St Andrews Golf Magazine August September 2015 by St Andrews Golf Magazine

Matt Hooper is the editor, co-founder and publisher of St Andrews Golf Magazine. He began writing about golf in September 2012 and has a wealth of knowledge and experience across the golf industry. He is the chief features writer and lead journalist of St Andrews Golf Magazine. He has also written for Pro Golf Now and works as an independent contractor for All Square Golf.

Cristina Panama is a Journalism student studying in San Antonio, Texas and is the LPGA Correspondent and features writer for St Andrews Golf Magazine. Cristina is from Guadalajara in Mexico.

Tom Brockelsby is from New Zealand and was a Kingsbarns Golf Links caddie in 2015.

On The Tee – August/September 2015

Inside St Andrews 9

World Golf Hall of Fame Induction

144th Open Picture special

2015 Alfred Dunhill Links

Golf at the University of St Andrews

Local Clubs’ results and news

Golf Courses of Scotland 41

Balcomie Links at Crail Golfing Society

Road to Rio 51

The journey back to the top table

Olympic questions answered

Golf’s Olympic Opportunity

Brazil’s Olympic and sporting heritage

Rafael Becker Interview

Olympic news and rankings

On Tour 128

Solheim Cup preview

Welcome to the August/September edition of

So, that was the summer that was. Rain, wind and a little sun, and the small matter of the 144th Open Championship. After five dramatic days Zach Johnson walked away with the Claret Jug, defeating Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman in a four-hole playoff. This month we bring you a pictorial look back at the championship, and set the scene for part five of ‘Our Town’s Super Bowl’, which will be published in our October/November edition. This month the latest group of fresher’s arrive for their first year at the University of St Andrews and we begin our regular feature on Golf at the University of St Andrews. Latest news, stories and results will see the University join the major clubs of St Andrews in St Andrews Golf Magazine. The 5th of August was the day which marked 12 months until Golf Returns to the Olympic Games, and this month we begin our comprehensive countdown to the biggest moment in the history of the greatest game ever played. We look at the road back to the top table of sport, sport and Golf in Brazil and speak to Rafael Becker. We bring you part one of Golf’s Olympic Opportunity, showing how a place at the Olympic Games can help grow the game. This September Europe’s ladies go for an unprecedented hat-trick of wins in the Solheim Cup, and Cristina Panama brings you an in-

depth preview to the biggest event in womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s golf. We debate the changes that would make the FedEx Cup and Presidents Cup great, and we look back at the 97th PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. And, we preview our annual European Tour event, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. The stars of the European Tour are joined by the rich and famous of stage and screen in the 15th edition of the pro-am tournament which replaced the Alfred Dunhill Cup in 2001. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no doubt that The Open was enormous, and one of the most memorable golf events I have had the privilege to be involved with, but the Dunhill has an atmosphere all of its own. We hope that you manage to get along to the championship this autumn, either at Kingsbarns, Carnoustie or St Andrews. Admission is free to all on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. With the nights closing in and summer a fading memory, why not spend an evening in with us and enjoy the 15th edition of St Andrews Golf Magazine. Matt Hooper, Editor

In Open Championship week the World Golf Hall of Fame held its first Induction Ceremony away from their base in Florida, at the University of St Andrews, in Younger Hall. Bobby Jones received the Freedom of the Royal Burgh of St Andrews here in 1958.

University of St Andrews Principal and Vice Chancellor Louise Richardson gave opening remarks about the history of the University and golf in the town of St Andrews

David Graham, of Australia won the 1979 PGA Championship and 1981 US Open, and was the first inductee presented at the ceremony. Gary Player presented him, and was followed by A.W. Tillinghast and Dame Laura Davies.

Mark Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Meara receives his induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

144th Open picture special

The sun shines over St Andrews on the final evening of the weather-delayed Open Championship

Tom Watson waves goodbye to The Open on Friday evening

Jordan Spieth came up one shot shy of the playoff, ending his run for the Grand Slam

Jason Dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birdie putt on the 72nd came up agonizingly short to miss out on the playoff, he would have to wait two weeks for his major breakthrough

St Andrews Golf Magazine and BID St Andrews are coordinating a survey of the businesses of St Andrews, for which the results will be published in the next edition of St Andrews Golf Magazine. We will look back on a golden summer in the town as the oldest championship in the game returned home.

Images courtesy of ROLEX/Chris Turvey

ÂŠGetty Images/David Cannon

England’s Oliver Wilson returns to St Andrews this autumn to defend his Alfred Dunhill Links Championship title after one of the most emotional wins on the European Tour last year. Wilson, at the time 792nd in the world, beat a high class field to win his first ever professional event, at the age of 34, which earned him a two-year exemption on the European Tour. Now he is looking forward to returning to St Andrews and hoping for more Alfred Dunhill success. He said: “It will be strange. Defending a title is something I’ve never done before as a professional. All the memories will come flooding back. Hopefully I can go there feeling good about my game. I’m starting to play as good golf now as at any time since the Dunhill.” The victory changed Wilson’s career. In addition to the US$800,000 first prize, his twoyear European Tour exemption has allowed him to rethink his future and the way he approaches his golf. “Where I have been, it makes you very hungry and this was a lifeline. It jumped me up four or five levels. It took a bit of time getting used to being back on the Tour. Going out to China to play the HSBC made me realise how far I had fallen. I loved that course and have done well there in the past, but I didn’t have a clue how to get round it. ©Getty Images/David Cannon

“Exemption has allowed me to come back on the European Tour, make a plan and stick to it and not worry when it’s not quite going according to that plan. I can have the confidence that if it doesn’t work out the first year, I’m still OK. It’s definitely taken me longer to get my game back into shape, but I feel that I’m now about to get there and it’s all about building my confidence. “I’m looking forward to having a few weeks now to build some more confidence so when I turn up at St Andrews I will be able to put in a great performance. It will be very hard to win, but it will be nice to get into contention and give myself a chance on the back nine.” From being a member of the European Ryder Cup team in 2008 and one of the best players on the European Tour, six years later he was struggling. Yet in St Andrews he defied all the odds and won one of the most prestigious titles on the tour – his first victory in 228 European Tour starts. As he walked off the 18th green, he was surprised by his wife Lauren who had flown to St Andrews, unknown to him, to be there to join the celebrations. Ten months later Wilson admits one of the biggest decisions he is going to have to make is: does Lauren come or stay behind? “I’m not exactly superstitious, but we’re trying to figure that out at the moment,” he says “She can’t very well do it secretly again this time, I’d be watching. Maybe on the last day? We’ll see.”

Louis Oosthuizen narrowly missed winning his second Open Championship claret jug in a dramatic play-off, but he will be returning to the Old Course at the beginning of October, hoping to go one better and win his first Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Championship here in St Andrews, the Home of Golf, from October 1-4.

South African Oosthuizen, Open champion in 2010, lost to American Zach Johnson a few days ago, but he will be putting that disappointment behind him when he returns in a few weeks to the course that provided so much excitement, but this time hoping for a different result.

In recent years Bill Murray, Damian Lewis, Jamie Dornan, Hugh Grant and Andy Garcia have shared the fairways with sporting greats like Sir Steve Redgrave, Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Ian Botham, Shane Warne, Michael Phelps, Luis Figo, Johan Cruyff and Jamie Redknapp.

Following the play-off, Oosthuizen said: “I'll take a lot out of this week. I was really motivated to win the Open Championship. I love this place. I've said it a thousand times. I can't wait to be back here again for the Alfred Dunhill Links. It's always a pleasure to play in that event. I'd love to have a win in that on my CV.” A world class field of golf pro’s will team up with some of the biggest names from entertainment and sport to share the drama and excitement of the 15th Alfred Dunhill Links

Oosthuizen has been a regular, but has still to win the prestigious European Tour event. He said: “It's a great format and as long as you make the cut, you get to play St. Andrews twice. Carnoustie and Kingsbarns are also great courses so there's every reason for it to be a great week The secret is keeping patient and out of the bunkers, getting more lucky bounces than bad ones, driving well, solid iron play, good putting. You need everything to be solid. It's the Home of Golf. You can't get any more special than that.”

And they have partnered some of the world's top golfers including Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald, Dustin Johnson, Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Colin Montgomerie, Ernie Els, Paul Casey, Padraig Harrington and Branden Grace. The Championship is a celebration of links golf at its finest played over three magnificent links courses - the Old Course (St Andrews), the Championship Course, Carnoustie (near Dundee) and Kingsbarns (10km south of St Andrews).

The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is the only professional tournament played every year over the Old Course. The first tournament in its current format was held in 2001 and won by Paul Lawrie, with Ernie Els second and David Howell third. The 2014 Championship was won by Oliver Wilson, who will be back in St Andrews in October to defend his title. The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship has a unique format. With a prize fund of US$5 million, all 168 professionals and their amateur playing partners play each of the three courses over the first three days with the final round being contested over the Old Course. In June 2011 the Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation was established as the official Foundation of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, formalising years of charitable giving from which a variety of causes have benefitted. Since 2001, playing spots have been donated to more than 50 different charities to help them to raise funds. The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is directly committed to developing young amateur golfers in Scotland and South Africa. The Foundation also supports the University of St Andrews and the St Andrews Pilgrim Foundation, which supports the refurbishment and preservation of historical monuments in the town. Louis Oosthuizen said: “Alfred Dunhill have been magnificent sponsors for golf and have done so much for it and South African sport in

general. Anything that is helping develop golf wherever it is in the world, is a positive thing. This is just another example of what Alfred Dunhill give to the game. The contribution is enormous and we are all grateful.” Irish golf super star Padraig Harrington will tee up at St Andrews this autumn bidding for a historic third Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, a challenge which he describes as “one of my big opportunities of the year.” Three-time Major Championship winner Harrington, who won the Alfred Dunhill Links title in 2002 and 2006, said: “I wouldn’t be there if I didn’t think I could win. Every time you put me on a links golf course I definitely have an advantage. I love playing links golf, I love the event, I love the social side of the Dunhill. It’s right at the top as an enjoyable week. Not just because we’re in St Andrews, not just because we’re on the Old Course, but there’s a great atmosphere about it.” Harrington’s confidence in part comes from his excellent performance in the Open Championship at St Andrews last month, where he led after 59 holes. He said: “Obviously you would like to be leading after 72 holes, but I was comfortable and well in there. I didn’t finish it off, but there were plenty of positives. I felt good about my game at that stage. To be leading the tournament with only 13 holes to go, you have to think you have a great chance. Then I hit an

aggressive shot on the 6th into a bush and thought I was a little unlucky to lose my ball.” Harrington believes playing the Alfred Dunhill Links every year has been a significant help when The Open has been held at St Andrews or Carnoustie, where he won in 2009. “It’s a major factor. I wish every time I turned up to play a tournament, I knew the course as well as I know St Andrews, from playing the Dunhill, having won there twice. And I do have a special feeling for Carnoustie. They say it’s too tough a golf course to love, it’s a course you respect. “When I get on the 1st tee at Carnoustie, I get a genuine round of applause. You get reminded of it all from 2007. Then when I get to the 18th, it’s such an intimidating hole, but who can forget what I did there and what everyone has done there,” he added. Harrington says both his Alfred Dunhill Links Championship wins were significant in his career. “2002 was a bit of a comeback for me. It was a big win and it was nice to win both team and individual. There’s something missing if you don’t win both of them. Both times I’ve won with my amateur, J.P.McManus, who has helped me along. It’s a big part of the event having the amateur there and it definitely gets you up. In both my wins, that was a big factor.”

How will he prepare for the Alfred Dunhill Links this year? “Once I would have tried to play 18 holes practice on each of the golf courses. Now, I’ll probably play 12 holes at Kingsbarns and nine holes at St Andrews. That’s my practice for the week,” said Harrington.

McIlroy to miss out on second chance at St Andrews Rory McIlroy has decided not to play in this year’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship as he trims his schedule to ensure full recovery from the ankle injury which forced him to miss this summer’s Open Championship. The Four-time Major Champion will play the Tour Championship by Coca-Cola and then take a five-week break before returning for the WGC-HSBC Champions and DP World Tour Championship. He has yet to confirm if he will play in the BMW Masters or the 100th Australian Open. It is a real shame the Northern Irishman cannot be part of the festivities here at the home of golf this year, as he has come so close on so many occasions to lifting the trophy before.

