News

Justin Thomas rips USGA for new rule, which saw yet another Tour pro controversially penalized

Published

5 years ago

Feb 2, 2019

Gianni Magliocco

Update 2/3: The USGA has reversed the penalty assessed to Denny McCarthy

Official Statement on Denny McCarthy: pic.twitter.com/PpcPl9rHiF

— USGA PR (@USGA_PR) February 2, 2019

If the USGA thought that updates to the rules of golf would help modernize the sport and keep themselves out of the headlines, then 2019 has been a rude awakening.

Haotong Li’s penalty on the European Tour caused controversy in Dubai last week, and on Friday at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, a penalty called on PGA Tour pro Denny McCarthy had the golfing world enraged.

McCarthy received a two-stroke penalty on the 15th hole, after violating Rule 10.2b (4), which states that when a player begins taking a stance for the stroke and until the stroke is made, his caddie cannot deliberately stand in a location on or close to an extension of the line of play behind the ball for any reason. Despite re-setting, the 25-year-old was deemed to have breached the rule and was subsequently given a two-stroke penalty.

What followed, was a mini-mutiny amongst PGA Tour professionals, led by one of the game’s best, Justin Thomas. Despite being right in the thick of things at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Thomas took time to call out the USGA for their latest rule change, in a manner which is almost unheard of in modern sports. Thomas was outraged by the ruling, and on social media, the 25-year-old called it “ridiculous” and stressed how he felt the new rule “NEEDS to be changed asap”.

This is ridiculous… the fact this is a penalty is mind blowing. @USGA this NEEDS to be changed ASAP… there is nothing about this rule that makes the game better https://t.co/wtPmPOcss4

— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) February 2, 2019

Thomas’ post is no doubt going to court controversy, but the American received backing from fellow pro’s Brandt Snedeker and Eddie Pepperell, who soon after joined the rebellion. The former tagged the USGA in his tweet and sarcastically stated “Good job simplifying the rules,” while Pepperell brutally slammed the entire ethos behind the rules of golf, with this ruthless tweet.

Astonishing really, that a game that appears so odd, to so many, has within it some of the most bizarre rules one could fathom. If grey areas, cantankerous old men and contradictions are your thing, then take up the game of golf. https://t.co/wP1XhfLy3H

— Eddie Pepperell (@PepperellEddie) February 2, 2019

The USGA has been under fire for several high-profile blunders in recent years, especially in regards to its handling of U.S. Opens. With the new rules in place designed to simplify matters, the idea was apparently to keep themselves as just a backstory while letting the game of golf shine. But it has all gone pear-shaped yet again for the organization.

The audacity shown by one of the elite players in the game like Justin Thomas to call out the USGA proves that whatever patience had by the top professionals in the game has just about worn thin with regards to the governing body’s handling of the sport.

The decision to penalize players and their caddies for innocuous incidents, who possess no incentive to gain an advantage, is surely only going to lead to more controversy as we head towards major season. Just take a look at Rickie Fowler’s caddie here, who is wholly focused on his job and then becomes fearful of unintentionally infringing the latest rule implemented by the USGA.

Joe out there trying not to get Rickie Haotong Li’ed in PHX. cc: @the_woke_yolk @NoLayingUp pic.twitter.com/jHXchdAeRt

— Matthew Galloway (@matthewgalloway) February 1, 2019

Golf may be a gentleman’s sport, laced with history and tradition, but Friday night showed that, when feeling justified in doing so, Justin Thomas and his fellow pros are clearly not afraid to call out the powers that be. One can only wonder how the folks in Far Hills feel about such high-profile criticism.

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Gianni Magliocco

Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected].

50 Comments

Rich

Feb 23, 2019 at 4:13 am

Justin Thomas is a whinger. He thinks he’s a hero because he plays golf well. Plenty of you out there mate. You haven’t got the market cornered on that. Hell, even JB Holmes can beat you down the stretch at Riviera. The rule is simple. Just play to it. Don’t have your caddie anywhere near you like of play when your anywhere near the ball. How hard is that!!!

