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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Højgaard looking for win No. 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Detry will just keep on trying for maiden win

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lee Westwood won the English Open at Hanbury Manor in 1998

Westwood knows how to win at Hanbury Manor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Li Haotong, Justin Rose, Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter with members of the CGA-HSBC China Junior Golf Program. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

SOME of China’s leading young golfers got some first-class tips from the world’s best Tour players, including Rory McIlroy and HSBC Champions’ defending champion Xander Schauffele, in Shanghai.

Schauffele joined World No. 2 McIlroy, Hampshire’s US Open winner Justin Rose, and Woburn’s Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter met stars of the CGA-HSBC China Junior Golf Program.

And local hero Li Haotong surprised some of China’s most promising young players at the driving range at the first practice day of the World Golf Championship tournament.

Celebrating 15 years of world-class golf in Shanghai, the event has brought some of the game’s biggest stars to China.

And the “best golf lessons ever” were given to five junior players as a reward for showing outstanding progress during the junior program’s 2019 season.

The unique range clinic served as the ideal warm-up for later in the week, when the aforementioned stars tackle the testing Sheshan International Golf Club at the final World Golf Championships event on the 2019 Race to Dubai.

Li, a graduate of the CGA-HSBC China Junior Golf Program, said: “When the first HSBC-Champions took place in 2005, I was just nine years old.

“In that time, it has been incredible to be part of a huge rise in interest in golf in China,” said Li.

“I am extremely proud to see the growth of the game I love and to see so many kids coming through.

“It was a privilege to connect with some of the future stars of Chinese golf today, and hopefully help set them off on their own golfing journeys.”

McIlroy, who has finished in the top five on three previous occasions, came through the Faldo Junior Series more than a decade ago.

The Northern Ireland star who has been unable to add to his tally of four Majors since his last in 2014, said: “Whenever you play WGC-HSBC Champions you feel like the eyes of the entire country are on you.

“It’s great to compete in front of this growing and energetic audience of golf fans who are extremely knowledgeable and committed to the game.

“All the work that has been done to support golf in the country is certainly paying off, both in the growth of the fanbase and the talented young golfers we met today.”

Schauffele, an American whose Chinese-speaking mother witnessed his victory in Shanghai last year, said: “WGC-HSBC Champions will always hold a special place in my heart having won last year in front of my family.

“It’s great to be back and to be able to meet some of these young Chinese stars. Thanks to the work done to encourage the game here in China there is now a really strong pool of talented players across the country.

“I’m sure that some of the kids I met today will be winning global tournaments before we know it,” added Schuaffele.

•For tee times at this weeks HSBC Champions click here.

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Francesco Molinari played in the Italian Open at Rome’s Olgiata Golf, as an amateur in 2002. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

FRANCESCO Molinari and the Italian Open return to Olgiata Golf Club for the first time in 17 years this week – and it is safe to say a lot has changed for both player and event since 2002.

Italy’s national open is now part of the prestigious Rolex Series, bringing a prize fund of $7million and a world-class field to the outskirts of the Italian capital Rome.

The field includes Hampshire’s World No. 5 Justin Rose, Open Champion Shane Lowry, Surrey’s Ryder Cup star Paul Casey and BMW PGA champion Danny Willett, from Yorkshire.

When Ian Poulter lifted the trophy in 2002 at Olgiata, Molinari was still an amateur, making his first European Tour cut five days short of his 20th birthday.

The older Molinari brother – Edoardo was crowned US Amateur Champion in 2005 – went on to win his home open in 2006 for a first European Tour victory.

A Ryder Cup debut and World Golf Championships victory would come in 2010, as well as a second Italian Open title in 2016, but even those successes could not prepare him for the glorious summer of 2018.

A first Rolex Series victory at the BMW PGA Championship and a Major triumph at The Open, at Carnoustie, helped him win the Race to Dubai, while he also became the first European to take five points from five as the Ryder Cup was regained in Paris – thanks to the famous Mollywood partnership with Tommy Fleetwood.

Molinari said: “I think it sums up the journey that I’ve had in golf, how lucky I’ve been and how hard I’ve worked as well.

