Henderson, LeBlanc, Kim are the Canadians this week's US Women's Open...TEE TIMES

 USGA: US Women's Open tee times here. ROND 1

After nearly a month off and a spotty record before she left, Brooke Henderson leads the Canadian contingent into play this week at the US Women's Open being staged at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club, Southern Pines, NC.

8.28am 9th tee  Brooke Henderson, Minjee Lee, Nasa Hataoka

12.52pm 9th tee  Lauren Kim (a) Wenbo Lui, Lydia Hall 

1.03pm 9th tee Maude-Aimee LeBlanc, Bianca Pagdanganan, Sara Im (a)

Henderson last played at the beginning of May at the Palos Verdes Championship and prior to that she WD/ MC/MC her worst spell of golf this year. Typically tight lipped about her illness she had this to say about it. " I'm looking forward to getting back out there, When you're not feeling well, trying to compete against the best in the world can be really difficult. Listening to your body and knowing when to take a step back is key for any athlete. I'm feeling better and can't wait to see the fans out on the course."

She added she has been practising at home in Florida, feels rested and ready. That's good news with 4 majors ahead in the next two months, This will be her 10th US Open, with 3 top 10's, she managed T7 last year. 

Annika Sorenstam is in the field, Michelle Wie is playing her last tournament, Nelly Korda returns after recovery from a blood clot.

Lauren Kim is a Canadian amateur who will be 17 in August, from Surrey BC who has represented her country at the World Jr Girls Championships in 2018/19. She has won 4 AJGA Championships.

There is another Lauren Kim playing, a 27 year old American from Connecticut. 

Pine Needles is a 1927 Donald Ross design with a 2017 restoration by Kyle Franz. Old School, tree lined gem. 

The purse is a record $10,000,000 this year thanks to ProMedica, the event's first main sponsor, with the winner getting $1.8. Last year's winner Yuka Saso received $1m.

To put it in perspective there are 15 LPGA events with a total purse less than $2m.

Bryan Angus

The "other" Molinari now a Ryder Cup Vice captain....full story..

Henrik Stenson has named Italian Edoardo Molinari as his second Vice Captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup which will be played at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy from September 25 – October 1, 2023.

Molinari, alongside his brother Francesco, was part of the victorious European Team in the 2010 Ryder Cup at The Celtic Manor Resort in Wales. He has also won three times on the DP World Tour, previously known as the European Tour, and has made 356 Tour appearances to date.
 
The 41-year-old is Stenson’s second Vice Captaincy appointment, following the announcement earlier this month of Dane Thomas Bjørn, the successful 2018 European Captain.
 
Molinari will undoubtedly be a popular addition to Team Europe amongst the home support when Italy hosts the biennial contest for the first time next year. 
 
He said: “It is fantastic. I played the Ryder Cup in 2010 and to be able to be a Vice Captain in this one is a dream come true. It was a very unexpected call from Henrik. We had chatted a few times about stats and what I could do to help the team, but I never expected this.

“Knowing Henrik, he will leave no stone unturned. He will do everything he can to win the Ryder Cup back. It will be a lot of fun for all the guys playing for him too. He has always been a very friendly guy, and is always smiling, so I think it will be a fantastic atmosphere in the team room.
 
“The Italian fans will be loud and passionate at Marco Simone. For the players, it will be a lot of fun to play in front of such supportive crowds. Rome is a fantastic city, one of my favourites in the world. It is going to be a great week overall and I am very happy that the players will get to experience Rome.”

Stenson said: “I’m delighted to welcome Edoardo to the 2023 European Ryder Cup team as a Vice Captain. I’ve known him for a long time and he is obviously a Ryder Cup player himself. He is really into stats and he works with a few of the players who will potentially be on my team.
 
“I asked him if he would do me the honour of joining the team and he was delighted to. I’m very happy to have him on board and I’m very much looking forward to his input and to lean on his experience. With him being Italian, it is going to be an extra special week for him.

“Knowing Henrik, he will leave no stone unturned. He will do everything he can to win the Ryder Cup back. It will be a lot of fun for all the guys playing for him too. He has always been a very friendly guy, and is always smiling, so I think it will be a fantastic atmosphere in the team room.
 
“The Italian fans will be loud and passionate at Marco Simone. For the players, it will be a lot of fun to play in front of such supportive crowds. Rome is a fantastic city, one of my favourites in the world. It is going to be a great week overall and I am very happy that the players will get to experience Rome.”

Stenson said: “I’m delighted to welcome Edoardo to the 2023 European Ryder Cup team as a Vice Captain. I’ve known him for a long time and he is obviously a Ryder Cup player himself. He is really into stats and he works with a few of the players who will potentially be on my team.
 
