The Players Club’s Jack Cope claimed the English Amateur Championship by beating Royal Lytham’s Callan Barrow 4&3 at Woodhall Spa. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

JACK Cope revealed a deep sense of pride at adding his name to an illustrious list of winners at the English Men’s Amateur Championship.

The Gloucestershire golfer’s name now sits on the imposing trophy alongside Masters champion Danny Willett, Ryder Cup winners Paul Casey, Tommy Fleetwood, Nick Faldo, David Gilford and Mark James.

Cope lifted the famous trophy after a 4&3 victory over Lancashire’s Callan Barrow in a 36-hole final that produced some outstanding moments of golf in the Lincolnshire sunshine.

Cope showed skill and nerve to fend off his friend and rival around the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa Golf Club, the home of England Golf.

The Bristolian was five-up at lunch, shooting seven-under without a blemish on his card.

Barrow – a member at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s Golf Club – can consider himself with a mountain to climb despite shooting two-under over the first 18 holes.

However, Cope’s ball-striking and his touch on the greens proved decisive.

And after racing six holes clear as they turned for home in the afternoon, the Players Club member was finally able to shake off his friend with three holes to spare.

Former England junior international Cope, who celebrated his 21^st birthday on Friday, was clearly emotional at the end of six days of competition.

In the strokeplay qualifying, only fellow Gloucestershire team-mate Joe Long headed Cope with a nine-under total three better than Cope over 36 holes.

And in the matchplay, Cope was superb and deserved to end the week as champion to succeed last year’s teenage sensation Conor Gough, from Stoke Park.

‘Thrilled to be named champion’

COPE could not quite believe what he had just achieved after being handed the trophy at Lincolnshire’s “Home of England Golf.”

“I’m absolutely thrilled to hear it,” admitted Cope after being announced as the winner, two years after he finished third in the Brabazon Trophy at Frilford Heath.

“It’s been a gruelling week, but I’m thankful and proud.

“The morning round was very good. I was seven-under and bogey free.

‘And this afternoon, I kept my wits about me as Cal is an exceptional golfer and he made it a very good game.”

The significance of joining the likes of Sir Nick Faldo, Fleetwood, Willett, Casey – and amateur legends like Gerald Micklem and Sir Michael Bonallack, who claimed the title a record five times – had yet to sink in.

“It feels fantastic – I’m very honoured to be alongside the names on the trophy,” added Cope, who had a spell away from the game recently after breaking his arm.

“The last two years have been exceptionally tough on-and-off the golf course, and I have to thank my parents, coach Russell Covey and Gloucestershire County Union,” Jack said.

“I hope this a big leap in the right direction. I always knew I had ability, but it’s about producing it when it counts.

“I played the West of England fourball at the weekend before this and was asked about my form. I said a big win was close the way I was playing.

“I finished second in the stroke and won the matchplay,” added Cope, who became the youngest-ever Gloucestershire champion in 2017, aged 17.

Callan Barrow was two-under over the first 18 holes, but found himself trailing by five holes in the English Amateur Championship final. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

Cope was quick out of the traps going five-up

BARROW and Cope racked up a total of 10 birdies between them in the morning’s play.

Cope was quick out the traps and was four-up through seven holes thanks to birdies at the third, fifth, sixth and seventh.

Barrow had barely put a foot wrong, but the quality on show from his 21-year-old opponent was impressive.

A quality iron into the par three, eighth hole allowed Barrow to roll home a birdie putt from 15 foot and he followed that up with two more on the ninth and 10^th holes to peg back Cope’s lead to just one.

But Cope won both the 13^th and 14^th to restore his grip on the match and he never let it go.

Barrow’s 10-footer down the slope at 18 grazed the hole, while Cope knocked his in from eight feet to take a five-hole lead into lunch.

Yet the Lancashire man refused to give up. He birdied the first hole of the afternoon to get one back, but then lost the next.

A birdie two at the fifth offered hope again, but Barrow couldn’t quite reel in his man.

Even though he found himself six down with nine to play in the afternoon Barrow’s fighter’s instinct took over.

A birdie at 10 and then another 14 kept the match alive. But a par four on the 15^th sealed with a tricky six-foot putt down the slope clinched the title for Cope.

Jack Cope will have the chance to complete a rare English double later this month.
Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

Can Jack be the lad at Brabazon too?

COPE will now look to carry his form into the Brabazon Trophy later this month at Sherwood Forest.

He will head to Nottinghamshire bidding to become just the fourth player to win both major trophies in the same season – and the first since Mark Foster in 1995.

Cope appeared to play all this week without nerves.