Reply Report comment
- FeelFreeToPunctuateProperly
  
  Feb 28, 2019 at 12:09 pm
  
  I’m confused as to how sticking up for a lesser-known player is whining. I get it, you don’t like the guy, but try and form a coherent thought, rather than just jumping at any opportunity to grumble about a player. This sort of comment adds nothing to the conversation.
  
  Reply Report comment
Shotmark

Feb 15, 2019 at 4:34 am

Contrary to their supposed intention, the way the new rules have been dumbed down seem to have the express intention of slowing down play. This rule is however spot on in my opinion.

It puts the onus back on the player to line up shots/puts using their own skill and judgement rather than that of their caddy.

The fact the new rule is causing so much consternation and debate suggests it was necessary. If the change had been seamless then that would suggest it hadn’t gone far enough.

As to the entitled Justin Thomas being upset by the change, heaven forfend that anyone should do anything to offend this delicate snowflake. No doubt the fist person he hears defending the rule will be ejected from the course.

Reply Report comment
- Rich Douglas
  
  Feb 17, 2019 at 3:04 pm
  
  No, it suggests that it is confusing and applied in a manner inconsistent with its intended purpose and outcome.
  
  The rule is aimed at players who have their caddies check their club face alignment at address. This is almost exclusively an LPGA tour thing. So the new rule is designed to have the caddie get out of their before he/she can align the player. Fine. But what constitutes being out of there is really vague. Hence, the confusion.
  
  Reply Report comment
Tim

Feb 13, 2019 at 9:34 am

This is a really old game.

Really old.

At its inception, the game was simple. The rules were essentially self evident. There were no issues. The objective was to get the ball in the cup in as few strokes as possible. The player with the fewest strokes wins. THAT IT.

Sitting in a room and brainstorming situations like caddie helping a player line up.. This type of thinking will result in these types of moronic situations. Whatever minuscule damage that may come from a caddie helping a player line up his next stroke, pales in comparison to the chaos that comes from making rules to prevent it.

Count every stroke, play it as it lies, OOB is OOB and dont worry about the conversations that the caddies are having with the players. Its just two humans talking. It has nothing to do with the objective of the sport: THE PLAYER WITH THE FEWEST STROKES WINS.

Reply Report comment
Jd78

Feb 8, 2019 at 6:56 am

Will the pga tour please say to hell with the incompetent buffoons at the USGA and create their own rules. How many more golfers are they going to screw over with their ridiculous rulings, and how many more US opens will they ruin before it happens?

Reply Report comment
CJ

Feb 4, 2019 at 8:08 pm

I love that JT is speaking his mind and they are taking notice!

Reply Report comment
- Joe Damiata
  
  Feb 5, 2019 at 3:15 pm
  
  It’s good to see a tour pro with some stature voice his opinion. Previously, pros were afraid to speak up, worried by the threat of a fine. If something is wrong, then these guys are the ones who will cause the USGA rules makers take notice. Well done JT.
  
  Reply Report comment
Art Williams

Feb 4, 2019 at 2:02 pm

I was under the impression that if the golfer backs off the putt and then resets, no penalty occurs. I read above, I think, that that is what ultimately happened. As to RicKie’s penalty it seems absurd. He did everything correctly. The ball was in play and through no action of his gravity or something (wind?) took over and the ball trickled down the embankment into the water. He needed to reset it again with another penalty? Crazy. It should be like a ball on a green that moves. Replace it and play on.

Reply Report comment
- geohogan
  
  Mar 4, 2019 at 9:28 am
  
  @art williams
  Your looking for equity and justice in a sport invented by Scots.
  Explained by, Robin Williams:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcnFbCCgTo4
  
  Reply Report comment
BallBuster

Feb 4, 2019 at 1:08 pm

I think Thomas and all should quit whining about the rule. It’s a good rule. No outside influence in the actual stroke. Just like 99.9% of golfers do every day. Thomas wonders how it makes golf better? It makes it more dependent on your individual talent and ability to perform on your own and not be pampered. What if your caddy has a better sense of aim than the other guy but you as a player suck more under pressure?

