Tyrrell Hatton started the BMW PGA Championship with a fine 66 to share the lead at Wentworth with Adri Arnaus and Justin Harding. Pictures by GETTY IMAGES

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE’S Tyrrell Hatton enjoyed a happy homecoming in his first round on British soil in 2020 at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

The former Wee Wonders champion shot an opening round of 66 on the West Course to share the lead with Spain’s Adri Arnaus and South African Justin Harding.

The 28-year-old carded an eagle and five birdies, including one at the eighth – his final hole – en route to a six-under par round as he chases a third Rolex Series title, in the third Rolex event of the year.

Hatton, a member at Harleyford GC, said: “Obviously, it was tough this morning, and I hit a few poor shots.

“But the key thing was I recovered really well. I followed it up with a really good shot. That kind of kept momentum going.

“It was easy to make mistakes out there. So I’m very happy with my round.

“I think for me, I just feel pretty comfortable out on the golf course,” said Hatton, who grew up – like most of his peers and Justin Rose and Paul Casey before him – watching their idols tackle Wentworth’s premier course.

Tyrrell, who won the Turkish Airlines Open last year, added: “I’ve been around it so many times now, so kind of almost has that home course feel, and you just feel like you know it so well.

“It was a nice start and hopefully I can keep that going for the next few days.”

Former B.B.&O. player Luke Donald won the BMW PGA at Wentworth in 2011

Hatton a visitor to Wentworth for 23 years

ASKED what it would mean to follow past winners Paul Casey and Luke Donald – the latter played for B.B.&O. as an amateur like Hatton – he said: “It would be special.

“This is a tournament I’ve been coming to since I was five years old. To lift the trophy here is a goal of mine in my career.

“And hopefully I can play well the next few days and give myself a chance to do that.”

The World No, 15 won his maiden PGA Tour event at the Arnold Plamer Invitational before the coronavirus pandemic brought golf aorund the the world to a halt.

His other Rolex Series win came in the Italian Open three years ago.

Hatton was joined at the summit by South African Harding and Spaniard Arnaus, both of whom enjoyed flawless six under rounds in the more favourable afternoon conditions.

FOUR players sit a shot off the pace, including reigning Open Champion Shane Lowry, who continued his strong form on Wentworth’s West Course by opening with a five-under 67.

His round comprised five birdies and a bogey in his final six holes.

Lowry – who famously claimed the Claret Jug when The Open returned to Royal Portrush last summer, said: “I’m very happy with that.

“You know, I came here, only arrived here Tuesday night and I played a practice round yesterday – and couldn’t believe how different it was playing it this year – long and soft and difficult.

“We were very lucky with our side of the draw. I think the morning starters had it harder than we did.

“So I was happy to go out there this afternoon, and we sort of played the last few holes with not much wind. And I took advantage of that.”

The Irishman shares fourth place with former Ryder Cup player Matt Fitzpatrick, his fellow B.B.&O. team-mate Eddie Pepperell and Malaysia’s Gavin Green.

Justin Rose is in the chasing pack after shooting a 68 on Wentworth’s West Course

Rai ready to mount another Rolex charge

AARON Rai, who won his maiden Rolex Series title at last week’s Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, and former World No. 1 Justin Rose were among those players a shot further back on four-under.

Rai, like Hatton – and top English women amateurs Annabell and Samantha Fuller – began his career to the top by winning the HSBC Wee Wonders junior competition at St Andrews some 15 years ago.

Last week’s Rolex winner said: “I’m really pleased. It’s been a different build up over the last few days to this event after last week.

“So it was nice to get started on the course and get off to a good start,” said Rai.

“I think for success on any style of golf course, there are a lot of things you’ve got going right in your game.

“And that can be taken forward to any week, such as the short game, good putting.

“I think strategy on the Monday and Tuesday, learning the course, is imperative to play well this week – and prepare for these kind of conditions.

“It was nice just to be able to put it all together today. For me it was important to get here on Monday and Tuesday to practise exactly how I normally would.

“I think it was more to show myself, really, that I’m here to try and perform as well as possible on this given week, regardless of what had happened on Sunday at the Scottish.

“To be in contention, to have a good result and to win an event is an incredible thing to take forward to this week and for the rest of the year.”

Spain’s Adri Arnaus shared the lead after the first round of the BMW PGA Championship

Arnaus likes first look of West Course

DEBUTANT Arnaus is looking for his maiden win after some good displays over the past two years.

He said: “It’s always good news when you’re not adding any strokes to your scoreboard.

“So yeah, very, very pleased with how I played. I was very on point from tee, hitting on to the green and then I rolled some putts.

“So enjoyed it a lot, my first competitive round around here, and it was very, very fun.

“The course is definitely playing a bit longer, I would say because it’s a touch wet.

“But it’s the only way I’ve seen it, so I don’t know how it was playing the other years.

“They have told me it was running much more on the greens a bit firmer. Just a matter of putting it in place and then attacking from there.”

•Follow live scoring in the second round by clicking here.

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Graeme McDowell – winner of the 2020 Saudi International – has withdrawn from this week’s PGA Tour event the Travelers Championship after his caddy tested positive for COVID-19. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

US OPEN champion Graeme McDowell has withdrawn from this week’s Travelers Championship in America, after his caddy tested positive for COVID-19.

The Northern Ireland ace, who lives in Florida, pulled out of the PGA Tour event in Connecticut, on Tuesday night after it was confirmed caddy longstanding Ken Comboy had been diagnosed as having the coronavirus.

McDowell told an American website:”For the protection of the field and for my own physical and mental well-being, I’m going to take a test tomorrow morning then jump on a private plane.”

The pair had spent six hours driving in a car from the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town in South Carolina, back to their Florida base, after missing the cut on Friday.

