The Shire London is the only Seve Ballesteros designed golf course in the UK and will welcome the Roes Ladies Series to North London on July 30

THE Rose Ladies Series will arrive at The Shire London for its penultimate event later this month with places in the three-day Grand Final up for grabs.

Created by Olympic Champion Justin Rose and his wife Kate, the Series has caught the mood of the golf game post-lockdown.

It has given Ladies European Tour members – and a handful of the best up-and-coming English talent in the amtaeur ranks – a chance to play competitive golf, while both the LET and LPGA have remained in hibernation and the amateur calendar has been paused because of the COVID-19 crisis.

Reigning Olympic champion Rose, who came up through the Hampshire junior ranks, was keen to add another event to the original six on the list after the series was created in a matters of days in June.

And the 2013 US Open champion chose the one and only Seve Ballesteros-designed course in the UK – The Shire London – as its venue for the Rose Ladies Series’ penultimate event on July 30.

The Spanish legend’s 18-hole layout will provide a perfect challenge for players battling to compete in the 54-hole Grand Final.

The latter will be played at North Hants – Justin’s home club at Fleet – The Berkshire, at Ascot, and finally Wentworth’s West Course, from August 5-7.

Rose, who has played in five Ryder Cups, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the interest the series has received.

“We were keen to add another event. The Shire London is a perfect venue in which to play it for a few reasons.

“It is the only Seve-designed course in the UK and he was one of my idols growing up. But also the location and course conditioning.

“For me, it really will be a special place to hold our penultimate event.”

Liz Young who came up with the original idea for the first event in the Rose Ladies Series at her home club Brokenhurst Manor, in the New Forest. Picture by TRISTAN JONES

New women’s programme at Shire

INSPIRED by LET player Liz Young’s efforts to put on a competition for fellow professionals, starting at her home club in the heart of the New Forest, the Rose Ladies Series was designed to help professional golfers in the UK get back playing competitively.

Featuring England’s rising amateurs also resonates with the work The Shire’s owners have done to champion junior golf in recent years.

It staged the 2018 American Golf Junior Championship. It has also hosted qualifiers for the European Junior Golf Tournament as well as the Hertfordshire Futures Tour run by the county golf union.

The Shire is also launching a new programme whereby women of all abilities will be able to learn new – or develop existing – skills and techniques with the club’s new junior coach Harry Casey.

The former England international won the Carris Trophy in 2011, before earning cards on the EuroPro and Alps Tours. He also played 30 times on the European Challenge Tour.

The programme aims to be an enjoyable and social experience to bring even more women into the game.

Shire director Ceri Menai-Davis said: “We are ecstatic to be holding the Rose Ladies Series at The Shire London.

“It will not only showcase our championship quality venue, but demonstrate the Bridgedown Group’s commitment to growing the game for everyone.

“When we heard about what Justin and Kate were proposing, we were immediately excited to be involved. To be welcoming some of the biggest and brightest stars to the club will be a real thrill.”

The Shire London bears the hallmarks of European Tour legend Seve Ballesteros

Wenworth Final will create more history

THE Rose Ladies Series has already created history by becoming the first ladies professional event to be played at Royal St George’s.

And the Grand Final will break more new ground next month when the famous Wentworth West Course – which is home to the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship – will stage a women’s professional event for the first time in August.

Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh has made all the running so far to lead the Order of Merit. She has had back-to-back wins at The Buckinghamshire Golf Club and Royal St George’s.

This week the action moves north to Uttoxeter with the JCB Golf & Country Club the next stop on the Rose tour on July 16, before Berkshire’s Bearwood Lakes welcomes the players on July 23.

After The Shire, the top 51 players on the American Golf Order of Merit will be eligible for the first two rounds at North Hants and The Berkshire.

The top 36 and ties will then play 18 holes on the famous Burma Road course.

As well as American Golf matching the £35,000 donated by the Roses for prize funds covering the first seven tournaments, Computacenter has also pledged £35,000 for the Grand Final.

Rose’s agent Paul McDonnell, of Excel Sports management, said: “We are very lucky that Computacenter and American Golf have come onboard. They have made it a much more attractive and rewarding series.

“The series has really snowballed. It is great that these talented players have the chance to play in a meaningful competition.”

Sponsor Computacenter looking to the future

COMPUTACENTER’S managing director Neil Hall has suggested the sponsorshiop will be just the start of his company’s support.

