Golf Wrap: Henderson out, Canadians in contention on Friday... all scoreboards/tee times

 Here is an all in one Friday wrap, with live scoreboards and tee times, including Canadians..

LPGA Tour: Bank of Hope Match Play Friday matches. tee times here

There are Canadians in contention today but sadly Brooke Henderson isn't one of them after narrow 1 up losses to Jenny Coleman (2-0) and Ashleigh Buhai (1-1)she is out of contention in the tournament at 0-2, with 1 match left today vs Angela Stanford (1-1). Still her match is important since all 3 of the other women in her Group 4 could end up 2-1 in a playoff.

Champions Tour: KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship leaderboard here 

It has been a soggy start to this second major, the Senior PGA Championship on Southern Hills GC, Mike Weir with 7 birdies and 5 bogey's got his round done -2 68 a shot behind leader Alex "Chubby" Cjeka -3 67.

Rain wiped out play at around 4.40pm down in Tulsa in round 1, and the guys are out early this morning to finish up in more showers that are forecast to blow through for the rest of the weekend.

David Morland T58 +3 73, Stephen Ames +3 thru 16 holes.

PGA Tour: Charles Schwab Challenge Friday leaderboard/ tee times here.

Playing at the Colonial in Fort Worth Texas," Hogan's alley" with narrow fairways, testing greens, scores are low in ideal weather, Adam Hadwin had a great start -6 66 T5 Sergio Garcia and Jordan Spieth -7 63.

With round 2 underway, Corey Connors E 70, Mac Hughes and Nick Taylor +1 71 and Michael Gligic in trouble +7 77.

Korn Ferry Tour: Evans Scholars Invitational Friday scoreboard  here 

With just 1 bogey in a -6 65, Adam Svensson is just a shot off the lead at this Evans Scholars Invitational in Glenview, Ill

Stuart MacDonald T6 -3 68, Taylor Pendrith T17, -2 69.

With round 2 underway the leader is American Nick Taylor -7 64.

Bryan Angus

Five Canadians in action today at the Charles Schwab Challenge.. Thursday TEE TIMES, live scoreboard

 PGA Tour:  Charles Schwab Challenge TEE TIMES/leaderboard here.

Corey Connors at #36 is the highest ranked Canadian in action this morning at the Charles Schwab Challenge, Colonial Club, Fort Worth, Texas.

Adam Hadwin (7.21am 1st tee), Michael Gligic (8.49am 10th tee), Nick Taylor (8.27am 10th tee)  join Connors (7.54am 1st tee) with early tee times.

Mac Hughes (1.17pm 10th tee) is in the late wave.

Phil Mickelson is undoubtedly the headliner after his historic PGA Championship last week on Kiawah Island.

Bryan Angus

Henderson upset in first round Bank of Hope Match Play...Thursday matches, live scoreboard

 LPGA Tour: Bank of Hope Match Play bracket Click here 

Match play is officially back on the LPGA Tour with Wednesday’s Day One matches at the inaugural Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play Hosted by Shadow Creek. As always, the format brought excitement and extreme highs and lows to the day’s competition.

Perhaps the biggest upset came in Group 4, where No. 61 Jenny Coleman knocked off No. 4 Brooke Henderson, 1 up. Coleman, playing in just her second match-play event and first since the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur, carded only four birdies, but they all came at opportune moments. After dropping the first three holes to Henderson, who was runner-up at that same Women’s Amateur, Coleman’s birdie at No. 5 cut the deficit to two holes. She tied the match with a birdie at No. 11 and took her first lead with a third birdie at No. 16. Her final birdie at No. 18 sealed the big win.

“I think we were both pretty even keeled,” said Coleman. “I just came off to a sloppy kind of start, and she kind of had a rough patch in the middle, and then I started capitalizing on it and kept moving all the way through the back nine pretty good. Just stayed patient, but also playing smart.”

Henderson plays South African Ashley Buhai at 2.05pm local in Round 2. Buhai also lost 1 up in round 1 to Angela Stanford.

No. 5 Danielle Kang cruised to a 7-and-6 victory over No. 60 Albane Valenzuela, Wednesday’s largest margin of victory. Her American Solheim Cup compatriots Lizette Salas and Stacy Lewis followed close behind, notching 5-and-4 wins over Madelene Sagstrom and Mi Hyang Lee, respectively. The win was particularly sweet for Lewis, who is chomping at the bit to get back onto Team USA after missing the 2019 competition with a back injury.