ÂŠGetty Images/David Cannon

With the latest group of incoming students arriving in St Andrews this month we begin our coverage of the 2015-16 University of St Andrews Golf season, we will bring you the latest news, results and exclusive features throughout the next 9 months. We will follow the fortunes of the University Golf Team in the BUCS Golf Tour, all the way to the BUCS Golf Tour Finals, a 72-hole tournament played at the Dukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s course next April. We will keep you up to date with the results of all four University Golf Teams in their respective BUCS leagues as they compete for the BUCS Golf League with the other leading Scottish institutions. Then next July the premier event of University Golf is played across St Andrews Links, the Boyd Quaich welcomes the best student golfers from across the world for the 68th time. St Andrews Golf Magazine is looking for an interested student, studying here in St Andrews to contribute to the magazine over the coming academic year. If you are interested please contact us via email at info@standrewsgolfmagazine.com. We look forward to adding Golf at the University of St Andrews to the New Golf Club, St Andrews Golf Club, Thistle Golf Club, St Regulus Golf Club and St Rule in featuring in St Andrews Golf Magazine.

1st team fixtures 2015-16

Sunday 11 October Edinburgh Napier Mixed 1st v St Andrews Mixed 1st

Sunday 18 October – EDEN COURSE St Andrews Mixed 1st v University of Strathclyde Mixed 1st

Sunday 8 November UHI Millennium Institute Mixed 1st v St Andrews Mixed 1st

Sunday 15 November – JUBILEE COURSE St Andrews Mixed 1st v University of Edinburgh Mixed 1st

Sunday 22 November – JUBILEE COURSE St Andrews Mixed 1st v Stirling University Mixed 1st

2nd team fixtures 2015-16

3rd team fixtures 2015-16

4th team fixtures 2015-16

Sunday 11 October

Sunday 11 October – EDEN COURSE

Sunday 11 October

Glasgow Caledonian University Mixed 1st v St Andrews Mixed 2nd

St Andrews Mixed 3rd v Robert Gordon University Mixed 1st

Stirling University Mixed 4th v St Andrews Mixed 4th

Sunday 18 October – EDEN COURSE

Sunday 18 October

Sunday 25 October – EDEN COURSE

St Andrews Mixed 2nd v Stirling University Mixed 2nd

University of Aberdeen Mixed 2nd v St Andrews Mixed 3rd

St Andrews Mixed 4th v University of Abertay Dundee Mixed 1st

Sunday 25 October – JUBILEE COURSE

Sunday 8 November – EDEN COURSE

Sunday 8 November – NEW COURSE

St Andrews Mixed 2nd v Stirling University Mixed 3rd

St Andrews Mixed 3rd v University of Strathclyde Mixed 2nd

St Andrews Mixed 4th v Heriot-Watt University Mixed 1st

Sunday 8 November – JUBILEE COURSE

Sunday 15 November

St Andrews Mixed 2nd v University of Dundee Mixed 1st

University of Dundee Mixed 2nd v St Andrews Mixed 3rd

University of Edinburgh Mixed 2nd v St Andrews Mixed 4th

Sunday 15 November

Sunday 22 November

Sunday 22 November – NEW COURSE

University of Aberdeen Mixed 1st v St Andrews Mixed 2nd

University of Glasgow Mixed 1st v St Andrews Mixed 3rd

St Andrews Mixed 4th v University of the West of Scotland Mixed 1st

The University of St Andrews and Missions Hills, China’s premier golf and leisure brand, have taken a further step to establishing scholarships to support bright Chinese students to study in Scotland.

“Both Mission Hills and the University of St Andrews share a commitment to grow golf in China by providing talented young Chinese players access to a world-class university to study and improve their game.

Scotland’s oldest university was the beneficiary of a high-profile charity golf tournament held at Mission Hills’ giant golf complex at Dongguan in the last week of August. It’s the third year in a row that Mission Hills has hosted a VIP golf event to raise scholarship funds.

“We feel strongly that a sustainable long-term future for golf in China depends on growing the game at the grass-roots level. This programme is a significant investment in that future.”

Once established, the scholarship will aim to help academically gifted young Chinese golfers live and study at St Andrews, combining classes with the chance to improve their skills at the Home of Golf. Mission Hills will identify potential candidates from the cream of China’s golfing youth, before St Andrews makes the final selection on academic merit. Mission Hills will also provide funding for a minimum of one semester and this can be extended to a whole academic year of a full degree course. The student will also be considered for acceptance into the University of St Andrews’ Saints Golf Programme for the duration of the overseas study term. Tenniel Chu, Vice-Chairman of Mission Hills Group, said: “This tournament is about embracing the future – specifically, China’s golfing future.

Played over the Annika Sorenstam-designed course at Mission Hills Dongguan, the tournament attracted nearly one hundred VIP players. Mr Derek Watson, St Andrews Quaestor and Factor, said: “It has been a great pleasure for those of us who have travelled from St Andrews for this event, to see Mission Hills’ magnificent courses and facilities. We may be from the home of golf, but from what I have seen here, China will play a huge part in the future of the great game. “This event will contribute towards our scholarship funds. These will be used to give students from China and Hong Kong the opportunity to come and be part of our family. We will welcome them, nurture their talent and educate them, and move forward with them as they write our future.” The tournament is part of a programme of activities and exchanges between Mission Hills and the University of St Andrews.

These include Mission Hills making a financial contribution to the town’s museum, to which St Andrews has responded by donating exhibits for the soon-to-be-opened Dr David Chu Golf Museum – the first such public facility in China – at Mission Hills Shenzhen.

Latest news and results from the

St Andrews Golf Club

Thursday Medal No. 7 played on 09/07/2015

Monthly Medal No 9 played on 02/08/2015

McGregor Trophy No. 8 played on 06/08/2015

New Course CSS 73

Old Course CSS 75

Mr A G Storrar 71 - 4 = 67 Play-Off

1st Class

Mr D Liddle 78 - 5 = 73

Mr K G Weir 68 - 0 = 68 Lowest Gross

Mr M Cook 73 - 6 = 67 Class Winner

Mr J W Harden 75 - 1 = 74 Lowest Gross

Mr B R Young 69 - -1 = 70

Mr M W Carruthers 77 - 8 = 69

Mr G M G Tait 83 - 8 = 75

Dr M R Dickson 69 - -2 = 71

Mr F Dorling 74 - 5 = 69 Mr B R Young 68 - -1 = 69 Lowest Gross

Autumn Prizes (Thursday Section) played on 23/07/2015

Monthly Medal No 10 played on 08/08/2015 Strathtyrum Course CSS 66

2nd Class

1st Class

Mr J C Johnson 78 - 11 = 67 Class Winner & Lowest Gross

Mr B J Kerr 71 - 8 = 63 Class Winner

Mr T P Edgar 81 - 9 = 72 Mr A G Tulleth 74 - 1 = 73 Lowest Gross

Mr R Wallace 85 - 13 = 72

Mr G Fitchet 77 - 4 = 73

Mr G Singer 84 - 11 = 73

James Terry Memorial Trophy - Round 1 played on 01/08/2015

3rd Class

Old Course CSS 74 Nett

Mr B Noble 72 - 8 = 64 Mr S R Findlay 71 - 6 = 65

2nd Class

New Course CSS 73

Mr R Urquhart 87 - 17 = 70 Class Winner & Lowest Gross

Mr M Daube 72 - 5 = 67

Mr C Bannan 93 - 16 = 77

Mr B R Young 68 - -1 = 69 Lowest Gross

Mr N R Strachan 94 - 17 = 77

Mr S Turnbull 74 - 4 = 70

Mr I A Dawson 87 - 10 = 77 Lowest Gross

Mr S P Murray 82 - 12 = 70

Mr J Noble 75 - 12 = 63 Class Winner & Lowest Gross Mr J D Gray 75 - 11 = 64 Mr C R Blair 76 - 12 = 64

3rd Class

Eden Course CSS 71

Mr N Trail 80 - 17 = 63 Class Winner & Lowest Gross

Mr K R Niven 74 - 8 = 66 Play-Off

Mr R Melrose 81 - 17 = 64

Mr B J Kerr 73 - 7 = 66 Lowest Gross Mr A F Greenwood 68 - 2 = 66

Mr J P Smith 84 - 19 = 65 Jubilee Course CSS 76 EP KYLE CUP (foursomes) played over the Eden Course on 15/08/2015 R S Lumsden & R Verner 80 - 10 = 70 Trophy Winners S MacDermid & D J Bathgate 80 - 8.5 = 71.5 J M Crawford & D S Munro 78 - 6 = 72

Thursday Medal No. 8 played on 20/08/2015 Old Course CSS 74 Mr F R Ogston 80 - 7 = 73 Mr N T Wright 79 - 6 = 73 Lowest Gross Mr J M Goins 82 - 8 = 74

New Course CSS 73 Mr R Devlin 79 - 11 = 68 Mr E S Scott 65 - -3 = 68 Lowest Gross Mr K I Crawford 75 - 4 = 71

Mr K Liddle 75 - 6 = 69 Winner Mr B D Liddle 77 - 6 = 71 Mr A M Hain 70 - -2 = 72 Lowest Gross

Coronation Medal - New Course 13/07/2015 – 1st J. Graham (7) 33 points, 2nd M. Halliday (9) 31 points, 3rd L. Tait (11) 30 points.

Optional Competition - Eden Course - 1st J. Caithness 100 (25) 75, 2nd J. Duncan 117 (31) 86, 3rd G. Hands 108 (20) 88.

Fun Tri-Am - Castle Course - 1st S. McMurray, J. Webster & M. Orton 121, 2nd R. Rentoul, A. Cameron & L. Rollo 125, 3rd E. Marshall, J. Hulme & L. Murray 127.

Vets Trophy & Stableford (CSS 72) - Eden Course 27/07/2015 - Vets Trophy - Winner: J. Dowie 39 pts, Stableford Winner: C. McDougall 38 pts.

9 Hole Competition - Eden - Winner: H. Wisdom 18 pts, 2nd L. Haines 15 pts, 3rd J. Logie 14 pts.

July SLGA Medal, Keith Mackenzie Trophy and Ada Cunningham Bowl - Old Course, (CSS 79) - Silver Medal Winner - P. Williamson (6) 74, 2nd A. White (5) 76, 3rd F. de Vries (3) 79 – Keith Mackenzie Trophy Winner - P. Williamson 80 - Bronze Medal Winner - H. Wisdom (28) 87, 2nd R. Ewan (22) 93, E. Donald (22) 95 - Ada Cunningham Bowl Winner - H. Wisdom 115

July Optional - Strathtyrum (CSS 66) - Winner J. Farquhar (21) 61, 2nd J. Caithness (25) 62, 3rd A. Ferguson (27) 64.

Vice Captain's Prize - Strathtyrum - Winners; C. Lawson & S. Underwood 47 pts - 2nd; M. Seymour & B. Wilson 46 pts

Castle AM-AM Invitational - Castle - Winners; A. Murray-Smith & S. Hinks 43 pts - 2nd; M. Seymour & K. Johnson 37 pts (bih) - 3rd; J. Cowley & R. Henderson

Captains Charity - Strathtyrum Course, (CCS 66) - Winner - J. Mills (18) 43 pts, 2nd - N. Alexander (21) 42 pts, 3rd - S. Underwood (23) 42 pts - 9 Hole Competition - Strathtyrum Course - Winner P. Biggart 18 pts (after countback), 2nd H. Wisdom 18 pts, 3rd I. Whyte 17 pts (after countback).

Mixed Foursomes Stableford (Brodie Lennox Trophy) - Eden Course - Winners C & I Lawson 39 pts, 2nd J & D Bird 37 pts (better inward 3), 3rd J & A Duncan 37 pts (better inward 9).

