St Andrews Golf Magazine October/November 2015 by St Andrews Golf Magazine

October/November 2015

Maria Balikoeva

Danish delight at the Dunhill

Golf in Russia and all the Olympic news

All this and much moreâ&#x20AC;Ś

St Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day

Matt Hooper 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.

Editor’s Letter

As the leaves fall from the trees around St Andrews, the nights get longer and the days get shorter, the golf season has come to a close at the home of the game. The 15th Alfred Dunhill Links Championship once again provided excitement and fun, this year in the sun across Kingsbarns, Carnoustie and the Old Course. Thorbjorn Olesen was victorious after a sensational Sunday in St Andrews, and we look back at the week that was. With the sun shining a new era dawned for Scottish Golf, with the merger of the Scottish Ladies Golf Association and Scottish Golf Union unveiled on West Sands, adjacent to the Old Course. The main golf season may well be over, but the University season is just getting underway and we have all the results from the University of St Andrews to compliment the local clubs. The Alfred Dunhill Links was the penultimate European Tour event on British soil this year, and with the Race to Dubai Final Series on the horizon we look ahead to four fabulous weeks in Turkey, China and Dubai. Europe’s ladies were gut wrenchingly close to a third successive win in the Solheim Cup, but the United States took the trophy after a stunning comeback. We look back at the week and round up all the news from the world of golf. The Australian Open celebrates its 100th birthday this month and we bring you an extensive preview as part of our coverage of the worldwide golfing scene. Our Road to Rio continues with an exclusive interview with Russian star Maria Balikoeva and a roundup of all the latest Olympic news. We are St Andrews Golf Magazine and to achieve our goal of becoming one of the leading ‘destination-themed’ magazines in the world, we need more contributors from St Andrews and around the world. The magazine is made up of three distinct sections; Inside St Andrews – dedicated to the golfing scene in St Andrews, we are looking to expand this section to feature more course reviews, restaurant reviews, instruction from local professionals, tales from your round and golfing life in St Andrews, more tournament coverage and special features; Event themed section, currently Road to Rio focusing on Golf in the Olympic Games; On Tour – coverage of the worldwide professional golfing scene, we are looking to expand this section and make it more in depth through coverage of tournaments around the world. We are also looking to build upon our Travel section, which debuted in 2015, by bringing our readers destination reports and golf course reviews from across the world. So if you are interested in contributing please contact us via email info@standrewsgolfmagazine.com

Matt Hooper, Editor

We hope you enjoy the 17th edition of St Andrews Golf Magazine, and as we celebrate 2 years of the magazine I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped us reach this milestone including Colin Donaldson, Kevin Kirk, Cristina Panama, Elizabeth Bethel, John Boyne, Andrew Tomlinson, Paul Laesecke, Mark Richardson and the members of the New Golf Club, the St Andrews Golf Club, St Rule Club, St Regulus Golf Club, British Golf Museum, USGA, European Tour, Ladies European Tour, LPGA, Scottish Golf, Fairmont St Andrews, G1 Group, Rascals Bar, the Melvion Club, Ziggy’s and our loyal readers.

On The Tee Inside St Andrews 6

Scottish Golf launched

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship review

Local golf results and news

Road to Rio 43

Olympic Test Event latest

Bids for the 2024 Olympic Games and the potential host golf courses

New Olympic TV deal and its implications for growing the game

Maria Balikoeva interview

Mariaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite Russian golf courses

Golf in Russia

On Tour 72

When 2 become 1: The merger to rival the PGA Tour

Solheim Cup review

106

2015 Race to Dubai Final Series preview

115

100th Emirates Australian Open preview

128

Tour news roundup

Scottish Golf Tees Off in Style with New Aberdeen Asset Management Partnership Lawrie, Booth, Warren and Pretswell join Madras College, Lawhead Primary School students on West Sands to launch new era for the game in Scotland

Words: Scottish Golf

Photography: Kevin Kirk

Scottish Golf, the new unified governing body for the sport in Scotland, has teed off its first day by securing a major sponsorship deal with Aberdeen Asset Management as the organisation unveiled its new look. At an historic day in St Andrews, the Home of Golf, the new body – an amalgamation of the Scottish Golf Union (SGU) and the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association (SLGA) – was launched in the company of a number of Scotland’s leading tour professionals and amateurs, joined by local youngsters from the ClubGolf programme. Aberdeen Asset Management global golf ambassadors, former Open champion Paul Lawrie, Scotland’s highest-ranked player Marc Warren and Ladies European Tour duo Pamela Pretswell and Carly Booth, teamed up with Walker Cup star Ewen Ferguson and last year’s Scottish Ladies Amateur champion, Gabrielle Macdonald, to celebrate the occasion. At a sun-drenched West Sands beach, where the new brand identity was unveiled and 607 balloons released to represent the number of affiliated clubs in Scotland, new Chair, Eleanor Cannon, and Aberdeen Asset Management Chief Executive, Martin Gilbert, were also in attendance to announce the team sponsorship deal. Scottish Golf begins a new chapter for the game – the SLGA was founded in 1904 and

the SGU in 1920 – and will represent golfers and golf clubs to champion the game in Scotland, reflected by Scottish Golf’s current Twitter campaign #WholeInOne The new body offers the opportunity for Scottish Golf to grow and prosper, through strengthening and supporting affiliated clubs, creating winning golfers, staging outstanding events for golfers of all ages and abilities and inspiring more people – both young and old – to enjoy the game for life. “This is an historic and special day for Scottish Golf,” said Cannon, who officially took up her new role today. “I believe that the coming together of the two governing bodies will be a tremendous, positive step for the game of golf in Scotland. “It will open up further opportunities in terms of driving membership and growing the game from a family perspective, where people are perceived to be players and members, and not identified by their gender all the time. “I also believe more funding opportunities will be available to us in the public and private sector, given the values of the game, the family sport it is and the skills and values it instils in young and old alike. We all have the opportunity to work as a new organisation to take golf in Scotland forward into an exciting new era.”

the global investment group continuing to back Scotland’s leading amateur golfers through a new two-year agreement, with funding to support the national teams at men’s, ladies, boys and girls level. The partnership between Scottish Golf and Aberdeen Asset Management will see the players wearing the sponsors’ logo on their national apparel and bags through to the end of 2017. “Aberdeen Asset Management is delighted to be the first sponsor of the new Scottish Golf organisation and continue our investment in the country’s leading amateur golfers,” said Gilbert, speaking at the Macdonald Rusacks Hotel in St Andrews. “The partnership is very important to us and we hope our support can continue to deliver success for Scotland’s national golf teams, building on their recent achievements at home and internationally. “Having a single governing body for Scottish golf was a major factor in extending our sponsorship and we are proud to play a part in this very special day for the sport in Scotland.” Aberdeen Asset Management – who will remain a key partner for next year’s Scottish Golf Awards in sponsoring the prestigious Player of the Year Award – became the SGU’s first national team sponsors in 2007.

Aberdeen Asset Management’s latest commitment highlights the improved commercial opportunities for Scottish Golf, with Previous page: 1999 Open Champion Paul Lawrie is joined by European Tour winner Marc Warren, Ladies European Tour stars Carly Booth and Pamela Pretswell, Aberdeen Asset Management Chief Executive Martin Gilbert, Scottish amateurs Ewen Ferguson and Gabrielle Macdonald, the Chari of Scottish Golf Eleanor Cannon and Madras College and Lawhead Primary school students Caelan Laesecke, Catherine Simpson, Annabelle Sey, Sadie Brennan and Aimee McClymont on West Sands, St Andrews to launch the new Scottish Golf.

In addition to Paul Lawrie, Marc Warren, Carly Booth and Pamela Pretswell, Aberdeen Asset Management is also title sponsor of the Scottish Open and Scottish Ladies Open, as well as a number of other tour professionals, including US-based players Russell Knox and Martin Laird.

Following the historic decision to amalgamate the Scottish Golf Union (SGU) and the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association (SLGA) into a unified governing body on 1 October, a new Board of nine Non-Executive Directors has now been recruited, following a significant response for applications.

Use #WholeInOne to offer your support to the new governing body, with Scottish Golf today rebranded to @ScottishGolf on Twitter and Scottish Golf on Facebook.

The team of Non-Executive directors, four of whom are new to golf administration, will take responsibility for a number of important areas under the leadership of Eleanor Cannon, the recently appointed Chair.

“I’m very excited at the make-up of the new Board and we have a great opportunity to take the sport forward,” said Cannon. “We have a delightful balance with the eight non-executive directors. “We have individuals with experience and, at the same time, we are bringing in people with a fresh perspective, having not been involved at all in the administration of golf. Collectively, they will offer new ideas and a real hunger to make a difference to ensure we build on the momentum in terms of the work already being achieved with clubs throughout Scotland.”

The full board is as follows:

Eleanor Cannon, Chair Senior Partner, The Rubicon Partnership Eleanor is a highly qualified director with an engrained passion for golf. A graduate from the University of St Andrews, Eleanor started her career with Marks & Spencer PLC, before serving nine years at Tesco PLC where she became a General Manager and then Global Head of Customer Service. Eleanor joined Scottish & Newcastle PLC in 1997 and held various Board positions during a nine-year spell, latterly as Group HR and Corporate Affairs Director. Since 2008, she has run an Executive Coaching business that specialises in enabling Chief Executives and New Scottish Golf Chair, Eleanor Cannon, with Paul Lawrie, Marc Warren, Ewen Ferguson, Gabrielle Macdonald, Carly Booth and Pamela Pretswell at the launch event in the Macdonald Rusacks Hotel, St Andrews

Managing Directors deliver change within their organisations.

and was a member of the SGUL Championship Committee.

Eleanor, who has also held Trustee and Director Positions in five charities over the past 18 years, has a strong golf background and pedigree, with her mother, Netta Matthew, and father, Rennie Matthew, past Ladies and Club Captains at Ralston Golf Club and her father going on to become President of Glasgow Golf Union. A former Girls champion at Ralston, Eleanor is currently a member at Ranfurly Castle Golf Club.

Neil has also refereed regularly since 2010, including at all SGU events, the European Amateur Championship, the Home Internationals, Open Championship Regional Qualifying and the PGA Scottish Championship. In 2008, Neil was commissioned as a Deputy Lieutenant in the Lieutenancy of Stirling and Falkirk areas.

Neil MacDonald, Championships Retired Police Superintendent and Glenbervie GC Chairman Neil served Central Scotland Police for 30 years and progressed through the ranks to the rank of Chief Superintendent prior to his retiral in 2006. With the majority of his service in the Operational arena, he developed effective leadership skills and fostered relationships with key partners and stakeholders. Neil has also been heavily involved in golf administration, particularly since retiring from the police service. Neil has held various roles at Glenbervie Golf Club, and is the current Chairman at the Stirlingshire club. He is also a member of the Stirlingshire Golf Union Executive Committee

Sandy Anderson, Club Development Company Director for Oakhill Finance Ltd Sandy is a Company Director for Oakhill Finance Ltd, founded in January 2015, and Business Development Manager for a national broker, Shermin Finance Ltd, offering a wide range of experience in the credit and finance market. His experience in the finance industry spans over 20 years, using his skills to develop and motivate individuals and teams to achieve agreed targets. A former club champion at Sandyhills Golf Club in Glasgow, Sandy has a strong golf administration background. A past captain of Sandyhills, aged only 30, he has been a member of the Glasgow Golf Union Executive since 2009. Sandy worked closely with the SGU to help Sandyhills run more effectively as a business,

notably introducing ClubGolf to the club in 2013 with impressive results. He was appointed (Non Executive) Club Development Director for the SGU in January 2014, assisting in delivering the successful amalgamation vote.

Roz Cuschieri, Commercial Chief Executive Officer of Genius Foods After graduating from Aberdeen University with a Pure Science degree, Roz started her commercial career with United biscuits. Based in Scotland and then London, she held both account management and marketing roles. A five-year spell at Scottish and Newcastle followed, with Roz holding the position of Director of Marketing – off trade. She then spent 12 years with Warburtons, seven of those spent on the Board as Commercial Director. During that time the Warburton brand grew to hold the No 1 grocery food brand position, by value in the UK. In 2010, Roz and her family head back to Scotland with a move to Genius – the privately owned, leading gluten free bakery business. She was appointed as CEO in Jan 2012. Roz has also served as a Non–Executive director for Marstons plc from 2006 to 2015 and is a Non-Executive director for Lightbody Ventures Ltd.

Malcolm Robertson, Communications Founding Partner, Charlotte Street Partners Malcolm Robertson is a Founding Partner of Charlotte Street Partners, a strategic communications company based in Edinburgh and London. Malcolm began his career at Diageo where he spent six years, before joining Beattie Media in 1996. He was appointed Head of Public Affairs at BAA Scotland in 1999. He then enjoyed a sustained and successful career at the airport operator, where he served as Director of Communications for BAA Scotland, before taking a number of broader, group wide roles, including group public affairs director, deputy director of group communications and latterly, Director of Communications. Most recently, Malcolm has run his own strategic advisory company, representing clients in the banking and airports sector, as well as international private equity firms and infrastructure investors. Malcolm is a main board director of the influential Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI), and Chairman of its London Committee. He is a member of Dunblane New Golf Club.

Malcolm Kpedekpo, Finance Founding Partner, Panoramic Growth Equity LLP Malcolm is a qualified chartered accountant and Founding Partner of Panoramic Growth Equity, an investment business formed in 2009 and now one of the UK’s leading equity investors in fast growing, entrepreneurial companies. He is an experienced board member with an extensive local and national business network, having previously held positions with KPMG (in Aberdeen and Sydney, Australia) and the venture capital arm of the Bank of Scotland. Malcolm’s understanding of investing in and working with SME’s is supported by significant experience in Financial Management and the core accountancy disciplines of Audit, Transaction Services and Corporate Finance. During an initial career as a professional footballer with Aberdeen FC between 1992 and 1998, Malcolm was the only player to play top level football in the Scottish Premier League while completing a full-time university degree. The passionate sportsman has been an active golf club member for over 25 years.

Audrey Sturgess, Integration, with responsibility for Handicapping & Course Rating Former finance director of SLGA Since graduating from the University of Stirling in Accountancy and Business Law and then qualifying as a certified accountant, Audrey has enjoyed a varied career, having lived and worked at home and abroad. She has worked for the National Health Service in Scotland and England and two firms of Chartered Accountants, PWC (Coopers & Lybrand), during a spell in South Africa, and Deloitte (Spicer & Pegler). Audrey, who is also the owner/manager of a small property portfolio and, along with her husband Andy, has a farming business in south-west Scotland, has a deep knowledge of the history of the SGU and the SLGA. The former SLGA Finance Director was a member of the Amalgamation Working Group, responsible for producing its budget and forecast figures. A member of Haggs Castle Golf Club, The Ladies Golf Club Troon and Renfrewshire Ladies County Golf Association, Audrey was Club Finance Convenor for four years at Haggs Castle and was the first woman to be elected Club Captain in 2009.

Stewart Darling, Participation

Stephen Docherty, Performance

Chief Executive Officer of Vianet Group

Head of Global Equities for Aberdeen Asset Management

Stewart has extensive plc Board experience and thrives on creating, managing and developing high performing businesses in challenging situations. His experience has been gained through a breadth of senior commercial, customer facing and operational roles in the UK, Continental Europe and the USA. Stewart joined Vianet Group plc, a technology business providing real time monitoring, data management and strategic insight services, as Group Commercial Director in 2008. He became Chief Executive Officer five years later, with primary responsibility for developing and driving the group’s growth strategy through the development of new products and services in existing and new markets. Stewart worked for both British Coal and the Ministry of Defence prior to joining Scottish & Newcastle plc in 1991 where, during the rapid growth of the business, he held several senior commercial roles including Sales Director and Customer Service Director. Stewart brings sound strategic thinking ability to the Board combined with the ability to implement and execute change rapidly through strong decision-making and impactful Board level leadership. He is a keen golfer and member of both Broomieknowe and Kings Acre golf clubs near his home.

Stephen is Head of Global Equities for Aberdeen Asset Management PLC, a position he has held since December 2002, managing a team of 16 people. Stephen is involved heavily with engagement and interaction with professional golfers across both the men and women’s game in which Aberdeen Asset Management have a sponsorship agreement, such as the Scottish Open on the European Tour. The University of Aberdeen graduate has a strong golf pedigree and has previously represented Scotland at schools, boys and youth level and also Great Britain & Ireland at boy’s level. Stephen, who is a member at a number of clubs, brings experience to his role having previously been a Non-Executive Director on the SGU Board, responsible for areas of performance, including academy structures, coaching and team selection. The new appointments reflect the importance of experience and continuity, combined with a fresh perspective and a desire for a blend of golf and business expertise, with the new Board set a requirement of a minimum of three directors of each gender to ensure appropriate representation within the organisation. A selection panel, led by Cannon and former chairs Tom Craig (SGU) and Beth Paterson

(SLGA), worked alongside a professional, independent HR consultancy to oversee the interviewing and selection of candidates, recruiting people with a genuine passion for golf, combined with the qualifications, skills and determination to drive the game forward. Rather than three-year terms for all nine members of the Board, Cannon has put in place succession planning to provide continuity and help nurture others into positions. “Instead of all nine people leaving together at the end of three year-terms, we have created different lengths of terms for each of the directors, namely one, two and three-year terms,” added Cannon. “That has allowed us to introduce real talent into the committee structure with a view to them helping coach and nurture individuals onto the Board in the coming years. “It’s been a fascinating exercise, wonderful to meet so many people all very hungry, interested and excited about the growth of the game in Scotland. My hope is that, as well as appointing this Board, a large number of people who applied will go on to make a contribution to the sport nationally at various levels.” The new directors will attend quarterly Board meetings, as well as supporting the work of the new organisation’s committees across its key areas. The director roles are non-executive and not remunerated outside of expenses, with appointments effective from 1 October 2015.

