Jason Day bids for Player of the year .. weekend wrap...

PGA Tour the Barclays final scoreboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/the-barclays/leaderboard.html

When guys in pro sports get hot, they accomplish the most amazing feats .. and make it look easy..

For example Eddie Encarnacion of the Toronto Blue Jays has now hit safely in 25 games, he hit 3 homeruns with 9 RBI on Saturday, walked up to the plate in his first at bat Sunday and hit another. This is the same guy who couldn't punch his weight in April and May..

Basketball players hit eight threes in a row, then in the second half can't hit any and of course there are many more examples.

We had hardly paid any attention to Billy Horschel until he got hot in last year's playoffs and was runner-up in Boston, a winner in Denver and he cashed in big winning the Tour Championship in Atlanta and a cheque for $11.4m in one day. Horschel was ranked #69 when his hot month started.

Last summer Rory won three times in a row.. this summer it's all about Jason Day who has won three of his last 4 starts including his latest, a 63-62 finish for a 19-under 261 run away win of the Barclay's and remember he won two weeks ago with a record to par at 20-under 268.

He is driving it like Rory did last summer, long and straight and he is putting like a God, yesterday he made three long birdie putts and capped them of with another at the 72nd that resulted in a -8 62 for a six-shot victory over Henrik Stenson.

So he moves to the top of the FedEx Cup, ensuring he will be in the top five for the $10 million bonus at the Tour Championship and with this win Day remains at #3 in the world this morning but now joins Rory and Jordan to become world #1 at the Deutsche Bank Championship next week at the TPC Boston.

“It’s been a special summer for me, and it’s not over,” Day said. No kidding and you tell me, who is the player of the year. Spieth with his 2 majors will still get the award, but man is Jason making it close, and we'll see what Rory has left in his bag later this week..

The top 100 in the FedEx Cup advance to this week in Boston and there were 8 guys who played there way in yesterday, however on the flip side Nick Taylor was in good shape to advance but after a double bogey on the 14th hole he missed a 7-foot birdie putt on the final hole and lost the final spot to Jason Kokrak, who missed the cut but still finished one point ahead of Taylor.

David Hearn shot a final-round -2 68 to finish at E, moving up 17 spots to qualify among the top 100.


European Tour D+D Real Czech Open final leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015066/leaderboard/index.html#K0v6R50hFo17xk6D.97

Thomas Pieters was the best player all week and he capped it off with -3 69 to win the Czech Masters by three strokes for his first European Tour victory in front of hardly any spectators in the soccer mad Czech Republic.

Pieters held off Pelle Edberg of Sweden who shot a 71 with Matthew Fitzpatrick of England another shot back after a 68 .

However it was the 23-year-old Belgian who be them all as he finished with a -20 268 at the Albatross Golf course near Prague.


Champions Tour Dick's Sporting Goods Open final leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/champions/tournaments/dick-s-sporting-goods-open/leaderboard.html

All year we have been talking about Colin Montgomerie, Jeff Maggert and Bernhard Langer sharing the spotlight on this Champions Tour and just when it seemed Rod Spittle or Stephen Ames may break through it was late bloomer Maggert who won the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open for his fourth victory of the year, closing with a -6 66 to beat Paul Goydos by two strokes at -14 202.

Maggert started the final round two shots off the lead but changed all that after five birdies in the first nine holes. Remember he already had major wins at the Regions Tradition in May and the U.S. Senior Open in July, and he came up to Cagary and took the Shaw Charity Classic earlier this month.

 

Rod Spittle slipped to a disappointing 74 -8 T12, after rounds of 68 and 66 had him in the lead while Stephen Ames shot E 72 to also finish at -8 T12. 

 

 

LPGA Tour Yokohama Tire Classic final leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/yokohama-tire-lpga-classic/results

 

The weather finally cleared up in Prattville, Alabama and after a marathon day they did get 72 holes completed and it was little known veteran, Kris Tamulis who won the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic on Sunday for her first LPGA Tour title.

 

She is now 34, from Naples, Florida and she had to play 29 holes to do it and for this ultimate grinder the win came on the 186th start of her  career. She completed her 3rd round with 67 and got even better in the afternoon with a 65 to beat Yani Tseng and Austin Ernst by a stroke with a 17-under 271 total

 

Tseng who is back in form had rounds of 71 and 67, and Ernst shot 68-69 and both could only par the final hole when a birdie would have forced a playoff.

 

Alena Sharp had her best of the week, a -5 67, -9 T12. Brooke Henderson had a -3 69 T13.

 

Bryan Angus

 

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Pieters hits wrong ball but still leads Czech Masters

European Tour D+D Real Czech Masters leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015066/leaderboard/index.html#fDLxU8EZhsAdPa23.97

VYSOKY UJEZD, Czech Republic – Thomas Pieters of Belgium shot a -7 65 on Saturday despite being penalized for hitting the wrong ball, taking a one-stroke lead after the third round of the Czech Masters.

Pieters began the round one shot behind overnight leaders Matthew Fitzpatrick and Pelle Edberg but made an eagle on the par-5 first hole and continued with four birdies on the next nine. His lead could have been bigger if not for taking a double bogey on the 11th after playing the wrong ball in the rough.

 

“It’s never happened to me before,” Pieters said. “I normally check my ball. It still hurts a little bit because it is my mistake. It could have been a lower one but I’m still really happy with the way I played and seven under is a good score on a Saturday.”

 

Seeking his first European Tour victory at the Albatross Golf course near Prague, the 23-year-old Pieters recovered immediately with a birdie on the 12th and added two more on the 14th and 16th for a 17-under total of 199.

 

Edberg of Sweden produced a flawless round of 67 to sit a shot back in second place.

 

Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark carded a 67 with a 40-foot putt for a birdie on the last hole to sit three shots behind in third. Fitzpatrick is tied for fourth after carding a 71.

 

Sweden’s Mikael Lundberg carded a 64 to equal the course record with an eagle and six birdies to surge into a tie for sixth on 9 under.

Weather delays plague LPGA Yokohama Tire event in Alabama

LPGA Tour Yokohama Tire Classic http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/yokohama-tire-lpga-classic/leaderboard

I don't have a lot to add to yesterday's blog about this event down in Prattville Alabama, because after a 90 minute delay on Friday, the rain and thunder and lightning got worse yesterday, delaying  play for nearly 5 hours.

Austin Ernst has taken the lead at -10 before it got too dark to play. She passed Yani Tseng, who had a bogey on the fourth hole to drop to -9

This morning the players are all up and will to stay in the same pairings as they try to complete 72 holes and the weather forecast https://www.google.ca/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=EcrMVb3XM4WN8QeTx63wAQ&gws_rd=ssl#q=weather+for+prattville+al is hot and sticky again with 45% chance of rain around noon.

 

Brooke Henderson and Alena Sharp are both T19 at -4

Jason Day's improbable summer continues at The Barclay's...

PGA Tour The Barclays leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/the-barclays/leaderboard.html

Jason Day's summer of summer's isn't over yet. He shot a brilliant -7 63, crowned by another 350 yard bomb off the 16th tee, 4 iron to within 20 feet then eagle putt which sounds all too familiar, to take the lead along with army bound South Korean Bae Sang-moon who had a 63 of his own, both are at -11 199.

A win for Bae means he would also win a spot on the International team for the Presidents Cup, which is being held in South Korea later this year and would be a huge deal for Bae.. if the Army lets him. He is due to start a 2 year stint of compulsory service.

Bubba Watson is a stroke back after another 67 along with Zach Johnson 67 and Henrik Stenson 67, while Ryan Palmer had a 65 and is two shots behind. Palmer lost his 71 year old father to a car accident last week.

Day, you'll remember was the roll of his ball from getting into the playoff at the Open Championship, after leading the US Open after 54 holes, then he came straight to Glen Abbey and birdied the last 3 holes to win the RBC Canadian Open, following that up with his win at Whistling Straits and the PGA Championship.

If this Aussie wins it will be his 4th of the year, the same as Jordan Spieth for most on tour this year, and will throw him right into the race for No. 1 adding some spice to these FedEx Cup playoffs

Nick Taylor 69 is T41 at -1 and David Hearn 73 is T62, +2

Bryan Angus

Spittle takes the lead into Sunday in Endicott, Ames right behind

Champions Tour Dick's Sporting Goods leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/champions/tournaments/dick-s-sporting-goods-open/leaderboard.html

There is a distinct Canadian flavour at the top of the Dicks Sporting Goods Open as the final round gets underway today down in Endicott NY.

 

Rod Spittle shot into the lead with an eagle at the 16th for a -6 66 to take a one-shot lead over rookie Scott McCarron (64) and John Huston (68) to get to -10,134.

 

Just 2 shots behind at -8 is Stephen Ames who found some of his old form with a brilliant 64 and he is joined by Jeff Maggert (68), Ian Woosnam (69) and first-round co-leader Paul Goydos (70) with Corey Pavin (66) and Willie Wood (69) another shot back.

 

For those who don't know Rod's story, he was a great amateur at Ohio State in the late 1970s and winner of the Canadian Amateur but he didn't turn pro until he was 49 choosing to raise his family in St Catherines instead. He hit the headlines when he won the 2010 AT&T Championship. This year he qualified to keep his card through Q School. He eagled the 16th when his chip from 65 yards hit the flag and dropped in the hole.

