Paul Casey has moves up to 14th in the world following his victory at the European Open in Hamburg. The Englishman shot a bogey free 66 that took him to 14 under and squeezed out Scotland’s Robert Macintyre, Austria’s Matthias Schwab and home hope Bernd Ritthammer by one-stroke.
It was disappointing to hear of the cancellation of the Evian Championship but if France was going insist on a 14 day quarantine period for players the decision was inevitable. The loss of the Evian now puts even more importance on the Women's British Open which is due to be played at Royal Troon from 20th to 23rd August.
It's the news we have all been waiting for this side of the pond. European Tour golf is to return with the first tournament in a six week 'UK Swing' kicking off with the Betfred British Masters hosted by Lee Westwood, which will take place between 22nd and 25th July – a week earlier than originally scheduled. Dates have also been announced for four Rolex Series events including the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open.
As the Coronavirus crisis rumbles on golf tours facing an uncertain future. Every week that passes means that both the PGA Tour and European Tour are losing millions in TV and sponsorship revenues. The Americans have a plan for survival but their European counterparts face the perfect storm of challenges that threaten the existence of the European Tour itself.
The European Tour today confirmed the cancellation of the BMW International Open and the Open de France and the postponement of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, a Rolex Series event, due to the continuing threat posed by the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). At the same time, the PGA Tour announced its plans to resume the 2019-20 season with the Charles Schwab Challenge between 11th and 14th June.
Well, the R&A finally made a decision and somewhat surprisingly for some the decision was to cancel the 149th Open Championship because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Tournament will now take place at the same venue, Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, in 2021.
Golfers on the European Tour have come together to record a message to encourage everyone across the world to follow the World Health Organisation’s guidelines amid the coronavirus outbreak, reinforcing the #STAYATHOME message.
The European Tour has announced the postponement of the Magical Kenya Open Presented by Absa which was due to take place between 12th and 15th of March. This followed the decision by the Government of Kenya to postpone all meetings and conferences in the country of an international nature.
It was a worrying time for the European Tour as Italian golfers Edoardo Molinari and Lorenzo Gagli were quarantined in Muscat and originally forced to pull out of the Oman Open over fears they may have contracted the coronavirus. However, the pair will now play, partnering each other after Gagli’s test proved negative.
Royal Troon first hosted The Open in 1923, and the great event will return to the famed links course in South Ayrshire a century on from that first staging. In 2023 Royal Troon will be staging the event for the tenth time, the last time being 2016 when Henrik Stenson prevailed in a mighty battle with Phil Mickelson.
Surely the least contentious and well-deserved award for 2019 was Jon Rahm being voted the Seve Ballesteros Award as the 2019 European Tour Players' Player of the Year, after a spectacular campaign which included two Rolex Series titles, another victory on home soil and culminated in him being crowned the Race to Dubai Champion.
The European Tour has a real headache on its hands following Iran’s recent threats to "destroy" parts of the United Arab Emirates if there is retaliation after the attacks they launched on Iraq in reprisal for the US killing of Qassem Soleimani.
There were lots of hugs and high fives as Team USA fought back from a 10-8 deficit to win the Presidents Cup, once again, by a score of 16-14. That huge smile we saw after Wood’s victory at Augusta was back and the there was obvious emotion in the US Captain’s voice when talking after his team’s victory.
It’s been a while since this fine course has featured a major event and it’s been even longer since GolfPunk played it. If we recall correctly you head south out of Dublin on the M9 and you can’t miss it – well you can as its in middle of nowhere, if we recall.
Take one bike, one set of clubs, 14 different Open venues and one complete nutter and you have the ‘The Great British Open Challenge’. London-based PGA professional, Luke Willett, he with a famous golfing namesake, is to pedal his way between all the Open venues playing 18 holes at each and cycling with his clubs on his back!
A year after finishing tied for second in the Hero Women’s Indian Open, Christine Wolf enjoyed a much happier experience at DLF Golf and Country Club as she claimed her first Ladies European Tour title. The 30-year-old Austrian, who had led by three going into the 18th hole 12 months ago before a nightmare double-bogey wrecked her chances, was able to take care of unfinished business.
Jon Rahm successfully defended a title for the first time in his career as he stormed to a five-stroke victory at the Mutuactivos Open de España. The 24-year-old secured his fifth European Tour title in just his 39th start, becoming the fastest Spaniard to reach five victories surpassing the late, great Seve Ballesteros who reached that milestone on his 49th appearance.