2015 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship review

Dane Olesen sizzles in the St Andrews sun

ÂŠMatt Hooper

The 2015 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship got underway on Thursday morning under blue skies with only a breath of wind, ideal scoring conditions for some of the best golfers on the European Tour. And the lead acts in a field full of stars of stage and screen duly delivered.

168 players began this year’s Championship and at the end of round one 89 of them were under par. The people of St Andrews, and the best golfers in the world, would definitely have swapped the weather we had in July for the weather we had during the week, but The Open’s loss was very definitely the Alfred Dunhill Links Championships’ gain. ©Matt Hooper

Ireland’s Paul Dunne, England’s Jimmy Mullen and Sweden’s Kristoffer Broberg shared the first round lead after first round 64s. They were all outstanding performances, particularly by Dunne and Mullen, playing in their first European Tour event as professionals. But the cheers on a brilliantly sunny first day at St Andrews also rang out for film star Jamie Dornan who dramatically eagled the 18th on the Old Course, one of the most historic holes in golf. Dornan, playing with American professional Peter Uihlein in the Team Championship, rolled in a 30-foot putt for the eagle two, and said: “That’s up there as one of the most amazing feelings of my life. Whatever your standard, you have your moments in golf when you play a great shot, but it’s usually on some dirt track of a course. To do that here at St Andrews, on the 18th, well, that’s the closest I am going to get to winning the Open!” Dornan, from Holywood, the same town in Northern Ireland as Rory McIlroy, said: “It’s a shame Rory wasn’t here to see that, but I’ll be texting him to let him know.”

1999 Open Champion and winner of the first Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Paul Lawrie gets the 15th championship under way on Thursday morning

ÂŠMatt Hooper

Dornan and Uihlein were eight-under in the Team Championship, five shots behind the leaders. He said: “I’ve got tickets to watch Ireland play Italy in the Rugby World Cup on Sunday, but I’d swap those to get to play here again on the final day, especially if I could eagle the 18th again to win the team tournament. It was fantastic out there today.” Mullen, whose 64 at Kingsbarns included an eagle at the 5th, won all four of his matches during Great Britain and Ireland’s Walker Cup victory over the United States. He said: “I didn’t expect to shoot eightunder first time out. But Pablo Larrazabal helped me along, such a nice guy. I’ve got a lot of learning to do and just looking forward to tomorrow. “I've only played Kingsbarns once before, but I’ve played St. Andrews lots of times and played Carnoustie five times in a year in the British Amateur, so I know those well. I’m looking forward to playing both those courses. To start off my career at St. Andrews is a dream, really, but it’s a long way away from winning the tournament. I've only played one round. But hopefully I'll be there at the end of the week.” Dunne’s round included a hole-in-one at the 205-yard, 15th hole – his sixth after starting at the 10th. He used a 5-iron and

said: “I needed it. I got off to a ropey start. I tried to start it at the left edge of green and let the wind drift it in. I thought I’d hit it close and when I saw it drop, it was great. I played some good golf from then on.” The Irishman added: “I've been looking forward to getting started as a pro for a while. No better place to do it than on a links-style course like this. All three courses are in fantastic condition. They are all very different but all of them put up different types of tests. “It’s a long week with other golf courses to be played, but for now I'm just going to be pleased with my round and look forward to the rest of the week.” Broberg, 29, became the fastest player to earn promotion from the Challenge Tour to the full European Tour in 2012 after winning three tournaments. He shot up from 1,109 in the world rankings to 79th at the end of that year, after finishing runnerup in the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa. He came close to his first European Tour victory in 2014 when he tied for third in the Irish Open and finished runner-up at the Scottish Open. There were three players a further shot behind – England’s Richard Bland and

Anthony Wall and Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen. 2013 Champion, David Howell was going along well with a birdie at the par three 11th hole taking him to 4-under-par, and within four shots of the lead. But at 14 disaster struck. “I pulled my drive into the bunker then duffed my third shot (14), made a good two-putt for bogey at 15, ran into trouble at 17 and then hit it out of bounds at the last” said Howell. Indeed the final five holes saw the former 2-time Ryder Cup winner make three double-bogeys and a bogey to fall to 3over-par and record a round of 75. “To throw that run of holes in is very disappointing” the Swindon man said. The weather on day two was even more spectacular and the low scoring didn’t abate, and the young rookies continued to shine. England’s Jimmy Mullen, one of the great future hopes of European golf, resolutely clung to the top of the leaderboard after the second round. If anyone was expecting 21-year-old Mullen to fold, after his excellent first round 64 at Kingsbarns, they did not understand the fighting spirit and maturity of the young man.

Mullen, playing in his first European Tour event as a professional, shot an impressive 69 on the Old Course, though he was joined on 11-under-par, late in the day, by fellow Englishman Anthony Wall. One shot further back is another brilliant young prospect, Ireland’s Paul Dunne, experienced Ryder Cup star Jamie Donaldson, Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen and American Chris Stroud. Mullen, who won all four of his matches during Great Britain and Ireland’s Walker Cup victory over the United States, said: “I watched these players when I was a junior, and then you realise you are playing against them now. That’s the hardest part. I'm still a bit like ‘there’s Kaymer’ and other people like him. “I’m just trying to let them do what they do and concentrate on what I do. I think I managed to stick to that quite well over the first two rounds. I got a little bit twitchy and tried lagging a few putts up on the back nine, but I'm happy with my day's work. “It's unbelievable, really, in my first event as a pro. It’s the stuff dreams are made of. I’m trying not to get too far ahead of myself. We're only halfway, but let’s see what we can do over the next couple days.”

Anthony Wall, who had four birdies on the front nine at St Andrews, his back nine having started at the 10th, in his 68, is looking forward to playing Carnoustie in the third round. “I love Carnoustie. I think it's one of the best links ever made, if not the best. I've always played well around there and I look forward to another good day.” Mullen’s superb performance also lifted him and his amateur partner Miguel Duenas into third place in the Team Championship on 18-under, one shot behind leaders Rafael Cabrera Bello & Dermot Desmond and Jared Harvey & Michael Zamkow. In second place on the professional leaderboard is Ireland’s Paul Dunne, also making his professional debut after a stunning performance at The Open earlier this summer. Alongside Dunne is 16-yearold amateur, Keith Bowman. Bowman is the Junior Captain of the New Golf Club of St Andrews, as well as being a member of the St Andrews Golf Club and SALJGA – the St Andrews Links Junior Golf Association. Bowman is playing in his first Alfred Dunhill Links Championship after St Andrews Links partner, Allianz donated a

space in the field to a local talent. On Thursday he teamed with Dunne to shoot a round of 60 at Kingsbarns and on Friday the pair shot a 3-under-par 69 to sit in a tie for 21st, one place outside the cut for the team competition. The top 20 and ties make it through to the final day alongside the leading 65 professionals and ties. After his round Keith was kind enough to speak to St Andrews Golf Magazine about the experience and his ambitions for the future. What were your feelings when you received the invite to play in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship? “I was thrilled (to receive the invite), and really excited and nervous but I am over that now. I am really proud to represent the clubs, and to have all my friends and family in the crowd supporting me” said Bowman. You must have played many rounds on the Old Course, so that must help coming into the tournament, what experience do you have of the other courses this week? “I hadn’t played Kingsbarns and Carnoustie before the practice rounds this

week, they are a new experience to me, two great courses though.” What has it been like to play with these great players and what are your ambitions for the future? “Paul is a really great guy to play with, and is really my role model for what I want to achieve in the long-term.” What part of your game have you been happiest with this week? “My driving, off the tee has been really good.” What is next for you after the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship? “Work on my game throughout the winter and get ready for next season.”

golfer that could make an impact. Whilst at the tender age of 16 it is impossible to predict whether Bowman will go on to have a successful amateur and professional career, there is no doubt that this year’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship will be an invaluable experience. After another scorcher of a day on Saturday it was 2-time European Tour winner, Thorbjorn Olesen who stood on the brink of the biggest win of his career after a round of 65 spread-eagled the field. They do say that all great rounds begin with a bogey, and that was certainly true for Olesen, who made a poor five at the par four first on the Old Course.

Earlier this summer Bowman won the St Andrews Links Junior Golf Association championship by an astounding 10 shots, just a glimpse into the extraordinary talent the youngster possesses.

That error seemed to spark the 25-yearold into life, with birdies at the 3rd, 4th, 7th and 8th taking him out in 33, reaching 13under-par to assume the lead. It was a lead he wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the round.

His caddie for the week was Ewan Scott, himself a talented amateur, and who played in the 2012 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

And it only got better for him, finishing with birdies at 14, 15, 16 and 18 to stretch his lead and leave the chasing pack in the dust.

St Andrews has waited for many, many years to have an exceptionally talented

Olesen’s nearest challenger is Germany’s Florian Fritsch, after an impressive 64 at Kingsbarns, with France’s Benjamin

Hebert, another shot behind after a 67 at Carnoustie.

But Olesen had to be looking over his shoulder at the ominous figures of South Africans Branden Grace and Ernie Els. Who were six shots back, but with the weather forecast to be fine, there were birdies galore to be had. Grace, who shot 68 at St Andrews, is the man who beat Olesen to the title in 2012, while Els looked especially threatening after a brilliant 66, which included seven birdies and just one bogey. Olesen, a two-time winner on the European Tour, said: “It’s definitely a nice position to be in and you know you can shoot a good score around this golf course if the weather is nice. It's definitely not going to be easy, but I'm going to go out there tomorrow and try my best. I'll just have to go out there and hopefully find a few birdies.” Olesen’s amateur partner was surfing legend Kelly Slater and together they have made the cut in the Team Championship. Olesen said: “It helps when you play with a nice guy like Kelly. We are having good fun out there.”

Branden Grace said: “I’m in contention, so that's a good thing. We had a wait at the halfway point which did me the world of good. I made a long putt at the 10th hole and the putter kept on going from there. “This week has been great and an amateur partner like Huey Lewis has been fantastic. He told me after a few holes ‘I've helped four times today, you've only helped twice, lift your game.’ So I did and I got it back to four-under.” While Ernie Els added: “I left a couple out there, 13, 14, 15, but I can't complain with a 66. Conditions are just unbelievable.” However large his lead may have been it has never been wise to call the outcome of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship before the final round. Time and time again this championship has been decided on the final few holes on the Old Course, and with a diverse pack of players, largely in form, chasing it was set to be another Sunday to remember at the home of golf. Last year Oliver Wilson began the final round with a three-shot lead, and only claimed victory by one shot from three players.

In 2012 Branden Grace led by four going into the final round, and eventually won by 2 strokes from Thorbjorn Olesen. In 2010 John Parry held a two stroke lead heading into Sunday, only to see Martin Kaymer come surging past to win by three shots from Danny Willett. The history, the course and the prize on offer all play their part in a championship which every golfer would dearly love to win, and despite his healthy lead Thorbjorn Olesen had to respect the class of the competitors around him. Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren only got the call to play in the tournament, as a replacement for the injured Louis Oosthuizen, some 48 hours before the start on Thursday, and he took full advantage today with a stunning round of 62 at Kingsbarns to move to within five of Olesen at the top. The 23-year-old finished in a tie for third place at the Italian Open three weeks ago and a top five finish here would secure the youngster his European Tour card for next season.

In 2013 Peter Uihlein led by two shots going into the final round, only to lose out to David Howell in a playoff.

©Kevin Kirk

posted a final round of 73 to fall back into the pack, tying for 30th place. Grace was certainly a man for Thorbjorn Olesen to fear on the final day, but with the South African’s struggles and a birdie at the first from the Dane, it seemed like he was going to take complete control of the championship.

Brooks Koepka shot 67 and Chris Stroud 68 to finish joint second, while Kiradech Aphibarnrat (69), Benjamin Hebert (70), Joakim Lagergren (69), Hans Wiesberger (66), Chris Wood (65) were one shot further back.

But an unexpected double-bogey at the 2nd hole threw the championship wide-open. The chasing pack seized on a moment of weakness from the leader, who until this week had been having the most wretched season. Coming to the home of golf, Olesen had made just five cuts in 19 tournaments on the 2015 Race to Dubai.

©Matt Hooper

Sunday began under bright skies, with a little cooler temperature and a freshening breeze. The breeze was enough to catch out one of the chasing pack, with Branden Grace finding the Swilcan Burn with his approach to the first hole. Derailing his quest for a second Alfred Dunhill Links Championship success. The South African

He followed the double at the 2nd with a bogey at the 3rd and his lead had been swallowed up. With Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, Bernd Wiesberger and Brooks Koepka all on the charge. Olesen bounced back with birdies at 4 and 5 in what was a rollercoaster start featuring no pars. But this time Thorbjorn would not be denied. On a day sprinkled with birdies on the Old Course, there was a constant series of challengers who tried their best to overtake Olesen, but could not catch him.

©Matt Hooper

A spectacular long-range birdie putt at 15 finally put daylight between the Dane and the chasing pack. And after negotiating the fearsome road hole with a par Olesen could relax and enjoy the incredible feeling of winning at the home of golf. Olesen, 25, said: “Standing here with this trophy is unbelievable. Definitely more personal and very emotional. It's been a very tough

season for me and I would like to give special thanks to everyone who has been there for me.” “Finishing off at St.Andrews is a great feeling. I kept believing I would be back here again. It was nice this week just to play three great rounds of golf, then hold it together in the last round. I kept being patient out there, kept trying to make fours and give myself chances for birdie. It was nice to get that one in on the 15th. I had a few good chances before that, so that was a big relief.”

because it was great to see Thorbjorn come through to win – and also because of my own birdie three on the 18th green. That was a wonderful putt for me to make. “Thorbjorn had to keep calm out there to win after the double bogey on the 2nd which set him back. But he made some great putts during the week – and another one on the 15th today which was very important. I’m so happy for him and it’s been a great day.” ©Matt Hooper

This was Olesen’s third European Tour victory, which secures his place on the European Tour until 2017, moves him into the top 75 in the world and into the top 25 in The Race to Dubai, the European order of merit. It was a special moment too for surfing legend Kelly Slater, Olesen’s partner in the Team Championship, who for the second time had the pleasure of walking the 18th hole with the winner. Six years ago he partnered Simon Dyson when he won. Slater said: “I’ve now played twice in this competition and twice I’ve been partnered with the professional winner. It’s amazing. In 2009 with Simon it was a great experience. But I think this one was better

Thorbjorn Olesen celebrates his win in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship with amateur partner, Kelly Slater

ÂŠMatt Hooper

Local golf results and News St Andrews v the Rest of the World match to celebrate St Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day

The 102nd Town Match Golf at the University of St Andrews New Golf Club of St Andrews St Andrews Golf Club Thistle Golf Club St Regulus Golf Club St Rule Club

St Andrews versus The Rest of the World 2

International Golf Match

New and Jubilee courses, St Andrews Links

Sunday 29 November 10am shotgun start

For the second consecutive year the St Andrews Partnership will lead a co-ordinated four days of events in St Andrews to celebrate St Andrew’s Day, and golf will be playing its part. As the home of golf, St Andrews Links will host the St Andrews v the Rest of the World golf match across the New and Jubilee courses on Sunday November 29. In 2014 a total of 112 golfers took part in the competition, with St Andrews triumphing over the Rest of the World by 19 matches to 9. 28 fourball matches took place over the two courses between the two teams which saw the members of the St Andrews clubs represent St Andrews, and members of clubs out with of the town represent the rest of the world. Golfers from the United States and China also took part, illustrating that the St Andrews v the Rest of the World match has vast potential to become one of the highlights of the golfing and social calendar of St Andrews. In September each year the Town Match features members of the New and St Andrews Golf Clubs competing against the Royal and Ancient Golf Club. This year’s match featured 162 matches across four golf courses including the Old, New, Jubilee and Strathtyrum courses and the St Andrew’s Day match could become somewhat of an ‘International’ version of this. With the unmatched global appeal of the St Andrews Links courses, potentially the match could attract visiting golfers from all around the world, further enhancing the reach of the St

Andrew’s Day events and strengthening the competition for years to come.

year of co-ordinating the St Andrew’s Day Celebrations.

The annual Rotary International Golf Tournament, held each May, attracts entrants from over 20 countries, and the University of St Andrews had graduates in 2015 from over 80, many of whom play golf.

