Official PGA TOUR Essential Guide to Golf 2018 Part 1 by Magazine

November 2017 - May 2018

O F F I C I A L

PGA TOUR

Tour leaders, 2017

ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO GOLF

BERNHARD LANGER PGA TOUR Champions

FEDEXCUP CHAMPION

CHESSON HADLEY Web.com Tour

HOW JUSTIN THOMAS WON

2018 NEW SEASON OF DRAMA FedExCup Charles Schwab Cup Web.com Tour

JOSÉ DE JESÚS RODRÍGUEZ PGA TOUR Latinoamérica

OVERVIEWS PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada PGA TOUR-China PGA TOUR LIVE

KRAMER HICKOK Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada

INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVE Stewart Cink on life and golf

NEW GENERATION PLAYERS • GOLF & TRAVEL CHOICES • PRESIDENTS CUP REVIEW • GOLF HEALTH & FITNESS

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cOmmISSIONER’S mESSAGE

A Welcome messAge

image: geTTY imageS

ountless times during the PGA TOUR season I catch myself marveling at how the competitive balance of our game is flavored like no other sport. One such example arrived in early November with a three-way playoff at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. While Patrick Cantlay and Whee Kim are the same age, 25, they grew up on different sides of the globe. Then there was Alex Cejka, 46, who turned professional before his opponents were born and whose passion for golf somehow rose from the anguish of being a refugee from communist Czechoslovakia at the age of 9. There was nothing that these three playoff contenders had in common—

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except for their passion for golf. It is a game that holds a magical appeal over us, and as we watched the 2016-17 PGA TOUR season play out and segue into 2017-18, what resonated once again is the way golf translates beautifully across a multitude of cultures and age groups. Twenty-four-year-old Justin Thomas won the FedExCup and Player of the Year honors, but it was Xander Schauffele, who at 23 became the youngest winner of the season-ending TOUR Championship en route to PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year honors. With a mother who is from Taiwan but was raised in Japan, and a father who was a world-class German decathlete, Schauffele mirrors today’s PGA TOUR.

He cherishes his diverse ethnicity and embraces the global reach that the PGA TOUR provides. So, it was no surprise that Schauffele joined a healthy list of other PGA TOUR stars for a three-week swing through Malaysia, South Korea and China as the new season was promptly blanketed with an international flair. Invigorating, all of this, and it is my belief that we’ll continue to see astounding play on the course, while our players connect with our fans like never before. So continue to sit back and enjoy, but I promise, we’re working to make it better than ever. ■ Jay Monahan, PGA TOUR Commissioner PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

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PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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THOSE ROUNDS

WON’T PAY

FOR THEMSELVES. Switch to GEICO and save money for the things you love. Maybe it’s getting that amazing tee time. Or the hundreds of balls that you’ve lost over the years. Golf is what you love – and it doesn’t come cheap. So switch to GEICO, because you could save 15% or more on car insurance. And that would help make the things you love that much easier to get.

Auto • Home • Rent • Cycle • Boat geico.com | 1-800-947-AUTO (2886) | local office Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Homeowners and renters coverages are written through non-affiliated insurance companies and are secured through the GEICO Insurance Agency, Inc. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. Motorcycle and ATV coverages are underwritten by GEICO Indemnity Company. Motorcycle insurance is not available in all states. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2017 GEICO

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CONTENTS

Essential Guide

CONTENTS

Jordan Spieth Justin Thomas

Dustin Johnson

INTRODUCTIONS 9

Commissioner’s Welcome, Jay Monahan

Editor’s Welcome, Bill Fields

FEATURES 25 Tournament Schedules 28 FedExCup Review: Twin Peaks

In the season-ending TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club, Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele reached new heights with Thomas becoming FedExCup champion and Schauffele being the first rookie to win the tournament

48 Plenty of Golf Left

Stewart Cink—dedicated family man, major champion and 2017 winner of the Payne Stewart Award presented by the Southern Company—shares his fondest golf memory and how his wife’s illness led him to fight harder for his career

52 Standing Out

The 2016-17 PGA TOUR schedule wasn’t short on drama. Four writers reflect on special moments that stuck with them from a memorable season

59 The International Tours

Amid strenuous efforts to advance the professional game worldwide, a re-established PGA TOUR-China underlines the significant progress being made

66 Tech Innovation on the PGA TOUR

The PGA TOUR Labs program was born out of a desire to build products and services that enhance the fan experience using Design Thinking principles

33 Impressive Display

IMAGES: US PGA TOUR; GETTY IMAGES

A determined International team rallied in singles, but the United States had built up a commanding lead going into the final day en route to its seventh straight victory in the biennial Presidents Cup

37 Plot Twist

Avoiding Injury Although golf is a low-risk sport, the length of time golfers spend repeating the same powerful movements means there are a number of injuries that can be caused

Bernhard Langer was poised for his fourth straight Charles Schwab Cup victory, but Kevin Sutherland outplayed him at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship to win the seasonending event and the points race

76 Roaring Twenties

Stepping Stone

83 Golf Adventures

For nearly three decades the Web.com Tour has provided rising stars and seasoned veterans an opportunity to achieve their ultimate golf goal of making it to the PGA TOUR

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Well-traveled and battle-tested, this group of PGA TOUR players under age 30 is poised to make noise in 2017-18

In our regular travel section, we visit some familiar and some not-so-familiar destinations that will deliver a memorable experience, always with golf in mind PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

19/12/2017 12:18

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contents

Welcome

111

Bill Fields, Editor Fairfield, Conn.

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Our occasional series continues with a look at some of the PGA TOUR players who make a commitment to the many charities that benefit from their individual support

ToURNAmeNTS: THe NeW SeASoN 2017-18

from thE Editor

Golf scarcely pauses these days, which is good news for fans who love to follow the sport. As we were putting together this edition of the PGA TOUR Essential Guide, part of which focuses on how the PGA TOUR’s 2016-17 season finished up, the 2017-18 season was getting started. In what certainly wasn’t a surprise, one of the early winners on the 2017-18 schedule was Justin Thomas, who is coming off a spectacular season capped by becoming FedExCup champion in September. The Essential Guide always looks in two directions—to what has happened and what is about to on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions and Web.com Tour—and this edition is no exception. There is much to savor about the 2016-17 season, starting with Thomas, who established himself among the top of the pack of precocious young TOUR players with a year he’ll never forget. Thomas earned three victories in his first five starts, his explosiveness highlighted by a first-round 59 at the Sony Open in Hawaii as he became the youngest player (23 years, 8 months, 14 days) to record a sub-60 score on the PGA TOUR. His 253 total for 72 holes also set a TOUR mark. Thomas’ hot start would have been a fine season by itself, but he was far from done. He picked up his first major victory in August at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club then captured the FedExCup, edging Jordan Spieth and TOUR Championship winner Xander Schauffele. I examine the TOUR’s youth movement in The Last Word (page 225), but if you want a snapshot look no further than the fact that the top three finishers in the 2016-17 FedExCup were members of the high school class of 2011. Look around the golf landscape, though, and you see another bit of the sport’s beauty in the form of 60-year-old Bernhard Langer, who had a wonderful year on PGA TOUR Champions (see page 37) and shows no signs of slowing down. The first half of the TOUR season figures to be an exciting one, and we hope the Essential Guide helps you enjoy it.

these Guys Are Good

115

the New Season highlights

PGA ToUR eVeNTS 2017 116 118

Safeway open Silverado Resort and Spa, Napa, Calif., October 5-8

CimB Classic TPC Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 12-15

120

thE CJ CUP @ NiNE BridGES

122

Sanderson farms Championship

124

World Golf Championships-hSBC Champions

The Club at Nine Bridges, Yeoju-gun, South Korea, October 19-22

Country Club of Jackson, Jackson, Miss., October 26-29

Sheshan International Golf Club, Shanghai, China, October 26-29

128

Shriners hospitals for Children open

130

ohL Classic at mayakoba

132

the rSm Classic

TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nev., November 2-5

El Camaleón Golf Club at the Mayakoba Resort, Playa del Carmen, Mexico, November 9-12

Sea Island Resort (Seaside Course, Plantation Course), Sea Island, Ga., November 16-19

2018 135 138

Sentry tournament of Champions Kapalua Resort (The Plantation Course), Kapalua, Hawaii, January 3-7

Sony open in hawaii Waialae Country Club, Honolulu, Hawaii, January 11-14 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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Clubwear by Christine Storm

“Play well, Look Amazing!”

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CONTENTS

Tony Finau Si Woo Kim

140 142 144 146

148 151 154

CareerBuilder Challenge PGA WEST (Stadium Course, Nicklaus Tournament Course), La Quinta CC, La Quinta, Calif., January 18-21

Farmers Insurance Open Torrey Pines Golf Course (South and North), San Diego, Calif., January 25-28

Waste Management Phoenix Open TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course), Scottsdale, Ariz., February 1-4

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Shore Course), Pebble Beach, Calif., February 8-11

160

Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, Calif., February 15-18

The Honda Classic PGA National Resort & Spa (The Champion Course), Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., February 22-25

World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship Valspar Championship Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club (Copperhead Course), Palm Harbor, Fla., March 8-11

Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Fla., March 15-18

162

Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship Puntacana Resort & Club (Corales Course), Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, March 22-25

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164

World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play Austin Country Club, Austin, Tex., March 21-25

168

Puerto Rico Open

171

Houston Open

175

Masters Tournament

178

RBC Heritage

180

Valero Texas Open

182

Zurich Classic of New Orleans

184

Wells Fargo Championship

186

THE PLAYERS Championship

190

AT&T Byron Nelson

193

DEAN & DELUCA Invitational

Genesis Open

Club de Golf Chapultepec, Mexico City, Mexico, March 1-4

158

Sergio Garcia

Jon Rahm

Coco Beach Golf Club, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, March 1-4

Golf Club of Houston (Tournament Course), Humble, Tex., March 29-April 1

Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Ga., April 5-8

Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island, S.C., April 12-15

TPC San Antonio (AT&T Oaks), San Antonio, Tex., April 19-22

TPC Louisiana, Avondale, La., April 26-29

Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, N.C., May 3-6

TPC Sawgrass (THE PLAYERS Stadium Course), Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., May 10-13

Trinity Forest Golf Club, Dallas, Tex., May 17-20

Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Tex., May 24-27

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

19/12/2017 12:18

CONTENTS Bernhard Langer

Fred Couples

Publisher & CEO Kevin J. Harrington Managing Editor Charles Ford Editor Bill Fields Tournament Editor David Barrett

196 the Memorial Tournament 202 Cologuard Classic presented by Nationwide

Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, Ohio, May 31-June 3

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS 2017 198 SAS Championship

Prestonwood Country Club, Cary, N.C., October 13-15

198 Dominion Energy Charity Classic

The Country Club of Virginia, Richmond, Va., October 20-22

199 PowerShares QQQ Championship

Sherwood Country Club, Thousand Oaks, Calif., October 27-29

199 Charles Schwab Cup Championship

Phoenix Country Club, Phoenix, Ariz., November 10-12

2018 200 Mitsubishi Electric

Championship at Hualalai Hualalai Golf Course, Ka’upulehuKona, Hawaii, January 18-20

200 Boca Raton Championship The Old Course at Broken Sound, Boca Raton, Fla., January 9-11

202 Chubb Classic

The TwinEagles Club, Naples, Fla., February 16-18

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Omni Tucson National Resort (The Catalina Course), Tucson, Ariz., March 2-4

203 Toshiba Classic

Newport Beach Country Club, Newport Beach, Calif., March 9-11

203 Rapiscan Systems Classic

Fallen Oak, Biloxi, Miss., March 19-25

204 Mitsubishi Electric Classic

TPC Sugarloaf, Duluth, Ga., April 13-15

204 Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge

Big Cedar Lodge (Top of the Rock, Buffalo Ridge Springs Course), Ridgedale, Mo., April 20-22

207 Insperity Invitational

The Woodlands Country Club, The Woodlands, Tex., May 4-6

207 Regions Tradition

Greystone Golf & Country Club (Founders Course), Birmingham, Ala., May 17-20

Sub Editor Annalisa D’Alessio Art Editor Friyan Mehta Production Director Joanna Harrington Production & Administration Adam Linard-Stevens Official PGA TOUR Essential Guide 2017/2018, Part 1 is published by BH Sports under license from PGA TOUR, Inc. Tel: (312) 572 7728 Email: tourgolf@bhsports.net © BH Sports, 2017-18. All rights reserved. All material in the Official PGA TOUR Essential Guide, 2017/2018, Part 1 is wholly copyrighted, and reproduction, without the written permission of the Publisher, is strictly forbidden. The information in this publication is carefully researched and produced in good faith, however, neither the Publisher nor the Editor can accept responsibility for any errors. Printed in the USA PUBLISHER’S ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Special thanks to the following at PGA TOUR: Chris Smith, Senior Director of Corporate Communications; Mark Stevens, Senior Manager of Communications; Kristen Fuller, Director, Licensing & New Ventures; Kathie McCarthy, Specialist, Licensing & New Ventures. IMAGES The montage images on pp.10, 11 show the fun and excitement of the Presidents Cup at Liberty National in October 2017. Top center is Steve Stricker, Captain of the U.S. Team, his wife Nicki (R) and daughters Bobbi Maria (L) and Isabella (2nd R) as they pose with the trophy after the U.S. Team defeated the International Team 19 to 11 (for a full report, see also pp.33, 34.

208 KitchenAid Senior PGA

November 2017 - May 2018

Championship

The Golf Club at Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor, Mich., May 24-27

LAST WORD 209 Their Future is Now

A record season of success by PGA TOUR players in their 20s shows how the game has changed

O F F I C I A L

PGA TOUR

Tour leaders, 2017

ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO GOLF

BERNHARD LANGER PGA TOUR Champions

FEDEXCUP CHAMPION

CHESSON HADLEY Web.com Tour

HOW JUSTIN THOMAS WON

2018 NEW SEASON OF DRAMA FedExCup Charles Schwab Cup Web.com Tour

JOSÉ DE JESÚS RODRÍGUEZ PGA TOUR Latinoamérica

OVERVIEWS PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada PGA TOUR-China PGA TOUR LIVE

KRAMER HICKOK Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada

INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVE Stewart Cink on life and golf

NEW GENERATION PLAYERS • GOLF & TRAVEL CHOICES • PRESIDENTS CUP REVIEW • GOLF HEALTH & FITNESS

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COVER: Official PGA TOUR Essential Guide 2017/2018, Pt 1

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power through your workout Find out how the polyphenols found in pomegranate juice may help fuel your exercise goals. Exciting research examined the potential impact of 100% pomegranate juice on postworkout muscle strength.

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POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice is known for its polyphenol antioxidants. An in vitro study at UCLA found that each serving has more antioxidant capacity, on average, than red wine and green tea. Every athlete should stock the fridge with POM. DRINK POM AND CARRY ON, AND ON, AND ON. A 2011 study conducted at UT at Austin on 17 athletic men found preliminary but promising results for muscle strength. Those who drank two servings (about 8oz each) of pomegranate juice per day for about two weeks maintained more of their post-exercise arm strength versus the placebo group. The men followed their normal diet and weight-training routine. On the eighth day, the men completed specific strength exercises at maximum capacity, and drank an additional serving of pomegranate juice immediately after exercising. A similar trend was seen in the knee though it did not reach statistical significance.

In a preliminary 2014 UT study on 45 recreationally active young men, the postexercise arm and leg strength was significantly higher in men drinking 8oz of pomegranate juice daily compared to the placebo group. ANTIOXIDANT Potency Index 100

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Contains 4x the antioxidants, on average, of green tea. On day four of the eight-day trial, they completed a defined exercise regimen, and isometric muscle strength in the arm and leg was measured over the following four days. Although the research reported is promising, additional clinical research is needed to establish causation and the potential impact of pomegranate polyphenols on exercise. And if all that isn’t enough, POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice is a good source of potassium, an electrolyte key to muscle function—which makes POM the new top banana. Begin your daily workout with a bottle of POM today.

Pick up POM in the produce section of your store or order now from Amazon.

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Behind the Folds FINDING TRIUMPH IN TRAGEDY

Honoring the Sacrifice of our American Heroes Folds of Honor, a non-proďŹ t organization, helps provide educational scholarships for the children and spouses of fallen and disabled armed forces.

W W W. F O L D S O F H O N O R . O R G Folds of Honor.indd 1

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The Story Behind the Folds of Honor Foundation On June 8th, 2007, Grand Haven Golf Club in Michigan, a public golf club held what would become the very ﬁrst event for Folds of Honor. It had a singular mission: to raise educational funds to beneﬁt a child of a fallen military hero who had been killed serving our country. There were no major sponsors, no national television coverage, no celebrities at the event, no large checks.

“On a flight home from my second tour of duty, I witnessed the other side of war. Watching a young boy watch his father’s flag draped coffin inch across the cargo ramp, it was then I realized the currency of freedom was sacrifice.” - Major Dan Rooney, Founder.

“ T HE C U R R E NCY OF F R E E DO M I S SAC R I F I C E ”

Since that fateful day, Folds of Honor has done more than just become a mission. Rallying like-minded Americans to champion the cause and generously contribute to those families sacrificing much for the blanket of freedom we rest under each night. This cause has become a movement; awarding over 12,000 educational Inspired by an example of sacrifice and being a fa- scholarships. Ultimately giving recipients hope ther to five daughters, Major Dan Rooney, founded and the opportunity to live the very future their the Folds of Honor. Folds of Honor is a nonprofit service-member fought to secure. organization providing educational scholarships to the children and spouses of our fallen and dis“We believe the story of our mission amplifies abled military servicemen and women. the American anthem through every family we support. Our goal is to not only honor the sacriThere are more than 1 million dependents fice, but to inspire patriotism, becoming the hand of a grateful nation.” - Major Dan Rooney adversely affected by war.

To learn more about Folds of Honor, go to FOLDSOFHONOR.ORG

Patriot Golf Day Since 2007, Patriot Golf Day has been the centerpiece of Folds has been the centerpiece of of Honor and continually stands out Folds of Honor and continually as our number onenumber sourceone of revstands out as our enue. to shoulder, sourceShoulder of revenue. ShoulderPGA to Tour players, PGA Professionals, shoulder, professional golfers alongside committed patriots across America help raise money for military familiesfamilies through the money for military game of the golf.game Join us. - Join through of golf. www.patriogolfday.org us - www.patriotgolfday.org

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The new virtual reality golf trainer from Águila Golf will improve your MENTAL GAME and overall ability

are presented with “real life” vchallenges that require you to make decisions, after which you receive immediate feedback regarding strokes gained or lost, along with explanations of the

What is your mindset when

VR in golf. Thinking about the

you step out to win a major

mental side of the game, I felt

tournament or a weekend club

that virtual reality coaching could

game?

actually work for players at all

The stats show that of all aspects

This intriguing question has

levels who are aiming to improve

in golf, many struggle with the

received less attention than it

their decision making on the

mental side of the game—in

deserves—until Mason Eckley,

course.”

particular, how to make better

a computer science major and club golfer at the University of South Carolina, came up with his innovative virtual reality golf trainer “the MENTAL GAME” from Águila Golf. Ingenious

Tracking improvement When using the Águila virtual reality trainer, the golfer is immersed in a 360° learning environment, facing oncourse situations that give the opportunity to improve strokes

“This golf trainer is the first of

through accurate shot assessment.

its kind—a virtual reality mental

The golfer can actually visualize

game trainer to improve the side

the shot before making it and

of golf that’s often ignored,” says

experience the result without ever

inventor and company founder

taking a swing.

Mason Eckley, who goes on to

For example, if the golfer wants

explain that “when working with

to work on approach shots with

virtual reality technologies, I was

water left and bunkers short, then

in my basement hitting into a

this new system will present the

net when I started considering if

golfer with all the situations that

there were any applications for

match the criteria. The situations

THE

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correct shot for your handicap. Outstanding technology

decisions and how to reduce stress. Tackling the problem,

Versatile functions All functions can be performed on your smart phone or can be used in the VR headset using “gaze controls” whereby you simply focus your eyes on the menu selection you wish to select. Águila’s “the MENTAL GAME” is an immersive system presenting the passionate golfer with strokes gained specific statistics, visualization training, lessons, as well as rules of the game, Did You Know factoids, and much more.

Águila has produced a first-of-its-

• At the PGA Merchandise Show

kind technology for merging both

earlier this year, Águila’s “the

the mental and physical aspects

MENTAL GAME,” caught the

of golf to drive performance.

attention of both public and

By using the VR headset or the

media, with Golf Digest picking

Águila Golf app, the system

Águila’s “the MENTAL GAME”

tracks your historical performance

as “Best of the 2017 PGA

and provides trending of

Merchandise Show.”

improvement. One of the most important features of the VR Training Experience is the ability it gives you to see the shot you selected and train your brain to visualize the shot, thus helping you to

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SCHEDULES 2016/2017 SCHEDULES 2017/2018

IMAGES: PUNTACANA RESORT AND CLUB IMAGES: CORALES US PGA TOUR

PGA TOURÂ® 2017/2018 DATE

TOURNAMENT/TELEVISION

GOLF COURSE

LOCATION

OCT 5-8

Safeway Open Golf, LIVE, Radio

Silverado Resort and Spa (North)

Napa, CA

12-15

CIMB Classic Golf

TPC Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

19-22

THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES

Nine Bridges

Jeju Island, KOREA

26-29

Sanderson Farms Championship Golf, Radio

Country Club of Jackson

Jackson, MS

26-29

World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions Golf

Sheshan International Golf Club

Shanghai, CHINA

NOV 2-5

Shriners Hospitals for Children Open Golf, Radio

TPC Summerlin

Las Vegas, NV

9-12

OHL Classic at Mayakoba Golf, Radio

El Camaleon Golf Club

Playa del Carmen, MEXICO

16-19

The RSM Classic Golf, Radio

Sea Island Resort (Seaside, Plantation)

Sea Island, GA

JAN 4-7

Sentry Tournament of Champions Golf, Radio

Kapalua Resort (Plantation)

Maui, HI

11-14

Sony Open in Hawaii Golf, Radio

Waialae Country Club

Honolulu, HI

18-21

CareerBuilder Challenge Golf, LIVE, Radio

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

La Quinta, CA

25-28

Farmers Insurance Open Golf, CBS, LIVE, Radio

Torrey Pines Golf Club (South, North)

San Diego, CA

FEB 1-4

Waste Management Phoenix Open Golf, CBS, LIVE, Radio

TPC Scottsdale (Stadium)

Scottsdale, AZ

8-11

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Golf, CBS, LIVE, Radio

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

Pebble Beach, CA

15-18

Genesis Open Golf, CBS, LIVE, Radio

Riviera Country Club

Pacific Palisades, CA

22-25

The Honda Classic Golf, CBS, LIVE, Radio

PGA National (The Champion)

Palm Beach Gardens, FL

MAR 1-4

Puerto Rico Open Golf

Coco Beach Golf Club

Rio Grande, PUERTO RICO

1-4

World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship Golf, NBC, LIVE, Radio

Club de Golf Chapultepec

Mexico City, MEXICO

8-11

Valspar Championship Golf, NBC, LIVE, Radio

Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club (Copperhead)

Palm Harbor, FL

15-18

Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard Golf, NBC, LIVE, Radio

Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Orlando, FL

21-25

World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play Golf, NBC, LIVE, Radio

Austin Country Club

Austin, TX

22-25

Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship Golf

Corales Puntacana Resort and Club

Punta Cana, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Mar 29APR 1

Houston Open Golf, NBC, LIVE, Radio

Golf Club of Houston (Tournament)

Humble, TX

5-8

Masters Tournament ESPN, CBS

Augusta National Golf Club

Augusta, GA

12-15

RBC Heritage Golf, CBS, LIVE, Radio

Harbour Town Golf Links

Hilton Head, SC

19-22

Valero Texas Open Golf, CBS, LIVE, Radio

TPC San Antonio (AT&T Oaks)

San Antonio, TX

26-29

Zurich Classic of New Orleans Golf, CBS, LIVE, Radio

TPC Louisiana

Avondale, LA

MAY 3-6

Wells Fargo Championship Golf, CBS, LIVE, Radio

Quail Hollow Club

Charlotte, NC

10-13

THE PLAYERS Championship Golf, NBC, LIVE, Radio

TPC Sawgrass (THE PLAYERS Stadium)

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

17-20

AT&T Byron Nelson Golf, CBS, LIVE, Radio

Trinity Forest Golf Club

Dallas, TX

24-27

DEAN & DELUCA Invitational Golf, CBS, LIVE, Radio

Colonial Country Club

Fort Worth, TX

MAY 31-JUN 3

the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Golf, CBS, LIVE, Radio

Muirfield Village Golf Club

Dublin, OH

KEY Golf Channel - Golf | W W W.P GAT OUR.COM

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PGA TOUR LIVE - LIVE

PGA TOUR Radio - Radio PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, 2016/2017, Part 1

19/12/2017 12:39

SCHEDULES 2017/2018

PGA TOUR ChAmPiOns® 2018 DATE

TOURNAMENT/TELEVISION

GOLF COURSE

LOCATION

JAN 18-20

Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai Golf

Hualalai Golf Course

Ka’upulehu-Kona, HI

FEB 9-11

Boca Raton Championship Golf

The Old Course at Broken Sound

Boca Raton, FL

16-18

Chubb Classic Golf

The TwinEagles Club (Talon)

Naples, FL

MAR 2-4

Cologuard Classic Golf

Omni Tucson National (Catalina)

Tucson, AZ

9-11

Toshiba Classic Golf

Newport Beach Country Club

Newport Beach, CA

19-25

Rapiscan Systems Classic Golf

Fallen Oak

Biloxi, MS

APR 13-15

Mitsubishi Electric Classic Golf

TPC Sugarloaf

Duluth, GA

20-22

Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge Golf

Big Cedar Lodge (Top of the Rock, Mountain Top, Buffalo Ridge Springs Course)

Ridgedale, MO

MAY 4-6

Insperity Invitational Golf

The Woodlands Country Club (Tournament)

The Woodlands, TX

17-20

Regions Tradition Golf

Greystone Golf & Country Club (Founders)

Birmingham, AL

24-27

KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship Golf, NBC

Harbor Shores

Benton Harbor, MI

WEB.COm TOUR 2018

TOURNAMENT/TELEVISION

GOLF COURSE

LOCATION

JAN 13-16

The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay Golf

Sandals Emerald Bay (Emerald Reef)

Great Exuma, BAHAMAS

21-24

The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club Golf

The Abaco Club on Winding Bay

Great Abaco, BAHAMAS

FEB 1-4

Panama Championship

Club de Golf de Panamá

Panama City, PANAMA

8-11

Club Colombia Championship

Country Club de Bogotá

Bogotá, COLOMBIA

MAR 8-11

El Bosque Mexico Championship by INNOVA

El Bosque Country Club

Leon, Guanajuato, MEXICO

22-25

Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by NACHER

Le Triomphe Golf &Country Club

Broussard, LA

28-1

Savannah Golf Championship

The Landings Club (Deer Creek)

Savannah, GA

APR 19-22

North Mississippi Classic

Country Club of Oxford

Oxford, MS

26-29

United Leasing & Finance Championship Golf

Victoria National Golf Club

Newburgh, IN

MAY 10-13

Knoxville Open

Fox Den Country Club

Knoxville, TN

17-20

BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation Golf

Thornblade Club, The Preserve at Greenville, SC Verdae, Furman University Golf Club

24-27

Nashville Golf Open benefitting the Snedeker Foundation

Nashville Golf & Athletic Club

2017/2018, Part 1 PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2016/2017,

T6.Events Schedule.indd 26

images: corales puntacana resort and club

DATE

Brentwood, TN

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Spiked Seltzer.indd 1

22/11/2017 16:43

COVER STORY

TWIN PEAKS In the season-ending TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club, Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele reached new heights with Thomas becoming FedExCup champion and Schauffele being the first rookie to win the tournament By Bill Fields

Justin Thomas (left) and Xander Schauffele wrapped up great seasons by winning the FedExCup and TOUR Championship respectively. 28

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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COVER STORY

istory is plentiful at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Ga., in no small part because it was the golf home of Bobby Jones, the amateur legend who retired from competition when he was 28 because he had no worlds left to conquer after winning the Grand Slam in 1930 and dominating the sport for nearly a decade. It was fitting, then, that two of the best twentysomethings of the current era—a group that won in record numbers during the 2016-17 season—ruled at the 2017 TOUR Championship at East Lake. Justin Thomas, 24, and Xander Schauffele, 23, were the young men of the hour. It was the first time since 2009, when Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson reigned, that the winner of the FedExCup differed from the winner of the TOUR Championship. Although 2015 FedExCup champion Jordan Spieth arrived at the TOUR Championship No. 1 in the points standings, at the end of 72 holes it was his friend Justin Thomas who was on top. Thomas’ runner-up finish was good enough to move him from the No. 2 spot past Spieth, who tied for seventh in the event. Thomas got it done by shooting a final-round 66, and his FedExCup victory capped off a wonderful season in which he won five times. Three of those came early, with victories at the CIMB Classic, Sentry Tournament of Champions and the Sony Open in Hawaii. Then Thomas grabbed his first major title, the PGA Championship, and won the Dell Technologies Championship, the second event in the FedExCup Playoffs. When he showed up on Sunday at East Lake, Thomas knew a lot was on the line and felt the pressure, urging his veteran caddie, Jimmy Johnson, to help him through an important day. “I told Jimmy, ‘I’m nervous today, I’m anxious, I’m jittery,” Thomas said. “I told him I needed his help staying patient.” Thomas did that, and although he was disappointed he didn’t birdie the par-5 72nd hole after making two birdies in a row— Schauffele did, to finish at 12-under and beat Thomas by one—the Kentuckian who now lives in Florida walked away with the $10 million bonus. “It’s odd getting something so tremendous, one of my best achievements in my career without winning a golf tournament,” Thomas said. Spieth started the final round eight strokes behind 54-hole leader Paul Casey and tied for 13th but made a charge with a 67. Twice

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during the day he had the FedExCup points lead and was tied briefly with Thomas before his counterpart finished strong. “[He has] a tenacity, a confidence that takes experience in order to build and to have,” Spieth said of Thomas. “He has that confidence no matter what the stage is, no matter where he is.” The TOUR Championship concluded an exciting month of FedExCup Playoff events, with Dustin Johnson beating Spieth in a playoff at THE NORTHERN TRUST, Thomas taking the Dell Technologies Championship and Marc Leishman dominating the field in the BMW Championship. Schauffele, a TOUR rookie who won The Greenbrier Classic not long after being T5 in his first appearance at the U.S. Open, made an amazing run at the BMW Championship to qualify for the 30-man field at East Lake. Schauffele played his last six holes in 6-under at Conway Farms. At East Lake, particularly in the tournament’s latter stages, Schauffele played with the whatever-it-takes savvy of a more experienced golfer. Schauffele one-putted four straight greens starting at No. 11. He made a crucial par save on the 17th. On No. 18, he watched anxiously as his three-foot birdie for the win hit the left edge of the cup and looked as if it was going to lip out before falling. “I thought I missed it,” Schauffele said. “So to watch it do a little ring around the rosy and it ended up going to the bottom

Xander Schauffele and Justin Thomas shake hands during an on-air presentation on NBC Sports.

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

12/12/2017 14:21

COVER STORY

INNOVATIVE TEENS IMPRESS AT EAST LAKE

Former NFL star Hines Ward and Patrick Reed were judges for the FedEx Junior Achievement finale.

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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of the cup—I feel very fortunate because I thought I missed it initially.” The first rookie to win the TOUR Championship, Schauffele received a replica trophy of Jones’ famous “Calamity Jane” putter. “It’s a tremendous honor,” Schauffele told the media after winning. “I just feel very fortunate to even be here starting the week. I was just happy to walk around the property, with all the history, with everything going on, being one of the 30 guys in the field. I just felt lucky, and here I am talking to you, so I feel even luckier.” Schauffele’s victory moved him into the third spot on the FedExCup standings and firmly established him as one of the young stars of the day. “I’ve always been on the outside looking in,” Schauffele said. “You’ve got Justin, Jordan, Daniel Berger, Emiliano Grillo. Hideki [Matsuyama] is also young. Jon Rahm’s even younger than us. It’s kind of weird being in their company.” If he keeps playing like he did late in the 2016-17 season, Schauffele will get used to it. 

Xander Schauffele celebrates his victory by posing with a vintage Coca-Cola machine and the Calamity Jane trophy.

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR

Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele weren’t the only winners at the TOUR Championship. On Sept. 20 at East Lake Golf Club, teenagers from around the United States competed in the finals of the inaugural FedEx Junior Business Challenge held in conjunction with JA (Junior Achievement) Worldwide to help empower the next generation of entrepreneurs. Five JA student companies who advanced through qualifying events throughout 2016-17 PGA TOUR season pitched original businesses and were judged on presentation, content, visual aids and connectivity to either innovation, sustainability, job creation or trade. Lo-K8 from southwest New England won for its Bluetooth-enabled device that helps track small, commonly lost items such as keys, sunglasses and more, receiving a $75,000 donation from FedEx to support youth entrepreneurship. The judging panel included TOUR player Patrick Reed, former NFL and University of Georgia star Hines Ward, Director of Citizenship and Reputation Management for FedEx Jenny Roberts, owner of Dream Beard and FedEx Small Business Grant Recipient Ryan Lane and Vice President of Connections, Investments and Assets for The Coca-Cola Company Peggy Loos. “Small businesses and entrepreneurship are paramount to FedEx,” said Roberts. “The FedEx Junior Business Challenge has served as an incredible platform to showcase some of the brilliant minds that will make up the next generation of business leaders.” FedEx has donated more than $13 million to JA Worldwide since 1996. The FedEx Junior Business Challenge is part of the FedEx Cares global giving initiative, in which FedEx is investing $200 million in more than 200 communities by 2020 to create opportunities and deliver solutions for people around the world.

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Rolex FedEx.indd 1

19/10/2017 14:17

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05/12/2017 16:36

PRESIDENTS CUP

iMpressive display

IMAGEs: PGA TOUR; GETTy IMAGEs

By Dave Shedloski

omentum is a huge thing in golf, Nick Price said, and he should know because he saw how that tangible benefit came to bear on the outcome of the 12th Presidents Cup that concluded Oct. 1, 2017, at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J. With a victory over Europe the previous fall in the Ryder Cup and a collection of players performing at or near their peak, the United States was a “juggernaut” as International captain Price called it, and swept to an easier-than-expected 19-11 victory—the third-largest winning margin in the series.

their way. They played unbelievably well.” Just as they had been all year. The Americans arrived with three 2017 major champions—Brooks Koepka (U.S. Open), Jordan Spieth (The Open Championship) and Justin Thomas (FedExCup champion who won the PGA Championship)—and the No. 1 player in the world, Dustin Johnson. Only two members hadn’t won an event in 2017—captain’s picks Charley Hoffman and five-time major winner Phil Mickelson, who kept alive his streak of playing in every Presidents Cup.

Seven Straight winS Speaking of momentum, the Americans won for the seventh straight time and 10th overall compared to one loss and a tie, the latter coming in 2003, the last time they didn’t celebrate a victory. “It was just about getting out of their way and let them perform,” U.S. captain Steve Stricker said. “They came in here riding a ton of momentum and a ton of confidence. Put some good pairings together and get out of

talented dozen Price was feeling good about a talented dozen who had pushed the U.S. to the limit in South Korea two years earlier, falling a point short, but there was just no slowing down this American unit. So overwhelming was the United States in partner play that it led 14½ to 3½ through Saturday, requiring just one point out of 12 singles matches on Sunday to retain the Cup. Rookie Daniel Berger did the honors when he defeated Si Woo Kim, 2 and 1.

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The victorious American team led by captain Steve Stricker poses with the trophy after winning at Liberty National Golf Club.

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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PRESIDENTS CUP

“You dream of moments like this to be able to clinch the winning point for your American side,” Berger said, “but it was a team effort.” HigHligHts Dustin Johnson led the American side with a 4-0-1 record after halving his singles match with Branden Grace of South Africa, who had gone a perfect 5-0 in 2015 in Korea. Johnson became the 20th player in the event’s history to go unbeaten, pairing with Matt Kuchar for two foursomes wins and Koepka for a pair of four-ball victories. Mickelson was 3-0-1 for the week, the second straight time he went unbeaten— both as a captain’s pick no less—and the fourth time overall. His singles victory against Adam Hadwin, in his 100th match in the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup combined, was his 26th, a record for either team. “I’m just pleased to play well when Steve, and Jay [Haas] two years ago, went out on a limb and selected me,” Mickelson, 47, said. “These team events mean so much to me, and I think it comes out in my play.” Also unbeaten for the U.S. on the scenic venue overlooking New York Harbor and Manhattan were Rickie Fowler, 3-0-1, and rookie Kevin Kisner, who went 2-0-2, with two wins and a tie paired with Mickelson. Fowler posted the day’s biggest singles victory, 6 and 4, over International rookie Emiliano Grillo in the 30th and final match. Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth went 3-0-1 as a tandem, and improved to 8-2-2 overall in team competition. 34

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Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa led the International Team with 2½ points that included a 1-up singles win over Reed in a rematch of their 2015 match that they halved in South Korea. Oosthuizen’s win was part of a spirited rally the final day when the Internationals won the session 7½ to 4½, preventing the U.S. from being the first team to win all five sessions. Hard-fougHt singles While the outcome didn’t appear close on the big scoreboard, the contestants conceded that individual matches were hard fought. Time after time International pairs were able to take a lead only to see the Americans rally late and close out games. “When you look at their team, it didn’t come down to they weren’t better players. It came down to we played better at the right time,” Berger pointed out. “We won some important matches down the stretch that really made a big difference.” International veteran Adam Scott tried to put the week in perspective. “We struggled in the team aspect of the matches this week, but we also played maybe the most on-form United States Team that I can remember,” he said. “I think we went up against one of the best teams that’s been put forward, and I think we have to do even more [to prepare] before we play again in two years.” 

The 13th Presidents Cup is scheduled for Dec. 12-15, 2019 at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, the site of the only International win in 1998.

Dustin Johnson tees off on the 15th with the New York City skyline in the background. U.S. assistant captain Fred Couples throws shoes into the gallery around the first tee on the final day of competition.

“We struggled in the team aspect of the matches this week. But we also played maybe the most on-form United States Team that I can remember. I think we went up against one of the best teams that’s been put forward.” —Adam Scott, International Team w w w.p gat our.com

12/12/2017 14:20

THE ALL-NEW ALFA ROMEO STELVIO

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27/10/2017 11:25

Plot twist

PGA TOUR ChAmPiOns

Bernhard Langer was poised for his fourth straight Charles Schwab Cup victory, but Kevin Sutherland outplayed him at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship to win the season-ending event and the points race By Bill Fields

images: us pga tour; gettY images

y either calendar (15 years, 8 months, 19 days) or tournaments (341 starts), it had been a lengthy victory drought for Kevin Sutherland. As the 2017 PGA TOUR Champions schedule wrapped up in early November with the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Phoenix (Ariz.) Country Club, though, the story wasn’t about time but timing, and Sutherland’s was impeccable. The 53-year-old Californian picked the perfect place to win again, becoming only the third player to claim the Charles Schwab Cup Championship and the Charles Schwab Cup and its $1 million annuity in the same year, joining Tom Watson (2005) and Tom Lehman (2012). “It’s amazing,” said Sutherland, who last won the 2002 World Golf ChampionshipsDell Match Play. “The names on this trophy are incredible. To be on that list is just…I can’t

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even put words to it. It’s just amazing. I played really well all year, and I just couldn’t find a way to win. So to win this tournament, it’s unbelievable.” Bernard Langer arrived in Arizona as the man to beat, at age 60 looking to wrap up his best season on PGA TOUR Champions with his first win at the season finale. Victories in the first two Charles Schwab Cup Playoff events—Dominion Energy Charity Classic and PowerShares QQQ Championship—gave Langer a personal-best seven triumphs including three majors in 2017 for 36 career titles, the second-most in Tour history after Hale Irwin’s 45. But despite Langer’s outstanding record and his No. 1 standing, a points reset going into the Charles Schwab Cup Championship meant that he wasn’t the only player in control of his destiny. The rest of the top five also teed off at

The wait was worth it for Kevin Sutherland, whose first win in 15 years paid off handsomely.

