Presidents Cup re-shuffle International Team.. Canadian chances improve..

 https://www.presidentscup.com/standings/international-standings.html

The International Team for the Presidents Cup this year at Quail Hollow September 20-25 will take a re-shuffle following today's announcement that Cam Smith and Marc Leishman have defected  to LIV.

The top 8 players who automatically qualified from the International Team's points list after the BMW Championship will be joined by 4 picks by captain Trevor Immelman.

Smith finished 1st, while Leishman was 17th. Joaquin Niemann has also jumped, he was 4th, Mito Pereira was 8th, Anirban Lahiri was 15th and they are gone as well, so you can see the effect that the LIV is having on this team which were already huge underdogs to beat a stacked US Team on home soil. They have only 1 win and a tie in 13 matches.

The defections should improve Canadian chances of selection.

Corey Conners 

Apart from Corey Connors who qualified 6th, Adam Hadwin was 12th and he has played in the 2 previous cups. Mac Hughes was 14th and a surging Taylor Pendrith was 18th but was in and around the top 10 in 5 of his last 6 outings after returning from 4 months off injured. 

Other International team qualifiers Hideki Matsuyama at #2 has been off injured recently, 3 Koreans Sungjae Im #3, Tom Kim #5 will likely be joined by KH Lee at #9. 

Adam Scott at #7 has been in brilliant form of late, as has been Kiwi Ryan Fox #13 who plays the DP World Tour.

Captain Ernie Els breathed life back into this US dominated event back in 2019 at the Royal Melbourne Club in Victoria. His underdog team got off to a great start and led the US squad captained by Tiger Woods after Day 1. The US fought back over the next 3 sessions to win 16-14 after winning 6 and tying 4 of the 12 Sunday singles. 

Leishman, Oosthuizen, Ancer, and Smith were all in  the top 8 for that team and are now all playing LIV. 

So another tall order for captain Immelman, however never tell 12 top pros they have no chance, The European Ryder Cup team rode that underdog role to perfection as the recent results show winning 12 of the last 18 since 1985.

Bryan Angus 

Monday morning wrap....final scoreboards

 LPGA: CP Women's Open leaderboard here.

It wasn't to be Brooke Henderson's week despite her effort and a huge crowd at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club. She finished T49 at -5.

Top Canadian Alena Sharp, was the winner of the the Sandra Post Award, T17th -10, while Maddie Szeryk was T26 -9

South African Paula Reto had the week of her life with her 1st LPGA win after an opening course record 62 she finished -19 to edge Nelly Korda -18 and Hye Jin Choi.

Korn Ferry Tour: Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship leaderboard here.

After a weekend 69 69 Michael Gligic finished this 2nd event of the Korn Ferry Tour finals T4th -12 which will secure his PGA Tour card for 2023 as he will finish in the top 25.

David Lingmerth from Sweden won at -17.

PGA Tour : Tour Championship final leaderboard 

Corey Connors finished his PGA Tour season with -3 67 to finish 26th in Atlanta, worth around $540,000.

Scottie Scheffler stumbled away a 6 shot lead to let Rory McIlroy  (66) -21 in to scoop the biggest prize in golf $18,000,000 and the Fed Ex Cup

PGA Tour Champions: Ally Challenge final leaderboard here.

Stephen Ames continued his fine 2022 season T6 -11 in Grand Blanc, Michigan, for his 8th top 10. Steve Stricker won it -15. 

Bryan Angus 

Disappointing starts for Henderson, Connors... live Friday leaderboards

 LPGA Tour : CP Women's Open here 

With a late start off the 10th tee Brooke Henderson could see scoring was low on a soft Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club, 89 players ended up under par, the leader from South Africa Paula Reto posted a record -9 62, so her goal of making lots of birdies was in order.

She was in good shape making 4 of them with just 1 bogey to go out -3 32. She added another after the turn on #2, now -4, but the birdie barrage stopped there with 4 pars and then a disappointing bogey 5 at the 7th and 6 at the par 5 9th to finish T50 -2 69.

 

" I hit the ball so well, it's just disappointing I made bogey's on those last holes, because I was hitting the ball so close and giving myself birdie chances"

She's off early this morning, and with a 90% chance of rain, thunderstorms and possible lightning, weather may well take over the event today. The rain is expected to die down by the time the late wave goes out.

Her long time partner Alena Sharp and youngster Maddie Szeryk lead the 18 Canucks T16 -4 67.

PGA Tour : Tour Championship live Friday scoreboard here.

Meanwhile down in Atlanta, Corey Connors opened his week with a +4 74 which has him dead last in the field of 30, vying for his share of the $75,000,000 bonus pool.

3 bogeys and a double out in 39 did all the damage.

With his -1 staggered starting point he is at +3 while the leader Scottie Scheffler who shot -5 65 is at -15.

As I mentioned yesterday the winner of this finale gets $18m, while last place is "rewarded" with a cool $500,000....

Bryan Angus

Tee times for the CP Women's Open..

