Paul Waring (right) with a member of the EDGA at one of the European Tour events

EUROPEAN Tour star Paul Waring has signed up to officially represent EDGA – the international body that encourages people with disability to thrive through golf.

Waring has been one of the European Tour’s most popular golfers with fans and players alike since he started competing on the Tour in 2008.

The former England Boys captain won his first European Tour title – the 2018 Nordea Masters – in his 200th tournament.

Born in Birkenhead, Paul was on home territory when he first met and played with EDGA golfers while competing in the 2019 Betfred British Masters at Hillside GC.

EDGA players Caroline Mohr, from Sweden, Spain’s Juan Postigo Arce and Ireland’s Brendan Lawlor all said they were inspired by Paul’s encouragement and advice during their pro-am fourball.

Paul joined those players as an ambassador for leading audit, tax and consulting firm RSM, which supports EDGA and shares its vision to encourage 500,000 new players into the game.

The former English Amateur Champion was equally supportive of EDGA players and volunteers during last season’s Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, and the DP World Tour Championship, in Dubai.

RSM offered free golf lessons from PGA professionals to all spectators with a disability present at the two tournaments, which were part of the high profile Rolex Series.

EDGA president Tony Bennett said: “When I asked Paul if he was interested in a more formal role with EDGA in our aim to grow the game for people with disability, he did not hesitate in saying he’d be delighted to help us.

“We are therefore thrilled to welcome Paul as an official ambassador for EDGA.

“Right from the very first tee shots when he encouraged Caroline, Juan and Brendan at Hillside, we knew he had something special about him.

“Paul and the team at RSM have been highly encouraging as more of our EDGA players have competed in our tournaments staged alongside European Tour events, providing a priceless shop window for our work in raising awareness of inclusive golf internationally.”

Tony added: “We are sure Paul’s reputation as a player and his knowledge of all layers of the sport will assist us greatly in our key aim, which is to encourage people of all ages who have a disability to consider trying golf, while highlighting the power of golf to change lives.”

Waring impressed by players’ talent

Paul, who won the McGregor Trophy at the England U16 Amateur Championship in 2001, said: “I am delighted to become a formal ambassador for EDGA.

“I have had the opportunity to meet and play with a number of their players and I am extremely impressed by their talent.

“I am very honoured to be a part of their journey and to support the work that EDGA is doing to increase the opportunities for those with disabilities within golf.

“I am very excited to be a part of this development within golf.”

GEORGE GROVES CROWNED ENGLISH DISABILITY CHAMPION

EDGA is a not-for-profit volunteer association, which is made up of the National Golf Federations from 31 countries around the world.

The EDGA team provides advice, guidance and standards to all the leading golfing bodies including the International Golf Federation (IGF), The R&A, USGA, European Golf Association (EGA).

They also work closely with the European Tour on the delivery of showcase events involving golfers with disability.

EDGA also offers training to coaches, therapists, volunteers, clubs, and golfers who wish to be more active helping the players.

RSM supports EDGA’s qualifying players in tournaments attached to the European Tour, funding travel requirements and welcoming the golfers as they are meeting, practising alongside and even playing with some of the star names in world golf

The work helps to raise the profile of golf for the disabled to a global audience.

•Former Cheshire Boys champion Paul Waring claimed the English Amateur crown on his home course at Bromborough in 2005, beating Steven Capper 3&2 in the final.

Waring with players from the EDGA at a European Tour event in 2019. The former England Amateur Champion was very impressed by the players’ abilities

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European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley has written to players warning them the days of rising prize funds will be hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Picture by EUROPEAN TOUR

EUROPEAN Tour stars face playing for smaller prize funds as well as the prospect of playing tournaments without spectators later this summer, according to a memo written by its chief executive Keith Pelley.

The update sent to players, which was leaked to the Daily Telegraph, warns that some of the “perks” of tour life will be reigned in significantly.

The professional game is planning for when the green light to resume will be given – when the worst of the coronavirus pandemic is over – so golf can return to our TV screens at least.

But Pelley has warned everything from the kind of courtesy cars and tournament lounges where players and their families and support teams can relax before and after rounds and practice, could be affected.

Pelley’s email stated: “Our tour has enjoyed a significant period of growth in recent years, in terms of prize funds, playing opportunities, and the overall standard of our events, as well as our broadcast product.

“The impact of coronavirus has stopped this rapid momentum in its tracks, and it will, in fact, require us to reassess many elements.”

While the trappings of tour life are bound to be hit, the Canadian who has revolutionised certain areas of the European Tour brand since taking over from George O’Grady, late in 2014, Pelley was most blunt about the likely affect on players’ earnings.

“Prize funds will also most likely be different,” Pelley added. “The reality is, the pandemic is going to have a profound impact on the Tour financially, as well as many of our partners, both in the sponsorship and broadcast areas.”

His latest update to the Tour’s members also stressed it make take until the autumn before they can resume playing tournaments – even though the USPGA and US Open have been rescheduled for August and September, respectively.

Several tournaments could be played at the same venue to make the hastily rearranged 2020 schedule run as smoothly as possible.

“Let us say we are given the go-ahead by governments and health authorities to resume play in the first week of September,” said Pelley.

Will season shrink into 16 weeks?

“That gives us 16 weeks between then and Christmas to try and play as many tournaments as possible.

“We are looking at options such as a) multiple tournaments in the same location; b) two tournaments in the same week or three in a fortnight; or c) three or four tournaments back-to-back in the UK with a 14-day ‘quarantine’ period ahead of that – to allow players not from the UK to come over and self-isolate in advance, if that health requirement is still in place then.”

Pelley stressed the Rolex Series and tournaments based in the UK are the priority for the Tour and its broadcaster Sky Sports – confirming the Tour will “play behind closed doors if necessary.”

The British Masters at Close House, in the North East – which was originally scheduled for July 30-August 2 – and the BMW PGA Championship, at Wentworth (September 10-13), are two of the UK events on the schedule.

The Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open at North Berwick’s Renaissance Club, was due to be held from July 9-12, the week before The Open, at Royal St George’s, which has now been cancelled.

Meanwhile attracting stars from Hollywood to play the annual Alfred Dunhill Links Championship (October 1-4) may pose more problems in 2020 than normal with celebrities filming and TV schedules – if the pro-am can be held at St Andrews the week after the Ryder Cup.

October’s Italian Open, which is a Rolex Series event, faces many hurdles before it can be played, given how badly Italy has fared from the number of COVID-19 deaths.

The other Rolex events are the Turkish Airlines Open (November 5-8) and the Nedbank Golf Challenge, which will have to be moved now that the Augusta Masters has been provisionally rearranged for November 12-15.

But if the South African event at Sun City’s Gary Player Country Club, has to be moved, that also means the DP World Tour Championship at Dubai’s Jumeirah Golf will also have to be moved to December.

The final Rolex Series event will determine the Race to Dubai winner, which earned the European No. 1 Jon Rahm a £2million bonus, on top of the $3million cheque for the winner that week.

Graeme McDowell was set to host the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Mount Juliet in May before the COVID-19 outbreak. Could it still be played in the autumn?

11 events hit by coronavirus so far in 2020

SO far the European Tour has postponed eight tournaments and cancelled completely three more, including June’s inaugural Scandinavian Mixed, hosted by Henrik Stenson and Annika Sorenstam.

At the moment the BMW International at Golfclub München in late June is the first event on the original schedule which has yet to be postponed, followed a week later by the French Open at Paris’ Le Golf National.

Other events in Continental Europe which could still be played are Switzerland’s Omega European Masters (August 27-30),  Germany’s Porsche European Open (September 3-6), Holland’s KLM Open (September 17-20), Spanish Open (October 15-18) and the Portugal Masters (October 22-25).

Among the countries where events were postponed in March and April were Ireland, Kenya, India, Malaysia, China, Morocco, the Czech Republic and Spain.

The European Tour has stressed that it would work to try to rearrange postponed tournaments wherever possible.

But the logistical problems created by the international travel bans alone, make that very difficult – let alone while the current uncertainty about lockdowns in each country continues.

It remains to be seen how many of those can be played in 2020, or if the European Tour will just be content to make sure they can still be played in 2021.

And that will depend on the support of the sponsors, or finding replacements should the economic impact of COVID-19 hit exisiting ones.

Certainly, if spectators can be admitted later in the year, both Sky and the European Tour, would be keen to resurrect the Irish Open.

Graeme McDowell was set to host at Mount Juliet at the end of May, before it was postponed at the end of March.

But the lack of light means it would surely have to be played before the clocks go back in October, without the size of the field having to be heavily restricted.

March’s Hero Indian Open – co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours – was one of the first to be called off as a result of the coronavirus outbreak

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Lee Westwood has won back-to-back twice four times in his career and is confident of making it five at this week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Picture by GETTY IMAGES.

LEE Westwood prepares to tee it up at Omega Dubai Desert Classic – keen to continue his perfect start to the season off the back of his 25^th European Tour victory on Sunday.

Westwood has managed to win back-to-back four times so far in his a career and the Newcastle-based Ryder Cup ace now has four wins in his 40s.

Nottinghamshire’s “Worksop Wonder” produced a brilliant final round display to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship – his 44^th worldwide victory – bringing his winning run into a fourth decade, having secured his maiden title in 1996 at the Scandinavian Masters.

Westwood now has the same number of wins in his 40s as Bernhard Langer, who is still going strong on the PGA Champions Tour at 62, and Colin Montgomerie.

Lee said at the Emirate Golf Club on Tuesday: “I think the more you win, the more you get used to getting back to being on an even keel.

“A lot of people, if they are won early in their career, they struggle to bring themselves back again, but I’ve won a lot of tournaments and I’ve won weeks back-to-back.

“Obviously, over the years, I’ve had to really kind of evaluate everything, take it all in, process it, if you call it that – I hate that term – and then get ready for the following week.

“Yesterday I came up, hit a few balls, but being here in Dubai, letting people congratulate me, kind of being around, being present and getting that out of the way, lets me focus on this week’s tournament quicker.

“The goal is to work on the mental side of the game because I feel like that part of the game, if anything, has been lacking and that’s going to enable me to play my best more often.

“It is basically just go out, try my best, have fun, and just control what I control.

“I know if I get it in the right positions on the golf plane, I hit the ball straight, and you know what, shock – if I hit the ball straight and start holing a few putts, I’m talented enough to win tournaments.

“And if win tournaments, I move up with the world rankings and move up the money list and start qualifying for World Golf Championships and Majors – and possibly at the end of the year, the Ryder Cup team, who knows?”

Now the former World No. 1 returns to the Emirates Golf Club for the 25^th occasion – having finished runner-up twice in 1999 and 2010.

He arrives with a fresh mental approach to the game and as the new Race to Dubai No. 1 – a title he claimed back in 2009 after victory in the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai that season.

His first European Tour Order of Merit triumph came back in 2000 when he clocked up five wins.

The veteran of 10 Ryder Cups now has four wins in his 40s – team-mate Miguel Angel Jimenez, picked up 14 of his 21 European Tour wins in his 40s, including five in 2004 after turning 40 that January.

And for anyone looking for some other links between the two premium ball-strikers, the “Mechanic” was 46 when he won the Omega Dubai Desert Classic 10 years ago, pipping Westwood in play-off.

Westwood has finished in the top five of the money list eight times in his career – with a runners-up finish in 1999, having been third two years in a row after turning pro.

Fleetwood’s praise for Westwood’s longevity

WESTWOOD’S countryman Tommy Fleetwood was quick to praise the 46-year-old’s longevity in the game.