 

Ames had lived in this luxury home in Calgary http://calgaryherald.com/business/real-estate/luxury-home-of-golfer-stephen-ames-being-listed-for-sale-for-close-to-8-million for years with his wife Jodi, but they split up last year, sold the house and he and the 2 boys moved Vancouver.

 

He doesn't grind it out with the old guys, picking his spots and hasn't won on the Champions Tour ... yet.

 

Bryan Angus

 

 

 

Golf stories for the weekend... live scoreboards

Since I have been working late since Wednesday and will be again over the weekend I haven't been able to pen my usual coverage, so here is my Saturday morning wrap of what to look forward to as I see it this weekend.

PGA Tour The Barclays leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/the-barclays/leaderboard.html

Bubba Watson is where he  seemingly has been almost every time he has teed it up this summer, near or in the lead. This time he is in the lead by a shot after a -2 68 got him to -7 133 and that score included a warning for playing to slowly at the 16th where he took over a minute to figure out how to hit it into a tough pin placement, when 40 seconds is the maximum the guys are allowed. Two warnings invokes a stroke penalty.

Jordan Spieth missed the cut by 5 shots 74, 73 and he did get a penalty at the 13th for stepping on his ball while searching for it and with that he drops out of the world #1 ranking, which goes back to Rory who is working out and enjoying life I assume somewhere in Florida..

Who knows who will beat Bubba but I can report Zach Johnson is still playing well, in particularly putting well as he made five birdies and a whack of par savers for -5 65 and is at -6 134 along with Henrik Stenson (66), Tony Finau (69) and Jason Dufner (68).

Canadian scores, Graham DeLaet MC, David Hearn 70,69 -1 139, Nick Taylor is E 140, T40.


European Tour D+D Real Czech Masters leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015066/leaderboard/index.html#5lpDIorV7tiO1FAl.97

With round 3 underway, is was Matthew Fitzpatrick a 20 year Englishman and Pelle Edberg the veteran Swede who both shot  -5 67 on Friday to share the lead after the second round of this Czech Masters at the Albatross Golf course near Prague.

Thomas Pieters of Belgium was one shot back after carding a 68, and this morning he is -3 with an opening eagle and has joined Edberg -2 in the lead at -13 through 6 holes while Fitzpatrick at E par is stalled at -11.


Champions Tour Dick's Sporting Goods Open leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/champions/tournaments/dick-s-sporting-goods-open/leaderboard.html

Course specialist Gene Sauers shot a -6 66 along with Paul Goydos for the first-round lead on the En-Joie Golf Club in Endicott NY.  John Huston a former winner is in with -5 67 as is Ian Woosnam.

Peter Senior with -4 68 is T5 as are Rod Spittle, Jeff Maggert, and Willie Wood another past winner amongst others while defending champion Bernhard Langer had a 71.

John Cook who has stepped off the set at the Golf Channel was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard. He made an eight at No. 16 and signed for a seven.

 Rod Spittle fired five birdies on this short tree lined course on his way to -4 68 while our other Canuck, Stephen Ames is in with E 72.


LPGA Tour Yokohama Tire Classic leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/yokohama-tire-lpga-classic/leaderboard

The women have packed their bags and flown from Vancouver down to Prattville, Alabama and it's nice to see a familiar name back atop the leaderboard.

Whatever happened to Taiwan's Yani Tseng who you may remember was #1 in the world for a couple of years, but has now slipped to 75th and hasn't won since the 2012 Kia Classic.

Well she says she has been practising harder than ever to get back into the winners circle, where she has been 15 times already in her career, and yesterday she topped off her round with an eagle, birdie finish for -8 64 and a one-stroke lead at -10 134.

Play was suspended 90 minutes because of lightning and rain so some of the field are out early today to finish round one.

Austin Ernst was second after a -7 65 -9, and Lexi Thompson was third at -8 after a -5 67.

Canadians :  Brooke Henderson is -3, 71 70, Alena Sharp, -1 71 72. Sara Maude Juuneau 76 73 +5. Jennifer Kirby 77 76 +9. Sue Kim 74 +2  Rebecca Lee Bentham WD.

The cut is projected at +2.

Bryan Angus

FedEx playoffs just gravy for Spieth...

PGA Tour The Barclay's leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/the-barclays/leaderboard.html

Jordan Spieth doesn't need the FedEx playoffs and that in a nutshell is another reason why they don't work, and why there is none of the buzz we associate with the word playoffs..

Consider his year of year's, nine times in the top three, wins at the Masters and the US Open, way ahead in the FedEx race, he will be in the final 30 in Atlanta unless they make him play left handed.

So yesterday he shot +4 74, including 40 on his last nine, made headlines by saying he wasn't a big fan of the course, but you see my point here, nobody apart from the sponsor's and the TV moguls are agonizing over his round today. If your favourite team loses it's first game of the playoffs you fret about losing home advantage, analyze to death each player's performance, someone will be wearing the goat horns, you are on the edge of your seat for a must win game two... all of those things and more.

FedEx Playoffs, schmayoffs...

That said, I love golf and there are lots of storylines here for those of us who cover it and are fans. For the record, one of the guys I've been touting all year, big hitter Tony Finau joined Bubba, Camilo Villegas and Spencer Levin for the lead at -5 65.

Now you see for guys like Villegas who hasn't had a good year and just squeaked into the field, and Levin at 115, these playoffs are a chance to rescue their seasons, as well as padding their bank accounts and rewarding their sponsors.

Jason Dufner, Paul Casey are two of many in with 66. Golf's hottest property Jason Day is in with Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler at 68.

Hands up, who won this event last year?? Good for you if you remembered it was Hunter Mahan, who won't successfully defend after shooting 78 while Justin Rose had a 77, and the guy who got hot at the right time last year to win it all and hasn't been heard from in a good way since, Billy Horschel had a 76. He of course has much more important matters on his mind following the suicide of his father.

As for the Canadians, Nick Taylor T11 -3 67, David Hearn T47 E 70, Adam Hadwin T84 +3 73, Graham DeLaet T108 +6 76. The cut is projected at +1.

Eric Compton has WD after nine holes.

Bryan Angus

 

Without Tiger, who cares about the FedEx Cup playoffs ??

PGA Tour The Barclay's leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/the-barclays/leaderboard.html

It's time to begin the PGA Tour's playoffs, called the FedEx Cup playoffs, and if you didn't know, the top 125 players on the FedEx Cup standings (money list) start a 4 event 5 week series pairing down to the top 30 down in Atlanta for the Tour Championship.

Fed Ex throws a ton of money at these guys as incentive, for example this week's purse is $8.25m with the winner getting $1.485m and of course the ultimate winner gets the $10m bonus.

My question is do you care ?

Playoff's for team sports is the most exciting time of the season. Stanley Cup playoffs have Canadians up far past their bedtimes watching their favourites, okay Toronto excepted, hanging on every goal, every hit and agonizing over every miss. Basketball, football, soccer.. all the same thing, it's life or death during the playoffs..

But individual sports like golf and tennis are a different story. Britain comes to a standstill during the Wimbledon fortnight, all eyes are on the Masters in the spring, both sports have their majors that provide enormous excitement and drama, why not just leave it at that.

The Ryder Cup is arguably the 3 most thrilling days in sports, the Presidents Cup will keep getting better when the International team starts winning, but these FedEx playoffs create no excitement at all.

In fact apart from those of us who cover golf, and golf fans, many have told me it's almost obscene to have to offer $10m to guys who are already millionaires, living a spoiled, scented life in places most of mere mortals only dream of visiting, to show up and play in their playoffs.

On the other hand they are the best at what they do, and as in all pro sports the best get rewarded beyond your wildest dreams, footballers in the English premier league are getting paid $250,000.. per week!!

But putting the money aside, the playoffs have to provide some excitement and there is absolutely none as they get ready to tee it up at the Plainfield GC in New Jersey this morning.

It is also reflective of our slavish attention to, and the huge shadow that Tiger has cast over this sport for the last 15 years. The ratings for CBS last week at the Wyndham as he tried to win his way here were through the roof, more than the PGA Championship got with Jordan Spieth and Rory and all their hoopla.

Now that Tiger's year is done, so is golf's, and as I have been saying for year's, that is not good for the game.

However the show must go on and for those who care here are the top 125 and their bio's from pgatour.com

Rory is not playing this week and there are 4 Canadians, David Hearn, Nick Taylor, Graham DeLaet and Adam Hadwin in the field.

http://www.pgatour.com/news/2015/08/24/fedexcup-playoffs-field-study.html

Bryan

Davis Love steals the spotlight as Tiger's season ends at the Wyndham Championship

PGA Tour Wyndham Championship final leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/wyndham-championship/leaderboard.html

Davis Love, who started the week at #186 went out and shot -6 64 and with that played himself into The Barclays by earning 500 FedEx Cup points and $972,000 in prize money with his 3rd win of the Wyndham Championship.

That was the storyline in a perfect world we were supposed to be writing for Tiger Woods. Only it's not a perfect world and Tiger's came to an end at the par 4 11th with a triple bogey 7, and although he fought back to end up with a E 70, he finished four strokes back and ended at No. 178 in the standings as  he heads off to his kids soccer practice and his off season.

