Coaching changes pay off for Koepka and Fowler, Hughes leads Canadians WCG Fed Ex St Jude Invitational

WGC Fed Ex St Jude Invitational leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/wgc-fedex-st-jude-invitational/leaderboard.html

Caddies come and go in pro golf, especially when the player is struggling, the same can be said of coaches.

This week Jason Day will be without Colin Swatton who has been like a father to him since Day's father died when he was 12. Day who rose to #1 in the world with that incredible 2015-16 season had dropped outside the top 50 and has decided he wants to work on his swing by himself.

Brooks Koepka  has been indifferent at best since the COVID return with just one top 10, and after missing the cut at last week's 3M Open he spent time with England's no nonsense Pete Cowen and after putting poorly he has enlisted guru Phil Kenyon, and the results were immediate with his -8 62 to take a 2 shot lead at this WGC Fd Ex St Jude Invitational.

Rickie Fowler hasn't been himself at all recently, 89th in Fed Ex standings, with 5 missed cuts, so after a stint with Butch Harmon, he has been working with swing coach John Tillery, who has freed him up to start playing again instead of analyzing everything he's been doing. Result -6 64, T2 with  Brendon Todd.

Canadians : Meanwhile Mac Hughes shot an opening -2 68 at TPC Southwind T15 and Nick Taylor is a shot behind -1 69 T27. Corey Connors +2 72 and Adam Hadwin +3 73 are well down this 78 man field.

It's hot and muggy again with a SW breeze and T'Storms threatening so the field is out early off split tees, still paired in three's.

Bryan Angus

A record 4 Canadians at this weeks steamy WGC Fed Ex St Jude Invitational... Thursday tee times..

Fed Ex St Jude Invitational thursday tee times https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/wgc-fedex-st-jude-invitational/tee-times.html

This week there will be a record 4 Canadians playing the WGC Fed Ex St Jude Invitational on TPC Southwind in Memphis.

Adam Hadwin, Mac Hughes, Nick Taylor and Corey Connors are all in the field. The most before was two, including Mike Weir and Stephen Ames.

This time around, these guys are all in good form. particularly Mac Hughes who has 3 top 10's in his last 7 outings, and all with PGA Tour wins under their belts. This time around they all know they are completely capable of winning, even against this world class top 78 man field.

tee times/pairings click on my link above.. Mac Hughes will hit the 1st drive of the tournament off the 1st tee at 12am EST. Nick Taylor is paired with Phil Mickelson at 12.10 #1. Corey Connors at 12.20 #1 and Adam Hadwin in the final pairing with Henrick Stenson, Kevin Kisner at 2pm #1

World #1 Jon Rahm leads the 40 International players who have all gone through some form of 14 day quarantine to play, and of course will follow all the PGA testing protocol every day this week.


WEATHER : https://www.google.com/search?q=weather+for+memphis

A glance at the weather forecast is not good. Hot and humid with 80% chance of rain, T'Storms for today, Thursday and Friday. 50% on Saturday.

Bryan Angus

Mike Weir begins his Champions Tour career this week Ally Challenge.. Tee times

PGA Champions Tour Ally Challenge...Tee times https://www.pgatour.com/champions/tournaments/the-ally-challenge/tee-times.html

This weekend Mike Weir will return from the golfing wilderness that besets a lot of guys between the ages of 45-50 who have lost their PGA Tour status, ran out options and exemptions, many like Mike through injury. He turned 50 in May and on Friday will begin his Champions Tour career.

You've followed Weirsy's every round here in places like the Korn Ferry Tour, the European Tour, down under in Australia, in the Middle East, even out in the Far East as he continued to look for competitive action, hoping of course to find that week when it all went his way, back to the winners circle. He has remained as always, determined, even when he couldn't drive it straight, and was written off by many of his most ardent fans.

The Ally Challenge is at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in Grand Blanc, Michigan, the first Champions Tour event since COVID shut down play in March. 7100 yards par 72.

Look at the Full Field link above and you'll see it's like a huge school reunion. Weirsy (2003 Masters) is paired with Jim Furyk (2003 US Open) and KJ Choi (2011 Players) , all making their debuts and all beginning their rookie season !!

Mike has earned nearly  $28m which ranks 46th all time giving him full status and the ability to play a full schedule for the first time since 2014. He has 8 PGA Tour titles and was ranked 3rd in the world in 2003/4 

This course and others on the Senior circuit are significantly shorter than the PGA Tour which means he will no longer be the shortest driver which left him hitting long irons for appproach shots on the PGA Tour. Now he can get back to the wedges which once prompted Johnny Miller to say "he's the best in the world right now from 100 yards in"

He's been waiting for this week for a long time, a tour to call home with a set schedule, and I know he'll be excited and a little nervous, and happy to be a rookie again.

Full COVID restrictions and protocol are in effect, no fans of course, 

I'll post the tee times when they are released later today.

Bryan Angus

Thompson's shot of the year, Gligic's sensational Sunday.. final 3M Open leaderboard..

3M Open leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/3m-open/leaderboard.html

"This win validates the first win. It solidifies kind of my presence on the PGA Tour and proves too my peers that I'm a threat every week and that's what I want to be".

These words could be from anyone of hundreds of pro golfers who fill out the numbers each week on the PGA and European Tours, this weekend they were from 35 year old journeyman Micheal Thompson who used a shot of the year candidate, to score -19 over 4 rounds to win the 3M Open.

He last won in 2013 at the Honda Classic, and after that 2 year exempt status, he and guys who were just behind him this week, Charles Howell, Adam Long, Max Homa, Robby Shelton play from year to year staying inside the top 125, hoping every week will be like this one for Thompson.

So apart from over $1m, he is exempt until 2022-23, 39th in the world, in the WGC later this week and the US Open in the fall, along with the Fed Ex Cup playoffs.

