Official PGA TOUR Essential Guide to Golf: December 2020 - May 2021

DEFINING MOMENTS

•

BEST GOLF & TRAVEL CHOICES

2020 FEDEXCUP CHAMPION AND PLAYER OF THE YEAR Dustin Johnson’s Phenomenal Season

PGA TOUR UNIVERSITY College Stars On A Path To The PGA TOUR

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER CLAIMS ARNOLD PALMER AWARD PGA TOUR Rookie Of The Year

INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVE Payne Stewart Award Recipient Zach Johnson

THE NEW 2020-21 SEASON FedExCup PGA TOUR Champions Korn Ferry Tour

THE INTERNATIONAL TOURS Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada PGA TOUR Latinoamérica PGA TOUR Series-China DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021

#PGATOUR

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Commissioner’s WelCome

A

Welcome

t this time of year it’s natural to reflect on the past year and to look forward to new goals and new aspirations. While in many respects we’re all eager to flip the calendar to 2021, I believe this past year taught us a lot about ourselves and our organization.

Most notably, that we should never take things for granted and that we are capable of great work in the face of adversity.

images: getty images

Our entire world has changed over the last year due to the ongoing pandemic, and certainly the PGA TOUR as an organization has had to learn, plan, adapt and overcome significant obstacles to continue moving forward. With 26 PGA TOUR events safely under our belt since the Return to Golf in June, I’m humbled by what our team, our membership and our partners have accomplished. As one of the first professional sports back on the field of play, there was no roadmap for what we set out to achieve. But from day one, the TOUR family embraced the challenge to create a safe and responsible return to competition, inspire our loyal fans and create new ones along the way.

The amazing efforts of many have allowed us to generate more than $160 million in charitable giving this year. While that number isn’t a record, it’s certainly one we can take an incredible amount of pride in this year, given the impact of the pandemic, the many cancellations across our Tours and the overall economic climate. Charity is at the heart of everything we do—no matter the circumstances—and we proudly continue to make a positive impact in supporting and improving our local communities.

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Upon the PGA TOUR’s Return to Golf, the competition itself was incredibly compelling. From the Charles Schwab Challenge through the season-ending TOUR Championship where we crowned Dustin Johnson as the FedExCup champion, our ability to entertain fans led to significant increases in fan engagement; in fact, the PGA TOUR was one of the only sports to see ratings increases during this time.

As we look toward 2021 and beyond, our organization—and the game of golf—look to build on the momentum created over the past year. This includes the renaissance we are experiencing from a participatory standpoint. I say often that golf is the greatest game on the planet, and we are proud of the role our industry and our athletes have played in inspiring others to take up our sport— or play more often.

The PGA TOUR has been lauded as a leader in the return of professional sports and we are thankful for the contributions of so many. I’m humbled and proud to be in the seat that I’m in and privileged to lead this wonderful organization.

Sincerely, Jay Monahan Commissioner PGA TOUR

DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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Payne’s Valley golf course, Big Cedar Lodge, Missouri.

CONTENTS

PGA TOUR Essential Guide

CONTENTS INTRODUCTIONS

46 Personal Triumphs

7

Commissioner’s Welcome,

11

Editor’s Welcome,

21

Tournament Schedules

by Jeff Babineau, Ron Green Jr., Chris Smith, Sean Martin, Mike Mcallister, Kevin Prise

Jay Monahan

Jeff Babineau

54 The Game Changer

59 A Landmark Alliance

24 COVER STORY: Man of Destiny

by Jeff Babineau

A force to reckon with, Dustin Johnson often has been the man to beat. In 2020, Johnson’s dominance down the homestretch landed the coveted FedExCup

by Jim McCabe

PGA TOUR Champions 2020 proved to be a stage on which timeless talents can shine, highlighted by an unstoppable trio— Furyk, Mickelson and Els

36 Award Winners, 2020

by Jeff Babineau

Dustin Johnson Player of the Year award; Scottie Scheffler top rookie; Zach Johnson the Payne Stewart Award; Webb Simpson the Byron Nelson Award

41

Reaching Out for the PGA TOUR

by Kevin Prise

Featuring the strong prospects who anticipate their promotion to the PGA TOUR soon 10

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021

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by Laury Livsey

With 2020 largely a lost season for the three International Tours, teamwork and determination will lead to tournaments resuming

FEATURES

30 A Tour of Champions

In trying times and sometimes against the odds, PGA TOUR players continue to relish a challenge. Six defining moments

An alliance between the European Tour and the PGA TOUR heralds a significant new era for global golf

62 Uplifting Values

by Helen Ross

An interview with Zach Johnson, recipient of the Payne Stewart Award

68 Players of Promise

by Kevin Prise and Sean Martin

The introduction of talented young players from the college ranks adds an intriguing spark

72 Great Golf Adventure

As golfers look to travel again, enticing vacations in Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Jamaica await

84 You Can Bet On It!

by Michael LoRé

The carefully planned introduction of betting opportunities will give fans added engagement and fun while providing increased benefits to TOUR-supported charities

88 In the Zone

Products • Services • Announcements W W W.P GAT OUR.COM

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CONTENTS

Welcome FrOm thE EditOr

Our Year 2020 was one that many would like to wad up like a piece of paper and toss from a 10th story window. Good riddance. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted golf—a very global game—in a very big way, shutting down tournaments, causing months of inactivity, tearing up schedules and keeping fans at home. Alas, golf endured and survived.

Dustin Johnson will never forget 2020, nor should he.

Appearing like a cool Western gunslinger, Johnson always has been cloaked in immense talent. At 36, he blossomed, and as the 2019-20 season spun to a close, he stepped in and took it over.

Two FedExCup Playoffs victories, including an 11-shot victory. His first FedExCup triumph. Player of the Year honors.

Johnson opened the 2020-21 season by winning his first Masters title, setting a scoring record. There is a lot of Dustin Johnson in the pages of this Essential Guide. Honestly, there should be. He was that good.

Along the lines of entertainment, is there a game more suited to gaming and gambling than golf? What 12-handicapper hasn’t stood over a 6-foot putt to win a $5 Nassau without feeling as if he was playing for his entire mortgage? This is a marriage that was natural and inevitable. Michael LoRé, Forbes.com contributor, gives readers the inside skinny on what to expect in 2021. It’s a move that should help to grow our game.

The PGA TOUR is filled with incredible players who have incredible stories. Few players today carry the universal respect that Zach Johnson has earned from his peers. For his character, sportsmanship and charity work, the 2022 U.S. Presidents Cup captain was named the 2020 Payne Stewart Award recipient.

Helen Ross had an entertaining visit with Johnson that you can read beginning on page 62.

Finally, a short introduction, as I assume the Editor’s role from my longtime friend Bill Fields, who has been generous as a helpful guide. I’m probably a lot like you, a devoted fan of golf who has played the game a long, long time and still is trying to figure it out. I recently returned from covering my 26th Masters Tournament, which, with no patrons, was a sight to behold. From the fledgling PGA TOUR University program and on through the PGA TOUR Champions circuit, every single facet of the game manages to fascinate me. We look forward to feeding your fascination as well. Happy New Year to all. Good-bye, 2020.

Here’s wishing 2021 brings you fairways, greens and renewed hope, on the course and off it.

2020-21 Fedexcup SeaSon The PGA TOUR essenTiAl GUide TO GOlf, PART1, cOveRs The fiRsT hAlf Of The seAsOn.

94 the Season Ahead by david Barrett

The TOUR’s intense work on rescheduling has resulted in what promises to be a full and fascinating season ahead

95 Safeway Open

Silverado Resort and Spa (North Course), Napa, Calif.

September 7-13

96 U.S. Open Championship

Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, N.Y. September 14-20

98 Corales Puntacana resort & Club Championship

Puntacana Resort & Club (Corales Golf Course), Punta Cana, Dominican Republic September 21-27

99 Sanderson Farms Championship Country Club of Jackson, Jackson, Miss.

September 28-October 4

100 Shriners hospitals for Children Open TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nev. October 5-11

101 thE CJ CUP @ ShAdOW CrEEK

Shadow Creek Golf Course, Las Vegas, Nev. October 12-18

103 ZOZO ChAmPiONShiP @ ShErWOOd Sherwood Country Club, Thousand Oaks, Calif.

October 19-25

104 Bermuda Championship

Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton, Bermuda October 26-November 1

105 Vivint houston Open

Memorial Park Golf Course, Houston, Texas November 2-8

106 masters tournament

Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Ga. November 9-15

108 the rSm Classic

Sea Island Resort, St. Simons Island, Ga. November 16-22

Jeff Babineau, Editor, Oviedo, Fla. w w w.p gaT Our.COm

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DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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CONTENTS

Webb Simpson

Bryson DeChambeau

109 Mayakoba Golf Classic

El Camaleón Golf Club at the Mayakoba Resort, Playa del Carmen, Mexico November 30-December 6

Dustin Johnson

121 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented

by Mastercard

Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Fla. March 1-7

110 Sentry Tournament of Champions

122 THE PLAYERS Championship

111 Sony Open in Hawaii

124 The Honda Classic

112 The American Express

126 World Golf Championships-Dell

Kapalua Resort, Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii January 4-10

Waialae Country Club, Honolulu, Hawaii January 11-17

PGA WEST, La Quinta Country Club, La Quinta, Calif.

January 18-24

113 Farmers Insurance Open

Torrey Pines Golf Course, San Diego, Calif.

January 25-31

114 Waste Management Phoenix Open TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Ariz.

February 1-7

115 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

Monterey Peninsula Country Club, Pebble Beach Links, Calif.

February 8-14

116 The Genesis Invitational

The Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, Calif.

February 15-21

117 Puerto Rico Open IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR

Zach Johnson

Grand Reserve Country Club, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico February 22-28

118 World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship

Club de Golf Chapultepec Mexico City, Mexico February 22-28

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TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. March 8-14

PGA National Resort & Spa, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. March 15-21

Technologies Match Play

Austin Country Club, Austin, Texas March 22-28

128 Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship Puntacana Resort & Club, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic March 22-28

129 Valero Texas Open

TPC San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas March 29-April 4

130 Masters Tournament

Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Ga. April 5-11

132 RBC Heritage

Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island, S.C. April 12-18

133 Zurich Classic of New Orleans TPC Louisiana, New Orleans, La. April 19-25

134 Valspar Championship

Innisbrook, a Salamander Resort, Palm Harbor, Fla. April 26-May 2 DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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CONTENTS

Publisher & CEO Kevin J. Harrington Managing Editor Charles Ford Editor Jeff Babineau Tournament Editor David Barrett Production Director Joanna Harrington Design Friyan Mehta

135 Wells Fargo Championship Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, N.C May 3-9.

136 AT&T Byron Nelson

TPC Craig Ranch, McKinney, Texas May 10-16

138 PGA Championship

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Kiawah Island, S.C. May 17-23

140 Charles Schwab Challenge

Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas May 24-30

2021 PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS 142 Mitsubishi Electric

Championship at Hualalai

Hualalai Golf Course, Ka’upulehu-Kona, Hawaii January 18-24

142 Cologuard Classic

Omni Tucson National (Catalina Course), Tucson, Ariz.

February 22-28

143 Hoag Classic

Newport Beach Country Club, Newport Beach, Calif.

March 1-7

14

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Ernie Els

143 Chubb Classic

Tiburon Golf Club (Black Course), Naples, Fla. April 12-18

144 Insperity Championship The Woodlands Country Club (Tournament Course), The Woodlands, Texas April 26-May 2

144 Regions Tradition

Greystone Golf & Country Club, Birmingham, Ala. May 3-9

145 Mitsubishi Electric Classic

Office Coordinator Adam Linard-Stevens Official PGA TOUR Essential Guide 2020-21, Part 1 is published by BH Sports under license from PGA TOUR, Inc. Tel: (312) 572 7728 Email: tourgolf@bhsports.net © BH Sports, 2021. All rights reserved.

All material in the Official PGA TOUR Essential Guide 2020-21, 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: Mark Stevens, Director, Business Public Relations; Chris Richards, Manager, Communications; Kristen Fuller, Director, Licensing & New Ventures; Ivie Teston, Coordinator, Licensing

TPC Sugarloaf, Duluth, Ga. May 10-16

145 KitchenAid Senior

PGA Championship

Southern Hills Country Club, Tulsa, Okla.

May 24-30

THE LAST WORD

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR

Scott Parel

146 Reasons to be Thankful

by Jeff Babineau

The Editor of the PGA TOUR Essential Guide to Golf reflects on the past challenging year and finds much to celebrate

COVER: DUSTIN JOHNSON FedExCup winner and PGA TOUR Player of the Year, 2020

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03/11/2020 17:14

For Professional Golfer

Jason Day

Being a Son Came First

Most know Jason Day as a twelvetime professional golf champion. However, when his mother, Dening, was diagnosed with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer, his role as a son became even more important.

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“My mum was diagnosed with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.”

One Concerned Son Dening was always the driving force of the family.

Her sacrifice and support helped Jason emerge as one of the top pro golfers in the world. They meant the world to each other. When she received her diagnosis, Jason’s #1 priority became focusing solely on her care.

Jason paints a vivid picture of that trying time in his family’s life, and explains how they persevered and got through it all together.

“I looked at my wife Ellie, and it was very emotional…

‘Okay what are we going to do? We need to get her the best care we possibly can.’ And that kind of immediately started after I’d kind of had my moment, we immediately started thinking about what can we do to get past this and fight.”

“I wasn’t a professional. I’m no doctor. I didn’t know. I thought lung cancer was just lung cancer, but there are so many different types of lung cancers out there. And to add biomarker testing to the equation gave us a more complete diagnosis of what we were up against.”

©2020 AstraZeneca. All rights reserved. US-48568 12/20

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BioMarker Testing

The

Importance of

Biomarker Testing

for Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Certain biomarkers can be the “drivers” that cause cancer to grow and spread.

Biomarker testing can help identify specific genetic drivers called actionable mutations to help determine which treatment options are most appropriate.

People don’t learn about their cancer’s biomarkers from an initial diagnosis. By testing and identifying which biomarkers a person may have, doctors can learn more about their unique cancer. This can help identify the best treatment options.

JPA Health.indd 3

“We went and had biomarker testing. That gave us a complete diagnosis of what we were battling together and what she was going through, but also opened up other paths for us to go down. The amount of stress that took off my shoulders, my mother’s shoulders, was impactful. Because it was difficult at the start to understand the things that she was going through and knowing that there may only be one option. But once the biomarker testing came back and we did have that complete diagnosis for her stage IV non-small cell lung cancer, we understood that there are other options in the game plan now.”

“You have to understand what you’re fighting against and you have to understand that, okay well, if one path doesn’t work, we have another path and we can keep moving forward, and we have to keep asking questions all along the way from start to finish.”

“And that’s the biggest thing for anyone that is going through any type of cancer.”

“Lung cancer can be scary, but don’t be afraid to ask for biomarker testing. It’s very easy to be scared and not say anything at all because of the emotions that you’re going through.”

“Get biomarker testing so that you can get a complete diagnosis for your stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.”

17/12/2020 18:17

ONE CONCERNED SON

BIOMARKER TESTING

BEST SHOT FOR MOM

Best Shot for Mom “I think the biggest thing is to understand that, yes, you know what? Your loved one is going through a difficult time right now, but they’re not alone. You’re going to give them support and love as much as possible, and then you’re going to have a great team around you. I can’t say enough about having a good, solid team of doctors, good, solid team of support members, to really try and make them feel as comfortable as possible and know that you will always be there for them.”

“As a caregiver, as a concerned son, I sit back and think about how amazing my mom was through the years when she was raising me as a child.

And knowing that I’ve got her back now, and I’m going to look after her and she doesn’t have to worry about anything else other than being able to spend time with me and my family.”

“As a concerned son I felt like it was my job to make sure that my mom got a complete diagnosis and that she understood what the steps were to going forward.”

“For her to be able to spend more time with the grandchildren… And that’s the biggest thing for us, is to make memories. That’s something that makes me happy inside, knowing that the kids are spending time, quality time, with my mom. She loves those small little bits of memories.”

Learn more about getting a complete diagnosis with biomarker testing at CompleteYourDiagnosis.com

FDA-Approved Targeted Therapies for Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer There are treatments approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that target cancers with specific biomarkers to help stop the growth and spread of tumors. A patient with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer can only receive these targeted therapies if they test positive for the associated biomarkers. ©2020 AstraZeneca. All rights reserved. US-48568 12/20

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SCHEDULES 2020/2021

2020-21 PGA TOUR® SEASOn

images: shutterstock

The PGA TOUR Essential Guide to Golf, Part1, covers the first half of the season.

DATE

TOURNAMENT

GOLF COURSE

LOCATION

SEPT 7-13

Safeway Open

Silverado Resort and Spa (North Course)

Napa, Calif.

SEPT 14-20

U.S. Open Championship #

Winged Foot Golf Club

Mamaroneck, N.Y.

SEPT 21-27

Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship

Puntacana Resort & Club (Corales Golf Course)

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

OCT 28-4

Sanderson Farms Championship

Country Club of Jackson

Jackson, Miss.

OCT 5-11

Shriners Hospitals for Children Open

TPC Summerlin

Las Vegas, Nev.

OCT 12-18

THE CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK

Shadow Creek Golf Course

Las Vegas, Nev.

OCT 19-25

ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD

Sherwood Country Club

Thousand Oaks, Calif.

OCT 26-1

Bermuda Championship

Port Royal Golf Course

Southampton, Bermuda

NOV 2-8

Vivint Houston Open

Memorial Park Golf Course

Houston, Texas

NOV 9-15

Masters Tournament #

Augusta National Golf Club

Augusta, Ga.

NOV 16-22

The RSM Classic

Sea Island Resort (*Seaside Course, Plantation Course)

St. Simons Island, Ga.

DEC 30-6

Mayakoba Golf Classic

El Camaleón Golf Club at the Mayakoba Resort

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

JAN 4-10

Sentry Tournament of Champions

Kapalua Resort (The Plantation Course)

Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii

JAN 11-17

Sony Open in Hawaii

Waialae Country Club

Honolulu, Hawaii

JAN 18-24

The American Express

PGA WEST (*Stadium Course, Nicklaus Tournament Course), La Quinta Country Club

La Quinta, Calif.

JAN 25-31

Farmers Insurance Open

Torrey Pines Golf Course (*South Course, North Course)

San Diego, Calif.

FEB 1-7

Waste Management Phoenix Open

TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course)

Scottsdale, Ariz.

FEB 8-14

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

*Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Shore Course)

Pebble Beach, Calif.

FEB 15-21

The Genesis Invitational

The Riviera Country Club

Pacific Palisades, Calif.

FEB 22-28

World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship

Club de Golf Chapultepec

Mexico City, Mexico

FEB 22-28

Puerto Rico Open

Grand Reserve Country Club

Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

MAR 1-7

Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard

Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Orlando, Fla.

MAR 8-14

THE PLAYERS Championship

TPC Sawgrass (THE PLAYERS Stadium Course)

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

MAR 15-21

The Honda Classic

PGA National Resort & Spa (The Champion Course)

Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

MAR 22-28

World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play

Austin Country Club

Austin, Texas

MAR 22-28

Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship

Puntacana Resort & Club (Corales Golf Course)

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

APR 1-4

Valero Texas Open

TPC San Antonio (AT&T Oaks Course)

San Antonio, Texas

APR 5-11

Masters Tournament #

Augusta National Golf Club

Augusta, Ga.

APR 12-18

RBC Heritage

Harbour Town Golf Links

Hilton Head Island, S.C.

APR 19-25

Zurich Classic of New Orleans

TPC Louisiana

New Orleans, La.

MAY 26-2

Valspar Championship

Innisbrook, a Salamander Resort (Copperhead Course)

Palm Harbor, Fla.

MAY 3-9

Wells Fargo Championship

Quail Hollow Club

Charlotte, N.C.

MAY 10-16

AT&T Byron Nelson

TPC Craig Ranch

McKinney, Texas

MAY 17-23

PGA Championship #

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort

Kiawah Island, S.C.

MAY 24-30

Charles Schwab Challenge

Colonial Country Club

Fort Worth, Texas

# Not PGA TOUR co-sponsored

*Host course

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SCHEDULES 2020/2021

2021 PGA TOUR Champions® The PGA TOUR Essential Guide to Golf, part1, covers the first half of the season.

DATE

TOURNAMENT

GOLF COURSE

LOCATION

JAN 18-24

Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai (Saturday finish)

Hualalai Golf Course

Ka'upulehu-Kona, Hawaii

FEB 22-28

Cologuard Classic

Omni Tucson National (Catalina Course)

Tucson, Ariz.

MAR 1-7

Hoag Classic

Newport Beach Country Club

Newport Beach, Calif.

APR 12-18

Chubb Classic

Tiburon Golf Club (Black Course)

Naples, Fla.

APR 26-2

Insperity Invitational

The Woodlands Country Club (Tournament Course)

The Woodlands, Texas

MAY 3-9

Regions Tradition

Greystone Golf & Country Club

Birmingham, Ala.

MAY 10-16

Mitsubishi Electric Classic

TPC Sugarloaf

Duluth, Ga.

MAY 24-30

KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship

Southern Hills Country Club

Tulsa, Okla.

2021 Korn Ferry Tour

The PGA TOUR Essential Guide to Golf, part1, covers the first half of the season.

TOURNAMENT

GOLF COURSE

LOCATION

FEB 15-21

LECOM Suncoast Classic

Lakewood National Golf Club - Commander Course

Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

MAR 15-21

Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by MISTRAS

Le Triomphe Golf and Country Club

Broussard, La.

MAR 22-28

Savannah Golf Championship at The Landings Club

The Landings Club - Deer Creek Course

Savannah, Ga.

MAR 29-4

Emerald Coast Classic at Sandestin

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort - Raven Golf Club

Sandestin, Fla.

APR 12-18

Paiute Las Vegas Championship

Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort - Sun Mountain Course

Las Vegas, Nev.

APR 19-25

Veritex Bank Championship

Texas Rangers Golf Club

Arlington, Texas

APR 26-2

Huntsville Championship

The Ledges Golf Club

Huntsville, Ala.

MAY 3-9

Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation

The Grove, College Grove

Nashville, Tenn.

MAY 10-16

Visit Knoxville Open

Holston Hills Country Club

Knoxville, Tenn.

MAY 17-23

KC Golf Classic

Blue Hills Country Club

Kansas City, Mo.

MAY 24-30

Evans Scholars Invitational

The Glen Club

Glenview, Ill. images: shutterstock

DATE

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COvER STORY

Man of Destiny A force to reckon with, Dustin Johnson often has been the man to beat. In 2020, Johnson’s dominance down the homestretch landed the coveted FedExCup

By Jeff Babineau

D

ustin Johnson has accomplished pretty much all that a player can accomplish in golf. As the FedExCup finale arrived in August, he already was a major championship winner (2016 U.S. Open). He owns six World Golf Championships.

He has won FedExCup Playoffs events. He has reached the No. 1 spot in the World Ranking.

He has been a mainstay on U.S. Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup squads. Johnson has captured a PGA TOUR event each season since he stepped out on TOUR in 2008 as a freshly minted rookie right out of Qualifying School.

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A tAlented Athlete Dustin Johnson is a force of nature, a freakishly talented athlete who has moxie and swagger to complement all the magnificent tools to be great.

Lanky and powerful, Johnson would seem just as suited firing a 98 mph fastball or finishing off a fast break as he does smashing 330-yard drives.

There was one thing missing on Johnson’s resume, though. Johnson never had captured the season-ending FedExCup. He’d been close, but it hadn’t happened. And in 2020 he talked often about fixing that.

a

Sparked by a strong finishing kick at East Lake Golf Club, Dustin Johnson finally landed the coveted FedExCup. With an enviable career record, including the No. 1 spot in the World Ranking, Johnson gave determined focus to adding this trophy to his collection.

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cover story

FedexCup: the one to win With a torrid run to end his season, Johnson, 36, finally landed his missing trophy. He sent a bold opening message when he captured the opening FedExCup Playoffs event (THE NORTHERN TRUST) by 11 shots outside Boston. The following week he lost a wild playoff to Jon Rahm at the BMW Championship. As he arrived to Atlanta’s East Lake Golf Club already staked to a lead before he even struck a shot, he clearly was the man to beat. This time, he stubbornly refused to lose.

The winner’s FedExCup bounty of $15 million (part of a $60 million FedExCup bonus pool) was nice—Johnson could put it toward some new aquatic toys for his coastal manse in Florida, perhaps—but this one wasn’t about his bank account. There was a time when the $25,000 that Johnson won through surviving Q-School more than a decade ago surely was life changing. But Johnson has reached a point in his life where he tees it up in search of history and prestige, and not those big checks.

“The money,” Johnson shrugged, “I don’t really care about that. I want to win tournaments.”

He especially wanted to win this tournament.

East Lake hasn’t always brought out his best. A year earlier, he’d left Atlanta having tied for last in a field of 30. This time, he began seeded No. 1 (as he was four years earlier) and staked to a two-shot lead over Rahm, his closest competitor.

For a second year, the FedExCup Playoffs utilized a staggered scoring system to replace a confusing points structure that was difficult to follow.

Johnson started TOUR Championship week at 10-under, a nice head start for a man who was sizzling hot to begin with. Rahm, a winner at BMW and seeded second, started at 8-under, No. 3 Justin Thomas was 7-under, and so on, down to players 26-30, who began the week at level par.

“I’m definitely playing the best I’ve ever played. I really feel that everything is dialed in pretty well.”

— Dustin Johnson

“It means a lot,” Johnson, who shot 64-68 over the final two rounds, said of his victory.

“Obviously it’s a very tough trophy to win. I’ve been close several times. This time I did control my own destiny, which I knew what I had to do. I had the lead to start, but I still had to go out and play well.”

an earlier Stumble

b

Johnson’s torrid finish at the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club secured the FedExCup he so wanted badly; it was also a special moment to celebrate with his fiance, Paulina Gretzky.

Four years earlier, Johnson squandered a great shot at the FedExCup finale. He owned the 54hole lead at East Lake but stumbled with a 73 on the final day. He still had a chance to win the Cup, though. Rory McIlroy, Kevin Chappell and Ryan Moore finished in a three-way tie for first.

Had Chappell or Moore won the playoff, the Cup was Johnson’s. But McIlroy prevailed, earning the FedExCup triumph.

images: getty images; Pga tOUR

Some SpeCial ShotS Johnson had a five-shot cushion heading into a Labor Day Monday finish, but Thomas and Xander Schauffele managed to inject some drama into the final 18 holes. It took some special shots by Johnson down the stretch—a key 20-footer to save par at 13, a crisp 5-iron onto the putting surface at the daunting 234-yard 15th, a clever sand wedge shot over the steep face of a fairway bunker at 16—for Johnson to pull away from the rest. Johnson finished the week at 21-under.

His final margin of victory was three shots over Thomas and Schauffele and four over Rahm. All three players shot 66s in the final round. Scottie Scheffler ended a strong rookie campaign by finishing solo fifth. w w w.p gat our.com

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cover story

Johnson’s deserving win Schauffele, who won the TOUR Championship three years earlier and has a strong record at East Lake (a victory and two runner-up finishes), posted the low aggregate score for the week, but he knows the deal. There was no begrudging the champion.

“He deserves to win,” Schauffele said of Johnson. “He won the first one (THE NORTHERN TRUST), tied first in the second, and I don’t know what he finished here. He obviously is playing great golf, and I think that’s what the Playoffs are all about.”

Johnson finally had his coveted trophy, and plenty of momentum, too.

“I’m definitely playing the best I’ve ever played,” Johnson said proudly. “I really feel that everything is dialed in pretty well.” 

b Xander Schauffele on the 18th green during the final round of the TOUR Championship.

Schauffele’s strong record at East Lake includes a victory (2017) and two runner-up finishes.

images: Pga TOUR

Nobody played better than Johnson in the final month of the 2019-20 season. In Johnson’s final four starts, only two players—two!!—finished ahead of him.

“It’s like he’s led for a month,” NBC’s Paul Azinger said at the TOUR Championship.

Johnson held the 54-hole lead at the PGA Championship at Harding Park, but Collin Morikawa shot a final-round 64 to beat him by two. Johnson ventured to TPC Boston and absolutely dominated at THE NORTHERN TRUST, shooting 31-under par (closing 60-64-63). He lost at the BMW when Rahm holed a curling 66-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole. Johnson had provided his own drama minutes earlier on the 72nd hole, making a double-breaking 43-footer just to force extra holes. And then came East Lake, where Johnson validated himself as the season’s top player.

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SIK GOLF: The “New” Face in Putter Technology olf TV analysts often G mention “the science guys with cameras, computers,

and technology” working with professionals on the practice green. Often they are referring to Stephen and Greg Harrison – brothers who are not just experts on ball roll analysis systems for putting, nor just professional putting coaches armed with digital feedback. They are also the brains behind SIK GOLF, a putter manufacturer doing things differently. Their goal: to Change the Way You Roll.

Kinematics: The branch of mechanics that studies the motion of objects Stephen designed and built various prototypes of a new putter which showcased variable lofts on the face. They were sent to OnePutt Enterprises, an independent putter testing lab specializing in the most advanced putting analysis systems. When reports began proving that

one prototype demonstrated a statistical improvement, Stephen began the patenting process for what’s now Descending Loft Technology™ (DLT™).

During testing, golfers provided exuberant feedback – they could feel an improvement in true roll along with better distance control. And the data confirmed it. Study in Kinematics – a.k.a.

SIK – was thus formed out of that enthusiasm for something better, new and different in putter technology.

What is different about SIK Golf and its putter face technology?

Patented DLT™ improves ball launch and true roll for players of all skill levels. The putter face’s variable lofts adjust for variance in shaft lean, resulting in more consistent launch angles.

Professional golfers achieve ideal shaft lean at impact only 20 percent of the time – it is even lower with amateurs. Testing

Stephen Harrison and Bryson DeChambeau working with ball roll analysis technology.

reveals that forward shaft lean, or delofting, leads to impact higher on the face and launches the ball too low – driving it into the ground. The same stroke with a SIK putter bearing more loft at the top of the face launches the putt at the proper 1.5-to-2 degrees. Conversely, if the hands are behind the ball at impact loft is increased and the ball makes contact lower on the face. Thus, DLT™ has less loft at the bottom of the face – again resulting in optimal launch.

PATENTED:

DESCENDING LOFT TECHNOLOGY™

In 2015, SIK officially received a U.S. patent. By that time, word of the brand and its technology had begun to spread among professional golfers, positioning it to make a splash on golf’s greatest stage. But SIK GOLF knew it would take more than just a proven technological advancement to succeed as a putter manufacturer. Staying true to their values of providing golfers with better performing equipment required a shift from the traditional production and manufacturing ways.

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Developing a Better Process Testing proved that a proper fit is key to having the best-possible performing putter. Thus, SIK GOLF invested in domestic, made-to-order manufacturing – creating putters customized to each amateur golfer the same way professionals get fitted.

Putter heads are precision CNC milled from blocks of solid topgrade 303 stainless steel – and assembled with the player’s custom option choices, such as hosel, shaft and grip. After materials finishing, technicians adjust the lie, length and loft precisely to the customer’s specs.

The custom-made putter ships

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directly to the golfer from SIK’s Pinellas Park, FL manufacturing facility.