 LPGA Tour : CP Women's Open Thursday tee times here

Despite the possibility of a wet start to this week's 48th CP Women's Open at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club, (40% Thursday, 80% Friday) anticipation for golf fans in this country are sky high, with the return of Brooke Henderson from her travels overseas front and center..

She starts on the 10th tee in the late wave at 1.04pm with Lydia Ko and Jennifer Kupcho. She's won twice this year and holds the Canadian pro record with 12 career wins. She is currently ranked 5th in the world, and 2nd in the CME Global standings. 

There are 18 Canadians in the field including Lori Kane playing in her 30th and final Canadian championship. Maude-Aimee Leblanc, and Alena Sharp are also in the field.

82 of the top 100 are here including defending champion Jin Young Ko. The Hunt and Golf club also hosted the championship in 2008, 2017 and it was cancelled due to COVID for the last 2 years. 

Bryan Angus

Connors is in the money this week at the Tour Championship..Thursday tee times

 FedEx Cup : Tour Championship, East Lake GC, Atlanta.. TEE TIMES  here

Many who know Corey Connors, still remember him driving the golf ball cart around the driving range as a teenager at his home town Listowel GC, up in North Perthshire, Ontario about 125km NW of Toronto.

A quiet unassuming kid with a terrific golf swing, but who knew he'd rise to #26 in the world, with the best ball striking reputation of them all and a place in the International Team for the Presidents Cup.

It seemed like yesterday when he won the Shell Houston Open in 2015 to qualify for the Masters, with his longtime girlfriend, now wife Mallory making social media headlines around the word with her smiles of disbelief.

Now qualified for this week's Tour Championship after his T5 at the BMW Championship he's about to cash in again after a very lucrative season and in fact playoff run. 

He's made just a smidge under $3,310,000 so far. In his 8th season since turning pro in 2013 his career earnings are $12,212,000

FedEx Cup playoffs:

FedEx St Jude Classic T28 $107, 250

BMW Championship T5 $547,500

Tour Championship : The top 30 players this week will now compete for the $75,000,000 Fed Ex Cup bonus pool based on their season long points race. 

1st  $18,000,000

2nd $6,500,000

3rd $5,000,000

4th $4,000,000

5th $3,000,000

6th $2,500,000

7th $2,000,000

8th $1,500,000

9th $1,250,000

10th $1,000,000

30th $500,000 

Last week Corey talked about the goals he'd set for himself. Making a spot in the Presidents Cup (6th)  has now been achieved. Making the season ending tour championship was another.

He starts play in Atlanta in 24th place at 12.15pm.

Bryan Angus

Connors leads the Canadians at the Fed Ex Cup plaoffs: BMW Championship... full leaderboard.

FedEx Cup Playoffs: BMW Championship leaderboard  here 

With a round to go Corey Connors has slipped out of the T2 spot but is still en route for the Tour Championship with a round to go in Delaware at this 2nd event of the PGA Tour playoffs, the BMW Championship

With rounds of 68 67 70 -8 he is T8 projected to finish the year 29th with the top 30 making it to Atlanta for next week's season finale, the Tour Championship.

The leaders Patrick Cantlay -12, Xander Schauffele and Scott Stallings -11 and Scottie Scheffler and a surging Adam Scott at -10.

Other Canadians need big Sunday's to advance.

Taylor Pendrith T10  67 -7 projected 51

Adam Hadwin T38 72 -2 projected 60

Mac Hughes T56 72 +2 projected 58.

Bryan Angus

Mike Weir leads the Dick's Sporting Goods Open.. full leaderboard

 PGA Tour Champions: Dick's Sporting Goods Open... 

• Leaderboard

It's been a while since we heard from Mike Weir, but after 2 rounds of this Champions Tour event in Endicott, New York he's on top of his game with rounds of 67 65 -12 for a 1 shot lead heading into today's final round.

He posted 7 birdies in 8 holes on his way to the 65, after play was suspended for 2 hours from 2pm -4pm. It's the same hot muggy, thunder storm embedded system that we have here in Toronto.

It was his lowest round this year and the 4th time he's posted it in his career.

Weirsy is looking for his 2nd Champions  Tour win, the last in 2021, the Insperity Classic which was shortened to 36 holes.

He'll be in the final pairing today with Paddy Harrington 66 67 -11 who has found new life on the senior circuit since turning 50. He recently won the US Senior Open.

Bryan Angus

Connors T2 Friday story Fed Ex Cup Playoffs..BMW Championship..

 FedEx Cup playoffs: BMW Championship.. Friday full scoreboard here  

With rounds of 68 67 -7 Corey Connors is T2 at the midway point of this BMW Championship, the 2nd event of the FedEx Cup playoffs and as such he is now projected 18th of the top 30 eligible for the Tour Championship finale of the FedEx Cup playoffs and the 2022 PGA Tour season.

Connors with 5 birdies and a lone bogey continued his sensational ball striking and made a putt more than his opening -3 68.

