Golf Thread

[Cricket Warrior]

Two-time major winner Fuzzy Zoeller has died at the age of 74.

Born Frank Urban Zoeller Jr, the American clinched the 1979 Masters in a play-off to become the first player since 1935 to win the tournament on his debut - and the last.

He also won a play-off against Greg Norman to claim victory in the US Open at Winged Foot in 1984.

BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Puig emulates Ballesteros with win in Australia

David Puig became the first Spanish winner of the Australian PGA Championship since Seve Ballesteros in 1981 with a two-shot victory in Brisbane.

The 23-year-old, who also competes on the LIV Golf Tour, carded a bogey-free five-under 66 in Sunday's final round to claim his first DP World Tour title on 18 under.

It is Puig's third title as a professional after two wins on the Asian Tour in 2023 and 2024. His previous best on the DP World Tour was third at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship in January.

Australian PGA Championship: Spain's Daniel Puig emulates Seve Ballesteros with two-shot win

David Puig becomes the first Spanish winner of the Australian PGA Championship since Seve Ballesteros in 1981 with a two-shot victory in Brisbane.

www.bbc.com

 

[BouncerGuy]

Blinded in one eye but facing McIlroy in Australia

Jeff Guan was climbing up the professional golf ladder rung by rung.

A two-time Australian amateur champion, Guan had made his PGA Tour debut in the United States and been snapped up by the same management agency as Spanish superstar Jon Rahm.

Gaining a card on the DP World Tour was the next logical move. Then his ascent towards the top of the game was ripped away.

A week after his US bow in September 2024, Guan was hit in the face by a stray ball at a Pro-Am event, leaving him permanently blinded in his left eye.

This week, the 21-year-old from Sydney caps a remarkable return. He is part of a strong field at the Australian Open - the crown jewel of the nation's golfing summer - rubbing shoulders with Masters champion Rory McIlroy, as well as Australian major winners Adam Scott and Cameron Smith.

"Playing these events, especially with so many DP World Tour pros coming over to Australia, is so exciting," Guan told BBC Sport.

"It will be good to see where I'm placed in the field and test where my game is at."

The life-changing incident at the Catalina Club in New South Wales left the young player fearing he would never swing a club again.

Guan's comeback at the elite level is a tale of remarkable courage and perseverance.

After hitting his second shot from the third fairway, Guan headed towards a buggy to put the iron back in his bag. Seconds later, he was struck.

"I remember I dropped to the floor and I could feel a throbbing pain at the top of the left hand side of my head," he recalled.

Guan was quickly taken to a Canberra hospital, where a CT scan revealed he would immediately need surgery on his fractured eye socket.

The following day he was moved to the Sydney Eye Hospital for a second operation and spent two weeks there in intensive care.

When Guan was allowed home, doctors insisted he stay in the confines of his room to stabilise the eye pressure and avoid any particles entering the area.

Some days he could not face getting out of bed. Others he could not bear to look at his golf clubs.

"I've always loved golf and played it my whole life. So having it stripped away all of a sudden was mentally challenging," said Guan, who was told within days he would not regain his sight in that eye.

"Luckily I got the 'good to go' after a couple of weeks, started walking again and doing body strength work."

Fortnite & COD - gaming helps Guan make adaptations

Guan remembers the rehabilitation process as a series of "little steps" on a long road back to the golf course.

Three months after the second operation, he picked up clubs for the first time with gentle chipping and putting.

He had to patiently build up through the bag and, about another three months later, was taking full swings with the driver.

"My initial thoughts were 'wow, my clubs are so long'," said Guan.

"I hadn't been playing for six months and gripping the club felt really awkward, I wanted to stand way too tall.

"I had no idea if I would be able to play again, but as the sessions kept going and I practising more, I started seeing results."

Specialists gave Guan a series of vision therapy drills to strengthen his right eye - and encouraged him to play console games.

Battling online opponents on Marvel Rivals, Fortnite, Rainbow 6 Siege and Call of Duty has added a fun element to the rehabilitation process.