“I was here on this course 17 years ago as an amateur making the cut and I think finishing 25th or something like that and starting to think, maybe I could make a living doing this.

“Fast forward 17 years and obviously things have gone far better than expected at the time.

“I think the first win on Tour, at least for me, I never knew it was coming. I think no one really expected me to win at the beginning of the week, and you can almost feel the expectations growing through the week.

“Just an amazing relief I think to the 18th green and seeing all the people there celebrating, lots of friends and family. I couldn’t have asked for a better first win on Tour.”

Rose, runner-up to Molinari at Carnoustie, last played the Italian Open in 2002 – when he lent close friend Ian Poulter a putter that helped him win hs second Italian Open after his breakthrough win in 2000, in Sardinia.

Rose – a member at Fleet’s North Hants Golf Club where he made his name as an amateur – has two Rolex Series titles at the Turkish Airlines Open to his name.

A third victory in Rome could provide a platform for a tilt at Race to Dubai glory.

Rose, who finished fourth in the 1998 Open as an amateur, said: “They are a highlight on my calendar in terms of when I’m preparing my schedule.

“I look at all the important tournaments around the world and try to make sure I’m ready and prepared for them. Rolex Series are in that category.

“The next month for me is really, really important and I feel like I’m in a position where I have to win probably two or three events between now and Dubai to challenge the leaders – but it’s possible.”

“I enjoy the off-course as much as the on-course and I’m going to stay for a couple of days in Rome after the tournament.

“Very rarely would I make that time at a tournament to stay after, in fact, never, really. So it just speaks of Rome and speaks of Italy that you try to make that time to really enjoy the country.”

Willett finished third on his Italian Open debut in 2015 and his second placed result in 2016 was his best finish between his Masters Tournament victory and his triumph at the 2018 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

Willett still on a high after his BMW PGA win at Wentworth last month said: “They’ve given it another tier within the tournaments.

“You’ve got your Majors and your World Golf Championships and there’s always been amazing events that the European Tour have put on and this just separates it a bit more.”

“I’ve always had pretty good crowd interaction out here. I’ve had some pretty good groups, I’ve played with Frankie (Molinari) a lot out here and gone close a couple of times at Monza.

“All the fans here love their golf and they’re really passionate about sport and we get to play some pretty cool venues so hopefully we can have more of the same. It’s a pretty cool place.”

•For live scoring when the first round gets under way on Thursday click here.

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Ian Poulter won the 2002 Italian Open – the last time Olgiata Golf Club hosted the event – after borrowing Justin Rose’s putter. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

IAN Poulter returns to the venue where he claimed his second Italian Open title 17 years ago hoping that another victory in the Rolex Series event can spark a late push in the Race to Dubai.

The Ryder Cup legend won his maiden European Tour title in the Italian Open when it was played in Sardinia in 2000.

And he triumphed again two years later at Olgiata Golf Club – the last time the tournament was played at this week’s venue, which is on the outskirts of Rome.

On that occasion, he borrowed a putter from Justin Rose for the week and went on to finish two shots clear of Scotland’s Paul Lawrie.

Poulter, who is attached to Woburn, said: “It was a long time ago – 17 years but it is always great to come back to a venue you’ve won at.

“It was the last time it was here too so hopefully it will be another great week to enjoy the Italian Open. I have two so it would be lovely to make it three.

“I remember I did ask Justin for a putter. He had a couple of spares and mine was misbehaving at the time.

“I asked him and he gave me one. I still have it in the office. I forgot – I should have brought it to see if I can throw it back in – but funny little things happen at certain times in events.

“It’s been a good year. It’s definitely been one to sit back, reflect and enjoy,” added the Ryder Cup hero, dubbed “The Postman˘” as he always delivered his points.

Poulter, who goes into the week in 15th position on the Race to Dubai, is now targeting a third Italian Open victory as he seeks a strong end to a 2019 season following a consistent campaign that has already yielded five top 10 finishes on the European Tour – alongside a share of 12th at the Masters Tournament.

