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Paige Spiranac has company; Christo Lamprecht joins WME Sports paige,spiranac,has,company,christo,lamprecht,joins,wme,sports,sbnation,com,golf,golf-pga-tour,golf-news

On: June 20, 2024 By: admin

Christo Lamprecht, the 6-foot-8 South African who held the first-round lead at the Open Championship last year as an amateur, has signed a deal with WME Sports for representation after turning professional.

He joins social media star Paige Spiranac, who joined WME Sports in May. The agency is a subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings, representing high-profile talent, athletes, and media while owning stakes in WWE and UFC.

Ari Emmanuel serves as the CEO of Endeavor Group Holdings, which expressed interest in negotiating a deal with the PGA Tour last fall. However, the tour ultimately went in a different direction, scoring a $1.5 billion investment from the Strategic Sports Group (SSG) as it continues negotiating an agreement with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Nevertheless, WME Sports also represents a pair of three-time major champions, Padraig Harrington and Jordan Spieth, putting Lamprecht in good company among fellow professionals. Min Woo Lee is also a part of WME, as are five of the top 10 players in the LPGA’s Rolex Rankings.

“This is a special moment in my career,” Lamprecht said.

“Having fulfilled a lifelong dream of turning professional, it gives me confidence knowing I have the best team at WME Sports guiding me through this next chapter.”

Lamprecht had a terrific career at Georgia Tech, earning All-American honors three times while winning three individual titles as a Yellow Jacket. He also recorded 24 top-10 career finishes. On top of that, his impressive resume includes the 2024 Byron Nelson Award, which he received this year as the country’s top scholar-athlete.

“Christo is the modern face of golf with his exceptional length and power, coupled with a tremendous short game,” said Jason Horrell, the co-head of WME’s Golf division.

“His talent is surpassed only by the quality of person he is off the course and we couldn’t be more excited to represent and work with him as he launches his professional career.”

In his Korn Ferry Tour debut at the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open, Lamprecht missed the cut, shooting an 8-over 78 on day one. But he rebounded with a strong 7-under 63 in round two.

He also missed the cut at The Masters this year, but surely, a bright future for Lamprecht lies ahead. He was the top-ranked amateur player before turning professional.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

PGA Tour U grad joins Ludvig Åberg, ready for hometown pro debut pga,tour,u,grad,joins,ludvig,berg,ready,for,hometown,pro,debut,sbnation,com,golf,golf-pga-tour,golf-news

On: June 19, 2024 By: admin

CROMWELL, Conn. — New England has another PGA Tour pro and his name is Michael Thorbjornsen.

After finishing atop the PGA Tour University rankings, as Ludvig Åberg did in 2023, Thorbjornsen earned his PGA Tour card for the remainder of the 2024 season and all of 2025. But since he hails from Wellesley, Massachusetts, a suburb west of Boston, the Travelers Championship decided to award Thorbjornsen with a sponsor’s exemption, given that this is the only tour event held in New England.

“This is definitely my home, I would say, on the PGA Tour,” Thorbjornsen said in front of the press Wednesday.

“I obviously made my first PGA Tour start here two years ago as an amateur. Love this place. It’s close to home. Love the golf course. Travelers does an amazing job of hosting the players, the caddies, just incredible hospitality and, yeah, I couldn’t ask for a better start.”

Two years ago, before this tournament evolved into a Signature Event, Thorbjornsen finished in solo fourth, four strokes behind winner Xander Schauffele. The former Stanford Cardinal shot all four rounds in the 60s as he sat toward the top of the leaderboard for most of the weekend. That strong performance came one week after the 2022 U.S. Open, where he missed the cut at The Country Club at Brookline—just miles from where he grew up.

He received another invite last year but unfortunately missed the cut. At least a fellow New Englander, Keegan Bradley, emerged victorious.

Thorbjornsen will make his professional debut this year, as he believes his prior experiences as an amateur have helped him immensely.

“Growing up as a kid you always want to be playing at that top stage, playing on the PGA Tour,” Thorbjornsen added.

“It’s definitely a little overwhelming at times, but… the past couple of years, I’ve been exposed to more and more of this, so it’s not too much of a shock to the system. I guess I’m getting used to it. It’s okay, I really don’t mind it at all.”

But now that Thorbjornsen has a bigger opportunity and will be in the limelight more often, he has a chance to influence other young players from the New England area. He is honored to have that opportunity.

“Just because you’re from the northeast and it snows for more than half of a year, that’s no excuse. Just keep working hard, guys,” Thorbjornsen said when asked if he had a message to younger players from New England.

“I just want to set a good example for these kids and inspire them to be the best golfers and best human beings they could possibly be because that’s what the guys ahead of me did for me as well. So, hopefully, one day in 10 years, we’ll have some of these kids out here playing and beating me and winning this tournament.”

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

Charles Leclerc joins Olympic torch relay ahead of Paris Summer Games charles,leclerc,joins,olympic,torch,relay,ahead,of,paris,summer,games,sbnation,com,front-page,formula-one,2024-formula-one

On: June 18, 2024 By: admin

The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics are just over a month away, the the Olympic flame has begun its journey to the Opening Ceremonies.

And on Tuesday, the Olympic torch relay had a Formula 1 feel.

As the relay made its way through Monaco, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc was one of the individuals tapped to carry the torch through the Principality. Other Monaco figures involved in the relay with Leclerc — who finally broke through with a victory in his home race, the Monaco Grand Prix — included Princess Charlene, Prince Albert II, and bobsledder Rudy Rinaldi.

Leclerc shared some footage of his time with the Olympic torch on social media:

While the Olympic flame will continue its journey to Paris, Leclerc will soon head to Barcelona for the F1 Spanish Grand Prix. The driver is hoping to be part of a big bounce-back for Ferrari, as both Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. finished outside of the points the last time out, at the Canadian Grand Prix.

That result saw Red Bull pull 25 points further ahead of Ferrari in the F1 Constructors’ Championship. And with McLaren scoring 28 points — thanks to a P2 from Lando Norris and a P5 from Oscar Piastri — Ferrari absolutely needs a bounce-back performance in Barcelona.

Perhaps carrying the Olympic flame will provide Leclerc with some inspiration this weekend.