The Open: Shane Lowry on course aiming to bounce back from penalty controversy as Bryson DeChambeau responds to nightmare start
Gareth Hanna
Going backwards to go forwards
Lowry is indeed heading out on to the 12th for a penalty drop on the fairway, so he'll be pitching on in four from around 75 yards in an attempt to save par.
4 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Shane reloads on 2
Both Lowry and Rahm got good drives away on the second, although the same couldn't be said of Shane's second as he whips it (and a provisional) left into the crowd while Rahm is safely off the front of the par five green in two.
The good news is they have found Shane's first ball / the bad news is it's in the bush as he weighs up his options - potentially heading back onto the 12th hole for a drop in line with the pin.
15 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Sandy start for Rahm
He has to punch out of the fairway bunker but then spins his approach off the soft first green and into the front trap. A super save from there uses the slope in the middle of the green as a backstop and pulls it back to the hole for a tap-in bogey save to go +1.
Shane's approach stays up that slope and he does well to convert a two-putt par from there to stay E.
17 minutes ago
Stens-on one today
After almost acing the par-three sixth, Henrik Stenson has maintained that momentum and become the first player to break onto the big scoreboard in the media centre with our first eagle of the day at the par-five seventh, hitting a wonderful approach shot to eight feet and rolling it in to get to -3 and four-under thru seven on the day!
22 minutes ago
Bryson rolling
The Scientist has picked up a third birdie in his opening five holes after driving the par-four fifth and two-putting for the three, and he's already up into red figures at -1.
In fact, he's eight-under for his last 22 holes, and that includes slapping his opening tee shot out of bounds this morning, so he could even be as low as -3 were it not for that...
25 minutes ago
Packed crowd for Shane
The first hole is now completely surrounded by supporters as Shane Lowry and Jon Rahm begin their third rounds at level par. Jon applauded the 2019 champion onto the tee.
Shane almost hits it OB but it's a few yards inside the white line. Rahm goes into the bunker on the right.
29 minutes ago
Shane time!
Lowry is standing on the first tee ahead of his 11:30am tee time alongside Spain's Jon Rahm. Is this the marquee grouping that will post a low round today? We're about to find out.
33 minutes ago
Top 'teer
Nineteen clubs have provided volunteers for this year's Open at Royal Portrush - if you're chatting to one, thank them for the work they're doing because it is fantastic!
The Open: Here are the 19 golf clubs that have provided volunteers to help Major run smoothly
The Open is a well-oiled machine every time it rolls into town but, even so, without the dedicated work of the volunteers that give up their time to marshal or score or operate the scoreboards around the course, what is taking place at Royal Portrush wouldn't be possible this week.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
34 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Five-time Open champion Tom Watson LOVES Portrush
He has told Open radio: 'It's one of my favourite golf courses. It's all you want. It gives you some opportunities on the front nine and it's tough coming in.
'My favourite hole is 16. If I had to go and sit somewhere to watch on the course, it would be there. Death short and right, and no bargain left with so you have to hit a shot. It's all you want.'
36 minutes ago
Stens-one (nearly!)
So nearly an ace for Henrik Stenson as he takes aim on the par-three sixth, corks one right into the middle of the green and it bounces hard before cambering off the slope to the back left of the putting surface, angling towards the hole... and finishing just a foot shy of the first hole-in-one of the week!
Bright start from the Swede, who also birdied the par-five second and is two-under for the day, -1 for the tournament.
Gareth Hanna
Birdie, birdie Bryson
If we ignore that snapped first drive off the tee by Bryson, it's three birdies in a row, including the one with his second ball on one. He took advantage of the par five then stitched it at the third to climb to level par. He'd have been right in this tournament but for a nightmare opening day when he didn't make a single birdie.
51 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
First man on the course in the red
The low man on the course is Corey Conners in the first group out, with two birdies in a blemish-free opening seven holes. He's up to -1 for the week.
