Latest news with #InternationalSeriesMacau
Fox News
31-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Four key storylines for LIV Golf Miami: The stars are on display in South Beach
Can anyone catch Sergio Garcia and Fireballs GC? That'll be one of the many questions looming over LIV Golf Miami when, for the first time this season, the tour comes to the United States. Last year's individual winner, Dean Burmester sits fifth in the individual rankings this season while his team — Stingers GC — reside in sixth. Burmester didn't win easily in 2024. He went into a playoff with Garcia, who remains hot this year. He's playing some of the best golf of the last decade and sits in third in the individual rankings. The league's individual leader is Torque GC's Joaquin Niemann (84.66 points), just ahead of Legion XIII's Jon Rahm in second (66.7). Players and teams will be competing for a $25 million purse in Miami, with the three-day event kicking off Friday at 12:15 p.m. at Trump National Doral, with coverage on FOX Sports. Here are the key storylines to follow as the action heats up in Miami: 1. Even at the top of the team and individual standings, Sergio Garcia is facing every kind of pressure It's a big weekend for Garcia. There's a lot on the line. Earlier this month, Garcia just missed making The Open Championship after a major mental error at the Asian Tour's International Series Macau event. Garcia missed a three-foot putt that dropped him out of a top-three finish. "When it comes to The Open, this is something that I would love to be a part of again. It's my favorite major," Garcia said in a Miami pre-event press conference. "I was very close in Macau, but unfortunately, I fell short. I'll just keep trying. I'm going to use every option that I have." Looking to this weekend, his Fireballs are atop the league's standings in large part because of him. Another strong performance, like last year, could help his team run away with the lead in the team standings. Fireballs GC have 104 points, ahead of second-place Legion XIII (86) and Torque GC (36). "It's always fun to come back and play in the U.S.," Garcia said. "Obviously, I played really well last year and hoping to to do more of the same and keep the good run going that that I've been having individually. But not only that, also as a team, we've been we've been doing really, really well. So yeah, we're excited about everything that has to do with next week in Miami." Looking further ahead to the Masters the following weekend, Garcia will hope he can get into form for the only major he's ever won. And that bears watching because, looking way ahead, he's trying to insert himself into the Ryder Cup roster after failing last year to make the team for only the second time since 1999. Every point counts. "Probably the most important thing is to keep playing like I've been playing," Garcia said. "And then it'll come down to [European captain Luke Donald] and his team deciding if I can bring something extra that will help." 2. Brooks Koepka said he "found some things" at the end of LIV Singapore Koepka (-12) wasn't able to track down Joaquin Niemann (-17) in their final round at Sentosa Golf Club at LIV Golf Singapore. But Koepka's second-place finish left him optimistic about what's to come in Miami and at the Masters. "[I] kind of found some things the last couple holes, which was good momentum to build on for the next month," he told reporters in Singapore after the final round "It's tough to explain [what I found]. … Just going back to the basics of setting the club down, making sure I was spot-aiming the last six holes. I wasn't doing that all day. It was more of a spot aiming, picking something six inches in front of the ball and doing that. The start line was off. If I don't feel comfortable with my start line, I'll never hit it good. So it started to feel a little better." Koepka has said that Singapore is one of his favorite courses to play. And no doubt, he's a fan of Miami, where he won in 2023, and the Masters, where he's had top-two finishes in 2019 and 2023. If Koepka has momentum going into these tournaments, he could be dangerous. 3. Can Bryson DeChambeau build more consistency? How much might the course length in Miami help him? In his first season on LIV, Bryson finished fourth in individual standings and the Crushers QC were second among teams. Last year? Eighth in individual but No. 1 in team rankings. Those seasons have set the bar high. But this year hasn't been like the others — not yet at least. The Crushers are fifth and DeChambeau is 16th. In Singapore, the Crushers finished fifth and DeChambeau managed a top-10 finish, his second of the season. But he also finished 20th in Singapore and 18th in Adelaide. It seems he will need to find more consistency for the rest of the season from weekend to weekend. Might it help that Miami is one of the longest courses on the LIV calendar? That's what Doral has to offer. Perhaps the right kind of challenge. He's still one of the biggest hitters in golf, thanks to the many transformations during his career — which he reflected upon in depth during a conversation earlier this month. Every year, he seems to reinvent himself. And yet, he still went out and smashed a drive 400 yards this season. 