“I really want to be playing. I want to be a part of the team. I want to help the team win,” said Lewis. “Pat [Hurst, USA Captain] is out seems like almost every week right now watching, so just trying not to pay attention if she is hanging around, but I know she's watching and paying attention.”

No. 1 Jin Young Ko, despite admitting no love for the match-play format, earned a 4-and-2 victory over No. 64 Natalie Gulbis. No. 2 Inbee Park went the distance with 2020/21 LPGA Tour rookie Jennifer Chang, who took a 1-up lead to the final hole. With a white ribbon on her hat in memory of her grandfather, who died on Monday, Park got up and down for birdie from the back of the green to tie the match.

“Just feels really weird playing in the hometown and waking up in your own bed and going to the tournament. I mean, it's something I've never done before,” said Park, who has lived in Las Vegas since she was a teenager. “So today was how I kind of felt a little nervous and I wasn't able to perform as well as I wanted to perform. Hopefully the rust is off today and the next few days I'll be playing better.”

Weir, Ames, Morland in the Senior PGA today, Thursday TEE TIMES.

 CHAMPIONS TOUR: KitchenAid Senior PGA, TEE TIMES, Leaderboard   here 

It's the 2nd major of the year beginning today down in Tulsa, Oklahoma, sponsored by KitchenAid, the Senior PGA.

David Morland (9.22am local) makes a rare appearance with the senior guys and he joins Stephen Ames (1.03pm local) who has been in form of late, T10 at the Regions Tradition, then T2 at Mitsubishi Electric Classic. Mike Weir (8.27am local) stepped into the winners circle for the first time on the Champions Tour and the first time since 2007 at the Insperity Invitational at the beginning of May.

The field is packed with all time greats like Ernie Els, Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie to name a few, none looking more fit than Weirsy and others like John Daly and Darren Clarke etal who are still playing terrific golf despite being well, well past their fighting weight.

Bryan Angus

The LPGA has a new Commish to replace Mike Whan

The LPGA board of directors were unanimous in naming Princeton Athletic Director, Mollie Marcoux Samaan as their new commissioner, replacing the Mike Whan who has departed for the USGA.  

 She is the ninth Commish since the tour began in 1950.

Julie Inkster, now a member of the Search Committee said " Our search process was disciplined and thorough. We were impressed and honoured by the large number of quality leaders interested in tha LPGA. But in the end Mollie stood above the rest. 

Mollie said " The LPGA Commissioner role is one of the best jobs in spoerts today and the opportunity of a lifetime. I'm passionate about the game of golf and have been an LPGA fan since I was a little girl.

She will begin here transition over the next few weeks.

Bank of Hope LPGA Match Play bracket... Brooke Henderson's matches..

 LPGA: Bank of Hope Match Play bracket  Click here 

There are 16 groups of 4 this week at Shadow Creek GC in Las Vegas, Brooke Henderson, seeded 4th is in Group 4, with American, Angela Stanford, South African Ashley Buhai and Jenny Coleman.

The members of each group play each other in match play beginning on Wednesday with the winner advancing to the sweet 16 and quarter finals on Saturday 

From there Sunday will feature the semi finals and final.

Brooke plays American, Jenny Coleman on Wednesday.

Shadow Creek is a beautiful ultra expensive private course in Las Vegas owned by MGM Resorts in it's 25th season. It was designed by Tom Fazio. the PGA Tour played here last year.

For the full bracket Click here 

Bryan Angus

Another top 10 for Henderson, Pure Silk Championship final leaderboard

 LPGA: Pure Silk Championship final scoreboard  here.

There isn't another Canadian pro who finishes more regularly in the top 10's never mind with more pro wins (10) than Brooke Henderson, and while all eyes were on Phil Mickelson's historic win on Kiawah Island, a few hundred miles down the Atlantic coast in Williamsburg, Virginia, she was posting a final round -4 67 to finish T10 at -6 at this years version of the Pure Silk Championship.

In 148 pro starts since 2014 she has a staggering 61 top 10's.

After opening rounds 70 70 she was actually in contention, a couple of shots behind the eventual winner, Wei Ling Hsu (68 -13, $195,000) but a 71 on moving day dropped her down the field before recovering on Sunday with the 2nd lowest score of the day. She won $24,305.00

Alena Sharp 72 73 67 71 -1 T31, $ 8469.00

Next week the LPGA is off to Las Vegas for the new LPGA Match Play at Shadow Creek. Wed-Fri 16 groups of 4 match play amongst each other the winner from each group goes to the sweet 16 single round elimination on Saturday before the semi's and final on Sunday.

