Golf writer Alistair Tait blogs this morning that Ewan Murray writes in today's Guardian what we all suspected, PGA of America is set to announce the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits will be cancelled and re scheduled to 2021 due to COVID_19.
With the pandemic surging again in 18 states, nearly 40,000 new cases in one day in America, world wide travel restrictions and quarantines and importantly no guarantees regarding fan safety as well as opposition to play with no fans from stars like Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka the call to cancel is the right one.
Needless to say TV networks with huge vested interests like Sky Sports will be hurt financially, however this world pandemic has left organizers with little choice.
The announcement is expected next week.
Bryan Angus
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Monday, June 22, 2020
Webb Simpson wins RBC Heritage, T25 for Corey Connors.. Final scoreboard
RBC Heritage final scoreboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/rbc-heritage/leaderboard.html
With rounds of 65 65 68 64 -22 it's fair to say Webb Simpson, whose career took a dive after the ban on anchored putters, was well worth the win on the soft Harbour Town course at the RBC Heritage.
Even with those scores, and the fact he held the lead in the 2nd and 3rd rounds he still had to come from behind over the back nine to catch and pass Tyrrell Hatton, Abraham Ancer and Joaquin Neimann all of whom were tearing it up in front of him. He did it in style with 5 birdies in his last 7 holes.
Nice "Fathers Day" present for the guy with 5 kids and is now ranked 5th in the world.
Corey Connors started the day at -13, 2 shots behind, but he just couldn't make enough putts to keep pace, ending up T21 after his -1 70 left him at -14.
Adam Hadwin T41 at -11 after a closing 69, and Mac Hughes would rather forget Sunday with the high score of the day +7 78, T70 -3.
COVID-19 is going into phase 2 in several states with Florida leading the way with consecutive days of over 4000 new cases, numbers are up in 18 states, but the people of Hilton Head like many Americans are just ignoring it.
" I don't think they are taking it seriously around here" said Justin Thomas, " beaches are packed, restaurants are packed, nobody is wearing a mask"
This week the PGA Tour takes over the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut for the Travelers Championship, where Corey Connors, Mac Hughes and Roger Sloan will join most of the same cast from last week. David Hearn is an alternative.
Bryan Angus
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With rounds of 65 65 68 64 -22 it's fair to say Webb Simpson, whose career took a dive after the ban on anchored putters, was well worth the win on the soft Harbour Town course at the RBC Heritage.
Even with those scores, and the fact he held the lead in the 2nd and 3rd rounds he still had to come from behind over the back nine to catch and pass Tyrrell Hatton, Abraham Ancer and Joaquin Neimann all of whom were tearing it up in front of him. He did it in style with 5 birdies in his last 7 holes.
Nice "Fathers Day" present for the guy with 5 kids and is now ranked 5th in the world.
Corey Connors started the day at -13, 2 shots behind, but he just couldn't make enough putts to keep pace, ending up T21 after his -1 70 left him at -14.
Adam Hadwin T41 at -11 after a closing 69, and Mac Hughes would rather forget Sunday with the high score of the day +7 78, T70 -3.
COVID-19 is going into phase 2 in several states with Florida leading the way with consecutive days of over 4000 new cases, numbers are up in 18 states, but the people of Hilton Head like many Americans are just ignoring it.
" I don't think they are taking it seriously around here" said Justin Thomas, " beaches are packed, restaurants are packed, nobody is wearing a mask"
This week the PGA Tour takes over the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut for the Travelers Championship, where Corey Connors, Mac Hughes and Roger Sloan will join most of the same cast from last week. David Hearn is an alternative.
Bryan Angus
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Sunday, June 21, 2020
Canadians in the packed leaderboard, Sunday charge to the finish at RBC Heritage.. Live 4th round
RBC Heritage 4th round leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/rbc-heritage/leaderboard.html
While the Saturday leaders stalled Webb Simpson 68. Bryson DeChambeau 70, Corey Connors 69, the rest of the field closed the gap with a scoring average of 67.7, so now we have a cavalry charge to the finish with 35 players at -10 and 4 tied at the top with -15.
Six players posted 63's in the early going to set the stage and now as they say in horse racing, " they're rounding the clubhouse turn and down the stretch they come !!"
Tyrrell Hatton, Abraham Ancer, Webb Simpson and Ryan Palmer are in the lead -15.
Corey Connors had 3 birdies in his first 5 holes, then a bogey at the 8th for 34 out, but had 2 bogey's with 2 birdies coming in 35 for 69, so today he sits at T8 -13. Mac Hughes was out in 36 but came in 33 69 T28, while Adam Hadwin shot 67 T36 -9 , out in 32 including an eagle 3 at the 2nd, but lost that with a double bogey at the 14th.
