Royal Troon will welcome back the Open Championship in 2024 the R&A has announced today, having originally awarded the 2032 Major Championship to the Ayrshire links course

ROYAL Troon will miss out on plans to host the 151st Open Championship 100 years after the famous Ayrshire club first staged the world’s oldest Major championship.

The R&A announced in February that Royal Troon was to host the 152nd Open to mark the historic centenary – but the subsequent cancellation of the 149th Open at Royal St George’s in July has forced the game’s ruling body into a rethink.

With the 150th Open Championship originally due to be held at St Andrews in 2021, the R&A has decided to push its rota back by a year in each case of the venues already announced.

So with Sandwich set to stage The Open in July 2021, and preparations for the Home of Golf to welcome the world’s best players to St Andrews now being readied for 2022, Hoylake will host the event in 2023.

The R&A confirmed today that The 151^st Open will be played at Royal Liverpool, from July 20-23, in 2023, while The 152^nd Open will be played at Royal Troon from 14-21 July 18-21, in 2024.

The famous Claret Jug will be contested at the Kent links from July 15-18, in 2021.

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said, “We have been working closely with Royal Liverpool and Royal Troon – and the relevant local agencies – to reschedule the championships.

“We are grateful to everyone involved at the clubs and at our partner organisations for supporting our plans and showing flexibility to adapt their own schedules.

“We can now look forward to seeing the world’s best players competing at these outstanding links courses in 2023 and 2024.”

Royal Liverpool captain Michael Johnson said: “Without doubt the golfing world greatly anticipates the return of The Open after the hiatus of 2020, and Royal Liverpool Golf Club is delighted to fit into the revised schedule alongside our friends at Royal Troon.

“We must thank The R&A for its continued support and look forward to welcoming competitors and spectators alike to Hoylake in 2023.”

Royal Troon captain Desmond Bancewicz said: “Following the most unusual circumstances this year, affecting all our lives, Royal Troon Golf Club looks forward with eager anticipation in hosting The Open in 2024 for a 10th time – and sends their very best wishes to The R&A and Royal St George’s Golf Club for 2021.”

The famous Postage Stamp hole at Royal Troon, the shortest par three on the Open rota.

Hoylake ready for ‘lucky’ 13th Open

ROYAL Liverpool will host The Open for a 13^th time in 2023 – the first time since Rory McIlroy lifted the Claret Jug at Hoylake in 2014.

That was also the last of the four Majors won by the former World No. 1 from Northern Ireland, who turned 30 last year and become a father for the first time at the end of August.

There was a 40-year gap between Argentinian Roberto de Vincenzo’s victory at Hoylake and Tiger Woods’ memorable Royal Liverpool win in 2006 – and his emotional celebration followng the death of his father Earl earlier that summer.

The Open will return to Royal Troon for the 10^th time following Henrik Stenson’s memorable final round duel with Phil Mickelson before claiming victory in 2016.

The first winner of The Open at Troon was Arthur Havers – the Norwich-born pro who was the club pro at Moor Park and Sandy Lodge in Hertfordshire, and Coombe Hill, in Surrey – as well as spells at West Lancashire and Frinton, in Essex.

Havers, who would go on to play in three of the first four Ryder Cups, as well as the first unofficial match at Wentworth in 1926, beat the USA’s defending champion Walter Hagen by a shot.

Future venues:–

• The 149^th Open will be played at Royal St George’s from July 15-18, 2021
• The 150^th Open will be played at St Andrews from July 14-17, 2022
• The 151^st Open will be played at Royal Liverpool from July 20-23, 2023
• The 152^nd Open will be played at Royal Troon July 18-21, 2024
  

  The 2023 Open Championship will return to Hoylake’s links on the Wirral. Royal Liverpool hosted the 2006 Open won by Tiger Woods, while Rory McIlory lifted the trophy in 2014. Picture by The R&A

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Lalla Meryem Cup winner Nuria Iturrios (left) with Spain’s Gorge Campilo who claimed the Trophée Hassan II at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam last year. Picture by TRISTAN JONES

THE European Tour has confirmed the postponement of the Trophée Hassan II while the Scandinavian Mixed has been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Scandinavian Mixed was set to be a ground-breaking event – hosted by Sweden’s two most successful golfers Henrik Stenson and Annika Sorenstam – with male and female players competing head-to-head in the same event for the first time.

The Scandinavian Mixed was scheduled to take place at Stockholm’s Bro Hof Slott Golf Club, from June 11-14, , with men and women battling for one prize fund and one trophy.

