Matt McCarty wins Black Desert Championship. Taylor/Svensson T25.. Final results/prize money

 PGA Tour : Black Desert Championship Leaderboard

It's been a whirlwind month for Matt McCarty. The lefty won three times on the Korn Ferry Tour to gain automatic status on the PGA Tour and while golf's big stars are either off on holiday or over on the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai finals, this lefty took advantage of the Fall series to maximize his future for the next 2 years.

Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images

In ideal weather at this Utah red sandstone desert resort course called Black Ridge with it's stunning green landscape surrounded by black lava framing every hole, his game was equally impressive 62 68 64 67 -23, a 3 shot win over the field that mostly went backwards as he went forward.

He was already in the US Open after his performance on the Korn Ferry, now he plays the Masters, PGA Championship and The Sentry along with 2 years exemption and a cheque for $1,350,000 and a spot in the Shriners next week in Vegas. 

This was his 3rd PGA Tour start, and he has won 4 times in his last 10 outings including the Korn Ferry Tour. He lives in Arizona went to University at Santa Clara and although listed at 6'1'' now, was not more than 5' when he was in high school. 

Adam Svensson opened with the lead, 60 but couldn't keep the pace up on an easy scoring week 69, 71 71 -13 T25 along with Nick Taylor 69 67 66 69 -13 both winning $52,912 

Roger Sloan got a full week in T61 66 67 72 74 -5 worth $16,650 while Mike Weir  had a week at home in Sandy Utah after missing the cut 68 74. 

Bryan Angus

Adam Svensson T10 heading into Sunday Black Desert Championship.

 PGA Tour: Black Desert Championship...Leaderboard

This Utah Resort course hasn't had much help from Mother Nature in its inaugural week, blinding sunshine in the desert, ideal scoring weather and as a result the lead by Korn Ferry Tour graduate Matt McCarty is 62 68 64 -19 and there are four guys chasing the lefty all at -17.

Adam Svensson has as expected slipped back after flirting with 59 on Thursday for a career best -11 60, he has gone 69, 71 -13 but still T10 with a chance for a big finish today.

Nick Taylor has improved all week 69 67 66 -11 T20 and Roger Sloan is T29 66 67 72 -10

The cut fell at -5 and the worst score of the bunch is Alexander Bjork from Sweden at E 68 69 76.

Bryan Angus 

Top 15 for Cockerill at French Open...Bradbury wins ..Final results

 DP World Tour : French Open Leaderboard  Results

Dan Bradbury  has won this year's French Open who by the way are sponsored this year by Fed Ex as the American giant has decided in addition to sponsoring the PGA Tour, to expand their shadow into Europe another example of the collaboration between the two Tours.

The Englishman came out atop the leaderboard 67 66 69 66 -16 to survive a furious run at the title on Sunday afternoon with 4 players at -15,  Thorbjorn Olesen, Sam Bairstow, Paul Yannik and Jeff Winther had birdie putts on the 72nd that narrowly missed as Bradbury watched from the clubhouse.

Coming off a M/C it was a solid week for Canadian Aaron Cockerill 68 68 69 69 -10 T13 and he was in great company on that number with English legend Justin Rose and Danish star Nicolai Hojgaard 

He made 13 birdies and 2 eagles in his 72 holes with 7 bogey's and 50 pars, projecting him to #43 in the Race to Dubai standings all worth 43,809 euros ($65,933.00 cdn)

edit...

With well over a dozen players in contention throughout most of the fourth round, Bradbury finally emerged from the pack with three straight birdies on the back nine and held on to win at 16 under par.

Playing in the penultimate group, Bradbury shot a bogey-free 66 on Sunday.

Victory secured Bradbury’s place in the season-ending Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and DP World Tour Championship in neighbouring Dubai, and he quipped: “I guess I’ll be looking at flights to Dubai then!”

Next week its the Andalucia Masters in Spain as this DP World Tour season winds down.

Bryan Angus  

Cockerill T15 in Paris, memories of 2018 Ryder Cup on Le Golf National...final 54 hole results

 DP World Tour : French Open  Weather  Leaderboard

It is an overcast day with a slight breeze at this version of the French Open on Le Golf National, forever the host of Europe's famous trouncing of USA 17.5 - 10.5 in 2018 and the birth of Moliwood the nickname hung on Frankie Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood who went 4-0 in Matchplay, with Molinari going 5-0 beating Tiger in singles.

