Czech Masters Archives - Golf Digest Middle East

Todd Clements holds off Matt Wallace for maiden DP World Tour win in Prague

Golf Digest Middle East — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 05:50:21 +0000

Todd Clements. DP World Tour

England’s Todd Clements held his nerve to secure a first DP World Tour title in Prague on Sunday as he held off Matt Wallace with a bogey-free 63 to win the Czech Masters.

The Englishman finished on 22-under, one clear of countryman Wallace at Albatross Golf Resort, with Dane Nicolai Højgaard four shots off the lead in third, one clear of Scot Robert MacIntyre, who extended his advantage in the race for the third spot on the Ryder Cup team available on the European Points List ahead of next week’s final qualifying event at the European Masters.

Swede Ludvig Aberg, German duo Nick Bachem and Maximilian Schmitt, Finn Sami Välimäki and Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti were also at 17-under.

Clements won the English Amateur in 2017 but had played events on the MENA Tour before turning professional following the 2018 US Amateur.

He claimed his first professional victories as he won twice on the EuroPro Tour in 2019, the same season he achieved two top-threes on the European Challenge Tour to help earn his playing privileges for 2020.

His big breakthrough came last season, with victory at the Irish Challenge helping him finish 16th on the Road to Mallorca, although he came into this week 151st in the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex, with a best finish of 21st in 11 made cuts from 21 events.

But he has now jumped 100 places after becoming the first Englishman to lift this trophy in just his 30th Tour appearance.

“Given the circumstances that’s got to be the best round of my life,” a delighted Clements said. “I’m over the moon. I’ve dreamt about winning for a long time and with my birthday coming up on Tuesday I couldn’t be happier.

“Three shots to make up is a tough ask but I knew I was playing well enough to get in amongst it. I feel like I did my job on every shot and obviously the luck was with me today because I holed a few long ones.”

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Nicolai Hojgaard insists he is not getting distracted amid Ryder Cup talk

Golf Digest Middle East — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 05:30:27 +0000

Nicolai Hojgaard. DP World Tour

Danish star Nicolai Højgaard insists he is not getting distracted by Ryder Cup talk as he focuses on winning the Czech Masters in Prague.

The 22-year-old is one behind Alexander Bjork at the Albatross Golf Resort, and is out of the running in the points lists for the European team, but may turn Luke Donald’s head and get in contention for a captain’s pick with performances like the one on Friday.

A blemish-free 67 on Friday took him to 12-under thanks to five birdies to go with his Thursday 65.

“I didn’t drive it as well as I did yesterday, it was playing a little bit more tricky out there. I hit some good approach shots and rolled a couple of putts,” Højgaard said. “I’m really happy being bogey-free in a round like this when I feel like it wasn’t as good. There’s work to do at the weekend and I’m looking forward to it.

“Everyone in this field wants to play in the Ryder Cup. You can feel it getting closer.

“The only thing you can do is focus on yourself, do your preparation, do your work, go out and do your best and hopefully we can be in Luke’s mind when we get to after Switzerland. We are just trying to go out and do as good as we can, hopefully that’ll be good enough.”

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Sami Valimaki shines with lowest ever round in Prague as Ryder Cup chase hots up

Golf Digest Middle East — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 08:12:25 +0000

Sami Välimäki. DP World Tour

Sami Välimäki produced a clinic for the fans as he carded a flawless 63 to surge into a two-shot lead following the first round of the Czech Masters.

The Finn carded the lowest round to be signed at Albatross Golf Resort, but it did not go down in the record books due to preferred lies at the 12th hole, where he carded one of his nine birdies.

Despite not making the history books, Välimäki showcased his ability in all facets of his game with some brilliant ball-striking and clutch putting to keep his nose ahead of Denmark’s Ryder Cup hopeful Nicolai Højgaard, Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune, German Maximilian Schmitt, Swede Alexander Björk and England’s Todd Clements, who all sit at seven-under.

“I was a bit disappointed I couldn’t make a third (62 in the season),” Välimäki said. “I was just flowing. When you start putting good and hitting it good, you just keep going and enjoy the round.

“Last time I missed the cut by a lot of shots, so I didn’t have big expectations for the week. It’s nice to start this way.”

Robert MacIntyre and Yannik Paul, who sit third and fourth respectively in the European Ryder Cup Points List with only one automatic qualifying spot available, were in the group of four at six-under par, alongside Team Europe vice-captain Edoardo Molinari and India’s Manu Gandas in a competitive field in Prague.

