Sam Horsfield will attempt to create more history at Celtic Manor by completing a hat-trick of wins on the UK Swing of the European Tour. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

SAM Horsfield is aiming to make it a hat-trick of victories in the space of four UK Swing events at Celtic Manor.

The Florida-based Englishman tees it up in the ISPS Handa Wales Open on the same Twenty Ten course upon which he triumphed just four days ago.

The 23-year-old, who hails from Manchester, became the first player in European Tour history to go win-missed cut-win when he claimed the inaugural Celtic Classic title at the Newport resort, on Sunday.

The victory matched his performance two weeks earlier in the Hero Open at Forest of Arden Marriott Golf and Country Club, near Coventry.

Horsfield, who has lived in Florida since the age of five, said: “The celebrations were good. I didn’t feel great on Monday morning.

“Me, (Sean) Crocker and Haydn (Porteous) had a few drinks and celebrated properly. It hasn’t really hit me yet about the two wins.

“I think once I have a few weeks off and some time to think about everything and reflect, it’ll set in then.

“But I’m just trying to focus on this week. One of the first people to text me was Ian (Poulter). But I’ve had a bunch of support from everybody… fellow players.

“It’s always nice when people send you messages of congratulations,” said the University of Florida graduate.

Sam Horsfield wants to win back to back at Celtic Manor in the ISPS Handa Wales Open after claiming the Celtic Classic last week at the 2010 Ryder Cup venue. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Horsfield can create more history

HORSFIELD is hoping to ride his good form for another strong showing as the European Tour plays back-to-back on the same course for the first time this week.

Sam said: “I am confident. I feel like I’m playing good golf. I think they’re going to change the course around a little bit.

“I don’t know exactly what they’ll do to it. Hopefully, I get out there today and see what they’ve done,” he said on Wednesday afternoon.

“I’m playing good golf and I just want to give myself an opportunity going into Sunday again.

“It’s going to be soft and it’s going to be playing long, and I think that helps me.

“I hit it pretty far off the tee and there isn’t so much on run-outs,” added Horsfield who ranks 12th on the Tour’s driving distance stats.

“It’s going to be plugging when it hits the fairway so I think it’s going to be a bomber’s golf course this week.

“I hit two left shots on 16 and 17 last week and I really do not like that shot.

“But it’s hard when you’ve won twice in two weeks to find any issues. You can always improve so I’m going to try eliminate that left shot slowly, but surely, and see where it gets me.”

The Twenty Ten Course will be used for a second European Tour event in a row

Sam set for trip to the land of Uncle Sam

HORSFIELD, a protégé of Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter, has already secured his place in next month’s US Open via the UK Swing’s mini-order of merit – which he currently leads.

The top 10 players in the rankings at the conclusion of this week’s event will qualify for the season’s second Major at Winged Foot, in New York, next month.

Meanwhile, Robert MacIntyre and Haotong Li are making their return to European Tour action for the first time since March.

Both played in the year’s first Major, the USPGA Championship at TPC Harding Park, and made the cut.

Li is feeling particularly confident having led the field after round two before finishing in a share of 17th position.

The Chinese star said: “I see a lot of this rainy weather playing on tour around the world. So I’m kind of used to it.

“It’s pretty nice here – a traditional UK style place. So I’m just glad to be here. The course is pretty good and I think it suits my game.

“You need to hit solid shots to shoot low scores here so it’s going to be a fun week. The game is good, especially coming from the PGA Championship.

“I got a lot of confidence over there, said Haotong, who fired a superb 64 in San Francisco in the second round to lead at the halfway mark.

He added: “I felt like I can compete with those guys when I was playing there. I really enjoyed it, it was a great experience.

“Before then I hadn’t played in quite a while. I’m finding a lot of confidence now and hopefully I can go low this week.

“I think if I bring my A-game I will get a good result. Actually the bubble has been pretty good, I was surprised.

“The hotel and food and everything has been a lot better than I thought.”

Oban’s Robert MacIntyre, who won the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award in 2019, tees it up for the first time at Celtic Manor. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Rookie of the Year ready to resume on European Tour

LAST year’s Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year was one of the eligible British players who travelled to California.

Oxfordshire’s Eddie Frilford and Ryder Cup veteran Lee Westwood both chose not to travel to the States.