The lead at -8 is held by the great Aussie Adam Scott 65 69.

Connors is T2 with some of the tours elite, Jordan Spieth 68 67 projected 10th, Scottie Scheffler 68 67 projected 1st and another American Cameron Young 67 68 projected 5th.

Canadians

Adam Hadwin T22 projeted 55th 69 70 -3

Taylor Pendrith T22 projected 60th 71 68 -3

Mac Hughes T53 projected 57th 75 68 +1 

There's a real log jam with 15 players within 3 shots of the lead including Rory McIlroy 68 68 -6.

Bryan Angus

Connors on the bubble at BMW Championship..Full scoreboard

 FedEx Cup playoffs: BMW Championship leaderboard here 

With the top 30 ranked players advancing to the season finale, Tour Championship, the results are in for round 1 of the BMW Championship.

Canadians:

Corey Connors opened with -3 68 T13 and that's 4 shots off the lead held by Keegan Bradley. That has him projected for that 30th spot, or "on the bubble"

"It was a solid round, I feel like I hit the ball really well, a pretty stress free round. I could have converted a few more chances, but still solid. If I keep playing the way I did today I might just oplay my way into the Tour Championship, which is a huge goal at the beginning of the year. I feel like I've had a solid year so far."

Adam Hadwin -2 69 T24 projected 59

Taylor Pendrith E 71 T42 projected 67

Mac Hughes +4 75 T61 projected 60

Bryan Angus

Canadian TEE TIMES this week's BMW Championship

 PGA Tour Fed Ex Cup playoffs: BMW Championship TEE TIMES here

The second event of the 2022 Fed Ex Cup playoffs gets underway this week at the Wilmington CC, in Delaware, a tricky course many of the pros haven't played before.

There are 70 players this week vying for the final 30 places in next week's Tour Championship.

It's the last week to qualify for the Presidents Cup. 8 qualifiers and 4 captain's picks. Corey Connors currently is 6th so looks a shoe in, Adam Hadwin 12th, Mac Hughes 14th... The International Team will be announced by captain Trevor Immelman on August 29th

This year it's at Quail Hollow NC, September 20-25.

9.40 Mac Hughes (Fed Ex rank 52), Si Woo Kim

1045 Corey Connors (29), Kevin Kisner

1200 Taylor Pendrith (67), Marc Leishman

1220 Adam Hadwin (59), Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Bryan Angus

Brooke Henderson headlines the field next week's 2022 CP Women's Open

 Ottawa, Ont. – Golf Canada in partnership with Canadian Pacific (CP) announced today the final field of competitors set to challenge for the 2022 CP Women’s Open taking place August 22-28 at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont.

 
After winning the event in 2019, current Rolex Rankings world no. 1 Jin Young Ko will look to defend her title after two years of cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 13-time LPGA Tour winner leads a stellar field that includes 82 of the top-100 players on the CME Globe standings including 18 of the top-20.
 
Canadian sensation and CP ambassador Brooke Henderson from nearby Smith’s Falls, Ont., who won the event in 2018, is sure to be crowd favourite once again at Canada’s National Open Championship. The 24-year-old honorary member at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club is a 12-time LPGA Tour champion and two-time major winner—the most accomplished Canadian professional golfer in history.
 
Joining Henderson (2) and Ko (10) among the top-20 CME Globe standing competitors are Minjee Lee (1), Jennifer Kupcho (3), Lydia Ko (4),  In Gee Chun (5), Atthaya Thitikul (6), Lexi Thompson (7), Nasa Hataoka (8), Celine Boutier (9), Hye-Jin Choi (12), Madelene Sagstrom (14), Ayaka Furue (15), Nanna Koerstz Madsen (16), Ashleigh Buhai (17), Danielle Kang (18), Xiyu Lin (19), and Hannah Green (20). Other global stars set to compete include Rolex World No. 3 Nelly Korda, No. 12 Sei Young Kim, No. 14 Jessica Korda, No. 25 Anna Nordqvist and No. 31 Charley Hull.
 
The field will include 14 in-year winners including all five 2022 LPGA Tour Major winners as well as seven past CP Women’s Open champions – Jin Young Ko (2019), Brooke Henderson (2018), Sung Hyun Park (2017), Ariya Jutanugarn (2016), Lydia Ko (2012, 2013 & 2015), So Yeon Ryu (2014) and Cristie Kerr (2006).
 
Henderson will also headline a field of 15 Canadians competing in the 48^th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship alongside fellow LPGA Tour players Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que. Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont. and LPGA Tour veteran Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont. The group will be joined by Team Canada Young Pro athletes Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Toronto, Megan Osland of Kelowna, B.C., and Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont. Reigning Canadian Women’s Amateur champion Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont., who finished runner-up last week at the US Women’s Amateur will be joined by fellow Team Canada members Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., and Sarah-Eve Rhéaume of Boischatel, Que., as well as Katie Cranston Oakville, Ont. and Lauren Zaretsky of Thornhill, Ont. Also receiving an exemption to compete in the 2022 CP Women’s Open is Valerie Tanguay of Saint Hyacinthe, Que. as well as Team Canada member Brigitte Thibault of Rosemère, Que., who recently turned professional.
 