"Gaming helps with some hand eye coordination and increase of peripheral vision awareness. It helps that I love gaming anyway," Guan said.

The change in his depth perception has made playing from the bunkers - where he would be penalised for grounding his club - particularly challenging.

Visually-impaired golfers from around the globe, who contacted Guan through social media after hearing his story, provided crucial tips.

Squinting with his right eye to block out peripheral objects, and using the shadow from the sun to tell where his club is, have improved his sand game.

When he began putting, Guan found his reading of the greens was "atrocious".

Guan could not judge the contours - even if there were steep breaks - and quickly adopted a technique used by many golfers to improve putting accuracy.

"I've starting learning Aimpoint – where you stand over the second third of the putt and you feel how big the slope is with your feet - to confirm what I'm seeing," he said.

"I still read a putt normally behind the ball or the hole and then I will use Aimpoint quickly to make sure it's right."

How has he fared on his comeback?

Having upped his workload to daily practice sessions with long-time coach Gary Barter at the revered Australian Golf Club, Guan had a decision to make about returning to the professional ranks.

"Even when training and practising was going well, I was 50-50 if I should take another year off," he said.

"I get two years on a medical [exemption] and, after talking to my team and my parents, I felt two years out of golf was too long."

Guan has been fitted for a prosthetic cover over the eye, which he wears while playing to make him feel "100% confident" in front of other people.

His first tournament back came at the Northern Territory PGA Championship in August, falling short of the cut after carding rounds of 74 and 73.

A fortnight later he played at the Western Australia PGA Championship - finishing in a share of 10th place after shooting a final-day 66.

Guan says his comeback has been fuelled by self-motivation, but also credits the overwhelming support of the golfing world for providing further encouragement.

A recent video message from Ryder Cup star Tommy Fleetwood - who Guan describes as an "idol" - was a particular source of inspiration.

Fleetwood will not be playing in the Australian Open, but Guan warily dreams about potentially lining up alongside the Englishman in the future.

"I would love to be part of the DP Tour or PGA Tour as a member but right now I'm just focusing on the Aussie schedule and playing my way up from there," he said.

"I want to say [earning tour cards] is a target but it's still very early to tell."

BBC

 

[hassan918]

McIlroy produces 'rollercoaster' opening round​

Rory McIlroy shot a one-over round of 72 on a "rollercoaster" opening day at the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.

The Masters champion, who won this tournament in 2013, had an up and down round which included five birdies and six bogeys in tricky conditions with strong winds.

His playing partners Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee both finished two under for the day, while Australia's Elvis Smylie, New Zealand's Ryan Fox and Mexico's Carlos Ortiz are in a three-way tie for the lead on six under.

Scotland's Cameron Adam, appearing at just his second tournament as a professional, is two shots behind the leaders.

The 22-year-old missed the cut on his professional debut at last month's Australian PGA Championship but has started strongly in Melbourne.

He hit three birdies on the front nine and added a further two on his way back to the clubhouse before dropping a shot on the par-three 16th to sign for a 67.

McIlroy started his round on the back nine with a birdie on the 10th, but bogeys at the following two holes set the tone for his round.

"Every time I made a birdie or two, I made a bogey or two," he said.

"It felt like one of those days - what side of par am I going to finish on, under or over?

"It wasn't terrible. I hit it in a couple of bad spots and had a couple of early three-putts as well.

"It's tricky conditions and not like anyone is getting away out there, so I limited the damage and hope the conditions are a little bit better tomorrow."

McIlroy admitted he was "caught out a couple of times" with the crosswinds as he tried to adjust to the conditions, but is happy to be back at the Australian Open for the first time since 2015.

The support he and his Australian playing partners enjoyed from early on Thursday morning is not lost on the career Grand Slam winner who acknowledged the tournament "means a little bit more" to the Australian public.

"It was amazing, I couldn't believe how many people were there at seven o'clock when we teed off," he said.

"There are events in golf that means a little bit more. I think everybody in Australia takes so much pride in their national Open and you can feel it, so it's a pleasure to be here again and play there with Adam [Scott] and Min Woo [Lee].

"I'm looking forward to getting out there with them again tomorrow."