 See more Francesco Molinari photos

Molinari had his career year winning the Open at Carnoustie, the BMW PGA Championship and the Quicken Loans on the PGA Tour along with his Ryder Cup heroics. He also won the race to Dubai amongst other prestigious awards.

I would be remiss not to remind you that he had one hand on the Masters the next year 2019, with a putting display rarely seen. He led by 2 shots after 54 and still by 2 at the 12th where he made a double at the treacherous par3 over the water which allowed Woods who made par to tie.

Then after they shared birdies on #13, on the 15th he pulled his drive to the trees on the left side of the fairway, played a poor layup and then his approach hit an overhanging tree branch and fell into Rae's Creek resulting in another double to Tigers birdie and the rest is part of Tiger history.

Canadian Aaron Cockerill continues a fine week in Paris thus far with a Saturday 69 T15 at -8. He made a few putts missed a few more but will be pleased with 15 pars, just one 3 putt bogey, a birdie and another eagle 3, this time on the par5 14th, where he holed a 35 footer. (68 68 69)

The leader Jesper Svensson is at -14 late in his round with 5 players right behind him including Joe Dean in the clubhouse with a 66 and -11 total.

More to follow.. Follow all the scoring clicking on my link above..

Bryan Angus

Svensson T2 round 2 suspended Black Desert Championship...partial results..

 PGA Tour : Black Desert Championship Leaderboard

You rarely back up a career round with another, that's why it's a career round. However the key is not to squander that round the next day and that's what Adam Svensson accomplished on this darkness suspended round 2 in Utah at the inaugural Black Desert Championship.

After a day when everything just came together resulting in a career best -11 60 the Canadian was back on the grid with -2 69 to share 2nd place at -13

The clubhouse lead is DP World Tour regular Stephan Jaeger 65 63 -14.

Another Canadian Roger Sloan is having the kind of week these rank and file guys are all looking for to improve their tour status T10 66 67 -9.

Nick Taylor has secured his place in Canadian golf history winning the RBC Canadian Open along with two big Signature event paydays is back in action T37 69 67 -6

Mike Weir who lives across the state fell away T104 68 74 E to miss the cut.

Bryan Angus

Three-way tie for lead, Cockerill in contention French Open... 36 hole results..

 DP World Tour : French Open Leaderboard

Thomas Detry dug into the memories of this summer's Olympic Games to share the halfway lead at the 2024 FedEx Open de France.

The Belgian shot a second-round 63, as he did in August's showpiece competition also staged at Le Golf National, to reach -9 alongside Jesper Svensson and Dan Bradbury on a soft, rain soaked Le National GC.

Five players were one shot behind, including Thorbjørn Olesen who had looked set to lead the way with two holes to go.

Home favourite Gregory Havret, in his last event before retirement, produced a stirring back nine to extend his career into the weekend. At the other end of the experience scale, 16-year-old amateur Lev Grinberg impressively made the cut at -5.

Detry produced the round of the week so far, starting with a five-foot putt at the second for the first of three birdies in his first five holes.

"Got off to a great start," he said. "It's the type of golf course where it gives you a couple of opportunities in the first couple of holes and if you drive it well, which I did all week so far, you can go low.

"I've been over here so many times. I also shot 63 on Friday at the Olympics. I'm close to home here, lots of friends coming over the weekend, fans, family is not far away as well. I just love it."

Svensson shot 66 in round one and was quickly back into rhythm with two birdies in his first five holes after starting on the back nine on Friday. "A bit more shaky but very happy to still be under par today.

Bradbury made a late run to join the leaders. After a front nine containing two birdies and a bogey, the Englishman followed an eagle at the 14th with back-to-back birdies for a 66.

"Probably could have been a couple better today but overall just very happy," he said. "You can't sleep on any holes. There's obviously lots of chances out here, you've seen that with the scoring, but there's lots of chances to mess up. You hit one bad shot and it's costing you two out here with all the water and out-of-bounds. It's a proper golf course."

Olesen almost holed out for eagle at the first, settling for birdie from six inches and adding another from five feet at the fourth. He was alongside Sweden's Simon Forsström, who shot 64 with six birdies and an eagle - at the par-five ninth, four shots better than his seven there on Thursday - and only one bogey.

Rasmus Højgaard and Paul Waring each shot 66 to reach -8 and the quintet was completed by Fabrizio Zanotti after a 68.

