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Irish Times
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Open Digest: Tony Finau links up with Irish caddie Colin Byrne at Portrush
Colin Byrne – aka The Bagman – answered an SOS call from Tony Finau to caddie here at the 153rd Open and the two have made an instant connection. The Dubliner, of course, caddied for Retief Goosen en route to the South African's US Open successes and more recently had worked with Louis Oosthuizen on the LIV tour. With Finau not using his usual caddie Mark Urbanek, the American reached out to Byrne late last week to inquire about his availability. 'Colin's obviously a very well-known caddie. He caddied for Retief Goosen for many years and had a lot of success with him. But being on this side of the pond, he's from Ireland so it's pretty cool to have him on the bag, knows this golf course pretty well, and he's definitely been helpful the first two days. READ MORE 'He came pretty highly recommended when I was looking for a guy here this week. I can see why. He's got a lot of experience, veteran caddie. He's been on the Tour for many years. I know he also caddied on LIV. So he's been around the block and caddied for a lot of great players. I thought he'd be a good fit for me this week,' said Finau, who carded a second round 68 for four-under 138. Of enjoying playing links golf, Finau explained: 'I like working the golf ball and I don't mind playing it on the ground. I think it gives you that opportunity on a links golf course. In the States, the game is kind of played in the air. How far can you fly it, how much can you spin it. 'These courses ask you for shot making, creativity, and I'm able to kind of dig back into my creativity a little bit and play shots that I normally wouldn't be able to play in the States. It's pretty fun.' McIlroy bags himself a new sponsor Eagle-eyed bag watchers will have noticed a new sponsor name on Rory McIlroy's TaylorMade bag. Versant – a group of US cable networks which came out of Comcast – is prominently placed on the front of his bag below his name. McIlroy has a number of commercial deals, one of which is with GolfPass, part of NBC, which now comes under the Versant corporation. In recent events, McIlroy's bag has alternated the prime patch. At the US Open, it was his new investment company TPG Sports. At last week's Genesis Scottish Open, it was Optum. The rotation policy is expected to continue going forward. 2028 Open date and venue complicated by clash with Olympics When and where the 156th Open will take place in 2028 remains a mystery, complicated by a clash of dates with the Olympics. Next year's championship returns to Royal Birkdale in England while the Old Course at St Andrews will play host in 2027. There are three different golf events scheduled for the Los Angeles Olympics, with separate men's and women's competitions and a new mixed two-player team event between those at Riviera Country Club. The opening ceremony for the 2028 Olympics is scheduled for July 14th. The R&A's chief executive Mark Darbon remarked: 'We're working with a group of stakeholders because it doesn't just impact ourselves, it impacts the wider schedule. I think we're pretty close to a solution on that, which I would like to think will be announced over the next few months, so we'll bring it to life then.' A computer generated image issued by Galgorm Collection of their proposed first championship-standard links golf course in Northern Ireland for more than 100 years at Magilligan Point in Co Derry. Photograph: Harry Cook/PA Wire Northern Ireland to get new £30m links course in 2029 A brand new links will be created on old sandhills at Bellarena in Co Derry – 20 miles west of Portrush – as part of a £30 million (€34.5 million) project by luxury hospitality group Galgorm Collection. The site for Northern Ireland's first new links course in over 100 years is located near Magilligan Point in an area of outstanding natural beauty and will add to the necklace of links gems along the Causeway Coast. Subject to planning approval, Galgorm Collection said development of Bellarena Golf Links will start next year and open in 2029. The group already run the Galgorm Castle and Roe Valley golf resorts and this extension of its portfolio adds links golf to its collection. As for the designer? Well, that's yet to be revealed as the group remains in discussions with its preferred architect. Quote of the Day 'I've said this a million times, but I really can just be a player when I'm inside the ropes. It's the only time I can sort of not be the captain. When I'm inside the ropes with a card in my pocket, I really can just focus on playing' – US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley after a bogey-free second round 67 for a midway total of three-under 139. Number of the Day: 8 That's the quadruple bogey which young Danish player Jacob Skov Olesen ran up in becoming the latest victim of the first hole on the Dunluce links. Olesen hit two drives out of bounds.