4. Is this Joaquin Niemann's breakout year? He says he's a "different player" In Singapore, Torque GC's Niemann snagged his second LIV win of the season and his fourth of his career. He sits at the top of the league's individual standings. It's hard to say with certainty that the 26-year-old golfer is playing the best golf of his career, because last year, he was just as hot, finishing the season in second. So … what does he think? Has he improved? "More than improved, I feel like I'm just a different player," he said. "I feel like I've got an extra year of experience playing against the best players in the world, and I'm winning quite a lot in the last year. Yeah, I feel like a different player." The Chilean golfer has two PGA wins but has never won a major. There's no doubt that his LIV performances have made headlines. But in terms of building a legacy — he'll have to start winning majors. And it wouldn't hurt to start … next week. At Augusta. That's right, the first major of the season is just around the corner when Niemann tees off in the Masters. "It's just another golf tournament. Just going to work hard these next two weeks and try and be as ready as I can be," he said in Singapore. For now, his focus is on this upcoming weekend. "There's a few things that I can improve," Niemann said, "then go down to Miami and have a chance to win." Prior to joining FOX Sports as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years covering the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Fox Sports
31-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Four key storylines for LIV Golf Miami: The stars are on display in South Beach
Can anyone catch Sergio Garcia and Fireballs GC? That'll be one of the many questions looming over LIV Golf Miami when, for the first time this season, the tour comes to the United States. Last year's individual winner, Dean Burmester sits fifth in the individual rankings this season while his team — Stingers GC — reside in sixth. Burmester didn't win easily in 2024. He went into a playoff with Garcia, who remains hot this year. He's playing some of the best golf of the last decade and sits in third in the individual rankings. The league's individual leader is Torque GC's Joaquin Niemann (84.66 points), just ahead of Legion XIII's Jon Rahm in second (66.7). Players and teams will be competing for a $25 million purse in Miami, with the three-day event kicking off Friday at 12:15 p.m. at Trump National Doral, with coverage on FOX Sports. Here are the key storylines to follow as the action heats up in Miami: 1. Even at the top of the team and individual standings, Sergio Garcia is facing every kind of pressure It's a big weekend for Garcia. There's a lot on the line. Earlier this month, Garcia just missed making The Open Championship after a major mental error at the Asian Tour's International Series Macau event. Garcia missed a three-foot putt that dropped him out of a top-three finish. "When it comes to The Open, this is something that I would love to be a part of again. It's my favorite major," Garcia said in a Miami pre-event press conference. "I was very close in Macau, but unfortunately, I fell short. I'll just keep trying. I'm going to use every option that I have." Looking to this weekend, his Fireballs are atop the league's standings in large part because of him. Another strong performance, like last year, could help his team run away with the lead in the team standings. Fireballs GC have 104 points, ahead of second-place Legion XIII (86) and Torque GC (36). "It's always fun to come back and play in the U.S.," Garcia said. "Obviously, I played really well last year and hoping to to do more of the same and keep the good run going that that I've been having individually. But not only that, also as a team, we've been we've been doing really, really well. So yeah, we're excited about everything that has to do with next week in Miami." Looking further ahead to the Masters the following weekend, Garcia will hope he can get into form for the only major he's ever won. And that bears watching because, looking way ahead, he's trying to insert himself into the Ryder Cup roster after failing last year to make the team for only the second time since 1999. Every point counts. "Probably the most important thing is to keep playing like I've been playing," Garcia said. "And then it'll come down to [European captain Luke Donald] and his team deciding if I can bring something extra that will help." 2. Brooks Koepka said he "found some things" at the end of LIV Singapore Koepka (-12) wasn't able to track down Joaquin Niemann (-17) in their final round at Sentosa Golf Club at LIV Golf Singapore. But Koepka's second-place finish left him optimistic about what's to come in Miami and at the Masters. "[I] kind of found some things the last couple holes, which was good momentum to build on for the next month," he told reporters in Singapore after the final round "It's tough to explain [what I found]. … Just going back to the basics of setting the club down, making sure I was spot-aiming the last six holes. I wasn't doing that all day. It was more of a spot aiming, picking something six inches in front of the ball and doing that. The start line was off. If I don't feel comfortable with my start line, I'll never hit it good. So it started to feel a little better." Koepka has said that Singapore is one of his favorite courses to play. And no doubt, he's a fan of Miami, where he won in 2023, and the Masters, where he's had top-two finishes in 2019 and 2023. If Koepka has momentum going into these tournaments, he could be dangerous. 