On-course competitive golf returns in a big way on Sunday with TaylorMade Driving Relief featuring Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson against Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff.
But virtual golf has been in play for a couple weeks now with the BMW Indoor Invitational, where European Tour players are competing in virtual golf tournaments using TrackMan. The tournament benefits coronavirus relief.
In the first tournament last Saturday, Joost Luiten won at St. Andrews, shooting a 6-under 66 on the Old Course. Luiten split his $10,821.59 (€10,000) winnings between his Joost Luiten Foundation and Erasmus Medical Centre, a hospital in his native Rotterdam which has been on the COVID-19 front line.
The second tournament was held Saturday at Northern Ireland’s Royal Portrush, host of last year’s British Open won by Irishman Shane Lowry. Led by Luiten and former world No. 1 Martin Kaymer, 28 European Tour pros teed it up with Connor Syme earning the win. Syme shot 8-under 64 to win by two over Lawrie Canter and Will Besseling and is splitting his $10,821.59 (€10,000) earnings between FoodTrain, which supplies meals to the elderly in Dundee, Scotland, and Hospice of the Valleys, a charity which provides palliative care.
.@connor_syme on who he's donating his winner's cheque to 👏
#BMWTrackManInvitational pic.twitter.com/MW9pYkHXog
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) May 16, 2020
Curious what it looks like? Check out Syme’s highlights from his round courtesy of the European Tour.
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