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PGA Championship: 5 things we learned on Thursday

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Coming into this week, many said that a northeastern course would be a terrible venue for a month-of-May PGA Championship, especially one not built on sand. They said that the winds would blow, the rains would fall, and the course would mud up like a college Oozefest. As of Thursday, it had yet to happen at Bethpage Black, despite ominous weather earlier in the week.

With the ancillaries out of the way, attention turned to the actual golf, particularly the current major champions group of Tiger Woods, Francesco Molinari, and Brooks Koepka. As the reigning holder of the Wannamaker trophy, the oft-slighted Koepka ambled into Farmingdale with a chip on his shoulder. Did it remain there? Did he get outplayed by his two group-mates? Read up on the 5 things we learned on Thursday, to find out the honest truth.

5. George Gankas might be the name on everyone’s mind by week’s end

He coaches Danny Lee and Sung Kang. Kang won last week at the Byron Nelson, and Lee is in 2nd place (more on that later.) Gankas is a flat-brim-wearing, driving-range-teaching, rip open your hips and thrust that pelvis like Elvis, kind of guy. No holding back, and he’s fun to watch. His stable of golfers might be ready to break through, and break the mold. Remember where you first heard it.

4. Happy Hollow Club REPRESENT! Mill River Club HOLLA!

For today, the PGA professionals (not touring pros) from Happy Hollow Club in Omaha, and Mill River Club in nearby Oyster Bay, sat inside the top 20 of a major golf championship. The PGA Championship cares as much about its club professionals, as the Masters does about amateurs. When either one makes the cut, it’s a big deal. Jason Caron (the local) had 3 each of birdies and bogies, while Ryan Vermeer (the cornhusker) matched his total with 2 of each (birdies and bogies.) These are guys who not only keep golf running on the daily level, but can game it with the world’s best, if only for a day. Here’s to another hot round tomorrow for each, a made cut, and a weekend at Bethpage.

3. Tommy of the cascading lettuce sits in 3rd after 18

Tommy Fleetflow…Tommy Flowwood…Tommy Sweetflow…oh, sorry, where was I? This all might seem eerily familiar to the Englishman. Last June, he finished one shot behind current leader Brooks Koepka at the US Open, on a golf course located about 60 miles away, in the Hamptons. Fleetwood turned the tables at the Ryder Cup, where he was the hero of the week. Now he returns to battle Brooks, but he has 4 shots to make up. Like Koepka, Fleet started on the inward half. He birdied one-third of his holes, but made 3 bogies on the day to slip back to 3-under par. Despite the miscues, the man from Southport was surprised at the number of birdies he snared:

I was a little bit actually. It wasn’t something that I really — I mean, I didn’t really have an over and under on how many birdies I might need to make, but like sort of you feel like you make one, you feel like the course isn’t really giving you much. I think it definitely felt more playable today, though, than on the practice days. I made a great birdie on 15, which was my first one of the day, but at no point does it feel like the course is going to lend anything to you. Yeah, six birdies is a lot. It’s probably more than I thought I would get.

2. Danny Lee was super good … in 2008

The Korean golfer from New Zealand won the 2008 US Amateur by 5 & 4 in the finale. He has had moderate success since then, known as much for being Rickie Fowler’s prank patsy as a tour winner. Lee has never threatened to win a professional major, so it’s doubtful that he’ll be in the mix past 36 holes. For today, he was outstanding. 8 birdies offset by 2 bogies brought him to -6 on the day, one off Brooks Koepka’s course record. By the way, Danny has real-people concerns, just like you and me:

Yes and no, but I know my family is sacrificing out there for me to chase my dream out here. I guess I should say yes. I sometimes feel like I’m a bad person when I play bad because a young baby and my wife and my mother-in-law traveling with me out here, and when I don’t make a good result, it just makes me feel like I didn’t do what I’m supposed to do. I definitely have that kind of mindset in my head now.

1. Koepka silences doubters for at least one day

Course record? Seven under par? No bogies? Nothing that anyone predicted, all came true for the defending champion on Thursday at the Black. Despite, or perhaps because of, a pairing with the greatest golfer of all time and the greatest Italian golfer of all time, Brooks Koepka showed them and everyone who watched, who the man to beat is this week. He opened with birdie on the 10th, the same hole Woods double-bogied, where Molinari earned bogey. Just like that, the quiet one was 3 up and 2 up, respectively. It didn’t get much better for the wee men the rest of the way. His burliness birdied his last hole, the 9th, in addition to 5 other birdies. Pretty much the perfect round, to get people to sit up and take notice. Despite it all, the big man was convinced he left three shots on the course:

Well, I didn’t take care of the par-5s, didn’t birdie any of the par-5s. That was disappointing because I felt like you know those are holes you should be able to birdie. Definitely can reach, what is it, 4 and just hit a bad drive there. And then 13 I can get there, too, I just hit it in the bunker. And then the second hole today, my 11th hole, I missed about a five-footer. That would have been nice to shoot 60. I guess that would have been pretty good.

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Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

10 Comments

10 Comments

  1. Rascal

    May 17, 2019 at 6:53 pm

    He’s sure come a long way from ggswingtips on Instagram!

  2. Stacey Uchtman

    May 17, 2019 at 9:50 am

    Gankas has a crazy swing himself, I think he is Wolff’s coach if I’m not mistaken too.

  3. Paul

    May 16, 2019 at 11:48 pm

    “Remember where you first heard it”. Wait, what?
    George has been around for years, he didn’t get credibility because he didn’t have big name players. But now his young people are coming up fast. We heard of George on YouTube years ago. We didn’t hear about George here first, or that he was going to be a great coach, we figured it out a long time ago, Golfwrx is playing catch up.

    • Ronald Montesano

      May 17, 2019 at 6:30 am

      Notice how we didn’t write “You heard it here first.” Just reminding you to “remember where you first heard it.” Also, to split hairs even more, we are the first outlet THIS WEEK to write about Gankas’ teaching impact on the first round.

      That said, I’d love to hear more about how you found the gospel according to George. I’ve been a Twitter follower for about 8 months, and am trying to gently incorporate elements of what he teaches into my swing. #NowhereNearCali

      • Obee

        May 17, 2019 at 9:49 am

        Oh come on, Ron! “Remember where you first heard it.” The implication there is absolutely that the reader heard it in YOUR article first. Otherwise it’s nonsensical. There is zero chance you really meant to have the reader take a moment to ask: “Self, where did you first hear of George Gankas.”

        And if you did mean that, then that’s just bad writing. No offense. 😉

        I mean, I love your stuff, but that was just a bad response.

        I’ve been following Gankas for two(?) years now. Love his stuff. Even booked a lesson with him, but since I live in Riverside, it was too long a haul, and I couldn’t make it. Need to book another for sure….

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News

Morning 9: 58 on the Korn Ferry Tour | Rory on possible return to policy board

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By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Friday morning, golf fans, may a bountiful weekend of golf be in store for you!

1. 58 on the Korn Ferry Tour

KFT staff report…”Frankie Capan III went crazy low Thursday on the Korn Ferry Tour. Nearly in record fashion.”

  • “Capan carded 13-under 58 in the opening round of the Veritex Bank Championship, matching the second lowest score in Korn Ferry Tour history. He fell one shy of Cristobal Del Solar’s record 57, set at the Astara Golf Championship presented by Mastercard earlier this year, but it was a heck of a show nonetheless.”
  • “The Minnesota native played an eight-hole stretch in 9-under Thursday, following an eagle at the par-5 ninth with seven straight birdies to begin the back nine at par-71 Texas Rangers Golf Club. He “cooled off” with a two-putt par at the long par-4 17th hole. He arrived at the par-5 18th hole at 13 under for the round, but he found a fairway bunker off the tee, laid up to 134 yards and missed his third shot left of the green. He chipped to 7 feet and drained the par putt to match the Korn Ferry Tour’s second-lowest score of 58, carded by Stephan Jaeger in the opening round of the 2016 Ellie Mae Classic at TPC Stonebrae.”
Full piece.

2. Team McIlowery starts strong

Paul Hodowanic for PGATour.com…”Late Thursday afternoon in New Orleans, Rory McIlroy rested his head on Shane Lowry’s shoulder.”

  • “It wasn’t the typical post-round moment, but this isn’t the typical event. McIlroy and Lowry teamed up for this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the PGA TOUR’s lone team event, and the all-Irish duo put on a show. Sporting matching pink-on-navy getups, McIlroy/Lowry opened in a best-ball 11-under 61 in Thursday’s Four-ball format at TPC Louisiana.”
  • “This partnership might have stemmed from a boozy brunch last fall, but their opening-round performance at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans gave the field a sobering reminder: They’ll be tough to top.”
Full piece.

3. LPGA Tour: Grace Kim in front

AP report…”Grace Kim shot a 7-under 64 at Wilshire Country Club to take the first-round lead Thursday in the LPGA Tour’s JM Eagle LA Championship.”

  • “Playing in the morning session, the 23-year-old Australian capped her bogey-free round with a chip-in birdie on the par-3 18th.”
  • “Well, I chunked my tee shot on the last hole 20 meters short and then I chipped it in it,” Kim said. “I think that’s pretty cool, in front of everyone
Full piece.

4. McIlroy on rejoining policy board

Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner…”Rory McIlroy said Wednesday that he is willing to rejoin the PGA Tour policy board if the other player directors want him.”

  • “As first reported by the Guardian, Webb Simpson has submitted a letter stating that he’d like to resign from the board, but only if his vacant seat is filled by McIlroy, who stepped down last fall because of the toll it had taken on him professionally and personally.”
  • “Five months later, what has changed?”
  • “I think I can be helpful,” McIlroy said Wednesday ahead of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where he is partnering with Shane Lowry. “I don’t think there’s been much progress made in the last eight months, and I was hopeful that there would be. I think I could be helpful to the process. But only if people want me involved, I guess.”
Full piece.

5. Charlie Woods shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier

Golfweek’s Cameron Jourdan…”Charlie Woods is going to have to wait to play in the U.S. Open.”

“The 15-year-old son of Tiger Woods played Thursday in local qualifying for the United States Golf Association’s national championship, set for June 13-16 at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. Charlie played at The Legacy Golf & Tennis Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and he shot 9-over 81.”

“Charlie’s round featured a bogey on his opening hole, the par-4 first. He then doubled the par-5 second. A pair of pars followed before his lone birdie on the front, but another double the next hole, the par-4 sixth, had him turn in 4-over 40.”

Full piece.

6. Photos from the Zurich Classic

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.

Check out all our photos at the link below!

Full piece.
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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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