"Don't think we will all agree" Gareth Bale's Tour pro hits out at DP World Tour
Gareth Bale's Dunhill Links pro Romain Langasque is not convinced the final round of the iconic DP World Tour event should have taken place on Monday.
DP World Tour pro Romain Langasque does not believe the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship should have taken place on Monday, despite the hard work of greenkeepers at the weekend.
Langasque, who was the DP World Tour pro on Gareth Bale's team at this week's tournament, made his feelings be known when responding to Sky Sports reporter Jamie Weir on Twitter following the third and final round on Monday afternoon.
Weir of course is the reporter who wrote the controversial tweet about Patrick Cantlay and Team USA on the eve of the Ryder Cup.
That particular story has taken something of a twist in recent days, too.
Play now underway at all three courses.
Thank you to everyone involved for the amazing efforts in making @carnoustiegolf, @KingsbarnsGL and @TheHomeofGolf playable for the final round of the 2023 #dunhilllinks pic.twitter.com/6vsEs2fk8P— Alfred Dunhill Links Championship (@dunhilllinks) October 9, 2023
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship was shortened to just 54 holes and a Monday October 9 finish, to ensure all Tour pros had competed on each of the three rotation courses at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
It overcame a 7.30am Monday inspection and was deemed playable by tournament officials, with those at St Andrews and Kingsbarns teeing off at 9am and those at Carnoustie starting later at 11.30am.
All three courses were under substantial water over the weekend, and the event saw no play at all on Saturday and Sunday.
Carnoustie, as you can see from the images below, looked like the Atlantic Ocean at 3pm on Sunday afternoon:
Carnoustie at 15:20. Tricky tee shot at 17. @ewenmurray77 @dunhilllinks @dpwtc @BenColeyGolf
Take a miracle for this to be on tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/XoIjqc3Pv3— Dylan (@ArbroathJambo) October 8, 2023
Matt Fitzpatrick wins Dunhill Links
Matt Fitzpatrick closed with a 66 on the Old Course at St Andrews to see out a three-stroke victory on 19-under par.
It marked his ninth career title on the DP World Tour.
Fitzpatrick also won the team event on 35-under par alongside his mother, Susan.
Dunhill double for the Fitzpatrick family at the 2023 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship #dunhilllinks pic.twitter.com/tHbzqQqI4H
— Alfred Dunhill Links Championship (@dunhilllinks) October 9, 2023
Romain Langasque questions playability of Dunhill Links final round
Langasque, who also ended the tournament at St Andrews, is not convinced the players should have been out there at all on Monday.
The one-time DP World Tour winner posted a 3-under 69 at the Home of Golf to finish the tournament at 2-under par in T110.
As a result of that finish, Langasque leaves Scotland without a pay cheque as he did not finish inside the T60 and ties, which would have been the 54-hole cut had it been a 72-hole event as planned.
Despite the poor result this week, Langasque still looks on from the top 20 in the Race to Dubai Rankings, meaning his place in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship is safe, along with his Tour card for 2024.
Bale, who beat Langasque with his own ball in the first round at Carnoustie, was not able to compete alongside the Frenchman on Monday as their team did not make it into the top 20 prior to the final round.
Langasque fired a joint course-record 61 at St Andrews this time last season.
Sky Sports' Weir tweeted his approval of the DP World Tour and the "superhuman effort from the greenkeepers" to even get all three courses in shape to host the final round of the Dunhill Links on Monday.
But Langasque was seemingly not a believer that the best DP World Tour players should have been out there at all on Monday.
Don’t think we will all agree … was playeble for a Sunday with friend … but not for a last round tournament
— Romain Langasque (@Lancaisse) October 9, 2023
You’re obviously in a far better position than I am to judge what’s playable. I just think with cards on the line it’s imperative you try and get any tournament at this time of the season finished, rather than null and void it. For that I comment the Tour
— Jamie Weir (@jamiecweir) October 9, 2023
Langasque tweeted:
Weir replied:
DP World Tour pro Oliver Wilson, who finished T25 on 10-under par, told GolfMagic this afternoon:
What did you make of the efforts of greenkeepers to ensure the Dunhill Links went into a final round on Monday? What do you make of Langasque's comments?! Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.