Golf Saudi Lands Kokrak Who Vows To Tell His Fans "About the many marvels that Saudi Arabia has to offer”

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Having first landed Gary Player it’s taken the Kingdom awhile, but Golf Saudi finally got their first non-octogenarian tour staff member in Jason Kokrak.

The endorsement was announced during Open Championship week because when you have news that big, it’s bound to leak. Must get out in front of these big reveals!

For Immediate Laughter:

JASON KOKRAK LATEST HIGH PROFILE NAME TO JOIN GOLF SAUDI AS AN AMBASSADOR AHEAD OF THE 2021 OPEN 

Two-time PGA TOUR winner and rising star joins Golf Saudi as the organisation’s second new international ambassador of 2021

14 July, 2021, The Royal St George's Golf Club, Kent, UK: Two-time PGA TOUR winner and world #24, Jason Kokrak, is the second international ambassador to join Golf Saudi in 2021, following on from icon of the game Gary Player in April.

And what a get that was. We know how discerning he is these days.

One of the in-form players of the last twelve months, American Jason Kokrak will support Golf Saudi in its journey to bring the great game of golf to new audiences both globally and within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

It’s a journey.

News of Kokrak’s ambassadorship was announced 24 hours before he was due to tee-off at the 149th Open at Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, England. The Open is one of the oldest golf tournaments in the world, and one of the most esteemed on the annual tour calendar. This year’s Open in Kent was originally scheduled to take place in 2020, however was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of his new role with Golf Saudi, Kokrak will look to share his own insights on how golf can reach new audiences and ensure its future development. Kokrak has been positive in his support of Golf Saudi’s plans to date and at the start of 2021 he played in his first Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, where he made the cut, scoring a respectable three under through four rounds and finishing T41. 

Presentable!

“It was fantastic to come over as a guest of Golf Saudi earlier this year and compete in my first-ever Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. During my visit I was lucky enough to see the work that is being done to draw more people to our sport, particularly young boys and girls,” commented Jason Kokrak, who won his first two PGA TOUR titles in the past nine months.

The children are our future.

“Golf Saudi is doing amazing things for the game whether it’s through their Mass Participation programs to drive youth engagement or their efforts to ensure environmental sustainability is taken seriously within the sport. So for me it’s a real honor to be named as Golf Saudi’s newest ambassador and to work alongside one of the most forward thinking entities within golf currently.

When I think forward to who is forward-thinking, the Saudis do not typically come to mind.

“I’d like to share my own insights with them and do my part in terms of growing golf within the Kingdom, while also telling my own fans about the many marvels that Saudi Arabia has to offer.”

His fans are chomping at the bit.

The 2020/2021 season has seen Kokrak perform consistently well on both the PGA and European Tours, with victories coming in quick succession. The first being at Shadow Creek. one of the more exclusive courses in Las Vegas for the CJ Cup, where a two-stroke margin was enough to see off Xander Schauffele. This rich vein of form continued in 2021, where he managed to overcome crowd favourite Jordan Spieth and scoop his second tour victory in just 17 starts. Kokrak’s victory again by two shots, saw him rocket up the world rankings to a career high of 22nd and put him in serious contention for the U.S. Ryder Cup team. 

Uh, no.

Majed Al-Sorour, CEO of Golf Saudi, said: “Watching Jason star in this year’s Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, it was clear his form was going from strength-to-strength. This is a player who has won at the big tournaments and has also featured in the Masters twice, appeared in eight PGA championships and five US Opens. This is no mean feat and at Golf Saudi we think his winning journey is just getting started and as such we feel this is the right time to develop a strong mutual working partnership, learn from his winning mentality and leverage that to support our ongoing development in terms of growing the game of golf in Saudi Arabia.”

Leveraging you some Kokrak to grow the game! Boom!

Bandon Dunes, USGA Form Long-Term Agreement: '29 Walker Cup, Men's And Women's Amateurs In Same Year

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What a great thing for amateur golf (or whatever we’ll call it as members of Team TaylormadeFilaSxrionCallaway and TeamAcushnetFJUnionGreen descend on Bandon Dunes in 2045).

Most exciting besides the 2029 Walker Cup and the 2038 Curtis Cup in which most of the contestants were just born, are the men’s and women’s amateurs going there in 2032 and 2041. It’ll be interesting to see how those are structured—they have time!—but it’d be neat to have the stroke play starting for one as the other is wrapping up (check out dates are non-negotiable for all but the finalists!).

The full USGA release on a substantial commitment to the resort over the next 24 years but starting almost immediately:

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort to Host 13 USGA Championships 

Long-term relationship kicks off with 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship 

LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. (July 20, 2021) – The USGA and Bandon Dunes Golf Resort today announced an agreement that will bring 13 USGA amateur championships to the resort over 23 years. The relationship will begin with the 74th U.S. Junior Amateur in 2022 and run through the 2045 U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior Championships, with eight different championships being played at the resort, including the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Women’s Amateur, the Walker Cup Match and the Curtis Cup Match.

The 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur will be conducted from July 25-30, with Bandon Dunes serving as the host course for both stroke play and match play, and Bandon Trails serving as the second stroke-play course. Dates and courses for the other championships will be announced in the future. 

The resort will host both the U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Amateur in 2032 and again in 2041, marking the first time those two original USGA championships will be contested on the same site in the same calendar year. The resort will also host the U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior in 2045, which will mark the fourth time those championships will be conducted at the same facility in the same year. The agreement also includes the 2029 Walker Cup Match and the 2038 Curtis Cup Match. 

