Premier Golf League wants to draw 48 top players away from existing tours with $25m per year inducement but PGA will line up its artillery in responseWe should know better than to expect proper analysis of a hideous cash grab by some of the world’s most high-profile golfers – Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, et al – as the European Tour shuffles into Saudi Arabia this week.We should also be clear that every available strand of evidence suggests these sportsmen could barely care less what others think of the acceptance of appearance fees from a regime where human rights violations render “abhorrent” an understatement. Related: Tiger Woods defends Phil Mickelson’s decision to play in Saudi Arabia Related: Saudi Arabia,...
A review of the golfing year features McIlroy’s disastrous start at Portrush and Hinako Shibuno’s fairytale win at the British OpenAs the freshly plundered FedEx truck disappears down the lane, not so much as a bronze centime left rattling around the back, now seems as good a time as any to take stock of the year in golf. So here are our (slightly less valuable) end-of-season prizes.Anti-climax of the year Related: Lightning strikes Tour Championship and leaves six spectators in hospital Related: Scottish golf’s biggest handicap? Its elitist clubs. But change is in the air... | Kevin McKenna Continue reading...
If the focus on the world No 8 results in improvement on slow play then the criticism of the player will have been justifiedA hilarious scene played out on the penultimate day of this year’s Latin America Amateur Championship. While irked – and worried – by the delivery of a warning over slow play, Alvaro Ortiz took to hitting shots half a hole in front of his playing partners. The Mexican was battering drives away whilst his fellow players eyed up putts on the previous green, before officialdom delivered a hitherto unheard-of message: slow down.There was no levity surrounding the Northern Trust event in New York last weekend. Bryson DeChambeau grabbed the spotlight in a manner far removed from typically...
The Irishman conquered his fears and the horrible weather for a memorable Open triumph, winning by six shotsThey were nervous at the 1st, and so was he. The ovation they gave Shane Lowry when he stepped out to begin the final round of the 148th Open soon settled down into an uneasy silence. Lowry is an anxious man. He has said it himself. Back in 2016 he got so stressed about organising the guest list for his wedding that he and his fiancée decided they were better off eloping to New York instead. It was later that same year he blew a four-shot lead in the last round of the US Open at Oakmont. Everyone remembered that one and, even...
It was no disgrace for Fleetwood to finish six shots behind the sentimental favourite who held him at bay through driving rainThe Sabbath was never a day for gambling in these parts and Tommy Fleetwood resisted the temptation in picking his way round a sodden, wind-whipped course with more devil in it than your average prison cell. He still did not win but he did as well as the elements, the Dunluce Links and his temperament would allow.On a day when JB Holmes shot 87 and Cameron Smith reckoned a 15-handicapper would not get around the course at all, it was no disgrace finishing six shots behind the sentimental and rightful favourite, Shane Lowry. The ever-smiling Irishman held him at...