****** Watch for his 50 yard bunker shot to within 3 feet at the 16th for birdie to be the shot of the  year. It gave him the cushion he needed. ******

Michael Gligic started on Thursday with +1 72, then made the -2 cut on the number with a 68. Another 68 on Saturday at -5 had him in the middle of the pack, until he made 6 birdies on his first nine on Sunday, added another after the turn to go -7 through 10 holes.

A bogey stalled his run at the 2nd (his 11th), and then 7 straight pars for his 65 T26 at -11. A great round, and one with a putt here or there over his final 7 holes could have been epic.

The big boys will return later this week for the WGC St Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind in Memphis while the also rans will be at Lake Tahoe for the Barracuda Championship.

Then it's the years first major, the PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. 

Bryan Angus

Michael Gligic is -7 today through 10 holes at 3M Open.. live scoreboard

3M Open leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/3m-open/leaderboard.html

Michael Gligic began today T45 -5, however beginning on the back nine he went out in -6 30 with 6 birdies including 4 in a row, and 3 pars, then promptly birdied the 1st as he makes the turn for home at -7, -12 total.

He has improved 34 spots to T11 at -12, 4 shots off the Tony Finau lead at -16...

Bryan Angus

Italian Renato Paratore wins the British Masters... final leaderboard

The European Tour made its full return after just over four months in hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic and while the atmosphere was very different with no fans Rene Paratore looked like he had never been away and kept his cool to produce a brilliant display of front running and win his second European Tour title at the 2020 Betfred British Masters hosted by Lee Westwood. 

Final leaderboard https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/betfred-british-masters-hosted-by-lee-westwood-2020/results?round=4

The Italian entered the final day at Close House Golf Club with a one shot lead was only briefly caught in tough, windy conditions in the north east of England, carding a 69 to finish at 18 under, three shots ahead of Dane Rasmus Højgaard, who closed with a 70.

Paratore lost out in a play-off to Højgaard at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open earlier this season but never looked like being caught by the 19-year-old as he added to the Nordea Masters title he won in 2017.

Despite being just 23 years old, Paratore was playing in his 159th event and became the second Italian winner of this trophy after Baldovino Dassu in 1976.

"I'm just really, really happy," he said. "I played really solid. I didn't expect to come back and win my second one after lockdown but I worked really hard the last year."

There may not have been any fans to see the triumph but Paratore was greeted by a videocall from his mother and a guard of honour from his fellow players as he walked off the 18th green.

South African Justin Harding finished at 14 under, a shot clear of home trio Robert Rock, Andy Sullivan and Dale Whitnell.

Michael Gligic only Canadian to make the cut at 3M Open..Saturday leaderboard

3M Open, Saturday leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/3m-open/leaderboard.html

With the wind picking up and temperature rising the scoring average rose with them on Friday and the cut fell at -2 at the 3M Open sending all those at -1 and worse home for the weekend, including Brooks Koepka, Bubba Watson, and Tommy Fleetwood, along with three of the four Canadians.

Roger Sloan E 69 73, David Hearn +1 69 74 and Aaron Crawford from Calgary the caddie for Martin Trainer who Monday qualified, +1 69 74. He has bragging rites over Trainer however who shot +8 75 75 !!.

Michael Gligic did qualify on the number -2 72 68.

Richy Werenski 63 67 -12 and Micheal Thompson 64 66 -12 continue to lead as play gets under way today. They are a shot up on Tony Finau 65 66 at -11 along with Talor Gooch 66 65 T3.

Defending champion Matthew Wolff is in the group at -9 with 65,68.

It's already in the mid 80's F in Blaine Minnesota, hot and humid today with scattered T'Storms in the forecast. 

Follow the live scoreboard by clicking on the link above.

Bryan Angus

After soaring scoring at Memorial it's back to mid 60's at 3M Open.. Friday tee times

3M Open Friday leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/3m-open/leaderboard.html

Michael Gligic shot a +1 72 on Thursday, which is not a terrible score by any standards and last week at the Memorial with rock hard fairways, lush rough and baked out greens and a scoring average of 75.93 he would have moved well up the scoreboard.

This week after round 1 of this 3M Open at a soft TPC Twin Cities he is T98.  His fellow Canucks David Hearn. Roger Sloan and Aaron Crawford all shot -2 69 T41 on a warm, breezy day.

The leader. little known 24 year old Richy Werenski shot -8 63 to lead Micheal Thompson (64) by a shot with Tony Finau who fired his caddie after last week, Matthew Wolff the defending champion, Nick Watney now clear of COVID, Max Homa and Ryan Moore all at -6 65.

The return from COVID for the PGA Tour has featured soft yielding courses apart from last week with the leading scores in the mid 60's and lower, this week appears to be no different.

Dustin Johnson WD citing a sore back. After taking a 9 on the par 5 18th, on his way to posting 78 on top of his  80,80 last weekend suggests that something is amiss.

For live scoring click on my customized leaderboard above.

Bryan Angus

Canadian Aaron Cockerill has the clubhouse lead at the Betfred British MMasters.. Live scoring

Betfred British Masters leaderboard https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/betfred-british-masters-hosted-by-lee-westwood-2020/leaderboard?round=1

You may remember last year I talked about a young Canadian lad Aaron Cockerill from Manitoba who qualified through Q school for the European Tour. He played for 3 weeks in a heatwave gripping Australia before returning home to Winnipeg which was in the midst of a deep freeze..

With the European Tour starting up again with a COVID restricted, no spectator 6 week run of re scheduled events in the UK, Aaron has posted a -5 66 to grab the early clubhouse lead at the Betfred British Masters sponsored by Lee Westwood at Close House GC up in Newcastle.

Next week is the WGC St Jude Classic followed by the PGA Championship both in America so any top European Tour players like Tommy Fleetwood are now over in the States to self isolate, so this is not this British Masters is not a full field. 