MacIntyre, whose last European Tour event was in Qatar, back in March, said: “It’s good to be back.

“Good to get back to competitive golf week-in, week-out. The European Tour have done a great job getting everyone back and playing again.

“I obviously watched this place on the TV for the Ryder Cup and hopefully I can get out today to finally see it – and if not I’ll just go out and enjoy it tomorrow,” said Robert, who makes his debut at Celtic Manor this week.

“Greg my caddie has been here and seen the course twice and says it’s as you see it. So as long as I’m hitting it well, which I am doing now, then why not have a good week?

“It was good at Harding Park, probably one of the toughest tests I’ve ever played on.

“If you missed the fairway by a yard-and-a-half, you were chipping it 60 yards down the fairway if you could.

“If you hit it wider you were alright. But I felt like I was just running off fairways from time to time and that’s what cost me.

“The game is in good shape though and I’m looking forward to this week,” said the Scot, who played in the 2017 Walker Cup against the USA in Los Angeles.

“I’m not too sure what I want from the rest of the season. I’m just going to play here and next week and then I have the US Open.

“We’re just trying to win every week we’re out here. Sam is making a good effort at that, so I’m just going to go out and enjoy my golf again and try be up there come Sunday.”

•Follow live scoring in the first round of the ISPS Handa Wales Open at Celtic Manor by clicking here.

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Wales’ Jamie Donaldson has finally found form and fitness in the build-up to the new Celtic Championship – the UK Swing’s fourth event – at Celtic Manor. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

WELSHMAN Jamie Donaldson is relishing the opportunity to tee it up on home soil as Celtic Manor hosts the European Tour for the next two weeks, starting with the Celtic Classic.

Taking place on the Twenty Ten Course, where Europe won back the Ryder Cup in dramatic fashion ten years ago, the Celtic Classic is the fourth event of the six-tournament UK Swing.

The 44-year-old – who was born in Pontypridd, 25 miles from Newport’s Celtic Manor  – was the hero of the 2014 Ryder Cup, holeing the winning putt at Gleneagles.

Donaldson said: “I love coming back down here. It’s a great venue and the course is looking really good, and the sun is shining.

“I do love playing here. Normally you get great crowds, which is a shame, given the current circumstances that won’t be happening.

“It’s a special place, beautiful setting and beautiful weather,” Jamie said of the old Wentwood Hills Course which was redesigned to create the Twenty Ten course, which runs through the picturesque Usk valley.

Donaldson added: “I’ve been playing nicely. After the wrist operation things take time and I’ve been working hard to get that right.

“I’m fit as a fiddle. Sometimes things take longer than you think they would.

“I came back last year but never really felt 100 per cent. But now I feel fit, ready to go and look forward to playing this week.

Jamie, who briefly challenged the leaders at Hanbury Manor last weekend, added: “This is more of a ball-strikers golf course. It’ll help the longer hitter.

“It’s good that I can shoot low scores like that still. I’ve been playing well in practice, things are starting to come together.”

Celtic Manor hosted the Wales Open on the Twenty Ten Ryder Cup course from 2008 until 2014. Next week’s Wales Open will be played on the Roman Road course.

Ryder Cup heroes return to Newport

DONALDSON is one of a number of players, who have represented Europe in the biennial contest who will tee it up this week.

Ross Fisher and Edoardo Molinari, teammates in South Wales in 2010 are returning to the site of that famous victory.

Colin Montgomerie’s team’s victory was sealed by Graeme McDowell on the 16^th hole in the anchor match. The event had run into a fourth day because of torrential rain.

Italian Molinari said: “It’s a golf course that I love. I have great memories from the Ryder Cup and the Wales Open – I played here a couple of times.

“It brings back a lot of fantastic memories, playing with Francesco and the whole team, and managing to win that cup by half a point.

“It was a fantastic week. The weather, so far, looks good. Let’s see what the next few days bring us. It’s always a very enjoyable week here.

“I have two memories – the first tee with Francesco on the first day, which still gives me goosebumps 10 years on.

“Then the last few holes in the singles against Rickie Fowler. I remember how busy it was – how many people were watching. I’ve never seen that many people be so loud on a golf course.”