Elsewhere, Jeff Guan, a two-time Australian amateur champion - who is permanently blind in his left eye - is tied for 117th after a four-over-par 75 in his opening round.

Source: BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

2028 Open moved to August to avoid Olympics clash

The R&A is moving The Open championship in 2028 to avoid clashing with the Los Angeles Olympics golf tournament.

With the Olympic golfing medals being decided between 19-29 July, the 156th staging of golf's oldest major has been shunted back from its traditional slot in the third week of July to 3-6 August.

The men's Senior Open will take place from 10-13 August, with the Women's Open being held from 17-20 August.

"Providing clarity on the dates now will assist with the planning of the global golf calendar in 2028," said R&A chief executive Mark Darbon.

"The Open will be returning to its normal mid-July dates in 2029."

The venues for all three major championships in 2028 will be confirmed at a later date.

Open Championship 2028 moved to avoid clash with Los Angeles Olympics

The 156th Open Championship will be held in August 2028 to avoid clashing with the Olympic golf tournament at the Los Angeles Games.

www.bbc.com

 

[hassan918]

Scheffler joins Woods with fourth PGA Tour award​

Scottie Scheffler has become just the second man after Tiger Woods to win the PGA Tour's player of the year award for four seasons in a row.

The 29-year-old American won six times in 2025, including two majors - The Open and the PGA Championship - and recorded a PGA Tour-best 17 top-10 finishes as well as not missing a single cut.

He is just the second player to claim the Jack Nicklaus Award in at least four straight seasons after Woods (five in succession between 1999 and 2003 - and 11 overall).

World number one Scheffler won the vote of PGA Tour members ahead of his fellow American Ben Griffin, England's Tommy Fleetwood and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy.

PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp said: "Scottie's consistent level of success has been nothing short of spectacular as he continues to chase history on the PGA Tour, and we're excited to see what he will deliver in 2026."

South Africa's Aldrich Potgieter received the Arnold Palmer Award as the PGA Tour rookie of the year after a season in which he was the only newcomer to qualify for the FedEx Cup Play-offs.

Potgieter, one of five rookies to win on the tour this season, is the third South African winner of the prize, joining Ernie Els (1994) and Trevor Immelman (2006).

Source: BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

McIlroy wins Sports Personality of the Year 2025

Golfer Rory McIlroy has been voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2025 after clinching the career Grand Slam and playing a key role in Europe's Ryder Cup win.

The 36-year-old Northern Irishman achieved golfing immortality in April when he won the Masters at Augusta National to complete the set of all four major trophies.

He became just the sixth man - and first European - to achieve the Slam, joining Americans Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, and South Africa's Gary Player, in accomplishing the feat.

Having won the US Open, The Open and US PGA Championship by 2014, McIlroy had to wait another 11 years to make his "dreams come true".

He then played a key role in Europe's first Ryder Cup win in the United States since 2012, contributing three-and-a-half points to his team's triumph.

McIlroy also delighted his home crowd by winning the Irish Open for a second time, with further successes at the Players Championship and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, before topping off a stellar year with his seventh Race to Dubai title.

Rory McIlroy wins Sports Personality of the Year 2025 award

Rory McIlroy is crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2025 after clinching the career Grand Slam and playing a key role in Europe's Ryder Cup win.

www.bbc.com

 

[hassan918]

Japanese golf great 'Jumbo' Ozaki dies aged 78​

Japan's most successful professional golfer, Masashi 'Jumbo' Ozaki, has died at the age of 78.

Nicknamed Jumbo because of his length off the tee, Ozaki won 94 times on the Japan Tour and topped the country's order of merit 12 times.

He was in the top 10 of golf's rankings for nearly 200 weeks and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.

"While golf has long been popular in Japan, it was Ozaki who brought a new vitality to the game and his emergence spawned an unprecedented growth in the game in the country," said his profile on the World Golf Hall of Fame website., external

Ozaki was a professional baseball player before switching to golf and winning his first tournament in 1973 at the age of 26, with his last coming when he was 55.

