Uihlein deposes Catlin as International Series Rankings race heads to Saudi finale

Uihlein deposes Catlin as International Series Rankings race heads to Saudi finale
American golf star Peter Uihlein. (SUPPLIED)
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Updated 02 December 2024
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Uihlein deposes Catlin as International Series Rankings race heads to Saudi finale

Uihlein deposes Catlin as International Series Rankings race heads to Saudi finale
  • The American golfer claimed a comfortable 5-shot victory in the $2.5m International Series Qatar, the penultimate event of the season

DOHA:  American Peter Uihlein climbed to the top of The International Series Rankings by securing a second win of the season, deposing John Catlin, ensuring the campaign is set for a thrilling climax in Riyadh this week.

Uihlein claimed a comfortable five-shot victory in the $2.5m International Series Qatar, the penultimate event of the season, and collected 450 rankings points. The players now head for the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.

Combined with his win at International Series England earlier this season and his T2 at International Series Thailand, Uihlein leapt from fourth to top spot with 1071.10 points, edging ahead of Catlin (927.45,) who had led since his victory in Macau back in March.

With a bumper 1,000 points going to the winner in Saudi Arabia, there is still all to play for. Nearest challengers Ben Campbell of New Zealand (851.55), Canada’s Richard T Lee (682.68), Lee Chieh-po (633.97) from Chinese Taipei and American MJ Maguire (541.26) will all feel confident of pushing for a vital second victory of the season.

A win in Saudi would give one of them top spot at the end of the season and a place on the LIV Golf League roster, while the 525 points for second and 300 for third place could also be vital if the win goes to one of the big names from LIV Golf League, such as Cameron Smith, Joaquin Niemann or Tyrrell Hatton.

As a member of Range Goats GC, Uihlein would not claim the spot on the LIV Golf League roster but feels the title would strengthen his case for receiving invites to next season’s majors.

Following his win at Doha Golf Club, Uihlein said: “Now I have to try and win (the rankings). The worst thing they can do is say no, and if that is the case then I will try and qualify within the events. The Open and the PGA Championship, they would be the ones I could probably lobby for. And obviously Rankings champion is nice to have on your CV as well.”

It is little wonder Uihlein is confident going into the Saudi finale; he finished T3 in the Saudi Open presented by PIF at the same course earlier this season.

However he will not be the only one with a spring in his step as Catlin won the tournament, the second of back-to-back events following his play-off victory over David Puig — sparked by a wonderful 59 — in Macau.

Uihlein said: “They will have the course a little longer which is going to be good to see, but it should be great. I had a good weekend there; I made the cut on the number and then had a good weekend so I have good memories. Let’s see.”

With 32 places available on the LIV Golf Promotions event from Dec. 12-14, there is plenty of competition to get into the top 40 of the rankings. South Africa’s Jaco Ahlers (32) and Ian Snyman (34) were big movers, thanks to T10 finishes in Qatar. Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines (16) and Suteepat Prateeptienchai of Thailand (20) both moved into the top 20 after finishing T3 and T5 respectively at the weekend.

The LIV Golf Promotions event champion will secure a place on the roster for the 2025 season, while the top 10 will receive exemptions for all tournaments on The International Series schedule for next season.


Tiger Woods in favor of Americans getting paid at the Ryder Cup as long as it goes to charity

Tiger Woods in favor of Americans getting paid at the Ryder Cup as long as it goes to charity
Updated 04 December 2024
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Tiger Woods in favor of Americans getting paid at the Ryder Cup as long as it goes to charity

Tiger Woods in favor of Americans getting paid at the Ryder Cup as long as it goes to charity
  • Woods: We didn’t want to get paid, we wanted to give more money to charity, and the media turned it around against us and said we want to get paid
  • The $5 million figure came about when Woods was asked if it should be made clear the money would go to charity, which it has for the last 25 years

NASSAU, Bahamas:Tiger Woods dropped a big financial number related to the Ryder Cup that is sure to make headlines, particularly in Europe.