Next week the Wales Open will be played on Celtic Manor’s Roman Road Course, which also hosted the European Tour event from 2005-7 while the old Wentwood Hills was transformed into the new Ryder Cup course.

Nuneaton’s Andy Sullivan notched his first win in nearly five years in the English Championship at Hanbury Manor last week.

Sullivan seeks more success after ending run

LAST week’s English Championship winner Andy Sullivan, who played in Darren Clarke’s team beaten at Hazeltine in 2016, will hope to consolidate his place at the summit of the UK Swing Order of Merit.

Sullivan, who won for the first time in nearly five years in Hertfordshire on Sunday, said: “It’s a long time waiting for that fourth win. I couldn’t be happier.

“Nice to do it in my own country and get back home with the family and celebrate. I’m still on cloud nine, it’s not quite sunk in yet.

“Florence was elated, bless her, it was my first win with her,” Andy said about his fiancé. “She was over the moon and it was good to see a proper smile on her face.

“Before lockdown I felt I was playing really, really well. I just felt that my attitude wasn’t there. My head wasn’t in the space to win a golf tournament, or compete in a tournament.

“There was a lot of self-reflection over lockdown. I opened up to my team about a lot of hings personally and golf-wise.

“Talked through it and came out with a plan to get my way to being happy and smiley on the golf course – and being competitive.

“I didn’t think it would happen so quickly. To come out and be competitive at the British Masters and then win the third event. It’s amazing and reinforces what we’re doing as a team.”

The top 10 not already exempt after next week’s ISPS Handa Wales Open will earn a place at the US Open, at Winged Foot.

Those finishing inside the top 10 after the sixth and final event – the ISPS Handa UK Championship – will also earn a share of £250,000 to donate to charities of their choice.

•To follow live scoring in the first round of the Celtic Championship click here.

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Andy Sullivan’s English Championship win at Hanbury Manor was his first since the Portugal Masters in 2015, and moves him to the top of the UK Swing Order of Merit. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

ANDY Sullivan cruised to a commanding victory at the English Championship at Hanbury Manor.

The former Ryder Cup player claimed his fourth European Tour title and his first in nearly five years in the process after his win at the Portugal Masters in 2015.

The Walker Cup winner held the lead in the UK Swing’s third event from the second round – when he carded a course-record 62.

And the Nuneaton boy never relinquished his place at the summit.

A third round 64 handed the 34-year-old a five-stroke advantage heading into the final day at Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel and Country Club, and he never let up on a frazzling final day as the thermometer headed to the high 80s.

An eagle three at the par five second hole quashed the early hopes of a determined chasing pack.

The latter included Spain’s two-time European Tour winner Adrian Otaegui, whose five-under front nine made him a leading contender for an upset.

Otaegui got to within two with six to play, but Sullivan picked up four shots down the stretch to seal the deal with a six-under par 65 and a 27-under total – winning by seven shots from the Spaniard.

Sullivan sheds a few tears after win

THE normally chirpy Sullivan was left sharing some tears after speaking to his family in a live video link after walking off the 18th

He said: “I’m proud of myself. I wasn’t quite stuck in the doldrums. But it just hasn’t quite happened for me since those three wins in 2015 – and it feels like a weight off my shoulders now… I think it told out there.

“I never really felt comfortable out on the golf course all day, I found it quite a battle the whole way around until I started dropping a couple of putts on the back nine and my lead started increasing.

“I was always on guard today, I knew Adrian was there breathing down my neck.

“But it’s nice to come down those last few holes and know the job was done.

“I got to the green at 12 and I saw him birdie that hole to get to within two so I knew that was going to be quite big.

“I holed it, and then had a great two-putt on the next and then two really good putts on 14 and 15 which were massive.”

Adrian Otaegui pushed Sullivan as hard as he could despite being six shots behind. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Otaegui: Sully was at another level

OTAEGUI was looking for this third win on the Euorpean Tour – and his first since claiming the Belgian Knockout in 2018.

Adrian said: “I’m very happy with my round, very happy with my week overall.

“Obviously, congratulations to Andy, he’s played at just another level. The rounds he’s played this week were amazing.

“He played some very very good golf. But I’m very happy with my score, I had a very good start which was good.

“I was feeling very good. I was rolling the ball very well all week really and was feeling very confident.