Having left the PGA Tour bubble, Comboy was reported to have felt unwell.

The popular caddy returned from Lake Nona to Harbour Town to request a test from the PGA Tour.

McDowell, who then travelled to TPC River Highlands for this week’s Traveler’s Championship, admitted he feared he would become the next player to be tested positive.

Known as G-Mac throughout golf, Graeme said: “I’d been through a huge amount emotionally and mentally, and a couple of weeks back into it after a few months off you’re going to be a little tired getting your golf legs back.

“But the alarm bells have started to ring now that Kenny has failed this test.

“We’re a close-knit team. We roomed together last week, we spent six hours in a car.

“He’s carrying the virus so in some way I have to be carrying it too,” said McDowell, who won the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach.

McDowell, a past winner at Harbour Town, missed the cut on Friday in the RBC Heritage and travelled back to his Florida home by car with caddy Ken Comboy

McDowell and Champ withdraw

CADDY Ken Comboy and McDowell are one of longest-running partnerships on Tour, and recently celebrated his 14th win at the Saudi International in February.

The Ryder Cup ace played a practice round at TPC River Highlands, on Tuesday, with Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka and his brother Chase – a former European Challenge Tour player.

Chase came through Monday qualifying to earn his start in Thursday’s event.

Nick Watney became the first PGA Tour play to test positive for COVID-19, last Friday, after the tour staged its second event at Harbour Town – a week after the sport returned with the Charles Schwab Cup in Texas.

And on Monday, Cameron Champ became the second player to fail the coronavirus test after the PGA Tour bubbule moved to the north east, in the USA.

The World No. 79 will have to self-isolate for at least 10 days before he can rejoin the PGA Tour bubble, assuming he then does not test positive again.

Champ is one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour. He burst into the world’s top 100 after the Web.com Tour graduate made his breakthrough win less than two years ago.

He won the Sandersons Championship, in October 2018, in his second start of the wraparound season – and just his eighth Tour start in total.

The TPC River Highlands course in Hartford, Connecticut, has attracted its strongest-ever field for this week’s Travelers Championship

Strongest line-up for Travelers Championship

NINE of the world’s top 10 are set to tee it up at TPC River Highlands in Hartford, Connecticut.

That is the strongest line-up in the tournament’s history. Bubba Watson has won the event three times in the last decade.

The Travelers will be the third tournament in as many weeks to be played without spectators.

What effect the latest positive tests will have on PGA Tour’s return remains to be seen.

The PGA of America confirmed on Monday that no fans will be present for the first Major of 2020.

The USPGA will be played at TPC Harding Park, in San Francisco, in early August, without any spectators on site.

The PGA Tour was expecting to allow fans to attend Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial Tournament, next month.

But the latest COVID-19 scare – along with growings signs the coronavirus is still spreading in key cities in the USA – will pile pressure on the PGA Tour over its plans to let spectators attend.

The post Caddy Ken tests positive for COVID-19 forcing G-Mac to withdraw from Travellers appeared first on Golf North.

Danny Willett receives the Green Jacket from Jordan Spieth with Augusta National Golf Club chairman Billy Payne (right) after the Yorkshireman won th 2016 Masters.

DANNY Willett’s Green Jacket will always take pride of place in his locker, but an England team blazer remains dear to his heart.

In fact, the 2016 Masters champion rates playing as an amateur in the Home Internationals for England as his favourite team golf experience.

But given his experiences as a member of Darren Clarke’s team at the 2016 Ryder Cup, when he was at the centre of a media storm created by a magazine interview given by his brother, that might not be such a surprise.

But there were several more surprises in a wide-ranging, open and honest online Q&A session, which Willett conducted with England Golf coaches and players.

Willett was the toast of world golf four years ago when he came from three shots back.

He carded a brilliant final round 67 to win the Masters by three shots from defending champion Jordan Spieth and Lee Westwood.

To date, it remains the greatest achievement of the Yorkshireman’s career although his first victory on home soil – in last year’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth – was another major milestone.

And it was a hot topic for discussion during another lively webchat hosted by England performance director Nigel Edwards.

Willett, Lowry, McIlroy, Wood and Edwards featured in elite contests

BOTH Willett and Edwards share more than an England Golf connection.

In 2007, they were part of the GB&I Walker Cup squad – also featuring Rory McIlroy – which narrowly lost out to a star-studded American side including Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson and Webb Simpson, at Royal County Down.

The pair were also in the same European team that won the Michael Bonnallack Trophy in 2008, beating Asia- Pacific at Valderrama, alongside Gloucestershire’s future Ryder Cup player Chris Wood, and last year’s Open Champion Shane Lowry.

Willett – currently based in Florida’s Isleworth, as he waits for the tours to start on both sides of the pond – talked through his amazing work ethic, his attention to detail and the processes he has followed all his career.

And he recalled with fondness an amateur career during which he won the Australian Strokeplay, the Spanish Amateur and English Amateur en route to becoming No. 1 on the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Willett said: “I loved everything about team golf with England when you had a group of guys taking on Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

“You maybe had 40-50 of the best players from the UK there and you were trying to impress for Walker Cup places and Jacques Leglise teams.

“You wanted to beat everyone, you certainly didn’t want to lose to a rival country. But there was still a great camaraderie.

“Yorkshire normally had quite a good bunch and we were well represented.

“But you caught up with people you hadn’t seen since the last event and I was good pals with Oliver Fisher and Tom Sherrard among others and it was great to get everyone together.”

Danny Willett (back row right) in the European team that won the 2008 Michael Bonallack Trophy, playing alongside Shane Lowry, Nigel Edwards and Chris Wood.

Danny has not been back to Royal St George since English Amateur victory in 2007

WILLETT, who was a junior at Rotherham GC, has won seven times on Tour and, at 32 years of age, has arguably yet to reach his prime.