Edit: Make that -3 through eight as he makes three at the par-four eighth for -2 overall. Eight shots back.
54 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Shane Lowry has arrived
Having had a chance to sleep on his two-shot penalty, for which he felt understandably aggrieved last night, the Offaly man is on the practice ground as the clock ticks towards his 11.30am tee-time.
57 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Matsuyama on a run after double bogey
After a tricky third hole, where he chipped from one side of the green to the other on his way to a double bogey, Hideki Matsuyama has responded with three threes in a row to get back to +1 and level par for the day.
Today 09:51 AM
Gareth Hanna
How's it playing out there?
There have been 44 holes played in total out there this morning by the first 14 players on the course. There have been:
Six birdies
26 pars
Eight bogeys
Four doubles
Total score: +10
Today 09:42 AM
Gareth Hanna
MAJOR BREAKING: Rory 'makes blistering start'!
Despite him not teeing off until 2.30pm - the leaderboard in the media centre seems to have awarded Rory five birdies in his first seven holes today! Sure look, don't question it.
Today 09:39 AM
Nice touch
How about this for a cool addition to the bottom of every Srixon bag at this week's Championship? Each player has the three years The Open has been held at Royal Portrush on the bottom!
Today 09:30 AM
Gareth Hanna
'What does that mean?'
Bryson Dechambeau asks after he hooks his tee shot waaaaay out of bounds at the first. Not even close. It means you're re-loading mate. And he sends his second attempt straight down the fairway. All that effort to shoot 65 to make the cut, for that...
Edit: The holy grail! Birdie with his second ball to save bogey. Fair play. Goes to +2.
Today 09:06 AM
Adam McKendry
Which holes are causing the most problems?
Personally, it feels like most players have struggled to cope with the par-four 11th, but it is not the hardest hole on the course. That honour goes to the par-four 14th instead, which is playing 0.372 strokes over-par this week thanks to its narrow green and punishing bunkering.
The 11th takes second spot with a +0.295 rating, with the 502-yard par-four fourth in third spot and the par-three 16th, Calamity, the only hole that's not a par-four in the top-five.
On the other side, it's not surprising that the 520-yard par-five 12th is the easiest hole and is playing nearly half-a-stroke under-par this week, given it is easily reachable in two for practically the entire field. The other par-fives, the second and seventh, take second and third spots on the list, with the driveable par-four fifth and downhill par-four 17th also playing under-par.
Toughest holes
1. 14th, Par-4 (+0.372)
2. 11th, Par-4 (+0.295)
3. 4th, Par-4 (+0.288)
4. 16th, Par-3, (+0.260)
5. 1st, Par-4, (+0.237)
Easiest holes
1. 12th, Par-5 (-0.410)
2. 2nd, Par-5 (-0.240)
3. 7th, Par-5 (-0.221)
4. 5th, Par-4 (-0.115)
5. 17th, Par-4 (-0.087)
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Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Donald Trump is here for more than a friendly round of golf... he wants to see The Open back at Turnberry
After touching down at Prestwick Airport last night, Donald Trump disembarked from Air Force One, took some questions and then headed south to his luxurious resort at Turnberry. Among some rather more serious issues, he was also asked about his golf course in Ayrshire hosting The Open. And he was unequivocal... he wants the Championship back there. After spending some time at Turnberry, he will head north to officially open a new golf course at his other resort near Aberdeen, before meeting Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to hold talks over trade deals. Trump arrives to a very mixed backdrop of protests, petitions and political unrest, as well as enjoying support in some quarters. His golf course at Turnberry has been back in the headlines after the idea of hosting the Open Championship was raised again. R&A chief executive Mark Darbon stated that talks remain ongoing with the Trump family, and said of Turnberry: 'We love the golf course but we have some big logistical issues there.' Here, Mail Sport's Calum Crowe puts Turnberry under the microscope and assesses the likelihood of it hosting The Open once again, as well as looking at some of the changes Trump has made. What is Turnberry's history with The Open and how did we get to this point? With its stunning scenery and spectacular layout, the Ailsa Course has hosted The Open on four occasions. Its first staging of the championship in 1977 saw the famous Duel in the Sun