Tag: Merit

Cameron Smith returns as defending champion, Scottie Scheffler arrives as world No 1 and Rory McIlroy is chasing a fifth major title; Watch The 151st Open from Royal Liverpool throughout the week live on Sky Sports Golf

All eyes are on the top of the Open Championship betting and picking holes in Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler is extremely difficult.

However, this is the one major where focusing on bigger prices and generous each-way terms is a must, especially with strong wind forecast for Saturday, and the best bet is Dustin Johnson.

After a slow start to 2023, Johnson got back into the mix in a major when 10th at the US Open. Crucially, his long game was excellent, and had he putted well he would’ve been asking questions of Wyndham Clark.

Will Dustin Johnson move three-quarters of the way to the career Grand Slam with victory at The Open?

That aspect of his game has generally looked good on the LIV Golf circuit and his Open record is outstanding. Right from his near-miss in 2011 and even before that when contending at St Andrews, Johnson has looked like a potential winner of the Claret Jug.

Experience is extremely valuable in any Open Championship and Johnson’s includes a round of 65 here in 2014, the joint-best score of the week. He could well make a winning return to Hoylake.

Shane Lowry‘s links record needs no introduction and he also shot 65 during that renewal of the Open, enough to secure his first major championship top 10.

Shane Lowry is looking to win The Open for a second time, following on from his 2019 success at Royal Portrush

A winner at Portrush five years later and close to the places in two subsequent Open appearances, he should continue to threaten under conditions which favour him after a nice primer last week.

So might Jordan Spieth, who has plenty of good form behind him this year and can be excused from a poor Genesis Scottish Open.

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The remodelled 17th hole at Royal Liverpool has caused a lot of discussion between players this week with Jordan Spieth suggesting it could cause carnage and Matt Fitzpatrick refusing to comment anything other than ‘interesting’ about the par 3

Viktor Hovland and Cameron Young both threatened at St Andrews having failed to make the cut at The Renaissance and Spieth, whose Open record shows nine cuts made from nine appearances and that famous 2017 win, can bounce back. He’s one of the best Open golfers in this field after all.

At bigger odds, it could pay to chance Hideki Matsuyama, who placed on his Open debut and far better suited to this style of golf than recent results would suggest.

Hideki Matsuyama is without a worldwide top-10 since The Players

He’s had some fitness troubles this year but his long-game stats from all three majors so far have been excellent, bettered only by Scheffler in fact.

Any improvement on the greens and Matsuyama could reward each-way faith and become the latest player to capture this and The Masters.

Finally, Corey Conners fits the bill as a winner this year who contended for the Open in 2021. He was in the mix for three rounds at Oak Hill and now seems ready to hang around all week.

Watch The 151st Open throughout the week exclusively live on Sky Sports. Live coverage of the opening round begins on Thursday from 6.30am on Sky Sports Golf.

There is also lots of extra coverage available throughout each day via the red button on Sky Sports Golf, along with Sky Q and Sky Glass, with Featured Groups and Featured Hole feeds available to enjoy as the world’s best players tackle Royal Liverpool.

Rory McIlroy is looking for first major victory in nine years at The Open; McIlroy claimed a two-shot win and the Claret Jug the last time it was held at Royal Liverpool; Watch live throughout the week on Sky Sports Golf

Rory McIlroy has cancelled his pre-tournament press conference at The 151st Open ahead of his bid for a fifth major victory.

McIlroy, who produced a thrilling finish to win the Genesis Scottish Open on Sunday, had been listed to speak to the media at 9am on Tuesday at Royal Liverpool.

The former world No 1 has now been removed from Tuesday’s schedule and looks set to skip his press conference for the second successive major.

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A look at Rory McIlroy’s best shots from his 2014 Open Championship win at this year’s venue, Royal Liverpool

In a statement, the R&A said: “We have been advised that Rory McIlroy will no longer be taking part in a preview press conference.”

McIlroy did speak to broadcast media during Monday’s On the Range show, live on Sky Sports, where the Northern Irishman said he was hoping to build on Sunday’s impressive Rolex Series win.

“Ball striking wise, I think I led the field in terms of stats from tee to green [at The Scottish Open], so that’s something,” McIlroy said. “Great iron play, wedge play, controlling my flight. I’m really happy, I’ve got a new goal, a new purpose and you go again.