Doing Things Differently When Bryson DeChambeau turned pro in 2016, it was clear that the talented ball striker would need to improve his putting to be successful. Seeking out what he could learn from digital analysis, he began working with SIK GOLF and testing their equipment – eventually putting a SIK Pro C-Series Armlock model into play because he trusted its technology. And it has been there for all seven of his worldwide wins. But he is

not the only professional finding success with the brand: Players rolling SIK putters have earned four victories so far in 2020 – as of the June restart. More people than ever are learning about SIK, its commitment to producing a better performing putter, and its “new” technology. But for SIK Golf, it has been a decade-long journey in the making.

www.sikgolf.com 23/07/2020 16:54

PGA TOUR ChAmPiOns

A Tour of ChAmpions

Despite the disrupted season, PGA TOUR Champions 2020 proved to be a stage on which timeless talents can shine, highlighted by an unstoppable trio—Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els

By Jim McCabe

A

s entrances go, one could safely categorize Jim Furyk’s first PGA TOUR tournament as the definition of forgettable. Oh, he did prevail in a playoff against a journeyman named Alan Pate—but that was in a Monday qualifier and merely earned him a spot onto the alternates list for the 1988 Northern Telecom Open.

Three mornings later, the 18-year-old Furyk was mingling around the practice area at TPC Starr Pass in Tucson, Ariz., likely planning for his return to the University of Arizona campus, when a flood of withdrawals came forth.

Emphatic, yes. But there was more juice involved. The Furyk wins were sandwiched around a Phil Mickelson victory in his debut and all that summer sizzle had been preceded by Ernie Els’ first PGA TOUR Champions triumph in March, in just his third start.

Three 50-year-old megastars throwing down victories in quick fashion! A definitive exclamation point, for sure. Let a rousing new chapter unfold.

b

Jim Furyk joined Bruce Fleisher as the only players to win their first two PGA TOUR Champions starts when Furyk defeated Jerry Kelly in a playoff at the PURE Insurance Championship.

(Phil Mickelson would later join that club.)

Meeting the challenge The University of Arizona freshman got the nod. And while you might say he didn’t exactly answer the call—he shot 76-75 to miss the cut— neither did Furyk come away discouraged. There was loads of room for improvement and plenty of time to learn, and if you need a sense of how utterly brilliant did Furyk meet this challenge over the next few decades, consider the contrast to his next pro golf entry, this one 32 years later, in July of 2020.

As Furyk prepared for his transition onto PGA TOUR Champions, there was no need of a Monday qualifier, no desperation playoff to get onto the alternates list, nor did it take a parade of withdrawals to squeeze into the field. Instead, in the aftermath of his 50th birthday in May, Furyk was confirmed royalty, arguably a future World Golf Hall of Famer, winner of 17 PGA TOUR tournaments and the 2003 U.S. Open.

It was a welcome mat that had been dutifully earned.

With a graciousness that has always enveloped him, Furyk showed his appreciation in a manner that surprised no one. He won his first two starts.

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A prominent trio As dominating storylines go, rookie wins by Els, Furyk and Mickelson—a trio whose roots in professional golf date to the George H.W. Bush administration—should stand as a prominent one.

Yet, when the year 2020 is chronicled, likely every recollection will start with the COVID-19 pandemic. That is true, too, with the PGA TOUR Champions season and for a sense of how disjointed it was, consider this: Those maiden wins by Els, Furyk and Mickelson came in just a five-tournament stretch, but played out over a five-month period.

the seAson hAlts

b

Newcomer Jim Furyk on Bernhard Langer (below, left): “I guess Bernhard is probably everyone’s rival. He’s been kicking everyone’s butt for 10 years.”

b

Phil Mickelson carded a 5-under 66 in the final round to finish at 22-under to win the 2020 Charles Schwab Series at Ozarks National in his PGA TOUR Champions debut.

membership knew what was at stake by playing during a pandemic.

BAck on trAck “We’re thrilled to be back out here, but we’re also on a high wire and we can’t afford to fall,” said Miller Brady, President of PGA TOUR Champions.

“We have to do the right thing.”

Credit a membership’s veteran perspective for validating Brady’s faith and for accepting the challenge. They accepted the parameters to the COVID-19 “bubble” lifestyle and met health guidelines. On the golf front, they unanimously embraced the decision to cobble together a 15-tournament season in 2020, then parcel it with 25 events in 2021 for a 40-tournament wraparound package that will crown a Schwab Cup champion in fall of 2021.

Against a backdrop of a world turned upsidedown, competitors on PGA TOUR Champions shone brilliantly and if you think they didn’t savor the opportunity or appreciate the trappings, take a triple bogey.

When PGA TOUR Champions returned from the long break, it was Furyk who delivered momentum with a rousing victory. It set in motion a run of quality performances—Jerry

images: getty images

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the season came to an abrupt halt following Els’ victory at the Hoag Classic in Newport Beach, Calif. It was March 8, only five tournaments had been played, and it would be four-and-a-half months before competition could be resumed.

That play returned for The Ally Challenge at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand Blanc, Mich.—a course on which many of these players had competed in PGA TOUR tournaments for years—was comfortable. What also provided an antidote to anxiety was a firm belief that the

“Against a backdrop of a world turned upside-down, competitors on the PGA TOUR Champions shone brilliantly …”

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Special Stuff Win, place and show with Els, Montgomerie, and Singh? Special stuff, and whereas only a few weeks earlier a layer of uncertainty had enveloped much of the sports world, within the confines of PGA TOUR Champions, excitement was percolating.

The arrival of “the kids” had plugged in the electricity.

“I want to be out there in that atmosphere.

I miss some of those guys,” Furyk said, acknowledging that he was inspired to see those victories by Els at the Hoag and Mickelson at the Charles Schwab Series at Ozarks National. “I think that’s great for the Tour.”

But it wasn’t lost on Furyk what could be the most flavorful slice of the PGA TOUR Champions—it remains a stage on which timeless talents can shine. Specifically, Bernhard Langer, who, before the schedule was halted for COVID-19 reasons, won the Cologuard Classic in Tucson, his 41st triumph.

“I guess,” quipped Furyk, “Bernhard is probably everyone’s rival. He’s been kicking everyone’s butt for 10 years.”

If Langer winning at age 62 offered that slice of PGA TOUR Champions that is easy to embrace, what galvanizes the landscape is the enthusiasm that these 50-year-old “newbies” have brought with them.

Mickelson, who shot 22-under and went wire-to-wire and was a sensation on Twitter, said, “I really enjoyed playing here, enjoyed seeing the guys again.” To show that he meant it, Lefty was quick to enter a second event, the Dominion Energy Charity Classic. He won again.

Els has said on countless occasions that he’s thrilled to be among his peers and Furyk looks around and sees other “youngsters” such as Mike Weir and K.J. Choi joining Els and Mickelson and Steve Stricker and Retief Goosen and feels at home.

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perSonal commitment “They were all buddies of mine, all guys that I really respected and were similar in ages,” said Furyk. “It’s kind of a nice niche.”

What accentuates the outlook for PGA TOUR Champions is the personal commitment that Furyk and Stricker are making. The latter is the host of the American Family Insurance Championship in his native Wisconsin, while the former will be out in front of the Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS in October 2021 at Timuquana Country Club in his adopted hometown of Jacksonville, Fla. “This is going to be a home run,” said Constellation president Mark Huston. “What really sold us was the personal interest Jim and (wife) Tabitha have in their community.”

The vested interest is a win-win for all concerned. It will greatly enhance the charitable giving power of the foundation that Jim and Tabitha Furyk run, plus provide the Tour with a marquee face for many tournaments.

“It is more of an incentive to play [PGA TOUR Champions] full time sooner rather than later because I have an event out there, absolutely,” said Furyk.

Given the way the season has played out since the return from COVID-19, Furyk can expect a jam-packed field of stars. 

“Els has said on countless occasions that he’s thrilled to be among his peers …”

b Victory at the SAS Championship in North Carolina was the second win for Ernie Els in his 10th PGA TOUR Champions start.

images: getty images

Kelly won the Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship; Shane Bertsch and Mickelson prevailed in the hugely popular back-to-back events in the Charles Schwab Series in Ridgedale, Mo., at the Bass Pro Shops Big Cedar Lodge and at Ozarks National, respectively; the dynamic Miguel Angel Jiménez captured the Sanford International; Furyk returned to another venue he’s passionate about, Pebble Beach, and won the PURE Insurance Championship; and upon a leaderboard top-heavy with Hall of Famers, Els slam-dunked a long birdie putt at the final hole to edge Colin Montgomerie by one and Vijay Singh by two at the SAS Championship.

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DIGITAL EDITION

AVAILABLE NOW COURTESY OF THE PGA TOUR, THE DIGITAL EDITION IS GIFTED FREE.

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PGA TOUR AWARDS

AWARD WINNERS 2020

Dustin Johnson earns second Player of the Year award; Scottie Scheffler is top rookie; Zach Johnson is honored with the Payne Stewart Award; Webb Simpson wins the Byron Nelson Award

By Jeff Babineau

A

sked at the season-ending TOUR Championship which golfer might garner his vote for PGA TOUR Player of the Year, Dustin Johnson stared stoically into the distance, much like a seasoned poker player sitting on pocket aces.

“I’m not sure yet,” Johnson said on the eve of the tournament at East Lake Golf Club. “I think this week will help decide that.”

Sizzling golf He was right. Four days later, Johnson, 36, of Jupiter, Fla., captured the TOUR Championship to put the last touches on a sizzling late stretch of golf. It capped a 2-1-2-1 finish that began at the PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in August, and culminated in his first FedExCup championship (see pp. 24-26). For Johnson, one more trophy remained after East Lake: Johnson’s fellow players voted him the recipient of the Jack Nicklaus Award as PGA TOUR Player of the Year.

Texan Scottie Scheffler, 25, was the recipient of the PGA TOUR’s Arnold Palmer Award as the circuit’s top rookie. Scheffler did not win a tournament in 2019-20, but had a stout rookie season, posting seven top-10 finishes in 23 starts, including top-5s at the PGA Championship and THE NORTHERN TRUST. At the TOUR Championship, Scheffler rallied to finish fifth in the FedExCup standings.

Quality finaliStS Johnson edged out a group of quality finalists for the Nicklaus Award: (alphabetically) 2020 PGA Championship winner Collin Morikawa, Jon Rahm, Webb Simpson, and Justin Thomas.

Thomas, 27, won three times in 2019-20 (THE 36

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CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, Sentry Tournament of Champions, World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational), with Morikawa, Rahm and Simpson each winning twice.

It marked the second time Johnson won the Nicklaus Award as the TOUR’s top player. He also won in 2016, when he triumphed at the U.S. Open.

Johnson, slowed by injury late in 2019, overcame a slow start to his season. He was outside the top 100 in the FedExCup

a

Dustin Johnson captures the 2020 Jack Nicklaus Award as PGA TOUR Player of the Year after winning his first FedExCup. He won twice in the FedExCup Playoffs and three times on the season.

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PGA TOUR AWARDS

standings until his summer victory at the Travelers Championship, and then he took flight. He had the 54-hole lead at the PGA Championship (tying for second); dominated at THE NORTHERN TRUST at TPC Boston (winning by 11 shots); forced a playoff with an improbable 43-foot putt at the 72nd hole at the BMW Championship (eventually losing to Rahm in a playoff); and prevailed at the TOUR Championship. Johnson had seven top-10 finishes in 14 starts, and finished the season with the World No. 1 ranking.

“Yeah, it was a really good year,” Johnson said. “Especially at the end of the year, I really played well. From the PGA through the TOUR Championship, I really played some really good golf … Obviously to win Player of the Year, it’s a great honor, and it’s voted on by your peers, so it’s something that means a lot to me.”

images: getty images ; Pga tOUR

Spectacular performance Johnson’s three victories lifted his career total on the PGA TOUR to 23. He also extended his streak of consecutive seasons with a victory to start his career to 13, an accomplishment shared by Palmer, Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

“His demeanor and athleticism on the course make it look very easy, but behind the scenes, he’s worked incredibly hard coming back from injury and his 2019-20 season speaks for itself in further bolstering his World Golf Hall of Fame resume,” PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan said of Johnson. He called Johnson’s performance in the FedExCup Playoffs “nothing short of spectacular.”

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a

a

a

Scottie Scheffler (top left) received the 2020 Arnold Palmer Award after finishing fifth in the FedExCup, one of only two rookies to advance to the TOUR Championship.

Zach Johnson (top right) with the Payne Stewart Award at East Lake Golf Club.

With a Scoring Average of 68.98, Webb Simpson (above) won the Byron Nelson Award for the 2019-20 season.

more awardS Scheffler captured Rookie of the Year over (alphabetically) Harry Higgs, Viktor Hovland and Maverick McNealy. He was the second consecutive player (after Sungjae Im in 2019) to earn top rookie honors after being named top player on the Korn Ferry Tour the previous season.

With an adjusted scoring average of 68.98, Simpson won the Byron Nelson Award for 2019-20. Also, Zach Johnson received the Payne Stewart Award, given to a player showing character, charity and sportsmanship.

(See also, pp.62-65)  DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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Is your asthma treatment plan off course?

See what could open up for you with FASENRA.*

FASENRA is an add-on treatment for people 12 and older with severe eosinophilic asthma. It’s not a rescue medication or for other eosinophilic conditions.

Results may vary.

*

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

FASENRA may cause serious side effects, including: • allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions, including anaphylaxis. Serious allergic reactions can happen after you get your FASENRA injection.

Allergic reactions can sometimes happen hours or days after you get your injection. Tell your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction: o swelling of your face, mouth and tongue o breathing problems o fainting, dizziness, feeling lightheaded (low blood pressure) o rash o hives Before using FASENRA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: • are taking oral or inhaled corticosteroid medicines. Do not stop taking your corticosteroid medicines unless instructed by your healthcare provider. This may cause other symptoms that were controlled by the corticosteroid medicine to come back.

• have a parasitic (helminth) infection.

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if FASENRA will harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant during your treatment with FASENRA. o There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to FASENRA during pregnancy.

Healthcare providers can enroll patients or encourage patients to enroll themselves by calling 1-877-311-8972 or visiting www.mothertobaby.org/fasenra.

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FASENRA is only 1 maintenance dose every 8 weeks.† Helps prevent asthma attacks, lower daily oral steroid use, and improve breathing.*

You have injection options with FASENRA: Your doctor can administer FASENRA at their office.

You can self-administer anywhere with the FASENRA Pen.‡

Visit FASENRAfits.com to see how FASENRA can fit into your life.

The first 3 doses are given on day 1, week 4, and week 8.

Before you self-administer, make sure your doctor shows you how to do it. †

‡

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if FASENRA passes into your breast milk.

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

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

The most common side effects of FASENRA include: headache and sore throat. These are not all the possible side effects of FASENRA. APPROVED USE FASENRA is a prescription medicine used with other asthma medicines for the maintenance treatment of asthma in people 12 years and older whose asthma is not controlled with their current asthma medicines. FASENRA helps prevent severe asthma attacks (exacerbations) and may improve your breathing. Medicines such as FASENRA reduce blood eosinophils. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that may contribute to your asthma.

FASENRA is not used to treat other problems caused by eosinophils and is not used to treat sudden breathing problems. Tell your healthcare provider if your asthma does not get better or if it gets worse after you start treatment with FASENRA. It is not known if FASENRA is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age.

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

Please see Brief Summary of full Prescribing information on adjacent page.

FASENRA is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies. ©2020 AstraZeneca. All rights reserved. US-42947 7/20

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I M P O R TA N T

I N F O R M AT I O N

Read this brief summary carefully before using FASENRA for the first time and each time you use a new dose. There may be new information.

This summary does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.

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

When added to other medicines for asthma, FASENRA helps prevent severe asthma attacks (exacerbations) and may improve your breathing.

Medicines such as FASENRA reduce blood eosinophils. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that may contribute to your asthma.

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

• FASENRA is not used to treat sudden breathing problems. Tell your healthcare provider if your asthma does not get better or if it gets worse after you start treatment with FASENRA. It is not known if FASENRA is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age.

Do not use FASENRA if you are allergic to benralizumab or any of the ingredients in FASENRA. Before using FASENRA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: • are taking oral or inhaled corticosteroid medicines. Do not stop taking your corticosteroid medicines unless instructed by your healthcare provider. This may cause other symptoms that were controlled by the corticosteroid medicine to come back • have a parasitic (helminth) infection • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if FASENRA will harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant during your treatment with FASENRA. ° There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to FASENRA during pregnancy.

Healthcare providers can enroll patients or encourage patients to enroll themselves by calling 1-877-311-8972 or visiting www.mothertobaby.org/fasenra.

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if FASENRA passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will use FASENRA and breastfeed. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you use FASENRA. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

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

How will I use FASENRA? • FASENRA is injected under your skin (subcutaneously) one time every 4 weeks for the first 3 doses, and then every 8 weeks.

• FASENRA comes in a single dose prefilled syringe and in a single dose autoinjector.

• A healthcare provider will inject FASENRA using the single-dose prefilled syringe.

A B O U T

F A S E N R A

• If your healthcare provider decides that you or a caregiver can give the injection of FASENRA, you or your caregiver should receive training on the right way to prepare and give the injection using the FASENRA PEN. Do not try to inject FASENRA until you have been shown the right way by your healthcare provider. See the detailed “Instructions for Use” that comes with FASENRA PEN for information on how to prepare and inject FASENRA. • If you miss a dose of FASENRA, call your healthcare provider.

What are the possible side effects of FASENRA? FASENRA may cause serious side effects, including: • allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions, including anaphylaxis.

Serious allergic reactions can happen after you get your FASENRA injection. Allergic reactions can sometimes happen hours or days after you get your injection. Tell your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction: ° swelling of your face, mouth and tongue ° breathing problems ° fainting, dizziness, feeling lightheaded (low blood pressure) ° rash ° hives The most common side effects of FASENRA include headache and sore throat.

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

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

How should I store FASENRA? • Store FASENRA in the refrigerator between 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C).

• FASENRA may be stored at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C) for up to 14 days.

• Once removed from the refrigerator and brought to room temperature FASENRA must be used within 14 days or thrown away.

• Store FASENRA in the original carton until you are ready to use it to protect it from light.

• Do not freeze FASENRA. Do not use FASENRA that has been frozen.

• Do not expose FASENRA to heat.

• Do not use FASENRA past the expiration date.

• Keep FASENRA and all medicines out of the reach of children.

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

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

FASENRA is a registered trademark and FASENRA Pen is a trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies. © 2019 AstraZeneca LP. All rights reserved.

Manufactured for: AstraZeneca LP, Wilmington, DE 19850 11/19 US-30267

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

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Korn Ferry Tour overview

REACHING OUT FOR THE PGA TOUR Despite a significant interruption to the Korn Ferry Tour season, for a handful of golf’s top prospects, a promotion to the PGA TOUR soon is just a matter of time

By Kevin Prise

J

ared Wolfe wasn’t sure what the future held.

Wolfe, 32, began 2020 with conditional Korn Ferry Tour status, his playing schedule uncertain. He and his wife, Kelsey, welcomed their first child, daughter Khloe, last September.

Wolfe knew the early portion of 2020 was critical to keeping his PGA TOUR dreams alive.

With uneven results, a “real job” could become necessary to support his young family. As 2020 neared its close, Wolfe’s outlook was worlds different.

“It’s crazy,” said Wolfe after getting up-anddown on the 72nd hole to secure victory on a windy final day in Wichita. “It’s very validating. It’s very confirming of a lot of things that I work on, and a lot of the time and effort that you put in.

“You’re thankful for the reasons that get you here, and humbled by it. Just very happy.”

b

With a pair of Korn Ferry victories in 2020, Jared Wolfe is in prime position to earn a promotion to the PGA TOUR.

Two-Time winners With a dramatic one-stroke victory at the Wichita Open Supporting Wichita’s Youth in September, Wolfe joined Davis Riley as the only two-time winners in the 2020-21 combined Korn Ferry Tour season.

Coupled with his triumph at The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at Baha Mar in January— which immediately provided full status—Wolfe’s title in Wichita moved him to the verge of a ThreeVictory Promotion to the PGA TOUR. Even if he doesn’t secure that third title, Wolfe is well positioned to earn his first TOUR card upon the conclusion of the 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour Regular Season in August. The Murray State alum entered winter break at No. 5 on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List; the top-25 through the Regular Season will earn TOUR membership.

images: ; Pga TOUR

Time and efforT The Kentucky native hasn’t shied away from the ‘real world’—during the COVID-19 pandemic hiatus this past spring, Wolfe took a job in medical sales for supplemental income.

The prospect of a TOUR card, though, remains quite appealing. w w w.p gaT our.com

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Korn Ferry Tour overview

With TOUR-sanctioned golf halted for nearly three months due to COVID-19, eligibility criteria on the Korn Ferry Tour was restructured. All 2019-20 TOUR members maintain status through 2020-21, and the 2020 Tour’s season extends through 2021 (all members maintaining status).

Consequently, no 2020 Korn Ferry Tour pros earned 2020-21 PGA TOUR status. (The top10 on the Points List after the Korn Ferry Tour Championship earned starts in 2020-21 TOUR additional events).

The wait might not be optimal for those atop The 25, but it will make eventual TOUR status all the sweeter.

rising sTars Each year, an eclectic mix of rising young stars and seasoned veterans assert themselves at the top of Korn Ferry Tour leaderboards, and 2020 proved no exception.

Wake Forest alum Will Zalatoris stands atop The 25, a testament to a well-rounded game and consistent play throughout the summer.

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A red-hot run by 24-year-old Will Zalatoris included 11 consecutive top-20 finishes, the highlight being a victory at the TPC Colorado Championship in July.

“Will Zalatoris stands atop The 25, a testament to a well-rounded game and consistent play.”

caught the Korn Ferry Tour by storm in the Return to Golf, recording 11 consecutive top-20 finishes, including a victory at the TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes in July.

Zalatoris, 24, earned a U.S. Open berth via a top-five position on the Points List through the WinCo Foods Portland Open. He finished T6, then added three more top-20s to earn PGA TOUR Special Temporary Membership, which allows him to accept unlimited sponsor exemptions through the 2020-21 TOUR season.

Zalatoris and Riley are joined in the top-five by Taylor Pendrith (No. 2), Brandon Wu (No. 4) and Wolfe. All five aim to earn their first TOUR card upon the conclusion of the Regular Season.

Veterans seeking a TOUR return via the 202021 Korn Ferry Tour include Stephan Jaeger (No. 8), Ben Kohles (No. 13), Brett Drewitt (No. 18), Seth Reeves (No. 19) and John Chin (No. 20).

Perseverance As players chase TOUR cards through the second half of the 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour season, peaks and valleys will occur. There’s power in perseverance, though. Just ask Wolfe. 

images: Pga TOUR

Tour resTrucTuring

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01/12/2020 11:00

MASTER YOUR SWING

ACE OUR GREENS

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11/11/2020 12:45

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DEFINING MOMENTS

PERSONAL TRIUMPHS In trying times and often against the odds, players from different tours overcome challenges to create career-defining moments

O

ur series continues with a selection of personal triumphs for PGA TOUR players, from a first major championship win, a player’s unexpected victory, an exciting playoff, a “back to basics” successful approach, to a long wait for a first win, and final success following years of effort.

“I’m on Cloud Nine right now.”

— Collin Morikawa

ON CLOUD NINE

By Jeff Babineau Collin Morikawa told himself during practice rounds at the 102nd PGA Championship that he would not give in to temptation when he stepped to the drivable par-4 16th hole at TPC Harding Park. It was a sucker’s play. Yet there he stood late Sunday afternoon, tied for the lead in just the second major he’d ever played. The tee was set at 294 yards. Morikawa oozed confidence. The opportunity was simply too enticing to pass on.

What followed was probably the best shot of Morikawa’s life. Two holes after chipping in for birdie following a poor approach to the 14th hole, the Californian unsheathed his driver and ripped a beautiful baby cut that bounced up onto the green, stopping 7 feet from the flagstick. Paul Casey, a co-leader at 11-under, stood on the nearby 17th tee, watching with admiration. Morikawa’s eagle putt was centercut. Two closing pars, a round of 6-under 64, and Morikawa had landed his first major championship at age 23.

“When I woke up today, I was like, this is meant to be,” said Morikawa, who a month earlier had captured his second PGA TOUR title at the Workday Charity Classic. “This is where I feel very comfortable. This is where I want to be, and I’m not scared from it. I think if I was scared from it, the last few holes would have been a little different, but you want to be in this position.”

Morikawa emerged on a frenetic final round in San Francisco. The PGA, rescheduled from 46

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May to August, would be the lone major on the 2019-20 schedule, and was played without fans due to COVID-19. Seven players shared or held the lead on a wild Sunday. Morikawa’s late dash propelled him to 13-under 267, two shots better than Casey and 54-hole leader Dustin Johnson.

“You know,” Morikawa said, “I’m on Cloud Nine right now.” 

a

Bold play down the stretch at the PGA Championship lifted Collin Morikawa to his first major championship victory in only his second major championship start.

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04/01/2021 10:59

DEFINING MOMENTS

UNEXPECTED VICTORY

By Ron Green Jr.

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

Jim Herman didn’t see his victory in the 2020 Wyndham Championship coming, nor did anyone else.

Herman, 42, was playing what he thought was the final event of a disappointing FedExCup season, planning to head home to Florida to be a dad for three weeks while the Playoffs went on without him before starting over in the 2020-21 season.

But a charmed weekend at Sedgefield Country Club revitalized Herman’s career, earning him his third PGA TOUR victory and the peace of mind of having his playing privileges secured for another two seasons.

“It’s out of the blue, I’ll definitely tell you that,” Herman said after beating Billy Horschel by one stroke. “I guess whenever you win, you never really truly expect it. There’s the guys at the top, they’re expected to win every week and they should expect that, they’re that good.

“We’re all really darn good out here, but the mental game, it beats you down…It’s very, very satisfying to put myself in a position to be near the lead and then come from behind and go low on a Sunday to get a win. I watch that on TV all the time watching the guys, and now to be able to do it is pretty amazing.”

Herman was 190th on the FedExCup points list entering the Wyndham Championship and the victory vaulted him to 54th, the biggest jump ever by a player in the final regular-season TOUR event.

As with his two previous victories—the 2016 Vivint Houston Open and the 2019 Barbasol Championship—Herman used a different putting style to win at Greensboro.

Herman won in Houston using the claw grip, won the Barbasol using a conventional grip and captured the Wyndham Championship using a left-hand low grip.

“When you’re putting poorly, I don’t mind changing. I’ve done every method I think except anchoring and up the arm. … Up the arm could be in my near future, you never know. I’ll try to go with winning with four different putting strokes, I guess,” Herman said. 



What had been a forgettable 2019-20 season for Jim Herman took a fortuitous turn with his season-ending victory at the Wyndham Championship.

“We’re all really darn good out here.” — Jim Herman W W W.P GAT OUR.COM

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DEFINING MOMENTS

A WILD FINISH

“I still can’t believe what just happened.” — Jon Rahm

By Chris Smith Even without the benefit of thousands of fans surrounding the 18th green at Olympia Fields Country Club’s North Course, there was no mistaking what had transpired to force a playoff at the BMW Championship.

Dustin Johnson faced a 43-foot, doublebreaking putt for birdie on the final hole of regulation. Still, clubhouse leader Jon Rahm hit balls to stay loose, mentally preparing to go extra holes, fully realizing the tall challenge that Johnson faced.

“I knew how good DJ has been playing, I was expecting nothing else,” Rahm said. “I was fully confident it was going to come into a playoff and hoping to win it.”

The loud reaction from those on site confirmed Johnson’s improbable birdie, setting up an exciting playoff between World Nos. 1 and 2. Rahm never could have anticipated his own extraordinary moment that followed on the same green, on the first playoff hole, to win the penultimate FedExCup Playoffs event.

After his approach shot from the rough left a treacherous, sharp-turning, 66-foot downhill putt, Rahm simply hoped to leave a reasonable uphill putt for par and chance to extend the playoff. Johnson had a 30-footer for birdie.

But Rahm did one better.

Perfectly gauging a ridge across the green and sharp falloff to the hole, Rahm stroked the putt, then watched nearly 11 seconds as his ball reached the ridge, turned right, and trickled toward the hole before dropping deadcenter for birdie, setting off a fist-pumping celebration. When Johnson’s birdie attempt barely slid by the cup, Rahm’s victory was secure.

“I still can’t believe what just happened,” said Rahm, who recovered from an opening 5-over 75 by shooting 10-under over the weekend, including a tournament-best 64 Sunday. He also survived a one-stroke penalty Saturday for picking up his ball without marking it. “I think we all want the flashy finish,” Rahm said, “but not the stress that comes with it.”  48

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Jon Rahm pumps his fist in celebration after watching his 66-foot birdie putt vanish into the hole at the BMW Championship, sealing his playoff victory over World No. 1 Dustin Johnson.

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DEFINING MOMENTS

“I worked with my coach and came away with so much confidence. This win is bigger than me.” — Kamaiu Johnson

BACK TO BASICS STRATEGY

images: aPga Tour; Pga Tour

By Sean Martin Baseball was Kamaiu Johnson’s first love. Golf has become his career after an unlikely start in the game, however. And Johnson’s career keeps progressing toward his ultimate goal, the PGA TOUR. Johnson will make his PGA TOUR debut at the 2021 Farmers Insurance Open after receiving a sponsor exemption. Farmers Insurance started sponsoring Johnson in 2020 to help him compete on the Advocates Pro Golf Tour. He capped the year by winning the APGA Tour Championship.

“I went back to basics,” said Johnson, a native of Florida now residing in Orlando. “I worked with my coach (John Montgomery of Orlando) and came away with so much confidence. This win is bigger than me.

“This has been a growth year for the APGA Tour and for me with my Farmers Insurance sponsorship. The APGA Tour has done a great job with the schedule since the restart to give us this opportunity.” w w w.p G aT Our.cOM

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Johnson’s story is incredible. He dropped out of school in eighth grade (later getting his GED). His father was never in his life and his mother, Angela, usually got home around midnight after working at a juvenile facility. His mother, grandmother and six kids were crammed into a two-bedroom apartment in Tallahassee. Johnson was swinging a stick along the boundary of Hilaman Golf Course when the club’s GM, Jan Auger, asked him if he’d like to hit some balls. Auger told Johnson that if he did odd jobs around the course, he could play for $1 a round.

“At the time I knew this is probably going to be my way out of everything,” he said. “I knew that golf was going to be my outlet.”

Now he’s headed for his first PGA TOUR start.

“The opportunity to play in the Farmers Insurance Open is the culmination of a lot of work that I’ve put into the game, but also the sacrifice and help from so many others,” he said.  DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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DEFINING MOMENTS

JUST A MATTER OF TIME

By Mike McAllister Scar tissue. That’s how Jason Kokrak describes all those close calls in his first eight years on the PGA TOUR. The T2 at the 2012 Safeway Open in his rookie season that enabled him to maintain his card. A T2 at The Genesis Invitational in 2016, the first time he held a 36-hole lead. Another T2 at the 2019 Valspar Championship, when he bogeyed the last hole and lost by a stroke.

When the TOUR restarted after its COVID-19 layoff, Kokrak was in contention again at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Closing with a sizzling 64, he missed an 8-foot birdie putt at the 18th to miss the playoff.

While the breakthrough victory kept eluding Kokrak, he never lost hope. Never lost faith that his moment in the sun would eventually arrive.

Finally, in his 233rd start on TOUR, it was his turn. Rallying from three shots down entering the final round, Kokrak produced a bogey-free 64 to win THE CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK.

At age 35, his long wait was over.

“I knew in my own mind that I was going to get it done,” said Kokrak, born in Canada but raised in Ohio. “It was just a matter of time.”

Known for his prodigious length off the tee, Kokrak relied on his putter. A few months earlier, his caddie, David Robinson, suggested a switch to a 36-inch putter to enable Kokrak to stand more upright.

