Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson claimed victory in the TaylorMade Driving Relief skins match beating Rickie Fowler and Matt Wolff, at Florida’s Seminole GC

THE scenario had been suggested… but World No. 1 Rory McIlroy made it happen when he claimed a $1.1million prize for his chosen charity by winning the TaylorMade Driving Relief skins match.

Golf North’s preview of Sunday’s multi-million dollar fundraiser featuring four of the biggest names on PGA Tour, suggested if the back nine of Seminole played ball, the £100,000 prize per hole could roll over to seven figures.

And, after McIlroy and playing partner Dustin Johnson had been matched by Rickie Fowler and Matt Wolff from the 13^th, they could not be separated as they both parred the tough par three 17^th – which was worth $200,000.

That saw the two pairs head to the 18^th tee at the spectacular Seminole Golf Club, with the skin value for the last hole rising to $500,000 – meaning the pot for the final hole stood at $1.1million.

Fowler had produced three birdies in four holes from the ninth, to lift his team’s earnings to $1.45m stood on the 13th while his partner Wolff, picked up an extra $450,000 for winning the longest drive bonuses on the second and 14th holes.

McIlroy looked to be in the best position to make birdie on 18 after Fowler found the greenside trap by the tight, right pin and Wolff found the edge of the green left from the fairway bunker.

But when Rory’s putt held out the first televised golf in the US since the first round of The Players Championship at Sawgrass, on March 12, went into overtime as the Yanks would say.

http://twitter.com/PGATOUR/status/1262412378701885441 World No. 1 Rory McIlroy hits the winning shot at Seminole GC

And after Fowler missed the green, McIlroy had to get inside Wolff’s ball, which was 18 feet from the pin after his partner Johnson had fell off the front into sand.

Under the rules, the charity challenge went straight to a nearest the pin shoot out from 120 yards on the 17^th.

And the winner of the 2019 Players Championship watched his ball hang on to the shelf left of the pin and come to rest just 13 feet from the pin.

Having seen players observe social distancing rules for three the best part of three hours, Europe’s talisman greeted his winning shot with a high five towards DJ… minus the contact, of course.

McIlroy and Johnson had not won a skin since the sixth hole as Wolff danced to Rickie’s tune when he birdied his third hole in four on the 11th, making up for the lack of cheering from the crowds, who were of course excluded.

But DJ and Rory walked away with the Lions share of the spoils for their chosen charity thanks to a final total of 11 skins against their opponents’ seven.

Left to right: World No. 1 Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Matt Wolff

Final skin for $1.1m decided clash

THE final seven skins increased the winners’ total to $1.85 million which will go to the American Nurses Foundation.

Meanwhile Fowler and Wolff pocketed $1.15 million for the CDC Foundation.

The UnitedHealth Group donated the $3million for the skins contest, while TaylorMade stumped up the longest drive money.

Farmers Insurance put up extra cash for every birdie and eagle made.

Fowler, who is sponsored by the group, which promotes the PGA Tour event at Torrey Pines every January, responded by making seven birdies to earn an extra $270,000.

McIlroy’s four birdies earned his good cause $250,000 while Wolff’s three were worth $135,000.

Johnson, who was a little rusty compared to the rest, made one worth $25,000.

The total raised for frontline health workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic was more than $5.5million.

The watching public who donated $600,000 via a text line in the USA – and corporate sponsors contributions from Mastercard, Rocket Mortgage and PGA Tour Superstore – added another $1million or so.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy hit the winning shot in the first extra hole after the fundraiser for COVID-19 frontline healthcare workers was decided by a nearest the pin shootout

No. 1 Rory McIlroy admits feeling ‘pressure’

“It’s different,” was the verdict of World No. 1 Rory McIroy when asked about the pressure of playing for charity in the TaylorMade Driving Relief skins.

“When you’re not playing for your own money, but you’re playing for someone else and playing for another cause, it sort of starts to weigh on you a little bit.

“I’m really proud to be a part of an event to entertain the people at home on a Sunday afternoon but also to raise money for people who really need it.”

“It’s a huge effort from everyone involved,” added McIlroy, who had made a big par putt at 17 to carry the skins over to the last hole in regulation.

Wolff hit huge drives measuring 356 yards on the second and 368 yards on the 14th.

“I’m happy to raise a lot of money with the long drives,” said Wolff, who planned to auction off the rainbow-coloured Nike golf shoes he wore for the match.