He said: “Computacenter is absolutely committed to driving diversity in the tech industry and creating an environment where women can excel.

“We are very proud to support Kate and Justin in providing a powerful platform for women’s golf, both now and in the future. We look forward to a long-standing partnership.”

Next week’s event will take place behind closed doors at The Shire, on the Hertfordshire-North London border.

Strict health and safety measures will be in place to ensure the safety of the players and all those involved.

Information about the Rose Ladies Series is available by clicking here. Sky Sports will also provide updates and reports.

Check out all the behind the scene action via The Shire’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.

Dye is cast for future of The Shire and Bridgedown

THE Shire London – renowned for its immaculate year-round course condition and unique course layout – opened in 2007.

Over the past 12 months, its owner the Bridgedown Group has worked alongside the world-famous Dye golf course design group to bring about further improvements.

Tee-2-Green’s Pure Distinction bent grass, used on some of the world’s most famous golf course has been inter-seeded on The Shire’s greens.

The Shire measures 7,028 yards from the Championship tees. Uniquely, it has six par fives, six par fours, and six par threes. The Masters course combines links-like features amid a parkland layout.

Its location in Barnet, North London, close to the M25 and M1/A1, also makes it an accessible society day venue.

•For more information about The Shire London, visit www.theshirelondon.com.

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Thomas Bjørn, who captained Europe to victory in the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Paris Golf National, returns to Valderrama in May – where he made his debut against the USA, in 1997. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

RYDER Cup heroes Thomas Bjørn and Lee Westwood will return to the venue where they made their Ryder Cup debuts against the United States in 1997 when the European Tour returns to Spain in May.

The Ryder Cup winners have confirmed they will tee it up in the Estrella Damm NA Andalucía Masters – hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation – being held on the Costa del Sol, from April 30-May 3.

The pair made their Ryder Cup bows in the biennial contest between Europe and the United States, at Real Club Valderrama, 23 years ago when the hosts – captained by the late, great Seve Ballesteros – retained the coveted trophy with a 14½-13½ victory.

They contributed 3½ points to the European cause, as Westwood earned two points alongside Nick Faldo in foursomes and fourball matches, while Bjørn earned a half in the Sunday singles against Justin Leonard.

That added to the point he won with Ian Woosnam against Leonard and Brad Faxon.

Westwood is bidding for a European record-equalling 11th Ryder Cup appearance at Whistling Straits later this year.

The 46-year-old is just outside the qualification spots for Padraig Harrington’s side.

But Westwood, who is now based in the North East and will host the Betfred British Masters at Close House in late July, is currently second on the Race to Dubai Rankings after his victory at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, in January.

“There isn’t much you can say about Valderrama that hasn’t already been said,” said Westwood.

“It’s a fantastic golf course, and 1997 was very special because I made my Ryder Cup debut there and then won the Volvo Masters a few weeks later.

“It is an incredible test of golf, and it’s testament to Robert Trent Jones’ design that it has remained unchanged over the last 30 years.

“It’s a course that we all enjoy playing, and credit goes to Sergio Garcia and his foundation for helping to develop this tournament over the last four years.”

His close friend Bjørn is also looking forward to returning to the venue where his Ryder Cup journey began, culminating in his victorious captaincy two years ago at Le Golf National, Paris.

“Valderrama is an excellent golf course, and a test which we all enjoy returning to,” said the 15-time European Tour winner, who celebrated his 49th birthday earlier this month.

“To make my Ryder Cup debut in a side captained by Seve, in his home country, and at a world-class venue, was incredibly special.”

Lee Westwood, who is bidding to appear in his 12th Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, in September, was also in Seve Ballesteros’ side that beat the USA at Valderrama 23 years ago. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Bjørn captained Europe to a record Ryder Cup triumph in Paris, in 2018, to give Harrington the chance to defend the famous trophy in Wisconsin, in September.

Westwood, who hails from Worksop, in Nottinghamshire, and Bjørn will join a host of other European Tour stars at Valderrama, as the Estrella Damm NA Andalucía Masters returns to the famed Spanish venue in April.

Tickets are available, starting from €7 juniors and €15 for adults. Season tickets are available for the full week (€30 for juniors and €75 for adults), as well as weekend-only tickets (€15 and €40).

Click here to purchase tickets.

