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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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.

The post Rory No. 1 in every sense as he wins TaylorMade Driving Relief skins shootout appeared first on Golf North.

Patrick Reed came through the leading pack with four birdies in the final six holes at Chapultepec Golf Club to claim a second WGC title. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

PATRICK Reed drowned out the ongoing criticisms over his bunkergate in the Bahamas to land his second World Golf Championships title in a thrilling finish in Mexico City.

Just when it looked as though Bryson DeChambeau, who has certainly public criticisms over his pace of play, was about to race to a first WGC title of his own, the final holes at Chapultepec Golf Club conspired to give Reed a race at the WGC-Mexico Championship.

Reed – who was accused of cheating by both Brooks Koepka and Paul Casey’s coach Peter Kostis in the build up the first WGC of the season – said: “It means a lot to win.

“One of our goals was to go out and win a golf tournament and try to get in that winner’s circle before Augusta.

“And to be able to go ahead and do it before I even got to the Florida Swing definitely gives me momentum and gives me the confidence that we’re playing really well.

“Now I just need to continue to grind, continue to work, and hopefully there’s more coming up soon,” added Reed, who was ranked World No. 14 going into the week.

“The putter was really hot. I felt like I was hitting a lot of really good putts, hitting it on my lines, and your speed has to be perfect. I felt like I was able to dial it in.

“It definitely helped me out today because I didn’t hit the ball that great on the front, had a lot of up-and-downs just to kind of hang around there.

“I knew if I was able to get a little hot with the ball-striking, I’d be able to rack up some birdies, and I was able to do that at the end.”

How Captain America emerged victorious despite ‘cheating’ calls

THE American Ryder Cup star – dubbed “Captain America” after his debut in 2016 at Hazeltine – emerged victorious from a battle that went one way and then the other.

DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Reed and Erik van Rooyen all shared the lead at the turn, while World No. 1 Rory McIlroy and overnight leader Justin Thomas were just a shot back.

Patrick Reed pulled clear though, picking up four birdies in six holes from the 12^th.

That left the 2018 Masters winner with a two-stroke advantage going down the last and – despite a wild tee shot on the par four 18^th – he managed to compose himself for a two-putt bogey to post 18-under in the penultimate group.

That four-under 67 handed Reed a one-shot victory in the same Championship at which he claimed his first WGC title in 2014 – when it was staged at Miami’s Doral resort.

Victory moved the 29-year-old to the top of the Race to Dubai rankings.

DeChambeau’s six-under 65 earned him outright second place, while Reed’s fellow European Tour members Rahm and van Rooyen shared third spot on 15-under.

Rahm claimed he was struggling by the turn and said: “I mean, it was going to be very easy to focus on the last few putts that weren’t good. It is what it is.

“But to be honest, I was not good through 27 holes. The fact I had no chance and shot 19-under after that, it’s pretty ridiculous.

“If anything, I’ve got to reflect on the first two days. I did give myself a chance, but my swing wasn’t feeling the best three out of four days, and today it showed.

“I kind of pulled it together, but it was hard to catch with Bryson making all those birdies. If anything, I had a chance, but I’ve got to focus more on the fact I should have given myself a better chance after the first few holes.”

First round leader McIlroy struggled to gain any momentum on the final day, but did continue his remarkably consistent recent form as he picked up a fifth successive top five – a run which began with his victory at the WGC-HSBC Champions, in Shanghai, in November.

McIlory said: “It was frustrating. I don’t feel like I got the best out of myself.

“Obviously I started the week well, and then I feel like I just hit some loose shots, and I didn’t putt as well as I needed to over the last three days.

“And I just let a few shots get away. I’m just looking forward to a week off. Looking forward to getting away for a little bit.”

•For final scores click here.

Van Rooyen happy to be in contention

ERIK van Rooyen found himself in exalted company, and having struggled when in contention in Europe over the last 18 months, was happy with the way the 30-year-old acquitted himself in contention for a WGC for the first time.

Van Rooyen: “I felt better than I did yesterday, and I think there was a lot more going on yesterday. I got off to a really good start again today. Ten and 12 obviously hurt quite bad.

“I think I played some really good golf the last four days, and I think I can hold my head high,” said the South African, whose first European Tour win came in the Scandinavian Invitation, in August.

“I mean, there’s still so much to play for. Yes, we all want to win, but at the same time, I’m trying to finish as high as I possibly can, so I’m not going to go lie down after a bogey.

“I think we had a really good finish, gave myself a few good chances coming down the stretch, and my game is in great shape. I’m looking forward to the next one,” added van Rooyen.

Keopka and Kostis call out Reed over ‘cheating’

BROOKS Koepka claimed Patrick Reed had “built sandcastles” during the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in December.

The winner of last year’s USPGA title told SiriusXM’s PGA Tour Radio: “Yeah. I don’t know what he was doing, building sand castles in the sand.

“But you know where your club is. I took three months off and I can promise you I know if I touch sand.

“If you look at the video, obviously he grazes the sand twice and then he still chops down on it.”

Reed was tackled over the comments about his behaviour at the end of the first round in Mexcio.

“I said what I have to say about what happened in the Bahamas, and at the end of the day, all I’m trying to do is go out and play good golf and trying to win a golf championship and hopefully run [leader Rory McIlroy] down,” said Reed, who was also made fun of by his team-mates during practice at The Presidents Cup.

There was also an ugly scene where Reed’s caddie Kessler Karain intervened to deal with a heckling spectator during the third day’s play, and was removed from the competition after the confrontation, forcing Reed’s coach Kevin Kirk to go on the bag for the Sunday singles.

Even worse, Kostis, who has been a CBS on course regular for many years until this season, was even more scathing telling the No Laying Up podcast Kostis added, “I’ve seen Patrick Reed improve his lie, up close and personal, four times now.”

But whatever anyone’s take on the rights and wrongs of Reed’s behaviour on the course, it appears to be water off a duck’s back.

The spotlight over his integrity appears to have given him an even thicker hide with which to block out the pressures of trying to win one of the biggest titles in world golf.

What the Augusta crowds, let alone the Augusta National Golf Club will make of Reed in less than two months’ time is anyone’s guess.

The post Nothing ruffles Patrick Reed who claims second WGC title down Mexico way appeared first on Golf North.

Rory McIlroy cannot win a fourth Race to Dubai this week, but the World No. 2 has his eyes firmly on the $3m first prize at the DP World Tour Championship, at Jumeirah’s Earth Course. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

RORY McIlroy and defending champion Danny Willett are hoping to sign off their impressive personal 2019 campaigns in style at the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

World No. 2 McIlroy has won four times globally during the calendar year.

But his decision no to rejoin the European Tour until after the Masters – and to skip last week’s Nedbank Golf Challenge – means he cannot claim the 2019 Race to Dubai title for a fourth time this week.

McIlroy goes into the week in sixth place on the Race to Dubai and is targeting a 15th European Tour title, and with it the $3million winner’s cheque – the richest first prize in tournament golf anywhere in the world.

But after spending the first four months of the season based in the States, McIlroy, who had been in lengthy discussions with European Tour chief Keith Pelley, only became a member after he had played in the first two World Golf Championship events.

McIlroy, who has won nearly €40million in his European Tour career alone, finished runner-up in Mexico, in February, winning almost €1m – but crucially received no Race to Dubai points.

His 21st place finish at Augusta, also failed to earn any Race to Dubai points but between the three tournaments, Rory would have been 1,726 points better off on the Race to Dubai.

Rory is now 2,039 points behind current leader Bernd Wiesberger – and after the Nedbank result, only four other players can catch the Austrian and land the $2million bonus for winning the Race to Dubai after the eighth and final Rolex Series tournament at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

Those four are Open Champion Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood – last week’s winner at Sun City – Yorkshire’s Matt Fitzpatrick, who won the DP World Tour Championship three years ago, and Spaniard John Rahm, who who won this event two years ago.

McIlroy said: “I’ve been coming back here for 10 years now. I remember my first year here, battling Lee Westwood to the finish to win the Race to Dubai.

“It’s been a great 10 years. The golf course has been getting better and better and the event itself, the clubhouse and how mature everything is.

“It is a much bigger event than it was back then,” added McIlroy, who has former Ulster rugby player Niall O’Connor on the bag, with Harry Diamond staying in Belfast, having just become a father for the first time.

“If you have length, it can be advantage, but we have the top 50 guys here and they know what it takes to play well,” said Rory, who intends to take the next four weeks off at his Florida home, before spending Christmas with his family in Belfast.

“It’s going to be a fun week for get out there with Niall on the bag and hopefully I can play well the first few days and you know, we’ll get into the heat of battle hopefully on the weekend.

“That will be something that will be fun for both of us,” Rory said about 32-year-old Niall, a close friend, who works at a New York equity firm.

“I’ll maybe take on a little bit more responsibility than I usually do and jot stuff down.

“It feels a little bit like when Harry first came on the bag a couple years ago, right. I took on a little more responsibility, writing stuff in my yardage book and pacing stuff out. I actually quite enjoy that part, as well.

“You know what, it will be fun. Obviously Niall and I go back a long way, so yeah, for me at this point it’s just about trying to stay as relaxed and as loose as possible out there. And he can definitely do that for me.”

McIlroy won on his most recent start in the WGC-HSBC Champions in China three weeks ago.

Wby Danny Willett was so relieved after DP World Tour win a year ago

Meanwhile defending champion Willett backed up his win 12 months ago with a second Rolex Series title in the BMW PGA Championship, in September.

Like Willett, McIlroy has previous success at Jumeriah Golf Estates, having claimed the title in 2012 and 2015 with a further five top 10 finishes in his nine appearances.

That is also the aim for Willett, who won by two shots from Matt Wallace and Patrick Reed last year, as he seeks to become the first player since Henrik Stenson in 2013/14 to defend the DP World Tour Championship title.

Willett, a winner at Wentworth two months ago, said: “It’s always nice to come back and defend anywhere in the world.

“For it to be the final event of the year in Dubai, obviously with the new format – 50 guys here and a really strong field again – it’s good fun.

“I’m sure we’ll get four great days of golf, four exciting days of golf for everyone that comes up. Hopefully on Sunday we’re in a similar position.

“Last year, we weren’t sure if we were going to win again with all the injuries, and it was nice to come back and do it on such a big stage against such a great field.

“Obviously coming down the stretch with Patrick Reed and Jon Rahm posting scores, just to prove to myself that when I get in contention, I’m pretty good at closing out golf tournaments.

“Obviously after everything that happened, it was, a pretty special moment, especially with all the family here and friends.

“Any win in your career is a pretty special moment, but yeah, the bigger the event and the bigger the emotion, always makes it feel even better.”

•For tee times for Thursday’s first round in the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, click here.

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