For a moment, there was a doubt. Dustin Johnson had just made back to back bogies at the 5th hole and he suddenly looked human. Surely, we were not going to see another Masters meltdown or Johnson falling at the final hurdle once again. Some fifteen minutes later, it was panic over and back to business as usual. DJ clicked into overdrive and the pack had no chance of catching him.
The 32-man field for the third round of the Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Showdown will be finalised on Saturday morning after darkness suspended play on day two at Aphrodite Hills Resort. The 30 players still to complete their rounds will resume play early on Saturday.
In unprecedented times, we have one more men’s golf major to look forward to this year. The Masters at Augusta is scheduled in November for the first time, after the cancellation earlier in the year. It has thrown the plans of golfers into the air, but we have seen events running every week for some time now, so there can be no claims of rustiness or a lack of practice.
Darren Clarke tapped in a short birdie putt at the last to register his first win in forty efforts on the PGA Tour Champions. The big man from Northern Ireland won by a single shot from Jim Furyk and defending champion Bernhard Langer at the TimberTech Champions in Boca Raton, Florida. It was the first victory for Clarke since his Open triumph at Royal St, George's in 2011.
Patrick Cantlay of America snatched a one shot victory at the Zozo Championship with final round seven-under 65 which included nine birdies. Jon Rahm of Spain and overnight leader Justin Thomas finished tied in second on twenty-two under par.
Matt Wallace carded a brilliant bogey free round of 66 to open up a three shot lead heading into the final round of the Scottish Championship presented by AXA. Porteous also signed for a round of 66 at Fairmont St Andrews as he sets his sight on a first European Tour title, after earning his card for the 2020 season at Qualifying School.
Adrian Otaegui and Matt Wallace share the lead going into the weekend at the Scottish Championship presented by AXA, with Aaron Rai just one shot back as he aims for more success in Scotland. Harrington is at nine-under-par alongside English pair Paul Waring and Garrick Porteous, with Scot Marc Warren, American Sean Crocker and Northern Ireland’s Jonathan Caldwell on eight under par.
The Ladies European Tour announced today Spain will host the 2023 Solheim Cup at the world-renowned championship course at Finca Cortesin, Andalucía, with the exact tournament dates to be finalised soon.
The Cyprus Showdown will break new ground with a first-of-its-kind format on the European Tour as the 16 leading players and ties after two cuts go head-to-head in a final round shootout. “This exciting format will undoubtedly add to that spotlight and we are confident it be wholly enjoyed by our global television audience, bringing an exciting and dramatic conclusion to our fortnight in Paphos.”
Charley Hull has today confirmed her spot in Saudi Arabia’s ‘women’s week of golf’ – joining Major-winning Solheim Cup teammate Georgia Hall as one of the headline names competing in next month’s “unprecedented” $1.5million events. The 24-year old will head to the Middle East seeking her second win in the region, having come out on top in Abu Dhabi’s Fatima Bint Mubarak Open last year.
Saudi Arabia is to host a world first $1.5million prize-fund Ladies European Tour golf week in what promises to be a landmark moment for women’s sport in the Kingdom. November’s consecutive tournaments take women’s golf into another new territory and will see players compete for what will be the LET season’s biggest purse after only the British and Scottish Open.
There was a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard after day one of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, as Dean Burmester, Jordan Smith and Aaron Rai all carded five-under rounds of 65 at the tricky Galgorm Castle Golf Club.
