Lucas Bjerregaard – defending champion courtesy of Getty
When the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship was introduced to the European Tour in 2001, few would have imagined the great success the event would have experienced over the next eighteen years.
The concept of Europe’s leading professionals playing with celebrities from the sporting and entertainment world and those with business success stories provided plenty of early story-lines for the event but would the initial intrigue last, especially given its relatively late season date?
The then US$5 million purse was a factor in gaining some early momentum for the event, as was the opportunity to play three outstanding links layouts near the home of golf, two of them layouts on the rota of the Open Championship, but the subsequent longevity of the event has told the importance of a point of difference in tournament golf.
Certainly the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am in the US, the Bing Crosby Pro Am and a similar event in Las Vegas had set the tone for events of this format but that the Alfred Dunhill Links has lasted longer than many perhaps felt would be the case back in 2001 is a reflection on an event which provides both professionals and amateurs a unique opportunity.
Playing together in high end tournament conditions for the amateurs and the chance for many of the professionals to introduce friends and family to the inner cauldron of tournament golf has seen the event regularly attract some of Europe’s best.
Other events around the world have introduced a similar format, notably the New Zealand Open which was on a downward spiral and struggling for survival as a bona fide event on a world circuit before tournament organisers took the model they had created for the New Zealand PGA Championship two years earlier and introduced it, in 2014, to one of the world’s longest running events.
Again, the ingredients were the same. Sporting and business celebrities playing with professionals throughout the tournament week on two outstanding golfing facilities in an iconic location (Queenstown) proved an immediate success.
There were doubters early, too, in New Zealand. The purists felt that a national open championship might struggle in what appeared at the time to be a gimmicky format.
That the event has developed from its previous shaky existence into one of the most popular on the combined tours of Asia and Australasia tells the story of the importance of a point of difference in the week to week staging of regular 72-hole stroke-play events.
Millbrook Resort – host venue for the 2020 NZ Open – Photosport
The AT&T, Alfred Dunhill Championship and the New Zealand Open are exactly that, 72 hole stroke-play events, but that they offer a dimension which has assisted them to sustain their popularity and longevity is testament to their innovative format.
This week’s event being played over the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns has attracted many of Europe’s best. Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry, to name a few, highlight an event that continues to attract the game’s best.
It is not the prize-money now that is the attraction. After all and very surprisingly, the purse in 2019 is essentially the same it was in 2001, but that many of the game’s best want to be part of this event is a reflection on the enjoyment they get out of playing with friends and family and the very inclusive nature of the event in one of the game’s very special locations.
Plenty of Australasians get their chance this week as not only those who have the right to play European Tour events at this level through their European Tour status will tee it up but so too will a number of players who get their opportunity through invitation or via their efforts on money lists elsewhere.
Lucas Herbert, Jason Scrivener, Wade Ormsby and Jake McLeod are European Tour regulars but they will be joined by fellow Australians, Min Woo Lee, Dimi Papadatos, Marcus Fraser, Harrison Endycott, Jarryd Felton, Daniel Nisbet, Terry Pilkadaris, Callan O’Reilly and Simon Hawkes who will be joined by New Zealanders, Ryan Fox, Michael Campbell and Daniel Hillier.
Brendan Jones Four From Lead in Japan
Rahil Gangjee – Asian Tour
Defending champion Rahil Ganjee has the lead at the Japan Golf Tour’s Panasonic Open at the Higashi Hirono Golf Club near Osaka, the 40 year old Indian golfer one ahead of a group of four players including Japan sensation, Ryo Ishikawa.
Gangjee won this event by one shot last year when the event was played much earlier in the season and although he has had Japan Tour status since he has generally struggled although he has recorded good finishes in his last two events.
“It’s always difficult to defend because everyone is looking at you,” said Gangjee referring to the pressure he3 is under to repeat his 2018 success.
“I need to stay away from that. I try to stay away from that and don’t think about it. I just want to go and play golf. The whole of last year has been a big learning curve for me in Japan because all the courses I played were new to me.
“It’s also a different mindset because I am just trying to know about the courses and remembering the shots I hit out there. It has got nothing to do with score. Even though I don’t know the golf course well this week, that same mindset comes in and that matters to scoring and going deep.”
