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FedExCup Charles Schwab Cup Web.com Tour
OVERVIEWS PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada PGA TOUR China Golf in the Olympics PGA TOUR LIVE
YOUNG PLAYERS Making Their Mark
GOLF & TRAVEL
JA SO N Y DA
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Meet
Jaya A 5-year-old girl’s seizures lead to a startling diagnosis. Jaya was the picture of health for her first five years, until a seizure sent her to the ER. There, her parents received startling news: Jaya had a brain tumor and would need surgery to remove it. Unfortunately, because she had a rare type of tumor that blended into her brain tissue, her first surgery was unsuccessful, and the brain tumor returned.
When Jaya’s brain tumor was removed and came back, her family turned to the expertise of the pediatric neuroscience
Desperate to find a cure, Jaya’s family found their way to the Walter and Michelle Stys Neuroscience Institute at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, where they learned that she needed another brain surgery. This time, thanks to the expertise and advanced technology available at Wolfson Children’s, including intraoperative MRI capability which allowed intricate navigation of her brain during the eight-hour surgery, her pediatric neurosurgery team was able to ensure that they got the entire tumor. Today Jaya is a happy first grader. She will be monitored closely at Wolfson Children’s over the next several years, but the likelihood of her tumor coming back is very small — wonderful news to her grateful family.
team at Wolfson Children’s Hospital to get rid of it for good.
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Wolfson Children’s Hospital is ranked as one of the 50 Best Children’s Hospitals in the nation for Neurology & Neurosurgery and Gastroenterology & GI Surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
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Wolfson Children’s Hospital
Kids like Jaya benefit from the unique collaboration of nationally and internationally recognized pediatric physicians and organizations that comprise the Stys Neuroscience Institute at Wolfson Children’s Hospital: Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, Jacksonville, the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute and the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville. Our team approach enables us to provide the expertise every child and family deserves when faced with a life-changing neurological diagnosis.
Children who come to the Stys Neuroscience Institute at Wolfson Children’s Hospital have access to
Bringing together the expertise of world-class pediatric specialists in neurology, neurosurgery, endovascular surgery, radiation oncology, neuroradiology, neuro-oncology and physical medicine and rehabilitation, the Stys Neuroscience Institute at Wolfson Children’s Hospital offers specialized care for the most complex neurological conditions. Areas of expertise include:
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COMMISSIONER’S MESSAGE
FROM THE COMMISSIONER
IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES
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ach new issue of the PGA TOUR Essential Guide to Golf provides an opportunity to update you on key developments within our organization. For this edition, where better to begin than a milestone that resonates through the PGA TOUR’s charity tagline: “Together, anything’s possible.” Earlier this year, we announced that the TOUR generated a record $160 million for charity in 2015, primarily through the outstanding work of the tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Web.com Tour and our three international Tours. This marks the first time that we’ve surpassed the $150 million threshold in a single year and brings the TOUR’s all-time total to $2.3 billion since the first recorded tournament contribution of $10,000 was made by the 1938 Palm Beach Invitational.
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The entire PGA TOUR family takes tremendous pride in the positive charitable and economic impact our tournaments continue to have in their respective communities. Consider, too, that these numbers don’t take into account the wonderful work PGA TOUR members do through their own foundations and charitable endeavors. Speaking of our members, the competition has never been stronger as our tournaments showcase the best players in the world and our international Tours—PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR China— continue to foster bright young talent from around the world. (See pp.54-58) Another area of tremendous growth has been our digital media, which allows fans to follow our competition anytime, anywhere. One of the most significant
developments has been our new subscription service, PGA TOUR LIVE, which provides exclusive live coverage of two marquee groups on Thursday and Friday mornings from 31 tournaments in 2016. After a successful debut late last season, PGA TOUR LIVE is bigger and better with a number of new features. We also continue to develop new online content for SkratchTV, which provides a unique, non-traditional look at the PGA TOUR and our players. Combined with our network broadcasts, coverage on SiriusXM PGA TOUR Network, and the great content on PGATOUR.COM, fans have a variety of options to enjoy the final half of the 2015-16 season to its fullest. We hope you’ll join us. ■ Tim Finchem, PGA TOUR Commissioner PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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17/06/2016 11:04
Powerful. Precise. Productive. Too Bad It Can’t Play Golf. Bring Power to Your Performance In business, as in golf, there are few gimmes. The right skills, tools and knowledge make the difference. Konica Minolta is proud to be the Official Multifunction Printer of the PGA TOUR.® Our bizhub® multifunction printers give select tournaments along the PGA TOUR the power to manage their print workflow. We can bring the same seamless integration to your business workflows and, in conjunction with our Managed Print Services, help you reduce costs and streamline print processes. We offer a secure, smart and efficient solution. It’s just another way Konica Minolta gives shape to ideas and helps you improve your business’ game.
Official Sponsor of the PGA TOUR © 2016 KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS U.S.A., INC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. KONICA MINOLTA, the KONICA MINOLTA logo, bizhub and Giving Shape to Ideas are registered trademarks or trademarks of KONICA MINOLTA, INC. All other product and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or organizations.
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contents
Welcome
Essential Guide
contents
images: us pga tour; getty images
from the editor
On the Sunday prior to the Masters, a young man practiced with an older man at Augusta National Golf Club. Bryson DeChambeau, 22, a student of golf of the highest order, was enhancing his education by playing with Ben Crenshaw, 64, a two-time Masters champion whose pre-tournament advice to Jordan Spieth helped his fellow Texan win in 2015. DeChambeau got on the Masters leaderboard and tied for 21st, earning low-amateur honors just as Crenshaw did (twice) more than 40 years ago. DeChambeau made his professional debut on Hilton Head Island, S.C., at the RBC Heritage the following week and finished T4, continuing to impress, as he did in 2015 when he became one of the rare golfers to win the NCAA Championship and U.S. Amateur in the same year. As you’ll discover in this edition of the PGA TOUR Essential Guide—that previews the second half of the 2015-16 season while noting what has happened so far—there is no shortage of young talent on the PGA TOUR. DeChambeau, whose intriguing approach to his swing and equipment has sparked plenty of conversation, joins a wave of precocious players already making their mark. There is always turnover on TOUR. Careers end, and careers begin. The beauty of golf, compared to lots of other sports, is that the transition isn’t as abrupt. There is mingling between generations and no small amount of respect. Crenshaw contemporary Tom Watson, 66, competed in his last Masters this spring, as Crenshaw had done in 2015, and the Hall of Famer took the opportunity to appraise what’s happening on the TOUR where he was a newbie in the early 1970s. “I think the TOUR is in great stead,” Watson said. “The youth of the TOUR is just great for the game with the young players, the stars right now that people are talking about all the time, McIlroy, Spieth, Day, Fowler. It gets kids involved: ‘Let’s go be like Rickie Fowler, let’s go be like Jordan Spieth.’ I was trying to be like Jack Nicklaus—be like him, swing like him. You study, and if you really want to be a golfer, you look at these players, how do they do it, why are they so good. You try to figure it out, and that leads to a lifetime of golf. And I think that’s really healthy.” And for Watson, who acknowledges that the demands in the Internet age are greater on stars than when he was at the top of the game, has noticed something else. “The guys, they treat people the right way,” he said. Nicklaus, 76, agrees. “I really like the kids of today that are playing,” he said. One of them is Justin Thomas, who recently turned 23 and has already won on TOUR. Prior to the Masters, Thomas reached out to the Golden Bear. Over a basketball game at Nicklaus’ home, they talked golf. “I get a kick out of it, that the kids want to do that,” Nicklaus said. Rest assured, the kids do too. Bill Fields, Editor Fairfield, Conn. w w w.pgatour.com
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Introductions 9
Commissioner Tim Finchem’s Welcome
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Editor’s Welcome, Bill Fields
SCHEDULES 19
PGA TOUR 2015-16 Tournaments
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Champions Tour 2016 Tournaments
FEATURES 22
FedExCup: Awesome Aussies Midway through the 2015-16 PGA TOUR season, Jason Day took the lead in the FedExCup standings with countryman Adam Scott in second place and a mix of familiar and fresh faces in hot pursuit.
30
THE PLAYERS – Front Runner Motivated and determined, Jason Day goes wire-to-wire in THE PLAYERS Championship for the seventh victory in his last 17 starts.
41
The Team Events 2016/17 The 2016 Ryder Cup will see the United Stated trying to reclaim victory after three straight losses to Europe, while The Presidents Cup has seen the U.S. win nine of 11 previous Cups.
48 Enhancing the PGA TOUR Fan Experience Last summer the PGA TOUR introduced a subscriptionbased digital platform service that gives fans an inside look into the action at TOUR events, PGA TOUR LIVE.
54
The International Tours The three international PGA TOURs—PGA TOUR China, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and Mackenzie Tour—continue to be an important step in the career development of players climbing the professional ladder. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2 11
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THE PGA TOUR and swinging golfer design are registered trademarks of the PGA TOUR, Inc. ©2016 aboutGolf Limited. All Rights Reserved.
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CONTENTS
Rickie Fowler
J.J.Henry
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Travel: Play Away!
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Great Players, Great Moments
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ways to reduce your risk for golf injury, and thereby maximizing the great health benefits that the game can provide.
Playing golf on home turf or away, whether it’s a short break or the annual vacation, we look for both risk and reward out on the greens. Our golf vacation selection aims to offer the best mix of challenges and relaxation.
The first half of the season wasn’t lacking drama and entertainment as PGA TOUR players showed their skill and dedication—emotions captured in this collection of photographs.
2015-16 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW 123
Early Returns Woody Austin won three times in the first part of the 2016 PGA TOUR Champions season, and defending Charles Schwab Cup Champion Bernhard Langer also got off to a strong start.
Young and Thriving A youth movement is in full swing on the PGA TOUR, with a group of players age 25 and younger not afraid to make their mark.
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Sun Protection One of the world’s most respected cancer centers has launched a campaign in partnership with the PGA TOUR to help players and fans be more aware of the risk of skin cancer caused by overexposure to the sun’s rays.
An interesting new addition to the golf calendar has caused some movement within the schedule
the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Muirfield Village GC, Dublin, Ohio, June 2-5
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FedEx St. Jude Classic
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U.S. Open
TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tenn., June 9-12
Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, Pa., June 16-19
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Quicken Loans National
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Barracuda Championship
Golden Opportunity A remarkable comeback for the game, as golf is once again a feature of the Summer Olympics for the first time in more than a century.
The Final Stretch
PGA TOUR EVENTS 2016
Fast Tracking Through Web.com Tour The young talent emerging shows there’s no more effective learning curve than the Web.com Tour as a preparation for the PGA TOUR.
Troy Merritt
Rory McIlroy
Congressional Country Club (Blue), Bethesda, Md., June 23-26
Montreux Golf & Country Club, Reno, Nev., June 30-July 3
142 World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational
Firestone Country Club (South Course), Akron, Ohio, June 30-July 3
Playing it Safe With prevention being better than cure, there are PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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CONTENTS Jordan Spieth
Bubba Watson
Jason Day
IMAGES: US PGA TOUR; GETTY IMAGES
Patrick Reed
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The Greenbrier Classic
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Barbasol Championship
The Old White TPC at The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., July 7-10
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The Open Championship
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RBC Canadian Open Glen Abbey Golf Club, Oakville, Ont., Canada, July 21-24
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PGA Championship
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Travelers Championship
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John Deere Classic
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Wyndham Championship
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Baltusrol Golf Club (Lower Course), Springfield, N.J., July 28-31
TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn., August 4-7
TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Ill., August 11-14
Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, N.C., August 18-21
The Barclays Bethpage State Park (Black Course), Farmingdale, N.Y., August 25-28
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Deutsche Bank Championship
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BMW Championship
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TPC Boston, Norton, Mass., September 2-5
East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Ga., September 22-25
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS 2016
Grand National (Lake Course), Auburn/Opelika, Ala., July 14-17
Royal Troon Golf Club, Troon, Scotland, July 14-17
TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola
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The Season Ahead Principal Charity Classic Wakonda Club, Des Moines, Iowa, June 3-5
Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship Philadelphia Cricket Club, Philadelphia, Pa., June 9-12
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American Family Insurance Championship
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Dick’s Sporting Goods Open
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The Senior Open Championship by Rolex
185
3M Championship
186
U.S. Senior Open Championship
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Boeing Classic
University Ridge GC, Madison, Wis., June 24-26
En-Joie GC, Endicott, N.Y., July 8-10
Carnoustie GC, Carnoustie, Scotland, July 21-24
TPC Twin Cities, Blaine, Minn., August 5-7
Scioto CC, Columbus, Ohio, August 11-14
TPC Snoqualmie Ridge, Snoqualmie, Wash., August 26-28
187 Shaw Charity Classic
Canyon Meadows G&CC, Calgary, AB, Canada, September 2-4
Crooked Stick Golf Club, Carmel, Ind., September 8-11 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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CONTENTS
Kenny Perry
Publisher & CEO Kevin J. Harrington Managing Editor Charles Ford Editor Bill Fields Tournament Editor David Barrett Sub Editor Samantha Coles Senior Designer Friyan Mehta Editorial Assistant James Nicoli Production Director Joanna Harrington Production & Administration Iain Wilson Adam Linard-Stevens Official PGA TOUR Essential Guide 2016, Part 2 is published by BH Sports under license from PGA TOUR, Inc. Tel: (312) 572 7728 Email: tourgolf@bhsports.net
Bernhard Langer
Duffy Waldorf
© BH Sports, 2015-16. All rights reserved. All material in the Official PGA TOUR Essential Guide, 2016 Part 2 is wholly copyrighted, and reproduction, without the written permission of the Publisher, is strictly forbidden.
187 Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach Pebble Beach Golf Links, Monterey Peninsula, Calif., September 16-18
188 Pacific Links Championship Bear Mountain Resort, Victoria, BC, Canada, September 23-25
188
Newport Beach CC, Newport Beach, Calif., October 7-9
SAS Championship
190 PNC Father Son Challenge Ritz-Carlton GC, Orlando, Fla., December 9-11
Charles Schwab Cup
191 Championship
Desert Mountain Club (Cochise), Scottsdale, Ariz., November 10-13
192 The Last Word
Printed in the USA PUBLISHER’S ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Special thanks to the following at PGA TOUR: Chris Smith, Senior Director of Corporate Communications, Kristen Fuller, Director, Licensing & New Ventures; Kathie McCarthy, Specialist, Licensing & New Ventures; Rob Knox, Senior Graphic Designer, PGA TOUR Creative Services
JUNE - NOVEMBER 2016
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FedExCup Charles Schwab Cup Web.com Tour
OVERVIEWS
PowerShares QQQ 189 Championship
PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada PGA TOUR China Golf in the Olympics PGA TOUR LIVE
YOUNG PLAYERS Making Their Mark
GOLF & TRAVEL
JA SO N Y DA
Sherwood Country Club, Thousand Oaks, Calif., October 28-30
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ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO GOLF OO
Prestonwood CC, Cary, N.C., October 14-16
The Country Club of Virginia, Richmond, Va., November 4-6
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.
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Toshiba Classic
190 Dominion Charity Classic
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COVER: Official PGA TOUR Essential Guide 2016, Pt 2
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“This is going to change the golfing world.” Brad Faxon Professional Golfer
3D SWING ANALYZER + FREE APP
TIMING IS EVERYTHING CA P TURE | A N A LYZE | I M P R OV E
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SCHEDULES 2015
Tournament schedules PGA TOUR ® 2016 TOURNAMENT/TELEVISION
GOLF COURSE
LOCATION
JUNE 9-12
FedEx St. Jude Classic Golf, CBS, PGA TOUR LIVE
TPC Southwind
Memphis, TN
16-19
U.S. Open FS1, Fox
Oakmont CC
Oakmont, PA
23-26
Quicken Loans National Golf, CBS, PGA TOUR LIVE
Congressional CC (Blue)
Bethesda, MD
JUN 30-JUL 3 Barracuda Championship Golf
Montreux G&CC
Reno, NV
JUN 30-JUL 3 World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational Golf, CBS, PGA TOUR LIVE
Firestone CC (South)
Akron, OH
JUL 7-10
The Greenbrier Classic Golf, CBS, PGA TOUR LIVE
The Old White TPC
White Sulphur Springs, WV
14-17
Barbasol Championship Golf
RTJ Trail (Grand National)
Auburn/Opelika, AL
14-17
The Open Championship Golf, NBC
Royal Troon GC
Ayrshire, Scotland
21-24
RBC Canadian Open Golf, CBS, PGA TOUR LIVE
Glen Abbey GC
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
28-31
PGA Championship TNT, CBS
Baltusrol GC
Springfield, NJ
AUG 4-7
Travelers Championship Golf, CBS, PGA TOUR LIVE
TPC River Highlands
Cromwell, CT
11-14
Olympic Men’s Golf Competition Golf
Olympic Golf Course
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
11-14
John Deere Classic Golf, CBS, PGA TOUR LIVE
TPC Deere Run
Silvis, IL
18-21
Wyndham Championship Golf, CBS, PGA TOUR LIVE
Sedgefield CC
Greensboro, NC
25-28
The Barclays Golf, CBS, PGA TOUR LIVE
Bethpage State Park (Black)
Farmingdale, NY
SEP 2-5
Deutsche Bank Championship Golf, NBC, PGA TOUR LIVE
TPC Boston
Norton, MA
8-11
BMW Championship Golf, NBC, PGA TOUR LIVE
Crooked Stick GC
Carmel, IN
22-25
TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola Golf, NBC, PGA TOUR LIVE
East Lake GC
Atlanta, GA
SEP 30OCT 2
Ryder Cup Golf, NBC
Hazeltine National GC
Chaska, MN
IMAGEs: US PGA TOUR
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WHEN YOUR LIFESTYLE AND YOUR JET MEMBERSHIP ARE ONE AND THE SAME. Customizable, jet-specific memberships offered exclusively at Magellan Jets Our best in class for long range flights Gulfstream G450
www.MagellanJets.com/PGA (844) 228-8796 Magellan Jets does not own or operate aircraft, instead, we recommend the best positioned aircraft on each and every trip that our clients take. We take great pride in providing the best value to our clients using technology to locate the right aircraft from Magellan Jets Preferred Network (MJPN). All approved vendors in our network are FAA Part 135 air taxi operators, and are also required to adhere to safety requirements set forth by Wyvern and/or ARG/US, the leading 3rd party safety auditing firms in the country. Providing the safest and most experienced aircraft and flight crews in the private aviation industry, while providing competitive rates, is what sets Magellan Jets apart from the competition.
12/05/2016 10:49
SCHEDULES 2015
PGA TOUR Champions® 2016 TOURNAMENT/TELEVISION
GOLF COURSE
LOCATION
JUN 3-5
Principal Charity Classic Golf
Wakonda Club
Des Moines, IA
9-12
Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship Golf
Philadelphia Cricket Club
Philadelphia, PA
24-26
American Family Insurance Championship Golf
University Ridge GC
Madison, WI
JUL 8-10
DICK’S Sporting Goods Open Golf
En-Joie GC
Endicott, NY
21-24
The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex Golf, NBC
Carnoustie GC
Carnoustie, Scotland
AUG 5-7
3M Championship Golf
TPC Twin Cities
Blaine, MN
11-14
U.S. Senior Open Championship FS1, Fox
Scioto CC
Columbus, OH
26-28
Boeing Classic Golf
TPC Snoqualmie Ridge
Snoqualmie, WA
SEP 2-4
Shaw Charity Classic Golf
Canyon Meadows G&CC
Calgary, AB, Canada
16-18
Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach Golf
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Monterey Peninsula, CA
23-25
Pacific Links Championship Golf
Bear Mountain Resort
Victoria, BC, Canada
OCT 7-9
Toshiba Classic Golf
Newport Beach CC
Newport Beach, CA
14-16
SAS Championship Golf
Prestonwood CC
Cary, NC
28-30
PowerShares QQQ Championship Golf
Sherwood Country Club
Thousand Oaks, CA
NOV 4-6
Dominion Charity Classic Golf
The Country Club of Virginia
Richmond, VA
10-13
Charles Schwab Cup Championship Golf
Desert Mountain Club (Cochise)
Scottsdale, AZ
NOV 29DEC 2
PGA TOUR Champions Q-School
DEC 10-11
PNC Father Son Challenge Golf, NBC
Ritz-Carlton GC
Orlando, FL
image: US PGA TOUR IMAGEs: US PGA TOUR
DATE
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COVER STORY
Awesome Aussies
Midway through the 2015-16 PGA TOUR season, Jason Day took the lead in the FedExCup standings with countryman Adam Scott in second place and a mix of familiar and fresh faces in hot pursuit By Bill Fields
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ith anchored putting strokes no longer allowed as of Jan. 1, 2016, some worried that Adam Scott, who had used the method for a number of years, would have problems adjusting to a different style. Those fears, to say the least, were unfounded in the first half of the 2015-16 PGA TOUR season. Putting solidly—in fact, better than he did a year ago—the 36-yearold Australian won twice and climbed near the top of the FedExCup standings through the AT&T Byron Nelson. 22 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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“It seemed like everyone forgot I putted with a short putter for the first 10 years of my career and that I would be unable to do so as I went back to a short putter,” said Scott, who won THE PLAYERS Championship in 2003 putting traditionally. “But as I look back on that time, I know what I did wrong and why I got in frustrating streaks with the putter where I putted poorly.” Scott’s 2016 victories—in consecutive weeks at The Honda Classic and the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship— helped him to No. 2 with 1,848 FedExCup
As a sign at the Northern Trust Open made clear, players were setting their sights on the FedExCup.
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COVER STORY
Adam Scott won twice and surged to No. 2 in the FedExCup standings.
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players combined for five runner-up finishes, with Chappell finishing behind Day at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard and THE PLAYERS Championship. Scott closed strong in the third event of 2015-16, the CIMB Classic in Malaysia. He finished with a 63 to take second place behind Thomas, who broke through for his first PGA TOUR victory after contending often (seven top-10s) the previous season as a rookie. After tying for second at the Northern Trust Open behind Bubba Watson at Riviera Country Club, Scott was the class of the field in The Honda Classic on the difficult Champion Course at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Scott shot 9-under 271 to defeat Sergio Garcia by one stroke, converting his seventh of 11 career 54-hole leads on TOUR. Showing his resilience, Scott bounced back from a quadruple-bogey 7 on the 15th hole of the third round—the first player since Phil Mickelson at the 2009 TOUR
Building on his 2015 success (above), Jordan Spieth got off to a good start in 2016.
images: PGA TOUR
points. His countryman, Jason Day, 29, rose to No.1 with 2,040 points with a victory in THE PLAYERS Championship, which came on the heels of back-to-back victories in the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard and the World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play in March. Trailing the pair of Australian stars in the FedExCup competition—which is being held for the 10th time this season—were a mixture of established players and golfers on the rise. Russell Knox, a 31-year-old native of Scotland was third (1,350 points), Brandt Snedeker was fourth (1,300) and Kevin Kisner was fifth (1,182). Jordan Spieth, the defending FedExCup champion, Kevin Chappell was fifth (1,223). Justin Thomas, defending FedExCup champion Jordan Spieth, Kevin Kisner, Patrick Reed and Hideki Matsuyama rounded out the top 10 as the TOUR schedule headed into late spring. Everyone in the top 10 had won an event except Chappell and Reed. But those two
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COVER STORY
Jason Day won the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, the first of two straight victories.
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Championship by Coca-Cola to win a TOUR event with a quad on his card. “It just reassures me, I’m on the right track with the things I’m doing on the greens obviously and I’m just going to try and get better every week,” Scott said after winning. “And I think it’s in a great spot at the moment. If I can get better and better, then I like what’s to come.” By several measures, Scott’s putting is better this season than in 2014-15. Through the RBC Heritage, he was T39 in Strokes Gained: Putting, compared to being No. 157 at the end of last season. He was 26th in Putts Inside 10 Feet, versus 169th in 2015, and 51st in One-Putt Percentage compared to a ranking of 166th. He excelled in the latter two categories on the final hole of the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship, holing a par putt of 6 feet, 8 inches after missing the green on Trump National Doral-Blue Monster’s No. 18. The clutch stroke gave Scott a one-shot victory (his 13th on TOUR) over Watson and a two-stroke cushion over Danny Willett—soon to be the Masters champion— 28 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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and Rory McIlroy. Just two weeks later it was time for Day to repeat Scott’s achievement and his own hot streak of back-to-back success in 2015. Day started fast at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, shooting 66-65, and went on for a one-stroke win over Chappell. In the World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play at Austin Country Club in Texas’ capital city, Day emerged from pool play in the revitalized format to defeat Brooks Koepka in the quarterfinals and McIlroy in the semifinals. Day beat Louis Oosthuizen, 5-and-4 in the championship match. The $1,620,000 first prize allowed Day, who climbed to No. 1 on the World Ranking, to surpass $30 million in PGA TOUR career earnings. “I know that I can’t take it for granted because obviously in this game, things can change pretty quickly,” Day said. “It’s such a competitive sport now and so many guys can win, and it’s so tough to win.” Despite the challenge, some of the best were finding a way to get it done.
With a victory and two runner-up finishes, Russell Knox climbed to No. 3 in the FedExCup standings.
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THE PLAYERS Championship
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FRONT RUNNER Motivated and determined, Jason Day goes wire-to-wire in THE PLAYERS Championship for the seventh victory in his last 17 starts By Jim Moriarty
IMAGES: Getty Images; PGA TOUR
U
nbeatable one moment and unsteady the next, the one thing Jason Day never was in THE PLAYERS Championship was behind. He’s been knocked to the ground by vertigo in a U.S. Open and gone so low in a PGA Championship his score is unparalleled in golf history. Whether a four-shot victory over Kevin Chappell in THE PLAYERS is a ticket to the World Golf Hall of Fame or not, it seems all but certain Jason’s best days are still ahead of him. It was the second wire-to-wire victory of the season for the world No. 1 and leader of the FedExCup. The first, also
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over Chappell, came in the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. THE PLAYERS win was Day’s seventh victory in his last 17 starts. “Well, that’s Tigeresque, that kind of run,” said fellow Aussie Adam Scott, the 2004 PLAYERS champion. “You can see there’s a calmness inside him, calm confidence. And the way he’s walking around, he’s got that kind of unbeatable look about him. He has a very strong desire to achieve so much and I think probably his goals are changing throughout this period. He’s expecting more and more of himself.” And, so are we.
A large gallery watched late Sunday as Hideki Matsuyama teed off on No. 18 with Jason Day looking on. Jason Day shot a tournament-record 129 through 36 holes and no one could catch him.
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Above [l-r]: Jordan Spieth missed the cut in his first action since the Masters, but Ken Duke put up a strong bid, including a third-round 65 in tough conditions.
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Day took a four-shot advantage into yourself opportunities on the back side,’ the final round at THE PLAYERS Stadium and I played really solid golf.” Course at TPC Sawgrass. After missing After his unsightly bogey on the ninth, birdie putts of 8 and 10 feet on the first Day responded with birdies on the 10th two holes, he seemed to lose his footing, and 12th, getting him back to 14-under struggling for pars on the third and par, where he began the day. He added fifth, bogeying the sixth, saving par at a final birdie at the par-5 16th for his the seventh and eighth and, shockingly, winning total of 273. The bedeviling making a hash of the par-5 ninth when his undertaking of keeping the ball out of wedge went underneath the water on the long road short pitches twice, “I’ve never been more home was the final task. His forcing him to hole a wedge barely carried motivated to be No. 1 gap crucial 6-footer for bogey. onto the putting surface in the world.” The miscues brought on the iconic 17th and he 47-year-old Ken Duke, a two-putted from 50 feet. —Jason Day man with a plate in his On the 18th, Day relied on wrist from a tumble last fall and a rod in what might have been his most impressive his spine from a scoliosis operation as a weapon of the week, his 2-iron, driving it teenager, within two shots of Day’s lead. 308 yards into the middle of the fairway. That, however, was as close as anyone His approach landed 12 feet from the would come. cup. All that remained was picking up his “I was really nervous on the front side son, Dash, who bounded onto the green and it showed,” said Day. “I just wanted with arms raised, and the crystal trophy, to win this so bad. This could possibly of course. push me to getting into the Hall of Fame “I’ve never been more motivated to be one day. It’s such a big accomplishment No. 1 in the world,” said the 28-year-old for me in my career. I just kept on telling Day. “I’ve never been more motivated to myself, ‘Just keep yourself in it and give try to extend that lead from one to two. w w w.pgatour.com
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the players
All the hard work that I’ve put into my holes, shot 32 on the back nine, then game right now has paid off, but I’ve added a front nine of 31 to tie the got to keep working hard to win as Stadium Course record of 63 held by much as I can.” Fred Couples, Greg Norman, Roberto While the lookout continued for the Castro and Martin Kaymer. return of Tiger Woods to competition, By the time Day concluded his second two leading characters emerged from round, pushed into Saturday morning the drama at Augusta National and by Friday afternoon thunderstorms, he were back in action at had set a new 36-hole THE PLAYERS. Jordan record of “I want to say this was tournament Spieth, who shockingly 15-under-par 129, a shot the toughest day I’ve better than Norman had squandered a five-shot lead on the back nine at ever had to play in my done en route to victory the Masters, and Danny in 1994. With the greens life, I think.” Willett, who gratefully receptive, the party was —Jason Day accepted the green on. Colt Knost added jacket from him, played a 63 of his own. Will their first tournament rounds since Wilcox had a hole-in-one on the wicked April. Both missed the cut, as did the 17th, using a pitching wedge and a defending champion of THE PLAYERS, yellow ball. It was the first ace since Rickie Fowler. On the other hand, from Miguel Angel Jiménez in 2002 and the the very moment Day set foot on his best overall result for a colored golf ball first tee, the 10th, he gave no other since Jerry Pate used an orange one to impression than he was, indeed, the win THE PLAYERS in the 1982 debut of man to beat. He birdied the first three architect Pete Dye’s course.
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Bottom [l-r]: Kevin Chappell was runnerup, four shots back. Will Wilcox brightened his second round with the first ace on No. 17 since 2002.
