Royal Troon will welcome back the Open Championship in 2024 the R&A has announced today, having originally awarded the 2032 Major Championship to the Ayrshire links course

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 at Royal St George’s in July has forced the game’s ruling body into a rethink.

With the 150th Open Championship originally due to be held at St Andrews in 2021, the R&A has decided to push its rota back by a year in each case of the venues already announced.

So with Sandwich set to stage The Open in July 2021, and preparations for the Home of Golf to welcome the world’s best players to St Andrews now being readied for 2022, Hoylake will host the event in 2023.

The R&A confirmed today that The 151^st Open will be played at Royal Liverpool, from July 20-23, in 2023, while The 152^nd Open will be played at Royal Troon from 14-21 July 18-21, in 2024.

The famous Claret Jug will be contested at the Kent links from July 15-18, in 2021.

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said, “We have been working closely with Royal Liverpool and Royal Troon – and the relevant local agencies – to reschedule the championships.

“We are grateful to everyone involved at the clubs and at our partner organisations for supporting our plans and showing flexibility to adapt their own schedules.

“We can now look forward to seeing the world’s best players competing at these outstanding links courses in 2023 and 2024.”

Royal Liverpool captain Michael Johnson said: “Without doubt the golfing world greatly anticipates the return of The Open after the hiatus of 2020, and Royal Liverpool Golf Club is delighted to fit into the revised schedule alongside our friends at Royal Troon.

“We must thank The R&A for its continued support and look forward to welcoming competitors and spectators alike to Hoylake in 2023.”

Royal Troon captain Desmond Bancewicz said: “Following the most unusual circumstances this year, affecting all our lives, Royal Troon Golf Club looks forward with eager anticipation in hosting The Open in 2024 for a 10th time – and sends their very best wishes to The R&A and Royal St George’s Golf Club for 2021.”

The famous Postage Stamp hole at Royal Troon, the shortest par three on the Open rota.

Hoylake ready for ‘lucky’ 13th Open

ROYAL Liverpool will host The Open for a 13^th time in 2023 – the first time since Rory McIlroy lifted the Claret Jug at Hoylake in 2014.

That was also the last of the four Majors won by the former World No. 1 from Northern Ireland, who turned 30 last year and become a father for the first time at the end of August.

There was a 40-year gap between Argentinian Roberto de Vincenzo’s victory at Hoylake and Tiger Woods’ memorable Royal Liverpool win in 2006 – and his emotional celebration followng the death of his father Earl earlier that summer.

The Open will return to Royal Troon for the 10^th time following Henrik Stenson’s memorable final round duel with Phil Mickelson before claiming victory in 2016.

The first winner of The Open at Troon was Arthur Havers – the Norwich-born pro who was the club pro at Moor Park and Sandy Lodge in Hertfordshire, and Coombe Hill, in Surrey – as well as spells at West Lancashire and Frinton, in Essex.

Havers, who would go on to play in three of the first four Ryder Cups, as well as the first unofficial match at Wentworth in 1926, beat the USA’s defending champion Walter Hagen by a shot.

Future venues:–

• The 149^th Open will be played at Royal St George’s from July 15-18, 2021
• The 150^th Open will be played at St Andrews from July 14-17, 2022
• The 151^st Open will be played at Royal Liverpool from July 20-23, 2023
• The 152^nd Open will be played at Royal Troon July 18-21, 2024
  

  The 2023 Open Championship will return to Hoylake’s links on the Wirral. Royal Liverpool hosted the 2006 Open won by Tiger Woods, while Rory McIlory lifted the trophy in 2014. Picture by The R&A

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European Tour player Matthew Jordan passed on tips to amateurs in the England national squads – he was a member three years ago. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

MATTHEW Jordan watched Tiger Wood and Rory McIlroy win The Open at his home course at Hoylake in the space of eight years.

But he had no notion he would one day join the World No. 1 on the European Tour.

Even 18 short months ago, Jordan could not be sure he would ever make it as a pro golfer.

Now he’s settling in alongside the big guns during his rookie season on Tour and has the world at his feet.

