Japan’s Hinako Shibuno – winner of the 2019 AIG Women’s British Open at Woburn G&CC.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES

THE AIG Women’s British Open will go ahead without spectators at Royal Troon in August – because of the COVID-19 pandemic – the R&A has confirmed.

It will be the first women’s Major Championship to be played in 2020 and will be broadcast globally to more than 11 million TV fans.

Japan’s Hinako Shibuno was the shock winner of last year’s AIG Women’s British Open at Woburn.

The rookie beat America’s Lizette Salas by a shot at the Buckinghamshire course which has hosted the event 12 times since it was founded in 1976

European-based players on the Ladies European Tour have had no tournaments to play in since the South African Open – which was won by Hertfordshire rookie Alice Hewson in her first start in March.

And the LPGA Tour will not resume until later this month – a full month behind the men on the PGA Tour – even though their first Major will not be played until the US Open is held in September, after this month’s Open Championshp, at Royal St George’s, was cancelled.

The fifth hole at Royal Troon which hosts the AIG Women’s British Open from August 20-23

Strict health rules for Troon bubble

THE AIG Women’s British Open will enforce strict health and safety protocols including the creation of a bio-secure zone.

Only personnel essential to the championship’s onsite operations – players, caddies, officials, and staging staff – will be inside the zone.

Their movements will be limited to the golf course and a designated secure hotel during the week.

All personnel will be required to return a negative COVID-19 test from an authorised testing centre.

They will also be subject to further daily temperature checks and rigorous protocols designed to maintain the secure zone’s integrity and the health of those within it, the R&A stressed today.

The playing of the Championship is subject to the necessary approvals being secured from government health bodies.

“The R&A will continue to monitor the pandemic conditions and work closely with the Scottish and UK governments and the health authorities to ensure the championship is staged safely,” an R&A spokesman said.

But Pre-Qualifying and Final Qualifying events for the championship have had to be cancelled based on health and safety advice.

The field will be comprised of the leading players from the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings as well as recognising successful players from recent tournaments staged on the world’s leading tours.

Martin Slumbers the chief executive of The R&A

Slumbers delighted Major will go ahead

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers is delighted the UK’s Major championship for women golfers can go ahead next month.

Mr Slumbers said: “The AIG Women’s British Open is important to the success of women’s professional golf.

“We have been working closely with our title sponsor AIG, Visit Scotland, Royal Troon and our key advisers to find a way for the championship to be played safely this year.

“We believe that playing the AIG Women’s British Open is a significant step for players whose playing opportunities have been severely impacted this year.

“As they compete to be the 2020 champion in historic circumstances, these athletes will continue to inspire golfers and sports fans around the world, who will be closely following events from Royal Troon on TV and social media.”

AIG president Peter Zaffino said: “We appreciate the collaborative efforts of The R&A, the United Kingdom and Scottish Governments to implement the necessary health and safety protocols that will allow the 2020 AIG Women’s British Open to be played under safe and responsible conditions.”

Slumbers had to announce the 149th Open at Royal St George’s was being cancelled until 2021 after waiting “as long as possible” before pulling the plug on the world’s oldest Major in early April.

Scottish Government welcomes decision to press ahead

THE announcment by the R&A has also been welcomed by politicians both North and South of the border.

Fiona Hyslop, Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture, said: “Scotland is the home of golf.

“So it is fitting that we are on course to host golf’s first Major of 2020, the AIG Women’s British Open.

“This is only possible thanks to the dedication of The R&A in working with the Scottish Government and other partners to develop comprehensive plans to allow for an event of this stature to take place, set against the most challenging of circumstances.

“I’m especially pleased we are able to support the return of female professional golf, underlining our commitment to equality across both sport and society.

“Ayrshire’s magnificent coastline will present an outstanding backdrop for the Championship, providing inspiration not only for those watching and dreaming of Scotland worldwide but those here in Scotland, who will be excited to see the return of major events and championship golf.”

