Tag: McDowell

Team Europe and Team USA practiced at Marco Simone on Tuesday ahead of the Ryder Cup; Luke Donald looking to avenge 19-9 loss at Whistling Straits in 2021; Watch the opening day live on Friday from 6am on Sky Sports Golf

A look at the latest storylines from Rome ahead of the Ryder Cup, including potential Team Europe pairings, Jordan Spieth’s likely partner, challenging conditions and possible drama ahead at Marco Simone GC…

Early look at Europe’s pairings

As always during the practice days before the Ryder Cup gets under way, we try to second-guess the captains by seeing who is playing with who during the practice rounds.

Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka and Tommy Fleetwood teed off in Europe’s first group on Tuesday, with the second fourball being Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg. The final four on the tee were Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose, Nicolai Hojgaard and Bob MacIntyre.

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As Team Europe prepare to take on Team USA in the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, take a look at the best shots from his six appearances in the competition

McIlroy’s group played with their own balls on the front nine but then switched it up to foursomes on the back nine, with McIlroy and Fleetwood forming a foursomes team taking on Lowry and Straka. Perhaps we could see McIlroy and Fleetwood together in Friday morning foursomes?

Team USA giving away big clues?

When he faced the media, European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald said we shouldn’t read too much into Tuesday’s pairings, but it seems a bit more straightforward on who we could see playing together for Team USA on Friday.

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Luke Donald says his Ryder Cup team can take inspiration from the European team’s success in the Solheim Cup

In their first group out, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas were joined by Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, who are two readymade pairings we’ve seen in Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups in years gone by.

The second group featured Collin Morikawa and Max Homa; a pair of California boys who are good friends and played together at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans earlier this year, with Rickie Fowler and Brian Harman also in that fourball.

Their third fourball saw world No 1 Scottie Scheffler together with Sam Burns, a pairing we saw at last year’s Presidents Cup, with Brooks Koepka and Wyndham Clark completing that group.

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As Team Europe prepare to take on Team USA in the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, take a look at Jon Rahm’s best shots from his two appearances in the tournament

‘Gentleman’ Spieth to stick with Thomas?

Dharmesh Sheth: “I wanted to give you a little insight into what a gentleman Jordan Spieth is. I saw him at the driving range on Monday and asked him for a couple of minutes of his time for Sky Sports News, to which he replied ‘I can’t right now but I can do it tomorrow.’

“I saw him again a day later and said ‘I’m back, is it possible to do that interview?’. He asked if we could do it over by the chipping green and was more than happy to do so. He kept with his word and offered plenty of great insight on a variety of subjects.

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Jordan Spieth speaks to Dharmesh Sheth after practicing with his friend Justin Thomas out on the course and on the driving range

“Team USA went out for nine holes of practice on Tuesday morning, playing holes 10-18, and the two people stood alone on the driving range when we got there, shortly after they had finished, were Spieth and Justin Thomas.

“They’ve played together before in Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups, they practiced together and you can’t separate them. Something tells me that we may see them continuing that partnership when play gets under way.”

Drama ahead at the driveable 16th?

Marco Simone GC’s 16th hole will see plenty of drama this week. The 16th hole is always pivotal when it comes to match play, as matches can arrive there with one side two or three up and trying to close out the match, or it could be right in the balance.

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Ryder Cup Team Europe captain Luke Donald advises to not read too much in Tuesday morning’s practice pairings and adds that he has no plans to get a Ryder Cup tattoo should Europe win the competition!

The 16th here is a driveable 303-yard par-four which plays downhill, with a couple of caddies suggesting to me that their players will always take it on because laying up isn’t really an option for them.

On Tuesday, McIlroy took a five-wood and comfortably reached, as did Fleetwood with a three-wood, but the wind was behind them. It is is howling into their teeth it could be a different story.

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We explain why the opening hole of the Ryder Cup is ‘unique’ and what the players will expect at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club

With rough surrounding the green, a roll-off area at the back and a huge expanse of water to the right, it could prove a real risk-reward hole which will be entertaining for fans watching both on the course and at home.

Hot week ahead in Rome

A feature of European Ryder Cups in years gone by used to be the unpredictable weather. In both 2006 at the K Club in Ireland and in 2014 at Gleneagles in Scotland, players would arrive onto the tee box from head to toe in layers of clothes, mittens and woolly hats.

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Dame Laura Davies joins Dharmesh Sheth on the 18th hole of the Marco Simone course where she predicts there will be a nail-biting finish to this year’s Ryder Cup

In 2010 at Celtic Manor in Wales, the tournament even ran over to a Monday after the heavy rain plagued the event at the start of the week. This will not be the case at Marco Simone in 2023, with temperatures forecast to be gloriously sunny and touching 30 degrees every day.

We’re in for a hot Ryder Cup. I’m told this phenomenon is called Ottobrata Romana, or a Roman October. The locals proudly boast that Rome, at this time of year, is the best place in Europe to be.

Live coverage from the opening day of the Ryder Cup begins on Friday from 6am on Sky Sports Golf. There’s also live content each day in the build-up to the tournament. Stream the PGA Tour, DP Tour, Ryder Cup and more with NOW.