Bryan Angus

Canadian caddy qualifies this week for the 3M Open.. Thursday tee times

3M Open Thursday tee times https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/3m-open/tee-times.html

Aaron Crawford is a Canadian, working as a PGA Tour caddie, but is also a very good player who is without a place to play this year since the MacKenzie Tour was cancelled due to COVID.

He has Monday qualified for this weeks 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities and will play alongside David Hearn, Roger Sloan and Michael Gligic.

Crawford has been caddying for Martin Trainer, so both are now looking for someone to carry their bags beginning tomorrow morning. Crawford is paired with Domenic Bozzelli and Tyler McCumber off the 10th tee at 1.50pm.

Dustin Johnson returns this week, Tommy Fleetwood has flown over from England to begin a month on the PGA Tour, and they are the featured pairing with Tony Finau at 7.30am off the 10th. Brooks Koepka is also playing.

With a WGC event next week followed by the PGA Championship, many of the big boys have gone home this week.

For all the Thursday tee times click on the link above.


Bryan Angus

"Rahmbo" is on top of the world after win at the Memorial... Hughes another top 10, Final scoreboard

Memorial Tournament final scoreboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/the-memorial-tournament-presented-by-nationwide/leaderboard.html

Muirfield Village is a lot quieter this morning, except for the work crews who are stripping the greens and taking down the corporate tents which were never used.

The world's best golfers have all jetted out of Columbus in the dark of night to their next stops, among them the new world #1 Jon Rahm who used up a lot of his 8 shot lead, posting a +3 75 which was a shot under the scoring average, to win the Memorial Tournament, getting a quiet fist bump from a rather portly Jack Nicklaus, by 3 shots at -9 from Ryan Palmer 74, -6 and Matthew Fitzpatrick 68 -5.

Rahm's lead was dwindling until he chipped in from behind the par 3 16th from deep rough for a birdie 2. He was later given a 2 shot penalty because his ball moved by a dimple as he addressed it, but it didn't affect the outcome. He joins Seve Ballesteros as the only Spaniards to hold the #1 title. It was his 10th pro win, 4th on the PGA Tour.

Canada's Mac Hughes posted a scrambling E 72 to finish T6 at -3, and that is his 3rd top 10 in his last 11 events, by far the best golf of his pro career. With that he will qualify for this year's US Open at Winged Foot in September along with Corey Connors (72 T22 +3) and Adam Hadwin (81 T54 +9). Hughes had 3 bogey's but also 3 birdies including a 70 foot bomb across the green at the 12th. He moves from 97th in the world to a career high 75th.

Only 5 players broke par, the lowest since this event began in 1976 and the scoring average was 75.93 as burnt out greens, swirling winds, thick rough and rock hard fairways were a stark contrast to the soft easy conditions of the previous 4 tournaments.

Tiger shot 76 T40. Rory shot 78 T32. Brooks Koepka shot 80 T62 and they were all in the marquee group for TV on Thursday and Friday.

Later this week it's off to Minnesota for the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities. 

Bryan Angus

Round 4 at the Memorial suspended due to dangerous weather. Hughes T4.. Live scoreboard

Memorial Tournament Sunday scoreboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/the-memorial-tournament-presented-by-nationwide/leaderboard.html 

With the leader Jon Rahm lying greenside on the par 5 5th in two, play has been suspended due to bad weather. He is at -12 leading by 4 shots, and has 4 straight pars so far today.

Weather forecast : https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/the-memorial-tournament-presented-by-nationwide/weather.html

Play was suspended at 3.41pm with T'Storm cells moving through Columbus Ohio. Play is projected to resume at 4.30pm. More bad weather is in the forecast as the afternoon progresses

Canadians : Corey Connors had a very strong weekend 72 72 E and finished at +3. Adam Hadwin had a tough front nine today 44, which included 2 doubles and a triple. He is waiting to resume play on the 14th.

Mac Hughes has begun today with a bogey and 2 birdies -1 through 8 holes and T4 at -4.

Bryan Angus

Rahm leads by 4 as scoring soars heading into Sunday at the Memorial.. Sunday Tee times/pairings

Memorial Tournament Sunday leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/the-memorial-tournament-presented-by-nationwide/leaderboard.html 

Jon Rahm has the luxury of a 4 shot lead heading into Sunday's final round at this COVID quiet Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village thanks to his -4 68 on a Saturday when scoring stalled on the lightning fast crusty greens at Jack's place.

With a blustery, hot 93*F Sunday in the forecast https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/the-memorial-tournament-presented-by-nationwide/weather.html with the winds expected to pick up to 18mph SW, rock hard fairways and thick rough, scoring is bound to be at a premium.

All day long Brendon Todd's 68 was the low score, until the big Spaniard matched it late in the day, they were the only two to break 70, the field's scoring average was 73.7. With a win he will surpass Rory McIlroy as the world #1 unless Rory finishes 2nd.

Rahm is at -12, four clear of front runner Tony Finau (73) who played the last 7 holes in +4, Ryan Palmer (73) and a whopping 6 ahead of Danny Willett (70). Local boy Jason Day (72) is at -5. 

Rahm had this to say " Four shots on a windy difficult firm course is nothing. It's me making 2 bogey's and someone making a birdie then suddenly the lead is gone. 

Whatever happens tomorrow happens, but it will be a great test for me to learn for the future, for major championships because this course is going to be the closest thing we get to a major without being one"  

He may have added without any spectators. TV and it's plethora of talking heads tends to play down the fact the course is empty, completely empty. 

Also being the only Spaniard since Seve Ballesteros to be world #1 is a huge deal to Rahm who credits Seve's captaincy at the 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderamma as the inspiration for him being the player he is today. Seve is of course a legend in European golf

Tiger Woods T37 +2, Rory McIlroy T12 -2, Jordan Spieth T12 -2...