“I hope they would get $5 million each and donate it all to charity, different charities,” Woods said Tuesday at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. “I think it’s great. What’s wrong with that?”

The source of the topic was a report last month on the PGA of America considering a proposal to pay American players $400,000 at the Ryder Cup, an amount that was a mystery to the executive level at the PGA of America, which still doesn’t have a CEO.

Woods is well-versed on the topic, which dates to 1999 when Woods, David Duval and Mark O’Meara were among those questioning how much money the PGA of America was making off the Ryder Cup. That resulted in $200,000 for each player, half to a charity of their choice and the other half to a golf management program at their university.

“We didn’t want to get paid, we wanted to give more money to charity, and the media turned it around against us and said we want to get paid,” Woods said. “No. The Ryder Cup itself makes so much money, why can’t we allocate it to various charities? And what’s wrong with each player, 12 players getting $1 million and the ability to divvy out to amazing charities that they’re involved in that they can help out?”

The $5 million figure came about when Woods was asked if it should be made clear the money would go to charity, which it has for the last 25 years.

The issue is money coming in and where it goes, and it’s different for each team. The European tour is the lead partner in Ryder Cup Europe, and money from the matches in Europe is crucial in funding the tour. The PGA of America — not the PGA Tour — runs the matches in the US. The PGA of America gives the tour 20 percent of the television deal.

Rory McIlroy was among European players who, when asked about the report, said they would pay to play in the Ryder Cup.

“If the Europeans want to pay to be in the Ryder Cup, that’s their decision to do that, that’s their team,” Woods said. “I know when it’s on European soil that it subsidizes most of their tour, so it is a big event for the European tour and if they want to pay to play in it, so be it.”

Masters stretch run

Nicolai Hojgaard at No. 58 in the world ranking, Mackenzie Hughes (No. 57) and Thomas Detry (No. 61) are among those playing in South Africa at the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

At stake is finishing the year in the top 50 to qualify for the Masters, and time is running out. The Nedbank Challenge is followed by the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa, and golf concludes with the Mauritius Open.

On the bubble are Min Woo Lee (No. 49), Lucas Glover (No. 51) and Stephan Jaeger (No.53), neither of whom are playing this week or are entered next week.

Corey Conners also is playing in South Africa, although at No. 42 he should be safe for the top 50. For those who don’t make it, there is another top 50 cutoff from the world ranking a full week before the Masters.

The field for Augusta National, currently at 75 players expected to play, could add as many as eight players through the world ranking by the end of the year. Still to be determined is whether the Masters offers special invitations. Joaquin Niemann, Thorbjorn Olesen and Ryo Hizatsune received them for the last Masters.

Crypto payoff for LIV against PGA Tour match

The made-for-TV match between PGA Tour and LIV Golf League starts has a title sponsor and a new form of payment.

Crypto.com is the title sponsor of the Dec. 17 match at Shadow Creek just north of Las Vegas that pits Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy against Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka.

The Crypto.com Showdown will be televised across TNT, TBS, truTV and Max, with a commentary crew that includes David Feherty and Charles Barkley. It will be the first broadcast appearance by Feherty outside of LIV since he signed on with the Saudi-funded league.

The 18-hole match will be split among six holes of foursomes, six holes of fourballs and six holes of singles.

As for the payoff? Front Office Sports reports it will be at least $10 million paid for the first time in Cryptocurrency.

Quick study

Nick Dunlap started the year as a sophomore at Alabama. Eleven months later, he is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour and in the Bahamas for the Hero World Challenge hosted by Tiger Woods.

There have been rough patches along the way, especially getting used to the travel, the cuts and courses he had never seen. But he proved to be a quick study, and he gave credit to Will Zalatoris for a practice round at The Players Championship.

“It wasn’t anything he said — it wasn’t really anything — it was just watching the way he prepared for that golf tournament and strategically where he chipped from, where he putted from, where he hit iron shots to,” Dunlap said. “It was eye opening to me because I never really paid that much attention in practice rounds.”

