started off okay, the pins here and the greens are quite tricky in places. They tuck them and there are ridges on the edges of the greens where it can fall off and they can catch you out.

“There was a little bit of rain and it was quite fiery. There was a bit of a skid going, so with wedges early on it was hard to get close.

“I travelled up a couple of days ago, we’ve got a nice run in the UK. A lot of things to enjoy and hopefully we can all continue with social distancing and sticking to the routine of doing everything as properly as we can.

“The Tour have been great at stressing that to us. I’m delighted to be back and delighted with my score.”

Local knowledge helps Garrick Porteous

Garrick Porteous who won The Amateur Championship in 2013.
Picture by DAVID CANNON

GARRICK Porteous, who won The Amateur Championship at Royal Cinque Ports in 2013, revealed a lot of local knowledge had contributed to his good start.

The 30-year-old, who played in the 2013 Open and made his Masters debut in 2014, has been confined to the Challenge Tour for most of his six years as a professional.

Porteous, who earned his European Tour card at last year’s Qualifying School, said: “I’ve played a few mini-tour things in the Leeds area.

“But I live 15 minutes from here, so I’ve been practising here a lot. I’ve played the course for so many years now anyway.

“It’s in great condition. I’m pretty familiar with the course, but its in the best condition I’ve ever seen it.

“Knowing the course so well can put a bit more pressure on you. I probably felt that early on.

“Once I settled down and made some birdies it was alright. I made some good swings and some good birdies.”

Physical work in lockdown pays off for Paratore

PARATORE, who hails from Rome, said: “I played really solid. I had a bogey-free round and played really well from tee to green.

“I started really well with three birdies, I saved a couple of pars with some really good putts – a solid round.

“It was a good way to come back. It was good to know the European Tour was starting again.

Renato added: “It wasn’t easy during the lockdown. I’m really happy to be here right now.

“During lockdown I didn’t practice, just physically and rested a lot,” said the Italian, who lost a play-off to Danish teenager Rasmus Højgaard in Mauritius, in December.

“Then golf courses reopened, so I started to practice a lot in June. So I prepared well for the first tournament,” said the winner of the 2017 Nordea Masters.

Tournament host Lee Westwood, battled to a one-under 70 while Oxfordshire’s Eddie Pepperell had a solid start on his return to golf after four months out, signing for a four-under 67.

•For live scoring in round two and to follow David Law click here.

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Lee Westwood says he has been playing Close House virtually every day for the last three to four months preparing for the Betfred British Masters which he will host this week.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES

FORMER World No. 1 Lee Westwood enters the week not only as tournament host but also as one of the favourites to take the Betfred British Masters at Close House.

The Ryder Cup legend claimed his 25th European Tour win earlier this season at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

It also meant he can boast victories across four decades on tour.

The 47-year-old is the first player to host the Betfred British Masters twice following his first stint in 2017.

And has one eye on another double this week – winning the event for the second time – he won in 2007 when it was played at The Belfry.

Hosting duties will take on a very different complexion now for Westwood, with stringent health and safety measures in place at Close House, near Newcastle Upon Tyne.

No fans will be present because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Westwood said: “Hosting has been very different. There has been nothing to do on site with sponsors and fans, which has been a shame.

“We’re trying to keep numbers to a minimum on site. We’ve taken all precautions. It’s up to us to be very careful.

“From what I’ve witnessed people are sticking to it by the letter. The testing procedures are very thorough.

“Everyone on site who has been through it can only have found it impressive.”

Westwood: I have never felt better

THE evergreen Englishman is delighted to be back playing competitively for the first time in five months.

Westwood has been on a strict health regime and has never felt fitter, so he will be a force to be reckoned with at his home course.

The Ryder Cup veteran, who now lives close to Close House, said: “The golf course is in great condition once again. Probably better than the last time we hosted the Betfred British Masters.

“It’s a better time in the calendar for the golf course. The greens are quicker, fairways are immaculate.

“As long as the weather co-operates, we should have a great week.

“I would like to get off to another good start this year. The last time I had a long break and played was in Abu Dhabi.

“So the break didn’t do me too much harm there. I’ve played this golf course a lot, especially over the last three or four months.

“When the courses opened up myself and my son Sam were out here nearly every day either practising or playing.

“This is certainly the fittest I’ve felt, without a doubt. There was a period over lockdown where I didn’t play much golf for five or six weeks.

“So I got myself into the gym and worked hard and continued once I started playing golf again. I’ve been pretty busy with it over the last five months.”

