Hollywood actress Kathryn Newton will use her star power to support The R&A’s drive to make more people aware of the benefits of playing golf and inspire new audiences to take up the sport as a Global Development Ambassador.

Newton, 26, has previously starred in Big Little Lies, The Society, Golden Globe and Bafta award-winning Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and returned to big screens around the world in Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Having amassed 2.4 million followers on social media, Newton will use the platforms to post about her love for golf and what she enjoys most about the sport in order to encourage fans to pick up a golf club for the first time through The R&A’s recently launched development initiative golf.golf.

She started playing golf aged four, competing at the age of eight and now plays off a handicap of four.

Kathryn Newton. R&A

Newton said: “I love playing golf and really want to show everyone why it’s such a good sport so that we can get them playing too. Golf is a chance to be outside, spend time with friends and be active. There are so many great things about the sport and I can’t wait to share them with my audiences.”

A passionate supporter of women’s golf, Newton will attend the Women in Sport Summit at Walton Heath on Wednesday ahead of the AIG Women’s Open which tees off on Thursday.

RELATED: Kathryn Newton breaks driver, doesn’t need it as she sinks 16 birdie putts in scramble event

“I am so excited to be attending the AIG Women’s Open, I cannot wait to watch the world’s best players in action,” she added.

“Last year, I was lucky enough to play some holes with Georgia Hall, who has won the Women’s Open, which was so inspiring. These women are such incredible athletes and I would encourage everyone to come out to Walton Heath to watch and learn from them too.

“To be also invited to be a guest speaker at the Women in Sport Summit, where I can share my passion for golf with a room full of like-minded women, who are some of the leading voices in their chosen professionals, is a real honour.”

Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A, said: “Golf has experienced a surge of interest with participation rising worldwide and so we need to capitalise on this opportunity for the sport by continuing the momentum. It is why we are working closely with Kathryn and our other ambassadors to position golf to millions of people as a fun activity that can be enjoyed by everyone, while debunking some of the unhelpful perceptions that exist.

“Kathryn is an avid golfer who is enthusiastic about getting more people into golf and we are grateful for her commitment towards supporting our aim of ensuring golf is thriving 50 years from now.”

Niall Horan. R&A

Newton joins major champion Michelle Wie West, football superstar Gareth Bale and global music sensation Niall Horan as Global Development Ambassadors appointed by The R&A to utilise the power of influencers from the sports and entertainment industries to broaden golf’s appeal and image.

Gareth Bale. PGA Tour

The R&A’s appointed Modest! Golf, founded by Horan, to work on golf.golf, an ambitious pilot initiative to encourage people to learn to play golf at a diverse range of golf facilities across Scotland.

Bale features in The R&A’s ‘Golf is Good’ campaign, first piloted in Wales last year, which builds on scientific research to promote the health and well-being benefits of playing the sport through creative storytelling.

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The R&A has launched an ambitious pilot initiative to encourage people to learn to play golf at a diverse range of golf facilities across Scotland.

The launch of Golf.Golf was supported by R&A ambassador and singer-songwriter Niall Horan at an event held at The R&A World Golf Museum in St Andrews.

The initiative has been developed using extensive research into how to attract new people to the sport and is targeted specifically at those who already had or have an active interest in sporting activity but not necessarily in golf.

Its aim is to change the perception of the game and drive new players to a host of venues where the sport is played, from driving ranges to simulators to municipal courses, as well as existing facilities so they can learn how to play golf.

The Golf.Golf digital platform provides an easy-to-use searchable list of all participating venues. Prospective players – from beginners to those who want to pick up the sport again – can use the platform to find their local venue and book sessions directly. Prices are set at an affordable rate so that cost barriers are reduced and venues can get involved at no cost and benefit from attracting an untapped source of first-time golfers.

