The 2018 BMW PGA Championship
Molinari cruises to victory as Mcilroy’s challenge stalls on West Course
Italy's Francesco Molinari displayed a cool head and a razor-sharp game to see off the challenge of Rory Mcilroy in the final round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Molinari, who started the day tied with the Northern Irishman at the top of the leaderboard, took control early in the round and then refused to release his grip on one of the most coveted trophies in professional golf.
Where Mcilroy, who had led by three after 36 holes, was wayward off the tee, Molinari was precise and measured. He first opened a gap over the world No.8 and pre-tournament favourite with a birdie at the 3rd hole and extended the lead to three with two more, at the 4th and 8th.
With an outward half of 32, he came home in 36 for a 17-under-par total of 271 and victory by two strokes over Mcilroy (70), three over Alex Noren (SWE) the 2017 champion, and Lucas Bjerregaard (DEN), the first round leader. “If feels amazing,” the delighted winner said. “I have been close many times and now I've finally got across the line. If I picked one tournament to win, it would be the BMW PGA Championship.” With the trophy came a first prize of €1 million as well.
On presenting Molinari with the trophy, Dr Ian Robertson, BMW Group said, “I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to Francesco for a fantastic victory in the 2018 BMW PGA Championship. I would like to say how honoured we are to be the title partner of this flagship event for the fourteenth consecutive year. There is such a great atmosphere here. This venue always has a special feeling and you can really sense everyone's passion for this championship. During a week with phenomenal displays of tenacity and athleticism, backed by incredible crowds, I think we can agree that the BMW PGA Championship exceeded all expectations.”
For his part, Mcilroy was keen to take the positives out of the week. “It's close, it's very close,” he said. “I've given myself a great chance here this week. I didn't quite pull it off but it's not far away. I get a bit down on myself because my expectations are high, and with a 36-hole lead, I should have closed it out. But that's not taking anything away from Francesco. He played a great weekend and bogey-free around here is some playing.”
The champion dropped only two shots in four rounds, the last of them at the 10th hole of his second round. In winning, he became the third Italian to lift the trophy, following Costantino Rocca (1996) and Matteo Manassero (2013). His victory also kick-started his summer campaign to qualify for the Europe Ryder Cup team that will play the United States in Paris this September.
BMW TRACKMAN OPEN
Virtually every world-class golfer uses it, The Trackman – a tablet-sized device for data analysis and evaluating golf shots. In cooperation with BMW, Trackman is running a tournament format, which allows
EUROPEAN VICE CAPTAINS FOR THE 2018 RYDER CUP
European Captain Thomas Bjørn has announced that Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington, Graeme Mcdowell and Lee Westwood will join Robert Karlsson to complete the European Vice Captain line-up for The 2018 Ryder Cup against the United States at Le Golf National, in France, from September 28th to 30th. Thomas Bjørn’s backroom team quintet will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Dane’s team courtesy of a combined 24 Ryder Cup appearances, joining Swede Karlsson, who featured in the 2006 and 2008 contests, to any amateur or pro around the world to take part in real time, and to take on the best players on the planet. The BMW Trackman Open runs in two categories (Female Only and Open) from 1st May to 31st October, with prize money awarded each month and to the overall winners at the end of the tournament. BMW will also reward the best amateurs with a place in the Pro-am at the prestigious BMW PGA Championship in 2019. The BMW Trackman Open is an innovative format, which is taking golf to a younger target group and into the digital age. To enter, participants must simply run the “Trackman Combine Test” – which comprises 60 shots to ten virtual targets. Depending on the accuracy of the shots, a total score of between 0 and 100 points is calculated and transferred to a live leaderboard. http://bmwtrackmanopen. com/golf bring that total figure to 26. Between them, Donald, Harrington, Karlsson, Mcdowell and Westwood have also amassed a grand total of 56 points for Europe over the 19-year spell from 1997 to 2016. Outside The Ryder Cup arena, the newly revealed quartet are also hugely respected for their individual golfing achievements on the global stage, with Harrington and Mcdowell both Major Champions, while Donald and Westwood have each held the World Number One spot on the Official World Golf Ranking. Added to that, of course, Karlsson is a former European Number One.