Pepperell pepped up his fitness

EDDIE Pepperell, who won this event in 2018, has also benefited from a health kick during lockdown in the UK.

The Frilford Heath member is feeling “quietly confident” upon his return.

Pepperell and Westwood spoke out in favour of remaining in Europe to play the UK Swing – rather than heading to the USA for the World Golf Championship in Memphis before playing the USPGA at San Francisco’s Harding Park.

The 29-year-old Oxfordshire-based pro said: “I don’t know what to expect this week. I think I’ll play very well or pretty bad.

“I don’t imagine there will be a lot in the middle. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking and practising so I feel it will go one of two ways.

“It doesn’t really stay in the middle when I do that,” said Pepperell, who won his second European Tour title when the British Masters was held at Walton Heath two years ago.

“I’m quietly confident, seeing quite a lot of nice stuff. It’s not a place I like to be, I actually prefer to be worried the day before – that tends to make me focus a little more.

“I think, ironically, given the circumstances and playing with no crowds, it almost might make me doubly intent on focusing hard.

“I know I’m going to have to play well, but also stay immersed in some way in the golf,” added Pepperell, who has the vastly experienced Micky Duran on the bag.

“I think that will be important for me. I’m quietly hopeful but I don’t know what to expect,” added the former England amateur international.

Kinhult enjoyed less restrictions in Sweden

MEANWHILE defending champion Marcus Kinhult is another player feeling comfortable with his game, having enjoyed plenty of practice over the past four months.

The Swede said: “I’m excited to go out again and compete. It’s been just over four months, so it should be fun and I’m looking forward to the week.

“It’s so different now with all the restrictions because of COVID, so I don’t feel the defending champion part as much – more trying to get into the new routines and everything.

“It’s nice to be defending but at the same time it’s a new course and everything is new.

“I just saw that I’m playing with Lee Westwood so that will be fun.

“I’ve just been back home in Sweden in my house. Sweden has had a different approach to coronavirus.

“So we’ve been living not quite like normal, but close to normal. We’ve been playing golf and we’ve been OK.

“So I’ve kind of enjoyed the four months,” added Lee, who moved to Newcastle to Worksop, where he played amateur golf for Nottinghamshire, and England.

•Follow live scoring by clicking here.

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Lee Westwood with his caddy and fiancé Helen Storey playing in last year’s Betfred British Masters at Hillside. Next week he will host the event for a second time at Close House.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES

LEE Westwood will become the first player to host the Betfred British Masters on two occasions when the tournament returns to Close House, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, next week.

The third European Tour event since a four-month absence because of the coronavirus pandemic, also marks the start of its new six-event UK Swing.

Play gets under way on Wednesday with a Saturday finish as the European Tour avoids clashing with Sky’s coverage of the final day of the Premiership football season, on Sunday afternoon.

The former World No. 1 was host the last time the Betfred British Masters was played at the North East venue in 2017.

And he’ll be joined in the field by the last three winners as he aims to clinch the British Masters title for the second time – following his victory at The Belfry, in 2007.

Westwood enjoyed an impressive start to 2020, before the season was suspended in March due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

The Worksop wonder won the season’s first Rolex Series event – the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, in January,

That was his 25^th European Tour title. Westwood currently sits second in the Race to Dubai Rankings.

The Betfred British Masters marks the full resumption of the European Tour’s 2020 season, following two dual-ranking events in Austria.

All tournaments in the reshaped 2020 season will be subject to stringent safety and testing protocols.

Westwood ‘delighted’ to be host

“I’m delighted to be hosting again,” said 10-time Ryder Cup player Westwood, who has relocated to Newcastle from his native Nottinghamshire.

Lee Westwood has been the touring pro attached to Close House, since 2011

“I did it in 2017 – three years ago here at Close House – and I really enjoyed it. I learned a lot about what goes in to running a golf tournament. So it was interesting to see things from a different perspective.

“It’s a tough job and a tiring one at that. It was tough to do it that week and play golf too.

“I sort of ran out of steam towards the end, but it is going to be different this year.

“No crowds, a little less media and things like that, which will allow me to focus more time on trying to win the golf tournament this time round.

“It’s great that the Betfred British Masters is the first event to kick off the UK Swing. Betfred have been an incredible sponsor.

“They have stuck with us all through it, and they are very excited to be involved again this year.

“My preparation has gone well. The first few weeks we were in lockdown and we weren’t allowed to play golf,.