Tyrrell Hatton the emotional little Englishman who won the "Arnie Palmer Invitational" before the break summed it up best " It wouldn't be surprising on Sunday if someone around 20th goes out and shoot poteentially a really low score to win the tournament"
75 players made the cut at -4, a record 223 under par. Webb Simpson explaine why " There's a softness to the golf course, so more balls have stayed in the fairway that would have run off through the pine straw and the greens are way softer, we are used to really firm greens at Hilton Head, and cooler temperatures so in the spring the ball didn't go as far. We're also used to a lot more wind.
All those factors play a role. Any time we get soft greens we will shoot low scores. So I think all that combined is why the par 71 is playing like a 67."
Hatton and Ancer are the final pairing at 2.10pm.
Canadian pairings : Corey Connors -13 is off at 1.00pm with Brice Garnett, Mac Hughes -10 with Matt Jones at 11.20 and Adam Hadwin -9 with Marc Hubbard at 10.50
Jordan Spieth who the commentary crew at the almost silent Harbour Town course declared "back again" after his 8 birdies in round 1 must be "gone again" after his closing 75
Rory shot 66 -10, DeChambeau (70) is at -12 so is Dustin Johnson(67) and Brooks Koepka (68).
Abraham Ancer, a Presidents Cup star from Mexico " Definitely anybody's tournament"
Pity there's nobody there to see it...
Bryan Angus
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While the Saturday leaders stalled Webb Simpson 68. Bryson DeChambeau 70, Corey Connors 69, the rest of the field closed the gap with a scoring average of 67.7, so now we have a cavalry charge to the finish with 35 players at -10 and 4 tied at the top with -15.
Six players posted 63's in the early going to set the stage and now as they say in horse racing, " they're rounding the clubhouse turn and down the stretch they come !!"
Tyrrell Hatton, Abraham Ancer, Webb Simpson and Ryan Palmer are in the lead -15.
Corey Connors had 3 birdies in his first 5 holes, then a bogey at the 8th for 34 out, but had 2 bogey's with 2 birdies coming in 35 for 69, so today he sits at T8 -13. Mac Hughes was out in 36 but came in 33 69 T28, while Adam Hadwin shot 67 T36 -9 , out in 32 including an eagle 3 at the 2nd, but lost that with a double bogey at the 14th.
Tyrrell Hatton the emotional little Englishman who won the "Arnie Palmer Invitational" before the break summed it up best " It wouldn't be surprising on Sunday if someone around 20th goes out and shoot poteentially a really low score to win the tournament"
75 players made the cut at -4, a record 223 under par. Webb Simpson explaine why " There's a softness to the golf course, so more balls have stayed in the fairway that would have run off through the pine straw and the greens are way softer, we are used to really firm greens at Hilton Head, and cooler temperatures so in the spring the ball didn't go as far. We're also used to a lot more wind.
All those factors play a role. Any time we get soft greens we will shoot low scores. So I think all that combined is why the par 71 is playing like a 67."
Hatton and Ancer are the final pairing at 2.10pm.
Canadian pairings : Corey Connors -13 is off at 1.00pm with Brice Garnett, Mac Hughes -10 with Matt Jones at 11.20 and Adam Hadwin -9 with Marc Hubbard at 10.50
Jordan Spieth who the commentary crew at the almost silent Harbour Town course declared "back again" after his 8 birdies in round 1 must be "gone again" after his closing 75
Rory shot 66 -10, DeChambeau (70) is at -12 so is Dustin Johnson(67) and Brooks Koepka (68).
Abraham Ancer, a Presidents Cup star from Mexico " Definitely anybody's tournament"
Pity there's nobody there to see it...
Bryan Angus
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Saturday, June 20, 2020
Corey Connors T2, Mac Hughes T11 in round 3 at RBC Heritage.. Live 3rd round scoring.
RBC Heritage Saturday tee times / leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/rbc-heritage/leaderboard.html
This week would normally be the RBC Canadian Open, and as such it's fitting that Corey Connors and MacKenzie Hughes will be amongst the late pairings at this RBC Heritage.
The final pairing today Webb Simpson 65 65, with his iron play and short game suited to Harbour Town and Bryson DeChambeau 67 64 just overpowering it will go out at 2.10pm
Corey Connors with his career best round on Friday, a bogey free -8 63 which included 2 misses for birdie within 10 feet on his last 2 holes is in the penultimate pairing with Ryan Moore at -11 (2.00pm) Corey is 1st in strokes gained tee to green again this week 31/36.
MacKenzie Hughes 66,68 -8 is paired with Dustin Johnson at 1.20pm. Adam Hadwin 72,65 -5 is playing with Justin Rose at 10.10am
News: Nick Watney has tested positive for COVID-19 and been withdrawn and placed in isolation. He wasn't feeling well on Friday morning and reported for testing after making it to the practice putting green where he was close to Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy. All precautions are being followed he is in 10 day isolation, and his playing partners on Thursday, Luke List and Vaughn Taylor, and their caddies and officials are all being re tested. So far play will continue today with no spectators.