“I holed some good putts for birdie today, saved a couple of pars as well. I had very good pace on the long putts as well. They were finishing quite close to the hole which is always quite good to tap it in. ”

The new champion, who won three times in 2015 – including twice in South Africa to earn a place in Darren Clarke’s Ryder Cup team at Hazeltine a year later – moved from 42nd to 15th in the Race to Dubai rankings.

It also moved him to the top of the UK Swing Order of Merit after three events.

The top 10 after the sixth and final tournament will share an additional £250,000 from the European Tour’s Golf for Good initiative, to donate to the charity of their choice.

The top 10 – not otherwise exempt after the fifth event – will also gain spots in the US Open at Winged Foot next month.

Wentworth’s Steven Brown could not convert his many birdie chances on Sunday. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Brown beaten as the putts fail to drop at Ware course

SULLIVAN was paired with Wentworth’s Walker Cup team-mate Steven Brown, who finished on 17-under after seeing a number of putts brush the hole.

Brown, who played in the same Great Britain and Ireland team that beat the USA at Royal Aberdeen in 2011, as Sullivan, was looking for a second win, having claimed the Portugal Masters title in November.

That end-of-season win also saved his European Tour card.

Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard was one shot further back in third in the English Championship, with young South African Wilco Nienaber on 18-under par, having got into the event as an alternative at the 11th hour.

Højgaard, who won a play-off in Mauritius in December, admitted a US Open debut was top of his priorties after securing his card as the third-youngest winner in European Tour history at just 18.

Rasmus said: “I think the last two days, my scoring has not been a low as I want it to be.

“But I’ve been fighting and grinding my way through the rounds and I’m happy to shoot a low one today.

“I’ve been consistent I guess. I’ve been having a good couple of weeks, happy with how my game is trending.

“Obviously that US Open spot is what I want right now and I have booked my ticket there now so I’m happy with that.”

•To see the final results from Hanbury Manor click here. And to see the current mini-Order of Merit list click here.

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Northern Ireland’s Cormac Sharvin leads the English Championship after the first round at Hanbury Manor having shot a superb 63 as one of the late starters. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

An opening round of 63 by Cormac Sharvin was enough to open up a one-shot cushion over a congested leaderboard in the inaugural English Championship.

The Northern Irishman dropped just two shots to reach eight-under par – on a day of perfect scoring conditions at Hanbury Manor Marriot Hotel and Country Club – to move one ahead of a group of six players.

The English trio of Jack Senior Laurie Canter and David Howell had all held the lead. Lancastrian Senior had gone out in 29, and got to eight-under before two late bogeys saw him drop back.

Canter and Howell – who holed his second shot on the 15th – also dropped shots on the 17^th to fall back into the pack.

They ended round one of the third event of the UK Swing alongside Belgian Thomas Detry, Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, and Australians Min Woo Lee and Jason Scrivener.

Sharvin said: “It was a nice round – played really well, Didn’t do too much wrong. Put it on the fairway, hit a lot of good shots and holed a few putts as well and it all added up to 63.

“Pretty happy to start well. A long way to go. But it’s always nice to shoot a good score on the first day and not put yourself out of it.

“I feel like last week I didn’t play too badly.” Cormac added: “I just struggled on the greens.

“I did a lot of work with Dean Robertson my old college coach, who has been caddying for me on the UK Swing.

“Did a lot of work on my putting process and it seemed to work. Hopefully it keeps going in that direction and see where it takes us,” said Sharvin.

English pair in hunt at Hanbury

CANTER and Howell sit one shot ahead of a group of nine players, including Belgian Ryder Cup player Nicolas Colsaerts and rising Danish star Rasmus Højgaard.

The pair recorded rounds of 65 to sit at six-under after the European Tour returned to the Hertfordshire venue for the first time since 1999.

Canter, from Somerset, said: “I got off to a great start. I said to my caddie on the putting green I didn’t feel like I was getting to grips with the greens.

“Then on the first hole I holed a 60-footer right across it. Funny how that happened.

“Played really nicely. I’d have that swing back on 17, but I’m happy with today.

“I have tried to do things a bit differently because we have the opportunity to. I’ve always played with keeping the card hanging over my head.

“Someone I work with asked ‘how are you going to approach the game differently?’ It’s not rocket science.

