Tommy Fleetwood has not played the Portugal Masters since 2016 but arrived at Vilamoura’s Victoria Golf course as part of his US Open preparations. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

TOMMY Fleetwood is teeing it up at the Portugal Masters, on the Algarve, for the first time since 2016.

And the Ryder Cup star is excited to be back at a regular European Tour event after the four-month hiatus due to coronavirus.

Fleetwood played every edition of this event between 2012 and 2016. And the World No. 16 is looking to become the third Englishman in succession to lift the trophy at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf course, come Sunday.

A win for the Lancashire ace on the Algarve would see him follow compatriots Tom Lewis and last year’s winner Steven Brown, before heading to next week’s US Open, at Winged Foot.

Fleetwood said: “It’s great coming back and seeing everybody that you have played with for a long, long time.

“The European Tour definitely, for us that have grown up on the Tour, it has a beautiful atmosphere to it.

“Obviously, we are in a bubble right now. But as soon as you come back it has a feel about it that is really, really nice.

“The Portugal Masters was an ideal opportunity to get some competitive golf in and come back on the European Tour.

“I have never had a run at the tournament. But I have always enjoyed coming here.

“I think the hotel is great. The course is different this year – there is a bit of rough up – so it is a tougher test.

“But I just think it was the perfect scenario for me,” added Tommy, who has five European Tour wins to his name since turning pro in 2010.

“I haven’t played particularly great for a few weeks and I have gone back and worked on a few things,” Fleetwood admitted.

“I have always preferred getting to Majors early. But this year clearly things are very different and things change and get thrown out the window.

“I have never ever been to a tournament where I haven’t wanted to win and this week is exactly that.

“I want to go out this week and compete absolutely. But I think you gain from certain shots you hit, and you only figure those things out by playing competitively.”

Steven Brown rescued his European Tour card by winning his last event of 2019 on the Algarve at the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Brown feels a lot calmer for defence

WENTWORTH’S Brown is also in the Algarve field this week alongside fellow former winners Lucas Bjerregaard, from Denmark, Frenchman Alex Levy and Spain’s Alvaro Quiros.

Brown could not have been under more pressure then, requiring at least a fifth-place finish to secure his card, and ultimately taking the title in 2019.

The Surrey pro enters the week in a much more relaxed mindset after capturing his maiden European Tour title in Vilamoura, last season.

Brown said: “It’s nice to be back and see my picture up on the wall with the other previous champions.

“This season is very different, with different feelings from last year when I was in a tough spot trying to keep my card.

“I feel a lot more chilled than last time. Hopefully I can produce the same sort of stuff,” said Brown, who had the same coach as a junior as Ross Fisher at Wentworth.

“I did a lot of work in the off-season and then the second off-season during lockdown. It’s starting to pay-off.

“My putting has been up and down, which is why my results have been the same. But my ball-striking is consistent.

“I had a week off before The Belfry. I’m always a bit rusty the first week, but played really well in tough conditions last week at Valderrama.

“I feel like I’m in a good spot coming here.”

American John Catlin, wants to add a second European Tour to his win at Valderrama last week as quickly as possible after arriving on the Algarve. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Latest winner Catlin wants more victories

THE newest European Tour winner is also teeing it up in the 14th edition of the Portugal Masters.

American John Catlin is already aiming to add to the title he won last week, at the Estrella Damm NA Andalucia Masters, at a very tough Valderrama.

“Playing with some of the best players, like Martin Kaymer, a former World No. 1, all the way down the stretch to the last hole. Being able to hold him off is something I’ll always remember.

Catlin, who denied Martin Kaymer his first win in six years, said: “I’ve won many times as a pro. But winning that one is the biggest win for me for sure.

“My goal now is multiple wins. We’re always trying to win. Once you win one, you want to win two.

“It was the same for me on the Asian Tour. I won one and I wanted to win two. then I won two and I wanted to win three.

“I guess you become a little bit greedy in a sense. That’s my next goal, to win again.”

Bjerregaard: ‘Life on European Tour a lot different now’

BJERREGAARD was the winner three years ago. He said: “I think this is the first time since I’ve been on Tour that my wife isn’t here with me.

“So it’s a bit strange, but I’ve always enjoyed coming here. I got the win in 2017 and had a couple of decent results.

“Normally there is not a lot of rough around here, which suits me. That’s changed a bit this year.

“That will be fun. It will be a different course to what we have seen the last few years.

“The wind is up today. If it stays like that I think we’ll see some different scores than we are used to.

“It’s just a great vibe here. The weather is nice, great food. It’s not a bad place at all to come,” said the winner of the Danish Amateur title in 2007 and 2008, who was crowned European Amateur Champion in 2010.

Iberian Swing to continue Golf For Good charity work

THIS week is the second of three tournaments in the “Iberian Swing” as the European Tour continues the practice of grouping tournaments in regional clusters where possible.

It follows two dual-ranking events in Austria and the six-event “UK Swing” since the resumption of the 2020 Race to Dubai.

This week also sees the continuation of the European Tour’s Golf For Good initiative, on the Algarve.

Vilamoura World and the European Tour have teamed up to donate €200 for every birdie and €500 for every eagle scored on the par five 17^th at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course.

The proceeds will be split between two local charities – Existir and APEXA – and EDGA (European Disabled Golf Association).

•For live scores from the Portugal Masters click here.

The post Fleetwood returns to Algarve to fine tune his game before next week’s US Open appeared first on Golf North.

Amateur Championship could ‘return to straight knockout format’ at Birkdale

THE first round of strokeplay qualifying at The Amateur Championship and The Women’s Amateur Championship was abandoned late on Tuesday afternoon.

The start of play was delayed by two hours in the morning due to inclement weather.

Following a second suspension of play this afternoon at both courses – Royal Birkdale for the men and West Lancashire for the women – the decision was made to cancel the first round and all scores from Tuesday’s play.

A cut in both championships will now be made after one round of stroke play qualifying to be played tomorrow (Wednesday August 26).

The top 64 players and ties will go through to the matchplay stage. The top 64 players will also progress to matchplay at The Women’s Amateur.

The normal field for the men’s event was cut in half when The R&A decided to abandon its normal policy of playing the qualifying event at two nearby venues.

Providing the first round is completed at both Lancashire courses on Wednesday, the preliminary round and second round will be played on Thursday, with the last 32 and 16 taking place on Friday.

