Latest news with #NicolaiHøjgaard
Irish Times
17-07-2025
- Climate
- Irish Times
Open Championship: Calamity Corner shows its teeth at windswept Royal Portrush
From the tee, all the players could see was a wall of umbrellas in the small stand behind the green. There spectators hunkered and scrambled to prevent their only cover from the rain taking off across the Portrush dunes towards Scotland. The humid sunshine and comfortable temperatures of Wednesday, which made Dunluce Castle and the basalt White Rocks look picture postcard, gave way to the squalling showers and gusting winds of Thursday morning, where the 16th hole, a gem of the Dunluce course, lived up to its name. 'Calamity' – an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster. The iconic par-3 yielded just 24 birdies across four rounds in the 148th Open, the fewest of any hole. While it seemed mildly perverse waiting for misadventure and catastrophe to befall the players coming through Calamity Corner in brutal conditions, the hole's reputation preceded it. READ MORE Tom McKibbin , in the first group out with Pádraig Harrington and Nicolai Højgaard, would have known of the course's beauties and dangers and the chasm on the right of the 16th hole, where the ball can fall as far as 40 feet. And so it went, with the LIV player's ball kicking into the drop as the gallery groaned. But McKibbin recovered well, and walked off with his par. The ideal shot or bale-out area was left, but with the wind gusting up to 30km/h and pushing the balls towards the lush ravine, and with rain in their faces, it would have taken more club than in the practice days. Niklas Nørgaard, in the sixth group that came through, also found his tee shot falling away into the thick of the rift, forcing a deft scramble down the incline after it came to rest 28 yards from the pin. His recovery drew a gasp from the crowd as the ball flew across the green, stopping just short of a television camera. His third was to four feet, four inches and his putt pitifully horseshoed out of the cup, leaving him shaking his head. England's Lee Westwood on the 16th green on day one of the Open Championship at Royal Portrush. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA Wire The double bogey helped the Danish golfer to an ugly six-over round for the day. Playing in the same group, Byeong-Hun An also saw his ball disappear down the slope and fall into what is quaintly described as the 'native area 14 yards from the flag'. He hacked out to 10 feet from the pin but missed the putt and walked away with a bogey. 'The weather here is the craziest weather pattern I've ever experienced in my life,' said Jason Day, who hit to the fringe on 16, walked away with a par and then weather-shamed the local forecasters. 'There's no consistency to it whatsoever. You look at the weather – I mean, I'd love to be a weatherman here. You just get it wrong all the time.' By 5pm the hole had given up 10 birdies to the field, 53 pars and 21 bogeys. Darren Clarke was another one of the victims. Like McKibbin, Clarke knows how the course can show its teeth and his tee shot also came to rest short and right, 18 yards from the pin. His recovery was good to eight feet, but again the ball refused to drop. [ Calamity Corner: Open players will want to steer clear of Royal Portrush 16th's 'card wrecker' chasm Opens in new window ] Even from the back of the stand, as the wind whistled through, the wet, heavy air could not conceal that famously furious Clarke face, as he left with bogey on his way to a four-over finish for the day. 'Sixteen was playing tough. That's not the hole where you want the worst of the weather,' said England's Jordan Smith, who finished on level par for the round and with a birdie on 16. 'Yeah, that was a tricky 4-iron from about 200 yards. Absolutely pummeled by the wind and the rain on 16. That made a short, easy hole usually a really, really tough hole. Obviously made it look really easy making birdie.' It wasn't always doom and gloom at Calamity Corner and when Matt Fitzpatrick came through in group 16 with Hideki Matsuyama and Ryan Fox, all three ended up disappearing down the slope with their anxious caddies hoping for a lucky break. Matsuyama and Fox scrambled well to get up and down with Fitzpatrick, not visible from ground level, pitching straight into the hole. 'A bit of luck, obviously,' said the English player, who finished the day on four under par. 'Sometimes you need that. You need that. I thought I could play a bit aggressive after watching Foxy and Hideki leave them a bit short. Obviously, it just came out a little bit harder than I anticipated and on the perfect line.' Everybody loves a blind shot on to a slick green in the rain from a lush, wet position 30 feet below the surface. And at the Open they are now beginning to enjoy it.