Justin Rose and Matthew Jordan were -7 while Grinberg, one off the first-round lead after a 66, shot a level-par 71.

Havret, playing with good friends Nicolas Colsaerts and Marcel Siem for what could have been his final round, instead produced six birdies to only one bogey for a 66, making the cut right on the line at -1 after an opening 75.

edit **** Canadian Aaron Cockerill dropped 2 shots late in his second straight round of 68 to sit T11 -6 heading into the weekend..

Round 2 was suspended due to darkness and weather permitting will begin shortly after 10am local time.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Svensson 60 tops low scoring at the Black Desert Championship.... Round 1 results

 PGA Tour : Black Desert Championship Tee Times Leaderboard

" It was just one of those days when everything came together "

I'll say. A career best comes when you just need 60 strokes on this par 71 Black Desert Resort course, albeit in blinding sunshine, ideal scoring weather for these rank and file pros all trying to improve on their standing in the top 125 who will get their 2025 PGA Tour cards

Adam hadn't shown much form so far this year, but starting on the 10th he made 7 birdies in 10 holes he was on a roll, he played his last 5 holes in -4 including a 30 footer for eagle 3 on the par 5 7th.

The field just made mincemeat of the resort course, hosting it's first PGA Tour event. For example 37 year old Swede. Henrik Norlander who is ranked 131 hit every fairway and every green for his career best T2, -9 62.

Korn Ferry 3 time winner Matt McCarty 62 to join him.

You have to go to T83 to find anyone who shot 70. The lava strewn course with the severe sloping greens was no challenge.

Other Canadians : Roger Sloan T16 -5 66, Mike Weir T42 -3 68 and Nick Taylor T61 -2 69.

23 players will return early on Friday to finish  due to darkness.

Bryan Angus

Good start for Cockerill at soft French Open.. live scoreboard

 DP World Tour : French Open  Weather  Leaderboard

Out first off the 10th tee on a rainy Thursday in Paris. Aaron Cockerill went out bogey free 33 with 2 birdies then came back with two more with just one 3 putt bogey at the par 3 8th for 35 and an opening -3 68 currently T14.

The clubhouse lead is at 65 -6 with the late wave in play.

For the full weather click on my link above, as well as the live scoring..

late edit ** Jesper Svensson made a late surge into a share of the lead in round one of the 2024 FedEx Open de France.

The Swede birdied four holes in a row at Le Golf National before a closing par left him alongside early leaders Thorbjørn Olesen and Joe Dean on -6 65..

"With the soft conditions, there's definitely a lot of chances out there.

"(It asks) a lot of questions of you but if you are really on your game, you have a lot of birdie chances. I think it's just a great golf course and I really enjoy playing here."

Amateur Lev Grinberg was the eye-catching name in a group of five players one shot off the lead at -5, 66. Grinberg, the 16-year-old Ukrainian, is living in dormitories at Le Golf National while he works with the French Golf Federation Academy to develop his game, and it paid off with two separate runs of three straight birdies in his 66.

Englishman Dean, who made three eagles on his way to a tie for third at last month's acciona Open de España presented by Madrid, was back in the same groove with a perfect approach to the par-five third in France.

Two birdies in the remainder of his front nine and two more in the final four holes saw him to an unblemished 65 alongside Olesen, who birdied the first four holes and seven in all before a lone bogey at the 15th.

England's Justin Rose was among a large group at -4 alongside compatriot Dan Bradbury, South African trio Brandon Stone, Dylan Frittelli and Justin Harding, home favourite Clement Sordet, China's Haotong Li, Lukas Nemecz of Austria and Swede Marcus Kinhult.

Friday tee times Tee Times

Bryan Angus

Mike Weir returns to the PGA Tour, Black Desert Championship.. TEE TIMES.

 PGA Tour : Black Desert Championship Tee Times

His duties as captain now over after the recent Presidents Cup matches in Montreal, Mike Weir returns to the PGA Tour this week along with Nick Taylor, Adam Svensson and Roger Sloan for the inaugural Black Desert Championship in a small town called Ivins, Utah.

The reason behind the invitation is Mike lives in Utah with his 2 daughters in a Salt Lake City suburb called Sandy. 

He studied Recreation Management at Brigham Young University on a golf scholarship in the late 80's, Jim Nelford and Richard Zokol preceded him there.

