Claret Jug Visit Anfield Ahead of The Open

The Claret Jug, golf’s most iconic trophy, made a special appearance at Anfield for Liverpool’s last game of the season against Middlesbrough yesterday.

Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director - Championships at The R&A, joined LFC Legend and official Open Ambassador Kenny Dalglish on the pitch to share the Claret Jug with the fans.

Ahead of the 146th staging of the Championship at Royal Birkdale from 16-23 July, Liverpool FC has teamed up with The Open to offer fans the chance to see the world’s greatest golfers play the famous Southport links in their quest to become Champion Golfer of the Year.

Reds fans can purchase hospitality tickets for the historic Championship and join LFC footballing legend Kenny Dalglish at the Hillside Clubhouse, situated at the iconic Hillside Golf Club next to Royal Birkdale.

Fans who purchase hospitality tickets through Liverpool FC will receive a free pair of Open Championship cufflinks with each purchase.

Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director - Championships at The R&A, said: “The Open is a true celebration of golf and one of the world’s great sporting events. We look forward to working with Liverpool FC to help promote The Open’s return to the historic links at Royal Birkdale for the tenth time this summer.”

There are still packages remaining for the Hillside Club where you can join Kenny Dalglish and these are available through the LFC Hospitality team

Rory McIlroy Signs New Multi-Million Dollar Deal With Nike For Ten Years

Rory McIlroy has signed a new 10-year deal with sportswear giants Nike, estimated to be worth around $100million.

The Northern Irishman moved to the American company in 2013 in a deal that included golf equipment and apparel.

Although Nike recently announced their move away from manufacturing golf clubs, they still remain committed to clothing and footwear significantly enough to tie down McIlroy for 10 years.

“I've loved this company since I was a kid,' McIlroy said. “I'm really happy to continue this journey with Nike.”

McIlroy this week will be aiming to complete a career Grand Slam as he competes at the Masters in Augusta

Muirfield To Allow Women Members

Muirfield golf club has made the decision to allow female members for the first time in its history.

Members convincingly voted 80.2% to 19.8% in favour of opening up the privately-owned club to female players, following a decision from golf's governing body R&A to remove the venue as host of the Open Championship.

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said the club would now be reinstated as an Open venue.

The club was first opened in 1744, and has staged the Open sixteen times. Muirfield had required two-thirds of its membership to back the admittance of women in order to pass the new rules, with over four in five voting in favour of the change

PGA Tour debuts new team event

The PGA Tour Policy Board has approved a new two-man team format for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans which will feature two rounds each of Foursome and Four-Ball competition.

The change will be in effect for the 2017 tournament, which is scheduled for April 24-30 at TPC Louisiana in New Orleans. It has drawn widespread interest among Tour members and already has resulted in a couple of high-profile commitments. Announcing their participation today were the teams of World No. 1 Jason Day with Rickie Fowler, and 2015 Zurich Classic of New Orleans champion Justin Rose with Henrik Stenson, the Olympic gold and silver medalists, respectively.

“I’ve loved being a part of team events throughout my amateur, collegiate and now professional career.  I’m so excited that the TOUR and Zurich are making this part of our schedule and can’t wait to tee it up with Jason in April,” said Fowler, the 10th ranked golfer in the world.

“As a longtime ambassador, the Zurich Classic is already a special tournament for me,” said Rose, who beat Stenson by two strokes to become the 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist in Rio de Janeiro. “The addition of a team format adds a new, incredibly exciting element to the event. Henrik and I are very excited to tee it up together in April, and hopefully we can continue our longstanding chemistry and success in team formats.”

The new 72-hole stroke play format will feature Foursomes (alternate shot) during the first and third rounds and Four-Ball (best ball) during the second and fourth rounds. The starting field will consist of 80 teams (160 players). Each of the top available players from the PGA Tour Priority Rankings who commits to the tournament will choose his partner, who in turn must have PGA Tour status unless he is chosen as a tournament sponsor exemption

Solheim Cup scheduled for Ohio

The 2021 Solheim Cup is heading to the Inverness Club, Toledo, Ohio, for the 17th edition of the competition, announced the LPGA.

The biennial competition is alternated between being hosted in the USA and Europe.

“We’re thrilled to have Inverness host the 2021 Solheim Cup,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. “Inverness is one of the premier venues in golf and will serve as a great test for a match-play competition. Additionally, Toledo has been part of the LPGA family for over 30 years and we can’t wait to see the excitement, enthusiasm and hospitality that this great community will undoubtedly bring for the Solheim Cup.”

