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Scotsman
4 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Grinning Grant Forrest lights up DP World Tour at Trump International - but pelters are coming
Scot is out in front at Trump International Golf Links but dangerman is lurking in Aberdeenshire Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... By his own admission, Grant Forrest has been girning this season rather than grinning. The Scot, though, is heading into the weekend with a smile on his face and the halfway leader in the Nexo Championship at Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire admitted his nearest and dearest will be quick to dig him out about it. 'I'll be getting pelters for that,' joked the 32-year-old after adding a 66 in more challenging conditions to an opening 71 to sit on seven under, a shot ahead of England's Jordan Smith, the highest-ranked player in the field and a big dangerman, in the $2.75 million event on the DP World Tour. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I've not had a round like today this season,' added Forrest, who sits 113th in the Race to Dubai and only jumped into a card-saving position on the back of a top-25 finish in last month's Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club. Grant Forrest acknowledges the crowd during the second round of the Nexo Championship at Trump International Golf Links in Balmedie |'I think my best round this season has been four-under which, for me, is not great. I've not got it going at all. It has been a grind this year so this was nice. I've had some better results in June and July and it was great to get a day like today. I've missed being in contention. That's where you want to be so I'm looking forward to the weekend.' In his second circuit, Forrest, who landed his maiden win in the 2021 Hero Open at Fairmont St Andrews, birdied the first, second, fourth and fifth then eighth, tenth and 16th, with a sole dropped shot coming at the par-4 seventh, which he had eagled on Thursday. 'It was tough again today with the wind being up, but I just played brilliant and gave myself loads of good chances,' said the East Lothian-based player. 'Probably my second best round to my third at the Fairmont when I won. I shot ten under and it started windier than it was today and got even windier. That was a bit special that day. But it's definitely up there. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'You don't get so many of these days when things really happen for you and this season has been a bit of a struggle for the most part so to play some really good golf is really encouraging.' Forrest and his wife Christy became first-time parents towards the end of last year and, on the evidence of the past few weeks, son Spencer is helping him be a bit more relaxed on the golf course. 'I felt quite relaxed coming into this week and I am quite comfortable in these conditions,' he said. Halfway leader Grant Forrest pictured at Trump International Golf Links |Smith, who sits 16th on the European Ryder Cup points list and would considerably boost his hopes of being a rookie at Bethpage Black in September with a win this weekend, signed for five birdies and two bogeys in a second successive 69. 'It's mentally really, really, really tough,' he said of Donald Trump's Old Course in Balmedie. 'It's just draining. You've got to be on it for the whole round and you can't really relax because there's wind constant for the whole round, so I'm happy how me and my caddie have done today and take that into the weekend, hopefully.'
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Two Brit golfers booted out of Donald Trump Invitational tournament as one gives up and other makes huge error
One is set to lose places in the Race to Dubai Double bogey Two Brit golfers booted out of Donald Trump Invitational tournament as one gives up and other makes huge error Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A pair of British golfers have been booted out of a Donald Trump Invitational event. England's Sam Bairstow and Scotland's Calum Hill were among the DP World Tour pros in action for the Nexo Championship at Trump International Golf Links in Scotland this week. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Sam Bairstow endured a disaster at a Donald Trump Invitational event Credit: Getty 2 Calum Hill followed suit with a round two ejection from the Nexo Championship Credit: Getty However, disaster struck as the duo endured a nightmare time on the green. Bairstow, who had been among the bookies' favourites to win a maiden DP World Tour title event, saw his game go off course with a major error at the end of his opening round. The 26-year-old had noted down a five on the par-4 14th hole, when he had actually shot a seven after missing a fairway with his tee shot and forced to hit a provisional. And having not found his original tee shot, the Englishman played a tap-in thinking he had made a bogey, a mistake neither of his playing partners had picked up either, when he actually made a triple bogey READ MORE IN GOLF TURNING THE PAIGE Paige Spiranac goes braless in new career venture and 'finds calling' He had headed into the scorers' tent believing he was one-over with a score of 73, but it was later revealed to him that he was actually three-over 75. Bairstow then dropped another stinker with a double-bogey at the par-5 closing hole. And less than 24 hours later, Hill was also ejected from the Championship after failing to hole out at the eighth - his penultimate shot of the day. The two-time DP World Tour winner endured a frustrating afternoon in tough conditions as he finished round one on four-over courtesy of a torrid back nine holes on Thursday. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK A bogey on par-5 on Friday gave way in the second round to a birdie on the par-4 15th - only for that to be immediately cancelled with a dropped shot attempt on the following par-3. At six-over he then suffered another birdie-bogey before adding another bogey on the fourth. Paige Spiranac goes braless in new career venture as golf beauty says 'I think I've found my calling' His tournament then ended on hole 17 as Hill missed a par putt from inside nine feet - with the cut-off line being three-over. - before he decided to call it a day. The duo won't collect anything from their efforts on Scotland's north-east coast either. However, Hill is not likely to fall any lower than his current 26th rank in the Race to Dubai, while Bairstow is set to fall four places from 54 to 58.