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

venerable Phoenix Country Club knowing that a tournament victory would result in a Charles Schwab Cup title: Scott McCarron, who had three wins in 2017; Kenny Perry, 2013 Schwab Cup champion; Miguel Ángel Jiménez and Sutherland. Even though Sutherland was the only player in the top five without a victory, he was well positioned because of a remarkably steady season: 14 top-10s including three runner-up finishes in 22 starts. “I hit the ball consistently well all year,” said Sutherland, who led the Tour in Greens in Regulation Percentage. “It seems like when I get a chance to putt, I putt pretty well, I get a good chance to win. And I had a lot of good chances this year. I did putt well this year and sometimes down the stretch I missed some putts that I would like to have back.” That Sutherland has the potential to put all the pieces of the puzzle together has never been in doubt. As a PGA TOUR Champions rookie in 2014, Sutherland shot a 13-under 59 in the second round of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open as he became the first person to break 60 on the 50-and-older circuit. Sutherland went low in the second round at Phoenix Country Club too, an 8-under 63 putting him two strokes behind Paul Goydos going into the final round. Langer wasn’t in close striking distance, in T22 nine shots behind. Through 11 holes Sunday Langer was 7-under and mounting a charge, but was even par for the last seven holes en route to a T12 finish. “I actually played extremely well the whole day,” Langer said. “I had opportunities most of the back nine and the putts just wouldn’t go in—either I misread it or I hit one that looked absolutely perfect and didn’t break the way I thought it should.” With major champions Vijay Singh, Lee Janzen and John Daly applying pressure, Sutherland played boldly and without mistakes (his last 46 holes without making a bogey), shooting 66 to beat Singh and Janzen by one. “Sometimes in the past one reason why I maybe haven’t won more was I hadn’t been aggressive enough,” Sutherland said. “So I made a conscious effort that I was going to be aggressive today, and on the back nine, I was.” It was not only a victory a long time coming but also a popular one among Sutherland’s peers. “I had a bunch of guys come and give me a hug,” Sutherland said. “This tour is amazing—the camaraderie among the players is second to none, it really is. We are competitors, but it’s not life and death and we’re basically in this together.” On this Sunday evening, Sutherland stood apart, good things having come to a golfer whose wait ended in a special way.  38

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Tiffany & Co. master engraver Tim Murphy etches Kevin Sutherland’s name on the Schwab Cup.

Despite coming up short in Phoenix, Bernhard Langer’s drive to succeed led to a personal-best seven victories in 2017.

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12/12/2017 14:23

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02/11/2017 16:38

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09/10/2017 16:26

web.com tour

Stepping Stone For nearly three decades the Web.com Tour has provided rising stars and seasoned veterans an opportunity to achieve their ultimate golf goal of making it to the PGA TOUR By Kevin Prise

anto Griffin estimated he was more than $10,000 in debt when he teed it up at the Web.com Tour’s 2017 Nashville Golf Open Benefitting the Snedeker Foundation. The 29-year-old’s golf dreams had been hanging by a thread for a few years, his quest for a PGA TOUR card fueled by a supportive group of sponsors and a tireless work ethic that encouraged those supporters to believe in him. After making the cut on the number at Nashville Golf & Athletic Club, Griffin produced the highlight of his seven-year professional career, shooting weekend rounds of 62-68 to earn a spot in a playoff with

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Abraham Ancer, then winning with a twilight playoff birdie. During a rain delay midway through the final round, Griffin admitted to being okay with the possibility of finishing in second place, a result that would have secured his Web.com Tour status for another year. “It would let me keep me job,” he said. The Virginia Commonwealth alum did one better and, coupled with a string of high finishes later in the season, was able to secure a spot in The 25 on the Regular Season money list and his first PGA TOUR card. “I’ve played a lot of golf,” Griffin said this fall after securing his spot in The 25. “You

Chesson Hadley had a banner season on the Web.com Tour in 2017, winning The 25 and The Finals 25 while playing his way back to the PGA TOUR.

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

12/12/2017 14:25

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web.com tour

put so much work into it for so many years; it kind of feels like it’s all worth it. Whatever happens, if I’m on TOUR for one year, 10 years, 20 years, it’s still something that at the end of my life, I’ll be able to look back and say I was on the PGA TOUR.” Griffin captures the sentiment that makes the Web.com Tour one of the most meaningful and interesting landscapes in sports. Year after year the Tour provides players a platform to chase the ultimate golf goal: playing on the PGA TOUR in front of the biggest crowds, on the best courses, for the most lucrative purses. The 2017 Web.com Tour started at The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay, culminated at the Web.com Tour Championship in Atlantic Beach, Fla., and featured a 22-event Regular Season plus the four-event Web.com Tour Finals. The goal is to finish inside the top 25 on the Regular Season money list (The 25) to earn a TOUR card. For players who finish between Nos. 26-75, a second chance remains via the Finals, which comprises the top 75 players on the Web.com Tour money list and finishers Nos. 126-200 in the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup standings, with another 25 cards available via the Finals (players inside The 25 compete in the Finals to improve their position in the TOUR’s Priority Ranking). The Web.com Tour is known as a melting pot of young up-and-coming players and seasoned veterans who duke it out in a chase for TOUR cards, and this season was no exception. Rising stars making a quick impact after college include Oregon’s Aaron Wise, Texas’ Beau Hossler and Alabama’s Tom Lovelady. Wise, who captured the 2016 NCAA individual title as a Duck, entered the season with conditional status after finishing fourth on last season’s Mackenzie Tour—PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit. The 21-year-old South Africa native made the most of early opportunities, notably a third-place finish at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by NACHER in late March, and won the Air Capital Classic in June to secure his spot in The 25. Hossler, who has already competed in three U.S. Opens, entered the season with no status after recovering from a shoulder injury throughout the latter part of 2016. That quickly changed when he Monday-qualified for the Air Capital Classic and finished

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runner-up. The California native took a major step toward The 25 with another runner-up at the LECOM Health Challenge in July, then secured his spot after a tense weekend at the Regular Season-ending WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by Kraft-Heinz. Lovelady, a member of two Crimson Tide national championship teams, secured his card with a third-place finish at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship at Ohio State University Golf Club’s Scarlet Course, after a steady Regular Season in his rookie campaign. The Alabama native will join roommates Justin Thomas and Bud Cauley on TOUR. Veterans to earn PGA TOUR return trips via the 2017 Web.com Tour include South Carolina alum Kyle Thompson, Georgia Tech alum Chesson Hadley and Missouri Western State alum Brice Garnett. Hadley, a two-time Web.com Tour winner in 2017, won both The 25 and The Finals 25, securing fully exempt TOUR status for 2017-18 and a spot in the 2018 PLAYERS Championship. 

Tom Lovelady, a member of two NCAA title teams at Alabama, was one of several players to make a quick, successful transition to the pro game.

After much striving, Lanto Griffin’s dream of making the PGA TOUR came true thanks to clutch play on the Web.com Tour in 2017.

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WEB.COM TOUR

The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay The 2017 field was greeted by sustained 40-mph winds for the opening round of the inaugural Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay, producing some of the most demanding conditions on any Tour in recent memory and a scoring average in the 80s. Conditions softened as the week progressed, and players enjoyed the beautiful setting at Sandals Emerald Bay, with Atlantic Ocean views on several holes. Veteran Kyle Thompson survived the test with an even-par 72-hole total, kick-starting a season that saw him finish inside The 25 and earn his third PGA TOUR card. For the second consecutive year, the 2018 Web.com Tour will commence with The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic, as players look to make strides toward spots in The 25.

Sandals Emerald Bay is a scenic spot to start the Web.com Tour season.

Kyle Thompsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s victory at last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay led to a spot in The 25.

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Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Course at Sandals Emerald Bay, a Greg Norman-designed championship golf course in Great Exuma, Bahamas ®

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19/09/2017 14:13

TERRY BRADSHAW

LIFE AFTER TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT Evolution Medial-Pivot Knee System from MicroPort Orthopedics has given Terry a new lease on life. ®

etween 1970 and 1983, football fans living in Pittsburgh could always count on their football team to play with toughness and always fight through the pain to make the “Steel City” proud. The team’s ethos of grit and determination was driven by its quarterback and leader, Hall-of-Famer Terry Bradshaw, one of the most durable players in the league’s history. Bradshaw had a rocket for a right arm, and his skills, poise, and leadership played a major role in Pittsburgh winning four championships during his legendary tenure. Bradshaw played fourteen professional seasons, and until his final year when he injured his throwing arm, he always managed to avoid major injuries. His hallmark was an innate ability to absorb a lot of punishment but always get back up and keep playing – a trait that was not lost on his teammates or his adopted city. “You can’t dodge them all,” said Bradshaw. “I got pummeled plenty of times through the years, but you just get up and keep playing.” After his retirement, Bradshaw kept active and stayed connected to football, eventually accepting his current role as one of the studio hosts for FOX NFL Sunday, a highly rated weekly program airing during the football season. It wasn’t until long after his football career ended, however, that he started to experience serious and debilitating pain in his right knee. “My knee was causing me all kinds of problems. I couldn’t sleep at night; I couldn’t take the stairs; and worst of all, I had a hard time playing with my granddaughter,” said Bradshaw, now 68 years old. “My knee pain was impacting my daily life, and because I was compensating for it, I started to develop back and ankle pain as well. It kept me from doing so many of the things I love to do.” When his knee pain became unbearable, and he could no longer maintain his weight training, golfing and

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“This technology has been life changing for me. It’s just like my God-given knee.” fishing activities, Bradshaw sought treatment. His physician recommended total knee replacement to eliminate the pain from his everyday life. The goal of total knee replacement surgery is to replace the damaged bone and cartilage with smooth metal and high-grade plastic that recreate the surface of a knee joint. These new surfaces replicate the function and feeling of a healthy knee while also preventing the pain caused by damaged bones rubbing together. Total knee replacement is one of the most successful treatments to restore knee function and stop pain. With all the total knee replacement products available, Bradshaw and his surgeon chose MicroPort Orthopedics’ Evolution® Medial-Pivot (MP) Knee System. “Terry clearly demonstrates the type of result a motivated patient can obtain if provided a stable knee implant.”, said C. Lowry Barnes, M.D., Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University

of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. “The medial pivot design has proven to be a patient friendly design because of its inherent stability. A stable knee helps allow total knee patients the opportunity to return to more normal activities sooner after surgery. In my practice, a higher percentage of patients describe their medial pivot knee to be more like a normal knee.” Traditional knee replacements have been shown to feel unstable and move in an unnatural way. It has been reported that approximately 20% of patients are not satisfied with the outcome of their total knee replacement as a result of residual pain and functional issues often attributed to implant design.1 MicroPort Orthopedics believes knee implants should feel normal and behave naturally during all the activities that make up someone’s life. MicroPort’s Medial-Pivot Knee System is uniquely designed to restore stability and normal knee motion to improve function and drive patient satisfaction.2 “I underwent surgery on a Tuesday, left the hospital two days later, and was walking without assistance within two weeks! “, said Bradshaw. “The Evolution®MP Knee System has completely eliminated my knee pain. There’s no instability since my knee replacement. Walking down stairs, squatting, fishing and golfing - I can do anything I want to do. This technology has been life changing for me. It’s just like my God-given knee.”

MicroPort Orthopedics has decades of experience producing revolutionary products that improve the lives of patients who need total knee and hip replacements. To learn more about the Evolution®MP Knee System and to see more patient success stories please visit MyNewKnee.com/golf References: 1. Thambiah, Matthew Dhanaraj et al. “Patient Satisfaction after Total Knee Arthroplasty: An Asian Perspective.” Singapore Medical Journal 56.5 (2015): 259–263. PMC. Web. 22 Feb. 2017. 2. Macheras, George A. et al. “A long term clinical outcome of the Medial Pivot Knee Arthroplasty System.” The Knee Journal, Published: January 29, 2017.

Every patient is different, and individual results vary. There are risks and recovery times associated with surgery. Consult your doctor to determine if knee replacement surgery is right for you.

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INtErVIEw

Plenty of Golf left Stewart Cink—dedicated family man, major champion and 2017 winner of the Payne Stewart Award presented by Southern Company—shares his fondest golf memory and how his wife’s illness led him to fight harder for his career

By Helen Ross

tewart Cink is a man of eclectic tastes. He’s the PGA TOUR’s resident barbecue expert. His smoked ribs and chicken and pork shoulders are so good, in fact, that Cink and his team, aptly named “Que School,” have won several regional cooking competitions. But the 44-year-old, who hikes and skis and wake boards, also likes musicals and has been known to actually enjoy chick flicks. Cink even has the soundtrack to “Les Miserables” on his Spotify playlist. Cink’s TOUR résumé includes six wins, including The Open Championship in 2009 at Turnberry. He is so respected that his peers honored him earlier this year with the Payne Stewart Award given to a player who represents the late pro’s spirit of sportsmanship and good deeds. His greatest joy, though, is his family. 48

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Cink and his wife Lisa, parents of two grown sons, will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in 2018. Their life was turned upside down in 2016 after Lisa was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer but the two have gained strength from each other as she continues her fight. As he took a break from practice recently, Cink made time for this Q&A with the PGA TOUR Essential Guide to Golf.

Stewart Cink received the 2017 Payne Stewart Award given to a player who represents the late pro’s spirit of sportsmanship and generosity.

Q: What were your expectations when you came out of Georgia Tech?

CINK: I never really had expectations. I think that was one of the things that helped me early on was that I didn’t see myself as becoming a PGA TOUR player…I never really thought in the future that far. I just thought if I can be a little bit better than I was yesterday, that will be w w w.p gat our.com

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INTERVIEW

dreamed it—but it’s been a real honor and it still is. I’m still trying to get a little better every day. I’m still kind of treating it like I did the very first year. I may need a back-up plan one day, but I’m still out there.

Q: So, what’s been your favorite memory? CINK: Well, you would think I would immediately jump to The Open, which is an easy jump. That was one of my favorites. But probably walking up the 72nd hole at Firestone in ’04, when I think I had a three-shot lead. I hit the ball in the fairway off the tee, so I knew that there was almost no chance that I was going to lose. That was probably my favorite moment because it was the first time I got to experience that—the peace, the satisfaction of carrying a big lead to the last hole and knowing that there’s no chance to lose.

IMAGES: PGA TOUR; GETTy; DAvID CAnnOn COllECTIOn

Now in his mid-40s, the six-time TOUR winner has been working hard to get his game back in top shape.

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good enough for today. Then tomorrow, I’ll be a little bit better than I was today.

Q: Did you have a back-up plan? CINK: I didn’t really have that specific of a back-up plan…I wouldn’t say I was preparing myself not to succeed, but I wanted to cover all the bases just in case. Then things changed in college when we got married and we found Connor was coming. Two years left in college and suddenly I’m a different person. I’ve got a baby and married, so it’s a whole different scenario. That was basically kind of the way I approached things…I knew I had the ability to be a really good golfer, be a good player, and I knew I had the ability to win at pretty much any level. But I just didn’t see that translating into necessarily ‘I have to become a PGA TOUR star.’ In that sense that’s what I mean that it helped me. I didn’t see not getting my TOUR card as an absolute bust and a failure and something to be ashamed of. I just saw it as, well, I’ve have been told it’s tough and the chances are low. I’m going to go see what I can do. And it turned out. I kept beating my peers along the way and all the way to the top level.

Q: Would you say you exceeded your expectations?

CINK: I wouldn’t, because that would be saying that I had low expectations. What I had was no expectations…I never thought about things in an expectations kind of way. I wouldn’t say that I exceeded my expectations. I would say the gift of playing golf on the TOUR for this long has been like—it hasn’t been a dream because I never

Q: How have you balanced being a professional golfer and being a dad? CINK: I think that was one of biggest things that helped me get success early. I quickly went from being a college-aged kid—my lifestyle was the college lifestyle—to the lifestyle of a person who is married and has a child. That adjustment was immediate, and it required immediate attention. I learned how to use my time wisely. I learned how to get a lot out of a short amount of practice time. I didn’t have that much time just to go and hang out at the range, throw the football like some of the guys on my team tended to do. They got an hour’s worth of practice in three hours and I got three hours’ worth of practice in an hour. So being efficient and being focused and learning how to turn the focus on and off was probably one of biggest blessings that came along with having Connor early and being married early and being a fish out of water in college. Lisa and I both knew that we were fish out of water. Square peg in a round hole. However you want to put it, we were odd in college. We were not the norm. The college system was not set up for us, so we had to make our own way. And one of the ways I did that was to try to be as efficient as possible. Q: Connor has graduated from Clemson and is working in Charlotte and your second son Reagan is a junior at Georgia Tech. Lisa and you are basically emptynesters now. What is that like? CINK: It came along at a great time because we are very young for empty nest. But then Lisa’s diagnosis has changed all that. We had to reevaluate our plan. What we decided to do was stick to the plan. All along we were going to be enjoying traveling. She was going to be back on PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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INtErVIEw

the road with me and we weren’t going to have to say goodbye as much anymore. The big kink became having to suddenly fit in chemotherapy. It changed a lot, but we managed it. She got through chemo. She is still on treatment, but it’s not near as severe as it was before. We’re still doing the same things. Still living the life out here traveling, and every week is a new week full of new possibilities in a new environment.

Q: How has Lisa’s illness impacted the way you look at the game?

CINK: It’s had a direct impact because I saw her being in a fight for her life—really, really fight, especially during chemo. But now she’s still continuing to do everything possible to improve her outcome. So I saw that, and I took a look at my own self in that light. I thought if she’s doing absolutely everything, why can’t I do absolutely everything. Or, am I? I didn’t know if I was or not, so I took a serious look at myself. Found a few areas where I could get better. I don’t mean just improve. We can all improve. Even the best player can improve. But I really took stock of my golf and career and thought, ‘Am I doing everything I can do in order to be the best I can be?’ I have still got plenty of golf left in me. I’ve got lots of power, everything you need to have. What am I not doing, if anything, that I need a little bit more of? She was inspiring to me like that. She is doing everything she can possibly do. She is extremely determined and disciplined. I just learned a little bit about fighting. And I’ve put that in practice with my own work. I sought out a few new coaches and really dug into specific parts of the game.

especially. But the intrigue of it, the draw of it, never goes away. One day that might happen, but it may be a long time away.

Q: What did you think when you found out you were going to receive the Payne Stewart Award? CINK: My first thought was Payne, to be honest. I just remember Payne was a guy that all of us youngsters wanted to emulate when we first came out on TOUR. I only shared two years with him. Played with him a handful of times. Didn’t really know him that well personally. But what I thought of Payne Stewart was the tenacity that he showed on the course and off the course. He was a fierce family guy, a fierce Christian, he was a fierce [harmonica player]. He attacked everything in his life in a fierce kind of way. So that’s what I thought of the first time was the association to Payne Stewart would be something that I would always have forever and would be something to be proud of. 

Major moment: Stewart Cink with the claret jug after winning The Open Championship in 2009.

Q: You took the bull by the horns rather than just sit back and kick the tires?

CINK: You can say that. It took something like her getting diagnosed with cancer for me to really be honest and take a look at myself and figure out if I was doing enough, unfortunately. That is one of my biggest messages to everybody. You don’t have to wait for something like that, whether it’s to improve your marriage or anything in your life that you want to enrich. You don’t have to wait for something terrible, something life changing, some catastrophic thing. You don’t have to wait. That’s what most of us do.

Q: You are 44 now. Do you think you’re ever going to get tired of playing golf?

CINK: I guess I probably will at some point. I still love playing right now. Playing on the best TOUR in the world and still being able to compete out here is really awesome, and it unfolds differently in front of you every day. So, it never gets boring. It gets tiring, mentally 50

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Character Charity Sportsmanship

Past Recipients

Congratulations

Jim Furyk Ernie Els Nick Faldo

Stewart Cink Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to holding values above all else.

Peter Jacobsen Steve Stricker David Toms Tom Lehman Kenny Perry Davis Love III

Southern Company is proud to recognize 2017 Payne Stewart Award

Hal Sutton

recipient Stewart Cink, who best champions Payneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s values of

Gary Player

character, charity and sportsmanship. Learn more at

Brad Faxon

pgatour.com/paynestewartaward

Jay Haas Tom Watson Nick Price Ben Crenshaw Byron Nelson

Official Energy Company of the PGA TOUR

Jack Nicklaus Arnold Palmer

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11/09/2017 09:33

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

STANDING OUT

The 2016-17 PGA TOUR schedule wasn’t short on drama. Four writers reflect on special moments that stuck with them from a memorable season

t can be difficult to distill a PGA TOUR season, given the many miles journeyed, shots played and trophies collected over months of competition. Inevitably, though, once the curtain has closed, certain people, places and particulars stand out. That was the case in 2016-17, a season that from start to finish wasn’t lacking interest or intrigue.

There are different ways to sort out what one has seen. Statistics and photographs for two. But for this edition of the Essential Guide, we asked four writers to consider moments that moved them, that lingered after one tournament had ended and another had begun, that became a memory worthy of reflection.

DUSTIN JOHNSON’S VICTORY AT THE NORTHERN TRUST By Bill Fields

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First, he sank an 18-foot par putt on the 18th hole of the final round to get into a playoff with Jordan Spieth, with whom he had shared an entertaining, back and forth over the previous four hours. Then, on the first extra hole, Johnson took a crazy-bold line over a lake, his drive finishing in the fairway 341 yards from the tee and only 94 yards from the flagstick on the dogleg, 475-yard par 4. It was lob wedge vs. Spieth’s 7-iron on their second shots. Johnson’s short approach—he has shored up this part of his game tremendously the last couple of seasons—finished four feet from the cup to set up a winning birdie. Power plus touch equals a master key to golf greatness, and Johnson loped away from Glen Oaks Club proving, not for the last time, he has it.  Essential Guide editor Bill Fields has covered golf since the mid-1980s, and his stories have been honored multiple times by the Golf Writers Association of America.

Showing off his complete game, Dustin Johnson closed out THE NORTHERN TRUST in stunning fashion.

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR

ome years ago my friend Jim Moriarty nailed Dustin Johnson’s nonchalant locomotion, writing that he has “the oily gait of a jungle cat.” Johnson’s journey to becoming the top-ranked golfer in the world hasn’t always been as smooth as his walk. But Johnson has refined his life and game in smart ways to the point where, entering his mid-30s, he has the potential to be one of the best of all time, not only his time. Johnson has at least one win in each of his first 10 seasons on the PGA TOUR, something accomplished since 1960 by only Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, the very definition of select golf company. In 201617 Johnson won four tournaments, his most productive season. He finished off the last of those victories—at THE NORTHERN TRUST in Old Westbury, N.Y., to open the FedExCup Playoffs—with a display that was as stunning as it was successful.

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MEMORABLE MOMENTS

THE BEST SHOT IN THE HISTORY OF THE TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP By Tom Yantz

gazed at the packed-full amphitheater around the green and along the 18th fairway at TPC River Highlands before Jordan Spieth strode into the bunker on the first playoff hole. The size of the final-day crowd of the Travelers Championship—60,000? 70,000? More?—rivaled any I had seen as a Hartford Courant sportswriter at the annual PGA TOUR stop in Connecticut. Standing inside the ropes, I said to William Paxton, covering the tournament for USA Today: “Spieth’s going to knock it in.” Justin Thomas, a friend of Spieth, tweeted: “Wouldn’t be surprised if Jordan Spieth just holed this bunker shot.” I made my declaration because this was my last Travelers Championship for the Courant, and with that experience came the premonition tournament destiny was one swing away. As for Thomas, he had seen Spieth’s commendable skills many times. The deft, bunker-blast birdie produced Spieth’s heave of his wedge and jump/ side-chest bump celebration with caddie Michael Greller.

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Daniel Berger, Spieth’s playoff foe, gave a thumbs up sign and later exchanged a low-five with Spieth. “I mean the ground was shaking,” Spieth said. Seismic experts might refute this, but I agree with Spieth. The cacophony of cheers from the bobbing-in-jubilation sea of fans sure felt like it was shaking the turf. “That was as loud as I think I’ve ever created,” Spieth said. Spieth’s shot was the best in tournament history, which started with the 1952 Insurance City Open, because of its stage and the pedigree of the champion. Words flowed later through my fingers to my stories on the Courant computer. I couldn’t have scripted a more memorable way for a Connecticut sportswriter to depart than chronicling Spieth’s last shot in his first Travelers Championship appearance. For as Berger says, “Jordan does Jordan things.”  Tom Yantz covered every PGA TOUR event in Cromwell, Conn., from 1984-2017 for the Hartford Courant and retired in July after 42 years with the newspaper.

As a large gallery erupted in delight, Jordan Spieth and caddie Michael Greller celebrated a sand shot for the ages.

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The makers of the Harmonix Live-Head Putter are proud to announce the release of PULSE, the best training aid for golf – ever! PULSE is smartphone ‘app’ designed for golfer’s who desire to master the skill of putting – amateurs and professionals alike! Harmonix PULSE is a combination of patented hardware, proprietary smartphone software that captures every movement of a putting stroke from setup to follow-through. The PULSE ‘Actuator’ temporarily attaches to any brand of putter and senses the slightest movement of the putter head. The movements are captured and transmitted in real-time to the users’ smartphone via Bluetooth The proprietary PULSE software converts the complex data into easy to understand graphics that allow the user to clearly see exactly what occurred during their stroke.

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13/12/2017 16:23

MEMORABLE MOMENTS Si Woo Kim’s short game shined as he survived a taxing final round.

THE YOUNGEST CHAMPION OF THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP By Jim McCabe

oo young to play on the PGA TOUR? Si Woo Kim wasn’t in position to do anything about the fine print five years ago. Too young to win THE PLAYERS Championship in 2017? Kim was in position to script it to his liking. Correction, Kim was out of position. Which played to his strength. “A short game that is to be envied by all,” gushes Nick Price, who devoted big chunks of his season watching Kim blossom into one of his Presidents Cup players. But even Price could not have envisioned how brilliantly Kim closed out his stunning, two-stroke victory at THE PLAYERS Championship. On a final day so demanding that the third-round leaders shot 84 and 75, the shy Kim flashed an utterly dynamic short game. Though he hit only eight greens in regulation, the Korean was perfect in all 10 up-and-downs, uncanny work that produced a 3-under 69, the only bogey-free final round. “I could just really be myself,” said Kim.

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What speaks even more to Kim’s scrambling prowess is how he turned such a negative into a positive. Having made it through the PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament in 2012, Kim at 17 was shy of the minimum age requirement for membership (18), which in essence led to three years on the Web.com Tour. “The Web.com Tour actually really helped me to get more experience,” said Kim, who has two wins in two PGA TOUR seasons and belongs in any conversation about the plethora of under-25 stars. “The growth of golf in Asia over my lifetime has gone from next to nothing to the future of the sport,” Gary Player once said. At the time, he hadn’t seen Si Woo Kim. Now that he has, Player would be justified in saying, “I told you so.”  Jim McCabe is a senior manager of communications for the PGA TOUR. Before that, he was a senior writer for eight years at Golfweek and covered golf for the Boston Globe for 14 years. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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MEMORABLE MOMENTS

HIGH DRAMA TO MAKE U.S. PRESIDENTS CUP TEAM By Mike McAllister

t was mid-afternoon on Labor Day at TPC Boston. Kevin Chappell had just completed his final round of the Dell Technologies Championship. His fellow Californian, Charley Hoffman, had finished 2½ hours earlier. Neither was particularly happy, but a big prize remained up for grabs. By the end of the day, one of them would secure an automatic spot on the U.S. Presidents Cup team. Nerves were a bit strained. Hoffman has been a pro golfer for 17 years; Chappell for nine. Neither one had ever represented his country in international competition. But though they were done playing on this final day of qualifying, their fates were not yet decided. Due to the miniscule difference in their point totals, Chappell and Hoffman would have to wait until others finished. “This whole week’s been very strange,” Chappell said. And very riveting. There were multiple storylines in play at TPC Boston, but I couldn’t get enough of the Presidents Cup angle. Nine of the 10 guaranteed spots were set, leaving one open, plus two Captain’s Picks to be announced the

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following week. By Labor Day, Phil Mickelson had basically secured his pick with a solid showing. Now it came down to Hoffman vs. Chappell for the automatic spot. And neither could do anything about it. The live projections went back-and-forth. A birdie by one player had Chappell ahead. A bogey by another moved Hoffman back on top. I frantically texted a PGA TOUR official for updates. It was crazy how quickly things changed. Finally, just after 4 p.m., I got the final text. Chappell is in. By just 0.173 of a point. “A range of emotions,” Chappell said. “Charley is a good friend and I feel for him.” Not to worry. Forty-eight hours later, Hoffman received a Captain’s Pick. Three weeks later, Chappell and Hoffman partnered successfully at Liberty National Golf Club during a convincing American victory. Each hopes to play again for the U.S.— presumably with less drama required.  Mike McAllister has been Managing Editor for PGA TOUR Digital since 2008. Prior to that, he worked at ESPN, Sports Illustrated and Golf Digest as well as several newspapers in Texas.

Kevin Chappell narrowly earned an automatic selection for the U.S. Presidents Cup team.

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THE INTERNATIONAL PGA TOURS

The InTernaTIonal Tours Amid strenuous efforts to advance the professional game worldwide, a re-established PGA TOUR-China underlines the significant progress being made, as the now well-established PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada show in the following reports By Jim McCabe

images: us pga tour; gettY images

vanhoe, Ill., home to the Web.com Tour’s Rust-Oleum Championship, wouldn’t appear to have much in common with Thunder Bay, Ont., or Fuego Maya Antigua in Guatemala. But they’re all connected, as they are to San Luis Potosi in Mexico and Chongming Island in China. Planting grounds, all of them, to help embed the seeds that grow golf and provide golfers the chance to hone their skills. If the advent of the Web.com Tour nearly three decades ago is one of the most underappreciated additions to the PGA TOUR, then you can say that many times over for the circuits now extended to aspiring tour professionals in Latin America, China and Canada. They are areas to where golfers have always shown an adventuresome streak—Argentina Opens were won by guys named Picard and Demaret and Runyan; an American king, Arnold Palmer, first visited China in 1982—only now, bridges built by

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the PGA TOUR, allow for an easier commute and more fluid opportunities for career advancement. With passport and passion, golfers with world-class aspirations can take on tournament challenges far and wide. Language barriers exist, and cultural differences await, but if golf is your vehicle, you are blessed. The game translates seamlessly.

PGA TOUR-China By Laury Livsey The Tour that introduced the world to Chinese players Zecheng Dou, Xinjun Zhang and Haotong Li is coming back. After a year’s hiatus as the PGA TOUR sought to align its purposes with China’s Ministry of Sport as the country goes through a reform concerning not only golf but all sports, PGA TOUR-China is returning to the sports landscape in the world’s largest country. PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan

Chinese golfers Xinjun Zhang (far left) and Zechdeng Dou (far right) joined PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan and China Golf Association President Zhang Xiaoning during the 2017 World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions to announce the return of PGA TOUR-China in 2018.

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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THE INTERNATIONAL PGA TOURS

made the resumption-of-play announcement October 25 in Shanghai at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions. It was fitting that Dou and Zhang were sitting near Monahan. There aren’t two better examples to personify what PGA TOUR-China can mean to a player than Dou and Zhang.

Two players To waTch The two Chinese players, 10 years apart in age, played PGA TOUR-China extensively between 2014 and 2016, the pair winning a combined six tournaments. Dou, 20, won the 2016 Player of the Year, while Zhang is the circuit’s all-time leading money-winner. Following the 2016 season, they moved to the Web.com Tour. Dou won the Digital Ally Open outside Kansas City, a triumph that led to his 16th-place finish on the money list. While Zhang didn’t win, he had two runner-up finishes and a 20th-place position on the earnings’ chart. With both players inside the top 25 on the money list, the duo made history by becoming the first two players from China to earn PGA TOUR membership. Both are rookies on the 2017-18 PGA TOUR.

world-class brand “The essence of PGA TOUR-China is what the PGA TOUR offers, namely a world-class brand, global credibility and Web.com Tour access that gives players a path to the PGA TOUR. We’ve seen several players who have played in China move to the Web.com Tour and then advance to the PGA TOUR. It was thrilling to watch Zecheng Dou and Xinjun Zhang both realize their dreams by following this path all the way to the highest level of golf, the PGA TOUR,” said Ty Votaw, Executive Vice President of PGA TOUR Global Business Affairs. Speaking of the 2018 season, Votaw added, “We are playing a strong tournament schedule, with significant purse sizes. This will allow us to maintain in China what we’re already doing in Latin America and Canada, running PGA TOUR-quality Tours that allow players to continue improving their games.” Since the Tour’s inception in 2014, players from Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand and the U.S. have won PGA TOUR-China tournaments. It’s been a tour that has attracted players from all over the world, players who are looking for a competitive place to play that allows them to see how their games stack up. And the results are striking. Since 2014, former PGA TOUR-China players have won on the European Tour, Asian Tour and Web.com Tour, while two players—China’s Haotong Li and South Korea’s Jeunghun Wang—represented their countries at the 2016 Summer Olympics. 60

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ouTsTanding golfers “PGA TOUR-China will certainly raise the competitive bar in China, giving Chinese players the opportunity to gauge their games against international players,” Votaw said. “The sport has already identified numerous outstanding golfers from China and throughout Asia and Australasia and facilitated their move to the global stage. Haotong Li, Zecheng Dou and Xinjun Zhang are perfect examples of that, as are Jeunghun Wang of South Korea and Brett Drewitt of Australia. We know there are more young players out there, and our anticipation is that PGA TOUR-China will create opportunities for these players to realize their dream of one day playing on the PGA TOUR.” Li won the 2016 Volvo China Open, a victory that propelled him to European Tour membership after a season and a half playing on the Web.com Tour. Last July, Li had his highest finish in a PGA TOUR tournament when he finished third at The Open Championship. Even with all his success, Li rarely fails to recognize what PGA TOUR-China meant in his career when he joined as an 18-year-old. “That Tour was so great for me,” Li explained. “It changed my life. Because of PGA TOUR-China, I earned my chance to go the U.S. and play on the Web.com Tour. From there, my career has just taken off.” ■

Zecheng Dou, who played PGA TOUR-China extensively between 2014 and 2016, joins Xinjun Zhang as the first players from China to earn PGA TOUR membership.

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THE INTERNATIONAL PGA TOURS

PGA TOUR Latinoamérica By Kevin Prise One of professional golf’s enduring measures of intrigue is that it’s hard to pinpoint when a player will discover his peak game. Some find quick success in their early 20s, fresh out of college. Others play a few seasons at the professional level before finding optimal form. Yet others pay their dues for a decade-plus before seeing things coalesce at a high level. For 36-year-old Jose de Jesus Rodriguez, there’s reason to believe the best days are ahead.

ROdRiGUez’ sTAndOUT seAsOn Rodriguez, a Mexico native, began his 2017 PGA TOUR Latinoamérica season with reason for optimism based on a steady 2016 that included six top-10 finishes and a 17th-place finish on the money list. And things only got better as the season progressed. Rodriguez won his first start at the 70 Avianca Colombia Open in February, added another title at the Abierto del Paraguay-Copa NEC in August, and notched two runner-up finishes as well as two fourth-place efforts. Rodriguez’ standout season had him well positioned on the Order of Merit with five events remaining, as his $112,430 in earnings placed him nearly $50,000 ahead of No. 2 Nelson Ledesma. The No. 1 spot on the Order of Merit provides fully exempt status on the 2018 Web.com Tour, and Rodriguez is inclined to maintain his form through the end of 2017, as he strives to earn strong Web.com Tour status for the first time since 2014, where he finished No. 82 on the money list.

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; PGA TOUR

OPPORTUniTies TO qUALify Aside from the No. 1 spot on the Order of Merit, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica players are chasing spots inside the top 5 (Los Cinco) that provide high-level status on the 2018 Web.com Tour, as well as an opportunity to improve that status via Final Stage of the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament in December. With five events remaining, Argentina’s Ledesma is well positioned to achieve that goal, and he also has a chance of upending Rodriguez for the No. 1 spot on the Order of Merit with a string of high finishes to close the season. Ledesma, 27, won the 86 Abierto OSDE del Centro presentado por FiberCorp in late April to assert his spot near the top of the Order of Merit and followed his victory with a third-place showing at the Essential Costa Rica Classic in early May. Ledesma, an avid soccer fan, got his start in golf as a caddie at age 12, and he turned professional just four years later. Eleven years after turning pro, he’s moving closer to his first Web.com Tour card. w w w.P GAT OUR.cOm

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PLAyeRs TO wATch Other players in consideration for Los Cinco as the 2017 PGA TOUR Latinoamérica season nears its conclusion include No. 3 Jared Wolfe, No. 4 Jose Toledo and No. 5 Tee-K Kelly. Wolfe, 29, earned his place near the top of the money list with a victory at the BMW Jamaica Classic in mid-June, followed by a fifth-place finish at the Abierto del Paraguay-Copa NEC and a T9 at the Flor de Caña Open. The Kentucky native played collegiately at Murray State University, graduating in 2010, and plays out of TPC Sawgrass outside Jacksonville, Fla., where he now resides. Toledo, 31, made his hay midseason with a win at the Essential Costa Rica Classic in early May, followed by a runner-up at the Quito Open presentado por Diners Club in early June. The Guatemala native played collegiately at the University of New Orleans, graduating in 2009, and last competed on the Web.com Tour in 2014, where he made 10 cuts in 13 starts but finished No. 127 on the money list. With a consistent finish to the season, he could be in line to make a return and earn another opportunity to chase a PGA TOUR card. Kelly, 23, graduated from Ohio State just this year with a degree in strategic communications, and found his comfort zone quickly as a professional with a victory at the Puerto Plata DR Open in mid-June, followed by a fourth-place showing at the BMW Jamaica Classic the next week. Kelly’s given name is Timothy, but he explained the origins of ‘Tee-K’ after his victory in Puerto Plata. “My dad’s name is Timothy, so I’m named after him,” Kelly said. “A couple of my dad’s friends nicknamed him T-K and I think that from the day I was born, my parents decided kind of that’s what I go by, even though they didn’t quite name me that. They decided to spell it like that, and I think it was spelled like that in my baby crib.” Kelly, an Illinois native, plays out of storied Medinah Country Club. He says that if not a golfer, he would be a mathematician. By season’s end, he hopes to calculate a spot in Los Cinco. ■

Jose de Jesus of Mexico won the 70 Avianca Colombian Open in February.

American Jared Wolfe has had a strong season on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica in 2017.

Nelson Ledesma of Argentina won the 86 Abierto OSDE del Centro presentado por FiberCorp.

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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THE INTERNATIONAL PGA TOURS

Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada By Robert Thompson More than $1 million in charitable earnings and 20 players playing on the PGA TOUR. Regardless of how you measure it, the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada continues to be a success, both on the course and in the communities where its tournaments are played.

PROMOTING PLAYERS “The players have proven the Tour works,” says Mackenzie Tour Vice President Scott Pritchard. “There are a lot of players who have elevated their status through playing on our Tour. And the attention received by Mackenzie [Hughes] helped.” Hughes, the young Canadian from Dundas, Ont., broke through by winning the RSM Classic in November 2016, slightly more than a year removed from playing the Mackenzie Tour. He’s become the poster boy—quite literally as he was featured on promo ads this season—for how the Mackenzie Tour works. The key to the success of the Mackenzie Tour is the path it creates to propel its players forward. There was a loose relationship between the previous Canadian Tour and the PGA TOUR, but that’s now formalized. The money leader on the Mackenzie Tour gains fully exempt status on the Web.com Tour, while the next four usually get starts and the opportunity to play themselves onto the Tour.

HEADING FOR THE PGA TOUR And there are more successes coming. Mackenzie Tour graduates Ben Silverman and Corey Conners, both Canadian, are among those heading to the PGA TOUR. Silverman, from Toronto, had a breakthrough year on the Web.com Tour and will play on the PGA TOUR only a year removed from teeing it up on the Mackenzie Tour. He’s one of seven former Mackenzie Tour players who will make the move to the big leagues in the fall after strong years on the Web.com Tour. Other graduates making the jump to the PGA TOUR in recent years include Aaron Wise, J.J. Spaun, CT Pan and Joel Dahmen. Recent graduate Austin Connelly took a slightly different route, turning to Europe to play and generating a lot of attention following his success at the British Open.

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS The Tour’s graduates have received some notice. Earlier this year, PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan said he was impressed with the success of Mackenzie Tour players. “I think the proof is in performance, and the performance has certainly met and exceeded the expectation that we had when we first started the Tour,” he said. This past season’s most notable player was 25-year old Kramer Hickok of Dallas, Texas, who 62

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won the Tour’s Order of Merit with $122,502 in earnings. His season included a tie for 19th in the RBC Canadian Open. “Everyone always says that to me, ‘You’re good enough, you’re good enough,’” Hickok said after playing the Canadian Open. “But you don’t actually know it until you go out there and prove it to yourself.” Hickok recognizes just how strong the competition on the Mackenzie Tour has become in the past few years. “This is why I came to this tour—to try and win and play against honestly some of the best players in the world,” said Hickok, a one-time roommate of Jordan Spieth. “To be able to play in front of the fans, this is getting us ready for the PGA TOUR—and there’s nothing like it.” Many expected a breakout year by Robby Shelton, who finished second on the Order of Merit, with a win and six Top 10 finishes. At college Shelton, a standout on the American Walker Cup team, tied for third at the 2015 Barbasol Championship, the highest showing by an amateur in a PGA TOUR event since Phil Mickelson won in 1991. Of course, the only surprise about three-time All-American Rico Hoey is that his year, where he finished fifth on the money list, wasn’t even better. Hoey won the final event of the year—the Freedom 55 Financial Championship—on top of six Top 10 finishes for the year. Like Shelton, he’ll have status on the Web.com Tour next year. As leading money winner, Hickok is exempt on the Web.com Tour for the entirety of next year.

