Tag: Royal Troon

Lydia Ko headlines major race at taxing Royal Troon

As Laura Davies said, anyone who makes the cut at the AIG Women’s British Open has a chance to take the title at Royal Troon.

Laura Davies birdied the 18th at Royal Troon and popped into the booth for her second job as a commentator for Sky Sports. Her takeaway going into the weekend: Anyone who makes the cut at the AIG Women’s British Open has a chance to take the title.

After two days of brutally difficult weather, Sweden’s Dani Holmqvist remains the only player under par at Royal Troon. Rounds of 71-70 put her one shot ahead of American Austin Ernst and Sophia Popov of Germany and two shots clear of a bunched group at 1 over that includes Lydia Ko and Minjee Lee.

Ko sounds as if she has moved on from that botched finish at the Marathon LPGA Classic, but there’s no way to really know until she gets in the thick of it again on Sunday.

Women’s British Open: Leaderboard

“The more times I put myself in contention or in a good position, it gives me confidence about my game,” said Ko. “Sean (Foley) has been trying to get me to swing aggressively and freely and I feel like I hit it better that way. Sometimes it’s easier said than done, but you know, I’ve just got to go out there and not worry about it and just believe in myself.”

Dani Holmqvist of Sweden plays her second shot on the 18th hole of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon. (Photo: R&A via Getty Images)

Holmqvist, playing in her second Women’s British, started working with Brad Faxon on her mindset and short game during the LPGA’s five-month break. The extra time to work on her game and rehab her back has paid off handsomely thus far for the 32-year-old, who tied for 29th last week and leads at Royal Troon.

In the fall of 2018, Holmqvist injured her back at the Blue Bay LPGA event in China when a shuttle cart transporting players between holes lost control on a steep hill and slammed into a wall.

“I had a disk, which is leaking, and also really inflamed facet joint,” said Holmqvist. “So I injected that many times, and then it’s just been rehab and ice and kind of rest and you know how it is with backs, it’s a long process and very tedious. It’s an everyday thing.”

This marks the first time Holmqvist has ever led an LPGA event.

Lindsey Weaver can’t possibly go unnoticed at Troon as she’s been out there battling the elements without a caddie. The Arizona grad, playing in her first British Open, has been using a push cart since the LPGA restarted its season in mid-July. A second-round 72 puts her in a share of fourth at 1 over.

Nelly Korda found it difficult to stand up early on in Thursday’s round but found Round 2 even more of a challenge as the wind was consistently strong throughout. Korda posted a second-consecutive 72 and sits three shots back. She played alongside 2018 British champ Georgia Hall and took comfort in the face that it was tough for her too.

“We were like, are you scared over 1-footers, too, with this wind?” said Nelly, “because we were like shaking over it with wind and the gusts. She’s like, me, too. I’m like, OK, good.”

Sophia Popov of Germany plays a shot from a greenside bunker at the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon. (Photo: R&A via Getty Images)

Inbee Park matched the day’s low round, 2-under 69, to vault up the board into a share of 17th, five shots back. The seven-time major winner won the last time she teed it up on the LPGA, the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, back in February. This week she has her husband, Gi Hyeob Nam, on the bag (longtime caddie Brad Beecher will be back next week). Park noted earlier in the week that Nam sometimes gets his math wrong.

After two rounds in exceptionally trying conditions, Park gave her man high marks. There is one area, however, where they can certainly improve.

“A couple of decisions that I had was probably wrong,” she said. “It was No. 16, I hit into the water twice yesterday. We laid up in the water. Today we tried to go over the water, but we went into in the water. That was the only hole maybe we have to change the plan the next two days.”

Park thought it might be “impossible” to break par on Troon in these conditions, but the 2015 British Open champion proved herself wrong. The LPGA Hall of Famer counts Scotland as one of her favorite places to play.

“I’m not going to say I’m enjoying this weather,” she said, “but it is fun competing in this weather.”

Scotland’s Catriona Matthew spent a brief time atop the board in red numbers at Troon before faltering a bit to a 76. The European Solheim Cup captain turns 51 next Tuesday and looks to become the oldest player to win an LPGA major. Fay Crocker won the 1960 Titleholders Championship at 45 years, 7 months and 11 days.