CP ambassador Lorie Kane of Charlottetown, P.E.I. will be in Ottawa competing in her record 30^th and final career appearance as a player at the CP Women’s Open. A member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Canada Sports Hall of Fame, Kane made her debut at Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship in 1991 and has played in each of the 29 tournaments since.
 
“The field is set, and we are extremely proud to the welcome the world’s best players back to our Nation’s Capital for the 48^th playing of the CP Women’s Open,” said Ryan Paul, Tournament Director of the CP Women’s Open. “After two years of cancelation because of the pandemic, we know that Canadian golf fans and event enthusiasts are excited to join us at the Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club for the celebrated return of the LPGA Tour to Canada.”
 
The final four exemptions into the 2022 CP Women’s Open will be awarded on Monday, August 22 at the Monday Qualifier played at The Marshes Golf Club.
 
A full field list of players confirmed to compete in the 2022 CP Women’s Open is available online here.
 
The field of 156 competitors will vie for the $2.35 million USD purse with the champion taking home $352,500.
 

Back to business after the 'perfect weekend fishin' "...

Beginning with a Thursday evening in a Muskoka chair watching the Super moon hanging like a big silver dollar over Lake Couchiching, sending a river of gold rippling right to our feet, my few days away from the heat and humidity, hustle and bustle of our lives here in the big city, fishing the lakes around Orillia was just perfect, and a welcome reminder that just 90 minutes away, there is another world to live for every day.

Flat calm early mornings in the dark led to sunny clear blue skies, not a drop of humidity, spectacular scenery, reflecting clearly in the water and if you never believed the moon cycles affecting the bite, don't ever doubt it.

Over 2 mornings captain Tom and I had 35 mainly small mouth bass in the boat, and I have a small freezer full for weeks to come. We also fished the evenings until mother nature spoiled us again with spectacular sunsets, especially Saturday with the loons and happy children having a last blast of a perfect day on all the cottages dotting the shores of Sparrow Lake.

It is the much simpler Canada I grew up with beginning as a boy in the 50's before the rest of the world arrived to our shores.

Older couples in 15 foot skips with a 20hp Johnson or Evinrude quietly trolling the lake they have retired to, family's of this generation in cottages they've inherited from their parents continuing the same happy pursuits along with unbelievable new builds, I don't know how people afford them, all living respectfully amongst each other. Canadian flags flying proudly everywhere, no traffic noise, all in stark contrast to this huge multi cultural melting pot and all that that encompasses today, here in the big city.

Meanwhile Corey Connors, Mac Hughes, Taylor Pendrith, and Adam Hadwin protected their status and now move on in the top 75 for the BMW Championship this week.

Nick Taylor who was on the bubble and got in at 124, is done for this year as is Adam Svensson after failing to move on at the Fed Ex St. Jude Championship.

Michael Gligic (135) and Roger Sloan (167) are the only Canadians remaining in the 3 event Korn Ferry playoffs beginning this week, which will award 2023 PGA Tour cards for the top 25 players. 

Stephen Ames was in contention all weekend at the Champions Tour Boeing Classic, finishing T3 -11 four shots behind winner Miguel Angel Jimenez at -15.

The LPGA arrives at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf club in Ottawa next week for the CP Women's Open where Brooke Henderson will be the star attraction, home this week after a week in France, two in Scotland and a fourth on holiday in Ireland.

Bryan Angus

"Gone fishin" !!

Today I'll be taking the trip up the 400 (please no accidents or construction !!) and HWY 11 for my annual fishin' weekend with my long time pal Tom in Orillia.

Tom and I started fishing in a 12 foot tin can with a 15hp Johnson on Lake Couchiching over 30 years ago. With his 4 young children now all grown up, married and working on their careers, we have the place to ourselves. Tom has become an avid fisherman, bass boat and all, I just try not to fall in.

We have studied all the charts, low vs high pressure, full moon cycles, fish finders, you name it, it all seems to be in our favour this weekend.

However whether we get skunked as we have, or catch a lot, which we have, the relief I feel getting off the work a day merry go round, and away from the sickening GTA humidity when I turn off the highway into cottage country is priceless.

We'll be on a lake somewhere at 7am Friday and won't get off it until dusk, when the loons come out and the sun sets into a few pops and a barbeque, making plans for Saturday is something I'll never take for granted.

The judge has banned the LIV players for the Fed Ex playoffs, which is great news, I'll be keeping tabs on our Canadian six, but won't have access to my computer, so I''ll be back here on Sunday night or Monday..depending on the fishin' !!

See you then !!