A further £158,000 was spent by local residents, and the independent analysis shows that £315,609 of these sums was new economic input brought to Fife by our events. The town’s shops, restaurants, accommodation providers and other businesses have all benefited considerably.”

On Monday 30 November, St Andrew’s Day, various attractions and iconic landmarks of St Andrews will be included in the ‘Open Doors’ event. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews will allow members of the public to come into the world famous clubhouse behind the first tee of the Old Course. 2014 was the first year of co-ordinated celebrations in the town and it was hailed as an enormous success by St Andrews Partnership chairman, Jim McArthur, “We are delighted to learn about these positive outcomes. In 2014, we set out first and foremost to bring St Andrews together and create a local celebration that was run by the community, for the community. We were delighted with the support we received from local organisations, the logistics all worked well and the feedback locally following the weekend was very positive.” “However, what we didn’t anticipate was that there would also be such a large economic spin-off,” continued Mr McArthur. “Just over £250,000 was spent in the town by visitors from out with Fife, which we feel is a remarkable figure given that this was our first

“We acknowledge that our publicity campaign appeared rather late in the day in 2014 – mainly due to circumstances outwith our control – and we are already taking steps to ensure that we improve upon this in 2015. Our audience surveys also raised a number of other constructive suggestions for improvement, and these ideas will all be considered over the coming weeks as we plan for this year’s event.” Mr McArthur concluded, “These outcomes have given us an added boost as we begin to plan for next November – it’s very rewarding to know that as well as delivering events which were enjoyed by local people, we also helped support local businesses to a significant degree. In 2015, we will aim to do even better! The St Andrews Partnership Board is fully committed to continually improving these events, as we firmly believe that the biggest St Andrew’s Day Celebrations should be in the town which bears his name. This year, we hope to encourage even more local organisations to play a part in and contribute to this year’s celebrations.”

Friday 27 November

Saturday 28 November

Sunday 29 November

Monday 30 November

St Andrews Photographic Society Annual Exhibition, 10:00am-4:00pm

St Andrews Art Club Exhibition, 9:00am5:00pm

St Andrew’s Day 2015

150th Anniversary Exhibition, 10:00am3:00pm

St Andrews Day Park Run, 9:30am-11:00am

St Andrews v Rest of the World

Open Doors, 9:00am-5:00pm

International Golf Match,

Including Royal and Ancient

Virginia Fowler- Walking Tour of St Andrews, 10:30am-12:00pm Scottish History Talk, ''From Jacobitism to the SNP: Republicanism and Monarchy in Modern Scottish History', 11:00am-12:00pm Meet the Authors: Douglas Watt & Jenni Daiches talk about their new novels, 11:30am-12:30pm Organ Masterclass with Henry Fairs, 12:00pm-1:00pm Scottish History Talk, ‘Fighting with History: Uses and Abuses of the Scottish Past’, 2:00pm-3:00pm Meet the Authors: Scone & Jam Session with the Scottish History Writers Association, 3:30pm-4:30pm

Photographic Society Annual Exhibition, 10:00am-4:00pm

10:00am-5:00pm Virginia Fowler - Walking Tour of St Andrews, 10:30am-12:00pm

Meet the Author- Walter Stephen., 11:00am-12:00pm

Children's Film Club- 'Toy Story', 10:00am11:00am

'Notes of a Newsman'- John McKay, 10:30am-11:30am

Civic Service for St Andrew's Day, 11:00am-12:00pm

Carnaby Market, 10:30am-3:30pm

University Chapel service for St Andrewstide, 11:00am-12:00pm

Scottish History Talk, ‘Border Crossings: or, Scottish History Through a Wide-Angle Lens’, 11:30am-12:30pm

Virginia Fowler - Walking Tour of St Andrews, 10:30am-12:00pm

Fife's Food Festival, 11:00am-12:00pm

Scottish History Talk, ‘The Union That Never Was: The Marriage of Edward VI and Mary Queen of Scots’, 11:30am-12:30pm

Scottish History Talk, ‘Which made more different to Scotland: Industry or Empire?’ 11:30am-12:30pm

Street Party, Market Street, 1:35pm-6:00pm

Soup & Sandwich Session, 12:00pm1:30pm

Scottish History Talk,‘'When the printed book arrived in Scotland'', 2:00pm-3:00pm

St Andrews Festive Lights Switch-On, 5:45pm-6:00pm

Beating the Retreat Ceremony, 6:30pm6:50pm

6.05pm Public Procession, led by

Scottish History Talk- ‘What is the History of the Scottish Nation?’ 2:00pm3:00pm

Madras College Pipe Band,

Fife's Food Festival, 3:00pm-4:00pm

Scottish History debate featuring Professor Sir Tom Devine, and guests, 6:30pm-7:30pm

6.05pm-6.15pm

St Andrews Art Club Exhibition, 7:00pm9:00pm ‘Traditional Uses for Honey in Scotland’s Food and Drink’, 7:15pm-8:15pm '602' Ball, 8pm-2am

Scotland's largest Open-Air Ceilidh, 6:15pm-7:15pm

Pier Walk, 12:00pm-1:00pm Rock Night, 7:00pm-8:00pm

The St Andrew's Day Concert, 7:30pm-8:30pm

Alternative Whisky Masterclass, 1:00pm2:30pm

St Andrews Table Tennis Club 'Open Tables', 6:00pm-9:15pm

St Andrews Supper, with music by Billy Anderson, 7:00pm-10:00pm

Golf Club

150th Anniversary Exhibition and refreshments, 10:00am-3:00pm

More details available via

Children's event - “Hamespun Tales”, 3:30pm-5:00pm St Andrew's Day Harvest Feast, 6:00pm10:00pm St Andrews Renaissance Singers, 8:00pm-9:00pm www.standrewsdaycelebrations.com

THE 2015 TOWN MATCH

Saturday 19 September, 2015

Raisin Weekend dates far back into St Andrewsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; history, so called because children traditionally gave their academic parents a pound of raisins to thank them for welcoming them to St Andrews. The St Andrews academic family is unique. Other universities pair up students with their academic parents but here the tradition has always been passed down from student to student. For more information on Raisin Weekend click here Image ÂŠUniversity of St Andrews

St Andrews Golf Magazine is looking for an interested student, studying here in St Andrews to contribute to the magazine over the coming academic year. If you are interested please contact us via email at info@standrewsgolfmagazine.com.

11 October 2015 Scottish 1A

University of St Andrews

9.5

Edinburgh Napier

0.5

Gullane Golf Club

Scottish 2A

Glasgow Caledonian

University of St Andrews

Troon Darley Golf Course

Scottish 3A

University of St Andrews

Robert Gordon University

Jubilee Course, St Andrews Links

Scottish 4A

Scottish 3A

University of Stirling

University of St Andrews

University of Strathclyde

Dunblane Golf Club

Golf Tour 2015-2016

Eden Course, St Andrews Links

Stirling International, 11-12 September 2015

18 October 2015

Scottish 4A

Scottish 1A

Glasgow University

University of St Andrews

University of Strathclyde

Walkover for Glasgow

The Duke’s, St Andrews

Men’s Individual 1st Craig Ross

Eden Course, St Andrews Links

Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Links

SGU Select 70 71 71 212 -1 2nd Marco Iten

Scottish 2A

University of St Andrews

University of Stirling

Stirling University 70 71 72 213 LEVEL 3rd Calum Fyfe SGU Select 70 74 74 218 +5

Eden Course, St Andrews Links

4th Andrew Davidson Stirling University 75 76 71 222 +9 5th Kyle McCarron Maynooth University 72 72 79 223 +10

6th Ryan Campbell

Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Individual

SGU Select 80 73 71 224 +11

1st Gemma Batty

Ladybank Tournament, 4-6 October 2015

7th Craig Chalmers

Stirling University 73 80 76 229 +16

Ladybank Golf Club

Strathclyde University 68 80 77 225 +12

2nd Miranda Brain

Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Team

8th Angus Carrick

St Andrews University 82 79 74 235 +22

1st Strathclyde I 216 222 438 +12

Stirling University 72 77 77 226 +13

3rd Nastja Banovec

9th Daniel Young

Abertay Dundee 75 76 85 236 +23

SGU Select 73 79 75 227 +14

4th Marie Danielsson

10th Ross Steedman

St Andrews University 79 84 74 237 +24

Maynooth University 73 77 78 228 +15

5th Tara Mactaggart Stirling University 79 79 80 238 +25 6th Hannah Holden

Craig Chalmers / Cameron Graham Craig Hughes / James Johnston 2nd Stirling I 218 222 440 +14 Colin Edgar / Chris MacLean Sean Walter / James Wilson 3rd Northumbria I 225 221 446 +20

Sheffield University 75 83 81 239 +26

Steven Burn / Elliott Butterworth

7th Sinead Sexton

Matthew Hayes / Andrew Wilson

Stirling University 77 76 87 240 +27

4th St Andrews I 224 230 454 +28

8th Alexa Hammer

5th Stirling II 228 227 455 +29

St Andrews University 84 80 83 247 +34

6th Aberdeen I 227 229 456 +30

9th Molly Haslam Exeter University 81 79 88 248 +35

7th Glasgow I 225 235 460 +3 8th Strathclyde II 229 236 465 +39

9th Northumbria II 227 239 466 +40

8th Tom Beasley

10th Stirling III 239 236 475 +49

St Andrews University 73 75 75 223 +10 9th Luke Robinson

Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Individual

Stirling University 78 73 73 224 +11 10th James Wilson

1st Mike Howard Edinburgh University 72 74 70 216 +3 2nd Andrew Wilson

Stirling University 77 73 74 224 +11

Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Individual 1st Chloe Goadby Stirling University 75 66 72 213 LEVEL

2nd Jen Saxton Stirling University 72 75 71 218 +5 3rd Ailsa Summers St Andrews University 72 73 77 222 +9 4th Gemma Batty

Northumbria University 74 74 69 217 +4 Stirling University 75 71 77 223 +10 3rd Connor Neil 5th Nia Greville Abertay Dundee 69 76 72 217 +4 Stirling University 77 76 76 229 +16 4th Chris MacLean 6th Marie Danielsson Stirling University 74 72 75 221 +8 St Andrews University 80 74 77 231 +18

5th Steven Burn Northumbria University 77 75 71 223 +10 6th George Burns

7th Sinead Sexton Stirling University 73 79 79 231 +18 8th Hannah Holden

St Andrews University 73 76 74 223 +10 Sheffield University 76 81 80 237 +24 7th Tom Spencer 9th Alexa Hammer Aberdeen University 76 73 74 223 +10 St Andrews University 77 80 81 238 +25

Fairmont Tournament, 30-1 November 2015 Fairmont St Andrews Photography, Reports and Scores courtesy of Rob Macpherson, Scottish Student Golf

Latest news and results from

St Regulus Ladies Golf Club

St Regulus Ladies Golf Club Results

Medal Finals - Old Course, Saturday 5th Sept 1st Angela Forster- Rainey (30) nett 80 2nd Fiona Hill (7) nett 81 bih 3rd Susan Jackson (+2) nett 81

Menzies Cup (committee & past captains) Eden Course

Castle Quaich - Sunday 20th September 2015 - Castle Course 2 best stableford scores count 1st Jackie Thompson, Yumi Hasegawa, Geraldine Mackle, Pauline Rew 75 points 2nd Susan Black, Karen St Amant, Barbara Ritchie, Ruth Clark 73 points bih 3rd Frances Robertson, Caroline Moore, Muriel Millar, Jacqui McCormick 73 points

Nine Hole Competition Strathtyrum SSS 66 22pts

3rd Elizabeth Small

Strathtyrum Course 1st

Rhoda Wilson 24 points

2nd

Jan Crawford 22 points

3rd

Norma Scott 21 points

VICE CAPTAINS PRIZE

3rd Jane Field - 20 points

3rd F Hill and S Willoughby 34pts after countback

Saturday 26th September 2015 3rd Ann Moffat (110 net 78

2nd Yumi Hasegawa - 21 points

2nd A Wilson and J Prentice 36pts

2nd Nicola Cunningham 18pts

2nd Wendy Howden (23) nett 77

1st Janet Finlayson - 23 points

1st M Betteridge and I Eccleston 39 pts

September Nine Hole 1st Brenda Francis (21) nett 75

Five Clubs and Putter - Nine holes due to horrendous weather.

Eden /Course

1st Jan Crawford

Sunday 6th Sept

Saturday 12th September - Strathtyrum

Gourlay Foursomes

17pts

is now on Watch out for Live broadcasts from the St Andrews golfing scene in 2016

Golf Returns to the Olympic Games By Matt Hooper

©OMEGA Ltd

In this edition  



Olympic Golf Test Event pencilled in for March Five cities to bid for the 2024 Olympic Games, we look at the golf courses set to be used in each bid Discovery/Eurosport Olympic broadcast deal and the pros and cons for growing the game We look at Golf in Russia, a country with a rich Olympic heritage and we speak to Maria Balikoeva, the most high-profile female golfer in Russia

Road to Rio is St Andrews Golf Magazine’s dedicated section covering the return of Golf to the Olympic Games. In each edition we interview one of the leading Olympic golf hopefuls from a different country around the world and profile the game in that country. In ‘Golf’s Olympic Opportunity’ we look at the opportunity golf has to grow the game and the industry and we keep you up to date with the latest Olympic rankings for both men and women as we get closer to the first Olympic Golf Tournament since 1904.

Olympic Golf Test Event saga continues

Five world-class cities in strong competition for Olympic Games 2024

Golf course construction delays mean course still at growing in stage IOC to contribute USD 1.7 billion to the local organising committee

Ty Votaw, IGF Vice-President, has said that the Olympic Golf Test event will consist of a one-day exhibition event featuring four of the world’s top male and four of the world’s top female golfers. No players have yet been confirmed, and it is thought that event will take place in March of 2016. ‘Aquece Rio’, the test event programme for the Rio 2016 Olympics, began in August and features three ‘Waves’ of test events for each sport in the Olympic programme. Golf is set to hold its test event in the third ‘Wave’ which runs from March to May 2016. Other sports in the third ‘Wave’ include Rugby Sevens, Weightlifting and Water Polo.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is delighted to announce a very strong field of candidates for the Olympic Games 2024. Five cities – Budapest (HUN), Hamburg (GER), Los Angeles (USA), Paris (FRA), and Rome (ITA)* – will compete to host the Olympic Games 2024 after submitting their applications to the IOC by last night’s midnight deadline. In line with Olympic Agenda 2020, the Host City Contract 2024 was published today. The IOC will contribute USD 1.7 billion in cash and services to the organising committee for the Olympic Games 2024. “We are welcoming five outstanding and highly qualified Candidate Cities,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “Olympic Agenda 2020 has shaped the Candidature Process more as an invitation and the cities have responded by engaging with the IOC through dialogue and cooperation. In the new invitation process the

IOC learnt that all the candidates are embracing Olympic Agenda 2020 from their respective vision for the future of their city. Sustainability and legacy are the cornerstones of each candidature.” In keeping with its commitment to good governance, transparency and ethics, following Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC today published all the documents related to the Candidature: Candidature Process Olympic Games 2024, Candidature Questionnaire Olympic Games 2024, Host City Contract Principles, and Host City Contract Operational Requirements. This is the first time that the full package of documentation has been made public at the very outset of the process. With their candidatures, the five cities commit themselves to respect the Olympic Charter and the Host City Contract for all participants of the Games and all Games-related matters. In this context, the IOC made changes to the Host City Contract, including: Reference to sexual orientation in the non-discrimination clause as part of the Host City Contract Principles with overarching significance for the entire Olympic Games’ project. The IOC is clear that sport is a human right and should be available to all regardless of race, sex or sexual orientation as stated in the Olympic Charter The freedom of media to report on the Olympic Games is now integrated in the Host City Contract Principles

An amendment on labour law compliance that states: “The City, the NOC and the OCOG shall take all necessary measures to ensure that development projects and other projects necessary for the organisation of the Games comply with local, regional and national legislation and international agreements and protocols, applicable in the Host Country with regard to planning, construction, protection of the environment, health and safety, labour and anti-corruption laws.” In light of Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC has distilled down over 7,000 pages of Technical Manuals into fewer than 350 pages of contractually binding Host City Contract Operational Requirements. For the organisation of the Games, the IOC is providing the future organising committee an extensive transfer of knowledge including the Olympic Games Guides. With their applications, the cities have to follow the strict Rules of Conduct for Candidate Cities, which regulate all forms of communication between the Candidate Cities, IOC Members and other Olympic Movement stakeholders, including visits. Rules are also in place to resolve any potential conflict of interest in a transparent way. In line with Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC earlier launched a Consultants Register for the Candidature Process Olympic Games 2024. All consultants for a candidature have to agree to the Rules of Conduct and the IOC Code of Ethics.

