Webb Simpson sank a 6-footer to birdie his final hole for a 6-under 65 and a one-shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau and Corey Conners on Friday at the RBC Heritage.
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Nick Watney became the first player on the PGA Tour to test positive for the coronavirus and then withdrew from the RBC Heritage.
Bryson DeChambeau has added pounds -- of muscle, he'd like you to know -- in a short time. The change increased his swing speed and added length off the tee. All he has to do is point to his scores to provide proof of his plan.
June 19, 2020
We Stand United–NCGA Statement Against Racism and Injustices
The NCGA is committed to delivering our vision to ensure the game of golf is vibrant, inclusive and accessible to all. We know this is a challenging and hurtful time for many of our members and golf community.
We stand with you against racism and the injustices that have occurred.
Although we’ve made progress and are more diverse than most golf associations, there is always more that can be done to achieve equality for all.
While we can’t change the past, we can continue to work towards a better future for all our minority members, and those who have historically been excluded.
The Staysure Tour for players 50 and older announced Friday it has canceled the season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Let’s start with a statement so obvious it’s almost not worth mentioning. The only thing better than bombing a drive…is bombing a drive several yards farther.
In fact, it’s probably safe to assert that there isn’t a golfer on the planet who would turn down a bit more ball speed by simply switching drivers.
I know, “you can’t buy a game.” Blah, blah, blah. But, you can buy better technology…right?!
In our Most Wanted testing, Honma’s TR20 driver finished 4th overall and produced the 4th highest average ball speed. Moreover, Honma states that nearly every professional who has tested the TR20 has picked up speed. Prior to his departure, former staffer Justin Rose stated that Honma’s driver was 4-5 MPH faster than the comparable TaylorMade model.
Is it hyperbole or a bona fide Japanese driver that can hang with the big boys?
As galleries are kept away and likely will for most tournaments this year, the importance of sound continues to be a topic. Who knew it was this sensitive? Oh right, anyone who has dealt with modern golf pros who think they’re carrying out an NSA mission.
World No. 2 Brooks Koepka added this on the eve of the 2020 RBC Heritage at Harbour Town, reports Stephen Fastenau of the Island Packet.
Asked about his thought on players wearing microphones after his first round at the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing, Koepka didn’t hold back.
“I don’t understand why they want us to wear a mike when there’s a boom mike that stands 10 feet away from every shot that I hit,” Koepka said after opening with a 4-under-par 67 in his first start at Harbour Town Golf Links. “If the announcers would just shut up and listen, you could hear every word that we’re talking about.”
For Thursday’s Heritage first round, Adam Hadwin wore one. Besides providing several instances of insight and something different than stock, Melatonin-producing coverage, the Canadian gave us more than he ever hoped. After touching what he thought was a rock near his bunkered ball, he immediately declared it was, actually, sand. He immediately suspected he’d made a mistake and we got to hear the entire exchange with official Mark Dusbabek thanks to his microphone.
Brian Wacker with the full conversation here for GolfDigest.com.
Wendell Haskins wrote to his former employers at the PGA of America on Monday about the failed inclusion efforts while he was there.
Perhaps coincidentally, or not, Haskins was contacted by PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh Thursday after Wednesday night’s post here and, well, Waugh reports a good talk.
"I had never met Wendell so I reached out to him and had a two hour video chat. I listened carefully to his ideas and took them to heart in our ongoing efforts to make the PGA of America and the game of golf more inclusive and diverse. I appreciate the opportunity to share views and we thank him for the dialogue."
We got an update and plan of the in-progress updating of Pebble Beach’s Peter Hay Course, adjacent to the Lodge and becoming a big kids pitch and putt. Also great to see it is the plan to have a putting course.