Weirsy reached as high as 3rd owgr in his pomp when he won the Masters in 2003, possessing what Johnny Miller described as the "best wedge game in the world from 100 yards in"

He joined the Champions Tour when he turned 50 in May of 2020.

Brian Oar

Brian Oar

The Black Desert course designed by the late Tom Weiskopf is in a spectacular setting with each hole framed by black lava.

For Thursday tee times click on my link above.

Bryan Angus

DP World Tour French Open TEE TIMES...Cockerill leads off...

 DP World Tour : French Open Tee Times Leaderboard

This is a pretty big late season event on this DP World Tour on a fabled French course that has a long regular season venue, but up a notch and we have the delirious 2018 Ryder Cup win with Frankie Molinari winning 5 points, alongside his partner Tommy Fleetwood , Moliwood in their 17.5 -10.5 trouncing of the Yanks, then as host to this years Olympic Games Golf venue...

Matthieu Pavon leads a strong French contingent, two months on from hosting the Olympic Games, France is back in the golfing spotlight this week as it plays host to the oldest national open in Continental Europe at Le Golf National.

First held in 1906, the Open de France – which this year has FedEx as its new title partner – has been part of the DP World Tour’s schedule since its inception in 1972.

In the more than 50 years that have since passed, just two French players have won the title - Jean-François Remésy (2004, 2005) and most recently Thomas Levet (2011)

But, ahead of this year’s edition and after a resurgence in French golf over the last 12 months, it would be fair to say there has not been as much cause for belief in the last decade or so that a new homegrown champion will emerge.

The spark for the ongoing period of success started with Matthieu Pavon’s maiden DP World Tour title at last year’s acciona Open de España presented by Madrid.

His win in the city of his late grandfather’s birth prompted three top-15 finishes in his subsequent four starts, with a run of four consecutive birdies in the final round of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship culminating in him earning dual membership status as one of ten players on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex to earn a PGA TOUR card.

What followed was an exceptional entrance to life on the PGA TOUR.

After finishing tied seventh at the Sony Open in Hawaii, the 31-year-old won the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines with a birdie on the 72nd hole in late January.

In doing so, he became the first French-born player to win on the PGA TOUR since Arnaud Massy – a record four-time winner of the Open de France – in 1907.

Confidence was clear to see in Pavon as he came close to backing up his historic triumph with another, finishing third at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, a signature event on the PGA TOUR.

From starting the Open de España just inside the top 200 on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), he had climbed to 26th. Now at a career-high 20th, Pavon is closing in on overtaking Dubuisson - who peaked at number 15 in 2015 - as the highest-ranked French golfer since the OWGR's inception in 1986.

On his return to the DP World Tour at the Porsche Singapore Classic in March, he finished solo fifth before placing tied 12th on his debut at the Masters Tournament.

Further highlights would come in the form of a top five at the U.S. Open and the honour of representing his country on home soil at the Olympics.

So, after a year in which French golfers have already made a host of memories, the opportunity of vying for victory at a national open is only likely to energize the crop of home hopes further.

edit *** Canadian Aaron Cockerill will hit the first ball off the 1Oth tee..

Follow his progress here at  Leaderboard

Bryan Angus

Aaron Cockerill's DP World Tour Progress....

 DP World Tour : Rankings

As Aaron Cockerill continues his DP World Tour journey at the fabled Le Golf National in the outskirts of Paris this week he has OWGR 255, and with 3 events left in the regular season stands comfortably at #41 in the Race to Dubai standings..

He's won nearly $1,166,000 this season so far.

Click on my rankings icon above to follow his progress over the years in Europe. He is approaching his 10th year as a professional, the guy from Teulon outside Winnipeg is now 32, married to Chelsea with their daughter Addison and loving life in Dubai.

Early Career

After winning the Manitoba Amateur of the Year in 2010 he had a year in college at Texas A&M University-Commerce before transferring to University of Idaho where he graduated in 2014.

Turning pro in 2015, like most young Canadian guys spent 2 years learning the ropes on the Canadian Tour before joining the Challenge Tour in 2019 where he finished 46th in rankings.

DP World Tour

It was at Q School in Europe that he finally qualified for the DP World Tour in 2020 finishing 5th and here he is today, 5 years later, still looking for that 1st win

He's been close, 4th at the Joburg open in 2020.  In 2022 I followed him at his T2 in Kenya, then T3 in Spain after shooting 62 to lead in the clubhouse and in 2023 took advantage of some fine play at Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa, with a T4.

His biggest payday was early this year where he T4 at the Dubai Desert Classic worth $500,000+ and moving him up to 9th in the standings.

Rankings Race to Dubai

2020 #118

2021 #152  (top 121 retained their cards)

2022 #106 (top 117 retained their cards)

2023 #76 (top 116 retained their cards)

2024 currently #41 

Looking ahead 

There are 3 weeks left in the regular season with so much to play for. After this week at the French Open, it's a stop in Spain Andalucia Masters, then off to Korea Genesis Masters.

On November 10th, the top 70 qualify for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and that looks on the cards for Aaron, with the top 50 making it to the season ending DP World Championship on the Earth Course in Dubai.

He has an outside chance of getting into the top 10 who are awarded dual membership with the PGA Tour. 

* Remember Matthieu Pavon who leads a strong French contingent this week in Paris, had a late win in Spain in 2023 to qualify for the PGA Tour and went on stun the golfing world as the first Frenchman to win at Torrey Pines worth $20,000,000 before T3 at Pebble Beach !

Aaron has survived his mid season swoon, missing 4 cuts in a row in mid July and August, with better play including T9 at the Irish Open. 

He's coming off a narrowly MC in some awful weather in Madrid in his last outing.

Follow all his progress here..

Bryan Angus

 

Top 10 for Hughes, First win for Yu at Sanderson Farms.. final results..

 PGA Tour : Sanderson Farms  Championship  Results

It took another Sanderson Farms playoff this time with two guys that have never won on the PGA Tour and it was tight, with 5 players finishing within 2 shots of each other.

Kevin Yu from Taiwan, now 26 went to Arizona State in college, graduated to the Korn Ferry and after making a birdie against journeyman Beau Hossler on the first playoff hole has hit the jackpot on the PGA Tour with his first win, worth $1,368,000 and a two year exemption.

Mac Hughes finished strong with a 64 T8 -19 and Roger Sloan T61 -9 with a closing 72.

Bryan Angus

Its Hatton with the hattrick at St. Andrews

 DP World Tour : Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 

Tyrrell Hatton has made history as the first ever three-time winner of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The Englishman started his love affair with the event when he claimed his first title in 2016 before successfully defending his crown 12 months later.

Two more runner-up finishes followed in 2018 and 2021 and he had to battle the elements on the Old Course on Sunday to ensure his place in history.

He had equaled the course record on Saturday to earn a one-shot lead, which inflated to three after four birdies through his first 11 holes.

Hatton endured a wobble during the closing stages which saw Nicolas Colsaerts move alongside him at the summit with three holes remaining, but he birdied the last to seal the one-shot triumph at -24 

"It feels good. It's actually the first tournament I have won with my dad here, it means a lot and to do it at the home of golf is really special," Hatton said. "I'm trying not to cry to be honest, I'm a bit lost for words.

"I didn't actually know what the scores were from when we left at the halfway house. The first leaderboard I saw was on the 17th green.

"When I double bogeyed 13 and bogeyed 14, I didn't realise I was still in and around the lead and just tried my best on every shot coming in, and then I see where I'm at at the 17th green, then I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous.

"To have a three and a half foot putt is quite nerve-wracking and I was so relieved when it went in.

"I'm so happy I've got my place booked in Dubai. When I teed it up last week at the Spanish Open I knew I needed a second on my own to have a chance."

The chasing pack were making their move behind as Spain's David Puig reach the turn in 29 after a run of six straight birdies from the second before wrapping up the front nine with another to sit two shots adrift of the leading pair.

Tom Vaillant was also at -22  with three birdies on his opening nine holes, while behind him Colsaerts blinked first when a wayward tee shot at the par-three eighth resulted in a bogey

Finale

Colsaerts continued to apply the pressure with a fine approach at the 15th and when he holed his 11-foot putt, he was joint leader at -23 

They could not be separated heading down the last, where they almost hit identical tee shots. Hatton chipped his effort to three feet, while Colsaerts putted from off the green to eight feet.

The Belgian could not drain his birdie effort, but Hatton held his nerve to seal victory on the 72nd hole. With the win he moves to 20th (owgr) and 16th in the Race to Dubai.