Olympic Agenda 2020 also offers the Candidate Cities the opportunity to reduce costs related to the Candidature Process. For instance, the number of presentations to be made by the cities has been reduced from nine to three. In addition, the IOC is now covering the travel costs and accommodation of a number of delegates to the presentations made to the IOC, as well as costs related to the visit of the IOC Evaluation Commission. Interest in hosting the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad 2024 has been bolstered by the new Invitation Phase and other reform initiatives included in Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC’s strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement. These measures allow for greater creativity, more transparency, lower costs and simplified procedures. Through this Invitation Phase, the IOC helps cities deliver Games that will best align with their unique long-term social, environmental and economic vision. The potential candidates were invited to discuss their initial plans with the IOC. Key to these discussions were the opportunities and legacies of a candidature and of organising Olympic Games. All Candidate Cities have been strongly encouraged to focus on legacy and sustainability by placing greater emphasis on the use of existing venues or temporary and demountable venues where no long-term need exists or can be justified. The IOC will continue to work in close collaboration with each Candidate City to

provide them with the best possible services and assistance in the lead-up to the election, by the full IOC Membership, of the Host City by the 130th IOC Session in Lima, Peru in 2017. With Golf now a part of the next two Olympic Games, the sport will be aiming to retain its place in the world’s biggest sporting event beyond 2020, and each of the five candidate cities has announced plans for the golf course to stage the Olympic Golf Tournament. Courses confirmed as part of bid

Griffith Park Woodrow Wilson Municipal Golf Course Designed by George C. Thomas Opened in 1927 Hosted Los Angeles (Northern Trust Open) from 1936-1938 Multiple host to the LA City Golf Championships A $30m revamp of the course and facilities to ensure it is ready for the Olympics $25m rebuild of the clubhouse

Le Golf National Host to the French Golf Federation and Open de France since 1991 Host to the 2018 Ryder Cup Public facility boasting two 18-hole courses and one 9-hole course

Gut Kaden, host to former European Tour event Deutsche Bank SAP Open

Marco Simone Country Club, used in bid to host 2022 Ryder Cup

Course TBA

Can Golf Discover a new audience or will new IOC broadcast deal be Golf’s Deadliest Catch? IOC and Discovery Communications set to change the way we watch the Olympic Games across Europe

On June 29 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that all TV and multi-platform broadcast rights in Europe for the four Olympic Games in the 2018–2024 period have been awarded to Discovery Communications, the parent company of Eurosport. Discovery acquired the exclusive rights, valued at EUR 1.3 billion, across all platforms, including free-to-air television, subscription/pay-TV television, internet and mobile phone in all languages across 50 countries and territories on the European continent. Consistent with IOC and local market requirements, Discovery has committed to broadcasting a minimum of 200 hours of the Olympic Games and 100 hours of the Olympic Winter Games on free-to-air television during the Games period. Discovery will sub-license a

portion of the rights in many markets across Europe. Discovery acquired the rights in all territories in Europe except for the Russian Federation. * Territories included: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France**, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom**, Vatican City State ** 2022-2024 only (in France and the United Kingdom). Broadcast rights in these territories have already been awarded for the Olympic Games in 2018 and 2020: IOC President Thomas Bach said: “This is a significant agreement for Discovery and the IOC, and we are excited to have Eurosport, the pan-European home of Olympic sports, as a partner. This agreement ensures comprehensive coverage of the Olympic Games across Europe, including the guarantee to provide extensive free-to-air television coverage in all territories. Discovery and Eurosport have

demonstrated a major commitment to the Olympic Games, to Olympic sports and to the future of the Olympic Movement. The revenue generated from this long-term partnership will be redistributed by the IOC across the Olympic Movement to support the development of sport around the world. Discovery and Eurosport have also made an exciting commitment to partner with the IOC to develop the new Olympic Channel across Europe. Above all, this agreement ensures that sports fans in Europe will be able to enjoy excellent coverage of the Olympic Games and Olympic sports, both during and outside Games time, on their platform of choice.” Juan Antonio Samaranch, IOC Executive Board Member and delegate IOC Member for European broadcast rights said: “We are delighted to have reached this agreement, which we believe will bring fantastic coverage of the Olympic Games and the Olympic values to the largest audience in Europe across all media platforms. Discovery and Eurosport will ensure the exposure of the Olympic Games through their own TV channels and media platforms, and, where relevant, by reaching sublicensing partnerships with other broadcasters in the various territories. Olympic fans will also benefit from comprehensive digital coverage on Eurosport’s leading pan-regional digital platforms.”

JB Perrette, President of Discovery Networks International, added: “We took control of Eurosport a year ago and embarked on a longterm mission to reinvigorate and strengthen its networks and brand. Today’s announcement is an incredibly exciting step forward on that journey.

golf shown on terrestrial television in 2016 will be the Olympic Golf Tournament.

Eurosport’s unmatched technical prowess and ability to deliver the Olympic Games to 50 countries in 20 languages across multiple platforms is an important win for sports fans.

200 hours of Olympic content must be shown free-to-air, which could be swallowed up by Athletics and Swimming alone during the 18 days of the games. Terrestrial television has an unmatched reach in the United Kingdom, with Eurosport currently available in x homes across the UK and has an audience share of just 0.18%.

We are thrilled and humbled to partner with one of the most recognised and powerful global brands, that not only delivers the biggest global event but also shares our company’s DNA of engaging and inspiring people in addition to entertaining them.” This major announcement will mean that in 2024 the Olympic Games will have to be sublicensed by the BBC, something which they may find prohibitive considering the freeze in the license fee and the competition from ITV and potentially Channel 5. Channel 4 has said it wishes to focus on the Paralympic Games. It essentially brings to an end terrestrial television in the United Kingdom being the home of the Olympic Games, and will surely mean that either BBC or another free-to-air network prioritizing the major, traditional Olympic sports over others, including Golf. BBC recently asked to be released from its contract to broadcast the 2016 Open Championship at Troon, which means the only

This makes the Olympic Games a true window into the game of golf for the casual sports fan or youngster, and could be an inspiration to encourage children to take up golf.

The Olympic Games have always been broadcast free-to-air in the UK and they have had a clear inspirational impact in terms of giving a sport a spurt in growth. Both Athletics and Cycling received a similar surge in popularity following London 2012, and the potential damage this deal could do to golf in the UK is enormous. With no other live golf free-to-air in the UK, golf’s participation, which has been in decline for many years, could continue, despite its place at the greatest show on earth.

The Marvel from Moscow takes aim at the global stage

Maria Balikoeva â&#x20AC;&#x153;Seriously, I think that the Olympics will be a very important step in my lifeâ&#x20AC;?

Interview by Matt Hooper with Maria Balikoeva

Photography by Tristan Jones/LET and supplied by Dina Zharova-Berbner

Russia is a country of mystery, and a country which covers two continents and a country which has hosted the 1980 Olympic Games and 2014 Winter Olympics. It is a country which will host the 2018 FIFA World Cup and a country which is a sporting superpower. The former Soviet Union were a major force in Ice Hockey and the modern Russia is at the heart of Europe’s Kontinental Hockey League. Its Football teams are regular competitors in the UEFA Champions League, and the country is one of the most powerful on the political stage. But golf? Golf is played by an estimated 1,341 people, which includes just 251 women. That equates to 0.0009% of the population. 1 of those 251 women is Maria Balikoeva. Maria is currently the leading Russian female golfer, making her Ladies European Tour debut in 2012 at the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open. She has recorded just 3 top 10 finishes in her three years on the tour, but as you will read in our interview, she doesn’t lack ambition and drive. Maria begins by talking about her young life and family, before going into detail about her background, ambitions, golf in Russia and her aims for the Olympic Games.

“I was born in Moscow in a family of ordinary Russian people still in the times of Soviet Union. My family was very always very busy, my father used to be an engineer and my mum was dealing with antique sales. So since they really lack time to look after me, I was sent to Tambov, a small very authentic city in the Central Russia where I spent my early childhood with my dearest grandmother until I reached the school age of 7 years old.” “This might sound weird to people outside of Russia, but in our childhood most of kids were brought up by grandparents. I remember myself living in between a vegetable garden and the kitchen, helping my grandma to pick up fruit and vegetable and fighting with Colorado bugs that would attack every summer our most popular meal - potato.” “But when I reached 7 years of age, I returned back to Moscow and started my schooldays and lessons of ballet dance. My grandma always wanted me to dance and introduced to the world of ballet, so I started to train for classical dance and spent all my time after school in the ballet rooms.

Meanwhile I had a younger sister Anna whose company I enjoyed. We had always very good and warm relationship with her, nowadays she is also a golfer.” “It was a total accident that I started to play golf. Nobody in my family knew anything about golf, I never heard about the game and was totally dedicating myself to ballet. But once when I was 12 years old and travelled with my father to visit his friends in Czech Republic, we stayed overnight close to the golf club. Both of us were intrigued by the beautiful scenery opening from our windows. We were fascinated and totally curious what is it all about.” “Then the friend of my father offered us to drop by the golf club on our way back from Prague. We agreed just to come for a tea break. As you see, I am still sipping that cup of tea.

Who were your sporting heroes growing up?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;My family was never involved in sports and was not sporty. So no one was really interested in any particular sports hero or any type of sport. Since my childhood was surrounded by ballet stories , I, of course, was dreaming to become a dancer like a great Maya Plisetskaya. Also the iron curtain started to lift up and I learnt the stories of Nuriev and Baryshnikov. They were like stars from other Galaxy. At the same time tennis started to become really popular and all young girls were getting crazy seeing Andrea Agassi on the court. Then Russian stars appeared and we saw the shining glory of Eugeny Kafelnikov and many others! Who would have believed me as a teenager that once upon the time I would win the Russian Golf Championship with Eugeny and become his good friend.â&#x20AC;?

What are your interests outside of golf?

“Honestly, with my training schedule I truly did not have time for anything but school, ballet and golf. I would stay in school until one o’clock in the afternoon, have my ballet training every day for three hours and after 4-5pm in the evening I would start my golf lessons for another 3-4 hours. Believe it or not, I barely had time to think of anything but these two things in my life.”

Did you have a group of friends as a youngster which you played golf with, or was it an individual thing to play golf?

“In the school certainly no one had ever heard about golf, so I was not surrounded by golfing friends. However later when I started to train with female junior team, I made several good friends. With Galina Rotmistrova and Nastya Kostina we are still the closest friends today since our teenage years.”

You turned professional in 2006, at the age of 20, do you think you are now approaching your peak, and do you think you have underachieved so far?

“Unfortunately, I started playing in Russia too early. There were not too many facilities, coaches, golf courses or prominent competitions. So I simply lack the experience that my competitors had in their countries. In a certain sense, I was a total pioneer for Russian golf. There was no one to guide me professionally and to become my coach. So I think that only now when I am 29 years old I have caught up with other, much younger girls from LET in terms of professional golf experience. Yes, I am approaching my peak and hope that my game has so much more potential now. As I mentioned, I destined to be the first Russian golfer on the international arena. I believe it is already a great achievement from where I came.”

Is it hard being the sole Russian member of the Ladies European Tour?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the beginning of my first couple of years with LET, I was unprepared for that much attention from European media about me. My story was phenomenal for everyone and I felt stressed about all of the attention and did not know how to cope with the sudden popularity. As time went by, I got used to it and now being Russian in LET is totally business as usual for me.â&#x20AC;?

You are renowned for your glamorous look and fashion on and off the golf course, would you rather be known for being a great golfer? How important is image? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sports and show business are so incorporated nowadays. There are plenty of sportsmen and women who are rather known for being glamorous than really being sports champions. You have to be one who attracts the attention, for me it is easy and natural. I never thought about doing anything special. I just liked it this way - young , funny and bright. To retain the attention you also have to add the personality and lots of hard work. I think, I am doing fine.â&#x20AC;?

You are currently set to qualify for the Olympic Games next August, how big of a thrill will that be to be part of the Russian team?

“You might be surprised but emotionally I do not yet feel any excitement about Olympics. It is still just a big and serious competition for me. Maybe because there is still some time to go and my mind is still busy with other short term goals. In terms of public attention, in Russia golf is still a very minor sport. I know that am full heartedly supported by Russian Association of golf (AGR), however in non-golf circles people would not even know about my existence.”

Does that motivate you to practice harder and play better?

“Olympics motivates in any case, also we are all responsible for the successful introduction of golf to Olympics agenda. It is the first time, all players shall show their best motivation. The whole world is going to watch us.”

Have you ever been to Brazil or played much golf in South America?

“No, I have never been to South America or to Brazil. Therefore I am looking forward to it and would like to view there as local. Some of my costumes might have Brazilian motives.”

Do you think the inclusion of golf into the Olympics will help increase participation in golf across Russia and make it more accessible?

“I hope that I can become an Ambassador of the game after Olympics. Finally, all Russians will learn what golf is all about. People will get to know me and my story that might inspire so many more. Olympics will surely bridge my way to public career in sports and sports education.”

Why should a young Russian play golf?

“I have never thought about why young Russians should play golf, but I surely know why elder Russians do. Golfers on average live seven years longer than nongolfers and in the country where the male life expectancy reaches only a mere 56 years old, golf might be a solution to longevity.”

What are your career ambitions? Olympic gold, Major title, Solheim Cup?

“Of course, all three. Seriously, I think that winning an Olympic medal could be a very important step in my life. It would really open many doors and give me a different perspective in life.”

Golfers will be more in the spotlight than ever before, especially their status as athletes, what are your thoughts on fitness in golf?

“I am lucky enough to have grown up through the times when Tiger Woods was rising to the top of golf. His example as a brilliant golfer and passionate athlete inspired me to always look after my body shape. I wanted to have his strength and ability to compete in multiple sports if I want. Then later there will be Martin Kaymer, Rory Mcilroy, now Jordan Spieth, Jason Day , endless list… All of them dedicating lots of attention to their physical form because they want to look attractive for their fans worldwide. Why then I being a woman shall not think the same. I think all ladies who do golf seriously will significantly improve their game by going to gym at least two times a week” Fit, beautiful, talented and unique. Maria Balikoeva has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to inspire a generation of young Russians to take up golf. With her focus solely on getting to Rio in the best condition and form possible, next August could see a Star from the East come up big in the West as Golf Returns to the Olympic Games.

Mariaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 5 favourite courses to play in Russia

Skolkovo Golf Club â&#x20AC;&#x153;Location, location, location. This is the closest golf course to Moscow and very easy to access for the most golfers. The design of the course is done by Jack Nicklaus, it is like going to Philippe Starks's restaurant. Isn't it - always something new to discover and taste and to find some good friends on the other tee. This year they hosted the M2M Russian Open and I think that everyone took a chance to praise Skolkovo.â&#x20AC;?

Agalarovo Golf Club â&#x20AC;&#x153;Another golf course of the easiest location, immaculate conditions in summer and the most beautiful landscape design around Moscow. When you enter the club, you would find yourself like on a different continent of 1001 nights - Spa, best fitness facilities, river channels, open swimming pools, gorgeous club house. Name it, you will find it all in Agalarovo.â&#x20AC;?

Tseleevo Golf Club â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is further away from Moscow but what a trick - imagine you find polo, mountain skiing and golf at the same place at the same time in the deep Russian forests. All your wild fantasies around golf might come true here with a help of great team. The course certainly will appeal to any foreigner who wants to experience Russian country side.â&#x20AC;?

Pestovo golf club â&#x20AC;&#x153;A different character golf that totally attracts those who love water sports as well. It is built very close to major water channels and has picturesque combination of seaside atmosphere, wilderness of Russian forests and great conditions on the course. Also Pestovo in summer is very busy with different social and club events and it is a very enjoyable place to be.â&#x20AC;?

Moscow Country Club â&#x20AC;&#x153;Moscow Country Club is the eldest course just in the Moscow itself. Anyone would enjoy a very special atmosphere of this place. The new owners - the largest Russian bank Sberbank are now putting lots of efforts into modernizing the place and giving it what it deserves.â&#x20AC;?

Golf in Russia

First played in 1996

MARIA BALIKOEVA Currently no Male golfer has any Official World Golf Ranking points

World Number 257

On Tour The pending merger of the European and Asian Tours

Where does Japan sit in the Euro, Asia mix?

The Heroines of Heidelberg â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2015 Solheim Cup review

Race to Dubai set for thrilling finale

100th Emirates Australian Open preview

The home of the European Tour, Wentworth, is just 25 minutes from London and the BMW PGA Championship has been played there since 1984. The British Masters supported by Sky Sports returned this year at Woburn, some 90 minutes north of the capital. The 2016 edition will take place at The Grove, which is located inside the M25 and was host to the 2006 WGC-American Express Championship.

Paris, the most visited destination in the world, is just half an hour from Le Golf National. The resort is home to the French Golf Federation, Open de France Alstom and the 2018 Ryder Cup.

Singapore is the home of the Asian Tour and one of Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great national Opens. The Singapore Open returns in 2016 under new sponsorship, but will be played opposite the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. Under the sponsorship of Barclays the tournament offered a prize fund of between $3million and $6million from 2005 to 2012.

The Race to Dubai branding has featured the Sydney Opera House since its launch in 2009, but the European Tour has only visited the city on 3 occasions in 2002, 2003 and 2004 for the co-sanctioned ANZ Championship. The Emirates sponsorship of the Australian Open may prove to be fruitful for the championship in elevating it to the global stage in any future merger, and see the Race to Dubai have a presence in Sydney for the first time.