Brooke is scheduled to play. The Korda sisters and Lexi Thompson aren't.

Then it's another major, the US Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.

Bryan Angus

 

Fit and Fifty, Mickelson makes history on the Ocean Course, wins his 6th major, the PGA Championship...final scoreboard

 PGA Championship final scoreboard here

As much as the 2006 US Open was about Phil Mickelson double bogeying the 72nd to lose to Geoff Ogilvy, this one today was all about Phil, fit and fifty holding on, with a 73, -6 total when the rest couldn't to win his 2nd PGA Championship, his 6th major and his 45th PGA title on the forever tough Ocean Course, which was stealing the story, right until the end.

Wind specialist Louis Oosthuizen (73), who depises the spotlight as much as Phil craves it, was second with major specialist Brooks Koepka (74), both at -4.

The Ocean course at Kiawah, I wrote earlier this week was forecast to play easier than days gone by with a forecast of light winds, wrong.

Anytime you golf right on the very shores of the Atlantic Ocean, there is nothing to spare you from Mother Nature, and although the wind wasn't the one that brings Hurricane season, it was more than enough, combined with the figure 8 routing, trouble everywhere and treacherous greens of this Pete Dye legend to limit the very best to 6 under par over 72 holes.

CBS is still counting it's money this evening with Phil, making history a month shy of 51 adding to his glorious career as the oldest ever major winner in golf for goodness sake, topping Julius Boros (48) and even Jack at 46.

He will just be unbearable to deal with amongst his peers now, bragging rights forever, the TV tour to follow with all the bigs having called and booked him by now.

It was never a done deal on this Ocean Course, where par was very good, where you had to take your chances and bogey was waiting after every so so shot.

He made 3 of them on the front and another 3 on the back, heck so was everyone else, but Phil to his credit kept bouncing back with birdies, none more than the par 5 16th after what he calls "a bomb" of 370 yards albeit downwind, which put him 3 shots clear.

It was a great day for the game, one of it's all time entertainers making history on a historic venue on worldwide TV with no competition from the NFL.  For once the shadow of Tiger was long since dimmed, the young guns were in awe, an American won a national title and in Hollywood style, the hero rode off into the sunset.

Corey Connors did himself proud opening with a 2 shot lead -5 67, and despite 5 bogey's in 6 holes to begin his 7.38am Friday start, he played well for a T17, 75 73 73 E, while Adam Hadwin toiled in obscurity T64 77 71 76 72 +8.

Consider this, Justin Thomas, Adam Scott, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Tommy Fleetwood and our own Mac Hughes were all at home watching.

Rory was never the story, T49 +5, DeChambeau T38 +3, Spieth T30 +2, all of whom had pre tournament volumes spoken and written, to no avail.

No, it was and is in the end of an enthralling week amongst the maskless COVID free fans gathered on Kiawah Island, all about one of the game's greats, Phil "the thrill" Mickelson, with the stage all to himself today, and who's to say he won't be in the spotlight again, maybe soon.

Bryan Angus

Henderson T24th after first round at Pure Silk Championship.. Friday TEE TIMES/leaderboard

 LPGA: Pure Silk Championship Friday TEE TIMES/leaderboard here.

Brooke didn't get a great start with 2 bogey's in 4 holes, but after making the turn +2, in typical Henderson fashion, she posted 3 birdies coming in to finish -1 70, T24 down in Williamsburg, Virginia at the Pure Silk Championship.

The lead is at -5, with a group at -4 so she is well in contention going into today's play at 12.59pm.

Other Canadians: Alena Sharp +1 72 T59, Jaclyn Lee 73 +3 and Anne Catherine Tanguay +4 75.

Bryan Angus

Connors struggling early in round 2 at PGA Championship... Friday TEE TIMES, leaderboard

 PGA Championship: Friday TEE TIMES, leaderboard here.

Everyone in the Connor's entourage watched some of the Leafs 2-1 loss to the Habs last night, however with the 7.38 tee time this morning, they were up and at it around 5am.