“So I had a big break from it then. But since golf courses have opened up again, and we are able to get back out on the golf course, I have played most days, probably three or four times a week.

“I have played a lot of golf of late and certainly no one will have played the golf course as much as I have.”

Kinhult would love to win Masters again

ONE man aiming to derail Westwood’s bid to lift the trophy again is defending champion Marcus Kinhult.

Marcus Kinhult interviewed on TV after his victory at Hillside in the British Betfred Masters a year ago

The Swede birdied the final two holes at Hillside Golf Club last season.

He finished one shot ahead of a group of players including 2018 champion Eddie Pepperell – who is also in the field.

Also bidding for a second British Masters title is Paul Dunne, who triumphed in style at Close House in 2017.

The Irishman produced a fantastic closing round of 61 to hold off a late charge from Rory McIlroy, and win his first European Tour title.

Close House will also witness a historic moment next week. The legendary Miguel Ángel Jiménez is set to make his 706^th European Tour appearance.

The 56-year-old Spaniard will equal Sam Torrance’s all-time record.

Wylie Foundation first to benefit from ‘Golf for Good’

THE Sir Graham Wylie Foundation has once again been appointed as the tournament’s official charity partner.

Sir Graham Wylie, the owner of Close House, will see the European Tour’s Golf for Good project support his own charitable foundation during the 2020 British Masters

Foundation patron Westwood will throw his support behind the work of founder Sir Graham Wylie, who also owns the venue.

He is one of the North East’s best-known entrepreneurs and philanthropists.

The European Tour launches its ‘Golf for Good’ initiative, which will run across the six-week UK Swing, at Close House.

A total of £500,000 will be distributed to local charities at each venue – including next week’s good cause.

The other charities will be chosen by the leading 10 players in a mini-Order of Merit, running across the UK Swing.

‘Golf for Good’ will underpin the rest of the European Tour season. It aims to give back in three key areas:–
Supporting communities where the European Tour plays
Rewarding true heroes, such as frontline workers
Promoting the many health benefits golf offers.

The 13th hole at Close House’s Westwood Colt Course, which will stage the Betfred British Masters for a second time from July 22-25.

•Westwood’s association with Close House came in 2011 when he opened the Colt Course, which will host the British Masters.

He also became the club’s touring pro.

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The USGA has created a special exemption category that will give five European Tour players, who are no already exempt, a start in the US Open at Winged Foot, in September.

STARTING spots in the US Open will be up for grabs in a mini order of merit for players competing in the European Tour’s UK Swing, which gets under way next month.

The USGA – golf’s governing body in North America – has agreen that 10 exemptions will be available to European Tour members in a mini Order of Merit for the first five events in July and August.

The UK Swing begins at the Betfred British Masters at Close House, near Newcastle, from July 22-25.

The event – hosted by Lee Westwood – will launch the European Tour’s Golf for Good initiative, a strong feature of all its events over the remainder of the 2020 season.

As part of the initiative, a mini order of merit will run for all six events in the UK Swing, with the top 10 sharing an additional £250,000 to donate to charities of their choice.

The USGA has confirmed the top 10 aggregate points earners in the mini order of merit that are otherwise not exempt at the conclusion of the Wales Open at Celtic Manor – will be exempt for the rescheduled US Open at Winged Foot Golf Club, from September 17-20.

The traditional US Open sectional qualifying events were cancelled earlier this season – following the upheaval in the global golf calendar due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

That included the European qualifier at Walton Heath, which has been held in June, since 2005.

The US Open field will now be comprised entirely of exempt players.

Five-time runner-up Phil Mickelson now makes it into the starting line-up as one of the world’s top 70 when the Official World Golf Rankings were frozen in March.

Having dropped out of the world’s top 50 in recent months, he would have faced having to come through qualifying if COVID-19 had not struck.

Mickelson famously took six at the last at Winged Foot in 2006, after carving his tee shot wildly into a compound, handing Geoff Ogilvy the US Open.

Victory would have mean the left-hander could have completed a career Grand Slam when he won The Open at Muirfield in 2013.

Two spots from the top 10 at Memorial, the 3M Open, Barracuda Championship, FedEx St Jude Invitational and Wyndham Championship will earn exemptions.

Three more spots will also be available at the USPGA Championship.

Two spots will be given to the leading money winners on South Africa’s Sunshine Tour, the Asian Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia – plus two from the Japan Golf Tour Order of Merit.

John Bodenhamer, USGA senior managing director of championships, said: “We think this is the best path forward.”