“I asked him if he would do me the honour of joining the team and he was delighted to. I’m very happy to have him on board and I’m very much looking forward to his input and to lean on his experience. With him being Italian, it is going to be an extra special week for him.

Bryan Angus (europeantour.com)

Brilliant Kiwi Alker beats Ames, Weir to win Senior PGA Championship..

 

The image of Steven Alker credited to Getty Images

Steven Alker secured his first Senior Major title in blistering fashion, posting an -8 63 after being four shots back from Stephen Ames, closely followed by the chasing pack which included Bernhard Langer and Miguel Ángel Jiménez.   After turning 50 in 2021, Alker has taken his over 50s career by storm by securing the first Senior Major title of the year and showcasing a round that is the best final round by a winner in Senior Major history.   Alker won a total of seven times around the world with tournament victories in America, Australia, Canada, Fiji and Tahiti but admits the over 50s game has given him that second chance of winning tournaments.   “I can't put my finger on one thing exactly,” he said. “I look back and I go, geez, did I really have the game, or did I have the attitude? You know, certain courses suited me out there. But I couldn't really put my finger on it exactly.   “I've matured and it's a second wind. That's the biggest thing, I've had these 18 months, two years, 50s coming up, so let's stay in shape. Let's keep playing. We have a second career. Let's go for it. Let's go.   The KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship has seen many greats over the years lift the spectacular trophy, including Colin Montgomerie, Bernhard Langer, Tom Watson and Tom Lehman.   “First, I saw Arnold Palmer, I'm not sure what year it was,” said Alker. “And you twist it and you see Lee Trevino and you see Jack Nicklaus and you see Tom Watson. So yeah, it's pretty cool. Pretty cool.   “I was very, very calm. I wanted it but I had a lot of ground to make up. I got a nice start. Made some nice putts. I just kind of did everything well today. Just the whole package, just stayed calm and made good decisions and putted nicely and drove it better and yeah, and that all adds up to 63.” Stephen Ames (70) finished 2nd three shots back on -13 under par. “Steven played obviously very well. Eight under around here today was good scoring. I’m sure he rolled a few putts in. I didn’t roll too many, but overall, I’m not very disappointed with my result and the way I handled myself,” said Ames. Bernhard Langer finished 3rd on -10 with four players finishing a shot further back T4 including Mike Weir (72) and Miguel Ángel Jiménez at -9. Leaderboard here

Ames in the lead, Weir T3 going into the weekend at Senior PGA Championship... full leaderboard

 PGA Tour Champions: KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship LEADERBOARD

Stephen Ames is tied for the lead with  Scott McCarron after rounds of -5 66 with a -8 total 134 which is 2 shots ahead of Mike Weir (71), Bernhard Langer (68), Brian Gay (68) and Steve Alker (72) all at -6 132.

In cold wet weather at Bent Harbour, Michigan,  Ames managed to offset a double bogey with 6 birdies, all over his last 11 holes. " Even though I lived in Canada I never went out and played in this, I've never been a fan of cold weather. Putting has been a bit of an issue over the last six weeks. I've had a lot of opportunities but couldn't make the putts to finish them off."

He has 4 top 10 finishes this year and is living in the same house with McCarron this week.

Weir who opened with -6 65 had 2 birdies, played well on his front nine but stalled on the back finishing with 2 bogey's for his 71. " I kind of struggled to get in, lost my swing a bit on the back nine"

David Morland 73 76 and Kevin Baker 79 75 both missed the cut.

More bad weather is on the menu for today, cold and wet.

Bryan Angus 

Weir just a shot off the lead at KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship

 PGA Tour Champions: KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship 

LEADERBOARD

 

On a day of low scoring on a soft Harbour Shores course in Michigan, at the 2nd major of the year , the Senior PGA Championship, Mike Weir posted a -6 65 leaving him T3 just a shot off the lead by Kiwi sensation Steve Alker and Bob Estes -7 64.

Weirsy, now 52, had a good closing round of 67 at the last major, The Tradition, and had this to say. " I started to find something there with my short game, my putting in particular, and I carried it forward today"

Playing the course backwards he began with a birdie 4 at the 10th, then added 3 more, then after the turn he had 2 bogey's but 4 more birdies.

Other Canadians:  Stephen Ames T17 -3 68, David Morland T87 +2 73, Kevin Baker T144 +8 79

The cut is projected at +1. More rain is in the forecast for today.

Bryan Angus

Taylor ties for the lead at the Colonial in Texas

 PGA Tour: Charles Schwab Challenge LEADERBOARD

Standing on the 18th tee Nick Taylor at -5 was leading a pack all at -4 66 which included world #1 Scottie Scheffler at this year's version of the Colonial sponsored by Charles Schwab in Fort Worth, Texas,

However his one poor drive of the day far to the right, and the recovery which ended on a cart path led to a bogey, leaving him tied for the lead at -4 with seven other players.

