Official PGA TOUR Essential Guide to Golf: June - November 2019

NEW GENERATION YOUNG PLAYERS • BEST GOLF & TRAVEL CHOICES • GOLF HEALTH & FITNESS

RORY McILROY 2019 THE PLAYERS CHAMPION

THE DYNAMIC SEASON AHEAD FedExCup Charles Schwab Cup Web.com Tour

THE INTERNATIONAL TOURS Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada PGA TOUR Latinoamérica PGA TOUR Series-China JUNE 2019 - NOVEMBER 2019

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SHOW ’EM WHAT’S UNDERNEATH

JOCKEY.COM ©2019 Jockey International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

#ShowEm your Jockey For years, pro-golfer Bubba Watson and his wife Angie dreamed of becoming parents.

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Finally, their family was complete.

Today, Bubba and Angie share their passion for family, and the belief that every child deserves a forever home.

See more stories at Jockey.com/showem

BUBBA AND ANGIE WATSON Jockey Brand Ambassadors

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commissioner’s message

change for the better

image: PGA TOUR

W

hat supports my thoughts as I sit here midway through our 2018-19 PGA TOUR season are bookends of Jim Furyk images.

On one side, several furiously busy days in early March on behalf of the Jim and Tabitha Furyk Foundation, with a variety of charitable endeavors raising hundreds of thousands of dollars. The attention and the care that Jim and Tabitha poured into a celebrity golf tournament, a concert, a safari for kids, and the annual “Operation Shower” for expectant moms who are active military duty or spouses of active military duty personnel was inspiring.

At the other side, a mid-April day, with Jim baking cookies in Hilton Head Island beside a group of adults with disabilities prior to the start of the RBC Heritage.

“Pockets Full of Sunshine” is the name of the charitable organization that employs these adults and Jim’s involvement further promoted the group’s mission of inclusion for these extraordinary individuals. We at the PGA TOUR embrace the ideal of inclusion and Jim Furyk personifies it.

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Both bookends make me smile and provide a sense of pride in our many members who, like Jim, “get it” and understand as professional athletes they are role models who can use their platforms to improve their communities. But what sits between these two bookends is an array of reflections of a season played well and fans greatly entertained, and prominent is our 2019 PLAYERS Championship which was as memorable for Rory McIlroy’s win as the spirited runner-up performance by Jim. The last player qualified for THE PLAYERS 2019, Jim acquitted himself beautifully and rightfully took pride in his performance before “the home folks.” Superbly struck iron shots down the stretch had him walking with a sense of authority that was something to behold. “I was just really excited to be in the moment,” he said.

But in the next breath, Jim let it be known that the second-place finish didn’t quite leave him totally satisfied. “It still stings,” he said. “I’m a competitor.”

Fortunately, he is not alone, because the PGA TOUR has never been deeper

with talented players. Reigning Player of the Year Brooks Koepka broke through to win early this year, Rickie Fowler earned redemption with a triumph at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, and Xander Schauffele captured two of his first four starts—just three of the many young stars on the landscape.

But where my appreciation for our membership becomes more profound is to turn toward those who continue to thrive, even at ages that would mean retirement in other sports. What came soon after a pair of wins by Matt Kuchar, one in the fall of ’18, the other in early January of 2019, were those authored by Phil Mickelson, Paul Casey and Graeme McDowell – ages 40, 48, 41, and 39, respectively, and in each case, you had athletes who had persevered through lengthy winless stretches, only to stay committed to the love of PGA TOUR competition.

When Jim put up that thrilling charge at THE PLAYERS, he joked that he felt as if “Jim” had become his middle name and “48-year-old” his first name, so often was he referred to in that manner. A few weeks later, the age theme was pushed to greater heights when Tiger Woods won the Masters for the fifth time. It was remarkable on many dimensions, starting with it being his 81st victory to get within one of Sam Snead’s record for most wins in PGA TOUR history. He was already the youngest to win at Augusta National (Woods was 21 in 1997), and now he is second oldest to triumph there (43 years, 106 days), behind only Jack Nicklaus, who was 46 when he won in 1986.

Tiger, of course, resonates like no other athlete in any sport, a once-in-alifetime phenomenon. But staying centric to my PGA TOUR lens, what Tiger did at Augusta added another layer to my deep appreciation for the way in which our members stay resolute in their desire to compete.

How blessed we are to have players from their early 20s to their late 40s compete on a weekly basis. It provides the PGA TOUR with benefits no other sport can claim. By intersecting different generations of fans, it speaks to the vitality of our sport and provides me with endless enthusiasm for our future. I for one am excited to see how the remainder of the season plays out and which of these amazing athletes will hold the FedExCup. ■ Jay Monahan PGA TOUR Commissioner PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, Part 2 9

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2018/2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

10

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2018/2019, Part 2

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2018/2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

THE PLAYERS Championship’s return to a March date didn’t disappoint (continued on p.166)

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PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2018/2019, Part 2

11

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THOSE ROUNDS

WON’T PAY

FOR THEMSELVES. Switch to GEICO and save money for the things you love.

Maybe it’s getting that amazing tee time. Or the hundreds of balls that you’ve lost over the years. Golf is what you love – and it doesn’t come cheap. So switch to GEICO, because you could save 15% or more on car insurance. And that would help make the things you love that much easier to get.

Auto • Home • Rent • Cycle • Boat geico.com | 1-800-947-AUTO (2886) | local office Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Homeowners and renters coverages are written through non-affiliated insurance companies and are secured through the GEICO Insurance Agency, Inc. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. Motorcycle and ATV coverages are underwritten by GEICO Indemnity Company.

Motorcycle insurance is not available in all states. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2017 GEICO

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CONTENTS

Essential Guide

CONTENTS

74 Indian Wells Golf Course

INTRODUCTIONS 9

Commissioner’s Welcome, Jay Monahan

15

Editor’s Welcome, Bill Fields

21

Tournament Schedules

52 Decision Time Players on the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour have a new opportunity thanks to the Aon Risk Reward Challenge, a year-long competition with a $1 million prize

56 The Battle for the Cup

Several players are vying to take the Charles Schwab Cup from Bernhard Langer, who has won the Cup five times on PGA TOUR Champions

FEATURES 26

Sprint to the Finish As the 2018-19 PGA TOUR Season reached mid-May, Matt Kuchar was atop the FedExCup standings with Brooks Koepka in second-place and more of golf’s best players in close pursuit of a coveted title to be decided before Labor Day

60 Upward Mobility Opportunities around the world give promising professionals a path to the Web.com Tour, where they can earn their way onto the PGA TOUR

70 Once More, With Feeling By winning his first green jacket in 14 years, Tiger Woods proved that all-time records held by Jack Nicklaus and Sam Snead are very much in his sights

IMAGES: INDIAN WELLS GOLF COURSE

35 March Majesty Solving THE PLAYERS Stadium Course that had perplexed him, comfortable and confident Rory McIlroy emerges with an important title

46

International Mission The host team in Australia won’t lack for motivation against the Americans two years after a record defeat in New Jersey in the Presidents Cup

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74

“Such stuff that dreams are made on” Have we really become the “no-vacation nation”? Let’s see if we can’t start to reverse the trend right here, right now, by encouraging you to make that vacation booking you so deserve

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, Part 2

13

04/06/2019 10:31

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contents

Welcome

105 Global Development The international tours in China, Latin America and Canada each year produce strong graduates who move on to the Web.com Tour

from the editor

If the conclusion of the 2018-19 PGA TOUR Season is as exciting as what we’ve witnessed in recent months, fans are in for a real treat.

Working on this edition of the PGA TOUR Essential Guide— which gets you caught up on the action and prepared for the rest of the year—I have been struck by the great variety of storylines that have played out so far.

Winners in 2018-19 have run the gamut, including firsttimers, proven winners and some of the best golfers to ever play the game. It didn’t take long for the breakthrough theme to take hold, as Kevin Tway, son of longtime PGA TOUR member Bob Tway, won for the first time in the season-opening Safeway Open. Other new winners followed, including in consecutive weeks this spring—Max Homa at the Wells Fargo Championship and Sung Kang in the AT&T Byron Nelson.

Thanks to two victories and five other top-10 finishes, veteran Matt Kuchar finds himself leading the FedExCup standings with about three months remaining in the season. THE NORTHERN TRUST and BMW Championship start the FedExCup Playoffs, with a dynamic new format at the TOUR Championship wrapping things up in late August.

A highlight of the season is Rory McIlroy’s dramatic victory at THE PLAYERS Championship, contested in its new/old slot of March. Having covered golf for several decades, it’s hard to think of a big Sunday when a leaderboard was as stacked for as deep into the round as it was on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course before McIlroy emerged with the title.

McIlroy’s wonderful week (detailed by Jim McCabe on page 35) was followed in short order by Tiger Woods winning his fifth Masters in stirring fashion (see Stan Awtry’s article on page 70) and, not long after that, Brooks Koepka stunning the golf world by capturing his second straight PGA Championship to go along with consecutive U.S. Open victories. (He’ll go for a third straight U.S. Open in June at Pebble Beach.) Koepka’s emergence really amplifies the kind of talent populating the PGA TOUR these days.

We cover all the angles in this edition of the Essential Guide.

In what has become tradition, six writers break down “Defining Moments” that have happened so far this Season (page 118). This edition of the Essential Guide is full of analysis and information, and we hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did putting it together.

Bill Fields, Editor Fairfield, Conn.

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114

Back to Basics

118

Times to Remember

124

The Climb Back

Former Stanford star Maverick McNealy returned to an old routine to prepare for an important new season on the Web.com Tour, with positive results

From drought-busting victories to inspiring moments, the first half of the 2018-19 PGA TOUR Season wasn’t short of memories

British-born Paul Casey attended Arizona State University and turned pro in 2000. He was once No. 3 in the world before a series of injuries forced him to make a gritty ascent to form

131

Innovative Fitness Facilities

136

Digging Deeper

140

World of Talent

The PGA TOUR has upgraded its Player Performance Centers to meet the growing demand of world-class athletes

ShotLink+ is the latest development for the PGA TOUR’s golf data and statistics, a major undertaking that will benefit players and spectators alike

Five individuals who have contributed greatly to golf will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame during U.S. Open week at Pebble Beach

2019 Tournament Overview 169

The Final Stretch: The Season’s Final Half Changes to the latter portion of the 2018-19 PGA TOUR Season schedule mean an earlier conclusion to the season with the FedExCup Playoffs ending on August 25

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HERE’S TO THE

FINISHERS Official Sponsor of Beau Hossler, PGA TOUR Pro.

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CONTENTS Bryson DeChambeau

Dustin Johnson

Tom Lehman

PGA TOUR EVENTS 2019 170

the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, Ohio, May 30-June 2

172 174 178

RBC Canadian Open Hamilton Golf & Country Club, Hamilton, Ont., Canada, June 6-9

U.S. Open Pebble Beach Golf Links, Monterey Peninsula, Calif., June 13-16

Travelers Championship TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn., June 20-24

180

Rocket Mortgage Classic

183

3M Open John Deere Classic TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Ill., July 11-14

188

Barbasol Championship Keene Trace Golf Club (Champions Trace), Nicholasville, Ky., July 18-21

190

Montreux Golf & Country Club, Reno, Nev., July 25-28

202

The Open Championship

WGC-FedEx St. Jude Classic TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tenn., July 25-28

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Wyndham Championship Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, N.C., August 1-4

204

THE NORTHERN TRUST Liberty National Golf Club, Jersey City, N.J., August 8-11

208

BMW Championship

212

TOUR Championship

Medinah Country Club (No. 3), Medinah, Ill., August 15-18

East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Ga., August 22-25

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS 216

The Season Ahead

216

Principal Charity Classic

217

Mastercard Japan Championship

Wakonda Club, Des Moines, Iowa, May 31-June 2

Narita Golf Club-Accordia Golf, Narita-shi, Chiba, Japan, June 7-9

Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush, Northern Ireland, July 18-21

196

Barracuda Championship

Detroit Golf Club, Detroit, Mich., June 27-30

TPC Twin Cities, Blaine, Minn., July 4-7

186

198

217

American Family Insurance Championship University Ridge Golf Course, Madison, Wis., June 21-23

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, Part 2

17

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CONTENTS Corey Conners

Publisher & CEO Kevin J. Harrington Managing Editor Charles Ford Editor Bill Fields Tournament Editor David Barrett Sub Editor Elika Roohi

Scott Parel

218 U.S. Senior Open Championship

Warren Golf Course Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind., June 27-30

218 Bridgestone SENIOR

PLAYERS Championship Firestone Country Club, Akron, Ohio, July 11-14

219 The Senior Open

Championship presented

by Rolex Royal Lytham and St. Annes, Lancashire, England, July 25-28

Vijay Singh

221

Sanford International Minnehaha Country Club, Sioux Falls, S.D., September 20-22

222 PURE Insurance Championship

Pebble Beach Golf Links, Monterey Peninsula, Calif., September 27-29

Goods Open

En-Joie Golf Course, Endicott, N.Y., August 16-18

220 Boeing Classic

The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge, Snoqualmie, Wash., August 23-25

Production Director Joanna Harrington Production Coordinator Ava Keane Office Coordinator Adam Linard-Stevens Official PGA TOUR Essential Guide 2019, Part 2 is published

by BH Sports under license from PGA TOUR, Inc. Tel: (312) 572 7728 Email: tourgolf@bhsports.net © BH Sports, 2019. All rights reserved.

222 SAS Championship Prestonwood Country Club, Cary, N.C., October 11-13

223 Dominion Energy Charity Classic

219 DICK’S Sporting

Art Editor Jason Craig

The Country Club of Virginia, Richmond, Va., October 18-20

223 Invesco QQQ Championship Sherwood Country Club, Thousand Oaks, Calif., November 1-3

All material in the Official PGA TOUR Essential Guide, 2019, Part 2 is wholly copyrighted, and reproduction, without the written permission of the Publisher, is strictly forbidden.

The information in this publication is carefully researched and produced in good faith, however, neither the Publisher nor the Editor can accept responsibility for any errors.

Printed in the USA PUBLISHER’S ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Special thanks to the following at PGA TOUR: Chris Smith, Senior Director, Business Public Relations; Mark Stevens, Director, Business Public Relations; Ivie Teston, Coordinator, Licensing; Kristen Fuller, Director, Licensing & New Ventures.

IMAGES The photographs on pp.10, 11 show all the excitement of THE PLAYERS Championship where Rory McIlroy claimed the title at TPC Sawgrass. (for a full report, see pp.35).

NEW GENERATION YOUNG PLAYERS • BEST GOLF & TRAVEL CHOICES • GOLF HEALTH & FITNESS

224 Charles Schwab Cup Championship

220 Shaw Charity Classic

Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, August 30-September 1

221 The Ally Challenge

Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club, Grand Blanc, Mich., September 13-15

18

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Phoenix Country Club, Phoenix, Ariz., November 7-10

RORY McILROY 2019 THE PLAYERS CHAMPION

LAST WORD

225 Beating the Odds Canadian Corey Conners took the tough road into the Valero Texas Open, and what happened next was a storybook journey

THE DYNAMIC SEASON AHEAD FedExCup Charles Schwab Cup Web.com Tour

THE INTERNATIONAL TOURS Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada PGA TOUR Latinoamérica PGA TOUR Series-China JUNE 2019 - NOVEMBER 2019

COVER: Official PGA TOUR Essential Guide 2019, Pt 2

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5972-130743 FY19 Sports Medicine - PGA Tour Print Ad_FINAL.pdf

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SCHEDULES 2019

PGA TOUR® 2019 TOURNAMENT/COVERAGE

GOLF COURSE

LOCATION

MAY 30JUN 2

the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Radio,

Muirfield Village Golf Club

Dublin, OH

6-9

RBC Canadian Open Radio, Golf, CBS, LIVE

Hamilton Golf & Country Club

Hamilton, ON CAN

13-16

U.S. Open FS1, FOX

Pebble Beach Golf Links

Pebble Beach, CA

20-23

Travelers Championship Radio, GOLF, CBS, LIVE

TPC River Highlands

Cromwell, CT

27-30

Rocket Mortgage Classic Radio, GOLF, CBS, LIVE

Detroit Golf Club

Detroit, MI

JUL 4-7

3M Open Radio, GOLF, CBS, LIVE

TPC Twin Cities

Blaine, MN

11-14

John Deere Classic Radio, GOLF, CBS, LIVE

TPC Deere Run

Silvis, IL

18-21

Barbasol Championship GOLF

Keene Trace Golf Club

Nicholasville, KY

18-21

The Open Championship GOLF, NBC

Royal Portrush Golf Club

Portrush, NIR

25-28

WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational Radio, GOLF, CBS, LIVE

TPC Southwind

Memphis, TN

25-28

Barracuda Championship GOLF

Montreux Golf & Country Club

Reno, NV

AUG 1-4

Wyndham Championship Radio, GOLF, CBS, LIVE

Sedgefield Country Club

Greensboro, NC

8-11

THE NORTHERN TRUST Radio, GOLF, CBS, LIVE

Liberty National Golf Club

Jersey City, NJ

15-18

BMW Championship Radio, GOLF, NBC, LIVE

Medinah Country Club (No. 3)

Medinah, IL

22-25

TOUR Championship Radio, GOLF, NBC, LIVE

East Lake Golf Club

Atlanta, GA

IMAGES: TOUR IMAGES: GETTY; US PGA PGA TOUR

DATE

Golf, CBS, LIVE

KEY Golf Channel - Golf | W W W.P GAT OUR.COM

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SCHEDULES 2019

PGA TOUR Champions® 2019 DATE

TOURNAMENT/COVERAGE

GOLF COURSE

LOCATION

MAY 31-JUN 2

Principal Charity Classic Golf

Wakonda Club

Des Moines, IA

7-9

Mastercard Japan Championship Golf

Narita Golf Club-Accordia Golf

Narita-shi, Chiba, JPN

21-23

American Family Insurance Championship Golf

University Ridge Golf Course

Madison, WI

27-30

U.S. Senior Open Championship FS1

Warren Golf Course Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN

JUL 11-14

Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship Golf

Firestone Country Club

Akron, OH

25-28

The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex Golf, SKY, NBC

Royal Lytham and St. Annes

Lancashire, ENG

AUG 16-18

DICK’S Sporting Goods Open Golf

En-Joie Golf Course

Endicott, NY

23-25

Boeing Classic Golf

The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge

Snoqualmie, WA

AUG 30SEP 1

Shaw Charity Classic Golf

Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club

Calgary, AB, CAN

13-15

The Ally Challenge Golf

Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club

Grand Blanc, MI

20-22

Sanford International Golf

Minnehaha Country Club

Sioux Falls, SD

27-29

PURE Insurance Championship Golf

Pebble Beach Golf Links

Monterey Peninsula, CA

OCT 11-13

SAS Championship Golf

Prestonwood Country Club

Cary, NC

18-20

Dominion Energy Charity Classic Golf

The Country Club of Virginia

Richmond, VA

NOV 1-3

Invesco QQQ Championship Golf

Sherwood Country Club

Thousand Oaks, CA

7-10

Charles Schwab Cup Championship Golf

Phoenix Country Club

Phoenix, AZ

DATE

TOURNAMENT/COVERAGE

GOLF COURSE

LOCATION

MAY 30-JUN 2

Rex Hospital Open

TPC Wakefield Plantation

Raleigh, NC

6-9

BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation Golf

Thornblade Club

Greenville, SC

13-16

Lincoln Land Championship presented by LRS

Panther Creek Country Club

Springfield, IL

20-23

Wichita Open Supporting Wichita’s Youth

Crestview Country Club

Wichita, KS

27-30

Utah Championship presented by Zions Bank Golf

Oakridge Country Club

Farmington, UT

JUL 4-7

LECOM Health Challenge

Peek’n’Peak Rst, Upper Course

Clymer, NY

11-14

TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes

TPC Colorado

Berthoud, CO

18-21

Pinnacle Bank Championship presented by Heartland Chevy Dealers

The Club at Indian Creek

Omaha, NE

25-28

Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper

Highland Springs Country Club

Springfield, MO

AUG 1-4

Ellie Mae Classic at TPC Stonebrae

TPC Stonebrae

Hayward, CA

8-11

WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by KraftHeinz Golf

Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club – Witch Hollow

North Plains, OR

15-18

Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship Golf

Ohio State University GC – Scarlet Course

Columbus, OH

22-25

Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft Nabisco Golf

Hilcrest Country Club

Boise, ID

AUG 30-SEP 2

Web.com Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance Golf

Victoria National Golf Club

Newburgh, IN

Part 2Part 1 22 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, 2016/2017,

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WEB.COM TOUR 2019

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FEDEXCUP

26

SPRINT TO THE FINISH

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FEDEXCUP

As the 2018-19 PGA TOUR Season reached mid-May, Matt Kuchar was atop the FedExCup standings with Brooks Koepka in second-place and more of golf’s best players in close pursuit of a coveted title to be decided before Labor Day

By Bill Fields

Matt Kuchar had reason to smile after winning the 2018 Mayakoba Golf Classic, his first victory since 2014.

IMAGES: GETTY

Thanks to two victories and trademark consistency, Matt Kuchar led the FedExCup standings through the PGA Championship in mid-May.

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I

t had been more than four years since Matt Kuchar’s most recent PGA TOUR victory when the 40-year-old won the Mayakoba Golf Classic last November. After rediscovering the winning touch for his eighth career title, he didn’t wait long to lift another trophy, at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January.

Those two victories—along with more of the trademark consistency that Kuchar carried even during his winless stretch—put him in great shape in the FedExCup standings as the season moved into late May. Kuchar’s two wins, plus five additional top-10 finishes, helped place the Florida native No. 1 in the points race through the conclusion of the PGA Championship. Kuchar had 2,110 points, followed by the rest of the top 10: Brooks Koepka (1,856), Xander Schauffele (1,615), Rory McIlroy (1,612), Dustin Johnson (1,572), Paul Casey (1,398), Rickie Fowler (1,219), Gary Woodland (1,182), Jon Rahm (1,136) and Charles Howell III

(1,100). Defending FedExCup Champion Justin Rose, seeking to become the first Champion to successfully repeat, was just a bit further behind in 11th place. An added incentive this season is the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 prize bonus pool designed to reward the top-10 performers of the FedExCup Regular Season, who will share a $10 million prize pool.

Of the top 10, all but Woodland had won at least once in 2018-19 and everyone had at least four top-10 finishes.

“I’m tickled—thrilled—to have won two events this early in the year,” Kuchar said following his victory at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

“To have won two out of three starts on the PGA TOUR is mind boggling to me. [It] absolutely sets up the year to be in great position for the FedExCup. There is a lot of year left, and a lot of great things that are out there to be done.”

Kuchar’s success came after he ended the previous season on a down note, failing to advance to the BMW Championhip in the PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, Part 2

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FEDEXCUP Brooks Koepka is in great position to contend for the FedExCup title after winning the PGA Championship.

Justin Rose, 2018 FedExCup Champion, was 11th in the points standings heading into late spring.

Dustin Johnson (shown driving at No. 12 during THE PLAYERS) earned his 20th career PGA TOUR victory at the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship, the first golfer born after 1980 to reach that milestone.

IMAGES: Getty; PGA TOUR

FedExCup Playoffs and not qualifying for the United States Ryder Cup team. “I was definitely disappointed, frustrated,” Kuchar said. There were some big things that I missed out on. I didn’t ever give up hope. I think the frustrating thing was I felt like I was doing some good things and just not seeing results.

That sometimes is hard to take, when you think you’re on the right course and not seeing the results. [Wife] Sybi has been great at helping me stick the course. And Chris [instructor Chris O’Connell] has been great.”

Given the talent of those players in close pursuit of the No. 1 FedExCup spot, Kuchar will need to keep up his good play through the summer.

Koepka and Schauffele joined Kuchar as multiple winners heading into the Charles Schwab Challenge at historic Colonial Country Club.

Winner at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, Koepka successfully defended his title at the PGA Championship played on the brawny Black Course at Bethpage State Park. Having also won the U.S. Open two consecutive years, Koepka is in extremely rare air for concentrated major-championship success.

“It’s been so much fun these last two years,” Koepka said after the final round at Bethpage, where Dustin Johnson made it close over the last nine holes after Koepka took a seven-stroke lead through 54 holes. “It’s incredible. I don’t think I even thought I was going to do it that fast. I don’t think anybody did, and to be standing here today with four majors, it’s mind-blowing. Today was definitely the most satisfying out of all of them for how

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FEDEXCUP

stressful that round was—how stressful DJ made that. I know for a fact, that was the most excited I’ve ever been in my life ever there on 18.”

It was no surprise that Johnson was the one applying heat on his friend and rival. Johnson has been in the mix often this season, including a T5 at THE PLAYERS and T2 at the Masters. By winning the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship, Johnson became only the 38th player in PGA TOUR history to reach 20 or more career victories. As proof of his place in the current era, Johnson is the first player born after 1980 to reach 20 victories.

Like Kuchar, Schauffele got off to a hot start early this season, winning the World Golf Championships-HSBC Championship in China then taking the trophy at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January. Schauffele is still getting used to being one of the best in the game.

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“I just still feel like an underdog,” Schauffele said after his second win of the season. “I feel like until you’re No. 1, you’re chasing. So guys like Bryson [DeChambeau] and Justin [Thomas] … JT’s put together a ton of good years. Brooks has been crushing it. So they keep putting that flag way out there for me to go and chase, and I feel like that’s what I’ve been doing.”

As the action during the first part of the season proved, wherever the bar is set, a wave of talent on the PGA TOUR is eager to excel.

Things will shake out in August, with THE NORTHERN TRUST and BMW Championship Playoff events leading into a revamped play-foreverything TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club.

The TOUR Championship will have a new feel, but familiar faces will have a big say in the outcome as an action-packed season comes to close. ■

Xander Schauffele is a multiple winner in 2018-19, including a triumph at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions.

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05/06/2019 16:59

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DON’T LET YOUR ASTHMA

GET IN THE WAY OF THIS.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Do not receive FASENRA if you are allergic to benralizumab or any of the ingredients in FASENRA. Do not use to treat sudden breathing problems.

FASENRA may cause serious side effects, including: • allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions, including anaphylaxis. Serious allergic reactions can happen after you get your FASENRA injection. Allergic reactions can sometimes happen hours or days after you get your injection. Tell your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction: – swelling of your face, mouth and tongue – breathing problems – fainting, dizziness, feeling lightheaded (low blood pressure) – rash – hives

JC-US-Fasenra Official PGA TOUR Essential Guide to Golf Part 2 2019 (1).indd 1

Before receiving FASENRA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: • are taking oral or inhaled corticosteroid medicines.

Do not stop taking your corticosteroid medicines unless instructed by your healthcare provider. This may cause other symptoms that were controlled by the corticosteroid medicine to come back.

• have a parasitic (helminth) infection.

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if FASENRA will harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant during your treatment with FASENRA. • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if FASENRA passes into your breast milk.

Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you receive FASENRA. • are taking prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements.

Do not stop taking your other asthma medicines unless instructed to do so by your healthcare provider.

09/05/2019 10:52

FASENRA is an add-on treatment for people 12 and older with severe eosinophilic asthma.

It‘s not a rescue medication or for other eosinophilic conditions.

FASENRA MAY HELP IF YOU’RE TIRED OF YOUR ASTHMA SYMPTOMS. Nearly 7 out of 10 adults with asthma may have elevated eosinophils.* Eosinophils are a key cause of asthma. FASENRA is designed to target and remove eosinophils† and dosing is only once every 8 weeks.‡

FASENRA is proven to help: Prevent asthma attacks

Lower oral steroid use§

Improve breathing

Your results may vary.

Haven’t you missed enough?

Talk to an asthma specialist about FASENRA and visit fasenra.com today.

2005-2006 CDC survey of 310 adults who said they had asthma and had eosinophil counts of 150 cells/μL or more.

The mechanism of action of FASENRA in asthma is not fully understood. ‡ First 3 doses given on day 1, week 4, and week 8. § For people taking oral steroids daily. *

†

The most common side effects of FASENRA include: headache and sore throat. These are not all the possible side effects of FASENRA.

APPROVED USE FASENRA is a prescription medicine used with other asthma medicines for the maintenance treatment of asthma in people 12 years and older whose asthma is not controlled with their current asthma medicines.

FASENRA helps prevent severe asthma attacks (exacerbations) and may improve your breathing.

Medicines such as FASENRA reduce blood eosinophils.

Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that may contribute to your asthma.

FASENRA is not used to treat other problems caused by eosinophils and is not used to treat sudden breathing problems. Tell your health care provider if your asthma does not get better or if it gets worse after you start treatment with FASENRA.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see brief summary of full Prescribing Information on following page.

Breathtaking Science. Breath-Giving Medicine.

FASENRA is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies. ©2019 AstraZeneca. All rights reserved. US-29048 5/19

It is not known if FASENRA is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age.

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09/05/2019 10:52

S:7”

I M P O R TA N T

I N F O R M AT I O N

Read this brief summary carefully before receiving FASENRA for the first time and each time you receive a new dose.

There may be new information. This summary does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider (HCP) about your medical condition or treatment.

What is FASENRA? FASENRA is a prescription medicine used with other asthma medicines for the maintenance treatment of asthma in people 12 years and older whose asthma is not controlled with their current asthma medicines. When added to other medicines for asthma, FASENRA helps prevent severe asthma attacks (exacerbations) and may improve your breathing. Medicines such as FASENRA reduce blood eosinophils. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that may contribute to your asthma.

• FASENRA is not used to treat other problems caused by eosinophils.

• FASENRA is not used to treat sudden breathing problems. Tell your healthcare provider if your asthma does not get better or if it gets worse after you start treatment with FASENRA.

A B O U T

F A S E N R A

Do not stop taking your other asthma medicines unless your healthcare provider tells you to.

How will I receive FASENRA? A healthcare provider will inject FASENRA under your skin (subcutaneously) every 4 weeks for the first 3 doses, and then every 8 weeks.

What are the possible side effects of FASENRA?

Before receiving FASENRA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: • are taking oral or inhaled corticosteroid medicines.

Do not stop taking your corticosteroid medicines unless instructed by your healthcare provider. This may cause other symptoms that were controlled by the corticosteroid medicine to come back • have a parasitic (helminth) infection • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if FASENRA will harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant during your treatment with FASENRA. • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if FASENRA passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will receive FASENRA and breastfeed. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you receive FASENRA. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

These are not all the possible side effects of FASENRA. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What are the ingredients in FASENRA? Active ingredient: benralizumab Inactive ingredients: L-histidine, L-histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, polysorbate 20, ,-trehalose dihydrate, and Water for Injection The information provided here is not comprehensive.

Ask your HCP for additional information about FASENRA. You can also contact the company that makes FASENRA (toll-free) at 1-800-236-9933 or at www.FASENRA.com.

FASENRA is a trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies. © 2017 AstraZeneca LP. All rights reserved.

Manufactured for: AstraZeneca LP, Wilmington, DE 19850 11/17 US-16872

For more information, visit FASENRA.com Or call 1-800-236-9933

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17/05/2019 15:27

B:10.75”

The most common side effects of FASENRA include headache and sore throat.

S:10”

Do not receive FASENRA if you are allergic to benralizumab or any of the ingredients in FASENRA.

T:10.5”

It is not known if FASENRA is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age.

FASENRA may cause serious side effects, including: • allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions, including anaphylaxis. Serious allergic reactions can happen after you get your FASENRA injection. These reactions can sometimes happen hours or days after you get your injection. Tell your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction: – swelling of your face, mouth and tongue – breathing problems – fainting, dizziness, feeling lightheaded (low blood pressure) – rash – hives

THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

MARCH MAJESTY Solving THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass that had perplexed him, comfortable and confident Rory McIlroy emerges with an important title

By Jim McCabe

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR

F

or those gathered for walks around this golf stadium called TPC Sawgrass, there was a mood they had not experienced for a while with THE PLAYERS Championship 2019. Quick and confident, buoyant and vibrant.

Perhaps owed to the move to March and a Stadium Course that had been overseeded? Possibly that, but more likely it was Rory McIlroy’s return to circa 2012-2014 form, the days of the “good” Rory, the “jaunty” Rory, the “spirited” Rory, before some head-hanging and cut-missing days brought a rare spell of inconsistency.

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“You can tell that his demeanor, it’s a lot different compared to last year,” noted McIlroy’s fourth-round playing competitor, Jason Day, THE PLAYERS 2016 Champion.

Astute observation, because McIlroy confirmed that he is indeed in a different place. “I’m just more comfortable,” he said after birdies at the par-4 15th and par-5 16th got him home in 70—272 to win by one over fast-closing, Ponte Vedre resident Jim Furyk. “I’m very comfortable with where everything is.”

Then again, the penthouse, or at least a floor below it, would tend to be a cozy

The gallery watching Rickie Fowler as he prepared to putt on the par 3, 17th hole during the third round of THE PLAYERS Championship on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.

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THE PLAYERS Championship

Rory McIlroy plays his shot from the 17th tee as fans watch during the final round.

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03/06/2019 14:39

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THE PLAYERS Championship

Jon Rahm, who carded a sizzling 64 in Round 3, lines up a putt on the ninth green.

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place to be and that’s pretty much where just about everyone noted that McIlroy was McIlroy has been situated since the PGA now 0-for-his-last-9 tries in the final pairing.

TOUR season turned the corner into 2019 “I’ve been disciplined this year in not and he began to post red numbers like reading a lot of stuff about myself,” McIlroy Steph Curry tossing down threes. McIlroy said. “So, that helped.” rode into THE PLAYERS having finished A bigger asset, of course, is the return within the top six in each of his five starts, of McIlroy’s swagger, so crisp and assertive. breaking par in 17 of 20 Though it’s been a while rounds.

“I’ve been disciplined this since he confirmed his Credit perspective on status with year in not reading a lot of wunderkind the verge of his 30th four major championships stuff about myself.” birthday (May 4). in 15 tries (2011 U.S. “I’m working on Open to 2014 PGA —Rory McIlroy really one thing in my Championship), McIlroy golf swing,” he said, which is in addition remains arguably the game’s most effusive to a reduced practice regimen. “I feel like attraction, easily liked by fans, adored by I’ve figured out a way to manage my time media and admired by peers. The everbetter and what needs to be addressed and popular statement that gets bandied what doesn’t. So, yeah, I’m comfortable.” about—“When (pick a name) is at his While he said he was comfortable, the best, he is the game’s best”—usually is media seemingly wasn’t with McIlroy’s lack accompanied by McIlroy’s name filling in of finishing touch. When he shot 72 and that blank. dropped to T-6 while in the final pairing of Sounds like he feels it should be, too. the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by “I know I’m playing well,” he said at THE Mastercard the week before THE PLAYERS, PLAYERS. “I know I’m shooting the scores

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03/06/2019 15:21

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THE PLAYERS Championship

and hitting the shots. I’m confident in the path that I’m on.”

The fact that the path took him across 72 wondrous holes at the first PLAYERS in March since 2006 and at a time when his game and personality were clearly on form made for arguably one of the most glorious editions of the TOUR’s flagship event. Fulfilling the vision TOUR officials had for the move to March—a greener Stadium Course with consistent rough, firmer greens, cooler and more challenging wind, an engaged and festive crowd in a spring-break mood—marquee names joined the fray.

McIlroy (67-65) and Tommy Fleetwood shared the 36-hole lead but got passed by Jon Rahm’s sizzling 64 in the third round.

With Rahm at 15-under and one clear of McIlroy (70) and Fleetwood, others were in the mix—Day sitting two back, Dustin Johnson tied with Keegan Bradley and Furyk at 10-under.

What played out in the final round will be memorable—from the inexplicable (Rahm attempting a risky shot out of a fairway bunker on the par-5 11th that he deposited into water to halt his chances)

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to the improbable (Furyk stuffing an approach at 18 for a birdie that seemed to signal victory, until McIlroy birdied 15 and 16). But mostly, THE PLAYERS 2019 will be recalled for McIlroy’s masterful work that left him overflowing with pride.