Backed by a global social media strategy which includes a fun film starring Niall Horan and a host of Scottish sporting stars – including former football coach and player Gordon Strachan OBE, Olympic gold medallist and curler Vicky Wright, Scotland rugby captain Jamie Ritchie and fellow internationalists and brothers Matt and Zander Fagerson of Glasgow Warriors – Golf.Golf portrays the game as fun, inexpensive, easy to understand, a place to make new friends and a great way to stay mentally and physically fit.

Golf.Golf is also being supported by The R&A’s development ambassadors, who include tennis commentator and former player Daniela Hantuchova, footballer Gareth Bale, cricketer Kevin Pietersen and golfer Michelle Wie West.

The R&A’s ambition is to successfully pilot the programme in Scotland during 2023 through working with Scottish Golf and for its affiliated national federations to then roll it out across global venues and so increase worldwide participation in the game.

Sessions are aimed at a wide range of potential players, from children to women-only groups and one-to-one coaching is delivered by professionals and volunteers that will support them in learning to play golf in a fun and welcoming environment. Administration of the platform is done centrally leaving venues to focus on delivering fun and inexpensive golf experiences in welcoming environments.

Global superstar Niall Horan launches golf.golf, a new initiative by The R&A and Modest!Golf to boost participation in golf. (l-r) Niall Horan and Ruaridh McCallum. Image supplied

Niall Horan said, “Next to making music, golf is a huge passion of mine, which is why I want to inspire people from all walks of life to give it a try. By supporting Golf.Golf and The R&A’s work to inspire more people to get involved in the game, I want to show people that learning to play golf is great fun, good for your health and can be enjoyed by anyone whether alone or with friends and family. This way we can begin to change the perception of golf and attract new players into the game, especially young people – which is why I am so proud to be working alongside my management company Modest! Golf on this.” 

Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A, said, “We have seen golf’s popularity boom in recent years with more people playing golf more regularly. We must capitalise on this growth by promoting the many positive social and health benefits of golf and offering opportunities to learn to play that is fun, accessible and inclusive.

“This is why we have created a promotional campaign featuring global stars, national sporting heroes and everyday people to build awareness of how fun and easy it is to learn to play golf and which offers a simple-to-use digital platform so they can freely book lessons at facilities near to them.

“We look forward to seeing the results of the pilot being run in Scotland and learning from the experiences of those people who take part in the activities.”

Fraser Thornton, Interim Chief Executive of Scottish Golf, said, “This campaign is perfectly placed to encourage people who are already warmed up to the idea of sport, into our great game of golf. The Golf.Golf digital platform is beautifully simple to use and directs people to whatever form of learning golf is right for them, whether that’s at a driving range or a club. It opens new participants up to the idea that golf isn’t and doesn’t have to be just one thing. It’s a very exciting initiative.”

Sandy Smith, Head PGA Golf Professional at Ladybank Golf Club said, “What has been proposed with the Golf.Golf program is what I believe is a total game-changer for the game of golf.  I’ve been involved in this industry for 30 years and this is by far the best initiative that I have seen.”

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By Brian Wacker
Pop-music star Niall Horan’s love for golf has been well-documented, from his receiving Golf Digest’s Arnie Award two years ago for his charitable endeavours to his support of the Drive, Chip and Putt competition run by the PGA of America, USGA and Augusta National. Now, along with ISPS Handa, Horan’s golf management company, Modest Golf, will help turn the Northern Irish Open, a European Challenge Tour event, into a tournament for men and women players.

The European Tour announced on Monday the addition of the ISPS Handa World Invitational to its Challenge Tour schedule. The 72-hole event will be held Aug. 15-18 at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort and Massereene Golf Club in Northern Ireland.

Simultaneous to the men’s tournament, a women’s tournament, not affiliated with any women’s tour but with players expected from the LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour as well as players from Asia and Australia, will be contested on the same courses and for a $500,000 purse, to be divided equally between the men’s and women’s competition.

“We got into golf with the aim to help and develop the next generation of players,” said Horan, whose company had previous connections with the Northern Irish Open. “By supporting a tournament like this exciting new World Invitational, we are going to bring that goal to fruition.”

