Latest news with #Saudi-funded
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
‘Sergio a very obvious good choice' – Jon Rahm backs Garcia for 2031 Ryder Cup captaincy in Spain
Denis O'Brien's Camiral on Catalonia's Costa Brava was officially named as the venue yesterday and Rahm, who was speaking ahead of LIV Golf UK at JCB Golf and Country Club, reckons Garcia could follow in the footsteps of 1997 skipper Seve Ballesteros and captain the side on home soil. "Knowing that some things smoothed over in the world of golf, that Sergio could possibly be the captain of the Ryder Cup team, that also adds to it," Rahm said. "I think there's something to say about possibly having, obviously, a local captain. I think it would do wonders for the crowd. "If history shows us anything, and it's very hard to compare anybody to Seve, but I've only heard stories about what that Ryder Cup was like. "I would say, if possible, I think that's a very obvious good choice to have Sergio be a part of that one." Rahm's Legion XIII teammate Tom McKibbin will be 28 in 2031 and while he opted not to take Rory McIlroy's advice last year and joined the Saudi-funded tour despite warning that it would diminish his chances of qualifying, he admits he'd love to play for Europe in Adare in 2027. "I mean, yeah, I'd love to be a part of Ryder Cups and things like that," said McKibbin. "But again, it just depends just how everything is and how my golf game is by then or before then. "Obviously, you've got the one in Adare Manor in 2027, so I'd love to try to be a part of that, and yeah, just keep trying to play the best I can to work towards those." McKibbin missed his first cut in a major at last week's Open Championship at Royal Portrush, but he hopes that Portmarnock is added to the rota of courses in the future. ADVERTISEMENT "I think Portmarnock is a great links course, probably one of the best in the country, and again, it's a very sort of special, special place, special golf club with a lot of history," McKibbin said. "It's a very pure form of golf. As all the rumours are, the Open there would be pretty cool, and to sort of have two Open venues on the island would be pretty cool." The Newtownabbey native (22) won the Porsche European Open in 2023, but he has yet to win under the 54-hole format since joining the LIV Golf circuit this season. "If you don't quite have it the first day, it's quite a lot of grind to make up for it the last two, and then obviously the fields are strong here," McKibbin said. "There are some incredible players, major champions, and I feel for me personally, I feel like the golf courses have been a little harder. "But overall, I think the main thing for me what I find is trying to get off to a good start so you don't have to chase as much the last couple of days. "I haven't been able to win on the European Tour since then, so I think it's hard to win anywhere."
Los Angeles Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood lead surge of ‘older gentlemen' at British Open
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Phil Mickelson delivered more magic Thursday in the British Open, leaving one shot in a bunker and holing the next one from 75 feet away for an unlikely par. He tipped his cap. He gave a thumbs-up to the crowd. It looked like the Mickelson of old, especially with all that gray stubble in his beard. Mickelson, who opened with a 1-under 70 at Royal Portrush, already holds the major championship record for oldest winner, capturing the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island when he was 50. Now he's at the oldest championship in golf, the one that least discriminates against age. The Open is where 53-year-old Greg Norman had the lead going into the final round at Royal Birkdale in 2008, and more famously where 59-year-old Tom Watson was an 8-foot putt away from winning at Turnberry in 2009. 'The Open gives the older gentlemen a chance to win more than any other tournament,' 52-year-old Lee Westwood said after a day in which he was tied for the lead early in the round until a few bogeys dropped him back to a 69. Westwood is playing the British Open for the first time since he joined Saudi-funded LIV Golf in 2022, going through final regional qualifying three weeks ago to earn a spot in the field. He has yet to win in LIV Golf and his results would suggest he is riding out the rest of his career. And then he showed up at the major he first played in 1995 — Scottie Scheffler was not even born then — and found some form. Links golf helps. 'There's not the premium on carrying traps. They don't make it unplayable for us older guys with length,' Westwood said. 'You can use your experience, guile and cunning on them.' Westwood tripped over his words on the Sky Sports interview and then added, 'Not easy to say, but easy to use at our age.' Mickelson, who has not won since that historic day at Kiawah Island, had missed the cut in all three majors this year. At age 55, he still has six more years playing the British Open as a champion at Muirfield in 2013. He started strong with a deft touch with his wedge to easy birdie range on the par-5 second, but the real Lefty showed up on the next hole when he put his tee shot into a bunker, plugged and not far from the steep lip. The first attempt barely got out, rolling on the edge of grass before tumbling back into the bunker. It looked like a bogey at best. But then he splashed out, carrying it some 25 yards and about 10 feet to the left, and the shot had enough side spin to drop into the cup. He raised both arms. Mickelson loves moments like these, and he's had plenty of them. 