The runner up in Dubai at last season’s DP World Tour Championship is himself searching for a sixth European Tour win of his career – and third in the Middle East – following his victories in Abu Dhabi in 2017 and 2018.

Fleetwood said of Westwod: “I think longevity, it’s going to be the standard word used for him now now.

“His swing hasn’t changed since he was about 20 and it’s been working fine for the last three decades, so it might as well work in this one. I think he’s in a really good place himself at the moment, and it’s a different inspiration now.

“Because you watch him play as a kid, and now – as good as he is as a competitor – I class him as a friend and somebody that we can speak to, and great to hang around with and learn off.

“I think we’re all lucky to have Lee out on the Tour and absolutely if you can aspire to somebody, Lee is a fantastic person, looking at his career and the way he’s played – and how good he’s been for a long time.

“It’s very impressive,” added the World No. 10 – who was crowned European No. 1 three years ago – and who came close to winning himself last week.

The Lancastrian signed for a 63 on Sunday to finish tied second alongside Hallamshire’s Matthew Fitzpatrick and France’s Alfred Dunhill Links winner Victor Perez.

Fleetwood added: “I think most players feel very at home when they come out here.

“There are so many events now in the Middle East or the UAE.

“You always start the year out here and hopefully you end the year here. It’s not a given but generally we always end the year in Dubai.

“You get used to the golf courses. That’s one side. I’ve not always done well in the Middle East.

“I feel like I’ve grown to improve, and actually I feel comfortable and it is such a great place to play golf.

“You’re talking about second-place finishes in the last couple events in the UAE or second-place finishes in the in Majors,” added Fleetwood, who returned to the winner’s enclosure at the Nebank, in November, having gone nearly two years without a victory.

“The positive thing is they’re second-place finishes, I’m up there plenty of times, and hopefully it’s just a matter of time and eventually it will be my time – and I would love to get one whenever that is.”

Fleetwood, a Walker Cup player at Merion in 2009 – having lost the Amateur Championship final a year earlier – turned pro in 2010 after winning the English and European Amateur titles in the same season.

The reputation of the Southport-born and bred pro has been building year-on-year over the last decade.

Yet ultimately Fleetwood’s eyes are firmly focused on adding another trophy to his cabinet, as he enters his 30th year – and 10 years on Tour – having accumulated five titles, including two Rolex Series victories.

American Bryson DeChambeau joins the world-class field as defending championship alongside the Green Jacket winners of 2016 and 2017 – Danny Willett and Sergio Garcia respectively.

The Masters champions both started their Major winning years with victory at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Meanwhile 2019 Open Champion Shane Lowry, who picked up the Abu Dhabi title six months before claiming the Claret Jug, is also in the field at the Emirates GC.

•Check for Thursday’s full first round tee times in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic by clicking here.

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THE European Tour has launched golf’s first esports series, the European eTour – which will see players taking on Topgolf’s World Golf Tour, which is played by some 20 million people online worldwide.

And the best esport players in the world will get the chance to qualify for the live onsite events via an online tournament.

Starting at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January, the inaugural season-long eTour will feature six esports contests held at European Tour tournaments around the world.

A long-time leader in online golf competitions, WGT by Topgolf offers the most photorealistic golf gaming experience – giving players the opportunity to virtually play some of the most famous golf championship courses.

The eight players who qualify will compete onsite at European Tour events in an exciting nine-hole knockout matchplay format, initially in two round-robin groups, before straight knockout semi-finals and final.

The five tournament winners, along with three wildcards qualifiers, will then contest the season-ending finale at the European Tour’s own season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, which takes place at Jumeirah Golf Estates, from November 19-22, 2020.

Topgolf is currently developing additional European Tour virtual venues to add to its portfolio of WGT golf courses and helping the Wentworth-based Tour – along with epsorts specialists Dreamhack.

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

Fans will be able to enjoy extensive live coverage as well as bespoke ancillary content of all six European eTour events across a multitude of platforms, including broadcast, digital and social media.

The European Tour held its first esports event earlier this year with WGT and DreamHack.

The inaugural European eTour Championship took place at the 2019 Made in Denmark, and the success of that tournament led to the development of the new series of one-day events across the 2020 calendar.

The exclusivity of the European Tour’s esports experience amplifies the benefit of players participating in the event, and the ability to virtually be part of real world tournaments, said a spokesman.

Chief content officer Rufus Hack said: “The launch of the eTour underlines the European Tour’s commitment to innovation, and we believe this is an exciting opportunity for us to be leaders in a market that has huge growth potential.

“The esports industry allows the European Tour to engage with our existing audience in a different way and attract new fans outside of our traditional demographic through our broadcast and digital platforms.

“Our inaugural event in Denmark earlier this year gave a glimpse into the popularity of esports and we are looking forward to launching golf’s first esports Tour in 2020.”

Dreamhack Sports Games chief executive Peter Nørrelund said: “We see a great future for sports games in esports.

“The combination of a good game and a strong player in traditional sports is a winning recipe.

“World Golf Tour is a superior golf game and natural platform for golf esports, and European Tour is one of the strongest brands in the world of sports.

“With our ability to create content, media products and build strong communities I am sure, the European eTour will be a smashing success.

“I am thrilled with the partnership,” Mr Nørrelund added.

Topgolf media president YuChiang Chen said: “We are constantly innovating around how we can connect people in meaningful ways and the competition of esports brings a large, diverse group of people together to share a common experience.

“WGT was always built to be a realistic simulation of golf – rewarding skill and mirroring the level of strategy, course management and mental toughness required to win in professional golf.

“The WGT players have been urging us to take this next step and we look forward to partnering with such innovative partners to further enhance the modern competition of golf and launch an unmatched esports tournament experience on WGT.”

The esports industry is one of the fastest growing media sectors with an audience of more than 380 million enthusiasts worldwide which is forecasted to surpass 1.6 billion by 2022.