Rutherford Eclectic - Eden 1st Marion Mason

63.34

2nd Penny Bateman 65.00 3rd Anne Wilson

66.33

July Silver Medal - Old Course - Saturday 1st August CSS78 1st Susan Jackson (+1) nett 74 2nd Fiona McEwan (11) nett 77 (bih)

Marie Nicoll trophy, Eden CSS: 72 1st Katherine Forrest 44 points (bih) 2nd Linda Horn 44 points 3rd Peggy Maher 39 points

3rd Fiona Hastie (+2) nett 77 Vets Trophy 3rd Round

American Trophy, New Course CSS 77

1st Rani Shepherd (27) nett 72

July Bronze Medal - Eden Course - Saturday 1st August CSS72

1. Jane Bauman 73 bih (10)

2nd Linda Horn (21) nett 72

1st Louise McLaren (24) nett 69

2.Jackie Thompson 73 (15)

2rd Ann Ferguson (27) nett 74

2nd Janice Gay (21) nett 70

3.Sheena Willoughby 75bih (11)

3rd Elaine Napier (21) nett 73 Vets Trophy Final Result

September Medal & Breakthrough Brooch

1st Dot White 146

August Silver Medal 2015, The Old CSS: 79

Winner of the Breakthrough Brooch

2nd Fay Orr 150

1. D White (12) nett 70

Fay Ronaldson (12) 70

Senior Vet - Anne Wilson 150

2. J Brown (10) nett 78 3. L Ritchie (13) nett 79

9 hole July medal, Eden CSS 37

Silver Medal, Eden CSS 72 1st Fay Ronaldson (12) 70

1 Pauline Keith 18 points

August Bronze Medal 2015, Eden CSS: 72

2nd Maggi Seymour (15)71

2 Sandra Tuddenham 18 points

1. P Rew (25) Nett 71

3rd Fiona McEwan (11)72

3 Patricia Shaw 17 points

2. C Findlay (27) Nett 74 (bih) 3. L Horn (21) Nett 74

Bronze Medal, Eden CSS 72 1st Barbara Ritchie (21) 72 2nd Jane Godley (27) 74 3rd Iris Kerr (24)75

Scott Salver Mixed Foursomes Sunday 30th August 2015 New Course 1st Jacqui & Trevor Trangmar

40 pts

2nd Margaret Durie & Gerry Wilson 36 pts (bih) 3rd Hazel & Laurie Crane 36 pts

Crail Golfing Society Balcomie Links Words Matt Hooper & Tom Brocklesby Photography Matt Hooper

When you visit St Andrews there is history in the air, you can smell it, you can taste it and you can feel it. It is everywhere you look, but this feel of nostalgia doesn’t end at the town boundary. Just 10 miles down the coast from the home of golf is a club, a society of golfers, which can lay claim to a longer history than all of the clubs in St Andrews, with exception of the Royal and Ancient. In 1786 Mozart’s ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ premiered in Vienna, and when you walk the Balcomie Links of the Crail Golfing Society you almost feel it should be accompanied by a similarly grand soundtrack. These links were built by Old Tom Morris, some 111 years after the Crail Golfing Society was established, and the use of the natural surroundings is quite something to behold. The first hole, Boathouse, at 332 yards, with everything in front of you seems like a gentle opener, but the shorter hitter can get caught out by two craftily placed bunkers down the right.

The second hole tees off by the Boathouse, which frames the 14th green, and is a 493 yard par five, and the drive must be kept up the left of the fairway to give you a chance of reaching the green in two. The green tilts from left to right so approaches are better coming from the left. The gentle start to the Balcomie Links mustn’t lure you into a false sense of security though as the teeth of the course are gnashing away just around the corner. The third hole tees off next to the sea and is a 177-yard par three. The first real test on the links comes here with a narrow entrance to a long and narrow green, once again left is best on this little beauty. On a blustery day, with the wind off the land the start to the Balcomie would strike fear into the most highly skilled players. But the longer hitters will fancy their chances of making a birdie at the 354-yard par four 4th hole.

Tom’s comments on the Balcomie Links “As you step on to the first tee you are greeted with a spectacular view of the golf course and the North Sea. It was an absolute pleasure to play and the views never disappointed. I was impressed to see how relevant the golf course still plays, considering its age, even for today's modern technology. I can only imagine what it plays like with a stern Scottish breeze in ones face”

Arguably the finest hole on the links follows. The 454-yard par four 5th will take two of your best to reach in two, with the drive across the sea and a second shot from more than 230 yards in to a green which is the faster and features more slope than any other you will have played so far.

The sixth hole is the least aesthetically pleasing hole on the front nine, but at 188 yards to a sheltered green, from an elevated tee, this par three will test you.

The Seventh is a driveable par four, with a large slope which the longer hitters can take advantage of. Beware though this green slopes away from you, so a drive which reaches the green will likely not stay on it and a wedge approach will be very difficult to stop.

After the challenge of the first ten holes comes some welcome relief with two consecutive par fives. The eleventh hole features a downhill drive, with a semi-blind second shot, but with the wind behind, this 494-yard hole is in reach in two shots for the long hitters.

The eighth is a testing par four of 419 yards with a stunning view of the sea for your second shot.

The twelfth hole is 30 yards longer, and your layup needs to be precise, with a burn running across the fairway at 100 yards from the green.

The front nine closes with a sensational 306yard par four, this hole harks back to the days of gutta percha balls and hickory clubs.

After two back-to-back par fives Crail offers two contrasting par threes, two of six on the course.

The back nine begins with a demanding, uphill 336-yard par four. The bunker in the middle of the fairway must be avoided, a bogey or worse will follow if you find it. The approach can be from 150 yards to a green perched high up above you. Anything beyond the flag and you will face a treacherous putt back to the hole.

The thirteenth is truly from a bygone era, playing uphill over a steep hill face, the name of the hole is Craighead, which gives its name to the second course at Crail. Clubbing is important here and the green has several subtle breaks.

The signature hole of the Balcomie Links is undoubtedly the fourteenth. The Cave is only 147 yards but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be deceived with the length on the scorecard. There are absolutely no prizes for finishing short here, even if you manage to clear the large bunker at the front of the green, the green features a severe slope in the middle, and anything short of the correct distance will roll back away from the hole. This quite stunning hole is the most photographed on the links and is an iconic image of golf in the Kingdom of Fife.

Once you turn from the green at 14 and wander towards the fifteenth tee you may look at the final four holes and think that the finish doesn’t live up to the rest of the course. But don’t be fooled, looks can be deceiving. The fifteenth hole is short but dangerous, with the sea lapping at the rocks near the green, any shot running at pace down the left side will likely find the water. The sixteenth is an uphill par three to a blind green, again distance judgement is critical here on this 162-yard hole. The seventeenth hole plays from a greatly elevated tee, the highest point on the course and requires an accurate and long drive. At 462 yards this is a stern test. The grand finale to the Balcomie Links comes in the shape of a 205-yard par three where only a well-struck long-iron or fairway wood will reach the green. At only 5861 yards it would be easy for the casual visitor to write off the Balcomie Links, but this course is a true test of all areas of the game. It has a splendid mix of short and long par fours, with very playable par five’s and six of the most wonderful par three’s in golf.

By Matt Hooper

Golf Returns to the Olympic Games

©OMEGA Ltd

“Now in accordance with tradition I declare the games of the 30th Olympiad closed, and call upon the youth of the world to assemble four years from now in Rio de Janeiro, to celebrate the games of the 31st Olympiad.” The words of the former President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. From that moment Golf has been anticipating its return to the top table of sport, 120 golfers from over 40 countries across six continents will be a part of the youth of the world assembling next August in Rio. After 112 years on the outside looking in, Golf will finally return to the greatest show on earth, and despite a long and rocky road to reinstatement, it is now just all about the golf. Qualification, including over 400 tournaments in some 60 countries over a 2-year period, comes to a close on 11 July 2016, preceding The 145th Open Championship. The structure of qualification has been one of many subjects debated over the 6 years since Golf was elected as one of the 28 sports for Rio 2016. As proposed by the International Golf Federation at their presentation to the 121st session of the IOC, the leading 59 players, men and women, on the Olympic Golf Rankings will qualify for Rio.

These 59 men and women will be joined by 1 representative of the host country, again, according to the Olympic Golf Rankings. 60 men and women will compete over four rounds / 72 holes of strokeplay competition, with a three-hole playoff to determine each medal if there is a tie. The Olympic Golf Rankings are taken from the Official World Golf Rankings and work as follows: The leading 15 players from the Official World Golf Ranking will qualify for the 2016 Rio games, excepting that a maximum of four players from any one country will qualify. Outside of the leading 15 players on the Official World Golf Rankings, a maximum of two golfers from any one country can qualify for the 2016 Rio games. The qualification, as I said, was just one of many subjects debated since golfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reinstatement to the Olympic Games. The format has been decided as a 72-hole strokeplay competition, but many have called for it to be match play, and many have called for a team competition instead of an individual championship. The athletes themselves have been debated, whether or not it should be amateurs, rather than professionals competing for golfing gold in Rio next August.

And then, there is the controversial and delaybesieged host golf course. After a hotly contested competition to design the course, Gil Hanse was awarded the right to design the Olympic Golf Course, which is located just 1 kilometre from the Olympic Village. Planning legislation, environmental concerns and protests have all held up the construction of the course, which is scheduled to host a test event in early 2016. Alex Miceli of GolfWeek reported at The Open that the organisers believed the course would benefit from a second grow-in season and would be ready sometime in January/February. The test event is rumoured to be a one-day event, but will likely feature many of the best golfers in the world, especially as none of them will want to pass up the chance to play the course for the first time prior to the Olympic Games beginning.

William Porter Payne was elected as the Chief Executive Officer of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games. Payne was the leading advocate of bringing the games to Atlanta, and a keen golfer. He was a member of Augusta National, and has since become Chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club and The Masters. In 1992 he announced that golf would return to the Olympic Games, and the membership at Augusta National had agreed to allow the events to be played over their course. Payne said that the Olympic tournament would be open and have fields of 60 men from 25 to 30 countries and 40 women from some 20 countries. Each country would be allowed up to three men and three women. But members of the Atlanta City Council had not been consulted about the decision to try to play golf in Augusta and they raised objections.

Yes, all these subjects are cause for concern, and have given the people in power a real headache, but finally golf is about to realise a long-term dream and return to the biggest event in sport.

They said they were concerned because the Augusta National was a predominantly white club, and at the time had no female members. They also wanted to have the golf tournament held in Atlanta.

They could not have done this without the leadership and vision of Ty Votaw, Peter Dawson and George Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Grady. Their bid in 2009 was the most recent of several to get golf reinstated in the Olympic program.

ACOG officials tried to smooth things over, but the political squabbling got so intense, not even the persuasive Payne could calm down the Atlanta political leaders. Finally, ACOG decided to not even ask the International Olympic Committee to approve golf as a sport in 1996.

When Atlanta won the rights to host the Centennial Olympic Games (1996) in 1990

In 1989, Juan Antonio Samaranch, then President of the IOC, discussed adding golf to the program of the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, but he backed off when he could get no assurances that many top pros would participate. Despite this, and later bids to get golf back into the Olympics of 2008 and 2012, it took until 2009 for the sport to truly unite around a bid. The International Golf Federation, formerly known as the World Golf Council, was designated as golf’s governing body for the purposes of organising an Olympic golf bid and competition. Peter Dawson was elected as President of the International Golf Federation, with Ty Votaw as Vice-President alongside Anthony Scanlon as Executive Director. In addition to these prominent positions, all three gentlemen are part of the Board of Governors which includes Tim Finchem of the PGA Tour, George O’Grady of the European Tour, Michael Whan of the LPGA, Pet Bavacqua of the PGA of America, Will Jones of Augusta National Golf Club and Mike Davis of the USGA among others. The board features prominent administrators of all the major governing bodies of amateur and professional golf around the world, and achieved a difficult task of uniting all the major golfing organisations behind a bid for Olympic Golf. The next task was to convince the best players in the world to back the bid.

Padraig Harrington, winner of 3 majors, was the most prominent male golfer to formally back the bid. He was joined by rising Italian star, Matteo Manassero. Suzann Pettersen and Michelle Wie were the female representation of the bid presentation team in Denmark on 9 October 2009. Ty Votaw spoke passionately about the sport of golf being united in commitment to see golf return to the Olympic program, and that over 60 million golfers wanted to see the sport that they “dearly love” to be a part of the Olympic Games. Peter Dawson echoed and re-emphasized the unity of the sports bodies across the world to making golf an Olympic Sport once more. Dawson, who retired as Secretary of the R&A this year, also emphasized the global reach of golf through television, its commercial success and charitable donations. Crucially Dawson also highlighted the shared values between the Olympic Movement and the sport of golf, and the lessons golf can teach the youth of the world. Ty Votaw also highlighted golf’s anti-doping policy and showed golf’s commitment to clean sport. Padraig Harrington emphasized the global scale of golf, and the potential significance of golf in the Olympics should the bid be successful. He said that golf in the Olympics would inspire him.

Michelle Wie spoke of her early love for the game of golf and how she could dream of being an Olympic athlete if golf was successful in its bid to return to the Olympic Games. And she spoke about how another 4-year-old girl could be watching her win a medal in Rio, and be inspired to take up the game. A short video followed with comments from Tiger Woods and Ernie Els backing golf’s bid to return to the Olympic program. Peter Dawson closed the presentation by saying to Jacques Rogge, “Mr President, our values are your values, and we believe that together we can move the world forward, by sharing these ideals with young people everywhere.” “We stand ready to play our full part in the Olympic movement, we are one sport speaking with one voice, with one objective, to return golf to the Olympic program.” The presentation was powerful, concise and left the IOC in no doubt that golf was ready to return to the Olympic Games. Golf was elected to the 2016 Rio Olympic program by a vote of 63-27, with 2 abstentions. After 112 years golf will return to the Olympic Games, in Rio next August. A fractured sport, with many tours and organisations, spoke with one voice and achieved its goal.

©IOC/R. Juilliart

ÂŠIOC/R. Juilliart

Matt answers some of the questions that the golfing and sporting world are asking about Golf in the Olympic Games.