Välimäki, the 2020 Oman Open champion, started with a birdie from 14 feet at the tenth before putting his approach from the rough at the next to three feet to reach two under through two holes.

He made it three in a row at the 12th before landing his tee shot to 14 feet at the 13th, which he drained for a fourth successive gain.

Välimäki did not stop there as his putter continued to be hot when he rolled in from 23 feet to climb to five-under par through five holes.

The 25-year-old had further chances at the 17th and 18th as he parred his way at the turn, but he got back on the birdie trail at the first when he chipped to seven feet to pick up his sixth shot of the day.

He dialled in to 12 feet at the par three third saw him move to seven-under and he missed another effort at the next.

Hisatsune and Schmitt were already in the clubhouse with their first rounds of 65, with Gandas still on the course at the seven-under mark.

However, when Välimäki hit in his approach to five feet at the fifth and he rolled in the birdie putt, he was the sole leader.

The Finn saved par at the seventh following a fine bunker shot before he doubled his advantage with a gain from 12 feet at the eighth, and he was inches from reaching double figures with his birdie effort at the last.

Højgaard has an outside shot of being part of Luke Donald’s European team in Rome next month and the Dane would have impressed vice-captain Francesco Molinari, who was his playing partner on Thursday.

He opened up with back-to-back birdies before adding another at the sixth before dropping his only shot of the day at the eighth.

That injected a spur of low scoring around the turn as a birdie-eagle-birdie from the ninth saw him jump up to six under and with a chance of seriously challenging Välimäki.

Højgaard missed great chances from six feet for a gain at the 13th and 15th before he finally rolled one in at the last to get to seven-under.

Bjork and Clements were flawless in their rounds of 65 with seven birdies apiece, while Hisatsune carded eight gains and one bogey and Schmitt mixed two dropped shots with nine birdies.

MacIntyre and Paul, who are separated by only 90.67 points in the European Points List, did not shy from the Ryder Cup battle as they both carded 33 on the front and back nine in their blemish-free rounds

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Luke Donald says nothing is decided yet for Team Europe’s remaining Ryder Cup spots ahead of Czech Masters

Golf Digest Middle East — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 13:37:10 +0000

Luke Donald. David Cannon

Luke Donald, the Team Europe Ryder Cup captain, insists there is still all to play for among those hopefuls looking to land one of the Englishman’s remaining picks to make the squad for the showdown at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Italy.

Donald, who is joined at the Czech Masters this week by vice-captains Nicolas Colsearts and Edoardo and Francesco Molinari, is back playing on the DP World Tour as players try to earn the final of three available spots on the European Points List.

Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm have already been confirmed through the top two places on the European Points List, with Viktor Hovland announced as part of the squad heading to Marco Simone next month after becoming the first to qualify on the World Points list.

As it stands, Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood occupy the two other available spots on the World Points List, while Robert MacIntyre — who tees up alongside Donald in the first two rounds at Albatross Golf Resort — holds the third and final spot on the European Points list.

With 415 points awarded to the winner of each event, there are mathematically 20 players who could earn that final position with two good weeks. Of that number, 14 are in the field this week, but just six —MacIntyre, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, Yannik Paul, Rasmus Hojgaard and Adrian Otaegui — can end this week in the top spot.

For those who don’t secure the necessary points, these two weeks are crucial to impress. The Czech Masters marks the first of those opportunities, and Donald is excited to watch it all unfold.

“There are definitely some spots open,” said Donald. “I was looking at the statistics this morning, someone as low as 23rd on the European Points list, if they won this week and next, still have a statistical chance of making that top three on the list. All to play for, I’d say, and these guys should be chomping at the bit to show up and have some good weeks. The guys on the bubble statistically have the best chance and a strong performance here will go a long way.

“It’s great to see that commitment. It doesn’t go unnoticed. Everyone in their right mind should have playing a Ryder Cup as a goal of theirs. People who have played never want to miss one once they’ve been a part of it. Rookies want to understand how special the event is. A lot of guys who should be playing are playing this week and I’m excited to see how the week unfolds.

“It’s always good to visit new places. I’ve travelled around the world and there’s not too many places I haven’t been to. Prague is one of those. I’m excited to be here this week. It’s a beautiful city, great culture, lots of history, and an important week for me with two weeks left in automatic qualifying. A big week for a lot of the guys, I’m excited to see how they’re playing and how the week ends up.”

