By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.
For comments: [email protected]
Good Tuesday morning, golf fans, as the PGA Tour heads to New Orleans for the Zurich Classic. |
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1. 15-year-old finishes top 20 on KFT
Jay Coffin for Golf Digest…”During a week when most eyes were on Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda, the 15-year-old lefty finished off an incredible week with a five-under 66 in the final round of the Korn Ferry Tour’s LECOM Suncoast Classic at Lakewood Ranch in Florida.”
- “After opening with 68-66-70, Russell finished at 14-under-par total to tie for 20th place. The finish in which he jumped 28 positions on the leaderboard on the final day, gives him an exemption into next week’s Veritex Bank Championship at Rangers Park in Arlington, Texas. He’s the youngest player to finish inside the top 20 on the PGA of Korn Ferry tours, according to records that go back to 1983.”
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2. Understandably, Nelly WDs
Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner…”Nelly Korda’s bid for a record-setting sixth consecutive win will have to wait a few weeks.”
- “A day after capturing the Chevron Championship during a marathon final round in Houston, Korda announced on social media that she was withdrawing from this week’s JM Eagle LA Championship.”
- “It was not an easy decision,” she wrote. “After the unbelievable week at the Chevron and grinding through the mental and physical challenges of four events in the past five weeks, I am definitely feeling exhausted. With so much still to come throughout 2024, I feel I need to listen to my body and get some rest, so I can be ready for the remainder of the season.”
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3. Scheffler’s impressive No. 1 feat
Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…”After Scheffler’s victory Monday morning at the RBC Heritage, Scheffler upped his points average to 15.016 and increased his advantage in the Official World Golf Ranking over No. 2 Rory McIlroy to more than double McIlroy’s 7.365 average, meaning Scheffler is ranked further ahead of No. 2 than No. 2 is ahead of the last-ranked player.”
- “The last time a No. 1 player had a greater points average was Woods, who was at 15.4564 on Dec. 6, 2009. But Woods was less than seven average points ahead of No. 2 Phil Mickelson at the time. Earlier that year, Woods was 7.735 ahead of Mickelson, which is the last time the gap between Nos. 1 and 2 was greater than Scheffler’s current 7.651 advantage.”
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4. Zurich field notes
PGATour.com’s Adam Stanley…”Rory McIlroy will make his tournament debut alongside good pal, Ryder Cup teammate, and Irishman Shane Lowry – a duo that was firmed up during a celebratory lunch after the Ryder Cup last fall… Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele will try to reprise their 2022 win here. Cantlay and Schauffele have both the Foursomes and Four-ball scoring records at this event… Davis Riley and Nick Hardy will defend their 2023 title. No team has gone back-to-back… Three sets of brothers (and two sets of twins!) will play together with twins Rasmus and Nicolai Højgaard and Parker and Pierceson Coody in the field along with Alex and Matt Fitzpatrick. Alex Fitzpatrick and Rasmus Højgaard are sponsor invites…”
- “Billy Horschel, who won last week at the Corales Puntacana Championship, will be without his previous partner Sam Burns, as Burns and his wife are expecting their first child any day. Horschel will instead be paired with fellow University of Florida alum Tyson Alexander. Horschel has won the Zurich Classic when it was both an individual and team event… Other notable pairings include Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, Sahith Theegala and Will Zalatoris, and Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin. The Canadian duo finished runner-up a year ago and would like nothing more than to show Presidents Cup International Team captain Mike Weir how well they play together… Steve Stricker will play his second TOUR event this season (after earning his way into THE PLAYERS Championship), teaming up with Matt Kuchar.”
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5. Tiger’s teammates
Field Level Media report…”Tiger Woods announced Monday that Max Homa, Tom Kim and Kevin Kisner have joined his Jupiter Links GC TGL team.”
- “The virtual golf league headed by Woods and Rory McIlroy will begin its inaugural season next January. Woods also unveiled the team’s logo.”
- “I have already shared my excitement and optimism for TGL as a league and product,” said Woods. “Now that we have finalized our roster with a team of world-class golfers, I am even more confident that this group will proudly represent the Jupiter (Fla.) area and connect with our fans for years to come.”
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6. Woosnam questions Cantlay’s decision
Our Matt Vincenzi…”After the horn sounded to suspend play due to darkness, Cantlay, who’s ball was in the fairway on the 18th hole, had a decision to make. With over 200 yards into the green and extreme winds working against the shot, conventional wisdom would be to wait until Monday morning to hit the shot.”
- “On the other hand, if he could finish the hole, he may just want to get the event over with so he could get out of Hilton Head.”
- “Curiously, Cantlay chose neither of those options. After hitting 3-wood into the green, and still coming up short, the former FedEx Cup champion chose to mark his ball and chip and putt on Monday morning.”
- “Ian Woosnam, who was watching from home, took to X to give his thoughts on Cantlay’s decision making.”
- “Cantlay would end up getting up and down for par when play resumed at 8:00 am Monday morning.”
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7. JT on Scheffler’s “weird” equipment choice
Our Matt Vincenzi…”After Justin Thomas’ third round of the RBC Heritage, the two-time major champion went in the broadcast booth alongside the CBS crew.”
- “While Thomas was watching Scottie Scheffler play on the back nine of his third round, he wondered aloud why Scottie uses high-numbered golf balls.”
- “Does anybody else think it’s weird that Scottie uses high numbers? I don’t know if I’ve ever seen an elite player use high-numbered golf balls.”
- “Amanda Balionis who was on the grounds chimed in, reporting that analyst Dottie Pepper had wondered the same thing earlier that day.”
- “I’ve been going about this wrong my whole life,” Thomas jokingly said.