Meanwhile if you wanted another storyline, Ryder Cup captain Davis Love at 51 years, 4 months, 10 days provided it, behind only Sam Snead and Art Wall on the tour’s age list.

Love now has 21 career victories, three at this event with the other two at Forest Oaks Country Club in 1992 and 2006, His last win was in 2008 in Florida at the Children’s Miracle Network Classic and with his PGA Championship is a shoe in for the Hall of Fame.

 

Jason Gore had a great tournament and will be in the playoffs, as the third-round leader, shot -1 69 to finish 2nd at -16 while Scott Brown (68), Charl Schwartzel (66) and Paul Casey (67) were two strokes behind Love. 

 

Incidently, defending champion Camilo Villegas finished at -10 under to move from #129 to #123 and put him in The Barclays.

 

Long time writer and regular on our Fairways Golf Show, Jaime Diaz made a great point I thought in the post tournament interviews, in that Tiger swung just great all week and Jaime feels from a physical point of view he can still compete right there with Rory and Jordan, but when the pressure is really on, the man who was once the ultimate closer along with Jack Nicklaus is now struggling with that part of the game. In the past we never saw a Tiger chip-and-run go all the way off the green or the ensuing chip off the green again, winding up three-putting for the triple bogey.

 

So the speculation will continue unabated, has he lost his bottle, will he ever win again, but what is for sure, he was in position on Sunday, it was there for the taking, he was in his traditional red and black...without the traditional finish..

 

 

 

 

 

Ko beats Lewis in a playoff for her third Canadian...

Canadian Pacific Women's Open final leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/cp-womens-open/results

Lydia Ko can finally cash a cheque in Canada after she dropped a little two foot putt on the first playoff hole to defeat Stacy Lewis and take home her third Canadian Pacific Women’s Open title in the last four years. The last two in 2012 and 2013 were as an amateur. Imagine your daughter having already won a national golf title three times when she  turned 18 !!

As I mentioned yesterday, the three wins ties her with Meg Mallon and Pat Bradley for the most in tournament history.

Stacy Lewis shot -5 67 to force the playoff, while Ko without her "A" game managed a E 72.  On the playoff hole, Lewis found trouble off the tee in a heavy lie, and was forced to scramble, missing a 12 footer for par while Ko hit the fairway but left her 8 iron approach safely on but short and away right, but she hit a beautiful lag to within the leather for her third trophy of 2015.

Brooke Henderson wrapped up a magical two weeks with a -5 67 to finish with -4 T23 winning the Sandra Post Low Canadian Medal

Other Canucks:  Alena Sharp shot a final-round 75 to finish T47 and Maude-Aimee Leblanc struggled to an ugly 80, and a final 74th in the field.

Bryan

Horsey hangs on to win Made in Denmark..

European Tour Made in Denmark leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015064/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y#HaCg3DVTK1eyZxcW.97

europeantour.com David Horsey survived a late stumble to outlast the chasing pack and claim a wire-to-wire victory at the Made in Denmark.

The Englishman opened the week with a 63 at Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort and while his closing round was ten shots worse than that, it was enough to give him a 13 under par total and a two shot victory over a group of four players.

Horsey held a seven shot lead at one point in the third round and, although he was knocked off top spot briefly on Sunday afternoon, he dug in for a fourth European Tour title.

A double bogey on the 15th from Terry Pilkadaris after a drop gave Horsey a two shot lead but he almost unbelievably three putted from eight feet on the 16th and was one ahead as he stood on the 18th tee with Kjeldsen playing ahead of him.

The home favourite found a bunker off the tee and made a bogey on the last to give Horsey a two shot advantage and victory was his with a par on the 18th.

Kjeldsen's 68 handed him a share of second place alongside Pilkadaris who finished with a 74 and another Australian,  Daniel Gaunt, who closed out his week with a 66.

Kristoffer Broberg was also on 11 under after he broke the course record earlier in the day with a brilliant 62.

Read more at http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015064/news/newsid=268469.html#Sw37xmWuX3IycwIb.99

 

Bryan

Lydia Ko is bidding for her 3rd Canadian Open title today

LPGA Tour Canadian Pacific Women's Open leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/cp-womens-open/leaderboard

At the beginning of this week the lead story was all about Brooke Henderson, coming home to Canada after her historic win by 8 shots in Portland and a genuine shot at winning her national championship. Well she hasn't had her best game all week and yesterday after a shocking start where she missed a short birdie putt at her 1st, made bogey on the 2nd, and a double on the 3rd, she settled down eventually shooting 72, but she stands at +1, 13 shots behind a very familiar face.

Lydia Ko will be in the final pairing and will be vying to become the 3rd golfer to win three Canadian Open titles, joining Pat Bradley. and Meg Mallon.

She shot 69 and is tied for the lead with Candie Kung at -12 going into today's final round at this beautiful Vancouver GC.

Californian sensation Alison Lee shot 65 to sit two shots back at -10 then French woman Karine Icher is hanging in there at -9

Meanwhile Alena Sharp is having a good week for the Canadians after a -1 71 T28 at -2. Thirteen Canucks teed it up on Thursday, only Sharp, Henderson and Maude-Aimee LeBlanc who is at +4 remain.

Still the lead story when they get started this morning will be a familiar one. Lydia Ko trying to win the Canadian Open....again

Bryan

It's all about Tiger today at the Wyndham Championship

PGA Tour Wyndham Championship leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/wyndham-championship/leaderboard.html

Jason Gore had a career-best 62 to lead at -15-under 195 while Jonas Blixt shot 62 and Scott Brown 66 to get to -13. Past winners at this soft yielding Sedgefield CC., Webb Simpson (64) and Brandt Snedeker (67) along with Paul Casey (66) are at -12 as are Jim Herman (66) and Cameron Percy (67).

However today, as it has been forever, it's all about Tiger Woods who is looking like the Tiger of old, after adding a -2 68 to his rounds of 64 and 65

Granted the field is just tearing this Sedgefield course apart, the cut fell at -3, it's short at just over 7100 yards and Tiger has put his 2 iron back in his bag which he can use off many of the tees. As a result there are 61's and 62's all over the leaderboard and it will probably take something like that to win today.

That said all eyes will be on Tiger trying for his first win in more than two years at the WGC Bridgestone in 2013, and if he does he will be in the field the FedEx Cup next week in New Jersey. He could make them with a solo second. He has slipped all the way to #187.

As for Gore, who broke onto the scene with such a splash nearly 15 years ago, this is a big day it would only be his second win on tour and his first since 2005. In fact the record book shows he has only 15 top 10 finishes in 10 years and is now at #166 in the Fed Ex Cup

He will be in the last pairing with Blixt who is also trying to secure his card, but not many will be watching as you know who is in the second last group paired with Scott Brown.

By the way Adam Hadwin had a -4 66 with five birdies and an eagle. He is at -88, T27.

Bryan

Wyndham Championship hits Tiger jackpot..Henderson makes cut at Canadian Open

PGA Tour Wyndham Championship leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/wyndham-championship/leaderboard.html

For the second straight day, the big story at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, NC., was Tiger Woods who went out in the afternoon and followed an opening round of 64, with a -5 65 on Friday to share the second-round lead with unknown rookie Tom Hoge (62 67)  at -11-under 129.

The folks at Wyndham, and everyone who covers and follows golf have hit the jackpot, as this event sandwiched between the PGA Championship and the playoffs, best known for the guys on the bubble desperately trying to get into the top 125, has suddenly got the biggest name in sports at the top of their leaderboard, making headlines across the world..

Wynham, who are in the hotel and resort business, just can't buy this much publicity.

Davis Love III and Chad Campbell are at -10.  Campbell shot 65, and Love had 66 while Brandt Snedeker matched the tournament record with a 61 that put him in a group of six players at -9.


LPGA Tour Canadian Pacific Women's Open leaderbpard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/cp-womens-open/leaderboard

More great news for a sponsor as the good folks at Canadian Pacific are all smiles as their headliner, Brooke Henderson who hasn't had her "A" game so far this week struggled Friday to a +3 75 to go with her opening 70, and looked to be bowing out but the cut fell at +1, so she is in for the weekend, along with fellow Canucks, Alena Sharp after she shot E 72, T32 and  Maude-Aimee LeBlanc who shot a -1,71 tied with Brooke at +1.

The leader is Candie Kung who tied the course record when she shot a 64 to grab the 36-hole lead at -11. She has been in form, coming off of her best finish of the year with a T2 behind Henderson at the Portland Classic last week

Karine Icher 70, and 2012 and 2013 champion Lydia Ko 68, are two shots back at -9.

Bryan

 

 

Why Rory was at the National in Toronto on Thursday..

I had a phone call from a golfing buddy yesterday afternoon to say he'd been told Rory was up playing the National in Woodbridge, and that got me to wondering why? Later another buddy with Canada Post told me he couldn't get out of traffic to deliver his parcels downtown around the Rogers Center.... I didn't know at first the two calls were related until I found out that a British boy band called One Direction were playing there and the penny finally dropped..