'That was a crazy one,' Mickelson said. 'It was really one of maybe two poor shots I hit, that bunker shot that buried in the lip. And then to make it was obviously a lot of luck. I was just trying to save bogey, and I got lucky it went in.' And then his name stayed on the leaderboard the rest of the morning — a birdie on the par-5 seventh, a couple of bogeys on the back nine, a 20-foot birdie on the 17th hole. Mickelson had gone 21 consecutive rounds in a major without breaking par until Thursday in the British Open. Sure, he had the advantage of missing the rain for all but the last couple of holes. But it was good golf. It's still there. 'I played really well, and I had an opportunity,' he said. 'I really enjoy playing these conditions and playing this tournament. It's just a lot of fun.' Not all of the 50-and-older gang had the best of times. Padraig Harrington, coming off his win in the U.S. Senior Open, had the honor and thrill of hitting the opening tee shot. He made birdie on the first hole. That was the highlight on his card when he signed for a 74. 'I got a little emotional when I was clapped on, and then I calmed down, and I was kind of fine when I was hitting it,' Harrington said. He three-putted two straight holes and had a lost ball on No. 10. It was an otherwise forgettable day, except for the unforgettable start of hitting the first shot. 'Yeah, it was a tough day on the greens, and it just ate into my game,' he said. 'Might have been a little bit of the fact that I was hyped up for the first tee box. Who knows? Certainly felt like I played better, could have played better, should have played better.' Ferguson writes for the Associated Press.
Fox Sports
7 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Phil Mickelson Holes Vintage Chip Shot in Surprising Round 1 of Open Championship
Phil Mickelson delivered more magic Thursday in the Open Championship, leaving one shot in a bunker and holing the next one from 75 feet away for an unlikely par. He tipped his cap. He gave a thumbs-up to the crowd. It looked like the Mickelson of old, especially with all that gray stubble in his beard. Mickelson, who opened with a 1-under 70 at Royal Portrush, already holds the major championship record for oldest winner, capturing the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island when he was 50. Now he's at the oldest championship in golf, the one that least discriminates against age. The Open is where 53-year-old Greg Norman had the lead going into the final round at Royal Birkdale in 2008, and more famously where 59-year-old Tom Watson was an 8-foot putt away from winning at Turnberry in 2009. "The Open gives the older gentlemen a chance to win more than any other tournament," 52-year-old Lee Westwood said after a day in which he was tied for the lead early in the round until a few bogeys dropped him back to a 69. Westwood is playing the British Open for the first time since he joined Saudi-funded LIV Golf in 2022, going through final regional qualifying three weeks ago to earn a spot in the field. He has yet to win in LIV Golf and his results would suggest he is riding out the rest of his career. And then he showed up at the major he first played in 1995 — Scottie Scheffler was not even born then — and found some form. Links golf helps. "There's not the premium on carrying traps. They don't make it unplayable for us older guys with length," Westwood said. "You can use your experience, guile and cunning on them." Westwood tripped over his words on the Sky Sports interview and then added, "Not easy to say, but easy to use at our age." Mickelson, who has not won since that historic day at Kiawah Island, had missed the cut in all three majors this year. At age 55, he still has six more years playing the British Open as a champion at Muirfield in 2013. He started strong with a deft touch with his wedge to easy birdie range on the par-5 second, but the real Lefty showed up on the next hole when he put his tee shot into a bunker, plugged and not far from the steep lip. The first attempt barely got out, rolling on the edge of grass before tumbling back into the bunker. It looked like a bogey at best. But then he splashed out, carrying it some 25 yards and about 10 feet to the left, and the shot had enough side spin to drop into the cup. He raised both arms. Mickelson loves moments like these, and he's had plenty of them. "That was a crazy one," Mickelson said. "It was really one of maybe two poor shots I hit, that bunker shot that buried in the lip. And then to make it was obviously a lot of luck. I was just trying to save bogey, and I got lucky it went in." And then his name stayed on the leaderboard the rest of the morning — a birdie on the par-5 seventh, a couple of bogeys on the back nine, a 20-foot birdie on the 17th hole. Mickelson had gone 21 consecutive rounds in a major without breaking par until Thursday in the British Open. Sure, he had the advantage of missing the rain for all but the last couple of holes. But it was good golf. It's still there. "I played really well, and I had an opportunity," he said. "I really enjoy playing these conditions