Tee times for Canadians in the Fed Ex Cup playoffs

 PGA Tour: Fed Ex St Jude Championship... TEE TIMES here

It all gets underway tomorrow.. the finale of a stormy PGA Tour year, 125 of the LIV adjusted list includes 6 Canadians at tomorrow's Fed Ex St Jude Championship in steamy Memphis..

Taylor Pendrith 1st tee 7.37

Adam Hadwin 10th tee 7.37

Mac Hughes 1st tee 7.48

Nick Taylor 10th tee 8.54

Corey Connors 10th tee 1.06pm

Adam Svensson 1st tee 1.17pm

They are in the top 125 who will be reduced to 75 on Sunday..

Bryan Angus

Buhai's battles end in victory at Muirfield, Henderson finishes T7... final scoreboard..

 Ashleigh Buhai isn't a household name for most LPGA/LET Tour followers is what I posted on Sunday morning.

We can change that to wasn't.

I also wrote it was her's to win unless "she came back to the field" and that happened on the par 4 15th with a triple bogey 7

The 33 year old South African who as a teenage amateur won 4 professional titles at home, went on to battle injury, a balancing battle with vertigo and after 220 LPGA Tour starts with only one runner up finish, the worst battle, her self doubt.

South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai 

Her 4 playoff hole victory over In Gee Chun was gripping television on the venerable links at Muirfield, which once again, aided and abetted by a steady if not unruly west wind, proved to be an exceptional examination.

She goes into the history books, as the first women to win a major at Muirfield, and her life changes forever. The final scoreboard is here.

Brooke Henderson it must be noted, played very well over 4 rounds finishing T7 -5 with 3 rounds at 70, one at 69, all that held back a stronger challenge was the putts that fell when she won her 2nd major at the Evian two weeks ago, did not fall this week.

Consider this, after her extended break over a month ago, and her change to a cross handed grip on her putter this is her 4th top 10 in 5 events, her 8th of the year.   

"It's been really fun the last few week's, two wins and a lot of really good finishes, it's just been fun and I feel like we've really got it rolling right now, so hopefully we can keep the momentum rolling, at least for a little longer"

That would be until August 25th where she will be the star attraction at the sold out CP Women's Open at her home course Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club.

Bryan Angus

Which Canadians made the Fed Ex Cup Playoffs....

The regular PGA TOUR season for 2022 is over after 44 stops, at the Wyndham Championship... the top 125 has been decided for the Fed Ex Cup playoffs...worth $15,000,000 plus...

Ben Jared

Canadians advancing:

#30 Corey Connors

#46 Mac Hughes

# 50 Adam Hadwin..

#60 Taylor Pendrith..

#90 Adam Svensson

#123 Nick Taylor

All have secured their cards for 2023 and will begin the Fed Ex Cup playoffs this week at the Fed Ex St Jude Championship in Memphis.

Further, Michael Gligic and Roger Sloan finished in the 126-200 category and will now play for the top 25 places in the Korn Ferry Tour finals which is a 3 event series, beginning in Albertsons Boise Open in two weeks. Those 25 get their PGA Tour cards as well.

Other Canadians I've been writing here about all year David Hearn, Ben Silverman, Stuart MacDonald and Albin Choi are playing in the last event of the Korn Ferry Tour before the finals, the Pinnacle Banks Championship in Omaha.

The top 125 will be reduced to the top 70 for the BMW Championship August 18-21 Wilmington CC, then on to the Tour Championship August 25-28 East Lake Club in Atlanta.

Bryan Angus

87 players face a long Sunday at Wyndham Championship due to weather delays... live scoreboard

 PGA Tour: Wyndham Championship, Sunday scoreboard here.

Taylor Pendrith is one of the lucky ones, he's managed to complete 3 rounds at this wet Wyndham Championship. 71 67 65 -7 T15 he is one of 87 players to make the cut, one of the biggest numbers in tour history after 2 weather delays on Saturday.

For many this last Sunday of the regular season will decide their immediate future with the top 125 going on to the playoffs and securing their PGA card for 2023.

For others it may be the Korn Ferry playoffs, or conditional status elsewhere and for a few it may even mean a jump to the LIV.

Follow all the scoring on my link here.

Corey Connors, Nick Taylor, Michael Gligic and Adam Svensson all have 3rd round holes to finish this morning.

Taylor continues to be on the bubble projected at 124, Gligic projected 133 so has work to do,

Roger Sloan MC and will finish around 168. Mac Hughes also MC 67 78,  but he is secure for next year and the playoffs.

Weather: partly sunny only 20% chance of any rain 79*f

Bryan Angus 

Cold putter stalls Henderson's bid for back to back majors... Buhai's to lose..AIG Open Sunday leaderboard..

 LPGA/LET : AIG Women's Open leaderboard here 

Ashleigh Buhai isn't a household name for most LPGA/LET Tour followers.