Jordan’s story is truly inspirational and his telling of it proved to be fascinating for the England Golf squad players, who logged in for an online Q&A session.

As a young amateur, Jordan was a slow-burner, making his way steadily rather than spectacularly through the boys’ squads.

Then his game clicked with victories in the St Andrews Links Trophy and Lytham Trophy.

That earned him a place in Great Britain and Ireland’s 2017 Walker Cup team alongside Hampshire’s two Amateur Champions – Harry Ellis, Scott Gregory – and Jack Singh-Brar, who is also on the European Tour.

A year later Jordan turned pro – but with many questions about his suitability for the pro game still unanswered.

Yet a true competitive edge shaped in the England Golf squads soon shone through.

Matthew Jordan won the Hampshire Hog in 2016 at North Hants the home club of England Golf ambassasor Justin Rose. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES

From North Hants to Challenge Tour

A COURSE record 63 in the first round of the British Masters at Hillside in May last year – after receiving an invite – brought his name to the fore.

Victory in a Challenge Tour Event in Italy in June lit a fire under him.

And it’s still burning brightly as he waits to make his way on the full tour when the European Tour resumes in late July.

During a relaxed chat with the current England squad players and coaches, Jordan talked about his rise in the game, his hopes for the future, his methods on the course – and his dedication to smart practice routines.

He also admitted his rise was something he didn’t think of as a kid – nor even dare to dream about as a young adult.

“It’s certainly been unexpected from where I was a little over a year ago,” admitted the 24-year-old member at Royal Liverpool GC.

“I didn’t even have Challenge Tour status and I was just trying to play where I could. It happened so quickly.

“I played eight events after I turned pro and hadn’t done very well. But at least I got some experience.

“The big one for me was a Challenge Tour event in Turkey. I shot 62 which was the lowest round I’d ever shot.

“I was in contention all week and then finished in the top 10.

“Then I played in the British Masters and shot nine-under on day one and the confidence built ahead of my win in Italy.

“It all snowballed very quickly.

“You don’t know that until you get there – there is a worry that the guys are on a different level and are loads better.

“I had watched great tour events featuring the top players on TV and then suddenly I’m walking into a venue and joining these guys on the range. It’s pretty cool.

“As a fan, that was big at the beginning. But I’m trying to do as well as possible and that soon loses its appeal.

“I want to focus, do well, stay on tour and achieve more.”

Matthew Jordan watched Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy win the Claret Jug in 2006 and 2014. The Open is due to return to Hoylake in 2023. Picture by The R&A

How Hoylake heroes inspired Matthew

GROWING up in Hoylake – the location of one of the world’s great links courses at Royal Liverpool – meant Jordan was spoiled for inspiration as a youngster.

As a 10-year-old he remembers being obsessed when Tiger Woods rolled into town in 2006.

Tiger put on a ball-striking masterclass to win back-to-back Open Championships – and his first away from St Andrews.

“I got Adam Scott’s ball on a practice round. And I got Phil Mickelson’s autograph and Sergio Garcia’s too,” said Jordan.

“I didn’t get Tiger’s – I just froze when he walked past and didn’t have the courage to ask. But it stands out.”

Then four years later it was McIlroy who claimed the Claret Jug – on a Hoylake course that had spent 40 years off The R&A’s Open rota.

“It does inspire you,” said the Cheshire county player, who was 18 at the time.

“In 2014, that same summer, I got my A-levels and a place into Uni. But my dad said I should defer and try golf for a year or two.

“I hadn’t thought about it. I thought I’d play the summer and do something else. Maybe study psychology.

“Then I tried it and still never had the thought of where I would end up.

“It was only when I started doing well that the thoughts changed.

“It was a blessing in disguise I didn’t go to Uni when I see what has happened since.”

His big breakthrough, ironically came when winning the Hampshire Hog at North Hants GC, in 2016 – the home club of England Golf ambassador Justin Rose.

Matthew Jordan won the St Andrews Links Trophy in 2017. Picture by KENNY SMITH

Valderrama victory Jordan’s highlight of lockdown

JORDAN has had to adapt during lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But he has kept sharp – even winning a virtual event when top pros battled it out on online playing Valderrama in the European Tour BMW Indoor Invitational Series.