He had top 10 finishes at The Open, Masters and US Open and used to take a sushi chef with him when he played away from Japan "so that he and his entourage would feel more at home outside of their homeland".

Ozaki also ventured into singing and had three singles in the Japanese charts in the late 1980s.

A statement on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) website said Ozaki's son Tomoharu had announced his father had passed away after being diagnosed with colon cancer about a year ago.

"The golf world has lost a truly great man," said JGTO chairman Yutaka Morohoshi., external

"He long steered the men's professional golf world and overwhelmed others with his unparalleled strength."

Source: BBC

 

[hassan918]

McIlroy's omission from honours list questioned​

Questions are being asked about why the King's New Year Honours list did not recognise the achievements of Northern Ireland golfer Rory McIlroy.

The 36-year-old completed a career Grand Slam in the sport by winning the Masters in April and led Team Europe to a memorable Ryder Cup success against their American hosts in September.

When McIlroy won a dramatic play-off to add the Masters to his Open, US Open, and US PGA Championship triumphs, there were calls for him to be knighted.

At the time, the Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt said: "This universally popular figure deserves the highest praise the nation can bestow, and a knighthood is just that."

However, McIlroy did not feature in the list of honours released on Monday evening, despite being nominated by Stormont for recognition as reported by the Press Association.

Asked to confirm this, a spokesperson for the Executive Office said: "Any queries about honours nominations should be directed to Cabinet Office."

The Cabinet Office does not comment on individual honours.

Holywood-born McIlroy was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2012 after winning his first major championship at the US PGA.

He became the first European to win all four major tournaments, known as a golfing Grand Slam, during a remarkable 12 months.

McIlroy also delighted his home crowd by winning the Irish Open, with further success at the Players Championship, before topping off a stellar year with a seventh Race to Dubai title.

He was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2025 and won the equivalent award from the Irish broadcaster RTÉ.

'An unbelievably massive honour'
In response to a direct question by Sky Sports about becoming 'Sir Rory McIlroy' one day, he said in November: "If that were ever to happen it would be an unbelievably massive honour.

"That's obviously up to people a lot more powerful and important than me.

"But, I mean, if it were to happen one day, it would be a very proud moment in my life."

Since not being included in the latest honours list, there has been no comment from McIlroy or anyone close to him.

He is likely to be asked about the issue by the media in the new year, at his next tournament which may be the Dubai Invitational starting on 15 January.

Among the sportsmen and women recognised in the New Year honours were Olympic gold medalist Rhys McClenaghan from Newtownards.

England women's football coach Sarina Wiegman was made an honorary dame.

Figure skating duo Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean were given a damehood and knighthood respectively.

Source: BBC

 

[hassan918]

Rahm, DeChambeau & Smith choose LIV over PGA return​

Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cam Smith have all indicated they will remain with LIV Golf rather than rejoining the PGA Tour.

Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka was recently accepted back on the American circuit after he quit the Saudi Arabian-backed series to prioritise "the needs of his family".

The PGA Tour subsequently opened the door for fellow major winners Rahm, DeChambeau and Smith to follow Koepka under a new returning member programme, open until 2 February.

But the trio quashed the prospect of a return when they spoke at a news conference for LIV Golf captains.

Rahm, 31, said he "wished Brooks the best" but was "not planning to go anywhere".

"As far as I'm concerned, I'm focused on LIV for this year and hoping my team can repeat as champs," said the Spaniard.

American DeChambeau, 32, pointed out he is "contracted through 2026" and said he is "so excited about this year", while Australian Smith, also 32, added that he had "made a decision" and will "be on LIV for years to come".

Only players who have been away from the PGA Tour for at least two years and have won The Players Championship or a major between 2022 and 2025 were eligible to return under the terms of the PGA Tour initiative.

That meant Rahm, DeChambeau and Smith were the only LIV players able to consider a move, with Phil Mickelson ruled out because he won the last of his six majors at the 2021 US PGA Championship.

PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp outlined that programme would be only open for the 2026 campaign and was in "response to a unique set of circumstances".

"This is a one-time, defined window and does not set a precedent for future situations," Rolapp said in an open letter.