As a youth, Willett was always earmarked for a great career – and his English Amateur win at Royal St George’s in 2007 remains a landmark moment.

“It was a great week,” recalled Willett who beat Matt Cryer 3&2 to lift the silverware.

“I played a lot of good players that week and then beat Matt in the final.

“It was the end of a pretty exceptional summer and the culmination of lot of good golf that I played at that time.

“To win any event is brilliant – to win on home soil in front of England officials and organisers it was a really special one to get it under your belt.

“It was a great golf course to win on too – and I’ll now need to wait until next year to go back with this year’s Open postponed.

“Oddly enough I haven’t played there since I won the English Amateur.

“I was looking forward to going back – but it’s more just looking forward to The Open as an event.

“For an Englishman, The Open in England is truly special just as it is for a Scotsman in Scotland or the Irish boys last year at Portrush.

“You take Opens wherever they are – they are always phenomenal, but it’s great to get a home crowd.

“I have fond memories of that place and it’s been a helluva long time since I played it. To go back as professional with a different golf game would have been a lot of fun.”

Willett has seven victories on the European Tour to his name – he also claimed the biggest cash prize in 2018 by winning the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Danny Willett during the Q&A session with England’s national squads

Rotherham still producing top teenage talents

AS a Yorkshireman, Willett remain fiercely proud of his home county and still keeps one eye on the amateur game.

The rise of Rotherham’s Ben Schmidt in the last year has caught his attention.

Willett added:”I still chat to Graham Walker about the lads coming up through Yorkshire and different bits and bobs.

“There are a couple of players in Yorkshire – Ben being one – and I keep track even though life is busy.

“I’ve tried to help him out for a few things here and there. He’s young, but he has to keep working hard and see where he gets.

“It’s good and well winning, but the scores he was posting were the thing to look out for. That’s the impressive part.

“He’s also won in Australia and if you have a game that travels, then that’s a good thing.”

Fellow Rotherham GC member Ben Schmidt, the youngest-ever winner of the Brabazon Trophy, has been given advice by Danny Willet. Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

•Next in line for the England squads is a Q&A with Ryder Cup player and European Tour winner Chris Wood.

Matt Wallace, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Meghan MacLaren and Bronte Law have all hosted similar sessions.

The post Willett says England Home Internationals win in 2009 was his best team experience appeared first on Golf North.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy watched Tiger Woods win the World Golf Championshiop at Mount Juliet in 2002 – now he hopes he can win a second Irish Open at the Kilkenny course.

RORY McIlroy will make a much-anticipated return to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Mount Juliet Estate in May.

The four-time Major winner will join his fellow Northern Irishman, close friend and tournament host Graeme McDowell, when McIlroy tees it up at the second Rolex Series event of the 2020 Race to Dubai season.

The current World No. 1 will head a star-studded field which also includes defending champion Jon Rahm and the reigning Open Champion Shane Lowry, when the event takes place from May 28-31.

McIlroy will be targeting a second victory in an event which he himself hosted from 2015-18 – helping elevate the historic national open to become one of the European Tour’s eight premier Rolex Series events.

The 30-year-old famously lifted the trophy at the K Club in 2016, delighting the home crowds with a swashbuckling display down the stretch to hold off Scot Russell Knox – who went on to claim the title in 2017 – and Welshman Bradley Dredge.

“I’m looking forward to it a lot,” said McIlroy. “It’s a bit different going back for a May date as opposed to July, and at a parkland course at Mount Juliet.

“I’ve never played the course but got good memories – it was the first time I ever watched Tiger Woods play in person.

“My dad drove me down and we watched the WGC there and that was really cool, so it’ll be exciting to tee it up there myself and try to win a tournament there.”

Dubai Duty Free chief executive Colm McLoughlin said: “We are delighted Rory has confirmed his attendance at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Mount Juliet.

“Our involvement as title sponsor of the tournament began when Rory took on the hosting duties in 2015, and he did a great job in raising the profile of the event.

“We are looking forward to a great week in Kilkenny and working with Mount Juliet, the European Tour, this year’s host Graeme McDowell, Sport Ireland and all of the other entities to make this event a great success.”

Mount Juliet already boasts a prestigious list of winners after a three-year stint of hosting the event – with Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Sam Torrance winning in 1993, 1994 and 1995 respectively – and McIlroy will be hoping to join that list in May.

The luxury five-star resort in Kilkenny also hosted Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf in 1997 – a challenge match between Tom Watson and Fred Couples, won by the latter – as well as the WGC-American Express Championship in 2002 and 2004 – won by Tiger Woods and Ernie Els respectively.

Buy early bird tickets by March 3

EARLY bird ticket prices begin at €13 for the Wednesday pro-am day, with Thursday and Friday day tickets available for a special price of €23.

Saturday and Sunday tickets begin at €27. Fans can enjoy five days of world-class golf and entertainment for only €83 if they purchase their season tickets prior to Tuesday, March 3.

Children under 12 years of age are entitled to free entry when accompanied by an adult.

Day junior tickets for kids aged between 12 and 17 years of age are €10 (season ticket €25), while students aged between 18 and 24 with valid ID, and over 65s, can buy concession tickets.

The latter cost €15 for Thursday and Friday, €20 for Saturday and Sunday (€60 for a season). Parking access can be purchased for €5 per day, or €10 to cover all five days.

The only official sales channel to purchase tickets is via ticketing platform Eventbrite by clicking here.

The resale of Dubai Duty Free Irish Open tickets on unofficial platforms contravenes the European Tour’s ticket terms and conditions and render the tickets void.

Official hospitality tickets are also available on the ticketing page, or by calling the Euorpean Tour sales team on (01344) 840681.

