Latest news with #PeterOdemwingie
Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Former Premier League stars fail to qualify for Open but Irish hopes are alive
Two former Premier League footballers missed out but a host of Irish players and a popular Youtuber are through to the final stage of qualifying for next month's Open Championship. As its name suggests, the Open is an event that gives amateurs and lesser-known professionals the opportunity to compete alongside the world's best on one of golf's biggest stages. And almost 2,000 golfers took part in a Regional Qualifying event on Monday across 15 different courses in Great Britain and Ireland. The leading finishers at each of the 15 courses will earn places at Final Qualifying on Tuesday 1 July, and a chance to play at Royal Portrush in the major championship. It wasn't to be in the end, though, for former Premier League footballers Jimmy Bullard and Peter Odemwingie, who were among the notable names to miss out. Former Wigan star Bullard shot a respectable three-over 74 at Rochester & Cobham Park, while former West Brom striker Odemwingie posted 82 at Enville. Bullard was playing after an impressive performance in a Legends Tour event in Greece recently, where he shot five-under over 54 holes to finish level with former US Open winner Michael Campbell and ahead of Paul Lawrie, Open winner back in 1999. Peter Odemwingie is competing at Enville as he looks to build on a golfing dream that was born during his time playing at Stoke City. The Nigerian international, 43, scored 37 Premier League goals across spells at West Brom, Stoke and Cardiff. He is perhaps best known in English football for his attempt to join QPR in 2013. The forward turned up at the West London club's Loftus Road home even though no deal had been agreed. Odemwingie only started golfing in his 30s but has qualified as a teaching professional and is hoping to compete on the Champions Tour after he turns 50. There was better news, though, for popular YouTube star Peter Finch as he reached the final stage of Open qualifying in great style at Caldy Golf Club. Finch mixed an eagle, three birdies and four bogeys to shoot a one-under-par round of 71 in tough, blustery conditions. The English golfer has close to 1,000,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel and regularly chronicles his progress towards qualifying for the Open Championship. Meanwhile, at the notoriously difficult Island Golf Club in Dublin, Paul McBride put his local knowledge to great to top the qualifying. Former Walker Cup star McBride shot a three-under-par round of 69, one shot ahead of Cloverhill's Keith Shannon, who is also heading to final qualifying. The pair will be joined by fellow Irish golfers Rowan Lester (Hermitage), Finlay Eager (Royal Belfast), Ronan Mullarney (Leopardstown Driving Range), Brendan McCarroll (Foyle Golf Centre), Ruaidhri McGee, who all qualified at the Island. But that still left two remaining qualifying spots to be won as late drama unfolded at the Dublin venue. Nine players finished on two-over-par and went into a play-off for the remaining two spots on offer for final qualifying. And in the end experience counted as former European Tour player Niall Kearney and Alex Maguire, who played in the 2023 Open as an amateur, earned the final tickets. Final Qualifying will take place at Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports and West Lancashire ahead of the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush.