Today: He's playing the tough back nine first, made bogey 5 at 10,, birdie 4 at 11, made a 3 putt bogey 5 at the par 4 12th, and another bogey at the par 4 13th. On the par 3 14th he missed the green, chipped it 15' past and made a 2 putt bogey, his 4th in 5 holes.  He is now at -2 and obviously needs to settle.

update: with 5 bogey's in 6 holes, Corey made a much needed birdie 4 at the par 5 606yd 16th, then a tap in par3 at 17. At -2 he's just a shot behind despite a dreadful start.

It will be tough to emulate his tournament leading -5 67 from Thursday, and he knows it.

" Yeah, I was fortunate to have a good day, I made it as least stressful on  myself as possible. I hit a lot of good shots, and made some good putts early in the round that really helped the confidence"

He played the par 5's in -4, made the turn at -2, made birdies at 11,15 and 16 with just one bogey for his 67.

His plan today ? " More of the same, be patient, take my chances when they come, and stay out of trouble as much as possible"

Mac Hughes 75 +3, T77, Adam Hadwin 77 +5 T110.

Bryan Angus

Henderson returns to play at the Pure Silk Championship, Kingsmill Resort, Virginia..TEE TIMES

 LPGA : Pure Silk Championship tee times here 

lpgatour.com

Making her first appearance since capturing career title No. 10 last month at the HUGEL-Air Premia LA Open, Brooke Henderson spent the last three weeks celebrating and reflecting. The Canadian also took time to watch the ESPN Films documentary The Last Dance, which highlights the career of NBA legend Michael Jordan. 

Brooke Henderson (Getty Images)

 

“It was really inspirational and motivational to watch,” said Henderson. “I didn’t really know a lot about Michael Jordan. It was eye opening to see all he went through, how he pushed himself and teammates. 
 
“There’s a lot of lessons you can take. I think just how tough he was mentally. In all sports, physically you have to be ready and in shape, but mentally you have to persevere and really get into the zone or state of mind where you can compete at the highest level. (Jordan) was able to do that really consistently in almost every single game over many years. Just trying to see the little things that inspired and motivated him and transfer that into my own game.” 

 

The topic begs for a pressing question: Is Brooke’s sister and caddie Brittany the [Scottie] Pippen to her Jordan? 
 
“I would say so,” Henderson said with a smile and laugh. 
 
Back at the Pure Silk Championship presented by Visit Williamsburg for the first time since 2019, when she tied for second, Henderson has played the weekend in each of her five starts at Kingsmill Resort and owns an average finish of 17th. 

 

Since 2015, Henderson is tied with Lexi Thompson for the most rounds (3) of 65 or better at the Pure Silk Championship. Four of the last five winners have recorded at least one round of 65 or better. 
 
“Absolutely, so grateful that they took a chance on me in 2015,” said Henderson, who was a tournament sponsor exemption for the Pure Silk Championship that year. “It really helped get my career started and I always love coming back here. It’s so beautiful, right on the James River. 

 

“I feel very comfortable on every tee box and think it is important to hit a lot of fairways here, especially in past years when the rough was a lot thicker than it is this year. I’m excited to be back here because I love this golf course and hopefully I can play well again this year.” 

Canadians: Alena Sharp, Anne Catherine Tanguay, Jaclyn Lee are also playing this week..

Rory McIlroy expecting a different challenge at Kiawah

 europeantour.com

Rory McIlroy says he is expecting a completely different type of challenge on the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island in comparison to his PGA Championship victory nine years ago.

The US PGA Championship is returning to Kiawah Island for the first time since Rory McIlroy dominated during tough conditions on his way to a second Major title in 2012.

He was one of only 20 players in the field under par for the week after battling tough conditions, but nine years on and being played in a different month, McIlroy expects the course to be a completely different test.

“It's nine years ago,” said McIlroy as he reflected on making his return.

“It seems longer. It seems like there's been a lot of time that's passed, and I feel like I'm a different person and a different player. You know, it's a different time of year. Probably going to be a different wind than we played in the last time, so it's going to play like a completely different golf course."

One of the most notable changes about this year's course is that it will now play as the longest venue in Major championship history at 7,876 yards.

But it’s not the only change McIlroy noticed about playing at Kiawah during a different time of year, and said he expects that the greens will mean more demand for a variety of shots this time around.

“I think one of the biggest differences that I've noticed is it's not going to be as easy around the greens as it was last time. Last time in August it was hot, humid, the paspalum was like really strong and dense and lush, so the ball would just sit right up on top and it was so easy to just get your lob wedge out, clip it, spin it.

