Henderson T3 after 36 holes at HSBC Women's World Championship in Singapore... Friday results

 LPGA: HSBC Women's World Championship.. Friday results here 

" It was a good day I felt like I hit it really well, and gave myself some good birdie looks. It was nice to cash in I guess with 5 birdies and unfortunately just the one bogey, Yeah I'm happy with the way I'm playing the last 2 days"

This is how Brooke Henderson summed up her 36 holes at the Sentosa GC in Singapore after an opening 69, then today's -4 68 good for T3 just a shot behind the leaders Jin Young Ko and Amy Yang at -8 at this HSBC sponsored Women's World Championship.

" I think we can just find the strategy a bit on a few holes, talk to Brittany tonight, but for the most part if I continue to hit it well and make a few putts we will be in pretty good position"

Weather: There is a lot of heat and humidity in the air this week in Singapore and a strong chance of "scattered thunder showers" this weekend.

Bryan Angus

***Edited: Rory the story, Thursday AP Invitational...good Canadian starts...Friday Scoreboard

 PGA Tour: AP Invitational leaderboard here.

Thursday was a good Rory day, swinging freely, striking 250 yd approach irons with precision, and putting well for an impressive -7 65 to lead after rd1 at the AP Invitational at Bay Hill. 

He has flown long time coach Micheal Bannon over from Northern Ireland since COVID limitations have been reduced. He had this to say about his putting. "I've really enjoyed not having the green book. I feel like it's got me more into the putts, not consulting the book as much. Honestly I feel like it has benefitted me these last few weeks"

David Cannon

Billy Horschel and Beau Hossler are at -5, with a pack at -4 all chasing the traditional Arnie Palmer red cardigan, with a long way to go this 2022 edition..

Canadians: Nick Taylor, Adam Svensson T22 -2 70, T41 Taylor Pendrith -1 71 T40, Conner Conners E 72.

Round 2 is just under way, Conners started on #10 with a birdie, then a double bogey 6 on 11 with a shot in the water,  on what is going to be another hot day with the breeze getting up for the late wave this afternoon when McIlroy begins hie round at 12.57pm.

Bryan Angus

Brooke Henderson solid start at HSBC Women's World Championship.. Live scoreboard

 LPGA: HSBC Women's World Championship leaderboard here 

The LPGA has flown half way around the world to Singapore and Brooke Henderson is with them, after 2 years of staying away from international travel due to COVID. This will be her 4th event of the season after a month long break, where she went home to Smith's Falls to see her grandmother, then practiced at her winter home in Florida.

While we slept (Singapore is 13 hours ahead) she had a strong finish with 4 late birdies to join a group of 14 players T5 -3 69. Brooke is 24 now and currently ranked 11th in the world. Next week she plays the Honda LPGA Thailand with her favourite 48" driver before the new rule beginning March 21 changes the maximum length to 46".

They are playing on the New Tanjong course at the Sentosa GC. The leader from Thailand, living in America Patty Tavatanakit -5 67 is one of 4 major champions atop the leaderboard.

Bryan Angus

Canadians playing this week Arnold Palmer Invitational.. THURSDAY Tee Times

 PGA Tour: Arnold Palmer Invitational TEE TIMES

A strong field has arrived to contest this year's AP Invitational at his Bay Hill course in Tampa. For many this is the run up to the Players next week in Ponte Verde.

#1 Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama, Tyrrell Hatton, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed are amongst the notables, with another full field playing opposite them in Puerto Rico where David Hearn, Michael Gligic and Austin Connelly are in the field TEE TIMES

Sam Greenwood

Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau has withdrawn with his bad back. The purse is a whopping $12m with $2.16 and a 3 year exemption to the winner.

Canadians: Taylor Pendrith 7.32 1st, Nick Taylor 7.54 1st, Corey Conners 12.13 1st, Adam Svensson 1.08 10th 

Bryan Angus

Aaron Cockerill plays this week's Magical Kenya Open... TEE TIMES

 DP World Tour : The Magical Kenya Open Tee Times

The closest most Canadians I know get to Kenya is either on of those media sponsored trips the Kenyan government gives out every few years to publicize holidays climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest on the border of Tanzania and Kenya, or watching National Geographic on the telly.

Well one of the joys? of playing the DP World Tour is that it travels to 47 different countries and this week it's the Magical Kenya Open where Canadian Aaron Cockerill, a young man from outside a frigid Winnipeg, Manitoba continues his golfing odyssey where if he'd heard about the plains of Serengeti it was likely in high school geography.

Aaron lost his status after 2 years on the European Tour during COVID and is now down to the Challenge Tour trying to get his card back via that route.

Last week he made the cut in Durban where South African sensation JC Ritchie won for the 2nd time in a row, lapping the field,  but Aaron had a poor weekend finished near the bottom of the field.

You can follow his progress here. Tee Times

Bryan Angus 

Zach Johnson confirmed as US Ryder Cup captain 2023

No surprise today as Zach Johnson has been selected to captain the US Ryder Cup team who are favourites to defend their title in Rome next year.

Montana Pritchard/PGA of America

He replaces Steve Stricker who led the team in a thumping of the Europeans in Wisconsin in 2021. He will be a Vice captain this time around. Johnson has been Vice captain twice, and now at 46 he will continue the American grooming program for the top job.

He has also been part of the team as a player 5 times, beginning at Europe's emotional win at the K Club in 2006 following Darren Clarke's wife passing weeks before the event.

He has 2 major's on his resume, the 2015 Open and the 2007 Masters along with 4 President Cups, and 12 PGA Tour titles.

However USA hasn't won in Europe since 1993, but have won 2 of the past 3 after Europe's domination, winning 7 of the previous 9.

"What an unbelievable honour to be your next Ryder Cup captain. As we look to the next Ryder Cup I see nothing but an opportunity to work hard, to get behind one another and an opportunity to keep the cup."

Then he posted some of the flint he's reknown for:

I know we are not supposed to win on European soil. Well I'm used to "not supposed to" I was "not supposed to make it on tour, or win 2 majors, or make 5 Ryder Cup teams so I love it when Im not supposed to.

As your captain I can assure you I'm going to bring some of that home cooked Iowa pride to the Ryder Cup".

Europe has yet to name their new captain to replace Paddy Harrington.

Bryan Angus 

Adam Svensson moves up in world rankings.

Adam Svensson's steady play has moved him up from 181owgr, to 168 after his T9 last week at the Honda Classic. He plays again this week up in Tampa at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

Adam Svensson (Photo courtesy of PGA Tour)

He was also in the top 10 earlier T7 at the Sony Open in Hawaii. 

Corey Conners 46, Mac Hughes 58, Adam Hadwin 158 are the others in the top 200. They are also at Bay Hill this week.

Bryan Angus