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Dustin Johnson expected to return at Farmers

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Dustin Johnson, who’s been on a leave of absence from the PGA Tour since July 31, is targeting the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines on Feb. 5-8, 2015 to make his return.

His fiancee Paulina Gretzky is pregnant with the couples’ first child, and the baby’s due date reportedly coincides with the Farmers Insurance Open, so his return to competition isn’t definite.

Johnson’s last appearance on tour was at the 2014 RBC Canadian Open where he missed the cut. Upon taking his leave of absence after that event, Johnson was ranked No. 16 according to the Official World Golf Ranking. He’s still ranked No. 16 as of Tuesday Nov. 18, so he hasn’t lost any ground, but he did miss out on the 2014 PGA Championship and the 2014 Ryder Cup.

How will the 30-year old play upon his return to competition? He shot a 61 at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif., breaking Tiger Woods’ course record on Oct. 28, so maybe he won’t be as rusty as we’d expect, but no one is immune to the sleepless nights and pressures of having their first child.

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He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

17 Comments

17 Comments

  1. Joel

    Dec 1, 2014 at 2:01 am

    Let the man snort lines off Paulina…I could care less. I just miss seeing the guy play. I’ve never understood the testing for recreational drugs, if someone thinks doing cocaine or smoking pot is anymore than a hindrance to competing at the professional level than someone clearly hasn’t partied much.

    HGH or other PED’s…I could still care less but I understand that argument a touch more. I think everyone on tour should have to clear a bong load and eat a bag of shrooms and then play…talk about must see TV!

    • Garrick Smith

      Dec 24, 2014 at 12:39 pm

      Just so I understand: you’re saying that its Ok if the PGA looks the other way if the players use recreational drugs and PEDs?

      This IS sarcasm, right?

  2. Davethegolfer

    Nov 19, 2014 at 5:32 am

    When is golf going to be transparent in its dealing with its athletes. Like it or not there are banned substances and sanctions apply for use of those substances. We are no longer in the days of the gentleman’s club where matter were dealt with privately and swept under the carpet.

    • Pat

      Nov 19, 2014 at 2:00 pm

      Exactly. You have guys on tour like Tiger, Rory, Camilo, and Adam Scott using PEDs and nobody talks about it. The testing for PEDs in most sports is ridiculous. They go by epi/test ratio. A normal, young, healthy male cannot exceed 2:1. Yet, all sports have loose standards/thresholds for these tests. For the NFL it’s 10:1, baseball 5:1 and for golf I’m guessing it’s 5:1 as well which leaves room for these guys to use small-moderate amounts of steroids depending on the sport. I have friend that used to play back up linebacker for the Bears and the ex-golf pro at my course was scouted by the Angels and used to play in Triple A so it’s not speculation on my part, but factual. Reasons why the PGA sweeps these positive tests under the rug and allows such high tolerances is because it would hurt the industry, ratings would plummet and they would lose sponsors and money. Maybe someday the PGA tour will be transparent with the drug use on tour, but it’s not going to be anytime soon.

      • Vinnie

        Nov 19, 2014 at 2:23 pm

        Because sports realized a long time ago that it is all about entertainment not athletes.

        I work in the pro cycling industry and the Tour de France knew years (pre-Lance BS) that that race was all about entertainment. They had a very high hemocrit level so cyclists could dope (to a certain level) to be able to provide 3 weeks of entertainment for people watching. It made great TV, and was exciting to watch.

        All pro sports are the same way. If they truly cared about a “clean sport” then one legit drug test would solve all that. Leagues keep ratios high so people can do it, perform at their best and then fans, ratings and TV contracts grow.

      • Carlos Danger

        Nov 20, 2014 at 2:47 pm

        Oh great…we now have the “I know for a fact this athlete did Steroids” guy commenting on the message boards. Im sure you have a buddy who played golf at a course that had a caddy who knew a girl whos best friend slept with a musician who liked golf and said he knew a janitor at a Taco Bell who saw that “golfer guy” with what looked like a steroid needle…or an ink pen. He wasnt sure but it could have been a steroid needle. So I figured Im just gonna spew that out on the message board because it seems pretty credible.