UK Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said: “It’s fantastic news that the AIG Women’s British Open will be going ahead this summer – and broadcast to millions of fans around the world.

“Getting elite women’s sports back safely remains a top priority – we’re working hard to ensure we don’t lose any of the great momentum that has built up in recent years.”

The post Royal Troon all set to stage AIG Women’s British Open … but fans will be missing appeared first on Golf North.

The 2020 Open Championship at Royal St George’s has been cancelled – the Claret Jug will return to Sandwich in July 2021. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES

THE R&A has cancelled The 149th Open at Royal St George’s in 2020 because of the current COVID-19 crisis – the championship will now be played at Sandwich in 2021, instead.

The Open was due to be staged in Kent from July 12-19, but following guidance – from the UK Government, the health authorities, public services and The R&A’s advisers – the decision was taken to pull the plug on staging the world’s oldest Major in 2020.

The move followed more than a week of intense speculation while the game’s governing body weighed up its options during the coronavirus pandemic.

It is the first time since the Second World War that golf’s original championship, first played in 1860, has been cancelled – following on from Augusta National’s decision last month to cancel this week’s Masters for the first time since WWII.

The decision piles on the pressure on the other two Majors in the 2020 calendar, which are all under threat – including June’s US Open at Winged Foot, and the USPGA, which has been suggested could move to early August, in the slot vacated by the cancellation of the Tokyo Olympics.

Talks have been going on for past week and on Friday The R&A said it was still reviewing its options.

A shift to a date in September prior to the Ryder Cup – considered the most likely option given the current Government lockdown to beat the COVID-19 crisis could last until the early summer – was finally discounted.

The R&A stressed its plan now is to hold the 149^th Open at Royal St George’s from July 15-18, 2021 leaving the stage set for the 150^th Open to go ahead at St Andrews, from July 14-17, in 2022 – when the awarding of the Claret Jug and the Gold Medal celebrates a special milestone in golf’s history.

R&A: First priority is protect health

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said: “Our absolute priority is to protect the health and safety of the fans, players, officials, volunteers and staff involved in The Open.

“We care deeply about this historic championship and have made this decision with a heavy heart.

“We appreciate this will be disappointing for a great many people around the world, but this pandemic is severely affecting the UK and we have to act responsibly. It is the right thing to do.

“I can assure everyone that we have explored every option for playing The Open this year but it is not going to be possible.

“There are many different considerations that go into organising a major sporting event of this scale.

“We rely on the support of the emergency services, local authorities and a range of other organisations to stage the championship and it would be unreasonable to place any additional demands on them when they have far more urgent priorities to deal with.

“In recent weeks we have been working closely with those organisations as well as Royal St George’s, St Andrews Links Trust and the other golf bodies to resolve the remaining external factors – and have done so as soon as we possibly could.

“We are grateful to all of them for their assistance and co-operation throughout this process.

“Most of all I would like to thank our fans around the world and all of our partners for their support and understanding.

“At a difficult time like this, we have to recognise that sport must stand aside to let people focus on keeping themselves and their families healthy and safe.

“We are committed to supporting our wider community in the weeks and months ahead and will do everything in our power to help golf come through this crisis.”

Ireland’s James Sugrue, who won the 2019 Amateur Championship at Portmarnock – the R&A is waiting to decide if the 2020 championship can take place at Royal Birkdale, after the June date was postponed in March. Picture by THE R&A / GETTY IMAGES

Senior Open at Sunningdale ‘under review’

THE R&A’s remaining professional and amateur championships are also under review because of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

They include the Senior Open at Sunningdale, in August, and The Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale and West Lancashire, which has been put back from its traditional June date, as well as the Women’s Amateur Championship and the Senior Amateur.

The R&A also organises the AIG Women’s British Open, which is set to be played at Royal Troon, in August, and which must also be in doubt now.

The British Boys Championship, held in August, is the R&A’s top junior event along with the Boys Home Internationals and The Girls Amateur, which has already been postponed from its July date.

