Lee Westwood’s victory in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January was his 25th victory on the European Tour and increased his chances of making an 11th Ryder Cup. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

LEE Westwood is prepared to miss key events on the PGA Tour because of the planned quarantine restrictions to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the USA.

And his reasoning could be the biggest hint yet that the European Tour is ready to return to action in July at the British Masters, which Westwood is set to host for a second time at Close House.

Westwood, who is in line to qualify for his 11th Ryder Cup appearance after his victory in Abu Dhabi earlier this year, has indicated he will miss the first two events when the PGA Tour returns in June.

But in a TV interview in the USA, Westwood said: “Right now, I won’t be playing them.

“Not with having to leave here two weeks before, quarantine, then play the two tournaments, then come back here and quarantine again.”

Former European No. 1 Tommy Fleetwood has also said he won’t return to the USA to compete in the first few events.

The first four are to be played behind closed doors with no spectators.

Next month’s Charles Schwab Challenge will be the first scheduled PGA Tour event since The Players was called off after the first round, in March.

The Heritage at Hilton Head, in South Carolina, follows a week later.

But all of the 25 international players due to play in Texas, would need to be in the USA by Monday, May 25, to meet the quarantine regulations on foreigners travelling to America.

Westwood revealed his reasoning by saying: “It’s six weeks for two tournaments, and to me, that’s just not worth it.

“And it’s not worth taking the risk if everybody thinks that those kind of precautions have got to be in place.

“I don’t feel like golf’s a priority if it’s that severe.’”

Lee Westwood with Close House owner Graham Wylie – the pair will host the 2020 Betfred British Masters

Westwood set to host British Masters for a second time

WESTWOOD has the added complication that he is due to host the British Masters, which is scheduled to be played from July 30-August 2.

The European Tour event at Newcastle’s Close House – close to where the World No. 31 is based – is now expected to be the first action for the Wentworth-based Tour.

All European Tour events were called off after the end of February, when the Oman Open was held in the Middle East.

If the British Masters goes ahead as planned, Westwood, and any other top European players who enter, will be unable to play in the PGA Championship – unless the US quarantine rules are relaxed by then.

The USPGA was moved from mid-May to the early August slot after the cancellation of the Men’s Golf at the Tokyo Olympics, allowed the Major to move back to an August date.

Last year was the first time the USPGA had been held in its new May date, and after the Masters and US Open were postponed – and the Open Championship at Royal St George’s was moved back to 2021 – the USPGA is set to be the first Major of the 2020 season.

Fans are not expected to be allowed at the British Masters.

And Westwood is conscious of the need to balance safety – while the risk of a second wave in the coronavirus crisis exists – and trying to put on some golf for the public to watch while the lockdown.

Westwood added: “Obviously, people want something to watch, and it’s a good way to kick-start your economy.

“But we don’t want a second wave, so we have to make sure we are very, very safe.”

‘Robust testing and hygiene processes’

Matt Fitzpatrick won the British Masters at Woburn, in 2015

The European Tour has been working ceaselessly trying to reschedule its season.

But chief executive Keith Pelley has said he will not disclose the details until the Tour is happy it has “robust testing and hygiene processes” in place.

Westwood’s reason for returning to the UK suggests, however, the British Masters could well be the European Tour’s first event on the new 2020 calendar.

Previous winners of the British Masters include Oxfordshire’s Eddie Pepperell, who claimed the title at Walton Heath in 2018.

And Yorkshire’s Matt Fitzpatrick recorded his first European Tour win at Woburn, in 2015.

The post Westwood to miss PGA Tour return – is it a clue British Masters will go ahead? appeared first on Golf North.

Lee Westwood (left) with Close House owner Graham Wylie – the pair will host the 2020 Betfred British Masters. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

ADOPTED Geordie Lee Westwood is looking forward to becoming the first player to host the Betfred British Masters on two occasions when the European Tour event returns to Close House near Newcastle upon Tyne this summer.

Westwood has enjoyed an impressive start to 2020, winning the season’s first Rolex Series event, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA last month, to claim his 25^th European Tour title.

The former World No. 1 is back inside the top 30 on the Official World Golf Rankings and currently leads the European Tour’s Race to Dubai.

Westwood previously hosted the British Masters at Close House in 2017, when nearly 70,000 fans came out to support the event as the European Tour visited the North East of England for the first time in 15 years.

Following that successful edition, the Betfred British Masters will return to the venue – where Ireland’s Paul Dunne chipped in on the final hole to finish three shots clear of four-time Major Champion Rory McIlroy, for his maiden European Tour title.

Tickets for the event, which is being held in the North East from July 30-August 2, are on sale now.

“I’m really looking forward to hosting the Betfred British Masters again,” said Westwood, who follows Tommy Fleetwood in the role.

“I had a great time hosting it in 2017. You are busy during the week and it is hard work as you haven’t just got golf to concentrate on.

“You have to consider other things like keeping sponsors happy and different publicity things, but it is great fun.

“Last time it was a succesful tournament and hopefully it will be again,” said Westwood, who played junior golf for Nottinghamshire, while a member at Worksop, but who now lives in the Newcastle area.

“I think we got it pretty much right last time. We had a great turnout,” added Westwood.

“Obviously it is earlier in the year this time so hopefully the weather will be better in July/August time.

“We’ve also made a few alterations to the golf course. So hopefully that will be even better, and hopefully the north east people will turn out as they always do.

“I’m sure it will be well supported again and there will be another great atmosphere.

“Whether it is the football team or the Great North Run, they always come out in their droves up there.

“It makes a massive difference if there are a lot of people there creating an atmosphere.”

Westwood finished tied 15th when the British Masters was played at Close House three years ago.

And after his strong start to the season, Close House’s touring professional is targeting a second British Masters title following his first victory at The Belfry, in 2007.

“Winning in Abu Dhabi was great. I didn’t really know what to expect going into the week.

“I hadn’t really practised that much but I got my game together and pretty sharp very quickly.

“I played well and controlled my emotions well and felt comfortable on the golf course and started holing some putts.