The post World No 1 McIlroy confirms entry for Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Mount Juliet appeared first on Golf North.

Graeme McDowell was delighted this month’s Saudi International victory got him back in the world’s top 50 for the first time in five years – and a start in the WGC-Mexico Championship.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES

GRAEME McDowell tees it up in his first World Golf Championships event since 2016 at the WGC-Mexico Championship this week.

And the Northern Irishman is excited about the challenge of taking on a new course, at Chapultec Golf Club.

McDowell said: “I’ve played a lot of WGCs in my career and I think you do take them for granted a little. They are amazing tournaments when you get the best players from all over the world to come together here in Mexico.

“It’s the first time seeing the golf course for me and it’s a great track, reminds me a little of Valderrama – and obviously you’ve got the altitude so the ball goes a long way. But I’m excited to be back in these WGC events.

“It’s important for me, if I have aspirations of being in the Ryder Cup team, that I’ve got to be in the WGCs and Major Championships.

“So it’s really important to take that first step, to get my schedule to where it needs to be and hopefully I can kick on from here.

“We’re here to do a job this week. This is certainly not some icing on the cake from the win out in Saudi Arabia.

“This is about kicking on into the rest of the season and using these events as platforms to get where I want to be.”

Thirty-nine-year-old GMac claimed his 11th European Tour title at the Saudi International, earlier this month.

It was his first victory on the tour in six years and one which moved him inside the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time in five years.

That in turn earned him a place in the field for this week’s WGC-Mexico Championship, and McDowell – who will host this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in May – is not taking it lightly as he strives to reach his goal of a return to the European Ryder Cup team in September.

Another Irishman targeting a place in Padraig Harrington’s side is Open Champion and a former World Golf Championships winner Shane Lowry, who returns to action after a two-week break.

Lowry is playing his first WGC since claiming the Claret Jug, having missed the Fedex St Jude Invitational while celebrating his Open win at Royal Portrush,

A refreshed Lowry, who claimed the WGC Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone, in 2015, said: “I’ve had a nice couple of weeks off.

“I had four weeks in a row at the start of the year so it’s a long four weeks when it’s the first run of the year.

“I felt like I played OK in Dubai and Saudi and I’m happy to be over here now, in Mexico this week and in the USA for the next couple of months.

“Hopefully I can put in a few good performances,” said Shane.

“Obviously I’ve won a WGC before so it’s nice and it’s a very tricky golf course here this week in Mexico.

“It’s going to take a lot of good golf to do well here, so we’ll see how it goes.

“I wouldn’t be overly optimistic but I never usually am and I try to come in under the radar and do my thing for the week.

“Hopefully I can pop up on the leaderboard come Saturday afternoon and give it a run on Sunday.”

Kinhult ready for WGC debut

Betfred British Masters winner Marcus Kinhult at Hillside GC, in May

MARKUS Kinhult, meanwhile, is one of 11 European Tour members making their debut in Mexico, and one of two – alongside Benjamin Hebert – to be playing in a World Golf Championships event for the first time.

Swede Kinhult, who won the Betfred British Masters at Hillside, in May, said: “I think it will be a lot of fun this week.

“Obviously I’ve been looking forward to this event since I got in. It’s my first WGC so playing against these guys is nice, to see where your game is at and how you can compete.

“I came here earlier than normal, late Saturday so I had Sunday to just walk around and get to know the place a little bit.

“I played the course, did my numbers and did my drills as I always do on every tournament week so it’s not too different.

“I’m happy to be here at 23, that’s nice, but my goals are set higher long term and I’m just trying to reach the next level and improve every day.

“But I’m happy with the progression so far and I look forward to what comes next,” who announced his potential when winning the Lytham Trophy by eight shots in 2015.

The teeanger, who played in the Summer Olympics for Sweden in 2014, led the Nordea Masters after 36 holes a month after his win at Royal Lythyam.

The son of a golf pro, who was a junior member at the same Swedish club where Berkshire’s Barry Lane and fellow European Tour member Joel Sjöholm are members, turned pro later in 2015.

But the Junior Ryder Cup player only made two cuts in his first season on Tour in 2016, having earned his card at the European Tour Qualifying School, at Spain’s PGA de Catalunya.

•For tee times in the WGC-Mexico Championship, click here.

The post WGC-Mexico Championship: GMac wants to kick on after Saudi win for Ryder Cup race appeared first on Golf North.

Shane Lowry is the second big name to sign up for the Irish Open which Graeme McDowell will host at Kilkenny’s Mount Juliet, over the late May Bank Holiday weekend.

SHANE Lowry will make his first appearance on home soil since claiming his maiden Major title at the 2019 Open Championship, as he seeks a second Irish Open title, in May.

The World No. 16 will target a second Rolex Series title, when Mount Juliet Estate hosts the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open on May 28-31, 2020.

The Offaly player is expected to receive a hero’s welcome at Mount Juliet in May – where Saudi International winner Graeme McDowell assumes the mantle as tournament host.

Lowry will be aiming to become only the second Irishman to win the island of Ireland’s national open on multiple occasions, after Harry Bradshaw (1947 and 1949).

The 32-year-old lifted the Claret Jug in front of the delirious home crowds at Royal Portrush Golf Club, in July.

His fist Major confirmed his status as an Irish sporting legend. It was Lowry’s second victory of a career-defining season, which also included a maiden Rolex Series title at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship earlier in the year.

“I can’t wait to tee it up in front of my home crowds at Mount Juliet in May,” said Lowry, who famously won his home open as an amateur in 2009.

“It’s always such an honour to play in front of the Irish fans and they have always been so supportive of me.

“They played such a massive part in my win at Portrush last July, so teeing up as Open champion at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open will be a great moment.