Earlier he had the Shot of the Day when holed out from 100 yards for an eagle at the par 4 12th. He produced 4 birdies. 2 bogey's and the eagle on the day. He is  currently ranked 244th in the world.

Adam Svensson is the only other Canadian in the field is T26 -1 69.

Bryan Angus

Dutchman Joost Luiten leads his National Championship at the Dutch Open.... full leaderboard..

 DP World Tour: Dutch Open Championship.. leaderboard Leaderboard

Local hero Joost Luiten delighted the home fans by opening up a one-shot lead on the first day of the 2022 Dutch Open as he bids for a third victory at his home tournament.

The 36-year-old Dutchman, who won the KLM Open in 2013 and 2016, shot an opening 65 at Bernardus Golf to get to seven under par, one stroke clear of Englishman Eddie Pepperell and Denmark's Rasmus Højgaard.

Luiten very nearly led by two but his 44-foot eagle putt on the 18th refused to drop despite hitting the hole.

The six-time DP World Tour winner began his round with a birdie on the opening hole and reeled off three consecutive gains at the fourth, fifth and sixth as he went out in 32.

A bogey on the par-four 11th looked to have put a halt on his march up the leaderboard but Luiten kept his cool to claim that shot back on the next.

His luck was certainly in on the par-three 13th as Luiten's tee-shot hit the branches of a greenside tree and his ball ended up on the edge of the putting surface.

Luiten's 16-foot putt gave him a birdie and left him a stroke behind the early leaders in the clubhouse - Pepperell and Højgaard.

More later

Bryan Angus

Golf's elite heading for RBC Canadian Open at St George's..

Fresh off a captivating playoff victory this past weekend at the PGA Championship, Justin Thomas has confirmed his intention to compete in the 2022 RBC Canadian Open. 

Thomas is a 15-time winner on the PGA TOUR and 2-time major champion, having previously won the PGA Championship in 2017. Currently no. 5 on the Official World Golf Ranking, Thomas will be competing in his second RBC Canadian Open when the stars of the PGA TOUR descend on St. George’s Golf & Country Club along with nearby Islington Golf Club as the official practice facility. 

A celebrated amateur and college star at Alabama, the 29-year-old returns north to challenge for Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship after finishing T20 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in 2019 in his first-ever start at the event. 

One of the brightest stars in professional golf, Thomas has competed in the past two Ryder Cups, the past two President’s Cups and also represented the United States at the Olympic Games in Tokyo last summer.  

Through a solid start to the 2021-22 PGA TOUR season, Thomas has eight top-10 finishes in 13 events played and is currently no. 4 on the FedExCup Ranking. Five of his 15 PGA TOUR wins came during a breakout season in 2016-17. 

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic the RBC Canadian Open is set to return June 6-12 in Toronto with Thomas joining an exciting field led by defending champion and world no. 7 Rory McIlroy; world no. 1 and reigning Master champion Scottie Scheffler; The Players 2022 champion and world no. 3 Cameron Smith; world no. 13 and Team RBC ambassador Dustin Johnson; world No. 15 Matthew Fitzpatrick; and world no. 21 Tony Finau. 

Canadian PGA TOUR players looking forward to the celebrated return of the RBC Canadian Open include Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor, Roger Sloan, Taylor Pendrith, Adam Svensson, and Michael Gligic. 

More field announcements including additional Canadian player exemptions are set for the coming weeks as golf and festival fans look ahead to the 111th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship. Tickets for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open are available here.

Heartbreak for Pereira lets Thomas in to win the PGA Championship ... final scores

PGA Championship final scoreboard here 

Golf as we all know can be a cruel game at times, and for me the 72nd hole at Southern Hills at this years PGA Championship was exhibit "A" 

Chilean rookie Mito Pereira was the class of a very good field after 54 holes, 68 64 69 -9 three shots clear, controlling his nerves which he said "made him nervous everyday"

Sunday as I mentioned yesterday saw Justin Thomas and Bubba Watson as the biggest name players in the chasing pairings at -2, seven shots back. 

Bubba shot 75, was not a factor. Zalatoris and Thomas were.

While Mito struggled on his front nine with 3 bogey's and a birdie for 37, Thomas was out in E at 35, so the Chilean was still 5 ahead standing on the 10th tee.

Birdies at 11, 12 by Thomas were offset by a bogey at 12 and a bounce back birdie at 13 so Mito was still ahead by 3 shots coming to the 14th where he made another crucial bogey, followed by 3 pars coming to the 18th he was still 1 ahead of Thomas who had 3 pars and the big birdie at the 17th. 

