Latest news with #RoyalPortrush
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Premier League cult hero aiming for golf glory as he attempts to qualify for The Open - a year after injury heartbreak
Former Premier League star Jimmy Bullard is hoping to compete in The Open and will take part in the qualifiers as he hopes to land a berth at Royal Portrush this July. The cult hero, 46, who played for Fulham, Wigan, and Hull City, hung up his boots in 2012 and is a keen golfer. The former Soccer AM host is a scratch-level player and runs his own Youtube golf channel, Golf Life, which has over 335,000 subscribers. Bullard competed in five of the now defunct EuroPro tour events between 2014 and 2016 and is targeting a spot at golf's oldest tournament this summer. Announcing his attempt to qualify in a video on his channel, Bullard said: 'Done my back [last year], played too much golf so I've got to manage that. 'But I think that's just a one off to be honest. I don't really get injured do I? Quest for The Open, yes. But a quest to make me a better golfer. 'I feel like the game of golf, I've got to the ceiling of what I know. All my scores are like level par, one-under, I've reached my ceiling. 'How do I get to the next level shooting four, five, six under? Is it available to me with my ability? I don't know. But I feel I've come to the end where I need a coach. I've exhausted all the stuff I know.' Regional qualification begins in June at 15 courses across the country, with around 2,000 hopefuls taking part. At least 16 will be granted entry to the tournament. Bullard was left on the verge of tears after he was forced to pull out of qualifiers last year because of a back injury. He has received high praise from a number of golfers including Lee Westwood, Ewen Ferguson and former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie. 'Very little you have to work on,' Montgomerie told Bullard in a recent video. 'You've got great hands. You've got good speed. When you talk about 111, 112 miles an hour club head speed – that is PGA Tour stuff, never mind Champions Tour stuff. 'If you're asking the question to me – who hopefully knows a little about the tour – I'm telling you, you are plenty good enough to compete with the legends of the Champions Tour. Already. And that's without the next three years of giving it loads of graft.' Bullard, who played for Fulham, Wigan, and Hull, hung up his boots in 2012 and is a keen golfer Bullard was previously banned from the swanky Sunningdale Golf Club in Berkshire, where it costs £92,000 to become a full member, because of his drunken antics. He revealed he took things a bit too far following 'a few drinks'. 'I'm not allowed to go again,' he told snooker legend Stephen Hendry. 'I had a few drinks and I got carried away. I put a Peroni off the first tee and clipped a ball off it. 'It's obviously not the thing to do so I apologise.
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Premier League cult hero, 46, to play in qualifying tournament for The Open as he goes for golf glory
PREMIER LEAGUE cult hero Jimmy Bullard is swapping the pitch for the pitching wedge was he tries to qualify for golf's oldest major. Bullard, 46, is going to be taking a swing at qualifying for The Open at Royal Portrush this July. 4 4 The retired midfielder spent his career playing for the likes of Wigan Athletic, Hull City and Fulham as he earned a reputation as one of football's funniest personalities. But since hanging up his boots in 2012, Bullard has shifted his full focus onto the golf course. The former Soccer AM host is always out on the course and has managed to whittle his handicap down to play off scratch. While he is also one of the faces of popular YouTube golf channel 'Golf Life', which boasts over 335,000 subscribers. Bullard did announce plans to try and qualify last year, but was forced to pull out before the first stage even began with a back injury. Now he's back fighting fit and has announced his intention to qualify in a video on the Golf Life channel. He said: "Done my back [last year], played too much golf so I've got to manage that. 'But I think that's just a one off to be honest. I don't really get injured do I? Quest for The Open, yes. But a quest to make me a better golfer. 4 CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS 'I feel like the game of golf, I've got to the ceiling of what I know. All my scores are like level par, one-under, I've reached my ceiling. 'How do I get to the next level shooting four, five, six under? Is it available to me with my ability? I don't know. But I feel I've come to the end where I need a coach. I've exhausted all the stuff I know.' Rangers star Todd Cantwell spotted at world famous golf course with Sky Sports star and Premier League legend Bullard has enlisted the help of coach Hugh Marr to help him on his journey. The 'Bulldog' will be one of many scratch handicappers who will try their luck at qualification into this year's Open. The Open process sees a field of approximately 2,000 hopefuls whittled down until at least 16 are granted entry to the tournament proper. This year's Open, the 153rd edition of the tournament, will be played at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland from July 17-20. But regional qualification begins on June 23 at 15 different courses across the UK and Ireland.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The Open at Portrush will be 'special'