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Highlights from a dramatic final round as Rory McIlroy secured a dramatic victory over Robert MacIntyre at the Scottish Open

“If I get myself into a similar position this week, I will certainly draw on what I did last week. But as of right now and getting prepared for this tournament, all that has to be put on the backburner. I just have to focus on getting ready to tee off on Thursday.”

McIlroy won The Open the last time it was held at Royal Liverpool in 2014, the first of back-to-back major titles, with the 34-year-old looking to draw on those experiences from his previous victory.

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Four-time major champion Dame Laura Davies looks ahead to The Open at Royal Liverpool and backs World No 2 Rory McIlroy to win it

“[Winning here] feels like such a long time ago,” McIlroy added. “You’re trying to rekindle the memories as I was driving from the airport last night and getting onto the Wirral.

“I haven’t been here since 2014, so trying to get those memories back again and trying to re familiarise myself with the range and the club, the first tee and everything. It’s nice to comeback anywhere you’ve had success, it’s always a nice feeling.”

Faldo: McIlroy should act like defending champion

Sir Nick Faldo has urged McIlroy to act like he “owns the ring” as he bids to end his lengthy major drought.

The world No 2 has not won a major since the 2014 PGA Championship, a month on from his victory at Royal Liverpool, with Faldo believing McIlroy should behave as if he is the defending champion this week.

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The waiting is almost over for the final men’s major of the year, with round-the-clock coverage from The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool live from July 20-23 on Sky Sports Golf

“Yeah, why not?” Faldo said. “It’s like saying ‘I own the ring, you ain’t gonna knock me down’. I felt that way when I came back to Muirfield in 1992 after winning in 1987. I was playing well, I was world number one, one of the favourites and all that and I thought ‘yeah, this is my spot, I’m gonna defend winning at Muirfield’.

“He’s got to be feeling good going back to somewhere he’s won before. He’s playing well. I think the most important thing is he just wants to be a golfer right now, give me a bit of space, let me breathe, let me just go and play.

“He’s one of the top few players in the world and it’s probably a nice feeling for him – he knows if he plays really well he knows the names he’s got to beat.

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The best of the action from a thrilling final round of The 150th Open Championship from St Andrews, where Cameron Smith claimed a maiden major title

“Nine years is a long time, not many players go nine years [between major wins] but he’s so talented. It’s not like his game’s gone downhill. If he can find a way to almost hit the reset button, he’s still in his prime age; he’s just got to find that little bit of trust and determination. Can you fend off everybody else?

“You’ve got three days playing against yourself before you then take on the rest of the guys. I’ve got kind of a good vibe. I think he could pull another one out. I think he has a hell of a chance.”

The 151st Open takes place from July 20-23, with exclusive coverage throughout tournament week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage of the opening round begins on Thursday July 20 from 6.30am on Sky Sports Golf.

LPGA Mizuho Americas Open champion, Rose Zhang: “What is happening? I just can’t believe it. It was just last week when I won NCAAs with my teammates. To turn pro and come out here, it’s just been amazing”; Zhang to take membership on LPGA Tour which comes with the victory

Rose Zhang enjoyed a dream start to her professional career with victory in her first event in the Mizuho Americas Open.

Zhang, who only joined the paid ranks nine days ago, defeated Jennifer Kupcho on the second hole of a play-off after the pair had finished tied on nine under par at Liberty National Golf Club.

Kupcho set the clubhouse target after a closing 69 and Zhang needed to par the 18th to win in regulation, but found a bunker off the tee and was unable to get up and down from short of the green.

The 20-year-old American is the first player to win on the LPGA Tour in their professional debut since Beverly Hanson in 1951.

“What is happening? I just can’t believe it,” said Zhang after two putts for par on the second play-off hole were enough to beat Kupcho.

“It was just last week when I won NCAAs with my teammates. To turn pro and come out here, it’s just been amazing.”

Zhang confirmed she will be taking membership on the LPGA Tour which comes with the victory – after finishing her finals at Stanford and moving next week.

“I understand there is going to be a lot of bumps in the road and I’m expecting a lot of obstacles,” she said. “But I think this is just the start. This is just a stepping stone.

“It’s crazy that this is my first win, first professional win already, but no doubt there is going to be a lot more things happening down the road.

“I’m just going to be continuing to learn inside the ropes.”

Zhang spent a record 141 weeks at the top of the women’s amateur rankings, surpassing the previous best of 135 set by Ireland’s Leona Maguire.