As for the Canadians, Mac Hughes is T10 after a gutsy 73 left him at -3, Adam Hadwin sunk a 35 footer for birdie at the first, added 2 more on the back nine, and added a terrific 14 pars with just 1 bogey in one of the best rounds of the day, -2 70 and he is T24 E.

Corey Connors is T45 +3 after a E 72.

Sunday tee times and pairings: https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/the-memorial-tournament-presented-by-nationwide/tee-times.html

Play begins at 8.25 Sunday morning with Rahm and Palmer off at 2.35pm

Bryan Angus
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Hughes makes his moves, Tiger makes the cut at Memorial Tournament.. Live Saturday scoring

Memorial Tournament Saturday leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/the-memorial-tournament-presented-by-nationwide/leaderboard.html

Saturday tee times https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/the-memorial-tournament-presented-by-nationwide/tee-times.html

The cut at the Memorial was hovering at -2 for much of Friday, but with the greens firming up as the sun shone down, it finally crept down to -3, which got a huge sigh of relief for the PGA Tour, officials and in particular the Golf Channel and NBC.

It meant that a struggling Tiger Woods (71 76 +3) will play this weekend, and as you are all aware nor matter how poorly he plays he will become their lead story today, or until he shoots himself right out of it.

He is paired with Brooks Koepka at 8am this morning..

For the Canadians Mac Hughes returned to the form that saw him finish a shot out of the winners circle at the Travelers two weekends ago. After opening with a 74 in the wind on Thursday, he got hot and ran off 4 birdies in 5 holes around the turn on Friday ending up with -6 66 T8 -4 just 5 shots out of the lead.

Adam Hadwin was 6 shots better on Friday (76, 70) and at +2 he starts today T47. He is paired with Phil Mickelson today at 9.30am.

Corey Connors looked to be out of it at 73 74 +3 but like Tiger he gets in on the number. Nick Taylor has missed the cut, 74 75 +5.

As for the leaders Tony Finau made bogey's early but recovered nicely and at 66,69 he's tied for the lead at -9 with Ryan Palmer who has found his swing after a trip to his coach last week, 67,68 -9.

Jon Rahm lost his vaunted temper on Thursday, recovered his composure and at 67 68 -8 is a shot back. He could be world #1 by Sunday evening if all goes his way.

Bryson DeChambeau was getting all the attention after Tiger, and had been in the top 10 for 7 straight tournaments until the 15th yesterday when he took a 10 after driving into the hazard, then knocking 2 more OB. He misses cut a 73 76 +5.

Rory began on the 10th, bogey, double bogey but fought back with 4 birdies and an eagle, mixed in with a couple more bogey's, 70,72 -2 starting play today.

For full details for all your favourites and live scoring all day just click on the customized link above.

It will be a sunny hot day with very little wind at Jack's place today, ideal for scoring, but watch out for those fast greens, which are being torn up and replaced after this week.

Weather :  https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/the-memorial-tournament-presented-by-nationwide/weather.html 


Bryan Angus








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Finau takes the lead into Friday at Jack's Memorial Tournament... Live scoring..

Memorial Tournament Friday scoreboard https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html

Tony Finau and John Rahm played in a charity fourball with Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell on Wednesday. The elder pairing didn't win a skin until the 18th. Tony carried Jon all day to win $120,000 for charity.

More importantly, he carried that form right into Thursday, finishing with 7 birdies in his last 10 holes on a windy, blustery day at Muirfield Village in this Memorial Tournament for -6 66 a shot ahead of Ryan Palmer (65)

As I  mentioned yesterday the greens are slicker than last week, running at 12/13 on the Stimpmeter more importantly for the first time since golf returned over a month ago, the wind was blowing, and swirling through the trees.

Only seven players broke 70 as a result. Dustin Johnson shot 80, Rickie Fowler 81

As play gets under way today it is much more calm, and will be muggy with T'Storms in the forecast. Rory/ Tiger and Brooks are off #10 early. Rory has gone bogey, double bogey losing 3 shots in 2 holes...

Canadians : Mac Hughes and Nick Taylor both opened with +2 74. Corey Connors +1 73 and Adam Hadwin +4 76

The cut is projected at +2. To follow scoring, including shotlink click on the link above with Canadian scores at the top.


Bryan Angus

Thursday tee times for the Memorial Tournament. Featured pairing Tiger, Rory and Brooks..

Memorial Tournament Thursday tee times https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/the-memorial-tournament-presented-by-nationwide/tee-times.html

Here are the tee times for Thursday and there is not much doubt the big threesome of the day goes at 1.17pm, Rory, Tiger and Brooks Koepka. off #1

As for the morning wave the most notable pairings will go off the 10th tee with Hovland, Poulter at Matsuyama at 7.55, then Morikawa, Cantely and DeChambeau at 8.06 and DJ, Thomas and Schauffele at 8,17

I have looked up the weather forecast and the only day with rain in the forecast is Thursday right from the start with light rain switching to Scattered T'Storms through out the day once it heats up. https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/the-memorial-tournament-presented-by-nationwide/weather.html

As for the Canadians, Mac Hughes plays with Cauley and Van Rooyen at 12.11 off the 10th, Corey Connors and Nick Taylor are also off 10 with Adam Long at 1.28, and Adam Hadwin is off after them at 1.39 Brian Harmon and Jazz Janewattananond from Thailand.

How the mighty have fallen Graeme McDowell who managed a brief comeback with a win in Saudi Arabia on the European Tour last year has been put out in the very last pairing with Dylan Frittelli at 2.01. 

Graeme who now lives with his wife and 2 children in Florida was once the backbone of the European Ryder Cup team, a former US Open champion and a force to be reckoned with, but has talked repeatedly about how difficult it is to get back into the grind of pro golf having become a daddy and spending his time with the kids at home.