Shanghai has become a major destination on the Race to Dubai, hosting both the WGC-HSBC Champions and BMW Masters in successive weeks in the Final Series. The European Tour has also co-sanctioned the Volvo China Open since 1995 and the national championship of China has been played in Shanghai on 3 occasions since 2005. The BMW Asian Open was also played in Shanghai from 2004 until 2008.

Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa and plays host to the Joburg Open each year. The South African Open, South African PGA Championship and Alfred Dunhill Championship have each been staged in Johannesburg on multiple occasions.

When Ken Schofield orchestrated the first cosanctioning of a tournament in golf history, some 20 years ago at the 1995 Lexington South African PGA Championship, little did he know the long-term impact it would have. Over the last two decades Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel have used the cosanctioning programme between the European Tour and Sunshine Tour as a Launchpad towards winning a combined 9 major championships. They have also won a combined 74 tournaments on the PGA Tour and European Tour, and won four European Tour Order of Merit titles. In addition to the fantastic five there have been others such as Tim Clark, who has gone on to claim significant titles on both the PGA Tour and European Tour, including The Players Championship, RBC Canadian Open and Scottish Open. The legacy of co-sanctioning tournaments with the Sunshine Tour has been profound, and the 2014-15 Race to Dubai featured some seven tournaments co-sanctioned by the two tours. Less than 12 months after the Lexington South African PGA Championship marked the first co-sanctioning agreement in golf, the European Tour took its membership even further away from the home of golf, by cosanctioning the Heineken Classic with the PGA Tour of Australasia.

This relationship has gone on to see Australia and New Zealand host co-sanctioned events between the two tours in every season since. Players such as Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Robert Allenby have all benefitted from the European Tour co-sanctioning programme, going on to record a combined 13 European Tour wins including 2 Majors and 4 World Golf Championships.

Tiger Woods featured prominently in the first two editions, and despite not winning either tournament, it was the boost required to push the HSBC Champions onto the global stage.

All three now play full-time on the PGA Tour and Adam Scott achieved the world number one ranking in May 2014.

Since 1999 the two tours have co-sanctioned 92 tournaments including the first Europeanbased event, the OMEGA European Masters from 2012.

Following establishing co-sanctioned events with the Sunshine Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia, the European Tour staged its first jointly sanctioned event with the Asian Tour in 1999.

The work started by Ken Schofield in 1995 was taken to the next level by his successor, George Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Grady, when in 2008 the Race to Dubai was unveiled.

The Benson and Hedges Malaysian Open, played at the Saujana Golf and Country Club near Kuala Lumpur. In 1999 that was the sole co-sanctioned tournament in Asia, but within six years there were 8 events co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour. In the autumn of 2005 a tournament made its debut which would change the face of golf across Asia and bring the two tours even closer together. The HSBC Champions was sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour, Sunshine Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia. It featured a field of the winners from all four tours, plus the leading 50 players on the official world golf ranking.

In 2009 the tournament was elevated to World Golf Championships status, thus endorsing the work that primarily HSBC, the Asian Tour and European Tour had done.

The Race to Dubai concept was to bring together all the events on the European Tour International Schedule under one umbrella and one brand, with a climax at the Dubai World Championship. Initially Dubai-based Leisurecorp backed the concept, promising the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s richest golf tournament, with a $10million purse. However, following the worldwide economic crash, these plans were shelved with a reduced prize fund and bonus pool. After a highly successful first four years of the Race to Dubai, the Final Series was introduced in 2013. It featured the WGC-HSBC Champions, BMW Masters (both in Shanghai, China), Turkish Airlines Open and DP World Tour Championship.

India has been a destination for the European Tour since 2008. In 2015 the Hero Indian Open, Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest and national championship made its debut on the Race to Dubai. Golf is the second-most popular sport in the country after Cricket and with its own professional tour, the PGTI featuring 20 tournaments, India is set to be a major destination in any future merger between the European and Asian Tours.

The series was designed to bring an even bigger crescendo to the season, with big prize funds on offer in all four events, increasing the chances of the season-long title being decided in the final event. Following the announcement George O’Grady was to retire as CEO of the European Tour last autumn, the tour began the hunt for a suitable replacement to help take the tour to the next level again. In April of this year Keith Pelley was announced as the new Chief Executive of the European Tour. The Canadian has made a career in sports administration and media, most notably as the President of Canada’s Olympic broadcast media consortium for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and President of Rogers Media. Under his stewardship Rogers Media secured a $5.232 billion contract to broadcast National Hockey League games across Canada. Pelley, 51, said “I am very honoured to be joining The European Tour as its new CEO at an exciting stage in its development. The Tour already has a highly regarded reputation and I look forward to building on this using my previous experience in both media and sports to ensure it remains at forefront of the game across the globe. “Throughout my career in North America, it has been a privilege to work with the best sports organisations, athletes, and media assets. I

am excited to build on these experiences on the international stage.” Upon taking up his position as the new Chief Executive of the European Tour the schedule featured 48 tournaments including 4 Majors, 4 World Golf Championships, 5 Asian Tour events, 6 Sunshine Tour events, 1 event trisanctioned with both Asian and Sunshine Tours, 1 OneAsia event and 27 solesanctioned European Tour events. Of these tournaments 8 are in Africa, 6 are in the United States, 4 are in the Middle East, 8 are in Asia and 22 are in Europe. This means over 50% of the European Tour schedule is actually made up of tournaments played outside of Europe. The European Tour has become the world’s global platform, whilst supporting the growth of both the Asian Tour and Sunshine Tour, and helping to keep the PGA Tour of Australasia alive. In August Pelley announced that the European Tour and Asian Tour were working on an innovative joint vision for the future of professional golf. The vision will see the business element and the Membership portfolios of both Tours combine, reinforcing the current strengths of the two Tours by maximising global opportunities, as well as increasing playing opportunities and prize funds for the respective Memberships. Both organisations have since entered into an exclusive discussion period, working through the key points with their

respective Boards, Tournament Committees and Memberships. Further information about the specific details are set to be announced soon. “We have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the Asian Tour for many years and today’s announcement is the first step in the next stage of that partnership” Pelley said. “I am excited about the prospect of what is to come and the opportunity that this announcement presents. Over the next few months we will work through, with our membership, all the specific details of what I believe will ultimately provide significant benefit to them.” Mike Kerr, Chief Executive Officer of the Asian Tour, said: “We are very pleased to announce the consolidation of our partnership with The European Tour which will greatly enhance the landscape of professional golf around the world, and particularly in Asia. This will benefit both memberships in creating greater playing and earning opportunities while also establishing a defined career pathway for all players. “By combining strength with strength, we will ensure that professional golf in Asia will continue to enjoy sustained growth in the longterm; plus deliver a stronger platform for our members to excel. This initiative will ultimately create an inimitable platform that will enhance our appeal to sponsors, partners and golf fans around the world.”

The extension of the partnership into a more concrete structure for professional golf across Europe and Asia is inevitable, with Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar at the centre of the two continents. It is also inevitable for both the Sunshine Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia too. The European Tour currently co-sanctions 7 tournaments with the Sunshine Tour and has recently announced the addition of the Australian PGA Championship this December. Two of the major partners of the Race to Dubai will also view a merging of the four tours has an appealing proposition. Dubai-based Emirates Airline and DP World offer substantial backing to a number of tournaments sanctioned by all four tours, and the Race to Dubai itself. Emirates flies to 20 African countries including South Africa and its three global cities of Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, each of which have staged European Tour sanctioned events since 1995.

Emirates announced a significantly increased investment into the European Tour in 2013, making them the official airline of the European Tour and sponsor to the BMW PGA Championship, DP World Tour Championship Dubai, South African Open, Joburg Open, D+D Real Czech Masters, Nordea Masters, BMW International Open, Maybank Malaysian Open, Hero Indian Open, Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, Alstom Open de France, Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, Portugal Masters and UBS Hong Kong Open on the Race to Dubai. Emirates are the title sponsor of the Emirates Australian Open, and a sponsor of the Australian PGA Championship on the PGA Tour of Australasia.

DP World are the title sponsors of the seasonending DP World Tour Championship, and are partners of the BMW PGA Championship and several other European Tour events.

Sunshine Tour and European Tour since 1995

DP World (Dubai Ports World) operates Marine Terminals in 65 countries across six continents, with ports in 13 countries visited by the European Tour. Like the European Tour, DP World has expanded its operations out with of its traditional home, and has many new ports planned across the world.

South African PGA Championship

South African Open

Alfred Dunhill Championship Joburg Open

Africa Open

Nelson Mandela Championship

*Volvo Golf Champions

Nedbank Golf Challenge

Tshwane Open

Dimension Data Pro-am

FNB Players Championship

Asian Tour and European Tour since 1999 OMEGA European Masters

Hong Kong Open

TCL Classic

Volvo China Open

Shenzhen International

EurAsia Cup

Royal Trophy

Singapore Masters

Barclays Singapore Open

Maybank Malaysian Open

Indian Open

Indian/Avantha Masters

True Thailand Classic

Ballantineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Championship

*BMW Masters (played in Asia but sole sanctioned ET event)

These two major companies, both based in Dubai, will undoubtedly be supportive of a merger between the European and Asian Tours, and surely the addition of the Sunshine Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia will only enhance the marketability of the tour to sponsors around the world.

The Championship at Laguna National Iskandar Johor Open

BMW have also been a major supporter of European and Asian golf for the last 25 years. The more international destinations which the European Tour visit can only encourage further support, with the German car manufacturer looking to increase its global exposure in new markets. Opposite is a breakdown of the co-sanctioned events since 1995 and a map illustrating the worldwide reach of the European Tour and Asian Tour.

Indonesia Open

BMW Asian Open

Australian Masters

Perth International

Maybank Championship Malaysia PGA Tour of Australasia and European Tour since 1996 Heineken Classic

ANZ Championship

Australian PGA Championship*

New Zealand Open

Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour

Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open Okinawa Open

Asia-Pacific Open Diamond Golf Cup

Asian Tour and PGA Tour

European Tour, Asian Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia

CIMB Classic

Johnnie Walker Classic

European Tour, Asian Tour and Sunshine Tour

European Tour, Asian Tour, Sunshine Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia

Mauritius Open

HSBC Champions

The 2015 European Tour International Schedule and Asian Tour featured tournaments in the United States, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Turkey, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Czech Republic, Russia, Macao, China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, South Africa, Morocco, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. That is 36 countries on 5 continents.

With European-Asian merger moving closer, where does Japan fit in? Some 20 years before the current Asian Tour was born, and just 3 years after the establishment of a formal European Tour, the Japan Golf Tour was launched. At its peak, in the 1980’s the tour staged 39 tournaments from March to December, and a series of tournaments run under the banner of ‘International Tour’ attracted the very best golfers on the planet. The Dunlop Phoenix Tournament (1973), Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters (1972) and Casio World Open (1981) were established with the aim of attracting the world’s greatest golfers and raising the standard of tournament golf in Japan. The events offered large prize funds of over US$1million, and were played in November/December, following the conclusion of the PGA Tour and European Tour seasons. In 1987 these ‘International Tour’ events had fields which were among the 40 strongest in the entire world all year. Even over the last two decades, which has seen the rise of the Asian Tour and decline of the Japan Golf Tour, the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament has continued to prosper.

Tiger Woods (2), Padraig Harrington, David Duval, Ian Poulter, Luke Donald (2), Thomas Bjorn (2), Lee Westwood, Tom Watson and Ernie Els have all won the tournament. Between them five have been world number one and they have won 30 Majors. The Japan Open Golf Championship is the oldest national Open in Asia, first played in 1927 and has been won twice by Seve Ballesteros, but as with the ‘International Tour’ events, has never been co-sanctioned by either the Asian, Australasian or European Tours. Why? With the economic might of its companies, which have invested massively in golf including Nikon, Mizuno, Panasonic and Toyota to name but a few, surely Japan is an attractive option for a new Euro-Asian Tour to exploit. The 2015 Asian Tour schedule includes just 10 sole-sanctioned tournaments in addition to 7 tournaments co-sanctioned by the European Tour and 1 by the PGA Tour, as well as the WGC-HSBC Champions. That is 19 tournaments between February and December. Effectively the entire Japan Golf Tour schedule could be added to the Asian Tour schedule and you still would have free weeks. If this new joint vision between the European Tour and Asian Tour is to succeed then they have to expand their collaborative efforts, and bring the tours of Southern Africa, Australasia and Japan on board.

For now it seems as though the European Tour and Asian Tour are moving forward alone, with a meeting recently taking place at the Venetian Macao Open. Whilst there is no timetable for the merger to take place it would seem inevitable an announcement will be made at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. The season-ending event of the Race to Dubai is traditionally when the European Tour confirms their entire schedule, and with the Asian Tour yet to confirm any sole sanctioned events for 2016 Dubai could be the place where the face of the sport outside of America changes forever.

How will the merger work and what will the tour look like after the merger? The joint vision announced by the European Tour and Asian Tour including a merging of the two tours memberships and combining of business elements. The Race to Dubai will unquestionably undergo a re-branding and inevitably, with some 62 tournaments across the two tours, a restructuring of the tour will have to take place in order to achieve the goal of becoming a viable alternative to the PGA Tour for the world’s best golfers.

Not including the Major and World Golf Championships, prize funds among the remaining 54 tournaments range from $300,000 to $8,000,000. The new board will have to consider establishing a tier system for events across the globe currently sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours. Currently both the European Tour and Asian Tour use money as the benchmark for the Order of Merit or Race to Dubai, although the European Tour converts money to points for the purposes of the rankings heading into the Final Series. Perhaps the new tour could use the Official World Golf Ranking points awarded at each event to create a new Race to Dubai ranking system which is fairer and more reflective of the strength of field in each tournament. For example, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic have long been among the strongest events in terms of field on tour, but their prize funds are significantly lower than equitable tournaments on the PGA Tour. A restructuring of the tournaments which currently make up the two tours will recognize the strongest events and help to boost sponsorship.

Current breakdown of events counting for the European Tour and Asian Tour 4 Major Championships 4 World Golf Championships 4 Final Series events 15 Co-sanctioned tournaments 23 European Tour events 12 Asian Tour events The Professional Tennis circuit used to be fragmented, like the golf world, until the Association of Tennis Professionals was born in 1988. The ‘Parking Lot Press Conference’ saw the players effectively take control of their tour, and several advancements were made. In 1990 the ‘Championship Series Single Week’ was introduced. It brought together nine of the most prestigious tournaments from the Grand Prix Tour Championship Series. In 2009 these tournaments were re-branded as the APT Masters 1000 series, referring directly to the number of points awarded to the winners in each event. Subsequently the two tiers of events below the ATP Masters 1000 were re-branded as ATP 500 and ATP 250. These three tiers of tournaments feature 60 tournaments, which along with the 4 Grand Slam Tournaments,

award points towards the ATP World Tour Rankings. These rankings lead to the season finale, the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, which features the 8 best players from the year. Players are required to play in 8 of the 9 Masters 1000 events, 4 ATP 500 events and a minimum of 18 events during the season. The merged European and Asian Tour could not possibly demand that number of tournaments from its members, with the best players also members of the PGA Tour. Breakdown of the ATP World Tour in 2015 4 Grand Slam Tournaments 1 ATP World Tour Finals 9 ATP Masters 1000 13 ATP 500 series 38 ATP 250 series

Pressure on the PGA Tour to change the World Golf Championships Following the announcement of the Joint Vision by Keith Pelley he was asked whether it would lead to more World Golf Championships events being played outside of the United States. Pelley said ““It’s probably a bit premature to answer that, it’s a conversation

we will certainly have but that will happen in due course.”

Norman and Nick Faldo. A roll of honour which includes 7 former world number ones.

If the new tour wants to attract and retain the best golfers from across the world then it needs to have an impact upon the structure of the World Golf Championships. Since 1999 only 13 of the 54 individual events staged have been played outside of the United States, and that includes the last 7 WGC-HSBC Champions, which is permanently based in China.

The European Tour made a significant statement in August by announcing that the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational would not be sanctioned in 2016 as it clashed with the 100th Open de France. But a unified European and Asian Tour, with the tours outside of the US behind it, may be able to influence the PGA Tour to allow existing tournaments to be redistributed worldwide, or create additional ones.