“It was nice to be out there relaxed with things going my way.

“My name is on the British Masters trophy once already so it would be nice to add another one, especially with it being at Close House, which is a home tournament for me.

“I’m looking forward to it very much and I’ll be trying to play well that week and get some of that home support behind me.”

Tickets are already selling quickly for the Betfred British Masters’ return to Close House.

Lee Westwood with Close House owner Graham Wylie – the pair will host the 2020 Betfred British Masters. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Lee’s praise for Close House owner

WESTWOOD has paid tribute to the role of the venue’s owner Graham Wylie, not only for the helping the event to head back to the North East.

Wylie makes a much wider contribution to the region and received a knighthood in the New Year’s Honour’s list.

“Graham’s knighthood was very well deserved,” said Westwood. “He does an incredible amount for charity and people in that the north east, in Newcastle and the surrounding areas.

“It was great that he was knighted. It’s a bit strange calling him Sir Graham now but I’m getting used to it!”

Westwood’s win in Abu Dhabi took him to four European Tour wins in his 40s, and at the age of 46 he is tied alongside Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer, who both went on to captain Europe in the Ryder Cup.

Only Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, who has 11 victories after turning 40, will be ahead of the “Worksop Wonder” if he can find that fifth win in his 40s by the end of the Betfred British Masters tournament.

•Tickets and hospitality for the 2020 Betfred British Masters at Close House are on sale now by clicking here.                                             

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Why Shane Lowry is looking forward to a second crack at Saudi International title

OPEN Champion Shane Lowry is aiming to extend his strong record in the Middle East when he makes his debut as part of a strong field looking to claim this week’s Saudi International title.

The Irishman won the 2019 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and is a former runner up in the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

He began his 2020 calendar year by finishing runner-up in Hong Kong, in the rearranged Asian Tour event.

And – after missing the cut by one shot in Abu Dhabi – Lowry finished tied 11th in last week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Lowry believes Royal Greens Golf and Country Club is comparable to some of the other courses he has performance well at in the Middle East.

And the Claret Jug holder is looking forward to teeing it up for the first two rounds alongside World No.1 1 Brooks Koepka and former Masters Champion Sergio Garcia.

Both return to Saudi Arabia after playing in last year’s inaugural event, which attracted some criticism of players who took part in the event, over the Saudi’s human rights record.

The controversy came in the wake of the horrific killing of American-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Turkey, in October 2018.

The Saudi government is committed to a huge investment programme, including staging top international cultural and sporting events in a bid to boost tourism and develop a post-oil dependent economy.

But the leading players were all focused firmly on the golf and claiming that Saudi International title.

Lowry said: “It’s very much a Middle East-style golf course, and something that I like the look of it straightaway. It’s in great condition.

“Hopefully I can go out and play well, but I do really like the look of the golf course and it’s in perfect condition.

“I’ve done well in obviously Abu Dhabi, in the DP World and I  played okay in the Desert Classic the last couple of years.

“It’s the type of golf that I like. The wind picks up here in the afternoon, which would suit me a little bit, as well.

“It is a type of golf that I do enjoy playing. It’s perfect weather and perfect condition golf course.

“I got off to a great start in Hong Kong after a long break and didn’t know what to expect.

“Then came to Abu Dhabi, and I sort of had a mental error on the last hole and missed the cut out of nowhere.

Lowry got to practice with fellow Irishman Cormac Sharvin, who graduated via the European Challenge Tour, finishing 11th on the Road to Mallorca in 2019.

And Lowry admitted after his practice round that while a tad disappointed by his week in Dubai, he was still taking the positives from the week which saw a much tougher Emirates GC course awaiting the European Tour’s finest.

“Last week I finished 11th and probably would have liked to finish better,” he said.

“But any Sunday morning you’re sitting there eating your breakfast and feel like you have a chance to win the tournament is a good day.

“I feel like my form is okay, and I’m hoping to do all right this week and pick up a few more World Ranking points and Ryder Cup points.”

Defending champion Dustin Johnson is also in the field and he is grouped with Lee Westwood, winner of the 2020’s first Rolex Series event in Abu Dhabi, and another Middle East specialist, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson.

Johnson will be looing to add to his solitary US Open win in 2016 when it comes to the 2020 Majors.

“I’m feeling good. I’m really pleased with how I played last year,” said Johnson, “and I’m excited to be back in Saudi Arabia for this tournament.

“Any time you’ve won somewhere you’re looking at it, but every event that I go to – whether I’ve won there or not – I’m always trying to win it.

“It’s more like the process. Like I want to get myself in contention. I just want to give myself a chance to win on Sunday,” added Johnson, who will also be keen to close the gap on his buddy Brooks Koepka, who is being chased by Rory McIlroy for the World No. 1 accolade.

Dustin said: “I feel like if I can put myself in a position to have a chance to win going into the back nine on Sunday, then I’ve done what I wanted to do that week, and you know, just see what I can do those last nine holes.”

And a second Saudi International title can’t be ruled out for the bookies favourite.

Koepka to crack on after Dubai practice week

BROOKS Koepka, who returned after a three-month lay-off to allow his knee injury to heal in Abu Dhabi, will be looking to build on a fast start that faded in his European Tour return.

“The course has gotten a lot better than it was last year,” claimed Koepka who admits he still has some work to do if he is to be in with a shout of claiming his first Saudi International title come Sunday.

“Any time you can give a course an extra year to really develop, you’re going to see the progression of it,” said Florida-based Brooks.

“The greens are a lot faster. The rough’s a lot thicker. It’s settled in nicely.

“It looks incredible shape just as it was last year, just a little more settled in, which will be different.

“You never know what the scores could be. A few greens are a little firmer and faster, and if the wind gets up like it usually does in the afternoon, it might be a different story this year.

“You don’t know,” added Koepka, whose journey to the top of world golf began when he played for two seasons on the Challenge Tour – winning three times in 2013 after his debut win in 2012.

“Last week I practised all week. I had three months off, so there was no point in having a holiday or a vacation.

“It was more of a work thing. Just got the game ready. Felt good in Abu Dhabi. Felt good in Dubai. Feels good here.