INCREASING COMPETITION One unusual facet was the lack of a Canadian player having a breakout year on Tour. Canadian Jared du Toit looked like he might make a move up the Order of Merit, but never closed a tournament well in his rookie season. Du Toit had three Top 10 finishes, finishing at 23 on the money list. While the competition is increasing on the Mackenzie Tour, Pritchard is trying to push it to the next level with more events across Canada. Pritchard is optimistic the Mackenzie Tour can be expanded beyond the 12 tournaments on the 2017 schedule, which included a new event in Montreal. Quebec City is on the radar, and Pritchard says there are other options as well. But it is the players that will dictate the tour’s success, names such as Tony Finau, Pan, Spaun, Hughes and others. “There are 19 grads within six years that have made the PGA TOUR,” says Pritchard. “That’s pretty good and I think proves the concept has worked.” ■

J.J. Spaun is one of the players who followed a path from Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada to Web.com Tour to the PGA TOUR.

Canadian Mac Hughes broke through with a win at the 2016 RSM Classic not long after playing on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada.

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Brief Prescribing Information The SpinalStim device is indicated as a spinal fusion adjunct to increase the probability of fusion success and as a nonoperative treatment of salvage of failed spinal fusion, where a minimum of nine months has elapsed since the last surgery. Cardiac pacemakers may be adversely affected by exposure to pulsed electromagnetic fields. Use of this device is contraindicated where the individual has an implanted cardiac pacemaker. The safety and effectiveness of this device has not been established for individuals lacking skeletal maturity. The safety of this device for use on patients who are pregnant or nursing has not been established. Rare instances of reversible minor discomfort have been reported. Full prescribing information can be found in product labeling at www.bonestimulation.com or by calling Orthofix Patient Services at 1-800-535-4492. Caution: Federal law (USA) restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician. Reference: 1. iData Research Inc., U.S. Market for Spinal Implants and VCF (iDATA_USSP17_RPT), iData Research Inc (www.idataresearch.net) 2017

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Keep Moving. Keep Healing. Redefine Your Recovery Experience Q. I’ve been a keen golfer for more than 40 years but in the last year increasing pain in my lower back has put a stop to my game, temporarily, I hope. After a number of consultations, I was advised that spinal fusion surgery may be the best option for me to address the cause of my back pain. After doing some research on the subject, I became aware of a device called SpinalStim that may help with my spinal fusion recovery. Can you tell me about the SpinalStim device? Yes. Orthofix’s SpinalStim™ device is a noninvasive, postoperative bone growth therapy commonly prescribed by physicians to increase the probability of fusion success in patients that have had spinal fusion surgery in the lower back. Some patients who experience spinal fusion surgery have difficulty healing, often due to certain health factors that may have impaired the natural healing process of their bones. To help overcome these healing challenges, doctors commonly prescribe the SpinalStim device. In addition, the SpinalStim device is also commonly prescribed as a treatment option for patients who have experienced a failed spinal fusion. Rather than performing a second or revision surgery on the patient, doctors may prescribe the SpinalStim device to improve the chances of spinal fusion. Q. If my doctor determines that the SpinalStim device would be the best treatment for me after my spinal fusion surgery, can you tell me how it works? The device operates by sending lowlevel pulses of electromagnetic energy to the fusion site to stimulate the bone’s natural healing process. It is typically worn daily for two hours until spinal fusion is achieved or until your physician recommends you can stop treatment. Depending on the specific conditions associated with your fusion, treatment protocols commonly range anywhere from three to nine months in duration. Unless otherwise advised by your surgeon, patients typically can perform their routine daily activities while wearing the device.

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Q. Is the success of SpinalStim treatment related to age—now into my mid-50s, can the treatment be as successful as for someone in their 30s? The safety and effectiveness of the device have been proven in patients who are skeletally mature. As a result, the device is typically prescribed in adult patients (including patients in their 30s) and not children. Q. How can I tell if my device is working and does Orthofix offer a warranty on the device? The SpinalStim device has a treatment indicator to notify patients that it is operating and in treatment mode. In addition, the device is accompanied by a mobile app called STIM onTrack™ that helps patients stay on schedule with their treatments to help them obtain the desired clinical outcomes. The device is prescribed with a limited guarantee program, subject to eligibility requirements, that if fusion is not shown, the fee paid for the unit will be refunded to the payer(s) of record. Q. Is the SpinalStim device FDA approved and completely safe to use? The SpinalStim device received FDA approval in 1990 and provides a safe, noninvasive treatment. Together with the Orthofix CervicalStim™ device, which is used in high-risk spinal fusions in the neck, the SpinalStim device is the number one prescribed bone growth stimulator for spinal fusions. The North American Spine Society coverage recommendations support the use of pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation, the mechanism by which SpinalStim treatment operates, as an adjunct to spinal fusion surgery in patients with health factors that may impair the success of their fusion. Q. If a golfer, for instance, has already had recent spinal fusion surgery, could the SpinalStim device still be beneficial for them to use? The SpinalStim device is prescribed to be used postoperatively, whether

adjunctively by patients undergoing recent spinal fusion surgery or as a surgical alternative for patients who have undergone a previously failed spinal fusion. Based on an evaluation of the specific conditions associated with your spinal fusion, your doctor can make the determination if the SpinalStim device would be beneficial for you. Q. Can you tell me if SpinalStim treatment has a good success rate in getting players back onto the golf course? As demonstrated in the clinical studies required to gain FDA approval, the SpinalStim device has a high spinal fusion success rate of 92% when used as an adjunct to spinal fusion surgery. Patients should consult with their individual doctors to determine whether they can successfully return to the golf course following their spinal fusion surgery and their use of the Orthofix SpinalStim device. To learn more about the recovery experience of other patients utilizing Orthofix bone growth therapy devices, visit bonestimulation.com.

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PGA TOUR INITIATIVES

TECH INNOVATION ON THE PGA TOUR S

everal new initiatives designed to ensure the best experience possible for PGA TOUR fans were introduced in 2017, including ventures into virtual reality, augmented reality, fan feedback and tournament competition. The PGA TOUR VR Live app, available for free via the Oculus store and viewable on Samsung Gear VR headsets or on Twitter, brought a new perspective to events including THE PLAYERS Championship, TOUR Championship and Presidents Cup. The initiative was designed to provide access to views a fan could not otherwise get. The program was unveiled on TPC Sawgrass’ signature par-3 17th hole at THE PLAYERS, with three cameras—at the tee, drop zone and in the water greenside—that allows fans to feel like they are standing on the green and watching the action. At the Presidents Cup, seven cameras provided unique views into the putting green, driving range, first tee, and green. The grandstands cameras featured stunning views of the New York skyline and Statue of Liberty. Golf Channel commentators called the action, creating a live broadcast experience complete with player interviews and fan interaction. Other virtual reality experiences unveiled in 2017 included interactive VR at THE PLAYERS Championship, The Northern Trust and TOUR Championship—including a virtual game allowing fans to attempt to reach the par-5 18th green in two and see how they compare to other fans—and 360-degree highlight videos that are published on the TOUR’s Facebook and YouTube pages. 66

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Intel True VR cameras were set up around the green at No. 17 for THE PLAYERS Championship in May.

The highly anticipated rollout of Apple’s ARKit and Google’s ARCore enabled the TOUR to experiment with 3-D models in phone-based AR environments. With millions of potential users, focusing on this area is a priority in the coming months. The PGA TOUR Fan Council, unveiled in early 2017, strives to gain tangible fan feedback through a series of case studies, such as fan attitudes toward Stephen Curry’s appearance at the Web.com Tour’s Ellie Mae Classic at TPC Stonebrae, and focus groups, such as inviting fans inside the East Lake clubhouse at the TOUR Championship to experience aspects of a TOUR pro’s week on-site that most fans could never see. Effective in mid-2017, fans are now able to capture video content during tournament rounds and post on their personal social media channels, creating a shared experience that allows friends and followers not on-site to glimpse first-hand what it’s like to attend a TOUR event. The Fan Journey, powered through the PGA TOUR app, allows fans to customize their on-site experience in ways like receiving real-time updates on their favorite players, navigating from hole-to-hole and even pre-ordering food and drinks for pick-up. With products currently in the evaluation stage, such as the Emoji Keyboard that allows fans to send TOUR-customized emojis, stickers and animated GIFS to friends and family, and initiatives on the horizon, like the Chatbot product that will allow fans to ask questions to the TOUR via platforms such as Skype and Facebook Messenger, it has become clear that innovation is a distinct priority for the PGA TOUR. ■

The PGA TOUR VR Live app provides access to views a fan could not otherwise get.

IMAGES: PGA TOUR

The PGA TOUR Labs program was born out of a desire to build products and services that enhance the fan experience using Design Thinking principles

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health & fitness

AVOIDING INJURY

Although golf is a low-risk sport compared to some other sports, the length of time golfers spend repeating the same powerful movements, means there are a number of injuries that can be caused, but also avoided in many cases if a player is prepared

IMAGES: ShuttErStock

ower back injuries are amongst the most common in golf, but injuries are also frequently seen in the elbow, shoulders and wrist. Sometimes a minor injury gets ignored, which means that injury may become more severe without treatment, and can result in a chunk of time having to be taken away from the game. This is not something any pro would want to risk, so for all players it’s just as important to get small injuries treated as it is the more serious injury.

SPECIFIC GOLF-RELATED INJURIES Most golf-related injuries are caused by the golf swing, and are generally diagnosed as repetitive strain injuries. w w w.p gat our.com

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SOmE COmmON TyPES Lower back The rotational force of the golf swing puts pressure on the spine, resulting in pain of the lower back. This type of injury is the most common amongst professional golf players. However, there are certain techniques that can be used to minimize the risk of lower back pain (see below). Elbow Elbow injuries are considered the second most common type of golf injury. “Golfer’s elbow” can be caused by a poor swing technique, which results in inflammation and pain of tendons. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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Wrist Wrist injuries are normally caused by impact, and are less common than back injuries. Stress can be put on the wrist due to the repetitive nature of the swing action, so injuries such as tendonitis can occur. Tendonitis is described as the inflammation of a tendon. Symptoms include pain in the part of the wrist near the thumb, a grating sound may be heard as the thumb is moved, and there is likely to be swelling around the area.

up exercises like overhead squats, hip swings and rotational exercises for the upper torso can be very effective.

Shoulder Shoulder injuries are sometimes caused due to the overuse of certain muscles in the shoulder during the golf swing. Taking part in a warm-up routine can help prevent severe pain in this area.

Strengthen and stretch The stronger your muscles, the fewer injuries you will receive. Strength training exercises can improve muscle strength, and regular stretching will improve flexibility. Both of these will help toward a better and faster golf swing. 

check your posture Good posture is a vital part of preventing golfing injuries. When carrying out the golf swing, it’s important to bend the knees and tilt towards the ball from the hips, not the waist—this will keep the back straight.

Advice on treAtment The majority of golf-related injuries are caused by excessive overuse and strain. The treatment for these types of injuries can include a combination of rest, ice packs, anti-inflammatory medications, and sometimes splinting for support. Sports massage, too, can play an important role as a treatment, along with self-help massage products such as the Pure Wave sports muscle and joint massager being effective.

Prevention of injurieS Golfing injuries are often unavoidable, but even the pros get hurt. Here are some techniques that can be used to help prevent common injuries: Warm up It may seem obvious, but warming the body up before playing golf is something that can sometimes be forgotten. It’s important to get the muscles ready for the swinging action, so warm-

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fitneSS for Better reSuLtS Strength training

Strength and flexibility in golf are extremely important for enabling a player to perform an effective golf swing. Golf trainer, Jeff Fronk, says, “The golf swing is one of most dynamic movements of all sports. These pros are generating 100mph or more of club-head speed in a quarter of a second!” Because of the strength and flexibility needed in golf, professional players follow a flexibility regime everyday to keep their joints mobile. For this reason, a combination of core and muscle strengthening exercises, along with stretching exercises, are strongly recommended by all the experts. By following this advice, our chances of avoiding the miserable setback of a golf injury can be minimized and perhaps even avoided altogether.

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YOUNG PLAYERS

ROARING TWENTIES

Well-traveled and battle-tested, this group of PGA TOUR players under age 30 is poised to make noise in 2017-18. Some may not yet be household names, but if recent form holds, that could change—and soon By Tim Murphy

hether you’re a casual fan, an obsessed fantasy-league member or something in between, it is always fun to anticipate which up-and-coming golfers will break through in the months ahead. If you need assistance narrowing the field, the following twentysomethings would be a good place to start. There’s an excellent

chance there’s a Xander Schauffele (page 30) in this contingent. One—or, likely as not, several—of them will make an impact on the PGA TOUR during the 2017-18 season. They may have traveled different roads to (or back to) the TOUR, but they share common ground. They are talented, resilient and very much on a mission.

Ages and statistics as of Oct. 15, 2017

ABRAHAM ANCER Age: 26 Birthplace: McAllen, Texas Height/Weight: 5-7/160 Best PGA TOUR finish: T18 at 2016 FedEx St. Jude Classic After a bumpy ride on the PGA TOUR as a rookie in 2015-16, this former Oklahoma Sooner returns to the big stage after a remarkably consistent run on the Web.com Tour in 2017. In his first pass at the PGA TOUR, Ancer made just six cuts in 19 events and had only one top-25. However, thanks to solid ball-striking and impressive putting, he regained his card by

finishing No. 3 on the Web.com Tour Regular Season money list last season. Texas-born but raised in Mexico until returning to the United States for high school, Ancer holds citizenship in both countries. Not surprisingly, he was one of the first pros to step forward to raise funds for victims of the earthquakes that rocked Mexico in September. With due respect to Lee Trevino, the game’s most successful Hispanic golfer, the last (and only) Mexican national to win on TOUR was Victor Regalado in 1978. Forty years later, Ancer would love to update that list.

PATRICK CANTLAY Age: 25 Birthplace: Long Beach, Calif. Height/Weight: 5-10/160 Best PGA TOUR finish: Second at 2017 Valspar Championship If the TOUR kept stats on resilience and determination, Cantlay would be among the leaders. After spending most of 2016 grappling with the emotional pain of losing his caddie and best friend, Chris Roth, in a fatal hit-and-run accident and the medical reality that a stress fracture in his back that had kept him off the TOUR since late 2014 would require another 10 months rest, Cantlay returned on a mission in 76

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2017. Results came quickly. At the Valspar Championship, his second TOUR event in 27 months, this ex-UCLA Bruin and record-setting amateur (his mark of 54 consecutive weeks atop the World Amateur Golf Ranking still stands) finished second, earning enough to trade his major medical extension for playing privileges the rest of the season. Cantlay made 13 of 13 cuts and won more than $2 million. The last of his four top-10s (T9 at the BMW Championship) landed him in the TOUR Championship, where he tied for 20th to end the season 29th on the FedExCup points list. It was an impressive, inspirational comeback. W W W.P GAT OUR.COM

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YOUNG PLAYERS

MORGAN HOFFMANN Age: 28 Birthplace: Franklin Lakes, N.J. Height/Weight: 6-1/180 Best PGA TOUR finish: T2 at 2017 Honda Classic For a guy not yet 30, this New Jersey native has an impressive résumé. He has learned to fly a plane, helped start up a trendy apparel company (Greyson Clothiers) and transitioned rather smoothly from elite college golfer to PGA TOUR player. Last season the former Oklahoma State star came his closest to adding another entry: breakthrough winner. At The Honda Classic in March, Hoffmann

strung together four rounds in the 60s, the only player in the field to do so. His eight-under 272 left him T2 (with Gary Woodland), four shots back of winner Rickie Fowler, one of Hoffmann’s Cowboy teammates in Stillwater, Okla. An accomplished pilot who loved to talk planes and flying with the late Arnold Palmer, Hoffmann no doubt will be looking to soar more frequently than he did last season. Although he ultimately won more than $1.2 million and qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs for the fourth time in five years, his joint-runner-up finish at The Honda Classic was his only top-10 of 2016-17.

STEPHAN JAEGER Age: 28 Birthplace: Munich, Germany Height/Weight: 5-9/170 Best PGA TOUR finish: T60 at 2017 U.S. Open In 2015 this former University of Tennessee-Chattanooga golfer missed 15 of 19 cuts on the Web.com Tour. The next year he won an event, memorably claiming the Ellie Mae Classic at TPC Stonebrae where he opened with a 58 and finished at 30-under 250, the lowest four-round aggregate for a Web.com Tour, PGA TOUR or PGA TOUR Champions event. Then, in 2017, this former high school

teammate of Harris English chalked up two Web.com Tour victories in three weeks: the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation and the Rust-Oleum Championship, effectively securing his PGA TOUR card for 2017-18. His three-season progression is a fast-ascending career arc a lot of pros would admire. Jaeger, who spoke limited English when he arrived from Germany at Chattanooga’s Baylor School as a high school junior, finished the Web.com Tour’s 2017 Regular Season No. 5 in earnings. Today, Jaeger is both comfortable with his new language and increasingly fluent in the ways of the pro game.

JAMIE LOVEMARK

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

Age: 29 Birthplace: Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. Height/Weight: 6-4/215 Best PGA TOUR finish: P2 at 2009 Frys.com Open, 2016 Zurich Classic of New Orleans The glass half-empty version of this long hitter’s career is that his last win was on the Web.com Tour in 2013. The glass half-full scenario is that he has played consistently well on the PGA TOUR the past two seasons. Lovemark, a former NCAA individual champion at the University of Southern California, has made 26 of 32 cuts and qualified for two FedExCup W W W.P GAT OUR.COM

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Playoffs since the 2016 Travelers Championship. After winning every major college golf honor and twice being named a first-team All-American, Lovemark turned professional in 2009 and lost in a playoff at the Frys.com Open, his fourth TOUR event after leaving the amateur game. The following year, at 22, he became the youngest to win the Web.com Tour money title. The momentum didn’t last. Nine events into his rookie year on TOUR, Lovemark developed back issues that required surgery. The return journey has been uneven, but the last two years suggest his road back might have found solid ground. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

12/12/2017 14:38

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YOUNG PLAYERS

C.T. PAN Age: 26 Birthplace: Miaoli, Taiwan Height/Weight: 5-6/145 Best PGA TOUR finish: T2 at 2017 Farmers Insurance Open Job No. 1 for a PGA TOUR rookie is to learn as much as you can and play well enough to retain your playing privileges for the next season—which is exactly what Pan did in 2016-17. Ever since his mother, a caddie at a course near the family’s home in Taiwan, taught him the basics, Pan’s education as a golfer has been on the fast track. He was a prize pupil at the IMG Academies in Bradenton,

Fla., then a two-time, first-team All-American at the University of Washington, where he won a school-record eight events before getting a degree in communications. It was more of the same at Pan’s next stops: the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, where he won two tournaments and finished second on the 2015 Order of Merit; and the Web.com Tour, where he earned a TOUR card by finishing 11th on the 2016 money list. Once on the main stage, Pan notched three top-10s, none bigger than his T2 at the Farmers Insurance Open. Keep an eye on this facile learner.

SAM RYDER Age: 27 Birthplace: Winter Park, Fla. Height/Weight: 6-2/175 Best PGA TOUR finish: MC at the 2017 U.S. Open Perhaps one day this Sam Ryder will represent the United States and play for the iconic cup donated by the other Sam Ryder, the English seed merchant with an appetite for international competition. But let’s not get ahead of things, which have been going smoothly for Sam the Younger, the former Stetson Hatter who played his way onto the PGA TOUR with a sublime second season on the

Web.com Tour in 2017. After winning a couple of Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada events in 2015, this Longwood, Fla., resident finished 31st on the 2016 Web.com Tour money list. Last season he had 10 top-25s in 23 Web.com Tour events, none better than his eight-stroke victory at the Pinnacle Bank Championship presented by Heartland Chevy Dealers. Thanks chiefly to that win, Ryder finished second on the money list and earned a PGA TOUR card for 2017-18. A two-time Academic All-American at Stetson, Ryder opted out of pre-med so that he might play golf and study finance.

ADAM SCHENK Age: 25 Birthplace: Vincennes, Ind. Height/Weight: 6-2/190 Best PGA TOUR finish: No starts prior to 2017-18 Yes, his last name is pronounced shank, but a glance at his Web.com Tour ledger makes it plain he didn’t spend much time hitting ugly laterals in 2017. After scuffling through the early part of the year, this former Purdue Boilermaker and two-time All-Big Ten selection went on a summer tear that landed him a PGA TOUR card for 2017-18. Starting in mid June, this big-hitter reeled off four consecutive top-5s on the Web.com W W W.P GAT OUR.COM

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Tour, the most lucrative of which was a playoff victory at the Lincoln Land Charity Championship in Springfield, Ill. “It’s funny how this game can change in two weeks,” said Schenk, who won the four-man showdown with a 25-foot birdie on the second extra hole. Schenk ultimately posted five top-10s and wound up No. 12 on the Regular Season money list. That this basketball-loving Indiana native scored his breakthrough win in Illinois, a little more than three hours from the southwestern Indiana farm he grew up on, seems fitting: one of his sponsors is an association representing Illinois and Indiana watermelon growers, shippers and packers. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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YOUNG PLAYERS

OLLIE SCHNIEDERJANS Age: 24 Birthplace: Dallas, Texas Height/Weight: 6-1/190 Best PGA TOUR finish: Second at 2017 Wyndham Championship Never a fan of on-course headwear, Schniederjans has achieved minor celebrity in his young career as “the guy without the hat.” Yet even though this former world No. 1 amateur has rarely worn hats since he stopped playing baseball at age 12, there’s evidence Ollie the Hatless isn’t averse to capping things off in style. Consider his heady finish at the TOUR’s 2016-17 regular-season finale. In his first start after missing the cut at the Barracuda

Championship, the former Georgia Tech All-American arrived at the Wyndham Championship looking to improve his FedExCup standing before the Playoffs. He did just that. After opening with a 66, he posted rounds of 63, 66 and 64. His final round was the only bogey-free tour of Sedgefield Country Club on Sunday. Though his 21-under aggregate left him one shot back of winner Henrik Stenson, Schniederjans’ run at his first PGA TOUR title was topped off with three birdies over the last four holes, including his nearly jarring his approach on the 72nd hole. Hats off to one solid rookie season.

CAMERON SMITH Age: 24 Birthplace: Brisbane, Australia Height/Weight: 5-11/172 Best PGA TOUR finish: Won 2017 Zurich Classic of New Orleans with Jonas Blixt Some people are better at adapting to new situations than others. Some never adapt at all. Then there is the category Smith is in. Present this talented Aussie a new opportunity and stand back. There’s a decent chance something good will happen. Take the time he showed up at his first PGA TOUR event, the CIMB Classic in late 2014. Four rounds later, he had the

first top-five of his TOUR career. The following summer the PGA TOUR Australasian alum made a serious run at becoming the first man since Francis Ouimet (1913) to win the U.S. Open in his first appearance. Smith, then 21, didn’t take the title, but he certainly impressed. En route to finishing T4, two back of winner Jordan Spieth, Smith was the only player to shoot par or better all four rounds at torturous Chambers Bay. Then there was the 2017 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the TOUR’s new two-man team event. The new format certainly suited Smith, who teamed with Jonas Blixt for a playoff victory.

J.J. SPAUN Age: 27 Birthplace: Los Angeles, Calif. Height/Weight: 5-8/185 Best PGA TOUR finish: T4 at 2017 Waste Management Phoenix Open An active supporter of The First Tee programs in Los Angeles and San Diego, this native Californian provided a case study in perseverance—one of the core values the organization instills in young people—with his resilient play at the 2017 Waste Management Phoenix Open, days after a heartbreaking finish at the Farmers Insurance Open. Playing up the road from San Diego State, where 80

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he starred for the Aztecs, Spaun came to the 18th hole at Torrey Pines on Sunday a shot back of eventual winner Jon Rahm. Spaun’s bid for his first PGA TOUR victory came to a watery halt when his approach spun off the green and into a pond. The costly double bogey was a big disappointment, but his T9—the first top-10 of his TOUR career—earned him a spot at Phoenix, where he chose to shine rather than sulk. Spaun, winner of the 2016 News Sentinel Open on the Web.com Tour, had rounds of 71, 64, 67 and 67 at TPC Scottsdale. He finished T4, two shots back of winner Hideki Matsuyama. W W W.P GAT OUR.COM

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YOUNG PLAYERS

PETER UIHLEIN Age: 28 Birthplace: New Bedford, Mass. Height/Weight: 6-1/190 Best PGA TOUR finish: T4 at the 2014 Sanderson Farms Championship When Acushnet Co. CEO Wally Uihlein’s youngest son left Oklahoma State in 2011, he had one of the more impressive junior/college/amateur résumés of the last 25 years: two American Junior Golf Association player of the year awards, two Walker Cup appearances, a U.S. Amateur title, the Ben Hogan Award (college player of the year) and the Mark H. McCormack Medal (top male,

World Amateur Golf Ranking). But those honors didn’t yield Q-School success, and Uihlein headed for the Challenge Tour. It was the start of a five-year, global apprenticeship, chiefly on the European Tour, where he was rookie of the year in 2013 and twice won more than €1 million. Making the most of early year PGA TOUR appearances (such as fifth place at the Puerto Rico Open), Uihlein earned an exemption into the 2017 Web.com Tour Finals. There, in the first event, he edged Ryan Armour for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship title and, finally, had his PGA TOUR passport stamped.

HAROLD VARNER III Age: 27 Birthplace: Akron, Ohio Height/Weight: 5-8/170 Best PGA TOUR finish: T5 at 2015 OHL Classic at Mayakoba After he won the Australian PGA Championship in December 2016 (an event he’d lost in a three-man playoff a year earlier), Varner gave a big shout-out to his “Day 1s”—family, friends and others who had been firmly in his corner since the first day of his pro career. That Varner beat a field that included Adam Scott, Marc Leishman and Andrew Dodt did not surprise those

who’ve followed his development since he was at East Carolina University, the first Pirate golfer to win Conference USA player of the year honors. Nor were they surprised when he played well as a PGA TOUR rookie in 2015-16, notching four top-10s and winning more than $1.3 million. Last season, Varner didn’t reach $1 million in earnings and had to scratch and claw his way to remain inside the top 125 on the FedExCup standings (he ended up No. 108). The season yielded just one top-10, but, as Day 1s might tell you: Never count him out.

RICHY WERENSKI Age: 25 Birthplace: Springfield, Mass. Height/Weight: 6-0/165 Best PGA TOUR finish: P2 at the 2017 Barracuda Championship On the way to the grillroom at The Orchards Golf Club in South Hadley, Mass., there is a wall hanging that salutes the early feats of this local hero who grew up across the street and learned the game at the dandy Donald Ross layout. After this former Georgia Tech golfer’s stretch run during the 2016-17 season, the tribute might need updating. Coming off a missed cut at The Greenbrier Classic, W W W.P GAT OUR.COM

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Werenski found the gear he needed to motor across the finish line with his 2017-18 PGA TOUR card secured. Starting with a T25 at the John Deere Classic and ending with a T10 at the Wyndham Championship, this past winner of Golf Channel’s Big Break (Palm Beaches, 2015) notched four top-25s over the regular season’s final five events. Most impressive was Werenski’s big week at the Barracuda Championship, where his birdie-eaglepar-birdie-birdie finish piled up 11 late points in the Modified Stableford event and landed him in a playoff with Greg Owen and eventual winner Chris Stroud. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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travel No. 3, Ocean Course at One & Only Palmilla Resort.

GOLF ADVENTURES images: one & only palmilla ResoRT

“From sea to shining sea”

In our regular travel section, we visit some familiar and some not-so-familiar destinations that will deliver a memorable experience, always with golf in mind

ith the long Thanksgiving weekend behind us and Christmas and New Year celebrations ahead, it’s a great moment to plan some down time—just a short break, say three or four days, with golf in mind. And here in the U.S. we are, to use the cliché, spoiled for choice in terms of standout resorts east and west, along with great courses to play and tournaments to watch. This

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time for our short-break review we check in to an Arizona hot spot, revisit Mississippi and perennial favorite Mexico. Then, if you can stretch to a longer break, we expand the golf adventure by visiting Colombia, and then a still bigger leap to Australia’s finest, where, in 2019, the Presidents Cup returns to the magnificent Royal Melbourne Golf Club. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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Fall in love with Caymanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stunning shades of blue. Grace Byers

visitcaymanislands.com Photo credit: Rebecca Davidson

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Tee-off surrounded by the natural wonder of the Sedona red rocks on this award-winning, Tom Weiskopf-designed, destination golf course. Enchantment Resort guests have exclusive access to the awe-inspiring, private Seven Canyons Golf Club.

Book your escape today, 866.988.5606, www.enchantmentresort.com, or contact your Personal Travel Advisor.

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travel TRAvEL A view of the clubhouse at the Seven Canyons Sedona Golf Course, Enchantment Resort.

Down south ArizonA

Images: enchantment resort

UNLIMITED WORLD-CLASS GOLF If you’re currently reading this north of the 37th parallel, you’ll doubtless be feeling the winter chill and dreaming of a short break in a warmer climate. So why not head for Arizona? In Phoenix the high summer temperatures that reach over 100°F have now fallen to a winter high of the mid-60s or lower, and the weather experts tell us “Nearly every December day warms to over 60°F in Phoenix”—ideal conditions for golf. The Enchantment Group is offering several very enticing package specials in its luxury property, Enchantment Resort, based in Boynton Canyon, Sedona. This “special” will give you access to the Tom Weiskopf-designed Seven Canyons Sedona Golf Course, owned by Seven Canyons, an exclusive members’ club but also available to registered guests of Enchantment Resort and Mii amo Spa (see below). Enchantment’s “Unlimited Golf Package” invites you to enjoy unlimited world-class golf at the Seven Canyons Sedona Golf Course through this special golf offer which includes: one round of golf at Seven Canyons per person, per night; free same day golf replay (guests are requested to arrange tee times prior to arrival); unlimited use of the practice park including the driving range and transfers to and from the course.

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When it came to designing the course, the story has it that Weiskopf was challenged by a parcel of land thought by some to be too small for a truly great layout. He designed it without any working drawings and incorporated a “core golf” concept that minimizes buildings adjacent to the course. The result is a par-70 course measuring just short of 7,000 yards from the championship tees—not long by modern standard. Seven Canyons puts a premium on exceptional shotmaking with small greens, narrow landing areas, classic-style bunkering, natural water features and constant changes in elevation. For golf purists, the other good news is that the course is very walkable. For the “Unlimited Golf Package,” expect to pay from $625 for four days. Enchantment’s alternative “package special” is a “Spa and Golf Package”. This offers guests a 60-minute spa service at Mii amo, plus one round of golf at Seven Canyons, each day you stay, with unlimited use of the practice area including the driving range. Also included is breakfast each morning, at any restaurant, including Mii amo Café or in-room dining. The Mii amo property comprises a private enclave of casitas with16 luxurious guest rooms and suites bordered by landscaped courtyards, with the casitas having a private patio or balcony. For the “Spa and Golf Package”, expect to pay from $797 for four days. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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s n e e r & s e m G i d o o T G

Away from the links, more good times await. You can experience memorable dining, shopping and attractions across our state. Rest at one of our many boutique hotels, relax at our world-class spas, or just soak in some of our soulstirring blues in Mississippiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s temperate climate. TUNICA NATIONAL - TUNICA RESORTS, MISSISSIPPI

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travel

Mississippi

No. 8, Mossy Oak Golf Club.

Images: mossy oak golf club

THE STATE’S NEWEST Professional and amateur golfers may know Mississippi through the PGA TOUR’s Sanderson Farms Championship at the Country Club of Jackson, held annually for nearly 50 years. The state’s full portfolio of private and public courses has plenty more to offer golfers of all skill levels. Mississippi’s 140 courses highlight the diverse geography of the state, from the rolling Hills and Pines regions to the varied landscapes of the Capital/River region and the wide vistas of the Delta and Gulf Coast. The roll call of premier designers who have courses in the state includes Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Arnold Palmer and Jerry Pate. The state’s newest course, Mossy Oak Golf Club, introduces a new name to the list: Gil Hanse, fresh off his successful 2016 Olympics course design in Rio. Mossy Oak Golf Club aims to give players a full-sensory, immersive outdoors experience, an idea described as “Nature’s Golf” by Hanse, who partnered with Mossy Oak and the George and Marcia Bryan family on his first design since the Olympics. Fitting with Hanse’s minimalist approach, his latest course winds through the natural landscape, preserving and accentuating the Mississippi Black Prairie’s native plant species. The Scottish links-style course pairs well with sister course Old Waverly, located adjacent to Mossy Oak and host of professional tournaments including the 1999 U.S. Women’s Open. Lodging packages are available at Old Waverly’s cottages, condos and villas, affording golfers a resort-style getaway with the opportunity to play two world-class courses in one location. Daily guest rates are $150 with cart and $130 for course walkers, with variable Stay & Play package rates for weekends and weekdays from $105$135. Get the latest rates and book tee times online at mossyoakgolf.com

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area courses. One great destination. Discover why coastal Alabama is emerging as one of the South’s best golf destinations. With 15 area courses, you have great options to play every day—from scenic coastlines and wetland preserves to rolling hills and links-style golf. Between rounds, you’ll love our sugar-white sand beaches, top-rated deep-sea fishing, shopping excursions, historical sites and wide selection of accommodations. Dining and nightlife options are also abundant, but southern hospitality, fresh seafood and of course, golf, are our specialties. Start planning your trip today.

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TRAVEL

ALABAMA

IMAGES: CRAFT FARMS GOLF RESORT; CYPRESS BEND; COTTON CREEK

GREAT COURSES TO PLAY Craft Farms Golf Resort boasts two public golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer, the only courses in Alabama he designed. Both courses are located just minutes away from Fort Morgan and the beautiful white-sand beaches of Gulf Shores, Ala., and are considered two of the best public golf courses in the South. The 18-hole Cotton Creek course and 18-hole Cypress Bend course challenge golfers at every level while providing a peaceful, serene environment of the natural Baldwin County Alabama landscape. The courses have a distinctively coastal feel, with dwarf Bermuda grasses and numerous lakes that meander throughout the property. The style of play is friendly. The landscape of south W W W.P GAT OUR.COM

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Alabama is outstanding, with massive live oaks dripping with Spanish moss, towering pine forests, numerous lakes, creeks and interesting native wildlife. After a game, players like to visit the plantation-style clubhouse that has a casual bar and grill, or the Arnold Palmer dining room with great views is another option. This resort has partnered with Coastal Alabama Golf to offer premier Stay & Play packages. For example, this fall’s “Gulf Shores Golf Experience” stay-and-play package includes golf with on-site accommodations at Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club or Craft Farms Golf Resort. Guests are given an option of 2 nights with 3 rounds of golf starting at $299 per player, or 3 nights with 4 rounds of golf starting at $399 per player. In addition to Craft Farms, Coastal Alabama Golf works with seven other area courses

as well. So if you want to mix it up, they can pair you with any of these area courses.

Craft Farms Golf Resort boasts the only golf courses in Alabama designed by the great Arnold Palmer.

ON THE RTJ TRAIL

No. 6, Cypress Bend.

The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is the largest golf course construction project ever attempted, and the Trail now presents us with what the developers call “a dazzling collection of public golf courses in the state of Alabama.” The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is offering a special Winter Membership featuring unlimited golf from November through February at nine RTJ Trail sites (however, the deal isn’t valid for Lakewood or Ross Bridge). Golfers can purchase Winter Membership in monthly increments for up to four months. Winter Membership is $165 per month per person (cart fees not included) and can be purchased in the golf shops at each Trail site. Check out rtjgolf.com/winter/

No. 9, Cotton Creek.

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AN AMAZING LUXURY EXPERIENCE Set on an idyllic, pristine stretch of white sand in Playa del Carmen, the Royal Hideaway Playacar effortlessly blends world-class service and luxurious accommodations. A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, this all-inclusive, adults-only haven offers peace, quiet and privacy. The resortâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newly refurbished 200 villa accommodations are opulently appointed, offering 24-hour room service and a personalized Butler. Bask in the sun around one of six pools or beachside, retreat to our full-service spa or indulge in sumptuous cuisine at six Ă -la-carte restaurants. End your day with a stroll down La Quinta Avenida for beachside shopping and entertainment. royalhideaway.com

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travel

Enticing

images: getty; pga tour

MEXICO CIty For more than 50 years Mexico has benefited from massive investment in hotels, resorts and golf courses that have today boosted tourism by providing high-end vacation opportunities that are proving to be perennially popular. Many of these golf facilities are world class, enticing the return of golf fans from the U.S. to favorite resorts year after year. To quote just one statistic, in 2016 Mexico City was top of the New York Times’ list of 52 places

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MEXICO

to visit. So, it seems we have every good reason to revisit Mexico in our regular Travel Section. Indeed, with golf in mind, you can both watch and play if Mexico City is on your bucket list. Watch: The World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship takes place February 28-March 4, and is the first tournament in the series. There is plenty of excitement surrounding this event with the world’s top players competing at the Club de Golf Chapultepec,

including 2017 champion Dustin Johnson. Play: Highly rated is the public course at the Club de Golf Bellavista, which has an 18-hole course built in 1961 designed by Percy Clifford, an architect who was at the forefront of golf-course development in Mexico, with 18 courses to his name across the country. The club has many family-focused facilities and is approximately an hour’s drive from Mexico City center. Check out: clubdegolfbellavista.com

Club de Golf Capultepec with a view of Mexico city in the background.

CHoose your season High: December through April Low: May through November For sun seekers, an average of 300 days of sun a year is guaranteed, with a temperature range of 75-85°F.

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Stay Exquisite Experience a modern sanctuary in natural splendor at The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort. Nestled in a captivating setting near one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most alluring beaches, immersing guests in unsurpassed luxury.

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TRAvEL travel A stunning view of the ocean and deck at the One & Only Palmilla Resort.

Baja California Peninsula

Both pool and oceanside can be enjoyed at the One & Only Palmilla Resort.

images: one & only palmilla ResoRT

EARTHLY PARADISE This popular Pacific coastal region borders the Pacific Ocean on the west, Sonora, Arizona and the Gulf of California on the east, Baja California Sur to the south, and California to the north. The terrain and climate are similar to San Diego County, California, on its northern border. The Nature Conservancy calls the region “The World’s Aquarium” as the Gulf of California and Baja California’s shores are home to one-third of Earth’s entire marine mammal species. For vacationers on the move around the Pacific peninsula of Baja, there are many superb resorts and great golf courses to investigate. w w w.p gat our.com

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TRAVEL

PALMILLA BEACH A 5-star upscale waterside retreat, the One & Only Palmilla Resort, Los Cabos, has all the facilities you would expect from its “luxury” rating—driving range, putting green and short game area, along with a golf school and fittingly stylish accommodations and fine dining. The Palmilla Golf Club is Jack Nicklaus’ first Latin America design, and is considered one of the standout golf courses in Los

Cabos. The 27-hole Jack Nicklaus signature course opened in 1993. Palmilla Golf Club went on to host the 1997 Senior Slam with Hale Irwin—who leads PGA TOUR Champions with 45 career wins—defeating Nicklaus, Ray Floyd and Gil Morgan.

The charm of the Pacific coast at the One & Only Palmilla Resort.

Getting there… Airports for this region are: Los Cabos International Airport, distance: 9.5 miles and Manuel Márquez de León International Airport, distance: 83 miles.

IMAGES: ONE & ONLY PALMILLA RESORT

Exotic atmosphere at the One & Only Palmilla Resort.