Both teams claimed two points in the foursomes to leave Team USA 7-5 ahead over Team Europe; Carlota Ciganda partnered Emily Pedersen to victory while Linn Grant and Maja Stark won their match on the final hole

Swedish rookies Maja Stark and Linn Grant provided a crucial final-hole victory to ensure Team Europe stayed within two points of Team USA heading into the Saturday fourballs at the Solheim Cup.

Europe avoided a repeat of Friday’s foursomes session, where Team USA completed their first clean sweep in the format in the tournament’s history, as the hosts battled to ensure a share of the spoils and keep the deficit at two points heading into the afternoon fourballs.

Home favourite Carlota Ciganda led from the front to guide her and Emily Pedersen to an impressive 2&1 win victory over Lilia Vu and Jennifer Kupcho, before Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz thrashed an out-of-sorts Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier 5&3.

Lexi Thompson and Megan Khang claimed a final-hole victory over Anna Nordqvist and Leona Maguire, before Maja Stark and Linn Grant prevented Team USA from extending their advantage by seeing off Danielle Kang and Andrea Lee by the same margin.

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Play was stopped momentarily at the Solheim Cup in Spain as a greenside sprinkler was set off accidentally. A greenkeeper was forced to intervene so play could continue

More to follow…

Who will win the Solheim Cup? Watch the final day singles live on Sunday from 9am on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the Solheim Cup and more with NOW.

Wayne ‘Radar’ Riley looks at Europe’s pre-Ryder Cup scouting mission to Rome, the players who can impress at the BMW PGA Championship and why Luke Donald’s side could extend their home streak over Team USA later this month, live on Sky Sports Golf

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Europe’s Ryder Cup stars are all in action at the BMW PGA Championship, the flagship event of the DP World Tour calendar, with extended coverage live on Sky Sports Golf.

The BMW PGA Championship is just a great championship and is one of the best in the world, with this week’s event having added importance due to the Ryder Cup being just around the corner.

Luke Donald’s men arrive from their team trip to Marco Simone Golf Club, this year’s Ryder Cup venue, where they went to have a practice round together just to make sure they know what they’re in for, golf course-wise, later this month.

They’re going to have enough practice rounds there during event week and I’m sure they could have seen virtual shots of the course instead, but the team bonding will have been key ahead of them being back together again in a couple of weeks.

Luke Donald was joined by all of his players and all of the vice-captains in Rome

The fact they had all 12 players there was also important, as Team USA only had nine of their players there when they made a similar trip a dew days earlier. That puts pressure on the three who didn’t make the trip and, in some ways, immediately makes it feel like the Americans are half a point down.

All of the Europeans are now here at Wentworth and it’s going to be huge, as it will be great to see where they are all at heading into Rome. We’re likely to see several of the team perform well, with one or two then under the microscope if they’re playing badly.

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Shane Lowry hits back at the critics who questioned his selection as a captain’s pick for this year’s Ryder Cup and tells the rookies involved to enjoy it and be themselves.

Shane Lowry last week showed everyone that he was worthy of his captain’s pick, as he played well under the pressure of his own national open and finished very well. The sharks were circling, but that performance certainly shut those critics up.

I certainly expect Rory McIlroy to bounce back this week as he would have been disappointed with the way he finished at the K Club. I couldn’t see him shooting anything over 68 on the Sunday, although it just went pear-shaped as he imploded during his final round.

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Rory McIlroy’s hopes of winning the Irish Open were ended after making a triple-bogey eight at the 16th hole in the final round.

McIlroy will be back with a vengeance at a venue where he has won at before, although he hasn’t always had the greatest of records at Wentworth outside of that victory in 2014. He’s just about fully recovered now from the back twinge from the FedExCup Playoffs and he will be hard to beat this week.

Point to prove for Meronk?

Someone was always going to miss out on the Ryder Cup, although you wouldn’t expect it to be someone who has won three national opens over the past 15 months or so. Donald and his backroom staff will have looked at the statistic and had their reasons for leaving Adrian Meronk out.

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Rob Lee says Adrian Meronk has every right to be frustrated after not being selected as a captain’s Pick for the Ryder Cup.

I watched a bit of Meronk last week and I can see why they didn’t pick him now. His chipping was very average, which would have been something you want to be firing when you get to Marco Simone Golf Club later this month.

Would you want him to want to get it up and down on the last, if he’s not a great chipper, to regain the Ryder Cup? I’m not sure. From what I’ve seen, that’s the work that needs to be done, although maybe he will come to Wentworth with a point to prove.

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Team Europe captain Luke Donald’s 12-man Ryder Cup team is complete – meet the golfers looking to win back the trophy.

Rome on the mind for Europe

The world stars of Europe will shine on the DP World Tour this week at Wentworth and will clearly be up for this event on its own, as the BMW PGA Championship is massive, but all eyes are starting to turn towards the Ryder Cup.

It has taken a long time to bubble, but the waiting is nearly over and I think the European team is looking really good. I like the way you’ve got the mix of rookies, returning players and experienced heads in the team and I’m sure they will all play their part.

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Team Europe captain Luke Donald explains his Ryder Cup selections and how he plans to win back the famous trophy.

