#one wants me to be right about spieth and thomas winning
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god help me i’m having actual opinions about golf
#i’m turning into my father lmao#golf#my dad says tiger and rory are going to win and not spieth and thomas and he’s wrong#my mom and i said spieth and thomas and so far they’re winning#i love tiger but the man should have fully retired by now he’s a disadvantage at this point#see!!#actual opinions on golf!!#there are two parts of me#one wants me to be right about spieth and thomas winning#the other is disgusted that i know enough about golf to make that opinion and that i care enough about golf to want that opinion to be right
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This Awesome Easter Egg in Aquaman, if You’ve Been to Hawaii, You Must Know it!
Recently, DC, which had been lagged behind in its competition against Marvel, completely turned the game ahead by a first-rate movie, Aquaman. After being released in China, it immediately launched a wave of enthusiasm. The box office broke through 650 million in just 3 days. The Douban score is 8.2, and scores on other platforms are up to 9 or above.
Double gains in public praise and the box office, this movie was seen as "the best superhero movie of 2018". This time, DC can finally enjoy its victory for a moment.
The movie highly restores the comic story , and truly presented the magical underwater world. Of course, the man who stars as the "king of the ocean" in the movie, Jason Momoa, is one of the biggest selling points that drives people to cinema.
A Walking Hormone, Best Candidate for Aquaman
Staring as as Aquaman, Jason Momoa has a muscular physique of 6'4" height and 210 pounds. I believe many girls rush to the theater only for the masculine look of Jason, regardless of the jealous boyfriend sitting beside them.
Many people knew Jason from the character of the Dothraki king, Khal Drogo, of Game of Thrones. Coming from the mainland of Westeros, Jason seemed to be just right for the role of Aquaman because of his deep connection with the ocean. Like Aquaman, Jason is also a mixed-race.His father is of Native Hawaiian descent, while his mother is of German, Irish, and Native American ancestry.
He has grown up at the beach and had never been away from the ocean. Before entering show business, Jason would always go to a surf shop for a part-time job during his vacation. Another happy coincidence, Jason majored in marine biology in college. It is no wonder that Jason can communicate with marine life freely in the movie.His deep understanding and love for the ocean, gave Jason all the bravado and charisma needed to fit the role of Aquaman.
Not Easy to Be Aquaman
In order to give a better performance in Aquama, Jason Momoa did tons of fitness training, endeavoring to engrave his body lines, especially the muscle lines of the chest and back.
Nevertheless, a muscular physique was not enough to make him a star. Like the story in the movie, Jason had also experienced low points in life and eventually paved the hard road. In 2011, Jason appeared as the Dothraki king, Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones . However, Hollywood never lacks of tough guy, so the audience is a bit tired. Jason’s character died in the first season of Game of Thrones.
Fortunately, fate takes care of those who are well-prepared. The Dothraki king deeply impressed DC director Zach Schneider. He invited Jason to the audition of Batman vs. Superman . After receiving the call, Jason didn't even ask which character it was and went to the director straightly. He thought to himself: was there another Batman besides Ben Affleck for me to play? Finally, he took the character of Aquaman. Sometimes, you just need a little luck to succeed.
In the movie, Aquaman’s real name is “Arthur Curry”. He is the son of Atlanna, the princess of the underwater nation of Atlantis, and a lighthouse keeper. He has a semi-human and semi-Atlantis lineage, so the burden of communication between humans and Atlantis falls on his shoulders.
From a very young age, Arthur shows various super powers from normal people. He can swim at supersonic speeds, and possesses superhuman strength. He not only can breathe freely underwater and on land, but also can communicate with marine lifeforms. Super cool, isn't it!
The movie tells a story that after learning he is the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, the adult Arthur returns to the ocean to destroy his brother's dirty plot and becomes the king of Atlantis.
You don’t want to miss this splendid movie of course, and certainly not the Easter Eggs too. It is said there are 22 Easter Eggs in the movie. Have you found all of them?
Here is one special “Easter Egg” in the movie that could be easily missed but is a must-have.
As a king, he should not only have a splendid life experience, but also a place of birth that‘s definitively not mediocrity. Jason Momoa was born in Hawaii, the paradise on earth.
Speaking of Hawaii, one could easily think of those words: vacation, the ocean, the blue sky, the white clouds,the comfortable temperature, and the relaxing mood. Everything of Hawaii reminds you of the good, it is no wonder that Jason has the handsome looks for Aquaman.
This time, let’s look at Hawaii from a different perspective. Let’s take a look at the golf courses with the most picturesque scenery and all the natural landscapes.
The golf courses presented, Kapalua Plantation Course and Kapalua Bay Course, are known as Hawaii's must-haves. They are located at Kapalua Bay.
The Superb Layout of the Plantation
Consistently ranked as the #1 golf course in Hawaii, The Plantation Course was designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore. The course, of lengthy 7,411 yard par 73, was designed on a grand scale in keeping with its location on the slopes of the West Maui Mountains. With dramatic elevation changes, this course offers plenty of downhill tee shot challenges for the pros. With the aid of the aggressive slope of the 18th fairway - you will enjoy hitting one of the longest drives of your life.
It all starts from the first hole, with a par 4 and downhill 520 yards. Standing here, you can absolutely feel the magnificent scenery and the charm of the slopes.
The 5th hole, which is heavily tilted, is only about 500 yards. However, due to the slope of the fairway, the wind and influence of the deep valley makes it even more challenging.
PGA Tournament Venue
The first tournament of the PGA Tour, the Tournament of Champions, has been held here since 1999. Many golf champions happened here. Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Tiger Woods, and Sergio Garcia all achieved excellent results here. Every year, previous winners of The Grand Slams, the World Golf Championship and the PGA Tour of would gather around in the tournaments. It is worth watching!
“World’s best”, Not Only for Courses, But Also the Food!
Delicious food is not less than the beautiful scenery. Following my lead, I would make sure you do not miss any delicious cuisine. The restaurant with the best view lies between the 18th hole and the 1st hole. You can enjoy the food while watching the game. Watching games, playing golf and enjoying the cuisine,the three best things are combined perfectly here for you to experience.
You must try the French toast made from the Maui sweet bread. It is known as the “Best French Toast on the Planet".
Have You Tried Seascape Golf Before?
If Kapalua Plantation Course has a beautiful sea view in every hole, then the adjacent Kapalua Bay Golf Course can offer you a wonderful experience of playing over the ocean. Kapalaua Bay Course is famous for its breathtaking 17th hole. Seascape golf, why not have a try?
17th hole in Kapalaua Bay Course
Just to Imagine,after swinging the club, your gaze follows the fast moving white ball. You couldn’t help but be caught by the splendid views of the mountain and the ocean when you search for the ball in the fresh air. The beauty of the scenery is packed with a view, what other word is there to describe your feeling at the moment, besides “enjoyable”? Take a long and deep breath in the light and salty ocean breeze. Everything is just too perfect!
If you are lucky enough, you could even spot some rainbows over the course after raining.
Place of the Champions and Stories
The Bay Course opened in 1975 and in that time has hosted over 20 major professional tournaments. Great champions and stories have emerged here, such as Greg Norman’s first win on America soil, Ian Woosnam and David Llwellyn’s thrilling victory for Wales in the World Cup of Golf and Morgan Pressel’s nail-biting win at the Kapalua LPGA classic. Two of the most popular PGA players ever, Fred Couples and Davis Love III, have each earned victories here - twice.
pictures from the last round in Sentry Tournament of Champions by Dustin Johnson, Kapalaua Bay Course, Lahaina, Hawaii, 7th Jan, 2018.
Take a Good Rest after One Round
As in any resorts, hotels are necessary. The hotels in Kapalua would make it uneasy for you to say goodbye.
Montage
The Ritz-Carlton
In addition to the ocean view, there are hot springs and professional badminton courts. There are other facilities available, too. I have to mention the most famous restaurants in Maui are Kapalua Cliff House and Merriman's Maui. Kapalua Cliff House offers the perfect sunset seascape meal and Merriman has Maui exquisite cuisine. My appetite was left on Hawaii and it is now calling me.
There is a sense of place that captures the soul and inspires guests to return again and again.
Kapalua Resort has more to explore than just golf courses. Its 22,000-acre natural paradise setting is home to exotic species found nowhere else on the planet. Marine life teems and thrives in protected sanctuaries.
High atop the resort in the West Maui Mountain range, Pu’u Kukui is one of the largest private nature preserves in Hawaii. This majestic haven is home to 20 percent of Hawaii's native plants, including three native bird species, five extremely rare snails, and 18 native plants found nowhere else in the world.
The two golf courses are certified Audubon sanctuaries, protecting 23 species of birds. This revered designation by Audubon International is a result of the resort's sound environmental management practices to preserve and protect wildlife living on or near the golf courses.
They are also Hawaii State Marine Life Conservation Districts, and home to ancient lava formations, splendid coral gardens and spectacular marine life, making some of Hawaii's most spectacular snorkeling sites.
Credit: Jeasea
Having seen all these beautiful views, don’t you want to grab your bag and just go? Hold on sec. Please don't hesitate to follow us if you like what we introduced here.
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The Open 2019 - Clarke to hit opening tee shot
New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/the-open-2019-clarke-to-hit-opening-tee-shot/
The Open 2019 - Clarke to hit opening tee shot
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By Luke Reddy
All times stated are UK
Read his full account here.
Posted at 6:196:19
Coming up this afternoon…
Selected tee-times (all BST)
12:53Justin Thomas (US), Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Thorbjorn Olesen (Den)
13:04Louis Oosthuizen (SA), Brooks Koepka (US), Shubhankar Sharma (Ind)
13:26Jordan Spieth (US), Marc Leishman (Aus), Danny Willett (Eng)
14:48Justin Rose (Eng), Tony Finau (US), Lucas Bjerregaard (Den)
14:59Dustin Johnson (US), Jason Day (Aus), Keegan Bradley (US)
15:10Tiger Woods (US), Matt Wallace (Eng), Patrick Reed (US)
15:21Patrick Cantlay (US), Jon Rahm (Spa), Matt Kuchar (US)
Posted at 6:196:19
Birdie!
Clarke -2 (3) Hoffman E (3)
Darren Clarke walks to the fourth tee, swinging his club in his hand with some glee as he leads The Open on two under.
His stunning tee shot on the third left him a tap in birdie and the Northern Irishman looks right at home now.
Charley Hoffman gets himself out of a sticky spot with a chip and lengthy putt to save par. That my friends is the epitome of a cracking up and down.
Posted at 6:176:17
Coming up this morning…
Selected tee-times (all BST)
07:30Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng), Padraig Harrington (Irl), Andrew Putnam (US)
07:52P Mickelson (US), S Lowry (Ire), Branden Grace (SA)
08:14Webb Simpson (US), Sergio Garcia (Spa), Cheng-Tsung Pan (Tpe)
09:14Henrik Stenson (Swe), Xander Schauffele (US), Graeme McDowell (NI)
09:58Bryson DeChambeau (US), Francesco Molinari (Ita), Adam Scott (Aus)
10:09Gary Woodland (US), Rory McIlroy (NI), Paul Casey (Eng)
10:20Rickie Fowler (US), Kevin Kisner (US), Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn)
Posted at 6:176:17
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Snookered89:Brooks Koepka has to be favourite for me for two reasons. Firstly his record this year in majors. Then his caddie who knows the course so well. Gonna be difficult to stop I suspect. In my heart though I want Westwood to win.
Who wins The Open? Tweet us at #bbcgolf.
Posted at 6:156:15
Andy Sullivan went to bed probably thinking ‘nice and steady tomorrow, nice and steady’.
The Englishman blasted out of bounds on the first and is +2 after the opening hole.
On the plus side, he has loads of time to put things right.
Posted at 6:136:13
Sugrue in wonderland
Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at Royal Portrush
PACopyright: PA
What a month for Irish amateur James Sugrue, who won the Amateur Championship in June to secure qualification for The Open, as well as The Masters and US Open next year.
The 22-year-old’s first taste of major golf is to head out alongside a former champion in Darren Clarke and enjoy the huge crowds following him.
Sugrue nearly didn’t make it to the first tee today though, having to take two courses of antibiotics after an insect bite he suffered in Sweden last week got infected and saw his calf swell by about four inches.
Now he’s knocking birdies on the world’s biggest stage…
Posted at 6:116:11
What a shot!
Clarke -1 (2) Sugrue -1 (2) Hoffman E (2)
James Sugrue – the Irish amateur – makes birdie on the par-five second and joins Darren Clarke in the early lead. They move on to the third, a par-three.
Sugrue finds the green as the flag flaps around in the wind. Clarke tees it up, 175 yards, lovely sound to it and what a shot… it rolls to within a foot. Stop it Darren, put this kind of technology away.
Charley Hoffman, what have you got? Ooof, that’s ugly, right and in trouble.
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The US Ryder Cup roster is coming into focus and Tiger Woods is going to be on it
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are just two of the very clear four options for Jim Furyk in filling out his roster with captain’s picks.
UPDATE: With Labor Day come and gone, the first deadline for captain’s picks has arrived and Jim Furyk’s choices seems painfully obvious. That does not mean, of course, that it will play out as easily as it should. There is always potential for a curveball or political maneuvering with the Ryder Cup, but that just seems so remote this time around.
The four captain’s picks this year SHOULD be Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Tony Finau. Those are the guys that should round out this roster. It’s a mix of rookies and the two veterans who have overseen the overhaul of the USA approach to this competition. Phil and Tiger, if healthy, always have an argument for a spot, whether you think their play deserves it or not. Their importance to this match play event, their history with it, and their place in the game gives them a leg up compared to every other American golfer out there. It’s the rare exception, as with Sergio Garcia on the Euro side, where current form and season-strength can be discounted.
Tiger and Phil
Furyk enjoys the convenience of both Tiger and Phil playing well enough to deserve a pick, too. Tiger has played like a top 10 to 15 player in the world this season. He didn’t even need to do that to earn a spot. But he did and he’s going to be a pick.
Even with a 2018 win, Phil’s season and recent form do not present as strong an argument as Tiger. But, again given his place in the game and in this process, he’s going to get a pick. Phil landed in 10th place on the points list when that closed on Sunday of the PGA Championship. So even after a spotty summer for Phil, it’s not like Furyk is going way down the list just to make room for the Lefty. Tiger and Phil will be picks and both should be picks.
