Latest news with #LadiesEuropeanTour
RTÉ News
4 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Solid starts for Lauren Walsh and Sara Byrne in Czech Ladies Open
Lauren Walsh and Sara Byrne both made solid starts to Tipsport Czech Ladies Open where Amandeep Drall leads the way after an opening round 64. Walsh was best of the Irish with three birdies on her way to a three-under par 69 and five shots off the clubhouse lead. She is a shot better off than compatriot Byrne, who shared her four bogeys evenly across the front and back nine as well as half a dozen birdies, including at the last. Canice Screene sits on one-over after a 73, while Olivia Mehaffey is on three-over par after a double-bogey start to her round that also included three bogeys. Drall sits top of the pile at Royal Beroun Golf Club for her best ever round on the Ladies European Tour. On a Friday full of birdies, Drall, playing in only her second LET event of the season, read the low-scoring script carding nine birdies and dropping just one shot in the Czech Republic. "I'm very happy," the Indian said. "Especially after last week [missing the cut in Belgium]. "Line reading was definitely the difference. I hit the ball well last week but I couldn't read the lines at all. I was so confused on the green. But coming into this week, I focused a lot on my putting. I concentrated on my stroke and my line." The scorecard included four birdies in a row at the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th to give the 32-year-old a one-shot lead.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Rising Briton Rhodes 'itching' to start major career at Women's PGA
After a blistering start to her professional career, English golfer Mimi Rhodes cannot wait to begin her major career at this week's KPMG Women's PGA Championship in Frisco, 23-year-old from Bath received a special invitation to play the year's third major, which is worth a record equalling $12m (£9m), after three victories already in her debut season on the Ladies European Tour (LET).Rhodes will tee it up with the world's best players in a field that includes American world number one Nelly Korda on the Fields Ranch East course, which becomes the first in Texas to stage this event."I got here last Saturday and I'm just itching to to get started," Rhodes told BBC Sport. 'It's hard to wrap my head around everything' She turned professional after appearing in the Great Britain and Ireland team that won last year's Curtis Cup at Sunningdale. She has subsequently posted LET victories at the New South Wales Open, Joburg Ladies Open and the recent Dutch would not have believed anyone suggesting she would make such an impact so soon after joining the pro ranks. "I would have told them that they're crazy and they're lying," she said."It's unbelievable, how much I've achieved in such a short period of time. I'm just grateful for the process and grateful to be here and just want to make the most of it."Organisers issued two sponsor invitations, the other going to former US Solheim Cup skipper Stacy Lewis. Rhodes found out a fortnight ago and says it was "one of the best messages of my life".She joins fellow Englishwomen Charley Hull, Georgia Hall and Jodi Ewart Shadoff, and Scotland's Gemma Dryburgh, in the 156-player line-up. "I knew it'd be quite hard to get into the field, you know, being a major," Rhodes said."I guess it was a shock, definitely. But also showed me that I can be at the same level as other LPGA players and just gave me the reassurance that my game is where it can be to beat the best in the world."It has been a meteoric rise for a player who has already cracked the world's top 100. "Everything's kind of happened so fast," said the world number 89."I haven't really had time to wrap my head around everything. You go back home and members at your club come up to you, and you have all of these people coming up to you and asking you for pictures."That's when you sort of realise that, you know, you've done a big thing and, you've been playing pretty good golf."Rhodes will tee off at 13:55 BST alongside European Solheim Cup player Esther Henseleit and India's Aditi Ashok on a par-72 course that measures 6,604 yards."I really like it," Rhodes said. "It's in really, really good condition. The greens are quite slopey, but quite big, and it's a long course."I like my long irons, so I've enjoyed the days I've been practising it. I just have to have fun out there and hopefully the putts drop." 'I cried after JJ Spaun won' Hull is among the late starters at 20:17 BST alongside Korea's Jin Young Ko and Ayake Furue, of Japan. The English number one is 17th in the world rankings and seeking her first victory in this her 58th major comes into the championship following her tie for second place behind Maja Stark at the recent US Women's Open. It was her second runner-up finish in a so far winless 26-year-old suffered a neck spasm hitting out of rough in a practice round on Monday, but insists she will be ready to challenge for her third major title."With the injury that I had last year, every single time something kind of flares up in my neck now, I think I feel it a little bit more than what I used to," Korda became the first European in eight majors to win one of the big five titles with her success at Erin Hills three weeks 25-year-old Swede says the victory is still to sink in and her emotions were more affected by JJ Spaun's dramatic win in the men's equivalent last Sunday."I haven't really had time to think about it," Stark admitted. "I didn't cry after I won but I cried after JJ Spaun won because I was so excited for him."
The Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Carlota Ciganda ends long LPGA title drought with win at Meijer LPGA Classic
SPANISH stalwart Carlota Ciganda returned to the LPGA winner's circle after a lapse of more than 8½ years with a gritty victory at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give in Belmont, Michigan. Having started the final round in a six-way tie for the lead, Ciganda birdied the final two holes at Blythefield Country Club for a closing 67 and 16-under-par 272 total. The 35-year-old finished one shot clear of Korean Hye-Jin Choi, who closed with a 68. This was Ciganda's third LPGA title and her first since November 2016, when she won the Citi Banamex Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Mexico by two strokes. Her LPGA title drought had lasted eight years, seven months and two days. 'It feels amazing obviously, after all these years. I knew I could do it, but once the years keep going and you start getting older, you start doubting yourself,' said Ciganda, who has won eight times on the Ladies European Tour including last year's Spanish Open. Ciganda's two closing birdies came from close range, from one foot after a superb approach at the par-four 17th, and from four feet at the par-five 18th after finding the green in two. The final hole birdie avoided a playoff with playing partner Choi, who also made four but had crucially dropped a shot at the 17th. Ciganda noted that she loved the traditional, tree-lined Blythefield layout, as it reminded her of courses in her native Spain. 'It reminds me of where I'm from in the northern part of Spain. Very similar – lots of trees, peaceful. I love the golf course,' said the Arizona State alumna. Ciganda has now matched Beatriz Recari for the most LPGA victories by a Spanish player and is the oldest player to win this season at age 35 years and 14 days. 'For me, age is just a number. I don't feel as fresh as when I was 24, but I still feel I can compete and I can win out here. I love playing. I love Thursday to Sundays. I love competition,' said Ciganda, who is a seven-time European Solheim Cup team member and a three-time Olympian. American star Lexi Thompson showed that she is still a force to be reckoned with despite only playing a part-time schedule, contending for the title until two late bogeys on 16 and 17. The 11-time LPGA winner settled for joint fourth place on 13-under-par 275 with France's Celine Boutier and Denmark's Nanna Koerstz Madsen. 'It's my favourite event on the schedule. The fans are amazing and come out and support women's golf, and that's what we want,' said Thompson, who won this event in 2015 and lost a playoff to compatriot Lilia Vu last year. Another Korean, Somi Lee, shot a superb closing 65 to climb up into third place on 14-under-par 274. The stars of the LPGA Tour will now head to Texas for the third Major of the 2025 season, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Carlota Ciganda ends long LPGA title drought
SPANISH stalwart Carlota Ciganda returned to the LPGA winner's circle after a lapse of more than 8½ years with a gritty victory at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give in Belmont, Michigan. Having started the final round in a six-way tie for the lead, Ciganda birdied the final two holes at Blythefield Country Club for a closing 67 and 16-under-par 272 total. The 35-year-old finished one shot clear of Korean Hye-Jin Choi, who closed with a 68. This was Ciganda's third LPGA title and her first since November 2016, when she won the Citi Banamex Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Mexico by two strokes. Her LPGA title drought had lasted eight years, seven months and two days. 'It feels amazing obviously, after all these years. I knew I could do it, but once the years keep going and you start getting older, you start doubting yourself,' said Ciganda, who has won eight times on the Ladies European Tour including last year's Spanish Open. Ciganda's two closing birdies came from close range, from one foot after a superb approach at the par-four 17th, and from four feet at the par-five 18th after finding the green in two. The final hole birdie avoided a playoff with playing partner Choi, who also made four but had crucially dropped a shot at the 17th. Ciganda noted that she loved the traditional, tree-lined Blythefield layout, as it reminded her of courses in her native Spain. 