Thomas and Zalatoris both made par 4's at the 18th to stand in the scorers tent signing for 67 and 71 -5 respectively. 

With his blood brother fellow Chilean Joaquin Niemann watching. Mito at -6 needed a par to win and a bogey to tie at -5.

The awkward swing he put on that fateful drive, looked to me like he lost it somewhere on the backswing then tried to save it coming down, call it pressure, only he knows, but it ended up in the creek.

After a penalty drop, now lying 3 he needed to get up and down for the tie from the fairway,  His approach went long into the rough, the pitch didn't go in, the putt for 6, a double bogey, + 5 75 finally ended the spinning that must have been going on in his brain

He will need a while to get over it, He lost the championship, missed the playoff, ends up with a very creditable T3 -4 which will eventually be of some consolation. 

Mito Pereira leaves the 18th green. (Matt York/AP)

Afterwards despite a brave smile for the interviews it admitted " I wish I could do it again, I guess I aimed too far right"

Meanwhile Thomas now gift wrapped the opportunity, being the champion he is drove the green on the second of the 3 playoff aggregate holes for the birdie that edged Zalatoris for his 2nd PGA Championship title.

Years ago Doug Sanders famously missed a 3 footer at the 72nd and lost the Open at St Andrews to Jack Nicklaus the next day in a playoff. He says despite being 2nd at majors 4 times, that one still haunts him to this day.

I hope that's not going to be the case for Mito Pereira, but I suspect it will..

Bryan Angus 

While big names fizzle, PGA Championship up for grabs.. Live Sunday scoreboard

 PGA Championship  STARTING TIMES

I worked all day Saturday and will again this May 24 long weekend Sunday, however I have caught all the highlights or perhaps low lights of this version of the PGA Championship at Southern Hills where many of the big names fizzled, including the biggest, and now on what is forecast to be a cool, less windy Sunday the Championship is up for grabs.

Lone Canadian Adam Hadwin +5 75 is out of contention +9 T70. He's not alone, Rory McIlroy 74 is T17 at E, 9 shots behind, Cameron Smith 73 is T23 +1, Tyrrell Hatton 74 T28 +2, Shane Lowry +3 T36, Brooks Koepka T43 +4, Jason Day +5 T45 Jordan Spieth 74, T45 +5 for example.

Dustin Johnson, Scottie Scheffler have missed the cut and of course Tiger Woods has withdrawn after limping to a 79, after a pair of 78's at Augusta.

So Chilean star Mito Pereira 68 64 69 -9, a rookie on the PGA Tour, but a 3 time winner last year on the Korn Ferry is the best of the bunch this week with a 3 shot lead and he'll be paired with DP World Tour's former rookie of the year Matt Fitzpatrick 68 69 67 -6. 

Two young American's, string bean Will Zalatoris is having a good week with his putter in particular, 66 65 73 -3 and he'll play with Cameron Young 71 67 67 -5  who's dad is a PGA professional.

The biggest names left in the top pairings are Bubba Watson 72 63 73 -2 and Justin Thomas 67 67 74 -2 both T7th.

Like I said, it's up for grabs, the top 4 are all after their first PGA Tour win, never mind a major, so it could be a life changer...

Bryan Angus.

Tough start for Canadians, Rory the Story at PGA Championship... Friday TEE Times/leaderboard

 PGA Championship : STARTING TIMES

Southern Hills with it's sloping greens and a blustery wind proved to be a tough test on Thursday for this elite field, only 26 players broke par, led by Rory McIlroy -5 65. 

Canadians had it tough, Mac Hughes who shot 40 in his back nine to miss the cut in his last outing, had 5 bogey's and a double for +7 77 T130,

Corey Connors with 4 bogey's and a double for +6 76 is T122

Adam Hadwin  was the only one to make a birdie, he was out in E 35 with a birdie and a bogey, but 4 bogey's and a birdie 38 on the back sees him T78th +3 73. 

The projected cut line begins at +2.

You didn't see any of them on TV with McIlroy, Spieth and Woods out early drawing an enormous crowd as expected.

Beginning on the 10th, Rory was the story, buoyed by 4 birdies on the back nine 31, he added 3 more coming in with just 2 bogey's as the wind continued to freshen for his -5 65. He was in that Rory form that makes the game seem so easy for him, pounding his drives, averaging 332yds, the longest 378 and missing only 4 fairways, moving his iron shots either way at will, and making lots of clutch putts.

His last two rounds -8 64 at Augusta, -5 65 yesterday for an in form -13. 

Woods on the other hand started brightly with 2 birdies, but then 7 bogey's moved him right out of contention T99 +4 74. 