        Video, failed drug test, testimony, etc…with some proof of your statement “Tiger, Rory, Camilo, and Adam Scott using PEDs” would be nice. Were waiting…

        • Pat

          Nov 20, 2014 at 7:01 pm

          Carlos, you are clearly ignorant and don’t have a clue on how sports at the highest levels works. You have no right to comment. I already told you that the standards for the epi/test ratio is very loose in sports. I gave specifics as well and cited my sources. You can go ahead and live in your lala fairy tale world. Must be nice being oblivious to so many things in life.

          • Carlos Danger

            Nov 21, 2014 at 9:39 am

            I have no right to comment? Well please let me know when you have granted me permission to speak about whether or not guys who play golf for a living take testosterone to help them hit a golf ball farther. How dare I speak without your approval.

            I never said professional athletes dont take PEDs/Steroids. In fact I am well aware that they take them (and quite frankly I could care less).

            I am simply pointing out that the “I know a guy who said these guys take steroids” comments are lame. If you have some evidence of Rory, Tiger, Scott, etc…taking this stuff or testing positive then provide to all of us. Point us to a link supporting this. Give us some pictures or videos of it happening. If not, then you are just another jackweasel making random accusations.

          • bradford

            Nov 21, 2014 at 1:32 pm

            Pat, your “cited” sources are nothing but made up stories and you know it as well as everyone who reads your comments. There is zero validity to your “citations” whatsoever. You should just bow out, as you know Carlos is correct and you will never post your alleged “proof” because it doesn’t exist. You got called out.

        • Pat

          Nov 20, 2014 at 7:06 pm

          Do you know or have a personal relationship with any ex or current pro athletes, Carlos? Yeah, I didn’t think so. I do, and it’s not just one, it’s two, so my statement is clearly confirmed not once, but twice. Also, there was that nobody years ago that got popped for a positive test for steroids on the PGA tour, so this proves too that PED use is apparent on tour. Like I said, go ahead and ignore facts and make yourself look ignorant.

          • Carlos Danger

            Nov 21, 2014 at 9:50 am

            I do know/have a personal relationship with professional athletes but who really cares. I certainly dont care if you do. And yes I have had these people tell me things about the pro sports world that are similar to what you stated…however its really no different than things I hear or see in regular life so who cares. I certainly wouldnt go around saying “my buddy who is a pro athlete told me other pro athletes do bad things sometimes.”

            Im well aware that adults take drugs. I dont really care if they do as long as it does not affect me or my family.

            IN terms of ignoring facts…you didnt provide any. Unless you want to count “I know people and they told me” as a fact.

            And relax on the manufactured outrage of athletes taking PED’s. Do you really not have other things in your life that are more important than this? I would say family, friends, job, mortgage, etc…take a front seat to worrying about Camillio Villegas licking deer antlers to hit a golf ball 315 instead of 308.

          • bradford

            Nov 21, 2014 at 1:35 pm

            Name them. “Clearly confirmed”? Hardly. Again, We’re expected to believe this made up story solely because you said so? I don’t, because it’s false.

            What facts are being ignored?

    • Carlos Danger

      Nov 20, 2014 at 2:50 pm

      When are people on message boards going to stop pretending to care if athletes take a PED so that you can be overly entertained?

      Oh My God! Rory might have sniffed deer urine before the open championship! I feel so cheated having enjoyed watching him hit the ball 350 down the middle for 4 days. My manufactured outrage is making me really mad!

  3. AZ Golfman

    Nov 18, 2014 at 5:18 pm

    And let the cocaine jokes start rolling in…

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans

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GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.

As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.

Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying about our photos from the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in the forums.

 

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Morning 9: Tiger’s TGL teammates | Woosnam’s criticism of Cantlay | Rory’s return to tour policy board

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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.

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.”
Full piece.

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.”
Full piece.

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.”
Full piece.

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.”
Full piece.