I think it’ll be exciting and as long as it’s close then I think everyone will be happy, but I genuinely think Europe can win it. It’s a European team determined to regain the trophy and everyone is in a good place, so I can’t see them not going well.

Watch the BMW PGA Championship throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins on Thursday with Featured Groups from 8.30am ahead of full coverage from midday on Sky Sports Golf.

Live coverage from the opening day of the Ryder Cup begins on Friday September 29 from 6am on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour, DP Tour, Ryder Cup and more with NOW.

Vincent Norrman claimed a one-shot victory over Hurly Long, with Shane Lowry among the players tied-third on 12 under; Rory McIlroy found the hazard four times during a final-round 76 to end the week tied-16th at the K Club

Vincent Norrman secured a second DP World Tour title with a dramatic victory at the Horizon Irish Open, where Rory McIlroy’s challenge faded after a frustrating final day at the K Club.

Norrman overturned a six-stroke deficit during a gripping final round, following six birdies in an eight-hole stretch by taking advantage of the par-five last to close a sensational bogey-free 65 and set the clubhouse target at 14 under.

The Swede was then made to wait for nearly 90 minutes as the chasing pack all faltered down the closing stretch, with Norrman finishing a shot clear of overnight leader Hurly Long and Shane Lowry sharing third spot with Grant Forrest, Thirston Lawrence and Ryan Fox.

McIlroy held a share of the lead during a storm-affected Sunday, only to find the hazard four times in a final-round 74 – including twice in a triple-bogey at the 16th – to end the week in tied-16th.

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Rory McIlroy found the water twice during the final round of the Irish Open.

How Norrman prevailed in Irish thriller

Long took a one-shot lead into the final day but lost his advantage with a three-putt bogey at the second, with the German in a share of the lead alongside McIlroy, Forrest and Min Woo Lee when play was suspended for over 90 minutes due to thunderstorms.

McIlroy birdied the first and scrambled from the sand to take advantage of the fourth but fell two behind when he found water and double-bogeyed the seventh, with Fox edging ahead when he followed back-to-back birdies from the fourth by adding another at the eighth.

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Rory McIlroy started his final round at the Irish Open in fine fashion as he birdies the first hole to tighten the gap behind leader Hurly Long to just one shot.

Norrman opened with six pars and was outside the top-20 on the leaderboard until he began his move by birdieing the seventh and making three in a row from the ninth, with back-to-back gains from the 13th then pulling him level on 13 under.

Long responded to a bogey at the eighth by draining from 20 feet at the ninth, while Forrest birdied the tenth to briefly make it a four-way tie at the top again, only for Fox and Forrest to both slip back by dropping shots at the 12th.

Ryan Fox mixed four birdies with two bogeys during the final round

Norrman two-putted at the par-five last to add a seventh birdie of the day and move to 14 under, which suddenly moved him into a two-shot lead when Long followed a birdie at the 12th by bogeying both his next two holes.

McIlroy was three back with five to play but saw his hopes ended on the penultimate hole, where he had to hole from 15 feet just to salvage a triple-bogey, with the Northern Irishman ending five strokes back despite a closing birdie.

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Rory McIlroy avoids a nine or a double-digit score by rattling in from 15 feet to salvage a triple-bogey eight at the 16th.

Fox bogeyed the 17th to leave him requiring a final-hole eagle to force a play-off, only for him to have to lay up and leave a closing par, with the New Zealander matching the closing 70 from Forrest.

That left Long the only player who could catch Norrman, who saw his victory secured when the German – requiring an eagle at the last to get to 14 under – had to settle for a two-putt birdie to lift him to solo second.

Lawrence finished birdie-eagle to also join Lowry in a share of third, while Scotland’s Connor Syme carded a bogey-free to sit as one of five players a further shot back in a share of seventh.

Norrman delighted by Irish success

Norrman’s victory follows his breakthrough success at the Barbasol Championship earlier this season, with the win sending him into the world’s top 100 for the first time in his career.

“It means everything,” Normann said. “Obviously such a cool event to play. The fans have been incredible. I’ve really had a fun week. It’s a long wait [as later starters finished] but yeah, super happy.

Vincent Norrman could move as high as sixth in the DP World Tour rankings

“The front nine was huge. I was playing so-so and then I birdied the seventh and ninth to get some momentum going into the back. I think that was key today. Obviously if you win, you’re doing something good. It’s a world-class event, and honestly I can’t believe it’s happened.”

What’s next?

The DP World Tour heads to England next for the BMW PGA Championship, where all 12 of Europe’s Ryder Cup team are schedule to compete, with extended coverage from Wentworth throughout the week live on Sky Sports.

Lowry returns as defending champion, having held off McIlroy and Jon Rahm to win last year’s contest, with live Featured Group coverage beginning on Thursday from 8.30am on Sky Sports Golf ahead of full coverage from midday.

Watch the Ryder Cup this month exclusively live Sky Sports. Live coverage of the opening day begins on Friday September 29 from 6am on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour, Ryder Cup and more with NOW.

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Rory McIlroy now sits near the top of the leaderboard heading into Sunday’s final round; McIlroy won his only other Irish Open when the event was held at the same venue in 2016 and is looking to repeat; watch final round live from 12.30pm on Sunday on Sky Sports Golf

Rory McIlroy was left cursing his luck as he battled to play his way into contention for a second Horizon Irish Open title at The K Club.