The Ladies European Tour’s Lalla Meryem Cup – which was scheduled to take place concurrently with Trophée Hassan II, at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, Rabat, Morocco from June 4-7 – has also been postponed.

The decision to postpone both events in Morocco was taken following consultation between the Hassan II Trophy Association, chaired by Prince Moulay Rachid, the European Tour and the LET.

Following this season’s cancellation – which was agreed in consultation with all parties – the event will still be included on the European Tour and Ladies European Tour schedules from 2021.

European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said: “We will continue to monitor the global situation in relation to coronavirus and evaluate its impact on all our tournaments, with public health and well-being our absolute priority.

“We thank all stakeholders involved in Trophée Hassan II and the Scandinavian Mixed – including His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid and the Hassan II Trophy Association, the Ladies European Tour and Henrik Stenson and Annika Sorenstam.

“Discussions regarding the possible rescheduling of all postponed tournaments will remain ongoing until we have clarity on the global situation.”

LET chief executive Alexandra Armas, said: “We are deeply grateful for the incredible support and flexibility shown by our partners at this challenging time, and would like to thank the Hassan II Trophy Association – and the European Tour – for their unwavering commitment to working together.

“As we monitor the global situation with regards to COVID-19, we continue to wish for the health and safety of the entire golfing community.”

The Ladies European Tour schedule for 2020 featured some 24 tournaments – an increase of four from 2019 – and an €18million prize fund up €4.5million. Picture by TRISTAN JONES

LET schedule’s record prize fund

THE Ladies European Tour schedule for 2020 featured a record-breaking prize fund of almost €18million spread across 24 tournaments to mark a new decade brimming with optimism.

As well as the increase of €4.5million in prize money – the LET unveiled the Race to the Costa del Sol with a bonus pool at the end-of-season Andalucía Costa del Sol Open Ladies Spanish Open, in January.

The top three finishers on the Race to the Costa del Sol rankings were set to share the bonus pool worth an extra €250,000.

But only the first three events were played before the coronavirus epidemic became a pandemic in March, forcing the first-ever Saudi Ladies Championship at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club to be postponed.

The Evian Championship – one of the five scheduled Majors of the season – has moved from its slot in late July to the first week of August – the date originally chosen for the Toyko Olympics Games.

It means the world’s top players – if the Evian can still go ahead on its new date – will then head to Scotland for the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open at North Berwick, from August 13-16.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“The opportunity to win another one would be huge.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Race to qualify for Tokyo suspended

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Proud mum and wife watched Rose win in Rio

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Olympic will become golf’s pinnacle says wife

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

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

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

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

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

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

EDWARDS TO LEAD GB GOLF GOLD BID IN TOKYO

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The Claret Jug sitting beside the green at Royal Troon’s famous par three eighth hole – The Postage Stamp. Picture by DAVID CANNON / R&A / GETTY IMAGES

THE 152nd Open will be played at Royal Troon in 2023 – seven years since Henrik Stenson produced a remarkable final round 63 to claim his first Major, and win the Claret Jug.

The occasion will mark the 100th anniversary of when The Open was first played at Royal Troon in 1923.

Then Arthur Havers, who was a club pro at Sandy Lodge. Moor Park in Hertfordshire and Surrey’s Coombe Hill, as well as Frinton, in Essex, defeated the legendary Walter Hagen by one stroke.

It will also be the 10th time that golf’s original championship has been played over the famous Ayrshire links.

Swede Stenson’s superb final round held off the challenge of Phil Mickelson in an unforgettable duel as he claimed the championship with a record 20-under par total of 264

Stenson joined a celebrated list of golfers who have lifted the famous Claret Jug and been crowned Champion Golfer of the Year at Royal Troon, including Havers, Bobby Locke, Arnold Palmer, Tom Weiskopf, Tom Watson, Mark Calcavecchia, Justin Leonard in the 20th Century, and Todd Hamilton in 2004

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said, “Royal Troon is one of the world’s greatest championships links.

“It has produced many memorable moments throughout the history of The Open including the dramatic duel between Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson that captivated millions of fans around the world in 2016.

“We are very much looking forward to celebrating another milestone in the cherished history of The Open when we mark the 100th anniversary of the Championship first being played at Royal Troon.

“It will be fascinating to see who will emerge from the world-class field to lift the Claret Jug in 2023.”