“It’s just a matter of going out and executing. I played just fine, great shots in Abu Dhabi. Just didn’t score and that’s my own fault.

“Just coming here to try to figure it out and put some scores together, put some rounds together, and try to eliminate some mistakes.”

•For live scoring in the Saudi International click here.

The post Why Shane Lowry is looking forward to a second crack at Saudi International title appeared first on Golf North.

Payton Gordley (left) and chief operating officer Keith Waters after the American’s win in the first European eTour final based on Topgolf’s popular World Golf Tour mobile phone game. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

AMERICAN Payton Gordley defeated countryman Joshua Smith to take the trophy and $5,000 winners’ cheque in the first event of the inaugural European eTour Series.

Golfx3 – Gordley’s screenname – who participated in a one-off esports event held at last season’s Made in Denmark took the lead at the third hole from JSmithers – Smith’s screenname – playing the Wolf Creek Golf Course.

He showed no signs of weakness until a late wobble almost allowed Smith back into the game, trying to force a play-off at least.

“I feel surprised and relieved – a lot of mixed emotions,” said the 21-year-old.

“I almost gave the match away and I’m just grateful I ended up coming through and winning at the end.

“I was jokingly saying that I was going to use the prize money to buy the gold putter on the game. But realistically I’ll probably use it for my college tuition.”

Watch European eTour final video

As champion, Gordley is the first player to qualify for the global finals at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates from November 19-22.

He will be joined by the champions from the next four European eTour events, set to take place at European Tour tournaments across the globe in the coming months.

They will qualify along with three wildcards, who will compete for a bumper prize pool of $50,000.

Gordley added: “I’ve probably got finals in November, but I’m looking forward to Dubai.

“It’s the first European eTour final and I couldn’t be more excited.”

Following intense competition played in the difficult conditions setting over Merion Golf Club and Chambers Bay Golf Club, eight players earned their spots onsite at Abu Dhabi Golf Club to compete in two round-robin groups.

That was followed by straight knockout semi-finals and the final, in which Payton Gordley and Joshua Smith battled it out for first place.

The shootout was held in a specially constructed venue in the public village at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

The European Tour, in partnership with esports specialists DreamHack and Topgolf Entertainment Group, launched golf’s first esports series last month.

They received in excess of 45,000 entries from 169 countries worldwide.

Of those 45,000 entrants, a total of 128 players carded scores of 60 or below in the first qualifying round and progressed to the next stage – a bracket-style knockout competition played on the leading online and mobile golf game, World Golf Tour (WGT) by Topgolf.

Among those participating on stage for a total prize pool of $10,000 in the public village at the first Rolex Series event of the year were gamers from Germany, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom and the USA.

DreamHack will bring their extensive esports events and streaming production capabilities to create a premium experience.

Fans will be able to enjoy extensive live coverage as well as bespoke ancillary content of the maiden event across a multitude of platforms, including broadcast, digital and social media.

The esports industry is one of the fastest growing media sectors with an audience of more than 380 million enthusiasts worldwide.

That figure is forecasted to surpass 1.6 billion by 2022. A majority of esports fans are in the 18-34 age demographic.

The post Payton Gordley puts Joshua Smith firmly in his place at first final of European eTour appeared first on Golf North.

Italy’s Francesco Laporta – last year’s European Challenge Tour No. 1 – shot a superb 63 with five birdies in a row to finish to jump up 49 places on the leaderboard after the second round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

FRANCESCO Laporta birdied his last five holes in a stunning nine-under par round of 63 to leap to the top of the leaderboard at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

The Italian secured his playing rights after topping the European Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca Rankings in 2019.

And he displayed the form that saw him win twice in three weeks last season as he went bogey-free to get to 10 under par after the second round of the first Rolex Series event in the 2020 Race to Dubai.

Laporta seems to have taken inspiration from fellow countryman Francesco Molinari’s achievements.

Since his victory in The Open, in 2018, and helped Europe inflict the heaviest ever Ryder Cup defeat on the USA in Paris three months later, Laporta has joined the winners circle in 2019.

Meanwhile Guido Migliozzi has picked up two wins on the European Tour last season and Andrea Pavan won twice since Molinari’s Major breakthrough to add to the growing Italian success on the Continent.

Laporta would clearly love to join Migliozzi, Pavan and the Molinari brothers as winners on the European Tour.

“I played solid all 18 holes,” said Laporta. “My putting was solid, my driver, my irons.

“I gave myself a lot of opportunity for birdies, and so when I had the opportunities, I took it. Every time I was putting for birdie, I made it. It was a great day.

“I’m feeling good. On the Challenge Tour I got more opportunity to play, so that was good.

“I didn’t start the season good. I missed the cut in South Africa two times, and this is the third event and I’m leading, so I just want to enjoy the weekend.”

Yorkshire’s former US Amateur Champion Matt Fitzpatrick had set the target at nine-under – without dropping a shot in his last 36 holes.

And it looked as if the five-time European Tour winner would be the man to beat, before Spain’s Rolex Series winner Rafa Cabrera-Bello made four birdies on the back nine to join him.

But Laporta went one better, recording the lowest round of the week – and his lowest of the season so far after missed cuts in his opening two events – to overtake the Ryder Cup team-mates.

Fitzpatrick, who had four runner ups finishes in 2019 is still looking for his first win since teaming up with caddy Billy Foster, long-term caddy of Lee Westwood, earlier last season.

Fitzpatrick, whose last win came at the Omega European Masters in 2018, said: “For the first week of the year to have no bogeys, I couldn’t ask for a better start.

“Just played really disciplined golf and it’s worked out well so far.

“I took it easy as soon as I finished in Dubai, slowly started to build it up and then two weeks ago really into it and got ready for the start of the year.

“But when we went to play nine holes on Tuesday, I felt a little bit uncomfortable.

It all felt sort of new again after seven weeks off, and then as the round went on, I got into it again.

“For me every event is the same. You’re here to win. It’s always a nice bonus, playing for more money and more Ryder Cup points, but you’ve got to go in with the same attitude.”