The rest of the year, Dunlap said he spent pre-tournament week trying to learn the course.

“It may only save you a half a shot or a shot and that could mean the difference at the end of the year,” he said.

On the rebound

Anthony Kim posted rounds of 71-72-73-71 and tied for 37th in the International Series Qatar on the Asian Tour. It was the first time Kim made the cut in any tournament since the 2012 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

Kim walked away from golf two months after Bay Hill that year and didn’t return until he joined Saudi-backed LIV Golf as a wild card this year. LIV is 54 holes with no cut. In the only other 72-hole tournament Kim played this year, he missed the cut in Macau.

Kim made $14,510 in Qatar. He also moved up 2,281 spots in the world ranking to No. 2,314. The 39-year-old American is playing in Saudi International this week on the Asian Tour.

Divots

Hero MotoCorp. in India has extended its title sponsorship of the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas through 2030, along with extending its relationship with Tiger Woods as an ambassador. Woods is the tournament host in the Bahamas. ... Jon Rahm makes his debut in the Dubai Desert Classic next January. Rahm typically spent January in California for The American Express and Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines before going to LIV Golf. ... Claire Welsh of Canada, who previously worked senior roles in player relations for The R&A, is the new tournament director for the CPKC Women’s Open in Canada.

Stat of the week

Japanese amateur Rintaro Nakano had a 25-shot differential between his first and final round at the Australian Open. He started with a 65. He closed with a 90.

Final word

“The players have benefited from it whether you’re on LIV or you’re not on LIV. Love him or hate him, as a golfer, he’s certainly helped our lifestyle.” — Marc Leishman on fellow Aussie Greg Norman, the CEO of Saudi-funded LIV Golf.


Golfers want to ‘make Saudi proud’ at major Riyadh tournament

Golfers want to ‘make Saudi proud’ at major Riyadh tournament
Updated 03 December 2024
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Golfers want to ‘make Saudi proud’ at major Riyadh tournament

Golfers want to ‘make Saudi proud’ at major Riyadh tournament
  • Othman Al-Mulla: We all have the same goal: To represent Saudi Arabia in international competitions and see how good we can be
  • Saudi Golf Federation is backing Saudi stars like Al-Mulla, while growing the love of the game with school programs and free classes for women

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s golfers spoke about their ambition to make their country proud and inspire young players during a press conference on Tuesday ahead of the PIF Saudi International in Riyadh.

Othman Al-Mulla, the Kingdom’s first professional golfer, will be joined by Faisal Salhab, Saud Al-Sharif, and Khalid Walid Attieh, marking an unprecedented lineup of Saudi golfers taking on international stars including Dustin Johnson and Cameron Smith.

Al-Mulla told the press at Riyadh Golf Club: “I’ve been representing Saudi for over 20 years, and even five years after I turned professional, I’m still pinching myself at the thought of us competing against the best players in the world in Saudi Arabia (for) one of the biggest prizes.”

Joined by Salhab and Shergo Al-Kurdi, the UK-born Golf Saudi ambassador, Al-Mulla added: “We all have the same goal: To represent Saudi Arabia in international competitions and see how good we can be. We want to be Asian champions, we want to be world champions and win events and make Saudi proud.”

Saudi Arabia has made huge inroads into the world of golf in recent years, signing a host of top players to its LIV Golf tour, and engaging in discussions over a potential merger with the PGA Tour.

On a grassroots level, the Saudi Golf Federation is backing Saudi stars like Al-Mulla, while growing the love of the game with school programs and free classes for women.

Salhab said: “What Golf Saudi is doing and what the Saudi Golf Federation is doing for both juniors and women, like opening doors for them and creating more access for them to come into the sport, have more places to play, see great players, it’s very new for us but they’ve done a great job.”

Al-Mulla highlighted the importance of the increasing number of Saudi players, and added: “We have three main objectives: We need to increase awareness, give access and opportunities, and then nurture those opportunities for people that are interested in the game.”

The tournament, which is in its sixth edition, will run from Dec. 4-7 in Riyadh for the first time following five editions at the King Abdullah Economic City.

