‘I'm just so excited': Meet the last Northern Irishman to bag a spot at this week's Open at Royal Portrush
What was due to be a week off relaxing with his wife and seeing family has now become a work trip after the Castledawson man saw his player, Germany's Matti Schmid, secure literally the final place in the field at Royal Portrush this week by being the third-best finisher not already qualified for The Open at the Scottish Open last week.
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Daily Record
22 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Sergio Garcia snaps driver in rage at The Open after wild tee shot
The Spaniard was furious with himself at the second at Royal Portrush and the head came flying off his driver Seething Sergio Garcia disrupted the calm morning air at Royal Portrush by snapping his driver in rage. The Spanish star lost the plot on the second tee after sending a wild shot off target. Garcia was furious at himself and cracked his club into the deck. As he smashed it into the turf, the head came flying off leaving him without a big dog for the rest of the round. The LIV ace is desperate to do well at The Open to give himself a chance of making The Ryder Cup team for the clash against the United States at Bethpage in September. However, at level par, he's been unable to trouble the leaders in Northern Ireland and his chances of playing in Luke Donald 's team look slim. At the beginning of the month, Europe's record points scorer had outlined his ambitions as he said: 'It's going to be my second time playing at Royal Portrush, and it's obviously nice. "It's one of the goals that you have at the beginning of the year, to try to play as many majors as you can with the limitations that we get. "I didn't help myself very much the last three months, but I'm glad that I got enough work done in the first third of the year, in the first part of the season. I'm excited about it and, hopefully, I'll play well. 'It's a five-week stretch, so it's going to be Dallas, BMW Munich, Valderrama, British Open and JCB, so it's a big stretch. But thankfully I'm doing well physically, even at my age, and hopefully I'll be able to get through the five weeks well.' 'If they had told me I was going to be in this position and with a chance of being on the Ryder Cup team, obviously I would have taken it without a doubt. Now what I have to do is keep showing my strengths, keep showing my golf, especially what I showed in the first third of the year. 'The good thing is that I know I'm on Luke's ballot and I just have to keep showing that I can do good things and that I can help the team. The Ryder Cup is my favourite golf tournament in the world. 'It would be incredible to be able to compete in another Ryder Cup, especially knowing that in New York, at Bethpage, it's going to be tough and maybe a little experience always comes in handy.' Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Scottish Sun
22 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Bob Bubka dead age 83: Legendary reporter and ‘Voice of Golf' who covered Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods passes away
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE legendary 'Voice of Golf' Bob Bubka has died aged 83. American Bubka started working in radio in 1964 covering high school football. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Legendary golf broadcaster Bob Bubka has passed away aged 83 Credit: Getty 3 Bubka earned the respect of golf's greats including Tiger Woods Credit: Getty 3 He was known as the 'Voice of Golf' on talkSPORT Credit: Getty He then began covering golf in the 1980s and worked for NBC Sports and the PGA Tour in America - including his 'Outside the Ropes' show. Then in 2000, Bubka landed a job with talkSPORT, bringing his iconic New York tones to the UK sport radio station. And his standing in golf saw him respected and revered by all. That included two of the greatest golfers of all time - Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Nicklaus was made an honourary citizen of St Andrews in 2022 and personally invited his dear friend Bubka to be there. And even the notoriously private Woods went out of his way to greet Bubka at The Open that year, seeking him out after a press conference after the iconic broadcaster travelled to the event despite poor health. Rubert Bell of talkSPORT paid an emotional tribute to his great friend and colleague. Bell said: 'Radio is about voice. There is no doubt when you heard Bob Bubka speak, it just grabbed you. 'Unmistakable, iconic, coupled with a wonderful, unique style. For over 25 years, his distinctive American tones enthralled and entertained talkSPORT listeners. 'His love for the game of golf shone through, coupled with a cheeky, almost rebellious element which made him not only a delight to listen to - but in my case - to work with. Baffled Rory McIlroy hits TWO balls with ONE shot in incredible never-seen-before incident at The Open 'Bob was unashamedly biased when it came to Tiger Woods - in awe of his achievements - particularly as he had been brought up in the Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer era. It was a testament to Bob that Tiger always seemed to reach out and say hello. 'In later years, Bob's health made it difficult to travel and his last Open in situ was at St Andrews in 2022. 'He loved being there - and the relish in which he drove his motorised wheelchair around the city was fantastic. 'But what he also loved was the interaction with talkSPORT listeners - and I know in the end, being part of the talkSPORT family was so important to him as he struggled with ill health. 'Even when physically frail, that voice never faltered. Covering the majors will never be the same without that delicious voice drawing us into the magnificent sport of golf.' Others in the golfing world took to social media to post their messages and memories. Mike Parry said: "I'm really saddened to hear of the death of my great pal and legendary golf commentator Bob Bubka. "He was THE best with an incomparably silky voice and unparalleled knowledge of the game. I worked six Opens with him. Joyous professional days... RIP Big Man." Jonathan Norman added: "After marvelling at his voice and broadcasting style for a decade, it was one of my career highs to work with Bob at the 2014 Ryder Cup. "He will be missed greatly. Thoughts with Janice and all Bob's family and friends. RIP." Another wrote: "RIP Bob Bubka….. the voice of golf." And a final user wrote: "Ahhh such sad news. RIP Bob Bubka, the voice of golf. Could listen to him all day."
Scottish Sun
22 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Sergio Garcia SNAPS his driver in two by angrily smashing it into the ground after wayward shot at The Open
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SERGIO Garcia stunned golf fans when he SNAPPED his driver in two by smashing it into the ground. 2 Sergio Garcia breaks his driver on the second The hot-headed Spaniard hooked a wayward drive into the rough at the par-5 second, and pounded the club into the grass in frustration. The shaft buckled and then snapped, as Garcia let rip. Somehow he still managed to make a par. However he has to play the rest of his round without a driver. The rules of golf mean he could have asked for a replacement to be brought out from the clubhouse if the damage had been accidental. However because he deliberately broke the driver in a temper tantrum, former Ryder Cup star Garcia will have to play the rest of the final round with one fewer club in his bag. Golf fans who saw the incident were outraged. One X user wrote: "Should be kicked off the course. Damaged the tee as well.' Another branded him a 'child', adding: 'For one bad shot it could now cost him another 14… Grow up man.' BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Others were less kind. One disgruntled fan wrote: "Sergio Garcia really is a k***head." Another blasted: "Sergio Garcia is a horrible little p****." Former Masters champion Garcia, 45, has a history of blowing his lid on the course. 2 Sergio Garcia at The Open this week Credit: Getty Golf's biggest feuds from McIlroy's furious Ryder Cup row to Tiger vs Garcia rivalry and Koepka Wag spat At The Open in 2017 he injured his shoulder after slamming his club into a bush. And he was forced to use a three-iron for all his putts at the Dell Technologies Championship after breaking his putter in anger on a sprinkler head also in 2017.