Belfast Telegraph
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
The Open: NI star takes share of lead after bouncing back from opening bogey with hot streak
Just now Tom, on the other hand... Has another great look at birdie on 10 as he takes aim at this narrow par-four green and arrows one just short of the pin, leaving him around 10 feet for what would be four-under in his last four holes. Nicolai Højgaard is also on the dance floor but he has a longer look at birdie and an awkward slope to come over just in front of the hole. Advantage McKibbin. one minute ago Gareth Hanna Life-changing money on offer? The winner's cheque this week will be made out for £2.3M. Tom McKibbin (22) will have his eyes on that prize after his promising start, but it won't be for the money. He's already earned £4M this year since his move to the contentious, Saudi-backed LIV Golf. 6 minutes ago Pádraig's problems persist A bit of clever alliteration but not a good situation for the Irishman as he pushes his drive off the par-four 10th tee and now has a group of about 15 people looking for the ball and they still can't find it. Eventually they have to call it - lost ball, he's away back to the tee to hit his third. 7 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Pin locations for day one An unashamed post for the golf nerds here - the pin sheet for today's setup. 11 minutes ago 'There may only be seven players under par but I'm impressed at the scoring so far because being out on the course you can feel how the wind is causing a lot of problems, especially on the par-threes - the afternoon wave could be in for a really punishing day.' Belfast Telegraph sports reporter Adam McKendry 17 minutes ago Adam McKendry New leader! And it's this man! Newtownabbey's Tom McKibbin rolls in the birdie putt confidently on the ninth and he joins playing partner Nicolai Højgaard at -2! Højgaard makes the up and down for par to remain tied at the top, while Pádraig Harrington holes for par as well to stay at +2, although he was worryingly close to another three-putt there. McKibbin in the mood His drive on the ninth finds the rough to the right of the fairway but his follow up shot is exceptional, bouncing it short of the green and rolling up to around five feet for a birdie that would tie the lead given Nicolai Højgaard has missed the green with his second after also finding rough off the tee. This has been a remarkable bounce back from McKibbin after his first three holes. He looks very composed out there. 31 minutes ago Par it is McKibbin can't convert the birdie putt on eight so he remains -1, with Højgaard doing likewise to remain one clear at -2. It's another bogey for Pádraig, though, and a third three-putt of the round already as he drops back to +2. That one will hurt most of all as he completely misread the first putt from just short of the green, pushing it way right and leaving him too much to do with his comebacker. 36 minutes ago Adam McKendry Harrington battling The two-time Open champion isn't having things his own way as he misjudges the approach into the par-four eighth and leaves it short. After his hot start, he's really cooled off since and can't get anything going. Tom McKibbin is on the green in two after piping another one down the middle, with his approach earning a "Good shot" remark from Pádraig. He's looking to join Højgaard, who has a longer birdie putt, at the top. 48 minutes ago How it stands First group going along nicely. Keeping good pace, too. 50 minutes ago The eagle lands!! Lovely putt from McKibbin up and over the ridge, right to left, and in she drops! After a rocky start, he's now three-under for his last three holes and up to -1! That would be a share of the lead if it wasn't for Nicolai Højgaard getting up and down from the left of the green for birdie and he's reassumed the solo lead at -2! Harrington, meanwhile, scrambles for his par which is not a bad outcome after that drive. Still +1. 59 minutes ago Adam McKendry The roar carries We could hear that roar for Phil's bunker shot all the way down on 7, where Tom McKibbin got a loud ovation after crushing his drive down the middle. He'll have a great chance to go for the green and maybe set up an eagle chance. Pádraig Harrington has had to lay up after finding the fairway bunker. Things are fun in this group - McKibbin and Højgaard in particular are having a good few laughs. Today 07:13 AM A beautiful noise The Open on Twitter / X First tee shot. First birdie of the Harrington is off to a strong start. The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. Today 07:11 AM Gareth Hanna He'd pay for that in my fourball... Phil Mickelson won't be under par for long. His tee shot on the 176-yard par three third was plugged in the face of the front bunker, and he can't get it out of the trap. In my fourball, that would be 50p to every other player for not escaping the bunker. OH BUT WAIT! He WILL be under par for long. He's only gone and holed his next bunker shot for a glorious par!! He'd still owe 50p though... The Open on Twitter / X A short game holes out from the sand. The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. Today 07:08 AM Gareth Hanna Louis, Louis - oh baby! Oosthuizen becomes the first man to drive the par four fifth green. It's 372 yards but all downhill. Get the line right and these boys can get it there. Super shot on what is the most picturesque point on the course. He misses the eagle try up the hill but it's a two-putt bird and he's back to level par. Back at one, Darren Clarke has a two-putt par to get his Open off to a steady start. (Kudos to those who recognised the Kinks reference in the title of this one.) Today 07:06 AM Pars all round The sixth is going to be another really tricky hole with the wind blowing directly left to right across the green but the lead group navigate it well, all of them hitting the green with their tee shots and two putting from range. Not much more to add - on to the seventh and a potential birdie chance! Today 07:05 AM Gareth Hanna Mickelson in the red! A birdie on the second gets the LIV Golf player into red figures, joining Nicolai Hojgaard and Jacob Skov Olesen at the top. And Lucas Herbert who rallies in a long putt on the first. It smashed the back of the cup. It could be this golf legend's last time playing in NI – why you should catch him while you still can Phil Mickelson made scores of Northern Ireland kids happy on Tuesday. Today 06:56 AM Adam McKendry Birdie for McKibbin The Newtownabbey man is on the board! A nice curling putt from right to left and he's back up to +1. Harrington tidies up nicely for par to remain on the same score but Højgaard continues to look impressive as he leaves his first chip in the rough but then holes from 15 feet to save par after his second pitch shot.