Back at the venue where he lifted the title in 2016, McIlroy began the third round eight shots off the lead but not without hope of mounting a victory charge.

The four-time major winner got off to an ideal start with a birdie on the first and picked up another on the fourth, but then saw his birdie putt on the ninth horseshoe around the hole and stay out.

McIlroy’s eagle chip from the back of the 10th green also caught the edge of the hole and stayed out, but the tap-in birdie took him to eight under par, five behind leaders Shubhankar Sharma and Jordan Smith.

He had holed out from 116 yards for an eagle on the 16th in round two, but it was a completely different story on the same hole 24 hours later.

Attempting to reach the green in two, his approach from 225 yards away in the semi rough found the water in front of the green and from the drop zone his fourth shot hit a rock on the edge of the hazard, but bounced on to the green.

McIlroy narrowly missed the long par attempt and the resulting bogey dropped him four off the lead now held by Germany’s Hurly Long, with Smith having run up a double bogey on the seventh.

Watch the final round of the Horizon Irish Open at The K Club live from 12.30pm on Sunday on Sky Sports Golf.

Watch the Ryder Cup this month exclusively live Sky Sports. Live coverage of the opening day begins on Friday September 29 from 6am on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour, Ryder Cup and more with NOW.

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Team USA dominated the Sunday singles to claim a fourth consecutive victory in the biennial contest; World amateur No 1 Gordon Sargent won all four of his matches for the United States, who won 14.5-11.5 at St Andrews

The United States staged a superb fightback to beat Great Britain and Ireland and retain the Walker Cup at St Andrews.

GB&I led by three points after the opening day, but the USA won Sunday morning’s foursomes 3-1 to reduce their deficit and then took seven points from the 10 singles matches to win by 14.5 to 11.5.

England’s Jack Bigham and Ireland’s Mark Power were the home side’s only winners in the singles, Bigham beating Nick Gabrelcik 3&2 and Power making birdies on the 17th and 18th to defeat Ben James and claim his third victory of the weekend.

Team USA claimed a 14.5-11.5 victory in the Walker Cup

The visitors had been odds-on favourites to secure a fourth consecutive victory in the biennial contest for the top male amateur golfers, with eight of the 10-man side ranked in the world’s top 10.

World No 1 Gordon Sargent led from the front and completed a perfect 4-0 record with victory over John Gough on the 18th, as Gough crucially hit his tee shot out of bounds on the previous hole to fall behind.

Gordon Sargent impressed for Team USA in their Walker Cup victory

GB&I captain Stuart Wilson said: “We’re obviously disappointed. We had a nice lead this morning that we kind of let slide quite a bit in the foursomes but I think where the guys will be hurting the most is they’ll know themselves they haven’t turned up this afternoon and acquitted themselves in the way we know they can.

“We always thought it was going to be a tight match and everything went our way yesterday (Saturday). Six matches went up the last and we got four and a half points out of them but all the momentum seemed to be with the US side today. To be fair to the players they are a great side and they handled the conditions a lot better than our guys.”

Stuart Wilson was the non-playing captain for Great Britain and Ireland

US captain Mike McCoy, who was a player on the last American side to lose the Walker Cup in 2015, said: “It’s pretty special, it’s certainly the pinnacle of my golfing life. After the morning session I felt a lot better, like we were really back in the tournament and had a chance to win this thing.

“Last night I was pretty concerned as the mornings are historically not our strong suit, but the guys played great and I think the morning was what made the day.”

What’s next?

Luke Donald will name his six captain’s picks to complete Europe’s Ryder Cup side on Monday, live from 2pm on Sky Sports Golf, ahead of the contest taking place from September 29-October 1.

The next DP World Tour event is the Horizon Irish Open, beginning on Thursday at the K Club, where Rory McIlroy, Tyrrell Hatton and Shane Lowry are all due to feature.

Megan Khang is again on top at the Portland Classic after three rounds, six days on from winning the CPKC Women’s Open at Shaughnessy in Vancouver, her first LPGA Tour victory; Hyo Joon Jang of South Korea and Monday qualifier Chanettee Wannasaen of Thailand are tied for second.

Megan Khang closed with an 18-foot birdie putt for her third straight six-under 66 and a one-stroke lead on Saturday at the Portland Classic in a bid to win for the second straight week.

The 25-year-old American is on top at Columbia Edgewater six days after winning the CPKC Women’s Open at Shaughnessy in Vancouver, British Columbia, for her first LPGA Tour victory. Columbia Edgewater and Shaughnessy were both designed by AV Macan and feature towering trees.

“Game feels pretty solid,” Khang said. “I think last week definitely helped build some confidence, knowing I can win out here. It’s not just if it was going to happen or when, but like it has happened, so it’s definitely a great feeling to have under the belt.”

Hyo Joon Jang of South Korea and Monday qualifier Chanettee Wannasaen of Thailand are tied for second.

The 20-year-old Jang, ranked 488th in the world, shot a 62. She had 11 birdies and one bogey.

“I wasn’t really counting birdies,” Jang said. “I was more focusing on the present.”