"Once the door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again."

Source: BBC

 

[hassan918]

McIlroy challenges Hatton and Rahm to pay Tour fines​

Rory McIlroy has challenged Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm to "prove" their commitment to Europe's Ryder Cup team by settling their multi-million pound fines from the DP World Tour.

England's Hatton and Spaniard Rahm were fined for competing in conflicting LIV Golf events while remaining members of the European-based tour.

Both appealed against the sanctions in 2024, which allowed them to play in enough events to retain their membership and be eligible for last year's Ryder Cup victory over the United States in New York.

The cases are yet to be heard so the question over their eligibility is set to return before the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Ireland.

Asked at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic whether it would be easier if Hatton and Rahm paid their fines, world number two McIlroy told reporters: "Absolutely, yeah.

"We went really hard on the Americans about being paid to play the Ryder Cup and we also said that we would pay to play in Ryder Cups. There are two guys that can prove it."

American players each received $500,000 (£373,000) from organisers the PGA of America to compete in last year's defeat at Bethpage, making it the first time in the Ryder Cup's 98-year history that players on either side had been paid to play.

However, some of the players said during the event in New York that they would donate their earnings to charity.

While several of the world's top golfers were lured to LIV, Northern Ireland's McIlroy remained loyal to the DP World Tour and US-based PGA Tour.

"I think any organisation or any members' organisation like this has a right to uphold its rules and regulations," added the reigning Masters champion.

"What the DP World Tour is doing is upholding its rules and regulations. We, as members, sign a document at the start of every year, which has you agree to these rules and regulations.

"The people that made the option to go to LIV knew what they were. So I don't see what's wrong with that."

Source: BBC

 

[hassan918]

'Doesn't seem fair' - Rahm criticises LIV rankings call​

A ruling that will see only the top 10 finishers at LIV Golf events awarded world ranking points "doesn't seem fair", says two-time major winner Jon Rahm.

The Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) board revealed on Tuesday its decision to award LIV players points for the first time.

But the limit means it will be different from all 24 other men's professional golf tours that are part of the OWGR where everyone making the cut earn points.

The OWGR board said it was restricting points to the top 10 finishers in the Saudi Arabia-funded circuit because it "recognises there are a number of areas where LIV Golf does not meet the eligibility standards set out by OWGR".

Speaking at LIV Golf's season opener in Riyadh, Rahm said it was "fantastic that we're being recognised in a way" but he added: "With that said, I don't like how we're not being treated the same as every other tour.

"It seems like the rules that have been in place don't really apply to us, with only 10 of us getting points.

"It doesn't seem fair. The small fields out there throughout the course of the year, their players get full points."

The Spaniard added he believes "there's work to be done".

"While it's good for some people, it could cause some players to actually lose world ranking points instead of gaining them because finishing 11th is basically a missed cut, and we're already adding to the divisor.

"But I'm thankful that LIV Golf got their foot in the door, and there's a possibility for us to walk in the room and be recognised as a tour, as we should be."

Setting out its reasons for the restrictions, OWGR said LIV Golf's eligibility failures included an average field size of 57 for 2026 versus the minimum of 75 set out in the ranking body's regulations and "self-selection of players with players being recruited rather than earning their place on the tour in many cases".

LIV has described OWGR's stance as "unprecedented", saying someone finishing 11th in one of its events would be "treated the same as a player finishing 57th".

The circuit has also highlighted events such as the Hero World Challenge (20 players), and the PGA Tour's end-of-season play-off events the Tour Championship (30) and BMW Championship (49) - and the European DP World Tour Championship (52) - as having smaller fields and no cut but still receiving world ranking points for all participants.

Newcomer Detry leads charge
Rahm was among six players, also including England's Tyrell Hatton, tied for fourth after the first round at Riyadh Golf Club on Wednesday.

Belgian Thomas Detry claimed a share of the lead on his LIV debut.

The 33-year-old, whose most recent win came at the PGA Tour's Phoenix Open last February, shot a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 to tie Peter Uihlein.