“I’ve only missed three cuts so far this year. All three in Majors. The other one I had chance to win.

“Consistency has been key. I’ve played pretty well in a lot of tournaments,” added Poulter, whose first job in the game was working in the pro shop at Leighton Buzzard Golf Club, in Bedfordshire, having grown up in Hemel Hempstead.

“I’ve not finished many off, which I would like to have done. If I can have a nice run now – I’m playing six out of seven weeks in a row.

“So I’m going to play lot of golf coming up and seeing if I can get on a bit of a run and see if I can have a go at the Race to Dubai and then enjoy Christmas with the kids.”

The Englishman is one of six members of Europe’s victorious 2018 Ryder Cup Team in the field for the fifth Rolex Series event of 2019.

He is joined by compatriots Rose, Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton, Sweden’s Alex Noren and home favourite Francesco Molinari, along with winning captain Thomas Bjørn and 2020 captain Padraig Harrington, in the country which will host the 2022 Ryder Cup.

The post Poulter prepared for crack at third Italian Open 17 years after Rose putter primed win appeared first on Golf North.

Matt Kuchar is currently top of the Fed Ex rankings on the PGA Tour and returns to Scotland to defend his Hero Challenge Open before the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club, in North Berwick, on Tuesday night. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

MATT Kuchar is back to defend his Hero Challenge title after confirming he will tee it up for the second time in the fast and fun night golf contest in Scotland tomorrow (Tuesday).

The Hero Challenge is the curtain raiser for the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open at North Berwick’s Renaissance Club, which borders the famous Muirfield links.

Kuchar will defend his title against Hero Challenge debutant at two-time European Tour winner Lucas Bjerregaard, and the returning Matt Fitzpatrick, who played in his first Hero Challenge in 2017.

Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregard was knocked out of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in the semi-finals at Austin, Texas, in March. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

The trio join Major winners Graeme McDowell and Justin Thomas and 2018 Ryder Cup star Tyrrell Hatton in the exhilarating event, which will be held in the stunning surroundings of the par three 15th hole at the Tom Doak-designed Renaissance Club.

Kuchar, who currently leads the US PGA Tour rankings made his first Hero Challenge appearance ahead of last year’s Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, defeating compatriot Charley Hoffman in the final.

The American has enjoyed a strong start to the season in the United States, winning the Sony Open in Hawaii and recording two additional runner-up finishes.

He will be reunited with Dane Bjerregaard, who famously defeated Tiger Woods in the quarter-finals at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play earlier this season, going on to finish fourth after facing Kuchar in the semi-finals.

Yorkshire-raised Fitzpatrick adds further star power to the field and arrives in Scotland after coming close to his sixth title in just his fifth year on the European Tour, finishing runner-up at the BMW International Open last month.

The Hallamshire member, who won the Selborne Salver, at Hampshire’s Blackmoor GC, as an amateur 12 months before winning the 2013 US Amateur Championship, made his Hero Challenge debut in 2017 ahead of the British Masters at Close House.

Fitzpatrick
Matt Fitzpatrick is one of six players to line-up for the 2019 Hero Challenge in North Berwick, along with Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Rickie Fowler. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Successfully debuting on the European Tour at the British Masters in 2016, The Hero Challenge then took place at the British Masters, Scottish Open and DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, in 2017 and 2018.

Hero MotoCorp – the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters – has reaffirmed its commitment to innovation on the European Tour by extending the innovative event.

English star Tommy Fleetwood triumphed in the maiden Hero Challenge of 2019 at the Betfred British Masters in May, as the fast-paced shootout returned for a fourth season on the European Tour.

Fans can register for FREE tickets to see six of the world’s leading golfers battle it out for the second Hero Challenge title of the season at the Renaissance Club.

The Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open once again takes its place as part of the Rolex Series – the premium category of tournaments on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai, each with a minimum prize fund of $7 million.

Some of the world’s best golfers will tee it up at The Renaissance Club from July 11-14, including South Africa’s defending champion Brandon Stone, four-time Major Champion and current World No. 4 Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson who won the Open at Muirfield in 2016, Rickie Fowler who won the Scottish Open four years ago at nearby Gullane, and European Ryder Cup stalwart Ian Poulter.