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.”
Full piece.

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.”
Full piece.

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.
Full piece.

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.”
Full piece.

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.

Full piece.
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Tour Rundown: Six-pack of tourneys follows Masters

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Brazil and Texas were kindred souls this week, at least when it came to weather. Both regions experienced torrential delays, and three tournaments were held up. The LPGA, PGA Tour Americas, and PGA Tour Champions were compelled to reduce play or work extra holes into Sunday. As if that weren’t enough, South Carolina and the PGA Tour fell victim to nature’s wrath, with lightning postponing the conclusion of the event to Monday.

The year’s first women’s major championship was celebrated in Texas. The Chevron is gaining a bit of tradition in its second year after relocation. This year’s event culminated in the continued coronation of the game’s current best. The Korn Ferry Tour saw a top-twenty performance from a 15-year old amateur, while the second event of the week on the big tour found a winner in the Dominican Republic. Six events is more than a handful, so let’s get right to it, with this week’s (delayed) Tour Rundown.

LPGA @ Chevron Championship: Korda corrals second major title

The winter of 2022-2023 seems so distant for current Nelly Korda. A mysterious ailment sapped all of her energy, just as the world appeared to have finally emerged from the pandemic. We never quite secured the complete information that we desired, but no one can say that any of us deserved to know more than Nelly wished to share. One thing is for certain: Nelly Korda has returned to top form, and the world number one golfer is at least one level above anyone else on tour.

Korda began her 2024 campaign with a January victory in the Drive One Championship. In her next start, in March, she continued her assault on the record books, with a win at the Se Ri Pak. She won again the following week, at the Ford, then defeated Leona Maguire in the final match at the T-Mobile Match Play, for a fourth consecutive victory. Would the increased hype around a major championship have an impact on her game? Well, no.

Korda began play at the Chevron Championship with a score of 68. She trailed Lauren Coughlin by two after 18 holes, but caught her with a second-round 69. Coughlin would ultimately tie for third spot with Brooke Henderson. Henderson played with Korda on day four, but the middle third of the round was her undoing. Making a late move was Maja Stark. House Stark closed with birdies at 17 and 18 to reach 11 under par. Both Korda and Strak played the final three days in identical numbers: 69 each day.

Korda held a firm hand on the tournament over the course of the final day. She stood minus-four for the round through ten holes, before a bit of sloppy play made things competitive again. Bogeys at 11 and 15 opened the door a wee bit for Stark. Korda was equal to the test, however, and closed stylishly with birdie at 18.

PGA Tour 1 @ RBC: Scottie, so hottie!

Nelly isn’t the only golfer on fire, although Scottie Scheffler still has a ways to go to match her. Scheffler proved this week that he has a game for all courses. After winning comfortably at lengthy Augusta National, Scheffler shifted gears and game to the wee Sea Pines course, and won again. That’s two weeks in a row for the man from New Jersey/Texas, so let’s learn how he did it.

Scheffler totaled 69 on day one, and found himself six shots behind leader J.T. Poston. Scheffler revealed that his teacher, Randy Smith, would tell him that he didn’t need to be the best 15 year-old; just the best 25 year-old. It was easy, then, to play the long game and consider all 72 holes, instead of just 18. Scheffler improved to 65 on Friday, and then went even lower on Saturday. His 63 moved him to the top of the board, and caused the golfverse to wonder if Scheffler would win for a second consecutive week.

Sunday saw all the chasers fall away. Scores between 70 and 72 from Patrick Rodgers, Collin Morikawa, and Sepp Straka meant that others would need to seize the day, if Scheffler were to do more than coast. Wyndham Clark and Justin Thomas each moved inside the top five with fourth-round 65s, but no one ever got close enough to the world number one. The win was Scheffler’s 10th on tour, and made him the betting favorite for next month’s PGA Championship at Valhalla.

