Niklas Norgaard by 4 at Betfred British Masters.... 54 hole results

 DP World Tour : Betfred British Masters Leaderboard

Niklas Nørgaard blitzed the field to surge into a four-shot lead following an impressive 64 on Moving Day of the 2024 Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo.

The Dane began the third round two shots behind overnight leader Tyrrell Hatton, but he soon joined the Englishman and South Africa's Brandon Stone in a tie at the top at -10 after two birdies in the opening six holes.

Once he hit the front after carding his third gain at the seventh, there was no stopping the 32-year-old as he put the pedal to the floor to finish at -16 and sit four clear of nearest rival Thriston Lawrence -12.

As a result, Nørgaard, who co-led after 54 holes in last year's tournament at The Belfry before finishing seventh, moved one step closer to clinching his maiden DP World Tour title.

"I made a lot of putts and that's what I've been struggling a little with this year. The driver has been good and today, something just clicked with the putting," Nørgaard said.

"It's funny how the snowball just rolls after one putt then another one feels easier and the next even easier. It was just that kind of day.

Frenchman Ko is in sole third after mixing four birdies and three bogeys 71,to sit two shots further adrift -10 while Englishman Andrew Wilson 68 carded seven birdies and a dropped shot before a double bogey at the last saw him slip back to -8

Stone signed for a two-over 74 to join Sweden's Jesper Svensson 70 at -7, Hatton 76, Spaniard Jorge Campillo 75, Frenchman Tom Vaillant 74, Denmark's Lucas Bjerregaard 72 and Italian Matteo Manassero 69 are -6.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Staggered scoring needs to go.... TOUR Championship TEE TIMES..

 PGA Tour: Tour Championship Tee Times

After 2 rounds of this version of the Tour Championship Scottie Scheffler at 65 66 -21 leads Collin Morikawa 66 63 -17.

The actual scoring is Collin Morikawa 1st with 66 63 -13 129, and Scottie Scheffler 2nd with 65 66 -11 

Scottie Scheffler walks up to the seventh green during the second round of the Tour Championship golf tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

That's because of the PGA Tour's staggered scoring start that rewards players performance over the course of the season.

Scheffler begins with a 10 shot start at #1 Morikawa 8 shots at #2 and so on..

So Scheffler is at -21 and Morikawa at -17.

Having any professional tournament handicapped like we all are, not to mention the PGA Tour Championship is against all the tenets that make up becoming a professional golfer.

It's clean cut and honest, they tee it up and 72 holes later add it up to find the winner etc.

This idea makes a confusing joke out of what should be a thrilling climax to a season. The top 30 guys who get here must simply all start level.

Pro golf will never have the excitement that comes with the conclusion of the Stanley Cup or the World Series, that is reserved for the team play at the Ryder/Solheim/Presidents Cups.

Imagine handicapping the Masters or the Open Championship.. Ludicrous right !!

If they want to reward the guys for their performance over the year set aside a Players of the Year pool and award it at the end of the regular season to 1st 2nd and 3rd. (gold silver bronze)

Scrap the playoffs, the top 60 go straight to the Tour Championship and play for the 75,000,000 if you must throw this much money around. 

Or better still, end the year without either, let the 4 majors be the standard with the season ending Ryder / Presidents / Solheim Cups providing all the excitement as they do right now.

That golf is hardly an exciting sport to watch for the masses we know, and not one of us apart from the players, their team and their families, gets any more excited because someone gets $10m or now $25m thrown their way on top of the millions they play for every week.

Don't even get me started on the LIV which Rory quite rightly opined "will soon have to consider an alternative" if they don't soon settle and become part of the new PGA /DP World Tours soon.

In the mean time this weekend get your calculators out to figure out where your favourite guy will finish while Scottie, Collin, Xander continue to add a more millions after their fabulous seasons.

Bryan Angus

Hatton leads British Masters.. full scoreboard

 DP World Tour :Leaderboard

Tyrrell Hatton holds a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo after adding a second-round 65 to his opening 69.

The six-time DP World Tour winner made the most of ideal morning conditions on Friday to set the clubhouse target at ten under par.

And with none of the afternoon starters able to catch him at the summit, he takes a slender lead into the weekend.

Among those looking to hunt him down are nearest challengers Jorge Campillo, Brandon Stone and Jeong weon Ko, who sit one shot off the lead on -9

Afternoon starter Stone shot the lowest round of the day, with the South African's 64 containing nine birdies - including seven in eight holes around the turn - and a single bogey.