Should Golf be an Olympic Sport? Unequivocally yes. Golf was first played in the 1400â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and has a global reach, it is played by people of all ages and backgrounds, promotes fair play and brings people together. In countries such as Canada, Sweden and New Zealand it is the leading participation sport, and golf promotes amateur ideals just as the Olympic movement does.

ÂŠStuart Franklin/Getty Images

But Golfers aren’t athletes, are they? You are fit for your sport. I defy anyone to tell me that Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Adam Scott, Lydia Ko, Suzann Pettersen, Lexi Thompson, Sandra Gal and Michelle Wie are not athletic. The spirit of the ancient Olympic Games included: • Truce (peace and the temporary cessation of quarrels, disputes and misunderstandings); • Honour and honesty; • Beauty (physical); • Healthy body (physical training) as well as healthy mind (character development); • Art (sculpture, music, poetry, etc); • Fair play; • Pursuit of excellence; • Kalos Kagathia – a concept that denoted the successful integration of moral, artistic, intellectual, and physical creativity. So, there are far more aspects to being an Olympian than athletic prowess, having said that I again defy anyone to argue substantially that the modern golf swing is not athletic.

©ROLEX/Chris Turvey

Golf has four/five major championships, the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup and other worldwide events, the Olympics don’t mean as much to golfers do they? In Swimming and Athletics they have World and European Championships, as well as the Diamond League in Athletics. In Winter Sports they have the World Cup, which is the season-long title the athletes across the various sports compete for, and many say that winning a World Cup is the greatest achievement of their career. The Olympic Games is so special because you have athletes from 28 sports and over 200 countries. And Golf will only add to the whole experience. 40 years ago the Ryder Cup was not even close to the event it is today, now it is the most watched and most important event in golf. The Majors in golf have changed over the years and there is no question that the winner of the gold medal will cherish it greatly, as Padraig Harrington said “For every 16 majors played, there is only one chance at winning Olympic Gold.”

©Augusta National

Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the Olympic Games about Amateurs? Usain Bolt earns over $20 million per year and counts Puma, Virgin Media, Hublot, Digicel, Celcom, Repugnol and Gatorade as sponsors. Michael Phelps is said to have a net worth of over $50million and has endorsements from Omega, P&G, Under Armour, Subway, HP, VISA, Hilton and Louis Vuitton. Both of these, among many others, are fully professional athletes, and they are the athletes which the thousands of spectators pay to see. These are the athletes which help grow sport across the world. If they can compete at the Olympic Games there is no justification for not allowing Rory, Jordan and Rickie from doing so.

So golf will be at the Rio 2016 games, surely it should be match play? Match play is the purest form of the game, but can you imagine if we get a US Open or Open Championship scenario on the final day with the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals up for grabs? It would be dynamite. Rory, Jordan, Rickie, Jason, Adam, Henrik, Sergio & Louis all battling it out in the men’s tournament and Inbee, Lydia, Lexi, Michelle, Suzann, Stacy & Shanshan fighting for the medals in the women’s tournament. You just cannot get that with match play.

©BMW AG/David Cannon

It’s going to be strokeplay but surely the world’s top fifty golfers should qualify? Why? If it is the world’s biggest sporting event then it should be the hardest event to qualify for in golf. If you are fortunate enough to be from a major golfing nation then it is just unfortunate if there are better players than you in that country. Just play better. The Olympic Games is all about bringing the “youth of the world together”, so golfers from all countries should be given a fair opportunity to qualify. Whilst I agree the field size is small, there are reasons for this, not least the restrictions on numbers of athletes per sport, and also the pace of play.

OLYMPIC FACT 3 Americans out of 75 sprinters in the 100m men’s race at London 2012, but 8 Americans have run among the fastest 20 races this year. At the London 2012 Olympics only 2 American men competed in the 50m freestyle race, the leading 36 on the world swimming rankings include 7 American men.

I do think, should golf retain its place for future games, that the qualifying system should be refined but not to enable one more American or European to play instead of a golfer from Brazil just because they are The Open champion and the Brazilian is 400th in the world. That is why this is such a unique and special opportunity for golf, and we must take it.

©USGA/John Mummert

Part 1: Growing the game By Matt Hooper

©OMEGA Ltd

The date is Saturday 4 August, 2012, a day which will go down as one of the greatest in British sporting history. It was the eighth day of the 2012 London Olympic Games, and a day on which British athletes won 6 gold medals across Athletics, Cycling and Rowing.

Meanwhile, 3750 miles from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, in Akron, Ohio the world’s best golfers were competing in the third round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. On the Sunday Keegan Bradley shot a final round of 64 to win a first WGC title, to add to the 2011 PGA Championship. But was anyone watching? Then 7 days later, at the same time as London was closing its Olympic Games, Rory McIlroy buried the opposition at Kiawah Island, winning a first PGA Championship and second major title by an incredible 8 shots. But was anyone watching? I was watching, flicking from Sky to BBC to take in both the closing ceremony of London 2012 and Rory’s quest for a second major. The majors are golf’s world championships, the standard of greatness is the four major championships and they are the events which grow our game, along with the Ryder Cup. But whilst watching the final round of the 94th PGA Championship I couldn’t help but thinking that it was such a shame golf wasn’t in the

Olympics and a part of the greatest show on earth. The Olympics is the most-watched sporting event on the planet, alongside the FIFA World Cup, and gives all sports a window to the world which they don’t usually have. In Rio de Janeiro next August, Golf will have its long awaited Olympic Opportunity. For over 100 years Golf has grown worldwide without the assistance of a place at the Olympic Games, spreading to over 130 countries and being played by over 60 million people across six continents. But a place in the Olympic program will enable the sport to grow even faster and in parts of the world where the sport is in its infancy. The game has made giant strides in Asia in the last twenty years, with co-sanctioned events between the European and Asian Tours paving the way for a first World Golf Championships event, the HSBC Champions in China. This October the continent will host its first Presidents Cup, in Korea, and Asian players are now firmly established in the upper echelons of the game on both the men’s and women’s tours. In the women’s game there are 26 Asian ladies inside the world’s top fifty players, and there are now 7 players in the top 100 of the men’s Official World Golf Ranking. ©OMEGA Ltd

Anirban Lahiri has become the first Indian golfer to qualify for the International Presidents Cup team. Imagine the potential for the game if

the world’s two most populous nations, India and China, invest in golf as they do other Olympic sports. Obviously this upcoming Olympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro, has an opportunity to massively boost interest and participation in Brazil and across South America. It has the opportunity to help make Brazil and the wider region a destination for future major events such as a World Golf Championship or a Presidents Cup, and create a golf tourism industry. But Golf in the Olympic Games also gives the sport a massive opportunity to halt the decline in participation in the major golfing regions such as North America and Europe. There can be no denying that golf participation across Europe is in decline, despite the heralded impact of the Ryder Cup. Looking at the statistics of registered golfers (golf club members), Europe as a whole has seen participation drop from 4.4 million in 2010 to 4.2 million this year, more worryingly though is the drop in junior participation to just 9% of all registered golfers. The Ryder Cup is by far the biggest golfing event in Europe, and boosting participation has been a legacy goal for all host nations, however the statistics show that this is not being achieved.

Wales has been in decline since 2000 when it had a peak of 74,829 registered golfers, the Ryder Cup did nothing to arrest this decline. With over 11,000 less registered golfers now than in 2010 when Wales hosted the Ryder Cup. In 2005 there were 8,298 registered junior golfers, in the last decade that number has fallen to 4,277. The Ryder Cup in Ireland had a huge impact on the numbers of registered golfers in the years leading up to and the two years following the tournament, with numbers peaking at 289,120 of which 37,000 were juniors. But since 2009 participation has declined sharply, falling to 194,151 registered golfers of which only 24,047 are juniors. Since 2001, when Scotland was announced as host to the 2014 Ryder Cup a staggering 66,000 golfers have left the game, and alarmingly the number of juniors has fallen to just over 18,000. Spain saw a steady increase over the 10 years following its staging of the Ryder Cup to a peak of 338,160 registered golfers. Whilst the numbers have fallen to below 290,000, the number of junior golfers has increased threefold to 33,236, although junior numbers have declined over the last five years. France’s bid for the 2018 Ryder Cup was built around engaging existing golf club members, taking a levy from golf club subscriptions to fund the building of 3, 6 and 9-hole golf

courses across the country, in a bid to boost participation and bring a new group of people to the game. However, since winning the bid in 2011 the number of registered golfers has increased overall by just 858 or 0.2%. It has actually fallen by over 14,000 in the last two years. The only major European country which is bucking the trend is Germany, where the number of registered golfers has steadily risen every year for the last 30 years. In Germany every golfer has to be registered to play on their courses, so these statistics are an accurate reflection of participation. So Golf returning to the Olympic Games is an incredible and much needed opportunity to start growing the game in the major countries across Europe again. A Sport England survey on sports participation across England shows that both Athletics and Cycling, with stars such as Jessica Ennis and Bradley Wiggins, saw increased participation following the London 2012 Olympic Games. So it is important for golf to begin marketing itself around stars from every country, not just one individual, so that people from every country are inspired to take up the game. Currently there are golfers from 40 countries on 6 continents set to qualify for the men’s and women’s Olympic tournaments. Let us imagine the following situations at Rio 2016 and the

ramifications for the future of the game if they should happen:

Men’s Olympic Golf Tournament, 11-14 August 2016 On the final day the 60 players will compete for Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals. The competition comes down to Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Justin Rose, Louis Oosthuizen, Camilo Villegas, Anirban Lahiri, Hideki Matsuyama, Martin Kaymer, Ricardo Gouveia, Wu Ashun and Lucas Lee. 12 players contending for three Olympic medals, including: The world’s three outstanding golfers in McIlroy, Spieth and Day, who have won 7 major championships between them and are all aged under 27. Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer and Louis Oosthuizen, all are major champions from Great Britain, Germany and South Africa respectively, and have competed for the major titles in 2015. Camilo Villegas, a multiple winner on the PGA Tour with an athletic image and is from Colombia; Hideki Matsuyama, a winner on the PGA Tour, who is from Japan, the host of the 2020 Olympic Games; Anirban Lahiri, the highest ranked Indian golfer of all-time, who

contended for the PGA Championship and will play in the Presidents Cup this October; Ricardo Gouveia, a rising star from Portugal; Wu Ashun, a rising star from China and Lucas Lee, the highest ranked male Brazilian golfer.

Women’s Olympic Golf Tournament, 18-21 August 2016 On the final day the 60 players will compete for Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals. The competition comes down to Inbee Park, Lydia Ko, Stacy Lewis, Lexi Thompson, Michelle Wie, Shanshan Feng, Suzann Pettersen, Anna Nordqvist, Karrie Webb, Sandra Gal, Julieta Granada, Charley Hull, Mariajo Ube and Miriam Nagl. 14 players contending for three Olympic medals including: The outstanding talent at the top of the world game Inbee Park, Lydia Ko, Stacy Lewis, Lexi Thompson, Michelle Wie, Shanshan Feng, Suzann Pettersen etc. etc. The rising stars Charley Hull and Sandra Gal from Great Britain and Germany respectively; Julieta Granada from Paraguay, Mariajo Ube from Colombia and Miriam Nagl from Brazil.

If these players across the two tournaments do contend for the medals on Sunday then a total of 17 countries from all 6 continents will be represented. They feature players from the established, major golfing nations and the very best talent the world has to offer. They also feature players from the two emerging and potential golfing powerhouses in India and China. And they feature players from the host country, Brazil, and wider South America. The tournaments have the potential to be a melting pot of golfers from all over the world, and be the most international of all golfing events. The tournaments both have the potential for massive golfing upsets, with the range in world ranking from World Number 1 to 575 in the women’s tournament and World Number 1 to 344 in the men’s tournament. The format of 60 players and no cut allows for a bunched field, and allows a player at the bottom end of the world rankings to find their feet on Thursday and Friday and make a surge over the weekend. If we have the drama of the US Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship at the Olympic Games, then golf has the opportunity to captivate millions and go from a sport in decline to a sport which is growing again. That is not just good for golf, but it is good for the Olympic movement, and it shows that this much commercialized event still serves a valid purpose in getting us all more active.

Tennis is proof that Olympic Golf can defy the critics and sceptics to take a place as one of the most significant tournaments in the sport

Words Matt Hooper Images FLICKR/Marianne Bevis ROLEX/Chris Turvey

It might be hard to believe, but Tennis was actually one of the 10 sports which made up the first modern Olympic Games, in 1896. It remained a part of the Olympics until 1924, when the ITF and IOC disagreed over the participation of amateurs. Tennis returned as a demonstration sport at the 1968 and 1984 Olympics. The success of the demonstration event in 1984 and a long campaign by ITF President Phillippe Chatrier saw Tennis formally return to the Olympic program for 1988 in Seoul, Korea. Chatrier, General Secretary David Gray and Vice President Pablo Lorens were all equally passionate about getting Tennis reinstated to the Olympic program. But despite their passion, some did not share their vision, feeling the Grand Slam tournaments were the most important. The first Olympic Tennis tournament in 64 years could not have gone better for the sport. Steffi Graf, winner of the calendar year Grand Slam of the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open, arrived in Seoul looking for Olympic Gold to add to her astonishing achievements. The Olympic Games of Seoul 1988 were staged from 17 September to 2 October, which enabled the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best Tennis stars to play. 11 of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top 20 men took part and 4 of the top 5 women entered the competition.