For Immediate Release:
Pebble Beach Company and Tiger Woods release plans for reimagined short course facility at Pebble Beach
New facility will include a nine-hole par-3 short course, a putting course, and an indoor/outdoor food and beverage venue overlooking one of the Resort’s most stunning views
PEBBLE BEACH, CALIF. (June 18, 2020) – Pebble Beach Company and Tiger Woods, through his TGR Design firm, today released plans to transform the former site of Peter Hay Golf Course. Located directly between the Pebble Beach Pro Shop and Golf Academy, the new facility will include:
• A short course comprised of nine par-3 holes ranging in length from 47 to 106 yards and measuring 670 yards in total;
• A 20,000-square-foot putting course that can be set up in a variety of different hole and routing combinations; and
• A 5,000-square-foot food and beverage venue featuring a full kitchen and bar, indoor seating, and the resort’s largest outdoor patio positioned for expansive views of the short course, putting course, Carmel Bay, and Point Lobos
“We are thrilled to elevate the quality of our short course to a level consistent with our other world-class golf courses,” said Bill Perocchi, Chief Executive Officer of Pebble Beach Company. “You can see the genius of Tiger Woods and TGR Design come to life when you walk the site, the way it all fits together. I expect all aspects of this new facility will be very popular for junior golf events, Resort golfers, outings, resident hang-outs, and everything in between.”
Woods’ design philosophy for the short course is anchored on playability and creativity. His vision is that the course will draw new players to the game, bring families together, and provide a fun golf experience for players of all ages and abilities, while still offering a challenge for skilled players.
“Everyone who plays this golf course is going to enjoy the playability of it,” said Woods. “Golfers will have the choice to play nearly any club off most tees and around the greens, which will make them think and channel their creativity. It will also play differently from day to day depending on the tee and hole locations and wind direction. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I can’t wait to play it.”
In shaping the new course, Woods’ inspiration resulted in dramatic terrain movement and nine holes entirely distinct from the old course. He also reoriented the routing to better capture the views, with four holes now playing directly toward Carmel Bay.
In addition, Woods aligned each hole’s yardage to correspond with a significant year in Pebble Beach history, with accompanying plaques on each tee telling a story and creating the sense guests are walking amongst the Resort’s rich championship heritage as they play. The only exception is the course’s second hole, which will be an exact replica of the famous seventh hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Oh why not just go all 1929 in that replica while we’re at it!
“Pebble Beach is such an iconic golf destination, we want guests to feel the entirety of that spirit when they play this course. We also know not everyone who comes to Pebble Beach will have a chance to play the U.S. Open course, so we wanted to create the opportunity for all visitors to experience one of its most famous holes,” Woods added.
The Grand Opening of the entire facility is currently scheduled for the Spring of 2021.
Southern Hills
The good-things-come-to-those-who-restore movement continues as longtime USGA favorites Oak Hill and Southern Hills were awarded future championships.
Oak Hill’s two courses where Andrew Green has undertaken an East Course restoration set for a big national stage return in the 2023 PGA, with the U.S. Amateur now coming in 2027.
In 2024 Southern Hills, fresh off a Hanse Design restoration, will host the U.S. Women’s Amateur. It hosts the Senior PGA next year and the 2030 PGA.
Of course, all of this contingent upon there still being amateur golfers in the future.
On that note, For Immediate Release:
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A triple bogey in his opening round at the RBC Heritage. A string of six straight birdies. A second-nine 29 made it another interesting day for Jordan Spieth, who takes a few steps closer and a small step back toward finding his old form.
He won by 15 shots. He was 12-under par. Those are the big numbers. But there are others that are just as staggering from the week Tiger Woods defeated the entire field and golf itself.
He won by 15 shots. It was mind-blowing then. The legend of it has only grown since. But there's a secret about that tournament even Tiger didn't know until months after history was made.
Rory McIlroy says quarantine measures were well worth the trouble for European Tour players who are returning to the United States to compete on the PGA Tour.
Thanks to everyone for voting in the poll adding one key provision to questions surrounding the what to do with the 2020 Ryder Cup.