The news comes three months after the Vic Open in Australia, also sponsored by ISPS Handa, became a men’s and women’s tournament that is co-sanctioned by the European Tour and LPGA Tour. And in March, the Challenge Tour, Staysure Tour and Ladies European Tour tri-sanctioned the Jordan Mixed Open, which was the first time men, women and seniors had competed against one another.

“Our core values are innovation and inclusivity,” said European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley at the events launch on Monday in London. “This new tournament fits perfectly.”

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By Kent Gray

1. Tommy Take Two

No one can ever take the 2017 Race to Dubai title off Tommy Fleetwood but the fact Justin Rose so nearly did on the final Sunday of the season lingered in the younger Englishman’s craw as 2018 opened.

The 27-year-old admitted as much on the Tuesday of his Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship title defence.

“The biggest thing for us after last year, I had had the year of my life by a long way, was to make sure that we kept progressing, kept improving,” the Southport lad said. “We sort of really wanted to look at the year like, you know, if Justin Rose had shot level par on that back nine on Sunday [at the DP World Championship; Rose was two-over, slipped to T-4 and eventually finished runner-up in the season standings to Fleetwood], then I wouldn’t have had The Race to Dubai title.

“So it was sort of important to maybe try and prove as if you were hurt and you had not had that whole euphoria of achieving something amazing in your career.”

Fast-forward to Sunday evening at Abu Dhabi G.C. and it was mission accomplished. With masterful ball-striking and some equally silky putting, Fleetwood scorched around the back nine of a wind-swept National course in a scarcely believable 30 strokes to sign for a 65 and join Martin Kaymer as a back-to-back winner of the Falcon trophy.

Talk about vindicating the Seve award he received on the Tuesday after being voted Players’ Player of 2017 by his peers.

“To sort of validate your position of Race to Dubai champion or Player of the Year so early on is really sort of nice and satisfying,” Fleetwood said after capturing his fourth European Tour title.

The scintillating finish didn’t go unnoticed by Rory McIlroy who hailed Fleetwood as a “great addition to the world of golf, a great addition to The European Tour and will be a great addition to The Ryder Cup team in September.” The latter is still to be achieved but the world No.12’s defiant grittiness looks set to make him an integral figure in golf’s global conversation more and more.

“I want to go places in the game. So to have your peers talk about you like that, Rory, obviously has done it all in the game, is very nice.”

2. Tom Buchanan – Dreams are made of this

Ain’t golf great. Big Tom Buchanan mightn’t have survived the weekend in Abu Dhabi but the fact the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club head pro got to peg it up in the €3 million European Tour event proves even the giddy upper echelons aren’t out of reach for your Average Tom, Dick or Harry.  Bobby Jones famously said “Nicklaus played a game of which I am not familiar” after Jack won the 1965 Masters so you can imagine what Buchanan, teeing it up in the same field as world No.1 Dustin Johnson and returning Rory McIlroy, felt. But just to have a shot at testing himself in such esteemed company after winning a UAE PGA qualifier at Saadiyat Beach before Christmas was something out of The Boy’s Own Annual.

“For us guys to have the chance to play an event like this is incredible. Hopefully, the people who have come with me [Buchanan’s Brigade] are enough to cement it for the next wee while as well because for us as club PGA pros, for an 18-hole shootout to get into what is now the premier event in Europe, is just incredible.”

Buchanan lapped up every minute of it and even saw the funny side of the odd ropy swing during rounds of 74-75 which left him 119th in the 126-man field and very much in awe of golf’s best.

The Scot, who celebrated his 38th birthday on the Tuesday of the championship, was asked if he had any regrets moving to the UAE six years earlier?

“When I left Duddingston I came over here with a holdall and my set of golf clubs. Now I’ve got a wee bit more than a holdall; a wife, two kids, and still the same set of golf clubs [laughter].” And now, golf memories to last a lifetime. Well played Tom, the UAE PGA, IMG, Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Abu Dhabi G.C.