It offers a total prize pool of $5 million and has moved this year into the coveted season-ending position for both the Asian Tour and The International Series.

Al-Mulla said: “To see how far we’ve come in such a short period of time is something that we can all be proud of as Saudis, and hopefully we can be a beacon to grow the game.”


Snyman leads International Series Qatar after first-round seven-under-par 65

Snyman leads International Series Qatar after first-round seven-under-par 65
Updated 28 November 2024
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Snyman leads International Series Qatar after first-round seven-under-par 65

Snyman leads International Series Qatar after first-round seven-under-par 65
  • Advice from South African great David Frost helps Snyman flourish

DOHA: South African Ian Snyman says spending two days in the company of one of his country’s finest golfers, David Frost, played a big part in his fine run of form recently — a run that includes taking the lead on the opening day of the $2.5 million International Series Qatar on Wednesday.

Snyman carded a confident seven-under-par 65 at Doha Golf Club to lead the way from compatriot Louis Oosthuizen, Spaniard David Puig and Zach Bauchou from the United States, who carded 66s.

Two other Spaniards, Luis Masaveu and Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra, fired 67s, as did Sadom Kaewkanjana from Thailand and Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura, in the penultimate event of the season for the Asian Tour and The International Series.

After today’s opening salvo, consisting of an eagle, seven birdies, and one double, Snyman is on course to make his 12th successive cut on the Asian Tour, as well as put himself in position to claim his first title on the circuit.

“My coach, Paul McKenzie, and I have been working on a few things and I also got some advice from David Frost. He is a former Asian Tour winner having won in Hong Kong,” Snyman said of Frost — winner of the Hong Kong Open in 1994 and 29 titles around the world.

“About five months ago we spent two days with David. We were trying to find some consistency, that was my main concern. Looks like we are getting there. Just need to get some low ones like we did today, which is exciting.

“The big thing we worked on with David was the takeaway. I always take the club back outside and get laid off at the top. He kind of helped me feel a way to get it straighter.

“Another big thing was not to be so rigid. I would be very stickman-like golf, my left arm would be very stiff and strong but he kind of got me to relax a bit more, you can actually bend that left arm.”

He was cruising at eight under with two to play but made double on the par- three 17th.

He duffed his chip and three putted but bounced back on the par-five 18th hitting his third to two feet.

Puig is making his first appearance on the Asian Tour since April — in that time he has played in the LIV Golf League, three majors and the Olympics, where he played alongside Jon Rahm.

“Pretty solid, especially after a month off tournaments. Super, super proud of how I fought,” said Puig, winner of the season-opening Malaysian Open and runner-up in the International Series Macau presented by Wynn, where American John Catlin beat him in a play-off.

“Didn’t hit it that good but somehow managed to post a pretty good score. Hit a lot of greens in regulation, which is something I have been working on.”

His compatriot Masaveu, 21, was even happier because the day marked his debut as a professional in a Tour event.

“First tournament as a professional, so very happy,” said the Spaniard, who birdied the last three holes and has his dad, Rafa, caddying for him.

“To be honest, I didn’t really think about this being my first event as a pro. The good thing is my coach Gonzalo (Fernandez-Castano) is also playing. We did a good plan. I just tried to stay focused on my emotions.”

Masaveu finished third in this year’s US Amateur, having been beaten by compatriot and eventual winner Jose Luis Ballester 3&2 in the semis, and could be one to watch this week.

The International Series Rankings, which will reward the champion with a place in next year’s LIV Golf League, will go down to the wire at next week’s $5 million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.

Thailand’s Ratchanon Chantananuwat, the amateur star currently in his freshman year at Stanford University, returned a 71 in his first appearance on the Asian Tour since April.

International Series Qatar takes place at Doha Golf Club from Nov. 27-30. For tickets and further information, visit www.internationalseries.com.


