Topgolf to open three driving range entertainment venues in Kingdom

Topgolf to open three driving range entertainment venues in Kingdom
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Topgolf Callaway Brands is set to open three driving range entertainment venues in the Kingdom under a partnership deal with Golf Saudi. (Supplied)
Topgolf to open three driving range entertainment venues in Kingdom
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Topgolf Callaway Brands is set to open three driving range entertainment venues in the Kingdom under a partnership deal with Saudi Golf. (Supplied)
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Updated 19 September 2024
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Topgolf to open three driving range entertainment venues in Kingdom

Topgolf to open three driving range entertainment venues in Kingdom
  • Move part of partnership deal with Golf Saudi
  • Company will also sponsor Kingdom’s professional golfers

RIYADH: Topgolf Callaway Brands is set to open three driving range entertainment venues in the Kingdom under a partnership deal with Golf Saudi.
The facilities will open in Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province, with the possibility of more to follow in the future, according to a press statement.
Golf Saudi CEO Noah Alireza said: “Our partnership marks a pivotal moment for golf in Saudi Arabia. Our golf infrastructure has been rapidly evolving and this multi-brand deal with Topgolf Callaway Brands will accelerate the game we love across the whole ecosystem.
“We are confident that we’ve found the right long-term partner to leverage the fast developing sports and golf canvas in Saudi Arabia and to co-innovate to help shape the future of golf in Saudi and beyond.
“This partnership ladders back to Golf Saudi’s role in achieving the goals of Vision 2030,” Alireza said.
“We are driven by improving the lives and opportunities of all Saudis and expats living in the country. Opening Topgolf will not only get thousands of people into playing golf and enjoying the health and wellness benefits that come with that, but it will also bring hundreds of new jobs to young Saudis, which is another part of our ambitions of building a far-reaching and sustainable golf ecosystem in Saudi Arabia.”
As well as the entertainment venues, under the deal Golf Saudi will become the official distributor of Topgolf Callaway Brands equipment and clothing in the Kingdom.
Callaway Golf will also sponsor the country’s professional golfers and provide clothing for the men’s, women’s and junior national teams.


LIV Golf’s Iron Heads acquire rising Korea star Yubin Jang

LIV Golf’s Iron Heads acquire rising Korea star Yubin Jang
Updated 5 sec ago
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LIV Golf’s Iron Heads acquire rising Korea star Yubin Jang

LIV Golf’s Iron Heads acquire rising Korea star Yubin Jang
  • Danny Lee and Jinichiro Kozuma return to the club for 2025 season after contract extensions

NEW YORK: Iron Heads Golf Club have announced the team’s finalized roster heading into the 2025 LIV Golf League season.

Following a valiant performance at the 2024 Team Championship in Dallas, the club has re-signed stalwart Danny Lee and budding talent Jinichiro Kozuma.

Rounding out Kevin Na’s team is the external acquisition of 22-year-old star, Yubin Jang, the No. 1 golfer from the Korean Tour.

Jang produced a dominant season finishing as the KPGA Money Leader and Genesis Points Champion, and first in Top 10 Finishes. The young gun is a three-time Korean Tour winner and won gold at the 2023 Asian Games.

“As a promising young talent from Korea, I’ve been following his career for years and have had my eye on him to join the team,” said Na, the Iron Heads captain.

“The Iron Heads needed young talent like his to push our veterans, and I’m confident he has what it takes to become a world-class golfer.

"Yubin’s presence shows young Korean golfers a clear path to competing globally against the best, and with an event in Korea this year, his addition is a major boost for our team. It’s an incredibly exciting time for Korean golf.”

Iron Heads Golf Club scripted one of the most memorable chapters in the short history of LIV Golf when, against all odds, they finished tied for second at the Team Championship in Dallas.

Fueled by both Lee and Kozuma, the unlikely finalists proved to be giant killers, taking down two seeded favorites in Smash GC (quarterfinals) and Crushers GC (semifinals).

Kozuma, the reigning Japanese Sansan KBC Augusta Champion, dropped a 3-meter birdie putt on the 18th hole to extend the match, prior to closing out the victory with a 9.1-meter for par on the first extra hole.

Lee, the 2023 LIV Golf Tucson champion, defeated the 2023 LIV Golf Individual Champion Talor Gooch and reigning US Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau in back-to-back singles matches en route to the finals.

“We’re thrilled to re-sign Danny and Jini, who were pivotal to our strong finish last season,” said Iron Heads Golf Club General Manager Martin Kim.

“Danny is a proven winner in this league with great energy and Jini’s emerging talent will be essential as we strive to become a contender at every event.

“I’m really loving our roster with the addition of our new young gun (Jang). It’s going to be a fun ride next season.”

This offseason, the team will have a two-week training camp in Palm Springs, California, prior to teeing off the season at LIV Golf Riyadh from Feb. 6 to 8.