An American artist in Paris
That leaves the two rookies playing their way onto the team. DeChambeau blew up over his final five holes at the PGA to miss the cut and finish as the first man out in the auto-bid points race. Since then, however, all he’s done is go back-to-back to win the first two tournaments of the FedExCup Playoffs. That’s four wins in his short career, three this year, and two rolling right into the most important stretch of the season for Ryder purposes. This all comes after finishing 9th in the points race. So yes, Le Artiste is going to Paris. He’d already had a strong case, and Tiger has reportedly wanted to play with him. So winning the first two legs of the postseason gives Furyk no choice
Finau and the scheduling problem
That leaves Finau for the fourth and final spot. Finau finished 13th in the points race, behind Bryson, Phil, Xander Schauffele, and Matt Kuchar. But he’s a birdie machine, shown well at the majors this year, and now posted second-place finish and a T4 in the first two events of the FedExCup.
Unlike the other three, he’s not a lock but he should be the overwhelming favorite. There had been some reporting from No Laying Up that Kuchar had the inside position for a pick in the days after the PGA. He’s an elder statesman of the U.S. side and is malleable and gregarious enough to partner with any red-ass malcontent on the American roster. But this spot should, and seems likely to go for Finau.
That brings us to the matter of timing. Furyk will announce three picks on Tuesday, September 4th in a news conference at 5 p.m. ET. The fourth pick will be the following Monday morning. That brings one more FedExCup Playoffs event, the BMW Championship, into play. Would that change the status of Finau and bring someone else into the mix? It shouldn’t, no matter how dramatic things change at the BMW. It’s just one week. This scheduling breakup is a result of the “Horschel Rule,” which I explain below. So should he put Finau on the team now and leave one of those absolute locks, like Tiger, for the announcement next week? It’s an odd dynamic that Shane Ryan illuminated in these tweets too.
if he makes the obvious move and leaves Finau off, and next week Finau is mediocre while someone like Schauffele or Kuchar wins, suddenly he's made the whole thing much harder on himself.
— Shane Ryan (@ShaneRyanHere) September 4, 2018
This will all be over soon, but Furyk’s path to filling out the roster seems pretty clear at this point. Now comes the order in which he does it.
There are a couple concurrent contests running Sunday at the PGA Championship. There is the obvious final round of a major, which Brooks Koepka leads by two and is the heavy favorite to win. And then there’s the Ryder Cup points race, the last dash to automatically qualify for Jim Furyk’s USA roster.
The PGA of America closes the points race, largely based on earnings, after their premier event, the PGA Championship. The majors are also worth double points in the qualifying process so there’s an opportunity, if you play well, to make a big move up the standings. As we start Sunday’s final round, Furyk’s qualifiers are largely set. The top seven of eight are locked in for Paris at the end of September, but there’s a possibility for some movement in that eighth and final spot.
UPDATE: Webb Simpson is your 8th and final qualifier. None of the remaining challengers could overcome his lead in the points race, so it will be Webb and Bubba rounding out the auto-bids for Paris. The first eight on the roster are as follows.
Brooks Koepka
Dustin Johnson
Justin Thomas
Patrick Reed
Jordan Spieth
Rickie Fowler
Bubba Watson
Webb Simpson
Simpson, on the back of his dominant Players Championship win in May, captured the eighth spot in the standings. Simpson is also did not exactly blow it in this final event before the standings closed. He started the final round in a tie for 15th place at 6-under. Here are the pre-PGA Championship standings:
This was supposed to be a weekend of Bryson DeChambeau battling Simpson for the last spot. But The Artiste booted it in the second round, making three bogeys in his last six holes of the second round to go from safely on the right side of the cut line to an early exit with no points. So DeChambeau will have to rely on a captain’s pick if he’s to make the roster and that’s not ideal for a personality that I think fans and content-makers (me) wanted in Paris.
The two primary candidates to jump Simpson on Sunday were Kevin Kisner and Xander Schauffele, and there was the longshot potential for Tiger Woods and Gary Woodland to shoot all way up to an auto-bid with a win. Tony Finau had a chance to jump into the final spot but he made the cut on the number and sits in a tie for 58th. He needed Webb to completely collapse and post some miracle round to shoot into the top five.
The one spot of pressure on Webb, however, was that he likely needed to make it on points. That’s because the competition for the four captain’s picks is stiff and he probably wouldn’t have been an option. It’s almost certain that two places will be reserved for two legends and players that have been integral in overhauling the USA’s entire approach.
With the first eight set, here are your most likely captain’s pick options from the standings above.
Captain’s picks
Tiger Woods (lock it in)
This is not up for debate. Unless he gets injured or wins on Sunday and makes it on points, Tiger is going to be a pick. And he should be. Despite his points ranking, which is diminished by not playing any of the majors last year, he’s played as a top 15-20 player in the world this season. So his game has been good enough and oh, yes, he’s also Tiger Woods and has to be on the team no matter how good or bad he’s looked.
Phil Mickelson (99 percent lock)
This is the first time Phil will not be an automatic points qualifier since 1993. It’s an outrageous run that we probably won’t see ever again, from either side. Phil has not played well this summer. It’s a hard truth but he’s just not been a Sunday factor at any event since he won the WGC Mexico. But he’s got that legend status, is part of the clique that’s running this U.S. Ryder Cup operation these days, and is not THAT far off on the points list. The form has been underwhelming, but he’s still 10th on the points. He’s going to be on the team.
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
Phil is almost certain for a pick, but will he bring Kisner with him?
Matt Kuchar (reports are it’s likely)
Here’s a third veteran that, from all indications, is likely a choice for Furyk. He’s got less of an argument than Tiger and Phil, who can pretty much reserve two spots on US teams whenever they are healthy. Kuchar was 12th in points heading into the PGA, where he missed the cut. While his record is underwhleming, he’s been on the last four Ryder Cup teams and is a mainstay on the Presidents Cup team. You can argue for his spot to go to another young up-and-comer, but Kuchar is malleable and can partner with anyone. Everyone on the team loves him. Maybe that shouldn’t carry weight for winning matches, but it does in this process.
Kuchar may get left off if he plays like garbage during the FedExCup Playoffs. But for this exercise, we’ll operate under the assumption that only one of the four captain’s picks is up for grabs. If Kuchar is left off, expect two of the names below to be the final adds.
Bryson DeChambeau — The last man out on points will be a controversial pick. Tiger, from all accounts, loves him and the way he thinks about the game. That backing matters. But he can also rub people the wrong way. There’s this narrative that has gained steam, based on recent range meltdowns, a choke finish in Europe, and a stupid handshake etiquette controversy, that he might not be well-suited for a team environment and the one that’s the most pressurized in golf. Whether that narrative is just dumb noise or matters to Furyk remains to be seen. He made it harder on himself with his late boot and MC at the PGA.
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Bryson’s early exit at the PGA may be the critical blow to his chance at making the team.
Tony Finau — The big hitter played with Furyk at the PGA and did not make a great first impression, hitting a shank en route to an ugly first round number. But then he showed his stuff on day 2, posting an absurd 10 birdies in one of the wildest major championship scorecards you’ll ever see. Birdies matter more at the Ryder Cup and in match play than anywhere else. Furyk had to love it but is there room for a guy who is likely to be a part of this team in the next decade? He posted top 10s at the first three majors of the year and his style is a strong argument for the fourth spot.
Kevin Kisner — He’s looked great at the last two major championships and was a darling of the team room at last fall’s Presidents Cup. That seems to be one of the stronger arguments for why he might make it. Mickelson may also lobby for him to reprise that successful Pres Cup partnership. As a fan, Kisner would be a great personality to root for but again, there just may not be enough room this time.
Xander Schauffele — The X-man is the reigning rookie of the year but this process can get political and both he and Finau probably have the least capital in that respect right now. If you’re a proponent of getting more young blood on the team, he’s arguably the best option. He continues to post in all the biggest and most pressurized events in the game. There’s just a lot competition for one spot right now. Of all the candidates, I could most envision him turning it on and balling out the next four weeks to make Furyk’s choice for him.
Picks schedule
We can assess the roster based on points, which lock down on Sunday night for the American side. But it’s premature to get too wrapped up in arguing captain’s picks. That’s because so much can happen between now and the selections. Here’ the schedule:
Tues September 4th — Three of four captain’s picks are made following the second FedExCup event in Boston. That leaves three tournaments, including two playoffs events, between the PGA and the first round of picks.
Mon September 10 — The fourth and final pick is made. This adds the third leg of the Playoffs, the BMW Championship, as a potential last-minute proving ground. This is a modification to the so-called “Horschel Rule,” named as such after Billy Horschel became the hottest golfer in the world and won the FedExCup after Tom Watson had made his captain’s picks in 2014. The last time around in 2016, the Horschel Rule put the fourth and final pick coming after the Tour Championship. But that got too ridiculously close to the actual Ryder Cup, with the debate going into that Sunday night at the start of the matches week.
The roster universe feels confined to the options above but Horschel’s run in 2014 is a reminder of how much this can change. He was not really on the radar in 2014. So there’s still a chance the roster is filled out with someone not listed. It will come from that top 25 in standings, but it could be a name no one is discussing if he gets hot enough between now and the final pick. We spend an inordinate amount of time debating Ryder Cup rosters, but it’s one of my favorite biennial exercises and it’s going to consume the next month.
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Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Lee Westwood could become first English Open champion for 27 years
Twenty-seven years after the last Englishman who triumphed at golfers of three different generations will come together this weekend looking for the elusive Claret Jug.
A week after the exciting victory of the Cricket World Cup in England, it couldn't happen, could it? There is Tommy Fleetwood in his twenties, Justin Rose in his thirties and – most heartwarming of all – Lee Westwood at the age of 46.
All three lions shot four-under-rounds from 67 on Friday to join an assortment of accomplished Americans – including the most successful of them all, Brooks Koepka – who will try to rise halfway through the joint leaders traces, the Irish left master Shane Lowry and the great American JB Holmes at the age of eight. Tommy Fleetwood is hunting for his first major "
<img id =" i-88d16ff0a5b7509c "src =" https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s /2019/07/19/21/16264866-7266147-image-a-45_1563567467860.jpg "height =" 529 "width =" 306 "alt =" Tommy Fleetwood is hunting for his first big one is hunting for his first big one "
Tommy (19459010)
<img id =" i- 8f4b5a52cf737da1 "src =" https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/07/19/21/16265414-7266147-image-a-50_1563567604331.jpg "height =" 407 "width =" 634 "alt = "Justin Rose is hot on the heels of his countrymen, just a shot behind them Justin Bieber and Justin Bieber are in love with Justin B ieber and Justin Bieber at the same time as Justin Bieber and Justin Bieber.
Justin Rose is hot on the heels of his countrymen, just a shot behind them at six o'clock
From the worst half of the draw, it makes little difference to Lowry. The 32-year-old from Offaly once won an Irish Open in a hoolie along the coast at Baltray, and the Northern Irish Amateur in 2008 around this
How I have revealed in the love of the locals and a united Ireland, which reached the turn in a barely credible 31 shots.
If he can hold on to his guts this weekend, some if, given what the bet is,
If Lowry cannot get over, there is no shortage of support like Fleetwood, Westwood or Rose keep the trophy.
What a welcome the trio was offered on the 18th hole, the recognition of their contribution to the sport.
The attitude of the trio resumes in the last two rounds and reflects where they have their careers.
Two weeks later his 39th birthday, Rose is fully aware that he is in the now-or-never phase if he wants to win the Open, believing that something would be wrong if he didn't expectation.
Westwood, on the other hand, is in the freewheeling phase and, after so much, I am one of the best players in the world, so there must be expectation when you are in a conflict. near-miss in the majors, enjoy this unexpected opportunity late in life.
He has girlfriend Helen Storey on his bag and the pair has a ball. & # 39; The first time she caddied for me, I made this deep divot and she looked with disgust at the thought of picking it up, in case it contained a worm, & # 39; said Westwood. & # 39; He has moved a little further since then & # 39 ;.
<img id = "i-df09e29cbec1f16c" src = "https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/07/19/21/16264872-7266147-image-a -51_1563567656160.jpg "height =" 423 "width =" 634 "alt =" Westwood has sealed his round of 67 with a kiss with his girlfriend cadet Helen Storey "class =" blkBorder img-share "/
Westwood sealed his round of 67 with a kiss with his caddy girlfriend Helen Storey Helen Storey
Fleetwood is of course the boy who grew up around the corner from another location on the Open route.
He has also finished, he has also finished.
He also finished fourth and second in the US Open in 2017 and 2018. It is important not to introduce myself with the Claret Jug and to win the Open with half of it still event to play & # 39 ;, he said. & # 39; It's a cliché, but the only thing to think about is spending time with the family, getting up tomorrow and warming up for the first shot. & # 39;
It has been almost a year for Fleetwood to date.
& # 39; I am not surprised that I came here under the radar & # 39 ;, he said. & # 39; There are players who have done much better than me. But I can tell you about the links that there is no shortage of people who want me to do it right. So, I will continue, continue to prepare and let's see what happens.
<img id = "i-14c6a5f123466d44" src = "https: // i .dailymail.co.uk / 1s / 2019/07/19/21 / 16264868-7266147-image-a-52_1563567724398.jpg "height =" 433 "width =" 634 "alt =" <img id = "i-14c6a5f123466d44 "src =" https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/07/19/21/16264868-7266147-image-a-52_1563567724398.jpg "height =" 433 "width =" 634 "alt = "Fleetwood has already missed a number of opportunities this year
Fleetwood has already missed a number of opportunities this year, but has come close
De Coterie of Americans is led by Holmes, who should not be underestimated. The 37-year-old from Kentucky finished third in the Open at Troon two years ago, or rather first in the other tournament, not disputed by the runaway leading pair, Phil Mickelson and eventual winner Henrik Stenson
. years he defeated McIlroy and Justin Thomas at the opening of the Genesis Open in Los Angeles. & # 39; I feel that way, & # 39; he said. & # 39; I have always been able to play well when the circumstances get rough and windy. & # 39;
The favorite must be the man who has gone 1-2-1-2 in the last four majors and yet somehow remained outside the spotlight. Koepka & # 39; s made only seven birdies in two rounds, but crucial, hardly any mistakes, with only two bogeys, and only drift three strokes. & # 39; I haven't done anything so far, so I need to find out, & # 39; he said. & # 39; I'm hanging around. It's not that I want to be close enough. & # 39;
<img id = "i-78d5ae4c563887ce" src = "https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/07/19/21/16265594-7266147 -Brooks_Koepka_has_barely_put_a_foot_wrong_and_is_lurking_ominous-m-55_1563567842183.jpg "height =" 427 "width =" 634 "alt =" Brooks Koepka has barely put a foot in the eye and lurks ominously for the weekend "class =" bl1010 [19451090[19451090[194510] ]
Brooks Koepka has hardly put a wrong foot in it and lurks ominously for the weekend
man he replaced America's chosen – Jordan Spieth – Is it really only two years since I won the Open – how soon will we forget it
Cameron Smith sees not only Europeans and Americans maybe about 12 years old, but he has been elected as the next big Australian for several years. Now 25, he will start South African Justin Harding in two off the pace. It is all perfectly set up.
