Golf of today

We already knew the first eight players that would represent Europe at the Solheim Cup. Six secured their place in next month’s dust-up via the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings with Celine Boutier leading the way. Maja Stark, Linn Grant, Leona Maguire, Carlota Ciganda and Madelene Sagström joined the Frenchwoman. Meanwhile, Charley Hull and debutant Esther Henseleit qualified from the LET Solheim Cup Points List. But captain Suzann Pettersen has now confirmed her 12-person squad for the trip to Virginia after naming four wildcards. • 8 players secure European Solheim Cup spots • 9 players secure US Solheim Cup spots Georgia Hall, Anna Nordqvist, Emily Kristine Pedersen and Albane Valenzuela have been awarded places in the European side. Hall is set to make her fifth appearance in the event, although a first as a wildcard pick. The 28-year-old has competed in the last four consecutive editions. Nordqvist, meanwhile, has contested the last eight Solheim Cups but will make her ...

The men’s major season may have just passed, but much of the real work starts now for Tyrrell Hatton. The fiery Englishman, who followed Jon Rahm to the LIV Golf League in January, is about to return to the other side of golf’s divide with one thing in mind: The Ryder Cup. Like his new Legion XIII teammate Rahm, Hatton jeopardised his chances of competing at next year’s showdown at Bethpage Black when making the LIV leap. Crucially, however, the formidable duo – dubbed Team Angry in last year’s epic European victory at Marco Simone – have held onto their DP World Tour cards, despite the fines and suspensions mounting up for playing in the conflicting LIV events. And when LIV’s 14-event season ends next month, Rahm and Hatton both plan to come back to their old domain to meet the playing requirements and retain their memberships. “I still feel like its been really busy,” Hatton tells bunkered, reflecting on his first year with LIV. “I feel like I’ve played a lot of golf and it’s ...

We talk about the Ryder Cup far too much.   After all, it’s only three days out of every 730.5, only two teams (of men) from two continents (of seven) can actually play, it’s 18 holes of match play, it’s ultimately an exhibition in corporate overalls, it’s always won by the home team, and it’s played at the wrong time of the year.   And it’s absolutely sensational.   The greatest sporting occasion you could possibly imagine. One of which you can never tire of reminiscing, reflecting, remembering.   We also spend far too many waking hours pondering and predicting, particularly when it comes to captains. So that’s exactly what I’m going to do for the next 500 words or so.   In the immediate aftermath of his emphatic triumph in Rome, we all called for Luke Donald to take the reins for a second stint at Bethpage for the 2025 matches. Ryder Cup Europe listened, and gave us what we wanted .   Of course, that decision was made easier by the fact a num...

There was time for one more fairytale in this golden summer of Lydia Ko as the superstar from New Zealand claimed an epic victory at the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews.  Ko – who completed the Olympic medal slam in Paris just two weeks ago – outlasted her world class challengers in the howling wind and rain to win her first major title in almost nine years. The former world No.1’s crowning moment on the Old Course came courtesy of a spectacular finish in an absorbing battle with Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu. In the driving rain on the notoriously difficult 17th, the Road Hole, Ko struck a piercing hybrid on a tight line down the left and set up a fine birdie chance. That attempt stayed up, but Ko remained composed. • Major champion announces shock retirement aged 36 • R&A announces record AIG Women’s Open prize money She sauntered down the last, enjoying the most famous walk in golf as the rain cleared, before knocking a wedge to six feet and holing the putt to post a sublime...

They say all good things must come to an end but for Kevin Na, this ending is more emotional than most. Na, 40, who plays his golf these days on the breakaway LIV Golf League, has announced on social media that he is parting with his caddie Kenny Harms of 16 years. Harms has been on the bag for Na throughout the highs and lows of his career . The pair’s last victory together came at the 2021 Sony Open in Hawaii, while Harms has looped in Na’s 33 LIV starts since his defection in June 2022. • Robert MacIntyre forced to WD injured from FedEx Cup event • A fascinating AIG Women’s Open subplot is playing out at St Andrews “It has been an incredible run! 16 years together, you have always been there for me on and off the golf course,” Na wrote on Instagram . “We have shared many amazing moments and also had some hardships along the way. “I can’t thank you enough for the trust and support you have given me. It’s been extremely difficult to say goodbye. You will always be a bro...

