St Andrews Golf Magazine May/June 2016 by St Andrews Golf Magazine

St Andrews Golf Magazine StAndrewsGolfMagazine.com

St Andrews Links Trophy

May/June 2016

This edition is dedicated to John Kelly 1963-2016

LAUNCHPAD for LEGENDARY careers EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with the 2008 Champion

KEIR MCNICOLL

St Rule Trophy Review

Road To Rio

The Perfect Fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day in St Andrews

StAndrewsGolfMagazine.com

Editor Matt Hooper Contributors John Boyne, Cristina Panama, Chloe Goadby, Mark Dickson, Tom Brockelsby, Reuben Brown, Neil Elder, Paul Laesecke, Anne Hervey, Lisa Turnbull, Kayleigh Hunter, Ruairidh McDonald, Stefanie Kenoyer, Michael Buttacavoli, Elizabeth Bethel, Colin Donaldson, Jason Womack, Marc Gentles (St Andrews Golf Travel), Garry Forrester, Alex Fleming

Photography Matt Hooper, Kevin Kirk (Recounter), Sourced from Rolex/Getty, BMW AG, Flickr, Daimler Media, Tristan Jones/LET, OMEGA Ltd, Gary Player Enterprises, IOC MEDIA, PGA Tour Latinoamerica, Sandra Gal, Maria Balikoeva, Augusta National Golf Club, Scottish Golf, Golf Australia

Design and production Matt Hooper

Publisher Matt Hooper

Special thanks go to Ewen Murray, David Livingstone, Rory McIlroy Inc. Stephen Sweeney, PGA European Tour, R&A, New Golf Club, St Andrews Golf Club, St Regulus Ladies Golf Club, St Rule Club, Thistle Club, Simon Baldwin & Julia McGregor of Destination 66, St Andrews BID, Graham Dalton, Julie Lewis, Iain Marr, Fairmont St Andrews, G1 Group, British Golf Museum, Ziggyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Glenn Lowery/Old Course Hotel, Crail Golfing Society, Trump International Golf Links, Cruden Bay Golf Club, Ladies European Tour, USGA, World Hickory Open Championship, Junior Ryder Cup/Neil Ahern, Arthur de Rivoire, Bradley Neil & Rodney Neil, Gleneagles Hotel, Leading Hotels of the World, IAGTO Media Team, Scottish Golf, IMG, LPGA, Keir McNicoll

Directors Matt Hooper Colin Donaldson

St Andrews Links Trophy preview

St Rule Trophy review

The Perfect Fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day in St Andrews

This publication may not be reproduced in part or whole without the expressed written permission of St Andrews Golf Magazine Limited. ÂŠSt Andrews Golf Magazine Limited 2016 info@standrewsgolfmagazine.com Advertising enquiries Matt Hooper info@standrewsgolfmagazine.com Colin Donaldson info@standrewsgolfmagazine.com

Matt is the editor, co-founder and publisher of St Andrews Golf Magazine. He began writing about golf in September 2012 and has a wealth of knowledge and experience across the golf industry. He is the chief features writer and lead journalist of St Andrews Golf Magazine. He has also written for Pro Golf Now and as an independent contractor for All Square Golf.

Cristina Panama is a Journalism student studying in San Antonio, Texas and is the LPGA Correspondent and features writer for St Andrews Golf Magazine. Cristina is from Guadalajara in Mexico.

As Spring turns to Summer in St Andrews, the major season begins and if the recent St Rule Trophy is anything to go by then we are in for a season for the ages. Pauline Roussin-Bouchard became the youngest ever winner of the tournament at just 16, and St Andrews’ Lauren Whyte came in a very creditable third place. The standard of golf was exceptional and so was the weather, something which all of us – residents and visitors – hope will continue. In this edition of St Andrews Golf Magazine we preview the upcoming St Andrews Links Trophy and speak to 2008 Champion, Keir McNicoll. We look at the serious contenders for the title and round up all of the local news from the game. With Father’s Day around the corner we give you options for a Perfect Father’s Day in St Andrews, and we bring you an extensive preview to the 116th U.S. Open at Oakmont. Our Road to Rio continues with all of the latest Olympic news, including a feature on those stars who have decided not to compete in Rio this August. We also bring you the latest news from the major tours in the sport, including a feature on the proposed alliance between the PGA Tour and LPGA. All of this and more in the 21st edition of St Andrews Golf Magazine.

Matt Hooper Editor info@standrewsgolfmagazine.com

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club announces Keith Macintosh as captain for 2016/17 4 May 2016, St Andrews, Scotland: The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews has announced that Keith Macintosh will serve as Captain in 2016/17. Mr Macintosh has been nominated as Captain by the past Captains of the Club and will begin his year in office with the traditional driving-in ceremony on the first tee of the Old Course on Friday 23 September 2016. A distinguished amateur golfer, Mr Macintosh won the Scottish Amateur Championship at Prestwick in 1979 and the Belgian Open Amateur Championship the following year. The former Scotland international was also a member of the Great Britain and Ireland St Andrews Trophy team that defeated the Continent of Europe 19 ½ - 10 ½ at Royal St George’s in 1980.

Mr Macintosh has served on the Amateur Status and Finance Committees of The R&A. He has been a Member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club since 1994 and, in 1999, won the Royal Medal, the Club’s principal scratch medal prize at its Autumn Meeting. He is an Honorary Member of Cardross Golf Club and was Chairman of Prestwick Golf Club in 2014/15. He plays to a handicap of 3. Born in Cardross, in Argyll, Scotland in 1949, Mr Macintosh studied law at Glasgow University before serving his legal apprenticeship in Glasgow and becoming a solicitor at a practice in Dumbarton. In 1987, he was appointed Company Secretary of Clydesdale Bank PLC. After nine years in the role he returned to practising law as a Partner in practices in Glasgow and then Dumbarton and Helensburgh. He retired in 2009. Residing in Helensburgh, Mr Macintosh lives with his wife Diana and has two sons, Stewart and Scott.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club announces Sir Bob Charles as an Honorary Member 5 May 2016, St Andrews, Scotland: Sir Bob Charles ONZ, KNZM, CBE has become an Honorary Member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. Sir Bob is one of the world’s most renowned and popular golfers, becoming Champion Golfer of the Year after winning The Open in a play-off at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1963. He won nearly 80 titles around the world and was admitted to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2008. “I am extremely proud and gratified to be invited to become an Honorary Member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club,” said Sir Bob. “Winning The Open was a tremendous part of my career and I have always had a huge affinity for the Championship and the wonderful links courses on which it is played. The Club is at the heart of golf in St Andrews and it is a privilege to follow so many other great champions in becoming part of its history.”

Gavin Caldwell, Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, said, “I am delighted to welcome Sir Bob Charles as an Honorary Member of the Club. He has graced the sport for many years as one of its outstanding champions and has given back so much to golf by supporting development initiatives in his native New Zealand. Sir Bob has made a substantial contribution to the growth of golf throughout a long and successful career and thoroughly deserves this recognition.” Born in Carterton on New Zealand’s North Island in 1936, Sir Bob discovered a love for golf at an early age and began work as a bank-teller. He went on to win the New Zealand Open as an amateur in 1954 and enjoyed an extensive amateur career before turning professional in 1960. Sir Bob became the first left-handed golfer to win on the PGA TOUR at the Houston Classic three years later. In that same year, he finished tied with American Phil Rodgers at The Open at Royal Lytham and went on to win the 36-hole play-off by eight shots with a memorable display of putting. In 1969, Sir Bob won the World Match Play Championship and, as well as achieving numerous victories around the world, he amassed a string of top five

finishes in Major Championships, including finishing tied second in The Open in 1968 and second the following year. He then embarked on a successful senior career, winning the Senior Open on two occasions, at Turnberry in 1989 and at Royal Lytham, 30 years on from his victory there in The Open. Sir Bob announced his retirement from competitive golf after the Senior Open in 2010 at the age of 74. Sir Bob received a CBE for services to golf in 1992, a Knighthood in 1999 and was appointed to The Order of New Zealand for services to his home country in 2011.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club’s Local Clubs’ Gold Medal Competition, regarded as the Men’s Strokeplay Championship of St Andrews, was played over The Old Course on Sunday 15th May 2016. This was the 115th staging of the Gold Medal since first played in 1890 (there being no competition during The First and The Second World Wars). A starting Field of 60 was made up of 34 Competitors from The St Andrews Golf Club, 19 from The New Golf Club, 5 from The University of St Andrews Golf Club and 2 from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. At the end of Round 1, the lead was held by Mark Dickson of The New Golf Club with a scratch score of 67, four strokes clear of the Field. The twelve Competitors with the lowest Round 1 scores, and any ties for twelfth place, qualified for Round 2. The qualifying score was 74, and 15 Competitors made the cut. After Round 2 and the conclusion of the Competition, the Runner-up with a 36-hole aggregate scratch scores of 140, was Alister Hain (71 and 69) of The St Andrews Golf Club. The Winner of the Gold Medal, and the “2016 Champion of the Links”, with a 36-hole aggregate scratch score of 139 (67 and 72) was Dr Mark Dickson of The New Golf Club. Mark follows Hamish Ireland as a winner of the Gold Medal from the New Golf Club, adding this prestigious title to the Club Championship which he won last May.

Latest news and results from

ST REGULUS LADIES GOLF CLUB

Herkless Trophy

Livingston Trophy- Handicap Prize

Stewart Cup 2nd Round 2016:

Tuesday 3rd & Wednesday 4th May

1st Susan Suttie & Willie Cargill net 71 (last six)

1. Elaine Moffat (0) 75

Eden Course 1st Ann Robertson & Irene Ray nett 72

2nd Sheena Willoughby & Gordon Rennie net 71

2nd Belinda Sprot & Sherry Underwood nett 73.5 (bih) 3rd Moira Hall & Fay Orr nett 73.5

Eden Course CSS: 73 1st WENDY HOWDEN (24) 71

3. Susan Jackson (+2) 77

Helen Ayton 3rd Round

May 9 Hole Medal

Played on the Old Course

Strathtyrum Stewart Cup 1st Round

2. Barbara Malcolm (7) 77

Sat 21 May

CSS 33 1. Jenny Copper (11) 22 points 2 Maureen Gardiner (28) 20 points 3 Valerie Johnston (28) 19 points

CSS 79 1st S Pinion (21) 77 2nd D Johnston (5) 78 3rd C Hargan (2) 79

2nd JANICE PIRIE (17) 72 3rd BARBARA MALCOLM (7) 73

Thistle Stableford Helen Ayton overall result

Thursday 12th May Mixed Foursomes Sunday 8th May - Eden Course Gowf Trophy - Scratch Prize 1st Fay & Neil Ronaldson 79 2nd Ruth Hughes & Daniel Sommerville 81

Jubilee 1st J Prentice 234

CSS 76 1st M Wilbraham (16) 35 points 2nd F McEwan (12) 3rd S Pinion

35 points

(21) 35 points

2nd C Hargan 236 3rd E Moffat 242

The 2016

St Andrews Links Trophy ÂŠ Matt Hooper

This June 144 aspiring amateurs, including 24 of the world’s top 100, will tee it up on the New and Old Courses of St Andrews Links in the 28th edition of the St Andrews Links Trophy. The Links Trophy has proved to be a launch pad towards greatness for many amateur golfers, none more so than the 2013 U.S. Open Champion, Justin Rose.

Past winners of the Links Trophy to have won on or reached the European Tour include Richard Finch, Matthew Southgate, Tom Lewis, Lloyd Saltman, Oliver Fisher, Steven O’Hara and Russell Claydon. The tournament showcases the very best of Scottish amateurs against many of the

best from Europe and the Southern Hemisphere. Over 20 countries are represented by the field at this year’s tournament, and the competition is sure to be as fierce as ever for one of the UK’s most prestigious amateur titles.

It speaks to the strength of Scottish and British golf that the trophy has been won only three times by golfers from out-with of the British Isles. Somewhat incredibly though, the Trophy has never been lifted by a golfer from St Andrews. This could change in 2016 however, with Local Clubs’ Gold Medal winner, Mark Dickson leading the local contingent.

The Links Trust have also nominated St Andrews Golf Club’s Alister Hain. Hain is currently fifth on the Fife Golfing Association Order of Merit. For all aspiring St Andrews golfers, the first goal is the Club Championship of their respective club, then it is to win the R&A Local Clubs’ Gold

Medal, which earns them a spot in the St Andrews Links Trophy. Then the ultimate goal is to win the Trophy itself, and launch themselves towards a successful amateur career on the way to the European or PGA Tours. Maybe, just maybe, this could be the year.

Ultimate Keir McNicoll is from Carnoustie Country, a stretch of links land which is iconic in its own right, and eight years ago he came across to St Andrews and took its most prized amateur title away with him. The 2008 Champion speaks exclusively to Matt Hooper.

glory

For the likes of Justin Rose and Tom Lewis the St Andrews Links Trophy was a stepping stone towards European Tour and Major success, but for the majority of Links Trophy champions this is the Ultimate Glory. In 2008 the St Andrews Links Trophy field included the likes of Chris Wood, Andrew Johnston and Tommy Fleetwood, all of whom have now won on the European Tour. Amateur golf though, somehow, tends to be more of an even playing field, and raw talent tends to shine even more readily than it does on the major tours of the world. That year the St Andrews Links Trophy was won by Keir McNicoll from Carnoustie, here he discusses his introduction to the game, amateur career, Links Trophy triumph and post win career.

“I guess you could say I grew up at the right time, I was with a large group of juniors who all became low handicap golfers playing the three courses at Carnoustie Links. I reached a scratch handicap just before my 17th birthday and realised then that my future lay in the game, and to reach my potential I needed to go to an American University.

I did a four-year Scholarship at Lynn University in Florida, and the difference it made to my golf, being out there, competing day in and day out, along with some excellent coaching made me a much better player. I came back to Scotland full-time in 2006 and played well enough to earn a place in the Scottish Team. On an individual level I won the East of Scotland Championship at Lundin Links, which was a highlight of a successful season. The other major highlight was finishing third in the St Andrews Links Trophy. I was in the last group in the final round with Oliver Fisher and we were tied with 4 holes to play. Unfortunately that day I didn't manage to get over the line but I learned a few lessons that would very much help me 2 years later.” The Transition from College to elite Amateur golf isn’t always easy, but Keir certainly was

making it look so, however things in 2007 and 2008 didn’t go quite as well.