“Inverness Club and its members are thrilled to have been selected to host the 2021 Solheim Cup,” said Inverness club president Steve Mitchell. “Our historic Donald Ross-designed course has been host to six major championships and five national championships and I’m especially proud that this tradition will now be elevated to include the biggest event in women’s golf.”

“We’re proud to support the 2021 Solheim Cup here in northwest Ohio where our corporate roots are firmly planted,” said Tom Kelley, Marathon Petroleum’s senior vice president of marketing. “Along with our sponsorship of Stacy Lewis and title sponsorship of the Marathon Classic, being a global partner for this world-renowned competition is a tremendous opportunity to extend our positive experience with the LPGA.”

Day One Of Ryder Cup Sees Europe Fight Back

A stirring Europe fightback following the worst start imaginable has left the 41st Ryder Cup tantalisingly poised at the end of a typically colourful first day.

With a 5-3 advantage there’s no question the Americans had the best of it overall but that scoreline disguises a gutsy Europe recovery from the depths of a 4-0 whitewash in the opening series of foursomes.

Never before had a Europe team suffered such ignominy but they showed plenty of pride and fighting spirt in the afternoon fourballs to win those by a margin of 3-1. 

New Women's Golf Tournament in Abu Dhabi

 

Abu Dhabi will host a new women's golf tournament in November 2016

The Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open will be hosted at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club from Wednesday 2 to Saturday 5 November and is the first time the Ladies European Tour (LET) has visited Abu Dhabi.

The tournament, with a prize fund of $550,000, will be organised by the FBMA and supported by Abu Dhabi Sports Council

 Dr. Mai Al Jaber, Board Member, FBMA said, “Hosting this new golf event is part of our commitment to encourage Emirati Women to participate in all aspects of sports through sport education, training and competition. Alongside the world’s leading professionals playing a tournament, a full schedule of community engagement activities will make this one of the most unique golf events in the UAE calendar.”

Rome To Host 2022 Ryder Cup

Rome will host the 44th edition of the biennial team tournament between Europe and the United States of America Ryder Cup for the first time in 2022.

The successful bid beat competition from fellow European nations Austria, Germany and Spain to become only the third continental host after Valderrama in 1997 and Paris in 2018.

Initially, seven bids were put forward when the process began in June 2014, but Denmark, Portugal and Turkey withdrew their interest in the early stages.

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of The European Tour – the Managing Partner of Ryder Cup Europe – led a five-strong Bid Evaluation Committee comprising Europe’s Ryder Cup Director Richard Hills, Ryder Cup Match Director Edward Kitson, The European Tour’s Director of Property and Venue Development David MacLaren and European Tour Chief Financial Officer Jonathan Orr, who thoroughly examined and evaluated all four Bids, including undertaking a series of site inspections.

Pelley praised the ambition of the Italian bid, in particular the pledge to redevelop the 27-hole Marco Simone course to meet the demands of hosting the Ryder Cup.

“I would like to offer my congratulations to Italy whose bold and ambitious bid has seen them become the host nation for The 2022 Ryder Cup,” he said. “History has shown time and again that The Ryder Cup is pure theatre with the players the stars, and there is no question that the Eternal City of Rome will provide a wonderful backdrop for one of the great occasions in world golf

BMW Named as Official Partner of USA Golf Federation for Rio 2016 Olympics

The USA Golf Federation has secured a new partnership with BMW North America for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

BMW will provide mobility services including transportation assistance to the USA GOLF Federation leading up to and during the Rio 2016 Games.

Golf will be making a return to the Olympic Games in 2016 after an absence of 112 years.

“As a global supporter of professional and amateur golf for more than 30 years, it was a natural fit for BMW to support USA GOLF in the sport’s return to the Olympics in 2016,” said Trudy Hardy, Vice President of Marketing, BMW of North America.

“With this partnership and golf’s inclusion in the Olympics for the first time in 112 years, BMW realizes a powerful opportunity to aid in raising the profile of the sport with new audiences across the globe.”

Andy Levinson, Executive Director, USA GOLF Federation said: “We’re thrilled to have such a tenured friend of both golf and the Olympics behind us.

“It is sponsor support like this that will allow us to achieve our mission of not only competitive success in Rio, but also contributing to the development of future American golfers.”

Oak Hill to Stage PGA Championship for Fourth Time in 2023

The PGA of America has confirmed that Oak Hill Country Club in New York will host the 105th PGA Championship in 2023.

This will be a record-tying fourth PGA Championship at Oak Hill.