Australia’s Whitney Hillier carded a one-under round of 71 to claim a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Hero Women’s Indian Open. She leads by a single shot from Norway’s Marianne Skarpnord with Linda Wessberg of Sweden and Meg MacLaren of England a further shot back.
The large crowds at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid were delighted as Spanish players took command of the Open de Espana. Adria Arnaus and Rafael Cabrera Bello hold the halfway lead on eleven under par with Samuel Del Val one shot back and world number five and defending champion, Jon Rahm, sitting menacingly two back on nine under.
Christine Wolf shot an excellent five-under-par 67 in the third round of the Hero Women’s Indian Open to take a one stroke lead into the final round at DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram. The 30-year-old Austrian will be determined to make amends for last year when she dumped her third shot into the water at the 18th to take a double bogey and lose the event by two shots.
Only a fortnight after playing her part in Europe’s Solheim Cup victory at Gleneagles, Carlota Ciganda claimed the Estrella Damm Mediterranean Ladies Open at Terramar Golf Club in Sitges, Spain to add another unforgettable moment to her remarkable career.
Laura Fuenfstueck of Germany shot a four under 67 to keep the lead but is being hunted down by home favourite Carlota Ciganda who is just two shots back going into the final round of the Estrella Damm Mediterranean Ladies Open at Golf Club Terramar, near Barcelona.
Germany’s Laura Fuenfstueck produced back to back rounds of 68 to lead by three shots at the halfway stage of the Estrella Damm Mediterranean Ladies Open in Sitges, near Barcelona. The 24-year-old from Langen was out of the traps quickly, racking up four birdies in her first 12 holes and made just the one bogey, on the par-4 14th, at Terramar Golf Club.
Nelly Korda shot a four-under 67 to win the Lacoste Ladies Open to take her first European Title. Blustery conditions made it challenging at Golf du Medoc and despite being in a final round containing two local favourites, Korda managed to hold off Joanna Klattern and Céline Boutier for her maiden win on this side of the pond.
France’s Joanna Klatten made a strong push at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France with third round six-under-par 65 at Golf du Medoc Resort bringing her within one of World Number one Nelly Korda, setting up for an exciting final round.
World number ten Nelly Korda lived up to her favourite billing shooting a second round seven-under-par 64 to take a six-stroke lead into the weekend on 10-under-par at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France at Golf du Medoc, near Bordeaux.
The teams were introduced, the crowds were bedecked in the colours of the teams and Sharleen Spiteri and Texas hit the stage to liven up proceedings. First points in the fashion stakes probably went to Europe with their mid length coats and Solheim Cup tartan scarves winning it out over the the not quite so flattering short jackets of Team USA. A real spectacle indeed and here are some of the best images.
The haggis has been piped in, the Solheim tartan is out in force and the smiles are out, for the meoment. Countdown to the Solheim Cup has begun and may the best team win. This year, of the twenty four players taking part nine of them are rookies, three on Team Europe side and a record six joining Team USA.
In near perfect conditions at Royal Liverpool, team USA showed their class in turning an overnight deficit of two points into a resounding victory by a score of 15½ to 10½. Having clinched the morning foursomes by 2½ to 1½, the American crushed the home side in the singles 8-2.
World number one, Jin Young Ko, walked arm in arm up to the 18th green at the CP Women’s Open yesterday with defending champion and local girl Brooke Henderson, as she cruised to a five shot lead over her nearest rival, Denmark’s Nicole Broch Larsen, to confirm that she is in her class of her own on the LPGA Tour this year.
She is only 20, has never played a major championship or even played outside Japan until this week and now Hinako Shibuno finds herself leading the Women’s British Open at Woburn. She takes a two-shot lead into the Sunday but there is plenty of talent queuing up behind her should she slip up on the final day.
It was all getting quite crowded at the top of the leaderboard on day two at the AIG Women’s British Open at Woburn on Friday until the overnight leader, Ashleigh Buhai, who was out late in the day, suddenly put her foot on the accelerator to open up daylight between her and the field.
Defending Women’s British Open champion Georgia Hall is set to tee off at 12.16 on Thursday alongside Brooke Henderson of Canada and Japan’s Mamiko Higa and according to her she is “actually very excited. I don't feel any pressure. It’s really nice for me to be home because I've been in the US the whole year.”
There have been many incredible Open debuts, here is our Top 10...