Given LIV Golf’s recent market expansion for the 2025 season, the Iron Heads will look ahead to their own “home event” as they play host at LIV Golf Korea from May 2 to 4 at the iconic Jack Nicklaus Golf Club.


Hosting 2034 World Cup would be ‘wonderful opportunity’ for Kingdom to show its hospitality, says Riyad Mahrez

Hosting 2034 World Cup would be ‘wonderful opportunity’ for Kingdom to show its hospitality, says Riyad Mahrez
Updated 11 min 30 sec ago
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Hosting 2034 World Cup would be ‘wonderful opportunity’ for Kingdom to show its hospitality, says Riyad Mahrez

Hosting 2034 World Cup would be ‘wonderful opportunity’ for Kingdom to show its hospitality, says Riyad Mahrez
  • Al-Ahli’s Algerian star was speaking at Saudi Arabian Football Federation gathering on the eve of FIFA’s announcement of the host nation

JEDDAH: Al-Ahli’s Algerian international forward Riyad Mahrez says hosting the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia would be a ‘wonderful opportunity’ for the world to experience the Kingdom’s hospitality.

The Saudi Pro League star was speaking at a Saudi Arabian Football Federation meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday, where he met with aspiring players from regional training centers.

His comments come on the eve of FIFA’s announcement of the host country for the 2034 World Cup.

“Hosting the World Cup represents a wonderful opportunity for the world to witness the kindness and hospitality of the Saudi people,” Mahrez said.

The next two World Cup tournaments will be hosted by multiple nations. In 2026 it will be the US, Mexico and Canada, and in 2030 Morocco, Spain and Portugal.

“The World Cup (in Saudi Arabia) will bring the world together in one country,” Mahrez added. “Saudi Arabia is a large country capable of welcoming everyone and providing a wonderful experience.”

“I imagine that in 10 years it will be amazing for the whole world. I am very excited and looking forward to seeing all the future projects.”

The 33-year-old former Manchester City star also highlighted the nation’s football culture and natural beauty.

“I don’t think people realize how much passion there is for football in Saudi Arabia. There are many big clubs with a huge fan base,” he said. “You will not be able to imagine the beauty of Saudi Arabia until you come here and see for yourself.”


Scottie Scheffler in a landslide to win PGA Tour Player of the Year for third straight time

Scottie Scheffler in a landslide to win PGA Tour Player of the Year for third straight time
Updated 11 December 2024
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Scottie Scheffler in a landslide to win PGA Tour Player of the Year for third straight time

Scottie Scheffler in a landslide to win PGA Tour Player of the Year for third straight time
  • Cheffler won 91 percent of the vote from players and appeared to be the obvious choice given the victories he piled up, including an Olympic gold medal when he shot 62 on the final day
  • Schauffele became the first player to win two majors and not be voted player of the year since the award began in 1990

Scottie Scheffler added another trophy to his awesome display Tuesday when he won the Jack Nicklaus Award as PGA Tour Player of the Year in a landslide, joining Tiger Woods as the only players to win the award three straight times.

Scheffler won 91 percent of the vote from players and appeared to be the obvious choice given the victories he piled up, including an Olympic gold medal when he shot 62 on the final day.

His seven PGA Tour wins included a second Masters title, and he became the first repeat winner of The Players Championship. He also won the Tour Championship to claim the FedEx Cup. His other four wins were all signature events against the strongest fields — Bay Hill and Memorial, Hilton Head and Hartford.

While no one could match that year, there was the question of how players would view Xander Schauffele’s rare feat of winning two majors in one year, at the PGA Championship and the British Open. Scheffler’s standard was too much to overlook.

Schauffele became the first player to win two majors and not be voted player of the year since the award began in 1990. Nick Faldo won the Masters and British Open in 1990, but he was not a PGA Tour member and ineligible for the award.

Rory McIlroy was the third name on the ballot.

Woods is an 11-time winner of the award, winning five straight times (1999 through 2003) and three straight times (2005-2007).

McIlroy is the only other player to win the award three times, in 2012, 2014 and 2019.

Scheffler has wound up in the same conversation with Woods a lot lately — from his statistics, the first to win seven times in a season since Woods in 2007, and the first to hold the No. 1 ranking the entire year since Woods in 2009.

He finds comparisons to “a bit silly.”

“There’s really only one Tiger,” Scheffler said on a conference call. “I’m trying to get the best out of myself and that’s really all I’m focused on. I’m not chasing records or chasing history or anything like that, I’m just trying to day in and day out continue to improve a little bit, just go out there and compete, have fun.”

Scheffler doesn’t rank his wins or much else, though he conceded this was the best golf he played across the year. He won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in his sixth start of the year, and then never went more than two tournaments without winning.

“Scottie took on challenges from the best players in the world on the biggest stages all season, and being honored as PGA Tour player of the year is the ultimate sign of respect from his peers,” Commissioner Jay Monahan said.