between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. Greg Norman then won his first major at the venue in 1986, before Nick Price prevailed in 1994. In 2009, we nearly witnessed the greatest sports story ever told when Watson, aged 59, came agonisingly close to what would have been a sixth Claret Jug, losing in a play-off to Stewart Cink. Turnberry hasn't hosted the tournament since then, with Trump buying the resort for around £40million in 2014. Peter Dawson, who was the outgoing chief executive of the R&A at the time, had initially been positive about Trump's involvement and the plans to invest £200m in upgrading the golf course and wider facilities on the 800-acre site. But, by the time Trump had been elected as President for the first time in 2017, relations had soured. He was viewed as politically toxic and the R&A wanted nothing to do with him. Although Turnberry has never officially been taken off the rota, it was widely accepted that The Open would never return there while it was under Trump's ownership. Martin Slumbers, who replaced Dawson as R&A chief executive, said last year: 'The position at the moment, in respect of Turnberry, is that we will not be taking events there until we're comfortable that the whole dialogue will be about golf.' Slumbers has since moved on and been replaced by Darbon. How does Turnberry compare to other Open venues in terms of logistics and transport? It's often said that Turnberry lacks the infrastructure and travel network to host an event like The Open. There's certainly an element of truth in that. For instance, for anyone travelling south from Ayr or Glasgow, there are only really two roads. There is the A77, which is essentially the main road and would be the most popular route for anyone travelling by car. There is now a new bypass which means you no longer have to drive through the tight and twisty streets of Maybole. That is undoubtedly a huge help, with the other road being the coastal route which takes you past Maidens and Culzean Castle. But the closest train stations to Turnberry are Girvan and Maybole, both of which would then require a shuttle bus to reach the golf course. It's not ideal, but St Andrews suffers from similar problems. The road network around the wider area near St Andrews is awful and regularly gridlocked during The Open. The closest train station is Leuchars which, like Girvan and Maybole, is a few miles away from the main venue and requires shuttle buses. Royal St George's is another course on the current rota where the roads and travel network are far from ideal. So, while Turnberry certainly faces its challenges in terms of travel, it's really not any worse than certain other courses. What improvements has Trump made to the golf course and the property as a whole? When he bought the resort in 2014, Trump pledged to pump around £200m into the renovation of both the course and the hotel facilities to make it among the best of its kind anywhere in the world. On that front, it's been a resounding success. Already a top-class course even prior to his involvement, the Ailsa has been redeveloped to brilliant effect. The initial changes began in 2015, and all 18 holes were revamped to some degree or another. The biggest changes were from coastal holes 4 through to 11, with many of the greens and tees being redesigned. The famous lighthouse was also redesigned into a halfway house which now features catering and hospitality facilities. Further enhancements were completed earlier this year, led by renowned architect Martin Ebert. The biggest change saw the green at the par-five 7th moved more towards the cliff edge for more dramatic effect. The changes to the hotel and facilities have also been well received. All 204 guest rooms have been fully refurbished, as well as all bars and restaurant spaces. Nine new cottage suites have been built, at a cost of around £1.6m each. They are more geared towards family breaks and are dog-friendly. Turnberry is also now an increasingly popular wedding venue. What would all of this cost to the average member of the public? On the face of it, the current green fee for a round on the Ailsa Course is pretty eye-watering. 