One Direction is a group put-together by Simon Cowell: Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne are making the man behind American Idol and the Spice Girls more money than he can count and of course like the Bay City Rollers and before them the Monkees they are driving young girls all around the world insane and 45,000 of them driven downtown by their mummy's and daddy's were clogging up the downtown all day..and last night.

Now Niall Horan and Rory are best mates, and the thing Nial likes second best to the attention of desperately adoring young girls, is playing golf, and now you see the connection He and Rory played 18 at one of Canada's finest courses before Liam had to go back downtown and join his other mates for the show..

We all know it's the singers that get all the girls, last night was proof again.. I mean you don't think as popular and rich as Rory is that 45,000 girls would show up at the Rogers Center to scream at him.. do you..

Bryan

Henderson, Woods and a computer glitch grab the Thursday headlines...

LPGA Tour Canadian Pacific Women's Championship leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/cp-womens-open/leaderboard

On a day when Brooke Henderson, Tiger Woods and a computer glitch grabbed all the headlines, it was veteran French woman Karine Icher who went out and shot a bogey-free -7 65 to take a two-shot lead after the first round of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

Icher, the LPGA Tour's version of a grinder is in pursuit of the final spot in the European team's Solheim Cup squad, ran off 6 birdies in the middle of her round on the Vancouver GC.

Lydia Ko, twice our national champion including her win here in 2012, is two back after a -5 67, then come four players, Danah Bordner, I.K. Kim, Stacy Lewis and Pernilla Lindberg all at -4

Brooke Henderson is in form to say the least, continued her fine play with a -2 70 T13 and declared herself pleased with her start.


Tiger meanwhile shot -6 64 for his best score in two years on a soft yielding Sedgefield CC , at the Wyndham Championship to trail the leaders Erik Compton, William McGirt and Tom Hoge who all shot 62, by two shots.

Wyndham Championship leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/wyndham-championship/leaderboard.html

Morgan Hoffman, Jim Herman and Derek Ernst are at 63, while Martin Kaymer, Davis Love III and Carl Pettersson are also at 64.

For many players at this event it's all about getting inside the top 125 to make it into the Fed Ex playoffs. For those who asked me Tiger is at #187 on the points list and needs a win to move into the top 125.

Computer glitch...There are 3 tournaments left for an American pro to play his way into the Presidents Cup squad so it was news when we all learned that a computer error caused the PGA Tour to readjust the U.S. standings because double the points had been awarded starting with the Frys.com Open in October. Points were not supposed to count as double until the first event of 2015 at Kapalua.

As a result, Robert Streb who had been in 11th place, 365 points behind the 10th spot to automatically qualify is down to No. 16 and 881 points behind while Charlie Hoffman went from No. 12 to No. 15 because both won during the 2015 Fall series.

The top 10 players in the U.S. standings were not affected.

Henderson gives Canadian golf fans hope..

Canadian Pacific Women's Open leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/leaderboard

Until Brooke Henderson won the $1.3-million Cambia Portland Classic last week, the last Canadian to win an LPGA Tour event on home soil was Jocelyne Bourassa in 1973 in La Canadienne, and the last Canadian to win an LPGA event was Lorie Kane in 2001.

We have been watching Brooke rise through the ranks since she started winning as a 14 year old amateur, all the way to the world #1 as a 15 year old. Now as she gets set to tee off today at the Canadian Women's Open sponsored by CP for the first time in a long time she gives Canadian golf fans hope for a winner, and much more than that.

Lorie Kane much like Mike Weir has been the face of Canadian golf for the last 20 years, but also like Mike hasn't had a win or been a contender for a long time. The buzz that goes through the golf course when Mike or Lori get on a roll at our national championship is simply electric.

Brooke Henderson will bring that electricity for the next 20 years. She is just 17 now a full fledged member of the LPGA and has travelled and competed and won all over the world already. She is so well balanced, well brought up, quietly confident, modest, gracious, you could say typically Canadian.

I am not alone in predicting she will be the  LPGA's #1 player by the time she is 20 or before and has a glittering career ahead competing week in and week out with the likes off Lydia Ko, Inbee Park, Michelle Wie and all the rest of the tour stars.

Brooke heads the field of 14 Canadians at the Vancouver GC, Lori is playing her 25th Canadian Women's Open and the competition is tough as always and it includes #1,Inbee Park of South Korea, who won the recent Women's British Open, Lydia Ko of New Zealand, a two-time winner of the CP Women's Open, who is currently ranked second in the world, Stacy Lewis, who has won 11 Tour titles during her career and is No. 3 in the world and Suzann Pettersen who stands tied for seventh in the world rankings just to name a few.

Our national women's championship is always regarded as one of the strongest on the LPGA schedule, for years it was considered the 5th major, but with the exception of Lori and with all due respect Alena Sharp and Rebecca-Lee Bentham and all our other women their hasn't been much hope for a Canadian winner...

Now and for the future Brooke Henderson in her own quiet way has changed all that, she has given us all hope, and has given the game in Canada the biggest shot in the arm since Mike Weir won the Masters in 2003.

Bryan

A great day for Brooke Henderson and Canadian golf..

LPGA Tour Portland Classic final leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/cambia-portland-classic/results

AP..PORTLAND, Ore. – Brooke Henderson got her breakthrough LPGA Tour victory. The Canadian teen will have to wait a little longer to become a tour member after she won the Cambia Portland Classic by eight strokes Sunday to become the third-youngest champion in LPGA Tour history at 17 years, 11 months, 6 days.

Henderson closed with a 3-under 69 at Columbia Edgewater to finish at 21-under 267, the lowest total since the event went from 54 holes to 72 in 2013.

“I was just trying to keep going low and trying to push it to get even further under par, which I wouldn’t have had that a couple months ago,” Henderson said.

Henderson earned $195,000 and has made $661,818 in 10 events this year. Last year, LPGA Tour Commissioner Mike Whan denied Henderson’s age petition, preventing her from playing Q-school. Because she’s assured of finishing in the top 40 in earnings, Henderson will earn a tour card for 2016.

Lydia Ko set the age record as an amateur in the 2012 Canadian Women’s Open at 15 years, 4 months, 2 days. She also won the Canadian event in 2013 at 16, and won four times at 17. Lexi Thompson won the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic at 16 years, 7 months, 8 days.

Henderson’s eight-stroke margin is the largest in the history of the event and the biggest on the LPGA Tour since Jiyah Shin won the 2012 Women’s British Open by nine shots.

Henderson held a 54-hole lead for the second time this season. This time was different than April in San Francisco, when Henderson ended up finishing third after a 74

Today, the first time that I really felt nerves was on 18, and then afterward,” Henderson said. “My attitude is much different than it was a couple months ago, and I think that was a big key. … I demanded a lot more of myself than I did three or four months ago.”

Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ontario, became the first Canadian winner since Lorie Kane in the 2001 Takefuji Classic. Becoming a part of Canadian golf history is not lost upon Henderson.

“I think Canadian golf is really growing and there’s a lot of great players coming up. To get that for Canadian fans and for the Canadian support that I’ve received over the last couple of months and last couple years is unbelievable, so I’m happy to bring on home for Canada.

“Even the last couple days I received a lot of Twitter messages and text messages and emails, just cheering me on and wishing me the best. I’m sure my phone is blowing up pretty badly right now,” Henderson said.

She joined Laurel Kean as other only Monday qualifiers to win. Kean accomplished the feat in the 2000 Rail Classic. Henderson bogeyed the final hole, only her third dropped stroke of the week, and had 24 birdies. She got into the field Monday with a 68, then shot 66-67-65 to take a five-stroke lead into the final round. Pornanong Phatlum (68), Ha Na Jang (70) and Candie Kung (70) tied for second.

Morgan Pressel, second after three rounds, had a 75 to tie for 10th at 10 under. Finishing alongside Pressel at 10 under was Canadian Alena Sharp with a round of 1-under 71 on Sunday.

Now, with Weirsy stepping aside for a while, Canada has a new golfing hero who will be a star on the LPGA Tour for years to come and the timing couldn't be better as she travels to Vancouver today where she will be the lead story at the Canadian Women's Open this week.

What a Day.. for Jason

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One of the most compelling aspects of covering sports, or in fact life in general, is that there is always a story behind the story you are covering, and Jason Day is no different.

Losing your father is tough for everyone, especially when you are 12, and when Jason did, he went off the rails, drinking with other troubled kids with all the problems that ensue. Then his mother borrowed some money from his uncle, and got him out of his circle of peers, out of is neighbourhood and sent him to a private school.

That as it turns out was the turning point, from spiralling into an abyss of booze, drugs, and crime that so many do, to getting back on track, with a chance to be productive, to succeed with a sense of worth.

Jason broke down and cried on the final green after he tapped in for par and a 5-under 67 for a three-shot win at -20, 268, and the man whose shoulder he cried on was not only his caddie and coach, Colin Swatton, but the man who became his father at that private school, who rescued Day all those years ago, that was another turning point.

He drove the ball magnificently when it mattered most, none more so than the long par 5 16th, a 360 yard blast, followed by a massive 4 iron to 20 feet and a 2 putt birdie. Afterwards in the press center Jordan Spieth who closed with a 68 to finish second said "There’s nothing I could do. He played like he’d won seven or eight majors, he took it back. He wailed it. It was a stripe show.”