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the players
Then, through a combination of course preparation, a persistent 20-mile per hour wind and low humidity, the greens suddenly rolled like the speed of sound on Saturday—muttering and cursing, mostly. Everyone slammed the brakes in an attempt to flip from offense to defense. It was as if Dye’s devious gremlins had risen from the crypt. Players were crashing and burning at every turn. Taking the putter in their hands was like grabbing an alligator by the tail. Day three-putted the third, four-putted the sixth for double-bogey and made another double from a friedegg lie in a bunker on the eighth to turn in 39. Sergio Garcia had a six-putt from the fringe on the fifth. Only three players 36 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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shot in the 60s while seven had an 80 or worse, including Russell Knox, who put three in the water at the 17th on his way to a nine. Duke’s near-miraculous 65 catapulted him from T56 to T2. The 75.592 scoring average was the fifth-highest in tournament history. Two players, Chappell and Hideki Matsuyama, got within a shot of Day, who clawed his way back with a 2-under 34 on the incoming nine, finishing the round with the same four-shot lead he had going into it. “I want to say this was the toughest day I’ve ever had to play in my life, I think,” said Day. Turned out, it was just a speed bump on the way to one of the most rewarding.
Jason and Ellie Day enjoyed the win with their children Dash (left) and Lucy.
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It’s knowing you’re not perfect. Yet hoping that maybe, just for one swing, you can be. It’s gaining complete focus. Pristine, laser-fine focus. Because that focus isn’t just what’s required, that focus is why you’re here. Everything else dissipates into nothing. Sounds muffle. Touch is sharpened. Every detail is in the highest definition. And there you are. In the moment. After this you can go back to all the flaws, the fears, the doubts and the doubters. But not now. Now there’s you and the ball. And the opportunity for a split-second of perfection. Wouldn’t that be nice?
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In Minnesota, golf brings you to unexpected places. It might be through hidden forests or by golden ponds. The shores of Lake Superior or the banks of the Mississippi. And if the fairway turns into a deer crossing, Well that’s just par for the course.
P L A N YO U R M I N N E S O TA G O L F VAC AT I O N AT E X P L O R E M I N N E S O TA .C O M C A L L 1 –8 8 8 –8 47– 4 8 6 6 F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N
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TEAM EVENTS 2016/17
The Team Events 2016/17 The 2016 Ryder Cup will see the United States trying to reclaim victory after three straight losses to Europe, while The Presidents Cup has seen the U.S. win nine of 11 previous Cups By Dave Shedloski
Ryder Cup
images: Getty Images; us pga tour
Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2016 The Ryder Cup heads to Hazeltine National in Minnesota this year with the United States trying to rediscover victory after three straight losses to Europe. It has a similar feel to the last Cup matches held in the U.S., in 2012, at another brawny Midwest course, Medinah outside Chicago. The PGA of America tapped the popular captain of that U.S. team, Davis Love III, to reprise his role and try to reverse a narrow one-point defeat that was the result of a stunning final-day w w w.pgatour.com
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European comeback from a 10-6 deficit. This time, Love will have 23-year-old Jordan Spieth, who soared to the top of the world rankings with two major victories and a FedExCup title last year, on his side. Europe will counter with its own popular captain Darren Clarke (his first time in the role) and 27-year-old Rory McIlroy, who won two majors in 2014 before Spieth’s breakout 2015 season. Love is 52 years old, but he is still active on the PGA TOUR. In fact, he won the 2015 Wyndham Championship which puts him in pairings
from week to week with other recent winners and will make him more familiar with his players than most past captains. His three 40-something co-captains— Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker—offer both experience and their own close ties to most of the U.S. squad. The 48-year-old Clarke has a similar relationship with his players, which should help when it comes to deciding who should pair in foursomes and four-balls. The U.S. has altered the end of its team qualification by two weeks, with the top eight players in the points
Europe will try to stay on a winning path in the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National.
Rory McIlroy will be a pivotal figure for Europe as it goes for a fourth straight Ryder Cup win. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2 41
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Jordan Spieth went 2-1-1 in his first Ryder Cup appearance in 2014.
standings as of Aug. 28 making the team. Love’s four captain’s selections have also been pushed back two weeks, allowing for more recent form to be considered, with three picks on Sept. 11 and the final pick on September 25 after the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and immediately before the Ryder Cup. European qualification also ends Aug. 28, but Clarke will be making his three selections on Aug. 29. Hazeltine is a proven test that has hosted two U.S.
Opens (1970 and 1991) and two PGA Championships (2002 and 2009). The rough won’t be as severe for the Ryder Cup as it has been for those majors. The home captain has a say in course setup, and Love has said he isn’t a fan of heavy rough, particularly for a match-play event where aggressive play should be encouraged. The course routing will be different this time, with Nos. 5-9 becoming the finishing holes of the back nine to better accommodate spectators
and Nos. 14-18 switched to become the last five holes of the front nine. While that moves Hazeltine’s most wellknown hole, the 16th that borders Lake Hazeltine, to the front nine, it makes up for it with a new 16th hole that is a risk/reward reachable par 5 that could be a great swing hole. For the Ryder Cup, Nos. 17 and 18 offer slightly better birdie chances than their counterparts on the other nine, raising the prospects of an exciting finish in an event known for late drama.
Jason Day should be a formidable part of of the International team in The Presidents Cup 2017.
The Presidents Cup
16th hole, a drivable 325-yard par 4. Matches that reach the 18th hole will find a demanding 490-yard par 4 that is a test of skill and nerve. The U.S. has won nine of the previous 11 Presidents Cups, with one International victory and one tie. The Americans have captured six in a row, but the Internationals raised hopes with an extremely competitive showing in 2015 in South Korea that went down to the wire before a one-point U.S. victory. With players such as Australia’s
Jason Day and Adam Scott (who won the 2013 Barclays at Liberty National), South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen, and Branden Grace, and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama looking as if they will comprise a formidable nucleus, the Internationals can’t be counted out of what would be a first-ever road victory. But with a younger generation of American stars like Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler emerging, it will be a difficult task for the visitors.
Hideki Matsuyama of Japan could help the International side snap a losing streak in The Presidents Cup.
Sept. 28-Oct. 1, 2017 The Statue of Liberty will provide an appropriate backdrop as the U.S. Team hosts the International Team in The Presidents Cup at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J., in 2017. Liberty National, which opened in 2006, has established itself by hosting The Barclays in the FedExCup Playoffs in 2009 and 2013. It has the risk/ reward nature that will make it an excellent match-play setting, particularly at the 44 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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PGA TOUR LIVE
Enhancing the PGA TOUR Fan Experience
Last summer the PGA TOUR introduced a subscription-based digital platform service that gives fans an inside look into the action at TOUR events, PGA TOUR LIVE By Kevin Prise
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Action on demand To that end, in 2015 the PGA TOUR partnered with technology company MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM) to introduce PGA TOUR LIVE, a subscription-based digital platform service that enables fans an inside look into the live action at TOUR events that would not otherwise be provided in standard television coverage. The product is available on desktop and iOS devices as well as Apple TV and Android devices, with a newly updated App version that includes more leaderboard, contextual and ShotLink information.
Play-by-play At the heart of PGA TOUR LIVE is its Featured Groups coverage that provides fans play-by-play
PGA TOUR LIVE allows more action to be seen from venues such as the TPC Stadium course at PGA WEST.
IMAGES: US PGA TOUR
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hen it comes to spectating, golf is a sport unlike any other. Think about baseball, hockey or football, says Luis Goicouria, PGA TOUR senior vice president of digital platform/media strategy. A fan can watch the game—in person or on television—and observe all the action on the diamond, rink or field. Seeing everything that’s happening on an entire golf course? Not possible. “Golf is one of those sports where, traditionally, a fairly small percentage of the tournament is actually seen on television,” Goicouria says. “That’s just because there are so many golfers, so many acres, so many different holes. “So for us, we always felt like the more of our tournaments that we can bring to our fans, the better.”
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PGA TOUR LIVE
coverage of two select groupings each Thursday and Friday morning at 31 TOUR events in 2016. A mix of on-air talent, including former professional golfers and traditional broadcast professionals, calls the action as the Featured Groups navigate all 18 holes. When it comes to selecting players for Featured Groups coverage, the TOUR strives for a mix of well-known stars and up-and-coming talent, Goicouria says, as well as featuring international players when appropriate. After the Featured Groups complete their rounds, coverage usually transitions to Featured Holes coverage, a TOUR digital coverage staple that began as “LIVE@” in the early 2000s (Featured Groups coverage was introduced at THE PLAYERS Championship in 2012).
Goicouria says. “We’ve already experimented with this through our Shotlink Channel on DirecTV and we will continue to try new things through PGA TOUR LIVE.” “As time goes on, we’ll also evolve the coverage itself, and you’ll probably see more cameras … more cameras around different greens, and we’ll figure out a way to put more cameras on the course that perhaps are automated, that can be controlled robotically or remotely. “So I think you’ll see both the App itself evolve over time,” Goicouria adds, “to give more information about the course, about the golfers, about how they’re doing compared to other golfers on course … and then you’ll also see the production evolve over time.”
“… the more of our tournaments that we can bring to our fans, the better.” —Luis Goicouria, PGA TOUR senior vice president of digital platform/ media strategy
Featured holes Featured Holes coverage will also be available for Saturday and Sunday competition at 15 events in 2016. “Featured Hole coverage is interesting because we get to watch all the groups come through, and not just focus on one set of golfers,” Goicouria says. “We started with 100 percent Featured Holes, and as time has gone on, we’ve introduced more Featured Groups coverage. PGA TOUR LIVE was really the culmination of that evolution … beyond just doing one Feature Group, but now doing two Featured Groups at the same time.”
»» PGA TOUR LIVE is a subscription service available for $5.99 per month after a one-week free trial. Fans may also purchase a full season pass to PGA TOUR LIVE for $39.99.
The PGA TOUR LIVE studio.
Video streaming PGA TOUR LIVE utilizes MLBAM and its live video streaming technology, and Goicouria believes the ability to work with another top-level sports league in this capacity has strengthened the product in its early development. “One of the beauties of working with MLBAM is that they’re a league, so they know where we’re coming from,” Goicouria says. “They know a lot of our concerns, a lot of what it is that we want to bring to our fans. They understand because they have to do the same thing for their fans.”
Further developments The TOUR is looking forward to finding ways to improve PGA TOUR LIVE, in accordance with fan desires and evolving technologies. Through the MLBAM partnership, there is on-going research and development to find new and interesting ways to present the PGA TOUR. “I think PGA TOUR LIVE will give us a chance to explore bringing more graphics to the screen that bring additional context to the action,” 50 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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THE INTERNATIONAL PGA TOURS
THE INTERNATIONAL TOURS The three international PGA TOURs—PGA TOUR China, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and Mackenzie Tour PGA TOUR Canada—continue to be an important step in the career development of players climbing the professional ladder PGA TOUR China By Laury Livsey A golf fan had to really be paying attention during the week of the Brasil Champions presented by Embrase in April to notice something of true significance. But there it was. It happened. Playing in that Web.com Tour tournament at São Paulo Golf Club were seven former PGA TOUR China players. While that may not seem very impressive, consider that five was the previous record for most PGA TOUR China players playing in a Web.com Tour event. And it could have been nine had Zecheng Dou and Xinjun Zhang been able to make lastminute travel arrangements from their homes in China. 54 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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Amateur Cheng Jin (above left, with Rickie Fowler) is the first active member of PGA TOUR China to play in the Masters.
Of the seven who competed, six made the cut, with New Zealand’s Josh Geary, a three-time winner in China in 2015, leading the way with a T12 finish. This result, while proving how far the third-year circuit has come, is hardly surprising and is something that was expected in November 2013 when PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem announced the formation of the Series. “It is impressive to see so many players coming out of our developmental Tours making it on the Web.com Tour and the PGA TOUR,” said Greg Carlson, Executive Director of PGA TOUR China. “The Mackenzie Tour and PGA TOUR Latinoamérica got things started, and now PGA TOUR China is right behind. To
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THE INTERNATIONAL PGA TOURS
see players in our events in China one year and then playing well on the Web.com Tour the following season is very gratifying and a visible reassurance that PGA TOUR China is a tremendous proving ground.” The sport is filled with former PGA TOUR China players who have made upward moves, with the bulk currently on the Web.com Tour. However, Lucas Lee, a member in China during the inaugural 2014 season, broke through and earned his PGA TOUR card via finishing inside “The 25” on the 2015 Web.com Tour money list. And in April, amateur Cheng Jin, winner of the 2014 Nine Dragons Open, a member of
PGA TOUR China since that victory 17 months ago, made history by becoming the first active member to compete in one of golf’s major championships. The 18-year-old from Beijing played in the Masters after winning the 2015 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. “The depth, top to bottom, on the Web.com Tour is very strong,” said Eugene Wong, a former star at the University of Oregon who finished fifth on the 2015 Order of Merit and is in his first full season on the Web.com Tour. “But if you win on PGA TOUR China, you’ve done something because the strength of the Tour is with the players at the top. They’re great players.” ■
Canadian Corey Conners is competing on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica this season.
The view was good at the 2014 Colombian Classic, a PGA TOUR Latinoamérica event at Pueblo Viejo Country Club.
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES / US PGA TOUR
Rodolfo Cazaubon won three times on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica in 2015 to top the Order of Merit.
PGA TOUR Latinoamérica By Kevin Prise Justin Hueber is no stranger to success on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica. Last October, he was awarded the chance to team with top PGA TOUR member Matt Kuchar at the Bridgestone America’s Golf Cup in Mexico, due to his strong play throughout 2015. Hueber was encouraged to see how his game compared to Kuchar’s, and he looks back on the experience with fond memories. Not the least of which was winning the event. “Matt was fantastic; it was like we were buddies,” said Hueber, a 2009 University of w w w.pgatour.com
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Indianapolis graduate. “I ended up going out to dinner with him a couple nights. It was really cool. And it’s just reassuring that I can play with those guys.” Hueber, 28, finished the 2015 PGA TOUR Latinoamérica season 10th on the money list, including a win at the 57 Abierto Mexicano de Golf in May, and he entered 2016 ready to make even more of an impact—as he strives to finish No. 1 on the Order of Merit and earn full Web.com Tour status for 2017. With that goal in mind, Hueber’s 2016 season got off to the optimal start. Undeterred by a PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2 55
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rough outing in the Monday qualifier for The Honda Classic in South Florida, Hueber flew to Colombia and won the 69 Avianca Colombia Open presented by BBVA by five shots. Hueber is one of several young players looking to have a breakout season on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, where finishers Nos. 2-5 will earn decent conditional status for the 2017 Web.com Tour season, and finishers 6-10 will earn a trip directly to Final Stage of the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament in December. One such player is Canada native Corey Conners, who played in the 2015 Masters by virtue of being runner-up in the 2014 U.S. Amateur. The 24-year-old began his 2016 campaign on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica with a third-place finish in Colombia, seven shots behind Hueber. Another intriguing player is 2010 Air Force Academy graduate Tom Whitney, who served four years as a Nuclear Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Operator at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in
Cheyenne, Wyo., then turned his attention to golf upon fulfilling his service in May 2014. The 26-year-old Colorado native took a big step in his career by qualifying for PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, then made the cut in his debut in Colombia, finishing T31. Hueber, Conners, Whitney and the rest will look to follow in the steps of Rodolfo Cazaubon, a 26-year-old University of North Texas alum who won three times on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica in 2015, en route to the Order of Merit title. Cazaubon has full Web.com Tour status this season, without having to worry about the frequent reshuffles, as he strives to earn PGA TOUR status for 2017. That’s what it’s about for these guys: earning Web.com Tour status via PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, then earning PGA TOUR status via the Web.com Tour. “I would encourage anyone to give it a try,” said Hueber of PGA TOUR Latinoamérica. “I went down with a couple good guys, and it was a pleasant surprise. It has been a good time.” ■
PGA TOUR member Matt Kuchar (above) offered encouragement to PGA TOUR Latinoamérica member Justin Hueber when they teamed up in an event.
Justin Hueber celebrates after winning the 2016 69 Avianca Colombia Open presented by BBVA.
Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada By Robert Thompson The breakthroughs keep happening, and even with a new name the PGA TOUR’s effort in Canada is generating a lot of attention. PGA TOUR Canada, renamed Mackenzie Tour last year after a new title sponsor came on board, has now fostered the careers of five PGA TOUR players—winners Nick Taylor and w w w.pgatour.com
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Tony Finau, as well as Mark Hubbard, Lucas Lee and Tyler Aldridge. In all, 27 players used the 2015 Mackenzie Tour to springboard to the Web.com Tour this year, with 62 players making the jump in the last three years. Finau, who won on the PGA TOUR in Puerto Rico earlier this year, credits the Mackenzie Tour with fostering his progression as a player. Finau, who turned pro at 17, says
Mark Hubbard used the Mackenzie Tour as a springboard to a higher level of competition.
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Tony Finau, who won his first PGA TOUR event this season, got valuable experience as a teenager on the Mackenzie Tour.
Nick Taylor is one of five PGA TOUR players whose career was fostered by Mackenzie Tour competition.
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES / US PGA TOUR
he learned a great deal during his year on the Mackenzie Tour. “It was a life-changing year for me,” Finau said after his victory in a playoff in Puerto Rico. “It taught me how to compete, and I learned how to travel. I loved my time there.” Finau finished 29th on the Order of Merit that year, and says his time on the Mackenzie Tour helped him mature as a player. “If I don’t go through the [Mackenzie Tour], I don’t think I get my Web.com Tour card at Qualifying School,” said Finau. “But as soon as I finished there, I went right into Qualifying School so I was fresh. The [Mackenzie Tour] meant a lot.” There are a couple of changes on the schedule this season. Two longstanding tournaments in Ontario that are no longer on the schedule—the Wildfire Invitational and the Great Waterway Classic—have been replaced by the GolfBC Championship in Kelowna, and the Oil Country Championship in Edmonton. The top player on the Mackenzie Tour money list is exempt on the Web.com Tour, while Nos. 2 through 5 earn conditional status. Vancouver, B.C.’s Ryan Williams, who lost the Tour Championship in London, Ont., in a playoff last year, said the competition on the Tour has got more intense in recent years. “It sounds like a cliché to say any guy out here could win, but I think it is true,” said Williams. Increasingly, the best young players are looking to the Mackenzie Tour as a steppingstone to the PGA TOUR. Consequently, the Tour’s Qualifying Tournaments in Florida, California and British Columbia have sold out in record time. “It is amazing how good the players are out here,” said Kevin Spooner, who won the 2015 Syncrude Boreal Open after starting the year without any status on the tour. What has become clear is the players that excel on Mackenzie Tour have a solid chance of moving forward. Last year’s Mackenzie Tour Order of Merit leader, J.J. Spaun, started his 2016 Web.com Tour season strongly, as did big-hitting Canadian Taylor Pendrith, who finished fourth in his second tournament of the season. None of that comes as a surprise to Spooner, who recorded two top-10s in his first full season on Mackenzie Tour. “If you can come out here and get a top 10, there’s no question you can play,” he said. “It is a really tough tour.” ■
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Fox Harb’r welcomes you home Own a residence in Canada’s premier ocean-front resort
Overlook championship golf and ocean Explore shorelines and beaches; country roads, red bluffs and green fields. Discover tidal saltmarshes, timeless villages and a rich bounty of fine restaurants, quaint shops, galleries, theatre, museums and hidden treasures along the North Shore. World-class Fox Harb’r Resort. Where the welcome is as warm and friendly as our people.
• 18-hole Championship Golf Course • Executive Golf Course • Spa, Junior Olympic Pool & Fitness Centre • Fine and casual dining • Sporting Clay • Stocked trout ponds • Yacht Charter • Mountain Biking • Vineyards • Golf at over 450 locations with Pacific Links • Health & Fitness Centre • Kayaking • Outdoor Recreation • Tennis • Volleyball • One week every year at Scrub Island Resort in the BVI’s* *For the first 3 years of ownership
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Play Away! Playing golf on home turf or away, whether it’s a short break or the annual vacation, we look for both risk and reward out on the greens. Our golf vacation selection aims to offer the best mix of challenges and relaxation
A panoramic view of the Fox Harb’r course in Nova Scotia.
It’s great to travel and take vacations that have a purpose—imagine, seeing the world with each stop-off being a famous golf course. It’s a very seductive dream for those of us who love to play golf. But some of the best vacation experiences with golf in mind are relatively close at hand, and here we start our tour with a near-neighbor, Nova Scotia; then we travel south to Mexico, to Rio, and finally on to Hawaii and Fiji, with visits to some of the best the U.S. has to offer along the way.
Escape to Fox Harb’r on Nova Scotia’s scenic Northumberland Shore If you’re looking for an oceanfront golf holiday with breathtaking scenery and welcoming Maritime charm, Fox Harb’r is Canada’s premier oceanfront resort. Situated in a spectacular location where the Atlantic Ocean meets the rugged Northumberland shoreline of Nova Scotia, Fox Harb’r offers guests and residents exclusive semi-private access to world-class resort amenities. In addition to gracious accommodations, challenging golf, a serene spa and enticing dining, you’ll discover even more superb amenities including stocked trout ponds, sporting clay, yacht charters, kayaking and a private vineyard.
images: Wally Hayes; Bart Keagy
Playing the Championship Course The Resort has a championship golf course, designed by renowned course architect and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member, Graham Cooke. Fox Harb’r’s fairways have also been challenged by the likes of Bill Clinton, Bobby Orr and Tiger Woods. With a fine design that offers a taste of old-fashioned links golf in the heart of New Scotland and a certified team of golf professionals to provide assistance on the course, Fox Harb’r is the ideal location for groups and Nova Scotia’s rugged beauty remains unspoiled by development. w w w.pgatour.com
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corporate golf outings. Whatever your needs, the Resort will provide a custom itinerary where each guest in every group will receive the highest degree of personal service and attention.
Your accommodations
MINNESOTA
In a state famous for its numerous public golf courses, one of the major attractions this year will be the Ryder Cup, Sept. 26–Oct. 2 There’s a reason why Minnesota is the only state to have hosted all 13 USGA championships—including the 1970 and 1991 U.S. Open—in addition to this year’s Ryder Cup. In fact, there are several reasons—the beautiful natural settings, the excellent course conditions and the affordability of teeing off chief among these reasons. Golfers will find more than 500 courses here, 90 percent of which are open to the public. The golf season can stretch to six months or more, depending on the weather. Summer is of 62
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Fox Harb’r has a championship course designed by Graham Cooke.
course the most popular time to play, but fall brings the added bonus of changing colors and smaller crowds. The wide variety of places to play range from city and suburban courses to rugged north woods terrain and sweeping Mississippi River Valley vistas. Some areas, including the Twin Cities, Brainerd Lakes area and northeast Minnesota, have large concentrations of courses that draw both serious and casual golfers. A handful of Minnesota’s premier courses were designed by the country’s top golf architects, and three are ranked among Golf Digest’s “100 Greatest Public Courses.” While resort courses have the added bonus of on-site lodging, virtually every Minnesota course has hotels, resorts or campgrounds nearby.
IMAGES: WALLY HAYES; EXPLORE MINNESOTA
As you enter the gates of Fox Harb’r, you’ll find 86 suites located in either the oceanfront manor-style guesthouses or executive townhouses, where each suite possesses its own individual character and personal charm. Distinctive amenities, heated granite bathroom floors and the finest bed linens are but a few of the things that helps Fox Harb’r fulfill the needs of even the most discerning guests. • foxharbr.com
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Travel View from behind the 16th green at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course.
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NORTH Florida
Situated in Ponte Vedra Beach, the big attraction is TPC Sawgrass and THE PLAYERS Stadium Course One of the biggest golf attractions in the South is THE PLAYERS Stadium Course, revered as the home of one of professional golf’s most prestigious competitions—THE PLAYERS Championship. TPC Sawgrass was born from the dream of the then-PGA TOUR Commissioner Deane Beman, who wanted to create a unique host site for THE PLAYERS Championship. The event was the only one owned by players of the PGA TOUR, and Beman’s vision was that this permanent host club would be, too. Beman first approached the owners of Sawgrass Country Club, the Arvida Corporation, and offered to buy their facility. Not only did they not want to sell, they didn’t believe that Beman would ever get financing or approval to buy a facility. Arvida Chairman Charles Cobb even proposed a $100 “business sportsmanship” bet to Beman that he could never achieve his dream. Determined, Beman sought other options to stay in Ponte Vedra Beach. He soon found allies in Jerome and Paul Fletcher, major landowners in the area. They believed in the dream so much that they eventually sold 415 acres of wooded wetlands and swamp to the PGA TOUR for one dollar.
Best of North Florida Ever since THE PLAYERS Stadium Course opened in 1980, golf enthusiasts have come from far and wide to play what is consistently rated as one of the top 50 courses in the U.S. This summer PGA TOUR Experiences invites those who love golf to experience “The Best of North Florida” in Ponte Vedra Beach and TPC Sawgrass. Guests will enjoy luxury accommodations at the Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Spa, three rounds of unbeatable golf and daily breakfast at the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse. There are also Ponte Vedra’s beautiful beaches close at hand, located a stone’s throw away from Sawgrass. The PGA TOUR Experiences package includes: • 3 nights accommodation at Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Spa • 1 Round on Dye’s Valley course • 1 Replay Round on Dye’s Valley course • 1 Round at North Florida Local Club • Complimentary daily breakfast at TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse • Free internet access and wi-fi • Two complimentary cocktails • Access to Cabana Beach Club 64 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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Choosing a golf destination for that hard-earned weekend break or for a longer vacation is always where the fun and excitement begins. Should it be Florida this time? Or why not tee it up on the West Coast, perhaps Pebble Beach? Of course not all the clubs where you can book your tee time also offer accommodation, leaving you with the next question—where is the best place to stay? Many of us who travel a lot for both business and pleasure will pick the brand name we’re comfortable with, such as Starwood Hotels & Resorts, the global hotel chain that has a range of brands to suit all-comers. A favorite for many in the Starwood collection is the Four Points brand, which as the name suggests, has properties at all four points of the compass and pretty much every point in between. Four Points hotels (fourpoints. com) can often be found within convenient proximity to your chosen golf destination. Although stylish in all respects, being positioned as mid-scale hotels this means that your holiday budget may stretch to give you a few more days on the golf course. And after an exhilarating day of fun and frustration on some of those ingeniously designed greens, you can also make your Four Points hotel your 19th hole. You’ll find one of the specialties is the hand-selected local draft beer on tap at every hotel as a part of the Best Brews program, giving everyone the chance to drink like a local. Four Points chooses a Best Brew for each location, so guests can sample craft beers and local flavors without ever leaving the hotel, except for a game of golf.
Images: Daron Dean for VISIT FLORIDA
Perfect Mix of Business and Pleasure
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CALIFORNIA Pebble Beach, the classic golf vacation destination and well-known host to an earlyseason PGA TOUR tournament
For the PGA TOUR, the “West Coast Swing” is where the tournament action restarts in January, actually starting in Hawaii. One of the most scenic weeks of all on the West Coast Swing is the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, played at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill and the shore course at Monterey Peninsula Country Club. Spyglass Hill is one of the toughest courses on the TOUR, its many difficult holes also having the benefit of some magnificent ocean views. Pebble Beach Resorts say that Spyglass Hill Golf Course takes its theme from Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel, Treasure Island (1883). Local legend maintains that Stevenson once wandered the Spyglass area gathering ideas for his novels. With this in mind, Robert Trent Jones Sr. set about creating a treasure of his own.
Playing the Championship Course Opened in 1966, Spyglass Hill Golf Course features two distinctly different kinds of terrain that influence the way the holes look and play. The first five holes roll through sandy seaside dunes challenging you to carefully pick the safest path. The following 13 holes are cut through majestic pines with elevated greens and strategically placed
bunkers and lakes to grab the errant shot. Hole names such as “Black Dog” and “Billy Bones” are hints for the unwary. Spyglass Hill Golf Course is rated one of the toughest courses in the world from the championship tees, boasting a course rating of 75.5 and a slope rating of 144. The PGA TOUR consistently lists Spyglass Hill’s Nos. 6, 8 and 16 among the toughest on the TOUR, and during the 1999 U.S. Amateur, the stroke average of the field during medal play was in excess of 79.
Three luxury properties Pebble Beach Resorts on California’s beautiful Monterey Peninsula provide an impressive choice of three luxury properties:
The Lodge at Pebble Beach The Lodge will enchant you with relaxed elegance, attentive hospitality, stately architecture and a glorious oceanside setting.
The Inn at Spanish Bay Enjoy peaceful seclusion within our contemporary accommodations nestled between groves of Monterey pines and the Pacific shore.
Casa Palermo at Pebble Beach Enchantingly picturesque, our intimate Mediterranean-styled estate offers the pinnacle of personal service and luxurious relaxation.
SCORING THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE What constitutes greatness? From airport runways to golf course fairways, it’s arguably related to quality, design and innovation. And that kind of greatness takes years of dedication. 66
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IMAGES: BART KEAGY
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JAMAICA
17th green at the White Witch, a course well-known for its challenge and stunning setting.
The tropical island with the oldest golf heritage in the Caribbean Jamaica has 11 courses island-wide, with a range in difficulty to suit every level of player. Most are in and around resort areas, making it ideal to play a round at one course in the morning and tee off in the afternoon at a different course.
Cinnamon Hill, Half Moon, White Witch and Ironshore Golf & Country Club These well-known courses are located in Montego Bay, a region known for superior club facilities, diverse, challenging courses and spectacular settings.
More choices …
IMAGES: ROSE HALL, JAMAICA
Jamaica’s other resort areas boast renowned courses such as Constant Spring and Caymanas in Kingston and Negril Hills on the west end of the island. Tryall, the former home for the Johnnie Walker professional event, has quietly built some of the fastest putting greens south of Augusta. The course is probably still the toughest test on the island, but cleverly you don’t notice until you add your scores at the 19th hole. Golf courses in the Ocho Rios area include Sandals Golf & Country Club and Jewel Runaway Golf Resort. Jamaica also lays claim to the oldest golf course in the western hemisphere—the Manchester Golf Club, opened in 1865. First hole at the White Witch Golf Course. Clubhouse at the White Witch, well-known for superior club facilities. w w w.pgatour.com
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mexico East or west, which is best? When it comes to the exotic locations Mexico has to offer, we have more difficult choices—west, and the Pacific coast give you all the pleasure that Mazatlán has to offer, with Cabo San Lucas farther south, a resort city on the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula; go east to the Yucatán Peninsula and you will find Cancún, full of youthful vitality and an attractive long beachfront onto the Caribbean.