Cabrera-Bello was also pleased with his form as he looks to add a second Rolex Series title to his CV after winning the Scottish Open three years ago.

Rafa said: “Very pleased obviously for posting another very good score. My game got better throughout the day, and I played good golf.

“I made some really, really good putts that gave me great momentum, but then I also hit some good shots that gave myself opportunities.

“I’ve been doing things good and I’m having that little bit of luck that you always need, added Cabrera Bello, who has a win in the United Arab Emirates after victoy in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in 2012.

“I’ve pretty much done what I do every off-season. I had some time off, I enjoyed it and took my mind off golf.

“And then I practiced hard at the beginning of the year and preparing myself for these weeks. It hasn’t been anything particularly different than other years.

“I played better on the back nine, primarily because those two huge putts made the biggest difference, but I mean, we’ve played here before.

“We know almost every kind of wind that can happen here, and we want it to be calm.

“But we kind of know that in the afternoons, the wind tends to pick up, and we just have to feel lucky that on the front nine, it wasn’t so windy.

Koepka struggles after fast start in 1st round

MAJOR winner Sergio Garcia and Italy’s Renato Paratore are two shots off the lead at eight-under.

World No. 6 Patrick Cantlay – fellow American Kurt Kitayama– Spaniard Adri Arnaus, 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen and former World No. 1 Lee Westwood are next at seven-under.

World No. 1 Brooks Koepka, who was two shots off the lead after a fine 66 on Thursday, fared less well on his return to competitive golf after his knee problems in 2019.

The four-time Major winner made a birdie, birdie start before dropping three shots in three holes, after a double bogey at the fifth.

A two at the seventh was cancelled out by a bogey at the eighth and another double at the 11th after he picked up his fourth birdie at the 10th, was compoounded by a bogey six at the last.

That saw the Florida ace slide down the leaderboard to 33rd place after a three-over par 75.

That left last year’s USPGA Champion on three-under, alongside tournament co-favourite Tommy Fleetwood, who added a 70 to his opening 71.

•To follow Francesco Laporta and the rest of the live scores in Saturday’s third round click here.

The post How Italian Job by Francesco Laporta drove him to the top of Abu Dhabi leaderboard appeared first on Golf North.

Italian Renato Paratore shared the first round lead in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship with South Africa’s Shaun Norris. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

TWO unheralded European Tour players – Italy’s Renato Paratore and South African’s Shaun Norris – who outscored pre-tournament favourites Brooks Koepka and Tommy Fleetwood, in the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

All the focus in the build-up had been on the big names bidding for the riches on offer in the United Arab Emirates during the first Rolex Series event of 2020.

But Norris and Paratore both fired rounds of 64 to share the lead after round one, holding off a chasing pack including World No. 1 Brooks Koepka – on the comeback trail after a serious knee injury.

Koepka was the centre of attention as he made his competitive comeback after a three-month injury lay-off in the Race to Dubai event.

But his bogey-free round of 66 wasn’t enough to match Norris and Paratore’s efforts of eight-under par.

Koepka, who won four Majors between June 2017 and May 2019, was still delighted with his display. “It’s good to be back. Missed the competition, obviously,” he enthused.

“I played really solid. Missed a few putts early if I really want to pick it apart.

“Drove the ball well. Controlled the ball flight and controlled distances really well – and that’s what you have to do out here.

Last year’s USPGA winner got a major boost after chipping in at the 17th.

Brooks added: “To chip one in there – I wasn’t expecting that. But the short game was really good.

“The strike was really good. I worked hard with Pete Cowen in trying to make sure that I know what I’m doing and understand what I’m doing – and can make it repeatable.”

“The knee feels fine. It was a little sore last night. Just did some treatment on it. That’s expected.

“This is a first week I’ve walked 18 holes and I’ve done it three times already.

“It’s a little tired,” said Koepka, who first suffered knee problems back in March – and was forced to miss the USA win in the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne, in December.

The knee had not recovered sufficiently in time following a flare-up when he displaced his knee cap playing in the PGA Tour’s CJ Cup in South Korea, in October.

And Koepka admitted earlier this week he was not sure how long it would take before his left knee was as strong again as his right – or if it would ever be.

Paratore birdied his last four holes to take the lead as he chases his second European Tour win, after missing out in a play-off in his last start at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, in December.

“Today I started really good and made some good putts the first holes, said Paratore.

“It gave me confidence for the rest of the day, and I kept making putts, so it’s been a really good day.

“I just tried to focus on my game on every shot, and I managed to finish really good and made some putts.

“In Mauritius I played really solid from tee to green,” added Paratore, who won the Nordea Masters, at Barsebäck in Sweden three years ago.

“It gave me some confidence, and then in the break, I worked on my short game and more on the body. This helped me.

“Today I hit some long drivers. I didn’t hit many fairways, but I cut some corners, so some short clubs helped me.”

Norris climbing world rankings

PARATORE was joined at the summit by Norris, who has risen to 60^th in the Official World Golf Ranking with a win, four second places and four other top 10s in his last 14 events worldwide.

Norris spent three months before Christmas in Japan, where he won the Top Cup Tokai Classic, in October.

“I hit the ball nicely. Gave myself a couple of chances. Didn’t fall over the first couple of holes,” said Norris, who is closing in on a place in the world’s top 50, which could earn him a spot at Augusta if he can make the mark by early April.

“I told my brother (Kyle), ‘I feel like I’m hitting the lines and starting to feel the greens’,” added Norris.

“As soon as I made the putt on eight, and then nine, I just started feeling like it’s snowballing. I started hitting better shots close to the holes.

“Really gave myself super opportunities after that,” said Norris, who admitted the win in Japan was tinged with sadness – having lost his dad in 2019.

Norris, who won the Sunshine Tour’s inaugural Africa Open back in 2008, added: “It’s been a rough year last year after losing my father.

“But my brother is back on the bag again and feels like everything is working at moment.

“We are having a lot of fun out there, and that’s the main thing. Really happy with what’s happening.

“I got my card in Asia about five years ago and started to play the Asian Tour, and won an event which was co-sanctioned with the Japanese Tour.

