Latest news with #amateur
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Golf's elite hail Lottie Woad as ‘breath of fresh air' before Open challenge
History suggests caution is advisable when assessing female golf phenoms. Michelle Wie won just a single major. Charley Hull has reached the age of 29 while scaling golfing heights, but it is fair to say wild excitement about her career when a teenage amateur has not been borne out by subsequent results. For a multitude of reasons, promise can outweigh reality. If it were at all her style – and it is not – Lottie Woad could claim to have already justified the hype. Winning last year's Augusta National Women's Amateur was a statement of intent. Recent weeks have been rocket fuelled for the 21-year-old; Woad won the Irish Open and challenged for the Evian Championship while still an amateur. One professional start, at the Scottish Open, saw Woad lift the trophy on Sunday. She is the name on everyone's lips as the Women's Open lands at the glorious links of Royal Porthcawl this weekend. 'She's playing great golf,' said Lydia Ko, the defending champion, of Woad. 'I've seen her swing. My coach has sent me a video of her swing as well because there's aspects that I'm kind of going for that she has.' High praise. There was more, lots of it. 'I think what Lottie Woad has done is absolutely unbelievable,' said Hull. 'I played with her in the practice rounds in Ireland and in the first two rounds last week. At the minute I feel like she's playing with such confidence she can't miss a shot. I think it's great to see. She's a breath of fresh air for the game. I'm actually really proud of Lottie for what she's done. That's like goosebumps kind of stuff.' Hull's own buildup has been beset by illness and a back injury. 'I'm not hitting it the best, which is very frustrating because it's an event I've been looking forward to playing all year,' she said. Woad will have Ko and Lilia Vu for company in the marquee grouping for days one and two. 'I don't feel too different, to be honest,' Woad said. 'I got a lot of confidence from the last month, really. I am just trying to continue to ride that. There's always pressure. I don't think there's any more than there was, like from my perspective, before any of the last few weeks. I was still wanting to contend and that's still the aim.' Like Scottie Scheffler, who is dominating the male game, Woad will not talk in headlines. Like the American, Woad's swing can be unorthodox. She has something in common with another icon of this sport; Woad is managed by the same agency as Tiger Woods. Woad serves as the latest example of how the American college circuit prepares golfers for life as a professional. The Surrey athlete excelled at Florida State University amid a rise to the summit of the amateur world ranking. 'She's been in a lot of those kind of tougher moments,' Ko added. 'Obviously it's different than being an amateur and playing collegiate golf to as a pro, but I think she's been there and done really well in those pressure conditions no matter what kind of environment she's been in. So I think there's a little bit more experience under her belt than what people probably give her credit for. 'When I've seen the coverage or how she composes herself, she doesn't seem like she rushes into things or gets like overly emotional. I'm sure that's going to help her with that transition as well.' Ko's analysis is valid. Woad's greatest strength is appearing totally unflustered when placed in tricky golfing scenarios. Her display of front-running at Dundonald Links on Sunday made a mockery of supposed rookie status. In Ireland, she won by half a dozen shots. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion 'Absolutely amazing,' said the world No 1, Nelly Korda, in adding to the chorus of commendation for Woad. 'I was very impressed with her composure, her process [in Scotland]. When it comes to her shot routine, especially under pressure and in the heat of the moment, sometimes people seem to fidget and kind of doubt themselves but she stuck to it, she stuck to her process every single time. I think one of the main things that I noticed is how mature she is for her age and how comfortable she was in the heat of the moment. 'You can see that she's put a ton of hours in. Her putting is very solid, her game's solid, she hits it pretty far off the tee. She grew up in this kind of weather too, so I feel like she's kind of comfortable.' It would seem a shock if Woad is not in Porthcawl contention. The R&A has increased the prize fund for this major, by $250,000 to $9.75m, with the winner collecting $1.4m. The male equivalent had its purse frozen for 2025. The scale of growth in the Women's Open is shown by the fact golfers were competing for $3.25m as recently as 2018. It was confirmed on Wednesday that the 2027 edition of the tournament will take place at Royal St George's, which has staged the men's Open 15 times. A rare stop for elite golf in Wales has seen players assess the local culture. 'When I drove from Scotland after I missed the cut last week, I saw all the road signs,' said Grace Kim. 'It went from like English to, not in a rude way, like gibberish.' Ouch.