“I’m glad it looked like that but it didn’t feel like that,” he said with a smile. “My attitude was the main thing.

“I just kept plugging away and tried to keep hitting good golf shots.”

“Cal’s a great guy and a great golfer. That’s the way it goes. I just played exceptionally well.”

•For full scores from the championship click here.

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L-R: Silver medallist Henrik Stenson, Gold medal winner Justin Rose and Matt Kuchar, the bronze medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Picture by STAN BADZ / PGA TOUR

JUSTIN Rose has backed plans to postpone the Tokyo Olympics for 12 months – even though the winner of the Gold Medal in Rio four years ago won’t be guaranteed a trip to Japan in 2021.

This summer’s Olympic Golf tournament was due to be held at the Kasumigaseki Country Club, whose East Course had been updated by Fazio Design, from July 30-August 2.

But the Internatinal Olympic Committee announced yesterday (Thursday) it was postponing the 2020 Games after weeks of speculation about whether they would go ahead in Japan, in late July and early August.

Rose, who beat Henrik Stenson (silver) and Matt Kuchar (bronze) to take golf’s Gold in Rio de Janeiro, needs to be in the top 15 of the world to automatically qualify for a place on the plane to the Far East.

The 2013 US Open winner agreed the current situation across the world with the coronavirus crisis was creating an unlevel playing field in certain sports, especially athletics.

Rose, a member at North Hants Golf Club, said: “Some countries were in total lockdown. In other countries, athletes were able to train as normal.

“With golf, your whole calendar is very focused on one week, to the next week, to the next week.

“Whereas in many sports, especially track and field, it’s a two-year process trying to gear into the Olympics, so I have a lot more sympathy for some of those athletes.

“The Olympics has been a huge gift in my career. It’s something that I’ve been so proud of and it was so fun to be a part of.

Rose punches the air after holing the winning put at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Picture by STAN BADZ “The

“The opportunity to win another one would be huge.

“It’s something that’s really resonated with golf fans. I’ve been announced on the first tee for the best part of four years as Olympic champion and it definitely warms the insides every time I hear it.”

Rose has slipped from first to 14th in the world rankings over the last year, missing three of his last four cuts.

The player crowned European No. 1 in 2007, before moving the USA, has been without a top-three finish since last June’s US Open – six years after he famously won his first Major at Merion, on Father’s Day.

Rose is staying at his home in the Bahamas during the current PGA Tour shut down.

He has been working on his game and hopes golf can be one of the first sports to return when the COVID-19 threat is quelled enough.

Justin added: “I wasn’t playing particularly well when things got called off.

“There were certainly areas of my game which need some attention, and I’m also viewing it as an opportunity to work on my fitness and try to make some gains.

“I want to be tournament ready when we do get back to playing.

“I’m lucky to have a simulator and a putting green in my garage, so I can work on some of the technical side of the game but nothing simulates actually playing golf.

“We have a huge advantage being an outdoor sport and in terms of close proximity, you have your caddie but that’s a personal relationship that you can control.

“Obviously if you’re playing a contact sport, you don’t have a lot of control over what the other guys do.

“The world needs it, especially if there are lots of people still stuck at home having to isolate.

“A bit of sport would be a good thing, and if golf was the first sport back, it would create a bit of a buzz and maybe find a new audience.”

Race to qualify for Tokyo suspended

GOLF returned to the Olympics in Brazil four years ago after an absence of 112 years – and the race to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics was about to hot up until the COVID-19 crisis put all golf tournaments on lockdown.

Rose, who has been World No. 1 for a total of 13 weeks during his career, would currently qualify to play alongside Tommy Fleetwood if the qualifying period had ended this week.

Justin was ranked in 14th place when the Official World Golf Rankings were suspended on March 20 –because of the shutdown of the two biggest tours in the world – the PGA and European Tours – while Fleetwood is in 10th spot.

Buckinghamshie’s Tyrrell Hatton – who claimed his maiden PGA Tour win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in the last event to be completed in the USA before the coronavirus crisis cancelled all golf in America – was in 21^st place when the freeze was announced a week ago.

Up to four players from the same country can compete in the Tokyo Games in 2021 – providing they are in the world’s top 15 at the end of the qualifying period.

Surrey’s Paul Casey, who grew up playing against Rose as a junior in county matches in the mid 1990s – they have also played as a pairing for England in Golf’s World Cup – is the next highest ranked Englishman in 24th place.

Sheffield’s Matt Fitzpatrick, a place further back in the OWGR, will be harbouring ambitions for the Tokyo Olympics now that he has another 12 months or more to qualify for the England team.