This year’s 149th Open will return to Royal St George’s, while St Andrew’s will move back a year in rota from its normal five-year cycle so the Home of Golf can stage the 150th celebrations.

It will then return to Royal Liverpool in 2022, for the third time since 2006 – and where Rory McIlroy won his last Major in 2014 – before heading north over the border to Royal Troon.

Des Bancewicz, the club captain, said: “We are delighted to welcome the return of the world’s oldest major golf championship to Royal Troon, and regard this as confirmation of the wonderful condition to which our historic links are maintained.

“The 152nd Open will also provide an excellent opportunity to celebrate 100 years of the championship’s history at Royal Troon which commenced with Arthur Havers’ victory in 1923.”

Royal Troon is famous for The Postage Stamp – the par three eighth hole, the shortest hole on The Open rota.

Joe FitzPatrick, Scottish Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, said: “I am delighted The R&A has decided to hold the 152nd Open in Scotland, the Home of Golf, in 2023.

“The Open is important to Scotland economically, culturally and reputationally, and Royal Troon is one of our finest and most prestigious courses.

“The last time The Open was played there in 2016 proved highly successful with £110million worth of benefits to Scotland.

“Royal Troon will also play host to this year’s AIG Women’s British Open, further emphasising our strong relationship with The R&A and our collective support for women’s golf.”

The 152nd Open will be played from July 16-23, 2023.

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Graeme McDowell produced an excellent 64 thanks to three closing birdies in a row to share the first round lead in the Saudi International. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

FORMER US Open champion Graeme McDowell birdied his final three holes to take a share of the lead with Malaysia’s Gavin Green after the opening round of the Saudi International.

The Northern Ireland ace, who holed the winning putt at the 2010 Ryder Cup, also birdied four consecutive holes from the second in a superb six-under par round of 64.

The 40-year-old based in Florida, who grew up playing links golf around Portrush, battled the increasingly windy afternoon conditions at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club, to catch the early leader at the top of the leaderboard.

McDowell, who has nine other European Tour titles, including back-to-back French Opens in 2013 and 2014 – the last time he won this side of the Atlantic – was delighted with his start.

“I got off to a fast start which was huge, before the wind got up,” said McDowell, who was almost upstaged by playing partner Phil Mickelson’s nine birdies.

“It was inevitable out here in the Middle East – Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Saudi is similar – in that you get flat-calm mornings, but you know it’s going to blow in the afternoon.

“It was nice to get out of there with six-under par because I felt like I played great today.

“It would have been a horrible round to let get away,” added McDowell, who has seen Ryder Cup team-mate Lee Westwood become the second most successful player in his 40s on the European Tour, after his win in Abu Dhabi, which also propelled him to the top of the Race to Dubai rankings.

“But to finish birdie, birdie, birdie was nice, just feeding off Phil finishing with seven birdies on the back nine,” added Graeme McDowell, who played with three-time Masters winner Mickelson.

“It was Phil the thrill out there,” said GMac. “It was fun to watch him and fun to play with him.”

Five-time Major winner Mickelson bounced back from a double bogey on the second hole, posting nine birdies and three more bogeys in a characteristically entertaining round of 66.

The American is two shots back in a share of eighth position on four-under par, while compatriot and pre-tournament favourite Dustin Johnson, the defending champion, is a further shot back after opening with a 67 to sit on three-under.

Mickelson, who turns 50 in June, two days before the start of the 2020 US Open, said: “It was a great back nine.

“Part of the challenge for me is that I feel like I’ve been playing well but mentally I haven’t been as sharp.

“I haven’t been visualising and I haven’t been seeing the shot clear,” said the San Diego legend, who has 44 victories on the PGA Tour to his name, only second behing Tiger Woods, among current players across the world.

“It was certainly evident early in the round where I made a couple of shots that weren’t that hard that I made difficult.” added Mickelson.

“But the back nine, things really started to come together. Meaning I hit a lot of good shots.

“I started making the putts, and made a lot of birdies, and it was just a good back nine that gave me a good chance heading into tomorrow.

“I feel like my game is a lot sharper than I’ve been scoring, so it was nice having that back nine.

“Going into tomorrow’s round with hopefully less wind in the morning, I can get off to a good, aggressive start and see if I can continue making birdies.

“I feel like I can,” said Mickelson, who won the 2013 Open at Muirfield, a week after claiming the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.

Green posted five birdies on the front nine and mixed three birdies with two bogeys after the turn to take the early clubhouse lead with the second wave of starters to come.

Green said: “I played solid. Only a few mistakes here and there, which is pretty normal.