TOM WATSON APPOINTED AS GLOBAL AMBASSADOR FOR THE OPEN
Five-time Champion Golfer of the Year Tom Watson has been appointed as the first ever Global Ambassador for The Open, golf’s original Championship. Watson returned to the scene of his first triumph in The Open, on his debut in 1975 at Carnoustie, to formally begin the role which will see him promoting golf’s most international major championship around the world. The 68-year-old bid an emotional farewell to The Open at St Andrews in 2015 when he waved to fans from the Swilcan Bridge. Watson followed up his triumph at Carnoustie with wins at Turnberry in 1977, at Muirfield in 1980, at Royal Troon in 1982 and Royal Birkdale in 1983. Watson came close to a sixth triumph in The Open at St Andrews in 1984 before a late charge from Seve Ballesteros and, at the age of 59, nearly won the Championship at Turnberry in 2009 before losing out to Stewart Cink in a play-off. He made 38 appearances in the Championship overall and is tied with Australia’s Peter Thomson as well as James Braid and JH Taylor on five victories, one fewer than the third member of the ‘Great Triumverate’ who has the most victories, Harry Vardon. In his role as Ambassador for The Open Watson will take part in a range of promotional and media activities on behalf of the Championship and will attend The 147th Open at Carnoustie, he is also an Honorary Member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. https://tickets.theopen.com.
GATEWAY TO THE OPEN MIZUNO OPEN
Shota Akiyoshi, Michael Hendry, Masahiro Kawamura and Masanori Kobayashi secured their places in The 147th Open after qualifying at the Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open at The Royal Golf Club in Japan. Sanctioned by the Japan Golf Tour Organisation, it was the fourth event in The Open Qualifying Series, which gives players the chance to book their place at Carnoustie from 15th to 22nd July 2018. All four players will tee it up in The Open at the famous Scottish links after finishing as the leading four players in the top 12 and ties who were not already exempt. Akiyoshi secured his first ever tournament win on the Japan Golf Tour to the delight of the home crowd and will make his debut in The Open after securing the first qualifying place ahead of Hendry, Kawamura and Kobayashi who finished in a three-way tie for second place on a level par total of 288.
RWS GOLF DAY 2018
More than 100 guests of Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) from around the region were specially flown in to Singapore on Sunday, 29th April 2018 and treated to an unforgettable day of golfing and dining. The annual RWS Golf Day 2018, held at Serapong Course in Sentosa Golf Club, saw guests receiving welcome kits comprising Under Armour polo shirt, Taylormade Burner golf balls, and Taylormade shoe bag. This year, in addition to the top three cash prizes, attractive novelty prizes include TUMI luggage, Porterline Travel Golf Bag, and Bushnell Excel GPS Rangefinder Watch were up for grabs. These were awarded for Nearest to Line, Nearest to Pin, and Longest Drive challenges all designed to test golfers on their mastery of core techniques.
Making its debut at the tournament as a highlight of the afternoon was the RWS Red Ball Challenge that saw teams of four golfers vying for the title of the Best Team. Teams were each given a special RWS red ball at the start of each new hole they reached, with the objective of keeping this ball in play via a calculated mix of skill and care. The team who could finish all 18 holes with the highest score and most number of red balls was declared the winner. This new fun challenge encouraged a higher degree of strategic shot-making decisions coupled with smart technical play which all players thoroughly enjoyed.
Ending off the evening on a sumptuous note, the golfers made their way back to RWS where they were treated to a delicious spread of oriental delights at celebrity chef restaurant Feng Shui Inn. Delicacies on the menu included braised imperial bird’s nest with conpoy soup and stir-fried fillet star grouper in black truffle sauce and were personally prepared by celebrated Executive Chef Li Kwok Kwong. Mr Alan Teo, Senior Vice President for Business Development at RWS, was present to hand out the accolades to the respective winners.