Just a reminder: most top players the Ryder Cup cannot go forward until next year without the energy of fans. Some feel it should go no matter what, some think a quieter proceeding minus running high-fives and threats of violence against family members might be more appropriate in these times, and recently, signs have suggested the best case scenario may be very limited galleries.
Yet as we learned from the AP’s Doug Ferguson, top players surveyed last week were not given the option to postpone to next year due to the PGA Tour’s unwillingness to push back the 2021 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow.
That’s why the tour went to some of the top players last week at Colonial for a survey. Players were asked to prioritize the following scenarios: a Ryder Cup this year with no fans, a Ryder Cup with half the fans or a Ryder Cup in 2022.
So the results are in and they are, frankly, surprising. Thanks to over 500 of you for voting so far.
June 18, 2020
Pebble Beach Company and Tiger Woods release plans for reimagined short course facility at Pebble Beach
New facility will include a nine-hole par-3 short course, a putting course, and an indoor/outdoor food and beverage venue overlooking one of the Resort’s most stunning views
Pebble Beach Company and Tiger Woods, through his TGR Design firm, today released plans to transform the former site of Peter Hay Golf Course. Located directly between the Pebble Beach Pro Shop and Golf Academy, the new facility will include:
A short course comprised of nine par-3 holes ranging in length from 47 to 106 yards and measuring 670 yards in total;A 20,000-square-foot putting course that can be set up in a variety of different hole and routing combinations; andA 5,000-square-foot food and beverage venue featuring a full kitchen and bar, indoor seating, and the resort’s largest outdoor patio positioned for expansive views of the short course, putting course, Carmel Bay, and Point Lobos“We are thrilled to elevate the quality of our short course to a level consistent with our other world-class golf courses,” said Bill Perocchi, Chief Executive Officer of Pebble Beach Company. “You can see the genius of Tiger Woods and TGR Design come to life when you walk the site, the way it all fits together. I expect all aspects of this new facility will be very popular for junior golf events, Resort golfers, outings, resident hang-outs, and everything in between.”
Woods’ design philosophy for the short course is anchored on playability and creativity. His vision is that the course will draw new players to the game, bring families together, and provide a fun golf experience for players of all ages and abilities, while still offering a challenge for skilled players.
If you’re trying to wrap your head around the timing of the Cobra Pars and Stripes SPEEDZONE and SPEEDZONE Xtreme drivers, remember that if not for the misery that is 2020, the best golfers in the world would be competing in the U.S. Open at Winged Foot this week.
Pars and Stripes was supposed to be Cobra’s limited-edition U.S. Open driver. But as was the case when The Masters was postponed, the schedule change has left the brand in a pickle.
What do you do now?
You could hold it for the U.S. Open. A limited-edition driver in September is infinitely more practical than an azalea print polo in November but that would push you perilously close to end of the buying season.
With elite players like Tommy Fleetwood, Francesco Molinari and Lee Westwood opting to sit out the PGA Tour’s restart, I didn’t expect anyone to question their decision to stay home. Particularly given travel constraints and the two-week quarantine time (each way) for British golfers. And then there is the restarted in two COVID-19 hotspots (Texas and parts of South Carolina) and in a country with the runaway lead in positive tests.
Rory McIlroy, however, was asked in his pre-RBC Heritage Zoom conference and leveled a pretty harsh rebuke of his European Tour peers, reports Gareth Hanna of the Belfast Telegraph.
“If I were in their shoes and I was asked to come over to the States and quarantine for two weeks before these tournaments, I would have done that,” he said.
“If you really care about your career and care about moving forward, you should be here, I think. Last week was 70 World Ranking points for the winner, this week 74.
“I get there are different variables and families involved, but we all have the means to rent a very nice house in a gated community in Florida. It’s not a hardship for two weeks to come over and quarantine.”
McIlroy passed up the 2016 Olympics over concerns about the Zika virus.