“I felt like around the greens last time was a lot easier compared to -- I feel this year they're a little more bare, a touch links-y in places, especially with the wind and the dry weather. I don't think it's going to be quite as simple as it was around the greens like last time.

“And that's the one thing I remember about being here the last time is that's what I did so well, I chipped and putted so well that week, and that's what won me the tournament. I scrambled well, and if the wind keeps up like this again this week, that's what you're going to have do well is chip and putt well.

“But I think you're going to see guys playing a lot of different shots this week than maybe you saw back in 2012 around the greens.”

And while the World Number Seven arrives in form, having claimed his 19th win on the PGA Tour two weeks ago, he conceded those factors mean he isn’t expecting his past experience to be a particular advantage this week.

“I played great here last time, obviously, and won my first PGA and my second major, but just because I did that doesn't mean that I'm going to find it any easier this week than anyone else. It's a really tough test, especially when the wind is blowing like this. Those last few holes out there are brutal. It's going to be a great test.

“But yeah, look, I've maybe got some better memories and better vibes here than most of the other guys do, and that's obviously nice, but not sure it's going to enable me to play any better.”

Thursday TEE TIMES for PGA Championship includes Canadians..

 PGA Championship Thursday TEE TIMES here 

With big Jon Rahm  raising eyebrows in the twitter universe with his " I really hope they move up the tees, from 14 on the shortest approach I hit was a 5 iron. I played with Zach Johnson and he was pulling off headcovers on nearly every fairway" this PGA Championship on the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island gets underway tomorrow.

As I posted yesterday, at well over 7800 yards it's the longest in the  history of any major, but also remember the winds that can howl here will not be bad at all, rather benign in fact, topping out at 16kph.

Canadians:

Corey Connors 1st tee 1.03pm with Tony Finau and English star Matt Fitzpatrick

Adam Hadwin 10th tee 1.20pm with South African, Branden Grace and Rasmus Hojgaard from Denmark

Mac Hughes is last off the 10th tee 2.37pm. with a Japanese, Takumi Kanaya and a PGA pro, Ben Cook. 

Notables:

*Lee Westwood, Xander Schauffele, Norway's Victor Hovland 10th tee 8.22

*Rory McIlroy, Brooks Keopka, Justin Thomas 10th tee 8.33am

* Collin Morikawa, Hideki Matsuyama, Bryson DeChambeau 8.44 10th tee

* Patrick Reed, Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood  10th tee 1.25pm

* Webb Simpson, Jordan Spieth, Will Zalatoris 10th tee 1.58pm

* Shane Lowry, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia 2.09 10th tee.

Bryan Angus

Connors, Hadwin, MacKenzie for Canada at tough Ocean Course, PGA Championship FIELD

 PGA Championship : Kiawah Island, Ocean Course 

• Entry List
• History

 

Whoever wins this years PGA Championship will have to bring their A game, and a little Lady Luck in their bag.

Majors: Corey Connors, Adam Hadwin and Mac Hughes are the Canadian contingent, non have won a major.

Hughes with 1 PGA Tour win, was T40 at the Masters this year, he has MC and T58 in 2 PGA Championships.

Connors with 1 PGA Tour win,  has  T10, T8 in his last 2 Masters, has a T64 and MC and the PGA Championship.

Hadwin with the most major experiences, also with 1 PGA Tour win, has 2 MC, T29, T58 in this PGA Championship, his best other major result, T24, 2018 Masters.

Kiawah Island, Ocean Course:  

* Rated the toughest course in America by Golf Digest.

* longest at 7876yds in major history.

* Pete and Alice Dye brute in the dunes along the Atlantic coastline south of Charleston, SC. Looped in a figure 8 front nine clockwise, back nine counterclockwise, with Atlantic on one side and vast salt marshes on the other. No homes allowed on 2.5 mile property for environmental protection.

* no prevailing wind, scoring average in 2012 was 74.6

* Rory won here in 2012 by a record 8 shots, won the Wells Fargo last week, hasn't won a major since 2014. Also famous 1991 Ryder Cup narrowly won by USA when Langer missed a crucial 6 footer that would have tied the match with Europe retaining the title.