Estrella Del Mar Golf & Beach, Mazatlán This is an upscale golf and beach resort set in 816 acres bordering the Pacific Ocean. It’s a gated community with lush tropical landscaping, anchored not only by one of Mexico’s top-rated courses but also with 3.5 miles of pristine beach. This is the Robert Trent Jones Jr. 18-hole championship course. Here, they cater for everything you could want on a luxury holiday break, including the hotel that offers 71 rooms ranging from Garden View and Ocean View rooms to Ocean Front and Presidential suites. 70 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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Quivira Golf Club, Los Cabos Farther south on the Pacific coast, Cabo’s most spectacular course has a dramatic setting at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, marked by huge windswept dunes, sheer granite cliffs and rolling desert foothills. Just 10 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas, Quivira Golf Club, a Jack Nicklaus Signature course, continues to wow and impress golfers. The sprawling 7,139-yard, par-72 layout, selected as the “Best New International Course” of 2014 by GOLF magazine, marked a watershed moment in the history of golf development in Los Cabos when it opened in December 2014. In addition to its dazzling views and breathtaking drops from tee to fairway, Quivira offers players more oceanfront exposure than any other course in Los Cabos. Completing the experience at Quivira Golf Club is a thatched-roof clubhouse situated between the first tee and 18th green. Beside the clubhouse is a spacious double-ended practice facility that parallels the ocean, an elongated practice putting green and a large short-game practice area. Quivira Golf Club is accessible to guests of Pueblo Bonito Oceanfront Resorts and Spas, which consist of four properties: the
Images: Quivira Golf Club
High on the list of favorite golf destinations, Mexico offers some unbeatable vacation options
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adjacent Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Resort & Spa and Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Resort & Spa; and, in nearby Cabo San Lucas, Pueblo Bonito Rosé Resort & Spa and Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos.
Cancún has great golf options To the east is Mexico’s seaboard that borders the Caribbean, where Cancún is one of the most popular destinations for those in search of playing golf with style. The entire Cancún area is a paradise for anyone who loves golf, with some 15 tempting courses, designed by such architects as Jack Nicklaus (El Manglar Golf Course), Robert Von Hagge (Playacar Spa & Golf Club), Greg Norman (El Camaleon Golf Club), Nick Price (Grand Coral Spa & Golf), and Robert Trent Jones Jr. (Cancun Golf Club at Pok Ta Pok and Riviera Maya Golf Club), as well as the aforementioned course at TPC Cancún designed by Nick Price. The dramatic Quivira Golf Club course, overlooking the Baja Peninsula.
Quivira Golf Club, a Jack Nicklaus Signature course, continues to impress golfers. w w w.pgatour.com
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Alexandre Rocha driving on the first hole of the Olympic golf course at Reserva de Marapendi in Barra da Tijuca.
RIO DE JANEIRO As the world knows, the city of Rio de Janeiro will be the host city of the 31st Olympic Games this summer (Aug. 5–21). There is particular interest on this occasion for many of us because golf will feature as one of the competitive sports for the first time since 1904. As history shows, in 1900 Charles Sands and Margaret Abbott, both of the USA, became the first male and female golfers respectively to win a gold medal. In 1904, Canadian George Lyon claimed the last individual gold medal by upsetting Henri Chandler Egan of the U.S., who still claimed a men’s team gold medal. The new 2016 Olympic golf course has been built at Reserva de Marapendi in Barra da Tijuca, the district that will contain the largest number of Rio 2016 Olympic Games venues. It will be a unique Olympic Games venue, located approximately five miles from the Athletes’ Village and four miles from the Main Press Centre (MPC) and the International Broadcast Centre (IBC), South of Avenida das Américas and 74
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North of Lagoa de Marapendi. The par for the championship layout of the course will be 71, with the total length for the Men’s competition being 7,132 yards and for the Women’s competition 6,500 yards. The design of the course is by Hanse Golf Course Design, based in Pennsylvania. Not only the Olympic Games but also the rhythm of the Latino lifestyle and the famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches must all combine to make Rio a very attractive option for a summer break, and one of Brazil’s most popular and frequented tourist destinations for decades.
Pick of the hotels Popular upscale hotels include the 5-star Grand Hyatt Rio De Janeiro, situated by the ocean and convenient for Bosque da Barra Park and Barra Shopping Center, the hotel has a fitness center and swimming pool; the Windsor Atlântica, also 5-star, is located on the beach in the Copacabana neighborhood, close to Copacabana Beach, Ipanema Beach, and Arpoador Beach, and also conveniently close to Rio Sul Shopping Mall and Sugar Loaf Mountain.
IMAGES: TÂNIA RÊGO
Always with unique attractions on offer, this summer the added draw is golf at the Olympic Games
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For good reason, the islands of Hawaii offer some of the most popular golf resorts, where many return for their vacation year after year They play golf in paradise, but before you get there you have some difficult choices to make because Prince Resorts Hawaii, for example, offers three magnificent resorts on two different islands. Which one to choose?
Mauna Kea Golf Course Robert Trent Jones, Sr.’s masterpiece has been re-mastered by his son, Rees Jones. This course is a legend on two counts. First, it’s a beauty—Mauna Kea roams up, down and along Hawaii Island’s Kohala Coast. Secondly, it’s a challenge—counting 99 bunkers and a dramatic over-ocean carry from tee to green on the signature third hole. And now Mauna Kea has upped the fun of the game with golf boards to add a smile in tracking down every hook or slice.
Hapuna Golf Course Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay let it all loose—18 holes play follow the undulating contours of the Kohala Coast with snow-capped Mauna Kea volcano as a backdrop. Swaths of golden pili grass mark out of bounds, a fair warning that raw black lava rock lies in wait beyond. And Hapuna, too, has taken to golf boards for adventuresome golfers.
Hawaii Prince Golf Course – Island of Oahu
Above: Mauna Kea roams up, down and along Hawaii Island’s Kohala Coast. IMAGES: HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY (HTA) / CAMERON BROOKS
HAWAII
With three interchangeable nines, Hawaii Prince Golf Club on Oahu Island is the only course of its kind in Hawaii. Play your choice. Views of the Waianae Mountains inspire.
Left: Golf in paradise on Hawaii Island, Kohala Coast.
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THREE PERFECT PAIRINGS Magnificent courses and oceanfront hotels to match.
MAUNA KEA GOLF COURSE & MAUNA KEA BEACH HOTEL A legendary pairing on the luxurious Kohala Coast of Hawaii Island. Together, the masterworks of Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and Laurance S. Rockefeller.
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TRAVEL
These South Pacific islands offer all you’ve dreamed of, making your journey from the U.S. very worthwhile For many of us, planning a golf vacation to the South Pacific islands of Fiji promises the vacation of a lifetime. Offering a warm tropical climate on a year-round basis and home to some of the friendliest people on the planet, Fiji is an idyllic South Sea travel experience that remains firmly fixed as one of the world’s most spectacular golf holiday destinations. The famed land of the “Bula Spirit,” this collection of more than 300 volcanic islands and coral atolls, with its famously friendly people, make the perfect holiday solution with a myriad of destinations and activities on offer within the archipelago. And while families, couples and honeymooners have traditionally formed the bulk of the destination’s annual visitor intake, the ever-evolving Fiji of today caters to everyone—from romantic hideaways to fun-filled family holidays, from luxury island resorts to boutique cruising, world-class spas and a huge range of soft adventure activities and, most importantly of all, irrespective of budget. But for golfer’s, Fiji represents a new and exciting challenge. Fiji offers players—regardless of your ability—a wide range of courses and facilities. Choose from hacker-friendly pitch and putt nine-holers to the challenging greens and fairways of the internationally acclaimed, world-class Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course. It doesn’t seem to matter where you are in Fiji, there is always somewhere to swing a club but the majority of the courses—including several championship courses—are located on the main island of Viti Levu. Other golf courses abound on Vanua Levu, Taveuni and there’s even a private championship78
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rated, Red Bull-owned island style course located on the very exclusive Laucala Island.
Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course This is the most prestigious and most challenging of links. The par 72, 7,000-yard course at Natadola Bay on the western side of Viti Levu is a 45-minute drive from Nadi International Airport. Sitting alongside Fiji’s first-ever six-star resort, the Intercontinental Fiji Golf & Spa Resort, the course is both a golfer’s dream as well as a challenge, with 10 of its 18 holes hugging the coastline and up to five different tees per hole.
Denarau Golf and Racquet Club Located on the doorstep of some of the finest five-star resort hotels to be found anywhere in the South Pacific, this premier par 72, and 7,164 yards championship course has been described as a “thinking” course with water hazards featured on 15 of its 18 holes. Facilities include a driving range, two practice putting greens, golf and tennis Pro Shop, adult and junior clinics, private lessons and mini-golf.
The Pearl Championship Fiji Golf Course and Country Club – Pacific Coast Just a short drive from Suva and set among tropical rainforests and ball-trapping winding canals is the Robert Trent Jones Junior, par 72, Pearl Championship Fiji Golf Course & Country Club. It sports no less than 66 bunkers and multiple water hazards on 12 of the 18 holes. Measuring 6,908 yards from the tee, the links are described as one of the most adventurous golf courses in Fiji. The course also hosted the 1978 World Amateur Team Championships.
IMAGES: FRASER CLEMENTS
FIJI
Regardless of your ability, Fiji has a huge range of courses and facilities.
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The easiest place
on the planet
to relax your swing. We know that the secret to playing your best golf is to stay calm and collected. That’s why they say Fiji is a golfing paradise, because it’s easy to hit your best shot when there’s a steady sea breeze and breathtaking views to take in. We’ve got world-class courses teed up for players of any skill level. Go to www.fiji.travel to find out more.
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SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
GREAT PLAYERS, GREAT MOMENTS
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES / US PGA TOUR
The first half of the season wasn’t lacking drama and entertainment as PGA TOUR players showed their skill and dedication—emotions captured in this collection of photographs
Tony Finau worked around the trees at the Puerto Rico Open, where he won his first PGA TOUR title in a playoff over Steve Marino. w w w.pgatour.com
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season highlights
Jason Day moved to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking with his win at the World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play. Perhaps the best part? Celebrating with his son Dash afterward.
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SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Jordan Spieth was a man on a mission at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, firing a remarkable 30-under total en route to victory.
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Sometimes you just need a BIG escape. In Dallas, you can tee off at over 200 pristine courses with flawless fairways and bunkers so soft you won’t mind the detour. In a city where the links are always up to par, you’ll replay every moment in your head again and again. Plan your next tee time at VisitDallas.com.
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season highlights Right: How often do you see Rickie Fowler and Ernie Els embrace in a bear hug? It happened when Fowler earned $1 million for Els for Autism with an ace at Els’ charity event. Below: Rookies stole the show in the early season, as Emiliano Grillo (left) and Smylie Kaufman (right) won the first two events, the Frys.com Open and Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
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season highlights Right: With these guys leading the way, golf’s future is bright. Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Jordan Spieth were paired together in a supergroup at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship. Below: Adam Scott has been navigating all the obstacles lately, capturing back-to-back titles at The Honda Classic and World Golf ChampionshipsCadillac Championship. Phil Mickelson (inset) is just as popular as ever, and his game is getting there as well. He recorded three top-5 finishes in his first six starts of the season.
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season highlights Right: Peter Malnati was thrilled to capture his first TOUR title at the Sanderson Farms Championship— and to pick up the chicken-shaped trophy. Below: Haotong Li captivated his home nation at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, finishing T7, the best-ever showing for a Chinese-born player in a TOUR event.
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SEASON HIGHLIGHTS Facing page, top: As former President Bill Clinton looked on, Jason Dufner enjoyed his first victory since 2013 at the CareerBuilder Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation. Facing page, bottom [l-r]: Extreme winds wreaked havoc on the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open, where only winner Brandt Snedeker managed to break par. Rookie Harold Varner III, the first AfricanAmerican player to earn his PGA TOUR card via the Web.com Tour, has made a quick impact for his upbeat personality and approach to the game.
Right: Vaughn Taylor entered the season with limited TOUR status. He changed that—and earned a Masters invitation—with a drought-busting victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The golf course isn’t limited to humans. Matt Fast found a furry friend during the second round of the Web.com Tour’s Chitimacha Louisiana Open. Despite the anchored putter ban, it has been business as usual for Bernhard Langer on PGA TOUR Champions as he won twice and contended often early in 2016.
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PGA TOUR Champions
Early Returns Woody Austin won three times in the first part of the 2016 PGA TOUR Champions season, and defending Charles Schwab Cup Champion Bernhard Langer also got off to a strong start
By Bill Fields
I
n 2015, Woody Austin’s first full season on PGA TOUR Champions, contending wasn’t an issue—he had 10 top 10 finishes in 17 starts, including two major top-fives—but the Floridian-turned-Midwesterner didn’t notch a victory. Suffice to say, the 52-year-old has figured out early in 2016 how to win. Austin won three of the first seven tournaments on the 2016 PGA TOUR Champions schedule: Tucson Conquistadores Classic, Mitsubishi Electric Classic and Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge (with Michael Allen). Austin’s hot performance moved him to the top of the 94 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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money list after seven events, with two-time defending Charles Schwab Cup Champion Bernhard Langer, 58, in hot pursuit with one victory (The Chubb Classic) and five other top-10s in seven appearances. Others to win so far in 2016 were Duffy Waldorf at the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, Esteban Toledo at the Allianz Championship and Miguel Angel Jiminez at the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic presented by C Spire. A marquee newcomer joined PGA TOUR Champions in May with the debut of two-time major-championship winner (1991 PGA Championship, 1995 The
Above [l-r]: Bernhard Langer had more success early in 2016, while Duffy Waldorf won the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai.
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Open Championship), John Daly at the Insperity Invitational. Daly, whose last of five career PGA TOUR victories came at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in 2004, turned 50 on April 28 after making 10 starts on TOUR in 201415. “I’m looking forward to it and seeing some of my old buddies out there,” said Daly, who rode his free spirit and power (11time Driving Distance leader) to become of the one of most popular players in the game during the 1990s. His victory in the 1991 PGA Championship, where he got in the
Schwab Cup Championship. He moved to 17th in earnings last year, setting the stage for what has occurred so far in 2016. In the Tucson Conquistadores Classic, Austin not only rallied from a three-stroke deficit entering the final round with a birdie-birdie-birdie start to shoot 65 and beat Jim Carter by one, but he also had younger son Peyton as his caddie. Parker Austin was supposed to work for his father but became ill before the tournament began. “To have the first win is obviously great, but to script one I couldn’t draw it up more
“To have the first win is obviously great, but to script one I couldn’t draw it up more perfect,” —Woody Austin
Far left: Woody Austin had the fastest start to the 2016 season, winning three tournaments.
Photo Getty Images
Left: Two-time major champion John Daly, 50, will brighten up PGA TOUR Champions.
field at Crooked Stick Golf Club as the ninth alternate then overwhelmed the course with his length, is one of golf’s storybook chapters. Throughout his PGA TOUR career in which he won four tournaments spanning 18 years—1995 Buick Open to 2013 Sanderson Farms Championship—Austin was a much more low-key presence with his solid ballstriking and self-deprecating mindset. If Austin’s Sanderson Farms win at age 49 didn’t show he was ready for PGA TOUR Champions, his partial-season effort in 2014 did. Playing in only eight events, Austin finished 20th on the 2014 money list and easily qualified for the season-ending Charles
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perfect,” Austin said. “Unfortunately Parker got real sick and couldn’t caddie. We got the young one to pop in here, and he took me right down the street.” A month later Austin again closed strong—an 8-under 64 at TPC Sugarloaf—to come back from four behind after 36 holes and defeat Wes Short Jr. in a playoff at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic after the two tied at 11-under. Just as he had in Tucson, Austin switched to a different putter for the final round. “You’re just looking for that spark,” Austin said of the putter change. “I travel with two, three putters every week because PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2 95
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that’s the key to me. If I can just get the ball in the hole, I’m going to be around that leaderboard a lot because I can still play.” Teaming with Allen at the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge, Austin got help from his partner on the final hole as Allen sank an 18-foot birdie putt to allow them to edge David Frost-Roger Chapman by one stroke. “It was absolutely a perfect, simple week,” Austin said of his collegial partnership with Allen. Perfect certainly describes Austin’s year to date, too.
Woody Austin’s win at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic was his second of 2016.
Bernhard Langer was all smiles after winning the 2016 Chubb Classic.
Playoffs Debut on PGA TOUR Champions For the first time on PGA TOUR Champions, golf’s 50-and-older stars will have a playoff structure, which figures to heighten the drama at season’s end. The Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs will consist of three tournaments to determine the Charles Schwab Cup Champion. Following the SAS Championship Oct. 14-16, the top 72 players on the money list will advance to the first Playoff event, The PowerShares QQQ Championship at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif., Oct. 28-30. Fifty-four players will move on to the Dominion Charity Classic, at the The Country Club of Virginia’s James River Course in Richmond, Va., Nov. 4-6. The leading 36 players after the second Playoff event will advance to the Charles Schwab Cup Championship Nov. 10-13 at Desert Mountain Club’s Cochise Course in Scottsdale, Ariz., where in 2015 Bernhard Langer overtook Colin Montgomerie and Jeff Maggert in the tightest battle since 2008 to win the season-long competition for the third time.
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Web.com Tour
Fast tracking through Web.com Tour The young talent emerging shows there’s no more effective learning curve than the Web.com Tour as a preparation for the PGA TOUR. By Kevin Prise
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n just the second event of his PGA TOUR career, Smylie Kaufman had a sniff of the leaderboard entering the back nine of the final round. He wasn’t quite on the leaderboard, exactly, but he was close. Then a funny thing happened. Kaufman’s instincts from a season on the Web.com Tour kicked in: a year of firing at flags, a year where even-par scores weren’t exactly an option; a year where aggressive play was, mostly, the only play. The result was something amazing. Kaufman played his final nine holes at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in 7-under 29, allowing him to post 10-under 61 well ahead of the leaders.
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Fast track When the dust settled, the 24-year-old Alabama native had gone from outside the top 25 entering the final round, to a PGA TOUR winner. In a few short months, he had progressed from conditional Web.com Tour status to a TOUR exemption through the 2017-18 season. Things can happen fast in golf, with the right type of play at the right time. As far as Kaufman is concerned, the Web.com Tour prepared him for the opportunity. “It seems like a lot of winning scores this fall have been low scores, and that’s traditionally the case on the Web.com Tour,” said Kaufman after the fall portion of the 2015-16 TOUR season had concluded.
Smylie Kaufman put his Web.com Tour education to good use at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, where he shot a final-nine 29 to win.
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“It seems like a lot of winning scores this fall have been low scores, and that’s traditionally the case on the Web.com Tour.” —Smylie Kaufman “I think that being in a mindset to shoot some low scores has definitely prepared me for that. … The Web.com Tour has definitely helped me this fall.”
Former Georgia Tech star Ollie Schniederjans is a Web.com Tour player to watch in 2016.
Consistent Justin Thomas broke through with a PGA TOUR win at the 2015 CIMB Classic.
Premier pathway
IMAGES: Getty Images; US PGA TOUR
Ever since the TOUR’s qualifying model shifted for the fall 2013 Qualifying Tournament, the Web.com Tour has grown into its role as the undisputed avenue to the PGA TOUR. With 25 PGA TOUR cards awarded through the 21-event Regular Season, and another 25 awarded through the four-event Web.com Tour Finals that brings together the top 75 players on the Web.com Tour money list and Nos. 126200 in the FedExCup standings, it’s the premier pathway.
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Making an impact Need proof? Look no further than the last Web.com Tour classes, 2014 and 2015 From the 2014 class: Daniel Berger won TOUR Rookie of the Year in 2015, including a playoff loss to Padraig Harrington at The Honda Classic. Justin Thomas impressed with his consistency throughout the season, as he did on the Web.com Tour on 2014, then captured his maiden TOUR title at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia last November. Even lesserknown players are making an impact, such as Blayne Barber, who contended late Sunday at this year’s The Honda Classic en route to a T3 finish. “If I had gotten my PGA TOUR card, (through Q-School), I would have not been prepared to play at the PGA TOUR level,” Berger said. “I owe a lot of where I am today to the Web.com Tour. “A lot of learning curve in terms of traveling and eating and practicing and stuff that you need to get better at in order to be out here, that’s where I learned it—on the Web.com Tour.”
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“If I had gotten my PGA TOUR card, (through Q-School), I would have not been prepared to play at the PGA TOUR level. I owe a lot of where I am today to the Web.com Tour.”
Daniel Berger (below left) went from the Web. com Tour to being PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year. For Peter Malnati (below right), the Web.com Tour seasoned his game for a TOUR victory.
—Daniel Berger Class of 2015 The tone for the 2015 class was set by Kaufman with his victory in Las Vegas, and others quickly followed suit. After toiling on mini-tours for a number of years and then finishing No. 1 on the money list in his first full Web.com Tour season, Patton Kizzire burst on the TOUR scene with two top-5 finishes in the fall. Michael Kim and Bronson Burgoon, among others, found their way onto leaderboards early as TOUR rookies. And after finishing fourth on the money list in his first full Web.com Tour season,
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Peter Malnati followed Kaufman’s lead, winning the Sanderson Farms Championship. Malnati’s first go-round at the TOUR in 2013-14 had happened fast; he finished inside the top 25 on the 2013 Web. com Tour money list despite a limited schedule, and he didn’t feel fully prepared for his rookie TOUR season, where he failed to keep his card. A full Web.com Tour schedule in 2015 did wonders for Malnati, he feels, and he returned to the TOUR as a different player, a more confident one. “I hit better golf shots now than I did two years ago,” Malnati said. “But there’s a huge mental aspect in that, too. Two years ago I was so overwhelmed … I felt this tremendous need to prove myself. I had a lot of emotions, I was excited, and I felt like I was living my dream instead of just going to work every day. “And I still feel that way, in a way, but … this is just business. I have the greatest job ever; I’m not going to try to deny that, but this is what I do for work, and it feels right. It feels like I belong.”
Young talent Malnati credits his time on the Web.com Tour for helping him reach that point, and now a new wave of young talent will try to follow the same path. In the 2016 rookie class, much attention will be centered on Ollie Schniederjans, a former No. 1-ranked amateur and Georgia Tech graduate who is known to have a talent level similar to that of his high school Class of 2011 contemporaries Spieth and Thomas.
Eyes will also be on 22-year-old Canada native Adam Svensson, who won by seven strokes at Final Stage of Q-School last December and would love to have similar results throughout the Web.com Tour Regular Season. Other young players to watch include Austin Cook, who gained notoriety for his success in TOUR Monday qualifiers last season but now has strong Web.com Tour status for 2016, and Wesley Bryan, who generated buzz prior to his Web.com Tour career with trick-shot videos produced alongside his brother George, who will serve as caddie this season. Bryan validated his breakthrough win with a follow-up victory at the El Bosque Mexico Championship presented by INNOVA in April, in turn locking up his PGA TOUR card for the 2016-17 season. The young season has already produced one storyline that reminds us of Kaufman. Playing on a sponsor invite, University of North Texas alum Sebastian Munoz won the Club Colombia Championship Presented by Claro in February, suddenly going from no status to fully exempt. Kaufman’s break came at the 2015 Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by NACHER. He entered the event on a sponsor exemption, finishing T4 to earn a spot in the El Bosque Mexico Championship. There, he recorded another T4 to earn a spot in the United Leasing Championship Presented by PTI. There he won, and suddenly he was on his way to the PGA TOUR. Can Muñoz follow Kaufman’s lead, all the way onto the PGA TOUR? Time will tell.
IMAGES: Getty Images; US PGA TOUR
Travel to locations such as Bogota, Colombia (shown) prepare Web.com Tour players well for a life on the tournament trail.
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YOUNG PLAYERS
YOUNG AND THRIVING A youth movement is in full swing on the PGA TOUR, with a group of players age 25 and younger not afraid to make their mark
J
ust about every week on the PGA TOUR, players are demonstrating that youth isn’t an impediment to success. Jordan Spieth, who won’t turn 23 years old until July, had a season for the ages in 2015 and is in good form again this year, having already won a tournament (Hyundai Tournament of
Champions) and put forth a brave title defense at the Masters. But Spieth is far from the only golfer 25 or younger playing well. There is his pal Justin Thomas, also a winner this season, and more than a dozen others who have the skills to break through at any time—if they haven’t already.
Rankings and Statistics through 2016 Valero Texas Open
DANIEL BERGER Birthdate/Place: April 7, 1993 in Plantation, Fla. Height/Weight: 6-1/175 FedExCup Points Ranking: 62 Accomplishments: The former Florida State golfer was PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year in 2014-15 after having 13 top-25 finishes in 31 starts and was one of nine first-year players to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs. He was twice a runner-up in his rookie season, including a playoff loss to Padraig Harrington at The Honda Classic. Berger has two top-10s in 2015-16, a T10 in his first
Masters appearance, and a T5 at the Shell Houston Open, where he made a field-leading 23 birdies. Did You Know? Berger’s father, Jay, was a professional tennis player once ranked No. 7 in the world. Fun Fact: Made his first hole-in-one at age 13. ShotLink Says: Berger made eight consecutive birdies, best on TOUR in 2015-16, starting on the 16th hole of the third round at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, where he tied for 11th place. Twitter: @danielberger59
ZAC BLAIR Birthdate/Place: August 20, 1990 in Salt Lake City, Utah Height/Weight: 5-6/155 FedExCup Points Ranking: 60 Accomplishments: Blair had a successful PGA TOUR rookie season in 2014-15 on the strength of seven top-25 finishes and was one of four first-year players to advance to the BMW Championship in the FedExCup Playoffs. He has matched his two top-10 finishes as a rookie already this year, with a T10 at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba and third place at the Sony Open in Hawaii, 104
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where his 19-under total left him one stroke out of a playoff. Did You Know? Blair is a graduate of Brigham Young University, where his father, James, was on the golf team from 1974-77. Fun Fact: Favorite course he has played is Oakmont Country Club, site of the 2016 U.S. Open. ShotLink Says: One of the TOUR’s straightest off the tee, Blair is 7th in Driving Accuracy in 2015-16, hitting the fairway 70.27 percent of the time, after ranking T23 last season. Twitter: @z_blair w w w.pgatour.com
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YOUNG PLAYERS
EMILIANO GRILLO Birthdate/Place: September 14, 1992 in Resistencia, Argentina Height/Weight: 5-9/175 FedExCup Points Ranking: 20 Accomplishments: Grillo became the sixth player from Argentina to win on the PGA TOUR with a playoff victory over Kevin Na in the season-opening Frys.com Open. The win made it two in a row for Grillo, who won the 2015 Web.com Tour Championship after securing his 2015-16 TOUR card by placing third in the Web.com Tour Finals. He has been consistent since winning at the Frys.com Open, making nine of
11 cuts highlighted by T17s at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard and the Masters. Did You Know? Grillo grew up playing the same course, Chaco Golf Club, as Jose Coceres and Fabian Gomez. Fun Fact: Member of the same vaunted high school class of 2011 as Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger and Ollie Schniederjans. ShotLink Says: Grillo is ranked first on TOUR in Total Driving and T9 in Approaches From 50-125 Yards. Twitter: @GrilloEmiliano
RYO ISHIKAWA Birthdate/Place: Birthdate/Place: September 17, 1991 in Saitama, Japan Height/Weight: 5-9/155 FedExCup Points Ranking: 190 Accomplishments: Ishikawa qualified for the 2015 FedExCup Playoffs after finishing 124th on the points list. He had his best PGA TOUR finish of the season at THE PLAYERS, where he was T8 with four sub-par rounds. Ishikawa won twice on the Japan Golf Tour in 2015, the ANA Open and Nippon Series JT Cup, to give him 13 career victories in Japan. Has played only
six events on the PGA TOUR in 2015-16, his best finish a T35 at the CIMB Classic. Did You Know? When he was only 15, Ishikawa won the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup, becoming the youngest winner of a Japan Golf Tour event. Fun Fact: Received the nickname “Hanikami Oji” or “Bashful Prince” because of his shy smile and polite demeanor. ShotLink Says: A long hitter, Ishikawa’s power allowed him to make 12 eagles last season, ranking T9 on TOUR.