Khaleej Times
01-04-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
This Week in Golf: Just eight more sleeps until Augusta – The anticipation builds for the first Major of 2025!
With The Masters just over a week away, golf is firmly in Augusta mode. This week, the global golf calendar is relatively quiet, with the DP World Tour and the HotelPlanner Tour (formerly the Challenge Tour) taking a break. But on the PGA Tour, the Valero Texas Open offers one final golden ticket to The Masters, granting its winner the last coveted invitation to the year's first major. For many of golf's elite, this week serves as a final opportunity to fine-tune their game, rest, and strategize before they step onto the hallowed fairways of Augusta National from April 10-13. Keeping in Tune with Modern Golf A significant storyline heading into The Masters is the decision to grant special invitations to Denmark's Nicolai Højgaard (No. 79 in the Official World Golf Ranking) and Chile's Joaquín Niemann (No. 84). These gestures reflect Augusta National's evolving recognition of talent beyond traditional ranking criteria, ensuring the tournament truly gathers the best players from across the globe. Rory vs. Scottie: A Battle for Supremacy At the top of the OWGR, Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler continue their battle for world No. 1. They have firmly established themselves as the two most dominant forces in the men's game. But for McIlroy, this Masters holds extra significance—can he finally complete his career Grand Slam? It has been an astonishing 3,888 days since Rory last tasted major glory at the 2014 PGA Championship. Since then, he has come agonizingly close on several occasions but has yet to don the coveted green jacket. Could 2025 be the year he finally conquers Augusta and cements his place among the all-time greats? Fleetwood eyes Spotlight England's Tommy Fleetwood, a UAE resident, continues to hover just outside the top 10 in the OWGR, currently sitting in 11th place. While his consistency has been undeniable, he still seeks that elusive breakthrough victory on the PGA Tour. A win at Augusta would be a dream start to his major championship legacy. LIV Golf and the OWGR Debate With only two LIV Golf players—Tyrrell Hatton (No. 18) and Bryson DeChambeau (No. 19)—currently inside the top 50 of the OWGR, the ongoing debate surrounding LIV Golf's standing in the global rankings continues. Some of the tour's biggest names, including Jon Rahm (No. 75), Patrick Reed (No. 112), Cameron Smith (No. 123), and Brooks Koepka (No. 231), find themselves far from their historical positions. Is this an accurate reflection of the state of the men's game, or is it time for a recalibration of the ranking system? The discussion remains a hot topic in golf circles worldwide. Players in Form Ahead of Augusta Among those arriving in top form is Min Woo Lee (No. 22), who claimed victory on the PGA Tour last week. Another player to watch is Dubai resident Thomas Detry (No. 26), whose steady rise continues with an impressive season so far. With just eight days until the first tee shot is struck at Augusta, excitement is reaching fever pitch. The Masters is not just a tournament—it's a tradition, a spectacle, and the ultimate test of golfing greatness. Key Tournaments this Week PGA Tour Valero Texas Open Dates: April 3-6, 2025 Venue: TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course), San Antonio, Texas, USA Purse: $9.5 million LPGA Tour T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards Dates: April 2-6, 2025 Venue: Shadow Creek Golf Course, North Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Purse: $2 million Ladies European Tour Joburg Ladies Open Dates: April 3-6, 2025 Venue: Modderfontein Golf Club, Johannesburg, South Africa Purse: €300,000 Clutch Pro Tour The Al Mouj Challenge (T1) Dates: April 1-3, 2025 Venue: Al Mouj Golf, Muscat, Oman Purse: £50,000
NBC Sports
22-02-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Højgaard hits beautiful pitch, holes out for eagle
Danish golfer Nicolai Højgaard made an eagle on the par-5 14th hole in the third round of the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld after hitting a gorgeous pitch shot from 39 yards out, giving him his second eagle in three holes.
