Walton Heath’s Enrique Dimayuga is tied at the top of the leaderboard with Denmark’s Christoffer Bring in the Brabazon Trophy. Pictures by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

ENRIQUE Dimayuga hopes a “bargain buy” three-iron can help him enjoy some long-awaited success in Friday’s final round of the Brabazon Trophy.

Surrey’s Dimayuga shot to the top of the leaderboard on day three of the English Amateur Strokeplay Championship at Sherwood Forest Golf Club – thanks to a brilliant five-under par round of 66.

Denmark’s Christoffer Bring joined the Walton Heath golfer at the summit. The Dane carded a best-of-the-day round of 65 to match Dimayuga on 11-under.

Yorkshire’s England squad member Sam Bairstow is just one shot further back on 10-under after shooting 67 for a second consecutive day.

France’s David Ravetto and halfway leader Jack Dyer, from Boyce Hill, are still very much in the hunt on nine-under par after 54 holes.

In total, there are 14 players within six shots of the lead teeing up what could be a dramatic final day in the fight to win one of amateur golf’s most prestigious trophies.

However, the bubbly Dimayuga will be the man to beat in the final round if a used club he bought for £50 from his local pro shop continues to behave.

“The shaft on the iron is really whippy so I just keep hitting these long looping draws,” said Dimayuga with a smile after confessing his poor form with the driver has resulted in him using it only once this week.

“The head on my regular three-iron snapped recently. So I went with this one,” said Dimayuga, who was an England junior international until joining the men’s ranks this year.

“But it’s working well. I felt like I’m having fun. I’m not even thinking about what I’m doing.

Iron play key for ex-England junior

Dimuyaga was happy with his play at the Nottinghamshire course.

“My iron play has been really solid and my swing is good,” he said. “And I’m dialled in in terms of yardages and judging the wind.

“I haven’t won anything in a long time and my form over the last calendar year has been pretty good.

“I’m just waiting for an opportunity to be in that final group and be in a position to take the win and I feel like it’s coming, hopefully, tomorrow.

“I can’t guarantee anything and I wouldn’t bet on myself just yet.”

When reminded that Tiger Woods won an Open Championship at Royal Liverpool 14 years ago hitting an iron off every tee, Dimayuga said with a smile: “I won’t go as far as saying I’m Tiger Woods – I’d hope I can play to some of that form.”

Bring’s day included an eagle at the fifth hole and a birdie on the 14^th after he holed from a greenside bunker.

“I feel confident and will go out and see what happens,” admitted the golfer from Naestved, 70 miles south of Copenhagen.

Bring added: “I got off to a slow start and then I made an eagle on the fifth and that kind of got me into the round.

“I made a lot of putts from the fifth through to the 12^th and holed a bunker shot on 14 – so that was great.”

Essex’s Jack Dyer is still in touch with the leaders at the English Amateur Strokeplay Championship at Sherwood Forest, trailing Dimayuga by two shots

Moving day for Carris winner Brown

IT was a classic “moving day” at the Brabazon, with the entire field of 68 players harbouring hopes of going low.

Many of them did – no fewer than 27 golfers shot rounds under-par.

Yorkshire’s Barclay Brown certainly made a move – a round of 66 taking him to seven-under for the championship and into a tie for sixth.

Yet Hallamshire GC’s former England junior international will look back on his third round with a mixture of quiet satisfaction and total disbelief.

The Stanford University student was disarmingly honest about a day that saw him eagle the fifth with a putt that was charging 10 feet past.

A fluke hole-in-one on the 131-yard seventh hole best summed up the 2018 Carris Trophy winner’s day.

Brown laughed: “I’d like to say it was a great shot but I knifed it.

“It’s my sixth hole in one, but not the prettiest. I wasn’t playing my best and had to grind it out.”

Only nine players have ever won the Carris and Brabazon Trophy – including Rotherham’s Ben Schmidt.

Twelve months ago, the England international became just the fourth to complete the double in the same year.

The winner of the 2020 New South Wales Amateur also became the youngest player to win the Brabazon, at Alwoodley, in 2019.

The 16-year-old broke Sandy Lyle’s record set in 1975 in the process.

Cope climbs leaderboard after making cut on the mark

ANOTHER player emerging from the pack to give himself a slim hope of victory is newly-crowned English Amateur champion Jack Cope.

