Tag: 2021 Open Championship

Nike’s limited-edition British Open footwear is inspired by dartboards

The limited-edition Air Max 90 G, Air Zoom Infinity Tour and Air Zoom Victory Tour take their cues from the popular “19th hole” activity.

For the past few seasons, Nike staff players have received special, limited-edition versions of the company’s footwear to use during major championships. These shoes are given themes, often that match the venues where the tournaments are being played. So, while this year’s Masters theme was using recycled materials, during the recent PGA Championship at Kiawah in May, some players’ shoes had a seersucker pattern of light blue and white.

This week, with the British Open taking place at Royal St. George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, England, Nike has created three more limited-edition versions of its Air Max 90 G, Air Zoom Infinity Tour and Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 shoes. The theme is games played in pubs, taprooms and the “19th hole” in England. That means darts, pool and snooker. The shoes are below, and as you can see, they are trimmed in cork to commemorate the dartboards and green to represent the felt of a pool table.

Missing cut last week could be blessing in disguise for Rory McIlroy heading into British Open

Rory has historically played well the week after missing the cut.

Missing the cut the week before a major isn’t exactly the preferred preparation.

Then again, it isn’t fatal.

Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy has made the best of things after not playing the weekend in last week’s Scottish Open.

The 2014 winner of the British Open got to Royal St. George’s in Sandwich, England, two days ahead of time and played 29 holes over Saturday and Sunday on the course hosting the 149th playing of the British Open.

He also found something in his swing on Sunday that has lifted his spirits.

And McIlroy can call on his splendid history of rebounding after missed cuts. The last nine times he failed to play more than 36 holes he’s finished in the top-20 eight times in his next start. Three times he’s won, including this year when he missed the Masters cut and won Quail Hollow the next time he teed it up.

“The great thing about golf is there’s always next week. You can always get back on the horse,” McIlroy said Tuesday at Royal St. George’s. “You never want to miss a cut, but as missed cuts go, this wasn’t necessarily a bad one.

“It would have been great to stay and play an extra couple days in Scotland, but to be down here and get a few holes in on Saturday, play a full round on Sunday, felt like I got a bit of a head start on the rest of the field, which feels good.

“I can take it a bit easier the next couple days, not feel like I’m trying to cram all the preparation in.”

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While McIlroy has won 28 worldwide titles, the world No. 11 said he’s learned more about himself and his game after failing inside the gallery ropes.

“In golf you always learn more about your game when you’ve missed a cut or struggled or not played as well. I’ve always learned more from disappointments and from not doing as well,” he said. “I’ve always tried to figure out, OK, why did this week not go so well, and then you give yourself a couple of thoughts and they’re fresh in your mind going into the next week.

“That’s why I say in golf there’s always next week, and that’s a great thing, because you can right some wrongs pretty quickly.”

McIlroy missed the cut in the 2019 Open at Royal Portrush, the most recent contest of the oldest championship in golf. Before that, however, he won the Open in 2014, missed the championship in 2015 with a ruptured ankle ligament, tied for fifth in 2016, tied for fourth in 2017 and tied for second in 2018.

He likes his chances this week despite playing just 36 last week.

“I feel good. I’ve hit the ball really good in practice the last few days,” he said. “I feel like I figured something out on Sunday here, which has been really good. I hit the ball great on the range, and I hit the ball well today on the course.

“It’s hard. You’re thinking swing so much, and it’s really about trying to get that blend of getting your mechanics right but then also letting your athletic ability and your instincts shine through, as well. It’s just been trying to get that balance.

“I feel like I figured something out on Sunday, and I feel good with it. I feel good about where I am going into the week.”

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Zach Johnson, who won at St. Andrews, and two more players withdraw from 2021 British Open

Three more players have withdrawn from this week’s 149th British Open at Royal St. George’s Golf Club.

The R&A announced on Monday morning that three more players have withdrawn from this week’s 149th British Open at Royal St. George’s Golf Club, including 2015 champion Zach Johnson.

Johnson, who won at St. Andrews six years ago, tested positive for COVID-19, according to the R&A, and will be replaced in the field by England’s Sam Horsfield.

The other two players who will not be playing this week are America’s Ryan Moore and South Africa’s Louis de Jager.