Zawya
a day ago
- Sport
- Zawya
L'Étape Dubai by Tour de France to return to the Middle East in 2026
The event held in partnership with Škoda and supported by Dubai Sports Council expects 2,000 riders World famous amateur cycling event held in the spirit of the iconic Tour de France Pre-registration officially opens from July 27, 2025, with a 15% discount on entry Video: Photo: Dubai, UAE – Following its successful debut in February this year, L'Étape Dubai by Tour de France will return for its second edition on Sunday 25 January 2026. Organised with the support of official partner Škoda and government partner Dubai Sports Council, the world-class cycling event is set to attract even more participants, while offering an expanded weekend program of activities for all of the family. The inaugural edition of L'Étape Dubai welcomed over 1,000 participants, including 243 international riders and 266 Emiratis, making it the largest first-edition amateur cycling event of its kind in the UAE. The race featured 101 km and 50 km competitive courses, a 20 km family-friendly ride and kids' races, passing key landmarks across the city. Reinforcing its status as the premier platform for amateur cyclists to experience the spirit of the Tour de France in the Middle East, the 2026 edition of L'Étape Dubai aims to build on this momentum by increasing participation to a total 2,000 cyclists across the various categories. Pre-registration opens on 27 July 2025, offering a 15% early-bird discount ahead of the official registration launch in September. In addition to the main race, the 2026 weekend program will expand its community and family engagement elements. The Saturday (24 January) will once again host the popular, non-competitive Family Ride and Kids' Races, with new initiatives and family-oriented activities led by Škoda, welcoming even greater participation of families and first-time riders. The weekend will also feature an enhanced fan village and broader race village activations, with community cycling activities being planned after the summer in the lead-up to the race. The 2026 edition of L'Étape Dubai is also set to welcome legendary former Tour de France riders to the UAE, building on the participation of three former Tour de France riders in 2025. Essa Sharif, Director of the Sports Events Department at the Dubai Sports Council, said: "We are delighted to welcome this truly world-famous race back to Dubai, following the huge success of the inaugural edition held in 2024, that witnessed the participation of more than 1,000 amateur cyclists of various nationalities from within and outside the country. 'I am confident that the next edition will be even more successful, thanks to the heightened stature of cycling in Dubai and the availability of tracks extending hundreds of kilometers across the city. This is in addition to the increasing number of people practicing this wonderful sport, and the extensive experience of the Dubai Sports Council and the organising committee in hosting cycling races.' He further added: "The race will be held in January, at a time when we enjoy wonderful weather, and I feel this will be the perfect opening to a busy season of international cycling races in Dubai. The race routes will be carefully selected to allow thousands of participants to enjoy cycling in the most beautiful areas and destinations in Dubai, which boasts a variety of unique cultural, tourist and residential landmarks. Participating in this race will be an unforgettable experience that will remain in the participants' memories and in their records of achievements.' Antoine Quiers of A.S.O, organisers of the Tour de France, said: 'After this successful first year, we are very proud to announce that L'Étape Dubai by Tour de France will come back to the UAE for a second edition. At A.S.O. we are already looking forward to the next edition. Thanks to the priceless support of the key stakeholders, including Dubai Sports Council, Dubai Police, Škoda Middle East, and all the event sponsors we are certain that L'Étape Dubai will be even more successful in 2026. Together, we will once again bring the magic of the Tour de France to Dubai!' Fairouz Al Qazi, race director of L'Étape Dubai by Tour de France powered by Škoda, commented: "The first year of the event confirmed that road cycling is booming in Dubai and throughout the Emirates and I am extremely happy and proud that today we can announce the date for 2026 as well as the launch of the pre-registration period for the second edition. We would like to thank Škoda Middle East, Dubai Sport Council and Dubai Police, as well as our other partners for their support and we look forward to another cycling adventure. Let the journey begin again!' Lukas Honzak, Managing Director of Škoda Middle East, added: 'As a long-standing global partner of the Tour de France, we are proud to bring its spirit to UAE with L'Etape Dubai and support the country's growing passion for cycling. The event has proven in its inaugural year that it perfectly reflects Škoda values — promoting active lifestyles, smarter mobility, focusing on supporting community & families in the UAE. After witnessing the great success of L'Étape Dubai by Tour de France earlier this year, we are thrilled to continue our support as the event's official partner. We invite all cyclists of all ages and skill levels from the UAE to join the movement and start their