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IN LOS CABOS

WONDERFUL MOMENTS DESERVE A WONDERFUL PLACE MARAVILLOSOS MOMENTOS MERECEN UN LUGAR MARAVILLOSO

Melia.com | Km 19.5, Carr. Transpeninsular, 23400 San JosÃ© del Cabo, B.C.S. reservaciones.paradisus.loscabos@melia.com | +521 (624) 144 0000

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travel

Los Cabos

images: Paradisus Los Cabos

20 MILES OF BEAUTIFUL BEACHES On the Southern tip of Mexico’s Baja peninsula, Los Cabos is a municipality that encompasses the cities of Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo and with 20 miles of beachfront resorts between them. There’s a choice of popular beaches including Playa Santa Maria, Chileno, Monuments Beach, Twin Dolphin Beach, Costa Azul, Palmilla, Playa Acapulquito, Bledito, Playa Cabo Real and more. To this tourist zone, where menus are often printed in English and prices given in dollars, the region remains a magnet for more than a million American w w w.p gat our.com

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tourists each year, including Hollywood stars. Located here is the beach resort of Paradisus Los Cabos, just 15 miles from the airport. Here you’ll be relaxing in well-appointed luxury rooms or suites, along with a choice seven bars and seven restaurants, each providing an array of culinary options. While being the perfect retreat for a family vacation, the Paradisus also offers an adults-only Royal Service with personalized Butler Service. Golf privileges at nearby Cabo Real Golf and additional golf courses are also available. The pool area at Paradisus Los Cabos Resort. The central garden cocktail area at the Paradisus Los Cabos. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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TRAVEL

PUERTO LOS CABOS A short drive from the historic downtown area of San José del Cabo is Puerto Los Cabos, where, for boating enthusiasts, the marina is considered one of the best on Mexico’s west coast. Marina Puerto Los Cabos currently has 200 slips and accommodates up to 250-foot megayachts with concierge services, a maintenance yard, and all the necessary amenities. Here you will also find plenty of sport fishing opportunities, with fast charter boats taking parties out to fish where the wild things are, for marlin, tuna, dorado and other species. Ashore once more, the luxury retreat of Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort has a composite golf course offering an 18-hole experience consisting of 9 holes designed by Jack Nicklaus and nine holes designed by Greg Norman. Located right next to the resort, this course offers

spectacular ocean views from every hole and dramatic elevation changes, with rolling desert foothills backdropped by the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains, with all 18 holes perched high above the Sea of Cortes. The first course is the Mission Course, a 3,590-yard, par 36 creation by Norman; second course is the club’s 3,871-yard, par 37 Marina Course, designed by Nicklaus and featuring rippling fairways, undulating greens and sculpted bunkers. Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort, promoted as the “ultimate adults-only escape,” has 500 luxurious guest suites, each featuring a king-size bed (or two double beds), full bathroom with whirlpool, private and furnished terrace or balcony, complimentary mini-bar and other luxury amenities such as private airport transfers. There are also five à la carte gourmet restaurants, a buffet venue, a grill and a café.

Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort has nines designed by Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman.

IMAGES: PUERTO LOS CABOS GOLF & SPA RESORT

An aerial view of Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort.

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travel No. 14, TPC Cartagena.

Colorful CArtAgenA

IMAGES: tpc cArtAGEnA

An important port on the Caribbean coast, parts of Cartagena are designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site—the port, the fortresses and the group of monuments—and region has museums, restaurants, beaches and golf courses. There are some 240 hotels in the area, including a hotel that just opened, the Conrad Cartagena, part of the Hilton Group, offering luxury accommodations and all the amenities you would expect, including golf, tennis, fitness center and spa.

SPECTACULAR SETTING Formerly the Karibana Golf Club, the TPC Cartegena development has become popular largely due to the 18-hole golf course by Nicklaus Design, and having a spectacular

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COLOMBIA

setting on the edge of the Caribbean Sea. An exceptional and challenging course, which hosts the Web.com Tour’s Karibana Championship. TPC Cartagena and the Karibana community are offering several Stay & Play golf vacation packages, including: • “Holiday Inn Stay & Play”—one-night accommodations at the Holiday Inn Cartagena Morros; one round of golf at TPC Cartagena + other benefits (from $194 per person). • “Custom Golf Vacation Experience”—play TPC Cartagena’s par 72 championship course, with overnight accommodations at one of a number of local and historic hotel partners, plus complimentary range balls, practise facility access and beach and amenities access (from $194 per person).

• “Radisson Stay & Play”—one-night accommodations at the Radisson Ocean Pavilion; one round of golf at TPC Cartagena (from $222 per person). • “Charleston Santa Teresa Stay & Play”—two-night accommodations at the Charleston Santa Teresa; one round of golf at TPC Cartagena (from $590 per person). (Rates for the above four packages include daily breakfast buffet, transport to TPC Cartagena, and other benefits. For availability and additional information, visit tpc.com) Getting there... The Rafael Núñez International Airport, Cartagena, is the busiest airport in Colombia’s Caribbean region and the fourth in passenger traffic in the country. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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TRAVEL No. 9, Royal Melbourne Golf Club, East Course.

CHOOSE YOUR SEASON High: Summer top temperatures are usually in January and February, when temperatures are occasionally over 86°F, with mean temperatures between 57.2 - 77.5°F. Low: In winter (June–August) average temperatures range from 43.7 - 57.6°F, and snow falls in the north-east of Victoria, known as High Country, although snow in Melbourne is extremely rare.

Golf ’s finest …

AUSTRALIA

MELBOURNE

IMAGES: ROYAL MELBOURNE GOLF CLUB

PRESIDENTS CUP 2019 Here’s an occasion when golf fans dreaming of the vacation of a lifetime will need to plan far ahead. This is when the Presidents Cup returns to the prestigious Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Dec. 9-15, 2019. This will be the third time in event’s 25-year history that Royal Melbourne has hosted the Presidents Cup (and, just for the record, the International Team won in 1998, while the U.S. Team won in 2011). The PGA TOUR, which conducts the biennial competition, comments: “While golf fans can expect an incredible atmosphere and unmatched access to the competition, the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne will be a social, lifestyle and business gathering that will bring all backgrounds and interests together to enjoy a week-long festival atmosphere. On the course,

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players from across the world will be celebrated for their achievements, sportsmanship and love of the game. Off the course, fans will be able to find culinary options from around the world as well as hospitality and fan venues to match all levels of spectating and socializing, all while enjoying the very best in Australian culture.” The TOUR will be offering Travel Packages and fans are requested to state your interest by filling in a form on the official website: presidentscup.com

“SANDBELT” COURSES A short distance from the Royal Melbourne Club is the Metropolitan Golf Club, one of Melbourne’s renowned Sandbelt courses and widely regarded as one of the finest championship courses in Australia. The Club advises there are limited playing times

that are generally available on weekdays, adding, “If you are a member of an interstate or overseas golf club and would like to play at Metropolitan, please make a request by email to our Membership and Guest Services Manager, Ben Jarvis – benj@ metropolitangolf.com.au.”

PACKAGES For those seeking a golf resort vacation in the Melbourne area, in addition to taking in the Presidents Cup, Fairway Golf Tours tell us they have “access to the best golf courses in the land. Melbourne’s Sandbelt is world renowned for boasting some of the best courses in the world all within close proximity to one another.” Check out: fairwaygolftours.com.au

FULFILLING EXPECTATIONS If you prefer to make your own stay-and-play arrangements,

there are many resorts and clubs in the Melbourne area that offer their own packages. The Victoria Golf Club is just one example, telling us: “Our ‘Stay and Play’ packages provide for a complete experience inclusive of both a world-class course and wonderful hospitality.” With one of Australia’s finest course, designed by William Meader, Oscar Damman and Dr Alister MacKenzie, and its luxury accommodations, the Victoria Golf Club would fulfil the golf traveler’s highest expectations. For more details, check out: victoriagolf.com.au Getting there… Serving international and national flights, Melbourne Airport, colloquially known as Tullamarine Airport, is the primary airport serving the city of Melbourne, and the second busiest airport in Australia.

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“Everything nice!”

travel

JAMAICA This famous Caribbean island has no fewer than 11 golf courses which range in difficulty to suit every level of player. Most courses 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.

Mandeville

No. 5, Cinnamon Hill Golf Course at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa.

No. 11, Half Moon.

A charming and beautiful town, Mandeville is less than 10 miles from the southern coast of Jamaica. A popular tourist retreat, its chief claim to fame is the nearby Manchester Golf Club opened in 1865, making this the oldest golf club in the Caribbean. The 2,865 yards of the par 35 course stretches over 55 acres of rolling hills and, at 2,000 feet above sea level, there are breathtaking views from many of the holes. The course itself is set on undulating terrain and, with sand traps and bunkers, players are ensured of their fair share of challenges.

IMAGES: hIlton roSE hAll rESort & SpA; hAlf Moon

MonteGo Bay Cinnamon Hill, Half Moon, White Witch and ironshore Golf & Country Club are located in Montego Bay, A region known for superior club facilities, diverse and challenging courses along with spectacular settings, the famous Montego Bay lies at the north-eastern end of the island. There are four notable resorts, making this a very popular golf destination. w w w.p gat our.com

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Cinnamon Hill Golf Course offers a quintessential golf experience while protecting a rich cultural and natural environment. From Hank Smedley’s original 1969 design to von Hagge and Baril’s brilliant 2001 redesign, this setting is preserved for future generations. Interesting to note is that near the 15th green is the site of a memorable scene in the James Bond movie Live and Let Die, and nearby is Cinnamon Hill Great House. Other nearby courses are Half Moon, offering a 3-night minimum stay allowing you to enjoy unlimited rounds on the 18-hole par-72 championship course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. White Witch and the ironshore Golf & Country Club have much to recommend them to vacationers seeking great golf and relaxation. More choices... Jamaica’s other notable resorts provide 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 built some of the fastest putting greens south of Augusta, and the course is probably still the toughest test on the island. Golf courses in the Ocho Rios area include Sandals Golf & Country Club and Jewel Runaway Golf Resort.

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whhe e onn driving you’ have to do is on e goo course Jamaica Tourist Board.indd 1

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Walk the course. Feed the world. When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re wearing a UNICEF Kid Power fitness tracker, every round of golf will save lives. Walking the fairways earns you points that UNICEF converts into lifesaving food packets for malnourished children around the world. Get a Kid Power Band or connect the free UNICEF Kid Power app to your phoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health app.

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Charity insight

These Guys Are Good Our occasional series continues with a look at some of the PGA TOUR players who make a commitment to the many charities that benefit from their individual support

he tournaments of the PGA TOUR provide a bulwark for local charities in every community where an event is played. But the contributions of individual players know no boundaries and extend far beyond tournament sites. In this issue, we focus on six PGA TOUR players who are dedicated to giving back to society—both in the United States and around the world.

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

aul Casey Casey’s decision to partner with UNICEF was driven by the birth of his kids—he is passionate about putting children’s needs first and fighting famine and food crises. In May 2017, the Brit announced he would personally donate $100 to UNICEF for every birdie he made until the end of the year. In addition, he has pledged to put his autographed golf bag up for grabs; any donation to this cause exceeding $50 will be entered into the raffle.

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So far, Casey, who finished 11th in the 2016-17 FedExCup Playoffs, has raised more than $40,000. For more information, visit pledgeit.org

Paul Casey (left) partnered with UNICEF. K.J. Choi supports underprivileged children and junior golfers.

.J. Choi One of South Korea’s most successful golfers, Choi is also well known for being a great contributor to charitable causes. In 2007, in conjunction with community leaders in his home country, Choi established the K.J. Choi Foundation, an organization supporting underprivileged children with welfare services and professional help. Through his junior golf program, K.J. Choi Dream Team, the eighttime PGA TOUR champion also supports junior golfers in difficult situations and helps them achieve their dream of playing professional golf. On August 29, 2017, Choi held a fundraising event designed to raise money for the K.J. Choi Foundation. After the event PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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Charity insight

he pledged the money—which amounted to $100,000—to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

tewart Cink Every year, the Payne Stewart Award presented by Southern Company is given to a professional golfer who demonstrates and embraces the values of character, sportsmanship and charity. In 2017 Cink received the Award (see the interview, pp.52-54) for his philanthropic initiatives. The 11-time PGA TOUR winner is passionate about helping those in need and assists many charities nationwide. As a supporter of the East Lake Foundation, Cink helps local families build a better life for themselves and future generations through cradle-tocollege education, mixed-income housing and community wellness.

enny Perry Perry is known for his fundraising for the Boys & Girls Club of Franklin-Simpson, a charity that helps young people in his Kentucky hometown area gain skills that will enable them to become well-rounded citizens. He donated his Presidents Cup charitable allotment to the cause in 2003 and 2009 and in 2016 he hosted the ninth annual Charity Golf Invitational to support the facility. In 2009 he was the recipient of the Payne Stewart Award in recognition of his charitable efforts. Perry is also affiliated with the David Lipscomb University Trust and Potter Children’s Home in Bowling Green, Ky.

hil Mickelson The Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation donated $100,000 to the Hurricane Harvey recovery effort in the Houston area. Since the foundation’s inception in 2004, its guiding principle has been to assist families recovering from loss of life or limbs, or lack of opportunity. “Both Amy and I benefited from being raised in strong, loving families and now we’re thankful to be in a position to help others strengthen their own family bonds,” Mickelson said. Their efforts continue today, with a special emphasis on raising funds for military charities. One example is the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which grants college scholarships to the surviving children of Special Ops personnel killed in the line of duty. The foundation has also launched the Start Smart initiative, a San Diego-based enterprise geared to improving classroom engagement and experiences to aid children’s development.

Phil Mickelson aided hurricane victims and helps children in military families.

Stewart Cink, winner of the 2017 Payne Stewart Award, is a supporter of the East Lake Foundation.

att Kuchar Kuchar’s charitable efforts are focused on helping children with serious illnesses and disabilities to lead fuller lives. The 13-time PGA TOUR winner and his wife, Sybi, are also supporters of Camp Twin Lakes—an association providing state-of-the-art facilities designed to help children overcome obstacles. ■

Kenny Perry (far left) is a dedicated supporter of causes near his hometown of Franklin, Kentucky. Matt Kuchar focuses on helping children with illnesses and disabilities. 112

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2017-2018 2017-2018 TOURNAmENT tournament OvERvIEw review

The SeaSon ahead

images: geTTY images

he 2017-18 PGA TOUR schedule features two new events, bringing the total to 49 FedExCup tournaments. The first debut came in the 2017 portion of the schedule with the inaugural THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES at South Korea’s acclaimed The Club at Nine Bridges in October, which was won by Justin Thomas. The CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES made for a three-tournament sequence through Asia along with the CIMB Classic in Malaysia and the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in China. The second new TOUR event is the elevation of a tournament that has been played on the Web.com Tour for two years, the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship in the Dominican Republic. The site is the Tom Fazio-designed Corales course with March 22-25 dates, the same week as the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play. In turn, the Puerto Rico Open moves to March 1-4, coinciding with the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship. With the addition of the two new international tournaments, the schedule includes nine tournaments in eight countries outside the

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United States. The new event in South Korea brought the total to eight fall events to start the season, with the other seven remaining in place. After a break, the 2018 portion of the season begins as usual with two events in Hawaii followed by five events on the West Coast in their traditional order. The March schedule is bookended with World Golf Championships events, with the Mexico event in its second year in Mexico City and the Match Play in its third year in Austin, Texas. Three Florida events fill out that portion of the schedule. The Houston Open again precedes the Masters, and the latter part of April includes the second year of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans as a two-man team event following a successful launch in 2017. In May, the Wells Fargo Championship moves back to Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte after a year in Wilmington, N.C., as Quail Hollow hosted the 2017 PGA Championship. That’s followed a week later by the flagship THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass and then by a new venue for the AT&T Byron Nelson, the Trinity Forest Club in Dallas. 

Justin Thomas is coming off a superb 2016-17 season that saw him win the FedExCup.

Dustin Johnson will defend four titles in 2017-18, including two World Golf Championships events.

David Barrett, Tournament Editor PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

October 5-8, 2017

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

Course Information Silverado has two 18-hole courses designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. in the 1960s. It was given a fresh update in 2010 after two-time major winner Johnny Miller and his business partners bought the property. Silverado served as site of the tournament starting in 2014 after hosting PGA TOUR events from 1968-80 and a PGA TOUR Champions event from 1989-2002.

Yardage 7,166; par 72

2017 Champion Brendan Steele, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel

Tickets In 2017, Daily and GoodAny-One-Day tickets were $40, 5-Day tickets were $100, available through www.safewayopen.com. Children 15 and under were free with a paid adult, there was free admission for military and a discount for veterans.

Social Media

“This place is so great for me, I feel so comfortable here and it’s been a great run.” —Brendan Steele

Chesson Hadley set the course record with a 61 in the second round.

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HOW BRENDAN STEELE WON

Location

Brendan Steele successfully defended his title at the Safeway Open, coming from two strokes behind with a final-round 69 to win by two over Tony Finau. Steele, who lost the 54-hole lead in 2015 before a come-from-behind victory in 2016, made up ground with a front-nine 33 while the two players who started ahead of him— Tyler Duncan and Chesson Hadley—were falling back on a windy Sunday. Steele bogeyed 12 and 14 before clinching the win with birdies on two par 5s, the 16th and 18th. Finau closed with a 69, briefly earning a tie for the lead during the back nine before a double bogey on 14. Phil Mickelson was within one stroke late in the day but settled for a 70 and a tie for third with Hadley.  Steele made five birdies in a six-hole stretch for a 31 on his first nine Thursday (the back nine) and shot a 65 to share the first-round lead.  Steele’s ball-striking was outstanding as he ranked first in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee (1.541 per round) and seventh in Strokes Gained: Approachthe-Green (1.592 per round).

Tyler Duncan’s strong opening 36 holes boosted him to T5.

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2017/2018 tournament overview

quick facts

No. 1, Silverado Resort and Spa (North Course).

Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.2 million Winner’s Share: $1,116,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

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

check this out

X Brendan Steele became not only the first player to win the Safeway Open in consecutive years but the first to win the event more than once in its 11-year history. X In the three years the event has been at Silverado Resort and Spa, Steele’s cumulative total of 50-under is the best of any player.

X The 54-hole leader has gone on to win only three times since the event started in 2007—Troy Matteson (2009), Rocco Mediate (2010) and Sangmoon Bae (2014). X Chesson Hadley’s 61 in the second round was a course record, topping Scott Piercy’s 62 in 2016.

leaDerBoarD 2017 Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Brendan Steele

273/-15

500.00

$1,116,000.00

Tony Finau

275/-13

300.00

$669,600.00

Chesson Hadley

276/-12

162.50

$359,600.00

Phil Mickelson

276/-12

162.50

$359,600.00

Graham DeLaet

277/-11

105.00

$235,600.00

Tyler Duncan

277/-11

105.00

$235,600.00

images: getty images

Graham DeLaet tied for fifth at 11 under.

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Tony Finau was runner-up two strokes behind the winner.

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

fan eXPerience

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Player

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notaBle course features

Fan enhancements were highlighted by live music after play on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. All ticketed fans were welcomed into special areas, including the Safeway Food & Wine Pavilion, featuring food from Safeway Signature Café and world-renowned chefs, with two viewing decks. Other spots were Coors Light Beer Fore Birdies, with discounts whenever a player made a birdie or eagle on the 16th hole; the Spirits Lounge; the Brew Loft and the City Cardmember Club overlooking the 18th green. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

October 12-15, 2017

CIMB Classic

Course Information Formerly known as Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club, TPC Kuala Lumpur features two courses, East and West, opened in 1991. The course was extensively redesigned in 2008 by Parslow & Winter Golf Design, with the West Course lengthened to around 7,000 yards. The course, liberally dotted with water hazards and bunkers, is known for its excellent condition with Seaside Paspalum grass on the fairways and greens. The East Course is also a championship-quality venue that hosts an LPGA event.

Yardage 7,005; par 72

2017 Champion Pat Perez, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel

Tickets In equivalent U.S. currency, tickets cost about $18 Thursday and Friday, $27 for the weekend, or $50 for a season badge, with discounts for CIMB cardholders. For information, go to www.cimbclassic.com.

Social Media

“I knew I had to stay on the gas here, because guys can go low any day. I was expecting someone to shoot 63 or something like that.” —Pat Perez

With opening and closing rounds of 64, Cameron Smith tied for fifth place.

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HOW PAT PEREZ WON

Location Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia TPC Kuala Lumpur (West Course)

Pat Perez jumped out to a four-stroke lead with rounds of 66-65-64, and a final-round 69 was good enough to yield a four-stroke victory, the third career win for the 41-year-old and second in two seasons. Perez got off to a hot start with three birdies in the first four holes on Sunday to extend his lead to six strokes and was able to put it on cruise control after that as he made par on the last 10 holes as his lead never went below four and he finished 24-under. With the closest pursuers through 54 holes— Xander Schauffele and Sung Kang—shooting 72 and 71, respectively, in the final round to tie for third at 17-under, Keegan Bradley moved into second place at 20-under with a 67.  Perez had birdie streak of three in a row in Rounds 1, 3 and 4 and four in a row in Round 2.  Perez was T1 in Greens in Regulation Percentage, hitting 62 of 72 greens. He hit 16 greens in the first, third and fourth rounds.  Perez was 18-under on the front nine, shooting 32-30-33-33.

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama picked up his third straight top-five finish in the tournament.

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2017/2018 tournament overview

quick facts

Pat Perez putts on the 18th hole during the final round of the 2017 CIMB Classic at TPC Kuala Lumpur.

Field: 78 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7 million Winner’s Share: $1,260,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

charity Benefit Tournament proceeds are distributed through the CIMB Foundation. The Foundation’s initiatives are aimed at empowering communities in a transparent, measurable and accountable way to enable them to stand on their own. The focus is on the areas of community development, sports and education.

X Pat Perez’s 21-under 195 total for 54 holes set the tournament record, breaking the mark of 196 by Justin Thomas and Brendan Steele in 2015. His four-stroke lead through 54 holes tied the record of Anirban Lahiri (2016). X The third-round leader has won six of the eight CIMB Classics.

X At 41 years, 7 months, 14 days, Perez became the oldest winner of the CIMB Classic, which began in 2010. X Hideki Matsuyama has three consecutive top-five finishes in the event: fifth in 2015, second in 2016 and T-5 in 2017.

leaDerBoarD 2017 Player

Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Pat Perez

264/-24

500.00

$1,260,000.00

Keegan Bradley

268/-20

300.00

$756,000.00

Sung Kang

271/-17

162.50

$406,000.00

271/-17

162.50

$406,000.00

272/-16

105.00

$266,000.00

Cameron Smith

272/-16

105.00

$266,000.00

images: getty images

South Korea’s Sung Kang was T3 at 17 under.

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Xander Schauffele, the 2016-17 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year, was T3.

The 16th hole is a par 4 of only 318 yards, which depending on tee placement and the player’s power offers the tantalizing chance to try to drive the green. But a large pond practically hugs the left side of the putting surface, making accuracy paramount if the bold play is chosen. Others can safely lay up off the tee and try to make birdie with a wedge approach.

fan eXPerience

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Xander Schauffele Hideki Matsuyama

notaBle course features

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check this out

The Public Village includes the exhibition tents of the Public Expo, a variety of food vendors in the Food Pavilion, the Family Fun Zone and a merchandise tent. Close by are a couple other special venues, the Carlsberg Beer Garden and the Singleton Whisky Lounge. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

October 19-22, 2017

THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES Location Yeoju-gun, South Korea The Club at Nine Bridges

Course Information The Club at Nine Bridges opened in 2001 and has earned many accolades, including a ranking of 41st in the world by Golf Magazine. Located on Jeju Island near the base of Mount Halla, the course was designed by Ronald Fream and David Dale. The architects incorporated natural features into the design, with lakes, streams and rolling topography framed by forests. The course hosted an LPGA event from 2002 to 2005.

Justin Thomas, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel

Tickets Grounds tickets cost about $54 Thursday-Friday, $89 on the weekend and $223 for a weekly badge in equivalent U.S. currency, available through www.thecjcup.com. Children 18 and under were free accompanied by a ticketed adult.

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2017 Champion

HOW JUSTIN THOMAS WON

Justin Thomas, the 2016-17 PGA TOUR Player of the Year, added an early-season win on the 2017-18 schedule when he defeated Marc Leishman in a playoff at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES. Thomas was sizzling out of the gate with a 7-under 29 on his first nine on Thursday on the way to a 63 that gave him a three-stroke lead, but he fell two strokes behind after slipping to a 74 in the second round. With the winds picking up, a 70 on Saturday brought him back into a tie for the lead. He fell back with a double bogey on the third hole in a windy final round before recovering to shoot a 72 with a birdie on the 18th to reach a playoff, where he won with a birdie on the second extra hole.  Thomas played Nos. 12-18, the last seven holes of his first nine on Thursday, in 8-under with eagles 12 and 18 (both par 5s) and birdies on 14, 15, 16 and 17 to shoot a 29 after a bogey on his first hole.  Thomas ranked first in Putts Per Round with 28.75.

Social Media

Cameron Smith finished third as the field battled windy conditions the last three rounds.

Marc Leishman closed with a 70 and lost on the second playoff hole.

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IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; SHUTTERSTOCK

Yardage 7,196; par 72

“The fans were awesome this week, they were very supportive. They definitely helped me get through the end of the day as I was starting to lose some energy.” ––Justin Thomas

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2017/2018 tournament overview

quick facts

No. 18, The Club at Nine Bridges.

Field: 78 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $9,250,000 Winner’s Share: $1,665,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

charity Benefit

Proceeds from the tournament go to the CJ Welfare Foundation and CJ Culture Foundation, supporting a wide range of projects from aiding retirees to fostering up-and-coming young artists and athletes. Among the initiatives are the “Silver Delivery” project, which gives part-time delivery jobs to retired seniors and a joint effort with UNESCO aiming to expand education among girls in undeveloped nations.

leaDerBoarD 2017 Player

Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Justin Thomas

279/-9

500.00

$1,665,000.00

Marc Leishman

279/-9

300.00

$999,000.00

Cameron Smith

280/-8

190.00

$629,000.00

Whee Kim

282/-6

135.00

$444,000.00

Fourth at six under, Whee Kim had the best finish among South Koreans as the PGA TOUR played its first official event in their country.

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A first-round 63 gave Justin Thomas a three-shot lead, but things tightened up before he was able to follow up his fantastic 2016-17 with an early-season victory.

notaBle course features

fan eXPerience

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X Justin Thomas earned his seventh career victory at the age of 24 years, 5 months, 29 days. It was his third in Asia, also including the CIMB Classic in Malaysia in 2015 and 2016. X Thomas’ 63 in the first round was the best score of the week by two strokes.

X In the PGA TOUR’s first official event in Korea, Whee Kim led Korean players with a fourth-place finish. X After the field averaged 70.948 in relatively calm first-round conditions, the next three rounds in the wind produced average scores of 73.346, 74.795 and 73.690.

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check this out

Nine Bridges features an interesting set of par 5s, starting with two uphill holes on the front nine (Nos. 3 and 9) which both produced over-par scoring averages in 2017. The two par 5s on the back nine (Nos. 12 and 18), both play downhill and yielded the most birdies on the course. The 568-yard 18th, which offers a shortcut off the tee for the bold, gave up 13 eagles but with the green and surrounding bunkers sitting on an island, it produced its share of trouble as well.

Special areas open to everyone included The Expo, food in the Bibigo Zone, The Shop, the Beer Garden and an Autograph Zone. An upgraded ticket allowed entry to The Pavilion hospitality area. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

October 26-29, 2017

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

Course Information The Country Club of Jackson, founded in 1914, is a private club with 27 holes originally designed by Dick Wilson in 1962. John Fought redesigned 18 holes in 2008, the Dogwood and Azalea nines that are used for the tournament. The $3.5 million redesign included new green complexes, new and replaced bunkers and wider fairways.

“It’s a big monkey off my back; I’m not going to lie.”—Ryan Armour

Yardage 7,421 yards; par 72

Ryan Armour, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel

Tickets For ticket information, go to www.sandersonfarmschampionship. com. In 2017, children 17 and under were admitted with a paid adult (one child per adult).

HOW RYAN ARMOUR WON

Ryan Armour claimed his first PGA TOUR victory at age 41, jumping to a five-stroke lead through 54 holes and ultimately winning by that margin. Armour shared the lead after the first round, went ahead by one through 36 holes and extended it with a third-round 67 on a day when other leaders struggled. Local-area native Jonathan Randolph, playing on his home course, threatened on Sunday with a 7-under 29 on the front nine, but he started eight strokes behind and Armour stayed in front by at least four as he played the first seven holes in 3-under. It never got closer, as Armour stayed solid with a 68 and Randolph slowed on the back nine for a 67 and finished third behind Chesson Hadley (68).  Armour was the only player in the field with four rounds in the 60s.  Armour made four straight birdies on Nos. 13-16 in both the second and third rounds. He led the field with 28 birdies for the week.  Armour ranked third in both Driving Accuracy and Greens in Regulation and second in Strokes Gained: Putting.

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2017 Champion

Brian Stuard opened strong with a 67 en route to a T4 finish.

Chesson Hadley closed with a 68 to take second place.

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2017/2018 tournament overview

quick facts

No. 18, Country Club of Jackson.

Field: 132 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $4.3 million Winner’s Share: $774,000 FedExCup Points: 300 to the winner

charity Benefit Friends of Children’s Hospital, a nonprofit organization benefiting Batson Children’s Hospital, part of Children’s of Mississippi, is the primary beneficiary of the Sanderson Farms Championship. The tournament host organization Century Club Charities also donates to other local charities in Mississippi and since 1986 has raised more than $12 million.

X At age 41 years, 8 months, 2 days, Ryan Armour was the eighth oldest first-time winner on the PGA TOUR since 1970 (the oldest was Ed Dougherty, 47, in this event in 1995). X Armour was making his 105th career start on the PGA TOUR, with a previous best finish of fourth in the 2007 OHL Classic at Mayakoba.

X In four consecutive years, the winner of the Sanderson Farms Championship has made it his first career PGA TOUR victory, with Armour joining Nick Taylor (2014), Peter Malnati (2015) and Cody Gribble (2016). X Armour’s five-stroke victory margin was the largest in the tournament since Frank Conner in 1988.

leaDerBoarD 2017 Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Ryan Armour

269/-19

300.00

$774,000.00

Chesson Hadley

274/-14

165.00

$464,400.00

Jonathan Randolph

276/-12

105.00

$292,400.00

Smylie Kaufman

278/-10

68.33

$177,733.34

Scott Strohmeyer

278/-10

Brian Stuard

278/-10

images: getty images

Smylie Kaufman was T4, his best finish on TOUR since 2015.

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$177,733.34 68.33

$177,733.34

Scott Strohmeyer shared fourth place at 10-under 278.

The signature hole is the 479-yard, par-4 16th. Swampland protects the entire left side and also crosses the fairway about 80 yards short of the largest green on the course. A long approach must avoid the swamp on the left and a large bunker on the right. The hole was the toughest on the course in 2017.

fan eXPerience

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Player

notaBle course features

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check this out

The BankPlus Fan Pavilion, with an upgraded ticket, offers premium concessions and a sports bar atmosphere. Areas open to all ticket holders are the Kid Zone, Tailgate, Expo, Merchandise and Autograph Zone, with a second Autograph Zone for kids. Special events include a youth clinic on Monday, University Day on Saturday (fans wear the colors of their favorite team) and a “Pink Out” for Breast Cancer Awareness Month on Sunday (fans wear pink). PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

October 26-29, 2017

World Golf ChampionshipsHSBC Champions

Location Shanghai, China Sheshan International Golf Club

Course Information Set in the shadow of the Basilica of Our Lady of Sheshan, Sheshan International is a Nelson & Haworth design that integrates the natural forests, existing streams and a quarry with man-made lakes and strategic bunkering. Millions of cubic yards of dirt were moved to create one of the most dramatic and hilly courses in Shanghai.

Yardage 7,261; par 72

2017 Champion Justin Rose, England

Media Coverage Golf Channel

Tickets Grounds tickets cost about $75 for Thursday or Friday, $150 for Saturday or Sunday, or $375 for the week in equivalent U.S. currency, available at www.hsbcgolf.com. Children 17 and under were admitted free with a paid adult (one child per adult), and there were discounts for students and HSBC customers.

“At the beginning of the day, I was playing for second.”—Justin Rose

Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello finished T5.

Brooks Koepka opened with a 64 en route to a share of second place.

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Dustin Johnson was in command through 54 holes but closed with a 77.

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Henrik Stenson was T2, two strokes back.

17 20

HOW JUSTIN ROSE WON

Justin Rose started the final round eight strokes off the lead, but staged a stunning comeback to beat 54-hole leader Dustin Johnson and two others by two strokes. Rose finished with a 67, matching the best score of the day in windy conditions, while Johnson didn’t make a birdie as he faded badly with a 77 after starting the round six strokes clear of the field. Rose trailed by six after an even-par 36 on the front nine, then surged home with a 5-under 31, making birdies on Nos. 11, 13, 14, 16 and 17. Johnson, meanwhile, had a 39 on the back nine, enabling Rose, Brooks Koepka and Henrik Stenson into the picture. Koepka had a costly double bogey on the 15th, and Rose pulled away from Stenson with a tee shot to three feet for a birdie on the par-three 17th, a hole Stenson bogeyed minutes later. Stenson (70) and Koepka (71) tied for second with Johnson, whose bid for a tying eagle at the final hole ended with a second shot in the water on the par 5.  Rose had eight birdies in the final round. He led the field with 23 birdies on the week.  Rose was T3 in Greens in Regulation Percentage at 77.78.  Rose was second in Par 4 Scoring Average with 3.83. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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2017/2018 tournament overview

quick facts

No. 18, Sheshan International Golf Club.

Field: 78 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $9.75 million Winner’s Share: $1,660,000 FedExCup Points: 550 to the winner

charity Benefit The primary beneficiary of all World Golf Championships events is The First Tee. Proceeds of the HSBC Champions also go to grassroots golf development programs in Asia. HSBC has a long-term view of sponsorships and is proud that its investments are helping to accelerate the game’s growth in Asia.

Player

Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Justin Rose

274/-14

550.00

$1,660,000.00

Brooks Koepka

276/-12

218.33

$679,666.67

Henrik Stenson

276/-12

218.33

$679,666.67

Dustin Johnson

276/-12

218.33

$679,666.66

Rafa Cabrera Bello

280/-8

105.00

$288,000.00

280/-8

105.00

$288,000.00

280/-8

105.00

$288,000.00

check this out X Justin Rose’s eight-stroke comeback in the final round for the victory matched the third largest in PGA TOUR history, surpassed only by Paul Lawrie (10 strokes, 1999 Open Championship) and Stewart Cink (nine strokes, 2004 MCI Heritage) and tying eight others. X If Johnson had won, he would have become the first player to win the HSBC Champions more than once since it became

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a World Golf Championships event in 2009. Johnson won in 2013, one of five career World Golf Championships victories, second to Tiger Woods (18). X The eight-stroke comeback was the largest ever in a World Golf Championships event. X Dustin Johnson’s loss of a six-stroke lead through 54 holes tied the PGA TOUR record for the largest lead lost, shared with six other players.

fan eXPerience

17 20

Kyle Stanley Peter Uihlein

A unique element of Sheshan International is the dramatic quarry that forms a hazard on the 16th and 17th holes. The 16th is a 288-yard par 4 where the choice is between a safe lay-up off the tee or a bold shot over the quarry directly at the green. The 212-yard, par-3 17th plays over the quarry, which also guards the right side of the green.

The HSBC Interactive Village featured a range of activities from Putt for the Prize, Beat the Pros and games for children to immersive experiences at sponsor booths. Pudong Shangri-La Hotel served up a wide range of top quality food and beverages at the public catering tent, complemented by beer at the Tsingtao outlet, premium wines at the Casillero del Diablo outlet and assorted cocktails at the Nest Bar.

images: geTTY images

leaderBoard 2017

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notaBle course features

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12/12/2017 15:12

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Statesboro

Dublin

Vidalia Patrick Canton Cantlay surged Columbus Hinesville Selma Burleson El Paso Dallas Baja California Meridian Eufaula Midland Big Spring Shreveport Troy Stephenville Tyler Nogales Alabama through the first 14 holesOzark and Albany Douglas Jackson Corsicana Course Information Ciudad Socorro Odessa Natchitoches Brownwood Palestine Pecos Moultrie Cananea Brookhaven Caborca Waco Enterprise Nacogdoches Natchez then gamely held on as theDothanValdosta Kingsland Brunswick Van Horn Mississippi Hattiesburg Juarez San Angelo Gatesville TPC was A r c Summerlin t i c O c e a n Sonora Pineville McComb Lufkin Nuevo Casas Grandes Crestview Guadalupe Juarez Fort Stockton Killeen Temple College Texas Bogalusa up Mobile De Ridder wind picked near the end Barrow by noted Aconchi Sonora Destin designed Station Marfa Hammond Biloxi Round Rock Tallahassee Saint Chihuahua Baton Rouge Pensacola Sanderson Taylor Palatka of the fi nal round to claim his Gulfport Hermosillo M e x i c o Russia Beaumont architect Bobby Weed Gainesville Florida Austin Houston Lafayette Rio Kenner El Terrero fi rst PGA TOUR victory in a Alaska New Orleans Gr Baytown Deltona and Morgan City San Antonio with two-time major Oscar Soto Maynez T Houma e Sugar Land Pasadena Louisiana Coahuila Uvalde Orlando Fort Yukon Ciudad Delicias playoff. Cantlay, who began El Campo Galveston Kissimmee champion Fuzzy Zoeller Empalme as Eagle Pass Victoria Nome Chihuahua Freeport Kilauea Guaymas Vicam Clearwater Tampa the day four strokes back, Mana Port Lavaca FairbanksOpening in Ciudad Delicias Piedras Bartow a consultant. Beeville Poipu Ciudad Obregon Saint Petersburg Bradenton played the fi rst 14 holes in Waialua LaieMelchor Muzquiz Negras Alice CNavojoa anada WaikaneCamargo Ciudad Ingleside 1991, the strategic layout Sarasota North Port Sabinas Venice Kalaupapa Anchorage Laredo 6-under to get to 11-under Huatabampo Corpus Christi Hidalgo Del Parral Honolulu Haiku was carved fromCordova a swathBamocha Kaanapali Bering Sea Nuevo Laredo overall. He bogeyed the MakenaMonclova Nuevo Naples Los Mochis Kaupo of rugged desert terrain, Juneau u l f holes o f M for e x i ac o67, but Hawi Leon McAllen lastGtwo H a w a i i Harlingen Ciudad Constitucion Honokaa meandering through Guasave Puako Monterey Gomez Palacio Torreon ended up in a playoff with Sinaloa Prince Rupert Pacific Ocean Hilo Durango arroyos and canyons. Kailua Guadalupe Brownsville Unalaska 0 500 Miles Saltillo 0 100 Miles Pahoa Alex Cejka, who finished La Paz Baja California Sur Culiacan Yerbanis Key W Montemorelos Punaluu 0 water 500 Km features P a c i f i c O cNumerous ean Milolii 0 100 KM San Fernando early with a 63 before the Zacatecas Miguel Auza Tamaulipas Las Animas and an abundance of heavy winds, and Whee Kim, 85˚ 115˚ 110˚ 105˚ 100˚ 95˚ 90˚ honey mesquite and who shot a 66 but bogeyed U n i t e d S t a t e s 18. Chesson Hadley finished pine trees contrast Toll Roads and Bridges State Capitals International Boundaries Major Rivers dramatically with the Interstate Highways one behind State Boundaries Lakesafter a bogey Cities 500,000+ U.S. Highways raw landscape features. on 18 and J.J. Spaun double Cities 100,000-499,999 Cities 50,000-99,999 bogeyed the last two to finish Cities 10,000-49,999 Cities 0-9,999 0 125 Miles 250 Miles 500 Miles Yardage four back. In the playoff, all 0 125 KM 250 KM 500 KM 7,255; par 71 three bogeyed the 18th the first time and returned to 2017 Champion the same hole, with Cantlay Patrick Cantlay, U.S. delivering a great approach from the trees to make the Media Coverage only par. Golf Channel  Cantlay birdied four straight holes in both the final round Tickets (Nos. 11-14) and first round Good Any One Day (Nos. 13-16). tickets were $35 and “I was trying to get to 12 or 13 under. I thought that  Cantlay led the field in a weekly badge $99, Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee would be close. But with the wind coming in, obviously available through www. (1.256 per round), thanks to a it was a little different end to the tournament.” shrinershospitalsopen. combination of distance (13th) —Patrick Cantlay com. Military and first and accuracy (fifth). responders received free admission, as did youth 18 and under with a Alex Cejka tied for Chesson Hadley’s T4 second in a week finish was highlighted ticketed adult. 19

Carlsbad

Nogales Sierra Vista

170˚

180˚

170˚

160˚

150˚

140˚

130˚

Andrews

Abilene

Rockwall

Monroe

70˚

16160˚

60˚

159˚

158˚

157˚

156˚

Kauai

22˚

155˚

22˚

Niihau

Oahu

170˚

Molokai

21˚

Lanai

Kahoolawe

Maui

20˚

Hawaii

50˚

180˚

160˚

150˚

140˚

50˚

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19˚

160˚

159˚

158˚

5419˚

157˚

156˚

155˚

marked by cool temperatures and strong winds.

by a 65 in the second round.

