
Golf's parallel DP World & PGA Tour events overshadowed by The Open last week
Let's firstly look at the Barracuda Championship, the $4 million event held at Tahoe Mt Club, Truckee, California, US, held on the same dates as The Open.
It is a co-sanctioned event aligned between the tours to also elevate the Genesis Scottish Open, held the week before at The Renaissance Club.
The Barracuda Championship was won by Ryan Gerard (US) with 47 points.
The event adopted a Modified Stableford format designed to reward aggressive play, with the following point system: Albatross – 8 points, Eagle – 5 points, Birdie – 2 points, Par – 0, Bogey – minus 1, and Double Bogey or worse – minus 3.
Missed Opportunity
It's also worth reflecting that, in today's increasingly global game, it remains a missed opportunity that only one of the men's Major championships is played outside the United States.
There have been historical rumours linking the US PGA Championship being taken around the world – outside of the US – but there seems to be no recent talk or noise on this matter.
Playing opportunities for both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour are part of the mantra of today's tours, at whatever level.
The previous week, the ISCO championship played alongside the Genesis Scottish Open was won by 24-year-old William Mouw (US) with a 10 under par score, with rounds of 67, 73, 69 and 61.
Other notables in contention included. Paul Peterson (US) is one back and Manuel Elvira (Spain), a further two shots back.
Success for JC Ritchie
On the HotelPlanner Tour, JC Ritchie won the German Challenge powered by VcG at Wittelsbacher Golfclub.
The South African, who is now a five-time HotelPlanner Tour winner, signed for a six under par round of 66 on the final day, building on a five-shot overnight lead to cruise to an eight-shot win on 24 under par, with Englishmen Joshua Berry and Tom Lewis sharing second.
Ritchie climbs four places to second on the 2025 Road to Mallorca Rankings with the win and looks certain to return to the DP World Tour after losing his playing privileges in 2023. Joshua Berry (Eng) leads the Rankings, with Maximilian Steinlechner (Aut) in third with Renato Paratore (It) in fourth, following his two HotelPlanner Tour victories in the UAE earlier in the season. The top 20 players at the end of the season all get promoted to the 2026 DP World Tour.
The Road to Mallorca takes a one-week break before returning from July 31st - August 3rd for the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A at SCHLOSS Roxburghe.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The National
a day ago
- The National
Mubadala hosts business leaders on sidelines of DC Open in Washington
Abu Dhabi's strategic investment firm Mubadala has co-hosted a business convening with the Milken Institute and Citi on the sidelines of the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington. Speakers at the event were Mubadala deputy group chief executive Homaid Al Shimmari, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, G42 group chief global affairs officer Talal Al Kaissi, MGX chief strategy and safety officer David Scott, Milken Institute chairman Michael Milken, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, US tennis star Frances Tiafoe and others. Among the topics discussed during the Tuesday event included investment and policy priorities to advance economic growth. Key themes during the session included sport's role in Abu Dhabi's evolution as a global city, Mubadala's commitment to adding value and how sport is driving Washington's changing economy. Other themes included US facilitating foreign investment in the UAE, Mubadala's role as a key player in the Emirates' economic partnership with the US and the two countries' relationship in AI and artificial intelligence. The US and UAE have strengthened their relationship in the new technology in recent months, including the UAE's commitment to a $1.4 trillion investment framework in the US related to AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy and manufacturing. In May, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Trump witnessed the unveiling of plans for a new 5GW UAE-US AI Campus in Abu Dhabi during the president's visit to the country. Mubadala became a co-sponsor of the annual tennis tournament in 2023. The tournament is a 500-level event on the ATP and WTA tours, featuring a field of 48 players in the men's singles event and 28 players in the women's singles event.