Confidence means so much in life and golf is no different and you can be assured Day's win at Glen Abbey after so narrowly missing out at the US Open and the Open championship is another part of the story behind his win at Whistling Straits. It filled him with confidence.

By finishing second Spieth who is just 22 has moved into the world's #1 spot pushing Rory to #2 with Jason now #3 so with Bubba at #4 they have combined to win five of the last six majors and with Bubba at 36 that brings their average age to 27 and on another front what a boost this gives the International Team for the Presidents Cup.

 

Branden Grace of South Africa who will be in that team, was just two shots behind at one point in the round, and he closed with a 69 and finished third, five shots behind while Justin Rose also got within two shots finished with a 70 and finished fourth.

 

Canadian Nick Taylor finished T68 after a round of 71.

Bryan

Brooke Henderson poised to win in Portland

LPGA Tour Portland Classic leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/cambia-portland-classic/leaderboard

AP..PORTLAND, Ore. – Brooke Henderson gave herself some breathing room in her bid for a breakthrough victory.

The 17-year-old Canadian opened a five-stroke lead Saturday in the Cambia Portland Classic, shooting a 7-under 65 at Columbia Edgewater.

“To get a good round together and try and increase my lead, and definitely just hit good shots. I’m really happy to get it to (18 under), and hopefully tomorrow just improve on that just a little bit,” Henderson said. She’s trying to join Lydia Ko and Lexi Thompson as the only players to win an LPGA Tour title before turning 18.

On a warm, calm day, Henderson made seven birdies in her bogey-free round. Henderson, who turns 18 in September, tied the tournament 54-hole record of 18-under 198 set by Yani Tseng in 2013. The five-stroke margin is the largest third-round lead on the LPGA Tour this year.

Morgan Pressel was second after a 65.

Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ontario, also had the 54-hole lead in April in California in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. She closed with a 74 and ended up finishing third. She’ll be banking on that experience Sunday.

“Saturday I wasn’t feeling the nerves, and then Sunday I did. I’ll just have to be aware of that tomorrow,” Henderson said. “It was interesting in San Francisco. I learned a lot about myself and my game, and I think I’ve come leaps and bounds from there early in the season.”

The Canadian won the Symetra Tour’s Four Winds Invitational in June in Indiana, and tied for fifth in the Women’s PGA Championship – the second of the LPGA Tour’s five majors.

A win Sunday would assure Henderson of finishing among the tour’s top 40 on the money list, giving her an LPGA Tour card for next season. Through nine LPGA Tour tournaments, Henderson has made $466,818. LPGA Tour Commissioner Mike Whan denied Henderson’s age petition last year, preventing her from playing Q-school. She earned a spot in the Portland Classic field in Monday qualifying.

Henderson is attempting to become the second Monday qualifier to win an LPGA Tour tournament. The only player to accomplish the feat was Laurel Kean in the 2000 Rail Classic.

Had it not been for Henderson’s older sister, Brittany, there’s a chance none of this happens. Brittany received a sponsor’s exemption for the Portland Classic, and Brooke decided to take a chance on the Monday qualifier after running out sponsor’s exemptions.

She was asked if she would have tried to qualify without Brittany in the field.’
“I don’t know,” Henderson said. “I think it was a blessing in disguise that she’s got the sponsor’s invite and I came out here, because it is a long way to travel from home, and I’m not sure I would have made the trip.”

On Sunday, Henderson will play alongside Pressel. The two played in Sunday’s final group when Henderson had the 54-hole lead at Swinging Skirts.

“Brooke is a great player. I mean, to Monday qualify and obviously be playing this well, she knows what’s at stake for her. She’s a great girl, and she has a lot of potential, for sure,” Pressel said.
Pressel, who made nine birdies during her second and third rounds, says she’ll have to stomp on the gas again if she’s to have a shot at catching Henderson.

German players Sandra Gal (65) and Caroline Masson (70) were tied for third 12 under.
Jaye Marie Green had a 63 – the best round of the week – to move into a tie for ninth at 9 under. Ko was tied for 53rd after 2 under after a 72.

Alena Sharp posted a third-round of 70 to sit T9 heading into tomorrow’s final-round.

The summer of Jason and Jordan continues..

PGA Tour Championship leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/pga-championship/leaderboard.html

The summer of '14 belonged to Rory who in three straight glorious starts won the Open Championship, the WGC Bridgestone and then the PGA Championship. He was clearly the world #1, driving the ball like nobody else, completely in charge with sidekicks Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia in tow.

This is the summer of Jason and Jordan and after a 66, -15 for the young Aussie and a charging 65, -13 for the young American it will continue this afternoon in the final pairing.

Day already has two wins this year and remember he was in a four-way tie for the lead at the US Open at Chambers Bay but had an inner ear infection which made him dizzy and weak and as a result he ran out of steam on the last day, then at St Andrew's he needed birdie on the last hole at St. Andrews to get into a playoff and it stopped a couple of rolls short. Of course he promptly got on the RBC jet and won our Canadian Open at the Abbey in front of a brilliant effort by David Hearn.

Spieth is only trying to join Tiger Woods (2000) and Ben Hogan (1953) as the only players to win three majors in one year  having already won the Masters and U.S. Open this year, and don't forget he was just a shot shy of being in that Open Championship playoff as well.

They are not a lock of course, not much ever is in golf. Matt Jones finished the storm-delayed second round with two birdies for a two-shot lead and was going along well but ended up dropping four shots over the last four holes for a 73 and is at -10 along with my guy Tony Finau (69).

 Branden Grace of South Africa shot a brilliant 64 to get to -12 and remember guys he was tied for the lead with three holes to play in the U.S. Open when he hit a tee shot out-of-bounds at Chambers Bay, while Justin Rose despite a double bogey on the fourth and a bogey on eighteen is also at -12 and let's not forget Martin Kaymer, who had a 65 and is at -11 and remember he won this PGA at Whistling Straits five years ago.

Nick Taylor by the way had another +3 75.

It's going to be a hot, dry, windy day here in Toronto, and they will have the same at what they call the Straits, and I can't help but think that will be a factor in the final outcome.

Spieth says he and his group feel like they are freewheeling having already had a year of years, this is win or be last, it's all gravy, and I think that will be the deciding factor...

Bryan

Brooke Henderson leads in Portland

LPGA Tour Cambia Portland Classic leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/cambia-portland-classic/leaderboard

AP..PORTLAND, Ore. – Brooke Henderson is trying to leave everyone else behind, and not get too far ahead of herself.

 

The 17-year-old Canadian took the outright lead in an LPGA Tour event for the third time this year, birdieing three of her last four holes Friday for a 5-under 67 and a one-shot advantage in the Cambia Portland Classic.

 

“Just to stay within myself and play my own game,” she said when asked what she has learned this season. “Playing as an amateur I was used to a lot of people, a lot of media and television and stuff like that, but it’s a little bit different on the LPGA Tour, and I think that’s something that I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable with this year.

“I think if I can just stay patient and play my own game and not focus on outside factors, I think good things will happen.

 

Playing in cool, breezy and sometimes wet conditions, Henderson finished with an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-4 ninth to reach 11-under 133 at Columbia Edgewater. She made her only bogey of the tournament at 11, but rebounded with birdies at 12, 14 and 3 before the late burst.

 

Henderson, who turns 18 in September, has made $466,818 in nine LPGA Tour tournaments and needs to finish in the top 40 on the money list to earn a card for next year. LPGA Tour Commissioner Mike Whan denied Henderson’s age petition last year, preventing her from playing Q-school. She earned a spot in the field in Monday qualifying.

 

“Right now, I’m just taking it one day at a time and one tournament at a time, but I’m really looking forward to the next couple years,” Henderson said. “Hopefully, this week I can secure my card for next year and be full time on the LPGA.”

 

Henderson is attempting to become the third player to win an LPGA tournament before turning 18, joining Lydia Ko and Lexi Thompson.

“That would be really good, but I’m still a long way from that, and I realize that,” Henderson said. “I have to go low and shoot some good numbers.”

 

Caroline Masson has second. The German player shot a 64, the best round of the week.

Masson had eight birdies, four on each nine, in her second straight bogey-free round after missing the cuts in five of her six previous tournaments. Masson is winless in her three-year LPGA Tour career. In the 2013 Portland tournament, she shot a second-round 64 on the way to a fifth-place finish.

Masson is attempting to win and make a late bid for European team berth in the Solheim Cup, set for Sept. 18-20 in Germany.

 

“It’s been on my mind a lot. I don’t know, maybe not too much. It’s the only Solheim Cup probably that’s going to be in Germany while I’m playing,” said Masson, who played in the 2013 Cup. “It means a lot to me, obviously, to be on that team. But you can’t think about it and you can’t play with that being on your mind because it just puts too much pressure on yourself.

 

No. 3 Stacy Lewis was 4 under after a 69, and No. 2 Ko shot a 72 to remain 2 under.

The 36-hole cut was at even par. Among those failing to advance were two-time Portland champion Suzann Pettersen. She was 5 over after a 74. Also missing the cut was Henderson’s sister Brittany, who was 5 over after a 75.

