Golf, by TourMiss

Tournament host Lee Westwood revealed how he twisted Rory McIlroy’s arm over a ‘couple of glasses of wine’ at Sergio Garcia’s wedding into contesting this week’s British Masters. After Justin Rose hosted the 2015 event and Luke Donald greeted his colleagues a year ago, this year it is Westwood’s turn hosting the event at the Close House course. Westwood, who captured the event in 2007,  has long been attached to the club located near Newcastle and in north-east England. McIlroy’s ...

Kyle Barker tightened his grip on the Golf Citizen Abu Dhabi Open by extending his lead to four shots as England’s Todd Clements moved to the fringes of contention heading into the final round at Yas Links, Abu Dhabi, on Tuesday. Two in front overnight, the 19-year-old South African backed up his opening 66 with a bogey-free 68, studded two birdies in each half, to reach 10-under for the tournament, leaving the field marvelling at his ball-striking prowess. Clements, who currently leads the MENA ...

Tony Johnstone is one who is always very jovial and known to be blunt and to the point. Little wonder when asked what the International Team’s reaction might be later this week if their USA rivals continued the protests in US sport by kneeling for the American national anthem ahead of the start of the 2017 Presidents Cup. “It’s got absolutely bugger all to do with us”, said Johnstone. “And I don’t think we’re in a position really to talk about it,” Johnstone said, adding ...

Race to Dubai front-running Tommy Fleetwood and popular Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston have been forced out of this week’s British Masters. Fleetwood, 26 advised the European Tour he has elected to stay with his partner and manager, Clare who is soon to give birth to the couple’s child. “I wanted to give myself every chance of playing this week, but being there at the birth of your child is a special moment in anyone’s life and I would not want to miss it,” said Fleetwood. “Lee Westwood ...

Springbok rising star, Kyle Barker took Route 66 to open-up a two-shot leading cushion on day one of the MENA Tour’s Golf Citizen Abu Dhabi Open on Monday. Barker, 19 grabbed five birdies, including three in a row from the first, to turn in 31 before off-setting his lone bogey on the 10th with further birdies on the 13th and 16th as fading light forced play to be suspended leaving 12 players still to complete their round on the Kyle Phillips designed cousre in the UAE capital. Former Open Champion, ...

Atlanta, GA … Unheralded rookie Xander Schauffele won the $3.5m Tour Championship first prize but it was ‘Player of the Year’ elect Justin Thomas who brilliantly collected the $10m FedEx Cup victory package in Atlanta. Schauffele, 23 in just his 30th event on Tour captured a second Tour title this year with a dramatic three-foot birdie at the last in a 68 for a one-stroke 12-under winning tally on the East Lake course. “This year has just been a wild ride as I somehow managed ...

Atlanta, GA …. A decade on and Rory McIlroy faces a completely different spotlight than the one a curly-haired, freckle-faced 18-year old faced in making his pro debut at the 2007 British Masters. It came as no surprise to those present 10-years ago seeing McIlroy arrive on that warm Spring Tuesday afternoon and face a Belfry press room jam-packed of journalists and TV cameras in announcing he was turning professional. Two weeks earlier, McIlroy competed for the last time as an amateur in ...