She became the first women’s player to win two NCAA individual titles following her successful title defence at the end of May, a victory which saw her exceed the number of wins Tiger Woods achieved at Stanford.

Zhang also won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April and the US Women’s Amateur two years ago, as well as helping the United States to Curtis Cup wins over Great Britain and Ireland in 2021 and 2022.

World No 1 Jon Rahm had closed to within two shots of Mexico Open leader Tony Finau after a sensational, bogey-free 10-under round of 61 on Saturday, but Finau proved too strong in the final round, finishing with a five-under round of 65, which saw him round off the tournament on 24-under

Tony Finau showed superb consistency to hold off the charge of Jon Rahm and claim the PGA Tour Mexico Open title by three shots on Sunday, finishing on 24-under.

World No 1 Rahm had closed to within two shots of leader Finau after a sensational, bogey-free 10-under round of 61 on Saturday, but the USA’s Finau proved too strong on the final day, finishing with a five-under round of 66.

His impressive final-day display followed previous rounds of 65, 64 and 65 to leave him victorious, three shots ahead of defending champion Rahm and five ahead of compatriot Brandon Wu.

Rahm produced a final-round 67, but fell short of adding another win this year, having already claimed The Masters and three further PGA Tour titles.

Sunday’s victory brings the sixth PGA Tour title of 33-year-old Finau’s career – four of which have come since July 2022.

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A statement posted on Tiger Woods’ social media on Wednesday announced the 15-time major winner had undergone a procedure to address post-traumatic arthritis; Woods withdrew from The Masters ahead of the resumption of the third round at Augusta National

Tiger Woods has undergone surgery on his ankle following his recent withdrawal from The Masters.

The 15-time major champion pulled out of this year’s tournament at Augusta National ahead of the resumption of the third round due to reaggravating his plantar fasciitis.

An update posted on Woods’ social media on Wednesday confirmed he has since had surgery to address arthritis stemming from ankle problems.

“Earlier today, Tiger Woods underwent a subtalar fusion procedure to address post-traumatic arthritis from his previous talus fracture,” the statement said.

“It was performed by Dr Martin O’Malley at HSS Sports Medicine Institute in New York City. He has determined the surgery to be successful.

“Tiger is currently recovering and looks forward to beginning his rehabilitation.”

Woods, making just his second start of the year in The Masters, battled cold and wet conditions to close a second-round 74 on Saturday morning and secure a record-equalling 23rd consecutive cut in the tournament.

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Butch Harmon reflects on Tiger Woods’ Masters 2023 journey and how this looks for the rest of his golfing career in the near future

He snuck through on the cut mark of three over, despite bogeying his final two holes, with Woods falling further behind after a nightmare start to his third round.

Woods looked in physical discomfort as he made two bogeys and two double-bogeys over his first seven holes, leaving the former world No 1 on nine over for the tournament and bottom of the leaderboard by three shots.

He subsequently elected against returning to play what would have been an extended Sunday for him and has only completed 72 holes twice since career-threatening leg injuries in a car crash in February 2021.

Woods withdrew from the Hero World Challenge last November with plantar fasciitis too, although played at the PNC Championship later that month and featured at February’s Genesis Invitational.

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Speaking at The Masters, Nick Faldo says Tiger Woods has to ‘get realistic’ over his injury problems

“Every year from here going forward is to play in all the majors – I am not going to play too much more than that,” Woods previously said.

He is next scheduled to feature at the PGA Championship, an event he has won four times, although it remains to be seen whether he will be fit to feature at Oak Hill Country Club from May 18-21.

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We take a look at some of the main talking points as The Masters heads into a packed final day, with the third round still to be completed following heavy rain which forced Saturday’s play to be suspended…

Koepka vs Rahm: A two-horse race?

Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm have been the class acts of the field so far at Augusta National. Indeed, their performances in the first two rounds ensured it was the first time two players had been at 10 under par or better through 36 holes.

It is 32-year-old Koepka who holds the advantage though, leading world No 3 Rahm by four shots on 13 under up to the point where play was suspended on Saturday afternoon.

They will resume on Sunday on the seventh green with Koepka facing a putt to save par and Rahm having an opportunity to birdie, showing how much things could change with another 11 holes of the third round for the leaders to play.

As if a showdown between two golfers at the top of their game was not enough, there is the added drama of a probable showdown between LIV Golf defector Brooks and PGA Tour star Rahm for the right to pull on the fabled Green Jacket for the first time.