Spieth wasn't much better on his first nine 3 bogey's and a birdie for 37, but he steadied the ship coming in with a bogey and a birdie 35 for +2 72 T56th.

Once again, as was the case with Arnie Palmer when he was still playing past his prime, a huge crowd ringed every hole to see this pairing, many to see Tiger, whether he shoots 84 or 64. His last 3 rounds 78 78 74 +16 is a sorry reminder how far he has slipped.

With the wind expected to stiffen in the morning today this group are out late at 2.36pm EST, when it is expected to subside from a high of 20mph, to around 10mph.

Due to the high winds the PGA has announced the greens will not be cut today.

Bryan Angus

PGA Tour TEE TIMES include Tiger... Canadian times

PGA Championship : Thursday 

STARTING TIMES

Tiger Woods is in play this week at the PGA Championship. He says he feels much stronger than his 78 78 weekend at Augusta exposed his long absence had left even one of the game's greats with the inevitable rust that have allowed many of the rest to pass him by.

8.11am 10th tee  Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy will grab all the attention.

 Canadians: 

Mac Hughes 7.22 ET 10th tee Michael Block and Sadom Kaewkanjana

Adam Hadwin 12.52pm 10th tee, Hudson Trafford, Cameron Triangle

Corey Connors 1.09pm 1st tee with Jason Kokrak and Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Bryan Angus

Where the Canadians are this week as PGA Championship takes centre stage...

 PGA Championship : Southern Hills, Tulsa click Here

Corey Connors, Mac Hughes, Adam Hadwin

Defending Champion: Phil Mickelson N/A

Korn Ferry Tour: AdventHealth Championship, Kansas City

Stuart MacDonald, Albin Choi

PGA Tour Champions : off

LPGA Tour: off

Alena Sharp won 2nd alternate at US Women's Open 75 72 Belle Haven CC, Alexandria, VA.

DP World Tour : off

EPSON Tour: IOA Classic, Longwood Florida

Selina Costabile, Rebecca Lee Bentham

Florida's Englishman Sam Horsfield wins the Soudal... final scores/money

 DP World Tour; Soudal Open final 

• Results

Sam Horsfield was fighting back the tears as he won a thrilling final-round battle with Ryan Fox to claim his third DP World Tour title at the 2022 Soudal Open.

The Englishman who has lived and gone to college in Florida,  found himself three shots behind overnight leader Fox after eight holes on Sunday but showed his mettle on the back nine, clinching a two-shot victory with a winning score of 13 under par courtesy of a closing 68.

Horsfield's third victory, following his wins at the Hero Open and Celtic Classic in 2020, comes just two weeks into his return from a three-month injury lay-off.

And the 25-year-old, who had his partner on the bag this week, was emotional as he completed a fourth round which contained four birdies and a single bogey.

Fox finished in a tie for second on 11 under par alongside German Yannik Paul, with Chase Hanna and Oliver Bekker another shot further back.

Horsfield started the day one stroke off the lead but joined Fox at the summit early in the final round after the overnight leader dropped a shot at the second hole.

But Fox bounced back in style, holing from 27 feet on the third green to return to 11 under.

A stunning approach from Fox at the fourth set up a five-foot birdie, and he made it three in a row from nine feet on the fifth to go three clear.

The 35-year-old came agonisingly close to adding a fourth straight birdie from the fringe at the sixth but narrowly missed.

After six straight pars, Horsfield picked up his first birdie of the day at the seventh to close the gap to two, but a nine-foot birdie at the eighth restored Fox's three-shot advantage.

Fox had to settle for a two-stroke lead at the turn after an errant tee-shot on the ninth led to a bogey there, but it could have been so much worse, with the New Zealander producing one of the shots of the week to give himself a ten-foot par chance, but the putt narrowly slid by.

Horsfield, however, holed his 15-foot par putt on the ninth to keep up the pressure on Fox.

And Horsfield closed the gap to a single shot after making another birdie from around 15 feet at the tenth.

The pendulum swung back Fox's way at the 11th, though, as Horsfield made a bogey after getting into trouble off the tee

But Horsfield trickled in his close-range birdie putt at the short 12th to reduce the gap to one once more.

And a bogey from Fox at the 13th saw him hand Horsfield - who rescued a par despite a wayward tee-shot - a share of the lead on 12 under.

Both men parred the 14th and 15th before Horsfield grabbed the outright lead at the 16th after Fox made another bogey to slip back to 11 under.

And Horsfield took a one-shot lead into the final hole after he sunk a vital eight-foot putt to match Fox's birdie at the 17th.

A par at the last proved enough to seal Horsfield's third victory, and with Fox dropping a shot there, his winning margin was two strokes.

He said: "I was trying not to cry while I was over that little tap-in (at the 18th). Having Issi on the bag, it's been an amazing week.