His next outing is the British Masters at Close House next month as his adventure continues.

“I was happy to chat with the England players as I enjoyed my time in the set-up working with great coaches and learning the game,” said Matthew.

“Hopefully, what I passed on and my story so far can help someone else make the same step.”

And of course when the Open returns to Hoylake in 2023, he has the chance to be part of the history of the Open Championship.

•Royal Liverpool was originally to host The Open in 2022 – before the 2020 and 2021 Opens were pushed back because of the coronavirus pandemic.

It will take place at Royal St George’s in 2021 a year later than planned, with the 150th Open being staged at the game’s historic home at St Andrews, in 2022.

The post Hoylake ace saw Tiger and Rory win Open – but never dreamed of life on Tour appeared first on Golf North.

The USA team’s five-point victory against Great Britain and Ireland at Hoylake was the biggest away win since Sunningdale in 1987. Picture by USGA

THE USA Team rebounded from a 7-5 overnight deficit, winning 10½ out of a possible 14 points to capture the 47th Walker Cup Match over Great Britain & Ireland at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, on Sunday.

Any thoughts of a nail-biting finish to men’s amateur golf’s most prestigious team competition were banished in just four hours.

USA captain Nathaniel Crosby (left) is congratulated by GB&I captain Craig Watson after the American’s victory at Royal Liverpool. Picture by USGA

Winning USA captain Nathaniel Crosby, who played at Hoylake when the Americans last won at Royal Liverpool in 1983, said proudly: “The singles were amazing The guys played great.”

John Augenstein, who was runner up in last month’s US Amateur at Pinehurst, hit the opening tee shot of the competition on Saturday morning – and then secured the winning point beating Somerset’s Thomas Plumb, 4&3.

“I did not know that my match this afternoon was the clinching point,” said Augenstein. “I mean, it really doesn’t matter who clinches it.

Yorkshire’s Alex Fitzpatrick lost the 18th to Isaiah Salinder to go down by two holes in the top singles match. Picture by USGA

Hallamshire’s Alex Fitzpatrick – who was cheered on by his Ryder Cup brother Matt – had just lost to by two holes to Isaiah Salinder at the top of the order.

Mid-amateur Stewart Hagestad – the only player on either side who played two years ago – had a sparkling final day, winning two matches.

Scott bounced back with birdies on the 12th and 14th to go four up – and closed out the match when the 15th hole was halved in par.

Somerset’s Tom Sloman salutes a winning putt on the 15th in his foursomes match against World No. 1 Hammer Cole. Picture by USGA

The post Straight down the middle for Crosby’s boy as his USA team win Walker Cup at Hoylake appeared first on Golf North.

AS Royal Liverpool prepares to host the 47th Walker Cup  between Great Britain and Ireland and the USA – as part of its celebration of 150 years of golf at Hoylake – ANDREW GRIFFIN spoke to the last Hampshire player to win a major domestic honour at the Merseyside course, where Tiger Woods and Rory McIlory claimed the Open Championship in 2006 and 2014 respectively.

Rowlands Castle’s Darren Wright who thinks the Americans may try and attack the Hoylake links in this weekend’s Walker Cup clash with Great Britain and Ireland.
Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES

DARREN Wright will always rate Hoylake as one one of his favourite courses.

It is after all where the former England international won the Brabazon Trophy in 2010 – beating Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and a very young John Rahm in the process.

The Rowlands Castle player became just the ninth player to complete the double by winning the Carris at the English Boys’ Amateur Championship, to go with the English Men’s Amateur Strokeplay title he won at Royal Liverpool.

A year later, Wright was in the provisional Walker Cup squad but missed out having not been selected for England’s European Amateur Team Championships side two months before GB&I beat the USA at Royal Aberdeen with a team containing Andy Sullivan and Callum Shinkwin.

While Wright won at Burhill on the EuroPro Tour in 2015 on his way to earning a European Challenge Tour card after graduating via the PGA feeder tour, he never quite bridged the gap from the amateur game, and finally gave up professional golf at the start of 2017.

