This week’s Betfred British Masters hosted by Lee Westwood marks the beginning of the European Tour’s UK Swing, and former World Number One Westwood enters the week not only as tournament host but also as one of the favourites to take the title. 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.
In the final Hero Challenge of the year South African Erik van Rooyen defeated former Masters Champion Danny Willett. You know the Hero Challenge, it’s the one where 6 top pros compete at target golf, hitting to a floating green out in an expanse of water. The closer to the flag you are the more points you score, with the closest ring being 50 points the next 25, well you get the gist.
Major-winner Georgia Hall will play with the Ladies European Tour’s first and only Arabic golfer Maha Haddioui in Saudi Arabia this week at $1million Aramco Team Series – Jeddah after choosing the Moroccan from the event’s unique draft. Hall was paired with Haddioui for Saturday’s round of last week’s Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF, where she was impressed by her play.
It’s Manic Monday, so here is a very quick round up of all the results and stories from the weekend on the, PGA Tour, European Tour, LPGA and Women’s European Tour.
Lucas Herbert continued his charge towards a second European Tour title in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open after the Australian followed his opening 64 with a second round 67 to open up a two-shot lead at Mount Juliet Estate.
Rasmus Højgaard became only the second teenager to win twice on the European Tour after edging out Justin Walters in a play-off for the 2020 ISPS HANDA UK Championship. On a dramatic final day at The Belfry, the 19-year-old from Denmark came from five strokes back to finish level with Walters on 14 under par.
Four-time Major Champion Rory McIlroy will bring further star power to a world-class field assembling at the 2021 Scottish Open after confirming he will be one of five players from the top ten of the Official World Golf Ranking to tee it up at the Renaissance Club from 8-11 July.
Jeunghun Wang has held of the challenge of Jaco Van Zyl and Joakim Lagergren to win the Qatar Masters.
Four-time Major Champion Rory McIlroy hopes to continue his strong run of form at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as he starts his 2021 season at the first Rolex Series event of the year.
Robert Rock of England came close to being only the second man to shoot 59 on the European Tour. After a string of five consecutive birdies, Rock had an eagle chance at the 18th hole at Lahinch to achieve the historic landmark. His long putt from the edge of the green went agonisingly close but missed on the left, leaving Rock to tap in for his sixth consecutive birdie, a back nine of 29 and a third round 60.
What do you do when your European Tour membership is under threat and your Ryder Cup chances are in jeopardy?
Dustin Johnson earned his second Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers title in three years after holding off the chasing pack to secure a two-stroke victory at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club.