* defending champion, American,  Collin Morikawa

Weather forecast: 

* looks pretty favourable on a site where hurricanes are not unusual. No rain in forecast, mostly sunny and warm winds from the E, ENE for the first 3 days top out at 17kph. Sunday SW,16kph. Fairly benign by Kiawah standards

Bryan Angus

 

Ames finishes T2 at Mitsubishi Electric... final scoreboard

 CHAMPIONS Tour: Mitsubishi Electric Classic final scoreboard

Stephen Ames added a T2 to his win (2017) and 2 other top 10's on TPC Sugarloaf in this, one of his best events with rounds of 66 72 70 -8 just 2 behind winner, and here's a blast from the past Dickie Pride 71 67 67 -11 who has been like a pike lurking in the weeds all these years waiting... hoping...sleeping.

.

His last stats 2019 Korn Ferry tour M/C or W/D..8 OF 10 finishes T10 6 Times/.

Ames continues his fine recent form...

Bryan Angus

After 20 years a brilliant Richard Bland finally wins at Betfred British Masters...

 EUROPEAN Tour: Betfred British Masters final scoreboard

Richard Bland claimed his first European Tour title at the 478th attempt as he beat Guido Migliozzi in a play-off to seal an emotional win at the 2021 Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett.

The 48-year-old arrived at The Belfry third on the list of players with most appearances without a win and revealed he already had one eye on the seniors game but after making just one bogey in 72 holes, he showed he could still mix it with players many years his junior.

And after carding a closing 66 with a birdie on the last to get to 13 under, the home favourite parred the first extra hole as Italian Migliozzi, who was just 18 months old when Bland made his European Tour debut, three putted.

England's Dave Coupland, Finn Mikko Korhonen and Pole Adrian Meronk finished a shot out of the play-off, one clear of another Englishman in Andy Sullivan and South African Dean Burmester.

Bland made his European Tour debut at the 1998 Open Championship and in the 476 events between that week and this, he achieved three second places, two thirds and 26 other top tens.

A European Challenge Tour graduate in 2001, 2004 and 2008, he also came through the Qualifying School in 2007 and 2011 before achieving what was then a career year in 2016 as he finished 27th on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex.

But he lost his card in 2018 only to go back to the Challenge Tour and become the oldest ever graduate at the age of 46.

“It’s probably going to take a few days to sink in," he said. "It’s what I’ve worked for for 20 years. I’ve had a few close calls and I assume someone up there was looking down on me quite favourably today.

“A big incentive for me this year was to get to 500 events and this will allow me to do that, which I’ll be hugely proud of.

“I loved it down the stretch out there. I had a one shot lead with six holes to play and hit the shots when I needed to and that’s a huge confidence boost going forwards.

“Who knows? Maybe it’s like buses. None come around for ages and then two come along in quick succession.”

On his return to the Challenge Tour in 2019, he added: "I was 46 at the time: what am I going to do for the next three or four years? I'm getting fatter as it is, I'm only going to be getting worse.

"Just get your head down and do the job, no disrespect to the other players, I wasn't there to make any friends. I did make friends and it was great but it was just purely, get your head down, get the job done and get back to where I felt I belong."

Bryan Angus (europeatour.com)

Roger Sloan leads Canadians, Spieth the story at Byron Nelson...Sunday scoreboard..

 PGA Tour : AT&T Byron Nelson Sunday scoreboard here

While we remain in strict lockdown in this about to be 2nd lost COVID summer the folks down in Texas have been doing things their way throughout the ups an downs of their COVID experience.

With vaccines in abundance after a terrible 2020 summer, their governor made headlines allowing a capacity crowd in to watch their Texas Ranger home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays in April, who aren't even allowed back into Canada, are playing home games in Dunedin Florida, and on June 1st in Buffalo.

The Maple Leafs begin their highly anticipated Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday vs Montreal in an empty tarp covered Scotia Bank Arena, and should they progress to play and American team, they may have to move to Buffalo as well to do so !! 

Back to golf, and back to Texas, McKinney to be exact, Sam Burns has the lead 65 62 69 -20 but local boy Jordan Spieth 63, 70, 66 -17 who went to high school 12 minutes away is all the mask free crowd cares about. Back in form with a well publicized win at the Valero Texas Open recently, he's the man to watch today.

Rain is expected today at TPC Craig Ranch so tee times are moved up, paired in 3's off split tees. The scoring is so low, the average on the par 72 is just over 69, that the cut fell at -4

Roger Sloan is T18, 66,68 69 -13 is the top Canadian, with Michael Gligic after a promising start, well back T59 65 72 72 -7.