Tommy Fleetwood carded a closing 67 to finish in third at 21 under, while Puig, South Africa's Robin Williams and Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen were two shots further back in a tie for fourth.

Vaillant, Spaniard Jon Rahm and China's Li Haotong were one adrift at -18.

In the team event, Thorbjørn Olesen and Dermot Desmond secured victory by two shots after carding a remarkable 48 under par

What a great week for all to gather in 2024 at St Andrews for this celebration of golf. 

europeantour. com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Grinders looking for glory at Sanderson Farms.. Hughes T31.. Full Sunday leaderboard..

 PGA Tour : Sanderson Farms Leaderboard

Keith Mitchell is one of the rank and file looking to hit the jackpot with a Fall Series win in Mississippi in ideal weather at the Sanderson Farms.

Jacob Kupferman AP

He last won in 2019, his scores 67 64 65 -20 lead by a shot from journeyman Beau Hossler 65 64 6 -19 who has never won, Kevin Yu 66 66 66 -18 who has never won and a trio at -16 including Bud Cauley and Jacob Bridgeman who have never won.

Of the six leading players only Mitchell and Lucas Glover have won on tour.

Mac Hughes won this 2 years ago but with 65 72 68 -11 T31 he won't duplicate that here this time around. Roger Sloan is back in action after a month away, T48 69 69 69 -9

Bryan Angus

Rory and father Gerry celebrate his 65th at St Andrews..

 DP World Tour : Alfred Dunhill Links Championship..

Saturday was a special day for the McIlroy family as World Number Three Rory celebrated his father Gerry's 65th birthday by playing with him at the Old Course at St Andrews.

The father and son are partners in the team competition at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and as an extra present to his dad, Rory produced some of his very best golf as he made seven birdies on the front nine of 29. He went on to shoot -4 68 T40...

Although the pair were unable to make the cut in an extremely competitive team event, their surroundings ensured Gerry's 65th birthday will be one to remember. Here is the TEAM leaderboard Leaderboard

During an on-course interview, Rory said: "It's absolutely incredible.

"To stroll around the Old Course with my dad on his birthday - it's always been nice. We've played the Dunhill many times together and it's usually the week of his birthday.

"So we've done this a few times but to do it on his 65th, it's a cool occasion and thankfully I've made a few birdies for his birthday.

"(My parents) have been my biggest supporters, my biggest fans.

"They've been absolutely amazing. They've been with me, obviously, every step of the way.

"To be able to enjoy things like this with both of them this week, they would say it made all their hard work worthwhile but I can only do my best for them and try to make them proud, which I hope they are.

"It's lovely to still be able to spend so much time with them."

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Tyrrell Hatton smiling, happy for a change...Alfred Dunhill Links Championship... 54 hole results...

 DP World Tour : Alfred Dunhill Links Championship...Leaderboard Weather

Tyrrell Hatton posted a record-equaling -11 61 at the Old Course at St Andrews to take a one-shot lead into the final round as he stepped up his bid to become the first three-time winner of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Nick Rodger, The Herald (Scotland)

Hatton, who won this event in 2016 and 2017 and has also recorded two runners-up finishes, continued his love affair with the unique tournament by firing an eagle and nine birdies at the Home of Golf to tie Ross Fisher's course record.

Overnight co-leader Nicolas Colsaerts was alone in second spot one stroke further back after shooting a spectacular 65 at Kingsbarns Golf Links which featured a memorable albatross.

Starting the day three shots off the lead after opening rounds of 65 and 68 at Carnoustie and Kingsbarns respectively, Hatton produced a brilliant burst of scoring on the front nine to grab a share of the lead after six holes.

But Belgian Colsaerts then made an albatross and a birdie in successive holes to move five clear at the top.

With a double bogey at the Belgian's very next hole opening the door for the chasing pack, Hatton walked right through it with four birdies on the spin from the 12th to get within one of the lead.

And Hatton finished with a flourish, carding back-to-back birdies on the 17th and 18th to join Fisher in the history books and lead heading into the fourth round, which will also be at St Andrews. He and his father also lead the team competition..

The highlight of the day came from Colsaerts, with his albatross coming from 223 yards at Kingsbarns' 16th.

Using a six iron, he drilled the ball up to the slope behind the pin and watched on as it rolled back into the cup for a two at the par five.

Frenchman Tom Vaillant sits in solo third on 19 under after his 64 at Kingsbarns.