“I’ve tried to do a couple of things. It’s early to say it’s working. I’ve only played nine rounds.

“It’s been more enjoyable – which is one thing I’ve taken out of it and I’m having fun out there. We’ll see how long that continues.”

David Howell’s last win came in 2013 in the Alfred Dunhill Links at St Andrews

Howell: I just needed a good start

TWO-time Ryder Cup winner Howell has struggled to replicate his big wins of 2006 after a long-term back condition hampered his career.

The Broome Manor GC member, from Swindon, has now been on tour for 25 years and has five wins including the HSBC Invitational in 2005, when he beat Tiger Woods in Shanghai.

Howell, whose last win came in the Alfred Dunhill Links seven years ago, said: “It’s been a long time since I’ve put a good first round on the board to be honest. It’s what I’ve been crying out for.

“I’ve played some reasonable golf in spurts since we’ve come back but haven’t got off to a great start.

“Today it happened so it was lovely. Nice to see my name somewhere near the top of the leaderboard, if not the top.

“There was a lovely family, the only gallery we would have, in their property behind the 15th green.

“Might be the only golf fans we play in front of for the entire UK Swing.

“They happened to be sat there on their own lawn when the ball went in. They were the give away that it was indeed an eagle.”

Howell was the clubhouse leader with the six others until Sharvin overtook them late in the afternoon.

Detry on a roll after English Open near miss

THOMAS Detry has been touted by many people as a winner in waiting on the European Tour and lost out to Florida-based Mancunian Sam Horsfield in last week’s English Open.

Detry, who made nine birdies in his 64, said: “It was really good. Built up a bit of momentum from last week I think.

“I got off to a really good start, with an eagle chance at the second, a birdie putt at the third.

Detry added: “I was just rolling – had four more birdies on the last four holes of the front nine.

“Then I kept it going. I made two little mistakes on 11 and 17 but I’m very pleased with the way I’m playing golf right now.

“You’ve just got to forget about it and this week is just another chance to put my name up there and have a chance on Sunday.

“That’s what I think I’ve done today and hopefully I can keep going the next few days. Last week was not easy.

“I played some really good golf but Sam Horsfield hit an amazing shot on 17 to birdie that hole and beat me by one, so we just move on.”

Min Woo Lee has been tipped for thE top. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES

Min Woo Lee hopes he turned corner at Ware

ANOTHER young player touted for great things is former US Junior Amateur Champion Min Woo Lee.

He said: “I just striped it awesome. I hit it really good with my irons and my driver and rolled a few in.

“I think my longest putt was 25 feet, so I was pretty happy with that. It’s scoreable but you’ve also got to hit your shots.

“I hit it really awesome and close to the hole so it gave me a lot of opportunities.”

Lee, who sister is an LPGA winner, narrowly missed out on his European Tour card for 2020.

But he picked up the ISPS Handa Vic Open title in February to regain his playing privileges.

And he admitted the UK Swing had not started well for the 22-year-old before his arrival at Ware’s Hanbury Manor, in Hertforshire.

Lee said: “The results weren’t there for me. I missed the cut. I felt pretty down after those two and then you come out here and play really good.

“That’s golf. I worked hard in my break and on the weekends when I missed the cut. So it’s nice to come out here and shoot a good score.”

•Follow Cormac Sharvin and live scores in round two by clicking here.

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Thomas Bjorn will take the Ryder Cup his team won in Paris two years ago and walk 130 miles from Wentworth to Celtic Manor in Wales, next week. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

THOMAS Bjørn is set for one of the biggest challenges of his career when he embarks on a four-day 130-mile charity walk from Wentworth to Wales.

The walk will raise funds for Unicef UK’s Save Generation COVID appeal and the Golf Foundation as part of the European Tour’s Golf for Good initiative.

Inspired by the fundraising exploits of Sir Tom Moore during the COVID-19 lockdown, Bjørn will carry the Ryder Cup from the European Tour HQ at Wentworth, in Surrey, to Newport’s Celtic Manor.

The 2010 Ryder Cup venue is set to host two consecutive European Tour events starting next week, as part of the new UK Swing.

The 49-year-old Dane will set off from Wentworth on Thursday, August 13 – the first day of The Celtic Classic.