“With Graeme hosting the event – I know he’s keen to build on the momentum in Irish golf at the moment – and the fact it will be the May Bank Holiday weekend in Ireland, I think it’s going to make for an incredible festival atmosphere at Mount Juliet, much like Lahinch last year.

“I am honestly so excited for it,” said Shane, who was one of the first players to greet McDowell as he reached the scorer’s hut at the Royal Greens & Country Club, after his superb Saudia Arabian triumph, on Sunday.

Lowry joins World No. 3 Jon Rahm as the second superstar to be officially confirmed for the 2020 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, where the Spanish talent will defend his title.

Rahm will target a third victory in the historic national open having triumphed at Lahinch Golf Club, in 2019.

Mount Juliet Estate already boasts a prestigious list of winners after a three-year stint of hosting the event – with Sir Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Sam Torrance winning there in 1993, 1994 and 1995 respectively.

And Rahm will be hoping to join another prestigious list this May as he seeks his third Irish Open win in four years, having picked up his first at Portstewart, in Northern Ireland, in 2017.

Mount Juliet’s luxury five-star resort in Kilkenny also hosted Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf in 1997, a challenge match between Tom Watson and Fred Couples.

It was won by the latter, and was also the venue for the WGC-American Express Championship in 2002 and 2004 – won by Tiger Woods and Ernie Els respectively.

Early bird tickets offer cheaper prices for fans heading to Irish Open in late May

EARLY bird ticket prices for the 2020 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open begin at €13 for the Wednesday pro-am day, with Thursday and Friday day tickets available for a special price of €23.

Saturday and Sunday tickets beginning at €27. Fans can enjoy five days of world-class golf and entertainment for only €83 if they purchase their early bird season tickets before March 3.

Children under 12 years of age are entitled to free entry when accompanied by an adult.

Day junior tickets for those between 12 and 17 years of age are €10 (€25 for a season ticket) while students aged between 18 and 24 with valid student cards, and over 65s, can avail themselves of a discounted ticket.

They cost €15 for Thursday and Friday, €20 for Saturday and Sunday (€60 for a season). Parking access can be purchased for €5 per day, or €10 for a season parking ticket which covers all five days.

The only official sales channel to purchase tickets for this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open is via the ticketing platform Eventbrite.

The resale of Dubai Duty Free Irish Open tickets on unofficial platforms contravenes the European Tour’s ticket terms and conditions and such sales render the ticket void.

Official hospitality tickets are also available on the ticketing page, or alternatively contact the European Tour’s dedicated hospitality sales team by calling (01344) 840681.

The post Lowry wants second Irish Open title at Mount Juliet but Rahm’s ready for a third appeared first on Golf North.

Why Shane Lowry is looking forward to a second crack at Saudi International title

OPEN Champion Shane Lowry is aiming to extend his strong record in the Middle East when he makes his debut as part of a strong field looking to claim this week’s Saudi International title.

The Irishman won the 2019 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and is a former runner up in the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

He began his 2020 calendar year by finishing runner-up in Hong Kong, in the rearranged Asian Tour event.

And – after missing the cut by one shot in Abu Dhabi – Lowry finished tied 11th in last week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Lowry believes Royal Greens Golf and Country Club is comparable to some of the other courses he has performance well at in the Middle East.

And the Claret Jug holder is looking forward to teeing it up for the first two rounds alongside World No.1 1 Brooks Koepka and former Masters Champion Sergio Garcia.

Both return to Saudi Arabia after playing in last year’s inaugural event, which attracted some criticism of players who took part in the event, over the Saudi’s human rights record.

The controversy came in the wake of the horrific killing of American-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Turkey, in October 2018.

The Saudi government is committed to a huge investment programme, including staging top international cultural and sporting events in a bid to boost tourism and develop a post-oil dependent economy.

But the leading players were all focused firmly on the golf and claiming that Saudi International title.

Lowry said: “It’s very much a Middle East-style golf course, and something that I like the look of it straightaway. It’s in great condition.

“Hopefully I can go out and play well, but I do really like the look of the golf course and it’s in perfect condition.

“I’ve done well in obviously Abu Dhabi, in the DP World and I  played okay in the Desert Classic the last couple of years.

“It’s the type of golf that I like. The wind picks up here in the afternoon, which would suit me a little bit, as well.

“It is a type of golf that I do enjoy playing. It’s perfect weather and perfect condition golf course.

“I got off to a great start in Hong Kong after a long break and didn’t know what to expect.

“Then came to Abu Dhabi, and I sort of had a mental error on the last hole and missed the cut out of nowhere.

Lowry got to practice with fellow Irishman Cormac Sharvin, who graduated via the European Challenge Tour, finishing 11th on the Road to Mallorca in 2019.

And Lowry admitted after his practice round that while a tad disappointed by his week in Dubai, he was still taking the positives from the week which saw a much tougher Emirates GC course awaiting the European Tour’s finest.

“Last week I finished 11th and probably would have liked to finish better,” he said.

“But any Sunday morning you’re sitting there eating your breakfast and feel like you have a chance to win the tournament is a good day.

“I feel like my form is okay, and I’m hoping to do all right this week and pick up a few more World Ranking points and Ryder Cup points.”

Defending champion Dustin Johnson is also in the field and he is grouped with Lee Westwood, winner of the 2020’s first Rolex Series event in Abu Dhabi, and another Middle East specialist, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson.

Johnson will be looing to add to his solitary US Open win in 2016 when it comes to the 2020 Majors.

“I’m feeling good. I’m really pleased with how I played last year,” said Johnson, “and I’m excited to be back in Saudi Arabia for this tournament.

“Any time you’ve won somewhere you’re looking at it, but every event that I go to – whether I’ve won there or not – I’m always trying to win it.