The Gloucestershire ace made the cut right on the number thanks to a birdie on the 36^th hole. He then shot a third round of 66.

When asked to compare his last two rounds, Players Club member Cope said: “Black and white – not just golf, but in terms of attitude as well.

“I’m very pleased to shoot 65 and get up the leaderboard.”

•For live scoring in the final round of the Brabazon Trophy click here.

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Lee Westwood says he has been playing Close House virtually every day for the last three to four months preparing for the Betfred British Masters which he will host this week.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES

FORMER World No. 1 Lee Westwood enters the week not only as tournament host but also as one of the favourites to take the Betfred British Masters at Close House.

The Ryder Cup legend claimed his 25th European Tour win earlier this season at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

It also meant he can boast victories across four decades on tour.

The 47-year-old is the first player to host the Betfred British Masters twice following his first stint in 2017.

And has one eye on another double this week – winning the event for the second time – he won in 2007 when it was played at The Belfry.

Hosting duties will take on a very different complexion now for Westwood, with stringent health and safety measures in place at Close House, near Newcastle Upon Tyne.

No fans will be present because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Westwood said: “Hosting has been very different. There has been nothing to do on site with sponsors and fans, which has been a shame.

“We’re trying to keep numbers to a minimum on site. We’ve taken all precautions. It’s up to us to be very careful.

“From what I’ve witnessed people are sticking to it by the letter. The testing procedures are very thorough.

“Everyone on site who has been through it can only have found it impressive.”

Westwood: I have never felt better

THE evergreen Englishman is delighted to be back playing competitively for the first time in five months.

Westwood has been on a strict health regime and has never felt fitter, so he will be a force to be reckoned with at his home course.

The Ryder Cup veteran, who now lives close to Close House, said: “The golf course is in great condition once again. Probably better than the last time we hosted the Betfred British Masters.

“It’s a better time in the calendar for the golf course. The greens are quicker, fairways are immaculate.

“As long as the weather co-operates, we should have a great week.

“I would like to get off to another good start this year. The last time I had a long break and played was in Abu Dhabi.

“So the break didn’t do me too much harm there. I’ve played this golf course a lot, especially over the last three or four months.

“When the courses opened up myself and my son Sam were out here nearly every day either practising or playing.

“This is certainly the fittest I’ve felt, without a doubt. There was a period over lockdown where I didn’t play much golf for five or six weeks.

“So I got myself into the gym and worked hard and continued once I started playing golf again. I’ve been pretty busy with it over the last five months.”

Pepperell pepped up his fitness

EDDIE Pepperell, who won this event in 2018, has also benefited from a health kick during lockdown in the UK.

The Frilford Heath member is feeling “quietly confident” upon his return.

Pepperell and Westwood spoke out in favour of remaining in Europe to play the UK Swing – rather than heading to the USA for the World Golf Championship in Memphis before playing the USPGA at San Francisco’s Harding Park.

The 29-year-old Oxfordshire-based pro said: “I don’t know what to expect this week. I think I’ll play very well or pretty bad.

“I don’t imagine there will be a lot in the middle. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking and practising so I feel it will go one of two ways.

“It doesn’t really stay in the middle when I do that,” said Pepperell, who won his second European Tour title when the British Masters was held at Walton Heath two years ago.

“I’m quietly confident, seeing quite a lot of nice stuff. It’s not a place I like to be, I actually prefer to be worried the day before – that tends to make me focus a little more.

“I think, ironically, given the circumstances and playing with no crowds, it almost might make me doubly intent on focusing hard.

“I know I’m going to have to play well, but also stay immersed in some way in the golf,” added Pepperell, who has the vastly experienced Micky Duran on the bag.

“I think that will be important for me. I’m quietly hopeful but I don’t know what to expect,” added the former England amateur international.

Kinhult enjoyed less restrictions in Sweden

MEANWHILE defending champion Marcus Kinhult is another player feeling comfortable with his game, having enjoyed plenty of practice over the past four months.

The Swede said: “I’m excited to go out again and compete. It’s been just over four months, so it should be fun and I’m looking forward to the week.

“It’s so different now with all the restrictions because of COVID, so I don’t feel the defending champion part as much – more trying to get into the new routines and everything.

“It’s nice to be defending but at the same time it’s a new course and everything is new.