David Hearn M/C 70 69 -5.

Bryan Angus

Ames drops into T3 after 2 rounds at Mitsubishi Electric Classic... Sunday scoreboard

 CHAMPONS Tour: Mitsubishi Electric Classic.. Sunday scoreboard  here

Paul Goydos shot a bogey-free 3-under 69 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over Billy Andrade into the final round of the PGA TOUR Champions’ Mitsubishi Electric Classic.

The 56-year-old Goydos had an 8-under 136 total at TPC Sugarloaf. He has five senior victories after winning twice on the PGA TOUR.

Andrade eagled the par-5 18th in a 68.

First-round leader Stephen Ames followed his opening 66 with a 72 to drop into a tie for third at 6 under with 2019 winner Scott McCarron (68), 2014 champion Miguel Angel Jimenez (68), Dicky Pride (67) and Kirk Triplett (68). McCarron also won two PGA TOUR events at TPC Sugarloaf.

Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz bogeyed the final three holes for a 77. He opened with an 84 and was 76th among the 78 finishes at 17 over.

pgatour.com

"Horses for courses".. Ames leads at TPC Sugarloaf.. Saturday TEE TIMES/ leaderboard..

 CHAMPIONS Tour: Mitsubishi Electric Classic, Saturday leaderboard  here

In this game of pro golf there are definitely " horses for courses", venues that "suits" a players eye, and there are also periods of play when  their confidence soars, and their scores follow.

Stephen Ames has been plodding along this year on the Champions Tour, playing well enough, but not often in the "frame" as they say in horse racing parlance of win place and show.

Last week at the Regent Traditions he was in and around the lead for 36 holes, finishing a very respectable 10th.

This week he is on one of his favourite tracks TPC Sugarloaf down in Duluth Georgia where he has his only Champions Tour win, in 2017, but has 3 top 10's in 5 appearances T4 2015, and T6 2019 to go with his win.

He shot -6 66 with an opening bogey and then 7 birdies in a round he described as 'steady eddie, nothing spectacular, lots of fairways and good putting, only 23 "..Clearly his confidence is back, and he's playing a favourite course, with hot humid weather in the forecast let's see if his impressive combo continues on Saturday.

Paul Goydos is a shot back at 67.

Bryan Angus

Three Canadians tee it up today at AT&T Byron Nelson...TEE TIMES / live scoreboard

 PGA TOUR: AT&T Byron Nelson tee times/ leaderboard here 

There are 3 Canadians at this week's AT&T Byron Nelson in McKinney Texas.

Michael Gligic

Roger Sloan 1st tee 9.02, David Hearn 10th tee 1.17pm, Michael Gligic 10th tee 2.12pm.

Top ranked player is Jon Rahm, notables Bryson DeChambeau, Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Brooks Koepka.

Defending champion Sung Kang 65 61 68 67, 261

Weather: cloudy start 61*f, mainly sunny day, light wind 7mph ENE, high 75*f.

Bryan Angus 

Rory the story once again "It's never easy"

I've been away from this desk for a few days, without access to my laptop.

In the meantime, much to Rory and all his fans relief returned to the winners circle on his happy hunting ground at Quail Hollow where he won his first of 3 Wells Fargo titles as a 21 year old in 2010. 

He'd been the wonder boy in Britain and Ireland since he was10, then Europe when he won in Dubai as a 19 year old when his then girlfriend couldn't attend because she had exams at high school.

His final round 62 for the win at Quail Hollow in 2010 put him in the glare of the American spotlight, but it had been for all the wrong reasons for the last 18 months since his last win at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

During that time his life changed when he and his wife Erica were joined by a daughter they named Poppy, he changed his game looking believe it or not for more distance, missed the cut at the Players and Augusta, turned 32 and brought in an old friend, Pete Cowen to recover the golf swing that had him on top of the golfing world. They worked hard at it in Florida the week before arriving at Quail Hollow.

He had to scramble on Sunday for his 68, with critical sandies at 14 and 15 for birdie, and another inaccurate drive (only 3 fairways) on the 72nd hole, that led to a penalty drop that caddie/friend Harry Diamond talked him into, then a towering 8 iron leading to a 2 putt from 45 feet to ensure the on shot win over Mexican Abraham Ancer. 