That move paid off, as did Kokrak’s familiarity with Shadow Creek, which he had played more than 20 times before the Las Vegas course hosted its first TOUR event.

With Robinson helping to read every putt, Kokrak led the field in Strokes Gained: Putting for the first time while making a careerbest 14 putts outside of 10 feet.

“A pretty dangerous duo,” Kokrak said of his partnership with Robinson. Dangerous … and now successful. Don’t expect Kokrak to wait another 233 starts before his next victory. 

In his 233rd start, Jason Kokrak, shown here watching his tee shot on the 13th hole in the final round at THE CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK, breaks through for his first PGA TOUR victory.

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“i knew in my own mind that i was going to get it done.” — Jason Kokrak

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04/01/2021 11:47

DEFINING MOMENTS

A WELL-DESERVED TRIUMPH

By Kevin Prise Brian Gay didn’t arrive at the Bermuda Championship with particular confidence in his game.

The 48-year-old had missed the cut in four consecutive PGA TOUR starts, and he was without a top-25 finish in the 2020 calendar year. But Gay knew his fairways-and-greens, ballcontrol playing style was a match for the sub-7,000-yard Port Royal GC layout, which values placement over distance. He finished third at the inaugural Bermuda Championship in 2019.

Once play began, so did the birdies, and confidence grew by the day. Gay stuffed a wedge for a tap-in birdie at the 72nd hole to conclude a final-round, 7-under 64, ultimately good for a playoff with Wyndham Clark at 15-under. He made birdie again at the first extra hole to secure his fifth PGA TOUR title, and first since The American Express in 2013.

With the victory, Gay secured full TOUR status through the 2022-23 season, by which point he’ll be eligible to compete on PGA TOUR Champions.

The University of Florida alum isn’t yet ready to consider that next stage of his career, though. He never has been one of the longer hitters on TOUR, but has carved out a niche for two-plus decades by understanding his game and taking advantage on weeks when the courses suit him.

After an opening-round 70 at Port Royal GC, Gay hung tough with rounds of 68-67 as the winds gusted across the Atlantic.

The field met calmer conditions on Sunday, and Gay took advantage with six birdies in a 10-hole stretch around the turn, erasing his two-stroke deficit. He countered bogey at the par-5 17th with that closing birdie, then drained a 12-footer for his first title in 169 starts.

“I did wonder,” said Gay when asked if he questioned whether he would win again. “I’ve struggled the last few months and been quite miserable at times. Everyone around me kept telling me, ‘You’re still going to win.’”

They were right. 

“Everyone around me kept telling me, ‘You’re still going to win.’”— Brian Gay

Brian Gay’s victory at the Bermuda Championship–his first PGA TOUR victory in more than seven years– provides him TOUR status through 2022-23, at which time he’ll be eligible to play PGA TOUR Champions.

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YOU a TARGE T. are already

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11/12/2020 11:23

INTERNATIONAL TOURS

THE GAME CHANGER With a largely reduced 2020 season for the three International Tours, teamwork and determination will lead to a revitalized tournament season in 2021

By Laury Livsey

A

week before the 2020 PLAYERS Championship, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica players were in Mazatlan, Mexico, for the season-opening tournament, the Estrella del Mar Open. Five days after Brazil’s Alex Rocha won the event, PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan canceled the TOUR’s flagship event at TPC Sawgrass due to issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Before long, the dominoes began falling on all the PGA TOUR’s affiliated Tours.

Within a few months, and with no path to play tournament golf in the summer of 2020, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, PGA TOUR SeriesChina and the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada all postponed their seasons—the latter two eventually canceling outright. In December 2020, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica resumed play

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Jamie Wiles (left), PGA TOUR Series-China Chief Referee, who orchestrated the competitions side of the LOCALiQ Series under the direction of Head of International Tours, Rob Ohno (right).

with consecutive events in Miami and the Dominican Republic, followed by a scheduled two-month break.

The three Tours, and the LOCALiQ Series— created as a response to the lack of playing opportunities for International Tour players— continue to evaluate what they will be able to do in 2021, working with partners, golf courses and government and health entities in China, Canada and Latin America, respectively.

PGA TOUR LATinOAméRicA Combined with Mazatlan’s Estrella del Mar Open and the two December events, the Shell Open in Florida and the Puerto Plata Open, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica intends to use these three tournaments as the foundation of what w w w.p g AT OUR.cOm

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INTERNATIONAL TOURS

understanding that coronavirus in China was posing a major threat to the Series and putting its season in jeopardy. After months of creating scheduling models that included holding events outside of Greater China, officials realized there were too many hurdles to overcome, and on July 21 the Series canceled its season.

“We made every effort and tried to be as creative as we could in looking for ways to hold tournaments for our members,” said Greg Carlson, PGA TOUR Series-China Executive Director. “In the end, with travel restrictions and border issues in China and other Asian countries, there were too many obstacles preventing us from moving forward.”

Officials continue to monitor the situation in China, and as of late November they had yet to make a decision about competing in 2021.

will be a 2020-21 wraparound season, with additional events planned in the first two quarters of 2021. PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Managing Director Todd Rhinehart anticipates the 2021 portion of the schedule will begin in February and end in June.

“The fact we’ll be playing again in [December] 2020 and that other planned tournaments will be rescheduled is extraordinarily good news considering all the challenges we’ve faced in Latin America due to COVID-19,” Rhinehart said. “Our team has worked tirelessly with municipalities, health organizations and all of our partners to be able to give the players competitive opportunities, both in 2020 and into 2021.”

images: ; geTTY images

Mackenzie Tour–PGa Tour canada Players and staff were in Dothan, Ala., in March for the Tour’s third of seven scheduled Qualifying Tournaments when THE PLAYERS Championship announcement occurred the night before the final round in Alabama. That Q-School turned out to be the last Mackenzie Tour action of the season. Border restrictions, mandatory quarantines for those entering Canada and government-implemented gathering limitations made it impossible to play any of the 13 scheduled events.

“It was certainly disappointing as we had a tremendous schedule lined up and an exciting group of members ready to play,” said Mackenzie Tour Executive Director Scott Pritchard. “Looking back, though, it was the right decision as the safety and well-being of our players, staff, fans and everybody else associated with our tournaments was always our No. 1 priority.”

Players who maintained status after the 2019 season and those who earned membership via their performances at the three 2020 Qualifying Tournaments the Tour conducted will retain their playing options in 2021.

“As things improve throughout the world, we expect our 2021 season will be exactly what we thought 2020 would be—just delayed a year,” Pritchard added.

As a consolation, Pritchard and his team put together the Canada Life Series, a fourtournament schedule available to Canadian residents and those already living in the country.

China’s Yi Cao, a full-time Canadian resident, captured the points title and earned an invitation to the 2021 RBC Canadian Open.

PGa Tour SerieS-china In early December, 2019, the PGA TOUR Series-China leadership team began meeting, w w w.p g AT OUR.cOm

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“It’s been really gratifying to put these series of tournaments together when it looked like 2020 would be a lost season. I couldn’t be happier for our players.” — Rob Ohno, PGA TOUR Head of International Tours

LocaLiQ SerieS When it became apparent that the International Tours would not be able to play in 2020, Rob Ohno, the PGA TOUR Head of International Tours, put his team to work. After surveying the membership of all three Tours, Ohno announced the LOCALiQ Series, a set of seven 54-hole tournaments for International Tour members, with a culminating, season-ending 72-hole event for the top-78 points-earners. The first seven tournaments took place in the southeastern U.S., with Georgia and Florida hosting three tournaments each; a seventh event was held in Alabama. COVID-19 concerns forced the Series to move its season-ending LOCALiQ Series Championship from the Bahamas to TPC Sugarloaf in the Atlanta suburb of Duluth.

Bryson Nimmer, a Mackenzie Tour player, won the first two tournaments and lost in a playoff in another. Nimmer won the points title and a 2021 PGA TOUR start at the RBC Canadian Open. David Pastore won the LOCALiQ Series Championship to finish second, earning a start at the Barbasol Championship. Third in points was Carson Young, who will play in the Puerto Rico Open.

“The money is awesome, especially at a time like this when we don’t have a lot to play in,” Nimmer said. “But I would say more than anything to be able to test your game is what matters most. It’s been a while since we’ve been able to play. In these kinds of events, with 144 players, it’s just a whole other level.”

Said Ohno, “It’s been really gratifying to put these series of tournaments together when it looked like 2020 would be a lost season. I couldn’t be happier for our players.”  DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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For adults with bladder cancer and cancers of the urinary tract (renal pelvis, ureter, or urethra) that has spread or cannot be removed by surgery

We Choose What’s Next Not actual patients.

WHAT IS PADCEV?

PADCEV (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with bladder cancer and cancers of the urinary tract (renal pelvis, ureter or urethra) that has spread or cannot be removed by surgery. PADCEV may be used if you have received an immunotherapy medicine and also received a chemotherapy-containing platinum medicine. It is not known if PADCEV is safe and effective in children.

PADCEV was FDA-approved based on a clinical study that measured how many patients had a tumor response. There is another study with PADCEV to confirm the clinical benefit.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Before receiving PADCEV, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: • are currently experiencing numbness or tingling in your hands or feet • have a history of high blood sugar or diabetes • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

PADCEV can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with PADCEV. • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if PADCEV passes into your breast milk.

Do not breastfeed during treatment and for at least 3 weeks after the last dose of PADCEV. Females who are able to become pregnant: • Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with PADCEV.

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• You should use an effective method of birth control during your treatment and for at least 2 months after the last dose of PADCEV. Males with a female sexual partner who is able to become pregnant: • If your female partner is pregnant, PADCEV can harm the unborn baby.

• You should use an effective method of birth control during your treatment and for at least 4 months after the last dose of PADCEV. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

How will you receive PADCEV? • PADCEV will be given to you by intravenous (IV) infusion into your vein over 30 minutes.

• You will receive your PADCEV over periods of time called cycles.

– Each PADCEV cycle is 28 days.

– You will receive PADCEV on days 1, 8 and 15 of every cycle.

• Your healthcare provider will decide how many treatment cycles you need.

• Your healthcare provider may do blood tests regularly during treatment with PADCEV. What are the possible side effects of PADCEV? PADCEV may cause serious side effects including: • High Blood Sugar (hyperglycemia). You can develop high blood sugar during treatment with PADCEV. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of high blood

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PADCEV™ works differently from the chemotherapy or immunotherapy you may have had before PADCEV is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). PADCEV works by delivering medicine directly to cancer cells, but can also harm normal cells and cause side effects.

Ask your healthcare professional if PADCEV is right for you or your loved one

Visit PADCEV.com or call

888-4PADCEV (888-472-3238) for more information

Please see Important Safety Information below and talk to your doctor about side effects.

•

•

•

healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you notice any redness, swelling, itching, or discomfort at the infusion site.

The most common side effects of PADCEV include: • numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, or muscle weakness • fatigue • decreased appetite • rash

• • • • • •

hair loss nausea diarrhea change in sense of taste dry eyes dry skin

If you have certain side effects, your healthcare provider may decrease your dose or stop your treatment with PADCEV for a period of time (temporarily) or completely.

PADCEV may cause fertility problems in males, which may affect the ability to father children. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have concerns about fertility.

These are not all the possible side effects of PADCEV. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

See Brief Summary of full Prescribing Information (Prescription Drug Facts) on adjacent page.

© 2020 Astellas Pharma US, Inc. and Seattle Genetics, Inc. All rights reserved. 081-0187-PM 07/20 PADCEV and the PADCEV logo are trademarks jointly owned by Agensys, Inc. and Seattle Genetics, Inc. Astellas and the flying star logo are registered trademarks of Astellas Pharma Inc. Seattle Genetics and the Seattle Genetics logo are registered trademarks of Seattle Genetics, Inc.

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•

sugar, including: frequent urination, increased thirst, blurred vision, confusion, it becomes harder to control your blood sugar, drowsiness, loss of appetite, fruity smell on your breath, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain.

Peripheral neuropathy. While receiving PADCEV you may experience nerve problems called peripheral neuropathy. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you experience numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, or muscle weakness.

Eye problems. You can develop certain eye problems while receiving PADCEV. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have dry eyes or blurred vision.

Skin reactions. Rashes and severe skin reactions can happen while receiving PADCEV. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get a rash or a skin reaction that continues to get worse.

Leakage of PADCEV out of your vein into the tissues around your infusion site (extravasation). If PADCEV leaks from the injection site or the vein into the nearby skin and tissues, it could cause an infusion site reaction. These reactions can happen right after you receive an infusion, but sometimes may happen days after your infusion. Tell your

Prescription Drug Facts

Rx Only

Active Ingredient

Purpose

PADCEV (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) injection for IV infusion 20mg or 30mg vials................Cancer Treatment

Uses Treatment of adults with bladder cancer and cancers of the urinary tract that has spread or cannot be removed by surgery. PADCEV may be used if you have: <received an immunotherapy medicine and <also received a chemotherapy-containing platinum medicine It is not known if PADCEV is safe and effective in children.

PADCEV was FDA-approved based on a clinical study that measured how many patients had a tumor response. There is another study with PADCEV to confirm the clinical benefit.

Warnings Ask a doctor before use if you have <numbness or tingling in your hands/feet <have a history of high blood sugar or diabetes What are the possible serious side effects of PADCEV? <high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) <nerve problems (peripheral neuropathy) like tingling in your hands or feet or muscle weakness <eye problems <skin reactions <infusion site reactions if PADCEV leaks out of your veins into the tissues around your infusion site (extravasation) Tell your doctor if you have <frequent urination, increased thirst, blurred vision, confusion, it becomes harder to control your blood sugar, drowsiness, loss of appetite, fruity smell on your breath, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain <numbness or tingling in your hands or feet or muscle weakness <dry eyes or blurred vision <rash or skin reaction that continues to get worse <redness, swelling, itching, or discomfort at the infusion site, or get medical help right away.

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If pregnant, able to become pregnant, or have a partner who is able to become pregnant <PADCEV can harm your unborn baby, talk to your doctor <females should use effective birth control during treatment and for at least 2 months after the last dose of PADCEV <males should use effective birth control during treatment and for at least 4 months after the last dose of PADCEV If breastfeeding <do not breastfeed during treatment and for at least 3 weeks after the last dose of PADCEV Fertility <PADCEV may cause fertility problems in males, which may affect the ability to father children

Most Common Side Effects <numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, or muscle weakness <fatigue<decreased appetite <rash <hair loss <nausea <diarrhea <change in sense of taste <dry eyes <dry skin If you have certain side effects, your healthcare provider may decrease your dose or stop your treatment with PADCEV for a period of time (temporarily) or completely.

These are not all of the possible side effects of PADCEV. You may report side effects to FDA at 1800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Directions <PADCEV will be given by IV infusion over 30 minutes <you will receive PADCEV over periods of time called cycles <each cycle is 28 days and PADCEV will be given on days 1, 8, and 15 of every cycle <your doctor will decide how many treatment cycles you need <your doctor may do blood tests regularly during your treatment

Other Information Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

If you would like more information about PADCEV, talk with your healthcare provider.

Inactive Ingredients histidine, histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, polysorbate 20, and

trehalose dehydrate.

81-0236-PM 12/19

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24/11/2020 17:44

PGA TOUR INITIATIVE

A LANDMARK ALLIANCE an alliance between the european Tour and the pga Tour heralds a significant new era for global golf. The historic move brings golf’s two leading global Tours together in partnership

A

significant new era for global golf was heralded in December with the announcement by the European Tour and PGA TOUR of a “Strategic Alliance.”

The landmark agreement will see golf’s two major Tours explore all facets of collaboration, working together on strategic commercial opportunities, including collaborating on global media rights in certain territories.

This will develop through part of the agreement which sees the PGA TOUR acquire a minority investment stake in European Tour Productions (ETP), the European Tour’s Media Production company, which produces and distributes content internationally.

images: geTTY images; european Tour

Broad Benefits The Tours will also work in partnership with ETP on a number of other areas including global scheduling, prize funds and playing opportunities for the respective memberships, with further details of these areas to be announced in due course.

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said: “This partnership is an historic moment for the game of golf and is a fantastic opportunity for both the European Tour and the PGA TOUR to explore ways to come together at the very pinnacle w w w.P GAT OUR.cOm

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Jay Monahan, PGA TOUR Commissioner (top left).

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour (top right).

of our sport and work in unison for the benefit of the men’s professional game.

“Today’s announcement is the formalization of a closer working relationship between the Tours in recent years. It was one which was crystallized earlier this year when both Jay and I were part of the working group containing representatives of the four Majors and the LPGA, a group which helped shape the remainder of the golfing calendar for 2020 during unprecedented times.

“We shared the challenges of working through a year neither of us could have ever imagined and we found definite synergies in many areas of our respective Tours. That gave us the impetus to move forward together and arrive at this momentous announcement … .”

Jay Monahan, Commissioner of the PGA TOUR, said, “We are thrilled to announce this further strengthening of our partnership with the European Tour, and we look forward to working together for the benefit of the men’s professional game and for golf fans around the world.”

The golf world has reacted positively to the announcement, with the partnership being strengthened by an alliance that will bring new development opportunities to both the PGA TOUR and the European Tour.  DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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04/01/2021 16:17

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23/07/2020 15:18

Player interview: Zach Johnson

Zach Johnson with the Payne Stewart Award following the presentation ceremony prior to the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club in September.

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Player interview: Zach Johnson

UPLIFTING VALUES

PAYNE STEWART AWARD The Award, in honor of Payne Stewart, is supported and presented by Southern Company, and is given annually by the PGA TOUR to a professional golfer who “best exemplifies Payne Stewart’s steadfast values both on and off the course.” Key values the Award recognizes align with the character, charity and sportsmanship that Stewart showed. Stewart, who died tragically in 1999 at age 42, won 11 times on the PGA TOUR, including three majors.

Zach Johnson, owner of 12 Pga TOUR victories, including two majors, is the 2020 recipient of the Payne stewart award recognizing character, charity and sportsmanship, acknowledging Johnson’s credo that “to whom much is given, much is expected”

By Helen Ross

U

images: Pga TOUR

sually, we find out the news at a press conference. It’s something staged, with the recipient already informed and prepped for questions. But in this age of COVID-19, we were treated to something much more informal and extremely real when Zach Johnson found out he had won the Payne Stewart Award presented by the Southern Company on—what else?—a Zoom call. And it didn’t take long for the video, which showed Johnson on the verge of tears and taking deep breaths to compose himself, to go viral.

The 44-year-old actually had thought he was going to be interviewed that day about the Ryder Cup, on the verge of being postponed due to the pandemic. Only, the first face he saw wasn’t a reporter, it was Aaron Stewart, Payne’s Stewart’s son. Then he saw Stewart’s daughter, Chelsea, her mom, Tracey, and PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “I started to piece things together pretty quick,” Johnson recalls. “Obviously the emotion was apparent. Thoughts of the many, many people that have gotten me to this point is what hit me and struck that emotional nerve—starting with my parents, and certainly my wife, and the support I had back in Iowa from day one and, and support I continue to have from my team and family and golf. So that’s really what did me in.”

Interestingly, Johnson is the first of the 23 recipients of the Payne Stewart Award who never met the World Golf Hall of Famer for whom the Award is named. While he turned pro in 1998 after graduating from Drake with a degree in business, Johnson was playing the mini-tours when Stewart was killed in a plane crash flying to

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Dallas for a golf course site visit and then Houston to play in the 1999 TOUR Championship. Johnson made it to the PGA TOUR in 2004 after earning Player of the Year honors on what was then (2003) the Nationwide Tour (now the Korn Ferry Tour). Known for his competitiveness, much like Stewart, Johnson has gone on to win 12 times on TOUR, including two major championships, the 2007 Masters and 2015 Open Championship at St. Andrews. He has played on nine international teams.

Q: You mentioned the support you had back home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, early on and throughout your career. As you were starting out, you essentially sold stock in yourself to a group of local businessmen. What did their backing mean to a kid who was trying to find his place in the game?

JOHNSON: I go back to my senior year in college and shoot, some may already have it plotted out, but in my junior year I’m thinking, okay, what am I going to do next year? I guess I can go back to school. I can get my master’s in business. I could go work at a club, the club that I’ve worked at for six or seven years at the time in the summers. I could go back there and become an assistant.

A lot of guys go that route. Or I could really see what I have as a player, because my improvement was consistent year after year. Was it leaps and bounds year to year? No, but you know, I didn’t want to have regrets two, three, four years down the road, wondering ‘What if?’ The DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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Player interview: Zach Johnson

improvement’s there, especially if I can continue to surround myself around good people and maybe find a coach and that kind of thing. Who knows?

The sky’s the limit. My parents were probably a little reluctant for me to pursue it. ... But you know, like my college golf coach, my teammates, my head pro who sits on my foundation where he was one of my dear buddies—his support and encouragement more than anything just to say, hey, you know what, let’s give it a shot and give it a whirl, get the finances together.

I remember walking to a family friend of my parents’ who lived two or three doors down, known them all my life. I’d put together my own little contract, just kind of worded it myself and it was very rudimentary. And I went into his office and he says, I’ll tell you what … I believe in you. I think you can do some really cool things. Talked to your parents, talked to your dad, talked to some other guys, too. Then he says, I’ll be your attorney.

And I’ll draw this up, as true contract so that it really checks everything off on the list, and there are no liability issues.

So, I had other individuals put their time and energy resources into me, not just their financial backing. Point is, the support was immense, deep and wide, and still is. I mean, it still is. That part I’ll never forget.

“If you truly understand why you have success, then you can use it to the betterment of other people and to this world, this society …”

— Zach Johnson

b A moment to reflect …

Zach Johnson with the Payne Stewart Award.

about them, the intangible that we just can’t quite identify. It’s something inherent in the way they work, the innate way they operate. You can’t really pick it apart, but it’s there. I like that.

When you tell me, “You can’t,” I actually not only embrace it, I relish it.

So, I don’t know if it’s exceeded my expectations because I really didn’t have expectations. It’s like saying, hey, was winning the Masters a dream come true? No, it wasn’t a dream come true because I really didn’t have that dream, if I’m going to be fully transparent. I dreamt of maybe playing and excelling and succeeding at the highest of levels, but I didn’t have that specific dream. I remember when I first met my wife, she says, oh yeah, you’re going to make it. So I say, what do you mean, you’re going to make it? And she replies, you’re going to make it! You’re going to be on the PGA TOUR. ...

That was just her intuitive sense. And, for the most part, she’s never been wrong.

Q: You go from a guy who wasn’t sure what he was going to do with his life to a twotime major champion and one of the most respected players on the PGA TOUR. Have you exceeded, or met your expectations?

JOHNSON: I don’t know. I really don’t like expectations because it depends on how you— we’re getting into semantics here—but it just gets into how you word that, or how you process that.

I’ve never really looked too far down the road. I’m not a massive bulletin board goal-setter, meaning I’ve got to do this, I have to do that by this time.

That’s never really been how I go about work. I’m more objective based. I’m more like, just what am I going to do today to get better? I know what works well. I know what’s efficient. I know what’s effective. I feel like when I have outcome-oriented thoughts, the process of getting to where you want to be or where you can be, that’s potential, it can get lost. It’s not like that for everybody, but I think it is more so for me. So, what I’ve always clung to, admired, relished, embraced, is the idea that I’m not supposed to.

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Player interview: Zach Johnson

images: getty images; Pga tOUR

Q: Your career is hardly over, but do you have a favorite memory to date?

JOHNSON: The first one’s always very special and there are many stories that coincide with my first win. The Ryder Cups and their competitive nature obviously have a lot of weight in my heart, too. Probably the first special memory—just the realization that I can win out there—was in Atlanta, at the (2004) BellSouth Classic. Two years prior to that, I had Monday qualified. I remember I four-putted the 18th green for bogey; I lipped out for birdie, I lipped out for par and then I made a bogey putt from 5 feet. And if I would have two-putted, I would have top 10’d and I would’ve got in the next tournament on the PGA TOUR. But I had to go back to the mini-tours the next week instead.

And so, then you fast-forward two more years.

I win in Atlanta; I’ve got my dad there. A bunch of the guys, the family or whatever you want to call them, the guys that started me in the game, for whatever reason, they were there.

So, full circle, that one was really special.

Obviously, Augusta was special, too. Obviously, the Open was special. ... John Deere was special because it was John Deere. So, there’s so many, I don’t know that I can pick one.

Q: Whether it’s helping with the floods in Iowa or feeding schoolchildren during the pandemic or trying to level the playing field for post-secondary education, you and your w w w.P gat our.com

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PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan (right) applauds Zac Johnson on receiving The Payne Stewart Award at East Lake Golf Club.

“We feel that to whom much is given, much is expected ... That’s what true humanity is all about.”

— Zach Johnson

wife have always had a heart for service.

What drives this desire to help?

JOHNSON: It’s just the right thing to do. There’s not much of a debate there. There’s not much of a decision there. It’s just a matter of, hey, if we can align things, what can we do that can make a big impact? And then when you talk about the game of golf, and the way my wife and I operate, we’ve got a pretty awesome platform.

This game of hitting a ball and chasing it, if utilized the proper way, if you truly understand why you have success, then you can use it to the betterment of other people and to this world, this society, and that’s how we see it.

We feel that to whom much is given, much is expected. We feel that the more we can structure ourselves from a giving standpoint and a stewardship standpoint, that promotes growth, and as faith-filled people that’s exactly what obedience is. That’s what true humanity is all about.

I’m not suggesting we have it down pat but at the same time, I know I’m confident. And I can sit here and say wholeheartedly that it’s what we are called to do. That’s what the Johnsons are supposed to do. That’s what we’re trying to instill in our kids. It was instilled in me with my parents and certainly the people and individuals, and even, I would say entities that have surrounded me.

I don’t know if that’s unique, so be it. But I just know in the depth of my heart, that it’s the right thing to do.  DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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TAKE YOUR SHORT GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL GET IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK TO DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE YOUR PUTT

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28/07/2020 11:58

THE DELTA PUTT IS A BREAKTHROUGH TOOL, THAT WILL TRANSFORM YOUR SHORT GAME. HOW? By giving you instant feedback without any special electronic devices. By practicing with The Delta Putt, you can immediately determine subtle changes necessary to strengthen your game and decrease your strokes, all from the comfort of your home.

PICK YOUR SIDE!

With three sides offering different skill levels, our Delta Putt Puck will give you instant feedback on your stroke based on your skill level. Our lightweight, portable Delta Putt Mat is uniquely designed to have the same feeling as a golf green.

OUR INVENTOR

Dave Grill has been a student of the game for over 50 years. He has played with every level of golfer; from world class professionals to first-time players who’ve never held a club in their hand.

“I’ve come to realize that players that win tournaments, at any level, are good putters” - Dave Grill

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PGA TOUR UNIVERSITY

PLAYERS OF PROMISE Adding to the excitement of the new season, the introduction of promising young players from the college ranks delivers an intriguing spark

By Kevin Prise and Sean Martin

I

n most professional sports, high-achieving collegiate athletes are rewarded with high draft positions, and the inherent opportunity to swiftly progress to the highest level.

Prior to 2020, golf provided no such gateway, with most every graduating senior facing a similar scenario for his first professional summer: play a hodgepodge of mini-tour events and Monday qualifiers, or attempt Q-School for one of the PGA TOUR’s International Tours.

However, PGA TOUR University bridges that gap.

Path to the PGa toUR Players eligible for the PGA TOUR University Ranking list will be NCAA Division I golfers who complete a minimum of four years in college.

Beginning with the next class of graduating seniors (May 2021), the top-15 players on the PGA TOUR University Ranking will receive direct access to PGA TOUR-sanctioned Tours for the remainder of that season.

Finishers 1-5 from the final PGA TOUR University Ranking will receive Korn Ferry Tour membership and will be exempt into all open, full-field events following the conclusion of the NCAA Division I Men’s National Championship, through the regular season.

Players finishing 6-15 will earn membership on an International Tour for the balance of the season (each player’s choice of either the Mackenzie Tour–PGA TOUR Canada, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica or PGA TOUR Series-China).

PGa toUR UniveRsity RankinG The Ranking comprises NCAA Division I men’s golf events and official PGA TOUR events, and was developed as a collaboration between the PGA TOUR and World Amateur Golf Ranking.

PGA TOUR University directly rewards highachieving college players with guaranteed starts as they embark on a professional career in chase of their ultimate TOUR dreams.

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a yoUnG PlayeR’s oPPoRtUnity “This is a tremendous opportunity for these players to begin their professional careers on a path to the PGA TOUR,” said Korn Ferry Tour President Alex Baldwin. “Just as importantly, we are able to continue building on the great momentum the Korn Ferry Tour and our International Tours have enjoyed in recent years by strengthening the field of competition with the addition of these collegiate stars.”

The system, which requires players to complete a minimum of four years in college, has the potential to fundamentally recalibrate how high-achieving college golfers set their timeline for turning pro.

“It will definitely incline guys to stay for four years,” said Alabama alum Davis Riley, who turned professional midway through his senior season (December 2018) and found success in Monday qualifiers, earning Korn Ferry Tour membership in summer 2019.

“And if they’re on the fence about leaving after their second or third year—unless you’ve got guaranteed starts, and it’s hard to guarantee anything—I think it’ll incline guys to stay, which is great.”

haRd woRk Pays off The inaugural PGA TOUR University Ranking was announced on July 22, with Florida State senior John Pak holding the top position.

“It shows that a lot of hard work is paying off,” Pak said.

Pak maintained the No. 1 spot in the November 1 ranking, followed by Arizona State’s Chun An Yu, Alabama’s Davis Thompson, Oklahoma State’s Austin Eckroat and Texas Tech’s Sandy Scott.

PGa toUR UniveRsity In June 2020, the PGA TOUR announced a new program designed to strengthen and elevate the path for players to reach the PGA TOUR through the Korn Ferry Tour, Mackenzie Tour– PGA TOUR Canada, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and PGA TOUR Series-China.

PGA TOUR University rewards elite collegiate play with varying levels of playing access to Tours operated under the PGA TOUR umbrella, while upholding the principles and virtues of collegiate athletics. Players eligible for the PGA TOUR University Ranking list will be NCAA Division I golfers who complete a minimum of four years in college.

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PGA TOUR UNIVERSITY

CHUN AN (KEVIN) YU

DAVIS THOMPSON

JOHN PAK

SANDY SCOTT

Chinese Taipei Yu, 22, now a fifth-year senior at Arizona State, began his college career with no shortage of accolades. Yu earned the gold medal at the 2013 Asian Youth Games and won the 2015 Western Junior and Junior PLAYERS. The Chinese Taipei native has not slowed down at Arizona State. He recorded the second-lowest freshman scoring average in program history (behind Jon Rahm), and has won three individual titles at Arizona State, also finishing third individually at the 2019 NCAA Championship. Yu also qualified for the past three U.S. Opens.

As of December 20, Yu held the No. 2 position on the PGA TOUR University Ranking, his sights set on a top-five position next spring and direct Korn Ferry Tour access. He describes fellow Chinese Taipei native C.T. Pan as a role model, “like a big brother,” and it would be no surprise to see Yu follow in Pan’s footsteps as a TOUR winner.

Auburn, Ala. Thompson already has proven he can compete on the PGA TOUR. Now, he hopes to do it more often.

Thompson finished T23 in his PGA TOUR debut at the 2019 RSM Classic. He earned attention in 2020 as the early leader at the U.S. Open after reaching 4-under in his first round (he eventually missed the cut by one).