Smash GC captain Koepka triumphed in the most recent LIV event in Orlando ahead of The Masters and if he were to triumph it would hand a significant boost to the breakaway tour.

Koepka to seal his fifth major?

From a personal point of view, victory in the Masters would take Koepka three-quarters of the way to completing the Grand Slam of golf’s four majors.

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Highlights from the third round of the 2023 Masters at Augusta National

The American already has two PGA Championships and two US Opens to his name, and a triumph on Sunday would leave just The Open Championship remaining to complete the set ahead of this July’s tournament at Royal Liverpool.

It would put him among an elite group too, with only six other male players in the modern era having won five majors before turning 33: Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Tom Watson, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer.

His statistics so far in this tournament are pointing towards success for Koepka too. He leads the way in Shots Gained Approach (+2.76) and is second for Shots Gained Putting (+1.76), while his six birdie or better scores on par-fives is tied for second as well.

Spanish success for Rahm?

Rahm spoke ahead of the tournament how aware he is of the history of his fellow Spaniards at The Masters, and he would join compatriots Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia in donning the Green Jacket if he were to emerge victorious.

It will not be lost on him either that April 9 marks the late Ballesteros’ birthday and is the same date that Garcia clinched the 2017 Masters title.

The 28-year-old, who has one previous major under his belt in the form of the 2021 US Open, has yet to better his fourth place at Augusta National in 2018, although four of his six appearances at The Masters have resulted in top-10 finishes.

He is aiming to become the sixth player to win the Masters and US Open before the age of 29, and only the third from outside the USA to win both, but will need to arrest a slide which saw him at one over par for his round and losing 1.25 strokes putting to the field before play was suspended.

Chasing pack charging?

Should Koepka and Rahm falter, there is a group of players, including several major winners, behind them waiting to pounce.

Matt Fitzpatrick is among the group chasing the leaders at The Masters

Last year’s surprise US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, and former PGA Championship and Open winner Collin Morikawa are both lurking on five under par, tied for fourth with Norway’s Viktor Hovland – a player widely tipped as a future major winner.

Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson – back at Augusta National after missing last year’s tournament – and 2013 US Open winner Justin Rose are a further shot back tied for seventh in a group which includes another expected future major winner in Patrick Cantlay.

Still leading the chasing pack, though, in third at six under is Sam Bennett, whose total of 136 across the first two rounds was the lowest 36-hole score by an amateur at The Masters since Ken Venturi in 1956. It is worth noting, however, that no amateur player has won The Masters.

What to make of Tiger?

When he made the cut for the 23rd time at The Masters, Tiger Woods equalled a mark held by Fred Couples and Gary Player.

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Tiger Woods props up The Masters leaderboard after finding the water twice on the rain-soaked course at Augusta

But while Couples still seemed to be enjoying himself despite currently being tied for 49th on four over par, five-time champion Woods appeared to be struggling both physically and mentally on a day which saw him drop to last place and nine under par when play was suspended.

After starting the third round with a bogey, Woods made three consecutive pars, but then it was another bogey followed by back-to-back double-bogeys which left him three shots behind his nearest competitor, Charl Schwartzel.

The question now remains as to whether Woods will continue with his round and complete the tournament or decide to withdraw to save his body from further punishment.

Will the weather be a factor?

Play will resume at 8.30am local time (1.30pm BST), dependent on the condition of the course after the overnight rain, with just over 11 holes – or three and a bit hours – left of the third round still to complete.

Cloudy and breezy conditions are expected on Sunday, with no further rain or storm disruption, although any delay to the resumption would leave tournament officials in a race against time to get 72 holes completed before nightfall on Sunday.

A statement from Augusta National said the live broadcast – the global broadcast window – will remain as originally scheduled from 2pm-7pm local time (7pm-Midnight BST), with the tournament set to be finished without the need of taking the opening major of the year into a fifth day.

Who will win The Masters? Watch the conclusion of the third round live on Sunday from 1.30pm on Sky Sports Golf, ahead of the final round later that day. A host of bonus feeds will be available throughout the day via the red button on Sky Sports Golf!

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Statistics show that Rory McIlroy is a better player now that at any other time in his career. 

If you were prepared to go deep into his career statistics you will consistently come across two glaring weaknesses; wedge play and putting. 2022 has seen him improve drastically in both of those categories – in some style as well – as he went on his way to a consistently brilliant year and a well deserved return to World No 1.