Zawya
3 days ago
- Zawya
Saudi: Qiddiya City to become new global golfing hub
Qiddiya City, the world's first city built for play in Saudi Arabia, has announced two key developments that aim to make the city an international golfing hub. Qiddiya City said it has become a global partner of the Faldo Series, the world's leading pathway for young golfers, to help support grass roots golf in the kingdom and internationally, said a Saudi Press Agency (SPA) report. Qiddiya City will be a host venue for the kingdom's Faldo Series events, establishing Qiddiya City as the regional hub for youth golf. Qiddiya City also unveiled on Monday a new, Sir Nick Faldo signature designed 18-hole championship golf course set to open to the public in 2026 along with a state-of-the-art clubhouse, academy and practice facilities open from 2028. Placing a major emphasis on accessibility and innovation, the course features a number of unique design features, including a '3 hole return' layout system to allow greater access for all players. The announcement is also part of Qiddiya City's long-term ambition to become the premier destination in the kingdom for golf, attracting players of all ages and skills from young players to professionals and supporting the next generation of Saudi golf. Qiddiya Investment Company Managing Director Abdullah bin Nasser Aldawood said: 'Qiddiya City's partnership with Sir Nick Faldo in designing a new golf course and becoming global partner of the Faldo Series underscores our commitment to growing the game of golf and nurturing the next generation of Saudi golfers.' Sir Nick Faldo, commenting on the partnership, added: 'This is a unique opportunity to become involved in one of the most exciting cities being developed today where a new way of city life is fused together with sport, entertainment and culture. Our partnership with Qiddiya City brings together the golf community with a whole nation bubbling with energy to be active and try new sports.' The new flagship golf course is set within a dramatic landscape, nestled against the towering 200-metre cliffs of the Tuwaiq Mountains. Designed to maximise playability, the course features floodlighting for extended hours and is thoughtfully crafted to challenge professionals while remaining accessible to amateur players. It will also offer tailored learning pathways for newcomers and those looking to elevate their game, combining traditional golf elements with innovative golf entertainment experiences. The course will be complemented by an iconic clubhouse and state-of-the-art driving range and academy designed by Patterson's which sits perfectly in the desert environment. It has both sustainability and world-class golfing features embedded within the design. The clubhouse will offer a comprehensive range of facilities to support the golf course while also serving as a vibrant community social and wellness hub. It will feature leisure amenities such as fitness and conditioning, wellness facilities, social meeting places, indoor and outdoor pools, and a variety of food and beverage options. The venue is expected to attract over 200,000 visitors annually. A green-roofed structure, open to the public for viewing and events, will connect three main zones: the Golf Clubhouse, serving as the central hub for operations and player interaction; the Social Wellness Hub, offering a wide array of sports and leisure amenities; and the Academy, a cutting-edge facility dedicated to golf instruction and practice. Qiddiya City is one of the world's largest city developments at 360 sq km and located just 40 minutes from Riyadh. With over 20 districts planned, the new city will be well-connected and anchored around entertainment, sports and culture with world-class facilities and events alongside new homes, offices, retail and hospitality. The new golfing attractions add to an impressive list of entertainment, sports and cultural facilities at Qiddiya City such as the Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Stadium which will host major sports and cultural events including the 2034 World Cup; the Speed Park Track for motor sports; the Mercedes AMG World of Performance which is an immersive and interactive experience including a public race track and the Performing Arts Center.


Zawya
3 days ago
- Zawya
Los Angeles Times plans IPO, billionaire owner says
The Los Angeles Times newspaper plans to go public within the next year, its owner Patrick Soon-Shiong said in a television interview, aiming to give the public ownership of the 143-year-old publication. "We're literally going to take LA Times public and allow it to be democratized and allow the public to have ownership of this paper," Soon-Shiong said on "The Daily Show" in a taped interview with the host, Jon Stewart, on Monday. The billionaire owner of the newspaper said the model would resemble the public ownership structure of the NFL's Green Bay Packers and that a partner organization was working on the structure. The effort would be led by a new diversified media company called the L.A. Times Next Network, aimed at "rebuilding trust in media" by combining verified information, technology, and community participation, the newspaper said in a statement on Tuesday. "The Network consists of five coordinated pillars: the Los Angeles Times; LAT Next, a curated creator platform; Nant Games, focused on esports and civic/scientific gaming; NantStudios Virtual Production, oKering real-time virtual production capabilities; and L.A. Times Studios, supporting streaming, live events, and forums," the statement added. The initiative will pursue a novel Regulation A+ financing structure led by investment bank Digital Offering, which the company said would allow readers and supporters to become shareholders. The move follows months of turmoil at the Los Angeles Times. Last January, the paper laid off at least 115 staff, or more than 20% of its newsroom, amid continued financial losses and leadership exits, including Executive Editor Kevin Merida and Managing Editor Sara Yasin. At the time, Soon-Shiong said the paper was losing $30 million to $40 million annually. The paper's editorials editor also resigned last year after Soon-Shiong reportedly blocked a planned endorsement of then-Vice President Kamala Harris, triggering subscriber backlash. Soon-Shiong, who is also the founder of ImmunityBio , bought the LA Times along with other newspapers in 2018 for $500 million from Tronc. (Reporting by Surbhi Misra in Bengaluru; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Jacqueline Wong)