Ash Barty: Former world No1 tennis star swaps racquet for golf club for sporting comeback April 19, 2022 Former women’s world No1 tennis player Ash Barty will make her return to sport this summer at a new Ryder Cup-style golf competition for A-list athletes, the Icons Series. Barty, who stunned tennis by quitting last month, is due to be joined by football stars Harry Kane and Pep Guardiola, boxer Canelo Alvarez and swimmer [...]
Sam Torrance: Scottie Scheffler has earned his fairytale – with a little help from the Ryder Cup April 11, 2022 From first PGA Tour win to world No1 and Masters champion in eight weeks; I don’t think anyone has enjoyed a rise quite like Scottie Scheffler’s. It has been a fairytale, but 25-year-old Scheffler has earned it with a series of faultless performances and by staying in control whatever the circumstances. He was already ranked [...]
Masters 2022: Bryson DeChambeau vows to play major against doctors’ advice April 5, 2022 Former US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau says he is risking injury by playing the Masters this week. The big-hitting American injured his hip and hand in a table-tennis accident in February and said he had returned early against the advice of doctors. “This comes around once a year and I got to give it a [...]
Sam Torrance: Jon Rahm is due another major as magical Masters week rolls around April 4, 2022 Masters week is always one of my favourites and I am really looking forward to watching the best players in the world, hopefully including Tiger Woods, grace Augusta National. Five-time winner Woods is set to make a last-minute decision on whether to play in his first 72-hole tournament since almost losing his leg in a [...]
The Tiger Effect: Why Woods comeback at Augusta would be good news for TV companies March 31, 2022 The Tiger Effect – the boost to the business of golf that Woods has provided during his 26-year pro career – is the stuff of sports industry legend. Woods’ swift ascent to godlike status brought an influx of new sponsors to the game and sent prize money skyward. Key to this virtuous cycle was that [...]
Tiger Woods tees up for competitive return at the Masters with Augusta practice round March 30, 2022 Tiger Woods has given the clearest indication yet that he hopes to enter the Masters next week by playing a practice round at Augusta National. Woods won the last of his 15 major titles at the Masters in 2019 but has not played a 72-hole tournament since a serious car crash last year. The 46-year-old [...]
Ashleigh Barty hints at career in new sport following shock retirement from tennis March 24, 2022 Women’s tennis No1 Ashleigh Barty has hinted she could take up another sport professionally following her shock retirement. Barty, 25, played cricket to a high level during a previous break from tennis, competing in the Women’s Big Bash. She is said to have a single-figure golf handicap and has also been linked with a move [...]
Inside the Super Golf League: Sean Bratches on LIV Golf’s mission to redesign the sport March 23, 2022 It was at the Ryder Cup in Wisconsin six months ago that Sean Bratches accepted Greg Norman’s invitation to join LIV Golf Investments, the vehicle behind long-rumoured plans for a Super Golf League. Former ESPN and Formula 1 executive Bratches had already been working with world No1 turned LIV Golf CEO Norman and the Saudi-backed [...]
Australian Cameron Smith lands golf’s biggest 72-hole payout with £2.8m Players win March 15, 2022 Australian Cameron Smith claimed record prize money for an 72-hole golf event of $3.6m (£2.8m) with victory at a weather-delayed Players Championship in Florida. The payout at the PGA Tour’s flagship tournament is bigger than that on offer at any of the four men’s majors or the DP World Tour’s lucrative finale in Dubai. Smith [...]
Sam Torrance: Man of the moment Scottie Scheffler has a wonderful golfing brain March 7, 2022 Until a few weeks ago, Scottie Scheffler was one of those players who you couldn’t believe hadn’t won on the PGA Tour yet. Now, suddenly, he is a two-time winner and up to No5 in the world rankings – but anyone who has been watching his progress won’t be surprised. Having got his first victory [...]