And although strokeplay is not the order of the day when the USA arrive on Merseyside this month, Wright is sure the course that he conquered so brilliantly nine years ago will present a unique challenge in the matchplay format with four foursomes and eight singles on the first day, and fours foursomes and 10 singles on Sunday.

Darren said: “It’s a challenge course with plenty of cross-winds as well as holes where it will help but also increase how long it plays.

Rowlands Castle’s Darren Wright won the Brabazon Trophy at the English Amateur Strokeplay four years after he won the Carris at the English Boys’ Amateur Championship.

“In 2010, it was very warm and the course was playing hard and fast, conditions like it was when Tiger won the Open in 2006 and used his two-iron so well – but left himself with a lot longer approaches into the greens.

“The Walker Cup teams might not experience similar conditions but Hoylake is a great track that will be perfect for the event all the top amateurs in the UK dream of playing in.

“Even since I won the Brab, technology has made great strides to help players hit it longer and more consistently.

“But there were holes in 2010 where the bunkers were perfectly placed to make you stand there on the tee and think about whether you wanted to take them on, or lay up short and leave yourself with a longer second shot.

“The drives on the first and the 16th by the practice ground are really dangerous if you are not hitting it straight with out of bounds in your face.

“So the start and closing stretch is very tough. But there is also a stretch around the turn where – especially if you get some help from the wind – you can attack the greens and get an eagle putt, which at worst will mean a birdie on the par five eighth.

“I played with Tyrrell Hatton for a couple of the rounds and was one in front of him after the third round.

“When I woke up on the last day I felt super confident. I just knew it was going to be my day.

“I raced to four or five-under by the turn and someone got word to me that I was eight shots clear at one point.

“But then the back nine got the better of me and I gave those shots back. Luckily, I knew my playing partners were behind me, and I got to 18 with a four-shot lead.

“Even though I was very nervous, I just concentrated on hitting the fairway and had a 35-foot for birdie, so I just rolled it up to the hole to a couple of feet.

“It’s a round – or a week – I am never going to forget. Tommy Fleetwood was the favourite and got off to a good start.

“Everyone said he was going to win but he had a nightmare second round while I shot four-under, and then added a couple of level-pars.

“But there is plenty of danger and it will be interesting to see how the Americans approach Hoylake.

“If they try what the USA did in the Ryder Cup at Le Paris National and just try and out-drive us, the course can catch them out as it did in France.

“I think it will come down to which team plays smartest. The par three holes are tough even if not that long.

“The 13th by the sea with a big bank has bunkers all around the green is only 161 yards.

“With any wind, which can affect your club selection or catch you out just as you hit the shot, if you get sucked into going for the pins and find yourself in the traps, you can fritter away a few holes.

“Middle of the green is going to be a good tactic, especially if you hit first and can put your opponents under pressure.”

While Darren, who now has his own property maintenance company, has come to terms with how his professional career panned out, it is clear that missing out on a Walker Cup is probably his biggest disappointment.

He loved representing England over two summers, having also been a junior international alongside Hampshire team-mate Sam Hutsby.

But his most recent discovery has boosted his Brabazon feelgood factor even more, nearly a decade on.

Darren said: “I only just realised that John Rahm was playing that year… he must have been a very young teenager.

“He finished 61st, Tommy Fleetwood was 21st and I beat Tyrrell who was sixth – all three played in the last Ryder Cup. Spain’s Adrian Otaegui was fifth and he has won twice on Tour too.”

That hopefully will be one to tell the children and grandchildren about one day…

•For live scoring from the first day’s play of the Walker Cup at Hoylake, click here.

The post Darren’s Wright way to go about tackling Hoylake and USA in the 43rd Walker Cup appeared first on Golf North.

ROYAL Liverpool’s Matthew Jordan’s breakout season continues as he takes a share of the lead into the final round of the Made in Denmark Challenge, on Saturday.

The 23-year-old, who is playing in his first season on the European Challenge Tour, has carded opening rounds of 65, 68 and 66 to sit in a five-way tie for the lead on 17-under par.

The former Walker Cup player began his campaign for a European Tour card on a high note, with a top 10 finish at the season-opening Turkish Airlines Challenge.