“I had another solid year with some steady performances and made it to the final of the Scottish Amateur Championship at Prestwick, losing in the final to John Gallagher. 2008 was a strange year, as I felt I wasn't playing well really at all, very inconsistent which was shown in my results prior to the St Andrews Links Trophy, where I finished runner up in the Irish Amateur. However, I missed cuts at both the Brabazon Trophy and Scottish Amateur. But I knew I could always find a way to play well at St. Andrews and my knowledge of the course would give me an advantage against the field.” As someone who grew up playing his golf across the water at Carnoustie, it isn’t always easy to admit a love for St Andrews, but for Keir it happened pretty quickly.

“I fell in love with St. Andrews at the 2004 British amateur when I shot what was one of my best rounds, a 67 in the 2nd round of stroke play to make it to the match play stages. I then caddied in the Open Championship in 2005 for friend and fellow Carnoustie player Eric Ramsay, who finished a fantastic 23rd place.

That caddying experience was the difference I think for me and from then on I always seemed to play well on the old course. I learned things about the course during that week that I still have in my yardage book today and was pivotal in my performances at the links trophy in the years to come.”

Heading to St Andrews for the Links Trophy in June 2008 Keir held a handicap of +4 and was confident.

“I definitely felt I could win it. The experience I had and the lessons learned from the previous years playing in the event plus the caddying experience were all in my favour.”

â&#x20AC;&#x153;On windy days on the old course with 'links trophy pin positions' it's about patience and waiting for your chances. Something I didn't do very well in round three!

We played jubilee the first day and shot 67 then the old course on the Saturday and was a steady 71. Patience was always my motto on the old course and try to take your chances on the easier holes.

Middle of the greens is crucial when the pins are tucked and having great touch and distance control with the putter makes playing away from flags easier to commit to.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;This solid round put me one shot behind good friend and Scotland team mate Callum Macaulay and in the final group for Sunday. The weather in the first couple of days from memory was ok. Just a bit of breeze and sunny. I can't quite remember much about the first two days but I remember being quite happy as I was back in the last

group again for the two rounds on Sunday.

car in the morning I had a strange feeling that I would win.

I slept well on the Saturday night as I had been in this position before, my surroundings were comfortable, I was in my own bed and I knew what to expect the next day. I had a confident feeling and when driving over in the

The condensed format of 36 on the last day was something I had been doing for so long in elite amateur golf that it was very much second nature. It was just another Sunday 36 as far as I was concerned. Having a chance to win with 9 holes to play was the goal.

In the final two rounds my goal was to get back the shots I had dropped previously in the third round and by about the turn I knew I had tied the leader in the clubhouse. At this point there wasn't really anyone on course that was close so I knew I had a target to beat and had 9 holes to beat it. It wasn't the greatest 9 holes of my life but I used all the experience I had built up over years playing and caddying on the course to play the 9 holes in a way that would give me a chance to win the tournament. With the last hole playing down wind I always knew if I could have a chance for a birdie and the win I would be happy. After a big drive into the valley short of the green I faced a tricky putt up and over the slope. The key thing was to leave an uphill putt for my birdie chance and i left it about 8ft from the cup. The putt broke left to right and it seemed to spend an eternity on the left lip before falling

into the cup. It was a wee bit like the Seve putt from the open in 84 and it certainly brought out similar emotions for me!

though and was always something to look back on if perhaps I was to doubt my ability or if I was making the correct decision to step into the paid ranks.

Things could have been very different as he flirted with disaster near the end of the third

I made in the jump to the professional ranks in late 2009 but for two years I struggled to find the form that brought me the success as an amateur. By the end of 2011 my game had deteriorated as had my confidence but I still had a strong passion for the game therefore made the decision to get my PGA qualification.

the 17th hole in round three I thought I had lost a ball out of bounds from the tee but it ended up just inside the boundary line beside the jigger inn. The third round was poor and I really thought I had blown my chances especially when I saw the ball drifting toward the hotel and OOB. But it stayed in and I was able to regroup and come out with a better attitude for round 4.” round. “At

A good attitude, a little bit of luck and a lot of talent saw Keir emerge victorious and he was set to pursue a career as a professional golfer.

“Even before I had won the links trophy I felt my performances as an amateur were worthy of me turning pro and trying to further my career in golf. The Links Trophy was a massive boost

This would allow me to stay in the game, learn new skills and with a bit of hard work and some perseverance I would have the chance to work on my game and get my confidence back without the pressures of playing full time to make a living. Looking back now this was a very smart decision and I am a happy I chose that path. Some people may say I gave up too easily and two years isn't enough time to

'chase the dream' but when you don't have the funds to pay the way then decisions are often made for you.

I'm still competing on the Scottish PGA circuit in between working as the Senior Assistant at Gullane Golf Club.â&#x20AC;?

Working at Gullane has been a fantastic experience for me and after a good few years of hard work and practice I can safely say I have my game back.

The Links Trophy may not have been the stepping stone on the path to glory in the same way as it was for Justin Rose, but it was a monumental achievement in a successful career within golf for a Scot who is contributing to the future of the game.

For Keir McNicoll, as for many in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s field, it was his Ultimate Glory.

The St Andrews Links Trophy

2016 Contenders This year’s St Andrews Links Trophy features a field of 144 amateurs which includes 24 of the world’s top 100 amateurs competing for glory across the New and Old Courses of St Andrews Links from 3-5 June. Here are the genuine contenders to follow Italy’s Federico Zucchetti as the Links Trophy winner:

Jack Hume – Ireland The highest ranked player in the field, WAGR #10, has had a superb season highlighted by winning the European Nations Cup in Spain and South African Amateur. He also finished as runner-up in the Irish Amateur Open Championship and must be considered as the favourite heading into the tournament.

Cameron Davis - Australia The WAGR #17 is enjoying a great year which has included finishing in a tie for 7th place at the PGA Tour of Australia’s Western Australia Open and finishing second at the Avondale Amateur Medal.

Bradley Moore - England The WAGR #24 finished in a tie for second place at the prestigious Lytham Trophy this month and third at the Lake Macquarie International Championship in Australia in January.

Harrison Endycott - Australia Arguably the hottest amateur on the planet in 2016, Harrison Endycott won 4 tournaments straight starting with the Lake Macquarie International, then the Avondale Amateur Medal, Riversdale Cup & South Australian Classic at the start of the year. He has since finished in a tie for 10th at the PGA Tour of Australasia’s Western Australian Open.

Grant Forrest - Scotland The 2014 Champion returns to St Andrews with good vibes after dramatically winning the Battle Trophy in nearby Crail in April.

Guido Migliozzi – Italy A winner on the Italian Pro Tour this year, Guido finished second in the Italian International Amateur Championship in March.

Jamie Bower – England Bower has had a very consistent season highlighted by wins at the Gauteng North Open and Southern Cape Open in South Africa.

Mark Dickson – New Golf Club of St Andrews Mark qualified for the Links Trophy by winning the R&A Local Clubs’ Gold Medal earlier this month, and comes into the tournament as the Club Champion of the New Golf Club, also won on the Old Course, in May 2015. Without a ranking and probably considered an outsider by many, there will not be any player in the field with the detailed knowledge of these courses to rival Mark.

Scott Gregory – England Scott reached the final of the Spanish Amateur Copa S M El Rey, losing to Romain Langasgue, the 2015 British Amateur Champion. He also finished in the top ten of the Wales Open Stroke Play.

Connor Syme – Scotland The Drumoig-based Syme won the Australian Amateur Championship earlier this year, and was in position to win the Battle Trophy at Crail before a spectacular final round collapse. He has also finished in the top ten at the Irish Open Amateur.

Ewen Ferguson – Scotland A member of the 2015 Walker Cup winning team, Ferguson has had a disappointing season but still remains a threat.

Golf Tourism Week set to revolutionise the industry

The inaugural Scottish Golf Tourism Week taking place in St Andrews in 2016 will be a game-changer for golf tourism businesses in Scotland, according to the country’s national tourism organisation. Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, believes the Scottish Golf Tourism Week has the potential to change the way Scotland engages with global golf tour operators and buyers, creating more opportunities than ever before for golf travellers to visit the country where the game began. Supported by VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Golf Tourism Week is a pioneering initiative aimed at bringing the world’s leading buyers to Scotland on annual basis to engage in a one-to-one format with golf tourism businesses from across the country. Roughead said: “Scotland has always been a land of golfing firsts from the original rules of the game, the oldest golf courses and the first ever Open Championship. The Scottish Golf Tourism Week is another great example of that

innovation and will change the way Scotland’s golf businesses engage with global buyers. “Rather than taking Scotland to where the buyers are, we will be bringing the buyers to Scotland and letting the outstanding golfing product speak for itself when selling the country.” Taking place at Fairmont St Andrews in October 2016, the innovative Scottish Golf Tourism Week will see up to 50 carefullyselected worldwide golf tour operators brought to Scotland, the Home of Golf to engage with businesses and destinations on home soil. The week is being organised by PSP Media Group, who also run the successful Scottish Golf Show, and supported by both VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise as a way of giving more Scottish businesses, particularly those who do not have the resources to attend overseas events, unparalleled access to global tour operators and buyers. The week will consist of a series of the potential for up to 2,000 business

meetings as well as familiarisation trips for tour operators, seminars and networking opportunities throughout the week. The week will then culminate in the prestigious Scottish Golf Tourism Awards, where tourism business across Scotland will vie for the title of Scotland’s Best Golf Experience, as voted for by the golfing public. The creation of the Scottish Golf Tourism Week is seen as a strong signal of intent to grow the industry by capitalising on Scotland’s position as the Home of Golf, and the global focus on the country following a series of global golf events in both 2014 and 2015. Roughead added: “It is vital that we build on the successes of recent years given the huge exposure afforded to Scotland on the back of The 2014 Ryder Cup and The Open at St Andrews. We have many more outstanding events to look forward to in future years, including The Open at Royal Troon this year and Carnoustie in 2018 and The Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in 2019 among many others. These events undoubtedly help our world-class golf

tourism industry grow and innovations such as the Scottish Golf Tourism Week will see it continue to go from strength to strength.” Scottish businesses will be offered the chance to exhibit on an individual basis at the event, where they will have the opportunity to meet each of the buyers face-to-face. For some of the smaller businesses it will represent the first time they have been able to engage with key tour operators at an event of this scale. Danny Cusick, Tourism Sector Portfolio Director at Scottish Enterprise, commented: “Scotland has the finest golfing assets in the world as well as a rich golfing history and heritage, attracting 220,000 golf tourists and generating £232million turnover for Scottish companies annually. We want ambitious Scottish golfing businesses to capitalise on this by showcasing their products and services to these global tour operators. We already use this ‘meet the global buyers’ model successfully in other sectors so I’m confident there will be significant opportunities for Scottish companies to win new business by participating in Scottish Golf Tourism Week.”

Tom Lovering, director of event organisers PSP Media Group, added: “As organisers of the Scottish Golf Tourism Week, we appreciate the importance of golf tourism to the whole of the Scottish economy and we have no-doubt that, over the years, this event will add several millions to an already buoyant market place. It makes sense that when selling Scotland to the world, we do it right here on our own doorsteps so buyers can see for themselves the wonderful facilities on offer.”

As one door closes, another one Opens Muirfield vote to retain Male only membership; R&A removes course from Open rota The R&A should use this opportunity to expand its horizons and add new venues to its Open rota

By Matt Hooper

Earlier this month The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers announced the results of a ballot of the membership to admit ladies as members of the club.

The decision of the R&A means that Scotland will no longer, for the foreseeable future, have Muirfield or Turnberry on the rota of courses which host The Open Championship.

64% of those who voted were in favour of admitting women as members, but under club rules there needed to be a majority of two thirds and as this was not reached women will not be members any time soon.

It is a crippling blow to both Scottish golf and The Open, but as one door closes the R&A should use this as an opportunity to seek out new venues and take its greatest championship to different parts of the United Kingdom.

The R&A acted swiftly. Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A said “We have consistently said that it is a matter for the Honourable Company to conduct a review of its membership policy and that we would await their decision. “The R&A has considered today’s decision with respect to The Open Championship. The Open is one of the world’s great sporting events and going forward we will not stage the Championship at a venue that does not admit women as members. “Given the schedule for staging The Open, it would be some years before Muirfield would have been considered to host the Championship again. If the policy at the club should change we would reconsider Muirfield as a venue for The Open in future.” It should be noted that women can play the golf course and use the facilities at the club as guests or visitors, but they cannot be members and use the club in the way their male friends can.

With Royal Aberdeen also not admitting, or even voting on admitting women members, that fine course will not be joining the rota any time soon. And controversial Donald Trump’s masterpiece just outside the city will also not be up for consideration going forward. So where else in Scotland can The Open visit? Castle Stuart, host of this year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, is more than capable of hosting an event of the scale of The Open. It is very far north and that may well be a factor which makes it less appealing for the R&A, but nevertheless it is a stunning venue and with a few tweaks could well be a future Open Championship course. Kingsbarns’ proximity to St Andrews may well put the R&A off staging the championship there, but this world-renowned, bucket-list course is worthy of staging the game’s greatest celebration of Links golf.

Glasgow Golf Club’s magnificent Gailes Links would be a west-coast addition to the rota, and its proximity to both Glasgow (30 miles south) and Northern Ireland make it likely that huge crowds would attend an Open here. OR an even bolder suggestion, why not return to Prestwick Golf Club, where it all began? The course measures just under 7,000 yards but a few tweaks could certainly make it a great venue for a one-off celebration of the history of The Open. The club have a history of promoting female golf and regularly host significant amateur tournaments. Out with of Scotland there are two destinations which have been overlooked as Open hosts for far too long – Wales and South West England. Both of which boast some of the greatest linksland. The Senior Open Championship was staged at Royal Porthcawl in 2014 and only five players broke par on the baked, hard and fast links on the Atlantic Coast of Wales. This certainly makes it the leading contender to host a future Open in Wales, should the R&A ever decide to add it to the rota. In the South West of England there are some truly incredible links courses, notably Saunton, St Enodoc, Burnham & Berrow, Trevose and Royal North Devon. The two standout potential candidates are Saunton and Tevose, both of which have the course and the space to support an event of the scale of The Open.

The venues for future years are set as follows: 2016

Royal Troon

2017

Royal Birkdale

2018

Carnoustie

2019

Royal Portrush

2020

To be confirmed – likely Royal Lytham

2021

To be confirmed – likely St Andrews

This means 2022 and 2023 are likely to be open to being played at a different venue to the courses currently on the rota. These years would almost certainly have been hosted by Turnberry and Muirfield, but their absence from the rota must be filled. Bigotry and hate can be replaced by love and encouragement, and growing the game must be the chief mission of The Open. By spreading The Open’s wings right across the UK the event can inspire future generations from all parts of the country, not just its traditional heartlands.