3. We’ve got a Topgolf Crush

Every year the organisers of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship somehow up the ante with their off-course entertainment but they truly outdid themselves this time.  The double-decker  Top Golf Crush in the always family-friendly Championship Village was a brilliant innovation. Who knows, maybe a future Fleetwood, Rory or DJ will recall making his first tentative swings there someday. It certainly has us amped for the introduction of TopGolf proper to the Middle East at Emirates G.C. next year. We can’t conclusively say Abu Dhabi does the best championship village on the European Tour, but if last year’s Open at Royal Birkdale is any measure, it’s surely close.

4. The Tiger effect

What a week it was for Todd Clements at the Desert Classic, the world amateur No.30 making the cut on the record -5 number with rounds of 69-70 before finishing 68th with weekend rounds of 71-76.

The 21-year-old former English amateur champion is a product of the MENA Tour and fits the profile mentioned by another MENA Tour star, Jamie Elson, the latter sadly unable to cash-in on a fine opening 68 as the scoring got seriously silly on Friday and spilt into the weekend.

“I think it’s the Tiger Woods effect really,” said Elson, a worthy ambassador for region’s developmental circuit. “I think the kids that he inspired to start the game are now 25 years of age and they’re pros, and they’re, you know, flying it 300 yards through the air. I mean you look at the scores, never used to shoot scores like that around this sort of golf course, but you know that’s the standard these days and that’s what you have to do.”

There are those who prefer a stiffer test for the best, Pablo Larrazabal apparently among them as this tweet from the 2014 Abu Dhabi champion pointed out. “We must tight[en] the fairways, grow the rough and firm the greens to make it tougher…nowadays, all about hitting it hard and a putting contest…-5 cut at the #ODDC18 is crazy.”

It sure was crazy…crazy good to watch. We get where the Spaniard is coming from and yes, balls that spin less from drivers with larger sweet spots are apparently an issue… blah, blah…

But there’s a reason nobody goes to watch the monthly medal. We’ll take birdies and eagles over a par snore-fest any day. That’s no way to grow a game the likes of Clements and co. are now making an utterly absorbing watch.

5. Rory was the story

Haotong Li richly deserves these column inches for his spirited performance down the stretch on the Majlis. Rory McIlroy, despite the expert predictions, simply didn’t bring his best stuff to the final round of a historically low Desert Classic, two back nine bogeys in a 69 leaving him contemplating what could have and probably should have been back-to-back wins in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

By contrast, Li “hit some of the best shots in my life” to match the three-under 69 and ride the one stroke cushion (over McIlroy) he started Sunday with all the way to a -23 aggregate, a score that eclipsed by a shot, the previous Majlis benchmark jointly held by Thomas Bjørn (2001), Stephen Gallagher (2013) and McIlroy (2015).  In golf, you can only control your own game and Li did that better than McIlroy; the plaudits and associated riches – $500,000 and a giddy ride up the world rankings from 60th to 32nd – flowed and will continue to do so.

But for all Li’s grittiness and that glorious putting, McIlroy dominated the over-arching narrative from the first half of the now split Desert Swing.

Save for a sloppy Sunday on The National where he carded a 70 (compared to Fleetwood’s 65), the three-putt par on 13 and an off-piste bogey on 16 at Emirates G.C, the world No.11’s comeback would have been utterly exceptional rather than merely brilliant.

“If someone had told me at the start of the year you’d finish third and second your first two events, I’d say, yeah, I’d take that.” Except McIlroy couldn’t accept it. “But being in the positions I’ve been in and having two close calls the first couple of weeks of the year, it’s a little difficult. The competitor in me is very disappointed right now. I wanted to win. I always want to win, and I just didn’t do enough when I needed to.”

The consolation was a swing that looks more silkily synchronised than ever before. The 324-yard 3-wood on 13 Sunday was exhibit A (just don’t mention the three-putt!) and he has plenty of reps before Augusta to iron out the slight big stick misses and those uncharacteristic “mental errors” that marred his Dubai bid. If his blade comes to the party, watch out world. Sure, a first Falcon and a record-tying third Dallah would have been nice, but we suspect a career Grand Slam-sealing green jacket will be ample consolation. McIlroy MkII certainly looks capable.