" It's tough to get over the line when you haven't been in contention for a while, I made it hard on myself. It's satisfying to see all the hard work is paying off. There's so much more I want to achieve and do in the game, but it's nice to see I'm on the right track."

He takes the confidence from this win into the PGA Championship at a tough windy Kiawah Island May 20-23. He won the major there by a record 8 shots in 2014.

Bryan Angus

Ames T5 at Regions Tradition.... Saturday TEE TIMES, Scoreboard

 Champions Tour: Regions Tradition TEE TIMES, leaderboard here

We haven't heard much from Stephen Ames this year, but as he has a habit of doing in big championships he rises to the occasion, and this week at the Regions Tradition at the Greystone GC in Birmingham, Alabama, the first major of the year on the Champions Tour he has posted 67, 71 -6, in a group of 4 including Ernie Els, just a shot off the lead going into play today.

Ames was leading after beginning play on #10, but caught a bad break on #8 when he ball landed on top of an acorn, his next shot ricocheted on  him leading to a double bogey, after he'd only made one bogey in his first 34 holes. "Scoring was really tough today with the wind blowing, then I got that bad break on 8" 

In the lead at -7 Steve Stricker 69, the defending champion, Alex Cejka 69, Jerry Kelly 70, and an enormous Darren Clarke 71.

Mike Weir T26, 68,77 +1. After a good start on Thursday he had 5 bogey's and a double at the last on Friday.

Bryan Angus

Mike Weir/ Stephen Ames TEE TIMES at Champions Tour major : Regions Tradition

 Champions Tour Major : Regions Tradition TEE TIMES here

Fresh off his 1st Champions Tour win last week at the Insperity Invitational, Mike Weir begins his attempt at his first major of the season, The Regions Tradition down in Birmingham, Alabama. 

He's paired with Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker and former Open Champion Darren Clarke at 10.12 local. Stephen Ames is off at 9.56.

The Birmingham, Alabama based Regions Financial Corporation took over sponsorship of this 5th major in 2011, played for 5 years at Shoal Creek GC, then moved to Greystone Golf and CC, "Founders Course" in 2016.

It is not recognized as a major by the European Tour, and the winner does not gain an exemption into a PGA or European Tour event.

Bryan Angus 

 

Connors, Taylor paired together. Thursday TEE TIMES Wells Fargo Championship..

 PGA Tour: Wells Fargo Championship here

There are seven Canadians playing one of the tour's favourite courses, Quail Hollow in South Carolina for the Wells Fargo Championship where Rory McIlroy emerges after fleeing Augusta after missing the cut a month ago.

Last week only 2 of 7 Canucks made the cut, this week I see Nick Taylor and Corey Connors will play together Thursday (1.05pm 1st tee) and Friday.

Mac Hughes

Others, Mac Hughes 10th 8.18, Michael Gligic 10th tee, 8.51am, David Hearn, 1st tee 2.15, Adam Hadwin 10th tee, 1.38pm, Roger Sloan 10th tee, 2.11pm.

Rory 1st tee 12,54 with Cink and Reed. Top rankings, Jon Rahm 10th tee 7.23 and Justin Thomas 10th 10 7.34am.

Bryan Angus

European Tour: Canary Islands Championship TEE TIMES

 European Tour: Canary Islands Championship Tee Times

COVID doesn't have much upside but because of it and the bubble players must adhere to, for the 3rd straight week the European Tour remains on the Canary Islands, and this week on the same Golf Costa Adeje course in Tenerife that South African Dean Burmester won on last weekend.

Canadian Aaron Cockerill will play at 9.16 local time, Thursday.

Bryan Angus

Top 25 finish for Connors at Valspar Championship.. final results

 PGA Tour: Valspar Championship final results here 

He didn't have his A game, but with rounds of 70 68 70 71 -5 Corey Connors ended up in a T21 with 8 guys who all took home $65,291 for their efforts.

Michael Gligic 69 68 74 69 -4 was a shot back T29 worth $40,572.

They were the only 2 of the seven Canadians who made the cut, and they all are entered this week at the Wells Fargo Championship, Charlotte NC. 

They are, Connors, Gligic, Nick Taylor, Roger Sloan, Mac Hughes, Adam Hearn, David Hearn.

The winner was 24 year old American, Sam Burns 67 63 69 68 -17, by 3 shots over Keegan Bradley. It was his 1st win worth 500 points and $1,242,000 US.

Bryan Angus