 

The Portland Classic is the penultimate tournament before the U.S. Solheim Cup team is set Aug. 24. The top eight players in the Solheim Cup standings, the top two in the world ranking not among the top eight in the standings, and two captain’s picks will make up the 12-player team. Six players have clinched spots in the standings.

 

Other Canadians : Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont., posted a second round of 2-under to sit T9 at 7-under for the tournament. Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont., signed for a round of 75, Sue Kim had a round of 74 and Brittany Henderson recorded a round of 75. The trio not play the weekend.

Long day in store for many at PGA Championship after play was suspended

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There is a hot humid air mass over much of our prairie provinces and indeed Ontario, and the line of thunderstorms associated with them raced south last night right through Wisconsin resulting in everyone at the PGA Championship in Kohler diving for cover, obviously suspending play.

The Golf Channel tent housing their studio was one of many structures damaged, play was called off around 6pm with 57 players left with some unfinished business this morning.

"It's kind of a pain in the arse " said Justin Rose, best describing the feelings of many, He was up at 4.15 this morning preparing to play 1 hole at 7am, and at -8 and one of the leaders, he will then figure out what to do with himself until he tees off again for round three at 3pm this afternoon.... Back to bed is my advice..

Here is the situation..

* Jason Day is continuing his fabulous summer, remember he had the 54-hole lead at the U.S. Open while coping with vertigo symptoms then he nearly won the Open Championship, then won the RBC Cannadian the next week. He is -5 through 14 holes, -9 total for the lead with his Aussie mate Matt Jones who is -5 through 12.

* The weather today is forecast to be a duplicate of yesterday, hot, humid, little wind, ideal scoring again but watch out for those pop up thunderstorms later in the day..

* I've been telling you about Tony Finau and you can be sure he didn't want to stop playing last night as he is -6 through 13 holes for a -7 total.

* there are a lot of crooked numbers on the scorecards, because while scoring conditions are ideal, if the guys don't keep the ball in the fairway, the rough is penal, and the angles into the flags more difficult. David Lingmerth for example had 8 birdies, but just shot 70 to stand at -7, but at least he is finished two rounds..

* Tiger still has a chance to make the cut which is projected at +2. He is +4 through 13.

* Jordan and Rory were out early yesterday you'll remember and Spieth was back at his best with a -5 67 for -6 total while Rory is not in top gear yet with another 71 for -2, but he is playing well tee to green, he needs the ball to start dropping if he is going to get in contention this weekend... the next idiot that puts a microphone in his face and asks him if his ankle is still ok should be ex-communicated..

* Dustin Johnson had only hit 4 fairways through 15 holes, +1 on his day, so he was probably happy to see if a good nights sleep with young Miss Gretzky can bring new life into his.... ah I'm sorry I won't go there, and she is his missus now...but don't ever forget all those twitter pics of her and her girlfriends next to naked in Las Vegas etc that caused so much embarrassment to he legendary dad, the Wayner...

* here are guys who are right in contention that nobody but friends and family really care about. At -6 Harris English, Scott Piercy, Brendan Steele, JB Holmes.. these are all fine players and are all making millions of dollars, and have all been absolute stars growing up, and anyone of them could win but they are perfect examples of the rank and file that make up the numbers every week in pro golf..

* three more international players you don't know but should watch for. George Coetzee has already won twice this year and is a star in South Africa. He shot 65 early yesterday to get to -5 after opening with 74. Danny Lee from New Zealand via South Korea won the Greenbrier and does nothing but shoot in the 60's and he is also -5 through 13 while Anirban Lahiri is a rising Indian star and he is also -5 through 14 holes..

* John Daly never changes.. 73, 82 and tossed his 6 iron into Lake Michigan...much to the delight of a kid in his dad's boat who now has the souvenir..

* these guys surprised me ,, Adam Scott 76 75, Ian Poulter 75 75, Miguel Jimenez 76 74

* these guys have their bags packed but can't leave yet at +3.. David Hearn 76 71, Shane Lowry who won last week 78 69, Zach Johnson 75 72, Paddy Harrington 76 71 and others..

* Nick Taylor is at +2 73 73 and should be playing this weekend unless the cut goes to +1.

* getting little publicity from our media was the best story of the day, Japanese star Hiroshi Iwata who started and seemingly stopped after a messy 77 and still was at +3 at the turn yesterday when something clicked and the 34 year old reeled off five birdies and an eagle tying a major championship record with a -9  63 -4 total.

They are on course as I write finishing round 2 with round 3 scheduled to begin at 10am...

Bryan

Low wind lead leads to low scores Friday morning at the PGA Championship

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There was little or no wind at Whistling Straits this morning and the early flight has peppered the course with birdies led by Hiroshi Iwata from Japan with a -9 63. George Coetzee the fine South African has posted -7 65.

Jordan Spieth and Rory started on #10, and have just wrapped up their rounds on the 9th.. Jordan is at -6 after -5 67 and Rory is in at -2 after another 71..

David Lingmerth who I wrote about this morning is the clubhouse leader at -7 with 8 birdies but a double and 4 bogey's..

The big news is that the wind has left the area and is not expected back until Monday so scoring conditions are ideal as Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, JB Holmes, Danny Lee, Rickie, Tiger etal are warming up.

The projected cut is +1, Tiger is at +3..

Bryan

Who I'll be watching at Whistling Straits on Friday

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Yesterday someone asked me why I not only watch golf but broadcast and write about it everyday when it is so boring, and I took no offence.. it is a common opinion for the casual fan..

She told me she never misses an episode of Coronation Street, the world's longest running and most popular soap. I told her when I occasionally tuned in I found it boring, and she was shocked, proceeding to address the myriad of storylines, characters past and present when I stopped her and pointed out golf is exactly the same...Once you know all about the storylines and the characters it becomes compelling.

In yesterday's episode, Dustin Johnson did what he has done so often, most recently at the US Open and the Open Championship, made it look easy with a -6 66, out in the calm, soft conditions that prevailed in the morning before the wind got up and changed the course for the late starters. The storyline with DJ is will he and all his talent get it together for all 72 or more holes. He is certainly capable physically.. mentally is another story.

Here are some of the other stories I'll be following today..

* the weather as always plays a controlling factor. Eight of the early starters were at 68, including Jason Day, J.B. Holmes and Matt Kuchar. Justin Rose is at -3. Nobody could match that in the afternoon when the wind got up and the course firmed up and the average score was 4 shots higher. The late flight are early today and it's calm again this morning, warm and muggy and Jordan (71), Rory (71) are in that category. Rory looks just fine, Jordan will need to putt better.

* David Lingmerth is at it again and nobody knows who he is, but you should. He's a 28 year old Swede and his year took off at Jack's place back in early June when he won the Memorial and since then he has been 6th at the Greenbrier, 3rd at Quicken Loans, and 6th at Bridgestone last week. He is currently 2nd with an opening -5 67

* Tiger shot 75, at +3 is T86 with club pro's like Bob Sowards ??! Yes I'll peek at the car wreck as I drive by it today..If you are a Tiger fan, you won't see him again until his invitational at Christmas.

* Brooks Koepka is better than his rollercoaster +1 73. He went out in 40, then ran off 5 birdies in a row before closing with another bogey for 33. He is one of the early starters today I'll be expecting to go low.

* Tony Finau (71) and Emilio Grillo from Argentina (70) are two young players I've been touting all year and soon they are both going to win. Finau had a double bogey on 18 to spoil his round and Grillo had 4 bogey's and still shot 70.

* Danny Lee does nothing but shoot in the 60's as I pointed out last week, he won the Greenbrier in a playoff over David Hearn and since has been 3rd twice, 4th and 6th and he is T3 -4 68.

* Adam Scott and Henrik Stenson both shot 76 in the wind but are off early today and I expect them to be much 8 shots better.. each..

* Phil Mickelson was full value for your admission fee, all over the lot at Whistling Straits but with his stellar short game, rescued E 72, and Rickie Fowler whose 73 included a quadruple bogey 7 on the par 3 third.

* David Hearn (76) but that was in ideal conditions as he was first off, and Nick Taylor (73) because they are Canadian !

So as it is for my friend the Coronation Street devotee, the storylines abound again today at this PGA Championship, what will tonight's headlines be ?

Bryan

The stage is set for the 97th edition of the PGA Championship

PGA Championship leaderboard  http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/pga-championship/leaderboard.html

For me, something happened to the PGA Championship back in 1999 when it went from being the weak sister of the majors, to being a consideration for the best every year. With Rory back in the running and despite the fact 25 places are reserved for club pros, this may be the strongest field of the year at this bunker infested Whistling Straits course in Kohler, Wisconsin...

Perhaps that something was the arrival of the Tiger era ! Remember 1999 was the year at Medinah where Mike Weir was tied for the lead going into the final round with rounds of 68 68 69 -11. Sergio Garcia who was only 19 was T3 at -9 with Stewart Cink, had caught the public's attention with his shot making in particular the one from beside a tree trunk that he sprinted up the hill to watch it curve and slice miraculously onto the green..

Weirsy had a bad day, shot 80 caught up in the Tigermania, Woods aged 23 went on to shoot 72 on Sunday win his 2nd of 14 majors with Garcia a shot behind and many thought a long and glorious rivalry was in the making.

