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LIV Golf captain Stenson headlines field full of stars as 2024 Saudi Open returns to Riyadh

LIV Golf captain Stenson headlines field full of stars as 2024 Saudi Open returns to Riyadh
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Five fellow LIV Golf members will join captain Henrik Stenson at the 2024 Saudi Open, presented by the Public Investment Fund, that will return to Riyadh Golf Club from Apr. 17-20, 2024. (Supplied)
LIV Golf captain Stenson headlines field full of stars as 2024 Saudi Open returns to Riyadh
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Five fellow LIV Golf members will join captain Henrik Stenson at the 2024 Saudi Open, presented by the Public Investment Fund, that will return to Riyadh Golf Club from Apr. 17-20, 2024. (Supplied)
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Updated 09 April 2024
Arab News
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LIV Golf captain Stenson headlines field full of stars as 2024 Saudi Open returns to Riyadh

LIV Golf captain Stenson headlines field full of stars as 2024 Saudi Open returns to Riyadh
  • Stenson is determined to lift the trophy this time after catapulting himself into second place with a final round 65 at the 2023 Saudi Open
  • ‘I am thrilled to be returning to Riyadh to play in the Saudi Open. I loved the atmosphere on my first visit to what is an incredible golf course,’ says Stenson
Updated 09 April 2024
Arab News
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RIYADH: Five fellow LIV Golf members will join captain Henrik Stenson at the 2024 Saudi Open, presented by the Public Investment Fund, that will return to Riyadh Golf Club from Apr. 17-20, 2024.
A number of DP World Tour players, including Rafa Cabrera-Bello, and the stars of the Asian Tour are also scheduled to join.
The eighth edition in December 2023 was the first time the tournament featured as a fully sanctioned Asian Tour event and saw Thai rising star Denwit Boriboonsub finish on 18-under-par, three shots ahead of 2016 Open Championship winner Stenson.
The 20-year-old has confirmed he will return to defend his title when the Asian Tour tees off after a five-week break in the Saudi capital.
Stenson, after catapulting himself into second place with a final round 65 at the 2023 Saudi Open, is determined to lift the trophy this time.
He said: “I am thrilled to be returning to Riyadh to play in the Saudi Open. I loved the atmosphere on my first visit to what is an incredible golf course, and I am very excited to experience that again.
“The facilities are highly impressive and highlight the strides that golf in Saudi Arabia continues to make,” added Stenson, who expects another strong and testing tournament against a field full of quality players.
“I am eager to go one better than last year and lift the trophy,” he said.
Building on last year’s successful hosting, the 2024 Saudi Open presented by PIF will once again see a strong LIV Golf contingent battle for the trophy as Andy Ogletree, Peter Uihlein, Eugenio Chacarra and David Puig join Majesticks joint-team captain Stenson and his former European Ryder Cup teammate Cabrera-Bello in Riyadh.
Puig, who won the season-opening Malaysian Open, currently tops the Asian Tour Order of Merit ahead of second-placed John Catlin from the US — winner of the recent International Series Macau presented by Wynn, where he shot the tour’s first-ever 59.
Asian Tour Commissioner and CEO Cho Minn Thant said: “We are delighted to be going back to Riyadh for the Saudi Open. The event proved an excellent addition to the Asian Tour having been elevated from the Asian Development Tour, and Riyadh Golf Club provided us with a perfect setting to end 2023.
“In Golf Saudi, we have a trusted partner who we are confident will deliver another fantastic tournament.”
Golf Saudi will again show its commitment to ensuring opportunities for everyone with a number of spots reserved for local Saudi and Arab golfers to compete in the tournament.
The Saudi Open presented by PIF is the fifth stop of the season on the Asian Tour.

Topics: LIV Golf Henrik Stenson 2024 Saudi Open Riyadh Golf Club PIF

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Scottie Scheffler leads by 4 at East Lake as Morikawa and Schauffele try to keep it close

Scottie Scheffler leads by 4 at East Lake as Morikawa and Schauffele try to keep it close
Updated 31 August 2024
AP
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Scottie Scheffler leads by 4 at East Lake as Morikawa and Schauffele try to keep it close

Scottie Scheffler leads by 4 at East Lake as Morikawa and Schauffele try to keep it close
  • At stake for Scheffler is a chance to win the FedEx Cup and its $25 million prize, which he failed to do as the top seed each of the past two years
  • Scheffler’s lone mistake was going bunker-to-bunker on the par-4 13th and missing an 8-foot par putt
Updated 31 August 2024
AP

ATLANTA : Scottie Scheffler put on another clinic from tee-to-green at East Lake on Friday for a 5-under 66 and a four-shot lead at the Tour Championship that didn’t seem as big as it looked.

Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele had something to do with that.

In a second round that brought a sense of urgency for those chasing the No. 1 player in golf, Morikawa responded with nine birdies, two on the final two holes after a 93-minute storm delay, for an 8-under 63.

Schauffele finished with a pair of 12-foot putts — one for par, one for birdie, both feeling just as important as the other — for a 64.

“This course right now with how firm the greens are, it’s a ball-striking type deal where you have to be in the fairways and hit your number, and he’s been killing everyone at that all year,” Schauffele said. “I know he’s not going to let up, so there’s only one way to get him.”

Morikawa has laid out a plan for the week. Still, he was seven shots back to start the day and has seen enough of Scheffler this year to know what to expect.

“He’s going to continue to make birdies,” Morikawa said. “He’s driving it really, really well here and you’re giving yourself enough wedges to make some scoring opportunities out there. For me, it’s just bringing energy and just kind of staying alive out there.”

They still have their work cut out for them.

Scheffler is the No. 1 seed in the FedEx Cup and began the finale with a two-shot lead. He also is playing as well as he has all year, and those immediately behind him in the FedEx Cup were not at their best in the opening round. That accounted for Scheffler having a seven-shot lead at the start of the day.

He returned from the storm delay with a pair of birdies over his final three holes and reached 21-under par. Morikawa was at 17 under and Schauffele was another shot behind.

No one else was closer than nine shots to Scheffler.

At stake for Scheffler is a chance to win the FedEx Cup and its $25 million prize, which he failed to do as the top seed each of the past two years. But he looks more comfortable on an East Lake course that has been overhauled — “This is not the same course,” he said when he arrived Monday for his first look — and everyone has a big task chasing him.

Scheffler began the round with a 7-iron that he thought was going to leave him a 20-foot look at birdie, except that it caught the wrong side of the ridge and rolled off the green, down a severe slope and settled 90 away against a collar of rough.

He holed a 20-foot par putt, a good start that sent him on his way. Even with Morikawa and Schauffele scoring early, Scheffler still led by six shots early on the back nine until he made his first bogey in 29 holes and Morikawa chipped in for birdie, a two-shot swing.

Morikawa had four birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn, only to see his tee shot to the 11th bounce hard and roll off the back of the green, leading to bogey. But he recovered well enough, particularly with his two closing birdies.

Schauffele, who started the tournament two shots behind as the No. 2 seed, lost ground with a 70 on the first day. He sorted out most of his swing issues and had a bogey-free day.

Scheffler tried not to get caught up in his seven-shot lead — a product of his 65 on Thursday and the next five players behind him in the FedEx Cup doing no better than 69 — though it was unusual to see a six-shot lead on the front nine on a Friday.

“Today was a day where I had a big lead, but there was a huge group of guys right there, so obviously some guys are going to play pretty well,” Scheffler said. “But I did a good job of staying in my own world out there and put up a good round of golf.”

He went out in 32. Morikawa and Schauffele had to keep making birdies just to keep this from turning into a runaway. Scheffler’s lone mistake was going bunker-to-bunker on the par-4 13th and missing an 8-foot par putt.

Scheffler is driving it so well — he missed only three fairways — that he didn’t have more than a 7-iron into a par 4 and is setting a tough target for everyone to chase.

Adam Scott (67), Wyndham Clark (67) and Sahith Theegala (66) were nine shots behind. Sam Burns, Scheffler’s best friend on tour, birdied his last two holes for a 68 and lost so much ground he stopped looking at the leaderboard. He was 10 shots behind.

“He’s the best golfer on the planet. He’s really good with leads,” Burns said. “It’s not a great thing for us.”

Topics: golf

Haeran Ryu shoots bogey-free 62 to open up big lead at TPC Boston

Haeran Ryu shoots bogey-free 62 to open up big lead at TPC Boston
Updated 31 August 2024
AP
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Haeran Ryu shoots bogey-free 62 to open up big lead at TPC Boston

Haeran Ryu shoots bogey-free 62 to open up big lead at TPC Boston
  • Ryu was at 13-under 131, with Bianca Pagdanganan, Yealimi Noh and Robyn Choi tied for second at 7 under
  • Birdie runs are nothing new for Ryu, a five-time winner on the Korea LPGA before earning her LPGA card as the medalist at its Q-Series
Updated 31 August 2024
AP

NORTON, Mass.: Haeran Ryu kept making birdies and wanted to post her lowest round on the LPGA Tour on Friday. She accomplished that with a 10-under 62 that gave her a six-shot lead in the FM Championship.