Graf was the number one seed and overwhelming favourite, and she won her first two matches convincingly before a tougher test in the last eight against Larisa Savchenko of Russia. She negotiated the match in 3 sets before easily winning her semi-final with Zina Garrison to set up the final against third seed Gabriela Sabatini. Graf prevailed 6-3, 6-3 to clinch the first Olympic Gold Medal in Tennis since 1924 and complete what became known as the Golden Grand Slam. It was lift-off for Tennis at the Olympics and in the 27 years since the winners of the Gold Medal have included Serena and Venus Williams, Jennifer Capriati, Justin Henin, Lindsay Davenport, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.

Impact of the Olympics on Tennis

In 1987, the year before Tennis was reinstated to the Olympic program a total of 70 countries entered the Davis Cup and 41 countries entered the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fed Cup. In 2012, the year of the most recent Olympic Games, a total of 85 countries entered the Fed Cup and 121 countries entered the Davis Cup. Prior to the 1988 season male players from 14 different countries won Grand Slam titles, and since Tennis was reinstated to the Olympic Games, players from 16 different countries have lifted Grand Slam titles. The 1988 ATP Tour visited 23 countries in contrast to the 32 it visited in 2012 and the 1988 WTA Tour visited 20 countries in contrast to the 32 it visited in 2012. Tennis in the Olympic Games has had a profound impact upon the development of professional Tennis from the number of countries competing in international team competition, to the number of countries with elite players to the number of countries which host tournaments. It has helped to revolutionize the face of the sport at the professional level. Tennis in the Olympics has helped to boost participation at grass roots level massively too. Following the success of Andy Murray in the London 2012 Olympic Games, Sport England reports that participation increased by 12.4%.

Despite the unequivocal success of Tennis in the Olympic Games, both for the professional and grass roots game, several high-profile golfers have voiced their disapproval or indifference to golf returning to the Olympic Games. Nobody has been more vocal in their disapproval than the former world number one and 2013 Masters Champion, Adam Scott. The Australian has been a true global ambassador for the game, winning tournaments in Australia, South Africa, Singapore, Scotland, Qatar, Sweden, China and the United States. He has played on seven International Presidents Cup teams and in 2013 won the World Cup of Golf with Jason Day for Australia, at Royal Melbourne. He clinched his first major championship at the 2013 Masters after a play-off against Argentinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Angel Cabrera. So, you would think for someone who has been international in their play, and had success on all five continents aside from South America that he would be chomping at the bit to get to Rio to win on a sixth continent. You would be wrong.

“Whether I win an Olympic medal or not is not going to define my career or change whether I’ve fulfilled my career. It’s nothing I’ve ever aspired to do and I don’t think I ever will. It’s all about the four majors and that’s the way it should stay for golf. To go and play an exhibition event down there to meet some athletes [in other sports] in the middle of the major season – I don’t think any other athletes in their sport would do that.

“I don’t believe a lot of sports belong there. It’s got away from where it started. Most of the athletes at the Olympics probably have trained four years specifically to peak at this one event. It’s the pinnacle of their sport, they get one crack at their big thing every four years. They have put their life on hold for this event and it’s so important to them, and I feel it’s their time. Golf doesn’t need to be in the Olympics.” “I’m not planning my schedule around playing the Olympics. I’m planning my schedule around playing majors the best I can. If I can fit going to the Olympics into that it might be a bit of fun. Lucky me.”

Adam Scott, 2015 ©ROLEX/Chris Turvey

“I want to be an Olympic athlete. I think it will be really cool, it will be a life experience. It’s something I never thought would happen because Golf hasn’t been in the Olympics, and it will be a challenge for me to be playing at the highest level at age 46, but it is something I am excited about” "Everybody that I have talked to is excited about golf becoming an Olympic sport. It is the greatest thing to happen to our sport, it will allow the growth of the game on a global level.”

"And with the Olympic foundations in all the countries in the world, I believe we will have a lot of money put towards the growth of the game in terms of educating juniors and teaching juniors proper fundamentals.” "I think the game of golf will finally get the recognition it deserves."

Phil Mickelson, 2009/2013

©ROLEX/Chris Turvey

World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum Leads Collaborative Effort to Create Educational Golf Exhibit in Support of Gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Return to the Olympics Must see exhibition to be showcased in Olympic Museum before departure to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympic Games

In anticipation of golf’s long-awaited return to the Olympics, leaders from the golf world came together to create “SWING!”, an educational golf exhibit set to be displayed in the fan zone at the golf venue during the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, August 621. Before its transport to Rio, the exhibit will first be displayed in the Olympic Museum from December 9, 2015 to January 31, 2016 in Lausanne (Switzerland).

SWING! is segmented into six “holes,” each offering a theme around the game: “Golf Today,” “Equipment,” “The Game,” “Emblematic Courses Worldwide,” “Golf and its Champions,” “Golf & the Olympics.” Spanning nearly 1,000 square feet, the exhibition shares its stories of the game through video, graphics and text panels as well as with golf clubs, balls and unique artefacts.

“The creation and subsequent promotion of this exhibition is a boost for golf,” said World Golf Hall of Fame President Jack Peter. “Golf’s return to the Olympics is historic and we believe it is our responsibility to help educate those who are new to the game, its rules, the equipment and the game’s icons. With the help of our partners, we are confident that our exhibit will enable fans to interact and better understand the game in advance of next summer’s Games in Rio de Janeiro.”

Under the guidance of the International Golf Federation, the World Golf Hall of Fame led a collaborative effort with its partner organizations, the British Golf Museum, USGA Museum and Golf Canada to conceive an easy-to-understand exhibition for fans at the Olympics.

©Hulton Archive/Getty Images

All eyes move to Rio and Brazil

At the same IOC session in which Golf won its bid to return to the Olympic program, another momentous decision was made. IOC delegates voted to take the Olympic Games to South America for the very first time, specifically to the city of Rio de Janeiro. The city defeated Madrid, Tokyo and Chicago to win the bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. It was somewhat of an upset with the other three cities scoring more highly in their IOC evaluation. The result was welcomed by roars of celebration from the Rio team, including Pele, who served as an ambassador for the bid. It was a huge moment for Brazil, which hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2014, and to secure the Olympic Games meant that they would host the two biggest sporting events in the world over a three-year period. The decision to stage the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio meant that Golf would make its return to the games in a country which wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t golf crazy and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the necessary infrastructure for a major golf tournament. Madrid, Chicago and Tokyo of course do have that infrastructure, so at the time there was a little trepidation for golf as to how successful its return would be in a non-golfing nation.

Map of RIO 2016 venues

The Olympic Golf course, designed by Gil Hanse, is located just 5 kilometres from the Olympic village. Its location is shown on the map opposite, in Barra zone.

Illustrations courtesy Rio2016.com

Can Golf join favourites such as Football and Volleyball in the land of Pele, Ronaldo and Neymar?

You know Pele, Ayrton Senna, Gustavo Kuerten, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Neymar, Martha, and Rubens Barrichello. Iconic champions of Brazilian sport which transcend their country to a global audience. But can you name the most successful Olympic athlete in Brazilian sport? If you knew, then you are obviously a very well learned individual. Robert Scheidt is one of the most successful sailors in Brazil, winning 2 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze at five Olympic Games since 1996. Born in Sao Paulo, the same city as Ayrton Senna, the 42-year-old carried the Brazilian flag at Beijing 2008. He was also voted Brazilian Sportsman of the Year in 2001. Brazilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Olympic Heritage is somewhat overshadowed by their all-conquering football teams, but their achievements across many sports shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be passed by. This is a passionate nation about outdoor activity, with its stunning Atlantic coast and superb climate this is nation geared up for success at the Olympic Games.

Despite all of Brazil’s Olympic successes there is no question over which sport sets the pulses racing and is in the heart of every Brazilian. England may have invented it, but Brazil perfected the beautiful game, Football. Five FIFA World Cup victories makes Brazil the most successful footballing nation on earth, and the names are like a who’s who of world sport over the last fifty years. Pele, Jairzinho, Rivelino, Carlos Alberto, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Dunga, Ronaldinho and Neymar to name but a few of the most talented exponents of the world’s most popular sport. But despite their domination of the world game, neither Brazil’s men nor women have taken a gold medal at the Olympic Games. It is something which Brazilians crave more than anything else at the upcoming Rio Olympics. And after their shattering semi-final defeat to Germany in the 2014 World Cup, which Brazil hosted, and agonizing defeat in the London 2012 Olympic final, Rio 2016 is even more important. All sports will be in a greater spotlight at the 2016 Olympics, but no other sport will have the intensity of interest that the football tournament will generate among the passionate football fans of this incredible nation.

Whether you live in a Favela (Slum) or a luxury apartment in Rio is not an issue when it comes to Football, the sport unites the people and brings people from all socio-economic backgrounds together.

It is this challenge which Golf has to overcome in the years ahead, and a presence in the Olympic Games will help. Programs such as the First Tee can help educate young Brazilians through the game of golf, and with a growing middle-class this Olympics can be a watershed moment for the sport in this Football crazy country.

Volleyball is the second most popular sport in Brazil, with 5% (10.2million people) of the population said to play the sport either indoors or on the beach. Volleyball and Beach Volleyball account for 20 of the 108 medals won by Brazil at the Summer Olympic Games, and 6 of the 23 Gold Medals won. Indeed, Brazil is the most successful nation in Olympic Volleyball, and the nation is the world leader in terms of titles won and their ranking on the World Tour run by FIVB. In Beach Volleyball Brazil has won the most Olympic medals since the sport was given Olympic status in 1996, and is second to the United States in terms of Gold Medals won.

It is the culture of fun, togetherness and inclusion which both Football and Volleyball has in Brazil, and which Golf needs to promote during these Olympic Games. Golf is a solitary game, but can be played with friends and is at its best when in team competition. There are many ways to play the game, and many fun games to play within the sport. Breaking the stranglehold of Football and Volleyball is an impossible dream, but this outdoor loving nation could fall in love with the greatest game ever played if one of their own is successful at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. In the first of our series of major interviews with Golfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Olympic hopefuls I recently spoke to Rafael Becker. The 24-year-old from Sao Paulo is currently fourth in the Brazilian Olympic Rankings and 800th in the Official World Golf Ranking. I talked to him about how he got into the game, his career as a junior and amateur, and his emerging professional career on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica. He tasted the greatest success of his career last September when he dramatically won his national Open at Gavea Golf Club, in the heart of Rio de Janeiro.

The Sensation from Sao Paulo dreaming of Olympic gold

Words Matt Hooper with Rafael Becker Photography Enrique Berardi/PGA Tour LA

Rio 2016 has the chance to inspire people to play the game of golf like no other event before it. The Ryder Cup drives golf participation in Europe, but the Presidents Cup doesn’t really have any impact in the countries that players are from. The Olympic Games can grow the game all over the world. No place will feel this impact more than Brazil, the host nation of the 2016 Olympics is the first country to stage a genuinely global Olympic Golf Tournament. And because of this there can be little doubt that its impact will be farreaching. There are a number of Brazilian golfers playing on the tours of the world, mainly though they are currently based in their home continent on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica. In 2012 the PGA Tour took over the ailing Tour de Las Americas, and created a third tier of tours below the Web.com Tour. This has created a defined pathway from amateur golf to the PGA Tour for aspiring South Americans. There are currently six Brazilians with an active Official World Golf Ranking, and these players will be desperately hoping to achieve the required standard over the next few months to qualify for their home Olympic Games. One of these six players is Rafael Becker, from Sao Paulo, he is currently ranked third in Brazil, one spot outside the qualifying places for the Brazilian team. I recently caught up with the world number 818 to talk to him about his career so far and ambitions for Rio 2016.

Why, in a football mad country, did you start to play golf and who inspired you to play golf? “To be honest I was never very good at football. My friends from the neighbourhood played golf as well, so we had a great group growing up. I think by the time I was 13 I realized how much I loved golf and stuck with it. I started playing from a young age, since my father has played since he was 8. He would go every weekend and I enjoyed going with. When I was young (11-15) I played a lot with my father and his friends too. At that point my dad was a pretty good player, 4 handicap, so that always pushed me to train and get better.”

