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Arab News
4 days ago
- Climate
- Arab News
Five players, three teams tied for lead at LIV Golf Andalucía
SAN ROQUE: With his Australian heritage and Open Championship pedigree, Ripper GC Captain Cameron Smith knows a thing or two about playing golf in blustery conditions. Rarely has he experienced an afternoon like Friday's first round of LIV Golf Andalucía at Real Club Valderrama. Severe winds reduced scoring opportunities and eventually forced a suspension of play due to unplayable conditions — the first time in league history that a round could not be completed in a single day. 'You can play this golf course with no wind and it's brutal,' Smith said. 'When you get 30 mile-an-hour gusts, it's definitely not an easy place to get around.' Play was set to resume on Saturday, with players having between three and five holes remaining in their opening rounds. Smith was one of just five players under par when the horn blew to suspend play. He shares the overnight lead at 1 under with Smash GC's Talor Gooch, the individual winner at Valderrama in 2023; Majesticks GC Co-Captain Lee Westwood; Stinger GC's Branden Grace and Torque GC Captain Joaquin Niemann, the current Individual points leader seeking his fifth win of the season. Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau and Legion XIII Captain Jon Rahm are one stroke back — the only other players who did not leave the course Friday over par. The Crushers, seeking their fourth consecutive team title, are tied for first with Legion XIII and Brooks Koepka's Smash GC on the team leaderboard at 5 over. Friday's round started under breezy but manageable conditions, but the wind speed increased throughout the afternoon as the direction changed. At 5:07 p.m. local time, just over four hours after the shotgun start, the horn blew. Tournament officials were hopeful for a resumption, but the forecast was not favorable and included the potential of dangerous conditions. 'Terribly unfortunate situation to be in for anybody out here,' said Brad Ullman, vice president, rules, at LIV Golf. 'These Poniente winds of southern Spain are no joke.' From a competition standpoint, the biggest issues came on the greens. A combination of dry putting surfaces and high-impact wind gusts prevented putts from stopping and golf balls from remaining still at address. At the most exposed parts of the course, particularly the greens on the 11th and 14th holes, putting was near-impossible. 'Ultimately the balls were moving a little bit too much for our liking,' Ullman said. 'It was the right thing to bring them off the golf course.' No surprise that Niemann, who has won every event this season on even-numbered weeks, is among the leaders on the 10th event of the 2025 schedule. He birdied his third hole of the day, the par-5 fourth, and made par on his other 14 holes — the only player without a bogey on Friday. Westwood, who last week won a final qualifying tournament to earn exemption into next week's Open, was the early leader after birdies in four of his first seven holes. A double bogey derailed his momentum, but he finished the day with four consecutive pars. Gooch has good vibes at Valderrama, having won LIV Golf Andalucía in 2023 en route to the Individual Championship. He endured a rollercoaster seven-hole stretch that included three birdies and three bogeys, then ended his round by knocking his approach shot to 2 feet at the par-4 10th to end with a birdie. Grace, battling the potential of relegation for the second consecutive season, is on pace for his best first-round position this season. He was a bogey-free 1 under through his first 10 holes and then responded to his two bogeys with two birdies. Smith was bogey-free through his first 13 holes and leading by three shots at 4 under. It was one of his best stretches of golf this year, but it ended with a double bogey and bogey before play ended. 'It's easy to feel frustrated, particularly when I doubled 15 and then bogeyed 16 as well,' Smith said. 'I was trotting along pretty good before that. 'But it's golf. Golf isn't fair, at the end of the day. Were the conditions fair? Probably not for a little bit, but it is what it is. We'll get on with it. I'm sure we'll make a good tournament out of it.' For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport T1. SMASH GC +5 (Gooch -1, Kokrak +1, McDowell +2, Koepka +3) T1. CRUSHERS GC +5 (DeChambeau E, Casey +1, Howell III +2, Lahiri +2) T1. LEGION XIII +5 (Rahm E, Hatton +1, Surratt +1, McKibbin +3) 4. 4ACES GC +8 (Reed +1, Johnson +2, Pieters +2, Varner III +3) T5. HYFLYERS GC +9 (Mickelson +1, Tringale +2, Ogletree +3, Steele +3) T5. MAJESTICKS GC +9 (Westwood -1, Poulter +1, Horsfield +4, Stenson +5) 7. CLEEKS GC +10 (Bland +1, Meronk +1, Kaymer +4, Kjettrup +4) T8. RIPPER GC +11 (Smith -1, Jones +2, Leishman +4, Herbert +6) T8. RANGEGOATS GC +11 (Watson +1, Campbell +2, Uihlein +3, Masaveu +5) T8. FIREBALLS GC +11 (Ancer +2, Garcia +2, Ballester +3, Puig +4) 11. TORQUE GC +14 (Niemann +1, Muñoz +3, Pereira +4, Ortiz +8) 12. STINGER GC +15 (Grace -1, Oosthuizen +5, Schwartzel +5, Burmester +6) 13. IRON HEADS GC +16 (Kozuma +2, Na +2, Jang +5, Lee +7) Wild Cards: C. Lee +2, Kim +6
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Climate
- Associated Press
LIV Golf Andalucia Partial Par Scores