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2017/2018 tournament overview

charity beneFit

quick Facts

No. 3, TPC Summerlin.

Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.8 million Winner’s Share: $1,224,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Shriners Hospitals for Children, a health care system with 22 locations, is the tournament’s primary beneficiary. The staff at each location is dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, conducting innovative research and offering outstanding teaching programs for medical professionals.

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X The winning score of 9-under 275 was the highest by seven strokes (2015) since becoming a single-course event in 2008. Windy conditions prevailed in the second and third rounds and near the end of the final round. X Patrick Cantlay’s victory made it three of the last four Las Vegas winners claiming their

The four-hole closing stretch at TPC Summerlin features classic risk-reward challenges starting with the drivable par-4 15th hole. The par-5 16th is reachable in two shots for most players, but is guarded in front by a pond. While not offering as many birdie opportunities as the previous two holes, water is very much in play on the left side of both the par-3 17th and par-4 18th.

first PGA TOUR victory (Ben Martin, 2014 and Smylie Kaufman, 2015) and six of the last seven winners in their 20s. X The 25-year-old Cantlay had a promising career interrupted by back problems shortly after he turned pro. He missed most of 3½ seasons before coming back in 2017 with four top-10s in 13 starts.

Leaderboard 2017 Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Patrick Cantlay

275/-9

500.00

$1,224,000.00

Alex Cejka

275/-9

245.00

$598,400.00

Whee Kim

275/-9

245.00

$598,400.00

Patton Kizzire

276/-8

115.00

$281,066.67

J.T. Poston

276/-8

115.00

$281,066.67

Chesson Hadley

276/-8

115.00

$281,066.66

images: getty images

Patton Kizzire moved up to grab a share of fourth with a closing 64.

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Fan eXPerience

Whee Kim got into a playoff after shooting a final-round 66.

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Player

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notabLe course Features

All tickets have access to The Hill, an entertainment pavilion overlooking the 16th, 17th and 18th holes with a center bar, plenty of HDTVs and upgraded food and beverages for purchase. Lee’s Liquor Shank Shack is another venue offering specialty cocktails. The 18th Fairway Fan Zone features a Putt-Putt experience and there is also a Social Media Lounge and the Birdies for the Brave Patriots’ Outpost for military and their families.

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

November 9-12, 2017

OHL Classic at Mayakoba

Course Information Course Information Designed by Greg Norman in 2006, El Camaleón Golf Club at the Mayakoba Resort is notable for the way it traverses three different landscapes: mangrove jungles, limestone canals and an oceanfront stretch. The course has hosted the OHL Classic at Mayakoba since its 2007 inception when the event made history as the first PGA TOUR co-sponsored event to be contested outside the U.S. and Canada.

Yardage 6,987; par 71

2017 Champion Patton Kizzire, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel

“I was glad to get it done. Rickie made me work hard.” —Patton Kizzire

Tickets For ticket information, please visit www.ohlclassic.com.

Charles Howell III was T4 after rounds of 66-66 on the weekend.

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HOW PATTON KIZZIRE WON

Location Playa del Carmen, Mexico El Camaleón Golf Club at the Mayakoba Resort

Patton Kizzire led or shared the lead after every round, but it was hardly an easy victory as the 31-year-old claimed his first PGA TOUR title. Kizzire opened with a 62 to lead by two, then fell into a tie for first with Rickie Fowler and Patrick Rodgers after a 70 in the second round. The leaders had to play 36 holes on Sunday because of earlier rain delays, and in the third round Kizzire shot a 66 for a one-shot lead over Fowler. Kizzire went up by four with seven holes remaining, then needed par saves on Nos. 12-14 and to hold off a charge by Fowler, who birdied 13, 16 and 17. Kizzire parred 18 by hitting the green despite an awkward stance close to a fairway bunker as he and Fowler both finished with 67s.  Kizzire made six straight birdies during the first round, starting at the eighth hole.  Kizzire didn’t make any bogeys in the final round, with birdies on Nos. 2, 4, 5 and 11.  Kizzire ranked T5 in Putts Per Round (26.75) and T7 in Greens in Regulation Percentage (75.00). Martin Piller’s closing 65 moved him into T4.

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2017/2018 tournament overview

quick facts

No. 18, El Camaleón Golf Club at the Mayakoba Resort.

Field: 132 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7.1 million Winner’s Share: $1,278,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

charity Benefit

The OHL Classic at Mayakoba is committed to supporting local, national and international charities. The event contributes significant funds and raises awareness for selected charities and has donated more than $2.2 million to philanthropic causes since 2007.

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X Patton Kizzire became the third player to make the OHL Classic at Mayakoba his first PGA TOUR victory, joining Brian Gay (2008) and John Huh (2012). X Rickie Fowler finished second in his bid to become the fifth player to win the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in his first time playing the event.

He would have joined Fred Funk (2007, inaugural event), Johnson Wagner (2011), John Huh (2012) and Harris English (2013). X Abraham Ancer finished T9, matching the best ever finish by a Mexican player in the event. Oscar Fraustro and Carlos Ortiz were T9 in 2014.

leaderBoard 2017 Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Patton Kizzire

265/-19

500.00

$1,278,000.00

Rickie Fowler

266/-18

300.00

$766,800.00

Si Woo Kim

269/-15

190.00

$482,800.00

Charles Howell III

270/-14

122.50

$312,400.00

Martin Piller

270/-14

122.50

$312,400.00

images: getty images

Making his first appearance in the event, Rickie Fowler finished second.

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Si Woo Kim was third, his best finish since winning THE PLAYERS Championship.

El Camaleón has a feature that won’t be found anywhere else, a cenote, a naturally formed pit with limestone walls, incorporated into the heart of the fairway at the seventh hole, a 554-yard par 5. It is positioned to come into play on the tee shot for the longer hitter trying to reach the green in two.

fan eXPerience

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Player

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notaBle course features

Special food and beverage days were the 2017 theme, starting with Food Truck Friday featuring a collection of local food trucks along with games and music. On Saturday was the Craft Beer Festival featuring local breweries and workshops by master brewers. It was Tacos PARa Todos on Sunday, with chefs of Mayakoba Resort offering a variety of taco styles. The Beach Club by Patrón, Merchandise Shop, Sponsor Expo and Fan Zone were open to all spectators, and for kids there was the Banorte Autograph Zone plus games and activities. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

November 16-19, 2017

The RSM Classic Location

St. Simons Island, Ga. Sea Island Resort Seaside Course and Plantation Course

Course Information Sea Island Resort has three courses, with two of them hosting The RSM Classic. The Seaside Course is an oceanside layout at the southern tip of St. Simons Island with nine holes originally designed by English architects Harry Colt and Charles Alison in 1929 and nine originally designed by Joe Lee in 1973. Tom Fazio did a redesign in 1999 that tied the two nines together. The Plantation Course, which co-hosts the first two rounds, is the result of a Rees Jones redesign of two original nines and will be redesigned by Davis Love III and his brother Mark after the 2018 tournament.

Yardage Seaside Course: 7,005; par 70 Plantation Course: 7,058; par 72

2017 Champion Austin Cook, U.S.

“On 17 green when I made that putt and seeing that I jumped back up to three ahead, that was kind of when I had a small moment with myself, teared up a little.”—Austin Cook

Media Coverage

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HOW AUSTIN COOK WON

Host Courses

Austin Cook opened a three-stroke lead through 54 holes and stayed in front the entire final round as he shot a 3-under 67 on a windy day at the Seaside Course to win by four. It wasn’t that easy, though, as the lead was cut to one by Chris Kirk on the front nine and eventual runner-up J.J. Spaun on the back nine before Cook birdied Nos. 15, 17 and 18 to open up the victory margin. Cook, a 26-year-old PGA TOUR rookie, went ahead with a 62 in the second round and added a 66 on Saturday, eventually finishing at 21-under 261. Brian Gay fell back early in the final round, but claimed third place with an eagle on the par-5 15th and hole-out eagle with a 9-iron on the par-4 18th.  Cook didn’t make a bogey in his first 49 holes and made only two all week.  Cook hit 16 greens in regulation in the first round and 17 in the second, going on to rank T2 hitting 60 of 72 greens.  Cook ranked T4 in Driving Accuracy Percentage, hitting 48 of 56 fairways.

Golf Channel

Tickets Go to www.RSMClassic.com for 2018 ticket information.

Social Media

J.J. Spaun shot a second-round 62 en route to a runner-up finish.

Brian Harman, who lives and trains at Sea Island, finished T4.

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2017/2018 tournament overview

quick facts

No. 18, Sea Island Resort Seaside Course.

Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.2 million Winner’s Share: $1,116,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

charity Benefit

Through the Birdies For Love program, RSM offices commit to raising funds for a local charity that aligns with the missions of the RSM Foundation and Davis Love Foundation. Coupled with proceeds from the tournament, the total donation in 2016 was more than $2 million. Additionally, the Friends of Davis Love Foundation is a program designed to raise money for Coastal Georgia charities via a raffle.

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PGA TOUR victory, joining Tommy Gainey (2012), Streb (2014), Kevin Kisner (2015) and Hughes (2016). X Cook tied the tournament 36-hole record of 128 (Hughes, 2016) and set the 54-hole record at 194. He was one off the 72-hole record of 260 (Kisner, 2015).

leaDerBoarD 2017 Player

Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Austin Cook

261/-21

500.00

$1,116,000.00

66 67

265/-17

300.00

$669,600.00

266/-16

190.00

$421,600.00

Brian Harman

268/-14

108.75

$244,125.00

Chris Kirk

268/-14

108.75

$244,125.00

Kevin Kisner

268/-14

108.75

$244,125.00

Andrew Landry

268/-14

108.75

$244,125.00

images: getty images; pga tour

2 3

Chris Kirk cut the lead to one shot during the final round but shot 71 to share fourth place.

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Kevin Kisner broke 70 each day and was T4 at 14-under.

Natural features such as marshes and sandy waste areas figure prominently in the Seaside layout. Both come into play on the course’s signature hole, the par-4 13th, which bends between a marsh on the left and a sandy area along with conventional bunkers on the right, with a stunning backdrop behind the green.

fan eXPerience

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J.J. Spaun Brian Gay

notaBle course features

17 20

X Austin Cook became the fifth player to win The RSM Classic the first time he played in the event. After Heath Slocum won the inaugural in 2010, the others were Ben Crane (2011), Robert Streb (2014) and Mac Hughes (2016). X Cook became the fifth player, and the third in a row, to make The RSM Classic his first

In 2017, admission was free on Wednesday, including the Youth Golf Zone sponsored by Southeast Georgia Health System featuring PGA TOUR players. On Saturday, the Folds of Honor Million Dollar Challenge gave fans a chance to enter a closestto-the-pin contest by making a donation, with finalists competing for a grand prize package and one shot at $1 million for a hole-in-one. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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Property and casualty coverages are underwritten by a member of the Sentry Insurance Group, Stevens Point, WI. For a complete listing of companies, visit sentry.com. Policies, coverages, benefits and discounts are not available in all states. See policy for complete coverage details. 90-413A

Sentry Insurance.indd 1

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25/10/2017 11:47

2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

January 3-7, 2018

Sentry Tournament of Champions Location Kapalua, Hawaii The Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort

Course Information Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore carved The Plantation Course into the hills of the West Maui Mountains on a former pineapple plantation. Opened in 1991, the course offers wide fairways and challenging greens with plenty of slope, while trade winds add to the challenge. Views of the ocean and nearby Molokai are abundant.

Yardage 7,452; par 73

“I made it a little harder on myself than I would have liked, but I got it done.” ––Justin Thomas

2017 Champion Justin Thomas, U.S. Golf Channel

Tickets Daily grounds tickets from Wednesday to Sunday range from $15 to $30. Weekly tickets with access all five days cost $75. Advance tickets are available through www. sentrytournamentof champions.com. Up to three 18-and-under spectators are free with one paid adult. Complimentary and discounted ticketing is provided for the military.

Social Media

HOW JUSTIN THOMAS WON

17 20

Media Coverage

Leading by five strokes with five holes to play, Justin Thomas saw his margin slip to one stroke two holes later before a birdie at the 17th gave a needed boost and led to a three-stroke victory. Runnerup Hideki Matsuyama pressured Thomas by holing a pitch shot for an eagle on the short par-4 14th, and Thomas followed with a double bogey after finding a hazard on the par-5 15th for a second consecutive two-stroke swing. But when Thomas hit an 8-iron to three feet for a birdie on 17 and Matsuyama three-putted, it was a two-stroke swing in the other direction and Thomas went on to claim his second win of the 2016-17 season after the CIMB Classic in the fall.  Thomas played the par-5 15th in 3-over for the week, but made up for it elsewhere with 25 birdies and one eagle.  Thomas was third in Driving Distance (301.6 yards) and third in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee (1.225 per round).  Thomas was second in Greens in Regulation Percentage, hitting 63 of 72 greens including all 18 in the second round.

Hideki Matsuyama applied pressure on the final nine en route to a runner-up finish.

Jordan Spieth’s closing 65 moved him into a tie for third place.

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2017/2018 tournament overview

quick facts

No. 18, The Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort.

Field: approx. 32 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.3 million Winner’s Share: $1,260,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

charity Benefit

six starts, including two wins on the Japan Golf Tour and victories at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and unofficial Hero World Challenge. X Thomas was the seventh straight American-born winner after the event was won by an international player each year from 2002 to 2010.

leaDerBoarD 2017 Player

Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Justin Thomas

270/-22

500.00

$1,220,000.00

Hideki Matsuyama

273/-19

300.00

$712,000.00

276/-16

145.00

$359,000.00

276/-16

145.00

$359,000.00

Jordan Spieth

276/-16

145.00

$359,000.00

Pat Perez broke 70 three days to finish T3.

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Ryan Moore matched the winner’s 67-67 start.

The last two holes at The Plantation Course are long on yardage, but both play downhill. While the 549-yard par-4 17th is annually one of the toughest holes on the course, the 663-yard 18th plays so much downhill that most of the field can reach the green in two, setting up excitement down the stretch with potential for birdies and eagles.

fan eXPerience

18 20

Ryan Moore Pat Perez

notaBle course features

18 20

X Justin Thomas won the Sentry Tournament of Champions at the age of 23 years, 8 months, 10 days. The youngest winner was Tiger Woods in 1997 at 21 years and 13 days; Jordan Spieth won in 2016 at 22 years, 5 months, 14 days. X A runner-up finish gave Hideki Matsuyama two seconds and four victories in his last

The Sentry Tournament of Champions is one of the best for allowing fans to get “up close and personal” to its elite, champions-only field. A highlight of the week is the Aloha Kick-Off prior to the first tee time of the first round featuring a Hawaiian blessing and entertainment.

images: getty images; Pga tOUR

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The event—Sentry, the new title sponsor, has an agreement through the 2021-22 season— raised more than $300,000 for Maui charities in 2017 and has donated nearly $6 million to Hawaii charities since coming to Maui in 1999. Beneficiaries include Boy Scouts of America Maui County Council, Friends of the Children’s Justice Center, Hale Makua Health Services, J. Walter Cameron Center, Ka Lima O Maui, Lahainaluna High School Foundation, Golf For Maui Charities, Hawaii State Jr. Golf Association, Maui Jr. Golf and Lahaina Jr. Golf.

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KAPALUA |

WHERE CHAMPIONS COME TO PLAY

PLANTATION COURSE HOLE #18 – Home of the Sentry Tournament of Champions

Hawaii’s favorite, world renowned Bay and Plantation Courses are a must play on Maui. Unparalleled views, award-winning tennis courts, and a state-of-the-art golf academy make Kapalua a golf and tennis experience you’ll never forget.

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

January 11-14, 2018

Location Honolulu, Hawaii Waialae Country Club

Sony Open in Hawaii

Seth Raynor designed Waialae Country Club in 1927, creating a strategically challenging layout featuring a number of dogleg holes. Nestled in the quiet neighborhood of Waialae-Kahala, the course offers many views of the Pacific Ocean. Desmond Muirhead did a redesign in 1992, and in recent years Tom Doak hasov erseenar estoration.

Yardage 7,044; par 70

2017 Champion Justin Thomas, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel

Tickets Good Any Day tickets are $20 in advance ($25 at the gate); a season badge is $60. Tickets available through www.sonyopeninhawaii. com. Children 12 and under are admitted free accompanied by an adult, military and dependents free with ID, veterans free via Veterans Ticket Foundation online.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have been playing well. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m just in a good spot mentally right now.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Justin Thomas

Jamie Lovemark had one of the better finishes of his injuryinterrupted career, T4.

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HOW JUSTIN THOMAS WON

Course Information

Justin Thomas shot a 59 in the first round and kept going as he set a PGA TOUR 72-hole record with a 253 total in earning a seven-stroke victory. It gave Thomas a sweep of the two Hawaii events after the Sentry Tournament of Champions and was his third victory of the 2016-17 season. The Kentucky native led by three strokes after the first round, five after the second and seven through 54 holes. His lead never dipped below five strokes in final round, as he shot a closing 65 and two-putted the par-5 18th for a birdie to break the 72-hole record of 254 set by Tommy Armour III in the 2003 Valero Texas Open. ď ľ Thomas eagled his final hole in the first round, the par-5 ninth, with a five-foot putt to shoot 59. He also eagled his first hole, the par-4 10th, pitching in from 34 yards. ď ľ Thomasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; scores on the back nine were 29, 31, 31 and 31. ď ľ Thomas led the field in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee (1.333 per round) and was second in Strokes Gained: Putting (1.886 per round).

Jordan Spieth, who has competed against Justin Thomas since they were young teenagers, was third after a final-round 63.

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2017/2018 tournament overview

quick facts

No. 9, Waialae Country Club.

Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.2 million Winner’s Share: $1,116,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

charity Benefit

The Sony Open in Hawaii is the principal fundraiser for Friends of Hawaii Charities and is the largest charitydriven sporting event on the islands. The tournament has raised more than $17 million for more than 350 local charities over the past 19 years with the support of its partner, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc.

X In addition to setting the PGA TOUR 72-hole scoring record, Justin Thomas established a new standard for the first 36 holes (123) and tied the record for the first 54 holes (188, matching Steve Stricker at the 2010 John Deere Classic). X Thomas joined Ernie Els (2003) as the only players to sweep the two Hawaii events.

X Thomas became the fourth player to score a wire-to-wire victory (no ties) at the Sony Open in Hawaii, joining Howard Twitty (1993), Paul Azinger (2000) and K.J. Choi (2008). X Other low scores during the week were posted by Kevin Kisner (60, third round), Zach Johnson (61, second round) and Chez Reavie (61, fourth round).

leaderBoard 2017 Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Justin Thomas

253/-27

500.00

$1,080,000.00

Justin Rose

260/-20

300.00

$648,000.00

Jordan Spieth

261/-19

190.00

$408,000.00

262/-18

122.50

$264,000.00

262/-18

122.50

$264,000.00

images: pga tour; getty images

Kevin Kisner Jamie Lovemark

Justin Rose was runner-up after a closing 64.

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Kevin Kisner shared fourth place on the strength of a thirdround 60.

At par 70, the layout features only two par 5s, but they conclude each nine and are usually reachable in two with prevailing winds. In 2017, there were 36 eagles on the 506-yard ninth and 18 on the 551-yard 18th. The signature hole is considered to be the par-3 17th, which measures 194 yards and runs its full length along the ocean.

fan eXPerience

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Player

notaBle course features

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A Tuesday feature is the Hawaii Tourism Authority Pro-Junior Challenge on holes 10, 11 and 18. On-course fan features during the week include numerous entertainment opportunities, as Sony music and movie stars make appearances. Sony also uses the opportunity to unveil its new products and innovations at the Sony Product Tent. The Michelob ULTRA 19th Hole is a new attraction requiring an upgraded ticket. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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Location PGA WEST La Quinta, Calif.

Host Course Stadium Course at PGA WEST

Course Information

CareerBuilder Challenge HOW HUDSON SWAFFORD WON

Yardage Stadium Course 7,113; par 72 Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course 7,159; par 72 La Quinta Country Club 7,060; par 72

2017 Champion Hudson Swafford, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel

Tickets Good Any Day tickets cost $30 in advance ($25 for seniors), a weekly badge is $75, available through www. careerbuilderchallenge. com. Children 15 and under admitted free with a ticketed adult, limit two per adult; special offers for military, veterans and first responders.

Social Media

“They don’t give them away out here. It’s not easy. I’ve been close, just keep putting myself in position, and this feels unbelievable.”—Hudson Swafford

Runner-up Adam Hadwin shot the second 59 in the event’s history.

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The Pete Dye-designed Stadium Course at PGA WEST took over as the host course in 2016, having previously served that role in 1987, hosting the Skins Game in 1986-91 and the PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament six times. The challenging layout includes plenty of bunkers and water, most notably a 20-foot-deep bunker to the left of the green on the par-5 16th, the island-green “Alcatraz” par-3 17th and the water-lined par-4 18th.

January 18-21, 2018

Hudson Swafford played the last 12 holes in 6-under to beat Adam Hadwin by one stroke and claim his first PGA TOUR victory. The 29-year-old Swafford had lost the lead on Saturday by going double bogey, bogey on Nos. 16 and 17, but in the final round he birdied those two holes on top of a birdie at 15 to move from one stroke back and take the title, the key blow an 8-iron to inside two feet on the par-3 17th. He also had three straight birdies on Nos. 7-9 in a closing 67 that included only one bogey, on the first hole. Hadwin had charged into the lead in the third round with a 13-under 59 at La Quinta Country Club where he had streaks of six straight birdies on the front nine and five straight on the back nine.  Swafford tied for first in Greens in Regulation Percentage, hitting 58 of 72 greens.  Swafford was first in Par 4 Scoring Average at 3.73.  Swafford led the field in birdies with 26 and had four streaks of three straight birdies during the week.

Brian Harmon was T3, two shots back.

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2017/2018 tournament overview

quick facts

Adamsub Hadwin playing Please in a photo of his shot fromWest the Stadium first tee at the Stadium PGA course Course at PGA WEST.

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

Since its inception in 1960, the tournament has distributed more than $59 million to the Eisenhower Medical Center and nearly 200 other Coachella Valley charities, most of which assist children, the needy and the homeless and disabled individuals.

check this out

X Hudson Swafford became the eighth player in the 58-year history of the CareerBuilder Challenge to make the tournament his first career PGA TOUR victory, most recently Pat Perez (2009), Bill Haas (2010) and Jhonattan Vegas (2011) X Swafford was two strokes back entering the final round and became only the second player

since the event went to 72 holes in 2012 to come from behind and win, joining Brian Gay (2013). X Adam Hadwin’s 59 was the ninth round below 60 in PGA TOUR history, but it only tied the tournament record at the CareerBuilder Challenge. David Duval shot a 59 when he won in 1999.

leaDerBoarD 2017 Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Hudson Swafford

268/-20

500.00

$1,044,000.00

Adam Hadwin

269/-19

300.00

$626,400.00

Bud Cauley

270/-18

162.50

$336,400.00

Brian Harman

270/-18

162.50

$336,400.00

Dominic Bozzelli

271/-17

110.00

$232,000.00

images: getty images

Highlighted by a thirdround 65, Bud Cauley was T3.

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The 165-yard 17th has an island green requiring a longer tee shot than the famous 17th hole on THE PLAYERS Stadium at TPC Sawgrass. The PGA WEST “Alcatraz hole,” surrounded by rocks instead of railroad ties, gained its own fame when Lee Trevino aced it during the 1987 Skins Game. But the 223-yard sixth and 195-yard 13th, also guarded by water, were the two toughest holes on the Stadium Course in 2017.

fan eXPerience

Dominic Bozzelli was fifth in his sixth start as a TOUR rookie.

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Player

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notaBle course features

All fans have access to three hospitality venues: The Vons Fan Pavilion is an indoor/ outdoor space with food and beverage from local restaurants available for purchase, Casamigos Club 17 is an open-air venue with cocktails and other beverages and Michelob Ultra Beers Fore Birdies has half-price beer every time a player makes a birdie on 16 or 17. Ticketholders also receive admission to concerts Friday and Saturday nights with Huey Lewis and the News and the Goo Goo Dolls.

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January 25-28, 2018

Location

Course Information The North and South courses at Torrey Pines were both designed by William F. Bell and opened in 1957 on bluffs above the Pacific Ocean, providing some stunning views. The South Course was redesigned by Rees Jones in 2001, with 400 yards added and changes made to the greens, resulting in the course hosting the U.S. Open in 2008. The North Course underwent a complete renovation by Tom Weiskopf in 2016, with tees and greens rebuilt and entirely new bunkering.

Yardage South: 7,698; par 72 North: 7,258; par 72

2017 Champion Jon Rahm, Spain

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Tickets Grounds tickets for tournament days are $50, discounted to $40 for veterans, $35 for seniors (60 and older), $20 for youth (13-17) and free for kids 12 and under, available through www.farmersinsuranceopen. com. GovX members with Military ID receive up to four complimentary grounds tickets.

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“I’m just so glad I was able to keep my mind on the game and I was able to think clearly and I’m just so happy it finally happened.” —Jon Rahm

It was another good week at Torrey Pines for Charles Howell III, who earned his seventh top-10 in 15 starts.

HOW JON RAHM WON

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San Diego, Calif. Torrey Pines Golf Course

Farmers Insurance Open

Emerging star Jon Rahm eagled the 13th and 18th holes in the final round to claim his first PGA TOUR win at age 22. Rahm, one of nine players who had at least a share of the lead during the day, surged to a three-stroke victory with a 30 on the back nine for a 65 as he completed a comeback from three behind. The Arizona State grad birdied the 11th and eagled the par-5 13th from 18 feet. A birdie from five feet on 17 gave him the lead, and Rahm wrapped up the title by holing a 60-foot putt from the fringe for an eagle on the par-5 18th. Third-round co-leaders Brandt Snedeker and Patrick Rodgers fell back, while Charles Howell III and C.T. Pan tied for second.  Rahm’s 65 on Sunday was the best round of the day by two strokes.  Rahm had three eagles on the week, including one on the 13th hole of the South Course in the first round along with the two on Sunday.  Rahm led the field in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee at 1.134 strokes per round. In search of his second TOUR victory, Tony Finau was T4.

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quick facts

No. 18, Torrey Pines South Course.

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

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X The 22-year-old Rahm became the youngest player to win the tournament, six months younger than Phil Mickelson was when he won in 1993 at age 22. X Charles Howell III’s runner-up finish was his third at the Farmers Insurance Open (also 2005 and 2007) and seventh top-10 finish in 15 starts.

leaDerBoarD 2017 Player

Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Jon Rahm

275/-13

500.00

$1,206,000.00

278/-10

245.00

$589,600.00

278/-10

245.00

$589,600.00

Keegan Bradley

279/-9

104.00

$252,590.00

Tony Finau

279/-9

104.00

$252,590.00

Pat Perez

279/-9

104.00

$252,590.00

279/-9

104.00

$252,590.00

279/-9

104.00

$252,590.00

images: getty images; Pga tOUR

Patrick Rodgers Justin Rose

Justin Rose cooled off after an opening 65 and was T4, five back.

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Three rounds in the 60s led Keegan Bradley to a tie for fourth place.

Measuring 570 yards, the 18th hole is reachable in two shots, but the second must be well-struck or it could find the small pond in front of the green. Even laying up can be dangerous, as approach shots can spin off the green into the hazard. The pond is known as “Devlin’s Billabong” from Bruce Devlin making a 10 in 1975.

fan eXPerience

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Charles Howell III C.T. Pan

notaBle course features

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X Jon Rahm was the first player in 26 years to make the Farmers Insurance Open his first PGA TOUR victory (Jay Don Blake, 1991). X Spain’s Rahm was only the fourth international winner of the event, joining South Africa’s Gary Player (1963), Spain’s Jose Maria Olåzabal (2002) and Australia’s Jason Day (2015).

The Century Club of San Diego, the nonprofit that operates the Farmers Insurance Open, supported more than 80 local charities, schools and school support organizations in 2017 through funding from primary charity programs Champions For Youth and Support Our San Diego. Additionally, more than 150 charities and schools were supported through in-kind donations.

The SERVPRO Fan Village is the epicenter of action and showcases areas like the Michelob ULTRA Zone; with the Champions For Youth Zone, an Official Merchandise Tent and a fan-friendly expo. It also has The Fringe Presented by Harrah’s Resort SoCal with drink specials and performances by local DJs after play Thursday to Saturday. Another area is The Grove, highlighted by the Grey Goose 19th Hole and William Hill Wine Lounge. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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Location Scottsdale, Ariz. TPC Scottsdale

Course Information

Waste Management Phoenix Open HOW HIDEKI MATSUYAMA WON

Yardage 7,261; par 71

2017 Champion Hideki Matsuyama, Japan

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Tickets General admission tickets are $40 Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and $50 Friday and Saturday, available in advance through www. wmphoenixopen.com. Admission is free on Monday and Tuesday on Ford Free Days; ages 17 and under are free all week when accompanied by an adult.

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“It was a struggle, especially the playoff, but I’m really happy to win.” ––Hideki Matsuyama

Rookie J.J. Spaun enjoyed the best finish of his PGA TOUR career, T4.

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The Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale was designed by Jay Morrish and 1973 Open Championship winner Tom Weiskopf specifically to serve as a tournament stage. Built in 1986, the Stadium Course offers a collection of challenging risk-reward holes that incorporate strategic bunkering and water hazards. Weiskopf oversaw a renovation of the course in 2014. The location of the property provides spectacular views of the McDowell Mountains and the Sonoran Desert.

February 1-4, 2018

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama won the Waste Management Phoenix Open for the second consecutive year—once again doing it on the fourth hole of a playoff. A year after beating Rickie Fowler in extra holes, Matsuyama topped Webb Simpson with a playoff birdie on No. 17. Matsuyama shot a 66 in the final round, leaving a 19-foot birdie putt hanging on the lip on the 18th that would have won it in regulation. Trailing by four strokes through 54 holes, Matsuyama eagled the third hole on Sunday and added birdies on Nos. 5, 13 and 15 while not making a bogey. Simpson rallied from six back with a 64 and birdied the last two holes of regulation, but managed only pars in the playoff. Third-round leader Byeong Hun An dropped to sixth after a 73.  Matsuyama had only four bogeys during the week, none in the first and final rounds.  Matsuyama ranked first in Strokes Gained: Approach-theGreen at 2.102 per round and T2 in Greens in Regulation Percentage at 80.56.  Matsuyama ranked ninth in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee and T6 in Driving Accuracy Percentage. Louis Oosthuizen finished at 16 under to finish third.

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2017/2018 tournament overview

quick facts

No. 16, TPC Scottsdale.

Field: 132 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 Waste Management Phoenix Open and the tournament host Thunderbirds raise money for charities, most of which provide programs that benefit youth. In the 82-year history of the tournament, the Thunderbirds have raised more than $122 million, including more than $10 million in 2017.

X Hideki Matsuyama became the first player since Ernie Els at the Sony Open in Hawaii (2003-04) to win the same event in a playoff in two straight years. X Matsuyama became the first back-to-back winner of the Waste Management Phoenix Open since Johnny Miller in 1974-75.

X Matsuyama has two wins in four Phoenix starts and has never been worse than fourth: T4 in 2014, T2 in 2015 and wins in 2016 and 2017. X It only took until age 24 for Matsuyama to become the Japanese player with the most victories on the PGA TOUR, his fourth career win moving him past Shigeki Maruyama.

Player

Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Hideki Matsuyama

267/-17

500.00

$1,206,000.00

Webb Simpson

267/-17

300.00

$723,600.00

268/-16

190.00

$455,600.00

269/-15

122.50

$294,800.00

J.J. Spaun

269/-15

122.50

$294,800.00

imageS: Pga TOUR; geTTY imageS

Louis Oosthuizen Rickie Fowler

After being in a playoff in the event in 2015, Rickie Fowler tied for fourth.

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The short par-3 16th, just 163 yards, has become the most renowned and exciting during the event. This is the first tournament hole in golf completely surrounded by grandstands and skyboxes, which are filled by 16,000 fans each day, the reason why it has become known as “the most exciting hole in golf.”

fan eXPerience

Webb Simpson rallied from six strokes behind with a closing 64 to make a playoff.

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leaderBoard 2017

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notaBle course features

The Coors Light Birds Nest is an entertainment tent with live music Wednesday through Saturday evenings. On Tuesday morning the R.S. Hoyt Jr. Family Foundation Dream Day Activities include motivational speeches by PGA TOUR pros, a trick-shot show and a junior golf clinic presented by PING. Celebrities are featured Wednesday at the Annexus Pro-Am and Phoenix Suns Charities Shot at Glory. Saturday is a “Green Out,” with everyone encouraged to wear green to support the green/eco-sensitive efforts of the tournament.

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February 8-11, 2018

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Location

Pebble Beach, Calif. Pebble Beach Golf Links (Host Course) Prominent amateur golfers Jack Neville and Douglas Grant designed Pebble Beach Golf Links, which opened in 1919. Changes to the scenic and iconic layout over the years have included William Fowler converting the 18th hole to a par 5 and Jack Nicklaus creating a new fifth hole in 1998. Pebble Beach has hosted one PGA Championship and five U.S. Opens with a sixth scheduled for 2019.

Yardage

Pebble Beach GL 6,816; par 72 Monterey Peninsula CC (Shore Course) 6,958; par 71 Spyglass Hill GC 6,953; par 72

2017 Champion Jordan Spieth, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Tickets

Daily grounds tickets are $60 Monday to Friday and Sunday, $70 on Saturday or $80 for an Any Day ticket; a weekly ticket costs $150. Available through www. attpbgolf.com. Children 15 and under are free with a ticketed adult; military and veterans can register for two complimentary Any Day tickets.

“This is a bucket-list place to win. It was amazing walking up the 18th green knowing that we were going to win. I tried to soak it in.” —Jordan Spieth

Runner-up Kelly Kraft had the best finish of his PGA TOUR career.

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HOW JORDAN SPIETH WON

Course Information

Entering the final round with a six-stroke lead, Jordan Spieth reeled off 16 pars and two birdies in a closing 70 to win by four strokes. Spieth missed only two greens in the final round, one of those on the fringe, to hold off any would-be contenders on a day when his lead never fell below three strokes. Spieth made an early two-putt birdie at the par-5 second and the icing on the cake was a birdie from 29 feet at the par-3 17th. His fireworks came earlier in the tournament with rounds of 68-65-65, including a 31 on the back nine at Pebble Beach on Saturday to build his lead. Kelly Kraft won the battle for second place on Sunday with a 67, while Dustin Johnson had a 68 to finish third.  Spieth went without a bogey on the last 28 holes and had only four during the week.  Spieth ranked third in Greens in Regulation Percentage (79.17) and T14 in Driving Accuracy Percentage (78.18).  Spieth ranked T2 in Putting Average with 1.667 putts per green hit in regulation.

Dustin Johnson finished third, four strokes behind the winner.

Social Media

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2017/2018 tournament overview

quick facts

No. 7, Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Field: 156 professionals Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7.4 million Winner’s Share: $1,332,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

charity Benefit

Monterey Peninsula Foundation is the nonprofit organization that stages the tournament. Last year, the Foundation granted $12.8 million to organizations and programs benefitting youth, education, health and human services, arts, and the environment.

X Jordan Spieth at the age of 23 years, 6 months, 16 days became the second youngest winner of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am behind John Cook (23 years, 4 months in 1981). X Spieth’s six-stroke lead through 54 holes was one off the tournament record of seven by Phil Mickelson in 2005, and his four-stroke victory

margin was one short of the tournament record of five held by six players, most recently Mickelson in 2007. X Spieth’s victory made it 13 consecutive years an American-born player has won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The last international winner was Fiji’s Vijay Singh in 2004.

leaDerBoarD 2017 Player

Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

268/-19

500.00

$1,296,000.00

272/-15

300.00

$777,600.00

Dustin Johnson

273/-14

190.00

$489,600.00

Brandt Snedeker

274/-13

135.00

$345,600.00

Jason Day

275/-12

100.00

$262,800.00

Jon Rahm

275/-12

100.00

$262,800.00

Gary Woodland

275/-12

100.00

$262,800.00

images: getty images

With a final-round 67, Jason Day was T5.

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Jon Rahm broke 70 three days and tied for fifth.

Pebble Beach Golf Links is famous for its holes that run along the Pacific Ocean, and while the par-5 18th is one of the most recognizable holes in the world, holes 8-10 comprise the most difficult stretch. The 418-yard eighth plays over a chasm on the second shot, while the ninth and 10th are 466 and 446 yards, respectively.

fan eXPerience

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Jordan Spieth Kelly Kraft

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check this out

notaBle course features

On Tuesday, past tournament champions are paired with champions from other sports to compete in a putting contest, presented by Chevron. Wednesday’s 3M Celebrity Challenge is followed by the Million Dollar Hole-in-One for Charity presented by Facebook, where celebrities take aim at the iconic 7th hole. Triangle Plaza is open to all spectators and features the AT&T FanDome and Club Patron. Families will enjoy the Chevron STEM Zone with hands on golf-themed activities. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/018, Part 1

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February 15-18, 2018

Genesis Open Location Pacific Palisades, Calif. Riviera Country Club The George C. Thomasdesigned Riviera Country Club was instantly acclaimed as one of the best courses in the United States when it opened in 1927, and it has retained that reputation. Set on a flat site inside the Santa Monica Canyon, much fill dirt was used and shaped into a natural looking landscape in the strategic design mold. Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore did a renovation in 1992 and Tom Fazio has supervised some changes, including lengthening many holes, since 2002.

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HOW DUSTIN JOHNSON WON

Course Information

Dustin Johnson ran away with the Genesis Open on a 36-hole final day, shooting a third-round 64 to take a five-stroke lead and extending the margin to nine strokes early in the final round before ultimately winning by five. Johnson led by one after the rain-plagued first two rounds after shooting 66-66. His seven birdies in the third round all came on putts of 13 feet or less, and he capped it with birdies on the last three holes. Johnson followed up with birdies on three of the first six holes in the final round to end any suspense, even with three bogeys on his last 10 holes for a 71, en route to a win that moved him to No. 1 in the World Ranking.

Yardage 7,322; par 71

2017 Champion Dustin Johnson, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Tickets Advance tickets cost $20 Monday and Wednesday, $50 Thursday to Sunday, available through www.genesisopen.com. New in 2018, grounds tickets are valid any one day Thursday to Sunday. Youth age 15 and under are admitted free, and so are active duty and retired military. Veterans receive a 50 percent discount.

“I couldn’t have driven it any better. That was a big key.” ––Dustin Johnson

Charley Hoffman’s best round of the week, a 67, moved him into T4.

 Johnson had a stretch of 49 holes without a bogey until making one on the ninth hole of the final round.  Johnson ranked first in Driving Distance (315.3 yards) and first in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee (1.315 per round).  Johnson ranked first in Greens in Regulation Percentage (77.8) and third in Strokes Gained: Putting (1.841 per round).

Four rounds in the 60s earned Scott Brown a share of second place.

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2017/2018 tournament overview

chARitY BeNeFit

quick FActs

No. 18, Riviera Country Club.

Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7.2 million Winner’s Share: $1,296,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Each year, the Genesis Open makes a significant impact in the lives of youth in Southern California. Youth benefit through access to the game through the Genesis Open, in addition to the thousands of students participating in STEM education and collegeaccess programs of the Tiger Woods Foundation through the TGR Learning Lab, TGR EDU and Earl Woods Scholar Program.

check this out

X A final-round 71 left Dustin Johnson at 267, three strokes away from matching the tournament 72-hole record of 264 set by Lanny Wadkins in 1985. X Johnson’s streak of rounds in the 60s at the Genesis Open ended at nine, matching the record of J.B. Holmes (2009-11).

X Johnson has finished in the top 10 in seven of his 10 appearances at the Genesis Open, including a win in 2017 and runner-up finishes in 2014 and 2015. X Johnson’s five-stroke lead through 54 holes was one off the tournament record of six set by Steve Stricker in 2010.

leADeRBoARD 2017 Player

Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Dustin Johnson

267/-17

500.00

$1,260,000.00

245.00

272/-12

$616,000.00

273/-11

108.75

$275,625.00

273/-11

108.75

$275,625.00

Kevin Na

273/-11

108.75

$275,625.00

Justin Rose

273/-11

108.75

$275,625.00

images: getty images; Pga tOUR

Wesley Bryan

With a final-round 63, Thomas Pieters surged into T2.

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FAN eXPeRieNce

$616,000.00

Charley Hoffman

The 315-yard 10th is one of the most intriguing holes on the PGA TOUR. Depending on tee placement and how powerful a player is, it often sets up as a drivable par 4. But the green is small and set at an angle, so it is very difficult to hit, and shots from around the green are challenging, making the decision of whether to go for it a difficult one.

On the strength of a third-round 63, Wesley Bryan was T4.