Ko's fellow Frenchman Tom Vaillant and Dane Niklas Nørgaard were another shot behind that trio, in a tie for fifth.

He said: "It was nice to see some putts go in today, to be honest. 

"I definitely hit the ball better yesterday but the big difference was I holed a few putts, which was nice. I'll try and take that momentum into the weekend now.

"It's the first time I've played (the course) this week. I'd walked around it - I think I was maybe 17 at the time - with the England junior squad, we were following some of the guys.

He added: "I think any time we get to play in England, fans always come out and we have good support.

"I'm definitely enjoying that. As I said earlier, I'm looking forward to the weekend. I think the crowds will be pretty special."

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Pairings / starting times Tour Championship..Taylor Pendrith lone Canadian..

 PGA Tour : Fed Ex Cup Tour Championship..Tee Times

Since Taylor Pendrith got over his shoulder injury and declared himself freed up to swing the way I want to swing:

*He has had 23 starts

*won the Byron Nelson, 

*13 top 25's 6 top 10's,

*is about to be named to the International Team for the Presidents Cup (IMO)

*has qualified #25 along with the top 30 players in the game for this weeks $75,000,000 PGA Tour finale in Atlanta on the spiffed up East Lake Course.

*He will make $500,000 even if he finishes last..

Great recovery by the long hitting big fella from Richmond Hill they call Pendy who is paired with Chris Kirke at 1138.

Click Tee Times for all 15 pairings culminating with Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele in the final pairing at 2pm.

Staggered start:

I am not a fan, however in an attempt to reward these players for their play during the season the PGA Tour invented " Unique starting strokes format".

Fed Ex Cup leader Scheffler will begin the week at -10, 2nd place finisher Schauffele at -8 and so on down the field until the final few play off scratch. 

Scottie has won 6 times this year without anyone giving him strokes, nor does he need them here.

All these guys have played well enough all year to get to this point and should all begin on the same level. Not one of them nor their families needs another cent from golf.

The Majors and Olympics are all over and are enough, end the regular season after the Wyndham, add up the scores, pay them all, let the big boys play the Ryder Cup/ Presidents Cup let all the rank and file play the Fed Ex Fall series to improve their status before Christmas as a present from Santa Golf...

Take all that Fed Ex Cup money and build a hospital with it on behalf of the players where people really need it most.

Playoffs in golf don't and haven't worked like they do in the NHL, NFL, NBA and even MLB. 

* remember when VJ Singh had already won the Cup in 2008 before he even played the Tour championship ??  remember a guy called Bill Haas in 2011 ?? or Brandt Snedeker in 2012....

Bryan Angus

Weekend news: Champion golfer Ko, Presidents Cup, Tour Championship...

Working the weekend kept me away from my desk, but I was following along all the way, and what a weekend in golf it was.

Lydia Ko of New Zealand poses with the trophy after winning the Women's Open on Sunday at St. Andrews in Scotland. (Getty Images)

Highlighted for me and millions, by Lydia Ko the little girl from New Zealand who travelled to Canada as an amateur with her mother, hair in pigtails, braces on her teeth, wearing glasses and won the CP Canadian Open in 2012 as a 15 year old, becoming the youngest player in history to win an LPGA event.

She had won the Women's NSW Open on the ALPG Tour in January 2012 as a 14 year old becoming the youngest person to win a professional event, then that record was broken later that year by 14 year old Brooke Henderson who won on the CN Canadian Women's Tour on June 13th 2012.

Now in 2024, in the month of August she has won the Gold medal at the Olympics adding that to her previous bronze and silver, then in dramatic fashion with a birdie 3 on the 72nd hole at the Old Course she became the Champion Golfer of the Year, winning the AIG Women's Open after wild windy week in St Andrews.

She had married Jin Chung, December 22 2022 in Seoul, Korea (where Ko was born before immigrating to New Zealand as a 4 year old,)  whose family's net worth of $14.8 billion, was named by Forbes the richest family in Asia in 2017.

She will soon be inducted into the Golf Hall of Fame, likely be made a Dame of the British Empire by King Charles, has already won the NZ Sportswoman of the Year three times, about to be four, yes the awards list is long and prestigious.

After she knew she had won she fell into her husbands arms, both in tears, beside the green in front of the R&A clubhouse, you can't write these fairytales anymore, can you..