The quarter and semi-finals are scheduled for Saturday with a 36-hole final in both championships set for Sunday.

The men’s winner will secure an exemptions to The 2021 Open Championship and the US Open, and by tradition, an invitation to play in the Masters Tournament.

The women’s champion will be invited to play in the 2021 AIG Women’s Open, and can expect an invite to play in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, which was inaugurated in 2019.

•Tee times for Royal Birkdale are available at www.randa.org and for West Lancashire by clicking here.

The post Amateur Championship: Play abandoned at Royal Birkdale and West Lancashire appeared first on Golf North.

Sam Horsfield will attempt to create more history at Celtic Manor by completing a hat-trick of wins on the UK Swing of the European Tour. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

SAM Horsfield is aiming to make it a hat-trick of victories in the space of four UK Swing events at Celtic Manor.

The Florida-based Englishman tees it up in the ISPS Handa Wales Open on the same Twenty Ten course upon which he triumphed just four days ago.

The 23-year-old, who hails from Manchester, became the first player in European Tour history to go win-missed cut-win when he claimed the inaugural Celtic Classic title at the Newport resort, on Sunday.

The victory matched his performance two weeks earlier in the Hero Open at Forest of Arden Marriott Golf and Country Club, near Coventry.

Horsfield, who has lived in Florida since the age of five, said: “The celebrations were good. I didn’t feel great on Monday morning.

“Me, (Sean) Crocker and Haydn (Porteous) had a few drinks and celebrated properly. It hasn’t really hit me yet about the two wins.

“I think once I have a few weeks off and some time to think about everything and reflect, it’ll set in then.

“But I’m just trying to focus on this week. One of the first people to text me was Ian (Poulter). But I’ve had a bunch of support from everybody… fellow players.

“It’s always nice when people send you messages of congratulations,” said the University of Florida graduate.

Sam Horsfield wants to win back to back at Celtic Manor in the ISPS Handa Wales Open after claiming the Celtic Classic last week at the 2010 Ryder Cup venue. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Horsfield can create more history

HORSFIELD is hoping to ride his good form for another strong showing as the European Tour plays back-to-back on the same course for the first time this week.

Sam said: “I am confident. I feel like I’m playing good golf. I think they’re going to change the course around a little bit.

“I don’t know exactly what they’ll do to it. Hopefully, I get out there today and see what they’ve done,” he said on Wednesday afternoon.

“I’m playing good golf and I just want to give myself an opportunity going into Sunday again.

“It’s going to be soft and it’s going to be playing long, and I think that helps me.

“I hit it pretty far off the tee and there isn’t so much on run-outs,” added Horsfield who ranks 12th on the Tour’s driving distance stats.

“It’s going to be plugging when it hits the fairway so I think it’s going to be a bomber’s golf course this week.

“I hit two left shots on 16 and 17 last week and I really do not like that shot.

“But it’s hard when you’ve won twice in two weeks to find any issues. You can always improve so I’m going to try eliminate that left shot slowly, but surely, and see where it gets me.”

The Twenty Ten Course will be used for a second European Tour event in a row

Sam set for trip to the land of Uncle Sam

HORSFIELD, a protégé of Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter, has already secured his place in next month’s US Open via the UK Swing’s mini-order of merit – which he currently leads.

The top 10 players in the rankings at the conclusion of this week’s event will qualify for the season’s second Major at Winged Foot, in New York, next month.

Meanwhile, Robert MacIntyre and Haotong Li are making their return to European Tour action for the first time since March.

Both played in the year’s first Major, the USPGA Championship at TPC Harding Park, and made the cut.

Li is feeling particularly confident having led the field after round two before finishing in a share of 17th position.

The Chinese star said: “I see a lot of this rainy weather playing on tour around the world. So I’m kind of used to it.

“It’s pretty nice here – a traditional UK style place. So I’m just glad to be here. The course is pretty good and I think it suits my game.

“You need to hit solid shots to shoot low scores here so it’s going to be a fun week. The game is good, especially coming from the PGA Championship.

“I got a lot of confidence over there, said Haotong, who fired a superb 64 in San Francisco in the second round to lead at the halfway mark.

He added: “I felt like I can compete with those guys when I was playing there. I really enjoyed it, it was a great experience.

“Before then I hadn’t played in quite a while. I’m finding a lot of confidence now and hopefully I can go low this week.

“I think if I bring my A-game I will get a good result. Actually the bubble has been pretty good, I was surprised.

“The hotel and food and everything has been a lot better than I thought.”

Oban’s Robert MacIntyre, who won the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award in 2019, tees it up for the first time at Celtic Manor. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Rookie of the Year ready to resume on European Tour

LAST year’s Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year was one of the eligible British players who travelled to California.

Oxfordshire’s Eddie Frilford and Ryder Cup veteran Lee Westwood both chose not to travel to the States.

MacIntyre, whose last European Tour event was in Qatar, back in March, said: “It’s good to be back.

“Good to get back to competitive golf week-in, week-out. The European Tour have done a great job getting everyone back and playing again.

“I obviously watched this place on the TV for the Ryder Cup and hopefully I can get out today to finally see it – and if not I’ll just go out and enjoy it tomorrow,” said Robert, who makes his debut at Celtic Manor this week.

“Greg my caddie has been here and seen the course twice and says it’s as you see it. So as long as I’m hitting it well, which I am doing now, then why not have a good week?

“It was good at Harding Park, probably one of the toughest tests I’ve ever played on.

“If you missed the fairway by a yard-and-a-half, you were chipping it 60 yards down the fairway if you could.

“If you hit it wider you were alright. But I felt like I was just running off fairways from time to time and that’s what cost me.

“The game is in good shape though and I’m looking forward to this week,” said the Scot, who played in the 2017 Walker Cup against the USA in Los Angeles.

“I’m not too sure what I want from the rest of the season. I’m just going to play here and next week and then I have the US Open.

“We’re just trying to win every week we’re out here. Sam is making a good effort at that, so I’m just going to go out and enjoy my golf again and try be up there come Sunday.”

•Follow live scoring in the first round of the ISPS Handa Wales Open at Celtic Manor by clicking here.

The post Horsfield goes for hat-trick of wins by avoiding ‘bad shot to the left’ at Celtic Manor appeared first on Golf North.