To register for free tickets for the Hero Challenge click here . Fans can buy Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open tickets from £18 here.

The post Kuchar all set to defend Hero Challenge title as North Berwick hosts Scottish Open appeared first on Golf North.

Bryson DeChambeau matched the fireworks of last year’s US Open and PGA Champion Brooks Koepka by firing a superb 66 to lead the Masters at Augusta after the first round . Picture by GETTY IMAGES.

BRYSON DeChambeau produced an incredible finish, posting four closing birdies to share the lead with Brooks Koepka at six-under par the end of day one at the Masters.

A remarkable run of scoring in the late groups stretched the field at Augusta National Golf Club, with DeChambeau amongst a host of European Tour players in the mix going into Friday at the first Major Championship of the year.

South African debutant Justin Harding was one of the players who had set the target at three-under early in the day.

And for a long time it looked like there would be a highly congested leaderboard as a nine-way tie for the lead developed.

But four birdies in a row from the 12th hole from Koepka moved the three-time Major champion to six-under and into a two-shot lead.

DeChambeau’s incredible finish saw him catch his fellow American, thanks in part to a wonderful second shot on the 18^th where he was only denied an eagle by the pin flag.

The player, known as “The Mad Scientist” for his quirky mathematical approach to golf, signed for a 66  – his best round at Augusta National.

Meanwhile Koepka, playing behind his rival who has won five times since last June, parred his way home to record the only bogey-free round of the day and share top spot.

The winner of the Dubai Desert Classic – the same route to the Green Jacket taken by Sergio Garcia in 2017 and Danny Willett in 2016 – said “It’s my best round out here, a 66.

“I was just looking to shoot something in the 60s this week because I haven’t done that yet in my couple times playing here.

“What a magical back nine.  Wind started to pick up, right around Amen Corner, and it was tough.  It was not easy one bit.” Bryson added.

“But we just stuck to what we knew we should have done, and we did, and was able to execute a beautiful nine-iron on 12 that kind of jump started my back nine, hitting it to five feet, making that putt got me rolling.

“I should have pulled the flagstick out (on the 18^th). But no, it was a great shot, and I was excited just to tap‑in to finish off a great round.”

Three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson birdied five of his last seven holes to sit one shot off the lead at five-under, a shot clear of fellow American Dustin Johnson and Woburn’s Ian Poulter.

The honorary member at Leighton Buzzard Golf Club where he started life in the pro shop, said: “I’m very happy with today’s work. It’s a great start to a long week.

“The weather is going to be interesting over the next three days with the thunderstorms coming in,” said Poulter.

“The course dried out nicely today.  A couple of greens may have been a touch slower than what we’ve previously had in the past on a Thursday.

“But I’m happy with that and feel pretty good about it. My whole game was together, from the first hole to the 18th hole.

“I mean I only missed two greens in regulation, I think.  One of them was nine.  I made bogey there.

“And the other green I missed I was kind of 12 feet from the pin and just on the fringe.  So really my putting all around today was extremely solid. I need to do that over the next few days.”

Harding – who has won five times worldwide in the last year, including his maiden European Tour title at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters – is joined at three-under par by Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Kevin Kisner of the United States, Australian Adam Scott and Spain’s Jon Rahm.

South African Harding, who played a practice round with 2011 Green Jacket winner Charl Schwartzel earlier in the week, said: “I was happy with it, I handled my emotions pretty well, a bit annoying on the last making bogey.  But at the end of the day I’ll take it.

“Golf is purely momentum based.  If you take enough confidence into the rounds then you’re bound to play well.

“You just pretty much need to get out of your own way. I’ll take it and run if I can – we’re not allowed to run here at Augusta – but I’m pleased.

“It’s one of those where I gave myself a couple chances, I didn’t feel like I took great advantage of the par fives.

“I managed to hit a wedge close in on 16 but other than that it was one of those where you just kind of sneak in a birdie here or there where you can.