Thompson also has a sterling amateur resume. He was a firstteam All-American in 2019 and won the prestigious Jones Cup (past champions include Justin Thomas and Patrick Reed) by nine shots.

Thompson’s father, Todd, is the tournament director for The RSM Classic. He’s had the opportunity to play and practice with the likes of Davis Love III, Harris English, Brendon Todd and other TOUR players.

“He’s just been very disciplined since day one,” Brendon Todd said. “He practices efficiently. He has a very easygoing temperament, doesn’t seem to get too mad.”

Scotch Plains, N.J. Pak’s work ethic was instilled in him by his father, Kwang Pak, who owned two grocery stores.

“He spent hours and hours picking up the produce, spending time at the store, making sure the business was run properly,” Pak said. “He worked a lot of hours and retired at 52.

He disciplined himself and that’s translated into my golf game.”

Pak has made a steady progression through his golf career, and now is poised to earn Korn Ferry Tour status through PGA TOUR University. Pak was the No. 1 player in the rankings when they debuted in 2020, and he earned low amateur honors at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

“It’s such a difficult game. When things aren’t going right, I need to practice and work at it until I get it right,” he said.

Like father, like son.

Nairn, Scotland The fifth-year Texas Tech senior had originally planned to turn pro after the spring 2020 collegiate season. But after the COVID-19 pandemic limited playing opportunities, the twotime second-team All-American opted to return to school.

He stands No. 5 on the PGA TOUR University Ranking as of December 20. The native of Nairn, Scotland, won last year’s Carmel Cup and also helped Team Great Britain & Ireland to the 2019 Walker Cup title, posting a 2-0 mark in singles play, defeating Andy Ogletree and Brandon Wu. Texas Tech coach Greg Sands describes Scott as a “leader in the clubhouse,” and that his return to the team for a fifth year is like “having an extra coach around.” With four full collegiate seasons under his belt, and invaluable big-stage experience such as the U.S. Open at Winged Foot, Scott aims to maintain strong form as he prepares to embark on his professional career. 

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Welcome Welcome to to Paradise!

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Beach Resort Resort and and Golf Golf Club, Club, home home ofofthe theSt. St.Regis RegisBahía BahíaBeach BeachResort, Resort,a a Bahía Beach five-diamond resort resort community community isis situated situated ininPuerto PuertoRico’s Rico’snortheast northeast five-star, five-diamond 25 minutes minutes away awayfrom fromSan SanJuan.

Juan.The Thegolf golfcourse coursewas wasdesigned designedby byRobert Robert coast, just 25 Jr., one one of of the the world’s world’spreeminent preeminentgolf golfcourse coursearchitects architectsand anddesignated designated Trent Jones Jr., Certified Audubon Audubon International InternationalSignature SignatureSanctuary.

Sanctuary.Proclaimed Proclaimedasasone oneofofthe the as a Certified most beautiful beautiful golf golf courses courses in in the the Caribbean, Caribbean,this thisexclusive exclusivestretch stretchofof best and most green is a true true statement statement of of perfection. perfection.

For tee time reservations reservations and and more moreinformation informationplease pleasecontact: contact: Golf Shop 787 787 809 809 8950 8950 or or via email teetimes@bahiabeachpuertorico.com teetimes@bahiabeachpuertorico.com BAHIABEACHPUERTORICO.COM BAHIABEACHPUERTORICO.COM

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TREAT YOURSELF

Golf adventures golf and the great outdoors never have been more appealing as we enter a new year with many inviting golf adventures on offer

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The 17th green at TPC Sawgrass, home to THE PLAYERS Championship.

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o sooner have we come out the other side of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year, than many of us have a hankering to go south and take a golf break in warmer regions. A short break can be just the ticket!

Destinations that provide PGA TOUR-approved golf are always a reassuring attraction, and this is what the TPC Network provides, enabling you to escape the cold this winter with a round of championship-caliber golf at premier TPC clubs.

To mark the TPC Network’s 40th anniversary, some great packages are currently on offer, with prices starting as low as $288 per guest. You can tee it up at world-class destinations such as TPC Sawgrass, home to THE PLAYERS

Championship, TPC San Antonio (host of the Valero Texas Open), and TPC Scottsdale (Waste Management Phoenix Open).

Over the course of four decades, since the flagship TPC Sawgrass opened in 1980, TPCs have hosted more than 400 professional golf tournaments. Many of the world’s most renowned golf course architects have given their expertise and innovation to ensure the enhancement of the TPC golf courses, including Pete Dye, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Gil Hanse and Greg Norman, to name a few.

In this issue we also take a look at attractive golf vacation options in Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and a Caribbean favorite, Jamaica.

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Magnificent

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iger Woods shared a dream with noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder, Johnny Morris. The result is the new Payne’s Valley course, built as a tribute to golf legend and Ozarks native Payne Stewart.

“Tiger Woods and I have been fishing and golfing friends for 20 years,” says Johnny Morris, “and we have long dreamed of designing and building a truly special experience for golf and conservation right here in the Ozarks. Payne’s Valley fulfills that dream and doing it with Tiger in honor of our late friend Payne makes it deeply special to me.”

Morris’s golf course vision included a unique bonus—a 19th hole as a grand finish.

The 19th hole is where Morris let his imagination run wild and it shows why he’s earned the reputation as “The Walt Disney of the Great Outdoors.” Morris envisioned this bonus hole as an epic expression of his vision to combine nature and golf as a fitting tribute to Payne Stewart.

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MISSOURI

determine exactly how to maximize the beauty and drama of a site deemed perfect for a golf course.

Below a massive rock wall, an island green rises from Lunker Lake. If a player is skilled enough to land the ball on a green protected by two white sand bunkers from the tee box 140 yards away, the player can access the island by crossing a small bridge.

Once golfers complete the hole, Morris’ epic tribute continues on the “Cliffhanger Trail,” a mile-long nature trail that ascends a sheer rock face before returning to the clubhouse.

Missouri is known as the “Cave State” and the Morris nature trail makes the most of the magnificent Karst formations created more than 300 million years ago when the oceans receded, establishing the Ozark Plateau. Golfers pass through a natural spring-fed cavern system that dates back millions of years, traversing alongside 250-foot cliffs, across a bridge that spans a 100-foot-deep gorge, and through ancient waterfalls.

Payne’s Valley is designated as Audubon International Signature Sanctuary Course, and the remarkable vision of Morris and Woods to foster a deeper connection between the game of golf and nature combines to bring conservation to the forefront of course design.

Big Cedar Lodge is a familyfriendly wilderness resort and a world-class golf destination. The resort includes not only a bucketlist course in Payne’s Valley, but

also challenging courses at Top of the Rock, Buffalo Ridges, Mountain Top and Ozarks National.

Big Cedar Lodge offers the complete golf vacation package: great courses to play, high-end accommodations, casual and fine dining, and numerous activities.

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Johnny Morris’s golf course vision for Payne’s Valley included a unique bonus—a 19th hole as a grand finish.

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Inspired courses

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Grand Bear, Saucier.

MISSISSIPPI

hroughout the state of Mississippi there are lush, rolling fairways where golf enthusiasts can work on their swing, as well as enjoy excellent post-round entertainment.

These include casino gaming in the South’s only location for legal sports betting.

Golf courses throughout the state have been designed by prominent names such as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Jerry Pate, Tom Fazio, Davis Love III and Bob Cupp.

Mississippi Gulf Coast ReGion A premiere Mississippi Gulf Coast course favorite is fallen oak, a Tom Fazio design exclusive to the high-end Beau Rivage Resort, an MGM property. The 18-hole, par-72 championship layout offers quite the challenge to the seasoned golfer, making it one of Mississippi’s most decorated courses.

Another renowned coastal layout is Biloxi’s preserve Golf Club. The Preserve is surrounded by no fewer than 1,800 acres of preserved coastal land. Award-winning course designer and 1976 U.S. Open champion Jerry Pate designed the semi-private club’s 18 holes, seamlessly integrating the area’s natural landscapes of longleaf pine savannas, cypress swamps, live oak groves and native coastal grass prairies into the course layout. The course is aligned with the palace Casino and Resort but operates as semi-private, offering tee times for all.

Rounding out the coastal courses is the Jack Nicklaus-designed Grand Bear Golf Course.

The signature course for Harrah’s Gulf Coast Casino, Grand Bear is located in Saucier, approximately 20 miles north of Gulfport. The challenging yet beautiful course navigates through natural cypress wetlands and towering pines set across 650 acres of rolling land in the pinewoods of the DeSoto National Forest.

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Fallen Oak, Saucier.

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Dancing Rabbit, Azales Course, Choctaw.

North

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Central images: michael clemmerr; russell KirK; mississippi Development authority

MISSISSIPPI

ess than an hour south of Memphis, Tunica serves as the gateway to the Mississippi Delta region. It is home to numerous music and gaming venues. Among the gaming resorts lies Tunica National, a Mark McCumber design. This public course features rolling terrain, wide fairways, generous greens and preserved natural surroundings indigenous to the region.

Tunica hotels and casinos offer special rates and golf packages for Tunica National year-round.

Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point combines the essence of the Scottish Highlands with a graceful Southern setting. Designed

by Bob Cupp and Jerry Pate, the club hosted the 1999 U.S.

Beau Pré,Natchez.

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Women’s Open and 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur. The course highlight is the signature 18th hole, a 445-yard, dogleg-left par-4 with water along the left side. These courses offer one of the most attractive golf packages in the Southeast.

Gil Hanse, who designed the 2016 Olympic Golf Course in Rio de Janeiro, designed Old Waverly’s sister course, Mossy Oak. Hanse’s signature minimalist design follows the natural lay of the land. The course is dotted with mature oak trees along open fairways and slight elevation changes.

The greens are incredibly pristine for such a young course. Both courses feature on-site golf cottages for stay and-play packages.

Mossy Oak, West Point.

MISSISSIPPI A pproximately 90 miles northeast of Jackson, Dancing Rabbit Golf Club is built on the ancestral lands of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Located in the heart of the state’s Pine Region, the club features two courses with challenging terrain, the Oaks and the Azaleas. Designed

by Fazio and Pate, these 36 holes are situated adjacent to the Pearl River Casino Resort.

Dancing Rabbit is a public course that offers several golf package

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options designed for individuals or small groups.

Natchez is home to two courses. The semi-private Beau Pre Country Club is situated on the banks of the Mississippi River.

Beau Pre features a 90-foot clay bluff and rolling terrain.

Undulating greens and breathtaking scenery are found at Quail Hollow, located in Percy Quin State Park, an hour south of Jackson in McComb.

Quail Hollow was designed by well-known architect Arthur Hills.

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Looking for the perfect escape plan?

Mississippi has you covered.

A quick safe getaway sounds wonderful, right? Come experience Mississippi’s lush fairways and unparalleled post-round entertainment. Add to that outstanding courses designed by golf legends and the South’s top casinos and premier location for legal sports betting, and you’ve got the makings of a weekend to remember.

Make your great escape to Mississippi. Start planning today at visitmississippi.org.

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Premier attraction

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OKLAHOMA

A

n hour outside of Dallas in Thackerville, Okla., is the WinStar World Casino and Resort. This is a world-class center for golf and gaming, with nine gaming plazas. Golf occupies 350 acres, made up of two award-winning courses, a state-of-theart golf academy with professional instructors teaching golfers at every level, a pro shop and clubhouse and a bar and grill.

The WinStar Golf Academy comprises a large area of cutting-edge technologies and expert instructors. Visitors can train throughout the season. WinStar’s indoor hitting bays use 3D technologies such as K-Motion, which give golfers the ability to see their form in real time, providing dynamic footage and images that can be used to improve their swing. There’s also the About Golf feature, where a player can choose his or her own “golf worlds,” playing courses from St. Andrews to TPC Sawgrass.

The huge and pristine golf area has a resort-style setting between the sandy shores of Oklahoma’s Red River and blackjack oaks.

WinStar’s two championship 18-hole golf courses, Scissortail and Redbud, were designed by five-time PGA TOUR winner D.A. Weibring, with both courses providing an engaging challenge for golfers of all skill levels.

The Scissortail Course has 4,843 to 7,192 playable yards, depending on skill level. The course puts to best use the natural formations of Oklahoma’s Red River Valley, making it uniquely fun and challenging.

WinStar’s Redbud Course also gives players the opportunity to tailor course yardage to skill level. As one might expect, the course provides challenging holes that weave through the hills and native grasses of the Red River Valley.

The combination of great golf courses coupled with the fun of gaming, fine dining and other entertainment options gives the WinStar World Casino and Resort plenty of appeal for a golf vacation.

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Half Moon, Montego Bay, Jamaica.

images: The ChiCkasaw NaTioN; wiNsTar CasiNo; half mooN

Caribbean’s finest JAMAICA O ne of the Caribbean’s most attractive resorts is in Montego Bay. Half Moon offers an ideal winter escape for a golf vacation, with its luxury hotel, Rose Hall, and premier golf course. With golf as a main attraction, there are also plenty of other activities including equestrian, water sports, tennis and squash, as well as a fitness center.

A new addition to the property is Eclipse at Half Moon. The property features 57 luxurious and spacious accommodations, two restaurants, three bars, a market café, Fern Tree—a Salamander Spa, a sweeping infinity-edge swimming pool, and a private beachfront with a

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natural swimming cove. Rooms offering views of the Caribbean Sea are situated in two-story cottages, and come with large private patios or balconies. In addition to Eclipse, guests also can enjoy two additional resort choices: Founders Cove at Half Moon and Rose Hall Villas at Half Moon, which are located at opposite ends of the 400-acre property.

The Half Moon Golf Course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and opened in 1962. The course was later modernized by Roger Rulewich, who removed non-native trees, expanded several greens and renovated bunkers, creating a masterpiece of sheer beauty and challenge. Routed through

a retired sugarcane estate, the course hugs the toe of the slopes of the hills overlooking Half Moon.

Half Moon is a classic layout with multiple sets of tees, wellbunkered greens—contoured to accommodate surface drainage—and an overall length ranging from 5,035 to 7,120 yards. A beautiful walking course, it tests scratch and novice golfers alike with similar shots from appropriate distances.

Primary defense of par are the 26 fairway bunkers that put

an emphasis on solidly struck tee shots to find the short grass.

Constant trade winds blowing off the Caribbean Sea create into-the-wind challenges and downwind opportunities. Some advice: Listen to the caddies!

They possess a wealth of course knowledge and are eager to lend an eye to read a birdie putt or share a colorful story from their years of experience.

Half Moon was founded 65 years ago and is rated as Jamaica’s finest property, according to Forbes Travel Guide. 

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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the moment you realize why golf is your passion.

Your Half Moon Moment Awaits. Consider this a personal invitation to stroll across rolling fairways and manicured greens on what many consider to be the finest course in Jamaica. Designed by legendary golfing architect Robert Trent Jones Sr., this 18-hole championship layout challenges players of every skill level, while surrounding them with the breathtaking sights and sounds of island breezes, towering palms and the sparkling waters of the Caribbean â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all cour tesy of Half Moon, the most iconic luxury resor t destination in Jamaica.

For reservations, please call 855.233.8949

SalamanderHotels.com

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PGA TOUR INITIATIVES

YOU CAN BET ON IT! The carefully planned introduction of betting opportunities will give fans added engagement and fun while providing increased benefits to TOUR-supported charities

By Michael LoRé

J

ustin Rose pauses behind the ball and lines his club up to the target. Once he approaches the ball, he waggles a few times then unleashes his swing. This calculated routine has helped guide the Englishman to 10 PGA TOUR victories, including the 2013 U.S. Open, and more than $54 million in career earnings.

Knowing the slightest difference in swing, speed or trajectory can be the difference between a world-class shot 5 feet from the hole or a nightmare among the trees, PGA TOUR players utilize calculated and measured approaches to each and every shot.

A cAreful strAtegy The TOUR employs a similar mindset when it comes to gaming—the approach and strategy are thoughtful, deliberate, measured and appropriate.

“If we wanted to, we could go gangbusters and deluge fans with this stuff but we know that’s not the right thing to do,” said Norb Gambuzza, PGA TOUR Senior Vice President of Media and Gaming.

While it appeared the TOUR was indeed going gangbusters this summer by announcing DraftKings, BetMGM, PointsBet and FanDuel each as an Official Betting Operator (OBO) from July 28 through August 31, the timing was merely coincidental. The strategy, on the other hand, is not. Knowing the next generation of domestic media deals begin in January 2022, the TOUR had the rest of 2020 and all of 2021 to get reps in the space, experiment with content, and to introduce sponsors and fans to gaming.

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legAl complexities With one daily fantasy game partner (DraftKings), the TOUR cast a wider net when it came to betting, especially due to the complexities of the market and legislation. Since the Supreme Court deemed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992 unconstitutional on May 14, 2018, more than $20 billion has been bet with U.S. sportsbooks. Sports betting is available in 19 states and Washington, D.C., with three to five more states debating active legislation. Approximately 100 million people (39% of adult Americans) are either current or potential future sports bettors, according to the American Gaming Association.

Why multiple pArtners?

“We thought about the idea of one exclusive betting partner but in a market that’s growing and changing so rapidly, we didn’t feel that was the right thing to do strategically,” said Chris Wandell, PGA TOUR Vice President of Media Business Development. “Our betting strategy is first about fan engagement and reaching as many people as possible with our content on these platforms, and if we partnered with one company and that company isn’t legal in a state where we have a lot of fans, or there’s something that goes sideways a little bit, we felt we would be better covered to address our fan engagement objectives by partnering with multiple companies.”

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PGA TOUR INITIATIVES

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Real-time gaming opportunities will allow golf fans to wager on such things as how far Bryson DeChambeau’s drives will travel.

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PGA TOUR INITIATIVES

4,000 hours of live golf The PGA TOUR operates more than 40 weeks annually, with tournaments played Thursday through Sunday year-round. In March, the TOUR announced a new nine-year media agreement with CBS, NBC Sports and ESPN, and along with PGA TOUR LIVE airing exclusively on ESPN+ beginning in 2022, fans will have 4,000 hours of live golf to consume between linear and streaming platforms.

“We believe sports betting will open up the game to more fans,” said Mike Raffensperger, Chief Marketing Officer of FanDuel Group. “We feel golf is positioned on FanDuel Sportsbook to appeal to those familiar with the game as well as attracting new customers interested in analyzing golfer statistics, trends and probabilities.”

Jimmy Walker won the 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol as a 125-1 longshot.

great betting opportunities Not only is the sheer amount of golf good for betting, other factors also strengthen golf’s position when it comes to gaming. The pace lends itself to a seemingly endless list of bets, ranging from how far a drive will travel to whether a golfer can land his bunker shot within 5 feet of the hole.

Every shot offers a new possibility. Rather than betting on if Rory McIlroy will win THE PLAYERS or finish in the top-3, bettors are afforded a plethora of opportunities thanks to ShotLink and data provided to OBOs across North America via IMG Arena.

longshot surprises And don’t forget about the longshots—not Bryson DeChambeau’s drives, but a Cinderella story out of nowhere who has the tournament of his life and hoists the trophy come Sunday. Jimmy Walker was a 125-1 longshot to take home the 2016 PGA Championship, while more recently, Shane Lowry and Gary Woodland won The Open Championship and U.S. Open, respectively, in 2019 as 80-1 longshots.

“It’s a great sport to bet on—it’s easy to understand, people have golfers they love, and they want to watch and have a little skin in the game,” said Ezra Kucharz, Chief Business Officer at DraftKings. “It drives interest and it drives viewership. … People will watch, keep watching, and will be watching with a lean-forward mentality as opposed to leaning back on the couch.”

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PGA TOUR INITIATIVES

b Shane Lowry (left) and Gary Woodland (right) each were 80-1 longshots when they won The Open Championship and U.S. Open, respectively, in the summer of 2019.

limited odds to PGA TOUR LIVE. Gambuzza said the TOUR will speak to fans and find out what worked, what didn’t and then move forward from there.

“We’re different from the NBA, NFL or MLB, who are team-driven leagues and players are unionized labor,” Gambuzza said. “We are a membership organization, we are a non-profit, and the net proceeds of our tournaments go to charity. So we have players, charities, and sponsors who attach to our brand for certain reasons.

“We believe those words—thoughtful, deliberate, measured—are the right words to use given the complexity of the stakeholders in our ecosystem.” 

images: getty images; Pga tOUR

while its golf sportsbook handle has grown more than 10 times year over year.

With four Official Betting Operators in its corner, the TOUR is well positioned not only to drive current fan engagement but also to attract new fans through gaming, which is expected to be an $8 billion industry by 2025.

But how does the TOUR introduce current and new sponsors, broadcasters, partners and fans to betting without inundating or intimidating them, all while navigating the everchanging landscape?

Look at how it introduced odds to broadcasts.

BetMGM live odds were integrated into the telecast of THE CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK, a first for the PGA TOUR, which had previously

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SPONSORED FEATURES

In the zone

IN the ZONE A sponsored roundup of what’s new in the world of golf, from technology and innovation, to golf equipment and organizations

How Accessories Can Improve Your Putt If you can get the upper-hand, why not give it a shot?

Consistent practice and training can help with your athletic performance, but it’s difficult to improve when you don’t have consistent feedback. Although your amateur golf buddies can give you constructive criticism on your putting skills, these subjective statements are to be taken with a grain of salt.

Every day, there are new products and ideas that can help you get better at the game. Golf rangefinders help survey critical shots to increase your accuracy. Apps have been created to analyse your golf swing. And other tools to give you immediate objective feedback. With Delta Putt, this putting training device give you instant feedback on your stroke path and putter face position at impact. By observing how the puck tracks down the mat you’ll see and feel if your stroke was outside-in, inside-out or straight down your intended line by where the protrusion on the puck (back of the “ball”) finishes in relation to the center stripe on the mat.

This allows you to make adjustments in your set-up position, grip and stroke so you can begin developing a consistent, repeatable putting stroke by building muscle memory, visual and kinesthetic sense to know exactly when you are in perfect address position to make a perfect stroke every time.

Visit DeltaPutt.com to learn more about the training tool.

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SPONSORED FEATURES

In the zone

Tips to Prevent and Manage

Golfer’s elbow on the Course

By Jamie Osmak, CSCS, USATF, CGFI-1 Golfer’s elbow is one of the most common golf injuries. Technically called “medial epicondylitis,” it is an inflammation of the tendons that attach our forearm muscles to the bone on the inside of our elbow. Pain and tenderness are usually felt on the inner side of the elbow but may also spread to the forearm and wrist.

The following tips can help protect your elbow from injury on the golf course • Ensure proper weight shift: poor weight shifting, or limited use of the legs, hips and trunk may put more stress on the elbow.

Poor kinetic linking from the lower body to the upper body can result in more strain on the elbow.

• Avoid lifting the arms to high: adopt a flat or more elliptic swing plane. This will allow the hands to be kept at or near shoulder height during transition and at the completion of follow through. This allows the golf ball to be swept off the ground and may help to reduce the likelihood of injury.

• Try not to do too much, too soon. Golfers should progress gradually in play time, duration and game frequency.

• Limit the amount of golf balls hit at the range and use caution when hitting off mats. If you have an injury, consider teeing the ball up so you avoid taking divots.

• Address any weaknesses in upper body strength and flexibility.

Do exercises to build up your upper body to decrease stress and strain on the elbow and arm muscles. Strengthening exercises can be done in the off-season, as well, so a golfer is in good shape when getting back to the game.

• If you tend to grip the club tight try increasing the grip size.

Oversized grips that are generally larger and softer help to reduce compressive forces and pressure when holding a club.

• Avoid “flicking” the wrists at ball impact.

• Golfers with a history of golfer’s elbow can consider using a forearm band placed below the elbow to dissipate forces. • Jamie Osmak is a sports performance coordinator at HSS. Osmak is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Level 1 Track and Field Coach certified by the U.S. Track and Field Association, Level 1 Certified Medical Professional through the Titleist Performance Institute with a degree in Exercise Science from Rutgers University.

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SPONSORED FEATURES

In the zone

Do you know your e-number?

“Before my asthma was under control, I probably still played golf four times a month, but I had to use a cart. There was no way I could walk. I played from the cart and when I couldn’t use a cart, I just didn’t play.”

Seth Dickman, 41, of Freemont, OH, went from completing triathlons to not being able to carry his golf clubs due to serious breathing problems.

“I’m a strong driven person. It limited my ability to do everything I wanted to do.”

Seth needed answers. A blood test revealed that he had an elevated number of eosinophils (e-o-sin-o-phils), also known as an elevated e-number. Eosinophils are a normal part of the body’s immune system, but when too many get activated in people with asthma, they can cause inflammation in the airways making it difficult to breathe. This type of asthma is known as eosinophilic asthma— or e-asthma. According to an analysis of data from the CDC, nearly seven out of 10 adults with asthma may have e-asthma.1

When his allergist prescribed a targeted medicine as part of his treatment plan, he was able to breathe better which helped him do more and his asthma got better. Seth is now back to playing golf twice a week, can carry his clubs and is taking his daughter with him. “My daughter, 11, really loves to play, too, so it’s a good excuse for me to get out of the house with her.”

Knowing your e-number is important, especially if you: • often use your rescue inhaler to control asthma symptoms • wake up at night due to asthma symptoms • have had to take oral steroids like prednisone for your asthma • have had asthma attacks that required emergency care If you have experienced any of the above, you may have e-asthma and should talk to an asthma specialist about getting to know your e-number. • For more information, visit www.easthma.com.

1 Although not defined by clinical guidelines, eosinophilic asthma was considered an eosinophil count of 150 cells/μL or more for this CDC survey analysis. US-39354 4/20

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IN the ZONE

Is an Electric Caddy

RIGHT FOR YOU? A breakdown of factors to consider when you’re purchasing your first electric golf caddy When the game is close and you’re neck and neck with your competitor, it may be beneficial for you to preserve your energy for the last couple of holes. An electric golf caddy can take off the stress of your body to allow you to focus on your golf game.

When browsing for a new caddy, there are a few things you should consider: Durability – WIll this be strong enough to withstand the weight of my golf equipment?

Battery – Should I consider one with lithium batteries to ensure a longer lifespan?

Features – Want something that has easy setup? Looking for a sleek design that’s simple to use?

With so many different options to choose from, it is also a safe bet to go with a global leader in the golf cart industry. Cart Tek has been a leader in the remote-control golf cart industry since 2007. The company’s line of full-featured remote control and electric golf push carts include Lithium-ion batteries that allow a long lifespan. With an electric push cart, enjoy the benefits of walking golf but without the stress of lugging your bag for miles.

• STRONG, DURABLE FRAMES • PROGRAMMABLE SETTINGS • THREE MODES: REMOTE, TROLLEY, AND FREE-WHEEL Visit carttek.com/golf for more information and an exclusive discount code.

The Importance of Your Putter “

From the standard to the armlock, make sure your equipment helps your golf game.

I am confident my SIK Golf putter is the best performing putter I have ever tried. The numbers do not lie. That means better distance control and less sidespin. This technology is for everyone, not only professionals, everyone can benefit from DLT. It is just physics; the tech will work regardless of skill level.

Bryson DeChambeau PGA TOUR Professional 7 Worldwide Wins

A good putter can do wonders for your game but what makes a good putter? Whether you’re an amateur golfer or a professional, there are some universal truths when it comes to making a putter a great putter.

Weight, consistent performance, and grip pressure are putter variables that can drastically affect your golf game. These are important factors to keep in mind when you are browsing for a new set of clubs.•

“

SIK Golf makes the most solid feeling putter I have ever used.

You can really feel the compression of the ball, kind of like back in the day with the super soft Ballata ball. This putter, for the modern times, really captures that soft feel even though the balls are now built for maximum distance.

Nick Faldo PGA TOUR Hall of Fame 6-time Major Champion

www.sikgolf.com 91

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In the zone

A FORCE FOR GOLF Anything you’re searching for in golf, you will find at PGA TOUR Superstore By its very nature, golf is a game that brings people together.

For some, it’s the dew on the tee box at sunrise. For others, the manicured fairways and greens. It’s a game that keeps us fit and engaged. And, a fun way to spend time with friends and family. We hope you to continue to find moments of joy around our shared passion for the game.

It isn’t an exaggeration to call PGA TOUR Superstore a paradise for golfers. Inside PGA TOUR Superstore, golf enthusiasts of all levels can experience in-house custom club fittings and repair, along with lessons from certified teaching professionals. Practice hitting bays with swing analysis software, interactive simulators and expansive putting greens

are available at all PGA TOUR Superstores across the country for customers’ use. PGA TOUR Superstore offers visitors the largest selection of clubs, accessories, footwear and a wide variety of apparel for men, women and juniors.

What’s different about PGA TOUR Superstore is that we purposefully design our stores with what the golfers want from an experience and product assortment point of view.

Anything you’re searching for in golf, you will find at PGA TOUR Superstore.

Our customer-experience’ mentality is unmatched in the golf retail business. Combine that with our professional expertise,

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In the zone

interactive environment and everything needed to play, we inspire beginners to avid golfers to have fun and enjoy the game.

Across the country annually, we service more than a million clubs in our repair shows, conduct more than 150,000 custom club fittings and provide more than 50,000 individual lessons.

Giving Back to Others As part of the Arthur M. Blank Family of Businesses, PGA TOUR Superstore observes the organization’s Core Values as an integral part of how the brand operates. It is the belief that the brand’s ability to create value—for the business itself, customers, associates and the communities it serves—depends on using these important values to drive decision-making in all aspects of the business.

We are committed to be a positive influence in our communities and truly believe in the purposeful impact sports can have in developing and supporting youth. For more than a decade, PGA TOUR Superstore has supported First Tee, helping them grow from reaching 260,000 kids in PGA TOUR Superstore markets in 2011 to more than 1.5 million young people in 2020. PGA TOUR Superstore recently announced a 9.5-million-dollar grant to the First Tee. This new grant will help First Tee focus on the critical teenage years, where in the U.S. one in five public school children drop out before they finish high school.

Next On the Tee This year we will continue to be opportunistic and aggressively invest in our brick-and-mortar and eCommerce

business by systematically building and expanding our presence in golf-centric markets In 2021, we are set to open at least six new stores across and look forward to becoming a part of your community.

In addition to visiting our stores across the country, you may shop online and pick up your selected items at your local PGA TOUR Superstore or we can meet you in our parking lots with our convenient Curbside Caddie service.

At PGA TOUR Superstore we are committed to inspiring people to play their best and grow the game of golf. For more information, please visit pgatoursuperstore.com.

On behalf of all the Associates at PGA TOUR Superstore across the nation, we thank you for your patronage and wish you and you and your families a 2021 filled with happiness, joy and purpose. • 93

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SCHEDULE OVERVIEW

THE SEASON AHEAD

With the pandemic playing havoc on the 2020 portion of the tournament schedule, the TOUR’s intense work on rescheduling has resulted in what promises to be a full and fascinating season ahead

T

he 2020-21 PGA TOUR Season is an expanded one with a total 50 tournaments.

This includes three events moved into the fall portion of the schedule that were postponed from earlier in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Two of those events were major championships—the U.S. Open and Masters— making for a season with six majors, as those two events will also be played in their normal slots in 2021. The other fall addition was the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship.

The challenges brought about by the pandemic led to other changes in the fall, including two of the tournaments on the Asia Swing being moved to the U.S. for one year, the renamed CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK in Las Vegas and the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD in California. Another fall event with a new site, this one on a permanent basis, was the Vivint Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course.

The January-May portion of the PGA TOUR schedule, which we are covering in this issue of the Guide, has six events that were canceled and not rescheduled in 2020, including THE PLAYERS Championship. The sequencing is

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the same until March, with the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard moving to the first weekend of that month, followed

by THE PLAYERS and The Honda Classic. The Valspar Championship shifts from a March date to end on the first weekend in May. Later in May, the AT&T Byron Nelson moves to a new site, TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, and the PGA Championship will be held at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina.