Scheffler also won the Byron Nelson Award for the second straight year for having the lowest scoring average. Overlooked as he kept winning titles was his streak of 28 consecutive rounds under par to start the year.

He was not over par in any round until Saturday at the PGA Championship, the day after he was arrested going into Valhalla as a traffic fatality was being investigated. The charges were dropped a few weeks later, a strange episode in an otherwise spotless season.

The PGA Tour keeps a huge menu of statistics — one of them “distance from the edge of the fairway” — but Scheffler was around the top at most of the big ones involving strokes gained. He was first overall and approach to the green, second off the tee. He was 77th in putting, tried a new “claw” putting grip in the Bahamas last week and won the Hero World Challenge by six.

He shattered the PGA Tour earnings record, somewhat inevitable given the spike in prize money this year with 11 tournaments with prize funds of $20 million or more, not including the four majors.

Scheffler won just over $29.2 million in 18 official tournaments with prize money, along with the $25 million FedEx Cup bonus and the $8 million bonus for leading the regular season.

Scottie Scheffler in a landslide to win PGA Tour Player of the Year for third straight time

 


Pogacar to defend Tour de France and world title on ambitious 2025 program

Pogacar to defend Tour de France and world title on ambitious 2025 program
Updated 11 December 2024
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Pogacar to defend Tour de France and world title on ambitious 2025 program

Pogacar to defend Tour de France and world title on ambitious 2025 program
  • Pogacar: Last year was an exceptional year for me. I had a great time. Everything went super smoothly, I managed to be in great shape in every race
  • He will get his 2025 season underway at the UAE Tour

BENIDORM, Spain: Tadej Pogacar insisted on Tuesday he would not ease off after a record-breaking 2024, declaring he was hungry for more success with a plethora of one-day classics and two Grand Tours on the 2025 menu.

The 26-year-old Slovenian dominated the 2024 season winning two one-day monuments, the Italian Giro, the Tour de France and the world title on his way to 25 wins in total for the year.

He will get his 2025 season underway at the UAE Tour. He will race the Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo, the E3 Grand Prix, Gent-Wevelgem and the Tour of Flanders before the Ardennes classics.

One race off the agenda is the Paris-Roubaix, suited to heftier riders due to its harsh old cobbled mining roads.

“I wanted to get back on the cobbles and I’ll do it again in the future. I’m saving Paris-Roubaix for later. But I love racing the classics.” he said in Benidrom, Spain, on Tuesday.

“After the Giro-Tour thing this season, I’d like to do the Tour-Vuelta, or even the Giro-Vuelta. But the Tour is the Tour, and it will still be my priority next year, along with the Worlds,” he confirmed.

As well as the Tour de France, which will run from July 5-27, Pogacar will choose between the Giro and Vuelta once the routes have been revealed.

If he foregoes the Giro (May 9-June 1) in favor of the Vuelta (August 23-September 14), the Slovenian will take part in the Criterium du Dauphine (June 8-15) in preparation for the Tour de France.

“What’s certain is that he won’t be doing the three big Tours next year,” Team UAE sports director Joxean Fernandez Matxin said.

Pogacar is also due to defend his title at the World Championships, which will be in Rwanda in September, on a very demanding course in Kigali.

“I’d like to race all three Tours one day but there are 30 riders in the team you know, and I can’t race everything,” Pogacar said.

He should then end his season on Oct. 11 at the Tour of Lombardy, the last Monument of the year, where he will be aiming for a fifth consecutive success.

“Last year was an exceptional year for me. I had a great time. Everything went super smoothly, I managed to be in great shape in every race,” said Pogacar who at only 26 years old, feels “still young” and believes he can “progress,” particularly on the “small details.”


US swimmers win relay gold medals as short-course world records are broken in Budapest

US swimmers win relay gold medals as short-course world records are broken in Budapest
Updated 11 December 2024
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US swimmers win relay gold medals as short-course world records are broken in Budapest

US swimmers win relay gold medals as short-course world records are broken in Budapest
  • Gretchen Walsh anchored the US women to the gold medal and a world record in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay in a time of 3 minutes, 25.01 seconds
  • The short-course championships are held in a 25-meter pool, which is half the length of an Olympic pool

BUDAPEST, Hungary: Multiple world records were shattered at the short-course swimming world championships in Budapest on Tuesday, including by the US men’s and women’s relay teams.

Gretchen Walsh anchored the US women to the gold medal and a world record in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay in a time of 3 minutes, 25.01 seconds after she broke the world record twice in the women’s 50-meter butterfly earlier in the day.

In the men’s 4X100-meter freestyle relay, the US finished ahead of Italy and Poland in a new world record time of 3 minutes, 1.66 seconds.

Other world records were set by 18-year-old Canadian Summer McIntosh in the women’s 400-meter freestyle, Kate Douglass of the US in the women’s 200-meter medley and Switzerland’s Noe Ponti in men’s 50-meter butterfly.

The short-course championships are held in a 25-meter pool, which is half the length of an Olympic pool.