"First day on the job, so a little bit of a change for me, so a bit nervous," said Detry, who is part of Dustin Johnson's 4Aces GC.

Australia's Elvis Smylie, another rookie, is one off the lead, with Rahm and Hatton in a group two back, while Bryson DeChambeau and Sergio Garcia are at four under.

The event also marks LIV's switch from a 54-hole format to 72.

Source: BBC

 

[hassan918]

Players doesn't need to be fifth major - McIlroy​

World number two Rory McIlroy says the Players Championship has "more of an identity" than the US PGA Championship but does not believe the tournament should become men's golf's fifth major.

The 36-year-old, from County Down in Northern Ireland, became just the sixth man to win each of the sport's four majors - the Masters, US Open, Open Championship and US PGA Championship - in April when he earned a first Green Jacket at Augusta National to complete the career Grand Slam.

The Players, held in March at TPC Sawgrass, has long been nicknamed 'the fifth major', and used to boast of the strongest field in golf, although has been without a number of big names since the start of LIV Golf in 2022.

Last week, the tournament began a promotional campaign for this year's edition with the tagline 'March is going to be major'.

While women's golf already has five majors, McIlroy does not feel the men's game needs to expand its own designation.

"Look, I'd love to have seven majors instead of five, that sounds great," McIlroy said referencing his two previous Players Championships to go alongside his five majors.

"I think the Players is one of the best golf tournaments in the world. I don't think anyone disputes that or argues that. I think from a player perspective it's amazing. I think from an on-site fan experience it's amazing. It's an amazing golf course, location, venue.

"But I'm a traditionalist, I'm a historian of the game. We have four major championships. If you want to see what five major championships looks like, look at the women's game. I don't know how well that's went for them."

McIlroy also called for the US PGA Championship to be moved back to August.

His PGA titles in 2012 and 2014 came when the tournament was held in August, but since 2019, it has been staged in May in between the Masters and US Open.

When it was the final major of the year, it was branded 'glory's last shot', and McIlroy believes "it needs to go back to August" to regain that identity.

"The Players, it doesn't need to be anything else. I would say it's got more of an identity than the PGA Championship does at the minute," he added before making his 2026 PGA Tour debut with the defence of his Pebble Beach Pro-Am title on Thursday.

"So from an identity standpoint, I think the Players has got it nailed. It stands on its own without the label, I guess."

Source: BBC

 

[hassan918]

McIlroy confident before Genesis Invitational​

Rory McIlroy is happy with his game as he prepares to challenge for a first Genesis Invitational success at the Riviera Country Club.

The world number two will tee off on Thursday with Tommy Fleetwood and Collin Morikawa, who is coming off his victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last Sunday.

McIlroy finished in a tie for 14th, five shots behind Morikawa but hitting an impressive final-round 64 as he builds up to the defence of his Masters title in April.

"I'm working through that first bit of the year where I'm trying to shake a bit of rust off," said the five-time major winner.

"I learnt a lot about my game last week. I played well for a lot of it but made some big numbers which put me out of contention on Sunday.

"I feel there is enough good in there for me to be encouraged going out there this week.

"I think the fact that I'm hitting a lot of good shots, putting it close and converting a lot of putts, that has to give me confidence not just for this week but going forward."

McIlroy's best finish in the tournament came four years ago when he ended in joint 10th.

'Horrible change'
McIlroy practised on Wednesday on the Riviera course, which includes a change to the par-three fourth hole.

It has been extended from 237 yards to 273 yards and the Northern Irishman is not a fan of the change.

"I don't think it plays any differently, you're just hitting a slightly longer club - actually I think it's a horrible change.

"Fifteen percent of the field hit the green last time when it played 230. If you want it to be a 275 par-three you have to change the apron leading up on to the green.

"It can't be kikuyu, it has to be another type of grass that can help you run it on to the green.

"Because in the right conditions you try to fly it on to the green with a three iron it's going to finish up on the fifth tee box.

"That's sort of what I mean that it's not a great change."

Source: BBC

 

[hassan918]

Royal Portrush to host 2027 Amateur Championship​

Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland will stage the Amateur Championship for the fourth occasion in 2027.

