Ivana Miteva – Page 3

Scottie Scheffler vs Xander Schauffele

Posted on August 19, 2024August 19, 2024 by Ivana Miteva

Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele have had two amazing seasons to date and the FedEx Cup play offs are still to be played. But who’s season would you rather take at this moment in time?

Scottie Scheffler has broken records this season winning six times on the PGA Tour and recently taking home the Olympic Gold Medal for the USA in Paris. He has won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Players Championship, The Masters, RBC Heritage, The Memorial Tournament, and the Travelers Championship so far on the PGA tour. He sits top of the FedEx Cup rankings heading into the Play Offs at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. His consistency the whole season has been mind blowing especially when he has been in the hunt, with some people comparing him to Tiger Woods in his prime.

When he won The Masters in April, I thought that he was going to win all four majors of the year but he did not. He came T-8 in the PGA Championship, T-41 in the US Open and T7 in The Open Championship. It did not help he got arrested mid-way through the second major of the year at Valhalla! He has been the man to beat in every competition, especially the elevated events but some would say his major season was disappointing for someone who has been so dominant. He bounced back from the last major of the year by winning Gold at Le Golf National at the Paris Olympics, shooting a 62 in the final round to break the course record. It was an electric performance from the World Number One.

However, some would argue that they would prefer to take fellow American Xander Schauffele’s season over Scheffler’s. This sounds hard to believe but there is an argument for it. Schauffele has had a very consistent year but was in the shadow of Scheffler for most of the season until he won his second major of the year at The Open in July. Two majors in one year does not happen very often! In May, he won the PGA Championship to win his first career major at Valhalla, which most would say was a matter of time. Then two months later, Schauffele edged out Scheffler on the final day of The Open with a final round 65. This is when golf fans started to question who’s season they would prefer between Scheffler’s and Schauffele’s.

Would you take a season with seven wins including a major and an Olympic Gold or two wins which were both majors?

Personally, I would have taken Schauffele’s season after The Open but after Scheffler won Gold in Paris, his season has gone one step ahead in my mind.

Golf Equipment Market Set to Grow by $1.58B

Posted on August 14, 2024August 20, 2024 by Ivana Miteva

Golf Equipment Market Set to Grow by $1.58 Billion from 2024-2028, Driven by a Surge in Health-Conscious Lifestyles

The global golf equipment market is poised for substantial growth, with a projected increase of USD 1.58 billion from 2024 to 2028, according to a recent report by Technavio. This anticipated expansion is primarily driven by a growing global focus on healthy lifestyles, which is encouraging more people to take up sports like golf.

As awareness of the importance of physical and mental well-being continues to rise, golf is becoming an attractive option for individuals seeking to combine fitness with leisure. The sport offers a low-impact form of exercise, and plenty health benefits. It promotes cardiovascular health, flexibility, and mental clarity, making it especially popular among older adults and professionals looking to unwind. This trend is expected to significantly boost demand for golf equipment, including clubs, balls, and apparel.

Another factor contributing to market growth is the increasing popularity of golf among younger demographics. With the rise of social media and influencer culture, golf is shedding its image as a sport reserved for retirees and becoming more accessible and appealing to a wider audience. This shift is expected to further drive the sales of innovative and technologically advanced golf equipment, which caters to the preferences of these new entrants to the sport.

The market is also witnessing advancements in golf technology, such as smart golf clubs and GPS-enabled devices, which enhance the playing experience. These innovations are likely to attract tech-savvy players and boost the market even further.

Regionally, North America is expected to remain a dominant market for golf equipment, driven by a well-established golfing culture and high disposable incomes. However, the Asia-Pacific region is emerging as a key growth area, with rising interest in the sport and increased investments in golf infrastructure.

In conclusion, the golf equipment market is set for significant growth over the next few years, propelled by a global shift towards healthier lifestyles, technological advancements, and the sport’s expanding appeal across different demographics. For businesses in the golf industry, this presents a lucrative opportunity to capitalize on the rising demand for high-quality, innovative equipment.