Ishikawa has again put himself fairly and squarely in the eyesight of Presidents Cup captain Ernie Els as a win this week could well make it near impossible for Els to ignore the two time Presidents Cup player’s chances of inclusion in the International side given his great from in Japan this season.
Brendan Jones leads the Australians at 5 under and just four from the lead in a share of 14th place, the Canberra golfer recovering from a slow start to his second round to birdie three of his last five holes for a round of 70.
Andrew Dodt is another two shots behind Jones in 27th place and Brad Kennedy 35th.
Australia’s Blake Windred Leads Asia Pacific Amateur
Photo: Windred in action today courtesy of AAC
New South Wales golfer, Blake Windred, added a second round of 71 to his opening round of 63 to lead the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship into the weekend at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China.
Windred, who is currently Australia’s second highest ranked male amateur golfer and is the 11th ranked amateur in the world, could not match his brilliance of day one but his one under par round gives him a one-shot lead over Japan’s Ren Yonezawa and Korea’s Jun Min Lee.
Windred, who ranks No. 11 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), started from the 10th tee and was two-over par after his first 10 holes with three bogeys and one birdie. It was an incredible par save on the seventh hole that spurred him on for the grandstand finish.
“I was two over for a lot of that round, actually. I hit a lot of good putts out there that just didn’t want to drop. Obviously, I didn’t do as well as yesterday, but I’m so pleased with the way I stayed very patient,” said Windred, who smashed a six-iron from 175 yards out of a fairway bunker on the ninth to leave himself a 15-footer that eventually gave him the edge for the weekend.”
Windred said he was delighted with his position going into the weekend.
“The goal was basically shooting five under every round. So, I have a bit of work to do over the weekend, but so far, I’m on track,” said the Aussie who will retain his amateur status if he wins the AAC title in order to remain eligible to play in the 2020 Masters and The 149th Open at Royal St George’s.”
South Australian, Jack Thompson, is the next best of the Australians in a share of 10th place at 3 under and seven shots from his fellow countryman while US based West Australian, Karl Vilips, and NSW’s Nathan Barbieri are next best at 1 under and in a share of 18th place.
The Asia Pacific Amateur Championship has grown in stature since its inception in 2009, its most notable champion in that time being the two time winner, Hideki Matsuyama, who has gone on to be one of the leading players in the game.
If Windred is able to go on and win the event he will become the third Australian to do so in the footsteps of Anthony Murdaca and Curtis Luck.
SCORES
Adam Scott Picks Up Where He Left Off
Adam Scott – file photo Henry Peters
It might be over a month since Adam Scott last played an event on the PGA Tour but if there was any residual rust in the system when he played his opening round of the Safeway Open in Napa in California today it was hardly evident.
Scott began the event with a round of 7 under 65 to share the lead with American Andrew Landry, the pair opening up a one-shot lead over Italy’s Francesco Molinari and American Matthew NeSmith.
Aaron Baddeley also began his new season on the PGA Tour with a solid opening round. Baddeley recorded a 3 under 69 to be in a share of 15th place, Cameron Percy was round in 70 to be tied for 29th along with Marc Leishman, while Rhein Gibson 74 and Cameron Davis 76 were further back.
Scott began the week feeling frustrated at not being able to win despite playing some fine golf for much of last season especially during the playoffs. In fact, Scott has not won anywhere in more than three years but his consistency has been a hallmark of his play this year.
“A couple of my finishes I felt I played better then where I finished,” said Scott in a pre-event media conference. “A couple of late bogeys was certainly the theme especially at the majors. I’m looking to get back in the winner’s circle but have to find that little edge to get me over the line.”
The highlight of Scott’s round was a putt from over 50 feet for eagle at the 5th hole (his 14th).
Ryan Fox Again Excels in Links Golf
Ryan Fox – file photo Henry Peters
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox seems to thrive on links golf and he again proved that was the case with an opening round of 64 at the Old Course at St Andrews on day one of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.
Fox trails South African Justin Walters by just one shot and shares second place with France’s Victor Perez, England’s Jordan Smith and Spain’s Adria Otaegui.
Four of the leading five scores on day one came from the Old Course, this event played over three courses (Kingsbarns and Carnoustie the other two) in the opening three rounds before the event returns to St Andrews for the final round on Sunday.
