This Week in Golf: Nov 07- 13 2016

Catch up with all the latest news from the world of golf

this week in golf
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Catch up with all the latest news from the world of golf

Dustin Johnson Added to Stellar Abu Dhabi Field

this week in golf

The famous clubhouse at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club

2016 PGA Tour Player of the Year, US Open Champion and World number two Dustin Johnson has confirmed his place in the 2017 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship which takes place from 19th-22nd January.

DJ will join defending champion Rickie Fowler, Rory McIlroy, Open Champion Henrik Stenson, Masters Champion Danny Willett, plus plenty more of the world's best.

 

First Official PGA Tour Team Event Since 1981

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The 9th green at TPC Louisiana in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans

The 2017 Zurich Classic of New Orleans will be an official doubles event where both FedEx Cup points and Official World Golf Ranking points will be awarded, according to two anonymous officials speaking to The Associated Press.

Related: Brian Stuard wins 2016 Zurich Classic

The Franklin Templeton Shootout and World Cup of Golf are each doubles tournaments, but neither are official. The former Walt Disney World National Team Championship was the last time an official team event was part of the PGA Tour back in 1981.

 

 

Tim Finchem Steps Down as PGA Tour Commissioner

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Jay Monahan (left) and Tim Finchem (right) prior to the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club.

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem has stepped down after over 22 years in the job. Since he took over in early 1994, the PGA Tour's season purse has risen from $56m to over $300m.

Deputy commissioner Jay Monahan will take over starting 1st January 2017. Finchem said, “I have the highest regard for Jay and have total confidence in his ability to lead the PGA Tour well into the future.”

 

Tense Playoff at Las Colinas Decides Spots for Q-School Final

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European Tour Qualifying School 2nd Stage winner Oscar Lengden (centre) with Derrick Cooper (left) and Guy Hunt (right)

Las Colinas Golf & Country Club played host to the European Tour Qualifying School 2nd Stage for a sixth time over the weekend – culminating in a tense final round where a playoff was needed to decide the golfers going into the Final Stage.

The battle at the Troon-managed club saw 16 players progress to the Final Stage of qualifying through the regulation 72 holes. These included overall winner Oscar Lengden from Sweden, former British Amateur Champion Bradley Neill and European Tour winner Maarten Lafeber. Englishman James Allan and Italian Andrea Maestron claimed the final two spots in sudden death.

 

Versatile MacGregor Full and Half Sets Cater For All Golfers

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MacGregor, the company that has won 59 majors down the years, have full-set and half-set packages available starting from £99 for juniors, £149 for men and £159 for ladies.

The versatile packages range from half-sets to full-sets and include the option to choose between graphite or steel shafts and a stand bag or cart bag. The clubs can be used by a range of differing abilities, with packages created for golfers as young as three right up to the dedicated golfer.

For more information on the golf clubs visit: www.macgregor-golf.co.uk

 

Stoke Park Duo Win London Amateur Foursomes For Third Time

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The winners (from left to right): Kevin Freeman, and Luke Rusher

Stoke Park golfers Kevin Freeman and Luke Rusher have won the prestigious London Amateur Foursomes for the third time - the first pair to win the competition on three occasions for more than 50 years.

Freeman, who plays off a handicap of +1, and Rusher, +2, played five rounds of scratch foursomes at the Berkshire Golf Club in mid-October. They returned to the Berkshire in the postponed final to see off the challenge of Moor Park GC's John Ambridge and Doug Cameron to secure the title with a 3 & 2 victory.

 

Rotherham Win 2016 Royal British Legion Junior Golf Championship

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Not only have Rotherham GC won The Masters this year with Danny Willet, they've also won the 2016 Royal British Legion Junior Golf Championship.

They took the title in comfortable fashion, beating Walsall GC in the semis before beating Wellow GC by a margin of 12 holes in the final.

The 2017 RBL Junior Golf Championship will begin in the last week of March, with registration now open. Email: peter.poppygolf@gmail.com

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV