Latest news with #PhoenixOpen
The Herald Scotland
19 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Golf tourism in Scotland faces 'real risk' of overpricing
So how did a golf tourism company come to evolve out of an events business? It all started when Ryan took a personal golf trip to Scotland and fell in love with the links experience. He was inspired to bring that same joy to his network back in New York and along the East Coast. What began with just 20 tours per year quickly grew to over 100 annually, despite the interruption of the pandemic. It's a pure love. Because we were already organizing premier experiences to events like The Masters, Phoenix Open, Waste Management, the Players Championship, Kentucky Derby, and the Indy 500, there was a natural opportunity to cross-sell these to our golf clientele. The response was tremendous, and demand has kept growing ever since. In fact, we're constantly hiring to keep pace. Where are your clients from? Our customers are all inbound tourists from the US, particularly the East Coast, but we're seeing growing interest from Canada, the West Coast, and now further south like Texas and Alabama. And what are they after? While bucket list courses like St Andrews, Turnberry, North Berwick and Royal Dornoch are always in demand, we've built our brand around delivering more than just the classic stops. We focus on full-service, high-end experiences with attention to personal touches, whether it's custom transport, premium accommodation, or access to under-the-radar gems. The All Access team on a familiarisation trip earlier this year (Image: All Access GTE) What new trends have you noticed emerging? The big-name courses will always have their place — who doesn't want to tick off the Old Course or Muirfield? But increasingly we're seeing golfers keen to explore more authentic and less crowded destinations. Places like Brora, Elie, Nairn and Crail have become client favourites. There's a real appetite for courses that deliver that traditional links feel without the crowds or sky-high green fees. Experiences like Kingarrock Hickory Golf, where clients play with hickory-shafted clubs, have also been a hit. So how do you respond to that? We're continually refining our offerings. This season, we've added accommodations like Seaton House and No.1 Apartments in St Andrews. We're also including newer courses such as Dumbarnie, Dundonald and Old Petty near Castle Stuart in our itineraries. And beyond the classics, we're showcasing lesser-known gems that offer incredible golf and a true taste of Scotland. What led you into this line of work? I spent over a decade caddying on the LPGA and PGA Tours. In 2017, while saving for my wedding, I started driving golf tours around Ireland during my off weeks. That's when I met Ryan on one of those trips and we hit it off immediately. We stayed in touch, and as he expanded into Ireland, the timing was perfect. I had three kids under the age of four and was looking for something that kept me closer to home, yet still connected to golf. Our vision going forward is simple: continue to deliver unforgettable experiences, build strong relationships with our clients, and form meaningful partnerships in the golf industry. We have a young, dynamic team balanced by experienced leadership — it's a formula that's working and one we're excited to grow. The team in St Andrews (Image: All Access GTE) What has been the impact of the announcement that The Open will return to St Andrews in 2027? Demand is exceptionally high as always in Scotland, the Home of Golf. We see a spike in interest every time a venue is featured in The Open rota, and the upcoming return to St Andrews is no different. We're already running pre- and post-Open itineraries in the Highlands and Ayrshire to meet the surge in demand. That said, rising prices are a concern. Costs for hotels, courses, and transport have jumped more than 10% in a single year. If the trend continues, there's a real risk that Scotland might price itself out of reach for many travellers, especially with Ireland charging less which is becoming increasingly attractive alternative. But the excitement around The Open is always a huge boost. It energizes the industry and has a ripple effect for two to three years after each event. We're preparing for that wave with bespoke Open packages that make the most of Scotland's world-class golf and hospitality. Access the entire series of Around the Greens here.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Does Johnny Miller wish he stayed in TV longer? You've got to see his phenomenal answer