and playing this tournament. It's just a lot of fun." Not all of the 50-and-older gang had the best of times. Padraig Harrington, coming off his win in the U.S. Senior Open, had the honor and thrill of hitting the opening tee shot. He made birdie on the first hole. That was the highlight on his card when he signed for a 74. "I got a little emotional when I was clapped on, and then I calmed down, and I was kind of fine when I was hitting it," Harrington said. He three-putted two straight holes and had a lost ball on No. 10. It was an otherwise forgettable day, except for the unforgettable start of hitting the first shot. "Yeah, it was a tough day on the greens, and it just ate into my game," he said. "Might have been a little bit of the fact that I was hyped up for the first teebox. Who knows? Certainly felt like I played better, could have played better, should have played better." Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 2 Get more from the LIV Golf Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Chicago Tribune
7 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood lead a surprising day for ‘the older gentlemen' at the British Open
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Phil Mickelson delivered more magic Thursday in the British Open, leaving one shot in a bunker and holing the next one from 75 feet away for an unlikely par. He tipped his cap. He gave a thumbs-up to the crowd. It looked like the Mickelson of old, especially with all that gray stubble in his beard. Mickelson, who opened with a 1-under 70 at Royal Portrush, already holds the major championship record for oldest winner, capturing the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island when he was 50. Now he's at the oldest championship in golf, the one that least discriminates against age. The Open is where 53-year-old Greg Norman had the lead going into the final round at Royal Birkdale in 2008 — and more famously where 59-year-old Tom Watson was an 8-foot putt away from winning at Turnberry in 2009. 'The Open gives the older gentlemen a chance to win more than any other tournament,' 52-year-old Lee Westwood said after a day in which he was tied for the lead early in the round until a few bogeys dropped him back to a 69. Westwood is playing in the British Open for the first time since he joined Saudi-funded LIV Golf in 2022, going through final regional qualifying three weeks ago to earn a spot in the field. He has yet to win in LIV Golf, and his results would suggest he's riding out the rest of his career. And then he showed up at the major he first played in 1995 — Scottie Scheffler wasn't born then — and found some form. Links golf helps. 'There's not the premium on carrying traps. They don't make it unplayable for us older guys with length,' Westwood said. 'You can use your experience, guile and cunning on them.' Westwood tripped over his words during the Sky Sports interview, then added, 'Not easy to say but easy to use at our age.' Mickelson, who hasn't won since that historic day at Kiawah Island, has missed the cut in all three majors this year. At 55, he has six more years of playing the British Open as the 2013 champion at Muirfield. He started strong with a deft touch with his wedge to easy birdie range on the par-5 second, but the real Lefty showed up on the next hole when he put his tee shot into a bunker, plugged and not far from the steep lip. The first attempt barely got out, rolling on the edge of grass before tumbling back into the bunker. It looked like a bogey at best. But then he splashed out, carrying it some 25 yards and about 10 feet to the left, and the shot had enough side spin to drop into the cup. He raised both arms. Mickelson loves moments like these, and he's had plenty of them. 'That was a crazy one,' he said. 'It was really one of maybe two poor shots I hit, that bunker shot that buried in the lip. And then to make it was obviously a lot of luck. I was just trying to save bogey, and I got lucky it went in.' And then his name stayed on the leaderboard the rest of the morning — a birdie on the par-5 seventh, a couple of bogeys on the back nine, a 20-foot birdie on the 17th hole. Mickelson had gone 21 consecutive rounds in a major without breaking par until Thursday. Sure, he had the advantage of missing the rain for all but the last couple of holes. But it was good golf. It's still there. 'I played really well and I had an opportunity,' he said. 'I really enjoy playing these conditions and playing this tournament. It's just a lot of fun.' Not all of the 50-and-older gang had the best of times. Padraig Harrington, coming off his win in the U.S. Senior Open, had the honor and thrill of hitting the opening tee shot. He made a birdie on the first hole. That was the highlight on his card when he signed for a 74. 'I got a little emotional when I was clapped on,' said Harrington, 53, 'and then I calmed down and I was kind of fine when I was hitting it.' He three-putted two straight holes and had a lost ball on No. 10. It was an otherwise forgettable day, except for the unforgettable start of hitting the first shot. 'Yeah, it was a tough day on the greens, and it just ate into my game,' he said. 'Might have been a little bit of the fact that I was hyped up for the first tee box. Who knows? Certainly felt like I played better, could have played better, should have played better.'
