Latest news with #OWGR
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
MENA Tour revives in bump for regional golfers
15 Aug 2025 01:05 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The MENA Golf Tour is set to return later this year after a brief hiatus, with 12 events lined up on its revival since the 2022-23 season. Making the announcement was the newly appointed Chairman and Commissioner of the Tour, Keith Waters, an industry veteran who is set to significantly elevate the Tour's status and former DP World Tour Chief Operating Officer and Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) brings over 40 years of expertise. He was instrumental in founding the OWGR in 2004 and developing the DP World Tour while still serving the OWGR as a board member.'I'm delighted to be involved in the relaunch of the MENA Golf Tour. We're pleased the MENA Golf Tour will remain an eligible Official World Golf Ranking tour as well as prize money of $100,000 per event,' said Waters. 'Each tournament will be contested over 54 holes, featuring a 36-hole cut to the top 60 players and ties, with the winner taking home $18,000.'The relaunched 2025/2026 MENA Golf Tour season will feature a 12-event schedule, commencing in Portugal. The opening event will follow a Qualifying School in November designed specifically for non-exempt in 2011, the MENA Golf Tour remains the only OWGR-recognised circuit headquartered in the Middle East, providing vital opportunities for professional golfers from the region and around the globe.'This Tour has tremendous potential and serves as a crucial pathway for golfers, not just from the Middle East, but internationally,' said Waters. 'We have already seen success stories such as Robert MacIntyre, who progressed from the MENA Golf Tour to winning prestigious titles like the RBC Canadian Open on the PGA TOUR and the Genesis Scottish Open on the DP World Tour.'MacIntyre, second on the European Ryder Cup ranking, said, 'The MENA Golf Tour opened doors, taught me how to win, and prepared me for the challenges of the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR. I'm excited to see it return and give the next generation of players the same opportunities I had.' From 2011, the MENA Tour has been a beacon of light on the greens of the UAE and wider geographical area for regional golfers. After a blip with a season missed in 2018, the Tour continued before the pandemic wiped out the 2021 season. On its second restart, the MENA Tour gave way to LIV Golf in a strategic decision, keeping the OWGR ranking points in mind.
Dubai Eye
2 days ago
- Business
- Dubai Eye
Mena Golf Tour returns with Keith Waters at helm
The MENA Golf Tour is set to return later this year, with former DP World Tour Chief Operating Officer and Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) board member Keith Waters appointed as Chairman and Commissioner. The addition of Waters, who brings over 40 years of expertise developing the DP World Tour and was instrumental in founding the OWGR in 2004, is set to significantly elevate the Tour's status and influence. Established in 2011, the MENA Golf Tour remains the only OWGR-recognised circuit headquartered in the Middle East, providing vital opportunities for professional golfers from the region and around the globe. 'I'm delighted to be involved in the relaunch of the MENA Golf Tour,' said Waters. 'This Tour has tremendous potential and serves as a crucial pathway for golfers, not just from the Middle East, but internationally. We have already seen success stories such as Robert MacIntyre, who progressed from the MENA Golf Tour to winning prestigious titles like the RBC Canadian Open on the PGA TOUR and the Genesis Scottish Open on the DP World Tour.' MacIntyre, currently second on the European Ryder Cup ranking, said: 'The MENA Golf Tour opened doors, taught me how to win, and prepared me for the challenges of the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR. I'm excited to see it return and give the next generation of players the same opportunities I had.' "We're pleased the MENA Golf Tour will remain an eligible Official World Golf Ranking tour as well as prize money of $100,000 per event," said Waters. "Each tournament will be contested over 54 holes, featuring a 36-hole cut to the top 60 players and ties, with the winner taking home $18,000." The relaunched 2025/2026 MENA Golf Tour season will feature a 12-event schedule, commencing in Portugal. The opening event will follow a Qualifying School in November designed specifically for non-exempt players.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘Hard to believe' – Shane Lowry & wife Wendy stunned as youngest daughter reaches major life milestone