For 42-year-old Casey and Rose – who turns 40 in July – it realistically represents their last chance at Olympic glory, with the likes of Fleetwood, Hatton and Fitzpatrick – all in their 20s – having time on their side.

North Hants GC member Justin Rose with wife Kate and mum Annie (right) after collecting his Gold Medal in Brazil four years ago. Picture by WARREN LITTLE

Proud mum and wife watched Rose win in Rio

JUSTIN Rose’s mum admitted it was hard to believe her son had been crowned an Olympic champion after watching his triumph in Rio four years ago.

Annie Rose, who still lives in Hook, where Justin was raised. admitted she found it hard to believe it was her son that had claimed golf’s first Gold Medal at the Olympic Games for 112 years, in July 2016.

Rose’s mother and his wife Kate watched every shot of the former Hampshire junior’s nerve-jangling battle with Henrik Stenson before his one-shot victory in Rio was secured on the 72nd hole.

The moment was made extra special when the Roses learned that Sunday had been Father’s Day in Brazil.

Rose’s father Ken, who died from leukaemia in 2002, spent so much time by his son’s side during his rapid rise from playing junior golf at Hartley Wintney, Tylney Park and North Hants, to finishing fourth in the 1998 Open as an amateur.

It was also Father’s Day in the United States when Rose won the 2013 US Open, at Merion – when Justin pointed to the sky in Ken’s memory after holding the winning putt in Pennsylvania.

Proud mum Annie said: “That was so good and to see my son out there.

“He worked so hard on his golf ever since he was little and to see him playing in an Olympics was enough as it was – and then to actually top it off with the gold…

“When I was a little girl growing up, who would ever have thought I would have a child who was a gold medallist? That actually puts it into perspective.

“Justin absolutely loved being here, Kate has, we all have and really embraced it. It’s wonderful that you can play for your country like this.”

The Rose family will now be hoping to be watching Justin again at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Olympic will become golf’s pinnacle says wife

ROSE’S wife Kate is an ex-gymnast, who competed for Britain at international level in acrobatic gymnastics, which was not an event at the Rio Games – and will not be at the Tokyo Olympics.

Kate, who lives with Justin in the Bahamas as well as having a home by the River Thames, in Putney, said: “I grew up watching the Olympics and that was the pinnacle of my sport.

“Obviously a lot of golfers didn’t have that so maybe it was a little slower for some of the golfers.

“But I think certainly the next generation will probably grow up thinking of the Olympics as a pinnacle of golf.

“I think anyone that has been here will also now view the Olympics very differently,” added Kate, mum to Leo and Charlotte, who has recently started playing golf with her older brother.

“Golf in the Olympics is a very special experience and one that I hope will get to continue, even beyond Tokyo.”

EDWARDS TO LEAD GB GOLF GOLD BID IN TOKYO

The post Gold medallist Rose backs decision to put 2020 Tokyo Olympics on hold for a year appeared first on Golf North.

Birdietime.tv chief exectuive Mikko Back (left) with Rufus Hack, the European Tour’s chief content officer at the unveiling of the new deal. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

THE European Tour and Birdietime.tv have launched a new online pay-per-view game improvement platform that connects fans to some of the world’s best coaches.

Birdietime.tv offers diverse set of coaching videos from the game’s leading coaches including Tour professional Robert Rock, putting specialist Phil Kenyon, Surrey-based Hugh Marr, Lee Cromblehome, Rob Goldup and 3D biomechanics expert Dr Mark Bull.

The latest addition to the coaching team is the recent Porsche European Open winner and Ryder Cup player Paul Casey and his coach, Peter Kostis, CBS’ long-time on-course reporter on the PGA Tour.

Instructional content will be regularly updated to ensure fans have access to the latest tips and techniques to help them with their own games.

Fans can either pay a monthly or yearly subscription to access the content or pay on demand per each video series they access.

Birdietime.tv’s Mikko Black said: “We are a platform for true golfers made by tour golfers – be it coaches or players.

“We are not just another video library, but a way to connect the best teachers to the most eager improvers – and we want the listen to the users on how to improve the platform as well.

“Having the backing and support of the European Tour allows us to grow our brand for the future, and we are looking forward to helping fans around the world improve their golf game.”

European Tour chief content officer Rufus Hack said: “Golfers around the world are constantly in pursuit of ways to improve their game and this new platform allows them to access content from some of the world’s top players and top coaches – the experts who help our leading professionals on a daily basis.”

The post European Tour signs a deal with top coaches to give golf fans plenty more Birdietime appeared first on Golf North.