Doubt Ben Hogan or Jack Nicklaus ever had his caddy give him the “roger all systems are go” call before he hit the ball.

As far as backing off after he had his caddy behind him then readdressing the ball to play… geez, just another F’n thing we need to slow down play.

Reply Report comment
- Scooter6
  
  Feb 5, 2019 at 8:04 am
  
  Well said! It is a legit rule that takes care of a problem that was getting out of hand, particularly in the LPGA.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - OnInTwo
    
    Feb 7, 2019 at 8:02 pm
    
    I agree, it’s a good rule. These pampered pros just basically need to play like the other estimated 60 million golfers play. Why don’t those folks have to worry about incurring that penalty? Because they don’t have a caddy. Surely the men and women, who are now “pros”, played the game without the advantage of a human tool in their early development and while they are “off”/playing leisurely with friends. How difficult is it for the caddy to give advice, encouragement, sustenance, pyschoanalysis, and assurance that a participation trophy will be issued to the player while standing to the side of the line of play? Unless of course there is some advantage to having all of that presented from behind the player. Yea, ah huh, kinda what I thought.
    
    Reply Report comment
Ron Garland

Feb 4, 2019 at 12:38 pm

Who cares what the USGA thinks? When you’re wrong, you’re wrong. And they are dead wrong.

Reply Report comment
Joro

Feb 4, 2019 at 12:29 pm

As usual the “Rulers of the game” have stuck their size 20 foot in their big mouth, are continuing the phuqing up of the game. New rules are stupid rules and not many get them, other than the geniuses in here. Face it when Riickies ball rolled into the water after he placed it, thought it was done and walked up to the Green only 2 see Gravity take over and the Ball rolled into the water. Okay, so it rolled by it self, but a Penalty? that is totally ridiculous, yet that is the rule, which is total USGA Bull****.

Golf should be hit it, go find it and hit it again. No freebies, no drops, nothing. Hit it in the water or OB take a drop, add a stroke and hit it again, and most of all add a big penalty for being slow. They don’t need a watch to see if a player is slow, if they are fine em with a meaningful amount that they will remember.

Hit, find it, and hit it again.

Reply Report comment
- 9Lb. Hammer
  
  Feb 4, 2019 at 1:16 pm
  
  Return to troll school dude. You have failed miserably. All you have succeeded in doing is making a laughing stock out of yourself.
  
  Reply Report comment
- REGIS
  
  Feb 4, 2019 at 8:43 pm
  
  The only people who actually play by the rules are professionals and top amatures in tournaments. Most avid amatures don’t understand the rules and that’s fine. Play whatever rules your regular 4 some or group is comfortable. How many times has someone in your group actually gone back to the tee and reloaded after a ball is lost in the rough? How many groups play a breakfast ball or Mulligan. Most charity tournaments sell them to raise money.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Peter
    
    Feb 5, 2019 at 4:16 am
    
    What, the other groups in my Saturday comp aren’t following the rules?? Well, that explains a lot!
    
    Reply Report comment
Guia

Feb 3, 2019 at 2:03 am

Read the rules, follow the rules, quit whining.

Reply Report comment
- Antonio
  
  Feb 3, 2019 at 1:46 pm
  
  +1. IS it so difficult to understand the rule? These guys are getting spoiled
  
  Reply Report comment
- Tartan Golf Travel
  
  Feb 3, 2019 at 4:48 pm
  
  You clearly don’t understand what happened. The tour has already reversed the ruling!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Antonio
    
    Feb 4, 2019 at 5:59 am
    
    If it were up to me I would change several rules. In the meantime if I break a rule, whether I believe it is a stupid one or not, I just assume it. Now these guys can brake a rule simply because they have not taken the time to read them and then make a lot of noise and influence changes as it has happened.
    Nonetheless I think any pgatour pro proposal to modify any of the rules has to be heard but not once you have broken it. I have not heard or seen JT proposing specific changes to the new rules up until now
    
    Reply Report comment
- B
  
  Feb 4, 2019 at 10:35 am
  
  He did follow the rules, that’s why the tour overturned the ruling. Pay attention man.
  