#InsideStAndrews

When you are staying in St Andrews it is highly likely that your guest house or hotel will offer breakfast, but if you fancy doing something different and sampling what St Andrews has to offer, then there really is only one place to head to. The Rule, on South Street, is named after the Saint Rule (or Regulus) who fled to this area with the bones of St Andrew in AD 345. Here you will find quite possibly the most extensive breakfast menu anywhere, and if the weather is nice and warm then perhaps consider sitting in its private beer garden. Last year The Rule was purchased by Stonegate Pubs and underwent an extensive refurbishment. The result is a mixture of old and new, vintage and contemporary dĂŠcor, but it still retains its quiet and welcoming atmosphere during the day and fun and party feel in the evening. Perfectly located in the heart of St Andrews The Rule is popular with locals, tourists and students alike and in the morning it is a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle.

Breakfast is served from 9am until midday and is wide and varied, including light bites such as a Bacon Sandwich, Sausage and Egg Muffin, American Style Pancakes and Eggs Rarebit, among many others. For those of you who want to start the day with something more filling, or more traditional then there isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t anything better than the BIG Scottish Breakfast. Including Two Lorne sausages, two rashers of bacon, two fried eggs, baked beans, hash browns, mushroom, half a grilled tomato, toast and butter, this will be the best ÂŁ6.29 you ever spend! There is also a smaller version with half the quantity but the same great taste. A Vegetarian Breakfast is also available which includes Two Quorn sausages, two fried eggs, hash browns, mushroom, half a grilled tomato, baked beans, toast and butter. A childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s breakfast is also available. A variety of hot and cold drinks are available to accompany your breakfast. And now you are set for the special day ahead, and as the Old Course is shut how about venturing out of town to the Fairmont St Andrews and the stunning Torrance Course?

The Torrance Course is the flagship course of the Fairmont St Andrews, and begins under the shadow of the magnificent 5 Star hotel. The first hole is short at 358 yards from the yellow tees, but is a dangerous hole and must be played with the correct strategy.

The best line is the right half of the fairway, any tee shot pulled to the left will result in a blind second shot and you may have to navigate the stone wall. The green is protected by a burn which runs down the left side and any misjudged shot will likely find it.

The third hole is also relatively short for a par five at just 458 yards from the yellow tees heading back towards the hotel and clubhouse. A large lake sits on the right side of the fairway and the best line is down the left half of the hole. There is a burn running

across the fairway some 50 yards short of the green, and will likely only come into play should you be going for the green in two and mishit your second shot. The green is wide but narrow, any shots short may be kicked off into the greenside bunkers.

The sixth hole is a wonderful 464-yard par five which sweeps around the rear of the hotel from left to right. The ideal line off the tee is left edge of the Manor House to allow a good view of the green. The green is protected by three deep pot bunkers on the left.

The ninth hole heads back towards the clubhouse and is a 330-yard par four which is protected by an upturned saucer green. The ideal line off the tee is the right edge of the green as the fairway tilts from right to left, away from the hotel.

The back nine has stunning views of St Andrews Bay and the town, and the tenth hole is a wonderful 427-yard par four which doglegs slightly from left to right. The rough on the back nine is far more penal than the front, and there is also a

burn running down the right side of this hole. The green is receptive to a run-in shot which is more links-like than any hole you will have played so far.

The eleventh is a 141-yard par three which is played to a green which has characteristics of a crumpled duvet, when the pin is on the left side any miss to the right will leave a devilishly difficult two-putt for par.

The finish to the Torrance Course is dramatic, with a short par four, followed by a testing par three and a magnificent par five. Arguably the most stunning view on the course is on show at the 364-yard par four, which plays downhill all the way to a green which is divided into two subtle sections.

Any approach long of the green will either finish up against the stone wall, or find a watery grave in St Andrews Bay. The seventeenth hole is a 153-yard par three which plays uphill to a green which is angled at 45 degrees and has a false front. A shot pulled to the left may go out of bounds over the stone wall.

The Torrance Course concludes with a wonderful, uphill 485-yard par five. The ideal line for the tee shot is right of centre, and the longer hitters may be able to attack the narrow but long green. The Torrance Course is perhaps a more enjoyable mix of fun and examination than the Kittocks, and without the breathtaking views it is a must play on any visit to St Andrews. The perfect fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day present!

What’s On In

St Andrews 28-29 May

ST RULE TROPHY, St Andrews Links

3 June

RED PINE TIMBER COMPANY, Byre Theatre

3-5 June

ST ANDREWS LINKS TROPHY, St Andrews Links

4 June

FIFE FARMERS MARKET

4 June

FOOTBALL IN FIVE IMAGES, Byre Theatre

5 June

CHARIOTS 5k RUN, West Sands

8 June

BALGOVE NIGHT MARKET, Balgove Larder

11 June

JERSEY BOYS TRIBUTE ACT, Byre Theatre

12 June

JAZZWORKS CONCERT, MUSA

15-16 June FRACTURED, Byre Theatre 22-24 June TURNING OF THE SCREW, Byre Theatre 25 June

FEELIN’ GOOD BY SPATZ & CO. Byre Theatre

30 June-

BYRE IN THE BOTANICS, Botanic Garden

#InsideStAndrews

Byre in the

Botanics St Andrews 30 June â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6 August (Every Thursday-Saturday exc. Thursday 7 July)

Following hosting corporate events during last summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Open, the Botanic Gardens are to stage live, outdoor performances with the first ever Byre in the Botanics over 6 consecutive weekends from 30 June. Programmed by the Byre Theatre St Andrews, Byre In The Botanics features live shows from Samantha Barks, Barbara Dickson and Rab Noakes, Capercaillie and Jacqui Dankworth, plus a double bill from OperaUpClose, ballet from Berlin's JSLN Dance and Bard In The Botanics' thrilling new Macbeth on the main stage with fully-covered seating. There's classic films and productions from Glyndebourne and Shakespeare's Globe on the big screen, a host of family-friendly activities and a fully-licenced cocktail and Champagne bar. This new event will add to St Andrewsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; appeal and gives the visiting golfer something else to do whilst at the home of golf. Tickets are available at

StAndrewsByreInTheBotanics.com

WORLD PREMIERE WEDNESDAY 15 JUNE

WHAT AN

HONOUR

TOMMY’S HONOUR SHOWCASES ST ANDREWS AND FIFE TO THE WORLD AT THE OPENING GALA OF THE 2016 EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Established in 1947, the Edinburgh International Film Festival is world renowned for discovering and promoting the very best in international cinema - and for heralding and debating changes in global filmmaking. Intimate in its scale, ambitious in its scope, and fuelled by pure passion for cinema in all its manifestations, EIFF seeks to spotlight the most exciting and innovative new film talent, in a setting steeped in history. Films premiered in recent years have included: A MOST WANTED MAN, COLD IN JULY, FRANCES HA, WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS, THE IMPOSTER, BRAVE, TABU, 35 SHOTS OF RUM, THE HURT LOCKER, MOON, FISH TANK, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, MAN ON WIRE, CONTROL, KNOCKED UP, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, TSOTSI, BILLY ELLIOT and AMORES PERROS.

After a string of successful books about the life and times of Old Tom Morris and his son Tommy Morris, we now have the film of the book, TOMMY’S HONOUR, and it is set to be a classic which showcases the history of our town, county and the very beginnings of the game and industry which makes St Andrews famous. This film, although about a golfer and his prodigious golfing son, is about more than just golf. It is about a family, a time, class, tragedy, love and heartbreak. This could be about any topic, it just so happens to be about golf and the most iconic family in St Andrews’ history. The film is based on the Award-winning book, TOMMY’S HONOUR, by Kevin Cook, which tells the story of ‘Golf’s Founding Father and Son’. Old and Young Tom Morris combined to win 8 Open Championships, but their contribution to the game of golf is much greater than the titles they won, and their lives are about far more than just the titles they won, and Cook’s book won the Herbert Warren Wind Golf Book of the Year. Now, directed by Jason Connery, son of Sean, and produced by Gutta Percha Productions, TOMMY’S HONOUR is brought to life on the big screen. Shot entirely on location in Scotland the film showcases St Andrews, Fife and Scotland to the world. Much of the film is shot in St Andrews, but elements are also filmed in towns such as Falkland and Peebles. And whilst the film is set in mid-Victorian Scotland, it will have undoubted tourism benefits for the wider Fife area. The film itself has an all-star cast, which adds to its credibility. Old Tom Morris is played by Peter Mullan, whose role as the recovering alcoholic in My Name is Joe won him the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1998. A variety of roles in gritty British films, including Trainspotting, Tyrannosaur and Shallow Grave, is balanced with performances in blockbusters including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Braveheart and War Horse.

Tommy Morris is played by Jack Lowden, who is a renowned theatre actor that has broken through into television and film in recent years. Meg Drinnen is Tommy’s love interest and is played by Ophelia Lovibond. Ophelia is a renowned television and film actress whose credits include Turnout, Chatroom, A Single Shot, GOZO and Mrs. Popper’s Penguins. Alexander Boothby is a key character in the story and is played by arguably the film’s most renowned and successful actor, Sam Neill. Sam has starred in Jurassic Park, The Horse Whisperer, Hunt for Red October and many major TV series. Several of the characters are played by established and rising Scottish stars of stage and screen, including Willie Park who is played by Iain Pirie. Pirie has featured in Gangs of New York, The Dark Knight and Les Miserables.

The 2016 Edinburgh International Film Festival runs from 15-26 June and is one of 12 Festivals which run throughout Summer, Autumn and Winter in Scotland’s Capital City. Beginning with Imaginate in May and running through to Edinburgh’s Hogmanay in December, there really is something for everyone in this diverse season of cultural festivals. For more details check out www.edinburghfestivalcity.com The 2016 Edinburgh International Film Festival launches with the Opening Gala, on Wednesday 15 June, featuring the World Premiere of Tommy’s Honour and runs through to the Closing Gala on Sunday 26 June, featuring the World Premiere of Whisky Galore! During the Festival the EIFF hand out several Official Awards, recognising film in various categories, and over 150 films are showcased, many of which are World or UK Premiere’s.

From the two clips released of TOMMYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HONOUR, you can get a feeling that this film will have quite the atmosphere about it. Of course, down the years, there have been several truly appalling sports movies, but this will not be one of them. There have been many films made about the game of golf, and without having seen the film yet, I would liken it to The Greatest Game Ever Played and Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius. Both movies told the true story of golfers from the early part of the 20th century, and told more of the story of their characters than just highlighting the historic moment of winning a golf tournament. The Greatest Game Ever Played, a Disney production, told the story of both Francis Ouimet and Harry Vardon, and how their lives compared and contrasted in the lead-up to the 1913 United States Open. Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius tells the story of the most successful amateur in the history of the game, Robert Tyre Jones Jr. But with the production and lming on location, direction of a passionate golfer in Jason Connery and the attention to detail, not to mention being based on such a critically acclaimed book, we believe this will be the most successful golf movie ever.

UK PREMIERE TUESDAY 21 JUNE

Following the World Premiere of TOMMY’S HONOUR six days later is the UK Premiere of the Documentary, The Founders. Long overdue, this film is about finally recognizing those unseen efforts and identifying The Founders as true icons of sport and equality. The film isn’t just for those who frequent the golf course. This film is for anyone who believes in the transformative power of defying the odds. The Founders is an iconic story of thirteen women who battled society, prejudice and preconception to create a lasting, global sporting legacy. With humour, grit and raw talent, these underdogs not only changed the course of women’s sport but created a timeless story of redemption and endurance. Through rare, archival footage, historical re-enactments and current-day interviews with surviving founders and leading players, we tell that story – a special legacy – in this feature-length documentary. While their male counterparts drew adoring crowds and handsome purses for their athletic achievements, The Founders used money from their own pockets to stage tournaments in small, far-flung towns that questioned whether female golfers were even worth watching. Together, they logged thousands of miles a week just for the opportunity to tee off on courses they also had to groom!

With the creation of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, the founders staked their claim on the green and forged a path for future women athletes to be celebrated and taken seriously. In a year in which we have seen Muirfield reject the admission of female members and when women golfers will tee it up in Rio for the Olympic Games, it is quite timely that this film has been released. It will perhaps serve as a reminder of the times when women were not treated with equality and dignity, and as a nudge to those at the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers to change their archaic membership policy.

ACCREDITED MEDIA AT THE 2016 EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IN JULY’S ST ANDREWS GOLF MAGAZINE WE WILL BRING YOU A FULL REVIEW OF TOMMY’S HONOUR AS PART OF OUR PIONEERS SPECIAL EDITION

Written by Matt Hooper Images Courtesy USGA. All Rights Reserved, ©USGA/John Mummert, ©USGA/Robert Walker, ©USGA/Chris Keane, ©USGA/Steven Gibbons, ©USGA/Darren Carroll, ©USGA/J.D. Cuban, ©USGA/Simon Bruty ESPN Images, Phil Ellsworth

After the drama of the second nine on Sunday at The Masters, the world’s greatest golfers head to Pennsylvania for the year’s second major at historic Oakmont Country Club. As usual with the majors there are storylines everywhere you look. Phil Mickelson arrives at his 27th U.S. Open Championship still looking to be victorious for the first time, and in the process complete the career grand slam; Jordan Spieth will be looking to bounce back from his collapse at Augusta and both Jason Day and Rory McIlroy will be desperate to improve upon their Masters performances; Masters Champion Danny Willett leads the British charge including 2013 U.S. Open Champion Justin Rose, Paul Casey, Andy Sullivan, Russell Knox, Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick, and Tiger Woods may make his long-awaited return to major championship golf. All of the action will unfold over four days of championship golf on one of the world’s most demanding and exacting courses.