6. Bjørn again…and again

Thomas Bjørn couldn’t have scripted a better start to the Desert Swing, what with Sergio Garcia winning in Singapore and Jon Rahm in California on the same weekend as Tommy Fleetwood repeated in Abu Dhabi (it didn’t hurt that he made the cut on the National either). But the smile was short lived and not because Europe’s Ryder Cup captain had an unwanted weekend off in Dubai. These are going to be a stressful nine months for Bjørn as we witnessed first hand playing the Pro-Am with the quiet but oft-volcanic Dane on the eve of the Desert Classic. Not a hole went by when either a fan or a TV cameraman wanted a piece of the 46-year-old. He handled it with aplomb but clearly has the weight of Europe on his ample shoulders. Walking off our final green Bjørn agreed it was going to be nice to get his quiet life back post Le Golf National “but we’ve got some Americas to beat first”.  Here’s hoping he gets some breathing space to achieve just that.

7. The stars align

Not to be outdone by Abu Dhabi, the Omega Dubai Desert  Classic’s ‘Constellation Clinic’ was a doozy. A doff of our cap to Rory McIlroy for giving his precious time, a lesson and a shiny new set of TaylorMade sticks to young Arjun Gupta, and to the organisers for coming up with competition that saw young Irish lass Saoirse Lambe play the Pro-Am with McIlroy and Niall Horan. There are those unconvinced by the increasing influence of social media on golf and more than a few naysayers when Dubai announced Paige Spiranac, golf’s Instagram Queen would be the event’s official starter. But you only had to see the gaggle of teenage girls swooning over Horan to understand that golf is going in, ahem, one direction. Whether many or any, will be lured to the game by the boy band heartthrob is a moot point; you’ve got to get the next generation through the turnstiles somehow and Dubai leads the way on that front. The 600,000 and counting (even past its used-by date) impressions a tweet we posted, merely mentioning golf nut Horan was starring at the clinic, was a case in point. The birdie count on the Majlis almost matched those metrics and it all added up to a Ror-ing success.

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Purchase a ticket to the $3 million European Tour event starting Jan. 25 between now and the online ticketing closing date of Jan. 21 and you’ll go in the draw to be part of the Omega ‘Constellation Clinic’ with McIlroy, Paige Spiranac and entertainer Niall Horan.

Four-time major champion McIlroy will run his eye over the winner’s swing before offering tips at the clinic which starts at 5.30pm on the Friday of the tournament (Jan. 26) on the Emirates G.C. driving range.

Related: Thomas trending nicely for Classic return

“Not only am I excited to be competing once again in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic but I’m really looking forward to the Omega Constellation Clinic and welcoming a ticket holder to come and take part. It should be great fun and the first of its kind for fans to enjoy.”

Tickets are priced from AED 175 per day with season passes from AED 500. Children aged 16 years and under enter free when accompanied by a paying adult.

omegadubaidesertclassic.com

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Golf’s undisputed social media queen has just upped the ante by vowing to caddy for the winner of the global competition on January 24. The American made the announcement overnight:

Can’t wait to be apart of the #OmegaDubaiClassics with @RoryMcIlroy and @Niallofficial in the gorgeous city of Dubai! Be sure to follow @omegagolfdubai to find out how you can WIN the chance to meet me! #MadeForGreatness pic.twitter.com/OLTecxfsWA

— Paige Spiranac (@PaigeSpiranac) November 30, 2017

Rory, boy band tunes and Spiranac on your bag. What are you waiting for – read the full story and enter here:

Partner McIlroy and One Direction star Niall Horan in the Desert Classic Pro-Am

Spiranac is in for a busy week at Emirates Golf Club after agreeing to be the official starter for the $3 million European Tour event.