Isolating his statistics from the time of The Masters in April to the end of the year, he has been the leading wedge player on the PGA Tour – that’s a simply sensational improvement. Who would have thought that, as over his career he has consistently been ranked outside of the top-50 in the wedge play rankings?

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Highlights from day four of the CJ Cup in South Carolina as Rory McIlroy retained the title and moved back to world No 1.

Then you look at his putting, and for the first time ever he is well inside the top 20 best putters on Tour. Again, that’s a category that has seen him miles off the pace compared to others historically, despite many wins and periods of domination.

When you factor in his well documented strength in hitting the golf ball to these huge and important short game improvements, you start forming an opinion that this guy no longer has any weaknesses. Looking at reasons for these huge improvements, I see a combination of the two personnel additions to his team as the outstanding ones.

He is now into his second season working with the ex- PGA Tour player and Sky Sports analyst, Brad Faxon. These two years have shown steady putting improvement for McIlroy, as Brad has led Rory to a more instinctive and reactionary style of putting.

Gone are the days of over analysis and – to borrow the often quoted phase of Gary Player – the “paralysis by analysis”. Instead, there is now a flow to how McIlroy putts both in terms of routine as well as stroke.

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Rory McIlroy said it means a lot to finish in Europe’s No 1 spot for the fourth time in his career and feels he’s on a journey to becoming a complete golfer.

In terms of his wedge play it has come down to old fashioned hard work, combined with a change to a less spinning ball and a lower, more driven flight that make it easier to control distance.

When you throw in the addition of Bob Rotella, the well known and hugely respected sports psychologist, who also worked with Brad throughout his career, you get a consistency of ideas and approach that marries into the instinctive style of golf that McIlroy has always played and one that comes naturally to him.

Great golf improvement often follows evolution of something that comes naturally which, in Brad and Bob, Rory has found two kindred spirits in how they see golf being played that resonate with him. There is a skill in picking coaches and its crucial to choose people whose ideas will blend and enhance yours – McIlroy has clearly done that and the results have followed.

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After becoming world number one again with victory at the CJ Cup, Sky Sports Golf pundit Rob Lee is confident Rory McIlroy can now go on to win the Masters to complete a career Grand Slam.

When he came second to Scottie Scheffler at The Masters with that run on the last day, it was validation for him to say ‘hey, these new ideas are working and are relatively easy for me to implement’. Confidence comes from validation, so that finish was the start of new proof that he was on the right track and had the right people around. There’s no doubt that the Sunday at Augusta was the springboard to a great summer.

Just a couple of months prior to this second place at The Masters, McIlroy took on a very high risk shot from the 18th fairway in the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic and made a bogey on the closing par-five that effectively blew the tournament.

While this swashbuckling style of play makes him compelling to watch, it is not the style of play employed by the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods – players who are in the category of the real greats of the game and a category McIlroy has entered and will ultimately be judged in. Post-Dubai he seemed to take on a more measured approach, akin to theirs, relating to course management and in-play decision making.

Having worked with Rotella myself during my career, I recognised his ideas in McIlroy’s play and interviews. I recall highlighting and giving examples of this new approach in my role with Golf Channel after three rounds at Augusta, whose ideas seemingly underpinning a lot of his golf this year.

Although this approach led to great consistency in the majors it didn’t lead to an all-important win and the irony is that it may well have cost him winning The Open at St Andrews.

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Rory McIlroy says he’ll have to ‘keep plugging away’ as his wait for a fifth major continues after surrendering his lead on the final day of The Open.

Entering the last round in a share of the lead, he made no mistakes as he hit all 18 greens in regulation. However, in doing so, he became somewhat over-conservative and didn’t make enough birdies or take enough chances on a course that was yielding lots of birdies to other contenders.

Making mistakes didn’t cost him that title, like Dubai in the year, but it was the over-measured play and lack of spark to make birdies and offset the charging Cameron Smith that cost him. The Open illustrates just how hard it is to get the balance right – hitting all 18 greens with no bogeys was not enough. As the song by Kenny Rogers goes: “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em and know when to fold ’em!”

Golf at the top level is a sport where it feels you never get to the finishing line and even when you think you have it, you don’t! You are constantly evolving and learning throughout your career.

2022 has been a great year for McIlroy, with huge strides made, but as well as it’s gone for him there will have been big learnings too. While the measured decision making has proved fruitful in terms of the consistency of top-10 finishes in all four majors, he will have realised the importance of blending this new approach with flashes of that swashbuckling style of his that draws us all in and separates him.

