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Meet
Liam A 3-year-old boy’s difficulty walking leads to a startling diagnosis. When little Liam started having issues with his balance and fine motor skills, his concerned parents took him to have it checked out. They never could have imagined that their quick action would save their son’s life. Doctors at Wolfson Children’s Hospital found the unexpected source of Liam’s symptoms: a large brain tumor and excess fluid. Liam was rushed into surgery so his pediatric neurosurgeons could relieve the severe pressure in his brain. During a complex 17-hour surgery, Liam’s team with Wolfson Children’s Hospital Neuroscience Institute removed the majority of the tumor, carefully avoiding his brain stem and surrounding nerves that, if injured, could have caused paralysis and hearing loss. When healthy, energetic Liam had sudden difficulty walking, his parents never
Since the surgery, the remainder of Liam’s tumor has been well controlled with chemotherapy. With physical therapy, his balance continues to improve and his parents are grateful for the care he’s receiving.
imagined their little boy would begin (and then win) the fight of his young life.
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Wolfson Children’s Hospital is ranked as one of the 50 Best Children’s Hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report.
10/04/2015 15:40
Jacksonville, Florida
Wolfson Children’s Hospital
Kids like Liam benefit from the unique collaboration of nationally and internationally recognized pediatric physicians and organizations that comprise Wolfson Children’s Hospital Neuroscience Institute: Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, Jacksonville, the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute and the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville. Our team approach enables us to bring together the expertise every child and family deserves when faced with a life-changing neurological diagnosis. Bringing together the expertise of world-class pediatric specialists in neurology, neurosurgery, endovascular surgery, radiation oncology, neuro-oncology and physiatry, Wolfson Children’s Hospital Neuroscience Institute offers specialized care for the most complex neurological conditions. Areas of expertise include:
Children who come to Wolfson Children’s Hospital Neuroscience Institute have access to advanced technologies, clinical research protocols, patient and family-centered pediatric health care facilities and collaborative expertise for the best possible outcomes. Unique aspects of our care include:
1
Highest volume pediatric proton therapy program in the world, providing radiation that precisely targets cancer cells and preserves brain tissue.
• Brachial Plexus Conditions • Cerebrovascular Conditions • Epilepsy • Neuro-Oncology
2
iMRI and iCT Real-time imaging used during brain or spine surgery for the greatest precision of treatment.
3
Team approach
• Spasticity • Sleep Disorders • Spine Conditions Learn more about the Wolfson Children’s Hospital Neuroscience Institute at wolfsonchildrens.org/neuro, 904.633.0780 or neuroscience@bmcjax.com.
800 Prudential Drive Jacksonville, Florida 32207 904.633.0780 wolfsonchildrens.org/neuro
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Proton therapy
If your child is diagnosed with a condition requiring neuroscience care, the team of experienced and caring doctors, nurses and staff at Wolfson Children’s Hospital is ready to help. Wolfson Children’s Hospital Neuroscience Institute relies on the generosity of donors to provide life-saving care to kids like Liam. To support Wolfson Children’s Hospital, visit wolfsonchildrens.org/waystogive.
10/04/2015 15:41
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commissioner’s message
From the Commissioner
image: getty images
W
hat a year it was. The 2014-15 PGA TOUR season proved to be one of the most exciting and successful in recent memory, highlighted by young stars commanding the headlines with regularity as 14 players under the age of 30 accounted for 24 victories. This youth movement was led by Jordan Spieth who, at age 22, became the youngest FedExCup champion and earned Player of the Year honors after winning five times, including the Masters and U.S. Open, before sealing the FedExCup with his win at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. There was also Jason Day, only 27, claiming four of his five victories in a nine-week stretch, including his first major at the PGA Championship and then The Barclays and BMW Championship during the FedExCup Playoffs. Rickie Fowler, also 27, followed his memorable playoff victory at THE PLAYERS with a FedExCup Playoff win at the Deutsche Bank Championship, and Rory
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McIlroy, 26, won twice before being sidelined by injury. By season’s end, Jordan (1), Jason (2), Rory (3) and Rickie (5) were all ranked among the top five players in the world. It wasn’t all about youth however, as veterans such as 39-year-old Zach Johnson won his second career major at The Open Championship and Davis Love III captured his 21st career title at age 51 at the Wyndham Championship. It became must-see TV, must-access Digital, and must-follow social media as fan consumption increased significantly and new options such as our PGA TOUR LIVE digital subscription product offering live early-round featured pairings proved to be a great success. The Champions Tour was compelling in its own right, with one of the most competitive Schwab Cups we have seen, as Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie and Jeff Maggert remained in contention
to the very end, before Langer claimed his record third trophy. The 2016 season will add an extra element of excitement as we introduce a new three-tournament playoff system to determine the Schwab Cup champion. The Web.com Tour continues to introduce new talent to the PGA TOUR with 23-year-old Argentinian Emiliano Grillo, who immediately followed his 2015 Web.com Tour Championship victory with his first PGA TOUR win at the season-opening Frys.com Open. Emiliano, in fact, won on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica in 2014, which points to the growing success that Tour, MacKenzie TourPGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR China are having in identifying and advancing world-wide talent to the Web.com Tour. It was a great year, for sure, and signals tremendous promise for the future. ■ Tim Finchem, PGA TOUR Commissioner PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1 9
23/11/2015 10:01
Grace was born with congenital heart disease, but Wolfson Children’s Hospital is helping her overcome it.
World-class care, just for kids. If your child has a serious health condition, you want the best possible care. That’s what nationally recognized Wolfson Children’s Hospital provides. Our compassionate, highly skilled pediatric subspecialists, nurses, and staff work together with patient families to help children overcome serious illnesses like heart defects, neurological conditions, and brain tumors. Using the latest innovations combined with the power of collaboration to improve children’s lives — that’s changing health care for good.
Wolfson Children Hospital of North Florida relies on the generosity of donors to provide life-saving care to all children regardless of their ability to pay. To support Wolfson Children’s Hospital, visit wolfsonchildrens.org/waystogive.
Jacksonville, Florida wolfsonchildrens.org
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contents
Welcome
images: us pga tour/ getty images
from the editor
Regardless of the sport, some seasons are better—more thrilling, more meaningful, more of a harbinger of change—than others. For the PGA TOUR, the 2014-15 schedule was one of those, a year of achievement and excitement in which a new wave of talent showed that it is as formidable as any group of young players ever to populate golf’s elite stage. To be sure there is still room for wonderful golfers in their 30s or 40s on the TOUR—Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson, for example, aren’t going anywhere—but throughout much of last season, players in their 20s were paving the way with a winning flair. In this edition of the PGA TOUR Essential Guide, which looks ahead to the first half of the 2015-16 season as well as recapping what happened in the season that wrapped up with the the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola in September, the impact of these fresh, skilled golfers will be clear. Jordan Spieth, all of 22 years old, led this young and relentless collection of players who don’t need much seasoning before they succeed at the highest level of the sport. All the Texan did in 2015 was put together a season that stands with the best in golf history. (See “The Last Word,” p.193.) Spieth’s dominating victory in the Masters, nail-biting triumph at the U.S. Open and season-capping win at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola were the highlights of a five-win season that saw him become the champion of the FedExCup and voted Player of the Year by his peers. And it wasn’t just Spieth. Daniel Berger, another 22-year-old, finished 11th in the FedExCup standings and won Rookie of the Year honors. Rickie Fowler, 26, captured THE PLAYERS Championship in one of the most exciting conclusions in the event’s history. Fowler played his last six holes of the final round 6 under and, after an aggregate playoff with Sergio Garcia and Kevin Kisner, beat Kisner with another birdie on the island-green 17th hole. For 27-year-old Australian Jason Day, 2014-15 was a breakthrough season that included a record-setting (20 under par) major victory in the PGA Championship, the zenith of a five-win year that included two triumphs in the FedExCup Playoffs (The Barclays and BMW Championship). Spieth, Day, Fowler and Rory McIlroy—who won twice despite missing a chunk of the season with an ankle injury—are the young headliners, but heading into the 2015-16 season they have company in players such as Brooks Koepka, Hideki Matsuyama and Patrick Reed. Another batch of Web.com Tour graduates will be on the heels of these proven PGA TOUR players, ready to make their own mark. These ingredients make the promise of the forthcoming season as appealing as the record of the last one. Bill Fields, Editor Fairfield, Conn. w w w.pgatour.com
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Essential Guide
contents Introductions 9
Commissioner Tim Finchem’s Welcome
11
Editor’s Welcome, Bill Fields
FEATURES 20
PGA TOUR 2015-16 Tournament Schedule
23
Champions Tour 2016 Schedule
24
FedExCup: A Season to Savor Jordan Spieth became the FedExCup’s youngest champion with a victory at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, capping a dramatic 2014-15 season in which the PGA TOUR’s youth movement was often center stage
32
The Presidents Cup 2015
36
The Champions Tour: Special Encore
38
Web.com Tour: From Strength to Strength
The biennial contest between the United States and International teams was so close it was a battle of nerves to the final hole of the matches, when the stakes couldn’t have been higher
Winning the Charles Schwab Cup for the second year in a row, Bernhard Langer makes history on the Champions Tour by becoming the first player to win the season-long points competition three times
All distinguished golfers agree that the Web.com Tour provides an incomparable experience for aspiring PGA TOUR members to learn how to be a true professional, both on and off the course
44
Three International PGA TOURs As the 2015 professional golf season closes and the 2016 approaches, we look back at the recent worldwide events that are the three International PGA TOURs—PGA TOUR China, Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR Latinoamérica PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1 11
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CONTENTS Bubba Watson
Rickie Fowler
Henrik Stenson
52
Numbers Game 2014-15
58
Young Players: The Young and Relentless
69
193
Thanks to ShotLink’s exhaustive measurements, statistics can help explain how the PGA TOUR’s best go about their work
IMAGES: US PGA TOUR/ GETTY IMAGES
98
World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions Sheshan International Golf Club, Shanghai, China, November 5-8
Sanderson Farms Championship Country Club of Jackson, Jackson, Miss., November 5-9
101
OHL Classic at Mayakoba
Travel Section
104
The RSM Classic
From Bermuda to California to Hawaii, we take a look at some of the most spectacular holiday resorts with golf in mind
The Last Word: Rare Air What will Jordan Spieth’s encore be after putting together one of the finest seasons in PGA TOUR history?
107
A pair of new title sponsors bringing their events to new courses highlights the first part of the 2015-16 PGA TOUR schedule
2015
89
Shriners Hospitals For Children Open
92
CIMB Classic
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2016 Hyundai Tournament of Champions The Plantation Course at Kapalua, Kapalua, Haw., January 7-10
114
CareerBuilder Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation
Waialae Country Club, Honolulu, Haw., January 14-17
PGA WEST, La Quinta, Calif., January 21-24
116 118
Farmers Insurance Open Torrey Pines Golf Course, San Diego, Calif., January 28-31
Waste Management Phoenix Open TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Ariz., February 4-7
120
AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
124
Northern Trust Open
127
The Honda Classic
TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nev., October 22-25
Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 29-November 1
Sea Island Resort, St. Simons Island, Ga., November 19-22
Sony Open in Hawaii
Frys.com Open Silverado Resort & Spa, Napa, Calif., October 15-18
Mayakoba Resort, Playa del Carmen, November 12-16
111
The New Season Ahead by David Barrett
PGA TOUR EVENTS 86
94
As the 2014-15 season demonstrated, a youth movement is in high gear on the PGA TOUR. Here are 14 players under 30 who are leading the way
TOURNAMENTS: THE NEW SEASON 2015-16 85
Rory McIlroy
Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, Calif., February 11-14
Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, Calif., February 18-21
PGA National Resort & Spa, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., February 25-28 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
13
01/12/2015 16:25
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CONTENTS
Jordan Spieth
Graeme McDowell
130
Jason Day
World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship Trump National Doral, Trump Blue Monster, Doral, Fla., March 3-6
135 138
THE PLAYERS Championship
172
AT&T Byron Nelson
174
Colonial National Invitational Tournament
177
the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide
Valspar Championship Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, Palm Harbor, Fla., March 10-13
Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard Bay Hill Club and Lodge, Orlando, Fla., March 17-20
140
168
IMAGES: US PGA TOUR/ GETTY IMAGES
146
Puerto Rico Open Coco Beach Golf & Country Club, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, March 24-27
TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas, Irving, Tex., May 19-22
Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Tex., May 26-29
Muirfield Village Golf Club, June 2-5
World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Austin Country Club, Austin, Tex., March 23-27
144
TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., May 12-15
181
2015
SAS Championship Prestonwood Country Club, Cary, N.C., October 9-11
Shell Houston Open
San Antonio Championship
Golf Club of Houston, Humble, Tex., March 31-April 3
TPC San Antonio (AT&T Canyons Course), San Antonio, Tex., October 16-18
151
Masters Tournament
158
RBC Heritage
Newport Beach Country Club, Newport Beach, Calif., October 30-November 1
Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island, S.C., April 14-17
Charles Schwab Cup Championship
Valero Texas Open
Desert Mountain Club, Scottsdale, Ariz. November 5-8
160
Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Ga., April 7-10
TPC San Antonio (AT&T Oaks Course), San Antonio, Tex., April 21-24
163
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
166
Wells Fargo Championship
TPC Louisiana, Avondale, La., April 28-May 1
Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, N.C., May 5-8
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182
Toshiba Classic
2016
183 Mitsubishi Electric Championship
Hualalai GC, Ka’upulehu-Kona, Haw., January 21-23
Allianz Championship The Old Course at Broken Sound, Boca Raton, Fla., February 5-7 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
15
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CONTENTS
Colin Montgomerie Bernhard Langer
Publisher & CEO Kevin J. Harrington Managing Editor Charles Ford Editor Bill Fields Tournament Editor David Barrett Sub Editor Samantha Coles Senior Designer Friyan Mehta Editorial Assistant Hannah Cook Production Director Joanna Harrington Production & Administration Iain Wilson Nimar Uddin Official PGA TOUR Essential Guide 2015-16, Part 1 is published by BH Sports under license from PGA TOUR, Inc. Tel: (312) 572 7728 Email: tourgolf@bhsports.net
Miguel Angel Jimenez
© BH Sports, 2015-16. All rights reserved.
Duffy Waldorf
185 The ACE Group Classic The TwinEagles Club (Talon), Naples, Fla., February 12-14
Tucson Conquistadores Classic Omni Tucson National Resort (Catalina), Tucson, Ariz., March 18-20
186 Mississippi Gulf Resort
Classic Presented by C Spire Fallen Oak, Biloxi, Miss., April 1-3
Insperity Invitational The Woodlands Country Club, The Woodlands, Tex., May 6-8
191 Regions Tradition
Greystone Golf & Country Club, Birmingham, Ala., May 19-22
Senior PGA Championship Presented by KitchenAid The Golf Club at Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor, Mich., May 26-29
All material in the Official PGA TOUR Essential Guide, 2015-16 Part 1 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, Director of Public Relations, PGA TOUR Business; Kara Terwilliger, Director, Corporate Marketing; J.R. Bourne, Manager, Corporate Marketing N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5 - M AY 2 0 1 6
PGA TOUR O
F
Golf at Big Cedar Lodge
Top of the Rock Par 3, Buffalo Ridge, Ridgedale, Mo., April 22-24
16
PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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C
I
A
L
THE NEW SEASON AHEAD
FedExCup Charles Schwab Cup Web.com Tour
OVERVIEWS 2015 FedExCup Winner PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada PGA TOUR China The Presidents Cup 2015 J A S O N D AY
RICKIE FOWLER
YOUNG PLAYERS Making Their Mark
GOLF & TRAVEL
BERNHARD LANGER
188 Bass Pro Shops Legends of
I
ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO GOLF
Mitsubishi Electric Classic TPC Sugarloaf, Duluth, Ga., April 15-17
F
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PAT T O N K I Z Z I R E
Display until March 28, 2016
02/12/2015 08:35
COVER: Official PGA TOUR Essential Guide 2015-16 Part 1 (Center) FedExCup champion/Player of the Year Jordan Spieth (Top left) 5-time winner Jason Day (Top right) THE PLAYERS champion Rickie Fowler (Bottom left) Charles Schwab Cup champion Bernhard Langer (Bottom right) Web.com Tour Player of the Year Patton Kizzire
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Š 2015 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Westin and its logo are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates. *3pm late checkout based on availability.
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Tournament schedules DATE
TOURNAMENT/TELEVISION
GOLF COURSE
LOCATION
OCT 12-18
Frys.com Open Golf
Silverado Resort and Spa
Napa, CA
19-25
Shriners Hospitals for Children Open Golf
TPC Summerlin
Las Vegas, NV
NOV 26-1
CIMB Classic Golf
Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2-8
World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions Golf
Sheshan International Golf Club
Shanghai, China
2-8
Sanderson Farms Championship Golf
Country Club of Jackson
Jackson, MS
9-15
OHL Classic at Mayakoba Golf
El Camaleon Golf Club at the Mayakoba Resort
Playa del Carmen, MX
16-22
The RSM Classic Golf
Sea Island Resort
St. Simons Island, GA
JAN 4-10
Hyundai Tournament of Champions Golf
Kapalua Resort
Kapalua, HI
11-17
Sony Open in Hawaii Golf
Waialae Country Club
Honolulu, HI
18-24
CareerBuilder Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation Golf
PGA WEST
La Quinta, CA
25-31
Farmers Insurance Open Golf/CBS
Torrey Pines Golf Course
La Jolla, CA
FEB 1-7
Waste Management Phoenix Open Golf/NBC
TPC Scottsdale
Scottsdale, AZ
8-14
AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Golf/CBS
Monterey Peninsula Country Club Pebble Beach, CA
15-21
Northern Trust Open Golf/CBS
Riviera Country Club
Pacific Palisades, CA
22-28
The Honda Classic Golf/NBC
PGA National
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
MARCH 29-6
World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship Golf/NBC
Trump National Doral
Doral, FL
7-13
Valspar Championship Golf/NBC
Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club
Palm Harbor, FL
14-20
Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard Golf/NBC
Bay Hill Golf Club and Lodge
Orlando, FL
21-27
World Golf Championships – Dell Match Play Golf/NBC
Austin Country Club
Austin, TX
21-27
Puerto Rico Open Golf
Coco Beach Golf and Country Club Rio Grande, Puerto Rico
APRIL 28-3
Shell Houston Open Golf/NBC
Golf Club of Houston
Humble, TX
4-10
Masters Tournament ESPN/CBS
Augusta National Golf Club
Augusta, GA
11-17
RBC Heritage Golf/CBS
Harbour Town Golf Links
Hilton Head Island, SC
18-24
Valero Texas Open Golf/CBS
TPC San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
MAY 25-1
Zurich Classic of New Orleans Golf/CBS
TPC Louisiana
New Orleans, LA
2-8
Wells Fargo Championship Golf/CBS
Quail Hollow Club
Charlotte, NC
9-15
THE PLAYERS Championship Golf/NBC
TPC Sawgrass
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
16-22
AT&T Byron Nelson Golf/CBS
Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas
Irving, TX
23-29
Colonial National Invitational Tournament Golf/CBS
Colonial Country Club
Fort Worth, TX
MAY 30-5 JUNE
the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Golf/CBS
Muirfield Village Golf Club
Dublin, OH
20 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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image: michael clemmer
PGA TOUR® 2015-16
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SCHEDULES 2015
Champions Tour® 2016 TOURNAMENT/TELEVISION
GOLF COURSE
LOCATION
JAN 21-23
Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai Golf
Hualalai Golf Course
Ka’upulehu-Kona, Haw.
FEB 5-7
Allianz Championship Golf
The Old Course at Broken Sound
Boca Raton, Fla.
12-14
ACE Group Classic Golf
The TwinEagles Club
Naples, Fla.
MARCH 18-20
Tucson Conquistadores Classic Golf
Omni Tucson National Resort
Tucson, Ariz.
APRIL 1-3
Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic Golf presented by C Spire Golf
Fallen Oak
Biloxi, Miss.
15-17
Mitsubishi Electric Classic Golf
TPC Sugarloaf
Duluth, Ga.
22-24
Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge Golf
Top of the Rock/Buffalo Ridge
Ridgedale, Mo.
MAY 6-8
Insperity invitational Championship Golf
The Woodlands Country Club
The Woodlands, Tex.
19-22
Regions Tradition Golf
Greystone Golf & Country Club
Birmingham, Ala.
22-25
Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid Golf/ NBC
The Golf Club at Harbor Shores
Benton Harbor, Mich.
image: US PGA TOUR IMAGEs: US PGA TOUR
DATE
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COVER STORY
A SEASON TO SAVOR Coming to the forefront of the game has been the young talent that, throughout the season, often put the PGA TOUR’s youth movement center stage By Bill Fields
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hen Jordan Spieth won the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, a memorable PGA TOUR season came to an appropriate conclusion. Spieth’s four-stroke victory over Danny Lee, Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Ga., propelled the 22-year-old Texan to the top of the FedExCup standings as the youngest champion in the competition’s nine years as well as of the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, first held in 1987. It was Spieth’s fifth win of a historic season, a triumph that allowed him to set a PGA TOUR earnings record of $12,030,465 plus a $10 million bonus for claiming the FedExCup. That Spieth made history as the season ended was logical because he made headlines throughout it. The TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and FedExCup victories were 24
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COVER STORY
a fitting exclamation point on a campaign that included two major titles and won’t soon be forgotten. “It’s been a phenomenal year for him,” said Stenson, who finished No. 2 in the FedExCup while in a pairing with Spieth in the final round at East Lake. “I watched it firsthand at the first two rounds at Augusta, and he played phenomenal and putted phenomenal. And it was the same putting display, really, today—just an exhibition on the greens to be honest. It’s just tip your hat: The best player won the tournament, won the FedExCup.” While Spieth’s fellow Texan, Jimmy Walker, 36, took early command of the FedExCup with victories at the Sony Open in Hawaii and the Valero Texas Open—defeating Spieth at the latter—Spieth asserted himself by winning the Masters in record-tying (18-under par), wireto-wire fashion. The following month it was Rickie Fowler’s turn to shine at THE PLAYERS Championship and put himself in the FedExCup mix. There have been plenty of dramatic Sunday afternoons over w w w.pgatour.com
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the decades on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, but Fowler’s performance was one for the ages. Emerging from a crowded leaderboard (30 players within five strokes after 54 holes), Fowler finished the fourth round in record style, playing the last four holes in 5-under to earn a spot in a three-hole aggregate playoff with Sergio Garcia and Kevin Kisner. Still deadlocked with Kisner, Fowler then won with a birdie when the duo returned to the par-3 17th hole. Including the playoff, Fowler played his final 10 holes in 8-under—the type of bold, spectacular golf that was often on display through the 2014-15 season. A month later in the U.S. Open, Spieth returned to the forefront of the game’s young talent by winning a taut contest over Dustin Johnson at difficult Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash. Not since Gene Sarazen in 1922 had a younger man captured two majors. And the trend was far from over. Spieth and Day closely battled Open Championship
Daniel Berger, only 22, won TOUR Rookie of the Year honors.
Facing page (top): Henrik Stenson birdied the last hole of the TOUR Championship en route to a T2 as well as second place in the FedExCup. Facing page (bottom): Rickie Fowler claimed THE PLAYERS Championship thanks to a dramatic finish.
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COVER STORY
Jordan Spieth won five times and is the youngest FedExCup champion.
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Barclays (won by Day) and the Deutsche Bank Championship (won by Fowler). Spieth improved to a T13 finish at the BMW Championship, but Day, with his fourth victory in six tournaments, went into the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola No. 1 in the FedExCup Standings and No. 1 in the World Rankings. “It’s a good position to be in,” Day said before play began at East Lake. “It’s good pressure to have.” How well was the 27-year-old Australian playing in the FedExCup Playoffs? Day’s six-stroke victory at The Barclays was capped with a 62. At the BMW Championship, he opened with a 61. Twenty-eight of Day’s last 36 rounds of the season were under par.
Left: Jimmy Walker’s Sony Open in Hawaii victory was one of two for the Texan in 2015. Right: Rickie Fowler’s popular win at THE PLAYERS Championship typified the impact of a new generation of young players. IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES
winner Zach Johnson on the Old Course at St. Andrews. Then at the PGA Championship it was Day’s turn to shine and capture his first major after a number of close calls. Day’s record-setting (20-under par) victory at Whistling Straits was the sixth of the last seven majors won by a player in his 20s. “It just shows that in the biggest stages we’re fearless and we embrace the opportunity,” Spieth said of himself and his contemporaries. “You obviously need a bit of luck, but luck comes from believing luck will come. Luck comes from a self-belief that you have the ability to close the deal out.” Uncharacteristically Spieth experienced a lull in the FedExCup Playoffs, missing the cut at The
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COVER STORY
Day arrived at East Lake with 6,680 points in The Playoffs, with Spieth (4,392), Fowler (3,958), Stenson (3,632) and Bubba Watson (3,609) completing the top five, with each player being able to finish on top with a season-ending victory. Stenson started strong, opening with a 63 and following it with a 68 to take a threestroke lead over Spieth after 36 holes. But the Swede followed with consecutive rounds of 72, providing an opening for Spieth, who took the 54-hole lead with a Saturday 68 and ended a dream season in winning fashion by shooting a final-round 69. “I think the state of the game is in a phenomenal place,” Spieth said. “It’s cool to be a part of the conversation and as long as I can stay part of the big whatever, then I’m doing my job on the course. So it’s very cool. It’s cool to have guys battle it out in the biggest stages and not be scared of each other.” Spieth defeated Stenson by 1,493 points to win the FedExCup, followed by Day, Fowler and Watson. “The fact that there’s been such a high level [of play] from numerous guys, it’s cool,” Spieth said after winning at East Lake. “We push each other. None of us want to lose to the other. We all want to beat the crud out of each other. But we respect each other and we respect each other’s games.” And for the way they played in 2014-15, the PGA TOUR’s finest also earned a lot of respect from those who watched. 28 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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Fans reacted to Henrik Stenson’s long birdie putt on the final hole of the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola.
Jason Day, who matched Jordan Spieth’s five victories, is battling for golf’s No. 1 spot.
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13/11/2015 09:47
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THE PRESIDENTS CUP
The Presidents Cup 2015 The biennial contest between the United States and International teams was so close it was a battle of nerves to the final hole of the matches, when the stakes couldn’t have been higher By Dave Shedloski
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he 11th edition of The Presidents Cup, at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon City, South Korea, ended much the same as the previous 10, with the team from the United States holding the large gold trophy on Sunday night. But the journey was one of the most fascinating in the series and certainly the most competitive in more than a decade. Only the 2003 edition in South Africa, which ended in a tie, was more closely contested. That year, after 34 matches and three extra
holes between Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, the two sides couldn’t separate themselves and shared the Cup. Playing for team and pride This one was nearly that close. It came down to the last hole of the last match, with Bill Haas of the U.S. and Sangmoon Bae, a Koreanborn rookie representing the Internationals, battling their nerves and each other. Each endured pressures beyond playing for team and pride. Haas was a captain’s pick,
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and the captain happened to be his father, Jay. Bae, born in nearby Dae Gu, was competing in front of his countrymen. The stakes (and shakes) couldn’t have been higher, and the two acquitted themselves splendidly. Haas hung on for a 2-up victory, and the U.S. hung on to The Presidents Cup with a 15½ to 14½ triumph to improve its record to 9-1-1. But in the realm of winwin propositions, this one qualified from both sides of the aisle.
Captain Jay Haas and his American team pose with the trophy after a hardearned win. Bubba Watson reacts during the dramatic finalday singles session.
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THE PRESIDENTS CUP Far Left: Fans turned out in big numbers, even in the rain.
Special moment: Jay Haas (left) and son Bill, who played a pivotal role in the outcome. Australian Jason Day was part of the International effort.
Holding back the tears Jay Haas fought back tears after his son scored the winning point in a match that he thought might not matter after the U.S. held the lead early in nine singles matches. “I couldn’t even have dreamt this,” he said emotionally. Later, he marveled at the whole week. “It’s hard to do much better than this. There was great golf start to finish by both teams … but I’m glad it worked out the way it did.” Putting on a show “I don’t think it could have got a whole lot more exciting than that,” International captain Nick Price added in agreement. “I can’t tell you what it’s like to bring eight countries together, six different languages, different cultures. ... They bonded, and I’ll tell you what: I’m so proud. Irrelevant of the outcome— we obviously would have loved to have won—we put on a show of golf this week.” U.S.’s special moments Indeed, and while each of the 24 golfers had a hand
in the scoring, there were special moments supplied by a handful of players that deserve recognition. For the U.S., start with Phil Mickelson, Jay Haas’ other captain’s pick. Lefty, who has never missed The Presidents Cup, tied with Zach Johnson for top American scorer, going 3-0-1. Mickelson holed out from off the green three times in four days, including a spectacular 142-yard wedge shot from out of a bunker at the par-4 12th hole on Friday. Mickelson, 45, scored the second-most points by a captain’s pick in Presidents Cup history, and he assisted on further scoring by letting teammates rub his belly for good luck before they embarked on their matches. Now that’s a selfless player. Johnson, who won the 2015 Open Championship at St. Andrews, also deserves a nod for his 3-0-1 mark, teaming with Mickelson for 2½ points and then pulling off a bit of an upset in stopping Australia’s Jason Day, 3 and 2, in singles. Sure, they each won a major this summer, but Day had been on some
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kind of run late in the year with four wins (including the PGA Championship) in his last seven starts. And then how about a hand for J.B. Holmes? He replaced injured Jim Furyk at the last minute and teamed with Bubba Watson to win 2½ points. The next man up was solid. Internationals’ special moments For the Internationals, start with the man of the match, South Africa’s Branden Grace. He won four times with compatriot Louis Oosthuizen and completed his 5-0 week by defeating Matt Kuchar in singles, 2 and 1, joining Shigeki Maruyama (1998) as the only International players to finish off a perfect run. “Getting five points for the team is pretty big,” said Grace, 27, who had two topfour major finishes in 2015. “My last Presidents Cup I was 0-4, so this was a big step up in the right direction.” Oosthuizen deserves a nod, not only for his match success with Grace, but also with his timely final-hole eagle in
singles that earned a halve against Patrick Reed. Bae might have fallen in the final match, but who could forget his 12-foot birdie on the last hole that gave him and fellow rookie Danny Lee a win in their first match, in four-balls, on Friday against Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker? Bae scored 2½ big points for his team amid suffocating expectations. An enhanced occasion Finally, a special nod has to go to Jack Nicklaus, the city of Incheon and the people of South Korea. The weather didn’t fully cooperate, but who could have noticed when everything was run impeccably and the fans came out in full-throated support for both teams (with a little extra enthusiasm, of course, for the underdog International squad). And the venue, designed by Nicklaus—a four-time U.S. Presidents Cup captain—featured the kind of risk-reward opportunities that enhanced the match-play format while offering the golfers a chance to showcase their skills. w w w.pgatour.com
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CHARLES SCHWAB CUP
Special Encore Winning the Charles Schwab Cup for the second year in a row, Bernhard Langer makes history on the Champions Tour by becoming the first player to win the season-long points competition three times By Bill Fields
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are are the golfers who keep the competitive window open for a very long time. Sam Snead and Julius Boros pop to mind. Tom Watson, too. And, of course, Hale Irwin, the oldest winner of the U.S. Open at age 45 who won 19 of his record 45 career Champions Tour victories after his 55th birthday. With another outstanding year, Bernhard Langer has put himself right in the conversation about players who defy the calendar better than most. In the 15th year of the Charles Schwab Cup, Langer, 58, won it for the second consecutive season and third time in his Champions Tour career—he also captured it in 2010—to add another important achievement to his Hall of Fame career. While Watson and Irwin, as well as Jay Haas, Loren Roberts and Tom Lehman, each own two Schwab Cups, Langer became the first to win the Cup more than twice. In contrast to 2014, when Langer’s five-win campaign gave him a comfortable margin in the Schwab Cup, first contested in 2001, this was a closer battle that forced the German to play catch-up as a dramatic season played to a conclusion at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Desert Mountain Club’s Cochise Course in Scottsdale, Ariz. The 2015 Schwab race was the tightest since 2008, when Jay Haas, the eventual champion, held off Fred Funk and Langer in the seasonending event. To capture his third title Langer had to overtake his frequent European Ryder Cup teammate, Colin Montgomerie, and Jeff Maggert, who had jockeyed for supremacy for months. Billy Andrade, 51, joined Maggert as the only Champions Tour players to win more than twice in 2015 when he birdied the first extra hole after closing with a 6-under 64. A winner at the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge with Joe Durant and the Boeing Classic, Andrade made the most of the playoff after Langer lipped 36
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With a runner-up finish in the final event, Bernhard Langer claimed the Schwab Cup for a record third time.
Jeff Maggert’s four 2015 victories included two majors.
out an 18-foot eagle putt on the final hole of regulation. “He’s 58 and he’s still the best that we have and he’s a very dedicated player,” Andrade said of Langer. “I just look up to him. He’s a Hall of Famer. He’s a classy man, and I’m just honored to be competing against him. To be able to go headto-head with him is an honor.” Langer finished the season with 3,520 Schwab Cup points, 338 ahead of Montgomerie and
Billy Andrade’s third win of the season came at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
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Charles Schwab cup Fans watch the final round of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Desert Mountain.
images: Getty Images, US PGA tour
Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs Add Excitement to 2016
377 better than Maggert. Andrade climbed into fourth place by winning in Scottsdale, with Durant in fifth. Langer won a $1 million annuity, with respective bonuses of $500,000, $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 going to the other four top finishers. “I don’t know what keeps me strong,” said Langer, who also repeated as winner of the Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship. “I take care of myself to some extent. But it takes more than that. There are guys on this tour that are much fitter than me and they don’t perform quite to the level I’ve performed the last few years. I get along great with my wife, get along great with my kids. I’m in a great place in life.” Despite not winning the Schwab Cup, it was a fine season for the 51-year-old Maggert, whose Champions Tour-leading four victories including two major titles: the Regions Tradition and U.S. Senior Open. During a year in which there were 17 different winners in 24 events, Marco Dawson (Tucson Conquistadores Classic, Senior Open Championship) joined Maggert, Andrade and Langer as the only players with multiple victories. With two triumphs in 2015, Langer moved into a tie for third with Gil Morgan on the all-time Champions Tour victory list with 25 wins, four behind second-place Lee Trevino. After a couple of months to recharge, you can bet Langer will be ready when the 2016 season begins. “There’s plenty of things to play for,” Langer said. “It’s going to get harder and harder as the years go by, as I get older and younger guys come up, but there’s always exceptions. There are always guys who stand out like Hale Irwin and Tom Watson and a couple of others, and hopefully I’ll be one of those.” w w w.pgatour.com
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The inaugural Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, a threetournament, season-ending competition to determine the Charles Schwab Cup Champion, highlights a 26-event 2016 schedule for the Champions Tour.
“There’s plenty of things to play for,” Langer said. “It’s going to get harder and harder as the years go by, as I get older and younger guys come up, but there’s always exceptions. There are always guys who stand out like Hale Irwin and Tom Watson and a couple of others, and hopefully I’ll be one of those.”
Two of the three Playoffs events are new tournaments. The PowerShares QQQ Championship will be held in the Los Angeles, Calif., area Oct. 28-30 followed by the Dominion Charity Classic Nov. 4-6 in Richmond, Va., at the Country Club of Virginia’s James River Course. The Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., will conclude the season Nov. 10-13. “We’re excited to bring playoffs to the Champions Tour starting in 2016,” said Chuck Schwab, Founder of the Charles Schwab Corporation. “We’re taking what is already a great Champions Tour and making it better, with a more interesting format, increased competition, higher stakes, better for fans.”
Bernhard Langer’s competitive longevity is similar to that of Tom Watson (shown at the 2010 Charles Schwab Cup Championship).
