If the authorities are determined to curb slow play, picking on the world No1 while ignoring others who are renowned for a lack of urgency makes no senseIt is the subject guaranteed to send even mild-mannered golfing observers into a state of frenzy. Piece the words slow and play together before watching sparks fly; it can really be great fun. The only thing more consistent than slow play is the regularity with which people prattle on about it. Related: Muirfield members face their demons again: is it time to let the ladies in? | Marina Hyde Related: Sport calendar 2017: your essential guide to the next 12 months Continue reading...
Once again the stark choice between preserving their lunching tradition and hosting the Open worth £80m to the local economy will vex the guardians of golf club privilege over whether to change their men-only membership rulesGiven it is the only notable event Muirfield Golf Club now stages, I increasingly look forward to its biannual row over whether to admit women members. Last played in May 2016, the contest returns this month and promises to put observers right inside the action of ye olden tymes as they enjoy breathtaking views uttered in front of a backdrop of breathtaking views. Think of it as a sort of Westworld for golf, shot on a cost of £80m to the local economy, which is...
World No2 aims to be raring to go after spending a week in Dubai testing equipment as a result of Nike’s decision to pull out of marketRory McIlroy is experienced enough to recognise the territory. He has also developed a useful capacity to ignore what he regards as unnecessary, if incessant, commentary.The worst-case scenario is: a slow start to 2017 that leaves McIlroy out of sorts before his quest for the holy grail at the Masters in April. The explanation for this scene can be predicted, that an equipment switch – as triggered by Nike’s withdrawal from the market – will set back McIlroy. Just do not expect the man himself to pay much attention. Related: Rory McIlroy laments ‘pathetic’...
Pumping more money into its initiative is a risky strategy for the European Tour, which is already struggling to make the numbers add upIt took a dozen questions and an abundance of platitudes for a key detail of the European Tour’s Rolex Series to be revealed. Keith Pelley, the tour’s chief executive, was asked precisely where a total shortfall of about $7.7m in prize money for three 2017 events alone would come from.“We, along with Rolex, are bringing them [each] up to $7m,” said Pelley of the purses for the BMW Championship, the Irish Open and the Scottish Open. Therefore, a much-heralded European Tour project actually looks like costing the body – who announced a 2015 loss of nearly £8m...
To attract names such as Patrick Reed the European Tour has had to relax its entry rules and while that has angered some the battle to keep tournaments competitive and marketable is hard to ignoreSympathy for Keith Pelley was in short supply last week. No sooner had the European Tour’s chief executive praised strong communication with players with regards to safety at the Turkish Airlines Open than one of the group contradicted him.“I wasn’t the only one who believed it was about to be struck off the schedule due to the security concerns there,” said Shane Lowry, in his routinely excellent column for the Irish Times. “I know everyone’s going to say how good it was in Turkey and how...