The drilled 6-iron from 180 yards from a fairway bunker to birdie 15, the two-putt birdie at the par-5 16th, the hold-yourbreath shot onto the island green 17th and the gut-check of a drive into the fairway at 18 were the finishing touches he had not had at any of his previous five 2019 tournaments (T-4, T-5, T-4, 2nd, T-6), so he flashed the infectious McIlroy smile.

“The fact that this win has come at this tournament, a tournament where Sawgrass and I didn’t have the greatest relationship [he missed the cut his first three tries and had a short week and a T-35 his last two seasons] and I’m very thankful to the PGA TOUR for putting it back to March. That was very helpful for me.”

Polite kid, but the truth is, it was moved back to March for everyone. McIlroy just happened to take advantage better than most. 

McIlroy attempts a birdie putt on the 17th green during the final round at THE PLAYERS 2019.

w w w.pgatour.com

03/06/2019 14:41

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THE PLAYERS Championship

2019 champion Rory McIlroy with THE PLAYERS Championship trophy, which was designed by Tiffany & Co.

Character Study: Rory Recovered And learned how to Tame the Purest Test in Golf

H

istory will document final-round birdies at the 15th and 16th holes as the deciding shots in Rory McIlroy’s triumph at THE PLAYERS Championship 2019. But the dynamic Northern Irishman had a wider focus.

“I needed to show a lot of character out there,” he said, pointing specifically to early weekend hiccups. He started bogey-bogey in the third round, then on Sunday he doubled the par-4 fourth.

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How he recovered is what made him proud. McIlroy was 4-under in his final 16 holes Saturday and 4-under in his final 13 on Sunday.

Beyond leading the field in Strokes Gained: Tee-toGreen and finishing third in Greens in Regulation, McIlroy triumped over the Stadium Course’s final three holes— arguably the toughest finishing stretch in the game; he had an eagle, three birdies and eight pars over the par-5 16th, island-green par-3 17th and demanding par-4 18th.

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04/06/2019 13:57

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PRESIDENTS CUP

Tiger Woods of the United States and Ernie Els of South Africa are captains for the 2019 Presidents Cup in Melbourne, Australia.

International Mission The host team in Australia won’t lack for motivation against the Americans two years after a record defeat in New Jersey

By Ben Everill

R

etribution. It is a theme that will be running through the 2019 Presidents Cup when it is played at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia December 12-15.

For the International team, the desire to execute—particularly in front of a home crowd—comes from a lengthy period of losses.

There is no way to sugarcoat it—the 2017 Presidents Cup was a bloodbath.

The Americans, led by captain Steve Stricker, gave their International counterparts a thorough defeat. Such was the domination, for a while it looked as if the outcome was 46 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, Part 2

T9.PresidentsCup.indd 46

going to be clear before the singles session on Sunday.

By the time the dust had settled on the final day at Liberty National in New Jersey, the United States Team had prevailed 19-11 over Nick Price’s Internationals, the biggest winning margin since 2000 in the biennial event.

It took the U.S. Team to a 10-1-1 overall record in the Presidents Cup. And it leaves the Internationals still burning to replicate the lone victory they had way back in 1998. Coincidentally that came at Royal Melbourne, where Peter Thomson led his men to a huge 20½ -11½ win on the

Facing page [l]: Kevin Chappell of the U.S. Team plays a shot on the 17th hole during Sunday singles matches of the Presidents Cup at Liberty National Golf Club on October 1, 2017.

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IMAGEs: us PGA TOUR

PRESIDENTS CUP

famous sandbelt course.

“I’m not going to have any problem having a motivated team,” new International Team captain Ernie Els says.

But what about the dominant Americans? What sort of retribution could they possibly be seeking?

Well, they’re coming off a team loss of their own from the 2018 Ryder Cup and it stings. They’re all about getting themselves back up there in the world order. Restoring a reputation that had some calling them a side that would dominate team play for at least a decade.

Plus they also have a new captain to play for … none other than Tiger Woods. Woods is likely to be a playing captain—the first since Hale Irwin in the inaugural Presidents Cup in 1994.

Woods remembers 1998—he was part of that disappointing loss as a player.

“It’s in the back of my mind, of course it is,” Woods says.

“When we came down here, Jack Nicklaus was our captain, and it was late in the year in December. We didn’t have the wraparound schedule like we do now.

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T9.PresidentsCup.indd 47

quite frankly, we weren’t prepared to play, and we got smoked. The Internationals came out ready, prepared, played, and they drummed us.”

As for the Paris hangover, Woods has tried to play it down. He wants to separate his new team from the loss to Europe. Easier said than done.

“This is a totally different team, totally different players. We could have a different core of guys,” Woods says. “Obviously we have a lot of guys in their 20s that have made the last couple teams, but you just never know. Each individual team has their own uniqueness and their own character, and that’s what’s fun about being a part of these teams, that you’re building relationships that you never thought you would have, and relationships that last a lifetime.”

It could be the first Presidents Cup for a few young stars with Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau and Tony Finau already making inroads on the points standings for the U.S. team On the International side of the coin not only could we have new stars in the mix like Australian Cameron Smith but new countries as well with the likes of Mexico’s Abraham

Above [r]: Team assistant captain Fred Couples joins U.S. Team captain Tiger Woods for a photo with the Presidents Cup trophy prior to the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club on February 12, 2019 in Pacific Palisades, California.

“Each individual team has their own uniqueness and their own character, and that’s what’s fun about being a part of these teams, that you’re building relationships that you never thought you would have, and relationships that last a lifetime.”

- Tiger Woods PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, Part 2 47

31/05/2019 12:18

PRESIDENTS CUP

Ancer and China’s HaoTong Li pushing for inclusion as the first ever representatives from their nations.

They’ll all have to master what is likely to be the real star of the show: Royal Melbourne.

An Alister MacKenzie masterpiece in a famed region for golf, the course is a tribute to the old school. If conditions get firm and fast in the Australian summer, imagination and precision is key around this majestic track.

“One of the greatest golf courses in all of the world. The layout is fantastic. It’s very tough. It’s tricky,” Woods says.

It is about the course itself that Els believes he can impart the most wisdom on his players as they look for the ambush victory. Els won the old Heineken Classic at Royal Melbourne in 2002, 2003 and 2004 and was runner up in 2005. In the 2004 edition he shot a magical 60 on his way to victory.

And he intends to lean on that experience, while also implementing analytics to try to find a way through the dominant Americans.

“I’ve seen what other captains have done in the past,” Els says.

“In this instance, I really wanted to try and start a new

thinking process around the pairing system. I’m using a lot of data, a lot of science into what we’re going to be doing in December in Australia.”

Els is also hoping a few format tweaks can help his side.

He now has four captains picks as opposed to two in the past, and he now only needs to play each player once before Sunday singles if he so chooses, allowing him to shield a player who may be out of form.

Els has also been given more say in the golf course setup as the home team and gets to choose the order of play. Even catering has been changed, with Els given more flexibility to ensure all cultures and tastes in his side are looked after.

“It feels a lot more positive. I spoke with Tiger in the room with [PGA TOUR Commissioner] Jay Monahan, just the three of us, and we went through a lot of stuff,” Els said of getting his changes.

“I can now play a guy once before Sunday, which was never the case; a guy almost had to play every session. Tiger didn’t like that much, but I got it through eventually. I feel it’s a lot fairer and I think we’ve got a good shot at it now.”

It should be a great battle.

Jason Day of the International Team hits a drive on the 14th hole during the Sunday singles matches at Liberty National Golf Club on October 1, 2017, in Jersey City, New Jersey.

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04/06/2019 11:07

Aon Risk Reward Challenge

Decision Time

Players on the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour have a new opportunity thanks to the Aon Risk Reward Challenge, a year-long competition with a $1 million prize

By Ron Green Jr.

D

uring each round of golf, there is always that moment—sometimes several moments—when a player faces a shot that demands a choice.

Risk versus reward.

To take on the water or to lay up?

To challenge the corner of a dogleg or not?

To fire at a tucked pin or play to the middle of the green?

Those moments and those decisions are at the heart of the new Aon Risk Reward Challenge on both the PGA TOUR and the LPGA Tour, a year-long competition that will award a $1 million prize to the player on both tours who plays designated risk-reward holes the best over the course of the season.

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“The Aon Risk Reward Challenge is one of the most exciting programs in golf,” said Xander Schauffele. “It puts the focus on the decisions we make and how they impact our scores and success. It also gives the fans and viewers greater insight into how to best play the designated hole each week.”

The multi-year program is built around Aon’s entry into professional golf because its corporate goals are similar to those of professional golfers. The Aon Risk Reward Challenge draws parallels between decisions on the course and in business—focused on using data to deliver insight and inform action—this is an example of how Aon brings value to its clients.

The company is new to golf but not

Xander Schauffele and his trusted advisor on the course discuss strategy to gain insight into how best to play a given shot.

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IMAGES: Getty Images; PGA TOUR, Scott Miller

Aon Risk Reward Challenge

professional sports, having been a principal partner of Manchester United for a decade.

Aon looked at several other professional sports before choosing golf.

“The idea is to draw a parallel between the advice we give clients, how we help them manage volatility, how we help them create predictability, recognize patterns, basically take smart, calculated risks,” said Andy Weitz, chief marketing officer for Aon. “There are clear parallels with that and how a caddie works with a player, what a player does before they step up to the first tee, what they do off the course to be ready to perform at their best. We have the same approach with how we work with our clients.”

Here’s how the Aon Risk Reward Challenge is structured: On both tours, players will be required to play a minimum of 40 rounds. Each event will feature a designated risk reward hole with the players’ scores there counting toward the year-long challenge.

If a player misses the cut, the two scores on that hole will count. If a player makes the cut, the two best scores from that week will count. The player with the lowest average score to par at the end of the season will win $1 million.

On the PGA TOUR, some iconic holes are included in the challenge. Among them, the 18th hole at Torrey Pines South, the 18th at Pebble Beach Golf Links and the drivable par-4 10th at Riviera Country Club.

“The 2019 Aon Risk Reward Challenge brings a new dimension of competition to every round we play on the PGA TOUR,” Francesco Molinari said. “It is a very exciting addition to our sport and gives fans insight into the opportunities each hole presents and approach that we take to gain an advantage.”

Aon used some of its data scientists to work with competition committees on both tours to determine the best scoring approach for the Aon Risk Reward Challenge. A number of potential models were considered, Weitz said, before settling on the format.

“The idea of risk-reward is something players talk about, announcers are comfortable with. We brought the idea to the PGA TOUR and the LPGA and said we have this concept. They were creative and thoughtful about how to weave it into the

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season,” Weitz said.

Including the LPGA Tour was critical, Weitz said, because the audience that follows golf on both tours mirrors Aon’s client base.

“As athletes we’re always looking to challenge ourselves more and more, and Aon has brought a new aspect of competition that will not only challenge us as players but will also have fans of both Tours around the world more engaged than ever before,” LPGA star Georgia Hall said. 

Who IS Aon? XX Leading global professional services firm XX Trusted advisors in risk, retirement and health solutions XX They are experts in their field and act as “business caddies” to their clients

Georgia Hall and her caddy discuss course strategy.

What is the Aon Risk Reward Challenge?

XX Season-long challenge on PGA TOUR & LPGA XX Two best scores on the Aon Risk Reward hole each week count toward a season-long leaderboard XX Best average score to par over the regular season wins equal prize money of $1 million and Aon Trophy

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03/06/2019 15:05

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PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

THE BATTLE FOR The Charles Schwab Cup is the three-tournament playoff series that concludes the PGA TOUR Champions season. With Bernhard Langer a five-time Cup winner, there are strong players vying to take the Cup from him

MCCARRON’S CHALLENGE The biggest threat to wrestle the Cup out of Langer’s Vardon grip may be Scott McCarron, who was second in 2018.

McCarron won twice by the end of April— the Mitsubishi Electric Classic in Atlanta and the Insperity Classic in Houston—and surged to the top of the points list.

“I’m not done yet,” said McCarron, a 56

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Bernhard Langer of Germany chips onto the fourth green during the final round of the 2018 Charles Schwab Cup—which he has won four out of the last five times.

10-time winner on PGA TOUR Champions. “I want to win a lot more and I want to win the Schwab Cup. That was my goal at the start of this year, which has been the goal the start of the last few years. We’re trying to get that done.”

McCarron said some of his inspiration and motivation comes from Langer, the man he’s trying to displace.

“I’ve learned so much from playing with Bernhard Langer,” McCarron said. “It’s been great becoming friends with him, watch how he kind of takes apart a golf course, how much he’s dedicated to practicing. He’s definitely pushing me.”

There are others who have their sights set on derailing Langer, too.

Consistent Kirk Triplett, easy to identify by the ever-present bucket hat on his 6-foot-3 frame, is back in contention for the Cup. In 2019, he won the Hoag Classic in Newport Beach, Calif.—his seventh PGA TOUR Champions victory—in a playoff and has tied for second place in three events.

Bernhard Langer (2018), who has won the Charles Schwab Cup four times in the last five seasons, now faces fierce competition in the run up to the end of season finale.

IMAGES: PGA TOUR; GETTY

B

ernhard Langer has grown accustomed to having the handsome Charles Schwab Cup on display at his house in Boca Raton, Fla. He’s won the trophy five times, including 2018, and has taken it home in four of the last five seasons. It’s as if the award has been bequeathed to him.

Until, perhaps, this season. The World Golf Hall of Famer has some serious competition in his quest to again claim the PGA TOUR Champions’ season-ending prize. Langer, now 61, has a long line of challengers eager to deprive him of another Cup. “Why wouldn’t they try,” Langer said. “I did the same. We’ve got a good crop of guys coming in; some of them fire it past me. It’s not going to get easier as you get older. If I can find a way to sustain my game … I can’t control the others.”

The Charles Schwab Cup is the threetournament playoff series that concludes the PGA TOUR Champions season. The Cup carries significant cache among the competitors—along with a $1 million bonus payoff.

“It means a great deal,” said Langer, who won the Oasis Championship in Boca Raton this spring for his 39th PGA TOUR Champions title. “It’s a big carrot at the end of the season. It means you were the most consistent of the players during the season.”

By Stan Awtrey

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R THE CUP

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PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS Vijay Singh of Fiji plays his third shot on the 18th hole during the final round of the PGA TOUR Champions Charles Schwab Cup Championship in 2018.

Strong challengers Vijay Singh, a winner of the Masters and two PGA Championships, was fourth in the Charles Schwab Cup standings in 2018.

Although Singh doesn’t have a win in 2019, he has finished inside the top 15 in four of his first five events.

Kevin Sutherland is the man who denied Langer the title in 2017. The cool Californian this spring won his second PGA TOUR Champions title, the Rapiscan Systems Classic in Biloxi, Miss., in a seven-hole playoff that wasn’t finished until Monday morning.

Tom Lehman won for the 12th time since joining PGA TOUR Champions when he prevailed at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai. Lehman, the former PGA champion and Ryder Cup captain, won the Charles Schwab Cup in 2011 and 2012.

Among the rookies, two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen began the year with high expectations. His back was feeling fine— it has been five years since his surgery—and Goosen had decided to play full-time on PGA TOUR Champions. But the soft-spoken South African broke his ring finger in a freak accident and the injury has created issues with his grip and contributed to his slow start.

This will be the second season the Cup has been played under the new the points system.

Players receive one point for each dollar earned during the regular season, with the points doubled for the three playoff events.

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The points are not re-set for the playoffs, thus rewarding consistent play during the regular season and heightening the importance of the playoff events.

“The new system is great,” Langer said.

“I do play attention to the standings. I think most players do. You want to be in that top 3-4-5 going into the playoffs where you can make a move. Ideally you’d like to have a big lead so you can have an advantage.”

Retief Goosen is among several strong challengers for Langer, including Scott McCarron and Vijay Singh.

Scott McCarron plays a tee shot on the sixth hole during the third round of the Charles Schwab Cup in 2018.

Kevin Sutherland denied Langer the title of Charles Schwab Cup champion in 2017.

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30/04/2019 09:55

YOUNG PLAYERS

Upward Mobility Opportunities around the world give promising professionals a path to the Web.com Tour, where they can earn their way onto the PGA TOUR

By Kevin Prise

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Past Order of Merit winners like Mackenzie Hughes (2013 Mackenzie Tour), Joel Dahmen (2014 Mackenzie Tour), Ryan Blaum (2013 PGA TOUR Latinoamérica) and Haotong Li (2014 PGA TOUR Series-China) have since progressed to the PGA TOUR. Several rising stars are poised to follow suit, integrating the skills learned while competing on the international Tours as they compete against established Web.com Tour veterans for spots in The 25—and subsequent TOUR cards for the 2019-20 season.

It won’t be easy. The final 17 events of the 2019 Web.com Tour Regular Season are played in consecutive weeks, spanning the United States from the Carolinas to the Pacific Northwest—followed immediately by the Web. com Tour Finals contested across three weeks in Ohio, Idaho and Indiana. Maintaining high levels of mental and physical energy will prove critical.

Who is up to the challenge?

Here’s a capsule look at five young players to watch on the 2019 Web.com Tour.

images: Getty Images

T

he PGA TOUR’s qualifying structure literally spans the globe. Fifty TOUR cards are awarded via each year’s Web.com Tour—25 via the Regular Season; another 25 via the threeevent Finals—while players vie for Web.com Tour membership across the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and PGA TOUR Series-China.

Each season, the Order of Merit winner on each of the three international Tours is awarded full Web.com Tour status for the following year.

These players have the ability to plan a schedule, get fully comfortable and immediately turn an eye toward securing a TOUR card.

Finishers 2-5 on each international Tour’s Order of Merit are assured high-level conditional status for the following Web.com Tour season, with the opportunity to better their status via Final Stage of the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament, while finishers 6-10 on each Tour’s Order of Merit gain direct access to Final Stage, conditional membership and also the chance to improve their status.

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YOUNG PLAYERS

HARRY HIGGS The Southern Methodist product earned fully exempt Web.com Tour status by virtue of topping the 2018 PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Order of Merit, on the strength of five top-three finishes in 17 starts, including a victory at the Diners Club Peru Open. The fun-loving New Jersey native began the 2019 Web.com Tour season with three top25 finishes in seven starts, and he’ll have no shortage of confidence as he chases his first TOUR card.

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YOUNG PLAYERS

BRETT COLETTA After finishing No. 22 on last year’s Mackenzie Tour Order of Merit, the 22-year-old Australia native bravely navigated Q-School, finishing T25 at Final Stage to earn eight guaranteed starts. He has taken advantage, recording three top-12 finishes in his first six tournaments, including a third-place finish at the Savannah Golf Championship in late March to secure a full schedule for the 2019 season. Coletta ranks top-15 on the Web.com Tour in both Driving Distance and Greens in Regulation, a strong combination.

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YOUNG PLAYERS

CHARLIE SAXON With a second-place finish on the 2018 PGA TOUR Series-China Order of Merit, the Oklahoma alum became the all-time money leader in Series history and is ready to set his sights on the PGA TOUR. The affable 25-year-old ranks top-five on the Web.com Tour in Driving Distance and displays a well-rounded game and is not afraid to string together birdies and go low. Saxon made six of seven cuts to begin the 2019 Web.com Tour slate, a consistency that should serve him well as the summer progresses.

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YOUNG PLAYERS

MAX GREYSERMAN Upon graduating from Duke in spring 2017, the 23-year-old spent time on the Mackenzie Tour in both 2017 and 2018, before securing 2019 Web.com Tour starts via a T13 finish at Final Stage of Q-School last fall. The New Jersey native has quickly acclimated to the bigger stage, recording three top-20 finishes in a four-event span this spring, as he gears up to chase his first PGA TOUR card during the summer stretch run. Greyserman ranks top-15 on the Web.com Tour in putting average and birdie average.

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YOUNG PLAYERS

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER After a standout career at the University of Texas, graduating in spring 2018, Scheffler secured guaranteed Web.com Tour starts via his first foray at Q-School last fall. The 22-yearold Dallas native has made the most of it, recording three top-seven finishes in his first seven starts, highlighted by a runner-up at the Savannah Golf Championship in late March.

He followed that with a top-20 finish at the TOUR’s Valero Texas Open, showing that his game translates to any level.

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03/06/2019 15:11

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17/05/2019 15:49

TIGER WOODS

Once More, With Feeling

By winning his first green jacket in 14 years, Tiger Woods proved that all-time records held by Jack Nicklaus and Sam Snead are very much in his sights

By Stan Awtrey

T

his two children than return to wo numbers—18 and 82—have TOUR-caliber golf.“Luckily I had been omnipresent in the evolving the procedure on my back, which story of Tiger Woods since he gave me a chance of having a became the dominant golfer of his normal life,” Woods said. “Then generation. With his fifth Masters all of a sudden, I realized I could win still fresh, those numbers became actually swing a golf club again.” even more relevant.

He took baby steps in his Woods’ latest win at Augusta careful comeback. He became was his 15th professional major a contender again in 2018, championship, leaving him three getting in the mix at The Open short of the bar set by Jack Nicklaus.

Championship and the PGA The victory was also the 81st title Championship. He finally broke of his PGA TOUR career, one shy of through to win the TOUR the total amassed by Sam Snead, Championship in front of a who won tournaments in four massive crowd of adoring and decades. Both numbers, at one time emotional fans. The victory was considered unapproachable, are now equally emotional for Woods within his grasp. considering it was his first since In earning his first green jacket 2013 and the 80th of his career. since 2005, Woods set the agenda “To get to that 80 mark is a big for the sport’s talking point the Fans cheer on Tiger during his win at the 2018 TOUR number,” he said afterward. “Sam rest of the season. Columnists Championship. is still ahead of me. I’ve still got and commentators, bloggers and a chance to play some more golf, broadcasters will be pontificating on and maybe I’ll keep chipping away at that number and maybe when and where Woods will next make his mark. surpass it.”

The probability of Woods attaining either goal seemed very The biggest step came when he won the Masters in April, low two years ago given the physical and emotional hardships when Woods prevailed over a crowded leaderboard on a that plagued him for a nearly a decade. Before having spinal dramatic Sunday. It was victory No. 81—and his 15th major fusion surgery in April 2017, Woods could barely walk or sit title. As was the case at last year’s TOUR Championship, down. He was more concerned with being able to play with 70 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, Part 2

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IMAGES: Alamy, US PGA TOUR

TIGER WOODS

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Two years after being severely hobbled by a back injury, Tiger Woods won the 2019 Masters Tournament, his first major championship since 2008.

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TIGER WOODS

Defending champion Patrick Reed helped Tiger Woods into his green jacket after the iconic golfer won his 15th major title to draw closer to Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18.

play at this level again,” Woods said.

Tiger’s performance also let the “This is definitely one of “I’ve worked my way back into one of younger generation of champions the greatest comebacks I the players that can win events.” know that Woods wasn’t finished just Woods won’t alter his plans to intensly yet. think anybody’s ever seen.” pursue the wins record. He will continue Two-time U.S. Open champion ­– Brooks Koepka to play a limited schedule, competing in Brooks Koepka, who was runner-up the major championships, the World Golf at the Masters, didn’t need to be Championships events and the FedExCup Playoffs, as well a convinced. He said, “This is definitely one of the greatest comebacks I think anybody’s ever seen—81, 15. I think 18 is a few of his hand-picked favorites.“I’m going to pay a little less than I did last year,” Woods said. whole lot closer than people think.”

The Nicklaus record is a longer reach, especially for The passage of time may have eroded the enormity of someone who just endured an 11-year dry spell between Snead’s lifelong achievement of success. It has been 54 years major titles. Woods wasn’t ready to discuss it after winning since “Slammin’ Sammy” won his final event and 17 years since he died just shy of his 90th birthday. Other than Woods, the Masters, preferring to enjoy the moment. But that hasn’t stopped others—including his fellow competitors—from no one has come close to challenging the magical win total. restarting the speculation.

Nicklaus won 73 times, followed by immortals Ben Hogan “As a fan, I love it,” Koepka said. “I think it’s awesome.

(64) and Arnold Palmer (62). The next-closest active player is I’m glad he’s back.”

Phil Mickelson, who has 44 victories.

Koepka could have been speaking for lots of people as As long as his back remains healthy, Woods, 43, has the the Tiger Era was extended, with a milestone just around the opportunity to reach both numbers. corner.  “I’ve more than anything just proven to myself that I can 72 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, Part 2

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that

E MADE ON” The Tempest, William Shakespeare, 1611

TRAVEL

Have we really become the “no-vacation nation”? According to Forbes, we have.

When 1,200 full-time employees were surveyed for the research, 47 percent didn’t take all of their vacation time last year, while 21 percent “left more than five vacation days on the table.”

T

he reasons for this vacation opt-out range from “My boss doesn’t like it,” to “It’ll derail my career,” to “It’s harder than ever to unplug” (48 percent of respondents said they “check on work while vacationing,” including 19 percent who do so every day).

So let’s see if we can’t start to reverse the trend right here, right now, by encouraging you to make that vacation booking you so deserve, and for the following very good reasons:  Discussed at home, if any “How can we afford it?” question arises, argue thus: “By increasing the quality of our golf vacation, we will get more out of it, using less time.”  Your boss (we all have one) will be impressed by your singleminded determination to take a golf break; your team will admire your fortitude.  Your boss will realize what a key member of the team you are when you’re not there and may even recognize your value by offering you a salary hike on your return.  If you’re low on energy because you’ve spent too long focusing on a tough business problem, take a break, take a real break.  Released from your business pressure-cooker for, say, ten (working) days, a sense of euphoria will descend—you even laugh happily at the thought of taking the kids with you to that dream destination.  It’s a fact: Vacations are good for our health.

 The resort is welcoming, the views blow your mind, the food is great, the kids aren’t fighting, your partner suddenly says they love you and tomorrow … tomorrow you’ll be playing out your dream on that championship course where your golf heroes have made history.

Indian Wells, California, see p.84.

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As the daydream ends and you think this through, the idea of taking the vacation you’ve earned certainly does make very good sense. Here are some enticing options …

Our regular roundup of luxury golf destinations begins in Mississippi, moving to Arizona, California, then on to New Mexico and Mexico, finally island-hopping to the Dominican Republic and Bermuda.

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 You blow the dust off of your golf kit, throw it in the trunk, and you’re on the road to freedom. Tell no one where you’re going!

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LIFE MOVES PRE T T Y FAST Make time to drive one down the fairway at one of our 140 courses, designed — and played — by some of the biggest names in golf.

Don’t miss out on your next adventure in Mississippi.

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Mossy Oak Golf Course

“GO,M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I, keep rolling along”

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olf vacations in Mississippi start on one of 140 courses created by some of the biggest names in the sport. Legends like Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Arnold Palmer and Jerry Pate lend their experience and insights to signature course designs all throughout the Magnolia State, from the rolling hills in the north to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

With year-round golf weather, the courses and resorts in Mississippi can accommodate the needs and budgets of every level of golfer, from the casual player to the seasoned professional, such as those who trek to the state

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every fall for the Sanderson Farms Golf Tournament at the Country Club of Jackson. This year will mark the tournament’s first as a standalone PGA TOUR event.

Pros also like to frequent Fallen Oak, a Fazio design exclusive to the high-end Beau Rivage Resort on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. This course is a challenging, yet beautiful, 18-hole, par72 championship layout. In order to play like a pro at this bucket list course, you must be a guest of the Beau Rivage.

Further north in Choctaw, the Dancing Rabbit Golf Club features two courses:

the Oaks and the Azaleas. Superbly designed by Fazio and Pate, Dancing Rabbit’s 36 holes are open to the public and nestled quietly among ancient pines and hardwoods.

In the northeast corner of the state, Mossy Oak provides golfers with an immersive outdoors experience as they play their way through a winding 18hole course accentuating the Mississippi Black Prairie’s natural landscapes.

The public Scottish-links style course is located across the street from its invitation-only sister course, prestigious Old Waverly Golf Course.

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Seven Canyons | Sedona, AZ

PURSUE YOUR

Passion for Play Experience the unrivaled destination of Seven Canyons, a world-class golf club nestled within the striking vistas of Long Canyon in Sedona, Arizona.

This Tom Weiskopf-designed par 70 course, offers 18-holes and four sets of tees ranging from 4,986 – 6,780 yards. Golfers of all skill levels will enjoy a challenging and scenic experience.

Now accepting memberships.

Please call 928.203.2000 for more information.

Learn more at sevencanyons.com

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625 Golf Club Way, Sedona, Arizona 86336

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“ARIZONA— you’re the magic in me”

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he Grand Canyon State, or Arizona Territory as it was once called, is also PGA TOUR territory, for it is to the Capital, Phoenix, that golf fans flock for the Waste Management Phoenix Open, TPC Scottsdale that takes place annually (January/early February).

The Stadium Course is an engaging 18-hole track skilfully designed by Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf to challenge both pro golfers and novices alike. Playing 7,261 yards from the championship tees, TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course is an exciting design featuring well-manicured fairways spotted with 72 strategically placed bunkers and with water coming into play on six holes. Perhaps the most famous of these is the par-3

16th, known for its unique, lively and loud atmosphere during the tournament. This is always an exciting experience, whether watching your heroes playing in the tournament or following in their footsteps as you tee off for a memorable round.

The state of Arizona has over 300 golf courses that are as diverse and spectacular as its landscape. Golf is such an obsession, little wonder so many pro golfers have made their home here.

If golf plus a Grand Canyon visit is on your bucket list for this summer, there are some 550 hotels in the vicinity.

Sedona, about 90 miles north of Phoenix, has served as backdrop for more than 70 Westerns, with its crimson pinnacles and formations named for the objects

they resemble: Coffee Pot Rock, Twin Nuns, Salt and Pepper Shaker. It’s a popular destination for golf vacations, with two public courses— Oakcreek Country Club and Sedona Golf Resort. Both lie on the south side of town, off State Route 179. Oakcreek, with its $2 million upgraded clubhouse, has a traditional Robert Trent Jones course (par 72, 6,824 yards) that’s open to the public. The classic, treeline fairways feature bunkers strategically placed in the landing areas, and the greens are all slightly elevated and surrounded with large swirling bunkers. The course is “player friendly,” allowing plenty of room for error but always with an opportunity to recover and get errant shots back into play.

Consisting of 145 acres, the course includes three lakes,

with water coming into play on the front nine on holes 4, 6 and 7, and on the back nine the water comes into play twice on holes 10 and 18.

Just minutes from Oakcreek is the Sedona Golf Resort.

Located in the heart of one of the most captivating regions of the Southwest, here you can experience a thrilling course designed by Gary Panks, who comments, “Perhaps no other golf course provides a better combination of dynamic vistas and challenging golf than Sedona Golf Resort. Located among one of the most scenic regions of the Southwest, the 6,650-yard, par-71 golf course is considered among the world’s most enjoyable golf experiences. Winding around the famed red rocks of Sedona the Sedona Golf Resort continues to be a destination of choice for all golfers.”

The Resort is also said to be one of the most beautiful and romantic places in which to get married, making Sonoma Golf Resort one of the most highly rated wedding venues.

Sedona, Arizona, is one of the most captivating regions of the Southwest.

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TRAVEL TPC Harding Park has hosted PGA TOUR events, such as the Presidents Cup and Charles Schwab Cup Championship. It is a public course.

“CALIFORNIA, IMAGES: GETTY

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f you’re going to San Francisco for your vacation, be sure to visit TPC Harding Park for a top golf experience. Located less than one mile from the Pacific Ocean, this is one of the city’s municipal golf facilities, with two impressive courses open to the public: the Harding Park golf course and the Fleming 9. Both courses create a challenging and scenic experience for each golfer, with towering Monterey Cypress trees and a tranquil Lake Merced.

Named after U.S. President Warren G. Harding, Harding Park Golf Course opened on July 18, 1925 along the shores of Lake Merced, in San Francisco’s southwest corner.

In 2002-03 a $16 million restoration took place featuring a complete makeover of the course. The result was a highly acclaimed championship course that maintains the character and integrity of the original layout, but incorporates design elements and infrastructure to accommodate today’s players.

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here I come”

The 15-month project expanded the course from 6,743 yards to nearly 7,200 yards in length, enhancing the driving range, clubhouse and restaurant, upgrading the nine-hole layout of Fleming. Harding Park officially reopened August 22, 2003.

Harding Park culminated its remarkable rebound by being added to the PGA TOUR’s prestigious TPC Network of clubs in November of 2010. Since its recent renovations, TPC Harding Park is championship-worthy once again, hosting several PGA TOUR events such as the WGC-American Express Championship, the Presidents Cup (2009), the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in 2010 and 2011 and the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in 2015. Future major events include the PGA Championship (2020) and a return of the Presidents Cup (2025).

So here is an opportunity for golf fans to play in the footsteps of some of our greatest players, with flexible, onW W W.PGATOUR.COM

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Are You Looking For a New & Fun Nighttime Experience?

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Reserve Your Spot Thursday - Saturday Nights Not a Golfer? No Problem!

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demand green fees. TPC Harding Park also has an expansive 20,000 square-foot clubhouse where the staff caters for meetings and events of all types and sizes, as well as welcoming guests for a drink and a bite to eat after a round of golf; to entertaining friends or colleagues for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

There’s a wide choice of accommodations nearby, including the Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf Hotel (7.2 miles), Hotel Drisco Pacific Heights (5.4 miles) and Hampton Inn San Francisco (2.7 miles).

Indian Wells Golf Resort (IWGR) is a premier 36-hole golf resort located near Palm Springs, just minutes from Palm Springs International Airport. Surrounded by four luxury hotels, IWGR stands alone as the only golf property in California with two courses ranked in the Top 20 “Best Courses You Can Play” in California.

This resort has an “exclusive” atmosphere with genuinely warm hospitality. The panoramic views of the surrounding Santa Rosa Mountains are a rugged backdrop to the magnificent waterfalls owing and brooks that flow through beds of wild flowers, adding a splash of color throughout this stunning setting.

Designed by Clive Clark, the Celebrity Course is a challenging yet playable design. While the Players Course, designed by John Fought, pays homage to great designs such as Riviera, Winged Foot and Augusta National. The bunkers placed throughout the undulating topography of the Players Course provide the perfect complement to the mature trees and natural desert arroyos. While playable for all skill levels, the Players Course was also designed to challenge the most skilled golfers, which makes it a perfect forum for competitive golf.

Indian Wells Golf Resort is also home to the latest in nighttime golf entertainment called “Shots in the Night.”

IWGR is partnering with NextLinks to turn the practice putting green into a fun and social experience at night, thus creating a one-of-a-kind, family friendly and fun night-time activity.

At sunset, the putting course transitions into a nightlife entertainment area, focused on app-driven putting games with an offering of food and beverage.

This entertainment innovation, says Michael Tebbetts, Director of Sales & Marketing, “brings together cosmic bowling intertwined with the playability of mini-golf, also adding a variety of putting games. Guests can now enjoy a fun and engaging Glow Golf experience on the driving range that features massive inflatable targets in the shape of bowling pins and beach balls.” These targets contain LED lighting and sensors so when a golf ball hits them they blink in succession.

The golf balls are activated by black light and are charged up prior to play. Michael Tebbetts says that IWGR’s Glow Golf offers a fun experience that’s designed for golfers of all skill levels, especially beginners or those who don’t play frequently.

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Three views of Indian Wells Golf Resort, which welcomes you with genuinely warm hospitality.

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Shoot for lower.

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FROM CLUBHOUSE TO CUISINE TO CULTURE.

Experience the arts, discover new flavors, spend a night on the town, or enjoy all of the above.

In Santa Fe, the possibilities are endless. Discover why Santa Fe is The City Different at santafe.org 2 0 1 7 W O R L D ’ S B E S T AWA R D S

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“ ...SPEND A PLEASANT o c i x e SUMMER, OUT IN M New

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anta Fe has long been an award-winning destination for food, shopping, wellness, as well as cultural offerings in the visual and performing arts, and of course golf (for which the climate is perfect for some 300 days of the year).

