
Burke feels force of destiny in Scotland debut

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The Independent
6 minutes ago
- The Independent
Trump's Turnberry faces logistical hurdles for British Open return
President Donald Trump is not getting a British Open to the Turnberry course he owns in the near future, an issue the R&A's new chief executive said Wednesday was more about transportation than politics. Turnberry is regarded as the most beautiful of the links on the Open rotation, set along the Ayrshire coast in Scotland across from the Ailsa Craig. It last hosted the Open in 2009, before Trump bought the resort. Mark Darbon, who took over at the R&A this year from Martin Slumbers, said Turnberry had not been taken off the list of potential British Open sites, but transportation and other issues had to be addressed. 'I think we've been extremely clear on our position in respect of Turnberry. We love the golf course but we've got some big logistical challenges there,' he said. 'You see the scale of their setup here and we've got some work to do on the road, rail and accommodation infrastructure around Turnberry.' Darbon said the R&A met with Eric Trump and other leaders of Trump Golf a few months ago and the talks had been constructive. 'I think they understand clearly where we're coming from. We talked through some of the challenges that we have so we've got a good dialogue with them,' he said. Slumbers had previously said the R&A would not be going to Turnberry until it was comfortable the topic would be about golf and not the owner. Turnberry has only hosted the British Open four times, first in 1977 with the famous 'Duel in the Sun' when Tom Watson beat Jack Nicklaus. But the Open is getting bigger, and the roads are limited getting to Turnberry. There has been speculation Trump, whose golf courses have never hosted a men's major, might ask the British government to intercede in getting the Open back to Turnberry. 'We have an ongoing dialogue with the UK government given that we're a major event that creates significant value into the UK economy,' Darbon said. "We've spoken to them specifically about Turnberry and I think they've made it clear that the decision around where we take our championship rests with us. 'I would find it difficult to predict whether there will be any discussion on The Open if the President is making a visit here.' Turnberry is not the only Scottish links being ignored by the R&A. Muirfield, located along the Firth of Forth east of Edinburgh, is reputed to be the purest of links courses. Its first Open was in 1892, and there have been 15 others, most recently in 2013 won by Phil Mickelson. Only St. Andrews has hosted more Opens than Muirfield. But it has not been back there since 2013 as the R&A has been geared toward taking golf's oldest championship to courses that can hold big crowds. It is expected 278,000 spectators will be at Royal Portrush this week, the second-largest behind St. Andrews. The last Open at Muirfield had 142,000 spectators. The Open will be at Royal Birkdale next year, and then St. Andrews in 2027. The site for 2028 has not been announced. Muirfield has never gone more than 11 years — except for interruptions from World War I and World War II — between Opens. 'We love the golf course at Muirfield. We're in a discussion with the venue right now,' Darbon said. "There's some things that we need to evolve at Muirfield — the practice ground in particular is a challenge for us with a modern Open and there's some work we need to do with the venue to facilitate some of the infrastructure that we require. 'But it's a good dialogue and we'd love to be back there in the future.' ___ AP golf:


BBC News
7 minutes ago
- BBC News
Report: Valetini and Skelton to miss first Test for Wallabies
Australia will be without key forwards Rob Valetini and Will Skelton for Saturday's first Test in Brisbane according to a report by Australian website The Roar., externalBoth players missed the Wallabies warm-up win over Fiji with calf complaints, but the hosts had hoped they would be fit in time to fact the said earlier this week that he would be ready to play in the series opener, while Australia assistant coach Geoff Parling issued an upbeat assessment of Valentini's chances saying he was "very hopeful" the hard-carrying 26-year-old would make the The Roar reports that head coach Joe Schmidt will now turn to Nick Champion de Crespigny, who moved to Western Force this year after a successful spell at French side Castres, as blind-side flanker in Valetini's absence.


BreakingNews.ie
7 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Justin Rose re-energised following ‘comedown' in wake of Masters near miss
Justin Rose accepts losing out to Rory McIlroy in a play-off at the Masters may have impacted subsequent performances but believes he is now over his 'comedown'. The Englishman was edged out by his Ryder Cup team-mate in a thrilling finale at Augusta in April, a birdie at the first extra hole seeing McIlroy complete the career Grand Slam. Advertisement Rose felt he did little wrong after shooting 66 on the last day to fire himself into contention, but since that runners-up finish he has missed three cuts, including the two other majors, and not come higher than 42nd prior to Sunday's sixth place at the Scottish Open. I gave it everything…. Congratulations @McIlroyRory on winning the @TheMasters and completing the Grand Slam.. very cool sharing the green with you in that moment… Thank you Team🌹 as always for all the support during the week… We go again 👊🏻 — Justin ROSE (@JustinRose99) April 14, 2025 'Obviously I've had a bit of a comedown off the back of the Masters. I feel like I'm coming back around to having more energy and focus again,' said the 44-year-old, who is bidding to become the first Englishman to win the Open since Nick Faldo in 1992. 'It's been a weird one because I don't really feel like I had to get over it because I didn't necessarily feel completely devastated by it either. 'I felt like I could walk away with my head held high, so from that point of view I didn't really feel like there was much baggage or much to get over. Advertisement 'I think what was difficult is having just the micro-moments, with everybody you meet for the next couple of months wanting to talk to you about it. 'In that way it's hard to get past it. It's a subconscious, it's not even a conscious thing. I think I'm over it. I don't know. Who knows?' McIlroy represents a significant hurdle again this week and Rose thinks following his Masters win the Northern Irishman can flourish on home soil at Royal Portrush after his disappointment of missing the cut there in 2019. 'Rory is obviously a local hero around here and rightly so. The legend around him in these parts has been growing for a long time,' he added. Advertisement 'I feel like the pressure is off him almost from that point of view this time around…the fact he's got nothing really more to prove. 'This would just be like cherries on top of everything. I feel like probably he's in a good mindset.' McIlroy's form this year has already guaranteed him a spot in Europe's Ryder Cup team to face the United States in New York in September. Rose is currently eighth on the list – only the top six qualify automatically – so this is a significant week for his prospects. Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Justin ROSE (@justinprose99) 'I think the only way to make the team is by having no head space about what happens if you don't make the team,' he said. Sport Rory McIlroy admits he prioritised Royal Portrush... Read More 'It has to be all-consuming. It is a huge goal. I feel like I definitely want to be in that team in New York. It's going to be an awesome experience, one I want to be a part of inside the ropes with my golf clubs. 'I think those are the moments that I'm looking for. That's where I'm finding the joy and what I'm chasing at this point in my career are the big moments in the sport, whether that's Ryder Cups, major championships. 'Those are the memories I'm trying to make. I feel like I've been lucky enough to achieve a lot in the game so I'm just trying to really add to those highlights now and obviously Ryder Cup offers a huge opportunity to do that.' Advertisement