Sam Horsfield’s record reads win, Missed Cut, win after he claimed the Celtic Classic at Celtic Manor – beating Thomas Detry by two shots. Pictures by GETTY IMAGES

SAM Horsfield made European Tour history claiming his second win at the Celtic Classic.

The Tour’s Manchester-born star who grew up in Florida became the first player to win, miss a cut, and then win again in the space of three weeks at three different tournaments.

A delighted Horsfield said: “It was pretty crazy. My goal this weekend was to have no bogeys and I was able to do that.

“I made a huge putt on 17 to keep that alive. I just played solid all week, really. To have a nice cushion coming into the last was nice.

“I never really felt nervous or felt uncomfortable, maybe because I was in this situation a few weeks ago.

“On 15, we decided to lay-up and I could have gone for that green. It’s the perfect three-wood number but there is so much trouble around that green.

“The birdie on 14 was huge because it gave me that option. If you’re one ahead, I think you go for that.

“But making that putt on 14 and then giving myself a pretty easy decision on the tee.

“Then I just sort of brought it home,” added Horsefield, who was certainly more composed speaking after his win then he had been two weeks earlier when winning the Hero Open at the Forest of Arden.

Horsfield had fired a superb 64 in Friday’s second round to close the gap on the leaders before Syme’s spectacular 63 on Saturday gave him the overnight lead.

Sam Horsfield was a shot behind Scot Connor Syme going into Sunday’s final round

Lightning delay can derail Sam

THE 23-year-old started the day one stroke behind young Scot Connor Syme.

But they were level after the 2017 Walker Cup player dropped a shot at the first at Celtic Manor’s Twenty Ten Course.

Horsfield – tipped for the top by Ian Poulter some seven years ago – made consecutive birdies on the third and fourth.

Sam then birdied the seventh. But the players then had a two-hour delay as lightning closed in at the home of the 2010 Ryder Cup.

After the restart Horsfield parred the next six holes before his fourth birdie of the day on 14^th.

And he parred his way home to sign for a bogey-free 67 and an 18-under par total.

Horsfield moves to the top of the UK Swing Order of Merit, securing a place at next month’s US Open.

He will be joined by the other top 10 players on the UK Swing Rankings at Winged Foot at the conclusion of next week’s ISPS Handa Wales Open.

Horsfield is also guaranteed a share of £250,000 as part of the European Tour’s Good for Golf initiative.

The top 10 on the rankings after the ISPS Handa UK Championship at The Belfry in two weeks’, will share the money to donate to charities of their choice.

Connor Syme was happy with third place despite having a chance to win his maiden title

Syme settles for spoils as good run continues

JUST as at the Hero Open, Belgium’s Thomas Detry finished runner-up to Horsfield – having also posted a four-under par, bogey-free round.

Sharing third place were 2016 Ryder Cup player Thomas Pieters, Middlesex’s Andrew “Beef” Johnston and Syme.

It was Pieters first start since the resumption of the 2020 Race to Dubai.

Syme, who played in the Walker Cup against the likes of Cameron Champ, Scottie Scheffler and USPGA Champion Collin Morikawa, said: “It was another good result.

“I’ll have a couple of days away and play next week. My goal is to get in that top 10 for the US Open.

“It’s given me a step towards that. It’ll hurt for a couple of days, but it’s a good week.

“If someone offers you third at the start of the week, no matter the circumstances, you’ll take it.

“I’ll build on that and hopefully have a good week next week on the same course,” said the 2016 Australian Amateur Champion.

Syme’s sole win in the pro ranks came in last year’s Turkish Airlines Challenge on the Challenge Tour.

The 25-year-old from Kircaldy finished 14th on the Road to Mallorca Order of Merit to earn his full card.

Pieters who recently became a father, said: “It’s always a bit testing with your caddie, getting the numbers right.

“We did an okay job this week. It’s nice to start after five months off with a top 10. We had a bit of a slip up yesterday but still, happy overall.

“My caddie said if I go two-under through the last four then he’ll buy me dinner tonight. So I get free dinner.

“At the beginning of the day when it was a bit warmer, my grips were still slippery. I had a lot of trouble this week, I don’t know why.

“I’ve never really had that much trouble with it. After the restart helped me because it was colder and I could grip it and I felt a lot more at ease.

“I hit a lot better golf shots,” said Pieters, who has four European Tour wins under his belt, having won the NCAA US college title in 2012.

•For full results in the Celtic Championship, click here.

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Andy Sullivan’s English Championship win at Hanbury Manor was his first since the Portugal Masters in 2015, and moves him to the top of the UK Swing Order of Merit. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

ANDY Sullivan cruised to a commanding victory at the English Championship at Hanbury Manor.

The former Ryder Cup player claimed his fourth European Tour title and his first in nearly five years in the process after his win at the Portugal Masters in 2015.

The Walker Cup winner held the lead in the UK Swing’s third event from the second round – when he carded a course-record 62.

And the Nuneaton boy never relinquished his place at the summit.

A third round 64 handed the 34-year-old a five-stroke advantage heading into the final day at Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel and Country Club, and he never let up on a frazzling final day as the thermometer headed to the high 80s.

An eagle three at the par five second hole quashed the early hopes of a determined chasing pack.

The latter included Spain’s two-time European Tour winner Adrian Otaegui, whose five-under front nine made him a leading contender for an upset.

Otaegui got to within two with six to play, but Sullivan picked up four shots down the stretch to seal the deal with a six-under par 65 and a 27-under total – winning by seven shots from the Spaniard.

Sullivan sheds a few tears after win

THE normally chirpy Sullivan was left sharing some tears after speaking to his family in a live video link after walking off the 18th

He said: “I’m proud of myself. I wasn’t quite stuck in the doldrums. But it just hasn’t quite happened for me since those three wins in 2015 – and it feels like a weight off my shoulders now… I think it told out there.

“I never really felt comfortable out on the golf course all day, I found it quite a battle the whole way around until I started dropping a couple of putts on the back nine and my lead started increasing.

“I was always on guard today, I knew Adrian was there breathing down my neck.

“But it’s nice to come down those last few holes and know the job was done.

“I got to the green at 12 and I saw him birdie that hole to get to within two so I knew that was going to be quite big.

“I holed it, and then had a great two-putt on the next and then two really good putts on 14 and 15 which were massive.”