Khang played the back nine in five-under 31 to get to 18 under.

“Just going to try to take what I learned last week into this week, going with a one-shot lead,” Khang said. “So it’s definitely a lot closer and there is a ton of people. I know for a fact you can shoot low, and so it’s going to be anyone’s game out there I feel like.”

Carlota Ciganda of Spain is fourth at 15 under after a 66. Xiyu Lin (66) is at 14 under with Atthaya Thitikul (67), Ruoning Yin (68) and Gina Kim (68).

Perrine Delacour, the leader after each of the first two rounds, had a 75 to drop into a tie for 16th at 11 under. After opening with bogey-free rounds of 63 and 67, she opened and closed with double-bogeys on Saturday. She also had three bogeys and just two birdies.

Columbia Edgewater member Caroline Inglis is tied for 58th at five under after a 75. The former University of Oregon player lives across the Columbia River in Vancouver, Washington

Viktor Hovland follows BMW Championship victory with five-shot win over Xander Schauffele at East Lake; Ryder Cup star ends the week on 27 under to register sixth PGA Tour title; Wyndham Clark 11 shots back in third ahead of Rory McIlroy

Viktor Hovland came through a final-round tussle with Xander Schauffele to secure FedExCup glory and an $18million payday with an impressive victory at the season-ending Tour Championship.

Hovland took a six-shot lead into the final round at East Lake and held at least a three-stroke advantage throughout the final day, although was made to work hard by Schauffele to register a sixth PGA Tour title and second in as many weeks.

The Norwegian carded seven birdies in a bogey-free 63 to end the week on 27 under and become the third-youngest FedExCup champion in history, while Schauffele had to settle for second despite a stunning final-round 62.

Hovland shot seven birdies and no bogeys in a final-round 63

Hovland’s latest success follows his BMW Championship win on Sunday and is set to see him move to world No 4, while US Open champion Wyndham Clark grabbed third on 16 under and Rory McIlroy finished a further two strokes back in fourth after a final-round 65.

Sunday shootout at East Lake

Schauffele came into the final day six strokes back and had to hole a five-foot birdie at the first to avoid falling further behind, following Hovland rolling in from 15 feet, with the pair on the second hole when play was halted for nearly two hours due to storms.

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A confused Viktor Hovland is seen jogging across the course to make it to the first tee after he made his way to the old first hole at the Tour Championship.

Hovland’s first shot after the restart was to hole a 15-footer to save par, as Schauffele two-putted from the fringe and then closed the gap to five when he made an eight-foot birdie at the third.

Schauffele converted from 15 feet to match Hovland’s birdie at the fourth but was unable to add another at the next, where his playing partner restored his six-shot cushion, with both then getting up and down from the sand to take advantage of the par-five sixth.

Schauffele’s final-round 62 was good enough to earn him second place

Both players scrambled from off the green to save par at the seventh and Schauffele closed again with a birdie at the eighth, while Hovland completed a tough two-putt at the par-three ninth to retain a five-shot cushion at the turn.

The pair both squandered birdie looks from inside seven feet at the 10th, before Schauffele cut the gap to four when he drained a 20-foot birdie at the next and Hovland failed to convert his effort from inside eight feet.

The American got no closer than within three shots of Hovland all day on Sunday

Schauffele temporarily moved within three at the 12th after registering a seventh birdie of the day, while Hovland only retained his cushion when he responded to a clunky chip from just off the green by making a 25-footer to save par at the 14th.

Hovland reclaimed control of the tournament with back-to-back birdies from the 16th to take a five-shot lead to the last, where he splashed out of the sand to eight feet and matched Schauffele’s birdie to close out victory in style.

Clark birdied two of his last three holes to end the week on 16 under, while McIlroy mixed seven birdies with two bogeys on the final day to card a final-round 65 and former FedExCup champion Patrick Cantlay rounded off the top-five with a closing 66.

England’s Tommy Fleetwood shared sixth spot with Collin Morikawa and world No 1 Scottie Scheffler, with Matt Fitzpatrick in a share of ninth on 10 under and Ryder Cup hopeful Sepp Straka a further shot back in tied-14th.

What’s next?

The new FedExCup Fall campaign begins with the Fortinet Championship in California from September 14-17, with the PGA Tour then taking a week off ahead of the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome from September 29-October 1. Stream the PGA Tour and more for £26 a month for 12 months with NOW.

Todd Clements finished on 22 under and a shot clear of Matt Wallace, with Nicolai Hojgaard four strokes back in third and Robert MacIntyre in a share of fourth; Final event of Ryder Cup qualifying is the Omega European Masters, beginning on Thursday

Todd Clements secured a maiden DP World Tour title after holding off a host of Ryder Cup hopefuls to claim a dramatic one-shot victory at the D+D Real Czech Masters.

Clements overturned a three-stroke deficit during a thrilling final round at Albatross Golf Resort in Prague, where he charged into contention with six birdies in his opening eight holes.

The Englishman added three straight birdies from the 11th to raises hopes of a ’59 round’, only to par each of his last five holes to close a bogey-free 63 and set the clubhouse target at 22 under.

Matt Wallace made a late victory push when he moved within one of the lead with four holes to play, but he was unable to find a birdie over the closing stretch and finished a shot back in second.