The last time the Open was in Portrush in 1951, it was an Englishman, Max Faulkner, who came through to win. Twenty-seven years after Nick Faldo stumbled across the finish line in Muirfield, this wondrous race is about to crown another and the long wait for
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#Tommy Fleetwood#Justin Rose and Lee Westwood could become first English Open champion for 27 years"
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The 10 Greatest Things That Could Happen in Golf in 2019
The end of the year is a time to look back and evaluate all that transpired in the previous 12 months, and though the internet is littered with “best of” lists, let’s be honest: a decent share of our assessments are based in regret—things that could have happened, that nearly happened, but in the end did not. Or, worse, terrible things that completely go against our greatest hopes. A year gone by is a graveyard. But the year ahead? That’s a sown field! Anything could happen, anything could grow, and it is far more fun to look forward with optimism than to look back in judgment.
So now that the calendar has flipped, let’s put an end to our sad reconciliations with 2018, and let our imaginations run wild. What follows are the 10 greatest things that could happen in golf in the coming year. Will they all transpire? Will any of them? The answer is, you can’t prove that they won’t.
1. There will be at least one incredible final round duel at a major Like it or not, golf is the most anticlimactic spectator sport, and the major finishes we got in 2018 were typical. Rory McIlroy blowing up at Augusta and brief salvos from Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler fizzing out; Brooks Koepka snuffing out the field at the U.S. Open; Spieth laying a Sunday egg and nobody rising to Francesco Molinari’s challenge at the Open; Koepka snuffing out the field at the PGA. Real drama, good drama, is a rare commodity. The last really good two-man duel we had was probably Henrik Stenson vs. Phil Mickelson, but this year, let’s hope for even more. Let’s hope for something Arnie and Jack never quite gave us, and ditto for Tiger and Phil. Let’s hope the two best players in the world, whoever they are, face off in a Sunday showdown that lives up to and exceeds the hype.
2. Bryson DeChambeau will win a major championship It’s time to face reality: Aside from Tiger Woods—who holds the title in perpetuity—Bryson DeChambeau is the most exciting person in golf right now. With Rory smack in the middle of his “pick-your-favorite-polite-synonym-for-choking” phase, and Spieth still mired in his technical woes, DeChambeau is the man who could rescue us from the Koepka doldrums. What sets him apart is that he has the game and the personality—he’s part brilliant scientist, part egotist, part snake-oil salesman, and all showman. He loves the stage, and judging by the polarizing reactions he provokes, the stage loves him back. It would be terrific for golf if he broke through at a major in 2019.
3. Tiger Woods will win a major championship Well, yeah.
4. One of the new “Big Four” will win another major A lot of major talk, I know! But majors really tend to overshadow everything else, especially in a non-Ryder Cup year, so you’ll have to deal with it. Earlier this year, I calculated that there are four young(ish) players with a faint-yet-not-entirely-unrealistic hope of reaching the vaunted 10 major mark: Koepka, Spieth, McIlroy and Justin Thomas. If you believe as I do that golf is better when familiar faces are winning majors, and better yet when at least one or two is chasing some kind of historical mark, than you should want one of these guys to take home another trophy.
5. The USGA will somehow top themselves in the “infuriate everyone” department Watching professional golfers rage against the USGA for the most petty grievances imaginable is one of my favorite annual pastimes, and Phil Mickelson’s performance-art piece on the 13th green on Saturday last June at Shinnecock Hills (Title: “The Funniest Way For a Rich Guy to Pout”) was a highlight not just of that year, but any year. It will be incredibly disappointing if the USGA doesn’t up the ante. And frankly, driving a handful of whiners to say “they’ve lost the course” in their most solemn tones isn’t good enough. I want disappearing holes, or six-foot greens, or birds that are trained to pick up errant balls and fly them back to the tee. I want Mike Davis in a jester’s cap, dancing a jig on a raised platform every time a four-foot putt runs 15 feet past. Embrace your identity, USGA!
6. The International Team will win the Presidents Cup The obvious reasoning behind this is that the Presidents Cup is a bore, it’s not going to be fun until the U.S. stops dominating. Unfortunately, that seems surpassingly unlikely since language barriers on the International side make a mockery of any “team” concept for the “rest of the world”. But I have another selfish reason I’d like to see the Americans stumble: the U.S. needs to hit rock bottom before it can start winning Ryder Cups, and in hindsight, after the Paris debacle, Gleneagles 2014 looks more and more like a false rock bottom. Everything that happened since has been band-aids on a massive festering wound, and until the wound itself is addressed (hint: it’s going to involve a ton of soul-searching and revolves around how we, as a country, conceive of team events in golf), history is just going to repeat itself. Which makes me an accelerationist, I guess, but my motive is genuine: let’s make the reality of team play unbearable until somebody has to fix the problem.
7. The U.S. will not suffer another Ryder Cup defeat I need at least one thing on this list to come true, OK. This is not cheating, this is preparing for success.
8. The new PGA Tour schedule is going to work out amazingly for everyone Seriously, I really think it will! The only real problem for the majors was that the PGA Championship lacked a bit of prestige, and from decent slogans like “glory’s last shot” to achingly desperate ones like “this is major!”, nothing really caught on. However, the PGA’s move to May is genius—nobody’s burned out on golf, you can ride those sweet Masters tailwinds, and your stock inevitably goes up … right? No other big tournament suffers for it, either, and in fact the Players benefits from getting to go first. At a time when professional sports leagues seem to be in a constant state of foot-in-mouth, it’s weirdly thrilling to see PGA Tour absolutely nail it, and I hope it’s as good in reality as it looks in conception.
9. Someone extremely cool will emerge Maybe it’s Cam Champ? I don’t know, but I’m longing for a dynamic figure to throw down the gauntlet this year. Some combination of Tiger and Miguel Angel Jimenez, but young. Someone like we momentarily thought Brooks Koepka might be, until he turned out be either boring or resentful, depending on the day. Someone like Sergio, but without the debilitating neuroses. Someone like Phil, but with an ounce of impulse control. You get the point.
10. The “ball goes too far” brigade will be slightly less tiresome Look, I’m not saying they don’t have a point. But it’s a little like complaining about how the Internet has destroyed society in 2019—you’re absolutely right, but you’re also years and years too late. Nothing’s changing now, amigos! You’re the proverbial old man yells at cloud meme! Enjoy the bombs!
Source: golfdigest.com
The post The 10 Greatest Things That Could Happen in Golf in 2019 appeared first on Hail Ridge Golf Course.
0 notes
Text
The 10 Greatest Things That Could Happen in Golf in 2019
The end of the year is a time to look back and evaluate all that transpired in the previous 12 months, and though the internet is littered with “best of” lists, let’s be honest: a decent share of our assessments are based in regret—things that could have happened, that nearly happened, but in the end did not. Or, worse, terrible things that completely go against our greatest hopes. A year gone by is a graveyard. But the year ahead? That’s a sown field! Anything could happen, anything could grow, and it is far more fun to look forward with optimism than to look back in judgment.
So now that the calendar has flipped, let’s put an end to our sad reconciliations with 2018, and let our imaginations run wild. What follows are the 10 greatest things that could happen in golf in the coming year. Will they all transpire? Will any of them? The answer is, you can’t prove that they won’t.
1. There will be at least one incredible final round duel at a major Like it or not, golf is the most anticlimactic spectator sport, and the major finishes we got in 2018 were typical. Rory McIlroy blowing up at Augusta and brief salvos from Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler fizzing out; Brooks Koepka snuffing out the field at the U.S. Open; Spieth laying a Sunday egg and nobody rising to Francesco Molinari’s challenge at the Open; Koepka snuffing out the field at the PGA. Real drama, good drama, is a rare commodity. The last really good two-man duel we had was probably Henrik Stenson vs. Phil Mickelson, but this year, let’s hope for even more. Let’s hope for something Arnie and Jack never quite gave us, and ditto for Tiger and Phil. Let’s hope the two best players in the world, whoever they are, face off in a Sunday showdown that lives up to and exceeds the hype.
2. Bryson DeChambeau will win a major championship It’s time to face reality: Aside from Tiger Woods—who holds the title in perpetuity—Bryson DeChambeau is the most exciting person in golf right now. With Rory smack in the middle of his “pick-your-favorite-polite-synonym-for-choking” phase, and Spieth still mired in his technical woes, DeChambeau is the man who could rescue us from the Koepka doldrums. What sets him apart is that he has the game and the personality—he’s part brilliant scientist, part egotist, part snake-oil salesman, and all showman. He loves the stage, and judging by the polarizing reactions he provokes, the stage loves him back. It would be terrific for golf if he broke through at a major in 2019.
3. Tiger Woods will win a major championship Well, yeah.
4. One of the new “Big Four” will win another major A lot of major talk, I know! But majors really tend to overshadow everything else, especially in a non-Ryder Cup year, so you’ll have to deal with it. Earlier this year, I calculated that there are four young(ish) players with a faint-yet-not-entirely-unrealistic hope of reaching the vaunted 10 major mark: Koepka, Spieth, McIlroy and Justin Thomas. If you believe as I do that golf is better when familiar faces are winning majors, and better yet when at least one or two is chasing some kind of historical mark, than you should want one of these guys to take home another trophy.
5. The USGA will somehow top themselves in the “infuriate everyone” department Watching professional golfers rage against the USGA for the most petty grievances imaginable is one of my favorite annual pastimes, and Phil Mickelson’s performance-art piece on the 13th green on Saturday last June at Shinnecock Hills (Title: “The Funniest Way For a Rich Guy to Pout”) was a highlight not just of that year, but any year. It will be incredibly disappointing if the USGA doesn’t up the ante. And frankly, driving a handful of whiners to say “they’ve lost the course” in their most solemn tones isn’t good enough. I want disappearing holes, or six-foot greens, or birds that are trained to pick up errant balls and fly them back to the tee. I want Mike Davis in a jester’s cap, dancing a jig on a raised platform every time a four-foot putt runs 15 feet past. Embrace your identity, USGA!
6. The International Team will win the Presidents Cup The obvious reasoning behind this is that the Presidents Cup is a bore, it’s not going to be fun until the U.S. stops dominating. Unfortunately, that seems surpassingly unlikely since language barriers on the International side make a mockery of any “team” concept for the “rest of the world”. But I have another selfish reason I’d like to see the Americans stumble: the U.S. needs to hit rock bottom before it can start winning Ryder Cups, and in hindsight, after the Paris debacle, Gleneagles 2014 looks more and more like a false rock bottom. Everything that happened since has been band-aids on a massive festering wound, and until the wound itself is addressed (hint: it’s going to involve a ton of soul-searching and revolves around how we, as a country, conceive of team events in golf), history is just going to repeat itself. Which makes me an accelerationist, I guess, but my motive is genuine: let’s make the reality of team play unbearable until somebody has to fix the problem.
7. The U.S. will not suffer another Ryder Cup defeat I need at least one thing on this list to come true, OK. This is not cheating, this is preparing for success.
8. The new PGA Tour schedule is going to work out amazingly for everyone Seriously, I really think it will! The only real problem for the majors was that the PGA Championship lacked a bit of prestige, and from decent slogans like “glory’s last shot” to achingly desperate ones like “this is major!”, nothing really caught on. However, the PGA’s move to May is genius—nobody’s burned out on golf, you can ride those sweet Masters tailwinds, and your stock inevitably goes up … right? No other big tournament suffers for it, either, and in fact the Players benefits from getting to go first. At a time when professional sports leagues seem to be in a constant state of foot-in-mouth, it’s weirdly thrilling to see PGA Tour absolutely nail it, and I hope it’s as good in reality as it looks in conception.
9. Someone extremely cool will emerge Maybe it’s Cam Champ? I don’t know, but I’m longing for a dynamic figure to throw down the gauntlet this year. Some combination of Tiger and Miguel Angel Jimenez, but young. Someone like we momentarily thought Brooks Koepka might be, until he turned out be either boring or resentful, depending on the day. Someone like Sergio, but without the debilitating neuroses. Someone like Phil, but with an ounce of impulse control. You get the point.
10. The “ball goes too far” brigade will be slightly less tiresome Look, I’m not saying they don’t have a point. But it’s a little like complaining about how the Internet has destroyed society in 2019—you’re absolutely right, but you’re also years and years too late. Nothing’s changing now, amigos! You’re the proverbial old man yells at cloud meme! Enjoy the bombs!
Source: golfdigest.com
The post The 10 Greatest Things That Could Happen in Golf in 2019 appeared first on Fox Prairie Golf Course & Forest Park Golf Course.
0 notes
Text
The 10 Greatest Things That Could Happen in Golf in 2019
The end of the year is a time to look back and evaluate all that transpired in the previous 12 months, and though the internet is littered with “best of” lists, let’s be honest: a decent share of our assessments are based in regret—things that could have happened, that nearly happened, but in the end did not. Or, worse, terrible things that completely go against our greatest hopes. A year gone by is a graveyard. But the year ahead? That’s a sown field! Anything could happen, anything could grow, and it is far more fun to look forward with optimism than to look back in judgment.
So now that the calendar has flipped, let’s put an end to our sad reconciliations with 2018, and let our imaginations run wild. What follows are the 10 greatest things that could happen in golf in the coming year. Will they all transpire? Will any of them? The answer is, you can’t prove that they won’t.
1. There will be at least one incredible final round duel at a major Like it or not, golf is the most anticlimactic spectator sport, and the major finishes we got in 2018 were typical. Rory McIlroy blowing up at Augusta and brief salvos from Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler fizzing out; Brooks Koepka snuffing out the field at the U.S. Open; Spieth laying a Sunday egg and nobody rising to Francesco Molinari’s challenge at the Open; Koepka snuffing out the field at the PGA. Real drama, good drama, is a rare commodity. The last really good two-man duel we had was probably Henrik Stenson vs. Phil Mickelson, but this year, let’s hope for even more. Let’s hope for something Arnie and Jack never quite gave us, and ditto for Tiger and Phil. Let’s hope the two best players in the world, whoever they are, face off in a Sunday showdown that lives up to and exceeds the hype.
2. Bryson DeChambeau will win a major championship It’s time to face reality: Aside from Tiger Woods—who holds the title in perpetuity—Bryson DeChambeau is the most exciting person in golf right now. With Rory smack in the middle of his “pick-your-favorite-polite-synonym-for-choking” phase, and Spieth still mired in his technical woes, DeChambeau is the man who could rescue us from the Koepka doldrums. What sets him apart is that he has the game and the personality—he’s part brilliant scientist, part egotist, part snake-oil salesman, and all showman. He loves the stage, and judging by the polarizing reactions he provokes, the stage loves him back. It would be terrific for golf if he broke through at a major in 2019.