Several of Fox’s best finish on the European Tour have come on links layouts in events such as the Scottish Opens and he once again showed his liking for this style of golf with six birdies and an eagle including five birdies in his last six holes.
Fox also leads the Pro-Am event with cricketing great partner, Shane Warne, who added four nett birdies of his own for the team to open with a combined round of 12 under and a share of the lead in that contest.
“I played really solid and for the first time in a while,” said Fox. “I saw some putts go in and hit some great shots coming down the stretch. It was just nice to take advantage of those fairly benign conditions out there.
“It’s a cool format to get to play these three golf courses, and they look after us so well this week. I love Pro-Am formats, and I’ve played with Shane Warne the last couple years and we get along really well. We’ve had a lot of fun out there, become good friends because of this event.
“I feel like for me, he wants to do well here and I can kind of focus on trying to help him out, rather than focus on my score, which as professional golfers, I think we get stuck in a little bit too much.”
Fox will play Carnoustie in tomorrow’s second round.
Marcus Fraser is the leading Australian after his opening round of 66 at Kingsbarns to be in a share of 12th place. The Victorian has played on a limited basis in recent months and has missed the cut in the last six events he has played so this represents a significant turnaround for the tree time European Tour event winner.
New South Wales golfer, Callan O’Reilly and Dimi Papdatos are next best after their rounds of 68 at St Andrews while Lucas Herbert and Harrison Endycott are at 3 under 69 although given the low scoring they are tied for 53rd.
A massive 121 of the 168 players broke par on day one with pre tournament favourite off to a relatively slow start when he opened with 70 at Carnoustie.
Scores
Golf Betting Thoughts for September 26th
Hideki Matsuyama appears a good hope in California
This week’s betting focus rests on the PGA Tour event in Napa in California, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland and the LPGA Tour event in Indianapolis.
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Alfred Dunhill Links Championship – the Benefit of Innovation
Lucas Bjerregaard – defending champion courtesy of Getty
When the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship was introduced to the European Tour in 2001, few would have imagined the great success the event would have experienced over the next eighteen years.
The concept of Europe’s leading professionals playing with celebrities from the sporting and entertainment world and those with business success stories provided plenty of early story-lines for the event but would the initial intrigue last, especially given its relatively late season date?
The then US$5 million purse was a factor in gaining some early momentum for the event, as was the opportunity to play three outstanding links layouts near the home of golf, two of them layouts on the rota of the Open Championship, but the subsequent longevity of the event has told the importance of a point of difference in tournament golf.
Certainly the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am in the US, the Bing Crosby Pro Am and a similar event in Las Vegas had set the tone for events of this format but that the Alfred Dunhill Links has lasted longer than many perhaps felt would be the case back in 2001 is a reflection on an event which provides both professionals and amateurs a unique opportunity.
Playing together in high end tournament conditions for the amateurs and the chance for many of the professionals to introduce friends and family to the inner cauldron of tournament golf has seen the event regularly attract some of Europe’s best.
Other events around the world have introduced a similar format, notably the New Zealand Open which was on a downward spiral and struggling for survival as a bona fide event on a world circuit before tournament organisers took the model they had created for the New Zealand PGA Championship two years earlier and introduced it, in 2014, to one of the world’s longest running events.
Again, the ingredients were the same. Sporting and business celebrities playing with professionals throughout the tournament week on two outstanding golfing facilities in an iconic location (Queenstown) proved an immediate success.
There were doubters early, too, in New Zealand. The purists felt that a national open championship might struggle in what appeared at the time to be a gimmicky format.
That the event has developed from its previous shaky existence into one of the most popular on the combined tours of Asia and Australasia tells the story of the importance of a point of difference in the week to week staging of regular 72-hole stroke-play events.
Millbrook Resort – host venue for the 2020 NZ Open – Photosport
The AT&T, Alfred Dunhill Championship and the New Zealand Open are exactly that, 72 hole stroke-play events, but that they offer a dimension which has assisted them to sustain their popularity and longevity is testament to their innovative format.
This week’s event being played over the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns has attracted many of Europe’s best. Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry, to name a few, highlight an event that continues to attract the game’s best.
It is not the prize-money now that is the attraction. After all and very surprisingly, the purse in 2019 is essentially the same it was in 2001, but that many of the game’s best want to be part of this event is a reflection on the enjoyment they get out of playing with friends and family and the very inclusive nature of the event in one of the game’s very special locations.