Adrian Otaegui pushed Sullivan as hard as he could despite being six shots behind. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Otaegui: Sully was at another level

OTAEGUI was looking for this third win on the Euorpean Tour – and his first since claiming the Belgian Knockout in 2018.

Adrian said: “I’m very happy with my round, very happy with my week overall.

“Obviously, congratulations to Andy, he’s played at just another level. The rounds he’s played this week were amazing.

“He played some very very good golf. But I’m very happy with my score, I had a very good start which was good.

“I was feeling very good. I was rolling the ball very well all week really and was feeling very confident.

“I holed some good putts for birdie today, saved a couple of pars as well. I had very good pace on the long putts as well. They were finishing quite close to the hole which is always quite good to tap it in. ”

The new champion, who won three times in 2015 – including twice in South Africa to earn a place in Darren Clarke’s Ryder Cup team at Hazeltine a year later – moved from 42nd to 15th in the Race to Dubai rankings.

It also moved him to the top of the UK Swing Order of Merit after three events.

The top 10 after the sixth and final tournament will share an additional £250,000 from the European Tour’s Golf for Good initiative, to donate to the charity of their choice.

The top 10 – not otherwise exempt after the fifth event – will also gain spots in the US Open at Winged Foot next month.

Wentworth’s Steven Brown could not convert his many birdie chances on Sunday. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Brown beaten as the putts fail to drop at Ware course

SULLIVAN was paired with Wentworth’s Walker Cup team-mate Steven Brown, who finished on 17-under after seeing a number of putts brush the hole.

Brown, who played in the same Great Britain and Ireland team that beat the USA at Royal Aberdeen in 2011, as Sullivan, was looking for a second win, having claimed the Portugal Masters title in November.

That end-of-season win also saved his European Tour card.

Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard was one shot further back in third in the English Championship, with young South African Wilco Nienaber on 18-under par, having got into the event as an alternative at the 11th hour.

Højgaard, who won a play-off in Mauritius in December, admitted a US Open debut was top of his priorties after securing his card as the third-youngest winner in European Tour history at just 18.

Rasmus said: “I think the last two days, my scoring has not been a low as I want it to be.

“But I’ve been fighting and grinding my way through the rounds and I’m happy to shoot a low one today.

“I’ve been consistent I guess. I’ve been having a good couple of weeks, happy with how my game is trending.

“Obviously that US Open spot is what I want right now and I have booked my ticket there now so I’m happy with that.”

•To see the final results from Hanbury Manor click here. And to see the current mini-Order of Merit list click here.

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Hero Open winner Sam Horsfield has his sights set firmly on earning a spot in the US Open by finishing in the top 10 of the UK Swing Order of Merit. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

SAM Horsfield has one eye on a place in the US Open as he tees it up in the inaugural English Championship at Hanbury Manor.

The 23-year-old moved to the top of the UK Swing Order of Merit after his maiden European Tour win at last week’s Hero Open at the Forest of Arden.

The top 10 after the sixth and final event are set to share £250,000 to donate to charity as part of the European Tour’s Golf For Good initiative.

And there is a further incentive that has piqued the young Englishman’s interest, with the leading 10 not otherwise exempt after the fifth event set to secure placed at the US Open at Winged Foot, in September.

Horsfield, who hails from Manchester, but lives in Florida, said: “One of my goals coming in to the UK Swing was to get into the US Open.

“I played well at the British Masters, finished 10th, and then to win last week has really helped that cause.

The protege of Ian Poulter, who has championed Horsfield since the age of 13, added: “Looking forward to the next few weeks and keeping the momentum going.

“I played here a couple of weeks ago. Really liked the course and I’m looking forward to a good week.

Talking about the the Hanbury Manor Marriot Hotel and Country Club course, Sam said: “The front nine – the start is pretty nice.

“A few tricky holes on the back nine. Pretty similar to last week actually, where you’ve got to get it going early and play the back nine well.

Thomas Detry is searching for his maiden Tour victory in the English Championship

Højgaard looking for win No. 2

DANE Rasmus Højgaard and Belgium’s Thomas Detry are also both aiming to take a step closer to their Major debuts, this week.

Currently occupying third position in the standings, 19-year-old Højgaard has already shown winning form this season.

He won a play-off at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in December, beating Italy’s Renato Paratore, the winner of the British Masters at Close House.

Højgaard said about making his US Open debut: “I would be another checked off goal. If you can call it that.

“It’s not something I’ve been thinking about. It’s just a bonus if it happens. I’m just focused on playing well and that will take care of it.

“I still dream. Winning Majors is a dream, of course. But it’s still a goal at the same time,” added the third-youngest winner in European Tour history.

“Right now, it’s more a dream than it is a goal. I have to be a lot better and develop my game – a lot more to be more consistent and over time, perform well. It’s a bit of both. But it’s definitely a goal in future.”

Detry will just keep on trying for maiden win

MEANWHILE Detry, who is just one position further back, is aiming to go one better than his second place finish at the Coventry course, on Sunday.

The Belgian won a pro-am at Worplesdon Golf Club organised by his manager Brendan Taylor last month.

Victory sharpened up his appetite for a first Tour win and a place in the UK Swing mini-order of merit top 10.

Detry said: “I think I’m lying in fourth right now. I want to secure that top 10.

“I’m not going to try and play defensively, I’m going to keep giving myself chances to win.

“Last week was an amazing week, the golf course was fantastic. I played some really good golf, Sam Horsfield just played slightly better – he deserved the win.

“My game feels great and I’m very confident for the following weeks.

“It would mean a lot,” he added when asked about playing in the US Open.

“I don’t know if there’s going to be spectators or not. But it doesn’t matter. I’ve never played a Major.

“It was a goal for me last year. Getting to one this year would be phenomenal.”

Lee Westwood won the English Open at Hanbury Manor in 1998

Westwood knows how to win at Hanbury Manor

ONE man who knows how to win around Hanbury Manor is 25-time European Tour champion Lee Westwood.

The Close House pro, who hosted the British Masters two weeks ago, claimed the English Open title here in 1998.

The veteran of 10 Ryder Cups will be hoping to make his experience count as the European Tour marks its return to the Hertfordshire venue for the first time this century.P

Westwood said: “I’m feeling good. I obviously played a couple of weeks ago at Close House – took last week off. And it’s nice to be back at somewhere where you’ve won round.