And Santa Fe, branded as The City Different, looks set to become an increasingly popular golf vacation destination, given the major investments that have been lavished on boosting the region’s many golf course attractions. Here are six courses well worth adding to your travel itinerary.

Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe is just eight miles west of downtown.

The course is named after an accomplished young local player who died tragically at age 25 in 1992. This is a high-end municipal course of country club standard, designed by Baxter Spann, of Finger, Dye and Spann, based in Houston. The 7,415-yard, par-72 championship course has five sets of tees, suitable for players of all levels, along with 360-degree panoramic mountain views of the surrounding Sangre de Cristos, Jemez, Ortiz and Sandia mountains, and scenic highdesert landscape.

Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder is home to the Towa Golf Club, which has three independent nine-hole courses that showcase dramatic landscape with stunning

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Cochiti Golf Club, with a course consistently ranked as one of the best in New Mexico.

elevation changes. Each hole makes the most of the natural topography as well as the unique rock formations and natural vegetation indigenous to the region, providing excellent separation of the individual holes. The course’s fairways are a mix of Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, fescue roughs and native grasses.

Towa Golf Club was designed jointly by Hale Irwin—who famously won numerous tournaments on the PGA TOUR (20) and PGA TOUR Champions (45)—and noted golf course designer and landscape architect William Phillips.

Located on the Santa Clara Pueblo just north of Santa Fe is the Black Mesa Club, which has an 18-hole par-72 course designed by Baxter Spann, featuring 105 bunkers. The 7,307-yard course is located at an elevation of 5,400 feet and its routing features an elevation change of over 125

feet. Once again, the backdrop is dramatic, with sandstone ridges and moon-like rock formations, while the Black Mesa remains visible from much of the course. There’s a wide variety of holes within the overall design, each with their own memorable features and distinctive bunkering.

And a short-game practice area presents golfers with many of the same challenges around the green that they will encounter on the course itself.

A spacious 60,000 square foot teeing area also accompanies the range along with two practice putting greens.

Beginner and intermediate players will appreciate the par 3s and the relaxed speed of play on the Quail Run Golf Course, a par-32, 9-hole golf course suited for all skill levels. The course also attracts advanced players who enjoy the precision required on the course’s tight layout.

Consistently ranked as

one of the best golf courses in New Mexico, the 6,817yard, par-72 public course at the Cochiti Golf Club was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. The Club at Las Campanas features two Jack Nicklaus Signature courses, both consistently rated among the top courses in New Mexico. Members enjoy the strategic course design and thoughtful layout that weaves through the beautiful high desert area of northern New Mexico. Both of the awardwinning, 18-hole courses offer an exceptional golf experience.

In the southeast corner of the Practice Park of the Golf Performance Center (GPC) at Las Campanas is a 2,800 square foot state of the art training facility which also has a lounge area, putting areas, three indoor/outdoor hitting bays, as well as an indoor golf simulator to satisfy all your golf needs.

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“MEXICO WAY”

f you’re choosing Mexico’s popular Pacific Coast region for your golf vacation, you could do no better than to head for Punta Mita, an exclusive gated community in the northernmost point of Banderas Bay. This is a resort area of luxury, charm, and indeed opulence, with central attractions being the St. Regis Punta Mita, a hotel with laid back high-class style and impeccable service. There are three pools (including one for families and one for adults, which is open 24/7); water sports; excursions; tennis courts; a 10,000 square-foot spa and all manner of activities, from guacamole-making classes to bike tours.

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signature Pacifco Golf Course that beckons. The par-72 course (7,014 yards), which opened in 1999, covers 200 acres with a view of the Pacific Ocean from each hole, and featuring wide fairways and ample greens.

The second Golden Bear-designed par-72 course (7,035 yards) is the Bahía Course. The approach shot of the 462-yard, par-4 15th hole gives players panoramic views of Bahía de Banderas, and there are five holes that play right alongside the Pacific Ocean.

Punta Mita’s famed El Faro surf spot is a short distance away, where surfers and anyone looking seaward can watch evening arrive as the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean.

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Beautiful ocean view in Punta Mita, Mexico

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MEXICO’S

Caribbean Coast

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n the east coast of Mexico it’s always a special moment to see the sun rise out of the eastern horizon of the Caribbean Sea, but playing golf on the Mayan Trail is also one of the great attractions of this region. The area stretches for about 75 miles from Cancún down to the Mayan ruins of Tulum. The many spectacular courses extend from Cancún towards the Riviera Maya, including a course on the island of Cozumel, each one of them designed by recognized architects such as Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Robert Trent Jones Jr., P.B. Dye, Tom Fazio, Tom Weiskopf and Robert von Hagge.

Within the Cancún area, situated on the white sandy beaches of Playa Mujeres, is the adults-only Secrets Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort. Just 35 minutes from the Cancun International Airport, and 10 minutes from downtown Cancun, the nearby 18-hole signature Greg Norman golf course is the main attraction for many.

Of the course itself, Greg Norman says: “Not only does this course have great vistas, but it also provides strategic challenges for everyone who will have the

opportunity to play it. It calls for a golfer’s complete concentration from the first tee shot to the final putt, yet it is an enjoyable experience for players of all abilities.”

Playa Mujeres Golf Club is open to the public year-round, with peak-season green fees currently set at $190, which includes 18 holes, shared golf cart, unlimited use of practice facilities on day of play, bottled water and tees.

RIVIERA MAYA

The Riviera Maya is a spectacular stretch of Caribbean coastline on Mexico’s northeastern Yucatán Peninsula. This is a true vacationers’ paradise, having a playground of numerous all-inclusive resorts, many of which offer high-quality golf experiences in surroundings rich in ancient Mayan attractions and popular archaeological sites operated by the Instituto Nacional de Archaeological; in addition to golf, there are many other attractions such as the beaches, with coastal and reef diving.

Designed by world-renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones II, the Riviera Maya Golf Club gives guests a

rewarding challenge every time they step onto the green. Here you can try your hand on the 18-hole, 72-par course or try the popular 9-hole course, which is fast and simple—ideal for an early morning or midday session. The backdrop is the breathtaking Mayan jungle with its unique flora and fauna.

The Riviera Maya Golf Club is integrated with the Bahía Princípe Hotels & Resorts complex; these luxury residencies are comprised of the beachfront Akumal resort, Sian Ka’an resort and Tulum resort.

The Club also hosts annually a convivial tournament, Bahía Princípe Golf Open, where the entire complex gets involved, with participants enjoying the competitive fun of playing on one of the best courses in the Riviera Maya.

Both the level of play and the number of prizes are added attractions of the Bahía Princípe Golf Open. Players who managed to score a hole-in-one vie for prizes such as a luxury property at Bahía Princípe Residences Riviera Maya, a Porsche Boxter 2018 automobile or a golf cart. (Continued on p.93)

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The Riviera Maya Golf Club gives players a rewarding challenge every time they step on the green.

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Perfect your swing this summer at Andaz Mayakoba!

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Within the Riviera Maya region is the coastal Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya, a Hyatt property that is a secluded and private-gated complex, surrounded by tranquil lagoons and lush vegetation. The resort is a most attractive vacation option that includes four on-site restaurants showcasing fresh local ingredients and authentic

cooking techniques, aquatic/beach attractions and a significant golf course—El Camaleón Golf Club at Mayakoba is a spectacular 18-hole golf course designed by Greg Norman with a par 72 and distinctive hazards, winding through an area of preserved mangroves. This challenging course is home to the annual Mayakoba Golf

Classic, and there are also customized lessons available at the Jim McLean Golf School. The golf club features a driving range and a short game practice facility.

The Riviera Maya region itself is little more than four hours by plane from New York or around two and a half hours from Dallas.

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Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya is an attractive vacation option that offers guests access to pools, spas and playing golf.

Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya is surrounded by tranquil lagoons and lush vegetation.

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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC great golf escapes

Corales Golf Club rates among the world’s finest golf experiences.

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he Dominican Republic is one of the Caribbean’s most enticing and most visited golf destinations, with justified recognition for its premier golf offerings.

The island is not only a major attraction for recreational golf, it is also the Caribbean’s center for serious golf—it’s here that the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship takes place each March (see also, “Defining Moments,” p.120).

Designed by Tom Fazio and opened in 2010, Corales is an exclusive and dramatic 18-hole course with six Caribbean Oceanside holes. Designed along the natural cliffs, bays, ocean coves and the inland lakes and coralina quarries, Corales Golf Course rates among the world’s finest golf experiences.

The exhilarating challenge culminates playing the Devil’s Elbow, Corales’s last three holes. The Devil’s Elbow features the striking eighteenth hole with a dramatic forced carry over the cliff-lined Bay of Corales, an inspired capstone to a memorable and breathtaking golf 96

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experience. To play golf in style, the Resort currently has a variety of seven enticing golf vacation packages.

Punta Cana—which includes Cap Cana, at the island’s eastern edge—is no doubt the island’s jewel. This is a 30,000acre resort area with no fewer than three Jack Nicklaus signature courses. The resort area of Punta Cana has a number of great resort options, including Puntacana Resort & Club, the previously mentioned Corales Golf Club and La Cana Golf Club.

Many consider the Punta Espada Golf Course one of the very best courses in the Caribbean. With beautiful fairways that follow the coastline and a course design that blends into the natural setting, Punta Espada is a Nicklaus masterpiece offering all the challenges you could wish for, placed within an idyllic setting.

Eden Roc is a luxury hotel, a secluded property within the exclusive beachfront community of Cap Cana. With access to the Punta Espada Golf Course, Eden

Roc offers luxurious accommodations including “Luxury Pool Junior Suites” as well as family suites and beachfront suites, together with all the amenities you would expect from a luxury hotel.

Another popular upscale resort is Grand Bahia Principe Punta Cana, surrounded by tropical gardens and overlooking the Arena Gorda Beach on the Atlantic coast. The resort is a short distance from the Catalonia Caribe Golf Club with its 18-hole course designed by Alberto Sola and Jack Corrie. The course features a large lake—impacting holes 5, 6 and 15—five lagoons and numerous shaded trees. The sixth hole will challenge any golfer, with its island green flanked by bunkers and edged by rocks—particularly when the wind blows in from the nearby Atlantic Ocean. Designed for golfers of all skill levels, Catalonia Caribe offers a lovely natural parkland setting. The course also features a nice variety of doglegs and an interesting mix of uphill and downhill holes.

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24/05/2019 11:17

Curaçao Feel It For Yourself’

Make way to Curaçao, and delight in an experience unlike any other

L

ocated in the Southern Caribbean, the beautiful island of Curaçao leaves a lasting impression on all who visit. With over 50 nationalities, 35 beaches, 4 languages spoken, and a seemingly endless list of activities to enjoy – it transcends any experience you’ve ever had before. Curaçao’s amenities, diversity, and beautiful views simply encourage indulgence in all of the right ways.

For starters, the temperature is perfection. Situated outside of the hurricane belt, the island experiences an average daily temperature of 84 degrees and an average water temperature of 82 degrees, providing the ideal setting for any and all activities available.

The Finest Stay Many of the resorts and hotels on the island provide a feeling of tranquility, most with views of the island’s stunning azure blue seas. With so many options available, everyone is able to find

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a place that best fits their preferences. Delight in the perks of a private beach, take advantage of the vast amenities of a resort, or kick back in a bungalow. No matter where you stay, the feeling of serenity will remain constant.

A Foodie’s Fantasy Food plays such a vital role in the overall enjoyment of a vacation and Curaçao does not disappoint. There is so much to taste and enjoy as a result of Curaçao’s distinct blend of European and island culture.

When not at your hotel or resort, stop by the island’s capital, Willemstad and take your pick of the many restaurants and cafes available. There is something for everyone as most spots provide a mix of international and island specialties. After your meal, hit the bars in town and cool off with a refreshing caribbean cocktail. The many flavors of the island provide an experience worth savoring.

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An Infinite Itinerary Each activity taps into the energy of the island, and the list is tremendous. With over 35 beaches, the water activities are in abundance.

Travelers can enjoy scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, flyboarding, boat trips, or a lazy day at the beach. Outside of the sea, activities span art and culture galleries, museums, spas, tours, biking, safari excursions, aquariums, parks, casinos, lounges and bars.

But don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten about the golf aficionados of the world...

Curaçao’s two breathtaking golf courses each tap into the island’s natural wonders. Located at the Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort, Old Quarry outshines that of a typical course. Its 18 holes are carefully crafted by award winning golf-course designer, Pete Dye, to complement the beautiful peaks and valleys of Curaçao. With views of Spanish Water Harbor and a backdrop of Tafelberg Mountain, it comes as no surprise that this course has been named the

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#1 Caribbean golf course for the second consecutive year by USA Today.

On the Southwestern part of the island stands Blue Bay Golf and Beach Resort, the ultimate challenge and a true beauty. Designed by William “Rocky” Rocquemore, this 18 hole course challenges players of all skill levels and utilizes the island’s natural elements as part of the experience.

The fifth hole even dares you with a long shot across the blue sea.

Those looking to join a private golf club can head over to Curaçao’s Golf & Squash Club. While there, members get to indulge in an 18 hole course consisting of 10 greens, 2 squash courts, and exciting golf events each month.

When you are not hitting the links on the course, enjoying the incredible amenities of a resort, or tasting the local dishes – Curaçao encourages all of its visitors to take a moment and feel the energy of the island. Talk to one of the friendly locals, dance to a new rhythm, and find yourself immersed in a whirlwind of culture. That’s the feeling that can’t be replicated anywhere else.

24/05/2019 14:48

A WO R L D AWAY I S A LOT CLO S E R T H A N YO U T H I N K.

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09/05/2019 11:54

“Let’s take a boat to Golf is just one of this island’s many vacation attractions.

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key source for Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Bermuda’s natural island beauty has more recently enticed golfers, with several manmade attractions in the shape of great golf courses. A Ted Robinson course is at The Turtle Hill Golf Club at Fairmont, Southampton, a winner of Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play Golf.”

Ted Robinson was a designer whose legacy will continue to be enjoyed by golf vacationers for many years to come. He designed over 160 course courses during his career—mostly on the mainland West Coast, but also in Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, as well as Bermuda.

Robinson was one of the earliest advocates of the water feature as a significant golf course hazard. He liked to incorporate large green-side water features in his designs—which led to him to be nicknamed “King of Waterscapes.”

The Turtle Hill Golf Course features 18 challenging par 3 holes—and if you expect stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean from almost any point on this glorious island, you won’t be disappointed. Strong coastal winds add to the challenges of this par 54, 2,684-yard course. As you would also expect from Ted

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TRAVEL

BERMUDA”

Robinson, there’s his signature water hazard at Hole 3, which plays over water. And those who know it well will advise you sagely, “It plays longer than it looks, and it’s better to be long and left than short or right.”

If you’re planning a luxury golf vacation, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts certainly know how to provide just that—bearing in mind not only the two luxury resorts on Bermuda at Southampton and the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, but also that the group owns The Plaza in New York, The Savoy in London, and the Fairmont Palace Hotel in Shanghai, to name just a few.

Bermuda’s other firm favorite is the Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton, a Robert Trent Jones design that’s ranked among the world’s best public courses. The 18 championship holes over 6,842 yards, offer you the longest and perhaps the most picturesque course on Bermuda. The legendary 16th hole (235 yards, par 3) has confounded even the world’s best golfers, and it was a favorite of Jack Nicklaus. Of the 16th, the official “Course Tour” warns, “this hole has the ability to fool the strongest of minds.” The course has also played host to the PGA Grand Slam seven years running. ■ PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, Part 2

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4 a i t o c S a v o N Reasons to Make

y a w a t e G f l o Your Next G

Ultra-fresh seafood

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nonymous with Nova Scotia is sy ght but any fresh-cau r, ste succulent lob s, op all sc : ble lecta seafood here is de crab, and fish — , rs ste oy ls, se mus rel. Join a seaside especially macke alves down on briny biv lobster boil, chow tour or do a self-driving at an oyster bar, ia ot Sc signated Nova along the two de ia ot Sc e Nova seafood routes. Th to ls from Yarmouth ve tra l ai Tr r Chowde eir th k sin iting people to Cape Breton, inv ng alo w ste d s of seafoo spoons into bowl n. gio re e th of s se taste the way for diver about Lobster Trail is ia ot Sc va No The the m fro r ing lobste feasting on everyth tacos e lik re fa n er to mod traditional dinner t. and eggs Benedic

 Cabot Cliffs Golf Course, Inverness

World-class golf Imagine yourself teeing off on Canada’s East Coast, surrounded

by Nova Scotia’s dramatic scenery: sweeping sandy beaches, rugged cliffs, and majestic forests. This is a golfer’s paradise. This small province packs in more than a dozen places to play, but it’s the three award-winning courses on Cape Breton Island that make it a coveted golf destination to discover.

Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs, a pair of 18-hole courses anchored by a luxe resort, have racked up worldclass rankings. With six beachfront holes, Cabot Links (Canada’s first authentic links course) stretches from ocean to village, making for an unforgettable experience entwined

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with the natural landscape. Nearby Cabot Cliffs offers a different type of jaw-dropping scenery, with holes situated on wild dunes and high cliffs overlooking the glistening Gulf of St. Lawrence. Play a round at both from mid-May through the end of October.

(2)

For another sublime place to play set amid pristine wilderness (watch for moose!), visit Cape Breton Highlands Links. Named for its prime position in a national park, this 18-hole stunner was designed in the 1930s by golf architect Stanley Thompson. The fairways have drawn comparisons to Scotland’s topography, perhaps as Thompson’s homage to the sport’s Scottish heritage, St. Andrews in particular.

03/06/2019 10:16

Locally grown wine

(3)  Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyard

, Annapolis Valley

Nova Scotia ’s burgeoning wine scene its best kept might just be secret. The province’s gr heritage date ape-growing s back to the 1600s, makin of North Am g it one erica’s earlies t regions to fruit. Today, cultivate the 70-plus grow ers ar on the unique terroir of seve e shining a spotlight n distinctive regions that growing give Nova S cotia wines acidity, and their crispnes aromatic com s, plexities.

The unique soil and cool climate cond spurred the itions have developmen t of the prov appellation ca ince’s first lled Tidal Bay aromatic whi (a blend of cr tes that pairs isp and perfectly with Sample this seafood). signature sipp er, along with award-winni ng varietals other and blends su kling wine at ch as sparLightfoot & Wolfville Vin muscat at A eyards, vondale Sky , and Baco N Blomidon E oir at state Winer y. y

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gra Acorn Art Photo

 Keeper’s Kitchen at Cape Forch

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 Skyline Trail,

Wild nature

Nova Scotia’s celeb rated Cabot Trail is one of the world’s most fam ous drives. Choose your own adventure along the historic 185-mile route that traces Cape Br eton’s scenic coastlin e. Take your time to stretch your legs or get yo ur heart pumping; more tha n 25 hiking trails off er opportunities for full imme rsion in nature. Am ble the

Cape Breton High

lands National Pa

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boardwalk on the Sk yline Trail for easil y accessible panoram as of headland cliffs and ragged coastlines fro m high above. It’s an idyllic place to see bald eagles and oth er wildlife, including moos e and bears.

Ready to explore off shore? Set off to se a on a whale-watching excursion. In sprin gtime, humpbacks and oth er gentle giants migra te to the area’s waters to feed and breed.

Tours depart right fro m the Halifax water front.

Plan your trip to Nova Scotia: keepexploring.ca/novascotia 03/06/2019 10:17

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At Sandals, the World’s Only 5-Star Luxury Included® Resorts, the best of everything is included, even world-class golf*. With championship courses in the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia, you’ll find yourself challenged and exhilarated at every hole, whether you’re taking your first shot or a seasoned player. Sandals Golf & Country Club is the “most played” course in Jamaica, with narrow fairways, miniscule drop-off greens, and panoramic views—all reasons Golf Digest gave it a 4-star rating. You’ll find two courses in Saint Lucia: the 18-hole* Sandals St. Lucia Golf & Country Club at Cap Estate, featuring 6,744 yards of sprawling greens, and the 9-hole Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Club, with narrow fairways and rolling hills.

In the Bahamas, Sandals Emerald Bay is home to an 18-hole, Greg Norman-designed championship golf course named one of the Caribbean’s best courses by Travel + Leisure. No matter which course you play, multiple rounds of golf are included.

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THE INTERNATIONAL PGA TOURS

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT

The international tours in China, Latin America and Canada each year produce strong graduates who move on to the Web.com Tour Introduction by Laury Livsey

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n the week of May 20, for only the second time in history, all six of the PGA TOUR’s affiliated Tours were in action at the same time. This was possible because the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada began its seventh season that week.

PGA TOUR Latinoamérica is in the middle of its eighth year and PGA TOUR Series-China is celebrating its fifth season, and they all joined their older, more mature family members—the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions and the Web. com Tour—with tournament golf that week.

As for the PGA TOUR’s three international Tours, all are doing exactly what was intended when then-TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem announced their formation in consecutive years, starting in 2012.

“We created these Tours to provide playing opportunities for up-and-coming players in these parts of the world, both North and South America and in Asia—with a particular focus on China,” said Rob Ohno, a PGA TOUR Senior Vice President who oversees all three international tours. “We are also intent on growing the game and introducing it to fans who may not be that familiar with our sport. In Canada, golf is fairly established. But there are places in the world where that’s not the case.

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Through professional Tours operated by the PGA TOUR, we felt we could really grow the game.”

This season, Corey Conners, a Mackenzie Tour alum, won the PGA TOUR’s Valero Texas Open, while Keith Mitchell, who toiled for two seasons on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, won the Honda Classic. Zecheng Dou and Xinjun Zhang, former PGA TOUR Series-China stalwarts, have both won Web.com Tour events in 2019—with Zhang zooming to the top of the seasonlong points list at the season’s halfway mark.

Numerous others are continuing their playing careers after getting their professional starts in places like Calgary, Cordoba and Chengdu.

“The PGA TOUR wanted to create Tours that would allow players to compete against each other in PGA TOUR-caliber venues so they could gauge their games and better understand where they are in their careers,” Ohno continued. “They get to do this by experiencing tournaments set up and organized exactly as PGA TOUR tournaments are, just on a somewhat smaller scale. These have been very successful ventures for the TOUR, and we’re very pleased with the results—and the great players—our international Tours have produced.” (Continued on p.109)

Canadian Corey Conners, who gained valuable experience on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, broke through this spring with a victory at the Valero Texas Open.

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Don’t take a mulligan if you don’t need to.

Ask your doctor how precision medicine can give you confidence in your prostate biopsy results.

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THE INTERNATIONAL PGA TOURS

PGA TOUR Series-China

By Laury Livsey David Kocher arrived in China for the 2019 PGA TOUR Series-China season with only conditional status. That meant the New Jersey native had no guarantee he would play in tournaments, which forced Kocher to Monday-qualify into the seasonopening Chongqing Championship because too many other players were ahead of him on the exempt list.

No matter. Kocher “Mondayed” into that tournament and eventually finished third. That allowed him to play in the next week’s event and Kocher was on his way. He then won the Haikou Championship in only his third Tour start, making him fully exempt for the remainder of the year. Suddenly, he went from limited playing opportunities to the top of the Order of Merit.

Not only did the win give Kocher a place to play for the rest of the season, he could begin realistically thinking about his next-year plans.

The top-five money-winners from 2019 on PGA TOUR Series-China will automatically earn membership on the 2020 Web.com Tour.

“My goal for this year was just to finish in the top 25 (on the Order of Merit) and get to second stage (of the Web.com Tour Final Qualifying Tournament),” he said after his win. “I can set some new goals now as I’m really happy with where my game is. I’ve been playing well this whole year, so this is definitely a big confidence boost.”

For fellow American Trevor Sluman, winner of the Sanya Championship, his breakthrough victory was equally as satisfying for different reasons. In 2018, after contending several times only to come up short, Sluman was finally able to move into the win column.

Taihei Sato’s Chongqing Championship win was notable, as he became the first Japanese player to win a Series event. While it was not Sato’s first as a professional, he was willing to admit his playoff triumph over China’s Yanwei Liu was particularly satisfying.

“This might be my best win considering so many good players were in the field,” he said.

In China’s capital in mid-May, Canada’s Richard Jung, a year removed from his win at the Suzhou Open, cruised to his second Series title, at the Beijing Championship. In the process he became the 12th player with multiple victories on the Tour, setting the stage for big things to come over the next 10 tournaments, culminated at the season-ending Clearwater Bay Open in Hong Kong.

American Trevor Sluman had a breakthrough victory at the Sanya Championship.

Taihei Sato became the first Japanese player to win a series event, with his Chongqing Championship win.

Remembering Arie Irawan

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; PGA TOUR

Arie Irawan missed the cut at the Sanya Championship in April but stayed in the seaside city to prepare for the next week’s tournament in Haikou.

He went to bed Saturday night and never awoke, dying in his sleep of natural causes. He was 28. Irawan’s death left everybody associated with PGA TOUR Series-China shocked, and the tournament elected to cancel the final round out of respect for Irawan. The Malaysian golfer was in his second season playing in China and was a popular player among fellow golfers and staff.

— Laury Livsey

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Only 28, Arie Irawan died of natural causes in April.

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31/05/2019 14:10

“Following a physical training program designed specifically for golf is the most important thing you can do to improve your game.”

–Justin Leonard, 12-Time Professional Golf Tournament Winner

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30/11/2018 14:04

THE INTERNATIONAL PGA TOURS

A victory in his third PGA TOUR Latinoamérica start put American John Somers in good position on the Order of Merit.

Jared Wolfe, no stranger to PGA TOUR Latinoamérica success, won the 2019 seasonopening event.

PGA TOUR Latinoamérica

By Kevin Prise With the top-five finishers on each year’s PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Order of Merit earning strong Web.com Tour status for the following season, there is no shortage of motivation to start fast.

In his first PGA TOUR Latinoamérica season, 2014 Elon University alum John Somers is following that script beautifully. After securing Tour starts via a T12 finish at his Q-School site in January, the North Carolina native emerged victorious in his third start, shooting rounds of 68-65-67-65 at the Abierto de Chile in late April, capped off by draining a 45-foot eagle putt on the final hole to secure a two-shot victory.

Just like that, Somers moved to No. 4 on the Order of Merit (Los Cinco) through three events, well positioned to make a run at his first Web.com Tour card as he pursues his PGA TOUR dreams.

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for,” Somers said after his victory. “This is unbelievable.”

Tour rookies like Somers will have no shortage of veteran challengers as they compete for spots in Los Cinco.

Through three events, Murray State alum Jared Wolfe led Los Cinco, on the strength of a victory at the season-opening Buenaventura Classic, which he followed with a T31 and solo eighth.

Wolfe, 31, is no stranger to success on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica. The Kentucky native finished second on Los Cinco in 2017, and No. 15 last year in just six events.

Wolfe’s season-opening victory marked his third PGA TOUR Latinoamérica title in 26 career starts, and he intends to continue to put the pedal down as he chases the No. 1 spot on the season-long money list, which brings fully exempt Web.com Tour status in 2020.

“I love this Tour,” Wolfe said after his win in Panama in late March.

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THE INTERNATIONAL PGA TOURS

Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada

By Robert Thompson Adam Long recalls his time on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada well, even if it was five years ago. Long, who won the Desert Classic this spring for his first win on the PGA TOUR, says the time he spent playing in Canada helped prepare him to move forward for the Web.com Tour.

“You learn so much playing [in Canada],” he said from The Honda Classic. “You learn how to play competitive tour golf, how to travel, how to look after yourself—it really prepares you for what life out on tour is like.”

Long is the latest in a series of players to use the Mackenzie Tour as a stepping-stone to the PGA TOUR. In recent years Canadian Mackenzie Hughes and stars like Tony Finau, Aaron Wise and several others have followed suit. Canadian Corey Conners, from Listowel, Ont., is the latest to make the jump, after winning the Valero Texas Open.

This year’s schedule starts in May in Vancouver, finishing with the no-cut Canada Life Championship in London, Ont., in midSeptember. In between, the Tour takes in stops throughout Canada, including the new HFX Pro-Am in Halifax in July, which will be held at Oakfield Golf and Country Club, with Sports and Entertainment Atlantic as the host organization.

The goal of the Tour remains the same— introducing the best young professionals to the world of tournament golf, as well as giving them the opportunity to move ahead with their professional career, says Scott Pritchard, Mackenzie Tour’s vice-president.

Pritchard points to the Tour’s qualifying schools—which have sold out in minutes—as proof of the Tour’s success and the way it is connecting with emerging players from American colleges and the best European players.

“The proof, I feel, is coming from the players using the Tour to move to the Web. com Tour, but also the players have success beyond that,” says Pritchard.

For Long, he fondly reflects on the year he played in Canada, and how it affected his career going forward.

“It is a fantastic Tour and it prepares you for what follows it,” he says. “For a lot of young guys, you’re learning to book your own schedule and plan your time, as well as how you prepare. Having a tour like the Mackenzie Tour is really important to the professional game and keeps getting stronger and stronger.” ■ W W W.PGATOUR.COM

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Desert Classic winner Adam Long credits his stint on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada with helping him learn the ropes as a professional.

PGA TOUR standout Tony Finau is one of the golfers who developed his skills on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada.

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Web.com Tour

Back to Basics Former Stanford star Maverick McNealy returned to an old routine to prepare for an important new season on the Web.com Tour, with positive results

By Kevin Prise

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fter a standout collegiate career at Stanford University, where he won 11 times to match Tiger Woods and Patrick Rodgers for the school record, Maverick McNealy was pegged throughout the golf media as one of the game’s rising stars, and deservingly so.

But as McNealy himself likes to say, golf is the ultimate meritocracy. The ball doesn’t know, or care, who you are or what you’ve done.

The California native earned 2018

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Web.com Tour status via his first foray at Q-School, then finished No. 65 on the Regular Season money list in his first full season as a pro (the Web.com Tour’s final year in using money for Order of Merit, before moving to a Points-based system in 2019). It was a solid rookie season, but he was well outside The 25.

In order to take the next step, secure a spot in The 25 and his first PGA TOUR card, McNealy went back to the roots.

The 23-year-old grew up with three

Rising star, Maverick McNealy tees off on the 15th hole during the first round of the Web.com Tour’s The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic.

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Web.com Tour Doug Ghim hits a shot on the 14th fairway during the first round of the Web.com Tour’s The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic.

Fans watch play around on the 5th green during the final round of the Web.com Tour’s Savannah Golf Championship.

IMAGES: Getty Images; US PGA TOUR

younger brothers—Dakota, Colt and Scout—in a family dynamic that fostered competition. This past offseason, McNealy focused a large portion of his practice efforts on the course, with his brothers—playing, scoring, competing.

After recording a career-best runnerup finish at the LECOM Suncoast Classic in February, where he posted a 72-hole total of 24-under, McNealy credited this offseason approach for moving his game in the right direction as he eyes the PGA TOUR. “I got back to doing what got me good in the first place, which is playing holes and holes with my brothers,” McNealy said that Sunday afternoon at Lakewood National GC. “I think I’m just in a really good place mentally. That’s really helped me out this year, and I’m just going to keep plugging along. My mantra this year has been, ‘You are where your feet are,’ and anything in front or behind you will just

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Web.com Tour

mess with you.”

A sound mantra to have, as the Web. com Tour features 20 consecutive weeks of competition (17 Regular Season, three Finals), from mid-April through Labor Day, commencing at the inaugural Robert Trent Jones Trail Championship, April 1821, and concluding at the Web.com Tour Championship, contested for the first time at Victoria National GC outside Evansville, Ind., Aug. 30-Sept. 2.

With the top 25 on the Regular Season money list (The 25), and the top 25 on the Web.com Tour Finals money list (The Finals 25), earning PGA TOUR membership for the 2019-20 season, there’s no shortage of motivation as players like McNealy strive to secure their first opportunity at the highest level of competitive golf.

Fellow up-and-comers like Doug Ghim, Vincent Whaley and John Oda won’t make it easy.

Ghim, 22, played collegiately at the

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“I got back to doing what got me good in the first place, which is playing holes and holes with my brothers.”

John Oda tees off on the 7th hole during the final round of The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic.

— Maverick McNealy University of Texas, also finishing runnerup at the 2017 U.S. Amateur to earn invitations to the 2018 Masters and U.S. Open.

The Chicago-area native announced himself as a Web.com Tour contender with a tie for third at the Country Club de Bogota Championship in early February, a week after finishing T20 at the TOUR’s Farmers Insurance Open and then crossing three time zones to get to Bogota.

Whaley, 24, played collegiately at

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Web.com Tour

Georgia Tech, where he was inspired and mentored by older teammates Anders Albertson and Seth Reeves (Web.com Tour graduates and current TOUR members), as well as Yellow Jacket alums like Ollie Schneiderjans and Roberto Castro.

A large part of the Georgia Tech community stays in Atlanta after graduation, and Whaley has taken advantage career-wise—after advancing through Final Stage of Q-School in December, he had a three-hour lunch with Albertson and Castro, where they shared perspective on the Web.com Tour, including travel particulars like where to stay and where to eat.

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Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club in January, a massive stride toward The 25.

Oda, 22, played collegiately at UNLV, and found quick professional success via a third-place finish at the TOUR’s Barracuda Championship this past August. The Hawaii native gained Web.com Tour Finals entry via TOUR non-member FedExCup points but struggled, and he successfully advanced through Q-School with determination to maximize his potential in 2019.

The former ukulele player opened 2019 with back-to-back top-five finishes in the Bahamas.

Oda and the rest will strive to play the right strings as they chase future TOUR status. 

Vincent Whaley tees off on the 15th hole during the first round of The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic.

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DEFINING MOMENTS

TIMES TO REMEMBER From drought-busting victories to inspiring moments, the first half of the 2018-19 PGA TOUR Season wasn’t short of memories

O

ver a long PGA TOUR season, certain situations and scenes stand out. That was certainly the case in the early months of the 2018-19 schedule as veterans and newcomers alike scored meaningful victories. And as we discovered at the Waste

Management Phoenix Open, sometimes a riveting event can occur before the competition has even begun. Enjoy these reflections on half a dozen defining moments from writers who were there.

Following no wins for 11 years and 9 months, Charles Howell lll broke the drought by winning The RSM Classic.

DREAM WEEK FOR HOWELL AS DROUGHT IS BROKEN

By Scott Michaux

I

t’s typically not a surprise when one of the top 20 career money leaders in PGA TOUR history wins a tournament, but when 4,292 days (11 years, 9 months) pass between victories it can seem like a breakthrough.

“You know, golf is a brutal game and the highs of the high, it comes with a lot of real lows,” Charles Howell III said after his playoff victory last November at The RSM Classic snapped his extended drought. “You work and you practice and you prepare and you think you’re doing all the right things and the results don’t quite show that. So then you start to question everything, really. It’s a wonderful lesson to be learned that if you truly believe in what you’re doing, to stay the course.”

Howell was always destined to be one of the top golfers in the world. After winning the individual NCAA title at Oklahoma State in 2000, he turned pro and was heralded as the next big thing following Tiger Woods’ arrival on TOUR several years earlier. Howell won a PGA TOUR event in his 118

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Rookie-of-the-Year season in 2002 and quickly climbed inside the top 20 in the world.

By the start of 2018, however, Howell had played more than 500 professional events and won more than $35 million, yet he only had two career victories—the last in 2007 when he beat Phil Mickelson in a playoff at Riviera.

He’d finished runner-up 17 times and third nine times in his career—each near miss cutting a little deeper even as it swelled his bank account.

“The line between first and second is a big line,” he said.

Crossing that line from second to first again released a flood of emotions as his wife, Heather, and two kids ran onto the green for a tearful embrace.

“The fact I’m sitting here with this trophy, it’s still a bit of a dream,” he said.

Scott Michaux is an award-winning journalist who has covered golf since 1997 for the Greensboro News & Record and the Augusta Chronicle.