3. Tiger Woods will win a major championship Well, yeah.
4. One of the new “Big Four” will win another major A lot of major talk, I know! But majors really tend to overshadow everything else, especially in a non-Ryder Cup year, so you’ll have to deal with it. Earlier this year, I calculated that there are four young(ish) players with a faint-yet-not-entirely-unrealistic hope of reaching the vaunted 10 major mark: Koepka, Spieth, McIlroy and Justin Thomas. If you believe as I do that golf is better when familiar faces are winning majors, and better yet when at least one or two is chasing some kind of historical mark, than you should want one of these guys to take home another trophy.
5. The USGA will somehow top themselves in the “infuriate everyone” department Watching professional golfers rage against the USGA for the most petty grievances imaginable is one of my favorite annual pastimes, and Phil Mickelson’s performance-art piece on the 13th green on Saturday last June at Shinnecock Hills (Title: “The Funniest Way For a Rich Guy to Pout”) was a highlight not just of that year, but any year. It will be incredibly disappointing if the USGA doesn’t up the ante. And frankly, driving a handful of whiners to say “they’ve lost the course” in their most solemn tones isn’t good enough. I want disappearing holes, or six-foot greens, or birds that are trained to pick up errant balls and fly them back to the tee. I want Mike Davis in a jester’s cap, dancing a jig on a raised platform every time a four-foot putt runs 15 feet past. Embrace your identity, USGA!
6. The International Team will win the Presidents Cup The obvious reasoning behind this is that the Presidents Cup is a bore, it’s not going to be fun until the U.S. stops dominating. Unfortunately, that seems surpassingly unlikely since language barriers on the International side make a mockery of any “team” concept for the “rest of the world”. But I have another selfish reason I’d like to see the Americans stumble: the U.S. needs to hit rock bottom before it can start winning Ryder Cups, and in hindsight, after the Paris debacle, Gleneagles 2014 looks more and more like a false rock bottom. Everything that happened since has been band-aids on a massive festering wound, and until the wound itself is addressed (hint: it’s going to involve a ton of soul-searching and revolves around how we, as a country, conceive of team events in golf), history is just going to repeat itself. Which makes me an accelerationist, I guess, but my motive is genuine: let’s make the reality of team play unbearable until somebody has to fix the problem.
7. The U.S. will not suffer another Ryder Cup defeat I need at least one thing on this list to come true, OK. This is not cheating, this is preparing for success.
8. The new PGA Tour schedule is going to work out amazingly for everyone Seriously, I really think it will! The only real problem for the majors was that the PGA Championship lacked a bit of prestige, and from decent slogans like “glory’s last shot” to achingly desperate ones like “this is major!”, nothing really caught on. However, the PGA’s move to May is genius—nobody’s burned out on golf, you can ride those sweet Masters tailwinds, and your stock inevitably goes up … right? No other big tournament suffers for it, either, and in fact the Players benefits from getting to go first. At a time when professional sports leagues seem to be in a constant state of foot-in-mouth, it’s weirdly thrilling to see PGA Tour absolutely nail it, and I hope it’s as good in reality as it looks in conception.
9. Someone extremely cool will emerge Maybe it’s Cam Champ? I don’t know, but I’m longing for a dynamic figure to throw down the gauntlet this year. Some combination of Tiger and Miguel Angel Jimenez, but young. Someone like we momentarily thought Brooks Koepka might be, until he turned out be either boring or resentful, depending on the day. Someone like Sergio, but without the debilitating neuroses. Someone like Phil, but with an ounce of impulse control. You get the point.
10. The “ball goes too far” brigade will be slightly less tiresome Look, I’m not saying they don’t have a point. But it’s a little like complaining about how the Internet has destroyed society in 2019—you’re absolutely right, but you’re also years and years too late. Nothing’s changing now, amigos! You’re the proverbial old man yells at cloud meme! Enjoy the bombs!
Source: golfdigest.com
The post The 10 Greatest Things That Could Happen in Golf in 2019 appeared first on Culbertson Hills.
0 notes
Text
The 10 Greatest Things That Could Happen in Golf in 2019
The end of the year is a time to look back and evaluate all that transpired in the previous 12 months, and though the internet is littered with “best of” lists, let’s be honest: a decent share of our assessments are based in regret—things that could have happened, that nearly happened, but in the end did not. Or, worse, terrible things that completely go against our greatest hopes. A year gone by is a graveyard. But the year ahead? That’s a sown field! Anything could happen, anything could grow, and it is far more fun to look forward with optimism than to look back in judgment.
So now that the calendar has flipped, let’s put an end to our sad reconciliations with 2018, and let our imaginations run wild. What follows are the 10 greatest things that could happen in golf in the coming year. Will they all transpire? Will any of them? The answer is, you can’t prove that they won’t.
1. There will be at least one incredible final round duel at a major Like it or not, golf is the most anticlimactic spectator sport, and the major finishes we got in 2018 were typical. Rory McIlroy blowing up at Augusta and brief salvos from Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler fizzing out; Brooks Koepka snuffing out the field at the U.S. Open; Spieth laying a Sunday egg and nobody rising to Francesco Molinari’s challenge at the Open; Koepka snuffing out the field at the PGA. Real drama, good drama, is a rare commodity. The last really good two-man duel we had was probably Henrik Stenson vs. Phil Mickelson, but this year, let’s hope for even more. Let’s hope for something Arnie and Jack never quite gave us, and ditto for Tiger and Phil. Let’s hope the two best players in the world, whoever they are, face off in a Sunday showdown that lives up to and exceeds the hype.
2. Bryson DeChambeau will win a major championship It’s time to face reality: Aside from Tiger Woods—who holds the title in perpetuity—Bryson DeChambeau is the most exciting person in golf right now. With Rory smack in the middle of his “pick-your-favorite-polite-synonym-for-choking” phase, and Spieth still mired in his technical woes, DeChambeau is the man who could rescue us from the Koepka doldrums. What sets him apart is that he has the game and the personality—he’s part brilliant scientist, part egotist, part snake-oil salesman, and all showman. He loves the stage, and judging by the polarizing reactions he provokes, the stage loves him back. It would be terrific for golf if he broke through at a major in 2019.
3. Tiger Woods will win a major championship Well, yeah.
4. One of the new “Big Four” will win another major A lot of major talk, I know! But majors really tend to overshadow everything else, especially in a non-Ryder Cup year, so you’ll have to deal with it. Earlier this year, I calculated that there are four young(ish) players with a faint-yet-not-entirely-unrealistic hope of reaching the vaunted 10 major mark: Koepka, Spieth, McIlroy and Justin Thomas. If you believe as I do that golf is better when familiar faces are winning majors, and better yet when at least one or two is chasing some kind of historical mark, than you should want one of these guys to take home another trophy.
5. The USGA will somehow top themselves in the “infuriate everyone” department Watching professional golfers rage against the USGA for the most petty grievances imaginable is one of my favorite annual pastimes, and Phil Mickelson’s performance-art piece on the 13th green on Saturday last June at Shinnecock Hills (Title: “The Funniest Way For a Rich Guy to Pout”) was a highlight not just of that year, but any year. It will be incredibly disappointing if the USGA doesn’t up the ante. And frankly, driving a handful of whiners to say “they’ve lost the course” in their most solemn tones isn’t good enough. I want disappearing holes, or six-foot greens, or birds that are trained to pick up errant balls and fly them back to the tee. I want Mike Davis in a jester’s cap, dancing a jig on a raised platform every time a four-foot putt runs 15 feet past. Embrace your identity, USGA!
6. The International Team will win the Presidents Cup The obvious reasoning behind this is that the Presidents Cup is a bore, it’s not going to be fun until the U.S. stops dominating. Unfortunately, that seems surpassingly unlikely since language barriers on the International side make a mockery of any “team” concept for the “rest of the world”. But I have another selfish reason I’d like to see the Americans stumble: the U.S. needs to hit rock bottom before it can start winning Ryder Cups, and in hindsight, after the Paris debacle, Gleneagles 2014 looks more and more like a false rock bottom. Everything that happened since has been band-aids on a massive festering wound, and until the wound itself is addressed (hint: it’s going to involve a ton of soul-searching and revolves around how we, as a country, conceive of team events in golf), history is just going to repeat itself. Which makes me an accelerationist, I guess, but my motive is genuine: let’s make the reality of team play unbearable until somebody has to fix the problem.
7. The U.S. will not suffer another Ryder Cup defeat I need at least one thing on this list to come true, OK. This is not cheating, this is preparing for success.
8. The new PGA Tour schedule is going to work out amazingly for everyone Seriously, I really think it will! The only real problem for the majors was that the PGA Championship lacked a bit of prestige, and from decent slogans like “glory’s last shot” to achingly desperate ones like “this is major!”, nothing really caught on. However, the PGA’s move to May is genius—nobody’s burned out on golf, you can ride those sweet Masters tailwinds, and your stock inevitably goes up … right? No other big tournament suffers for it, either, and in fact the Players benefits from getting to go first. At a time when professional sports leagues seem to be in a constant state of foot-in-mouth, it’s weirdly thrilling to see PGA Tour absolutely nail it, and I hope it’s as good in reality as it looks in conception.
9. Someone extremely cool will emerge Maybe it’s Cam Champ? I don’t know, but I’m longing for a dynamic figure to throw down the gauntlet this year. Some combination of Tiger and Miguel Angel Jimenez, but young. Someone like we momentarily thought Brooks Koepka might be, until he turned out be either boring or resentful, depending on the day. Someone like Sergio, but without the debilitating neuroses. Someone like Phil, but with an ounce of impulse control. You get the point.
10. The “ball goes too far” brigade will be slightly less tiresome Look, I’m not saying they don’t have a point. But it’s a little like complaining about how the Internet has destroyed society in 2019—you’re absolutely right, but you’re also years and years too late. Nothing’s changing now, amigos! You’re the proverbial old man yells at cloud meme! Enjoy the bombs!
Source: golfdigest.com
The post The 10 Greatest Things That Could Happen in Golf in 2019 appeared first on Sherwood Forest.
0 notes
Text
The 10 Greatest Things That Could Happen in Golf in 2019
The end of the year is a time to look back and evaluate all that transpired in the previous 12 months, and though the internet is littered with “best of” lists, let’s be honest: a decent share of our assessments are based in regret—things that could have happened, that nearly happened, but in the end did not. Or, worse, terrible things that completely go against our greatest hopes. A year gone by is a graveyard. But the year ahead? That’s a sown field! Anything could happen, anything could grow, and it is far more fun to look forward with optimism than to look back in judgment.
So now that the calendar has flipped, let’s put an end to our sad reconciliations with 2018, and let our imaginations run wild. What follows are the 10 greatest things that could happen in golf in the coming year. Will they all transpire? Will any of them? The answer is, you can’t prove that they won’t.
1. There will be at least one incredible final round duel at a major Like it or not, golf is the most anticlimactic spectator sport, and the major finishes we got in 2018 were typical. Rory McIlroy blowing up at Augusta and brief salvos from Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler fizzing out; Brooks Koepka snuffing out the field at the U.S. Open; Spieth laying a Sunday egg and nobody rising to Francesco Molinari’s challenge at the Open; Koepka snuffing out the field at the PGA. Real drama, good drama, is a rare commodity. The last really good two-man duel we had was probably Henrik Stenson vs. Phil Mickelson, but this year, let’s hope for even more. Let’s hope for something Arnie and Jack never quite gave us, and ditto for Tiger and Phil. Let’s hope the two best players in the world, whoever they are, face off in a Sunday showdown that lives up to and exceeds the hype.
2. Bryson DeChambeau will win a major championship It’s time to face reality: Aside from Tiger Woods—who holds the title in perpetuity—Bryson DeChambeau is the most exciting person in golf right now. With Rory smack in the middle of his “pick-your-favorite-polite-synonym-for-choking” phase, and Spieth still mired in his technical woes, DeChambeau is the man who could rescue us from the Koepka doldrums. What sets him apart is that he has the game and the personality—he’s part brilliant scientist, part egotist, part snake-oil salesman, and all showman. He loves the stage, and judging by the polarizing reactions he provokes, the stage loves him back. It would be terrific for golf if he broke through at a major in 2019.
3. Tiger Woods will win a major championship Well, yeah.
4. One of the new “Big Four” will win another major A lot of major talk, I know! But majors really tend to overshadow everything else, especially in a non-Ryder Cup year, so you’ll have to deal with it. Earlier this year, I calculated that there are four young(ish) players with a faint-yet-not-entirely-unrealistic hope of reaching the vaunted 10 major mark: Koepka, Spieth, McIlroy and Justin Thomas. If you believe as I do that golf is better when familiar faces are winning majors, and better yet when at least one or two is chasing some kind of historical mark, than you should want one of these guys to take home another trophy.
5. The USGA will somehow top themselves in the “infuriate everyone” department Watching professional golfers rage against the USGA for the most petty grievances imaginable is one of my favorite annual pastimes, and Phil Mickelson’s performance-art piece on the 13th green on Saturday last June at Shinnecock Hills (Title: “The Funniest Way For a Rich Guy to Pout”) was a highlight not just of that year, but any year. It will be incredibly disappointing if the USGA doesn’t up the ante. And frankly, driving a handful of whiners to say “they’ve lost the course” in their most solemn tones isn’t good enough. I want disappearing holes, or six-foot greens, or birds that are trained to pick up errant balls and fly them back to the tee. I want Mike Davis in a jester’s cap, dancing a jig on a raised platform every time a four-foot putt runs 15 feet past. Embrace your identity, USGA!
6. The International Team will win the Presidents Cup The obvious reasoning behind this is that the Presidents Cup is a bore, it’s not going to be fun until the U.S. stops dominating. Unfortunately, that seems surpassingly unlikely since language barriers on the International side make a mockery of any “team” concept for the “rest of the world”. But I have another selfish reason I’d like to see the Americans stumble: the U.S. needs to hit rock bottom before it can start winning Ryder Cups, and in hindsight, after the Paris debacle, Gleneagles 2014 looks more and more like a false rock bottom. Everything that happened since has been band-aids on a massive festering wound, and until the wound itself is addressed (hint: it’s going to involve a ton of soul-searching and revolves around how we, as a country, conceive of team events in golf), history is just going to repeat itself. Which makes me an accelerationist, I guess, but my motive is genuine: let’s make the reality of team play unbearable until somebody has to fix the problem.
7. The U.S. will not suffer another Ryder Cup defeat I need at least one thing on this list to come true, OK. This is not cheating, this is preparing for success.
8. The new PGA Tour schedule is going to work out amazingly for everyone Seriously, I really think it will! The only real problem for the majors was that the PGA Championship lacked a bit of prestige, and from decent slogans like “glory’s last shot” to achingly desperate ones like “this is major!”, nothing really caught on. However, the PGA’s move to May is genius—nobody’s burned out on golf, you can ride those sweet Masters tailwinds, and your stock inevitably goes up … right? No other big tournament suffers for it, either, and in fact the Players benefits from getting to go first. At a time when professional sports leagues seem to be in a constant state of foot-in-mouth, it’s weirdly thrilling to see PGA Tour absolutely nail it, and I hope it’s as good in reality as it looks in conception.
9. Someone extremely cool will emerge Maybe it’s Cam Champ? I don’t know, but I’m longing for a dynamic figure to throw down the gauntlet this year. Some combination of Tiger and Miguel Angel Jimenez, but young. Someone like we momentarily thought Brooks Koepka might be, until he turned out be either boring or resentful, depending on the day. Someone like Sergio, but without the debilitating neuroses. Someone like Phil, but with an ounce of impulse control. You get the point.
10. The “ball goes too far” brigade will be slightly less tiresome Look, I’m not saying they don’t have a point. But it’s a little like complaining about how the Internet has destroyed society in 2019—you’re absolutely right, but you’re also years and years too late. Nothing’s changing now, amigos! You’re the proverbial old man yells at cloud meme! Enjoy the bombs!
Source: golfdigest.com
The post The 10 Greatest Things That Could Happen in Golf in 2019 appeared first on Melody Hill.
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The 10 Greatest Things That Could Happen in Golf in 2019
The end of the year is a time to look back and evaluate all that transpired in the previous 12 months, and though the internet is littered with “best of” lists, let’s be honest: a decent share of our assessments are based in regret—things that could have happened, that nearly happened, but in the end did not. Or, worse, terrible things that completely go against our greatest hopes. A year gone by is a graveyard. But the year ahead? That’s a sown field! Anything could happen, anything could grow, and it is far more fun to look forward with optimism than to look back in judgment.
So now that the calendar has flipped, let’s put an end to our sad reconciliations with 2018, and let our imaginations run wild. What follows are the 10 greatest things that could happen in golf in the coming year. Will they all transpire? Will any of them? The answer is, you can’t prove that they won’t.
1. There will be at least one incredible final round duel at a major Like it or not, golf is the most anticlimactic spectator sport, and the major finishes we got in 2018 were typical. Rory McIlroy blowing up at Augusta and brief salvos from Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler fizzing out; Brooks Koepka snuffing out the field at the U.S. Open; Spieth laying a Sunday egg and nobody rising to Francesco Molinari’s challenge at the Open; Koepka snuffing out the field at the PGA. Real drama, good drama, is a rare commodity. The last really good two-man duel we had was probably Henrik Stenson vs. Phil Mickelson, but this year, let’s hope for even more. Let’s hope for something Arnie and Jack never quite gave us, and ditto for Tiger and Phil. Let’s hope the two best players in the world, whoever they are, face off in a Sunday showdown that lives up to and exceeds the hype.
2. Bryson DeChambeau will win a major championship It’s time to face reality: Aside from Tiger Woods—who holds the title in perpetuity—Bryson DeChambeau is the most exciting person in golf right now. With Rory smack in the middle of his “pick-your-favorite-polite-synonym-for-choking” phase, and Spieth still mired in his technical woes, DeChambeau is the man who could rescue us from the Koepka doldrums. What sets him apart is that he has the game and the personality—he’s part brilliant scientist, part egotist, part snake-oil salesman, and all showman. He loves the stage, and judging by the polarizing reactions he provokes, the stage loves him back. It would be terrific for golf if he broke through at a major in 2019.
3. Tiger Woods will win a major championship Well, yeah.
4. One of the new “Big Four” will win another major A lot of major talk, I know! But majors really tend to overshadow everything else, especially in a non-Ryder Cup year, so you’ll have to deal with it. Earlier this year, I calculated that there are four young(ish) players with a faint-yet-not-entirely-unrealistic hope of reaching the vaunted 10 major mark: Koepka, Spieth, McIlroy and Justin Thomas. If you believe as I do that golf is better when familiar faces are winning majors, and better yet when at least one or two is chasing some kind of historical mark, than you should want one of these guys to take home another trophy.
5. The USGA will somehow top themselves in the “infuriate everyone” department Watching professional golfers rage against the USGA for the most petty grievances imaginable is one of my favorite annual pastimes, and Phil Mickelson’s performance-art piece on the 13th green on Saturday last June at Shinnecock Hills (Title: “The Funniest Way For a Rich Guy to Pout”) was a highlight not just of that year, but any year. It will be incredibly disappointing if the USGA doesn’t up the ante. And frankly, driving a handful of whiners to say “they’ve lost the course” in their most solemn tones isn’t good enough. I want disappearing holes, or six-foot greens, or birds that are trained to pick up errant balls and fly them back to the tee. I want Mike Davis in a jester’s cap, dancing a jig on a raised platform every time a four-foot putt runs 15 feet past. Embrace your identity, USGA!
6. The International Team will win the Presidents Cup The obvious reasoning behind this is that the Presidents Cup is a bore, it’s not going to be fun until the U.S. stops dominating. Unfortunately, that seems surpassingly unlikely since language barriers on the International side make a mockery of any “team” concept for the “rest of the world”. But I have another selfish reason I’d like to see the Americans stumble: the U.S. needs to hit rock bottom before it can start winning Ryder Cups, and in hindsight, after the Paris debacle, Gleneagles 2014 looks more and more like a false rock bottom. Everything that happened since has been band-aids on a massive festering wound, and until the wound itself is addressed (hint: it’s going to involve a ton of soul-searching and revolves around how we, as a country, conceive of team events in golf), history is just going to repeat itself. Which makes me an accelerationist, I guess, but my motive is genuine: let’s make the reality of team play unbearable until somebody has to fix the problem.
7. The U.S. will not suffer another Ryder Cup defeat I need at least one thing on this list to come true, OK. This is not cheating, this is preparing for success.
8. The new PGA Tour schedule is going to work out amazingly for everyone Seriously, I really think it will! The only real problem for the majors was that the PGA Championship lacked a bit of prestige, and from decent slogans like “glory’s last shot” to achingly desperate ones like “this is major!”, nothing really caught on. However, the PGA’s move to May is genius—nobody’s burned out on golf, you can ride those sweet Masters tailwinds, and your stock inevitably goes up … right? No other big tournament suffers for it, either, and in fact the Players benefits from getting to go first. At a time when professional sports leagues seem to be in a constant state of foot-in-mouth, it’s weirdly thrilling to see PGA Tour absolutely nail it, and I hope it’s as good in reality as it looks in conception.
9. Someone extremely cool will emerge Maybe it’s Cam Champ? I don’t know, but I’m longing for a dynamic figure to throw down the gauntlet this year. Some combination of Tiger and Miguel Angel Jimenez, but young. Someone like we momentarily thought Brooks Koepka might be, until he turned out be either boring or resentful, depending on the day. Someone like Sergio, but without the debilitating neuroses. Someone like Phil, but with an ounce of impulse control. You get the point.
10. The “ball goes too far” brigade will be slightly less tiresome Look, I’m not saying they don’t have a point. But it’s a little like complaining about how the Internet has destroyed society in 2019—you’re absolutely right, but you’re also years and years too late. Nothing’s changing now, amigos! You’re the proverbial old man yells at cloud meme! Enjoy the bombs!
Source: golfdigest.com
The post The 10 Greatest Things That Could Happen in Golf in 2019 appeared first on Dudley Hill.
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4 reasons why the Genesis Open should be the best PGA Tour event in years
Tiger Woods makes his first visit in 12 years to the historic Los Angeles PGA Tour event. But there’s much more to go all in on at Riviera this week.
The 2018 Masters is still 50 days away but that’s just fine because the first major championship of the men’s season begins this week.
We’re having a bit of cheeky fun, but the Genesis Open in Los Angeles is set up to be one of the most exciting PGA Tour events in years. From a hype standpoint, it has to the best on the “regular season” schedule this year. The shots still need to be hit and the stars still need to align — it could turn into a runaway bore with some name the wider sports world has never heard of winning. That happens in golf. We’re not arguing this has the stakes or importance or intensity of a major. But sitting here at the start of the week, it’s hard not to be fired up for this tournament in a way that almost approximates that of a major week.
The PGA Tour doesn’t actually run any of those major championships (if you’re a close, or even semi-close follower of golf, you know this). This is not an intuitive thing a casual sports fan would really think about often. But the majors, the events that rate the highest and are the most coveted, are actually run by four different ruling bodies. They reap all the benefits of owning and operating them, while the Tour labors week to week on events that might not get as much run (but still make plenty of cash).
Tthe PGA Tour gets its fair share of loaded weeks between The Players, the WGCs, and the FedExCup Playoffs. But after that, it can be hit-or-miss on a schedule with 49 (sure seems like a lot!) official events. You’ve got tourneys that succeed because of the market. You’ve got some that succeed because of the course. Others elbow out their competitors because of the date they fall on the calendar.
But rarely does it come together so beautifully like it has this week. Mike Antolini, the tournament director this week, knows they’ve struck gold. “When you have Riviera, you have the west coast swing, and you have the history, and you have LA and you have California in February, the stars really align.” Antolini is the VP of Championships for Tiger Woods’ foundation and his TGR Live events business, which runs and operates multiple tournaments both on and off the PGA Tour. Some of those tourneys may have to hustle and grind for a field or a venue. This is not one of those tourneys but even by Riv standards, 2018 is exceptional.
Photo by Paul Mounce/Corbis via Getty Images
The first tee at Riv, with the fans crowding on every balcony and terrace around the elevated box, is as good as it gets.
I am here being my usual cynical self wanting to find a weakness or a reason to be critical!. The stakes are lower and the majors are still off in the distance. But I also think in a way that’s what amplifies the hype — it’s mid February, the Masters is 50 days away, and the anticipation for a golf event just should not be this high. It’s come together this week, however, and here are a few reasons why.
1. Tiger
For almost two decades now, the easiest way to categorize PGA Tour events is by the very manichean designation of a “Tiger tourney” and “non-Tiger tourney.” The ones Tiger patronized were immediately elevated in stature. The fields became stronger. The cash flowed. The ratings soared. And Tiger often won.
Tiger’s schedule became mostly predictable and it created two classes over the years. You knew he’d be at Torrey Pines, Doral, Bay Hill, Memorial, Firestone etc. You knew where he wouldn’t be, too.
Riviera became one of those spots that was cast aside. Tiger has not played here since 2006. That hiatus hurt — this is arguably the best course on the schedule and it’s his “hometown event,” the place where he made his first PGA Tour start as a teen in 1992. Antolini said getting back here and serving as host “means a lot in his career legacy.”
A 16-year-old Tiger making his PGA Tour debut at Riviera in 1992.
Whether it was the date, an underwhelming track record, or a course layout and conditioning that Tiger just got uncomfortable with over the years, the Riv got dropped. But now Tiger is back after more than a decade away. His presence also deepens the field around him. Dustin Johnson, the world No. 1 and defending champ, described as only he can, how Tiger “definitely brings an aura to an event that makes it a little more special.”
Tiger is not just back at Riv, he’s back on Tour after another yearlong injury layoff. He’s made just one start so far and it resulted in a made cut and top 25 finish. The event this week could be at dirt patch against the weakest field of the year and the circumstances of this being just his second PGA Tour start in the comeback would turn the hype all the way up. But it’s not at a dirt patch, it’s at ...
2. Riviera
I am not a golf architecture expert and I certainly won’t try to fake it here. I leave that to Fried Egg Andy, Geoff Shackelford, and several other voices that are really impacting and hopefully molding the game in a positive way we may not fully appreciate right now.
But what I do know is that Riviera is a fun ass golf course. It’s fun to play if you suck. It’s fun to play if you’re good. And it’s fun to watch the absolute best take it on.
“We’re in a very fortunate position when we look at the field,” Antolini said. “Riviera is such a beloved course with the world’s best players. I mean, they love it.”
The interesting holes come one after another from a viewing perspective. There’s the coolest opening tee box view on Tour. There’s a beast of a redan par-3. There’s a donut green with a bunker in the middle of it.
Photo by Chris Condon/PGA TOUR
Rory McIlroy hits out sideways from the famous bunker in the middle of the 6th green.
There’s a short drivable par-4 with a crazy green the size of a fingernail. It’s arguably one of the four or five best par-4s in the world. There’s an awesome 18th hole amphitheater as the course marches out of a canyon and back up to the clubhouse perched above it all. The crowd there gets wild.
Even if you know nothing about architecture, you can still see the intrigue and excitement in these holes.
On the PGA Tour, we rarely get to see golden age designs with bones like this George Thomas classic. It’s got the history that most of other regular PGA Tour stops wish they had. It’s hosted majors and NCAA championships and the most prestigious amateur titles. It’s as good as it gets on the PGA Tour schedule.
3. Los Angeles
Los Angeles should be one of the most important markets in professional golf. But we just don’t come here often enough. There’s this annual stop early in the first quarter of the season, when the rest of the country is frozen, and that’s it. The two US rotating major championships have skipped out on LA, too. Riviera hosted the 1948 U.S. Open and the 1983 and 1995 PGA Championships. That’s it. The drought will come to an end in 2023, when Los Angeles Country Club opens its gates for what should be a delectable U.S. Open.
With this being the one chance LA has for men’s pro golf, every year the gallery has a little extra juice. “Outside the ropes, a lot of celebrities come and watch,” said Antolini. This week, the event overlaps with NBA All-Star weekend. It’s not going to compete with that, but it certainly adds to the circus in a town that’s already a circus. Expect to see a few of those famous NBA faces join the crowds at Riv.
This may be superfluous stuff that the golf diehards don’t care about, but anything that can add to the entertainment value and hype is a welcome addition for one week a year. It’s LA. Tiger is in town. And so are the most famous pro athletes in the country. Whatever the PGA Tour can draft off of to make this more of a show is good.
4. The Field
The field is always the ultimate draw for an event. We can talk about markets and architecture and history, but it’s the field that matters most. This is about as good a field as you could ask for in a non-major or non-WGC event. It’s got everything — the young stars, veterans, the top Americans, a distinctly beefed-up Euro and international crowd. Some names just so the point is driven home:
Tiger
Phil Mickelson
Dustin Johnson
Jordan Spieth
Rory McIlroy
Justin Thomas
Antolini hailed the LA destination as a draw for International and Euro stars to use as a starting point for stateside play and perhaps a drive toward a PGA Tour card. A crop of elite Euros that you may come to hate at the Ryder Cup in September are here:
Tommy Fleetwood
Thomas Pieters
Rafa Cabrea-Bello
Alex Noren
Martin Kaymer
This is still a small sampling of how loaded it is. Adam Scott is beginning his PGA Tour season here. Haotong Li, the first real phenom from China and one of the most important players in the game, was given an exemption just a day after he beat Rory to win in Dubai. There are up-and-coming Americans like Patrick Cantlay and reigning rookie of the year Xander Schauffele, Daniel Berger, Kevin Kisner, Matt Kuchar, and on and on.
There are the headliners for casual fans and people who usually don’t care about golf. There are the hipster talents that the diehards crave. There is something for everyone. US Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk got an exemption and will start his year here, and it’s conceivable that 10 (or if you want to get crazy, maybe even 11) of his team members are in the field this week.
I am not some grizzled veteran golf writer, but I have been doing this for several years and it takes a lot to get me this hyped for a regular PGA Tour stop. It can go sideways and we may get little-to-no drama on the actual course. But starting out the week, we have the perfect confluence of venue, field, and Tiger that should make this Genesis Open one of the best PGA Tour events in years.
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The 10 Greatest Things That Could Happen in Golf in 2019
The end of the year is a time to look back and evaluate all that transpired in the previous 12 months, and though the internet is littered with “best of” lists, let’s be honest: a decent share of our assessments are based in regret—things that could have happened, that nearly happened, but in the end did not. Or, worse, terrible things that completely go against our greatest hopes. A year gone by is a graveyard. But the year ahead? That’s a sown field! Anything could happen, anything could grow, and it is far more fun to look forward with optimism than to look back in judgment.
So now that the calendar has flipped, let’s put an end to our sad reconciliations with 2018, and let our imaginations run wild. What follows are the 10 greatest things that could happen in golf in the coming year. Will they all transpire? Will any of them? The answer is, you can’t prove that they won’t.
1. There will be at least one incredible final round duel at a major Like it or not, golf is the most anticlimactic spectator sport, and the major finishes we got in 2018 were typical. Rory McIlroy blowing up at Augusta and brief salvos from Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler fizzing out; Brooks Koepka snuffing out the field at the U.S. Open; Spieth laying a Sunday egg and nobody rising to Francesco Molinari’s challenge at the Open; Koepka snuffing out the field at the PGA. Real drama, good drama, is a rare commodity. The last really good two-man duel we had was probably Henrik Stenson vs. Phil Mickelson, but this year, let’s hope for even more. Let’s hope for something Arnie and Jack never quite gave us, and ditto for Tiger and Phil. Let’s hope the two best players in the world, whoever they are, face off in a Sunday showdown that lives up to and exceeds the hype.
2. Bryson DeChambeau will win a major championship It’s time to face reality: Aside from Tiger Woods—who holds the title in perpetuity—Bryson DeChambeau is the most exciting person in golf right now. With Rory smack in the middle of his “pick-your-favorite-polite-synonym-for-choking” phase, and Spieth still mired in his technical woes, DeChambeau is the man who could rescue us from the Koepka doldrums. What sets him apart is that he has the game and the personality—he’s part brilliant scientist, part egotist, part snake-oil salesman, and all showman. He loves the stage, and judging by the polarizing reactions he provokes, the stage loves him back. It would be terrific for golf if he broke through at a major in 2019.
3. Tiger Woods will win a major championship Well, yeah.
4. One of the new “Big Four” will win another major A lot of major talk, I know! But majors really tend to overshadow everything else, especially in a non-Ryder Cup year, so you’ll have to deal with it. Earlier this year, I calculated that there are four young(ish) players with a faint-yet-not-entirely-unrealistic hope of reaching the vaunted 10 major mark: Koepka, Spieth, McIlroy and Justin Thomas. If you believe as I do that golf is better when familiar faces are winning majors, and better yet when at least one or two is chasing some kind of historical mark, than you should want one of these guys to take home another trophy.
5. The USGA will somehow top themselves in the “infuriate everyone” department Watching professional golfers rage against the USGA for the most petty grievances imaginable is one of my favorite annual pastimes, and Phil Mickelson’s performance-art piece on the 13th green on Saturday last June at Shinnecock Hills (Title: “The Funniest Way For a Rich Guy to Pout”) was a highlight not just of that year, but any year. It will be incredibly disappointing if the USGA doesn’t up the ante. And frankly, driving a handful of whiners to say “they’ve lost the course” in their most solemn tones isn’t good enough. I want disappearing holes, or six-foot greens, or birds that are trained to pick up errant balls and fly them back to the tee. I want Mike Davis in a jester’s cap, dancing a jig on a raised platform every time a four-foot putt runs 15 feet past. Embrace your identity, USGA!
6. The International Team will win the Presidents Cup The obvious reasoning behind this is that the Presidents Cup is a bore, it’s not going to be fun until the U.S. stops dominating. Unfortunately, that seems surpassingly unlikely since language barriers on the International side make a mockery of any “team” concept for the “rest of the world”. But I have another selfish reason I’d like to see the Americans stumble: the U.S. needs to hit rock bottom before it can start winning Ryder Cups, and in hindsight, after the Paris debacle, Gleneagles 2014 looks more and more like a false rock bottom. Everything that happened since has been band-aids on a massive festering wound, and until the wound itself is addressed (hint: it’s going to involve a ton of soul-searching and revolves around how we, as a country, conceive of team events in golf), history is just going to repeat itself. Which makes me an accelerationist, I guess, but my motive is genuine: let’s make the reality of team play unbearable until somebody has to fix the problem.
7. The U.S. will not suffer another Ryder Cup defeat I need at least one thing on this list to come true, OK. This is not cheating, this is preparing for success.
8. The new PGA Tour schedule is going to work out amazingly for everyone Seriously, I really think it will! The only real problem for the majors was that the PGA Championship lacked a bit of prestige, and from decent slogans like “glory’s last shot” to achingly desperate ones like “this is major!”, nothing really caught on. However, the PGA’s move to May is genius—nobody’s burned out on golf, you can ride those sweet Masters tailwinds, and your stock inevitably goes up … right? No other big tournament suffers for it, either, and in fact the Players benefits from getting to go first. At a time when professional sports leagues seem to be in a constant state of foot-in-mouth, it’s weirdly thrilling to see PGA Tour absolutely nail it, and I hope it’s as good in reality as it looks in conception.
9. Someone extremely cool will emerge Maybe it’s Cam Champ? I don’t know, but I’m longing for a dynamic figure to throw down the gauntlet this year. Some combination of Tiger and Miguel Angel Jimenez, but young. Someone like we momentarily thought Brooks Koepka might be, until he turned out be either boring or resentful, depending on the day. Someone like Sergio, but without the debilitating neuroses. Someone like Phil, but with an ounce of impulse control. You get the point.
10. The “ball goes too far” brigade will be slightly less tiresome Look, I’m not saying they don’t have a point. But it’s a little like complaining about how the Internet has destroyed society in 2019—you’re absolutely right, but you’re also years and years too late. Nothing’s changing now, amigos! You’re the proverbial old man yells at cloud meme! Enjoy the bombs!
Source: golfdigest.com
The post The 10 Greatest Things That Could Happen in Golf in 2019 appeared first on Turnberry Country Club.
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Jack Nicklaus says Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy still have chance to surpass 18 majors
The elevator doors on the third floor of the North Palm Beach office building open slide and Jack Nicklaus comes out. He walks past a signed golden bear at the reception and paints on the wall that depicts him standing on the Swilcan Bridge in St Andrews, the last time in 2005 when he retired and chased the rest of the world behind his plates.
He says hello to Marlene at the reception and puts his head in a few rooms that open the corridor and then wanders into his office, which is usually a sanctuary for Barbara, his wife of 58 and one – half a year, five children and 22 grandchildren. Among a series of golf clubs that are blown against the wall, I sink into his favorite armchair.
I have put two tape recorders on the table and my usual explanation about becoming paranoid in my old age that someone won't do a job. Nicklaus is smiling. & # 39; I brought two suits to the office yesterday in case I got a hole in it & # 39 ;, he says. I didn't understand it the first time and talked a bit about spilling food on packs. The greatest golfer there has already been one.
Jack Nicklaus admits that he doesn't want Tiger Woods to beat his record of 18 majors "
he doesn't want Tiger Woods to beat his record of 18 majors"
Jack Nicklaus admits he does not want Tiger Woods to beat his record of 18 majors Nicklaus, the most successful sportsman of golf, celebrates on his way to winning the 1986 Masters "
] <img id = "i-38ec0e19e2d612f3" src = "https://dailym.ai/2VzQCVe -a-150_1554582459079.jpg "height =" 741 "width =" 634 "alt =" <img id = "i-38ec0e19e2d612f3" src = "https://dailym.ai/2TZhFHY 06/21 / 11948954-6894497-image-a-150_1554582459079.jpg "height =" 741 "width =" 634 "alt =" Nicklaus, the most successful sportsman of golf, is celebrating his 1986 Masters "class =" blkBorder img- share "way to win the 1986 Masters
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He is wearing a pink polo shirt and khaki pants. He flew home late Saturday night from New York, where he had delivered a speech, and he has already been to the gym. He goes three times a week, he says. More than he ever did when he was a player. He sees Rory McIlroy there most days. & # 39; Rory works pretty hard & # 39 ;, Nicklaus says approvingly. & # 39; I really like it. & # 39;
One thing that was always clear to Nicklaus is that he radiates satisfaction. He is happy with his destiny. If you have won 18 majors and are honored wherever you go, it helps, but the world is full of great sportsmen and women who think they have never been granted their rights or they still have something to prove. Nicklaus is not one of them.
He will be 80 next year and he is smaller than before. He has lost so many of the discs in his spine to surgery that he has shrunk from nearly 6ft in his flowering to somewhere around 5ft 8in. I was taller than Tom Watson. Now he is looking him straight in the eye.
However, he is not angry with his best friend, Gary Player. Player looks like a 50 year old and works like a demon and tells you about it in detail. Nicklaus laughs again at the thought of that. & # 39; Gary is great & # 39 ;, he says. & # 39; He's a great guy. He just loves competition. But he doesn't like aging. I don't really have a big problem with it.
& # 39; Would I like to be more flexible? Of course. I was at the gym this morning, but I haven't been on a golf course for eight or nine years. Doctors tell me that I have adult asthma induced by exercise. I do not believe that. I think I'm getting older, that's all, and I'm out of shape. I look down on the floor, that's OK. I don't want to search for a while. "
<img id =" i-cdc3763a8be3b317 "src =" https://dailym.ai/2D0VT17 a-151_1554582573710.jpg "height =" 476 "width =" 634 "alt =" Oliver Holt sat down for an exclusive interview with the biggest of golf this week for Masters "class =" blkBorder
Oliver Holt] Oliver Holt sat down for an exclusive interview with this week's biggest wave prior to Masters
<img id = "i-ed7ec7a669316373" src = "https://dailym.ai/2VqMJSI" height = "423" width = "634" alt = "Nicklaus insists that he wants Woods to be at the top of his game and hopes he can do it
<img id =" i-ed7ec7a669316373 "src =" https : //i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/06/21/11949206-6894497-image-a-153_1554582838323.jpg "height =" 423 "width = "634" alt = "Nicklaus insists that he wants Woods to be at the top of his game and hopes he stays away from injuries" class = "blkBorder img-
Nicklaus insists that he wants Woods to be at the top of his game and hopes I can stay away from injuries
[1945901] 07]
He doesn't play much anymore and when he does, he plays 6. & # 39; People find it hard to believe that, & # 39; he says, & # 39; but it's part of life to move on. & # 39; Last month I played a quad ball with his son, Gary, President Trump and Tiger Woods at The Bear's Club, the club was founded 20 years ago, a few miles from his office here. & # 39; Tiger overwhelmed me with 18 strokes & # 39 ;, Nicklaus says. & # 39; He shot 64 without any trouble. & # 39;
Some golfers, including McIlroy and Woods, have taken the heat to play with Trump. Nicklaus brushes that aside. & # 39; I have played a lot with Clinton, & # 39; he says. & # 39; I never played with Obama, but I invited him to play. For me it's not about the man, it's about the office. I have known Trump for more than 30 years. I love Trump.
& # 39; Trump is probably the best golfer who has been to the White House. He is about a six handicap. He will destroy 80 most of the time. He hits the ball further than me. I played a lot with Clinton, I played a lot with Ford, I played a bit with HW Bush. I didn't play with George W, but I will play with him next month. I don't think Carter was a golfer. I never met Reagan, although I had a lot of respect for him. "
The days of Nicklaus are now being taken with the family and with charity that he and Barbara set to improve children's health care. He is flying to Virginia today to see one of his grandchildren playing for the University of North Carolina at Lacrosse.
The grandchildren keep him busy, he was at the Hard Rock Stadium last October to see another, Nick O & Leary, scored his first landing. for the Miami Dolphins.
Last year, in the days prior to the Masters, his grandson Gary made a hole-in-one at the par-3 competition in Augusta, Nicklaus goes back Monday and asks Wonders if McIlroy or Woods, the two men he thinks is giving a chance to review his record of major victories, can win in Georgia.
Nic Klaus recognizes that Donald Trump is the best golfer ever in the White House. Trump is the best golfer ever in the White House. "
Nicklaus admits Donald Trump is the best golfer ever has ever been to the White House
Woods, 43, whose career has been revived by spinal fusion surgery, has stalled at 14 majors since winning the US Open in 2008. McIlroy, many of whom still see the heir of Nicklaus and Woods, had won four majors at the age of 25, but has not added since he won the last of the American PGA in 2014.
& # 39; Tiger still has a chance of matching my record, & # 39; says Nicklaus. & # 39; Of course he does. I don't know what his health situation is, but he swings better than he ever did. Tiger has a further 10 years of top quality golf in front of him. He has all the time in the world to beat my record if he stays together physically.
& # 39; My record is what it is. Do I want someone to break it? Of course not. But I don't want Tiger to break it, because he is physically unable to do it.
& # 39; I said, "You know Tiger, I don't want you to break my records, but I want you to be physically able to do so," and I tried to help him with some people to talk to. I love to see him play and I would like to see him and if his ability to beat my record is there and he does all power to him, congratulations. "
Nicklaus does not think that threat to his record is limited to Woods. & # 39; Rory has won four and he is still a young guy," he says. & # 39; He could run and get half a dozen quickly and then you have a man in his prime with 10 or 12 and you have another guy to think about.
I am surprised that Rory already has not won a major for a few years Well, they are not easy to win He is now more focused than I have ever seen He could be the best choice next week at Augusta If I win the Players Championship and see what his ethical work has been, I think he will do very well. "
<img id =" i-fd8b87a63a50d322 "src =" https: // i. dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/06/21/11949200-6894497-image-a-154_1554582914531.jpg "height =" 423 "width =" 634 "alt =" The 79-year-old Rory McIlroy and Rory McIlroy are among the best known he most famous artists in the history of the United States. "19459007]
The 79-year-old believes that Woods and Rory McIlroy can still break his remarkable big record
Nicklaus spends a lot of time at The Bear & # 39; s Club, what a magnet is for many of the best young players in the world, many of whom have houses in the area Woods is in Jupiter, McIlroy is in the nearby Frenchman & Creek area
Nicklaus loves camaraderie The club brings him in. He loves seeing the best in the world to sharpen their skills, and he is delighted that many of them are still asking him for advice: If a man has won the American Masters six times, US Open four times, the Open three times and the American PGA five times, no wonder they look like him.