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Spanish Open winner Jon Rahm wants to break Seve Ballesteros’ record as the youngest player to win five times on the European Tour. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

JON Rahm feels calm ahead of his Mutuactivos Open de España title defence, believing the burden of pressure is no longer there after winning his national Open at the first attempt last year.

The 24-year-old arrives at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid in strong form, having recorded seven top-ten finishes in his last 10 events, including a runner-up result at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth just two weeks ago.

After securing his fourth European Tour title at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in July, his third Rolex Series victory, the World No. 5 now has his sights set on reaching the milestone of five victories faster than the late, great Seve Ballesteros.

Rahm said: “I hope I can get to five before Seve did. I would love to do that. Those records are always nice. That’s something I have in mind when I’m playing.

“There are some weeks when I really want to win – I’d love to be a multiple winner of the Open de España and I’d love this to be the first time I successfully defend a title. So, I hope that happens.

“There won’t be more pressure than last year. It was the first time I had played the event – I was fourth in the world and I had just played well at Augusta.

“It was a golf course I played in high school. This time I don’t know the golf course.

“I am defending champion and the highest-ranked player, but the fact it’s a golf course I’ve not played much is a big difference. Hopefully I can just focus on playing good golf and be in the mix on Sunday.

“I wish I would have been able to enjoy last year’s win a little more. When I went down 18, I didn’t know Nacho Elvira had hit it in the water and made a double.

“I wished I’d have known that because that would have made a big difference with how I approached it.

“There was a chance of him holing out with his second shot – but I would have enjoyed it a little more. It was still a great week.

“Walking down to that green was a great feeling – 50,000 fans showed up to an event that was planned and advertised late.

“I was really proud of my country and proud of myself to be able to come and win. It’s a huge honour to represent Spain and Spanish golf.

“We all try and follow Seve’s steps and to win that event was unique and very special.”

Ballesteros won his fifth title at the 1978 Martini International in what was his 49th start, while Rahm is making his 39^th European Tour appearance this week.

Rahm is one of 32 Spanish golfers teeing it up on home soil this week, including Ryder Cup stalwarts Sergio Garcio, Miguel Angel Jiménez and José María Olazábal.

He will begin the tournament in the company of three-time European Tour winner and 2016 Ryder Cup player Rafa Cabrera Bello and rising star Adri Arnaus, who is currently 34^th on the Race to Dubai Rankings in his rookie season after graduating from the European Challenge Tour last year.

Arnaus, who has two runner-up finishes in his first season on the European Tour, said: “Everyone is wishing all the Spanish players to have a great week, there’s a lot of people I know from growing up who I’m meeting here.

“It’s one where every Spaniard wants to win the trophy, so it makes it that more special.

“You always get butterflies when you’re on the first tee, especially at the thought of playing with Jon and Rafa in front of all of those people who will be following us.

“But I’m used to that now; hopefully I can go out there and enjoy the experience. I see it as a privilege,” added Arnaus, who finished second in the Andalucia Masters, hosted by Sergio Garcia, at Valderrama in June.

For live scoring follow the Spanish Open on the new-look European Tour website by clicking here.

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Sergio Garcia would love to win the Spanish Open in front of his home fans in Madrid after victory in his last start at the KLM Open, in Amsterdam. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

SERGIO Garcia hopes to bring his title-winning form from the KLM Open to this week’s Mutuactivos Open de España as he prepares to tee it up in his national Open for the first time since 2016.

The 39-year-old is also making his first appearance since returning to the winner’s circle last month at Holland’s KLM Open, securing his 16^th European Tour title and his fifth victory in a two-and-a-half year span.

Garcia, the winner of the 2002 Open de España, hopes to channel happy memories both from this tournament and playing in his home country, where he has won seven times in his 20-year professional career.

Garcia said: “It’s good to be a part of this event again – 2016 was the last time I played, at Valderrama.

“It’s a tournament I’ve won in the past, and I would love to renew that feeling here. It should be good fun here in Madrid.

“I did have a really nice week in Amsterdam a few weeks back. I’m excited to keep that momentum going. My game feels pretty good and hopefully we can have a great week.

“The course has changed a little bit with a few new tees, but the essence of the course is still the same.

“Small greens… you have to drive the ball well. If you miss fairways there are a lot of tricky shots. It looks really nice, at the end of the day it comes down to playing well and we’ll see how it turns out.”