On the other side of the Atlantic, the four-horse race for the final two spots on the World Points List continues as Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fizpatrick and Sepp Straka tee up in the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship. The top three are separated by just 20.55 points, with Straka 34.16 points behind Fitzpatrick.

With so many players still in the mix, Donald has plenty of scenarios to consider as he gets ready to welcome his automatic qualifiers and choose his six Captain’s picks. One qualifying has concluded, Donald will name the rest of him team on September 4.

“I’m not sure if it was the jetlag last night or lots of things building up, but I was up for a couple of hours in the middle of the night, lots of things whirring through my head: who I should be talking to, next steps, all that sort of stuff,” he added.

“It’s becoming more and more as the week gets closer. A lot to digest, I’m trying to take it day by day, but it’s an important week. I’m excited to be very close to finalising those 12 guys.”

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DP World Tour: Gavin Green in hunt for maiden title once more in Czech Masters

Matt Smith — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 10:18:00 +0000

By Matt Smith
Gavin Green stormed into a three-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the D+D REAL Czech Masters after carding a nine under par 63 at Albatross Golf Resort.

The Malaysian, searching for a maiden DP World Tour victory, made a sublime start to his round as he eagled the tenth hole, his first, and then birdied the 11th, 12th and 14th to race up the leaderboard.

His fourth eagle of the week came on the first hole and birdies on the final two holes saw him finish with a 14 under par total, opening up a three-stroke lead over Richard Mansell, Thomas Pieters and Marcel Schneider in the Czech capital.

Pieters is bidding for his third win in the space of just nine months and a hat-trick of D+D REAL Czech Masters victories after claiming the title in 2015 and 2019. The Belgian added a four under par round of 68 to his opening seven under 65 to remain near the top of the leaderboard.

Mansell, who finished in a share of fourth at last week’s ISPS HANDA World Invitational presented by AVIV Clinics, and Schneider, who won in the Czech Republic at last year’s Kaskáda Golf Challenge on the Challenge Tour, joined Pieters on 11 under par and the pair are both aiming to secure their first wins on the DP World Tour.

In a share of fifth on ten under par are Germany’s Maximilian Kieffer, who carded a six under round of 66, and first-round leader Louis de Jager of South Africa.

“I played solid,” said Green. “I hit good drives and kept it in play all day. Didn’t take any crazy risks and on some holes we played to the fattest part of the green, took our two putts, and on some holes we went for it. It paid off nicely.

“I went to see my coach after Barbasol or Barracuda and we did a small tweak and that has helped me and made me more consistent. It’s still a work in progress, it’s a step-by-step kind of process and I’m trying to hit good shots. If it happens it happens and hopefully the bad shots aren’t really bad. We’re just trying to keep it in play, take chances where we can and make some putts.”

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European Tour pro Facetimed for birth of second child because he “was on a good run of form”

Golf Digest Middle East — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 06:33:41 +0000

By Alex Myers
Everyone knows you don’t walk away from the craps table when you’re on a heater, so using that same logic, you shouldn’t take a break from the course when you’re finally playing good golf. And European Tour pro Lee Slattery stuck to that thinking this week — even with his wife due to have their second child.

After finishing runner-up at last week’s Czech Masters, the England-based player who had finished T-9 and T-19 in his previous two starts after a rough start to the year traveled to Switzerland for the Omega European Masters. But two nights before the tournament started, Slattery’s wife, Faye, had a little girl. Thanks to technology, Slattery was at least able to watch the delivery on his phone via Facetime.

Here’s how Slattery, a two-time European Tour winner, explained his decision to play this week:

“I had two weeks off recently to spend time with her thinking she might be early like the first one,” Slattery said told the European Tour. “That didn’t happen, obviously, so I had to come away and play because I was on a good run of form.”

Hey, when you’re hot, you’re hot.

Here’s a clip of Slattery talking about his exciting Tuesday night, which also included him making a superstitious trip to an Indian restaurant. We’ll let him explain that one…

Last night @Slatts777 watched his wife give birth to his second child on Facetime. ?? pic.twitter.com/IpdftuxYDF

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 6, 2017

The tour added this follow-up tweet:

Congratulations Lee and great to hear baby girl Penelope and wife Faye are in good health. #OEM2017

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 6, 2017

Our congrats to Lee and Faye as well. Regardless of whether Slattery’s “good run of form” continues in Switzerland, he’s already had a really good week.

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