“I managed to hit a couple of fairways.  I’m still learning and this golf course is difficult.”

Rahm, who finished fourth last year and has since made his debut for Europe in the Ryder Cup thrashing handed out to the Americans in Paris last year, has made a great start to 2019 with five top 10s in eight starts.

The Spaniard said: “I think that the most important thing is I never lost patience.

“I was one over par on the par fives going to the back nine where it’s easy to get a little frustrated and I didn’t.

“I kept my cool and I was able to make a great birdie on nine and get where I’m going.

“It’s tough out there, they made a few changes to the golf course, they put some tough pins early in the day already, the greens started getting progressively firmer, so just being able to make a couple good putts and shoot under par is a good round.”

Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard, who is also making his debut at Augusta – having reached the last four of the WGC World Match Play in Texas two weeks ago – and The Open champion Francesco Molinari are among a group of 10 players at two-under.

The post The ‘Mad Scientist’ Bryson DeChambeau leads Masters appeared first on Golf North.

Betfred British Masters host Tommy Fleetwood will welcome defending champion Eddie Pepperell (right) to Hillside Golf Club, in his hometown of Southport, in May. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

FRILFORD Heath’s Eddie Pepperell is targeting a successful defence of his title in the Betfred British Masters after confirming he will join his friend, tournament host Tommy Fleetwood, in the field at Hillside Golf Club, from May 9-12.

Pepperell is just three days younger than Fleetwood and the pair grew up playing junior and amateur golf together, before latterly going on to enjoy multiple victories on the European Tour.

Both players are now ranked inside the top 40 on the Official World Golf Ranking – Fleetwood is 12^th and Pepperell 36^th – and are increasingly popular personalities among fans.

Pepperell claimed the biggest victory of his career to date in the British Masters at Walton Heath, in October, just two weeks after Fleetwood made a memorable Ryder Cup debut in Paris, winning four points alongside Francesco Molinari against the United States.

The pair were part of a four-way tie for the lead after the first round at Walton Heath, after matching rounds of 67.

But it was Pepperell who went on to win wire-to-wire, finishing two shots clear of Sweden’s Alexander Björk – courtesy of subsequent rounds of 69, 71 and 72, with Fleetwood eventually sharing ninth place.

It was Pepperell’s second victory of 2018 following the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and he said he discovered some newfound self-belief as a result.

Eddie revealed: “It was nice leading all week, feeling very comfortable in that position and actually expecting myself to win from Thursday.

“I definitely unlocked some confidence that week which I hadn’t felt before. I’m now looking forward to going to Hillside this year and trying to upset the Northerners.

“I’ve grown up with Tommy and the fact he’s hosting the event is great for him and I’m excited to be part of it for him and the Tour. I want to play well, put on a good show and get in amongst it.”

Fleetwood is following in the footsteps of previous hosts Ian Poulter (2015), Luke Donald (2016), Lee Westwood (2017) and most recently Justin Rose (2018) who have all played an important part in the success of the tournament following its reintroduction to the European Tour schedule.

Ryder Cup star Fleetwood grew up in the coastal town of Southport where Hillside Golf Club is located – just a stone’s throw from Royal Birkdale, which hosted the 2017 Open – and he is looking forward to welcoming his friend Pepperell to the area.

Tommy said: “He’s defending champion and it was his second win last year and I think it was his most impressive performance to date.

“It’s great to have him at Hillside. To be named British Masters champion is a very special title to have and he’s held the role brilliantly. We’re very lucky to watch him play again.”

Tickets to the 2019 Betfred British Masters hosted by Tommy Fleetwood at Hillside Golf Club from May 9-12 are available by clicking here

A range of hospitality packages are also available. Click here for more details.

The post Pepperell and Fleetwood’s Masters double act appeared first on Golf North.

Sergio Garcia shakes hands with Shane Lowry after his 4&2 win in the first round of the WGC-Dell Technologies World Match Play Championship at Texas’ Austin Country Club. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

IT was a hugely successful opening day for the stars of the European Tour at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Texas’ Austin Country Club.

Francesco Molinari, Sergio Garcia, Tommy Fleetwood and Paul Casey were among the 18 members to register victories, while Tom Lewis halved his match with World No. 3 Brooks Koepka.

There were a plethora of notable stories in round one of the group stage, with Stenson overcoming Phil Mickelson 2&1 in a rerun of one of the greatest final round battles in Open Championship history back in 2016.

Lucas Bjerregaard and Lewis both produced massive upsets as the Dane beat World No. 5 Justin Thomas 3&2, while Hertfordshire’s Lewis – who was playing on the Challenge Tour a mere six months ago – clinched a half point against three-time Major Champion Koepka.

Lewis said: “Every game will be tough this week. I knew that I was going to get a tough draw, being one of the last guys in.

“Brooks is a nice guy, I’ve known him through the European Tour and it was a good day. We weren’t at our best. I handed him the first couple of holes. It’s a bit frustrating but I’m pleased I made that birdie on the last hole.

“I’ve been working on my wedge play the last couple of weeks, and it’s obviously shown through there.

“I pulled it the tiniest bit. I knew that the slope wasn’t really going to kick in. I was pleased to have a putt for the winning hole.”

Moor Park’s Matt Wallace, who also hails from Hertfordshire, also won on his debut, overcoming former Major Champion Keegan Bradley, as did Justin Harding who staged a remarkable comeback to beat Matt Fitzpatrick, having been two down stepping onto the 16th tee.

Ryder Cup legend Sergio Garcia beat the current Race to Dubai leader Shane Lowry 4&2, while Ian Poulter – a former winner of this event – sealed a two-up victory over Kevin Kisner.

Poulter, who went to school in Hertfordshire before becoming a club pro in Bedfordshire, said: It was a fun match. Up, down, up, all square with a couple to go, so it was interesting.

“When you’re two-up with four to play, you hit a great shot in there to about five feet and Kevin had a putt from about 15 or 17 feet.

“You’ve always got to expect him to hole it, which he did. But I wasn’t expecting to miss my five-footer there. So that was a bit of a shame.

“And then I hit driver-driver on 16, which I’d like to play the hole over again. It doesn’t matter now.

The Woburn member added: “It kind of got up on to the green and it just trickled off and obviously he holes out from 70 yards, he goes square, and it’s really game on from a position where I kind of had control of it.

Tiger Woods won his opening group stage match, beating Aaron Wise 3&1, while four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy cruised to a 5&4 triumph over Luke List.

Bjerregaard, who claimed the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, in October, said: “The last couple holes were a little more stressful than I was hoping. I hit a good drive on 15 and then, it was a pretty simple pitch shot in there that I messed up pretty bad.

“But I played well today, I didn’t make many mistakes. I made that one on 15 and hit a shot in the hazard on three. Other than that I put it in some good spots and drove the ball nicely.

“I didn’t give too much away. And then I made a couple of good putts where JT had hit it closer than me and he missed those.

“So there was a couple of match play moments in there that were pretty key for me there.”
Molinari, a 5&4 winner over Japan’s Satoshi Kodaira, said: “I played really well, made some nice putts at the beginning and throughout the match.

“So I’m really happy the way I played. Obviously, it’s a little bit easier when you start that way, but you still have to play a lot of golf and close the match out.

“So there were a couple of moments where I could have done maybe better, but all in all a very good day. It’s great to start with a win.

“It doesn’t mean a lot unfortunately, with this format. So I need to show up tomorrow and try to play some similar golf to today.”

“And I had a big putt there at 17 to leave myself just under the hole to give myself a right-to-left putt, which was a good one. I holed it, and obviously up and down from the last.”

Stenson, after getting the better of Mickelson again, said: “You could say it maybe wasn’t the most well-played match from either one of us, but there were still some good golf in there.

“I was pretty happy with my performance today. I hit some really nice iron shots and made a couple of important putts, as well.

“Phil is always worth the price of admission. He hit some fabulous short-game shots on three or four holes.

“He’s in some areas where you just can’t get up and down, and he’s Phil Mickelson and he gets it up and down. So that’s always tough to compete against.”

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