The Church Pews and the glassy greens evoke memories of 1962 and the epic battle between Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus; the 1973 final round of 63 from Johnny Miller and the titanic playoff between Loren Roberts, Colin Montgomerie and Ernie Els in 1994. For the 9th time Oakmont Country Club plays host to America’s National Championship, and its fearsome course is set to torment the best in the game at the start of golf’s most historic of summers. Several recent U.S. Opens have tried to shed the championships’ image of being a brutal test of golf, with par being the obsession and golf being a stuffy country club game. 2002 and 2009 were played at the fully public Bethpage State Park, and Torrey Pines (2008) & Chambers Bay (2015) followed. Congressional was soft and receptive in 2011, enabling 20 players to shoot under par for the four rounds. Martin Kaymer played four of the greatest rounds the championship has ever seen at the redesigned Pinehurst, to win by 8 on a course without rough. Now in 2016, for the 116th United States Open Golf Championship, we return to a golf course that is The U.S. Open. A course which saw Angel Cabrera win nine

years ago with a four-round score of 5over-par. The cut fell at +10, five shots higher than in 1994 and the joint highest cut mark in the last 30 U.S. Opens. This course gave birth to the rivalry of Palmer and Nicklaus, with the latter claiming the first professional major of his career, in his first major as a professional. It also saw its favourite son, Arnold Palmer, play his final round in the U.S. Open, some 22 years ago in the sweltering summer of 1994. It launched the epic career of Ernie Els that same week and crowned the first South American winner of the championship nine years ago. The two things you can predict about a U.S. Open at Oakmont is it will be hard and it will be exciting. Nine years ago Cabrera won by a single stroke from Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk; in 1994 Els won in sudden-death after an 18-hole playoff; in 1983 Larry Nelson defeated Tom Watson with a final round of 67 to win by a shot; 10 years earlier Johnny Miller came storming through the field with a record-tying low round of 63 to win from 6 behind Oakmont’s hero, Arnold Palmer.

In 1962 the would-be Big Three of Palmer, Nicklaus and Player were all in the top 6 heading into the final round. Nicklaus, playing in his first major as a professional, tied Palmer after 72 holes and then defeated the King in an 18-hole playoff. Ben Hogan won the U.S. Open here in 1953, part of his greatest ever year in which he won all three majors he played in. His winning score of 5-under-par was the only under-par winning total in all of the U.S. Opens in the 1950’s and some 16 shots less than the 1935 champion took on his way to victory. Hogan won by six shots and was the only player under par. In 1935 a relative unknown, Sam Parks Jr. defeated the likes of Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen and Horton Smith to win his only significant professional title. The winning score was 11-over-par and the cut was 17-over-par. By contrast the winning score at Baltusrol in 1936 was 8-underpar, with the cut falling at 7-over. There are many courses which the USGA set up to be brutal, but at Oakmont it is the club themselves which want their course playing as hard as possible. Even for the members. 1994 Champion Els said in 2007 that “These are the toughest greens we’ll ever play in U.S. Open history, or any other golf tournament we play.”

Oakmont has 210 bunkers, by contrast the Old Course in St Andrews has 112 and Augusta just 44. The average winning score at Oakmont is +1.125, contrastingly different to the average winning score of the last 8 U.S. Opens, which is -4.125. So, at 5 shots harder than the average modern U.S. Open course, Oakmont could be a massive shock to the likes of Spieth, Day and McIlroy, all of whom play their first U.S. Open at the course since turning professional. Even if two of them are U.S. Open Champions and the other a runnerup. In the 8 previous U.S. Opens played at Oakmont, a grand total of 23 golfers have finished under par for four rounds. That is 1.8% of all competitors who have played in the U.S. Open at Oakmont. The USGA and Oakmont have made very little changes to the course since 2007, with Mike Davis indicating the USGA are happy with how the course was nine years ago. Which means we’re in for a real U.S. Open.

One of the hardest holes in golf, this long par 4 requires a blind mid-iron to a green that slopes away from you and will receive only the crispest of iron shots. It was here that Aaron Baddeleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 54-hole, two shot lead crumbled, beginning the final round with a treble-bogey 7 and posting a final round of 10-over-par 80.

The Famous Church Pews bunker on the left and severe fairway bunkers on the right make for a difficult driving hole. A good drive sets up a short iron to an elevated, but fairly flat green (by Oakmont Standards) that slopes slightly away from you. Johnny Miller hit driver, 5-iron to 25 feet on this hole in 1973 and drained the putt for his third successive birdie in his historic final round of 63.

The Church Pews again penalize an errant drive left and the bunkers in the right rough are very severe. However, for the long hitters, this par 5 is reachable and definitely a birdie hole. Johnny Miller hit driver, 3 wood into the greenside bunker here in 1973 and nearly holed his bunker shot for an eagle, settling for a fourth straight birdie to start his final round of 63.

This very difficult, blind, uphill driving hole has a severe ditch left and severe pot bunkers right. This pivotal hole, which plays as a par 5 for the members, will play as a long par 4 for the U.S. Open. The huge severely undulating green also serves as the practice putting green. In 1973 this hole was played as a par five, and Miller took two putts from 40 feet to make birdie. All of the contenders also made birdie, so the par of the hole did not alter the result.

This is by far the most picturesque hole at Oakmont and perhaps the greatest finishing par 4 in golf. You must drive the fairway to avoid the "chip out" bunkers left and right. An uphill midiron to a very undulating green makes for a great finish. Arnold Palmer made double-bogey here in 1962, when a birdie would have tied Nicklaus and sent the 18-hole play-off into extra holes.

The defending U.S. Open Champion comes to Oakmont off the back of a crushing loss at Augusta and having missed the cut at The Players Championship. He failed to win his hometown event at the AT&T Byron Nelson after beginning the final round in a tie for the lead and is certainly lacking confidence. However, Spieth must be considered as one of the favourites for the Championship and if he can find his putting touch he will certainly be there with a chance on Sunday. 2015

CHAMPION

2014

T-17

2013

CUT

The 2011 U.S. Open Champion had a consistent but frustrating year until he finally, spectacularly broke through for a win at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open this month, and if he can keep on the fairways at Oakmont then there is little doubt as to his ability to add victory in Pennsylvania to his stunning, dominant win at Congressional five years ago.

2015

T-9

2010

CUT

2014

T-23

2009

T-10

2013

T-41

2012

CUT

2011

CHAMPION

The 2013 U.S. Open Champion must surely be a good bet for Oakmont, after having won on another renowned tough course, Merion. Roseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s combination of accuracy off the tee and deft putting make him a contender to win on any course. 2015

T-27

2014

T-12

2013

CHAMPION

2012

T-21

2011

CUT

2009

CUT

2008

CUT

2007

T-10

2004

CUT

2003

T-5

The World Number One has played in five U.S. Open Championships and has recorded four top ten finishes, his form and ability make him arguably the standout contender to add a U.S. Open to the maiden PGA Championship he won last August. His driving is arguably better than anyone on the planet, and his vastly improved short game has seen him win three times heading to Oakmont. 2015

T-9

2014

T-4

2013

T-2

2012

T-59

2011

T-2

The bookies don’t fancy Danny Willett’s chances of adding a U.S. Open to a Masters title, but the Yorkshireman has a little bit of something special about him, much in the way both Jacklin and Faldo had. Both of those did very well in America’s National Championship and after a period of rest and a solid week in Ireland under his belt, Willett could well feature heavily again. 2015

CUT

2014

T-45

Graeme McDowell is working his way, slowly but surely, back towards the top of the game again. His victory at the Mayakoba Classic last Autumn was a high point in a year to forget, but his recent performance at Sawgrass will give him hope that another major title is just around the corner. It is fair to say if McDowell makes the cut in the U.S. Open then he generally finishes high up the leaderboard. 2015

CUT

2014

T-28

2013

CUT

2012

T-2

2011

T-14

2010

CHAMPION

2009

T-18

2007

T-30

2006

T-48

2005

T-80

Paul Casey has to be considered as a dark horse at Oakmont. In the last U.S. Open played here he finished tied for 10th, and after a dip in form caused by multiple injuries and personal problems, the former world number three has climbed back up from 122nd in the world to world number 24. His power and accuracy off the tee will make him a hard player to beat. 2015

T-39

2014

T-56

2013

T-45

2011

CUT

2010

T-40

2009

CUT

2008

T-65

2007

T-10

2006

2005

2004

CUT

2003

CUT

For so long Lee Westwood was considered as the best player never to have won a major championship, and his performance at Augusta may have reminded many why that is the case. His combination of power and accuracy off the tee and with his irons will surely make him a contender at Oakmont. His putting is vastly improved, and if he can find consistency for four days then he may well be lifting the trophy on Sunday.

BEST U.S. OPEN FINISHES 2011

T-3

2008

2000

T-5

1998

T-7

2012

T-10

Is this finally the year in which Phil Mickelson wins that elusive U.S. Open? His record at Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Championship is quite remarkable, and thirty years on from Nicklausâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s incredible charge to win at Augusta, could we see a fairy-tale story for the man who will be 46 in the week of the championship?

BEST U.S. OPEN FINISHES 1999

T-2

2002

2004

2006

T-2

2009

T-2

2013

T-2

Rory McIlroy Jason Day

7-1 7-1

Jordan Spieth 8-1 Dustin Johnson

18-1

Justin Rose 20-1 Rickie Fowler

25-1

Adam Scott 25-1 Bubba Watson 35-1 Phil Mickelson 40-1 Danny Willett

40-1

Angel Cabrera 200-1

The United States Golf Association (USGA) will kick off its celebration of the 116th U.S. Open Championship with a series of golforiented community activities ahead of the championship proper, which will be contested June 16-19 at Oakmont Country Club outside Pittsburgh. The USGA’s Open for All™ marks its fourth year of community-engagement activities that began with the 2013 U.S. Open Championship at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. Programming aims to deepen the connection between residents of the host site region and the championship, presenting the U.S. Open as a point of inspiration to drive awareness of, and interest in, the game of golf. Taking advantage of the greater Pittsburgh area’s passion for sports, this year’s Open for All activities will begin six weeks prior to championship play as excitement builds into mid-June for the U.S. Open’s arrival at Oakmont, one of the game’s grandest stages, which is hosting the championship for the record ninth time.

U.S. Open Trophy Tour powered by Lexus April 26 through June 19 Starting April 26, the iconic U.S. Open Trophy will be taken from the USGA’s headquarters in Far Hills, N.J., on a “whistle-stop” tour in a 2016 Lexus GX Sport Utility Vehicle en route to its final destination of Oakmont Country Club. The trophy’s tour will include stops at the

Pittsburgh Marathon, Fox and Friends on FOX News Channel in New York City, Major League Baseball stadiums, and several public-access golf facilities in the Pittsburgh region. Along with seeing the trophy in person, fans will also have the opportunity to track the trophy’s progress at usopen.com/trophytour, and actively engage in its journey by using the hashtags #LexusGolf and #USOpen to locate the trophy in real time.

Learning Science Through Golf/STEM Education Heinz History Center – May 2 through June 19 As part of the USGA’s ongoing commitment to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, and sharing these principles through the lens of golf, the USGA will debut its “Learning Science Through Golf” exhibit May 2 through June 19 at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh. Multiple interactive stations demonstrate various elements of the game of golf, including equipment, aerodynamics and turfgrass, to help make the game more interesting to learn and play. With an orientation toward schoolaged kids, the Learning Science Through Golf exhibit will be highlighted by the following interactive stations: · Science: Agronomy – How different types of turf retain water

· Technology: Aerodynamics – What determines a golf ball’s flight · Engineering: Friction and Spin – How motion affects the distance a golf ball travels · Math: Volume and Displacement – How a golf club’s volume is determined

American Golf History – Coming To Life Carnegie Science Center – May 2 through June 19 The rich and vibrant history of golf in America comes to life in a new, interactive display that is part of Open for All programming for the first time in 2016: American Golf History – Coming to Life. Featuring a custom-built hitting bay and golf simulator, the exhibit allows guests to “live” American history by hitting drives with periodbased golf equipment from the 1920s, 1960s and modern day, then compares individual performance against the driving performance of the U.S. Open champions from Oakmont of each era. Co-created with 1220 Exhibits, SkyTrak and Topgolf Media, the interactive exhibit also provides guests with fun facts about American history and Pittsburgh history and the important role that golf has played in the evolution and development of each.

Epic Putt Challenge Select DICK'S Sporting Goods locations – May 14 through June 11 Highlighting the pivotal role of the 18th green in U.S. Open Championship history, the USGA has designed the “Epic Putt Challenge,” which offers guests the opportunity to relive epic moments from previous U.S. Opens. A 55-foot artificial-turf putting green allows fans an opportunity to recreate many of the greatest 18th-green putts in U.S. Open history. The Epic Putt Challenge will be available at select DICK's Sporting Goods stores in the Pittsburgh area. Participants can relive dramatic moments by Payne Stewart (1999), Tiger Woods (2008) and Hale Irwin (1990) prior to taking on a 50-foot putt, similar to one which may determine the winner at this year’s U.S. Open Championship. More information about the schedule and locations of the Epic Putt Challenge can be found at usopen.com/openforall.

“The USGA’s Open for All programming reflects a deep commitment on the part of the USGA to bring the game of golf to new audiences in fun and interesting ways,” said Sarah Hirshland, USGA senior managing director of Business Affairs. “The U.S. Open Championship brings the world’s greatest players onto the game’s grandest stages and deep into the hearts of communities. We want Open for All, which might be a first introduction

to golf, to be inviting, approachable, interactive and engaging. If in some small way, it ignites an interest in the game, and entices just one more person to engage with golf, or pick up a club after the U.S. Open Championship leaves town, we feel like Open for All has been a success.”

U.S. Open shows the way in televised golf coverage with broadcast partners FOX and USOpen.com. FOX Sports, the domestic broadcast partner of the United States Golf Association, will air more than 40 hours on FOX, FS1 and FOX Deportes and continuous live streaming on FOX Sports Go from the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, which is hosting the championship for a record ninth time. Additionally, the USGA will live stream approximately 38 hours from the U.S. Open on its digital platforms – usopen.com, usga.org and the U.S. Open app. The USGA’s global digital coverage begins with exclusive live action on three channels – two featured groups channels and a featured holes channel – on usopen.com and the U.S. Open app from 7:30-10 a.m. EDT during the first and second rounds of the U.S. Open (June 1617). The USGA will also broadcast the 116th U.S. Open to more than 170 countries and

territories on six continents through its international broadcast partners. “We are grateful for the commitment and dedication of our partners at FOX Sports to enhance the coverage of our national championships through innovative storytelling,” said Mike Davis, USGA executive director/CEO. “We also look forward to sharing another year of golf history and engaging with fans throughout the season with live digital streaming on usga.org, usopen.com and the U.S. Open app.” Building up to the U.S. Open, FS1 will present six hours of preview programming, including the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying Show, which follows the conclusion of domestic sectional qualifying and airs at 12:30 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, June 7. Live championship coverage will begin at 1:30 p.m. EDT on Friday, June 10 when groupings and starting times are announced on FS1’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd, featuring FOX Sports’ lead golf analyst Paul Azinger. Next, FS1 will go live with “Wednesday at the U.S. Open” on June 15 from 10 a.m.-noon EDT. The first and second rounds of the U.S. Open, June 16-17, will air on FS1 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. EDT, followed by coverage on

FOX from 5-8 p.m. EDT each day. FOX will provide coverage of the third round on Saturday, June 18, from 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. EDT and of the fourth round on Sunday, June 19, from 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. EDT. FOX Deportes will also televise the third and fourth rounds in Spanish from 4-7 p.m. EDT on June 18 and 4:30-7:30 p.m. EDT on June 19. Additionally, FS1 will air 30-minute wrap-up shows following each round of the U.S. Open. If necessary, an 18-hole playoff will be contested on Monday, June 20, starting at noon EDT, and FOX will provide coverage through the playoff’s completion. FOX made a controversial change to its broadcast team by removing Greg Norman at the end of 2016, his replacement will be Paul Azinger. Shane O’Donoghue will be the lead anchor for in-studio pieces, with Joe Buck and Azinger the lead commentators in an on-air team which includes Tom Weiskopf, Brad Faxon, Steve Flesch, Corey Pavin and Holly Sonders.