'It reminds me of where I'm from in the northern part of Spain. Very similar – lots of trees, peaceful. I love the golf course,' said the Arizona State alumna. Ciganda has now matched Beatriz Recari for the most LPGA victories by a Spanish player and is the oldest player to win this season at age 35 years and 14 days. 'For me, age is just a number. I don't feel as fresh as when I was 24, but I still feel I can compete and I can win out here. I love playing. I love Thursday to Sundays. I love competition,' said Ciganda, who is a seven-time European Solheim Cup team member and a three-time Olympian. American star Lexi Thompson showed that she is still a force to be reckoned with despite only playing a part-time schedule, contending for the title until two late bogeys on 16 and 17. The 11-time LPGA winner settled for joint fourth place on 13-under-par 275 with France's Celine Boutier and Denmark's Nanna Koerstz Madsen. 'It's my favourite event on the schedule. The fans are amazing and come out and support women's golf, and that's what we want,' said Thompson, who won this event in 2015 and lost a playoff to compatriot Lilia Vu last year. Another Korean, Somi Lee, shot a superb closing 65 to climb up into third place on 14-under-par 274. The stars of the LPGA Tour will now head to Texas for the third Major of the 2025 season, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco.
The Star
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Spaniard Carlota Ciganda ends long LPGA title drought with gritty win at Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN - JUNE 15: Carlota Ciganda of Spain reacts on the 18th green after winning the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give 2025 at Blythefield Country Club on June 15, 2025 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Photo by- LPGA BELMONT, Michigan, USA: Spanish stalwart Carlota Ciganda returned to the LPGA winner's circle after a lapse of more than eight-and-a-half years with a gritty victory at the Can Belmont, Michigan. Having started the final round in a six-way tie for the lead, Ciganda birdied the final two holes at Blythefield Country Club for a closing 67 and 16-under-par 272 total. The 35-year-old finished one shot clear of Korean Hye-Jin Choi, who closed with a 68. This was Ciganda's third LPGA title and her first since November 2016, when she won the Citi Banamex Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Mexico by two strokes. Her LPGA title drought had lasted eight years, seven months and two days. "It feels amazing obviously, after all these years. I knew I could do it, but once the years keep going and you start getting older, you start doubting yourself," said Ciganda, who has won eight times on the Ladies European Tour including last year's Spanish Open. Ciganda's two closing birdies came from close range, from one foot after a superb approach at the the par-four 17th, and from four feet at the par-five 18th after finding the green in two. The final hole birdie avoided a playoff with playing partner Choi, who also made four but had crucially dropped a shot at the 17th. Ciganda noted that she loved the traditional, tree-lined Blythefield layout, as it reminded her of courses in her native Spain. 'It reminds me of where I'm from in the northern part of Spain. Very similar – lots of trees, peaceful. I love the golf course,' said the Arizona State alumna. Ciganda has now matched Beatriz Recari for the most LPGA victories by a Spanish player and is the oldest player to win this season at age 35 years and 14 days. "For me, age is just a number. I don't feel as fresh as when I was 24, but I still feel I can compete and I can win out here. I love playing. I love Thursday to Sundays. I love competition," said Ciganda, who is a seven-time European Solheim Cup team member and a three-time Olympian. American star Lexi Thompson showed that she is still a force to be reckoned with despite only playing a part-time schedule, contending for the title until two late bogeys on 16 and 17. The 11-time LPGA winner settled for joint fourth place on 13-under-par 275 with France's Celine Boutier and Denmark's Nanna Koerstz Madsen. "It's my favourite event on the schedule. "The fans are amazing and come out and support women's golf, and that's what we want," said Thompson, who won this event in 2015 and lost a playoff to compatriot Lilia Vu last year. Another Korean, Somi Lee, shot a superb closing 65 to climb up into third place on 14-under-par 274. The stars of the LPGA Tour will now head to Texas for the third Major of the 2025 season, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco. - Ladies Professional Golfers Association