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Scott Brown Thomas Pieters

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NotABle couRse FeAtuRes

All guests at the Genesis Open have access to The Promenade with food trucks and giant video board viewing; The Strip and The Boulevard featuring interactive partner displays and giveaways; and The Deck presented by Vineyard Vines at 10 green offering premium food, beverages and views of Riviera’s signature hole.

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

February 22-25, 2018

The Honda Classic Location Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. PGA National Resort & Spa The Champion Golf Course

Course Information Originally designed by George and Tom Fazio in 1981, The Champion Golf Course was redesigned by Jack Nicklaus in 1990 and again in 2014. The course has hosted the 1983 Ryder Cup, 1987 PGA Championship, the Senior PGA Championship from 1982-2000 and The Honda Classic since 2007. With water in play on 16 holes and strategic bunkering, it is one of the sterner tests on the PGA TOUR.

Yardage 7,140; par 70

2017 Champion Rickie Fowler, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Tickets

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

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HOW RICKIE FOWLER WON

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Advance grounds tickets are $20 Tuesday, $30 Wednesday and $50 Thursday-Sunday, with a Good Any Single Day ticket going for $55. A weekly ticket booklet costs $150. Kids 15 and under are free when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Tickets are available through www.thehondaclassic.com.

“I gave myself enough cushion that I could get away with a bad nine, which I started with, and then luckily enough the putter saved me at times.” —Rickie Fowler

Rickie Fowler built a four-stroke lead through 54 holes with rounds of 66-66-65 and held on in windier conditions in the final round for a 71 that enabled him to win by four. Fowler was 2-over on the front nine Sunday, making a double bogey on the sixth, and while playing the 12th hole his lead was trimmed to one over Gary Woodland. That’s when Fowler made back-to-back birdies on Nos. 12 and 13, holing putts of 38 and 23 feet. He slammed the door with a tee shot to three feet on the par-3 16th for a birdie that put him ahead by five and enabled him to easily survive a bogey-bogey finish. Woodland bogeyed the 18th for a 69 that dropped him into a tie for second with Morgan Hoffmann (68).  Besides the long putts at the 12th and 13th, Fowler holed a 30-foot birdie putt at the eighth in the final round. For the week, he was second in Strokes Gained: Putting.  Fowler made birdies on his first seven tries on the course’s two par 5s until a harmless bogey on 18 in the final round. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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quick facts

No. 16, The Champion Golf Course, PGA National Resort & Spa.

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

charity Benefit

The Honda Classic donated a record $3.63 million in 2017 to 133 local organizations that benefit children, impacting the lives of more than 32,000 kids and their families. It included a $1 million grant to the tournament’s main beneficiary, the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation.

check this out X Rickie Fowler’s 54-hole total of 197 was the lowest by two strokes since The Honda Classic moved to PGA National in 2007. The tournament record is 196 by Davis Love III in 2003 at the Country Club at Mirasol. X Bogeys on the last two holes left Fowler with a 72-hole total of 268, one higher than the lowest total at PGA National of 267 by Camilo Villegas (2010). The tournament record is 264 by Justin Leonard in 2003.

X The victory was the fourth of Rickie Fowler’s career, and the first when he didn’t come from behind in the final round. Previously, he had been 0-for-4 when holding the 54-hole lead or co-lead. X The 15th hole hadn’t yielded any aces in the first 10 years of the event at PGA National, but in 2017 there were two—Scott Stallings in the first round and Jhonattan Vegas in the fourth.

Player

Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Rickie Fowler

268/-12

500.00

$1,152,000.00

Morgan Hoffmann

272/-8

245.00

$563,200.00

Gary Woodland

272/-8

245.00

$563,200.00

Gary Woodland pulled within one stroke during the final round but finished four back in T2.

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Morgan Hoffmann was T2, his best finish in five years on TOUR.

The Champion Golf Course is known for a three-hole stretch nicknamed “The Bear Trap,” all prominently featuring water hazards. Water guards three sides of the green at the 179-yard 15th and again at the 190-yard 17th. On the 434-yard par-4 16th, water runs the entire length of the hole and must be carried with the second shot on the dogleg right.

fan eXPerience

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Saturday is Tire Kingdom Family Day, with the first 1,500 kids receiving a giant golf ball for autograph collecting, and featuring the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Kids Zone with interactive fun and games, contests and prizes. There are fireworks Friday and Saturday nights and a Concert Series at the Michelob ULTRA Terrace on Thursday, Friday and Saturday after play. During the day there are several public hospitality venues as well as several requiring an upgraded ticket. w w w.p gat our.com

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23/10/2017 09:32

2017/2018 tournament overview

March 1-4, 2018

World Golf ChampionshipsMexico Championship Location Mexico City, Mexico Club de Golf Chapultepec

Course Information Club de Golf Chapultepec, now in its second year as host, was designed by Scottish brothers Willie and Alex Smith and opened in 1921, with a redesign by Gene Clifford in 1972. It was the primary site of the Mexican Open from its 1944 inception to 1960 and 18 times in all. Most of the holes are tree-lined, with strategic bunkering and water hazards; the course features many elevation changes and views of Mexico City’s skyline.

Yardage 7,330; par 71

2017 Champion Dustin Johnson, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC

Tickets One-Day grounds tickets range from about $30 to $185 in equivalent U.S. currency, depending on the day; a Two-Day ticket for the weekend is $135; a Three-Day ticket for Friday-Sunday is $395 and a Weekly ticket $520. Tickets available through www.wgcmexico.com. Youth ages 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by a ticketed adult.

Social Media

“I didn’t feel like I putted my best, but I really hit the ball well. I played just well enough.”—Dustin Johnson

Jon Rahm’s strong play early in the season continued with a T3 finish.

Thomas Pieters shot three rounds in the 60s and finished T5.

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HOW DUSTIN JOHNSON WON

Ross Fisher finished at 272 in a tie for third place.

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Runner-up Tommy Fleetwood applied pressure with a dramatic birdie on the final hole.

Dustin Johnson took the lead on the front nine, briefly surrendered it to Jon Rahm, but recovered down the stretch to walk away with the victory. Johnson trailed Justin Thomas by one through 54 holes, but as Thomas fell back on Sunday Johnson shot a 4-under 31 on the front nine. There was a leaderboard shuffle when Johnson bogeyed 13 and 14, while Rahm was making an eagle on 11 and birdies on 14 and 15 to go ahead by one. Rahm retreated just as quickly with three-putt bogeys on the 16th and 17th, while Johnson regained control with a birdie at the par-5 15th. Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tommy Fleetwood emerged as a challenger by holing a 40-foot birdie putt on 18 for a 66, forcing Johnson to par in for a one-stroke victory, which he did. Rahm, with a 68, ended up two back, tied with Ross Fisher (65), who closed with three straight birdies. X Johnson had a 31 on the front nine in each of the last two rounds. X Johnson was 10-under for the 12 par 5s during the week. X Johnson made only nine of 17 putts from between three and five feet, but made up for it by holing nine of 18 from 10 to 20 feet. X Johnson led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green (2.174 strokes per round) and Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green (3.148). PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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quick facts

No. 17, Club de Golf Chapultepec.

Field: approx. 76 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $10 million Winner’s Share: $1,755,000 FedExCup Points: 550 to the winner

charity Benefit

The Mexico Championship is committed to growing the game of golf and has pledged to support The First Tee’s Mexico chapter, which was launched last year.

Player

Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points 550.00

Dustin Johnson

270/-14

Tommy Fleetwood

271/-13

Ross Fisher

272/-12

Jon Rahm

272/-12

Thomas Pieters

273/-11

Justin Thomas

273/-11

Earnings $1,660,000.00 $1,045,000.00 $497,000.00

170.00

$497,000.00 $312,500.00

110.00

$312,500.00

X Dustin Johnson became the fifth player to win his first event as the No. 1 player in the Official World Golf Ranking, joining Ian Woosnam (1991), David Duval (1999), Vijay Singh (2004) and Adam Scott (2014). X Johnson posted his fourth top-five finish in the event: 2nd/2011, T4/2014, 1st/2015, 1st/2017. X Johnson became the third player to win the event more than once, joining Tiger Woods (seven) and Ernie Els (two). 156

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X The last 10 champions of the event have been in the top 20 of the Official World Golf Ranking after the victory, including eight in the top 10. X Phil Mickelson trailed by two strokes entering the final round and, at 46, was trying to become the oldest winner of any World Golf Championships event. He finished T7, leaving Vijay Singh (45 at the 2008 Bridgestone Invitational) as the oldest.

fan eXPerience

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check this out

The course gets off to an interesting start as the first hole is a 316-yard, downhill par 4. It is drivable, but to get to the green the tee shot must fade around a group of trees on a hole that bends to the right. By contrast, the 625-yard, uphill par-5 sixth plays very long even at Mexico City’s high elevation. It played slightly under par in 2017, but produced more double bogeys or worse (20) than any other hole, unusual for a par 5. The hardest hole on the course in 2017 was the eighth, a par 5 for members that plays as a 525-yard par 4 for the pros.

A number of fan features are available for all age groups: Fan Zones with gastronomic experiences and themed entertainment that varies day by day, celebrations, food and beverage areas, beer gardens, a brand activation area and an autograph signing area for kids.

images: geTTY images; us pga Tour

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

March 8-11, 2018

Valspar Championship Course Information Designed by Larry Packard in 1972, the Copperhead Course is a favorite of PGA TOUR players because of its straightforward shotmaking examination. The undulating terrain is unusual for a Florida course and complements a challenging strategic layout accentuated by lakes, ponds and abundant trees. During a 2015 restoration, the greens were rebuilt and bunkers reshaped.

Yardage 7,340; par 71

2017 Champion Adam Hadwin, Canada

Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC

Tickets Advance tickets for Thursday to Sunday are $49 for Good-Any-One Day or $39 for Select-A-Day; gate tickets cost $10 Wednesday and $50 tournament days. A weekly book of tickets is $125. Tickets available through www.valsparchampionship. com. Kids 15 and under are free with a ticketed adult, active duty and retired military receive two free tickets and veterans receive a discount.

“I relished the moments and I really enjoyed it out there. Minus one bad shot on 16, it was a lot of fun out there today.” —Adam Hadwin

Dominic Bozzelli shot three rounds in the 60s en route to a T3.

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HOW ADAM HADWIN WON

Location Palm Harbor, Fla. Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club (Copperhead Course)

Canada’s Adam Hadwin survived a double bogey on the 16th hole of the final round and claimed his first PGA TOUR victory by one stroke over Patrick Cantlay, who was also seeking his first title. Hadwin hit his tee shot into the water on 16 as he lost a two-stroke lead, but pars on 17 and 18 were good enough for the victory because Cantlay bunkered his approach and bogeyed the finishing hole. The 25-year-old Cantlay, playing in only his second event since missing two years with a back injury, closed with a 68 and birdied five of six holes starting at the ninth to pressure Hadwin, who began the day with a four-stroke lead. But birdies at 11 and 13 and a par save at 18 enabled the 29-yearold to come out on top.  Hadwin had five straight birdies and shot a 6-under 29 on the back nine in a second-round 64.  Hadwin ranked second in Strokes Gained: Approachthe-Green (2.045 per round) and T5 in Greens in Regulation Percentage (70.83).  Hadwin made four putts longer than 25 feet, two of them longer than 50 feet.

Jim Herman finished T3 after opening with a 62.

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quick facts

Adam Hadwin in action during the third round of the 2017 Valspar Championship.

Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.5 million Winner’s Share: $1,170,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

charity Benefit

Copperhead Charities, Inc., the non-profit organizing group of the Valspar Championship, generated more than $2.4 million in charitable donations in 2017 and more than 50 area charities benefited. The total contribution by Copperhead Charities since 1977 is nearly $39 million.

check this out

X Hadwin became the fourth internationalborn player to win in the last six years at the Valspar Championship, joining Luke Donald (2012), John Senden (2014) and Charl Schwartzel (2016). X Hadwin’s 132 total through 36 holes was one off the tournament record of 131 set by K.J. Choi in 2002.

X Defending champion Charl Schwartzel finished sixth. No player has ever won in consecutive years in the event that started in 2000. The only multiple winners of the Valspar Championship are Choi (2002, 2006) and Retief Goosen (2003, 2009). X Adam Hadwin became the 14th Canadian to win on the PGA TOUR.

leaDerBoarD 2017 Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Adam Hadwin

270/-14

500.00

$1,134,000.00

Patrick Cantlay

271/-13

300.00

$680,400.00

Dominic Bozzelli

272/-12

162.50

$365,400.00

Jim Herman

272/-12

162.50

$365,400.00

Tony Finau

273/-11

110.00

$252,000.00

images: getty images

Tony Finau closed with a 64 to move into fifth place.

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Patrick Cantlay, in his second tournament back after a long layoff, was runner-up one stroke behind.

The 16th through 18th holes on Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course are known as the “Snake Pit.” The toughest of the three, and one of the most difficult holes on the course statistically, is the 16th. The 475-yard dogleg-right features water on the right side, which cost eventual winner Adam Hadwin one of 22 double bogeys made by the field on the hole in 2017 against only 36 birdies.

fan eXPerience

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Player

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Special venues for spectators include the Valspar Food Truck Rally, the McDonald’s Family Fun Zone presented by Publix, the Michelob ULTRA 19th Hole, Frenchy’s Pool Party, the Fan Expo Area, the Pinch a Penny Birdies for the Brave Patriots Outpost, Grape & Grain, the Valspar Chameleon Cove and health screenings available from Tampa General Hospital. A Saturday or Good-AnyDay ticket gets you into the Valspar LIVE! Concert on Saturday following play. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

March 15-18, 2018

Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard Location

Orlando, Fla. Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Course Information

Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Arnold Palmer’s signature design, is a demanding, strategic course that requires length off the tee and accuracy into tricky greens. Originally designed by Dick Wilson and Joe Lee in 1961, the layout features numerous water hazards and has been substantially redesigned by Palmer over the years to modernize the challenge for the game’s top players.

Yardage

“It was a wild ride out there. I played good all week, threw a bit of bad in there, but when I did that my putter saved me, which it did those last few holes.” —Marc Leishman

7,419; par 72

2017 Champion Marc Leishman, Australia Golf Channel/NBC

Tickets

Any One Day grounds tickets start at $55 and a weekly grounds badge at $115. Free admission for kids 12-and-under; youth tickets for ages 13-17 start at $20 (free on Monday). Tickets available through www. arnoldpalmerinvitational. com. Tickets are complimentary for active duty and retired military and one guest; veterans and one guest get discounted one-day tickets starting at $27.50.

HOW MARC LEISHMAN WON

Marc Leishman eagled the 16th hole to take the lead and also made key par saves down the stretch to emerge with a one-stroke victory at Bay Hill. Leishman made a 50-foot putt to eagle the par-5 16th, part of a stretch of four straight one-putts to finish the round, with par putts of six feet on Nos. 15 and 17 and three feet on 18 after a 45-yard pitch shot. Leishman finished with a 69, while Kevin Kisner and Charley Hoffman, who were tied for the lead and three clear of the rest of the field through three rounds, both shot 73 and tied for second. Hoffman fell back with a 39 on the front nine and his rally on the back fell short, while Kisner had the lead at the turn but couldn’t make a birdie on the back nine while making two bogeys for a 38.  Leishman ranked second in Strokes Gained: Putting, gaining a total of 8.22 strokes and 4.20 in the final round.  Leishman was T1 in Greens in Regulation Percentage at 73.61.  Leishman was second in Par 5 Scoring Average at 4.31.

Social Media

Twitter: @APinv Instagram: @apinv Facebook: www.facebook.com/ ArnoldPalmerInvitational 160

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Media Coverage

Riding a strong opening 36 holes, Charley Hoffman tied for second.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland added to the leaderboard’s international flavor with a T4 finish.

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quick facts

It was the first Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard without its host, who died in 2016.

Field: approx. 120 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $8.9 million Winner’s Share: $1,602,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

charity Benefit

Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation is the host organization of the tournament. The foundation includes Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, and provides financial support to various institutions and organizations.

X Marc Leishman was the second consecutive Australian to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational, following Jason Day in 2016, and the third overall (Rod Pampling, 2006). Other international winners were South Africa’s Ernie Els (1998 and 2010), Fiji’s Vijay Singh (2007) and Scotland’s Martin Laird (2011). X The victory earned Leishman a three-year

exemption, instead of the two at most PGA TOUR events. X In the fourth round, the par-4 18th hole played to a higher scoring average (4.389) than the par-5 16th (4.181). X The winning total of 277 matched the second highest at Bay Hill since 1993; only Martin Laird’s 280 in 2011 was higher.

Player

Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Marc Leishman

277/-11

500.00

$1,566,000.00

Charley Hoffman

278/-10

245.00

$765,600.00

Kevin Kisner

278/-10

245.00

$765,600.00

122.50

$382,800.00

279/-9

images: pga tour; getty images

Tyrrell Hatton Rory McIlroy

During a week of difficult scoring, Tyrrell Hatton (T4) broke 70 twice.

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$382,800.00

Despite closing with a 73, Kevin Kisner was T2, one shot behind the winner.

The closing hole at Bay Hill has been known for producing incredible drama. The par 4 measuring 458 yards requires a second shot to a narrow kidney-shaped green that wraps around a lake, demanding a long carry over water and rocks when the flagstick is on the right side.

fan eXPerience

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notaBle course features

Special events include The First Tee of Central Florida Youth Day on Monday including a junior clinic, Arnie’s March Against Children’s Cancer on Tuesday and two food events with upgraded tickets—Wine & Dine on 9 on Friday and Birdies & BBQ on Saturday. Club Ketel One is open all week for all spectators. Perks for Mastercard holders include the fun atmosphere of the Masterpass Club, the Masterpass Skills Challenge, ticket discounts and 10 percent savings on concessions and merchandise. Cardholders also can purchase an upgraded ticket to the new Mastercard Palmer Patio on the 14th hole.

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March 22-25, 2018

Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship Location Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Puntacana Resort & Club (Corales Course)

Course Information Puntacana Resort & Club has 45 holes of golf, including the Tom Fazio-designed Corales course, which opened in 2010. The course plays along the cliffs, bays and coves of the Caribbean Sea, with six oceanside holes, and the inland holes dotted with lakes and coralina quarries. The course features ever-changing elevations, strategic bunkering and massive, elevated greens.

Yardage

Nate Lashley won the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship in 2017 when it was a Web.com Tour event.

7,668; par 72

2017 Champion (Web.com Tour event) Nate Lashley, U.S.

Golf Channel

Tickets Daily grounds tickets cost $10 and a weekly ticket is available for $50, available through www.puntacana. com/coraleschampionship. Children under 12 years old are admitted free.

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NEW EVENT

The Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship becomes the first PGA TOUR event to be held in the Dominican Republic, making a transition after two years as a Web.com Tour event. Through a new four-year agreement, Grupo Puntacana, which owns and operates Puntacana Resort & Club, will serve as the host organization and the Corales course remains the tournament course. The $3 million tournament will be played the same week as the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play. “We are extremely pleased to have this unique opportunity to elevate an outstanding tournament from the Web.com Tour to the PGA TOUR,” said Andy Pazder, PGA TOUR Chief Tournament and Competitions Officer. “With the tournament structure in place and a world-class golf course and resort in the Dominican Republic, the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship presents an exciting new playing alternative for our members.” “Hosting the very first PGA TOUR tournament in the Dominican Republic is an honor both for Puntacana Resort & Club and for the Dominican Republic itself,” said Frank Rainieri, chairman and founder of Grupo Puntacana. “This is an affirmation of the exceptional golf facilities we have, and we are thrilled to expose the international golf community to the Dominican Republic.” The winners of the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship as a Web.com Tour event were Dominic Bozzelli in 2016 and Nate Lashley in 2017.

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No. 9, Corales Course.

quiCk faCts Field: 132 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $3 million Winner’s Share: $540,000 FedExCup Points: 300 to the winner

Charity Benefit

No. 18, Corales Course.

Proceeds benefit the Grupo Puntacana Foundation, which supports programs that improve the health and wellbeing of the local communities of Punta Cana in basic areas of human development, environmental programs that protect and preserve the natural resources of the region while contributing to sustainable development and a junior golf program.

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notaBle Course features

images: Us Pga TOUR;

The last three holes play toward or along the Bay of Corales and are called the Devil’s Elbow. The 501-yard 18th wraps around the water, enticing players to bite off as much of a carry as they dare on the tee shot, but it was the 214-yard par-3 17th that ranked as the toughest hole in the Web.com Tour event in 2017. It plays along the coast to a narrow green guarded by bunkers on both sides. w w w.p gat our.com

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

March 21-25, 2018

World Golf ChampionshipsDell Technologies Match Play Location Austin, Texas Austin Country Club

Course Information Austin County Club was founded in 1899, but its current course was built on new property in 1984 and designed by Pete Dye. As configured for the tournament, a stretch of holes on the back nine is in the “lowlands” close to Lake Austin while the rest of the course is higher and more typical of Texas Hill Country. The course features deep pot bunkers and dramatic elevation changes, with a Texas accent added by extensive use of limestone slabs, quarried on site, to build revetments for tees, greens and fairways. The course is designed so that aggressive play to target areas providing the best angle of approach or best birdie chance on the green often requires flirting with the ample hazards.

Yardage 7,108; par 71

2017 Champion Dustin Johnson, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC

“A lot longer match this afternoon than I would have liked it to have been. But Jon was a great competitor, and it was a great match.” —Dustin Johnson

Tickets Tickets went on sale in September and can be purchased at www. DellTechnologiesMatchPlay.com

Social Media

Bill Haas finished third after winning the consolation match on Sunday.

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HOW DUSTIN JOHNSON WON

Hideto Tanihara was ousted by the eventual champion in the semifinals.

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After falling behind by four holes, runnerup Jon Rahm fought back late in the final to make it close.

Dustin Johnson scored his third victory in as many PGA TOUR starts in dominant fashion as he never trailed in any of his seven matches, three in the round-robin and four in single elimination. On the final day, though, he needed to go to the 18th hole to win both of his matches, 1 up, over Hideto Tanihara in the semifinals and Jon Rahm in the final. Johnson raced to a 5-up lead through the first eight holes of the final and still had a 4-up advantage with six to play before Rahm made it interesting. The Spaniard, who lost three early holes with bogeys, stormed back with birdies on 13, 15 and 16, the latter on a recovery approach shot through trees and a 30-foot putt, to trim Johnson’s lead to 1 up. Rahm hit his drive over the green on the par-4 18th, and couldn’t get up and down for the birdie he needed to send the match into overtime, as Johnson won with a par.  Johnson defeated three major-championship winners in the round-robin portion—Webb Simpson, Martin Kaymer and Jimmy Walker—never needing to go past the 16th hole.  Johnson topped another major winner, Zach Johnson, 5 and 4, before beating Alex Noren, 3 and 2, to reach the semifinals.  Johnson won the first hole in his first six matches before halving it in the final.  With his win at the Dell Technologies Match Play, Johnson became the only player to win all four World Golf Championships events in his career. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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2017/2018 tournament overview

Field: 64 players Format: 18-hole match play, with four-player pool play preceding single-elimination match play Purse: $10 million Winner’s Share: $1,700,000 FedExCup Points: 550 to the winner

charity Benefit The Dell Technologies Match Play has contributed more than $2.1 million to local charities in its two years in Austin, and overall the event has generated more than $17 million since its inception in 1999. The local beneficiaries are Austin Parks Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area, The First Tee of Greater Austin, Helping Hand Home for Children and Keep Austin Beautiful.

leaderBoard 2017 Player

Pos FedExCup Points

Earnings

Dustin Johnson

550.00

$1,660,000.00

Jon Rahm

315.00

$1,045,000.00

Bill Haas

200.00

$678,000.00

Hideto Tanihara

X Dustin Johnson became the second player in the history of the event that started in 1999 to never trail in any match, joining Luke Donald (2011). Johnson played seven matches and Donald six. Johnson led after 105 of the 112 holes he played. X The victory was Johnson’s fifth in the World Golf Championships events. Only Tiger Woods, with 18, has more. X Johnson’s victory marked the fifth time a No. 1 seed has won. The others were Tiger 166

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Woods in 2003, 2004 and 2008 and Rory McIlroy in 2015. X Johnson became the first American to win since Matt Kuchar in 2013. Australia’s Jason Day won in 2014 and 2016 and Northern Ireland’s McIlroy in 2015. X In addition to winning his third straight PGA TOUR start, Johnson won his third straight World Golf Championships event after capturing the HSBC Champions the previous November and Mexico Championship earlier in March.

The signature hole is the par-5 12th, which plays downhill to a green that sits hard by Lake Austin, with the iron arch of a bridge adjacent to the course as a backdrop. It’s reachable in two strokes, but water awaits an errant shot, making it an excellent risk/reward hole for match play. That’s followed by another hole that can produce birdies or penalty strokes, the short par-4 13th featuring a green that juts into the water. The lakeside stretch concludes with the long par-4 14th where pars will be hard earned and the lake hugs the entire left side.

fan eXPerience

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check this out

$545,000.00

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notaBle course features

Spectators are allowed to park their boats on Lake Austin to view the tournament, under certain regulations. On-course amenities include a Fan Zone with simulators and local Austin food, bleachers on the first tee and signature back nine holes, a merchandise tent and Kid Zone.

images: geTTY images, pga Tour

quick facts

Dustin Johnson putting on the 13th hole green at Austin Country Club.

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

March 1-4, 2018

Puerto Rico Open

Location Rio Grande, Puerto Rico Coco Beach Golf Club

Course Information Located in the foothills of El Yunque National Park, Coco Beach Golf Club boasts two 18-hole courses, the Championship Course and the International Course. Designed by World Golf Hall of Fame member Tom Kite, the Championship Course winds through lush tree groves and over waterways and lakes near the ocean.

Yardage 7,506; par 72

2017 Champion D.A. Points, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel

Tickets For information and purchase, go to www. puertoricoopen.golf.

Social Media Twitter: @PuertoRicoOpen Instagram: @puertoricoopen Facebook: www. facebook.com/ PuertoRicoOpen 168

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“I’ve never, that I can think of, just started out with five straight birdies. It was just like, ‘Wow!’” —D.A. Points

Bill Lunde was T2 after a final-round 68.

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HOW D.A. POINTS WON

D.A. Points opened his final round in style with birdies on the first five holes, survived a rough stretch, and rallied again at the end to take a two-stroke victory. Points began the final round one stroke behind leader Chris Stroud and quickly surged in front, but gave some of it back with three bogeys in five holes starting at the sixth. Par saves at Nos. 11 and 12 righted the ship and Points proceeded to birdie four of the last six holes for a 66 and a 20-under 268 total to claim his third career PGA TOUR victory at age 40. Retief Goosen (64), Bryson DeChambeau (67) and Bill Lunde (68) tied for second at 270, while Stroud slid to T8 after a 71.  Points capped his firstround 64 by holing out from 146 yards for an eagle on his last hole, the par-4 ninth.  Points hit 17 greens in the first round and all 18 in the second round, going on to lead the field by hitting 64 of 72 on the week.  Points hit 47 of 56 fairways to rank T1 in that category.

With three rounds in the 60s, Bryson DeChambeau was T2.

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2017/2018 tournament overview

quick facts

No. 14, Coco Beach Golf Club.

Field: 132 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $3 million Winner’s Share: $540,000 FedExCup Points: 300 to the winner

charity Benefit

As Puerto Rico recovers from Hurricane Maria, the goal for the 2018 Puerto Rico Open is to reach $1 million in funds for hurricane relief. Funds will be distributed primarily to institutions that focus on children’s education and health.

X D.A. Points’ 72-hole total of 268 was one off the tournament record of 267 set by Chesson Hadley in 2014. X In the 10 years of the Puerto Rico Open, there has never been a winning margin of more than two strokes. There have been three playoffs, three one-stroke margins and four two-stroke margins.

X Points’ victory marked the end of a four-year streak where the Puerto Rico Open was the first career victory for the winner: Scott Brown (2013), Hadley (2014), Alex Cejka (2015) and Tony Finau (2016). X Puerto Rico native Rafael Campos finished in the top 10 for the second straight year, T10 after T8 in 2016.

leaDerBoarD 2017 Player

Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

D.A. Points

268/-20

300.00

$540,000.00

Bryson DeChambeau

270/-18

116.66

$224,000.00

Retief Goosen

270/-18

116.66

$224,000.00

270/-18

116.66

$224,000.00

271/-17

60.00

$109,500.00

Sam Saunders

271/-17

60.00

$109,500.00

Peter Uihlein

271/-17

60.00

$109,500.00

images: getty images

A closing 64 moved Retief Goosen into a share of second place.

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Coco Beach Golf Club emerged from the hurricane with no major damage. The most scenic setting on the course is the 465-yard, par-4 12th hole, with the green featuring an ocean backdrop. It is also one of the tougher holes, ranking second in difficulty in 2017, as it is exposed to the wind which often is blowing against the players. There were 16 double bogeys on No. 12 last year, matching the fourth hole for the most on the course.

fan eXPerience

Whee Kim was T5, three shots behind the winner.

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Bill Lunde Whee Kim

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check this out

notaBle course features

The Puerto Rico Open is an experience for the entire family. There will be a junior clinic, and on Thursday through Sunday there will be a food truck park featuring local vendors and a Kids Area with games and activities. On Friday and Saturday evenings the action continues after the close of play with live music on site.

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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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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

March 29-April 1, 2018

Houston Open Location Humble, Texas Golf Club of Houston (Tournament Course)

Course Information Formerly known as Redstone Golf Club, the Golf Club of Houston opened in 2003 with the course now known as the Member Course, designed by Jim Hardy and Peter Jacobsen. The Tournament Course, designed by Rees Jones, was added in 2006. Former PGA Championship winner David Toms assisted Jones in creating a challenging layout that moves through cypress, oak and pine trees.

Yardage 7,441; par 72

2017 Champion Russell Henley, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; ALAMY

Tickets Advance grounds tickets are $30 for Wednesday and Thursday, $35 for Friday to Sunday, or $40 Good Any One Day, available through www.houstonopen.org. Up to three children 13-and-under are free with a ticketed adult. Active duty and retired military personnel receive complimentary tickets.

“I would say it’s definitely my best round. I felt very in control.” ––Russell Henley

A closing 67 helped Daniel Berger into fifth place.

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HOW RUSSELL HENLEY WON

Russell Henley made 10 birdies in a final-round 65 to come from behind to beat Sung Kang by three strokes. Kang led by six after opening with rounds of 65-63 and by three over Rickie Fowler after the third round. Henley was four back after 54 holes, but never went more than two holes without a birdie on Sunday. He birdied five of the first eight holes to catch Kang, then briefly fell one back with a double bogey on the ninth to Kang’s bogey. Kang made all pars on the back nine to close with a 72 while Henley pulled away with birdies on Nos. 10, 13, 14, 15 and 17 until a harmless bogey on 18. Fowler stumbled early in the final round, though he rallied late to earn a share of third with Luke List.  Henley was tied for first with 27 birdies.  Henley made six putts longer than 25 feet and ranked first in Strokes Gained: Putting with 3.126 strokes per round.  Henley ranked T4 in Greens in Regulation Percentage and hit 16 of 18 in the final round. With three rounds in the 60s, long-hitting Luke List was T3.

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quick facts

No. 1, Golf Club of Houston (Tournament Course).

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

charity Benefit

check this out

X Sung Kang set the tournament record for largest 36-hole lead at six strokes, previously four strokes by Curtis Strange (1980), Mike Donald (1989) and Jeff Maggert (1991). X Kang’s second-round 63 tied the 18-hole record at the Golf Club of Houston Tournament Course shared by five other players.

leaDerBoarD 2017 Player

Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

268/-20

500.00

$1,260,000.00

271/-17

300.00

$756,000.00

Rickie Fowler

272/-16

162.50

$406,000.00

Luke List

272/-16

162.50

$406,000.00

Daniel Berger

275/-13

110.00

$280,000.00

Rickie Fowler opened with a 64 en route to a share of third place.

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Runner-up Sung Kang set a tournament record for largest 36hole lead (six strokes).

The par-4 18th hole, which measures 488 yards, is both challenging and dramatic. A lake borders the entire left side and comes into play on both the tee shot and the approach to the green. It annually ranks among the toughest 50 holes on the PGA TOUR and played to an average of 4.311 in 2017.

fan eXPerience

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Russell Henley Sung Kang

notaBle course features

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X Russell Henley’s winning total of 268 tied for the lowest since the event moved to the Golf Club of Houston Tournament Course in 2006, matching Phil Mickelson (2011). X Henley ran his streak of consecutive rounds in the 60s at the Houston Open to 13 as he posted his fourth straight top-10 finish in the event.

The Houston Golf Association organizes the Houston Open and other golf events to support its mission to make a difference in the lives of youth through its charitable programs. The First Tee of Greater Houston reaches more than 300,000 young people annually through more than 460 public schools and at nine green-grass facilities. Other programs are the HGA Academic Scholarship Program, which has awarded more than $1.3 million in college scholarships, and the HGA Junior Golf Program.

The Champions Pavilion along the 18th fairway is open to all ticketholders. It features table seating, shade, big-screen TVs and close proximity to concessions. Upgraded tickets give access to the Club 16 skybox and lounge or the Greenskeeper, an open-air skybox on 17 with food and beverage included during play. w w w.p gat our.com

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DIGITAL EDITION PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO GOLF November 2017 - May 2018

O F F I C I A L

PGA TOUR

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ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO GOLF

BERNHARD LANGER PGA TOUR Champions

FEDEXCUP CHAMPION

CHESSON HADLEY Web.com Tour

HOW JUSTIN THOMAS WON

2018 NEW SEASON OF DRAMA FedExCup Charles Schwab Cup Web.com Tour

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OVERVIEWS PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada PGA TOUR-China PGA TOUR LIVE

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INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVE Stewart Cink on life and golf

NEW GENERATION PLAYERS • GOLF & TRAVEL CHOICES • PRESIDENTS CUP REVIEW • GOLF HEALTH & FITNESS

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

April 5-8, 2018

Masters Tournament

Location Augusta, Ga. Augusta National Golf Club

Course Information Augusta National Golf Club was designed by Alister MacKenzie and Bobby Jones, opening in 1932. Laid out on the site of a former tree nursery, the course features elevation changes, large undulating greens and relatively few but strategically placed bunkers. The course has undergone changes throughout its history to continue to provide a strong test for Masters competitors.

Yardage 7,435; par 72

Tickets

IMAGES: ALAMY

For information, visit online at www.masters.com.

Danny Willett, the 2016 champion, helped Sergio Garcia into a green jacket after he won the Masters in his 19th attempt.

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When Bobby Jones retired from competitive golf after winning the Grand Slam in 1930, he set his sights on building his dream course. Aided by his friend, New York investment banker Clifford Roberts, the perfect site was found in Augusta, Ga., on a former tree nursery. “It seemed that this land had been lying here for years just waiting for someone to lay a golf course upon it,” Jones later wrote. Jones collaborated with architect Alister MacKenzie on the design of Augusta National Golf Club, building a strategic layout that was immediately acclaimed upon opening in 1932. There was some discussion with the USGA of holding a U.S. Open there, but that didn’t work out since the club was closed during the summer months. So Roberts came up with the idea of holding an invitation tournament in the spring, hosted by the legendary Jones. With Jones interrupting his retirement to play in the event, the inaugural Augusta National Invitation Tournament (as it was then named) in 1934 drew more press coverage than any tournament outside of the U.S. Open. By the time Gene Sarazen won in 1935

in spectacular fashion, fueled by a double eagle on the 15th hole, the tournament (which would officially become the Masters in 1939) had already become a rite of spring. Sarazen’s victory was only one example of Augusta National bringing out the best in the game’s greatest players, as it has continued to do throughout Masters history. Byron Nelson won his first major there in 1937 and added another Masters in 1942. Sam Snead and Ben Hogan claimed five of the six Masters from 1949 to 1954, Snead three and Hogan two. Arnold Palmer, with his swashbuckling style, used Augusta National as his main stage, becoming the first to win the Masters four times, in 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964. Jack Nicklaus came along and did Palmer two better, claiming six green jackets from 1963 to 1986. South Africa’s Gary Player also made a mark with Masters titles in 1961, 1974 and 1978. He heralded the rise of international players in golf, and especially in the Masters. England’s Nick Faldo, with three titles (1989, 1990, 1996) led a vanguard of Europeans who captured 11 Masters from 1980 to 1999. Just before the turn of the century, the game’s next dominant player arrived, and PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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like Palmer and Nicklaus before him he made his mark on Augusta National. In his first professional season, 1997, Tiger Woods broke Nicklaus’ Masters scoring record with an 18-under 270, and ran his green jacket total to four with wins in 2001, 2002 and 2005. Recently, left-handers have had a strong run, Phil Mickelson winning three times (2004, 2006, 2010) and Bubba Watson two (2012, 2014). Then along came Jordan Spieth, who sandwiched T2 finishes in 2014 and 2016 around a record-tying 72-hole performance in a 2015 victory. These historic events take place on a course that is designed for high drama. The second nine, in particular, often produces large swings on the leaderboard as it can yield low scores to outstanding play but also can deal harshly with a player whose game is faltering or who tries to produce heroic golf but is slightly off. A few examples: Player and Nicklaus shooting 30 on the closing nine to win in 1978 and 1986; Greg Norman (1996), Rory McIlroy (2011) and Spieth (2016) letting it slip away with closing nines of 40 or higher. 176

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Sergio Garcia ended a dramatic Sunday duel with Justin Rose in style with a birdie on the first extra hole.

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HOW SERGIO GARCIA WON

The major moment came at last for Sergio Garcia when he bested Justin Rose in a thrilling duel and ultimately a playoff to win the green jacket. The 37-year-old Spaniard, who first contended in a major in 1999 when he finished second in the PGA Championship, had added two Open Championship runner-up finishes but had entered 73 major championships without a victory until his breakthrough at Augusta National. Garcia and England’s Rose came into the final round tied for the lead at 6-under 210. Garcia did it with steady rounds of 71-69-70, while Rose made up ground on Saturday with a 67, the best score of the day. Rickie Fowler was at 211, Jordan Spieth, Charley Hoffman and Ryan Moore at 212 and Adam Scott at 213. While that seemed to presage a wide-open shootout in the final round, all of those closest pursuers fell back with over-par rounds on Sunday, leaving it to the final twosome to battle it out for the victory in a back-and-forth affair. It was a topsy-turvy front nine with Garcia playing the first five holes in 2-under to go ahead by three only to have Rose birdie the next three holes to get back into a tie. The back nine produced even more drama. This time it was Rose who got his nose in front by two strokes when Garcia bogeyed 10 and 11. Garcia scrambled for a crucial par on the 13th despite taking a one-stroke penalty for an unplayable lie

after his tee shot, and didn’t lose ground as Rose missed a five-foot birdie putt. Garcia then birdied the 14th and eagled the par-5 15th after an 8-iron second shot that nearly landed in the hole and finished 14 feet away. With Rose making a birdie on 15, they were tied again. The back-and-forth continued, Rose making a birdie on 16 and a bogey on 17 while Garcia was making a pair of pars, sending them to the 18th all even. Both hit excellent approach shots—Rose to seven feet and Garcia to five—only to miss their birdie putts. It was back to the 18th tee for the sudden-death playoff, where Rose blinked first as he hit his tee shot into the trees on the right. He ultimately made a bogey, but Garcia won it in style with another fine approach and a 12-foot birdie putt that found the cup. In his 19th Masters— the most ever for a first-time winner—Garcia had shown the mettle of a champion. X After a 17-par, one-birdie 71 in the first round, Garcia birdied the first three holes of the second round on the way to a 69 that moved him into a tie for the lead. X Garcia made only seven bogeys, and nothing worse, on the week. Everyone else had at least 11 over-par holes. X Garcia ranked first in Total Driving, thanks to a combination of sixth in distance (291.9 yards) and second in accuracy (80.36 percent of fairways). X Garcia ranked second in Greens in Regulation Percentage (75.00), T6 in Scrambling (saving par on 66.67 percent of greens missed) and had only one three-putt all week. w w w.p gat our.com

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2017/2018 tournament overview

REMEMBER THIS?

No. 16, Augusta National.