The season will conclude with the three events of the FedExCup Playoffs, culminating with the TOUR Championship on the Sunday before Labor Day. On PGA TOUR Champions, the 2020 season and 2021 seasons have been combined. Due to the circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic, 14 tournaments were canceled from the 2020 schedule. In an effort to uphold the competitive integrity of the Charles Schwab Cup, a singular 2020-21 season has been formed, which will include 40 events—15 from 2020 and 25 events in 2021.

— David Barrett, Tournament Editor

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

SEPTEMBER 10-13, 2020

Safeway Open Stewart Cink and local charities shared a winning feeling at the 2020 Safeway Open at Silverado Resort.

Location & Course Information

NAPA, CALIF. SILVERADO RESORT AND SPA (NORTH COURSE) The North Course at Silverado was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. in 1967 and was extensively redesigned by World Golf Hall of Famer Johnny Miller in 2010 after he and his business partners bought the property.

Yardage: 7,166; par 72.

Notable Course Features

The finishing stretch at Silverado North features good birdie opportunities. The 16th and 18th are par 5s that, while not pushovers at 571 and 575 yards, offer long and sometimes medium hitters the chance to get home in two. The 17th is a short par 4 of 375 yards offering a wedge approach.

“I’ve played some good golf over the years, but it’s been a while since I played really well over four rounds.” — Stewart Cink 20 20

2020 Champion Stewart Cink, U.S.

Quick Facts

Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.6 million Winner’s Share: $1,188,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit

The host organization of the Safeway Open, Golf Charities Foundation Inc., supports the Safeway Foundation, which funds nonprofit organizations whose missions are aligned with health and human services, hunger, youth and education, veterans, and supporting diversity and inclusion of all abilities.

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

Media Coverage Golf Channel

Social Media

@SafewayOpen @safewayopen @SafewayOpen

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HOW STEWART CINK WON

At age 47, Stewart Cink claimed his first victory since the 2009 Open Championship with a final-round 65 to finish two strokes ahead of Harry Higgs. Cink birdied five of eight holes starting at No. 4, added birdies on 15 and 16, then recovered from a bogey on 17 with a twoputt birdie from the collar at the par-5 18th.  In the final round, Cink chipped in for a birdie from 20 feet on the 11th and holed a putt from the fringe from 20 feet on the 15th.  Cink led the field in Greens in Regulation Percentage (84.72).

CHECK THIS OUT  Cink (47 years, three months) was the second oldest winner of the Safeway Open, after Rocco Mediate (47 years, 10 months in 2010).  Cink’s 23-year-old son, Reagan, was his caddie for the week.  Cink’s 21-under-par total was a tournament record.  Cink earned his seventh career victory; Safeway also marked his 100th top-10 finish.  Chez Reavie shot 29 on the back nine and Doc Redman birdied the last six holes for a 62 as they finished T3.

LEADERBOARD 2020 Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Stewart Cink

1

67

70

65

65

267/-21

500

$1,188,000

Harry Higgs

2

69

62

70

68

269/-19

300

$719,400

Chez Reavie

T3

67

71

66

66

270/-18

133.75

$322,162

Doc Redman

T3

70

69

69

62

270/-18

133.75

$322,162

Kevin Streelman

T3

72

66

65

67

270/-18

133.75

$322,162

Brian Stuard

T3

67

67

66

70

270/-18

133.75

$322,162

DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

SEPTEMBER 17-20, 2020

U.S. Open

Location & Course Information

MAMARONECK, N.Y. WINGED FOOT GOLF CLUB Designed by A.W. Tillinghast and opened in 1923, the West Course at Winged Foot is one of the most challenging courses in the nation. It hosted the U.S. Open in 1929, 1959, 1974, 1984 and 2006 and the PGA Championship in 1997.

Yardage: 7,469; par 70.

Notable Course Features

At 469 yards, the 18th hole doesn’t require a long-iron approach in today’s game, but with its tight, turning fairway and a small green that is difficult to hit, chip or putt on, it ranked as the toughest par 4 on the course in 2020 with a 4.402 scoring average.

2020 Champion

Bryson DeChambeau, U.S.

Quick Facts

Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $12.5 million Winner’s Share: $2,250,000 FedExCup Points: 600 to the winner

Charity Benefit

The USGA Foundation provides support for programs that target under-served audiences, junior golfers, women and beginners of all ages, with the aim of developing a passionate and engaged group that will have a long-term commitment to the game. Additionally, the USGA is committed to making the game more accessible to disabled golfers.

Media Coverage

Long-hitting Bryson DeChambeau captures the 120th U.S. Open Championship at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York.

His final-round 67 was 7.90 strokes better than the field average.

NBC/Golf Channel

Social Media @usopengolf @usopengolf @USOPEN

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“As difficult as this golf course was presented, I played it beautifully. Even through the rough, I was still able to manage my game and hit it to correct sides of the greens.”

— Bryson DeChambeau

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tournament overview

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HOW BRYSON DECHAMBEAU WON Bryson DeChambeau shot a final-round, 3-under 67 on a day when nobody else broke par, walking away with a sixstroke victory at Winged Foot for his first major championship title. DeChambeau, 27, trailed 21-year-old Matthew Wolff by two strokes through 54 holes.

Even-par golf over the first eight holes put DeChambeau ahead by one, and on the ninth he holed a 40-foot eagle putt, which was matched by Wolff with a 10-footer. DeChambeau gradually pulled away on the back nine. Wolff bogeyed the 10th; DeChambeau holed a 15foot birdie putt from the fringe on the 11th and then saved par with a 10-foot putt on the 14th while Wolff was making a bogey. Wolff, who closed with a 75 after a 65 in the third round, double-bogeyed the 16th to make it a six-stroke margin.

DeChambeau completed an eight-par, one-birdie back nine for the comfortable victory.

X DeChambeau ranked first in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green (1.888 per round), second Off-the-Tee (1.332), third Around the Green (1.243), and 18th Putting (1.123).

X DeChambeau ranked first in Driving Distance—All Drives at 314.0 yards.

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CHECk tHiS OUt X Bryson DeChambeau became the 12th player to win the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open, and the third to win those two events and the NCAA Championship, joining Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

X At 6-under 274, DeChambeau was the only player to finish under par for 72 holes, and just the third to do so in six U.S. Opens at Winged Foot (Fuzzy Zoeller and Greg Norman played off at 4-under 276 in 1984).

X DeChambeau’s final-round score was 7.90 strokes better than the field average, the best in a U.S. Open final round since Johnny Miller’s 63 bettered the average by 10.77 in 1973.

X Runner-up Matthew Wolff was trying to become the first player to win his U.S. Open debut since Francis Ouimet in 1913. It was Wolff’s second start in a major championship, having finished T4 in the 2020 PGA Championship.

LEADERBOARD 2020 Player

Pos

1

2

Bryson DeChambeau Matthew Wolff

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

1

69

2

66

68

70

67

274/-6

600

$2,250,000

74

65

75

280/E

330

$1,350,000

Louis Oosthuizen

3

67

74

68

73

282/+2

210

$861,457

Harris English

4

68

70

72

73

283/+3

150

$603,903

Xander Schauffele

5

68

72

70

74

284/+4

120

$502,993

Bryson DeChambeau walks to the 18th green during the final round at Winged Foot Golf Club.

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2020 (See also, p.128 for the March 2021 tournament; both events occur in the same PGA TOUR season)

Location & Course Information

PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC PUNTACANA RESORT & CLUB CORALES GOLF COURSE

Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship Hudson Swafford celebrates his one-shot victory over Tyler McCumber at the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship in the Dominican Republic. He was the only player to card four rounds in the 60s.

The Tom Fazio-designed Corales Golf Course opened in 2010 with six holes playing along the cliffs, bays and coves of the Caribbean Sea and inland holes dotted with lakes and coralina quarries.

Yardage: 7,666; par 72.

Notable Course Features

The last three holes play toward or along the Bay of Corales and are called the Devil’s Elbow.

The 214-yard par-3 17th skirts the coast with a narrow green guarded by bunkers on both sides. The 501-yard par-4 18th wraps around the water, enticing players to bite off as much of a carry as they dare on the tee shot.

Charity Benefit

Proceeds benefit the Grupo Puntacana Foundation, formed to implement programs that protect the environment and that also improve the well-being of the local communities of Punta Cana in basic areas of human development.

HOW HUDSON SWAFFORD WON

CHECK THIS OUT

Hudson Swafford shot 31 on the front nine and had a four-stroke lead with six holes to play, then held on for a one-stroke victory over Tyler McCumber. Swafford doublebogeyed the 13th and bogeyed the 15th, and was tied for the lead before a birdie on 17 and an 8-foot par-saving putt on 18.  Swafford didn’t have a three-putt all week and was fifth in Putts Per Round with 27.00.  Swafford was the only player with all four rounds in the 60s.  Swafford had an eagle in each of the last two rounds.

 The tournament was rescheduled from March to September in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and received its own date on the schedule and 500 FedExCup points instead of being the same week as the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play.  The winning score has been 18-under 270 in all three years the tournament has been a PGA TOUR event.  In the first two years of the tournament, the 54-hole leader went on to win. In 2020, Hudson Swafford came from two strokes behind.

LEADERBOARD 2020 Player

Media Coverage

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Hudson Swafford

1

65

67

69

69

270/-18

500

$720,000

Golf Channel/NBC

Tyler McCumber

2

65

71

69

66

271/-17

300

$436,000

Social Media

Mackenzie Hughes

3

68

67

67

70

272/-16

190

$276,000

Nate Lashley

4

68

71

65

69

273/-15

135

$196,000

Adam Long

5

70

65

64

75

274/-14

110

$164,000

@CoralesChamp @coraleschampionship @CoralesChampionship 98

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IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

Quick Facts

Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $4 million Winner’s Share: $720,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

20 20

2020 Champion

Hudson Swafford, U.S.

“The last two years have been tough. To do this, it’s fun.

This is why I get up and grind.” – Hudson Swafford

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

OCTOBER 1-4, 2020

Sanderson Farms Championship

Location & Course Information

JACKSON, MISS. COUNTRY CLUB OF JACKSON Founded in 1913, the Country Club of Jackson is a private club with 27 holes originally designed by Dick Wilson in 1962. John Fought redesigned 18 holes in 2008, the Dogwood and Azalea nines used for the tournament.

Yardage: 7,460; par 72.

Notable Course Features The signature hole is the 479-yard, par-4 16th (the toughest on the course in 2020).

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 swamp on the left and a large bunker on the right.

Fueled by a closing birdie at the 72nd hole, Sergio Garcia holds the trophy after winning the Sanderson Farms Championship at The Country Club of Jackson. It was Garcia’s first PGA TOUR triumph since the 2017 Masters.

“It was the perfect ending for an amazing week.”

– Sergio Garcia

2020 Champion Sergio Garcia, Spain

Charity Benefit

The primary beneficiary is Children’s of Mississippi, the state’s only hospital dedicated solely to the treatment of sick and medically fragile children.

Century Club Charities has raised more than $18 million for Mississippi charities since 1994.

Media Coverage IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

Golf Channel

Social Media

@Sanderson_Champ @sanderson_champ @Sanderson FarmsChampionship W W W.P GAT OUR.COM

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20 20

Quick Facts

Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.6 million Winner’s Share: $1,188,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

HOW SERGIO GARCIA WON

Spain’s Sergio Garcia hit an 8-iron inside 3 feet to set up birdie on the 18th to win by one stroke.

Another key shot for Garcia was a 5-wood to 4 feet en route to an eagle on the 14th hole as he shot a final-round 67 to beat Peter Malnati, who mounted a charge with a closing 63.  Garcia ranked first in Strokes Gained: Offthe-Tee (1.373 per round) and third in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green (1.753).  Garcia ranked first in Driving Distance – All Drives (306.6 yards) and T1 in Greens in Regulation Percentage (83.33).

CHECK THIS OUT  Sergio Garcia, who was putting with his eyes closed, won in his first appearance at the Sanderson Farms Championship.  Garcia was in a three-way tie for the lead through 54 holes with J.T. Poston and Cameron Davis. This marked the fourth straight year that a 54-hole leader has gone on to win the tournament.  The 40-year-old Garcia has won on the PGA TOUR in three decades (2000s, 2010s and 2020s); he also won twice on the European Tour in 1999 at age 19.

LEADERBOARD 2020 Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Sergio Garcia

1

68

68

66

67

Peter Malnati

2

70

67

70

63

269/-19

500

$1,188,000

270/-18

300

$719,400

J.T. Poston

3

66

67

69

70

272/-16

190

$455,400

Keegan Bradley

T4

66

65

73

69

273/-15

122.5

$297,000

Henrik Norlander

T4

69

70

69

65

273/-15

122.5

$297,000

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

OCTOBER 8-11, 2020

Shriners Hospitals for Children Open

Location & Course Information LAS VEGAS, NEV. TPC SUMMERLIN

Noted architect Bobby Weed designed TPC Summerlin with player consultant Fuzzy Zoeller in 1991. The strategic layout was carved from a swath of rugged desert terrain, meandering through arroyos and canyons.

Yardage: 7,255; par 71.

Notable Course Features

Quick Facts

Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7 million Winner’s Share: $1,260,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit

The tournament supports Shriners Hospitals for Children, a unique health care system that has improved the lives of more than 1.4 million children since its founding in 1922, serving kids with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate.

“I just played so well this week, tee to green, it was probably the best I’ve ever played.

I felt in control all week.” — Martin Laird

HOW MARTIN LAIRD WON

Martin Laird birdied the second extra hole (No. 17) with a 23-foot putt to beat Austin Cook and Matthew Wolff in a playoff for his first victory in seven years. Laird, who closed with a 68 while Cook and Wolff shot 66s, made a key par on the 17th in regulation with a very difficult pitch and an 18-foot putt.  Laird played the par-5 ninth hole in 7-under for the week with three eagles, including a holed bunker shot from a buried lie on Sunday.  Laird ranked second in Strokes Gained: Tee-toGreen at 2.428 per round.

Media Coverage Golf Channel

Social Media

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CHECK THIS OUT  This was Martin Laird’s third time in a playoff at this event; all have involved three players. He won in 2009 and lost in 2010 when Jonathan Byrd made an ace on the 17th, which was the fourth playoff hole.  Laird joined Jim Furyk (1995,’98,’99) and Kevin Na (2011,’19) as multiple winners of the event.  Laird became the first player since Matthew Wolff (2019 3M Open) to win on the PGA TOUR competing on a sponsor exemption.  Cantlay finished T8 after finishing first (2017) or second (2018, ’19) in the previous three years.

LEADERBOARD 2020 Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Martin Laird

1

65

63

65

68

261/-23

500

$1,260,000

Austin Cook

T2

63

65

67

66

261/-23

245

$623,000

Matthew Wolff

T2

68

66

61

66

261/-23

245

$623,000

Abraham Ancer

4

66

66

65

67

264/-20

135

$343,000

James Hahn

T5

64

66

67

68

265/-19

100

$259,000

Peter Malnati

T5

66

62

71

66

265/-19

100

$259,000

Will Zalatoris

T5

68

64

64

69

265/-19

—

$259,000

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

2020 Champion

Martin Laird, Scotland

Playoffs in Las Vegas are a tradition for Martin Laird, who defeated Austin Cook and Matthew Wolff for his first PGA TOUR victory in seven years.

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The four-hole closing stretch features classic risk-reward challenges starting with the drivable par-4 15th. The par-5 16th is reachable in two, guarded in front by a pond. While the last two holes don’t offer as many birdie opportunities, water is very much in play on the par-3 17th and par-4 18th.

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

OCTOBER 15-18, 2020

THE CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK Jason Kokrak broke through in his 233rd PGA TOUR start, shooting a final-round 64 to seal his maiden PGA TOUR victory at THE CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK.

Location & Course Information LAS VEGAS, NEV. SHADOW CREEK

Tom Fazio designed Shadow Creek, which opened in 1989 and is ranked 26th in Golf Digest’s “100 Greatest Courses in the U.S.” Available for play by guests of MGM Resorts, the course is a lush oasis with water features and trees introduced to a previously barren landscape.

Yardage: 7,527; par 72.

Notable Course Features

The 17th hole is a downhill 154-yard par 3 that plays over water to a very shallow green, making distance control imperative. The 529-yard par-5 18th also has water in front, but is easily reachable in two and provides a chance for an eagle or birdie.

2020 Champion

“To wait this long for my first win, it’s a pretty special thing. I couldn’t be happier.”

— Jason Kokrak

Quick Facts

Field: 78 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $9.75 million Winner’s Share: $1,755,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit

The Charity Challenge was a nine-hole event featuring Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Kevin Na and CJ ambassador Byeong Hun An, held on Wednesday to benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children and MGM Resorts Foundation.

Media Coverage IMAGES: PGA TOUR

Golf Channel

Social Media

@thecjcup @thecjcup @PGATOURTHECJCUP W W W.P GAT OUR.COM

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Jason Kokrak, U.S.

HOW JASON KOKRAK WON

Jason Kokrak shot 64 in the final round to outduel Xander Schauffele and score his first PGA TOUR victory in his 10th season. Russell Henley led by three strokes through 54 holes, but it came down to Kokrak, who birdied six of seven holes starting at the fifth, and Schauffele, who shot 66 but fell out of a tie for the lead with a bogey on the 16th.  Kokrak ranked first in Strokes Gained: Putting at 2.573 per round, making 14 putts from longer than 10 feet.  Kokrak was T1 in Greens in Regulation Percentage (76.39 percent).

CHECK THIS OUT  The tournament was moved from its usual home in South Korea to Shadow Creek due to the COVID-19 pandemic, giving the PGA TOUR two consecutive events in Las Vegas (the other being Shriners Hospitals for Children Open).  Winner Jason Kokrak is an ambassador for MGM Resorts, which owns Shadow Creek.  Kokrak scored his first PGA TOUR victory in his 233rd career start.  Runner-up Schauffele birdied the last six holes of the back nine (his first nine of the day) in shooting 7-under 29 in the second round.

LEADERBOARD 2020 Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Jason Kokrak

1

70

66

68

64

268/-20

500

$1,755,000

Xander Schauffele

2

66

64

74

66

270/-18

300

$1,053,000

Tyrell Hatton

T3

65

68

73

65

271/-17

162.50

$565,500

Russell Henley

T3

66

68

67

70

271/-17

162.50

$565,500

Talor Gooch

5

70

65

69

68

272/-16

110

$390,000

DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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PLAY WITH CONFIDENCE

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ASK YOUR DERMATOLOGIST AND VISIT ELTAMD.COM/BUY

Media Powers - Elta MD.indd 1

08/06/2020 16:58

TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

OCTOBER 22-25, 2020

Location & Course Information

THOUSAND OAKS, CALIF. SHERWOOD COUNTRY CLUB

ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD Patrick Cantlay fought back with a final-round 65 to come from three strokes behind at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD, winning by one stroke over Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas.

Jack Nicklaus-designed Sherwood Country Club, which opened in 1989, has previously hosted the Hero World Challenge and Invesco QQQ Championship on PGA TOUR Champions.

Notable Course Features

The par-72 course deviates from the norm with five par 5s balanced by five par 3s. Down the stretch, the toughest hole is the 186-yard 15th, where the tee shots must carry over water and rocks, with a mountain backdrop behind the green.

2020 Champion

“After feeling comfortable with my golf swing and my distance control, it just felt like it was off to the races and see how many putts I could make.” — Patrick Cantlay

Quick Facts

Field: 78 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $8 million Winner’s Share: $1,440,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit

In 2020, the event raised charitable dollars through sales of merchandise on the ZOZOTOWN website and also through a raffle/ auction of autographed goods and player-used tournament items. ZOZO partnered with the organization Sherwood Cares to give back to the people of California and the local community.

IMAGES: US PGA TOUR

Media Coverage Golf Channel

Social Media

@zozochamp @zozochamp @ZOZOCHAMPIONSHIP W W W.P GAT OUR.COM

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Patrick Cantlay, U.S.

HOW PATRICK CANTLAY WON

CHECK THIS OUT

Patrick Cantlay made nine birdies in a final-round 65 to come from three strokes behind and beat Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm by one stroke.

Cantlay tied for the lead with a birdie at the 13th and added birdies at the next two holes, giving him a cushion that allowed for a bogey on the 16th.  Cantlay didn’t have a bogey in the first three rounds; he then shot 65 on Sunday despite two bogeys.  After losing 1.12 strokes on the greens in the third round, Cantlay rebounded with 3.29 Strokes Gained: Putting in the final round.

 The tournament, which launched in October 2019 as Japan’s first official PGA TOUR tournament, was moved to Sherwood Country Club in California for 2020 due to logistical challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic.  The tournament is the 7th of 50 events in the 2020-21 PGA TOUR Season.  Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were paired together for the 10th time in the final round of a PGA TOUR event.  Ricky Werenski shot a new tournament record 61 in Round 2 at Sherwood Country Club in 2020.

LEADERBOARD 2020 Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Patrick Cantlay

1

67

65

68

65

265/-23

500

$1,440,000

Jon Rahm

T2

68

67

63

68

266/-22

245

$704,000

Justin Thomas

T2

65

65

67

69

266/-22

245

$704,000

Russell Henley

T4

68

72

63

66

269/-19

108.75

$315,000

Ryan Palmer

T4

69

65

66

69

269/-19

108.75

$315,000

Cameron Smith

T4

67

69

66

67

269/-19

108.75

$315,000

Bubba Watson

T4

70

63

68

68

269/-19

108.75

$315,000

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

OCTOBER 29 NOVEMBER 1, 2020

Bermuda Championship

Location & Course Information

SOUTHAMPTON, BERMUDA PORT ROYAL GOLF COURSE Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1970, Port Royal features ocean views from nearly every hole. The course underwent an extensive 2009 renovation spearheaded by original design team member Roger Rulewich.

Yardage: 6,828; par 71.

Notable Course Features

Riding a closing 64, Brian Gay secured his first PGA TOUR victory since 2013 at the Bermuda Championship.

“I had good feelings from last year, finishing tied for third, so I was looking forward to coming back.” — Brian Gay

2020 Champion Quick Facts

Field: 132 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $4 million Winner’s Share: $720,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit The tournament’s primary beneficiaries are the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) and junior golf. The tournament also supports numerous local organizations through their participation in the volunteer program recruitment.

HOW BRIAN GAY WON

Brian Gay birdied six of the last 10 holes of regulation, he then added another on the first hole of a playoff to beat Wyndham Clark. Gay shot a final-round 64, overcoming a bogey on 17 with a 3-foot birdie on 18 and a 12-foot birdie on the first extra hole. Clark was 7-under through 12 holes but 1-over the rest of the way in a 65, and missed a 7-footer for a birdie in the playoff.  Gay ranked T4 in Driving Accuracy Percentage at 58.93.  Gay ranked first in Par 4 Scoring Average at 3.66.

CHECK THIS OUT  The Bermuda Championship became a stand-alone event for the 2019-20 season when the World Golf Championships-HSBC Championship was canceled. The winner received 500 FedExCup points.  At age 48, Brian Gay became the oldest winner of a PGA TOUR event since Davis Love III (51) at the 2015 Wyndham Championship. It was Gay’s first victory since 2013.  Gay became the third player in his 40s to win in the first eight events of the 2020-21 season, joining Stewart Cink and Sergio Garcia.

LEADERBOARD 2020 Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Brian Gay

1

70

68

67

64

269/-15

500

$720,000

Media Coverage

Wyndham Clark

2

66

68

70

65

269/-15

300

$436,000

Golf Channel

Ollie Schniederjans

3

66

70

69

66

271/-13

—

$276,000

Stewart Cink

T4

66

74

68

64

272/-12

108.75

$160,000

Social Media @Bermuda_Champ @bermuda_championship @BermudaChampionship 104

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Brian Gay, U.S.

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021

T25 Bermuda.v3.indd 104

Matt Jones

T4

68

71

66

67

272/-12

108.75

$160,000

Denny McCarthy

T4

70

67

72

63

272/-12

108.75

$160,000

Doc Redman

T4

65

71

67

69

272/-12

108.75

$160,000

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

The 16th is one of the most visually spectacular holes in golf, and also extremely challenging. The 235-yard par 3 plays over an ocean inlet to a long but narrow green perched high above the water on a peninsula, with the ocean to the left.

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

NOVEMBER 5-8, 2020

Vivint Houston Open 

Location & Course Information

HOUSTON, TEXAS MEMORIAL PARK GOLF COURSE

CHECK THIS OUT

John Bredemus redesigned an original nine-hole course into 18 holes in 1936. In preparation for the return of the Houston Open to the municipal facility in 2020 (it hosted in 1947 and from 1961 to 1973), Tom Doak did a complete redesign in 2019.

Yardage: 7,432; par 70.

 Ortiz became the third Mexican native to win on the PGA TOUR, joining Victor Regalado (two wins) and Cesar Sanudo (one), who posted their victories in the 1970s. Ortiz now lives in Texas.  Ortiz was the second Latin American player to win the Vivint Houston Open (Argentina’s Roberto De Vicenzo, 1968).  This was the second straight year a player made the Vivint Houston Open his first PGA TOUR victory (Lanto Griffin 2019).  The three 63s that were the low score of the week were all shot on Sunday, by Hideki Matsuyama, Talor Gooch and Mackenzie Hughes.

Notable Course Features The 16th hole is a 576-yard par 5 with a pond all the way down the right side leading to a green surrounded on three sides by water. The risk/reward hole yielded the fourth-most birdies on the course in 2020 (100), but also the most double bogeys or worse (29).

2020 Champion Carlos Ortiz, Mexico

Quick Facts

Charity Benefit

The tournament is primarily underwritten by the Astros Golf Foundation, with the Houston Parks & Recreation Department and First Tee of Greater Houston as the primary beneficiaries.

Other non-profits also benefit from tournament proceeds and from the Birdies For Charity program.

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

Media Coverage Golf Channel

Social Media

@HouOpenGolf @houopengolf @HouOpenGolf

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“I saw there were a couple people playing really good, so I couldn’t just lay it up. I had to finish strong.”

— Carlos Ortiz

HOW CARLOS ORTIZ WON

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Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7 million Winner’s Share: $1,260,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Carlos Ortiz, shown holding the trophy after his twoshot victory at the Vivint Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course, became the third player from Mexico to win on the PGA TOUR.

Carlos Ortiz birdied the 16th and 18th holes to wrap up a final-round 65 and finish two strokes ahead of Hideki Matsuyama and Dustin Johnson. Matsuyama moved into a tie for the lead just before Ortiz two-putted from 8 feet to birdie the par-5 16th. Ortiz then holed a 22-foot birdie putt on 18 for the cushion over Matsuyama (63) and Johnson (65).  Ortiz didn’t make a bogey in the final round.  Ortiz did not miss a putt inside 7 feet all week and ranked first in Scrambling, saving par on 18 of the 21 greens that he missed.

LEADERBOARD 2020 Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Carlos Ortiz

1

67

68

67

65

267/-13

500

$1,260,000

Dustin Johnson

T2

72

66

66

65

269/-11

245

$623,000

Hideki Matsuyama

T2

70

70

66

63

269/-11

245

$623,000

Talor Gooch

4

68

69

71

63

271/-9

135

$343,000

Brooks Koepka

T5

72

70

65

65

272/-8

105

$270,375

Sepp Straka

T5

68

69

66

69

272/-8

105

$270,375

DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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tournament overview

November 12-15, 2020 (See also, pp.130-131 for the April 2021 tournament; both events occur in the same PGA TOUR season)

Masters Tournament

Location & Course Information

AugustA, gA. AugustA NAtioNAl golf Club Designed by Alister MacKenzie and bobby Jones on the site of a former tree nursery, Augusta National opened in 1932. the course features elevation changes, large undulating greens and relatively few but strategically placed bunkers. the layout has undergone changes throughout its history to continue to provide a strong test for Masters competitors.

Yardage:

7,475; par 72

Notable Course Features

the stretch of holes from 11 to 13, known as Amen Corner, has provided more than its share of drama over the years. the 505-yard par-4 11th, with a green guarded by water on the left, is one of the toughest holes on the course. the 155-yard 12th is one of the world’s famous par 3s with its shallow, diagonal green fronted by Rae’s Creek. the 510-yard 13th is a dogleg left that provides birdie or eagle opportunities, but it requires two precise shots.

2020 Champion Dustin Johnson, u.s.

Quick Facts

Field: Approx 90 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $11.5 million Winner’s Share: $2,070,000 FedExCup Points: 600 to the winner

Media Coverage EsPN/Cbs

Social Media @theMasters @theMasters @theMasters

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“I was nervous all day, but I felt I controlled myself very well, controlled the golf ball very well in difficult conditions.” — Dustin Johnson w w w.p gat our.com

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tournament overview

MASTERS 2020 Korea by five shots. Johnson’s 20-under 268 established a tournament record by two shots. It was his second major title.

Johnson had taken a 54-hole lead into Sunday for the fifth time in a major. None of the previous four had ended with him holding the trophy. So he understood the questions about his ability to close at a major championship. Shoot, he pondered those same questions himself.

“I’m in this position a lot of times. Like when am I going to have the lead and finish off the golf tournament, or finish off a major?” Johnson asked. ”For me, it definitely proved that I can do it.”

Johnson was dominant throughout, shooting the low round or tying for low round three of the four tournament days. He made only four bogeys. Im trimmed the lead to one shot early Sunday, but Johnson (68) played his final 13 holes in 5-under.

As he walked off the 18th green past two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, Johnson told him, “I’ve been dreaming about putting on that jacket my whole life.”

You want to know a great feeling? It’s when you and your little brother grow up an hour’s drive across the South Carolina border from Augusta National Golf Club, home to one of the biggest spectacles in sports, and every putt after dinner in the darkness is to win the Masters. It is when one of those brothers emerges in the thick of contention on Augusta National’s second nine on Sunday, and the other enjoys a front-row seat, his brother’s bag on his shoulder.

It gets better when the player rips one last drive off the 18th tee and, having intentionally not peeked toward any of those giant Masters leaderboards nearly impossible to miss, turns to his brother and asks, Do you know how we stand? The volley returned from Austin Johnson to his big brother was exactly what Dustin Johnson wanted to hear: You have a five-shot lead.

Thus, Johnson, at 36, a golfer born in the South, came to collect his first Masters Green Jacket, defeating Australia’s Cameron Smith and first-time Augusta National participant Sungjae Im of South

LEADERBOARD 2020 2020 was a season of triumphs for Dustin Johnson who won the Masters Tournament in addition to his first FedExCup and the Jack Nicklaus Award as PGA TOUR Player of the Year.

images: alamy; James Fitzroy | Dreamstime.com

_

Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Dustin Johnson

1

65

70

65

68

268/-20

600

$2,070,000

Sungjae Im

T2

66

70

68

69

273/-15

270

$1,012,000

Cameron Smith

T2

67

68

69

69

273/-15

270

$1,012,000

Justin Thomas

4

66

69

71

70

276/-12

150

$552,000

Dylan Frittelli

T5

65

73

67

72

277/-11

115

$437,000

Rory McIlroy

T5

75

66

67

69

277/-11

115

$437,000

The 13th at Augusta National Golf Club, part of the stretch of holes (11

to 13) known as Amen Corner. w w w.p gat our.com

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

NOVEMBER 19-22, 2020

The RSM Classic

Location & Course Information

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA. SEA ISLAND RESORT Sea Island’s Seaside Course has nine holes designed by Harry Colt and Charles Alison in 1929 and nine by Joe Lee in 1973, with a Tom Fazio redesign in 1999. The Plantation Course, renovated by Davis Love III and his brother Mark in 2019, co-hosts the first two rounds. Yardage: Seaside, 7,005; par 70; Plantation, 7,060; par 72.

