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Tag: Golf

  • Kathy Whitworth: Golfer who broke record for wins dies at 83

    Kathy Whitworth – the professional golfer with the most trophies – has died aged 83, America’s Ladies Professional Golf Association has said.

    “Her 88 LPGA victories are the most ever on a professional tour,” it said.

    The Texan took six more trophies than her rival Mary Kathryn “Mickey” Wright, as well as men’s game joint record-holders Sam Snead and Tiger Woods.

    She died suddenly on Saturday night while celebrating Christmas Eve with family and friends, her partner said.

    “Kathy left this world the way she lived her life, loving, laughing and creating memories,” said Bettye Odle without providing any further details.

    Whitworth won six majors during her decades-long career, and came very close, being a runner-up in 1971, to winning the US Women’s Open – the most prestigious trophy.

    In 1981, she became the first woman to earn $1m (£829,000) on the LPGA tour.

    “I would have swapped being the first to make a million for winning the Open, but it was a consolation which took some of the sting out of not winning,” she said at the time.

    Her last professional title was in 1985 – 23 years after she triumphed for the first time.

    Paying tributes, LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said Whitworth was “one of the most incredible women”.

    “Kathy was a champion in the truest sense of the word, both on the golf course and off,” she said in a statement.

    Source: BBC

  • World golf rankings not credible unless LIV events count: Mickelson

    Six-time major winner Phil Mickelson on Thursday backed moves to award world ranking points for events on the breakaway LIV Golf circuit, saying it would help maintain the “credibility” of the global leaderboard.

    The Saudi-backed LIV Series stages its first event in Asia this week and on Wednesday announced a deal to have tournaments co-sanctioned by the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Tour and awarded Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points.

    The OWGR has not announced whether points will now be awarded to LIV events, starting with this week’s tournament in Bangkok.

    But Mickelson, whose departure from the US PGA Tour helped kickstart the big-money LIV series, said it was in the ranking body’s interests to do so.

    “I think for the World Golf Rankings, this is a great way to keep its credibility, while not bringing politics into the decision-making process,” the 52-year-old left-hander said on the eve of the LIV’s Bangkok Invitational.

    LIV has already staged five events but without any ranking points awarded for its players, including British Open champion Cameron Smith and former world number one Dustin Johnson.
    Mickelson, Smith and Johnson are all competing at the new Stonehill course outside the Thai capital for a share of $20 million, with $4 million up for grabs for the winner, easily the largest purse for a golf tournament in Asia.

    The deep pockets of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund have allowed LIV to offer eye-watering prize money,  last place in Bangkok takes home $120,000, but have also drawn accusations of “sportswashing”, given the kingdom’s dubious human rights record.

    A host of top players have joined the series, plunging golf into bitter civil war as the US PGA Tour and the Europe-based DP World Tour have scrambled to hold on to talent while the Asian Tour, and now the lesser-known MENA Tour, have aligned themselves with LIV.

    Only the top 50 players in the world  qualify automatically for the four majors, so top names have been concerned about slipping down the rankings.

    But Mickelson said he had no worries that LIV events would be given points appropriately.

    “The reason I’m not concerned is that the number of points are based on the quality of the field and not the organisation that’s running the tournament, and the quality of our field is remarkably strong,” he said.

    “I’m sure for the world golf rankings to maintain their credibility, they’ll continue to award the proper number of points that the tournaments deserve for all tours.”

    US players who have signed up to LIV Golf have been indefinitely suspended from the PGA Tour, while the DP World Tour has issued fines and short-term bans.

    LIV has announced plans to expand from eight events this year to 14 in 2023, with players competing for $405 million in prize money.

     

    Source: AFP

  • 2020 Gold Fields PGA Championship: Golfers urged to maintain discipline

    The Executive Vice President and Head of Gold Fields West Africa Region, Mr Alfred Baku has urged the participants of the ongoing 2020 Gold Fields Profesional Golfers Association (PGA) of Ghana Championship to maintain their high levels of discipline and professionalism throughout the tournament.

    Addressing the golfers before performing the ceremonial tee-off for the start of the third round of play on Friday morning, Mr Baku also warned that any golfer who is caught bringing the integrity of the game into disrepute will be suspended indefinitely from the Gold Fields PGA Championship.

    Congratulating the professionals who qualified for the tournament, Mr Baku said all stakeholders of the competition expect that all the winners are decided on merit and not through cheating.

    “The money is quite high and big, whoever wins must win on merit and not kululu (cheating)… If you are caught cheating on this course, you are finished with us on this course, you can play other tournaments but as far as Gold Fields is concerned you are finished, so I want that discipline”.

    Special bonus for winner

    Mr Baku also pledged a special financial bonus to any new winner of the tournament in addition to the GHS40,000 cash prize at stake for the winner.

    “I brought my cheque and my cheque is still with me but if we get a new winner… I don’t want Vincent (Torgah), I don’t want Emos (Korblah), I don’t want Kojo (Barnni), a new winner and I know the person leading is fresh and if we get a new winner the person will get something in addition from my pocket”.

    Wishing the amateurs luck for their contest, Mr Baku said he would not be participating this year because of an injury.

    He also commended the media for their reportage over the opening rounds, adding that the tournament sponsors were grateful for the support which would aid in developing the profile of the sport in Ghana.

    Day three play

    Championship leader Francis Torgah will be aiming to defend his one-shot lead as he tees-off with second-placed Lucky Ayisah and his senior brother Vincent Torgah on day three.

    Torgah (Francis) finished the second round with a total score of 142, he was trailed by Ayisah (143) and Kojo Barnni and Vincent Torgah who were tied on 145 standard scratch score.