The morning weather at this Hilton Head resort has been benign so some of the big names like Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Bubba Watson will join Adam Hadwin early on perfect greens and a real chance to post a low round.
There are lots of story lines, so use my live scoring link above to follow your favourites
Bryan Angus
This week would normally be the RBC Canadian Open, and as such it's fitting that Corey Connors and MacKenzie Hughes will be amongst the late pairings at this RBC Heritage.
The final pairing today Webb Simpson 65 65, with his iron play and short game suited to Harbour Town and Bryson DeChambeau 67 64 just overpowering it will go out at 2.10pm
Corey Connors with his career best round on Friday, a bogey free -8 63 which included 2 misses for birdie within 10 feet on his last 2 holes is in the penultimate pairing with Ryan Moore at -11 (2.00pm) Corey is 1st in strokes gained tee to green again this week 31/36.
MacKenzie Hughes 66,68 -8 is paired with Dustin Johnson at 1.20pm. Adam Hadwin 72,65 -5 is playing with Justin Rose at 10.10am
News: Nick Watney has tested positive for COVID-19 and been withdrawn and placed in isolation. He wasn't feeling well on Friday morning and reported for testing after making it to the practice putting green where he was close to Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy. All precautions are being followed he is in 10 day isolation, and his playing partners on Thursday, Luke List and Vaughn Taylor, and their caddies and officials are all being re tested. So far play will continue today with no spectators.
The morning weather at this Hilton Head resort has been benign so some of the big names like Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Bubba Watson will join Adam Hadwin early on perfect greens and a real chance to post a low round.
There are lots of story lines, so use my live scoring link above to follow your favourites
Bryan Angus
Friday, June 19, 2020
Connors shoots 63 T2 at RBC Heritage, Hughes, Hadwin in contention. Live round 3 scoring
RBC Heritage leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/rbc-heritage/leaderboard.html
On a day of low scoring on the Harbour Town course at the RBC Heritage, Corey Connors fired a bogey free 8 birdies on route to an -8 63 and at -11, he is just a shot off the lead of -12 held by Webb Simpson 65 65 130.
Joining him at -8 is Mac Hughes T11 66 68 and Adam Hadwin who recovered from an opening 72 with -6 65 to stand T45 -5. Hughes spoiled a great round with a double bogey 6 at the 8th and a bogey 5 at the 18th.
This event is usually played in April, but the move to June in the schedule shuffle, means little rough and the soft conditions and little wind leaves Harbour Town defenseless, the only player to shoot over par and make the cut was 1st round leader Mark Hubbard 64 72.
Rory McIlroy opened with +1 72 but recovered with -6 65 T45 -5. Bryson DeChambeau has muscled his way to 67 64 T2 with Connors.
With the cut falling at -4, Michael Gligic 72 70 E, David Hearn 75 69 +2 and Roger Sloan 70 73 +2 did not make the weekend.
Lots of big names just made the cut, which means they will have early tee times with perfect greens on Saturday. Xander Schauffele -4, Justin Thomas -5, Rory -5, Bubba -5, Jon Rahm -5.
With this being the scheduled week originally for the RBC Canadian Open, it seems poetic that Corey and Mac at least will be in the mix at RBC's other event !!
Bryan Angus
On a day of low scoring on the Harbour Town course at the RBC Heritage, Corey Connors fired a bogey free 8 birdies on route to an -8 63 and at -11, he is just a shot off the lead of -12 held by Webb Simpson 65 65 130.
Joining him at -8 is Mac Hughes T11 66 68 and Adam Hadwin who recovered from an opening 72 with -6 65 to stand T45 -5. Hughes spoiled a great round with a double bogey 6 at the 8th and a bogey 5 at the 18th.
This event is usually played in April, but the move to June in the schedule shuffle, means little rough and the soft conditions and little wind leaves Harbour Town defenseless, the only player to shoot over par and make the cut was 1st round leader Mark Hubbard 64 72.
Rory McIlroy opened with +1 72 but recovered with -6 65 T45 -5. Bryson DeChambeau has muscled his way to 67 64 T2 with Connors.
With the cut falling at -4, Michael Gligic 72 70 E, David Hearn 75 69 +2 and Roger Sloan 70 73 +2 did not make the weekend.
Lots of big names just made the cut, which means they will have early tee times with perfect greens on Saturday. Xander Schauffele -4, Justin Thomas -5, Rory -5, Bubba -5, Jon Rahm -5.
With this being the scheduled week originally for the RBC Canadian Open, it seems poetic that Corey and Mac at least will be in the mix at RBC's other event !!
