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The field for the men’s golf competition at the 2020 Olympics lost two more top players when world No 1 Jon Rahm and world No 6 Bryson DeChambeau dropped out because of positive tests for COVID-19.
The International Golf Federation said it was informed Sunday that Rahm will not play for Team Spain and DeChambeau will not play for Team USA. While Patrick Reed will replace DeChambeau for the United States, Spain’s Adri Arnaus now will be the lone men’s golfer representing his country.
Reed joins Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele in the men’s competition for Team USA. Nelly Korda, Danielle Kang, Lexi Thompson and Jessica Korda make up the women’s team that will compete in Japan.
“Bryson DeChambeau tested positive for COVID-19, as part of the final testing protocol before he left the United States for the Olympics 2020 in Japan. He will be unable to compete for Team USA,” a statement from USA Golf said. “Patrick Reed will replace DeChambeau and is undergoing the requisite testing protocol (Saturday), Sunday and Monday before departing for Japan.
“Reed is now the only two-time Olympian for the men’s competition, as he played for Team USA in 2016 and will now compete in the 2020 Olympics.”
The first round of men’s competition at Kasumigaseki Country Club is Thursday. The women’s event begins there 3 August.
Play was stopped during the opening round of the Senior Open Championship at Sunningdale to pay tribute to caddie Chris Cooley, who passed away during a practice round for this year’s championship. The break came at 4:45 p.m., flags were lowered to half mast, and players, many wearing black ribbons, stood for a minute’s silence in honour of the caddie, who worked at nearby Queenwood Golf Club.
Cooley suffered cardiac arrest during Tuesday’s practice round at Sunningdale while caddying for American Fran Quinn. Cooley was 58 and had been a full-time caddie at Queenwood for nearly 20 years.
Bill Cooley, Chris’s brother said: “As a family we are heartbroken. Words cannot describe how sad and devastated we all are and the immense hole in our lives Chris has left.
“Chris loved being a caddie and was over the moon to be at Sunningdale this week. He leaves a legacy of love and integrity with his family and those who knew him and has left us all with wonderful memories of him as a loving husband, father, son, brother and uncle.
“We are grateful for each and every day we got to see his glowing smile, and for the wonderful times we all shared together.”
Mark Aspland, head of the Legends Tour, said: “We are all deeply saddened by the passing of Chris on Tuesday. On behalf of the Legends Tour, the R&A, Rolex and everyone associated with the Senior Open, our thoughts and condolences are with his wife, Mandy, son Ben and his family during this difficult time.”
Queenwood director of golf Mark Roberts added: “Chris had caddied at Queenwood for close to 20 years and was fondly regarded by all those who golfed and worked at the club. His humour, bubbly personality and fine caddying skills will be missed by everyone at the club and our thoughts go out to his wife, son and family.”
The great and the good of senior golf proudly took their places at Sunningdale Golf Club for the Senior Open Championship. However, conspicuous by his absence was a player who has much to be proud of. Marco Dawson, who won the 2105 Senior Open the last time it was staged at Sunningdale, was missing in action.
Dawson could not take his place in the field because of a clerical error: He forgot to file his entry form.
“I was convinced I filled it out,” Dawson told Golfweek’s Adam Schupak. “I usually fill out my forms as soon as I get them. In April, I began checking the website daily and as soon as it was available I filled out the form confirming I’d be there. The only thing I can think of was I got distracted.
“In 30 years of playing professional golf, I have never made that mistake. It was an oversight and I accept responsibility.”
Six years ago, Dawson played the final round with Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer. Not many thought he’d walk off with the trophy, but he proceeded to put in the performance of his life.
“I took down two Hall of Famers that were No 1 and No 2 on the money list at the time,” he said. “That was the most rewarding thing for me.”
He fully intends to be at Gleneagles next year for the 2022 championship.
“Trust me, I won’t screw this up again,” he said.
The PGA of America and Ryder Cup Europe announced the cancellation of this year’s Junior Ryder Cup because of ongoing travel issues for European players. The match was set for Blue Mound Golf & Country Club in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, from 20-21 September.
“We are deeply disappointed for the talented young athletes on both sides of the Atlantic who were working hard to earn a place in this wonderful match. First played in 1997, the contest between six boys and six girls from the United States and Europe, all aged 18 years and under, will return in Italy in 2023,” the two bodies said in a joint statement.
The American team will play an exhibition match on 22 September, the Wednesday of Ryder Cup week. Also, the U.S. team will be announced at the opening ceremony ahead of the match which takes place 24-26 September.