“With five championship-caliber courses and incredible support from the resort’s ownership, Bandon Dunes is the perfect location for these USGA championships,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA senior managing director of Championships. “Mike Keiser has been an incredible advocate for amateur golf and his ongoing support for the USGA and our mission served as the vision for this partnership. We are excited to work together for years to come.”

The 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship will be the first U.S. Junior Amateur and eighth USGA championship hosted by the resort, making Bandon Dunes the first site to host eight different USGA championships. It will be the 39th USGA championship held in Oregon. 

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort previously hosted the 2006 Curtis Cup Match (Pacific Dunes), the 2007 U.S. Mid-Amateur (Bandon Dunes), the 2011 U.S. Amateur Public Links and U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links (Old Macdonald and Bandon Trails), the 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball (Pacific Dunes), 2019 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball (Old Macdonald and Pacific Dunes), and the 2020 U.S. Amateur (Bandon Dunes and Bandon Trails). 

“I love amateur golf. What the USGA does for amateur golf and to grow the game is exceptional. I built Bandon Dunes for all amateurs to enjoy the great experiences and spirited competition that golf provides, and we are thrilled to be hosting the USGA’s signature amateur championships for years to come,” said Mike Keiser, the owner of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. “We are particularly grateful to Mike Davis, who has been an advocate for Bandon Dunes since the resort’s earliest days. Amateur golf will always have a place at Bandon Dunes, and this commitment from the USGA is significant. We welcome all the great championships that the USGA will bring to the resort as Bandon Dunes is the home of amateur golf.”

The 73rd U.S. Junior Amateur Championship is being played this week at the Country Club of North Carolina in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C. 

Future USGA Championships at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort:

2022     U.S. Junior Amateur

2025     U.S. Women’s Amateur

2029     Walker Cup Match

2032     U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women’s Amateur

2035     U.S. Girls’ Junior

2037     U.S. Amateur Four-Ball and U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball

2038     Curtis Cup Match

2041     U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women’s Amateur

2045     U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior

Olympic Golf Fever Is...Not There Yet

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Axios survey

Axios survey

Take that, sport climbing! And water polo!

As the Tokyo games teeter on the verge of a superspreader event, they feel more like a money grab than ever. So it’s a challenge to focus on the incredible athletes and their quests.

In the case of golf, Americans seem to have only scant interest in the WGC Kasumigaseki according to an Axios/Morning Study survey of fans. Thanks to reader John for highlighting Jeff Tracy’s write up of the results which has Golf trailing almost everything in terms of fan interest.

As for the golfers, Collin Morikawa and Bryson DeChambeau reiterated their passion for representing Team USA next week, while Rory McIlroy is sounding increasingly annoyed he said yes. From Carl Markham’s Independent report:

"I am looking forward to getting another week's golf in and trying to get my game in shape. There's not much else to do there - so with 12 hours at the golf course hopefully I get my game into better shape.”

Boom! Kind of a long way to go to practice. But then he put on his Vice Commissioner’s hat.

"I'm not a very patriotic guy, I'm doing it because I think it is the right thing to do.”

Go Team Ireland! The visual version of these comments backed up what appeared in print.

Meanwhile the International Golf Federation charged with shaping golf’s inclusion in the Games is sending President Annika Sorenstam to the U.S. Senior Women’s Open. Growing the game!

The Best Players In 2021's Majors By Score And World Ranking Points

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Thanks to Collin MacGillivray for reminding me of the Royal Selangor Trophy he conceived up and which is given to the player who performed best in the majors.

Jon Rahm held off Louis Oosthuizen, Jordan Spieth and Colin Morikawa with a winning score of -24 to Oosthuizen’s -19, Spieth’s -16 and Morikawa’s -15.

Other players who made all four cuts but did not threaten for the grand prize:

Xander Schauffele
Paul Casey
Scottie Scheffler
Harris English
Robert MacIntyre
Ian Poulter
Stewart Cink
Christiaan Bezuidenhout
Joaquin Niemann
Bryson DeChambeau
Shane Lowry
Matt Fitzpatrick

There is also the world ranking points approach that loops in players who missed the cut:

2021 Open: The Quadrilateral's Third Round Wrap

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Trump Predicts Turnberry Will Host The Open Again And He’s Right!

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An extra-special bit of meandering lunacy from the the 45th President of the United States was issued after apparently watching The Open at Royal St George’s. Thanks to reader Chuck for sharing.

Donald Trump is definitely correct here. Turnberry will host again. Just as soon as he sells it.

From the “many-time Club Champion” who says “controversy only makes thing hotter”:

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2021 Open: The Quadrilateral's Round 2 Wrap

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Links From The Road: Royal St George's And Sandwich Overview

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Sam Cooper’s dispatches from the road have led to more wonderful “content” pieces about links golf. He has a special passion for Royal St George’s and the surrounding area. It comes out in this 10 minute piece. Some of the footage was licensed by NBC for the stunning visuals accented by Stephan Dillane’s voice.

Enjoy!

Quadrilateral Open Notes: R&A Admits To Keeping Royal St George's Softer In Bid To Keep Balls Out Of The Rough

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The 18th at Royal St George’s (The Open Instagram)

The 18th at Royal St George’s (The Open Instagram)

The Quadrilateral: 2021 Open Championship Tuesday Wrap And Notes

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Oakland Hills Then And Now: 7th Hole Edition

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From Trent Jones back to Ross courtesy of Hanse…