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8. Rory to rejoin PGA Tour policy board
Mark Schlabach for ESPN…”Four-time major championship winner Rory McIlroy is poised to return to the PGA Tour’s policy board, pending a vote by the board, which could come as early as this week, sources confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.”
- “One of the PGA Tour’s most vocal supporters during its three-year battle with LIV Golf, McIlroy abruptly resigned as a player director on the tour’s influential policy board in November.”
- “He is expected to replace policy board player director Webb Simpson, who intends to step away before his two-year term expires in 2025.”
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9. Weir names Presidents Cup assistants
PGA Tour report…”International Team Captain Mike Weir announced Ernie Els, Trevor Immelman, Geoff Ogilvy and Camilo Villegas as captain’s assistants for the 2024 Presidents Cup, which will be played at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Canada, Sept. 24-29. |
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Jim H
Apr 4, 2017 at 11:46 am
Such a “surprise” announcement
Dave R
Apr 3, 2017 at 9:42 pm
OMG who cares. REALLY !!
Tom54
Apr 3, 2017 at 7:48 pm
I understand he say he is not tournament ready but I don’t know why he doesn’t go have some fun, play the best he can and give fans who still love him the opportunity to watch him. If he would open up and be honest and not really care about what he shoots he would gain a lot of credibility and humility. We all know how great he was no denying that. But I agree that the secrecy around him and his injuries is a bit troubling
ButchT
Apr 3, 2017 at 6:46 pm
I think his withdrawing is comical.
Pilko
Apr 3, 2017 at 2:05 pm
Personally I think it’s the correct decision for Tiger and for golf, as much as I like the phenomena of Tiger playing and even better at the Masters. It’s beneficial to golf that the week isn’t centred around another ‘Tiger Return’ and instead we can see other stories break through. Added to this I don’t feel like we are getting the whole story about Tiger and something is being hidden about his condition.
JR
Apr 2, 2017 at 9:06 am
who really gives a chit about tiger anymore?? He is toast, done, kaput!!
ND Hickman
Apr 2, 2017 at 5:09 am
Seriously, can we please do away with the SHANK and LOL prefix on article pictures. It’s petty and simply plays up to the Tiger-basher crowd.
BB
Apr 2, 2017 at 11:49 am
Are you seriously triggered by a Tiger Woods article being shanked? SMH
ND Hickman
Apr 3, 2017 at 8:49 am
Nope, I’ve said it was a silly addition since day one. It literally serves no purpose other than trolling.
Lc
Apr 1, 2017 at 7:48 pm
Just don’t understand people guy was dominate and great to watch just as any athlete that’s purely competitive and not for the money. He had no other impact on my life nor any of the others that try to bash him.
Lc
Apr 1, 2017 at 7:44 pm
Ball licker…lol…I get it…lol… funny…read article about a guy and that’s what comes to ur mind. Lol….
KJ
Apr 1, 2017 at 1:40 pm
Sad to see such a great player have the game taken away from him b/c of injuries. He should start to think about taking an extended leave of absence and just rest his back for another year. Let it heal as much as possible. Give it one more go and if it doesn’t work out, retire.
Tom
Apr 1, 2017 at 12:04 pm
Jack’s record is safe.
Reebs
Apr 1, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Aprils fool?
BC
Apr 1, 2017 at 11:23 am
He knew he wouldn’t be playing. He has been history for a long time now.
Shallowface
Apr 1, 2017 at 11:04 am
There are things that cannot be bought, even if one has a billion dollars.
Rich Douglas
Apr 1, 2017 at 10:42 am
Of COURSE he isn’t playing. Neither am I. And both had the same probability: zero.
ooffa
Apr 1, 2017 at 6:54 am
BTW he’s not playing in The Players Championship, The British Open, The PGA or the US Open.
I hope I didn’t scoop your news team with these revelations.
Fat Perez
Apr 1, 2017 at 6:52 am
Shocker!!! Lol!
The dude
Apr 1, 2017 at 6:01 am
The real question….when will he retire…this year or next.
Shallowface
Apr 1, 2017 at 11:06 am
Never. It’s irrelevant.
The dude
Apr 1, 2017 at 5:59 am
But …that Bridgestone ball..and TM protos…
TONEY P
Apr 1, 2017 at 5:42 am
Wasn’t something we didn’t know. Tiger will be missed. Maybe some others should get out too.
Mark
Apr 1, 2017 at 5:03 am
And tomorrow is Sunday. Yawn.
Mr Muira
Apr 1, 2017 at 4:57 am
At least Elvis Presley has the decency to rock up.
Johnnylongballz
Apr 1, 2017 at 3:46 am
No announcement was necessary.
Wedge Chunk
Apr 1, 2017 at 12:47 am
Arnold Palmer wont be there either.
clowone
Apr 1, 2017 at 4:07 am
Too soon man, too soon
Bert
Apr 1, 2017 at 8:46 am
Callous comparison.
Looper
Apr 1, 2017 at 2:44 pm
Out of bounds man!!!
Big Mike
Mar 31, 2017 at 11:51 pm
He is done. Great memories of the Tiger of old but today’s Tiger has been tamed by mother nature and physical limitations. Thank you Tiger for the memories and all you have done for the game. Wishing you the best
Moonman
Mar 31, 2017 at 11:19 pm
I heard Tiger is going to play next year at the Masters. Cant wait!!!!!!
Jason
Mar 31, 2017 at 10:26 pm
Maybe he could just be an Honorary Starter.
Dat
Mar 31, 2017 at 10:08 pm
close the comments, this is gonna get ugly.
ooffa
Mar 31, 2017 at 8:52 pm
Of course he’s not. No one thought he would.
JR
Apr 1, 2017 at 12:00 am
except tiger ball lickers