Tag: Henrik Stenson

Jordan Spieth, Henrik Stenson involved in a bizarre rules infraction at Hero World Challenge

A mix-up regarding the 9th and 17th tee box for Sunday’s final round led to some confusion.

NASSAU, Bahamas – It’s been one of those weeks for Jordan Spieth.

With rounds of 71-72-75, he began the final day of the Hero World Challenge at Albany Golf Club in last place. His third round ended when his ball moved on the 18th green and he forgot to replace it before hitting his next putt. That resulted in a two-stroke penalty.

Well, in Sunday’s final round, Spieth and defending champion Henrik Stenson were involved in a bizarre penalty situation. Follow along.

When the two reached the par-5 ninth hole, they naturally teed off. Trouble is, they teed off from the tee markers representing the teeing area for the par-3 17th hole. Yes, there is a large teeing area that is home for both the tee boxes for the ninth and 17th holes.

The tee box on the 17th hole had moved overnight to where the tee box was for the ninth hole during the third round. The tee box for the ninth hole in the final round was moved up. Multiple signs were posted alerting the players.

Spieth and Stenson were informed of their violation in the fairway of the ninth hole by chief referee Stephen Cox. The two returned to the tee box and hit from the proper tee. Each was assessed a two-shot penalty.

If Spieth and Stenson had teed off on the 10th hole, they would have been disqualified.

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Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson highlight loaded field of confirmed players for 2022 Saudi International

Some of the biggest names in golf are bound for Saudi Arabia in 2022.

Back in October, Golfweek reported that eight players asked for the PGA Tour’s permission to play in the controversial Saudi International.

On Monday when the tournament released a list of confirmed players for the 2022 on Feb. 3-6 at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club, all eight appeared on the list alongside a few other notable names.

Two-time winner Dustin Johnson, 2020 champion Graeme McDowell, Abraham Ancer, Lee Westwood, Tommy Fleetwood, Henrik Stenson, Kevin Na and Jason Kokrak will be joined by Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell Hatton, Adri Arnaus, Rafael Cabrera Bello, Paul Casey, Jason Dufner, Shane Lowry, Joaquin Niemann, Louis Oosthuizen, Ian Poulter, Xander Schauffele, Adam Scott, Henrik Stenson, Harold Varner III, Jhonattan Vegas and Bubba Watson in Saudi Arabia in 2022.

The PGA Tour previously said it would deny waivers for its members to take part in the Saudi International. In past years the Tour granted releases to its members for the first three Saudi Internationals when it was a European Tour event. Last summer the PGA and European tours announced a strategic alliance, which removed the event from the European Tour schedule and was widely interpreted as a joint effort to stymie any rival tours.

In its first year as part of the Asian Tour schedule, the 2022 Saudi International features the strongest field in the history of the tour.  The Saudis previously made a $100 million investment in the Asian Tour.

“History will reflect upon how developments like the Saudi International and Golf Saudi’s partnership with the Asian Tour helped see in a new era in the professional game,” said Cho Minn Thant, CEO of the Asian Tour, via a media statement. “With the right guidance, it’ll be the sport that benefits most, with more top athletes from across a wider geographical spectrum present at the very top level and more interest from a more diverse and committed group of stakeholders.”

Since the inaugural Saudi International in 2019, the tournament has been widely criticized as part of the government’s effort to “sportswash” its human rights abuses, same as LIV Golf Investments, the new golf venture backed by the Public Investment Fund which operates on behalf of the government of Saudi Arabia.

“Whilst this is a product of many factors, there is no denying the massive impact the best players in the world can have on creating multi-generational interest in the sport. This is why we place such importance on securing the strongest field possible, each and every year,” said Majed Al-Sorour, CEO and Deputy Chairman of Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation, via a media statement. “While we do not allow ourselves to be distracted from our long-term objectives by any external voices, we have been encouraged by strengthening discussions around the importance of fresh competition and innovation in the professional game.

“We are strong advocates for this, as we see it as the only way to achieve golf’s true global potential and realize the game’s considerable untapped value. All we will say is it is better for the sport if the competition remains healthy and respectful, as opposed to hostile, as all parties look at new ways to benefit this great game.”