    Source: myxyzonline.com

  • Beatrice Mawuli Golf records impressive results

    This year’s of the edition Beatrice Mawuli Nyarko Memorial Golf was held in Sakumono on Saturday with some great display from the competitors.

    Grouped in pros, seniors and amateurs, golfers recorded impressive records in their respective categories.

    The organizer of the three-day competition, John Mawuli Nyarko also known as John Wonders described this year’s edition (Third) as a huge success taking into account the large representation of participants and sponsors.

    “l must admit that this year’s- which is the third edition has been awesome, I least expected the tournament will happen due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but thanks to Tang Palace Hotel, M&J, Southey Contracting Offshore Division (Ensol Energy), Royal VVIP Transport and Micasso Spanish Design.

    “The sponsors have been very supportive from day one, especially Tang Palace, the tournament keeps improving year after year. I am sure my late mom, in whose honour the competition was organized would be happy wherever she is. I lost her when I was just two years.”

    The Captain of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) added ” I want this tournament to be one of the biggest PGA tournaments in Africa.

    “I will like to pay tribute to the founders of the Celebrity Golf Club. Mr and Mrs Bill Tandoh Of blessed memory, Captain of Celebrity Mr David Rener and his team, Miss Jacqueline Bankah, HR Manager Niche chocolate as well as MDV Midea Agent.”

    A-39 Stableford points handed the male category A (0-14) first prize to Teye Lartey, after beating Malcolm Watson by just a stroke, while Richard Agyei placed third.

    Young Michael Kwame Nyarko, Kinder Paradise School, Prampram recorded a 44 points to finish first in the men’s Category B division, while Fenen Amuzu and James Otoo followed with 41 and 36points respectively.

    It was Joy Arkutu, who grabbed the ladies Category A event with a 35 Stableford points with Margaret Owusu Baah and Vivian Dick recording 32 and 28 points in that order.

    Helen Appah emerged tops in the ladies Category B with a 40 Stableford points, while Georgina Andoh (28) beat Jenny Le on count back.

    It was Doctor Paul Owusu Baah, who won the seniors ( 65years above) category.

    Barry Yao Dzadey recorded 141 strokes to beat Vincent Torgah in the pros category.

    Biggie Chibvuri finished third with 143 strokes.

    And for their efforts, they received special cash prizes and trophies.

    Source: Dickson Boadi, Contributor

  • Wimbledon cancellation seems inevitable as emergency meetings held

    A series of emergency meetings is under way to decide whether Wimbledon can go ahead this year.

    The All England Club says a final decision is yet to be made, but the cancellation of the Championships for the first time since the Second World War now seems inevitable.

    The Wimbledon Championships are due to run for two weeks from Monday 29 June.

    The French Open has already been pushed back four months to late September because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    “I guess everyone’s been waiting on it,” Britain’s seven time Grand Slam doubles champion Jamie Murray told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

    “It’s obviously the next big event in the tennis calendar that’s still on the calendar for the moment.”

    BBC Sport understands a decision to abandon this year’s grass court season is likely be made in conjunction with three governing bodies – the Lawn Tennis Association, the Association of Tennis Professionals and the Women’s Tennis Association – within the next 48 hours.

    The All England Club admitted last week that a postponement would not be “without significant risk and difficulty,” and Murray says there are many practical reasons for that.

    “I think for them, it’s difficult to move the tournament back because you’re running into other tournaments that are for the moment still on the schedule,” he explained.

    “And also just things like daylight to host the event. Each week that passes, you get less and less light to play the tournament. And obviously they play until nine and 10 o’clock each night at Wimbledon.”

    The All England Club is confident it will be able to refund ticket and debenture holders through the insurance policies it has in place.

    But tennis will be denied its annual chance to showcase the sport in the UK, and to encourage people to take to the courts.

    The preceding grass court tournaments in Nottingham, Birmingham, Eastbourne and at Queen’s Club in London will also be affected.

    There is likely to be no professional tennis played anywhere until at least 13 July, which leaves players like Murray in the same boat as everyone else.

    “I’m just at home, taking the necessary precautions, and trying to stay as active as I can,” the Scot continued.

    “It’s different. We’re used to being on the road all the time, used to being in different cities every week, and you kind of become institutionalised to that.

    “So even when I’m at events, come Friday, Saturday, when you’re starting to play for big prizes, your mind’s kind of like, ready to go to the next event because that’s just what you’ve been programmed to do.”

    Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

  • Tiger Woods to miss the Players Championship

    Tiger Woods is to spend another week on the sidelines as he bids to overcome his back problem and will miss The Players Championship next week.

    Woods has not played since finishing last – among players who made the cut – at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera in California three weeks ago, when he revealed he had back stiffness.

    The 44-year-old subsequently swerved the WGC-Mexico Championship and also decided not to play in last week’s Honda Classic near his south Florida home.

    It was thought Woods could return in this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational – he has won the tournament at Bay Hill eight times – but he delayed his comeback last week and has now decided to sit out the PGA Tour’s flagship tournament at TPC Sawgrass.

    “Back just not ready,” said Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg, in a text to ESPN. “Not concerning long term, just not ready.”

    Woods has undergone back surgery four times in recent years and this latest delay raises further concerns over his fitness ahead of his defence of the Masters title next month.

    The former world No 1 announced last week he was going to follow last year’s “blueprint” as he prepares to play at Augusta National.

    He did, however, play in The Players Championship – an event he has won twice – last year when he finished in a tie for 30th place.

    The Valspar Championship from March 19-22 and the following week’s WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play are now options for Woods to make his return.

    Source: skysports.com