“It was a long time ago, I can’t remember a lot of it. But I do remember hitting a few longer clubs into some of these holes. It’s playing a little bit shorter today.”

Hanbury Manor was designed in 1990 by Jack Nicklaus II, who added a brand new front nine.

He also revised the original nine holes laid out at the former convent school and country manor house by Harry Vardon, in the early 1900s.

•For live scoring in the first round of the English Championship click here.

The post Horsfield eyes US Open spot as tees it up in English Champs at Hanbury Manor appeared first on Golf North.

The USGA has created a special exemption category that will give five European Tour players, who are no already exempt, a start in the US Open at Winged Foot, in September.

STARTING spots in the US Open will be up for grabs in a mini order of merit for players competing in the European Tour’s UK Swing, which gets under way next month.

The USGA – golf’s governing body in North America – has agreen that 10 exemptions will be available to European Tour members in a mini Order of Merit for the first five events in July and August.

The UK Swing begins at the Betfred British Masters at Close House, near Newcastle, from July 22-25.

The event – hosted by Lee Westwood – will launch the European Tour’s Golf for Good initiative, a strong feature of all its events over the remainder of the 2020 season.

As part of the initiative, a mini order of merit will run for all six events in the UK Swing, with the top 10 sharing an additional £250,000 to donate to charities of their choice.

The USGA has confirmed the top 10 aggregate points earners in the mini order of merit that are otherwise not exempt at the conclusion of the Wales Open at Celtic Manor – will be exempt for the rescheduled US Open at Winged Foot Golf Club, from September 17-20.

The traditional US Open sectional qualifying events were cancelled earlier this season – following the upheaval in the global golf calendar due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

That included the European qualifier at Walton Heath, which has been held in June, since 2005.

The US Open field will now be comprised entirely of exempt players.

Five-time runner-up Phil Mickelson now makes it into the starting line-up as one of the world’s top 70 when the Official World Golf Rankings were frozen in March.

Having dropped out of the world’s top 50 in recent months, he would have faced having to come through qualifying if COVID-19 had not struck.

Mickelson famously took six at the last at Winged Foot in 2006, after carving his tee shot wildly into a compound, handing Geoff Ogilvy the US Open.

Victory would have mean the left-hander could have completed a career Grand Slam when he won The Open at Muirfield in 2013.

Two spots from the top 10 at Memorial, the 3M Open, Barracuda Championship, FedEx St Jude Invitational and Wyndham Championship will earn exemptions.

Three more spots will also be available at the USPGA Championship.

Two spots will be given to the leading money winners on South Africa’s Sunshine Tour, the Asian Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia – plus two from the Japan Golf Tour Order of Merit.

John Bodenhamer, USGA senior managing director of championships, said: “We think this is the best path forward.”

Lee Westwood will host the Betfred British Masters at Close House, near Newcastle, in July

Austrian Open marks tour return

THE European Tour resumes with two events in Austria – the Austrian Open – between July 9 and 12 – and the Euram Bank Open, from July 15-18.

The action then switches to the UK and the Betfred British Masters, which was held at Hillside in May 2019 when Sweden’s Marcus Kinhult.

That will be followed by the English Open at Coventry’s Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club, and the English Championship at Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel & Country Club, at Ware, in Hertfordshire.

The European TEuropean Tour, our then moves around the M25 and down the M4 to Celtic Manor, in Newport.

The Welsh Ryder Cup venue will host back-to-back European Tour tournaments – the Celtic Classic and the Wales Open.

The UK Swing then concludes with the UK Championship at The Belfry, another Ryder Cup venue synonymous with the European Tour.

European Tour chief operating officer Keith Waters said: “Throughout our discussions with the USGA, it was clear they shared our desire to offer European Tour players an opportunity to earn places in this year’s US Open.

“We thank them for working with us to create this new exemption category encompassing the first five events in the UK Swing.

“The UK Swing mini order of merit already offers an additional incentive through the Golf for Good initiative.

“And we are pleased that players now have more to play for, with places available in the second Major championship of the season.”

South Africa’s Dean Burmester, who led US Open Qualifying at Walton Heath in 2019. Picture by EUROPEAN TOUR

Walton Heath’s US Open qualifier run ends

THE US Open’s European qualifier has been held at Walton Heath since 2005 – when 200-1 outsider Michael Campbell claimed his place and went on to win at Pinehurst.

The USGA’s John Bodenhamer said: “The US Open qualifier in England has historically featured a very strong field.

“We felt it was important to provide an opportunity for players throughout Europe to earn a place in this year’s championship.

“We are grateful to the European Tour for the wonderful collaboration that allowed us to create this exemption category for the 2020 US Open.”

The top 70 from the world rankings, which were frozen on March 15, are already exempt for Winged Foot.

Along with increasing that category by 10 spots, the USGA chose to use the last ranking before it was frozen during the shutdown in golf worldwide.

Eddie Pepperell and Robert MacIntyre, who are not set to play until July 9, will benefit from that announcement.

•A full list of US Open exemption categories can be found on usga.org and usopen.com.

Andy Sullivan says the European Tour players have been unfairly disadvantaged by the Official World Golf Rankings points allocations since the PGA Tour returned this month

Andy Sullivan blast in World Golf Rankings row

NUNEATON’S Andy Sullivan has been very outspoken about how European Tour players have been disdvantaged by the resumption of the Official World Golf Rankings.

The PGA Tour resumed playing in Texas three weeks ago.

And with most of the world’s top 10 players turning up for events they would normally miss, it ensured big world ranking points for the winners of the Charles Schwab Cup, the RBC Heritage and this week’s Traveller’s Championship.

Sullivan said: “It’s obviously massively frustrating. A lot of the goals we set are around world rankings and getting into majors and World Golf Championships events.

“And you do feel like your opportunities are being taken away with us not playing for a month-and-a-half and they’re ahead of us.

Sullivan has dropped seven places since the PGA Tour’s restart without striking a ball before play commenced at the Traveller’s Championship today (Thursday).

The World No. 145 added: “They’re getting points while we are just sitting down watching them just take our points basically.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t absolutely fuming and I just think it’s an absolute joke.

“It’s completely unfair. It’s a world ranking system not a US tour system so I think its ridiculous.”