Ian Poulter won the 2002 Italian Open – the last time Olgiata Golf Club hosted the event – after borrowing Justin Rose’s putter. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

IAN Poulter returns to the venue where he claimed his second Italian Open title 17 years ago hoping that another victory in the Rolex Series event can spark a late push in the Race to Dubai.

The Ryder Cup legend won his maiden European Tour title in the Italian Open when it was played in Sardinia in 2000.

And he triumphed again two years later at Olgiata Golf Club – the last time the tournament was played at this week’s venue, which is on the outskirts of Rome.

On that occasion, he borrowed a putter from Justin Rose for the week and went on to finish two shots clear of Scotland’s Paul Lawrie.

Poulter, who is attached to Woburn, said: “It was a long time ago – 17 years but it is always great to come back to a venue you’ve won at.

“It was the last time it was here too so hopefully it will be another great week to enjoy the Italian Open. I have two so it would be lovely to make it three.

“I remember I did ask Justin for a putter. He had a couple of spares and mine was misbehaving at the time.

“I asked him and he gave me one. I still have it in the office. I forgot – I should have brought it to see if I can throw it back in – but funny little things happen at certain times in events.

“It’s been a good year. It’s definitely been one to sit back, reflect and enjoy,” added the Ryder Cup hero, dubbed “The Postman˘” as he always delivered his points.

Poulter, who goes into the week in 15th position on the Race to Dubai, is now targeting a third Italian Open victory as he seeks a strong end to a 2019 season following a consistent campaign that has already yielded five top 10 finishes on the European Tour – alongside a share of 12th at the Masters Tournament.

“I’ve only missed three cuts so far this year. All three in Majors. The other one I had chance to win.

“Consistency has been key. I’ve played pretty well in a lot of tournaments,” added Poulter, whose first job in the game was working in the pro shop at Leighton Buzzard Golf Club, in Bedfordshire, having grown up in Hemel Hempstead.

“I’ve not finished many off, which I would like to have done. If I can have a nice run now – I’m playing six out of seven weeks in a row.

“So I’m going to play lot of golf coming up and seeing if I can get on a bit of a run and see if I can have a go at the Race to Dubai and then enjoy Christmas with the kids.”

The Englishman is one of six members of Europe’s victorious 2018 Ryder Cup Team in the field for the fifth Rolex Series event of 2019.

He is joined by compatriots Rose, Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton, Sweden’s Alex Noren and home favourite Francesco Molinari, along with winning captain Thomas Bjørn and 2020 captain Padraig Harrington, in the country which will host the 2022 Ryder Cup.

The post Poulter prepared for crack at third Italian Open 17 years after Rose putter primed win appeared first on Golf North.

Masters winner Danny Willett is tied at the top of the BMW PGA leaderboard with Jon Rahm after both posted 11-under totals after two rounds. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

JON Rahm and Danny Willett share a two-shot halfway lead at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

They head a star-studded leaderboard – also featuring local heroes Justin Rose and Paul Casey among others – sets up a thrilling weekend at the Surrey club’s Burma Road.

The 2016 Masters Tournament champion Willett delighted the 20,802 spectators with a stunning seven-under par 65 – equalling the best score this week – which caught fire straight from the off in the fourth Rolex Series event of the 2019 Race to Dubai.

The 31-year-old from Sheffield – already a Rolex Series winner at the 2018 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai – was five-under through five holes courtesy of three birdies and an eagle at the fifth, before picking up another shot at the ninth to clear the front nine in just 29 shots.

Back to back birdies at the 11^th and 12^th were offset by a single bogey at the 14^th as he moved to an 11-under total.

The 2016 Masters Champion said: “We hit a lot of good shots. Holed some nice kind of mid-range putts and I think with the wind picking up it’s probably better that you don’t expect that coming in.

“You just try and hit some good golf shots and see what it gives you, and fortunately today it gave us a pretty quick start,” said the former English and Spanish Amateur Champion.

“It’s amazing. It’s my 10th straight year, and playing with Westy (Lee Westwood), I think it’s his 26th.

“It’s one of those places where you love coming back. The crowds are amazing. They always are.

“I’ve had a couple nice finishes around here and the crowds help you along and really get behind you, and it’s a fantastic spectacle for golf.

“For me, and I think if you ask anyone out here, it’s the best condition I’ve seen it in the 10 years I’ve been here.

“It’s all set up for a really good weekend,” said the Yorkshireman who made his name as an amateur at Rotheram GC, rising to World No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings before turning pro in 2009.

Willett joined his fellow former Ryder Cup player Rahm at the summit after the Spanish sensation battled from successive bogeys on the opening two holes, following them up with four birdies on the bounce to move to reach the turn in two under.

The 24-year-old dropped a shot at the 10th but two more birdies, along with an eagle three at the last mean he is in the hunt for a fourth Rolex Series title.

Rahm, who is looking for his fourth Rolex win this weekend on the West Course said: “Made two bogeys on the first two, but it’s not like I had major misses or it just felt bad.

“It happens on this course, one is a tough hole and two was short, basically one yard off on both tee shots. I didn’t get too frustrated.

“I just capitalised on the putts that I had. I would say that birdie on three was very important, to get that one going before the par-five, knowing if I put it in the fairway I have a decent chance at a birdie.

“Being out there after 36 holes, with 36 to go, it’s important to have a chance, especially on a course that I’ve never seen before and a tournament this important.

“It is the Rolex Series, it’s a tournament we all want to win. There’s a lot of history here and a lot of legends on the walls, so it would be great to join that great list of players,” said Rahm who would love to follow in his hero’ Seve Ballesteros’ footsteps after he won the PGA at Wentworth in 1991.

Former World No, 1 Rose signed for a four-under 68 as he chases a first win at Wentworth, and he was joined on nine-under par by Henrik Stenson – alongside whom the Englishman has forged such a spectacular Ryder Cup partnership – as well as South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout.

Stenson said: “It’s always been nice to play Wentworth. The crowds have always been great and it’s got a lot of history on the European Tour, so it’s always nice to be back.

“I’m pretty pleased with the day’s work, especially being one-over through eight holes. I finished with nice wedge and putt on the last.”

Rose, who like Paul Casey, used to watch the PGA at Wentworth as youngsters, said: “I didn’t feel that comfortable with the driver yesterday but today I drove it much better.

“I thought it was a good round. I call this a bucket list event, this is one I’d dearly love to win. It’s my home event, really. It’s one I’ve watched since I was a little kid.”

Casey, a Surrey native, is two shots further back on seven-under, alongside American Billy Horschel, who is making his BMW PGA Championship debut this week.

Casey, who won the BMW PGA in 2009 and also the HSBC World Match Play on the Burma Road, in 2006, said: “I know this place incredibly well – local boy, local crowds.

“Everything about this feels kind of like a home tournament for me. I love it. That doesn’t make it easy, though. I think this golf course is difficult.

“You’ve got to play extremely good stuff. I’m always proud of the way I play when I play well around here.”

Bezuidenhout, who won the Andalucia Masters, at Valderamma, at the end of June, said: “I was pleased with the way I handled myself when things were not going my way.

“I was hitting it well but hit a couple of bad shots. I just kept my composure and tried to minimise the mistakes out there.

“You need to hit a lot of fairways here to make a score. I’m just going to try and do that and see how it goes come Sunday.”

Florida-based Horschel, who has been following Wentworth on TV for most of his golf life, said: “It’s exceeded my expectations this week. This course, I’ve been watching since I was 12.

“It’s a beautiful golf course on TV, and you get here and it’s even better in person.

“We’ve had a great game plan this week, but the more you play it, the more comfortable you get with the shots you’ve got to hit.”

Play was suspended overnight in round two with six players yet to complete their round.

•For live scores after its completion and during round three click here.

The post Rahm ready for head-to-head with Willett at Wentworth to join legend Seve as a winner appeared first on Golf North.

Robert MacIntyre raced into a four-shot lead at the halfway mark in the Porsche European Open after a superb 65 at Green Eagle Golf Courses, in Hamburg. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

ROBERT MacIntyre stormed into the Porsche European Open lead, firing a flawless seven-under par 65 to take a four-stroke advantage into the weekend after the second round in Hamburg.

The 23-year-old, who started the day two strokes behind 18-hole leader Paul Casey, carded the low round of the week so far at Green Eagle Golf Courses.

The Scotsman recorded three birdies on the front nine, which he matched as he came in, capping his round with his seventh gain of the day on the 18^th hole.

MacIntyre, who played for Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup at Los Angeles Country Club two years ago, said: “I just stuck to my game plan – it’s probably the best I’ve driven the ball this year.

“It’s not just going straight, it’s going miles. I don’t know what I’m doing but it’s working, and I’ll try and continue to do it,” added the Scot, who hails from Oban.

“I’ve changed quite a few things over the season to improve. Dave, my coach, is on the bag this week, he’s doing a great job off the course when I’m at home and doing the right things. It’s great to see the reward.

“It’s going to be tough, especially when it’s the first time that I’ve got such a lead – whether on the Challenge Tour or here on the European Tour – I’ll have to learn from this experience.