Khaleej Times
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
‘It means the world': Potgieter makes history with dramatic playoff win at Rocket Classic
In a week where sporting headlines were dominated by experience, youth had the final word. South Africa's Aldrich Potgieter, barely out of his teens, made history at the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Sunday, outlasting a nervy three-man playoff to clinch his maiden PGA Tour title at the Detroit Golf Club. His victory, sealed with an 18-foot birdie on the fifth playoff hole, marked him as the youngest South African ever to win on the Tour and one of the youngest winners globally in the past four decades. Fans in the UAE, where South African golfers like three-time Dubai Desert Classic Champion Ernie Els, two-time U.S. Open sensation Retief Goosen and 2011 Masters Champion Charl Schwartzel, have long been crowd favourites, will recognize Potgieter as a name to watch. And now, he's no longer just a big hitter with promise, but a history-maker. Potgieter, a youngster with an Afrikaans name, finished regulation tied at 22-under-par 266 alongside American duo Max Greyserman and Chris Kirk. While Kirk bowed out after a bogey on the second playoff hole, Potgieter and Greyserman continued to trade punches, pars and pressure before the South African struck the decisive putt on the par-3 15th. Patience Pays Off Late 'I struggled to get the pace right all day, left a lot of putts short,' Potgieter said, speaking like a man who knows he'll have many more Sundays under the spotlight. 'Finally got one to the hole.' It was a nerveless finish to a nervy round. Potgieter had opened the tournament with a blistering 62 on Thursday and held or shared the lead heading into Sunday. A closing 69 wasn't flawless, but it was enough to earn him a place in the playoff, and eventually the trophy. 'Big thanks to my family, friends, coaches, everyone who has been involved to get me to this point,' he said. 'It means the world.' For Greyserman, it was a familiar taste of disappointment. Ranked 48th in the world heading into the week, he played a bogey-free final round of 67 and had a 12-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to win outright, but couldn't convert. Close, But Not Enough 'I thought I hit a lot of good shots down the stretch. Very pleased with how I handled myself,' Greyserman said. 'But unfortunately, I didn't get the job done.' Chris Kirk, the third man in the playoff, came closest on the first extra hole with a 9-foot birdie chance that slid past. A three-putt bogey on the second extra hole ended his hopes. Potgieter's win doesn't just earn him a trophy, it has opened doors to bigger events, more sponsor attention, and invites to golf's top tables. It also continues a proud legacy of South African success on the PGA Tour, following in the footsteps of legends like Gary Player, Ernie Els, and Louis Oosthuizen.
The Citizen
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Four SA golfers to tee it up at the US Open at Oakmont this week
The last time a South African golfer won the US Open was back in 2004 when Retief Goosen won his second Major trophy. Christiaan Bezuidenhout of South Africa plays a shot on the seventh hole during a practice round prior to the 125th US Open at Oakmont Country Club. Picture:Four South Africans will be in the 156-man field when the 125th US Open tees off at Oakmont Country Club outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Thursday. Christiaan Bezuidenhout, ranked 69 in the world, will lead the South African charge at the year's third Major tournament. The three other locals in the field are Erik van Rooyen (ranked 76), Thriston Lawrence (90) and Jacques Kruyswijk (188). Zimbabwe's Scott Vincent (396) is also in the field. The last time a South African won the US Open was back in 2004 when Retief Goosen won at Shinnecock Hills. He also won in 2001 at Southern Hills. Other South African winners of the US Open are Ernie Els in 1997 and 1994 (at Oakmont, the venue this week), and Gary Player in 1965. Form of SA players Bezuidenhout has produced a mixed bag on the PGA Tour this season, with his best result a tied-fourth place at the Phoenix Open in February. He missed the cut at the Masters and tied for 50th at the PGA Championship. Van Rooyen, too, has had an up-and-down PGA Tour season, with a best finish of second at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in early May. He didn't play at the Masters and missed the cut at the PGA Championship. Lawrence has been cut in nine of his 11 starts during his debut PGA Tour season, including at the Masters and PGA Championship. Kruyswijk and Vincent got into the field at Oakmont through qualifying. More than half the field this week qualify to play based on their world ranking, a previous tournament victory and their place in various tour standings or special exemption. The other players have won their spots in the field through qualifying tournaments. Oakmont has hosted nine previous US Open tournaments. Scheffler the favourite The USA's Bryson DeChambeau is the defending champion, having won at Pinehurst last year. He beat Rory McIlroy by one stroke after the Northern Irishman gave up a two-shot lead with four holes remaining, following three bogeys. It was DeChambeau's second Major title. McIlroy, however, goes into this week's tournament having won the Masters in April to complete the career Grand Slam. The favourite at Oakmont is Scottie Scheffler, the world number one who has won three times since the beginning of May. He's captured the CJ Cup Byron Nelson title, the PGA Championship trophy and the Memorial Tournament title in his last four starts, with a tied-fourth place at the Charles Schwab Challenge also in the mix.