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DEFINING MOMENTS

GOING LOW, SCHAUFFELE STARTS 2019 ON A HIGH

By Dave Shedloski

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“Honestly a bit speechless. It was a crazy day,” said Schauffele, 25, who began the final round five strokes behind Woodland. “It’s by far the best final round I ever played.”

Schauffele tends to go crazy on Sundays.

In his previous start at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, he birdied his final two holes and posted a closing 4-under 68, the day’s low round at Sheshan International Golf Club, to erase a three-stroke deficit to Tony Finau. He then triumphed with a birdie on the first playoff hole. And in the 2017 TOUR Championship, Schauffele birdied the 72nd hole for a 2-under 68 at East Lake Golf Club, rallying from two back to become the first rookie to capture the season finale.

It’s all about his mindset, which appears perfect for the comeback challenges he has overcome. “I’m a pretty mellow guy,” he said, “but I’ve got a fire burning inside.”

Based in Columbus, Ohio, Dave Shedloski contributes to a number of publications, including Golf World and Golf Digest. He has covered every Presidents Cup since 2005.

Schauffele began the final round five strokes behind Woodland, but went on to win the Sentry Tournament of Champions.

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR

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ome guys know how to play with a lead.

Xander Schauffele knows how to lead from behind, if you will. If that wasn’t evident in the 2016-17 season, when he won twice in comeback fashion and received the Arnold Palmer Award as PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year, he left no doubt at the 2019 Sentry Tournament of Champions.

In the first event of the calendar year, Schauffele fired the lowest final round at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course, an impeccable 11-under-par 62, and surged past third-round leader Gary Woodland for his fourth career title. The round included two eagles with a wedge, the second a hole-out from 107 yards. He nearly had a third eagle, missing a 12-footer at the par-5 home hole after finding the green from 272 yards. Nevertheless, the birdie completed a breathtaking rally that tied the course record and was the lowest round of Schauffele’s pro career.

He finished at 23-under 269 to beat Woodland by a stroke. And to think the California native started the round with a bogey.

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DEFINING MOMENTS

CALM UNDER PRESSURE, ROSE TALKS HIMSELF TO A FARMERS VICTORY

By Tod Leonard

A

s cool and affable as any of his brethren on the PGA TOUR, Justin Rose hardly speaks louder than a man sitting at English tea.

Yet on a sunny gorgeous late January Sunday on the cliffs at Torrey Pines, Rose was experiencing an internal conversation that would have roared above the sound of the surf below.

“You’re No. 1 in the world for a reason,” the 2018 FedExCup champion recalled telling himself. “Just start playing like it please.”

Of course, he said please. Even an angry Rose is a polite Rose.

Rose began the final round with a comfortable three-shot lead, but bogeys on three of the first five holes put him in an all-toofamiliar predicament: Rose had only closed out four of 14 previous attempts to capitalize when holding at least a share of the 54-hole lead.

An impressive constellation of stars was trying to chase him down; Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Jason Day, Patrick Reed and Jon Rahm.

Rose didn’t wilt in the heat. He steadied himself, shot 3-under-par 69, and finished at 120

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21 under par to capture a milestone 10th PGA TOUR title.

The 38-year-old Englishman had to hold off the stirring charge of Scott, who birdied the final four holes to shoot 68 and finish two strokes back.

“It was a tricky day today,” Rose said. “A three-shot lead is never easy, and [at the] start, anything that could go wrong did go wrong.

“So I felt like I had to work for this one today … There’s a few little extra pieces that make this win a fun one.”

Rose triumphed in the absence of his regular caddie, Mark Fulcher, who underwent heartvalve replacement surgery earlier in January.

“Obviously, dedicated this one to my caddie, ‘Fooch,’ who’s sitting at home and probably finding it much harder to sit at home than actually being out here,” Rose said. “And probably harder than the heart surgery itself, watching this weekend. This one’s for him.”

Tod Leonard has been the golf writer for the San Diego Union-Tribune for 19 years.

Justin Rose held off Adam Scott to win the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines by two shots.

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31/05/2019 14:39

DEFINING MOMENTS

AN INSPIRING SCENE IN SCOTTSDALE GOES GLOBAL

By Doug Milne

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR

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n rare occasions, the fondest memory for a player at a PGA TOUR event has nothing to do with a single shot he hit.

At the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open, that particular moment for defending champion Gary Woodland, captured on camera and shared with the world, not only left an indelible mark in Woodland’s heart, but it also invigorated the collective spirit of millions of viewers spanning the globe.

With but two swings and a putt, it also changed the life of 20-year-old Amy Bockerstette, an accomplished golfer who also has Down Syndrome.

In what was intended to be a video feature for PGA TOUR social media channels, the idea was that Woodland would surprise Bockerstette in the gallery and invite her to play the famed par-3 16th at TPC Scottsdale during a Tuesday practice round.

No one knew what to expect. And, no one could have imagined the outcome.

With cameras rolling, Bockerstette hit a 6-hybrid from 117 yards to the greenside bunker. Her blast from the sand left her just

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eight feet away from a par. By now, anyone not living on the ocean floor knows Bockerstette sank the par putt, after repeatedly stating to herself; “I got this.”

“I’ve been blessed to do lot of cool things on the golf course, but that is by far the coolest thing I’ve ever experienced,” said Woodland.

“To step up in front of all the people and hit the shots she hit and make par, I never rooted so hard for somebody on a golf course.”

By the time Woodland finished T16 in defense of his title that Sunday, the video had gone viral with millions of views. It was picked up by countless newspapers, magazines and television and radio shows the world over.

Before the end of April, the extraordinary feature had gotten more than 21 million views on PGA TOUR social platforms alone.

“She was so excited and happy and that is something we can all learn from,” said Woodland. “I told her she was a hero and to keep doing what she’s doing, because we’re all going to be following her.”

Doug Milne has worked in Communications at the PGA TOUR for 28 years.

Gary Woodland cheers on Amy Bockerstette at the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open.

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DEFINING MOMENTS

MITCHELL CLUTCH WHEN IT COUNTED AT THE HONDA CLASSIC

By Steve Waters

K

eith Mitchell admitted that sometimes he lets his emotions get the best of him on the golf course. But tied for lead of The Honda Classic with two of the biggest names in the game, Mitchell was cool and focused as he stood over a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole.

“Everybody dreams about having that putt on the 18th hole to win a tournament, and fortunately I was able to capitalize, and it feels awesome,” said Mitchell, 27, after making his fourth birdie in the final seven holes on PGA National’s intimidating Champion Course for his first PGA TOUR victory.

“It was the best putt I’ve ever hit under the circumstances, hands down.”

That putt gave him a 3-under-par 67 for a 9-under 271 total and a one-shot victory over Brooks Koepka and Rickie Fowler, who each birdied the final hole before Mitchell arrived.

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opened with consecutive bogeys after driving into a bunker on the first hole and threeputting the second.

“I wouldn’t say the first two bogeys were nerves. I would say they were bad execution.

I was anxious, is the best way to say it,” Mitchell said. “I’ve been working really hard with my caddie to try to not let my emotions take over, and what I do is I block him out and I get mad and I don’t talk.”

He regrouped at the par-5 third, laying up instead of going for the green in two, hitting a superb chip and making birdie.

Mitchell also played smart at the par-5 18th, where his 323-yard tee shot landed on the upslope of a fairway bunker. Instead of going for the green, he hit a 59-degree wedge to leave himself 129 yards from the pin, then deliberately put his approach below the hole for a putt that dreams are made of.

Steve Waters has written about golf for newspapers for more than 30 years. He covered The Honda Classic in 2019 for The Palm Beach Post.

Keith Mitchell wins his first PGA TOUR event at The Honda Classic.

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31/05/2019 14:54

DEFINING MOMENTS

MCDOWELL VICTORIOUS ON TOUR FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2015

By Adam Stanley

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR

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n the 17th hole at the Corales Golf Club, Graeme McDowell knew his approach was so good that he didn’t even need to look.

McDowell, who captured the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship for his first PGA TOUR victory since 2015, pulled ahead for good after knocking his tee-shot on the tricky 17th to mere feet and draining the birdie.

Ever-the-grinder, McDowell admitted life had got in the way the last few years. He and wife Kristin have three kids (Valyn, 10, Vale, 4, and Wills, 2). He opened two restaurants under his name. There are the homes in the Bahamas and Florida. He enjoys being a father, a restauranteur, and drinking the occasional pint of Guinness—perfectly poured, of course.

But on the golf course, McDowell had struggled.

He had fallen outside the top-125 on the FedExCup standings the last few seasons.

He played the alternate-field event in Puerto Rico just a few weeks prior to try to get more FedExCup points and was in the Dominican Republic to try to do the same.

He rode a hot putter to 64s on Friday and Saturday. He was in the final group on Sunday.

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The McDowell smile was back, and in his unique accent—part Ireland, part Alabama, after having spent his college years playing golf at the University of Alabama at Birmingham— he said he was excited for the final-round opportunity.

His Sunday start was a dream. He was 4-under through seven. He bogeyed the ninth then made seven straight pars before he got to the par-3 17th.

He eased a 6-iron next to the hole, made the birdie, and it was a two-shot swing. His bogey on the par-4 18th mattered little. In the blistering late-afternoon island heat, McDowell was a PGA TOUR winner once again.

Although he didn’t get the idyllic end-oftournament scene he hoped for when he became a father—having his kids run out onto the green—the way he’s playing, and with the confidence this win has given him, don’t be surprised if he gets to have that moment sooner rather than later. ■ Adam Stanley is a freelance journalist based out of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. His work can be found in a number of national and international publications.

Graeme McDowell held on for a one-shot victory at the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship.

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PGA TOUR PLAYER INTERVIEW

THE CLIMB BACK British-born Paul Casey attended Arizona State University and turned pro in 2000. He was once No. 3 in the world before a series of injuries forced him to make a gritty ascent to form

By Helen Ross

T

here was a time in the not too distant past when Paul Casey thought nothing about embarking on a 362-mile bike ride through the Dolomites in the Italian Alps. On what was practically the eve of the 2015 PGA Championship, no less.

These days, the father of two young children is more apt to have tricycles and training wheels in his life. He still gets out to ride occasionally— Casey says he loves the “mental release” cycling provides—but family, and then practice, come before his other life-long passion.

Content in his life off the golf course—and contending on it, the friendly Englishman with the engaging smile is playing some of the best 124 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, Part 2

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golf of his career at the age of 42.

The Renaissance man had once been ranked as high as third in the world, behind Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. But a litany of injuries—torn rib muscle, turf toe and dislocated shoulder—contributed to a slide that saw him tumble as low as 169th in June 2013.

In 2015, though, Casey recommitted himself to playing the PGA TOUR. He has climbed back into the world’s top 20—one of a handful of 40-somethings holding their own in an increasingly young man’s game. He was also one of Thomas Bjorn’s captain’s picks for the Ryder Cup last year, making his first appearance since 2008.

Paul Casey holds the 2019 Valspar Championship trophy after successfully defending his title.

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PGA TOUR PLAYER INTERVIEW

Q: But you played other sports, too.

When did you decide you wanted to just concentrate on golf?

CASEY: Probably when I was about early teens, 13, 14. I was still at that stage playing tennis, quite a bit of football [soccer]. I actually was trying to get tennis scholarships and things like that when I was about 11 years old and soon figured out I was having more success withgolf than I was the other sports. And at that point it was just a sensible decision, so I stopped the other sports because they were taking away time from golf. That’s all it really was, but I loved playing everything. I still love other sports. It was just a process of elimination that led me togolf.

Q: So what prompted your decision to come to the States and play golf in college?

CASEY: It was a big move. But it was kind

Paul Casey acknowledges the fans’ support on the 18th green during the final round of the Valspar Championship.

And although he’d won overseas in the interim, Casey ended a nine-year PGA TOUR victory drought when he held off Woods at the 2018 Valspar Championship. He successfully defended his title earlier this year and appears headed for his fifth straight appearance in the TOUR Championship as well.

Casey, who is a collector of fine wine, vintage wristwatches and Nike Dunks, took some time at THE PLAYERS Championship, for this conversation with the PGA TOUR Essential Guide to Golf.

IMAGES: Getty Images

Q. Who influenced you as a golfer?

CASEY: Probably two factors; multiple people.

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So, my Dad would be the first, because he was a bad golfer, but he was a good athlete. He was a good rugby player, and cricketer, and so he introduced me to the game. He was the main influence, because he was always there through me starting my golfing career.

And then there’s just a plethora of guys. I’d like to pick one, but it was Seve, Faldo, Langer, Woosie, Lyle … those were the main guys who, for me, were my heroes. And I got to watch them when I used to go to events at Wentworth and stand up close and watch guys like Faldo and Seve hit the golf ball. So, they were the big influence, although I didn’t know them.

of forced, and I say that because there’s really no way of furthering your education after high school and playing a sport in the U.K. unless you go to Oxford or Cambridge and you’re doing crew as you call it over here. Maybe you could play a bit of rugby at couple of universities, but it’s really dead-end. For golf there were still very few opportunities, certainly nothing like the college system.

So it was, do I turn pro? Or do I pursue this college thing, which no one knew much about.

Guys were going off to community colleges and stuff and bringing back snippets of information.

The internet wasn’t what it is now—you can just google Arizona State, and see all the images and videos.

So, it was just more of a case of I didn’t want to turn pro. I didn’t want to maybe work in a pro shop and try to play golf, because I thought that wouldn’t give me enough time. My parents [though] if I could further that education, it was a perfect combo. So, my hand was forced. Very few guys, like Ian Poulter, turned pro very early, worked in a pro shop and went that route. They just don’t do it.

Q: So how did you find out about Arizona State? Or did they find you?

CASEY: There was a close friend of mine who I played junior golf with. I just remember him coming back when I was about 16 years old.

He’d come back from the States, and he goes, ‘I’ve been to the greatest place on the planet.’

What is that? Where is it? He goes, ‘It’s called Scottsdale, Arizona.’ And so that stuck in the back of my mind, and then when I was looking into universities, I was pursued. Again, we didn’t know much. Like Augusta State would have their coach out, promoting Augusta State to play at PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, Part 2 125

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PGA TOUR PLAYER INTERVIEW

Augusta National. It spiked everybody’s interest.

I’d been to the east coast a lot on vacation.

Probably felt a little bit more comfortable on the west coast. Arizona State had just won nationals in (1996). … Chris Hannell, Pat Perez, was on the team, various other guys. So that was like the obvious one. And I’d written letters to Wake Forest and other people. But it was writing letters and sending videos of your swing. That’s what you did. And then mail. There wasn’t even really email back then. So, I got very lucky. It’s where I wanted to go because of their recent success at nationals. Just lucky that sort of popped up on the radar, and lucky I ended up there.

Q: You left Arizona State in 2000 after winning three Pac-10 titles and stepped into the big leagues quickly. You were the European Tour Rookie of the Year in 2001, won twice in 2003 and joined the PGA TOUR as a special temporary member a year later.

What was that learning curve like?

CASEY: Getting used to standing on a range next to people I guess I’d idolized and watched on TV. You’re standing, watching, suddenly Tiger’s over there, and David Duval’s next to you.

And oh my God, I remember the first time Jack Nicklaus walked past me on the range at TPC Heron Bay at The Honda Classic. I actually froze.

I was just hitting balls, and I was like … I knew somebody stopped right there, and I turned, and it was Jack. It was like, ‘Oh! Mr. Nicklaus, how are you?’ I was, and still am, pretty shy. Yeah, that was the biggest thing.

And then understanding that my golf was good enough as well. You think you need to be something extra special. I was clearly not bad, having played good in college and had a good amateur record. I had the skills is what I’m trying to say. It’s just getting to know that and getting used to it, and building that confidence, but I was in at the deep end and out of my depth in the U.S. for a couple of years. It’s probably why I had more success in Europe early on.

should’ve done that earlier.

Q: What did it feel like to break that nineyear victory drought at the 2018 Valspar Championship?

CASEY: So, so satisfying. It was a lot like my first victory ever in Europe at Gleneagles back in 2001, because that was the realization like, ‘Wow, I can do this. I’m a TOUR winner.’ All that work I’d ever done as a kid, as a junior, as an amateur at college, suddenly it’s like, ‘Wow, I kinda belong.’

Winning at the Valspar Championship was after having sort of obviously tasted success all over the world, but then lost form, lost confidence. I’ve worked incredibly hard to get it back. That was almost a very similar feeling going, I’m back again. The work has paid off, and yeah, it was a really cool feeling. 

Paul Casey in action on the 13th hole during the third round of the Valspar Championship.

Q: You’ve have had success all over the world, but you recommitted yourself to playing the PGA TOUR in 2015. How did that help your career?

CASEY: From 2014, when my son, Lex, was born that’s when I was outside the top 50, and I said, ‘That’s it. I can’t do that.’ And I quietly stepped away. I didn’t want to make a fuss, but I stepped away from Europe. Just didn’t renew my membership, and it’s shown since then.

I’d have to look at it. Certainly 2015 or 2016 onwards, I’ve had good success. Solid four years. TOUR Championship, I think, every year. I 126 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, Part 2

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31/05/2019 14:24

FREE DIGITAL EDITION

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO GOLF AVAILABLE ON TABLETS AND MOBILE DEVICES BRINGING YOU THE LATEST TOURNAMENT OVERVIEWS, GOLF TRAVEL & NEWS

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

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31/05/2019 12:32

Health & fitness

INNOVATIVE FITNESS FACILITIES The PGA TOUR has upgraded its Player Performance Centers to meet the growing demand of world-class athletes

By Stan Awtrey

W

IMAGEs: PGA TOUR

hen Scott McCarron walked through the double-doors and into the new PGA TOUR mobile fitness center, the smile gave away his instant approval. Like a poker player holding a full house, the veteran could not contain his pleasure.

“I was kind of shocked how big it was and how much space and room it had,” McCarron said. “You can get four or five guys in here working out and not be on top of each other.”

Health club on wheels The PGA TOUR christened two new mobile fitness centers this spring, one to accompany each PGA TOUR event, the other dedicated

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to PGA TOUR Champions. The new roomier centers—bigger by 200 square feet—are staffed by full-time trainers and physical therapists.

“If you saw this as a standalone facility, it would be pretty nice,” said Kent Biggerstaff, PGA TOUR Champions staff trainer. “The fact that it’s completely portable is amazing.”

The mobile fitness center is a health club on wheels. It features a rowing machine, stationary bicycle, a rack filled with a variety of medicine balls, dumbbells and kettle weights and a weight machine. The centerpiece is a pair of state-of-the-art treadmills designed by international fitness leader Technogym, an official supplier of

Alex Noren, Brooks Koepka, PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan and Jhonattan Vegas take part in the new fitness center unveiling at The Honda Classic in February.

PGA TOUR golfer Alex Noren works out in the new fitness center.

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Health & FITNESS

the PGA TOUR Player Performance Centers.

In addition to providing a workout, these treadmills collect analytical information that trainers can use to create golfer-specific workouts.

“They’re not just exercising, they’re training,” said Marty Miller, Technogym’s director of education and training. “This allows them to have the data and gives them things to work on before it becomes a potential problem.”

The complete training facility The mobile centers come with all the bells and whistles—a refrigerator loaded with cold water, multiple televisions with satellite service, Bluetooth surround sound and highspeed wi-fi. There’s even an area where the trainers keep shorts, T-shirts and shoes— which Biggerstaff said eliminates excuses.

The facilities will help perpetuate the fact that golfers are athletes, too. Major champions like Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka are known for their commitment to training. Older players like Bernhard Langer and McCarron have extended their careers by paying attention to strength and flexibility.

McCarron expects the new mobile fitness center to encourage others on PGA TOUR 132 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, Part 2

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Champions to get involved.

“It’s going to help a lot,” McCarron said. “I think you’ll start seeing more traffic, guys who weren’t coming in the old trailer will be coming in here now.”

A landmark moment At the unveiling in February at The Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan commented: “Since the original fitness centers were introduced on TOUR more than 30 years ago, we have seen how fitness has advanced our players’ performance and extended their careers. Today’s unveiling of a new fitness center is another landmark moment in the growth of the PGA TOUR and our ongoing efforts to best serve our members. As our sport grows, so do the expectations and the preparation needed to compete at the world-class level we see every week.”

Technogym supplied the fitness centers with state-of-the-art sports performance equipment including two Technogym SKILLRUN Treadmills and SKILLTOOLS.

“They’re not just exercising, they’re training.”

—Marty Miller, Technogym’s director of education and training

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31/05/2019 14:27

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As a retired professional golfer turned As a retired professional golfer analyst for NBC Sports and The turned Golf analyst for NBC Sports and The Channel, Notah is very aware ofGolf the Channel, Notah is very aware of that the various disciplines of the game various disciplines of the game that challenge golfers on a daily basis as he challenge golfers as he has dealt with his on owna daily sharebasis of injuries has dealt with his own share of injuries during his career. The repetitious motion during his career. repetitious motion of golf and modernThe club head speeds of golfaand modern club headofspeeds place tremendous amount stress place a tremendous amount of stress on joints, muscles and connective tissue on joints, muscles and connective tissue which creates inflammation in critical which creates inflammation in critical areas which may lead to injury or a areas which lead to reduction in may flexibility orinjury power.or a reduction in flexibility or power.

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““I have discovered an amazing new ““I discovered an amazing new and golfhave product that reduces discomfort golf product that reducesit’sdiscomfort and improves performance, called Kinesio improves performance, it’s called Kinesio tape. When you are hurting you do not tape.

When you best. are hurting do isnot perform at your Kinesioyou Tape a perform at effective your best.solution.

Kinesio Dr. Tape is a simple yet Kenzo simple yet effective solution.and Dr.endurance Kenzo Kase changed performance Kase endurance sportschanged when heperformance invented theand therapeutic, sports when he invented the therapeutic, elastic tape industry in the late 1970s by elastic industry in the late 1970s by creatingtape Kinesio Tape.” creating Kinesio Tape.”

“After Kinesio Tape became one of the “After Kinesio Tape became of theand most popular products usedone in sports most popular products used in sports medical fields, competing brands triedand medical fields, to replicate the competing standard ofbrands qualitytried and to replicate the quality and performance of standard Kinesio. of But, Kinesio’s performance of Kinesio.

But, Kinesio’s premium materials and patented premium materials and patented technological innovation were impossible technological innovation to match. In my opinion, were whenimpossible it comes to to match.

In my opinion, when it comesforto providing the most reputable products providing the most reputable products for

your customers and members there is only your customers members elastic there istape only one choice in theand therapeutic, one choice in that the therapeutic, tape-category and is the Kinesioelastic Brand.” category and that is the Kinesio Brand.”

-Notah Begay III. Notah Begay III. But what is Kinesio®?

But whatcontinuous is Kinesio®?

A golfer’s and repetitive Amovement golfer’s continuous repetitive can createand discomfort in movement can create discomfort specific muscles and joints which in cause specific muscles and joints which pain that in many cases interferescause with pain that in many interferes with the player’s abilitycases to perform at their the player’s ability to perform at their best. Pain medications are unpredictable best.

Pain medications aresounpredictable with plenty of side-effects a healthier with plenty of side-effects so alternative has come to light aonhealthier the alternative has come to light on professional golf tours in the waythe of professional golf tours in the way of Kinesio Tape®.

Kinesio Tape®.

Dr. Kenzo Kase® originally developed both Dr. originally developed both theKenzo KinesioKase® Taping® Method and Kinesio the Kinesio Taping® Methodbecause and Kinesio Tex Tape back in the 1970s he Tex Tape back in the 1970s because he 30/05/2019 16:40

was dissatisfied with the properties of the tapes available.with He was for of a natural was dissatisfied the looking properties the way to relieve common discomforts.

He tapes available. He was looking for a natural knew paincommon sensors were located between way to the relieve discomforts.

He the epidermis and thewere dermis (the first and knew the pain sensors located between second layers of your skin) so he thought the epidermis and the dermis (the first andif he could lift these layers, would second layers of your skin)more so heblood thought if flow to the strained or injurd area. he could lift these layers, more blood would flow to the strained or injurd area.

How Does Kinesio Taping Work?

1. Taking Off Painful Areas – How Does Pressure Kinesio Taping Work? this reduces the tension through weak, 1. Taking Pressure Off Painful Areas – strained or inflamed muscles and this reduces the tension through weak, tendons.or inflamed muscles and strained 2. tendons.

Relaxing Muscles – this assists the stretch receptors which 2. Relaxing Musclesin–the thisskin assists the provides feedback to influence the control stretch receptors in the skin which of the muscle tension under the provides feedback to influence theskin. control 3. ofPromoting Lymphatic Drainage – the muscle tension under the skin.when applied to the skin withDrainage tension, the tape 3. Promoting Lymphatic – when will naturally recoil.

As a result, it lifts the applied to the skin with tension, the tape skinnaturally and fascia to allow will recoil.

As a lymph result, itflow liftswhich the helps speed up the healing process. skin and fascia to allow lymph flow which 4. helps Providing Support – provides speedStructural up the healing process. structural support for Support weak or injured 4. Providing Structural – provides muscles and/or joints. structural support for weak or injured muscles and/or joints.

What does that mean to a golfer?

Golfersdoes experience manytogeneral and specific What that mean a golfer? conditions that may impede theirand comfort Golfers experience many general specific or performance.

Kinesio Taping is used to conditions that may impede their comfort issues resulting from: is used to oraddress performance.

Kinesio Taping • Overuse and over-practicing address issues resulting from: Poor swing •• Overuse andmechanics over-practicing Over-swinging •• Poor swing mechanics Insufficient time dedicated to warm-up •• Over-swinging Rotational stress placed ontothe spine •• Insufficient time dedicated warm-up • Incorrect grip and setups • Rotational stress placed on the spine Traumaticgrip force the body resulting from •• Incorrect andtosetups poorly executed • Traumatic force toswings the body resulting from poorly executed swings Who Should Use Kinesio®?

Kinesio TapingUse is effective and beneficial in Who Should Kinesio®? so manyTaping different settingsand – from rehab, in to Kinesio is effective beneficial to everyday use ––it’s honestly somedical, many different settings from rehab, hard to to set a limit! medical, to everyday use – it’s honestly hard to set a limit!

For more information, email us at golf@kinesiotaping.com or visit For more information, email us at kinesiotaping.com. golf@kinesiotaping.com or visit kinesiotaping.com.

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30/05/2019 16:41

GOLF DATA

Digging Deeper

ShotLink+ is the latest development for the PGA TOUR’s golf data and statistics, a major undertaking that will benefit players and spectators alike

By David Barrett

T

he PGA TOUR’s ShotLink, powered by CDW, has transformed golf data and statistics since it was instituted in 2001.

The good news for golf fans, television viewers and players who track their own stats is that ShotLink is continually being enhanced. The newest twist is ShotLink+, which tracks balls in motion on and around the greens and collects radar data on tee shots.

It was a major undertaking, requiring the replacement of greenside laser devices with three cameras around every green that feed computer software in the ShotLink trailer to provide data on not only the final location of shots but also tracks how they got there.

On the tees, Trackman radar is now in place at every hole on the course instead of just one, and the television networks’ Toptracer technology tracks ball flight.

It’s not yet clear whether the new greenside system will lead to a new set of player statistics, but information like how far a ball bounced 136 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, Part 2

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forward or spun back or the angle of descent can be used to enhance telecasts. On a cumulative basis, it may provide more insight into putting by incorporating data on whether a putt was straight, slightly breaking or strongly breaking.

We know, for example, that on an overall basis PGA TOUR pros make 50 percent of putts from 7 feet, 11 inches. But the ShotLink+ data could tell us how that percentage varies depending on the amount of break. It could perhaps reinforce—or refute—the notion that right-handed players perform better on right-toleft breaking putts. On approach shots, the new data might show how much of an advantage a player with a high trajectory has on shots to certain hole locations, like those guarded by a bunker where the ball needs to stop quickly.

On tee shots, five or six holes on each course are now set up to provide data on clubhead speed, launch angle and spin rate, while all the holes track the flight of the ball

ShotLink captures about 32,000 shots per event and is approaching 20 million total strokes captured since 2003.

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GOLF DATA

Above [l-r]: In 2019, ShotLink+ expanded by adding ball tracing technology for tee shots and select approach shots using a combination of today’s best tracing technologies.

IMAGES: PGA TOUR

CDW provides insight and management of the technology and software solutions for continued advancements of ShotLink, with more than 16,000 pieces of equipment needed on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions and Web.com Tour.

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for trajectory, apex, carry distance, angle of descent, and more. “This could give players and their instructors perspective to analyze how they are performing on tee shots compared to a practice session and how variable the results are,” says Steve Evans, senior vice president of information systems for the PGA TOUR. Many players already utilize the ShotLink data to see how they are doing in various aspects of the game. It also gives insight into particular holes and courses.

“ShotLink data is crucial week-in, week-out for strategy on the golf course, what holes you need to attack and where to be conservative.

It has definitely helped me win tournaments,” says Charley Hoffman. “I also look at my statistics biannually to see what I need to work on, and what I’m doing well.”

Coming soon will be a way for players to have easier access to that type of data and tools to help them analyze it. A new phone app was launched for the pros at the beginning of 2019 that so far enables them to commit to tournaments, get tee times, review their rounds, and more. Currently being developed is a performance analytics section that will include

not only basic stat lookups but also enable deeper slicing and dicing of data.

It’s all part of the commitment the PGA TOUR has made to data collection and meaningful statistics. For ShotLink+, the cameras need to be put in place, cable needs to be laid down for a fiber optic network, and six servers are dedicated to running software to analyze the video and turn it into data. It takes about three days to set up, typically starting on the weekend before the tournament.

CDW, the official technology company of the PGA TOUR, helps with the technical side of the ShotLink setup, including an upcoming new trailer to work out of and a replacement set of servers that will be in place for 2020.

“CDW continues to partner with the PGA TOUR to find creative ways to use the stream of data collected by the ShotLink system and always aims to transform data into knowledge and entertainment—with the ultimate goal of elevating the fan experience and providing value to the players, spectators, broadcasters and beyond,” says Matt Troka, CDW senior vice president of product and partner management.  PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, Part 2 137

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– Advertorial

A NEW SWING AT

Life

70-year-old Scott Arnold reflects on how grateful he is to be playing golf again.

A

s someone who lives with a diabetic amputation and is a heart attack survivor living with high-risk heart disease, this round is especially meaningful, symbolizing his journey back to health.

“A little over twenty years ago, I had a heart attack. I was 49 at the time and not aware of what was happening to me. I had really bad indigestion and didn’t feel great. I couldn’t sleep that night, I was more than uncomfortable” recalled Mr. Arnold, a father of five, grandfather and great-grandfather. “We called my sister, who is a registered nurse, and she came over. She checked my vitals and had me go to the hospital.” Mr. Arnold underwent a diagnostic procedure in the cardiac cath lab that allowed his doctors to see the problem and determine the best treatment.

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Over the next few days, two separate physicians delivered devastating news that his heart was only 60% functional and he may only have two to five more years to live. Shocked and disheartened, Mr. Arnold sought another opinion at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, and it was there that he came under the care of cardiologist Dr. Robert Wozniak.

“I walked in and told him I wanted to be aggressive about my treatment and do whatever it takes to make my heart better,” said Arnold. “Dr. Wozniak introduced me to a cardiac surgeon, who performed a triple bypass a week later. For the next 19 years, I had no other heart issues.”

“My condition was more serious than I thought. I found out afterwards that my doctor had used the Impella heart pump during the procedure, which he explained took the stress off my heart,” shared Arnold.

“It allowed him to do more to help me and I am so grateful for that.”

“Patients who have high-risk coronary artery disease who are not candidates for heart surgery, like Mr. Arnold, can benefit greatly from Protected PCI with Impella,” explained Dr. Wozniak. “In this case, it allowed me to perform a more complete intervention, with more confidence that the high-risk procedure would be successful, and get him back on the golf course.”

In October of last year, Mr. Arnold started experiencing chest pain again and underwent a diagnostic procedure “I walked in and in the cardiac cath lab, revealing blockages in all of his coronary told him I wanted arteries. Due to his previous to be aggressive bypass history and severity of his about my treatment heart disease, he was no longer a and do whatever it candidate for surgery.

takes to make my

Despite the high-risk nature of heart better” Arnold’s heart condition and risk of complications due to his diabetes, Dr. Wozniak was able to perform a relatively new, FDA-approved, non-surgical procedure called Protected PCI. During this procedure, Impella®, the world’s smallest heart pump, was inserted through a small puncture in the leg and advanced over a guidewire into the heart. Once in place, Impella temporarily assisted the pumping function of Mr. Arnold’s heart, allowing Dr. Wozniak to safely treat the blockages and restore blood flow.

An unexpected problem occurred during Arnold’s procedure which blocked blood flow to a portion of his heart. The Impella heart pump played a vital role in helping pump blood to the rest of his body and preventing a devastating complication. Because of the Impella heart pump, Arnold’s heart was allowed to rest and recover.

Since the procedure, Mr. Arnold has resumed his active lifestyle; teaching courses in real estate, exercising three days a week and golfing regularly. He has not experienced any heart issues since his procedure and jokes that “it has not slowed me down at all.”

This past June, he and his wife, Margaret, celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary with a cruise to Alaska. He was thrilled

to enjoy the experience to its fullest, participating in all excursions, without any restrictions or concerns related to his cardiac history.

For those who are suffering from heart disease, or who have a loved one with heart disease, Mr. Arnold recommends finding a doctor who is abreast of the latest, clinically proven heart treatments. “The procedure Dr. Wozniak performed allowed me to go to Alaska, to continue playing golf and will allow me to walk my daughter down the aisle next month” praised Arnold. “None of that would have occurred if he hadn’t intervened with Impella and given me the opportunity to repair the damage to my heart. That is truly a gift.”

Talk with a doctor to see if Protected PCI with Impella is right for you.

Learn more at Impella.com

All cardiovascular procedures have risk. Potential adverse events associated with the use of Impella include: acute renal dysfunction, aortic valve injury, bleeding, cardiogenic shock, stroke, hemolysis, limb ischemia, myocardial infarction, renal failure, thrombocytopenia, vascular injury and death.

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To learn more about the Impella platform of heart pumps, including important risk and safety information associated with the use of the devices, please visit: www.abiomed.com/important-safety-information

16/05/2019 14:59

WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME

World of Talent

Five individuals who have contributed greatly to golf will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame during U.S. Open week at Pebble Beach

By Ward Clayton

B

egin with Pinehurst 45 years ago and on to St. Andrews in 2015 and upcoming at Pebble Beach, a lineup of iconic golf locations for enshrinement that would star in any Hall of Fame. Add 160 legendary golf figures who have made the game even more revered and you have quite a sense of place for the World Golf Hall of Fame, which began in 1974 in Pinehurst, N.C., and is now 140 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, Part 2

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celebrating 21 years in St. Augustine, Fla., at the World Golf Village.

The newest class of honorees—Peggy Kirk Bell, Retief Goosen, Billy Payne, Jan Stephenson and Dennis Walters—will be inducted June 10 in Carmel, Calif., the Monday of U.S. Open week at Pebble Beach Golf Links, also a celebration of the vaunted oceanside course’s centennial.

World Golf Village, the complex in St. Augustine, Fla., that also includes the World Golf Hall of Fame.

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WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME

It’s a historic occasion not lost on Greg McLaughlin, who moved into the role of World Golf Foundation Chief Executive Officer and President of The First Tee, with oversight of the World Golf Hall of Fame, in late 2018.

“Since I started this role in December, it’s been very exciting,” McLaughlin said. “Look at all the great legends I have had a chance to get to know better and still more to visit with. It’s been the best part of this job. Pebble Beach is a wonderful place to honor these legends. We’re excited about the week, and more than 35 Hall of Famers have indicated they will attend.”

The 2019 class embodies the diverse character of the Hall of Fame:

Jan Stephenson, whose impressive career included 20 professional victories, has now been recognized this year by her induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Top golf instructor, Peggy Kirk Bell, is another of the five inductees to the Hall of Fame in the class of 2019.