A majority of esports fans are in the 18-34 age demographic.

•Find out more about Topgolf’s World Golf Tour by clicking here.

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Jon Rahm named Hilton European Tour Golfer of the Year after becoming the first Spaniard since Seve Ballesteros to be crowned European No. 1. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

REIGNING Race to Dubai Champion Jon Rahm has been named the 2019 Hilton European Tour Golfer of the Year.

Rahm was selected by a panel comprising members of the golfing media as the winner of the prestigious annual award.

A superb season saw Rahm claim two Rolex Series events, defend his national Open title and become the first Spaniard since Severiano Ballesteros to finish the year as European No. 1 – after sealing the Race to Dubai title in a dramatic finale to the 2019 campaign.

The 25-year-old finished tied ninth at The Masters, tied third in the US Open and was runner-up at the Estrella Damm Andalucia Valderrama Masters before securing his first European Tour title of the year at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

The latter victory was his third Rolex Series victory in the space of three years.

Rahm came close to claiming another Rolex Series title in September, finishing runner-up to Danny Willett at the BMW PGA Championship, at Wentworth, after rounds of 66, 67, 68 and 70 on his debut in the event.

On home soil, at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, Rahm defended a title for the first time in his career as he won the Mutuactivos Open de España in the Spanish capital.

The Spaniard stormed to victory in front of an adoring home crowd, carding a third round of 63 to take a five-stroke lead, which he then maintained as he finished on 22-under for the week.

His remarkable consistency throughout 2019 gave him the opportunity to win the Race to Dubai for the first time in his career at the final event of the season – Dubai’s DP World Tour Championship – an event he previously won in 2017.

Rahm shared the lead going into the final round, and then secured the victory on the 18^th hole at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

He got up and down from a greenside bunker for birdie to hold off the challenge of 2017 Race to Dubai Champion Tommy Fleetwood.

It was his fourth Rolex Series title win of the year for the richest first prize in tournament golf – $3million – and the 2019 Race to Dubai crown.

Rahm became just the second Spaniard in history to win the Harry Vardon Trophy as European No. 1, following in Ballesteros’s footsteps.

Seve won the European Tour’s Order of Merit for the sixth and final time in 1991. Rahm now joins Ballesteros (1986, ’88 and ’91) and Sergio Garcia (2017) as the third Spaniard to receive the European Tour’s Golfer of the Year award.

“It is a huge honour for me to be named the Hilton European Tour Golfer of the Year,” said Rahm, who announced as the winner at a lunch held at The Biltmore Mayfair Hotel in London.

“To emulate another of Seve’s achievements in winning this award is very humbling, and I’m so proud of what I have achieved this year.

“To win both the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and DP World Tour Championship for a second time, as well as defend the Open de España, were all incredible moments.

“But to finish the year as winner of the Race to Dubai is something I’m incredibly proud of achieving at this early stage in my career.”

RAHM WINS RACE TO DUBAI AND $5m PRIZE

European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said: “The 2019 European Tour season had so many stand-out moments, not least the dramatic finale at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai – when Jon earned his place in European Tour history, joining the legendary Seve Ballesteros as the only other Spaniard to become Europe’s No. 1 player.

“For Jon to win the Race to Dubai in the manner that he did, with so much pressure on that final hole, simply underlines what an incredible competitor he is.

“However, this award also recognises the hugely impressive standard of his performances across the year.

“It demonstrates the strength we have on the European Tour that there were a number of worthy contenders for this award, including Shane Lowry, who narrowly missed out despite winning The Open and a Rolex Series event.

“Jon has a wonderful future ahead of him and he is undoubtedly a deserving winner of the 2019 Hilton European Tour Golfer of the Year award.”

Panellist Alistair Tait, senior writer at Golfweek, said: “This was one of the most keenly debated Golfer of Year panels we’ve had for a number of years, with Shane Lowry’s unforgettable victory in The Open Championship at Royal Portrush the standout performance of 2019 on the European Tour – and an iconic moment in our sport.

“But after much discussion, Jon’s remarkably high standard of performance across the season tipped the scales in his favour as he became only the second Spaniard after the legendary Seve to become European No. 1.

“His three victories were each hugely impressive in their own right and each achieved on very different golf courses, underlining how rounded Jon is as an elite player.

“Like Seve was before him, Jon will be a central figure in European golf for many years to come, and he is a very worthy winner of the Hilton European Tour Golfer of the Year award.”

•To see the final Race to Dubai standings for 2019 click here.

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SCOTLAND’S Robert MacIntyre capped a superb debut season on the European Tour by finishing tied 14th in the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai to seal two prestigious awards.

The 23-year-old was named the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award.

The Walker Cup player also picked up the Challenge Tour Graduate of the Year accolade after finishing 11th on the 2019 Race to Dubai.

MacIntyre said: “I’m absolutely delighted. Halfway through the season when it became on the radar that we could win both awards, it’s something that we set out to do.

“We’ve finally achieved it and now I’m absolutely over the moon for it.

“I’ve enjoyed the battle. The last few weeks have been hard because I’ve been looking over my shoulder until last week when I got overtaken.

“But I could only control what I can control and that was putting some good golf shots on display and I finally managed to put in two good rounds this week to seal it off.

“Family’s everything to us. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them giving up so much time.

“My dad works two jobs, my mum previously worked three, four jobs. Now she’s starting to cool it down a wee bit but that’s nice.

“It’s been down to them and they have given me the chance. Now I just thank them so much.”

MacIntyre emerged top of the class from a strong crop of rookies which included two multiple winners – American Kurt Kitayama (14th) and Italian Guido Migliozzi (40th), both of whom came through Qualifying School – and fellow Challenge Tour graduate Spaniard Adri Arnaus, who finished 41st.