Lee Westwood will host the Betfred British Masters at Close House, near Newcastle, in July

Austrian Open marks tour return

THE European Tour resumes with two events in Austria – the Austrian Open – between July 9 and 12 – and the Euram Bank Open, from July 15-18.

The action then switches to the UK and the Betfred British Masters, which was held at Hillside in May 2019 when Sweden’s Marcus Kinhult.

That will be followed by the English Open at Coventry’s Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club, and the English Championship at Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel & Country Club, at Ware, in Hertfordshire.

The European TEuropean Tour, our then moves around the M25 and down the M4 to Celtic Manor, in Newport.

The Welsh Ryder Cup venue will host back-to-back European Tour tournaments – the Celtic Classic and the Wales Open.

The UK Swing then concludes with the UK Championship at The Belfry, another Ryder Cup venue synonymous with the European Tour.

European Tour chief operating officer Keith Waters said: “Throughout our discussions with the USGA, it was clear they shared our desire to offer European Tour players an opportunity to earn places in this year’s US Open.

“We thank them for working with us to create this new exemption category encompassing the first five events in the UK Swing.

“The UK Swing mini order of merit already offers an additional incentive through the Golf for Good initiative.

“And we are pleased that players now have more to play for, with places available in the second Major championship of the season.”

South Africa’s Dean Burmester, who led US Open Qualifying at Walton Heath in 2019. Picture by EUROPEAN TOUR

Walton Heath’s US Open qualifier run ends

THE US Open’s European qualifier has been held at Walton Heath since 2005 – when 200-1 outsider Michael Campbell claimed his place and went on to win at Pinehurst.

The USGA’s John Bodenhamer said: “The US Open qualifier in England has historically featured a very strong field.

“We felt it was important to provide an opportunity for players throughout Europe to earn a place in this year’s championship.

“We are grateful to the European Tour for the wonderful collaboration that allowed us to create this exemption category for the 2020 US Open.”

The top 70 from the world rankings, which were frozen on March 15, are already exempt for Winged Foot.

Along with increasing that category by 10 spots, the USGA chose to use the last ranking before it was frozen during the shutdown in golf worldwide.

Eddie Pepperell and Robert MacIntyre, who are not set to play until July 9, will benefit from that announcement.

•A full list of US Open exemption categories can be found on usga.org and usopen.com.

Andy Sullivan says the European Tour players have been unfairly disadvantaged by the Official World Golf Rankings points allocations since the PGA Tour returned this month

Andy Sullivan blast in World Golf Rankings row

NUNEATON’S Andy Sullivan has been very outspoken about how European Tour players have been disdvantaged by the resumption of the Official World Golf Rankings.

The PGA Tour resumed playing in Texas three weeks ago.

And with most of the world’s top 10 players turning up for events they would normally miss, it ensured big world ranking points for the winners of the Charles Schwab Cup, the RBC Heritage and this week’s Traveller’s Championship.

Sullivan said: “It’s obviously massively frustrating. A lot of the goals we set are around world rankings and getting into majors and World Golf Championships events.

“And you do feel like your opportunities are being taken away with us not playing for a month-and-a-half and they’re ahead of us.

Sullivan has dropped seven places since the PGA Tour’s restart without striking a ball before play commenced at the Traveller’s Championship today (Thursday).

The World No. 145 added: “They’re getting points while we are just sitting down watching them just take our points basically.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t absolutely fuming and I just think it’s an absolute joke.

“It’s completely unfair. It’s a world ranking system not a US tour system so I think its ridiculous.”

McIlroy blast for stayaway European Tour stars

RORY McIlroy upset some of his European Tour rivals by saying if they were concerned about their careers they should be playing in the USA this month.

Westwood said he was not prepared to travel to the USA and undergo 14-day quarantine to play a couple of events on the PGA Tour.

Especially as he would face a similar spell in quarantine when returning to the UK, with his commitment to the first event meaning he would not be able to go back to play in the rearranged USPGA Championship.

The 47-year-old from Worksop will host the Betfred British Masters for a second time at Close House, where he is the touring pro at his adopted home in the North East.

The first Major of 2020, will now be played at San Francisco’s TPC Harding Park, from August 6-9.

Tommy Fleetwood is one of the UK’s players in the top 20 who has not travelled to the States in June.

Oxfordshire’s Eddie Pepperell was another who said he was not prepared to undergo a 14-day quarantine to play in the USPGA.

But his former B.B.&O. amateur team-mate Tyrrell Hatton did make the trip this mont.