Whether it is the creation of additional WGC events or the redistribution of current ones, the tour needs to stage significant events in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australasia in order to boost fields in tournaments around these blue ribbon events. The HSBC Champions began in 2005 as a cosanctioned event between the European, Southern African, Asian and Australasian tours. Prior to that the Johnnie Walker Classic was sanctioned by the European, Asian and Australasian Tours and both tournaments attracted strong fields and offered significant prize funds. The Johnnie Walker Classic toured the AsiaPacific region being played in Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Australia, Taiwan, India and China before being discontinued in 2009. The tournament was won by Tiger Woods (2), Ernie Els (2), Adam Scott, Michael Campbell, Ian Woosnam, Fred Couples, Greg

Or the new tour may focus on enhancing the structure of the tour by creating a tier system like the ATP World Tour, with the focus very much on the Race to Dubai and the final series. The new tour also has to make it more appealing and easier for its top players to play both the PGA Tour and European Tour. There are several ways which it can do this, including: Allowing member earnings from the PGA Tour to count for the Race to Dubai – these could be capped to match the prize fund of the Race to Dubai event staged in the same week. Restrictions could be made for events played opposite the BMW PGA Championship and Final Series events. Discussing with the PGA Tour the possibility of awarding FedEx Cup points to PGA Tour members which play in Race to Dubai events – these points could match those awarded at

alternate events on the PGA Tour. For example 300 points are awarded to the winners in Puerto Rico Open, Sanderson Farms Championship, Barracuda Championship and the Barbasol Championship. Encouraging more players to host events on the Race to Dubai – Rory McIlroy currently hosts the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, and Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Justin Rose and Luke Donald will rotate as hosts of the British Masters supported by Sky Sports. The impact of players hosting these tournaments has already been tremendous, with Dubai Duty Free coming on board as title sponsor to the Irish Open, and raising the prize fund to €4million from 2016. The British Masters also offered a prize fund of £3million this October and was an additional UK-based event on the schedule. The appeal of the PGA Tour will never diminish, especially with three of the four majors being played in the United States, but if the World Golf Championships were to be played on a worldwide stage then it might encourage more players to remain full members of the tour, and discourage more emerging players from moving to the US in the first place. Dubai is the international home of the European Tour, it has world-class facilities with the European Tour Performance Institute at the Jumeirah Golf Estates, multiple golf

courses designed by legends of the game and perfect year-round weather for golf. It is also easy to travel on a global scale from Dubai to other tournaments, and the emirate has a very popular social scene. Dubai is essentially the Florida of the European Tour, and it could be used as leverage to entice the best players to stay as members of the tour. 21 years ago Greg Norman, backed by Rupert Murdoch’s FOX Broadcasting Corporation, announced plans for the launch of a World Tour. The tour was set to feature eight tournaments, four in the United States and one in Scotland, Canada, Spain and Japan. The tournaments were to feature 40 players (the best 30 from the World Rankings and 10 sponsor exemptions). Each tournament was to carry a prize fund of $3million, which in 1994 was only matched by the Tour Championship, $1million more than each of the majors and $2million more than the average PGA Tour prize fund. At the time Norman, the World Number One, had support from prominent players, including winners of the majors in 1994 such as Nick Price and Jose Maria Olazabal. But the plans were defeated by Tim Finchem and the PGA Tour, which within two years announced the creation of the International Federation of PGA Tours and the World Golf Championships.

Now the new joint vision between the European Tour and Asian Tour gives Keith Pelley the opportunity to include a similar series of events within the new Race to Dubai Schedule. Events with prize funds match those on the PGA Tour, and in markets which will support a long-term vision for golf. In a 2010 interview with InsideGolf.com.au Norman said “It’s still a possibility and the best model,” “I think the European Tour should have taken it on big time because they are basically doing that now. “They (European Tour) could have taken themselves out of the box a little bit and taken a look at what I was basically recommending and wanting to implement. “They could have easily done it and they could have captured the hearts and minds of every golfer, spectator and corporation around the world. “They still have a chance.” Ironically, the European Tour’s Race to Dubai ends with a ‘World’ Championship on a golf course designed by Greg Norman. The Final Series, introduced in 2013, are essentially slightly larger and modified versions of the tournaments Norman had announced in 1994. I am sure that the make-up of the Final Series will change over the next few years, as it is far from ideal having a WGC scheduled in the

middle of it, which features players who are solely members of the PGA Tour. With major cities across Asia, and even Australia and South Africa, the Final Series may become more of a World Series, which would not be a bad thing for the Race to Dubai. Whatever the outcome of the discussions between the European Tour and Asian Tour are there is one thing for sure. Professional golf will not look the same after. The PGA Tour has in many ways been forced to broaden its horizons by the European Tour doing so, and if the Asian Tour does join forces with the European Tour it probably means the end of the CIMB Classic in Malaysia and the breakup of the International Federation down the road.

The Heroines of Heidelberg Julieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gems Ink themselves into Solheim Cup history Words Cristina Panama Photography LET/Tristan Jones

Nordqvist/Pettersen vs Pressel/ Creamer The first match of the Solheim Cup promised a great kick-off for the event and it did not let the fans down. Europe's duo was a favorite to take the match with two of their strongest players while the U.S. sent a skeptical pair that included their questionable captain's pick, Paula Creamer. Paula's putting was flawless and helped put the Americans 1 UP early in the match and never trailed in their match. The U.S. couple went on to win holes 1, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 13. Suzann Pettersen and Anna Nordqvist were only able to win holes 4 and 14. The match was closed out at the 16th after Creamer drained a clutch par putt. U.S. won 3&2

Hull/Reid vs Wie/Lincicome The English duo of Reid and Hull complemented right away and got off to a hot start. But a birdie on the par-5 6th hole by the U.S brought the match back to All

Square. The European couple responded quickly on the next hole with a birdie to go 1 UP. The match was a real battle on the course and was one of the tightest from the morning round. The Americans walked to the 17th still down and needed to halve the hole to extend the play. Both teams had birdie putts; Hull dropped her birdie putt from 12 feet while Wie failed to convert. Europe won 2&1

Mu単oz/Icher vs Kerr/Thompson American captain Juli Inkster could not have chosen a better pairing with Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson. Their games harmonize perfectly. Lexi's bomb drivers and Kerr's putting precision was the key to their match. The U.S. duo went off to an almost perfect start and was 4 UP after their first six holes. Though they caught trouble towards the end of the match when Mu単oz and Icher responded by winning three consecutive holes. The match was closed out at the 17th where the

Americans birdie the hole, while Icher left her birdie putt a foot left of the hole. U.S. won 2&1

Gal/Matthew vs Lewis/Salas The crowds got loud throughout this match where the German native Sandra Gal and Solheim Cup veteran Catriona Matthew defeated the American pairing. They were up against worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s No. 3 Stacy Lewis and No. 30 Lizette Salas. Americans took the lead after the first hole thanks to long birdie putt from Salas. The European couple gave a quick response squared the match before the making the turn. After back-to-back birdies the Europeans were 2 UP and took the lead, which they never ceded from that point on. A short birdie putt from Gal to win the 16th hole made the crowd roar once again and ended the match. Europe 3&2

Nordqvist/Hedwall vs Pressel/Creamer Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel defeated one of the strongest pairings in the morning round and where sent to play in the afternoon session. Juli Inkster hoped the duo could keep up their momentum but they were stopped by Nordqvistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s superb game. Anna managed to drain six birdies through the first 11 holes to put the Europeans in a 5 UP lead. The U.S. Team tried to extend the match but they were only able to make two birdies during the first 12 holes. Americans consequently lost the match at the 15th hole after Caroline's par putt dropped. Europe won 4&3

Hull/Nocera vs Lee/Stanford Charley Hull was able to keep her morning vibes going and leaned on the teamwork done by Gwladys Nocera. On the other hand, the Angela Stanford and Alison Lee

duo was playing their first match of the event and showed some struggle out on the course. Hull's game was still on fire as she drained consecutive birdies at the 10, 11 and 12, which gave them a 4 UP lead. Angela Stanford sank an eagle putt of her own at the 13th giving the Americans a chance to stay in the match but little did it help after both teams halved holes 14 thru 16 with pars. The match was closed out at the 16th.

due to darkness Reid holed out for birdie on the 16th hole as the Americans missed their birdie putts to cut the lead. Carlota then holed out for eagled from the 17th fairway to get the match to All Square. The final hole was played Saturday morning. Both teams birdied the 18th to tie the match. Match was halved

Europe won 3&2

Reid/Ciganda vs Kerr/Thompson The American dynamic duo had a hot start in their match after their morning win and were 2 UP after two holes. Melissa Reid and Carlota Ciganda knew they had their work cut out and fought back with a birdie from Ciganda at 7th. The U.S. answered back quickly by winning the 8th hole. After making the turn Reid nailed two consecutive birdies and brought the match back to All Square. However, the Americans birdied the next two holes and regained control of the match. With play about to be suspended

Masson/Gal vs Piller/Lang This match was the tightest of the afternoon round. Both teams won two holes each on the front nine and made the turn at All Square. Sandra Gal dropped in a birdie on the 11th hole to put the European duo 1 UP and they held until play returned on Saturday morning. The U.S. duo rebounded with birdies on 2 of the final 3 holes to halve the match. Match was halved

Saturday Foursomes

Reid/Ciganda vs Wie/Lee After finishing their Friday pending Melissa Reid and Carlota Ciganda walked back to the course and faced Michelle Wie and Alison Lee. The Europeans started on the right path with birdies at Nos. 2 and 3 to then lead 4 UP through seven holes with a birdie on No. 6 and a par on the 7th. The American team was able to win their first hole at the 8th after Ciganda's par putt fell short. The Spaniard mended her error at the 11th with a lengthy putt from the edge of the green and left Reid with short birdie putt. The match was closed out at 15th when Wie missed a four-foot par putt. Europe won 4&3

Hull/Pettersen vs Pressel/Creamer Pressel and Creamer were once again paired together to face the Pettersen and Hull duo, which promised to be one of the most exciting matches of the morning session. Yet again the American team had

a great start and won 4 of the first 9 holes, while Europe only managed win one. The local couple seemed to be out of the match at when starting the back nine. But Pettersen and Hull pulled a fantastic comeback with four consecutive birdies on the last four holes to win the match at the 18th hole. Europe won 1 UP

Gal/Matthew vs Stanford/Lincicome One of the most well balanced pairings on the European side now had the task to defeat Americans Brittany Lincicome and Angela Stanford. The Europeans got off to a fast start after Sandra Gal poured two birdies on holes 1 and 2. The U.S. tried to generate a response by winning two consecutive holes on the back nine but then failed to continue the charge. The local duo closed the match at the 18th after Lincicome's birdie chance fell short, giving Gal a five-footer for the par. Europe won 1 UP

Nordqvist/Hedwall vs Lewis/Piller Anna Nordqvist and Caroline went out to the course with a clear conviction: to extend their Solheim Cup record. But had to face Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller, who had complemented perfectly. Unfortunately, Hedwall did not have her A game in Germany and left Anna with lots of work. The Americans took the 2 UP lead heading to the back nine and increased it with birdies at holes 10, 11 and 13. The match was closed out at the 14th green after the teams halved the hole. U.S. won 5&4

Saturday Fourballs

Mu単oz/Ciganda vs Thompson/Kerr Lexi Thompson and Cristie Kerr proved to be the best U.S. pairing and Juli Inkster did not hesitate in sending them out again for the afternoon round. In front they had the Spanish duo composed of Azahara Mu単oz and Carlota Ciganda. Little could the European couple do in match after the Americans won four of the first nine holes. Carlota fought back when draining two birdie putts as they headed to the back nine trailing 2 DOWN. The match was closed out at the 16th after both sides dropped par putts. The U.S. pairing stood undefeated at the Solheim Cup with a 2-01 record. U.S. won 3&2

Icher/Matthew vs Salas/Lang Karine Icher and Catriona Matthew were off to a hot start and won their first three holes. Salas and Lang then squared the match after birdies at Nos. 4, 5 and 8. The Europeans took the lead again at the 10th

thanks to Icher's birdie but lost their advantage when Lang birdied the 13th. The match was suspended and resumed on Sunday morning. The Americans seemed to have lost focus when they returned the next morning to finish the match and both made bogey on the 16th hole. Europe won this one quite easily. Europe won 2&1

Pettersen/Hull vs Lee/Lincicome This match just got better after the teams made the turn when the European dynamic duo was trailing by 1. But after their morning comeback against Pressel and Creamer the Americans knew that defeating them was not going to be easy. The local pairing squared the match at the 12 after Pettersen dropped in her birdie putt. Just before suspending the play due to darkness Alison drained in a critical 10foot birdie at the 15th to regain lead. The match was resumed on Sunday morning. Alison missed a birdie putt on 17 by 16 inches and scooped up the putt. Instants later Pettersen claimed that she had not conceded the putt, decision that generated

chaos and controversy. Europe then won the 18th and consequently the match. Europe won 2 UP

Masson/Hedwall vs Lewis/Piller Stacy Lewis managed to improve her Solheim Cup record and seemed like she finally found the perfect partner, Gerina Piller. The American duo played much better than the Europeans and outpaced them after the front nine. Though it was a tight match Lewis and Piller were able to win it after halving all back nine holes. Hedwall missed an 8-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole that would have squared the match. U.S. won 1 UP

Sunday Singles

Before teeing off for the twelve singles matches Juli Inkster claimed that what had happened on the 17th green could only be catalogued as bad sportsmanship on behalf of the Europeans. On the other hand, Carin Koch, Europe's captain, stood up her team and argued they played by the rules. But only one thing was true. The controversy ended with a fired up American team. The U.S. squad won eight of their matches, while the Europeans could only close out in their favor three of them. The only halved match was the 17th match with Lexi Thompson facing Carlota Ciganda; they put on a bomb driver show for the fans and divided points after bogeying the 18th. Angela Stanford, who until her singles match held a Solheim Cup record of 3-133, had the task to defeat Suzann Pettersen. The media was already naming Suzann the villain of the Cup and all eyes were on this match. Pettersen could not keep up with Stanford and lost 3&2.

Gerina Piller's match and Paula Creamer's match were highly important for the American team. Gerina had a clutch up and down putt at the 18th hole to keep U.S. hopes alive. If she missed, Europe would have retained the cup. But she drained a 10-footer to save par and earn her full point. The decisive match was in Paula's hands but she had it safely under control. Creamer was facing German native Sandra Gal, who had a great performance prior to the singles matches, but was not finding her best golf on Sunday afternoon. The U.S. took the final and last point when the match was closed out at 15th with a 4&3.

The Heat is ON This could be the most exciting finale to a European Tour season in years

For a while this year it looked as though Rory McIlroy was going to turn the Final Series of the Race to Dubai into another global coronation of the European Tour’s king. Unfortunately for the 4-time major champion he injured himself two weeks before The Open and his once significant lead has been eaten into, and at the start of this third Final Series we have a group of contenders ready to pounce for victory at the end of the marathon season that has been the 2015 European Tour. McIlroy began his quest for a third Race to Dubai title in now typical fashion, coming up just a shot shy of victory in Abu Dhabi, losing out to Frenchman Gary Stal. Two weeks later, on the European Tour’s first visit to Dubai, he produced a dominating performance to win the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic for the second time. Then in May he outclassed the opposition to win the World Golf Championships – Cadillac Match Play at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, and with top 10 finishes at The Masters and US Open he was set to run away in the Race to Dubai. But with injury striking his momentum was stalled, and others moved out of the peloton and into contention for the Harry Vardon Trophy. St Andrews Golf Magazine gives you the lowdown on the chasing pack. Race to Dubai rankings correct at the time of publication.

Danny Willett

Danny Willett has had the season of his life. He began the 2015 Race to Dubai at the Nedbank Golf Challenge last December. The Yorkshireman produced a stunning performance at Sun City to win by four shots from Ross Fisher to claim his second European Tour title.

The first tournament of the 2015 Race to Dubai Final Series is the Turkish Airlines Open, played at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal, in Antalya. Victor Dubuisson won the first edition in 2013, defeating Tiger Woods and Jamie Donaldson on the final day. Brooks Koepka is the defending champion, he held off Ian Poulter to claim his first European Tour win last November. Prize Fund: $7,000,000 Race to Dubai Points: 10,000,000 Winner receives: 1,333,300 points

He kicked on from victory in South Africa to record a fourth place finish in the Alfred Dunhill Championship, a tie for 12th at the WGCCadillac Championship, 3rd place at the WGCCadillac Match Play and tie for sixth at The Open in St Andrews.

The field of 78 players is made up as follows:

Then he claimed his second victory of the season, at the OMEGA European Masters. Willett won by a single stroke from Matthew Fitzpatrick, following a final round of 65.

b) 4 tournament invitations

A third place finish in Italy consolidated his position at number two on the Race to Dubai, and his performances this season have seen him rise from 83rd to 26th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

d) The balance of the field will be selected in order from the 2015 Race to Dubai Rankings as of the conclusion of the UBS Hong Kong Open (25th October). (Blank entries will be made ONLY for those Players qualifying in this category after close of entries who were not already otherwise exempt in (a) above).

Final Series events entered: Turkish Airlines Open, WGC-HSBC Champions, BMW Masters and DP World Tour Championship

a) Players ranked within the top 60 of the Official World Golf Rankings as of Monday 5th October 2015.

c) 3 Turkish Players as invited by the Turkish Golf Federation.

The cut off for this exemption is the 25th October at the conclusion of the UBS Hong Kong.

The Bosphuros Bridge at night. The bridge connects Europe and Asia, and Turkey sits in both continents. A perfect destination to launch the 2015 Race to Dubai Final Series.