She's shot 70 65 64 -14 some 5 shots clear heading into Sunday at Muirfield.. A 33 year old springbok who has won the South African national championship 3 times but nothing as glittering as this AIG Women's Open...She is paired with defending champion Hinako Shibuno from Japan 65 73 66 -9 then Korea''s In Gee Chun 68 66 70 -9

It's her career defining moment on Sunday. the rest are done unless she comes back to the field under the pressure at Muirfield.

Brooke is one of the rest chasing she's heading for a career best Open finish..

70 70 69 -4 T9 is 10 shots behind.

42 pars over 3 rounds..only 8 birdies and just 4 bogey's means steady eddie for sure but without the birdie putts falling time after time she is headed for another top10, but it's hasn't turned out to be been her week to contend for a back to back major.

Maude Aimee Leblanc M/C by a shot...

Weather : Light cloud with a fresh breeze 21*c for Sunday

Bryan Angus

Gligic off to a great start at the Wyndham Championship....Friday scoreboard

 PGA Tour: Wyndham Championship leaderboard here.

As I mentioned yesterday this Wyndham Championship is the final chance this year for players to make the top 125 to secure their cards for next year and make the Fed Ex Cup playoffs this year..

For those who are already in, it's a chance to improve their status but for those on the outside or worse on the bubble, every shot has a heavy significance.

Michael Gligic is one of those on the outside, and he did himself a big favour yesterday with a -5 65 T5 and 4 off the lead. He began the day 132nd, now projected to 119.

Nick Taylor -3 67 T22 is on the bubble, beginning at 120, and after his round 115.

Mac Hughes -3 67 T22 is safe for 2023 began at 45, now at 46

Taylor Pendrith +1 71 T76 is also good for 2023 ranked at 62nd.

Corey Connors E 70 is one of our premier players is ranked at 34

Roger Sloan E 70 T76 is on the outside beginning at 164, now at 166

Adam Svensson E70 T76 is also in good shape for next year, starting at 84 and out early this morning.

The leader is American John Huh -9 61 moving up 73 spots from 111 to a projected 38th !

Bryan Angus

Canadian tee times, Fed Ex playoff standings at Wyndham Championship .. live scoreboard

 PGA Tour: Wyndham Championship tee/times and leaderboard here

It's the last regular season event on the PGA Tour and the last chance to get into the top 125 on the new Fed Ex Cup playoff eligibility list who get to keep their tour cards for 2023.

The eligibility list was created when the PGA Tour members who jumped to LIV and were suspended, were removed from the money list so the remaining players were not adversely affected

There are 7 Canadians in the field at the Sedgefield CC in Greensboro NC. Their position on the Money List then Fed Ex eligible list included.

Roger Sloan 10th tee 8.29am (172/164)

Mac Hughes 1st tee 8.40am (54/45)

Adam Svensson 1st tee 12.05pm (102/84)

Taylor Pendrith 1st tee 12.27pm (69/62)

Corey Connors 1st tee 12.38pm (26 /34)

Nick Taylor 10th tee 12.38 (137/120)

Michael Gligic 10th tee  2.06pm (150/132)

Adam Hadwin who is not playing (44/48)

Bryan Angus

Solid start for Henderson at breezy AIG Women's Open..Shibuno of Japan leads....live scoreboard

 AIG Women's Open.. live scoring  here 

The ''moderate" breeze predicted was a little stiffer than expected this morning, as the tide comes in at Muirfield, thus providing a tougher examination of the assembled women playing this historic first round at the venerable links.

The clubhouse leader with an exceptional -6 65 is Hinako Shibuno from Japan. She is only 23 and won this championship in 2019 at Woburn, England on her first trip outside Japan.

The sun is out, the rough is down and wispy, the course looks pretty green for mid summer. The first hole at just over 420 yards is usually a drive and a short iron. This morning it's dead into their face, so a full drive and a 3 wood is not unusual.

The 17, the famous par 5 dogleg left in straight down wind, so is really playing like a par 4.

Brooke Henderson was out early and despite missing a shocking little 2 footer for her only bogey at the 18th, she handled the wind well considering this is only her first competitive round.

She made 15 pars, 2 birdies with that 1 birdie for -1 70, a solid start. 

The wind usually dies down as the tide goes out and evening approaches, so the late wave should benefit.

Maude Aimee Leblanc had a tough day +5 76 T103

Here is the daily wrap from lpga.com

04 AUG 2022

Topic:

 

• HINAKO SHIBUNO 
 
• AIG WOMENS OPEN 
 
• TOURNAMENT NEWS

Hinako Shibuno of Japan tees off on the third hole during Day One of the AIG Women's Open at Muirfield on August 04, 2022 in Gullane, Scotland.

Photo Credit: 2021 Getty Images



Written By:LPGA Communications@LPGA



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After morning rain gave way to spectacularly blue Scottish skies, Hinako Shibuno again proved her major prowess at the AIG Women’s Open. The 23-year-old Japanese superstar, who won the 2019 AIG Women’s Open, carded a 6-under 65 in the opening round of the 2022 championship, being held for the first time at the famed Muirfield.