PGA Tour 2 @ Corales Puntacana: Baton Boy claims 8th Tour triumph

If you’ve ever seen Billy Horschel toss a club, you know that he doesn’t do so in anger. More likely is a calculated, soaring arc, paired with a look of fractured disbelief, followed by a quick catch of the cudgel. Ergo, Baton Boy. This week on the island of Hispaniola, the native of Grant, Florida, outworked and outhustled everyone else on Sunday. Horschel gathered seven birdies and an eagle, on the way to a 63 and a 23-under par total.

The former Florida Gator zipped past the four golfers in front of him, and left the remaining field in the rear-view mirror. Horschel’s round was two shots better than anyone else, and moved him two shots ahead of third-round leader Wesley Bryan. One of the famed Bryan Brothers, Wes closed with birdie at the last to post a 68 that would have won the week on any other day.

Korn Ferry Tour @ LeCom Suncoast: It’s Widing in extra holes

Miles Russell probably won’t have to serve detention for ditching class on Thursday and Friday. The high school freshman made his KFT debut, survived the 36-hole cut, and toyed with a top-ten finish. He ultimately tied for 20th at 14-under par, six shots behind the three co-leaders. My guess is that Epstein’s Mom will write him a note, and he’ll get a pass. By finishing top-25, Russell earned a spot in next week’s event. Yikes!

Back to the top of the board. Patrick Cover, Steven Fisk, and Tim Widing all found their way to the magic number of -20. Fisk made birdie at the last, after bogeys at 16 and 17. Cover had three bogeys on the back nine, but a birdie at 14 was enough to get him to overtime. Widing was plus-one on the day through four, but played interstellar golf over the final 14. Six birdies moved him from Russell-ville to extra time.

The trio scurried to the 18th tee, where Cover drove into a fairway bunker. He was unable to reach the green with his approach, made bogey, and exited the overtime session. Widing and Fisk returned to the final deck once more, and matters were resolved. Fisk was unable to convert a long par putt, and Widing (pronounced VEE-ding) tapped in for his first KFT title.

PGA Tour Americas @ Brasil Open: Mr. Anderson finds a way

Golf is a funny game. Matthew Anderson held a lead with one round to play. He made six pars on Sunday, and sprinkled the rest of his card with birdies and bogeys. In complete contrast, Ollie Osborne played consistently on the day, posting four birdies and zero bogeys. Connor Godsey was not far off Osborne’s pace, with seven birdies and but two bogeys on the scorecard. So, of course, Matthew Anderson won by a stroke over Osborne and Godsey.

Not how, but how many, is another one of those platitudes that we all learn early on. Despite five bogeys through his first 14 holes, Anderson summoned the defiant grit to make birdie at the 71st and 72nd holes. After making deuce at the penultimat hole, Anderson’s swerving effort at the last looked as if it should miss low, but it had enough pace to stay inside the hole and fall for a closing four at the par-five finisher.

PGA Tour Champions @ Invited Celebrity: Broadhurst stands tall

What do you call a tournament that begins on Friday, takes Saturday off, and finishes on Sunday? Fortunate is one adjective to use. A weather system moved through Texas this weekend, and made a mess of things in Irving. After Thomas Bjorn signed for 64 on day one, rain and all things counter-productive moved through the Las Colinas resort, ensuring that Saturday would be nothing more than a rest day. When Sunday arrived, conditions had improved, and the game was on. Bjorn was unable to preserve his Friday magic, although he did record a 70 for -8. He finished in a third-place tie with Y.E. Yang.

David Toms, the 2001 PGA Championship victor, presented Sunday’s low round, and moved to 10-under par. Toms made one mistake on the day. He lived in the rough on the 9th hole, ultimately making bogey. The rest of the day was immaculate, as seven birdies came his way, resulting in a six-under par 65. Only one golfer was able to surpass Toms, and that was Paul Broadhurst.

Broadhurst nearly matched Toms for daily honors. His mistake came early, with bogey at the second. He bounced back with eagle at the third, and added three more birdies for 66 and 11-under par. Over his first three seasons on the Tour Champions, Broadhurst won five times, including two major titles. His fifth win came in 2018, making this win his first in six years. A long time coming, for sure, but well earned.

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