Oak Hill has been the site of many PGA Championship memories. Jack Nicklaus won the penultimate major of his legendary career by seven shots at Oak Hill in the 1980 PGA Championship.

Nursing a one-shot lead at the 2003 PGA Championship, Shaun Micheel struck one of the greatest clinching shots in golf history when his 174-yard 7-iron on the 72nd hole left him with a two-inch tap-in birdie.

Most recently, Jason Dufner’s second-round 63 during the 2013 PGA Championship set the East Course record and resulted in the first major championship of his career.

Ronaldo, Mourinho And Others Goes Into Guiness World Record Book

 

Cristiano Ronaldo, three-time and reigning FIFA best player in the world who has scored 60 or more goals in each of the last four calendar years and averages a goal a game for his club Real Madrid and  Some of the biggest names in the world of sport had their names in the Guinness World Records book for some feats they have achieved in the course of their career. 

Cristiano Ronaldo who has his name in the new records book for having the most hattricks in La Liga after scoring 27th hat-trick overtaking club legend Alfredo Di Stefano and  also the most followed athlete and person on both Facebook (over 100 million likes) and Twitter (over 27m followers).

Compatroit, Jose Mourinho also made the Record book list four times and received his certificates for having the most Points in a English Premier League season (95), most UEFA Champions League won at different clubs (two), youngest manager to reach 100 Champions League games (49 years 12 days) and most games unbeaten at home in the Premier League (77).

The Guinness World Records book team presented the 'Special One' the certificates at the Cobham training ground.

"The fact that I can hang these awards in my office is nice," Mourinho said.

"It's something fun and as a kid you could never imagine that one day you would be in Guinness World Records Book.

"I'm now more focused on winning the next game than on what I've done in the last 10 or 15 years."

Former Chelsea star Frank Lampard was not left out, as he was honoured for having the most Premier League teams scored against, after scoring against former club last season making it 39 teams. 

The only odd part of  the list was Manchester United defender Chris Smalling who got two certificates for scoring the fastest goal in the Premier League by a substitute from kick-off, when he netted against Burnley in just five minutes nine seconds last season and for the most goals in the Premier League scored by a substitute in the first half.

Other sports stars were not left out as New Zealand Rugby legend Dan Carter was presented with three different records.

The All Blacks fly half and record breaking point scorer looked delighted as he was handed framed certificates for most international conversions (260), penalties (258), and international points amassing in excess of 1500 points over the duration of his career

After leading Ashes to glory, Joe Root and Jimmy Anderson picked up Guinness World Record.

Their 198-run 10th wicket partnership against India last summer broke the previous record held by Australia's Ashton Agar and the late Phil Hughes, and they were presented with the award following their Ashes triumph at The Oval.

Men's world number one tennis player  Novak Djokovic has his name in the prestigious Guinness World Records book

The Serb was presented with his award for his record of the most Australian Open titles (five).

Djokovic and rival Rafael Nadal had to share one certificate as they were both part of the longest Grand Slam final (Five hours and 33 minutes).

The number one in women's tennis Serena Williams was given a certificate as the the 'Highest Earner Ever in Female Tennis', accumulating £44,782,600 since turning professional back in 1995.

Current Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton was also honoured for being the most consecutive seasons to win a Formula One Grand Prix from debut, which now goes into his eighth season following his dominant victory in the Malaysian Grand Prix

His team Mercedes were also honoured for the most wins by a constructor in a Formula One season, after winning 16 out of 19 races in the 2014 F1 campaign.

In golf, Jordan Spieth was honoured for most birdies in the US Masters (36), lowest total score (72 holes) with 270 and shares with Tiger Woods, lowest total score for the first two rounds (36 holes) – 130, lowest total score for the first three rounds (54 holes) – 200.

He also clinched the youngest winner of the PGA Tour rookie of the year award, aged just 20

The Barclays Golf Tournament to be Held at Glen Oaks Club in 2017

The PGA Tour has confirmed that Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, New York will host The Barclays golf tournament in 2017.

This year’s event will begin on Thursday. The Barclays also announced the course rotation through 2022.

According to PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem

“The Glen Oaks Club is a fantastic addition to a rotation of some of the best courses in the metropolitan New York/New Jersey area. “The Barclays has a proud tradition of visiting the very best golf courses in the area, and Glen Oaks fits perfectly with the other tremendous sites in the rotation. We look forward to heading there for the first time in 2017 for an exciting event to kick off the FedExCup Playoffs.”

