For almost 20 years, Garry Harvey has etched some of golf’s most famous names into the claret jug in his role as the R&A’s official engraver at the Open Championship.
It represents an 18 percent increase from last year when the champion at St Andrews, Cameron Smith, earned $US2.5 million from a prize fund of $US14 million.
With Royal Troon (Scotland) in place for 2024 and Royal Portrush (Northern Ireland) set to host in 2025, the return to Birkdale for what will be the 154th Open was predictable.
Links golf is a multi-faceted affair, one that asks an often-dizzying array of questions all the way from driver to putter. That is why so many believe golf in the land where the game began is the ultimate test, both mentally and physically.
Turns out Tiger will play the 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool. Not the injured Tiger Woods, but a German teen amateur who plays college golf at Arizona State. Christensen – as well as Royal Liverpool member and DP World Tour pro Matthew Jordan, and Matt Fitzpatrick’s younger brother, Alex – were the standout stories among 19 golfers who secured spots in the Open via 36-hole Final Qualifying from four sits on Tuesday.
The test would not change for the golf balls used for recreational play, but the balls used under this new proposed test for elite competition could result in a distance decrease of at least 15-20 metres, perhaps more.
The R&A and USGA will be proposing a new golf ball testing standard for elite competition that would roll back performance by 20 yards (18 metres) or more.
The 16-year-old follows in the footsteps of Atthaya Thitikul, who won the inaugural championship in 2018 in Singapore and rose to number one in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings last year.
Three members of the Australian contingent – Justice Bosio, Caitlin Peirce and Sarah Hammett – played in the 2022 championship. They will be joined by debutantes Keeley Marx, Abbie Teasdale and Jazy Roberts in a fresh-faced Aussie team.