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Here’s a look at the 8 players who applied for permission to play The Saudi International

The Super Golf League’s previous pitch was built upon one core foundation. Cash.

The game of golf may be changing.

On October 22nd, Golfweek reported eight players have asked permission to play in The Saudi International scheduled for February 3-6 at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City.

Is this a sign of bigger things? The Super Golf League’s previous pitch was built upon one core foundation. Cash. The Saudis had promised gaudy paychecks for the biggest names in golf, reportedly $30 million in some cases.

Expectedly, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan then made it clear that any player who joins a rival league could face a lifetime ban from the PGA Tour.

For the best players in the world, any decision will be determined by aspirations in the game. A bank account with an incredible amount of zeros, or a legacy built by Tour success (accompanied by large paychecks, don’t forget)?

Dustin Johnson is one of eight players who have requested permission from the Tour to play in the Saudi International. Below is a full list.

Nelly Korda will make her debut in the PNC Championship with father Petr as her partner

Two major champions will make their PNC Championship debuts this year in Florida.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda will make her debut in the PNC Championship alongside her father Petr, winner of the 1998 Australian Open, the tournament has announced.

Nelly, of course, won her first major title earlier this year at the KPMG Women’s PGA as well as Olympic gold in Tokyo. The PNC Championship will be held Dec. 16-19 at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando, Grande Lakes.

To qualify for the PNC Championship, players must have won a major championship or The Players Championship. Their partner must not hold a PGA Tour card.

“I am obviously excited to get to play alongside so many legends of golf but if I’m honest,” said Nelly in a release, “what excites me even more will be having my dad playing alongside me. After all these years of him watching and supporting us kids from the sidelines in both golf and tennis, it is going to be so much fun to be in a team competing together! The whole family is looking forward to enjoying this in the run up to Christmas.”

Henrik Stenson plays his second shot on the 10th hole during Day One of The Italian Open at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 02, 2021 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)

Henrik Stenson, the 2016 Open Champion, will also play in his first PNC with his 11-year-old son Karl.

“I was thrilled to hear we had made the cut for this prestigious event and that we will be in the field this December,” said Stenson. “We are all in preparing for what will be, in the eyes of my family, the most important event of my season. Joking aside, I cannot wait to share the inside the ropes competitive experience with my son against so many icons of the game. We feel very privileged to be part of such an amazing field.”

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The tournament will be broadcast live on NBC and limited tickets will go on sale for the general public on Friday, Oct. 22 at 9 a.m. ET. Teams will play for a total purse of $1,085,000 in a two-day 36-hole scramble format. The 2020 edition was won by Justin Thomas and his father, Mike.

Other players confirmed for the field so far include: Gary Player, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, David Duval, John Daly, Vijay Singh, Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar.

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Former Texas A&M Aggie Johannes Veerman wins for first time on European Tour

Veerman closed with a 68 to claim first European Tour victory.

Johannes Veerman is on a bit of run.

In his 59th start on the European Tour, Veerman is finally a winner, claiming the D+D Real Czech Masters in Prague.

The victory continues his recent solid play. A former Texas A&M standout, Veerman finished solo third at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in early July, which earned him a spot in the 149th Open Championship. He posted another top 10 at the abrdn Scottish Open before going on to make the cut at Royal St. George’s.

Now, he has his first professional victory after a final-round 68 at Albatross Golf Resort on Sunday.

Tapio Pulkkanen, who led after 54 holes, threatened to run away from the field Sunday after taking a four-shot lead but he shot a final-round 72 to finish in a tie for second with Sean Crocker.

Henrik Stenson, who entered the week ranked 204th in the world, led the Czech Masters after 18 holes and on Sunday, re-claimed a share of the lead on the 13th hole after a monster 63-foot birdie putt.

Stenson hasn’t had a top-10 finish anywhere in two years and while he didn’t win in Prague, he did break that streak with a tie for fourth, three shots back.

But in the end, they all fell short of Veerman, who shot back-to-back 68s on the weekend to earn the win.

“It feels amazing. I was asked if I could put it into words and I can’t,” he said after his round. “When I walked off the green I felt relief more than anything.

“To finally break out and win on the European Tour, it’s a dream come true being a European Tour winner.”