The bonus cash will help Off Their Plate initiative – through World Central Kitchen – that helps both frontline healthcare workers and restaurant shift employees hit by the lockdown.

As well as giving golf starved TV fans several hours of entertainment, the fundraiser also whetted the appetite for when the PGA Tour returns next month with Charles Schwab Cup, at Colonial Club, in Texas

World No. 1 Rory said last week he plans to play the first three events on the new schedule.

Seminole is one of America’s most exclusive private golf clubs… but also one of its best

Seminole shows off why it’s so good to watching millions

SEMINOLE boasts some famous members including Rory McIlroy’s dad Gerry, while NFL quarter-back legend Tom Brady, has joined the North Palm Beach club recently.

The Florida club has an annual pro-am competition which has been won by Northern Ireland’s four-time Major winner – and by Fowler – in the past.

It was the first time the Donald Ross-designed course at North Palm Beach had been seen on TV – in May 2021 it is due to host the Walker Cup.

Seminole is famous for its wide open fairways with sandy waste areas, that make it reminiscent of Pinehurst No. 2 – Ross’s most famous creation.

And even with a 10-15mph breeze, the effects of the Atlantic breezes on shot selection and making the upturned greens so hard to find, let alone putt on, Seminole gave an insight into why it is one of the most highly-regarded courses in the States.

Great Britain and Ireland have only won the Walker Cup three times on US soil in almost 100 years of playing the best American amateurs every other year.

Any GB&I player who is hoping to be picked – should the contest be able to go ahead in 12 months’ time – will have been the most interested spectators on this side of the pond.

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Dustin Johnson who will take part in the TaylorMade Driving Relief skins match at Florida’s Seminole Golf Club

RORY McIlroy and Dustin Johnson will battle for a share of $3million when they take on Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff in Sunday’s TaylorMade Driving Relief charity match at Seminole Golf Club.

The format for the contest has been confirmed by the PGA Tour – the best ball-skins will see the value of each hole rise from $50,000 to $500,000 for the 18th.

The first six holes will be worth $50,000 each. The team with the lowest score will win the cash – if the hole is halved it rolls over to the next.

The next 10 holes will be worth £100,000 each, with the 17th rising to £250,000.

A closely-fought back nine could easily see the value of the final couple of holes rise anywhere up to $1million, or maybe more.

McIlroy and Johnson are playing for the American Nurses Foundation, while Fowler and Wolff are playing the CDC Foundation.

Each team will start with $500,000 in the bank and the team with the most skins money after 18 holes will be declared the winner.

On top of each skins value, players will earn $25,000 from Farmers Insurance for every birdie they make, while an eagle will earn the players’ charities an extra $50,000.

And should anyone pull off a hole-in-one at any of the four par threes – or an albatross on either a par four or par five, they will scoop an extra $150,000 for their respective good causes.

Sudden-death shoot-out at 17th

Certainly the fans watching on TV will be thrilled if a big rollover results on the back nine and they witness a seven-figure sum on the line on the final hole.

The bonus cash for eagles and birdies will not be counted for the overall result but players from both sides can earn bonuses on each hole, regardless of how the team score stands.

So, for instance, if one player makes a birdie four to win or tie the hole, his partner can still putt for a four to earn the bonus for charity.

There is one final complication… the time and when darkness may fall in Florida – if the final skin is still tied after the four players complete the 18th, they will go into a sudden-death shoot-out.

A statement on the PGA Tour website explained: “In the event that the 18th hole is tied and play ends before 5.45pm, the players will play the 17th hole (from approximately 125 yards).

“If that hole is tied, the players will play the 17th hole again and the skin will be decided by a closest to the hole competition (played from same shortened yardage).

“In the event that 18th hole ends after 5.45pm, there will be a closest to the hole on the 17th hole (from approximately 125 yards).”

Players will be allowed to use distance measuring devices (DMD), but they will not have a caddy at Seminole. They will be allowed to wear shorts and will feature in on-course interviews with the NBC Sports team.

The highly rated Seminole Golf Club at Florida’s Juno Beach, close to Palm Beach, will stage the 2021 Walker Cup, as well the TaylorMade Driving Relief skins match

Seminole to stage 2021 Walker Cup

SEMINOLE is set to be used for the 2021 Walker Cup when Great Britain and Ireland will try to win on US soil for just the third time in nearly 100 years.

The Donald Ross course is considered one of the Scottish best two designs, along with Pinehurst No. 2, and features spectacular views of the Florida coastline.