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SMYLIE KAUFMAN Birthdate/Place: November 30, 1991 in Birmingham, Ala. Height/Weight: 6-2/175 FedExCup Points Ranking: 11 Accomplishments: In only his second start as a PGA TOUR member, Kaufman closed with a 61 to win the 2015 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open by one stroke over six players. Kaufman’s 11-under final round allowed him to come from seven shots behind and was the lowest finish on TOUR by a winner since Tommy Gainey’s 60 at the 2012 RSM Classic. The 2015 Web.com Tour graduate has had one top-10 finish since w w w.pgatour.com
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his breakthrough victory, a T8 at the World Golf ChampionshipsCadillac Championship. Did You Know? His first name is a family name, not a nickname. His grandmother’s cousin, Smylie Gebhart, was an All-American defensive end at Georgia Tech. Fun Fact: He was a point guard on the Vestavia Hills High School statechampionship basketball team his junior year in 2009. ShotLink Says: Kaufman does well on “Moving Day,” averaging 69.33 to rank T16 in Round 3 Scoring Average. Twitter: @mr_carter_k PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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31/05/2016 09:29
YOUNG PLAYERS
MICHAEL KIM Birthdate/Place: July 14, 1993 in Seoul, South Korea Height/Weight: 5-11/165 FedExCup Points Ranking: 112 Accomplishments: Kim joined the PGA TOUR after a successful 2015 season on the Web.com Tour, with five top-10 finishes, ranking 35th on the final priority-ranking order. He has made the cut in 12 of 16 tournaments as TOUR rookie in 2015-16, with top-25 finishes at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and Valero Texas Open. Kim, who attended high school in Southern California, also played in 17 Web.com Tour events in 2014,
making 11 cuts and finishing 48th on the Regular Season money list. Did You Know? Kim was low amateur in the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club, finishing T17 after being tied for third late in the third round. Fun Fact: Played two seasons at the University of California, winning the Jack Nicklaus Award and Fred Haskins Award in 2013 and becoming Cal’s first national Player of the Year. ShotLink Says: Kim is adept from greenside bunkers, ranking 30th in Sand Saves Percentage at 56.57. Twitter: @mike_kim714
SI WOO KIM Birthdate/Place: June 28, 1995 in Seoul, South Korea Height/Weight: 5-11/182 FedExCup Points Ranking: 41 Accomplishments: This is Kim’s second season on the PGA TOUR after having played an abbreviated schedule as a teenager in 2013 following a T20 finish at the 2012 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament at a record 17 years, 5 months, 6 days. A 2015 Web.com Tour graduate with a victory at the Stonebrae Classic among three top-10s last season, Kim has two top-10s on TOUR in 2015-16
highlighted by a solo fourth at the Sony Open in Hawaii, where he opened with a six-under 64 at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu and finished four strokes behind champion Fabian Gomez. Did You Know? He won the Korean Junior Championship four consecutive years. Fun Fact: Kim’s favorite athlete is soccer star Christiano Ronaldo. ShotLink Says: Kim has a much better Back Nine Scoring Average ranking (20th, 35.12) than Front Nine Scoring Average (115th, 35.48).
DANNY LEE Birthdate/Place: July 24, 1990 in Seoul, South Korea Height/Weight: 5-11/175 FedExCup Points Ranking: 74 Accomplishments: Lee finished ninth in the FedExCup standings in 2014-15 as he won his first PGA TOUR event, The Greenbrier Classic, where he won a four-man playoff to become the first golfer from New Zealand to win on TOUR since Michael Campbell at the 2005 U.S. Open. Lee also was on the International team at The Presidents Cup in South Korea. Following eight top-10 finishes last season, Lee has one in 2016, a w w w.pgatour.com
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fourth at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, where he took a three-stroke lead into the final round but closed with 73. Did You Know? Lee moved to New Zealand from his native South Korea when he was 8. Fun Fact: He was only 18 years, 1 month old when he won the 2008 U.S. Amateur, six months younger than than Tiger Woods was when he won in 1994. ShotLink Says: Ranked T24 in Driving Accuracy Percentage, Lee hit 23 consecutive fairways at one point, T7 for the best streak on TOUR. Twitter: @dannygolf72 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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HIDEKI MATSUYAMA Birthdate/Place: February 25, 1992 in Ehime, Japan Height/Weight: 5-11/198 FedExCup Points Ranking: 12 Accomplishments: Matsuyama won his second career PGA TOUR tournament by defeating Rickie Fowler in a playoff at the 2016 Waste Management Phoenix Open, where he was T2 the previous year. After sinking a clutch birdie putt on the 72nd hole, Matsuyama won with a par on the fourth extra hole. Fifth in the 2015 Masters, Matsuyama had another good performance at Augusta National,
finishing T7. Matsuyama finished 16th in the 2014-15 FedExCup standings in a season in which he had nine top-10 finishes. Did You Know? Matsuyama became the fourth Japanese-born player to win on TOUR when he triumphed at the 2014 Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide. Fun Fact: He was introduced to golf when he was 4 years old by his father. ShotLink Says: Matsuyama leads the TOUR in Birdie Average with 4.79 per round and is 5th in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green.
SEUNG-YUL NOH Birthdate/Place: May 29, 1991 in Gangwon-do, South Korea Height/Weight: 6-1/165 FedExCup Points Ranking: 123 Accomplishments: Winner of the 2014 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Noh is already in his fifth year on the PGA TOUR, having debuted in 2012 and finished 37th in the FedExCup standings as a rookie. He was 134th in the FedExCup standings in 2014-15, making the cut in 13 of 21 TOUR starts highlighted by a T3 in the FedEx St. Jude Classic, where he
had closing rounds of 66-65 at TPC Southwind. Noh has three top-25 finishes this season led by a T17 at the CareerBuilder Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation. Did You Know? Noh was T40 in the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links shortly after turning 19 years old. Fun Fact: His favorite pro sports team is Manchester United. ShotLink Says: Although Noh ranks 69th on the TOUR in Putts per Round (28.86), he is 3rd (26.56) in the category in Round 4.
CARLOS ORTIZ Birthdate/Place: April 24, 1991 in Guadalajara, Mexico Height/Weight: 6-0/150 FedExCup Points Ranking: 165 Accomplishments: As a PGA TOUR rookie in 2014-15, Ortiz made the cut in 20 of 30 events with a best finish of T9 in the OHL Classic at Mayakoba and ended his season at No. 93 in the FedExCup standings. He joined the TOUR off an outstanding rookie season on the Web.com Tour in 2014 when he won three times and was the first since 2009 to secure a three-victory 108
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promotion and only the 10th player since the promotion was made available in 1997. Ortiz made five cuts in his first 15 events of 2015-16. Did You Know? Ortiz received a degree in International Studies from the University of North Texas in 2013. Fun Fact: He grew up playing at Guadalajara Country Club, the same home course as LPGA great Lorena Ochoa, who is 10 years older. ShotLink Says: Starting with the season-opening Frys.com Open, Ortiz went 207 holes without a 3-putt. Twitter: @carlosortizGolf w w w.pgatour.com
07/06/2016 10:07
YOUNG PLAYERS
PATRICK REED Birthdate/Place: August 5, 1990 in San Antonio, Texas Height/Weight: 6-0/200 FedExCup Points Ranking: 8 Accomplishments: The four-time PGA TOUR winner finished a career-best 12th in the FedExCup standings in 2014-15 as he became only the fourth player in the last 20 years to get his fourth TOUR win before age 24 years, 6 months. A member of the United States Ryder Cup team in 2014 and The Presidents Cup team in 2015, Reed has continued to excel this season. Although he hasn’t
won in 2015-16, he has runner-up finishes at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and Valero Texas Open and six additional top-10 finishes in 13 starts. Did You Know? Reed went 6-0 in match play in helping Augusta State win two NCAA championships. Fun Fact: He lists cooking, playing pool and antiques among his special interests. ShotLink Says: Reed is 4th on TOUR in Scrambling at 68.18 percent and 11th in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green. Twitter: @PReedGolf
PATRICK RODGERS Birthdate/Place: June 20, 1992 in Avon, Ind. Height/Weight: 6-2/165 FedExCup Points Ranking: 73 Accomplishments: Rodgers has seven top-25 finishes in 14 events on the PGA TOUR in 2015-16, his best finish T6 in the season-opening Frys.com Open, where he opened with three rounds in the 60s. Last season he made 12 of 17 TOUR cuts with two top-10s as a non-member. He earned Special Temporary Membership during the season and parlayed that into a top-125 finish on the FedExCup points list as a non-member to earn PGA TOUR
membership for 2015-16. He has one victory on the Web.com Tour, at the 2015 Colombia Championship presented by Claro. Did You Know?In three years at Stanford University, Rodgers equaled the all-time school record for wins (11) held by Tiger Woods and broke Woods’ scoring record. Fun Fact: A basketball player through his freshman year of high school, Rodgers idolized Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers. ShotLink Says: Rodgers’ Round 4 Scoring Average (69.75, T18) is almost two strokes better than his Round 1 Scoring Average (71.50, T162).
CAMERON SMITH Birthdate/Place: August 18, 1993 in Brisbane, Australia Height/Weight: 5-11/172 FedExCup Points Ranking: 136 Accomplishments: Smith had two top-10s as a non-member on TOUR in 2015, earning Special Temporary Membership and later earning a PGA TOUR card for 2015-16 through a top-125 finish on the FedExCup points list. He has made the cut in nine of 13 tournaments this season, including six consecutive through the Masters. His best finish is T11 in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where he w w w.pgatour.com
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had his low round of the season, 64, on the first day. Did You Know? At Chambers Bay in 2015, Smith made a strong bid in an attempt to become the first player to win the U.S. Open on his first try since amateur Francis Ouimet in 1913. Smith was the only player with four rounds at par or better and finished T4, two strokes behind champion Jordan Spieth. Fun Fact: He represented Australia in the 2012 Eisenhower Trophy. ShotLink Says: Smith has a OnePutt Percentage of 41.99, 30th on TOUR. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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JORDAN SPIETH Birthdate/Place: July 27, 1993 in Dallas, Texas Height/Weight: 6-1/185 FedExCup Points Ranking: 6 Accomplishments: When he won the 2016 Hyundai Tournament of Champions for his seventh career PGA TOUR victory, Spieth tied Tiger Woods for most wins at the age of 22 or younger. Spieth put together a 201415 season that ranks among the finest ever, winning five times—including two majors—and capping it with a victory in the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola to become the youngest winner of the event and the FedExCup. The Player of the Year became only the fifth wire-to-wire winner of the
Masters, and with a one-stroke victory in the U.S. Open, Spieth became the youngest to win the championship since Bobby Jones in 1923. Bidding to become only the fourth player to win back-to-back at Augusta National, Spieth made a strong defense of his Masters title in April, finishing T2. Did You Know? Spieth is only the third player to win the U.S. Open and TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola in a season. Fun Fact: His brother, Steven, is on the basketball team at Brown University. ShotLink Says: Spieth is 8th in Strokes Gained: Total, 5th in Scoring Average and 3rd in Birdie Average. Twitter: @JordanSpieth
JUSTIN THOMAS Birthdate/Place: April 29, 1993 in Louisville, Ken. Height/Weight: 5-10/145 FedExCup Points Ranking: 9 Accomplishments: Thomas had top-25 finishes in half of his tournaments (15 of 30) in a solid PGA TOUR rookie campaign in 201415 and wasted little time breaking through with a victory this season. After a T3 in the season-opening Frys.com Open, Thomas won the CIMB Classic by one stroke over Adam Scott. He has one other top10 this season, T3 at The Honda
Classic, where he broke 70 each day. Did You Know? Thomas graduated to the PGA TOUR after a strong rookie season on the Web.com Tour in 2014 that included a victory among 13 top25 finishes. Fun Fact: His favorite pro teams are the Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Penguins. ShotLink Says: Thomas goes low on Fridays, ranking 9th on TOUR in Round 2 Scoring Average (69.54), more than a stroke lower than his average score in other rounds. Twitter: @JustinThomas34
HAROLD VARNER III Birthdate/Place: August 15, 1990 in Akron, Ohio Height/Weight: 5-8/170 FedExCup Points Ranking: 90 Accomplishments: Varner graduated to the PGA TOUR after being 33rd in the 2015 Web.com Tour final priority-ranking, a season highlighted by a solo second at the Panama Claro Championship. He grabbed the 25th and final TOUR card by $943 thanks to a crucial penultimate-hole birdie in the last Regular Season event. He has two top-10s (T5, OHL Classic at Mayakoba; T9, Valero Texas Open) in 110
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16 events as a TOUR rookie and shot a career-low 62 in the second round of the OHL Classic at Mayakoba. Varner also tied for second in the Australian PGA Championship. Did You Know? Varner was a threetime, all-conference golfer who had 18 career top-10 finishes at East Carolina University (2012, Marketing). Fun Fact: His favorite athlete is LeBron James. ShotLink Says: Varner is 16th in Driving Distance with a 303.9-yard average. Twitter: @HV3_Golf w w w.pgatour.com
07/06/2016 10:07
FOLLOW THE RACE FOR THE FEDEXCUP ALL SEASON LONG SIRIUS208XM92
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25/05/2016 09:38
Olympics
Golden Opportunity
A remarkable comeback for the game, as golf is once again a feature of the Summer Olympics for the first time in more than a century By Dave Shedloski
G
eorge S. Lyon is about to get some company after 112 years standing alone as golf’s only recognized Olympic gold medalist. When the Summer Games commence in August in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, golf will be included for the first time since 1904, when the aforementioned Lyon, a 46-year-old insurance salesman from Canada, upset H. Chandler Egan, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, 3 and 2, at Glen Echo Golf Club in St. Louis.
11-14 while the women play August 17-20. Although golf always has been about the major championships, this new prize will be a special one for the world’s top players. Like other Olympic sports, medals will be presented for the top three finishers in each competition. There is no prize money. The major championship schedule was altered this year to accommodate the Olympics, with the PGA Championship moving to late July.
The new prize
Winning gold
On a golf course specifically designed for the competition by architect Gil Hanse, 60 each of the game’s best men and women will compete in separate 72-hole stroke-play competitions in Rio. The men go first, August
“More than anything, it would be nice bragging rights,” said Jordan Spieth, the No. 2 player in the Official World Golf Ranking and almost assured of being among the players representing the United States in Rio. “If I’ve got a gold medal
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One of the best players in the world, Jordan Spieth is looking forward to competing in Brazil.
“Winning a gold would be, I believe, like winning a major championship.” —Jordan Spieth PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2 113
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Olympics
and somebody that I get to see week-to-week on the PGA TOUR has got a silver or bronze. Medaling for your country is something special. Winning a gold would be, I believe, like winning a major championship.” The field will be determined by the International Golf Federation based on the world rankings on July 11. The top 15 players of each ranking—the OWGR for the men and the Rolex Rankings for the women—will qualify, with a limit of four golfers per country. Beyond the top 15, berths are limited to two players from any one country. According to the IGF, which manages the Olympic golf tournaments, the host nation will be reserved one berth regardless of ranking as will each geographic region of the globe.
Growing the game Coordinated by Ty Votaw, the Chief Marketing Officer of the PGA TOUR and Vice President of the IGF, the impetus for golf’s inclusion in the Olympics was driven by the global popularity of the sport and the desire to stimulate golf’s growth. Among those who went to bat in 2009 as the IOC was deciding golf’s bid was 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus. Eventually, golf and rugby sevens were the two sports that were included for the 2016 Games. Golf will have an Olympic spot for 2016 and 2020 and then will undergo re-evaluation. Tokyo is the site of the 2020 Games.
The course Because a suitable golf course was not available in Brazil, a layout that could accommodate men and women players had to be designed. Philadelphia-based Hanse, GOLF magazine’s 2009 Architect of the Year, was selected from eight finalists. The course he carved out on sand of a portion of a nature preserve in western Rio, hard by the sea and mountains, measures 7,350 yards, a par 71. (It will play around 6,500 yards for the women.) that has been described as a links-like layout, wide open and without trees. Hanse, with two different tournaments in mind, built several options into most holes and some holes will be what Hanse has called “half-par” holes that might be reachable from the tee on a par 4 or par 3s that play long. The course also features two artificial lakes and strategic bunkering and mounding. The finishing stretch, says LPGA Hall of Fame golfer Amy Alcott, who served as a design consultant to Hanse, should provide for risk-reward birdie opportunities. “It’s a very demanding course,” Paulo 114 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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Pacheco, president of the Brazilian Golf Confederation, said when the course officially was unveiled in November. “It has plenty of undergrowth and is very open so the wind will present a real challenge to the golfers, who will also have lots of bunkers to deal with. This layout is narrow and will demand great precision from the players.”
Ty Votaw, Chief Marketing Officer of the PGA TOUR, coordinated golf’s successful Olympic bid on behalf of the International Golf Federation.
Tremendous success A test event staged in early March went off without a hitch. That dry run was helpful, as was the U.S. Golf Association’s experiment two years ago at Pinehurst No. 2 when the U.S. Open and the U.S. Women’s Open were held in back-to-back weeks. That fortnight was a tremendous success, with Martin Kaymer and Michelle Wie winning the respective national titles. Upon completion of the Olympic competition, the course will be turned over to the country’s residents, giving them their first public golf course. That is just one more gesture towards growing the game.
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17/06/2016 11:13
WELL PLAYED, Mr. Schwartzel!
Congratulations to our 2016 Valspar Championship winner, Charl Schwartzel.
Official Sponsor of the Valspar Championship The Most Colorful PGA TOUR Tournament in the World ®
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21/03/2016 16:32
SPORT, FITNESS & HEALTH
Sun Protection One of the world’s most respected cancer centers has launched a campaign in partnership with the PGA TOUR to help players and fans be more aware of the risk of skin cancer caused by overexposure to the sun’s rays
The “Strike Through Cancer Wall” is an important component of MD Anderson’s educational campaign on the PGA TOUR.
By Charles Ford
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the PGA TOUR. In 2015, MD Anderson began a major public initiative to reduce cancer risk among the golf community and the general public through an educational awareness campaign. Practical protection At select PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions events, MD Anderson is providing fans with practical UV protection, including free sunscreen stations and shaded areas throughout the courses where spectators can get out of the sun. Fans also
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ecause we spend much of the year enjoying great tournaments on beautiful courses, overexposure to harmful rays from the sun puts players and fans at risk for melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. Awareness of this significant risk is essential, say experts at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, because skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Educating the public about skin cancer prevention is one of the driving factors behind MD Anderson’s relationship with
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SPORT, FITNESS & HEALTH
receive interactive educational materials, SPF 30 lip balm and sunglasses. A signature element of this initiative is MD Anderson’s “Strike Through Cancer Wall,” an outlet that empowers individuals to show their support for cancer survivors or their loved ones by signing their names and messages of hope. “At MD Anderson, our mission is to eliminate cancer through patient care, treatment, prevention and education. By working with the PGA TOUR, we are able to increase public awareness of sun safety habits so people can act to reduce their risk of skin cancer, among other diseases,” says Tom Buchholz, M.D., executive vice president and physician-in-chief at MD Anderson. “Since skin cancer is the most common malignancy— and one of the most preventable—public knowledge is essential to ending this disease.” RISKS AND MYTHS Nearly 5 million people receive treatment for skin cancer in the U.S. every year. Of these cases, statistics show that the risk of melanoma is increasing, especially in the under-40 age group, and with a higher incidence being noted among women. Remember that having dark skin does not protect you from skin cancer—the disease is increasing among African-Americans and Hispanics as well. WHAT IS MY RISK? MD Anderson has identified eight risk factors for skin cancer and advises that if you have one or more of these risk factors, you should consult your doctor or schedule a skin cancerscreening exam: • Family history of melanoma • History of frequent or intense sun exposure • History of tanning bed use • More than 50 moles • One or more blistering sunburns • Personal history of basal cell and/or squamous cell skin cancers • Personal history of melanoma • Red or blond hair, fair skin, freckles and blue or light-colored eyes CHECK FOR SIGNS Be aware of your body. Keep track of new and changing spots or moles and remember: Change is key - Look for new spots or spots that change. Ask a family member to inspect hard-to-see areas such as the scalp and back.
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Grateful PGA TOUR fans
MD Anderson provides shaded public seating at several PGA TOUR events, including THE PLAYERS.
• Complimentary sunscreen is located around select courses for fans to use, courtesy of MD Anderson. Last year, grateful spectators took advantage, using more than 73 gallons of sunscreen at four tournaments. • MD Anderson has provided shaded public venues this year at the Shell Houston Open, Insperity Invitational (PGA TOUR Champions), and THE PLAYERS. Look for them next at TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. • The “Strike Through Cancer Wall” at the above-mentioned tournaments enables the public to write messages of hope or inspiration to the cancer community. In 2015, more than 43,000 people signed the “Strike Through Cancer Wall” at PGA TOUR events. • To learn more about MD Anderson, visit www. MakingCancerHistory.com/PGATOUR
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Be thorough - Skin cancer can develop in places that do not get sun exposure. Pay attention to rough or raised areas when you shampoo or apply lotion. Increase your protection “Taking steps to protect your skin from overexposure to the sun’s harmful rays is essential,” says Buchholz. Here are some tips: • Look for shady areas when outside and avoid the sun between 10am and 4pm. • Use sunscreen and lip balm—apply liberally, 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours, and choose products with SPF 30 or higher. • Cover up—wear dark, tightly woven clothing. Choose a hat with a large brim to protect your ears and neck. • Wear sunglasses—look for lenses that provide both UV-A and UV-B protection. • Skip the tanning bed—tanning beds are not a safe alternative to the sun.
Dr. Susan Chon of MD Anderson performs skin cancer screenings at several PGA TOUR events throughout the year.
MD Anderson provides complimentary sunscreen, sunglasses and SPF 30 lip balm at select PGA TOUR events. 118 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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Helping you on the PGA TOUR MD Anderson physicians continue to promote sun safety with the PGA TOUR this year, providing complimentary skin screenings at the Shell Houston Open, Insperity Invitational, THE PLAYERS and TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. Most recently at THE PLAYERS there were screenings available for the public for the first time, conducted in partnership with MD Anderson’s local affiliate hospital, Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center. “Since offering screenings on TOUR, we are pleased that more than 280 players and caddies have participated,” says Jeffrey Gershenwald, M.D., professor of surgical oncology at MD Anderson. “Providing a valuable service in a convenient way to people who spend most of their days in the sun has allowed us to further MD Anderson’s mission to end cancer.”
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HEALTH & FITNESS
PLAYING IT SAFE
Jim Furyk was out for action for eight months because of a wrist injury and subsequent surgery.
With prevention being better than cure, there are ways to reduce your risk for golf injury, and thereby maximize the great health benefits that the game can provide
I
n recent times we’ve seen some top PGA TOUR players suffering setbacks due to injury, such as Jim Furyk’s wrist injury that sidelined him for eight months. Although less common among professional players, there would be many more injuries were it not for the PGA TOUR’s Fitness Trailers that do so much to take care of the players. However, for all who love the game, from Tour players to recreational golfers, there are personal measures that can be taken that will help avoid many common golf injuries. COMMON INJURIES Let’s first take a look at some of the most common golf injuries, as listed by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM). Lower back The rotational force of the golf swing puts pressure on the spine, which can result in pain of the lower back. This type of injury is the most common among professional golfers, but there are certain techniques that can be used to minimize the risk. Checking out a golf school, a private lesson series, or a specialty clinic, all available through the TPC Network (www.tpc.com), will give some of the best advice and insights into these techniques.
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Elbow Elbow injuries are said to be the second most common type of injury caused by playing golf. Golfer’s elbow can be caused by poor swing technique, resulting in inflammation and painful tendons. Wrist Wrist injuries are normally caused during impact, and are not as common as back injuries. Stress can be put on the wrist due to the repetitive nature of the swing action, so injuries such as tendinitis can occur. Tendinitis is described as the inflammation of a tendon, and symptoms include pain in the part of the wrist near the thumb, a grating sound heard as the thumb is moved, and swelling around the area. Shoulder Shoulder injuries are sometimes caused due to the overuse of certain muscles in the shoulder during the swing. Taking part in a warm-up routine can prevent any severe pain in this area. w w w.pgatour.com
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AVOIDING COMMON INJURIES While the professionals we follow on the PGA TOUR have the fitness standards of highly trained athletes, the keen amateur player—who probably lacks that disciplined training regimen—is advised to take some precautionary measures in advance of any strenuous golf activity. The experts advise as follows: Warming up. Before you practice or play a round of golf, warm up for at least 10 minutes with a brisk walk or a set of jumping jacks. Stretch your hands, wrists, forearms, elbows, shoulders, spine and pelvis. Swing your golf club a few times, gradually increasing your range of motion. Starting slowly. You might start out by practicing your swing for hours, believing it’s helping your game. But if your body isn’t conditioned for the strain, repetitively practicing your golf swing may do more harm than good. Work up to your desired level of activity instead. Strengthening muscles. You don’t need bulging muscles to hit a long drives—but the stronger your muscles, the greater your club speed. Stronger muscles are also less prone to injury. For best results, do some strength training exercises year-round. HEALTH BENEFITS With some basic common-sense training, as outlined above, we can avoid many of the most common golf injuries and at the same time reap the unquestionable health and fitness advantages that we can gain through playing golf. With regard to these benefits, Dr. Tom Hospel, Medical Advisor of the PGA TOUR has said: “Golf is probably underappreciated and even undervalued for the health benefits it provides. It is estimated that walking 18 holes, carrying a bag or using a handcart, is approximately equal to a five-mile walk. The total caloric expenditure for walking an 18-hole round is approximately 2,000 calories. Even when riding a cart, a golfer will expend 1,300 calories. Beyond the number of calories burned, golfers have been tested to show improvements in serum glucose and cholesterol values. The beauty of golf is that it is a suitable sport for all ages, so everyone can benefit from participating.” PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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WALK WITH LEGENDS. Mark O’Meara
Jeff Maggert
Bernhard Langer
John Daly
Colin Montgomerie
“Experience the most accessible, accommodating and engaging entertainment in professional golf.” - Fred Couples
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2015/16 tournament overview
The Final Stretch
An interesting new addition to the golf calendar has caused some movement within the schedule
image: AP Photo; PGA TOUR
T
he conclusion of the PGA TOUR season is highlighted, as usual, by three major championships and the FedExCup Playoffs. But there’s a new addition to the golf calendar in 2016 when golf returns to the Olympic Games for the first time in 112 years. That’s an exciting development, but since it will take place the second week of August it caused some rearrangement of the schedule. The PGA Championship, which usually has those August dates, moves to July 28-31, just two weeks after The Open Championship in Scotland. The World Golf ChampionshipsBridgestone Invitational, another traditional August event, switches to June 30-July 3, while the Travelers Championship and John Deere Classic move to fill the schedule in the first two weeks of August. Anticipation is high for this year’s final three majors, which will all be held at classic venues. The U.S. Open returns to Oakmont outside Pittsburgh, the club that has hosted the most U.S. Opens, with winners that have included Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Johnny Miller and Ernie Els. The Open Championship goes to Royal Troon in the west of Scotland, where Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson are among those who have hoisted the Claret Jug. And the PGA Championship heads to Baltusrol in
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New Jersey where Jack Nicklaus won two U.S. Opens and Phil Mickelson captured the first PGA held at the club in 2005. The FedExCup Playoffs, as always, will provide a thrilling four-tournament race for season honors in late August and September. It starts with The Barclays, where the rotation of courses in the New York metropolitan area brings it to Bethpage Black, the outstanding layout that hosted The Barclays in 2012 along with two U.S. Opens in the 21st century. Next up is the Deutsche Bank Championship at its usual TPC Boston venue with a traditional Labor Day finish. The third playoff event, the BMW Championship, like The Barclays, moves to a course with a major in its past, Crooked Stick near Indianapolis, the site of John Daly’s 1991 PGA Championship victory and also the 2012 BMW Championship. After a week off, the TOUR heads to Atlanta for the climax, the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, where a $10 million bonus will be awarded to the FedExCup points winner. But that isn’t quite all. Team play takes the stage the next week with the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National outside Minneapolis, where the top players from the U.S. and Europe will stage their biennial battle for supremacy.
Jordan Spieth hits a shot on the ninth hole fairway as fans watch during the final round of the TOUR Championship by CocaCola, the final event of the FedExCup Playoffs, at East Lake Golf Club on September 27, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. The PGA Championship returns to Baltusrol, where Jack Nicklaus won two U.S. Opens.
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
June 2-5, 2016
Location
the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide
Course Information Opened in 1974, Muirfield Village Golf Club is the dream creation of Jack Nicklaus, who wanted to bring a worldclass golf tournament to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Working with land planner Desmond Muirhead, Nicklaus designed a strategic golf course over 240 rolling, wooded acres that places a premium on accuracy as it winds through trees and over bunkers and water hazards. Nicklaus has tweaked nearly every hole over the years to make it a better test for the professionals and yet more accommodating to an international membership.
Yardage 7,392; par 72
2015 Champion David Lingmerth, Sweden
Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS
Tickets A badge for grounds admission Monday to Sunday costs $182; Golden Bear Club badges $292. Daily practice round tickets available for $35. Children 16 and under are admitted free all week; children 18 and under admitted free on Wednesday. All active, reserve, National Guard, retired or spouses receive complimentary admission for immediate family on Wednesday (Military Appreciation Day). For information, go to www. thememorialtournament.com
“I’ve been in a few playoffs. You win some, you lose some. But I didn’t feel that it was my turn to lose this time.” —David Lingmerth
Italy’s Francesco Molinari closed with a 71 to share third place.
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Dublin, Ohio Muirfield Village Golf Club
Sweden’s David Lingmerth weathered a couple of outstanding par saves by Justin Rose to eventually claim his first PGA TOUR title on the third hole of a playoff. Rose forced extra holes with an upand-down from 55 yards on the 18th hole in regulation, then holed a 20-foot par putt on the first playoff hole with Lingmerth facing a 10-footer for par. Lingmerth holed it, then won with a par two holes later when Rose’s magic ended. Rose had a threestroke lead over Lingmerth and Francesco Molinari entering the final round, but Rose shot an even-par 72 while Lingmerth played the last eight holes of regulation 3-under for a 69 to reach the playoff at 15-under 273. Molinari double bogeyed the 16th hole and finished tied for third with Jordan Spieth, who closed with a 65. Lingmerth led the field in Par-3 Scoring, playing those 16 holes in 6-under. Lingmerth was second in the Par Breakers category with 22 birdies and one eagle. Lingmerth ranked third in Strokes Gained: Putting (1.574 per round) and missed only one putt inside seven feet all week. Jordan Spieth had a hot final round to move up the leaderboard.
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2016 tournament overview
quick Facts
No. 12, Muirfield Village Golf Club.
Field: Approx.120 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $8.5 million Winner’s Share: $1,615,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
Charity Benefit
Proceeds from the Tournament benefit a number of local organizations, but the primary beneficiary is Nationwide Children’s Hospital, through an alliance with the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, for the advancement of pediatric care in Central Ohio.
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XX David Lingmerth became the ninth Swedish player to win on the PGA TOUR, a list headed by Jesper Parnevik and Carl Pettersson (2006 Memorial Tournament winner) with five each. XX Lingmerth came from three strokes behind after 54 holes to win. The Memorial record is five by David Edwards (1992), Jim Furyk (2002) and K.J. Choi (2007).
XX Playoff loser Justin Rose, the 2010 Memorial winner, failed in his bid to become the seventh player to win the event more than once. XX Lingmerth was the fifth international player to win the Memorial in the last 10 years, and the second in a row (Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, 2014).