In the UK Sky Sports will celebrate 25 years of covering the U.S. Open at the place it first did an outside Broadcast from in 1994. The championships of 1991, 1992 and 1993 were shown via the feed from host broadcaster ABC, but in 1994 at Oakmont Sky brought golf fans in the UK the story of Colin Montgomerieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bid for the title with their own on-site team including David Livingstone and Ewen Murray. Two years later at Oakland Hills, Butch Harmon joined the team for the first time, and Skyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s U.S. Open coverage, the first major they broadcast, has gone from strength to strength ever since. They have since added their own cameras on-site to augment the feed from the host broadcasters, and this year will be their biggest U.S. Open to date, and part of their biggest ever year of golf. Last year they completed the set of majors by adding The Open Championship to their portfolio. This April they broadcast their seventh Masters Tournament, and next month they will be at Royal Troon for The Open, followed by Baltusrol for the PGA and Hazeltine for the Ryder Cup. But it is the US Open which has been at the heart of growing Sky Sports golf coverage since the channel launched 25 years ago.

USOpen.com and US Open App June 16/Thursday

7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

First Round: featured groups 1 First Round: featured groups 2

Thursday 16 June

First Round: featured holes

10am-5pm

FS1

5-8pm

FOX

June 17/Friday

7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

Second Round: featured groups 1 Second Round: featured groups 2 Second Round: featured holes

June 18/Saturday

Friday 17 June 10am-5pm

FS1

5-8pm

FOX

11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Third Round: featured groups 1 Third Round: featured groups 2

Saturday 18 June 11am-7pm

FOX

Third Round: featured holes

Sunday 19 June June 19/Sunday

11 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

11am-7.30pm

FOX

Fourth Round: featured groups 1 Fourth Round: featured groups 2

Monday 20 June

Fourth Round: featured holes

12-4pm

FOX Playoff (if necessary)

All times United States Eastern

Thursday 16 June Tuesday 14 June

3pm-1am

10am

In Bloom: The Justin Rose Story

7pm

US Open Official Film: 2007

Friday 17 June

8pm

US Open Official Film: 2008

3pm-1am

9pm

US Open Official Film: 2009

10pm

US Open Official Film: 2010

11pm

US Open Official Film: 2011

Saturday 18 June 4pm-12am

Wednesday 15 June

Sunday 19 June 4pm-12.30am

11am

US Open Official Film: 2012

12pm

US Open Official Film: 2013

1pm

US Open Official Film: 2014

2pm

US Open Official Film: 2015

Monday 20 June 5pm-9pm

Playoff (if necessary)

All times British Summer Time

Red Button and SkySports.com streaming of USOpen.com coverage still to be confirmed at the time of publication

Golf Returns to the Olympic Games By Matt Hooper

St Golf Andrews Magazine StAndrewsGolfMagazine.com

Olympic News

Magazine

U.S. Gold Medalists Franklin and Vonn get behind Olympic Golf Story by IGF

With little more than four months until the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, United States Olympic gold medallists Missy Franklin and Lindsey Vonn have thrown their weight behind golf’s inclusion in the Games and given professional golfers a taste of what to expect in August. The pair were brimming with enthusiasm about golf being an Olympic sport as a means of growing the game globally as Franklin joined golfers Shanshan Feng, Sandra Gal, International Golf Federation Executive Director Anthony Scanlon and Olympic course designer Amy Alcott on stage at a press conference on the eve of the first major of the year, the ANA Inspiration, at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, where Vonn was also speaking at the ANA Inspiring Women in Sports Conference. Four-time Olympic gold medallist swimmer Missy Franklin, a star of London 2012, where she won five medals in total, said: “It’s amazing what being in an Olympics can do and I think it will help golf reach so many more people, which is really the main goal of the Olympics: to inspire and reach out. For golf to be there, it’s going to be amazing for the new generation to see golf in a way they’ve never seen it before.

It’s going to be so special for all these athletes, for all the hard work they’ve put in, to be able to show it on a stage like the Olympics. I’m so excited for them and excited for golf.” Vonn, the Olympic downhill skiing champion at Vancouver 2010, where she also won a Bronze in the Super-G, was equally enthusiastic. She said: “I think the Olympics showcase any sport and to finally have golf in the Olympics again is going to be incredible, especially for women’s golf. Men’s golf is so popular everywhere but women’s golf has a lot more room to grow and I think the Olympics will be an amazing platform for that. I’m excited to see how it goes and I think the athletes are extremely excited. I’m looking forward to watching them. I’m a fan of women’s golf. It’s a growing sport and there are a lot of stars and its fun to watch.” Franklin shared her experiences of winning Olympic gold, before China’s Feng and Gal, from Germany, expressed their own excitement. Franklin commented: “Standing on the podium, watching your flag go up, hearing your national anthem, and knowing that you’ve accomplished something not only for yourself but also for your team and

country, it’s truly an incredible feeling to have.”

Feng said: “Listening to Missy, I’ve been visualizing how I will react if I’m in the same position. I think I will cry, not because I’m sad but I’m so happy, not only for myself but also my country. China is not one of the strongest countries for golf but when we see that there are more golfers in China, once the sport becomes more popular, we have a lot of people, so watch out… the Chinese are coming!” Gal said: “I find it hard to talk about. It would be an extreme honor not only to make your country proud but also your team and showing all the work that you’ve put in. I’m excited about experiencing such a huge, world class event.” LPGA World Golf Hall of Fame member Amy Alcott, who, together with Gil Hanse, designed the new Reserva da Marapendi course in Rio, which hosted the Olympic Test Event in early March, explained the vision for the course to be playable for all types of player, from the elite female and male players to the beginner.

“We wanted to make this a course that would put the women into the same hitting areas and hitting the same shots that the guys would play. The front nine will probably play a little longer, a little bit tougher,” Alcott said. “The course is 7200 yards and we’re hoping that it plays firm and fast designed as a links golf course. The closing holes will be a little bit shorter and give people a chance to catch up. The challenge was to have the bunkers in play the same way for the women as they were for the men and not to favour a certain type of player.” IGF Executive Director Antony Scanlon said that the recent Test Event amplified the enthusiasm of the players. “Three weeks ago we had a Test Event in Rio and the excitement among the Brazilian players participating became infectious. The golf course was fantastic, a credit to Amy and Gil. Rio is a great place for a party and a great place for an Olympic event. Golf is back in the Olympics and it’s going to be great to watch.”

Rio 2016 Olympic Torch Relay gets under way as Olympic flame lit in Olympia IOC President says Games â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;will be a message of hope in troubled timesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

The Olympic flame for the Olympic Games Rio 2016 was lit today in Ancient Olympia, Greece, during a ceremony organised by the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC). The lighting marks the symbolic start of the Olympic Torch Relay, which will see the flame travel for six days and 2,235km around Greece before being officially presented to the organisers of the Olympic Games Rio 2016 on 27 April at the Panathenaic Stadium, site of the first modern Olympic Games Athens 1896. With 106 days to go until the Opening Ceremony of the Games, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach took the opportunity to deliver a message of solidarity with the people of Brazil, which is currently experiencing political and economic difficulties. The IOC President also spoke of the power of the Olympic flame in promoting peace and spreading the Olympic values.

“These Olympic Games will be a message of hope in troubled times – and the flame will carry this message into all corners of Brazil and, indeed, all the world,” said President Bach. “In these difficult days that Brazil is facing, the flame is a timeless reminder that we are all part of the same humanity. The flame is an ancient symbol of peace and harmony, a symbol of the power of humanity to come together despite our differences. This will be the greatest legacy of the Olympic Games for Brazil and for the world. He continued: “The torch relay will spread the message of our shared humanity to all people of the beautiful country of Brazil, a nation that is built on the idea that its strength comes from uniting all of its cultural richness. Brazil is unique in its diversity. Let the celebration of the XXXI Olympiad give reason to all the people of this vast and wonderful country to show the world the true meaning of unity in diversity.” Click here for the full speech. One of the 450 people to carry the torch in Greece will be a Syrian refugee who has claimed asylum in the country. The as yet unnamed refugee will run through the Open Reception Centre for refugees in Athens, the same refugee centre President Bach visited in January. Before departing for Brazil, the torch will visit Geneva and Lausanne, home of the IOC. The Brazilian leg of the Olympic Torch Relay will begin on 3 May in Brasilia.

Attending the lighting ceremony were President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos; Brazilian Minister of Sport Ricardo Leyser; President of the Organising Committee for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games Carlos Nuzman, President of the HOC Spyros Capralos; IOC VicePresident and Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for the Olympic Games Rio 2016 Nawal El Moutawakel; and IOC Vice-President Zaiqing Yu.

NBC Olympics Announces GOLF Channel Programming Plans, Delivering More Than 130 Live Hours Live Coverage of Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (Aug. 11-14) & Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (Aug. 17-20) Olympic Competitions to Span from Opening Tee Shot to Final Putt & Medal Ceremony 300 Total Hours of Competition and Wrap-Around News Coverage

ORLANDO, Fla. (May 3, 2016) – Golf’s return to the Olympic Games for the first time in 112 years represents a modern-day first as Golf Channel joins NBC Sports’ unmatched Olympic heritage to become the first singlesport cable network to provide live coverage of its sport’s Olympic competition. NBC Olympics has announced its on-air programming plans for golf coverage during the 2016 Rio Olympics. Golf Channel will feature more than 130 live hours of Olympics programming in total, surrounded by in-depth analysis previewing and recapping the competition and highlighted by live coverage of the Men’s and Women’s Olympic Golf competition (Men’s: Thursday, Aug. 11 – Sunday, Aug. 14; Women’s: Wednesday, Aug. 17 – Saturday, Aug. 20). In total, Golf Channel will provide nearly 300 hours dedicated to Olympics programming in August. Similar to NBC Sports’ all-encompassing coverage of marquee events like the Ryder Cup, NBC Olympics’ live coverage of the men’s and women’s competitions in Rio will begin with the opening tee shot and continue until the medals are awarded. Golf Central’s Live From the Olympics also will provide wraparound news coverage immediately prior to and following live coverage of the competition.

Monday August 8

Golf Central Live from the Olympics

9am-3pm and 6pm-8pm

Tuesday August 9

Golf Central Live from the Olympics

9am-3pm and 6pm-8pm

Wednesday August 10

Golf Central Live from the Olympics

9am-3pm and 6pm-8pm

Thursday August 11

Golf Central Live from the Olympics

5am-6.30am

MEN’S ROUND ONE LIVE

6.30am-3pm

Golf Central Live from the Olympics

3pm-5pm

Golf Central Live from the Olympics

5am-6.30am

MEN’S ROUND TWO LIVE

6.30am-3pm

Golf Central Live from the Olympics

3pm-5pm

Golf Central Live from the Olympics

5am-6.30am

MEN’S ROUND THREE LIVE

6.30am-3pm

Golf Central Live from the Olympics

3pm-5pm

Golf Central Live from the Olympics

5am-6am

MEN’S FINAL ROUND LIVE

6am-3pm

Golf Central Live from the Olympics

3pm-5pm

Friday August 12

Saturday August 13

Sunday August 14

Additionally, NBC will feature live look-ins, highlights and updates on the golf competition throughout the Games. All Olympic competition, including golf, will be live streamed on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports Live Extra app, both of which require authentication.

Monday August 15

Golf Central Live from the Olympics

9am-3pm and 6pm-8pm

Tuesday August 16

Golf Central Live from the Olympics

9am-3pm and 6pm-8pm

Wednesday August 17

Golf Central Live from the Olympics

5am-6.30am

WOMEN’S ROUND ONE LIVE

6.30am-3pm

Golf Central Live from the Olympics

3pm-5pm

Golf Central Live from the Olympics

5am-6.30am

WOMEN’S ROUND TWO LIVE

6.30am-3pm

Golf Central Live from the Olympics

3pm-5pm

Golf Central Live from the Olympics

5am-6.30am

WOMEN’S ROUND THREE LIVE

6.30am-3pm

Golf Central Live from the Olympics

3pm-5pm

Golf Central Live from the Olympics

5am-6am

WOMEN’S FINAL ROUND LIVE

6am-3pm

Golf Central Live from the Olympics

3pm-5pm

Thursday August 18

Friday August 19

Saturday August 20

“After more than a century, it’s wonderful to welcome the game of golf back to the Olympics and we can’t wait to bring NBC Olympics’ passion for storytelling and level of production to the stunning new Reserva Marapendi golf course in Rio,” said Jim Bell, Executive Producer, NBC Olympics. “And as it turns out, we’ve got an entire NBC Sports division serving the sport’s loyal fans with dedicated coverage that will showcase the athletes taking advantage of what could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent their country and golf on this global stage.” “Golf’s return to the Olympics is an opportunity to help spark global interest and growth for the game,” said Mike McCarley, President, Golf, NBC Sports Group. “The tremendous support of the Olympics by the golf industry is evidenced by all men’s and women’s major championships providing exemptions for the Olympic gold medallists.” NBC’s commitment to the Olympics and Golf is outstanding and gives the sport a nationwide platform to be enjoyed in either its entirety or in bitesize chunks. This is in stark contrast to BBC, who recently outlined the scope of their coverage.

The most exciting action from the Pool runs from 6 to 13 August, and cycling from 10 to 16 August, with the Athletics action from the Olympic Stadium taking place from 12 to 21 August. This inevitably will dampen the potential impact of Olympic Golf on the growth of the game amongst youngsters across the United Kingdom.

