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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Peter McGill
Feb 28, 2019 at 8:20 pm
I always clear on my popularity in the group if they all race up to mark their ball when I’m about to chip…
dan mcco
Feb 26, 2019 at 6:17 pm
Change the rule so that a ball cannot be marked unless the player hitting onto the green requests it. Then there is no backstopping issue and everyone gets the “advantage”. We used to make player putt over or around a ball on the green (stymies.)
Matthew Keves
Feb 26, 2019 at 1:29 pm
Simple fix…if an opponent’s ball hits yours, you both play it as it lies…no more putting it back where it was. That’ll stop this immediately
Sandra
Feb 26, 2019 at 1:43 pm
That’s a good one. I’d go for that AND mark my ball every time!
frank cichon
Feb 26, 2019 at 12:06 pm
What a joke! After hitting her chip, Ariya started towards the hole INTENDING to MARK her ball but glanced at Olson and was WAVED OFF by Olson. If anyone that has played the game at a fairly decent level (having some skill) knows that a ball resting within 2 feet right of the hole makes a downhill chip (from a poor lie) MUCH easier. I my mind Olson took advantage and hit the shot MUCH quicker than she would have. I think Olson should have been penalized …not Ariya because Olson waved her off. As for not holding up play…did I not see Wie standing on the fringe of the green (NO CLUB in hand) waiting for a RULING. WHAT A MONTH FOR GOLF……..KUCHER, DJ’s ruling was another JOKE ….I lost a lot of respect for ALL 3 of these golfers.
UpstateGolfer
Feb 26, 2019 at 9:34 am
Rub of the green. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it hurts. I am for the speed up of play and if it helps a player every now and again so be it. Non-Issue.
Tim Armington
Feb 26, 2019 at 9:14 am
If she is good enough to hit a 1.5″ ball at will why wouldn’t she aim at the 4.5″ hole? It speeds up play and should be a non-issue!
Jim
Feb 26, 2019 at 9:13 am
Gianni,
Words are significant! Your use of the word “denies” in your column above implies there was guilt. A much more positive word would have been the truthful “explains” what happened. I’m tired of all you journalists and so-called experts taking the negative viewpoint on everything, especially Chamblee!
Regarding the backstopping, Amy made an error in judgement trying to protect the field from slow play by playing fast. That’s all.
Stop trying to make something sinister or negative out of it and get on with life and more important things!
Dennis
Feb 26, 2019 at 9:02 am
Require a ball on the green must be marked before the next player plays his/her shot.
Dave R
Feb 26, 2019 at 10:50 am
Curious…how far away 100yds…50yds
This whole “backstopping” thing is ludicrous…
joro
Feb 26, 2019 at 8:59 am
So what, there is no rule against it and it is done all the time. A person chips it close and rather than wait for the player to mark it, which takes time, the next player hits. So big deal, it is stupid to even comment on it. It has been going on forever.
Tiger Noods
Feb 26, 2019 at 5:49 am
You guys are full of it. The word “likely” is used in the rule, and by all accounts, likely by definition is better than a 50% chance. The thought that you are all suggesting that it was *LIKELY* that the other ball would be hit from a pitch from off the green is flatly preposterous. If it were “likely”, then imagine how easily a larger target, like a 4.25″ hole would be hit from there… this was just a wee little 1.68″ ball!
You either expect these ladies to be shooting 59s consistently, or you are putting way, way too much into this.
JP
Feb 25, 2019 at 9:42 pm
Jutanugarn was on her way up to mark her ball. She knew it was likely to get hit. Olsen waved her off and proceeded to do just that.
Everyone who saw it knew it was a rule infraction.
Like already said, if this were match play, there’s no way Jutanugarn doesn’t mark her ball!
scott
Feb 26, 2019 at 2:21 pm
“likely”? Why didn’t she just hit the stick instead of the ball that was 2 feet to the right? Wouldn’t it be easier if she would have just hit the stick and made the chip instead of hitting the other ball?
But I guess you are right EVERYONE knew it was a rules infraction. Let’s not let the fact that it IS NOT a rules infraction get in the way of your story.
JP
Feb 26, 2019 at 3:47 pm
“Likely” as in it had a good chance! It was in close proximity to the intended target. So yes, it was likely to get hit.
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Oh wait! Not just likely, it DID get hit! That’s how likely a ball somewhat close to the pin is to get hit. A distinct possibility. That’s why there is a rule about this.
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Given the choice, I’d love to have a ball or two somewhat close to the pin each and every time I chip up. And I’d prefer those balls be just left, right, or behind the cup. Why? Because it’s likely I’ll hit them once in a while and it will help. Or is there a rule regarding this???
Tom
Feb 25, 2019 at 2:33 pm
Both spectators watching the women’s golf noticed the infraction…..lol!
2putttom
Feb 25, 2019 at 1:45 pm
what does the “rule” say
thebigdad
Feb 25, 2019 at 11:58 am
I can assure you had Jutanugarn’s ball been in front of the hole, Olsen would have insisted it be marked.
bob
Feb 25, 2019 at 11:06 am
So they want to speed up play, but you have to stop to mark every ball on the green.
kevin
Feb 25, 2019 at 1:38 pm
it took the players 12 seconds from the shot to walk to the green and fist pump. marking a ball sitting next to the cup does is not the reason why players are slow.
the simple test should be whether or not the ball would’ve been marked during match play. guarantee it would’ve.
Matt D
Feb 25, 2019 at 4:37 pm
100% right Kevin. Jutanagarn’s instinct was to mark it because it might give Amy an advantage. Jutanagarn is entitled under the rules to mark her ball, or have any other ball marked if there’s an advantage. My guess is she didn’t want to make waves so just left it.
Jon G
Feb 25, 2019 at 9:48 am
Players need to know the rules. I like Amy, but ignorance of the rules for any player in a sport they play for a living is not good for the sport,