There have been many an odd occurence at the oldest of all the majors but these are our pick of the top ten weirdest Open Championship moments.
Why is the golf now only on Sky TV in the UK with the BBC set to produce, if last year is anything to go by, a set of very ordinary highlights programmes? Who is to blame - Sky, the BBC, the politicians, the R&A or perhaps even Brexit?
Who will win the Open? Vote now for your pick of the Top 20, as per the bookies, or do you think it will be more of an outsider who takes the Claret Jug on the shores of Northern Ireland?
Darren Clarke will hit the opening tee shot at The 148th Open, while fellow local favourite Rory McIlroy is paired with US Open champion Gary Woodland for the opening two rounds at Royal Portrush, which we cannot wait to see!
GolfPunk fave Georgia Hall (no less!!) and nine of the past ten Champions will compete at the Women’s British Open for a 40% larger prize fund of $4.5m (circa £3.6m at time of writing) in recognition of the importance of the Championship and women’s golf according to the R&A.
The Open is looming up on the horizon so come and test your knowledge of all things Openey with the GolfPunk Open Golf Quiz 2019. It's got something for everyone who err like quizes.
So Muirfield or to give its proper title, The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, has formally invited women to join the club as members for the first time since voting to change the club’s rules in 2017.
Justin Rose shot a third round 68 to close the gap on leader Gary Woodland to just one shot, with the field a further three shots back. Looming ominously in the pair’s rear-view mirror is one Brooks Koepka who shot a bogey free round of 68 to continue his slow, but continuous, move up the leaderboard.
America’s Gary Woodland shot a 65 to take the lead in the US Open and join Justin Rose and Tiger Woods in the record books with the joint lowest score in a US Open at Pebble Beach. He leads England’s Justin Rose, who added a round of 70 to his own 65, by two shots as they go into the weekend.
England’s Justin Rose birdied the final three holes of his round to post a six under par 65 and lead the U.S. Open by one shot. One of GolfPunk’s tips, Ricky Fowler, sits in second place alongside his fellow countrymen, Xander Schauffele and Aaron Wise, and South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen. Rose’s round is the joint lowest ever shot at Pebble Beach in an U.S. Open.
'Yo the man!', 'In the hole!' and other suitable golf course cries! It's US Open time. Pebble Beach is looking as scary as ever. Who can hold those tiny greens? Who knows. Certainly not us - well maybe we do - see our new algorithm. What do we know, the best of us got 14/18 in the GolfPunk US Open quiz Part 2. Which is not great considering we set the questions... Let's see how you can do!
The US Open at Pebble Beach is almost upon us! Tiger is back in the mix, Brooks is looking for three in a row and Phil is still searching for that elusive US Open. Here's our Quiz testing your knowledge of all things US errrm, Openish! Come and have a go if you think you're smart enough.
The US open is returning to Pebble Beach with its magnificent views, tiny greens and changeable conditions. All factors that are taxing The Spiv’s brain matter as he sips on his port and peruses the field. But this year its all different as GolfPunk has a new algorithm and its going to make us all rich (necessary caveats and waivers apply of course).
It was a great day for Northern Ireland at the final day of Canadian Open from Hamilton Golf and Country Club. Rory McIlroy shot an incredible nine under 61 to take the title by 7 shots and Graeme McDowell finished in the top ten and qualified for The Open.
The Open is coming back to Northern Ireland after a break of 68 years. When Max Faulkner, one of the most flamboyant golfers of his generation, won the Open Championship in 1951 at Royal Portrush it would be 18 years until a Brit, Tony Jacklin in 1969, was to do so again.
The fourteen qualifiers from yesterday’s European U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying consisted of no fewer than ten different nationalities. South African Dean Burmester led the list of qualifiers with a total of 128, sixteen under par and four shots clear.
Matt Wallace of England retained his lead of the British Masters at a windy Hillside. However, he was looking over his shoulder as the tournament host, Tommy Fleetwood, closed to within three shots. Fleetwood, who at one point trailed Wallace by nine shots, played the last eight holes in five under to close the gap to just three.
Matt Wallace, saw a return to form to take a one shot lead into the weekend at the British Masters at Hillside. Wallace’s new approach to the game, including the hiring of fitness expert Dr Steve McGregor, appears to be paying dividends as he added a 67 to his opening 65.