LEADERBOARD 2015 Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
David Lingmerth
1
65
72
69
273/-15
500.00
$1,116,000.00
67
Justin Rose
2
68
67
66
72
273/-15
300.00
$669,600.00
Francesco Molinari
T3
68
67
69
71
275/-13
162.50
$359,600.00
Jordan Spieth
T3
68
70
72
65
275/-13
162.50
$359,600.00
images: Getty Images
Runner-up Justin Rose displayed a clutch short game, including a par save on the first extra hole.
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Justin Rose playing the par-4 14th, part of Muirfield Village’s exciting back nine.
Renovations over the last decade have made the finishing stretch one of the most arduous in golf. The par-3 16th was redesigned with a pond guarding the front and left of the green, the long par-4 17th has new fairway bunkers, and the dogleg right par-4 18th has a new tee stretching the hole to 484 yards.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Player
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Notable Course Features
Wednesday features the Jack Nicklaus Golf Clinic and the Memorial Honoree Ceremony, in 2016 honoring Johnny Miller. A major gathering place during the week is the Patron Village between the 10th and 14th holes. In addition to the Golden Bear Club, an enhanced-ticket area with TV viewing and open seating in a sports bar setting, there is an area open to the public with food and beverage options, a patio and more. The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide also features an annual benefit concert in Columbus. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2 125
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Are your bladder symptoms taking you off course? ASK YOUR DOCTOR if Myrbetriq ® (mirabegron) may help you manage your overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms of urgency, frequency, and leakage If you’re dealing with urges, frequency, and leaks on your own, or if you have ever taken an OAB medicine and stopped, ask your doctor if Myrbetriq may be an appropriate treatment option for you.
Myrbetriq ® (mirabegron) is approved by the FDA to treat overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms of: Urgency
Frequency
Leakage
TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR OAB SYMPTOMS STARTS WITH TALKING TO YOUR DOCTOR Visit MyBossyBladder.com for doctor discussion tips. Ask your doctor if Myrbetriq may be right for you.
In clinical trials, those taking Myrbetriq made fewer trips to the bathroom and had fewer leaks than those not taking Myrbetriq. Your results may vary. USE OF MYRBETRIQ® (MEER-BEH-TRICK) Myrbetriq® (mirabegron) is a prescription medicine for adults used to treat overactive bladder (OAB) with symptoms of urgency, frequency, and leakage. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Myrbetriq is not for everyone. Do not use Myrbetriq if you have an allergy to mirabegron or any ingredients in Myrbetriq. Myrbetriq may cause your blood pressure to increase or make your blood pressure worse if you have a history of high blood pressure. It is recommended that your doctor check your blood pressure while you are taking Myrbetriq. Myrbetriq may increase your chances of not being able to empty your bladder. Tell your doctor right away if you have trouble emptying your bladder or you have a weak urine stream. Myrbetriq may cause allergic reactions that may be serious. If you experience swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue, with or without difficulty breathing, stop taking Myrbetriq and tell your doctor right away. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including medications for overactive bladder or other medicines such as thioridazine (Mellaril™ and Mellaril-S™), flecainide (Tambocor®), propafenone (Rythmol®), digoxin (Lanoxin®). Myrbetriq may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Myrbetriq works. Before taking Myrbetriq, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney problems. In clinical studies, the most common side effects seen with Myrbetriq included increased blood pressure, common cold symptoms (nasopharyngitis), urinary tract infection and headache. For further information, please talk to your healthcare professional and see Brief Summary of Prescribing Information for Myrbetriq® (mirabegron) on the following page. 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.
Myrbetriq is a registered trademark of Astellas Pharma Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2016 Astellas Pharma US, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in USA 057-1113-PM
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Myrbetriq® (mirabegron) extended-release tablets 25 mg, 50 mg Brief Summary based on FDA-approved patient labeling Read the Patient Information that comes with Myrbetriq® (mirabegron) before you start taking it and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This summary does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or treatment. What is Myrbetriq (meer-BEH-trick)? Myrbetriq is a prescription medication for adults used to treat the following symptoms due to a condition called overactive bladder: • urge urinary incontinence: a strong need to urinate with leaking or wetting accidents • urgency: a strong need to urinate right away • frequency: urinating often It is not known if Myrbetriq is safe and effective in children. Who should not use Myrbetriq? Do not use Myrbetriq if you have an allergy to mirabegron or any of the ingredients in Myrbetriq. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in Myrbetriq. What is overactive bladder? Overactive bladder occurs when you cannot control your bladder contractions. When these muscle contractions happen too often or cannot be controlled, you can get symptoms of overactive bladder, which are urinary frequency, urinary urgency, and urinary incontinence (leakage). What should I tell my doctor before taking Myrbetriq? Before you take Myrbetriq, tell your doctor if you: • have liver problems or kidney problems • have very high uncontrolled blood pressure • have trouble emptying your bladder or you have a weak urine stream • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Myrbetriq will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Myrbetriq passes into your breast milk. You and your doctor should decide if you will take Myrbetriq or breastfeed. You should not do both. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Myrbetriq may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Myrbetriq works. Tell your doctor if you take: • thioridazine (Mellaril™ or Mellaril-S™) • flecainide (Tambocor®) • propafenone (Rythmol®) • digoxin (Lanoxin®) How should I take Myrbetriq? • Take Myrbetriq exactly as your doctor tells you to take it. • You should take 1 Myrbetriq tablet 1 time a day. • You should take Myrbetriq with water and swallow the tablet whole. • Do not crush or chew the tablet. • You can take Myrbetriq with or without food. • If you miss a dose of Myrbetriq, begin taking Myrbetriq again the next day. Do not take 2 doses of Myrbetriq the same day. • If you take too much Myrbetriq, call your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away. What are the possible side effects of Myrbetriq? Myrbetriq may cause serious side effects including: • increased blood pressure. Myrbetriq may cause your blood pressure to increase or make your blood pressure worse if you have a history of high blood pressure. It is recommended that your doctor check your blood pressure while you are taking Myrbetriq. • inability to empty your bladder (urinary retention). Myrbetriq may increase your chances of not being able to empty your bladder if you have bladder outlet obstruction or if you are taking other medicines to treat overactive bladder. Tell your doctor right away if you are unable to empty your bladder. • angioedema. Myrbetriq may cause an allergic reaction with swelling of the lips, face, tongue, throat with or without difficulty breathing. Stop using Myrbetriq and tell your doctor right away.
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The most common side effects of Myrbetriq include: • increased blood pressure • common cold symptoms (nasopharyngitis) • urinary tract infection • headache Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away or if you have swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, hives, skin rash or itching while taking Myrbetriq. These are not all the possible side effects of Myrbetriq. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. How should I store Myrbetriq? • Store Myrbetriq between 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C). Keep the bottle closed. • Safely throw away medicine that is out of date or no longer needed. Keep Myrbetriq and all medicines out of the reach of children. General information about the safe and effective use of Myrbetriq Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in the Patient Information leaflet. Do not use Myrbetriq for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give Myrbetriq to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them. Where can I go for more information? This is a summary of the most important information about Myrbetriq. If you would like more information, talk with your doctor. You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for information about Myrbetriq that is written for health professionals. For more information, visit www.Myrbetriq.com or call (800) 727-7003. What are the ingredients in Myrbetriq? Active ingredient: mirabegron Inactive ingredients: polyethylene oxide, polyethylene glycol, hydroxypropyl cellulose, butylated hydroxytoluene, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, yellow ferric oxide and red ferric oxide (25 mg Myrbetriq tablet only). Rx Only PRODUCT OF JAPAN OR IRELAND – See bottle label or blister package for origin Marketed and Distributed by: Astellas Pharma US, Inc. Northbrook, Illinois 60062
Myrbetriq® is a registered trademark of Astellas Pharma Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2015 Astellas Pharma US, Inc. Revised: December 2015 15L110-MIR-BRFS 057-0910-PM
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
June 9-12, 2016
FedEx St. Jude Classic Memphis, Tenn. TPC Southwind
Course Information Ron Prichard, known for his restorations of designs by noted architect Donald Ross, and with help from former major champions Hubert Green and Fuzzy Zoeller, created a challenging course on a former dairy farm outside Memphis that features undulating fairways and natural hazards—streams, ponds and lakes—to enhance the layout’s beauty and challenge.
Yardage 7,244; par 70
2015 Champion Fabian Gomez
Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS
Tickets A OneDay ticket (any day Wednesday through Sunday) costs $30. A Week-Long ticket is $65, or $150 for a clubhouse badge. A Week-Long youth ticket (age 15 and under) costs $15. Military tickets are discounted 50 percent to $15.00 per ticket but must present verification voucher in order to get discount. Admission is free for everyone on Monday and Tuesday.
“I tried to keep playing the same way I played the first three days, keep concentrating, and in some moment if I feel a little nervous, I try to think another thing and keep my mind blank and enjoy the round.” —Fabian Gomez
A second-round 67 put Brooks Koepka in good shape entering the weekend.
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HOW FABIAN GOMEZ WON
Location
Argentina’s Fabian Gomez held a share of the lead after three rounds and fired a final-round 66 to capture his first PGA TOUR title in his 70th event. The 36-yearold fell two strokes behind 54-hole co-leader Greg Owen of England through seven holes of the final round, but a Gomez birdie on No. 8 and an Owen bogey on the ninth evened things up. Gomez birdied Nos. 11, 16 and 18 for a three-under 32 on the back nine to pull away for a four-stroke victory over Owen, capping the day with a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole. Gomez became the fifth Argentinian to win on the PGA TOUR, joining Roberto De Vicenzo, Jose Coceres, Angel Cabrera and Andres Romero. Gomez led the field in Strokes Gained: Tee-toGreen at 3.072 strokes per round, was eighth in Greens in Regulation and ninth in Proximity to the Hole on approach shots. Gomez’s short game was also pretty sharp as he ranked eighth in Scrambling and 17th in Strokes Gained: Putting. Gomez was T1 in Par 5 Scoring Average at 4.13 with seven birdies on eight par 5s. Seung-Yul Noh closed strong (65) to share third place.
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
QUICK FACTS
The event has raised more than $33 million for charity since 1970.
Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.2 million Winner’s Share: $1,116,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
CHARITY BENEFIT
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis has been the sole beneficiary since 1970, with total contributions of more than $33 million. The tournament earned the PGA TOUR award for “Best Charity Integration” in 2015, with annual activities including a Golf-A-Round where TOUR players visit the hospital and play mini-golf with patients.
Argentina’s Fabian Gomez became the fifth international player to win the event in its 58year history for a total of six wins, joining Gary Player (1974), Nick Price (1993, 1998), Greg Norman (1997) and Lee Westwood (2010). Gomez’s four-stroke margin of victory was the largest in the tournament since
Brian Gay won by five strokes in 2009. Gomez was the third player in the last five years to make the FedEx St. Jude Classic his first PGA TOUR victory, joining Harrison Frazar (2011) and Harrison English (2013), but before that it hadn’t happened since 1994.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Fabian Gomez
1
68
67
66
267/-13
500.00
$1,080,000.00
66
Greg Owen
2
64
70
67
70
271/-9
300.00
$648,000.00
Matt Jones
T3
69
67
68
68
272/-8
125.00
$270,600.00
T3
64
67
71
70
272/-8
125.00
$270,600.00
T3
68
69
70
65
272/-8
125.00
$270,600.00
Seung-Yul Noh
T3
69
72
66
65
272/-8
125.00
$270,600.00
Michael Thompson
T3
69
69
68
66
272/-8
125.00
$270,600.00
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES
Matt Jones broke 70 each day in finishing T3.
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Runner-up Greg Owen had a share of the 54-hole lead.
The two par 3s on the back nine of TPC Southwind are particularly noteworthy. The 157-yard 11th is surrounded by water, reminiscent of the 17th at TPC Sawgrass except there is more fringe area and two bunkers in back of the green as well as a small one in front. The 239-yard 14th, with water front and right, is annually one of the toughest holes on the course.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Brooks Koepka Phil Mickelson
NOTABLE COURSE FEATURES
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CHECK THIS OUT
Bryan Bros Golf trick shot show on Wednesday, all youth 15 and under will receive a complimentary Youth Week-Long ticket. The party continues on Saturday with local band Star & Micey following the last putt. Seersucker Sunday presented by Brooks Brothers rounds out the week, with spectators encouraged to wear seersucker clothing for the children of St. Jude.
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To win THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE U.S. AMATEUR IN THE SAME YEAR, MOST WOULD go to GREAT lengths. OTHERS go to one.
Single-length irons FROM EDEL GOLF. Coming Summer 2016. EdelGolf.com
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
June 16-19, 2016
U.S. Open Location Oakmont, Pa. Oakmont Country Club
conducted by the United States Golf Association
Course Information Oakmont will be hosting its ninth U.S. Open, more than any other club. The course was designed in 1903 by club founder and amateur architect Henry C. Fownes, who built a penal course renowned for lightning-fast greens and severe bunkering. A tree-removal program begun in the 1990s brought the course back to its original, nearly treeless look.
Yardage 7,219; par 70
2015 Champion Jordan Spieth, U.S.
Media Coverage Fox Sports 1/FOX
IMAGES: ACTION IMAGES; OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB
Tickets Daily tickets are $110 Thursday and $125 Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; practice rounds are $50 and $60. A weekly ticket package is $450. Junior tickets will be available at the gate, free for children 12 and under, $40 (practice rounds $20) for ages 13 to 17, two juniors for each adult ticket holder. Active military receive complimentary admission to practice rounds; retired military get a discount.
Social Media
The back of Oakmont’s huge ninth green also serves as the practice putting green.
Dustin Johnson’s bid for his first major title came up one stroke short.
Cameron Smith’s final-round 68 moved him into the top-5.
Twitter: @usopengolf Facebook: www.facebook.com/ USOPEN
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“I knew this would be two majors in a row and I think that added a little bit of pressure versus if I hadn’t won the Masters. How crazy is that to win the first two majors of the year? It’s on your mind off the course. When I was on the course, sure, a little extra pressure may have kicked in.”—Jordan Spieth
Adam Scott’s closing 64 was the lowest U.S. Open score since 2009.
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South African Branden Grace shared fourth place, two shots behind the champion.
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HOW JORDAN SPIETH WON
Jordan Spieth emerged from a hotly contested battle to become the first player since Tiger Woods in 2002—and sixth all-time—to win the first two majors of the year. Spieth provided his ultimate one-stroke victory margin at 5-under 275 with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 18th hole of Chambers Bay, but it only held up when Dustin Johnson, playing behind Spieth, three-putted the 18th from 12 feet for a par. Johnson tied for second with Louis Oosthuizen, who made a remarkable run with six birdies on the last seven holes to complete a comeback from an opening 77. Branden Grace was tied for the lead with Spieth before hitting his drive out of bounds on the 16th hole and making a double bogey. Spieth took a three-stroke lead with a birdie on 16, but stumbled with a double bogey on the par-3 17th, and Johnson forced a tie with a birdie on 17 before the final-hole drama. Speith had trouble hitting fairways (T68), but was very good at finding Greens in Regulation (T5). Spieth topped the field in Scrambling, saving par 11 of the 17 times he missed the green (64.71 percent). Spieth had six three-putts during the championship (T37 in Three-Putt Avoidance), but made up for it with 24 one-putts (T5). w w w.pgatour.com
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2016 tournament overview
quick Facts
Jordan Spieth is the youngest U.S. Open winner since Bobby Jones in 1923.
Field: 156 Players Format: 72 Holes Stroke Play Purse: $10 million (2015) Winner’s Share: $1,800,000 (2015) FedExCup Points: 600 to the winner
Charity Benefit
The USGA uses its funds to support programs that make golf more welcoming and accessible for all those who wish to play the game. In collaboration with various partners, these include The First Tee, LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship, Special Olympics, Get Golf Ready, PGA Junior League Golf, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and the National Alliance for Accessible Golf.
Leaderboard 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Jordan Spieth
1
68
67
71
69
275/-5
600.00
$1,800,000.00
Dustin Johnson
T2
65
71
70
70
276/-4
270.00
$877,144.00
Louis Oosthuizen
T2
77
66
66
67
276/-4
270.00
$877,144.00
Branden Grace
T4
69
67
70
71
277/-3
0
$407,037.00
Adam Scott
T4
70
71
72
64
277/-3
126.66
$407,037.00
Cameron Smith
T4
70
70
69
68
277/-3
0
$407,037.00
XX Jordan Spieth at 21 years, 10 months, and 25 days became the youngest U.S. Open winner since Bobby Jones in 1923. XX Spieth became the youngest to win two career majors since Gene Sarazen in 1922. XX Spieth’s victory was just the fourth by an American in the last 12 years at the U.S. Open, joining Tiger Woods (2008), Lucas Glover (2009) and Webb Simpson (2012). XX Spieth was the first U.S. Open winner from Texas since Tom Kite in 1992. XX Louis Oosthuizen set a record for the 134 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2015/2016, Part 2
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lowest total for the final 54 holes of a U.S. Open at 199 (66-66-67) and tied the record for the lowest consecutive 54 holes (Rory McIlroy, first three rounds, 2011). XX Oosthuizen tied the record for the lowest score for nine holes at a U.S. Open with a 29 on the back nine of the final round (Neil Lancaster in 1995, Lancaster again in 1996, and Vijay Singh in 2003). XX Adam Scott’s 64 in the final round was the lowest score in the U.S. Open since 64s by Mike Weir and Lucas Glover in 2009.
Oakmont is known for its bunkers, and the most famous is the Church Pews, a long fairway bunker divided by grass ridges, that comes into play on both the third and fourth holes. The one minor course change from the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont is that the rough will be cut down in areas leading to fairway bunkers to encourage the ball to roll into the sand.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Notable Course Features
Spectator Square will be hallmarked by a replica of Oakmont’s 18th green, USGA official partner fan experiences, food vendors featuring local favorites, and Jumbotron live coverage viewing. Updated features to the official mobile app will help guide spectators, featuring favorite players, food/beverage locations and Wi-Fi hot spots. w w w.pgatour.com
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Golf taught me: Perseverance Respect Confidence All of the above
In elementary schools, on golf courses and at youth centers across the country, The First Tee is teaching life-enhancing skills that empower young people to make decisions for their future. Get involved today. www.thefirsttee.org
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
June 23-26, 2016
Quicken Loans National Bethesda, Md. Congressional Country Club (Blue)
Course Information Congressional was originally designed by Devereux Emmet in 1922, but the Blue Course is a Robert Trent Jones creation—after he designed a new nine in 1957, the club quickly hired Jones to rework one of Emmet’s nines. Jones’ son Rees also has played a role, with a 1990 renovation and a more recent change to build a new par-3 10th hole before the 2011 U.S. Open, allowing the old 17th to become the finishing hole.
Yardage 7,569; par 71
2015 Champion Troy Merritt, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS
Tickets Tickets start at just $10 with kids 12 and under free with a ticketed adult. Various upgraded tickets are also available, including access to the Hole-In-One House by the 10th hole or two clubhouse packages. For a full list of ticket prices, including discounts for veterans and college students, visit www.QLNational.com
“You just don’t give up. You keep grinding because there’s just that one little thing. We found that one little thing.” —Troy Merritt on winning after missing five straight cuts
In the midst of a hot streak, David Lingmerth finished third.
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HOW TROY MERRITT WON
Location
Troy Merritt took a share of the lead with a third-round 61 and then posted a final round 67 on Sunday to take a three-stroke victory at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. Merritt came into the event having missed his last five cuts, but that didn’t matter as he found a swing key before the tournament en route to his first career victory. Merritt was tied with Bill Haas early on the back nine, but Haas played a stretch of five holes in 4-over, while Merritt took control with a birdie on 16 and added icing with a birdie on 18. Rickie Fowler birdied three of the last five holes to finish second, while David Lingmerth claimed third, both closing with 69s. Merritt birdied the first five holes of his third round, and also had four straight birdies midway through the back nine of the same round. Merritt minimized mistakes with his four bogeys for the week the fewest in the field. Merritt’s accuracy was exceptional, ranking T3 in Greens in Regulation and first in Proximity to the Hole on approach shots. Rickie Fowler birdied three of the last five holes to finish second.
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QUICK FACTS
Tournament host Tiger Woods plays a shot during the final round.
Field: Approx.120 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.9 million Winner’s Share: $1,242,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
CHARITY BENEFIT Tournament proceeds of the Quicken Loans National support the college access programs of the three Tiger Woods Learning Centers in the Washington, D.C. area.
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Troy Merritt’s 72-hole total of 266 was a tournament record, besting 267s by Nick Watney (2009) and Tiger Woods (2011). Merritt also set the 18-hole tournament record with his third-round 61. The old mark was 62 by Anthony Kim (2009), Hunter Mahan (2009) and Watney (2011).
In the nine-year history of the event, Merritt was the first to make the Quicken Loans National his first career victory. There has never been a margin of victory greater than three strokes at the Quicken Loans National. Merritt’s three-stroke win matched K.J. Choi (2007) and Bill Haas (2013).
Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Troy Merritt
1
68
61
67
266/-18
500.00
$1,206,000.00
70
2
67
65
68
69
269/-15
300.00
$723,600.00
3
68
65
68
69
270/-14
190.00
$455,600.00
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR
Rickie Fowler David Lingmerth
Troy Merritt set tournament scoring marks for 18 and 72 holes.
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Ryo Ishikawa, who opened with a 63, finished 10th.
The 18th hole has been the scene of many dramatic finishes at Congressional, including U.S. Opens, a PGA Championship and two different PGA TOUR events over the years. It’s a 523-yard par 4 that doesn’t play quite that long because it is downhill, but it’s still a formidable challenge. The setting in an amphitheater below the clubhouse is scenic but intimidating for the players because of a narrow, undulating green guarded by water on the left side.
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LEADERBOARD 2015
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NOTABLE COURSE FEATURES
New in 2016, all fans can enjoy a number of open-to-the-public activations with something for everyone. Take a Shot for Heroes and raise money for charity while trying to win some for yourself! Stop by The Yard at 18 and refuel with BBQ, beer and catch all the action on the big screens. Or visit The Boardwalk at 11 for your favorite beach games and food with great views of 11 green. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
June 30-July 3, 2016
Barracuda Championship
Location Reno, Nev. Montreux Golf & Country Club
Course Information Opened in 1997, this Jack Nicklaus Signature Design located between Lake Tahoe and Reno flows dramatically through both high desert and pine forests. Treelined fairways and natural water hazards make for a demanding traditional test, while strong elevation changes add to the scenic beauty and challenge.
Yardage 7,472; par 70
2015 Champion J.J. Henry, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES
Tickets Good Any Day tickets are $25, a season pass is $55 or $85 with clubhouse access. Tickets with access to a ninth-hole skybox go for $50 a day and an 18th-hole hospitality suite $175 a day.
“I don’t know how athletic I looked when I jumped for joy, but it’s a heck of a feeling when you make a putt like that [to win the playoff.]” —J.J. Henry
On the strength of a 21-point second round, Andres Gonzales finished fourth.
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HOW J.J. HENRY WON
J.J. Henry answered Kyle Reifers’ charge with one of his own, then eagled the second playoff hole to win in Reno for the second time. Reifers began the final round in 22nd place, 16 points behind leader Henry in the modified Stableford scoring system. But Reifers eagled three of the last six holes—the par-5 13th and 18th and a hole-out from the fairway on the par-4 14th, for five points each. That enabled him to surge in front of Henry, who bogeyed three of the first four holes, but the 40-year-old birdied four of the last seven holes to tie Reifers at 47 points. Henry then holed a 15-footer from the fringe on the par-5 18th in a playoff to add to his 2012 Barracuda title. Henry led the field with 27 birdies. Nine of them came in the third round when he shot a 64 that was worth 17 Stableford points and moved him into the lead. Henry had three streaks of three straight birdies during the week, including Nos. 14, 15 and 16 of the final round, and a streak of four straight birdies in the third round. David Toms was fifth, his best finish of the 2014-15 season.
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2016 tournament overview
quick Facts
No. 18, Montreux Golf & Country Club.
Field: 132 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $3.2 million Winner’s Share: $576,000 FedExCup Points: 300 to the winner
Charity Benefit The Reno-Tahoe Open Foundation has raised more than $3.2 million for more than 80 charities since the tournament’s inception, including more than $191,000 in 2015. A special event this year is the Patriots’ Luncheon, raising money for the Veterans’ Guest House (a seat costs $125).
XX J.J. Henry joined Vaughn Taylor as the only multiple winners of the Barracuda Championship, which started in 1999. Taylor won in 2004 and 2005, and Henry in 2012 and 2015. XX Henry has five top-10 finishes in 11 starts at the Barracuda Championship, his most in any PGA TOUR event.
XX Henry’s 47-point winning total was the second highest since the event went to the modified Stableford format in 2012 (Geoff Ogilvy, 49 in 2014). XX Americans have won the event 16 times in its 17-year history, the only exception being Australia’s Ogilvy in 2014.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
J.J. Henry
1
+11
+17
+6
+47/
300.00
$558,000.00
+13
2
+9
+14
+2
+22
+47/
165.00
$334,800.00
3
+15
+6
+14
+11
+46/
$210,800.00
Andres Gonzales
2
+5
+21
+7
+10
+43/
80.00
$148,800.00
David Toms
3
+13
+9
+18
+2
+42/
65.00
$124,000.00
Kyle Reifers got into a playoff thanks to a stunning finish.
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Patrick Rodgers earned his second top-three of the year.
In honor of course architect Jack Nicklaus, holes 6, 7 and 8 are known as the “Bear Trap,” starting with the tough, left-bending par-4 sixth measuring 477 yards. No. 7 is a tricky par 3 of 183 yards played over water to a shallow green. The tee at No. 8 is 138 feet above the fairway on the long, straight 636yard par 5.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Kyle Reifers Patrick Rodgers
Notable Course Features
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The Nature’s Bakery Heroes Hangout is a hospitality area for members of the military and first responders plus a guest, featuring catered food, Coors Light, and all-natural snack foods from Nature’s Bakery.
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
June 30-July 3, 2016
Location
World Golf ChampionshipsBridgestone Invitational
Akron, Ohio Firestone Country Club (South Course)
Course Information Firestone Country Club, established in 1929 by Harry Firestone, has been well known to tournament golfers for decades. The club features 54 holes, but the South Course is its jewel. Bert Way designed the South when the facility opened, and Robert Trent Jones Sr. redesigned it prior to the 1960 PGA Championship, the first of three times Firestone has hosted the PGA. The layout, which has hosted a series of PGA TOUR events over the years, has a notable collection of long and rugged par 4s.
Yardage 7,400; par 70
2015 Champion Shane Lowry, Ireland
Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS
Tickets Weekly grounds tickets are $155 when purchased in advance. Children 18 and under receive free grounds admission with a paying adult. Active Duty, Military Reserve, National Guard and Military Retirees receive complimentary admission along with dependents, and veterans get a ticket discount.
“I said at the start of the week I’d take 8-under par, and I thought that might win. To shoot 11-under par on this golf course shows a lot about my game, that it’s good enough to compete at any level.” —Shane Lowry
Bubba Watson had a final-round 66 to take second place.
Jim Furyk held a share of the 54-hole lead and tied for third.
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IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES
Justin Rose got a T3 after a closing 72.
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Robert Streb had his third 68 of the week to take fifth place.
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HOW SHANE LOWRY WON
Shane Lowry shot a final-round 66 while 54-hole co-leaders Jim Furyk and Justin Rose were falling back as the Irishman made the Bridgestone Invitational his first PGA TOUR victory. Lowry didn’t have any bogeys on Sunday, but he made a couple of great escapes from trouble. On the par-4 10th hole, his second shot flew over a tall tree and finished two feet from the hole for a birdie. On the par-4 18th, his second shot rattled through a tree near the green and finished 11 feet from the hole for a birdie that gave him an 11-under 269 total and a two-stroke win over Bubba Watson, who also closed with a 66. Lowry also was added by a couple of key par saves on the back nine, holing a 17-foot putt on the 14th and a sevenfooter on the 17th. Furyk and Rose both finished with 72s and tied for third at 273. Lowry was among the leaders in both Strokes Gained: Tee-toGreen (4th) and Strokes Gained: Putting (6th). Lowry didn’t have any three-putts, while he made six putts out of 12 attempts in the 15-to 20-foot range. Lowry, a two-time winner on the European Tour, earned PGA TOUR membership with the victory.
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No. 9, Firestone Country Club (South Course).
quick Facts Field: Approx. 78 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $9.5 million Winner’s Share: $1,710,000 FedExCup Points: 550 to the winner
Charity Benefit The Bridgestone Invitational annually donates approximately $1 million to charities throughout Northeast Ohio. Over the years, events at Firestone have generated more than $25 million. The tournament’s signature charities are Akron Children’s Hospital and University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
Shane Lowry
1
70
66
67
66
269/-11
Bubba Watson
2
70
66
69
66
271/-9
FedExCup Points
Earnings $1,570,000.00
315.00
$930,000.00
Jim Furyk
T3
66
66
69
72
273/-7
170.00
$470,000.00
Justin Rose
T3
67
71
63
72
273/-7
170.00
$470,000.00
Robert Streb
5
68
70
68
68
274/-6
115.00
$330,000.00
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XX There have been only two playoffs in the 17 years of the Bridgestone Invitational, and none since 2006. XX There has been only one multiple winner of the Bridgestone Invitational—Tiger Woods has won it eight times. XX Firestone Country Club has hosted the following PGA TOUR events: Rubber City Open (1954-59), PGA Championship (1960, ‘66, ‘75), American Golf Classic (1961-76), World Series of Golf (as a 36-hole exhibition, 1962-75), World Series of Golf (as a sanctioned 72-hole event, 1976-98) and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational (1999-2001, 2003-15).
The signature hole at Firestone’s South Course is the 667-yard, par-5 16th known as “The Monster,” which Arnold Palmer nicknamed during the 1960 PGA Championship after making an 8. Guarded by a pond in front of the green, it used to be considered unreachable in two shots, but due to the downhill nature of the hole and firm fairways, long hitters have been able to give it a go in recent years.