Plenty of Australasians get their chance this week as not only those who have the right to play European Tour events at this level through their European Tour status will tee it up but so too will a number of players who get their opportunity through invitation or via their efforts on money lists elsewhere.
Lucas Herbert, Jason Scrivener, Wade Ormsby and Jake McLeod are European Tour regulars but they will be joined by fellow Australians, Min Woo Lee, Dimi Papadatos, Marcus Fraser, Harrison Endycott, Jarryd Felton, Daniel Nisbet, Terry Pilkadaris, Callan O’Reilly and Simon Hawkes who will be joined by New Zealanders, Ryan Fox, Michael Campbell and Daniel Hillier.
Hong Kong Riots Impact PGA Tour Series-China
Clearwater Bay – photo Bruce Young
Due to continued demonstrations, civil unrest and safety concerns in Hong Kong, PGA TOUR Series-China is canceling the 2019 Clearwater Bay Open scheduled for October 17-20 at Hong Kong’s Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club.
The 2019 PGA TOUR Series-China season will now conclude at the Macau Championship, October 10-13, at Caesars Golf Macau.
“The safety of our players, staff, fans, volunteers and everybody else associated with our tournaments is always at the forefront of anything we do,” said PGA TOUR Series-China Executive Director Greg Carlson. “We have analyzed this situation from every angle, and as a group we determined that canceling the 2019 Clearwater Bay Open is the best decision.
“We wanted to play a 14-tournament schedule, but it was extremely difficult to secure an alternative venue at such short notice. We looked at a variety of options but were unable to find a suitable site and situation,” Carlson continued.
“Macau is a vibrant part of Asia, and we had a tremendous experience there in 2018 on our first visit to Caesars Golf Macau. While we’re disappointed we can’t finish our season in Hong Kong, we are excited that Caesars Golf Macau will be where we end our year. Because of this late change, we have also increased the purse at the Macau Championship from RMB 1.6 million to 2.1 million.”
In 2018, New Zealand’s Nick Voke won the inaugural Macau Championship, defeating Sluman by two shots. It was the second of three titles Voke won a year ago.
PGA TOUR Series-China has played two official tournaments at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club—in 2016 and 2018—and an unofficial event in 2017 and has every intent to return to the club in 2020 and beyond.
“The leaders and members at Clearwater Bay have been very accommodating through the years, and the club has been a great partner. We look forward to continuing our relationship for years to come,” said Carlson.
On Sunday, September 22, PGA TOUR Series-China concluded its 12th tournament of the 2019 season, with Motin Yeung winning the Zhuzhou Classic. American Max McGreevy continues to lead the Order of Merit, with four players—McGreevy, Trevor Sluman, David Kocher and Luke Kwon—still in the running for the money title and Player of the Year honors.
Japan and Asian Tours together again in Japan
Brendan Jones – photo courtesy of Asian Tour
The Japan and Asian Tours again join forces this week when the ¥150,000,000 (A$2 million) Panasonic Open Golf Championship is played at the Higashi Hirono Golf Club in Hyogo near Osaka.
The event is being played for the 4th occasion although this it will be the first occasion it has been played at this particular venue.
As was the case last week in Korea, the combination of the two Tours allows for an increase in the Australasian representation and this week eleven will tee it up.
From the Japan Tour come Scott Hend, Andrew Dodt, Zach Murray, Travis Smyth, Jason Norris, Ben Campbell and Jake Higginbottom while those who are regulars on the Japan Tour include Brendan Jones, Brad Kennedy, Matthew Griffin and Won Joon Lee.
As was the case last week when South African, Jbe Kruger, won the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea, the event opens the opportunity for the winner to gain access to the Japan Tour on a regular basis, so there is a lot at stake for those not yet owning status in Japan.
The tournament continues a now almost continuous run of events on the Japan Tour culminating with the Golf Nippon Series event in Tokyo in early December.
Munoz adds to Els’ Presidents Cup Quandary
A good week for Cameron Percy
If the International Presidents Cup captain Ernie Els was concerned about just who he might include in his final picks for his side for Royal Melbourne in December prior to this week’s Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson in Mississippi, then his task became just that much harder with the victory by Colombian, Sebastian Munoz.