“A couple of pretty big par saves, and a couple of mistakes, a couple of three-putts, which was tough to take in because I was playing well and I was playing solid.

“Just a couple slipped off. You know, it’s the nature of the game,” said 26-year-old Green, who has just one Asian Tour win under his belt.

“You just have to live with it and move on, and that’s what we did. We closed off strong, birdied 16, 17. Had a look at 18.

“Had a nasty little lip-out but it is what it is. I’ll take it, added the 2017 Taiwan Masters winner now in his third full year on the European Tour.

Swedes Stenson and Soderberg’s Saudi shift

SWEDEN’S Henrik Stenson, a Ryder Cup team mate of Graeme McDowell and a fellow Major Champion, is part of a five-way share of third place on five-under par,

Stenson is alongside compatriot Sebastian Soderberg, Spain’s Adri Arnaus, France’s Victor Perez and Venezuela’s PGA Tour winner Jhonattan Vegas.

Stenson said: “I attributed most of it to the putting today. It was still a struggle off the tee at times and the rough is pretty thick.

“I had to scramble well on a couple of holes, but the approach shots that were close I converted into birdies and kept it together nicely, so very pleased with that.”

•To follow live scoring during the second round of the Saudi International, click here.

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Bryson DeChambeau wants a good week in Dubai to be a springboard for glory in the Major Championships in 2020. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

BRYSON DeChambeau is hopeful a successful defence of his title at this week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic can act as a springboard for glory in the 2020 Major Championships.

The American stormed to a dominant seven-shot victory at Emirates Golf Club in 2019, to claim his first European Tour title – and add to his growing list of career achievements.

The 26-year-old has won the US Amateur and lifted trophies as a professional on both sides of the Atlantic.

But the player dubbed the “Mad Scientist” has yet to make a splash in golf’s four biggest events – while four winners of the Dubai Desert Classic have won a Major in the same season, including Tiger Woods twice in 2006 and 2008, and Ernie Els, in 2002.

The Ryder Cup star’s best finish in 14 Majors has been a tie for 15th at the 2016 US Open Championship at Oakmont.

But he is determined to improve on that record this summer and knows that two of the winners of this week’s Dubai event have gone on to claim the Green Jacket at the Masters just a couple of months later.

DeChambeau said: “I’m honoured to be back. I love this city. I think it’s an incredible place, and desert golf has always suited my style of play.

“I’d say all in all, it’s one of my favourite places to be, just because of how technologically advanced I feel like the place is, and the golf course is in immaculate shape.

“The greens are perfect. The rough is longer this year, which is pretty interesting and I also just love hitting it off the fairways out here.

“It’s a lot of great fun, and a lot of scoring opportunities. So for me, it’s a great test of golf and I had a lot of fun last year. Let’s hopefully do it again.

“Last year, I didn’t drive it my absolute best but I was still able to get it done.

“It’s going to take great ball-striking, iron play, and making a lot of putts.

“My wedge game is much improved I feel like and personally I’m looking forward to the new test this week.

“The rough is a little bit longer, so being in the fairway is going to be key, and if you have a great wedge game, you can get up-and-down and fix those mistakes you have, it’s definitely a viable option to win.

“All of my mind is taken up for the need to do well in the Majors. That’s what I haven’t done well in particular in my career so far, and I am keen on changing that.”

Stenson and Garcia keen to join Lee Westwood in the Roaring Forties

MEANWHILE Major Champions Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia are looking to keep the flag flying for the over 40s following Lee Westwood’s impressive victory in Abu Dhabi last week.

The Nottinghamshire ace from Worksop secured his 25th European Tour title at the age of 46, and he is the latest player to prove that age is just a number after win number four in his 40s.

That win matched the number recorded by Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie in their final decade before moving over to the Seniors Tour.

Montgomerie is labelled with the tag of no victories in the Major Championships, while Langer won the Masters twice in 1985 and 1993.

Stenson was 40 when he won The Open Championship at Royal Troon and, now aged 43, returned to the winner’s circle with victory in the Bahamas in December.

The Swede arrives in the Middle East from Singapore and insists he has plenty more miles left on the clock at the top of the game as he seeks to add to his success in the Major Championships.

Stenson said: “The golf course doesn’t know if you’re 20, 30 or 40 when you’re teeing it up, right?

“It’s all about bringing as good a game as you can do and we know experience is a good part in this game, to have played it in different conditions over the years and different courses and all the rest.