Louis Oosthuizen

Louis Oosthuizen has returned to the upper echelons of the game this season, without winning. Runners-up finishes in the US Open and Open Championship have been the highlight of a consistent season which has seen him rise from 54th to 12th in the Official World Golf Ranking. The South African has now finished in 2nd in The Masters, US Open and Open to add to his Open Championship triumph in 2010. Had he been able to defeat Zach Johnson in the playoff on the Old Course then he would be even closer to the leader of the Race to Dubai, Rory McIlroy. Final Series events entered: WGC-HSBC Champions, BMW Masters and DP World Tour Championship.

Justin Rose

Justin Rose has had another fantastic season on the European Tour, highlighted by his recent win at the UBS Hong Kong Open. The 2013 US Open champion also finished 2nd to Jordan Spieth at The Masters and posted top six finishes at The Open and PGA Championship. His performances have consolidated his place in the top ten of the world rankings, and he will be bidding for a second Harry Vardon Trophy during the Final Series. Final Series events entered: WGC-HSBC Champions and DP World Tour Championship.

The second tournament of the 2015 Race to Dubai Final Series is the WGC-HSBC Champions. This tournament was first played in 2005, and elevated to World Golf Championships status in 2009. It is played at the Sheshan International Golf Club near Shanghai, China. Bubba Watson is the defending champion. Prize Fund: $8,000,000 Race to Dubai Points: 10,000,000 Winner receives: 1,666,600 points

The Field of 78 players is made up as follows: Winners of the 2015 Masters, Players Championship, US Open Championship, British Open Championship, and USA PGA Championship. Winners of the 2014 WGC – HSBC Champions, 2015 WGC Cadillac Championship, WGC – Cadillac Matchplay Championship and WGC – Bridgestone Invitational. Players ranked within the top 50 of the OWGR as of Monday 19th October 2015.

Players ranked within the top 30* of the final 2014/2015 Fedex Cup Points List. (*NB. If there are less than 5 such available players from within the top 30, further available players from 31st position onwards will be selected in ranking order so that there are 5 players entered through this Category). Players ranked within the top 30 of the 2015 Race to Dubai Rankings as of Monday 26th October 2015. The leading 4 available players** not otherwise exempt in (1 – 5) above from the 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit as of Monday 26th October 2015. (**NB. Must have participated in the Asian Tour’s notified minimum number of Order of Merit events to be eligible for this event, by the cut-off date). The leading 2 available players not otherwise exempt in (1 – 5) above from the 2015 Japan Golf Tour Order of Merit as of Monday 26th October 2015. The leading 2 available players not otherwise exempt in (1 – 5) above from the final 2014 PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit. The leading 2 available players not otherwise exempt in (1 – 5) above from the final 2014 Sunshine Tour Order of Merit. 6 Chinese Players not otherwise exempt above.

Shane Lowry

Shane Lowry has had a season to remember, announcing himself on the world stage at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in August. His stunning win at Firestone has seen him move into serious contention for both the Race to Dubai and 2016 European Ryder Cup team. His runner-up finish at the British Masters moved him inside the world’s top 20 for the first time in his career, and a career which exploded into life during the very first Race to Dubai, at the Irish Open, could have its exclamation point in 2015. The Irishman also recorded top ten finishes at the BMW PGA Championship and US Open. Final Series events entered: Turkish Airlines Open, WGC-HSBC Champions, BMW Masters and DP World Tour Championship.

Branden Grace

Branden Grace just keeps getting better and better. Winner of the Alfred Dunhill Championship and Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, the South African has had a season to remember. He was in the thick of it at the US Open before the 70th hole of the week, and finished in a tie for fourth. At the PGA Championship he finished third and he has risen from 116th in the world to 22nd in under a year. Final Series events entered: WGC-HSBC Champions, BMW Masters and DP World Tour Championship.

Starting in 2014 the European Tour decided to convert money won in official Race to Dubai events to points, which enabled them to award a standard number of points at each Final Series event.

figured in the Major Championships. It didn’t need a contrived points system and re-set to create the drama. It just happened because they had been the best players of the year.

The Final Series tournaments offer 10 million points, in contrast to the $7million on offer in Turkey, $8.5million at the WGC-HSBC Champions, $7million at the BMW Masters and $8million at the DP World Tour Championship.

The Final Series was created in 2013 following Rory McIlroy’s runaway season in 2012, his 5birdie finish in Dubai to win the DP World Tour Championship was nothing more than an exclamation point on a Race to Dubai he had won two weeks prior to the finish.

Critics pointed out that the Race to Dubai was becoming more like the FedEx Cup, but one crucial difference is there isn’t a points re-set. This means should Rory McIlroy win two of the first three Final Series events he will win the Race to Dubai prior to the final event.

The Final Series now enables the chasing pack to get closer to the leader going into the final event, but it doesn’t erase all the great play from McIlroy throughout a year in which he has won a World Golf Championship and the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic.

Many observers say that this produces an anticlimax to the season, but if a player plays well enough throughout the year then he should win the season-long title, regardless of whether it is decided in Dubai or before.

The field composition of the first three events are also very different to that of the FedEx Cup playoff events. In an attempt to attract the strongest fields in world golf, the world’s top sixty golfers are eligible to play in both the Turkish Airlines Open and BMW Masters.

For most sports fans the most exciting finale is one which happens naturally, not one which is engineered for television. The 2009 Race to Dubai came down to the final event in Dubai, with Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Ross Fisher and Martin Kaymer all having a chance to win the Harry Vardon Trophy. Westwood produced a dominant performance to take both the Dubai World Championship and Race to Dubai titles. It was the crescendo to a season in which all four players had won at least once on the European Tour, and had

McIlroy is only playing in the Turkish Airlines Open and WGC-HSBC Champions prior to Dubai, so the chasing pack have a wonderful opportunity in Shanghai to win the BMW Masters and close the gap going to Dubai.

The penultimate tournament of the 2015 Race to Dubai Final Series is the BMW Masters, played at the Lake Malaren Golf Club near Shanghai, China. First played in 2012 this tournament has been won by Peter Hanson, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and the defending champion Marcel Siem. Prize Fund: $7,000,000 Race to Dubai Points: 10,000,000 Winner’s share: 1,666,600

The field of 78 players will be made up as follows: a) Players ranked within the top 60 of the Official World Golf Rankings as of Monday 5th October 2015. b) 4 tournament invitations c) 14 Chinese Players as invited by the Chinese Golf Association. d) The balance of the field will be selected in order from the 2015 Race to Dubai Rankings as of the conclusion of the UBS Hong Kong Open (25th October). (Blank entries will be made ONLY for those Players qualifying in this category after close of entries who were not already otherwise exempt in (a) above). The cut off for this exemption is the 25th October at the conclusion of the UBS Hong Kong.

The view of Shanghai from the Bund. The city is home to both the WGC-HSBC Champions and BMW Masters and will be the site of some of the most important shots in the entire European Tour season which visits 27 countries on 5 continents.

It is now 7 years since the final Volvo Masters, played for over 20 years at Valderrama in Spain. The Volvo Masters was the conclusion of the Volvo Tour, which was created in the 1980’s to give more structure to the European Tour season. Prior to the Volvo Masters the final official event of the European Tour season had been the Portuguese Open (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987), Lancome Trophy (1977, 1979, 1981), British Masters (1973, 1980), European Open (1978), Italian Open (1972, 1975, 1976) and the El Paraiso Open (1974). The Volvo Masters was the first permanent, season-ending tournament in the history of the European Tour, bringing together the 60 leading money winners from the season. The DP World Tour Championship, formerly the Dubai World Championship, has fulfilled this role wonderfully. It offers the largest prize fund of any sole-sanctioned European Tour event outside the Majors and World Golf Championships. The event always attracts large crowds by offering free tickets and has engaged with the local population in Dubai, making it one of the city’s most popular sporting events each year. The Greg Norman-designed Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates has hosted every edition of the championship, and provides an exciting and demanding test of golf for the best 60 players on the European Tour.

In the first edition Lee Westwood won by a stunning six shots after a fantastic final round of 64, but each edition since has been much more closely contested. In 2010 Robert Karlsson defeated Ian Poulter in a playoff and in 2011 Alvaro Quiros won by two shots after a sensational eagle on the 72nd hole. 2012 saw Rory McIlroy finish with five birdies to pip Justin Rose by two shots, and in 2013 Henrik Stenson produced the shot of the year at the final hole to set up an eagle to win by a record-equalling six shots. Stenson defended the championship in 2014, winning by two shots from Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Victor Dubuisson. With predictably stunning weather, a perfectly prepared golf course and the best golfers from the last 11 months on the European Tour we are set for another thrilling edition of what is becoming one of golf’s great championships.

The Final tournament of the 2015 European Tour season is the DP WORLD Tour Championship, Dubai. Played at the Jumeirah Golf Estates, on the Earth Course. This is the seventh edition of the championship which replaced the Volvo Masters as the finale to the season. Lee Westwood won the inaugural edition in 2009, with Robert Karlsson and Alvaro Quiros claiming the title in 2010 and 2011 respectively. Rory McIlroy claimed the first of his two Race to Dubai victories with a win in the championship in 2012 and Henrik Stenson has won the two most recent editions, including in 2013 when he hit the shot of the year on 18 to seal the title and Race to Dubai. Prize Fund: $8,000,000 Race to Dubai points: 10,000,000 Winner’s share: 1,666,600

The leading 60 available players on the Race to Dubai will contest the 2015 DP WORLD Tour Championship, Dubai.

The Palm Jumeirah and Atlantis, The Palm. Dubai is the global home of the European Tour and the place every European Tour member strives to end their season. After 47 tournaments, it all comes down to this.

2015 Emirates Australian Open Preview

By Matt Hooper

Many great things emerge from a bright Spark, and golf in Australia came from one in the shape of Alexander Brodie Spark. Spark was a wealthy merchant and wellrespected member of Colonial society in Australia in 1839. He recorded the playing of golf at Grose Farm that year, and later in the year he helped to establish a golf club near the current New South Wales Golf Club. Within 60 years the game grew to a point where a governing body was required to look after the sport and arrange national competitions. The Australian Golf Union, now Golf Australia, was established in 1898 and in September 1904 at the Australian Golf Club, in Sydney, the first Australian Open Golf Championship was conducted. That first championship was contested by just 30 players, 11 of which were amateur, and was won by the Honourable Michael Scott. It was the first of 15 amateur wins in the 99 editions of the championship to date, the most recent coming 16 years ago when Aaron Baddeley won at Royal Sydney. The 111 years and 98 editions since that tentative first staging of the Australian Open have provided Golfing Moments which are engraved in the History of Australian and worldwide golf. From the halcyon days of Kerry Packer and Palmer, Player and Nicklaus competing every year to the domination of the Great White Shark, Greg Norman, in the 1980’s and 90’s,

and to the modern stars such as Adam Scott, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth battling it out for the Stonehaven Cup. Through the highs and lows, the lean times and the great times, the Australian Open has remained when so many other Australian tournaments have fallen by the wayside. It is a little known fact that the Australian Open roll of honour has more major champions on it than any tournament not sanctioned by the PGA Tour worldwide. Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen, Peter Thomson, Greg Norman, Jim Ferrier, Bobby Locke, Kel Nagle, David Graham, Bill Rogers, Tom Watson, Mark Calcavecchia, Steve Elkington, Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth have won an astonishing 75 Major and 36 Australian Open Championships combined. Since 1986 players which have held the world number one spot have won 7 Australian Open titles and the last two Australian Open champions, McIlroy and Spieth have gone on to claim the spot and dominate golf in the following 12 months. The Australian Open is now building momentum, and on the occasion of its 100th birthday it can rightfully celebrate as being a cornerstone event of this great game. So let’s all wish the national championship of Australian golf many happy returns.

To recognise the landmark occasion, the national championship will pay homage to the legendary moments and players who have, through their memorable deeds, made the Stonehaven Cup one of golf’s most sought prizes. Many past champions will be recognised at specific functions throughout the week, including a ceremonial tee shot celebration not unlike those seen at the Masters and Open Championship. The annual Tuesday night gala cocktail party will also recognise the tournament’s rich heritage and several of its past champions. Defending champion and world No.1 Jordan Spieth and former champ Adam Scott are confirmed to headline the 100th Australian Open at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney. And with the launch of the 100th edition Open logo and new slogan “Engraved in history”, it’s the perfect time to salute many of the champions who’ve made the Stonehaven Cup honour roll right at home with any in world golf. Behind The Open Championship and the national titles of the United States, Canada and South Africa, the Australian Open is the oldest continuous tournament in the world having run since 1904 with breaks only for World War I and World War II.

“That Sunday was, to this day, arguably the best round I've ever played, other than maybe the first round of Augusta this year minus if I had played the 15th hole the way I should, that's the best round I've ever played.” “That day was a huge day in stepping up my game mentally and believing that I can close out professional events.” Jordan Spieth, 2015

Sydney success sparks Spieth streak Last November Jordan Spieth touched down at Sydney airport as the world number 14, without a win since July 2013 and in the shadow of the all-conquering, grand slam chasing Rory McIlroy. He departed with the Stonehaven Cup after a round for the ages, and in the 12 months since he has gone on to record the greatest year of any American golfer, maybe any golfer, since Tiger Woods in 2000. Following a sensational final round of 63 on a windswept Australian Golf Club course last November, Spieth lifted his first trophy outside of the United States as a professional. He returned home with a new-found belief, with confirmation that his game was good enough under any conditions and on any course. Two weeks later he completely and utterly embarrassed a world-class field at Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge, winning by a stunning 11 shots. Then in March he won his first PGA Tour title since 2013, at the Valspar Championship in Florida, and he headed to The Masters as one of the leading challengers to Rory McIlroy’s bid for the grand slam.

Spieth didn’t just challenge McIlroy, he usurped him, he lapped him and he won his first major in almost record-breaking fashion. Then at Chambers Bay, he dramatically won a second-successive major, showing he had the mettle for the toughest of challenges. He backed the two majors up with another win at the John Deere Classic, and then headed for St Andrews as the favourite and with the calendar year grand slam in his sights. He narrowly missed out on the playoff but came oh so close to creating a little bit of history. At the PGA Championship he duelled with Jason Day before coming up just short but his year was rounded off nicely with a win at THE TOUR Championship to clinch the FedEx Cup, and return to world number one. He comes to Sydney this year as the world number two, to an Australian. Unfortunately Jason Day won’t be present at the Australian Golf Club, and neither will Rory McIlroy. But Spieth has an eye for the historic, and a win at the 100th Australian Open would perfectly round off the year of his life.

American winners of the Emirates Australian Open 2014

Jordan Spieth

1993

Brad Faxon

1990

John Morse

1988

Mark Calcavecchia

1984

Tom Watson

1981

Bill Rogers

1978

Jack Nicklaus

1976

Jack Nicklaus

1975

Jack Nicklaus

1973

J.C. Snead

1971

Jack Nicklaus

1968

Jack Nicklaus

1966

Arnold Palmer

1964

Jack Nicklaus

1936

Gene Sarazen

Lee Westwood returns to Sydney 18 years on from Australian Open success Former winner Lee Westwood will join defending champ and world No.1 Jordan Spieth and local hero Adam Scott in the elite field at The Australian Golf Club from November 26-29. Westwood, a former world No.1 and one of the most prolific international winners of his generation, sprung to international prominence when he won the 1997 Australian Open at Melbourne’s Metropolitan Golf Club. The Englishman fended off challenges from Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson to finish tied with five-time Australian Open winner Greg Norman at 14 under, then outduelled the “Great White Shark” on the fourth hole of a sudden-death playoff to become the first European to lift the Stonehaven Cup – a post he held alone until Rory McIlroy followed suit in 2013. “Obviously I have a lot of great memories of the Australian Open so I am really excited to be heading there again,” said Westwood, a perennial at the top end of the world rankings. “We all enjoy playing in Australia because of the standard of the courses, the knowledgeable fans and the great weather. It is also a really strong field again this year so it will be a superb spectacle.”

Westwood, 42, has proven himself a true global player since his Australian Open win with victories in the United States, Europe, Japan, on the Asian and South Africa’s Sunshine Tour during a glittering career that has yielded 42 professional titles and a staggering 17 top-10 finishes in major championships. He also boasts a wonderful Ryder Cup record, representing Europe nine times for seven victories. Westwood will be joined by great friend, Ryder Cup teammate and former Open Champion, Darren Clarke in Sydney. “The Australian Open has a wonderful history and has been won by many of the game’s greatest players and with the likes of Lee, Jordan and Adam playing this November, we are in for a real treat,” Clarke said. NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events and Minister for Sport, Stuart Ayres said it would be great to see Westwood and Clarke in Sydney in November. “Lee and Darren are both legends of the game and form part of a world-class field of golfers at this year’s Australian Open,” Mr Ayres said. “The NSW Government is proud to have secured this event for Sydney through our tourism and major events agency Destination NSW; and with players such as Lee, Darren, Australian champion Adam Scott and current world No.1 Jordan Spieth, it promises to attract visitors from all over the globe to our state.”