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U.S. Open 2021: Notables who missed the cut at Torrey Pines

Only the low 60 players and ties earn weekend tee times at America’s national championship.

SAN DIEGO — Qualifying for the U.S. Open is a great achievement. Once you are there, making the cut and playing in the final two rounds is another hurdle that needs to be cleared. Only the low 60 players and ties earn Saturday and Sunday tee times at America’s national championship, which means after the second round, it’s ‘Wait ’til next year’ for more than half the 156-man field.

This year, the cutline was 4 over (146).

Among the trunk slammers, there are always a few surprising names, golfers who have achieved great things but for some reason, could not deliver. Below is a list of the notable players at the 121st U.S. Open at Torrey Pines who will not be moving on.

Jonathan Caldwell claims inaugural Scandinavian Mixed; Clemson’s Alice Hewson places third

“I think what they’ve done this week is fantastic. I hope we have more weeks like this,” said Caldwell.

Jonathan Caldwell hit the shot of his life out of the rough on the 72nd hole at the Scandinavian Mixed. The journeyman pro wasn’t sure where he stood on the board at the time, but his approach to two feet set up a closing birdie that clinched his first European Tour title. As he walked off the 18th green, tournament co-host Annika Sorenstam gave him a fist pump after carding a closing 64. He called the moment “incredible.”

It was like that all week at the Scandinavian Mixed, where elite male and female players from around the world played alongside each other and against each other – from different tees –  for one trophy and one purse. Swedish legends Sorenstam and Henrik Stenson both hosted and played in the tournament.

The historic event saw a woman, Christine Wolf, tied for the lead after the first round. Swedish pro Caroline Hedwall took the outright lead at the midway point, and two men and two women shared the lead heading into Sunday.

“I think what they’ve done this week is fantastic,” said Caldwell. “I hope we have more weeks like this.”

England’s Alice Hewson was behind Caldwell on the course and, along with Spain’s Adrian Otaegui, posed a considerable threat down the stretch. Hewson, a former Clemson standout, had birdied three of her last four holes when she came into the 17th two shots behind Caldwell. Her birdie putt on the penultimate hole seemed to touch every bit of the cup but amazingly didn’t drop.

Meanwhile Otaegui, up ahead, had a birdie putt to win the tournament on the 18th and instead wound up three-putting for bogey. When Hewson failed to hole out for eagle from the fairway on the final hole, Caldwell’s 17-under total could not be touched.

Caldwell first joined the European Tour in 2009 but lost his card and bounced around on mini-tours and the Challenge Tour while holding a second job in a pro shop.

“It’s been a long road,” said an emotional Caldwell, “but finally, I’m here.”

Hewson finished solo third at the Scandinavian Mixed and was the only player in the field to break 70 all four rounds. The 23-year-old began her career on the LET with a victory at the Investec South African Women’s Open in March of 2020 and then watched that momentum grind to a halt when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“This has been an exceptional opportunity for women’s golf as a whole,” said a smiling Hewson, “for us to be on this kind of stage and to prove to everyone kind of how good women’s golf actually is.”

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Four players tied for lead at Scandinavian Mixed, including two men and two women

Four players are tied for the lead through three rounds of the Scandinavian Mixed, and it’s an equal representation.

Four players are tied for the lead through three rounds of the Scandinavian Mixed, and it’s an equal representation. Alice Hewson and Caroline Hedwall both stand at 12 under at Vallda Golf and Country Club in Gothenburg, Sweden, and so do Rhys Enoch and Jason Scrivener.

Equal representation at the top of the leaderboard is the best endorsement you could make for the opportunity this tournament provides.

Wind made conditions difficult in the third round, but Hewson persevered. She birdied three of her final four holes for a third-round 69 and is enjoying every minute.

“I am having a lot of fun this week,” Hewson said. “That’s been something I’ve really kind of worked on from the beginning of this season. . . . Playing with the men has been so much fun. They’ve all made me feel exceptionally welcome.”

The former Clemson star is looking for her second Ladies European Tour win. Hedwall, meanwhile, is a six-time LET winner and was the 2010 NCAA individual champion. She walked away from Saturday’s third round please with the course setup.

