Tag: golf

Keegan Bradley wins fifth PGA Tour title of his career and first since 2018 with one-shot triumph over Rickie Fowler and Andrew Putnam at Zozo Championship in Japan; overnight leader Fowler fades and remains without a victory on the PGA Tour since February 2019

Keegan Bradley secured his first PGA Tour victory in four years at the Zozo Championship as fellow American Rickie Fowler’s title drought extended.

Bradley – previously winless since the 2018 BMW Championship – shot a two-under-par 68 to end on 15 under for the tournament and scoop close to $2 million.

Overnight leader Fowler finished on 14 under after a level round of 70, with Andrew Putnam also on 14 under after a final-round 68 at the Narashino Country Club in Japan.

Bradley poses with the trophy in Japan after edging Rickie Fowler and Andrew Putnam by one shot

It is closing in on four years since Fowler claimed the most recent of his five PGA Tour successes – the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February 2019.

The 33-year-old led Bradley by two strokes and Putnam by one going into the final round and the trio each headed the field during different stages of Sunday’s action.

Fowler led after round three but was unable to go on and secure a first victory since February 2019

Bradley surged two clear following a 20-foot birdie putt at the 11th before Putnam moved level with his countryman at the 16th.

However, Bradley – the 2011 PGA champion – re-established a two-stroke advantage at the 17th as he bagged a birdie and Putnam recorded a bogey.

Putnam’s birdie on the last was not enough as Bradley made par to earn a fifth PGA Tour crown.

Bradley said afterwards: “It’s why I practice so hard. Things aren’t easy for me normally, so the birdie on the 17th was one of the best holes of my life.

“This is so special. I played in the final group here when Tiger Woods won here [in 2019]. I’m so proud to win this tournament.”

Fowler’s hopes of a sixth PGA Tour victory faded when he bogeyed the 15th before wasting a birdie chance at the next with another disappointing putt.

He did birdie the 18th, though, to finish tied for second with Putnam – one shot ahead of Emiliano Grillo (13 under) and two above Viktor Hovland, Sahith Theegala and Hayden Buckley (12 under).

Watch more PGA Tour action live on Sky Sports Golf from 8pm on Thursday as the CJ Cup begins in South Carolina. Rory McIlroy won that event in 2021.

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Keith Pelley, chief executive of the European Tour group, said: “Our net zero commitment shows that through Golf for Good we are serious about environmental responsibility and the role we can play”

The European Tour group has become the first professional golf tour to announce its commitment towards net zero carbon emissions.

The group has become a signatory to the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework and the Framework’s Race to Zero pledge, which requires all signatories to commit to reduce direct emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2040.

The Sports for Climate Action Framework was created by the United Nations and made for sports organisations and their stakeholders to tackle climate change through a set of five principles.

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Climate change is threatening sport. Sky Zero and Sky Sports are helping fans take action against the climate crisis so there is always a place to play

Those principles are: Undertaking systematic efforts to promote greater environmental sustainability, reducing overall climate impact, educating for climate action, promoting sustainable and responsible consumption, as well advocating for climate action through communication.

It will be a key focus of Golf for Good, the European Tour group’s commitment to Driving Golf Further in an environmentally and socially sustainable way, ensuring the Tour has a positive long-term impact on the courses, countries and the communities it visits.

Keith Pelley, chief executive of the European Tour group, said: “The group’s DP World Tour is a global brand with millions of followers, so we have a clear responsibility and opportunity to use our platforms in the right way.

“Our net zero commitment shows that through Golf for Good we are serious about environmental responsibility and the role we can play.

“Our staff and leadership, under the guidance of our Head of Sustainability, are determined to ensure we fully meet all our pledges, and we appreciate the support of our expert partners and advisers in helping us do so. Of course, we also invite our partners and stakeholders to join us in making effective change.”

Becoming a signatory to the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework is the logical next step in the Tour’s Green Drive initiative, which has grown in scale and impact over several years and was re-launched on World Environment Day last year.

The most recent Sustainability Strategy further aligns Green Drive with the Tour’s wider Golf for Good programme to create a new, holistic approach to sustainable development – on and through the Tour.

Lindita Xhaferi Salihu, UN Sports for Climate Action Lead, added her support: “The Sports for Climate Action Framework is about driving sports to net zero emissions no later than 2040 in line with keeping the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees.

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Two-time major winner Suzann Pettersen warns that some golf courses could go under as a result of climate change

“It is no small or easy undertaking, but to safeguard the future of sport, we all must all join hands and efforts to win the race against climate change. We look forward to working with the Tour alongside other signatories to set the pace for climate action and achieve the ambitious goals we have set for the Sports for Climate Action community.”

Jonathan Smith, executive director of the non-profit GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf, the delivery partner to the European Tour group’s Green Drive programme, added: “Over the last 12 months there has been a significant upscaling of commitment, resourcing and action across the European Tour group – led by the board.

“We are delighted to help guide the ongoing development of the Tour’s emissions reduction strategy; support effective delivery; and track progress through externally accredited programmes and tools developed over many years for this specific purpose.”

Jodi Ewart Shadoff is yet to find a win in the LPGA Championship; She carded eight-under-par 64 on day one of the Mediheal Championship; Alison Lee and Ruixin Liu are tied for second

England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff, a 34-year-old veteran still looking for her first career LPGA Tour win, holds a two-shot lead after the first round of the LPGA Mediheal Championship on Thursday.

​​​​Ewart Shadoff carded an eight-under-par 64 at The Saticoy Club while Alison Lee and China’s Ruixin Liu are tied for second at 66, with Danielle Kang, South Africa’s Paula Reto and Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul sharing fourth place at 67.

Ten players are tied for seventh place at 68.

Ewart Shadoff has finished in the top 10 on tour 27 times, including this year at the LPGA Match-Play when she tied for fifth and the ShopRite LPGA Classic when she finished third.

On Thursday, she started on the back nine and opened with a birdie, then added an eagle at the par-five 14th hole.

She made the turn following consecutive birdies, then had her lone bogey of the day at the par-four first hole before finishing hot and making four straight birdies ahead of a closing par.

Lee’s bogey-free round concluded with four birdies on the front nine.

“I feel like I was hitting it really good all day today,” Lee said.

“I feel like I pretty much hit all my shots in makeable birdie range.

“I could have made a lot more…. I just feel like I played really awesome today.

“I would say it’s not a super easy course. It felt easy today obviously because I played so well. Other than that, you definitely need to think a little bit when you hit your approach shots and really need to keep in mind where the pin is and where the slopes are, too.”

Liu was one over par through five holes, but a string of four consecutive birdies straddling the turn sparked her bogey-free run for the rest of the round.

Kang produced a strong round in her homecoming to Ventura County, where she grew up.

“All my friends aren’t out here yet, so I’ll let you know when they all come,” Kang said.

“My brother coming is a big deal for me, because I love it when he watches.

“He’s kind of my big teacher. He always knows how my game works.

“Today, he’s going to tell me what went well and what didn’t, and I learn from that.”

Defending champion Matilda Castren of Finland, who established the event’s scoring record of 14-under 274 while beating Taiwan’s Min Lee by two shots last year, is tied for 71st after a one-over 73. Lee is tied for 39th at one-under

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