Sergio Garcia was in deep trouble. He had bogeyed the 10th and 11th holes with errant drives to fall two strokes behind Justin Rose in the final round. Now an even wilder drive on the 13th had come to rest in a bush to the left of the creek that borders the fairway on the left. Meanwhile, Rose was sitting in the fairway with a shot at the par-5 green in two. Garcia’s only option was to take a one-stroke penalty

missed his putt to end up with a disappointing par instead of a birdie. Remarkably, they had made the same score on the hole, the margin remained two strokes, and it was game on—with the momentum suddenly residing with Garcia. The revitalized Spaniard, able to hold his head high walking off the 13th green, proceeded to go birdie-eagle on the next two holes on the way to a Masters title that remained in his sights only because of a great escape on 13.

drop for an unplayable lie and then hit a layup out of the trees and off the pine straw, which he executed nicely to finish 89 yards from the hole in three. Rose knocked his second just over the green, with a good chance to get up and down for a birdie. It could be a two-stroke swing that would put Rose ahead by four with five holes to play. Here’s what happened instead: Garcia hit a wedge seven feet from the hole. Rose chipped to five feet. Garcia made his putt for an unlikely par. Rose

LEADERBOARD 2017

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Player

Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Sergio Garcia

279/-9

600.00

$1,980,000.00

Justin Rose

279/-9

330.00

$1,188,000.00

Charl Schwartzel

282/-6

210.00

$748,000.00

Matt Kuchar

283/-5

135.00

$484,000.00

Thomas Pieters

283/-5

$484,000.00

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Bloomington 65

Fredericksburg

Harrisonburg

Charleston

Huntington

Kentucky Lexington Berea OwensboroCampbellsville

Richmond

Williamsburg

Virginia Beach

Salem

Roanoke 85 Norfolk Danville 95 Martinsville

Bluefield

Madisonville

Somerset Glasgow Hopkinsville Middlesborough

Eden

Maryland

Charlottesville

Virginia West Virginia Lynchburg Petersburg Beckley

Frankfort Winchester

Louisville

ernon

Cincinnati

Elizabeth City

35˚

Henderson

Greensboro

Winston-Salem 2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEWGreenville

Nashville

Tennessee Murfreesboro

Maryville

Monroe Spartanburg

Cullman 65

Raleigh 40

Lumberton

North Carolina Havelock

Jacksonville

Greenville Dalton Clemson 85 Wilmington Gainesville Athens Buford Myrtle Beach 59 Orangeburg Aiken Marietta South Carolina Monroe 20 Oxford Augusta North Charleston Leeds Griffin

Atlanta

Hoover

Opelika 85

Selma

Alabama

Eufaula

Crestview

Vidalia

Albany

Destin

Pensacola

Dothan

Hilton Head

Dublin

Ozark

Enterprise

Mobile

Macon

Georgia

Columbus

Troy

Columbia

Huntsville

Decatur

Cary

Charlotte

Gastonia

Chattanooga

Lawrenceburg Athens

High Point Asheville 77

Knoxville

Charleston

Hinesville Douglas

Moultrie

Savannah

April 12-15, 2018 70˚

RBC Heritage Atlantic Ocean

30˚

Brunswick

Kingsland

Jacksonville Tallahassee Saint Augustine

Valdosta

Palatka

Location

Gainesville Florida Daytona Beach Deltona Edgewater

Hilton HeadTitusville Island, S.C. Orlando Kissimmee Harbour TownMelbourne Golf Links Sebastian Clearwater Tampa Saint Petersburg

Bartow Bradenton

Port Saint Lucie Grand Bahama

NorthInformation Port West Palm Beach Course Venice

Sarasota

Coral Springs Boca Raton

85˚

500 Miles

Abaco

Harbour Town is an early Bahama Fort Lauderdale Eleuthera Naples Hialeah masterpiece in the career New Providence Islands Miami Homestead Cat Island of renowned architect Nassau San Salvador Pete Dye, with help fromAndros Rum Cay Key West Great Exuma consultant Jack Nicklaus Long Island in his first design project. 80˚ 75˚ The course opened in 1969 in time for the first RBC Heritage and has been hosting the event ever since. Known for its small, undulating greens and treelined fairways, Harbour Town challenges the pros by putting a premium on accuracy and shotmaking.

“Coming down the stretch the last four holes I didn’t really miss a shot. And it’s really satisfying to know that under the gun I was able to perform.” —Wesley Bryan

Yardage 7,099; par 71

2017 Champion Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Tickets Daily grounds tickets are $65 in advance, $85 starting in April; weekly grounds badges go for $155/$175. Tickets and badges, including various upgrades, are available through www.rbcheritage. com. Admission is free for juniors 15 and under accompanied by a ticketed adult and for active military and their dependents.

HOW WESLEY BRYAN WON PGA TOUR rookie Wesley Bryan made four straight birdies on the front nine and was steady down the stretch as he shot a closing 67. While the top five players on the 54-hole leaderboard all failed to break par in the final round, Bryan was moving up with birdies on Nos. 4 through 7. Ollie Schniederjans was even hotter with a 5-under 31 on the front nine to take the lead. But Schniederjans stumbled to a 2-over 37 on the back nine for a 68 and ended in a tie for third. Bryan, who had two bogeys in a front-nine 34, combined birdies on 13 and 15 with pars on the remaining back-nine holes for a 33 and 13-under total. Luke Donald closed with a 68 to post 12 under and notch his fifth runner-up finish at the RBC Heritage.

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Wesley Bryan, U.S.

25˚

 Bryan went 42 holes without a bogey from his 14th hole of the first round to his third hole of the final round.  Bryan made up for driving troubles (67th in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee) by ranking second in Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green, 10th in Around-the-Green and 11th in Putting.

Luke Donald was one stroke back as he earned his fifth runnerup finish at the event.

Ollie Schiederjans went out in 31 Sunday to take the lead and finished T3.

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2017/2018 tournament overview

quick facts

No. 18, Harbour Town Golf Links.

Field: approx. 132 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.7 million Winner’s Share: $1,206,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

charity Benefit

The Heritage Classic Foundation, the general tournament sponsor, distributes revenue to a wide variety of charitable organizations in South Carolina and for college scholarships. Since 1987, $36.5 million has been distributed to people in need, including $1.6 million in 2017.

check this out

X Wesley Bryan became the first South Carolina native to win the RBC Heritage since its inception in 1969. X Bryan won the RBC Heritage on his first try, the sixth player to do so and first since Boo Weekley in 2007. X Bryan became the 12th player to win for the

first time on the PGA TOUR at the RBC Heritage. X The RBC Heritage winner has started the final round at least three strokes behind the last five years. Wesley Bryan (2017), Jim Furyk (2015), Matt Kuchar (2014) and Graeme McDowell (2013) were four behind and Branden Grace (2016) was three back.

Player

Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Wesley Bryan

271/-13

500.00

$1,170,000.00

Luke Donald

272/-12

300.00

$702,000.00

Patrick Cantlay

273/-11

145.00

$338,000.00

William McGirt

273/-11

145.00

$338,000.00

Ollie Schniederjans

273/-11

145.00

$338,000.00

images: getty images

Patrick Cantlay closed with a 67 to tie for third place.

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North Carolina native William McGirt was T3 at 11 under.

The par-4 finishing hole measuring 472 yards is one of golf’s most famous with the red-and-white lighthouse sitting behind the green and a hazard running all the way down the left side that is especially in play on the approach shot. Last year the hole was the second toughest in the tournament, playing to a 4.151 average.

fan eXPerience

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notaBle course features

The 50th RBC Heritage will kick off on Monday with the tradition of opening ceremonies and a parade. Tuesday is Coca-Cola Youth Day, including a putting contest for children 15 and under and a family movie. Saturday is Plaid Nation Day, with contests on the Heritage Lawn including Best Dressed in Plaid. Throughout the week, key spectator activity areas include the Liberty Oak Expo and Heritage Lawn featuring promotions and giveaways as well as the Michelob ULTRA 19th Hole, Wine@Nine and the Merchandise Pavilion. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

April 19-22, 2018

Valero Texas Open San Antonio, Texas TPC San Antonio (AT&T Oaks)

Course Information TPC San Antonio is a 36-hole facility that opened in 2010 with courses designed by Greg Norman (AT&T Oaks) and Pete Dye (AT&T Canyons). Sergio Garcia assisted Norman with the Oaks design, which incorporates the natural terrain and winds its way through stands of oak trees. The course balances narrower, tree-lined fairways with wider fairways offering multiple routes to the green.

Yardage 7,435; par 72

2017 Champion Kevin Chappell, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Tickets Good Any One Day grounds tickets are $25 in advance, available through valerotexasopen.com. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Military, veterans and first responders receive complimentary access along with one guest.

“Couldn’t happen at a better place for me. Just hit me that my first-ever PGA TOUR start was Valero Texas Open back in 2008.”––Kevin Chappell

Aaron Baddeley finished fifth at 8 under.

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HOW KEVIN CHAPPELL WON

Location

Kevin Chappell finished runner-up at the Valero Texas Open as a rookie in 2011, and six years later he notched his first career victory after accumulating five more second-place finishes on the PGA TOUR. Four of those came in 2016, but Chappell finally broke through thanks to a birdie on the 72nd hole at the AT&T Oaks Course to beat Brooks Koepka by one stroke. Chappell led by one through 54 holes and stayed in front most of the way as he started strong with birdies on two of the first three holes. But when he bogeyed the 15th and Koepka, ahead of him, birdied 18 to wrap up a closing 65, the two were tied. On the par-5 18th, Chappell left himself 87 yards for his third shot, wedged to eight feet, and then knocked in the putt to become a winner at age 30.  Chappell shot a 38 on the front nine of the third round in blustery conditions, but a 33 on the back nine moved him into the lead.  Chappell ranked second in Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green and fourth in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee.  Chappell led the field with 22 birdies.

A final-round 65 lifted Brooks Koepka into second place.

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2017/2018 tournament overview

quick facts

Left to right: Joe Gorder, the Chairman, President and CEO of Valero Energy Corporation, PGA TOUR player and San Antonio resident Jimmy Walker and PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan celebrate a 10-year extension of Valero’s sponsorship of the Valero Texas Open that will take the event through 2028 and the event’s 100-year anniversary in 2022.

Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $6.2 million Winner’s Share: $1,134,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

charity Benefit

The Valero Texas Open, along with Valero Benefit for Children, raised a record $11 million in 2017, bringing the grand total to over $126 million in charitable giving over the years. The Birdies for Charity program benefited 137 participating charities and schools in 2017.

X Chappell joined Brendan Steele (2011) and Steven Bowditch (2014) as players to make the Valero Texas Open their first PGA TOUR win since the event moved to TPC San Antonio in 2010. X Chappell had two previous top-five finishes at the event, finishing T2 in 2011 and T4 in 2016.

X Kevin Chappell scored his first win in his 180th career start. One of his first career starts came in 2008 at the Valero Texas Open, the second of two events he played that year as a non-member of the PGA TOUR. X Kevin Tway finished T3, 14 years after his father Bob finished T2 in the tournament.

leaDerBoarD 2017 Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Kevin Chappell

276/-12

500.00

$1,116,000.00

Brooks Koepka

277/-11

300.00

$669,600.00

Tony Finau

279/-9

162.50

$359,600.00

279/-9

162.50

$359,600.00

280/-8

110.00

$248,000.00

images: getty images; valero texas open

Kevin Tway Aaron Baddeley

Kevin Tway enjoyed a good week (T3) at the same event where his father, Bob, also had played well.

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Tony Finau moved into contention with a second-round 65 en route to a T3 finish.

The 591-yard, par-5 18th hole provides a demanding finish even while affording a birdie opportunity. It is reachable in two for long hitters, but others have to lay up short of a creek that bisects the fairway in front of the green. Imprecision on either of the first two shots can leave a player fighting for a par.

fan eXPerience

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Player

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check this out

notaBle course features

The slate of special activities at the Valero Texas Open includes Executive Women’s Day on Tuesday, Night to Honor Our Heroes presented by Wells Fargo on Friday and the 19th Hole Fiesta presented by Kickstart from Mountain Dew on Saturday with live music in The Backyard after play. Special venues include Gatorade Fan Fest, the Cabana presented by Michelob ULTRA, Tito’s Handmade Spirits Vodka Bar and the Heroes Pavilion presented by Callaway. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

April 26-29, 2018

Zurich Classic of New Orleans Location Avondale, La. TPC Louisiana

Course Information Renowned architect Pete Dye designed TPC Louisiana with assistance from two player consultants: former PGA Championship and THE PLAYERS champion Steve Elkington and New Orleans native Kelly Gibson. The layout is a grand representation of the natural local golf habitat, stretching along the Mississippi River delta and incorporating stately stands of cypress and oak trees. The design features more than 100 bunkers and five ponds that come into play. The course is part of Louisiana’s Audubon Golf Trail.

2017 Champions Jonas Blixt, Sweden/ Cameron Smith, Australia

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Tickets A single-day grounds pass costs $35 and a weekly badge is $85, with tickets available on www. zurichgolfclassic.com. Ages 17 and under are admitted free.

Jonas Blixt (above, left) and Cameron Smith had to go an extra day, but emerged with a playoff victory over Kevin Kisner and Scott Brown in the first year the Zurich Classic of New Orleans was played in a team format. Kisner ended regulation with high drama as he chipped in for an eagle from 95 feet to force a playoff that was delayed until the following day because of darkness. Smith finally ended it with a birdie on the fourth playoff hole for his first PGA TOUR victory and Blixt’s third. The international duo (Blixt from Sweden, Smith from Australia) led by four strokes through 54 holes, but Kisner and Brown birdied 10 of the first 11 holes in the four-ball format of the final round to go ahead by two. Blixt and Smith recovered to lead by one going to the par-5 18th, where they couldn’t match Kisner’s eagle but made a birdie.  Smith and Blixt didn’t make a bogey all week in two rounds of foursomes (alternate shot) and two of four-ball (better ball).  Smith and Blixt eagled the two par 5s in the second-round better-ball format, each accounting for one. Jordan Spieth (left) and Ryan Palmer took fourth place at 22 under.

Kevin Kisner (left) and Scott Brown shot a final-round 60 to make a playoff.

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IMAGES: PGA TOUR; GETTY IMAGES

7,425; par 72

HOW JONAS BLIXT AND CAMERON SMITH WON

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Yardage

“His caddie is my roommate and my caddie has a very chill kind of attitude about things, and having four guys just out there having fun, I think that’s what it came down to.”––Jonas Blixt

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2017/2018 tournament overview

charity Benefit

quick facts

Jason Day teamed with Rickie Fowler for the PGA TOUR’s first official team event in more than three decades.

Field: 80 two-player teams Format: Foursomes (first and third rounds), Four-Ball (second and fourth rounds) Purse: $7.2 million Winner’s Share: $1,036,800 for each player on winning team FedExCup Points: 400 to each player on winning team

The Fore!Kids Foundation, founded in 1958, has raised more than $34 million with golf events including the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Proceeds from the tournament are contributed to more than 100 local and national charitable organizations, providing healthcare, education and hope for more than 200,000 children each year.

check this out

X The field consists of 80 two-man teams, with each of the top available players from the PGA TOUR priority rankings who commits to the tournament choosing a partner, who must have PGA TOUR status unless given a sponsor exemption. X The 2017 Zurich Classic of New Orleans was the first official PGA TOUR team event

since the 1981 Walt Disney World National Team Championship. Since the formation of the PGA TOUR in 1968, it was the first official event to use a foursomes (alternate shot) format. X This was the second consecutive year that the Zurich Classic of New Orleans finished on Monday due to weather delays.

leaDerBoarD 2017 Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points*

Earnings

Jonas Blixt/ Cameron Smith

261/-27

400.00

$1,022,400.00

Kevin Kisner/ Scott Brown

261/-27

162.50

$411,800.00

Kevin Tway/ Kelly Kraft

265/-23

105.00

$269,800.00

Jordan Spieth/ Ryan Palmer

266/-22

87.50

$228,975.00

*FedExCup Points and Total Earnings are for each player

Kelly Kraft (top) and Kevin Tway surged into third place by closing with a 61.

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Cameron Smith (left) and Jonas Blixt prevailed in a playoff.

The signature hole at TPC Louisiana is the 18th, a risk-oriented par 5. It is reachable in two, especially when the tees are moved up from the scorecard yardage of 585 yards to make it more enticing, but water all the way down the right side adds an element of danger. Strategically placed bunkers—12 in all—come into play on the tee shot, layup area and approach to the green.

fan eXPerience

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Player

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notaBle course features

Prominently featured are a couple of dining venues requiring upgraded tickets, the Acme Oyster House overlooking play on three holes and the Champions Club with dishes from some of New Orleans’ favorite restaurants. Venues open to all ticketholders include the 19th Hole, which features music after the last putt Saturday and Sunday, and the Children’s Hospital Kids Zone. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

May 3-6, 2018

Location Charlotte, N.C. Quail Hollow Club

Course Information George Cobb was the original designer of Quail Hollow Club, laying out the course in 1961 on a former dairy farm. Arnold Palmer modified selected holes in 1986. Tom Fazio made some changes before and after the course began hosting the Wells Fargo Championship in 2003, including the reworking of several holes in preparation for the 2017 PGA Championship.

Yardage 7,600; par 71/72

2017 Champion Brian Harman, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Tickets Grounds tickets, which include parking, cost $35 for a practice pack, $55 Thursday, $65 FridaySunday or $75 for a Good Any One Day ticket. Available through www. wellsfargochampionship. com. Children 12-andunder are free (one per ticketed adult) and military ID holders receive two free tickets (contact USO North Carolina for information).

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“I knew it was going to be tough to birdie those last couple. But I stuck to my game plan and just did it.” ––Brian Harman

A strong weekend allowed Dustin Johnson to make a strong bid as he returned after being out five weeks with an injury.

HOW BRIAN HARMAN WON

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Wells Fargo Championship

Brian Harman birdied the 72nd hole by sinking a 28-foot putt to claim a dramatic one-stroke victory over Dustin Johnson and Pat Perez at Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, N.C., the one-year site of the event with Quail Hollow hosting the PGA Championship later in the year. Harman fell one stroke behind with a three-putt bogey at 15, but birdied the last two, the par-4 17th after an approach to five feet. Johnson, who closed with a 67 as he sought his fourth straight victory in his first tournament back after a five-week absence due to injury, and Perez, with a 68, were in the clubhouse hoping for a playoff when Harman (68) scored his winning birdie. All were coming from behind, as 54-hole leader Patrick Reed fell back with a 40 on the back nine for a 75.  Harman’s 28-foot putt on 18 was the third putt he made from more than 20 feet in the final round and fifth of the week.  Harman was solid in every Strokes Gained category, ranking 10th Around-theGreen, 12th Approach-theGreen, 17th Putting and 18th Off-the-Tee. Jon Rahm of Spain continued to contend, finishing fourth at eight under.

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2017/2018 tournament overview

quick facts

No. 17, Quail Hollow Club.

Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7.7 million Winner’s Share: $1,386,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

charity Benefit Champions For Education, the tournament’s host organization, has donated more than $20 million to local and regional charitable foundations in 15 years.

check this out X In the 15-year history of the Wells Fargo Championship, only five 54-hole leaders have gone on to win. The 54-hole leaders who didn’t win have averaged 73.86 in the final round, including Patrick Reed’s 75 in 2017. X Only one 36-hole leader has gone on to win the Wells Fargo Championship (Tiger

Before the 2017 PGA Championship, three new holes were built on the front nine and the 11th was lengthened 35 yards by building a new green. But the focus remains on the difficult last three holes, known as the “Green Mile.” The 506-yard par-4 16th and the 221-yard 17th feature the same large pond as a water hazard. The capper is the 493-yard 18th, with a creek lining the left side, which has ranked as the toughest hole on the course in the 2017 PGA and seven of the last eight Wells Fargo Championships.

Woods, 2007). Only two 18-hole leaders have won (Jim Furyk, 2006 and Derek Ernst, 2013). X The tournament has been decided by a playoff in seven of its 15 years, with Brian Harman’s birdie on the 18th preventing an eighth in 2017.

Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Brian Harman

278/-10

500.00

$1,350,000.00

Dustin Johnson

279/-9

245.00

$660,000.00

Pat Perez

279/-9

245.00

$660,000.00

Jon Rahm

280/-8

135.00

$360,000.00

Smylie Kaufman

281/-7

100.00

$273,750.00

Seung-Yul Noh

281/-7

100.00

$273,750.00

Kevin Tway

281/-7

100.00

$273,750.00

Smylie Kaufman was T5 as the event was played at a different site for one year.

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fan eXPerience

Closing with a 67, Seung-Yul Noh moved up into a share of fifth place.

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images: getty images; Quail Hollow Club

leaDerBoarD 2017 Player

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notaBle course features

Concession offerings include food from local restaurants, the Wells Fargo social media hub, a charity village where fans can learn about the local organizations that benefit from the tournament and a fenced-in area near the practice range for kids 12 and under to watch the pros up close. Special events include a youth exhibition on Wednesday and a sunrise service on Sunday.

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

May 10-13, 2018

Location

THE PLAYERS Championship

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass

Course Information THE PLAYERS Stadium Course, designed by Pete Dye with input from his wife, Alice, and former PGA TOUR Commissioner Deane Beman, opened in October of 1980. The first course in the TPC Network is balanced with a combination of short, medium and long holes and a routing in which each proceeding hole is played in a different direction. The course has been renovated over the years, most recently in 2016 when five greens were expanded, a lake installed between the sixth and seventh fairways, all greens rebuilt and regrassed, all bunkers rebuilt and the 12th hole redesigned into a drivable par 4.

Yardage 7,189; par 72

2017 Champion Si Woo Kim, S. Korea

Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC

Tickets Daily Stadium Pass options from $20 to $70 are available Tuesday-Sunday and grant access to the tournament grounds. A Weekly Stadium Pass ($165) provides access to the tournament grounds Tuesday-Sunday. Advance tickets are available at www.THEPLAYERS.com. Admission is free for kids 18 and under and for career military and dependents; veterans can purchase two discounted tickets.

Social Media

“I still can’t believe I’m the champion, and I’m the youngest champion. I’m looking forward to working hard from now on.”—Si Woo Kim

Ian Poulter tied for second place, his best finish on the PGA TOUR since 2013.

Kyle Stanley shared the 54-hole and finished T4.

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

Shooting a pair of 73s on the weekend, Louis Oosthuizen was T2.

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Buoyed by a double eagle on No. 16., Rafa Cabrera Bello secured a share of fourth place.

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HOW SI WOO KIM WON

Si Woo Kim shot a bogeyfree 69 on a Sunday when other contenders found plenty of trouble, enabling the 21-year-old South Korean to walk away with a three-stroke victory. Kim began the day in fourth place, two strokes behind co-leaders Kyle Stanley and J.B. Holmes, but he surged into the lead with a 3-under 33 on the front nine. Kim maintained a healthy margin on the back nine as he made all pars even while hitting only three greens in regulation to finish at 10-under 278. By not straying too far off line and with an outstanding short game, he never faced a par putt of more than four feet. Ian Poulter, with a 71, and Louis Oosthuizen (73) shared second place at 281. Stanley closed with a 75 and shared fourth with Rafa Cabrera Bello, who made a double eagle on the 16th en route to a 70. Holmes fell to T41 with an 84.  Kim ranked 10th in Driving Distance and 15th in Driving Accuracy Percentage, a combination that lifted him to second in Strokes Gained: Offthe-Tee.  Kim led the field in Scrambling, saving par at an 81.48 percent rate on greens missed in regulation and he was third in Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green.  Kim had only six bogeys all week, one in the final 36 holes. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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quick facts

No. 17 (foreground) and No. 16, THE PLAYERS Stadium Course.

Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $10.5 million Winner’s Share: $1,890,000 FedExCup Points: 600 to the winner

charity Benefit Proceeds from THE PLAYERS benefit Northeast Florida charities and have totaled more than $92 million since the event moved to Ponte Vedra Beach in 1977.

Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Si Woo Kim

278/-10

600.00

$1,890,000.00

Louis Oosthuizen

281/-7

270.00

$920,000.00

Ian Poulter

281/-7

270.00

$920,000.00

Rafa Cabrera Bello

282/-6

135.00

$462,000.00

Kyle Stanley

282/-6

135.00

$462,000.00

check this out X At the age of 21 years, 10 months, 16 days, Si Woo Kim became the youngest winner of THE PLAYERS Championship. The previous youngest was Adam Scott (2004) at 23 years, 8 months, 12 days. X Kim won in his second appearance at THE PLAYERS. Since Jack Nicklaus won the first PLAYERS in 1974, the only players to win on their first try are Hal Sutton (1983) and Craig Perks (2002). 188

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X Kim was the 14th international winner of the event and third in four years. He was the second South Korean, joining K.J. Choi (2011). X Kim was the first champion of THE PLAYERS, since Tim Clark in 2010, to go bogey free in the final round. X Kim’s winning total of 278 was the highest at THE PLAYERS since Sergio Garcia’s 283 in 2008.

fan eXPerience

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Player

The closing three-hole stretch provides one of the most dramatic stages in tournament golf. The 523-yard 16th offers an eagle opportunity but with danger lurking in water right. The island green 137yard par-3 17th is a wedge or 9-iron shot with even more danger. The 462-yard par-4 18th, with water left, was the toughest on the course in 2017.

THE PLAYERS Stadium Course is designed with the complete fan experience in mind. The fan-friendliness encompasses the entire venue, including modern amenities and technology, views of golf unlike any other in the world, a wide array of places to eat, from food trucks to upgraded dining venues, a Kids Zone, a miniature replica of the 17th hole and other special venues. Military Appreciation Day takes place on Tuesday and is capped by a free concert at the island-green 17th hole.

images: Pga TOUR; geTTy

leaderBoard 2017

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notaBle course features

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Kona

Spend at least one day avoiding the sand, sea and lava. #LetHawaiiHappen #VisitislandofHawaii

Waimea

SEN TRY TOU R NA M EN T OF CH A M PIONS S O N Y O P E N I N H AWA I I

Kapalua, Maui

Wai‘alae, O‘ahu

M I T S U BI S H I E L E C T R IC C H A M PIO N S H I P AT H UA L A L A I

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K a‘u- pu- lehu, Hawai‘i

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

May 17-20, 2018

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HOW BILLY HORSCHEL WON

Location Dallas, Texas Trinity Forest Golf Club

Course Information The AT&T Byron Nelson moves this year to Trinity Forest Golf Club, a Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw design that opened in 2016. While surrounded by the Great Trinity Forest, the course is essentially treeless and built on a sand-capped landfill. With a terrain full of humps and bumps, the course looks and plays very much like a Scottish links with fast turf in the playing areas, native grasses in the roughs and a strategic design where the best angles of approach require flirting with trouble.

Yardage 7,450; par 72

2017 Champion Billy Horschel, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Tickets Daily grounds tickets (good any one day) cost $45, available through www.attbyronnelson.org. Admission is complimentary for patrons 17 and under, courtesy of Under Armour. Military members, retirees and veterans, along with one guest, receive complimentary tickets each day.

“Neither of us had our great game today and we just battled it out. I was fortunate to come out on top.” ––Billy Horschel

Byeong Hun An tied for fifth at 8-under.

Billy Horschel had missed the cut in his previous four tournaments, but it all came together as he won in the event’s 35th and final year at TPC Four Seasons. Horschel posted a total of 12-under 268 and prevailed over Jason Day in a playoff. James Hahn led through three rounds at 12-under, but shot a 1-over 71 and missed the playoff by one stroke when his 122-yard approach shot on 18 caught the edge of the hole but didn’t drop for a tying eagle. Horschel’s up and down final round included four bogeys and five birdies for a 69, with a birdie on 16 forcing a tie after Day had briefly taken the lead. Day closed with a 68, but missed a four-foot putt for par on the first extra hole after Horschel had two-putted for a par.  Horschel finished both the second and third rounds with three straight birdies.  Horschel led the field in Strokes Gained: Putting (2.096 per round).  Horschel made 13 putts of 10 feet or longer, including a 59-footer for birdie on the 14th hole of the final round. James Hahn led through 54 holes and finished third.

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2017/2018 tournament overview

quick facts

A view of Trinity Forest Golf Club with downtown Dallas in the background.

Field: 156 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7.7 million Winner’s Share: $1,386,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

charity Benefit

The Salesmanship Club, the host organization of the AT&T Byron Nelson, donates funds raised by the tournament to Momentous Institute and its education and mental health programs designed to build and repair kids’ social and emotional health. In 2017, the tournament contributed $6.8 million to Momentous Institute, lifting the total since 1968 to $155 million.

check this out

X Jason Kokrak set a tournament record for largest 36-hole lead at six strokes after rounds of 66-62—128. The old mark was four strokes by Davis Love III in 2000. X Billy Horschel had missed the cut in his only two previous appearances at the AT&T Byron Nelson (2011, 2012).

X This marked the 21st playoff in the tournament’s 64-year history and the second in a row after Sergio Garcia defeated Brooks Koepka in 2016. X Runner-up Jason Day was seeking to join Garcia (2004, 2016) as the only multiple winners of the event since it moved to TPC Four Seasons in 1983.

Player

Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Billy Horschel

268/-12

500.00

$1,350,000.00

Jason Day

268/-12

300.00

$810,000.00

James Hahn

269/-11

190.00

$510,000.00

Jason Kokrak

270/-10

135.00

$360,000.00

Byeong Hun An

272/-8

96.25

$263,437.50

Bud Cauley

272/-8

96.25

$263,437.50

Danny Lee

272/-8

96.25

$263,437.50

Sean O’Hair

272/-8

96.25

$263,437.50

Runner-up Jason Day shot a third-round 63 in the event’s final year at TPC Four Seasons.

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On the strength of a 62 in the second round, Jason Kokrak built an event-record lead through 36 holes.

Although Trinity Forest was built on a former landfill, it was “a landfill with character,” according to co-designer Ben Crenshaw, enabling a naturalist design. “The indiscriminate dumping of dirt on the property had led to some pretty contours. It’s rolling land. It’s not flat, but it’s not precipitous rise and fall,” Crenshaw said. Environmental restrictions made it illegal to dig into the ground during construction, but there was some shaping done by bringing in dirt, particularly for bunkering and green complexes.

fan eXPerience

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images: getty images; trinity forest golf club; at&t byron nelson

LeaDerBoarD 2017

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notaBLe course features

Fans can look forward to such favorites as the Pavilion, Grey Goose 19th Hole and Kid Zone. For information visit www. attbyronnelson.org. An upgraded ticket allows access to The Grove, which provides a climatecontrolled interior and an elevated outdoor patio between the third green and par-3 12th hole. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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THE BIGGEST STARS. AMAZING GOLF. E XC L U S I V E AC C E S S T O T H U R S DAY A N D F R I DAY M O R N I N G F E AT U R E D G R O U P S , R O U N D R E P L AYS , P GA T O U R A R C H I V E S A N D M U C H M O R E . V I S I T P GAT O U R L I V E .C O M O R D O W N LOA D T H E A P P T O S I G N U P F O R A F R E E T R I A L .

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

May 24-27, 2018

DEAN & DELUCA Invitational Location

HOW KEVIN KISNER WON

Course Information

Kevin Kisner fired a final-round 66 and held off strong challenges from young contenders Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm and veteran Sean O’Hair to capture his second PGA TOUR victory. Kisner trailed by three strokes through 54 holes, but moved into the lead with birdies on Nos. 10, 11 and 12. He added another birdie on 15, but a bogey on 16 made it tight down the stretch. Spieth had a bogey-free 65 to post a 9-under total, which Kisner was able to beat thanks to a par save from five feet on the 18th. Rahm, playing with Kisner, shot a 66 but missed a 10-footer on the finishing hole that would have put him in a playoff. O’Hair made it a three-way tie for second, also with a 66. Webb Simpson, the 54-hole leader, could have forced a playoff with a birdie at 18 but made a bogey and finished fifth.

Just five years after opening, this championship course designed by Perry Maxwell and John Bredemus hosted the 1941 U.S. Open. Built on the south bank of the Clear Fork of the Trinity River, Colonial is known as “Hogan’s Alley” because the legendary Ben Hogan won the tournament five times. The course is cut through pecan trees, with classic hole shapes and features. Though the terrain is flat, the subtle turns and doglegs routed through the trees make it a great shotmaking test.

Yardage 7,209; par 70

2017 Champion Kevin Kisner, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Tickets Come Any One Day tickets are $50 Wednesday through Sunday and a weekly badge is $125. A youth ticket (ages 13-17) is $15 each day and kids 12 and under are free. Tickets available through www. deananddelucainvitational. com.

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Fort Worth, Texas Colonial Country Club

“Colonial is definitely at the top of the list when I set a schedule. I love the golf course. Really precision golf off the tee and into the greens.” –Kevin Kisner

Jon Rahm flirted with winning his first start at Colonial as fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia did in 2001.

 Kisner ranked T1 in Driving Accuracy Percentage (71.43) and second in Greens in Regulation Percentage (73.61).  Kisner ranked second in Strokes Gained: Around-theGreen (1.033 per round) and third in Strokes Gained: Putting (1.430).

Jordan Spieth put up a strong defense of his 2016 title, finishing T2.

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2017/2018 tournament overview

Field: 120 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7.1 million Winner’s Share: $1,278,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

charity Benefit The DEAN & DELUCA Invitational partners with charitable organizations in Tarrant County through the Birdies for Charity program. The organizations solicit pledges from individuals and corporations, and receive additional contributions from the tournament’s Matching Fund. A total of $12 million was distributed in 2017.

check this out

X Jordan Spieth just missed successfully defending his 2016 title, finishing T2. The only player to win at Colonial two straight years was Ben Hogan, who did it twice (1946-47 and 1952-53). X Spain’s Jon Rahm nearly won in his first start at the DEAN & DELUCA Invitational,

finishing T2. The last player to win his first start in the event was fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia (2001). X Kevin Kisner won by one stroke, making it the 10th time in 12 years the event has been decided by one stroke or in a playoff. There have been four playoffs and six one-stroke victory margins during that time.

leaDerBoarD 2017 Pos 1

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Kevin Kisner

270/-10

500.00

$1,242,000.00

Sean O’Hair

271/-9

208.33

$515,200.00

Jon Rahm

271/-9

208.33

$515,200.00

Jordan Spieth

271/-9

208.33

$515,200.00

Webb Simpson

272/-8

110.00

$276,000.00

Trying to win for the first time since 2011, Sean O’Hair was T2.

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Webb Simpson finished fifth after a final-round 71.

Holes 3-5 at Colonial comprise the club’s “Horrible Horseshoe,” the most difficult stretch on the course that begins with a 483-yard par 4. Next is a par 3 of up to 247 yards that plays to an elevated green. It has never yielded a hole-in-one in the tournament. The fifth is a 481-yard par 4 that runs between trees and a ditch on the left and the Trinity River on the right.

fan eXPerience

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Player

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notaBle course features

Prince Street is the center of all the action. It features the DEAN & DELUCA store, with products including specialty coffees, fresh juices, pastries, handcrafted sandwiches and more. Prince Street also has the Colonial Grille and product sampling from the tournament’s Expo Partners. At the 13th hole, the Citi Cardmember club is an air-conditioned hospitality structure exclusively for cardmembers.

images: getty images

quick facts

No. 13, Colonial Country Club.

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BUY NOW. CHEER LATER.

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23/10/2017 09:54

2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

May 31-June 3, 2018

the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Location

HOW JASON DUFNER WON

Course Information

A roller-coaster week for Jason Dufner ultimately resulted in a hard-earned victory. Dufner jumped out to a five-stroke lead through 36 holes with rounds of 65-65, then blew the advantage with a 77 on Saturday that left him four strokes behind. He regained his form on the back nine of the final round with a 4-under 32 that gave him a 68 and a three-stroke win that still had final-hole drama. Dufner hit a poor drive into a bad lie in the rough, waited out the second rain delay of the day and two shots later faced a 33-foot putt for a par, while Fowler had a chance to pitch in for a birdie. Dufner clinched the win by holing the putt and Fowler took three to get down to drop into a tie for second with Anirban Lahiri.

Opened in 1974, Muirfield Village Golf Club is the dream creation of Jack Nicklaus, who wanted to bring a world-class golf tournament to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Working with land planner Desmond Muirhead, Nicklaus designed a strategic course over 240 rolling, wooded acres that places a premium on accuracy as it winds through trees and over bunkers and water hazards. Nicklaus has tweaked nearly every hole over the years to make it a better test.

Yardage 7,392; par 72

2017 Winner Jason Dufner, U.S.

Media Coverage Golf Channel/CBS

Tickets Weekly badges or a ticket pack for the week cost $185, available through www. memorialbadges.com. Daily tickets available only MondayWednesday, in advance or at the gate. A junior ticket for ages 18 and under is free when accompanied by a ticketed adult (limit of four juniors per adult). Military and veterans receive up to four free tickets on Wednesday.

Social Media

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Dublin, Ohio Muirfield Village Golf Club

“Yesterday was not nice. But to rebound from it, I think that makes me really proud to kind of grind through it.” —Jason Dufner

With rounds of 69-65 on the weekend, Anirban Lahiri moved into T2.

 Dufner’s birdies on Nos. 10 and 17 in the final round came after approaches inside four feet.  In the second round, Dufner holed out from 157 yards for an eagle on the 18th.  Dufner ranked first in Greens in Regulation Percentage and first in Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green.

Justin Thomas opened strong with a 67 and went on to finish T4.

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2017/2018 tournament overview

quick facts

No. 18, Muirfield Village Golf Club.

Field: 120 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $8.9 million Winner’s Share: $1,602,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

charity Benefit

The Tournament’s primary beneficiary is Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus and its Memorial Tournament Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The Tournament has an alliance with the Nicklaus Children’s Health Foundation and also contributes to numerous other local organizations, donating a total of more than $28 million since 1976.

X Jason Dufner’s 36-hole total of 130 broke the Tournament record of 131 held by Scott Hoch (1987) and Rickie Fowler (2010). His five-stroke lead through 36 holes was one off Roger Maltbie’s record (1982). X Dufner won despite a 77 on Saturday, the second highest third-round score by a winner in a non-major on the PGA TOUR since 1983

(Kenny Knox, 80, 1986 The Honda Classic). Including majors, Nick Faldo had a 77 at the 1989 Masters before winning. X Born in Cleveland, Dufner became only the second Ohio native to win the Tournament, which began in 1976. Tournament host Jack Nicklaus won in 1977 and 1984.

leaDerBoarD 2017 2

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

Jason Dufner

275/-13

500.00

$1,556,000.00

Rickie Fowler

278/-10

245.00

$765,600.00

Anirban Lahiri

278/-10

245.00

$765,600.00

Matt Kuchar

279/-9

122.50

$382,800.00

Justin Thomas

279/-9

122.50

$382,800.00

images: getty images; Us Pga tOUR

Pos 1

Despite a final-round 73, Matt Kuchar earned a share of fourth place.

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Rickie Fowler figured in the final drama and was T2.

Renovations over the past 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 was given new fairway bunkers and a new tee was built on the dogleg right par-4 18th stretching it to 484 yards.

fan eXPerience

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Player

18 20

check this out

notaBle course features

Special venues open to all include The Patio at Patron Village with a golf experience called the “Bunker Challenge” and many food and beverage options; Adirondack chairside wait service at the Hill on No. 12; Pub 18 and the Champions Pavilion, an open-air venue featuring TVs, food and beverage service and plenty of seating. The 19th Hole, located just outside the sixth tee entrance, is open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with live music Wednesday to Saturday. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

October 13-15, 2017

October 20-22, 2017

SAS Championship

Dominion Energy Charity Classic

Yardage 7,082 yards; 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 After a year at the Highlands Course, the SAS Championship returned to a hybrid of the Highlands and Meadows courses at the 54-hole Prestonwood Country Club. The Meadows Course opened in 1988 and Highlands in 1993, both designed by Tom Jackson. Recent work has been done by Jack Nicklaus protégé Rick Robbins, including renovated green complexes planted with Championship Bermuda grass in the last two years. 198

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Colin Montgomerie was one of three players tied for the lead through two rounds, with five more just one stroke behind. Montgomerie was 3-under on the front nine on Sunday, but ahead of him Corey Pavin, Doug Garwood and Vijay Singh were each making a move as all began to pull away from the pack. “I’m the ultimate scoreboard watcher,” said the 54-year-old Montgomerie after notching his sixth career PGA TOUR Champions victory. “I knew exactly what was going on.” With five birdies and no bogeys on the back nine, Montgomerie put up numbers no one could match as he finished with a 64 for a 16-under 200 total after opening rounds of 6967. Garwood and Singh each had 66s to finish at 203, while Pavin, after a 4-under front nine, settled for a 67 and was fourth at 204.

CHARITY BENEFIT

The host charity of the SAS Championship is the YMCA of the Triangle. Since the tournament began supporting the YMCA’s academic programs more than 7,200 students have taken part, and the tournament annually contributes the single largest donation to the Y Learning Program.

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

Yardage 7,025; par 72

Tournament Record 200, Bernhard Langer (2017)

Tournament 18-hole Record 63, Kevin Sutherland (2016), Bernhard Langer, Vijay Singh (2017)

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information https://www.pgatour. com/champions/ tournaments/dominionenergy-charity-classic.html

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 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.

HOW BERNHARD LANGER WON

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Prestonwood Country Club, Cary, N.C.

