Golfing News & Blog Articles

Tyler Strafaci and Charles Osborne advanced to the U.S. Amateur final Saturday at Bandon Dunes to earn spots next year in the Masters and U.S. Open. Sunday's winner also earns a spot in The Open in 2021.

I’ll admit it’s the links golf. Deprived of a proper links season, we have an epic day ahead this Sunday book-ended by links golf (and yes purists, I’m aware neither is technically a links).

I know I don’t have to tell you about the Wyndham Rewards runner-up race and Playoff(C) ramifications Sunday at soggy Sedgefield. Frankly, I just don’t want to add any stress in your life.

So let’s focus on the “other” golf. In the pandemic era this one is set up to be a doozy.

If you’re up at 5 am ET, Golf Channel will have the European Tour finale where a 2017 Walker Cupper, Conor Syme, leads a teammate, Sam Horsfield. Beef, now comfortable playing in a COVID-19 world, is lurking.

Easily the most compelling Sunday leaderboard can be found at a firmer, faster Renaissance Club in lovely Gullane, and other than the creepy Aberdeen Standard adverts on the tees, the final round on Golf Channel runs from 7-11 am ET.

While Bandon Dunes hosts the U.S. Amateur, this happened over at the Sheep Ranch. We’ll take their word for it on the ball going in giving the quality of the reactions. A putter at 16 to make 1:

Amazing golf isn't just being played on #BandonDunes in the #USAmateur this week, it's also being played on #SheepRanch. Check out this ace by @the4koehnkes (IG) on No. 16 with her putter! The boys on Bandon may want to take notes on playing the ground game more often. 😉 @USGA pic.twitter.com/hvaAuqzn72

— Bandon Dunes (@BandonDunesGolf) August 15, 2020

Si Woo Kim takes a two-stroke lead into Sunday’s Wyndham final round, but it’s the two shots he hit while tape rolled (or things were beamed to the Cloud…you get the idea).

After an ace at Sedgefield’s third, Kim had a chance for another as predicted by Jim Nantz.

The next obvious question was answered by Brian Wacker at GolfDigest.com:

Only three other players on tour have ever made two aces in one round, with Brian Harman the last to do so at the 2015 Barclays. Kim, meanwhile, will have to instead settle for a two-shot lead as he tries to pick up his third career victory on Sunday.

Jerry Kelly bogeyed two of the last four holes for another even-par 70, leaving him with a one-shot lead Saturday in the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship.

Si Woo Kim thinks he's playing like he did four years ago when he earned his first PGA Tour victory at the Wyndham Championship.

Connor Syme carded a bogey-free 63 to take the lead heading into the final day.

Spain's Azahara Munoz carded a two-under-par 69 on Saturday to take the lead into Sunday's final day.

Here’s a lede from the Akron Beacon-Journal’s Marla Ridenour I wouldn’t have seen coming a few years ago:

Reacquainting himself with Pilates and focused on losing weight during the coronavirus lockdown, Colin Montgomerie admitted he gave up his favorite foods.

Anyhow, if you haven’t seen of the Senior Players, Monty is one off the 36 hole lead and preaching about his impressive transformation. Bryson’s diet, it is not. The goals are also different:

Montgomerie said he chose Pilates because he believes it will extend his career.

“Flexibility is going to stop us,” he said. “It’s what stopped Nick Faldo, it’s what stopped Seve [Ballesteros] in his later years. It stopped Ian Woosnam, really. It stopped Sandy [Lyle] many times. There’s only one of that top five that’s kept going, and it’s Bernhard [Langer]. And I don’t know what all he does.

“But flexibility will stop us playing the game. I’m very lucky, I’m very flexible, but I’ve got to keep it.”

If you aren’t familiar with the National Links Trust and their efforts to resurrect rundown muni’s of architectural merit, you can read about them here. They are currently auctioning off some sensational golf for those with the means to overpay to play a classic or with an influencer.

You can see the full list of rounds donated for the latest auction here.

For those with the opportunity, three that still looked like good deals to me: Ridgewood, Somerset and Wannamoisett.

Oklahoma State's Aman Gupta will face Matthew Sharpstene, who is transferring to Charlotte, in a U.S. Amateur semifinal at Baron Dunes on Saturday, with Georgia Tech's Tyler Strafaci and SMU's Charles Osborne meeting in the other semifinal.

Tom Hoge maintained a share of the lead Friday at the Wyndham Championship alongside Si Woo Kim, Talor Gooch and Billy Horschel.

A little more than 60% of sports fans agree that they are "happy to have some sports to watch as an escape," but they're not sure how long it will last amid the coronavirus pandemic according to a survey of 837 adults conducted by TideWatch for ESPN.

Jerry Kelly "turned an 80 into a 70" at Firestone and is the only player under par at the midway point of the Senior Players Championship, leading by 3 strokes.

null

Segundo Oliva Pinto said caddie Brant Brewer "was in tears, heartbroken" after the caddie made a mistake on the 18th hole that would cost the golfer his U.S. Amateur match. Said Pinto: "I told him that if I can forgive him, everyone can forgive him."

American golfer Stacy Lewis shot a 5-under 66 for the lowest round of the week at the Ladies Scottish Open to take a share of the lead with Azahara Munoz after the second round on Friday.

Sam Horsfield kept up his excellent form since the resumption of the European Tour by shooting 7-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Celtic Classic on Friday.

Tiger Woods has entered the Northern Trust, but he will need a strong showing at TPC Boston to advance to the second tournament of the FedEx Cup playoffs.

What’s the REAL cost to make a $500 driver? Also, just how honest are golf advertisements?

2:34  – The true cost of making a $500 driver7:51  – How much does a shaft upgrade really cost?10:12  – Manufacturer vs. Retail Earnings17:35  – Golf Marketing & Truth in Advertising23:26  – The DFL List

Watch Now

Also available on:

iTunesSoundcloud

and all major podcast apps.

 

The post The TRUE Cost of a $500 Driver appeared first on MyGolfSpy.