The Merseyside native passed up the chance to play a second Walker Cup at his home club in September by turning pro at the end of last year, having won the Lytham Trophy by nine strokes – he also won the 2017 St Andrews Links Trophy at the Home of Golf.

And Jordan announced himself to the golfing world in May by taking the first round lead at the Betfred British Masters at Hillside – just a sbort drive from where he grew up.

With wind in his sails, Jordan notched consecutive top 10s on the Challenge Tour in France and Spain, before capturing his first victory at the Italian Challenge Open Eneos Motor Oil, in June.

Currently occupying the third position on the rankings, a win tomorrow would go a long way towards cementing his European Tour card.

But Jordan – whose first big win as an amteur came at North Hants in the Hampshire Hog in 2016, acknowledged there is still much to be done at Ry Golfklub Silkeborg, where scoring has been low all week, and his game plan will remain unchanged.

“Within myself, I’m trying to play as aggressively as possible without being silly,” Jordan said. “Whether I’m last or first, to be honest I’m still going to do the same thing.

“It’s difficult because you know everyone is making birdies out here and because everyone is, you put pressure on yourself then to try and make birdies.

“I think that’s the actual challenge this week, is to try and stay patient and try to be aggressive. You’ve got to make birdies otherwise it feels like you’re going backwards.”

Sharing the lead with Jordan is Finland’s Roope Kakko, who was in front of the field for most of the day before a double-bogey on the 17th hole dropped him back to the field.

Despite the miscue, Kakko remains happy to be competing after being hospitalised only two weeks ago with reactive arthritis.

“I wasn’t too disappointed after 17 to be honest,” Kakko said. “These things happen. It’s a long tournament – there’s one round to go and you can’t get too down on yourself.

“I’m just happy to be playing tournament golf and to be tied for the lead. I’m just happy, and I’ve got a great opportunity tomorrow.”

The low round of the day, and of the tournament so far, was carded by Hampshire’s Richard Bland, who made 10 birdies and an eagle on his way to an 11-under par 61, which moved him up 51 places into a share of the lead.

The 46-year-old from Southampton is positioned ahead of Jordan in the money list, and a win could move him to the top spot.

Rounding out the five players who share the lead are Scotland’s Calum Hill, who has recorded a win and a tied-third place finish in his last two starts on the Challenge Tour – and Sweden’s Joel Sjöholm, another proven winner on at this level having won in 2017.

Much like its counterpart event on the European Tour, the Made in Denmark Challenge continues to break the mould.

This year in Skanderborg, the field has been cut to the top 45 professionals and ties for the last day, which fell at 10-under par.

Due to expected weather, the final round starting times have been moved up, and are set to begin at 7:30am local time, from both the first and 10th tees, with the last group of Sjöholm, Bland and Hill set to go at 8:50 am.

For live scoring click here

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The 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush has attracted the largest crowd for the world’s oldest Major championship held outside of St Andrews, with the 61,000 fans who attended the first three practice days breaking the 2006 Hoylake record. Picture: THE R&A

A RECORD-breaking crowd of 237,750 is attending The 148^th Open at Royal Portrush, setting an attendance record for a championship staged outside St Andrews.

This year’s attendance surpasses the crowd of 235,000 that attended Royal Birkdale in 2017 and the 237,000 mark set at St Andrews in 2015 making it the second largest championship ever.

A record-breaking 61,000 fans have attended practice days at The 148^th Open, surpassing the previous high of 52,000 set at Hoylake in 2006.

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said, “This is a huge week not just for The Open but for golf as well.

“We are making history with a record attendance for a championship staged outside of St Andrews and the levels of excitement among fans this week have been phenomenal.

“I said last year that big time sport needs big time crowds and we certainly have that at Royal Portrush as we stage the biggest sporting event ever to be held in Northern Ireland.

“The eyes of the sporting world are firmly set on Royal Portrush. We would like to thank all the fans for their passion and enthusiasm as we look forward to finding out who will lift the Claret Jug on Sunday.

“The Open would not be the success it is without the spectators.”

Overall, 30,000 fans under the age of 25 are attending The Open, which includes 21,000 children under 16, who will attend free of charge thanks to the long-running Kids Go Free initiative.