  Reply Report comment
Tartan Golf Travel

Feb 2, 2019 at 8:26 pm

The ruling was moronic as are most things the USGA does. The spirit of the rule is fine. Make the player line himself up but Li’s Penalty was terrible and this one was just absurd. The tour and USGA have already backed off. Don’t get use to the new rules. The USGA will update them very soon. Guarantee the drop will be amended to say above the knee. This one with lining up is just very subjective but the only way you can do it is I’ll know it when I see it. The only people abusing this anyway was the LPGA.

Reply Report comment
- Robert
  
  Feb 4, 2019 at 11:47 am
  
  You’re already being penalized. How about simply being allowed to place the ball. Would save a lot of wasted time dropping, then re-dropping.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - smarterthanusga
    
    Feb 13, 2019 at 11:12 am
    
    amen…..so dumbass that they bend over and drop from knee height and it still always rolls anyway.. what is really dumbass is that they play lift-clean-and PLACE about a quarter of the time anyway so what’s the big deal about placing the ball???
    
    ps..still say the usga should have put in place driver drop zones…to save the morons in front of me from hitting 3 drives each. there’s drop zones by ponds so what is the difference? put the driver drop zone say 200 yards out or whatever from the white tees if they want to add a bit of a distance penalty too.
    
    Reply Report comment
A. Commoner

Feb 2, 2019 at 3:24 pm

Major professional sports organizations make their own rules of competition; why not professional golf? The tours need to totally direct their own affairs. ‘Seeds of discontent’ have been slowly germinating over some years among professionals and amateurs alike. It is inevitable the “governing bodies” will, in time, extinguish themselves. Ineptitude and irrelevance will not save tradition.

Reply Report comment
- Regis
  
  Feb 4, 2019 at 8:50 pm
  
  The PGA tour does have its own rules.(like the one ball rule) They supplement the USGA/R&A rules. If they chose to the PGA tour could always adapt a separate set of rules governing play in their tournaments
  
  Reply Report comment
Phil

Feb 2, 2019 at 2:10 pm

It would probably be easier, and fair, if the “reset rule” applied to the entire golf course or, did not exist at all. It does not make sense that this rule’s application depends on where the player is on the course.

Reply Report comment
Lovejoy

Feb 2, 2019 at 1:31 pm

Thomas,Pepperell and gang need to grow up and shut up.
The rule change has been made and as ‘professionals’ you would assume that all caddies have also been informed and told that under no circumstances should they encroach on the stipulated area.
The situation was highlighted in Dubai but Mr McCarthy has either not taken it on board or believes it doesn’t apply to him.
The player and caddie were stupid not the penalty.

Reply Report comment
- 9Lb. Hammer
  
  Feb 4, 2019 at 1:21 pm
  
  The player and caddie failing to observe the rule are stupid. Contrary to what you seem to thing that has less than nothing to do with the fact THE RULE IS STUPID. STUPID, STUPID, STUPID.
  
  Defend the rule leaving this particular violation out of it.
  
  Reply Report comment
15th Club

Feb 2, 2019 at 1:27 pm

Oh bring it on! Nice that Eddie Pepperell when ageist and complained about “cantankerous old men.” No sure what a millennial douchebag like Eddie Pepperell knows about administering the Rules of Golf.

Reply Report comment
- Shallowface
  
  Feb 2, 2019 at 5:45 pm
  
  The perpetrators of ageism will have to get old themselves before ageism is treated with the same much deserved disdain as racism is treated today.
  
  Reply Report comment
Dan

Feb 2, 2019 at 12:21 pm

How about the premadona pros just play the game with the rules . Rules are rules. Sick of all kinds of so call pros dictating what a what should not be. You make ridiculous amounts of money don’t like it find another sport. Plenty of new young pros behind you that don’t need to listen to the big boys wine.