Does Johnny Miller wish he stayed in TV longer? You've got to see his phenomenal answer OAKMONT, Pa. — As great as a golfer as Johnny Miller was in his day, winner of two majors and 25 wins, he was an even better TV personality and golf announcer for NBC for 29 years. I once asked him in a Golfweek Q&A what he thought of NBC reacquiring the U.S. Open broadcast rights and he gave this response: "If I had known that, I might have gone another year," he said. It revealed how much he loved broadcasting the U.S. Open, the tournament he won at Oakmont in 1973 with a final-round 63. On Saturday, during a news conference with Miller and Jack Nicklaus, who won it here in 1962, I asked Johnny another TV question and it produced this fantastic response: "Do I wish I kept announcing? That was my 50th year in golf when I got to 29 years with NBC. It seemed like a nice time to leave. I still had my wits about me and had my own way of doing things. When I played on the East Coast especially, they'd go, 'Hey, Johnny, we love you, keep telling it like it is.' What people liked about my announcing was that I just said what I'd say to my best friend in my own house and talking to the TV," he said. "If a guy duck hooks it on the last hole and hasn't hooked a ball in the last month, he might be choking. I was the first guy to use that word, which is not a very nice word. "But I thought the greatness of golf was the choke factor. I just still think that that's the greatness of golf is to be able to handle pressure. If you can handle pressure — Jack liked to hang around the first three days and then just feel like on the last day he had a huge advantage. He believed in himself, and not only believed in himself, he could produce on that last round and handle the putt or the shot. "I was more of a guy that didn't like it to be close. He liked it to be close. I wanted to win it by — when I won the Phoenix Open by 14 shots, I liked it. If that ball is going in the hole, I'm going to fill it up until the round is over if I can. None of this fancy stuff about hitting away from the target. I wanted to have the thrill of going for knocking down pins out of the green. That was my fun. I liked to drive fast and hit hard with the driver and that kind of stuff. "I don't know, everybody does it differently. But that's just the way I thought." I was looking for an answer about TV, which he addressed, but he gave so much more — talking about the 'choke factor' was classic Johnny — including this line that may sum up Miller better than anything that has been written: "I wanted to have the thrill of going for knocking down pins out of the green. That was my fun. I liked to drive fast and hit hard with the driver and that kind of stuff." Yes, he did and golf was better for it.
Mint
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Scottie Scheffler braces for US Open showdown at Oakmont, says 'I don't pay attention to...'
Scottie Scheffler, ranked number 1 in golf, is set to play the US Open at Oakmont. With his unmatched precision and ability to stay calm under pressure, he is the clear favorite to tackle one of golf's toughest courses. The thrilling game is on the cards, but Scheffler's focus remains sharp. Even though Scheffler will enter the golf course as the favorite to win, he is focused on the game. 'I don't pay attention to the favorite stuff or anything like that,' he said. He also shared why he ditched Venmo: 'That's why I had to get rid of my Venmo because I was either getting paid by people or people requesting me a bunch of money when I didn't win. It wasn't a good feeling.' Oakmont is known as America's toughest golf course with thick rough buries and dangerous bunkers. Bryson DeChambeau described the golf course, 'When you've got those putts inside 10 feet, you've got to make them. It's a great test of golf.' 'Man, it's just tough,' Collin Morikawa said. Scheffler highlighted the bunkers' difficulty, 'Starting Thursday morning, we're at even par and it's up to me to go out there and play against the golf course." Scheffler's first PGA Tour win at the 2022 Phoenix Open sparked a dominant run. He has won 25% of his starts since then. He has amassed 19 worldwide titles in just over three years. His third major, a commanding performance at last month's PGA Championship, saw him win three of his previous four events by 17 shots combined. Scheffler' hasn't won the US Open yet, but he came close at Torrey Pines in 2021, Brookline in 2022, and Los Angeles in 2023. Those near wins make him a great contender. Scottie Scheffler will face tough competition in the US Open. Rory McIlroy, also a top pick after winning the Masters to complete his career Grand Slam, worked hard after a poor Canadian Open. 'At some point, you have to realize that there's a little bit more golf left to play this season,' McIlroy said, focusing on Oakmont's narrow fairways. Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau emphasized accuracy: 'You have to hit the fairways, you have to hit greens, and you have to two-putt, worst-case scenario.' Jordan Spieth, Scheffler's Dallas neighbor, is stunned by his consistency. 'Scottie's level is something I haven't seen personally out here,' he said.