I would also credit Rotella’s influence on how McIlroy has used the narrative around LIV and the central role that he has taken off the course to his advantage. Many of the really greats in sport talk of getting an edge mentally and they talk about cultivating this edge by taking offence to someone or something, or making things personal.

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Tiger Woods described Rory McIlroy as a ‘true leader’ following his calls for Greg Norman to quit as LIV Golf CEO to allow a settlement to be negotiated in golf’s civil war.

This edge becomes the fuel that energise them in the battle field of preparation and competition and I believe McIlroy, with the help of Rotella, has cultivated the emergence of LIV in a positive way to help fuel his concentration and focus this year. They have found a way of using LIV psychologically to put himself in a place where he’s out to prove something and chase it, which I think historically has always been his best mindset.

What next for McIlroy?

The next couple of months are really important, as he reenergises and resets himself. He doesn’t want to lose the momentum he enjoyed in 2022. We’ve seen him before after quite extensive breaks come out of the blocks slow and kind of lose the initiative a little bit, then try new things.

It’s key that he keeps his focus of thought and to continue working along the lines we saw in 2022 as its a path that has yielded results and him becoming the best edition of a golfer that I’ve witnessed in his career to date.

It’s also a path I’m convinced where more majors will be added to his already sensational golfing CV.

Watch Rory McIlroy in PGA Tour and DP World Tour action throughout 2023 live on Sky Sports Golf!

World No 5 Jon Rahm has hailed Rory McIlroy’s stand against LIV Golf in tandem with his golfing performances this year, and admits he is worried for the legacy of fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia.

McIlroy is targeting more Dubai success this week, live on Sky Sports Golf, as the world No 1 aims to round off a memorable 2022 with DP World Tour Championship victory.

A runner-up finish at The Masters and eighth-place showing at the PGA Championship were followed by him claiming fifth at the US Open and then narrowly missing out on victory at The Open, before McIlroy brought his FedExCup-winning form from the PGA Tour back across to Europe in the autumn.

McIlroy is aiming to clinch DP World Tour Championship victory this week, live on Sky Sports

McIlroy claimed joint-second with Rahm at the BMW PGA Championship in the first of three consecutive top-four finishes on the DP World Tour, lifting him to top spot, with the 33-year-old now looking to become the first player since Henrik Stenson to win the FedExCup and DP World Tour order of merit in the same year.

All the while, McIlroy, who won the CJ Cup back on the PGA Tour on his last outing, has been a loyal supporter of golf’s established tours in their legal battle with Saudi-funded breakaway circuit LIV, and believes it may take chief-executive Greg Norman exiting LIV Golf to get any resolution within the sport.

Rahm, when asked how he rated McIlroy’s actions on and off the golf course, was full of praise…

“How do I rate? You’re putting me in a difficult position here,” he said.

“He’s played amazing golf to win the FedExCup, and to have a chance to win the Race to Dubai as well.

McIlroy’s performances this year saw him become FedExCup champion

“This would be I think the second time in his career he wins both, which is quite an accomplishment. He’s played amazing. I think the only thing he will tell you that’s missing is a major championship off having a pretty amazing year.

“It’s great to see somebody with his platform to take a stand as he did, whether you agree with it or not, he’s taken a stand on what he believes in and that’s it. I think it’s great.

Speaking at a press conference, Rahm was full of praise for McIlroy and admitted he worries for Sergio Garcia’s legacy

“He’s had a lot of input. He’s been on the board of the PGA Tour and tried to make a change.

“To be honest, with how long those meetings are and how much as players we talk to each other to play as good as he has, is pretty remarkable.

“I mean, in this profession, we are all basically CEOs of our own little golf company, and now he has invested in so much more. Again, the role he’s had in both is quite incredible.”

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McIlroy says Greg Norman needs to step down from his position as LIV Golf chief executive immediately because golf’s tours need an ‘adult in the room’ to help end their feud

On the flip side, Ryder Cup legend Garcia was one of the first to leave the PGA and DP World Tours and join LIV.

The Spaniard has 16 career wins on the DP World Tour and has appeared in 320 tournaments since turning pro in 1999. The 2017 Masters champion has reached as high as No 2 in the world.

The 42-year-old’s decision to join LIV may also see him ineligible to compete in the Ryder Cup, an event he has appeared in 10 times in his career and scored the most points (28.5) in the competition’s history.