Ryu had a run of four straight birdies on the front nine and the back nine at the TPC Boston with its small targets and firm greens. And she had a simple explanation for them.

“Just an amazing day because my shots, everything next to the hole. And my putts, everything get in the hole,” said Ryu, the 23-year-old from South Korea who was LPGA rookie of the year last season. “Amazing day, yeah.”

Even more amazing was the size of her lead. Ryu was at 13-under 131, with Bianca Pagdanganan, Yealimi Noh and Robyn Choi tied for second at 7 under. Pagdanganan had a 66, and Noh and Choi each shot 68.

Jin Young Ko (67) and US Solheim Cup player Lauren Coughlin (69) were 6 under.

Marina Alex, who had the 18-hole lead after a bogey-free 68, followed that with a 72 that left her nine shots behind.

Birdie runs are nothing new for Ryu, a five-time winner on the Korea LPGA before earning her LPGA card as the medalist at its Q-Series. She won the Walmart NW Arkansas Open last year with a 29 on the back nine.

She started her big run with a birdie on the par-4 fourth and then birdied the next three holes to seize control. She had two birdies in three holes to start the back nine, and then made four in a row starting on the 14th hole.

Ryu was hitting it so well that she thought she might have holed out for an eagle on the par-4 15th because of the cheer. Turns out there was one person in her cheering section that might have been over the top for a ball that settled about 4 feet away.

“My mom’s reaction is almost getting the eagle, but the ball still on the green,” Ryu said. “Just fun facts for today. My mom is really happy ... just the ball is next to the hole. Yeah, just for 10 seconds I just think, ‘Oh, I got an eagle.’ Just birdie.”

The 62 was her low round by two shots on the LPGA. She previously had rounds of 64 on three occasions.

Noh played bogey free on the TPC Boston, the course that previously hosted the PGA Tour for two decades. She managed only one birdie on the par 5s.

Megan Khang, who was born in nearby Brockton, had the biggest cheering section. She had a 71 and was at 4-under 140.

Khang was seen talking to Ryu outside scoring and someone asked if she had given the South Korean any advice about the TPC Boston.

“I didn’t give her any advice. I was like, ‘What did you do?’ That was a super phenomenal round she put together — flawless, I believe. It’s hard to ignore that. You’ve got to give credit where credit is due. I might go ask her for some advice after this.”

The FM Championship is in its first year, and the company already raised the prize money to $3.8 million from when it first announced it would sponsor the LPGA event. FM also has offered free lodging to the players and is giving a $1,000 stipend to anyone missing the cut.

Topics: golf

Aramco Team Series confirms Shenzhen’s Mission Hills Resort as fourth stop of season

Aramco Team Series confirms Shenzhen’s Mission Hills Resort as fourth stop of season
Updated 27 August 2024
Arab News
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Aramco Team Series confirms Shenzhen’s Mission Hills Resort as fourth stop of season

Aramco Team Series confirms Shenzhen’s Mission Hills Resort as fourth stop of season
  • Ladies European Tour returns to mainland China for the first time in over seven years
  • Organized by Golf Saudi, the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF is a series of five events on the LET
Updated 27 August 2024
Arab News

SHENZHEN, China: The Aramco Team Series presented by PIF and organized by Golf Saudi has today confirmed Mission Hills Resort in Shenzhen as its fourth stop of the season, as the Ladies European Tour (LET) returns to mainland China for the first time in over seven years.

A cornerstone of the LET, the second Asian leg of the 2024 Aramco Team Series presented by PIF will tee-up on the acclaimed World Cup Course at Mission Hills Resort in the vibrant city of Shenzhen, October 4-6. The Jack Nicklaus-designed course will welcome an array of the world’s top talent, as they bid to win individual and team trophies, and a share of the weekend’s $1 million prize fund.

Organized by Golf Saudi, the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF is a series of five events on the LET each year, adding an annual $5 million in prizemoney. With events in destinations across Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East, the innovative format is loved by players and fans alike, as groups of three professionals and an amateur compete against each other in the Tour’s only recurring team event.