Garcia is joined in the Spanish capital this week by Rafa Cabrera-Bello, who is searching for a first professional win on home soil.

Cabrera Bello, who made his Ryder Cup debut in Hazeltine three years ago, said: “I’m really looking forward to the Spanish Open this year, it’s always a pleasure to play in my home country.

“We feel the love and support from the crowds, promoters, organisers and everyone in the event.

“Of course we want to play our best and show off our best golf – sometimes that doesn’t happen, but it doesn’t matter,” added Cabrera-Bello, who played for Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup in 1999.

“If they see us trying our hardest they appreciate that, it’s the mentality we come with. We want to win and will give it our best shot, but it’s not always in our hands.

“I’ve played this tournament a lot and only had two top 10s, it hasn’t been my best event.

“But that can change in a week. I feel more mature now and can deal with pressure or expectation much better these days.

“Hopefully this year, with the way my game is at the moment, I can put on a good performance.”

The three-time European Tour winner’s most recent victory came at the 2017 Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, when he beat Callum Shinkwin in a play-off.

Cabrera-Bello made his first appearance in this event as an amateur the same year that Garcia triumphed, finishing in a share of fourth place, in the Canaries.

The Open de España returns to Club de Campo Villa de Madrid for the first time since 1996 when Padraig Harrington won his first European Tour event.

It is also the same venue where the late, great Seve Ballesteros won his 50^th and final title on the European Tour the year prior.

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By EUROPEAN TOUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE KEITH PELLEY

Keith Pelley: “Our players are central to everything we do and they are the key ingredient in our recipe for success.”

TODAY marks an exciting new chapter in the history and the modern evolution of the European Tour as we unveil our new brand identity along with our new website and app.

More than a decade has elapsed since we last embarked on a brand refresh.

It is fair to say both golf and the European Tour have changed immensely in the interim, particularly over the past four years as we have strived to lead the transformation of global golf through our creative content, our commitment to innovation and our desire to break new ground.

Of course, that is not to say we do not also recognise and reflect our past.

Just as I have always said, innovative formats such as GolfSixes are necessary to appeal to modern audiences.

But 72-hole strokeplay, such as our Rolex Series tournaments, will always remain the core of our sport.

We are rightly proud of our history and we will continue to celebrate the tradition of the European Tour.

Six-time Major winner Sir Nick Faldo visiting the new meeting room at the European Tour’s Wentworth HQ, during last month’s BMW PGA Championship.

Only last week, during the BMW PGA Championship, Sir Nick Faldo, the six-time Major Champion and one of European Tour’s greatest players, visited our new-state-of-the art offices to see some of the changes we have made – including the construction of the Sir Nick Faldo Meeting Room, which showcases his considerable achievements in the game.

It is one of three meeting rooms we have created, alongside the Seve Ballesteros Room and the Colin Montgomerie Room – all named in honour of some of our true legends – while in our new-look boardroom, the latest technology is presided over by a powerful mural of our founding father John Jacobs.

Furthermore, our players will continue to compete for the Harry Vardon Trophy awarded to the person who wins our season-long Race to Dubai.

Our past, therefore, will continue to inform and shape our future. That will not change.

But it was, important, if not essential, that we revisited our brand, our aesthetic and our positioning to reflect more accurately what we are doing as a Tour right now.

The changing face of the European Tour in the 21st century

One of the key opportunities this affords us is the opportunity to engage better with our fans and with our partners.

We want to have a deeper relationship with both and I feel our new brand enables us to do that.

As a business, our focus has shifted in recent years from B2B (business to business) to B2C (business to consumer) through extending our ecosystem beyond traditional revenue sources, and the existing model of simply staging golf tournaments.

Our new logo is representative of this evolution.

It is more modern and more commercially friendly than before, with the ‘T’ more instantly recognisable and more flexible, giving us the ability to create greater brand identity.

Both our website and app have also been refreshed to allow us to showcase the incredible content that has become so synonymous with the European Tour over the last few years, as we have developed our unique tone of voice in this space.

Fittingly, we have reprised one of our most popular pieces of recent times, The Content Committee, to help celebrate today’s brand roll out.

Our players are, after all, central to everything we do and they are the key ingredient in our recipe for success.

It is their Tour and they, along with our partners,will help us drive golf further.

Today is yet another exciting step in that process.