Over the weekend Shane suffered a blow surrounding next month's Ryder Cup LOW WAY 'Hard to believe' – Shane Lowry & wife Wendy stunned as youngest daughter reaches major life milestone SHANE and Wendy Lowry were both left a little stunned as their youngest daughter departed for her first day of school. The particularly early start is owing to them being based in Florida with the US school calendar quite different from the typical Irish equivalent. 3 They were back in Ireland last month to celebrate Wendy's birthday with loved ones Credit: @wendyirislowry 3 Ivy Lowry left for school alongside older sister Iris Credit: @wendyirislowry 3 The setting for Wendy's stylish birthday party was House Dublin on Leeson Street Credit: @shanelowrygolf That partly played into both of Ivy Lowry's parents being a bit taken aback as her first day of primary/elementary school arrived. Wendy captioned the above pic: "Hard to believe Ivy's off to school." Shane later reposted her photo on his own Instagram account. Over the weekend the Clara native suffered a blow in his quest for an automatic Ryder Cup place. He slumped to 59th from the 69-strong field at the opening FedEx Cup play-off in Memphis. Justin Rose claimed victory at the St Jude Championship after a tense three-hole play-off victory over American JJ Spaun. Tommy Fleetwood's long wait for a PGA Tour win continued after he finished third with the Southport native left kicking himself after holding a five-stroke lead through 36 holes. 45-year-old Rose carded a stunning run of four birdies in the closing five holes at TPC Southwind before prevailing in the play-off. But his victory didn't bring much good news for Lowry as permutations worked against the 2019 Open winner. Heading into last week, he was fifth on the Ryder Cup Team Europe rankings - with only the top six qualifying automatically for next month's team event. And now after Lowry's poor showing and Rose's triumph, along with a decent showing for Austria's Sepp Straka, the 38-year-old has slumped to number seven on the qualification table. Dan Burn enjoys day of golf ahead of Newcastle's Prem season getting underway While Lowry would be expected to earn one of the six captain's picks that Luke Donald will have available, he's facing a nervy few weeks after several of his European pals pushed him outside the automatic qualifying spots. His form may come as a huge worry to the European skipper. He's slumped ten places on the OWGR ladder after finishing T2 at the Truist Championship in May. And as a result of their strong showing at the FedEx St Jude, Rose and Fleetwood now join Rory McIlroy as the only three players to have officially sealed automatic qualification for the Bethpage Black match-up against Team USA. SILVER LINING But there's a silver lining for Lowry as he's already into this week's BMW Championship at Caves Valley GC. The field is down to just the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings ahead of the season's finale that will see only the top 30 progress to the Tour Championship at East Lake. And time is on his side until after the PGA Tour regular season ends as the final event for Ryder Cup points will be at the Betfred British Masters. That one concludes on August 24. As for Keegan Bradley's American side, 2025 US Open champion JJ Spaun also sealed an automatic qualification place after his runner-up finish in Memphis. The Californian now joins Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele on the team as they cannot mathematically drop outside the top six on the USA ladder.