Not only did Munoz win his first PGA Tour title, but the second and third placed finishers in this week’s event, Sungjae Im and Ben An of Korea and have also staked a claim for one of the four remaining positions in the International side to be selected in a few week’s time.
Munoz’s first hole playoff victory over Im will move him just outside the top 100 in the world but, given that the reason for the delay in final selection is to ensure the most in form golfers are included in the respective Presidents Cup sides, another good finish in the next few weeks could open to door for Munoz.
Munoz had also finished 7th at last week’s event in Greenbrier so he is finding form at just the right time after recently completing his first year on the PGA Tour.
Munoz holed an 18-footer for birdie at the last to force the playoff after Korea’s Im had reeled off a last round of 66 to take the clubhouse lead 20 minutes ahead of the final group.
An also birdied his final hole to move into outright third place, his finish ensuring that he too will be subject to Els scrutiny ahead of the final Presidents Cup selections.
Cameron Percy led the Australians this week, one of only two to make the cut in the early season PGA Tour event. Percy finished 11th after being very much in contention going into the final round.
His last day 71 cost him ground and money but it was his best PGA Tour finish in more than 12 months and his best finish anywhere since his 5th place finish at the Australian Open last year.
Cameron Davis, who, too, has only just regained his PGA Tour status, finished 28th.
Danny Willett Edges Out Jon Rahm At BMW PGA
Danny Willett claimed his second Rolex Series title in successive seasons as the Englishman overcame Jon Rahm in stunning fashion to win the BMW PGA Championship title, his first victory on home soil.
The former Masters Tournament champion was locked in a tense battle with the determined Spaniard all weekend at Wentworth Club and there were turning points aplenty for the 21,962 fans in attendance – but none more so than at the 11th.
Having entered the final round tied for the lead, Willett had pulled two clear through ten holes courtesy of four birdies – to Rahm’s two – but found himself in some trouble with his second and third shots at the par four 11th, leaving himself with a monster putt for bogey.
He duly drained it for a five, though, with one of his many masterful escapes this week at the Surrey venue, and thereafter the wind was taken from Rahm’s sails – the 24-year-old bogeyed two of the following three holes with a birdie in between.
“I’ve watched this tournament for a lot of years. You know, through the Match Play and then obviously the BMW PGA Championship.
“It’s always nice to be able to compete on home soil. I’ve had a couple looks at The Open a couple of times but to be able to win finally on such an iconic golf course, with I think one of the best fields they have had.
“Any tournament win is amazing. That’s now my seventh win on Tour, and every single time I’ve won, they have been pretty stellar events against pretty stellar fields and The Ryder Cup stuff – it’s the first event of what, 40-odd (qualification events), whatever it’s going to be, for a year’s time when it’s back in America, Whistling Straits. It’s always nice.”
Willett, who won the final Rolex Series event of the 2018 season – the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai – closed out a deserved three-stroke victory with birdies at the two closing par fives for a five under 67 and a 20 under total. The Englishman moved to ninth in the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex.
Rahm had gone for broke on the final hole by going for the green with a second shot which ended up in the water, but he bravely got up and down and signed for a final round 70 and a 17 under total.
The Spaniard was clearly disappointed not to have won and was frustrated by the manner in which he played the closing few holes.
“I’m not going to lie. It hurts. It stings. I played good all week, and up until the 13th hole, I was incapable of hitting an iron close to the pin and made a couple stupid mistakes. I should have come closer than two shots on the last two holes. I had my chances.
“At the same time, Danny played amazing golf. He played really, really good. I believe that 11th hole was the key moment of the match. He had a long, long putt for bogey and I had a decent look for a birdie, and he makes a bomb for a bogey and I missed my putt right. That was at least a one-shot swing right there and if he doesn’t make it, I’m putting more relaxed without the whole crowd going crazy. That was a key moment of the match.”
Christiaan Bezuidenhout of South Africa earned his best result in a Rolex Series event as he took outright third spot with a 16 under total, after closing out the week with a four under 68. American debutants at Wentworth, Billy Horschel and Patrick Reed, shared fourth spot while home hero Justin Rose took outright eighth spot and four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy shared ninth spot with Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston.
No Australian was able to make it to the weekend in the high profile event, Lucas Herbert and Wade Ormsby doing best when they finished one shot from making it to the final 36 holes.
SCORES