MacIntyre – who lost in the 2016 Amateur Championship final to Hampshire’s Scott Gregory – recorded seven top 10 finishes in 30 appearances on the European Tour in 2019.

They included three runners-up – in the Made in Denmark, Betfred British Masters and Porsche European Open.

The Oban-based ace also impressed in his Major Championship debut, finishing tied sixth in The Open at Royal Portrush.

•For the final Race to Dubai Rankings click here.

Koepka and Rahm: Challenge Tour’s greatest graduates

ROBERT MacIntyre became the 11th Scottish player to win the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year title since the European Tour’s inception in 1972 and the 12th overall.

Winning the prestigious award has laid the platform for some of the European Tour’s greatest careers, including this year’s Race to Dubai Champion Jon Rahm, who won the title two years ago.

Notable Scottish winners include Sam Torrance (1972), Sandy Lyle (1978) and Colin Montgomerie, who took the honour in 1988.

MacIntyre also became the seventh winner of the Challenge Tour Graduate of the Year, topping the list of 15 from the Class of 2018.

The left-hander finished 12th on the 2018 Road to Mallorca having finished runner-up twice last year.

MacIntyre played in the same Walker Cup team as Hampshire’s back-to-back Amateur Champions Scott Gregory and Harry Ellis, and their county boys team-mate Jack Singh-Brar, who kept his European Tour card, while Q-School graduate Gregory, lost his.

Previous winners of the Challenge Tour Graduate of Year are: Justin Walters (2013), Brooks Koepka (2014), Byeong Hun An (2015), Nacho Elvira (2016) Dylan Fritttelli (2017) and last year’s winner, Erik van Rooyen.

Koepka has won four Majors since then while An and Frittelli have both earned spots on the PGA Tour in the States.

•The other Scots to have won the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie awards were:– Mark Warren (2006); Scott Henderson (1997); Gary Orr (1993); Colin Montgomerie (1988); Gordon Brand Jnr (1982); Mike Miller (1979); Sandy Lyle (1978); Sam Torrance (1972); Bernard Gallacher (1968) and Robin Liddle (1966).

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Jon Rahm became just the second Spaniard to be crowned European No. 1 after victory in the DP World Tour Cham

JON Rahm was left overwhelmed after he claimed his first Race to Dubai, earning $5m in the process.

But it was not the life-changing sum in prize money – including the biggest single sum for winning a golf tournament anywhere in the world that stunned the Spaniard.

It was the fact that in all the commotion of his second win at Greg Norman’s Earth Course – pocketing the $3million for winning the DP World Tour Championship for a second time in Dubai – he had not realised he had become just the second Spanish player to be crowned European No. 1 and win the Harry Vardon Trophy.

When Sky TV’s Tim Barter pointed it out in his interview after holing the winning putt, Rahm, who is very focused on matching his hero’s Ballesteros’ achievements and records, was genuinely shocked to learn he had finished ahead of Tommy Fleetwood on the Race to Dubai.

“Really?” Rahm reacted. “Oh man I do not believe it.”

Even later when facing the world’s media, the new champions was still struggling to come to terms with his new found status.

Jon Rahm said: “It’s just hard to put that in perspective to know that since Seve, I’m the next one to get it done.

“I mean, I can put the words, but it just doesn’t feel like it’s true. It’s hard to believe.”

“Sergio has been a great Spanish champion for years, a major winner. Ollie, two-time major championship winner. Miguel Angel Jimenez has done a great job, as well.

“Alvaro Quiros has won this event. So many great players throughout the history of Spain that have had a chance and they didn’t get it done.

“Man, you dream of making birdies on 18 to win a tournament.

“And how I was playing early on, I was hoping not to need that, but it happened, and I came through when I needed it and really proud of myself for that.

“I’ve thought about it (winning the Race to Dubai) all week. I’ve thought about it the last two hours.

“I’ve thought about it as soon as I made the putt. But it still hasn’t processed in my mind.

“It’s a thought in there it still has not been internalised.

“It’s really so hard to believe that some of the greatest champions in European and Spanish golf haven’t been able to accomplish what I have in just three years.

“That’s what I can’t really put my mind into.”

The Spaniard held off a determined late charge from Lancashire’s Fleetwood to seal his second DP World Tour Championship title in three years – and his fourth Rolex Series victory – at Jumeirah Golf’s Earth Course.

At one point, Rahm had been on cruise control, racking up a six-shot lead after just seven holes thanks to four birdies as shock 36-hole leader Michael Lorenzo-Vera finally stumbled.

Rahm had a six-shot lead after seven holes but eventually won by just a shot. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

But 25-year-old Rahm dropped consecutive shots on the eighth and ninth and his lead was further eroded on the back nine as Fleetwood finished with five birdies in his final seven holes to sign for a 65

That set the clubhouse target at 18-under.

It meant Rahm, who had posted two birdies and two bogeys after the turn, then had to birdie the last hole for victory to avoid a winner-takes-all play-off with Fleetwood to decide both the tournament and the Race to Dubai.

He duly held his nerve with a superb bunker shot to four feet before rolling in the putt for a 68 to finish on 19-under.

Jon Rahm has now won six times in 40 European Tour appearances – two DP World Tour Championships, two Dubai Duty Free Irish Opens and his home Open de España on two occasions – achieving that milestone in 15 fewer events that the legendary Ballesteros.

Runner-up Fleetwood finished second in the Race to Dubai after winning the Nedbank Golf Challenge a week earlier, at Sun City (see below).

Lorenzo-Vera posted a closing 70 to finish third on 17-under to move into a career-best 19^th position on the Race to Dubai.

World No. 2 Rory McIlroy could not replicate the fireworks of his third round 65 as a 73 left the FedEx Cup winner seven strokes back in fourth place on 12-under.

Yorkshire’s defending champion Danny Willett was a further shot back in fifth after a 69.