“It’s more like the process. Like I want to get myself in contention. I just want to give myself a chance to win on Sunday,” added Johnson, who will also be keen to close the gap on his buddy Brooks Koepka, who is being chased by Rory McIlroy for the World No. 1 accolade.

Dustin said: “I feel like if I can put myself in a position to have a chance to win going into the back nine on Sunday, then I’ve done what I wanted to do that week, and you know, just see what I can do those last nine holes.”

And a second Saudi International title can’t be ruled out for the bookies favourite.

Koepka to crack on after Dubai practice week

BROOKS Koepka, who returned after a three-month lay-off to allow his knee injury to heal in Abu Dhabi, will be looking to build on a fast start that faded in his European Tour return.

“The course has gotten a lot better than it was last year,” claimed Koepka who admits he still has some work to do if he is to be in with a shout of claiming his first Saudi International title come Sunday.

“Any time you can give a course an extra year to really develop, you’re going to see the progression of it,” said Florida-based Brooks.

“The greens are a lot faster. The rough’s a lot thicker. It’s settled in nicely.

“It looks incredible shape just as it was last year, just a little more settled in, which will be different.

“You never know what the scores could be. A few greens are a little firmer and faster, and if the wind gets up like it usually does in the afternoon, it might be a different story this year.

“You don’t know,” added Koepka, whose journey to the top of world golf began when he played for two seasons on the Challenge Tour – winning three times in 2013 after his debut win in 2012.

“Last week I practised all week. I had three months off, so there was no point in having a holiday or a vacation.

“It was more of a work thing. Just got the game ready. Felt good in Abu Dhabi. Felt good in Dubai. Feels good here.

“It’s just a matter of going out and executing. I played just fine, great shots in Abu Dhabi. Just didn’t score and that’s my own fault.

“Just coming here to try to figure it out and put some scores together, put some rounds together, and try to eliminate some mistakes.”

•For live scoring in the Saudi International click here.

The post Why Shane Lowry is looking forward to a second crack at Saudi International title appeared first on Golf North.

Defending Abu Dhabi HSBC champion Shane Lowry would love to represent Ireland at the 2020 Olympics and playi in his first Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

IT’S onwards and upwards for Shane Lowry as he begins his title defence at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship – with one eye on the Olympics and the other on the Ryder Cup.

The Irishman won his first Rolex Series title at Abu Dhabi Golf Club 12 months ago – and carried his form and confidence through to the summer in what became a stellar season after winning the Claret Jug as The Open returned to Northern Ireland for the first time in 68 years.

A memorable maiden Major Championship victory at Royal Portrush also turned the year into his first multiple-winning season.

With a Ryder Cup and the Olympics to come in 2020, there could be more firsts for Lowry.

Lowry said: “It was obviously my best year-to-date. I couldn’t really have envisaged what happened.

“It was really nice to get off to an unbelievable start here, winning one of the biggest events on Tour.

“This course, this tournament, against this field every year is a really, really difficult tournament to win, and it obviously kick-started an unbelievable season.

“I think that can only give you confidence going forward,” added Lowry.

“Like anybody in this game, anybody who plays this game, knows that a lot of it is built on confidence.

“A lot of form is built on confidence, and that’s what I gained from here last year.

“Obviously I have goals in my head. I have it in my head what I want to achieve this year, and the main thing for me is make that Ryder Cup team. I’ve set everything out to do that.

“The Olympics is going to be exciting. I’ve never played, so hopefully I can go there this year.

“We don’t win too many Gold Medals in Ireland, so if you’re able to bring one back, I think that would be very, very special.”

Lowry’s first Rolex Series win in Abu Dhabi

And once again it all begins with the Rolex Series in Abu Dhabi, where Lowry is aiming to emulate Tommy Fleetwood – the last man to win the title in consecutive seasons.

The Lancastrian’s victory in 2017 proved to be the springboard that led to him winning the Race to Dubai later that year – and his 2018 win in Abu Dhabi preceded his momentous Ryder Cup debut at Le Golf National.

Fleetwood said: “As an event, it is pretty much the best way to start the year. I’ve always enjoyed it. It throws you in at the deep end, a really tough test.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have a couple of really good years here, in particular the ones that I did win here, catapulted me on for the rest of the year.

“People like to set goals for the year. Of course, there’s targets to do with results, the obvious ones are to win tournaments or to win Majors – or to compete in Majors – and of course they are there.

“There’s other things I’d like to do. Of course I want to get to the Olympics,” said Fleetwood, who represented Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup in 2009, and played for England in the Home Internationals during his amateur career.

Of course, Hampshire’s Justin Rose claimed Gold at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, when many of the world’s top players elected not to travel to Brazil over fears about the Zika virus.

It marked golfs return to the Olympics for the first time since 1904 and Tiger Woods has expressed winning Gold in golf is very high on his list to go with his aim of winning 19 Majors and breaking Jack Nicklaus’ record.

Fleetwood will settle first for a place in the England team travelling to Tokyo this summer and the chance to take part in the opening ceremony.

“I think that’s on my radar,” said the Southport pro who ended 2019 on a high by winning the Nedbank Golf at Sun City – his first win in nearly two years.

“The Ryder Cup is in September. And then, just clear signs of improvement. There are certain parts of my game that I want to improve.”

Garcia never out of top 20 in Abu Dhabi

FLEETWOOD’S Ryder Cup teammate Sergio Garcia is vying for first wins on both the Rolex Series and in Abu Dhabi, as he returns to this part of the United Arab Emirates for the first time since 2014.

The Spaniard has never finished outside of the top 20 in his six previous appearances at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

And Sergio knows the benefit of early season success in the desert, going on to win the Masters Tournament after his victory in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in 2017.