The captain of Europe’s winning Ryder Cup team two years ago plans to arrive at Celtic Manor on the final day of the tournament on Sunday.

He will then compete in the second tournament – the ISPS Handa Wales Open, on the Twenty Ten Course – where Europe memorably defeated the United States 14½-13½ 10 years ago.

Bjørn was one of Colin Montgomerie’s vice-captains in 2010, and the 15-time European Tour winner went on to lead Europe in a record Ryder Cup victory at Le Golf National in Paris, with the USA beaten 17½-10½, the largest winning margin in the event’s 92-year history.

He will now take on another formidable challenge in his Wentworth2Wales walk, which will raise money for Unicef UK and the Golf Foundation.

Both causes have special significance for Bjørn, who also intends to raise awareness of the health and wellness benefits golf can offer.

•Donations can be made by clicking here.

Thomas Bjørn will walk 30 miles a day during his four day walk from Wentworth to Celtic Manor – after being inspired by NHS fundraiser Sir Tom Moore. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Captain Tom Moore was inspiration

BJØRN explained how the idea of his Wentworth to Wales charity walk came about.

He said: “During lockdown I had started going on some long walks to regain a bit of fitness, and also because I find it relieves a lot of mental stress for me.

“It was around the same time that Captain Tom – now Sir Tom Moore – was doing his incredible walk for the NHS, and someone called me ‘Ryder Cup Captain Tom’.

“We had a bit of a laugh about it. But the more I looked at Sir Tom, the more I was genuinely inspired by what he was doing. So we came up with the idea of doing a fundraising walk of our own.

“We looked at potential routes and Wentworth to Wales made a lot of sense, although I have to admit I didn’t realise it was over 200km.

“It’s going to be very tough to do it in four days. But I suppose the whole point of doing it is that it’s not meant to be easy.

“If I am going to ask people to donate their hard-earned cash then I need to earn that donation.

“For me, walking between 10-12 hours a day for four consecutive days will push me to the limit.

“As a Dane, who has lived most of my adult life in the UK, I wanted to give something back both globally and locally.

“I feel that UNICEF’s Save Generation COVID appeal and the Golf Foundation are a perfect fit for that.

“I was reading some information from UNICEF recently and they say that coronavirus is the biggest global crisis for children since World War Two.

“And that without urgent action, the coronavirus threatens to reverse 10 years of progress on reducing the number of children dying from preventable causes.

“Like so many fundraising ideas, this all started as a throwaway comment which quickly grew into something which is now very real – and, to be honest, quite scary,” smiled Bjørn.

“And being able to raise some funds to help the game of golf continue to thrive as part of the European Tour’s UK Swing and through the Golf Foundation is something that means a lot from a personal point of view.

“Obviously I want to raise as much as possible. But no matter how much it is, hopefully it can raise awareness and help kids around the world.”

Support from sponsors to help good causes

BJØRN has already received significant support from BMW, Hilton Hotels, Wentworth Club and LetsGetChecked. who have provided COVID-19 testing resources for the European Tour.

The European Tour’s Golf for Good initiative aims to give back in three key areas:–
•Supporting the Communities where the European Tour plays
▪ Rewarding the true heroes, such as the front line workers
▪ Promoting the many health benefits that golf offers.

The Golf for Good initiative was launched at the start of the European Tour’s new UK Swing.

A total of £500,000 from the European Tour is being distributed equally between local charities at each tournament venue, plus charities chosen by the leading 10 players in a mini-Order of Merit, running across all six tournaments. which began at the British Masters at Close House last month.

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Hero Open winner Sam Horsfield has his sights set firmly on earning a spot in the US Open by finishing in the top 10 of the UK Swing Order of Merit. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

SAM Horsfield has one eye on a place in the US Open as he tees it up in the inaugural English Championship at Hanbury Manor.

The 23-year-old moved to the top of the UK Swing Order of Merit after his maiden European Tour win at last week’s Hero Open at the Forest of Arden.

The top 10 after the sixth and final event are set to share £250,000 to donate to charity as part of the European Tour’s Golf For Good initiative.

And there is a further incentive that has piqued the young Englishman’s interest, with the leading 10 not otherwise exempt after the fifth event set to secure placed at the US Open at Winged Foot, in September.