At the completion of the SAS Championship Oct. 1416, the leading 72 players on the money list will advance to the first Playoffs event. Fifty-four players will move on to the second event in Virginia, with the leading 36 players competing for a new Charles Schwab Cup trophy at Desert Mountain. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/16, Part 1 37
24/11/2015 11:52
web.com tour
Web.com Tour
From strength to strength All distinguished golfers agree that the Web.com Tour provides an incomparable experience for aspiring PGA TOUR members to learn how to be a true professional, both on and off the course By Kevin Prise
Left: After finishing sixth on the Web.com Tour Regular Season money list, Smylie Kaufman quickly won on the PGA TOUR.
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Right: Kelly Kraft’s win at the 2015 Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by NACHER helped him earn a PGA TOUR card.
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“I was shooting really good scores in college and amateur golf, but the courses are just way harder in professional golf,” Kraft said during the Web.com Tour Championship. “It’s all kind of a learning process. I feel like it has maybe taken me a little longer than most people to learn at every level, but I feel like I’ve gotten better at every level.” Kraft’s sentiments reflect the essence of the Web.com Tour as the path for the game’s next generation of rising stars. The Web.com Tour reached 400 alumni victories on TOUR with Brandt Snedeker’s triumph at the 2015 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, and the number continues to grow. Aside from a competitive standpoint, the Web.com Tour prepares players for all aspects of
Former college star Michael Kim advanced to the PGA TOUR after two seasons of Web.com Tour play.
images: Getty Images/ us pga tour
elly Kraft admits that he thought too highly of his golf game upon turning professional in 2012. He had produced an illustrious amateur career that included a victory at the 2011 U.S. Amateur, and he had made the cut in the 2012 Masters. But the Texas native quickly learned that professional golf was not easy. He fell short of the PGA TOUR at Q-School that fall, and spent the past three seasons honing his game on the Web.com Tour. Kraft earned his PGA TOUR card for the first time via the 2015 Web.com Tour Regular Season, finishing No. 7 on the money list. As he navigates his rookie campaign on TOUR, he’s confident that his time spent on the Web.com Tour will serve him well.
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life as a professional golfer—travel, media and sponsor obligations, pro-ams and other details. Of the 50 players to earn their PGA TOUR cards via this year’s Web.com Tour Regular Season and Finals, 18 will be TOUR rookies in 2015-16. They’re ready to make an impact. “It starts with the way they run their tournaments,” said Patton Kizzire, who led the cumulative Web.com Tour Regular Season and Finals money list and will be a TOUR rookie. “It’s a great stepping stone … really good venues, and it feels like a PGA TOUR event. The level of competition is really high. I’ve learned a lot this year.” Kizzire recorded a season-high 12 top-10 finishes in 23 Web.com Tour starts in 2015, as he assumed the money lead midway through the season and kept the pedal down, earning victories at the Utah Championship presented by Zions Bank and News Sentinel Open presented by Pilot. The 29-year-old Auburn alum has taken some time to find his way as a professional, but his performance throughout the Web.com Tour season indicates that he’s ready to make an impact on the grandest stage. Kizzire earned a Web.com Tour card straight out of college in the fall of 2008, but his status was limited and he failed to make a cut in four starts in 2009. He spent a few years on the mini-tours, struggling to excel at Q-School, but found a boost in his game when he moved to Sea Island, Ga., in early 2012, and gained the mentorship of established TOUR pros such as Davis Love III, Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar. “Q-School is a tough hurdle to get over,” Kizzire said. “But I feel like in any sport, those hurdles, you can keep bumping into them … but you’ve finally got to figure out how to jump over them.” Kizzire successfully navigated Q-School last December, and he hasn’t looked back. Other rising stars to earn their TOUR cards for the first time include Kraft, Michael Kim, Smylie Kaufman and Harold Varner III. Kim attended the University of CaliforniaBerkeley, winning the Haskins Award for national player of the year in the 2012-13 season—and then earning low amateur honors at the 2013 U.S. Open. After earning his Web.com Tour card for the 2014 season, Kim fell short of a TOUR card but made amends this past season when he finished No. 13 on the Regular Season money list. Kaufman, a Louisiana State product, is known for his power. The Alabama native entered the 2015 Web.com Tour season with conditional status but quickly changed the complexion of his season with three 40 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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consecutive top-five finishes in the spring, including a victory at the United Leasing Championship presented by PTI. Kaufman cruised to a sixth-place finish on the Regular Season money list, and immediately made his mark on the PGA TOUR. Following a T10 in the season-opening Frys.com Open, Kaufman won the 2015 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. The most dramatic of the 25 cards awarded through the Regular Season went to Harold Varner III, who finished his final round at the WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by Kraft Heinz squarely on the bubble. The final group consisted of Dicky Pride and Tim Herron: If Pride won, Varner would earn his card; if Herron won, Varner was out. Pride won, and Varner became the first African-American to earn a TOUR card via the Web.com Tour. “I’m going to enjoy the moment,” Varner said when the result became final. “I’m going to catch a flight, I’m going to hug my mom and dad tomorrow, and I’m sure they’ll cry. I’ll try my best not to.”
Twenty-five players earned their TOUR cards via the Web.com Tour Finals, a four-event series including the top-75 players on the Web. com Tour Regular Season money list and Nos. 126-200 on the FedExCup standings, as well as non-members who earned enough equivalent points to finish 126-200 in FedExCup points. (Web.com Tour Nos. 1-25 had already earned their cards via the Regular Season money list and were playing to improve their priority ranking.) Notables to earn their TOUR cards via the Web.com Tour Finals included 2009 U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover, Guinness World Record holder Rhein Gibson (lowest round: 55), and Anirban Lahiri, the first player to represent India at The Presidents Cup in October. The feel-good story of the Finals was Massachusetts native Rob Oppenheim, who finished No. 26 on the Regular Season money list but earned the 25th Finals card in dramatic fashion on Sunday of the Web.com Tour Championship by nudging Eric Axley by $101. “The golf gods and me? We’re all square,” Oppenheim said.
Rhein Gibson, who once shot a 55, qualified for the PGA TOUR through the Web.com Tour Finals.
Former U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover earned a TOUR card through the Web.com Tour Finals.
Patton Kizzire will be a PGA TOUR rookie after a moneyleading season on the Web.com Tour.
“I’m going to catch a flight, I’m going to hug my mom and dad tomorrow, and I’m sure they’ll cry. I’ll try my best not to.” —Harold Varner w w w.pgatour.com
23/11/2015 10:52
It’s knowing you’re not perfect. Yet hoping that maybe, just for one swing, you can be. It’s gaining complete focus. Pristine, laser-fine focus. Because that focus isn’t just what’s required, that focus is why you’re here. Everything else dissipates into nothing. Sounds muffle. Touch is sharpened. Every detail is in the highest definition. And there you are. In the moment. After this you can go back to all the flaws, the fears, the doubts and the doubters. But not now. Now there’s you and the ball. And the opportunity for a split-second of perfection. Wouldn’t that be nice?
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THE INTERNATIONAL PGA TOURS
THE INTERNATIONAL TOURS We look back at the triumphs of three international PGA TOURs—PGA TOUR China, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, and the players who have excelled PGA TOUR China By Laury Livsey Lucas Lee stood in the ballroom of the CTS Tycoon clubhouse in November 2014 following the final round of the final event of the inaugural PGA TOUR China season. He hadn’t earned his Web.com Tour card, but his eighth-place finish on the Order of Merit garnered him an invite to the final stage of that Tour’s qualifying tournament. He was looking forward to returning to the U.S. It didn’t take long for the player of South Korean descent, who grew up in Brazil, played college golf at UCLA, competed for several years on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, and 44
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then headed to China, to get very comfortable on the Web.com Tour after earning his card. By the middle of the 2015 season, after two second-place finishes, at the Greater Dallas Open and the Rust-Oleum Championship in Indiana, Lee had the PGA TOUR in his sights. And by the end of the regular season, Lee was 24th on the Web.com Tour’s money list, enough to earn him PGA TOUR membership for the 2015-16 season. Along with that membership comes this interesting distinction: Lee is the first PGA TOUR China alum to move from that circuit to the big leagues of golf. “There were a few times over the last five years where the PGA TOUR felt a long way away.
New Zealander Josh Geary’s 2015 success in China will put him back on the Web.com Tour.
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THE INTERNATIONAL PGA TOURS
But if I look back, one year ago I was in China playing on PGA TOUR China, and now I’m a member of the PGA TOUR,” Lee said, thinking of the seven years he’s played around the world since graduating from college. “Things can change right away. Obviously, you have to put in a lot of work. But if you get lucky and if you work hard you can make it. I’m proof of that.” This season, the PGA TOUR China Tour’s second, a new group of players are looking to match what Lee did. Front and center is New Zealand’s Josh Geary, a three-time winner in 2015. Geary, who played on the Web.com Tour in 2011 to so-so results, has all but assured his return in 2016 with his two early China wins and his most recent triumph in October, at the Yulongwan Yunnan Open. “It’s been good so far,” Geary said, seriously understating how dominant he has been this season. “I want to keep playing against these good players on some good golf courses. PGA TOUR China is a great step for me between here and the Web.com Tour.” A year ago, Hao Tong Li was the Tour’s leading money-winner, collecting not only ￥¥967,788 (approximately US $158,000) but the full Web.com Tour exemption afforded the No. 1 player. Li played in 23 of the 25 Web.com Tour tournaments during the 2015 season, and Li’s is an example Geary plans to follow if he can maintain his grip on No. 1. “The Web.com Tour is a tough Tour, and I’m looking forward to using this Tour in China as a springboard for next year,” Geary added.
One player who still may have something to say about whether Geary wins the Order of Merit is Australian Bryden Macpherson, a former University of Georgia golfer who played on the 2015 Web.com Tour. When Macpherson didn’t qualify for the Web.com Tour Finals, Macpherson returned to China and immediately gave notice that his game was in good form—winning the Cadillac Championship in Beijing and the Lushan Open in Jiujiang. Macpherson is holding down second place on the earnings’ chart and has almost assuredly secured a return to the Web.com Tour and is in good position with three tournaments to play to catch and pass Geary. China’s Xinjun Zhang won the Chongqing Jiangnan NewTown KingRun Open in midOctober to move to third on the Order of Merit leaving him poised to grab one of the coveted five Web.com Tour cards. Still with work to do are Yi Cao (in 11th) and Zihao Chen (in 15th), also from China. They have had decent seasons and are only a win or a couple of high finishes from moving into the top five as they maintain the dream of following countryman Li to the Web.com Tour. “We have considerable depth on this Tour, and the caliber of player continues to improve as word gets out that this is a Tour played on toplevel golf courses providing strong competition,” says the PGA TOUR’s Greg Carlson, who serves as PGA TOUR China’s executive director. “There are going to be a lot more Lucas Lees coming from here in the very near future.”■
Lucas Lee is the first player to move from PGA TOUR China to the PGA TOUR.
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES /uS PGA TOUR /PGA TOUR China/Liu Zhuang
Wil Bateman is eyeing a spot in “Los Cinco,” which will put him on the Web.com Tour.
Two early victories had Rodolfo Cazaubon in good shape heading into the PGA TOUR Latinoamérica fall schedule.
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THE INTERNATIONAL PGA TOURS
PGA TOUR Latinoamérica By Kevin Prise Canadian Wil Bateman didn’t fare too well on Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada this season, failing to make a cut in four starts. Luckily for Bateman and other players willing to travel internationally in pursuit of climbing the professional golf ranks, though, the PGA TOUR Latinoamérica season resumed as Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada concluded for the year. Bateman has made the most of it. The San Diego State alum made three cuts in his first four starts of the fall PGA TOUR Latinoamérica swing, highlighted by a victory at the HyundaiBBVA 89 Abierto de Chile in early October–– where he surged up the leaderboard with weekend rounds of 63-67. The victory moved Bateman to No. 8 on the PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Order of Merit. If he can finish inside the top five (Los Cinco), he’ll earn Web.com Tour status for the 2016 season. Bateman didn’t waste any time looking ahead, though. “I’m just going to focus on the next tournament and the next shot, and see where that takes me,” said Bateman, who became the first Canadian to win on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica. All players on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica are chasing a spot in Los Cinco, and the subsequent Web.com Tour card. Last year’s Order of Merit winner, Julian Etulian, produced a solid 2015 campaign on the Web.com Tour, recording seven top-25 finishes in 25 starts and comfortably retaining his card for the 2016 season. This year’s PGA TOUR Latinoamérica class will look to follow in Etulian’s footsteps. As the Tour worked its way through the fall schedule, Mexico native Rodolfo Cazaubon maintained his top spot on the Order of Merit––despite missing the cut in his first four starts of the fall. Cazaubon earned two victories in the season’s spring schedule––the Lexus Panama Classic presented by World Jewelry Hub and Dominican Republic Open––positioning him to overcome his early fall struggles. Still, he certainly looked to rebound in the season’s final seven events, culminating with the Latinoamérica Tour Championship in early December at Dorado Beach Resort in Dorado, Puerto Rico. Making a late-year push inside the top five has been veteran Alexandre Rocha, who was w w w.pgatour.com
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No. 3 on the Order of Merit through four events of the fall series. The 37-year-old Brazil native has competed all over the world––he played collegiately at Mississippi State in the late 1990s, spent full seasons on the PGA TOUR in 2011 and 2012, and played full-time on the Web.com Tour in 2013 and 2014. Rocha finished No. 98 on the Web.com Tour last season though, providing only conditional status for 2015. He ended up playing in only two events, and he has turned his attention to PGA TOUR Latinoamérica in hopes of finishing inside Los Cinco and earning back Web.com Tour status that way. With a victory at the Aberto de Brasil presented by Credit Suisse Hedging Griffo in late September, Rocha appears on the right track. “My focus this year was playing this Tour because it provides a great pathway back to the Web.com Tour,” Rocha said after outlasting Keith Mitchell and Kent Bulle in a seven-hole playoff to win the Aberto de Brasil. “I have to keep working hard in order to stay in the top five who move up. I feel good about my chances for the remainder of the season.” With the PGA TOUR Latinoamérica season extending into early December, consistent play is usually required in order to maintain a spot in Los Cinco. Judging by their efforts so far, though, players like Bateman, Cazaubon and Rocha ought to feel good about their chances.■
Kent Bulle competing in Panama during the 2015 Latinoamérica season.
Julian Etulain had a solid Web.com Tour season after winning the 2014 Order of Merit in Latin America.
Alexandre Rocha was making a late-season push for a top-five ranking.
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Emerging PGA TOUR star Tony Finau graduated from the Mackenzie Tour.
The Mackenzie Tour has helped Canadians like Taylor Pendrith get their pro careers going.
Canada, the Mackenzie Tour has provided access to Team Canada players, and the likes of Taylor Pendrith, U.S. Amateur runner-up Corey Conners, and new pro Austin Connelly, have taken advantage of the situation. Pendrith, despite splitting his schedule between the Web.com Tour and the Mackenzie Tour, demonstrated he’s one to watch moving forward. One of the biggest hitters in golf, Pendrith was third on the Mackenzie Tour Order of Merit and will have conditional status on the Web.com Tour. “If I play like I’m capable of, I’ll contend and hopefully get to play for the rest of the year,” Pendrith says. “I found there’s not a whole lot of difference between there and the Mackenzie Tour. Everyone is good out here and everyone is good on Web.com Tour. If I struggle out here, I’ll miss the cut. It is just another golf tournament where you have to play well or you don’t play the weekend.” The success of the Canadians is good news to Monday, who points out that seven of the nine players outside of the Top 5 were Canadians, including rising star Adam Svensson, former Web.com Tour player Albin Choi and Vancouver’s Ryan Williams. “If you look at these players you’ll see they all mature at a different pace,” says Monday. “It took a couple of years for a player like J.J. Spaun to click, but the Tour gives our players the opportunity to compete and hone their skills. That’s the goal.”■
Steve Stricker is one of the players who got their career off the ground in Canada.
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES / US PGA TOUR
Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada By Robert Thompson By the time the final putt fell during the second playoff hole at the season-ending Freedom 55 Financial Championship at London Highland, it was clear the newly sponsored Mackenzie TourPGA TOUR Canada had made huge strides in a few short years. “Our overall play gets better and better,” says Mackenzie Tour President Jeff Monday. “This year, more than 50 percent of our players were new to the Tour. Eighty-seven percent of our members were under 30 years old. It is a developmental tour, and it shows players what it takes to be a pro and I think it is doing its job.” That success is a long way from where the Canadian Tour, the precursor to the current incarnation, was just a few years ago. By 2011, the Tour, which has helped launch the professional careers of high-profile players like Steve Stricker, Tim Clark and Mike Weir, found itself struggling to stay afloat. Four years later, under the PGA TOUR brand, it is on stable footing with growing purses and expanding interest. Things kicked off in May 2015 with the inking of a deal with an umbrella sponsor—Mackenzie Investments—but it also saw purses rise for all events, including its finale, the no-cut Freedom 55 Financial Championship. Meanwhile, alumnus Nick Taylor won on the PGA TOUR, just over a year removed from playing on the Mackenzie Tour, while others who have graduated from the Tour, like emerging star Tony Finau, have captured a lot of attention. It is clear that this part of the feeder system for the PGA TOUR, with 12 tournaments, is working the way it was intended. Charitable giving by the Tour was up 60 percent this past season, generating $567,000, something Monday attributes to Mackenzie Investments coming on board as the Tour’s umbrella sponsor, the hard work of the tournament organizations, and the support they receive in the community. Additionally, three of last year’s five players who garnered status on the Web.com Tour maintained that status, proof the Mackenzie Tour is graduating golfers, like J.J. Spaun, with the ability to make the leap to the PGA TOUR. “The top five players on the Order of Merit last year parlayed their status into regular starts,” says Scott Pritchard, director of tournament business affairs for the Tour. Along the way, Monday says he’s pleased that Canadian players continue to use the Tour to pursue their goals of progressing in professional golf. Through an arrangement with Golf
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QUIVIRA LOS CABOS:
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ituated at the tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula and boasting more than three miles of pristine golden beaches, picturesque desert cliffs and panoramic ocean views, Quivira Los Cabos has established itself as Mexico’s premier luxury residential resort community.
This exclusive 1,850-acre master-planned development, commanding a spectacular parcel at Land’s End, is located 10 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas. Quivira encompasses Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort, Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Golf & Spa Resort, the stunning Novaispania Residences (28 home sites on 10 acres); Montecristo Estates, stand-alone haciendas and villas dramatically positioned on the mountainside; as well as two new residential communities, Copala and Coronado, Copala, etched into mountain foothills, is a full-ownership home and condominium community designed to take advantage of the site’s beautiful ocean views. The gated community showcases Mexican hacienda-style one-, two, and three-bedroom condominiums as well as custom homes. Coronado, a premier residential community set on a 30-acre site terraced below Copala, will feature 68 singlestory homes. The deluxe three-, four- and five-bedroom residences, ranging in size from 3,000 to 5,000 square feet, showcase sweeping ocean views. The development’s centerpiece is Quivira Golf Club, a magnificent Jack Nicklaus Signature Course marked by huge windswept dunes, sheer granite cliffs and rolling desert foothills. Opened to acclaim in 2014, Quivira, situated at the place where the Sea of Cortes meets the Pacific Ocean, has redefined the golf experience in Los Cabos. The epic $40 million layout commences at sea level near the thundering surf before climbing to higher ground, where the scenery is a match for the challenge. Shortly after opening, Quivira was named Best New International Course of the Year by GOLF Magazine and 2014 Development of the Year by Golf Inc. “Our team has worked with the canvas Mother Nature provided to create one of the most spectacular courses in the world,” Nicklaus said. “This property afforded us a rare opportunity because of its topographic diversity and natural environment.” In addition to thrilling risk-reward scenarios at every turn, Quivira offers more oceanfront exposure than any other course in Cabo. All 18 holes feature panoramic views of the cobalt-blue sea, which swells with breaching whales from December through March. Among the course highlights at Quivira, which stretches to 7,139 yards (par 72) from the back tees, is the spinetingling drive to the fifth hole, which crosses arroyo-spanning bridges and traces a switchback route up the side of a mountain. At more than 275 feet above the foaming surf, the tee at the short par 4 fifth hole commands a vertigo-inducing perch. Equally breathtaking is the par 3 sixth hole, its concave clifftop green carved from the base of a giant sand dune. During the round, players can refresh themselves at three comfort stations interspersed throughout the allinclusive facility. A halfway house situated near the eighth green, called the “Oasis,” showcases the culinary talents of the resort’s chefs, with regional cuisine and top-shelf refreshments available. Completing the experience at Quivira is a thatched-roof clubhouse adjacent to the 18th green that offers a large rectangular bar, a casual steakhouse and ample outdoor seating overlooking the surging sea. Beside the clubhouse is a spacious, double-sided practice facility that parallels the ocean, with the sandy beach and rolling surf a mere wedge shot away from the verdant turfgrass. An elongated 18-hole putting course and a short game practice area offers golfers the opportunity to fine-tune their chipping, pitching and sand play. For reservations or further information access the web sites at www.quiviragolfclub.com, www.quiviraloscabos.com and www.pueblobonito.com or call 1-800-990-8250 to customize a visit.
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NUMBERS GAME 2014-15
NUMBERS GAME 2014-15 Thanks to ShotLink’s exhaustive measurements, statistics can help explain how the PGA TOUR’s best go about their work By Dave Lancer
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hen the PGA TOUR unveiled its statistics program in 1980, performance was measured in only nine basic categories. Although the numbers were limited—which players were longest off the tee and most accurate into the green, for example—they were still revealing. The evolution of TOUR statistics from their rudimentary beginning has been remarkable. Today, the TOUR’s ShotLink system, powered by CDW, offers enough material to keep any stat nut occupied for hours. Things as detailed as Ball Speed, Back-Nine Scoring Average and Greens in Regulation: From the Rough are among the hundreds of available stats. 52 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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ShotLink reveals a lot about the players who dominated the headlines during the 2014-15 season. Here’s a quick look at what the statistics tell us.
Jordan Spieth’s No. 4 ranking in the new Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green category reflected how well he played in 2014-15.
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FedExCup champion Jordan Spieth, with five victories including two major championships, had a season for the ages. In the old days before extensive statistics, it would not have been as easy to pinpoint why he was so successful. Spieth didn’t have mindboggling rankings in Driving Distance (T78th) or Driving Accuracy (80th). He was 49th in Greens in Regulation. Yet in the new Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green category, a more sophisticated way w w w.pgatour.com
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to examine ball-striking, Spieth was fourth. And there’s another word to explain Spieth’s great season: putting. He was No. 1 in Putting Average per GIR (1.697), One-Putt Percentage (44.26) and Putts per Round (27.82). Spieth made 27.89 percentage of his putts from 15-20 feet (2nd) and 25.93 percentage of his putts from 20-25 feet (1st). That putting skill helped him convert 35.78 percent of his Birdie or Better opportunities, second best on TOUR.
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Justin Thomas had a tremendous rookie season, finishing 32nd in the FedExCup. The 145-pound Thomas catches our attention due to his tremendous length off the tee. Despite his thin frame, Thomas averaged 303.2 yards off the tee. In fact, pound for pound, he’s longer than TOUR Driving Distance leader Dustin Johnson. Thomas averaged 2.09 yards per pound this year while Johnson (at 190 pounds)
Jason Day’s all-around excellence included a No. 6 ranking in Strokes Gained: Putting.
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The remarkable 2014-15 performance of the TOUR’s other five-time winner, Jason Day, can also be explained through statistics. He hits it long (3rd in Driving Distance), is accurate with his approaches (T7th in Greens in Regulation) and makes plenty of putts (6th in Strokes Gained: Putting). ShotLink also tells us more. On the PGA TOUR everyone plays the par 5s well—in fact, all 192 ranked players averaged under par. While having success on par 5s (T7 in Par 5 Scoring Average), Day excelled in in both Par 3 and Par 4 scoring. Only 17 players finished the year under-par on Par 4s with Day sharing the top spot with Spieth with a 3.93 average. Only 17 golfers finished the year under-par on short holes with Day leading the way with a 2.94 average. One way Day was able to accomplish that was his long putting. He made 11.55 percent of his putts from 20 feet and beyond, second to Spieth on TOUR.
On approaches from inside 100 yards, no one was more accurate than Justin Rose.
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES / US PGA TOUR
The information gathered on TOUR now is much more detailed than when the stats program debuted, thanks to ShotLink powered by CDW.
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NUMBERS GAME 2014-15
averaged 1.68 yards per pound. How does Thomas do it? He hits the ball with the highest Launch Angle (14.11 degrees) on TOUR and led in Apex Height on his tee shots as well at 132 feet, 8 inches. His astounding distance off the tee helped him to second on TOUR in Par 5 Scoring Average at 4.49 strokes per hole, trailing only Bubba Watson.
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Short putts. You know, the type some of you pick up automatically on the weekend while playing with your buddies? Well, they putt them out on the PGA TOUR, and they can be missed. Not by this group, though. Jason Day (there he is again), Graham DeLaet, Ryan Moore, Jeff Overton, Daniel Summerhays, Johnson Wagner and Lee Westwood all went the entire year without missing a putt from 3 feet. The group combined to make 4,573 from that distance with Summerhays having the most attempts, 941.
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You often hear commentators praise the ball-striking ability of Henrik Stenson and for good reason. The Swedish star did something remarkable in 2014-15. He led the TOUR in both Total Driving and Greens in Regulation. That made him the TOUR leader in Ball Striking (a combination of those two stats) with a total score of 2 (1st in both categories). That versatility helped him lead the TOUR in Strokes Gained: Total with a 2.210 average.
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It’s often assumed that you put a wedge in a player’s hand and it will end up inside of 10 feet every time. Let’s put that assumption to rest. Even the best players in the world can’t do that all year long. For a week or two, yes, but for a season, no. The TOUR leader in approaches from inside 100 yards was Justin Rose, whose average proximity of 12 feet, 7 inches from the cup was 11 inches closer than runner-up Webb Simpson. The TOUR average was 17 feet, 1 inch.
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES / US PGA TOUR
Want to gain some perspective on how you play? Check out all the stats available on PGATOUR.COM and see where the best players excel. It may help you work on the things that will allow you to improve your game. ■
Henrik Stenson’s excellent ball-striking led to top rankings in Total Driving and Greens in Regulation.
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YOUNG PLAYERS
THE YOUNG AND THE RELENTLESS As the 2014-15 season demonstrated, a youth movement is in high gear on the PGA TOUR. Here are some of the players under 30 who are leading the way
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herever you looked last season, a young star seemed to be doing something special on the PGA TOUR. Whether it was Jordan Spieth at the Masters and U.S. Open, Rickie Fowler at THE PLAYERS Championship or Jason Day at the PGA Championship, stars in their 20s were making headlines.
While that trio made the biggest news, they are far from alone. With Rory McIlroy— healthy again after an ankle injury—and other twentysomethings ready for a new challenge, the 2015-16 season seems likely to be another main stage for golf’s new, exciting wave of talent.
DANIEL BERGER Birthdate/Place: April 7, 1993 in Plantation, Fla. Height/Weight: 6-1/175 Accomplishments: The former Florida State golfer, whose father, Jay, was a professional tennis player once ranked No. 7 in the world, had a strong rookie PGA TOUR season and was one of nine first-year players to advance to the FedExCup Playoffs. Berger’s 2014-15 campaign, which earned him Rookie of the Year honors, was highlighted by a playoff loss to
Padraig Harrington at The Honda Classic—where he charged into contention with a final-round 64— and a runner-up finish at the BMW Championship. Berger made the cut in 17 of 31 tournaments and made the most of his weekends with 13 top-25 finishes. ShotLink Says: Berger was 11th in the 2014-15 FedExCup standings. Jordan Spieth (seventh, 2013), is the only TOUR rookie to have a better finish.
JASON DAY Birthdate/Place: November 12, 1987 in Beaudesert, Queensland, Australia Height/Weight: 6-0/195 Accomplishments: Day had a victory early in 2015, a playoff win at the Farmers Insurance Open in February, but the powerful Aussie went on a tear later in the season. After making runs at the U.S. Open (T9) despite suffering vertigo and The Open Championship (T4), Day won the RBC Canadian Open in late July. That was the first of four wins in two months, highlighted by Day’s first major title, a recordsetting performance in the PGA 58
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Championship at Whistling Straits. Day’s 20-under 268 broke Tiger Woods’ mark (19 under, 2000 Open Championship) for lowest 72-hole total in a major championship. Day wasn’t done, as he captured The Barclays and BMW Championship during the FedExCup Playoffs and finished third in the FedExCup. Did You Know? Prior to winning the 2015 PGA Championship in record fashion, Day had nine career top-10 finishes in majors going back to a T10 in the 2010 PGA. ShotLink Says: Day had the lowest scoring average during the FedExCup Playoffs, 67.651. w w w.pgatour.com
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YOUNG PLAYERS
HARRIS ENGLISH Birthdate/Place: July 23, 1989 in Valdosta, Ga. Height/Weight: 6-3/185 Accomplishments: The Georgian advanced to the TOUR Championship by CocaCola for the first time in 2015, finishing 28th in the FedExCup after narrowly missing the season finale in 2013 (31st) and 2014 (32nd). English had his best finishes early in 2015, a T3 at the Sony Open in Hawaii and a playoff loss at the Farmers Insurance Open to Jason Day. But the two-time TOUR winner
(2013 FedEx St. Jude Classic, 2014 OHL Classic at Mayakoba) had an overall consistent season, with a career-best 24 made cuts in 29 tournaments. Did You Know? Before going to the University of Georgia, where he was a four-time All-American, English led the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tenn., to four state prep golf championships. ShotLink Says: English rebounded from ranking 105th in Strokes Gained: Putting in 2014 to T10 in 2015.
TONY FINAU Birthdate/Place: September 14, 1989 in Salt Lake City, Utah Height/Weight: 6-4/200 Accomplishments: Finau joined the PGA TOUR as a 2014 Web.com Tour graduate, having finished eighth on the regular season money list thanks to a campaign in which he won once (Stonebrae Classic) and had 14 top-25s in 23 starts with only four missed cuts. In his first 10 events of the 2014-15 PGA TOUR season, Finau missed only three cuts and enjoyed T7 finishes at
The RSM Classic and OHL Classic at Mayakoba. Did You Know? Finau turned professional at 17 out of West High School in Salt Lake City, alma mater of George Von Elm, 1926 U.S. Amateur champion and a five-time TOUR winner. ShotLink Says: Ranked seventh in Driving Distance (309 yards), Finau hit his longest drive of the season (383 yards) on No. 18 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in the first round of the RBC Canadian Open.
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES
RICKIE FOWLER Birthdate/Place: December 13, 1988 in Murrietta, Calif. Height/Weight: 5-9/150 Accomplishments: Ranked fifth in the world following the 2015 TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, Fowler had his best season, highlighted by one of the most dramatic victories of 2015 at THE PLAYERS Championship. Trailing by three strokes after 54 holes at TPC Sawgrass, Fowler had a finish for the ages on Sunday, going 6 under in his last six holes of the fourth round, including only needing a record 11 strokes on Nos. 15 through 18. Fowler’s 66 got him into an aggregate playoff with w w w.pgatour.com
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Sergio Garcia and Kevin Kisner. After Fowler was eliminated, Fowler beat Kisner with a birdie on the par-3 17th in sudden death. Qualifying for the FedExCup Playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, Fowler won the Deutsche Bank Championship in his 150th career start. Did You Know? Fowler has released several “Golf Boys” videos with fellow TOUR players Ben Crane, Hunter Mahan and Bubba Watson. ShotLink Says: Fowler’s memorable eagle on No. 16 in the final round of THE PLAYERS was one of 10 eagles he made during the season, ranking him T21 on TOUR. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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YOUNG PLAYERS
RUSSELL HENLEY Birthdate/Place: April 12, 1989 in Macon, Ga. Height/Weight: 6-0/180 Accomplishments: A two-time winner on TOUR, Henley had four top-five finishes in 2014-15 while finishing 63rd in the FedExCup standings and advancing to the FedExCup Playoffs for the third consecutive season. His best result was a T3 at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, where he opened with a 65 and closed with a 67 at Kapalua’s Plantation Course. Henley had his best career
effort in a major championship, finishing T12 in the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits by shooting four sub-par rounds. Did You Know? Henley is an avid live music fan and is a guitarist who has gotten on stage with Darius Rucker and one of his favorite bands, O.A.R. ShotLink Says: En route to a finalround 63 and fifth-place finish at The Greenbrier Classic, Henley made 144 feet, 11 inches of putts, almost twice the TOUR season average of 73 feet, 4 inches.
BROOKS KOEPKA Birthdate/Place: May 3, 1990 in West Palm Beach, Fla. Height/Weight: 6-0/186 Accomplishments: Koepka had a breakthrough season in 2014-15, finishing 24th in the FedExCup standings. After top-10 finishes in his first two events, he claimed his first PGA TOUR victory at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, where he closed with a 66 at TPC Scottsdale to beat a trio of players by one stroke. Koepka had a solid majors campaign including a T10 at The Open Championship
and T5 in the PGA Championship. His low round of the season was 64, which he shot five times, including during his victory and at T3 at the FedEx St. Jude Classic. Did You Know? Koepka was Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year on the European Tour in 2014 and has five international victories. ShotLink Says: With the fourth highest clubhead speed on TOUR (122.77), Koepka ranked seventh in Driving Distance (308.2 yards) and made the most eagles (20).
DANNY LEE Birthdate/Place: July 24, 1990 in Seoul, South Korea Height/Weight: 5-11/175 Accomplishments: Lee made the most of a busy 2014-15 season in which he played in 36 tournaments and finished ninth in the FedExCup standings. With his first PGA TOUR victory, at The Greenbrier Classic in July, Lee became the first golfer from New Zealand to win on TOUR since Michael Campbell at the 2005 U.S. Open. The ninth player of w w w.pgatour.com
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Korean descent to win on TOUR, Lee had eight top-10 finishes including a T2 at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. Did You Know? Lee was only 18 years, 1 month old when he won the 2008 U.S. Amateur, six months younger than 1994 champion Tiger Woods. ShotLink Says: Seven of Lee’s TOUR-leading 475 birdies came in a row during the fourth round of the 2015 OHL Classic at Mayakoba.
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IS SCOTLAND THE BIRTHPLACE OF GOLF? Discover for yourself the beauty of Scotland’s golf courses while visiting on one of our cruises, and at a special 10% discount for you!* There’s been much debate through the years on where golf originated, with some arguing it being in Rome while others believing it was as far as China. But the majority of us, accept the fact that the origin of the modern version of the game can be traced back to 15th century Scotland. It’s no surprise then that Scotland has the most golf holes per population in the world,
boasting one golf hole per 568 people!
SMALL SHIP CRUISING | BRITISH AMBIANCE & ELEGANCE | DISTINGUISHED GUEST SPEAKERS | FIT FOR ROYALTY
VISIT SCOTLAND ON ANY OF OUR CRUISES, ARRIVE EARLY OR STAY AFTER YOUR CRUISE TO PLAY IN THE AREA OF YOUR CHOICE.** The small, five-star luxury cruise ship Hebridean Princess was granted a Royal Warrant by Her Majesty the Queen. Includes beverages, shore excursions, gratuities and more.
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FOOTLOOSE IN THE OUTER ISLES
WONDERS OF THE WESTERN ISLES
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DEPARTING AUG 23, 2016 | 7-DAY CRUISE
OBAN | CASTLEBAY | BISHOP’S ISLES | LOCHBOISDALE STORNOWAY | SHIANT ISLES | MUCK | OBAN
OBAN | TIREE | CASTLEBAY | LOCHBOISDALE STORNOWAY | TARBERT | LOCH | HARPORT | OBAN
VISIT THE UK ON VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY OR SWAN HELLENIC AND CHOOSE YOUR COURSE IN PORT*** Inviting, enlightening small-ship, Voyager offers guests the freedom, flexibility and choice they need to see the world just the way they want to. Includes gratuities and more.