“I’m doing the right things on the course and the right things off the course, I’m nice and relaxed,” added MacIntyre, who was beaten in the final of the 2016 Amateur Championship by Hampshire’s Scott Gregory, who made a rare cut this week after a season of struggle for the Corhampton player, who was also a Walker Cup team-mate of the tournament leader in LA, in 2017.

“Everything at home has been brilliant, so I’m in the right mindset for going out this weekend.”

A runner-up on two occasions in his rookie season – at the Betfred British Masters and Made in Denmark in back-to-back weeks in May – this is the first time MacIntyre has held an overnight lead on the European Tour.

Leading the chasing park is Germany’s Bernd Ritthammer, who delighted the home crowds with a six-under par round of 66 to get to seven-under after 36 holes.

Ritthammer said: “I’ve had a slow season so far, it’s been tough. I’ve been working hard and not really getting any results.

“Friday for me normally has something to do with fighting the cut – I was very pleased with how I played yesterday, only one-under, but conditions were pretty brutal in the morning. That was as good as today.

“I got off to a good start and felt like I was flushing the ball, felt like it was going where I wanted to go,” added the player looking for his maiden European Tour victory.

“The putter really warmed up and I made some incredible par saves and really good birdie putts. I didn’t expect it to be that easy today, I just played really well.”

Ritthammer is two strokes ahead of the trio of Casey, Italian Guido Migliozzi and Austrian Matthias Schwab.

Bernd Wiesberger and Alexander Björk share sixth place on four-under, while German Dominic Foos is one of six players a stroke further back in eighth.

•For live scores in the third round click here.

The post MacIntyre accelerates into lead at Porsche European Open after a scorching 65 appeared first on Golf North.

Paul Casey shares the lead at the Porsche European Open after a sparkling 66 in testing conditions at Green Eagles Golf’s Nord Course. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

PAUL Casey defied testing conditions at Green Eagle Golf Courses to card a stunning six-under par 66, to take a one-stroke lead into the second round of the Porsche European Open.

Surrey’s four-time Ryder Cup player carded five birdies on the back nine, adding to gains made on the first and seventh holes, to sit one stroke ahead of Austria’s Matthias Schwab, who carded a bogey-free round of five under par.

Casey who has won 12 more times since his first win on the European Tour at Gleneagles in 2001, said: “It was a really good round of golf.

“There were a couple of putts that slipped by, but that is such a difficult golf course. I was happy with the patience I was showing and the quality of strike, considering I hadn’t played well in the pro-am.

“Now I stand here happier. The score doesn’t really do it justice – that’s one of the finest rounds of golf I’ve played this year,” added the four-time Ryder Cup player.

“I prefer it when it’s hot. I’ve always been a very good driver and I’m a good long-iron player – that was demonstrated today.

“The three-iron I hit into the 14^th was good. It suits me, but it doesn’t mean I enjoy it. I like easier golf courses, but this is the Porsche European Open – it is meant to be difficult.

“I’m here for a competition and I’m here because I want to win,” said Casey, who has four top fives and four top 10s in Germany, playing in the BMW International and Linde German Masters.

Matthias Schwab, who finished tied for eighth last week in the Omega European Masters at Crans, said: “It was a very good round for me.

“It was tough conditions – rain, really strong wind and sun every now and then. I managed to adjust well, I made some good shots and made some good putts – I’m happy with my score.

“I’m happy with only one bogey on my scorecard, added the Austrian, who is still seeking his maiden European Tour victory in his second full season on Tour.

Schwab added: “I had a four-week break and that came at the right time. I took some time off and worked on my game a bit, that seems to have paid off.”

Just 22 players in the 150-man field finished their first rounds under par after battling wind and rain on the Porsche Nord Course, which is the third-longest visited by the European Tour in 2019.

Wilshire’s Brabazon Trophy winner Ben Stow set the early clubhouse lead on four-under, and was joined on that number by Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre and German Max Rottluff.

Stow, the Rushmore Park player who won the English Amateur Strokeplay in 2014 before turning pro in 2015, said: “I worked my ball really well around the golf course.

“I managed it quite well and I chipped and putted really nicely. In these types of conditions you have to chip and putt well.

“I holed some good seven/eight-footers to keep it going and made some good birdies as well,” added Stowe, who missed four months with a serious knee injury before bouncing back with his maiden Challenge Tour win in Prague last summer.

Rottluff is making just his fifth European Tour appearance this week and said: “I played solid off the tee, especially in the wind.