US Open Golf Venues Chosen for 2022, 2023 and 2024

The United States Golf Association has revealed the venues for the U.S. Open Championships in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

They will be staged at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusets, The Los Angeles Country Club and Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in the Village of Pinehurst, respectively.

According to the President of the USGA Thomas J. O’Toole Jr. “We are thrilled to bring the 122nd U.S. Open Championship to such a storied golf course and a great club, one of the five clubs that founded the USGA in 1894,” said O’Toole. “Arguably the most significant event in American golf happened there in 1913, when the young local amateur Francis Ouimet defeated the top pros of the day, Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, in the first U.S. Open played at The Country Club.

“We are elated to host our national championship at these three historic venues,” said Toole

 

“We are thrilled to bring the 122nd U.S. Open Championship to such a storied golf course and a great club, one of the five clubs that founded the USGA in 1894,” said O’Toole. “Arguably the most significant event in American golf happened there in 1913, when the young local amateur Francis Ouimet defeated the top pros of the day, Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, in the first U.S. Open played at The Country Club.”

The 2022 U.S. Open will be the 17th USGA championship hosted by The Country Club, second-most among U.S. clubs to Merion, with 18. The three previous U.S. Opens conducted at the club – all of which were decided in 18-hole playoffs – were in 1913

The 2023 U.S. Open will be held June 15-18, and The Los Angeles Country Club will become just the third U.S. Open venue in Southern California, joining Riviera Country Club in nearby Pacific Palisades (1948) and Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego (2008, 2021).

The 2024 U.S. Open, to be held June 13-16 on Pinehurst’s Course No. 2, will mark the fourth U.S. Open and 11th USGA championship at the historic venue. In addition to the unprecedented back-to-back U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open in June 2014, won by Martin Kaymer and Michelle Wie, 

John Williams to Become England Golf President in 2017

John Williams has accepted the nomination to become President Elect of England Golf for 2016 with a view to becoming President in 2017.“To read the list of past Presidents is a humbling experience,” he said. “I am deeply honoured and delighted at this invitation and I’ll do my very best to match the standards set by my predecessors in representing and promoting England Golf, also in supporting Marian Rae, our President in 2016.

“These were aspects of my role as Chairman of Championships which I so much enjoyed.  I’ll be able to express my own and England Golf’s appreciation to all of those who devote so much time, effort and expertise to the amateur game we love,” he said.

John has been a referee for the English Golf Union (EGU) and England Golf for the last 10 years and is a past Chairman of the Championship Committee.  He’s looking forward to renewing the contact and relationships with counties and clubs which host England Golf championships.

PGA Tour Secure Hyundai as Sponsor for The Presidents Cup 2015

 

The PGA Tour has agreed a deal with Hyundai to officially sponsor ‘The Presidents Cup 2015’.

The tournament will be held in Asia for the first time this year from the 6^th to the 11^th of October at the ‘Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea’ in Songdo, Incheon.

“We are pleased to provide official vehicles for The Presidents Cup, which is held for the first time in Asia,” said a Hyundai Motor Company insider.

“We will provide the best cars so as to ensure comfortable and safe travel for the world’s top-notch players.”

Baku 2015 Dismiss Empty Seat Concerns And Announce Closing Ceremony is Sold Out

By Christian Radnedge

The organising committee of the Baku 2015 European Games have announced that all 48,000 tickets for next week’s closing ceremony have been sold and that they are not worried about the empty seats seen so far at the Games.

Baku 2015 insisted that 168 sport sessions of a total of 281 across the 20 sports were sold out. However, swathes of empty seats were seen at venues such as Crystal Hall which is hosting volleyball.

Chief operating officer of the Games Simon Clegg said the problem of empty seats was “obviously an issue with tickets being given to sponsors”.

“This is a challenge that any international event has on day one and two of competition as the system starts to bed down,” he said. “I recognize that some sports are more popular and some less in Azerbaijan.”

Nevertheless, the government is confident there will be no empty seats at the closing ceremony at the Olympic Stadium on June 28.

Speaking about the demand for tickets to Baku 2015, Minister of Youth and Sport and Chief Executive Officer for Baku 2015, Mr Azad Rahimov, said: “The response to the Games has been magnificent. The Opening Ceremony has inspired the nation and as a result we are seeing a huge demand for tickets from people who want to be part of Azerbaijan’s largest ever sporting event.

“I’m also extremely proud of our Azerbaijani athletes, they have all done our nation proud. The reaction they have received from the crowd has been magnificent and their performances will help inspire young people across the country to take up sport.”