“At times we can’t really compete with the longest players in the game but we can compete with other factors and, of course, that’s something we try to do as good as we can.

“We certainly keep the dreams alive of winning golf tournaments,” added Stenson.

“I don’t know if it’s down to possibly swing, if your swing is not taking too much toll on your body and not wearing your back down too much, you probably can keep it going.

“I’ve spent a lot of time on the physical side the last 10 years to try and buy myself some extra time – and for recovery and practice and everything else.”

Garcia, a winner of the event in 2017, only turned 40 earlier this month so is still looking for a first win of this decade and would also relish more success in the Major Championships.

But the Spaniard – who won in Dubai before claiming his first Green Jacket three months later in 2017, as did Danny Willett 12 months before that – is confident he can take on the young guns.

Garcia said: “We know it’s not easy as you keep adding on numbers to your ID, but we go out there and we practice hard and we try to stay fit and play the best we can.

“We believe in ourselves, we believe that we’re good enough. I feel like we show it pretty much week-in, week-out.

“It gets tougher every year because there’s a lot of good youngsters coming out both in Europe and on the PGA Tour.

“But we can still go out there and perform well. We are competitors and we love to compete and challenge ourselves and that’s what we try to do.’

•For live scoring in the first round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic click here.

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Phil Mickelson is the seventh Major winner to sign up for the 2020 Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, from January 30-February 2. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

FIVE-time Major Champion Phil Mickelson will tee it up alongside compatriot and fellow American Ryder Cup star Tony Finau when the Saudi International gets under way at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, in January.

The pair are the latest high-profile Americans to join an already world-class field for the second running of the European Tour event.

They will journey to King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) to compete for a prize fund of $3.5m with defending Champion Dustin Johnson, World Number One Brooks Koepka and Masters winner Patrick Reed for the Saudi Internatioal from January 30-February 2.

The Americans will also face stiff competition from a host of European Major winners, including Open Champions Henrik Stenson (2016) and Shane Lowry (2019), plus 2017 Masters winner Sergio Garcia.

Mickelson – a winner of 51 worldwide titles – has enjoyed a number of high-profile finishes in the Middle East but, despite 10 career European Tour victories, is still in search of a maiden win in the Middle East.

“I am really looking forward to playing in Saudi Arabia in January,” said Mickelson, the left-hander who spent more than 25 years in the world’s top 50.

“I watched Dustin win the title last year and thought the course looked like an interesting challenge.

“Having so many talented players on show also made it look like a much more established tournament than one in its inaugural year.

“I have enjoyed my previous visits to the Middle East and am looking forward to playing in a new country and doing my bit to grow the game in the Kingdom.”

Big-hitting American Tony Finau will seek his first European Tour victory at next month’s Saudi International. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Ranked firmly inside the top 20 of the Official World Golf Rankings, the big hitting American Tony Finau, adds to the star studded line-up, as the 30 year-old looks for a maiden European Tour title on his first visit to the region.

“I’ve always believed that to be considered a world-class player, you must compete in premier tournaments around the world,” said Finau, who made his Ryder Cup debut in 2018 at France’s Le Paris National.

Finau added: “Playing in Saudi Arabia for the first time will be a great experience, and I’m looking forward to competing against what is already an exceptionally strong field, on what I have learned is a great golf course.”

The Royal Greens Golf & Country Club was designed by European Golf Design on the shores of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Economic City

Saudi’s Royal Greens on the Red Sea

ROYAL Greens Golf & Country Club lies along the spectacular Red Sea coastline and is set alongside a series of stunning residential and recreational facilities.

The club not only boasts a championship golf course and world-class practice facilities, but a state-of-the-art clubhouse which was recently voted the ‘World’s Best Golf Clubhouse 2019’ and ‘Best Course in Saudi 2019’ by the World Golf Awards.

His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, chairman of the Saudi Golf Federation and Golf Saudi, said: “We are excited to add two more world-class players to our tournament and are firmly on track to deliver another successful championship in the Kingdom.

“Phil Mickelson has been at the top of the sport for more than 25 years and it will be fantastic for the people of Saudi Arabia to watch him play up close, while Tony Finau will no doubt wow the crowds with his incredible power hitting and skill.

“Both will be a fantastic advert for golf, and I look forward to them both helping us drive the game forward in Saudi Arabia.”

The second instalment of the Saudi International will place a special focus on families, community, charity and junior development as the Saudi kingdom looks to develop its golfing pedigree.