Not yet a senior, and too young to pack it all in, with a nice set of sponsors paying big bucks with enough money for a swanky house and all the trimmings to tempt him, this is a part of the pro game that doesn't get much public sympathy, but is a real issue.

Bryan Angus

Field for the Memorial Tournament includes Tiger and 4 Canadians

Memorial Tournament field https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/the-memorial-tournament-presented-by-nationwide/field.html

A who's who of golf is walking around Muirfield Village in Dublin Ohio, headed up by Jack Nicklaus

It's the second week in a row there, after Collin Morikawa's playoff win last Sunday at the Workday Charity Open. This week the rough will be a little longer, the tees right back and the greens faster. More muggy weather is in the forecast.

Tiger grabs all the media when he comes out of his semi retirement, he has won Jack's tournament 5 times the last in 2012.

Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor, Corey Connors and Mac Hughes, all now in the world's top 100 are in the field.

A full list of the field is available, click on the link above.

Bryan Angus

Four Canadians in the top 100 OWGR for the first time.

OWGR ; Official World Golf Ranking http://www.owgr.com/ranking

For the first time there are 4 Canadians in the top 100 of the OWGR.

Adam Hadwin 53, Corey Connors 66, Mac Hughes 97 and Nick Taylor 100 are a great reflection of how the men's pro game is progressing.

All of them tribute their success to their early years with the Golf Canada junior program which helped develop them in so many ways including how to travel, proper nuitrition and fitness, their playing skills, tournament play, etc.

To a man they have told me Mike Weir breaking through and winning the Masters in 2003 and moving to #3 in the world gave them the belief that they could succeed as well. 

I also feel that the success each of them is having individually is making them stronger as a group. They have all won, they have flirted or had a 59, they have all contended and in general all know they belong in this select group of the world's best professionals.

The top 125 keep their full status, the top 50 gain entry into all the majors and WGC events which have no cut.

For many of you this won't be a big deal, however if you take a look through the OWGR link above you will see how many countries in the world are now represented. Golf has exploded in non traditional countries like China, India, South Korea, and Thailand to name a few, and other countries including Canada which had two or three players have 20 or more, like Italy, Sweden, Norway, and South Africa.

The European Tour plays in 30 countries world wide, and has dominated the Ryder Cup over the last 20 years and at times the top 10 on the PGA Tour, Rory is currently #1.

So it's much tougher to get into the PGA Tour's top 100 than it it has ever been, and the success of these 4 guys will spread to their other colleagues like Roger Sloan, Taylor Pendrith, Adam Svensson and so  many more. There are nearly 50 Canadian men now playing professionally around the world.

Bryan Angus

Canadians fall from contention as Thomas leads at the Workday Charity Open.. Live scoring

Workday Charity Open Sunday weather forecast https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/workday-charity-open/weather.html

Workday Charity Open Sunday leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/workday-charity-open/leaderboard.html

Well after a promising start to this week for the Canadian contingent with Nick Taylor, Adam Hadwin and Roger Sloan flying the flag in the top 10, Saturday was disappointing with only Sloan managing to break par as a blustery breeze got up making scoring more difficult.

Roger Sloan 68 73 70 -7 T20, Mac Hughes 70 68 72 -4 T31, Corey Connors 71 69 74 -3 T41, Nick Taylor 67 71 76 -3 T41, Adam Hadwin 66 73 76 -3 T41.

With a cold front moving through Muirfield Village scattered T'Storms are in the forecast, so officials have sent the field out in 3's off split tees and moved the starting times up to 7am with the final threesome Justin Thomas, Victor Hovland and Colin Morikawa due to tee off at 9am. (Their average age is only 24)

Tee times : https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/workday-charity-open/tee-times.html

Morikawa stalled on Saturday, hitting only 8 greens in regulation and his even par 72 let Thomas who hasn't made a bogey in 54 holes overtake him with his -6 66 -16 total. Hovland also shot 66 and he's 2nd at -14 with Morikawa still at -13.

For tee times, local weather and live scoing click on  my links for each above..


Bryan Angus






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Canadians moving the wrong way. Saturday at Workday Charity Open... live scoring

Workday Charity Open leaderboard,,https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/workday-charity-open/leaderboard.html

Well, moving Saturday has come and gone and the Canadian contingent has gone the wrong way after a promising start.

Mac Hughes T19 -6, E 72, Roger Sloan T29 -5 70, Corey Connors 74, T49 -2, Nick Taylor +4 76 -2,  Adam Hadwin +4 76  T56 -1..

Leader Collin Morikawa stalled at E72 to let the rest of the field in and Justin Thomas started 3 behind at -10 but fired a -6 66 to take the lead at -16.

Norwegian star Victor Hovland also shot 66 to take 2nd at -14.

Bryan Angus

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Mac Hughes joins Nick Taylor in top 10 on Saturday at Workday Charity Open.. Live scoring/ tee times

Workday Charity Open weather forecast https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/workday-charity-open/weather.html

Workday Charity Open leaderboard  https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/workday-charity-open/leaderboard.html

Round 2 wrapped up early this morning and MacKenzie Hughes completed his 7 birdie, 3 bogey -4 68 which puts him T10 -6  along with Canadian teammate Nick Taylor 67 71.

A shot back T16 at -5 is Adam Hadwin 66 73, Corey Connors T22 71 69 -4, then Roger Sloan T30 68 73 rounds out the Canadian contingent. David Hearn has missed the cut which fell at -2.

Weather : The weather today is sunny and cooler with a breeze from WNW at 14kph.

The guys will have to go low today to keep up with front runner, young American rookie Collin Morikawa 65 66 -13. He has a 3 shot lead over Justin Thomas and Kevin Streelman at -10, then Sam Burns and Hidekey Matsuyama are at -9. 