The Open Camping Village continues to prove a popular accommodation option for fans with more than 6,300 fans booking a place to stay at on site this year, up from the 4,000 spectators who stayed at Carnoustie in 2018.

A third of those fans staying at the campsite are under 25 meaning The R&A has now provided more than 8,000 free bed spaces for U25s over the first four years of The Open Camping Village.

The 149^th Open will take place at Royal St George’s, in Sandwich, Kent, from July 12-19 next year, and fans eager to attend the Championship’s return to the Kent links for the first time in almost a decade can purchase tickets by visiting TheOpen.com, provided they are members of The One Club.

Ticket and hospitality sales for Royal St George’s have been the fastest in the history of The Open with weekly tickets and weekend bundles having already sold out in record time.

Membership of The One Club guarantees priority access to tickets and is free to join by registering here – fans are advised to purchase their tickets early to avoid disappointment.

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ROYAL Liverpool’s Matthew Jordan who claimed the Italian Challenge Open by beating Lorenzo Scalise in a play-off after they both tied on 17-under. Picture by FABRIZIO PROIETTI

HOYLAKE’S Matthew Jordan claimed his first professional win at the Italian Challenge Open Eneos Motor Oil, beating Lorenzo Scalise in a play-off at Terre dei Consoli Golf Club.

Jordan and home favourite Scalise headed to the 150-yard par three 16th hole, having carded rounds of 66 and 65, respectively, to top the leaderboard at 17-under, after overnight leader Antoine Rozner failed to capitalise on his three-shot advantage.

The 2017 Walker Cup player found the green with his tee shot, however, the Italian came up short in the water and missed the green with his third shot, leaving Jordan with two putts from 40-feet to clinch his debut European Challenge Tour title.

Having turned professional in September 2018, passing up the chance to play the Walker Cup against the Americans at his home club of Royal Liverpool in September, Jordan was thrilled to claim the victory, especially after making such a strong start to life on the Challenge Tour.

“It’s difficult to explain how I feel right now,” the 23-year-old said. “I just wanted to go out and play as well as I could. I got off to an unbelievable start and from then on I got myself into the tournament and into contention.

“I’ve had a couple of top 10 previously but with winning, you never know when you’re actually going to do it until it happens,” added Jordan, who led the British Masters by breaking the course record at Hillside in the first round, in May.

“To finally win, especially at this event with a larger prize fund and more ranking points, is brilliant and I can’t really describe it.

“The drive off 17 was my only poor tee shot, but I putted well. I canned about 80 feet of putts in the first three holes. I started laughing on the third hole because it felt a bit ridiculous,” said Jordan, last year’s Lytham Trophy winner.

“On 17 I tried to play safe and then got up and down, hitting what felt like the perfect putt,” said Jordan, whose first big win as an amateur came at North Hants in 2016 – when he won the Hampshire Hog at Justin Rose’s home club – before claiming the St Andrews Links Trophy at the Home of Golf, in 2017.

Scalise, who also turned professional last September having lost a play-off with Kent’s Alfie Plant for the European Amateur Championship at Walton Heath, claimed his best result in only his sixth Challenge Tour appearance with a runner-up spot.

Spain’s Carlos Pigem recorded a seven-under bogey free round of 65 to finish a shot behind in third place.

Rozner, a two-time Challenge Tour winner already this season, was looking for his third triumph – and with it instant promotion to the European Tour – but ended the day two shots behind Jordan and Scalise.

Wales’ Oliver Farr and Switzerland’s Raphaël de Sousa joined the Frenchman in a share of fourth place following their rounds of 69 and 68, respectively.

With his maiden professional win, Jordan jumps up the rankings from 24th to second, while Scalise jumps straight to 11th after collecting his first ranking points of the season.

Royal Liverpool’s Matthew Jordan, who won the 2016 Hampshire Hog at North Hants. Past winners include Sandy Lyle, Peter McEvoy, Sir Michael Bonallack, Steve Richardson, Gary Wolstenholme and Justin Rose. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES

The post Jordan crosses first barrier by winning Challenge Tour title in Italy after play-off appeared first on Golf North.