Reply Report comment
- 9Lb. Hammer
  
  Feb 4, 2019 at 1:26 pm
  
  “premadona”, “so call pros”, “dictating what a what should not be”, “big boys wine”
  
  I bet those “so cal pros” can wrote and speak English a lot more proficiently than it seems you can from behind the anonymity of your keyboard and an internet connection.
  
  Reply Report comment
- OnInTwo
  
  Feb 8, 2019 at 5:09 pm
  
  Totally agree with you Dan. It’s incredible, but typically millennial. Whiners. Play like we play (don’t want to hear, but they play better, you know what I mean- pre troll comment), that’s why the rules aren’t bifurcated. So we can see how well experts do it.
  
  Reply Report comment
dat

Feb 2, 2019 at 11:59 am

No one outside the pro level on TV enforce this crap. And you wonder why people view golf as a masochist game.

Reply Report comment
- antonio
  
  Feb 3, 2019 at 1:53 pm
  
  Are you serious? Most of the people I know (low, mid and high cappers) play by the rules. That’s golf
  
  Reply Report comment
Mike

Feb 2, 2019 at 11:41 am

If it was Phil Michelson they wouldn’t have assed a penalty. Total bs!!!

Reply Report comment
- Eddie
  
  Feb 2, 2019 at 7:02 pm
  
  Yeah….that’s not true, but your hyperbole surely hides a point in there somewhere.
  
  Reply Report comment
Travis

Feb 2, 2019 at 8:33 am

Seems like the caddie was just talking to the player about the shot. If the player backs himself out and realigns himself then there shouldn’t be a penalty. The caddie wasn’t there telling him his aim was perfect and he’s good to go. The game of golf can be so dang simple it is unbelievable, yet somehow the morons at the USGA find a way to screw it all up. They should give the rule book to a committee of 20 or so professional golfers across all Tours and I guarantee those guys could come up with a simple and universal rule system that would benefit all golfers Pros and Ams.

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson

Published

4 hours ago

Apr 30, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).

Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.

We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.

Check out links to all our photos below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.

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News

Vincenzi’s 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson betting preview: International talent to shine

Published

1 day ago

Apr 29, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

As anticipation mounts for the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla in a few weeks, the PGA Tour makes a pit stop in McKinney, Texas to play The CJ CUP Byron Nelson.

Last year was the third time TPC Craig Ranch hosted the Byron Nelson. Prior to 2021, the event was held at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas.

TPC Craig Ranch is a 7,414-yard par-71 that features Bentgrass greens. The event historically plays relatively easy, and that has remained the case in the three editions at TPC Craig Ranch.

The course structure may provide some additional intrigue with the par-3 17th featuring a stadium setup called “Ranch 17” which is reminiscent of the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale. The course also has both long and difficult par-4s mixed with drivable par-4s, which should create some exciting moments.

There are 156 golfers in the field this week, and many stars will be taking the week off to prepare for 2023’s second major championship in a few weeks and a “signature event” at Quail Hollow next week. Notable players in the field include Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Sungjae Im, Stephan Jaeger, Tom Kim, Si Woo Kim, Min Woo Lee, Alex Noren, Adam Scott and Will Zalatoris.

Past Winners of the AT&T Byron Nelson

2023: Jason Day (-23 at TPC Craig Ranch)
2022: K.H. Lee (-26 at TPC Craig Ranch)
2021: K.H. Lee (-25 at TPC Craig Ranch)
2019: Sung Kang (-23)
2018: Aaron Wise (-23)
2017: Billy Horschel (-12)
2016: Sergio Garcia (-15)
2015: Steven Bowditch (-18)

Key Stats at TPC Craig Ranch

Let’s take a look at five key metrics for TPC Craig Ranch to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their last 24 rounds.

Strokes Gained: Approach

Strokes Gained: Approach remains the best measure of current form.

Hot iron play will be at a premium this week. Last year, Jason Day gained 6.4 strokes on approach, which was fourth in the field. In 2022, K.H. Lee was ninth in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, gaining 5.2 strokes. In his 2021 victory, he was second in the field and gained 8.3 strokes on the field in the category.