Then in 2000 it was Tiger again breaking Bob May's heart in the playoff at Valhalla, then David Toms and Phil Mickelson duking it out in the final pairing in Atlanta in 2001. The Tiger show continued in 2006 back at Medinah, then again at Southern Hills in 2007. Paddy Harrington had already won the Open Championship at Carnoustie in 2008 and he capped off his year of year's with the PGA at Oakland Hills and as fate would have it, Sergio whose putt for the win at Carnoustie lipped out, was second to Paddy again.

Remember YE Yang and his sensational 3 wood from 220 yards, drawn around a tree, over a greenside bunker to 10 feet for birdie on the last hole at Hazeltine in 2009 to beat Tiger.

With the Tiger era in abayence if not over, Rory has won two of the last three, the first by 8 shots at Kiawah Island in 2012, the second last year, capping his summer of summer's (won the Open Championship, then the Bridgestone WGC) edging Phil Mickelson in the gathering darkness at Valhalla..

It all gets underway at 745  EST, this morning, the Rory, Jordan Spieth (going for 3 majors in a year), Zach Johnson pairing grabbing all the headlines, the bookies have Jordan at 9-2 and Rory 9-1.

Bubba is at 12-1, remember he has been 2nd in his last two outings and was second the last time they played here at Whistling Straits. Jason Day is also at 12-1 as is Dustin Johnson.

Tiger is in the field and watch out if he goes -3 on his first nine, all the headlines will suddenly swing to him, he is off at 915am, but I think the winner will come from the late flight, Brooks Koepka Adam Scott, Henrik Stenson, David Lingmerth and Sang-Moon Bae are all off at 210 before the big pairing at 220.

David Hearn is first in the first pairing at 745, Graham DeLaet had to withdraw with his thumb injury. Nick Taylor is in the last pairing at 3pm est

I always listen to what the caddies have to say and Mickelson's long time caddy Bones says the course with all it's dunes and bunkers looks like a links course but it really isn't. It's soft and the guys will be playing target golf, which may let many who aren't in the bomber category into the final equation.

Bryan

Weekend wrap..

The big winner this weekend was the life changing win at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational by Shane Lowry, but wins are wins, just ask Jeff Maggert in Calgary who blistered the front nine to run away with the Shaw Charity Classic

Meanwhile their were 2 modified stableford's in play.


Web.com Tour Digital Ally Open final leaderboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=web

AP...Martin Piller won the Digital Ally Open on Sunday for his second Web.Com Tour victory of the year, matching the tournament scoring record at 26-under 258.

The 29-year-old Piller, married to LPGA Tour player Gerina Piller, closed with a 6-under 65 at the Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate to tie the mark set by James Nitties in 2011.

Monday qualifier Sebastian Vazquez (63), Canadian Ryan Yip (65) Sung Kang (65), Chris Baker (67), Michael Kim (67) and rookie Tyler Duncan (67) tied for third at 20 under.


PGA Tour Barracuda Championship final leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/barracuda-championship/leaderboard.html

AP...J.J. Henry won the Barracuda Championship for the second time in four years Sunday, beating Kyle Reifers with a 15-foot eagle putt from the fringe on the second hole of a playoff.

After Henry holed the left-to-right breaking putt on the par-5 18th, Reifers missed a 10-footer.

Reifers had three back-nine eagles in a 22-point round to match Henry at 47 points at Montreux Golf and Country Club in the PGA Tour’s only modified Stableford event. The 40-year-old Henry, also the 2012 winner, closed with a birdie for a six-point round.

 

Players received eight points for double eagle, five for eagle, two for birdie, zero for par, minus-one for bogey and minus-three for double bogey or worse

Late bloomer Jeff Maggert takes Shaw Charity Classic

Champions Tour Shaw Charity Classic final leaderboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=champions

“A late bloomer maybe,” Jeff Maggert said after he shot -6 64 -16 to run away with the Shaw Charity Classic. “Twenty-five years of playing on the tour and I had a lot of close calls, a lot of chances to win a few majors. I thought I would have won a dozen times on my career, but I didn’t. So in some regards I feel like I’ve still got a lot to prove to myself and my golf game.”

He won it in my opinion with 5 birdies on the front nine then added two more at 11 and 14. Maggert did manage to win 3 times on the PGA Tour but has bloomed on this senior circuit with major titles this year in the Regions Tradition and U.S. Senior Open after he won the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic last year in his debut.

Colin Montgomerie says he isn't feeling very well as he heads to Whistling Straights but managed to finish second after a 70 -12 four shots behind Maggert.

 

Mark O’Meara and Scott Dunlop tied for third at 11 under. Dunlap had a 64, and O’Meara shot 66.
 

Fred Couples, the winner last year, finished with a 68 to tie for fifth at 10 under.

 

Miguel Jimenez had a 74 to drop into a tie for 12th at 8 under. He matched the course record Saturday with a 61 while Stephen Ames finished T5 after a final-round of 3-under 67.

Rose, Furyk stumble...Lowry steps up to win Bridgestone Invitational

WGC Bridgestone Invitational final leaderboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga

With 10 players within 5 shots of the leaders Justin Rose and Jim Furyk, there were any number of scenario's waiting to unravel at the start of play on Sunday, and in the end both leaders faltered on their front nines and managing only +2 72's which opened the door for the rest of the contenders...

Jordan shot 66 and Rickie 67 but they were too far behind, ending up T10 -4. David Lingmerth -5 Robert Streb -6 and Danny Lee -5 all did their best with 68's, but were too far behind as well.

It was Shane Lowry the 28 year old Irishman, who has been playing nicely this season ever since he grew the beard, who relied on some great recovery play and clutch par saving putts to shoot 66 -11 total for a two shot win over Bubba Watson who also carded a 66.

An example of Lowry's recovery prowess came on the 10th when he hit a wild hook and was given a free drop to avoid the 11th tee and he proceeded to sky a wedge over a tree and made the birdie 3. He also clipped another wedge through a tree on the 18th that landed as luck would have it just 10 feet from the pin for a closing birdie.

He also made clutch par saving putts at 14 and 17 along the way to his first WGC victory that has changed his life. He earned $1.57 million, along with a PGA Tour card for the next three years and says he plans to play both tours next year. This morning he has moved to No. 19 from 48th in the world.

I first saw his talent on display in the pouring rain when he won the Irish Open in 2009 as an amateur, much to the delight of the drenched crowd and his close pal Rory McIlroy.

As for the leaders, Furyk was concerned about the way he was hitting the ball earlier in the week and said poor shots were covered up by his putting  while Justin Rose said just the opposite, in that he is playing better than anyone tee to green, but needs to putt a lot better than he did yesterday.

Last night flights were landing from all over the world at Mitchell airport in Milwaukee where a fleet of courtesy cars whisked the players to their accommodation at Whistling Straits where defending champion Rory McIlroy is waiting to welcome them all. in particular his mate and WGC champion, Shane Lowry !

Bryan

Jimenez shoots 61 in Calgary to catch Monty

Champions Tour Shaw Charity Classic http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=champions

AP...Miguel Angel Jimenez eagled the par-5 18th hole Saturday to match the course record of 9-under 61 and tie Colin Montgomerie for the second-round lead in the Shaw Charity Classic.

With wife Susanne working her first tournament at his caddie, Jimenez matched Fred Couples’ course record set last year.

 

“My caddie needed 19 working days to get a visa to come here and that’s the reason he’s not here,” Jimenez said. “My wife is a good player, a single handicap, too, and she knows about golf. She said from the beginning, `If he’s not coming, I would love to caddie for you.’ `OK, fine. No problem.'”

 

The 51-year-old Spanish player made seven birdies in a nine-hole stretch in the middle of the round. He set up his closing eagle with a 7-wood to 9 feet.

 

Montgomerie, the first-round leader after a 62, birdied the 18th for a 66 to join Jimenez at 12-under 128 at Canyon Meadows. The Scot had an eagle, five birdies and three bogeys.

 

“Disappointing the way I finished,” Montgomerie said. “I missed three putts in a row there at 16, 17 and 18. I three-putted the 16th for a bogey and I missed a very makeable putt at 17 for a birdie and I missed a very makeable eagle putt at the last. So, very disappointing finish, to be honest.”

 

Jimenez and Montgomerie are travelling together to the PGA Championship after the tour tournament. Montgomerie successfully defended his title in the Senior PGA Championship in May for his third major victory on the 50-and-over tour.

 

Jeff Maggert, the Regions Tradition and U.S. Senior Open winner, was 10 under after a 63. He played alongside Jimenez and defending champion Fred Couples who shot 65 and is T4 -8. Last year, Couples chipped in for eagle for a 61 in the final round, then beat Billy Andrade with a tap-in birdie on the first playoff hole.

 

“I’m in the same spot I was last year,” Couples said. “I’ve just got to go out and freewheel it and try and shoot a good score. Last year was a crazy score like Miguel’s today. Am I out of it? No, but I don’t think Miguel’s going to struggle at all.”