Tom McKibbin expects that competing in the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush will be something he will remember for the rest of his life. The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland was in the field last year at Royal Troon, as well as for the US Open in 2024 and US PGA last month, but feels playing a major so close to home will be a different experience. "I've played here however many hundreds of times, it's somewhere I've come up and played since I was 10-years-old," he said of Royal Portrush. "To play a major championship on this golf course is going to be pretty special, the biggest event I'll ever have played in under that pressure and atmosphere." McKibbin was not present when the course last staged the championship and Shane Lowry was the winner of the Claret Jug in 2019. "It's something not many people get to say, that they've played an Open in their home country," he added. "To play it here on one of the best courses in the world, it's going to be pretty special. "To be here and be playing will be something that I'll probably remember forever." McIlroy will have 'unfinished business' at Portrush Open McKibbin secured his place in the field through his 18th place in last year's Race To Dubai but has since joined LIV Golf where he is a team-mate of the likes of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton. There are still seven events left on that circuit this season, while McKibbin also plans to play on some DP World Tour stops before the end of the year. Next up, however, is a US Open qualifier on Monday, 2 June. Known as 'golf's longest day', hopefuls at 12 courses across 10 venues will play 36 holes in an effort to secure their place in the field at Oakmont in Pennsylvania from 12-15 June. "It's a very hard day, 36 holes, you have to play very good," said McKibbin who will be playing at Duke University in North Carolina. "There's not a lot of spots. Hopefully I can put together two good rounds and make it there. "The game feels nice, just trying to get through each event and play the best I can."
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
The Open at Portrush will be 'special'
Tom McKibbin expects that competing in the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush will be something he will remember for the rest of his life. The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland was in the field last year at Royal Troon, as well as for the US Open in 2024 and US PGA last month, but feels playing a major so close to home will be a different experience."I've played here however many hundreds of times, it's somewhere I've come up and played since I was 10-years-old," he said of Royal Portrush."To play a major championship on this golf course is going to be pretty special, the biggest event I'll ever have played in under that pressure and atmosphere."McKibbin was not present when the course last staged the championship and Shane Lowry was the winner of the Claret Jug in 2019. "It's something not many people get to say, that they've played an Open in their home country," he added. "To play it here on one of the best courses in the world, it's going to be pretty special. "To be here and be playing will be something that I'll probably remember forever." McKibbin secured his place in the field through his 18th place in last year's Race To Dubai but has since joined LIV Golf where he is a team-mate of the likes of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton. There are still seven events left on that circuit this season, while McKibbin also plans to play on some DP World Tour stops before the end of the year. Next up, however, is a US Open qualifier on Monday, 2 June. Known as 'golf's longest day', hopefuls at 12 courses across 10 venues will play 36 holes in an effort to secure their place in the field at Oakmont in Pennsylvania from 12-15 June."It's a very hard day, 36 holes, you have to play very good," said McKibbin who will be playing at Duke University in North Carolina. "There's not a lot of spots. Hopefully I can put together two good rounds and make it there."The game feels nice, just trying to get through each event and play the best I can."
The Sun
26-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘It made me feel more calm' – Golf star says becoming an ordained monk helped him win spot in The Open at Royal Portrush
GOLF star Sadom Kaewkanjana credits becoming an ordained monk in helping him win a spot on the Open Championship. Becoming an ordained monk is a rite of passage that is common for Thai men once they turn 20. 5 5 5 5 It involves individuals in Buddhist monasticism who take vows to formally be recognised as a member of the monastic community. Duties include meditation, study of Buddhist teachings, upholding ethical precepts, and serving as spiritual leaders within the community. In 2022, Kaewkanjana took a two-week hiatus from the sport to become an ordained monk. By 2023, the Thai golfer was back in the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill - but has not played on golf's biggest stage since. He said at the time: 'I was ordained because I wanted to return the greatest merit and repay my parents. 'During this time of ordination, it was of great value and experience, even though the ordination was a short period of time. 'I was cut off from the rest of the world when I was ordained, that made me feel more calm. "I was able to concentrate more, which will help me improve my game of golf.' Kaewkanjana's major championship return is now set after he won the Asian Tour's Kolon Korea Open. The 26-year-old earned his spot on the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush in July. Bryson DeChambeau appears to punch himself in the face repeatedly live on Sky Sports in bizarre PGA Championship moment The Kolon Korea Open is part of the Championship Qualifying Series, offering the winner a spot in golf's oldest major. It is Kaewkanjana's first individual win since the 2022 Singapore Open - which got him into the Open at St. Andrews. He said: 'It is a big honour to win this event; it's one of the biggest in the region. 'I tried to concentrate more than last three rounds, so I could do it. I'm very happy.'