The Open Championship – Royal Troon Predictions

Posted on August 13, 2024August 14, 2024 by Ivana Miteva

Winner

Viktor Hovland

Viktor Hovland has been trending in major championships since he burst onto the scene and it’s only a matter of time before he ticks one of the majors off his rich trophy list! The reason I feel The Open will be the Norwegian’s first major is because he has been very consistent over the last five years in The Open. In fact, he is joined by Cameron Young, Tommy Fleetwood, and Jordan Spieth in the top four for Strokes Gained at the last five Open Championship’s.

He clearly enjoys golf and knows he can compete against the very best players in an environment he’s comfortable in, that others may not be. He handles pressure immensely, which we’ve seen at past Ryder Cups, the FedEx Cup and even back when he was playing as an amateur at Pebble Beach in the 2019 US Open. He finished T-12 which is when people started to realise that they were watching a future major champion in the making.

He has recently gone back to his original coach, Joe Mayo, who bought him success previously and his game seems to be back in the right place. Since his first Open at Royal St. George’s in 2021 where he finished T-12, he’s had aT-4 at St. Andrews in 2022 and a T-13 at Royal Liverpool in 2023. His game elevates when it comes to the Open Championship and I feel this year we will be seeing him holding the Claret Jug on Sunday evening and become the second Scandinavian in a row to win at Royal Troon following Henrik Stenson in 2016!

Source: Rob Schumacher – USA TODAY Sports

Top 10

Collin Morikawa

After winning the PGA Championship and the Open Championship on tournament debuts so early in his professional career, Morikawa has not won a major since. However, he is still only 27 years old and has had a successful 2024 season, especially in the majors. He has finished T-3 in the Masters, T-4 in the PGA Championship and T-14 in the US Open. Flying to Scotland, he will be full of confidence with the hope of securing a third major championship to his name at such a young age. Even though he has won more in previous years, Morikawa is having the best season statistically of his career, which means a win can only be around the corner.

He is a flawless golfer and rarely makes a mistake from tee to green hitting a consistent cut ball flight. Limiting your mistakes will be crucial when plotting yourself around Royal Troon which is why I feel he will be in contention again at the fourth major of the year.

One to watch

Matthew Southgate

The Englishman from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, has had a steady career on the DP World Tour and qualified for the 2024 Open Championship through final Qualifying at Royal Cinque Ports. He finished at 6 under, three shots ahead of anyone else on the Kent coast. Shortly after Final Qualifying, he was in contention at the 2024 BMW International Open where he finished T-4 so he is playing his best golf heading to Royal Troon, where he had a great week at The Open in 2016 finishing T-12.

The next year at Royal Birkdale, he finished T-6 and in 2023 at Royal Liverpool he finished T-23. He obviously feels at home playing links golf on the coast. To add to his links pedigree, he finished T-2 in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last year which is played at Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and St. Andrews so he is not short of experience in Scotland. Keep an eye out for Southgate in this year’s Open Championship, as I feel he’s in for a great week.

Source: Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club – twitter page

Local

Ewen Ferguson

Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson secured his spot at Royal Troon by winning the BMW International Open last week. The 28 year old, born in Glasgow, has three DP World Tour wins to his name already and he will be looking to add some major experience to his resume after missing the cut at Royal Liverpool last year. He is now fresh off a win and full of confidence, so we expect Ferguson to use the home crowd to his advantage and give the Scottish fans someone to cheer for.

Amateur

Dominic Clemons

Dominic Clemons is already making quite a name for himself. The 21 year old Englishman won the Scottish Amateur Open Championship at Muirfieldlast month by 17 shots finishing at 24 underproving that he relishes playing on Scottish soil. Last month, at the Amateur Championship, Clemons was runner-up at Ballyliffin to Jacob Skov Olesen who won the 36-hole final.

Even though he did not defeat Olesen, it was an incredible achievement and proves he is built for the big occasion, and you don’t get much bigger than The Open Championship which he qualified for through Open Qualifying at Burham and Berrow with the likes of Justin Rose and Abraham Ancer. This will be a stepping stone in Clemons’ career and a huge experience for him to play and learn alongside the best players in the world.

The future is bright!