Who were your sporting heroes growing up? Even though you were young when he died, growing up in Sao Paulo you must have been inspired by Ayrton Senna? “Senna was definitely an inspiration. I was only 4 but I can still remember the day he died. My father and I always watched the races together, even until I was 18. Another one has to be Ronaldo. Our Number 9 was probably the best ever to wear the 9 jersey and his comeback after the knee surgery was huge.”

How much did the Faldo Series event help in your development as a young golfer? “The Faldo series was a great opportunity for me to play against some really good Englishmen and test my golf. The chance of playing in China was also a great help to deal with the traveling required on tour. All in all it was a great way to gain some experience.”

You showed promise from a very young age, was it always the goal to attend college in the United States? “It was. Jaime Gonzalez is the head pro at my course, he went to Oklahoma State back in the day and always told me about it. Alex Rocha is also from the same neighbourhood as me, and he also played college golf.”

You were successful at Wichita State, how did you enjoy college life, did it develop your golf to an even higher level and is it a route which several Brazilian golfers are taking now? “I would not be the player I am today if it wasn’t for Wichita State and my coach there Grier Jones. I loved college life, having a team to support and practice with was of major importance on my career. Most Brazilians that have the opportunity are going to college. I support that move and whenever the young

guys have doubts I try to talk to them and explain how it works.”

Which were the highlights of your amateur career? “There are a few that really meant something for me. The title in Copa Los Andes as a team, in Rio 2012. All of the Brazilian amateurs and the Desert Shootout, in college.”

You turned professional in 2013 and took the decision to play on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica, is this with getting to the PGA Tour in mind and did you ever consider going over to Europe and trying to reach the top in the same way as Brooks Koepka? “I played in the qualifying school in Europe my first year as a pro. I played first stage in Portugal but didn’t get through. After that I played some events on PGA Tour LA and found some success. Later that year I got my card and just took this route trying to get to the PGA Tour. I believe Europe is also a great pathway, but it just didn’t work out for me.”

In November 2014 you won your first PGA Tour Latinoamerica title, and it couldn’t have been much bigger than the Brazilian Open. Explain how you played throughout the tournament and your emotions on the final day. “I played solid every day at Brazilian Open last year. My ball striking was good, my putting was pretty good, but every day I felt like i was leaving shots on the course. On the final round I teed off tied for 2nd. On the 9th tee I was 1over par and not happy. I then talked to my caddie and we figured that it was about time some things went my way. From there on I went 8 under and took home the title. Coming down the stretch I did not feel too much pressure. I put myself in some touchy situations that made me focus, which helped a lot with the pressure.”

That final round will stay with you forever won’t it? “For sure, sometimes I get Goosebumps when I think about it. The happiness and emotion are still very vivid in my mind, and that’s something I try to use when playing well and I kind of feed off it.”

The win helped you to finish 11th on the order of merit, narrowly missing out on the top five. This year you have made a slow start but with the season resuming in September are you hopeful of a good finish to make it to the Web.com Tour? “Definitely. I played great in the Dominican Republic, finished 7th having two bad rounds and have been working on my golf and my mind to come out swinging when the season picks up again. I love the courses that we are going to come back to and am looking forward to play.”

Currently you are ranked as Brazil’s third best golfer, with possibly only one Brazilian qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games is it a major goal of yours to move up the rankings and qualify? For sure. I am focusing on my web.com card instead though. I know I need some high finished to get to the Web, and if that happens I will consequently move up the world rankings, so my focus is week in week out.

How happy were you when it was confirmed that Rio would stage golf’s return to the Olympics? “I was ecstatic. First because golf was coming back to the Olympics, that in itself was a great thing for the sport. Second because it is coming back in Rio, what a beautiful city to stage a comeback.”

Has the Olympic Games seen a surge in interest and investment in golf in Brazil? “Not really to be honest, at least from a player perspective. This year, for example, we have only had the Web.com in Sao Paulo so far, not one other tournament for professionals hosted by the federation. Thankfully I play in Latin America, otherwise it would be tough to get a rhythm or money.”

With golfers and their new status as Olympic Athletes in greater focus now, could you detail your commitment to fitness and your gym/practice regime/schedule? “I go to the gym 7 times a week, that’s my commitment. Any athlete can benefit from being in great shape, I don’t care what people say “Oh golfers don’t need to be strong” and this and that. In the end, if I am less tired I can perform better than my opponent that is tired and

drained out. In all major tours the shift has been made and most players are ATHLETES. I train with Jordan Spieth, and I can tell you that this 21-year old is one tough athlete. No wonder he is the number two player in the world right now.

Have you visited the Rio Olympic Golf Course to look at it yet? “I haven’t. I’m living in Dallas, Texas. So I haven’t had a chance to see it yet. Hopefully during Brazilian Open this year I can go there and take a peek.”

Post Rio 2016 would you like to see the world’s tours build upon the legacy of the Olympic Golf Tournament and stage a significant event in Brazil? “I would love to see that, but to be honest there are countries in front of us on that race. The Brazilian Federation is not ready for it and I don’t think golf in general would benefit as much from such investment. Countries such as South Korea, Argentina, Mexico, India, China… Are all light years in front of us when it comes to the golfing community and management.”

Why should a young Brazilian play golf? “It is the only sport that will connect you to everyone, everywhere. You can play with people that are your age, or an 80-year old. You can play with a caddie, or with the CEO of a multi-billion dollar company… The interaction on a golf course is amazing. One can learn so much from golf and how the game is played and what is expected of you. Golf has definitely helped me growing up.”

The 24-year-old certainly has talent and ambition. He grew up in Cotia, a suburb of Sao Paulo, and lived about half a mile from the golf course since the age of 8. Growing up he played football with friends like most Brazilian kids but he also played and developed a passion for golf. It is a passion which he hopes he can share with the rest of the world next August. Rio 2016 has the chance to inspire a generation of Brazilian kids to take up golf, and who knows? By Tokyo 2020 we could see several Brazilian golfers competing for majors and on the PGA and European Tours. That would be the legacy we all hope for from Golf’s return to the Olympic Games. And one of those hoping to be a contender is Rafa, and with his achievements at a young age and now as a professional, who would bet against this sensation from Sao Paulo emulating Sao Paulo’s famous son, Ayrton Senna, and ruling the world?

Rafaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite 5 courses to play in Brazil

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beautiful views on a course that is in the middle of Rio, something rare to seeâ&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;This course is in the heart of Sao Paulo. In March/April the Ype trees are blossoming and the course is in spectacular condition, it has some of the best Bermuda greens I have ever seen.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The red cliffs are beautiful and the course is in great shape, it is always a pleasure to play there.â&#x20AC;?

“Probably the most challenging design, on which you have to hit most clubs in the bag. It’s my home course but trust me, anyone will love this track.”

“This is an old, country-club style course. It is short at only about 6000 yards but don’t let that fool you. The pine trees line each hole and the small greens will really make you scramble.”

From the shores of Lake Geneva to the fairways of Rio de Janeiro, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top women golfers had a taste of what to expect in 2016 when they paid a visit to the Olympic Museum and IOC Headquarters ahead of the Evian Championship. Seven golfers from five continents, all with aspirations of going to the 2016 Rio Olympics, played a nearest to the pin contest before taking a guided tour of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland and posing in front of the Olympic Flame. Shanshan Feng (China), Julieta Granada (Paraguay), Fabienne In-Albon (Switzerland), Caroline Masson (Germany), Paula Reto (South Africa), Alena Sharp (Canada) and Maria Uribe (Colombia) were all inspired to realise their own Olympic dreams as they learned about past records and heroes. Staged at two editions of the Games (Paris 1900 and St Louis 1904), golf is returning to the Olympic programme in 2016 after a 112year absence. To mark this event, the International Golf Federation (IGF) Executive Director Antony Scanlon announced that The Olympic Museum will devote an exhibition to golf with free admission from 9 December 2015 to 31 January 2016, where visitors can learn everything about the sport before the upcoming Games.

ÂŠIGF/Tristan Jones

After the contest and tour, several players met the International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach at the IOC Headquarters to discuss their hopes for when golf returns to the Olympic Games next August. President Bach insisted on hitting a few chip shots with the players in the garden afterwards and said: “I really enjoyed trying golf but the passion was greater than the performance!”

©IGF/Tristan Jones

World number eight, Shanshan Feng, who is one of China’s brightest medal prospects, commented: “It was really great to learn more about the history of the Olympic Games and it has certainly inspired me to go for a medal! The Olympics is so popular in China and I am determined to represent my country with pride.”

©IGF/Tristan Jones

Julieta Granada, who is Paraguay’s representative on the current Olympic Ranking, commented: “As I’m from South America I’ve got extra incentive to perform well in Rio. As well as competing, I’m looking forward to the carnival atmosphere at the greatest show on earth.”

©IGF/Tristan Jones

Fabienne In-Albon, who is poised to represent Switzerland, commented: “Representing my country in the Olympics has been a dream since I was a little girl. Now I have the chance to make this dream become a reality so I’m working very hard every day because I’m sure next year is going to fly by.”

©IGF/Tristan Jones

Germany’s Caroline Masson, who won the nearest to the pin contest, commented: “It was a privilege to sit down with President Bach and the IOC staff and it was great to hear how much support golf has from the IOC in its return to the Games. I’m working really hard to make sure I’m in Rio next year.”

©IGF/Tristan Jones

South African Paula Reto commented: “I always watched the Olympics growing up in South Africa so it’s going to be fantastic to compete and I will do everything I can to play well.”

©IGF/Tristan Jones

Canadian Alena Sharp commented: “To represent my country and compete for an Olympic medal would be an absolute honour and I’m going to work hard to achieve my goals.”

©IGF/Tristan Jones

Maria Uribe from Colombia commented: “For me, nothing will beat playing in the 2016 Olympics in my home continent, South America. I can’t wait for golf to return to the Games in Brazil after a 112-year absence and I’m sure the worldwide interest in golf will grow massively as a result.”

