Hero Challenge winner Matt Fitzpatrick, who beat Matt Kuchar at The Renaissance Club as the American tried to defend the title he won at Edinburgh Castle a year ago.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES

MATT Fitzpatrick made the perfect start to his week at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open as he won the Hero Challenge title at The Renaissance Club, on Tuesday night.

The 2016 Ryder Cup player defeated Matt Kuchar, who won last year’s Hero Challenge at Edinburgh Castle, in the final of the fast and fun night golf contest, held on a specially-constructed tee at the par three 15th hole.

Fitzpatrick, taking part in his second Hero Challenge, defeated 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell in their semi-final, which went to a nearest-the-pin play-off, as Kuchar beat Lucas Bjerregaard in the other, which also required a sudden-death shootout.

“It was good fun out there, I had to do it the hard way.” said Fitzpatrick. “It was great to get the win, it suits me having to hit low shots.

“Matt is a great player, obviously he won the Hero Challenge last year, but he’s a proper golfer. The whole evening was really good fun.

“It was nice go out there on a Tuesday night and get the crowd fired up for the week ahead.

“My caddie and I walked the course this afternoon when the weather wasn’t too good, so to see so many people out there supporting us was great.”

Fitzpatrick was presented with the trophy by Dr Pawan Munjal, the chairman, managing director and chief executive of Hero MotoCorp – the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters.

Also taking part in the second Hero Challenge of the 2019 season were Buckinghamshire’s Ryder Cup star Tyrrell Hatton, and former World No. 1 Justin Thomas, the 2017 USPGA Champion.

Dr Pawan Munjal, chief executive of Hero MotoCorp and European Tour head Keith Pelley (second right) with (left to right) Tyrrell Hatton, Graeme McDowell, Matt Kuchar, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Thomas and Lucas Bjerregard. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

It’s the fourth successive season in which the British Masters was preceded by the Hero Challenge, the innovative event having made its debut in 2016 at The Grove.

The Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open takes place at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick for the first time.

One of the latest additions to the famous stretch in East Lothian known as Scotland’s Golf Coast is hosting the third Rolex Series event of the year.

Tickets for the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, which gets udner way on Thursday, are available here.

The post Fitzpatrick sees off Kuchar in Hero Challenge final at The Renaissance Club appeared first on Golf North.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Opens media day.
Image free to use in conjunction with the promotion of the events courtesy of the European Tour and Aberdeen Standard Investments.
Pic Kenny Smith, Kenny Smith Photography
Tel 07809 450119

Kelsey MacDonald, Catriona Matthew, Pamela Pretswell, Michele Thomson and USA’s Beth Allen attend Media Day

European Solheim Cup Captain, Catriona Matthew, leads the home challenge as four of Scotland’s finest golfers united today alongside America’s Beth Allen for the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open Media Day at The Renaissance Club ahead of the tournament from 8 – 11 August.

The tournament, which is co-sanctioned by the LPGA and Ladies European Tour for the third year running, visits The Renaissance Club for the first time in 2019, just three weeks after the Men’s Scottish Open and is set to feature at least five local hopes.

Matthew, who lives in nearby North Berwick, is a two-time winner of the tournament and will be making her ninth appearance in her National open whilst Kelsey Macdonald also tees it up for the ninth time with her best finish coming in 2016 (T19).

Thomson, who enters as the second-highest ranked Scot in the 2019 LET Order of Merit, is joined by Pamela Pretswell Asher, who returns after 20 months on the side-lines following the birth of her first child and will be looking to re-create the form that saw her finish in fourth place in 2013.

Joining them as an honorary Scot for the day and taking part in an exploding golf ball stunt was Beth Allen. The American, who captured the 2016 Ladies European Tour Order of Merit and ‘Player of the Year’ spoils, might hail from California but she has deep-seated Scottish ties having resided in Edinburgh for the last three years.

“I just love this place, Scotland is so magical” said Allen, who is also an Aberdeen Standard Investments ambassador. “Everything about Scottish golf gets me excited. I grew up playing in San Diego where you have to hit it high so playing in Scotland is a very different challenge but one that I enjoy. This will be my eighth consecutive appearance in this event and I’ll be hoping to use some of my knowledge of the area to my advantage this summer.”

The group of players are the latest to confirm participation in the 156-player field, competing for $1.5 million following the confirmation of defending champion Ariya Jutanugarn and reigning Women’s British Open champion, Georgia Hall.

Commenting on the day, Pretswell Asher, said, “It feels good to be back in the golfing fold. The last six months with my daughter Kirsty have been amazing but it feels exciting to be back in familiar territory and I am looking forward to competing against the best players in Scotland and some of the best in the world. I watched last year’s event on the TV and it was scary to see just how good some of the play was. It definitely motivated me to get my game back in good shape to compete this year. The tournament continues to grow and that is testament to the commitment from Aberdeen Standard Investments and Visit Scotland, who help put the spotlight on women’s golf here in Scotland.

Martin Gilbert, Chairman of Aberdeen Standard Investments, said, “I have watched this tournament grow from a National open to what it is today, a world-class golf event. Throughout that growth, we have always maintained the importance of recognising local talent and providing a platform for Scottish players to compete on a major golfing stage. This event is a great opportunity for all involved in our media day to showcase their ability to the world and we hope the Scottish fans get behind them at The Renaissance Club this summer.”

Paul Bush, Director of Events with VisitScotland, said, “We are delighted to support our home-grown talent at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open.which is now considered a truly world-class event. It will be interesting to see if any of the Scottish talent here today can do something to turn the head of European Solheim Cup captain, Catriona Matthew, who has been a fantastic ambassador for Scottish golf over the last twenty years.”

The Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open is the final Solheim Cup qualifying event for Team Europe with the full team announced at Gleneagles on Monday 12th August. Team Europe captain, Catriona Matthew, will be expecting all Solheim Cup hopefuls to attend.

The 2019 Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open is FREE ENTRY with fun for all the family both on the course and within the spectator village.

For further championship and spectator information, please visit: https://ladiesscottishopen.com/

or follow us at @LadiesScottish #ASILSO.

The post Catriona Matthew Heads Scottish Challenge at Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open appeared first on Golf North.