BBC won praise and attracted some of the largest audiences in British TV history for their coverage of London 2012. The once-in-ageneration event was covered more extensively than any Olympic Games before, with 24 online streams, 24 channels on Sky and complete coverage of every sport, from every venue. However, it seems this was a one-off from the UK National Broadcaster who gave an outline of their coverage of Rio 2016 last month. The number of staff will be cut by 40% from the team which covered London 2012, and whilst the volume of output will remain roughly the same there will be no repeat of the 24-channel coverage. Each sport will be streamed online and there will be an expanded red button service for the duration of the games, but it puts the Olympic Golf Tournament very much in the shade. With popular Olympic sports such as Swimming and cycling directly clashing with the Olympic Golf Tournament, it is likely that Golf will be relegated to the BBC Website and red button.

As yet the BBC haven’t formally announced their broadcast schedule, so it is unknown what, if any, extensive coverage will be given over to the men’s or women’s golf tournaments. It is also unknown whether BBC will use the feed from Golf Channel or the Olympic Broadcasting System, or use their own team to cover the tournament. Hazel Irvine was part of the main presentation team in London and Andrew Cotter has covered the Tennis, Weightlifting and Canoe/Kayak events over the last two Olympic Games. With the loss of The Open and the impending loss of any live Masters coverage, the Olympic Golf Tournament could be the only live free-toair golf on UK television for the foreseeable future. So Rio is an opportunity for BBC to help grow the game and show the game’s biggest stars on the global stage. If it fails to take that chance then golf may never return to the network.

In Australia the Olympic Games return to the Seven Network for the first time since Beijing in 2008, and on a channel famed for its golf coverage and an Australian as the dominant world number one in the game, the Golf is sure to feature heavily. Seven Sport currently holds the live rights to each of Australia’s Major golf tournaments including the Emirates Australian Open, as well as The Masters at Augusta National. Their team is led by host Peter Donegan, and commentators Ian Baker-Finch and Wayne Grady. Many of the Australian Open’s greatest moments have been broadcast to the nation by Seven, and they have made a commitment to delivering the most comprehensive, technologically advanced, multi-platform coverage of the Games to all Australians on any communications device. Seven has yet to unveil its broadcast schedule for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. St Andrews Golf Magazine will have a comprehensive guide to the Olympics and Olympic Golf on television across the world in our Olympic Special Edition this July.

6 Major Championships, 43 weeks as World Number One and over $100million in the bank but unable to change their schedule for one summer.

The four golfing giants turning their back on golfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Olympic return and putting the sportsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; future growth at risk.

Story by Matt Hooper

Last month four of the world’s greatest golfers announced they would not be taking part in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio this August. First to confirm his absence was Fiji’s 3time major winner and former world number one, Vijay Singh. "I would like to play the Olympics, but the Zika virus, you know..." said the renowned traveller and practiser Singh. "I feel bad. I wanted to play and finally decided against it. It's in the middle of the Tour over here and I'm trying to figure out my game." Singh was swiftly followed by long-time critic of golf’s Olympic return, Australian Adam Scott. "My decision has been taken as a result of an extremely busy playing schedule around the time of the Olympics and other commitments, both personal and professional,'' Scott said in a statement by his management company. "I have informed the Australian team captain and relevant authorities, who are understanding of my position, and I wish the Australian Olympic Team the very best of luck in Rio.'' Finally, and most surprising of all, 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen, announced he was not competing due to family and scheduling reasons. While nobody would dream of casting aspersions over personal reasons, such as family illness, for not being in Rio this summer,

these three stars of our game have let the game and themselves down.

between June and September. That is 8 tournaments in 15 weeks.

Adam Scott is a member of the PGA Tour and plays the big events in his native Australia, but out with of these tournaments he has played in the Japan Open (2014, 2015), ISPS Handa World Cup of Golf (2013), Barclays Singapore Open (2010, 2012) and Ballantine’s Championship (2012) since the IOC announced Golf would return to the Olympic Games in 2009.

Now, let us look at his start to 2016. He played the Sony Open in Hawaii in the third week of the year, and he played The Masters in the fifteenth week of the year. Scott has played 7 tournaments in 13 weeks, his start to 2016 is busier than his summer.

None of the above events count for the tour he is a member of and he has earned large appearance fees to play in them. FedEx Cup points are not awarded to the events and the events are above and beyond the minimum required number of events for a PGA Tour member. Scott found the time and had the desire to play in these events, but despite having seven years notice of golf returning to the Olympic Games he hasn’t found either to ensure he represents Australia in the tournament. The schedule is condensed in 2016, but Scott doesn’t have the Ryder Cup to concern him, and following the Tour Championship’s conclusion on 25 September he has a potential break of 7 weeks before the Emirates Australian Open. He is set to play the U.S. Open, WGCBridgestone Invitational, Open Championship, PGA Championship and FedEx Cup playoffs

The Olympic Games fall two weeks after the final major of the season, so his preparation for the majors, which he has cited as a key reason for skipping Rio 2016, is not impacted at all. Scott has also cited personal commitments as a reason for not taking part in the first Olympic Golf Tournament for 112 years, which is fair enough. But should the former world number one be snapped frolicking on a beach somewhere then he deserves the ire of the golf media, governing bodies and fans which will inevitably come his way. Vijay Singh is playing on the PGA Tour Champions, and as such the Olympic Golf Tournament directly clashes with the US Senior Open. The USGA neglected to alter its schedule, but Singh will play in many US Senior Open championships in the future, he probably won’t get the chance to play in an Olympics ever again. Louis Oosthuizen withdrew due to family and scheduling reasons, I ask you Louis, how many tournaments does your family travel to?

Oosthuizen was swiftly followed by his countryman Charl Schwartzel in making himself unavailable for Rio. The 2011 Masters champion cited the schedule as his reason for not competing in the Olympic Games. Last Autumn St Andrews Golf Magazine canvassed the opinions of several golfers about the Olympics, and even at that stage the South African seemed apathetic towards the idea of another 72-hole individual event. “I think it should have been a team event, that way it is more for your country” said Schwartzel. When asked about whether he would be building his schedule around it he replied “I don’t think I will be making it at this stage, so there won’t be any building”. It was clear, at that stage, Schwartzel was struggling with his game and out of contention for a place in the Olympic Games. But with two wins since and the withdrawal of Oosthuizen, the door was open for him to join Branden Grace in Rio. This is a potentially once-in-a-lifetime tournament for many of these golfers. Scott and Oosthuizen may not be anywhere near qualification for Tokyo 2020 and surely if you, as a family, have known for seven years that there is a particularly important week coming up, you make sure not to plan anything for that week?

SEVEN YEARS to sort out a schedule. Not just for the players, but for the tours and major championship organisers, and their role in this shambles cannot be overlooked. The 2016 Olympic Golf Tournament has been sandwiched between events like some sort of unwanted distraction for both the PGA Tour and European Tour. The PGA Championship was moved by the PGA of America to the last week in July, just 5 days before the Opening Ceremony. But this isn’t the fault of the PGA of America, if the PGA Tour had been proactive and willing to genuinely support Olympic Golf then grand changes would have been made to the schedule in Olympic years. In Olympic years THE PLAYERS Championship could be moved back to March, 2 weeks prior to The Masters, freeing up the md-May slot for the PGA Championship, meaning The Open would have been the final major prior to the 2016 Olympic Games. This would give the world’s top golfers two full weeks off before the Opening Ceremony and three weeks off before the competition. The PGA Tour could have moved its FedEx Cup Playoffs back by a month, beginning in the week of the 25th September, and ending 23 October. This would have allowed the Ryder Cup to move to the week of 11 September stretch the big events over a longer period, quashing any claims by the players that there was too many in a small period.

Of course one of the major reasons that the schedule hasn’t seen a major overhaul this year is television, however the PGA Tour’s predominant TV partner for the FedEx Cup and the PGA of America’s TV partner for the Ryder Cup happen to be NBC. This is the same NBC which holds the rights to broadcast the Olympic Games, The Open Championship, and 6 regular PGA Tour events including The Players Championship. Currently The Players Championship, played in May, comes in the middle of a 17-tournament run for CBS, so moving The Players back to March would be an ideal fit for both NBC and CBS, the latter is the broadcast partner for the PGA Championship. But the changes which have been made are very small, and have resulted in 10 significant tournaments, including Rio 2016, being played in a 16 week spell. The Ryder Cup doesn’t include players from outside Europe and the United States, so Scott, Singh and Oosthuizen aren’t affected by that.

Confirmed Summer PGA Tour schedule

Schedule with possible changes

As you can imagine the reaction by the IGF and the golfing, sporting world to the news of these withdrawals was predictably negative. Peter Dawson, President of the International Golf Federation said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The IGF understands the challenges players face in terms of scheduling this summer and it is regrettable to see a few leading players withdraw from this year's Games. "The Olympics is the world's greatest celebration of sport and it is exciting and appropriate that golf features in its programme again. Real history will be made at this year's Olympic competitions and it is our belief that the unique experience of competing will live forever with athletes that take part." Dawn Fraser, a three-time Olympic Gold Medal winner for Australia in the pool, was scathing of her countrymanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision not to compete in Rio: "Well done Adam great to put your country on hold so that you can fulfil your own schedule," wrote Fraser, who won four Olympic gold medals. "How much money do you want in life? "Not showing much for your country." Fraser also referenced the fact she worked three jobs in the lead-up to the 1956, 1960 and 1964 Olympics, where she still remains one of just a trio of swimmers to have won the same event at three separate Games.

"Well done Adam may you enjoy your sport and the money you earn gives you great pleasure," Fraser said. "I am still trying to survive at 78 years of age but a very proud Australian." In fairness to Scott he has referenced many times that the Olympics should not be for professional golfers, and that amateurs should compete, but this was just an illustration of the passion Australians have for the Olympics.

Johnny Miller, two-time major champion and part of the NBC golf broadcast team said: "Playing for your country is a lot bigger than playing for yourself," "I would say I don't care how tired you are, and I wouldn't even care where you place in the tournament, but you need to be there to represent your country."

Jack Nicklaus "I think that's sad. I think it's sad for the Olympics and for the game of golf," "I don't know Adam's circumstances, so I couldn't comment on what he's dealing with. Obviously, he felt like he couldn't play, and if he felt that way, I understand. But it's unfortunate."

"If the guys don't want to participate, then we might not be in the Olympics after this. They vote next year. And if they vote to keep golf in, then that's great, but if not then we lose that momentum with growing the game."

Gary Player

Recently Adam Scott gave an interview to Golf Monthly and said “It’s 72 holes, no cut and a pretty weak field – I’m just not sure how that fits into being the pinnacle of anything.”

Whilst much criticism can be levelled at the players who have withdrawn, the governing bodies of the game should also receive their fair share.

Scott is correct, the tournament will not feature the world’s best fifty players, or 100 players, but the 100m race doesn’t feature the 80 fastest athletes in the world. Each country is allocated a number of spots and the fastest runners from each country qualifies from national trials.

Aside from the schedule, which we have already discussed, the tours and major championship organizers had an opportunity to make Olympic Golf truly significant to every professional competing in Rio.

The 100m men’s competition at London 2012 featured 75 runners from 61 nations, these were not the 75 fastest men on earth. Jamaica only featured three men in the competition, along with the United States. Do you hear Usain Bolt saying he isn’t going to compete because it’s a ‘weak field’? How strong is the field at the Japan Open? Scott has played in this tournament for the last two years and by strength of field it is the 73rd best event in the world of golf. Its prize fund is around $1million (1/6 of a PGA Tour event) and it isn’t even the strongest event on the Japan Golf Tour. Players like Adam Scott talk about how they play in the Presidents Cup for their country and for ‘pride’, yet when he has the biggest global opportunity to play for his country he has turned it down. He may never get another chance.

At The Masters the PGA of America, R&A, USGA and Augusta National announced the following exemptions for the Gold Medal winners: 1 year exemptions to the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open; 1 year exemptions to The Open and RICOH Women’s British Open; 1 year exemption to the PGA Championship and KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and an invitation to the 2017 Masters Tournament. In addition to this the Ladies European Tour and LPGA announced that the Gold Medal winner will get an exemption to the 2016 Evian Championship. Now, as the Olympic Games are the biggest sporting event in the world, and golf has fought for so long to get into the Olympic programme you would have thought the powers that be would view this as a significant and ‘major’ event. The Silver and Bronze medal winners don’t currently receive any exemption or invitation. The major tours are even less accommodating to the medallists. None of the tours have given

an exemption to any of the medallists, and there aren’t any FedEx Cup, Race to Dubai or Ryder Cup points awarded. There will however be Official World Golf Ranking and ROLEX Ranking points awarded in each tournament. This was a chance for the whole of golf to prove that they support Olympic Golf and get behind the tournament. SO THIS IS WHAT SHOULD BE ON THE LINE FOR THE 60 MEN AND WOMEN IN RIO: 



Masters – Invitation for 5 years in line with winners of US Open, Open and PGA for Gold Medal winner; Invitation for 1 year for Silver and Bronze Medal winners US Open and US Women’s Open – Exemption for 4 years for Gold Medal Winner; Exemption for 1 year for Silver and Bronze medal winners The Open and RICOH Women’s British Open – Exemption for 4 years for Gold Medal Winner; Exemption for 1 year for Silver and Bronze medal winners PGA Championship and KPMG Women’s PGA – Exemption for 4 years for Gold Medal Winner; Exemption for 1 year for Silver and Bronze medal winners PGA Tour – Exemption for 4 years for Gold Medal winner; Exemption for 1 year for Silver and Bronze Medal winners

 

   

FedEx Cup points awarded in line with the Majors European Tour – Exemption for 4 years for Gold Medal winner; Exemption for 1 year for Silver and Bronze Medal winners Race to Dubai Points awarded OWGR – same points as awarded at the Majors Ryder Cup – see European Tour Olympic Games count as 2 European Tour starts in that season

These rewards for success in the Olympic Games would encourage those players who are unsure about its importance to take it seriously and, along with a better schedule, ensure that the players who qualify for the Olympics play in the tournament. Of course the long-term consequences of Scott, Singh, Oosthuizen and Schwartzel not playing in Rio are unknown, but the immediate consequences are clear. The fourth best Australian will now join Jason Day in Rio, following Marc Leishman’s decision not to compete due to the Zika Virus (see overleaf). Marcus Fraser is currently ranked world number 66 as opposed to Scott, 7th. The fourth best South African will now join Branden Grace in Rio, Jaco Van Zyl is ranked 62nd.