And he was rewarded with third place at Hilton Head in the RBC Heritage this week.

The Harleyford ace was going for back-to-back wins in the States after his victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, the week before The Players Championship, in March, when the PGA Tour was brought to a standstill by the coronavirus.~

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The Diamond Country Club will host an event on the European Tour for the 10th year in a row in July after it was confirmed the Austrian Open will go ahead as planned from July 9-12

THE European Tour has brought forward the date its tournaments will resume by a week – with the Austrian Open, now going ahead at Diamond Country Club in July.

The news marks the return of the European Challenge Tour which resume its 2020 season with the Euram Bank Open a week earlier.

And the decision to hold back-to-back dual ranking events in Austria next month is a big boost for those players with limited playing opportunities in Europe, and who have no status on the PGA Tour in America.

The Austrian Open at Diamond Country Club, takes place from July 9-12.

It marks the return of the Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca after a five-month pause following the global outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

It will be followed by the Euram Bank Open at Golf Club Adamstal, which remains in its original slot on the calendar – but now begins a day earlier, taking place from Wednesday, July 15 to Saturday, July 18.

Both tournaments will have prize funds of €500,000.

The European Tour will full resumes its 2020 season with the Betfred British Masters Hosted by Lee Westwood at Close House, near Newcastle, from July 22-25 – also a day earlier than originally planned.

The Challenge Tour’s resumption will be five months after Christian Bezuidenhout won South Africa’s Dimension Data Pro-Am.

That win conclude three consecutive weeks in South Africa at the start of the 2020 Challenge Tour season.

From South Africa to Austrian Alps

BEZUIDENHOUT’S victory at Fancourt Golf Estate, in February, followed a win for fellow South African JC Ritchie in the Limpopo Championship, at Euphoria Golf Club.

Sweden’s Anton Karlsson was victorious in the RAM Cape Town Open, at Royal Cape Golf Club during the South African swing.

On the European Tour, the two dual-ranking events in Austria precede the Tour’s full return at the Betfred British Masters at Close House, in the North East.

That event launches a six-week UK swing, alongside the English Open at the Marriott Forest of Arden, the English Championship at Hertfordshire’s Marriott Hanbury Manor, the Celtic Classic and the Wales Open at The Celtic Manor Resort, and the UK Championship at The Belfry.

It will be the third consecutive year the Euram Bank Open has been part of the Challenge Tour schedule.

Dutchman Darius van Driel and Scotland’s Callum Hill won in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Calum Hill winner of the 2019 Euram Bank Open at the mountainous Golf Club Adamstal

Medical protocols guide Tour’s return

Challenge Tour head Jamie Hodges said: “We are pleased to announce the resumption of the Challenge Tour season with the Austrian Open at Diamond Country Club – and the Euram Bank Open at Golf Club Adamstal – two dual-ranking events which will take place in consecutive weeks in July.

“Our measured approach to the 2020 season has mirrored that of the European Tour.

“We have been informed each step of the way by our Medical Health Strategy, led by our chief medical officer Dr Andrew Murray, aligned to individual government safety advice.

“Part of this strategy is to play, wherever possible, in clusters in one territory.

“We are therefore grateful to the Austrian Golf Federation and the two venues – Diamond Country Club and Golf Club Adamstal – for their support in making these events happen.

“We will continue to be guided by the European Tour’s Medical Health Strategy and we will announce details of subsequent 2020 Challenge Tour events in due course.”

Ben Cowen, the European Tour’s deputy chief operating officer, said: “These two dual-ranking events provide vital playing opportunities for our members following the enforced period of inactivity since March.

“We are therefore grateful to both Diamond Country Club and Golf Club Adamstal, as well as the Austrian Golf Federation, for their support.

“We look forward to visiting Austria ahead of the European Tour’s full resumption with the Betfred British Masters at Close House the following week.”

Diamond Country Club celebrates 10th year

DIAMOND Country Club will be celebrating its 10th anniversary as a European Tour host venue next month.

Its president Christian Guzy said: “Diamond Country Club has a history of exceptional moments at the various events we have hosted.

“For example, the tournament 10 years ago was staged at short notice, and two years ago we held the world’s first Shot Clock tournament.

“Accordingly, we enjoy the trust of those individuals who are responsible for the European Tour.

“Due to the coronavirus crisis, this year’s event also takes place under very special conditions.

“There are official regulations, which we will strictly comply with.

“Nevertheless, we want to hold the tournament to the fullest satisfaction of the Tour and the players.

