Latest news with #ISPSHanda
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
LPGA Tour Enters Pivotal Three-Week European Stretch
LPGA Tour Enters Pivotal Three-Week European Stretch originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The LPGA Tour embarks on one of its most demanding three-week stretches of the season this week with two major championships and the Scottish Open sandwiched in between, rounding out the month. Advertisement The gauntlet begins Thursday at Evian Resort Golf Club in France, where the world's best female golfers will compete for the Amundi Evian Championship, the season's fourth major. The following week, players cross the English Channel to Scotland for the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links before concluding the marathon at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Wales for the AIG Women's Open, the fifth and final major of 2025. This European swing is about much more than just hopping among countries. With $19 million in prize money up for grabs and two majors on the line, the next three weeks could completely shake up the season's biggest storylines and crown this year's most important champions. The Evian Championship kicks things off, bringing an $8 million purse and $1.2 million winner's check to the stunning course overlooking Lake Geneva. Defending champion Ayaka Furue heads back to the place where she claimed her first major last July, closing with a 65 to edge Stephanie Kyriacou by one shot. The Evian Championship has been through quite a journey since joining the majors in 2013. It started as a September finale before moving to July in 2019, and the course got a major makeover with an $8 million renovation in 2012-13. Advertisement Next up is the Scottish Open, the middle chapter of this European adventure. Dundonald Links hosts for the fourth time since 2017, offering $2 million in prize money with $300,000 going to the winner. More importantly, it gives players a crucial chance to get comfortable with links golf before the final major. Lauren Coughlin captured last year's Scottish Open title at Dundonald, earning her first LPGA victory with a four-stroke win over Esther Henseleit. The American's breakthrough came during a season where she also claimed her first major at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. The crescendo arrives at Royal Porthcawl, which will host the AIG Women's Open for the first time. The Welsh venue has a distinguished history, having staged the Senior Open Championship three times and The Amateur Championship on seven occasions. The club received royal designation from King Edward VII in 1909 and has long been considered one of Britain's finest coastal courses. Royal Porthcawl's debut as a Women's Open host marks a big moment for the championship, which has been steadily adding new venues beyond the traditional Open Championship rotation. The Welsh course can stretch out to as much as 7,137 yards and plays to a par-72. Coastal winds and firm conditions will test every part of the players' games. Advertisement Last year's champion, Lydia Ko, who has one win so far this season, along with two other top 10 finishes, looks to repeat and capture the $1.35 million winner's share of the $9 million total purse. This season has seen Jeeno Thitikul headline through the midway point. She has one win and seven top-10s in 12 starts. Thitikul leads the Race to the CME Globe with a 206-point lead over Minjee Lee and a 407-point lead over Rio Takeda in the third spot. Nelly Korda, who retains her place as the No. 1 player in the world, has yet to win an event this season. In 10 starts, she has four top-10s and, despite being winless in 2025, always enters events as a favorite. Nelly sits in the seventh spot in the Race to the CME Globe, currently 578 points back of Thitikul. Advertisement The European stretch also gives international players a chance to shine closer to home. England's Charley Hull and Georgia Hall will have plenty of support at Royal Porthcawl, while France's Celine Boutier — who swept both the Evian Championship and Scottish Open in 2023 — knows exactly what it takes to succeed in this environment. As the LPGA Tour heads into this defining stretch, one thing is certain: The next three weeks will deliver drama and surprises, and will likely determine who emerges as the tour's biggest stars heading into the season's final months. Related: A True American Story: LPGA Celebrates 75 Years Related: World's No. 1 LPGA Golfer Sends Clear Message Ahead of Final Round of ShopRite Classic This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Hull helping inspire next generation