Twenty Chinese golfers made the cut for the weekend of the Volvo China Open but it was an inhabitant of the 116th biggest country in the world, by population, who lifted the spoils at the Genzon Golf Club in Shenzhen. FInland’s Mikko Korhonen clinched his second European Tour title seeing off France’s Benjamin Hebert at the first play-off hole.
Wu Ashun delighted the Chinese crowd, adding an excellent 65 to his opening 66 and a two shot lead at the Volvo China Open at the Genzon Golf Club in Shenzhen. But it was Wu’s young countryman Yang Kuang who grabbed all the headline as the youngest player to make a cut on the European Tour at the tender age of 14 years, six months and 12 days.
Last week’s winner and GolfPunk’s tip for the China Open, Jorge Campillo, leads the way once again after an opening round of 65. Joining the Spaniard on the same mark are Tapio Pulkkanen of Finland and David Lipsky of America.
Who wouldn’t want to tee it up in their home open? Well for one, Rory McIlroy, who is giving this year’s Irish Open a miss. No biggy, I hear you say, it’s not like choosing to miss something like the Olympics is it? Oh, hang on Rory turned that one down too. So, what are the priorities of the 29-year-old darling of Irish Golf
One of Europe’s most high-profile golfers Paul Lawrie OBE will be taking part in this year’s inaugural Farmfoods European Legends Links Championship.
Kurt Kitayama produced a remarkable comeback at Al Mouj Golf to win his second European Tour title of the season at the Oman Open. This is the third global win for TaylorMade's new M5 and M6 drivers featuring Speed Injected Twist Face technology and fourth win for the new 2019 TP5/x golf ball.
Two events this week. It's the Oman Open and the Honda Open. Here's where the action is......
Guangdong’s Liang En Qi will line up alongside many of the world’s best golfers at the 2019 Volvo China Open after winning the tournament’s Amateur Qualifying Final at Mission Hills Golf Club in Haikou, Hainan Province.
Canterbury Golf Club is gearing up for the staging of The Open Championship in July 2020 at nearby Royal St George’s by linking up with fellow Kent golf clubs in Visit Kent’s Golf in Kent Partnership.
The Shenzhen Genzon Golf Club will be the venue for the 25th staging of the Volvo China Open when China's National Open Golf Championship returns to the city from May 2-5, 2019.
The inaugural Farmfoods European Legends Links Championship will be hosted at the stunning Trevose Golf Club, on the North Cornwall Coast this coming June (20th - 23rd). Here's a little taste of what to expect on this stunning course.
Patrick Reed has been awarded Honorary Life Membership of the European Tour in recognition of his Masters Tournament victory last year. Or was it his sterling work in destabilising the USA Ryder Cup team in Paris...
It takes a lot for Tiger Woods to turn down a massive appearance fee (reportedly north of $6m) and a free yacht, but that's what happened recently when the European Tour came knocking with an invite to the Saudi International, the country's first professional significant golf tournament.
Tired of being asked to take part in ‘viral’ videos by ‘media types’, five European Tour stars decided to take matters into their own hands and assemble The Content Committee.
Great to start the year with a winner in Hawaii with our 2 point selection Xander Schauffele winning at 25/1 from our other selection Gary Woodland at 29/1 by 1 shot having equalled the course record in the final round!!! A profit of 42 points.
23-year-old Bronte Law has broken a Ladies European Tour record by holing nine straight birdies in the Lalla Aicha Tour School event in Morocco.
Discovery and the European Tour have announced a new partnership that will see GOLFTV continue to expand its portfolio and move towards becoming the established ‘digital home of golf’ for fans around the world.
Swingin Siren Amy Boulden has been busy on Instagrtam lately. Here's a catch up with the LET star and a cracking interview in which she ponders if they really did land on the moon, and if she can lend us a fiver... Oh yes, and happy birthday Amy!
American International Group (AIG) has announced that it will become the title sponsor of the Women’s British Open beginning in 2019.
GolfPunk selections at last week's Hong Kong Open finished 3rd Jason Schrivner 37/1, tied 6th Rafa Cabrera Bello 12/1 and Shubhanker Sharma 45/1. Three events this week....
A great result for GolfPunk readers with Danny Willett winning the DP World tour Championship at 139/1. He actually drifted on Betfair to 179/1 so hopefully GolfPunk readers got the best odds??