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If you were to go for the top-end package and hire the Donald J Trump Ballroom, you would be well in excess of £50,000. To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, but only if you happen to have a spare 50 grand lying around... What are the key reasons behind the R&A's reluctance to go back to Turnberry? Is it really all about Trump? It all boils down to two key reasons: Trump and money. The R&A viewed him as politically toxic when he was elected as President first time around. Above and beyond the logistical challenges of going back to Turnberry, it was that toxicity which became the main issue. In 2015, when Turnberry hosted the Women's Open during his election campaign, Trump arrived in a helicopter on the front lawn outside the hotel. Immediately holding a press conference, he declared: 'The world has asked me to be here.' The golf tournament was relegated to a footnote. At the recent FIFA Club World Cup in America, he was front and centre for Chelsea's trophy celebrations. 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While the golf course is among the best in the world, Turnberry is a fairly remote location, with limited travel and accommodation links, and no real town to speak of in the surrounding area. So, what does the future rota look like and when might we see Turnberry host The Open again? The next couple of years are already set in stone. In 2026, The Open will be held at Royal Birkdale, before going back to St Andrews in 2027. It's widely expected that Portmarnock in Ireland will be among the frontrunners to be added to the rota for 2028. That could push things as far back as 2029 before we might see The Open return to Turnberry. The R&A's stance has softened somewhat. They are not as vehemently opposed to Trump as they once were. They recognise that Turnberry is one of the most popular of all Open venues among the players. But, as Trump embarks on his tour of Scotland over these next few days, it still feels like there's a lot of boxes that need to be ticked before this sleeping beauty catches sight of the Claret Jug once more.
South Wales Argus
5 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Els launches new Portuguese golf club alongside Montgomerie and Duval
The four-time major champion played a nine-hole exhibition to open the Els Club Vilamoura with Scottish legend Colin Montgomerie and 2001 Open Champion David Duval. Els Club Vilamoura, is a championship-standard 18-hole golf course, designed by Els, that features a luxury clubhouse and signature amenities such as the 261 Bar, and was built on the previous Victoria course, which hosted the Portugal Masters from 2007 to 2022. Els, who won the US Open in 1994 and 1997 and two Open crowns in 2002 and 2012, invited Montgomerie and Duval to play the course, as well as Portuguese Champions League winner Luis Figo and former England striker Peter Crouch. Els Club, Vilamoura has been built in partnership with English investment fund Arrow Global and management company DETAILS and is the first private-members club in the Algarve (Image: Portugal Invitational) Els said of his new club: 'I've been coming to Vilamoura for many years, I've spent many summers with my family here and we just love Portugal. 'Golf is in a pretty sweet spot at the moment and [creating this course] has been a really nice venture. 'We want the conditions to be absolutely perfect and for people to have a great experience and good food.' Els Club, Vilamoura has been built in partnership with English investment fund Arrow Global and management company DETAILS and is the first private-members club in the Algarve. Membership is extended only to those proposed by founder members or those invited by the club. During a press conference on the morning of the Els Club launch, it was also announced the course would host the new PGA Champions Tour event, the Portugal Invitational after signing a five-year deal. The first edition of the event is set to be held between 31 July to 2 August 2026 and has been brought about through the work of The PGA Tour Champions, Arrow Global Group and Turismo de Portugal and Turismo de Algarve. A field of 78 players will be welcomed to the new track with the likes of Bernhard Langer and Miguel Ángel Jimenez set to compete at the event that boasts a whopping prize purse of £2.23million ($3m). PGA Tour Champions President Miller Brady said: 'This Tour is a global showcase of the game's legendary players, and we know the great golf fans in Portugal and throughout Europe will welcome the opportunity to watch them compete in person at The Els Club Vilamoura.' Els added: 'It's wonderful to see those plans now coming to fruition and we're grateful to PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady, the team at Arrow Global Group and Turismo de Portugal and Turismo de Algarve, for sharing in our vision and bringing this exciting new tournament here.' Vilamoura is just a 25-minute drive from Faro airport, which boasts connections to 90 airports worldwide, and is also just a two-hour drive from Lisbon. The resort is rich in