Golf superstar and ISPS Handa ambassador Charley Hull was on hand at the Golf Ireland Academy last Tuesday where she lead a junior clinic that underscored Golf Ireland and ISPS Handa's commitment to creating clear pathways for Golfers with Disabilities. Hull, who was one of the star attractions at the KPMG Women's Irish Open in Carton House eventually finishing fourth, spent time on the putting green and practice area mentoring juniors and elite golfers with disabilities who have benefited directly from the organisation's Golf4All initiatives which are supported by their partner ISPS Handa. The clinic, delivered by Golf Ireland PGA coach Callum Slater and supported by ISPS Handa, featured interactive drills, skills challenges and a lively Q&A. Hull demonstrated some of her short-game techniques, fielded questions about life on tour, posed for photos and signed autographs. 'It is really important. Obviously, a lot of respect to them, how many things are stopping them from playing golf and they still go out there and play it. It's unbelievable, it's great to see,' said Hull. ISPS Handa and Golf Ireland joined forces in October 2023 with a view to support Golf Ireland's Golf4All programmes and increase development pathways for elite amateurs with a disability. ISPS Handa also become the title sponsor of the Irish Open for Golfers with Disabilities. 'Golf Ireland have a wonderful partner in ISPS Handa, who support our disability golf initiatives right across the board,' said Golf Ireland CEO Mark Kennelly. 'We were delighted to be joined by ISPS Handa ambassador Charley Hull and Brendan Scannell, to perform a clinic here for a combination of our elite national panel and some of our younger golfers with disabilities. 'It's been a wonderful experience with them. We are delighted that Charley spent so much time with the players, giving them tips, answering their questions. 'So it's been a really special occasion and we really appreciate the support we are getting from ISPS Handa in making today happen.' The Golf Ireland ISPS Handa Junior G4D Pathway Programme, aims to develop the golfing ability of junior golfers with disabilities by providing High Performance Coaching Support and a pathway to represent Ireland on the ISPS Handa Golfers with Disabilities team. Players are offered coaching in their respective regions as well as building connections and community with other golfers with a disability. 'It was a great invite to get and an experience that I might never get again to meet Charley, she's a world class player,' said Golf Ireland ISPS Handa Junior G4D Pathway Player, Julia Falvey Ryan. 'It was unbelievable for ISPS Handa to do this for us, they are a great support as always for the disability golf in Ireland. 'This is what we need for disability golf to become a bigger thing, it's great to hear because when you see the people with ISPS Handa on their tops you know they are part of the good crew.'
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Tearful Brown says winning BMW International Open was 'out-of-body experience' after friend's death
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] MUNICH (AP) — English golfer Daniel Brown was in tears after going through an 'out-of-body experience' in winning the BMW International Open by two strokes on Sunday, days after the death of a close friend. The No. 170-ranked Brown shot a bogey-free 6-under 66 in the final round to capture his second European tour title, after the ISPS Handa World Invitational in 2023. After making his sixth and final birdie of the day at the par-5 18th, Brown walked off the green and started to cry. 'I lost a friend at home last weekend,' Brown said, before pausing and holding back more tears. 'It's for him.' Brown said that was his motivation to win at Golfclub München Eichenried. 'The last two days I kept thinking about him,' he said. 'I tried not to get too emotional in the process. I'm not really too sure what happened today. All day really was like an out-of-body experience. 'He was there with me,' Brown added, 'and it made it a little bit easier.' Brown started the day with a one-shot lead over countryman Jordan Smith, birdied four of his first six holes, and picked up two more birdies coming home to finish on 22-under par for the week. The 30-year-old Brown hadn't had a top-10 finish since February at the Qatar Masters. Smith shot 67 and was alone in second place. ___ AP golf:
Globe and Mail
6 days ago
- Sport
- Globe and Mail
Tearful Brown dedicates BMW International Open win to deceased friend
English golfer Daniel Brown was in tears after going through an 'out-of-body experience' in winning the BMW International Open by two strokes on Sunday, days after the death of a close friend. The No. 170-ranked Brown shot a bogey-free six-under 66 in the final round to capture his second European tour title, after the ISPS Handa World Invitational in 2023. After making his sixth and final birdie of the day at the par-five 18th, Brown walked off the green and started to cry. 'I lost a friend at home last weekend,' Brown said, before pausing and holding back more tears. 'It's for him.' Brown said that was his motivation to win at Golfclub München Eichenried. 'The last two days I kept thinking about him,' he said. 'I tried not to get too emotional in the process. I'm not really too sure what happened today. All day really was like an out-of-body experience. 'He was there with me,' Brown added, 'and it made it a little bit easier.' Brown started the day with a one-shot lead over countryman Jordan Smith, birdied four of his first six holes, and picked up two more birdies coming home to finish on 22-under par for the week. The 30-year-old Brown hadn't had a top-10 finish since February at the Qatar Masters. Smith shot 67 and was alone in second place.