I love Justin Thomas a lot and Rickie Fowler says he & # 39; Dustin Johnson can never lose a tournament, he is a freak of the wet o'clock. He is a good athlete who kills it and makes it right. Jordan Spieth has a bit of a slump and he is suddenly forgotten. There is no reason – he will be there for a long time.
& # 39; I now watch golf more than I have ever seen. My philosophy was long: "Why do I want to sit down and look at someone I know who I can beat?" I can't beat them anymore. I began to realize how good some of these young boys were and I like to meet them at The Bear's Club.
& # 39; It keeps me relevant. How many 79-year-olds from 22-year-old children ask for advice. I have never imposed one of them on myself, but some often come to me. It is very flattering. It keeps me up to date. And relevant to what's going on. I enjoy it. I'm happy. "19455003] Nicklaus remembers his career. He said he went to college to become a pharmacist like his father, but that's what he said. & # 39; He was not just my father, he was my best friend & # 39 ;, Nicklaus says. & # 39; He told me that I could play golf from behind to counter it & # 39;
<img id = "i-75b94384880d1fc" src = "https: //i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/06/21/11949260-6894497-image-a-155_1554583008632.jpg "height =" 426 "width =" 634 "alt =" Nicklaus recognizes his happiest times with his wife Barbara (photo) and their five children & # 39; class Nicklaus recognizes his happiest times with his wife Barbara (pictured) and their five children "
Nicklaus confesses his happiest times with his wife Barbara (photo) and their five children
I ask him about his happiest golf time and he looks surprised. & # 39; ee won a few golf tournaments, & # 39; he says, & # 39; with the practiced understatement he loves, & # 39; and I was happy with each of them.
He mentions winning the Ohio Open as an amateur when he was 16. He mentions the excitement of playing in the Walker Cup at Muirfield and realized that he was one of the best 12 amateurs in the United States
He almost mentioned winning the US Open at Cherry Hills in 1960 when he was still a 20-year-old amateur, but ran out against Arnold Palmer, who produced one of the largest comebacks to win.
He mentions his first major win at the US Open in 1962 in Oakmont, where he defeated Palmer in a play-off. Palmer was the favorite crowd and nobody wanted young Nicklaus to appropriate him.
And he also mentions the last big win he won when he was 46 years old, when everyone thought there would be no more glory for the Golden Bear. & # 39; It ended with the & # 39; 86 Masters & # 39 ;, he says, & # 39; which was pretty special because my career was actually over then. But I found lightning in a bottle. "
But the happiest time was not one of those moments. & # 39; The happiest time in my life are my children & # 39 ;, he says. & # 39; I married Barbara and had five children and those are my happy times. And the grandchildren. That's what's important. The rest is not that important. Golf is a game. & # 39;
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Business Tiger Woods Leads Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose at 2018 Tour Championship | Golf Channel
Business Tiger Woods Leads Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose at 2018 Tour Championship | Golf Channel Business Tiger Woods Leads Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose at 2018 Tour Championship | Golf Channel https://ift.tt/2O4qBwU
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ATLANTA – Tiger Woods is three shots ahead and one round away from capping his comeback season with a moment that has defined his career. Winning. Woods played the most dynamic golf he has all year Saturday with six birdies in his opening seven holes to build a five-shot lead. He cooled from there with a few mistakes and had to settle for a 5-under 65 and a three-shot lead over Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose in the Tour Championship. He has the 54-hole lead for the first time since his last victory in 2013 at the Bridgestone Invitational. He has never lost an official tournament when leading by more than two shots going into the final round, and his closing record with the lead is 42-2 on the PGA Tour. Woods has never been in better position to show he’s all the way back from four back surgeries that once made him fear he might never play again. ”I’ve gone through a lot this year to get myself to this point, and understanding and fighting my way through it,” Woods said. ”I’m certainly much more equipped than I was in March because of what I’ve gone through.”
Projected FedExCup standings Full-field scores from the Tour Championship Tour Championship: Articles, photos and videos Wood was at 12-under 198 and will be paired for the first time in final group with McIlroy on the PGA Tour. McIlroy birdied two of his last three holes for a 66. ”It’s obviously exciting for the golf tournament. It’s exciting for golf in general that he’s up there,” McIlroy said. ”But for me, all I can do is concentrate on myself. The game is hard enough without looking at other people. Go out there, take care of my business, and hopefully that’s good enough.” Rose started the third round tied with Woods, but not for long. Rose opened with two straight bogeys before battling back, but the world’s No. 1 player already was four shots behind after four holes. He narrowed the gap with a birdie on the 16th as Woods had to scramble for bogey, a two-shot swing. ”In some ways, it felt like a Sunday just with the energy,” Rose said after a 68. ”But I knew that it was halfway through a Saturday. Just wanted to sort of chisel a few back and give myself a chance going into tomorrow.” There used to be no chance against Woods when he was atop the leaderboard going into the final round. His only losses with the 54-hole lead were the Quad City Classic in 1996 when he was 20 and making third start as a pro, and the 2009 PGA Championship at Hazeltine against Y.E. Yang. He also lost a two-shot lead to Lee Westwood in Germany at a European Tour event in 2000. Now? Woods has gone more than five years without winning. He also has won enough times – 90 tournaments around the world – to remember how to do it. ”It’s a little more unknown now,” Rose said. ”Obviously, his history, his statistics from this point are impeccable. They’re incredible. But he’s human, and there’s a lot on it for him tomorrow, as well as the rest of us.” The start was simply mesmerizing. Woods poured in a 20-foot birdie putt on the first hole. His wedge settled 8 feet below the hole on No. 3. His 20-foot birdie putt on No. 4 tumbled into the center of the cup with perfect pace. Two short birdies followed. And when he finally missed a fairway at No. 7, Woods hit a 9-iron from the bunker that hopped out of the first cut to about 5 feet for a sixth birdie in seven holes. The cheers were endless, and there was no doubting what was going on. ”I’ve heard the roars all day, and it’s been phenomenal,” Paul Casey said after his 66. ”What an atmosphere it is out there this week.” Woods, however, made only one birdie over his last 11 holes, a wedge to 7 feet on No. 12. He missed badly on his tee shot at the par-3 ninth, and the shaggy rough to the right of the 16th fairway caused the face of his club to open, missing to the right. His flop shot didn’t get up the hill and rolled back toward him, and his next pitch was a bump-and-run played to perfection that kept him from another double bogey. McIlroy also started strong, and being in the group ahead of Woods, he knew exactly what was happening. On Sunday, he get a front-row seat. The only other time they were paired together in the fourth round was at the 2015 Masters, when both were 10 shots behind Jordan Spieth. Rose won’t be in the final group, but he has plenty on the line even if he doesn’t catch Woods. He likely needs to finish in the top five to be assured of winning the FedEx Cup and the $10 million bonus.ATLANTA – No one has more to play for than Justin Rose on Sunday at the Tour Championship. The Englishman will begin the day three strokes behind front-runner Tiger Woods after a third-round 68 that could have been much worse after he began his day with back-to-back bogeys. Winning the tournament will be Rose’s top priority, but there’s also the lingering question of the FedExCup and the $10 million bonus, which he is currently projected to claim. Projected FedExCup standings Full-field scores from the Tour Championship Tour Championship: Articles, photos and videos “The way I look at tomorrow is that I have many scenarios in play. I have the FedExCup in play. I have all of that to distract me,” Rose said. “But yet, I’m three back. I think that’s my objective tomorrow is to come out and play good, positive golf and try and chase down the leader and win this golf tournament. I think in some ways that’ll help my other task of trying to win the FedExCup. It’ll keep me on the front foot and playing positive golf.” Although there are many scenarios for Rose to win the season-long title, if Woods wins the Tour Championship, Rose would need to finish fifth or better to claim the cup. There’s also the top spot in the Official World Golf Ranking to consider. Rose overtook Dustin Johnson for No. 1 in the world with his runner-up finish at the BMW Championship two weeks ago. He will retain the top spot unless Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka or Johnson win the finale and he falls down the leaderboard on Sunday.ATLANTA – Although Rory McIlroy is three strokes behind Tiger Woods at the Tour Championship and tied for second place he had the look of a man with a secret when he left East Lake on Saturday. Trying to play catch up against Woods is never ideal, but McIlroy’s confidence stemmed from a tee-to-green game that has been unrivaled for three days. “I definitely think today and the first day were similar,” said McIlroy, whose 66 included birdies at two of his final three holes. “I gave myself plenty of chances, and I think the biggest thing today was only just that one bogey. Got to put your ball in the fairway, put yourself in position, and for the most part, I did that today.” Projected FedExCup standings Full-field scores from the Tour Championship Tour Championship: Articles, photos and videos For the week McIlroy ranks first in strokes gained: off the tee, third in strokes gained: approach to the green and second in greens in regulation. But to catch Woods, who he will be paired with, he’ll need a much better day on the greens. The Northern Irishman needed 30 putts on Day 2 and ranks 23rd, out of 30 players, in strokes gained: putting. McIlroy skipped the first playoff event, opting instead for an extra week at home to work on his swing and the move has paid off. “I hit the ball well. My wedge play has been really good,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of work on it the last few weeks, and it seems to have paid off.”ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. – Sepp Straka moved into position Saturday to earn a PGA Tour card in the Web.com Tour Championship, shooting a 7-under 64 to take the third-round lead. With the top 25 earners in the four-event Web.com Tour Finals getting PGA Tour cards Sunday, Straka birdied the final three holes to reach 18-under 195 – a stroke ahead of Curtis Luck, Lucas Glover and Denny McCarthy at Atlantic Beach Country Club. ”It’s always good to get an extra birdie in late. I got three of them to finish, which was nice,” Straka said. ”It’s very bunched up there, so you can’t really take off, you’ve got to keep the pedal down and see where you end up at the end.” Straka entered the week tied for 80th in the card race with $2,744. The 25-year-old former Georgia player from Austria won the KC Golf Classic in August for his first Web.com Tour title. He finished 31st on the money list to advance to the four-tournament series. ”My ball-striking is really good,” Straka said. ”It’s been good all week. It’s been really solid. I really haven’t gotten in a whole lot of trouble and have been able to capitalize on a good number of chances with the putter. Hit a couple of bad putts today, but some really good ones to make up for it.” Full-field scores from the Web.com Tour Championship Luck also shot 64. The 22-year-old Australian went into the week 16th with $41,587. ”Obviously, it just comes down to keeping that momentum going and trying not to change anything,” Luck said. ”That’s the really important thing and I felt like I did that really well. I played really aggressive on the back nine, still went after a lot of shots and I hit it close a lot out there.” Glover had a 68. The 2009 U.S. Open champion entered the week 40th with $17,212. McCarthy shot 67. He already has wrapped up a card, earning $75,793 in the first three events to get to 11th in the standings. The series features the top 75 players from the Web.com regular-season money list, Nos. 126-200 in the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup standings, and non-members with enough money to have placed in the top 200. The top-25 finishers on the Web.com regular-season money list are competing against each other for tour priority, with regular-season earnings counting in their totals. The other players are fighting for the 25 cards based on series earnings.ATLANTA – It felt so familiar – the roars, the fist pumps, the frenzied scramble to keep up with a leaderboard that was quickly tilting in Tiger Woods’ direction. For the handful of players who were around when Woods made a mysterious and maddening game seem simple, it was like old times, times that weren’t necessarily good for anyone not named Tiger. “I’m kind of nostalgic,” admitted Paul Casey, who turned pro in 2000, when Woods won the U.S. Open by 15 strokes, one of his nine PGA Tour victories that year. Casey’s 66 on Day 3 at the Tour Championship vaulted him into a tie for sixth place, but as the Englishman quickly vetted the math he knew those numbers were nothing more than window dressing. “Sixty-four is my best on a Sunday which puts me at 11 [under], so if he’s 12 I need to shoot my career best in the final round and he needs to do something very un-Tiger-like,” Casey laughed. “I think I’m just posturing for position.” Casey wasn’t giving up. In fact, given that he outdueled Woods earlier this year to win the Valspar Championship he could have hedged his comments and left the door cracked however slightly. But he’s seen, and heard, this too many times to allow competitive necessity to cloud reality. On Saturday at East Lake, Tiger Woods was his best version. Throughout this most recent comeback he’s offered glimpses of the old guy, the guy whose name atop a leaderboard echoed through locker rooms for the better part of two decades. After starting the day tied for the lead with Justin Rose, Tiger quickly separated himself from the pack with a birdie at the first. He added another at the third and by the time he birdied the seventh hole, his sixth birdie of the day, he’d extended that lead to five shots and was sending an unmistakable message that reached well beyond the steamy confines of East Lake.
Projected FedExCup standings Full-field scores from the Tour Championship Tour Championship: Articles, photos and videos This was what so many had waited for. This was the Tiger that Casey and others grew up dreading, a machine that never misses iron shots and makes clutch putts look like tap-ins. “The crowds were electric,” said Rose, who was paired with Woods. “He was running the tables there. He was hitting good shots and making the conversion putts.” Woods did come back to earth after his blistering start, playing his final 10 holes in 1 over par, but that did little to change the mood as the season moved to within 18 holes of the finish line. He would finish with a round-of-the-day 65 for a three-stroke lead over Rose and Rory McIlroy. The next closest players were a dozen strokes back, including Casey at 5 under par who didn’t need to be reminded of Woods’ 54-hole conversion rate. There are no guarantees in sports but Tiger with a 54-hole lead has been about as close to a lock as one will find this side of Las Vegas. He’s 42-for-44 when going into the final round with the outright lead and the last time he blew a 54-hole lead was at the 2009 PGA Championship. Of course, he hasn’t had a 54-hole lead since the 2013 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Truth is, he hasn’t had much of anything since ’13 when his dominance was sidetracked by an ailing back. As intimidating as Woods’ play has been this week there was an unmistakable sense of, let’s call it curiosity. Asked if Woods’ lead felt different than it may have a decade ago, Rose’s response was telling. “Maybe,” he allowed after a pause. “It’s a little more unknown now. Obviously his history, his statistics from this point are impeccable. They’re incredible. But he’s human, and there’s a lot on it for him tomorrow, as well as the rest of us.” Rose wasn’t trying to trick himself into thinking the impossible was possible, although many have when they’ve found themselves in similar positions, it was simply the truth. Woods has had multiple chances this season to complete the comeback and he’s come up short each time. It was a poor iron shot off the 72nd tee at the Valspar Championship and an even worse drive a week later at Bay Hill’s 16th hole. It was a misplayed chip late on the back nine at The Open and a collection of missed putts at the PGA Championship, although in his defense it’s unlikely anyone could have caught Brooks Koepka at Bellerive. Nor was Rose being disrespectful. It’s simple math, really, and Woods’ body of work to this point, although wildly impressive considering how far he’s come in 12 months both physically and competitively, paints a clear picture. Given multiple chances to break through the victory ceiling he’s failed to deliver the way he did before injury and multiple back procedures. “I’ve felt very comfortable when I got into the mix there at Tampa even though it was very early in my start to this year. And because of that, I felt comfortable when I got to Bay Hill, (and) when I grabbed the lead at The Open Championship,” Woods said. “Things that didn’t really feel abnormal, even though it’s been years, literally years, since I’ve been in those spots, but I think I’ve been in those spots enough times that muscle memory, I guess I remembered it, and I felt comfortable in those spots.” In many ways the script couldn’t have been written any better for Woods. It’s the bottom of the ninth, two outs and the bases are loaded for the 14-time major champion. Hero time, his time. He’s been here so many times in his career and succeeded more times than not, and this new, reimagined version has the ultimate chance to complete what would arguably be the greatest comeback in sports history. The ultimate test still remains, but for 18 holes on Saturday it felt so familiar.