Matthew, the 2009 Women’s British champ, trails by six heading into the weekend.

“It was a lot tougher out there actually, a lot tougher today,” said Matthew. “It was just a crosswind today, so downwind played as tough coming as going out, actually. I didn’t hit it great to be fair. Made some quite miraculous up-and-downs.”

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Lindsey Weaver contends at Royal Troon without a caddie

Lindsey Weaver used a pull cart instead of a caddie at the Women’s British Open due to coronavirus precations.

Lindsey Weaver is still trying to get all the sand out of her golf bag. While making her way out of a bunker at Royal Troon, her unattended push cart went racing into another bunker and toppled over.

Weaver wasn’t wishing for a caddie in that moment as much as she was a good set of brakes. The push cart dates back to her days on the AJGA.

“I feel like it’s kind of back to the basics,” said Weaver. “This is how junior golf was. This is how college golf was and on the Symetra Tour when I played there for a year. … it’s still just golf. I’m still making the final decision at the end of the day.”

When the LPGA returned to competition after a 166-day break due to the coronavirus, caddies became optional for the remainder of the year. Weaver didn’t have a steady caddie before the break, mostly using locals. Since locals aren’t allowed this year, she decided to go solo.

Women’s British Open: Leaderboard

She’s currently two shots back of clubhouse leader Dani Holmqvist after rounds of 71-72 at the AIG Women’s British Open. As if contending in a major without a caddie wasn’t enough, Weaver is thriving brutal conditions, when an extra set of hands and an extra brain usually comes in quite handy.

Before the LPGA restarted its season in Toledo at the Inverness Club, Weaver stopped by her parents’ house in Columbus and picked up her old push cart. She used it to tie for ninth at the Marathon LPGA Classic

“Between me and my sister this whole like shrine basically is our garage,” said Weaver. “It’s like all these bags and bags and bags of golf clubs. Still has all of our AJGA champion bags. It really dates back quite a while. These are all part of the archives.”

Marathon LPGA Classic
Lindsey Weaver during the 2020 Marathon LPGA Classic at Highlands Meadows Golf Club. (Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports)

It wasn’t all that long that Weaver wasn’t sure if she wanted to keep playing golf competitively. Her mother encouraged her to travel to Pinehurst last year for one more push at Q-Series to improve her status. She finished fifth and hasn’t looked back.

Weaver’s fiance, Zach Wright, competes on the Korn Ferry Tour and they chat daily about their golf. Right now, they’re scheduled to see other in September at the Cambia Portland Classic, when Wright has a week off and Weaver celebrates her 27th birthday. Weaver caddied for Wright on the Korn Ferry Tour in San Antonio last month, and he offered to work for her in Scotland.

“He asked me, he was like, ‘Do you think I should go to Scotland?’ ” said Weaver in Toledo. “Nope. Nope. I don’t think you should go at all. Not at all.”

She’s got it all under control.

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Strong winds wreak havoc on Day 1 at Royal Troon, Sophia Popov leads and Nelly Korda lurks

At the AIG Women’s British Open, Sophia Popov takes an early lead and Nelly Korda is close behind after Round 1.

Alena Sharp thought the 6:30 a.m. tee time might offer relief from the wind. Not the case at Royal Troon, where fences fell down as she warmed up on the range. Sharp cranked her first tee shot out of bounds at the AIG Women’s British Open and double-bogeyed the opening hole.

The Canadian veteran used to hate playing in the wind, but has since learned to enjoy the grind, an attitude that served her well in an opening even-par 71, one back of leader Sophia Popov.

Nelly Korda’s opening drive went 187 yards. She then watched her 5-iron balloon into the air 140 yards, landing short of the green.

“I had a hard time walking,” said Korda, who added that she finds it fun to play in this type of weather. Korda finished at 1 over on the day, a fine score in a four-club wind.

Catriona Matthew, the great Scot, knows better than anyone how important patience plays on days like this. The European Solheim Cup captain and 2009 British Open champion, didn’t miss a fairway in her opening 71, birdieing three of her last four holes.

“I think probably the biggest thing is not fighting the wind,” said Matthew. “Sometimes when it’s as strong as this, you just have to play with the wind.”