Wales Online
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Former Cardiff City player attempts to qualify for The Open after taking up golf in his 30s
Former Cardiff City player attempts to qualify for The Open after taking up golf in his 30s The Open will play host to two former elite-level footballers Former Cardiff City star Peter Odemwingie is now a PGA professional. (Image: Iain Findlay - Birmingham Mail. ) Two ex-Premier League stars, including a former Cardiff City player, have qualified for The Open. Ex-Cardiff striker Peter Odemwingie and former Hull City star Jimmy Bullard are among the 2,000 players who will bid to qualify for a spot at Royal Portrush, with regional qualifying taking place across 15 venues throughout the UK and Ireland this week. Just 100 of those will make it through for the final round of qualifying on July 1. Odemwingie, of course, played for Cardiff in the 2013/2014 Premier League season before moving on to Stoke City. The Open is open to everyone, hence the name, and you can enter with a 0.4 handicap or lower for a £200 fee. There will be a number of amateurs on display alongside Odemwingie and Bullard. Former West Bromwich Albion man Odemwingie, 43, teed off at 12.36pm at Enville Golf Club near Dudley outside of Birmingham on Monday, with Bullard getting started at Rochester and Cobham Park in Kent. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community. Odemwingie only picked up golf in his early thirties, but has since qualified as a PGA professional. Speaking to the PGA website last year, Odemwingie said: "My eyes are on the senior tour in the future because I definitely know there is a player in me." Article continues below The former footballer would need to be at least 50 years old to qualify for the elite seniors tour. "This game offers us longevity and if you stay healthy you can play for a long time, as someone like Gary Player shows," continued Odemwingie. "Hopefully when I'm old with a lot of grey hairs I'll be able to tell a pretty cool story about my time playing golf." The winner of The Open wins The Claret Jug and is awarded the title of 'Champion Golfer of the Year'. The likes of Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, Rory McIlroy and Seve Ballesteros have claimed it over the years. The Open's official event follows qualifying at the Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland between July 13 and 20. American golfer Xander Schauffele won the 2024 edition, where he also picked up £2.38 million in prize money from a £13.1 million purse. Article continues below As a player, Odemwingie played for a variety of top football clubs. Being born in the then-Soviet Union (Uzbekistan), he came through the academy at CSKA Moscow before starting his senior professional career at Nigerian club Bendel Insurance. His ascent in European football began at West Bromwich Albion after signing from Lokomotiv Moscow. He was a reliable goal scorer for The Baggies before moving on to Cardiff for £2.25 million. A failed move to Queen's Park Rangers resulted in his move to Wales, after he fell out of favour with West Brom boss Steve Clarke. Following his move to Stoke, which was not a success, he had stints with Bristol City, Rotherham United and finally Madura United, an Indonesian outfit, where he finished his career.
Scottish Sun
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Ex-Premier League star, 43, known for infamous Sky Sports moment set to play The Open qualifying with Jimmy Bullard
FORMER Premier League star Peter Odemwingie is attempting to qualify for The Open. And ex-Fulham and Wigan ace Jimmy Bullard is also giving it a shot. 3 Peter Odemwingie has taken to golf since hanging up his boots Credit: Getty 3 Striker Odemwingie infamously turned up at Loftus Road in 2013 Advertisement Odemwingie, 43, scored 37 Prem goals across spells at West Brom, Stoke and Cardiff. His spell in English football is also fondly remembered for his attempt to join QPR during the January transfer window in 2013. The Nigeria forward infamously turned up at the West London club's Loftus Road home... even though no deal had been agreed. Odemwingie has already enjoyed significant success since trading his football boots for golf clubs. Advertisement READ MORE GOLF NEWS 'CLEAR THE SPECULATION' Paige Spiranac forced to make statement after viral video Having only taken up the sport in his 30s, the former footballer has qualified as a teaching professional and is hoping to compete on the Champions Tour after he turns 50. For now, Odemwingie is one of nearly 2,000 players entering regional qualifying for The Open this week. The former striker is taking part at the Enville Golf Club in the West Midlands. Odemwingie told the PGA website last year: "I started playing just at the end of my West Brom days because a few of the boys played, and I could see the excitement they had for it. Advertisement BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "They would go and play on a Tuesday after training, and they'd have their golf gear and be talking about it, but I couldn't understand it because the golf vocabulary is so different to anything else. "Then on one of the pre-season training trips with West Brom, Roy Hodgson took us to a golf resort and people were doing putting and playing full rounds on days off, so I was just passing by the range, and I thought I'd try and hit some balls. The untold story behind Peter Odemwingie's infamous arrival at QPR's training ground on deadline day "I was wearing slippers, but I hit a few, and I loved the sound and watching the ball fly. "It was downhill so it carried further. I thought, 'OK, there's something in this'." Advertisement Bullard, meanwhile, is also a keen golfer. The 47-year-old has been recording his bid to reach The Open on his Golf Life YouTube channel. Bullard also tried last year, but was unfortunately ruled out of qualifying with an injury. He will take to the Rochester and Cobham Park course in Kent. The final round of qualifying will begin on July 1, with only around 100 players set to reach that stage. Advertisement