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Nexo Championship leader on DP World Tour shows he's made of Sterne stuff - on and off the course
South African overcomes losing eight balls in a practice round to set pace at Trump International Golf Links Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Talk about Sterne stuff. Richard Sterne, after all, lost eight balls in one of his practice rounds earlier in the week but overcame that to post the best score - a five-under-par 67 - on a blustery day at Trump International Golf Links for the opening round of the $2.75 million Nexo Championship. Oh, and wait until you hear what the six-time DP World Tour winner has overcome in terms of operations off the course over the past few years to even be playing in the biggest event to be held on Donald Trump's Old Course at Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'How long have you got?' said Sterne, a 43-year-old South African, in reply to being asked about injuries he mentioned in a TV interview after signing for a superb bogey-free effort in challenging conditions, with tournament organisers deserving the praise that was being widely offered about a decision to move a total of seven tees forward, including the one at the par-5 18th by three sets. South African Richard Sterne plays his second shot on the ninth hole during the first round of the Nexo Championship at Trump International Golf Links |'I've had three wrist surgeries since 2020 and I have a titanium disc in my lower back where they had to come through the front,' he added. 'That was two years ago. I've been out for four of the last five years. I'm just trying to get back. 'It's been many, many hours in the gym trying to get my body able to play again. It wasn't that promising that I would play again with the back the way it was but, touch wood, it's good. My wrist was more of a worry. It's the left wrist. I'm not the player I was. It's tough with all the injuries. I didn't hit a ball for 22 months. You can imagine trying to come back from that. It's been a tough year. There's still some pain, but it's playable. It's not as bad as it was.' In 16 events this season, Sterne has only made four cuts. He's 156th in the Race to Dubai and is outside the top 1,000 in the Official World Golf Ranking. This was more like it, though, from a player who landed his breakthrough win in the Madrid Open and recorded the most recent of his title triumphs in the 2013 Joburg Open. It could be light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Absolutely,' he replied to being asked if he had thought about having to give up the game. 'The wrist procedure was a scaphoid ligament, which tore and they fixed it and then it tore again. So that was another nine, ten months out. The wrist is a hell of a thing to operate on as it's the main hand for me. The back was actually an easier recovery. They did my wrist three times. I also tore the TFCC (Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex) in my wrist which is one of the main ligaments. 'When I was getting the third wrist surgery I said just do my back as well because I'd had 20 years of it really. I could always play but it got so bad, I couldn't even swing a club. After I had my wrist done for a third time, I was out for another nine months, so I thought I may as well do my back now. Richard Sterne overcame losing eight balls in a practice round to produce a bogey-free opening effort in challenging conditions at Trump International Golf Links |'It's been good. I would have pain down my leg, I was living on painkillers. It was not fun. The only way I could see myself playing again was to take the chance with surgery. I've spent 100s of hours recovering and I'm still doing it.' In a round that started at the par-5 tenth, Sterne opened with a birdie before making an even better 4 straight back into the draft at the 18th then another one at the first. He was particularly pleased with the iron shot that set up another gain at the par-3 fourth before capping an outstanding day's work with a 3 at the seventh. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Yes, I'm not going to have another procedure,' he said, smiling, as he reflected on the physical and mental toll he has faced in recent years. 'I still want to play. I'm doing everything I can to get back playing. I actually enjoy it more the older I get. I wish I had the same mentality and attitude when I was younger as I do now. But that's life. 'You learn as you get older. I've been out here a long time. It would be nice to play like I did today for the rest of the year to build some confidence. I enjoyed today. You had to hit some really good iron shots. I hit some that I've been working on and they came off, so that gives me confidence, too.' At the start of the day, the wind was blowing from the south-east before moving to the south-west just as Sterne and the others in the morning wave were finishing their rounds then picking up considerably during the afternoon. 'The wind was not excessive, but it was testing,' said the pacesetter. 'You can see that in the scores. They set it up fairly which was good. It's demanding, lots of trouble.' Richard Sterne putts on the eighth green during the first round of the Nexo Championship |As he discovered in that chastening practice round. 'I lost eight balls,' he reported, smiling. 'It was chaos on Tuesday. Some guys played nine holes and then stopped. But I thought, 'bugger it, I'll go and play'. I nearly ran out of balls.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sterne tied for second in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2016, having also finished joint-sixth in 2003 and 2014 at Carnoustie, KIngsbarns and St Andrews. 'Maybe links golf is better for me,' he said, smiling again. 'I need to have some good performances and it's been a tough year. I've got a long stretch in front of me and I need to put something together. There's still a long way to go here, but, hopefully, I have a chance going into the weekend.'