McIlroy blast for stayaway European Tour stars

RORY McIlroy upset some of his European Tour rivals by saying if they were concerned about their careers they should be playing in the USA this month.

Westwood said he was not prepared to travel to the USA and undergo 14-day quarantine to play a couple of events on the PGA Tour.

Especially as he would face a similar spell in quarantine when returning to the UK, with his commitment to the first event meaning he would not be able to go back to play in the rearranged USPGA Championship.

The 47-year-old from Worksop will host the Betfred British Masters for a second time at Close House, where he is the touring pro at his adopted home in the North East.

The first Major of 2020, will now be played at San Francisco’s TPC Harding Park, from August 6-9.

Tommy Fleetwood is one of the UK’s players in the top 20 who has not travelled to the States in June.

Oxfordshire’s Eddie Pepperell was another who said he was not prepared to undergo a 14-day quarantine to play in the USPGA.

But his former B.B.&O. amateur team-mate Tyrrell Hatton did make the trip this mont.

And he was rewarded with third place at Hilton Head in the RBC Heritage this week.

The Harleyford ace was going for back-to-back wins in the States after his victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, the week before The Players Championship, in March, when the PGA Tour was brought to a standstill by the coronavirus.~

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The Old Course at Walton Heath, which has staged a US Open qualifier for Europe since 2005

THE qualifiers for the 2020 US Open on both sides of the Atlantic have been scrapped by the United States Golf Association (USGA).

Each year thousands of amateurs, club professionals as well as Tour stars from all over the world enter the USGA’s regional and sectional qualifiers.

They include the event held at Walton Heath GC, in Surrey, every June, in the build up to the US Open.

But the USGA has decided the challenge of staging even the 15 sectional qualifiers is too great while the world is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed more than 90,000 people in the USA.

As a result the 2020 US Open – which is set to be staged at New York’s Winged Foot GC, from September 17-20 – will not be a true Open, relying on bigger exemption categories.

John Bodenhamer, the USGA’s managing director of championships, said: “As you can imagine, this was an incredibly difficult decision, as qualifying is a cornerstone of USGA championships.

“We take great pride in the fact that many thousands typically enter to pursue their dream of qualifying for a USGA championship, and we deeply regret they will not have that opportunity this year.

“But this structure provides the best path forward for us to conduct these championships in 2020.”

The USGA has yet to decide if fans will be allowed to attend the US Open in September – the first four PGA Tour events, which get under way in June at Texas’ Colonial Club, will be behind closed doors.

The first PGA Tour event that MAY admit spectators is the John Deere Classic, in Illinois, in early July.

South African Dean Burmester (right) headed the 14 qualifiers at Walton Heath for last year’s US Open at Pebble Beach. Picture by EUROPEAN TOUR

No decision on crowds at US Open

“We have not yet made a final determination regarding whether spectators will be able to attend the 2020 US Open at Winged Foot Golf Club,” a USGA spokesman said.

“Given the realities of the pandemic, we are recreating the entire championship experience for everyone involved.

“We appreciate and understand everyone’s questions and will provide more information as soon as possible.”

All the changes mean the USGA will now conduct just four championships in 2020 – all at their originally scheduled sites.

The 75th US Women’s Open will now be played at Houston’s Champions Golf Club ,in Texas, from December 10-13.

The 120th US Women’s Amateur, at Maryland’s Woodmont Country Club (August 3-9), and the 120th US Amateur, at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, in Orgegon (August 10-16), will be conducted as scheduled – provided that state and local government guidelines allow them to be played.

Testing and robust health and safety protocols – in line with America’s CDC regulations – will be in place at each of the four championships, the USGA stressed.

All four championships will be conducted without qualifying. That means the fields will be filled entirely through exemptions.

The USGA spokesman added: “Given continued health and safety concerns – as well as the potential burden on allied golf sssociations and the courses scheduled to host qualifying – conducting hundreds of qualifiers across the country for the US Women’s Amateur, US Amateur, US Open and US Women’s Open was not seen as a viable option.

USGA introduced US Open qualifiers in 1924

QUALIFIERS were introduced for the US Open in 1924, because of the surge in entries and interest following World War One.

In 1959, the USGA instituted the two-stage qualifying process. Ken Venturi (1964) and Orville Moody (1969) are the only two golfers to advance through both stages of qualifying and win the U.S. Open.

So far in 2020, 50 players had earned exemptions for the championship by May 18 when the USGA announced it was cancelling this year’s qualifiers.

The USGA will provide more information on the expanded exemption categories which will determine the field for Winged Foot, in the coming weeks.

Four more US amateur championships in 2020 have also been cancelled:–

• US Women’s Mid-Amateur – Berkeley Hall Club, South Carolina, Aug 29-Sept 3
• US Senior Amateur – Country Club of Detroit, Aug 29-Sept 3
• US Mid-Amateur – Kinloch Golf Club and Independence Golf Club, Virginia, Sept 12-17
• US Senior Women’s Amateur – The Lakewood Club, Alabama, Sept. 12-17.

On top of that list, the US Amateur Four-Ball, US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball, US Senior Open, US Senior Women’s Open were cancelled by the USGA in in March and April, while the US Girls’ Junior and US Junior Amateur were added to the list last month.

Ryder Cup set to follow US Open but will fans be present?

THE US Open is set to take place a week prior to the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits.

The PGA of America – which organises the biennial event along with the European Tour – have yet to decide whether fans will be admitted or not.

Many leading players from both Europe and the USA – including Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Francesco Molinari, Brooks Kopeka and Jon Rahm – have said the match should be postponed rather than played without its unique atmosphere created by the large, partisan galleries.

•In 2005, Michael Campbell was the last person to come throught the qualifier at Walton Heath, and went on to be crowned US Open Champion at Pinehurst No. 2 as a 200-1 outsider.

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Ben Hogan won five times at Colonial – which will welcome the first PGA Tour event after the coronavirus lockdown following the announcement on the new 2020 schedule

THE PGA Tour will restart in Texas in two months’ time with the Charles Schwab Challenge Cup at Colonial Country Club –with at least the first four tournaments being played behind closed doors.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan stressed the decision on whether spectators will be allowed in to watch events starting with July’s John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run, in Illinois, would be reviewed regularly over the coming weeks.

The final decision would depend on the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis, he stressed.