cycling journeys with Škoda by their side and enjoy a range of pre-race and race activities for cycling fans of all ages and levels. With even more riders expected next year, we look forward to making the L'Etape Dubai 2026 edition even more memorable, together'. Participants can pre-register for L'Étape Dubai by Tour de France 2026 at the following link to secure their 15% discount: About L'Étape Dubai by Tour de France: L'Étape by Tour de France is the world's largest amateur cycling series, designed to deliver the authentic experience of the Tour de France to amateur riders around the world. The Dubai edition is held under closed-road conditions and in 2025 featured two formats: The Race (101 km) and The Ride (50 km), offering cyclists of all levels the opportunity to compete in a professionally managed and internationally recognised event. To pre-register or learn more, visit: Follow us on Instagram: @letapedubai Media Contact: Adel Al-Sharie Account Manager Adel@
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Emma Fleming looking to join illustrious list of winners of AIG Women's Amateur
The pathway from the amateur ranks to the professional circuits has become something of a conveyor belt in recent years, evidenced by the fact that six of the last eight winners of the AIG Women's Amateur Championship – which gets under way at Ardee Golf Club in Co Louth today – have since moved on to the paid ranks. Olivia Mehaffey (2016), Sara Byrne (2018, 2023), Annabel Wilson (2019), Anna Foster (2021) and Canice Screene (2024) all have playing privileges on either the LET or Epson Tour, or both, or on the development LET Access circuit. That move from the amateur to professional has been aided by Golf Ireland's structuring of late and among those competing in Ardee – where 36 holes strokeplay qualifying will be see the leading 16 players in the women's and also the girls' championships move on to the matchplay phase on Thursday and Friday. One of the favourites for the women's title is Irish international Emma Fleming from Elm Park who recently made the cut in the KPMG Irish Open at Carton House and earlier this year won the prestige Victorian Women's Amateur Championship in Australia, which will earn her an invite – as an amateur – to play in a professional tour event down under late this year. READ MORE Fleming is a business and economics student at UCD and any move into the professional ranks is on hold for the time being: 'I'll definitely finish my degree. I'm probably leaning towards the academic route now. My family are very academically based, and I want to have at least a backup.' For this week, though, the priority for Fleming will be to add her name to a historic trophy. Victor Dubuisson makes generous gesture on Alps Tour Ever the enigma, former Ryder Cup player Victor Dubuisson – who retired from the DP World Tour in 2023 – refused to accept the winner's cheque after winning the Biarritz Cup on the Alps Tour, where he was playing on a sponsor's exemption. Victor Dubuisson of France. Photograph: Warren Little/Getty The principal beneficiary of Dubuisson's gesture was Spanish runner-up Jorge Maicas who instead claimed the €7,600 top prize on the development tour, while Galway's Ronan Mullarney – who finished third – got the €5,400 second prize. Mullarney is currently sixth on the Alps Tour order of merit. Dubuisson (35) was a two-time winner of the Turkish Airlines Open on the DP World Tour (2013 and 2015) and played Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in 2014. He called his decision not to take the prizemoney 'a gesture of personal principle.' Word of Mouth 'It's the thing that gets me up in the morning. Whether it's a good day, bad day, it's the thing that drives me on' – Matt Wallace after his third-place finish in the 3M Open on the PGA Tour on how his bid to make the Europe Ryder Cup team acts as his main incentive. Wallace is currently 11th on the European standings. The six leading players qualify automatically (with Rory McIlroy already qualified in top spot), with captain Luke Donald then selecting six picks to complete the 12-man team for Bethpage. By the Numbers: 1-3-1 Lottie Woad of England poses with the trophy following victory of the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open. Photograph: Kate McShane/Getty That's the formline of Lottie Woad in her last three outings: the 21-year-old won the KPMG Irish Open (as an amateur), finished third in the Evian Championship (as an amateur) and won the ISPS Handa Scottish Open (in her professional debut). On this day: July 29th, 2001 David Gossett holds the trophy after winning the 2001 John Deere Classic. Photograph: Scott Halleran/Allsport When David Gossett won the John Deere Classic, it was – everyone believed – the start of great things. It wasn't to be for the one-time child prodigy, who'd won the 1999 US Amateur and starred for Texas Tech in the collegiate golf circuit had moved onto the then on turning professional. Gossett's only win on the PGA Tour came in the John Deere Classic where, playing on a sponsor's exemption, a closing 65 for 265 at TPC Deere Run gave him a one-stroke winning margin over Briny Baird which gave him a full card exemption through to the end of 2003. His winner's cheque was to prove a career best of $504,000. 