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XX The victory by Shane Lowry of Ireland came one year after Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy won the Bridgestone Invitational. XX With the course playing firm, the field averaged hitting only 44.87 percent of the fairways, and the winning score of 269 was the highest since 2008. XX Lowry took special temporary membership on the PGA TOUR earlier in 2015. He qualified for the Bridgestone Invitational by his standing in the top 50 of the World Ranking, and became the first special temporary member to win a PGA TOUR event since Jordan Spieth in 2013 at the John Deere Classic.
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Notable Course Features
A number of special fan features are available, including: Foodtrucks on 12; the 16th Hole Green Monster Challenge, where spectators can hit shots to a replica of the 16th hole. A free concert is offered on Friday and Saturday nights to ticketholders in the Fan Zone.
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THE BIGGEST STARS. AMAZING GOLF. Exclusive access to Thursday and Friday morning featured groups, round replays, PGA TOUR archives and much more. Sign up for a free trial or download the app.
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
July 7-10, 2016
The Greenbrier Classic
Location White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. The Old White TPC at The Greenbrier
Course Information
Yardage 7,287; par 70
2015 Champion Danny Lee, New Zealand
Media Coverage
“After I finished at 13-under, I was just trying to calm down. I was so nervous. My head was blank, and I was just trying to breathe. As soon as I stood on the 18th tee box, the first playoff hole, I felt ready.” —Danny Lee
HOW DANNY LEE WON
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The Old White TPC, the first 18-hole course at The Greenbrier, opened in 1914 with President Woodrow Wilson among the first to play. It is named for the Old White Hotel, which stood on the grounds from 1858 to 1922. Charles Blair Macdonald designed the course and modeled several holes after some of the most famous in Europe. The course underwent a restoration in 2006.
Danny Lee emerged from a crowded leaderboard and a four-way playoff to win his first PGA TOUR title on the second extra hole. The 24-year-old Korea native who plays out of New Zealand was in a group of four players one shot behind a group of four co-leaders entering the final round. None of the co-leaders ended up in the playoff, as Lee and David Hearn shot 67s and Kevin Kisner and Robert Streb came from further back with 64 and 65, respectively, Streb making it despite having to putt with a wedge on the back nine after breaking his putter. Lee and Hearn eliminated the other two with birdies on the first playoff hole, and Lee won with a par 5 on the next hole after Hearn’s drive finished behind a tree. Lee got off to a strong start with a bogey-free 63 in the first round when he hit 15 Greens in Regulation. Lee’s ball-striking wasn’t as solid on the weekend, but Strokes Gained: Putting showed him gaining more than two strokes on the greens in each of the final two rounds.
Golf Channel/CBS
Tickets For information, go to www.greenbrierclassic.com.
Social Media
Canadian David Hearn picked his second career runner-up TOUR finish.
Kevin Kisner’s closing 64 got him into a playoff.
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QUICK FACTS
Tiger Woods on No. 1, The Old White TPC at The Greenbrier.
Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.9 million Winner’s Share: $1,242,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
CHARITY BENEFIT The Greenbrier Classic raises money for its charity partners, The First Tee of West Virginia and The First Tee of Roanoke Valley. The First Tee provides young people with characterbuilding and life-skills lessons using golf as the platform.
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In the first six years of The Greenbrier Classic, no 54-hole leader or co-leader has won. New Zealand’s Danny Lee was the fourth international winner in the six years of the event, joining Australia’s Stuart Appleby (2010), Sweden’s Jonas Blixt (2013) and Argentina’s Angel Cabrera (2014).
Lee was the seventh Korean-born player to win on the PGA TOUR, joining K.J. Choi, Y.E. Yang, Kevin Na, Sang-Moon Bae, Seung-Yul Noh and James Hahn. Of the 24 rounds played by the six Greenbrier champions, only one has been in the 70s, a 70 by Scott Stallings in 2011.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Danny Lee
1
63
69
68
67
267/-13
500.00
$1,206,000.00
David Hearn
T2
68
64
68
67
267/-13
208.33
$500,266.67
T2
68
67
67
65
267/-13
208.33
$500,266.67
T2
67
69
67
64
267/-13
208.33
$500,266.66
Russell Henley
5
70
66
69
63
268/-12
110.00
$268,000.00
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR
Robert Streb Kevin Kisner
Robert Streb shared second after a finalround 65.
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Russell Henley had the best closing round of the contenders (63) to take fifth place.
Modeled after No. 15 at North Berwick, in Scotland, the par-3 eighth is a Redan hole measuring up to 234 yards. The preferred shot into the green is rightto-left. A miss short and left brings the course’s deepest bunker and three distinctive “Dragon’s Teeth” mounds into play.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Player
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NOTABLE COURSE FEATURES
Patrons Park presented by Suddenlink Communications near the 17th green has umbrella table seating, food from The Greenbrier’s Restaurant Collection, and live tournament coverage. There is also a Kids Zone interactive area on the 12th hole featuring miniature golf, arts and crafts, kid friendly concessions, and more. Tuesday is Youth Day with an exhibition from PGA TOUR players.
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
July 14-17, 2016
Barbasol Championship Location Auburn/Opelika, Ala. Grand National (Lake Course)
Course Information Grand National is one of 11 facilities on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1992, the Lake Course is aptly named with 12 holes on Lake Saugahatchee, which adds to its scenic beauty and its difficulty.
Yardage 7,302; par 71
2015 Champion Scott Piercy, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel
Tickets Good Any Day Tickets are $20, and children under the age of 13 are admitted free when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Admission is complimentary for active duty and Reserve military members, military retirees, and their dependents, along with discount tickets for veterans.
Social Media
“I struck the ball beautifully all week and made enough putts to get it done.” —Scott Piercy
Ricky Barnes shared the 54-hole lead and finished T3.
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HOW SCOTT PIERCY WON
Scott Piercy broke out of a tie for the 54-hole lead with birdies on four of the first six holes of the final round, and then put together a run of three birdies on four holes starting at No. 13 to solidify an eventual three-stroke victory. Piercy’s closing 65 gave him a 19-under 265 total and the win over Alabama native Will Wilcox (67). Third-round co-leader Ricky Barnes finished with a 70 to finish tied for third with South Korea’s Whee Kim and amateur Robby Shelton of the University of Alabama. Playing without a practice round, Piercy played the first four holes on Thursday 3-over, but rallied for a 69, moved into the picture with a secondround 66, and shot a pair of 65s on the weekend. The 36-year-old Piercy scored his third career PGA TOUR victory to highlight a comeback from 2014 elbow surgery. Piercy hit at least 15 greens in every round, and 17 in the final round, to rank T1 in Greens in Regulation (63 of 72). Ball-striking was the key as Piercy ranked first in Strokes Gained: Tee-toGreen and 49th in Strokes Gained: Putting. South Korea’s Whee Kim (T3) broke 70 each round.
Twitter: @BarbasolPGATOUR Facebook: www. facebook.com/ BarbasolChampionshipPGA
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2016 tournament overview
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quick Facts
X X The inaugural Barbasol Championship was the first PGA TOUR event in Alabama since the 1990 PGA Championship at Shoal Creek. X X Robby Shelton’s T3 was the best finish by an amateur on the PGA TOUR since Phil Mickelson won the 1991 Northern Telecom Open. X X Will Wilcox is a native of Birmingham, Ala., and spent some time working at a pizza restaurant in the Auburn/Opelika area before making it onto the PGA TOUR. X X For the week winner Scott Piercy played the par-5 fifth hole in 5 under par (three birdies and an eagle) and was 10 under for the 12 par 5s.
Field: 132 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $3.5 million Winner’s Share: $630,000 FedExCup Points: 300 to the winner
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Scott Piercy
1
66
65
65
265/-19
300.00
$630,000.00
69
2
66
70
65
67
268/-16
165.00
$378,000.00
T3
67
68
65
70
270/-14
83.33
$203,000.00
Whee Kim
T3
67
66
68
69
270/-14
83.33
$203,000.00
Robby Shelton
T3
68
69
66
67
270/-14
3
amateur
images: Getty ImageS
It was a good week for runner-up Will Wilcox, an Alabama native.
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Robby Shelton enjoyed the best finish by an amateur on TOUR since 1991.
Notable Course Features
The Lake Course at Grand National has a strong collection of par-3 holes; last year three of them played over par and ranked among the six toughest holes on the course. The 193-yard sixth is the most striking visually with its peninsula green, but the 214-yard eighth was the toughest in 2015. It uses the lake only as a backdrop, but with everything sloping left and a deep bunker on the front left it yielded fewer birdies. The 213-yard 17th has an undulating green and a bunker on the front right.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Will Wilcox Ricky Barnes
Through the Robert Trent Jones Foundation the Barbasol Championship is able to contribute to a variety of local charities, thereby giving back to the community that supports the event through volunteering and sponsorships.
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Ricky Barnes plays a shot on No. 7 at Grand National’s Lake Course in 2015.
Charity Benefit
On Tuesday Alabama Power will host a junior clinic with a PGA TOUR player conducting an interactive demonstration. During the tournament, fans who want a premier spot to watch the action can purchase a wristband for the Skybox Club at the 18th green where they will find a full buffet, beverages and the perfect view. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2 149
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
July 14-17, 2016
The Open Championship Location Troon, Scotland Royal Troon Golf Club
Course Information Royal Troon’s origins were a six-hole course constructed in 1878. It had expanded to 18 holes by 1888 and in the next two decades was reshaped by Willie Fernie into the design essentially used today, with further tweaking over the years. The course follows an out-and-back routing, with the back nine playing tougher than the front, particularly in the prevailing wind. It is hosting its ninth Open.
Yardage 7,175; par 71
2015 Champion Zach Johnson, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC
Tickets Daily tickets are £60, £25 for ages 16-21, with free admission for under 16 when accompanied by a responsible adult. A twilight ticket will allow entry after 4 pm. for £25. A weekly ticket is £230; free for juniors.
Social Media Twitter: @TheOpen Facebook: www.facebook.com/ The-Open-Championship
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“The key for the week is patience and perseverance, without question, and I think in the playoff it was truly about just making the best of opportunities, because you know the other two guys are not going to let it slide.” —Zach Johnson Australian Jason Day missed the playoff by one stroke.
Jordan Spieth made a valiant bid to repeat Ben Hogan’s 1953 feat.
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HOW ZACH JOHNSON WON
IMAGES: ACTION IMAGES
Louis Oosthuizen was bidding for a second straight Open title at St. Andrews.
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Marc Leishman played the final 36 holes in record fashion.
Zach Johnson holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole and then prevailed in a three-man playoff on the Old Course at St. Andrews to claim his second career major title, adding to the 2007 Masters. Johnson shot a final-round 66 to come from three strokes back, then defeated Marc Leishman (66) and Louis Oosthuizen (69) by going 1-under in a four-hole aggregate playoff. In a Monday finish caused by a rain delay Friday and wind delay Saturday, eight players held at least a share of the lead during the final round. One of them was Jordan Spieth, shooting for a third straight major title. He got into a tie for the lead with a birdie on 16, but made a bogey on the difficult Road Hole 17th, and didn’t get the birdie he needed on the short par-4 18th. He finished one shot out of the playoff along with Jason Day, who also missed a birdie try at 18. Johnson had a 31 on the front nine in both the first and fourth rounds, shooting 66 each day. Johnson birdied the 18th hole all four rounds. A par on 18 in the playoff was enough to preserve his one-stroke margin. Johnson ranked T2 in Total Putts for the championship with 115 on St. Andrews’ large greens. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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Royal Troon during the 2008 Senior Open Championship.
quick Facts Field: 156 Players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $9.2 million Winner’s Share: $1,794,690 (2015) FedExCup Points: 600 to the winner
Charity Benefit The R&A invests more than £5 million each year in support of golf worldwide. In recent years, through the Working for Golf program, there has been focus in financing development in countries where golf is a relatively new sport. Several Open champions enjoy R&A support of initiatives bearing their name, including the Paul Lawrie, Ernie Els, Louis Oosthuizen and Darren Clarke foundations.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Zach Johnson
1
66
71
70
66
273/-15
600.00
$1,794,690.00
Marc Leishman
T2
70
73
64
66
273/-15
270.00
$837,261.90
Louis Oosthuizen
T2
67
70
67
69
273/-15
270.00
$837,261.90
Jason Day
T4
66
71
67
70
274/-14
135.00
$460,377.00
Jordan Spieth
T4
67
72
66
69
274/-14
135.00
$460,377.00
XX Zach Johnson became the 14th player to win The Open Championship and the Masters, and only the sixth to win at St. Andrews and Augusta, joining Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods. XX Only four Open champions have posted a final round lower than Johnson’s 66: a 64 by Greg Norman in 1993 and 65s by Tom Watson (1977), Seve Ballesteros (1988) and Justin Leonard (1997). XX Louis Oosthuizen, who won the 2010 Open Championship, came up just short in his bid to join Jack Nicklaus (1970, 1978) and Tiger Woods (2000, 2005) to win 152 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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two consecutive Opens at St. Andrews since 1970. XX Marc Leishman’s 130 total for the final two rounds (64-66) matched the lowest ever in an Open. It was previously done by Tom Watson in 1977 (65-65), Ian Baker-Finch in 1991 (64-66), and Anders Forsbrand in 1994 (66-64). But Leishman was 14-under par for the final 36, the others 10-under. XX Jordan Spieth came up just short in his bid to become the seventh player to sweep the U.S. and British Opens in the same year and to join only Ben Hogan (1953) in winning the Masters and U.S. and British Opens.
The most famous hole at Royal Troon is the 123-yard, par-3 eighth, known as the Postage Stamp for the small size of its green. The tiny target is framed by a hillock on the left side with two bunkers, and a drop-off on the right with a deep bunker. When the wind blows, players are happy to walk away from this short challenge with a par.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Notable Course Features
There is a wide selection of food and drink on the course and in the Spectator Village from licensed catering points, and the Spectator Village area features large video screens. There are approximately 18,000 grandstand seats; an enhanced ticket includes a reserved seat in the 18th green stand and access to the Greenside Club. w w w.pgatour.com
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HOW’D HE DO THAT?
WHERE HE DID THAT.
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
July 21-24, 2016
RBC Canadian Open Location Oakville, Ont., Canada Glen Abbey Golf Club
Course Information The first solo design of 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus, Glen Abbey has been a frequent venue of the RBC Canadian Open. The course opened in 1976, and hosted all but two Opens from 1977-2000. It serves as home to Golf Canada and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum. Built on a former Harold Watson course, Glen Abbey features numerous mounds and water hazards, including Sixteen Mile Creek.
Yardage 7,273; par 72
“It was special this week. I’ve never felt so much at home, and I’m not even from Canada.”—Jason Day
2015 Champion
HOW JASON DAY WON
Media Coverage
Jason Day birdied the last three holes and captured the RBC Canadian Open a week after finishing one stroke back of a three-way playoff at The Open Championship. Day made a 21foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole this time after leaving a birdie try just short on the finishing hole at St. Andrews. The birdie gave Day a two-shot lead over Bubba Watson, playing behind him, and proved necessary because Watson finished off a great stretch drive of his own with a fourth straight birdie. David Hearn held a two-stroke lead through three rounds as he attempted to become the first Canadian to win since 1954, but he shot an even-par 72 in the final round and finished third. Day birdied the final three holes in the third and fourth rounds, and in the second round he also was 3 under on them with a birdie and an eagle. Day’s recovery game was excellent as he won despite hitting only 21 of 56 fairways (ranked T73). He ranked second in Driving Distance (330.6 yards). Day was T2 in Putts Per Round (25.75) and fourth in Strokes Gained: Putting (1.763 per round).
Golf Channel/CBS
Tickets Any Day grounds tickets are $68.40 (Can.) for tournament rounds and $23.15 for practice rounds. A Full Week pass is $136.85. Juniors 17 and under are free and do not need to be accompanied by a ticketed adult. A ticket with Golf Canada House powered by Boston Pizza access is $114 daily and $318.35 for the week.
Runner-up Bubba Watson gave his all at the finish with four straight birdies.
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Jason Day, Australia
David Hearn came up two strokes short in trying to snap a long Canadian drought.
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quick Facts
No. 18, Glen Abbey Golf Club.
Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $5.9 million Winner’s Share: $1,062,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
Charity Benefit
Ronald McDonald House Charities is the official charity of the RBC Canadian Open for the third year. The 14 Ronald McDonald Houses across Canada provide a place for out-of-town families to stay while their child is being treated at a local hospital.
check this out
XX Jason Day became the sixth different Australian to win the Canadian Open, joining Joe Kirkwood (1933), Jim Ferrier (1950 and 1951), Kel Nagel (1964), Greg Norman (1984 and 1992) and Nathan Green (2009). XX Jason Day was the fourth non-American to win the Canadian Open in the last seven years: Nathan
Green (Australia, 2009), Carl Pettersson (Sweden, 2010) and Tim Clark (South Africa, 2014). XX David Hearn was the fourth Canadian to fail to hold the 54-hole lead since the last Canadian winner, Pat Fletcher in 1954. The others were George Knudson (1968), Richard Zokol (1987) and Mike Weir (2004).
LEADERBOARD 2015 Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Jason Day
1
68
66
69
68
271/-17
500.00
$1,044,000.00
Bubba Watson
2
68
67
68
69
272/-16
300.00
$626,400.00
David Hearn
3
69
64
68
72
273/-15
190.00
$394,400.00
Jim Furyk
4
68
69
68
69
274/-14
135.00
$278,400.00
Stewart Cink
T5
68
73
68
66
275/-13
105.00
$220,400.00
Tom Hoge
T5
70
70
69
66
275/-13
105.00
$220,400.00
images: Getty Images
Jim Furyk worked his way into fourth place with a final-round 69.
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Stewart Cink closed strong (66) to tie for fifth place.
The most striking and challenging stretch is Nos. 1115, known as the valley holes, which incorporate Sixteen Mile Creek. The 457-yard, par-4 14th, which calls for a risk/reward tee shot that flirts with the stream, is ranked as the toughest hole on the course, while the 202-yard, par-3 12th over water and bunkers to a shallow green is the second toughest.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Notable Course Features
The RBC Canadian Open has been recognized by the PGA TOUR as the “Most FanFriendly Event.” Spectators enjoy many interactive displays, contests and giveaways in the RBC Canadian Open Spectator Village. Throughout the grounds, they can grab a refreshment in the Molson Canadian 67 19th Hole Beer Garden, have a snack from the food trucks next to the first tee, grab a seat in upgraded viewing areas, or visit the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2 155
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
July 28-31, 2016
PGA Championship Location Springfield, N.J. Baltusrol Golf Club (Lower Course)
Course Information Baltusrol’s original course opened in 1895, but in 1922 it was replaced by the Lower and Upper Courses designed by A.W. Tillinghast. The brawny Lower Course has hosted four U.S. Opens and the 2005 PGA Championship. It is a relatively straightforward but strong test that has twice been redesigned by Joneses—Robert Trent Jones before the 1954 U.S. Open and his son Rees before the 1993 U.S. Open and the 2005 PGA Championship.
Yardage 7,462; par 70
2015 Champion Jason Day
Media Coverage TNT/CBS
Tickets Grounds tickets go for $25-$35 for the practice rounds, $90 on Thursday, $100 Friday, and $115 on the weekend. Juniors 17 and under are admitted free when accompanied by a ticketed adult (four juniors permitted per adult). Active Duty, Military Retirees, Active Reserve, National Guard, and Department of Defense civilians and spouse receive complimentary grounds tickets.
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“I knew today was going to be tough, but I didn’t realize how tough it was going to be. I learned a lot about myself, again, being able to finish the way I did.” —Jason Day
Anirban Lahiri of India tied for fifth.
Runner-up Jordan Spieth joined select company with top-five finishes in every major.
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES
A consistent week put Justin Rose in fourth place.
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A contender in the U.S. Open, Branden Grace shot a third-round 64 and finished third.
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HOW JASON DAY WON
Jason Day set an all-time major championship record of 20 under par as he finally broke through and won a major championship. Day had shared the 54-hole lead in the previous two majors and at age 27 already had three career runnerup finishes and six top fours in majors without winning one. This time, at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis., he held the lead alone through 54 holes, but standing in second place two strokes behind was Jordan Spieth, who earlier in the year won the Masters and U.S. Open and (with Day) finished one shot out of a playoff at The Open Championship. Day stayed strong in the final round, shooting a 67, taking a three-stroke lead on the fourth hole and remaining either three or four strokes ahead the rest of the way. Spieth shot a 33 on the back nine for a 68, but finished three behind in second place. Day had two eagles and 25 birdies, making at least seven birdies in each of the last three rounds. Day overpowered the par 5s, leading the field by playing those 16 holes in 14 under. Day ranked fifth in both Driving Distance and Driving Accuracy to be first in Total Driving. Day was first in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green (4.075 per round) and second in Greens in Regulation (55 of 72). PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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2016 tournament overview
Phil Mickelson won the PGA Championship at Baltusrol in 2005.
quick Facts Field: 156 Players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $10 million Winner’s Share: $1,800,000 (2015) FedExCup Points: 600 to the winner
Charity Benefit The PGA Foundation is the charitable arm of the PGA of America. Founded in 1978, its mission is to positively impact the lives of youth, military veterans, and diverse populations through the creation and utilization of golf programming that supports education, health, and wellness, and youth development.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Jason Day
1
67
66
67
268/-20
600.00
$1,800,000.00
68
Jordan Spieth
2
71
67
65
68
271/-17
330.00
$1,080,000.00
Branden Grace
3
71
69
64
69
273/-15
$680,000.00
Justin Rose
4
69
67
68
70
274/-14
150.00
$480,000.00
Brooks Koepka
T5
73
69
67
66
275/-13
115.00
$367,500.00
Anirban Lahiri
T5
70
67
70
68
275/-13
XX Australia’s Jason Day made it six international victories in the last eight years of the PGA Championship. The others were Padraig Harrington (2008), Y.E. Yang (2009), Martin Kaymer (2010) and Rory McIlroy twice (2012, 2014). XX Day’s 20-under total far eclipsed the winning scores in the previous two PGA Championships at Whistling Straits: Vijay Singh at 8-under in 2004 and Martin Kaymer at 11-under in 2010. XX While setting a record for most under par at the PGA Championship, Day’s 268 total was tied for third best winning score: David 160 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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Toms 265 in 2001, Steve Elkington 267 in 1995, Rory McIlroy 268 in 2014. XX Day was the fifth first-time major winner in the last seven PGA Championships, joining Y.E. Yang (2009), Martin Kaymer (2010), Keegan Bradley (2011) and Jason Dufner (2013). XX The PGA Championship marked only the second time in eight tries with a 54-hole lead or share that Day came away with a victory. XX With his second-place finish, Jordan Spieth joined Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Rickie Fowler as the only players to finish in the top five of all four majors in a season in the modern era.
Baltusrol finishes with back-to-back par 5s, which is unusual enough. It’s even more unusual because they are the only two par 5s on the course in championship play, because the two par 5s for members on the front nine play as par 4s. The last two holes are very different. At 650 yards, the 17th is one of the longest holes in championship golf and plays uphill to boot. The 18th measures 553 yards and offers the chance to get home in two for an eagle or two-putt birdie.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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check this out
$367,500.00
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Notable Course Features
In addition to watching the major championship action, all attendees can experience the latest in motor vehicles, exclusive timepieces, and consumer electronics from Mercedes-Benz, OMEGA, and Samsung. An enhanced weekly ticket package allows entrance to the Wanamaker club with air conditioning, television and upscale food and beverage for purchase. w w w.pgatour.com
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“It’s not just security. It’s defense.” Cyber threats have changed, and the solutions need to change too. The sophisticated techniques BAE Systems uses to protect government and military assets are now helping to defend businesses around the world. Learn more at BAEsystems.com/cyberdefense Copyright © 2016 BAE Systems plc. All rights reserved.
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
August 4-7, 2016
Travelers Championship Location Cromwell, Conn. TPC River Highlands
Course Information Since initial construction in the late 1920’s, the course has had renovations, redesigns, and name changes. In 1984, after a renovation by Pete Dye, the course made its debut as part of PGA TOUR’s TPC Network. In 1989, the course was renamed TPC River Highlands, and redesigned by Bobby Weed, with PGA TOUR Professionals Howard Twitty and Roger Maltbie as Player Consultants. The course recently underwent a bunker renovation, which included infrastructure improvements and viewing area enhancements.
“I wish it was a lot easier, but a victory is a victory.” —Bubba Watson
Yardage 6,820; par 70
Bubba Watson, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS
Tickets Any One Day tickets are $37 in advance or $45 at the gate. There is a senior discount, and kids 15 and under are free with a ticketed adult. A weekly grounds pass costs $95 in advance. Pay with MasterCard and get 10 percent off. Complimentary admission for Military Service members and their dependents.
HOW BUBBA WATSON WON
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2015 Champion
Bubba Watson birdied the second playoff hole to win the Travelers Championship, the same way he won the title in 2010 for his first PGA TOUR victory. Watson jumped out front early with a first-round 62, lost the lead at the end of the third round, gained control with an eagle on the par-5 13th during the final round, then bogeyed the 17th to let Englishman Paul Casey force a playoff. Casey shot a final-round 65, including a hole-out for eagle on the par-4 third and birdies on 16 and 17, but Watson’s closing 67 and extra-hole birdie proved to be enough. Third-round leader Brian Harman finished one back after a 69 on Sunday. Watson made only three bogeys in the tournament, and led the field in Scrambling, saving par 20 of the 22 times he missed the green (his other bogey was a three-putt). Watson led the field in Driving Distance at 318.3 yards, but was 70th in Driving Accuracy (30 of 56 fairways). Watson played the front nine in 10-under for the week without making a bogey. Brian Harman had the third-round lead en route to a thirdplace finish.
Carl Pettersson was fourth after a finalround 69.
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QUICK FACTS
No. 18, TPC River Highlands.
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
In 2015, the Travelers Championship raised $1.565 million for more than 140 charities throughout the region, making a total of more than $33 million since 1952. The ALS Clinic at the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain will be the primary beneficiary in 2016.
Bubba Watson, who also won in 2010, became the seventh player to win the Travelers Championship more than once, joining Arnold Palmer (1956, 1960), Billy Casper (1963, 1965, 1968, 1973), Paul Azinger (1987, 1989), Phil Mickelson (2001, 2002), Peter Jacobsen (1984, 2003) and Stewart Cink (1997, 2008). The third-round leader or co-leader has won
only twice in the last 12 years of the Travelers Championship (J.J. Henry, 2006; Stewart Cink, 2008). Six of the last 12 Travelers Championships have been decided by playoffs, including both of Watson’s victories. Watson improved his career playoff record to 5-1.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Bubba Watson
1
62
67
68
67
264/-16
500.00
$1,152,000.00
Paul Casey
2
67
68
64
65
264/-16
300.00
$691,200.00
Brian Harman
3
66
65
65
69
265/-15
190.00
$435,200.00
Graham DeLaet
4
67
66
64
69
266/-14
135.00
$307,200.00
Carl Pettersson
5
65
66
70
66
267/-13
110.00
$256,000.00
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES
Graham DeLaet finished fourth at 14 under.
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Paul Casey charged into a playoff with a closing 65.
The signature stretch at TPC River Highlands is Nos. 15-17, which play around a four-acre lake. The 15th is an enticing, drivable par 4 of 296 yards with water to the left, while 16 is a tricky par 3. The 17th is a strong dogleg-right par 4 with a lake to the right on the tee shot and a carry over water on the approach.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Player
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CHECK THIS OUT
NOTABLE COURSE FEATURES
Family Day on Tuesday features vendors with golf equipment to try out and Connecticut PGA Section pros available for 10-minute free instruction to golfers of all ages and skills. All week the Fan Zone has interactive activities, a Kids Zone, concessions and more. The Patriots’ Outpost has free food and beverages for active, reserve and retired Military Service members and veterans. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
August 11-14, 2016
John Deere Classic Location Silvis, Ill. TPC Deere Run
Course Information TPC Deere Run, a stadium layout built specifically for spectator viewing as well as championship golf, opened in 2000. Designed by Illinois native and former PGA TOUR professional D.A. Weibring, it is built on the site of a former Arabian horse farm hard by the Rock River. Weibring preserved the natural, rolling landscape to create a par-71 course framed by oak trees and accented with small ponds and deep ravines.
Yardage 7,268; par 71
2015 Champion Jordan Spieth, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS
Tickets Anyday grounds tickets cost $25 in advance and $30 at the gate; with clubhouse access, it’s $40 and $45. Children 12-and-under are free when accompanied by a paid adult, ages 13-18 get half price on purchase at the gate, and college students get in for $18. Active duty and retired military receive free admission with one guest on Sunday.
Social Media
“To be four back with six to go, all we were saying was we birdied five of the last six to make a playoff two years ago, so why can’t we do it again? I ended up with four, and didn’t need the fifth.” —Jordan Spieth
Runner-up Tom Gillis, 46, was seeking to become the oldest first-time TOUR winner in 20 years.
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HOW JORDAN SPIETH WON
Jordan Spieth got off to a slow start in both the tournament and the final round, but recovered to win the John Deere Classic for the second time. Electing to play in the John Deere instead of going to Scotland early to prepare for The Open Championship, Spieth shot an even-par 71 in the first round before following it with 64-61 to take a twostroke lead. He fell behind when he played the first 12 holes of the final round in 1-over, then birdied four of the last six to make a playoff with 46-year-old Tom Gillis, who shot a 64 on Sunday looking for his first career victory but played the last six holes in even par. Spieth won the playoff when Gillis hit his approach into the water on the second extra hole. Spieth had three eagles on par 5s during the week, on the second hole on Friday and the second and 17th on Saturday when he shot 61. Spieth struggled with the driver, ranking T60 in Driving Accuracy, but still managed to rank eighth in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and was seventh in Strokes Gained: Putting. Coming off a victory, Danny Lee finished in a tie for third.
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
QUICK FACTS
No. 18, TPC Deere Run.
Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $4.8 million Winner’s Share: $864,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
CHARITY BENEFIT Since 1971, the tournament has delivered more than $70 million to charities, mostly through the Innovate Birdies for Charity program that raised $8.73 million last year. Every 501(c)(3) organization is eligible to participate and solicit pledges, plus the tournament takes its profits and delivers an additional check to each charity.