Natural features such as marshes and sandy waste areas figure prominently in the Seaside layout.

Both come into play on the par-4 13th, which bends between a marsh on the left and a sandy area along with conventional bunkers on the right, with a stunning backdrop behind the green.

2020 Champion

A near hole-out for eagle on the second playoff hole against Kevin Kisner lifted Robert Streb to his second RSM Classic title.

“I couldn’t quite tell how close it was until I was all the way up by the hole, but it’s really nice to sit there and have a 1-foot putt instead of trying to make a 6-, 7-, 8-footer.”

— Robert Streb

Quick Facts

Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.6 million Winner’s Share: $1,188,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit

Through the Birdies for Love program, The RSM Classic commits to raising funds for charities that align with the missions of the RSM Foundation and the Davis Love Foundation. Additionally, the Friends of Davis Love Foundation raises money for area charities via a raffle.

HOW ROBERT STREB WON

Robert Streb hit his approach within a foot on the second playoff hole to defeat Kevin Kisner, who came from five strokes behind with a final-round 63. Kisner took the lead with a birdie on the 15th before Streb birdied 17 to tie. Streb made an 8-foot par putt to stay alive on the first extra hole.  Streb had only two bogeys all week and went 55 bogey-free holes until the 13th hole of the final round.  Streb ranked T7 in Greens in Regulation percentage and missed only five greens over the last three rounds.

CHECK THIS OUT  Streb became the first multiple winner of The RSM Classic (2014), which started in 2010.

Kevin Kisner, who lost in the playoff, was also going for his second title (2015).  This was the sixth playoff at The RSM Classic, and the third in as many seasons.  Streb became the first player to score his first two PGA TOUR victories in the same event since Daniel Berger (2016-17 FedEx St. Jude Classic).  Kisner has finished in the top five four times at The RSM Classic, the most of any player.

LEADERBOARD 2020 Player

Media Coverage

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Robert Streb

1

65

63

67

68

263/-19

500

$1,188,000

Golf Channel

Kevin Kisner

2

68

66

66

63

263/-19

300

$719,400

Social Media

Cameron Tringale

3

67

68

67

62

264/-18

190

$455,400

Andrew Landry

T4

68

68

65

64

265/-17

122.5

$297,000

Bernd Wiesberger

T4

66

68

68

63

265/-17

—

$297,000

@TheRSMClassic @thersmclassic @TheRSMclassic

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Robert Streb, U.S.

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IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

Notable Course Features

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

DECEMBER 3-6, 2020

Mayakoba Golf Classic presented by UNIFIN

Location & Course Information

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO EL CAMELEÓN GOLF CLUB AT THE MAYAKOBA RESORT Designed by Greg Norman in 2006, El Cameleón is notable for the way it traverses three landscapes: mangrove jungles, limestone canals and an oceanfront stretch. The course has hosted the Mayakoba Golf Classic since its 2007 inception.

Yardage: 7,017; par 71.

Notable Course Features

2020 Champion

Viktor Hovland, Norway

Quick Facts

Field: 132 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7.2 million Winner’s Share: $1,296,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit

The Mayakoba Golf Classic is committed to supporting local, national and international charities. The event contributes significant funds and raises awareness for selected charities and has donated more than $2.5 million to philanthropic causes since 2007.

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

Media Coverage

“I thought I lost it after the second shot on 16 and made an awesome par there. I knew I needed to make a birdie on 18, and it happened to go in.” — Viktor Hovland

HOW VIKTOR HOVLAND WON

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El Cameleón has an element that won’t be found elsewhere, a cenote, a naturally formed pit with limestone walls. It is incorporated into the fairway on the seventh hole, a 554-yard par 5. The pit is marked as a water hazard but with an area where it is possible to play out of sand.

Viktor Hovland of Norway celebrates with the winner’s trophy on the 18th green after the final round of the Mayakoba Golf Classic at El Cameleón Golf Club.

CHECK THIS OUT  Viktor Hovland became the first player to birdie the 72nd hole to win by one stroke at Mayakoba since the event started in 2007.  Hovland’s first PGA TOUR start was in 2018 at this event, playing as a 21-year-old amateur. He missed the cut in 2018 and 2019.  Hovland’s 128 total (63-65) for the final two rounds was the lowest ever at the Mayakoba Classic.  Carlos Ortiz was the top finisher among the players from Mexico at T8, one stroke ahead of Abraham Ancer.

Viktor Hovland made a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole for a final-round 65 and a one-stroke victory over Aaron Wise, who was sitting in the clubhouse after a 63.

Hovland birdied four of the first six holes and three of the last six, and also made a vital par on the 16th with a save on a long bunker shot.  Hovland led the field in Greens in Regulation Percentage, hitting 61 of 72 greens.  Hovland was 17-under for the week on the front nine, with three 32s and a 31.

LEADERBOARD 2020 Player

Pos

1

2

3

Viktor Hovland

1

Aaron Wise

2

4

Total Score

67

69

67

68

FedExCup Points

Earnings

63

65

67

63

264/-20

500

$1,296,000

265/-19

300

$784,800

Tom Hoge

T3

66

67

65

69

267/-17

162.5

$424,800

Golf Channel

Adam Long

T3

70

67

63

67

267/-17

162.5

$424,800

Social Media

Harris English

T5

69

70

66

63

268/-16

100

$266,400

Lucas Glover

T5

71

65

66

66

268/-16

100

$266,400

Billy Horschel

T5

70

69

65

64

268/-16

100

$266,400

@MayakobaGolf @mayakobagolfclassic @MayakobaGolfClassic W W W.P GAT OUR.COM

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

JANUARY 7-10, 2021

Sentry Tournament of Champions

Location & Course Information

KAPALUA, MAUI, HAWAII THE PLANTATION COURSE AT KAPALUA

Justin Thomas holds up the champion’s trophy after capturing a threehole playoff win on the Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii.

Opened in 1991, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw carved the Plantation Course into the hills of the West Maui Mountains on a former pineapple plantation. The course was refined and revitalized in an extensive 2019 enhancement.

Yardage: 7,596; par 73.

Notable Course Features

2020 Champion Justin Thomas, U.S.

Charity Benefit

The tournament has generated more than $7 million for community charities since its move to Maui in 1999. The 2020 beneficiaries were Boy Scouts of America, Friends of the Children’s Justice Center, Hale Makua Health Services, J. Walter Cameron Center, Ka Lima O Maui, Lahainaluna High School Foundation and Lahaina Junior Golf.

HOW JUSTIN THOMAS WON

Justin Thomas bogeyed two of the last three holes to lose a two-stroke lead, but recovered to win with a birdie on the third hole of a playoff with Xander Schauffele and Patrick Reed. Schauffele also had a chance to win, but three-putted for a par on the 72nd hole. Thomas had a stretch of six birdies in eight holes before his bogeys on 16 and 18 in the final round.  Thomas led the field with 24 birdies during the week to offset his 10 bogeys.  Thomas ranked second in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green with 1.432 per round.

Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

1

67

73

69

69

278/-14

500

$1,340,000

Patrick Reed

T2

72

66

74

66

278/-14

245

$636,000

Xander Schauffele

T2

69

68

71

70

278/-14

245

$636,000

@Sentry_TOC @sentry_toc @SentryTOC

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021

T30 Sentry.v3.indd 110

 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing fewer than usual winners in 2020, the top 30 from the FedExCup Playoffs points list are eligible for the 2021 field in addition to 2020 winners.  Justin Thomas won his second Sentry Tournament of Champions to join Stuart Appleby (three), Geoff Ogilvy (two) and Dustin Johnson (two) as multiple winners since the event moved to Kapalua in 1999.  Xander Schauffele lost in a playoff in his bid to be the first to win the event in consecutive years since Geoff Ogilvy (2009, 2010).

Justin Thomas

Social Media

110

CHECK THIS OUT

LEADERBOARD 2020

Media Coverage Golf Channel

20 20

Quick Facts

Field: 30-40 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.7 million Winner’s Share: $1,340,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

“You have to play well and make some putts and hit some shots, but at the end of the day you need stuff to go your way, and it definitely did today.” – Justin Thomas

Patrick Cantlay

4

69

71

73

68

281/-11

135

$378,000

Rickie Fowler

T5

68

71

74

69

282/-10

105

$285,000

Joaquín Niemann

T5

66

72

74

70

282/-10

105

$285,000

IMAGES: PGATOURIMAGES.COM

The last two holes at the Plantation Course are long on yardage, but both play downhill. While the 550yard, par-4 17th is annually one of the toughest holes, the 677-yard 18th plays so much downhill that most of the field can reach or get close to the par-5 green in two.

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04/01/2021 15:20

TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

JANUARY 14-17, 2021

Sony Open in Hawaii

Location & Course Information

HONOLULU, HAWAII WAIALAE COUNTRY CLUB Seth Raynor designed Waialae Country Club in 1927, creating a strategically challenging layout featuring a number of dogleg holes. Nestled in the quiet neighborhood of Waialae-Kahala, the course offers many views of the Pacific Ocean. Yardage: 7,044; par 70.

Notable Course Features

At par 70, the layout features only two par 5s, but they conclude each nine and are usually reachable in two with prevailing winds. The signature hole is considered to be the par-3 17th, which measures 194 yards and runs along the ocean.

Cameron Smith’s late rally at Waialae Country Club lifted him to his first PGA TOUR title at the Sony Open.

“To finally say that I’ve won an event for myself is quite good.” – Cameron Smith

Quick Facts

Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.6 million Winner’s Share: $1,188,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit

The Sony Open in Hawaii is the principal fundraising event for Friends of Hawaii Charities.

Through the partnership with the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc., Friends of Hawaii Charities has generated more than $19 million since 1999, benefiting more than 350 Hawaii charities.

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

Media Coverage Golf Channel

Social Media

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HOW CAMERON SMITH WON

20 20

2020 Champion

Cameron Smith, Australia

Australia’s Cameron Smith came from two strokes behind with two holes to play, and defeated Brendan Steele on the first hole of a playoff.

Smith pulled within one when Steele bogeyed the 17th, tied it with an eight-foot birdie putt on the 18th, and won with a par on the first playoff hole. Smith began the round three strokes behind 54-hole leader Steele, who closed with a 71.  Smith recovered from a bogey-triple bogey start on his first two holes of the tournament.  Smith ranked first in Strokes Gained: Putting with 2.058 per round.

CHECK THIS OUT  The victory was Cameron Smith’s first individual win on the PGA TOUR. He won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event in 2017 with partner Jonas Blixt.  With windy conditions in the first three rounds and rain on Sunday, the 269 winning total was the highest at the event since Vijay Singh won with the same score in 2005.  Lanto Griffin, who finished T8, made three eagles and a birdie on the 18th hole. He was 9-under for the week on the eight par-5 holes.

LEADERBOARD 2020 Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Cameron Smith

1

70

65

66

68

269/-11

500

$1,188,000

Brendan Steele

2

68

66

64

71

269/-11

300

$719,400

Webb Simpson

3

71

66

66

67

270/-10

190

$455,400

Kevin Kisner

T4

69

64

69

69

271/-9

115

$277,750

Graeme McDowell

T4

71

69

67

64

271/-9

115

$277,750

Ryan Palmer

T4

67

68

68

68

271/-9

115

$277,750

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

JANUARY 21-24, 2021

The American Express

Location & Course Information

LA QUINTA, CALIF. PGA WEST (*STADIUM COURSE, NICKLAUS TOURNAMENT COURSE) AND LA QUINTA COUNTRY CLUB The Pete Dye-designed Stadium Course at PGA West hosts the final round, while three courses are used for the first three rounds. The Stadium Course opened in 1986, a challenging layout with plenty of bunkers and water. Yardage: Stadium, 7,113; Nicklaus Tournament, 7,159; La Quinta, 7,060; all par 72.

Andrew Landry is joined on the 18th green by his son, Brooks, after Landry posted a twostroke victory over Abraham Ancer on the Stadium Course at PGA West.

Notable Course Features

Andrew Landry, U.S.

Quick Facts

Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.7 million Winner’s Share: $1,206,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit

With Phil Mickelson named tournament host in 2020, funds raised from the tournament are distributed to charitable organizations in the Coachella Valley by The Mickelson Foundation.

HOW ANDREW LANDRY WON

Andrew Landry opened a six-stroke lead with birdies on the first three holes of the back nine of the final round, then found himself tied after making bogeys on the next three holes while Abraham Ancer rallied. Landry recovered to birdie 17 and 18 for a 67 and a two-stroke victory over Ancer, who closed with a 63.  Landry ranked T1 in Putts Per Round with 24.75 and was T3 in Driving Accuracy Percentage.  Landry led the field with 31 birdies, nine in the second round and eight in each weekend round.

Media Coverage

CHECK THIS OUT  Andrew Landry became the second player to win the event after losing it in a playoff (2018 to Jon Rahm), joining Tom Kite (1993 win after 1992 playoff loss).  Landry’s 26-under total tied the best since the Stadium Course joined the rotation in 2016, matching Adam Long (2019).  Landry had missed seven of eight cuts to open the season before winning The American Express.  Runner-up Abraham Ancer and Sam Burns shot 63 in the final round to tie the Stadium Course record.

LEADERBOARD 2020 Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Andrew Landry

1

66

64

65

67

262/-26

500

$1,206,000

Golf Channel

Abraham Ancer

2

68

67

66

63

264/-24

300

$730,300

Social Media

Scottie Scheffler

3

65

64

66

70

265/-23

190

$462,300

Bud Cauley

T4

68

64

71

65

268/-20

122.5

$301,500

Sepp Straka

T4

69

65

68

66

268/-20

122.5

$301,500

@theamexgolf @theamexgolf @TheAmericanExpress 112

20 20

2020 Champion

“It’s hard when you have a big lead, because then you kind of start playing a little defensive. You need to be playing aggressive and just keep hitting the shots that you need to hit.” – Andrew Landry

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021

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IMAGES: US PGA TOUR

The par 3s are especially demanding at the Stadium Course. The 165-yard 17th has an island green, but it was the 195-yard 13th, with water guarding left and front, that ranked as the hardest hole on the course in 2020. The 223-yard sixth, with water right and front, was third toughest.

W W W.P GAT OUR.COM

04/01/2021 15:21

TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

JANUARY 28-31, 2021

Farmers Insurance Open Marc Leishman, twice a runner-up at Torrey Pines, lands the Farmers Insurance Open trophy after closing with a 65 on the South Course.

Location & Course Information

LA JOLLA, CALIF. TORREY PINES GOLF COURSE The North and South Courses opened in 1957, designed by William F. Bell. The South Course, which hosts the final two rounds, was the site of the 2008 U.S. Open after a 2001 redesign by Rees Jones. The North Course underwent a complete renovation

by Tom Weiskopf in 2016. Yardage: South, 7,765; North, 7,258; both par 72.

Notable Course Features

Measuring 570 yards, the 18th hole on the South Course is reachable in two shots, but the second shot must be well struck, or it could find the small pond that fronts the green. Even laying up can be dangerous, with approach shots at risk of spinning off the green and into the water.

Quick Facts

Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7.5 million Winner’s Share: $1,350,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR

Charity Benefit

The Century Club of San Diego, the nonprofit that operates the Farmers Insurance Open, supports programs that benefit the local military community, schools and charities, with a special focus on supporting at-risk youth organizations.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Social Media

@FarmersInsOpen @farmersinsopen @FarmersInsOpen

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T33 Farmers Insurance.v3.indd 113

HOW MARC LEISHMAN WON

20 20

2020 Champion

Marc Leishman, Australia

“I saw the guys out front didn’t get off to the best start and that really got my determination up.” — Marc Leishman

Marc Leishman shot 65 in the final round and birdied the 72nd hole for a one-stroke victory over Jon Rahm. Leishman trailed Rahm by four strokes through 54 holes, but shot a 31 on the front nine Sunday to move in front while Rahm was 4-over through five holes. Rahm rallied to play the last six holes in 5-under for a 70 but came up just short.  Leishman gained 4.78 strokes putting in the final round, holing five putts longer than 12 feet.  Leishman won despite hitting only three fairways on Sunday.

CHECK THIS OUT  Marc Leishman was the fourth straight international winner of the event, joining Spain’s Jon Rahm (2017), Australia’s Jason Day (2018), and England’s Justin Rose (2019).  Leishman added a victory to second-place finishes at the Farmers Insurance Open in 2010 and 2014.  Runner-up Rahm was seeking to become the 10th multiple winner of the event. He eagled the 72nd hole to win in 2017, and missed a long eagle putt in 2020 that would have forced a playoff.

LEADERBOARD 2020 Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Marc Leishman

1

68

72

68

65

Jon Rahm

2

68

71

65

70

273/-15

500

$1,350,000

274/-14

300

$817,500

Rory McIlroy

T3

67

73

67

69

276/-12

162.5

$442,500

Brandt Snedeker

T3

69

67

72

68

276/-12

162.5

$442,500

Tom Hoge

5

71

71

67

68

277/-11

110

$307,500

DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

FEBRUARY 4-7, 2021

Waste Management Phoenix Open

Location & Course Information SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. TPC SCOTTSDALE

The Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale was designed by Jay Morrish and 16-time PGA TOUR winner Tom Weiskopf specifically to serve as the stage for the tournament and opened in 1986.

Weiskopf oversaw a renovation in 2014. Yardage: 7,261; par 71.

Notable Course Features

Webb Simpson shot 63-64 in the middle two rounds and birdied his final three holes—the last in a playoff—to prevail at TPC Scottsdale.

His week included his first PGA TOUR ace (12th hole) in the third round.

“I didn’t think it was over, but I thought I’m going to really have to do something special to get back in it.” — Webb Simpson

2020 Champion Quick Facts

Field: 132 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7.3 million Winner’s Share: $1,460,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit

The Waste Management Phoenix Open and the tournament host Thunderbirds raise money for Arizona charities, supporting organizations that assist children and families, help people in need and improve the quality of life in the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.

HOW WEBB SIMPSON WON

Webb Simpson birdied the last two holes of regulation to catch Tony Finau and added a birdie on the first playoff hole to claim the title.

Simpson bogeyed the par-5 15th, but made up for it with a two-putt birdie on 17, an 18-foot putt on 18, and a 10-footer on the first playoff hole.  Simpson shot 63-64 in the middle rounds, the highlight being his 6-under 29 on the front nine in Round 2. In Round 3, Simpson aced the 196-yard 12th hole, using a 7-iron.  Simpson ranked first in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green with 1.870 per round.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC

Social Media

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20 20

Webb Simpson, U.S.

CHECK THIS OUT  Webb Simpson’s victory was his fifth top-10 in 10 starts at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, including a runner-up finish in 2017.  Simpson was the first player to make a holein-one on the way to a victory since Francesco Molinari at the 2019 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard.  Runner-up Tony Finau bogeyed the fourth hole of his first round and did not make another bogey until the eighth hole of the final round, a stretch of 57 holes. Those would be his only two bogeys of the week.

LEADERBOARD 2020 Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Webb Simpson

1

71

63

64

69

267/-17

500

$1,314,000

Tony Finau

2

69

66

62

70

267/-17

300

$795,700

Nate Lashley

T3

66

67

69

68

270/-14

145

$386,900

Justin Thomas

T3

68

68

69

65

270/-14

145

$386,900

Bubba Watson

T3

69

66

69

66

270/-14

145

$386,900

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR

The short par-3 16th, just 163 yards, has become the most renowned hole during the event.

It is the first tournament hole in golf completely surrounded by grandstands and skyboxes, which are filled by 16,000 fans each day, the reason No. 16 has become known as “the most exciting hole in golf.”

W W W.P GAT OUR.COM

04/01/2021 15:23

TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

FEBRUARY 11-14, 2021

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

Location & Course Information

PEBBLE BEACH, CALIF. PEBBLE BEACH GOLF LINKS (HOST COURSE), MONTEREY PENINSULA COUNTRY CLUB, SPYGLASS HILL GOLF COURSE Prominent amateur golfers Jack Neville and Douglas Grant designed Pebble Beach Golf Links, which opened in 1919. Many changes through the years have included Jack Nicklaus creating a new fifth hole in 1998. Yardages: Pebble Beach GL, 6,816, par 72; Spyglass Hill GC, 6,953 , par 72; MPCC (Shore Course), 6,958; par 71.

Notable Course Features

Pebble Beach Golf Links is famous for its holes that run along the Pacific Ocean. While the par-5 18th is one of the most recognizable holes in the world, Nos. 8-10, all par-4s, comprise the most difficult stretch.

Canada’s Nick Taylor, who hadn’t won a PGA TOUR event since 2014, stands on the 18th green at Pebble Beach and celebrates his four-shot victory at the AT&T.

“I had to remind myself I still had the lead. I knew I was swinging it well.” – Nick Taylor

Nick Taylor, Canada

Quick Facts

Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7.8 million Winner’s Share: $1,404,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit

Monterey Peninsula Foundation is the nonprofit organization that stages the tournament and also the PURE Insurance Championship on PGA TOUR Champions. The foundation grants proceeds to organizations and programs benefiting youth, education, health and human services, arts and the environment ($12.3m in 2019).

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Social Media @attproam @attproam @attproam

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20 20

2020 Champion

HOW NICK TAYLOR WON

Nick Taylor stretched his final-round lead to five shots with a front-nine 32 at Pebble Beach, but his advantage dropped to two shots after bogeys on 11 and 12 and a double bogey at 14.

He recovered with a chip-in birdie at the par-4 15th hole and made birdie at the scenic 17th to close with a score of 70, winning by four shots.  Taylor had three eagles on the week, including his first hole of the tournament.  Taylor ranked T3 in Greens in Regulation, hitting 54 of 72.

CHECK THIS OUT  Nick Taylor shot a first-round 63 and had the solo lead after every round, the first to do so at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am since Phil Mickelson (2005).  Canada’s Taylor was the first international winner of the event since Vijay Singh (2004).  Mickelson finished third in his bid to win for a sixth time at Pebble Beach. He and Mark O’Meara have each won five.  Jason Day has finished in the top five in each of the last four years (T5-T2-T4-4 from 2017-20).

LEADERBOARD 2020 Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Nick Taylor

1

63

66

69

70

268/-19

500

$1,404,000

Kevin Streelman

2

69

67

68

68

272/-15

300

$850,200

Phil Mickelson

3

68

64

67

74

273/-14

190

$538,200

Jason Day

4

67

64

70

75

276/-11

135

$382,200

Daniel Berger

T5

70

69

70

69

278/-9

96.25

$277,387

Matt Jones

T5

68

73

65

72

278/-9

96.25

$277,387

Maverick McNealy

T5

72

72

66

68

278/-9

96.25

$277,387

Charl Schwartzel

T5

67

66

73

72

278/-9

96.25

$277,387

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

FEBRUARY 18-21, 2021

Location & Course Information

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIF. THE RIVIERA COUNTRY CLUB George C. Thomas designed Riviera Country Club, acclaimed as one of the best courses in the United States when it opened in 1927. Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore did a renovation in 1992, and since 2002 Tom Fazio has supervised some changes, including lengthening.

Yardage: 7,322; par 71.

The Genesis Invitational Adam Scott, chasing his first PGA TOUR victory since 2016, plays a shot off the 14th tee at Riviera in the final round of the Genesis Invitational.

Notable Course Features The 315-yard 10th is one of the most intriguing holes on the PGA TOUR, often set up as a drivable par 4. The green is small and set at an angle, so it is difficult to hit.

Shots from around the green are challenging, making the decision of whether to go for it a difficult one.

Charity Benefit

The tournament benefits Tiger Woods’ TGR Foundation and its mission to help students pursue their passions through education.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2021, the foundation provides students with pathways to success through its award-winning STEM programs, college-access and scholarship offerings, a digital platform and teacher training.

Learn more at TGRFoundation.org.

HOW ADAM SCOTT WON

Tied with Rory McIlroy and Matt Kuchar entering the final round, Adam Scott claimed the title by shooting a 70 while the other two players were over par. Scott made a double bogey on the fifth hole, but averted another double bogey with a one-putt bogey on the 15th and locked up the victory with his fifth birdie of the day on the 17th hole.  Scott ranked T63 in hitting fairways (23 of 56), but first in Greens in Regulation (52 of 72).  Scott’s 64 in the second round included a 5-under 31 on the back nine.

Player

116

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Adam Scott

1

72

64

67

70

273/-11

500

$1,674,000

Scott Brown

T2

71

68

68

68

275/-9

208.33

$703,700

Sung Kang

T2

69

67

70

69

275/-9

208.33

$703,700

Matt Kuchar

T2

64

69

70

72

275/-9

208.33

$703,700

Joel Dahmen

T5

68

71

66

71

276/-8

93

$318,990

T5

68

70

69

69

276/-8

93

$318,990

Max Homa

T5

72

69

65

70

276/-8

93

$318,990

Hideki Matsuyama

T5

71

72

64

69

276/-8

93

$318,990

Rory McIlroy

T5

68

67

68

73

276/-8

93

$318,990

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021

T36 Genesis.v5.indd 116

Pos

Bryson DeChambeau

Social Media

@thegenesisinv @thegenesisinv @thegenesisinv

 Adam Scott won the event in a playoff in 2005, but it didn’t count as an official victory because the tournament was shortened to 36 holes by bad weather. He finished second in 2006 and 2016.  Scott was the fourth 54-hole leader/co-leader to win The Genesis Invitational in the last five years (J.B. Holmes came from behind in 2019).  Scott was the first international winner of The Genesis Invitational since fellow Australian Aaron Baddeley in 2011.

LEADERBOARD 2020

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

CHECK THIS OUT

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

Quick Facts

Field: 120 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $9.3 million Winner’s Share: $1,674,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

20 20

2020 Champion

Adam Scott, Australia

“I haven’t won for three years. This feels very special.”

— Adam Scott

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04/01/2021 15:24

TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

FEBRUARY 25-28, 2021

Location & Course Information

RIO GRANDE, PUERTO RICO GRAND RESERVE COUNTRY CLUB Grand Reserve Country Club at the Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve has two courses, the Championship and the International, both designed by Tom Kite. The Championship Course winds through palm tree lined holes, lush mangroves, over waterways, and has several oceanfront holes.

Yardage: 7,506; par 72.

Puerto Rico Open With a birdie at the 72nd hole, Norway’s Viktor Hovland became the fourth PGA TOUR rookie to make the Puerto Rico Open his first victory.

Notable Course Features

The 12th, 13th and 14th holes form a key stretch of formidable par 4s, annually ranking among the toughest on the course.

The 465-yard 12th has the most scenic setting, with the green featuring an ocean backdrop.

The 459-yard 14th plays into the prevailing wind and is usually the toughest.

“It was certainly a day of lots of ups and downs.”

— Viktor Hovland

2020 Champion Quick Facts

Field: 132 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $3 million Winner’s Share: $540,000 FedExCup Points: 300 to the winner

Charity Benefit

Since it began in 2008, the Puerto Rico Open has donated over $1 million to more than 50 local charities. In 2019, the tournament partnered with Good Sports to create Kids Pro Fun, an initiative that donated sports equipment to more than 50 nonprofit organizations.

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

Media Coverage Golf Channel

Social Media

@PuertoRicoOpen @puertoricoopen @PuertoRicoOpen

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HOW VIKTOR HOVLAND WON

20 20

Viktor Hovland, Norway

Viktor Hovland recovered from a triple bogey on the 11th hole of the final round to chip in for an eagle on the 15th hole and holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th for a one-stroke victory over Josh Teater. Hovland led through 54 holes after a 64 in the third round and shot a closing 70.  Hovland shot 31 on the front nine of the second round and another 31 on the back nine of the third round.  Hovland eagled the second hole of the second round in addition to his final-round eagle on the 15th.

CHECK THIS OUT  Viktor Hovland became the first player from Norway to win on the PGA TOUR.  The 22-year-old Hovland was the fourth rookie to win the Puerto Rico Open, joining Derek Lamely (2010), Chesson Hadley (2014) and Martin Trainer (2019).  Hovland was only the fifth player since 2003 to win a tournament despite making a triple bogey in the final round.  Jhonattan Vegas, who finished T9, made 11 birdies in the final round in shooting 62, a tournament record.

LEADERBOARD 2020 Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Viktor Hovland

1

Josh Teater

2

68

66

66

68

64

70

268/-20

300

$540,000

66

69

269/-19

165

$327,000

Emiliano Grillo

T3

66

68

69

70

273/-15

83.33

$159,000

Sam Ryder Kyle Stanley

T3 T3

70

65

69

69

273/-15

83.33

$159,000

64

70

71

68

273/-15

83.33

$159,000

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

FEBRUARY 25-28, 2021

World Golf ChampionshipsMexico Championship 

Location & Course Information

Patrick Reed was able to hold off a hard-charging Bryson DeChambeau to win by one stroke at Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City.

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO CLUB DE GOLF CHAPULTEPEC Opened in 1921, Club de Golf Chapultepec was designed by Scottish brothers Willie and Alex Smith, with a redesign by Percy Clifford in 1972. The tree-lined course, which hosted the Mexico Open 18 times, features many elevation changes and views of Mexico City’s skyline. Yardage: 7,355; par 71.

Notable Course Features

The course gets off to an interesting start with the 316yard opening hole, a downhill drivable par 4. To reach the green, though, the tee shot must fade around or fly over a group of trees on a hole that bends to the right. The hardest hole in the tournament is the eighth, a par 5 for members that plays as a 525yard par 4 for the pros.

2020 Champion Patrick Reed, U.S.

Quick Facts

Field: 76 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $10.5 million Winner’s Share: $1,785,000 FedExCup Points: 550 to the winner

Charity Benefit

The WGC-Mexico Championship is committed to growing the game of golf, and its proceeds support The First Tee’s Mexico chapter.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC

Social Media

@WGCMexico @wgcmexico @WGCmexicochampionship 118

“The putter was really hot. It definitely helped me out today because I didn’t hit the ball great on the front nine.” — Patrick Reed

CHECK THIS OUT  Patrick Reed also won this event at Trump National Doral in 2014, making him the tournament’s fifth multiple winner. Tiger Woods won seven times, Dustin Johnson three, and Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson two each.  All four winners of the WGC-Mexico Championship at Club de Golf Chapultepec have been Americans. Reed followed Dustin Johnson (2017, 2019) and Phil Mickelson (2018).  Jon Rahm, who finished T3, made birdie or

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021

T38 WGC Mexico-Rev1.indd 118

better on six consecutive par-3 holes from the second to fourth rounds, tying the PGA TOUR record. The streak included an ace at the 17th hole in the third round.  Rahm’s 61 in the third round broke the previous record of 62, shot seven times. Justin Thomas shot 62 twice, in the third round of 2018 and fourth round of 2019.  Both Mexican players in the field finished in the top 20: Abraham Ancer (T12) and Carlos Ortiz (T16).

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

20 20

Having taken the lead with birdies on five of six holes starting at the ninth, Bryson DeChambeau finally had to settle for second place.