Among the casualties are June’s RBC Canadian Open and the Barbasol Championship, which was set to be played in the same week at the 149^th Open Championship – which has now been postponed until 2021.

The Memorial Tournament staged at Jack Nicklaus’ Muirfield Village will now move from late May into the date vacated by The Open, at Royal St George’s, at Sandwich, Kent.

The third World Golf Championship of the planned season – the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational will also move from early July to the end of the month – when the Olympics Golf tournament would have been held in Tokyo.

Hilton Head’s RBC Heritage, which would have been staged this week as the first PGA Tour event after The Masters, will now be played from June 18-21 – the original date of the US Open, which has now moved to September.

Mr Monahan said: “The health and safety of all associated with the PGA Tour and our global community continues to be our number one priority, and our hope is to play a role – responsibly – in the world’s return to enjoying the things we love.

“Today’s announcement is another positive step for our fans and players as we look toward the future.

“But as we’ve stressed on several occasions, we will resume competition only when – working closely with our tournaments, partners and communities – it is considered safe to do so under the guidance of the leading public health authorities.”

First four events to be played behind closed doors

A PGA Tour spokesman said: “At this time, the Tour plans to resume play with the first four events closed to the general public, but will continue to monitor the situation and follow the recommendations of local and state authorities in order to determine the most appropriate on-site access in each market.

“As such, the Tour will continually review available COVID-19-related protocols that could be implemented at PGA Tour events to ensure the health and well-being for all involved.”

Speculation mounted this week that the PGA Tour would announce a resumption of play – after play was suspended for originally a month after officials at its Ponta Vedra Sawgrass HQ at Ponta Vedra canclled The Players Championship after the first round.

The PGA Tour has also announced that the three events with limited fields – Memorial (120), RBC Heritage (132) and the Charles Schwab Challenge (120) – will now feature 144 players to increase playing opportunities for its members.

Colonial, in Fort Worth, is the home of the famous Ben Hogan’s Alley – the nine-time Major winner won five times at the Texas club. Kevin Na claimed the Charles Schwab Challenge trophy in 2019.

Kevin Na winner of the 2019 Charles Schwab Challenge. Picture by BEN JARED / PGA TOUR

Rocket Mortgage Classic switches

THE other event which was scheduled to take place between May and June – and now has a new date – is the Rocket Mortgage Classic, at Detroit Golf Club.

Nate Lashley, who got into the field as an 11th-hour reserve, won the tournament which was staged for the first time in 2019.

It will now be played from July 2-5 – after the move by the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational.

The Travelers Championship at Connecticut’s TPC River Highlands (June 25-28), the John Deere Classic (July 9-12), and the 3M Open, at TPC Twin Cities, in Minnesota (July 23-26) all retain their original dates in the schedule.

The Barracuda Championship at California’s Tahoe Mountain Club, will be played at the same time as the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational, at TPC South Winds, in Memphis, from July 30-August 2)

San Francisco’s TPC Harding Park will host the USPGA the following week from August 6-9, after its original May date was moved back last month.

The Wyndham Championship, at Sedgefield Country Club (August 13-16), will be the final event of the regular FedEx Cup season, before the three play-offs.

The Greenbrier’s Military Tribute event will no longer feature on the PGA Tour it was announced today

PGA Tour dates for 20/21 season released

THE PGA Tour also announced the first 13 dates of the 2020-21 season – with three events moving to new dates to accommodate the move to autumn dates by the US Open and Masters.

The biggest surprise is the ending of the Military Tribute at Greenbrier, after 10 years as a PGA Tour event – a decision described as mutual by the Tour and the host club.

PGA Tour chief tournaments officer Andy Pazder said: “We are very grateful to Governor Jim Justice and his Greenbrier Resort for a highly successful 10 years of partnership with the PGA Tour.

“Governor Justice’s vision and leadership helped shine a light on the men and women that serve our country through the military and first responder programs he implemented through the tournament, and The Greenbrier Resort was an incredibly unique and world-class venue that our players will always remember and cherish.”

A statement issued by Greenbrier said the switch to a September date had proved less successful for the West Virginia resort, which staged the original event from 2010 until 2012 over the American Indepdence Day weekend.

The contract guaranteeing the Military Tribute would be held at the famous White Sulphur Springs resort until 2026 has been cancelled after agreement by both the tour and owners.

Pazder also thanked the organisers of the Safeway and Houston Opens and the Mayakoba Classic, in Mexico, for helping to accommodate the two Major events in September and November.

The Safeway Open at California’s Silverado Resort, in Napa, will now be played in the first week of September, which was set for this year’s Greenbrier tournament.

Pazder said: “We’d like to express our appreciation to the leadership of the Safeway Open, Houston Open and Mayakoba Golf Classic for their flexibility, which allowed for the US Open and Masters Tournament to be played in the fall.

“The accommodations will help the global golf community maximize the 2020 calendar, which will be incredibly impactful for our fans and put us in a strong position heading into 2021.

“This portion of our 2020-21 schedule is possible only because of the many partners who have worked tirelessly to grow their events and impact the lives of those in need in their respective communities, and our players, who have embraced the expanded fall schedule in recent years.”

Early 2020/212 PGA Tour season dates

• Sept 7-13: Safeway Open, Silverado Resort and Spa North, Napa, California
• Sept 14-20: US Open, Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, New York
• Sept 21-27: Ryder Cup, Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wisconsin
• Sept 21-27: Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship, Corales Golf Club, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
• Sept 28-Oct 4: Sanderson Farms Championship, Country Club of Jackson, Jackson, Mississippi

Oct 5-11: Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Oct 12-18: The CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges, Jeju Island, Korea
• Oct 19-25: Zozo Championship, Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club, Japan
• Oct 26-Nov 1: World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, Sheshan International Golf Club, Shanghai, China
• Oct 26-Nov 1: Bermuda Championship, Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton, Bermuda

• Nov 2-8: Houston Open, Memorial Park Golf Course, Houston, Texas
• Nov 9-15: Masters Tournament, Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia
• Nov 16-22: The RSM Classic, Sea Island Resort, Georgia
• Nov 30-Dec 6: Mayakoba Golf Classic, El Camaleón Golf Club, Mexico

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The 2020 Masters winner will don the famous Green Jacket in November instead of April after the main Tours agreed a new set of dates for the Majors – although The Open is off

THE Masters will be rescheduled to November it was announced this afternoon – just minutes after it was confirmed the 149th Open Championship at Royal St George’s will now take place at Sandwich in 2021.