Friday At Real Club Valderrama Sotogrande, Spain Purse: $20M (Individual); $5M (Team) Yardage: 7,010; Par: 71 First Round Suspended due to weather Team Scores
Arab News
6 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
LIV Golf announces partnership with HSBC
LONDON/NEW YORK: LIV Golf and HSBC have announced a partnership aimed at growing the game worldwide. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport HSBC is LIV Golf's first partnership with a global financial organization. The multi-year pact will span LIV Golf's 14-event season, and support two of its 13 teams, starting at LIV Golf Andalucia from July 11 to 13 at Real Club Valderrama. HSBC will play a role in supporting LIV Golf's community partnerships strategy that opens up opportunities for the next generation of golfers, as well as financial literacy initiatives. 'HSBC's track record in supporting and advancing the game of golf is inspiring and admirable, and we are proud to welcome them into LIV Golf's growing roster of global partners,' said Scott O'Neil, LIV Golf's CEO. 'HSBC's global footprint and ongoing presence in professional tournaments align perfectly with our mission to build the game for the next era of players and fans. 'Few sports leagues can claim a truly global reach, making a partnership with HSBC a natural alignment in our pursuit of a shared vision.' He added: 'We appreciate HSBC's confidence in supporting some of the world's biggest stars as they introduce and showcase the sport and its opportunities to new audiences worldwide. 'Together, we have an opportunity to engage younger fans, connect through music, culture, and innovation, and inspire the next generation, unlocking meaningful potential for both our brands and the sport we love.' Barry O'Byrne, HSBC's CEO of international wealth and premier banking, said: 'We are delighted to join forces with LIV Golf and are really excited to see what we can create together. 'HSBC has more than two decades of legacy in the sport and we can't wait to bring another level of excitement to our clients and sport fans. We are looking forward to working with LIV Golf to continue to attract new audiences to watch and play the game.' In recognition of LIV Golf's position as the only global league pioneering team contests, the partnership will include specific support for some of the competing sides. This includes Crushers GC, captained by Bryson DeChambeau, and Majesticks GC, co-captained by Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson. HSBC will also become the presenting partner of LIV Golf's '9 to Play' segment during every live broadcast, with a potential reach of over 875 million households across more than 120 international markets. DeChambeau said: 'LIV Golf and Crushers GC deliver both the game and golf culture to new generations and markets across the world with a competitive spirit at our core. We are proud to represent HSBC, a brand that shares our belief in access to golf and elite performance on a global stage.' Westwood commented: 'HSBC has been a leader in shaping the global game of golf for decades; this new partnership strengthens our team and reinforces the global momentum behind LIV Golf.' He added that 'together, we're building something special that resonates far beyond the fairways. It will be an honor to wear the HSBC brand as we represent Majesticks GC around the world.' HSBC's support of golf dates back more than two decades and includes some of the most iconic tournaments around the world. Through this partnership, LIV Golf joins the ranks of contests including The Open, AIG Women's Open, Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, HSBC Women's World Championship (Singapore), and CGA-HSBC China Golf Program.
Fox Sports
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
LIV Golf Andalucia Preview: Sergio Garcia Eyes Repeat At 'My Favorite Course'
LIV Golf returns to historic Real Club Valderrama for the third consecutive season for this week's LIV Golf Andalucia, the 10th tournament of the 14-event 2025 season. BASIC INFO When: July 11-13, 2025 Where: Real Club Valderrama, San Roque, Cádiz, Spain Competition: Three rounds/54 holes of stroke play Field: 54 players — 13 teams of four players each, and two wild cards Defending champions: Sergio Garcia (individual), Fireballs GC (team) Shotgun Start (ET)Rd. 1, Friday - 7 2, Saturday - 7 a.m. Rd. 3, Sunday - 6:30 a.m. KEY STORYLINES LIV Golf returns to Andalucía for the third consecutive season at the historic Valderrama course Spanish legend Sergio Garcia and his Fireballs GC seek to defend their individual and team titles from last year The Fireballs won last year's title at Valderrama in a team playoff over Crushers GC, who finished third the previous year Bryson DeChambeau's Crushers will seek to match the LIV Golf record of four consecutive team wins set by 4Aces GC during the inaugural 2022 season The Crushers moved atop the season-long team standings with their dominant 11-shot victory in Dallas; they also won the previous two tournaments in Korea and Virginia 4Aces GC's Patrick Reed won his first individual LIV Golf title in Dallas, claiming a four-man playoff that included Paul Casey (Crushers), Louis Oosthuizen (Stinger GC) and Jinichiro Kozuma (Iron Heads GC) Four Spanish natives are in the 54-man field – Garcia and