Independent Singapore
27-05-2025
- General
- Independent Singapore
From prison to victories: Angel Cabrera wins Senior PGA Championship for his second major title in a week
Angel Cabrera impressively won two senior major golf tournaments in a span of one week. The 55-year-old athlete pulled ahead at the 85th Senior PGA Championship by shooting a 3-under 69 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. He won by one shot over Padraig Harrington and Thomas Bjorn. Moreover, Cabrera also picked up his first senior major by winning the rain-delayed Regions Tradition in Alabama. He is now the fifth player since 1990 to win the first two senior majors of the year, and he was the first one to achieve it back-to-back. With his success, the athlete said, 'I feel very emotional. Maybe you cannot see, but I'm very, very emotional inside, especially after all the things that I went through… I can't believe that I made it, but I'm here and very happy [with] myself.' Highlights of Cabrera's game Cabrera was tied for the lead after three rounds at the Senior PGA Championship. During the final round, he fell two shots behind when Harrington made a birdie on the 14th hole to reach 7 under. The momentum then shifted when Harrington made a double bogey on the 15th hole, giving Cabrera an advantage. Harrington bogeyed the par-4 18th after missing a short 3-foot par putt, and this mistake gave Cabrera a two-shot lead, which let him afford a bogey on the final hole and secured the win. Cabrera finished the match with a total score of 8-under 280 over four rounds. Harrington and Thomas Bjorn tied for second place. Golfers Retief Goosen, club pro Jason Caron, and Stewart Cink were one shot behind them. Cabrera's comeback The athlete spent 30 months in prison, and he had missed the prime years of her golfing career. He was released in August 2023 after serving over two years for gender violence cases involving two of his ex-girlfriends. ' I thought that I was going to fail, especially after sitting without touching a club for a while. But I've been working very, very hard, and I feel that all the hard work pays off, and this is what I'm having right now, like winning this tournament.' See also Big holes in pockets for World Cup Qatar fans In a social media post by PGA Tour Champions, it stated: 'Ángel Cabrera does it again! He's won back-to-back senior majors @SeniorPGAChamp 🏆🏆' Netizens showered praise on the player's recent win, celebrating his comeback. 'A prime example of making the most of a second chance. He deserves it 👏' one commented, while another wrote, 'Bro is undeniable. Golf runs through his veins 🤘🏻'
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Making up for lost time, Angel Cabrera wins 2025 Senior PGA Championship at Congressional
It was quite the week for Angel Cabrera. The 55-year-old Argentine won two senior majors in the past six days. On Sunday, Cabrera broke out of a logjam at the Senior PGA Championship, shooting a 3-under 69 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, for a one-stroke victory over Padraig Harrington and Thomas Bjorn. Just six days earlier, Cabrera, the 2007 U.S. Open and 2009 Masters champion, claimed the rain-delayed Regions Tradition on Monday in Alabama, for his first senior major. At the Senior PGA Championship, Cabrera shared the 54-hole lead but trailed Harrington by two strokes after Harrington sank a birdie putt on No. 14. The championship flipped when Harrington made a double bogey at No. 15 and Cabrera birdied the hole a short while later to assume the lead. Harrington also made a bogey on the par-4 18th, which allowed Cabrera to bogey the closing hole and hang on for the win. Cabrera signed for a 72-hole total of 8-under 280. Harrington (68) and Bjorn (68) tied for second, with Retief Goosen (71), club professional Jason Caron (71) and Stewart Cink (70) another stroke back. Cabrera was sentenced to 30 months in prison and only swung a broom for two years, losing what typically are the best years of his PGA Tour Champions career. He was released from jail, where he became sober, in August 2023, after he completed more than two years in custody over gender violence cases against two of his ex-girlfriends. Cabrera earned his third victory in his last four starts on the senior circuit. His longtime instructor Charlie Epps, who brought him a new set of Ping clubs in Argentina after his release prison, knew that Cabrera was capable of such golf after serving time for his crime and cleaning up his act. 'I always wanted to see how he would play sober and we're finding out now,' Epps said. 'There's no telling what he would've done if he had this discipline on the regular tour. And he did at certain times but he's got the bit in his mouth and he's showing that he can still play golf…He's in a really good place.' This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Angel Cabrera wins 2025 Senior PGA Championship for second senior major