San Francisco Chronicle
10-06-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Scottie Scheffler is primed for another tough major at the US Open
OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler doesn't care what the oddsmakers think or what people say about his status as the overwhelming favorite in this U.S. Open, and pretty much everywhere he plays. But he can hear them — and sometimes, he hears from them. 'That's why I had to get rid of my Venmo, because I was either getting paid by people or people requesting me a bunch of money when I didn't win. It wasn't a good feeling,' Scheffler said with a laugh Tuesday at Oakmont. It wasn't entirely clear if he was kidding. He did say later the most anyone tried to pay him for a win — he has won 19 times worldwide in just over three years — was a couple of dollars. 'That didn't happen nearly as much as the requests did,' he said. Perhaps the most telling number for Scheffler, No. 1 in the world ranking for the longest streak since Tiger Woods in the late 2000s, is that he has won 25% of his tournaments since capturing his first PGA Tour title at the Phoenix Open in 2022. He has won three of his past four tournaments — including his third major at the PGA Championship last month at Quail Hollow — by a combined 17 shots. There's a lot of numbers that define his dominance in golf. None of it matters to him. 'I don't pay attention to the favorite stuff or anything like that,' he said. "Starting Thursday morning, we're at even par and it's up to me to go out there and play against the golf course and see what I can do." That doesn't figure to be easy. Oakmont is considered the toughest golf course in America, and the last few days of practice rounds have not changed anyone's opinions. Most of the attention is on the rough that covers the tops of shoes. Sunshine on Tuesday made the greens feel even faster after a few days of rain. Scheffler thinks the bunkers are underrated. The overall consensus? 'Man, it's just tough,' Collin Morikawa said. Scheffler would seem to have a game built for this given his extraordinary ability to control his golf ball from tee-to-green. He has yet to win his national open, though he had chances at Los Angeles (2023), Brookline (2022) and Torrey Pines (2021). The exception was last year at Pinehurst No. 2, where Scheffler was never in the mix. One reason might be the schedule — the Memorial was the week before the U.S. Open last year, another tough test that Scheffler won and never felt he had a chance to catch his breath. He won the Memorial again this year. 'Having the week off was really important for me to get home, get some rest, recover, and I showed up here on Sunday and was able to play maybe 11 holes and really get used to the conditions,' Scheffler said. 'It feels much more like my normal major prep, versus last year where you're coming in from basically a major championship test. Coming into another one is pretty challenging.' Rory McIlroy had a few extra days off after missing the cut in the Canadian Open last week, giving him time to find a driver that will help find the fairways at Oakmont, perhaps the most critical part of this test. McIlroy and Scheffler were listed as close to co-favorites after McIlroy won the Masters, giving him the career Grand Slam. He already had won three times on some of golf's biggest stages. Scheffler at that point had yet to win this year. So much has changed in the last two months. McIlroy spoke at the PGA Championship of still wanting to achieve more in golf, knowing that nothing will ever beat that feeling of finally becoming a Masters champion to join the most exclusive club of players with all four majors. He spoke last week of lacking motivation when getting ready for the Canadian Open. 'At some point, you have to realize that there's a little bit more golf left to play this season,' said McIlroy, singling out Oakmont, the British Open in his native Northern Ireland and the Ryder Cup in September. 'But I think weeks like Quail Hollow or even weeks like last week, it makes it easier to reset in some way, to be like, OK, I sort of need to get my stuff together here and get back to the process and sort of what I'd been doing for that seven months from October last year until April this year.' For Scheffler, he's been on such a roll that how he plays will be a big part in the chances the rest of the field has. Jordan Spieth was asked about Dustin Johnson — only Scheffler has been at No. 1 longer in the last 10 years — and Spieth immediately turned it into a conversation about his Dallas neighbor. 'Scottie's level is something I haven't seen personally out here,' Spieth said. 'I play with him at home, too. He might pull an iron shot once and then hit the pin on his chip.' The margin for error is smaller at Oakmont than on most courses, mainly because of all the trouble off the tee — bunkers and dense rough — and challenges on the fast greens. 'I think everybody knows this is probably the toughest golf course in the world right now, and you have to hit the fairways, you have to hit greens, and you have to two-putt, worst-case scenario,' defending champion Bryson DeChambeau said. 'When you've got those putts inside 10 feet, you've got to make them. It's a great test of golf. I'm looking forward to it. I'm sure everybody else is.'