Junior European Ryder Cup team members weren’t the only ones to have their dreams dashed by COVID-19-related travel restrictions. Mel Reid opted to skip the Evian Championship so she could participate in the Olympic Games. The English player withdrew after a change in the rules meant anyone entering the UK from France had to isolate for 10 days.
“Incredibly disappointed to withdraw from the Evian Championship this year due to the recently implemented travel rules that prevent re-entry into the UK from France in time for the team’s Olympic departure,” Reid wrote on her Instagram page. “I’ve worked relentlessly with my team and the LPGA to find a way to compete in both but unfortunately at this point, there are no assurances on firm solutions and the risk of missing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete as an Olympian is simply too high.
“I can’t wait to return to Evian in many years to come and want to thank the tournament team for their understanding.”
Alena Sharp of Canada took Reid’s place in the Evian field.
Gina Kim’s victory in the North & South Women’s Amateur Championship at Pinehurst, North Carolina, saw her reach the top 20 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking for the first time. The Duke University player benefited from a three-place rise to 20th.
Youmin Hwang is now South Korea’s top player after moving up five positions to 14th spot, leapfrogging 18th-ranked Bang Shin Sil. Hwang won the Korean Women’s Amateur and Bitgoul Jangheung Cup in consecutive weeks to move into the top 15 for the first time.
American Maxwell Moldovan moved back inside the world top 60 after his record win in the Southern Amateur Championship at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Mississippi. Moldovan ran out a five-shot winner with a 20-under-par 264 aggregate, six shots better than Justin Leonard’s record winning tally in 1993. The Ohio State University player jumped 41 places to 58th.
A third win of the season saw Caleb Surratt reach a personal best of 254th with a 69-ranking jump. The North Carolina native added the Boy’s Junior PGA Championship to the Western Junior Championship and Terra Cotta Invitational he already had won this year.
Dutch golfer Bob Geurts advanced 30 positions to a personal best of 115th following victory in the Belgian International Amateur Championship & National Stroke Play Championship.
Finland’s Matilda Castren is setting her sights on a place in the European Solheim Cup team after securing her maiden Ladies European Tour victory in front of her home fans at the recent Gant Ladies Open.
The win earned the LPGA player membership in the LET and made her eligible for a place in the European team for the match in early September at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.
“It would be a huge honour to represent my home country and also Europe,” said the world No 52. “It’s a tournament that I’ve been following and watching since I was a little girl and I always wanted to be part of it.
“I loved the team events we play in Europe growing up, and the Solheim Cup is just like the biggest one for us women. Yeah, it would mean everything to be part of the team.”
Australian golf is likely to get a big boost following the announcement that Brisbane is to host the 2032 Olympic Games.
The men’s and women’s golf competitions are to be played at Royal Queensland Golf Club, the host club for this year’s Australian PGA Championship.
“Young golfers grow up dreaming of winning a major championship and now they can also aspire to win an Olympic Gold medal,” said Brad James, Golf Australia’s general manager for high performance. “We have been fortunate to see many new people come into the game in the past year and that includes an influx of junior boys and girls.
“This is the first time Australia has hosted an Olympic golf competition and I have no doubt that we will see a high level of excitement among our juniors and elite amateurs as we draw closer and closer to Brisbane 2032.”
Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith, Minjee Lee and Hannah Green will represent Australia at this year’s Games in Tokyo.
Rhys Nevin will be hoping to emulate fellow Englishman Thomas Thurloway after claiming a record victory in the 2021 Walton Heath Trophy.
Three years ago, Thurloway won the Walton Heath Trophy and then went on to clinch the title at the subsequent English Amateur and that’s exactly what Nevin will hope to do when he tees up at this week’s “English” at Moortown Golf Club and Headingley Golf Club.
By coincidence, Nevin was Thurloway’s playing partner in the final round in 2018, when lack of experience was a contributory factor in him shooting a closing 82.
Nevin, from Sandiway, an All-American at the University of Tennessee, carded rounds of 67-68-69-66 to claim a six-shot victory ahead of Joe Sullivan from Royal Ashdown Forest with a record 18-under-par total of 270.
“This is a very special day,” the victor said. “It’s rare everything comes together but this week it did and to create the scoring record adds to the sense of satisfaction.
“I'm going to savour this for a few days before going to the English Amateur,” he added. “What Tom did three years ago was amazing and he’s a great player. I think watching how he managed the closing holes in 2018, with the pressure and a lot of members out on the course, helped me today. I knew what to expect this time.”
Colin Callander and Alistair Tait