IMAGES: pga tour: Getty; World Golf Hall of Fame

XX Margaret Anne “Peggy” Kirk Bell, Lifetime Achievement, United States. The longtime Southern Pines, N.C., resident took up the game as a teenager in Ohio making a name for herself as an amateur star. She went on to become a charter member of the LPGA in 1950, received the PGA’s First Lady of Golf Award in 2007 and was an avid supporter of the game as a top 100 golf instructor, becoming the first woman selected into Golf Magazine’s World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame.

XX Retief Goosen, South Africa, Male Competitor Category. Known affectionately as “The Goose,” Goosen sat within the Official World Golf Ranking’s top 10 for more than

250 weeks from 2001 through 2007. His 33 worldwide wins include two U.S. Opens, in 2001 and 2004. Goosen led the European Tour Order of Merit in 2001 and 2002.

XX Billy Payne, United States, Lifetime Achievement Category. During his 11 years as Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club (2006 to 2017), Payne oversaw a number of significant achievements including the introduction of women as club members. He originated the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship with the USGA and PGA of America and established the AsiaPacific Amateur and Latin America Amateur tournaments. Payne was also a key figure in the successful return of golf to the 2016 Olympic Games.

XX Jan Stephenson, Australia, Female Competitor Category. In her first season on the LPGA in 1974, Stephenson was named LPGA’s Rookie of the Year. She went on to lead an impressive career with 20 professional victories, including 16 on the LPGA Tour. She is a three-time Major Champion with wins at the 1981 du Maurier, 1982 LPGA Championship and the 1983 U.S. Women’s Open. Her impact on the game extends outside of her play as one of the founders of the Women’s Senior Golf Tour.

XX Dennis Walters, United States, Lifetime Achievement Category. Walters is an elite golfer who was paralyzed from the waist down at age 24 following a golf cart

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WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME

accident. He has since dedicated his career to sharing life lessons and inspiring fans and disabled golfers of all ages through golf clinics and special performances at more than 3,000 worldwide appearances. Walters was also honored with the 1978 Ben Hogan Award and was a 2018 recipient of the USGA’s Bob Jones Award.

“One of my responsibilities is helping determine how we position the next 15 to 20 years of the World Golf Hall of Fame,” McLaughlin said. “We have to evaluate how people take in museums and honor the past. At the same time, there’s a lot of really amazing technology out there that brings our Hall of Fame members to life, and that’s important to inform everyone even more about the greatest contributors to golf.”

McLaughlin’s vision for the World Golf Hall of Fame will be discussed in concert with the sport’s leading organizations. The qualifying standard for induction—with biennial ceremonies, an induction process governed by a 16-person Selection Commission, four categories for induction and a minimum age of 50—is also continually being examined. ■ 142 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, Part 2

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Above [l-r]: Dennis Walters is recognized in the Lifetime Achievement Category.

Retief Goosen, whose professional career includes 33 worldwide wins, including two U.S. Opens (2001, 2004), also enters the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Billy Payne, also recognized in the Lifetime Achievement Category. w w w.pgatour.com

31/05/2019 14:33

Ozarks National Hole 6

Experience America’s next great golf destination in the beautiful Ozark Mountains of Missouri. Big Cedar Lodge is currently home to four distinctively unique courses designed by some of the most legendary names in golf: Nicklaus, Fazio, Player and Coore & Crenshaw. The stay and play experience is continuing to grow with the spectacular Payne’s Valley course designed

by Tiger Woods, coming soon. Call or visit the website to plan your stay and play getaway.

“On every golf hole you’re going to say, ‘This is as good as any place you’ve ever been in the world.’

That’s how good and how special this place and whole environment is at Big Cedar Lodge. It’s awesome.”

– Tom Fazio, Renowned Golf Course Architect

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17/04/2019 11:43

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Don’t Let Golfer’s Elbow Drive You Off Course It starts with a slight throbbing on the inside of your elbow, which gradually becomes tough to ignore. The pain radiates from your elbow down the inside of your forearm, possibly worsening with certain movements.

You might have less grip strength or notice increasing stiffness, tenderness or numbness in the crook of your arm.

Whether you’ve been on the fairways or not, these are the signs of golfer’s elbow. In fact, over time, any repetitive wrist movement such as turning a screwdriver or pitching a ball can cause it. According to Dr. George White, orthopedic surgeon and medical director of the all-new Hand to Shoulder Center, tennis players who put lots of spin on the ball, rowers and even weight lifters are apt to experience the condition as easily as golfers.

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prescription anti-inflammatory. Next-line treatments include iontophoresis, where a small electrical charge drives anti-inflammatory medicine into the tendon, and various elbow injections. Advanced new treatments like growth factor and stem cell therapy may also stimulate the body’s own restorative powers.

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To prevent golfer’s elbow or keep it from recurring, Dr. White advises building forearm strength through targeted exercises, icing the area after exercise to reduce swelling, and taking an over-the-counter pain reliever on active days. Altering your form may also help; though this is a tougher prescription for golfers given common stroke mechanics. But most importantly, if you do experience pain, don’t ignore it – seek help from an orthopedic specialist.

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GOLF EXPERIENCES OF A LIFETIME

It’s not just a “trip”at Garmany Golf, as the luxury golf travel operator relishes in creating Experiences of a Lifetime for their Guests.

Bud Garmany, Founder and President, discusses their secret to success.

Q: When do people, golfers mostly, reach out to Garmany Golf to plan their vacation?

A: More and more, people are celebrating their lifetime landmarks, whether it be a significant birthday, an anniversary, closing a big business deal, or even retirement.

These are moments in one’s life that should be celebrated.

We are definitely seeing a shift from buying “things” to creating memories and stories that last a lifetime. For many of us who love golf, that means traveling to an alluring destination, near or far, where you know a special golf experience awaits you. It’s time to fulfill a dream, or as we say, create a “Bucket List Experience.”

Q: You often mention creating “Experiences,” instead of offering “trips.” What is the difference?

A: We exist to create unforgettable Experiences. It’s our passion. We always capitalize Experiences and Guests internally, to note their importance. From our first phone call with a Guest to the time they arrive home, each part of the planning process and their journey is a unique Experience that we strive to make seamless and enjoyable.

Additionally, every guest, when traveling with Garmany Golf, should feel like their Experience was planned to the tee with them in mind.0 Our concierge team, comprised of true hospitalitarians, follows a 127-point check list to ensure every expectation is exceeded from the hotels, golf courses and caddies to the motor coach drivers, dietary needs, pillow preferences.

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SPONSORED FEATURES

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Q: Are all of your Experiences, led by someone on the Concierge Team?

A: It’s entirely up to the Guests. Some guests enjoy the relaxed feeling of having someone look after their needs 24/7 while vacationing in a foreign locale. Other guests enjoy a bit of independence while abroad. With teammates located in Europe and the UK, we are able to serve both needs.

Q: What are some of the most popular destinations you serve?

A: While there is no place quite like the “Home of Golf,” Scotland, our job is also to educate our Guests on fantastic places worldwide to play golf. Ireland and Northern Ireland provide outstanding links courses, castles, hotels set in a dramatic background. New Zealand and Australia both have excellent courses, cultural activities, fishing and wine tasting. Italy, France and Spain are most certainly increasing in popularity among our Guests as we have tremendous partners in those areas and the wine tasting and historical

tours are one of a kind. Closer destinations such as Canada, Wisconsin and Sea Island are fabulous with unique offerings, especially if you need a quick getaway, maybe less than a week.

Q: It’s nice to hear that Garmany Golf also adds in cultural activities to the Experiences. Is that always the case?

A: Yes! We love when we have non-golfing Guests in the group as we get to create special excursions they will equally love at these destinations. Even with our golf groups, we suggest leaving a day or two to explore the area as that truly creates the full Experience of the destination.

Q: How does one begin to book a Garmany Golf Expereience?

A: We strive to make this easy and seamless for the Guest.

Start by emailing us at Experience@GarmanyGolf.com and one of our Concierge Team members will phone you to discuss your Bucket List Experience. • 147

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FASHION FORWARD

Tony Q’aja is a British sports and celebrity fashion designer whose designs are becoming ever more popular in the field of golf.

Q: Can you tell us something about your interest in golf apparel?

What are the benefits for players of your V-slit innovation?

A: Darren Clarke, for whom I made suits, asked what I could do with golf pants.

Instead of settling for standard pants, I was interested in seeing if I could make a positive impact on an industry that had lost its media interest.

A: The V-slit was created to neaten the look of pants which were worn long to allow for crouching on the greens. The slit allowed the hem to flow and drape on the shoe.

Q: Professional players, perhaps more than any other sport, have been known for making fashion statements. Where do you see the trends in golf fashion taking us at the moment?

A: Currently, the popular look is athletic and athleisure. The next trend is big brands trying to bridge the gap between sport and street fashion to increase sales.

Q: You’re known for creating V-slits on pants as well as color-coordinated outfits.

Q: And the color-coordinated outfits, can you say something about the range, not only of colors, but also your outfits for men, women, and kids?

A: The range is very much about simple coordination and flexibility! I’m always thinking of how to be practical as well as functional for my consumers.

Q: Do you think the styles you create could help attract young players and assure a vibrant future for the game?

A: Fashion can definitely influence that. It’s

important to allow new designers a platform in the industry to express themselves. I remember coming into industry in 2002 and creating such a buzz between European professional golfers that even the tabloids started writing about golf with pictures and many labelling me as the “Sartorial Savior” of golf!

Q: Do you have any innovative new designs we can look forward to seeing in the near future?

A: the new collection has a couple of industry imposing creations. Slim-fit pants needed the slit moving to front to allow the hem flow at highest part of foot. For the polos, I’ve created a practical feature for the travelling golfer—the interchangeable collar allows polo to have three looks: a self color collar, contrast collar and a grandad collar! • Check out www.qajagolf.com.

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WAY TO GO! Cool fun on three wheels

On the road again … for the pure pleasure of it! Indeed it’s one of life’s simple pleasures, taking in some of the finest scenery in the world, with that warm, fresh air wafting around you—enjoying every moment of the experience in your open-top Open top? Yes, no roof, no doors either—just a ton of fun!

What you’re driving is the Polaris Slingshot®, the three-wheel roadster that packs a GM Ecotec 2.4L DOHC four-cylinder engine and delivers 173 horsepower by way of a five-speed manual transmission.

If you think driving is just a humdrum matter of getting from A to B, the Slingshot will change your mind about that.

The Slingshot is a three-wheel header turner. Its unique design has two wheels in front, with the third at the back. Side-by-side seating and an open-air cockpit means you and your passenger can be fully immersed in a joyful open-air experience.

Slingshot’s low-profile design makes hitting switchback, twisty roads as much fun as teeing off from an elevated par 5 tee box. And that’s where this Slingshot is headed for— some great golf drives and joyride destinations!

Here are some recommendations, with golf in mind—road trips that will accelerate your fun in the Slingshot.

All are not too far from some of the country’s most enjoyable golf experiences.

the way—through six states. Built in the 1920s, the legendary highway was decommissioned in 1984, but was designated Historic Route 66.

• Your golf break—Golf is played along much of Route 66, virtually from start (Harborside International Golf Center in Chicago) to finish (Rancho Park Golf Course in Los Angeles). Take your pick along the way!

ROUTE 66 As you know, you get your kicks on Route 66 … It winds from Chicago to LA, more than two thousand miles all

SILVERADO TRAIL This 26-mile Trail was built during the mid-nineteenth century California silver rush. It runs through fields of

grapevines, from Napa to Calistoga, with wineries surrounded by rolling hills and mountains.

• Your golf break—Napa Valley is a premier golf destination, with some of the most beautiful championship golf courses you’ll ever see, including Silverado Resort and Spa, Chardonnay Golf Club, Aetna Springs Golf Course, Eagle Vines Golf Club and Mount St. Helena Golf Course • • If you’d like to experience the Slingshot for yourself, please visit slingshot.polaris. com and schedule a test drive with your local dealer 149

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IN the ZONE

UNDERSTANDING YOUR HEART HEALTH How to reduce your risk for heart disease and stroke if you are living with type 2 diabetes.

For the over 23 million Americans—7 percent of the population—who have been diagnosed with diabetes, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and a major cause of disability. In fact, people with diabetes are two times more likely to experience heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular disease than those without diabetes. And this risk comes at no small cost: for people at age 60, having type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease shortens life expectancy by an average of 12 years.

These numbers are staggering. However, if you are living with diabetes, there is good news: you can take charge of your heart health and reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.

When the link between type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease is recognized and steps toward heart health are taken, the likelihood of heart attack and stroke is greatly diminished.

That’s why the American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association have partnered to create Know Diabetes

by Heart™, a collaborative landmark initiative aimed at helping diabetes patients understand and take action toward lowering their cardiovascular risk.

If you are living with diabetes, it’s important to fully understand the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease, so talk to your to doctor and take charge of your health today.

YOUR BEST DEFENSE BEGINS WITH KNOWING The first step in reducing your risk is understanding it. To learn more about the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease, visit KnowDiabetesByHeart.org, where you can:

TEST YOUR DIABETES RESOURCES • Visit KnowDiabetesByHeart.org for tools and resources • Join the initiative and stay one step ahead • Take a quiz to test your knowledge about the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease; • Download a discussion guide with the top three questions to ask your doctor at your next appointment; • Sign up to receive the ADA’s Living with Type 2 Diabetes program, a free, year-long program to reduce your risks and receive ongoing support for your personal health journey; • Join ADA’s ‘Ask the Experts’ Q&A series.

Learn more about the link between diabetes, cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and strokes, and ask a question of our experts; and • Ask your doctor how you can reduce your risk Managing your risk starts with talking to your doctor, yet despite the severity of the risk, many with diabetes have not yet done so. A recent online survey conducted by The Harris Poll, only about half of people age 45 and older with type 2 diabetes have discussed their increased likelihood

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IN the ZONE

of experiencing heart attack or stroke with their health care providers.

If you are living with diabetes, ask your doctor about your risk for cardiovascular disease at your next appointment. Every case is different, and your doctor will help you create an action plan that works best for you. The longer one lives with diabetes, the greater the risk of heart attack or stroke becomes, so it is important to have this conversation and set a plan today.

If you’re wondering what exactly to ask your doctor, visit KnowDiabetesbyHeart.org to download a discussion guide with the top three questions to bring up during your next visit.

Exercise and eating healthy will keep your heart healthy, enabling a fulfilling life.

TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH In addition to establishing a plan with your doctor, a major step in reducing your risk is to begin living a healthy lifestyle.

These simple yet important steps will help address the underlying causes of diabetes and heart disease:

• Eat nutritious foods • Start excercising regularly • Monitor your blood glucose closely • Take your medication as directed • Find healthy ways to manage stress • Quitting smoking will have a big impact on your health For more tools and resources on how to manage your risk for heart disease, visit KnowDiabetesbyHeart.org The American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association are here to give you the tools you need to know the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The collaborative landmark initiative Know Diabetes by Heart™ was established with the goal of comprehensively combatting the national public health impact of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the following ways:

Finding healthy ways to manage stress and quitting smoking are essential to heart health.

• Helping people better understand the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease; • Positively empowering diabetes patients to take charge of their health and lower their risk; and • Supporting health care providers in educating their patients living with type 2 diabetes on cardiovascular risk. • Founding sponsors of Know Diabetes by Heart™ are the Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company Diabetes Alliance and Novo Nordisk. The initative is nationally sponsored by Sanofi and AstraZeneca.

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CONTINUING TO BELIEVE WE’RE NEXT IS ALL WE HAVE.

MAKING THE NEXT STEP WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING. WATCH THE JOURNEY UNFOLD ON THE WEB.COM TOUR. PGATOUR.COM/WEB.COM

THE PATH TO THE PGA TOUR

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In the zone

Getting Golf Injuries

A sunny day, a manicured course and a bag of golf clubs.

What could possibly go wrong?

If you’re one of the nation’s 25 million golfers and an avid player, an eventual golf-related injury is one of the hazards of the game. Whether you putt for a living or walk the course on the weekend, overuse and faulty technique can wreak havoc on a golfer’s body.

“Most golf injuries are the result of overuse and poor swing mechanics,” says Daryl C. Osbahr, MD, chief of sports medicine at Orlando Health.

A golf mecca, Florida boasts more courses than any other state. Dr. Osbahr treats injuries in athletes at all levels of the sport, from casual weekend golfers to the professionals he sees as a medical director for professional golf tours, as well as an orthopedic consultant.

Caliber of play can determine the extent of injuries and affected body parts. Pro golfers usually have better swing mechanics—and caddies to carry their bulky bags. Their injuries generally result from the stress of hitting hundreds of golf balls daily.

“Professional golfers power their swing with a lower-body and core-based explosion that generates a lot of force as the body coils around the spine,” says Dr. Osbahr. “This repeated rotation to create ball speed can result in more back injuries, followed by wrist, then shoulder injuries.”

Weekend golfers’ problems typically arise when they are out of shape, don’t warm up properly and/or have poor swing mechanics. “Rather than generating proper force with their lower body and

core, amateur golfers tend to drive their shots with their arms,” says Dr. Osbahr.

“This makes them most likely to injure the elbow, followed by the back and shoulder.”

Single-sport specialization is another concern for golfers of all levels. “When you play only one sport all the time, you put a significant amount of stress on the same parts of the body,” says Dr. Osbahr. “Long

term, this can lead to injury.” straining, jarring impact, forceful gripping of the club and arm rotation through ball impact can overload tendons in a golfer’s wrist, elbow and shoulder, resulting in tendinitis or tears. Too much repetitive torque and compression during a golf swing can stress any joint or strain the lower back.

To prevent injuries, it’s crucial for amateurs who play a lot to master the

appropriate technique through lessons, says Dr. Osbahr. Savvy golfers also will incorporate a conditioning program to build flexibility and strength into their entire body, including the core, hips and back.

However, if you do experience pain, see a physician dedicated to treating golfers to identify the correct diagnosis and treatment, says Dr. Osbahr. “No golfer can or should play through the pain. That usually only leads to further injury.”

For golfers sidelined by pain, the first round of treatment usually includes sessions with a physical therapist trained and experienced in treating golf injuries, anti-inflammatory drugs and rest.

“Our goal is to first provide a treatment plan aimed at improving symptoms while avoiding surgery,” says Dr. Osbahr. “But sometimes surgery is the only option to return the player to the game and potentially avoid further injury.

Regardless of initial treatment, our next goal is to alleviate each golfer’s pain, then develop a transition to play program that slowly gets the golfer back on the course safely and effectively without reaggravating prior symptoms or creating a new injury.

“I always remind patients not to rush it. The ultimate goal is to return golfers to their highest level of play as soon as possible. However, we also want to be thoughtful in the hopes of preventing future injuries and keeping them on the course for good.” • 155

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GOOD FOR THE GAME Core Health Products will help you feel healthier and happier, improving your energy and efficiency. What’s good for the gut is good for the game For the past 10 years, Core Health Products has dedicated their time to providing a clear path to the best health possible to people all around the world.

Whether it be a stay-at-home mom or an entrepreneur on the brink of their big break; the CEO of an international corporation, a blue collar worker waking up at the break of dawn, a professional athlete or a student studying for their finals… we’re all striving to excel without anything holding us back, much like that ever-so-infamous sick and sluggish feeling. Optimal performance requires optimal health.

Let Core Health Products maximize your game. We have a line of all natural, enzyme-based supplements that cover

your daily needs along with addressing everything from joint and bone health to fat digestion and cardiovascular support. Our Core Health Pack, in particular, covers all of your daily essentials including vitamins, herbs, antioxidants, minerals, Probiotics, Prebiotics and digestive enzymes; seven products in only three capsules.

This can cover your desire to feel energized and strengthened to perform at the top of your game. Also, not only are you maintaining proper internal gut health, but with Core Health Products, you are actually rebuilding and constantly strengthening your gut. We believe that repairing is far better than treating. Fixing symptoms rather than the problem, only creates further

problems. Don’t band-aid your poor gut health: fix it. With Core Health Product’s Core Health Pack and Digestive Health, you will strengthen the internal lining of your gut with Probiotics and Prebiotics, ensure proper digestion of your food, utilizing all of its nutrients and avoiding unwanted acid secretion caused by undigested foods with digestive enzymes.

Take control of your health today. Allow Core Health Products to take you back to the basics, find the root cause of your poor gut health, and repair, rebuild and strengthen. • Get yours today at www.corehealthproducts.com.

CURCUMIN: THE STUDIES ARE IN Curcumin isn’t a “trend”—the benefits are real. How can you take advantage?

You’ve likely heard about all of the amazing benefits of curcumin, particularly its use amongst athletes. But just adding that extra dish of curry isn’t going to cut it. So how can you achieve the benefits?

First, it’s important to understand the difference between “turmeric” and “curcumin.” Turmeric is a plant within the same family as ginger. However, the power of turmeric actually lies within its active compound—curcumin. In its whole root form, turmeric contains a very small amount

of curcumin—making up just 2-5 percent of its composition, which means consuming turmeric alone—via its whole root or powder form, won’t be enough. Hence, many opt for supplements with curcumin extract to maximize their curcumin intake.

BIOAVAILABILITY While beneficial, curcumin is challenging for the body to absorb. Some brands add black pepper (bioperine) to boost absorption. Black pepper’s interaction with medication remains inconclusive. However, there are options that utilize advanced

preparation techniques, without black pepper, to maximize bioavailability.

THERACURMIN® Theracurmin® combines technological advances to increase the bioavailability of curcumin, with over a dozen clinical studies around its health benefits (view the studies at PubMed.gov). • For more information, visit Theracurmin.com THERACURMIN® is a registered trademark of Theravalues Corporation, used under license by Schwabe North America, Inc.

TIPS IN CHOOSING A CURCUMIN SUPPLEMENT • Absorption technology: find a product that can back up its bioavailability claims with research.

An at home test is opening the capsule into a glass of water, if the powder floats on top of the water,

it’s likely not being adequately absorbed by your body.

• Curcumin vs turmeric: look for the amount of “curcumin” the product delivers, not the amount of “turmeric.”

• Research matters: there are a lot of companies quick to launch curcumin supplements, if you are interested in the health benefits, stick with a clinically-studied brand.

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“Sports medicine experts at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) have a long specialized history in working with athletes at any level to prevent and treat some of the most common golf injuries”

Back Do an active warm up: pick 2-3 quick exercises to perform on the course before you play. These will help maintain range of motion of the spine, hips and shoulders, as well as warm up your core and ensure proper posture and mechanics.

Thoracic (mid back) spine rotation is necessary to avoid the lumbar (low back) spine from overly rotating. Use specific exercises to increase thoracic rotation while keeping your lumbar spine stable.

Turn your feet slightly out to allow more rotation in your hips: this will

Brad Hess Photography

As the weather warms up, many recreational golfers are taking out their clubs for the first time in months. Most medical professionals consider golf as a “low impact” sport. However, injuries are very common due to the high rotational velocity that occurs at end ranges of motion. Lower back pain is the most prevalent complaint observed in amateur golf players. Other areas of the body where pain or injury regularly occur in golf players include the shoulder (or a shoulder impingement, when tendons of the rotator cuff muscles become compressed); the elbow (or elbow epicondylitis, inflammation of the tendons that attach the forearm muscles to the bone on the inside of the elbow); the hip (or a hip impingement, when stiffness and pain occur from friction in the joint); and the knee (arthritis, or damage to the articular cartilage, which lines the ends bones, and guides movement and cushioning at the joint).

Poor body and swing mechanics are the two most common reasons for recreational golfers to sustain an injury.

The Rehabilitation Department at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) suggests the following tips to keep your body healthy and to prevent common golfrelated injuries to keep you on the green:

decrease the compressive and shear forces that can potentially occur in the lumbar (low back) spine.

Shoulder Learn to use the larger core muscles in your legs and trunk to transfer weight more consistently.

Slightly decrease your backswing to decrease the amount of rotation in your trail shoulder.

Elbow Ensure proper weight shift: poor weight shifting or limited use of the legs, hips and trunk may put more stress on the elbow.

Poor kinetic linking from the lower body to the upper body can result in more strain on the elbow, as well as power leaks.

Address any weaknesses in upper body strength and flexibility: do exercises to build up your upper body to decrease stress and strain on the elbow and arm muscles. Strengthening exercises can be done in the off-season, as well, so a golfer is in good shape when getting back to the game.

In the zone

Common Golf Injuries Hip Swing within the limitations of your body; avoid forcing hip rotation or any other painful positions in your low back or hips.

Similar to the low back, you can outwardly rotate your feet to allow more room for rotation in your hips.

Do exercises to improve your balance, as well as strength and flexibility of the hip, knees and trunk muscles. This will optimize performance of the hips during the golf swing. Core strength provides a strong foundation that allows your hips to work more efficiently.

Knee Ensure proper golf posture to avoid unnecessary stresses through the knees and hips.

Turn your feet out slightly when swinging to reduce the amount of rotation in your knee, especially on your lead leg.

Miscellaneous Tips • Make sure to arrive to your tee time 30-60 minutes before to allow sufficient time for an active warm up.

• Use a cart if walking 18 holes is too much stress on your body.

• Use proper squatting form when retrieving your ball out of the hole.

• Get a proper fitting shoe that supports your joints.

This information is not a substitute for the professional judgment of a qualified health care provider who is familiar with the unique facts about your condition and medical history. You should always consult your health care provider prior to starting any new treatment, or terminating or changing any ongoing treatment.

For questions, or to arrange for a visit or consult with an expert in the Rehabilitation Department at HSS, please contact 212-606-1555. • 157

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THE FOREVER

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How a personal story of anguish and fulfilment for Bubba Watson and his wife Angie has become an inspiration for all those whose hopes for children lie in adoption Super sports stars like professional golf players lead such high-profile energetic lives you might think they have no time for anything else except golf. But you’d be wrong. Many have created their own foundations or support charities. So for these top players, winning, giving back, and helping others go hand in hand.

COMMITMENT TO FAMILY Bubba Watson—he of the longest power shots anyone can remember, as well as being an eleven-time PGA TOUR tournament champion and a Masters winner—Bubba and his wife Angie are strong in their commitment to family values. Their two young adopted children, Caleb and Dakota, are central to their lives, and the Watsons say that what they value above all else is—family.

In fact their whole ethos is based upon living a family way of life. So, where adoption is concerned, Bubba and Angie are now reaching out to a community to whom adoption is also important, in order to share their knowledge and experience through the foundation JOCKEY BEING FAMILY, launched by the leading brand.

NEWEST AMBASSADOR Bubba Watson is the newest ambassador for JOCKEY BEING FAMILY, a charity that strives to ensure that adoptive families get the vital support and resources they need to ensure they grow together, within a loving family, for the rest of their lives.

For Bubba and Angie, adoption has changed their lives in the most positive way imaginable. It all began back in 2001, when on their second date Angie told Bubba that she couldn’t have children. His response still touches Angie to this day, he replied—“Let’s give a child a home. Let’s adopt.” However, deciding to adopt was only the start of their long journey.

IN the ZONE

FAMILY

EMOTIONAL PAIN Heartbreak came three times in four years for Bubba and Angie—they were turned down by three different birth mothers.

“It was a horrible torment each time,” Angie recalls, “I felt—why me? Why can’t I have my own child? Why can’t I be the loving mother for this child?”

SOLID FOUNDATIONS But the emotional pain for both Angie and Bubba finally disappeared in 2012 when it was arranged that they were to receive a 3-week-old boy—Caleb. “It was a blessing,” says Angie, “and two years later in 2015, we had a second wonderful gift when we were able to adopt our baby daughter, who we named Dakota.”

The experience affected the Watson family deeply and has led to Bubba’s support for the current initiative. “I’m proud to be an ambassador for JOCKEY BEING FAMILY,” says Bubba Watson, “because I want to give every child hope and a chance at a forever family.”

Solid foundations help build a “forever family,” as Bubba and Angie have shown. And now, through the JOCKEY BEING FAMILY Foundation, the positive work and awareness campaign proceeds apace, helping to provide critical postadoption services nationwide to strengthen adoptive families.

Support, too, gives families the opportunity to attend community events, as well as training and education related to the challenges of adoption. And for the adopted children, they’re soon aware that they now have something very special—a family to call their own.

MISSION TO HELP CHILDREN Debra S. Waller, Founder of Jockey Being Family, and Chairman & CEO of Jockey International, Inc., made it her mission to help children and was herself adopted as an infant.

“Families are brought together by many different circumstances, and all families need extra help at times,“ says Debra, “Many families who adopt face extra challenges and are in need of post-adoption support to help their family remain strong. With the right support, they can provide a permanent, loving home for their children who have been dreaming of a ‘forever family’. Adoption is not an event. It is a lifelong journey.

We hope to be a guiding hand for families along their path while leading the charge in raising awareness of the need to expand post-adoption services to make a difference in the lives of adoptive families in North America.”

JOCKEY BEING FAMILY has a number of ways you too can make a difference: a donation will positively impact the lives of children and empower adoptive families; you can join us in celebrating adoption at one of our upcoming events (www. jockeybeingfamily.com/events/); and you can make a positive difference in the community by volunteering at one our exciting events (www.jockeybeingfamily.com/volunteer). • 159

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Fit for life FIT FOR GOLF

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Monitoring our health and fitness are the positive steps to take using Omron Healthcare’s reliable devices

An energetic and successful tournament season is the aim of all professional golfers, and this requires a high fitness level. To achieve this fitness level, players at the top of their game follow a rigorous fitness regime that far exceeds what most regular weekend players will take on.

However, maintaining a good fitness level is important for us all, on or off the greens. Omron Healthcare is behind a nationwide initiative that helps us check our own health status, shows us how to take steps to make improvements where that might be necessary, and how to treat those debilitating aches and pains. Let’s look first at high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.

YOUR HEALTHY HEART High blood pressure is common enough through a variety of causes including poor diet, lack of exercise, and stress. But with a recent survey revealing that 50 percent of people with high blood pressure are unaware of their condition, how are we to know if we have blood pressure higher than normal?

Omron Healthcare is urging us all to maintain a healthy heart by monitoring our blood pressure, which can easily be done at home—monitor morning and night is the recommendation, in order to

get a fuller picture of your heart health.

Omron has developed cutting-edge blood pressure monitors you can depend upon; these devices are portable and easy to use.

Having chosen your blood pressure monitor from the Omron range, monitoring your blood pressure at home is straightforward. Here are some simple steps:

Thirty minutes prior to taking a reading—avoid eating; avoid alcohol or caffeinated beverages; also avoid smoking, exercising, bathing; and rest for 15 minutes before starting the measurement. Avoid taking a measurement during stressful times, and take your measurement in a quiet place.

For comparison purposes try to take readings at the same time each day (for example, once in the morning and once at night). Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor. Rest your arm on a table with your palm facing upward.

The cuff (whether on your upper arm or wrist) should be level with your heart. Don’t talk or move during the measurement.

Many Omron blood pressure monitors can store your results on the device or in an app for later review at the push of a button, so you can share the results with your doctor.

The great benefit of monitoring your blood pressure at home is being able to check and maintain your healthy heart on a regular basis; also, the monitor can indicate that you should be making lifestyle changes when necessary, changes that can help you avoid a stroke or heart condition. • For more information visit OmronHealthcare.com/golf-heart

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Nearly 1 in 2 U.S. adults has high blood pressure. DO YOU? If so, you’re not alone. The American Heart Association estimates there are approximately 103 million adult Americans who have high blood pressure. When left undetected or untreated, it can lead to heart attack, stroke and other health threats. Know your numbers and what they mean.

Features like a user-friendly interface, easy-to-read monitor, and even Bluetooth® and Amazon Alexa connectivity, firmly establish Omron blood pressure devices as premier options in at-home monitoring.

Get $20 OFF the device that’s right for you by using code GOLF at OmronHealthcare.com/golf-heart.

The Bluetooth® trademarks—including the BLUETOOTH word mark—are owned by the Bluetooth SIG.

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IN the ZONE

Drug-free pain RELIEF

WILL SEE YOU TEEING-OFF ONCE AGAIN The strong trend nationwide to avoid drug-dependant treatments is one good reason why Omron’s pain relief devices offer an ideal effective alternative

If aches and pains are spoiling your weekend game, Omron can offer you a beneficial therapy that’s 100 percent safe and drug-free. You can take control of your pain with Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, also known as TENS. TENS therapy has been used for over 40 years by medical professionals, such as physical therapists and chiropractors. Easy to use, TENS treats chronic and acute muscle and joint pain on multiple body parts via a range of small, portable devices designed to bring relief to lower back, shoulder, joint, arm and leg pain.

This drug-free therapy offers a safe alternative to opioid pain relief treatments, where misuse and addiction has lately become a public health crisis.

With a 40-year history, TENS

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therapy has been rigorously tested and found effective for postoperative pain, osteoarthritis, painful diabetic neuropathy, as well as other acute pain conditions that are commonly suffered by weekend or leisure golfers.

EFFECTIVE NERVE STIMULATION Omron TENS therapy devices are effective via electrical nerve stimulation, providing analgesia specifically when applied at a strong, non-painful intensity.

In this way, TENS activates a complex neuronal network that results in a reduction in pain. The gentle electrical pulses move through the skin to nearby nerves to block or shut out the pain signal (from the source of the pain) from ever reaching the brain. These pulses increase the production of the body’s natural painkillers, such as endorphins.

The electrical stimulation improves blood circulation as well. Muscles contract and relax with the flow of the electrical stimulation. With repeated contracting and relaxing, the blood flows in and out and the blood circulation is improved.

TENS devices provide drugfree pain relief for sore muscles and joints. Wireless TENS devices offer convenience, flexibility and mobility, and dual-channel TENS devices target two different pain areas at the same time.

Heat TENS devices combine soothing heat with electrotherapy for pain relief.

The supporting Omron mobile app and rechargeable batteries make TENS relief portable for busy people with active lives, as well as giving flexibility for everyday use at home. • For more information visit OmronHealthcare.com/golf-pain

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“I GAVE UP GOLF ENTIRELY. THEN I STARTED USING OMRON TENS. NOW I’M ABLE TO PLAY AGAIN.” -Dale*

The drug-free alternative for targeted, powerful pain relief.

Get $20 OFF** of your device.

Use code GOLF at OmronHealthcare.com/golf-pain

**See details at OmronHealthcare.com/golf-pain © 2019 Omron Healthcare, Inc. All rights reserved.

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IN the ZONE

DO YOU KNOW YOUR e-NUMBER? “After three holes of golf, I’d have to quit because I felt out of

breath. I couldn’t put the ball on the tee without feeling winded.”

John Schneider, 72, of Sedona, AZ, went from playing 18 holes, five days a week to sometimes missing out on rounds of golf with family and friends due to serious breathing problems.

“It wasn’t just golf. I had trouble playing catch with my grandkids because it was too difficult to breathe. It was frustrating to have to step back from doing what I loved.”

John needed answers. He found a specialist that diagnosed him with asthma and performed a simple blood test. The blood test results indicated that he had an elevated number of eosinophils (e-o-sin-o-phils), also known as an elevated e-number.

Eosinophils are a normal part of the body’s immune system, but when too many get activated in people with asthma, they can cause inflammation in the airways making it difficult to breathe. This type of asthma is known as eosinophilic asthma— or e-asthma. According to an analysis of data from the CDC, nearly seven out of 10 adults with asthma may have e-asthma.1

John was surprised to learn his elevated e-number meant he might have a different kind of asthma, but when his doctor prescribed a targeted medicine as part of his treatment plan, he was thrilled by how much his breathing improved. John is now back to playing golf five days a week and playing catch with his grandkids.

“My family has been amazed that I’m back doing some of the things I had enjoyed before.”

Knowing your e-number is important, especially if you: • Often use your rescue inhaler to control asthma symptoms • Wake up at night due to asthma symptoms • Have had to take oral steroids like prednisone for your asthma • Have had asthma attacks that required emergency care If you have experienced any of the above, you may have e-asthma and should talk to an asthma specialist about getting to know your e-number. • For more information, visit www.easthma.com.