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Nexo Championship leader shows he's made of Sterne stuff - on and off the course
South African overcomes losing eight balls in a practice round to set pace at Trump International Golf Links Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Talk about Sterne stuff. Richard Sterne, after all, lost eight balls in one of his practice rounds earlier in the week but overcame that to post the best score - a five-under-par 67 - on a blustery day at Trump International Golf Links for the opening round of the $2.75 million Nexo Championship. Oh, and wait until you hear what the six-time DP World Tour winner has overcome in terms of operations off the course over the past few years to even be playing in the biggest event to be held on Donald Trump's Old Course at Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'How long have you got?' said Sterne, a 43-year-old South African, in reply to being asked about injuries he mentioned in a TV interview after signing for a superb bogey-free effort in challenging conditions, with tournament organisers deserving the praise that was being widely offered about a decision to move a total of seven tees forward, including the one at the par-5 18th by three sets. South African Richard Sterne plays his second shot on the ninth hole during the first round of the Nexo Championship at Trump International Golf Links |'I've had three wrist surgeries since 2020 and I have a titanium disc in my lower back where they had to come through the front,' he added. 'That was two years ago. I've been out for four of the last five years. I'm just trying to get back. 'It's been many, many hours in the gym trying to get my body able to play again. It wasn't that promising that I would play again with the back the way it was but, touch wood, it's good. My wrist was more of a worry. It's the left wrist. I'm not the player I was. It's tough with all the injuries. I didn't hit a ball for 22 months. You can imagine trying to come back from that. It's been a tough year. There's still some pain, but it's playable. It's not as bad as it was.' In 16 events this season, Sterne has only made four cuts. He's 156th in the Race to Dubai and is outside the top 1,000 in the Official World Golf Ranking. This was more like it, though, from a player who landed his breakthrough win in the Madrid Open and recorded the most recent of his title triumphs in the 2013 Joburg Open. It could be light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Absolutely,' he replied to being asked if he had thought about having to give up the game. 'The wrist procedure was a scaphoid ligament, which tore and they fixed it and then it tore again. So that was another nine, ten months out. The wrist is a hell of a thing to operate on as it's the main hand for me. The back was actually an easier recovery. They did my wrist three times. I also tore the TFCC (Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex) in my wrist which is one of the main ligaments. 'When I was getting the third wrist surgery I said just do my back as well because I'd had 20 years of it really. I could always play but it got so bad, I couldn't even swing a club. After I had my wrist done for a third time, I was out for another nine months, so I thought I may as well do my back now. Richard Sterne overcame losing eight balls in a practice round to produce a bogey-free opening effort in challenging conditions at Trump International Golf Links |'It's been good. I would have pain down my leg, I was living on painkillers. It was not fun. The only way I could see myself playing again was to take the chance with surgery. I've spent 100s of hours recovering and I'm still doing it.' In a round that started at the par-5 tenth, Sterne opened with a birdie before making an even better 4 straight back into the draft at the 18th then another one at the first. He was particularly pleased with the iron shot that set up another gain at the par-3 fourth before capping an outstanding day's work with a 3 at the seventh. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Yes, I'm not going to have another procedure,' he said, smiling, as he reflected on the physical and mental toll he has faced in recent years. 'I still want to play. I'm doing everything I can to get back playing. I actually enjoy it more the older I get. I wish I had the same mentality and attitude when I was younger as I do now. But that's life. 