Vijay Singh was the only Fijian eligible under the qualification criteria, and his absence means there is no chance of inspiring a new generation of golfers to take up the game in Fiji. With the European Tour recently announcing that this October’s Fiji International had joined the Race to Dubai, it would also have been an opportunity, if successful, to take a medal back to his homeland and boost that event. Yes, golf has had over one hundred years without the Olympic Games, and it has never been an aspiration of a golfer to win Olympic Gold, but times change. In 1930 the Grand Slam was considered the US Open, The Open, US Amateur and The Amateur, The Masters didn’t even exist. The Western Open used to be considered as a major, and until 1960 The Open wasn’t really a priority for Americans. 40 years ago The Ryder Cup was a small event, a non-contest, now it is by far the most impactful event in the game. Nations compete to host an event which was once a footnote to the schedule. Golf and golfers now have an opportunity which they have never had before, to become part of mainstream sport on a global level. Sure, golf in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia is massive, with participants in the millions. But for nations such as South Africa, where it is immensely popular with a hard core of individuals, it can spread to all corners of the

country and touch youngsters which have never been engaged with the game before. And for the hosts, Brazil, it is an opportunity to help rebuild its economy by building a golf tourism industry, as well as growing the game at the grass roots level. None of this can be achieved without the full, unwavering support of the players though. So for once these highly paid, lightly worked, pampered professionals need to step out of their comfort zone and mix with the rest of sport. They need to forget the money, they need to play and put on a show. They need to give the world the thrills and spills we see at The Masters, US Open, The Open and PGA. They need to play with the same pride that they do when they play in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup and represent their country on a truly global stage. Maybe if Spieth, Day and McIlroy put on a show in Rio then the absentees will possibly realize the error of their ways, and tee it up in Tokyo 2020. Golf can only hope so.

Zika virus is a member of the virus family Flaviviridae and the genus Flavivirus. It is spread by daytime-active Aedes mosquitoes, such as A. aegypti and A. albopictus. Its name comes from the Zika Forest of Uganda, where the virus was first isolated in 1947. Zika virus is related to dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses. The infection, known as Zika fever, often causes no or only mild symptoms, similar to a very mild form of dengue fever. It is treated by rest. Since the 1950s, it has been known to occur within a narrow equatorial belt from Africa to Asia. The virus spread eastward across the Pacific Ocean 2013–2014 Zika virus outbreaks in Oceania to French Polynesia, New Caledonia, the Cook Islands, and Easter Island, and in 2015 to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, where the Zika outbreak has reached pandemic levels. As of 2016, the illness cannot be prevented by medications or vaccines. Zika may spread from a pregnant woman to the baby. This may result in microcephaly and other severe brain problems. Zika infections in adults can, rarely, result in Guillain-Barré syndrome. As of early 2016, a widespread outbreak of Zika was ongoing, primarily in the Americas. The outbreak began in April 2015 in Brazil, and has spread to other countries in South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. In January 2016, the WHO said the virus was likely to spread throughout most of the Americas by the end of the year; and in February 2016, the WHO declared the cluster of microcephaly and Guillain–Barré syndrome cases reported in Brazil – strongly suspected to be associated with the Zika outbreak – a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. It is estimated that 1.5 million people have been infected by Zika in Brazil, with over 3,500 cases of microcephaly reported between October 2015 and January 2016. A number of countries have issued travel warnings, and the outbreak is expected to significantly impact the tourism industry. Several countries have taken the unusual step of advising their citizens to delay pregnancy until more is known about the virus and its impact on fetal development. With the 2016 Olympics Games set to be hosted in Rio de Janeiro, health officials worldwide have voiced concerns over a potential crisis, both in Brazil and when international athletes and tourists, who may be unknowingly infected, return home and possibly spread the virus.

Marc Leishman withdraws from Olympic consideration due to Zika Virus Australia’s hopes of multiple Olympic medals in Rio were dealt another blow with the announcement that Adam Scott’s replacement, Marc Leishman, was withdrawing due to the Zika Virus in Brazil. Marc’s wife is still recovering from Toxic shock syndrome and the risk of contracting Zika Virus was considered too dangerous for the Australian Number 3 to travel to Rio. "We have consulted with Audrey's physician and due to her ongoing recovery and potential risks associated with the transmission of the Zika virus, it was a difficult yet easy decision not to participate,” said the winner of the 2015 Nedbank Golf Challenge. His withdrawal means the race for the second Australian spot in Rio has been blown wide open. Marcus Fraser is next in line to represent the country in Rio at 63rd in the world, closely followed by Matt Jones (71) and Scott Hend (76). Leishman’s withdrawal follows Adam Scott, Vijay Singh, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Rare Olympic Golf Medals to be displayed for the first time in more than a Century The USGA Museum and the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum to Showcase Medals Won by H. Chandler Egan at 1904 Games in St. Louis

FAR HILLS, N.J. (May 9, 2016) – The United States Golf Association (USGA) and the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum will exclusively showcase medals won by H. Chandler Egan at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, the last time golf was part of the Olympic schedule. Golf will make its highly anticipated return to the Summer Olympic Games in August, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Egan’s medals represent his achievements in the individual and team competitions at the 1904 Olympics. Egan, a Chicago native and a member of Exmoor Country Club, was captain of the Western Golf Association team that won the gold medal at Glen Echo Country Club in St. Louis. Additionally, he won the silver medal in the individual competition, finishing runnerup to George Lyon, of Canada. “These medals are an incredibly important piece of golf history,” said Michael Trostel, director of the USGA Museum. “To have them on display is a real treat for fans of the game, the Olympics and sports in general.

This exhibit is a great opportunity to connect golf’s Olympic past to its future and celebrate its return to the Games this summer in Rio.” The medals, on loan from Egan’s grandson, Morris Everett Jr., will be featured at the USGA Museum as part of a special exhibit running from May 11 to June 8, and will also be at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club during the 2016 U.S. Open Championship (June 13-19). As part of the display, the USGA will also showcase the runner-up trophy that Egan received for the individual competition, which is on loan from the LA84 Foundation. The medals will then be brought to the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum in St. Augustine, Fla., where they will be featured in a new Olympics exhibit set to open June 23. Amy Alcott, 1999 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee and co-designer of the golf course in Rio, will be in attendance for the grand opening and unveiling of the medals.

“As the anticipation for golf’s return to the Olympics continues to mount, we are honored to showcase these rare medals and help champion the Egan legacy,” said Jack Peter, president of the World Golf Hall of Fame. “The family deserves to be commended for preserving these medals for so many years and for choosing to show them to golf fans everywhere.” In addition to seeing the Olympic medals, fans visiting the exhibit can learn more about Egan’s extraordinary golf career, which included back-to-back U.S. Amateur Championship victories in 1904 and 1905, as well as four Western Amateur titles. Egan, who later designed nearly 20 golf courses, was a member of the USA’s Walker Cup-winning Team in 1934.

INDIA’S ANIRBAN LAHIRI ANIRBAN LAHIRI OF INDIA PLAYS OUT OF THE NO. 2 BUNKER DURING ROUND 3 AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL GOLF CLUB ON SATURDAY APRIL 9, 2016. ©Augusta National 2016

OLYMPIC RANKINGS MEN 1

Jason Day

AUS

Bernd Wiesberger

AUT

David Hearn

CAN

Jordan Spieth

USA

Thongchai Jaidee

THA

SSP Chawrasia

IND

Rory McIlroy

IRL

David Lingmerth

SWE

Fabrizio Zanotti

PAR

Bubba Watson

USA

Anirban Lahiri

IND

WC Liang

CHN

Rickie Fowler

USA

Martin Kaymer

GER

Ryan Fox

NZL

Henrik Stenson

SWE

Jaco Van Zyl

RSA

Jhonattan Vegas

VEN

Dustin Johnson

USA

Fabian Gomez

ARG

Danny Chia

MAS

Danny Willett

GBR

Victor Dubuisson

FRA

Nicolas Colsaerts

BEL

Justin Rose

GBR

Thomas Pieters

BEL

Mikko Ilonen

FIN

Branden Grace

RSA

Joost Luiten

NED

Brendon de Jonge

ZIM

Sergio Garcia

ESP

Thorbjorn Olesen

DEN

Camilo Villegas

COL

Hideki Matsuyama

JPN

Marcus Fraser

AUS

Angelo Que

PHI

Byeong Hun An

KOR

Francesco Molinari

ITA

Roope Kakko

FIN

Rafa Cabrera Bello

ESP

Yuta Ikeda

JPN

Adilson da Silva

BRA

Shane Lowry

IRL

Ricardo Gouveia

POR

Siddikur Rahman

BAN

Danny Lee

NZL

Alexander Levy

FRA

Felipe Aguilar

CHI

Soren Kjeldsen

DEN

Miguel Tabuena

PHI

Cheng Tsung Pan

TPE

K.T. Kim

KOR

Alex Cejka

GER

Rodolfo Cazaubon

MEX

Emiliano Grillo

ARG

Hao Tong Li

CHN

Wen-Tang Lin

TPE

Kiradech Aphibarnrat

THA

Graham DeLaet

CAN

Gavin Kyle Green

MAS

OLYMPIC RANKINGS WOMEN 1

Lydia Ko

NZL

Shiho Oyama

JPN

Kelly Tan

MAS

Inbee Park

KOR

Carlota Ciganda

ESP

Laetitia Beck

ISR

Lexi Thompson

USA

Karrie Webb

AUS

Ursula Wikstrom

FIN

Sei Young Kim

KOR

Azahara Munoz

ESP

Klara Spilkova

CZE

Stacy Lewis

USA

Xiyu Lin

CHN

Noora Tamminen

FIN

Brooke M. Henderson

CAN

Karine Icher

FRA

Maria Verchenova

RUS

In Gee Chun

KOR

Sandra Gal

GER

Giulia Sergas

ITA

Amy Yang

KOR

Caroline Masson

GER

Christine Wolf

AUT

Shanshan Feng

CHN

Catriona Matthew

GBR

Leona Maguire

IRL

Minjee Lee

AUS

Nicole Broch Larsen

DEN

Anne Van Dam

NED

Ariya Jutanugarn

THA

Pernilla Lindberg

SWE

Alejandra Llaneza

MEX

Gerina Piller

USA

Mariajo Uribe

COL

Diana Luna

ITA

Suzann Pettersen

NOR

Julieta Granada

PAR

Fabienne In-Albon

SUI

Anna Nordqvist

SWE

Paula Reto

RSA

Chloe Leurquin

BEL

Harukyo Nomura

JPN

Gwladys Nocera

FRA

Stephanie Meadow

IRL

Teresa Lu

TPE

Nanna Koerstz Madsen

DEN

Liv Cheng

NZL

Charley Hull

GBR

Alena Sharp

CAN

Michelle Koh

MAS

Pornanong Phatlum

THA

Christel Boeljon

NED

Aditi Ashok

IND

Lee-Anne Pace

RSA

Marianne Skarpnord

NOR

Miriam Nagl

BRA

Candie Kung

TPE

Gaby Lopez

MEX

Victoria Lovelady

BRA

116 YEARS AGO, WHEN GOLF MADE ITS FIRST APPEARANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES THE STATE OF THE SPORT WAS VERY DIFFERENT. THERE WERE ONLY TWO SIGNIFICANT INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS, THE OPEN AND U.S. OPEN, AND GREAT BRITAIN WERE THE GOLFING SUPERPOWER.

THE RACE TO MAKE IT INTO TEAM GB

NO GOLFER FROM OUTSIDE GREAT BRITAIN AND WON A SINGLE MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE PGA OF AMERICA WAS STILL 16 YEARS AWAY FROM BEING ESTABLISHED. NOW, 116 YEARS ON AT THE THIRD EVER OLYMPIC GOLF TOURNAMENT, THE FIRST TRULY INTERNATIONAL ONE, GREAT BRITAIN HEADS TO RIO WITH TWO, POSSIBLY THREE, MAJOR CHAMPIONS IN THEIR RANKS.

For so long it has looked like Great Britain could have just two men and two women in the field for the 2016 Olympic Games, but after our performance at The Masters and the withdrawal of Adam Scott and Louis Oosthuizen the race for a spot in the world’s top 15 is wide open. Justin Rose has been deposed as the leading Brit by the victory of Danny Willett at Augusta, and the chasing pack is closing in on that magical ticket to Rio. Following The Players Championship Paul Casey, Russell Knox, Andy Sullivan, Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick are all ranked inside the world’s top 50 and are within a win or two of joining Willett and Rose on the Team GB roster for Rio. Ranked at world number 26 Charley Hull’s place in Rio is secured, but Catriona Matthew (67) will be looking over her shoulder nervously at the form of Holly Clyburn (84). The 25-year-old has made a solid start to the season on the LET and is currently ranked 11th on the Order of Merit.

THE COMPETITION IN RIO WILL BE FIERCE IN BOTH THE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TOURNAMENTS WITH GOLFERS FROM OVER 30 COUNTRIES COMPETING FOR GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE. HOWEVER, THE COMPETITION WILL BE EVEN FIERCER OVER THE COMING WEEKS TO SECURE A PLACE IN TEAM GB.

MEN

WOMEN

DANNY WILLETT

CHARLEY HULL

JUSTIN ROSE

CATRIONA MATTHEW

PAUL CASEY

HOLLY CLYBURN

RUSSELL KNOX

MELISSA REID

ANDY SULLIVAN

160 FLORENTYNA PARKER

LEE WESTWOOD

171 HANNAH BURKE

MATT FITZPATRICK

172 AMY BOULDEN

#ROADTORIO 6 WEEKS OF QUALIFYING REMAIN Week beginning 30 May Nordea Masters

The Memorial Tournament

Shoprite LPGA Classic

Week beginning 6 June Lyoness Open

FedEx St Jude Classic

KPMG WOMEN’S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Week beginning 13 June

U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

Meijer LPGA Classic

Week beginning 20 June BMW International Open

Quicken Loans National

Walmart NW Arkansas Championship

Week beginning 27 June 100th Open de France

WGC-Bridgestone Invitational

Cambia Portland Classic

Week beginning 4 July Aberdeen Asset Scottish Open

The Greenbrier Classic

U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

QUALIFICATION PERIOD FOR THE RIO 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES GOLF TOURNAMENT CONCLUDES ON MONDAY 11 JULY, 2016

St Golf Andrews Magazine Featuring GARY PLAYER

“We need to make sure golf will be an Olympic sport for the next 100 years. The game will grow in many smaller countries because of our participation in the Olympic Games.” GARY PLAYER, 2016

RYAN FOX SSP CHOWRASIA JOOST LUITEN

DANNY WILLETT

SANDRA GAL

MARIA VERCHENOVA

PADRAIG HARRINGTON BRANDEN GRACE

St Andrews – the global village A Brazilian in St Andrews

CHARLEY HULL

RENATO PARATORE

SIR STEVE REDGRAVE

Comprehensive Olympic Preview Chariots of Fire

ALL OF THIS AND MUCH MORE…

StAndrewsGolfMagazine.com

ÂŠ BMW AG

Aussie moves away from Spieth and McIlroy in battle for golfing supremacy Jason Day followed in the footsteps of Greg Norman, Steve Elkington and Adam Scott by winning the PGA TOURâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier tournament this month at TPC Sawgrass. The World Number One opened with rounds of 63 and 66 to set a record-low total for the first 36 holes in THE PLAYERS Championship. Over the final two rounds he held it together with the same sort of scrambling and putting perfection which Tiger Woods showed at his peak, shooting 73 and 71 to close the tournament at fifteen-under-par. His four stroke victory at the headquarters of the PGA Tour gives him a third win of the season, and extends his lead at the top of both the FedEx Cup and World Rankings. Talk of a big three has died down in the last couple of months, with Day dominating the Arnold Palmer Invitational, WGC-Dell Match Play and THE PLAYERS Championship. He now leads the world rankings by nearly 3 points from Jordan Spieth and nearly 5 from Rory McIlroy, and in 2016 alone he has amassed over 100 points more than Spieth and McIlroy.