1 2005-2006 CDC survey of 310 adults who said they had asthma and had eosinophil counts of 150 cells/μL or more. US-28491 4/19 164

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ARNOLD

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

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THE PLAYERS Championship, March 2019 Reflecting the atmosphere of excitement for the fans and the competitive moments for many of the world’s top players

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Team C aptain

9-15 December 2019 The Royal Melbourne Golf Club | Victoria, Australia For tickets and travel packages visit presidentscup.com/travel © 2019 PGATOUR, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PLAYER APPEARANCE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

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2019 tournament overview

The Final Stretch

THE SEASON’S SECOND HALF

Changes to the latter portion of the 2018-19 PGA TOUR Season schedule mean an earlier conclusion to the season with the FedExCup Playoffs ending on August 25

image:s: Detroit Golf Club

A

fter June kicks off with the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide on the first weekend of the month, the RBC Canadian Open—held this year at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Ontario—moves from its past July dates into a new spot on the schedule the week before the U.S. Open.

Then it’s on to California, where Pebble Beach Golf Links will host its sixth U.S. Open.

The Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Conn., follows in its usual dates before a pair of new events are held back-to-back in late June and early July. The Rocket Mortgage Classic marks a return of the PGA TOUR to the Detroit area, this time in the city itself for the first time at Detroit Golf Club. And the 3M Open makes its PGA TOUR debut at TPC Twin Cities outside Minneapolis, longtime site of a PGA TOUR Champions event.

Next comes the John Deere Classic in its spot before The Open Championship, which this year will be held at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland. The Open has been held in Northern Ireland on only one previous occasion, in 1951, also at Royal Portrush. That same week, the Barbasol Championship will

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be held outside Lexington, Kentucky.

The following week it’s back in the U.S. for the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind in Memphis and the Barracuda Championship in Reno, Nevada. That represents a new sponsorship and new site for the WGC event formerly held in Akron, Ohio. The Regular Season ends at the Wyndham Championship, boosted this year by the new Wyndham Rewards Top 10 bonus for the top finishers in the Regular Season.

The move of the PGA Championship to May cleared the way for a three-tournament FedExCup Playoffs stretch in August, starting with THE NORTHERN TRUST at Liberty National in New Jersey, moving to the BMW Championship held this year at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago, and coming to a thrilling conclusion in the TOUR Championship at Atlanta’s East Lake Golf Club. This year there will be one leaderboard for both the TOUR Championship and FedExCup, with the Starting Strokes scoring system giving an advantage to players higher in the FedExCup standings. 

The Rocket Mortgage Classic marks a return of the PGA TOUR to the Detroit area, and to the city itself for the first time, at Detroit Golf Club.

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

May 30-June 2, 2019

The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Location Dublin, Ohio Muirfield Village Golf Club

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HOW BRYSON DECHAMBEAU WON

Course Information Opened in 1974, Muirfield Village Golf Club is the dream creation of Jack Nicklaus, who wanted to bring a worldclass golf tournament to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.

Working with land planner Desmond Muirhead, Nicklaus designed a strategic course over 240 rolling, wooded acres that places a premium on accuracy as it winds through trees and over bunkers and water hazards. Nicklaus has tweaked nearly every hole over the years to make it a better test.

Bryson DeChambeau threeputted the final hole of regulation for a bogey to fall into a three-man playoff, then emerged with a victory on the second extra hole. DeChambeau led through 54 holes, but bogeys on 14 and 18 in the final round left him with a 71 for a 15-under 273 total, tied with Byeong Hun An (69) and Kyle Stanley (70). Stanley birdied Nos. 1417 but bogeyed the 18th and dropped out of the playoff with a bogey on the first extra hole.

DeChambeau scrambled for a par on the first playoff hole and made a 12-foot birdie putt when they returned to No. 18 for the second extra hole. Patrick Cantlay took the lead with a 32 on the front nine on Sunday, but a 39 on the back nine left him one stroke behind.

Yardage 7,392; par 72

2018 Winner Bryson DeChambeau, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Tickets A weekly badge with grounds access costs $185, available through www. memorialbadges.com. Daily tickets only available MondayWednesday, in advance or at the gate. A junior ticket for ages 18 and under is free when accompanied by a ticketed adult (limit of four juniors per adult).

Military, Veterans and First Responders receive up to four free tickets on Wednesday.

Social Media

“I’ll say it time and time again, this is probably the most important win I think of my entire career, because of the fact that it happened here at Jack’s course.”

– Bryson DeChambeau, 2018

Byeong Hun An shot in the 60s each day, including a final-round 69 that put him in a playoff.

 DeChambeau shot a 30 on the front nine in the second round with six birdies and three pars.  DeChambeau ranked sixth in Strokes Gained: Putting and first in Scrambling as he saved par on 16 of the 20 holes where he missed the green.  DeChambeau ranked fourth in Driving Distance at 306.3 yards.

Kyle Stanley birdied four straight holes late in the final round to earn a playoff berth.

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2019 tournament overview

quick Facts

No. 18, Muirfield Village Golf Club.

Field: 120 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $9,100,000 Winner’s Share: $1,638,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner Winner Exemption: 3 years

Charity Benefit

The Tournament’s primary beneficiary is Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus and its Memorial Tournament Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The Tournament has an alliance with the Nicklaus Children’s Health Foundation and also contributes to numerous other local organizations.

check this out X X The winning 72-hole score has been 15-under 273 in three of the last four years (2015, 2016, 2018).

X X At 24 years, 8 months and 18 days, Bryson DeChambeau became the fourthyoungest player to win the Memorial Tournament, behind Hideki Matsuyama in 2014 (22 years, 3 months, 7 days) and Tiger

Woods’ 1999 and 2000 victories when he was 23 and 24.

X X The three-way playoff in 2018 was the first in the history of the event, which began in 1976.

X X Kyle Stanley has three top-10 finishes in six appearances at the Memorial—3/2013, T6/2017, T2/2018.

LEADERBOARD 2018 Pos 1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Bryson DeChambeau

1

69

67

66

71

273/-15

500

$1,602,000

Byeong Hun An

T2

68

67

69

69

273/-15

245

$783,200

T2

67

66

70

70

273/-15

245

$783,200

4

68

69

66

71

274/-14

135

$427,200

Peter Uihlein

5

69

70

70

66

275/-13

110

$356,000

images: Getty Images; US PGA TOUR

Kyle Stanley Patrick Cantlay

Patrick Cantlay was fourth, one stroke out of a playoff, and had an ace on the eighth hole in the third round.

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Tournament host Jack Nicklaus congratulated Bryson DeChambeau after the 24-year-old became the fourth youngest winner of the event.

Renovations over the past decade have made the finishing stretch one of the most arduous in golf. The par3 16th was redesigned with a pond guarding the front and left of the green, the long par4 17th was given new fairway bunkers and a new tee was built on the dogleg right par-4 18th stretching it to 484 yards.

FAN EXPERIENCE

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Player

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Notable Course Features

Special venues open to all include The Patio at Patron Village with a golf experience called the Lexus Bunker Challenge and many food and beverage options, Adirondack chair-side wait service at The Hill on No. 12, Pub 18 at the back-nine crossroads, the Out of Bounds Bar at No. 6, Memorial Park along No. 1 and the open-air Champions Pavilion, featuring TVs and food and beverage service.

The 19th Hole, located just outside the sixth tee entrance, is a sports-bar environment with live music Thursday to Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m.

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

June 6-9, 2019

RBC Canadian Open Location Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Hamilton Golf & Country Club

Course Information Hamilton Golf & Country Club has 27 holes, including the original 18 designed by renowned English architect Harry S. Colt in 1915 on which the tournament is played. The front nine is narrower with a woodland feel, while the back nine opens up in more of a parkland setting, both nines featuring strategic bunkering.

The course hosted the RBC Canadian Open in 1919, 1930, 2003, 2006 and 2012.

Yardage 6,967; par 70

2018 Champion

“If I could get ahead, I felt like I could play well and keep myself in the lead the rest of the way, which I did.” – Dustin Johnson, 2018

Dustin Johnson, U.S.

Golf Channel/CBS/ TSN/Global

Tickets Grounds tickets cost $25 for Monday-Wednesday (Tuesday free with purchase of Thursday-Sunday ticket), $70 for Thursday-Friday, $75 for Saturday and $80 for Sunday, available through www.rbccanadianopen.com.

Kids 12 and under receive free grounds admission, and ages 13-17 receive a 15 percent discount.

Social Media Twitter: @RBCCanadianOpen Instagram: @rbccanadianopen Facebook: www.facebook. com/RBCCanadianOpen

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HOW DUSTIN JOHNSON WON

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Media Coverage

Dustin Johnson broke out of a four-way tie for the lead through 54 holes with birdies on the first two holes of the final round and kept it going for a closing six-under 66 at Glen Abbey and a three-stroke victory. Johnson shared the third-round lead with Byeong Hun An, Whee Kim and Kevin Tway four strokes clear of the rest of the field. An and Kim both shot 69 on Sunday and tied for second while Tway had a 76 to fall to T17. Johnson birdied the par-4 first hole from six feet and the par-5 second after hitting the green in two. He added a birdie on the eighth for a three-under 32 on the front nine and had four birdies and a bogey on the back for a three-under 34 to finish at 23-under 265.  Johnson had an eagle in each of the first three rounds, two on the par-5 16th and one on the par-5 second.  Johnson was 15-under on the par-35 front nine, shooting 32, 31, 30 and 32.  Johnson ranked first in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee and fourth in Strokes Gained: Approachthe-Green.

After opening with a 73 in the first round, Abraham Ancer battled back to finish fifth.

Keegan Bradley made five eagles to become the first player since 2011 to record that many in one tournament on the PGA TOUR.

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2019 tournament overview

quick Facts

The 18th hole during the final round at Hamilton Golf & Country Club at the RBC Canadian Open in 2012.

Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7.6 million Winner’s Share: $1,368,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit The official charity of the RBC Canadian Open is the Golf Canada Foundation.

The foundation’s mission is to support and promote programs that increase participation in golf by engaging players of all ages and abilities across Canada.

check this out

XX Dustin Johnson’s 265 total was two higher than the tournament record of 263 shared by Johnny Palmer (1952), Scott Piercy (2012) and Tim Clark (2014).

XX Johnson was the first American winner since Brandt Snedeker in 2013.

XX Johnson’s third win of the season made him the first player since Tiger Woods (2005-

09) to win three or more events in three straight seasons.

XX Keegan Bradley made five eagles, the first player since 2011 to do that on the PGA TOUR. XX Mackenzie Hughes (T8) won the Rivermead Cup as low Canadian for the second straight year.

LEADERBOARD 2018 Pos 1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Dustin Johnson

1

68

66

65

66

265/-23

500

$1,116,000

Byeong Hun An

T2

66

67

66

69

268/-20

245

$545,600

Whee Kim

T2

67

65

67

69

268/-20

245

$545,600

Keegan Bradley

4

69

63

73

64

269/-19

135

$297,600

Abraham Ancer

5

73

66

65

67

271/-17

110

$248,000

images: Getty Images

Byeong-Hun An, who shared the thirdround lead with the eventual winner, Dustin Johnson, finishing T2.

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Whee Kim shot 69 on the final day and tied with Byeong-Hun An for second.

The final two holes present a birdie or eagle opportunity followed by the toughest hole on the course. No. 17 is a 550-yard par 5 with a green guarded by bunkers but is very reachable in two.

The 446-yard par-4 18th features an uphill approach to a narrow green with a deep bunker on the right.

FAN EXPERIENCE

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Player

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Notable Course Features

World-class golf in a new June date combined with fan experiences like The Rink, a hockey-themed attraction adjacent to the par-3 13th hole, and RBC Hall of Fame Day on Tuesday make tournament week a festival golf event for spectators of all ages.

New for 2019 is the addition of the RBCxMusic Concert Series on Friday and Saturday nights featuring Grammynominated Florida Georgia Line and Canadian rock band the Glorious Sons. Also new this year is Hamilton Fare Way, a food experience featuring cuisine from local restaurants.

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

June 13-16, 2019

U.S. Open Location

conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA)

Pebble Beach, Calif.

Pebble Beach Golf Links

Course Information Famed Pebble Beach Golf Links was designed by California Amateur champion Jack Neville in 1919 and has undergone numerous tweaks through the years but remains true to its original concept. Known for its spectacular stretch of holes along the Pacific Ocean, it hosts the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am each year on the PGA TOUR and the U.S. Open has been held there five times between 1972 and 2010.

Yardage 7,075; par 71

2018 Champion Brooks Koepka, U.S.

Media Coverage FS1/Fox

Tickets General admission tickets cost $60 to $75 for practice rounds and $125 to $145 for championship rounds, available through www.usopen.com.

A three-day practice round ticket goes for $125, a four-day championship package for $450 and a seven-day package for $500. Free junior tickets for ages 12 and under and discounted tickets for ages 13-18 are always available at Will Call and never sell out (limit two juniors per one adult ticket holder). Military personnel receive complimentary practice round tickets.

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CHECK THIS OUT  Brooks Koepka became the first player to win back-to-back U.S. Opens since Curtis Strange in 1988-89, and the seventh overall.  Koepka was the fourth defending champion to lead/co-lead a U.S. Open entering the final round, and the first to win. Bobby Jones (1924), Tom Watson (1983) and Retief Goosen (2005) came up short.  Koepka’s victory marked the fifth straight major championship won by an W W W.PGATOUR.COM

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

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“I made those clutch eight- to 10-footers that you need to make to keep the momentum going. You can make up so much with a hot putter, and I feel like that’s kind of what I was doing.” – Brooks Koepka, 2018

American in his 20s, starting with Koepka’s 2017 U.S. Open title.  Fleetwood’s 63 tied the U.S. Open record previously accomplished by Johnny Miller (1973), Jack Nicklaus (1980), Tom Weiskopf (1980), Vijay Singh (2003) and Justin Thomas (2017). It was the second 63 in the final round, joining Miller.  Dustin Johnson became the 10th player to lead/co-lead through each of the first three rounds, but not win. The last was Phil Mickelson in 2013.

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HOW BROOKS KOEPKA WON

Brooks Koepka claimed his second consecutive U.S. Open title as he broke out of a four-way tie for the lead through 54 holes with a final-round 68 at Shinnecock Hills, winning with a 1-over 281 total. Koepka opened the championship with a first-round 5-over 75 and was 7-over for his first 25 holes before rallying for a second-round 66.

A 72 in tough conditions in the third round lifted him into a share of the lead at 3-over with Daniel Berger, Tony Finau and Dustin Johnson. Tommy Fleetwood proved to be the toughest challenger, shooting a closing 63 to finish at 2-over 282 at around the time Koepka birdied the 10th hole to get to even par for the championship. A 12-foot putt for bogey on the 11th and par saves on 12 and 14 were crucial for Koepka, along with a birdie on 16 that put him back ahead by two before a harmless bogey on 18.  Koepka ranked first in Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green (2.214 per round) and fourth in Greens in Regulation Percentage (68.06).  Koepka was third in Strokes Gained: Putting (2.214 per round), making four putts longer than 25 feet and missing only two inside seven feet.  Starting his second round on the back nine, Koepka birdied 17 and 18 then had four birdies on the front nine for a 31.

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2019 tournament overview

The eighth green at Pebble Beach, a demanding par 4.

quick Facts Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $12 million (2018) Winner’s Share: $2,160,000 (2018) FedExCup Points: 600 to the winner

Charity Benefit The USGA Foundation provides support for programs that target under-served audiences, junior golfers, women and beginners of all ages to develop a passionate and engaged group that will have a long-term commitment to the game. Additionally, the USGA is committed to making the game more accessible for disabled golfers.

The 543-yard par-5 18th is one of the most iconic holes in golf with the ocean lining the left side. The stretch of Nos. 6 through 9 also play along the ocean, on the right side, with the eighth and ninth particularly demanding par fours. The toughest hole on the course in the 2010 U.S. Open was the 17th, a 208-yard par 3 exposed to the wind as it plays toward the water.

LEADERBOARD 2018 Pos 1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Brooks Koepka

1

75

66

72

68

281/+1

600

$2,160,000

Tommy Fleetwood

2

75

66

78

63

282/+2

330

$1,296,000

Dustin Johnson

3

69

67

77

70

283/+3

210

$812,927

Patrick Reed

4

73

72

71

68

284/+4

150

$569,884

Tony Finau

5

75

72

66

72

285/+5

120

$474,659

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FAN EXPERIENCE

Fans at the 2019 U.S. Open will find an exciting family-focused experience as they gaze at the sights and sounds of one of the most beautiful courses in the world. In addition to hands-on activations by Lexus, Cisco and Deloitte, spectators will have the opportunity to play WGT’s “Virtual U.S. Open.” Ticket holders gathered near the putting green will also have the opportunity to watch interviews of celebrities, VIPs and industry insiders at the U.S. Open Live desk.

images: getty images

A spectacular view of Pebble Beach’s seventh hole green.

Player

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Notable Course Features

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

June 20-23, 2019

Travelers Championship Location Cromwell, Conn.

TPC River Highlands

Yardage 6,841; par 70

2018 Champion Bubba Watson, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Tickets Grounds tickets cost $19 Monday-Tuesday, $34 Wednesday, $43 ThursdayFriday, $47 Saturday-Sunday, or $51 Good Any One Day, available in advance at www. travelerschampionship. com. Children 15 and under are free with a ticketed adult. Military and veterans, and their dependents, are admitted free.

“I was never thinking about victory. I was thinking about just playing golf.”

– Bubba Watson, 2018

Beau Hossler had his second runner-up finish of the season.

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HOW BUBBA WATSON WON

Course Information Originally built in the 1920s, the course joined the PGA TOUR’s TPC Network in 1984 after a redesign by Pete Dye. In 1989, it was renamed TPC River Highlands after further design work by Bobby Weed, with PGA TOUR professionals Howard Twitty and Roger Maltbie as player consultants.

The course underwent a bunker renovation in 2015-16, with infrastructure improvements and viewingarea enhancements as part of the project.

Bubba Watson rallied from six strokes behind entering the final round with a 63 that gave him a three-stroke victory with a 17-under 263 total. Watson also had a 63 in the second round on the way to his third career win at the Travelers and his third win of the season. After a 2-under 33 on the front nine, Watson made birdies on Nos. 10, 12, 13, 15 and 18 on the back nine for a 30 and a 263 total. The last birdie was set up by a wedge approach to inside three feet, giving him a one-stroke lead at the time. He ended up winning by three as 54hole leader Paul Casey bogeyed 16 and 17 to finish with a 72, tying for second with Stewart Cink (62), J.B. Holmes (67) and Beau Hossler (66).  Watson played the par-5 13th hole at 5-under with an eagle and three birdies.  Watson ranked fourth in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee (1.018 per round) and ranked fourth in Driving Distance (311.8 yards).  Watson didn’t have a threeputt all week and was fifth in Putting Average (1.643 putts per green in regulation.)

Long-hitting J.B. Holmes tied for second, three strokes behind the winner.

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2019 tournament overview

No. 15, TPC River Highlands.

quick Facts Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7.2 million Winner’s Share: $1,296,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

X X With his third Travelers Championship title, Bubba Watson (2010, 2015, 2018) joined Billy Casper as the only players to win the event more than twice. Casper (1963, 1965, 1968, 1973) holds the record with four victories.

X X Watson came from six strokes behind to win in the final round; he also came from six

strokes back in his 2010 Travelers victory.

X X The record final-round comeback at the Travelers Championship is seven strokes by Brad Faxon in 2005.

X X In four appearances at the event, Paul Casey has finished second in 2015, T17 in 2016, T5 in 2017 and T2 in 2018, breaking par in 14 of 16 rounds.

LEADERBOARD 2018 Player

Pos 1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

70

63

67

63

263/-17

500

$1,260,000

65

67

62

72

266/-14

183.75

$462,000

Stewart Cink

T2

68

68

68

62

266/-14

183.75

$462,000

J.B. Holmes

T2

66

68

65

67

266/-14

183.75

$462,000

Beau Hossler

T2

65

67

68

66

266/-14

183.75

$462,000

images: Getty Images; us pga tour

1 T2

For a fourth straight year at TPC River Highlands, Paul Casey was in contention.

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Stewart Cink tied for second on the strength of a closing 62.

Notable Course Features

The signature stretch at TPC River Highlands is Nos. 15-17, which play around a four-acre lake. The 15th is an enticing, drivable par 4 of 296 yards with water to the left, while 16 is a par 3 playing over the lake. The 17th is a strong doglegright par 4 with the lake to the right on the tee shot and a water carry on the approach.

FAN EXPERIENCE

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Bubba Watson Paul Casey

The primary beneficiary for the 2019 Travelers Championship is the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Conn., which was founded by actor Paul Newman and provides a camp experience for seriously ill children and their families. Since 1952, the tournament has generated more than $40 million for charity and in 2018 generated $2 million for more than 150 charities. In addition to contributing net proceeds, the Travelers Championship has a Birdies For Charity program in which charitable organizations solicit donations and also receive a bonus from the tournament.

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check this out

Charity Benefit

The Fan Zone is the destination for fans at the Travelers Championship, with interactive activities, a Kids Zone including mini golf, a variety of concessions and the Concert Series after play is finished on Friday and Saturday. The Patriots’ Outpost has free food and beverages for all active, reserve and retired military service members, veterans and their dependents.

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

June 27-30, 2019

Rocket Mortgage Classic Location Detroit, Mich.

Detroit Golf Club

Detroit Golf Club, where the debut of the Rocket Mortgage Classic will take place.

Course Information Detroit Golf Club was founded in 1899, with its two current Donald Rossdesigned courses opening in 1916. The tournament will be held on the treelined fairways of the North Course, with one hole utilized from the South Course. The course was renovated in preparation for the tournament, with several new tees lengthening the layout to 7,309 yards.

Yardage 7,309; par 72

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Tickets Grounds tickets cost $10-$15 on Tuesday and Wednesday and $45-$55 for tournament rounds, depending on the day, available through www. rocketmortgageclassic.com.

A weekly ticket is $175.

Juniors 15 and under are free with a ticketed adult (limit four per adult), active duty and retired military are free, and veterans receive a special price.

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NEW EVENT The PGA TOUR holds its first event in the city of Detroit with the debut of the Rocket Mortgage Classic. The PGA TOUR has visited the Detroit area before, with the Buick Open in Grand Blanc held from 1958 to 2009, but this time it moves inside the city limits to Detroit Golf Club. Quicken Loans, the nation’s largest home mortgage lender, has sponsored the PGA TOUR event in the Washington, D.C., area and now moves to its home city. “Quicken Loans has been a tremendous PGA TOUR partner for several years now, making an impact through the innovative spirit and community-first mindset the organization and its leaders bring to every endeavor,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “We’re thrilled to take this new step in our partnership and bring a PGA TOUR event to the great city of Detroit.” Quicken Loans CEO Jay Farmer said, “The PGA TOUR stop in Detroit is the latest major announcement confirming Detroit is well on its way to becoming one of our country’s premier entertainment destinations. There is an undeniable energy in the city that we are eager to showcase.” Detroit Golf Club has 36 holes of vintage Donald Ross design, with the North Course (actually a tournament course with one hole borrowed from the South) recently lengthened to 7,309 yards to accommodate the pros while retaining its overall character. Among the changes are the tournament fourth hole, a par 5 with 75 yards added to make it 625, and the 18th, where a new tee stretches it to a tough 460-yard finisher.

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2019 tournament overview Three views of the Detroit Golf Club in the city of Detroit.

quick Facts Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7.3 million Winner’s Share: $1,314,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit

The Rocket Mortgage Classic Birdies for Charity program will allow registered non-profit organizations to collect donations based on the total number of birdies in the tournament.

Additionally, local beneficiaries include the Detroit Children’s Fund, Midnight Golf, The First Tee of Greater Detroit, the Greater Palmer Park Community and Detroit Golf Club Caddie Scholarship.

Notable Course Features

The intersection of the 14th, 15th and 16th holes— the signature area of the course called “Area 313”— provides some of the best viewing opportunities and should produce excitement with birdie possibilities. The 543-yard 14th is a riskreward par 5 with a pond fronting the green, the 15th a 160-yard par 3 and the 16th a 450-yard par 4.

FAN EXPERIENCE

images: Detroit Golf Club

Fans will enjoy a festive summer event that celebrates the people, places and spirit of Detroit.

An expansive fan zone will feature activities such as Shot For Heroes (where fans can hit a pitch shot with every shot resulting in a donation to charity and a chance to win prizes), pizza making and face painting for the kids and much more. A premium ticket allows entry to the LendingTree Lounge, with a covered viewing deck overlooking the 16th green and 17th tee and upgraded food and beverage menu available for purchase. w w w.pgatour.com

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Morning drive time awakens my

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

July 4-7, 2019

3M Open Location Blaine, Minn.

TPC Twin Cities

Course Information Built on a former sod farm, TPC Twin Cities, which opened in 2000, was designed by World Golf Hall of Fame member Arnold Palmer, with 1996 Open champion and Minnesota native Tom Lehman as a consultant. They created a natural rolling layout featuring native prairie grasses, wetlands and 27 bodies of water, all framed by mature trees including oaks, pines and spruce.

Lehman supervised changes in 2018 to ready the course for PGA TOUR competition.

Yardage 7,468; par 71

2018 Champion New event

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR

Tickets Advance grounds tickets cost $30 for Tuesday and Wednesday, $45 for tournament days, available through www.3mopen. com. Admission is free for kids 17 and under when accompanied by an adult, and also free for active and retired military and veterans.

Social Media Twitter: @3MOpen Instagram: @3mopen Facebook: www.facebook. com/3MOpen W W W.PGATOUR.COM

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NEW EVENT The 3M Open will be the first regular PGA TOUR event held in Minnesota in 50 years, since Frank Beard won the 1969 Minnesota Classic. Professional golf is no stranger to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, however, as it has hosted U.S. Opens, PGA Championships, LPGA events and the 3M Championship, a PGA TOUR Champions event held from 1993 through 2018. Since 2001, it was played at TPC Twin Cities with 3M as sponsor; the site and sponsor are now transitioning to the PGA TOUR. “We are delighted to partner with 3M for this new PGA TOUR event in the Twin Cities, a community that has shown tremendous support for professional golf over the years with PGA TOUR Champions, the PGA Championship, Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup, and has deservedly played host to the biggest events in sports—Super Bowls, Final Fours among them,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. The TPC Twin Cities course was renovated in 2018, with a number of new tees built to stretch the layout to 7,468 yards and the fairways narrowed.

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2019 tournament overview The 16th hole at TPC Twin Cities.

A major course renovation took place in 2018.

The TPC Twin Cities Clubhouse.

quick Facts Field: Top-156 players in the FedExCup

standings Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.4 million Winner’s Share: $1,152,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit Proceeds from the 3M Open will benefit a number of charitable organizations, including the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital.

Notable Course Features A 2018 renovation strengthened the TPC Twin Cities from how it played for a PGA TOUR Champions event. More than half the holes were lengthened, with four of the par 4s playing at least 45 yards longer. But the biggest change might have been at the par-5 18th, only 14 yards longer on the scorecard at 596 but with a new tee at an angle that will make it play its full yardage, which wasn’t the case. The fairway has been narrowed considerably from its former 80-yard width and a lake in front of the green has been expanded, making the tee shot and second shot more challenging.

FAN EXPERIENCE The Fan Village at the 3M Open will have plenty for all ticketholders to enjoy.

There is the 3M Social Hub with interactive elements and where fans can go to relax. Numerous food and beverage options include a Craft Beer Garden, Wine Grove, Shake Shack, Bernatello’s Pizza and CJ Bibigo. There will also be a Kids Zone and an interactive golf activation. After play on Friday there will be a concert with the Zac Brown Band and fireworks show, requiring a special ticket to attend.

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

July 11-14, 2019

John Deere Classic Location Silvis, Ill. TPC Deere Run

Course Information TPC Deere Run, a stadium layout built specifically for spectator viewing as well as championship golf, opened in 2000. Created

by Illinois native and former PGA TOUR professional D.A. Weibring and Chris Gray, it is on the site of a former Arabian horse farm by the Rock River. Weibring preserved the natural, rolling landscape to create a par-71 course framed by oak trees and accented with small ponds and deep ravines.

Yardage 7,268; par 71

2018 Champion Michael Kim, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Tickets Any One Day grounds tickets cost $30, available in advance through www. johndeereclassic.com. Children 12 and under are free with a paid adult, ages 13-18 get half price gate tickets and college students are admitted for $20.

Active and retired military and veterans, along with one guest, receive free admission.

Social Media

“I felt like I needed to make birdies at least in the front nine just to show that I’m still playing well and they don’t kind of get that glimmer of hope.”

– Michael Kim, 2018

Bronson Burgoon was among those who finished in second place, eight shots back.

18 20

HOW MICHAEL KIM WON

Michael Kim birdied the first three holes of the final round, giving him seven straight birdies over the course of two days, to set up an eightstroke victory with a 27-under 257 total. Kim opened with rounds of 63-64-64 to take a five-stroke lead. His opening burst on Sunday pulled him further away from the field leading to a final-round 66 and his first career victory in his third year on the PGA TOUR. It was a quick reversal of form, as Kim had missed five of his last six cuts.

Italy’s Francesco Molinari shot a 64 in the final round to tie for second a week before winning The Open Championship. He was joined

by Bronson Burgoon, Joel Dahmen and Sam Ryder.  Kim shot a 30 on his first nine of each of the first two rounds, the back nine on Thursday and the front nine on Friday.  Kim led the field in Strokes Gained: Putting at 3.379 per round, making seven putts longer than 20 feet and missing only three inside 10 feet.  Kim ranked T2 in Driving Accuracy and third in Greens in Regulation.

On the strength of a closing 64, Francesco Molinari moved up to T2.

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2019 tournament overview

quick Facts

No. 18, TPC Deere Run.

Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6 million Winner’s Share: $1,080,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit

The tournament raised $13.4 million for local and regional Quad Cities charities, mostly through the innovative Birdies for Charity program through which charitable organizations solicit pledges based on the number of birdies in the tournament. On top of that, the tournament delivers an additional check to each charity from tournament revenues, direct contributions and the John Deere Foundation.

XX Michael Kim’s 257 total was a tournament record, breaking the old mark of 258 by Steve Stricker in 2010.

XX Kim’s eight-stroke margin of victory was also the tournament record, one better than David Frost’s seven-stroke margin in 1993.

XX Kim became the third player in the last five

years to make the John Deere Classic his first PGA TOUR victory, joining Brian Harman (2014) and Bryson DeChambeau (2017).

X X Two of the four players who tied for second, Francesco Molinari and Sam Ryder, were making their first start at the John Deere Classic.

LEADERBOARD 2018 Pos 1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Michael Kim

1

63

64

64

66

257/-27

500

$1,044,000

Bronson Burgoon

T2

68

62

66

69

265/-19

183.75

$382,800

Joel Dahmen

T2

64

71

65

65

265/-19

183.75

$382,800

Francesco Molinari

T2

65

66

70

64

265/-19

183.75

$382,800

Sam Ryder

T2

66

66

67

66

265/-19

183.75

$382,800

images: Getty Images

Joel Dahmen closed with consecutive 65s to share second place.

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In his first appearance at the John Deere Classic, Sam Ryder was T2 at 19 under.

The signature hole at TPC Deere Run is the par-3 16th, named “Mother Earth.” The 158-yard hole, one of the prettiest in the Midwest, is adjacent to the Rock River with bunkers protecting its flanks.

It offers a chance for birdies as the players hit the finishing stretch, playing to a 2.879 average in 2018.

FAN EXPERIENCE

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Player

Notable Course Features

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check this out

The air-conditioned John Deere Family Zone has interactive activities for kids all week and on Tuesday hosts McDonald’s Youth Day, which also features a driving-range clinic. All ticketholders get in free for the pro-am on Wednesday and there is a charity concert Wednesday evening. On Thursday fans are encouraged to wear gold and black for University of Iowa day and on Friday to wear blue and orange for University of Illinois day.

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Guelph

Milwaukee

Madison

Hartford

Lansing

2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW Detroit Windsor Rockford 88 Joliet Davenport 55

R.

Peoria

Keokuk

Missi

ssippi

Ottumwa

Toledo

80 90

Gary

Kankakee

South Bend Kokomo

75

Bloomington Indiana Muncie Ohio

Macomb

Dayton Springfield Indianapolis Illinois Greensburg

Terre Haute

55

70

55

Jackson Sikeston

Poplar Bluff Kennett

Jonesboro

R. 40

95

Cincinnati

95

Dover

Delaware

Washington D.C. Annapolis 79

77

July 18-21, 2019

Fredericksburg

Harrisonburg

Paducah

64

Glasgow Hopkinsville Middlesborough

Clarksville

Nashville

Union City Dyersburg

Jackson

Mis siss ippi

Cabot

Baltimore

78

Huntington 64 Charleston Charlottesville 65 64 Virginia Richmond West Virginia Frankfort Williamsburg Winchester Lynchburg Petersburg Beckley Nicholasville Lexington Salem Kentucky Evansville Owensboro Berea Roanoke 85 Norfolk Bluefield Campbellsville Elizabeth City R. Madisonville Danville 95 Ohio Somerset 81 Martinsville Mount Vernon

Farmington

Searcy

68

Fairmont Morgantown Lancaster

Louisville

Missouri R. Arnold

Springfield

76

Columbus

Kettering

Saint Effingham 70 Charles Saint Louis Wildwood Missouri

Pennsylvania 80 81

Newark

76 Youngstown Allentown Harrisburg Lansdale Akron 76 Pittsburgh 70 Greensburg 81 Wilmington

Ohio

Hannibal

Marion

Lima

Meadville Williamsport

Cleveland

Elyria

Fort Wayne

Wabash

R.

Chicago

Clinton

Iowa City

Evanston

40

Corinth

Athens

Decatur

Eden

Winston-Salem

Chattanooga

Gastonia

Barbasol Championship

Henderson

Greensboro

High Point Asheville 77

Knoxville

Tennessee Murfreesboro Maryville

Columbia Lawrenceburg

Memphis

75

Cary

Charlotte

Monroe Spartanburg

Greenville Dalton Clemson 85 Gainesville Huntsville

Greenville

Raleigh 40

Havelock

Lumberton 95

Columbia

Jacksonville

Wilmington

Atlanta Location

Course Information The Champion Trace course at Keene Trace Golf Club outside of Lexington was built in 1987 and designed by noted architect Arthur Hills. Ranked among the top courses in Kentucky, it has hosted the NCAA Championship, U.S. Senior Amateur and numerous Kentucky Opens.

In preparation for its first Barbasol Championship, in 2018, four new tees were built and about 300 trees removed.

Yardage 7,328; par 72

2018 Champion Troy Merritt, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel

Tickets Grounds tickets are $30 on Thursday and Friday and $40 Saturday and Sunday, available through www. barbasolchampionship.com.

A weekly ticket costs $100.

Children under 16 receive free grounds admission with a ticketed adult, military service members receive up to four complimentary tickets.

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“Usually when you have that nice low round, it’s hard to keep going. To keep the momentum going Friday, Saturday and Monday was pretty good.”

– Troy Merritt, 2018

Billy Horschel, who finished T2, made only two bogeys all week.

18 20

HOW TROY MERRITT WON

Nicholasville, Ky. Montgomery Champions at Keene Trace Golf Club

Troy Merritt got off to a hot start with a 62 for a threestroke lead after the first round, found himself in a fourway tie for the lead through 54 holes, and then prevailed with a 67 in a Monday finish of the rain-delayed event. Merritt shot 67-69 in the middle rounds and was tied by Hunter Mahan, Tom Lovelady and Robert Streb entering a final round where the leaders didn’t start until Monday because of suspensions of play on Sunday.