Moore, who has had a back injury throughout much of 2021, played the last three PGA Tour events. He said at last week’s John Deere Classic, where he finished T-2 to earn a spot in the field at the British Open, that in addition to having a sore back, he had a family vacation planned for this week. Moore informed the R&A on Monday that he would not take the special exemption. He is being replaced in the field by Adam Long, who is also from the United States.

Louis de Jager tested positive for COVID-19 and is being replaced by Dylan Frittelli from the United States.

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On Sunday, Bubba Watson withdrew from the 2021 British Open after revealing that while he is fully vaccinated, he had been in close contact with someone who tested positive. Hours before, 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama also withdrew because he continues to test positive for COVID-19 even though he has no symptoms. Matsuyama first tested positive two weeks ago at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit.

Bubba Watson withdraws from 2021 British Open

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson has withdrawn from the 149th British Open at Royal St. George’s Golf Club.

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson has withdrawn from the 149th British Open at Royal St. George’s Golf Club hours after the R&A announced that 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama will not be playing either.

According to the R&A, Watson withdrew, “after being identified as a close contact of an individual testing positive for Covid-19.” He will be replaced in the field by Branden Steele.

On Twitter, Watson, who made his debut in 2009 at Turnberry, had played in 11 consecutive British Open tournaments, wrote that he has been vaccinated against the coronavirus and has passed all of the required pre-travel tests, but that he is not comfortable flying and potentially risking the safety of other people around him.

The next three players on the reserve list are John Catlin and Adam Long of the United States, and Sam Horsfield of England.

Prize money: The winner of the British Open to be paid a record sum

In addition to having their name etched on the Claret Jug and possessions of the priceless trophy, the winner of the British Open will receive more than $2 million in prize money for the first time in the championship’s history.

The winner of the 149th Open at Royal St. George’s will have more than 2 million reasons to put up with the strict COVID-19 restrictions initiated by the R&A.

In addition to having their name etched on the Claret Jug and possession of the priceless trophy, the winner will receive more than $2 million in prize money for the first time in British Open history.

The Champion Golfer of the Year will receive $2,070,000, to be exact, at the championship July 15-18 at the famous Kent links in England.

The R&A announced the total purse will be $11.5 million, an increase of $750,000 over the total offered in 2019 when Shane Lowry banked $1.935 million for his triumph at Royal Portrush. (The 2020 edition was canceled due to COVID.)

“We have increased the prize fund for the Open this year and believe that it fully reflects the championship’s stature in world sport,” said Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A. “As the only men’s major championship played outside of America, the Open has a global role to play and we are determined to continue to attract the top players. We are further enhancing the status of our professional championships at the same time as making good progress towards our investment of £200 million over 10 years in growing golf around the world.”

Prize money

Place USD Place USD
1 $2,070,000 36 $60,500
2 $1,198,000 37 $57,500
3 $768,000 38 $54,750
4 $597,000 39 $52,750
5 $480,000 40 $51,000
6 $416,000 41 $49,000
7 $357,000 42 $46,500
8 $301,500 43 $44,500
9 $264,000 44 $42,000
10 $238,500 45 $39,500
11 $217,000 46 $37,500
12 $192,500 47 $36,000
13 $180,750 48 $34,500
14 $170,000 49 $33,000
15 $157,750 50 $32,250
16 $145,000 51 $31,500
17 $138,000 52 $31,000
18 $131,500 53 $30,500
19 $126,000 54 $30,000
20 $120,000 55 $29,500
21 $114,500 56 $29,100
22 $108,500 57 $28,800
23 $103,000 58 $28,600
24 $97,000 59 $28,400
25 $94,000 60 $28,200
26 $90,000 61 $28,000
27 $86,500 62 $27,900
28 $83,500 63 $27,800
29 $80,000 64 $27,700
30 $76,000 65 $27,500
31 $73,250 66 $27,300
32 $69,500 67 $27,100
33 $67,250 68 $26,900
34 $65,250 69 $26,700
35 $63,000 70 $26,500

Prize money shall be allocated only to professional golfers.

If more than 70 professional golfers make the cut for the final two rounds, additional prize money will be added. Prize money will decrease by $125 per qualifying place above 70 to a minimum of $13,500.

The prize money doesn’t stop there, as even those professionals who miss the cut are paid. The leading 10 professionals and ties who miss the cut earn $8,000; the next 20 professional golfers and ties take $6,500; and the remainder of professional golfers and ties are paid $5,350.