Stoke Park Conor Gough is the youngest member of the GB&I Walker Cup squad named this week. Picture courtesy The R&A

STOKE Park’s reigning British Amateur champion Conor Gough heads a strong contingent of 12 players from England included in the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup squad, named today.

The R&A has announced an initial squad of 26 players who are in contention for selection for the GB&I team to play against the United States of America in the 47^th Walker Cup match at Royal Liverpool, in September.

Sixteen-year-old Gough, who made his Home Internationals debut for England at men’s level last summer is the youngest in the squad in which only nine are aged over 21.

The host nations are aiming to win back the trophy after losing 19-7 at the Los Angeles Country Club two years ago – when there were three Hampshire players in the team.

Captain Craig Watson said, “We have selected a talented group of players who are all in contention for a place in the team to play the United States of America, and will be continuing to monitor the form and results of these players over the course of the season.

“We will also be looking closely at the performances of other players who have not been included in the squad and there is still time for them to play their way into our plans ahead of the final team selection later this year.”

Somerset’s Tom Sloman, who won the 2019 Copa Sotagrande recently, and Dorset’s SANLAM Cape Province Open champion, Thomas Plumb, also feature in a group of 12 English players.

Gough is the same age Hampshire’s Justin Rose was when he became the youngest to be picked to play in the biennial clash which is the amateur game’s equivalent to the Ryder Cup, back in 1997.

Rose had just turned 17 by the time he appeared at Pine Ridge and Essex’s Oliver Fisher broke that record in Chicago in 2005.

Gough is bidding to become the first B.B.&O. player to be picked for the Walker Cup since Luke Donald, who was on the winning team at Nairn in 1999, and again at Sea Island, in Georgia, when Peter McEvoy led GB&I to back-to-back victories for the first time, and won on US soil for only the second time since 1922.

Also in the squad is Sussex’s English Amateur Champion Tom Thurloway (Chartham Park) and Devon’s Jake Burnage, who made a late bid for selection in 2017.

Six players from Scotland have been chosen, including 2019 African Amateur champion, Euan Walker and reigning Scottish Amateur champion, Euan McIntosh, who is the oldest member at 50.

Sandy Scott, who won the El Macero Classic earlier this month, Royal Wimbledon’s Marquette Intercollegiate champion Ryan Lumsden, Kieran Cantley and Jamie Stewart are also in Watson’s plans.

Conor Purcell, who won the 2019 Australian Amateur Championship, is among five players from Ireland to feature in Watson’s squad.

He is joined by 2019 West of Ireland Amateur champion Caolan Rafferty, 2018 Eisenhower Trophy player John Murphy, Mark Power and James Sugrue.

Irish Boys Amateur champion Archie Davies, who hails from Carlisle and is only 17, Ben Chamberlain and Jake Hapgood are the three players from Wales.

There are four players under the age of 18 – the other two are Peterborough Milton’s Robin Williams and Sheffield’s Joseph Pagdin, who is based at Florida’s Lake Nona, and has signed to play for University of Florida, from 2020.

Northamptonshire County’s Benjamin Jones, Pagdin, Williams, Plumb, Gough, and Hallamshire’s Alex Fitzpatrick – the younger brother of Ryder Cup player Matt, who played in the 2013 Walker Cup, were all members of the England Boys team that won the 2017 Home Internationals at St Anne’s Old Links.

The GB&I Walker Cup squad will gather at Royal Liverpool for a practice session next week, ahead of the Lytham Trophy, after which the number of players will be reduced for a second practice session in July.

As well as the Lytham Trophy at Royal Lytham (May 3-5), and the Brabazon Trophy, at Alwoodley, at end of May, the selectors will be watching events during the St Andrews Links at the Home of Golf in early June – the UK’s other major 72-hole strokeplay championship, which attracts an international field.

The final 10-man GB&I team will be announced in August after the Home Nations hold their respective amateur championships in the first week of the month.

The English Amateur (July 30-August 4) is being held at Hankley Common, in Surrey, with qualifying being jointly held at North Hants GC, while the Scottish event is at Crail in the same week.