©IGF/Tristan Jones

OLYMPIC RANKINGS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; MEN 1

Rory McIlroy

IRL

Jordan Spieth

USA

Jason Day

AUS

Bubba Watson

USA

Justin Rose

GBR

Jim Furyk

USA

Dustin Johnson

USA

Henrik Stenson

SWE

Sergio Garcia

ESP

Louis Oosthuizen

RSA

Adam Scott

AUS

Hideki Matsuyama

JPN

Branden Grace

RSA

Martin Kaymer

GER

Shane Lowry

IRL

Danny Willett

GBR

Bernd Wiesberger

AUT

Anirban Lahiri

IND

David Lingmerth

SWE

Thongchai Jaidee

THA

Francesco Molinari

ITA

Victor Dubuisson

FRA

Danny Lee

NZL

Byeong-Hun An

KOR

Miguel Angel Jimenez

ESP

Joost Luiten

NED

Soren Kjeldsen

DEN

Kiradech Aphibarnrat

THA

Alexander Levy

FRA

Hiroshi Iwata

JPN

Sangmoon Bae

KOR

Graham DeLaet

CAN

Marcel Siem

GER

Emiliano Grillo

ARG

David Hearn

CAN

Mikko Ilonen

FIN

Thomas Bjorn

DEN

Ricardo Gouveia

POR

Ryan Fox

NZL

Brendon de Jonge

ZIM

Thomas Pieters

BEL

Angel Cabrera

ARG

Camilo Villegas

COL

Fabrizio Zanotti

PAR

Wu Ashun

CHN

Carlos Ortiz

MEX

Hao Tong Li

CHN

SSP Chawrasia

IND

Nicolas Colsaerts

BEL

Vijay Singh

FIJ

Roope Kakko

FIN

Angelo Que

PHI

Edoardo Molinari

ITA

Felipe Aguilar

CHI

Mardan Mamat

SIN

Lucas Lee

BRA

Antonio Lascuna

PHI

Chan Shih-chang

TPE

Adilson da Silva

BRA

Mark Tullo

CHI

JUSTIN ROSE World Number 5

DANNY WILLETT World Number 26

PAUL CASEY World Number 27

IAN POULTER World Number 36

LEE WESTWOOD World Number 37

JAMIE DONALDSON World Number 45

Rankings correct following The Barclays 30 August 2015

OLYMPIC RANKINGS - WOMEN 1

Inbee Park

KOR

Lydia Ko

NZL

Stacy Lewis

USA

So Yeon Ryu

KOR

Hyo-Joo Kim

KOR

Suzann Pettersen

NOR

Lexi Thompson

USA

Shanshan Feng

CHN

In Gee Chun

KOR

Anna Nordqvist

SWE

Brittany Lincicome

USA

Cristie Kerr

USA

Minjee Lee

AUS

Brooke M. Henderson

CAN

Karrie Webb

AUS

Azahara Munoz

ESP

Teresa Lu

TPE

Pornanong Phatlum

THA

Julieta Granada

PAR

Sandra Gal

GER

Mika Miyazato

JPN

Shiho Oyama

JPN

Charley Hull

GBR

Carlota Ciganda

ESP

Catriona Matthew

GBR

Lee-Anne Pace

RSA

Ariya Jutanugarn

THA

Karine Icher

FRA

Yani Tseng

TPE

Gwladys Nocera

FRA

Mariajo Uribe

COL

Caroline Masson

GER

Christel Boeljon

NED

Pernilla Lindberg

SWE

Xiyu Lin

CHN

Nicole Larsen

DEN

Line Vedel Hansen

DEN

Marianne Skarpnord

NOR

Alena Sharp

CAN

Stephanie Meadow

IRL

Paula Reto

RSA

Kelly Tan

MAS

Dewi Claire Schreefel

NED

Ursula Wikstrom

FIN

Klara Spilkova

CZE

Maria Balikoeva

RUS

Noora Tamminen

FIN

Giulia Sergas

ITA

Fabienne In-Albon

SUI

Christine Wolf

AUT

Alejandra Llaneza

MEX

Diana Luna

ITA

Michelle Koh

MAS

Leona Maguire

IRL

Paz Echeverria

CHI

Laetitia Beck

ISR

Jennifer Rosales

PHI

Lisa McCloskey

COL

Chloe Leurquin

BEL

Miriam Nagl

BRA

CHARLEY HULL World Number 48

CATRIONA MATTHEW World Number 53

MELISSA REID World Number 76

HOLLY CLYBURN World Number 78

AMY BOULDEN World Number 104

HANNAH BURKE World Number 126

Rankings correct following Cambia Portland Classic 16 August 2015

This autumn the PGA Tour will present two of their showcase events, firstly from 24-27 September the TOUR Championship by CocaCola and then from 8-11 October the Presidents Cup. Both are huge events for the PGA Tour, the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola will decide the 2015 FedEx Cup champion, and the Presidents Cup will pit the United States against the Rest of the World, excluding Europe. But both events have big problems. The TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola is the finale to the FedEx Cup Playoffs, and will decide the winner of the $10million and the ‘season-long’ champion of the PGA Tour. The first major problem with this is that the winner of the FedEx Cup is not the seasonlong champion of the TOUR. The points system is manufactured to ensure the player which plays the best in the playoffs wins the FedEx Cup, so why call it the season-long title? Despite numerous changes to the structure since the FedEx Cup was introduced in 2007, the points system is still complicated and still not reflective of the stature of most events or strength of the fields. In the regular season Major Championship winners along with THE PLAYERS Champion were awarded 600 points, which is just 100 points more than a winner of a regular PGA

Tour event. The World Golf Championships are worth 550 points to the winner. The small difference between victory in a regular PGA Tour event and a Major Championship is not reflective of the importance of the four majors, or reflective of the strength of field beaten. The Official World Golf Ranking system awards points based upon the strength of the field, and this is where the points system fails the players and fans.

season-long champion, despite winning the PGA Tour money-list by a difference of over $4.4million from Phil Mickelson, all in an effort to create a false drama. Drama will happen, these guys after all are good according to the PGA Tour mantra, so why not follow my 10-point plan to make the PGA Tour great again?

1. Return to using the money list and get rid of stupid points system

Once the Playoffs began the points jumped to 2,000 to the winner. Which is four times the value of a regular event and over three times the value of a Major Championship.

The money list is reflective of performance over a season, with the biggest events typically having the biggest prize funds.

This creates a situation where a player can be crowned FedEx Cup champion by winning a single event, the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. Which on the face of it is fine, it is the final event of a competition, but the contrived points system renders performance over the season and the four majors irrelevant.

2. Start the season in January, in week prior to the Super Bowl, and end the season in first week of November like it was 10 years ago.

Back in 2000 the PGA Tour season came to a dramatic conclusion with Mickelson, Woods, Singh and Els battling it out for the TOUR Championship at East Lake. Tiger Woods had completed the greatest season of all-time, winning three majors, one World Golf Championship and five other PGA Tour wins. If the FedEx Cup had existed in its current form some fifteen years ago it could very possibly have decided that Tiger Woods wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the

The season currently begins with a whimper in the autumn, opposite the end of the European Tour season and the start of the NFL season in the US. If a season begins so limply then it is difficult to maintain interest outside the majors for the entire year. To garner the biggest possible television audience, the Tournament of Champions should be played in the week prior to the Super Bowl, which does not clash with the NFL post season.

By ending the season in November the PGA Tour playoffs can be played on spectacular layouts with autumnal scenery, the kind of which the United States is renowned for.

3. End the money list at the Deutsche Bank Championship. The leading money winner is awarded the money title after this event and the leading 125 keep their card. The Football League doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t continue awarding points during the Playoffs following the regular season, it is winner takes all, and that is how the PGA Tour should run its playoffs. Give the leading money winner the seasonlong title following the final regular season event, which could be the Deutsche Bank Championship.

4. The leading 96 players qualify for the Playoffs and begin the road to THE TOUR Championship. In the NFL only 12 of the 32 teams qualify for the Playoffs, and in the Football League only 4 of the 22 teams qualify. So why, on the PGA Tour, does every player which keeps their card or avoids relegation, qualify for the Playoffs? By restricting entry to the Playoffs to the leading 96 you will create drama in the final regular season event with both the top 125 and

the top 96 at stake, as well as potentially the Arnold Palmer Award for the money list winner.

5. Make the first three weeks of the Playoffs match play. Players ranked 33 to 96 would play in the first week, drawn into 16 groups of 4 players. The leading 2 players in each group qualify for week two and join the 32 highest ranked players on the money list.

6. Again the 64 players are drawn into 16 groups of 4 players with the leading 2 players in each group qualifying for THE TOUR Championship.

7. The 36 highest ranked losers from the first two weeks would then be drawn into 9 groups of 4 players in Wildcard weekend. The leading 2 players from each group qualify for THE TOUR Championship.

8. 50 players play in THE TOUR Championship and the prize fund is $30 million with $10 million to the winner. The championship is played over 72 holes with no cut. The four weeks of the PGA Tour Playoffs would be played across the four time zones of the United States. The first week would be played on the West Coast, with the second

ÂŠPGA Tour/Stan Badz

week in the Mountain time zone, the third week in Central time and the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola on the East Coast.

9. Make the world's top 50 an exemption criteria for each PGA Tour event. The top 50 on December 31 earn 1 year exemption to the PGA Tour.

10. If you are exempt, you are exempt. If you don't play in 15 events then you aren't eligible to qualify for the Playoffs. But you keep your status for next year.

Two weeks after the FedEx Cup Playoffs conclude at East Lake the PGA Tour stages another Cup, 7,000 miles from Atlanta in Incheon, Korea. The United States take on the Internationals in the 11th Presidents Cup matches at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club. The Presidents Cup was established in 1994 as a match featuring the best golfers from the rest of the world excluding Europe, against the United States. It was founded with the aim of giving the best golfers from outside America and Europe the opportunity of competing in team play.

Despite the fact players which are eligible for the International team have won 21 major titles in the last 21 years, the contest between them and the Americans has been a completely one-sided affair. The United States have won 9 matches, 1 has been tied and the sole International victory came in 1998. One of the key reasons for this has been the format. In an effort to distinguish itself from the Ryder Cup, the PGA Tour has staged a greater number of matches in the Presidents Cup than its more prestigious and older brother. The Presidents Cup format has never played less than 32 matches throughout the week, with 34 matches being played in each of the last six Presidents Cups. With the United States greater experience of playing fourball and foursome golf, they have triumphed significantly in these matches. If the team portion of the matches was formatted in the same manner as the Ryder Cup then the results would potentially have been as follows: 1994 – USA 17-11 Internationals 1996 – Internationals 15 ½ - 12 ½ USA 1998 – Internationals 17-11 USA 2000 – USA 19 ½ - 8 ½ Internationals 2003 – USA 14 ½ - 13 ½ Internationals 2005 – USA 15 ½ - 12 ½ Internationals

2007 – USA 15-13 Internationals 2009 – USA 15 ½ - 12 ½ Internationals 2011 – USA 15-13 Internationals 2013 – USA 14 ½ - 13 ½ Internationals

Under the above format the United States would still have won 8 Presidents Cups to the Internationals 2, but the matches would be considerably closer. Four of the last six matches would have come down to the final couple of matches on Sunday, and the excitement and competition would be much greater. Another key difference between the Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup is that the matches are played over four days rather than three. The Ryder Cup is so exciting because it is played in a shorter period, the action is thick and fast and player fatigue is a factor. In line with the FedEx Cup the PGA Tour also tries to script the drama by allowing the captains to select their singles matches in front of one another, manufacturing matches between the best in the world, and taking away the possibility of an upset on the final day like Phil Price defeating Phil Mickelson in the 2002 Ryder Cup. Here is a plan to fix the Presidents Cup:

1. Reduce the number of matches to 28

2. Play the Presidents Cup over three days

3. Make each series of matches’ blind selection

4. Give control of the International team to the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia, Sunshine Tour, Golf Canada and the South American Golf Federation. These tours, possibly collectively known as Presidents Cup International Limited, would have control of the selection of the team captain, the host venue and course set up along with qualification criteria in the same way Ryder Cup Europe does. This would help to forge an identity for the team and really give the International team a benefit for playing at ‘home’ when the matches aren’t staged in the United States. The set-up of the course would also be a major advancement for the Presidents Cup, taking it out of the control of the PGA Tour and handing it to the International Team captain. The selection of the course could also be done via a bidding contest, like the one held by Ryder Cup Europe, which would help to generate interest in the event.

It has to be argued that had the International Team had control over the host nation of their home games, that Royal Montreal and the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club would not have been selected. The Presidents Cup might have been played on a less American-style course and may have been hosted on a course the International players were more familiar with. I think there is a need for the Presidents Cup in the game, and it does have great potential, but maybe a further major change would be required to truly make it a great event.

5. The winners of the Ryder Cup play the Internationals in the following Presidents Cup. The motivation for the USA to win the Ryder Cup would be even greater if this happened, because if this had been in place over the last 20 years the United States would have played in just 2 Presidents Cup matches since the first edition. This would increase competition and the desire of all golfers of the world to win, improving both the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup. Of course, there are reasons the PGA Tour will not adopt many if any of these changes, chief amongst them the commercial benefit it feels from being the sole organiser of the competition.

ÂŠDavid J. Phillip/Associated Press

In fact, if they got their way there would only be one team competition â&#x20AC;&#x201C; USA v The Rest of the World. This would position the PGA Tour as the developer in chief of golf around the world, and deal a serious blow to the European Tour in their ambitions to rival the US-based circuit. It is up to those outside of the PGA Tour to ensure that this never transpires. With the huge amount of talent from Africa, Asia, Australasia and South America shining on the world stage, it is only fair that they get the chance to compete in a truly meaningful competition. The Presidents Cup in its current guise is nothing more than an exhibition, and if it continues on this trend it cannot be long until those players representing the International golfing community decide to go hunting, like Tom Weiskopf did prior to the Ryder Cup becoming a true contest.

ÂŠROLEX/Chris Turvey

ÂŠPGA of America/ Montana Pritchard

Coming close to something time and time again can be a frustrating thing. It can make you uncomfortable and it can gnaw away at you, or it can drive you on to improve. Jason Day was the owner of that tagline ‘The best player never to have won a major’. Until last month when all that frustration came out, in the right way, with an aggressive performance which gave the world a message, “I want this and I am going to get it”. In the company of the soon to be world number one, Jordan Spieth, he played the best golf of his life to win his first major championship and create a little piece of history in the process. His winning score of 20-under-par broke the record for the lowest total relative to par in the 155-year history of major championship golf. Just two weeks earlier he had suffered more major heartache, playing alongside Spieth, when he missed out on the 3-man playoff by a single shot. But in the following week he won the RBC Canadian Open to head to Whistling Straits as one of the favourites for the 97th PGA Championship. Day becomes the first Australian winner of the Wanamaker Trophy in 20 years, since Steve Elkington denied another perennial runner-up in the majors, Colin Montgomerie.

ÂŠPGA of America/ Montana Pritchard

Jordan Spieth finished in second place to end the major season with a record of 1st, 1st, 4th, 2nd and his performance was enough to see him ascend to world number one.

ÂŠPGA of America/ Montana Pritchard

Rory McIlroy returned from injury and finished a creditable 9-under-par for a 17th place finish.

Tiger Woods missed the cut for a third straight major championship, his worst performance in the majors in his career.