Tour Championship top 30.

After they added them all up at last weeks BMW Championship, a lot of scores were settled both for who was in for the season ending Tour Championship and who had automatically qualified for the upcoming Presidents Cup, a big deal in these parts with Mike Weir the captain and the Royal Montreal GC the venue. 

BMW Championship : Results

First a tip of the cap to Keegan Bradley for his win, he was worthy, led all the way, and gets all the bells and baubles including $3.6m before Uncle Sam, holding off Burns, Aberg and a re jeuvinated Adam Scott by a shot. 

There were 3 Canadians left with a chance of the top 30.

Taylor Pendrith T13 72 65 73 73 -5 is in at #25

Corey Conners T22 68 70 73 73 -4 is out at #33

Adam Hadwin T41 76 68 75 72 +3 is out at #47

Pendrith now gets a 2 year exemption, an invitation to the Masters, exemption's into the Open Championship and the US Open.

The Tour Championship winner is exempt for 5 years, that's the guy who actually wins next week.

However the year long accumulation of points will then decide the Fed Ex Cup Champion worth a &25,000,000 bonus. 2nd gets $12.5m, everyone gets at least $500,000

Presidents Cup

Royal Montreal  September 24 -29

Captains : Mike Weir, Jim Furyk

The top six for each team were decided after the BMW Championship, Weir and Furyk will announce their captains picks next Tuesday September 3rd. 

International Team : Hideki Matsuyama, Sungjae Im, Adam Scott, Tom Kim, Jason Day, Byeong Hun An (Ben)

USA Team : Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Wyndham Clark, Patrick Cantlay, Sahith Theegala

So now the speculation about the captains picks begins. I expect Taylor Pendrith and Corey Conners to be the two Canadians that Weirsy and his vice captains select with Mac Hughes, Adam Hadwin as long shots. 

Bryan Angus

France's latest star, rookie Freddy Lacroix a 65 Sunday to win in Denmark... final results..

 DP World Tour: Danish Golf Championship....Results

Frederic Lacroix secured his maiden DP World Tour title after firing a flawless 65 to win the Danish Golf Championship by four shots.

Lacroix began the day four strokes off the lead but soon closed the gap courtesy of birdies at the first, fifth and seventh.

The 29-year-old then moved three shots ahead of the chasing pack with further birdies on the tenth, 12th and 15th before parring his way home to finish on -14 and wrap up a memorable win.

The Frenchman has enjoyed a fine season since graduating from the European Challenge Tour last year, with this victory his fifth top-five finish of the campaign.

Countryman Romain Langasque and home favourite Lucas Bjerregaard finished in a T2 -10 with last week's winner David Ravetto alone in fourth another shot further back at -9

Lacroix said: "It's hard to realise yet. It's going to come a bit later but I'm just happy to have a good round.

"I think it was bogey-free today so I'm very happy with that today.

"I've been close a few times, especially this year, and I've just been improving the last few years, slowly but steadily.

"I just kept doing my thing and it's nice to see it all coming together with a win today."

Lacroix revealed he drew inspiration from seeing his fellow Frenchman and friend Ravetto lift the trophy at last week's D+D REAL Czech Masters.

He added: "Seeing my friend win last week, David - it showed that it's possible, it's more than doable. I'm just a bit lost for words now."

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Danish delight for Bjerregaard with 18 holes to play...results..

 DP World Tour : Danish Golf Championship 

Home favourite Lucas Bjerregaard will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the 2024 Danish Golf Championship after making ten birdies and no bogeys across 28 holes on a mammoth third day at Lübker Golf Resort.

After being forced to leave the course just before the turn as high winds suspended play on Friday night, two-time DP World Tour champion Bjerregaard hit the ground running when the second round resumed on Saturday morning.

He made five birdies on the back nine - including three on the spin from the tenth - to hold a two-shot lead at the halfway stage.

And the Dane picked up where he left off when the third round began, following up an opening birdie with four gains in five holes at the start of the back nine to sign for a sparkling 66 and reach -12.

Romain Langasque was his nearest challenger on -10, with Danish amateur Jacob Skov Olesen alone in third another shot further back at -9.

Bjerregaard who hates flying said: "A bogey-free round is never bad. Especially with the finish we have out here. I'm very happy. I played solid.

"I had a bit of a stretch mid-round where I had some good up-and-downs to keep the round going, then I got on a bit of a birdie run at the start of the back nine, so that's nice.