Notables Brooks Koepka, Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson all missed the cut until they tee it up here again next Thursday at the Memorial, so a lot of high priced talent will be wandering around Muirfield Village in the PGA Tour "bubble"


TEE TIMES: https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/workday-charity-open/tee-times.html 

The field is paired in 3's off split tees with the final group Morikawa, Thomas, Streelman off #1 at 1pm.

Nick Taylor, Mac Hughes and Louis Oosthuizen are off #1 at 12.16.




Bryan Angus

Canadians lose ground after a stormy day at Muirfield Village

Workday Charity Open 2nd round scoreboard https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html

After an opening day when 3 Canadian flags flew atop the leaderboard at Muirfied Village in this Workday Charity Open, they became unfurled during the storm delayed 2nd round, which was suspended due to darkness.

Round 2 will have to be completed early Saturday morning before the final cut is made and round 3 begins, 35 players will have to get up at at 'em with the cut projected at -2.

Roger Sloan was the earliest of the Canucks and after an opening -4 68, he slipped to 73 and is T29 -3. David Hearn is battling in this COVID return to play without much success is going to miss the cut 71 74.

Nick Taylor is 6 shots behind the lead T10 -6  67 71, Adam Hadwin T15 -5 66 73, Corey Connors T21 -1 71 69 and Mac Hughes will complete his round early Saturday 70, T15 -3 through 15 holes...-5 total. He birdied 3 of his last 4 holes..

None could keep pace with young American phenom Collin Morikawa who set the clubhouse target early 65 66 -13 who ran off 4 straight birdies after the turn, sat out the first weather delay and added another for his -6 66 to lead by 6 after the early wave.

Justin Thomas 66 and Kevin Streelman 64 in the worst of the weather cut his lead to 3 at -10. They will be in the final group of threesomes on Saturday, because of the two 75 minute weather delays.

Hideki Matsuyama 68 and Sam Burns 66 are at -9.

More unsettled weather is in the forecast for Sunday, but Saturday looks clear https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/workday-charity-open/weather.html


Bryan Angus

Taylor, Hadwin, Sloan begin Friday in top 10 at Workday Charity Open ... live scoring

Workday Charity Open Friday leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/workday-charity-open/leaderboard.html


BREAKING NEWS : Round 2 suspended at 11.45am due to inclimate weather. T'Storms..

It was a rare treat for Canadians, to see the flag flying with Adam Hadwin leading the Workday Charity Open for most of the day and Nick Taylor right behind him, only to be joined by Roger Sloan later in the muggy afternoon in the top 10.

Early in the day Hadwin had 5 birdies in his last 8 holes for -6 66 while Taylor who won in February at Pebble Beach and has been at home in BC since, returned to action with a bogey free -5 67

Roger Sloan was the lone Canadian in the late wave and he kept the "ball rolling" with 5 birdies and just one bogey for his -4 68 T7.

Mac Hughes fired -2 70 T37, David Hearn and Corey Connors had -1 71 T48.

Later in the day Colin Morikawa who started his life on the PGA Tour with 22 straight cuts, shot the low round of the day -7 65 to grab the lead.

There are ropes, signage and hospitality tents all around Muirfield Village and that's because it next week's Memorial Tournament was supposed to have spectators, before the idea was scrapped with the COVID virus re-surging across the USA.

Bryan Angus

Hadwin, Taylor are atop clubhouse leaders..t Workday Charity Open

Workday Charity Open first round leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/workday-charity-open/leaderboard.html

Breaking News: American young gun Colin Morikawa is making a late run and has grabbed the lead at -7 with 3 to play..no bogeys so far,,


What a sight to see two Canadian flags atop the leaderboard at the Workday Charity Open mid way through the opening round.

Adam Hadwin fresh off T4 last week fired at -6 66 to grab the clubhouse lead and Nick Taylor who won at Pebble Beach back in February returned to action with -5 67 T2 and they are in the clubhouse having set the target for the late wave.

Adam only had 1 bogey at the 10th, out in -5 31, back in with 2 more birdies at 35 for his 66.

Nick was bogey free with 3 birdies and an eagle for his 67.

David Hearn and Corey Connors are finished, in at -1 71 T45 late in the day.  Corey was out in 32 with 3 birdies but had 3 bogey's coming in including 16 and 17 to ruin a better round.

Mac Hughes shot -2 70 T30, and Roger Sloan is in the late wave.

European Tour returns to play at Austrian Open.. Live scoreboard

The European Tour returns this week with two dual-ranking events in Austria – the Austrian Open at the Diamond Club near Vienna, and then the Euram Bank Open. 

Click on the live scoring link for round one coverage of the Austrian Open.

 https://www.europeantour.com/challenge-tour/austrian-open-2020/leaderboard?round=1


The six event UK Swing is next before the action moves to Spain and Portugal, continuing the strategy of playing in regional clusters.

Both tournaments will be governed by the Tour’s comprehensive Health Strategy, which has been developed by Chief Medical Officer Dr Andrew Murray in consultation with health care specialists Cignpost and advisors in many of the 30 countries in which the European Tour plays.

They will also be underpinned by the European Tour’s new ‘Golf for Good’ initiative which aims to support communities where the European Tour plays, reward true heroes, such as frontline workers, and promote the many health benefits that golf offers.

The reshaped 2020 season also includes four Rolex Series events; the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and BMW PGA Championship in October, followed by the Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player on December 3-6 and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, on December 10-13, where the 2020 Race to Dubai Champion will be crowned.

Details of subsequent tournaments on the European Tour following the Portugal Masters in September through to November will be announced in due course, with a variety of scheduling options currently under consideration as the global situation continues to evolve.

Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup rescheduled..

As I posted here a couple of weeks ago the 2020 Ryder Cup would be cancelled due to COVID which has spiked badly since my last missive. Here is the press release just issued and it also includes the Presidents Cup...