Fox the Kiwi the man to beat on Sunday in Belgium... full scoreboard..

 DP World Tour : Soudal Open final Saturday 

• Leaderboard

 

Ryan Fox powered his way into pole position on moving day at the Soudal Open as he looks to claim his second DP World Tour title of the 2022 season.

The in-form Kiwi, who has finished no worse than 15th in three starts since winning the Ras Al Khaimah Classic in February, carded a third round of 66 to reach 11 under par, a shot ahead of England's Sam Horsfield.

Germany's Yannik Paul sits alone in third on nine under following a 68, with compatriot Marcel Schneider, Fabrizio Zanotti, Niall Kearney and Oliver Bekker all on eight under.

Zanotti's 65 was the lowest score of the day and lifted the 38-year-old from Paraguay 36 places up the leaderboard.

In glorious conditions at Rinkven International GC, Fox took a while to warm up as he covered the first ten holes in level par after cancelling out a bogey on the third with a birdie on the next.

But the 35 year old's finish was as hot as the weather as he raced home in just 30 strokes to move to the top of the leaderboard in pursuit of his third DP World Tour title.

Fox holed from 15 feet for birdie on the 11th and from similar distances on the 12th and 15th to close within one of Horsfield's lead.

He was not done there and, after laying up on the par-five 17th, pitched to ten feet to set up another gain before rounding off the day in style with a third birdie in four holes on the last.

"I played really solid on the back nine, didn't miss a shot, holed a couple of putts as well," Fox said.

"I hope I've figured something out after a couple of scrappy drives early in the round and felt pretty good from the 10th hole on so hopefully I can take that into tomorrow.

"On this course, regardless of how you're playing you feel like you've got lots of chances, you can always manage to get a couple of irons in the fairways and still give yourself some wedges and the greens are rolling lovely and you can hole some putts.

"You know you're going to make some mistakes, which I've done, but thankfully I've made a few birdies to counteract it.

"I've been in contention the last couple of weeks as well and not really done much on Sunday so I'm looking forward to being in the mix again."

Whitnell and Schmid both dug deep to shoot 73 and remain in contention on seven under par along with Paul Waring, Robin Roussel, Andy Sullivan, Chase Hanna and Jorge Campillo.

Schmid the German joins 2 Englishmen in Belgium.... Friday scoreboard

 DP World Tour: Soudal Open Leaderboard

Matti Schmid produced the lowest round of the week so far to sit alongside English duo Dale Whitnell and Sam Horsfield at the halfway stage of the 2022 Soudal Open.

Morning starter Schmid made eight birdies before dropping his only shot of the day at the ninth - his closing hole - in a superb 64 which moved him to eight under par.

It was a tale of two nines for Horsfield - who, like Whitnell began the day in a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard - as the 25-year-old made three bogeys and a single birdie on the front side before coming home in 31 to sign for a 69.

Whitnell, meanwhile, completed his round with a birdie at the ninth to join Schmid and Horsfield at the summit, as he also shot a second-round 69.

England's Richard Mansell and Portugal's Ricardo Santos sat another shot back in a tie for fourth.

German Schmid began the day five shots off the lead but soon set about closing the gap as, starting from the tenth tee, he got his first birdie of the day at the 11th before holing a monster birdie putt from almost 50 feet at the short 12th. 

Another lengthy birdie putt followed at the 14th and he picked up his fourth birdie at the 16th.

He continued to make good progress after the turn with birdies on the second, third and fifth.

And another sensational long putt - this one coming from 30 feet - on the eighth briefly took him to nine under before a bogey at the ninth saw him sign for a 64.

“I holed a few nice putts, gave myself looks and holed the putts," said Schmid.

“I was happy with everything to be honest. I hit the ball well, hit a lot of nice wedges which is what you have to do out here and was able to make some putts today."

First-round co-leader Horsfield made a slow start on Friday, with a birdie at the third the only bright spot in a front-nine 38 which contained three bogeys.

But he got his round back on track after the turn, with a birdie at the 11th steadying the ship before a hat-trick of gains at the 14th, 15th and 16th handed him a share of first place.

A remarkable par save followed after he got into trouble at the 17th and he went agonisingly close to taking the outright lead but his long birdie putt on the 18th green narrowly avoided the hole.

Lev Grinberg's dream DP World Tour debut will continue into the weekend as the 14-year-old amateur comfortably made the cut after adding a second-round 69 to the 70 he shot on his home course on Thursday.

He said: "I played amazing! I can’t wait to play tomorrow and Sunday. It’s so nice to play good and make the cut on my home course, and hopefully grind out as many birdies as I can and hopefully get top ten, that is my goal this weekend.

