Royal Troon Golf Club is set to remain men-only by the time it hosts this year’s Open Championship, despite efforts by The R&A to make the game more open and appealing to women. But has The R&A found a way of avoiding the media flak?
The R&A and the USGA have released a piece of research that reports on important facts on driving distance in professional golf. And the big surprise is that driving has not grown massively - at all. Here are the findings.
Tyler Koivisto completed a remarkable victory in his first Official World Golf Ranking recognised event by winning the Northern Ireland Open Supported by The R&A. “It’s very special,” he said. “Golfing wise, probably the best week of my life. For my wife, our wedding, obviously, was the best week of my life. With victory in Ballymena, Koivisto made it an American double with countryman
Without wishing to tempt fate, it looks like we may be fine-tuning those swings and getting back on the links soon in the UK. A UK Parliament's All-Party Group has suggested that golf should return quickly, and the R&A has prepared guidance for operating courses under COVID-19 restrictions.
In a much–needed outbreak of collective sanity, armchair referees will no longer be able to submit potential rules violations that they see while watching tournament broadcasts. And there's more good news as well.
Attendance at the Open fells below that of Troon in 2004, and the R&A are blaming bad weather not the £80 entrance fee.
The next generation of golf fans attending The 145TH Open at Royal Troon this summer will be able to book free accommodation at The Open Camping Village. We think this is a great idea.
After the delay caused by the COVID pandemic golf's governing bodies have now finally issued their review of driving distances and proposed changes to current equipment standards. In a document distributed to the industry for comment, the key proposals put forward by the R&A and USGA are: Club length – reduction to 46 inches
We must say that we witnessed it live and did wonder if there may be repercussions for Lexi's movement of the grass by her ball when taking a shot at the 16th hole in the first round of the AIG Women's Open. Social media was ablaze with scores of outraged golf fans but the R&A did not agree with them. Move, bend or break any:
The LPGA has announced the movement of the Evian Championship to 6th to 9th August, the week before the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open. At the same time, the signs are that both the R&A and USGA will announce the postponement of the Open and US Open in the coming week.
The R&A won't like this, but Rory McIlroy has gone on the record to state that he believes that the Masters has now overtaken the other major championships as "the biggest golf tournament in the world".
Lexi Thompson has taken to Twitter to respond to the new R&A rule changes. And it's safe to say she's a happy camper.