Nicolai Hojgaard finished four strokes back in third and Robert MacIntyre retained his place in the final automatic Ryder Cup qualification spot by claiming a share of fourth, with potential Team Europe debutant Ludvig Aberg also in the large group on 17 under.

More to follow….

What’s next?

The DP World Tour heads to Switzerland next for the Omega European Masters, held at Crans-sur-Sierre GC, with the tournament also serving as the last qualifying event in the race to qualify for Europe’s Ryder Cup team.

Live coverage begins on Thursday from 12.30pm on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the DP World Tour and more for £26 a month for 12 months with NOW.

Xander Schauffele sits in second place and Collin Morikawa shares third with Keegan Bradley; Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm and Wyndham Clark in tied-fifth as Viktor Hovland closes on FedExCup victory; Watch the final round live on Sunday from 5pm on Sky Sports Golf

Viktor Hovland is closing in on back-to-back PGA Tour titles and FedExCup victory after taking a commanding six-shot lead heading into the final round of the Tour Championship.

Last week’s BMW Championship winner shared top spot with Collin Morikawa heading into the weekend of the season finale but pulled clear of the field during a weather-disrupted third round at East Lake.

Hovland mixed five birdies with a lone bogey during an impressive four-under 66 to move to 20 under, leaving him comfortably ahead of closest challenge Xander Schauffele and in prime position to secure the $18million jackpot.

Viktor Hovland fired a final-round 61 to win the BMW Championship on Sunday

Schauffele posted a two-under 68 to sit in second ahead of Morikawa and Keegan Bradley, who birdied two of his last four holes to salvage a level-par 70, with world No 1 Scottie Scheffler among those in the group tied-fifth after struggling to a three-over 73.

Hovland takes control of the Tour Championship

After the final pair opened with back-to-back pars, Hovland missed a 10-foot birdie look at the third and Morikawa failed to convert from a similar distance at the next as neither was able to grab the advantage.

Collin Morikawa was playing alongside Hovland in the final group on Saturday at East Lake

Morikawa carded his first dropped shot of the tournament when he hit a poor chip into a bunker on his way to a double-bogey at the fifth, gifting Hovland a two-shot lead with a par, only for Schauffele to make three birdies in a four-hole stretch from the fourth to close within one.

Hovland ended a run of pars by posting back-to-back birdies from the sixth, which put him four clear when Schauffele bogeyed the eighth, with the Norwegian squandering a 10-foot look on the same hole after a stunning recovery from the fairway bunker.

Xander Schauffele will play in the final group on Sunday

Schauffele started his back nine with an eight-foot birdie but dropped a shot at the 12th after a wayward tee shot left him punching out of the trees, with Hovland staying four ahead when play was halted at 5.28pm local time (10.28pm BST) for 75 minutes due to the threat of lightning.

Hovland made the dream start when play resumed as he followed a 10-foot birdie at the 12th by converting from double the distance at the next, which briefly saw him move seven ahead when Schauffele missed from five feet to save par at the 15th.

Schauffele responded by making a 12-foot birdie at the 16th, allowing him to close within five when Hovland bogeyed the 14th after an errant drive and poor approach, only for the leader to bounce back himself by pouring in from 15 feet at the par-three next.

Hovland squandered birdie looks from inside 10 feet on each of his last three holes but remained six ahead and in control after Schauffele could only par the last, with Bradley and Morikawa a further stroke back heading into the final day.

Viktor Hovland threatened to extend his lead further over the closing holes

“I need to go out and try and put as much pressure on him [Hovland] tomorrow on that front nine as I can and hope for the best,” Schauffele said. “He’s just playing unbelievable golf.”

US Open champion Wyndham Clark and Masters winner Jon Rahm share fifth spot on 11 under with FedExCup leader Scheffler, who carded his only birdie of the day on the final hole, with Rory McIlory a further two strokes back in a share of eighth after a one-over 71 dropped him to nine under.

Who will win Tour Championship? Watch the PGA Tour’s season finale and the race for the FedExCup live on Sunday from 5pm on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour and more for £26 a month for 12 months with NOW.

Scottie Scheffler heads into the weekend two back and Keegan Bradley is three behind, with Jon Rahm sharing fourth spot with Xander Schauffele; Rory McIlroy is six back as he chases successive FedExCup titles; Watch the Tour Championship live on Saturday from 6pm on Sky Sports Golf

Viktor Hovland produced a back-nine birdie burst to share the halfway lead with Collin Morikawa at the PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship.

Hovland, starting the week second in the standings after Sunday’s stunning BMW Championship victory, made five birdies in a six-hole stretch on his way to a brilliant second-round 64 at East Lake Golf Club.

The Norweigan set the clubhouse target at 16 under, before Morikawa joined him by following his opening-round 61 by signing off a bogey-free 64 with back-to-back birdies to continue his blemish-free start to the tournament.

Collin Morikawa birdied his final two holes and is the only player bogey-free after 36 holes

Scheffler sits in third place after a bogey-free 65 and Keegan Bradley is in fourth spot on 14 under, while Xander Schauffele lies a further stroke back alongside Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy heads into the weekend six off the lead.