“It has been a long time since I've played this well, especially putting,” said Shibuno, now a rookie on the LPGA Tour after spending three years on the JLPGA Tour. “Honestly it was a little frightening.”

Shibuno’s 65, tied for the second-lowest opening round in AIG Women’s Open history, featured three consecutive birdies to open the day. It was also one shot better than her first-round performance in 2019 at Woburn, a traditional parkland-style course. Faced with this year’s classic Muirfield layout, Shibuno was very proud of how she adapted her game to meet the elements and unconventional play required on a links course.

“Two years ago, when we were playing at Royal Troon, the wind completely over took my shots. I wasn't thinking about how to use this to my advantage,” said Shibuno. “However, this tournament I could adapt my style to the elements. I imagined my swing. If the wind was coming from the right, I could play by feel how far from the pin I needed to aim for.”

American Jessica Korda holds solo second after a 5-under 66, just the second round in the 60s of her 11 AIG Women’s Open appearances. It is also her lowest 18 holes since a second-round 65 at the 2021 DIO Implant LA Open. “There's so much going on on the golf course with the crosswinds, trying to figure out where you want to land the ball,” said Korda, who played wearing a Muirfield hat and borrowed pants with her luggage stuck in Zurich. “It's nice, at the end I looked at the leaderboard but to be honest I was zoned in to what was going on. You have to stay on it here at all times.”

Gaby Lopez and Louise Duncan, who tied for 10th as an amateur in 2021 and turned professional two weeks ago, sit tied for third at -4, while five players – including 2022 major champions In Gee Chun and Minjee Lee – are tied for fifth at -3. Lee continued her streak of major success, now a combined 58-under par since the 2021 Amundi Evian Championship, 22 strokes better than her nearest competitor.

2021 AIG Women’s Open champion Anna Nordqvist opened her title defense with a 3-over 74 and is tied for 74th. Rolex Rankings World No. 1 Jin Young Ko shot a 5-over 76 and is tied for 103rd.

Bryan Angus

Henderson, Leblanc set to be part of history at Muirfield

 AIG Women's Open ... tee times/leaderboard here 

I will always remember my first trip to Muirfield, and the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers..

Ronnie Sinclair a great pal of mine was the club's accountant who paved the way for a wonderful day just down the East Lothian coast from the little town of Gullane. As it happened there wasn't a cloud in the sky, we warmed up with 9 holes of stroke play, where Ronnie and the members who joined us got an idea of my handicap, which was then used to set up the afternoon foursome matches over a sumptuous 5 course lunch around the long table in the clubhouse.

The welcome at Muirfield was as warm and welcoming as possible and it continued to be for years to come.

Tomorrow the best women golfers in the world will play those same links, with the same welcome for the first time in history for the AIG Women's Open where I watched Jack win the Open in 1966, Lee Trevino in 1972, Tom Watson in the rain in 1980, Nick Faldo twice in 1987 and '92, the big Easy Ernie Els in 2002, then Phil Mickelson in 2013.

Brooke Henderson is there, after a week of sight seeing in and around Edinburgh with a stop to play Carnoustie after winning the Evian in France.

She has never had a top 10 at this championship, never played much links golf in her 24 years, so she and her sister Brittany have spent since Sunday trying to figure out these hallowed links in preparation for their 7.27am tee time on Thursday.

Maude Aimee Leblanc on the other hand was right in contention for 3 rounds last week for the Scottish Women's Open on the links at Dundonald on the west coast at Ayr, finishing a credible T8, so she know's what to expect from her game this week as she starts in the late wave at 2.11pm local time.

WEATHER: Muirfield unlike most links courses is played in an outer and inner circle so the wind is different on every hole. The forecast isn't bad, no heavy winds which will make scoring easier.

Thursday: Light rain showers heaviest in the morning, moderate breeze from the west.

Friday: Sunny with a moderate breeze from the west

Saturday: Light clouds with a moderate breeze from the west

Sunday: Sunny with a moderate breeze from the west.

Bryan Angus

Luke Donald replaces Stenson as Ryder Cup captain..

 Luke Donald has been named as the European Captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy from September 25 – October 1, 2023.

Donald represented Europe in the Ryder Cup four times as a player, being part of a winning team on all four occasions, including in 2012 when he led Team Europe out in the Singles, securing the first blue point on the board in the ‘Miracle at Medinah’. 

He also has served as a Vice Captain in the last two editions of the biennial contest, under Thomas Bjørn in 2018 and Pádraig Harrington last year.

The 44 year old Englishman’s impressive individual playing career includes holding the position of Number One on the Official World Golf Ranking for a total of 56 weeks, and in 2011 he became the first player in history to top the money lists on the European Tour (now the DP World Tour) and the PGA TOUR in the same year. 

However he has fallen all the way to 523 in the world and at 44 fits the ideal candidate to join the LIV for the guaranteed money that Stenson opted for. Stenson has reportedly been given $50,000,000 to join and just won $4,000,000 more in his first appearance.