“Finding the fairways was keen and I rolled in a few nice putts, which was a bonus and I managed to get around with a decent score.

“I’ve been in the US for seven years now. Graduated in ’16. Every year I felt like I was getting better in every aspect of the game and off the golf course, in terms of managing myself and travelling.

“I feel like I’ve been developing nicely and to come and shoot a good score is proving to myself that I have been working in the right places.”

Australian Lucas Herbert built on his tied-eighth finish at last week’s Omega European Masters with a three-under par start in Hamburg.

He joined Sweden’s Alexander Björk and Sussex’s Ben Evans in sixth place. Thomas Pieters – winner of last month’s D+D Real Czech Masters – is one of four players four strokes behind Casey on two-under.

For live scoring in round two click here.

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Denmark’s Lucas Bjerrregard overcame Hertfordshire’s Matt Wallace to reach the last 32 of the WGC-Dell Technologies World Match Play, at Austin Country Club. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

A RECORD-breaking eight Europeans progressed to the last 32 at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play after another fascinating day at Austin Country Club.

Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard was the only debutant in the field to top his group – setting up a clash against fellow Scandinavian Henrik Stenson.

Bjerregard’s match with England’s Matt Wallace went all the way to the 18^th hole, but the 27 year old battled to a one up victory to join nine other European Tour members in the final 16.

The Great Dane, who won the 2018 Alfred Dunhill Links at St Andrews, revealed: “I had not seen anything from Justin’s match.

“My caddie is the one who told me when I missed the one on 18 that he had halved. I just knew that I had to win. It’s been a couple of stressful days but I’m happy to come out and go through.

“It should be fun. I like Henrik. I don’t think I’ve ever played with him, actually. But it should be fun.

“And he’s obviously been playing well too. So we should have a good game, and I’ll tease him a little. We’ll have a little bit of Swedish-Danish thing going on.”

Stenson, meanwhile, beat 2020 Ryder Cup Captain Jim Furyk 5&4 to make it three successive victories.

The Swede, who won the WGC World Match Play back in 2007, said: “That’s the best round of golf I’ve played all year for certain. I’m very pleased to put it together.

“It was called the group of death and I guess I managed to bring it to the other guys. It was always going to be a tough group.

“I think that was really inspiring on my end, being up against such great players. I just happened to bring my best game.

“I’m trying to keep expectations low. I haven’t had a great start to the year. I’ve been working hard to try to get it to the right place.

“Certainly today I had some beautiful iron shots. I think I hit it within a foot four times on my approaches, which is good on any day anywhere.

“So I’m very pleased with that and just trying to take it one day, one match at a time.”

The 2018 Race to Dubai Champion Francesco Molinari also retained his 100 per cent record with a 2&1 triumph over Webb Simpson, as did Branden Grace.

The South African overcame Chez Reavie 2&1 to set up a showdown with Ryder Cup legend Sergio Garcia, who progressed despite a 2&1 defeat to Patrick Reed.

Garcia, whose best finish in the WGC event was fourth back in 2010, despite his enviable Ryder Cup pedigree, said: “Obviously that was the goal, to get through.

“In the perfect world, I would have loved to win today and I probably had my chances to do it.

“But you also have to give credit to Patrick, he played really well, mainly the back nine. He shot five-under in eight holes.

“So when someone does that to you and you don’t take a couple of chances that you had, it’s going to be difficult.

“But we’re through tomorrow. That’s the main thing on this round-robin thing. And now tomorrow it’s a brand new tournament.”

The first day of the knockout stages has thrown up numerous mouth-watering matches in Texas, with Molinari taking on his 2018 Ryder Cup team-mate Paul Casey – who beat Cameron Smith 4&3 to top his group – while Hampshire’s World No. 2 Justin Rose ground out a victory by one hole over Gary Woodland to remain unbeaten.

He will face Kevin Na in the first knockout stage.

Surrey-raised Casey, looking to win back-to-back titles and his first WGC belt said: “I’ve got to think I had a little bit of luck there with Cam three-putting right there.

“But I feel really good about the game. The only thing I’m trying to do is save the energy, because the win last week at Valspar, that was hard work on Sunday.

“It took a lot out of us. Johnny and I were really tired Monday and Tuesday. I guess the key is play as few holes as possible, I’m just trying to do that.”

Rose, last year’s Fed Ex Champion, said: “I was delighted to get through that match. It wasn’t really pretty, to be honest with you.

“I think I classed it as a pillow fight and then turned into a bit of a dogfight to the end.

“Gary actually played pure off the tee, especially. I think he let me in a little on the front nine.