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Rory McIlory admitted if he could have one last round back it would be his first appearance at Crans-sur-Sierre when the rookie lost a play-off. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

NEWLY-crowned FedEx Champion Rory McIlroy has had many incredible highs in his stellar career… but if he could take one tournament back, it would be the Omega European Masters of 11 years ago.

The Northern Irishman was playing his rookie European Tour season and while he had put in some excellent performances, the then 19-year-old had yet to claim that maiden win.

After three days at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club he held a four-shot lead and while that had been narrowed on Sunday, he stood over a five-foot par putt on the last that would have seen him lift the trophy.

His effort slid by and Frenchman Jeff Lucquin went on to win the play-off and claim his only European Tour title.

The four-time Major winner and Ryder Cup star has gone on to savour some sensational moments over the years, earning €36million in prize money in Europe alone since 2007.

After the high of last week at East Lake in Atlanta when he claimed the $15million prize, his next target is to reclaim the World No. 1 spot, starting with a positive performance in Crans Montana.

McIlroy, the current World No. 2, said: “I had a wonderful opportunity to win my first event on Tour here.

“I was leading going into the last day, had a one-shot lead playing the last and wasn’t able to make par from there.

“I was beaten in the play-off. It’s still to this day the one event I think of that I would like to re-do – get a mulligan.

“The first time I was here I fell in love with the place, the people, the atmosphere. I’m glad that it worked out this year that I could be here.

“I would like to give myself another chance at least,” said McIlroy, who saw-off World No. 1 Brooks Koepka, who had put Rory to the sword in the WGC Fedex St Jude Invitational in Memphis last month, when the two went head-to-head in the last group in Georgia, on Sunday.

“I think Brooks (Koepka) has got about a three-point lead on me. I don’t know if that’s attainable with the tournaments I have left.

“I saw somewhere that there are more world ranking points on offer here than there have been for eight years,” added McIlroy, who was keen to prove a point by beating Koepka to claim his second FedEx Cup after his victory in 2016.

“Wentworth is obviously big for world ranking points. There’s a WGC coming up. There’s still a lot to play for. That’s my focus for the rest of the year, getting closer to that number one spot.”

Matthew Fitzpatrick is driven by two targets of his own as he goes in search of a third consecutive win at the Omega European Masters.

The Englishman is aiming to become the first player to win the title three years in a row and match the great Seve Ballesteros as a three-time winner of the event in the Swiss Alps.

Another victory at the breathtaking Swiss venue would also ensure the five-time European Tour winner has been victorious in every full season he has been on Tour – and in what could be a good omen, he has Ballesteros’ former caddie Billy Foster on his bag.

Fitzpatrick, from Hallamshire GC, in Sheffield, said: “I’m definitely thinking about winning again. Having won here the last two years, it is a big thing for me.

“I absolutely love coming to back this place, I have since I first came here in 2014. I try to win at least once every season. Obviously, winning five seasons in a row would also be a big deal for me.

“There is a stronger field this year. Also, the course has had a few changes to it. But if I can play my own game and play the way I’ve played in this place, there is no reason I can’t get a good result.

“I think he (Billy Foster) is feeling the pressure more than me. He’s interested in seeing how I play and how I see the course.

“We’ve got a good relationship and had a good season so far,” added Fitzpatrick.

The stellar field also includes a man who is hoping home comforts can inspire him to a second victory in the mountains.

Sergio Garcia lifted the trophy in 2005 and has never finished outside of the top 20 in five appearances.

The Spanish Major winner is so taken with the stunning surroundings that he owns a house just 100 yards from the Ballesteros-designed golf course, where he has spent the last week with wife Angela and daughter Azalea.S

Garcia, the 2017 Masters winner, said: “It’s always fun to play here in Crans. We live here some part of the year so it’s nice to sleep in your own bed and be at home.

“We’re excited for it, of course it looks really nice and the views are always unbelievable. We’ve been here for just over the week so we’ve done a little bit of practice and it’s nice to have Angela and Azalea with me.

“I’ve always enjoyed these kind of golf courses – tight, not particularly long but you have to drive the ball well and you have to be accurate. That’s usually the courses that I thrive on.

“There’s no doubt it is the Seve Ballesteros golf course so it’s good to be here and we always remember him.

“It’s a shame that he’s not with us but it’s nice to be playing here at his designed golf course and hopefully we’ll make him proud.”

For live scoring from Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, click here.

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