Great Britain & Ireland are also due to face Continental Europe in the St Andrews Trophy, which the R&A organises alongside the European Golf Associtaion, while the juniors are due to contest the annual Jacques Leglisle Trophy, also in August.

Updates will be given on any further changes, an R&A spokesman added.

R&A will transfer tickets to 2021

THE R&A will transfer over tickets and hospitality packages purchased for the 2020 championship at Royal St George’s to The Open in 2021.

Purchasers who no longer wish to – or are no longer able to – attend in 2021 – whether as a result of the COVID-19 crisis or not – will receive a full refund.

Further information on the arrangements will be sent directly to ticket and hospitality purchasers in due course, said the R&A spokesman.

The post COVID-19 crisis forces R&A to move Open at Royal St George’s back to 2021 appeared first on Golf North.

The Claret Jug sitting beside the green at Royal Troon’s famous par three eighth hole – The Postage Stamp. Picture by DAVID CANNON / R&A / GETTY IMAGES

THE 152nd Open will be played at Royal Troon in 2023 – seven years since Henrik Stenson produced a remarkable final round 63 to claim his first Major, and win the Claret Jug.

The occasion will mark the 100th anniversary of when The Open was first played at Royal Troon in 1923.

Then Arthur Havers, who was a club pro at Sandy Lodge. Moor Park in Hertfordshire and Surrey’s Coombe Hill, as well as Frinton, in Essex, defeated the legendary Walter Hagen by one stroke.

It will also be the 10th time that golf’s original championship has been played over the famous Ayrshire links.

Swede Stenson’s superb final round held off the challenge of Phil Mickelson in an unforgettable duel as he claimed the championship with a record 20-under par total of 264

Stenson joined a celebrated list of golfers who have lifted the famous Claret Jug and been crowned Champion Golfer of the Year at Royal Troon, including Havers, Bobby Locke, Arnold Palmer, Tom Weiskopf, Tom Watson, Mark Calcavecchia, Justin Leonard in the 20th Century, and Todd Hamilton in 2004

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said, “Royal Troon is one of the world’s greatest championships links.

“It has produced many memorable moments throughout the history of The Open including the dramatic duel between Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson that captivated millions of fans around the world in 2016.

“We are very much looking forward to celebrating another milestone in the cherished history of The Open when we mark the 100th anniversary of the Championship first being played at Royal Troon.

“It will be fascinating to see who will emerge from the world-class field to lift the Claret Jug in 2023.”

This year’s 149th Open will return to Royal St George’s, while St Andrew’s will move back a year in rota from its normal five-year cycle so the Home of Golf can stage the 150th celebrations.

It will then return to Royal Liverpool in 2022, for the third time since 2006 – and where Rory McIlroy won his last Major in 2014 – before heading north over the border to Royal Troon.

Des Bancewicz, the club captain, said: “We are delighted to welcome the return of the world’s oldest major golf championship to Royal Troon, and regard this as confirmation of the wonderful condition to which our historic links are maintained.

“The 152nd Open will also provide an excellent opportunity to celebrate 100 years of the championship’s history at Royal Troon which commenced with Arthur Havers’ victory in 1923.”

Royal Troon is famous for The Postage Stamp – the par three eighth hole, the shortest hole on The Open rota.

Joe FitzPatrick, Scottish Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, said: “I am delighted The R&A has decided to hold the 152nd Open in Scotland, the Home of Golf, in 2023.

“The Open is important to Scotland economically, culturally and reputationally, and Royal Troon is one of our finest and most prestigious courses.

“The last time The Open was played there in 2016 proved highly successful with £110million worth of benefits to Scotland.

“Royal Troon will also play host to this year’s AIG Women’s British Open, further emphasising our strong relationship with The R&A and our collective support for women’s golf.”

The 152nd Open will be played from July 16-23, 2023.

The post Open will return to Royal Troon in 2023 – 100 years after Havers denied Hagen appeared first on Golf North.

CONGU has confirmed the new World Handicap System being introduced by golf’s eight governing bodies worldwide in November 2020. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

THE governing bodies of amateur golf in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales have signed the licence for the new World Handicap System (WHS) which will come into operation on November 2, 2020.

