Ernie’s Latest News – 28 May

28 May

So, let’s just have a quick recap on what’s been happening since we last wrote.

Obviously, it was frustrating not to make the weekend in my last couple of tournaments, the AT&T Byron Nelson and the BMW PGA Championship. There wasn’t a lot wrong with my game, to be honest. We just didn’t get things going, didn’t make our share of putts, and with the standard being so high out here on Tour that’s all it takes.

Before we look ahead, though, it’s worth reflecting a little longer on events at Wentworth.

This club and this golf course have always had a special place in my heart, so there’s always a sense of anticipation whenever we go back. But I must say, the pride for us as architects of this renovation, seeing the course presented the way it was last week, made it more special than ever. This was the dream, this was the vision we had in our minds way back when we got the ball rolling on this renovation project. This was the blueprint, so to speak.

The whole strategy, the core shot values, the construction and the look of the greens’ complexes, the bunkering, literally everything is now just as we envisaged it. And seriously, these must be the best putting surfaces in the country. They are incredible! It’s so nice to see and, of course, it was great to hear the positive comments from the players last week and from the members who seem to love it, too.

Full credit to the Club’s owners, Dr. Chanchai Ruayrungruang and his team. They have given all of us their commitment to help push this project to its successful conclusion and, just as importantly, the budget and the resources to enable Kenny Mackay and his team to maintain this wonderful golf course to the absolute highest standards. And it shows literally everywhere you look. The conditioning of the playing surfaces, and the overall presentation, was as good as I’ve ever seen it. Right at the start I would say our goal, everyone’s goal, was to make Wentworth the leading venue for Championship golf in Europe and we believe that is what we’ve got. It’s the perfect championship venue.

Congrats to Francesco Molinari on a great win; to go bogey-free over the weekend on a tough golf course like that is a fine achievement. Hats off to him. Congrats also to Keith Pelley and everyone at the European Tour, including all the partners and sponsors, especially BMW and Rolex. This tournament is a wonderful experience for the players and for the fans, too. You see evidence of that in the huge number of spectators that flood through the gates there. The atmosphere is always fantastic.

We’re now back in the US for this week’s Memorial Tournament. Lots of people will know my feelings about this event. Mr Nicklaus and the rest of the team do such a wonderful job at Muirfield Village and I’ve always said it represents the gold standard on the PGA TOUR in terms of course presentation and conditioning, and indeed the way the set-up and shot values on this layout have moved with the times. It’s a pleasure to tee it up and it has been one of my favourite stops on TOUR ever since my debut in 1994 and winning here in 2004. The following year as defending champion, I had the pleasure to play alongside Mr Nicklaus in what was I believe his final PGA TOUR event. Such fond memories.

Away from the golf course, there’s one more piece of news for me to share with you this week and that is a new partnership with my friends at Premier Africa to provide fully hosted and all-inclusive African experiences. This is exciting for me. There’s magic in Africa. You see it in the people, you smell it in the air, and you feel it once you get off the plane. It’s an amazing place and Premier Africa highlights the best that the country has to offer; the best golf, the best activities and the best accommodation. Please click here for the full press release or better still watch the video: https://vimeo.com/268954040. I’m sure it’s going to inspire you to want to visit South Africa!

That’s it for now. Follow me on Twitter @TheBig_Easy.

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