Popov’s journey to Troon was certainly more eventful that most. The German qualified for the year’s first major by finishing tied for ninth at the Marathon LPGA Classic, using a pull cart. She then flew to Phoenix where she played in a Symetra Tour event in temperatures that soared well over 100 degrees, finishing second. Popov arrived in Scotland on Tuesday and played in one practice round before vaulting to the top of the leaderboard.

“It’s nice to kind of get a little bit of a head start,” said Popov, who has boyfriend Max on the bag this week. “You never know how things are tomorrow and how brutal the weather is going to be. No one can really prepare me for what’s going to come tomorrow. It might go totally sideways.”

Popov, who played collegiate golf at USC, kept sharp throughout the coronavirus pandemic by competing in Cactus Tour events, winning three of them.

“I definitely think it was beneficial,” said Popov, playing in only her second Women’s British Open. “Just to keep my head in the game and to keep the competitive juices flowing because it is so easy to come back after three or four months of not playing and just being very nervous and not knowing where your game is at.”

Georgia Hall of England plays a shot at Royal Troon  (Photo by R&A – Handout/R&A via Getty Images)

Georgia Hall, winner of the 2018 British Open at Lytham and lover of links, couldn’t feed off the British gallery but likes where she stands after an opening 73. sits three shots back after

“I’m so used to having friends and family there, and people I know,” said Hall of the fan-free atmosphere. “This is where I get my most support, which really kind of spurs me on. But I know there’s loads of people watching at home, and I’ve just got to focus on my golf.”

Dame Laura Davies hit the opening tee shot on Thursday in her 40th appearance in the Women’s British. She was eight over after six holes but battled back to finish at 9 over. After a quick bite to eat, the World Golf Hall of Famer was in the booth commentating for Sky Sports.

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Storm Ellen could bring 60 mph gusts to LPGA’s first major

The forecast for the AIG Women’s British Open this week at Royal Troon is looking grim.

Given the early forecast for this week’s AIG Women’s British Open, Inbee Park might want to triple-check her caddie’s math. Storm Ellen is predicted to bring strong winds and gales to Royal Troon on Thursday, with possible gusts up to 60 mph.

Park, winner of seven majors, including the 2015 British Open at Turnberry, doesn’t have her regular caddie on the bag this week at Royal Troon. Brad Beecher, who lives in Australia, will be back for next week’s Arkansas stop. Husband Gi Hyeob Nam is filling in, as he has done a few times recently in South Korea.

“He’s not a professional caddie,” said Park, “so sometimes he gives me wrong yardage. Sometimes when it rains, he can’t really do a lot of things at once. He makes mistakes, but he gives me a lot of comfortable feelings on the golf courses. And especially when I’m not swinging well or not stroking well, he can give me an advice straightaway at the golf course and fix it straightaway.”

That’s because Nam is also Park’s longtime instructor.

Park was asked how she reacts to her husband after a math error.

“I kind of teach him what to do because sometimes, like, he adds numbers when he has to subtract numbers,” she said, “so that sometimes gives me a 20-yard difference. Most of the time I kind of realize it. I think this looks a little bit less than that. He gives me a right number then.”

Rain is expected to roll in Thursday night. More strong winds and thunderstorms are possible for Friday, with the worst of it coming in the morning.

The forecast looks considerably better on the weekend.

Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A, issued a memo to the players regarding the grim forecast. The goal, he said, is to complete 72 holes, but given the unique efforts required for COVID-19 safety protocols, extending the championship into Monday “is not practical.”

“We are aiming to maintain the cut after the second round at 65 players,” he wrote, “and those tied for 65th place, but we may need to reduce the size of field further, especially if we lose a significant amount of playing time on Thursday/Friday.”

Slumbers went on to address pace of play, noting that officials will be thoughtful in course setup but that players carry the responsibility too.

“We have an opportunity to set an example throughout the week,” Slumbers told players, “irrespective of disruptive weather.”

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What LPGA stars are saying about the Postage Stamp at their Royal Troon debut

Here’s what LPGA stars said about the Postage Stamp at their Royal Troon debut.

It’s 114 yards on the card. But a wedge in the hand gives no cause for relaxation.

The best female players in the world will tackle the famed Postage Stamp for the first time this week at the AIG Women’s British Open.