“I just saw that I’m playing with Lee Westwood so that will be fun.

“I’ve just been back home in Sweden in my house. Sweden has had a different approach to coronavirus.

“So we’ve been living not quite like normal, but close to normal. We’ve been playing golf and we’ve been OK.

“So I’ve kind of enjoyed the four months,” added Lee, who moved to Newcastle to Worksop, where he played amateur golf for Nottinghamshire, and England.

•Follow live scoring by clicking here.

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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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World’s best hickory players come together to compete in the first Scottish Hickory Tour since 1930

First event played ‘in memory of’ the great James Braid

The world’s best hickory players are coming together next month to compete in the first Scottish Hickory Tour since 1930. In a series of ten tournaments, starting with the James Braid’s 150^th Anniversary Hickory Open, the world’s top 20 professionals and top 40 amateurs will qualify to participate in the Final over Leven’s Links in October.

To celebrate the launch of the tour, the World’s Top Hickory Golfers will congregate on a special day in golfing history, the 6^th February 2020, at Braid Hills Golf Course for the ‘IceBreaker’ James Braid’s 150^th Anniversary Hickory Open event. It is being played on this day in celebration of the 150^th Anniversary of the birth of the famous golfer James Braid, five time Open Champion and Designer of over 400 Golf Courses in Scotland including: Brora, Bruntsfield, Dalmahoy, Gleneagles, Goodwood Downs,  Lundin Links, Boat of Garten, Grantown on Spey, The Glen, Royal Musselburgh, Monktonhall, Walton Heath and many others.

The first match is being played over 9 holes at Braid Hills in memory of James Braid yet despite its name, this course was not designed by James Braid, rather, it is laid out over Braid Hill. The players then move on to the Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Club in the afternoon for another 9 holes. The course was originally designed by Ben Sayers in 1907 and altered by James Braid in 1936. The course is challenging and fun, and will be a good test for players, including past World Hickory Open Winners Fraser Mann (Scotland) and Andrew Marshall (England).

To celebrate the commencement of the Tour, a first edition whisky, limited to 150 numbered bottles are being bottled by Hickory Forever and will be available to buy on February the 6th, 2020. To reserve one of the first 150 bottles, please get in touch via the Hickory Forever website.

Following on from the James Braid 150th Anniversary Hickory Open, next on the Tour calendar will be the Jack’s Open Pro Am played over Musselburgh Golf Club and Royal Musselburgh on the 8^th and 9^th April.

To find out more about where each event will take place click on The Scottish Hickory Tour 2020

6th February 2020 – James Braid 150th Anniversary Hickory Open

8 & 9th April 2020 – Jack’s Open Pro Am

24 & 25 June 2020 – First Icelandic Hickory Open 2020

7 July 2020  – John Still Memorial Trophy

18 & 19 August 2020  – Highland Hickory Open

6 – 8 October 2020 – The Scottish Hickory Final

Instagram: ScottishHickoryTour

The post Hickory Dickory Dock As First Event Played ‘In Memory Of’ The Great James Braid appeared first on Golf North.

Italian Lorenzo Scalise is targetting promotion to the European Tour and needs a good run in the final three Challenge Tour tournaments, starting at this week’s Hainan Open. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

DESPITE the long European Challenge Tour season beginning to take its toll, Lorenzo Scalise is still in the fight for a top-15 spot as the Road to Mallorca visits China for this week’s Hainan Open.

The Italian is currently 33rd on the Road to Mallorca rankings, with the lion’s share of his 46,322 points coming courtesy of a second place finish at the Italian Challenge Open Eneos Motor Oil.

He returns to Challenge Tour duty this week with the invaluable experience of an appearance at the Italian Open last week, a Rolex Series event, at Rome’s Oligata Golf Club.

Scalise has learned a lot during his maiden season on the circuit and with three events remaining, he is delving into the energy reserves for a shot at a big finish when the Hainan Open gets under way at Sanya Luhuitou Golf Club, on Thursday (October 17).

“I started the year early on the Alps Tour and won an event there and then played my way on the Challenge Tour. It’s been a long season,” said Scalise.

“I’m trying to learn how to travel, how to save energy and stuff like that. I feel like I’ve not got much left in the tank, but I’ve got to hold onto it because there are three big events left.