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Business Tiger Woods Leads Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose at 2018 Tour Championship | Golf Channel
Business Tiger Woods Leads Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose at 2018 Tour Championship | Golf Channel Business Tiger Woods Leads Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose at 2018 Tour Championship | Golf Channel http://www.nature-business.com/business-tiger-woods-leads-rory-mcilroy-justin-rose-at-2018-tour-championship-golf-channel/
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ATLANTA – Tiger Woods is three shots ahead and one round away from capping his comeback season with a moment that has defined his career. Winning. Woods played the most dynamic golf he has all year Saturday with six birdies in his opening seven holes to build a five-shot lead. He cooled from there with a few mistakes and had to settle for a 5-under 65 and a three-shot lead over Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose in the Tour Championship. He has the 54-hole lead for the first time since his last victory in 2013 at the Bridgestone Invitational. He has never lost an official tournament when leading by more than two shots going into the final round, and his closing record with the lead is 42-2 on the PGA Tour. Woods has never been in better position to show he’s all the way back from four back surgeries that once made him fear he might never play again. ”I’ve gone through a lot this year to get myself to this point, and understanding and fighting my way through it,” Woods said. ”I’m certainly much more equipped than I was in March because of what I’ve gone through.”
Projected FedExCup standings Full-field scores from the Tour Championship Tour Championship: Articles, photos and videos Wood was at 12-under 198 and will be paired for the first time in final group with McIlroy on the PGA Tour. McIlroy birdied two of his last three holes for a 66. ”It’s obviously exciting for the golf tournament. It’s exciting for golf in general that he’s up there,” McIlroy said. ”But for me, all I can do is concentrate on myself. The game is hard enough without looking at other people. Go out there, take care of my business, and hopefully that’s good enough.” Rose started the third round tied with Woods, but not for long. Rose opened with two straight bogeys before battling back, but the world’s No. 1 player already was four shots behind after four holes. He narrowed the gap with a birdie on the 16th as Woods had to scramble for bogey, a two-shot swing. ”In some ways, it felt like a Sunday just with the energy,” Rose said after a 68. ”But I knew that it was halfway through a Saturday. Just wanted to sort of chisel a few back and give myself a chance going into tomorrow.” There used to be no chance against Woods when he was atop the leaderboard going into the final round. His only losses with the 54-hole lead were the Quad City Classic in 1996 when he was 20 and making third start as a pro, and the 2009 PGA Championship at Hazeltine against Y.E. Yang. He also lost a two-shot lead to Lee Westwood in Germany at a European Tour event in 2000. Now? Woods has gone more than five years without winning. He also has won enough times – 90 tournaments around the world – to remember how to do it. ”It’s a little more unknown now,” Rose said. ”Obviously, his history, his statistics from this point are impeccable. They’re incredible. But he’s human, and there’s a lot on it for him tomorrow, as well as the rest of us.” The start was simply mesmerizing. Woods poured in a 20-foot birdie putt on the first hole. His wedge settled 8 feet below the hole on No. 3. His 20-foot birdie putt on No. 4 tumbled into the center of the cup with perfect pace. Two short birdies followed. And when he finally missed a fairway at No. 7, Woods hit a 9-iron from the bunker that hopped out of the first cut to about 5 feet for a sixth birdie in seven holes. The cheers were endless, and there was no doubting what was going on. ”I’ve heard the roars all day, and it’s been phenomenal,” Paul Casey said after his 66. ”What an atmosphere it is out there this week.” Woods, however, made only one birdie over his last 11 holes, a wedge to 7 feet on No. 12. He missed badly on his tee shot at the par-3 ninth, and the shaggy rough to the right of the 16th fairway caused the face of his club to open, missing to the right. His flop shot didn’t get up the hill and rolled back toward him, and his next pitch was a bump-and-run played to perfection that kept him from another double bogey. McIlroy also started strong, and being in the group ahead of Woods, he knew exactly what was happening. On Sunday, he get a front-row seat. The only other time they were paired together in the fourth round was at the 2015 Masters, when both were 10 shots behind Jordan Spieth. Rose won’t be in the final group, but he has plenty on the line even if he doesn’t catch Woods. He likely needs to finish in the top five to be assured of winning the FedEx Cup and the $10 million bonus.ATLANTA – No one has more to play for than Justin Rose on Sunday at the Tour Championship. The Englishman will begin the day three strokes behind front-runner Tiger Woods after a third-round 68 that could have been much worse after he began his day with back-to-back bogeys. Winning the tournament will be Rose’s top priority, but there’s also the lingering question of the FedExCup and the $10 million bonus, which he is currently projected to claim. Projected FedExCup standings Full-field scores from the Tour Championship Tour Championship: Articles, photos and videos “The way I look at tomorrow is that I have many scenarios in play. I have the FedExCup in play. I have all of that to distract me,” Rose said. “But yet, I’m three back. I think that’s my objective tomorrow is to come out and play good, positive golf and try and chase down the leader and win this golf tournament. I think in some ways that’ll help my other task of trying to win the FedExCup. It’ll keep me on the front foot and playing positive golf.” Although there are many scenarios for Rose to win the season-long title, if Woods wins the Tour Championship, Rose would need to finish fifth or better to claim the cup. There’s also the top spot in the Official World Golf Ranking to consider. Rose overtook Dustin Johnson for No. 1 in the world with his runner-up finish at the BMW Championship two weeks ago. He will retain the top spot unless Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka or Johnson win the finale and he falls down the leaderboard on Sunday.ATLANTA – Although Rory McIlroy is three strokes behind Tiger Woods at the Tour Championship and tied for second place he had the look of a man with a secret when he left East Lake on Saturday. Trying to play catch up against Woods is never ideal, but McIlroy’s confidence stemmed from a tee-to-green game that has been unrivaled for three days. “I definitely think today and the first day were similar,” said McIlroy, whose 66 included birdies at two of his final three holes. “I gave myself plenty of chances, and I think the biggest thing today was only just that one bogey. Got to put your ball in the fairway, put yourself in position, and for the most part, I did that today.” Projected FedExCup standings Full-field scores from the Tour Championship Tour Championship: Articles, photos and videos For the week McIlroy ranks first in strokes gained: off the tee, third in strokes gained: approach to the green and second in greens in regulation. But to catch Woods, who he will be paired with, he’ll need a much better day on the greens. The Northern Irishman needed 30 putts on Day 2 and ranks 23rd, out of 30 players, in strokes gained: putting. McIlroy skipped the first playoff event, opting instead for an extra week at home to work on his swing and the move has paid off. “I hit the ball well. My wedge play has been really good,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of work on it the last few weeks, and it seems to have paid off.”ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. – Sepp Straka moved into position Saturday to earn a PGA Tour card in the Web.com Tour Championship, shooting a 7-under 64 to take the third-round lead. With the top 25 earners in the four-event Web.com Tour Finals getting PGA Tour cards Sunday, Straka birdied the final three holes to reach 18-under 195 – a stroke ahead of Curtis Luck, Lucas Glover and Denny McCarthy at Atlantic Beach Country Club. ”It’s always good to get an extra birdie in late. I got three of them to finish, which was nice,” Straka said. ”It’s very bunched up there, so you can’t really take off, you’ve got to keep the pedal down and see where you end up at the end.” Straka entered the week tied for 80th in the card race with $2,744. The 25-year-old former Georgia player from Austria won the KC Golf Classic in August for his first Web.com Tour title. He finished 31st on the money list to advance to the four-tournament series. ”My ball-striking is really good,” Straka said. ”It’s been good all week. It’s been really solid. I really haven’t gotten in a whole lot of trouble and have been able to capitalize on a good number of chances with the putter. Hit a couple of bad putts today, but some really good ones to make up for it.” Full-field scores from the Web.com Tour Championship Luck also shot 64. The 22-year-old Australian went into the week 16th with $41,587. ”Obviously, it just comes down to keeping that momentum going and trying not to change anything,” Luck said. ”That’s the really important thing and I felt like I did that really well. I played really aggressive on the back nine, still went after a lot of shots and I hit it close a lot out there.” Glover had a 68. The 2009 U.S. Open champion entered the week 40th with $17,212. McCarthy shot 67. He already has wrapped up a card, earning $75,793 in the first three events to get to 11th in the standings. The series features the top 75 players from the Web.com regular-season money list, Nos. 126-200 in the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup standings, and non-members with enough money to have placed in the top 200. The top-25 finishers on the Web.com regular-season money list are competing against each other for tour priority, with regular-season earnings counting in their totals. The other players are fighting for the 25 cards based on series earnings.ATLANTA – It felt so familiar – the roars, the fist pumps, the frenzied scramble to keep up with a leaderboard that was quickly tilting in Tiger Woods’ direction. For the handful of players who were around when Woods made a mysterious and maddening game seem simple, it was like old times, times that weren’t necessarily good for anyone not named Tiger. “I’m kind of nostalgic,” admitted Paul Casey, who turned pro in 2000, when Woods won the U.S. Open by 15 strokes, one of his nine PGA Tour victories that year. Casey’s 66 on Day 3 at the Tour Championship vaulted him into a tie for sixth place, but as the Englishman quickly vetted the math he knew those numbers were nothing more than window dressing. “Sixty-four is my best on a Sunday which puts me at 11 [under], so if he’s 12 I need to shoot my career best in the final round and he needs to do something very un-Tiger-like,” Casey laughed. “I think I’m just posturing for position.” Casey wasn’t giving up. In fact, given that he outdueled Woods earlier this year to win the Valspar Championship he could have hedged his comments and left the door cracked however slightly. But he’s seen, and heard, this too many times to allow competitive necessity to cloud reality. On Saturday at East Lake, Tiger Woods was his best version. Throughout this most recent comeback he’s offered glimpses of the old guy, the guy whose name atop a leaderboard echoed through locker rooms for the better part of two decades. After starting the day tied for the lead with Justin Rose, Tiger quickly separated himself from the pack with a birdie at the first. He added another at the third and by the time he birdied the seventh hole, his sixth birdie of the day, he’d extended that lead to five shots and was sending an unmistakable message that reached well beyond the steamy confines of East Lake.
Projected FedExCup standings Full-field scores from the Tour Championship Tour Championship: Articles, photos and videos This was what so many had waited for. This was the Tiger that Casey and others grew up dreading, a machine that never misses iron shots and makes clutch putts look like tap-ins. “The crowds were electric,” said Rose, who was paired with Woods. “He was running the tables there. He was hitting good shots and making the conversion putts.” Woods did come back to earth after his blistering start, playing his final 10 holes in 1 over par, but that did little to change the mood as the season moved to within 18 holes of the finish line. He would finish with a round-of-the-day 65 for a three-stroke lead over Rose and Rory McIlroy. The next closest players were a dozen strokes back, including Casey at 5 under par who didn’t need to be reminded of Woods’ 54-hole conversion rate. There are no guarantees in sports but Tiger with a 54-hole lead has been about as close to a lock as one will find this side of Las Vegas. He’s 42-for-44 when going into the final round with the outright lead and the last time he blew a 54-hole lead was at the 2009 PGA Championship. Of course, he hasn’t had a 54-hole lead since the 2013 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Truth is, he hasn’t had much of anything since ’13 when his dominance was sidetracked by an ailing back. As intimidating as Woods’ play has been this week there was an unmistakable sense of, let’s call it curiosity. Asked if Woods’ lead felt different than it may have a decade ago, Rose’s response was telling. “Maybe,” he allowed after a pause. “It’s a little more unknown now. Obviously his history, his statistics from this point are impeccable. They’re incredible. But he’s human, and there’s a lot on it for him tomorrow, as well as the rest of us.” Rose wasn’t trying to trick himself into thinking the impossible was possible, although many have when they’ve found themselves in similar positions, it was simply the truth. Woods has had multiple chances this season to complete the comeback and he’s come up short each time. It was a poor iron shot off the 72nd tee at the Valspar Championship and an even worse drive a week later at Bay Hill’s 16th hole. It was a misplayed chip late on the back nine at The Open and a collection of missed putts at the PGA Championship, although in his defense it’s unlikely anyone could have caught Brooks Koepka at Bellerive. Nor was Rose being disrespectful. It’s simple math, really, and Woods’ body of work to this point, although wildly impressive considering how far he’s come in 12 months both physically and competitively, paints a clear picture. Given multiple chances to break through the victory ceiling he’s failed to deliver the way he did before injury and multiple back procedures. “I’ve felt very comfortable when I got into the mix there at Tampa even though it was very early in my start to this year. And because of that, I felt comfortable when I got to Bay Hill, (and) when I grabbed the lead at The Open Championship,” Woods said. “Things that didn’t really feel abnormal, even though it’s been years, literally years, since I’ve been in those spots, but I think I’ve been in those spots enough times that muscle memory, I guess I remembered it, and I felt comfortable in those spots.” In many ways the script couldn’t have been written any better for Woods. It’s the bottom of the ninth, two outs and the bases are loaded for the 14-time major champion. Hero time, his time. He’s been here so many times in his career and succeeded more times than not, and this new, reimagined version has the ultimate chance to complete what would arguably be the greatest comeback in sports history. The ultimate test still remains, but for 18 holes on Saturday it felt so familiar.
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Business Tiger Woods Leads Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose at 2018 Tour Championship | Golf Channel, in 2018-09-23 01:44:48
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