The key shot for Merritt in the final round was holing a 133-yard 9-iron for an eagle on the par-4 eighth. Birdies on Nos. 14 and 15 and pars on the rest of the back-nine holes gave Merritt a 23-under 265 total, one shot ahead of Lovelady, Billy Horschel and Richy Werenski, for his second career win.  Merritt’s opening 62 included a 30 on the front nine, which he played second, and an eagle on the par-5 sixth.  Merritt ranked first in Strokes Gained: Approach-theGreen at 2.552 per round.  Merritt won despite a negative total in Strokes Gained: Putting at -.107 per round.

Tom Lovelady’s tee shot during a continuation of the final round, going on to finish T2 with Horshel.

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2019 tournament overview

quick Facts

Troy Merritt hits his second shot on the second hole during the third round at Champions at Keene Trace.

Field: 132 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $3.5 million Winner’s Share: $630,000 FedExCup Points: 300 to the winner

CHARITY BENEFIT Caddie127 “Nobody Should Walk Alone” is the theme for the tournament’s charitable giving. The tournament’s five charities are All God’s Children, Kentucky Children’s Hospital, MakeA-Wish Kentucky, Refuge For Women and Woodhill Community Center.

check this out

X X Troy Merritt’s opening-round 62 tied the course record at the Champion Trace course. The tournament record 18-hole score is 60 by Chad Collins and Scott Stallings in 2017 at the Grand National Course in Alabama.

X X In the four years of the Barbasol Championship, Merritt is the only winner to

have led or co-led after every round.

X X Billy Horschel, who finished T2, made only two bogeys all week, one each in the second and fourth rounds.

X X Due to rain delays on Sunday, eight players didn’t tee off in the fourth round until Monday morning. Just 21 players completed the final round on Sunday.

LEADERBOARD 2018 Pos 1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Troy Merritt

1

62

67

69

67

265/-23

300

$630,000

Billy Horschel

T2

65

66

68

67

266/-22

116.66

$261,333

Tom Lovelady

T2

66

67

65

68

266/-22

116.66

$261.333

Richy Werenski

T2

66

68

66

66

266/-22

116.66

$261,333

J.T. Poston

5

69

66

66

66

267/-21

65

$140,000

Richy Werenski hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation during his final round and finished the round bogey free.

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J.T. Poston delivered a bogey-free 6-under 66 in the fourth round.

In last year’s debut at Champions at Keene Trace, the Champion Trace course was played with the nines reversed from their order in everyday play. This time the course will be played in the same order the members play it. That means a tougher finish, as the 18th hole was the hardest hole in the tournament last year when it played as No. 9. It’s not a particularly long par 4 at 429 yards, but there is water all the way down the right side affecting both the tee shot and approach, and the green is small.

FAN EXPERIENCE

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images: Getty Images, David Coyle/bd Global

Player

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NOTABLE COURSE FEATURES

The Natty Shack, Grey Goose 19th Hole and Michelob Ultra Bar are areas open to all fans, and the Military Outpost for military members and guests.

Upgraded tickets allow entry to the clubhouse and VIP tickets to Chalets, Suites or Skyboxes on the 18th hole or Cabanas on the ninth hole.

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

July 19-22, 2019

The Open Championship Location Portrush, Northern Ireland Royal Portrush Golf Club

Course Information Royal Portrush Golf Club was founded in 1888, and its Dunluce Course that will host The Open Championship dates to 1929 when it was designed by English architect Harry Colt. Routed through a dramatic setting in the dunes, the course is ranked 14th in the world by Golf Magazine. In 1951, it hosted the only previous Open Championship held outside the British mainland, and it has hosted The Senior Open Championship three times. In 2017, architect Martin Ebert created two new holes, the seventh and eighth, replacing the old 17th and 18th.

Yardage 7,317; par 71

2018 Champion Francesco Molinari, Italy

Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC

Tickets Tickets for championship days were sold out well in advance.

Practice day tickets available in advance through www.theopen. com. Juniors under 16 are free when accompanied by a paid adult, but tickets must be booked in advance.

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“To go the weekend bogey free, it’s unthinkable, to be honest.”

– Francesco Molinari, 2018

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2019 tournament overview

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HOW FRANCESCO MOLINARI WON

Francesco Molinari emerged from a pack of contenders with a 2-under 69 on Sunday to win at Carnoustie. Seven players had at least a share of the lead during the day, including a six-way tie at one point on the back nine.

While everyone else hurt themselves with bogeys or double bogeys along the way, Molinari had 16 pars and two birdies in the final round to claim his first major championship. The 35-year-old capped a string of pars on the first 13 holes with eight-foot par-saving putts on 12 and 13, then two-putted for a birdie on the par-5 14th. Molinari birdied the 18th from five feet to move into the lead and ended up winning by two over Kevin Kisner, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Xander Schauffele.

Tiger Woods had the lead through 10 holes before a double bogey on the 11th sent him toward a 71 and a T6 finish three strokes back. Jordan Spieth entered the final round tied for first with Kisner and Schauffele but shot a 76 and finished T9 four behind.

XX Molinari shot a 65 in the third round, also without a bogey, to pull within three strokes of the lead.

XX Molinari was T23 in Greens in Regulation Percentage (66.67), but fifth in Scrambling.

XX Molinari ranked fifth in Putting Average with 1.729 putts per green in regulation. w w w.pgatour.com

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2019 tournament overview

quick Facts Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes

stroke play Purse: $10.5 million (2018) Winner’s Share: $1,890,000 (2018) FedExCup Points: 600 to the winner

Charity Benefit Each year, The R&A invests more than £5 million in support of golf worldwide. In recent years there has been a focus on financing development in countries where golf is a relatively new sport.

LEADERBOARD 2018 Player

Pos 1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Francesco Molinari

1

72

65

69

276/-8

600

$1,890,000

70

T2

66

70

68

74

278/-6

202.50

$694,250

T2

69

69

70

70

278/-6

202.50

$694,250

Justin Rose

T2

72

73

64

69

278/-6

202.50

$694,250

Xander Schauffele

T2

71

66

67

74

278/-6

202.50

$694,250

check this out XX With his victory in The Open, Francesco Molinari became the first player from Italy to win a major championship.

XX Molinari’s victory ended a string of five straight major championships won by players from the U.S., since Spain’s Sergio Garcia won the 2017 Masters.

X X The victory gave Molinari three wins in six tournaments, also including the BMW PGA Championship on the European Tour 194 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, Part 2

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and the Quicken Loans National on the PGA TOUR. He also had two runner-up finishes in that stretch.

XX Rory McIlroy has finished in the top five in his last four appearances at The Open Championship: Won/2014, T5/2016, T4/2017, T2/2018.

XX The only previous Open Championship held at Royal Portrush was in 1951, won by England’s Max Faulkner.

A reconfiguration has added two new holes on the front nine while eliminating the relatively uninspiring old 17th and 18th. The new three-hole finishing stretch starts with the most well-known hole at Royal Portrush, the 236-yard par-3 known as Calamity Corner, formerly No. 14 and now the 16th. It features an uphill carry over a chasm, with a severe drop-off to the right of the green. The 17th is a downhill par 4 of 405 yards offering a birdie chance while the 18th is a strong dogleg right 473yard par 4.

FAN EXPERIENCE

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Kevin Kisner Rory McIlroy

19 20

Notable Course Features

The Spectator Village has a number of food and beverage offerings, giant TV screens and a dedicated kids’ play area. Bring headphones to use with the official App of The Open with an interactive course guide enabling you to track your favorite players around the course and providing live video streaming, live scoring and video highlights.

images: ALAMY, R&A

The Claret Jug will be the spoils for the first Open Championship held in Northern Ireland since 1951.

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Golf taught me: Perseverance Respect Confidence All of the above

In elementary schools, on golf courses and at youth centers across the country, The First Tee is teaching life-enhancing skills that empower young people to make decisions for their future. Get involved today. www.thefirsttee.org

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

July 25-28, 2019

World Golf ChampionshipsFedEx St. Jude Invitational Memphis, Tenn.

TPC Southwind

Course Information Ron Prichard, known for his restorations of designs by noted architect Donald Ross, and with help from former major champions Hubert Green and Fuzzy Zoeller, created a challenging course on a former dairy farm outside Memphis that features undulating fairways and natural hazards— streams, ponds and lakes— to enhance the layout’s beauty and challenge.

Yardage 7,238; par 70

2018 Champion Justin Thomas, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Tickets Advance daily grounds tickets cost $25-$60 depending on the day, or a Good-Any-OneDay ticket is $70, available through www.pgatour. com/tournaments/wgcfedex-st-jude-invitational. html. A weekly grounds ticket costs $145. Children 18 and under are admitted free with a paying adult, and military members and college students receive a discount.

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“I was really nervous today. To make that putt on 1 and again on 2 just kind of calmed me and got me going for the day.” – Justin Thomas, 2018

Coming back from a 15-week hiatus due to left wrist surgery, Brooks Koepka hit 13 of 18 greens in regulation during his second round.

18 20

HOW JUSTIN THOMAS WON

Location

Justin Thomas opened with rounds of 65-64-67 at Firestone to build a threestroke lead, and his finalround 69 was good for a four-stroke victory as the closest contenders through 54 holes fell back on Sunday.

Thomas saved par from six feet on the first hole and made a 15-footer for a birdie on the second to get off to a good start on a day when he would never lead by less than two strokes. He added only one more birdie, on the 13th hole, but had only one bogey, on No. 6, in his 1-under final round. Six of the seven closest players to Thomas entering the final round shot over par on Sunday, the exception being Kyle Stanley, who had a 68 to take second place but finished four strokes behind. There was some good scoring on Sunday, notably Dustin Johnson and Thorbjørn Olesen with 64s to finish T3.  Thomas started with birdies on four of the first five holes in shooting a 31 on the first nine on Thursday.  Playing the front nine second in round two, Thomas birdied four of five holes starting at No. 2 on the way to a 30.  Thomas ranked first in Strokes Gained: Approachthe-Green (1.912 per round) and T2 in Greens in Regulation Percentage (75.00).

With one foot in the water, Dustin Johnson played in from 40 feet off the green on the par-3 12th for birdie.

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2019 tournament overview

quick Facts

Reminiscent of the17th at TPC Sawgrass, Dustin Johnson and Ryan Blaum approach the par 3 11th green during the third round.

Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $10.25 million Winner’s Share: $1,742,500 FedExCup Points: 550 to the winner

Charity Benefit

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has been the sole beneficiary of PGA TOUR events in Memphis since 1970, with total contributions exceeding $43 million. Among the tournament week activities, the St. Jude Jam on Tuesday night at the FedEx Forum raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for the hospital.

XX FedEx is the new sponsor of the event that has been played at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, since the World Golf Championships started in 1999. The TPC Southwind site formerly hosted the FedEx St. Jude Classic.

XX Dustin Johnson has a strong track record in the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational and at TPC Southwind. He won the FedEx St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind in 2012 and 2018 and was T3 at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational in 2018 after winning the event in 2016 when played at

Firestone Country Club.

XX With his victory last year, Justin Thomas became the fifth player to win a FedExCup title, a major championship and a WGC event (later in the year, Justin Rose became the sixth when he won the FedExCup). Thomas was the youngest at age 25.

XX Thomas is the fourth youngest winner of the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, behind Tiger Woods (23 and 24 in 1999, 2000) and Rory McIlroy (a younger 25 in 2014).

LEADERBOARD 2018 Player

Pos 1

2

3

4

Total Score

Earnings

Justin Thomas

1

65

64

67

69

265/-15

550

$1,700,000

Kyle Stanley

2

63

68

70

68

269/-11

315

$1,072,000

Dustin Johnson

T3

69

71

66

64

270/-10

170

$510,000

115

$357,000

T3

71

67

68

64

270/-10

5

66

70

68

67

271/-9

images: Getty Images; us pga tour

Thorbjørn Olesen Brooks Koepka

Kyle Stanley, who had a 68 to take second place, but finished four strokes behind.

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$510,000

For Thorbjørn Olesen, it was his first time at TPC Southwind; he went on to finish T3.

The two par-3s on the back nine at TPC Southwind are particularly noteworthy. The 162-yard 11th is surrounded by water, reminiscent of the 17th at TPC Sawgrass except there is more fringe area and two bunkers in back of the green as well as a small one in front. The 239-yard 14th, with water front and right, is annually one of the toughest holes on the course.

FAN EXPERIENCE

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FedExCup Points

Notable Course Features

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The WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational features some of Memphis’ best eats with a new area between the eighth green and ninth tee called “The Pit,” with some of the city’s best barbecue joints and Birdies & Bubbles, with dishes from famous Memphis chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman. The tournament kicks off on Thursday with the Purple Eagle ceremony where a FedEx plane is dedicated to a St. Jude Children’s Hospital patient.

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

July 25-28, 2019

Barracuda Championship Location

Reno, Nev. Montreux Golf & Country Club

Course Information

Opened in 1997, this Jack Nicklaus Signature Design located between Lake Tahoe and Reno flows dramatically through both high desert and pine forests. Treelined fairways and natural water hazards make for a demanding traditional test, while strong elevation changes add to the scenic beauty and challenge.

Yardage 7,472; par 72

2018 Champion Andrew Putnam, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel

Tickets

Good Any One Day tickets for grounds admission cost $27.25 and a Season Pass is $59.95, available through www. barracudachampionship. com. Children 15 and under are free with a ticketed adult (limit three per adult) and admission is complimentary for military members, veterans and first responders. Thursday is Senior Day presented

by Washoe County Senior Services, anyone over 55+ will get free access.

And Friday is Bank of America Day, anyone with a Bank of America card will get in free.

Social Media

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“My putting and my chipping were really good. I think that’s what helped me get the win this week.”

– Andrew Putnam, 2018

Chad Campbell’s +22 in the third round tied the single-round tournament record.

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HOW ANDREW PUTNAM WON

Andrew Putnam put together strong second and third rounds to take the lead and held on with a solid final round to claim his first PGA TOUR victory. Putnam had 17 points in the second round, the best total of the day in the modified Stableford format, and 15 in the third round to enter the final round with 38 points and a three-point lead. When Sam Saunders, closest contender through 54 holes, fell back on Sunday, it was up to thirdplace Chad Campbell, who started six points behind, to make a challenge. Campbell had a good day with 11 points, but Putnam had five birdies and one bogey for nine points to win by four.

Putnam finished in style by holing out with a putter from the fringe from 22 feet for a birdie on the 18th.  Putnam had an eagle and four birdies on the back nine in the second round for the stroke-play equivalent of a 30.  Putnam and runner-up Campbell each made 24 birdies to lead the field and each added an eagle. But Putnam had only four overpar holes, three bogeys and a double bogey.

In the final round, J.J. Spaun hit his 124-yard approach shot on the par-4 14th hole to 4 feet, then sank the putt for birdie.

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2019 tournament overview

Kevin Tway pitches to the second green during the second round.

quick Facts Field: 132 players Format: 72 holes

modified Stableford Purse: $3.5 million Winner’s Share: $630,000 FedExCup Points: 300 to the winner

Charity Benefit

The Reno-Tahoe Open Foundation oversees the Barracuda Championship, with proceeds benefiting more than 100 charities.

The event has donated more than $4.1 million to nonprofits in its 21-year history.

Additionally, there are the Birdies For Charity pledge program and the Chip in For Education voucher program that raises money for local schools.

check this out

hole lead. The lone comeback winner was Chris Stroud (2017).

XX Chad Campbell’s +22 in the third round tied the single-round tournament record under the modified Stableford format. Kyle Reifers had +22 in the fourth round in 2015.

X X John Oda finished T3 after getting into the tournament through Monday qualifying.

LEADERBOARD 2018 Player

Pos 1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Andrew Putnam

1

+6

+17

+15

+9

+47

300

$612,000

Chad Campbell

2

+6

+4

+22

+11

+43

165

$367,200

John Oda

T3

+7

+9

+13

+8

+37

J.J. Spaun

T3

+7

+12

+10

+8

+37

92.50

$197,200

Ollie Schniederjans

5

+17

+8

+1

+10

+36

65

$136,000

images: Getty Images

John Oda finished T3 after getting into the tournament through Monday qualifying.

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$197,200

Ollie Schniederjans finished fifth after holding a three point lead after the first round.

The 17th and 18th holes provide a dramatic finish.

The tee at the 464-yard, par-4 17th sits 131 feet above the fairway, with a meandering creek making it one of the toughest holes on the course. The 616-yard, par-5 18th offers a chance for an eagle, but with water to the right of the green and out of bounds lining the left side it also has double-bogey danger.

FAN EXPERIENCE

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X X Andrew Putnam’s +47 winning total matched the second best since the tournament started using modified Stableford scoring in 2012. Geoff Ogilvy (2014) holds the record at +49 and J.J. Henry had +47 in 2015.

X X Putnam became the seventh player in the last eight years to win after holding the 54-

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Notable Course Features

All ticket-holders gain access to the Patio on the 18th Green presented

by RenoTahoe with its spectacular views and Great Clubhouse Cookout featuring savory barbecue and ice-cold drinks. Family activities at The Discovery at Barracuda presented

by Circus Circus Kids STEAM Zone include interactive demonstrations, brainteasers, face painters, fun giveaways and golfthemed science exhibits.

The Fairway Independent Mortgage Heroes Hangout is an exclusive viewing area for military members (including veterans) and first responders. Upgraded tickets give access to the Lexus Chalet at the 18th green or Tito’s Terrace at the ninth.

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THE NORTHERN TRUST LIBERTY NATIONAL GOLF CLUB, JERSEY CITY, NJ AUG 8 - 11 BMW CHAMPIONSHIP

MEDINAH COUNTRY CLUB, MEDINAH, IL AUGUST 15 - 18

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

EAST LAKE GOLF CLUB, ATLANTA, GA AUG 22 - 25

#LIVEUNDERPAR

PGA TOUR - FedExCup.indd 1

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CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS. © 2018 PGA TOUR, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

August 1-4, 2019

Greensboro, N.C. Sedgefield Country Club

Course Information Founded in 1926, Sedgefield Country Club’s Donald Ross design features gently rolling fairways leading to the architect’s small, undulating greens. The layout first hosted the PGA TOUR in 1938. After a 31-year absence, the Wyndham Championship returned to Sedgefield in 2008. Architect Kris Spence completed a restoration of the course in 2007 while lengthening it to accommodate the modern player. In 2012, the greens were changed from bentgrass to Champion Bermuda.

Yardage 7,127; par 70

2018 Champion Brandt Snedeker, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Tickets Advance general admission tickets cost $10-$20 for practice rounds and $35-$45 for tournament days for a specific day, or $50 for a Good-Any-Day ticket, available through www. wyndhamchampionship.com. A weekly ticket book costs $150.

Groups receiving free admission are military members (including veterans and reservists), children 15 and under (one per paying adult), Piedmont Triad area teachers and Piedmont Triad first responders.

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“Shooting 59 on Thursday, your expectations go through the roof. It was the most stressful week I’ve ever had in professional golf.”

– Brandt Snedeker, 2018

C.T. Pan had rounds of 65, 64 and 67, plus a bogey-free, six-under round through 17 holes on Sunday.

HOW BRANDT SNEDEKER WON

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Location

Wyndham Championship

Brandt Snedeker shot a 59 in the first round and led virtually the entire way, but with four holes remaining in the final round he found himself one stroke behind C.T. Pan, who had just birdied the 15th hole in the group ahead. Snedeker birdied the par-5 15th himself to move into a tie and ended up with a three-stroke victory when Pan double bogeyed 18 and Snedeker made a birdie.

Snedeker led by four after the first round, two after 36 holes, and only one after the third round. He shot a 65 in the final round for a 21-under 259 total.  Snedeker played his first three holes of the first round in 1-over but finished with an 11-under 59.

Starting on the back nine, he had four birdies there for a 32 and then six birdies and an eagle for a 27 on the front nine.  Snedeker ranked third in Strokes Gained: Approachthe-Green (1.987 per round).  Snedeker made two eagles, holing out from 176 yards on the par-4 sixth in the first round and making a 30-foot putt on the par-5 15th in the second round.

D.A. Points fired a bogey-free, 6-underpar 30-34=64 in the second round.

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2019 tournament overview

quick Facts

Brandt Snedeker’s second shot from the 9th fairway during the first round.

Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.2 million Winner’s Share: $1,116,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit

The Wyndham Championship is presented by the Piedmont Triad Charitable Foundation, with donations in the areas of youth/ education, community and the environment. Beneficiaries include multiple children’s backpack programs, the Kevin Harvick Foundation, The First Tee of the Triad, Crosby Scholars, the Paul Tesori Foundation and Habitat for Humanity.

was his ninth career win.

XX Snedeker became the 10th player to shoot under 60 in a PGA TOUR event and the fifth to win that event.

XX Webb Simpson finished with an 18-under 262 total for the second consecutive year, finishing T2 after being third in 2017. He won the Wyndham Championship in 2011.

XX Snedker became the 10th player to win multiple Wyndham Championships last year.

LEADERBOARD 2018 Player

Pos 1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Brandt Snedeker

1

59

67

68

65

259/-21

500

$1,080,000

C.T. Pan

T2

65

64

67

66

262/-18

245

$528,000

Webb Simpson

T2

66

68

66

62

262/-18

245

$528,000

Jim Furyk

T4

65

68

67

63

263/-17

122

$264,000

D.A. Points

T4

64

64

68

67

263/-17

122

$264,000

images: Getty ImageS

Strong putting brought Jim Furyk a 7-under 63 in round four.

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Webb Simpson finished T2 with an 18-under 262 total for the second consecutive year.

The toughest hole at Sedgefield for the Wyndham Championship is the 507-yard 18th, a par 5 for the members that plays as a par 4 for the pros.

The tee shot is downhill, leaving a difficult uphill approach off a downhill lie to a green with a significant back-to-front slope.

FAN EXPERIENCE

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XX This is the first year for the Wyndham Rewards Top 10, a bonus system for the PGA TOUR Regular Season. The $10 million bonus pool will be split among the top 10 in FedExCup standings through the Regular Season, which ends at the Wyndham Championship, with $2 million for first place.

XX Brandt Snedeker claimed his second Wyndham Championship title, the first coming in 2007 for his initial PGA TOUR victory—that year he was named Rookie of the Year. This

19 20

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Notable Course Features

Patrons with grounds tickets enjoy complimentary attractions including Margaritaville at the Wyndham featuring live music daily and upscale food and beverages, a chance to win prizes at Wyndham’s Key to Wyn location which will become a new home for a Habitat for Humanity family, the BB&T Fan Pavilion, the Sunbrella Comfort Zone and new this year the Sunbrella Wine Deck at the 17th hole as well as complimentary access to covered grandstands throughout the course. Fans can visit multiple photo opportunities around the grounds for creative social media posts reflecting the tournament’s “Escape to the Wyndham” vacation theme.

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

August 8-11, 2019

THE NORTHERN TRUST Location Jersey City, N.J. Liberty National Golf Club

Course Information Liberty National opened on July 4, 2006 and was designed by Bob Cupp and World Golf Hall of Famer Tom Kite. Built on a former industrial waterfront site, the course is a strategic layout dotted with manmade water hazards and unique bunkering and features spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline.

Liberty National has previously hosted THE NORTHERN TRUST in 2009 and 2013 and the Presidents Cup in 2017.

Yardage 7,353; par 71

2018 Champion Bryson DeChambeau, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Tickets Advance daily grounds tickets costs $35$70, depending on the day, or $75 for a Good-Any-One-Day ticket, available through www.thenortherntrust.com. A weekly ticket costs $195. Families are also encouraged to purchase the family plan for $150. All children 18 and under get in free with a paying adult. Military members also receive complimentary admission.

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“I was able to go out there and execute shots to the level that I know I can, and then at times when I didn’t, I was able to recover really, really well.” – Bryson DeChambeau, 2018

Aaron Wise became the closest pursuer when he played the first 14 holes of his final round in 6-under.

Adam Scott plays from the fourth tee during the third round. The 2013 champion went on to card a T5 finish, alongside Aaron Wise.

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

Cameron Smith plays a shot from the second tee during the final round.

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Tony Finau claimed second place with a closing 68.

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HOW BRYSON DECHAMBEAU WON

Bryson DeChambeau surged to a four-stroke lead with a third-round 63 at Ridgewood Country Club and won by that margin after a closing 69.

The 24-year-old opened a six-stroke advantage with birdies on the first two holes on Sunday, but it did get tight for a brief period when DeChambeau made two bogeys on the front nine and watched his lead dwindle to two. He righted the ship with a difficult chip to four feet for a birdie on the drivable par-4 12th and followed with another birdie on the 13th. Pars from there to the clubhouse yielded an 18-under 266. Keegan Bradley was in second place through 54 holes but fell out of sight with a final-round 78. Aaron Wise became the closest pursuer when he played the first 14 holes in 6-under on Sunday, but two late bogeys dropped him to T5. Tony Finau claimed second place with a closing 68.  DeChambeau shot a 4-under 31 on the front nine in both the second and third rounds.  DeChambeau ranked T1 in Greens in Regulation Percentage at 81.94, hitting 15 greens in the second and third rounds and 16 in the final round.  DeChambeau didn’t miss a putt inside seven feet all week and ranked fifth in Strokes Gained: Putting at 1.741 per round.

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2019 tournament overview

quick Facts Field: Top-125 players in the FedExCup

standings Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $9,250,000 Winner’s Share: $1,655,000 FedExCup Points: 2,000 to the winner

Charity Benefit

The official charity of THE NORTHERN TRUST is Tackle Kids Cancer, the philanthropic initiative of the Children’s Cancer Institute at Hackensack Meridian Health. Other beneficiaries include The First Tee and the New Jersey Golf Foundation.

There is also a Tickets Fore Charity program allowing local non-profits to raise money by selling tournament tickets. Since its inception in 1967, the tournament has generated nearly $50 million for New York/New Jersey metropolitan area charities.

LEADERBOARD 2018 Player

Pos 1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Bryson DeChambeau

1

66

63

69

266/-18

2,000

$1,620,000

68

2

69

67

66

68

270/-14

1,200

$972,000

T3

69

69

65

68

271/-13

650

$522,000

Cameron Smith

T3

69

68

65

69

271/-13

650

$522,000

Ryan Palmer

T5

68

67

72

65

272/-12

400

$328,500

Adam Scott

T5

69

64

70

69

272/-12

400

$328,500

Aaron Wise

T5

70

68

67

67

272/-12

400

$328,500

check this out XX At 24 years, 11 months, 10 days, Bryson DeChambeau became the youngest winner of THE NORTHERN TRUST in the FedExCup era.

XX DeChambeau’s four-stroke lead through 54 holes was the largest at the event during the FedExCup era; his four-stroke victory margin was the second-best behind Jason Day (six strokes, 2015).

XX DeChambeau’s 18-under total was one off the relative-to-par scoring record at the event. Johnny Miller (1974), Bob Gilder (1982), Dustin Johnson (2011) and Day 206 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, Part 2

T33.NORTHERN TRUST.indd 206

(2015) all finished 19-under.

XX The top 125 players in the regularseason FedExCup standings compete in THE NORTHERN TRUST. In past years, when there were four playoff events, the top 100 after THE NORTHERN TRUST qualified for the next event. In 2019, with three playoff events, the top 70 move on to the BMW Championship.

XX Ryan Palmer made the biggest jump in the FedExCup standings in 2018, moving from No. 100 to No. 50 after a T5 finish.

The finishing stretch at Liberty National features a variety of holes, including birdie opportunities at the 150-yard par-3 14th and 320-yard drivable par-4 16th.

Those are balanced by a couple of long par 4s where the pros are happy to walk away with pars, the 481-yard 15th and 490-yard 18th.

FAN Experience

19 20

Tony Finau Billy Horschel

19 20

Notable Course Features

The easy 15-minute ferry ride from Lower Manhattan provides the most unique arrival experience in professional sports and is only the first in a long list of fan-friendly amenities that are open-to-the-public, including notable restaurants (be sure to check out the Garden State Marketplace and The First Round Beer Garden), premium shopping from tasc performance and Nordstrom, on-site Uber drop off and customized fan journeys. Fans can visit www. thenortherntrust.com to download their fan journey and view the complete tournament guide.

images: GETTY images, us pga tour

Liberty National Golf Course.

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

August 15-18, 2019

BMW Championship Location Medinah, Ill. Medinah Country Club (No. 3)

Course Information Medinah Country Club has 54 holes, with its No. 3 course designed by Tom Bendelow in 1928 and redesigned in 1932 when more land became available. The course, known for its length and tree-lined fairways, has hosted three U.S. Opens, two PGA Championships and a Ryder Cup. It was redesigned by Roger Packard in 1986, with new 17th and 18th holes, and again in 2002 by Rees Jones, who redid the bunkering and added length.

Yardage 7,657; par 72

2018 Champion Keegan Bradley, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC

Tickets Advance grounds tickets cost $30 for practice rounds, good any day, and $65 for specific day tournament rounds, available through www. bmwchampionship.com. A weekly grounds booklet costs $230. Juniors 16 and under receive free grounds admission when accompanied by an adult, limit four juniors per ticketed adult. Active and retired military and veterans receive a complimentary ticket.

“I can’t remember a week of playing so solid from start to finish.”

– Keegan Bradley, 2018

Justin Rose on the 17th hole during the weather delayed final round.

Billy Horschel came back from a rocky start in round two, to finish T3.

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2019 tournament overview

Rory McIlroy, who shot 7-under 63 in round three.

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Xander Schauffele wound up with a 6-under-par 64 and finished with the lowest 36-hole score of his career.

18 20

HOW KEEGAN BRADLEY WON

Keegan Bradley rallied from three strokes behind with a 64 in the final round and defeated Justin Rose on the first playoff hole at Aronimink Golf Club outside Philadelphia.

The finish was delayed until Monday after Sunday play was washed out by heavy rains, with considerable work needed by the grounds staff on Monday to enable the fourth round. Soft conditions throughout the week led to low scoring, with Bradley and Rose both finishing at 20-under 260. Bradley had four birdies in a five-hole stretch starting at No. 5 in the final round for a 31 on the front nine. He added birdies on Nos. 14, 16 and 17, but bogeyed the 18th after a bad drive and waited for others to finish. Rose had an identical finish of birdies on 16 and 17 and a bogey at 18, giving the 54-hole leader a 67 and setting up a playoff. Rose missed a five-foot par putt on the first extra hole, giving Bradley his first win in six years.

X X Bradley led the field with 28 birdies, including eight each in 64s in the second and fourth rounds.

X X Bradley was first in Strokes Gained: Putting at 1.790 per round and Putts Per Round (27.25).

X X Bradley made eight putts of longer than 15 feet, including four in the final round. He didn’t have a three-putt in the tournament.

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2019 tournament overview

Fans watch play on the 14th hole during the second round of the BMW Championship at Aronimink Golf Club

quick Facts Field: 70 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $9.25 million Winner’s Share: $1,665,000 FedExCup Points: 2,000 to the winner

Charity Benefit

The sole beneficiary of the 2019 BMW Championship is the Evans Scholars Foundation. Since BMW first sponsored the event in 2007, the tournament has raised more than $30 million for the foundation’s full tuition and housing college scholarships for caddies.

Three par 3s play over Lake Kadijah, with the two on the back nine particularly challenging.

The 244-yard 13th requires a long tee shot to a green that is not particularly deep and ranked as the second toughest hole on the course at the last individual championship at Medinah, the 2006 PGA Championship. The water is closer to the front of the putting surface at the 197yard 17th, making it more of a double bogey danger.

Pos 1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Keegan Bradley

1

66

64

66

64

260/-20

2,000

$1,620,000

Justin Rose

2

66

63

64

67

260/-20

1200

$972,000

Billy Horschel

T3

64

67

66

64

261/-19

650

$522,000

Xander Schauffele

T3

63

64

67

67

261/-19

650

$522,000

Rory McIlroy

5

62

69

63

68

262/-18

440

$360,000

X X Keegan Bradley and Justin Rose established a tournament record with their 72-hole totals of 260. They were 20-under; the relative-to-par record remains 23-under

by Dustin Johnson (2016) and Marc Leishman (2017).

X X Bradley entered the week 52nd in the FedExCup standings; the win vaulted him to sixth and a spot in the TOUR Championship.

X X Rose fell short in his bid for a second 210 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, Part 2

T34.BMW Championship.indd 210

BMW Championship title; he won in 2011.

Tiger Woods (2007, 2009) and Dustin Johnson (2010, 2016) are the only players with multiple BMW Championship wins in the FedExCup era (starting 2007).

XX Tommy Fleetwood shot 62-62 in the second and third rounds before finishing T8.

The 124 total for consecutive rounds was two higher than the PGA TOUR record of 122 by Troy Matteson (2009 Frys.com Open).

FAN EXPERIENCE

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Player

The tournament provides perks for BMW owners: BMW Owners’ Parking in close proximity to the course (pre-registration required), BMW Owners’ Concierge for expedited tournament entry and BMW Owners’ Pavilion at the 16th green and 17th tee featuring premier golf viewing and premium food and beverage for purchase in a climate-controlled venue. The pavilion is open to BMW owners and a guest. All tournament patrons can participate in Topgolf Crush in the BMW Experience area, where fans can put their swing to the test.

images: GETTY images; us pga tour;

Leaderboard 2018

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Notable Course Features

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

August 22-25, 2019

TOUR Championship Location Atlanta, Ga. East Lake Golf Club

Course Information Tom Bendelow’s 1908 design gave way to a complete overhaul just five years later by Donald Ross, which is the configuration on which Bobby Jones learned the game. George Cobb did a renovation prior to the 1963 Ryder Cup and Rees Jones restored the Ross layout in 1994. East Lake hosted the TOUR Championship in 1998, 2000, 2002 and each season since 2004.

Yardage 7,346; par 70

2018 Champion Tiger Woods, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC

Tickets Advance daily grounds tickets start at $30 with Good-Any-One-Day tickets available for $75 (through June 15) and weekly grounds tickets set at $175. Tickets are available for purchase at TOURChampionship.com.

Youth 18 and under are free with a ticketed adult, military members are free, and veterans receive a discount.

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“It means a lot. It really does. The people who are close to me saw the struggles and what I was going through, and some of the players that I’m pretty close to, they’ve really helped throughout this process the last few years.”

—Tiger Woods, 2018

Billy Horschel finished with a 4-under 66 to land in solo second at 9-under par.

Dustin Johnson carded matching 67s on the weekend to finish solo third and nearly captured his first FedExCup title.

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

Hideki Matsuyama’s final-round 65 tied the low round of the day en route to a T4 finish.

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A T4 finish for Justin Rose was enough to secure the Englishman’s first FedExCup title.

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HOW TIGER WOODS WON

Tiger Woods built a three-stroke lead through 54 holes and hung on with a 71 in the final round to score his first victory since 2013 and the 80th of his career.

The 42-year-old, who had been through four back surgeries—including a spinal fusion—since his last win, opened with rounds of 65-68-65 to go three ahead of Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy. Woods had never lost when holding a lead of at least three strokes going into the final round. He was helped this time by the struggles of Rose (73 to finish T4) and McIlroy (74 for T7). Woods birdied the first hole but added only one more birdie.

Bogeys on 15 and 16 cut his lead to two strokes before he saved par with a four-foot putt on 17 with his closest pursuer, Billy Horschel (66), already in the clubhouse and unable to make up more ground. Rose secured the FedExCup title with a two-putt birdie on the 18th hole.  Woods played the first seven holes in 6-under on the way to a frontnine 30 and a 65 in the third round.  Woods made five putts of 20 feet or longer and ranked second in Strokes Gained: Putting (1.280 per round).  Woods ranked first in Scrambling, saving par 17 of the 24 times he missed the green in regulation (70.83 percent).

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2019 tournament overview

quick Facts Field: 30 players Format: 72 holes, FedEx- Cup Starting Strokes scoring system Purse: $60 million

(includes FedExCup Bonus) Winner’s Share: $15 million FedExCup Points: 2,000 to the winner

Charity Benefit

The TOUR Championship donated just over $3 million from the 2018 TOUR Championship – a tournament record – with more than $30 million invested in local nonprofits since the event was first staged at East Lake Golf Club in 1998. Proceeds from the tournament primarily benefit the East Lake Foundation and other local nonprofits including, the Grove Park Foundation, Purpose Built Schools Atlanta, and The First Tee® of Atlanta. Southern Company and Coca-Cola are the Proud Partners of the TOUR Championship.