Hughes T25, Munoz flirts with 59 at AT&T Byron Nelson, full Friday leaderboards

 PGA Tour: AT&T Byron Nelson Friday leaderboard here 

Columbian Seb Munoz had the round of his life with 9 birdies and 2 eagles for 60, needless to say he may forever regret the lone bogey at the par 4 8th. The -12 has dragged the projected cut to -3 at this AT&T Byron Nelson.

Mac Hughes coming off a top 10 last week has opened with -4 68 T25th to lead the Canadian contingent who will all need a stellar Friday to make the weekend

Adam Svensson T40 -3 69, Roger Sloan T79 -1 71, Michael Gligic and Nick Taylor T108 E 72, Adam Hadwin T128 +2 74.

PGA Tour Champions: Regions Tradition Friday leaderboard here

A triple bogey 8 at the par 5 7th ruined a promising round for Mike Weir who made 5 birdies on his way to T37th E 72.

Stephen Ames had 2 doubles and 3 bogey's to sit 69th +4 76

Steve Stricker has set the pace with -7 65

LPGA Tour: Cognizant Founders Cup Friday leaderboard here.

Down in Clifton New Jersey, the ladies are playing the Cognizant Founders Cup in honour of their tour's founding members,

Maude Aimee Leblanc and Maddie Szeryk are off to slow starts T92nd +1 73.

The leader on a low scoring Thursday is the pretty Swede Madelene Sagstrom -9 63.

Korn Ferry Tour: Visit Knoxville Open Friday leaderboard here

Albin Choi with his parents and sister visiting him for the first time in 3 years due to COVID is the top Canadian T25th -3 67.

Stuart MacDonald T91 E70, David Hearn T127 +72

The cut is at -2 and the leader is American Anders Albertson -8 62.

Bryan Angus

England on top in Belgium at the Soudal Open... live scoreoard

 DP World Tour: Soudal Open 

• Leaderboard

English trio Dale Whitnell, Sam Horsfield and Callum Shinkwin lead the way after the first round of the 2022 Soudal Open.

They each fired opening 65s at Rinkven International Golf Club on Thursday morning, and with no-one able to catch them in the afternoon, they head into the second round one clear of the chasing pack.

Yannik Paul, Jeff Winther, Alexander Björk, Adrian Meronk and Spaniards Alvaro Quiros and Nacho Elvira finished day one in a tie for fourth on five under par.

Shinkwin revealed his round, which contained seven birdies and a solitary bogey at the 16th, almost never happened due to a wrist issue he picked up on Wednesday.

"I wasn’t really going to be playing today actually," said the 28-year-old. 

"I’ve had a wrist issue from yesterday and on the range it just erupted straight up my arm and I went into the office to see if there was a first reserve around and they said they were in already and had no-one else there, so go play if you can and if you can’t just walk in.

"Four holes in I was like 'It’s not looking good', and then I shot six under."

It had looked as though Whitnell might prove impossible to catch on day one, after he notched nine birdies and no bogeys in his opening 16 holes, before a double bogey-bogey finish meant he had to settle for a 65.

And Whitnell, who began his round with three straight birdies before making further gains at the fifth, sixth, eighth, 11th, 12th and 16th, was looking on the bright side.

He said: “You can only take the positives really. I have been sort of feeling like the game has been getting there. 

"I have struggled the last six weeks or so with a bit of form and swing changes, it has not been quite where I have wanted it to be, but the first 16 holes was flawless. Obviously, it has not bedded in yet, but time for that on the range this afternoon."

Horsfield started at the tenth tee and made a hat-trick of birdies on the 15th, 16th and 17th before getting three more after the turn in a flawless opening round.

He said: "I played really nicely. I kept the ball in play, this is a golf course where positioning is quite important off the tee and I was able to position it nicely to give myself a lot of good looks, and rolled in a few."

A pair of amateurs were under par after the first day, with Charles Roeland firing a 69 and 14-year-old debutant Lev Grinberg shooting a 70 on his home course.

Home favourite Thomas Pieters also opened with a 69.

Ryder Cup captain Henrik Stensen names Thomas Bjorn as his Vice Captain

 Henrik Stenson has named Thomas Bjørn as his first Vice Captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup which will be played at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy from September 25 – October 1, 2023.

Dane Bjørn will bring a wealth of experience to the role having been part of Team Europe in eight previous editions of the biennial contest – three as a player, four as a Vice Captain and as victorious Captain in the last ‘home’ Ryder Cup in Paris in 2018.

Stenson was one of Bjørn’s 12 players in that successful team at Le Golf National and the Swede has now confirmed his fellow Scandinavian as his first official appointment since he was unveiled as European Captain on March 15. 