“Bringing the world’s best golfers to experience what is KAEC has to offer is an exciting proposition for us,” said Mr. Ahmed Linjawy, group chief exectuive of KAEC.

“We are delighted to be hosting two more first-class players at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, a multi-award winning development and the proud jewel of King Abdullah Economic City.

“Our goal is to establish ourselves as one of the region’s leading and most attractive tourism and leisure destinations on the Red Sea – in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 – and the profile this event attracts will speak for the quality of our experiences & offerings.”

•Tickets are now on sale for the Saudi International, priced at 50SAR per day or 160 SAR for a four-day tournament pass. For more information click here.

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The teeing-off Ceremony at the 2017 Honma Hong Kong Open. Picture by IKE LI / IKE IMAGES

NEXT week’s Hong Kong Open has been cancelled as the civil unrest in the former British colony increased with violence across university campuses, after months of turmoil by protestors unhappy with Chinese rule.

More than 150 golfers from Europe and Asia were set to head to Hong Kong for one of Asia’s oldest golf tournaments, which is played annually at Fanling.

European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley made the announcement today (Wednesday) as the latest spate of violence in the college campuses showed no sign of abating.

But after talks with Asian Tour co-hosts, the golf bodies pledged to try to hold the tournament at the earliest opportunity in 2020.

Mr Pelley said: “The decision has been taken due to the ongoing level of social unrest in Hong Kong.

“As the safety of our players, staff, stakeholders and everyone involved in each and every one of our tournaments around the world is our top priority, we feel this is the correct, but unfortunate, course of action.

“The European Tour thanks everyone at the Hong Kong Golf Association, the Hong Kong Golf Club and all persons associated with the Hong Kong Open for their hard work in endeavouring to stage the tournament and we look forward to hopefully returning early next year.”

Asian Tour commissioner Cho Minn Thant said: “It is regrettable that the Hong Kong Open has to be postponed due to the ongoing unrest in the city.

“The unpredictability of the current situation in Hong Kong makes it very challenging to sanction the tournament especially with the safety of everyone of utmost importance.

“However, we are optimistic that once the situation in Hong Kong stabilises, we will be in a better position to sanction the 61st edition of the Hong Kong Open in the very near future.”

European Tour’s vacant date in February

THERE is no European Tour event scheduled for the week of February 13, which could be the next window when the rearranged Hong Kong Open could take place.

After this week’s DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, which is the climax to the 2019 season, the first event of the season will be the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek, from November 28-December 1.

The tour will then move to the Indian Ocean for the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, from December 5-8, with a trip to the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Pines Resort, on Queensland’s Gold Coast, from December 19-22.

The first event in 2020 is the South African Openat Johannesburg’ss Randpark GC, form January 9-12 before the beginning of the three week Desert Swing, in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Saudi Arabia.

Another option may be to hold the event in the week of the WGC-Mexico Championship although that may be unpopular with sponsors as the world’s top 50 players would be unavailable.

Masters winner Patrick Reed and Open Champions Henrik Stenson and Francesco Molinari were due to play in the 2019 Hong Kong Open, while Aaron Rai, from the West Midlands, was set to defend the title won at the Hong Kong Golf Club, a year ago.

Past champion Miguel Angel Jimenez was also committed to play along with Ryder Cup player Matthew Fitzpatrick. Three of those four are in the world’s top 50.

The next vacant week in the European Tour schedule is in early April – the week before the Masters.

•To see the 2020 European Tour schedule in full click here.

Aaron Rai who recorded his maiden European Tour victory at the 2018 Honma Hong Kong Open at Hong Kong Golf Club’s Fanling course

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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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Bro Hof Slott Golf Club which will host the mixed event hosted by the Ladies European Tour and the European Tour in June. Picture by LENNART HYSE

MAJOR champions Henrik Stenson and Annika Sörenstam will host an innovative mixed event in Sweden next year, with men and women going head-to-head for the first time on the same course.

Henrik Stenson has committed to play in the first three Scandinavian Mixed tournments with one trophy and equal prize money. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Sörenstam added: “I’m delighted to host the Scandinavian Mixed alongside Henrik in Sweden for the next three years.

Sörenstam has concentrated on her ANNIKA Invitational series to give young girls and women around the world chances to play at the highest level since retiring in 2008

European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said: “Inclusivity and innovation are two of our key pillars and we are delighted to have global stars in Henrik and Annika leading the way as hosts of the Scandinavian Mixed in their home country of Sweden as we continue to drive golf further.

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