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; PGA TOUR

HOW PATRICK REED WON Patrick Reed one-putted five of the first six holes of the final round, four of them par saves after missing the green, then got his ball-striking together for a birdie burst on the back nine that delivered the title. One-under through 12 holes, Reed birdied Nos. 12, 15, 16 and 17 before a bogey on 18 that cut his victory margin to one stroke. Bryson DeChambeau had taken the lead with birdies on five of six holes starting at the ninth, ultimately shooting a 65 and settling for second place. Reed nearly drove the green on the par-4 12th and was just off the green in two on the par-5 15th, making up-and-down birdies. He added an approach to three feet to set up birdie on the 16th and made an 18foot birdie putt on the 17th.  Reed led the field in fewest putts with 98, including 23, 24 and 25 in the last three rounds. He led the field in Strokes Gained: Putting at 2.956 per round.  Reed was third in Scrambling, saving par on 78.57 percent of his missed greens and fourth in Strokes Gained: Around the Green at .798 per round.  Reed had four straight birdies on the front nine in shooting a 63 in the second round.

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LEADERBOARD 2020 Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup

Earnings

Patrick Reed

1

69

63

67

67

266/-18

550

$1,820,000

Bryson DeChambeau

2

68

63

71

65

267/-17

315

$1,115,000

Jon Rahm

T3

72

69

61

67

269/-15

170

$600,000

Erik van Rooyen

T3

70

62

67

70

269/-15

—

$600,000

Rory McIlroy

5

65

69

68

68

270/-14

115

$430,000

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01/12/2020 10:59

TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

MARCH 4-7, 2021

Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard

Location & Course Information

ORLANDO, FLA. ARNOLD PALMER’S BAY HILL CLUB & LODGE Originally designed by Dick Wilson and Joe Lee in 1961, Bay Hill was substantially redesigned by Arnold Palmer over the years to modernize the challenge for today’s top players. Yardage: 7,454; par 72

Notable Course Features

2020 Champion

Tyrrell Hatton, England

Quick Facts

Field: 120 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $9.3 million Winner’s Share: $1,674,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit

Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation is the host organization of the tournament. The foundation includes the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies and provides financial support to various institutions and organizations.

Media Coverage IMAGES:PGA TOUR

Golf Channel/NBC

Social Media

@APinv @apinv @ArnoldPalmerInvitational W W W.P GAT OUR.COM

T39 Arnold Palmer-REV3.indd 121

“I managed to keep my head, though I did get a little bit frustrated.” — Tyrrell Hatton

HOW TYRRELL HATTON WON

20 20

The closing hole at Bay Hill has been known for producing dramatic moments. The 458-yard par 4 requires a second shot to a narrow kidney-shaped green that wraps around a lake. While a difficult hole, it has seen such heroics as Robert Gamez holing out for an eagle to win in 1990 and Tiger Woods three times making birdie to win by one stroke.

England’s Tyrrell Hatton gives a cheery wave to the fans following his first PGA TOUR triumph at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented

by Mastercard at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.

CHECK THIS OUT  Tyrrell Hatton of England was the fifth consecutive international winner of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, following Jason Day (2016) and Marc Leishman (2017) of Australia, Rory McIlroy (2018) of Northern Ireland and Francesco Molinari (2019) of Italy.  Hatton was the first player to win a tournament with two over-par rounds on the weekend since Geoff Ogilvy at the 2006 U.S. Open.  Leishman finished second to add to prior finishes at Bay Hill of first (2017) and third (2011).

England’s Tyrrell Hatton recovered from a double bogey on the 11th hole with seven straight pars down the stretch to shoot a 74 on a day of tough conditions and win by one stroke over Marc Leishman. Hatton was tied for the halfway lead after opening with 68-69 and moved ahead by himself through 54 holes with a 73 as scores soared in the third round.  Hatton ranked second in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green with 1.817 per round.  Hatton led the field in Par 3 Scoring average at 2.88.

LEADERBOARD 2020 Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Tyrrell Hatton

1

68

69

73

74

284/-4

500

$1,674,000

Marc Leishman

2

71

69

72

73

285/-3

300

$1,013,700

Sungjae Im

3

70

69

74

73

286/-2

190

$641,700

Bryson DeChambeau

4

73

71

72

71

287/-1

135

$455,700

Joel Dahmen

T5

72

72

73

71

288/E

96.25

$330,731

Danny Lee

T5

71

67

75

75

288/E

96.25

$330,731

Rory McIlroy

T5

66

73

73

76

288/E

96.25

$330,731

Keith Mitchell

T5

68

75

74

71

288/E

96.25

$330,731

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

MARCH 11-14, 2021

THE PLAYERS Championship

Location & Course Information

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLA. THE PLAYERS STADIUM COURSE AT TPC SAWGRASS Opened in 1980, THE PLAYERS Stadium Course was designed

by Pete Dye with input from his wife, Alice, and former PGA TOUR Commissioner Deane Beman. The course has been renovated over the years, most recently in 2016.

Yardage: 7,189; par 72.

Notable Course Features

The closing three-hole stretch provides one of the most dramatic stages in tournament golf. The 523-yard 16th offers an eagle opportunity but with danger lurking in water to the right of the green. The island green 137-yard 17th is a wedge or 9-iron shot with even more danger. The 462-yard par-4 18th, with water to the left, was the third toughest on the course in 2019.

2019 Champion

(No event in 2020) Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland

In 2019 Rory McIlroy became only the third player to win THE PLAYERS, the FedExCup, a major and a World Golf Championships event, joining Tiger Woods and Henrik Stenson. THE PLAYERS was canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Quick Facts

Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $15 million Winner’s Share: $2,700,000 FedExCup Points: 600 to the winner

Charity Benefit

Proceeds from THE PLAYERS benefit Northeast Florida charities and have totaled more than $100 million since it began in 1974 and moved to Ponte Vedra Beach in 1977.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC

Social Media

@THEPLAYERSChamp @theplayerschamp @THEPLAYERS 122

“Very proud, very honored to be able to call myself a PLAYERS champion. It’s the toughest tournament to win. The deepest field in the world on one of the most iconic courses in the world.” — Rory McIlroy

CHECK THIS OUT  THE PLAYERS was canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic after one round was played.  In 2019 Rory McIlroy became only the third player to win THE PLAYERS, the FedExCup, a major and a World Golf Championships event, joining Tiger Woods and Henrik Stenson.  McIlroy was the first player from Northern Ireland to win THE PLAYERS. He was the 15th international champion and the eighth in 12 years.

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 Dustin Johnson was the first player to shoot four rounds in the 60s since Steve Elkington in 1997.  Jim Furyk and Jon Rahm both had rounds of 64 in 2019, one off the tournament record of 63 shared by eight players.  Hideki Matsuyama shot a 63 in the first round of the 2020 tournament, but ultimately the round did not count due to the cancellation of the tournament due to the pandemic.

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tournament overview

19 20

images: getty images; Pga tOUR

HOW RORY MCILROY WON Rory McIlroy came out on top after a wild final round with eight players holding at least a share of the lead during the day. McIlroy shared the 36-hole lead after opening 67-65 and through 54 holes was one stroke behind leader Jon Rahm and tied with Tommy Fleetwood. The Northern Irishman struggled early on Sunday, playing the first eight holes in 2-over before making his move with birdies on Nos. 9, 11 and 12. That put him in front, as Fleetwood and Rahm were falling back. But Eddie Pepperell and Jhonattan Vegas were charging with 66s to finish at 14-under, and Jim Furyk moved ahead of them with a birdie at 18 to finish 15-under after a 67.

At that point, McIlroy was 14-under after a bogey at 14, but he birdied 15 with a spectacular approach from a fairway bunker and twoputted for a birdie on the par-5 16th. Pars on the last two holes gave McIlroy a 70 and his first PLAYERS title.

X McIlroy led the field in Strokes Gained: Tee-toGreen (3.316 per round) and was second in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee (1.327).

X McIlroy ranked first in Par 3 Scoring Average at 2.69.

X McIlroy was 12-under on the back nine for the week, one off the tournament record. w w w.p gat our.com

T40 The Players.v7.indd 123

Jon Rahm salutes the crowd after making a putt on the 17th green in the third round. Rahm took a one-shot lead into the final round, but a closing 76 left him T12.

The famous 17th hole during the third round on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course, TPC Sawgrass, 2019.

LEADERBOARD 2019 Player

Pos

1

2

3

Rory McIlroy

1

Jim Furyk

2

4

Total Score

FedExCup

Earnings

67

65

71

64

70

70

272/-16

600

$2,250,000

71

67

273/-15

330

$1,350,000

Eddie Pepperell

T3

72

68

68

66

274/-14

—

$725,000

Jhonattan Vegas

T3

72

69

67

66

274/-14

180

$725,000

Tommy Fleetwood

T5

65

67

70

73

275/-13

110

$456,250

Dustin Johnson

T5

69

68

69

69

275/-13

110

$456,250

Brandt Snedeker

T5

69

72

65

69

275/-13

110

$456,250

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

MARCH 18-21, 2021

The Honda Classic

Location & Course Information

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA. PGA NATIONAL RESORT & SPA (CHAMPION)

Notable Course Features

2020 Champion

Sungjae Im, South Korea

Quick Facts

Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7 million Winner’s Share: $1,260,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit

The Honda Classic donated a record $5.35 million in 2020 to 103 South Florida philanthropic organizations. It included a $1.4 million grant to the tournament’s main beneficiary, the Nicklaus Children’s Healthcare Foundation.

Media Coverage

“After being so close so many weeks and having a bunch of top-10s, using that experience this week was big.” — Sungjae Im

HOW SUNGJAE IM WON

Sungjae Im moved into contention with birdies on four of the first five holes of the final round and claimed the victory with birdies on the two par-3 holes of “The Bear Trap,” Nos. 15 and 17. The 21-year-old shot a closing 66 to come from three strokes behind, surging out of a four-way tie for the lead with his late birdies.  Im ranked first in Strokes Gained: Tee-toGreen (3.072 per round) and T2 in Greens in Regulation Percentage (69.44).  Im had seven birdies in the final round and his 19 for the week tied for the most birdies.

Player

Pos

1

2

Sungjae Im

1

72

Mackenzie Hughes

2

71

Tommy Fleetwood

3

70

68

Byeong Hun An

T4

76

66

Social Media

@TheHondaClassic @thehondaclassic @thehondaclassic

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021

T41 Honda Classic.v4.indd 124

CHECK THIS OUT  At 21 years, 11 months, two days, Sungjae Im became the youngest winner of The Honda Classic, (Rory McIlroy, age 22 in 2012).  Im became the second player from South Korea to win the event, joining Y.E. Yang (2009).  The 2020 Honda Classic was the first nonmajor PGA TOUR event since the 1996 NEC World Series of Golf without any players posting a score of 5-under or better in a round.  Lee Westwood, who was T4 at age 46, was bidding to become the event’s oldest champion (Padraig Harrington, age 43 in 2015).

LEADERBOARD 2020

Golf Channel/NBC

124

20 20

The Champion course is known for a three-hole stretch nicknamed “The Bear Trap” prominently featuring approaches over water.

Water guards three sides of the green at the 179-yard 15th and again at the 175-yard 17th. On the 434-yard 16th, water runs the entire length of the hole and must be carried with the second shot.

In his 50th PGA TOUR start, Sungjae Im of South Korea secured his first career PGA TOUR victory. Birdies at two of the final four holes completed his come-from-behind victory at PGA National’s Champion course.

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

66

70

66

72

66

66

274/-6

500

$1,260,000

275/-5

300

$763,000

67

71

68

67

276/-4

190

$483,000

277/-3

108.75

$280,000

Daniel Berger

T4

69

70

69

69

277/-3

108.75

$280,000

Brendan Steele

T4

68

67

71

71

277/-3

108.75

$280,000

Lee Westwood

T4

67

69

71

70

277/-3

108.75

$280,000

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

Originally designed by George and Tom Fazio in 1981, The Champion course at PGA National was redesigned by Jack Nicklaus in 1990 and again in 2014. With water in play on 16 holes and strategic bunkering, it is one of the sterner tests on the PGA TOUR. Yardage: 7,125; par 70.

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PGA TOUR - FedExCup.indd 1

01/12/2020 10:56

TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

MARCH 25-28, 2021

World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play

Location & Course Information

AUSTIN, TEXAS AUSTIN COUNTRY CLUB The current course at Austin Country Club 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 is in the “lowlands” close to Lake Austin, while the rest of the course is on higher ground.

Yardage: 7,108; par 71.

Notable Course Features

The signature hole is the par-5 12th, which plays downhill to a green that sits hard by Lake Austin. It’s reachable in two strokes, but water awaits an errant shot, making it an excellent risk/reward hole for match play.

2019 Champion (No event in 2020) Kevin Kisner, U.S.

Quick Facts

Field: 64 players Format: 18-hole match play, with four-player pool play preceding single-elimination match play Purse: $10.5 million Winner’s Share: $1,790,000 FedExCup Points: 550 to the winner

Charity Benefit

The tournament has generated more than $4.3 million for Austinbased charitable organizations in the four years since it moved to Austin. The primary benefiting charities are The First Tee of Greater Austin and Dell Children’s Hospital.

Kevin Kisner shows off the Walter Hagen Cup after defeating Matt Kuchar, 3 and 2, in the championship match of the 2019 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC

Social Media

@DellMatchPlay @dellmatchplay @dellmatchplay

126

“A lot of golf and a lot of stressful holes and stressful putts, and I was able to prevail.”

— Kevin Kisner

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

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CHECK THIS OUT  Kevin Kisner was the fifth player to reach the championship match in back-to-back years, joining Tiger Woods (2003-04), Geoff Ogilvy (2006-07), Paul Casey (2009-10) and Hunter Mahan (2012-13).  Kisner became the first player to lose the championship match one year and win it the following year.

 Kisner’s victory was the third consecutive win by an American, the longest such streak since Americans won five in a row from 2001-05.  At age 40, runner-up Matt Kuchar fell just short in his bid to become the oldest winner of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.  It was Kuchar’s second finals appearance; he won the title in 2013 over Mahan.

LEADERBOARD 2019

IMAGES: US PGA TOUR; PGA TOUR

HOW KEVIN KISNER WON After losing in the 2018 final to fellow Georgia Bulldog Bubba Watson, Kevin Kisner reached the final again and this time prevailed over Matt Kuchar, 3 and 2. Kisner lost his first match of the week in pool play to Ian Poulter, but after winning his next two matches, won a playoff to be among the 16 qualifiers for the single-elimination portion of the event. On Saturday, he rolled past Haotong Li, 6 and 5, and topped Louis Oosthuizen, 2 and 1. In Sunday morning’s semifinal, Kisner had a 2-up lead but Francesco Molinari won the 16th and 17th to square the match. Molinari then three-putted for a bogey on No. 18 to allow Kisner to advance to the final. Kuchar defeated Lucas Bjerregaard, 1 up, in the other semifinal (Bjerregaard had eliminated Tiger Woods in the quarterfinals). Kisner jumped ahead in the final with a birdie on the first hole and led all the way, with Kuchar not playing his best. Kisner closed it out with a birdie on 16.  After Kisner and Poulter both went 2-1-0 in pool play, Kisner advanced with a birdie on the third hole of a playoff.  Kisner and Kuchar also met in the fourth round in 2018, with Kisner winning, 1 up.

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Player

Pos

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Kevin Kisner

1

550

$1,745,000

Matt Kuchar

2

315

$1,095,000

Francesco Molinari

3

200

$712,000

Lucas Bjerregaard

4

—

$574,000 Matt Kuchar, aiming for his second WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play title, plays a shot into the sixth hole in the final against Kevin Kisner.

Kevin Kisner’s hard-earned victory over Matt Kuchar at Austin Country Club delivered his first World Golf Championships title.

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

MARCH 25-28, 2021

(See also, p.98 for the September 2020 tournament; both events occur in the same PGA TOUR season)

Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship

Location & Course Information

PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC PUNTACANA RESORT & CLUB CORALES GOLF COURSE The Tom Fazio-designed Corales Golf Course opened in 2010 with six holes playing along the cliffs, bays and coves of the Caribbean Sea and inland holes dotted with lakes and coralina quarries. Yardage: 7,666; par 72.

Hudson Swafford with his wife, Katherine, after capturing the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship in the Dominican Republic.

Notable Course Features

The last three holes play toward or along the Bay of Corales and are called the Devil’s Elbow.

The 214-yard par-3 17th skirts the coast with a narrow green guarded by bunkers on both sides. The 501-yard par-4 18th wraps around the water, enticing players to bite off as much of a carry as they dare on the tee shot.

Field: 132 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $3 million Winner’s Share: $540,000 FedExCup Points: 300 to the winner

Charity Benefit

Proceeds benefit the Grupo Puntacana Foundation, formed to implement programs that protect the environment and that also improve the well-being of the local communities of Punta Cana in basic areas of human development.

Media Coverage

HOW HUDSON SWAFFORD WON

CHECK THIS OUT

Hudson Swafford shot 31 on the front nine and had a four-stroke lead with six holes to play, then held on for a one-stroke victory over Tyler McCumber. Swafford doublebogeyed the 13th and bogeyed the 15th and was tied for the lead before a birdie on 17 and an 8-foot par-saving putt on 18.  Swafford didn’t have a three-putt all week and was fifth in Putts Per Round with 27.00.  Swafford was the only player with all four rounds in the 60s.  Swafford had an eagle in each of the last two rounds.

 The Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship appears twice on the 2020-21 schedule. It was played in September of 2020, postponed from its original March dates due to the coronavirus pandemic.  The winning score has been 18-under 270 in all three years the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship has been a PGA TOUR event.  In the first two years of the tournament, the 54-hole leader went on to win. In 2020, Swafford came from two strokes behind.  Hughes finished T2 in 2019 and third in 2020.

LEADERBOARD 2020 Player

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

1

65

67

69

69

270/-18

500

$720,000

2

65

71

69

66

271/-17

300

$436,000

Mackenzie Hughes

3

68

67

67

70

272/-16

190

$276,000

Nate Lashley

4

68

71

65

69

273/-15

135

$196,000

Adam Long

5

70

65

64

75

274/-14

110

$164,000

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T43 Corales.v2.indd 128

2

Tyler McCumber

@CoralesChamp @coraleschampionship @CoralesChampionship 128

1

Hudson Swafford

Golf Channel

Social Media

Pos

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR

Quick Facts

20 20

2020 Champion

Hudson Swafford, U.S.

“The last two years have been tough. To do this, it’s fun.

This is why I get up and grind.” – Hudson Swafford

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tournament overview

ApRiL 1-4, 2021

Valero Texas Open

Location & Course Information San antonio, texaS tPC San antonio (oakS CoURSe)

oaks Course, one of two courses at tPC San antonio, was designed by Greg norman, assisted by Sergio Garcia, and opened in 2010. the course balances narrower, tree-lined fairways with wide fairways offering multiple routes to the green. Yardage: 7,435; par 72.

Corey Conners had a rollercoaster final round at the Valero texas open with 10 birdies, four bogeys and four pars for a 66 that earned him a two-stroke victory, his first on the PGa toUR.

Notable Course Features

the 591-yard, par-5 18th provides a demanding finish even while affording a birdie opportunity. it is reachable in two for long hitters, but others have to lay up short of a creek that bisects the fairway in front of the green. imprecision on either of the first two shots can leave a player fighting for a par.

2019 Champion

Quick Facts

Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7.7 million Winner’s Share: $1,386,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit

the Valero texas open has generated $171 million in charitable giving over the years. in addition to tournament proceeds, funds are raised by the Valero Benefit for Children and the Champions fore Charity program.

images: getty images

Media Coverage

HOW COREY CONNERS WON

19 20

Corey Conners, Canada (No event in 2020)

“It’s an amazing feeling and really fortunate to be in this position and super excited to be able to call myself a winner.” — Corey Conners

Corey Conners had a rollercoaster final round with 10 birdies, four bogeys and four pars for a 66 that earned him a two-stroke victory. the four bogeys were consecutive at the end of the front nine, but Conners responded with birdies on nos. 10, 11, 12, 14, 16 and 17 for a 30 on the back nine to edge Charley Hoffman.

X Conners had 29 birdies and one eagle during the week to rank first in Par Breakers.

X Conners ranked first in Strokes Gained: approach the Green (2.894 per round) and Greens in Regulation Percentage (81.94).

CHECk tHiS Out X Corey Conners became the first Monday qualifier to win on the PGa toUR since 2010.

Conners had toUR status, but his priority ranking hadn’t gotten him into the event.

X Conners’ 72-hole total of 268 was the lowest since the tournament moved to tPC San antonio in 2010.

X Runner-up Charley Hoffman has finished in the top 15 of this event 11 times in 14 starts.

X Si Woo kim finished t4 in his bid to become only the third wire-to-wire winner of the event (Mike Souchak/1955, Bob estes/1994).

LEADERBOARD 2019 Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Corey Conners

1

69

67

66

66

268/-20

500

$1,350,000

Golf Channel/nBC

Charley Hoffman

2

71

68

64

67

270/-18

300

$810,000

Social Media

Ryan Moore

3

68

70

69

64

271/-17

190

$510,000

Si Woo kim

t4

66

66

69

72

273/-15

122.5

$330,000

Brian Stuard

t4

67

70

70

66

273/-15

122.5

$330,000

@valerotxopen @valerotxopen @valerotxopen

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tournament overview

April 5-11, 2021 (See also, pp.106-107 for the November 2020 tournament; both events occur in the same PGA TOUR Season)

Masters Tournament from one champion to the next—Dustin Johnson accepts the coveted green jacket from tiger Woods.

Location & Course Information

AugustA, gA. AugustA NAtioNAl golf Club Designed by Alister MacKenzie and bobby Jones on the site of a former tree nursery, Augusta National opened in 1932. the course features elevation changes, large undulating greens and relatively few but strategically placed bunkers. the layout has undergone changes throughout its history to continue to provide a strong test for Masters competitors.

Yardage:

7,475; par 72

Notable Course Features the stretch of holes from 11 to 13, known as Amen Corner, has provided more than its share of drama over the years. the 505yard par-4 11th, with a green guarded by water on the left, is one of the toughest holes on the course. the 155-yard 12th is one of the world’s famous par 3s with its shallow, diagonal green fronted by Rae’s Creek. the 510-yard 13th is a dogleg left that provides birdie or eagle opportunities.

2020 Champion Dustin Johnson, u.s.

Quick Facts

Field: Approx 90 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $11.5 million Winner’s Share: $2,070,000 FedExCup Points: 600 to the winner

Media Coverage EsPN/Cbs

Social Media @theMasters @theMasters

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five months after playing a November major due to the pandemic, players return to Augusta National for yet another swing at history. A few, most notably Dustin Johnson, will carry momentum. Nobody played any better than Rory Mcilroy (66-67-69) over the final three rounds of the 2020 Masters. Mcilroy, who needs a green jacket to become only the sixth player

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to collect each of the four professional major championships, rebounded from a tentative opening 3-over 75 to climb all the way back into a tie for fifth. Had he figured something out? likewise, Justin thomas won’t need 12 months to mull how close he really is to breaking through at Augusta National golf Club. thomas, tied for the lead through 36 holes, finished w w w.p gat our.com

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images: alamy; Wikimedia Commons

tournament overview

fourth despite failing to break 70 on the weekend. The aftermath of Tiger Woods’ shocking Sunday septuplebogey 10 at No. 12? It won’t sting for long. Another tee time at Augusta National, where Woods will chase a record-tying sixth Masters title, awaits. Memories of his sizzling Sunday finish (five birdies in six holes) will be fresh.

No, there is nothing positive related to the COVID-19 pandemic that sent our world careening in 2020. But for the game’s top players, one highly intriguing shift resulting from the postponing and rescheduling of events created something they’ll likely never see again: Backto-back Masters Tournaments in their majors lineup, played five months apart. With a record score of 20-under 268, Johnson slipped on a champion’s green jacket in 2020 ,something he’d waited most of his 36 years to do. He won’t wait long to chase another.

With softer autumn conditions, course knowledge for veteran players was not as big a factor as it will be in springtime when conditions are expected to be firmer.

Still, a November Masters, for many, served up a savory appetizer to get right back to Georgia and do it all over again, hopefully a little better.

“I’m very confident I’m going to win around this place at some point,” Thomas said.

His fourth-place finish was his best Masters showing. “I’m very comfortable. I just need to execute a little bit better … I wish the tournament in April started tomorrow.”

• For “How Dustin Johnson Won,” see pp. 106-107

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check this out X The field will include players who won PGA TOUR events after the scheduled April dates of the 2020 Masters and top finishers in the PGA Championship and U.S. Open held in August and September. The Masters field in November was based on the qualifications for the scheduled Masters in April 2020.

X The cumulative scoring average for the field in November of 71.752 was the lowest ever, while Dustin Johnson set the 72-hole scoring record of 20-under 268.

X Johnson became the eighth player (ninth instance) to win the Masters after finishing second the previous year. The most recent was Jordan Spieth in 2015.

X Johnson has finished in the top 10 in five consecutive Masters starts.

X Johnson’s five-stroke victory margin was the largest at the Masters since 1997, when Tiger Woods won by a record 12 strokes.

X Cameron Smith (T2) became the first player to shoot four rounds in the 60s at the Masters.

LeADeRBoARD 2020 Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Dustin Johnson

1

65

70

65

68

268/-20

600

$2,070,000

Sungjae Im

T2

66

70

68

69

273/-15

270

$1,012,000

Cameron Smith

T2

67

68

69

69

273/-15

270

$1,012,000

Justin Thomas

4

66

69

71

70

276/-12

150

$552,000

Dylan Frittelli

T5

65

73

67

72

277/-11

115

$437,000

Rory McIlroy

T5

75

66

67

69

277/-11

115

$437,000

The famous par-3 12th hole at the heart of Amen Corner, Augusta National Golf Club.

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

APRIL 15-18, 2021

Location & Course Information

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. HARBOUR TOWN GOLF LINKS

RBC Heritage Webb Simpson birdied five of the last seven holes to win the RBC Heritage by one stroke in a tournament that finished just before darkness.

Harbour Town was an early masterpiece in the career of renowned architect Pete Dye, with help from consultant Jack Nicklaus in his first design project. It opened in 1969, in time for the first RBC Heritage.

The course is known for its small, undulating greens and tree-lined fairways, putting a premium on accuracy.

Yardage: 7,099; par 71.

Notable Course Features

Webb Simpson, U.S.

Quick Facts

Field: 132 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7.1 million Winner’s Share: $1,278,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit

The Heritage Classic Foundation distributes revenue to a wide variety of charitable organizations in South Carolina, as well as for college scholarships.

HOW WEBB SIMPSON WON

Webb Simpson birdied five of the last seven holes to win by one stroke in a tournament that finished just before darkness after a threehour rain delay. Simpson, one of four players tied for the 54-hole lead, capped his birdie run with an 18-foot putt on the 17th as he closed with a 30 on the back nine for a 64.  Simpson ranked first in Strokes Gained: Putting (1.651 per round), making five putts of longer than 20 feet.  Simpson ranked second in Par Breakers with 25 birdies and an eagle.

Golf Channel/CBS

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

1

65

65

68

64

262/-22

500

$1,278,000

Abraham Ancer

2

69

64

65

65

263/-21

300

$773,900

Daniel Berger

T3

67

69

63

65

264/-20

162.5

$418,900

Tyrell Hatton

T3

71

64

63

66

264/-20

162.5

$418,900

T5

70

65

65

65

265/-19

105

$274,237

Joaquin Niemann

T5

69

68

63

65

265/-19

105

$274,237

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T46 RBC Heritage.v2.indd 132

Player Webb Simpson

Sergio Garcia

Social Media

132

 The tournament was shifted from its scheduled April dates to June after the coronavirus pandemic interrupted the PGA TOUR Season.  Webb Simpson set the tournament 72-hole scoring record with 22-under 262, previously held by Brian Gay (264 in 2009).  In perfect conditions for scoring, the top seven finishers all shot 66 or better in the final round.  Dylan Frittelli, who finished T8, shot 62 in the final round, one higher than the tournament 18-hole record of 61 shared by David Frost (1994) and Troy Merritt (2015).

LEADERBOARD 2020

Media Coverage

@RBC_Heritage @rbcheritage @RBCHeritage

CHECK THIS OUT

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

2020 Champion

“Honestly, the last 10 holes were a blur because the guys are making birdies, we’re trying to finish before night comes, so to finish with five birdies like that was really special.” – Webb Simpson 20 20

All four par 3s at Harbour Town feature water, and they are especially in play on the 200-yard fourth, front and left, and the 192-yard 14th, front and right. No. 14 was the second toughest hole on the course in 2020 and No. 4 the third toughest, accounting for 21 and 17 double bogeys or worse, respectively.

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tournament overview

APRiL 22-25, 2021

Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Location & Course Information New OrleaNs, la.

TPC lOuisiaNa

Pete Dye designed TPC louisiana with assistance from player consultants steve elkington and New Orleans native Kelly Gibson.

The course, which opened in 2004, stretches along the Mississippi river delta, incorporating stands of cypress and oak trees.

Yardage: 7,425; par 72.

Notable Course Features

The signature hole is the 18th, a risk-oriented par 5. it is reachable in two shots, but water all the way down the right side adds an element of danger and 12 strategically placed bunkers come into play on the tee shot, layup area and approach.

2019 Champion

(No event in 2020) Jon rahm, spain/ryan Palmer, u.s.

Charity Benefit

The Fore! Kids Foundation, founded in 1958, has raised more than $40 million with golf events including the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Proceeds from the tournament are distributed to more than 100 charitable organizations and schools.

HOW JON RAHM AND RYAN PALMER WON

Jon rahm and ryan Palmer took control with birdies on the 13th and 14th holes in the alternate-shot final round, followed by a 25-foot par-saving putt on 15 by rahm to set up a worryfree final three holes, a 69, and a three-stroke victory over sergio Garcia and Tommy Fleetwood.

X rahm/Palmer trailed by four strokes after a first-round 64 in best ball, but their secondround 65 was the best in the field in the alternate-shot format as they moved in front.

cHEck tHis Out X The 65 in the second round by Jon rahm and ryan Palmer was the lowest score in the alternate-shot format in the three years the Zurich Classic of New Orleans has been a team event.

X The 60 by Brian Gay/rory sabbatini in the first round matched the lowest score in the best-ball format, accomplished by four teams in the first two years of the event.

X rahm/Palmer’s 134 for the two alternate-shot rounds led the field.

LEADERBOARD 2019 Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points*

Earnings*

Jon rahm / ryan Palmer

1

64

65

64

69

262/-26

400

$1,051,200

Golf Channel/NBC

sergio Garcia / Tommy Fleetwood

2

65

68

64

68

265/-23

162

$423,400

Social Media

Brian Gay / rory sabbatini

T3

60

70

66

71

267/-21

96

$256,412

K.H. lee / Matt every

T3

65

69

65

68

267/-21

96

$256,412

Media Coverage images: getty images

“Our games complement each other so much, the way we drive the ball, our iron play, and there’s nothing better than missing greens knowing his short game is behind me.”

— Ryan Palmer on partner Jon Rahm 19 20

Quick Facts

Field: 80 two-player teams Format: Four-Ball (first and third round); Foursomes (second and fourth round) Purse: $7.4 million Winner’s Share: $1,065,600 for each player FedExCup Points: 400 for each player on the winning team

a 65 by champions Jon rahm and ryan Palmer in the second round was the lowest alternate-shot score in the three years of team play at the Zurich Classic.

@Zurich_Classic @zurich_classic @ZurichClassic

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*FedexCup Points and earnings are for each player DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

APRIL 29-MAY 2, 2021

Location & Course Information PALM HARBOR, FLA. INNISBROOK RESORT (COPPERHEAD COURSE)

Designed by Larry Packard in 1972, the Copperhead Course features undulating terrain that is unusual for a Florida course and complements a challenging strategic layout. The course underwent a restoration in 2015.

Yardage: 7,340; par 71.

Valspar Championship England’s Paul Casey tied for first in subpar holes with 18 birdies and an eagle at the Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course en route to becoming the first back-to-back winner in the 19 years of the Valspar Championship.