Austrian Bernd Wiesberger, who had led the Race to Dubai going into the season finale, posted a round of 72 to finish in tied 28^th position on two-under.

He slipped to third position in the final rankings, with Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Sheffield’s Matthew Fitzpatrick completing the Race to Dubai top five, each earning a share of the $5million bonus pool.

•For the final scores in the DP World Tour Championship click here.

Fleetwood’s praise for Ryder Cup team-mate

DP World Tour Championship runner-up Tommy Fleetwood praised Ryder Cup team-mate Rahm as his bid to win a second Race to Dubai in three years came up short.

The 29-year-old, who took his young son Franklin to the practice ground while Rahm played the 18^th, said: “I couldn’t have done much more, really.

“You know, some of the putts I hit, some of the shots I hit coming down the stretch, it started looking like I could get back in it or might have a chance.

“I’m proud, really, of the way I played the last few holes. Proud of the end of the season, and these two weeks make the season just seem in a different light than it did would weeks before we started.

“Fair play to Jon. That’s a cracking birdie down the last when you have to make it.

“There’s always going to be a little bit of disappointment there, but for the most part, I got myself back in it, and I am very proud of the way I played on that back nine.

“You know, it’s Jon’s time, Jon’s moment, he’s played unbelievable this year. I’m just happy with my week.”

Fleetwood had reignited his hopes of a second European No. 1 crown with victory in a play-off against Sweden’s Marcus Kinhult at the Nedbank – his first win since Abu Dhabi two years ago in January – a week earlier.

The post Jon Rahm cleans up in Dubai with $5m prize and first Race to Dubai title to match Seve appeared first on Golf North.

Michael Lorenzo-Vera led the 2019 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai

FRANCE’S Mike Lorenzo-Vera finished with four consecutive birdies in an opening round of 63 to take a one-shot lead over Rory McIlroy in the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

Despite feeling “under the weather,” Lorenzo-Vera equalled his lowest round of the season to set the early pace on nine-under par in the final Rolex Series event of 2019.

Biarritz-based Lorenzo-Vera, who was reputed for his fiery temper when he first came on Tour, still seeking his first Euorpean Tour win some 12 years later.

Thirty-four-year-old Lorenzo-Vera said: “Honestly I’m not the feeling well at all. I have no energy.

“I was down, I had a lung infection in South Africa and a lot of treatment, and really just feel bad on top of that.

“Just one of those days where you try to put the ball in play. I played four holes yesterday as practise, and I felt that if I really relaxed a lot, just swing it, like 70 per cent or maybe less, ball was still flying pretty well.

“Well, nothing’s clicking, really. I’m just trying to do well in every part of the performance and sometimes it clicks and sometimes it doesn’t click.

“I have a lot to do better to be more consistent on good weeks. That’s why I think I haven’t won yet. There’s plenty of work to do.”

Lorenzo-Vera even held a three-shot advantage at one point until four-time Major winner McIlroy produced his own spectacular finish.

Former World No. 1 McIlroy birdied the 15th and 16th holes then executed his “best shot of the year” on the last – a majestic three wood from 290 yards which finished five feet from the pin, en route to a closing eagle.

The Northern Irishman, who also posted five birdies on the front nine, carded a 64 as he chases back-to-back European Tour victories following his win in the WGC-HSBC Champions three weeks ago in Shanghai.

McIlroy, who cannot win the extra $2million for winning the Race to Dubai after missing points in two World Golf Championship events when he was not a European Tour member earlier in the year said: “It was great.

“I started off fast at four-under through six, five-under through seven. I held a couple of really good putts starting off, but I birdied the two par fives on the front nine and did what I needed to do.

“Then it got a little slow around the start of the back nine, but it was obviously nice to finish the way I did.

“I hit some really quality shots coming in which gives me a lot confidence going into the next few days,” added McIlroy, who has The Players Championship to his name in 2019, and claimed a second FedEx Cup at East Lake, in August.

“Honestly it’s possibly the best shot I’ve hit all year,” said McIlroy. “I had the equivalent 272 to the front, 291 to the pin, sort of back in off the left.

“Wind was off the left so it was a nice one for me to just aim straight at the pin and know if I hit my little draw it should hold.

“But if it gets going on the wind, obviously the bunker on the right is better than the water on the left. I just flushed it.

“When I was over it, it was sort of enough left and I sort of carried my three-wood off the deck about 280, so it was right on the limit but as soon as I hit it, I knew it was perfect.

“It was right out of the middle. Great to finish like that, and it was a great round of golf.”

Both players will have their eyes on the title and the $3million winner’s cheque – the richest first prize in tournament golf – while Jon Rahm has that and the Race to Dubai title in his sights after opening with a six -under par 66.

The Spaniard is currently third in the tournament and third in the Race to Dubai, and showed no sign of rust after a six-week spell off recharging his batteries.

Rahm bolstered his chances of overhauling Bernd Wiesberger in the contest to become Europe’s No. 1 with four birdies on the back nine.

“Really good, even though I tried my best to mess it up on the last hole,” said Rahm.

“Really good round. Six weeks of not competing, out of all those six weeks, most of the five were not touching a club.

“Pleased with the way I’m performing. I could tell how rested I was mentally because on some holes, I never lost patience.

“I never really got down on myself and stayed with that positive attitude. I’m hoping I can keep playing solid and keep it for the next three days.

“It was hard to kind of stop golf for a while, and then after a certain time, it was hard to pick it up again.

“So it was hard to get into that routine again but once I came to the tournament, you kind of switch, you get to the tournament, you get to grinding.

“I think it’s just getting the feel of putting, chipping, so I spent a lot of time doing that, a lot of short game, putting.

“The swing, I was feeling good, so all I had to do was make sure my pace was fast – greens were good. So far it’s been good.”