“I would also like to thank the political decision-makers in Austria, whose measures were a great contribution in ensuring golf was one of the first sports to resume.

“The tournament will be a good showcase not only for Austria, but also for the state of Lower Austria.”

The spectacular Golf Club Adamstal in the Austrian Alps will host the dual-ranking European Tour and Challenge Tour event when the Euram Bank Open returns in July

‘Austria leading way for golf and Formula One’

ADAMSTAL president Franz Wittmann said: “I am pleased we have become part of the European Tour with the Euram Bank Open, and that – together with the Diamond Country Club – Austria will be a pioneer in international top-class golf in Europe, following the suspension due to the coronavirus crisis.

“This is comparable with Formula One, as Austria will stage the first two successive races.

“In our country we can be very proud of that. I hope that with this restart, we can also mark a significant return for golf.

“For me personally, I wish that as many Austrians as possible will be represented on the leaderboards of both tournaments.”

Austrian Golf Federation president Dr Peter Enzinger said: “Especially in these unprecedented times, it is a great sign – and a well-earned accomplishment for golf in Austria – that the European Tour and Challenge Tour will restart their seasons after this enforced break with two events on Austrian soil.

“With so much time pressure, it was not easy to accomplish. But the co-operation with the European Tour and the Austrian Ministry of Sports has been outstanding and successful.

“We are very much looking forward to having these events and Golf Club Adamstal and Diamond Country Club – together with the Austrian Golf Federation – will again be perfect hosts and European Tour partners.”

Golfclub Adamstal was the dream of European rallying ace Wittman – who hired respected architect Jeff Howes to build a nine-hole course in 1994 – it was expanded in 1998, with a further nine holes added in 2006.

The 28 holes – the Championship Course has a 19th hole to “settle wagers” – offers some of golf’s most picturesque views on the Continent.

Austria’s Golf Club Adamstal was founded by European rallying champion Franz Wittmann

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The European Tour will return with six events in the UK between July and August – the Scottish Open will be played in October the week before the BMW PGA at Wentworth.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES

THE European Tour will return with a new six-week ‘UK Swing’ starting in July – and revealed details of four new Rolex Series events.

The European Tour will play two Marriott venues and return to two Ryder Cup venues, while the BMW PGA Championship, at Wentworth, moves from September to October 15-18.

And there is a new date for the DP World Tour Championship Dubai. The climax to the Race to Duba season moves back to December to make room for more rearrgnged tournaments.

Fans will initially not be allowed to attend the UK events which will be televised and played behind closed doors.

The European Tour hopes to allow fans back when government restrictions are relaxed sufficiently.

The Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open will be the first rearranged Rolex Series event of the 2020 season.

North Berwick’s Renaissance Club will now stage the Scottish Open from October 8-11, instead of the week before The Open, which has already been cancelled.

The first tournament of the UK Swing is the Betfred British Masters – which will be hosted by Lee Westwood – at Close House, near Newcastle, from July 22-25 – a week earlier than originally scheduled.

It will be followed by the English Open at the Marriott Forest of Arden (July 30-August 2) and the English Championship, at Hertfordshire’s Marriott Hanbury Manor, from August 6-9.

The next two legs will be held at the Celtic Manor Resort, in Newport.

The 2010 Ryder Cup venue which will host back-to-back European Tour tournaments – the Celtic Classic (August 13-16) and the Wales Open a week later.

The European Tour’s final UK Swing event will take place at The Belfry, where Europe won the Ryder Cup for a third time out of four matches played at the West Midlands course, in 2002

Ryder Cup venues support UK Swing

THE new format sees a timely return to South Wales as Celtic Manor marks the 10th anniversary of Europe’s dramatic victory against the USA.

The UK Swing will conclude with the UK Championship at The Belfry, another venue rich in Ryder Cup history, from August 27-30.

The Belfry’s Brabazon Course played host to four contests with Europe triumphing in two – 1985 and 2002.

The USA won in 1993 with the 1989 match ending in a 14-14 tie.

South Africa’s Nedbank Golf Challenge is now scheduled for December 3-6 at Sun City’s Gary Player Country Club.

And the DP World Tour Championship, will take place a week later at Jumeirah Golf Estates, when the 2020 Race to Dubai Champion will be crowned.

Details of subsequent tournaments from September through to November will be announced in due course, the Tour said.

A “variety of scheduling options” are currently under consideration as the global COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, a European Tour statement said.