“I don’t really want to set goals for the rest of the year. Obviously getting into that top 15 is the goal you have at the start of the year. But right now I’m just trying to have three good, solid weeks.

“I feel like I’ve not had a really good week in a while, but I’ve been playing good enough,” Scalise added.

“I really feel like it’s around the corner, but I just need to do everything I can to put myself in position to play my best golf.

“If that’s the case, then I’m pretty sure I can get into that top 15,” said Scalise, who lost a play-off for the European Amateur, with Kent’s Alfie Plant, at Walton Heath Golf Club, two years ago.

The University of Tennessee graduate is visiting China for the first time and, on first impressions, the island of Hainan reminds him of a place he once called home.

“It is my first time in China,” Scalise said. “It’s cool – this part of China actually reminds me of the US.

“I know it’s pretty similar to Hawaii in terms of the vegetation at stuff, but I actually really like it.

“I slept well on the plane on the way here, I think that’s the trick. I think the worst part is going back to Europe but I actually feel pretty good.

“I like the course. I’m coming from the Italian Open where the course was a lot tighter so this is a completely different setup this week.

“It’s a bomber’s paradise, to be honest. There isn’t a whole lot of rough.

“There are just a lot of bunkers that you’ve got to carry and take advantage of that – so I think it’s going to be pretty low scoring.

“The fairways are pretty wide, so you don’t have to be that accurate, but if you’re long, then you have shorter irons in and the rough isn’t that bad.

“As long as you hit bombs that are in play, then you’re good.”

Scalise will begin his Hainan Open at 8.30am local time on Thursday, with the first group of Matthew Baldwin, Raphaël de Sousa and He Shaocai getting the tournament under way at 7.10am local time.

The post Scalise targets graduation to European Tour starting with strong show at Hainan Open appeared first on Golf North.

Frilford Heath’s Eddie Pepperell says he still has not hit the heights so far this season that produced two wins in 2018. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

EDDIE Pepperell will defend a European Tour title for the first time in his career as he tees it up at the Betfred British Masters at Hillside Golf Club tomorrow (Thursday).

The Englishman won last year’s British Masters at Walton Heath, his second title of the 2018 season, and has arrived at Hillside in a confident mood, hoping to emulate his achievement last year.

Pepperell, who hails from Abingdon and grew up playing golf at Drayton Park, said: “It’s a shame I missed Qatar, but certainly being back in England is nice, and the first time playing Hillside, as well.

“I played nine yesterday on the back nine, and good to see it for the first time.

“Yeah, good draw, as well, playing with Thomas (Fleetwood), and Stevie (Gallacher), of course,” said the Frilford Heath member.

“I’m curious to see how I feel tomorrow. I’m expecting to feel quite relaxed, but I might not.

“It certainly felt a bit strange coming back this week having not been in Europe for ages, and just being in a completely different environment and getting used to that, when you come back here, it just feels quite strange.

“There may be a bit of getting used to that tomorrow, but I feel quite relaxed, and as always — well, I try to always focus very hard on my game, so that’s occupying my mind.

“My game certainly feels closer than it did on the Wednesday of British Masters last year. That was terrible that day.

Fleetwood to host Betfred British Masters

“The way things can change, I never like to feel too confident on a Wednesday because it doesn’t last.

“I don’t know what to expect from my game. I know there’s a bit of weakness at the moment in there somewhere.

“But I feel like around this course with the conditions, I can skirt my way around that and manage to shoot four good scores.

“This week I’m quietly confident I guess you could say, but I don’t feel like I’ve played well at all this year.

“I haven’t swung the club as well as I have last year and the year before that,” said Pepperell.

“So to have done what I’ve been able to do so far over the span of a year, I’ve made the most of it, and that’s a positive.

“So if I can find some form swinging like that, then I’m pretty confident I’ll come out this year better than last. Yeah, quiet optimism.”

Pepperell will tee it up in the first and second rounds alongside this year’s tournament host Tommy Fleetwood.

The 28-year-old, who grew up in Southport, which will host the 2019 British Betfred Maseters, began his week with victory in the first Hero Challenge of the season at Princes Dock in Liverpool on Tuesday night.

The pair will be joined by Scotland’s 2019 Hero Indian Open winner Stephen Gallacher.

Lee Westwood set for his 18th start

MAKING his 18th appearance in the British Masters is former World No. 1 Lee Westwood, who hosted the tournament at Close House, in 2017.