844.726.6955 WWW.VOYAGESOFDISCOVERY.COM
BRITAIN’S BEAUTIFUL ISLES DEPARTING JUN 9, 2016 | 12-DAY CRUISE HARWICH | LERWICK | KIRKWALL | STORNOWAY | PORTREE TOBERMORY | ST MARYS | ST PETER PORT | HARWICH
Guests travel in comfort and style aboard Minerva, a floating country house hotel. Includes shore excursions, gratuities and more.
844.726.6954 WWW.SWANHELLENIC.US
HIGHLANDS, ISLANDS AND THE EMERALD ISLE
CELTIC TRADITIONS AND EDINBURGH’S TATTOO
DEPARTING JUL 10, 2016 | 12-DAY CRUISE
DEPARTING AUG 3, 2016 | 14-DAY CRUISE
PORTSMOUTH | ST PETER PORT | ST MARY’S FISHGUARD | STORNOWAY, OUTER HEBRIDES OBAN | LAMLASH, ISLE OF ARRAN | DOUGLAS WATERFORD | PORTSMOUTH
PORTSMOUTH | ST PETER PORT | CARDIFF | DUBLIN GREENOCK | STORNOWAY | SCRABSTER | ROSYTH (EDINBURGH) | PORT OF TYNE | PORTSMOUTH
*Discount of 10% off applies to the standard cruise fares only and cannot be combined with any other offer. Good for new bookings only made between December 1, 2015 - April 30, 2016 for travel on any itinerary available. Mention promo code PGASPECIAL when booking your cruise to receive the discount. Offer valid through April 30, 2016. **Time in port will not be sufficient to allow for golf on Hebridean Island Cruises, but will provide a sample of what’s available in the area. You can arrive early or extend your stay in Scotland after your cruise to visit the golf courses you wish (not included in your cruise fare). ***Golf not included as part of our excursions on Voyages of Discovery or Swan Hellenic, but time ashore and proximity to golf courses will allow you to enjoy play time while in port.
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YOUNG PLAYERS
HIDEKI MATSUYAMA Birthdate/Place: February 25, 1992 in Ehime, Japan. Height/Weight: 5-11/198 Accomplishments: Matsuyama finished 16th in the FedExCup standings in a season in which he had nine top-10 finishes highlighted by a T2 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Matsuyama’s very consistent 2014-15—23 made cuts in 25 starts—also included his best career finish in a major championship (fifth, the Masters). Matsuyama tied for third twice, at the Frys.com Open and
the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, where he missed the Jimmy Walker-Patrick Reed playoff by one shot. Did You Know? When he triumphed at the 2014 Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, Matsuyama became the fourth Japanese-born player to win on TOUR. ShotLink Says: Matsuyama ranked fifth in 2014-15 in Final Round Performance, his 69.52 scoring average allowing him to improve his position 17 of 21 times (80.95 percent).
RORY McILROY Birthdate/Place: May 4, 1989 in Holywood, Northern Ireland. Height/Weight: 5-10/160 Accomplishments: Victories at the World Golf ChampionshipsCadillac Match Play and Wells Fargo Championship highlighted an injuryinterrupted season. McIlroy’s two wins came prior to tearing ligaments in his left ankle playing soccer with friends, a mishap that sidelined him for approximately two months. McIlroy still amassed seven top-10s in 12 appearances—including a fourth place at the Masters and T4 in the BMW Championship—and finished 15th in the FedExCup
standings. During the Playoffs, he swapped the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking with Jordan Spieth and Jason Day prior to ending the season at No. 3. Did You Know? When he won his 10th career PGA TOUR victory at the Cadillac Match Play, McIlroy joined Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only TOUR players in the last 75 years to win 10 times before their 26th birthday. ShotLink Says: McIlroy’s third-round 61 at the Wells Fargo Championship tied for the lowest score on TOUR in 2014-15.
PATRICK REED Birthdate/Place: August 5, 1990 in San Antonio, Texas. Height/Weight: 6-0/200 Accomplishments: Reed’s 2014-15 season was marked by his fourth PGA TOUR victory and career-best 12th-place finish in the FedExCup standings. He played some of the most clutch golf of the year to win the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, holing a wedge shot on the 16th hole and making birdies on Nos. 15 and 18 of the final round to tie Jimmy Walker, whom he defeated with a birdie on the first extra hole. w w w.pgatour.com
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The victory made Reed just the fourth player in the last 20 years to get his fourth TOUR win before age 24 years, 6 months. Reed shared the 36-hole lead in the U.S. Open en route to a T14, his best finish in a major championship. Did You Know? Reed went 6-0 in match play in helping Augusta State to two NCAA championships. ShotLink Says: Reed was 17th in Three-Putt Avoidance, thanks in part to his T8 ranking in Approach Putt Performance (average of 2 feet, 1 inch from hole after first putt). PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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YOUNG PLAYERS
JORDAN SPIETH Birthdate/Place: July 27, 1993 in Dallas, Texas. Height/Weight: 6-1/185 Accomplishments: Spieth put together a season that ranks among the finest ever, winning five times—including two majors—and capping it with a victory in the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola to become the youngest winner of the event and the FedExCup. The Player of the Year became only the fifth wire-towire winner of the Masters with his record-tying, 18-under performance. With a one-stroke victory over Dustin Johnson and Louis Oosthuizen in the U.S. Open, Spieth became the youngest to win the championship since Bobby Jones in 1923. He made a
strong bid for three consecutive major titles at The Open Championship— finishing T4, one shot out of a playoff at St. Andrews—and was runner-up to Jason Day at the PGA Championship. Spieth’s TOUR Championship by CocaCola title made him only the sixth player since 1980 to win five or more times in a TOUR season. Did You Know? Spieth is only the third player to win the U.S. Open and TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola in a season, joining Curtis Strange (1988) and Retief Goosen (2004). ShotLink Says: Spieth ranked first in Putting Average, second in Birdie Average and fourth in Scrambling en route to a TOUR-leading 69.938 Scoring Average.
ROBERT STREB Birthdate/Place: April 7, 1987 in Chickasha, Okla. Height/Weight: 5-10/165 Accomplishments: In a season in which he won his first PGA TOUR event, Streb improved from 71st in the 2013-14 FedExCup standings to 18th. He became the third consecutive player in his 20s to start the season with a win when he triumphed at The RSM Classic. Streb closed with a 63 then defeated Will MacKenzie and Brendon de Jonge in a playoff. The Kansas State graduate lost a playoff at The Greenbrier Classic, another of his nine top-10 finishes in 30 tournaments. He
ended the season on a high note, a final-round 65 at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, where he was T18 in his first trip to East Lake. Did You Know? Playing in his first major championships, Streb improved with each appearance. After missing the Masters cut, he was T42 in the U.S. Open, T18 in The Open Championship and T10 at the PGA Championship. ShotLink Says: Streb ranked T2 in Par 3 Scoring Average in 2014-15 with 2.97, one of only 17 golfers to play the short holes under par for the season.
JUSTIN THOMAS Birthdate/Place: April 29, 1993 in Louisville, Ken. Height/Weight: 5-10/145 Accomplishments: Thomas had top-25 finishes in half of his tournaments (15 of 30) in a solid PGA TOUR rookie season in which he was 32nd in the FedExCup standings. The former Alabama golfer, who was part of a national champion Crimson Tide team in 2013, had seven top-10s highlighed by T4 finishes at the Sanderson Farms Championship and Quicken 64
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Loans National. Early in the 2015-16 season, Thomas won his first TOUR event, the CIMB Classic in Malaysia. Did You Know? Thomas graduated to the PGA TOUR after a strong rookie campaign on the Web.com Tour in 2014 that included a victory among 13 top-25 finishes. ShotLink Says: Thomas’ length (T15 Driving Distance, 303.2 yards) contributed to his No. 2 ranking in Par 5 Scoring Average (4.49), which trailed Bubba Watson (4.47).
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For more information please visit www.aboutGolf.com/PGATOUR, call 800.445.GOLF or email info@aboutGolf.com. THE PGA TOUR and swinging golfer design are registered trademarks of the PGA TOUR, Inc.
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A test run with the aboutGolf simulator soon makes it clear that what we have here is an unrivaled indoor golf experience. But added to this is the significant fact that these simulators also offer a complete entertainment experience. The aG Portal™ is exactly what it sounds like—a doorway to an amazing world of different and varied entertainment options. “If you can imagine it,” says Theodore Stechschulte, “then you can probably do it on an aboutGolf SmartSim!” It’s the aG Portal that provides a seamless entrance into the PGA TOUR Simulator for almost any content—choose from aboutGolf’s library, or from the internet, or through local cable, or by an external device (including game consoles). From aboutGolf we clearly have not only the perfect indoor golf experience but also a true family destination each and every day. THE PGA TOUR and swinging golfer design are registered trademarks of the PGA TOUR, Inc.
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Sponsored feature
W E N T E V I N E YA R D S
The Greatest Golf Experience on the West Coast
The Course at Wente Vineyards is the premier golf course in the San Francisco Bay Area. Designed by golfing great Greg Norman to appeal to both novice and pro, the 18-hole championship course is a picturesque 7,181-yard, par-72, upscale, daily-fee golf course tucked away in the scenic Livermore Valley, 50 minutes east of San Francisco. With three distinct and very attractive topographies—native woodlands, mature vineyards and rolling hills of natural grasslands—The Course at Wente Vineyards offers extraordinary visual panoramas and a diversity of play unmatched in the Bay Area.
the end of the day. Relax, and let The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards tempt you with a choice of delicious California wine-country cuisine that includes the freshest locally grown ingredients. “There’s nothing better than enjoying one of Wente Vineyards’ award winning wines while overlooking the golf course and valley, counting up your scorecard—or just toss the scorecard aside and enjoy the wine and view!” says Cabe Jones, PGA, Head Golf Professional at Wente Vineyards.
Peak season for Wente Vineyards is June through October. Not to be missed are the fall months of September and October when visitors experience the most spectacular and beautiful scenic color changes in the surrounding vineyards and woodlands. After the many pleasurable challenges the Course has to offer, one of the additional rewards is the popular fine wine and dining experience at
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The Course at Wente Vineyards Email: golfshop@wentevineyards.com Telephone: 925.456.2475
26/10/2015 10:01
Dreaming
TRAVEL
CALIFORNIA NEED TO KNOW Both the highest and lowest points in the contiguous U.S. are in California. The highest is 14,494-foot Mt. Whitney, the lowest Death Valley only 76 miles away.
CAPITAL: Sacramento CURRENCY: U.S. Dollar
CLIMATE:
IMAGES: WENTE VINEYARDS; VISIT CALIFORNIA; 123 RF
California’s climate is widely varied, from hot desert to subarctic, depending on the latitude, elevation and proximity to the coast. Most of the coastal regions and much of the Central Valley have a Mediterranean climate: hot, dry summers and mild, moderately rainy winters.
GETTING THERE: With a number of domestic and international airports statewide, flying into California is an easy and convenient way to get around the state. There are 10 international airports, including San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and San Diego. w w w.pgatour.com
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Wente Vineyards Event Center, Restaurant, Golf Course and Murrieta’s Well offers attractive and unique facilities for special events and celebrations.
WENTE VINEYARDS San Francisco Bay Area The scenic Livermore Valley is where you’ll find one of the premier golf courses in the Bay Area. This is the course at Wente Vineyards, about 50 minutes east of San Francisco. Highly rated since it opened in 1998, and designed by Greg Norman, the picturesque 18-hole championship course (7,181-yards, par 72) is surrounded by
native woodlands, mature vineyards and rolling hills of natural grasslands. Greg Norman was justifiably proud of the course he created when he said, “I can stand here as the head of my development company and honestly say this is my best effort.” Wente Vineyards also has a selection of fine dining and local wines for both golfers and non-golfers to enjoy.
MORO ROCK This 6,725-foot precipice offers a spectacular view of the Kaweah River gorge below, or the rugged switchbacks of the Generals Highway as it heads toward Three Rivers. Once reaching Moro Rock’s flat summit, marvel at the view of the Great Western Divide: a jagged skyline of alpine cirques and glacier-carved peaks touching the sky at more than 13,000 feet. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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Travel
NEED TO KNOW
Puerto Rico
Gran Melia Puerto Rico Guests of the hotel enjoy exclusive privileges at two world-class 18-hole championship courses designed by World Golf Hall of Fame member Tom Kite at Coco Beach Golf & Country Club, which hosts the PGA TOUR’s Puerto Rico Open. Guests receive discounted green fees, tee times, private lessons and club storage. The hotel is also a popular choice for weddings––hardly surprising considering the
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accomplished staff of certified planners on hand and exquisite scenery. Other activities Just a few hours from San Juan, the picturesque El Yunque stands as the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System. A primitive land that has remained virtually unchanged for a thousand years, hiking through the majestic waterfalls and grand vistas provide not only spectacular
Capital: San Juan Currency: U.S. Dollar
Cueva Ventana, overlooking the Río Grande de Arecibo valley.
views but also a variety of birds, flora and wildlife.
Arecibo observatory The world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope is located in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The visually spectacular features a reflector platform that hovers 450 feet in the air, and the dish was made famous by Hollywood films such as “GoldenEye.” A visitor’s center, exhibits and Space Academy allow for an interesting trip.
Climate:
With a tropical marine climate, Puerto Rico has one of the most constant climates in the world with average temperatures of 80°F, or 70°F in the mountains. The rainy season stretches from April into November, with August being the wettest month.
Getting there:
Images: Puerto Rico Tourism Company
Paradise in
Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island with over 270 miles of beaches––some with black, magnetic sand, others boasting idyllic stretches of paradise, Puerto Rico has tremendous variety and is understandably a popular location for snorkeling, diving, surfing and sailing.
San Juan has the second-largest cruise port in the western hemisphere, and the largest hub in the Caribbean, making it a popular cruise destination. San Juan Airport is served by large jets offering nonstop flights from more than 20 U.S. cities. w w w.pgatour.com
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For a picture perfect wedding imagine this; beautiful For a picture perfect wedding imagine this; beautiful beaches, a unique landscape, an enchanting wedding beaches, a unique landscape, an enchanting wedding chapel and romantic architecture. We have it all for chapel and romantic architecture. We have it all for that special moment. Contact us, our friendly staff will that special moment. Contact us, our friendly staff will gladly help you make your dreams come true. gladly help you make your dreams come true.
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RICO
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TRAVEL
NEED TO KNOW
CAPITAL: Annapolis Enjoy the autumnal scenery Maryland has to offer.
MARYLAND OCEAN CITY GOLF GATEWAY Ocean City possesses 17 championship golf courses; one of the most popular courses in the area is the Eagle Landing Golf Course, which overlooks the beautiful Sinepuxent Bay. The 18-hole course is one of the most scenic and challenging courses on the Eastern Shore. WASHINGTON COUNTY MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS With more than 7,000 works of art from paintings
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to sculptures, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts was established in 1931 and is considered one of the finest small museums in the U.S. MARYLAND FOLIAGE TRIP Experience the autumnal scenery during the fall months by taking a hike around the C&O Canal. The trail offers stunning views of Maryland’s vibrant fall foliage through the forests, or glide along the river by taking a ride on a muledrawn canal boat.
CURRENCY: U.S. Dollar
CLIMATE: The eastern part of Maryland, where the capital Annapolis is situated, has a humid sub-tropical climate that usually sees very hot and humid summers, and mild to cool winters that are fairly short.
GETTING THERE: Located 10 miles south of Baltimore, the closest airport is Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. There is an airport rail station and bus, taxi, limousine, shuttle and car rental services available.
IMAGES: VISIT MARYLAND
Marvel at
Maryland is one of the most densely populated states in America, despite being one of the smallest. It is thought to be the birthplace of religious freedom in America, due to the first Lord Baltimore, George Calvert, making it a refuge for persecuted English Catholics.
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Great
Golf
Ocean City, Maryland
17 Championship Courses 10 Miles of Beach 3 Mile Boardwalk
2 Nights, 3 Rounds Starting: Spring / Fall Weekdays - $153 Weekends - $175
First Class Accommodations Excellent Dining Exciting Nightlife
“Great Golf is Just the Beginning” Ocean City, Maryland
www.OceanCityGolf.com
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TRAVEL
NEED TO KNOW
MEXICO
QUIVIRA GOLF COURSE Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the course at Quivira golf is set at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, marked by sheer granite cliffs, vast windswept dunes and rolling desert foothills. In a destination esteemed for its inimitable ocean-desert-mountain setting, Quivira offers more oceanfront exposure than any other course in Los Cabos, boasting views of the Pacific from every hole. CHICHEN ITZA Considered one of the “Seven Wonders of the World,” this 74
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ancient Mayan ruin is composed of soaring pyramids, colossal temples, startling carved columns and vast sports fields. XCARET ECO THEME PARK This award-winning eco park features unique activities where visitors can discover the natural and cultural heritage of Mexico, while exploring the beautiful rivers, jungles and caves. With a variety of activities, from zip lining through the jungle to discovering natural cenotes, there are plenty of unique adventures to enjoy.
Xel-Há park, part of Xcaret Eco Theme Park.
CAPITAL: Mexico City CURRENCY: Mexican peso
CLIMATE: Varies by region: along the coast, it’s hot and humid in summer. Inland communities are dryer and more temperate. The rainy season runs from May to September (sometimes extending into October).
GETTING THERE: Major international airlines, as well as charter airlines, fly into Cancun every day either via a direct or connecting flight.
IMAGES: EXPERIENCES XCARET
Experience
An incredibly popular holiday destination, Mexico offers a diverse landscape of picturesque beaches, mountains, deserts and jungles. Ancient Aztec and Mayan ruins are dotted throughout the country, and the city of Puebla is home to the world’s smallest volcano.
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Protect yourself from the suns harmful rays
Blue Lizard® Australian Sunscreen advanced sun-protection formula originated in Australia, where sunscreen standards are the highest in the world. They are now manufactured in the U.S. under those same strict standards, using only the highest quality ingredients. Blue Lizard® delivers clinically proven, broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection, for every skin type and outdoor need. It’s no wonder Blue Lizard® is recommended by dermatologists and pharmacists nationwide.
Visit www.bluelizard.net to buy online or find your nearest store Crown Laboratories - jh-Rev4.indd 1
30/11/2015 09:28
Travel
The Beauty of
BERMUDA
The unique pink sands of Elbow Beach.
NEED TO KNOW
Shipwreck scuba diving For those after a diving challenge, explore Bermuda’s history in the form of shipwrecks. Dive down and discover the remains of vessels that have rested under the sea for many years, including one for four centuries. underground caves Some of Bermuda’s incredible natural beauty lays underground in the Crystal Caves. Thought to be around 30 million years old, Bermuda’s ancient caves are filled with lush lakes and chandelier clusters––a true hidden-gem.
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Bermuda is located in the Atlantic, 650 miles east of North Carolina. The island is made up of 181 islands, islets and rocks. Famous for pink-sand beaches, which are created by a mixture of crushed coral, calcium carbonate and the shells of tiny single-celled animals called Foraminifera.
Capital: Hamilton Currency:
Bermudian Dollar
Climate:
Bermuda’s climate is sub-tropical, meaning the months of fall, winter and spring are mild, with an average temperature of 70°F. The hottest part of the year falls between May and October, where temperatures are between 75°F and 85°F, with humidity at its highest from July to October.
Getting there:
images: Bermuda Tourism Authority
Elbow Beach Located in the pink sands of Elbow Beach in Paget Parish, the Elbow Beach resort boasts astounding ocean views, and an endless amount of island activities nearby. The resort amenities include half a mile of private beach, a luxurious spa, five tennis courts, an outdoor swimming pool and a fitness room. Situated in close proximity to four 18-hole championship golf courses, keen golfers are spoilt for choice. Just two miles from the resort is Belmont Hills Golf Course, which was designed in 2002 and features 6,100 yards of strategically laid out bunkers, multi-tiered greens and slender fairways.
Flights to Bermuda are available across U.S; from Boston, a flight will take less than two hours. Rental cars are not available in Bermuda, so that pollution is kept to a minimum and does not damage the beauty of the island. w w w.pgatour.com
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Discover the Jewel of the Atlantic.
We welcome you to discover the Jewel of the Atlantic, Elbow Beach Bermuda – a boutique enclave of privileged luxury, style and service. Spend your days exploring the half-mile of private pink sand beach and plunging into the warm, crystal clear Atlantic surf. Go ahead. Treat yourself to the island escape you’ve been waiting for.
To book your secluded getaway, visit elbowbeachbermuda.com or call 800.223.7434. 9 8 C OT TA G E - I N S P I R E D RO O M S & S U I T E S | 4 S U M P T U O U S D I N I N G V E N U E S | O C E A N V I E W S PA | 5 T E N N I S C O U RT S P R I VAT E P I N K S A N D B E A C H | F R E E - F O R M S W I M M I N G P O O L | 1 8 - H O L E C H A M P I O N S H I P G O L F C O U R S E S N E A R B Y HORSEBACK
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RIDING
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FISHING
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DIVING,
SNORKELING
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TRAVEL
NEED TO KNOW Boasting a rich landscape of mountains, rainforests and reef-lined beaches, this Caribbean island nation is also home to a lavish collection of all-inclusive resorts. Jamaica is known as the birthplace of reggae, and features a Bob Marley museum in the capital city, Kingston.
CAPITAL: Kingston CURRENCY:
Jamaican Dollar
CLIMATE:
Consistently warm, tropical weather ensures Jamaica is a popular destination year-round. Peak seasons run from midDecember to April, and the wettest months are May and October.
Discover
JAMAICA
The White Witch Golf Course of Jamaica’s Rose Hall Estate.
IMAGES: VISIT JAMAICA
GETTING THERE:
The national airline Air Jamaica flies regularly to and from the US. MidApril to early December is the cheapest period to fly to Jamaica, and a flight to Kingston from New York takes less than four hours. There’s a departure tax of $27 USD which must be paid in cash, but many tickets include this tax in their price––be sure to check. w w w.pgatour.com
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WHITE WITCH GOLF COURSE Carved from the rolling countryside of Jamaica’s historic 4,000-acre Rose Hall Estate, the White Witch is considered one of the finest golf courses in the Caribbean. Designed by renowned architects Robert von Hagge and Rick Baril, the 18-hole championship course is characterized by
mountainous terrain, cool winds, colorful foliage and outstanding ocean views. MILK RIVER SPA Visit the unique governmentowned spa for a rejuvenating dip in the curative waters of the aged Milk River, and enjoy a naturally radioactive mineral bath. These spring-fed therapeutic waters can reach temperatures of up to 86°F.
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Haven
TRAVEL
HAWAIIAN
NEED TO KNOW The only U.S. state composed entirely of islands, Hawaii is legendary for its picturesque landscapes––sheer cliffs, waterfalls, tropical foliage and beaches with gold, black, red and even green sands.
CAPITAL: Honolulu CURRENCY: U.S. Dollar
CLIMATE:
PRINCE’S CLUB Designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, this dramatic 27-hole course is one of a kind. Situated on Oahu’s Ewa Plain, the course boasts 270 acres of breathtaking scenery with magnificent views of the rain-carved Waianae Mountains. The long verdant fairways are lined with numerous white sand bunkers and 10 strategically placed lakes, and with three interchangeable nines. This course is a stunning setting for all skill levels. OTHER ACTIVITIES With more than 70 impressive courses, Hawaii is often 80
considered a golfer’s heaven. Aside from golf, there’s plenty to do: with six unique islands to visit in Hawaii, you may struggle to see them all. SURF’S UP Hawaii is perhaps the most prominent surfing hot spot in the world––hardly surprising considering the outstanding opportunities for all skill levels. The legendary waves on the North shore of Oahu will suit more accomplished (and thrill seeking) surfers. If you’re more of a spectator than a surfer, watch the professionals take on the vast waves at the Vans Triple Crown
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of Surfing held from November to December. VOLCANOES The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a remarkable and aweinspiring landscape; from barren crevices of black lava to lush rain forests, the impossibly diverse landscape is not to be missed. With 333,086 acres, there’s a great deal to discover. The essential sights are the Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and the Steam Vents, where you can watch steam rise from the earth’s interior.
GETTING THERE:
IMAGES: HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY
Hawaii Island, Kohala Coast.
All of Hawaii’s islands have tropical climates, which bring ideal weather all year round––warm winters and even warmer summers. March to May is the recommended time period to visit; enjoy the pleasant spring weather with calm waters and minimal rainfall. Christmas and Easter periods tend to draw the biggest crowds.
Honolulu International Airport on Oahu, is Hawaii’s main international airport. Most major U.S. airlines fly to Maui and the Big Island, and short flights between islands—the main method of inter-island travel—are frequent. w w w.pgatour.com
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THREE PERFECT PAIRINGS Only Prince Golf Hawaii offers three magnificent courses, each with an oceanfront hotel to match.
MAUNA KEA GOLF COURSE & MAUNA KEA BEACH HOTEL A legendary pairing on the luxurious Kohala Coast of Hawaii Island. Together, the masterworks of Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and Laurance S. Rockefeller.
HAPUNA GOLF COURSE & HAPUNA BEACH PRINCE HOTEL Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay at their best at Mauna Kea Resort. Nearly every room is oceanfront at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel.
HAWAII PRINCE GOLF CLUB & HAWAII PRINCE HOTEL WAIKIKI Three interchangeable nines against a backdrop of Oahu Island’s Waianae Mountains. Waikiki ocean views from every room of the Hawaii Prince. Stay and Play programs available. PrinceGolfHawaii.com | 866.774.6236
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Meadowood Napa Valley No other destination caters to those who love wine and golf more than Meadowood in St. Helena.
L
ove of wine and golf has always been synonymous with the good life. Many high profile and legendary golfers have in common a passion for wine and the life that surrounds it. It is fitting, then, professional golfers would gravitate to the Napa Valley, a destination where world-class wineries abound and an appreciation for a healthy, sporting lifestyle is enjoyed. And within the Napa Valley, Meadowood leads the luxury health, well ness and sporting experience with more venues and services tied to physical activity and appreciation for wine and food. Also a member of Relais & Chateaux, Meadowood is settled on a private, twohundred-fifty acre estate, offering luxury lodging, a Michelin 3-star dining experience and dedicated professionals and facilities to provide the ultimate care in fitness and sport instruction. Complete with tennis courts, croquet lawns, hiking trails, swimming, spa and a nine-hole course. Nine holes is a
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perfect fit for the valley—while providing a challenging game, it also allows for more time in the day to explore everything the destination has to offer. Presiding over Meadowood’s tranquil fairways for the last eighteen years is the property’s Director of Golf, Doug Pike. A Northern California native and PGA Class A Member since 2003, he studied under some of the Bay Area’s finest golf instructors, molding his approach to teaching and player development. Pike’s commitment to his students can be felt through his passion for the growth of the game. A teacher of nationally ranked junior golfers and head golf coach at St. Helena High School, Pike has earned the reputation as one of the Bay Area’s finest supporters and leaders in junior golf. Meadowood’s Golf Course reopened for play in Spring 2015 after an extensive and lengthy renovation. Pike was instrumental, working alongside renowned golf course architect Jim Lipe (of Jim Lipe
Design) to enhance the overall architecture and design, as well as builder Marc Logan (of Greenway Golf) to improve the irrigation and drainage systems. “As a result of the renovation, our Par 28 course now offers immaculate playing surfaces and conditions ideal for year-round play on par with some of the best courses in the country,” says Pike. Meadowood Napa Valley – 900 Meadowood Lane, St. Helena, CA; www.meadowood.com.
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Travel
NEED TO KNOW Escape to the southern Caribbean’s ABC islands and you’ll discover, Curacao, an island paradise located just north of Venezuela. Curacao is well-known for extraordinary SCUBA diving and diverse culture, influenced primarily by the Dutch, Spanish and the island’s close proximity to Latin America. Curacao may not seem like the ideal destination for those seeking a golf vacation, but overlook Curacao and you will miss the opportunity to play one of the Caribbean’s premier tracks.
An Adventure in images: Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort, Curacao
CURAÇAO Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort Nestled along the Caribbean Sea, on Curacao’s 1,500 acre Santa Barbara Planation, is Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort. The luxury resort features a full-service spa, beautiful white-sand beach and an 18-hole championship course. The Pete Dye designed par 72, Old Quarry, plays 6,920 yards from the tips, and offers challenges for players of all skill levels. Opened in 2010,
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the course was designed to fit seamlessly into the island’s hills and valleys. The course poses a variety of challenges including water hazards aplenty, steep elevation, and most notably, the trade winds. Whether you’re a beginner, a scratch golfer, or just along for the ride, Old Quarry’s breathtaking scenery will leave you in awe as you meander between the Caribbean Sea, Tafelberg Mountain and Spanish Water Bay.
Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort.
Capital: Willemstad Dolphin academy A popular choice for vacationers, the Dolphin Academy provides a variety of programs, including the “Dolphin Encounter,” where you can pet the dolphins in waist-deep water, while the trainer teaches you about the animal and its behaviors. There is also an open-water dolphin dive where you can experience the dolphin’s natural behavior amongst the coral reefs.
Currency: Netherlands Antillean Guilder
Climate: Boasting year-round sunshine, Curaçao’s average temperature is 80F. The rainy season is between October and February, where the majority of showers occur during the night.
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2015/16 2015 tournament tournament overview review
The Season Ahead
A pair of new title sponsors bringing their events to new courses highlights the first part of the 2015-16 PGA TOUR schedule
image: usga
T
he World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play moves to Dell’s hometown of Austin, Texas, where it will be played at Austin Country Club. The tournament also has new dates, March 23-27, following the Florida portion of the schedule. The move gives Texas five PGA TOUR events, tying Florida and California for the most. A related shift sees the Puerto Rico Open being played the same week as the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship. The CareerBuilder Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation isn’t moving to a new city, but is changing courses in La Quinta, Calif. The host course is now PGA WEST’s Stadium Course, with the Nicklaus Tournament Course also added to the three-course rotation, joining holdover La Quinta Country Club. The schedule again started with seven events in the fall, with one change. The RSM Classic shifted from the third event of the season to the last of the calendar year, while
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adding a second course at Sea Island Resort— the Plantation Course joining the Seaside Course—to allow a field of 156 players. The 2016 portion of the season opens in the usual fashion with two events in Hawaii followed by the West Coast Swing where the Farmers Insurance Open resumes its usual spot before the Waste Management Phoenix Open after a one-year switch. Then come four Florida tournaments, the Dell Match Play, and the Shell Houston Open leading into the Masters. The Valero Texas Open moves to a lateApril date after three years of being held either one or two weeks before the Masters. In May, two pairs of tournaments are back to their traditional order, the Wells Fargo Championship followed by THE PLAYERS Championship and in Dallas-Fort Worth the AT&T Byron Nelson followed by the Colonial National Invitation Tournament.
Rory McIlroy will be defending champion at the Wells Fargo Championship in May.
Rickie Fowler will try to repeat at THE PLAYERS Championship.
Dave Barrett, Tournament Editor PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1 85
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Grants Pass
Oregon
Ashland
Snake R.
Susanville
Elko
80
Santa Rosa Roseville Vallejo Silverado Resort San Francisco
Santa Cruz Monterey
Tonopah Goldfield
Hollister
Salinas Fresno Reedley
15
Meeker
Manti
70
Beaver
Moab
Cortez o R.
d Colora
Oceanside
Winslow
Prescott Parker Blythe
Gallup
40
Conejos
Nebraska
Denver
Saint Francis
Aurora
Castle Rock Fountain
Pueblo
Oakley
Leoti
La Junta Springfield
25
Clayton
Taos
Santa Fe
Mosquero Las Vegas
Rio Rancho
Amarillo
40
Estancia
Dumas
Hereford
Pampa
Hastings
Salina
Saint Joseph
Chicago Peoria
80 90
Gary
South Bend
Fort Way
Kankakee
Wabash Kokomo
Glendale
Springfield Indianapolis Dayton
Columbia
70
55
Illinois Terre Haute
Saint Effingham Charles Saint Louis
Greensburg
Bloomington 65
Lima
70
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Cinc
Hun
Fran
Louisville
Wildwood Missouri R. Arnold
Jefferson City
HOW EMILIANO GRILLO WON
Oklahoma City
Canyon
Clovis
Lawton 44
35
25
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1
Nashville
Memphis
59
55
65
30
10
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85
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180˚
170˚
160˚
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16
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155˚
Kauai
22˚
37
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Molokai
21˚
170˚
49
45
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Lanai
Kahoolawe
57
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85
30
20˚
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2
Hawaii
50˚
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75
Little Rock Two weeks after winning Decatur HuntsvilleBufo Socorro Brawley Duncan Ada Hot Springs Oxford Portales Reserve Cullman Plainview Phoenix Pine Bluff Tupelo Tijuana Marietta Arkadelphia Tour Carrizozo Yuma the Web.com Ardmore Durant Wichita Falls Oxford San Luis Grenada Birmingham Clifton Arkansas Levelland Built on what was once Casa Grande Roswell Paris Leeds Griffi Gainesville Championship, Argentina’s Greenville Silver City Texarkana Tuscaloosa Lubbock Camden Ensenada Alamogordo Hoover Indianola Denton El Dorado Artesia the estate of a Civil War Plano Ge Opelika Yazoo City Hobbs Lamesa Deming Mount Grillo Pleasant Emiliano won his Las Cruces Fort Worth Montgomery Rockwall Minden Monroe general, Silverado has Andrews Abilene Carlsbad Co Canton Selma Sierra Vista Nogales Burleson Kilgore El Paso Dallas debut as a Shreveport PGA TOUR Baja California Meridian Eufa Midland Big Spring Douglas Stephenville Tyler two 18-hole courses Nogales Jackson Alabama Troy Ozark Socorro Corsicana Ciudad Odessa Natchitoches Brownwood Palestine member with a playoff Pecos Cananea Brookhaven Caborca Waco Enterprise designed by Robert Trent Nacogdoches Doth Natchez Mississippi Hattiesburg Van Horn Juarez San Angelo Gatesville A r c t i c O c e a n Sonora victory Lufkin over Pineville Kevin Na McComb Nuevo Casas Grandes Guadalupe Juarez Fort Stockton Killeen Mobile Crestview College Texas Bogalusa Temple Jones Jr. in the 1960s. It De Ridder Barrow Aconchi Sonora Destin Station Marfa at Silverado. Earlier Round Rock Chihuahua Baton Rougein Hammond Biloxi Pensacola Sanderson Taylor was Rgiven Gulfport Hermosillo M e x i c o u s s i aa fresh update Beaumont the year, Grillo missed a Austin Lafayette Rio Kenner Houston Baytown El Terrero in 2010 after two-time Alaska New Orleans Gr and Morgan City San Antonio Oscar Soto Maynez puttLouisiana on the Houma e Sugar three-foot Land Pasadena Coahuila Uvalde Fort Yukon Ciudad Delicias major winner and NBC El Campo Galveston Empalme 72ndFreeport hole of the Puerto Eagle Pass Victoria Nome Kilauea Chihuahua Guaymas Vicam Mana broadcaster Johnny Miller Port Lavaca Fairbanks Ciudad Delicias Piedras Rico Open that would Beeville Poipu Ciudad Obregon Laie Melchor Muzquiz Sa Waialua and business partners Negras Alice CNavojoa anada WaikaneCamargo Ciudad Ingleside have given him a win and Sabinas Kalaupapa Anchorage Laredo Huatabampo Corpus Christi bought the property. Hidalgo Del Parral Cordova Honolulu Haiku Kaanapali Bering Sea Nuevo Laredo Bamocha earned him a PGA TOUR Silverado served as site of MakenaMonclova Nuevo Los Mochis Kaupo card, ultimately losingG in Juneau ula f of Mexico Hawi Leon McAllen H a w a i i the tournament starting Ciudad Constitucion Harlingen Honokaa Guasave Puako four-way playoff. This time Monterey Gomez Palacio Torreon Sinaloa Prince Rupert Pacific Ocean in 2014 after hosting PGA Hilo Durango Kailua Guadalupe Brownsville Grillo missed a three-foot Unalaska 0 500 Miles Saltillo 0 100 Miles Pahoa La Paz California Sur Culiacan Yerbanis TOUR events from 1968-80 Baja Montemorelos Punaluu 0 500 Km Pacific Ocean Milolii birdie putt on the first 0 100 KM San Fernando Zacatecas Miguel Auza Tamaulipas and a Champions Tour Las Animas playoff hole, but recovered90˚ 115˚ 110˚ 105˚ 100˚ 95˚ event from 1989-2002. to birdie the second extra U n i t e d hole S tand a tearn e shis first Yardage International Boundaries Toll Roads and Bridges State Capitals Major Rivers PGA TOUR title at age State Boundaries Interstate Highways Lakes Cities 500,000+ 7,203; par 72 U.S. Highways 23. Grillo made a 24-foot Cities 100,000-499,999 Cities 50,000-99,999 birdie putt on the 72nd Cities 10,000-49,999 Cities 0-9,999 2015 Champion 0 125 Miles 250 Miles 500 Miles hole as he and Na both 0 125 KM 250 KM 500 KM Emiliano Grillo, Argentina birdied to break out of a five-way tie. Jason Bohn, “I found a little trick that I can enjoy being in the Media Coverage Justin Thomas, and Tyrone moment, enjoy being under pressure. I just tell myself Golf Channel Van Aswegen finished one this is what I have been practicing for my whole life. stroke behind. I want to be here. So don’t get nervous. If you’re Tickets Grillo spiced his final nervous, enjoy being nervous and enjoy the pressure In 2015, daily grounds round by holing out from tickets started at $30. and just give your best.” a bunker to birdie the Children 14 and under —Emiliano Grillo 10th hole. received complimentary Grillo won despite admission (one per adult), putting that was worse all military, retired and than average (cumulative veterans received one Boosted by a third-1.504 Strokes Gained: complimentary ticket, round 64, Jason Bohn Putting) because he made a strong run for as did police officers, led the field in Strokes a victory, finishing T3. fire fighters, and EMTs. Gained: Tee-to-Green (cumulative 12.733). Social Media Grillo ranked third in Twitter: @frysopengolf Proximity to the Hole on Facebook: www.facebook. approach shots. com/frysopengolf 10
2
25˚
Ionia
Bloomington Indiana Muncie Oh
Macomb
Hannibal
Kansas City
Olathe
Cadillac
Michigan Bay Cit Saginaw Flin
Great Bend Win 35 Mount Vernon 64 Garden City Hutchinson Emporia Kentucky Lex Missouri Evansville Owensboro Be Arka Dodge City 55 Lebanon nsas Farmington Campbellsv El Dorado R. R. Madisonville Pittsburg Wichita Winfield Ohio Som Jackson Springfield Paducah Liberal Glasgow 44 Arkansas City Sikeston Hopkinsville Middlesboroug Miami Joplin Nixa Ponca City Clarksville Poplar Bluff 75 Bartlesville Woodward Enid Union City Kennett Tulsa Claremore Fayetteville Oklahoma Tennessee Dyersburg Stillwater Bixby Jonesboro Murfreesboro Jackson 40 Columbia Tahlequah Edmond Lawrenceburg Chatta Midwest City 40 Fort Smith Searcy Shawnee Dalton Athens Norman Corinth Cabot 40
2
30˚
Atchison
Keokuk Maryville Kirksville
Topeka
Hays
Ottumwa
35
Beatrice 29
Phillipsburg
70
Council Bluffs
Harr La Hu
96
Joliet Davenport 55 88
Alpena
Traverse City
Lansi Racine Holland Battle Creek Detroit Evanston Toledo
Rockford Clinton
Iowa Iowa City
75
Milwaukee
Janesville
Cedar Rapids 80
Lincoln
Osborne
Kansas
Mason City
Sheboygan
Beaver Dam
Madison
35
Des Moines
Oshkosh
La Crosse
Waterloo
City
Manitowoc
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90
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Spencer
Carroll
Norfolk
Omaha
North Platte
80
Yankton Vermillion Missour i R. Sioux
Taylor
Imperial Kearney
Raton
Albuquerque
17
Fort Morgan
76
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New Mexico
Kingman 40
Coachella
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Greeley
Colorado Springs
Montrose
Farmington
Henderson
Bullhead City
Encinitas Pacific San Diego O c e a n Information Course
Ainsworth
Eau Claire Green Bay Appleton 43
94
15 20
Location Lompoc
Santa Maria
Lakewood
Monticello
Mesquite
Boulder
Colorado
Grand Junction
Pioche
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Cheyenne Platte R.