Record number of local golfers to take part in 2024 Saudi International at Riyadh Golf Club

Record number of local golfers to take part in 2024 Saudi International at Riyadh Golf Club
Updated 28 November 2024
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Record number of local golfers to take part in 2024 Saudi International at Riyadh Golf Club

Record number of local golfers to take part in 2024 Saudi International at Riyadh Golf Club
  • Four Saudis, including Othman Almulla and Faisal Salhab, will participate in next week’s tournament
  • Locals join Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, Tyrrell Hatton and Bubba Watson in stellar line-up

RIYADH: For the first time in its history, the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers will feature an unprecedented line-up of Saudi Arabian players with four representatives from the Kingdom in the event, which takes place from Dec. 4-7 at Riyadh Golf Club.

Othman Almulla, Faisal Salhab, Saud Al-Sharif and Khalid Walid will take part in the competition, marking a groundbreaking moment for Saudi golf on a global stage. They are joined by Golf Saudi ambassador, the UK-born Shergo Al-Kurdi, who represents Jordan internationally.

Almulla, Saudi Arabia’s first professional golfer, has paved the way for the game’s growth in the Kingdom and remains a key ambassador for the sport. Before turning professional in 2019, he became the first Saudi golfer to win the Qatar Open and qualify for two professional events, the 2007 Dubai Desert Classic and the 2008 Qatar Masters.

“It’s an honour to be part of this milestone for Saudi golf, competing alongside my fellow countrymen on such a prestigious stage,” Almulla said. “The PIF Saudi International is a testament to the incredible progress golf has made in the Kingdom and the bright future ahead. This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without Golf Saudi’s support, and I’m proud to represent Saudi Arabia while inspiring the next generation of golfers to elevate the game even further.”

Salhab turned professional last year and has represented Saudi Arabia at various international tournaments, including the Pan Arab Golf Championships. Attieh, meanwhile, made history in February 2024 at the International Series Oman when he became the first amateur player from Saudi Arabia to make the cut.

Almulla, Salhab and Al-Sharif are also Golf Saudi ambassadors, whose mission is to elevate the game in the Kingdom.

The growing number Saudi players, who will be competing alongside global superstars such as Bubba Watson, Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, Tyrrell Hatton, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen, reflect the targets set by Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals, which aims to establish the Kingdom as a global golf destination.

Alongside the professional action, the Saudi International aims to encourage more individuals, particularly young Saudis, to take up the sport.

Through its Go Golf initiative, Golf Saudi offers three months of free lessons for all new golfers in the Kingdom, followed by 12 complimentary rounds, as well as discounted memberships and coaching. Golf Saudi is committed to expanding access to the sport for players at all levels and building a vibrant golf community in the Kingdom.


Continental Europe and Great Britain & Ireland teams announced for 2025 Team Cup

Continental Europe and Great Britain & Ireland teams announced for 2025 Team Cup
Updated 24 November 2024
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Continental Europe and Great Britain & Ireland teams announced for 2025 Team Cup

Continental Europe and Great Britain & Ireland teams announced for 2025 Team Cup
  • Six Ryder Cup players confirmed; 11 players to make debuts in event taking place in Abu Dhabi

DUBAI: The first 18 competitors for the 2025 Continental Europe and Great Britain & Ireland Team Cup sides have been announced by European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, with an exciting mix of Ryder Cup stars and some of the DP World Tour’s brightest talent scheduled to compete at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort from Jan 10-12, 2025.

After consulting with respective Team Cup captains Francesco Molinari, of Continental Europe, and Justin Rose, of Great Britain & Ireland, Donald has confirmed the first nine competitors in each side for next year’s matchplay contest, who between them have won 70 DP World Tour victories, with six representatives from recent Ryder Cups.

Molinari will lead Continental Europe in their defence of the Team Cup, which they won in 2023 after defeating Great Britain & Ireland 14½-10½ in the three-day matchplay contest. The teams will compete in one session of fourballs on the Friday, two sessions of foursomes on the Saturday and one session of singles on Sunday, with every player taking part in each session.