'You learn as you get older. I've been out here a long time. It would be nice to play like I did today for the rest of the year to build some confidence. I enjoyed today. You had to hit some really good iron shots. I hit some that I've been working on and they came off, so that gives me confidence, too.' At the start of the day, the wind was blowing from the south-east before moving to the south-west just as Sterne and the others in the morning wave were finishing their rounds then picking up considerably during the afternoon. 'The wind was not excessive, but it was testing,' said the pacesetter. 'You can see that in the scores. They set it up fairly which was good. It's demanding, lots of trouble.' Richard Sterne putts on the eighth green during the first round of the Nexo Championship |As he discovered in that chastening practice round. 'I lost eight balls,' he reported, smiling. 'It was chaos on Tuesday. Some guys played nine holes and then stopped. But I thought, 'bugger it, I'll go and play'. I nearly ran out of balls.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sterne tied for second in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2016, having also finished joint-sixth in 2003 and 2014 at Carnoustie, KIngsbarns and St Andrews. 'Maybe links golf is better for me,' he said, smiling again. 'I need to have some good performances and it's been a tough year. I've got a long stretch in front of me and I need to put something together. There's still a long way to go here, but, hopefully, I have a chance going into the weekend.'
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
McIlroy missing as PGA Tour playoffs get underway
Rory McIlroy was hot and tired when he finished the FedEx St Jude Championship last year. He was No 3 in the FedEx Cup. He beat only one player at the TPC Southwind and tied for 68th, finishing 26 shots behind. He dropped all the way to No 5. 'I'm not even sure why I'm playing,' McIlroy said with a chuckle. So it comes as no surprise that McIlroy has decided to sit out the start of the PGA Tour postseason, a move he has telegraphed for a year. McIlroy, who was intent on cutting back his schedule this year, has already missed two signature events at Hilton Head and Memorial (he also missed The Sentry at Kapalua, which he has played only once because he starts his year on the DP World Tour). Not much should be read into McIlroy — he's No 2 behind Scottie Scheffler — sitting out the FedEx Cup playoffs opener for only the third time. Scheffler is the No 1 seed for the second consecutive year. Tiger Woods skipped the opener in 2007 and went on to win the FedEx Cup. Woods played The Barclays in 2009, only to realize during the pro-am that Wednesday that even if he had won all three playoff events, he still was not assured winning the FedEx Cup (he won, anyway). But given the heat in Memphis in early August, it would not be surprising if more top players chose to sit this one out. There is a $5 million bonus for whoever is leading the FedEx Cup after the second playoff event at the BMW Championship. Then again, McIlroy already is playing tournaments overseas in the autumn in India and Australia, as well as returning to Jumeirah Golf Estates from November 13-16 to defend his DP World Tour Championship title. McIlroy claimed his third DP World Tour Championship victory in 2024, sealing a record-equalling sixth Race to Dubai title to sit alongside the late, great Seve Ballesteros and further cementing his status as one of the most decorated players in Tour history. The 36-year-old has moved into joint second place for the most Race to Dubai victories and now sits two behind Colin Montgomerie, as he bids to add another European Number One crown to his already impressive career. The Masters Champion currently leads the Race to Dubai Rankings ahead of Tyrrell Hatton by more than 1,000 points. Meanwhile, Xander Schauffele is assured of making his 70th consecutive cut in the FedEx St Jude Championship, which has no 36-hole cut. But there's another streak on the line. Schauffele has been slow to hit his stride since missing two months at the start of the year with a rib injury. He goes into the postseason at No 42 in the FedEx Cup. Schauffele has reached the Tour Championship eight consecutive years dating to his rookie season in 2017. That's tied with Tony Finau for the longest active streak getting to East Lake. Finau has an even greater sense of urgency. He starts the FedEx Cup playoffs at No 62. Only the top 50 advance to the BMW Championship, and the top 30 reach the Tour Championship. Associated Press