And the US Open is moving to September six weeks after the PGA of America hopes to stage the USPGA at San Francisco’s TPC Harding Park in light of coronavirus pandemic, spreading across the USA.

The PGA Tour is looking to reschedule three of its events in June, July and early August, allowing for the FedEx Play-offs to be played as planned in August.

Both the PGA of America and the European Tour have confirmed the Ryder Cup will be played – if possible – at Whistling Straits, in Wisconsin, from September 25-27, as originally planned.

But the rescheduling means the world’s top golfers could be left playing five weeks in a row – from the USPGA until the climax to the FedEx play-offs at the Tour Championsip, at Eastlake, from September 4-7.

The US Open will be played after a week off, with the leading Americans and Euoropeans heading from New York to Wisconsin for the Ryder Cup.

The unprecedented game of musical chairs was confirmed after weeks of speculation in joint statement issued by Augusta National Golf Club, the European Tour, the LPGA, PGA of America, PGA Tour, The R&A and USGA.

A joint statement issued by the seven organisations on Monday afternoon read: “This is a difficult and challenging time for everyone coping with the effects of this pandemic.

“We remain very mindful of the obstacles ahead, and each organization will continue to follow the guidance of the leading public health authorities, conducting competitions only if it is safe and responsible to do so.

“In recent weeks, the global golf community has come together to collectively put forward a calendar of events that will, we hope, serve to entertain and inspire golf fans around the world.

“We are grateful to our respective partners, sponsors and players, who have allowed us to make decisions – some of them, very tough decisions – in order to move the game and the industry forward.

“We want to reiterate that Augusta National Golf Club, European Tour, LPGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, The R&A and USGA collectively value the health and well-being of everyone, within the game of golf and beyond, above all else.

“We encourage everyone to follow all responsible precautions and make effort to remain healthy and safe.”

US Open set to stay at Winged Foot

THE US Open, previously scheduled for June 18-21 at Winged Foot, in Mamaroneck, has been officially rescheduled for September 17-20.

United States Golf Association chief executive Mike Davis confirmed the USGA’s preference to keep the US Open in New York, which has borne the brunt of the wave of COVID-19 deaths in America over the past week.

Mr David said: “We are hopeful that postponing the championship will offer us the opportunity to mitigate health and safety issues while still providing us with the best opportunity to conduct the U.S. Open this year.

“We are incredibly thankful to the membership and staff at Winged Foot for their flexibility and support.

“We are also grateful for the wonderful collaboration among the professional tours and other majors in working through a complicated schedule.”

A statement from the game’s governing body in North America, read: “The USGA is currently evaluating how the postponement will affect exemption categories, and definitive changes will be communicated as soon as possible.

“As previously announced, the USGA will strive to conduct qualifying that fits health and safety guidelines while accommodating the rescheduled championship dates.”

The USGA is set to announce details of US Open Qualifying. Picture by TRISTAN JONES

‘Golf can help world recover from COVID-19’

PGA of America chief executive Seth Waugh also believes golf has an important role to play as the world tries to recover from the COVID-19 crisis.

“Sports, and particularly the game of golf, are important vehicles for healing and hope,” said Mr Waugh who confirmed the USPGA – which had seen its early May slot cancelled shortly after the decision to cancel April’s Masters was made – will now move to the first week in August.

“With the help of the City and County of San Francisco, our friends at the PGA Tour, and our partners CBS Sports and ESPN, we are holding August 3-9 as dates for a rescheduled 2020 PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park,” Seth Waugh added.

“We will continue to follow the guidance of public health officials, but are hopeful that it will be safe and responsible to conduct the PGA Championship in August and the Ryder Cup as planned, from September 22-27, at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin, with our NBC Sports partners.

“With our country going through extremely difficult times, it will be an honour for all of us at the PGA of America to hopefully help turn a page in August, with the PGA Championship, and September with the Ryder Cup.”

The men’s golf championship at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games was due to be played the week before but its cancellation allowed the USPGA to move into what had been a free week on the PGA Tour schedule.

The Masters will move to a date in the autumn which will be a first for Augusta

Augusta National: ‘Masters can bring moment of joy’

THE Masters was the first Major of 2020 to be postponed, and the event founded by Bobby Jones last failed to be played back in 1945 because of the war.

The host club were determined to try to avoid that and the new autumn date will be a first – providing the grip the coronavirus pandemic has Stateside abates by then.

Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley said: “We remain very mindful of the extraordinary and unprecedented challenges presented by the coronavirus around the world.

“As such, we continue to keep in close contact with local, state and national health authorities to help inform our decisions.

“In collaboration with the leading organisations in golf, Augusta National Golf Club has identified November 9-15 as the intended dates to host the 2020 Masters.

“While more details will be shared in the weeks and months to come, we, like all of you, will continue to focus on all mandated precautions and guidelines to fight against the coronavirus.

“Along the way, we hope the anticipation of staging the Masters Tournament in the fall brings a moment of joy to the Augusta community and all those who love the sport.

“We want to emphasise that our future plans are incumbent upon favourable counsel and direction from health officials.

“Provided that occurs and we can conduct the 2020 Masters, we intend to invite those professionals and amateurs who would have qualified for our original April date – and welcome all existing ticketholders to enjoy the excitement of Masters week.

“After careful consideration and following an extensive review process, we also have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

“Ultimately, the many scheduling challenges with NCAA tournaments, the World Amateur Team Championships, the LPGA Q-Series and other events when women’s amateur golf resumes led to this decision.

“Each player who accepted an invitation for the 2020 championship will be invited to compete in the 2021 Augusta National Women’s Amateur, provided she remains an amateur.

“Also, those who purchased tickets will be sent a refund in May and given the opportunity to purchase tickets for the event next year.

“We thank everyone for their understanding of this decision, and we look forward to the championship returning in full strength next spring.

“We know the effects of these announcements will be far-reaching.

“Additional information will be made available on Masters.com and ANWAgolf.com as details become known. Your patience is appreciated as we hope and plan for the 84th Masters in November.

“Thank you for your continued support and we wish you and your loved ones health and safety during these uncertain times.”

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