7 days ago
- Sport
Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood lead surprising days of the 'older gentlemen' at British Open
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland -- Phil Mickelson delivered more magic Thursday in the British Open, leaving one shot in a bunker and holing the next one from 75 feet away for an unlikely par. He tipped his cap. He gave a thumbs-up to the crowd. It looked like the Mickelson of old, especially with all that gray stubble in his beard. Mickelson, who opened with a 1-under 70 at Royal Portrush, already holds the major championship record for oldest winner, capturing the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island when he was 50. Now he's at the oldest championship in golf, the one that least discriminates against age. The Open is where 53-year-old Greg Norman had the lead going into the final round at Royal Birkdale in 2008, and more famously where 59-year-old Tom Watson was an 8-foot putt away from winning at Turnberry in 2009. 'The Open gives the older gentlemen a chance to win more than any other tournament,' 52-year-old Lee Westwood said after a day in which he was tied for the lead early in the round until a few bogeys dropped him back to a 69. Westwood is playing the British Open for the first time since he joined Saudi-funded LIV Golf in 2022, going through final regional qualifying three weeks ago to earn a spot in the field. He has yet to win in LIV Golf and his results would suggest he is riding out the rest of his career. And then he showed up at the major he first played in 1995 — Scottie Scheffler was not even born then — and found some form. Links golf helps. 'There's not the premium on carrying traps. They don't make it unplayable for us older guys with length,' Westwood said. 'You can use your experience, guile and cunning on them.' Westwood tripped over his words on the Sky Sports interview and then added, 'Not easy to say, but easy to use at our age.' Mickelson, who has not won since that historic day at Kiawah Island, had missed the cut in all three majors this year. At age 55, he still has six more years playing the British Open as a champion at Muirfield in 2013. He started strong with a deft touch with his wedge to easy birdie range on the par-5 second, but the real Lefty showed up on the next hole when he put his tee shot into a bunker, plugged and not far from the steep lip. The first attempt barely got out, rolling on the edge of grass before tumbling back into the bunker. It looked like a bogey at best. But then he splashed out, carrying it some 25 yards and about 10 feet to the left, and the shot had enough side spin to drop into the cup. He raised both arms. Mickelson loves moments like these, and he's had plenty of them. 'That was a crazy one,' Mickelson said. 'It was really one of maybe two poor shots I hit, that bunker shot that buried in the lip. And then to make it was obviously a lot of luck. I was just trying to save bogey, and I got lucky it went in.' And then his name stayed on the leaderboard the rest of the morning — a birdie on the par-5 seventh, a couple of bogeys on the back nine, a 20-foot birdie on the 17th hole. Mickelson had gone 21 consecutive rounds in a major without breaking par until Thursday in the British Open. Sure, he had the advantage of missing the rain for all but the last couple of holes. But it was good golf. It's still there. 'I played really well, and I had an opportunity,' he said. 'I really enjoy playing these conditions and playing this tournament. It's just a lot of fun.' Not all of the 50-and-older gang had the best of times. Padraig Harrington, coming off his win in the U.S. Senior Open, had the honor and thrill of hitting the opening tee shot. He made birdie on the first hole. That was the highlight on his card when he signed for a 74. 'I got a little emotional when I was clapped on, and then I calmed down, and I was kind of fine when I was hitting it,' Harrington said. He three-putted two straight holes and had a lost ball on No. 10. It was an otherwise forgettable day, except for the unforgettable start of hitting the first shot. 'Yeah, it was a tough day on the greens, and it just ate into my game,' he said. 'Might have been a little bit of the fact that I was hyped up for the first tee box. Who knows? Certainly felt like I played better, could have played better, should have played better.'