Hamilton Spectator
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Scottie Scheffler is primed for another tough major at the US Open
OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler doesn't care what the oddsmakers think or what people say about his status as the overwhelming favorite in this U.S. Open, and pretty much everywhere he plays. But he can hear them — and sometimes, he hears from them. 'That's why I had to get rid of my Venmo, because I was either getting paid by people or people requesting me a bunch of money when I didn't win. It wasn't a good feeling,' Scheffler said with a laugh Tuesday at Oakmont . It wasn't entirely clear if he was kidding. He did say later the most anyone tried to pay him for a win — he has won 19 times worldwide in just over three years — was a couple of dollars. 'That didn't happen nearly as much as the requests did,' he said. Perhaps the most telling number for Scheffler, No. 1 in the world ranking for the longest streak since Tiger Woods in the late 2000s, is that he has won 25% of his tournaments since capturing his first PGA Tour title at the Phoenix Open in 2022. He has won three of his past four tournaments — including his third major at the PGA Championship last month at Quail Hollow — by a combined 17 shots. There's a lot of numbers that define his dominance in golf. None of it matters to him. 'I don't pay attention to the favorite stuff or anything like that,' he said. 'Starting Thursday morning, we're at even par and it's up to me to go out there and play against the golf course and see what I can do.' That doesn't figure to be easy. Oakmont is considered the toughest golf course in America , and the last few days of practice rounds have not changed anyone's opinions. Most of the attention is on the rough that covers the tops of shoes. Sunshine on Tuesday made the greens feel even faster after a few days of rain. Scheffler thinks the bunkers are underrated. The overall consensus? 'Man, it's just tough,' Collin Morikawa said. Scheffler would seem to have a game built for this given his extraordinary ability to control his golf ball from tee-to-green. He has yet to win his national open, though he had chances at Los Angeles (2023), Brookline (2022) and Torrey Pines (2021). The exception was last year at Pinehurst No. 2, where Scheffler was never in the mix. One reason might be the schedule — the Memorial was the week before the U.S. Open last year, another tough test that Scheffler won and never felt he had a chance to catch his breath. He won the Memorial again this year. 'Having the week off was really important for me to get home, get some rest, recover, and I showed up here on Sunday and was able to play maybe 11 holes and really get used to the conditions,' Scheffler said. 'It feels much more like my normal major prep, versus last year where you're coming in from basically a major championship test. Coming into another one is pretty challenging.' Rory McIlroy had a few extra days off after missing the cut in the Canadian Open last week, giving him time to find a driver that will help find the fairways at Oakmont, perhaps the most critical part of this test. McIlroy and Scheffler were listed as close to co-favorites after McIlroy won the Masters, giving him the career Grand Slam. He already had won three times on some of golf's biggest stages. Scheffler at that point had yet to win this year. So much has changed in the last two months. McIlroy spoke at the PGA Championship of still wanting to achieve more in golf, knowing that nothing will ever beat that feeling of finally becoming a Masters champion to join the most exclusive club of players with all four majors. He spoke last week of lacking motivation when getting ready for the Canadian Open. 'At some point, you have to realize that there's a little bit more golf left to play this season,' said McIlroy, singling out Oakmont, the British Open in his native Northern Ireland and the Ryder Cup in September. 'But I think weeks like Quail Hollow or even weeks like last week, it makes it easier to reset in some way, to be like, OK, I sort of need to get my stuff together here and get back to the process and sort of what I'd been doing for that seven months from October last year until April this year.' For Scheffler, he's been on such a roll that how he plays will be a big part in the chances the rest of the field has. Jordan Spieth was asked about Dustin Johnson — only Scheffler has been at No. 1 longer in the last 10 years — and Spieth immediately turned it into a conversation about his Dallas neighbor. 'Scottie's level is something I haven't seen personally out here,' Spieth said. 'I play with him at home, too. He might pull an iron shot once and then hit the pin on his chip.' The margin for error is smaller at Oakmont than on most courses, mainly because of all the trouble off the tee — bunkers and dense rough — and challenges on the fast greens. 'I think everybody knows this is probably the toughest golf course in the world right now, and you have to hit the fairways, you have to hit greens, and you have to two-putt, worst-case scenario,' defending champion Bryson DeChambeau said. 'When you've got those putts inside 10 feet, you've got to make them. It's a great test of golf. I'm looking forward to it. I'm sure everybody else is.' ___ AP golf:
