How Europe’s Ryder Cup team was finalised on a WhatsApp group and why Darren Clarke thinks Thomas Pieters is a future world No1 August 30, 2016 I know just how difficult it has been for Darren Clarke to finally settle on Thomas Pieters, Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood as his three captain’s picks for next month’s Ryder Cup, which he named on Tuesday. It is hard to leave out players like Russell Knox, Luke Donald and Graeme McDowell, while Darren also [...]
Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald tipped to be handed Europe’s Ryder Cup wild cards August 29, 2016 England's Luke Donald has emerged as a surprise contender for one of Darren Clarke’s three wild-card picks as the European captain prepares to name his final Ryder Cup team on Tuesday. Clarke is expected to select an experienced trio to join a rookie-heavy line-up of nine automatic qualifiers, with stalwarts Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer [...]
Matt Fitzpatrick clinches Ryder Cup place in style as decision time looms for captains August 22, 2016 It was fantastic to see young Yorkshireman Matt Fitzpatrick secure his place in Europe’s Ryder Cup team for the first time in style at the Czech Masters at the weekend. The 21-year-old had been in line for a debut at Hazeltine next month ever since winning the British Masters last year and clinched one of [...]
Justin Rose’s duel with Henrik Stenson was the perfect result for Olympic golf chiefs August 15, 2016 Newly-crowned Olympic champion Justin Rose wouldn’t have been the only person delighted with how golf’s return to the Games after more than a century’s absence unfolded over the last few days. After a difficult build-up to the event featuring a spate of withdrawals, organisers could not have hoped for a better outcome than a Major [...]
World-class Russell Knox couldn’t be doing any more to earn a Ryder Cup wildcard pick August 8, 2016 But for a technicality, Russell Knox would already be assured of a place at the Ryder Cup, and the up-and-coming Scot could hardly be doing any more to remedy that situation. Knox, 31, earned a fantastic win at the Travelers Championship on Sunday to put him right in contention for a European debut against his [...]
Classy Jimmy Walker seized his chance at US PGA and has an old-fashioned swing built to last August 1, 2016 Jimmy Walker, chasing his first Major title at the age of 37, could quite easily have been affected by having to play his last 36 holes of the of the US PGA Championship in one day on Sunday. Instead, the minimal break in between his third and fourth rounds, following delays caused by the threat [...]
America’s Jimmy Walker holds nerve to win maiden Major title with victory at US PGA Championship August 1, 2016 America's Jimmy Walker produced a nerveless final round to continue the trend of first-time champions at Major tournaments by winning the weather-affected US PGA Championship at Baltusrol. World No48 Walker, whose previous best performance at a Major was tied seventh at the 2014 US PGA, became the fifth consecutive first-time winner, finishing a shot clear of [...]
Ross Fisher heads the English charge at the US PGA Championship and insists his game is good enough to win July 29, 2016 England duo Ross Fisher and Andy Sullivan thrust themselves into contention for their maiden Major titles after impressive opening rounds at the US PGA Championship at Baltusrol. America’s Jimmy Walker set the early pace and headed the leaderboard at the close of play with a five-under 65, although Fisher is just a shot behind and [...]
US PGA Championship prize money 2016: $1.8m earnings boost on offer at Baltusrol to Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and co July 27, 2016 Victory in the US PGA Championship in New Jersey is the joint-second most lucrative prize money pay cheque for a single event on the golf calendar. Reigning champion Jason Day earned $1.8m, the tournament’s largest ever winner’s reward, at Whistling Straits last year and the prize remains the same this time at Baltusrol. That lucrative take comes from [...]
Short gap between Majors could play into hands of in-form Henrik Stenson at US PGA Championship July 25, 2016 This week’s US PGA Championships is going to have go some to match the Open, which was by any measurement the best golf we have ever seen at a Major tournament. The two tournaments wouldn’t normally be so close in the calendar, but golf’s return to the Olympic Games means that the gap between the [...]