Justin Thomas.
Jordan Spieth’s consecutive-round total of 125 in the second and third rounds (6461) tied the tournament record of Blaine McCallister in 1988 (62-63 in the second and third rounds). Spieth is 61 under par for 16 competitive rounds at TPC Deere Run.
Danny Lee, who won The Greenbrier Classic the previous week, was trying to become the first player to score his first two career victories back-to-back since Camilo Villegas in 2008. At age 46, Tom Gillis was looking to become the oldest first-time winner on the PGA TOUR since Ed Dougherty did it at 47 in 1995.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
1
71
64
61
68
264/-20
500.00
$846,000.00
2
66
65
69
64
264/-20
300.00
$507,600.00
Zach Johnson
T3
66
68
66
65
265/-19
162.50
$272,600.00
Danny Lee
T3
68
68
62
67
265/-19
162.50
$272,600.00
Chris Stroud
T5
68
68
67
63
266/-18
100.00
$171,550.00
Justin Thomas
T5
63
67
69
67
266/-18
100.00
$171,550.00
Johnson Wagner
T5
68
63
68
67
266/-18
100.00
$171,550.00
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES
Chris Stroud’s closing 63 catapulted him into T5.
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Zach Johnson tied for third a week before winning The Open Championship.
The signature hole at TPC Deere Run is the par-3 16th, named “Mother Earth.” The 158-yard hole, one of the prettiest par 3s in the Midwest, plays uphill and toward the Rock River, with bunkers protecting its flanks. It offers a chance for birdie as players hit the finishing stretch, playing to a 2.829 average in 2015.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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NOTABLE COURSE FEATURES
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CHECK THIS OUT
The John Deere Family Zone tent provides an air-conditioned experience, McDonald’s Youth Day on Tuesday features a driving range clinic. The Michelob ULTRA 19th Hole pavilion is another attraction, and an enhanced ticket allows entrance to the Greenside Club and its sports-bar with 18th green viewing. On Sunday, military guests are invited to the skybox behind the 15th green for complimentary food and beverages. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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August 18-21, 2016
Wyndham Championship Greensboro, N.C. Sedgefield Country Club
Course Information Founded in 1926, Sedgefield Country Club’s Donald Ross design features gently rolling fairways leading to the architect’s signature small, undulating greens. The layout first hosted this PGA TOUR event in 1938. After a 31-year absence, the Wyndham returned to Sedgefield in 2008. Architect Kris Spence completed a restoration of the course in 2007 while lengthening it to accommodate the modern player. In 2012, the greens were changed from bentgrass to Champion Bermuda.
Yardage 7,130; par 70
2015 Champion Davis Love III, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS
Tickets Daily grounds tickets are $40 for a specific day, $50 for good-any-day. A weekly ground pass goes for $150. Ticket with clubhouse access are $60 daily and $250 weekly, with Legends Club access $80 and $300. Admission is complimentary for active military personnel and their families.
“I’ve been saying all year that if I putt well enough to win on the Champions Tour I can win on this Tour, because I felt like I was hitting it that good. This week I putted really well.” —Davis Love III
Charl Schwartzel (T3) shot no score higher than 67.
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HOW DAVIS LOVE III WON
Location
Davis Love III entered the final round in a tie for 10th, four strokes off the lead, but fired a closing 64 to win at the age of 51, becoming the thirdoldest winner in PGA TOUR history. It was his 21st career victory, including three in Greensboro, but his first anywhere in nearly seven years. The key to Love’s 6-under round was a pair of eagles, one on the fifth hole that highlighted a stretch of five holes played in 6 under and one on the 15th that put him in position to win. He had a two-stroke lead when he finished his round, and it held up for a onestroke win over 54-hole leader Jason Gore (69). Love was 4 under on the first seven holes of the final round with an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys. On the last 11 holes, he made 10 pars and one eagle. Love had an excellent week on the greens, ranking third in Strokes Gained: Putting (2.273 per round). He was 27th in Strokes Gained: Tee-toGreen (0.778 per round).
Third-round leader Jason Gore shot a final-round 69 to finish second.
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QUICK FACTS
Tiger Woods (foreground) putts on the 15th green during the third round.
Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $5.6 million Winner’s Share: $1,008,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
CHARITY BENEFIT
CHECK THIS OUT
longest time between first and last victories on the PGA TOUR at 28 years, 4 months, 4 days. Ray Floyd is first (28-11-20), followed by Snead (28-6-28). Love has now won the Wyndham Championship three times (1992, 2006, 2015), trailing only Snead’s record eight.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Davis Love III
1
66
69
64
263/-17
500.00
$972,000.00
64
2
66
67
62
69
264/-16
300.00
$583,200.00
T3
66
65
66
68
265/-15
145.00
$280,800.00
Paul Casey
T3
66
66
66
67
265/-15
145.00
$280,800.00
Charl Schwartzel
T3
67
66
66
66
265/-15
145.00
$280,800.00
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES
Paul Casey shot three consecutive 66s en route to a T3.
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Scott Brown tied for third, two strokes behind Davis Love III.
At 235 yards, Sedgefield’s 12th hole is the longest par 3 on the scorecard and because of its undulating two-tiered green, players find it one of the more difficult to putt on the PGA TOUR, with three-putts a frequent occurrence.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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Jason Gore Scott Brown
NOTABLE COURSE FEATURES
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Davis Love III became the third-oldest winner in PGA TOUR history (51 years, 4 months, 10 days) at the same event where Sam Snead became the oldest winner (52-10-8) in 1965. Second on the list is Art Wall at the 1975 Greater Milwaukee Open (51-7-10). Love also moved into third place for the
The tournament’s official charity partner is the Wyndham Worldwide Charitable Foundation, with the focus to enrich the lives of children around the world. Charities benefitted include The First Tee of the Triad, the Kevin Harvick Foundation, the Piedmont Triad Partnership, the American Junior Golf Association, and the Crosby Scholars Community Partnership. The official charity is Birdies Fore Backpacks, a program created to provide nutritionally-sound meals for low-income kids to take home from school on Fridays.
Named the PGA TOUR’s “Most Fan-Friendly Event” in 2015, fans enjoy covered grandstands and have access to Margaritaville at the Wyndham, the BB&T Fan Pavilion, two Tito’s Vodka Lounges and the Sunbrella Comfort Zone. Fans can win prizes at Wyndham’s Key to Wyn “ski lodge” and visit many vendors on the tournament’s Expo Row.
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August 25-28, 2016
The Barclays Location Farmingdale, N.Y. Bethpage State Park (Black Course)
Course Information Bethpage State Park was built as a Work Relief project during the Great Depression, and the Black Course was designed as the toughest of the original four when it opened in 1936 (there are now five courses). Architect A.W. Tillinghast’s last design is known for its strategically placed, large fairway bunkers and its challenging approach shots. The course was a diamond in the rough until the USGA funded a Rees Jones-led restoration in the mid-1990s in preparation for the course’s major debut at the 2002 U.S. Open. It also hosted the 2009 U.S. Open and The Barclays in 2012.
Yardage 7,468 yards; par 71
2015 Champion Jason Day, Australia
Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS
Tickets Weekly grounds tickets are $260 in advance, and there is a 10 percent discount when using MasterCard. Up to three children 18 and younger are free with a paid adult, and there is complimentary and discounted military ticketing. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.barclaysgolf.com.
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“I kept saying, let’s just keep putting the ball in the middle of the green, don’t get too crazy…Why are you being so silly going for pin positions when if you give yourself a 20-footer, you’ll hole it.” —Jason Day Bubba Watson was third after a closing 69.
Henrik Stenson applied a lot of pressure on the leader before finishing runner-up.
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IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR
Zach Johnson continued a summer of fine play with a T4.
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Jason Day’s hot putting was a big reason he closed with rounds of 63-62.
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HOW JASON DAY WON
Jason Day made it two straight victories and three of his last four by shooting 63-62 on the weekend at Plainfield Country Club in New Jersey to win The Barclays by six strokes over Henrik Stenson. Day was tied for the lead with Sangmoon Bae and one ahead of Bubba Watson entering the final round, but Stenson emerged as Day’s only threat. Even after a 3-under 31 on the front nine and birdies on 10 and 11, Day led by just two as he played the 13th hole, where his drive went into the trees. He found the green from there to make par, then made birdie putts of 28 and 33 feet on the next two holes to pull away, adding a birdie on 18 for a 5-under 31 on the back nine and a 19-under 261 total. Day’s dominance is reflected in his rankings of first in Strokes Gained: Putting (8.772 for the tournament) and third in Strokes Gained: Tee-toGreen (11.624). Day led the field in Greens in Regulation percentage (83.33) and was also good at saving par when he missed the green, ranking second in Scrambling (75 percent). Day ranked first in Par 4 Scoring Average (3.69), which more than made up for making two bogeys on par 5s and playing the eight par 5s for the week in just 2 under.
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Kaua‘i O ‘a h u M o l o k a‘i
tournament of champions Kapalua, Maui
L a- n a ‘ i
sony open in hawaii Wai‘alae, O‘ahu
Maui
mitsubishi electric championship at hualalai Ka‘u- pu- lehu, Hawai‘i
Early morning drive
W h a l e Wa t c h i n g from the 6th tee
H awa i ‘ i
Golden sand
Flawless greens
19th Hole c e l e b r at i o n
gohawaii.com/golf
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2016 tournament overview
No. 4, Bethpage State Park (Black Course).
quick Facts
Charity benefit
Field: 125 Players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $8.5 million Winner’s Share: $1,530,000 FedExCup Points: 2,000 to the winner
By rotating venues each year, The Barclays is able to benefit a number charities local to each venue in the Metro New York/New Jersey area. The event now generates more than $1 million for charity each year. Dating back to the tournament’s debut in 1967, total donations are now in excess of $43 million.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Jason Day
1
68
68
63
62
261/-19
2,000
$1,485,000
Henrik Stenson
2
68
66
67
66
267/-13
1,200
$891,000
Bubba Watson
3
65
68
67
69
269/-11
760
$561,000
Zac Blair
T4
69
68
67
66
270/-10
490
$363,000
Zach Johnson
T4
69
65
67
69
270/-10
490
$363,000
XX Jason Day’s 125 (63-62) was one stroke higher than the all-time PGA TOUR record for the final two rounds of a tournament, the 124 mark set by Stuart Appleby at the 2010 Greenbrier Classic (65-59). XX Day tied the tournament 72-hole scoring record of 261, and his 62 was the best final round in tournament history. XX Day became the first 54-hole leader/coleader to win The Barclays since Steve Stricker in 2007. XX PGA champion Day became the fourth player to win a major championship and FedExCup Playoffs event in the same year, joining Tiger Woods (2007 PGA, BMW, TOUR championships), Rory McIlroy (2012 PGA, Deutsche Bank and BMW championships), and w w w.pgatour.com
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Adam Scott (2013 Masters, The Barclays). Later in 2015, Jordan Spieth became the fifth (Masters, U.S. Open, TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola). XX Day’s six-stroke victory margin was the third largest ever in a FedExCup Playoffs event, behind Tiger Woods who won by eight strokes in two events, the 2007 TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and 2009 BMW Championship. Day matched the six-stroke margin at the BMW Championship two tournaments later. XX In the final round, Brian Harman became only the third player in PGA TOUR history to make two holes-in-one in one round, joining Bill Whedon (1955 Insurance City Open) and Yusaku Miyazato (2006 Barracuda Championship).
Nos. 10, 11 and 12 are a stern trio of par 4s. The 502-yard 10th and 435-yard 11th have a links feel and are each guarded on both sides by large fairway bunkers, the ones to the left of each fairway shared. Par is a good score on the 10th, which features a wellguarded plateau green, but birdies are available on the shorter 11th. No. 12 has only one fairway bunker that most players can carry, but at 501 yards a drive in the rough makes par a tough proposition.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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images: GETTY images; US PGA TOUR
check this out
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Notable Course Features
Spectators can enjoy stadium seating at all bleacher locations and an app from MasterCard will enable them to order food to pick up at a concession stand. Special locations include the Michelob ULTRA Build-A-Bar in the Spectator Village, the Grey Goose 19th Hole Lounge, and the William Hill Estate Wine Lounge. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2 171
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
September 2-5, 2016
Deutsche Bank Championship Location Norton, Mass. TPC Boston
Course Information Opened in 2002, TPC Boston is situated on nearly 400 acres that once was used for charcoal production and later as a gravel mine. Arnold Palmer was the original designer, winding the course through natural terrain, woodlands and wetlands. Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, with help from PGA TOUR player Brad Faxon, oversaw a renovation in 2007.
Yardage 7,216; par 71
2015 Champion Rickie Fowler, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC
Tickets Grounds access is free on Wednesday, $30 for Thursday’s practice round, and $60 for the tournament days Friday through Monday. Kids 15 and under are free with a ticketed adult, college students can get up to two tickets for $29 each. Higher priced tickets are available with access to the Champions Club, the Vivid Seats Signature Club, Stadium Seats at 16 Green, or a greenside seat on 17. Save up to 10 percent when using your Mastercard.
Social Media Twitter/IG: @DBChampionship Facebook: www.facebook.com/ DBChampionship
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“I never got ahead of myself out there. I made sure that I stayed in the moment and made sure that I was taking care of my business.” —Rickie Fowler
Charley Hoffman was third, continuing a pattern of good FedExCup Playoffs form.
After holding the third-round lead, Henrik Stenson finished in second place.
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IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES
A final-round 70 allowed Jim Furyk to finish T4.
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Patrick was T4 as the tournament had its traditional Labor Day conclusion.
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HOW RICKIE FOWLER WON
Rickie Fowler came from three strokes back with eight holes to play and beat Henrik Stenson to make the Deutsche Bank Championship his second PGA TOUR win of the year and third worldwide. Fowler birdied Nos. 11 and 14 to pull within one in what was essentially a two-man battle, but the key was a Stenson mistake on the par-3 16th where his tee shot came up short and finished in the water. That led to a double bogey, giving Fowler a one-stroke lead that held up as both parred the final two holes. Matt Jones and Sean O’Hair, two strokes back through three rounds, both shot 74 in the final round to fall back. Charley Hoffman had a threestroke lead through 36 holes, stumbled to a 76 in the third round, but recovered with a closing 67 to claim third place. Fowler ranked first in Scrambling as he was bogey-free in the first and third rounds and had just four bogeys and a double bogey for the week. Fowler made 14 putts of 10 feet or longer and ranked second in Strokes Gained: Putting. Fowler ranked sixth in Greens in Regulation and fourth in Proximity to the Hole on approach shots. Matsuyama (6 and 5). PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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No. 18, TPC Boston.
quick Facts Field: 100 Players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $8.5 million Winner’s Share: $1,530,000 FedExCup Points: 2,000 to the winner
Charity Benefit The Deutsche Bank Championship supports the Tiger Woods Foundation, including 15 local firstgeneration scholars from the Boston area.
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Notable Course Features
TPC Boston’s 18th hole is a reachable par 5 of 530 yards that offers possibilities for eagle or birdie, but it’s no pushover, especially after a 2011-12 renovation that made the green smaller and more elevated. There is a bunker to the right of the green and a drop-off to the left that makes getting up and down difficult. Strategically placed bunkers guard the tee shot and a wetlands area fronts the green.
Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Rickie Fowler
1
67
67
68
269/-15
2,000.00
$1,485,000.00
67
Henrik Stenson
2
67
68
65
70
270/-14
1,200.00
$891,000.00
Charley Hoffman
3
67
63
76
67
273/-11
760.00
$561,000.00
Jim Furyk
T4
71
65
70
70
276/-8
416.00
$311,025.00
Matt Jones
T4
67
67
68
74
276/-8
416.00
$311,025.00
Hunter Mahan
T4
69
73
64
70
276/-8
416.00
$311,025.00
Johnson Wagner
T4
68
67
67
74
276/-8
416.00
$311,025.00
Patrick Reed
T4
72
67
67
70
276/-8
416.00
$311,025.00
check this out XX Rickie Fowler’s victory was his first in the FedExCup Playoffs in 19 tries and his fourth top-10 finish. XX No 54-hole leader has won the Deutsche Bank Championship since Steve Stricker in 2009. Henrik Stenson had a one-stroke lead through 54 holes and finished second. XX William McGirt was outside the cut line of the top 70 who advance to the next stage 174 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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of the FedExCup Playoffs until he holed out from 169 yards with a 7-iron on the 17th hole of the final round to claim a spot. XX Charley Hoffman, who finished third, successfully advanced past the Deutsche Bank Championship for the ninth time in the ninth year of the FedExCup Playoffs. The only others to do so were Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson and Hunter Mahan.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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LEADERBOARD 2015
Each Labor Day weekend, the Deutsche Bank Championship celebrates the best of New England. All spectators receive access to numerous “open to the public” destinations on the TPC Boston grounds featuring entertainment, games and signature food and beverage items perfect for your Labor Day getaway in areas such as the GREY GOOSE Lounge, The Common, the HarborOne Lounge, and the William Hill Estate Wine Lounge. Also, Kids Village offers interactive activities for families, including a nine-hole mini golf course, mascot meet-and-greets and trophy visits all week. w w w.pgatour.com
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
September 8-11, 2016
BMW Championship Location Carmel, Ind. Crooked Stick Golf Club
Course Information Crooked Stick was one of the first designs by famed architect Pete Dye, created near his hometown of Indianapolis in 1964. Inspired by a trip he had made to Scotland, Dye incorporated sand and grass pot bunkers, mounds, strip bunkers, blind spots and railroad ties into a layout built on a former cornfield. In addition to the 2012 BMW Championship, the course has hosted the 1991 PGA Championship, two U.S. Women’s Opens and a U.S. Senior Open.
Yardage 7,516; par 72
2015 Champion Jason Day, Australia
Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR
Tickets Any Day grounds tickets are $78 Thursday through Sunday, a weekly badge costs $200. Juniors 16 and under receive complimentary admission when accompanied by an adult, limit of four juniors per adult. Active Duty Military, Retirees, Active Reserve, and Veterans receive a complimentary ticket.
Social Media
“Knowing that I had a six-shot lead coming into today, it was very important for me to stay patient, very important for me to make sure that I didn’t look at the leaderboard as much.” —Jason Day
Daniel Berger was happy after earning his second runnerup finish of the season.
Scott Piercy shot a closing 70 en route to third place.
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HOW JASON DAY WON
Rickie Fowler continued a good late-season run with a T4.
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Rory McIlroy (T4) had three rounds in the 60s.
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It was Jason Day’s fifth win of the season and moved him to No. 1 in the World Ranking.
Jason Day won for the fourth time in his last six tournaments, and it wasn’t even close. The recent PGA champion opened with rounds of 61-63, tying the all-time PGA TOUR record of 124 for the first 36 holes. He had a five-stroke lead at that point, extended it to six after a third-round 2-under 69 at Conway Farms outside Chicago, and never let the margin get to less than four during the final round, shooting another 69. His 22-under 262 total gave him a six-stroke victory over rookie Daniel Berger, and the win, his fifth of the year, jumped Day into the No. 1 spot in the World Ranking. Day’s opening 61 held up as the low round of the week and was spiced by a hole-out for eagle on the par-4 first hole (his 10th of the day). He finished off his second round in style with an eagle on the 18th hole and never looked back. XX Day played the 12 par 5s for the week in 11 under, with nine birdies, one eagle, and two pars. XX Day led the field in Strokes Gained: Tee-toGreen (2.944 per round), Driving Distance (312.6 yards), and Par Breakers (25 birdies, two eagles). XX Day had four bogeys in the third round (only seven for the week), but preserved his big lead by making six birdies for a 69. w w w.pgatour.com
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2016 tournament overview
No. 16, Crooked Stick Golf Club, during the 2012 BMW Championship.
quick Facts Field: 70 Players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $8.5 million Winner’s Share: $1,530,000 FedExCup Points: 2,000 to the winner
Charity Benefit The Western Golf Association conducts the BMW Championship, with all proceeds going to the Evans Scholars Foundation, which awards full tuition and housing scholarships to caddies from modest means. Currently more than 910 students are attending college on Evans Scholarships, most attending one of the 14 universities where the Foundation owns and operates a Scholarship House.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Jason Day
1
61
63
69
69
262/-22
2,000.00
$1,485,000.00
Daniel Berger
2
65
64
70
69
268/-16
1,200.00
$891,000.00
Scott Piercy
3
67
65
67
70
269/-15
760.00
$561,000.00
Rickie Fowler
T4
69
66
66
69
270/-14
460.00
$341,000.00
J.B. Holmes
T4
70
65
67
68
270/-14
460.00
$341,000.00
Rory McIlroy
T4
68
65
67
70
270/-14
460.00
$341,000.00
images: GETTY images; US PGA TOUR
XX Jason Day joined Jordan Spieth at the Masters as the only wire-to-wire winners (no ties) in the 2014-15 season. XX Day was the first wire-to-wire winner at the BMW Championship since Camilo Villegas in 2008. XX Day’s six-stroke victory margin was the same as he produced two tournaments earlier at The Barclays. XX After winning only once the first seven times he held or shared the 54-hole lead, Day made it three wins in a row in that situation. w w w.pgatour.com
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XX Day’s 124 total for 36 holes broke the one-year-old tournament record of 125 by Morgan Hoffmann. His 193 54-hole total broke the old mark, held by Villegas (2008), Tiger Woods (2009) and Billy Horschel (2014), by four strokes. His 262 72-hole total tied Woods’ BMW Championship record (2007). XX Day became the third Australian to reach No. 1 in the World Ranking, joining Greg Norman and Adam Scott.
The final stretch of five holes includes three difficult par 4s. The 470-yard 16th and 457-yard 18th each feature a pond to the right of the green. But it’s the 497-yard 14th that played the toughest when the BMW Championship was last held at Crooked Stick in 2012. It’s the hole where John Daly amazed everyone by carrying a creek and cutting the dogleg left when he won the 1991 PGA Championship, but the hole has been lengthened since then.
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check this out
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Notable Course Features
BMW owners get to park in their own lot and enjoy the BMW Owners’ Pavilion, which features both open-air seating and air-conditioned interior seating with flat-screen TVs. Others can gain access to special areas—the Dye Club and the 1899 Club—with premium tickets. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2 177
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
September 22-25, 2016
TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola Location Atlanta, Ga. East Lake Golf Club
Course Information Tom Bendelow’s 1908 design gave way to a complete overhaul just five years later by Donald Ross, which is the configuration upon which Bobby Jones learned the game. George Cobb did a renovation prior to the 1963 Ryder Cup, and Rees Jones restored the Ross layout in 1994. East Lake, original home of the Atlanta Athletic Club, has hosted the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola in 1998, 2000, 2002 and each season since 2004; this year for the first time the nines will be reversed from their usual configuration that features a par 3 finishing hole.
Yardage 7,154; par 70
2015 Champion Jordan Spieth, U.S.
Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC
Tickets Weekly grounds tickets are $181.90 in advance with a 10 percent discount when using MasterCard (the same discount applies to concessions and merchandise). Youth 18 and under receive complimentary admission, up to four youths per ticketed adult. Complimentary and discount military ticketing is available.
“I didn’t feel comfortable striking the ball, today or this week. I didn’t have a go-to shot. But my short game was phenomenal.” —Jordan Spieth
Bubba Watson parlayed a secondround 61 into a T5.
Danny Lee shot a final-round 65 to grab a share of second place.
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A closing 64 moved Dustin Johnson into the top five.
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England’s Paul Casey was steady after a first-round 65, finishing T5.
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HOW JORDAN SPIETH WON
Jordan Spieth wrapped up an outstanding season in style by winning the TOUR Championship by CocaCola and claiming the FedExCup title. Spieth’s fifth victory of the season propelled him to a record $12.03 million in singleseason earnings, with a $10 million FedExCup bonus on top of that. It enabled him to reclaim the No. 1 spots in the FedExCup and World Ranking that he had recently lost to Jason Day and it locked up Player of the Year honors for Spieth in a year in which he won the Masters and U.S. Open. The week started off like it might belong to Henrik Stenson, who led by three after a 63-68 start. But the Swede went 72-72 on the weekend and settled for his third runner-up finish in the four FedExCup Playoff events, this time in a tie with Justin Rose and Danny Lee, four strokes back. Spieth took a onestroke lead with a thirdround 68 and held off Stenson and others with a closing 69, the knockout punch a 45-foot birdie putt at the 11th. Spieth was T11 in birdies with 14, but he made only five bogeys all week and ranked first in Scrambling, saving par 84 percent of the time he missed the green. Spieth made six putts of 20 feet or longer as he ranked first in Strokes Gained: Putting at 2.625 strokes per round. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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2016 tournament overview
The water-guarded 17th hole will be No. 8 this year as the nines are reversed.
quick Facts Field: 30 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $8.5 million Winner’s Share: $1,530,000 FedExCup Points: 2,000 to the winner
Charity Benefit The TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola has contributed more than $26 million to charity locally and nationwide since 1998. The primary beneficiaries are the East Lake Foundation, established in 1995 to lead the revitalization of the East Lake neighborhood, and The First Tee.
LEADERBOARD 2015 Player
Pos 1
2
3
4
Total Score
FedExCup Points
Earnings
Jordan Spieth
1
66
68
69
271/-9
2,000.00
$1,485,000.00
68
Danny Lee
T2
69
72
69
65
275/-5
866.66
$618,750.00
Justin Rose
T2
70
68
71
66
275/-5
866.66
$618,750.00
Henrik Stenson
T2
63
68
72
72
275/-5
866.66
$618,750.00
Paul Casey
T5
65
70
71
70
276/-4
400.00
$302,500.00
Dustin Johnson
T5
69
72
71
64
276/-4
400.00
$302,500.00
Bubba Watson
T5
70
61
68
67
276/-4
400.00
$302,500.00
check this out
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and Chris Kirk in 2014, Jordan Spieth and Henrik Stenson in 2015). XX Spieth became the first player to win the Masters and TOUR Championship by CocaCola in the same season and the third to win the U.S. Open and TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola (Curtis Strange, 1988; Retief Goosen, 2004). XX Spieth won in his third appearance at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. Four players won the event in their first appearance: Chad Campbell (2003), Bart Bryant (2005), Bill Haas (2011), and Henrik Stenson (2013), not counting Tom Watson in the event’s first playing in 1987.
The reversal of the nines instituted this year is intended to provide a more dramatic finishing stretch with more risk/reward opportunities. The new 14th is the toughest hole on the course and the par-3 15th features a peninsula green. Design tweaks have enhanced Nos. 16 and 17, while the 18th is a hole that allows for a lot of possible outcomes, a par 5 where nearly half the field has gone for the green in two in the last 10 years, which should create excitement as players battle for the title down the stretch.
FAN EXPERIENCE
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XX Jordan Spieth at 22 years, 2 months became the youngest winner of the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and also of the FedExCup. The previous youngest winner of the tournament was Tiger Woods at 23 years, 10 months in 1999 and of the FedExCup, Billy Horschel at 27 years, 9 months in 2014. XX Spieth became the youngest player since Horton Smith in 1929 (turned 21 during the year) to win five times in a season. XX It was the second consecutive year that both players in the last twosome in the final round entered the tournament in the top five in the FedExCup standings (Billy Horschel
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Notable Course Features
Free parking and shuttle service is offered throughout the week for all spectators. An enhanced ticket allows access to an upgraded venue located on No. 13 with great views of the 14th and 16th with enclosed, air-conditioned seating and food and beverage options for purchase. w w w.pgatour.com
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2015/16 tournament overview
T
he second half of the PGA TOUR Champions season is highlighted by the inaugural Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, a three-tournament sequence that concludes the season in thrilling fashion and features two new events preceding the Charles Schwab Cup Championship. The portion of the schedule starting in June also features a third new tournament, and three senior majors. The first of those majors is the Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship in June, which goes for the first time to Philadelphia Cricket Club, a recently restored A.W. Tillinghast design. The next major on the schedule is the Senior Open Championship, which makes its second trip to the famed and difficult Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland, where Bernhard Langer won in 2010. Finally, the U.S. Senior Open moves to August dates this year and visits Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, where a young Jack Nicklaus learned the game. There is a new event in June, the American Family Insurance Championship in Madison, Wis., the brainchild of Madison’s own Steve Stricker, the PGA TOUR veteran who becomes Champions
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eligible in 2017 and will serve as host this year. And there is a new destination in September with the Pacific Links Championship in Victoria, British Columbia, an event originally slated for Tianjin, China, but moved due to ongoing recovery efforts associated with a 2015 explosion in the port city. The season builds to a climax with the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs. Its first two events are new to the schedule and add a couple of outstanding courses to PGA TOUR Champions. The PowerShares QQQ Championship will bring the season’s top 72 players (more precisely, 71 plus a wild card to be determined at the final Regular Season event, the SAS Championship) to Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California. The top 54 on the points list after that event advance to the Dominion Charity Classic at the Country Club of Virginia in Richmond, which will determine the 36 players who move on to the Charles Schwab Cup Championship. There’s a new twist to that season-ending event, with a points reset similar to the FedExCup Playoffs on the PGA TOUR, making for an exciting conclusion as the winner of the Charles Schwab Cup is determined.
image: GETTY IMAGES
The Season Ahead
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17/06/2016 10:40
2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
June 3-5, 2016
June 9-12, 2016
The Principal Charity Classic
Location
Tournament Record: 197, Gil Morgan, 2006; Jay Haas, 2012
Tournament 18-hole Record 63, John Bland, 2002; Tommy Armour III, 2010
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information www. principalcharityclassic.com
Course Insight
PHOTO BY US PGA TOUR
The site of several major amateur events including the 1963 U.S. Amateur won by Deane Beman, Wakonda Club was founded in 1922. William B. Langford designed the rolling parkland layout that features tree-lined fairways and several water hazards. It underwent a major restoration following a flood in 1994, and a series of upgrades have been made since 2001.