his Fireballs teammates David Puig and recently signed Josele Ballester, and Legion XIII Captain Jon Rahm, a two-time major winner and winner of the 2024 LIV Golf Individual Championship Latin star Joaquin Niemann of Chile is the current individual points leader with four wins in the first nine tournaments this season Andalucía is the last LIV Golf tournament prior to next week's Open Championship, in which 19 of the league's players will compete at Royal Portrush LEGENDARY VALDERRAMA Spanish-born Sergio Garcia, the captain of Fireballs GC, calls Real Club Valderrama "my favorite course in the world." Given that Garcia has won four professional tournaments there, including his breakthrough LIV Golf individual playoff in 2024, it's no wonder a smile crosses his face whenever he talks about Valderrama. The 45-year-old Garcia certainly is happy to return to the course for this week's LIV Golf Andalucía for the third consecutive year. "It's super special," Garcia said. "Not only for me but for all of us because of how much Valderrama means to all of us, to Europe, all the amazing things that have happened here on this golf course." Last year was certainly amazing for both Garcia and his Fireballs, as they swept both trophies via playoff – the only time in LIV Golf's young history that a tournament has produced a double playoff for the individual and team titles. "It's been great to me," Garcia said. Garcia is not the only Spanish-born captain in LIV Golf. Legion XIII's Jon Rahm also enjoys returning to his home country to play Valderrama, the first course in Continental Europe to host the Ryder Cup in 1997. "It's all subjective, but it's probably the best golf course we have in Spain," Rahm said. "It's something that we all grew up wanting to play." Cleeks Golf Club Captain Martin Kaymer was born in Germany but now resides in the Sotogrande area that includes Valderrama. He's been close on several occasions in his pro career to lifting a trophy there. "One of those venues where I wanted to put my name on the trophy," Kaymer said. "I came close. I think I finished five or six times in the top 5. So, it's a golf course that I like, that I enjoy playing, that I can play well. It's a matter of time, hopefully." CHASING THE RECORD Bryson DeChambeau's Crushers GC have won the last three LIV Golf team titles and will seek a fourth straight trophy at LIV Golf Andalucía. If they win at Valderrama, it would match the LIV Golf record for longest win streak by either a team or individual. LIV GOLF WIN STREAKS 4 – 4Aces GC (2022 Portland/Bedminster/Boston/Chicago) 3 – Crushers GC (2025 Korea/Virginia/Dallas) 3 – Fireballs GC (2025 Adelaide/Hong Kong/Singapore) 2 – Ripper GC (2024 Adelaide/Singapore)2 – Crushers GC (2024 Jeddah/Hong Kong) 2 – Torque GC (2023 DC/Andalucía) ABOUT THE COURSE REAL CLUB VALDERRAMA San Roque, Cádiz, Spain Par: 71Yardage: 7,010 Meters: 6,410 Ranked among the top courses in the world, Real Club Valderrama has hosted numerous professional events, including LIV Golf Andalucía in 2023 and 2024, along with the 1997 Ryder Cup – the first time the event had been held in Continental Europe Valderrama was originally designed by famed golf architect Robert Trent Jones in 1974. Jones was brought back to work on the course when Jaime Ortiz-Patiño bought the course in the mid-1980s Valderrama is widely considered to be the "Augusta of Europe" for its championship pedigree and immaculate maintenance The golf club is one of two in Europe to be awarded the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program Certification for its commitment to conserve and restore natural ecosystems The course will have four par-4 holes under 400 yards; the longest par 3 is 225 yards, the longest par 4 is 490 yards and the longest par 5 is 564 yards The 564-yard par-5 fourth, known as La Cascada, has a pond to the right of a two-tiered green The memorable 536-yard par-5 17th provides a natural amphitheater for fans Sergio Garcia (2024) and Talor Gooch (2023) have won individual LIV Golf titles at Valderrama, while Fireballs GC (2024) and Torque GC (2023) have team wins In 2024, the hardest hole was the par-4 18th with a stroke average of 4.340; the easiest hole was the par-5 11th (4.716) The 212-yard par-3 12th was the hardest hole in 2023 and the second-hardest in 2024 Green types: Bermuda Tifway 419 on fairways and rough; T1 Creeping Bentgrass on greens KEYS TO SUCCESS Bogey Avoidance: Much more important than birdie rate. The average top-5 finisher at this course has made 2.75 bogeys per round vs 4.25 for the other players finishing in the top 50. Finding Fairways: The value of distance is the lowest all season, averaging at just +0.11 per hole. There is also severe miss fairway penalty in play, average +0.40. Driver will likely only be used 6/7 times at the most. Inside 150 Yards: Players will face 52% of their approach shots this week with the wedges inside of 150 yards vs the season average of 32.5%. Lag Putting: Because the penalty for missing greens is so severe, players focus on the middle and larger parts of the greens instead of aiming for flags. Thus, longer lag first putts are more impactful. This piece is courtesy of Mike McAllister in partnership with LIV Golf. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? 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