Notable Course Features

Holes 16, 17 and 18 are known as the “Snake Pit.” The toughest of the three, and the most difficult hole on the course in 2019, is the 16th, a 475-yard par 4 that features water on the right side.

2019 Champion (No event in 2020) Paul Casey, England

“This feels very different from last year. It feels better. I’m enjoying this one so much more.” — Paul Casey

Quick Facts

HOW PAUL CASEY WON

CHECK THIS OUT

A year after winning the Valspar Championship from behind, Paul Casey held onto the 54hole lead to capture the event for the second consecutive time. Casey shot a 1-over 72 on a tough day for scoring to finish one shot ahead of Louis Oosthuizen, who bogeyed 17, and Jason Kokrak, who bogeyed 18.  Casey played Copperhead’s 16 par 5s in 15-under for the week, ranking first with a 4.06 average.  Casey had 12 bogeys, but ranked T1 in subpar holes with 18 birdies and an eagle.

 The tournament moves to April/May dates this year after having been played in March since 2007 and in the fall from 2000-06.  Paul Casey became the first back-to-back winner in the 19 years of the Valspar Championship. The only other multiple winners: K.J. Choi (2002, 2006) and Retief Goosen (2003, 2009).  Casey’s 1-over 72 was the highest final-round score by a winner at Valspar.  The tournament has been decided by one stroke or gone to a playoff in 10 of the last 11 years.

LEADERBOARD 2019 Player

Media Coverage

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Paul Casey

1

70

66

68

72

276/-8

500

$1,206,000

Golf Channel/CBS

Jason Kokrak

T2

69

71

66

71

277/-7

245

$589,600

Social Media

Louis Oosthuizen

T2

70

72

66

69

277/-7

245

$589,600

Sungjae Im

T4

70

67

71

70

278/-6

122.5

$294,800

Bubba Watson

T4

69

71

70

68

278/-6

122.5

$294,800

@ValsparChamp @valsparchamp @ValsparChampionship 134

Pos

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IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR

Charity Benefit

Copperhead Charities, the nonprofit organizing group of the Valspar Championship, generated more than $1.4 million for charity in 2020 even though the tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, reaching that figure based on commitments prior to the event and generous donations from a number of PGA TOUR pros. Total charitable contributions since 1977 are more than $45 million.

19 20

Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.9 million Winner’s Share: $1,242,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

MAY 6-9, 2021

Location & Course Information CHARLOTTE, N.C. QUAIL HOLLOW CLUB

Wells Fargo Championship Max Homa lets the emotions pour out after making a par putt to secure his first PGA TOUR victory at the 2019 Wells Fargo Championship.

George Cobb was the original designer of Quail Hollow Club, laying out the course in 1961 on a former dairy farm. Arnold Palmer modified selected holes in 1986. Tom Fazio made some changes around 2003 and again in preparation for the 2017 PGA Championship.

Yardage: 7,554; par 71.

Notable Course Features

2019 Champion (No event in 2020) Max Homa, U.S.

Quick Facts

Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $8.1 million Winner’s Share: $1,458,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

“It means a lot to do it under pressure, and job security is great. I haven’t had that.”

— Max Homa

HOW MAX HOMA WON

Max Homa was in a three-way tie for the lead entering the final round and pulled away with a closing 67 to claim his first PGA TOUR victory at age 28. The 2013 NCAA individual champion took control around the turn, with birdies on 10 and 11 to go ahead by four strokes, and ended up winning by three.  Homa ranked first in Strokes Gained: Putting at 2.472 per round and had no three-putts.  Homa’s second-round 63 and fourth-round 67 both matched the low score of the day.

Charity Benefit

Champions For Education, the tournament’s charitable arm, has donated more than $24 million to local and regional charitable organizations.

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Social Media

@WellsFargoGolf @wellsfargogolf @WellsFargoChampionship W W W.P GAT OUR.COM

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19 20

The finishing stretch of three holes, known as the “Green Mile,” ranked as the three hardest holes on the course in 2019. The 506-yard, par-4 16th, with a green guarded by water to the left, was the third toughest.

The par-3 17th, at 223 yards, has water on three sides and was the hardest. The 494-yard 18th, second in difficulty, has a creek all the way up the left.

CHECK THIS OUT  Max Homa became the fifth player to make the Wells Fargo Championship his first PGA TOUR victory, joining Anthony Kim (2008), Rory McIlroy (2010), Rickie Fowler (2012) and Derek Ernst (2013).  Homa’s 72-hole total of 269 was the second best in the history of the event (McIlroy, 267 in 2015).  Justin Rose has finished in the top five in his last three appearances (5th/2014; 3rd/2016; 3rd/2019).

LEADERBOARD 2019 Player

Pos

Max Homa

1

Joel Dahmen

2

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

69

63

70

66

66

70

67

269/-15

500

$1,422,000

70

272/-12

300

$853,200

Justin Rose

3

70

67

68

68

273/-11

190

$537,200

Paul Casey

T4

69

71

66

69

275/-9

108.75

$311,062

Jason Dufner

T4

68

63

71

73

275/-9

108.75

$311,062

Rickie Fowler

T4

71

70

66

68

275/-9

108.75

$311,062

Sergio Garcia

T4

69

73

65

68

275/-9

108.75

$311,062

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

MAY 13-16, 2021

Location & Course Information

AT&T Byron Nelson South Korea’s Sung Kang holds up the trophy after winning the 2019 AT&T Byron Nelson at Trinity Forest Golf Club. The victory was Kang’s first on the PGA TOUR.

MCKINNEY, TEXAS TPC CRAIG RANCH

The AT&T Byron Nelson moves to a new site, the Tom Weiskopf-designed TPC Craig Ranch. The private club, which is northeast of Dallas, opened in 2004. This TPC hosted the Korn Ferry Tour Championship in 2008 and 2012.

Yardage: 7,438; par 71.

Notable Course Features

(Not played in 2020) Sung Kang, South Korea

Quick Facts

Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $8.1 million Winner’s Share: $1,458,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit

The Salesmanship Club of Dallas, the host organization of the AT&T Byron Nelson, donates funds raised by the tournament to Momentous Institute and its education and mental health programs designed to build and repair children’s social and emotional health.

Media Coverage

HOW SUNG KANG WON

Playing 27 holes on Sunday because of a rain delay on Saturday, Sung Kang birdied Nos. 14, 15 and 16 in the final round to shoot 67 and win by two strokes over Matt Every and Scott Piercy. Kang led after a second-round 61, but was one behind Every when play was suspended on Saturday before regaining the 54-hole lead.  Kang had two eagles in the first round and a string of six consecutive birdies in the second round.  Kang ranked second in Strokes Gained: Putting and made 10 of 13 putts in the 10-to-15-foot range.

Player

Pos

1

2

3

Sung Kang

1

Matt Every

T2

65

61

68

65

65

67

Scott Piercy

T2

67

Brooks Koepka

4

65

69

63

66

68

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

67

261/-23

500

$1,422,000

66

263/-21

245

$695,200

64

263/-21

245

$695,200

65

264/-20

135

$379,200

Kiradech Aphibarnrat

T5

69

68

66

64

267/-17

93

$267,810

Tyler Duncan

T5

64

66

70

67

267/-17

93

$267,810

Social Media

@attbyronnelson @attbyronnelson @attbyronnelson

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 Sung Kang set the tournament record for 36 holes with 126, tied the record for 54 holes with 194 (Loren Roberts, 1999; Brooks Koepka, 2016) and was two off the record for 72 holes with 261 (Steven Bowditch, 2015).  South Korea’s Kang was the 11th international winner of the AT&T Byron Nelson since 2000.  With his first career victory, Kang became the 10th Korean-born player to win on the PGA TOUR and second at the AT&T Byron Nelson (Sangmoon Bae, 2013).  Scott Piercy (T2) played the tournament without a bogey.

LEADERBOARD 2019

Golf Channel/CBS

136

CHECK THIS OUT

Matt Jones

T5

65

70

65

67

267/-17

93

$267,810

Rory Sabbatini

T5

67

65

68

67

267/-17

93

$267,810

Peter Uihlein

T5

69

71

63

64

267/-17

93

$267,810

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR

2019 Champion

“We knew it was going to be a long day for everyone.

So it was all about who is not going to lose focus at the end.” – Sung Kang 19 20

The 18th hole is a reachable par 5 of 552 yards but, with nine bunkers in the landing zone, the tee shot must be accurate to give a chance to reach the green in two. A creek crosses the fairway about 15 yards short of the green, which is guarded by three front bunkers.

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PGA TOUR - Live.indd 1

25/11/2020 16:36

TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

MAY 20-23, 2021

PGA Championship

Location & Course Information

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. THE OCEAN COURSE AT KIAWAH ISLAND RESORT Pete and Alice Dye designed the Ocean Course to host the 1991 Ryder Cup, and it also hosted the 2012 PGA Championship. The demanding links-style layout features 10 holes along the ocean, with the other eight running parallel.

Yardage: 7,676; par 72.

Notable Course Features

Five of the six hardest holes in the 2012 PGA Championship were on the back nine. The toughest are the 497-yard 13th, where a canal runs all the way down the right side, and the 501-yard 18th, which snakes around dunes and a large bunker to the right of the fairway. The 18th also features another large bunker to the left of the green.

2020 Champion

Collin Morikawa, U.S.

Quick Facts

“When I woke up today, I was like, this is meant to be. This is where I feel very comfortable.” – Collin Morikawa

Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $11 million Winner’s Share: $1,980,000 (2020) FedExCup Points: 600 to the winner

Charity Benefit

PGA REACH is the 501 (c) (3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America. Its mission is to positively impact lives by enabling access to PGA Professionals, PGA Sections and the game of golf, via several flagship programs.

Media Coverage ESPN/CBS

Social Media

@PGAChampionship @pgachampionship @pgachampionship 138



CHECK THIS OUT  At age 23 years, 6 months, 3 days, Collin Morikawa became the third youngest PGA Championship winner since World War II, behind Rory McIlroy and Jack Nicklaus.  Morikawa became the fifth player to win in his PGA Championship debut since the event went to stroke play in 1958, joining Bob Tway (1986), John Daly (1991), Shaun Micheel (2003) and Keegan Bradley (2011).  Morikawa was playing in only his second career major championship (T35 in 2019 U.S. Open).  Morikawa’s total of 129 for the final two

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Collin Morikawa shows off the Wanamaker Trophy and the champion’s watch after winning the 2020 PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. Morikawa was playing only his second career major championship, and in his first PGA.

rounds (65-64) was a championship record for the last 36 holes (Tiger Woods, 130/2018).

The 64 tied the lowest final round by a winner (Steve Elkington, 1995).  Morikawa was the first player to make an eagle in the final round and go on to win the PGA Championship since Rory McIlroy (2014).  Dustin Johnson finished second for the second consecutive year at the PGA Championship, the first to do that since Jack Nicklaus (1964-65).

Johnson has posted nine consecutive rounds in the 60s in the event.

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

20 20

The 13th hole on The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Resort is reputed to be one of the most challenging on the course.

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; PGA OF AMERICA/GARY KELLNER

HOW COLLIN MORIKAWA WON Collin Morikawa broke away from a crowded pack of contenders with two key shots on the back nine and claimed a major title at age 23. Seven players were tied for the lead at one point early on the back nine before Morikawa chipped in for a birdie on the 14th and drove the green on the par-4 16th. His tee shot settled seven feet from the hole to set up an eagle. Pars on the last two holes gave him a 31 on the back nine for a bogey-free 64 and a total of 13-under 267 for a two-stroke victory over Dustin Johnson and Paul Casey at San Francisco’s Harding Park. Johnson led through 54 holes before closing with a 68 on a day when there were 41 rounds in the 60s; Casey, tied for the lead on the 17th tee, shot 66. Morikawa started the final round two strokes back and moved into position with birdies on Nos. 3, 4 and 10 before his strong finish.  Morikawa ranked first in Strokes Gained: Putting at 2.019 per round.  Morikawa also led the field in Driving Accuracy Percentage, hitting 69.64 percent of the fairways.  Morikawa played the eight par-5 holes in 7-under for the week, ranking T1.  Morikawa matched the best score of the day on both Saturday (65) and Sunday (64).

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LEADERBOARD 2020 Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup

Earnings

Collin Morikawa

1

69

69

65

64

267/-13

600

$1,980,000

Paul Casey

T2

68

67

68

66

269/-11

270

$968,000

Dustin Johnson

T2

69

67

65

68

269/-11

270

$968,000

Jason Day

T4

65

69

70

66

270/-10

114.8

$404,350

Bryson DeChambeau

T4

68

70

66

66

270/-10

114.8

$404,350

Tony Finau

T4

67

70

67

66

270/-10

114.8

$404,350

Scottie Scheffler

T4

66

71

65

68

270/-10

114.8

$404,350

Matthew Wolff

T4

69

68

68

65

270/-10

114.8

$404,350

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

MAY 27-30, 2021

Charles Schwab Challenge

Location & Course Information

FORT WORTH, TEXAS COLONIAL COUNTRY CLUB Perry Maxwell and John Bredemus designed the Colonial Country Club course in 1936.

Built on the bank of the Trinity River, it hosted the U.S. Open five years later and an annual PGA TOUR event since 1946.

Yardage: 7,209; par 72.

Notable Course Features

Daniel Berger shows off the champion’s jacket and Leonard trophy after defeating Collin Morikawa in a playoff at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

“I dreamt of a putt like that to get into a playoff or to win, so it was kind of just like repetition going through my mind.” — Daniel Berger

Daniel Berger, U.S.

Quick Facts

Field: 120 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7.5 million Winner’s Share: $1,350,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit

The Charles Schwab Challenge partners with charitable organizations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area through the Birdies for Charity program. In 2020, the tournament also contributed to the PGA TOUR COVID-19 Relief Fund.

HOW DANIEL BERGER WON

Daniel Berger made a 10-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to reach a playoff, then won with a par on the first extra hole when Collin Morikawa missed a 3-foot par putt. Berger, two strokes back and T7 through 54 holes, shot 66 in a tight final-round battle. Four players finished one stroke behind, all missing birdie putts on the final hole.  Berger ranked first in Putting from 10-15 feet, making 10 of 14 from that range.  Berger ranked fifth in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green at 1.362 per round.

CHECK THIS OUT  The Charles Schwab Challenge was the first tournament of the PGA TOUR’s 2020 restart after three months off due to the coronavirus pandemic.  The victory was Daniel Berger’s third on the PGA TOUR, each one of them in the second week of June (2016 and 2017 FedEx St. Jude Classic).  None of the top eight finishers had a round over par and six of them posted four subpar rounds.

LEADERBOARD 2020

Media Coverage

Player

Pos

1

2

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Daniel Berger

1

65

67

67

66

265/-15

500

$1,350,000

Collin Morikawa

2

64

67

67

67

265/-15

300

$817,500

Golf Channel/CBS

Bryson DeChambeau

T3

65

65

70

66

266/-14

133.75

$366,094

Social Media

Jason Kokrak

T3

67

70

65

64

266/-14

133.75

$366,094

Justin Rose

T3

63

69

68

66

266/-14

133.75

$366,094

Xander Schauffele

T3

65

66

66

69

266/-14

133.75

$366,094

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2020 Champion

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IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

Holes 3-5 at Colonial comprise the club’s “Horrible Horseshoe,” beginning with a 483-yard par 4. Next is a par 3 of 247 yards that plays to an elevated green.

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. The fifth hole played as Colonial’s toughest hole in 2020.

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

JANUARY 21-23, 2021

FEBRUARY 26-28, 2021

HUALALAI GOLF COURSE KA’UPULEHU-KONA, HAWAII

Yardage

7,107; par 72

2019 Champion Tom Lehman, U.S.

Tournament Record 191, Loren Roberts (2006)

Tournament 18-hole Record 61, Loren Roberts (2006)

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information

pgatour.com/champions/ tournaments/Mitsubishi-electricchampionship-at-hualalai.html

Course Insight

Designed by Jack Nicklaus, Hualalai lies upon dramatic natural topography and winds through lava outcrops to provide a unique test even for 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, making it the most scenic hole.

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Miguel Angel Jiménez birdied the second playoff hole to beat Fred Couples and Ernie Els for his second title at Hualalai, adding to his 2015 victory. After the round, Jiménez said that early on the back nine he told his caddie, “The winning score is going to be 15-under par, and we need to hurry up and make birdies.” That score would have won outright but with birdies on Nos. 13, 14 and 15, Jiménez got to 14-under as he closed with a 67. Els, making his PGA TOUR Champions debut, followed an opening 72 with a pair of 65s to finish at 14-under, while Couples shot a final-round 67. Couples bogeyed the first extra hole for his third runnerup finish at Hualalai. Jiménez then won it with a 12-foot birdie when he and Els returned to the 18th hole for a second time.

CHARITY BENEFIT Since the inception of the Mitsubishi Electric Championship in 1997, more than $1 million has been donated to various island charities, including the Rotary Club of Kona, Daniel R. Sayre Foundation and Big Island Junior Golf programs.

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Location

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HOW MIGUEL ANGEL JIMÉNEZ WON

Cologuard Classic

HOW BERNHARD LANGER WON Location

OMNI NATIONAL TUCSON RESORT TUCSON, ARIZ.

Yardage

7,218; par 73

Tournament Record 199, Tom Lehman (2017)

Tournament 18-hole Record 63, Jim Carter (2016), Steve Stricker (2017)

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information

www.cologuardclassic.com

Course Insight

The Catalina Course at Omni National Tucson Resort, designed by Robert von Hagge and Bruce Devlin, hosted more than 30 events on the PGA TOUR before it welcomed PGA TOUR Champions starting in 2015.

Opened in 1963, the Catalina Catalina Course at Omni National Tucson Resort is a parkland-style design featuring eight lakes and 80 bunkers. The course is known for its very difficult 18th hole, with water guarding both sides of the landing area and an uphill approach shot to an undulating green.

Bernhard Langer shot a finalround 8-under 65 to come from four strokes behind and claim his 41st PGA TOUR Champions victory. “I still feel if I play my best, I have a chance to win out here,” said the 62-year-old.

“But I have to play my best.

I can’t play at 80 percent.”

Langer birdied the first three holes en route to a 5-under 31 on the front nine and took the lead with birdies on 11 and 12. He gave himself a cushion with birdies on 15 and 17 before a bogey on 18 trimmed his margin of victory to two strokes. Woody Austin, sparked by an ace on the fourth hole, shot 66 and finished second at 203, while 36-hole leader Brett Quigley and Rod Pampling were next at 205.

CHARITY BENEFIT The Cologuard Classic aligns with the run-up to national Colon Cancer Awareness Month in March, with the event furthering colon cancer awareness through various on-site activations. The Tucson Conquistadores is the charitable organization that hosts the tournament and donates net proceeds to youth athletic programs in southern Arizona.

IMAGES: PGA TOUR

Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

MARCH 5-7, 2021

APRIL 16-18, 2021

Hoag Classic

Chubb Classic

Yardage

6,606; par 71

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.hoagclassic.com

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES ; PGA TOUR

Course Insight

Located along the Pacific Coast Highway in scenic Newport Beach and offering views of the Pacific Ocean and Newport Bay, Newport Beach Country Club was designed by renowned architect William Bell in 1952. A strategic layout, the course underwent enhancements

by Harry Rainville in 1973. Ted Robinson further refined it with changes to selected tees and bunkers in 1985 and 1998-2000.

The course is known for its narrow Kikuyu fairways lined by mature pines and small greens with deceptive breaks. Water on several holes adds to the challenge.

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Ernie Els, playing in his third PGA TOUR Champions event, birdied the 15th and 18th holes to record a two-stroke victory over Fred Couples, Glen Day and Robert Karlsson. “I had to work hard for it, and that’s a good thing,” said the Champions rookie. “You don’t want something falling in your lap.” Els led through 36 holes after rounds of 66-64, and he closed with a 67. Day took the lead with birdies on 14-17 before a bogey on 18 left him with a 64, while two-time Hoag champion Couples and 50-yearold Karlsson both shot 66. In the second round, Els had eight birdies and an eagle to offset two bogeys for a 64 in a round in which he hit 15 greens despite hitting only three fairways.

CHARITY BENEFIT Tournament proceeds benefit institutes of the Hoag Hospital Foundation, including the Hoag Cancer Foundation, the Sue & Bill Gross Women’s Pavilion, Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart and Vascular Institute and Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center. Other local charities are also beneficiaries as the tournament has raised more than $20 million since it started in 1995.

HOW SCOTT PAREL WON Location

TIBURON GOLF CLUB NAPLES, FLA.

Yardage

6,949; par 72

Tournament Record

196, Bernhard Langer (2011), Kenny Perry (2012), Scott Parel (2020)

Tournament 18-hole Record

61, Tommy Armour III (2010)

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information www.chubbclassic.com

Course Insight

Tiburon Golf Club, founded in 1998, has two courses designed

by Greg Norman. The Black Course, which will host the Chubb Classic for the first time in 2021, opened in 2001. It has a distinctive look and fits into its natural surroundings with fairways lined by pine straw and crushed coquina waste areas instead of traditional rough.

Tiburon’s Gold Course is home of the annual QBE Shootout, hosted by Norman, and the CME Group Tour Championship on the LPGA Tour.

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Location

NEWPORT BEACH COUNTRY CLUB NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF.

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HOW ERNIE ELS WON

Scott Parel birdied six of the first 12 holes on the way to an 8-under 63 to come from three strokes behind and claim his third career PGA TOUR Champions title with a tournament record-tying 196 total. “For me to be in contention and to finish the job, I’m very happy,” said Parel, who lost in two playoffs in 2019.

Bernhard Langer surged early in the final round to take the lead with three birdies on the first six holes. But the three-time Chubb Classic champion (2011, ’13, ’16) bogeyed the eighth and ninth holes, and Parel made birdies on Nos. 10 and 12 to go ahead for good. Bob Estes pressed Parel by shooting 64, but settled for second place, two strokes behind at 198. Langer tied for third with Kevin Sutherland at 200.

CHARITY BENEFIT The official host charity of the Chubb Classic is First Tee of Naples/Collier, and the tournament also supports many other charities in Southwest Florida. Over the history of the event, the tournament has raised more than $3.5 million for charity.

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

APRIL 30-MAY 2, 2021

MAY 6-9, 2021

Regions Tradition

Yardage

7,002; par 72

Tournament Record

191, Bernhard Langer (2007)

Tournament 18-hole Record

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 or redesign of more than 250 courses in the U.S. and 16 other countries, but this was a “home course” for von Hagge, who lived in The Woodlands.

Created in 1978, the course features ponds, lakes and trees.

It has hosted tournaments on all the major tours, including the Houston Open on the PGA TOUR and the LPGA’s Samsung World Championship.

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HOW STEVE STRICKER WON

Scott McCarron played 34 holes on Saturday after rain washed out most of play Friday, shooting 67-65 to take a three-shot lead through two rounds, and held on to win by two strokes on Sunday. “I guess I’m kind of a mudder,” said the 53-yearold after his 10th PGA TOUR Champions victory and second in three weeks. “It seems a lot of my wins are when the weather’s really bad.” McCarron was pressed hard by Scott Parel in the final round, with the pair trading birdies on the back nine. Parel pulled into a tie for the lead with birdies on 11 and 12, McCarron countered with birdies on 13 and 14, Parel moved within one with a birdie on 15, and McCarron pushed the margin back to two with a birdie on 16. Parel missed a chance when he failed to convert a 3-foot birdie putt on 17. Both parred 18, Parel finishing with a 66 to claim second and McCarron a 67.

Not played in 2020.

Steve Stricker claimed his first senior major title with a final-round 68 that gave him a six-stroke victory. “My goal was not to make a mistake today, not to make a bogey, and I did that,” said the Wisconsin native. Stricker made only one bogey all week, on the fourth hole of the third round. He started with rounds of 68-6470 to lead by two strokes over Bernhard Langer (a two-time Regions Tradition champion), Billy Andrade and David Toms.

Langer shot a closing 75 and finished T6 while Andrade and Toms had 72s and tied for second with Paul Goydos (70).

Stricker had birdies on Nos. 3, 4, 9 and 13 to pull away. It was the fourth win in 18 PGA TOUR Champions starts for Stricker, who has stayed competitive on the PGA TOUR. Not played in 2020.

CHARITY BENEFIT Proceeds from the Insperity Invitational benefit several local Houston charities.

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Location

THE WOODLANDS COUNTRY CLUB THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS

HOW SCOTT MCCARRON WON

Location

GREYSTONE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB (FOUNDERS COURSE), BIRMINGHAM, ALA.

Yardage

7,277; par 72

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 was designed by Bob Cupp and two-time major champion Hubert Green, opening in 1991.

The course hosted the Bruno’s Memorial Classic on PGA TOUR Champions from 1992 to 2005.

The course has been the site of the Regions Tradition since 2016 after undergoing some changes—nine greens either were rebuilt or modified, and three new tees and several new bunkers were added.

CHARITY BENEFIT Children’s of Alabama, the only hospital in the state dedicated solely to the care and treatment of children, is the tournament’s primary charity recipient. (Other charities can benefit through the Birdies for Charity program.)

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES, MALLORY COONER

Insperity Invitational

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TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

MAY 14-16, 2021

Mitsubishi Electric Classic

MAY 27-30, 2021

KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship

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Location

TPC SUGARLOAF, DULUTH, GA.

Yardage

6,987; par 72

Tournament Record

201, Stephen Ames (2017)

Tournament 18-hole Record

64, Olin Browne, Bernhard Langer (2015), Woody Austin (2016), Kenny Perry (2017), Scott Parel (2018)

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information

www.mitsubishielectricclassic. com

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

Course Insight

Opening in 1997, TPC Sugarloaf hosted a PGA TOUR event each year through 2008 and PGA TOUR Champions events since 2013. The course was designed by Greg Norman, who guided the layout through stands of trees and used streams, lakes, large bunkers and the natural terrain, thus creating a challenging test.

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Scott McCarron took the lead with a 68 in difficult conditions in a first round when only three players broke par and went on to claim the trophy at TPC Sugarloaf—the course where he captured two of his three PGA TOUR titles. “This place is just very special to me,” said McCarron. “The golf course is just fantastic, so I love coming here.” The opening round was delayed by rain and then buffeted by wind before extending into Saturday.

McCarron followed with a 70 to take a three-stroke lead. He double-bogeyed the third hole in the final round and fell a stroke behind Joe Durant for much of the front nine. But Durant bogeyed the ninth hole and shot an even-par 36 on the back nine while McCarron birdied Nos. 13 and 15 for a 34 and a closing 71. He won by two shots over Durant, Kent Jones, Jerry Kelly and Kirk Triplett.

Not played in 2020.

CHARITY BENEFIT Benefiting charities are Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett. Metro Atlanta nonprofit organizations also raise funds through the Birdies for Charity program.

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HOW SCOTT MCCARRON WON

HOW KEN TANIGAWA WON

Location

SOUTHERN HILLS COUNTRY CLUB TULSA, OKLA.

Yardage

7,131; par 70

Tournament Record 265, Rocco Mediate (216)

Tournament 18-hole Record

62, Kenny Perry (2012), Rocco Mediate (2016)

Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC

More Information

www.srpgachampionship.com

Course Insight

Perry Maxwell-designed Southern Hills Country Club (opened in 1935) has been a frequent site of major championships. The course was recently renovated and restored by architect Gil Hanse. Hanse oversaw tree removal, new locations for three greens, restoration of Maxwell’s contouring around the edges of greens and an underground hydronics system to help keep the greens firm. The course has hosted four PGA Championships, three U.S. Opens, two TOUR Championships and five other USGA championships.

Ken Tanigawa didn’t play on the PGA TOUR, but in his second year on PGA TOUR Champions he captured a senior major at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. “To say it’s a dream come true might be an understatement,” said Tanigawa, who was born in Japan, grew up in Southern California and played on the golf team at UCLA with Scott McCarron—who finished runner-up to him at the Senior PGA. Both shot final-round 70s at Oak Hill Country Club, with Tanigawa sinking a 10-foot par putt on the 18th to give him a one-stroke victory. Defending champion Paul Broadhurst led going into the back nine on Sunday, but made a double bogey on the 16th and bogey on the 18th to shoot 75 and finish third, two strokes behind.

Not played in 2020.

CHARITY BENEFIT PGA REACH is the 501 (c) (3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America. Its mission is to positively impact lives by enabling access to PGA Professionals, PGA Sections and the game of golf through several flagship programs.

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THE LAST WORD

REASONS TO BE THANKFUL The Editor of the PGA TOUR Essential Guide to Golf reflects on the past challenging year and finds much to celebrate

By Jeff Babineau

O

ne Thursday in November does not hold exclusive rights to expressing our thanks. As the final sands dripped slowly out of 2020—a year truly like no other—it would be an easy exercise to recollect all that didn’t go right. Instead, as a new year beckons, with renewed hope, let us celebrate some of the good things we witnessed and experienced:

Bryson DeChambeau after winning the 2020 U.S. Open.

X When COVID-19 delivered The Great Unknown, the PGA TOUR stepped up in a big way as a trailblazer in returning sports to our lives. By operating wisely and safely, the PGA TOUR was able to salvage a major portion of its 2019-20 season. Sure, it included a few twists, such as major championships shifted to September and November, but we got there. Let’s be thankful for the mighty effort.

X There are plenty of divisive elements attached to living in the 2020s; Bryson DeChambeau should not be listed among them. For all who claim that his intense chase for increased distance might “break the game,” DeChambeau should be celebrated for his hard work, ingenuity and unwavering dedication. He is pushing the envelope, and he’ll push others to get better, just as Tiger Woods once awakened golfers to get in the gym. Celebrate DeChambeau for what he is: our U.S. Open champion.

X In the 1980s, stepping onto the PGA TOUR was an intimidating experience for young players. Rookies would step out nervously onto a practice tee at some TOUR stop and see players such as Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Raymond Floyd, Curtis Strange and Lanny Wadkins hitting balls near them. Winning was something that took time. Patience. Now, kids show up out of college and they are immediately ready to compete. Just look at the 2019 class that brought us Collin Morikawa, Matthew Wolff and Viktor Hovland.

Stewart Cink celebrates with his son Reagan after winning the Safeway Open at Silverado Resort.

All have hoisted trophies already; Morikawa won a major title (PGA Championship) in his second major start, and Wolff made a spirited run at the U.S. Open. Hovland won twice in 2020. So much for a learning curve.

X Golf never ceases to give us interesting storylines. It helps that the actual playing field changes from week to week. Winners are rich in variety, too. We love stories born from work ethic and good old-fashioned perseverance. Like Stewart Cink winning at the Safeway Open in California, with his wife, Lisa, a cancer survivor, walking along, and one of their two sons, Reagan, on dad’s bag.

Or Jim Herman, on the way to losing his card, winning in the final Regular Season stop, the Wyndham Championship. Or Sergio Garcia, at 40, breaking a winless streak of three-plus years at Sanderson Farms Championship. For storytelling, golf never fails us.

X In the midst of a pandemic, there are so many things that we cannot do, everyday things that we once took for granted. Eating inside a restaurant. Taking the family to a ballgame. Gathering with extended family at the holidays. Golf amid COVID-19 was something of an outlier. It was something we could do, very safely, enjoying a good walk with renewed appreciation. Rounds were up in 2020, and so many of my friends tell me they played more golf than they had in years.

“Hopefully,” PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan told us on that fateful March morning that THE PLAYERS Championship was canceled, “people are inspired to continue to use this game to get through a challenging time.”

We did. Again, with a gracious dose of thankfulness. 

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