 

Woody Austin also was 8 under after a 64. Mark O’Meara, Tom Byrum, Michael Allen and local man Stephen Ames were 7 under. Byrum had a 66, and O’Meara shot 67, and Allen and Ames 68

Classic round from Rosey ties Furyk at Firestone

WGC Bridgestone Invitational scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga

He's Justin Rose to you and I.. Rosey to all his mates on tour, and after going 30 straight holes without a birdie and starting play six shots behind steady eddie Jim Furyk. he started Saturday with 2 birdies and never looked back, closing with 3 more in his last 4 including a Ryder Cup type bomb from 45 feet on the 18th for a -7 63 on this tough South Course at Firestone where only 15 players out of the elite 77 are under par, but 10 of them are within 5 shots of the lead.

As I wrote yesterday, I didn't think Furyk would falter, he did shoot 69, but he didn't have his pinpoint accuracy off the tee and spent a lot of time on his back nine in the lush rough but in typical Furyk tradition kept grinding away with 6 pars in a row to keep himself in the lead.

At -9, they are two shots ahead of Shane Lowry from Ireland, who had a 67, -7 while Steve Bowditch had an early 63 to show it could be done and he is now in a pack four shots behind with Ian Poulter (65), Henrik Stenson (68) and Bubba Watson (69) all at -5

At -4 are Graeme McDowell (69), Brooks Koepka (68) and Robert Streb (68).

In my Wednesday preview I wrote about the year Jordan Spieth is having, but as it turns out he doesn't have his best game here this week. You have to drive it straight at Firestone and he has struggled hit fairways and as a result didn’t give himself many birdie chances although he did putt brilliantly to salvage a +2 72 to sit 9 shots off the lead at E.

So the stage is set for the final act. With Rose coming from 6 shots back to catch Furyk, all the contenders know it can be done. Will Furyk get his much deserved win here after losing to Tiger in 7 playoff holes in 2001, and blowing his wire to wire win in 2012 with a double bogey at the last, or will Justin get his second WGC win to go with Doral. It will take a 63 or 64 from someone in the pack, but Bubba, Henrik, Shane, Poulter, GMac or Jason Day to name a few are all capable  of that on any given day..

The question is will it be today...

Tune in to TSN 1050 this morning at 8am when I'll join Lins and Pete on the International Sports Report.

Bryan

Furyk tames hard fast Firestone

WGC Bridgestone Invitational scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga

All I have to tell you about this South Course at Firestone is that out of 77 of the world's golfing magicians, only 19 are under par, and one of that 19, Jim Furyk has tamed it's fast fairways, and hard, lightning quick greens better than anyone.

With a pair of matching 66's he is -8 and 4 shots clear of the bearded Irishman Shane Lowry, and two bombers, Dustin Johnson 69 67 -4 and Bubba 70 66 -4.

Heck last week's winner Troy Merritt is +17 over 2 rounds !

Furyk is, I would say, due to win this championship. He loves the course and is having a great year. Remember as I mentioned yesterday, he led from the get go in 2012 before making a double at the 72nd to let Keegan Bradley in the back door, and he lost in 7 holes of extra time to Tiger in 2001. So he's been here, done that...

Consider these stats about this all time grinder, twice our national champion in Canada. He does have 17 wins including the US Open, but before he finally got win #17 this year at Hilton Head, he was 2nd seven times, twice at majors and was sick and tired of answering why..

He will spend this evening with his kids in Canton at the NFL Hall of Fame ceremony where his pal Jerome Bettis is being inducted, then again on Sunday as the Steelers and Vikings play an exhibition match.

Five shots back you'll find Graeme McDowell (71), Danny Lee the first round leader who recovered well late in his round for 72, and Henrik Stenson (69).

Jordan Spieth 68 -2, playing off the 10th chipped in for birdie on the third hole, but followed with back-to-back bogeys. His 180 yard punch and run shot from behind the trees, in the rough to within 4 feet on his last hole (9th) for birdie was the shot of the day.

So if Furyk does falter he has plenty of company ready to step in. As well as those I have already listed, Rickie is at -1, Sergio -2 along with Jason Day and Justin Rose just to mention a few.

After 20 years of amazing consistency, I don't think Furyk will falter, especially on this course in this condition, however if he does he'll know how to handle it...and he does have over $60m in winnings stashed away to prove it.

Bryan

 

 

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Lee continues fine play to lead WGC at Firestone

WGC Bridgestone Invitational leaderboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga

New Zealand's best male golfer, Danny Lee continued his fine play on a glorious sunny day in Akron Ohio with a -5 65 for a one shot lead over a star studded field at this WGC Bridgestone Invitational.

Whether Lee is his country's best golfer is worthy of debate, only time will tell whether he or 18 year old Lydia Ko will be a clear winner, one thing is for sure, they both a very, very good.

In July Lee beat our own David Hearn in a playoff to win the Greenbrier with 4 rounds in the 60's including a 63, the next week he was 3rd to Jordan Spieth at the John Deere with 4 rounds in the 60's including a 62, he then missed the cut at St Andrew's, but returned last week to place 4th at Tiger's Quicken Loans with, you guessed it, 4 rounds in the 60's..

Only 21 of the 77 players who teed it up on a calm, clear, sunny day managed to break the par score of 70, a tribute to the fast fairways, firm greens and penal rough on this tight South Course.

Asked what the priority was to score well, Rickie Fowler who played with Zach JJohnson and opened with -3 67 said " Driving the ball in the fairway is the key, it's a ball strikers course and you have to be good tee to green to score well here"

Jim Furyk has made a very good living hitting fairways shot -4 66 to join Graham McDowell one shot out of the lead. Remember Furyk is very good at Firestone. He led all the way three years ago before coming undone on the 72nd and has posted 10 straight rounds in the 60's here, while McDowell who says he has been struggling to convince himself whether he really wants to stay in pro golf and grind it out after the birth of his daughter last September has made leaving home a lot tougher relied on his short game and a deft putting touch.

 

Rickie Fowler was joined by Justin Rose the pre tournament pick of many of  my colleagues on 67, while Henrik Stenson, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood are in a big group at -2 68.

 

In form Jason Day, Dustin Johnson and course specialist Keegan Bradley were also pre tournament favourites with the bookies and they are all in at -1 69.

Jordan Spieth has only played five rounds at Firestone, still hasn’t broken par, made a birdie at the last for E 70 in a rather uninspired opening round.

 

To show what a fickle game golf can be, last week's clear cut winner, Troy Merriit who came in here brimming with confidence, is dead last after an opening +12 82 which included 6 bogey's and a double on the front nine (43), and a dreaded snowman on the par 5 16th for 39 on the back !

 

Sounds familiar...

 

Bryan

Door wide open for Spieth at WGC .

PGA Tour WGC Bridgestone Invitational leaderboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga

They should have a statue of Tiger Woods overseeing the patrons as they enter Firestone CC South, after all he has won 8 times on this straight tight tree lined track, one of America's gems down in Akron, Ohio known more for it's production of what keeps us all safely on the road.. our tires...

Instead of playing this week here or at the PGA Tour alternative in Reno, Tiger is opening a new swanky $8m dollar restaurant in Jupiter, Florida The Woods Jupiter: Sports and Dining Club.

Now ranked 185th in the world he simply needs to win the PGA Championship next week at Whistling Straits if he wants to get into the Fed Ex playoffs, if not he will be around to host the Deutche Bank which his foundation runs then off to do what ever a fit, handsome billionaire wants to do until next spring..

In 2013 Woods played safe and smart with a big lead, parring 16 holes in an even-par 70 on the final day to coast to a seven-shot victory for his eighth win at this event, matching the PGA Tour record he already shared for victories in a single tournament at Torrey Pines.

With Rory mulling over Manchester United's season opener while his torn ankle mends, and Tiger serving up lamb chops, the door is wide open for Jordan Spieth to walk back into the spotlight, now well rested after his sojourn to Scotland..

This is an elite 60 man field with no cut, no Canucks and only 33 Americans. Spieth is the highest ranked player at #2 and can become #1 this week although he is already #1 on the money list with over $9m in earnings..

Just consider his year so far if you will...

He really got started before Christmas with a $1m cheque for presents winning Tiger's little Hero World Challenge with a staggering -26 score. After the holidays he went out to Phoenix in February and placed 7th at the Waste Management, then 7th again at Pebble Beach and 4th at Riviera.

He really got hot in March winning the Valspar at Innisbrook (another tight course like this week's) then sweeping home to Texas with 2nd place finishes in San Antonio and Houston, before winning in April up the road in Georgia at Augusta.

Back in Texas in May he was second again at what was Ben Hogan's event, now called the Crowne Plaza, after opening with 64 and closing with 65. In June he was 3rd at Jack's Memorial before winning his second major of the year, the US Open at Chambers Bay when Dustin Johnson decided to practice his putting on the 72nd hole.

In July he successfully defended his championship at the John Deere before narrowly losing the Open Championship at St Andrew's where he finished 4th.

Well it's August now,  so I guess he's due for a win !! He'll have Rickie and Bubba and Sergio etal to make it interesting this week, and don't forget Adam Scott who won here the first time he had Stevie Williams on the bag after his divorce with Tiger..

Did I mention Tiger is flipping burgers at his new restaurant this weekend..

His spot in the locker room is wide open for Jordan Spieth and who will be surprised if he takes Tiger's trophy as well..

Bryan