Sydney to remain home to the Australian Open for a further 8 years The Emirates Australian Open will continue to call Sydney home for the next eight years, with the New South Wales Government securing the historic event in an agreement with Golf Australia. NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events and Minister for Sport, Stuart Ayres, said the event has been secured for Sydney by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. “The Australian Open is one of the most prestigious events in Australian sport, first held in 1904 and celebrating its 100th edition this November. I am pleased that the event will continue to call Sydney home,” Mr Ayres said. Golf Australia chief executive officer Stephen Pitt was delighted with the commitment from Destination NSW, with Sydney already about to host its 10th successive national championship. “We’ve been thrilled with the support from the New South Wales Government, our naming rights sponsor Emirates and the players. Along with the clubs and golf fans of Sydney who’ve really embraced the event, we have raised the global awareness of the championship and

also of Sydney as a world-class golfing destination,” Mr Pitt said. “The Open continues to deliver the world’s best players to Sydney, as evidenced in the past two years when Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth have each spring-boarded to world No.1 status and major championship victories after winning the Stonehaven Cup.” Golf Australia’s event commercial partner Lagardère Sports (formerly World Sport Group) is excited with the championship’s direction. “We are thrilled to extend the Australian Open’s stay in one of the world’s most vibrant capitals and premier golfing destinations – what a fitting way to celebrate the centennial year of this prestigious tournament,” said Mark Hardess, president, ASEAN & Australia, Lagardère Sports. “With the support of the New South Wales Government and our partners, we look forward to continue building upon the event’s success by delivering the strongest player fields and compelling fan experiences that have shaped the tournament’s storied legacy.” The new agreement means the Emirates Australian Open will be contested in Sydney for a minimum of six of the next eight years from 2016-2023. Mr Ayres said NSW had agreed to potentially let the national championship travel away once every four years as a “release” year during this period.

“The Australian Open has built a home in Sydney and made the last weekend of November a special time on our sporting and events calendar,” Mr Ayres said. “This year’s Open has once again attracted a high-quality field, including dual major winner, defending champion and world No.1 Jordan Spieth. Our own Masters hero and former Australian Open champion Adam Scott will also line up at The Australian Golf Club from November26-29, so I’d encourage everyone to book their tickets today and get along to this fantastic event. “The Australian Open is played on some of Australia’s premier golf courses, all located on the doorstep of our amazing city. Within minutes of leaving the tournament, Australian Open spectators will find themselves at one of the Harbour City’s world-class restaurants, hotels or beaches.” Destination NSW chief executive officer Sandra Chipchase said the Emirates Australian Open forms part of a packed calendar of events for Sydney. “There is so much on offer for sports fans over the coming months, with the Australian Open joining the V8 Supercars Sydney 500, Sydney Sevens rugby union, World Baseball Classic qualifiers and many more world-class sporting events,” Ms Chipchase said.

Host destinations of the Australian Open since 1904 New South Wales South Australia Western Australia Victoria Tasmania Queensland

Host courses of the Australian Open since 1904 The Australian Golf Club, Royal Sydney, The Lakes, Royal Melbourne, Royal Adelaide, The Grand, New South Wales Golf Club, Moonah Links, Victoria Golf Club, Kingston Heath, Metropolitan Golf Club, Lake Karrinqup, Royal Queensland, Kooyonga Golf Club, Royal Hobart, Commonwealth Golf Club, Gailes Golf Club

New Sydney deal gives another great Australian city the chance to return to the global spotlight

seen as a cherished prize for the self-styled sporting capital of the world. Shortly after losing out to Sydney, Melbourne was awarded the hosting rights to the 2016 World Cup of Golf and the 2019 Presidents Cup. Both events will no doubt bring new impetus to the Australian Masters. So maybe it is time that Australian golf broadened its horizons. With Perth staging the Perth International, a co-sanctioned tournament with the European Tour since 2012, and Queensland being the home to the Australian PGA Championship there is a significant part of Australia missing out. Adelaide and South Australia was a cornerstone of the PGA Tour of Australasia for many years, with the South Australian Open being played from 1960 through until 2005.

It was also one of the most popular events of the whole season, and in 1995 the spectator attendance topped 520,000 with 210,000 attending on the day of the race itself. The attendances have never come close to matching the popularity of Adelaide since the race moved to Melbourne. The Australian Grand Prix really hasn’t been the same since, the party atmosphere of Adelaide and the welcome of the people ensured for 10 years that the race was a true showcase for Australia to the world. The most recent Australian Open staged in Adelaide was the 1998 Holden Australian Open at Royal Adelaide. The championship was won by Greg Chalmers, holding off the challenges from Stuart Appleby, Peter Senior, Nick Faldo and Robert Allenby.

The recently announced extension between Golf Australia and NSW Government potentially allows for the Emirates Australian Open to be staged in another city across the country once every four years.

The area has staged 14 Australian Open Championships (5 at Kooyonga and 9 at Royal Adelaide) and in 2008 staged the World Amateur Team Championships, won by Scotland.

Prior to 1998 the last Australian Open in South Australia was the 1972 championship, staged at Kooyonga and won by Peter Thomson, who defeated David Graham in an 18-hole playoff. In 1965 Gary Player won by six shots from Jack Nicklaus and Frank Phillips at the same course.

Prior to the new deal which will see Sydney remain as host until 2023, Melbourne were thought to have been eyeing up Australia’s greatest golf event.

Perhaps the biggest major sporting event staged in Adelaide though was the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. Held on the Street Circuit in the capital of South Australia, the race was the last on the World Championship calendar and was often one of the most dramatic races of the season.

With Adelaide having only hosted four Australian Open Championships in 50 years it is surely time for the world to see the great courses they have, and for the Emirates Australian Open and the people at Golf Australia to take it away, briefly, from the golfing metropolis’ of Melbourne and Sydney.

With the Australian Masters in decline (Prize fund has dropped from AUS$1,500,000 to 750,000 since 2009), the Australian Open was

A 100th birthday which should have been recognised around the world At the 1996 Presidents Cup, golf's five Major Tours (the European Tour, Japan Golf Tour Organization, PGA TOUR, PGA Tour of Australasia and Sunshine Tour) reached agreement on several key elements of professional golf designed to create new international events, beginning in 1999. Three major initiatives were outlined at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, site of the second Presidents Cup:   

Formation of the International Federation of PGA Tours. A structure for a generally accepted worldwide ranking system. Joint sanctioning by the members of the International Federation of PGA Tours of significant competitions, including some at the world championship level for the game's top players.

Those "significant competitions" were announced in October 1997 when the Federation introduced the World Golf Championships. The World Golf Championships were developed to enhance the competitive structure of professional golf

worldwide while preserving the traditions and strengths of the individual Tours and their events. The World Golf Championships began as a series of tournaments which were staged around the world. The 2001 WGC-Accenture Match Play was staged in Australia, the World Cup continued to travel the world and the WGC-American Express Championship alternated between Europe and the United States. But for nearly the last decade the World Golf Championships has remained in the United States. They are basically a cash-grab for the world’s top players, with no cut and a limited field playing for prize funds of $8million. The wording of their mission statement must be looked at in detail - Joint sanctioning by the members of the International Federation of PGA Tours of significant competitions, including some at the world championship level for the game's top players. These jointly sanctioned events have entirely been at World Championship level for the top players, the five major tours have not worked together to support the significant events around the world. A key example of this is the 2016 WGCBridgestone Invitational. With Golf returning to the Olympic Games next August the tours have agreed to alter the schedule in order to ensure the world’s best are available to compete in Rio.

The PGA Tour, as the leading tour of the International Federation of PGA Tours, moved the championship to 27 June to 3 July, in the same week as the 100th edition of the Alstom Open de France. The European Tour has taken a brave and correct decision not to sanction the 2016 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in favour of putting its full resources behind the French Open. Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour said “The Albatros Course at Le Golf National is currently undergoing renovation to prepare not only for next year’s landmark tournament, but also for the staging of The Ryder Cup in 2018. The Alstom Open de France has been a staple on our Tour since 1972 and we are confident that next year’s event, with an increased prize fund alongside the current renovations to the golf course, will properly reflect the importance of the tournament alongside the 100th anniversary celebrations.” Withdrawing the sanction of the WGCBridgestone Invitational means the tournament will not count towards the Race to Dubai or Ryder Cup qualification in 2016. The PGA Tour responded by saying "Coordinating a worldwide professional golf schedule always has its challenges. Those challenges were even more acute for 2016 with addition of golf's inclusion in the Olympic Games. Several events were impacted and while we have had numerous conversations

with the European Tour with respect to the scheduling of the World Golf ChampionshipsBridgestone Invitational, we were ultimately unable to find a solution that satisfied all parties. We look forward to staging a successful Bridgestone Invitational in 2016." The resolution definitely has not been in the interests of all parties, and both the French Open and the membership of the European Tour will be impacted by the scheduling of the ‘World’ Golf Championship. The PGA Tour could have moved the Bridgestone Invitational to the first week of the 2016-17 wraparound season, this would be a great start to their new season and form part of an even better finish to the Race to Dubai. It would also enable the European Tour to attract the strongest possible field to play in the French Open. With the Emirates Australian Open celebrating its 100th birthday this November it could have been one of those events which the International Federation of PGA Tours cosanctioned, without the WGC moniker, but encouraging all of the world’s best golfers to play at The Australian Golf Club by giving it points in the 2016-17 FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai, and increased Official World Golf Ranking points, which would help give more opportunities to Australian golfers to climb the ladder of worldwide golf. With its location and relatively small prize fund in comparison to the European and PGA

Tours, the Emirates Australian Open will always rely on paying inflated appearance fees to encourage the world’s best to play. Yes the tournament has seen the likes of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Bill Haas, Dustin Johnson, David Toms, Justin Rose, Tom Watson, Fred Couples, John Daly, Kyle Stanley and Nick Watney compete for the Stonehaven Cup in the last five years, but it could and should have the best field in world golf. With its unmatched roll of honour, history, tradition and the outstanding golf courses it is played on, the Emirates Australian Open should be a must play for the world’s best, but it needs a leg-up from the major tours in Europe and the United States. The likes of the French Open, Canadian Open, South African Open and Australian Open should be endorsed by the International Federation of PGA Tours, which would encourage major partners to come on board with Golf Australia to invest more money into the championship. This year’s PGA Tour wraparound schedule features a free week in the week of the Emirates Australian Open, following the McGladrey Classic, and the European Tour begins its 2015-16 season at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa. There is no question that both tours could alter their schedule to include an event with such prestige and history, in a sports and golf mad

country and a country with great conditions for golf. With Emirates as a major backer of the European Tour, the tournament would be a perfect fit as a way to launch the new Race to Dubai season, and would give PGA Tour members and additional tournament prior to the Christmas break. The 2015-16 Race to Dubai will include two Australian stops at the Australian PGA Championship, in the week following the Australian Open, and the Perth International in February. The addition of a third in the Australian Open would be beneficial for both the European Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia. The European Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia has co-sanctioned the Heineken Classic, Johnnie Walker Classic, ANZ Championship, Australian Masters, Perth International, Australian PGA Championship and New Zealand Open over the last 20 years. When an old friend has a milestone birthday usually people travel from all over the world to join in the party, and that should have been the case for the 100th Emirates Australian Open this November.

Schedule of the significant National Opens and the PGA Tour events played opposite them Emirates Australian Open – PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA/ONEASIA 26-29 November OFF WEEK FOR THE PGA TOUR, COULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED ON SCHEDULE / Played opposite the ALFRED DUNHILL CHAMPIONSHIP

South African Open – EUROPEAN TOUR/SUNSHINE TOUR 7-10 January Played opposite HYUNDAI TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

Alstom Open de France – EUROPEAN TOUR 27-3 July Played opposite the WGC-BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL

RBC Canadian Open – PGA TOUR 21-24 July Played IN THE WEEK FOLLOWING THE OPEN

The stars of the 100th Emirates Australian Open

Presidents Cup and World Cup to be hosted by Melbourne again At the recent Presidents Cup in Korea, the Commissioner of the PGA Tour, Tim Finchem, announced that Australia had been selected as the host nation of the 2019 Presidents Cup. This will mark the third occasion the matches have been hosted by Australia. The event will be played on one of the iconic Melbourne Sandbelt courses in November of 2019. As part of the same press conference Finchem also announced that the World Cup of Golf would be returning in 2016. The tournament will revert to the format used from 2000-2009, with 2-man teams playing two rounds of fourball and two rounds of foursome golf. The 2016 tournament will also be staged on one of the Melbourne Sandbelt courses in November of 2016. This announcement means that in 2016 the schedule will include the four majors, four world golf championships, PGA Tour FedEx Cup Playoffs, Race to Dubai Final Series, Ryder Cup, Olympic Games and World Cup in a packed year. Understandably the news of these two huge events being played in Australia was met with great delight by Honorable John Eren, Victoria Minister for Tourism and Major Events. “We’re committed to growing our enviable calendar of

major events, and securing events like The Presidents Cup and the World Cup of Golf do just that. We can’t wait to welcome golf fans from all over the world to visit our renowned Sandbelt and see for themselves what makes Victoria great”, said Eren. Jason Day and Adam Scott also shared their happiness with the announcement, with the 2015 PGA Champion Day saying: “I’m very, very happy that we’re returning to Melbourne, where I won the World Cup. Whether we play at Royal Melbourne or some other golf course, I just like playing that sort of golf, and being back in front of the home crowd will be fantastic. And for up and coming players from Australia, they have something to shoot for – that goal of getting on that Presidents Cup team and playing in their home country.” “It’s exciting news, any time Australia gets big events” said Scott, a seven-time Presidents Cup participant. “Obviously with the World Cup going back and Jason and I having won it the last time it was played in Melbourne, I look forward to hopefully playing again, and the same for The Presidents Cup. These events coming back will keep inspiring another generation of Australian players, and for all the fans in the country to get the chance to see the best players from around the world is really thrilling. Melbourne is a great city for hosting events of this magnitude.”

Matt’s opinion Australia’s gain is the worldwide games’ loss and Golf misses opportunity to create a legacy from Rio 2016 Australia and particularly Melbourne’s position as one of the great golfing destinations of the world has never been in question, and will only be enhanced by the staging of these two great events in 2016 and 2019 respectively. But having staged the World Cup in 2013 and the Presidents Cup in 2011, it is hardly the case that the nation is being starved of world class golf. The argument can also be made that Australian grass roots golf will not benefit greatly from the staging of the World Cup and Presidents Cup. With Golf returning to the Olympic Games next summer, the PGA Tour and other major tours of the world have a golden opportunity to grow the game in new and emerging parts of the world. With the Olympic Games being staged in Rio next August, the Olympic Golf Course would have been a perfect site to herald the return of the World Cup. It would have been a way of kick-starting a lasting legacy, by giving young Brazilian golfers another world-class tournament to attend and be inspired by. I would also like to have seen a radical change in the format, with 16 countries qualifying based upon the world rankings from each continent contesting a match play competition.

The number of competitors representing each country could also have been increased from two to six. The 16 countries could have been drawn into four groups of four countries, with each match featuring a foursome, fourball and greensome match. Each foursome, fourball and greensome match would be worth 1 point for a win and Â˝ a point for a tie. An overall victory for a country in a group match would be worth an additional 1 point. The leading two countries in each group after three days of golf would qualify for the quarterfinals, followed by the semi-finals and final. Each knockout round would be played over three matches of foursome, fourball and greensome play. This is a bold idea, something new and something different. It would get the players interested in playing in the World Cup and bring three different formats of the game together in one competition. It would expand the tournament and make it a true World Cup for Golf. It would also inspire and excite youngsters of the host nation and around the world just like the International Crown has done on the LPGA. The 2019 Presidents Cup was also awarded to Australia, and again I believe this is a decision born out of fear and uncertainty on the part of the PGA Tour. With Golf returning to

the Olympic Games there are no doubt many nations around the world which will look to invest in golf development programmes more readily now the sport has Olympic status. Golf is the most popular participation sport in New Zealand, and is second only to Cricket in India. The Presidents Cup would have a lasting legacy in both of these countries, and possibly the TOUR could also have looked at options in other South American countries. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Presidents Cup team had players from Korea, Japan, India and Thailand, and with the game growing across the continent there was surely an opportunity to stage the matches in another Asian country. Both Japan and China are said to have been interested in staging the 2019 matches, but it looks like they will have to wait for quite some time, with South Africa undoubtedly keen on hosting the Presidents Cup in 2023 to mark the 20th anniversary of the epic tie in 2003. There is no doubt that Australia will put on a great show, make the PGA Tour and its partners a lot of money and bring great exposure to two ailing events. But for the good of the game in a year that could transform golf forever, there was an opportunity to think outside the box and inspire the world. Once again golf and the PGA Tour, played it safe.

Coming in our Christmas and New Year edition

St Andrews Golfer of the Year (Male)

The 2nd Annual

St Andrews Golfer of the Year (Female) St Andrews Young Golfer of the Year Special Achievement by a St Andrews golfer The Best Dressed Golfer in St Andrews Award St Andrews Golf Industry Member of the Year

St Andrews Golf Tour Operator of the Year St Andrews Golf Magazine Hall of Fame Award The Unsung Hero of Golf in St Andrews

AWARDS Voting opens on November 8

Plus World Golfer of the Year (Male) World Golfer of the Year (Female) Shot of the Year Event of the Year