Related: On the tee…Paige Spiranac

Masters champion Sergio Garcia is confirmed to defend the Desert Classic’s famed Dallah alongside PGA Tour star Pat Perez, former Open champions Henrik Stenson and Darren Clarke, Race to Dubai winner Tommy Fleetwood, Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn, Spanish cult hero Miguel Angel Jimenez and European Tour royalty Colin Montgomerie.

Tickets – priced from AED 175 for a daily pass – are available via www.omegadubaidesertclassic.com. Children aged 16 years go free if accompanied by a paying adult.

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Former champion Rory McIlroy and his pop star pal Niall Horan have announced a competition where the winner gets to play in their Pro-Am fourball on the eve of the January 25-28 Omega Dubai Desert Classic. The sweet prize includes return economy class airfares for the winner and a friend from any capital city in the world, a seven night stay in Dubai, VIP passes to the European Tour event and a new set of sticks from TaylorMade.

And your plus one, presuming you’re the lucky winner, can walk inside the ropes during the Pro-Am on Wednesday, Jan. 24, presumably humming chart-topping songs as Rory gets his 2018 campaign into tune.

Entry to this once-in-a-lifetime competition is not “Too Much to Ask” either (yes, we had to Google the Irish singer-songwriter of One Direction fame to come up with that ditty). All you have to do is download the VoxGolf app, play at least nine holes and upload your score. Your choice of background music in the golf cart and good golf itself is optional.

All the entry details can be found here: Partner McIlroy and Niall Horan in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic Pro-Am

You can even email VoxGolf (operations@voxgolf.com) if the course you want to play isn’t currently on the app. They vow to have it live within 24 hours to ensure that amateurs everywhere get the opportunity to take part.

Horan’s friendship with McIlroy, who will make his much anticipated 2018 bow at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship the week before Dubai, is well documented.

The multiple award-winning performer, who has sold over 70 million records and signed a recording deal as a solo artist with Capitol Records last year after the hiatus of the boy band One Direction, even caddied for McIlroy during the Par 3 contest at the 2015 U.S. Masters.

Both took to social media in a carefully choreographed campaign to launch the competition.

Fancy playing golf with me and @NiallOfficial at the @OMEGAGolfDubai next January? All you have to do is download the @voxgolf app and follow these simple steps for a chance to WIN! https://t.co/OWpGHPFSGt #MadeForGreatness #OmegaDubaiClassics @TaylorMadeGolf @modestgolf pic.twitter.com/UKdE5JjBFd

— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) November 27, 2017

I’m heading to Dubai with @modestgolf in Jan for the @OMEGAGolfDubai and you have the chance to join me and @McIlroyRory in a game of golf in the ProAm ! Download @voxgolf App and enter your 9 hole score to enter ! https://t.co/KGscTh6oQb #OmegaDubaiClassics pic.twitter.com/av33nKY2Pa

— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) November 27, 2017

Having won the famed in 2009 and 2015, McIlroy will go in search of his third Desert Classic title and will be well aware the past two champions at Emirates G.C. – Danny Willett and Sergio Garcia – have gone on to win the U.S. Masters. The green jacket is the one prize the Northern Irishman needs to complete a career Grand Slam.

Garcia is confirmed to defend the famed Dallah alongside PGA Tour star Pat Perez, former Open champions Henrik Stenson and Darren Clarke, Race to Dubai winner Tommy Fleetwood, Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn, Spanish cult hero Miguel Angel Jimenez and European Tour royalty Colin Montgomerie.

Tickets – priced from AED 175 for a daily pass – are available via www.omegadubaidesertclassic.com. Children aged 16 years go free if accompanied by a paying adult.

And fret not if you don’t win the McIlroy-Horan competition by the way. The consolation prize is a Omega ‘Constellation Clinic’ where Horan’s swing is sure to be scrutinized by McIlroy and the Desert Classic’s official starter Paige Spiranac. The clinic will be held on the driving range at Emirates G.C. from 5.30pm after Friday’s second round (Jan.26).

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