The Welsh championship is being held at Tenby, from July 29-August 2, while the Irish Amateur Championship is being staged at Ballybunion, from August 3-7.

The full squad is (England players in bold):

Jake Burnage, 23, Saunton
John Murphy, 20, Kinsale
Kieran Cantley, 21, Liberton
Joseph Pagdin, 17, Lake Nona
Ben Chamberlain, 21, Padeswood & Buckley
Thomas Plumb, 20, Yeovil
Archie Davies, 17, Carlisle
Mark Power, 18, Kilkenny
Alex Fitzpatrick, 20, Hallamshire
Conor Purcell, 21, Portmarnock
Bailey Gill, 21, Lindrick
Caolan Rafferty, 26, Dundalk
Conor Gough, 16, Stoke Park
Sandy Scott, 20, Nairn
David Hague, 22, Malton & Norton
Tom Sloman, 22, Taunton & Pickeridge
Harry Hall, 21, West Cornwall
Jamie Stewart, 19, Old Course Ranfurly
Jake Hapgood, 22, Southerndown
James Sugrue, 22, Mallow
Benjamin Jones, 19, Northamptonshire County
Tom Thurloway, 21, Chartham Park.
Ryan Lumsden, 22, Royal Wimbledon
Euan Walker, 23, Kilmarnock (Barassie)
Euan McIntosh, 50, Turnhouse
Robin Williams, 17, Peterborough Milton

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Hoylake LET pro Emma Goddard with legal firm Gateley’s John Burns after the Royal Liverpool pro received one of the LET’s Gateley grants to support her education.

ROYAL Liverpool’s Ladies European Tour player Emma Goddard has become the first recipient of the LET’s first Gateley education grant awards.

The new grant-aid scheme was launched at the beginning of December last year as part of the ‘LET’s Learn’ element of the tour’s development strategy.

It exists to encourage LET members to give thought to their personal development, which could be relevant to their careers as professional golfers or their longer-term plans.Emma joined the tour in 2015 and she achieved her maiden win on the LET’s Access Series in 2017 at the Riberia Sacra Patrimonio de la Humanidad International Ladies Open.She is now seeking to obtain an ASQ level five diploma in golf club management through the Golf Club Manager’s Association.Emma said: “At some point in the future I would like to be a director of golf and I feel the time is right for me to start working towards that goal. The Gateley grant will help me to gain the qualification that will give me the knowledge I need.”Having enjoyed five years on the LET starting in 2013, Leigh is working towards qualifying as a PGA coach and would like to undertake additional training to enhance her communications skills.

Leigh said: “This Gateley grant will enable me to attend a special course that will give me a much deeper understanding of how to communicate effectively.

“That will give me a much better understanding of my clients and how to reach out to them and to the goals they want to achieve.”

Soon after the first grants were offered to Emma and German-based Leigh Whittaker, two additional awards were made to Germany’s Esther Henseleit and France’s Astrid Vayson de Pradenne.

Although Esther is an LET rookie and has only just started her professional career, she believes that continuing her education is important.

She said: “Since I graduated from high school this summer, I noticed that I miss studying and learning something new besides the golf course.

“For that reason, I decided to start studying. I’m sure that it will help me to exercise my brain and be the best person and athlete I can be – on and off the golf course.”

Astrid turned pro in 2013 and secured her maiden professional victory at the 2018 Jabra Ladies Open, but has also worked as a physio since qualifying in 2011.

In order to maintain her physio registration, she must attend courses every year and her Gateley grant will enable her to attend a two-day course that explains the mechanisms and magnitude of the placebo effect of treatment and considers the ethical and moral implications of using placebo in physiotherapy.

Astrid said: “I am looking forward to an update on pain. Indeed, it is the number one concern of my patients, in front of functional limitations.”

The introduction of the grant-aid scheme is part of the LET’s longer-term objective to increase the number of women in decision-making roles in the sport.

It is also consistent with the aims set out in The R&A’s ‘Women in Golf Charter’, to which the LET is a signatory.

Sponsors Gateley are a legal firm with offices in England and Dubai. The LET headquarters are at The Buckinghamshire Golf Club.

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