The 132nd Amateur Championship will take place between 14-19 June. Qualifying will be held on the Dunluce and Valley links with the tournament to be played at Dunluce.

The venue has staged the event three times already with Bradley Neil winning the most recent tournament held there in 2014.

American Ethan Fang won the 130th Amateur Championship at Royal St George's and Royal Cinque Ports in Deal, England last year, defeating Gavin Tiernan in a one-hole victory in the final.

Royal Portrush hosted the 2025 Open when Scottie Scheffler secured the title.

This year's Amateur will take place at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake.

Considered one of the world's most prestigious competitions outside the professional game, five-time European Tour winner and Northern Irishman Michael Hoey won the tournament in Prestwick in 2001.

In the last 10 years, the event has been held at Irish courses Ballyliffin in 2024, and Portmarnock in 2019.

Source: BBC

 

[hassan918]

Donald named Europe captain for third time​

Luke Donald will attempt to become the first captain to win three Ryder Cups in a row after his third term as European skipper was confirmed for next year's edition in Ireland.

Having won the competition four times as a player and twice served as vice-captain, Donald led Europe to a 16½-11½ win over the USA in Rome in 2023 before masterminding last year's dramatic 15-13 triumph in New York.

Donald will be the first European captain to serve three consecutive terms since Bernard Gallacher between 1991 and 1995.

Next year's Ryder Cup takes place at Adare Manor in County Limerick from 17-19 September.

"To be totally honest, I probably didn't firmly make up my mind until a few weeks ago," Donald told BBC Sport NI's Gavin Andrews.

"The time between Rome and New York was very short. I was eager to get back into having an opportunity to try and win an away Ryder Cup in New York. That was a big challenge for me and there was no real time between those Ryder Cups to relax and let it sink in."

Donald added: "I felt like for four straight years I was involved in Ryder Cups so I did want to take some time and enjoy it [after New York].

"To be honest, after we won in New York, it wasn't really at the forefront of my mind at all.

"But having got some backing from my family and the players and realising the opportunity, being in Ireland at Adare, it will be special with the 100th anniversary [of the Ryder Cup], I thought let's go for a third."

The USA have not named their captain, with 15-time major winner Tiger Woods considering an offer to succeed Keegan Bradley.

Europe's 2025 success was their first on American soil since 2012 and meant Donald became only the second captain to lead the team to victories both home and away since Tony Jacklin in 1985 and 1987.

Former world number one Donald, 48, was initially appointed as a late replacement for the 2023 matches in Rome after LIV defector Henrik Stenson was told he would not be allowed to take on the role while playing on the breakaway tour.

He led Europe to a commanding triumph over the USA at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.

In New York, Donald's side built a record 11½-4½ lead going into the Sunday singles before holding off an American comeback to win in a highly charged atmosphere.

English player Matt Fitzpatrick, who was part of the winning teams in 2023 and 2025, described Donald's reappointment as "awesome".

"Everyone knows what Luke is about, what he's achieved and what we've achieved as a team. So for him to come back is a great choice," Fitzpatrick told BBC Sport.

"How he's gone about his business in creating the best team and the best team environment is what has made us successful."

Donald would 'love' Rahm on team
Continuity has been key for Europe in the past two editions, with Donald leading virtually the same team at Bethpage as in Rome being highlighted by Fitzpatrick as a key factor in the success.

However, the participation of Jon Rahm next year is in doubt amid his dispute with the DP World Tour.

This week the Spaniard said the tour is "extorting players" while outlining why he is not among a group of LIV Golf competitors to have signed a settlement enabling them to play in both organisations' tournaments.

In February eight players were granted releases by the DP World Tour to participate in LIV Golf events this year, allowing them to retain memberships and remain eligible for Ryder Cup selection.

The waiver included an agreement to pay outstanding fines reportedly in the region of £2.5m levied for playing in LIV events without DP World Tour permission, the withdrawal of all pending appeals and an acceptance to take part in stipulated DP World Tour tournaments.

When asked about Rahm's comments, Donald said he had not yet spoken to the two-time major winner.