Stars continue to impress at East Lake

Scheffler – playing in the penultimate group – birdied the first to temporarily make it a four-way tie at the top, only for Morikawa edge back ahead after following his opening-round 61 by starting with a birdie.

Scottie Scheffler will go out in the penultimate group again on Saturday

Hovland opened with three straight pars and holed from 10 feet at the fourth to match the birdie of Scheffler, with both players taking advantage of the par-five sixth to move to 12 under.

Morikawa also birdied the sixth and added another from 12 feet at the eighth to reach the turn one ahead of Scheffler, with Hovland a further shot back after failing to get up and down from off the green to save par at the seventh.

Scheffler pulled level with a birdie at the 12th, where Hovland also picked up a shot to start his birdie burst, while Morikawa missed from inside four feet at the previous hole for the chance to restore his one-shot advantage.

Morikawa responded by birdieing the 12th to reclaim top spot, only for Hovland to convert from 10 feet at the 13th and match Scheffler’s birdie at the next to make it a three-way tie at top on 14 under.

Viktor Hovland mixed seven birdies with a lone bogey in his second round

Hovland made a fourth straight birdie at the 15th and added another at the 17th to temporarily double his lead, before laying up at the par-five last and signing off with a par, as Morikawa followed a birdie at the 17th with a two-putt gain at the 18th to leave the pair tied at the top.

McIlroy: “I’m limited in what I can do”

McIlroy continued to be troubled by back spasms during his second round, but the defending champion – looking to become the first back-to-back winner of the FedExCup – built on his opening-round 70 by carding a three-under 67 on Friday.

Rory McIlroy heads into the weekend in seventh spot

“I’m limited in what I can do, but I’m here grinding away, battling away,” McIlroy said. “So happy to be through 36 holes. I felt like I had a little more speed. I was probably half a club off my numbers than maybe a full club yesterday. But still it’s just hard to get my right side through the ball.

“It actually feels better with the longer clubs because I’m more upright in my posture. When I sort of get down to the shorter stuff, trying to stay in my posture is a struggle.”

Rory McIlroy will play alongside US Open champion Wyndham Clark on Saturday

McIlroy is set to return to Europe after the FedExCup Playoffs and play back-to-back DP World Tour events, starting at the Horizon Irish Open from September 7-10 before the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth a week later. The Ryder Cup then takes place in Italy from September 29-October 1.

“I would rather it [injury] pop up now than in three or four weeks’ time,” McIlroy added. “I’ve managed it well and I think I did well to get through yesterday. I’ve got through another day, so hopefully it feels a bit better over the weekend. Not great timing, but at the same time, it could be worse!”

Who can move ahead at the Tour Championship? Watch the PGA Tour’s season finale and the race for the FedExCup throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues Saturday from 6pm on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour and more for £26 a month for 12 months with NOW.

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This week’s DP World Tour event is the penultimate tournament to qualify for Team Europe’s next Ryder Cup team; Alexander Bjork takes a one-shot lead into the weekend in Prague; watch the Czech Masters live on Saturday from 11.30am on Sky Sports Golf

Alexander Bjork made a big statement to Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald by grabbing the halfway lead at the D+D Real Czech Masters.

Bjork, playing alongside Donald and hoping to force his way into consideration for a Ryder Cup debut in Rome next month, followed an opening-round 65 with a brilliant bogey-free 66 at Albatross Golf Resort in Prague.

The Swede took advantage of the par-five first and charged up the leaderboard by holing from 15 feet at the eighth to spark a run of four consecutive birdies, with Bjork adding a 15-foot birdie at the 16th and continuing his blemish-free start to the tournament.

Alexander Bjork holds a one-shot halfway lead in Prague

Bjork sits a shot clear of Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard, who posted a five-under 67, while Matt Wallace gave Donald another potential selection headache after a stunning second-round 63.

Wallace, who won his first PGA Tour title earlier this season and narrowly missed out on a Ryder Cup spot in 2018, carded an eagle and seven birdies to share third spot on 11 under with Finland’s Sami Valimaki.

Matt Wallace is looking to feature for Team Europe next month at Marco Simone GC

“I keep saying to myself that I’m going to be in contention this week and I’m going to take that on going forward,” Wallace said. “Everything’s OK. Don’t panic, there’s no reason to get frustrated. I was seven shots behind going into today after my round yesterday.

“Before I’d have gone ‘Wow, I’m too far back’, but it’s fine. I’m playing good. That’s what the best players do and I’m trying to learn from them.”

Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg – another contender for a captain’s pick for Team Europe – is in the group three behind after a six-under 66, while Ryder Cup vice-captain Edoardo Molinari is within four of the lead after rounds of 66 and 69.

Yannik Paul, Adrian Meron and Victor Perez – all inside the top-seven on the European Points List – head into the weekend on eight under, as Robert MacIntyre dropped down the leaderboard after a quadruple-bogey late in his round.

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Robert MacIntyre had a nightmare with a seven on a par-three which saw him hit the water twice in front of Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald

MacIntyre, who currently holds an automatic qualification spot and can secure a Ryder Cup debut with victory this week, depending on other spots, put two balls in the water at the par-three 16th to fall eight strokes off the halfway lead.