Fleetwood holes out to stay in Race to Dubai

LANCASHIRE’S Tommy Fleetwood also put the pressure on Race to Dubai leader Wiesberger – his playing partner in the opening round – by holing his second shot on the first hole for an eagle and birdieing the second.

The Ryder Cup hero eventually signed for a 67 to sit four shots back in a share of fourth place with Hertfordshire’s Tom Lewis, recent winner of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship in the States, who has a PGA Tour card for 2020.

Fleetwood, who is four shots behind leader Lorenzo-Vera, said: “You can only put yourself out of it on day one. There’s a lot more to do. There’s 54 holes now.

“There are great players up there and all I can do, is do my stuff. I’ve got three days of work left really until the end of the year.

“Just make the most of them. Stay very present. Keep doing my best on every golf shot and see how we can get on.

“I would love to be up there come Sunday but that’s a very long way away. I’ve got a little bit of practice tonight, have dinner and on to tomorrow,” added last week’s winner of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, which earned Fleetwood $2.5million, golf’s biggest tournament prize until this week.

“Very nice start,” Fleetwood added. “Hit a great drive and then I actually didn’t expect the nine to reach the pin.

“I knew it would be so close. You can’t see it, so you just take people’s reaction, but it was the perfect start.

“I didn’t feel too up or down. I was just happy with the execution of the golf shots. It’s nice, last event of the year, only four days left, so make the most of a good start.”

Wiesberger is a further three shots adrift, but the Austrian, who was one over par after his third bogey of the day on the 10th hole, was rightly pleased with his back nine.

He made birdies on the 11th, 13th and 18th holes that moved him back into the red on two-under par and into a share of 14th position.

Wiesberger said:“I put myself in tricky positions. Had a lot of sand off the tee, unfortunately, and couldn’t attack, even though conditions were a little bit windy it’s still gettable.

“There’s low scoring. Again like last week, I came off a sloppy start and we hung in there and shot a couple under par, so that’s a positive.

“It’s good. I try to cherish it as much as I can. I’m just thinking 72-hole tournament this week.

“I’m not trying to look at what is happening. I can’t control what Tommy, Matt, Shane and Jon are doing or any other of the 49 guys.

“So whatever is in my control, I try to do as good as possible, and I’ve done pretty well with that this year and no reason to change that.

“I’m trying to play for a tournament here and I’m trying to play for the Race to Dubai title, and if I do my very best to finish this tournament as high as possible, that’s all I can do.

“We’ll add it up at the end.”

•For live scoring in the second round of the DP Tour World Championship click here.

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Bernd Wiesberger can upstage Ryder Cup players Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick by landing the Race to Dubai. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

BERND Wiesberger is determined to hold off the challenge of three Ryder Cup players and The Open Champion as he aims to become Austria’s first Race to Dubai Champion at the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

The 34-year-old, who missed most of the 2018 season through injury, has enjoyed an impressive 2019 campaign, winning three times, including Rolex Series titles at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and the Italian Open.

After a tied third place finish at last week’s Nedbank Golf Challenge, Wiesberger holds a 722-point advantage over Tommy Fleetwood, the champion in South Africa, on Sunday, in the Race to Dubai.

Wiesberger, who has the chance to land this week’s record $3million first prize in the United Arab Emirates, said: “It would be a first off, obviously. Unfortunately, we haven’t had an Austrian winner of the Race to Dubai or the overall rankings at any point.

“Personally, it would be a huge achievement for me, something that, you know, growing up watching European Tour golf and watching legends like Seve, Olazábal and Colin Montgomerie – who himself has won so many times in a row – at the time when I started getting into golf.

“It’s something that looked a long distance away, but obviously much closer now.

“We are looking forward to the next four days and going to give it everything we have. And hopefully if we count up all the points at the end of Sunday, we’re still up there and it would be amazing.

“I’m very, very lucky right now in Austria with not only myself playing well this year, but also Matthias (Schwab) doing a great job, and almost catching a couple titles this year.”

Fleetwood, who won the Race to Dubai two years ago, said: “This is my third year in a row where I’m one of those players that has a chance to win the Race to Dubai.

“It’s very special. There’s only a certain number of people that have the Race to Dubai on their resume, and I’m lucky to be one of them.

“I think it’s one of my greatest achievements and I think I have experienced both sides,” said one of the heroes of Europe’s 2018 Ryder Cup winning team.

“In 2017 when I won, I led it for such a long time. In 2018, I set out and it was never a goal at the start of the year to win the Race to Dubai.

“And all of a sudden, just because it was a possibility, it became something that really hurt when I didn’t.

“But realistically, I had not thought about it all year until sort of the last few events that I had a chance.

“I just think it’s important this year that I take those experiences into it and know that it still takes a lot to do it and it’s not in my hands at all.

“I can only do my best this week, take one shot at a time.” added Fleetwood, who had not won for nearly two years before his stunning final round containing three eeagles at Sun City’s Gary Player Country Club.

With 2,000 Race to Dubai points on offer to the winner of the DP World Tour Championship, along with the richest-ever first prize in world tournament golf, Spaniard Jon Rahm, Champion Golfer of the Year Shane Lowry and Yorkshire’s Matthew Fitzpatrick can also win the coveted European No. 1 title, on Sunday.

Wiesberger is in pole position and should he either win or finish second alone in the tournament at Jumeriah Golf Estates, he will be crowned Race to Dubai champion regardless of how the others finish.

Rahm has been lightly raced since the end of the FedEx Cup, and will be hoping to emulate his hero Seve Ballesteros by becoming European No. 1.

“I was fortunate enough to be able to take a lot of important weeks off and still have a chance to win the Race to Dubai,” said Rahm.

“I know even though it was a smaller event, winning in Spain was important in that sense.

“I’d rather be the front man, honestly. You don’t necessarily have to win. You just need to play good.

“Anybody that’s not the leader has a chance to win. I know there’s always odds, I think if I finish tied for second and some other things happen, I might win, as well.