Khaleej Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Joaquin Niemann becomes the voice of LIV Golf's fight for World Ranking Points
The divisions in golf's most contrasting viewpoints have rarely been more evident, and now Joaquin Niemann has stepped firmly into the spotlight to address these differing perspectives. The 26-year-old LIV Golf standout has been on a roll in 2025, winning nearly half of his starts and emerging as one of the game's most dominant players. Yet in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), Niemann sits at a distant No. 103, a number he believes says more about politics than his performance. Recommended For You 'I feel like the ranking system is not up to me, it's up to them,' Niemann said at last week's LIV Golf Chicago. 'I'm expecting they're going to do the right thing for golf.' In short, Niemann is saying that he trusts the golf authorities will make fair decisions that protect the integrity of the sport and ensure healthy competition, even though those choices could impact his own ranking and career. From Niemann's perspective, awarding world ranking points to LIV Golf events is important, although it has not yet led to a step towards the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). Because LIV events don't currently count toward the rankings, Niemann's only ranking points this year have come from a tie for third place at an Asian Tour event and an eighth-place finish at the PGA Championship. Stark disparity The disparity is stark: five victories in 11 LIV events, yet a world ranking that keeps him well outside the sport's elite on paper. It's a gulf that frustrates many LIV players, not least because it affects eligibility for majors and other marquee events. Still, Niemann says chasing points isn't what drives him. 'It's not something I think about to tell myself in the mirror, 'Joaco, you are No. 5,'' he said. 'I'm just here to do my best, make as many birdies as possible, and make the crowd enjoy us playing golf around the world.' The individual race in LIV's inaugural 2025 season remains alive, with Jon Rahm still capable of catching Niemann over the final two events. Rahm, another high-profile figure in the OWGR debate, has suggested that format tweaks, such as adding a fourth round or introducing a cut, could help LIV's case. For now, Niemann is not lobbying for structural change; he's lobbying for recognition. With his record, he believes the argument is already made, and that the next move belongs to golf's power brokers. 'Do the right thing,' he says. 'For the good of the game.' By the Numbers: Joaquin Niemann vs. the OWGR (Same as graphic) 2025 Season (LIV & select other events) LIV Golf events played: 11 LIV Golf victories: 5 Top-5 finishes: 8 Total tournaments worldwide: 15 Worldwide wins: 5 LIV win percentage: 45% Current OWGR position: No. 103 Highest career OWGR position: No. 15 Most recent OWGR points earned: 3rd place at Asian Tour event (Feb 2025) Major performance this year: T8 at PGA Championship, MC at final two majors
Extra.ie
5 days ago
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Lowry falls out of Ryder Cup places after FedEx horror show
Shane Lowry has slipped out of Team Europe's Ryder Cup automatic qualifying spots after a performance to forget in the US. Lowry finished tied for 59th out of 69 golfers at the opening FedEx Cup Playoff in Memphis on Sunday. Heading into last week, the 38-year-old was fifth on the Ryder Cup Team Europe rankings, with only the top six automatically qualifying for the event. Shane Lowry had a poor display in Memphis. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Lowry has now slipped down to seventh place after his poor showing in Tennessee. What hasn't helped Lowry's chances is that Justin Rose put on a stunning show to claim victory at the St Jude Championship following a tense three-hole playoff with JJ Spaun. Rose delivered a fantastic run of four birdies in the closing five holes before defeating the US national in the playoff. The 45-year-old's victory means that he has mathematically secured his automatic qualifying spot, sitting in second only behind Rory McIlroy. Tommy Fleetwood will be disappointed that he didn't come away with the victory in Memphis after leading by five strokes after 36 holes. While his wait for a PGA Tour win continues, Fleetwood has joined McIlroy and Rose in securing an automatic Ryder Cup qualification. Robert MacIntyre has fallen from second to fourth place in the rankings but holds a healthy lead over his fellow European hopefuls. Tyrell Hatton fell one place into fifth but it was Sepp Straka's decent showing that has pushed Lowry out of the top six altogether. Lowry has fallen out of the Team Europe top six. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Lowry will be hoping to be one of the six captain picks that Luke Donald will have at his disposal but his recent form could worry the European skipper. The Offaly native has slumped ten places on the OWGR ladder after finishing tied for second at the Truist Championship in May. Lowry currently sits 18th in the rankings. However, there's a silver lining for the Irishman as he's already into this week's BMW Championship at Caves Valley. The field is down to just the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings ahead of the season's final that will see only the top 30 progress to the Tour Championship at East Lake. The final event for Ryder Cup points will be the Betfred British Masters, which finishes on August 24. Meanwhile, JJ Spaun's runner-up finish in Memphis means that he has now mathematically qualified for the US Ryder Cup team. Spaun joins Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele on Keegan Bradley's team ahead of the event in New York at the end of September.