Strokes Gaines: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds

Tom Hoge (+1.12)
Keith Mitchell (+1.02)
Henrik Norlander (+0.99)
Ryan Moore (+0.98)
Ben Martin (0.80)

Strokes Gained: Off the Tee

Fairways are wide at TPC Craig Ranch.

Distance will certainly be helpful, and there aren’t too many difficult holes on the course. Golfers who put themselves in position off of the tee this week should have a sizable advantage.

Strokes Gained: Off the Tee Over Past 24 Rounds

Peter Kuest (+0.93)
Kevin Daugherty (+0.91)
Alejandro Tosti (+0.83)
Keith Mitchell (+0.82)
Kevin Tway (+0.74)

Birdie or Better %

There aren’t many hazards on the course, and all of the par-5s should be reachable in two for the majority of the players in the field. I am anticipating a birdie fest, and this statistic should be helpful in finding the birdie-makers.

Birdie or Better % Over Past 24 Rounds:

Wesley Bryan (31%)
Kelly Kraft (26.2%)
Peter Kuest (25.9%)
Matti Schmid (25.7%
Jimmy Stanger (25.2%)

Strokes Gained: Putting (Bentgrass)

Many golfers on TOUR have some major putting surface variance in their statistics and prefer Bentgrass to other surfaces.

Bentgrass is common in Texas, and we often see golfers who play well in Texas continue to do so, finding a great feel around the greens.

Strokes Gained: Putting (Bentgrass) Over Past 24 Rounds:

Maverick McNealy (+0.92)
Aaron Baddeley (+0.87)
Callum Tarren (+0.86)
Harry Hall (+0.81)
Nick Hardy (+0.69)

Course History

This statistic will tell us which players have performed the best at TPC Craig Ranch over the past three seasons.

Course History Over Past 12 Rounds:

Jordan Spieth (+2.69)
K.H. Lee (+2.59)
Seamus Power (+1.84)
Ryan Palmer (+1.76)
Adam Scott (+1.72)

CJ CUP Byron Nelson Model Rankings

Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (27%), SG: OTT (24%), Birdie or Better % (18%), Course History (17%) and SG: Putting Bentgrass (16%).

Alex Noren
Adam Scott
Keith Mitchell
Si Woo Kim
Stephen Jaeger
Jordan Spieth
Jhonnatan Vegas
Nate Lashley
Brice Garnett
Tom Hoge

2024 CJ CUP Byron Nelson Picks

Byeong Hun An +3000 (DraftKings)

Byeong Hun put together an excellent performance at The Masters, finishing T16, which ties his best ever finish at a major championship (also T16 at 2019 U.S. Open). The South Korean gained 9.16 strokes from tee to green, which ranked 2nd in the field behind only the champion, Scottie Scheffler.

An’s next start at Harbour Town didn’t go as well (67th), but he still had a fantastic ball striking week. The 32-year-old bled strokes both around and on the greens, which was his eventual undoing. In his past three starts, An has gained significant strokes on the field both off the tee and on approach.

Benny had a strong start at last year’s Byron Nelson, finishing in a tie for 14th. With limited challenges on the course, he shouldn’t have to do much scrambling. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 17th in the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 17th in the field in birdie or better percentage. The putter is up and down per usual, but his ceiling putting weeks with his LAB Golf putter in 2024 are higher than they’ve been in past seasons.

An is starting to become my “white whale” of the PGA Tour, but I believe in his talent and TPC Craig Ranch is a course that should suit his excellent tee to green play.

Mackenzie Hughes +5500 (FanDuel)

Mackenzie Hughes is quietly putting together a very good season. He finished in a tie for 3rd at the Valspar Championship and followed that up with a T14 at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.

In his past 36 rounds in Texas, the Canadian ranks 5th in the field in Strokes Gained: Total. Last year, he finished in a tie for 14th at this event and gained strokes putting and off the tee. Mackenzie played well that week despite being in extremely poor form. He missed two cuts in a row prior to the event, and four consecutive cuts immediately after. His irons were off that week, but in 2024, we’ve seen an improvement in Hughes’ approach game. He now comes to the event playing some steady golf. He’s gained strokes on approach in four of his past five events and is hitting the ball very well from tee to green.