“But I’m here to win, and hopefully I just get it done and not have to think about possible consequences about it.”

With Wiesberger’s closest rivals needing to either win or finish second to stand any chance of overhauling him, Wiesberger could also benefit from strong performances from those outside the top five on the Race to Dubai.

That includes World No. 2 Rory McIlroy, who has twice won the DP World Tour Championship alongside four other top 10 finishes in his nine appearances.

The winner of the Players Championship, the FedEx Championship and the WGC-HSBC Champions in 2019 ironically deprived himself the chance of a fourth Race to Dubai title this week – and his first European / PGA Tour double – by his decision not to rejoin the European Tour after the Masters.

That cost McIlroy, who won the Race to Dubai in 2012 2014 and 2015, more than 1,700 Race to Dubai points.

Lowry looking to deny Wiesberger

Lowry had been very bullish about his chances of becoming European No. 1 back in September with the Rolex Series events at Wenworth, and in Italy.

But the 32-year-old has failed to reignite his form since the memorable scenes when he lifted the Claret Jug, at Royal Portrush, in July

“I suppose I’ve not really thought about it before the last few months,” Lowry admitted.

“I did have a chance here in 2015, if I won the tournament, I could have won the Race to Dubai – and I’m in a similar situation this week.

“I ended up finishing fifth that year,” added Lowry, who won the WGC Bridgestone Invitational that summer to jump up the rankings.

“It would be great,” said Shane. “You look at the names that are on the trophy and the people that have won it.

“I think anybody who is anybody in golf has won that trophy.

“Obviously, it would be really nice. It would be icing on the cake to cap off what is a good year.”

Matthew Fitzpatrick is also trying to maintain his record of having won on tour every year, and already has a victory on the Earth Course to his name three years ago.

“I think having that experience in 2016, to have been able to done it around this golf course, was massive,” said the Sheffield ace.

“You know, when I first ever came here, it wasn’t a golf course that people thought I could do well around, really.

“But it’s a golf course I love. I feel like it suits my game. I have good iron play and really good putting, and that’s the big difference.

“I feel like my last couple of results, I have two top 10 and my game feels like it’s trending in the right direction.

“It’s a shame that the year is coming to an end and there’s not a major coming up soon, but it’s been a good year and, I feel pretty confident right now,” said Fitzpatrick.

•For a full analysis of the season-ending permutations, click here. Follow live scoring in the first round at the DP World Tour Championship by clicking here.

The post Wiesberger stands on verge of history if he is crowned European No. 1 in Dubai appeared first on Golf North.

Dr Pawan Munjal gives 2019 Hero Challenge Dubai winner Erik van Rooyen the trophy. L-R: Henrik Stenson, Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Patrick Reed, Vernon Kay, Danny Willett and Shane Lowry

THE Hero Challenge – featuring Major champions and Ryder Cup stars tackling tough short-hole targets in spectacular locations – is to expand over the next three years, the European Tour has announced.

The innovative format tournament, which has been played against stunning backdrops – including the Dubai skyline, the Liverpool docks, London’s Canary Wharf and Edinburgh Castle – has now been held at 10 European Tour events since 2016.

The new three-year deal signed by Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, will see the number of Hero Challenges rise from three to five each season.

The exciting and fast-paced shootout will take place 15 times between 2020 and 2022 at different iconic locations around the world.

The series of five annual events will begin in 2020 with the Abi Dhabi HSBC Championship – the first Rolex Series event of the season – before moving to Europe.

A Hero Challenge will precede the Betfred British Masters, to be hosted by Lee Westwood at Close House, near Newcastle, in May, with the city’s famous Tyne Bridge almost certain to feature as the backdrop.

Two more will be held in Europe before the series finale in Dubai, which will feature the winners of all four Hero Challenges, who will compete at the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

Hero Motorcorp chairman Dr Pawan Munjal made the announcement on Tuesday, during the Hero Challenge ahead of this week’s DP World Tour Championship, in Dubai.

Played at the iconic Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai, the occasion marked the 10th edition of the Hero Challenge over the past three years.

Erik van Rooyen emerged as the winner of the final Hero Challenge of 2019.

The South African defeated Major Champions Shane Lowry, Patrick Reed, Henrik Stenson and Danny Willett, as well as Ryder Cup star Rafa Cabrera Bello.

Dr Munjal said: “Golf has rapidly gained prominence at the world stage, yet there is a constant need to push the envelope and bring innovation to attract younger audiences.

“We introduced the Hero Challenge on the European Tour in 2016 and this distinct format has greatly appealed to a new league of followers over the years.

“The overwhelming success of Hero Challenge has encouraged us to further strengthen our association with the European Tour.

“We have been immensely encouraged by the support and participation of all the icons of the game and will continue to work towards popularising the sport across the world.”

European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said: “We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Hero MotoCorp for a further three years, and we are delighted they share our passion for innovation.

“Thanks to the vision of Pawan Munjal, the creation of the Hero Challenge has taken golf and our global stars to some iconic locations around the world.

“We are extremely excited to be expanding this concept with additional events over the next three years as we take the Hero Challenge to some spectacular new locations.”

The first Hero Challenge was held in 2016 at The Grove prior to the British Masters.

Earlier this year, the Hero Challenge welcomed its first female star when Solheim Cup and Ladies European Tour winner Charley Hull teed it up at the action-packed event in Liverpool, in front of the iconic Liver Building.

The Hero Challenge is broadcast around the world with a household reach of more than 125 million for each event and is also live streamed on the European Tour’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Hero MotoCorp also sponsors the Indian Open, a co-sanctioned event with the Asian Tour, since it became part of the Tour’s schedule in 2015.

Hero has also supported the Women’s Indian Open since 2010, and sponsored India’s domestic women’s professional tour.

•To find out more about van Rooyen’s victory in the Hero Challenge click here.

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