Horsfield, who hails from Manchester, but lives in Florida, said: “One of my goals coming in to the UK Swing was to get into the US Open.

“I played well at the British Masters, finished 10th, and then to win last week has really helped that cause.

The protege of Ian Poulter, who has championed Horsfield since the age of 13, added: “Looking forward to the next few weeks and keeping the momentum going.

“I played here a couple of weeks ago. Really liked the course and I’m looking forward to a good week.

Talking about the the Hanbury Manor Marriot Hotel and Country Club course, Sam said: “The front nine – the start is pretty nice.

“A few tricky holes on the back nine. Pretty similar to last week actually, where you’ve got to get it going early and play the back nine well.

Thomas Detry is searching for his maiden Tour victory in the English Championship

Højgaard looking for win No. 2

DANE Rasmus Højgaard and Belgium’s Thomas Detry are also both aiming to take a step closer to their Major debuts, this week.

Currently occupying third position in the standings, 19-year-old Højgaard has already shown winning form this season.

He won a play-off at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in December, beating Italy’s Renato Paratore, the winner of the British Masters at Close House.

Højgaard said about making his US Open debut: “I would be another checked off goal. If you can call it that.

“It’s not something I’ve been thinking about. It’s just a bonus if it happens. I’m just focused on playing well and that will take care of it.

“I still dream. Winning Majors is a dream, of course. But it’s still a goal at the same time,” added the third-youngest winner in European Tour history.

“Right now, it’s more a dream than it is a goal. I have to be a lot better and develop my game – a lot more to be more consistent and over time, perform well. It’s a bit of both. But it’s definitely a goal in future.”

Detry will just keep on trying for maiden win

MEANWHILE Detry, who is just one position further back, is aiming to go one better than his second place finish at the Coventry course, on Sunday.

The Belgian won a pro-am at Worplesdon Golf Club organised by his manager Brendan Taylor last month.

Victory sharpened up his appetite for a first Tour win and a place in the UK Swing mini-order of merit top 10.

Detry said: “I think I’m lying in fourth right now. I want to secure that top 10.

“I’m not going to try and play defensively, I’m going to keep giving myself chances to win.

“Last week was an amazing week, the golf course was fantastic. I played some really good golf, Sam Horsfield just played slightly better – he deserved the win.

“My game feels great and I’m very confident for the following weeks.

“It would mean a lot,” he added when asked about playing in the US Open.

“I don’t know if there’s going to be spectators or not. But it doesn’t matter. I’ve never played a Major.

“It was a goal for me last year. Getting to one this year would be phenomenal.”

Lee Westwood won the English Open at Hanbury Manor in 1998

Westwood knows how to win at Hanbury Manor

ONE man who knows how to win around Hanbury Manor is 25-time European Tour champion Lee Westwood.

The Close House pro, who hosted the British Masters two weeks ago, claimed the English Open title here in 1998.

The veteran of 10 Ryder Cups will be hoping to make his experience count as the European Tour marks its return to the Hertfordshire venue for the first time this century.P

Westwood said: “I’m feeling good. I obviously played a couple of weeks ago at Close House – took last week off. And it’s nice to be back at somewhere where you’ve won round.

“It was a long time ago, I can’t remember a lot of it. But I do remember hitting a few longer clubs into some of these holes. It’s playing a little bit shorter today.”

Hanbury Manor was designed in 1990 by Jack Nicklaus II, who added a brand new front nine.

He also revised the original nine holes laid out at the former convent school and country manor house by Harry Vardon, in the early 1900s.

•For live scoring in the first round of the English Championship click here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fisher so happy be back playing golf

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Local knowledge helps Garrick Porteous

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Physical work in lockdown pays off for Paratore

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Westwood ‘delighted’ to be host

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kinhult would love to win Masters again

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wylie Foundation first to benefit from ‘Golf for Good’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He also became the club’s touring pro.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Austrian Open marks tour return

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Walton Heath’s US Open qualifier run ends

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Andy Sullivan blast in World Golf Rankings row

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

The PGA Tour resumed playing in Texas three weeks ago.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

McIlroy blast for stayaway European Tour stars

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From South Africa to Austrian Alps

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Medical protocols guide Tour’s return

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Diamond Country Club celebrates 10th year

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘Austria leading way for golf and Formula One’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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