As members of the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU), England Golf, the Golfing Union of Ireland, the Irish Ladies Golfing Union, Scottish Golf and Wales Golf have been driving forces in planning for the new system in alliance with The R&A and USGA.

The current Golf Handicapping System – maintained by CONGU – will be replaced by WHS which will unify the six different structures presently in operation throughout the world of golf.

With one single, global system in place for the first time, golfers will be able to obtain and maintain a handicap index and use this on any course around the world.

In addition, they will be able to compete or simply play a casual round with fellow golfers anywhere on a fair and equal basis, the governing bodies say.

As well as encouraging players new to the sport to obtain a handicap with ease, the WHS will also modernise the game for those already well-versed in the game of golf.

Under the new system, a player’s handicap will be based on the average of eight best scores from their last 20 rounds.

WHS will also take into account factors currently not fully represented in the existing handicapping procedure through a course and slope rating system.

England Golf chief executive Nick Pink said: “We believe the introduction of the new World Handicap System will have a hugely positive impact for golf around the globe.

“Our team are working hard to deliver the transition from the current system to WHS and will continue to confer with the clubs, counties and our technology partners to ensure everything runs to plan ahead of the start date.”

Sinead Heraty, chief Executive of the ILGU, said: ‘The Irish Ladies Golf Union and the Golfing Union of Ireland are delighted the new World Handicap System will come into practice in November 2020.

“The transition from an incremental system to an averaging one will be period of great change.

“However once a planned education process is complete, the new system will make handicapping much more consistent globally.”

Pat Finn, chief executive of the Golfing Union of Ireland added: “We look forward to meeting with our member clubs over the coming months to outline the World Handicap System.

“With CONGU adopting the system for Ireland and Great Britain from late next year we need to ensure golfers across Ireland are prepared for the change.”

Andrew McKinlay, chief Eexecutive of Scottish Golf, said: “Following recent education seminars across the country, Scottish Golf is pleased to confirm the new World Handicap System will be implemented on time on November 2, 2020.

“We believe moving to a more unified handicap system will be beneficial to all golfers.

“The team at Scottish Golf will continue to liaise with, and support clubs across the country to ensure the transition between now and next year is as seamless as possible for everyone involved.”

Wales Golf chief executive Richard Dixon was also delighted to mark another step on the road to WHS.

Mr Dixon said: “A lot of hard work has been going on behind the scenes in preparation for the launch of the World Handicap System and we are delighted we have reached this key stage of the process.

“We are very excited about the positive benefits WHS will have to the game of golf in Wales and across the golfing world.

“The Wales Golf team look forward to working with our clubs, fellow home Unions, technology partners and the R&A over the next year to ensure that the transition is as seamless as possible for clubs and most importantly for golfers.”

CONGU, the United States Golf Association (USGA), Golf Australia, the European Golf Association (EGA), the South African Golf Association (SAGA) and the Argentine Golf Association (AAG) represent around 15 million golfers in 80 countries who currently maintain a handicap.

The aligning of all six handicapping authorities behind the WHS is a hugely significant step in the modernisation of golf across the globe.

WHS has been introduced under the auspices of the USGA and The R&A.

Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the latter, said: “The R&A’s purpose is to ensure golf is thriving in 50 years’ time, and the World Handicap System (WHS) is one of the key ways in which we can ensure the long-term health of the sport.

“We all want to encourage more people to take up golf and having a handicap which provides an accurate measure of playing ability is one of the best ways of achieving that.”

Further information about the new World Handicap System can be found at https://www.englandgolf.org/article/world-handicap-system-whs and also via the R&A website at https://www.randa.org/WorldHandicapSystem

For details on England Golf’s WHS educational workshops visit  https://www.englandgolf.org/handicaps-rules/whs-2020/whs-club-workshops/

The post New World Handicap System confirmed for launch in November, 2020 by CONGU appeared first on Golf North.