Dr Abed Al-Razzaq Arabiyat, Managing Director of Jordan Tourism Board, was joined by representatives of the European Challenge Tour, the Staysure Tour and the Ladies European Tour at World Travel Market in London this week to unveil the trophy for the Jordan Mixed Open presented by Ayla.
Here are our top twenty weirdest Open Championship moments.
1st and 2nd for GolfPunk readers at last week’s HSBC event!!! For most of the tournament Tony Finau 29/1 looked like winning, but our other selection Xander Schauffle 56/1 beat him in a play off !!!
With one week to go until this year’s Farmfoods European Senior Masters gets underway, the full list of professionals has now been announced for the Staysure Tour event which takes place at the Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club.
The Ryder Cup is golf’s most prestigious team competition and this year’s Farmfoods European Senior Masters will see 14 former stars of the past tournaments go head-to-head in this Staysure Tour event.
The woman believed to be at the centre of the apparent split between Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky is California socialite and golfer Yassie Safai
Dustin Johnson makes Twitter statement amid speculation about his and Paulina Gretzky's relationship.
From holing a remarkable and somewhat historic ten-foot putt at the 2002 Ryder Cup, to captaining Europe to victory in the tournament in 2014, it is fair to say that iconic Irish golfer, Paul McGinley has made his mark on the sport. Now, the star who has won four times on the European Tour, is set to take part in this year’s Farmfoods European Senior Masters which takes place between 4–7 October at the Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club.
Just the one event this week and note it’s on the red button on Sky Golf TV.
This is a great story from the Action Network, on Paul Casey’s favourite betting story.
Dustin Johnson has done a vanishing act from fiancée Paulina Gretzky's Instagram page, giving rise to rumours that the couple have split.
Time to stop hitting the cross bar, I am going for value this week more than ever as the top players are under performing??? It looks like Horschel started last week when he withdrew due to Sinusitis !!
1991 Masters winner, Ian ‘Woosie’ Woosnam OBE, will continue his 2018 Staysure Tour season as he is confirmed to return to Birmingham’s Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club between 4-7 October. Playing in the annual Farmfoods European Senior Masters, Woosie will join returning tournament host, Peter Baker.
The 148th Open Championship, which will be staged in Northern Ireland for the first time in 67 years, has sold out!
There has been unprecedented demand for tickets and hospitality from fans wanting to attend The 148th Open at Royal Portrush from 14-21 July 2019. They have now completely sold out of Weekly, Weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday Championship Day Tickets.
The galleries were large with few seats left within the first tee grandstand. For many, it would be a daunting experience as they settled their nerves ahead of their third round of a major championship.
Georgia Hall has continued with her fine form from yesterday at Royal Lytham St Annes and in doing so, has put herself in a prime position to contend at this year’s Ricoh Women’s British Open. However, it is Pornanong Phatlum that finds herself in pole position at the halfway stage with a one-stroke advantage over the Brit.
You have to go back to 2009 in order to remember the last time that a British player last won the Ricoh Women’s British Open. Back then, Catriona Matthew sealed victory after giving birth to her daughter only 11 weeks prior. It has been a long wait but perhaps Royal Lytham St Annes could provide another British winner.
Richard McEvoy has won his first European Tour title with a 20-foot putt on the final hole.
Francesco Molinari withstood a final round challenge from playing partner Tiger Woods to win his first Major title at the 147th Open Championship with another world-class putting performance using his Bettinardi BBZero Tour putter.
After three days where the Angus breeze barely whispered against Carnoustie’s tobacco-burnt fairways, on the fourth and final day it blustered with familiar gusto. Here's GP's take on the last day.
What a great last day at the Open last Sunday, there were at least 12 possible winners with 6 holes to go and it's fair to say Tiger is back!!! The winner Francesco Molinari by 2 shots from Justin Rose but it was Tiger that had the crowd on its feet!!!
Rachael McQueen, the GolfPunk Golf Nurse and Skechers GoGo Golf ambassador, has been out as a ball spotter at this year’s 147th Open Championship, and we caught up with Rachael to ask her about her first experience as an official ball spotter.
These guys ought to know what they're talking about... Right?
Day 2 at ther Open with the GolfPunk dudes Tim, Rachel & Jonny. How did their 1st round predictions go? And how the hell did they get this ridiculous venue towering over the R&A's main entrance???....
The Open is nearly upon us. So what better way to embrace the impending glory of the greatest golf festival on earth, than by taking on Sam Torrance in our Open Quiz. Good luck, he knows a few things...