Laramie
Rochester
Sioux Falls 29
Valentine
Rushville
Scottsbluff Mullen
25
Fort Collins
Nephi
Cedar City
Greenfield Visalia Avenal El Paso de Robles 5 Porterville Morro Bay Wasco Delano Shafter
35˚
Utah
Vernal
Provo
Payson
Ely
Nevada
California
Wheatland
Mitchell
90
Eagan
Marshall
Lake Michigan Marinette
Merrill
E Cheboygan
Escanaba
Rhinelander
Wisconsin
Saint Paul
Minneapolis
29
Martin
Lusk
S t a t e s
FRYS.com Open Sandy Orem
Eureka
Modesto
80
Green Rock Springs River
Huron
Hayward
Saint Cloud Coon Rapids
Sault Ste. Marie Newberry
Marquette
Superior
35
94
Brookings White River
Hot Springs
Casper
U n i t e d
Logan
Ogden Layton
Riverton
Salt Lake City October 15-18, 2015
Lovelock
Rapid City
Brainerd Morris
Watertown
Pierre
Lake Oahe
90
25
Pinedale
Malad City
Great Salt Lake
Winnemucca
Gillette
Cloquet
South Dakota
Dupree
Buffalo
Minnesota Duluth Fergus Falls
Mound City Aberdeen
Bison
Thermopolis
Idaho Falls
Pocatello
86
84
Redding Red Bluff Chico Paradise Ukiah 5 Yuba City
125˚
Blackfoot Twin Falls
Weaverville
40˚
Broadus Sheridan
Wyoming
Rexburg
Bismarck
Hettinger
Ekalaka
Cody
Dubois
Mountain Home
2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW Eureka Arcata Alturas
Baker
Billings
90
15
Boise
Klamath Falls
Yreka
Bozeman
Red Lodge
Challis
Ontario Burns Caldwell Nampa
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Canyon City
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Hysham
Idaho
Redmond
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150˚
140˚
50˚
19˚
160˚
15
45
159˚
158˚
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157˚
156˚
57
155˚
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
QUICK FACTS
No. 10, Silverado Resort and Spa (North Course).
Field: 144 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’s primary beneficiary in 2015 was the American Institute of Mathematics. Founded by John Fry in 1994, the Institute aims to broaden participation in mathematical sciences at every level, from professional mathematicians to young students.
CHECK THIS OUT
Emiliano Grillo became the first player to win his first start as a PGA TOUR member since Russell Henley at the 2013 Sony Open in Hawaii. Grillo became the sixth player from Argentina to win on the PGA TOUR. Grillo became the fourth player to make the event his first PGA TOUR victory, joining Bryce
Molder (2011), Jonas Blixt (2012), and Jimmy Walker (2013). Brendan Steele led outright through the first three rounds, but closed with a 76 to finish T17 as he failed to become the second wire-to-wire winner of the event that started in 2007 (Rocco Mediate, 2010).
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
1
68
71
65
69
273/-15
500.00
$1,080,000.00
2
68
71
64
69
273/-15
300.00
$648,000.00
Jason Bohn
T3
72
68
64
70
274/-14
145.00
$312,000.00
Justin Thomas
T3
66
70
69
69
274/-14
145.00
$312,000.00
Tyrone Van Aswegen
T3
69
68
69
68
274/-14
145.00
$312,000.00
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES
Justin Thomas’ closing 69 secured a T3 finish.
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A birdie on the final hole of regulation got Kevin Na in a playoff.
The finishing stretch at Silverado North allows birdie opportunities. The 16th and 18th are par 5s that, while not pushovers at 571 and 575 yards, offer the opportunity for long hitters to get home in two or others to make a birdie with a good wedge shot. The 17th is a short par 4 of 375 yards, and for one round of the event is typically set up at around 300 yards to tempt players to try to drive the green.
FAN EXPERIENCE
16 20
Emiliano Grillo Kevin Na
16 20
NOTABLE COURSE FEATURES
The tournament has a culinary partnership with Chef Thomas Keller, with his Cuisine on the Green located next to the 18th hole. In addition, there’s Keller’s temporary pop-up restaurant at Silverado, Ad Lib, and items from Keller’s restaurants are available at the main concession stand while pastries are available at the tournament entrance. Also fitting the Napa Valley location is the William Hill Estate Wine Lounge near the 11th green. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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Golf how it’s meant to be, packed with
WILD SURPRISES Escape to 18 holes of championship play set dramatically against rolling prairie, wooded ridgeline and river valley terrains. Only footsteps from the award-winning Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa. wolfdancergolfclub.com
The trademark HYATT and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation. Š2015 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved.
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21/10/2015 08:57
San Oakland Modesto Francisco San Jose Santa Cruz Pebble Beach
Colora
Arizona
Kingman
Flagstaff
40
Long Beach Anaheim Coachella Oceanside Escondido 10
Prescott Parker Blythe
Winslow
Prescott Valley Payson 17
San Diego Calexico Phoenix Tempe Tijuana MexicaliLocation
Gallup
1
170˚
70
˚
180˚
25
160˚
150˚
140˚
130˚
Sonora
Guadalupe
Hereford
Deming
Alamogordo
Las Cruces
El Paso 2
Ciudad Juarez
Socorro 10
2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW Gary Fort Wayne Akron
Davenport
35
Arkansas City Ponca City Enid
Oklahoma City
Canyon
Lawton 44
Lubbock Lamesa
Andrews
Winfield
Macomb
Miami
Bixby
Midwest City
Abilene
Fort Worth Waco
San Angelo Texas
Nuevo Casas Grandes
Gatesville
Nixa
Fayetteville
Plano
Fort Smith
Arkadelphia
30
20
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Cabot
R.
70˚
35
10
45
10
70
Kettering
Madisonville Ohio Somerset Paducah Glasgow Hopkinsville Middlesborough
Clarksville
Jackson
Corinth
Oxford
Cullman Tupelo 65
55
Birmingham
Greenville Indianola El Dorado Yazoo City
Shreveport
Athens
Decatur
Tuscaloosa
Canton 20
60˚
158˚
157˚
156˚
Kauai
22˚
170˚
Molokai
21˚
49
45
Kahoolawe
57
Maui
Leeds
Hoover
Georgia
Opelika
Selma Meridian
77
Alabama
Eufaula
Statesboro
Dublin
Vidalia
Columbus
Troy
Augusta
180˚
160˚
150˚
140˚
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50˚
Albany
160˚
15
45
159˚
158˚
Savanna
Ozark Natchitoches 65 Moultrie Brookhaven Brunswick Enterprise Dothan Natchez Mississippi Hattiesburg Kingsland Valdosta Pineville McComb 59 Crestview Mobile Bogalusa 55 De Ridder 10 Destin Saint Augus Hammond Biloxi 10 Pensacola Palatka Gulfport 10
49
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Gainesville Florida Dayton Deltona Edgew
157˚
156˚
Kissimmee
Saint Petersburg
Sarasota
Venice
Golf Channel
Tickets Good Any Day tickets cost $35 and a weekly badge is $100. All military and local first responders receive complimentary admission. For information, go to www. shrinershospitalsopen. com.
Social Media Twitter: @ShrinersOpen Facebook: www. facebook.com/ shrinershospitalopen
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95
S
North Port 75
Coral Spring Naples Hialea
Homestea
Key Wes
57
85˚
“On the hole, I asked my caddie who do youTollthink isBridges going to win this Roads and Stateninth Capitals International Boundaries Major Riversweek? He’s Interstate Highways State Boundaries Lakes like,Cities well500,000+ I think there’s more to be said. I think you can post a number and see what U.S. Highways Cities 100,000-499,999 happens. He knew better than I did.” Cities 50,000-99,999 Cities 10,000-49,999 Cities 0-9,999 0 125 Miles 250 Miles 500 Miles ––Smylie Kaufman 0
HOW SMYLIE KAUFMAN WON
125 KM
250 KM
500 KM
15 20
Media Coverage
Me
Bartow Bradenton
155˚
2015 Champion Smylie Kaufman, U.S.
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Smylie Kaufman shot a scorching 61 in the final round, including a 7-under 29 on the back nine, and then waited 2½ hours to watch his score hold up for a one-stroke victory over six players. Kaufman, a 23-year-old playing in his second event as a PGA TOUR member, began the final round seven strokes off the lead. He was 1-under through seven holes before birdies on Nos. 8 and 9 sent him on the way to playing the last 11 holes in 9-under. An eagle on the drivable par-4 15th helped to get him into the clubhouse at 16-under 268. Kevin Na had the best chance to tie, but a bogey on the 17th dropped him to 15-under.
Kaufman ranked second in Driving Distance and T7 in Fairways Hit to make him first in Total Driving. After making seven bogeys in the first two rounds, Kaufman’s only blemish on the weekend was a double bogey on the seventh hole (his 16th) in the third round. Kaufman hit 17 Greens in Regulation on Saturday and 16 on Sunday. He recorded sand saves on both greens he missed in the final round. Brett Steigmaier opened with consecutive 66s.
With a final-round 66, Cameron Tringale finished in a six-way tie for second.
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2015/2016 tournament overview
quick Facts
No. 12, TPC Summerlin.
Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.4 million Winner’s Share: $1,152,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
Charity Benefit
Shriners Hospitals For Children, a system of 22 facilities that provide specialty pediatric care, innovative research, and outstanding medical teaching programs, is the tournament’s primary beneficiary. This system has the largest full-time staff of pediatric orthopedic surgeons in the United States.
XX Smylie Kaufman made it two rookie winners in the first two events of the 2015-16 season, following Emiliano Grillo at the Frys.com Open. XX Kaufman became the 10th player in the last 14 years to make the Shriners Hospitals For Children Open their first PGA TOUR victory. XX Kaufman’s 61 was the lowest final round by a
winner on the PGA TOUR since Tommy Gainey shot a 60 at The McGladrey Classic in 2012. XX Kaufman’s comeback from seven strokes behind entering the final round set a tournament record, breaking the mark of five strokes by Bob Estes (2001) and Phil Tataurangi (2002).
Leaderboard 2015 Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Smylie Kaufman
1
67
72
68
61
268/-16
500.00
$1,152,000.00
Patton Kizzire
T2
65
69
72
63
269/-15
154.16
$355,733.34
Cameron Tringale
T2
68
65
70
66
269/-15
154.16
$355,733.34
Jason Bohn
T2
68
66
69
66
269/-15
154.16
$355,733.33
Alex Cejka
T2
67
70
66
66
269/-15
154.16
$355,733.33
Kevin Na
T2
68
66
68
67
269/-15
154.16
$355,733.33
Brett Stegmaier
T2
66
66
68
69
269/-15
154.16
$355,733.33
Jason Bohn, who closed with a 66, was part of busy final-round leaderboard.
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Kevin Na’s bogey on No. 17 hurt his attempt to force a playoff.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Player
The four-hole closing stretch at TPC Summerlin features classic risk-reward challenges starting with the drivable par-4 15th hole. The par-5 16th is reachable in two shots for most players, but is guarded in front by a pond. While not offering as many birdie opportunities as the previous two holes, water is very much in play on the left side of both the par-3 17th and par-4 18th.
All tickets have access to The Hill, a 10,000-squarefoot entertainment pavilion overlooking the 16th, 17th, and 18th holes with seating areas, tables, and large TV screens. There is also the Fan Zone near the driving range that includes a nine-hole Putt-Putt experience, a Social Media Lounge, and beverages at the fun Lee’s Shank Shack viewing platform. The Patriots’ Outpost has complimentary food and beverages for military and their families.
images: us pga tour; getty images
check this out
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Notable Course Features
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“First Republic understands our needs… they always seem to be one step ahead of us.” T H E O LY M P I C C L U B
Brian F. Davis, 2011 Treasurer (left) Mark A. Campana, 2011 President (right)
(855) 886-4824 or visit www.firstrepublic.com New York Stock Exchange Symbol: FRC Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender
First Republic Bank.indd 1
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
October 29-November 1, 2015
CIMB Classic Location Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (West Course)
Course Information Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club features two courses; East and West, opened in 1991 and designed by Robin Nelson of Nelson & Haworth design. Ted and Geoff Parslow oversaw an extensive renovation of both layouts, with the West Course lengthened to nearly 7,000 yards, reopening in 2008. The layout, known for its many bunkers, water hazards and elevation changes, also hosted a European Tour event in 2015 co-sanctioned with the Asian Tour, while the East Course hosted an LPGA tournament.
Yardage 6,951; par 72
2015 Champion Justin Thomas, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel
Tickets In equivalent U.S. currency, tickets cost approximately $20 on Thursday and Friday, $32 on the weekend, or $60 for a weekly badge. There is a 25 percent discount for holders of CIMB cards. For information, go to www.cimbclassic.com.
“I expected to win a lot sooner than this, honestly. I always had high expectations for myself, and I definitely played well enough last year in some events to win. I understand that wining is difficult, and it doesn’t happen that often.” —Justin Thomas
Kevin Na, with a T3 finish, continued his good play in the early part of the season.
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HOW JUSTIN THOMAS WON
Justin Thomas rebounded from a double bogey on the 14th hole with three consecutive birdies to win by one stroke for his first career PGA TOUR victory. The 22-year-old shot a finalround 66 for a 26-under 262 total, while Adam Scott claimed second place at 263 with a closing 63. Thomas went from one ahead to one behind when his approach found the water on No. 14, but nearly holed his tee shot at the par-3 15th to get back on track. Thomas put himself in position with a course-record 61 in the second round and entered the final round tied for the lead with Brendan Steele, who shot a closing 68 to tie for third with Kevin Na (67), a runner-up the prior two weeks. Thomas had a streak of four straight birdies in each of the first three rounds in addition to his three consecutive in the final round. Thomas had 30 birdies and two eagles to lead the field in Par Breakers. Thomas led the field in Putts Per Round with 26.0 and didn’t have a three-putt all week.
Hideki Matsuyama finished fifth at 22-under, four strokes behind the winner.
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quick Facts
No. 11 TK, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (West Course).
Field: 78 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7 million Winner’s Share: $1,260,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
Charity Benefit
Tournament proceeds are distributed to charities through the CIMB Foundation. The Foundation’s initiatives are aimed at empowering communities in a transparent, measurable, and accountable way to enable them to stand on their own. The focus is on the areas of community development, sports and education.
XX Justin Thomas, 22 years old, became the third consecutive player 23 or younger to win on the PGA TOUR, following Emiliano Grillo (Frys.com Open) and Smylie Kaufman (Shriners Hospitals For Children Classic), both 23. XX Thomas’ 26-under winning total was a tournament record in relation to par, breaking Bo Van Pelt’s 23-under in 2011.
XX Thomas became the first player in the sixyear history of the CIMB Classic to make the event his first PGA TOUR victory. XX This marked the fifth time in the six times the CIMB Classic has been played that a 54hole leader went on to win (Thomas shared the 54-hole lead with Brendan Steele).
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Justin Thomas
1
68
61
67
66
262/-26
500.00
$1,260,000.00
Adam Scott
2
68
66
66
63
263/-25
300.00
$648,000.00
T3
67
66
64
67
264/-24
145.00
$312,000.00
T3
67
63
66
68
264/-24
145.00
$312,000.00
Hideki Matsuyama
5
65
66
68
67
266/-22
145.00
$312,000.00
images: Getty Images
Brendan Steele shared the 54hole lead en route to a T3.
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Adam Scott closed strong with a 63 to finish second.
The 16th hole is a par 4 of only 318 yards, which depending on tee placement and the player’s power offers the tantalizing choice to try to drive the green. But a large pond practically hugs the left side of the putting surface, making accuracy paramount if the bold play is chosen. Others can safely lay up off the tee and try to make birdie with a wedge approach.
FAN EXPERIENCE
16 20
Kevin Na Brendan Steele
Notable Course Features
16 20
check this out
In 2015, the new Food Pavilion featured plenty of local favorites and famous street food. The air-conditioned Heineken Green Experience offered views of the first tee and 14th and 15th holes with a variety of fun activities, while the Family Fun Zone was a place to get out of the sun and enjoy activities and games for the whole family. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1 93
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
November 5-8, 2015
World Golf ChampionshipsHSBC Champions
Location Shanghai, China Sheshan International Golf Club
Course Information Set in the shadow of the Basilica of Our Lady of Sheshan, Sheshan International is a Nelson & Haworth design that integrates the natural forests, existing streams and a quarry with man-made lakes and strategic bunkering. Millions of yards of cubic dirt were moved to create one of the most dramatic and hilly courses in Shanghai.
Yardage 7,199; par 72
2015 Champion Russell Knox, Scotland
Media Coverage Golf Channel
Tickets Juniors under 18 receive complimentary admission when accompanied by an adult. For information, go to www. worldgolfchampionships.com
“I always kind of joked with my coach that my first win would be a big one, and this is pretty big. So I’m over the moon.” —Russell Knox
Branden Grace enjoyed a birdie on No. 8 during a closing 68.
Danny Willett charged up the leaderboard with a final-round 62.
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
American Dustin Johnson shared fifth place.
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After sharing the 54hole lead, Kevin Kisner finished second, two shots back.
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HOW RUSSELL KNOX WON
After finding out only a week earlier that he had gotten into the field, Russell Knox scrambled to get a visa and ultimately won the HSBC Champions for his first career PGA TOUR title. The 30-yearold Scotsman elected to play the 18th hole of the third round on Sunday morning instead of finishing in near-darkness Saturday and birdied it to tie Kevin Kisner for the 54-hole lead. Knox took control with birdies on the second and third holes of the final round, was briefly tied after a bogey on the ninth, and then went in front to stay with birdies on 10 and 11 on the way to a closing 68 and 20-under 268 total. Kisner shot a 70 for 270, while Danny Willett shot a 62 but started too far back and tied for third with Ross Fisher. Knox played the first three holes at Sheshan International in a total of 8-under. Knox made at least six birdies in every round, finishing with 25 to rank T1. Knox ranked T4 in Greens in Regulation and T5 in Driving Accuracy.
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quick Facts
No. 9, Sheshan International Golf Club.
Field: 78 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $8.5 million Winner’s Share: $1,400,000 FedExCup Points: 550 to the winner
Charity Benefit The primary beneficiary of all the World Golf Championships events is The First Tee. Since 1999, the World Golf Championships series has distributed more than $50 million to charities worldwide.
Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Russell Knox
1
65
68
68
268/-20
550.00
$1,400,000.00
315.00
67
Kevin Kisner
2
64
66
70
70
270/-18
Ross Fisher
T3
69
69
65
68
271/-17
$422,500.00
$850,000.00
Danny Willett
T3
65
74
70
62
271/-17
$422,500.00
T5
63
71
70
68
272/-16
110.00
$276,500.00
T5
65
71
65
71
272/-16
110.00
$276,500.00
Ross Fisher closed with a 68 to finish T3.
check this out XX Russell Knox became the first player to win in his first appearance in a World Golf Championships event, except for Jeff Maggert in the very first WGC event in 1999. XX Knox was the seventh player to make a World Golf Championships event their first PGA TOUR victory, and the second in a row (Shane Lowry, 2015 Bridgestone Invitational). XX Scotland’s Knox became the fourth 96 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
T19.WGC HSBC.indd 96
European to win the HSBC Champions since it became a World Golf Championships event in 2009, joining Italy’s Francesco Molinari (2010), Germany’s Martin Kaymer (2011), and England’s Ian Poulter (2012). XX Knox’s first PGA TOUR victory came in his 93rd start. XX Haotong Li’s T7 was the best-ever finish for a player from China on the PGA TOUR.
FAN EXPERIENCE
15 20
Branden Grace Dustin Johnson
The most unique feature of Sheshan International is the dramatic quarry that forms a hazard on the 16th and 17th holes. The 16th is a 288-yard par 4 where the choice is between a safe lay-up off the tee or a bold shot over the quarry directly at the green. The 212-yard, par-3 17th plays over the quarry, which also guards the right side of the green.
A complimentary shuttle service is provided from several locations in the city to Sheshan International Golf Club.
images: GETTY
Leaderboard 2015
15 20
Notable Course Features
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.
Tired of Squinting?
To record your eagle or birdie on a scorecard filled with small print, the Darldona ™ EagleEyes Viewer ™ is for you!
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You’ll see your scorecard crystal clear when you look through the 3x magnifier lens on this user-friendly device. You’ll feel like you’re looking through the Eyes The EagleEyes Viewer™ eliminates the need of an Eagle! Get going today and order your Darldona™ for glasses that get in the way, get lost, or get EagleEyes Viewer ™ at www.eagleeyesviewer.com. VIEWER SPECIFICATIONS RANGE OF SPACE UNDER LENS
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Personalize your viewer cover / logo & select a color.
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Contact 757.603.8527 • gary@eagleeyesviewer.com • www.eagleeyesviewer.com
Eagle Eyes Viewer.indd 1
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
November 5-9, 2015
Sanderson Farms Championship Location
HOW PETER MALNATI WON
Course Information
Peter Malnati emerged from a tightly bunched leaderboard with a 3-under 33 on the back nine to take a one-stroke victory over David Toms and William McGirt at 18-under 270. There were 12 players within two strokes of the lead after the third round, which didn’t end until Monday morning due to rain delays. Malnati, who lost his card after his first try on the PGA TOUR in 2014, was in a group of five one stroke behind before a final-round 67 Monday afternoon. Toms, who shared the 54-hole lead with Patton Kizzire, shot a 69 while McGirt closed with a 68. Kizzire, after a 70, was among those in a five-way tie for fourth that also included 36-hole leader Roberto Castro. Malnati was T4 in Greens in Regulation, and hit 16 greens in each of the final two rounds. Malnati didn’t hit his approach shots particularly close, but made five putts longer than 25 feet and led the field in Strokes Gained: Putting. While not a long hitter, Malnati still managed to finish T3 in Par 5 Scoring Average (4.44).
The Country Club of Jackson, founded in 1914, is a private club with 27 championship holes originally designed by Dick Wilson in 1962. John Fought redesigned 18 holes in 2008, the Dogwood and Azalea nines that are used for the tournament. The $3.5 million redesign included new green complexes, new and replaced bunkers and wider fairways.
Yardage 7,364; par 72
2015 Champion Peter Malnati, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel
Tickets Good Any Day Tickets are $25 including parking and shuttle; a weekly badge is $50. Veterans get daily tickets for $15; Active Duty, Military Reserve, National Guard, and Military Retirees receive complimentary admission. Kids 15 and under are free (one per ticketed adult).
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“It was kind of surreal at that point [waiting in the clubhouse with a one-stroke lead.] I was definitely happy. I don’t really know what I was feeling.” — Peter Malnati
Aaron Baddeley was T4 in the event, which concluded on Monday because of rain delays.
15 20
Jackson, Miss. Country Club of Jackson
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
QUICK FACTS
No 16, The Country Club of Jackson.
Field: 132 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $4.1 million Winner’s Share: $738,000 FedExCup Points: 300
CHARITY BENEFIT
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Malnati made it two years in a row that the winner of the Sanderson Farms Championship was a first-time PGA TOUR winner, following Nick Taylor. Since the tournament became an official-victory event in 1994 there have been eight first-time winners. David Toms’ T2 was his best finish on TOUR since a runner-up finish at the 2012 RSM Classic.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Peter Malnati
1
69
66
68
67
270/-18
300.00
$738,000.00
William McGirt
T2
71
66
66
68
271/-17
135.00
$360,800.00
T2
67
69
66
69
271/-17
135.00
$360,800.00
T4
64
73
67
68
272/-16
62.00
$154,570.00
Roberto Castro
T4
62
67
75
68
272/-16
62.00
$154,570.00
Patton Kizzire
T4
67
69
66
70
272/-16
62.00
$154,570.00
Bryce Molder
T4
64
69
70
69
272/-16
62.00
$154,570.00
Jhonnatan Vegas
T4
66
67
70
69
272/-16
62.00
$154,570.00
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES
Bryce Molder closed with a 69 to finish T4.
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Four rounds in the 60s gave former PGA Championship winner David Toms his best finish since 2012.
The signature hole is the 469-yard, par-4 16th. Swampland protects the entire left side and also crosses the fairway about 80 yards short of the largest green on the course. A long approach must avoid the swamp on the left and a large bunker on the right. The hole was the toughest on the course in 2015.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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David Toms Aaron Baddeley
NOTABLE COURSE FEATURES
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Peter Malnati was the fifth first-time PGA TOUR winner in the first five events of the 201516 season. The last time there were five straight first-time winners on the PGA TOUR was in 2002. All of the winners of the first five events of the 2015-16 season were alums of the Web. com Tour. Three of them had just graduated this past season (Emiliano Grillo, Smylie Kaufman and Malnati).
The host organization, Century Club Charities, contributes to primary beneficiary Friends of Children Hospital and other local charities. Friends of Children Hospital is a nonprofit organization created to benefit Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, the state’s only hospital designed and equipped for the care and treatment of children.
The BankPlus Fan Pavilion, with an upgraded ticket, offers delicious Southern seafood, a sports bar atmosphere, and a chance to keep up with college football games. The Kids Zone, Autograph Zone, and Expo are open to everyone. Special events include a youth clinic on Monday, Football Fan Day on Saturday (fans dress to support their team), a concert Saturday evening, and church service Sunday morning. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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09/11/2015 09:53
2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
November 12-15, 2015
OHL Classic at Mayakoba Playa del Carmen, Mexico Mayakoba Resort (El Camaleón Golf Club)
Course Information Designed by two-time Open Championship winner Greg Norman in 2006, El Camaleón Golf Club at the Mayakoba Resort is notable for the fact that it traverses through three different landscapes: mangrove jungles, limestone canals and an oceanfront stretch. The changing ecological makeup creates a diverse challenge.
Yardage 6,987; par 71
2015 Champion Graeme McDowell, N. Ireland
Media Coverage Golf Channel/ Golf Channel Latin America
Tickets A variety of ticket options are available, with general admission grounds tickets starting at $10. Youth 17 and under are free when accompanied by a ticketed adult. For more information, go to www. ohlclassic.com.
“I’m going to appreciate this one, because this year has been a grind.” ––Graeme McDowell
Going for his second straight TOUR win, Russell Knox was T2.
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HOW GRAEME MCDOWELL WON
Location
Graeme McDowell nearly holed his 5-iron approach shot on the first extra hole—the ball settling three feet away after grazing the cup—and the birdie gave him a playoff victory over Russell Knox and Jason Bohn. McDowell hadn’t finished in the top 10 in a PGA TOUR event since November 2014, but he holed an eight-foot par putt on the 72nd hole and ended up in a playoff when Knox bogeyed the finisher. McDowell and Knox, who was looking for a second straight win after taking the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, each shot 66 in the final round that extended into Monday because of rain delays, while Bohn had a 68. Third-round leader Derek Fathauer managed only an even-par 71 to leave it a three-way battle down the stretch. McDowell had streaks of five straight birdies in the first round, three and four straight birdies in the second round, and three straight birdies in the fourth round. McDowell ranked T4 in Putts Per Round (26.25), and had just 25 putts in the final round. McDowell ranked T2 in Par 3 Scoring Average (2.69) with five birdies and no bogeys.
Jason Bohn was part of a three-man playoff.
Social Media Twitter: @MayakobaGolf Facebook: www. facebook.com/OHLClassic w w w.pgatour.com
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2015/2016 tournament overview
quick Facts
No. 15, El Camaleón Golf Club.
Field: 132 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.2 million Winner’s Share: $1,116,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
Charity Benefit
Mexico’s only PGA TOUR event donates significant funds and raises awareness for selected local, national and international charities. It has donated nearly $2 million to philanthropic causes, positively affecting the communities of Playa del Carmen and Cancún.
XX Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell was the first international winner of the OHL Classic at Mayakoba. The first eight winners were Americans. XX McDowell became the fifth come-from-behind winner in the nine OHL Classics and the fourth in a row, following John Huh (2012), Harris English (2013) and Charley Hoffman (2014). Huh holds the
record for biggest comeback at seven strokes. XX The best finish by any Mexicans in the tournament is T9 by Carlos Ortiz and Oscar Fraustro in 2014. Three Mexicans have made the cut more than once: Esteban Toledo (2007, 2008, 2009, 2012), Jose de Jesus Rodriguez (2009, 2012) and Fraustro (2013, 2014).
Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Graeme McDowell
1
63
70
66
266/-18
500.00
$1,116,000.00
67
Jason Bohn
T2
70
65
68
69
266/-18
245.00
$545,600.00
Russell Knox
T2
70
69
67
67
266/-18
245.00
$545,600.00
Derek Fathauer
4
65
67
66
67
268/-16
135.00
$297,600.00
Scott Brown
T5
67
66
67
68
270/-14
105.00
$235,600.00
Harold Varner III
T5
70
62
68
70
270/-14
105.00
$235,600.00
TOUR rookie Harold Varner III had a second-round 62.
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Four rounds in the 60s put Scott Brown in a tie for fifth.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Leaderboard 2015
A feature that won’t be found anywhere else in the world, El Camaleón incorporates a cenote, a naturally formed pit with limestone walls, into the heart of the fairway at the seventh hole, a 554-yard par 5.
Parking and shuttles are free. All ticket holders can visit the Glenlivet Beach Club on the shores of the Caribbean next to the 15th green. The Heineken El Camino is an advanced ticket that allows spectators to view action from elevated hospitality areas next to the 10th green, 15th green and 17th tee. Beer, wine, soft drinks, snacks and light appetizers are all included in the $50 daily ticket. The highest level ticket to the Mayakoba Residences Club ($150 to $170) gives access to a hospitality area with views of the 18th green, with breakfast, lunch and an open bar included.
images: us pga tour; getty images
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Notable Course Features
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24/11/2015 11:02
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29/10/2015 11:19
2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
November 19-22, 2015
The RSM Classic Location
St. Simons Island, Ga. Sea Island Resort
Host Course
Course Information
An oceanside layout at the southern tip of St. Simons Island, the Seaside Course is one of three layouts at Sea Island Resort. Seaside was designed in 1929 by English architects Harry Colt and Charles Alison. Joe Lee designed the “Marshside Nine” in 1973, and Tom Fazio tied the two nines together into the course’s current form in 1999. In 2015, the Plantation Course joins as a second course for the first two rounds as the field expanded to 156 players from 132.
Yardage
Seaside Course: 7,055; par 70 Plantation Course: 7,033; par 72
2015 Champion Kevin Kisner, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel
Tickets
Daily tickets are $35 in advance. Youth 17 and under admitted free with a paid adult. Active duty and military retirees receive two complimentary tickets, veterans two discounted tickets. Visit www.rsmclassic.com.
Social Media
Twitter: @TheRsmClassic Facebook: www.facebook. com/theRSMclassic 104
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“I just wanted to get off to a great start and try to pull away and increase that lead a little bit and make me feel a little more comfortable. It was really nice to play the back nine with that much of a lead.”––Kevin Kisner
A week after winning, Graeme McDowell was third.
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HOW KEVIN KISNER WON
Seaside Course and Plantation Course
After finishing second four times during the calendar year 2015, Kevin Kisner ran away to a six-stroke victory at Sea Island Resort. The 31-year-old led by three strokes through 54 holes and shot a 64 in the final round for a 22-under 260 total on the Seaside and Plantation Courses for his first career victory. Kisner turned the back nine into a cruise thanks to a 5-under 30 on the front nine, including five birdies and a key eight-foot par putt on the par-5 seventh hole after his second shot ended up in a bush. Kevin Chappell shot a 67 to finish second, while Graeme McDowell, aiming for a second straight victory, also had a 67 to take third. Kisner shot a 31 on the back nine of the third round and a 30 on the front nine Sunday. Kisner’s third-round 64 was the best of the day, and his fourth-round 64 matched the best of the day. Kisner was T9 in Greens in Regulation (59 of 72) and made only two bogeys as he was third in Scrambling (saving par 11 of 13 times).
w w w.pgatour.com
01/12/2015 15:46
2015/2016 tournament overview
quick Facts
No. 18, Sea Island Resort (Seaside Course).
Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $5.7 million Winner’s Share: $1,026,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
Charity Benefit The Davis Love Foundation, the host organization of The RSM Classic, supports Special Olympics, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeast Georgia, and other organizations that benefit children and families who are at risk of poor educational, economic, social, and health outcomes. Including the Birdies For Love program, more than $1.5 million was raised in 2015.
X X In the six years of The RSM Classic, Kevin Kisner was the third player to make it his first victory, joining Tommy Gainey (2012) and Robert Streb (2014). XX Kisner’s victory made it six first-time winners in the first seven events of the 2015-16 season, all but Graeme McDowell at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba.
X X Kisner’s 260 total for 72 holes broke Gainey’s record by four strokes. X X Until Kisner won by six strokes this time, the victory margin at The RSM Classic had never been more than one stroke. There had been two playoffs and three one-stroke margins.
Natural features such as marshes and sandy waste areas figure prominently in the Seaside layout. The 14th hole, a 442-yard par 4, a dogleg right winding between a marsh to the left and a sandy area to the right, has been the most difficult on the course in the last three years of The RSM Classic. But the difficulty resides more in a narrow, tree-guarded fairway that was the second toughest to hit in 2015 and the elusive target of a green that was the hardest to hit in regulation.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Kevin Kisner
1
65
67
64
64
260/-22
500.00
$1,026,000.00
Kevin Chappell
2
66
65
68
67
266/-16
300.00
$ 615,600.00
3
67
68
65
67
267/-15
190.00
$387,600.00
4
67
70
66
66
269/-13
135.00
$273,600.00
Freddie Jacobson
5
65
67
71
67
270/-12
110.00
$ 228,000.00
images: Getty Images
Runner-up Kevin Chappell had no score higher than 68.
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FAN EXPERIENCE
A birdie on the final hole pleased Freddie Jacobson, who finished fifth.
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Graeme McDowell Jon Curran
15 20
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Notable Course Features
Monday was Community Day and Youth Day, with spectators admitted free and special youth activities. Saturday was Military Appreciation Day, and a Saturday evening concert features Martina McBride (separate ticket required).
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01/12/2015 15:46
ExploreFiji Sponsored Feature
Located in the heart of the South Pacific, our 333 Fijian islands are legendary for unique hospitality and world-class golf courses, not to mention home to the happiest people on Earth.
Bula! A friendly Fijian greeting, as we extend a warm welcome to our islands of Fiji. Well known for luxurious private-island resorts, pristine white sand beaches, crystal-clear ocean waters and world-class golf courses, Fiji is an exotic and enchanting holiday destination. This is due not only to our uniquely happy and friendly culture, but also the many inspiring challenges offered by our golf courses. Together with our beautiful luxury resorts and outstanding cuisine, visitors to Fiji can bask in our sunny, tropical climate, with temperatures that average 80°F year round. Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course challenges golfers of all levels to keep their focus. With a blend of rolling pastures and beachfront landscapes, the par-72 course offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and coral reefs at 15 of the 18 holes. As hosts of the Fiji International (co-sanctioned by PGA Australasia and OneAsia) for the next four years, the course provides challenges to players of all skill levels. Denarau Golf & Racquet Club on Denarau Island incorporates a unique Pacific theme with bunkers in the shape of marine creatures. The South Pacific’s premier par-72, 18-hole championship golf course features four water carry par-threes, four challenging par-five and 10 par-fours. With water hazards on 15 holes, it’s become known as a “thinking course.” Laucala Island’s Golf Course is set against a backdrop of volcanic mountains and clings to a sheer cliff that drops into the Pacific Ocean. Laucala Island’s Golf Course is the ultimate playground. Designed by Scotsman David McLay Kidd, the 18-hole, par-72 course, here you’ll enjoy absolute seclusion and greens extending to the beach (which means wet feet at high tide).
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Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., the Pearl Championship Golf Course is one of the most adventurous courses in Fiji. The 18-hole course is set on one of Fiji’s longest beaches, with lush tropical gardens, winding canals, 66 bunkers and water hazards on 12 of the 18 holes.
19/11/2015 09:04
2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
January 7-10, 2016
Hyundai Tournament of Champions Location Kapalua, Hawaii The Plantation Course at Kapalua
Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore carved the Plantation Course into the hills of the West Maui Mountains on a former pineapple plantation. Opened in 1991, the Plantation Course is consistently ranked No. 1 in the state of Hawaii. It offers wide fairways and challenging greens with plenty of slope, while the trade winds add to the challenge. Views of the ocean and nearby Molokai are abundant.
Patrick Reed burst into a tie for the lead by holing an 80-yard shot for an eagle 2 on the 16th hole of the final round and ended up beating Jimmy Walker with a 20foot birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff. Reed trailed by four midway through the back nine, but birdied 15 and 18 along with his eagle to offset a bogey on 17 and close with a 67 and 21-under 271 total. Walker, who shared the 54hole lead with Hideki Matsuyama, played the last eight holes in one over as he settled for a 69. Matsuyama finished one back, tied with Russell Henley and Jason Day, who closed with a 62.
Yardage 7,452; par 73
2015 Champion Patrick Reed, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel
Tickets Tickets for as little as $20 are available for advance purchase. Youth 18 and younger are admitted free of charge with a ticketed adult all week.
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HOW PATRICK REED WON
Course Information
“When I didn’t make birdie on 13 or 14, I thought my chances were slim. So I was just thinking to myself, let’s try to birdie three of the last four and give ourselves a chance to secure second alone and give ourselves a chance just maybe.”––Patrick Reed
Route 66: Hideki Matsuyama had two 66s, including the third round, en route to T3.
Reed scored his fourth career victory at the age of 24 years and five months. The eagle by Reed on the 16th in the final round was the only one of the week on that hole. Reed ranked first for the week in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and hit 17 of 18 greens in the final round.
Awesome Aussie finish: Jason Day closed with a 62 to share second place.
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quick Facts
No. 8, Plantation Course at Kapalua.
Field: approx. 30 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $5.9 million Winner’s Share: $1,180,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
Charity Benefit
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Patrick Reed
1
67
69
68
67
271/-21
500.00
$1,140,000.00
Jimmy Walker
2
67
68
67
69
271/-21
300.00
$665,000.00
T3
70
69
71
62
272/-20
145.00
$332,666.67
T3
65
70
70
67
272/-20
145.00
$332,666.67
Hideki Matsuyama
T3
70
66
66
70
272/-20
145.00
$332,666.67
Finishing blues: Jimmy Walker played the last eight holes in one over then lost in a playoff.
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In the picture: With a 20-under total, Russell Henley tied for third.
The par-5 18th hole is one of the most iconic in professional golf. Though the hole measures 663 yards, it plays downhill and most of the field can reach the large green in two, setting up excitement down the stretch with potential for birdies and eagles.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Jason Day Russell Henley
Notable Course Features
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has been played on the Plantation Course. XX The last two players to win in their first Hyundai Tournament of Champions appearance were Daniel Chopra (2008) and Tiger Woods (1997). XX Patrick Reed joined only Tiger Woods (21), Sergio Garcia (21), Jack Nicklaus (23, 24), and Phil Mickelson (23) in winning the tournament before age 25.
XX Jason Day and Chris Kirk tied the course record with 11-under 62s in the final round, matching Graeme McDowell (2011) and K.J. Choi (2003). XX Ernie Els’ 31-under total in 2003 is a PGA TOUR record—and five strokes better than anyone else has done in the 17 years the event
images: Getty Images; US PGA TOUR
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Local charities benefit from the proceeds of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, with more than $5.3 million distributed since 1999. The 2016 designated beneficiaries include Boy Scouts of America, Friends of the Children’s Justice Center, Hale Makua Health Services, the J. Walter Cameron Center, Ka Lima O Maui and the Lahainaluna High School Foundation.
On-course fan features at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions include various specialty vendors, plus the Hyundai Experience Tent featuring vehicle displays, interactive activities and live coverage of the tournament. w w w.pgatour.com
24/11/2015 11:01
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*Visit andersenwindows.com/warranty for details. “ENERGY STAR” is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “Andersen” and all other marks where denoted are trademarks of Andersen Corporation. ©2015 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved.
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29/10/2015 11:20
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11/11/2015 12:57
2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
Location Honolulu, Hawaii Waialae Country Club
Course Information
January 14-17, 2016
Sony Open in Hawaii HOW JIMMY WALKER WON
A week after losing in a playoff at Kapalua, Walker successfully defended his title at the Sony Open in Hawaii. After a thirdround 62 gave him a two-stroke lead, Walker finished it off with a 63 on Sunday for a 23-under 257 total and a nine-stroke victory over Scott Piercy. Walker parred the first seven holes of the final round, then birdied seven of the last 11 to win going away. Matt Kuchar led after two rounds and was the closest challenger through 54 holes, but faded to a final-round 71 and tied for third with Harris English and Gary Woodland.
Yardage 7,044; par 70
2015 Champion Jimmy Walker, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel
Tickets Tickets, $15 advance purchase and $20 at the gate, include free parking and parking shuttles. Shuttle service is also available from Waikiki. All military and dependants are admitted free with an official military ID. Children 12 and under are admitted free with an adult ticket holder. For more information, please visit online at www.sonyopenhawaii.com.
Social Media Twitter: @ SonyOpenHawaii Facebook: www. facebook.com/ sonyopeninhawaii w w w.pgatour.com
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Seth Raynor designed Waialae Country Club in 1927, and he created a strategically challenging layout with fairways that zigzag along numerous doglegs and are lined with stands of coconut, monkey pod and kiawe trees. Nestled in the quiet neighborhood of Waialae-Kahala, Waialae Country Club offers numerous views of the Pacific Ocean. Desmond Muirhead oversaw an upgrade of the championship course in 1992.
“I putted really well. Didn’t give anything back. It was cool not to make any bogeys on the last day.”––Jimmy Walker
Reason to smile: Harris English’s third-round 65 made him a threat going into the final day.
Walker’s 125 total matched the second best ever for the final 36 holes of a PGA TOUR event, behind Stuart Appleby’s 124 at the 2010 Greenbrier Classic. Walker led the field in Strokes Gained: Putting and made six putts of 20 feet or longer. He was fourth in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green while leading in Greens in Regulation (59 of 72). Walker managed to shoot 23 under par despite making six bogeys, two in each of the first three rounds.
Gary Woodland’s closing 67 moved him into a share of third.
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2015/2016 tournament overview
quick Facts
No. 18, Waialae Country Club.
Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $5.8 million Winner’s Share: $1,044,000 FedExCup Points: 600 to the winner
Charity Benefit The Sony Open in Hawaii is the principal fundraiser for Friends of Hawaii Charities, and it has become the largest charity-driven sporting event on the islands. The tournament has raised more than $15 million for over 350 local charities with the support of its partner, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc. Tournament proceeds surpass $1 million annually.
Leaderboard 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Jimmy Walker
1
66
62
63
257/-23
500.00
$1,008,000.00
66
Scott Piercy
2
67
67
66
66
266/-14
300.00
$604,800.00
Harris English
T3
66
69
65
67
267/-13
145.00
$291,200.00
T3
65
63
68
71
267/-13
145.00
$291,200.00
T3
70
65
65
67
267/-13
145.00
$291,200.00
Matt Kuchar plays a sand shot during his closing 71 en route to a T3 finish.
112 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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Consistently low: With no round above 67, Scott Piercy finished second at 14 under.
At par 70, the layout features only two par 5s, but they are the final hole of each nine and they are usually reachable in two if there are prevailing winds. The signature hole is considered to be the par-3 17th, which measures 194 yards and runs its full length along the ocean.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Matt Kuchar Gary Woodland
Notable Course Features
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XX Walker’s 72-hole total of 257 has been bettered only five times in PGA TOUR history. It’s not a Sony Open in Hawaii record, however, as Russell Henley shot 256 in 2013. XX It was the second consecutive year that Walker shot a 63 to win the event.
XX Walker’s nine-stroke victory margin set a tournament record, previously shared by John Huston (1998) and Paul Azinger (2000) at seven. XX Walker became the fourth player to win the Sony Open in Hawaii in back-to-back years, joining Hubert Green (1978-79), Corey Pavin (1986-87) and Ernie Els (2003-04).
On-course fan features at the Sony Open in Hawaii include numerous entertainment opportunities, as Sony music and movie stars make appearances. Sony also uses the opportunity to unveil its numerous new products and innovations.
images: us pga tour; getty images
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02/12/2015 09:53
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23/11/2015 16:49
2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
January 21-24, 2016
Location PGA WEST La Quinta, Calif.
Host Course Stadium Course at PGA WEST
CareerBuilder Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation
Course Information
Yardage Stadium Course 7,113; par 72 Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course 7,159; par 72 La Quinta Country Club 7,060; par 72
2015 Champion Bill Haas, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel
“I’ve been one ahead or tied before, but not with five or six guys right behind me knowing that if I dump one in the water I go from winning to finishing 10th maybe. So, I just tried to stay focused.”—Bill Haas
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HOW BILL HAAS WON
The Pete Dye-designed Stadium Course at PGA WEST takes over as the host course in 2016, having previously served that role in 1987, hosting the Skins Game in 198691, and the PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament six times. The challenging layout includes plenty of bunkers and water, most notably a 20-foot-deep bunker to the left of the green on the par-5 16th, the island-green “Alcatraz” par-3 17th, and the water-lined par-4 18th.
Bill Haas emerged from a pack with a birdie on the 16th hole of the final round and held on with a creative par on the 18th to win by one stroke over five players. With those five in the clubhouse at 21-under, Haas’ drive on the par-5 finishing hole stopped on the right lip of a deep bunker, sitting nearly waist high and forcing him to poke a choked-up 8-iron. It finished safely in the fairway, enabling him to make a par for a closing 67 and the victory over Charley Hoffman, Matt Kuchar, S.J. Park, Brendan Steele and Steve Wheatcroft. Haas had been in a four-way tie for the 54-hole lead with Erik Compton, Justin Thomas, and Michael Putnam. Haas made seven straight birdies on Nos. 2 through 8 (his 11th through 17th) at La Quinta CC in the second round. Haas eagled the sixth hole of the final round with a 260-yard 5-wood from the rough to 15 feet. Haas finished the week T3 in Greens in Regulation (56 of 72) despite hitting only 11 greens in the first round.
Tickets Daily tickets start at $20; parking fee is $10.
Social Media
Brendan Steele parlayed his best score of the week, 64, into a tie for second place.
A frequent contender in the desert, Matt Kuchar again dueled for the title.
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quick Facts
Please subPGA in a WEST photo Stadium of No. 17, Course. PGA West Stadium course
Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $5.8 million Winner’s Share: $1,044,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
Charity Benefit
Since 1960, Desert Classic Charities, the non-profit entity that organizes the CareerBuilder Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation, has donated more than $56 million to the Eisenhower Medical Center and numerous other non-profit organizations in the Coachella Valley that focus on mentoring programs for children, social services, and food and safe shelter for the less fortunate.
XX Bill Haas, who also won in 2010, became the eighth golfer with multiple victories in the event. The others are Arnold Palmer (5), Billy Casper (2), John Mahaffey (2), Johnny Miller (2), Corey Pavin (2), John Cook (2) and Phil Mickelson (2). XX The previous time the tournament was held
at the PGA WEST Stadium Course, in 1987, Corey Pavin had the best final-round score, a 67, to win by one shot over Bernhard Langer. XX Matt Kuchar has finished in the top 25 in his last six appearances. He finished second in 2010 and 2015, but is still looking for his first win in the event.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Bill Haas
1
67
63
69
67
266/-22
500.00
$1,026,000.00
Charley Hoffman
T2
70
63
69
64
267/-21
167.00
$342,000.00
Matt Kuchar
T2
65
64
71
67
267/-21
167.00
$342,000.00
S.J. Park
T2
68
67
67
65
267/-21
167.00
$342,000.00
Brendan Steele
T2
67
68
68
64
267/-21
167.00
$342,000.00
Steve Wheatcroft
T2
65
67
68
67
267/-21
167.00
$342,000.00
images: Getty Images
With no score higher than 68, Steve Wheatcroft finished one shot behind the winner.
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Charley Hoffman charged into a tie for second place.
The 165-yard 17th has an island green requiring a longer tee shot than the famous 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, but a smaller target. The PGA WEST “Alcatraz” hole, surrounded by rocks instead of railroad ties, gained its own fame when Lee Trevino aced it during the 1987 Skins Game. But the toughest par 3 at PGA WEST is the 223yard sixth, which is guarded by water on three sides.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Player
Notable Course Features
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check this out
From the Junior Golf Clinic and Kids Zone to the Food Truck Frenzy and high-end hospitality, the CareerBuilder Challenge with new and improved fan activation areas and enhanced spectator viewing has something for everyone. Shuttle services transport from general parking to and from all courses. Children 15 and under are free (two children per ticketed adult). PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1 115
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
January 28-31, 2016
San Diego Torrey Pines Golf Course
Course Information Torrey Pines has two worldclass 18-hole courses, North and South, both designed by William F. Bell. Opened in 1957, the courses were built on the site of Camp Callan, a U.S. Army installation during World War II, on the bluffs above the Pacific Ocean, providing some stunning views. Rees Jones redesigned the South Course in 2001, which included changes to the greens and lengthening it by more than 400 yards in preparation for the 2008 U.S. Open, which was won by Tiger Woods.
Yardage South Course: 7.698; par 72 North Course: 7,052; par 72
2015 Champion Jason Day, Australia
Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS
Tickets Daily tickets are $50 for adults, $35 for seniors, and $10 for youth (13-17). Children 12-and-under admitted free accompanied by an adult ticket holder; military and their dependents admitted free.
“Instead of feeling the fear and kind of running away from it, I’ve got to run towards it and try to face it. And I did that this week.” —Jason Day
A closing 68 on a difficult day nearly got Charles Howell III into a playoff.
HOW JASON DAY WON
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Location
Farmers Insurance Open
Jason Day took advantage of a good break on the 72nd hole when his pitch from rough behind the green stopped just short of water on the other side, enabling him to get up and down for par and make a fourman playoff. After Day and J.B. Holmes birdied the first playoff hole, the 18th, to eliminate Harris English and Scott Stallings, Day won with a par 3 on the 16th at Torrey Pines. Day earned his playoff spot with birdies on 15 and 16 and a par from a plugged lie in a bunker on 17. He shot a 70 in tough conditions to catch 54-hole co-leaders Holmes and English (72s). Day didn’t break 70 in three rounds at the difficult South Course, but his 65 on the North Course on Friday was the second-lowest of the week. Day spiced his third round by holing out from 143 yards for an eagle on the par-4 17th. Day’s birdie on the 15th was one of only four on Sunday on that hole, and his birdie on the 16th one of only five.
Harris English had a share of the lead going into the final round.
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QUICK FACTS
No. 18, Torrey Pines South.
Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.5 million Winner’s Share: $1.17 million FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
CHARITY BENEFIT
Scott Stallings
Jason Day won the Farmers Insurance Open a year after losing it by one stroke. He did have an earlier victory at Torrey Pines—the 2004 Junior World Championship. Scott Stallings lost in a playoff in his bid to become only the fourth player to win the event
in consecutive years. It has been done by J.C. Snead (1975-76), Phil Mickelson (2000-01) and Tiger Woods (2005-08). The winning score in both 2014 and 2015 was 9-under 279, the highest it has been since 1979 (Fuzzy Zoeller, 282).
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Jason Day
1
73
65
71
70
279/-9
500.00
$1,134,000.00
Harris English
T2
68
66
73
72
279/-9
208.33
$470,400.00
T2
69
70
68
72
279/-9
208.33
$470,400.00
T2
70
72
68
69
279/-9
208.33
$470,400.00
Charles Howell III
T5
72
70
70
68
280/-8
105.00
$239,400.00
Alex Prugh
T5
70
70
69
71
280/-8
105.00
$239,400.00
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES
J.B. Holmes lost on the second extra hole.
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Alex Prugh shot a final-round 71 to miss the playoff by one stroke.
Measuring 570 yards, the 18th hole is reachable in two shots, but the second must be well-struck or it could find the small pond in front of the green. Laying up can be dangerous, as approach shots can spin off the green. The pond is known as “Devlin’s Billabong” from Bruce Devlin making a 10 in 1975. More costly was Kyle Stanley’s triple bogey to lose a threestroke lead in 2012, when he ultimately lost in a playoff.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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J.B. Holmes Scott Stallings
NOTABLE COURSE FEATURES
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CHECK THIS OUT
The Century Club of San Diego’s main purpose is to administer and promote San Diego’s annual PGA TOUR event, which has raised more than $32 million for San Diego charities, including $3.1 million in 2015. The annual net earnings of the corporation are used solely for charitable purposes, with a focus on San Diego at-risk youth and youth charities.
The SERVPRO Fan Village features The Fringe, an openair bar showcasing local bands Thursday-Saturday. Open to the public, the Michelob ULTRA 19th Hole features three themed concession stands and live coverage. The Champions for Youth area is an interactive zone where fans can learn about the tournament’s charities. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
Location Scottsdale, Ariz. TPC Scottsdale
Course Information
Waste Management Phoenix Open HOW BROOKS KOEPKA WON
Yardage 7,266; par 71
2015 Champion Brooks Koepka, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC
Tickets General admission is free Monday-Tuesday, $30 Wednesday-Thursday, and $40 Friday-Sunday. Ages 17 and under are free all week when accompanied by an adult. Public parking is free with shuttle access. For more information, visit www. wmphoenixopen.com.
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“This week is unlike anything I have ever seen. It’s a fun week. The fans make it unbelievable. I’m happy to have this one as my first win.” ––Brooks Koepka
Opening and closing rounds of 65 helped Bubba Watson into a share of second place.
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The Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale was designed by the renowned design team of Jay Morrish and former Open Championship winner Tom Weiskopf specifically to serve as the stage for the tournament. Built in 1986, the Stadium Course offers a collection of challenging risk-reward holes that incorporate strategic bunkering and water hazards. Weiskopf oversaw a renovation of the course in 2014. The location of the property provides spectacular views of the McDowell Mountains and Sonoran Desert.
February 4-7, 2016
An eagle on the 15th hole lifted him into a tie for the lead, and Brooks Koepka went on to complete a final-round 66 and a one-stroke win over three players with a 15-under 269 total. Martin Laird fell out of the tie with Koepka with a bogey on the 17th and ended up tied for fifth after a double bogey on 18. Hideki Matsuyama (67), Ryan Palmer (66) and Bubba Watson (65) all held at least a share of the lead during the back nine before tying for second, one stroke behind, as none could make a birdie on any of the last three holes. The key shot for Koepka was holing a 50-footer from the fringe for his eagle on the 15th, using a putter. Koepka didn’t make a bogey on the weekend as he shot 64-66. In a strong all-around performance, Koepka ranked third in Driving Distance (310.4), fourth in Greens in Regulation (54 of 72), and second in Scrambling (83.3 percent saves). The 24-year-old Koepka won in his 22nd career start on the PGA TOUR.
Buoyed by a thirdround 63, Hideki Matsuyama finished one stroke behind the winner.
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
QUICK FACTS
No. 16, TPC Scottsdale.
Field: 132 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.5 million Winner’s Share: $1,170,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
CHARITY BENEFIT Since the start of the tournament in 1937, Thunderbirds Charities has assisted children, families and other people in need by contributing to a wide range of community initiatives. Nearly all of the Thunderbirds’ charitable giving is directed toward organizations with a significant presence in Arizona. Over 100 organizations have benefited from the $100 million Thunderbirds have raised through the years.
Martin Laird
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Three of the last four winners have made the Waste Management Phoenix Open their first career PGA TOUR victory: Kyle Stanley (2012), Kevin Stadler (2014) and Brooks Koepka (2015). Nobody has won the Phoenix Open more than three times: Arnold Palmer, Gene Littler, Mark Calcavecchia and Phil Mickelson each have three.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Brooks Koepka
1
71
68
64
66
269/-15
500.00
$1,134,000
Hideki Matsuyama
T2
69
71
63
67
270/-14
208.33
$470,400
Ryan Palmer
T2
64
72
68
66
270/-14
208.33
$470,400
Bubba Watson
T2
65
71
69
65
270/-14
208.33
$470,400
Martin Laird
T5
66
66
68
72
272/-12
105.00
$470,400
Jon Rahm (a)
T5
70
68
66
68
272/-12
Jon Rahm had the best finish by an amateur in a PGA TOUR event in seven years.
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Ryan Palmer had three rounds in the 60s en route to T2.
The 11th hole, a 472yard par 4, is the most demanding on the course. The par-5 15th with island green is the signature hole, but the short par-3 16th, just 163 yards, has become the most renowned. This is the first tournament hole completely surrounded by grandstands and skyboxes, filled by 16,000 fans each day––the reason it is known as “the most exciting hole in golf.”
FAN EXPERIENCE
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IMAGES: US PGA TOUR; GETTY IMAGES
Player
NOTABLE COURSE FEATURES
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Brooks Koepka was the third player to win in his first Phoenix appearance, joining J.B. Holmes (2006) and Kyle Stanley (2012). By finishing T5, Jon Rahm became the first amateur to finish in the top five of a PGA TOUR event since Chris Wood (fifth, 2008 Open Championship) and Justin Rose (T4, 1998 Open Championship).
The fan experience at the Waste Management Phoenix Open is one of the most wide-ranging: a pre-tournament junior clinic and trick-shot show, a Special Olympics event, and the famous Bird’s Nest entertainment tent.
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February 11-14, 2016
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Location
Pebble Beach, Calif. Pebble Beach Golf Links Prominent amateur golfers Jack Neville and Douglas Grant designed Pebble Beach Golf Links, the tournament’s home course. Opened in 1919, Pebble Beach has become one of American golf’s iconic courses. The scenic layout has undergone a few changes, including William Fowler’s redesign of the 18th hole into a par 5. Jack Nicklaus created a new fifth hole in 1998. Pebble Beach has hosted one PGA Championship and five U.S. Opens and is scheduled to have a sixth Open in its centennial year, 2019.
Brandt Snedeker broke his own tournament scoring record from two years earlier with a 22-under 265 total as he won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am for the second time. In claiming his seventh career victory, Snedeker eclipsed his Pebble Beach 72-hole mark by two strokes as he followed an opening 64 with a trio of 67s. Snedeker trailed Jim Furyk by one stroke after three rounds and found himself two behind Nick Watney when Watney birdied the first four holes of the final round, but Snedeker’s faultless play enabled him to pull away for a three-stroke victory over Watney. Charlie Beljan was third at 269. Furyk slipped to a tie for seventh after closing with a 74.
Yardage
Pebble Beach GL 6,816; par 72 Spyglass Hill GC 6,953; par 72 Monterey Peninsula CC 6,867; par 71
2015 Champion
Brandt Snedeker, U.S.
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HOW BRANDT SNEDEKER WON
Course Information
“This is probably the best thinking week I’ve had on the PGA TOUR. For me to play one bogey in 72 holes, I’ve never thought that was possible.”––Brandt Snedeker
Media Coverage
Snedeker made only one bogey all week, on his 12th hole (Pebble Beach’s third hole) of the third round. Snedeker hit all 18 Greens in Regulation at Spyglass Hill in the second round. For the week, he ranked T3 as he hit 59 of 72 greens. Snedeker led the field in par-4 scoring with a 3.72 average.
Golf Channel/CBS
Tickets
Daily tickets are available for $60 and weekly badges start at $150. For more information, visit www.attpbgolf.com.
Runner-up Nick Watney cooled off after four straight birdies to start the final round.
Pat Perez closed with three 68s to gain a share of fourth place.
Social Media
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2015/2016 tournament overview
quick Facts
No. 18, Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Field: 156 professionals Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7 million Winner’s Share: $1,260,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
Charity Benefit
Monterey Peninsula Foundation is the nonprofit organization that stages the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. It gives grants to organizations and programs that demonstrate the greatest possible effect, with areas of interest including youth, education, health, human services, arts, community and environmental programs. In 2014-15, the Foundation granted $9.1 million to support nonprofits in the local three-county area.
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XX In addition to setting the 72-hole scoring record by two strokes at 265, Brandt Snedeker broke the Relation-to-Par record by two at 22-under. Mark O’Meara (1997) and Phil Mickelson (2007) were 20-under when total par was 288. XX The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am has been won by Americans for the last 11 years. The
last international player to win was Vijay Singh in 2004. XX Jim Furyk has made the cut 17 times in 19 appearances at Pebble Beach, with a best finish of T3 in 1998. XX Jason Day, the winner a week earlier, had the low round of the week, a 62 at Monterey Peninsula CC, on the way to a T4 finish.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Brandt Snedeker
1
64
67
67
67
265/-22
500.00
$1,224,000.00
Nick Watney
2
65
69
65
69
268/-19
300.00
$734,400.00
Charlie Beljan
3
70
63
70
66
269/-18
190.00
$462,400.00
Jason Day
T4
72
62
69
67
270/-17
115.00
$281,066.67
Dustin Johnson
T4
69
67
68
66
270/-17
115.00
$281,066.67
Pat Perez
T4
66
68
68
68
270/-17
115.00
$281,066.66
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Charlie Beljan finished third on the strength of a second-round 63.
The low round of the week was shot by Jason Day, a 62 at Monterey Peninsula Country Club.
The host course, Pebble Beach Golf Links, is famous for its stretch of holes along the Pacific Ocean, and while the par-5 18th might be one of the most recognizable holes in the world, holes 8-10, three par 4s near the water, comprise the most difficult part of the course. Jack Nicklaus called the 418-yard eighth one of the greatest par 4s in the world with the second shot played over a chasm. The 9th and 10th holes measure 466 and 446 yards, respectively.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Player
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Notable Course Features
On-course fan features include access to free Wi-Fi and solar-powered charging stations for mobile devices. Fans will be provided with real-time updates from all three courses. The AT&T Fan Zone Tour Truck enables visitors to inspect the latest AT&T products and services. The TaylorMade Flight Deck is a special viewing area above the fourth tee, and this year the Grey Goose Lounge will be open to the public. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1 121
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
February 18-21, 2016
Location
Northern Trust Open HOW JAMES HAHN WON
Course Information
George C. Thomas is responsible for one of the great layouts in American golf, a place nicknamed Hogan’s Alley after Ben Hogan twice won this tournament there, as well as the 1948 U.S. Open, in a span of 18 months. The course opened in 1926, and it was originally known as the Los Angeles Athletic Club Golf Course. Alister MacKenzie and William Bell assisted in the planning of the layout in the Santa Monica Canyon. Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore restored the bunkers in 1992. In addition to the U.S. Open, Riviera hosted two PGA Championships, in 1983 and 1995.
James Hahn birdied the second and third extra holes to win a playoff over Dustin Johnson and Paul Casey, and take his first victory on the PGA TOUR. On a day when seven players held at least a share of the lead on the back nine and seven players ultimately finished within one stroke, Hahn shot a 69 to finish at 6-under but needed a little help to make the playoff. Johnson and Sergio Garcia were both 7-under before each bogeyed the 17th; Garcia bogeyed the 18th as well to finish one back along with Jordan Spieth, Keegan Bradley and Hideki Matsuyama. Johnson and Hahn both birdied the second playoff hole before Hahn rolled in a 25-foot putt to win it on the next hole.
Yardage
7,349; par 71
2015 Champion James Hahn, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS
Tickets
Daily general admission tickets are available through Ticketmaster. Military members and veterans receive discounted tickets, as do children 18 and under with an adult ticket holder. For more information, visit www.northerntrustopen. com.
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The Pacific Palisades, Calif. Riviera Country Club
“I was telling my caddie, if I can last at least one playoff hole, I think I have a good chance. Kind of get the nerves calmed down.” ––James Hahn
A closing 69 got Dustin Johnson into a playoff in a week when scoring was difficult.
Through three rounds, Hahn’s Strokes Gained: Putting total was at -2.725, but in the final round he gained 2.524 Strokes on the greens as he had 22 putts. For the week, Hahn ranked second in Strokes Gained: Teeto-Green and 50th in Strokes Gained: Putting. Hahn’s first-round 66 was topped by only one round all week (Blayne Barber’s finalround 65).
Paul Casey was part of the third playoff in the last four years.
Social Media
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Charity BENEFICIARY
quick Facts
No. 10, The Riviera Country Club.
Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.7 million Winner’s Share: $1,206,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
XX The winning score of 6-under 278 was the highest at Riviera since Craig Stadler in 1996. XX James Hahn became the sixth player since 1980 to make the Northern Trust Open his first PGA TOUR win, joining T.C. Chen (1987), Chip Beck (1988), Kirk Triplett (2000), Len Mattiace (2002), and John Merrick (2013).
XX The playoff was the third in the last four years at the Northern Trust Open, Bill Haas winning in 2012 and John Merrick in 2013. XX Dustin Johnson finished second in both 2014 and 2015, giving him four top-four finishes in the event but no victories.
Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
James Hahn
1
74
69
69
278/-6
500.00
$1,206,000.00
66
Paul Casey
T2
70
69
71
68
278/-6
245.00
$589,600.00
Dustin Johnsonz
T2
70
72
67
69
278/-6
245.00
$589,600.00
Keegan Bradley
T4
73
68
70
68
279/-5
108.75
$263,812.50
Sergio Garcia
T4
71
69
68
71
279/-5
108.75
$263,812.50
Hideki Matsuyama
T4
70
72
70
67
279/-5
108.75
$263,812.50
Jordan Spieth
T4
69
70
70
70
279/-5
108.75
$263,812.50
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Sergio Garcia finished a shot out of a playoff after bogeys on the last two holes.
The par-3 sixth hole, which measures 199 yards, is world-renowned for having a bunker in the middle of the green. Depending on the position of the hole, a player could have the challenge of either putting around a bunker or chipping over it, making proper club selection on the tee shot essential.
FAN EXPERIENCE
Keegan Bradley rallied after a first-round 73 to finish in a share of fourth place.
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images: us pga tour; getty images
LEADERBOARD 2015
Notable Course Features
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check this out
City of Hope—an independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases—is the official charity partner of the Northern Trust Open. In 2015, the tournament generated more than $2 million in charity donations, with $1.1 million going to City of Hope and the remainder to other nonprofit organizations in the Los Angeles area. The total generated for Los Angeles charities since the tournament’s inception in 1926 is more than $60 million.
The Terrace Suites @Fourteen provide a private area with inclusive food and beverages and a designated server, and panoramic views of the 14th hole. There is also a designated autograph area between the first tee and 18th green, and a youth day clinic on Saturday. A highlight for grown-ups is a Saturday night concert featuring a well-known recording artist.
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POWER TRAINED With a substantial 279-horsepower engine and Variable Cylinder Management™ to help maximize fuel efficiency,* the 2016 Acura RDX gives you performance that’s exhilarating and responsible. Hit the start button, and you’ll see how much more satisfying power is when it’s smartly used.
RDX with Advance Package shown. *20 city/29 highway/23 combined mpg rating for RDX FWD model. Based on 2016 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle. ©2015 Acura. Acura, RDX, and the stylized “A” logo are registered trademarks of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
February 25-28
The Honda Classic Location Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. PGA National Resort & Spa Champion Course
Course Information Jack Nicklaus redesigned the Champion Course. Originally designed by Tom and George Fazio, the Champion Course features a number of water hazards. Though a challenging course, Nicklaus said the basic objective of his redesign was to “try and make the Champion Course a more playable golf course, or feel like it was a more playable golf course for all golfers concerned.”
