According to “Bunkered”, this will be a two-week partnership at this week’s Scottish Open and next week’s Open Championship while Morikawa continues to look for a long-time solution at caddie.
The Victorian finally sealed a place in The Open after narrowly missing out on opportunities at the Australian Open, the New Zealand Open and the International Series Macau earlier this season.
It’s not the best look, but it’s also not uncommon in these kind of qualifying events; at last month’s US Open, more than a dozen tour pros failed to finish all 36 holes.
Golf’s oldest major will introduce a 12-player playoff for the final spot in the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, mirroring the Monday qualifier format traditionally used in PGA Tour events.
Longing to play Royal Portrush from 17,000 kilometres away? Here are Australia’s best answers to the Northern Irish masterpiece, and our tributes to other iconic links on the Open Championship rota.
In a wide-ranging interview at the end of his tenure, R&A chief executive Slumbers cautions: “The constant dialogue of money has damaged the reputation of the sport.”
He’s not blaming everything on the LIV Golf schedule, but Smith does think a links event on the circuit’s 2025 calendar heading into The Open at Royal Portrush might be the perfect addition to the fledgling league.
At The Open, the task is navigating whatever happens to be in front of you that week, that day, that hour. It’s rarely fair, and never easy. They each reflect the culture they exist within, and the types of champions they produce.