Bryan Angus
Hughes leads Canadians, Poulter has a hot 64 to lead the RBC Heritage.. Live round 2 scoring..
PGA Tour RBC Heritage leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/rbc-heritage/leaderboard.html
Apart from Roger Sloan (-1 70) the other five Canadians are in the early wave this morning as round 2 gets under way the the RBC Heritage at the posh resort of Hilton Head in South Carolina.
Mac Hughes got off to a great start with his -5 66, Corey Connors -3 68, Adam Hadwin and Michael Gligic +1 72 and David Hearn +4 75.
Hadwin was miked up and in a humorous moment when being assessed a penalty he asked if he "could turn it off" before accepting the penalty, then as the official left, said " screw you, but thanks !"
Ian Poulter had one of his better rounds -7 64 with a 30 foot birdie at 17 and a long iron stiffed to 3 feet at the last for another. Mark Hubbard is also at -7 64.
Last year I talked about a young Norwegian called Viktor Hovland. He is a prolific scorer and is in the hunt again at -5 65 with Micheal Thompson and Sebastian Munoz.
Jordan Spieth drove OB and 3 putted the 12th for a 7 playing the back nine first, but got hot and ran off 6 straight birdies for -5 66.
I loved to see Ernie play so well, ending up with -4 67 after taking the lead, playing partners Bernhard Langer and Jin Furyk had -2 69.
Rory struggled to +1 72 and the cut is projected to be at -2 today, so he'll need to get a move on this afternoon.
It's all eerily quiet as per the new norm, like a very expensive members day at Harbour Town, nobody allowed except essential staff, no atmosphere, no buzz as COVID-19 continues to re- surge in the USA, with numbers back up in 18 states as of yesterday with more to follow.
None the less the PGA Tour plods ahead, everyone being tested and re tested, heaven help them if one guy tests positive.
Bryan Angus
Apart from Roger Sloan (-1 70) the other five Canadians are in the early wave this morning as round 2 gets under way the the RBC Heritage at the posh resort of Hilton Head in South Carolina.
Mac Hughes got off to a great start with his -5 66, Corey Connors -3 68, Adam Hadwin and Michael Gligic +1 72 and David Hearn +4 75.
Hadwin was miked up and in a humorous moment when being assessed a penalty he asked if he "could turn it off" before accepting the penalty, then as the official left, said " screw you, but thanks !"
Ian Poulter had one of his better rounds -7 64 with a 30 foot birdie at 17 and a long iron stiffed to 3 feet at the last for another. Mark Hubbard is also at -7 64.
Last year I talked about a young Norwegian called Viktor Hovland. He is a prolific scorer and is in the hunt again at -5 65 with Micheal Thompson and Sebastian Munoz.
Jordan Spieth drove OB and 3 putted the 12th for a 7 playing the back nine first, but got hot and ran off 6 straight birdies for -5 66.
I loved to see Ernie play so well, ending up with -4 67 after taking the lead, playing partners Bernhard Langer and Jin Furyk had -2 69.
Rory struggled to +1 72 and the cut is projected to be at -2 today, so he'll need to get a move on this afternoon.
It's all eerily quiet as per the new norm, like a very expensive members day at Harbour Town, nobody allowed except essential staff, no atmosphere, no buzz as COVID-19 continues to re- surge in the USA, with numbers back up in 18 states as of yesterday with more to follow.
None the less the PGA Tour plods ahead, everyone being tested and re tested, heaven help them if one guy tests positive.
Bryan Angus
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Tee times for the RBC Heritage..6 Canadians...No spectators..
PGA Tour RBC Heritage leaderboard /tee times https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/rbc-heritage/tee-times.html
It's another week for the strong silent guys as they take over the fairways from the members at Harbour Town Links. for the RBC Heritage..
The tour and the players want this to work for TV so Rory and the boys have shown up again after having their noses, throats and temperatures checked and I have the pairings listed on my link above..
Six Canadians with RBC as the sponsor.. Corey Connors, Adam Hadwin, David Hearn, Roger Sloan, Michael Gligic and Mac Hughes an expectant dad again.
Harbour Town isn't long, 2nd shot course, so Bryson best leave his driver in the trunk of his sponsors car..
Bryan Angus
It's another week for the strong silent guys as they take over the fairways from the members at Harbour Town Links. for the RBC Heritage..
The tour and the players want this to work for TV so Rory and the boys have shown up again after having their noses, throats and temperatures checked and I have the pairings listed on my link above..
Six Canadians with RBC as the sponsor.. Corey Connors, Adam Hadwin, David Hearn, Roger Sloan, Michael Gligic and Mac Hughes an expectant dad again.
Harbour Town isn't long, 2nd shot course, so Bryson best leave his driver in the trunk of his sponsors car..
Bryan Angus
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