3. Can Bryson DeChambeau build more consistency? How much might the course length in Miami help him? In his first season on LIV, Bryson finished fourth in individual standings and the Crushers QC were second among teams. Last year? Eighth in individual but No. 1 in team rankings. Those seasons have set the bar high. But this year hasn't been like the others — not yet at least. The Crushers are fifth and DeChambeau is 16th. In Singapore, the Crushers finished fifth and DeChambeau managed a top-10 finish, his second of the season. But he also finished 20th in Singapore and 18th in Adelaide. It seems he will need to find more consistency for the rest of the season from weekend to weekend. Might it help that Miami is one of the longest courses on the LIV calendar? That's what Doral has to offer. Perhaps the right kind of challenge. He's still one of the biggest hitters in golf, thanks to the many transformations during his career — which he reflected upon in depth during a conversation earlier this month. Every year, he seems to reinvent himself. And yet, he still went out and smashed a drive 400 yards this season. 4. Is this Joaquin Niemann's breakout year? He says he's a "different player" In Singapore, Torque GC's Niemann snagged his second LIV win of the season and his fourth of his career. He sits at the top of the league's individual standings. It's hard to say with certainty that the 26-year-old golfer is playing the best golf of his career, because last year, he was just as hot, finishing the season in second. So … what does he think? Has he improved? "More than improved, I feel like I'm just a different player," he said. "I feel like I've got an extra year of experience playing against the best players in the world, and I'm winning quite a lot in the last year. Yeah, I feel like a different player." The Chilean golfer has two PGA wins but has never won a major. There's no doubt that his LIV performances have made headlines. But in terms of building a legacy — he'll have to start winning majors. And it wouldn't hurt to start … next week. At Augusta. That's right, the first major of the season is just around the corner when Niemann tees off in the Masters. "It's just another golf tournament. Just going to work hard these next two weeks and try and be as ready as I can be," he said in Singapore. For now, his focus is on this upcoming weekend. "There's a few things that I can improve," Niemann said, "then go down to Miami and have a chance to win." Prior to joining FOX Sports as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years covering the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from LIV Golf Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
CNN
28-03-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Missed three-foot putt costs Sergio Garcia a spot at The Open
Sergio Garcia fell devastatingly short of securing a spot at this year's Open Championship after missing a putt from three feet at the International Series Macau in China. The 45-year-old Spaniard was aiming to finish in the top three to earn a place at the Open, which takes place at Northern Ireland's Royal Portrush in July, but ended up fourth on 16-under with the miss on the 18th hole. Had he made the birdie attempt, Garcia would have tied for third with Jason Kokrak and qualified ahead of the American based on his higher position in the world rankings. The Asian Tour event in Macau offered the top three finishers a spot at this year's Open – a valuable opportunity for those playing on the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour like Garcia. Alongside Kokrak, Carlos Ortiz and 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed – all LIV golfers – also qualified for the Open by finishing in the top two, Ortiz winning the tournament on 22-under and Reed second on 19-under. Mexico's Ortiz had matched the course record of 61 at the Macau Golf and Country Club in the second round on Friday. He then pulled away from Reed with a 64 on Sunday to finish comfortably ahead of the American and claim his second title on the Asian Tour. Before the tournament, Garcia spoke about how competing at the International Series Macau was an 'important week' in his quest to secure a place at his 'favorite major.' The 2017 Masters champion last competed at the Open in 2022 and has twice finished runner-up at the tournament – in 2007 and 2014. Garcia claimed 11 PGA Tour titles, which includes winning the green jacket at Augusta National and his 2008 victory at The Players Championship, before switching to LIV.