The PGA of America, Ryder Cup Europe and the PGA Tour jointly announced today that both The Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup have been rescheduled and will now be played one year later than originally planned.  

The 43rd Ryder Cup, scheduled for the week of September 22-27 at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin, has been rescheduled for the week of September 21-26, 2021.  

Likewise, the 2021 Presidents Cup, initially scheduled for September 30-October 3, 2021 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, will now be played September 19-25, 2022. 

Additionally, as a result of the Presidents Cup date change, the Wells Fargo Championship will be played at its traditional venue at Quail Hollow in 2021 and at TPC Potomac in 2022, during Presidents Cup year

The decision to reschedule The Ryder Cup was made based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in conjunction with the state of Wisconsin and Sheboygan County, with the health and well-being of all involved as the top priority.

“Unlike other major sporting events that are played in existing stadiums, we had to make a decision now about building facilities to host The 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh.  

“It became clear that as of today, our medical experts and the public authorities in Wisconsin could not give us certainty that conducting an event responsibly with thousands of spectators in September would be possible. Given that uncertainty, we knew rescheduling was the right call."

Six Canadians in the field for inaugural Workday Charity Open . Thursday tee times

Workday Charity Open Thursday tee times https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/workday-charity-open/tee-times.html

The PGA Tour has moved their bubble into Muirfield Village, the home of Jack Nicklaus in Dublin Ohio, for the first of two straight weeks. The first is the Workday Charity Open, and the second is Jack's Memorial Tournament by Nationwide. Some of the big boys have returned after a week off in Detroit, and will be camped out albeit in some very expensive rental homes for the fortnight.

This tournament is a one off, replacing the John Deere Classic which is postponed until 2021.

There are six Canadians in the field, Nick Taylor who won at Pebble Beach in February returns after a month at home, Roger Sloan, David Hearn, Adam Hadwin off his 4th place finish, Mac Hughes and Corey Connors return to play.

Click on my customized link for tee times above.

Brooks Koepka (5), Justin Thomas (4), Justin Rose, Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler, Jon Rahm (2), Jordan Spieth among some of the most popular golfers to return. 

Webb Simpson, Bryson DeChambeau after his win last week takes his first week off in a month, Adam Scott who is not playing at all, Rory and DJ from the world top 10 are not here until next week.

It's an interesting COVID driven schedule, rarely do the pros play the same course two week in a row. Only in Hawaii at the beginning of the year would be one example, but they all bring their families for a two week all paid for working vacation and play different courses. 

Weather: There will be no spectators at all for the fortnight, so it will be a strangely quite stroll through the parkland course. High humidity, temperatures in low 30's with T'Storms in the forecast for the weekend.

Bryan Angus

DeChambeau and Daly are different stories,, Hadwin T4 at Rocket Mortgage Classic... Final scoreboard

Rocket Mortgage Classic final leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/rocket-mortgage-classic/leaderboard.html

Adam Hadwin was never going to win, starting Sunday 8 shots off the lead, but his final round -5 67 capped off a steady week (67 69 69 67 -16) good enough to T4 seven shots behind the runaway winner Bryson DeChambeau who bombed his way around the Detroit GC 66 67 67 65 -23.

Matthew Wolff (71) finished 2nd at -20 for his first top 10 in a year. Adam was joined in 4th by Danny Willett, Ryan Armour and Tyrrell Hatton.

DeChambeau is the lightning rod of the men's pro game. " He's changed the entire way the game is played" said Kevin Kisner who shot 66 in 3rd.

He is certainly annoying at best to many. His slow play and scientific approach raise the ire of players and fans alike. I don't disagree with any of that.

However, I remember John Daly with "his rip it and grip it" winning the PGA Championship as an alternative at 21, and shortly after, the Open in a playoff at St Andrews. He was the first guy to  get on 600 yard par 5's in two and his Arnie Palmer go for broke approach attracted a legion of fans. 

However John played fast, and lived hard and that "there but for the grace of God go I" everyman approach struck a sympathetic cord with the great unwashed masses. His generous nature stood him in good stead with the public as his demons took over his game and he became a side show until he finally found a home on the Champions Tour at 50.

DeChambeau is a different story, he doesn't have the same public appeal. Big and brash, completely self absorbed, he doesn't drink and smoke to excess, in fact he's the opposite, spending all his time in the gym, following a well thought out weight lifters diet and on or around the golf course, using all of the futuristic equipment and data at his disposal, experimenting with club design and adding a god given talent, to produce what we see today. 

Gary Player said years ago when talking about the change in equipment from the persimmon woods he played with, that some day men would stand on a tee and smash 400 yard drives if something wasn't done to protect the great golf courses by restricting the ball. That may be the ultimate answer.

However, Bryson is not going to win every week with his approach, and he doesn't drive the ball, or hit his irons and wedges any better or much further than Rory or DJ and a whole host of lesser known pros. He still has to score his ball.

Also remember he only has one focus now, golf. He hasn't been seriously injured with any of the game's health issues, back, knees, wrists. He isn't married yet nor become a father which is a big game changer, he hasn't tired of the travel, the grind or the adulation.

So for now let's just enjoy the attention he brings to the game, bad or good and keep in mind that golf has survived and excelled through all the eras, and all the changes they have produced, and all the players who have glittered on her fairways and greens, and no doubt will continue to do so when Bryson is watching it from his spaceship, years from now..

Bryan Angus




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Hadwin slips out of contention at Rocket Mortgage Classic... Sunday scoreboard

Rocket Mortgage Classic leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/rocket-mortgage-classic/leaderboard.html

There was a time when 67 69 69 -11 had you within a shot or so of leading a tournament going into Sunday on the PGA Tour. Now it gets you T19 some 8 shots out of the lead and that is where the lone Canadian, Adam Hadwin is going into today's final round.