“All tournaments will be subject to stringent safety and testing protocols set out in the Tour’s comprehensive Health Strategy, which will continue to evolve, aligned with international Government guidance and health guidelines,” the statement added.

The Tour’s Health Strategy has been developed by Dr Andrew Murray.

The Euorpean Tour’s chief medical officer worked in consultation with healthcare specialists Cignpost – and advisers in many of the 30 countries the Tour plays in.

Cignpost will deliver the Tour’s testing procedure over the coming months.

“The strategy will continue to evolve, aligned with international Government guidance and health guidelines,” added the European Tour.

European Tour will give £500k to charities

THE new tournaments will also form part of the Tour’s new ‘Golf for Good’ initiative, which aims to give back in three key areas:–

▪ Supporting communities where the European Tour plays
▪ Rewarding true heroes, such as frontline workers
▪ Promoting many health benefits golf offers.

Under the ‘Golf for Good’ initiative the European Tour will give away £500,000 to charity.

They money will be equally distributed between local charities at each UK venue, and good causes chosen by the leading 10 players in a mini-Order of Merit running across the six British tournaments.

The post UK swing sees European Tour return with six events in England and Wales appeared first on Golf North.

Lee Westwood (left) with Close House owner Graham Wylie – the pair will host the 2020 Betfred British Masters. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

ADOPTED Geordie Lee Westwood is looking forward to becoming the first player to host the Betfred British Masters on two occasions when the European Tour event returns to Close House near Newcastle upon Tyne this summer.

Westwood has enjoyed an impressive start to 2020, winning the season’s first Rolex Series event, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA last month, to claim his 25^th European Tour title.

The former World No. 1 is back inside the top 30 on the Official World Golf Rankings and currently leads the European Tour’s Race to Dubai.

Westwood previously hosted the British Masters at Close House in 2017, when nearly 70,000 fans came out to support the event as the European Tour visited the North East of England for the first time in 15 years.

Following that successful edition, the Betfred British Masters will return to the venue – where Ireland’s Paul Dunne chipped in on the final hole to finish three shots clear of four-time Major Champion Rory McIlroy, for his maiden European Tour title.

Tickets for the event, which is being held in the North East from July 30-August 2, are on sale now.

“I’m really looking forward to hosting the Betfred British Masters again,” said Westwood, who follows Tommy Fleetwood in the role.

“I had a great time hosting it in 2017. You are busy during the week and it is hard work as you haven’t just got golf to concentrate on.

“You have to consider other things like keeping sponsors happy and different publicity things, but it is great fun.

“Last time it was a succesful tournament and hopefully it will be again,” said Westwood, who played junior golf for Nottinghamshire, while a member at Worksop, but who now lives in the Newcastle area.

“I think we got it pretty much right last time. We had a great turnout,” added Westwood.

“Obviously it is earlier in the year this time so hopefully the weather will be better in July/August time.

“We’ve also made a few alterations to the golf course. So hopefully that will be even better, and hopefully the north east people will turn out as they always do.

“I’m sure it will be well supported again and there will be another great atmosphere.

“Whether it is the football team or the Great North Run, they always come out in their droves up there.

“It makes a massive difference if there are a lot of people there creating an atmosphere.”

Westwood finished tied 15th when the British Masters was played at Close House three years ago.

And after his strong start to the season, Close House’s touring professional is targeting a second British Masters title following his first victory at The Belfry, in 2007.

“Winning in Abu Dhabi was great. I didn’t really know what to expect going into the week.

“I hadn’t really practised that much but I got my game together and pretty sharp very quickly.

“I played well and controlled my emotions well and felt comfortable on the golf course and started holing some putts.

“It was nice to be out there relaxed with things going my way.

“My name is on the British Masters trophy once already so it would be nice to add another one, especially with it being at Close House, which is a home tournament for me.

“I’m looking forward to it very much and I’ll be trying to play well that week and get some of that home support behind me.”

Tickets are already selling quickly for the Betfred British Masters’ return to Close House.

Lee Westwood with Close House owner Graham Wylie – the pair will host the 2020 Betfred British Masters. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Lee’s praise for Close House owner

WESTWOOD has paid tribute to the role of the venue’s owner Graham Wylie, not only for the helping the event to head back to the North East.

Wylie makes a much wider contribution to the region and received a knighthood in the New Year’s Honour’s list.

“Graham’s knighthood was very well deserved,” said Westwood. “He does an incredible amount for charity and people in that the north east, in Newcastle and the surrounding areas.