Yardage 7,140; par 70
“I’m a better player when I’m attacking from behind. I tend to have better focus and be a bit more aggressive.” —Padraig Harrington
2015 Champion Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC
Tickets
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES
Advance daily tickets are $50 ($65 at the gate), discount packages are available for families and small groups. Children 15 and under are free with a ticketed adult; military are free and can purchase discounted guest tickets. For more information, visit www.thehondaclassic.com
Social Media Twitter: @TheHondaClassic Facebook: www.facebook. com/The-Honda-Classic Instagram: @TheHondaClassicOfficial w w w.pgatour.com
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HOW PADRAIG HARRINGTON WON
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Padraig Harrington, Ireland
Trailing by four strokes with nine holes to play, Padraig Harrington shot a back-nine 32 and won a playoff over rookie Daniel Berger on the second extra hole. Harrington made four straight birdies starting on the 11th, almost gave it away with a double bogey on the par-3 17th, then birdied the 18th to reach the playoff. He claimed his first win since 2008 thanks to a par on the second extra hole, the 17th, where Berger hit into the water. Berger shot a closing 64 in a final round that concluded Monday morning after heavy rains caused a Saturday washout and late Sunday start. Third-round leader Ian Poulter triple-bogeyed the 14th hole and shot a 74 to finish one stroke back with Paul Casey and Russell Knox. Harrington’s five birdies in the final round enabled him to overcome a pair of double bogeys. He was T1 with 18 birdies for the week. Harrington was second in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green with 2.915 per round. Harrington was nine under on the back nine for the week and three over on the front. Back-to-back closing rounds of 68 left Paul Casey one shot out of a playoff.
Local resident Daniel Berger had plenty of support as he shot a final-round 64 then lost in extra holes.
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quick Facts
No. 15, PGA National Champion Course.
Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.1 million Winner’s Share: $1,098,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
Charity Benefit
The Honda Classic funds Children’s Healthcare Charity, whose primary beneficiary is the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation. CHC supports activities that advance and enhance the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of childhood diseases and disorders. The 2015 Honda Classic raised a record $2.555 million for charity.
XX In winning his second Honda Classic, Padraig Harrington (2005, 2015) joins Jack Nicklaus (1977-78), Johnny Miller (1980, 1983), and Mark Calcavecchia (1987, 1998) as multiple winners of the event. XX Harrington was in the field on a sponsor’s exemption, becoming the first sponsor exemption to win a PGA TOUR event since Lee
Westwood at the 2010 FedEx St. Jude Classic. XX International players have won eight of the last 11 Honda Classics. XX Harrington’s 6-under winning total matched the third highest relative to par in tournament history behind Kenny Knox (1-under, 1986) and Mark Wilson (5-under, 2007) and tying John Huston (1990) and Ernie Els (2008).
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Padraig Harrington
1
67
66
71
70
274/-6
500.00
$1,098,000.00
Daniel Berger
2
68
71
71
64
274/-6
300.00
$658,800.00
T3
69
70
68
68
275/-5
145.00
$317,200.00
T3
69
68
70
68
275/-5
145.00
$317,200.00
Ian Poulter
T3
71
64
66
74
275/-5
145.00
$317,200.00
A triple bogey on the final nine disrupted Ian Poulter’s title hopes.
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A final-round 68 lifted Russell Knox into a share of third place.
The Champion Course at PGA National Resort is known for its three-hole stretch known as The Bear Trap, starting at the 15th, all prominently featuring water hazards. Water guards three sides of the green at the 179-yard par-3 15th and again at the 190-yard par-3 17th. On the 434-yard par-4 16th, water runs the entire length of the hole and must be carried with the second shot on the dogleg right.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Paul Casey Russell Knox
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check this out
Notable Course Features
Fan features at The Honda Classic include concerts on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and fireworks on Friday and Saturday nights. Kids have a junior clinic on Tuesday, a dance party, and special giveaways on Saturday’s Kids & Family Day provided by Tire Kingdom. Military members can enjoy their own hospitality area. MasterCard holders can get discounts on tickets, concessions, and merchandise. w w w.pgatour.com
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
March 3-6, 2016
World Golf ChampionshipsCadillac Championship Location Doral, Fla. Trump National Doral Trump Blue Monster
Course Information In 2014, Gil Hanse redesigned a layout that has long been among the PGA TOUR classics. Dick Wilson was the original designer, and Raymond Floyd and Jim McLean authored renovations until Donald Trump bought the resort and brought in Hanse to make the Blue Monster more strategic, and yet more perilous by adding water or bringing water hazards closer into play.
Yardage 7,528; par 72
2015 Champion Dustin Johnson, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC
Tickets Weekly grounds tickets are $187.25. Children 18 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult; military is free for active duty, retirees, and their dependents. For more information, visit www.worldgolfchampionships. com/cadillac-championship.
Social Media Twitter: @CadillacChamp Facebook: www.facebook.com/ cadillacchampionship
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“It’s one of my biggest wins, and especially after a long layoff, to come back and win in my fifth start means a lot.” —Dustin Johnson
Adam Scott’s best score of the week, a second-round 68, helped him to a T4.
Bubba Watson went out in 32 Sunday en route to a third-place finish.
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
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HOW DUSTIN JOHNSON WON
Swede Henrik Stenson closed with a pair of 72s to finish T4.
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J.B. Holmes had a fivestroke lead through 54 holes but finished with a 75.
Dustin Johnson fired a 69 in the final round to overcome J.B. Holmes, who began the day with a five-stroke lead but managed only a 75 on the difficult Blue Monster. Holmes’ earlyround struggles enabled Bubba Watson to take the lead at the turn, but Watson followed an outgoing 32 with a 39 on the back nine and finished third. A couple of key par putts and a birdie on 15 put Johnson ahead by two. Holmes birdied the 16th, but Johnson held him off with pars on the last two holes for a one-stroke win with a 9-under 279 total. Johnson ranked first in Driving Distance (328.3 yards), T1 in Greens in Regulation (52 of 72), second in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green (+2.953/round), and T2 in average approach shot distance to the pin (35’9”). Johnson recorded an ace on the par-3 fourth hole on Saturday, and then hit his tee shot within 1 foot, 7 inches for a birdie there on Sunday. After bogeys on the tough 18th hole in the first three rounds, Johnson made a clutch par to preserve the win in the final round. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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2016 tournament overview
quick Facts
No. 18, Trump National Doral (Blue Monster).
Field: 70 Players Format: 72 Holes Stroke Play Purse: $9.25 million Winner’s Share: $1,570,000 FedExCup Points: 550 to the winner
Charity Benefit
The First Tee is a beneficiary of all the World Golf Championships. In addition, Miami-Dade United Way is the official charity of the Cadillac Championship, which also benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County. The Cadillac Championship has pledged $2.5 million over the next 10 years to Miami-Dade United Way.
Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Dustin Johnson
1
68
73
69
69
279/-9
550.00
$1,570,000.00
J.B. Holmes
2
62
73
70
75
280/-8
315.00
$930,000.00
Bubba Watson
3
71
69
70
71
281/-7
200.00
$540,000.00
Adam Scott
T4
70
68
75
71
284/-4
127.50
$365,000.00
Henrik Stenson
T4
69
71
72
72
284/-4
127.50
$365,000.00
The Blue Monster course derives its name from the par-4 finishing hole, one of the most difficult in golf. The menacing 476-yard dogleg left hole features a large water hazard on the left that is in play on both the drive and approach while rows of palm trees guard the right to swallow a tee shot played too safely away from the water.
check this out XX The victory gave Dustin Johnson at least one win in each of his first eight seasons on the PGA TOUR. XX Johnson’s five-stroke comeback in the final round was a tournament record, surpassing Justin Rose in 2012 (three strokes). XX Johnson became the eighth player with multiple World Golf Championship titles, 132 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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joining Tiger Woods (18), Geoff Ogilvy (3), and Darren Clarke, Ernie Els, Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, and Ian Poulter (2 each). Later in 2015, Rory McIlroy won his second. XX J.B. Holmes led through each of the first three rounds, but failed to join Woods (2002, ’06) as a wire-to-wire winner at the Cadillac Championship.
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FAN EXPERIENCE
Fan gathering areas include the Cadillac Experience, which includes a golf performance center and wine and cocktail bars; the upscale Escalade Lounge and Grey Goose 19th Hole Lounge; a fan village; local and upgraded food options throughout the course; a Social Media Zone; and a Kids Zone.
images: GETTY
Leaderboard 2015
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Notable Course Features
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undiscovered the
Mozambique
Zalala Beach Lodge
Zalala Beach Lodge, with its 10 elegantly furnished bungalows and family house, pool, bar and restaurant, is situated on the unspoilt coast of Zambezia in North Central Mozambique. The area, rich in history and culture, and only a few hours by road from Gorongosa National Park and other natural attractions, including hot springs, mountains and lakes, offers visitors an authentic experience of Mozambican life and nature away from the more well-trodden coasts to the North and South of the country. A little gem not to be missed!
Experience the undiscovered Mozambique.
www.zalalabeach.com
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Life Style Art
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
March 10-13, 2016
Valspar Championship HOW JORDAN SPIETH WON
Course Information Designed by Larry Packard in 1972, the Copperhead Course is a favorite of PGA TOUR players because of its straightforward shotmaking examination. The undulating terrain is unusual for a Florida course, and complements a challenging strategic layout accentuated by lakes, ponds and abundant trees. The course was restored in 2015, the greens rebuilt and bunkers reshaped.
Yardage 7,340; par 71
2015 Champion Jordan Spieth, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES
Tickets Grounds tickets in advance are $10 Wednesday, $39 Select-A-Day (Thurs.-Sun.), or $49 Good-Any-OneDay. Kids 15 and under are admitted free. Active duty and military retirees receive two complimentary tickets; military veterans can buy two discounted tickets at $25. For more information, visit www. valsparchampionship.com.
Social Media
“I would rank the up-and-downs on 17 and 18 in the top five I’ve ever had, given the lies and the scenario and the green to work with.” ––Jordan Spieth
Patrick Reed had cause for celebration following a 30-foot birdie putt on the final Hole of Regulation.
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Location Palm Harbor, Fla. Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club (Copperhead Course)
Jordan Spieth’s first victory of 2015 came at the Valspar Championship, where he defeated Patrick Reed and Sean O’Hair in a playoff. Spieth got up and down for pars from difficult positions on the last three holes of regulation for a 69 and 10-under 274 total. O’Hair made a tough par save on 18 for a 67, and Reed earned his spot in the playoff with a 30-foot birdie putt on 18 for a 66. Reed stayed alive with unlikely par saves of his own on the first two playoff holes, but Spieth ended it with a 30-foot birdie putt on the third extra hole. Third-round leader Ryan Moore had a three-stroke lead with six holes to play but made three bogeys coming in and finished fifth, behind Henrik Stenson. It was already Spieth’s third career playoff at age 21. He moved to 2-1, the only loss coming to Reed at the 2013 Wyndham Championship. Spieth ranked only T32 in Greens in Regulation, but hitting approach shots close (T10 in average distance to the hole) and a strong short game made him first in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green.
Bidding to become the second golfer to win the Valspar Championship more than once, Sean O’Hair lost in a playoff.
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quick Facts
The 18th green, Innisbrook Resort Copperhead Course.
Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.1 million Winner’s Share: $1,098,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
Charity Benefit The Valspar Championship is operated by the not-for-profit organization, Copperhead Charities, Inc. The Copperheads have generated more than $34 million for charities, mostly in the Tampa Bay area, since 1977.
XX Jordan Spieth (21 years, 7 months) became the youngest winner in the Valspar Championship’s 15-year history, surpassing Sean O’Hair in 2008 (25 years, 6 months). XX Spieth became the fourth player to win twice on the PGA TOUR before their 22nd birthday since 1940, joining Robert Gamez, Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia.
XX Sean O’Hair lost in a playoff in his bid to become one of the few players who have won the Valspar Championship more than once. K.J. Choi (2002, 2006) and Retief Goosen (2003, 2009) remain the only multiple champions. XX The playoff in 2015 was only the second in tournament history. Luke Donald won a four-way playoff in 2012.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
1
70
67
68
69
274/-10
500.00
$1,062,000.00
T2
66
72
69
67
274/-10
245.00
$519,200.00
Patrick Reed
T2
72
68
68
66
274/-10
245.00
$519,200.00
Henrik Stenson
4
67
70
71
67
275/-9
135.00
$283,200.00
Ryan Moore
5
69
68
67
72
276/-8
110.00
$236,000.00
Opening and closing rounds of 67 helped Henrik Stenson to a fourth-place finish.
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Ryan Moore was in command through 66 holes then made three costly bogeys.
The 16th through 18th holes at Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course are known as the “Snake Pit.” The toughest of the three, and the toughest on the course statistically, is the 16th. The 475yard dogleg-right hole features water on the right side and yielded only four birdies in the final round in 2015.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Jordan Spieth Sean O’Hair
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Notable Course Features
A variety of entertainment options are available, including the Bright House Sports Network Pavilion, the Family Fun Zone presented by Publix, the Michelob ULTRA 19th Hole, Frenchy’s Pool Party, the Fan Expo Area, and the Tampa General Hospital Health & Wellness Station. Fans can get autographs at the Tampa Bay Times Autograph Alley. w w w.pgatour.com
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Official Sponsor of the Valspar Championship The Most Colorful PGA TOUR Tournament in the World 速
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
March 17-20, 2016
Location
Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented By Mastercard HOW MATT EVERY WON
Course Information
Matt Every scored his second consecutive come-from-behind victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard, but the finish was quite different this time. In 2014, he missed a four-foot par putt on the 72nd hole and waited to see his score hold up. It was more of a thriller in 2015 as Every took the lead with a 17-foot birdie putt on the final hole and again sat and watched his nearest challenger take one stroke too many. Thirdround leader Henrik Stenson had the best chance down the stretch, but a three-putt bogey on the 15th and three-putt par on the 16th ultimately doomed him to a second-place finish after a closing 70. Every shot a Sunday 66 to come from three strokes back (he was four behind in 2014).
Arnold Palmer’s signature design, the Championship Course at Bay Hill Club & Lodge, is a demanding, strategic course that requires length off the tee and accuracy into tricky greens. Originally designed by Dick Wilson and Joe Lee in 1961, the layout featuring numerous water hazards has been completely overhauled and extensively re-grassed, resulting in exceptional course conditions.
Yardage
7,419; par 72
2015 Champion Matt Every, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC
Tickets
Daily tickets are $50; a weekly grounds badge $110. There is a 10 percent discount when using MasterCard. Youth ticket (ages 13-17) is $15; kids 12 and under are admitted free. Active duty military and military retirees get free tickets for self and spouse; non-retired veterans can buy tickets for $25 (limit of two). For more information, visit www. arnoldpalmerinvitational. com.
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Orlando, Fla. Bay Hill Club & Lodge (Championship Course)
“I did a really good job this week of forgetting about the past, good or bad. If I hit a great shot, made a birdie, I’m like, ‘All right, I’m done with it.’ Same if I missed one.”––Matt Every
With a closing 70, Swede Henrik Stenson finished one shot behind Matt Every.
It was Every’s second career victory, both at the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard. Every ranked second in Greens in Regulation (58 of 72) and second in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green (2.622 per round). Every made five straight birdies in the second round on his 13th through 17th holes (Bay Hill’s fourth through eighth).
Ben Martin had an anxious moment on the sixth hole during his final-round 71.
Social Media
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Charity Benefit
quick Facts
No. 18, Bay Hill Club & Lodge.
Field: 120 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.3 million Winner’s Share: $1,134,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard primarily supports the Arnold Palmer Medical Center, which includes Arnold Palmer Hospital For Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital For Women & Babies. The Arnold Palmer Medical Center is the largest facility in the U.S. dedicated to women and children.
check this out
XX Matt Every joined Loren Roberts (1994-95) and Tiger Woods (2000-03, 2008-09, 2012-13) as winners at Bay Hill in consecutive years. XX Only Tiger Woods has won the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard more than twice (eight times); Matt Every joins Tom Kite, Loren Roberts and Ernie Els with two victories. XX Matt Every became the first player to shoot
four rounds in the 60s at Bay Hill since 2008 (Bart Bryant), and the first winner to do so since Payne Stewart in 1987. XX Daniel Berger made a double eagle on the sixth hole of the third round and Zach Johnson on the 16th hole of the final round, just the sixth time since 1983 a PGA TOUR stroke-play event has seen two double eagles.
LEADERBOARD 2015
images: us pga tour; getty images
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Matt Every
1
68
66
69
66
269/-19
500.00
$1,134,000.00
2
68
66
66
70
270/-18
300.00
$680,400.00
Matt Jones
3
71
65
67
68
271/-17
190.00
$428,400.00
Morgan Hoffmann
4
66
65
71
71
273/-15
135.00
$302,400.00
Ben Martin
5
68
67
68
71
274/-14
110.00
$252,000.00
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Fourth-place finisher Morgan Hoffman had a great first 36 holes, shooting 66-65.
FAN EXPERIENCE
Earnings
Henrik Stenson
The closing hole at Bay Hill Club has been known for producing incredible drama. The par 4 measuring 458 yards requires a second shot to a narrow kidney-shaped green that wraps around a lake, leaving a long carry over rocks and water when the pin is set on the right side. While plenty of players have seen their victory hopes drown there, Robert Gamez famously holed out for eagle with a 7-iron in 1990 to beat Greg Norman by a stroke.
Matt Jones’ closing 68 put him in third place.
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Player
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Notable Course Features
Fan features at the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard include a daily pairings guide with bonus stories and information, and special seating areas. There are also an array of MasterCard perks, including the MasterCard club with a full bar and view of the ninth hole, the Palmer Patio at the 18th tee, and the Skills Challenge where fans can receive instruction tips and prizes.
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
March 23-27, 2016
World Golf ChampionshipsDell Match Play Location Austin, Tex. Austin Country Club
Course Information The tournament’s new site, Austin Country Club, was founded in 1899, but its current course was built on new property in 1984 and designed by Pete Dye. As configured for the tournament, a stretch of holes on the back nine are in the “lowlands” close to Lake Austin while the rest of the course is higher and more typical of Texas Hill Country. The course features deep pot bunkers, undulating turf and dramatic fairway falls, with a Texas accent added by extensive use of limestone slabs, quarried on site, to build revetments for tees, greens and fairways. The course is designed so that aggressive play to target areas providing the best angle of approach or best birdie chance on the green often requires flirting with the amply provided hazards.
Yardage 7,073; par 72
2015 Champion Rory McIlroy, N. Ireland
Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC
Tickets Weekly grounds tickets are sold out. Youth 18 and under will receive free grounds admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult, limited to one youth ticket per adult ticket.
“Once I got up in the match, I just tried to up the intensity a little bit and take advantage of that. And that’s what I was able to do.”—Rory McIlroy
England’s Danny Willett advanced to the semifinals.
Gary Woodland fell behind early in the final and lost 4 and 2.
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Jim Furyk lost to a birdie-eagle finish by Rory McIlroy in the semifinals.
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Rory McIlroy surged to a 4-up lead on the first nine of the championship match.
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HOW RORY MCILROY WON
After staging comebacks in three straight matches, Rory McIlroy took control on the front nine in the final against Gary Woodland and won 4 and 2 at Harding Park in San Francisco. In the first round after preliminary pool play cut the field to 16, McIlroy was 2-down through 16 against Billy Horschel before winning 17, 18, and the first extra hole. McIlroy was 1-down with two to play against Paul Casey in the quarterfinals in a match he eventually won in 22 holes. McIlroy finished birdie-eagle to beat Jim Furyk 1 up in the semifinals before winning four straight holes on the front nine against Woodland to avoid having to go to the wire in the final. McIlroy went 1 up in the final when Woodland bogeyed the fourth hole, and McIlroy then posted three straight birdies to go 4 up. McIlroy had to come back Sunday morning for the final hole of his suspended quarterfinal match before beating Furyk and Woodland on the same day. In pool play, McIlroy needed a comeback to beat Brandt Snedeker, 2 up, but posted lopsided wins over Jason Dufner (5 and 4) and Hideki Matsuyama (6 and 5). PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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quick Facts Field: 64 Players Format: 18-hole match play, with four- player pool play preceding singleelimination play Purse: $9.25 million Winner’s Share: $1,570,000 FedExCup Points: 550 to the winner
Charity Benefit The primary beneficiary of the World Golf Championships is The First Tee, a program that develops affordable golf learning facilities and provides young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop through golf and character education. Since 1999, the World Golf Championships series has distributed more than $50 million to charities worldwide.
Leaderboard 2015 Player
Pos FedExCup Points
Earnings
Rory McIlroy
1
550.00
$1,570,000.00
Gary Woodland
2
315.00
$930,000.00
Danny Willett
3
Jim Furyk
4
$646,000.00 140.00
$520,000.00
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XX At 25 years, 11 months, and 29 days, McIlroy became the youngest champion of the Dell Match Play. He supplanted Jason Day, who won in 2014 at 26 years, 1 month, 28 days. XX McIlroy lost in the final to Hunter Mahan in 2011 and joined Tiger Woods, David Toms, Geoff Ogilvy and Mahan as players owning both a win and a second in the event.
The signature hole is the par-5 tournament 12th, which plays downhill to a green that sits hard by Lake Austin, with the iron arch of a bridge adjacent to the course as the backdrop. It’s reachable in two strokes, but water awaits an errant shot, making it an excellent risk/reward hole for match play. That’s followed by another hole that can produce birdies or penalty strokes, the short par-4 13th featuring a green that juts into the water. The lakeside stretch concludes with the long par-4 14th where pars will be hard earned and the lake hugs the entire left side for a continued element of danger.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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XX The No. 1 seed has won the championship four times in the 17 years of the World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play—Tiger Woods in 2003, 2004 and 2008 and Rory McIlroy in 2015. XX With just one day to spare, McIlroy became only the third player in the last 75 years to own at least 10 PGA TOUR victories before turning 26.
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Notable Course Features
Fan features at the Dell Match Play include oncourse scoreboards and video boards, special seating for the physically challenged, and a Kid Zone.
images: GETTY images, us pga tour
Rory McIlroy became the only No. 1 seed other than Tiger Woods to win the event.
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
March 24-27, 2016
Puerto Rico Open Rio Grande, Puerto Rico Coco Beach Golf & Country Club
Course Information Located in the picturesque foothills of El Yunque National Park, Coco Beach Golf & Country Club boasts two 18-hole courses, the Championship Course and the International Course. Designed by former U.S. Open champion Tom Kite, the Championship Course winds through lush tree groves and over waterways and lakes near the ocean.
Yardage 7,506; par 72
2015 Champion Alex Cejka, Germany
Media Coverage Golf Channel
Tickets Daily general admission tickets are $20, parking is $7 and valet parking $25. Children 16 and under admitted free; active duty military and military retirees admitted free. For more information, visit www. gotopuertoricoopen.com.
“It’s been a grinding week, a tough week. The first victory is always the toughest. So I’m glad it’s done.”––Alex Cejka
Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo was part of the largest playoff on the PGA TOUR since 2005.
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HOW ALEX CEJKA WON
Location
Alex Cejka won a five-man playoff to claim his first PGA TOUR victory at the age of 44. Playing in his 287th PGA TOUR event, the four-time winner on the European Tour thought he would finish at least one stroke back until Emiliano Grillo and Jon Curran bogeyed the par-5 18th hole. That dropped them into a tie with Sam Saunders, Tim Petrovic and Cejka, who had changed clothes getting ready to go to the airport. After getting back into golf attire, Cejka made a 15-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole. Cejka closed with a 69 to finish at 7-under 281 along with the other four playoff participants; four more players followed at 282. Cejka made up for playing the last four holes of the third round in 4-over par by playing the first six holes of the final round in 4-under. Cejka hit 56 of 72 greens (77.8 percent) to rank T3 in Greens in Regulation. Cejka (44 years, 3 months) became the third oldest first-time winner on the PGA TOUR since 1970, behind Ed Dougherty (47 years, 8 months) and Ken Duke (44 years, 4 months).
Jon Curran slipped into a tie for the lead with a bogey on the 72nd hole.
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quick Facts
No. 12, Coco Beach Golf & Country Club.
Field: 132 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $3 million Winner’s Share: $540,000 FedExCup Points: 300 to the winner
Charity Benefit The Puerto Rico Open is committed to helping the community, specifically through organizations like Fondos Unidos (United Way) that provide a positive influence for underprivileged communities in Puerto Rico. This non-profit organization has invested economic, inkind and volunteer resources to strengthen social and health care services in Puerto Rico for more than 40 years.
XX The 2015 Puerto Rico Open had the first fiveman playoff on the PGA TOUR since the 2005 BellSouth Classic, won by Phil Mickelson. XX Sponsor exemptions have finished second in Puerto Rico in three of the last four years: Ryo Ishikawa (2nd, 2012), Jordan Spieth (T2, 2013),
and Emiliano Grillo (T2, 2015). XX Alex Cejka was the first international winner in the eight years of the Puerto Rico Open. XX The winning total of 7-under 281 in 2015 was the highest in the history of the event by seven strokes. A year earlier, Chesson Hadley set the record for lowest 72-hole total at 267.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Alex Cejka
1
70
67
75
69
281/-7
300.00
$540,000.00
Jon Curran
T2
70
71
70
70
281/-7
103.75
$198,000.00
Emiliano Grillo
T2
69
70
72
70
281/-7
$198,000.00
Tim Petrovic
T2
75
71
68
67
281/-7
103.75
$198,000.00
Sam Saunders
T2
72
72
69
68
281/-7
103.75
$198,000.00
images: Getty Images
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Sam Saunders had his best career finish on the PGA TOUR.
The par-4 13th is a hole of relatively modest length (410 yards), but ranked as the second most difficult on the course in 2015. It features a lake running the entire length of the hole on the right and another water hazard wrapping around most of the green that makes for a challenging approach shot. The 19 double bogeys (or worse) in 2015 were more than any other hole.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Tim Petrovic’s best score of the tournament, a closing 67, lifted him into a share of second place.
Notable Course Features
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check this out
A number of amenities are provided for the comfort of spectators: concession stands, courtesy phones, course maps, daily pairing sheets, grandstands, leaderboards, lost & found, medical services, merchandise tent, restrooms & hand-washing facilities and disabled guest seating. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1 145
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
March 31-April 3, 2016
Shell Houston Open Location Humble, Tex. Golf Club of Houston (Tournament Course)
Course Information Formerly known as Redstone Golf Club, the Golf Club of Houston opened in 2003 with the course now known as the Member Course, designed by Jim Hardy and seven-time PGA TOUR winner Peter Jacobsen. The Tournament Course, designed by Rees Jones, was added in 2006. Former PGA Championship winner David Toms assisted Jones in creating a challenging layout that moves throughout Cypress, oak and pine trees.
Yardage 7,441; par 72
2015 Champion J.B. Holmes, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC
Tickets U.S. Active Duty Military or Military Retirees receive two complimentary Champions Pavilion tickets; Military Veterans can get two discounted tickets for $20. Kids 13 and under admitted free with a ticketed adult; limit three per adult. For information, go to www. shellhoustonopen.com. .
“I didn’t really focus on the results at any point in the round. I was just trying to do the best I could each hole, and at the end of the round you add it up.” ––J.B. Holmes
Johnson Wagner had reason to celebrate after sinking a long birdie putt on the final hole of regulation.
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HOW J.B HOLMES WON
Trailing by six strokes entering the final round, J.B. Holmes birdied the first five holes on the way to a closing 64 and then defeated Jordan Spieth and Johnson Wagner in a playoff. Holmes shot a 29 on the front nine and was 9-under for the round through 12 holes before cooling off. Spieth led through 54 holes, lost the advantage, but regained a tie with a 2-under back nine and a difficult par save on 18. Wagner closed with a 69 that included a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole. The demanding 18th was the site of both playoff holes, Spieth dropping out with a bogey on the first and Wagner missing a five-foot par putt on the next to give Holmes the victory. Holmes was last in the field in Driving Accuracy (44.6 percent), but first in Driving Distance (312.4 yards). Holmes led the field in Par-4 Scoring (3.70), aided by a hole-out for eagle on the 10th hole in the first round. Holmes didn’t miss a putt inside six feet, but in Strokes Gained ranked higher Tee-to-Green (4th) than Putting (11th). Jordan Spieth, the 54-hole leader, made the playoff after a par save on the 72nd hole.
Social Media
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quick Facts
Since 1974 the Houston Golf Association has raised approximately $64 million for charity through the event.
Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.8 million Winner’s Share: $1,224,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
Charity Benefit
check this out
XX J.B. Holmes’ 64 matched the lowest fourthround score by a winner of the Houston Open, tying David Graham (1983) and David Duval (1998). XX Shell Oil Company, the third-longest serving title sponsor on TOUR, will celebrate its 25th anniversary as title sponsor of the event in 2016. The Houston Golf Association celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2016.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
J.B. Holmes
1
70
73
64
272/-16
500.00
$1,188,000.00
65
Jordan Spieth
T2
69
66
67
70
272/-16
245.00
$580,800.00
Johnson Wagner
T2
69
68
66
69
272/-16
245.00
$580,800.00
Russell Henley
4
69
68
68
69
274/-14
135.00
$316,800.00
images: Getty Images
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J.B. Holmes and his caddie after Holmes’ final-round 64.
The par-4 18th hole, which measures 488 yards, is both challenging and dramatic. A lake borders the entire left side and comes into play on both the tee shot and the approach into the green. It annually ranks among the top 50 toughest holes on the PGA TOUR.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Four rounds under 70 put Russell Henley in fourth place.
Notable Course Features
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XX The winner in each of the last two years has come from six strokes behind entering the final round: Matt Jones (2014) and J.B. Holmes (2015). The tournament record is seven strokes (Mike Sullivan, 1989, and Payne Stewart, 1995). XX The Shell Houston Open has had more playoffs (23) than any PGA TOUR event, except the U.S. Open (32).
The ongoing beneficiaries of the Shell Houston Open are the Chinquapin Preparatory School for low-income children, the Cenikor Foundation for behavioral health issues and addiction, and Project Joy and Hope for children with life-limiting conditions. A portion of the overall funding also goes to the Houston Golf Association Youth Programs, which include an academic scholarship program, The First Tee of Greater Houston, and HGA Junior Golf. More than 200 other worthy causes also benefit each year. Since 1974, the Houston Golf Association has raised approximately $64 million for charitable organizations and local youth development programs.
On-course fan features at the Shell Houston Open include a variety of corporate hospitality experiences, plus an array of special events for kids and families, food and beverage options, and opportunities for autographs after play. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1 147
24/11/2015 10:18
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02/12/2015 08:53
2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
April 7-10, 2016
Masters Tournament
Location Augusta, Ga. Augusta National Golf Club
Course Information
The closing stretch of holes at Augusta National Golf Club are overshadowed by Nos. 11, 12, and 13: the famed “Amen Corner,” which was given its name by the late writer Herbert Warren Wind after an old jazz song, “Shoutin’ in That Amen Corner.” That said, the closing holes often produce their share of great drama as well.
Yardage 7,435; par 72
Tickets
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES, ACTION IMAGES
For information, visit online at www.tickets.masters.com.
Hideki Matsuyama had one of the best Sunday rounds, a 66, to finish fifth.
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Having exhibited the ultimate expression of his golf talents with his unparalleled achievement of the Grand Slam, Bobby Jones wasted little time moving on to his next ambitious endeavor, one that proved equally impressive and enduring. The founding of Augusta National Golf Club and the subsequent creation of the Masters Tournament commenced not long after Jones retired from competitive golf in 1930, after he had capped his career by winning all four of his era’s major championships: the U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur, and the British Open and British Amateur. Teaming with Wall Street investment banker Clifford Roberts, Jones found a suitable piece of land in Augusta, Ga., a 365-acre tract that had been an indigo plantation and then a tree nursery. “Perfect,” Jones exclaimed when he saw the Berckmans property. “And to think this ground has been lying here all these years waiting for someone to come along and lay a golf course on it.” After the land was purchased by a group of Jones’ associates for $70,000—or a bit more than Jonas Blixt won for his share of a T28 finish in the 2015 tournament—Jones
did just that, laying a supremely crafted golf course on it with the help of noted golf architect Dr. Alister MacKenzie. Construction began in 1931 and the course opened in December 1932, with the first tournament held in 1934—the Augusta National Invitation Tournament. Roberts had wanted to call the event the Masters Tournament, but the modest Jones wouldn’t allow it until the 1939 edition. By then, of course, Gene Sarazen had holed out for an albatross on the par-5 15th hole to force a playoff with Craig Wood in 1935 that he would go on to win, and Byron Nelson would go 2-3 on 12 and 13 on the way to overtaking Ralph Guldahl for the 1937 title. Masters indeed. The die was cast. And the masters of golf have ruled at Augusta National ever since. The first green jacket was awarded in 1949, to Sam Snead, and he and Ben Hogan would pass it back and forth from 1951-54, with Snead beating Hogan in an epic battle in the last of those years. Soon after came the rise of charismatic Arnold Palmer, who became the first four-time champion, and only someone even more determined and talented could PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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knock off the leader of Arnie’s Army, which Jack Nicklaus did with a lethal combination of power and precision that brought him a record six green jackets. Gary Player of South Africa won three Masters, in 1961, ’74 and ’78, but foreign-born players truly emerged as a force starting with the first of two wins by Spain’s Seve Ballesteros in 1980. Fellow Europeans Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam, Jose Maria Olazabal and Nick Faldo all followed suit. Faldo, with wins in 1989 and ’90, joined Nicklaus (196566) as a repeat champion. Faldo’s third win in 1996 segued in 1997 to the first of four titles that Tiger Woods would claim as he set the 72-hole scoring record in the process at 18-under 270. Woods also became the third player to successfully defend his Masters crown in 2002. A pair of long-hitting left-handers, Phil Mickelson (2004, ’06, ’10) and Bubba Watson (2012, ’14), have recently joined the list of multiple Masters champions. The current holder of the green jacket is Jordan Spieth, who won in style in 2015 as he tied Woods’ scoring record with a 270 total of his own. 152 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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A wire-to-wire winner, Jordan Spieth made a Masters-record 28 birdies.
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HOW JORDAN SPIETH WON
In a performance reminiscent of a young Tiger Woods or a young Jack Nicklaus, 21-yearold Jordan Spieth controlled the Masters from start to finish and stamped himself as a new star in the game. Spieth matched the 72-hole scoring record of 18-under 270 set by Woods in 1997, when Tiger was just 21. It was at age 25 that Nicklaus produced his seminal Masters performance with a thenrecord 271 total that left tournament host Bobby Jones in awe. Spieth didn’t overpower Augusta National with huge tee shots in the vein of Woods or Nicklaus. Nor was his four-stroke victory margin as dominating as Nicklaus’ nine in 1965 or Woods’ 12 in 1997. But the newest young gun was plenty impressive, showing a game with lots of strong points and no weaknesses, as he became the first player since Raymond Floyd in 1976 to lead the Masters outright from wire to wire. In the process, he set records for 36-hole total (130) and 54-hole total (200) before matching the 72-hole mark, and made a tournament record 28 birdies. While it was a coming-out party, Spieth didn’t emerge from nowhere. He had been a 54-hole co-leader with Bubba Watson as a 20-year-old in the previous year’s Masters before finishing second. He came into the tournament on a roll, having finished 1-2-2 in his previous three starts on the PGA TOUR. Spieth kept the momentum going, sprinting out of the gate by playing the first 14 holes of the first
round in 8-under. He couldn’t quite manage to match or beat the 18-hole tournament record of 63, but the 8-under 64 left him with a threestroke lead. Spieth expanded the margin to five strokes through two rounds with a 66 as his 130 total tied the lowest 36-hole total in any major. After making only one bogey through two rounds, mistakes began to creep in as Spieth had three bogeys and a double bogey on Saturday. Seven birdies enabled him to escape with a 70, however, and a four-stroke lead over Justin Rose. The fourth round was more of the same as Spieth offset three bogeys with five birdies and ended up beating Rose and Phil Mickelson by four strokes. The closest anyone got was Rose at three strokes behind on three occasions on the first nine, but Spieth picked up a stroke on three straight holes starting at the eighth to make the margin a comfortable six with eight to play. A birdie on 15 made Spieth the first player ever to get to 19-under at the Masters, but when he missed a five-footer for a par on 18 he settled for an 18-under total. XX Spieth played well on every type of hole, ranking T2 in Par-3 Scoring (2.81), T2 in Par-4 Scoring (3.93), and T4 in Par-5 Scoring (4.25). His total for both the front and back nines was 9-under. XX Spieth ranked T2 in Greens in Regulation (54 of 72) and third in Putts Per Round (27.0). XX Spieth had the best round of the day in the first round (64) and matched the best of the day in the second round (66). w w w.pgatour.com
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2015/2016 tournament overview
REMEMBER THIS?
Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson was T2, four shots back.
No. 16, Augusta National Golf Club.
Jordan Spieth essentially wrapped up the tournament on the par-3 16th hole of the final round when he avoided what could have been a two-stroke swing in Justin Rose’s favor and instead maintained a fourstroke lead. Rose, playing first, hit his tee shot to 12 feet. Spieth then pulled his 7-iron long and left into an area from where Tiger Woods holed an improbable chip from in his 2005 victory. Spieth used the
slope of the green as Woods did, but couldn’t match the result as his pitch left him a six-foot putt with a significant break. Spieth dodged a bullet when Rose’s birdie putt missed. But there was still a chance of the lead being cut to three, because Spieth’s putt was the type of leftto-right slider that he says he struggles with. But he felt comfortable over this putt, having made a similar one on the previous hole. “I didn’t care about mechanics. It was all feel-based.” Spieth said after the round. “I was
seeing the line. I was seeing the arc of the putt. Same thing on 15, just going with it. Fortunately they were good strokes and they started on my line and that one went in the middle. That was maybe the biggest putt I’ve ever hit.” “Jordan didn’t really open the door, and I didn’t expect him to,” said Rose. “He’s played with the lead, it feels like, for the last month, and he has obviously gotten very comfortable doing that. He was clutch with the putter again today.” Never more so than on the 16th hole.
Leaderboard 2015 Player
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Pos
Jordan Spieth
1
Justin Rose
T2
Phil Mickelson
T2
Rory McIlroy
4
Hideki Matsuyama
5
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65
lle
Huntington
64
Charlottesville 64
Virginia Beach
Salem
Roanoke 85 Norfolk Danville 95 Martinsville
Bluefield 81
Elizabeth City
35˚
Henderson
Eden 2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW Greensboro Winston-Salem
sville
Nashville
City g
75
Tennessee Murfreesboro
Columbia Lawrenceburg Athens
Cullman pelo 65
mingham
oosa
Charlotte
Monroe Spartanburg
Atlanta
Hoover
Selma eridian
Alabama
85
Mobile
Vidalia
Columbus
Albany
Crestview Destin
Pensacola
Dothan
Hilton Head
Dublin
75
Ozark
65
Macon
Georgia Eufaula
Troy
Enterprise
lfport
Gastonia
Chattanooga
Opelika
oxi
Maryville
Raleigh 40
Lumberton
North Carolina Havelock
Jacksonville
Greenville Dalton Clemson 85 Wilmington Gainesville Huntsville Athens Buford Myrtle Beach 59 Aiken Orangeburg South Carolina Marietta Monroe 20 Oxford Augusta North Charleston Leeds Griffin
ntgomery
sburg
High Point Asheville 77
Knoxville
Greenville
Cary
95
Columbia
Decatur
n
Fredericksburg
Harrisonburg
Virginia Richmond West Virginia Williamsburg Lynchburg Petersburg Beckley
Kentucky Lexington Berea OwensboroCampbellsville
Madisonville Somerset ucah Glasgow Hopkinsville Middlesborough
s
79
Charleston
77
64
Frankfort Winchester
Louisville
Vernon
Washington D.C. Annapolis Maryland
Ohio R
Bloomington
gham
Cincinnati
.
Kettering
Greensburg
ute
Charleston
16
Hinesville Douglas
Moultrie
Savannah
April 14-17, 2016
RBC Heritage 70˚
Atlantic Ocean
30˚
95
Brunswick
Kingsland
Jacksonville Tallahassee Saint Augustine
Valdosta
10
Palatka
Gainesville Florida Daytona Beach Deltona Edgewater
leans
Titusville Location Orlando Kissimmee
HiltonTampa Head Clearwater
Melbourne
Island, Sebastian S.C., Port Saint Lucie Saint Petersburg Harbour Town Golf Links Grand Bahama Bartow Bradenton
Sarasota
Venice
75
West Palm Beach
Homestead
85˚
500 Miles
North Port
Abaco Coral Springs Boca Raton Fort Lauderdale Course Information Hialeah Naples Miami New Providence Renowned architect
Mexico
Rivers
95
Pete Dye teamed with a Andros Key West young Jack Nicklaus in his first 18-hole design 80˚ effort to create a uniquely challenging shotmakers’ course where accuracy is required to navigate the tree-lined fairways and tiny, undulating greens.
Nassau
San Salvador
75˚
“I can’t think of a more fitting place to get another win under my belt. This is my favorite event. I love being here. And outside of winning a major championship, this is the perfect place to do it.” —Jim Furyk
Jim Furyk, U.S.
HOW JIM FURYK WON
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Daily tickets are $65 in advance, $85 in April; weekly tickets $150 and $170. Youth 15 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult; active military and their dependents are admitted free. Parking and shuttles are free, and bicycle parking is available. For information, visit www.rbcheritage.com.
Cat Island
Long Island
2015 Champion
Tickets
25˚
Great Exuma
Yardage
Golf Channel/CBS
Bahama Islands Rum Cay
7,101; par 71
Media Coverage
Eleuthera
Jim Furyk broke a 4½-year victory drought, but Kevin Kisner didn’t make it easy. The 44-year-old Furyk birdied the last four holes of the front nine in the final round on the way to an 8-under 63. Playing behind him, Kisner birdied the 18th hole for a 64 to match Furyk’s 266 total and force a playoff. Kisner then birdied the first playoff hole (No. 18), but Furyk matched it with an eight-foot birdie putt and then birdied the second playoff hole (No. 17) from 12 feet for his 17th career victory. Troy Merritt led by three strokes through 54 holes but couldn’t match the torrid pace of Furyk and Kisner as his 69 left him in third. Furyk ranked second in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green, second in Proximity to the Hole on approach shots, and first in Scrambling. Furyk didn’t make a birdie in the first round (18 pars), but still finished the week with 20 birdies including nine in the final round.Harrington was nine under on the back nine for the week and three over on the front. Fast starts fueled Furyk in the second and fourth rounds as he shot a 5-under 31 and 6-under 30 on the front nine.
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Brendon Todd had a third-round 63 en route to a fourthplace finish.
With a closing birdie, Kevin Kisner forced a playoff.
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QUICK FACTS
Jim Furyk added to his strong record at Harbour Town Golf Links.
Field: approx. 130 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $5.9 million Winner’s Share: $1,062,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
CHARITY BENEFIT
The Heritage Classic Foundation distributed $2.6 million in 2015 to charitable organizations, the arts, medical institutions and for college scholarships. Close to $32 million has been distributed to those in need throughout South Carolina and Georgia since 1987.
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At 44 years, 11 months, Jim Furyk was the second-oldest winner of the RBC Heritage, behind Hale Irwin in 1994 (48 years, 10 months). Furyk set the tournament record for lowest finish by a winner with a 63, topping 64s by Stewart Cink (2004), Brian Gay (2009), and Brandt Snedeker (2011).
In 17 starts at the RBC Heritage, Furyk has eight top-10s, including two runner-up finishes (2005, 2006) and two victories (2010, 2015). Davis Love III has the most career victories at the RBC Heritage with five. Furyk is the 10th multiple winner.
Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Jim Furyk
1
64
68
70
266/-18
500.00
$1,062,000.00
71
Kevin Kisner
2
68
67
67
64
266/-18
300.00
$637,200.00
Troy Merritt
3
69
61
69
68
268/-16
190.00
$401,200.00
Brendon Todd
4
73
66
63
68
269/-15
135.00
$283,200.00
Matt Kuchar
5
68
66
68
74
270/-14
110.00
$236,000.00
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES
After three rounds in the 60s, Matt Kuchar shot a final-round 74 to finish fifth.
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Third-round leader Troy Merritt finished two strokes back in third place.
The par-4 finishing hole measuring 472 yards is one of golf’s most famous with the white and red lighthouse sitting behind the green as an appropriate aiming marker from the tee. The watery hazard running the length of the hole on the left comes particularly into play on a very difficult approach shot.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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LEADERBOARD 2015
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NOTABLE COURSE FEATURES
The RBC Heritage features a number of special areas for fans, including the Heritage Lawn Expo stretching from the 16th green to the 18th fairway which includes interactive golf displays, the Heritage Expo Village where exhibitors can display their products, the Liberty Oak Expo and the Michelob ULTRA 19th Hole and Grey Goose Lounge. Special events include opening ceremonies and a parade on Monday, a Coca-Cola Youth Day putting contest on Tuesday, Plaid Nation Day contests on Saturday, an evening concert on Saturday, and a Sunday sunrise service. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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April 21-24, 2016
Valero Texas Open Course Information TPC San Antonio is a 36hole facility with courses designed by Greg Norman (AT&T Oaks) and Pete Dye (AT&T Canyons). Sergio Garcia assisted Norman with the Oaks Course design, which incorporates the natural terrain and winds its way through stands of oak trees. Golfweek ranks both courses among the top 15 Best Courses You Can Play in Texas.
Yardage 7,435; par 72
2015 Champion Jimmy Walker, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS
Tickets Daily tickets are $20 online, $30 at the gate. Children 12 and under are admitted free, military ID cardholders (active, guard, reserve, retired) and dependents, and Bexar County first responders (police, EMTs, firefighters, etc.) and one family member receive free admission and parking. For information, visit www. ValeroTexasOpen.com.
“To play this well at home in front of everybody, it’s amazing. It’s what the Spurs feel like when they win a big game at home.”––Jimmy Walker
Runner-up Jordan Spieth applied pressure on the final nine.
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HOW JIMMY WALKER WON
Location San Antonio, Tex. TPC San Antonio (AT&T Oaks)
San Antonio area resident Jimmy Walker took a four-stroke lead through 54 holes and walked away with a four-stroke victory as he and runner-up Jordan Spieth each shot 70 in the final round. Walker built the margin to six with five holes remaining, but it wasn’t quite a walk in the park as Spieth made four straight birdies beginning on the 14th hole. Walker managed to hold him off with birdies of his own on the 16th and 17th. The fast finishes were noteworthy on a course that was very difficult all week, with only 10 players finishing under par for 72 holes and Walker winning at 11-under 277. Billy Horschel was third, three strokes behind Spieth. Walker had all aspects of his game going, as he ranked first in Strokes Gained: Putting and third in Strokes Gained: Teeto-Green. He was first in Greens in Regulation. Walker had 11 bogeys, but more than made up for it with a field-high 22 birdies. Walker played the par 5s in 12-under, including four birdies on the 604-yard eighth hole.
Billy Horschel finished third at 4-under in the toughest scoring of the season.
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2015/2016 tournament overview
quick Facts
No. 18, TPC San Antonio (AT&T Oaks Course).
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 tournament raised $10.4 million for charity in 2015, pushing the total to $104.9 million in tournament history and $100.9 million since Valero became the title sponsor in 2002. The money benefits children’s charities across the U.S. in communities where Valero has major operations.
XX Seven of the last 16 winners of the Valero Texas Open have had Texas ties (native/resident): Justin Leonard (2000, 01, 07), Tommy Armour III (2003), Bart Bryant (2004), Steven Bowditch (2014), and Jimmy Walker (2015). XX Walker became the fourth San Antonio area resident to win the event, joining Tony Holquin
(1953), Wes Ellis (1959) and David Ogrin (1996). XX After winning three times in the 2013-14 season, Walker’s Valero Texas Open win gave him two in 2014-15, accounting for all five of the 36-year-old’s PGA TOUR victories. XX TPC San Antonio’s 74.521 scoring average was the highest on the PGA TOUR in the 201415 season.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Jimmy Walker
1
71
67
69
70
277/-11
500.00
$1,116,000.00
Jordan Spieth
2
71
69
71
70
281/-7
300.00
$669,600.00
Billy Horschel
3
72
70
71
71
284/-4
190.00
$421,600.00
Chesson Hadley
T4
71
72
71
71
285/-3
122.50
$272,800.00
Daniel Summerhays
T4
71
73
72
69
285/-3
122.50
$272,800.00
images: Getty Images
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Daniel Summerhays’ final-round 69 was more than five shots better than the field average for the week.
The par 5s at the AT&T Oaks Course are a formidable bunch, with three of them measuring at least 591 yards and all of that trio ranking among the 20 toughest par 5s on the PGA TOUR. The 591-yard 18th is reachable in two for long hitters, and still provides a birdie chance for those who have to lay up short of a creek that bisects the fairway in front of the green, but imprecision on either of the first two shots can leave a player fighting to make a par.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Chesson Hadley’s closing 71 earned him a share of fourth place.
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Notable Course Features
Special events include Executive Women’s Day on Tuesday, the Web.com Business Summit on Thursday, A Night To Honor Our Heroes Presented by USAA on Friday, a Children’s Golf Clinic on Saturday, and the Texas Open After Party on Saturday evening at the Michelob ULTRA Backyard.
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FOLLOW ALL THE FEDEXCUP ACTION DURING THE 2015-16 PGA TOUR SEASON 速
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16/11/2015 15:09
2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
April 28-May 1, 2016
Location
Zurich Classic Of New Orleans HOW JUSTIN ROSE WON
Course Information
Justin Rose birdied the last two holes, sinking a putt of 14 feet on the 18th, to claim a onestroke victory over Cameron Tringale. Rose was a 54-hole co-leader with Jason Day, but Rose was playing ahead of the other contenders because the groupings remained the same after the suspended third round was completed Sunday morning. Rose surged into position with a bogey-free 65 in the third round, and he also didn’t have any bogeys in a final-round 66 while making six birdies to finish at 22-under 266. Tringale was 7-under for the final round through 11 holes, but he was even par the rest of the way to finish at 267. Boo Weekley was third after a 65 and Day fell to T4 with a 69.
In designing the championship course, renowned architect Pete Dye was assisted by PGA TOUR players Steve Elkington, a former PGA Championship winner, and Kelly Gibson, a native of New Orleans. Their partnership resulted in a golf course that meanders over 250 acres of wetlands along the Mississippi River delta. More than 100 bunkers and mounding and swales add to the strategic challenge. Opened in 2004, TPC Louisiana is part of the Audubon Golf Trail.
Yardage 7,425; par 72
2015 Champion Justin Rose, England
Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS
IMAGES: US PGA TOUR; GETTY IMAGES
Tickets Daily tickets are $25; a weekly pass costs $75. Daily public parking is $15, with daily and weekly premium parking available. Children 17 and under are admitted free with an adult ticket holder; active military are admitted free. For information, visit www. zurichgolfclassic.com.
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Avondale, La. TPC Louisiana
“I think as a player to make the putt exactly when you need to is huge. I don’t think I’ve made a putt to win a PGA TOUR event outright like that before.”––Justin Rose
Boo Weekley had hot rounds to begin and end the tournament en route to third place.
Rose went the final 66 holes without a bogey, finishing with one bogey and one double bogey for the week. Rose ranked T3 in Driving Accuracy (46 of 56 fairways) and fourth in Strokes Gained: Tee-toGreen (2.069 per round). Rose was T4 in Scrambling, saving par 16 of the 18 times he missed the green.
Runner-up Cameron Tringale got off to a fast final-round start.
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quick Facts
No. 18, TPC Louisiana.
Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7 million Winner’s Share: $1,260,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
Charity Benefit The Zurich Classic in conjunction with the Fore!Kids Foundation raised more than $1.8 million for local children’s charities in 2015. In partnership with the more than 100 organizations they support Fore!Kids Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of children, educating their minds, and instilling in them the confidence to pursue their dreams.
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XX The victory by Justin Rose gave him wins in six consecutive seasons (2010-15), second only to Dustin Johnson’s eight. XX Rose’s 22-under 266 total was the lowest in the nine years the event has been played at TPC Louisiana. The tournament record is 26-under 262 by Chip Beck at Lakewood Country Club in 1988.
XX The field averaged 69.113 on the rainsoftened TPC Louisiana in the final round, the lowest average ever on the course by more than half a stroke (69.620, fourth round, 2013). XX Rose was the second consecutive international player to win the Zurich Classic, following South Korea’s Seung-Yul Noh.
Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Justin Rose
1
69
66
65
66
266/-22
500.00
$1,242,000.00
Cameron Tringale
2
69
65
68
65
267/-21
300.00
$745,200.00
Boo Weekley
3
64
70
69
65
268/-20
190.00
$469,200.00
Jason Day
T4
67
65
68
69
269/-19
122.50
$303,600.00
Jim Herman
T4
69
68
67
65
269/-19
122.50
$303,600.00
Jason Day tied for fourth at 19 under.
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Jim Herman improved each round in finishing T4.
The signature hole at TPC Louisiana is the 18th, a risk-oriented par 5. It is reachable in two, especially when the tees are moved up from the scorecard yardage of 585 yards to make it more enticing, but water all the way down the right side adds an element of danger.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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LEADERBOARD 2015
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Notable Course Features
Zatarain’s 19th hole offers special food all day and a free concert Saturday and Sunday evenings. There are special concessions on the course and two premium areas (special ticket required) offering fine dining. The Capital One Bank Champions Club adjacent to the 18th fairway partners with some of New Orleans’ most famous restaurants and the ACME Oyster House features seafood cuisine and umbrella tables overlooking holes 13, 14 and 17 as well as a tent. w w w.pgatour.com
24/11/2015 10:15
WALK WITH LEGENDS. Colin Montgomerie
Jeff Maggert
Bernhard Langer
Mark O’Meara
Tom Lehman
“Experience the most accessible, accommodating and engaging entertainment in professional golf.” - Fred Couples
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
May 5-8, 2016
Location Charlotte, N.C. Quail Hollow Club
Course Information George Cobb was the original designer of the Quail Hollow Club, laying out the course in 1961 on a former dairy farm. Arnold Palmer modified selected holes in 1986. Tom Fazio put teeth into what was a fairly open layout, adding length, tightening fairways, altering bunkers, and bringing undulation, false fronts and elevation to the greens.
Yardage 7,562; par 72
2015 Champion Rory McIlroy, N. Ireland
Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS
Tickets Grounds tickets are $50 Thursday, $60 other tournament days, and $70 good any one day, all including parking and shuttles. Kids 12-andunder admitted free (one per adult ticket holder). Military ID holders receive two complimentary tickets (limit 1,000 tickets). For information, go to www. wellsfargochampionship. com.
“I get stretches of golf during tournaments when I’m on and I make a lot of birdies. If you do that, you can pick and choose where you want to be aggressive the rest of the time.”––Rory McIlroy
With weekend scores of 68-67, Gary Woodland moved up to T4.
HOW RORY MCILROY WON
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Wells Fargo Championship
Rory McIlroy surged ahead with a 61 in the third round and rolled to a seven-stroke victory with a tournament record 21-under 267 total. The Northern Irishman had a run of nine birdies in 10 holes during the third round, the birdies coming at holes 7-10 and 12-16. He finished Saturday four strokes ahead of Webb Simpson and seven ahead of the rest of the field. When Simpson played the first six holes of the final round in 2-over, the way was clear for McIlroy, who shot a 69 in the final round. Patrick Rodgers, playing on a sponsor exemption, staged a charge, but a double bogey on 17 ended his bid and he finished with a 68 to tie for second with Simpson (72). McIlroy had no bogeys in the second and third rounds while making 16 birdies to shoot 67-61. McIlroy ranked first in Strokes Gained: Tee-toGreen (16.870 total for the week) and 21st in Strokes Gained: Putting (3.213). McIlroy led the field in Driving Distance, was second in Greens in Regulation, and third in Proximity to the Hole.
Patrick Rodgers parlayed his sponsor exemption into a T2 finish.
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quick Facts
Rory McIlroy’s 267 total broke the tournament record by five shots.
Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7.1 million Winner’s Share: $1,278,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
Charity Benefit
Teach For America, which provides teaching candidates for schools serving the highest-need students, is the primary recipient of charitable contributions from the Wells Fargo Championship. The tournament also supports The First Tee of Greater Charlotte. Over the course of its 13-year history, the tournament has raised more than $18 million for charity.
XX Rory McIlroy’s 267 total smashed the previous 72-hole record of 272 by Anthony Kim in 2008. The seven-stroke victory margin was a tournament record, breaking Kim’s five. XX McIlroy’s 61 in the third round beat his own course record of 62 (2010) that he shared with Brendon de Jonge (2014).
XX After the first 12 years of the tournament produced 12 different winners, McIlroy became the first to win twice (2010, 2015). XX Since 2010, McIlroy is 54-under on the 96 par 5s he has played at Quail Hollow, the most under par of any player in that span. He was 13-under in 2015.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Rory McIlroy
1
70
67
61
69
267/-21
500.00
$1,278,000.00
Patrick Rodgers
T2
68
68
70
68
274/-14
$624,800.00
T2
67
67
68
72
274/-14
245.00
$624,800.00
T4
71
66
71
68
276/-12
115.00
$293,466.67
Gary Woodland
T4
70
71
68
67
276/-12
115.00
$293,466.67
Robert Streb
T4
65
69
71
71
276/-12
115.00
$293,466.67
images: Getty Images
Phil Mickelson finished T4 after a final-round 68.
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A slow start hurt Webb Simpson’s chances of catching the leader on Sunday.
The final three holes comprise one of the toughest finishing stretches on the PGA TOUR. There is the 508-yard, par-4 16th hole; the watery, 221yard, par-3 17th hole; and the 493-yard, par-4 finishing hole. Together they are commonly known as “The Green Mile.” They ranked as the three toughest holes on the course in 2015, led by No. 18 with a 4.369 average.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Webb Simpson Phil Mickelson
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Notable Course Features
Concession offerings include food from local restaurants, there is a social media hub, a charity village where fans can learn about the organizations that benefit from the tournament, and a fenced-in area near the practice range for kids 12 and under to watch the pros up close. Special events include a youth exhibition on Wednesday and a sunrise service on Sunday. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1 167
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2015 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
May 12-15, 2016
THE PLAYERS Championship Location Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. TPC Sawgrass (THE PLAYERS Stadium Course)
Course Information Pete Dye designed THE PLAYERS Stadium Course in 1980 on a low-lying wetlands area with input from his wife, Alice, and PGA TOUR Commissioner Deane Beman. The result of their collaboration is a balanced course with a combination of short, medium and long holes and a course routing in which each proceeding hole plays in a different direction. A number of water hazards add to the challenge of the strategic layout, and the undulating greens demand accurate approach shots. This is the first design in the vaunted TPC Network.
Yardage 7,215 yards; par: 72
2015 Champion Rickie Fowler, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC
Tickets Daily tickets cost $20 plus tax for Tuesday and Wednesday, $58 plus tax Thursday and Sunday, and $65 plus tax Friday and Saturday. Weekly badge is $165 plus tax. All tickets are discounted 10 percent when paid by MasterCard. Career military (active duty, reserve, retirees) and their dependents are admitted free. Children 18 and under are admitted free with adult ticket holder. For information, go to www.PGATOUR.COM/theplayers
“I’ve always liked playing 17, it’s been good to me. I played it well all week.” —Rickie Fowler
Ben Martin finished a stroke out of the three-man playoff.
Bill Haas shot a final-round 70 to finish T4.
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Sergio Garcia lost in a playoff in a bid for his second win at THE PLAYERS.
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Kevin Kisner takes on No. 17 during the playoff.
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HOW RICKIE FOWLER WON
Rickie Fowler played the last six holes of regulation in 6-under to make a playoff, where he played four holes in 2-under to claim his second career victory. The big blow was a 3-wood to inside three feet for an eagle on the par-5 16th, followed by birdies on the last two holes of regulation for a 67 and 12-under 276 total. Fowler waited as that score was matched by Sergio Garcia (68) and Kevin Kisner (69), both of whom birdied 16 and 17 with Kisner narrowly missing a 10-foot birdie putt on 18. Fowler and Kisner were each 1-under in the aggregate three-hole playoff, sending them to sudden death where Fowler won with a five-foot birdie putt on the island green 17th, his third birdie of the day there. Ben Martin and Bill Haas finished one shot out of the playoff, Martin after a bogey on the 18th. Fowler had five birdies in six times playing the 17th hole, two birdies in the playoff. McIlroy ranked T10 in Driving Accuracy, hitting 41 of 56 fairways (73.2 percent). Fowler led the field in Par Breakers with 21 birdies and an eagle. Fowler was only T51 in Greens in Regulation, but second in approach-shot proximity and fifth in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green.
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2015 tournament overview
Field: 144 Players Format: 72 Holes Stroke Play Purse: $10 million Winner’s Share: $1,800,000 FedExCup Points: 600 to the winner
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quick Facts
No. 16 (left) and No. 17, TPC Sawgrass (THE PLAYERS Stadium Course).
Charity Benefit
Proceeds benefit Northeast Florida charities in a fivecounty area, with more than 300 charities impacted each year. Approximately $75 million has been raised since THE PLAYERS arrived in Ponte Vedra Beach in 1977. The tournament has a $50 million goal for local youth-oriented charities over the course of 10 years, announced in 2011. The tournament also supports Birdies for Charity and Chip In For Youth programs.
Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Rickie Fowler
1
69
71
67
276/-12
600.00
$1,800,000.00
69
Sergio Garcia
T2
69
72
67
68
276/-12
270.00
$880,000.00
Kevin Kisner
T2
73
67
67
69
276/-12
270.00
$880,000.00
Bill Haas
T4
72
67
68
70
277/-11
135.00
$440,000.00
Ben Martin
T4
68
71
68
70
277/-11
135.00
$440,000.00
XX Rickie Fowler’s 5-under total for the last four holes in regulation was the best any player has ever played holes 15-18 in any round of THE PLAYERS. XX Fowler had missed the cut in three of his previous five appearances at THE PLAYERS, but finished T2 in 2012. XX There have been only five playoffs in the 42-year history of THE PLAYERS. Sergio Garcia is the only player to appear in more 170 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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than one playoff, losing in 2015 to fall to 1-1. XX After four consecutive years of a winning 72-hole total of 13-under 275, the 2015 event deviated only slightly at 276. XX Only four players have shot all four rounds in the 60s since THE PLAYERS moved to TPC Sawgrass in 1982—Greg Norman, Fuzzy Zoeller, and Jeff Maggert in 1994 and Steve Elkington in 1997.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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So compelling are the final three holes at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course that the PGA TOUR decided in 2014 to use the stretch for a three-hole aggregate playoff when there is a tie after regulation, which happened for the first time in 2015. The short par-3 17th hole, the famed island green, is the anchor of this notable stretch between the reachable par-5 16th and the dogleg left par-4 finisher.
Military Appreciation Day on Tuesday is capped by a free concert. During the week fans can enjoy a wide array of food service options, a Kids Zone, and Interactive Golf Experience. Fan content will be featured on social media boards during the week.
images: REUTERS/John Sommers II; kohler co.
Leaderboard 2015
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Notable Course Features
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Zach Johnson Class of 2003
The Path to the PGA TOUR.
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Every year the Web.com Tour awards 50 PGA TOUR速 cards. Former Web.com Tour players account for three out of four current PGA TOUR cardholders and over 421 PGA TOUR victories, showing that the Web.com Tour produces some of the best golfers in the world. Congratulations to the Web.com Tour class of 2015.
Patton Kizzire Class of 2015
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
May 19-22, 2016
AT&T Byron Nelson HOW STEVEN BOWDITCH WON
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Location Irving, Tex. TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas
Australia’s Steven Bowditch opened with a 62 and held at least a share of the lead after every round as he finished with an 18-under 259 total and a four-stroke victory. Due to heavy rains and flooding, the 14th hole was shortened from a par 4 to a 104-yard par 3 in each of the final three rounds, turning par for the course to 69. Bowditch was tied early in the final round by Dustin Johnson and then passed by Jimmy Walker, but Johnson shot himself out of it with an 8 on the par-4 sixth hole, and Walker fell back with bogeys on 11 and 12. Bowditch birdied 11 and 12 to take control and added birdies on 16 and 17 for a 4-under 30 on the back nine and a 64.
Course Information Jay Morrish, with help from Ben Crenshaw and Byron Nelson, designed the championship course in 1982. It has since undergone significant renovation under the guidance of Champions Tour player D.A. Weibring, who teamed with architect Steve Wolfard and PGA TOUR players Harrison Frazar and J.J. Henry. The layout features large, undulating greens, tree-lined fairways and numerous creeks and ponds that come into play on several holes.
Yardage 7,166; par 70
2015 Champion Steven Bowditch, Australia
Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS
Tickets Daily grounds tickets are $45, including parking and shuttles. Youth 17-and-under are admitted free, and so are military. Admission is free to everyone on Monday and Tuesday. For information, go to www.attbyronnelson.org
“You start to see a few putts drop in and all of a sudden your name is around the top of the leaderboard and you just keep moving forward. [You] use that wonderful word in sport, ‘momentum,’ and just hope it keeps coming with you.”––Steven Bowditch
Charley Hoffman’s closing 65 moved him into a share of second place.
Bowditch made 27 birdies to offset nine bogeys on the week, six of those bogeys coming in a second-round 68. Bowditch was first in the Bounceback category, making birdie 55.6 percent of the time on the next hole after a bogey. Bowditch hit only 11 Greens in Regulation in the final round, but had just 24 putts.
Jimmy Walker, who was T2, held the lead on the front nine Sunday.
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quick Facts
No. 18, TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas.
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 Salesmanship Club, the host organization of the AT&T Byron Nelson, donates the funds raised by the tournament to the Momentous Institute. The Institute’s education and mental health programs are designed to build and repair kids’ social emotional health. Since 1968, the tournament has raised more than $143 million for the organization.
XX Dallas-area resident Steven Bowditch won on the TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas course where he was married on the 18th green in 2011. XX Bowditch held the lead outright after the first, third, and fourth rounds and shared the lead after the second round. Only two players have led wireto-wire at the AT&T Byron Nelson with no ties:
Mark Hayes (1976) and Tom Watson (1980). XX Bowditch set the tournament record for lowest 72-hole total at 259, helped by par being reduced to 69 the last three rounds for a total of 277. Sam Snead holds the record for most under par at 20-under 264 in 1957. Rory Sabbatini’s 19-under 261 in 2009 is the lowest total for a par of 280.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
1
62
68
65
64
259/-18
500.00
$1,278,000.00
T2
69
65
64
65
263/-14
208.33
$530,133.34
Scott Pinckney
T2
69
64
64
66
263/-14
208.33
$530,133.33
Jimmy Walker
T2
64
66
67
66
263/-14
208.33
$530,133.33
Zach Johnson
5
69
64
68
63
264/-13
110.00
$284,000.00
images: Getty Images
Scott Pinckney shared second, four strokes behind.
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Fifth-place finisher Zach Johnson had a 64 in the second round (shown) and a closing 63.
Water hazards are prominent on two of the toughest holes on the course. The 528-yard par-4 third has water nearly the entire length on the right side. The par-4 18th is only 429 yards, but was transformed into a tough finish when a four-pond water cascade feature was installed to the left of the fairway in a 2008 renovation.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Steven Bowditch Charley Hoffman
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Notable Course Features
Special activities and places for spectators include Pavilion After Dark live music Friday and Saturday evenings; an air-conditioned KidsZone with arts and crafts, bounce houses, and more; a kids-only Autograph Zone; the Military Outpost with free drinks and snacks for the military; and the AT&T Digital Clubhouse where fans can demo the company’s latest products and services. The schedule includes a Youth Clinic and an Opening Ceremony on Tuesday. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1 173
01/12/2015 16:01
2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
May 26-29, 2016
Colonial National Invitational Tournament Location
HOW CHRIS KIRK WON
Course Information
Yardage
7,204; par 70
2015 Champion Chris Kirk, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS
Tickets
Social Media
Twitter: @ColonialNIT Facebook: www.facebook. com/colonial 174
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“My first three wins on TOUR have all been little tap-ins on the last hole, so to step up and make a putt like that on 18 I knew was to win is something I’ll never forget.”––Chris Kirk
Playing near home, Jordan Spieth tied for second place.
Kirk was T60 for the week in Driving Accuracy and T62 in Greens in Regulation, but made up for it by ranking second in Strokes Gained: Putting and first in Putts Per Round. Kirk had seven birdies and five bogeys during a wild first round in which he hit just seven greens and had 22 putts. Kirk led the field in birdies (21) and added an eagle on the par-5 first hole of the final round. Joint runner-up Brandt Snedeker challenged until the 72nd hole.
IMAGES: US PGA TOUR; GETTY IMAGES
Chris Kirk saved par with a seven-foot putt on the 72nd hole to emerge with a onestroke victory at Colonial at 12-under 268. The winning putt came moments after fellow competitor Brandt Snedeker missed a 12-foot birdie try that would have gotten him to 12-under. Snedeker (67) settled for a tie for second with Jason Bohn (63) and Jordan Spieth (65). Bohn charged into contention with birdies on six holes in a row starting on No. 2, but made a costly bogey on the 15th hole, while Spieth’s miscue was a bogey on 16. Kirk shot 65-66 on the weekend, but needed the clutch putt on 18 after sailing over the green with his second shot.
Just five years after opening, this championship course designed by Perry Maxwell and John Bredemus hosted the 1941 U.S. Open. Built on the south bank of the Clear Fork of the Trinity River, Colonial is known as Hogan’s Alley because legendary Ben Hogan won the tournament five times. The course is cut through pecan trees with classic hole shapes and features. Though the terrain is flat, the subtle turns and doglegs routed through the trees make it a great shot-making test.
Daily grounds tickets are available for $50, youth tickets (ages 13-17) are $15, and children 12-andunder are free. A weekly grounds badge is $125, a Champions Club badge costs $235. Active, reserve, and retired military receive up to four complimentary tickets. Admission is free for everyone on Monday and Tuesday.
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Fort Worth, Tex. Colonial Country Club
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quick Facts
No. 18, Colonial Country Club.
Field: Approx. 120 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.5 million Winner’s Share: $1,170,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
Charity Benefit The Cook Children’s Medical Center is the primary beneficiary of the Colonial National Invitation Tournament. Cook Children’s uses the contributions to pay for uncompensated care; no child is turned away regardless of ability to pay. The tournament also benefits The First Tee of Fort Worth and other local charities.
Notable Course Features
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XX Chris Kirk became the first player to win the Ben Hogan Award, given to the top college player of the year in an annual ceremony at Colonial Country Club, and the Colonial National Invitation (2007 and 2015). XX The last third-round leader to win the Colonial was Phil Mickelson in 2008. In
Holes 3-5 at Colonial CC comprise the club’s “Horrible Horseshoe,” the most difficult stretch on the course that begins with a 483-yard par 4. Next is a par 3 of up to 247 yards that plays to an elevated green. It has never yielded a hole-inone in the tournament. The fifth is a 481-yard par 4 that runs between trees and a ditch on the left and the Trinity River on the right.
2015, leader Kevin Na closed with a 72 to finish T10. XX Jason Bohn shot a 29 on the front nine of the final round in 2015, but that wasn’t a record. Wayne Levi shot a 28 on the front nine in 1993; the back-nine record is 28 by Keith Clearwater in 1993.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Chris Kirk
1
69
65
66
268/-12
500.00
$1,170,000.00
68
Jason Bohn
T2
69
69
68
63
269/-11
208.33
$485,333.34
Brandt Snedeker
T2
67
69
66
67
269/-11
208.33
$485,333.33
Jordan Spieth
T2
64
73
67
65
269/-11
208.33
$485,333.33
Jason Bohn had a front-nine 29 en route to a closing 63.