The series heads to Shenzhen in October following events in Florida, Seoul and London already this season, with the final leg of the season set for Riyadh in November.

Noah Alireza, CEO of Golf Saudi, said: “We’re thrilled to be taking the Aramco Team Series to Shenzhen. This move not only showcases elite women’s golf to a significant audience, but also offers us an opportunity to inspire future generations in this exciting market. Joining efforts with the world-renowned Mission Hills allows us to deliver a best-in-class event that meets the quality our golfers, fans and stakeholders alike all expect with the Aramco Team Series. Together, we are poised to deliver another truly unforgettable event.”

Khalid Al-Zamil, Aramco vice president of Public Affairs, said: “We are delighted that the Aramco Team Series will be hosted in Shenzhen. At Aramco, we believe sport provides a platform to create opportunity, improve lives and positively impact society. The Aramco Team Series aims to empower female athletes, elevating women’s golf globally, inspiring future generations of athletes.”

Following a successful event in Hong Kong last year, the move to Shenzhen represents an opportunity for the tournament to continue to engage with a diverse array of spectators and showcase the elite of women’s golf.

Mission Hills Resort Shenzhen, a sprawling golf and leisure resort located in the heart of southern China’s Guangdong Province, is renowned as the world’s largest golf facility, boasting a staggering 12 golf courses, making it one of golf’s premier global destinations.

Tenniel Chu, vice chairman of Mission Hills Group, said: “Bringing the Aramco Team Series to Shenzhen represents a significant milestone for both Shenzhen and Mission Hills, heralding the return of the Ladies European Tour to China for three days of thrilling elite competition. We take immense pride in hosting this esteemed event at Mission Hills and look forward to extending a warm welcome to the international community at our breath-taking resort. Our aim is to orchestrate a memorable tournament that captivates audiences and leaves a long-lasting positive impact.”

Since its inception in 2021, the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF has continued to grow at a rapid pace on the global stage.

Alexandra Armas, chief executive officer of the Ladies European Tour said: “Returning to China is an exciting prospect for the LET, as we continue to provide our members with valuable experiences on the world’s best courses. Our aim is to continue elevating women’s golf to new heights, around the globe, and in partnership with the Aramco Team Series.”

Topics: Aramco team Series Mission Hills Resort in Shenzhen Ladies European Tour (LET) Golf Saudi

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Solheim Cup veteran Georgia Hall among four captain’s picks for Europe team to face US

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Updated 27 August 2024
AP
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Solheim Cup veteran Georgia Hall among four captain’s picks for Europe team to face US

Solheim Cup veteran Georgia Hall among four captain’s picks for Europe team to face US
  • The 2024 Solheim Cup will be played Sept. 13-15 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia
  • The US have not won since 2017, though still lead the series 10-8
Updated 27 August 2024
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LONDON: Georgia Hall will play in her fifth straight Solheim Cup after the English golfer was among four captain’s picks announced Monday for the competition against the US next month.

Hall, three-time major champion Anna Nordqvist of Sweden and Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen all return from the European team that retained the trophy after a 14-14 tie in Spain last year.

Albane Valenzuela of Switzerland was the only debutant picked by captain Suzann Pettersen on Monday.

Eight players had already qualified automatically to represent Europe: Swedish trio Maja Stark, Linn Grant and Madelene Sagstrom, Charley Hull of England, Ireland’s Leona Maguire, France’s Celine Boutier, Carlota Ciganda of Spain and Esther Henseleit of Germany.

The 2024 Solheim Cup will be played Sept. 13-15 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia.

The US have not won since 2017, though still lead the series 10-8.

US captain Stacy Lewis is set to announce her three picks Tuesday.

Already qualified are Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, Lauren Coughlin, Ally Ewing, Allizen Corpuz, Megan Khang, Andrea Lee, Rose Zhang and Alison Lee.

Topics: golf Solheim Cup

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Keegan Bradley goes from last man in to BMW Championship winner and on to East Lake

Keegan Bradley goes from last man in to BMW Championship winner and on to East Lake
Updated 26 August 2024
AP
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Keegan Bradley goes from last man in to BMW Championship winner and on to East Lake

Keegan Bradley goes from last man in to BMW Championship winner and on to East Lake
  • Bradley earned $4 million for his second title in the BMW Championship, also winning at Aronimink in 2018 when he was the No. 52 seed
  • Justin Thomas somehow made it to East Lake for the Tour Championship, even though he was already home in Florida in the same nail-biting spot as Bradley was a week ago
Updated 26 August 2024
AP

CASTLE ROCK, Colorado: The BMW Championship was one tournament Keegan Bradley never thought he could win, only because he didn’t think he would be playing.