Hughes has two victories on the PGA Tour, both coming in relatively low-scoring affairs (-17 in each). He will need to go a bit deeper to win the CJ Cup Byron Nelson but has the type of putter that can keep pace in a birdie barrage.

Seamus Power +7000 (FanDuel)

After struggling over the past few seasons with injuries, Seamus Power seems as if he is rounding back into the form that made him a really consistent player on the PGA Tour.

Power finished T12 in his most recent start at the RBC Heritage, which is encouraging considering it was a “signature event” with a very strong field. For the week, the Irishman gained 4.4 strokes on approach and 2.8 strokes putting, which is the combination he’s used in the past to contend on Tour.

In his three trips to TPC Craig Ranch, Power is yet to finish outside of the top-20, with his best finish being a T9 in 2019. He ranks 4th in Strokes Gained: Total at the course. The 37-year-old thrives on easy tracks and has won in 2021 (Barbasol Championship) and 2022 (Butterfield Bermuda) on easier layouts with weaker fields.

Power has the game to go extremely low and I believe he can get back in the winner’s circle for the third time in four years.

Chan Kim +10000 (FanDuel)

Chan Kim has been striking the ball beautifully this season and is a proven winner with two wins on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2023 as well as eight career Japan Tour wins.

At last week’s Zurich Classic, Kim and his partner Doug Ghim finished in a tie for 28th. Prior to that, the South Korean T14 at the Valero Texas Open and T6 at the Corales Puntacana Championship. His success this season in Texas as well as he propensity to play his best golf on the PGA Tour’s easier courses make him and ideal fit for TPC Craig Ranch.

2024 has given plenty of longshot winners on the PGA Tour, and with a birdie fest like this, I believe there’s a strong chance we get another this week in McKinney, Texas.

Alejandro Tosti +10000 (FanDuel)

Alejandro Tosti is one of the most polarizing players on the PGA Tour thus far in the 2024 season. His antics can rub many the wrong way, but he’s shown on a few occasions that he has what it takes to compete in Tour events.

This season, Tosti has been elite off the tee. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 2nd in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee. The Argentine hits it long and straight, which works at any course on earth. He got a taste of contention a few starts ago at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, finishing in a tie for 2nd place.

Tosti had a fantastic year in 2023 on the Korn Ferry Tour, where going low is a prerequisite to success. If this turns to a shootout, which it likely will, the 27-year-old has the ability to set the pace. Tosti will look to become the second Argentine to win in Texas in the past two seasons after Emiliano Grillo emerged victorious at last year’s Charles Schwab Challenge.

C.T. Pan +15000 (FanDuel)

Outside of a T3 at the Mexico Open, C.T. Pan doesn’t have strong results this season in terms of finishes. However, over his past two starts, Pan’s iron play has come alive. At The Players, he gained 6.6 strokes on approach. At the Valero Texas Open, he gained 3.7. At last week’s Zurich Classic, Pan and his partner Kevin Yu finished T28. For a player who can get extremely hot with his scoring clubs, I believe he’s playing better than the results have shown over the past month or so.

Last season, Pan finished 4th at TPC Craig Ranch and was spectacular across all the major stat categories. In his past 36 qualifying rounds, he ranks 16th in Strokes Gained: Total in Texas.

Pan has won on the PGA Tour at the RBC Heritage and is always a player that I believe has what it takes to win on a Sunday if he finds himself in contention.

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News

Morning 9: McIlroy, Lowry win Zurich | Green repeats on LPGA | Steele victorious down under

Published

1 day ago

Apr 29, 2024

Ben Alberstadt

By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Monday morning, golf fans, after an exciting finish in New Orleans saw Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry come out on top.