"It would be great to get to understand where he's coming from.

"Obviously I would love for him to be available for that team in Ireland, but there's still 16 or 17 months so we have much time on our hands."

Pressed on whether he thinks the situation will be resolved in time for the Ryder Cup, Donald added: "I hope so. I really want Jon to be available, that would be great but a little bit of that is on Jon and his decisions."

Ryder Cup 2027: Luke Donald to remain Europe captain in Ireland

Luke Donald will attempt to become the first captain to win three Ryder Cups in a row after his third term as European skipper is confirmed for next year.

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Two-tier system among proposals for PGA Tour future​

Promotion and relegation between different tiers of tournaments has been proposed by PGA Tour boss Brian Rolapp while unveiling his latest vision for the future of professional golf.

The Tiger Woods-chaired Future Competitions Committee, set up by Rolapp to provide a blueprint for pro golf's future, is leaning towards a two-tier tour, with players switching levels depending on the quality of their performances.

"You see this work powerfully elsewhere, including in English football, where clubs move between the Premier [League] and the Championship based on their performance," said Rolapp, who switched from the NFL to become PGA Tour CEO in June last year.

"Applying elements of that approach to the PGA Tour creates real consequence, lifting the competitive standard across the entire platform.

"For our members, the message is pretty simple: play well and you earn the opportunity to compete in our biggest events and for more money."

Rolapp suggested that the number of top-level $20m "signature events" could double. There are currently eight such competitions, including last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

Significantly, he added that these tournaments would expand their field size to about 120 players and include a 36-hole cut.

The tour has been experimenting with much smaller fields and no halfway guillotine, a model similar to the one used on the rival breakaway LIV tour.

But Rolapp said: "This means moving away from small fields and no-cut events. Our best events will have larger fields - ideally, we are targeting something closer to 120-player fields with a cut.

"That consistency matters. It helps fans know who they will see and showcases who they want to see, the most competitive players."

He also suggested the tour's end-of-season play-off events could switch to some kind of matchplay format, but admitted all these proposals remain "a work in progress".

Rolapp made no specific mention of his tour's "strategic alliance" with Europe's DP World Tour in his opening remarks. When asked, the American said: "We would like to extend that.

"In fact, we made a proposal to do that, to actually create a more mutual benefit relationship. So we hope we can do that."

Under the current arrangement, the PGA Tour helps underpin the DP World Tour's prize funds. The deal is up for review in 2027 but it is unclear whether the terms of the proposal to extend the relationship would remain as generous.

The European tour's boss, Guy Kinnings, sat in the front row for Rolapp's address and later confirmed to BBC Sport that he would like to see the partnership continue.

Rolapp was speaking not just to reporters but hundreds of PGA Tour sponsors, staff and associates. It was held in the huge atrium of the circuit's grandly titled "Global Home" office complex.

The 53-year-old is one of America's most highly respected sports executives. But the substance of his message struggled to fit the grandeur of the occasion.

This might suggest "significant change" is taking longer than he might have envisaged.

But that is the challenge of trying to satisfy many constituents, including PGA Tour members at differing levels of the game, as well as long-standing tournament sponsors and broadcast partners.

Rolapp spoke of wanting to be "transparent" but refused to say how a $1.5bn (£1.1bn) investment by the powerful Strategic Sports Group might be utilised.

Inevitably, though, it will funnel into supporting what the new boss sees as vital change.

"The US [sports] media market and rights fees is $30bn (£22.4bn)," said Rolapp, who spent 22 years at the NFL.

"Currently the NFL is $12bn of that. They have made their public intentions clear; they would like to double that.

"So if you start doing that math and you're anyone other than the National Football League, you start to ask yourself the questions.

"Next time I go to the media market, how do I make sure I have the most compelling product for fans and for our media partners so that we can compete in what is a very complicated media ecosystem?"

Rolapp added: "If you are in the sports business, it behooves you to put your house in order as much as possible.

"That is a significant part of the work that the Future Competition Committee is doing and it's one of the reasons why it's so important."

Source: BBC