“It was great that he was knighted. It’s a bit strange calling him Sir Graham now but I’m getting used to it!”

Westwood’s win in Abu Dhabi took him to four European Tour wins in his 40s, and at the age of 46 he is tied alongside Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer, who both went on to captain Europe in the Ryder Cup.

Only Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, who has 11 victories after turning 40, will be ahead of the “Worksop Wonder” if he can find that fifth win in his 40s by the end of the Betfred British Masters tournament.

•Tickets and hospitality for the 2020 Betfred British Masters at Close House are on sale now by clicking here.                                             

The post Westwood wants Close House win when he hosts British Masters for a second time appeared first on Golf North.

Frilford Heath’s Eddie Pepperell says he still has not hit the heights so far this season that produced two wins in 2018. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

EDDIE Pepperell will defend a European Tour title for the first time in his career as he tees it up at the Betfred British Masters at Hillside Golf Club tomorrow (Thursday).

The Englishman won last year’s British Masters at Walton Heath, his second title of the 2018 season, and has arrived at Hillside in a confident mood, hoping to emulate his achievement last year.

Pepperell, who hails from Abingdon and grew up playing golf at Drayton Park, said: “It’s a shame I missed Qatar, but certainly being back in England is nice, and the first time playing Hillside, as well.

“I played nine yesterday on the back nine, and good to see it for the first time.

“Yeah, good draw, as well, playing with Thomas (Fleetwood), and Stevie (Gallacher), of course,” said the Frilford Heath member.

“I’m curious to see how I feel tomorrow. I’m expecting to feel quite relaxed, but I might not.

“It certainly felt a bit strange coming back this week having not been in Europe for ages, and just being in a completely different environment and getting used to that, when you come back here, it just feels quite strange.

“There may be a bit of getting used to that tomorrow, but I feel quite relaxed, and as always — well, I try to always focus very hard on my game, so that’s occupying my mind.

“My game certainly feels closer than it did on the Wednesday of British Masters last year. That was terrible that day.

Fleetwood to host Betfred British Masters

“The way things can change, I never like to feel too confident on a Wednesday because it doesn’t last.

“I don’t know what to expect from my game. I know there’s a bit of weakness at the moment in there somewhere.

“But I feel like around this course with the conditions, I can skirt my way around that and manage to shoot four good scores.

“This week I’m quietly confident I guess you could say, but I don’t feel like I’ve played well at all this year.

“I haven’t swung the club as well as I have last year and the year before that,” said Pepperell.

“So to have done what I’ve been able to do so far over the span of a year, I’ve made the most of it, and that’s a positive.

“So if I can find some form swinging like that, then I’m pretty confident I’ll come out this year better than last. Yeah, quiet optimism.”

Pepperell will tee it up in the first and second rounds alongside this year’s tournament host Tommy Fleetwood.

The 28-year-old, who grew up in Southport, which will host the 2019 British Betfred Maseters, began his week with victory in the first Hero Challenge of the season at Princes Dock in Liverpool on Tuesday night.

The pair will be joined by Scotland’s 2019 Hero Indian Open winner Stephen Gallacher.

Lee Westwood set for his 18th start

MAKING his 18th appearance in the British Masters is former World No. 1 Lee Westwood, who hosted the tournament at Close House, in 2017.

After a four-year absence from the winner’s circle, Westwood won his 24^th European Tour title at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, in November.

The Nottinghamshire ace, who now lives in Newcastle arrives at Hillside hoping to add a second British Masters crown to his trophy cabinet.

The “Worksop Wonder” won the event in 2007 at The Belfry, and the 46-year-old has previous form at Hillside, winning The Pines Trophy at the Lancashire links, as an amateur in 1990.

Westwood said: “I’m coming back to somewhere that I’ve played well in the past and a golf course that I enjoy playing and a tournament I enjoy playing.

“So it’s always nice to play in England in front of the English and British fans,” said the veteran of 10 Ryder Cups.

“There’s been some great winners here in the past. Seve is a past winner and Greg Norman a past winner, so two heroes of mine growing up, and players I’ve wanted to emulate.

“I’ve been a host a couple years ago. I saw the other side of it, how a tournament is run and what goes into it.

“I’ve got a great appreciation for what goes into running the British Masters and others, and now I get to play in the British Masters,” added Westwood.

“It’s always been played on some great venues and always attracts a great field and great fans that really seem to enjoy coming to this tournament and supporting it.”

•For live scoring from the first round of the Betfred British Masters click here.

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