Hatton said: "I was just taking each hole as it came and just trying to make as many birdies as I could. 

"I had actually shot ten under here before. I can't remember if it was 2016, the year that I won.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Hughes falls out of contention, scramble for top 125 continues, Sanderson Farms... live scoring..

 PGA Tour : Sanderson Farms   Leaderboard

Mac Hughes up and down season continues, 65 72 - down 31 spots To -7 T41 after 36 holes in benign weather in Mississippi at this version of the Sanderson Farms..

Roger Sloan T55 69 69 -6 and Adam Svensson has MC 70 71 -3

Meanwhile the journeymen that make up the rank and file continue their struggle to make the top 125 or better still hit the jackpot with a win.

Beau Hossler leads 65 64 -15 with Daniel Berger back from injury 65 65 -14 2nd and Jacob Bridgeman, Davis Skinns and Keith Mitchell all at -13.

Talk about log jam, there are 6 at -12 and another 6 at -11.

The cut fell at -6

Bryan Angus

Colsaerts / Cameron atop after 36 holes Alfred Dunhill Links Championships... full leaderboard / weather

 DP World Tour : Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Leaderboard  Weather

Nicolas Colsaerts said local knowledge was the key as he shot a stunning 65 at Carnoustie to share the lead with Cameron John after the second round of the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Colsaerts, now 41, kicked off his campaign with a 65 at the Old Course at St Andrews on Thursday and recorded the same score at the notoriously tricky Carnoustie on day two to reach -14.

Australian John, meanwhile, followed up his opening 62 at Kingsbarns with a 68 on the Old Course, grabbing a share of the lead with his brilliant birdie at the 17th.

Home favourite David Law and first-round leader Darren Fichardt were in a tie for third a shot further back at -13 one ahead of the four-strong group on -12  following another day of low scoring.

Belgian Colsaerts, who has been coming to this event since 2004, felt his experience of Carnoustie paid dividends as he shot eight birdies and a single bogey, attributing his success to birdies at the difficult ninth and 17th.

The 2012 Ryder Cup star said: "I've been playing pretty well since yesterday. St Andrews, I really plotted my way around. But here, it requires a little bit more local knowledge. Having played in this (event) definitely helps. 

"Didn't really get off to the best of starts. I was more agitated and I didn't hit the shots that I wanted. Then I started to get on a roll and birdied the ninth, which is not a hole that you birdie usually, and then went a couple on the spin, which was great, and kept it going.

"I birdied the 17th, which is also a hole you don't really birdie at Carnoustie. So yeah, it all fitted together."

A series of pars followed before John holed from 22 feet at the 17th to get to -14 and share the lead with Colsaerts.

He said: "It's just fun. You don't get it a lot back home, the odd course that plays similar but nothing quite the same. 

"And that's kind of just the outlook of the week, just enjoy it, take it all in, walking up 18, it's always pretty special, so just remember it."

Meanwhile Tommy Fleetwood 68 65 -11 T9 along with former champion Tyrrell Hatton T9 65 68 are the top notables..Brook Koepka 71 64, Jon Rahm 65 71 from LIV, Rory 69,69 -6, Billy Horschel 70 68 -6, Shane Lowry 68 70 -6, 

Grant Forrest and Martin Gilbert lead the team event on -24 after two rounds.

The cut falls Saturday evening..

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Hughes T3 at Sanderson Farms... full leaderboard

 PGA Tour : Sanderson Farms Leaderboard

I started watching as England's David Skinns missed a foot curling putt on his final hole, and I wondered why are they showing this 40+ year old journeyman... until I realized it was for 59 !!

David Skinns

Published on October 4, 2024

" How many times do you get a 9 footer for 59 ?!! he wondered aloud post round after his leading -12 60.

After all the hoopla of the Presidents Cup the rank and file are all gathered down in Mississippi for this Fall Series,  Sanderson Farms and they include Mac Hughes who won it 2 years ago.

He shot -7 65 T3.  "Monday was kind of sober up, Tuesday rest and travel down here, Wednesday was light, the pro-am and some practice, so it was finally Thursday when I caught my breath, ready to play here." 

Other Canadians Adam Svensson T70 -2 50 and Roger Sloan T53 -3 69.

These fall matches are for guys who are trying to get into the top 125 for 2025, or in Hughes case the top 60 who will get to play in the first 2 signature events of next season. He is currently #51.

Bryan Angus