After a four-year absence from the winner’s circle, Westwood won his 24^th European Tour title at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, in November.

The Nottinghamshire ace, who now lives in Newcastle arrives at Hillside hoping to add a second British Masters crown to his trophy cabinet.

The “Worksop Wonder” won the event in 2007 at The Belfry, and the 46-year-old has previous form at Hillside, winning The Pines Trophy at the Lancashire links, as an amateur in 1990.

Westwood said: “I’m coming back to somewhere that I’ve played well in the past and a golf course that I enjoy playing and a tournament I enjoy playing.

“So it’s always nice to play in England in front of the English and British fans,” said the veteran of 10 Ryder Cups.

“There’s been some great winners here in the past. Seve is a past winner and Greg Norman a past winner, so two heroes of mine growing up, and players I’ve wanted to emulate.

“I’ve been a host a couple years ago. I saw the other side of it, how a tournament is run and what goes into it.

“I’ve got a great appreciation for what goes into running the British Masters and others, and now I get to play in the British Masters,” added Westwood.

“It’s always been played on some great venues and always attracts a great field and great fans that really seem to enjoy coming to this tournament and supporting it.”

•For live scoring from the first round of the Betfred British Masters click here.

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Betfred British Masters host Tommy Fleetwood will welcome defending champion Eddie Pepperell (right) to Hillside Golf Club, in his hometown of Southport, in May. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

FRILFORD Heath’s Eddie Pepperell is targeting a successful defence of his title in the Betfred British Masters after confirming he will join his friend, tournament host Tommy Fleetwood, in the field at Hillside Golf Club, from May 9-12.

Pepperell is just three days younger than Fleetwood and the pair grew up playing junior and amateur golf together, before latterly going on to enjoy multiple victories on the European Tour.

Both players are now ranked inside the top 40 on the Official World Golf Ranking – Fleetwood is 12^th and Pepperell 36^th – and are increasingly popular personalities among fans.

Pepperell claimed the biggest victory of his career to date in the British Masters at Walton Heath, in October, just two weeks after Fleetwood made a memorable Ryder Cup debut in Paris, winning four points alongside Francesco Molinari against the United States.

The pair were part of a four-way tie for the lead after the first round at Walton Heath, after matching rounds of 67.

But it was Pepperell who went on to win wire-to-wire, finishing two shots clear of Sweden’s Alexander Björk – courtesy of subsequent rounds of 69, 71 and 72, with Fleetwood eventually sharing ninth place.

It was Pepperell’s second victory of 2018 following the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and he said he discovered some newfound self-belief as a result.

Eddie revealed: “It was nice leading all week, feeling very comfortable in that position and actually expecting myself to win from Thursday.

“I definitely unlocked some confidence that week which I hadn’t felt before. I’m now looking forward to going to Hillside this year and trying to upset the Northerners.

“I’ve grown up with Tommy and the fact he’s hosting the event is great for him and I’m excited to be part of it for him and the Tour. I want to play well, put on a good show and get in amongst it.”

Fleetwood is following in the footsteps of previous hosts Ian Poulter (2015), Luke Donald (2016), Lee Westwood (2017) and most recently Justin Rose (2018) who have all played an important part in the success of the tournament following its reintroduction to the European Tour schedule.

Ryder Cup star Fleetwood grew up in the coastal town of Southport where Hillside Golf Club is located – just a stone’s throw from Royal Birkdale, which hosted the 2017 Open – and he is looking forward to welcoming his friend Pepperell to the area.

Tommy said: “He’s defending champion and it was his second win last year and I think it was his most impressive performance to date.

“It’s great to have him at Hillside. To be named British Masters champion is a very special title to have and he’s held the role brilliantly. We’re very lucky to watch him play again.”

Tickets to the 2019 Betfred British Masters hosted by Tommy Fleetwood at Hillside Golf Club from May 9-12 are available by clicking here

A range of hospitality packages are also available. Click here for more details.

The post Pepperell and Fleetwood’s Masters double act appeared first on Golf North.

Frilford Heath’s Eddie Pepperell tweeted after his sensational third place at The Players Championship, at Sawgrass.

FRILFORD Heath’s Eddie Pepperell produced the performance of his life to shoot up the Players leaderboard even though he was eventually eclipsed by Rory McIlroy’s triumph at Sawgrass, finishing tied for third on Sunday.

While Irish eyes were smiling as McIlroy sparked a huge St Patrick’s Day celebration with his first win in golf’s unofficial fifth Major, it was the Oxfordshire ace’s remarkable rise up the leaderboard that delighted everyone who watched Eddie’s rise through the ranks as an amateur playing for B.B.&O. and England after a superb 66.

And that was topped by an incredible 30-foot putt at Sawgrass’ signature short hole for a two at the 17^th – his third birdie in a row and his fifth in seven holes from the 11^th.

His snaking shot came off a hump by the fringe before curling down the slope and into the bottom of the cup to send the huge crowd around the amphitheatre wild – even though he admitted he was walking after it as he expected to be left with just a tap in.

Eddie said: “I just figured it was going to be a tap-in. I was kind of relieved I didn’t have to face a three-footer in front of all those people, and then obviously when it went in.

“What can I say, it was pretty awesome, to be fair.”

The 28-year-old was in great company playing alongside Hampshire’s Justin Rose, who was hoping to gatecrash Rory’s party with a top five finish that would strengthen his hopes of regaining the World No. 1 crown from Dustin Johnson.

Pepperell admitted at the start of his round, lying in 16th place, he was not even contemplating beating his more illustrious playing partner.

Eddie added: “It was obviously fun. Playing with Justin was good. I mean, for the front nine, I just thought there’s no way I’m beating Justin today.

“He was pretty flawless and then it looked like he was going to kind of cruise around, and I kind of managed to make a couple of good birdies at the end of the front nine to give me something to go off.

“But it was a lot of fun. Obviously coming in on the 17th was special.”

That birdie got him to 14-under par and with Rory having made a bogey on the 14^th, Eddie was left with a difficult up and down on 18 to be the tournament leader in the clubhouse, and with a real chance of a play-off.

Eddie, who has two wins to his name on the European Tour after his victory in the British Masters at Walton Heath in October, added: “I knew that Jhonattan (Vegas) had hit the fairway, so I thought, he’s unlikely going to make a five from there.

“So I need to get this up-and-down on the last. And actually the chip was tougher than I thought it was going to be,” said Pepperell, whose drive down the last found the rough on the right.

He added: “So when I decided to hit the three-iron second shot to get up close to the green, I didn’t think it was going to be quite as fast, and then I saw it and obviously it was.

“I had to play it slightly different than how I had imagined it, but it was a nice putt to hole for sure.”

Pepperell, whose breakthrough win came in Qatar just over a year ago, was very pleased with his play over the back nine, which has seen tons of drama down the years – regardless of whether the Players has been played in March or May.

Eddie, who started Sunday down in 16^th place, said: “The bunker shot I hit on 14 and the pitch I holed on 15 were – no matter who hits them at any stage of a golf tournament – they’re great short game shots.

“They just gave me kind of a sense of huge confidence. I kind of felt invincible, really… around the greens.”

Having dropped a shot at the par five second, birdies at the seventh and ninth got him to the turn in one-under and nine-under for the tournament.

The former Drayton Golf Club junior got up and down well on the 11^th for a birdie, thanks to a perfect pitch.

He then made a birdie two at the 13^th before his crucial save from the bunker on the 14^th.

Back-to-back birdies on the 15^th and the par five 16^th got him within a sniff of Rory, and Eddie sent the temperature soaring with that putt on 17.

Pepperell, who is not a member of the PGA Tour, pocketed a cheque for $725,000.

But he admitted after feeling frustrated with his game in practice on Tuesday, the week at Ponte Vedra Beach – the home of the US professional tour in north east Florida – had been another steep learning curve.

Eddie said: “It’s eerily similar to what happened last year on a number of occasions. It’s unfortunate that I’ve got to go through those moments of frustration, but out the other side does come, you know, seemingly good stuff.

“I maybe wouldn’t have done that in the past. I wouldn’t have even bothered. I went home, went to sleep, came back, restarted and had a really productive Tuesday evening. Maybe that was the difference.

“But it’s not like I flushed the golf ball this week. If I hit it like that for the rest of the year, then you’ll see me with plenty of snapped clubs.

“It’s a great first experience at this place because I obviously hope I’ll be back here, and to have some really nice memories of what’s happened today – obviously coming back will be nice.”

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