By Joel Beall
John Daly will be in the field at Royal Portrush for the 2019 Open Championship. And he will traverse the venerable links on foot.

Daly, who was granted permission by the PGA of America to ride in a cart during the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black under the Americans with Disabilities Act, said on Saturday his request to ride at the Open was denied by the R&A.

“Quite disappointed they do not see it in the same way our PGA of America and PGA Tour sees it,” Daly wrote on social media. “Different continent different laws? As a proud Open champion, I know what the Open Championship represents and what a special tournament it is. I believe all who have earned the right to compete should be afforded that right to compete and give it their best shot.

“While I trust the R&A’s decision was made with good intentions, I could not disagree more with their conclusions.”

Daly wrote that a recent visit to an orthopaedic surgeon confirmed bi-compartmental degenerative arthritis in his right knee and that he will need a knee replacement.

“Before that time comes my plan is to give it a shot in two weeks at Portrush,” Daly said.

The 53-year-old’s use of a cart at Bethpage was somewhat controversial. While some believed Daly’s injury fell under disability rights, others deemed it an unnecessary sideshow. Daly was particularly upset about a jab from Tiger Woods on the subject, with the two-time major winner saying he wished Woods “had all the facts.”

“Might have been a different comment,” Daly said in response. “As well as the Golf Channel Wednesday morning, when they bashed me pretty good, and a few others [who criticized me].”

The R&A said all considerations were factored into the decision.

“The R&A believe that walking the course is an integral part of the Championship and is central to the tradition of links golf which is synonymous with the Open,” read a statement. “We must also ensure that, as far as possible, the challenge is the same for all players in the field.

“The terrain at Royal Portrush is not suited to buggies and indeed the club itself does not permit their use. We have a serious concern that some parts of the course, where there are severe slopes and swales, would be inaccessible.”

Daly’s knee problems sidelined him from the 2018 Open Championship at Carnoustie, although he was able to tee it up at Bellerive for the PGA Championship. He also withdrew from the U.S. Senior Open last year after his request for a cart under the ADA was denied. He regularly plays on the Champions Tour, which allows its players to use golf carts during competition. He has not walked in an official event since the European Tour’s Omega European Masters last fall.

Daly is in the tournament thanks to his 1995 Open triumph at St. Andrews. In 19 Open starts since his victory at the Old Course, he has made just six cuts and finished inside the top 25 once.

The post John Daly, upset his request to use cart at Open Championship was denied, plans to play Royal Portrush anyway appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Josh Hill left last week’s Boys Home Internationals with a thoroughly impressive three from four record on debut, a sizeable share of the glory of a title three peat as a result – and absolutely no idea of when he might play for England again.

The 14-year-old knows all he can do is to keep posting numbers and his name up in lights. So far so good.

The Jumeirah Golf Estates star-in-waiting is through to the matchplay phase of the British Boys Amateur Championship and in some style too, finish T-5 after 36-holes of strokeplay qualifying on two or Ireland’s toughest links layouts.

After an even par 72 on Portstewart on Tuesday, Hill posted a memorable 70 on Royal Portrush yesterday. The one-under loop of next year’s Open Championship venue saw the Dubai—born team leap five places up the leaderboard and finish just two shots behind qualifying medalists Robin Williams (Eng) and Mark O]Power (Ire).

Hill faces Lewis Irvine in their round of 32 match at Portrush from 12.55pm (3.55pm UAE time) today after the Scot fromKirkhill G.C. finished in a share of 50th place following rounds of 75-74.

The JGE player knows he just has to keep trending.

“I’m not playing anything else [international] this year as I’m not in the team so hopefilly I can impress them to get in the team next year,” Hill told Golf Digest Middle East.

Hill’s JGE club-mate and fellow Butch Harmon School of Golf Dubai trainee Arjun Gupta missed the top-64 cut after rounds of 78-76 to finish +11 in T-122.

Josh has put in a good performance today. He said it was solid and very happy with the way he performed in the driving wind and rain and on a super tough track. This has taken him into stage two, the match play. Good luck Josh, it’s all bonus’s and lessons from here on in! @bhsgdubai @jgegolf @faldoseries @jmarshallgolf @alipargolffitness

A post shared by Russell (@russellhill19) on Aug 15, 2018 at 11:49am PDT

The post Josh Hill, unsure about his England future, is doing everything to stay in the frame appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.