“I have known Thomas for my whole career,” said Stenson. “I trust him implicitly and I know any advice he will give me will be honest and direct. He will not simply tell me what he thinks I want to hear and that will be important, so I’m delighted to have him as my first Vice Captain for Rome.

Bjørn said: “I’m delighted to be part of the whole Ryder Cup experience once again. I probably thought that after 2018 that was it for me, but Henrik called me to talk about Captaincy in general and that led into him asking me if I wanted to do another stint as Vice Captain, which I agreed to. I’m excited to work with him.

“I think I can help Henrik outline what he wants to do with his Captaincy going forwards. I can keep asking him the right questions and reminding him of things that are going to come his way that he might not have thought about. I will help him prepare in the best possible way and as we get closer to the match, to be an additional support to the players.

“I think Henrik will be a fantastic Captain. He is so well respected by players and by everyone in the game. He is a very hard-working golfer and somebody who is true to himself, and his team will represent that. He has a great sense of humour that the players will take to, and he is very well liked across the whole Tour, not just the top where he has played his golf for so many years.”

Bjørn’s Ryder Cup career began under Seve Ballesteros in 1997 when he became the first Dane to represent Europe and Valderrama became the first course in continental Europe to host the contest. He won one-and-a-half points from his two matches in Spain, partnering Ian Woosnam to defeat Justin Leonard and Brad Faxon in the fourballs, and then halving with Leonard in the singles.

He then contributed two points from his four matches at The Belfry in 2002, teaming up with Darren Clarke to defeat Tiger Woods and Paul Azinger in the fourballs, and beating Stewart Cink 2&1 in the singles.

His third appearance as a player came 12 years later when he qualified for Paul McGinley’s team at Gleneagles in 2014, where he partnered Martin Kaymer to earn half a point against Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker in the Friday fourballs.

Bjørn was also part of Team Europe’s backroom team on three occasions in between those playing appearances, firstly as Vice Captain to Bernhard Langer at Oakland Hills in 2004, then Colin Montgomerie at The Celtic Manor Resort in 2010 and José María Olazábal at Medinah in 2012.

After playing in the 2014 victory in Gleneagles, he then returned to the role of Vice Captain under Darren Clarke in 2016, experiencing his only defeat to date in the Ryder Cup arena at Hazeltine National.

Bjørn, who has won 15 times on the DP World Tour to date, was then selected as the European Captain in 2018 as Le Golf National, in Paris, became the second venue in continental Europe to host the Ryder Cup.

He oversaw a comprehensive 17½-10½ victory in France, with Stenson contributing three points from his three matches as Europe extended its unbeaten home record to six consecutive editions dating back to Bjørn’s debut in 1997.

Bjørn will now be part of Captain Stenson’s support team at Marco Simone when Italy hosts the Ryder Cup for the first time.

Team Europe will be seeking to regain the Ryder Cup against the United States team which will be led by Zach Johnson, who has named Steve Stricker, the victorious 2020 US Captain, as his own first Vice Captain.

PGA Tour, DP World Tour, denies it's players permission to play LIV Invitational in London next month

The PGA Tour has sent a letter denying it's players who had sought permission to play in the Saudi backed LIV Invitation at the Centurion Club near London June 9-11 

Players are usually allowed 3 releases for overseas events, however the Tour has decided to view this event as a rival series with a schedule of eight tournaments, with more to come.

The letter has been leaked and it says in part " We have notified those who have applied that their request has been denied in accordance with PGA Tour regulations. As such our members are not allowed to compete in the Saudi Golf League's London event under our regulations. 

As a membership organization we believe this decision is in the best interest of the PGA Tour and it's players."

Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Phil Mickelson are reportedly in the field.

With less fanfare, the DP World Tour under the leadership of Keith Pelley has also refused permission to it's membership.

LIV CEO Greg Norman disagrees, as he did throughout his career and he issued this statement.

"Sadly the PGA Tour seems intent on denying professional golfers to play golf unless it's in one of their tournaments. The Tour continues to perpetuate it's illegal  monopoly on what should be a free and open market but no matter what obstacles they put in our way we will not be stopped"

Westwood has continued the stance that he is a private contractor who can make a living where he chooses, and adds that Saudi Arabia, while reknown for past transgressions is trying to promote a new future which has already hosted a Grand Prix, the Saudi Open, major darts tournaments, LET golf championships, professional soccer amongst others. "Many countries we play in have checkered pasts"

The June 9-11 LIV event clashes directly with the RBC Canadian Open at St Georges in Toronto and the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed on the DP World Tour and is the week before  the US Open in Brookline MA.

So the first shot across the bows has been fired and the fall out will be fascinating. 

Mohammed bin Salman is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia with a reported net worth of $18 billion, and he is the man providing the funding for LIV or the Saudi Golf League.

Bryan Angus