Garcia, who has ended his two-year association with Callaway this month, said: “I’ve been practising hard and I’m excited for it.

“It’s a very good tournament to start the year with, and a nice run of tournaments the next couple of weeks,” added Sergio, who is expected to play without an equipment deal, at least in the early part of 2020.

“Hopefully we can see some good results on all the hard work we’ve been putting in and have a good year – because it’s a big year and we’re obviously looking forward to it.”

Garcia faces a battle with John Rahm to represent Spain in the Olympics in Japan, at the end of July.

The 40-year-old would need to be in the world’s top 15 by June 22, to guarantee a start alongside Rahm, the world No. 3 and leading Spaniard.

Sergio said: “Winning in January is just positive. Any time you can start the year like that, it’s great.

“It gives you a lot of confidence. It kind of takes a little bit of pressure off knowing that you’ve already got a win.”

Hovland’s ‘easier route’ to represent Norway in Olympics

Hero Challenge winner Viktor Hovland at Yas Marina Circuit in the build up to his debut in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the Falcon Course. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

RISING star Viktor Hovland got his week in the UAE off to a great start with victory in the Hero Challenge, at Yas Marina Circuit on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old PGA Tour player has an easier route to the Olympics – providing he can finish inside the leading 60 men who will qualify.

The former US Amateur Champion is another man who also has the Ryder Cup on his radar, as the Norwegian joins the stellar field in Abu Dhabi playing on a sponsor’s invite.

Hovland, an Oklahoma State University graduate, will be aiming to convert his impressive amateur achievements into his first professional victory in the first Rolex Series event of the 2020 Race to Dubai.

Hovland, who beat Louis Oosthuizen with a bullseye in the Hero Challenge under the lights on Tuesday, said: “Playing in big events excites me… but I just try to do as well as I can.

“Fortunately, those bigger events usually they tighten up the fairways and the rough is a little thicker.

“I just think that suits my game, and that’s probably why I’ve performed a little better at those events.

“Obviously I want to do what I can to make the team for the Ryder Cup.

“That’s not what I’m thinking about every day when I wake up, I’m just trying to get better at golf.

“But I want to be eligible if that opportunity comes,” added Hovland, who was the low amateur at both The Masters and US Open in 2019, beating Jack Nicklaus’ record for the lowest round in the USGA event.

Hovland finished tied 12th at Pebble Beach last summer, having won his US Amateur title at the world-famous Californian course overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

His four-under total of 280 broke the Golden Bear’s record total set in the 1960 US Open, at Cherry Hills, by two shots.

Hovland will play alongside Sweden’s former European No. 1 Robert Karlsson and Adrian Meronk, the first Polish player to earn a European Tour card.

•For full first round tee times click here.

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The 148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush generated more than £100million for the Northern Ireland economy according to a new study. Picture by The R&A

THE 148th Open at Royal Portrush generated more than £100 million of economic benefit for Northern Ireland, according to an independent study.

The Open, which returned to Northern Ireland for the first time since 1951, brought some £45million of new money into the province’s economy.

Northern Ireland also gained £37.3 million worth of marketing as a result of more than 5,400 hours of global television coverage.

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said: “The 148th Open at Royal Portrush made history as the largest sporting event ever to be held in Northern Ireland and generated a substantial economic benefit.”

The study was carried out by Sheffield Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Centre (SIRC) on behalf of The R&A.

An additional £23.7 million was identified by Tourism Northern Ireland in terms of “advertising equivalent value” for golf tourism in the region, from monitored media coverage across Ireland and internationally.

The SIRC study also concluded the Causeway Coast council area alone received a £26.21 million injection of new money from The Open.

“The return of the championship to Royal Portrush was eagerly anticipated and we enjoyed a hugely memorable week where we welcomed tens of thousands of spectators to an outstanding championship venue to witness Shane Lowry lifting the Claret Jug,” Mr Slumbers added.

John McGrillen, chief executive of Tourism Northern Ireland, said “The 148th Open was a ground-breaking event for tourism in Northern Ireland.

“Its success further demonstrates Northern Ireland’s ability to seamlessly deliver world-class events which have a very positive impact on the local economy.

“Behind the scenes a huge partnership effort across Government, Causeway Coast and Glens Council, PSNI, Translink and Tourism NI delivered an unforgettable week for players and spectators alike” added Mr McGrillen.

David Jackson, chief executive of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, said: “I am very proud of the role Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council played in The 148th Open.

“These figures confirm its hugely significant impact on our economy.

“Visitors to The Open were able to enjoy the unrivalled beauty of the Causeway Coast and the warm hospitality which our destination is renowned for.

“Research has shown the positive effects of hosting The Open will be felt for many years.

“I have no doubt the Causeway Coast and Glens will continue to capitalise on its experience as a world-class host of The Open.”

The 148th Open attracted 237,750 fans, an attendance record for a championship staged outside of St Andrews.

More than half of the spectators who attended The Open (57.6 per cent) travelled from outside Northern Ireland including visitors from elsewhere in the UK (20.2 per cent) and the Republic of Ireland (18.2 per cent).

From overseas, the figures were: –
•United States (11.1 per cent)
•Canada (2.3 per cent ) and
•Australia (2.1 per cent).

Eight out of 10 visitors told researchers they were more likely to visit Causeway Coast and Glens and Northern Ireland in the next two years as a result of their attendance at The Open.

Some 83 per cent of people who attended The Open Championship at Royal Portrush, in July, said they were more likely to visit The Giant’s Causeway Coast and Northern Ireland before 2021, as a result. Picture by Northern Ireland Tourist Board

The Open is golf’s original championship and its return to Northern Ireland and Royal Portrush for the first time in 68 years was a huge success, the organisers claimed.

A key aim of The R&A is to attract a younger audience, and more than 30,000 spectators under the age of 25 attended in 2019 – including 21,000 children under the age of 16, who were admitted free of charge under the long-running Kids Go Free initiative.

The study was commissioned by golf’s governing body The R&A and supported by Tourism Northern Ireland and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.

The figures relate to the week of The Open and do not include the additional economic benefit accrued in the years following the Championship.

Tickets for 2020 Open Championship at Royal St George’s selling out fast

Royal St George’s will host the 149th Open at Sandwich, in July, for the first time since 2011. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES

THE 149th Open will take place at Royal St George’s from July 16-19 with many ticket categories – including the weekend – having already sold out.

Fans eager to attend the Championship’s return to the Kent links for the first time in almost a decade can only purchase tickets for the practice and the first day’s play after Friday’s tickets also sold out in the last few days of 2019.

Ticket and hospitality sales for Royal St George’s have been the fastest in the history of The Open with Championship Days on Saturday and Sunday as well as weekly tickets and weekend bundles having already sold out.

A limited number of hospitality packages are still available. Click here for ticket sales.

Darren Clarke claimed his first Claret Jug when the Open Championship was last held at Royal St George’s famous Sandwich links, in 2011.

Other past winners of the Open at Royal St George’s include Greg Norman (1993) and Sandy Lyle (1985), although none was more of a shock than when unknown American Ben Curtis pipped Thomas Bjorn and Tiger Woods to the Claret Jug in 2003.

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Jon Rahm named Hilton European Tour Golfer of the Year after becoming the first Spaniard since Seve Ballesteros to be crowned European No. 1. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

REIGNING Race to Dubai Champion Jon Rahm has been named the 2019 Hilton European Tour Golfer of the Year.

Rahm was selected by a panel comprising members of the golfing media as the winner of the prestigious annual award.

A superb season saw Rahm claim two Rolex Series events, defend his national Open title and become the first Spaniard since Severiano Ballesteros to finish the year as European No. 1 – after sealing the Race to Dubai title in a dramatic finale to the 2019 campaign.

The 25-year-old finished tied ninth at The Masters, tied third in the US Open and was runner-up at the Estrella Damm Andalucia Valderrama Masters before securing his first European Tour title of the year at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

The latter victory was his third Rolex Series victory in the space of three years.

Rahm came close to claiming another Rolex Series title in September, finishing runner-up to Danny Willett at the BMW PGA Championship, at Wentworth, after rounds of 66, 67, 68 and 70 on his debut in the event.

On home soil, at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, Rahm defended a title for the first time in his career as he won the Mutuactivos Open de España in the Spanish capital.

The Spaniard stormed to victory in front of an adoring home crowd, carding a third round of 63 to take a five-stroke lead, which he then maintained as he finished on 22-under for the week.

His remarkable consistency throughout 2019 gave him the opportunity to win the Race to Dubai for the first time in his career at the final event of the season – Dubai’s DP World Tour Championship – an event he previously won in 2017.

Rahm shared the lead going into the final round, and then secured the victory on the 18^th hole at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

He got up and down from a greenside bunker for birdie to hold off the challenge of 2017 Race to Dubai Champion Tommy Fleetwood.

It was his fourth Rolex Series title win of the year for the richest first prize in tournament golf – $3million – and the 2019 Race to Dubai crown.

Rahm became just the second Spaniard in history to win the Harry Vardon Trophy as European No. 1, following in Ballesteros’s footsteps.

Seve won the European Tour’s Order of Merit for the sixth and final time in 1991. Rahm now joins Ballesteros (1986, ’88 and ’91) and Sergio Garcia (2017) as the third Spaniard to receive the European Tour’s Golfer of the Year award.

“It is a huge honour for me to be named the Hilton European Tour Golfer of the Year,” said Rahm, who announced as the winner at a lunch held at The Biltmore Mayfair Hotel in London.

“To emulate another of Seve’s achievements in winning this award is very humbling, and I’m so proud of what I have achieved this year.

“To win both the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and DP World Tour Championship for a second time, as well as defend the Open de España, were all incredible moments.

“But to finish the year as winner of the Race to Dubai is something I’m incredibly proud of achieving at this early stage in my career.”

RAHM WINS RACE TO DUBAI AND $5m PRIZE

European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said: “The 2019 European Tour season had so many stand-out moments, not least the dramatic finale at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai – when Jon earned his place in European Tour history, joining the legendary Seve Ballesteros as the only other Spaniard to become Europe’s No. 1 player.

“For Jon to win the Race to Dubai in the manner that he did, with so much pressure on that final hole, simply underlines what an incredible competitor he is.

“However, this award also recognises the hugely impressive standard of his performances across the year.

“It demonstrates the strength we have on the European Tour that there were a number of worthy contenders for this award, including Shane Lowry, who narrowly missed out despite winning The Open and a Rolex Series event.

“Jon has a wonderful future ahead of him and he is undoubtedly a deserving winner of the 2019 Hilton European Tour Golfer of the Year award.”

Panellist Alistair Tait, senior writer at Golfweek, said: “This was one of the most keenly debated Golfer of Year panels we’ve had for a number of years, with Shane Lowry’s unforgettable victory in The Open Championship at Royal Portrush the standout performance of 2019 on the European Tour – and an iconic moment in our sport.

“But after much discussion, Jon’s remarkably high standard of performance across the season tipped the scales in his favour as he became only the second Spaniard after the legendary Seve to become European No. 1.

“His three victories were each hugely impressive in their own right and each achieved on very different golf courses, underlining how rounded Jon is as an elite player.

“Like Seve was before him, Jon will be a central figure in European golf for many years to come, and he is a very worthy winner of the Hilton European Tour Golfer of the Year award.”

•To see the final Race to Dubai standings for 2019 click here.

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