The Sun
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Ex-Premier League star, 43, known for infamous Sky Sports moment set to play The Open qualifying with Jimmy Bullard
FORMER Premier League star Peter Odemwingie is attempting to qualify for The Open. And ex- Fulham and Wigan ace Jimmy Bullard is also giving it a shot. 3 3 Odemwingie, 43, scored 37 Prem goals across spells at West Brom, Stoke and Cardiff. His spell in English football is also fondly remembered for his attempt to join QPR during the January transfer window in 2013. The Nigeria forward infamously turned up at the West London club's Loftus Road home... even though no deal had been agreed. Odemwingie has already enjoyed significant success since trading his football boots for golf clubs. Having only taken up the sport in his 30s, the former footballer has qualified as a teaching professional and is hoping to compete on the Champions Tour after he turns 50. For now, Odemwingie is one of nearly 2,000 players entering regional qualifying for The Open this week. The former striker is taking part at the Enville Golf Club in the West Midlands. Odemwingie told the PGA website last year: "I started playing just at the end of my West Brom days because a few of the boys played, and I could see the excitement they had for it. "They would go and play on a Tuesday after training, and they'd have their golf gear and be talking about it, but I couldn't understand it because the golf vocabulary is so different to anything else. "Then on one of the pre-season training trips with West Brom, Roy Hodgson took us to a golf resort and people were doing putting and playing full rounds on days off, so I was just passing by the range, and I thought I'd try and hit some balls. The untold story behind Peter Odemwingie's infamous arrival at QPR's training ground on deadline day "I was wearing slippers, but I hit a few, and I loved the sound and watching the ball fly. "It was downhill so it carried further. I thought, 'OK, there's something in this'." Bullard, meanwhile, is also a keen golfer. The 47-year-old has been recording his bid to reach The Open on his Golf Life YouTube channel. Bullard also tried last year, but was unfortunately ruled out of qualifying with an injury. He will take to the Rochester and Cobham Park course in Kent. The final round of qualifying will begin on July 1, with only around 100 players set to reach that stage. 3
The Irish Sun
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Ex-Premier League star, 43, known for infamous Sky Sports moment set to play The Open qualifying with Jimmy Bullard
FORMER Premier League star Peter Odemwingie is attempting to qualify for The Open. And ex- 3 Peter Odemwingie has taken to golf since hanging up his boots Credit: Getty 3 Striker Odemwingie infamously turned up at Loftus Road in 2013 Odemwingie, 43, scored 37 Prem goals across spells at His spell in English football is also fondly remembered for his The Nigeria forward infamously turned up at the West London club's Loftus Road home... even though no deal had been agreed. Odemwingie has already enjoyed READ MORE GOLF NEWS Having only taken up the sport in his 30s, the former footballer has qualified as a teaching professional and is hoping to compete on the Champions Tour after he turns 50. For now, Odemwingie is one of nearly 2,000 players entering regional qualifying for The Open this week. The former striker is taking part at the Enville Golf Club in the West Midlands. Odemwingie told the Most read in Golf BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "They would go and play on a Tuesday after training, and they'd have their golf gear and be talking about it, but I couldn't understand it because the golf vocabulary is so different to anything else. "Then on one of the pre-season training trips with West Brom, Roy Hodgson took us to a golf resort and people were doing putting and playing full rounds on days off, so I was just passing by the range, and I thought I'd try and hit some balls. The untold story behind Peter Odemwingie's infamous arrival at QPR's training ground on deadline day "I was wearing slippers, but I hit a few, and I loved the sound and watching the ball fly. "It was downhill so it carried further. I thought, 'OK, there's something in this'." Bullard, meanwhile, is also a keen golfer. The 47-year-old has been recording his bid to reach The Open on his Bullard also tried last year, but was unfortunately ruled out of qualifying with an injury. He will take to the Rochester and Cobham Park course in Kent. The final round of qualifying will begin on July 1, with only around 100 players set to reach that stage. 3 Jimmy Bullard is a keen golfer Credit: PA