“A good friend of mine told me, listen, take a membership up. The Tour is very good, and the courses are phenomenal and you’ll learn a lot.

“Over the last four years, I think overall, my game has grown a lot. I’ve really learned a lot out there.

“It’s nice to be able to take it out and bring it out here,” said 37-year-old Norris, who won his European Tour card at the 2010 Qualifying School

Koepka and Australian Jason Scrivener are two shots off the lead.

Sergio Garcia, the 2017 Augusta Masters winner, fellow Spaniard and Rolex Series winner Rafa Cabrera-Bello, American Kurt Kitayama, China’s Li Haotong, South African Zander Lombard and Australian Zach Murray are all one shot further back at five-under.

Fleetwood, the back-to-back winner at Abu Dhabi Golf Club two years ago, is in 50th place after carding a one-under par 71 – one more than defending champion Shane Lowry, in a share of 33rd spot.

•For live scores in round two of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship click here.

Shaun Norris winner of the Top Cup Tokai Classic. Picture by JGTO

Norris praised brother on the bag after Japanese win

NORRIS dedicated his victory in Japan, in October, to his father who had died three months earlier – and praised brother Kyle for his help when he needed it most.

“I dedicate this victory to my father” said Norris, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour. “I wouldn’t have been able to seal this victory without the support of my brother.

“I can’t find enough words to describe this joy,” said after his win in the Top Cup Tokai Classic, at Miyoshi Country Club’s West Course – his fourth win in Japan since 2016.

“Our father gave us the chance to play golf. I really wish that he would still be alive,” added Norris.

“I lost concentration to play golf after making the double-bogey. I needed someone close to be with me.”

The post How Norris and Paratore put Koepka and Fleetwood in the shade in heat of Abu Dhabi appeared first on Golf North.

Defending Abu Dhabi HSBC champion Shane Lowry would love to represent Ireland at the 2020 Olympics and playi in his first Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

IT’S onwards and upwards for Shane Lowry as he begins his title defence at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship – with one eye on the Olympics and the other on the Ryder Cup.

The Irishman won his first Rolex Series title at Abu Dhabi Golf Club 12 months ago – and carried his form and confidence through to the summer in what became a stellar season after winning the Claret Jug as The Open returned to Northern Ireland for the first time in 68 years.

A memorable maiden Major Championship victory at Royal Portrush also turned the year into his first multiple-winning season.

With a Ryder Cup and the Olympics to come in 2020, there could be more firsts for Lowry.

Lowry said: “It was obviously my best year-to-date. I couldn’t really have envisaged what happened.

“It was really nice to get off to an unbelievable start here, winning one of the biggest events on Tour.

“This course, this tournament, against this field every year is a really, really difficult tournament to win, and it obviously kick-started an unbelievable season.

“I think that can only give you confidence going forward,” added Lowry.

“Like anybody in this game, anybody who plays this game, knows that a lot of it is built on confidence.

“A lot of form is built on confidence, and that’s what I gained from here last year.

“Obviously I have goals in my head. I have it in my head what I want to achieve this year, and the main thing for me is make that Ryder Cup team. I’ve set everything out to do that.

“The Olympics is going to be exciting. I’ve never played, so hopefully I can go there this year.

“We don’t win too many Gold Medals in Ireland, so if you’re able to bring one back, I think that would be very, very special.”

Lowry’s first Rolex Series win in Abu Dhabi

And once again it all begins with the Rolex Series in Abu Dhabi, where Lowry is aiming to emulate Tommy Fleetwood – the last man to win the title in consecutive seasons.

The Lancastrian’s victory in 2017 proved to be the springboard that led to him winning the Race to Dubai later that year – and his 2018 win in Abu Dhabi preceded his momentous Ryder Cup debut at Le Golf National.

Fleetwood said: “As an event, it is pretty much the best way to start the year. I’ve always enjoyed it. It throws you in at the deep end, a really tough test.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have a couple of really good years here, in particular the ones that I did win here, catapulted me on for the rest of the year.

“People like to set goals for the year. Of course, there’s targets to do with results, the obvious ones are to win tournaments or to win Majors – or to compete in Majors – and of course they are there.

“There’s other things I’d like to do. Of course I want to get to the Olympics,” said Fleetwood, who represented Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup in 2009, and played for England in the Home Internationals during his amateur career.

Of course, Hampshire’s Justin Rose claimed Gold at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, when many of the world’s top players elected not to travel to Brazil over fears about the Zika virus.

It marked golfs return to the Olympics for the first time since 1904 and Tiger Woods has expressed winning Gold in golf is very high on his list to go with his aim of winning 19 Majors and breaking Jack Nicklaus’ record.

Fleetwood will settle first for a place in the England team travelling to Tokyo this summer and the chance to take part in the opening ceremony.

“I think that’s on my radar,” said the Southport pro who ended 2019 on a high by winning the Nedbank Golf at Sun City – his first win in nearly two years.

“The Ryder Cup is in September. And then, just clear signs of improvement. There are certain parts of my game that I want to improve.”

Garcia never out of top 20 in Abu Dhabi

FLEETWOOD’S Ryder Cup teammate Sergio Garcia is vying for first wins on both the Rolex Series and in Abu Dhabi, as he returns to this part of the United Arab Emirates for the first time since 2014.

The Spaniard has never finished outside of the top 20 in his six previous appearances at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

And Sergio knows the benefit of early season success in the desert, going on to win the Masters Tournament after his victory in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in 2017.

Garcia, who has ended his two-year association with Callaway this month, said: “I’ve been practising hard and I’m excited for it.

“It’s a very good tournament to start the year with, and a nice run of tournaments the next couple of weeks,” added Sergio, who is expected to play without an equipment deal, at least in the early part of 2020.

“Hopefully we can see some good results on all the hard work we’ve been putting in and have a good year – because it’s a big year and we’re obviously looking forward to it.”

Garcia faces a battle with John Rahm to represent Spain in the Olympics in Japan, at the end of July.