Bjerregaard has enjoyed success on the DP World Tour, having won the Portugal Masters in 2017 and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship a year later, but he is currently plying his trade on the European Challenge Tour.

Sunday undoubtedly represents a big opportunity for him but the 33-year-old has vowed to keep taking things one step at a time.

He added: "I think I've been in a different position this year than I've been used to. I don't have very good status on the Challenge Tour so I've been playing on invites and top-tens and so on.

"So I haven't been able to plan very much so it's been one day at a time. And I think that's really what's been working well for me so I'll try to do that again tomorrow.

"I just need to stay in the moment. I haven’t been able to plan very well and that’s been good for me. I’ll just try and do a bit more of that. I’ve been struggling and had hard times the last couple of years, so everything is just one step at a time and trying to survive."

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Pendrith the Canadian story for Sunday at the BMW Championship...full TEE TIMES

 PGA Tour : BMW Championship Round 3... Tee Times

Gary Player once said "if we don't restrict the golf ball, years from now young fit guys will be driving the ball 400 yards on our par 4's"

Thanks Gary.. 477 yds to be exact by the PGA, golfer from California Max Homa at altitude in Colorado at the Castle Pines GC..

Taylor Pendrith is the epitome of today's bomb and gouge era. real long off the tee, wedge in hand for the second.. make the putt...

He is the leading Canadian heading into the top 30 Sunday finale in Colorado at this BMW Championship..

Now remember these top 50 have already qualified for a bunch of bells and baubles in 2025 including invites to all eight $20,000,000 limited field signature events.

Rory,, Scheffler, Xander etal will all be in Atlanta for the Fed Ex Tour Championship $25,000,000 payout.

However the rank and file hoping to join them to produce a season ending boondoggle are all huddled around the top 30.

Canadians

Taylor Pendrith T7 72 65 73 -6 goes into Sunday 27th projected 23rd

Corey Conners is on the bubble.. 68 70 73 -5, 33rd projected 34th

Adam Hadwin looks to be out..76 68 75 +3  42nd projected 46th 

So all to play for for even more money than these guys could have ever imagined...

LIV is out there somewhere giving Saudi cash away in obscurity, they really have become a sideshow, but all the cash now on offer on the PGA Tour has made them obsolete, except for the greediest..

Bryan Angus

Old Course/ Mother Nature too much for Henderson....Korda leads.. live scoreboard

 R&A : AIG Women's Open Pairings

Im not sure how many times Brooke Henderson has played the Old Course at St Andrew's but she along with the rest of the field caught the home of golf with her guard up, a stiff wind, rain at times is how many championships have been played here. 

Over her 36 holes T118, 76 77 +9 she made 3 doubles, and 10 bogey's along with 6 birdies, she used 72 putts, hit 24 /36 fairways and 26/36 GIR. 

World No. 1 Nelly Korda shot 4-under 68 Friday to take a three-stroke clubhouse lead during the second round of the Women's British Open. (Seth Wenig/AP)

By contrast the tour's player of the year and world #1 Nelly Korda 68 68 -8 leads by 3 shots over Lilia Vu, and Charley Hull and has made only 1 bogey in 36 holes along with 9 birdies including the Road Hole and the 18th both days. Just 61 putts, and 31/36 GIR. 

A superb display of ball control in the wind. 

There is more of it on tap for the weekend, but Korda as she has been all year is the class of the field so far...

Bryan Angus

High winds suspend rd2 in Denmark... live scoreboard

 DP World Tour : Danish Golf Championship  Leaderboard

Defending champion Rasmus Højgaard was clinging on to a share of the lead when the second round of the weather-affected 2024 Danish Golf Championship was suspended at Lübker Golf Resort on Friday evening.

Højgaard began the day with a two-shot advantage at the top of the leaderboard and stretched his lead to three strokes following back-to-back birdies on the front nine.

But as heavy rain and strong winds battered the course throughout Friday afternoon, things unravelled for home favourite Højgaard, with three bogeys in four holes from the eighth dropping him to -5 and into a five-way share of the lead.

And Højgaard will have work to do to avoid slipping further down the leaderboard when play resumes at 08:00 local time on Saturday, as he faced a 20-foot par putt on the 12th green when the hooter sounded due to high winds at 16:57.

Fellow Dane Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen 66, Norway's Kristoffer Reitan 66 and Frenchman Adrien Saddier 69, were safely in the clubhouse on -5, with France's Frederic LaCroix the other co-leader after ten holes of his second round.

