A FIELD of 29 European Tour players will take on Royal Portrush in the second event in the European Tour’s BMW Indoor Invitational.

Dutchman Joost Luiten won the inaugural virtual golf tournament – powered by Trackman – last Saturday.

The five-time European Tour winner finished two shots clear of the field over St Andrews’ Old Course using the latest simulator technology.

Luiten is in the field once again and will comprise this week’s interactive feature group with Englishman Paul Waring.

The 2018 Nordea Masters winner is among the new additions to the field along with fellow European Tour winners Alex Levy and Wiltshire’s Jordan Smith.

They join a line-up which includes former World No. 1 and two-time Major champion Martin Kaymer.

They will take on Royal Portrush’s Dunluce Links. The Northern Ireland links course hosted the 148^th Open Championship in 2019 – won by Shane Lowry.

He joined Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington as the only golfers from either side of the Irish border to lift the Claret Jug since Fred Daly’s famous win at Hoylake, in 1947.

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LUITEN has never recorded back to back victories in real life tournaments – but he has the chance to achieve the feat virtually this weekend.

Joost said: “I’ve been practising a bit indoors, probably once or twice a week during lockdown to keep the swing going.

“So it was fun to shoot six-under on the Old Course last week and win the inaugural BMW Tackman Invitational. Let’s hope that form continues!

“Royal Portrush is a great track. I played last year’s Open there and it was a good test, so hopefully the weather is a little bit kinder than what we had on Sunday.

“To play these types of famous golf courses, it’s just a lot of fun. That is the great thing with these indoor facilities.

“You can play any course you want, and I think that is really cool for everybody to experience.”

Tournament footage of the BMW Indoor Invitational series will once again be shown on the European Tour’s social media channels and at https://bmw.trackmaninvitational.com.

Fans can follow using #BMWTrackManInvitational. The winner will receive $10,000 to benefit a coronavirus charity or relief fund of his choice.

The new Dunluce Links’ seventh hole at Royal Portrush which architect Martin Ebert redesigned before the 2019 Open returned to Northern Ireland for the first time since 1951

Waring far from wary about joining field of 29 European Tour players at ‘Royal Portrush’

PAUL Waring is looking forward to pitting his wits against fellow European Tour players using the online simulator.

Waring said: “It’s an innovation really. I have an indoor studio and use Trackman every week when I am away on Tour.

Paul Waring, winner of the Nordea Masters in 2018, is joining the BMW Indoor Invitaational field playing Royal Portrush, on Saturday, using a golf simulator

“So it’s a fantastic idea to introduce the tournament concept because a lot of the lads use the system as well already – so it is great to compete on it.

“I’ve had a little play with it. The short game element takes a little bit of getting used too, but it is one of those things you adapt to quickly as a player.

“I’m looking forward to it – looking forward to the competitive element and a little bit of banter along the way that we all love in sports as well – so can’t wait to get going.

“I’ve got some great memories of Royal Portrush. It was one of the first places I played when I came back from injury back in 2012 at the Irish Open – finished top 10 there.

“So it’s deeply burned into my memory and some real positives that have come from there,” added Cheshire’s former English Amateur Champion, who also captained England Boys before turning pro.

Footage of the BMW Indoor Invitational will be shown from 11am on the European Tour’s social media channels.

Check it out on Twitter: @europeantour
Instagram: @europeantour
YouTube: EuropeanTour
and at https://bmw.trackmaninvitational.com

After Royal Portrush, the European Tour players will tackle Golfclub München Eichenried, on May 23, Real Club Valderrama (May 30) and Wentworth Club (June 6).

Full field for second in BMW Indoor Invitational series

The full field of European Tour players at Royal Portrush includes:
1. Thomas Aiken
2. Adri Arnaus
3. Wil Besseling
4. Dean Burmester
5. Laurie Canter
6. Aaron Cockerill
7. Sebastian Garcia
8. Joachim B Hansen
9. Benjamin Hebert
10. Raphaël Jacquelin
11. Martin Kaymer
12. Maximilian Kieffer
13. Alexander Levy
14. Zander Lombard
15. Mike Lorenzo-Vera
16. Joost Luiten
17. Adrian Meronk
18. Wilco Nienaber
19. Mathieu Pavon
20. Damien Perrier
21. Kristoffer Reitan
22. Antoine Rozner
23. Matthias Schwab
24. Jason Scrivener
25. Jordan Smith
26. Connor Syme
27. Paul Waring
28. Jeff Winther

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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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