Bradley was a bundle of nerves one week ago Sunday as he sat in a hotel room in Tennessee with his bags packed and his season seemingly over. And then he squeezed into the 50th spot in FedEx Cup in the final hour, the last man in Castle Pines for the next playoff event.

From biting his nails in Memphis to holding a trophy in Denver. What a week.

“I can’t even wrap my head around it,” Bradley said after an even-par 72 gave him a one-shot victory over Adam Scott, Sam Burns and Ludvig Aberg.

He doesn’t have much time to let his seventh career PGA Tour victory sink in. This created possibilities Bradley never imagined a week ago.

He heads to Atlanta for the Tour Championship at East Lake, where Bradley — who went from No. 50 to No. 4 in the standings — will start four shots behind Scottie Scheffler at East Lake with a reasonable chance at winning the FedEx Cup and its $25 million prize.

And that’s not the only cup in play.

Bradley became the first Ryder Cup captain — he was appointed US skipper just over six weeks ago — to win a PGA Tour event in nine years. He is an assistant captain for the Presidents Cup next month in Montreal.

The BMW title moved him to No. 10 in the Presidents Cup standings. Only the top six automatically qualified Sunday, but Bradley is certain to be under serious consideration when Jim Furyk makes his six captain’s picks after the Tour Championship.

“I don’t know where that’s going to go, but I’m happy to play whatever role they want me to play,” the 38-year-old Bradley said. “I hope I didn’t throw a huge wrench in everybody’s plans, but I’m proud to be in consideration.”

Consideration came from winning, and this a rock-solid performance in the mile-high air and in wind that left several players guessing how far the golf ball was flying.

Bradley had some help from the Scott, who was tied for the lead until starting the back nine with three soft bogeys, all with a wedge in his hand. He missed par putts of 7 feet, 6 feet and 8 feet to fall three shots behind. But it was the approach shots that hurt him.

“Ten, 11, 12 kind of blew it for me there,” Scott said after his 72. “I was in position with wedges on every hole and made three bogeys. That’s almost unthinkable, really.”

Burns had a Sunday-best 65, nearly holing a bunker shot on the 18th. Aberg was in position to close the gap until posing over a 6-iron into the par-5 14th right up until it splashed down, leading to a bogey from which he couldn’t quite recover. He closed with a 71.

Bradley, who finished at 12-under 276, effectively sealed it with a 5-iron from 227 yards in which he took dead aim behind two bunkers to a back left pin and watched it settle on the firm green 16 feet away, the closest anyone was all day.

“As pure a golf shot as I’ve ever hit,” Bradley said.

He two-putted for birdie and a two-shot lead, allowing him a cushion and time to soak up chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” from thousands who encircled the 18th green and paid tribute to the Ryder Cup captain for the 2025 matches. Bradley got a lot of those cheers this week.

Scott’s last chance really ended on the 15th. Bradley was in deep trouble in a back bunker, forcing him to play some 25 feet away from the pin. Scott was in the fairway, 101 yards from the pin, and his wedge sailed the green into deep rough. They wound up with matching bogeys.

The consolation for Scott was moving into the top 30 who qualify for East Lake.

Justin Thomas somehow made it to East Lake for the Tour Championship, even though he was already home in Florida in the same nail-biting spot as Bradley was a week ago.

Thomas needed plenty of help to get the 30th spot, and it came from former British Open champion Brian Harman and Alex Noren. Harman needed a par on the last hole to stay in the top 30 and made double bogey.

Noren, who has never made it to East Lake, was poised to finish in the top 30 when he holed a 25-foot par putt on the 13th hole and made birdie on the 14th. But he finished with three straight bogeys, the most damaging on the par-5 17th, the easiest hole at Castle Pines. He had to lay up from a drive in the rough and hit wedge into a bunker. He shot 75.

Bradley earned $4 million for his second title in the BMW Championship, also winning at Aronimink in 2018 when he was the No. 52 seed in what was then a 70-man field.

Bradley and Scott joined Tommy Fleetwood (69) and Chris Kirk (69) who moved into the top 30 to qualifying for the Tour Championship. They bumped out Harman, Jason Day, Davis Thompson and Denny McCarthy.

Topics: BMW Championship golf

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