The greens complexes are consisdered some of the trickiest in the USA, with upturned saucer greens creating fast, breaking putts with considerable elevation changes.

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Justin Thomas loves playing links golf for the variety of shots he is forced to play… but the 2017 USPGA Champion admits he has yet to fully work out what the best strategy is as he prepares for the Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

JUSTIN Thomas is determined to solve the conundrum of links golf when he makes his Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open debut at The Renaissance Club in East Lothian.

The American Major winner has taken full advantage of the glorious surroundings of Scotland’s Golf Coast, enjoying a round with his father and compatriot Kevin Kisner, at North Berwick, before teeing it up a few miles along the coast in the third Rolex Series event on the 2019 Race to Dubai, which starts today (Thursday).

The World No. 9 made his European Tour debut at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship six years ago, but did not make it to Sunday and has missed the cut at The Open Championship in the past two seasons.

But the 26-year-old insists that he loves links golf and is relishing the test posed at The Renaissance Club this week.

Thomas, the 2017 USPGA champion, said: “I really, really do love links golf.

“In terms of if I could play one golf course every day for the rest of my life it would probably be a links golf course over here because you can play the same course and it can play so different every single day and every week.

“That part is enjoyable. You have to hit so many different kind of shots and you have to have a lot of imagination.

“But that being said, I haven’t been very successful on links, for as much as I do enjoy it, and feel that I can play it well.

“I just obviously haven’t figured it out totally. So, this is why we felt like it was the best decision to come to the Scottish and to get at least one more round, tournament, under our belt before next week.

“North Berwick was very enjoyable. We were lucky they let us go out. My dad got to play, too and always entertaining playing with Kis.

“Us three went around, got our trollies, played for about three hours and had a pint after. It was a great way to spend our first day here.”

Four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy is also eyeing a maiden win in Scotland as he tees it up at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open for the second time in three years – after opting to miss last week’s trip to Lahinch for the Irish Open, having been the tournament host since 2015 through his charitable foundation, which has now been wound up.

The Northern Irishman has 13 European Tour wins to his name, but victory at The Renaissance Club – sandwiched between Muirfield and Archerfield – would bring his first Rolex Series title, in the week before he contests The Open Championship in his homeland.

McIlroy, who will be seekng his first Major win since 2014 when he plays at Royal Portrush next week, said: “I’m playing this event with two eyes firmly focused on the Scottish Open.

“First and foremost, I want to play well here. I want to get myself into contention and have a chance to win a golf tournament.

“I think if I do that, that’s the best way to prepare for next week. You know, get yourself into contention. Feel the heat of getting in there on Sunday and trying to play some good golf.

“I would definitely like to win here. I’m here fully focused on this event. I think most tournaments deserve to stand on their own two feet and have some stature, and the Scottish Open is one of these events on the European Tour.

“It’s a big event. A lot of prize money, a lot of points. So, it deserves to stand-alone and not just be this tournament that’s attached on to the week after.”

Meanwhile, Rickie Fowler is looking forward to continuing his love affair with Scotland’s national open after tasting victory just along the coast in Gullane in 2015.

And never having finished outside of the top 10 in his four previous appearances. Fowler is grouped with McIlroy and up-and-coming Scottish star Robert MacIntyre in today’s first round – and he’s relishing the prospect of playing in front of Scottish crowds again.

Despite being a new venue for the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, American Matt Kuchar has played a number of rounds on the East Lothian venue in recent years. He is back for his ninth appearance in this event and is aiming to go one better than his runner up finish behind Fowler in 2015.

Fowler said: “Looking forward to it. I got to see Bob MacIntyre on Monday and we had a little challenge together, the 14-club challenge.

“We had some fun doing that together. Obviously he’s a great player and looking forward to playing alongside him. I’m sure we’re going to have some good crowds.

“I get a lot of local support, which I definitely appreciate. I think they can see how much I love not just the game of golf, but links golf and being over here, choosing to play here the week before The Open.

“This is always a fun week for us.”

Matt Kuchar,who defended his par-three title in Tuesday’s Hero Challenge, said: “Excited to be here. I played Renaissance Club a couple of fun times in previous years, it’s a fun golf course.

“Have just really enjoyed coming to the Scottish Open over the years, whether it be Loch Lomond or Gullane or any of the other courses we’ve played.

“It’s been a great experience and made many great friends here and always a lot of fun to return.”

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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.

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