Rahm, while saying he hopes Garcia’s legacy remain untarnished, admits he can see how it might be to some.

“I hope not [Garcia’s legacy affected]. It’s very unprecedented, right, what we’ve been dealing with in the game of golf, in the last…it hasn’t even been that long, what, six months. And there’s certainly going to be a before and after at some point, and there’s definitely some division going on.

Garcia’s legacy may well be tainted for some due to his LIV Golf exploits, Rahm admits

“But I think to the core fans who have been fans of Sergio, I don’t think they care, really, where he plays. Some of them might, but most of them I don’t really think they care.

“It still shouldn’t change what he’s done in the game; what he’s done in the Ryder Cup, European Tour, PGA Tour, shouldn’t be affected by where he decides to play golf, at least in my mind.

“It could have somewhat of an impact. I have a hard time believing a lot of those players are going to have a positive impact with their legacy right now.

Garcia is the most successful Ryder Cup player in history, but may not even be eligible to play now

“We don’t know what’s going to happen, but if it does, I hope it’s not a big one, let’s say it that way. He’s done a lot for the game of golf, so it would be sad to see that change.”

Rahm: We need to stop giving LIV publicity | ‘I’m not totally against LIV players gaining ranking points’

Regarding World Ranking points and LIV golf, Rahm admitted he is not against some LIV players being rewarded, but said there would have to be adjustments made.

“We need to stop giving LIV the publicity. They are not asking for it. That’s the first thing I’m going to say,” he added.

“I think a lot of people are against them having World Ranking points. I’m not necessarily against it but there should be adjustments.

“If your requirement is to have World Ranking points as 72 holes and a cut, maybe you don’t award them 100 per cent of the points since they are not fulfilling all of the requirements.

“I also believe, it’s probably a couple-year process, so they need to respect that as every other tour has.

“But, like we say, if there’s some requirements and it’s only 54 holes and you don’t have a cut, maybe you award them, let’s say the winner will get 30 or I give them 75 per cent of them, I don’t know.

“They do have some incredible players. To say that Dustin [Johnson] wasn’t one of the best players this year would be a mistake.”

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World No 325 Angel Hidalgo, from Spain, has a share of the lead at the halfway stage at the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama, sitting on nine under; Australia’s Min Woo Lee and Spain’s Adrian Otaegui also on nine under; defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick missed the halfway cut

Spain’s Angel Hidalgo delighted home fans with a stunning 63 to claim a share of the halfway lead in the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama.

Hidalgo carded eight birdies, including seven in a nine-hole stretch around the turn, and narrowly failed to chip in for another on his final hole which would have seen him equal Bernhard Langer’s 28-year-old course record.

The world number 325’s total of nine under par was matched late in the day by compatriot Adrian Otaegui and in-form Australian Min Woo Lee, who finished second here last year and was third in the Spanish Open on Sunday.

Lee added a 67 to his opening 66, with Otaegui’s scores recorded the other way around.

“I started the day hitting it so badly on the range, but I just tried to put the ball in the fairway on the first few holes and started to take some confidence,” Hidalgo said.

“I made every putt today and that was the key.

“When I saw my ball on the fairway on the eighth (his penultimate hole) with 65 metres to the pin, I thought if I make birdie here I can make birdie on nine and maybe 61 for the course record.

“But the putt on eight was so tough and a 63 is a dream score and I’m so happy.

“The support from the crowd was amazing. It’s the first time I’ve played with so many people following me. I was a bit nervous at times, but it was a great feeling.”

Spain’s Angel Hidalgo hit seven birdies from the final nine holes to share the halfway lead at the Andalucia Masters

The leading trio enjoyed a three-shot lead over Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren, with Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre and Spain’s Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez another stroke back on five under.

MacIntyre, who won the Italian Open at next year’s Ryder Cup venue last month, birdied four of his first six holes but dropped two late shots as he added a 70 to his opening 67.

“It was solid,” the left-hander said. “I just made a few mistakes late on there when I was trying to be too fancy and trying to create too much out of a shot rather than just sticking to the numbers game.

“The way I was playing one under probably isn’t a fair reflection, but I’ll take it. I feel I’ve got a lot of chances out there the way I play. Just now I’m driving it well and my iron play is the best it’s been in a long, long time.”

Defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick missed the halfway cut after carding a second consecutive 74 to finish six over par, but the US Open champion’s younger brother Alex safely advanced to the weekend on level par.

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