The 40-year-old would need to be in the world’s top 15 by June 22, to guarantee a start alongside Rahm, the world No. 3 and leading Spaniard.

Sergio said: “Winning in January is just positive. Any time you can start the year like that, it’s great.

“It gives you a lot of confidence. It kind of takes a little bit of pressure off knowing that you’ve already got a win.”

Hovland’s ‘easier route’ to represent Norway in Olympics

Hero Challenge winner Viktor Hovland at Yas Marina Circuit in the build up to his debut in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the Falcon Course. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

RISING star Viktor Hovland got his week in the UAE off to a great start with victory in the Hero Challenge, at Yas Marina Circuit on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old PGA Tour player has an easier route to the Olympics – providing he can finish inside the leading 60 men who will qualify.

The former US Amateur Champion is another man who also has the Ryder Cup on his radar, as the Norwegian joins the stellar field in Abu Dhabi playing on a sponsor’s invite.

Hovland, an Oklahoma State University graduate, will be aiming to convert his impressive amateur achievements into his first professional victory in the first Rolex Series event of the 2020 Race to Dubai.

Hovland, who beat Louis Oosthuizen with a bullseye in the Hero Challenge under the lights on Tuesday, said: “Playing in big events excites me… but I just try to do as well as I can.

“Fortunately, those bigger events usually they tighten up the fairways and the rough is a little thicker.

“I just think that suits my game, and that’s probably why I’ve performed a little better at those events.

“Obviously I want to do what I can to make the team for the Ryder Cup.

“That’s not what I’m thinking about every day when I wake up, I’m just trying to get better at golf.

“But I want to be eligible if that opportunity comes,” added Hovland, who was the low amateur at both The Masters and US Open in 2019, beating Jack Nicklaus’ record for the lowest round in the USGA event.

Hovland finished tied 12th at Pebble Beach last summer, having won his US Amateur title at the world-famous Californian course overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

His four-under total of 280 broke the Golden Bear’s record total set in the 1960 US Open, at Cherry Hills, by two shots.

Hovland will play alongside Sweden’s former European No. 1 Robert Karlsson and Adrian Meronk, the first Polish player to earn a European Tour card.

•For full first round tee times click here.

The post Olympics and Ryder Cup are on Shane Lowry’s bucket list for 2020 after first Claret Jug appeared first on Golf North.

Viktor Hovland produced a bullseye in the Hero Challenge final to defeat Louis Oosthuizen at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Formula One Circuit. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

RISING star Viktor Hovland defeated Major Champion Louis Oosthuizen to win the first Hero Challenge of 2020 in Abu Dhabi.

With his final shot of the night worth double, Hovland delivered a “bullseye” 50, to add 100 points to his final total of 190 points, easily surpassing Oosthuizen’s total of 55.

It was the Norwegian’s debut in the European Tour’s innovative shootout which was played under lights in the iconic Yas Marina Circuit, in Abu Dhabi, where some of the world’s best players are gathered for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

“I can’t complain, that was a pretty good start to the week” said 22-year-old Hovland. “It’s an insane venue, I have never been to a place like this, so what a place to get my first professional victory.”

“I hit some pretty nice wedge shots tonight so hopefully that carries through to the tournament this week.

“To win the Hero Challenge is pretty cool and I’m looking forward to playing in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in a couple of days.”

The pair were joined by Major Champions Brooks Koepka and Danny Willett, plus European Tour stars Matthew Fitzpatrick and Bernd Wiesberger for the innovative shootout at Yas Marina.

Former Masters Champion Willett and fellow Yorkshireman Fitzpatrick – a previous winner of the Hero Challenge in Scotland last year – both bowed out in the first round.

Hovland then defeated World No. 1 Koepka in the first semi-final, before Oosthuizen held off Austria’s two-time Rolex Series winner Wiesberger to progress to the final, where Hovland got the better of the South African to claim the 11th edition of the popular Hero Challenge.

Oklahoma State University–Stillwater.^[2] In 2014, Hovland won the Norwegian national championships for amateurs.

Hovland won the US Amateur at Pebble Beach in 2018 and finished 12th at the iconic Californian course when it staged the US Open a year later.

Having also finished as the low amateur at last year’s Masters at Augusta, the Norwegian’s switch to the pro ranks was eagerly anticipated last season as his total at Pebble Beach broke Jack Nicklaus’ record for the low amateur score in the US Open dating back to 1960.

Hovland would have been eligible to play last year’s Open at Royal Portrush as the reigning US Amateur Champion, but turned pro after the US Open.

The Oklahoma State University graduate made his debut at The Travelers Championship, in Conneticut, and earned his PGA Tour card via the Korn Ferry Tour thanks to his second place finish at the Albertson Boise Open.

Hovland finished fourth at the Wyndhams Championship at Sedgewick Country Club, in August, was tied 11th on his European Tour debut in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, in September.

With a likely rapid rise up the Official World Golf Rankings, Hovland can look forward to choosing where in the world he wants to play in 2020, with sponsors HSBC keen to help him with a start in Abu Dhabi this week.

Hero Challenge’s new venues for 2020

HERO MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, extended the Hero Challenge on the European Tour until 2022 before Christmas, with the number of annual events increasing from three to a series of five.

Following Abu Dhabi, the event moves to Europe for three more exciting editions, including the Scandinavian Mixed hosted by Henrik and Annika in Stockholm and the Porsche European Open in Hamburg.

The Betfred British Masters, which is being hosted by Lee Westwood at Newcastle’s Close House, in May is the only Hero Challenge on UK soil this year.

The series finale will take place ahead of the European Tour’s season-ending DP Worldl Tour Championship, in Dubai, and will feature the winners of all four Hero Challenges from the 2020 campaign.

American stars boost Abu Dhabi HSBC field

THIS week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship once again takes its place as part of the Rolex Series – the premium category of tournaments on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai, each with a minimum prize fund of $7 million.

American Presidents Cup winners Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Cantlay are in the field alongside Koepka, who returns to action after pulling out of Tiger Woods’ team that beat Ernie Els’ International side at Royal Melbourne, in December.