Another young gun Matthew Wolff has posted 69 64 64 -19 has a 3 shot lead on the Detroit GC at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Daniel Berger won in Fort Worth with -15, Webb Simpson -22 at the RBC Heritage and Dustin Johnson last week at the Travelers with -19.

The heat wave covering most of eastern North America, with little wind has meant soft heavily watered greens and easy scoring conditions for these PGA pros playing in silence through the COVID comeback.

There have been a few 60's including Mac Hughes, lots of low 60's and not many over par. Guys have to start low and stay low to win. Adam isn't playing poorly, but he's out of contention without that 63 or 64 to stay in touch. (67 69 69 -11)

Bryson DeChambeau and Ryan Armour are at -16 then five more are five behind at -14 with a chance.

David Hearn, Roger Sloan and Michael Gligic all missed the cut.

Breaking News: Taylor Pendrith has T3 on the Korn Ferry Tour 68 70 67 70 -13 at the TPC Colorado Championship. https://www.pgatour.com/korn-ferry-tour/tournaments/tpc-colorado-championship/leaderboard.html

Bryan Angus

Hadwin leads Canadians in the late wave at Rocket Mortgage Classic.. Live round 2 scoring

Rocket Mortgage Classic leaderboard  https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/rocket-mortgage-classic/leaderboard.htmlI

Its been another morning of low scoring at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, and with the morning wave in the clubhouse the lead is at -11. Bryson DeChambeau (66,67) Mark Hubbard (66,67) Seamus PPower (67 66) and Matthew Wolff (69,64) top a very crowded leaderboard with the cut projected to fall at -4.

Temperatures have soared into the low 90's*F with scattered T'Storms in the forecast.

Adam Hadwin is paired with Emiliano Grillo off the 10th tee at 1.40pm and he begins at -5 (67). Grillo lives in Florida but is a possible President Cup team mate as he was born in Argentina.

David Hearn has just begun his round after opening with -1 71. Both Michael Gligic and Roger Sloan begin at E 72 so all three have their work cut out.

Adam will have to join the low scoring as well if he wants to keep up with the leaders. The back nine on this old Donald Ross Detroit GC is where the pros expect to do their scoring.

Yesterday Adam had 4 birdies on it before making his only bogey of the day at 18.

Bubba Watson and Patrick Reed look to miss the cut, both finished at -2.


Bryan Angus

Adam Hadwin opens with -5 67 at Rocket Mortgage Classic... Live scoring

Rocket Mortgage Classic leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/rocket-mortgage-classic/leaderboard.html 

Weather forecast https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/rocket-mortgage-classic/weather.htmlc

Clear blue skies, sunshine, near calm conditions and 84*f met the field for this first round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit, yes another week of low scoring for the PGA tour.

Adam Hadwin went out in -2 34, two birdies 7 pars and came home in 33 with 4 birdies and a bogey at the last after pulling his drive into the rough. He is in the clubhouse T5 -5 67.

David Hearn -1 71, Roger Sloan E 72, Michael Gligic E 72 round out the Canadian scoring after the early wave in round 1.

Doc Redman (runner up last year) and another American, Scott Stallings share the clubhouse lead at -7 65.

Bryan Angus

4 Canadians will play the Rocket Mortgage Classic this weekend in Detroit.. Thursday tee times..

Rocket Mortgage Classic Thursday tee times..https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/rocket-mortgage-classic/tee-times.html

The travelling troop of the PGA Tour have moved into their COVID bubble in Detroit this July 4th weekend, as the pandemic spikes dangerously in a country that has 50 different states with 50 different attitudes regarding containment. Dr Anthony Fauci, their head of infectious diseases warns their could be 100,000 new cases per day if Americans don't take the re-surgence of the virus seriously.

There are 4 Canadians in the field, Mac Hughes will not play this week. Michael Gligic, Roger Sloan, Adam Hadwin and David Hearn who is in the first group at 6.45am will take on the par 72 Donald Ross designed Detroit Golf Club.

Webb Simpson the highest ranked player at #6, Rickie Fowler and Nate Lashley are the early waves feature pairing at 7.45. Patrick Reed, Bryson DeChambeau and  Hideki Matsuyama are off at 1pm

Only 3 of the world's top 10 are playing as many of the top pros have gone home.,Guys like Rory, Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka are all off for the long weekend, so this is the weakest field of the last 3.

Nate Lashley who was a Wednesday alternative last year, is the defending champion. He won the inaugural event last year by 6 shots at 263 over Doc Redman.

With a T5 here last year and 6 top 10's since February Bryson DeChambeauis the favourite to win this week.

Bryan Angus

CP Women's Open postponed as COVID-19 rages in USA

Due to continued travel and border restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the LPGA Tour, together with Golf Canada and title-sponsor Canadian Pacific (CP), have announced that the CP Women’s Open at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver has been postponed until 2021.

Golf Canada and CP have continued to monitor guidelines set by federal, provincial and municipal authorities intended to prevent the community spread of the virus. Physical factors including restrictions on international travel and mandatory quarantine along with limitations on group gatherings in the province of British Columbia ultimately forced the event’s postponement at Shaughnessy until 2021. 

USA is currently spiking at 40,000 new cases per day with Dr Anthony Fauci, head of infectious diseases warning they could climb to 100,000 per day.

The USA/Canada border has been closed until July 31 for all but essential travel.

The 2021 CP Women’s Open at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club will mark the sixth time the province of British Columbia has hosted Canada’s Women’s Open Championship, with the last time being 2015 at The Vancouver Golf Club, where Lydia Ko won her third CP Women’s Open title.

The 2020 event was originally set for August 31-September 6. The Board of Directors and membership at Shaughnessy quickly decided to shift their focus to welcoming the stars of the LPGA Tour back next August 23-29, 2021