Spieth missed the cut at Sawgrass while McIlroy rallied to finish in a tie for 12th place. McIlroy has now recorded 7 finishes of 12th or better this season, but is yet to claim a title on either the PGA TOUR or European Tour. Spieth’s form is said to have been a worry by many in the media, but that is because they are judging it purely in comparison to 2015. So far the U.S. Open champion has recorded one victory, four top ten’s including runner-up at The Masters and has a total of 9 top 25 finishes from 11 events, with two missed cuts. The absence of Spieth and McIlroy from contention at Sawgrass opened the door for the likes of Kevin Chappell, who finished second with Colt Knost, Justin Thomas and Ken Duke rounding out the top five behind Day. Matt Kuchar shot a final round of 68 to tie for third, and Francesco Molinari and Graeme McDowell had encouraging weeks, finishing in ties for 7th and 9th respectively. Following this year’s championship the staff at TPC Sawgrass have begun an extensive renovation programme of the Stadium Course, re-laying each of the 18 greens and remodelling the 12th hole.

Jordan Spieth birdied the final three holes to win the Dean and Deluca Invitational at Colonial

PGA Tour and LPGA launch strategic alliance for the benefit of the sport

The PGA TOUR and the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) recently announced that they have formalized their longstanding cooperative relationship by entering into a long-term, written strategic alliance agreement designed to further promote the growth of golf. Here, Cristina Panama delves deeper into the potential of the alliance and its benefits for the whole of golf. Both tours have already worked together for different events but have moved to formalize their longstanding relationship by entering into collaboration for a long-term written partnership. The alliance between the two organizations will focus on working in areas such as schedule coordination, joint marketing programs, domestic television representation, and digital media as well as exploring the potential development of joint events. Even though the

tours have emphasized that their association will have as main goal the overall growth of the sport the LPGA could benefit its tour enormously. Since 2010 when Michael Whan was named Commissioner of the LPGA the tour has been able to increase the number of tournaments and their purses. When Whan first took his position the tour had only 24 events per year. This 2016 season that number is increased once more and is now 34. For the first time in the tour’s history the players are competing for more than $63 million dollars. After both tours announced the news that they would be working together Whan shared a statement with his thoughts on how the alliance would benefit the growth of the game. “We believe the PGA TOUR has significant expertise in the areas that we will focus on together and working more closely with them carries with it the very real potential of positively impacting our members, our tournaments, and our ability to grow our sport around the world,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. “We look forward to working with the PGA Tour team to deliver a positive impact for our sport.” Fewer viewers and smaller sponsorship commitments on the women’s side can explain the smaller purses for the LPGA players compared to their PGA TOUR counterparts. The LPGA has worked hard during the past five years to add sponsors and tournaments to

increase purses. Proof of this are the just over 16 million dollars purses that will be distributed for the five majors of the 2016 season. One of the main aspects on which the LPGA could capitalize with this partnership is getting renowned local sponsors. Although Rolex, CME Group, Kia, KPMG, All Nippon Airways, Ricoh and Evian are already part of their network of partners, they would need to seek for more United States based companies who would be willing to sponsor them. This is something that the PGA TOUR does very well and which the ladies tour could take advantage. The PGA TOUR and LPGA stated that the agreement involves no formal financial investment or transfer of ownership or control, and that both parties remain wholly separate and independent organizations. Not only the LPGA will learn and take advantage from this partnership but also PGA TOUR will be able to take gain knowledge on how the women's organization makes their tour a very global one. The LPGA's Commissioner Michael Whan and his team have done a tremendous job over the last years to make the ladies tour a truly global tour with solid markets and great popularity in South Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia and Thailand. During his press conference at the WGCCadillac Championship at Trump Doral, Tim Finchem, the PGA TOUR Commissioner, mentioned that his has been following closely

the approach that the LPGA has pursued in cultivating international markets. “The LPGA is already positioned as a global tour,” Finchem said. “An increasing percentage of our customers, whether they be title sponsors, official marketing sponsors or just involved in the tournament at some level, are international companies.” The PGA TOUR Commissioner applauded the decision on the women's side to take their tour on a global scale. As a consequence the ladies tour has lost some of their presence in the United States but took advantage of parts of the world where they are more popular than the men. The LPGA is a true global tour in ways the PGA TOUR is not and this is where the mutual interests of both tours can find each other. “The growth of women in the game is crucial, absolutely crucial, to our ability to grow the game,” stated Finchem before closing his press conference.

The PGA Tour and LPGA have already worked together on events that have had great success. A great example of this would be the 2014 U.S. Women's Open, where they worked in partnership with the United States Golf Association (USGA) to play back-to-back weeks with men. The men played first at Pinehurst No. 2 therefore female players were able to follow the event and take notes on the demanding layout on which the German Martin Kaymer took apart and won by 8 strokes. A week later it was the American Michelle Wie who lifted the first major title of her career on the historic course designed by Donald Ross, and renovated by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Golf's return to the Olympics in Rio 2016 will emulate the 2014 U.S. Open setup and will be held in a similar format. The men will be the first to set foot on the new course designed by Gil Hanse and will compete August 11 thru 14. While the ladies will be kickoff their attempt for an Olympic medal from the 17 thru the 20. Both sides will compete in a 72-hole individual stroke play format. The field will be composed of 60 players for each of the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s based on world golf rankings the top-15 world-ranked players will be eligible with a limit of four players per country. Beyond the top-15 the golfers will be eligible based on the world rankings with a maximum of two eligible players from each country.

With the new partnership between the two organizations the opportunity to create joint events has become even bigger. Both commissioners expressed the desire to explore the possibility of creating mixed events. The window on how the tournaments could be setup has become broad and it could even be a whole new playing format. During his press conference the PGA Tour Commissioner invited the media to comment on which could be an ideal format if a joint event were to take place. "You all, everybody here should think about this," Finchem said. "If we did have an opportunity to do something together, what would be the coolest format we could use? Because if the opportunity came up, we would want to take full advantage of it. " The options for events are wide but we can divide it into three main options. The first possibility being an event where men and women compete for a shared prize purse. It could have in its field the best 60 players from the men's side and 60 best from the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side. The tournament could be held in the same course with the golfers playing on alternate days or groups. This format would very much imitate the tennis major formats where the spectator can buy a ground ticket for the day and follow either the men or the women competition.

How fun would it be for the fans to watch world No.1 Jason Day warm up for his round next to the women's world No. 1 Lydia Ko? Another possible format for joint events could be a match play setup where a man and a woman are grouped based on their ranking and compete against another man and woman duo. In a format like this we would be able to see Jason Day and Lydia Ko pairing going head to head against Jordan Spieth and Inbee Park or why not against a Rory McIlroy and Lexi Thompson duo. These pairings could be grouped based on their ranking or even nationality. The third option would sound insane for some golf fans but the LPGA and PGA Tour could come up with a tournament in which men compete against women in match play format. The field for this event could be conformed from the top 30 men golfers and the top 30 female players and could imitate the WGC-Dell Match Play format where the groups are integrated after a draw.

The European Tour and the Ladies European Tour announced last fall that they would be hosting joint events during the month of May 2016 at Royal Golf Dar Es in Morocco. The women playing the Lalla Meryem Cup on the Blue Course while the men compete for the Trophee Hassan II on the Red Course. The future of both tournaments has been guaranteed until 2018 with the first edition of the three-year extension played from May 5-8. “With golf returning to the Olympic Games in Rio it is perhaps fitting that both the ladies’ and men’s European Tour events will take place at the same venue, and I’m sure the club will prove a worthy host for both tournaments.” said Keith Waters, Chief Operating Officer for The European Tour who assured this event become one of the favourite stops on tour of the players. With the venue being staged in the Moroccan capital a large number of galleries are expected to attend the ground breaking event as they will be able to watch the best talent from both the men’s and women’s tours. Native Maha Haddioui will be one of the favourite players to follow during this week.

Ladies European Tour 2016. Lalla Meryem Cup, Royal Dar Es Salam De Rabat, Rabat, Morocco. May 5-8. European Tour CEO Keith Pelley and Ladies European Tour CEO Iavn Khodabakhsh during a press conference.

After the tours announced their formal partnership social media went crazy with questions about how the alliance would work, possible positive outcomes and questions about if joint events would take place. Only hours after the statement LPGA and PGA TOUR professionals were able to answer questions about what the association between both tours could generate for the growth of golf in general. The world No. 3 and highest-ranked American Lexi Thompson was one of the first players to share her excitement on the news and the possibility of having joint events with the men. "I always get suggestions on Twitter that I should have friendly matches with guys on the PGA TOUR and the fans would love to see that. Having a mixed team, Rickie (Fowler) and me against Rory (McIlroy) and Lydia would definitely draw in a younger audience and grow the fan base for golf." Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy was one of the first to be questioned on the men’s side about the possibility of mixed events. The Irish player mentioned that such events could have a positive outcome and could even emulate the formats that take place in the tennis Grand Slams.

“That worked well,” McIlroy said, adding, “It would help the women get a little bit more exposure, and so in a way it would be great for the game. I guess having a day in between play is fine, because that’s what happens in the Grand Slams of tennis,” McIlroy stated. Top-ranked New Zealander and world No.1 Lydia Ko recalled the success of the U.S. Opens in 2014 when the men and women played in back-to-back weeks in North Caroline. The spill over effect of bigger crowds during the event was notable and this could highly benefit the ladies tour. "It was a really good experience for me to be able to watch men's golf as well, to see it live. Working with the PGA TOUR will grow our tour, help us with more exposure and grab the attention of sponsors and fans." If after exploring the possibilities of creating such events both tours decide to go forward any plans the outcome would only be positive for the growth of golf in general and not a specific tour. Thus reaching the main goal of their partnership.

Rory finally wins Irish Open in a style which Best would have approved of on Northern Irish sporting heroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 70th birthday

When George Best passed away on 25 November 2005, after a long battle with alcoholism, the people of Northern Ireland wondered if they would ever see his like again. At that time there was no question as to his supremacy as the greatest sportsman who ever lived from the small nation of just over one million people. 11 years on and there is surely no doubt that the nation has a new icon, a new superstar which they have taken to their hearts. Four Major victories, world number one and a place on three consecutive winning Ryder Cup teams by the age of 27 would be enough to satisfy most golfers, but for Rory McIlroy he has always wanted something more. When he and his foundation stepped in just over 12 months ago to support the Irish Open it was a massive moment in the history of this storied European Tour event. It guaranteed a strong field at Royal County Down, and huge crowds, and now with the involvement of Dubai Duty Free, it has a large prize fund of €4million. The tournament also raises a large amount of money for The Rory Foundation, which is committed to supporting less fortunate children and young people. But for McIlroy this was not enough. It was always his dream to win an Irish Open. Inspired by the iconic images of Seve, Langer, Faldo etc winning historic events at Portmarnock, Royal Dublin and Killarney, this is always the one which he wanted to win. Prior to the recent event at the

K Club, McIlroy’s record in his national championship was average bordering on poor. He had missed the last three cuts, including the first Irish Open he hosted, last year at Royal County Down. This year, however, at the iconic K Club which Europe won the Ryder Cup at 10 years ago, McIlroy produced the kind of golf which brought him four major titles between 2011 and 2014. Lying one shot behind the Scot Russell Knox with three holes to play, he turned on the style, producing three of the greatest approach shots ever seen under pressure, down the stretch. Starting on the dangerous par-five 16th he hit an arrow-like 3 wood from 271 yards into the heart of the green to set up a birdie which, coupled with Knox’s bogey, gave him the lead. There was no margin for error with water running alongside the narrow green. Then at the short, but dangerous, par-four seventeenth he hit a stunning approach to six feet, but saw his putt viciously lip out and had to settle for par. Then it was all set up for the grand finale, at the 537-yard par-five 18th. His drive left him 253 yards from the hole, and under the circumstances you would forgive him for laying up and trying to make the clinching birdie. But, in very similar fashion to his second at the 72nd hole of the Honda Classic of 2014, he hit a rapier-like wood to within 2 feet of the hole. He had sealed the deal in spectacular fashion, with an eagle, to clinch his national Open and his tournament, in front of his people, all on

what would have been George Bestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 70th Birthday. At the end of this season Rory will celebrate 10 years as a professional, and it is worth comparing the two Northern Irish giants over the same period of time from their professional debut to this career milestone. In Bestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first 10 seasons with Manchester United he was a part of two Championship winning teams in 1965 and 1967, and in 1968 scored in and won the European Cup Final at Wembley. On an individual note, Best was named Football Writers Association Footballer of the Year in 1968 and the European Footballer of the Year in the same season. His flamboyant lifestyle hindered his potential to be the greatest footballer who ever lived, and coupled with the Munich Air Disaster, which robbed his club of several mercurial talents 10 years earlier, Best never quite won the number of major honours which his talent deserved. Since turning professional in 2007 McIlroy has won 4 Major Championships, been world number one for 95 weeks, claimed two World Golf Championships, 5 other PGA Tour events, 7 other European Tour events, the Australian Open and Shanghai Masters. 20 professional titles have earned him a place on three European Ryder Cup teams and several prominent awards including two PGA Tour Player of the Year awards in 2012 and 2014. They are two very different people, but their impact upon their nation has been arguably just as great.

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