Perfect Park makes 2015 A Grand Year with triumph at Turnberry

By Cristina Panama

ÂŠLET/Tristan Jones

With everything pointing towards another surprising major, 27-year-old Inbee Park started Sunday’s final round three shots back of the lead but signed for a round of 65-shots to earn the seventh major title of her career. Jin-Young Ko was having an outstanding week at the Aisla Course and managed to take the 54-hole lead despite harsh weather conditions. And thanks the knowledge of her local caddie, Jeff Brighton, who guided her through a notoriously difficult course on Scotland’s coast. Young had a steady start on Sunday and stretched her lead after going eagle-birdie on 7 and 8. But after a making a bogey and a double-bogey on the back nine, her chances to win her first-ever major start vanished. This opened the door for the cool and hyperfocused, Inbee Park to take the lead.

Park holed birdies starting her round but then stumbled back on the leaderboard after successive bogeys at 4 and 5. From that point on her round was full of positives making five birdies and an eagle in the remaining 13 holes to claim the title at 12-under. "Greatest day of my life yet," said a pleased Park said after her victory. "I can't really say what the next goal is because this is the one I set for my career. There are a lot of legendary players I should look up to. For now I should relax and enjoy this moment."

After Park's win, the LPGA stated that her achievement would be recognized as Career Grand Slam even though she hasn't won all the possible majors to win in women's golf. Inbee has yet one more major event to play this year, the Evian Championship this September in France. In the event that Park were to win the Evian Championship, the LPGA would acknowledge it like a Super Career Grand Slam. Norwegian born Suzann Pettersen, who was just one shot behind the lead, was one of the favourites to take the win. But was let down by her putting and shot a final round even-par 72 to finish with a solo fifth place at 7-under. Lydia Ko from New Zealand and So Yeon Ryu from South Korea tied for third at 8-under.

By Cristina Panama and Matt Hooper Photography by Solheim Cup/FLICKR LET/Tristan Jones

Europe bid for historic hat-trick in Germany Incredibly 12 months have passed since Europe’s men claimed their own hat-trick of victories over the United States in the Ryder Cup, and this September Europe’s Ladies have the opportunity to create their own piece of history by winning an unprecedented third straight Solheim Cup. The landscape of women’s golf has changed considerably since Europe won convincingly in Colorado two years ago, with Lydia Ko mounting a serious challenge to the dominance of Inbee Park on the LPGA, both of course will be absent from the greatest event in women’s golf due to their nationalities. Michelle Wie and Lexi Thompson have both won maiden major titles since the 2013 Solheim Cup, and Brittany Lincicome has added a second major to her resume by winning the ANA Inspiration this season.

ABOUT THE SOLHEIM CUP

Despite their major power and having a team featuring 11 of the side convincingly defeated two years ago, the United States go to Germany as slight underdogs. Europe’s bid for a third straight victory will be led on the course by world number seven Suzann Pettersen, ably assisted by the bright young prodigy of European women’s golf, Charlie Hull. It is set to be perhaps the most closely contested Solheim Cup ever, and Germany are pulling out all the stops to put on a great show, as they try to show the world that they can host major golf events, with the 2022 Ryder Cup host country decision just weeks away.

The Solheim Cup is the premier biennial professional match-play competition for women’s golf that features the best U.S.-born players in the world against the best European golfers. The Solheim Cup is named after the American-Norwegian, Karsten Solheim, who is the founder of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, which makes PING golf equipment. In 1990, the Solheim family, in partnership with the LPGA and the LET, created the concept of the event and became the sponsor of the Cup. Solheim Cup events are held every two years in North America or Europe and have become the most distinguished international women’s professional golf team event. The European Team hosts the matches as holders of the Cup and will need 14 points to retain it, with the U.S. Team needing 14½ points to take back the prestigious Waterford Crystal prize. The U.S. dominates with an 8-5 lead in the series, but arrives in Germany looking to avoid an unprecedented third straight loss. The 14th edition of the Solheim Cup will be played September 18 to 20 at Golf Club St. Leon-Rot in Germany.

FORMAT OF THE MATCHES

During the three-day event the players will face each other in three different match-play formats: foursomes, fourballs and singles Play begins on Friday morning with four foursome matches at 8am local time, followed by four fourball matches in the afternoon. Play continues on Saturday with four foursome matches in the morning and four fourball matches in the afternoon and concludes on Sunday with 12 singles matches. There are 28 matches over the three days and each match is worth 1 point, with matches level after 18 holes earning each team ½ a point. Europe requires 14 points to retain the trophy, 14 ½ to win for a third straight occasion. The United States requires 14 ½ points to win back the Solheim Cup. Foursome: Players team up in twos and play the same ball alternately. Four-ball: Players team up in twos, but play their individual balls. For each team the best score out of two counts on each hole. Single: The individual players of each team face each other in twelve one to one matches. The player with the best score wins the hole.

SOLHEIM CUP FACTS

Dame Laura Davies holds the record for most appearances with a team; she has represented Europe in 12 Solheim Cups. Davies also holds the most points won record with a total of 25. The 2015 U.S. Team captain, Juli Inkster, is the player to beat in singles points; she has won 7 points with a 6-1-2 record. The youngest team member to ever play in a Solheim Cup is England's Charley Hull at 17 years and 149 days. Juli Inkster stands as the oldest player to participate at 51 years and 91 days. Swedenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Anna Nordqvist made the only holein-one in the history of the event during the 2013 edition at the Colorado Golf Club in Parker, Colorado.

ÂŠLET/Tristan Jones

The United States Solheim Cup team is comprised of the leading 8 players from the LPGA Solheim Cup points list, the two highestranked non-qualified players from the ROLEX Rankings and completed by two captainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s picks from Juli Inkster.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SOLHEIM CUP WINNERS 1990, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2009

Juli Inkster will lead the United States Solheim Cup team to Germany in a bid to regain the Cup for the first time since 2009. Juli is a 31-time LPGA winner and a nine-time Solheim Cup team member. Juli has a vast experience playing for the U.S. but this will not be a guarantee for her team, who has two straight losses against Europe. During the 2011 Solheim Cup Inkster became the only player in the history of the event to be an active competitor and serve as an assistant captain. In her 34 Solheim matches she has 15 wins, 12 losses, 7 halved and has won 18,5 point for the U.S. Pat Hurst and Wendy Ward will have the vicecaptain role on the U.S. side. Wendy is a fourtime winner and has been a three-time Solheim Cup team member. While Hurst, a sixtime winner on the LPGA Tour, has competed in five Solheim Cups.

ÂŠLET/Tristan Jones

The European team is made up from the four highest ranked players on the LET Solheim Cup points list. Followed by the four highest ranked players in the Rolex Rankings. Captain Carin Koch made four picks to complete her 2015 team.

EUROPE SOLHEIM CUP WINNERS 1992, 2000, 2003, 2011, 2013

Carin Koch, a two-time winner on the LPGA, has experienced the competitive Solheim Cup atmosphere after being part of Europe’s team in 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2005. During the most recent European victory in Parker, Colorado, Koch served as vice-captain for her countrywoman Liselotte Neumann. Koch will have Annika Sorenstam, Sophie Gustafson and Maria McBride as her vicecaptains for this 2015 edition. Fanny Sunesson, who caddied for European Tour professional Nick Faldo from 1990 to 1999, will be the team advisor. All of Koch’s vicecaptains have plenty of experience when it comes to Solheim Cups. Gustafson has been an eight-time Solheim Cup participant, and has earned 16 points for Team Europe, with an all-time record of 13-126. Meanwhile, Maria McBride has been a fivetime European member and was also part of the victorious team in Ireland in 2011. Annika Sorenstam is probably the vice-captain with the most experience in these events; she has represented Europe in eight occasions and has won 24 points in 37 matches. Annika has already filled a similar spot as assistant during the 2013 Solheim Cup in Colorado.

ÂŠLET/Tristan Jones

The Golf Club St. Leon-Rot was founded in 1996 and it’s made up from two 18-hole championship courses. The two courses, ‘St. Leon’ and ‘Rot’, have been awarded with multiple distinctions from press. The Rot championship course has won the sought-after Golf Journal Travel Award nine times in a row up to 2010, as Germany’s most popular golf course. Since 2012 Golf Club St Leon-Rot has been part of the European Tour Destinations brand, and the staging of the 2015 Solheim Cup is a welcome return to the global spotlight for this course. In 1999 Tiger Woods won the Deutsche Bank SAP Open by three shots from Retief Goosen, and when the tournament returned to the course in 2001 and 2002 Woods was victorious again. The club hosted four Deutsche Bank SAP Opens’ and was highly respected among the players who competed on the layout near Heidelberg.

Indeed when the tournament was first played at St Leon-Rot, no fewer than 6 of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top 10 played. At the time this tournament was The Players Championship of Europe, and carried a five-year exemption to the European Tour. Founded by Dietmar Hopp, the club is comprised of two courses, the St Leon (venue for the Solheim Cup) and the Rot. The St Leon course was designed by Ryder Cup legend Dave Thomas. Thomas collaborated with Peter Alliss to design The Belfry and in places the course has echoes of the famous Ryder Cup venue. It is an American-style course in a German setting, and the set-up of the course will play an integral role in deciding the outcome of the Solheim Cup matches. Golf Club St Leon-Rot is also home to the Allianz Golf Arena, an indoor golf experience and practice centre.

Bryson DeChambeau=NCAA+ USGA=Greatness Physics student matches Mickelson, Woods, Nicklaus and Moore with historic double

ÂŠChris Keane/USGA

Southern Methodist University senior Bryson DeChambeau became the fifth player to win the NCAA championship and the U.S. Amateur Championship in the same year Sunday when he claimed the Havemeyer Trophy with a 7and-6 decision over the University of Virginia’s Derek Bard at Olympia Fields Country Club. “Having my name etched on this trophy with the great Bob Jones as well as Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, all those guys, it's incredible,” said the 21-year-old from Clovis, Calif., who wears a Ben Hogan-style cap. “I can't even imagine what I just did. It won't sink in, I'm sure, for the next couple days. But I'm honored.” The 2015 United States Walker Cup Team member, who took individual honors at the Concession Club in Bradenton, Fla., in May for the NCAA title, joins Jack Nicklaus (1961), Phil Mickelson (1990), Tiger Woods (1996) and Ryan Moore (2004) in winning both championships in the same year. “I'm in golf history,” said the SMU first-team AllAmerican, who is No. 7 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking™. “That's pretty incredible. I don't understand it yet. I had a little bit of an understanding of what I just did, but I haven't felt the impact of it yet. That's an honor to be in that field.”

DeChambeau, who was 2 down through seven holes, swung the match on the next hole when he chipped in for a winning birdie from deep greenside rough to reduce his deficit to one hole. “I think the turning point of the whole day really is he when airmails the green on (No.) 8 and flops it in,” said Bard, 20, of New Hartford, N.Y. “You have to pull off shots like that if you want to win a championship like this. It's one of those signature shots. It was pretty cool to watch. He hit a perfect shot up there and tumbled in. Like I say, he deserves it and from that point on, he really took control.” DeChambeau, who shot 61 in the third round in helping the USA win the 2014 World Amateur Team Championship in Japan, followed that chip-in with a win on the 10th hole to square the match. He then took Nos. 14, 15 and 16 (14 and 15 with birdies) for a 3up lead. He double-bogeyed the 18th and held a 2-up lead through the lunch break of the 36hole championship match at Olympia Fields’ North Course, host to two U.S. Open Championships. Bard, who won this year’s Sunnehanna Amateur, had responded to DeChambeau’s 2up lead after two holes, regrouping to win four of the next five holes. His stretch of good play was interrupted by a one-hour delay due to inclement weather, which dropped nearly a half inch of rain on the course.

“I felt that in the morning match, no matter where the match got to, I always felt like I was still in it, because we had 18 more holes to go in the afternoon,” said Bard, who won the 2014 U.S. Collegiate at Georgia Tech. “It's such a long day and to get it back to 2-down after the morning was big. It gave me some momentum. I came out in the afternoon and won the first hole and then just kind of fell apart.” DeChambeau bogeyed the par-5 19th hole to reduce his lead to one hole, then won four of the next five holes (three with birdies) for a 5up lead. He built it to 8-up by winning the 26th, 27th and 28 holes. Bard won No. 29 when a wayward DeChambeau drive led to a bogey. Both players parred the 30th hole for a halve that sealed DeChambeau’s victory. “From then on out, I just said, put the pedal to the metal, hit shots close and let's play Bryson golf,” said DeChambeau, who beat college AllAmericans Maverick McNealy of Stanford and Matt NeSmith of South Carolina en route to the final. Bard, who beat Vanderbilt All-American and United States Walker Cup Team member Hunter Stewart and world No. 1 Jon Rahm, of Spain and Arizona State, on his path to the final, said: “I made a little bit of a bad swing on (No.) 3, and all of the sudden I was 3-down and he just started making putts on me. It's tough to come back from that. The last few days, I was the one making putts and today I wasn't. I didn't make anything and he made all the putts he had to.”