Koepka has recoverd from knee surgery in October, after playing through the pain for seven months in 2019 before going under the knife after aggravating his injury at the CJ Cup, in South Korea, after slipping on a hard surface.

The World No. 1 will be looking for a strong start to the season as he tries to win his third Sam Wanamaker Trophy at May’s USPGA at San Francisco’s TPC Harding Park, in May.

Koepka can’t wait to make return from injury

•For tee times in Thursday’s first round in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship click here.

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Brooks Koepka will play for the first time since the CJ Cup in South Korea when he tees it up in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship this week. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

WORLD No. 1 Brooks Koepka is keen to add a Rolex Series title to his already impressive CV, as he makes his comeback from a knee injury at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship after missing last month’s Presidents Cup.

The four-time Major winner returns to Abu Dhabi Golf Club for the third time – having secured a top-10 finish at the venue two years ago – for the first of eight Rolex Series events on the 2020 Race to Dubai.

The American is competing for the first time in three months, after withdrawing from the Presidents Cup squad to have knee surgery.

Koepka, who claimed his his first US Open at Erin Hills in 2017, said: “These Rolex Series events are where you have more emphasis on winning. It’s what you want to win.

“The players that are playing in this event are obviously really good – some of the best players in the world. That’s why I think everyone’s here.

“You want to play in the best events you can and win them,” added Koepka, who spent three years playing on the Challenge and European Tour before earning his card on the PGA Tour with a fourth place finish in the 2014 US Open at Pinehurst.

“I love this place, it’s always fun to get back to. The golf course is really good. I feel comfortable here and hopefully play well this week, said Koepka, who claimed three wins on the Challenge Tour in 2013.

“I’m just excited to hit balls,” said Brooks, who has had to to miss nearly three months golf after damaging his kneecap at the CJ Cup, in South Korea, in October.

“In Korea I re-tore it, and the kneecap had moved into the fat pad. That’s excruciating. It’s a lot of pain. It’s not fun,” said Koepka, who first injured his knee back in March – but still managed to win his second Wannamaker Trophy at Bethpage Black, less than two months later.

He required stem cell treatment after the Tour Championship at East Lake, in August, before hurting it again on the PGA Tour’s Asian swing.

He pulled out of the trip to Australia for the Presidents Cup three weeks before the biennial event got under way – handing his spot to Rickie Fowler.

“Last year, there wasn’t much practise. I just couldn’t do it with my knee. I couldn’t get on my left side,” said the Florida State University graduate.

“Couldn’t squat down in a bunker. I struggled to get down and read a putt. Thankfully that’s in the past now.

“When you have something taken away from you, I think it makes you appreciate it more,” said Koepka, who has questioned how much respect he was shown after a run that saw him win four majors in just eight tournaments played.

While he admitted his left knee may not be as good as his right for some time still, he is raring to go having only been given the green light to hit balls just before Christmas.

“I mean, I missed competition,” said last year’s WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational winner.

“Even when I got the green light, I just didn’t know whether it was going to feel right – whether you’re going to be the same, how is it going to feel.

“I missed showing up to an event, preparing for something, because I haven’t had anything to prepare for. Having three months off, it’s not fun.”

This week’s event sees the European Tour’s new tougher regulations aimed at tackling slow play come into effect including a key revision to the four-point plan previously announced in August.

Players will be now be given an immediate one-shot penalty for two ‘bad times’ in a tournament rather than for two ‘bad times’ within a round.

Koepka was an outspoken critic of J B Holmes in particular at Riveria, last year, after the pair went head to head in the Sunday shootout, which Holmes won.

“I think it’s a good thing,” he said about the new four-point plan, which will target the “worst offenders” in terms of slow play.

“I think the game’s changing and I think the rules need to kind of change with it.

“It’s got to evolve as we evolve, the courses evolve and technology, everything like that.

“They are trying to make the game a lot simpler. We’re on our way to making it easier to understand for the fans at home, the players.

“It’s very clear-cut what’s going to happen and very clear-cut what you need to do,” said Koepka, whose last win in a regular European Tour event came in the 2014 Turkish Open.

The Florida ace, who won both the US Open and USPGA back-to-back in 2018 and 2019 respectively, is joined in the field by compatriots Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Cantlay.

DeChambeau was also a member of Tiger Woods’ winning Presidents Cup team.

He is also targeting a maiden Rolex Series victory this week, and “The Scientist” has form in the desert after capturing his first European Tour win in Dubai last season.

DeChambeau, who has been criticised for taking too long with his very methodical pre-shot routines, is focusing on adding to his sole European Tour win in Dubai, in 2019.

“For me, having this be a Rolex Series event and having it be this important, it’s fantastic,” said DeChambeau who won four times in the States in 2018, and has recently bulked up his physique.

“Every tournament I play in, I still go in with the mind-set that I’m going to win and do my absolute best to win.

“It’s a great preparation for the rest of the year. It’s going to tell me what’s going right and what’s going wrong, and I’m going to try to bring my ‘A-game’ to every single event that I play.

“Playing globally, being a part of global golf, is definitely on my list. I want to be able to say that I can win worldwide, which I’ve done.

“Now I won last year in Dubai. I want to win multiple times, and I also want to grow the game globally.”

Cantlay determined to become player on the world stage after Fowler’s tips on Abu Dhabi

MEANWHILE, World No. 6 Patrick Cantlay is competing in his first European Tour event outside of the Majors and World Golf Championships.

The University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) graduate is also keen to build his reputation as a global player with victory in Abu Dhabi.P

Cantlay, who made his debut in America’s Presidents Cup win against Ernie Els’ International team, at Royal Melbourne, in December said: “I think it’s important to play all over the world, not only just for growing-the-game purposes.

“But I think it’s good as a golfer to see different places and get comfortable playing all over. I think that’s part of it.

“The European Tour and the PGA Tour play more of a global schedule, especially in the last decade,” added the two-time PGA Tour winner.

“I don’t think that’s going to change. I think it will continue to be more of a global game, and we see that with the World Golf Championships,” said Cantlay.