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Location

HOW COLIN MONTGOMERIE WON

After letting a three-stroke lead slip away, Bernhard Langer came up with a big finish as he eagled the final hole to beat Scott Verplank by one. Langer opened with rounds of 67-63 to go ahead by three at 14-under, but he was stuck at 14-under through 17 holes of the final round while Verplank had finished at 15-under after a 66. Langer knocked his second shot onto the green from 245 yards away on the par-5 18th and then holed an 18-foot putt to earn the title. “I needed a birdie to get into a playoff, but to make an eagle and win it outright doesn’t happen very often,” said the 60-year-old Langer after posting his sixth victory of the year. Billy Mayfair and Kenny Perry closed with 65s to tie for third with Vijay Singh (71).

CHARITY BENEFIT

The Virginia Values Veterans (V3) program is the tournament’s primary beneficiary, with other local charities benefiting from the Birdies for Charity program. The V3 program uses the donated funds through the Virginia Veterans Foundation to create employment opportunities for transitioning military service members.

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR

Location The Country Club of Virginia (James River Course) Richmond, Va.

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

November 10-12, 2017

October 27-29, 2017

Charles Schwab Cup Championship

PowerShares QQQ Championship

Location

HOW KEVIN SUTHERLAND WON

7,006; par 72

Tournament Record: 203, Tom Pernice Jr. (2016)

Tournament 18-hole Record 64, Tom Pernice Jr. (2016)

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information www.pgatour.com/ champions/tournaments/ powershares-qqqchampionship.html

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. W W W.P GAT OUR.COM

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HOW BERNHARD LANGER WON

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Yardage

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Sherwood Country Club, Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Bernhard Langer made it two victories in the first two Schwab Cup Playoffs events as he holed a 25-foot putt from the upper to lower tier of the green on the second playoff hole to defeat Miguel Ángel Jiménez. “You could put me there 10 times and I’d only make one of them,” said Langer after recording his seventh victory of the season and 36th of his PGA TOUR Champions career. Langer also holed a difficult chip for a birdie on the eighth hole to ignite a stretch of five birdies in seven holes on the way to a closing 67 and 11-under 205 total. Jiménez also shot a 67, with a chip-in eagle on the par-5 16th earning him a share of the lead. Both parred the last two holes of regulation, Langer lipping out a birdie putt on 18, and the first extra hole. David Toms finished two strokes back in third place after a 69, with a costly double bogey on 15.

CHARITY BENEFIT

The primary beneficiaries are the Sherwood Country Club Foundation (Sherwood Cares), which donates to local charities serving children and families, and The First Tee of Los Angeles.

Location Phoenix Country Club Phoenix, Ariz.

Yardage 6,763; par 71

Tournament Record 195, Paul Goydos (2016)

Tournament 18-hole Record 60, Jay Haas (2012)

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information www.pgatour.com/ champions/tournaments/ charles-schwab-cupchampionship.html

Course Insight A green oasis inside a desert city, Phoenix Country Club was founded in 1899 and moved to its current location in 1921. It’s a traditional course, all grass with no desert areas, designed by Harry Collis. The course has hosted 43 PGA TOUR events, the last of them in 1986. Tom Lehman and John Fought did a redesign in 2002 that focused on redoing the greens while also adding some bunkers and deepening others.

Kevin Sutherland came into the Charles Schwab Cup Championship with 14 top-10 finishes on the year, but no victories. That changed in Phoenix, and it came at the right time as Sutherland won both the tournament and the Schwab Cup. “I played really well all year and I just couldn’t find a way to get a win,” said Sutherland. “So, to win this tournament, it’s unbelievable.” Sutherland had a 63 in the second round to move within two of the lead and closed with a bogey-free 5-under 66 with an eagle and three birdies for a 198 total to beat Vijay Singh (63) and Lee Janzen (68) by one stroke. Bernhard Langer, winner of seven events during the year, rallied in the final round with a 64 to finish T12, but lost his bid to win a fourth straight Schwab Cup and fifth overall, finishing second in points.

CHARITY BENEFIT

The Charles Schwab Cup Championship has raised more than $5 million for charities since 2003. The tournament also has a TICKETS Fore CHARITY program, allowing local charities to sell tournament tickets and keep 100 percent of the net proceeds.

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

February 9-11, 2018

January 18-20, 2018

Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai

Boca Raton Championship

Location

Yardage 7,107; par 72

Tournament 18-hole Record 61, Loren Roberts (2006)

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information www.pgatour.com/ champions/tournaments/ mitsubishi-electricchampionshipat-hualalai.html

Course Insight Designed by Jack Nicklaus, Hualalai rests upon dramatic natural topography and winds through lava outcrops to provide a unique test for even the best players. “The inspiration came from the lava…to use those natural ups and downs, always keeping in mind that the ocean is the greatest influence here,” Nicklaus said. The course begins in a lush kipuka (oasis) and then flows down to a dramatic finish near the ocean, with the par-3 17th set on the seaside, offering the most dramatic and scenic hole. 200

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CHARITY BENEFIT

Since the Hawaii inception of the Mitsubishi Electric Championship in 1997, more than $1 million has been donated to various island charities, including the Rotary Club of Kona, Daniel R. Sayre Foundation and Big Island Junior Golf programs.

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

Yardage 6,807; par 72

Tournament Record 198, Michael Allen and Duffy Waldorf (2014)

Tournament 18-hole Record 60, Michael Allen (2014)

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information www. brrhchampionship.com

Course Insight Joe Lee designed The Old Course at Broken Sound in 1978. Gene Bates, with help from two-time major champion Johnny Miller, updated the layout in 2004 to make it more playable and yet more challenging with the addition of water hazards and strategic bunkering along the undulating fairways. The course winds through oaks and pine trees, giving it a “Piney Woods” North Carolina feel that is popular with members and PGA TOUR Champions players alike. It has been home to the event since 2007.

HOW SCOTT MCCARRON WON

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Tournament Record 191, Loren Roberts (2006)

Bernhard Langer was declared the winner when winds gusting up to 45 miles per hour forced cancellation of the final round. Play was suspended with the final twosome of Langer and Fred Couples on the first green, and with no improvement in conditions forthcoming the round was canceled 50 minutes later and the standings determined by 36hole scores. “I know a lot of people are disappointed, but I’m not,” said Langer, who shot rounds of 64-65—129. Couples was one shot back with a pair of 65s and Kirk Triplett third at 131. With his 30th PGA TOUR Champions victory, 59-year-old Langer moved past Lee Trevino into second on the all-time victory list behind Hale Irwin (45). It was Langer’s third victory at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship, and he matched Irwin’s record by winning at least one event in 11 consecutive years on PGA TOUR Champions.

Scott McCarron eagled the final hole to claim a one-stroke victory with a 17-under 199 total at the Old Course at Broken Sound. “All wins are exciting, but this one, to be able to finish it off the way I did is really something special,” said McCarron, 51, after his third PGA TOUR Champions victory. McCarron hit a 6-iron second shot on the par-5 18th to eight feet and holed the putt for the win. It was his second eagle in a final-round 67, the other coming at the 290-yard, par-4 seventh. McCarron had opened with consecutive 66s and was in a four-way tie for the lead through 36 holes with Olin Browne, Joe Durant and Doug Garwood. The other three were all passed in the final round by Carlos Franco (65) and Kenny Perry (66), who shared second place at 200.

IMAGES: PGA TOUR

Hualalai GC, Ka’upulehu-Kona, Hawaii

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Location

HOW BERNHARD LANGER WON

The Old Course at Broken Sound, Boca Raton, Fla.

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14/12/2017 08:59

CLUB SELECTION IS EVERYTHING

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TPC San Antonio

TPC Craig Ranch

TPC Sawgrass

LOOKING FOR THE BEST IN GOLF? LOOK FOR TPC.® From the deserts of Arizona, to the beaches of Puerto Rico, only 32 golf courses exceed the expectations of the PGA TOUR. For the ultimate golf experience, join the TPC Network. Play with the confidence of a champion. Play TPC. TEE TIMES

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31/10/2017 09:08

2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

February 16-18, 2018

March 2-4, 2018

Chubb Classic

Cologuard Classic

Location

Tournament Record 196, Bernhard Langer (2011), Kenny Perry (2012)

Tournament 18-hole Record 61, Tommy Armour III (2010)

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information www.chubbclassic.com

Course Insight Considered one of the finest private courses in Florida since opening in 1999, the Talon Course at TwinEagles was designed by Jack Nicklaus and his son, Jack Nicklaus II. It is one of two courses on the property, joined in 2012 by the Steve Smyers-designed Eagle Course. The Talon features many Nicklaus staples, including generous fairways and well-protected undulating greens. Oak and palm trees line the fairways, while lakes, bunkers, mounding and natural cypress hammocks accentuate the layout. The 457-yard 18th, with five fairway bunkers challenging the drive and a lake to the right and run-off to the left testing the approach, is one of the toughest finishing holes on PGA TOUR Champions. 202

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Fred Couples scored his 12th PGA TOUR Champions victory and first since 2014 thanks to a final-round 67 that moved him past 36-hole leader Miguel Ángel Jiménez of Spain. “I felt a little bit of pressure, but I wasn’t under gobs of pressure because you just have to keep making birdies,” said Couples. The 57-year-old grabbed the lead with three birdies on the front nine, stayed two shots ahead of Jiménez when both birdied 14 and 17, and won by three when Jiménez, who closed with a 71, bogeyed 18. Jerry Kelly, making his PGA TOUR Champions debut, tied for third with Jeff Sluman and Rod Spittle. Bernhard Langer rallied early and was within two of the lead before a triple bogey on 17 dropped him to T6.

CHARITY BENEFIT

The host organization is The First Tee of Naples/ Collier. Other charities supported include The First Tee of Philadelphia, Education Foundation of Collier County, Alzheimer’s Support Network, Make-aWish Foundation and the Allie Dowd Foundation. In the 29 years that PGA TOUR Champions has been in Naples, more than $3 million has been donated to various initiatives.

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

HOW TOM LEHMAN WON Location Omni Tucson National Resort, Tucson, Ariz.

Yardage 7,238; par 73

Tournament Record 199, Tom Lehman (2017)

Tournament 18-hole Record 63, Jim Carter (2016), Steve Stricker (2017)

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information www. conquistadoresclassic.com

Course Insight The Catalina Course at Omni Tucson National Resort, designed by Robert von Hagge and Bruce Devlin, hosted more than 30 events on the PGA TOUR before it welcomed PGA TOUR Champions starting in 2015. Opened in 1963, the Catalina is a parkland-style design featuring eight lakes and 80 bunkers. The course is known for its very difficult par-4 18th hole, with water guarding both sides of the landing area and an uphill approach shot to an undulating green.

Tom Lehman overcame a two-stroke deficit over the last three holes to beat Steve Stricker, who was trying to win his PGA TOUR Champions debut. Lehman birdied the 16th while Stricker was three-putting for bogey, both birdied 17, and Stricker bogeyed 18 after hitting his 3-wood tee shot into the water to set up a bogey, enabling Lehman to win with a par. Lehman, 58, had undergone arthroscopic elbow surgery four months before. “Since I couldn’t play golf, I spent a lot of time trying to get in better shape and I think that really paid off,” said Lehman, who shot a 66 in the final round. Stricker, whose second-round 63 gave him a three-stroke lead, closed with a 70.

CHARITY BENEFIT

The Cologuard Classic will align with the beginning of March as national Colon Cancer Awareness Month, and the event will further colon cancer awareness through various on-site activations with fans, volunteers and players. The Tucson Conquistadores, which has generated over $35 million to youth athletic programs since 1962, will continue as host organization of the event.

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

7,193; par 72

HOW FRED COUPLES WON

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Yardage

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The TwinEagles Club (Talon), Naples, Fla.

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

March 9-11, 2018

March 19-25, 2018

Toshiba Classic

Rapiscan Systems Classic

Location

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

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; US PGA TOUR; DUSTIN MASSEY/CHIPSHOTS

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. W W W.P GAT OUR.COM

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At age 62, Jay Haas became the second-oldest winner on the PGA TOUR Champions when he won a playoff over Bart Bryant. “To know that I can do it again at 62 is pretty amazing,” Haas said. “At 60, when I won last time, I thought that’s pretty good.” Haas built a five-stroke lead with rounds of 64-63, but slipped to a 1-under 70 in the final round with a double bogey on the fourth hole his only over-par hole all week. Bryant moved ahead with a 50-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, but bogeyed the par-5 18th for a 64 to set up the playoff, which Haas won with a birdie on the first extra hole. Billy Andrade and Larry Mize tied for third, two strokes behind.

CHARITY BENEFIT Proceeds from the 2018 Toshiba Classic will benefit the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag, which provides comprehensive services for those with, or at risk for, diabetes regardless of their ability to pay. The tournament has generated more than $19 million for Hoag and other charities in its 19-year history.

Location Fallen Oak, Biloxi, Miss.

Yardage 7,088; par 72

Tournament Record 200, Tom Lehman (2011)

Tournament 18-hole Record 63, Fred Couples (2012), Gene Sauers (2017)

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information www. rapiscansystemsclassic.com

Course Insight Fallen Oak features woods, wetlands and elevation changes rarely seen on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. Tom Fazio designed the course, which opened in 2006 and is part of the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino. Fallen Oak features more than 4,000 oaks, magnolias, pines and other hardwoods. Ponds, streams and wetlands enhance the beauty and the challenge. The tree for which the course was given its name is perched on the right side of the fairway at the par-4 18th hole.

HOW MIGUEL ÁNGEL JIMÉNEZ WON

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Yardage

HOW JAY HAAS WON

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Newport Beach Country Club, Newport Beach, Calif.

Miguel Ángel Jiménez won at Fallen Oak for the second straight year, but he didn’t make it easy on himself. Jiménez had a two-stroke lead heading to the 18th hole before making a double bogey and going to a playoff against Gene Sauers. “It’s a pity enough to play all day so good, no?” said Jiménez, who wasted no time making up for his lapse. The playoff started on 18, where Jiménez won it with a birdie after an approach to 10 feet. Sauers shot a second-round 63 for a 132 total and a one-stroke lead over Jiménez. Sauers had a wild final round, with six birdies and five bogeys for a 71. He had a 33 on the back nine, but a bogey on 17 proved costly. A year after winning with a 64 in the final round, Jiménez this time did it with a 70 for a 13-under 203. Steve Stricker (65) and Bernhard Langer (67) finished strong, but ended up one stroke out of the playoff.

CHARITY BENEFIT The MGRC Foundation serves as the tournament’s host organization, with tournament proceeds benefiting area charities. PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2017/2018, Part 1

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Seattle Bellevue Olympia Tacoma

Centralia Ellensburg

45˚

Longview

Hillsboro

McMinnville Dallas

Kelso

Gresham

Bonners Ferry

Washington

Spokane

Cut Bank Post Falls Coeur d'Alene

Moses Lake

Yakima Kennewick

Portland

Saskatchewan

Okanogan

Columbia R.

Kalispell

Missoula

Conrad

Lewiston

Jordan

Lewistown

Crosby

Wolf Point Missouri R. Sidney

Lake Sakakawea

Boise

Q u e b e c 117

Bathurst Riviere-du-Loup Douglastown Edmundston

La Pocatiere

Fredericton

Trois-Rivieres Louiseville Joliette

n re

Houlton

w Drummondville

Saint John

Toronto

Milwaukee

Madison

Ohio

Topeka

Frankfort

Charleston

Richmond

Charlotte

Memphis

Raleigh

Mis

siss ip

Columbia

Atlanta

HOW CARLOS FRANCO AND VIJAY SINGH WON

Montgomery

Location

Jackson Top of the Rock Par 3, Buffalo Ridge, Baton Rouge Ridgedale, Mo. Beaumont

17 20

Dallas

17 20

Jacksonville

Stephen Ames led entering Tallahassee Russia Gainesville Florida Daytona Beach Austin Houston Lafayette Kenner the final round, but had Alaska New Orleans Carlos Franco and Baytown Deltona Vijay Singh San Antonio Sugar Land Pasadena Louisiana Location Coahuila Orlando Galveston five players just one stroke Empalme Palm Harbour Yardage Melbourne Victoria broke the tournament record Chihuahua Clearwater Tampa TPC Sugarloaf, Duluth,Guaymas Ga. Ciudad Delicias Piedras Canadian 2,808; par 54 Port Saint Lucie Ciudad Obregon behind him. TheMelchor Muzquiz Saint Petersburg with a 12-under 42 to come Negras CNavojoa anada Ciudad Camargo Sabinas Sarasota West Palm Beach Anchorage Laredo 6,963; par 71 from the pack Huatabampo pulled away Corpus Christi Honolulu from behind and win on theRaton Boca Coral Springs Nuevo Laredo Yardage Fort Lauderdale Monclova Hialeah with a 66 on Sunday to win Nuevo Los Mochis Top of the Rock par-3 course. Juneau G u l f o f M e x i c o Leon Miami 7,179; par 72 McAllen H a w a i i Ciudad Constitucion Guasave Tournament Record by four strokes andTorreon claim his Monterey Harlingen Gomez Palacio With Friday’s play washed Sinaloa Pacific Ocean Durango Guadalupe Brownsville 156, Michael Allen/Woody Saltillo TOUR Champions La Pazfirst PGA Baja California Sur out by rain, the tournament Culiacan Montemorelos Tournament Record Pacific Ocean Austin (2016) San Fernando Zacatecas Tamaulipas victory in his 49th event. was shortened to 36 holes 201, Stephen Ames (2017) “It’s fun, that’s for sure,” with the scheduled round on U n i t e dTournament S t a t e s 18-hole said the 52-year-old who par-72 Buffalo Ridge Toll Roads and Bridges State Capitals International Boundaries Major Rivers Tournament 18-hole Record Interstate Highways State Boundaries Lakes Cities 500,000+ eliminated. Fred Funk and won four times on the PGA U.S. Highways Record Cities 100,000-499,999 59, Charles Coody/Dale Cities 50,000-99,999 Jeff Sluman took a four-stroke TOUR including THE PLAYERS 64, Olin Browne, Douglass (1990), Michael lead with a then-record 44 Championship in 2006. “It’s Bernhard Langer (2015), Allen/Woody Austin (2016) in the first round. But Franco the same feeling as any tour 42 (Par-3 Course), Carlos Woody Austin (2016), and Singh charged from you win on.” Ames chipped Franco/Vijay Singh (2017) Kenny Perry (2017) seven strokes back by going in for a birdie on the seventh 7-under in the modified hole to extend his lead to Media Coverage Media Coverage alternate shot on the front two strokes and it didn’t get Golf Channel Golf Channel nine and 5-under on the any closer after that as he best ball back nine. They More Information recorded six birdies and no More Information finished one ahead of Funk/ www.bassprolegends.com bogeys in the final round www. Sluman, Paul Goydos/Kevin to finish at 15-under 201. mitsubishielectricclassic.com Sutherland and Corey Pavin/ Course Insight Bernhard Langer came from Duffy Waldorf. “I love playing Top of the Rock, a Jack well back with a 65 to claim Course Insight with Carlos,” said Singh. Nicklaus Signature Course, second at 205, while Fred TPC Sugarloaf has 27 holes is the first par-3 course to “I’ve known him for a long Funk, David Frost and Brandt with the tournament course host a PGA TOUR-sanctioned time, and if it wasn’t for him, Jobe were at 206. for the Mitsubishi Electric tournament. Perched in a I wouldn’t be here, so I’d like Classic consisting of the beautiful setting high above to thank Carlos.” Stables and Meadows nines. Table Rock Lake, it features CHARITY BENEFIT Opening in 1997, the course waterfalls, wandering creeks The Mitsubishi Electric CHARITY BENEFIT hosted a PGA TOUR event and pristine lakes. Each Classic benefits local charities The primary beneficiary of each year through 2008 and team in the two-man team through the Gwinnett the tournament is College of PGA TOUR Champions since event also plays one round Championship Foundation the Ozarks, which charges 2013. It was designed by at Buffalo Ridge, a course Inc. and has raised more students no tuition but all originally designed by Tom Greg Norman, who guided than $1.8 million since the students work on campus Fazio in 1999. Fazio and the layout through stands first tournament in 2013. each semester to help defray Johnny Morris, owner of of trees and used streams, Benefiting charities in 2017 the cost of education. Bass Pro Shops, revitalized lakes, large bunkers and the were Children’s Healthcare Proceeds also go to America’s the course in 2014 with new natural terrain to create a of Atlanta and Special Needs Wildlife Museum and water features, bunkers and challenging test. Schools of Gwinnett. Aquarium. other enhancements. Hermosillo M e x i c o

El Terrero Oscar Soto Maynez Ciudad Delicias

Fort Yukon

Nome

16160˚

Vicam

Fairbanks

22˚

159˚

Mana

Kilauea

Lanai

Makena

Kahoolawe

180˚

160˚

115˚

500 Km 150˚

140˚

110˚

50˚

19˚

160˚

100 KM

159˚

Yerbanis 45

Miguel 158˚

Auza 157˚

105˚

Cities 10,000-49,999 Cities 0-9,999

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Titusville

Freeport Port Lavaca

Bartow Bradenton

Ingleside

Venice

Kaupo Hawi

Milolii 156˚

Sebastian

North Port

Grand Bahama

21˚

Naples

Honokaa

20˚

5419˚

155˚

Nassau

95˚

90˚

125 Miles

125 KM

250 KM

250 Miles

85˚

San Salvador Rum Cay

Great Exuma Long Island

Las Animas

100˚

Bahama Islands

Cat Island

Andros

Key West

Eleuthera

New Providence

Homestead

Hawaii

Hilo Pahoa Punaluu

Abaco

204

Edgewater

Houma

El Campo

Kailua

100 Miles

Morgan City

Alice

Maui

Puako

20˚

1 500 Miles

Eagle Pass

155˚

Beeville

Prince Rupert

Uvalde

156˚

Kalaupapa Hidalgo Del Parral Molokai Haiku Kaanapali 45

Unalaska

Laie Waikane

Waialua

21˚

Bamocha

and

22˚

Oahu

Cordova

Bering Sea

157˚

Kauai

Poipu

Niihau

Rio

158˚

80˚

75˚

500 Miles

500 KM

IMAGES: MICHAEL HEAPE; US PGA TOUR

El Paso

Ciudad Juarez

50˚

Little Rock

Phoenix

HOW STEPHEN AMES WON

170˚

pi R .

Oklahoma City

25˚

Washington D.C. Annapolis

Nashville

Santa Fe

Baltimore

Columbus

Providence

New York Trenton Philadelphia Dover

Harrisburg

Springfield Indianapolis

San Jose

Hartford

Lansing Detroit

ssippi

Lincoln

Boston

Albany

Hamilton

Chicago

Des Moines

Cheyenne

Augusta

Montpelier Concord

Jefferson City

60˚

Montreal

a tL

Ottawa

Denver

San Diego Tijuana Mexicali

117

Maniwaki

Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge

S t a t e s

Carson City Sacramento

Los Angeles

120˚

La Malbaie Baie-Saint-Paul

155

Sault Ste. Marie

Eagle River

Bemidji

Saint Paul April 20-22, 2018

Mitsubishi Electric Classic

San Francisco

Carrington

Pierre

Salt Lake City

30˚

Grand Marais

Haileybury

Bismarck

U n i t e d

35˚

Grand Forks

101

Missi

Salem

April 13-15, 2018

125˚

La Sarre Amos Iroquois Falls Timmins Porcupine Val-d'Or Kirkland Lake

Thunder Bay

Roberval

Kapuskasing Cochrane

Marathon Fort Frances

Baudette

Minnewaukan

Hearst

DoverHibbing Manning Lake Superior Grangeville S Pendleton Montana Windsor Maine Foxcroft Sudbury Beloeil Terry North Bay Deep River La Grande 17 Butte Sherbrooke Bangor Machias Mandan Ontonagon Corvallis Jamestown Fargo Dickinson Hawkesbury 94 Duluth Hysham 94 Minnesota Granby Sault Ste. Marie Eugene Elliot Lake Pembroke Ellsworth Baker Waterville Cloquet Superior Marquette Redmond 11 69 Idaho Belfast Newberry Newport 90 Billings Cornwall Bend Salmon Bozeman 35 Vermont Berlin Coos Bay 5 Hettinger Ekalaka Brainerd Canyon City Huntsville Fergus Falls Hayward Council Cheboygan Escanaba Ogdensburg Plattsburgh Burlington Parry Sound 94 Coquille Red Lodge Bracebridge Mound City Woodsville Broadus Lake Challis Portland Rhinelander Bison Brockville Roseburg Ontario 15 Morris Saint Cloud Oregon Michigan Midland Aberdeen Alpena Saco 89 91 Wisconsin Merrill Orillia Kingston 75 Marinette Burns Caldwell Sheridan New York Dupree Cody Coon Rapids Dover Dubois Grants Pass South Dakota Harrisville Belleville Watertown 87 Medford New Hampshire Watertown Nampa Barrie Lake 91 Traverse City Buffalo 94 Eau Claire Haverhill Minneapolis 81 Green Bay Glens Falls Gillette 90 Oshawa Lake Oahe Huron 29 Wyoming Ashland Mountain Home Lowell Rexburg Eagan Lake Ontario Oswego Marshall Klamath Falls Appleton 43 Huron Cadillac Niagara Rapid City Manitowoc Snake R. Thermopolis Blackfoot Idaho Falls Yreka 90 Syracuse Massachusetts Winona Brookings Guelph Rochester Falls Sheboygan Michigan Bay City Oshkosh 90 Twin Falls 86 Pocatello 25 Rochester 88 Springfield Franklin Brockton Mitchell 90 Eureka Arcata Alturas Albert Lea White River Hot Springs 90 Saginaw Flint Pinedale La Crosse Sioux Falls Beaver Dam Ithaca Simcoe Buffalo 84 Weaverville Riverton Ionia Martin 35 Casper Port Huron 95 Dunkirk 84 Spencer Rhode Island Binghamton Meriden 96 Corning Lusk 29 Valentine Malad City Chatham Connecticut Redding Racine Holland Mason City Yankton Vermillion 86 rie Janesville Jamestown Winnemucca Great Scranton Stamford Susanville Rushville eE Missou New Haven Ainsworth Battle Creek ri R. Sioux City Lak 90 Erie Red Bluff Waterloo Logan Salt Lake Rockford 80 Windsor Williamsport Elko Meadville Newark Chico Paradise Evanston Ogden Nebraska Patchogue Wheatland Toledo Scottsbluff Mullen Pennsylvania 80 81 Carroll Cedar Rapids Norfolk Green Rock Springs 80 Cleveland 80 90 Ukiah 5 78 25 Clinton Lovelock Layton Taylor 76 Youngstown River Iowa Allentown South Bend 88 95 Elyria Reno Yuba City Joliet Platt New Jersey Laramie Gary Lansdale Fort Wayne Iowa City e R. Truckee Sparks 80 Akron Sandy Omaha Orem Davenport 76 North Platte 55 Kankakee Santa Rosa Roseville Vernal 80 Greensburg Marion Wabash Eureka Ottumwa Council Bluffs Fort Collins Wilmington Pittsburgh 70 Payson Provo Lima 81 Peoria 75 76 Greeley Sterling Imperial Kokomo Vallejo 80 35 Ely 95 Meeker Kearney Bloomington Utah Nevada 76 Fort Morgan Nephi 68 Indiana Muncie Ohio Keokuk Macomb Boulder Hastings Maryville 15 Beatrice 70 Fairmont Morgantown Oakland Delaware Lancaster Kirksville Dayton 29 Manti Modesto Saint Francis 70 Kettering Tonopah Phillipsburg Saint Joseph Lakewood Aurora Illinois Greensburg Atchison Grand Junction Hannibal Castle Rock Osborne 55 Terre Haute Cincinnati Goldfield Maryland Colorado Fredericksburg Santa Cruz 79 Harrisonburg Pioche Hollister 77 Colorado Springs Oakley Beaver Kansas City Bloomington Moab Saint Montrose Effingham Monterey Charlottesville 70 Huntington 64 Hays Salinas Fresno 70 Charles 65 64 Cedar City Fountain Saint Louis Reedley Independence Columbia Wildwood Kansas Salina Virginia Greenfield Canon City West Virginia Leoti Olathe Louisville Monticello Pueblo Williamsburg Missouri R. Great Bend Winchester 35 Mount Vernon 64 Lynchburg Petersburg Visalia Saint George Avenal Arnold Beckley Virginia Beach Kanab Del Norte Salem Garden City Hutchinson Emporia El Paso de Robles 5 Kentucky Lexington La Junta Cortez Porterville Missouri Mesquite Evansville Owensboro Berea 15 Durango Arkan Dodge City Morro Bay Roanoke 85 Norfolk 55 Wasco Delano Bluefield Lebanon Farmington Campbellsville sas R Springfield El Dorado Elizabeth City o R. R. Madisonville Conejos 25 Ridgecrest . ad 95 Danville Shafter io or Pittsburg Wichita Winfield Oh Somerset Col Farmington Santa Maria 81 Martinsville Jackson Springfield Paducah Henderson Raton Eden Liberal Bakersfield Glasgow Henderson 44 Lompoc Arkansas City Sikeston Hopkinsville Middlesborough Winston-Salem Greensboro California Joplin Creek Nixa Branson Greenville Ponca City Clarksville Clayton Arizona Poplar Bluff Taos 75 Bartlesville Kingman Santa Barbara Santa Clarita New Mexico Woodward Knoxville High Point Cary Enid Union City Kennett Claremore North Carolina Flagstaff Oxnard Gallup 77 Tulsa 40 Pasadena Oklahoma Tennessee Asheville Fayetteville Dyersburg Mosquero Dumas 40 Maryville Winslow Bixby 40 Jonesboro Havelock Murfreesboro Edmond Jackson 40 Columbia Monroe Gastonia Rio Rancho Las Vegas Tahlequah Prescott Pampa Lumberton Jacksonville Prescott Valley Spartanburg Long Beach Anaheim Coachella Lawrenceburg Chattanooga Amarillo Midwest City 40 Fort Smith Searcy Parker Albuquerque 40 95 Payson Greenville Estancia 17 Dalton Clemson Oceanside Escondido 10 Blythe Athens 85 Hereford Wilmington Norman Canyon Corinth Cabot 40 Encinitas Pacific Gainesville Atlantic Glendale Scottsdale Lawton 44 Duncan Clovis Santee Decatur HuntsvilleBuford Socorro Hot Springs Oxford Athens Myrtle Beach Portales Reserve Cullman Ocean 59 Plainview Calexico 35 Ocean Pine Bluff Orangeburg Aiken Tupelo 25 55 Marietta 8 Tempe 65 Arkadelphia South Carolina Monroe 20 Carrizozo Durant Wichita Falls Ardmore Oxford Grenada Clifton Birmingham Arkansas Levelland Augusta Roswell North Charleston Paris Leeds Griffin Gainesville Greenville Silver City Texarkana Tuscaloosa Lubbock Camden Ensenada Macon Alamogordo Charleston Hoover Indianola Denton 2 Tucson Artesia Dublin Hilton Head Plano 30 Mount Pleasant El Dorado Georgia Opelika Yazoo City Hobbs Lamesa Deming 1 16 3 Las Cruces 75 Fort Worth Vidalia Rockwall 85 19 Minden Monroe Andrews Abilene Carlsbad Columbus Hinesville Savannah Canton Selma Sierra Vista 20 Kilgore Nogales Burleson 20 Baja California Meridian Eufaula 20 Midland Big Spring Shreveport Troy Stephenville Albany Douglas 95 Tyler Nogales Alabama Socorro Corsicana 49 Natchitoches Ozark Odessa Brownwood Palestine 65 Pecos 170˚ 180˚ 170˚ 160˚ 150˚ 140˚ 130˚ Moultrie 70 Cananea Brookhaven 2 Caborca Brunswick Waco ˚ 10 Enterprise Dothan Nacogdoches Natchez Mississippi Hattiesburg Van Horn San Angelo Kingsland Gatesville A r c t i c O c e a n Sonora Valdosta Pineville McComb 59 Lufkin Guadalupe Juarez Nuevo Casas Grandes Fort Stockton Killeen 35 Temple College Mobile Crestview Texas 70˚ Bogalusa 55 De Ridder 10 15 Barrow Aconchi 10 45 10 Sonora Destin Station Saint Augustine Marfa Hammond Biloxi Round Rock Chihuahua 10 Pensacola Sanderson Taylor Palatka Gulfport 10 Walla Walla

2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

40˚

Langdon

Minot

North Dakota

Dryden

Kenora

Morden Winkler Steinbach

Mohall

Williston

Nipigon

Selkirk

Brandon

Estevan

Scobey

Malta

Great Falls

Helena

Winnipeg

Weyburn

Havre

Choteau

Moscow

Jaw

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

May 4-6, 2018

May 17-20, 2018

Insperity Invitational

Tournament Record 191, Bernhard Langer (2007)

Tournament 18-hole Record 62, Bernhard Langer (2007)

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information www. insperityinvitational.com

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES; PGA TOUR

Course Insight Robert von Hagge and Bruce Devlin designed The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course. The two men are responsible for the design and redesign of more than 250 courses in the U.S. and 16 foreign countries, but this was a “home course” for von Hagge, who lived in The Woodlands. Created in 1978, the course features ponds, lakes and trees. It has hosted tournaments on all of the major tours, including the Shell Houston Open on the PGA TOUR and the LPGA’s Samsung World Championship.

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John Daly captured his first PGA TOUR Champions victory at the Insperity Invitational a year after he made his Champions debut at the same event. Daly led going into the final round and eagled the first hole on Sunday on the way to a 69, although bogeys on the last three holes made it close at the finish. “It wasn’t pretty at the end, but I got it done. That’s all that matters,” said the 51-year-old whose best previous Champions finish was T11. He was helped by the troubles of the other contenders down the stretch. Tommy Armour III bogeyed 17 and 18 while Kenny Perry bogeyed 17, both finishing one stroke behind. Daly opened with a 68 and surged into a one-stroke lead over Perry with a 65 in a bogey-free second round. Perry shot a 69 in the final round, but it was Armour who applied the most pressure by playing the first 16 holes in 7 under before the two closing bogeys left him with a 67.

CHARITY BENEFIT Proceeds from the Insperity Invitational benefit a number of local Houston charities.

HOW BERNHARD LANGER WON

Location Greystone Golf & Country Club (Founders Course), Birmingham, Ala.

Yardage 7,299; par 72

Tournament Record 265, Doug Tewell (2001)

Tournament 18-hole Record 62, Doug Tewell (2001), Tom Watson (2003), Brad Bryant (2009)

Media Coverage Golf Channel

More Information www.regionstradition.com

Course Insight The Founders Course at Greystone Golf & Country Club is in its third year of hosting the Regions Tradition. The layout, designed by architect Bob Cupp and two-time major champion Hubert Green, opened in 1991 and hosted PGA TOUR Champions’ Bruno’s Memorial Classic from 1992 to 2005, with winners including World Golf Hall of Fame members Green, Larry Nelson and Hale Irwin.

17 20

Yardage 7,002; par 72

17 20

Location The Woodlands Country Club, The Woodlands, Texas

HOW JOHN DALY WON

Regions Tradition

Defending champion Bernhard Langer made it two in a row when he fired a final-round 64 to post a five-stroke victory. He entered the final round two behind Fred Funk, and they were tied through 11 holes until Langer birdied the 12th while Funk made a triple bogey. “Obviously it was huge for me and terrible for Fred because up to then it was neck and neck,” said Langer, who moved into a three-stroke lead over Scott Parel at that point. Langer added three more birdies on the last six holes to claim his 31st PGA TOUR Champions title and eighth major with a 20-under 268 total. Parel and Scott McCarron tied for second at 273, followed by Funk and Marco Dawson at 274. Langer had trailed by six strokes through 36 holes before a third-round 66 moved him into position.

CHARITY BENEFIT

Children’s of Alabama, the only hospital in the state dedicated solely to the care and treatment of children, is the primary charity recipient of the Regions Tradition. Other charities have the opportunity to benefit through the Birdies For Charity program.

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2017/2018 TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

May 24-27, 2018

KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship

CLUB SELECTION IS EVERYTHING

TPC Louisiana

Tournament Record 265, Rocco Mediate (2016)

Tournament 18-hole Record 62, Kenny Perry (2012), Rocco Mediate (2016)

Media Coverage Golf Channel/NBC

More Information www.pga.com/seniorpga

Course Insight Jack Nicklaus designed The Golf Club at Harbor Shores, which opened in 2010 on a site where an abandoned factory had been. Home of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in 2012, 2014 and 2016, the course offers a diverse setting and variety of holes. Three holes play through dunes with a Scottish feel and offer dramatic views of Lake Michigan; four holes wind through rolling hills, ravines and a hardwood forest similar to Northern Michigan; while 11 holes border the Paw Paw River, Ox Creek and associated wetlands. 208

Bernhard Langer overcame Vijay Singh on the final three holes to claim victory after a tight battle at Trump National in Virginia. Singh led by one entering the final round and they were tied through 15 holes, having made the same score on nine consecutive holes, before a Langer birdie from 15 feet on 16 and a Singh three-putt bogey on 17. Langer finished at 18-under after a 68 and Singh a 70 with a birdie on 18. The victory was Langer’s ninth in a PGA TOUR Champions major, breaking the career record of Jack Nicklaus, and his second in a row following the Regions Tradition a week earlier. “To win back-to-back majors is really hard to do,” said Langer. “I was really tired. I was aching…I’m blessed.”

CHARITY BENEFIT

Proceeds go to PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America. The mission of PGA REACH is to positively impact lives by enabling access to PGA Professionals, PGA Sections and the game of golf through flagship programs such as PGA Junior League for youth, PGA HOPE for military and PGA WORKS for diverse populations.

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TPC Sugarloaf

TPC Summerlin

TPC Harding Park

VACATIONS

MEMBERSHIPS

Visit TPC.COM

It’s a good day for golf.

IMAGES: ROB CARR/GETTY IMAGES

Yardage 6,852; par 71

17 20

Location The Golf Club at Harbor Shores Benton Harbor, Mich.

HOW BERNHARD LANGER WON

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20/12/2017 09:11

the last word

Their FuTure is Now

A record season of success by PGA TOUR players in their 20s shows how the game has changed By Bill Fields

images: getty

couple of pictures of Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas got plenty of play this past PGA TOUR season on social media and elsewhere. They weren’t recent images but shots of the stars before they were stars. Spieth and Thomas—major winners and FedExCup champions—were barely in their teens, junior golfers with bigger dreams than trophy collections. The decade-old photographs of the two young men are instructive, not only as charming glimpses into the past and evidence that they were friends long before they were asked to give an autograph. Spieth and Thomas—and their precociously talented peers who don’t need long professional apprenticeships before big-time victories—wouldn’t be doing what they are now without an early immersion in golf. Sure, success has come quickly for some players throughout golf history—Tom Morris Jr., Gene Sarazen, Horton Smith, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, to name a handful of legends—but winning sooner instead of later seems to have become the rule not the exception. PGA TOUR rookie Xander Schauffele’s victory at the TOUR Championship—the second win of the 2016-17 season for the 23-year-old Californian—was the perfect punctuation for what had transpired in the preceding months. Schauffele’s triumph at East Lake made it 28 wins by 19 different players in their 20s, the most in TOUR history. Over the last three seasons, nearly half the TOUR events—70 of 141—have been won by players under 30. No doubt the present crop of young players is special, but this trend was a while in the making. A confluence of factors is responsible for making this much more than a cyclical development. These talented golfers were born in late 1980s (Rickie Fowler, Adam Hadwin, Russell Henley) and early 1990s (1993 alone saw the arrival of Spieth, Thomas, Schauffele and Daniel Berger). By this point, the American Junior Golf Association, the idea of a visionary Georgian, the late Mike Bentley, was well established as a competitive

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T63.The Last Word.indd 209

proving ground for elite juniors. When today’s stars were young children, in 1996, Dan Van Horn started U.S. Kids Golf offering equipment that is the proper size and weight clubs for small golfers. In concert with instruction technology that allowed kids to easily see their swings, proper form was less of a mystery and within closer reach. Golf Channel began about the same time, bringing more of the game to golf-loving households including juniors who couldn’t get enough of it. Woods, who gave the sport an electric jolt with his power and cool under pressure, won the first of three straight U.S. Amateur titles in 1994. Joining the TOUR in 1996, Woods set golf on fire, raising its profile in the sports world. Tiger’s determined, dominant golf was must-see TV, and among the many watching were boys and girls who wanted to follow in his footsteps and make their own fist pumps. Two decades later, the kids are grown up. They are confident, eager and capable, a winning combination that was being forged years before a Sunday afternoon with everybody watching. 

Justin Thomas (left) and Jordan Spieth typify how seasoned top young players already are when they get on TOUR.

Xander Schauffele’s TOUR Championship win was the 28th of the season by players in their 20s—a PGA TOUR record.

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