'Starting the week, I felt good about my golf game and got myself in good position, then to sleep two nights with the lead and [just] go out and play good golf, play solid,' said the 22-year-old who became the seventh first-time winner on the PGA Tour that season and would even break into the world's top 100. However, that would prove to be his only tour success and Gossett eventually changed career when he became a real estate agent in Nashville. Social Swing Congratulations @LottieWoad so pleased for you and team Woad .. Absolute ⭐ Enjoy the drive to Wales!! 🍾 – Justin Rose History! Amazing day at Lahinch Golf Club as member Jonathan Keane wins the South of Ireland 🏆! There were fantastic crowds out for what was a terrific match Vs Dundalk's Caolan Rafferty, coming down to the final putt Big thank you to — Lahinch Golf Club (@LahinchGolfClub) History! Amazing day at Lahinch Golf Club as member Jonathan Keane wins the South of Ireland 🏆! There were fantastic crowds out for what was a terrific match Vs Dundalk's Caolan Rafferty, coming down to the final putt. Big thank you to @PierseMotors for their continued support – Lahinch Golf Club quite rightly hailing Keane's win. Some man @Padraig_h 🏆 ☘️ – Shane Lowry salutes Pádraig Harrington's ISPS Handa Senior Open success. The Senior Open success at Sunningdale followed his US Senior Open win at Colorado Springs for back-to-back majors on the Champions Tour. In the Bag Lottie Woad - ISPS Handa Scottish Open Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees) 3-wood: Titleist GT2 (15 degrees) Hybrids: Titleist TSR2 (18 and 21 degrees) Irons: Titleist T150 (5-PW) Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50, 54 and 58 degrees) Putter: Odyssey Rossie Ball: Titleist 2025 Pro V1 Know the Rules Q In a match whilst waiting to play on a Par 3, a player gets their caddie to lift the towel covering the opponent's clubs to see which club their opponent is going to use. What is the ruling? A The player loses the hole, with the action of lifting the towel to see the club used critical. Such a situation is covered by Rules 10.2a and 10.3c: A player must not touch another player's equipment to learn information that would be advice if given by or asked of the other player. A player is also responsible for their caddie's actions.
Fox News
4 days ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Age no barrier as golf lover sinks 'miracle' hole-in-one for 90th birthday
A 90-year-old amateur golfer is celebrating a once-in-a-lifetime moment as he hit his very first hole-in-one just a day after his milestone birthday. (See the video at the top of this article.) John Payne, who said he's been playing golf for three decades, achieved the feat on July 18 at a local golf course in the U.K. The longtime player nailed the shot on the sixth hole, a 200-yard par three, despite dealing with deteriorating eyesight. "I didn't realize that it had gone in," Payne told news agency SWNS. "It's 200 yards from the tee to the hole. I never imagined I'd get it in one." Payne said he hit the ball using his driver, and watched as it struck the downslope of a bunker before rolling straight into the cup. "When I was told I'd hit the perfect shot, I felt magic," he said. "It is a once-in-a-lifetime shot." Payne had been playing that same course for 30 years without ever scoring an ace, SWNS reported. "Some people have never had one in their life and I can see why," he said. "I've been playing for 30 years and only just got one now. It's a miracle because it is very difficult." Given his poor eyesight, Payne didn't see the ball drop himself. "It is a once-in-a-lifetime shot." "You play with other people and their eyesight is much better than mine," he said. "They gave me a running commentary as the ball landed." Payne took up golf in his 60s after retiring from a management career. He now plays regularly with a close-knit group of fellow golfers, he said. "When you've come to the end of your working life, you want to keep busy," he said. "You want to be out and not cooped up." He added, "We play Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. It's a nice little group of eight of us." While Payne maintains a club handicap of about 26, he said he doesn't compete in official tournaments anymore. For more Health articles, visit "I'm getting too long in the tooth for that," he joked. Beyond golf, Payne keeps active with twice-weekly gym sessions, something he says helps keep his joints mobile and his swing in check. "Golf is important, but the gym is important for the movement side of things," he said. "As you get older you need mobile joints," he said. "You need to be able to turn." Payne celebrated his remarkable hole-in-one with his family, which includes 16 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, SWNS said. Gurj Bowbanks, operations manager at the golf course, said everyone at the club was thrilled for him. "I think we are all in awe of him, and he's put us all to shame," Bowbanks said, according to the same source. "We are really over the moon for him." Payne's story has reportedly inspired fellow golfers — and reminded many that it's never too late to achieve something extraordinary.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Yahoo
Soccer player's kick goes awry and hits unexpected target
In Los Angeles, California, an amateur soccer player scored a direct hit on July 12: a powerful shot went over the fence, and the ball hit a passing police car – his friend couldn't resist a playing a joke on him as a result.