Donald narrowly missed the cut despite a two-under 70, while Shane Lowry – the highest-ranked player in the field – also made an early exit after successive 71s left him outside the cut mark.

Watch the D+D Real Czech Masters throughout the weekend live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues on Saturday from 11.30am on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the DP World Tour and more for £26 a month for 12 months with NOW.

Sami Valimaki birdied his first five holes on his way to a two-shot lead in Prague; Robert MacIntyre is among the Ryder Cup hopefuls in action; Watch the second round live on Friday from midday on Sky Sports Golf

Ryder Cup hopefuls Robert MacIntyre and Alexander Bjork seized their chance to personally impress Europe captain Luke Donald on day one of the D+D Real Czech Masters.

Playing alongside Donald in the penultimate qualifying event at Albatross Golf Resort, MacIntyre carded an opening 66 and Bjork went one better with a 65 to share second place, two shots behind pacesetter Sami Valimaki.

Nicolai Hojgaard and Ludvig Aberg, who had been placed in the same group as vice-captain Francesco Molinari, carded rounds of 65 and 68 respectively, with Yannik Paul shooting a 66 matched by Molinari’s brother Edoardo, his playing partner for the first two rounds and another vice-captain.

Sami Valimaki holds a two-shot lead after the opening day

Donald admitted on Wednesday the identity of his six wild cards was giving him sleepless nights, but he can only have been encouraged by the form of those trying to make the case for selection.

MacIntyre holds the third and final automatic qualifying place on the European Points list and a victory in Prague, coupled with none of his rivals finishing in the top five, would seal his place in the side.

“I’m delighted with the round,” MacIntyre said after a bogey-free 66. “I was hoping for that after last week (a missed cut in Northern Ireland). I felt like I drove it well, iron play was good and I putted decent. I’ve got a lot on my mind, a lot going on and I’ve just got to keep fighting.”

Bjork, who is 20th on the European Points list, also kept his card bogey-free and finished with four straight birdies in front of Donald, whose own 71 was marred by a double-bogey six on the eighth, his penultimate hole.

“It was really fun,” Bjork said. “Luke is a great player and a player looked up to when I was younger. It was fun playing with him. We’re getting close (to the Ryder Cup) but I’m just trying to focus, like I have done all season, on what I should do with my game. I’m still doing that and that’s what I should do.”

Alexander Bjork is chasing as a second DP World Tour title

Valimaki started his round from the 10th with five straight birdies and picked up four more shots on the front nine to card a bogey-free 63 and enjoy a two-shot lead over a five-strong chasing pack.

“I was just flowing,” the Finn said. “When you start putting good and hitting it good, you just keep going and enjoy the round. Last time here I missed the cut by a lot of shots so I didn’t have big expectations for the week. It’s nice to start this way.”

Watch the D+D Real Czech Masters throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues on Friday from midday on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the DP World Tour and more for £26 a month for 12 months with NOW.

Rory McIlroy & Scottie Scheffler both shot four-under par rounds to move within three shots of leader Lucas Glover; First-round leader Jordan Spieth is one shot back; Continue to watch the PGA Tour’s FedEx St. Jude Championship live on Saturday from 7pm on Sky Sports Golf

Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler surged into contention at the FedEx St. Jude Championship as Lucas Glover took the lead after the second round at TPC Southwind.

Glover shot a 64 on Friday, nipping in front of fellow American Jordan Spieth to sit on top of the leaderboard.

Glover was six under for his 18 holes and 10 under overall, one stroke ahead of Spieth and two in front of a chasing pack of five including England’s Tommy Fleetwood.

An eagle at the 16th, Glover’s seventh hole, lit a fire under his round and he followed with a run of three birdies in four holes on the front nine as he put together a blemish-free card in Memphis.

Spieth followed his eye-catching 63 on Thursday with a patchier 68. He was two under on Friday’s play, peaking with a magnificent bunker shot that nestled in the hole from 16 yards and got him in in two shots at the short fourth.

That was one of six birdies he managed, but his progress was offset by four bogeys – two in succession immediately following his brilliant effort from the sand.

Tommy Fleetwood trails leader Lucas Glover by one shot

Fleetwood hit his second 66 in a row, but a dropped shot at the final hole saw the Brit end the day two shots back from Glover.

The top two ranked players in the world – Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy – are one further back on seven under.

The pair, who played together on Thursday and Friday alongside World No 3 Jon Rahm, could be paired once more on Saturday after both signing for 66 to stay in the hunt for a title tilt over the weekend.

They were both five shots back from Glover when entering the final four holes of the round, but managed to play the closing stretch in two-under to take up a menacing position on the leaderboard.

After a dreadful opening round, Rahm shot a much-improved 67 to finish at level par for the tournament, with the Spaniard aided by a spectacular recovery chip in from the bunker at the 18th having hit his tee shot in the water.

Well positioned at six-under are American duo Xander Schauffele and Max Homa, while Collin Morikawa and Patrick Cantlay are among the group a shot further back.

Who will win the FedExCup? Watch the FedExCup Playoffs live this August on Sky Sports. Live coverage of the FedEx St. Jude Championship continues on Saturday from 7pm on Sky Sports Golf.

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