Khaleej Times
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Ortiz holds off Reed to secure second International Series win and Open spot
Mexico's Carlos Ortiz surged to a memorable victory at the International Series Macau, overcoming a strong challenge from Patrick Reed to clinch his second win on the Asian Tour's International Series. Ortiz, who previously triumphed at the International Series Oman last year, delivered a stellar six-under-par 64 in the final round to finish with an impressive 22-under total. He finished three shots clear of Reed, who had set his sights on adding this title to his victory at the 2024 Hong Kong Open. Reed closed with a 67 to finish in second place. American Jason Kokrak, also a contender throughout the week, shot a 67 to secure third place, three strokes behind Ortiz. All three players were thrilled to earn qualifying spots for The Open at Royal Portrush, as the International Series Macau was part of the Open Qualifying Series. The top three players who were not already exempt earned their place in golf's oldest Major. Sergio Garcia came close to joining them, finishing in fourth place after a solid 65. However, a missed three-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole left him one shot behind Kokrak, missing out on a spot at The Open by a slim margin. Garcia's world ranking would have given him the edge in a countback for third place. Ortiz entered the final day tied for the lead with Reed and quickly made his move with birdies on the first, third, and eighth holes. He turned with a two-shot lead and extended it further on the 12th, where a brilliant fairway wood to five feet set up an eagle putt that increased his advantage to two over Reed and three over Kokrak, who both made birdie on the hole. A critical eight-foot par putt on the 14th kept Ortiz in control, despite missing a five-foot birdie chance on the following hole. But a final birdie on 18 sealed the deal, leaving Reed with no chance to catch up. 'It was a great week,' said Ortiz, who is a member of Torque GC on LIV Golf. 'I did well keeping the ball in play, which is key on this course. I drove the ball really well and made the most of the par fives and some of the shorter par fours. On a course like this, the tee shots can be tricky, so once you get the driver in play, everything opens up.' This win marks Ortiz's 10th career victory, adding to his titles on both LIV Golf and the PGA Tour. The 33-year-old also climbs to the top of both the Asian Tour's Order of Merit and the International Series rankings. Reflecting on his pivotal eagle on the 12th, Ortiz said, 'I was just trying to get the ball on the green, and it ended up being a perfect shot. There's always a bit of luck involved, but I hit a great shot, and it was nice to capitalize on it.' Ortiz, who played in The Open once before in 2021, will return to Royal Portrush this summer. Reed, a veteran of nine Open appearances, and Kokrak, playing in his fifth, also secured their spots for the Major.
CNN
24-03-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Missed three-foot putt costs Sergio Garcia a spot at The Open
Sergio Garcia fell devastatingly short of securing a spot at this year's Open Championship after missing a putt from three feet at the International Series Macau in China. The 45-year-old Spaniard was aiming to finish in the top three to earn a place at the Open, which takes place at Northern Ireland's Royal Portrush in July, but ended up fourth on 16-under with the miss on the 18th hole. Had he made the birdie attempt, Garcia would have tied for third with Jason Kokrak and qualified ahead of the American based on his higher position in the world rankings. The Asian Tour event in Macau offered the top three finishers a spot at this year's Open – a valuable opportunity for those playing on the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour like Garcia. Alongside Kokrak, Carlos Ortiz and 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed – all LIV golfers – also qualified for the Open by finishing in the top two, Ortiz winning the tournament on 22-under and Reed second on 19-under. Mexico's Ortiz had matched the course record of 61 at the Macau Golf and Country Club in the second round on Friday. He then pulled away from Reed with a 64 on Sunday to finish comfortably ahead of the American and claim his second title on the Asian Tour. Before the tournament, Garcia spoke about how competing at the International Series Macau was an 'important week' in his quest to secure a place at his 'favorite major.' The 2017 Masters champion last competed at the Open in 2022 and has twice finished runner-up at the tournament – in 2007 and 2014. Garcia claimed 11 PGA Tour titles, which includes winning the green jacket at Augusta National and his 2008 victory at The Players Championship, before switching to LIV.