“I think it’s all good, and it’s good to play in different places and experience different cultures and see what the world is like.

“I talked to Rickie Fowler. He said he enjoyed his time here. Obviously he won – he told me how great a list of champions this place had, kind of needling me a little bit.

“I’ve heard a lot of great things about the event,” added the 27-year-old, who was on the losing USA team against Great Britain and Ireland in the 2011 Walker Cup.

Cantlay lost both his singles matches to Scotland’s Michael Stewart and Ireland’s Paul Cutler but beat Wentworth’s Steve Brown, the recent winner of the Portugal Masters, in the Saturday foursomes at Royal Aberdeen.

But his Presidents Cup debut will be more memorable after the rookie claimed three points in his five matches as the USA won 16-14 after a fightback in the Sunday singles.

•For first round tee times in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship click here.

The post After missing Presidents Cup with knee injury, Koepka’s keen to play in Abu Dhabi appeared first on Golf North.

European Tour chief referee John Paramor (left) and Andy McFee who led the trials of the new pace of play timing system at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, in September

EUROPEAN Tour players who record two bad times in a tournament – instead of in the same round – will now face an immediate one-stroke penalty, tournament chiefs announced today.

The European Tour’s new tougher regulations aimed at tackling slow play come into effect at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

The beefed-up four-point plan – announced back in August – will see the worst offenders on slow play targeted by referees and hit by penalty which will affect them immediately – not with a fine implemented after the event.

The immediate one-shot penalty will be handed out for two “bad times” in a tournament – rather than for two “bad times” within a round in a key revision of the rules originally announced five months ago.

It means additional powers for referees to target slower players starting at this week’s Rolex Series event at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

But players on the clock will get a “time out” which will allow them to notify the referee they wish to take an extra 40 seconds because of the difficulty – or special circumstances – for a particular shot.

If they are the first player to play in a group that is officially “on the clock” they will get an extra 10 seconds to play their shot, and could still request the extra 40 seconds by using the time out.

But any player wanting to use the extra time must clearly signal their intention to a referee before the initial 40-second allowance runs out.

And they can only apply the time extension to one shot in any one round of golf, the European Tour said this week.

A reduction in the time allowance for “in-position players” to play shots also comes into force this week – alongside increased fines for players who are regularly placed “on the clock” throughout the season.

The fines start at €3,500 for their first bad timing offence after their first official warning in any one season – and they rise incrementally for each subsequent offence, the European Tour has warned.

Further fines exist, depending on the number of times in total each season a player is “put on the clock.”

European Tour players have also been required to undertake an education programme since the four-point plan was announced last year.

European Tour chief referee John Paramor said: “The tougher measures which come into effect in Abu Dhabi empower our referees to more effectively target slower players.

“Changing the regulation for an immediate one-shot penalty to now be triggered by two bad times in a tournament – instead of a round – will force slower players to consistently ensure they play within timing regulations.

“This is part of our wider, robust policy to tackle slow play but our fundamental advice to all players remains consistent – they should be ready to play when it is their turn.”

The European Tour’s four-point plan, announced back in August, continues to put the European Tour at the forefront of pace of play management in the professional game.

It was introduced following a mandate from the European Tour Tournament Committee to take firmer action against slower players.

Edoardo Molinari caused a storm on social media by shaming the players dubbed the slowest on Tour by releasing a list of fines for slow play, which started a wider debate.

The new four-point plan focuses on key areas:–
•Regulation
•Education
•Innovation and
•Field sizes.

A new ‘pace of play’ timing system utilising the latest technology was tested at the BMW PGA Championship, at Wentworth, in September, with a further trial taking place in Abu Dhabi this week.

The intention is to roll the system out across a number of events in 2020, providing referees with the precise times for every group through every hole to make sure that no gaps are missed.

On-tee displays linked to the system will also provide the players instantaneous information on their position in relation to the group in front to try to avoid the chances of a one-stroke penalty being dished out.

Field sizes at fully sanctioned events will be reduced from 156 to a minimum of 144 – so long as all entered players in Category 18 (the final 116-132 on the 2019 Race to Dubai) and above make it into the tournament.

The last point will create space for referees to push groups over the Thursday and Friday rounds, while larger starting intervals will be built into play on Saturday and Sunday to create a better flow between groups.

KEY CHANGES TO PACE OF PLAY POLICY

• An immediate one-stroke penalty will now be applied on the second “bad time” in a tournament. It was originally announced in August as being applicable to a second “bad time” in a round.
• Players who exceed time limits (see below) while being monitored will now incur a bad time and it will count towards the one-stroke penalty.
• A player can call a “time extension” for any stroke ONCE in a round. This will add 40 seconds to the allowance for the stroke in question. If players wish to use this, they must make this clear to the timing referee BEFORE they exceed the allowance they have for the stroke in front of them. Referees advise a verbal call or clear signal which they will acknowledge.
• Referees have also been mandated by the Tournament Committee to focus on the players who are regularly taking too much time, even if they are ‘in-position’. The “in position” time limits have been reduced (see below). A breach of those limits will incur a “monitoring penalty” but they will NOT count towards the one-stroke penalty in a tournament, recognising the significance of being in position. A single monitoring penalty or single bad time in a season will not result in any sanction, but each one after that will incur ever-increasing fines starting at €3,500.
• The fines for the number of times players have been timed during the season have also been increased

OVERVIEW OF TIMING ALLOWANCES
Out of position
When players are out of position their time allowance is 50 seconds* for the first to play, 40 seconds* for second or third to play. A one-shot penalty will be applied after two bad times in the tournament.

In Position
The time allowed to play a shot when being monitored in position (previously double the out-of-position times above), will be reduced by 15 per cent, from 100 and 80 seconds down to 85 and 70 seconds respectively for first and second/third to play. Referees have been told to be proactive in targeting regular slow players for in-position timing.

*The existing principle of allowing an extra 10 per cent on the 40 and 50 second limits will be maintained by referees, recognising human differences can occur in starting timing. A player will be assessed a “bad time” if he has a third time after the 10 per cent allowance.

European Tour referees sit R&A rules exam

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