That's not the case for Luke.

Donald said: “I am incredibly proud to be named European Ryder Cup Captain for 2023. It is truly one of the greatest honours that can be bestowed upon a golfer, to lead a team of your peers and be an ambassador for an entire continent.

“I feel extremely privileged to have been given that responsibility and it is a responsibility I do not take lightly. 

“Some of my best experiences in golf have been in the Ryder Cup and I would not swap those for anything. It is an event like no other and I cannot wait to create more special memories in Italy next year. 

“I love everything the Ryder Cup embodies, from the camaraderie and companionship of being part of a team, to the history of the contest, but most of all playing for something bigger than yourself. 

“Rome will be a fantastic host city, and I have always enjoyed spending time there. It is a city rich in history and hopefully we can create some of our own in 14 months’ time.”

Guy Kinnings, the European Ryder Cup Director, said: “Luke is a former World Number One who possesses a superb Ryder Cup record, so he undoubtedly has the credentials required to be a successful European Captain.

“He is hugely respected by the players and by the wider support team at Ryder Cup Europe who have already done an immense amount of work behind the scenes to give him a strong platform for the remaining 14 months before the match gets under way.

“We have continued the tradition of moving forward with players in the role of Captain who have excelled in the Ryder Cup arena; and in terms of Luke, we are combining that experience with strong leadership and a meticulous approach. On behalf of everyone at Ryder Cup Europe, we look forward to fully supporting him in the quest to reclaim the Ryder Cup next year.”

Donald has wasted little time in ensuring continuity in the key backroom area of Team Europe, confirming that both existing Vice Captains – Bjørn and Edoardo Molinari – will continue in their respective positions.

“In my opinion, it was essential that Thomas and Edoardo remained part of the team. They were the first two calls I made once I got the nod to be Captain and I’m delighted that they are fully on-board.

“Nobody needs any explanation of how important Thomas is to the Ryder Cup – one glance at the history books will show you that. He has lived and breathed European golf for the past 30 years and having his know-how behind me, not least as a winning Captain, will be vital.

“Furthermore, Edoardo has blazed an impressive trail for himself in the world of stats and his knowledge in this area with the players who will be on the team, in addition to extra-special Italian element he will bring to the entire occasion, is an extra bonus for Team Europe.”

Donald boasts a formidable playing record in the Ryder Cup, contributing 10½ points from his 15 matches.

He made his debut as part of Bernhard Langer’s record-breaking team at Oakland Hills Country Club in 2004, halving his opening match with Paul McGinley against Chris Riley and Stewart Cink, before teaming up with Sergio Garcia in the foursomes to defeat Cink and Kenny Perry 2&1 on the Friday, followed by a 1 up Foursomes victory with Garcia against Jim Furyk and Fred Funk on the Saturday.

Donald claimed a maximum three points from his three matches at The K Club, in Ireland, in 2006 under the captaincy of Ian Woosnam as Europe retained the Ryder Cup with a second consecutive 18½-9½ victory. He once again teamed up with Garcia in the Foursomes, defeating Tiger Woods and Furyk 2 up on the Friday, then Phil Mickelson and David Toms 2&1 on the Saturday, before exacting revenge on Chad Campbell for his loss in the Singles two years earlier with a 2&1 victory. 

His next appearance came at The Celtic Manor Resort in 2010 when he contributed a further three points from his four matches, partnering Ian Poulter to defeat Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton 2&1 in Foursomes, before teaming up with Lee Westwood to beat Steve Stricker and Woods 6&5 in the same format. Donald then defeated Furyk on the final hole of their Singles match as Europe claimed a memorable 14½-13½ win in Wales. 

Donald was also an integral part of another dramatic European victory two years later in Illinois, the State where he studied at Northwestern University. Partnering Garcia in the Saturday afternoon Fourballs against Woods and Stricker, his stunning tee shot inside Woods’ on the elevated par three 17th hole was a pivotal moment in the Miracle at Medinah, as the pair went on to win their match on the final hole, shortly before Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy reduced the deficit to four points with their victory against Zach Johnson and Jason Dufner.

Captain José María Olazábal then handed Donald the responsibility of leading Europe out in the Sunday Singles against Bubba Watson, and Donald duly set the tone for one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the Ryder Cup, winning his match 2&1. 

Donald had entered the record books of his own accord a year previously when in 2011 he became the first player to top the season-long money lists on both sides of the Atlantic, winning the Player of the Year award on the PGA TOUR and Golfer of the Year in Europe in the process. 

His four victories that season included the WGC-Accenture Match Play, defeating Ryder Cup team-mate Martin Kaymer in the final to reach World Number One for the first time. 

He also won the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, a title he successfully defended in 2012 to take his total of victories on the DP World Tour to seven. 

Donald returned to the Ryder Cup arena in 2018 when he was selected as a Vice Captain by Bjørn at Le Golf National in Paris, a role he also performed last year at Whistling Straits under Harrington.