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Using a putter he bought at a local store early in the week, Mark Calcavecchia posted a 12-under 204 total to gain a one-stroke win over Joe Durant and Brian Henninger. It was Calcavecchia’s third career PGA TOUR Champions victory and first since 2012. “This came out of nowhere,” said Calcavecchia, who had missed the cut in his previous event, the Senior PGA Championship Presented by KitchenAid. But the Nebraska native had finished third in Des Moines the last two years and led by one stroke through 36 holes before clinching it with a closing 69. Calcavecchia never lost the lead on Sunday, though Durant tied him at one point. Davis Love III made a move with four birdies in five holes on the back nine to pull within one, but he bogeyed 16 and double bogeyed 17 to finish T5.
CHARITY BENEFIT
Children’s charities in Central Iowa are the beneficiaries of the Children’s Charity Classic. Proceeds from the tournament totaled a record $1,402,487 in 2015. That brings the all-time donations made to more than $7.7 million.
Philadelphia Cricket Club, Philadelphia, Pa.
Yardage
7,119; par 70
Tournament Record:
261, Jack Nicklaus, 1990; Kenny Perry, 2013
Tournament 18-hole Record
62, Olin Browne, 2012; Fred Couples, 2013
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information
pgatour.com/champions/ tournaments/ constellation-seniorplayers-championship.html
Course Insight
Philadelphia Cricket Club’s original course opened in 1895 and hosted two U.S.Opens. In 1920, the club commissioned one of its members, renowned course architect A.W. Tillinghast, to design a course on new property in Flourtown. Now known as the Wissahickon Course, the layout underwent a complete restoration in 2013-14 and now ranks 32nd in Golfweek’s list of Top 100 Classic Courses in the U.S. The restoration removed many trees and brought the course back to Tillinghast’s original design, with strategic bunkering the salient feature.
HOW BERNHARD LANGER WON
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Yardage 6,959; par 72
HOW MARK CALCAVECCHIA WON
Location
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Wakonda Club, Des Moines, Iowa
Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship
Bernhard Langer became only the second player to successfully defend his title at the Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS, joining Arnold Palmer (1984-85). Langer did it in runaway fashion, taking an eight-stroke lead into the final round with scores of 65-65-67. If there was any doubt on Sunday it was erased when he followed a bogey at the third hole with an eagle on the fourth to restore his eight-stroke margin. He finished with a 68 and a six-stroke victory. Kirk Triplett claimed second place after a 64 that included six birdies in a seven-hole stretch mid-round. “I thought, ‘If I make six more birdies, Bernhard’s going to be nervous,’ ” Triplett quipped. The victory was Langer’s fifth in a senior major and the 24th of his career, tying him for fourth all-time with Miller Barber. (He would add a 25th later in 2015.)
CHARITY BENEFIT
Each year the tournament designates local charities as beneficiaries. Last year $500,000 was raised for nine charities in the Boston area. That lifted the total donated to charity to more than $10 million since 1992. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
June 24-26, 2016
July 8-10, 2016
Dick’s Sporting Goods Open
American Family Insurance Championship
Yardage
7,259; par 72
Tournament Record: New event
Tournament 18-hole Record New event
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information
www. amfamchampionship.com
Course Insight
Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed University Ridge in 1991 on a ridge overlooking the city of Madison, and the course is home to the University of Wisconsin golf teams. The front nine is wide open, rolling through a preserved prairie and marshland, while the first six holes of the back nine are cut out of dense woodland before opening up again at the par-5 16th, which features three fairways and 16 bunkers. The course has hosted the 1998 NCAA Women’s Championship and 2015 Wisconsin State Open. 184
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The American Family Insurance Championship brings the PGA TOUR back to the state of Wisconsin for the first time since the final Greater Milwaukee Open in 2009. The event is hosted by Steve Stricker (above photo), the 12-time PGA TOUR winner who is a Madison resident and very involved with the local community. Stricker had thought about starting a tournament in Madison for several years, and in early 2015 pitched the idea to University of Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez. The University of Wisconsin Athletic Department is a partner in running the tournament, with the university-owned University Ridge course serving as host. Stricker will be helping to get the event off the ground this year at age 49 as host, and is looking forward to being a player-host in 2017 when he will be eligible for the PGA TOUR Champions.
CHARITY BENEFIT
The tournament will benefit the American’s Family Children’s Hospital in Madison and the Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation. The foundation supports charities, educational initiatives, and organizations aimed at building strong families and healthy kids.
HOW JEFF MAGGERT WON Location En-Joie Golf Course, Endicott, N.Y.
Yardage 6,974; par 72
Tournament Record: 195, Lonnie Nielsen, 2009
Tournament 18-hole Record 59, Kevin Sutherland, 2014
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information www.dsgopen.com
Course Insight En-Joie Golf Club was created by George F. Johnson, owner of Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company, and designed by Ernie Smith, opening in 1927. Johnson was a huge lover of golf and wanted his employees to enjoy the game, so he built the course as a recreational outlet for them. Veteran course designer Dr. Michael Hurdzan renovated the layout in 1998-99. The course was the longtime host (1971-2006) of the B.C. Open on the PGA TOUR, and has hosted the PGA TOUR Champions since 2007.
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Location
University Ridge Golf Course, Madison, Wis.
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NEW EVENT
Jeff Maggert opened his final round with three straight birdies, then had another three-birdie streak on Nos. 8, 9 and 10 to shoot a final-round 66 and claim his fourth title of the year. The 51-year-old won in his first appearance at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open, marking the seventh time in the nine years of the event that the winner was making his debut. Maggert trailed by two entering the final round, but took control with his early birdies and held on with pars on the last eight holes for a 14-under 202 total. “I played just like I wanted to on the front nine, tried to put some distance between me and the rest of the guys,” said Maggert. Paul Goydos pulled within one stroke down the stretch, but a bogey on the 15th dropped him two back and he finished second at 204.
CHARITY BENEFIT The Dick’s Sporting Goods Open is operated by Broome County Charities Inc., which has donated more than $14 million since its founding in 1973. It funds healthcare related organizations, particularly the UHS Foundation and Lourdes Hospital Foundation, and various civic organizations.
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
July 21-24, 2016
The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex
August 5-7, 2016
3M Championship
Location TPC Twin Cities, Blaine, Minn.
Yardage 7,361 yards; par 71
Tournament Record: 263, Tom Watson, Carl Mason, 2003
Tournament 18-hole Record 62, Jim Colbert, 2003
Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC
More Information www.europeantour. com/seniortour
PHOTO BY US PGA TOUR
Course Insight The genesis of the current Carnoustie Golf Links was a 10-hole course laid out by professional Alan Robertson in about 1839. Tom Morris Sr. expanded it to 18 holes in 1867, but in 1926 James Braid was brought in to make sweeping changes and the course became the championship test we know today. It has hosted The Open Championship seven times, one Ladies Open and one previous Senior Open in 2010. w w w.pgatour.com
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Marco Dawson shot a 64 in the final round and holed a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win by one stroke over Bernhard Langer at Sunningdale’s Old Course with a 16-under 264 total. Langer shot a 64 of his own and also birdied the 18th, but his 12-foot birdie was anticlimactic after Dawson holed his long one. Dawson had two eagles in the final round, a hole-out from a bunker on the short par-4 ninth and an eagle on the par-5 14th to take the lead for good. “The 3-wood I hit in the mist and rain on the 14th was one of the best I have ever hit and set up the eagle,” said Dawson, who never won on the PGA TOUR and claimed his second senior title at age 51. Colin Montgomerie was in the hunt for most of the final round and finished third at 267 after a 67.
CHARITY BENEFIT
The R&A, which runs the championship along with the European Tour, invests more than £5 million each year in support of golf worldwide.
Yardage 7,114; par 72
Tournament Record: 191, David Frost, 2010
Tournament 18-hole Record 61, David Frost, 2010; Kenny Perry, 2015
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information www.3mchampionship.com
Course Insight Built on a former sod farm, TPC Twin Cities, which opened in 2000, was the 20th course to be built in the TPC Network. World Golf Hall of Fame member Arnold Palmer designed the layout, which is consistently ranked among the top courses in Minnesota. Palmer tapped Minnesota native Tom Lehman to help him create a natural rolling layout featuring native prairie grasses, wetlands and 27 bodies of water all framed by mature trees, including oaks, pines and spruce.
HOW KENNY PERRY WON
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Carnoustie Golf Links, Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland
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Location
HOW MARCO DAWSON WON
Kenny Perry took a fourstroke lead with a 61 in the second round and went on to win the 3M Championship for the second consecutive year, becoming the first to successfully defend his title in the 23-year history of the event. Despite shooting a 68 to win by four strokes, Perry said it wasn’t a comfortable final round. “When you’ve got a four- or five-shot lead, you’re playing safe, you’re playing not to mess up, and that’s a hard way to play golf,” he said. Perry’s lead was cut to two by Kevin Sutherland early in the final round, but the margin was at least four for the entire back nine. Sutherland, Scott Dunlap, and Bernhard Langer tied for second. Langer also finished second to Perry in 2014 and has three career runner-up finishes at the 3M to go along with two victories.
CHARITY BENEFIT
Tournament proceeds benefit programs at United, Abbott Northwestern, Mercy, and Unity hospitals. The 3M Championship has raised more than $23 million since 1993, including more than $1.3 million in 2015. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
August 11-14, 2016
August 26-28, 2016
U.S. Senior Open
Boeing Classic
Location
Location
Scioto Country Club, Columbus, Ohio
267, Hale Irwin, 2000; Kenny Perry, 2013
Tournament 18-hole Record 62, Loren Roberts, 2006
Media Coverage FS1/FOX
More Information www.usga.org
Course Insight Scioto was designed by famed architect Donald Ross in 1916 on gently rolling land that had been a pasture. Bobby Jones won the 1926 U.S. Open at Scioto. Known as the course where Jack Nicklaus grew up and learned the game from club professional Jack Grout, Scioto underwent a renovation by Dick Wilson in the early 1960s and held the U.S. Amateur in 1968 and the U.S. Senior Open in 1986. Nicklaus and Michael Hurdzan directed a renovation in 2008.
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Jeff Maggert birdied the first three holes of the final round and went on to shoot a 65 for a two-stroke victory over Colin Montgomerie at Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento. Maggert was tied for the 54-hole lead with Bernhard Langer, with a group of eight players just one stroke behind. Maggert’s hot start quickly broke him away from the crowded leaderboard and he played the front nine in 4-under on the way to finishing at 10-under 270. “I had a lot of good runs at U.S. Opens over the years and probably lacked a little maturity to pull it off,” said Maggert, who didn’t count a major among his three PGA TOUR wins but made the U.S. Senior Open his second senior major. “Now that I’m an old guy, I’ve learned a lot.” Defending champion Montgomerie had a closing 66 for a 272 total and Langer was third at 273 after a 68.
CHARITY BENEFIT
The USGA uses its funds to support programs in collaboration with various partners that make golf more welcoming and accessible for all those who wish to play the game.
Yardage 7,172; par 72
Tournament Record: 198, Loren Roberts, 2009; Bernhard Langer, 2010
Tournament 18-hole Record 61, Scott Simpson, Tom Jenkins, 2006
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information www.boeingclassic.com
Course Insight TPC Snoqualmie Ridge, established in 1999, was designed by World Golf Hall of Fame member Jack Nicklaus, and is the only Jack Nicklaus signature course in the Pacific Northwest. The course has dramatic elevation changes and offers panoramic views of mountains and stands of tall pine trees all with Snoqualmie Falls as the backdrop.
HOW BILLY ANDRADE WON
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Tournament Record:
HOW JEFF MAGGERT WON
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Yardage 7,140; par 70
TPC Snoqualmie Ridge, Snoqualmie, Wash.
Billy Andrade survived a triple bogey in the final round and emerged as the winner of the Boeing Classic despite a closing 1-over 73. Andrade led by three strokes after opening rounds of 69-65, but ran into trouble on the fourth hole on Sunday. He hit his drive out of bounds, then hit one into the trees, and ended up chipping in from in front of the green for a triple bogey. A bogey at the seventh dropped him into a tie for the lead, but he birdied the eighth and 12th and parred in from there to finish one stroke ahead of Bernhard Langer, who closed with a 71. “Today was a grind. Today was not a day where it was fun,” said Andrade, who nonetheless ended up with his second PGA TOUR Champions victory. Four players tied for third, two strokes back: Guy Boros, Fred Couples, Mark O’Meara and Fran Quinn.
CHARITY BENEFIT The primary beneficiary of the Boeing Classic is the Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, an international leader in autoimmune disease research.
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
September 2-4, 2016
September 16-18, 2016
Shaw Charity Classic
Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach
Location
Tournament Record: 191, Rocco Mediate, 2013
Tournament 18-hole Record 61, Fred Couples, 2014; Miguel Angel Jiménez, 2015
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information www. shawcharityclassic.com
PHOTO BY US PGA TOUR
Course Insight Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club was established in 1953, but the course didn’t open until 1957. Otto Anderson designed the parkland layout, but members gradually changed it through the years, mostly through tree plantings. A 2006 renovation included greens improvements, new tees and fairway and bunker upgrades.
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HOW JEFF MAGGERT WON
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Yardage 7,086; par 70
Location
Jeff Maggert trailed Colin Montgomerie and Miguel Angel Jiménez by two strokes through 36 holes, but shot a final-round 64 while neither co-leader could break par as Maggert strolled to a four-stroke victory with a 16-under 194 total. “I feel fortunate, obviously,” said Maggert after his third victory of the year was keyed by making four birdies on the last five holes of the front nine. “I really thought Colin and Miguel would play some solid rounds. We had a little wind today so it didn’t play as easy as it did some of the other rounds.” Montgomerie, who shot a 62 in the first round, was second at 198 after a finalround 70. Jimenez, after a second-round 61, closed with a 74 to finish T-12. Scott Dunlap (64) and Mark O’Meara (66) tied for third at 199.
CHARITY BENEFIT
With the addition of a Birdies For Kids program to its other charitable contributions, the Shaw Charity Classic raised a record $3.9 million in 2015 for a total of 99 youth-based charities in Alberta.
Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course, Pebble Beach, Calif.
Yardage
Pebble Beach: 6,837; par 72 Poppy Hills: 6,879; par 71
Tournament Record: 201, Craig Stadler, 2004
Tournament 18-hole Record
63, Craig Stadler, 2004
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information
www.thefirstteeopen.com
Course Insight
One of the most iconic courses in the world, famed Pebble Beach Golf Links has been the site of major championships and a regular PGA TOUR event as well as host site of the Nature Valley First Tee Open. The course was designed by California Amateur champion Jack Neville in 1919 and has undergone numerous tweaks through the years but remains true to its original concept. Poppy Hills, which also was once in the rotation for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, is a tree-lined layout that Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed in 1986 and which recently underwent an extensive renovation.
HOW ESTEBAN TOLEDO WON
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Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Esteban Toledo held off Tom Watson to win the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach with a 9-under 206 total. At age 66, Watson was seeking to become the oldest winner of a PGA TOUR Champions event, rebounding from an opening 75 at Poppy Hills to shoot 65-67 at Pebble Beach on the weekend. He made four straight birdies on the front nine of the final round, but ultimately finished one back after a bogey at 17. Toledo trailed Colin Montgomerie by two strokes entering the final round, but shot a 69 on Sunday to claim his third PGA TOUR Champions victory at age 52. “I finished second to Colin Montgomerie at the Senior PGA this year and I learned a lot,” Toledo said. “I learned I had to be more aggressive and make putts, and I did.”
CHARITY BENEFIT
Monterey Peninsula Foundation, which also hosts the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, stages the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach to benefit The First Tee. A special aspect of the tournament is that First Tee participants from around the country are selected to partner with professionals.
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
September 23-25, 2016
October 7-9, 2016
Toshiba Classic
Pacific Links Championship
Location Newport Beach Country Club, Newport Beach, Calif.
Location
7,083; par 72
Tournament Record: 197, Paul Goydos, 2014
Tournament 18-hole Record 61, Corey Pavin, 2014
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information www. pacificlinkschampionship.com
Course Insight The rugged and challenging Mountain Course at Bear Mountain Resort, designed by Jack and Steve Nicklaus, is located in the foothills of Mount Finlayson. “We are delighted that PGA TOUR Champions and Pacific Links have chosen Bear Mountain to host this event, and at such an important time of the year in the Tour’s schedule,” said World Golf Hall of Fame member Jack Nicklaus. “Players and fans will find that this is an incredible backdrop for golf, with gorgeous mountains framing the resort and spectacular vistas from many holes.” 188
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Paul Goydos used a string of four consecutive birdies late on the back nine to take a one-stroke victory in the Pacific Links Hawaii Championship at Kapolei Golf Club. The 50-year-old, making his fifth PGA TOUR Champions start, began his birdie run at the 14th hole, taking a two-stroke lead with his fourth straight birdie on the 17th that gave him a cushion when he finished with a bogey on 18. With opening rounds of 66-63, Goydos shared the 36-hole lead with Fred Funk (67-62). Goydos was two ahead of Funk standing on the tee of the par-3 16th when Funk made a hole-in-one to get to 18 under, but on the green Goydos made a 15-foot birdie putt to finish the hole one ahead. “That putt on 16 was key,” said Goydos. “I’m proud of that. I’m happy how I handled things on 16 after Fred made ace.” Goydos finished with a 68 for a 19-under 197 total. Funk had a 69 and tied for second with Scott Dunlap (65) at 198. Russ Cochran claimed fourth place at 199, followed by Jeff Maggert at 200.
Yardage 6,584; 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.toshibaclassic.com
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. Several water hazards add to the challenge.
HOW DUFFY WALDORF WON
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Yardage
HOW PAUL GOYDOS WON
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Bear Mountain Resort (Mountain Course), Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Duffy Waldorf shot a 60 in the second round and survived a wild final round in which he only made three pars, winning by two strokes. Waldorf had 10 birdies and five bogeys in a closing 66, including a stretch starting at the fourth hole with three straight bogeys followed by four straight birdies. Waldorf had 11 birdies and no bogeys in his second-round 60, which gave him a three-stroke lead, and his 26 birdies for the week tied the PGA TOUR Champions record for a 54-hole event. “I always felt winning would come,” said Waldorf, who claimed his first senior title at age 53. “But the last year or two the competition has gotten really strong.” Joe Durant took second place thanks to a 62 in the final round.
CHARITY BENEFIT
Proceeds from the 2016 Toshiba Classic will benefit the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag Memorial Presbyterian Hospital, which provides comprehensive services for those with, or at risk for, diabetes regardless of their ability to pay. The tournament has generated more than $18 million for Hoag and other charities in its 18-year history. w w w.pgatour.com
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
October 14-16, 2016
October 28-30, 2016
SAS Championship
PowerShares QQQ Championship
Location
Location
Yardage 7,240; par 72
Tournament Record: 198, Mark Wiebe, 2007
Tournament 18-hole Record 61, Tom Kite, 2003
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information www.saschampionship.com
Course Insight
PHOTO BY US PGA TOUR
The Highlands Course, which opened in 1993 and is one of three layouts at Prestonwood Country Club, was designed by architect Tom Jackson. A recent renovation was concluded in 2011 by Jack Nicklaus protégé Rick Robbins, a resident of Prestonwood. Robbins had the greens rebuilt to enable more hole locations, and he replaced selected bunkers with collection areas and grass hollows.
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HOW TOM LEHMAN WON
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Sherwood Country Club, Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Tom Lehman played the last four holes in 5-under to charge to a one-stroke victory over Joe Durant at Prestonwood Country Club. Lehman was four behind when he started his run with a 15-foot birdie putt on 15, which he followed with another 15-footer on 16, a 20-foot eagle putt on 17 after mashing a 260-yard 3-wood second shot, and a 12-footer on 18. That gave Lehman a two-shot cushion over Durant, whose birdie on 18 wasn’t enough. “It’s just nice to get back in the winner’s circle,” said the 56-year-old Lehman, who scored his ninth career PGA TOUR Champions victory but first in more than a year. “It’s nice to see the putts drop when you need them most.” Lehman finished with a 65 for a 12-under 204 total, while Durant had a 68 for 205. Bernhard Langer (68) and Kenny Perry (70) tied for third at 206.
CHARITY BENEFIT
The host charity of the SAS Championship is the YMCA of The Triangle, and its Y Learning tutorial program. Nearly 20 percent of the students in the program are able to participate due to the SAS Championship annual donation.
Yardage 7,025; par 72
Tournament Record: New event
Tournament 18-hole Record New event
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information www.pgatour.com/champions
Course Insight Located in a beautiful setting at the base of the Santa Monica Mountains, Sherwood Country Club was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1989. The course makes use of the natural elements of land elevations and valleys, waterfalls, running streams and unique rock formations to make for an aesthetically rich and strategically challenging layout. The par-72 course deviates from the norm with five par 5s balanced by five par 3s. The adjoining Lake Sherwood got its name when the area was used for the filming of “Robin Hood,” starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in 1921.
NEW EVENT
The PowerShares QQQ Championship will be the first event of the inaugural Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs. It will feature the top 72 players from the season, including one wild card determined at the Regular Season-ending SAS Championship, and will determine the 54 players who will move on to the next tournament, the Dominion Charity Classic. Points, based on money earnings, will be double those of Regular Season events, and the event has a $2 million purse. The site, Sherwood Country Club, has a long history of hosting top PGA TOUR players. It hosted the Shark Shootout team event from 1989 through 1999 and then the World Challenge hosted by Tiger Woods from 2000 to 2013, so for some of the seniors this will not be their first look at the course. Current PGA TOUR Champions eligible players who won the World Challenge at Sherwood include Tom Lehman, Davis Love III (twice) and Vijay Singh. Tournament sponsor Invesco PowerShares is a leading exchange-traded fund provider with more than 140 domestic and international funds, including PowerShares QQQ that is based on the Nasdaq-100 Index. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
November 4-6, 2016
December 10-11, 2016
Dominion Charity Classic
Yardage 7,010; par 72
Tournament Record: New event
Tournament 18-hole Record New event
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information www. dominioncharityclassic.com
Course Insight The Country Club of Virginia’s James River Course, one of three courses at the club, was designed in 1928 by renowned architect William Flynn. The front nine is more low-lying and the back nine goes up into the hills and has more undulation. The course hosted the U.S. Amateur in 1955 and 1975. Architect Lester George oversaw a restoration in 2003-04, bringing back strategic elements of the original design and redoing fairway bunkers to bring them back into play. At the same time, new fourth, sixth and 18th holes were built. 190
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The Dominion Charity Classic marks the return of PGA TOUR Champions to the Richmond area for the first time in 25 years. The new tournament, sponsored by energy company Dominion, will be the second event in the three-tournament Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs. The field will consist of the top 54 players after the opening Playoff event, the PowerShares QQQ Championship, and will determine the 36 players for the Charles Schwab Cup Championship. Says PGA TOUR Champions player Curtis Strange (above), a two-time U.S. Open champion, “As a proud Virginian, I am thrilled that PGA TOUR Champions is coming back to the Commonwealth. I am also excited to be playing one of the state’s best, the Country Club of Virginia.”
CHARITY BENEFIT
The Virginia Values Veterans (V3) program has been selected as the beneficiary of the Dominion Charity Classic’s proceeds. The V3 program will use the donated funds through the Virginia Veterans Service Foundation to create employment opportunities for transitioning military service members by helping Virginia employers understand, design and implement nationally recognized best practices in recruiting, hiring and retaining veterans.
Location Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando, Fla.
Yardage 6,852; par 72
Tournament Record: 119, Five times
Tournament 18-hole Record 57, Ray Floyd/Ray Floyd Jr., 1995; Bob Charles/ David Charles, 1998
Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC
More Information www. pncfathersonchallenge.com
Course Insight The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club opened in 2003. Designer Greg Norman put special emphasis on preserving the area’s well-balanced ecosystem, creating a beautiful course that thrives with ponds, wetlands, live oaks and cypress heads. The fairways are wide, but strategically placed hazards and subtly contoured greens provide a challenging but fair test.
HOW LANNY AND TRAVIS WADKINS WON
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Country Club of Virginia (James River), Richmond, Va.
NEW EVENT
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Location
PNC Father-Son Challenge
Lanny Wadkins and 23-yearold son Travis eagled the first extra hole to walk away with the title after a four-team playoff. The winners birdied the 18th hole of regulation to finish at 20-under 124 for 36 holes in the scramble format, but so did three other teams: Davis and Dru Love, Larry and Drew Nelson and Fred and Taylor Funk. In the playoff on the par-5 18th, Travis Wadkins hit a big drive, his dad Lanny hit a 5-wood to 40 feet, and Travis drained the long putt. “I’ll remember what he did in making that putt,” said Lanny, who made a 12-footer of his own for birdie on 18 in regulation to reach the playoff. “Dad’s still got a little bit left,” Lanny said.
CHARITY BENEFIT
Proceeds from the PNC Father-Son Challenge benefit the Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children; and also Healthy Families Orange, a program that prevents child abuse and neglect, increases the rate of childhood immunizations, reduces family stress levels, and reduces the instances of repeat teen pregnancy in target communities in Orange County. w w w.pgatour.com
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2016 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
November 11-13, 2016
Charles Schwab Cup Championship
Location Desert Mountain Club (Cochise Course), Scottsdale, Ariz.
Yardage 6,929; par 70
Tournament Record 258 Tom Lehman, 2012
Tournament 18-hole Record 60, Jay Haas, 2012
Media Coverage Golf Channel
More Information
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES
www.pgatour.com/ champions/tournaments/ charles-schwab-cupchampionship
CHARITY BENEFIT
COURSE INSIGHT
Through Tickets Fore Charity, the Charles Schwab Cup Championship gives local charitable organizations the opportunity to sell tickets and retain 100 percent of the net proceeds. The tournament has raised more than $5 million for charities since 2003.
Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the Cochise Course at Desert Mountain is a unique and demanding shotmaker’s design in the Sonoran Desert. The layout, which for years hosted one of the PGA TOUR Champions majors, the Regions Tradition, is fraught with natural dangers, including water, natural desert areas and rock outcroppings, all of which force a golfer to hit precise shots. Notable features of the course, where Nicklaus won the Tradition four times, include four risk/reward par 5s and an island double-green that serves the par-3 7th hole and par-5 15th. Nicklaus calls the Cochise “one of the most picturesque golf courses in the world.”
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HOW BILLY ANDRADE WON
Billy Andrade shot a finalround 64 and made a birdie on the first playoff hole to beat Bernhard Langer on Desert Mountain’s Cochise Course. Andrade trailed 54-hole leader Michael Allen by four strokes entering the final round, but Allen faded to third place with a closing, even-par 70 to finish two back. Andrade started strong with approach shots close to the hole for birdies on Nos. 1 and 2, and played the first 13 holes in 6-under to take the lead. A bogey on the par-5 15th dropped him into a tie. Andrade got a break on the par-3 17th when his approach took a good bounce off a rock behind the green and he made par. Then he made a 10-foot birdie putt on 18 for a 14-under 266 total. Langer had a chance to win with an 18-foot eagle putt on the finishing hole, but it lipped out and he settled for a tying birdie and a 67. In any case, Langer already had the season-long Charles Schwab Cup title wrapped up for the second straight year. “I was thinking when I was driving to the 18th tee [for the playoff] that Bernhard won the Schwab Cup, you know? He doesn’t need to win this tournament as well. Maybe it should be my turn,” said Andrade. It was Andrade’s turn, as the 51-year-old two-putted from the fringe for a birdie on the first extra hole, while Langer failed to get up and down from greenside rough. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016, Part 2
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THE LAST WORD
DAY TIME
Jason Day enjoyed his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard with the tournament host (left) and his family.
Backing up a five-win season— that included his first major triumph—with three impressive victories so far this year, Aussie Jason Day keeps the hits coming By Bill Fields
A
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Jordan Spieth. With the victory Day became just the fourth Australian male to win a major title in the last two decades, joining Steve Elkington (1995 PGA Championship), Geoff Ogilvy (2006 U.S. Open) and Adam Scott (2013 Masters). With a wire-to-wire win at THE PLAYERS Championship in early May, Day joined countrymen Norman, Elkington and Scott as winners at TPC Sawgrass. More big titles seem likely, so complete is Day’s game and intense his drive to be the best. Whatever his achievements at the end line of his career, that Day even arrived at golf’s top echelon will trump the arithmetic of tournaments won or lost. A lot of cards were stacked against Day when he was a child, foremost an abusive father who died when Jason was 12. But thanks to the devotedly guiding hands of two people in particular—his mother, Dening, as Karen Crouse deftly chronicled in a story in The New York Times this spring, and his mentor/coach/caddie Colin Swatton—Day emerged from the strife on a path toward better things. No champion’s avenue to success is without a pot hole or two, but Day could easily have headed down a dead end early. He is on a much different route now, with plenty of people rooting him on.
With abundant power and touch, Jason Day has a potent mix of skills.
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES
ustralia has a rich golf heritage. If your knowledge of Down Under Wonders begins with Greg Norman’s star turn during the 1980s and 1990s, poke around for a while on the Internet in search of Peter Thomson. You will discover a five-time winner of The Open Championship—three straight titles during the mid-1950s—and one of golf’s most stylish swingers. Jason Day is no Thomson or Norman (two Open Championships among scads of worldwide wins) yet, but at age 28, after a blockbuster last season and a fine start to the current one, he is gaining on them. As spring moved toward summer, Day was back to being No. 1 in the world, a perch Norman knew well during his prime, thanks to a powerful game that very much recalls the Shark’s or a dominant Tiger Woods. Day won his eighth and ninth career PGA TOUR victories in consecutive weeks in March, taking the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard and World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play. He prevailed in the latter despite a lower-back problem that flared up during his first match and caused him to receive extensive therapy the rest of the week in order to keep playing. “I just want to win,” Day told reporters. “I wanted to win so bad that I felt with how I was playing, if I kept playing the way I was doing, I would be holding the trophy at the end of the week. That’s what kept me going.” It was the same type of grit Day displayed last June in the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay, where he collapsed at the end of the second round because of vertigo but teed off on Saturday and had a share of the 54-hole lead en route to a T9 finish. At The Open Championship a month later, Day finished one stroke out of a playoff, the sixth time he had finished in the top 5 of a major without winning. He solved that puzzle in the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, where, piping long drives, he finished at a record 20 under par to win a major in his 20th attempt by three shots over
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Matt Kuchar Class of 2006
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