Wins in golf are rare. Everybody knows that. And that’s precisely why it’s important you celebrate them when they come along. Ask Lilia Vu. The 26-year-old romped to victory in the AIG Women’s Open a year ago, holding off Charley Hull to win by six shots at Walton Heath. It was a second major title of the year for the Californian, following her success in the Chevron Championship four months earlier, so naturally she wanted to treat herself to something nice. A new house? Nope. A car? Wrong. Perhaps a shiny new watch or a piece of diamond jewellery? No and no. • Will there ever be a Women’s Masters? Gemma Dryburgh thinks so… • AIG Women’s Open: Round 1 tee times in full Instead, she got something rather different. A new cat. Speaking at St Andrews ahead of her title defence this week, Vu revealed that, following her Chevron success last year, her dad promised to let her get a cat if she won another major. Lo and behold, she did. And as a result, there’s been a new additional...

After a turbulent week, Hideki Matsuyama is now a ten-time PGA Tour winner. Last Monday, the 32-year-old was a victim of a robbery in London during a one-night stopover following the Olympics. It left the Japanese ace without his caddie and coach for the FedEx St Jude Championship in Memphis, but he put the shock incident behind him in the best possible manner. Matsuyama took leg one of the PGA Tour play-offs, although he was made to work for his $3.6 million payout. Despite leading by five heading into the final round, Matsuyama trailed Viktor Hovland by one with two holes to play before carding birdies on both. But perhaps his late resurgence was down to one hilarious request that he made heading into the Sunday showdown, which caught one top coach completely off guard. • The LIV Golf stars in danger of being axed for 2025 season • Will there ever be a Women’s Masters? Gemma Dryburgh thinks so Brad Faxon, who works with Rory McIlroy, has recalled the moment Matsuyama appr...

It’s major championship week. Albeit for the last time in 2024, golf fans couldn’t have picked a better spot. The Old Course in St Andrews will host the AIG Women’s Open this week, for the first time since Stacy Lewis lifted the title in 2013. After an 11-year hiatus, the Fife venue will showcase a world-class field for only the third time in its history. Nelly Korda has enjoyed a stunning season, but can the American cap it off with another major championship? We’ll find out come Sunday, and if you’re here for round 1 AIG Women’s Open tee times, you’re in the right place. • Charley Hull adamant for Turnberry to host women’s event • Ashleigh Buhai: ‘People forget moment before historic win’ AIG Women’s Open 2024: Round 1 tee times No.1 7am I K Kim, Alexandra Forsterling, Moriya Jutanugarn 7:11am Jenny Shin, Bronte Law, Olivia Cowan 7.22am Sophia Popov, Ai Suzuki, Jodi Ewart Shadoff 7.33am Ariya Jutanugarn, Linnea Strom, Julia Lopez Ramirez (a) 7.44am Rio Takeda, Ji...

Whilst her focus is firmly on winning this AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews this week, Gemma Dryburgh admits that she still harbours hopes of one day competing at another of the game’s most iconic destinations. Augusta National. Talk of a Women’s Masters is nothing new, of course. The prospect has been the subject of speculation and daydreams for several years. For the longest time, that’s all it ever looked likely to amount to. However, the Georgia club’s decision to allow women to become members in 2012, followed by the successful creation of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in 2019, has given renewed optimism and legitimate hope to what seemed like a pipe dream not that long ago. • Charley Hull issues injury update ahead of AIG Women’s Open • AIG Women’s Open: Round 1 tee times in full With that, and the fact that the women’s game is now starting to visit some of the game’s most iconic venues – the Old Course, Pebble Beach and so on – it’s time to ask the question again: wil...