“I felt like he could be two or three-up on me early, but fortunately I think I went one-up through eight.

“So that was the key moment in the match, about six, seven, eight – just really keeping myself in it or being let back into the match.

“And then I got a little bit of momentum up, and birdieing 12 and 13 got me two-up.

“At that point I was just trying to get it into the clubhouse and get through.

“Kevin is a gritty player. I think this golf course is his type of golf course. Length is not a big deal here. He’s got a great short game.

“He can walk putts in with the best of them. So I’m going to need to find something a little bit better than what I had today.”

China’s Haotong Li overcame Sweden’s Alex Noren in a play-off to squeeze through and he will come up against last year’s runner-up Kevin Kisner, who beat Ian Poulter on the third play-off hole to win his group.

Harleyford’s Tyrrell Hatton beat his English compatriot Lee Westwood 3&1 and he will face Matt Kuchar in the Round of 16, while Louis Oosthuizen triumphed over 2017 European Tour No. 1 Tommy Fleetwood to set up a clash with Marc Leishman.

All eyes in Texas though, are likely to be on the 8:30am match which pitches World No. 4 Rory McIlroy against 14-time Major champion Tiger Woods.

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Surrey’s Paul Casey is looking to go back to back at the WGC World Matchplay in Austin, after defending his Valspar trophy at Copperhead, last week. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

PAUL Casey arrives at this week’s WGC-Dell Technologies World Match Play in buoyant mood after the Englishman defended a title for the first time in his professional career last week at the Valspar Championship on the US PGA Tour.

The 41-year-old is the most recent of three Europeans to have won in consecutive weeks on the other side of the Atlantic – alongside Rory McIlroy and Francesco Molinari.

And all three are present at Austin Country Club in a field which features 48 of the world’s top 50. Casey, who was raised in Surrey, has a strong record in knockout formats, having won the Volvo World Match Play at Wentworth Club back in 2006.

His Ryder Cup record of four wins and five ties out of 12 matches – having played in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2018 having fallen out over the qualification process after missing out at Celtic Manor in 2010 – is one not to be sniffed at.

Add to that two runner-up finishes and four further top 10 in this event, and Casey is a force to be reckoned with in Texas this week.

The former Burhill junior who won back to back English Amateur Championships in 1999 and 2000 before turning pro at the end of that year said: “It feels great to be here after winning, really good.

“It’s obviously been a short week. I’m a little bit tired. I’d like to have a day off to recover, but it’s probably a good thing just to crack on.

“Last week was brilliant, so enjoyable, and what a tough golf course that is. But last year was like this huge kind of relief and quite emotional.

“Sunday was just exciting and felt great and kind of felt like the sort of golf – I certainly made mistakes, everybody did – but felt like golf I was playing 10 years ago, when I was in my 30s rather than my 40s.

So it felt very good.

“My matchplay record is fairly strong. Maybe not a huge amount of success in this particular event, or at Austin Country Club.

“But I played well finishing off the Ryder Cup last year in Paris. That was a great match against Brooks.

“I know how to play it. I’ve got massive respect for my group, but I don’t really have a group of death.”

The 13-time European Tour winner is one of 10 Englishmen in the field this week, a tournament record, and three of those are making their debut this week – Oxfordshire’s Eddie Pepperell and Herfordshire pair Tom Lewis and Matt Wallace.

Francesco Molinari does not have a standout record in the event, which has been won by Major winners in 12 of the last 16 outings.

The last outsider to produce a shock was Kevin Sutherland who won in 2002 when the WGC Matchplay was played at La Costa Resort in California’s Carlsbad, the home to two of the world’s biggest club manufacturers in TaylorMade and Calloway.

Molinari, who won his first Major by claiming the Claret Jug at The Open at Carnoustie, in July, said: “It’s always a tough event, not one where I’ve done particularly well in the past – so hopefully I’ll manage to change that trend this year.

“Clearly these guys are the best players in the world and it’s really exciting for people watching at home because anyone can beat anyone over 18 holes.

“I think the format is good, even if you win the first game you have to be on your toes and play well for the rest of the group stage and it can be a challenge for everyone for sure.

“You need a certain dose of good luck in match play but mostly you need to play good golf for a long time because it’s a lot of golf.

“In golf the margins are so small that really anything can happen, but you come into the week hoping to do well and hoping to play some good golf and that’s all you’ve got to do.

“So my focus will be on trying to control my game and my emotions and play some good golf and if you get the right breaks, you can go all the way.

“Since the event has come to Austin there has been a great atmosphere and the course is very good for match play, so many risk and reward holes so it should be a fun week for everyone.”   

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