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Chris Kirk celebrated his victory wtih caddie G.W. Cable.
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FAN EXPERIENCE
Player
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images: us pga tour; getty images
2015/2016 tournament overview
Colonial Main Street will feature the Colonial Grille in a sports bar atmosphere. Merchandise includes the Nike Golf testing facility, available for avid golfers to test the latest equipment. The Famous Champions Club will feature a climate controlled venue with DJ, HD video boards and the Starpower lounge. Tickets are $235 for the week. The First Tee Invitational on Sunday May 22 enables 12 kids from the Fort Worth and Dallas Chapters of The First Tee to play the Horrible Horseshoe.
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03/12/2015 09:32
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30/10/2015 09:13
2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
June 2-5, 2016
the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Location
HOW DAVID LINGMERTH WON
Course Information
Sweden’s David Lingmerth weathered a couple of outstanding par saves by Justin Rose to eventually claim his first PGA TOUR title on the third hole of a playoff. Rose, the 2010 winner of the Memorial Tournament, forced extra holes with an up-and-down from 55 yards on the 18th hole in regulation, then holed a 20-foot par putt on the first playoff hole with Lingmerth facing a 10-footer for par. Lingmerth holed it, then won with a par two holes later when Rose’s magic ended. Rose had a three-stroke lead over Lingmerth and Francesco Molinari entering the final round, but Rose shot an even-par 72 while Lingmerth played the last eight holes of regulation 3-under for a 69 to reach the playoff at 15-under 273. Molinari double bogeyed the 16th hole and finished tied for third, two strokes back, with Jordan Spieth, who closed with a 65.
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 for the professional ranks.
Yardage 7,392; par 72
2015 Champion David Lingmerth, Sweden
Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES
Tickets
A Patron badge or ticket pack for grounds admission Monday-Sunday costs $173; Golden Bear Club badges $278. Daily practice round tickets $35 (set of three). Children 16 and under admitted free all week; children 18 and under admitted free on Wednesday. Military day is Wednesday June 2, all active, reserve, National Guard, retired, or spouse receive complimentary admission for immediate family. For information, go to www. thememorialtournament.com.
“I’ve been in a few playoffs. You win some, you lose some. But I didn’t feel that it was my turn to lose this time.” —David Lingmerth
Francesco Molinari closed with a 71 to share third.
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Dublin, Ohio Muirfield Village Golf Club
Lingmerth led the field in Par-3 Scoring over four rounds, playing those 16 holes in 6-under. Lingmerth was second in the Par Breakers category with 22 birdies and one eagle. Lingmerth ranked third in Strokes Gained: Putting (1.574 per round) and missed only one putt inside seven feet all week. Jordan Spieth charged into contention with a final-round 65.
Social Media Twitter: @MemorialGolf Facebook: www.facebook. com/thememorialtournament Instagram: @MemorialGolf w w w.pgatour.com
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2015/2016 tournament overview
quick Facts
No. 12, Muirfield Village Golf Club.
Field: approx. 120 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.2 million Winner’s Share: $1,116,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
Charity Benefit
Proceeds from the Tournament have eclipsed $25 million in donations, benefiting a number of local organizations, primarily Nationwide Children’s Hospital, through an alliance with the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, for the advancement of pediatric care in Central Ohio.
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X X David Lingmerth became the ninth Swedish player to win on the PGA TOUR, a list that is topped by Jesper Parnevik and 2006 Memorial winner Carl Petersson with five each. X X Lingmerth came from three strokes behind after 54 holes to win. The Memorial record is five by David Edwards (1992), Jim Furyk (2002), and K.J. Choi (2007).
X X Playoff loser Justin Rose, the winner of the 2010 Memorial champion, failed in his bid to become the seventh player to win the event more than once. X X Lingmerth was the fifth international player to win the Memorial in the last 10 years, and the second in a row (Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, 2014).
LEADERBOARD 2015 Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
David Lingmerth
1
67
65
72
69
273/-15
500.00
$1,116,000.00
Justin Rose
2
68
67
66
72
273/-15
300.00
$669,600.00
Francesco Molinari
T3
68
67
69
71
275/-13
162.50
$359,600.00
Jordan Spieth
T3
68
70
72
65
275/-13
162.50
$359,600.00
Justin Rose scrambled brilliantly to get into a playoff.
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Tournament host Jack Nicklaus congratulated David Lingmerth, the ninth Swede to win on TOUR.
Renovations over the last decade have made the finishing stretch one of the most arduous in golf. The par-3 16th was redesigned with a pond guarding the front and left of the green, the long par-4 17th has new fairway bunkers, and the dogleg right par-4 18th has a new tee stretching the hole to 484 yards.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Player
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Notable Course Features
Wednesday features the Jack Nicklaus Golf Clinic and the Memorial Honoree Ceremony, in 2016 honoring Johnny Miller. A major fan-gathering place during the week is the Patron Village between the 10th and 14th holes. In addition to the Golden Bear Club, an enhanced-ticket area with TV viewing and open seating in a sports bar setting, there is an area open to the public with food and beverage options, a patio, and more. Memorial Tournament week also features an annual benefit concert in Columbus. w w w.pgatour.com
23/11/2015 11:14
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sony open in hawaii Wai‘alae, O‘ahu
mitsubishi electric championship at hualalai K a‘u- pu- lehu, Hawai‘i
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30/10/2015 09:34
2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
October 14-16, 2015
September 9-11, 2015
SAS Championship
Tournament Record 198, Mark Wiebe, 2007
Tournament 18-hole Record 61, Tom Kite, 2003
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information www. saschampionship.com
Course Insight The Highlands Course, one of three at Prestonwood Country Club, is ranked 27th in the state by the North Carolina Golf Panel. Opened in 1993, the course was designed by Tom Jackson, a Robert Trent Jones protégé. A recent renovation was completed in 2011 by Jack Nicklaus protégé Rick Robbins, who lives at Prestonwood. Not only were greens rebuilt to offer improved hole locations, but selected bunkers were replaced by collection areas and grass hollows. w w w.pgatour.com
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Tom Lehman charged to the clubhouse by playing the last four holes in 5-under to nip Joe Durant by one stroke. Lehman made birdies on 15 and 16, an eagle on the par-5 17th, and a birdie on 18 to rally from three strokes behind. Lehman went two ahead with his final-hole birdie with Durant playing the 17th hole, and when Durant missed a four-foot birdie on 17 it was practically over. “Nobody was really making any big move, so the game was still on,” said Lehman of the situation as he played the back nine. “[Durant] played well, but he didn’t get way ahead where we couldn’t catch him.” Durant finished with a 68 and Lehman, a runner-up at the SAS a year earlier, ended up with a 65 and 12-under 204 total.
CHARITY BENEFIT The host charity of the SAS Championship is the YMCA of the Triangle. The tournament is the largest supporter of the Y Learning Program, an after-school program for students in grades K-8 who struggle to meet school-system benchmarks.
Location TPC San Antonio (AT&T Canyons Course), San Antonio, Tex.
Yardage 6,923; par 72
Tournament Record 193, Fred Couples, 2011
Tournament 18-hole Record 62, Gil Morgan, 2004; John Harris, 2005; Fred Couples, 2011
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information www.attchamp.com
Course Insight Working with former PGA TOUR and Champions Tour winner Bruce Lietzke, a Texas native, Pete Dye crafted the AT&T Canyons Course by utilizing the natural rolling terrain and environmental elements distinct to the Texas Hill Country. Stands of oak and cedar trees line wide playing corridors that lead to large, undulating greens.
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Yardage 7,240; par 72
HOW BERNHARD LANGER WON
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Location Prestonwood Country Club, Cary, N.C.
HOW TOM LEHMAN WON
San Antonio Championship
After losing playoffs at the event in 2012 and 2013, Bernhard Langer broke through to finally win the San Antonio Championship. The German pulled away from a tightly bunched field with a final-round 65 that included birdies on three of the last four holes. He finished with a 12-under 204 total and a three-stroke victory over Scott Dunlap, who shot a 68 but was even par on the last four holes. “Losing both playoffs was tough, but I feel like I can play this course well,” said Langer, who claimed his 25th career Champions Tour victory. “I can shoot some low scores around here. I’ve had a lot of good finishes on this golf course.” Michael Allen and Scott McCarron, the 36-hole co-leaders, each shot a 70 in the final round to tie for third at 208.
CHARITY BENEFIT The tournament’s charity program gives participating local charities the chance to sell half-price tournament tickets and keep all of the proceeds. The three groups that sell the most tickets earn bonuses, as does the group that has the most tickets redeemed at the gate. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
October 7-9, 2016
November 10-13, 2016
Charles Schwab Cup Championship
Tournament Record 193, Duffy Waldorf (2015)
Tournament 18-hole Record 60, Tom Purtzer (2004), Nick Price (2011), Duffy Waldorf (2015)
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information www.toshibaclassic.com
Course Insight Located along the Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach and offering scenic views of the Pacific Ocean and Newport Bay, the course at Newport Beach Country Club is a strategic par-71 layout. Originally designed by renowned architect William Bell in 1952, it was enhanced by Harry Rainville in 1973. Ted Robinson further refined the course, including renovations to selected teeing grounds and bunkers, in segments in 1985, ’98, ’99 and 2000. The course is known for its narrow kikuyu fairways lined by mature pines and small greens with deceptive breaks. Several water hazards add to the challenge. 182
T47.48.indd 182
Duffy Waldorf tied a Champions Tour record for a 54-hole tournament with 26 birdies and set a tournament record with a 20-under 193 total as he claimed his first Champions Tour victory at age 53. Waldorf shot a tournament record-tying 60 in the second round to take a three-stroke lead and then prevailed after a wild final round in which he made 10 birdies and five bogeys in shooting 66. “It’s been trending upward the last couple of months,” said Waldorf. “I’ve had two good rounds a lot. This week I had three.” Joe Durant finished second at 195 with a finalround 62 that included an eagle on the par-5 18th. Fred Couples, trying to become the first to win the event two years in a row, tied for fifth.
CHARITY BENEFIT The primary beneficiary is Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. A focus of the 2015 proceeds was the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag. The tournament has generated almost $18 million to benefit Hoag and other charities in its 17 years.
PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
Location Desert Mountain Club (Cochise Course), Scottsdale, Ariz.
Yardage 7,019; par 70
Tournament Record 258, Tom Lehman, 2012
Tournament 18-hole Record 60, Jay Haas, 2012
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information www.pgatour.com/ champions/schwab-cup.html
Course Insight Surrounded by the rugged Sonoran Desert, the Cochise Course is a scenic and strategically challenging Jack Nicklaus-designed course, notable for its collection of risk-reward par-5 holes. The course, one of six at the club that opened in 1986, makes use of desert outcroppings and water hazards and also is made challenging by undulating greens.
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Yardage 6,584; par 71
HOW BILLY ANDRADE WON
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Location Newport Beach Country Club, Newport Beach, Calif.
HOW DUFFY WALDORF WON
Billy Andrade shot a finalround 64 to come from four strokes back and win the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in a playoff over Bernhard Langer. The 51-year-old Andrade went out in 31, then finished up a 33 on the back nine with a birdie on the 18th for a 72-hole total of 14-under 266. Langer shot a 67 in the final round and had a chance to win, but his 18-foot eagle putt on the 18th lipped out. Andrade then won with a birdie on the first playoff hole. Langer’s considerable consolation prize was claiming the season-long Charles Schwab Cup as he passed Colin Montgomerie and Jeff Maggert in the final week to win that points competition for a record third time in his career. Thirdround leader Michael Allen dropped to third place after a 70 in the final round.
CHARITY BENEFIT The Charles Schwab Cup Championship has raised more than $5 million for charities since 2003. The tournament also has a Tickets Fore Charity program where local charities can sell tournament tickets and keep 100 percent of the net proceeds.
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR
Toshiba Classic
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
January 21-23, 2016
February 5-7, 2016
Mitsubishi Electric Championship
Tournament Record 191, Loren Roberts (2006)
Tournament 18-hole Record 61, Loren Roberts (2006)
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information www.pgatour.com/ champions/tournaments/ mitsubishi-electricchampionship-at-hualalai
Course Insight Designed by Jack Nicklaus, Hualalai rests upon dramatic natural topography and winds through lava out-crops to provide a unique test for even the best players. “The inspiration came from the lava ... to use those natural ups and downs, always keeping in mind that the ocean is the greatest influence here,” Nicklaus said. The course begins in a lush kipuka (oasis) and then flows down to a dramatic finish near the ocean, with the par-3 17th set on the seaside, offering the most dramatic and scenic hole. w w w.pgatour.com
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Miguel Angel Jimenez claimed his second Champions Tour title in his third career start, shooting a final-round 66 to defeat Mark O’Meara by one stroke. Spain’s 51-year-old Jimenez, who was still concentrating his efforts on the European Tour, made the most of his senior venture to Hawaii as he birdied six of the last nine holes to come out on top. O’Meara had gained the upper hand with a 6-under 30 on the front nine on the way to a 64, but Jimenez stormed back with a 6-under 30 of his own on the back nine, a 20-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole providing the final margin as he posted a 17-under 199 total. Fred Couples took third place at 202, while Rocco Mediate, the 36-hole co-leader with Jimenez, slipped to a closing 70 and was fourth.
CHARITY BENEFIT
Various local organizations have benefited significantly since the inception of the Mitsubishi Electric Championship in 1997. More than $1 million has been donated to various organizations including the Rotary Club of Kona, Kealakehae High School and Big Island Junior Golf programs.
HOW PAUL GOYDOS WON
Location The Old Course at Broken Sound, Boca Raton, Fla.
Yardage 6,807; par 72
Tournament Record 198, Michael Allen and Duffy Waldorf (2014)
Tournament 18-hole Record 60, Michael Allen (2014)
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information www. allianzchampionship.com
Course Insight Joe Lee designed The Old Course at Broken Sound in 1978. Gene Bates, with help from two-time major champion Johnny Miller, updated the layout in 2004 to make it more playable and yet more challenging with the addition of water hazards and strategic bunkering along the undulating fairways. The course winds through oaks and pine trees, giving it a “Piney Woods” North Carolina feel that is popular with members and Champions Tour players alike. It has been home to the Allianz Championship since 2007.
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Yardage 7,107; par 72
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Location Hualalai GC, Ka’upulehuKona, Hawaii
HOW MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ WON
Allianz Championship
On a day when nine players held at least a share of the lead at some point, Paul Goydos birdied the par-5 18th hole with a chip to one foot from behind the green to claim a one-stroke victory. Goydos, one of four 36-hole co-leaders, also chipped in for a birdie on the ninth hole as he shot a closing 69 for a 12-under 204 total and his second Champions Tour win in 12 career starts. Gene Sauers shot a 67 to finish second, while Fred Funk (66), John Huston (66), and defending champion Michael Allen (67) tied for third at 206. “I didn’t have my best game, but I got it around,” said Goydos. “Part of it is experience and maturity. If I played like I did today 10 years ago, I don’t think I would have won.”
CHARITY BENEFIT The Allianz Championship benefits Boca Raton Regional Hospital and other local charities. Boca Raton Regional Hospital is an advanced tertiary medical center, recognized as a regional leader in oncology, cardiovascular disease, minimally invasive surgery, and women’s health.
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
February 12-14, 2016
March 18-20, 2016
The ACE Group Classic
Tucson Conquistadores Classic
Location
Tournament Record 196, Bernhard Langer (2011), Kenny Perry (2012)
Tournament 18-hole Record 61, Tommy Armour III (2010)
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information www.theacegroupclassic.com
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR; ACE GROUP CLASSIC COURTESY OF GABRIEL ROUX
Course Insight Considered one of the finest private courses in Florida since it opened in 1999, the Talon Course at TwinEagles was designed by Jack Nicklaus and his son, Jack Nicklaus II. It is one of two courses on the property, joined in 2012 by the Steve Smyers-designed Eagle Course. The Talon features many Nicklaus staples, including generous fairways and well-protected undulating greens. Oaks and palm trees line the fairways, while lakes, bunkers, mounding and natural cypress hammocks accentuate the layout. “The course my son Jack and I collaborated on is a wonderful member’s course, and was designed for those who hopefully enjoy it day in and day out,” Jack Nicklaus said. w w w.pgatour.com
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HOW MARCO DAWSON WON
Playing in his eighth Champions Tour event, 50-year-old Lee Janzen made an eight-foot birdie putt on the final hole of regulation and prevailed in a playoff over Bart Bryant. The twotime U.S. Open champion won with a par on the first extra hole when Bryant hit his second shot into the water. Janzen’s previous best finish on the Champions Tour was T6, but a final-round 67 gave him a 16-under 200 total. That matched the score posted by Bryant, who staged a Sunday charge with a 62, the best round of the week by three shots. Second-round leader Colin Montgomerie followed a pair of 66s with a 72 to slip to fifth place at 204 behind Esteban Toledo (202) and Scott Dunlap (203).
CHARITY BENEFIT
In the 28 years the Champions Tour has been in Naples, more than $3.5 million has been donated to various initiatives. The host organization and primary recipient is The First Tee of Naples/Collier, with money also going to The First Tee of Philadelphia, the Education Foundation of Collier County, and the NCH Healthy Heart Foundation.
Location Omni Tucson National Resort (Catalina), Tucson, Ariz.
Yardage 7,143; par 72
Tournament Record 203, Marco Dawson (2015)
Tournament 18-hole Record 65, Jerry Smith (2015)
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information www. conquistadoresclassic.com
Course Insight The Catalina Course at Omni Tucson National Resort, designed by Robert von Hagge and Bruce Devlin, hosted more than 30 events on the PGA TOUR before it welcomed the Champions Tour for the first time in 2015. Opened in 1963, the Catalina is a parkland- style course featuring eight lakes and 80 bunkers. The course is known for its very difficult par-4 18th hole, with water guarding both sides of the tee-shot landing area and an uphill approach shot to an undulating green.
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Yardage 7,193; par 72
HOW LEE JANZEN WON
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The TwinEagles Club (Talon), Naples, Fla.
Marco Dawson holed a 20foot birdie putt on the 16th hole of the final round to break a tie and went on to defeat Bart Bryant by two strokes with a closing 69 and 13-under 203 total. It was the first Champions Tour victory for the 51-year-old Dawson, who never won on the PGA TOUR. “I’m just thinking of all the work I put in over the years, especially the last few years—more mental work than anything,” Dawson said. For Bryant, it was his second consecutive runner-up finish. Mark O’Meara was third, three strokes back, after a finalround 66, followed by Tom Pernice Jr. and Wes Short Jr. at 207.
CHARITY BENEFIT
The Tucson Conquistadores is the charitable organization that runs the tournament and donates net proceeds to youth athletic programs in southern Arizona. Since its inception in 1962, the Conquistadores have contributed $30 million. The groups receiving donations include The First Tee of Tucson, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA, Pima County Special Olympics, and the Southern Arizona Community Sports Center at Curtis Park. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
April 1-3, 2016
April 15-17, 2016
Mitsubishi Electric Classic
Tournament Record 200, Tom Lehman (2011)
Tournament 18-hole Record 63, Fred Couples (2012)
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information www.2016mgrc.com
Course Insight Fallen Oak features woods, wetlands and unparalleled elevation changes on the gulf coast of Mississippi. Tom Fazio designed the course, which opened in 2006 and is part of the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino. In addition to its dramatic elevation changes, Fallen Oak features more than 4,000 oaks, magnolias, pines and other hardwood trees. Ponds, streams and wetlands enhance the beauty and challenge, 10 bridges add to the ambience, and cart paths are concealed to preserve the property’s natural beauty. The fallen oak for which the course was given its name is perched on the right side of the fairway at the par-4 18th hole. Fallen Oak is ranked second in Golfweek’s 2015 list of Best Casino Courses. 186
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David Frost survived a onestroke penalty on the 17th hole of the final round and won by one stroke with a 10-under 206 total. After marking his ball on the 17th green, Frost fumbled the ball onto his coin, moving the coin and incurring the penalty that gave him a bogey and cut his lead to one stroke. He went on to hole a five-foot par putt on the 18th and waited as Tom Lehman later missed a four-foot birdie putt on the closing hole that would have caused a playoff. Frost finished with a 68 that included birdies on Nos. 11, 12, 13 and 15. Lehman finished with a 70 and second-round leader Kevin Sutherland a 72 as they finished one stroke behind.
CHARITY BENEFIT Habitat For Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast is the primary beneficiary of the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic presented by C Spire. The tournament also contributes to other local non-profit organizations, and more than 30 local charities have benefited from the Birdies For Charity program.
PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
Location TPC Sugarloaf, Duluth, Ga.
Yardage 7,179; par 72
Tournament Record 202, Miguel Angel Jiméenez (2014)
Tournament 18-hole Record 64, Olin Browne, Bernhard Langer (2015)
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information www. mitsubishielectricclassic.com
Course Insight TPC Sugarloaf has 27 holes, with the tournament course for the Mitsubishi Electric Classic comprised of the Stables and Meadows nines. Named by Golf Digest among the ““Best New Private Clubs in the U.S.”.” when it debuted in 1997, TPC Sugarloaf was designed by Greg Norman, who guided the layout through stands of trees and used streams, lakes, large bunkers , and the natural terrain to create a challenging test of golf.
15 20
Yardage 7,088; par 72
HOW OLIN BROWNE WON
15 20
Location Fallen Oak, Biloxi, Miss.
HOW DAVID FROST WON
Olin Browne was declared the winner when rain washed out the final round at TPC Sugarloaf. Browne shot 6864 in the first two rounds for a 12-under 132 total that was one stroke better than Bernhard Langer, who has a 2013 victory and two seconds in the three times the event has been played. Langer matched Browne’s tournament-record 64 in the second round, but didn’t have a chance to overcome the leader on Sunday. It was the first Champions Tour event shortened to 36 holes since the 2011 Insperity Championship, where Browne finished fourth. “I was on the other side of that, and I was hot about it,” Browne said. “So they say things even out. Maybe it evened out my way this time.”
CHARITY BENEFIT The tournament benefits local charities through the Gwinnett Championship Foundation, Inc., with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Gwinnett Medical Center Foundation the main beneficiaries in 2015. In its three years of existence, the tournament has raised $524,238 for charities.
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Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic Presented By C Spire
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Moose Jaw
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
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77
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HOW BILLY ANDRADE AND JOE DURANT WON 85
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95
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95˚
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90˚
125 Miles
125 KM
250 KM
250 Miles
500 Miles
CHARITY BENEFIT
The primary beneficiary of the Bass Pro Shops Legends is College of the Ozarks, a four-year liberal arts college that charges no tuition but all students work on campus each semester to help defray the cost of education. Proceeds also go to America’s Wildlife Museum and Aquarium, scheduled to open in 2016.
PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 1
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80˚
500 KM
Jack Nicklaus to design the nine-hole Par-3 Course to join the existing Buffalo Ridge course and Tom Watson to design the 70,000-square-foot “Himalayas” putting green. Top of the Rock became the first Par-3 course to be included in a PGA TOURsanctioned tournament. Waterfalls, wandering creeks and pristine lakes are featured in an area perched high above Table Rock Lake. 188
85˚
7,002; par 72
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100˚
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64
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75
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40
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Florida Daytona Beach Billy Andrade and Joe Durant Deltona Sugar Land Pasadena Louisiana Orlando Galveston shot a fi nal-round Palm Harbour 45, the Melbourne Victoria Yardage Clearwater Tampa Piedras Port Saint Lucie lowest round in the two Saint Petersburg 2,430; par 54 Negras Sarasota West Palm Beach Laredo Corpus Christi years the LegendsCoral has been 6,652; par 70 Springs Boca Raton Nuevo Laredo Fort Lauderdale Hialeah Nuevo played at Top of the Rock, Gulf of Mexico Leon McAllen Miami Harlingen Monterey to come from three strokes Tournament Record Guadalupe Brownsville behind entering the final Montemorelos159, Fred Funk/Jeff Sluman San Fernando Tamaulipas (2014), Billy Andrade/Joe round to a three-stroke victory Durant (2015) at 19-under 159. Durant U n i t e d S t a t e s Toll Roads and Bridges International Boundaries Major Rivers scored a hole-in-one on the Interstate Highways State Boundaries Tournament 18-holeLakes 12th hole to highlight the U.S. Highways Record victors’ round in the format 59, Charles Coody/Dale that calls for nine holes of Douglas (1990) modified alternate shot and 45 (Par-3 Course), Billy nine of better ball on the Andrade/Joe Durant (2015) Par-3 Course. It was the first Champions Tour win Media Coverage for both players. “It was an Golf Channel unbelievable week. We ham More Information and egged it very nicely, and www.bassprolegends.com Joe hit some beautiful shots today,” said Andrade. Former Course Insight Masters champs Sandy Lyle John L. Morris, owner of Bass and Ian Woosnam, the leaders Pro Shops, developed Top through 36 holes, finished of the Rock Ozarks Heritage second after a closing 51. Preserve and commissioned Uvalde
155˚
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Jonesboro
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Frankfort Winchester
64
76
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Jackson Sikeston
Pine Bluff
65
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55
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Searcy
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70
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25˚
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Eleuthera
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191, Bernhard Langer, 2007 San Salvador
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Great Exuma Long Island
Tournament 18-hole Record 75˚
62, Bernhard Langer, 2007
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information www. insperityinvitational.com
Course Insight Robert von Hagge and Bruce Devlin designed The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course. The two men are responsible for the design and redesign of more than 250 courses in the U.S. and 16 foreign countries, but this was a “home course” for von Hagge, who lived in The Woodlands. Created in 1978, the course features integrated ponds, lakes and natural trees. It has hosted tournaments on all of the major tours, including the Shell Houston Open on the PGA TOUR and the LPGA’s Samsung World Championship.
HOW IAN WOOSNAM WON
15 20
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Missouri
Marion
Lima
40˚
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Ardmore
Greensburg
Mount Vernon
Poplar Bluff Kennett
Hot Springs
Waco
Sonora
10
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Norman
20
Fayetteville
Tahlequah 40
Duncan
Fort Worth
Abilene
San Angelo Texas
Fort Stockton
157˚
Bixby
Burleson Midland Big Spring Stephenville Corsicana Odessa Brownwood
Pecos an Horn
44
75
Providence
New York New Jersey Trenton Philadelphia Dover
Allentown
Youngstown
76
Fort Wayne
Wabash
Kokomo
Indiana Muncie Ohio
Louisville
Missouri R. Arnold
Springfield
Joplin Creek Nixa Branson
Midwest City
Denton
Illinois 55 Terre Haute
Hannibal
Lebanon Pittsburg
Bartlesville Tulsa Claremore
Elyria
Springfield Indianapolis Dayton
Jefferson City
Winfield
Gainesville
Lamesa
Andrews
Olathe Emporia
35
Lubbock
Hobbs
Carlsbad
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Lawton 44 Wichita Falls
Levelland
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Bloomington
Saint Effingham 70 Charles Saint Louis Columbia Wildwood
El Dorado
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Kankakee
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Kansas City 35
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Artesia
Rio
Salina Hutchinson
Oklahoma City
Canyon
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Amarillo
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Maryville Kirksville
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Phillipsburg
Oakley Leoti
Hastings
Ottumwa
35
South Bend
R.
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Saint Francis
80
Council Bluffs
Lincoln
Hartford
Lansing Detroit
Ohio
Denver
Omaha
North Platte
80
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Fort Morgan
76
Chicago
Joliet Davenport 55 88
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Insperity Invitational
Bass Pro Shops Legends Of Golf At Big Cedar Lodge
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Cheyenne Platte R.
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May 6-8, 2016
Toronto
Madison
45˚
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Montpelier Concord
April 22-24, 2016
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117
Maniwaki
Ian Woosnam holed a 30-foot putt on the first playoff hole to beat Kenny Perry and Tom Lehman and claim his first Champions Tour victory. The 57-year-old former Masters champion was making just his 36th career start on the Champions Tour, having played mostly in Europe as a senior. Woosnam made the most of a sponsor exemption, shooting a 68 in the final round and winning with a playoff birdie. “I was a little disappointed at the beginning of the week that I was struggling with a bad back, but I managed to dig in and grind through it,” he said. Perry shot a 66 in the final round and Lehman a 68 as all three playoff participants caught 36-hole leader Michael Allen, who closed with a 72 and tied with Joe Durant one shot behind.
CHARITY BENEFIT The tournament benefits local charities, and partners with the Houston affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure for breast cancer research. Since the first Insperity Invitational in 2004, approximately $10 million has been donated to charity.
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GOLF AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.
GIVE IT A SHOT.
LOOKING FOR THE BEST IN GOLF? LOOK FOR TPC ® . Of the world’s 34,000 golf courses, only 34 exceed the standards of the PGA TOUR ® at every turn. For design. For agronomy. For providing a professional level of golf and service to every devoted golfer. Play with the confidence of a champion. Play TPC.
For tee times, golf vacations or memberships visit playtpc.com. TPC Dorado Beach Host of the PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Tour Championship
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HOW’D HE DO THAT?
WHERE HE DID THAT.
LOOKING FOR THE BEST IN GOLF? LOOK FOR TPC ® . Of the world’s 34,000 golf courses, only 34 exceed the standards of the PGA TOUR ® at every turn. For design. For agronomy. For providing a professional level of golf and service to every devoted golfer. Play with the confidence of a champion. Play TPC.
For tee times, golf vacations or memberships visit playtpc.com. TPC Scottsdale Host of the Waste Management Phoenix Open
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2015/2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
May 19-22, 2016
May 26-29, 2016
Regions Tradition
Tournament Record 265, Doug Tewell, 2001
Tournament 18-hole Record 62, Doug Tewell, 2001; Tom Watson, 2003; Brad Bryant, 2009
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information www.regionstradition.com
Course Insight The Founders Course at Greystone Golf & Country Club steps in to host the Regions Tradition as it moves after five years at Shoal Creek. The layout, designed by architect Robert Cupp and two-time major champion Hubert Green, opened in 1991 and hosted the Champions Tour’s Bruno’s Memorial Classic from 1992 to 2005, where winners included Hall of Fame members Green, Larry Nelson and Hale Irwin. In preparation for the Tradition, nine greens were reshaped or significantly modified, all of the existing bunkers were renovated, new fairway bunker were added and three new tees were built. w w w.pgatour.com
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Jeff Maggert captured his second career Champions Tour title and first major when he defeated Kevin Sutherland with a par on the first playoff hole. Maggert and Sutherland separated themselves from the field over the first three rounds, but neither could get much going in a neck-and-neck battle on Sunday, Sutherland shooting a 71 and Maggert a 72 for 14-under 274 totals. Sutherland hit his tee shot under the lip of a fairway bunker on the first extra hole, setting up a bogey that enabled Maggert to win. “The putts didn’t go in like the first three days, but fortunately I had good luck coming in and was able to win the playoff,” said Maggert. Jeff Hart and Gene Sauers tied for third at 277, Hart going the final 54 holes without a bogey.
CHARITY BENEFIT Children’s of Alabama, the only hospital in the state that focuses on the care and treatment of children, is the primary charity recipient of the Regions Tradition. Other charities have the opportunity to benefit through the Birdies For Charity program.
Location The Golf Club at Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor, Mich.
Yardage 6,852; par 71
Tournament Record 270, Don January, 1979
Tournament 18-hole Record 62, Kenny Perry, 2012
Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC
More Information www.pga.com/ seniorpga/2016
Course Insight Jack Nicklaus designed The Golf Club at Harbor Shores, which opened in 2010 on a site that had to be cleaned up after years of industrial use. Home of the Senior PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014, the course has a diverse setting and variety of holes. Three holes play through dunes with a Scottish feel and offer dramatic views of Lake Michigan; four holes wind through rolling hills, ravines and a hardwood forest similar to Northern Michigan; while 11 holes border the Paw Paw River, Ox Creek and associated wetlands.
HOW COLIN MONTGOMERIE WON
15 20
Yardage 7,299; par 72
HOW JEFF MAGGERT WON
15 20
Location Greystone Golf & Country Club (Founders Course), Birmingham, Ala.
Senior PGA Championship Presented by KitchenAid
Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie won the Senior PGA Championship for the second straight year—both times with a four-stroke margin. He finished at 8-under 280 on the difficult Pete Dye Course at French Lick in Indiana, where only five players broke par for 72 holes. Montgomerie opened the final round with a threestroke lead over Bernhard Langer, but Langer took himself out of it early with a double bogey on the second hole on the way to a 74. Montgomerie made five birdies on the fifth through 12th holes to open up a fivestroke lead. Estaban Toledo matched Montgomerie’s 69 to claim second place, but with pars on the last 11 holes couldn’t put pressure on the leader. But Montgomerie admitted he didn’t feel comfortable until near the end. “There was nowhere to go but down,” he said. “I could never relax.”
CHARITY BENEFIT
The collaboration of the PGA of America’s charitable foundation, PGA REACH, and the 2016 Senior PGA Championship will focus on the youth of the Benton Harbor region. The beneficiaries will include the Boys & Girls Club, The First Tee, and the Benton Harbor Promise Fund.
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THE LAST WORD
RARE AIR
Jordan Spieth capped his five-victory season by claiming the FedExCup with a win at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola.
What will Jordan Spieth’s encore be after putting together one of the finest seasons in PGA TOUR history? By Bill Fields
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES / US PGA TOUR
J
ordan Spieth, who can be as animated as he is affable, certainly isn’t the only person who talks to a golf ball—pleading or critiquing as it flies toward a target—but he gets it to listen much more often than the rest of us. Few have ever been more in command of their games than Spieth was in 2015. The young Texan achieved in a season—two major championships among five victories, including the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola that secured a FedExCup triumph—what others would be thrilled to assemble over a career. Although there have been exceptions—Ben Hogan is a notable one—the pantheon of greats is populated largely by golfers who excelled early. Spieth, who only turned 22 in July, has done so like few others. In fact, when Spieth won a difficult U.S. Open at Chambers Bay in June after a dominant victory at the Masters in April, he became the youngest man to win two majors since Gene Sarazen in 1922. During a Masters in which his revered fellow Texan, Ben Crenshaw, bid a competitive farewell to the tournament he won twice, Spieth’s form recalled other stars at their best. His wire-to-wire victory at 18-under 270 matched Tiger Woods’ 1997 Masters scoring mark. En route to that record-tying total, Spieth recorded 28 birdies, the most in Masters history. Spieth became only the sixth person to win the Masters and U.S. Open in the same season, joining Craig Wood (1941), Ben Hogan (1951, ’53), Arnold Palmer (1960), Jack Nicklaus (1972) and Woods (2002). Not only did Spieth join that elite group, he went to St. Andrews and was T4 at The Open Championship—missing a playoff by one stroke—and was runner-up in the PGA Championship to red-hot Jason Day, who set a major scoring record of 20 under. Spieth’s 2015 major results weren’t as good as Hogan’s or Woods’ greatest years—three titles in
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1953 and 2000, respectively—but his two wins, a T4 and a runner-up T4 equals Woods’ 2005 (1st, 2nd, 1, T4) and edges Palmer’s 1960 (1st, 1st, 2nd, T7) and Nicklaus’ 1972 (1st, 1st, 2nd, T13). Want another indicator of how good Spieth was in the majors? He played them in a cumulative 54 under, one stroke better than Woods during his monster 2000 season. Part of Spieth’s skill is his ability to bounce back, whether from a bad hole or a bad week, not that he has too many of the latter. After his runner-up finish to Day in the PGA, Spieth didn’t play well the next two tournaments, missing the cut at The Barclays and the Deutsche Bank Championship. But he plugged away for a T13 at the BMW Championship and returned to winning form at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, where he returned to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Spieth is only the sixth PGA TOUR player since 1980 to win five or more times in a season and the youngest since Horton Smith in 1929. After a stunning season, Spieth’s standard won’t only be the wonderful players who have come before him but his own high bar. It wouldn’t be wise to bet against him.
Spieth is just the sixth player to win the Masters and U.S. Open in the same year.
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