“They’ve obviously set it up really well for us. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow,” she said.

The tournament concludes Sunday.

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Christine Wolf makes history, co-leads European Tour’s Scandinavian Mixed with Sam Horsfield

An historic day on the European Tour ended with Christine Wolf tied for the lead at the Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik and Annika.

An historic day on the European Tour ended with Christine Wolf tied for the lead. The inaugural Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik and Annika kicked off on Thursday at Vallda Golf and Country Clubwith 78 men and 78 women playing for one trophy and one prize fund of 1,000,000 euros.

Austria’s Christine Wolf became the first woman to lead a European Tour event when she carded a bogey-free 8-under 64 to pace the field with Englishman Sam Horsfield.

Hosts Annika Sorenstam and Henrik Stenson played together alongside Thomas Bjorn. Stenson shot 2 under while both Sorenstam and Bjorn posted 1 over.

Wolf, who has her mother, Andrea, on the bag this week, played her last four holes in 4 under.

“We love competing against the guys, we’ve had a few mixed events at home,” said Wolf, winner of 2019 Hero Women’s Indian Open.

“It’s just fun. At home there’s a lot of guys I play against, and I really like competing against them.”

Horsfield won twice in 2020 on the UK Swing and has a pair of top-5 finishes thus far in 2021. After not taking advantage of the par 5s so far this season, Horsfield zoned in and birdied all four.

“It was definitely different,” said Horsfield of the mixed format, “but I really enjoyed it. (Alice Hewson) was really good, I think she made four birdies in a row on the back nine. I didn’t really know what to expect, to be completely honest with you. But she played really well and I had a great time.”

Four players are tied at 7 under including England’s Steven Brown and Ashley Chesters, Finland’s Kalle Samooja and Spain’s Pep Angles.

England’s Felicity Johnson, a two-time winner on the LET, holds a share of seventh at 6 under. She played alongside Robert Rock and Justin Walters.

“I bogeyed the first,” said Johnson. “I actually hit a really good shot in, but I went over the back. If you bogey the first after you hit a good shot, you cannot really complain. It was easy golf out there. The par 5s I was able to reach. I made birdie and I made the most of those.”

This marked Sorenstam’s first time competing in Sweden in 13 years. Her 10-year-old son Will was the standard bearer for the group.

“Especially for the kids to come out here and watch me play,” Sorenstam told the European Tour. “They watch me on the range and the putting green, they know all the time I put in, so for them to come out here and watch is very special.”

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Charles Schwab Challenge: Phil Mickelson leads the list of players missing the cut

Phil Mickelson, the freshly minted PGA champ, tops the list of players headed home early from the Charles Schwab Challenge.

What a difference a week makes – a bogey at the last at Colonial Country Club sent freshly minted PGA Championship winner Phil Mickelson home as the most notable casualty of the 36-hole cut at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas.

Mickelson made a special emphasis on focusing and slowing down his routine last week at the 103rd PGA and it worked wonders. He may have been running on a low battery this week after exhausting all his energies to get to the house and hold off Brooks Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen and win his sixth major title at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course.

When Mickelson, who became the oldest man to win a major at age 50, was asked to describe his disappointing opening-round 73 on Thursday, he said, “Yeah, I didn’t play well. I shot 3-over. But I won the PGA, so…”

Laughter ensued. He didn’t go down without a fight on Friday. Despite an opening-hole bogey, Mickelson rebounded to make three birdies in a four-hole stretch beginning at No. 6 and was back to even par for the tournament after a 10-foot birdie at 15. He was a stroke within the cut line, but then he bogeyed 16. He managed a par at 17 and hit his tee shot into the fairway at 18. But his approach from 139 yards found the left green side bunker and he failed to get up and down.

“I love this tournament and I’m sad I will not be here for two more days,” Mickelson said.

Instead, he can head home and recharge the batteries and previously said he plans to spend the next two weeks prepping for the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

Seventy-five golfers in all made the cut at 1-over 141, with Matt Kuchar and Abraham Ancer among those who straddled the right side of the cutline. Joining Mickelson on the wrong side of the line were several notables, including a bunch of European Ryder Cup stars of recent vintage and American hopefuls Patrick Reed and Scottie Scheffler.