By KGG CORRESPONDENT

Brian Stuard fired an eight-under par 64 to seize a one-shot clubhouse lead in Thursday’s opening round at the Barbasol Championship in Nicholasville, Kentucky.

A total of 30 players were unable to finish as play was eventually called after being suspended twice due to rain and lightning on the Keene Trace Golf Club course.

The first round will resume Friday at 8:10 am, with the second round beginning as scheduled at 7:45 am.

Stuard got off to a hot start making birdie on his first two holes en route to nine birdies for the round. His only blemish was a bogey on his ninth hole on the day.

Americans Ryan Armour and Vaughn Taylor are in the clubhouse with seven others tied for second at seven under, one stroke behind. Three more were on the course at seven under when darkness halted play. Seven others were two shots adrift.

Defending champ Jim Herman shot a 67 and is tied for 21st.

The event was canceled last year because of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

SuperSport viewers on DStv can look forward to seeing all the action from the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship at the Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Kentucky daily through to it’s climax on Sunday 18 July 2021.

SuperSport is the ultimate destination for Golf fans, with an unparalleled selection of action from around the world.

The Barbasol Championship is an alternate event held on the same dates as The Open Championship. The first three editions of the tournament were played in Alabama at the Grand National course of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. It was the first PGA Tour event played in Alabama since the PGA Championship in 1990.

In 2018, the tournament moved to Kentucky at the Keene Trace Golf Club and was the first PGA Tour event (excluding majors) in the state in 59 years, since the Kentucky Derby Open in 1959.

Last year’s Barbasol Championship was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, meaning 2019 champion Jim Herman (who beat Kelly Draft by one stroke) remains the king of the Keene Trace Golf Club and is looking forward to defending his title.

“You know you can never replicate what went on the previous year,” said Herman. “But you’re just trying to draw on those good feelings.”

On what took him to victory two years ago, Herman explained, “The putting was obviously it. But I gave myself looks. You can’t make birdie putts if you’re not putting for birdie.”

The 43-year-old American, who has also won the 2016 Shell Houston Open and 2020 Wyndham Championship on the PGA Tour, added: “[The 2019 Barbasol Championship] definitely rejuvenated me. I don’t know if it was just lightning in a bottle that week.

Herman also expects a large crowd in Nicholasville after Kentucky golf fans were deprived of last year’s event: “Sports fans are looking to get out and show their support of their local events,” said Herman. “I think the fans in Lexington are going to definitely be out in full force.”

The Champion Trace Course is a 7,081 yard par 72 course. The purse for the Barbasol Championship is $3.5million.

No rival can compete with SuperSport’s coverage. Our viewers on DStv can see all their favourite golf stars dominating courses across the world. Visit www.dstv.com to subscribe or upgrade, and join in on the excitement. And while you’re on the move, you can stream matches on the DStv App.

 

PGA Tour Barbasol Championship broadcast details

All times CAT

 

Friday 16 July

23:00: Day 2 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

 

Saturday 17 July

22:00: Day 3 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

 

Sunday 18 July

22:00: Day 4 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

 

By CORRESPONDENT

Collin Morikawa showed no sign of inexperience when surging into the lead on his British Open debut at nine under par after a second round score of 64 on Friday.

The American is making his first appearance at the Open Championship and played for the first time on British soil last week at the Scottish Open where he finished in a tie for 71st.

“I wouldn’t be here through these two rounds if I hadn’t played last week at the Scottish,” said Morikawa.

“It was a huge learning opportunity. I went into last week wanting to win but I came out of it learning a lot more and that thankfully helped for this week.”

The 24-year-old has already shown an ability to raise his game for the big occasion during his short career and he did so again with a round of six under at Royal St. George’s.

In just seven previous major appearances, Morikawa has finished in the top-10 three times, including victory at last year’s US PGA championship.

The last debutant to win on his Open debut was Ben Curtis in 2003, also at Royal St George’s.

SuperSport viewers on DStv can look forward to seeing all the action from The Open Championship at the Royal St. George’s Golf Course in Sandwich, England through to Sunday 18 July 2021.

SuperSport is the ultimate destination for Golf fans, with an unparalleled selection of action from around the world.

This year’s Open Championship will be the 149th edition of the ‘original major’ and returns to the calendar after being cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It will be the 15th Open Championship played at Royal St George’s, and the first since Darren Clarke won in 2011.

The defending champion is Ireland’s Shane Lowry, who won the 2019 Open Championship by six strokes from runner-up Tommy Fleetwood at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

“You know, it’s funny, because you think, not that it’s done, but like it’s so long ago now, not that I’m ready to put it behind me because it’s something I’ll always have, but I’m really happy I’ve achieved something like that,” said Lowry ahead of the 2021 Open Championship.

“I’ve obviously got the trophy. But it’s not like I sit down there every night with it on my dinner table in front of when I’m eating my dinner. It’s something that I have and I’ve put aside. But I’m obviously very focused and driven to do things and do different things in the sport, not necessarily bigger, better, because I think I’ll find that hard to achieve.”

While Lowry is relaxed about the defence of his title, Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, who won the 2014 Open Championship, admits his game needs some sharpening before this year’s edition.

“I certainly don’t feel as good about where I’m at compared to where I was after the US Open,” said McIlroy, who held a share of the lead in the final round at Torrey Pines before finishing in a tie for seventh.

“I didn’t drive the ball well at all. I didn’t hit a fairway with my driver. The rest of the game actually feels OK, but when you’re not putting the ball in the fairway it’s hard to score. I need to hit the ball in play and I think it’s very much against how I play. I might just need to throw it back a bit and hit more irons off tees and get the ball in play, because that’s what’s going to help me at least avoid the big numbers.”

Other players to look out for at this year’s Open Championship include US Open champion Jon Rahm – the bookies’ favourite – Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth and the in-form Lucas Herbert, who won the Irish Open earlier this month to secure a berth in the field at Royal St. George’s.

“I feel like I’ve done full swing and come back round and won the event I was at a pretty low point at,” the Australian explained “It’s pretty satisfying. It’s awesome when you get to play an Open Championship. They’re some of the best venues in the world and test you so much strategically. I’m stoked to get that start.”

Royal St. George’s is a 7,204 yard par 70 course. The purse for The Open Championship is $10.75million.

No rival can compete with SuperSport’s coverage. Our viewers on DStv can see all their favourite golf stars dominating courses across the world. Visit www.dstv.com to subscribe or upgrade, and join in on the excitement. And while you’re on the move, you can stream matches on the DStv App.

The Open broadcast details

All times CAT

Friday 16 July

07:30: Day 2 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

09:00: Day 2, Second Feed – LIVE on SuperSport Action

 

Saturday 17 July

11:00: Day 3 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

11:00: Day 3, Second Feed – LIVE on SuperSport Action

Sunday 18 July

11:00: Day 4 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

11:00: Day 4, Second Feed – LIVE on SuperSport Action