Each side will have three Ryder Cup players, with three-time Ryder Cup player Molinari joined by Nicolai Hojgaard and Thorbjorn Olesen, and six-time Ryder Cup star Rose teeing it up alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton.

Olesen, who represented Europe at the 2018 Ryder Cup, was one of the four automatic qualifiers for Molinari’s side, with fellow Scandinavians Rasmus Hojgaard and Niklas Norgaard and Italian Matteo Manassero also earning an automatic place in the Continental European team.

Rasmus had been selected to compete in the 2023 edition of the match play contest but was forced to withdraw due to injury. Since his return to competitive action he has won his fourth and fifth DP World Tour titles, becoming the first Dane to win Made in HimmerLand last year and he then held off the challenge of Rory McIlroy to win the Amgen Irish Open two months ago.

Norgaard claimed his maiden victory at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo, while Manassero made a welcome return to the winner’s circle this year, claiming his first DP World Tour title for nearly 11 years at the Jonsson Workwear Open.

Rounding out the Continental European side are the French pair of Matthieu Pavon, who this year became the first Frenchman to win on the PGA Tour in more than 100 years, and Antoine Rozner, who played in 2023 and recently earned dual membership on the PGA Tour, and the Danish duo of Ryder Cup player Nicolai Hojgaard and Challenge Tour No. 1 Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.

Nicolai was called up to replace his brother in the Continental Europe side for the 2023 edition of the Team Cup and then went on to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone, near Rome.

Both Fleetwood and Hatton, who also competed in the 2023 edition of the event, automatically qualified for the Great Britain & Ireland side alongside Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship winner Paul Waring and five-time DP World Tour winner Matt Wallace.

Wallace will be making his second appearance in this event after recently winning his fifth DP World Tour title at the Omega European Masters. He also became a PGA Tour winner in 2023, claiming the Corales Puntacana Championship. While Waring became the DP World Tour’s most recent first-time Rolex Series winner after carding a career-low round of 61 and setting a new low 36-hole score to par in Abu Dhabi.

Joining them on Rose’s side will be Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin, who earned dual membership on the PGA Tour for 2025 after another strong season, two-time DP World Tour winner Jordan Smith of England, his compatriots Laurie Canter, who earned a maiden title at the European Open, and Aaron Rai, who is the most recent English winner on the PGA Tour after claiming the Wyndham Championship in August.

The final member of each side will be selected after the Nedbank Golf Challenge, the third event of the 2025 Race to Dubai, which concludes on Sunday, Dec. 8.

Donald, who will captain Europe for a second time at Bethpage Black next September, said: “Fran, Justin and I are really excited by the two teams which will assemble at the Team Cup in January. There’s a great mix of youth and experience on both sides and there will certainly be a competitive atmosphere at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort.

“This event provided valuable insight for a number of players who eventually made it to Marco Simone, with six of the 20 competitors in 2023 going on to play in the Ryder Cup, three of those making their debut appearances, and we’re excited to see who can make their mark next year as they try to earn a place in my side for New York City.”

Molinari, the 2018 Open champion and three-time Ryder Cup player, said: “It may be a new-look Continental European side but I’m really excited to lead these players at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort as we bid to defend the Team Cup next year.

“There is a fantastic blend of players who have hit the ground running at the start of their careers and those with a lot of experience on their side, and most of them have played in team competitions in the past as amateurs, which will have given them a great insight into these environments.”

Rose, who won the US Open in 2013 and will captain the Great Britain & Ireland side for the first time, said: “Having two Ryder Cup teammates in Tommy and Tyrrell in the team will be invaluable, but I’m looking forward to seeing how the rest of the team step up to this new arena. Having also played in 2023, I’m sure Matt and Jordan will be keen to go out there and win the cup so it’ll be great to watch them in action again.

“Most of my team have also had the opportunity to represent either Great Britain & Ireland or England and Ireland separately in the past, so they have a lot of experience to draw on from their amateur days. They are all proven winners on tour, but I think Europe as a whole is going to benefit massively from next year’s Team Cup as we look towards the Ryder Cup at Bethpage.”