The small but mighty par-3 eighth hole should provide plenty of drama at the year’s first major. It certainly does at the men’s British Open, which is precisely why it’s so important that the women’s tour makes its debut at Royal Troon this week. Courses – and golf holes – known the world over help attract new viewers to the LPGA, not to mention the added respect.

The Women’s Open trophy ahead of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon on August 17, 2020 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by R&A – Handout/R&A via Getty Images)

After this week, Postage Stamp lore will include a few new tales – of heroes and heartbreak – on the women’s side. It’s a hole that requires an exacting tee shot to a deliciously narrow landing area. Get too aggressive or offline and risk the wrath of five bunkers, including the aptly named Coffin Bunker on the left. Perhaps there should be a sign at the tee: Approach with caution.

After two days of practice at Troon, here’s what several of the game’s brightest stars had to say about this tiny hole with teeth.

Laura Davies

“With much care. Wedge, middle of the green all four days hopefully. There’s no point in doing anything else because wherever the pin is, it’s not along putt. Just don’t be short, don’t go long, don’t be left and definitely don’t be right.”

Hannah Green

“From the forecast, I think it’s actually going to be downwind so at least we’ll have a wedge in. But I think making sure if it is a back pin, not really being aggressive even though you do have a short iron in. Hopefully it’s not too windy but yeah, just making sure I stay patient and if I do miss it, I miss it in the right area because there are a lot of tricky places to be on that hole. Today I hit it to maybe 10 feet. I hit it close, but I know the wind is going to be a lot stronger than what it was today. If I hit four shots on the green I’m going to be stoked.”

Charley Hull

“Yeah, it’s only like a wedge, so it’s a good birdie hole, I think. Depends on the wind direction, but I’ve only played it once. But there’s a lot more tricky holes out there, but it’s a cool little hole.”

Danielle Kang

“You just can’t miss the green. I looked down on the right side, the left, and it’s a small – it’s a small green and beautiful hole, and it’s short. The yardage is very short, but can’t underestimate that wedge shot and you can’t. … I feel like you can’t get too greedy and you just have to hit the green.”

TROON, SCOTLAND – Becky Morgan plays a tee shot on the 8th hole during a practice round ahead of the AIG Women’s Open 2020 at Royal Troon on August 18, 2020 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by R&A – Handout/R&A via Getty Images)

Hinako Shibuno

“So I practiced the bunker on the right yesterday. It’s a short hole but it looks so much narrow than I had seen on TV, and I think that it’s going to be difficult.”

Georgia Hall

“Just go for middle of the green, that’s whether the pin is left or right front or back because you don’t want to miss the green in any spot. And it’s so short, it actually makes it a lot harder because you’re going in with a more lofted club. If it’s windy and the higher you hit it, the more the wind will affect it. So ideally just hit a little half-shot in there middle of the green and two-putt and get out with your par.”

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British Open returning to Royal Troon in 2023

A century after hosting for the first time, the Open Championship returns to Royal Troon for the 10th time in 2023.

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The British Open was first played at Royal Troon in 1923.

A century later, the Claret Jug is returning to South Ayrshire, Scotland for a 10th time.

The R&A announced Monday that Royal Troon will once again play host for the 152nd Open Championship, held July 16-23, 2023.

“We are very much looking forward to celebrating another milestone in the cherished history of The Open when we mark the 100th anniversary of the championship first being played at Royal Troon,” said Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of the R&A.

Added Des Bancewicz, Captain of Royal Troon: “We are delighted to welcome the return of the world’s oldest major championship to Royal Troon and regard this as confirmation of the wonderful condition to which our historic links are maintained. The 152nd Open will also provide an excellent opportunity to celebrate 100 years of the Championship’s history at Royal Troon which commenced with Arthur Havers’ victory in 1923.”

Royal Troon last hosted the British Open in 2016, where Henrik Stenson prevailed against Phil Mickelson in one of the most exciting majors in recent memory.  Troon previously hosted in 1923, 1950, 1962, 1973, 1982, 1989, 1997, 2004 and 2016.

This year’s event will be held at Royal St. George’s, followed by the Old Course at St Andrews in 2021 and Royal Liverpool in 2022.

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