1. Two Irishman in New Orleans

AP report…”Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry received a standing ovation when they showed up at historic, creole French Quarter restaurant Arnaud’s on the eve of their final round at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event.”

“They also had the largest, loudest galleries at the TPC Louisiana, where the charismatic, 34-year-old McIlroy, had not previously played.

“He’s getting old, but he still moves the needle a little bit,” Lowry joked as McIlroy chuckled. “Rory brings a crowd and people love him and we’ve gotten a lot of love in New Orleans. We’ve had just the best week.”

“McIlroy and Lowry won Sunday, beating Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer with a nervy par on the first hole of a playoff.

“Trainer pushed a 6-foot par putt to the right of the cup to end it, with Lowry lifting a laughing McIlroy off the ground with a bear hug on the green.”

Full piece.

2. Green repeats on LPGA

AP report…”Hannah Green won the LPGA Tour’s JM Eagle LA Championship for the second straight year Sunday, holing out twice from off the greens in a pivotal back-nine stretch at challenging Wilshire Country Club.”

“A year after making a 25-foot birdie on the final hole of regulation and winning on the second hole of a playoff, Green — with help from Maja Stark — took the late drama out of this one for her fifth LPGA Tour victory and second of the year.

“It wasn’t as a eventful as the last couple days. I was nervous,” Green said. “And I’ve never been able to win having a lead into the last hole like that, so it is nice to be able to get it done earlier in the round.”

“Green closed with a 5-under 66 to beat Stark by three strokes. The 27-year-old Australian, also the winner early last month in Singapore, finished at 12-under 272 on the tree-lined layout with poa annua greens that become bumpy late in the day.”

Full piece.

3. DP World Tour: The local takes it

Staff report…”Yuto Katsuragawa continued a history-making season for players from Japan on the DP World Tour with a three-shot victory on home soil at the ISPS HANDA – CHAMPIONSHIP.”

“The local favourite entered the final day at Taiheiyo Club Gotemba Course three shots off the lead but was right in the mix at the turn as many of the leading players stumbled.”

“Sebastian Söderberg was the only one keeping pace with him but the 25-year-old started the back nine with five birdies in seven holes to leave the Swede in his wake and finish at 17 under after a course-record equalling 63.”

Full piece.

4. LIV: Steele Down Under

AP report…”Three-time PGA Tour winner Brendan Steele held off a fast finishing Louis Oosthuizen to win the LIV Golf Adelaide tournament at The Grange Golf Club by one stoke.”

“The 41-year-old Steele shot a final round 68 Sunday for a 54-hole total of 18-under 198 to earn his first victory since he won his second Safeway Open in 2017 on the PGA Tour.”

Full piece.

5. Langer set for return

Golf Channel staff report…”Three months after tearing his Achilles tendon and undergoing surgery, Bernhard Langer is scheduled to return on the PGA Tour Champions.”

“Langer’s injury occurred while playing pickleball on Feb 1. He had surgery the next day and had to miss what was supposed to be his final Masters appearance earlier this month.”

Full piece.

6. “Proud” Norman speaks

…Vindication is not the right word,” Norman told Australian Golf Digest before pausing.

“It’s the ignorance of others who simply didn’t understand what we were trying to do. I actually feel sorry for them because they now see the true value of LIV Golf and want to be a part of it.”

Norman was quick to pay tribute to the Australian faithful for their unconditional support of not only LIV Golf Adelaide but his own playing career. An estimated 35,000 spectators packed Grange Golf Club on Sunday, the majority sticking around to line the 18th fairway and cheer on Cam Smith and Marc Leishman in their dramatic two-hole playoff victory against South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and Dean Burmester.

“The support Australia gave me during my own playing career for decades was something I have never forgotten,” says Norman, bursting with pride. “It’s why I brought LIV Golf back home – I did it for them. The people have well and truly spoken. Both individual and team golf is alive and well in Australia and they deserve it. I knew they would support this event.

“I’m feeling extremely proud right now. With what we’ve (LIV Golf) gone through over the past 16 months, both as a league and what I’ve copped personally… the hatred… this makes it all worthwhile.”