Leaderboard 2018 Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

Earnings

Tiger Woods

1

65

68

65

71

269/-11

$1,620,000

Billy Horschel

2

71

65

69

66

271/-9

$972,000

3

69

70

67

67

273/-7

$621,000

T4

72

66

71

65

274/-6

$372,000

Justin Rose

T4

66

67

68

73

274/-6

$372,000

Webb Simpson

T4

69

70

68

67

274/-6

$372,000

check this out XX The new FedExCup Starting Strokes scoring system goes into effect for the 2019 TOUR Championship. The 30 players in the field will have their score adjusted heading into the tournament based on their position in the FedExCup standings. The No. 1 player will start the TOUR Championship at 10-under par, descending down to the Nos. 26-30 players at even par. This guarantees that one champion will be crowned instead of the possibility, as in past years, that different players would win the 214 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2019, Part 2

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FedExCup and the tournament.

XX In 2018, Justin Rose became the fourth player to win the FedExCup while not winning the TOUR Championship since the FedExCup began in 2007, joining Vijay Singh (2008), Tiger Woods (2009) and Justin Thomas (2017).

XX Woods’ win in 2018 was his third in the TOUR Championship, adding to his 1999 and 2007 victories. The only other player to have won the event, which started in 1987, more than once is Phil Mickelson in 2000 and 2009.

The reversal of nines from the way East Lake plays for members has made for exciting finishes in the three years since it was instituted.

The par-5 tournament 18th is listed at 590 yards on the scorecard but is often set up at around 570 yards to encourage players to go for the green in two.

FAN EXPERIENCE

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Dustin Johnson Hideki Matsuyama

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Notable Course Features

The SO Cool Zone, located near the 14th and 15th greens and 16th tee, features fantastic food options from Atlanta restaurants in shaded seating areas, big-screen video with the live broadcast and more.

Other special locations for food and beverages are The Deck, which offers a shaded view of the practice range; Peachtree Porch, a viewing platform overlooking the eighth and ninth greens; and the Coca-Cola Lounge by the eighth green.

images: US PGA TOUR; GETTY IMAGES

The 18th hole during the final round at East Lake Golf Club.

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Kona

Spend at least one day avoiding the sand, sea and lava. #LetHawaiiHappen #VisitislandofHawaii

Waimea

SEN TRY TOU R NA M EN T OF CH A M PIONS S O N Y O P E N I N H AWA I I

Kapalua, Maui

Wai‘alae, O‘ahu

M I T S U BI S H I E L E C T R IC C H A M PIO N S H I P AT H UA L A L A I

PGA TOUR - Hawaii.indd 1

K a‘u- pu- lehu, Hawai‘i

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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW 2019

May 31-June 2, 2019

Principal Charity Classic

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Tournament Record:

197, Gil Morgan, 2006; Jay Haas, 2012

Tournament 18-hole Record

63, John Bland, 2002; Tommy Armour III, 2010; Billy Andrade, 2016

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information

www. principalcharityclassic.com

Course Insight

The Wakonda Club was founded in 1922 and has been the site of several major amateur events, including the 1963 U.S. Amateur won by Deane Beman. William B. Langford designed the rolling parkland layout that features tree-lined fairways and several water hazards.

It underwent a major restoration following a flood in 1994 and has hosted the Principal Charity Classic since 2013.

Tom Lehman walked away with a victory in the Principal Charity Classic when persistent rain on Sunday led to cancellation of the third round, his 36-hole total of 131 two strokes better than a quartet of players tied for second. “It’s nice to be in the winner’s circle no matter what,” said Lehman. “Whether it’s rain-shortened or not, it’s a confidence booster. I played a lot of really good golf this week.” The 59-year-old shot a 66 in the first round to trail Bernhard Langer by two strokes and added a 65 on Saturday to move in front and ultimately claim his 11th career PGA TOUR Champions victory at 13-under 131. Lehman hit 17 of 18 greens in the second round and made an eagle on the par-5 eighth along with six birdies.

Langer, Woody Austin, Glen Day and Scott Parel shared second at 133.

CHARITY BENEFIT

The Principal Charity Classic benefits organizations that support children throughout the state of Iowa. The tournament raised more than $4.3 million last year, bringing the total amount since 2007 to more than $17.7 million.

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

T

he second half of the PGA TOUR Champions season is highlighted by the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, a three-tournament sequence that closes the season in thrilling fashion. The portion of the season starting in June also features three majors and a return to Japan.

PGA TOUR Champions held its first event in Japan in 2017 and, after a one-year absence, returns with the Mastercard Japan Championship in early June. A five-week stretch in late June through July includes three major championships, starting with the U.S. Senior Open at the Warren Course at Notre Dame in Indiana. Next is the Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, longtime site of events on the PGA TOUR. The last major is The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in England.

The Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs start in mid-October, with 72 players competing in the Dominion Energy Classic in Virginia. After a week off, the top 54 travel across the country for the next playoff event, the Invesco QQQ Championship in Thousand Oaks, Calif. An elite field of the top 36 compete at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship culminating the season in its third year at Phoenix (Ariz.) Country Club. 

Yardage

6,831; par 72

HOW TOM LEHMAN WON

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THE SEASON AHEAD

Location

Wakonda Club, Des Moines, Iowa

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

June 7-9, 2019

June 21-23, 2019

Mastercard Japan Championship

American Family Insurance Championship

Tournament Record: 202, Colin Montgomerie, 2017

Tournament 18-hole Record 65, Glen Day, Kevin Sutherland, Todd Hamilton, 2017

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information www.pgatour.com/ champions/tournaments/ mastercard-japanchampionship.html

IMAGES: GETTY

Course Insight Narita Golf Club opened in 1988 with a course designed by Taizo Kawata.

It was the site of the LPGA Tour’s 2002 Cisco World Ladies Match Play Championship and an event on the Japan PGA Senior Tour in 2008 and 2010.

Located in suburban Tokyo, the course is a parkland setting with tree-lined holes and strategic bunkering.

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Yardage 7,140; par 72

HOW COLIN MONTGOMERIE WON

Colin Montgomerie trailed by three strokes through 36 holes and managed only an even-par 36 on the front nine of the final round before firing a 31 on the back nine to take a one-stroke victory over Billy Mayfair and Scott McCarron in the inaugural PGA TOUR Champions event in Japan. “Patience is key, even in a three-round event,” Montgomerie said. “You think it’s more of a sprint than a marathon, but you have to be patient. It’s vital in this game.”

Montgomerie’s putter heated up as he birdied four of the first five holes on the back nine with putts of 20, 15, 60 and 14 feet. He added a pair of key six-foot putts, one for a par on No. 16 and one for a birdie on the 17th that gave him a one-stroke lead over Mayfair, who had finished with a 66.

Second-round leader McCarron closed with a 71, rallying for birdies on the last two holes but coming up just short. The 54-year-old Montgomerie, who opened with rounds of 69-66 and finished at 14-under 202 after his closing 67, earned his fifth PGA TOUR Champions victory. The event took a oneyear break from the schedule in 2018.

HOW SCOTT MCCARRON WON

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Location Narita Golf Club-Accordia Golf, Narita-Shi, Chiba, Japan

Location

University Ridge Golf Course, Madison, Wis.

Yardage

7,056; par 72

Tournament Record: 199, Kirk Triplett, 2016

Tournament 18-hole Record 63, Gene Sauers, 2016; Paul Broadhurst, 2017; Tim Petrovic, 2018

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information

www. amfamchampionship.com

Course Insight

Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed University Ridge in 1991 on a ridge overlooking the city of Madison, and the course is home to the University of Wisconsin golf teams. The front nine is wide open, rolling through a preserved prairie and marshland, while the first six holes of the back nine are cut out of a dense woodland before the course opens up again at the par-5 16th, which features three fairways and 16 bunkers. The course hosted the 1998 NCAA Women’s Championship and has been home to the American Family Insurance Championship since its 2016 inception.

Scott McCarron shot a closing 64 to beat out a pair of local residents who shot 65 in the final round, as Jerry Kelly finished one stroke back and tournament host Steve Stricker was T3 two behind. “I made only one bogey all week, and that was on Friday, just missed a short putt,” said McCarron, 52, after his seventh career PGA TOUR Champions victory. “Other than that, I really didn’t have any opportunities to make bogey. Just kept putting myself in play.”

Seven players had the lead during the final round, with McCarron finally taking control on the strength of birdies on Nos. 14-16.

Stricker was the first-round leader with a 64, but a 74 on Saturday was costly before he recovered in the final round. Kelly birdied four holes in a five-hole stretch on the back nine but came up just short.

CHARITY BENEFIT

The American Family Championship raised more than $2 million for charity in 2018. Approximately half of the total was distributed to the American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, with more than 80 other primarily local charities sharing the rest.

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

June 27-30, 2019

July 11-14, 2019

Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship

U.S. Senior Open Championship

Location

7,020; par 70

Tournament Record: 264, Kenny Perry, 2017

Tournament 18-hole Record 62, Loren Roberts, 2006; Kirk Triplett, Brandt Jobe, 2017

Media Coverage FS1

More Information www.2019ussenioropen.com

Course Insight The Warren Course at Notre Dame opened in 2000, designed by the renowned team of Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, after the original Notre Dame course was cut from 18 to nine holes by campus construction. The course is open to the public and winds its way through 250 wooded acres, with tees and greens close together making it good for walking.

Reminiscent of classic early American courses, the course features strategically placed bunkers and undulating greens of various shapes, many with false fronts.

It hosted the 2010 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship.

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David Toms made key putts on the 16th and 17th holes to emerge from a crowded pack and capture his first win as a senior at age 51. Five players, including Toms, were tied for the lead midway through the back nine. The 2001 PGA champion took the lead with a 16-foot birdie putt on No. 16, but on the next hole drove into a fairway bunker, was forced to lay up, and faced a 19-foot downhill putt for par—which he sank. “That was just an unbelievable putt I made for par. Certainly that was the key to victory,” said Toms, who shot an even-par 70 on Sunday for a 3-under 277 total. That was one stroke ahead of 54-hole leader Jerry Kelly (72), Miguel Angel Jimenez (69) and Tim Petrovic (70).

CHARITY BENEFIT The USGA Foundation provides support for programs that target under-served audiences, junior golfers, women and beginners of all ages to develop a passionate and engaged group that will have a long-term commitment to the game.

Additionally, the USGA is committed to making the game more accessible for disabled golfers.

Yardage

7,283; par 70

Tournament Record:

261, Jack Nicklaus, 1990; Kenny Perry, 2013

Tournament 18-hole Record

62, Olin Browne, 2012; Fred Couples, 2013

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information

www.pgatour.com/ champions/tournaments/ bridgestone-seniorplayers-championship.html

Course Insight

Firestone Country Club’s South Course transitions to hosting PGA TOUR Champions after being the site of various PGA TOUR events since 1954, most recently a World Golf Championships event from 1999-2001 and 2003-2018.

The club was established in 1929, with the South Course designed by Bert Way. Robert Trent Jones Sr. extensively redesigned it prior to the 1960 PGA Championship— the first of three times Firestone held that event.

The layout is known for a collection of long and rugged par 4s and for the 667-yard par-5 16th hole, known as “The Monster.”

HOW VIJAY SINGH WON

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Yardage

HOW DAVID TOMS WON

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Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame South Bend, Ind.

Location

Firestone Country Club (South Course), Akron, Ohio

Vijay Singh began the final round one stroke behind 54-hole co-leader Jeff Maggert and it stayed that way almost all day as the pair made the same score on the first 15 holes of the final round, each making five birdies. It became a tie when Maggert bogeyed No. 16, and pars by each on the last two holes of regulation sent them to a playoff, which Singh won with an approach to two feet for a birdie on the second extra hole and at age 55 his first victory in a senior major. “To win the first major on this tour, I’m really excited about that,” said Singh, a winner of two PGA Championships and a Masters. Singh made only one bogey all week at Exmoor Country Club outside Chicago with rounds of 6867-66-67 for a 20-under 268 total. Brandt Jobe was third at 270 after a closing 66.

CHARITY BENEFIT Northern Ohio Golf Charities, which operates the event, has contributed more than $27 million from tournaments at Firestone over the years. Among the many recipients are Akron Children’s Hospital and the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

August 16-18, 2019

July 25-28, 2019

The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex

DICK’S Sporting Goods Open

Yardage

7,118; par 70

Tournament Record: 263, Tom Watson, Carl Mason, 2003

Tournament 18-hole Record

62, Jim Colbert, 2003

Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC

More Information

www.pgatour.com/ champions/tournaments/ senior-open-championshippres-by-rolex.html

Course Insight

Royal Lytham & St. Annes was founded in 1886, with its current course dating to 1898 when it was designed by the club’s first professional, George Lowe.

It was extensively redesigned by the great English architect Harry Colt in 1919. Built on essentially featureless land, the course is known for its bunkering with more than 200 bunkers dotting the layout, many having been added over the years. The club has hosted the Open Championship 11 times and the Women’s British Open five times. This is its first Senior Open Championship since it hosted the event in 1991-94.

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HOW MIGUEL ÁNGEL JIMÉNEZ WON

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Location

Royal Lytham & St. Annes, Lytham St. Annes, England

Miguel Ángel Jiménez became the first Spaniard to win the Senior Open Championship, prevailing by one stroke over Bernhard Langer at the Old Course in St. Andrews.

Jiménez preserved his 54hole lead with a 69 in the final round for a 12-under 276 total, but it wasn’t easy down the stretch as a bogey on 15 cut his advantage to one stroke and he needed scrambling pars on the last two holes to hold on. “At that stage, I was feeling the stress.

My heart was pumping really fast,” Jiménez admitted after winning his second senior major of the year (Regions Tradition). Langer finished strong with a 68, matching the best score on a windy day, for his third runner-up finish in the event to go along with three titles. Stephen Ames, Scott McCarron and Kirk Triplett tied for third at 278.

CHARITY BENEFIT

The R&A, which runs the championship along with the European Tour, invests more than £5 million each year in support of golf worldwide.

In recent years there has been a focus on financing development in countries where golf is a relatively new sport.

Yardage

6,974; par 72

Tournament Record:

195, Lonnie Nielsen, 2009

Tournament 18-hole Record

59, Kevin Sutherland, 2014

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information www.dsgopen.com

Course Insight

En-Joie was created by George F. Johnson, owner of Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company, and designed

by Ernie Smith, opening in 1927. Johnson was a huge lover of golf and wanted his employees to enjoy the game so he built the course as a recreational outlet for them.

Veteran course designer Dr. Michael Hurdzan renovated the layout in 1998-99. The course was the longtime host (19712006) of the B.C. Open on the PGA TOUR and has hosted PGA TOUR Champions since 2007.

HOW BART BRYANT WON

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Location

En-Joie Golf Course, Endicott, N.Y.

Just when it looked like he might have to go to a playoff, Bart Bryant holed a 25-foot putt on the 18th hole to clinch a victory.

Bryant led Michael Bradley by one stroke going to the final hole, but Bradley hit his approach shot to seven feet for a birdie that he would make—but only after Bryant’s long putt found the cup. “I’ve had putts made on me to lose before, so it’s nice to be on the other end of the stick this time,” said the 55-year-old Bryant, who also won the DICK’S Sporting Goods Open in 2013, his only other PGA TOUR Champions victory.

Bryant had a final-round 65, including six birdies in a nine-hole stretch starting at No. 3, to finish at 16-under 200. Bradley closed with a 68 for a 201 total, while Tom Gillis and Marco Dawson tied for third at 203.

CHARITY BENEFIT

The DICK’S Sporting Goods Open is operated by Broome County Charities Inc., which donated more than $830,000 to charities in 2018. It funds health-care related organizations, particularly the UHS Foundation and Lourdes Hospital Foundation, and various civic organizations.

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

August 23-25, 2019

August 30-September 1, 2019

Boeing Classic

Shaw Charity Classic

Location

Location

7,172; par 72

Tournament Record: 197, Jerry Kelly, 2017

Tournament 18-hole Record 60, Kevin Sutherland, 2018

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information www.boeingclassic.com

Course Insight The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge, established in 1999, is the only Jack Nicklaus Signature Course in the Pacific Northwest.

The course has dramatic elevation changes, with dense stands of towering firs framing wide fairways, picturesque water features and panoramic mountain views. The result is strategic diversity with a breathtaking backdrop.

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Scott Parel set a tournament record with a comeback from five strokes behind through 36 holes as a 9-under 63 in the final round enabled him to score his first PGA TOUR Champions victory at age 53. “I had shooting 9-under in mind because I knew 18-under [total] would have an outside chance,” he said.

As it turned out, 18-under gave Parel a three-stroke victory over Kevin Sutherland, who after shooting a 60 in the second round to share the 36-hole lead with Ken Tanigawa made 17 straight pars in the final round before a birdie on 18 gave him a 71.

Tanigawa had a 73 and tied for third with Miguel Ángel Jiménez, five strokes back.

Parel birdied the last six holes of the front nine to go out in 29, then wrapped up the title with birdies on 16 and 17, the latter on a 50-foot putt.

CHARITY BENEFIT The primary beneficiary of the Boeing Classic is the Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, an international leader in autoimmune disease research. The First Tee of Greater Seattle also benefits from the event.

Yardage 7,086; par 70

Tournament Record: 191, Rocco Mediate, 2013

Tournament 18-hole Record 61, Fred Couples, 2014; Miguel Ángel Jiménez, 2015

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information www. shawcharityclassic.com

Course Insight Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club was established in 1953, but the course didn’t open until 1957. Otto Anderson designed the parkland layout, and members gradually changed it through the years, mostly through tree plantings. A 2006 renovation included greens improvements, new tees and bunker upgrades.

HOW SCOTT MCCARRON WON

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Yardage

HOW SCOTT PAREL WON

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The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge, Snoqualmie, Wash.

Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

An ace on the 14th hole catapulted Scott McCarron to a final-round 63 and a one-stroke victory as he successfully defended his 2017 title. “As soon as I hit it I knew it was going to be good, but I didn’t know how good,” said McCarron of his 9-iron tee shot on the par-3 14th that took one hop and landed in the hole. The 53-year-old still had some tense moments as on the last four holes he went bogeybirdie-bogey-birdie, with his two-putt birdie on 18 giving him a 15-under 195 total and a one-stroke victory over Scott Parel, Joe Durant and Kirk Triplett. Parel closed with a 62 a week after shooting a final-round 63 to win the Boeing Classic, 36-hole leader Durant had a 67 and Triplett a 65 but pars on the last six holes.

CHARITY BENEFIT

The Shaw Charity Classic’s Birdies for Kids presented by Alta Link program supports local charities, which solicit pledges based on the number of birdies in the tournament, supplemented by up to an additional 50 percent from the tournament. Last year the event raised more than $12.3 million.

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

September 13-15, 2019

September 20-22, 2019

Sanford International

The Ally Challenge

Yardage 7,127; par 72

Tournament Record: 201, Paul Broadhurst, 2018

Tournament 18-hole Record 63, Scott McCarron, 2018

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information www.theallychallenge.com

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

Course Insight Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club opened in 1957, designed by James Gilmore Harrison on former farmland, with Joe Lee doing a redesign in 1967. The course was the site of the PGA TOUR’s Buick Open from 1958-69 and 1977-2009. Tiger Woods won three times, and among current PGA TOUR Champions players Vijay Singh won three and Kenny Perry two. Recently, more than 100 trees have been removed that had overgrown fairways or bunkers.

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Paul Broadhurst jumped in front of a pack of contenders with a front-nine 32 and held on for a two-stroke victory in the first year of The Ally Challenge after a closing 66. “At times it was really scrappy. The rhythm was getting quicker and quicker.

But that goes with the pressure of leading the tournament, I’m sure,” said the Englishman, who won in Michigan for the second time in 2018 following the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. Broadhurst was one of four players trailing a trio of co-leaders by one stroke through 36 holes and became the leader himself with four birdies on the first seven holes. A bogey on No. 12 briefly slowed him down, but Broadhurst made three birdies down the stretch, including the clincher on the 18th that gave him a 15-under 201 total.

Brandt Jobe was second at 203 followed by Mark O’Meara and Tom Lehman at 204.

CHARITY BENEFIT

The Ally Challenge benefits the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan and The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren Scholarship, with other organizations involved through the Birdies for Charity program.

HOW STEVE STRICKER WON Location Minnehaha Country Club, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Yardage 6,729; par 70

Tournament Record: 197, Steve Stricker, 2018

Tournament 18-hole Record 63, Steve Stricker, Jerry Smith, Brandt Jobe, 2018

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information www. sanfordinternational.com

Course Insight Minnehaha Country Club was founded at an existing nine-hole course in 1905, with the current course at a new site dating to 1922, designed by the team of William Langford and Theodore Moreau. The course has been frequently updated including redesigns by Dick Nugent in 1976 and Robert Lohmann in 2014.

The course borders the Big Sioux River on rolling terrain with tree-lined fairways.

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Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club, Grand Blanc, Mich.

HOW PAUL BROADHURST WON

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Location

Steve Stricker shared the lead after each of the first two rounds and took control with a 67 on a windy Sunday to win by four strokes. The 51-year-old shot an opening 7-under 63 to tie with Brandt Jobe and Jerry Smith, then followed with a 67 that was matched

by Jobe with Smith trailing by one after a 68. Neither of Stricker’s challengers was able to break par in the tougher conditions of the final round, Smith shooting a 70 to share second with Tim Petrovic (65) and Jobe a 72 to tie for fourth with Kevin Sutherland (67). “I came out feeling good, really comfortable,” said Stricker of a final round which he started with birdies on Nos. 1, 2 and 4. “I played the first five or six holes really solidly. [After that] I was just trying to make pars and keep moving along.”

CHARITY BENEFIT

The tournament benefits the Sanford Health Foundation, which supports programs in the Dakotas, including Children’s Miracle Network at Sanford Children’s Hospital in Fargo and Sioux Falls as well as Brave Kids Bold Cures and Cure Kids Cancer.

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

September 27-29, 2019

October 11-13, 2019

Pebble Beach: 6,864; par 72 Poppy Hills: 6,898; par 72

Tournament Record: 198, Bernhard Langer, 2017

Tournament 18-hole Record 63, Craig Stadler, 2004; Scott McCarron, Kenny Perry, 2017

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information www.pureinsurance championship.com

Course Insight Famed Pebble Beach Golf Links has been the site of major championships and a regular PGA TOUR event as well as host site of the PURE Insurance Championship.

The course was designed

by California Amateur champion Jack Neville in 1919 and has undergone numerous tweaks through the years but remains true to its original concept.

Poppy Hills, formerly in the rotation of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, is a tree-lined layout that Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed in 1986 and underwent an extensive renovation in 2013-14.

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Ken Tanigawa holed a 35foot eagle putt on the 18th hole to take a one-stroke victory at Pebble Beach. “Just wow! I’m a little speechless right now,” Tanigawa said after the fantastic finish.

“It was a hard round for me, but I fought back, and to eagle the last hole, just unreal.” Tanigawa also eagled the 18th hole of his second round, at Poppy Hills, to take a two-stroke lead after rounds of 67-66. The 50-year-old former UCLA golfer, a reinstated amateur until turning pro again after qualifying for PGA TOUR Champions, shot a 2-over 38 on the front nine Sunday and made all pars on the back nine until his eagle finish for a 72 and 11-under 205 total.

Kirk Triplett (70), a two-time winner of the event, and Marco Dawson (71) finished one stroke back at 206 and Duffy Waldorf (71) was next at 207.

CHARITY BENEFIT

Monterey Peninsula Foundation, which also hosts the AT&T Pro-Am, stages the PURE Insurance Championship to benefit The First Tee. A special aspect of the tournament is that First Tee participants from around the country are selected to partner with professionals.

Location Prestonwood Country Club, Cary, N.C.

Yardage 7,237; par 72

Tournament Record: 194, Bernhard Langer, 2018

Tournament 18-hole Record 61, Tom Kite, 2003

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information www.saschampionship.com

Course Insight Prestonwood Country Club has three courses designed

by Tom Jackson. The SAS Championship is played on a composite of the Highlands and Meadows courses. All three courses were renovated in a project completed in 2011 by Jack Nicklaus protégé Rick Robbins, a resident of Prestonwood. Robbins had the greens rebuilt to enable more hole locations, and he replaced some bunkers with collection areas and grass hollows.

HOW BERNHARD LANGER WON

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Yardage

HOW KEN TANIGAWA WON

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Location Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course, Pebble Beach, Calif.

SAS Championship

Bernhard Langer was one of three players to shoot 62 in the first round, and he outplayed the others the rest of the way as he went on to win by six strokes.

Tom Lehman and Gene Sauers also opened with 62s, Lehman falling back with a 70 in the second round while Langer and Sauers shot 67s to share the 36-hole lead.

Langer had seven birdies and no bogeys in the final round for a 65 while Sauers had a 75 and finished T5. “I just played solid all day long,” said the 61-year-old Langer after his 38th PGA TOUR Champions victory. “Putted well, hit the ball where I was looking and did everything exceptionally well.” Langer’s first round was even better, as he birdied nine of the last 10 holes on the way to his 62. On Sunday, Scott Parel closed with a 65 to claim second place while Jerry Kelly was third and Lehman fourth.

CHARITY BENEFIT

The host charity of the SAS Championship is the YMCA of the Triangle. The tournament annually contributes the single-largest donation to Y Learning, a tutorial program for students in grades K-8.

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

PURE Insurance Championship

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

October 18-20, 2019

November 1-3, 2019

Invesco QQQ Championship

Dominion Energy Charity Classic

Tournament Record: 200, Bernhard Langer, 2017

Tournament 18-hole Record 63, Kevin Sutherland, 2016; Bernhard Langer, Vijay Singh, 2017

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information www.pgatour. com/champions/ tournaments/dominioncharity-classic.html

Course Insight The Country Club of Virginia’s James River Course, one of the club’s three courses, was designed in 1928 by renowned architect William Flynn. The front nine is more low-lying, and the back nine goes up into the hills and has more undulation. The courses hosted the U.S. Amateur in 1955 and 1975. Architect Lester George oversaw a renovation in 2003-4, bringing back strategic elements of the original design while building new fourth, sixth and 18th holes.

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Woody Austin birdied the par-5 18th after his fastmoving chip shot hit the flagstick and finished six feet away, a putt that gave him a one-stroke victory over Bernhard Langer. “I always say usually the person that wins gets a break on Sunday.

That was my break,” said Austin. The 54-year-old shot a 69 in the final round to come from three strokes behind, as the top three players on the leaderboard through 36 holes all shot 74 or worse. Langer, trying to win a second consecutive start, birdied Nos. 8 and 9 and got as close as within one stroke of the lead but parred the first eight holes on the back nine and birdied 18 only after Austin’s birdie there had put him ahead by two strokes.

CHARITY BENEFIT

The tournament beneficiaries are Virginia Values Veterans, which creates employment opportunities for transitioning service members, and the Raymond Fisher House, which provides free onsite housing for military families of hospitalized veterans at the McGuire Holmes VA Hospital.

Additionally, the tournament’s Birdies for Charity program gives local charities a chance to generate contributions.

Location Sherwood Country Club, Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Yardage 7,006; par 72

Tournament Record: 203, Tom Pernice Jr., 2016

Tournament 18-hole Record 64, Tom Pernice Jr., 2016

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information www.goinvescoqqq.com

Course Insight Located in a beautiful setting at the base of the Santa Monica Mountains, Sherwood Country Club was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1989. The course makes use of the natural elements of land elevations and valleys, waterfalls, running streams and unique rock formations to make for an aesthetically rich and strategically challenging layout. The par-72 course deviates from the norm with five par-5s balanced by five par-3s. The adjoining Lake Sherwood got its name when the area was used for the filming of “Robin Hood” in 1921.

HOW SCOTT PAREL WON

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Yardage 7,025; par 72

HOW WOODY AUSTIN WON

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Location The Country Club of Virginia (James River), Richmond, Va.

Scott Parel claimed his second victory in two months—and second in his PGA TOUR Champions career—with a final-round 68 at Sherwood Country Club. “When you’re playing pretty good and hitting the ball well and playing solid, you just try to keep those positive thoughts. And when you’ve done it before, it’s easier to stay positive,” said Parel. The 53-year-old was within one stroke of the lead after both the first and second rounds, starting 67-70, with Miguel Jimenez setting the 36-hole pace at 136. Parel didn’t make a bogey in the final round while making birdies on Nos. 3, 5, 11 and 13 to post an 11-under 205 total. While Jimenez faded to a 73 for T6, Paul Goydos became the closest challenger, finishing one stroke back after a 67. Stephen Ames, David McKenzie and Kenny Perry tied for third at 208.

CHARITY BENEFIT Proceeds from the Invesco QQQ Championship support the Sherwood Cares Foundation and The First Tee of Los Angeles. Sherwood Cares supports local causes with a focus on supporting children and families in need of medical, nutritional, education and safety assistance.

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2019 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

November 7-10, 2019

HOW VIJAY SINGH WON

Location Phoenix Country Club, Phoenix, Ariz.

Yardage 6,763; par 71

Tournament Record 195, Paul Goydos, 2016

Tournament 18-hole Record 60, Jay Haas, 2012

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information www.pgatour.com/ champions/tournaments/ charles-schwab-cupchampionship.html

CHARITY BENEFIT

Through Tickets Fore Charity, the Charles Schwab Cup Championship gives local charitable organizations the opportunity to sell tickets and retain 100 percent of the proceeds.

Tournament revenues also support local charities, with a focus this year on Elevate Phoenix, Junior Golf Association of Arizona and Folds of Honor.

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COURSE INSIGHT Phoenix Country Club was founded in 1899 and moved to its current site on a course designed by Harry Collis in 1919. Located near downtown, the course has evolved from its desert roots to an urban oasis with a green landscape and tree-lined fairways. The layout was renovated in 2002 by John Fought and current PGA TOUR Champions player Tom Lehman. The course has a long history as a tournament site. Phoenix Country Club hosted the Waste Management Phoenix Open on the PGA TOUR 40 times between 1932 and 1986, and this is the third year it is hosting the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

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Charles Schwab Cup Championship

Vijay Singh opened with rounds of 67-67-67, but still found himself six strokes behind entering the final round. The 55-year-old Fijian proceeded to reel off a 61 on Sunday and ended up winning by four strokes as the leaders faded. “The way they were scoring all week, I thought if I got to 20 [under], I might finish top five,” Singh said.

“I birdied the first two, hit it close at 4. I just kept going.

I didn’t think about it much.

I didn’t even know what we were shooting.” Singh hit 17 greens in regulation and made five birdies on each nine in his 10-under round. He completed his charge to the title with birdies on Nos. 12, 13, 14, 16 and 17 to finish at 22-under 262 and claim his third victory of the year. Scott McCarron, the 54-hole leader, made two double bogeys on the way to a 72 and a T3 finish, five strokes behind, while Stephen Ames, one stroke back entering the final round, had a 73 for T5.

Tim Petrovic took second place with a closing 70 for 266. McCarron could have taken the Charles Schwab Cup season title with a victory, but instead it went to Bernhard Langer, who finished T13 but had two victories and six runner-up finishes on the year.

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the last word

Beating the Odds Canadian Corey Conners took the tough road into the Valero Texas Open, and what happened next was a storybook journey

By Bill Fields

images: PGA TOUR

A

ll professional golfers are well versed in a certain kind of math—of scorecards and leaderboards—but having graduated in 2014 from Kent State University with a degree in Actuarial Mathematics, Corey Conners is a cut above the rest.

His undergraduate education, though, doesn’t make what Conners did at the 2019 Valero Texas Open any easier.

Monday Qualifiers are a fixture at many PGA TOUR events, long-shot auditions at getting on the big stage. Sometimes called “Four Spotting” for the number of available slots into a tournament, Monday Qualifiers (aptly named for the day of the week the 18 holes are contested) are not for the timid or the tense.

Dozens enter. Four golfers advance.

If successful qualifying is difficult, parlaying that considerable achievement into a PGA TOUR victory is extremely rare.

Since the advent of the all-exempt TOUR structure in the early 1980s that left a foursome of open spots into most tournaments, only four players have gone on to win after earning a week-of spot.

Kenny Knox (The Honda Classic) and Fred Wadsworth (Southern Open) did it in 1986. Arjun Atwal pulled off the feat at the 2010 Wyndham Championship. And Conners achieved the improbable in the Lone Star State in April.

Conners, 27, from Listowel, Ontario, prevailed in a six-for-one playoff with a birdie on the first extra hole at the Monday Qualifier, “basically squeaking into the field.” Then he set about capitalizing on his opportunity at the AT&T Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio.

He had climbed the competitive ladder, spending time on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR Latinoamérica before making it onto the Web.com Tour. Conners qualified through The Finals on the Web.com Tour to play on TOUR in 2017-18 and had some bright spots as a rookie but finished 130th in the FedExCup standings to narrowly miss out on full status for 2018-19. A conditional card meant, among other things, making the most of Mondays

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as he did with a 68 at The Club at Sonterra.

At the Valero Texas Open, Conners played his way into the final starting time on Sunday for the fourth time—his best being runner-up to Cameron Champ at the Sanderson Farms Championship last fall for his first top-five TOUR finish.

Conners had a wild ride at TPC San Antonio after the start of the fourth round was delayed by two hours because of inclement weather.

He birdied four of the opening five holes— among his 10 birdies on the day and 29 for the tournament—then bogeyed four in a row as he made the turn.

With his wife, Malory, nervously rooting him on down the stretch—her animated reactions of anxiety and joy were a hit on social media— Conners regained his form to shoot 66 and finish at 20-under 268, two strokes ahead of Charley Hoffman. “She was cheering hard for me,” Corey said. “It was awesome to see.” He became the 15th Canadian to win on the PGA TOUR, the victory his first of any kind as a pro.

“Couldn’t be more excited to kind of get over the edge and get the job done,” Conners said. “There are so many perks that come with [winning], and I feel like I handled myself really well out there …”

Instead of flying home for a week off, Corey and Malory happily adjusted their travel plans to go to Augusta, Ga., his maiden win getting him an invitation to the Masters Tournament, where he tied for 46th. Wherever Conners’ career goes from here, he won’t ever forget an eventful week in San Antonio—when he got the job done twice. 

Corey Conners won the Valero Texas Open, having had a wild ride at TPC San Antonio after the start of the fourth round was delayed by two hours because of inclement weather.

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REWRITE HISTORY IN 3.96 SECONDS THE 2020 LEXUS RC F TRACK EDITION It’s time for a different path to performance. One that begins from a place of refinement. Because when you craft exhilaration with the same attention to detail you apply to crafting indulgence, you don’t merely repeat history, you write your own. Introducing the all-new 2020 Lexus RC F Track Edition, featuring a 472-horsepower1 5.0-liter V8 engine, a titanium exhaust, class-leading power-to-weight ratio,2 carbon-ceramic disc brakes3 and an RC F GT3–inspired carbon fiber rear wing. Capable of going 0 to 60 mph in a staggering 3.96 seconds.4 We didn’t settle for just a performance car; we demanded intensity with elegance, then crafted a Lexus for the track. We come from somewhere else. So we feel like nothing else. lexus.com/RCF | #LexusRCF

Options shown. 1. Ratings achieved using the required premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 or higher. If premium fuel is not used, performance will decrease. 2. 2020 RC F vs.

2018/2019 competitors. Information from manufacturers’ websites as of 12/4/2018. 3. High-friction brakes may require additional maintenance, be louder and have a shorter life than conventional brakes, depending on driving conditions. See the Warranty and Services Guide for more information. 4. AMCI Testing Certified. Ratings achieved using the required premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 or higher. If premium fuel is not used, performance will decrease. ©2019 Lexus

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