culture, gastronomy and outdoor activities and is home to its famous marina which is a multiple winner of the Yacht Harbour Association's Best International Marina award. Montgomerie said: 'The golf course is superb, and the clubhouse is fantastic. It's not just a course for the present; it's a course for the future as well,' while Duval added: 'It'll be much anticipated for everybody on the Champions Tour, and I struggle to see how it won't be a huge success a year from now.' PGA TOUR Champions announces the Portugal Invitational to be held at The Els Club Vilamoura on course designed by Ernie Els. PGA TOUR Champions, Arrow Global Group, Turismo de Portugal, and Turismo de Algarve will deliver a five-year partnership and will debut the week of July 27, 2026, and will feature a field of 78 players. For more information visit
North Wales Chronicle
6 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Els launches new Portuguese golf club alongside Montgomerie and Duval
The four-time major champion played a nine-hole exhibition to open the Els Club Vilamoura with Scottish legend Colin Montgomerie and 2001 Open Champion David Duval. Els Club Vilamoura, is a championship-standard 18-hole golf course, designed by Els, that features a luxury clubhouse and signature amenities such as the 261 Bar, and was built on the previous Victoria course, which hosted the Portugal Masters from 2007 to 2022. Els, who won the US Open in 1994 and 1997 and two Open crowns in 2002 and 2012, invited Montgomerie and Duval to play the course, as well as Portuguese Champions League winner Luis Figo and former England striker Peter Crouch. Els Club, Vilamoura has been built in partnership with English investment fund Arrow Global and management company DETAILS and is the first private-members club in the Algarve (Image: Portugal Invitational) Els said of his new club: 'I've been coming to Vilamoura for many years, I've spent many summers with my family here and we just love Portugal. 'Golf is in a pretty sweet spot at the moment and [creating this course] has been a really nice venture. 'We want the conditions to be absolutely perfect and for people to have a great experience and good food.' Els Club, Vilamoura has been built in partnership with English investment fund Arrow Global and management company DETAILS and is the first private-members club in the Algarve. Membership is extended only to those proposed by founder members or those invited by the club. During a press conference on the morning of the Els Club launch, it was also announced the course would host the new PGA Champions Tour event, the Portugal Invitational after signing a five-year deal. The first edition of the event is set to be held between 31 July to 2 August 2026 and has been brought about through the work of The PGA Tour Champions, Arrow Global Group and Turismo de Portugal and Turismo de Algarve. A field of 78 players will be welcomed to the new track with the likes of Bernhard Langer and Miguel Ángel Jimenez set to compete at the event that boasts a whopping prize purse of £2.23million ($3m). PGA Tour Champions President Miller Brady said: 'This Tour is a global showcase of the game's legendary players, and we know the great golf fans in Portugal and throughout Europe will welcome the opportunity to watch them compete in person at The Els Club Vilamoura.' Els added: 'It's wonderful to see those plans now coming to fruition and we're grateful to PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady, the team at Arrow Global Group and Turismo de Portugal and Turismo de Algarve, for sharing in our vision and bringing this exciting new tournament here.' Vilamoura is just a 25-minute drive from Faro airport, which boasts connections to 90 airports worldwide, and is also just a two-hour drive from Lisbon. The resort is rich in culture, gastronomy and outdoor activities and is home to its famous marina which is a multiple winner of the Yacht Harbour Association's Best International Marina award. Montgomerie said: 'The golf course is superb, and the clubhouse is fantastic. It's not just a course for the present; it's a course for the future as well,' while Duval added: 'It'll be much anticipated for everybody on the Champions Tour, and I struggle to see how it won't be a huge success a year from now.' PGA TOUR Champions announces the Portugal Invitational to be held at The Els Club Vilamoura on course designed by Ernie Els. PGA TOUR Champions, Arrow Global Group, Turismo de Portugal, and Turismo de Algarve will deliver a five-year partnership and will debut the week of July 27, 2026, and will feature a field of 78 players. For more information visit