Romain Langasque and Andrew Wilson were one shot off the lead at the start of their back nines, while five others were already in the clubhouse on four under.

"It’s been fun. Great crowds, even when the weather hasn’t been that good – typical Danish summer. On pretty much any hole out here with these conditions, there’s a big number out there. You’ve got to stay locked in and stay true to the game plan and accept there will be some shots that may catch a gust and end up in a spot where you don’t want to be, you’ve just got to deal with it.

edit ...It wasn't a good week for Canadian Aaron Cockerill 74 74 +6 with the cut projected at +1 he seems sure to MC in his last 4 outings. 

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Champion Rasmus leads in Denmark after rd1...full scoreboard

 DP World Tour : Danish Golf Championship Leaderboard

Home hero Rasmus Højgaard made a stunning start to his title defence as an opening 65 saw him hold a two-shot lead after day one of the 2024 Danish Golf Championship.

Højgaard made history last summer as he became the first Danish winner of this event, prevailing after a six-hole play-off against Nacho Elvira at HimmerLand.

The tournament has moved to Lübker Golf Resort for this year's edition as it celebrates 10 years on the DP World Tour schedule, but the change of venue has not put Højgaard off his stride as he stormed to the top of the leaderboard.

Starting from the tenth tee, Højgaard made three birdies on his front nine on Thursday morning before adding an exceptional eagle, two more birdies and a single bogey after the turn to reach -6.

With wet and windy conditions making things difficult for the afternoon starters, no-one was able to catch Højgaard at the top, with Frederic LaCroix, Jannik de Bruyn and Sam Jones all with 67 his nearest challengers on -4.

He said: "I'm very pleased with it. It wasn't easy out there but I managed to keep the ball in play for most of the round and rolled some good putts."

When asked about playing on home soil, Højgaard added: "I really enjoy it. I thought the support was quite good for a Thursday morning.

"I always enjoy playing at home. I'm looking forward to going home, having a nice dinner and sleeping in my own bed tonight."

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Mother Nature in charge at AIG Women's' Open...live scoreboard

 R&A : AIG Women's Open Pairings

In the 1960 Open at the Old Course it, Arnold Palmer's first, it rained so hard before the final round on Friday it flooded part of the course forcing a cancellation, the first in 50 years, until Saturday when Kel Nagle at 39, beat Arnie by a shot.

The 1961 Open in Southport at Royal Birkdale had gale force winds and torrential rain that wiped out both rounds on Friday and blew part of the tented village into the Irish Sea. Arnie prevailed in the rain over two rounds on Saturday to win his first Open..

Heavy rains and predicted winds of 40 and 60 mph have the R&A adjusting course conditions and players tweaking their practice routines ahead of Thursday's opening round at the Old Course.

Mother Nature is back again this time for this AIG Women's Open on the Old Course with light rain but a lot of wind mainly from the SSW, "strong and gusty winds for day 1 of the Championship" says the R&A forecast. 

The clubhouse leader from China, Ruoning Yin got the best of the weather and made 7 birdies in her opening -4 68. However she is currently one of only three players under par. 

The record purse of $9.5 an increase of $500,000 will see the winner take home $1,245,000. AIG (American Insurance Group) was founded in China in 1919 and now employs 25,000 people with offices around the world. 

Brooke Henderson took 36 putts on the "slowed down" greens, presented at 9.7 on the stimpmeter to give the players a chance.

She began on the 10th par, double, par, bogey, birdie, bogey and that's the way her round of +5 77 went 38, 39, six bogey's one double and 3 birdies, in the clubhouse at T65.

Karrie Webb the Hall of Fame Aussie shot +10 82. Stacy Lewis +8 80. Scottish legend, Catriona Matthew in her final appearance +5 77. 

The late wave is just heading out. The wind will be around all week..

"Nae wind, nae golf" is the old Scottish saying...Mother Nature is smiling..

I'd rather see these great women challenged like this, rather than the bomb and gouge, that would leave the old course defenseless.

Bryan Angus

Three Canadians left at BMW Championship 2024.... TEE TIMES

 PGA Tour : BMW Championship..Tee Times

It's the penultimate event of the season, the 2nd Fed Ex Cup playoff, this time in Castle Rock, Colorado.

50 players have qualified one way or another, 30 of them will head to Atlanta for the Tour Championship which will have a staggered start and the $25m bonus to the eventual winner.

I will explain the staggered start later this weekend for those who don't understand it. 

All the tee times are available above.

The 3 Canadians left, their tee times all 1st tee and their standings

1005 Taylor Pendrith (27), Tom Hoge

1145  Adam Hadwin (42), Adam Scott

1205  Corey Conners (33), JP Poston

Bryan Angus

Cockerill's travels continue in Denmark...TEE TIMES

 DP World Tour : Danish Golf Championship Tee Times

The resurgence of golf in Denmark goes on full display this week, led by their favoured son, Thomas Bjorn, 23 of their pros including the Hojgaard twins Nicolai and Rasmus (defending champion), and Thorbjorn Olesen are in beautiful Aarhus, a 3 hour train ride from the capital Copenhagen for the Danish Golf Championship.

Denmark is joined to Sweden by the Oresund bridge to the north and to Germany in the south. A beautifully colourful proud little country of windswept sandy beaches, lakes, cobbled streets and old brightly painted half timbered houses, the home of Hans Christian Andersen, whose people have prospered and survived relatively unscathed through two world wars, has a monarchy Queen Mary and King Frederick, governs Greenland and the Faroe Islands, and has a standard of living about 15% higher than Canada, is self sufficient, without relying on immigration.

Canada's Aaron Cockerill continues his DP World Tour travels along with the rest of the rank and file, coming off three consecutive missed cuts, he has slipped from 4th to 45th and plays at 1230hrs local time off the 10th tee with Aussie Jason Scrivner and England's Will Enefer at the Lubker Golf Resort.

For all tee times click on Tee Times

Bryan Angus

Matsuyama holds on to win in Memphis...Hughes, Taylor drop out of Top 50

 PGA Tour : Fed Ex St Jude Championship.. Results

With a clutch birdie birdie finish Hideki Matsuyama has won a bronze medal at the Olympics and now the first playoff in the PGA Tour season ending Fed Ex Cup race, worth $3,600,000 as he held on after beginning with a 5 shot lead.

Mike Mulholland

Xander Schauffele's career year continues with a 2nd place here followed by a resurgent Viktor Hovland 3rd and player of the year Scottie Scheffler 4th. 

Canadians: Mac Hughes and Nick Taylor dropped out of the top 50 for next weeks BMW Championship 

Taylor Pendrith T22 65 71 71 67 -6   ranks #27

Adam Hadwin  T50 71 71 67 70 -1   ranks # 42

Corey Conners T50 69 70 70 70 -1   ranks #33

Mac Hughes 58th  70 71 70 69 E      ranks #52

Nick Taylor  65th  68 68 70 77 +7    ranks #58

Bryan Angus

David Rovetto wins the Czech Masters

 DP World Tour : D+D REAL Czech Masters  

David Ravetto claimed his maiden DP World Tour win at the 2024 D+D Real Czech Masters with a stunning closing round of 64.

The Frenchman held off the challenge of third-round leader Jesper Svensson, striking the decisive blow at the 16th as his rival faltered for the only time all day at PGA National OAKS Prague.

Ravetto, in his 49th DP World Tour outing, became the first French winner on the circuit since Matthieu Pavon at the 2023 acciona Open de España presented by Madrid.

He said: "It's indescribable, I'm just super happy. I'm over the moon, I'm not going to find my words, I'm sorry! 

"Everything's going to change for me" he said. "I mean, I'm sure to have a job next year now, so that's a good feeling! I think I'm going to play a little bit more free when I tee up on a Thursday morning now.'"

"Walking up the 18th after driving the middle of the fairway was a lot of emotion, I almost cracked and started crying on the fairway. When I saw my caddie and my girlfriend I couldn't hold it in any more.

"I'm sure we'll celebrate nicely - French guys, we know how to do it! There's probably got to be something here tonight in Prague and maybe in Paris next week."

Remember these guys care as much with a @$2m dollar purse as the PGA Tour worth $20m

Ravetto's compatriot Saddier, the third member of the final group, shared third place with Lacroix and Scotland's Richie Ramsay.

Austria's Bernd Wiesberger finished -176 alongside English trio Brandon Robinson Thompson, Alex Fitzpatrick and Paul Waring while 10th place was shared by Richard Mansell and Darius van Driel a further shot back.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Japanese star Matsuyama leads by 5, Canadian stories at St Jude Classic...full leaderboard

 PGA Tour : Fed Ex St Jude Championship..Tee Times

Hideki Matsuyama the Japanese super star, can be tough to beat when his back isn't acting up, and in the oppressive heat of Memphis all is well so far even without his coach and caddie who along with Hideki were robbed at a London restaurant on their way to Memphis from Paris where he won the bronze medal. 

With scores of 65 64 64 -17 he is making mincemeat out of TPC Southwind, leading the pack by 5 shots. He wins and he is #3 in the world amongst all the other bells and baubles including a $3.6m paycheck before Uncle Sam gets his usual cut of the $20,000,000 on offer. 

Now many others are all about getting into next week's top 50, so here are the plight of the 5 Canadians

Nick Taylor T25 68 68 70 -4 projected #50

Taylor Pendrith T31 65 71 71 -3 projected #32

Corey Conners T45 69 70 70 -1 projected  #38

Adam Hadwin T45 71 71 67 -1 projected #42

Mac Hughes  T58  70 71 70 +1 projected #54

So you can see Sunday in the heat of Memphis will be a ticklish day for many including Taylor and Hughes who are right around the bubble.

Never mind Scheffler, Rory and Xander, they will all be in Atlanta for the Tour Championship, and the Fed Ex Cup millions, for now it's all about the guys getting into their company in the top 50.

Bryan Angus 

Jesper, not Adam, Svensson leads Czech Masters....full leaderboard

 DP World Tour : D+D REAL Czech Masters: Leaderboard

I often write about Canadian Adam Svensson, but this week it is Jesper Svensson who held a one-shot lead with one round remaining in the D+D REAL Czech Masters after shooting 68 on a weather-affected Saturday.

Storms in Prague forced a three-hour delay during the third afternoon but Svensson remained unflappable, completing a bogey-free 68 to reach -16 

Second-round leader David Ravetto was one shot behind after a 70 -15 while English trio Andrew Johnston (70), Brandon Robinson Thompson (69) and Ross Fisher (68) shared third place -14, with France’s Adrien Saddier (67)

“It’s just great to be in a good position for tomorrow,” he said.

“I didn’t really think about it but managed to stay away from bogeys today, again struck the ball nicely but hopefully the putter’s a bit hotter tomorrow.”

Asked about the prospect of a second DP World Tour win, following March’s Porsche Singapore Classic, he said: “It would be something else. There is still a lot of golf to be played but yeah, that would be nice.”

Robin Williams became the third player this week, after Ravetto and Johnston on Friday, to shoot 63 – the best score seen at the Kyle Phillips-designed course since it opened in 2020.

The South African made seven birdies, adding an eagle courtesy of a 27-foot putt at the par-five ninth.

He was in a four-way tie on -13 under with Richie Ramsay, Francesco Laporta and Andy Sullivan.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Cockerill misses cut, Ravetto from France leads in Prague...36 hole results

 DP World Tour : D+D REAL Czech Masters..Leaderboard

David Ravetto birdied the final hole of round two to take the halfway lead at the 2024 D+D REAL Czech Masters on -13 

The Frenchman emerged from a four-way tie with Richie Ramsay, (67) Jesper Svensson (67) and Andrew Johnston, whose course-record 63 he quickly matched thanks to his final flourish on Friday at PGA National OAKS Prague.

Espen Kofstad (65) and Brandon Robinson Thompson (68) were a shot further back on -11 after two days of impressive scoring on a course making its DP World Tour debut.

Ravetto’s bogey-free round started on the back nine, holing birdie putts from 12 feet at the 11th and from close range at the 13th before making eagle from beside the 16th green.

Turning to the front nine, he began with back-to-back birdies and added two more at the fourth and sixth, the latter with a 28-foot putt, before a steely seven-footer at the ninth took him out on his own.

He said: "I feel really good. I've been playing really good the last few weeks practising and today was just a perfect round. The putts fell in and I couldn’t ask for more.

"My main focus this week is to enjoy it so obviously leading the tournament after two days, I'm enjoying it right now and I feel comfortable. I'm just going to try to enjoy myself and we'll see where it goes."

Kofstad birdied four of his last six holes to add an impressive-7 65 to his opening -4 68 while a shot further back at -10 were Ross Fisher, Connor Syme and Bernd Wiesberger, with seven players then tied on nine under.

edit... Canadian Aaron Cockerill narrowly (by a shot) misses the cut at -3 which fell at -4...

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus