Connect with us

News

Golf’s Longest Day

Published

on

Sectional qualifying day for the US Open, often referred to as “Golf’s Longest Day,” never disappoints for providing drama and great highs and lows. The 2024 iteration lived up to the hype. We saw the longest majors played streak potentially come to an end. Amateurs beating PGA Tournament winners and LIV stars. Pros who have toiled on mini-tours for years finally earning a ticket to shine on golf’s biggest stage.

Yesterday’s Sectional Qualifiers took place at 10 sites throughout the US and Canada. There were a total of 672 competing for 44 spots in the field at Pinehurst. The number of qualifiers per site varied by the strength of the field as determined by the USGA.

Adam Scott’s 91 Consecutive Major Streak in Jeopardy

Ranked 60th in the world and not in the field this week for the Memorial (any golfer ranked in the top 60 at the completion of this week’s tournaments not otherwise in the field is given an invitation), Adam Scott teed it up at Springfield Country Club in Ohio as one of 64 players competing for four spots. Scott finished at 7 under in a tie with fellow Aussie Cam Davis (ranked 66th) for the fourth and final qualifying spot. Scott chipped in for birdie on the first playoff hole only to watch Davis roll in a putt for birdie to keep the playoff going. Davis defeated his childhood hero to take the final spot. Scott’s streak that began in 2001 may end unless he somehow remains in the top 60 of the world ranking or makes it into the field as an alternate.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIV Golf League Disappoints

19 LIV Golf League members attempted to qualify for Pinehurst. Only 3 succeeded. Dean Burmester qualified in Florida and David Puig earned medalist honors at Lake Merced in California. Recently touted as “the best golfer in the world” Joaquin Niemann finished one stroke off the pace and was defeated by 3 amateurs at the Bear Club in Florida.

Higgs Continues His Hot Play

Harry Higgs won the final the final spot at the Duke University Course. In a playoff. This continues his run that began with Monday qualifying into a Korn Ferry Tour event that he went on to win in a playoff. He followed that win with a second consecutive playoff win on the KFT before earning his place in the field at Pinehurst.

Dreams Realized

A number of NCAA students were among those who achieved their dream of entry into the US Open. Among those was FSU standout Luke Clanton who earned one of the 7 spots available in Florida. “Making the first US Open is pretty sweet. I’m pretty excited.”

“Its about damn time.” The emotional words of John Chin who will be playing in his first major next week. “The last couple of years have been a grind. I’m super excited and happy.”

One of the more interesting amateurs who earned their way into the championship is Colin Prater, a high school teacher and golf coach from Colorado Springs, Colorado. Prater was an All-American in college who chose not to pursue a professional golf career and instead was drawn to teaching and coaching high school students.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

News

Excitement Builds for the 2024 PGA Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club

Avatar photo

Published

on

Xander Schauffele

The 2024 PGA Tour Championship is in full swing at the historic East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, where the top 30 golfers from the FedExCup standings are battling it out for the prestigious title of season champion. This thrilling event marks the culmination of the FedExCup Playoffs, with millions of fans eagerly watching as the best players in the world compete.

Scottie Scheffler Leads the Pack

Scottie Scheffler enters the Tour Championship as the FedExCup points leader, a position he’s impressively maintained for the third consecutive year. Starting with a two-stroke lead at 10 under par, Scheffler is determined to secure his first FedExCup title after coming close in previous years. Close on his heels is Xander Schauffele, who has had an incredible season, winning both the PGA Championship and the Open Championship. Keegan Bradley, fresh off his victory at the BMW Championship, has surged to fourth place and is poised to make a strong showing.

ADVERTISEMENT

East Lake Golf Course
East Lake Golf Course

Tournament Highlights and Fan Experiences

Fans attending the Tour Championship can expect a fantastic experience, with plenty of activities and amenities to enjoy. The event features shaded bleachers, food and drink options, and special lounges like the Tito’s Stillhouse Lounge and the Coca-Cola Café. Whether you’re watching the action from the No. 1 Tee Shaded Bleachers or enjoying the vibrant atmosphere at The Landing on the 17th fairway, there’s something for everyone at this iconic event.

Catch the Action Live or Secure Your Tickets

The Tour Championship will be broadcast live throughout the weekend, with coverage on Golf Channel and NBC. The final round will take place on Sunday, September 1, where the FedExCup champion will be crowned.

For those looking to witness the excitement in person, tickets are still available. Don’t miss your chance to see the world’s best golfers compete for glory at East Lake Golf Club. Click here to buy your tickets now and be part of the excitement! For more details about the event, visit the East Lake Golf Club’s official page.

This week is set to be a thrilling finale to the PGA Tour season, so make sure you’re tuned in or, better yet, there in person to experience it all!

Continue Reading

News

“It Was A Great Day Until It Wasn’t”

Published

on

We all remember the images of Rory McIlroy, head bowed in the scoring area at Pinehurst, as Bryson DeChambeau putted out to win the US Open immediately followed by he and his caddie Harry Diamond trunk slamming on the way out of town. McIlroy refused to speak to the press about his two missed short putts on both 16 and 18. Until today.

Speaking at his press conference at the Genesis Scottish Open Rory finally answered the questions that every reporter wanted to ask following the meltdown at Pinehurst. He also address the criticisms that both Hank Haney and Smylie Kaufmann raised last week about Rory’s choice of caddy.

ADVERTISEMENT

4th Round at Pinehurst

With respect to the final round at the US Open McIlroy was very candid. “[I]t was a great day until it wasn’t. I did things on that Sunday that I haven’t been able to do the last couple of years. Took control of the golf tournament. Holed putts when I needed to… mostly when I needed to (with a slight laugh).” “It was a tough day. A tough few days after that.” “I look back on that day…I’ll learn a lot from it and I’ll hopefully put that to good use. It’s something that’s been a bit of a theme throughout my career and I’ve been able to take those tough moments and turn them into great things not very long after that.”

Haney, Kaufman Criticize Harry Diamond

Hank Haney, once the coach of Tiger Woods, and Smylie Kaufman, a former tour pro and now commentator, both publicly questioned Rory’s choice of caddy following Pinehurst. Haney questioned McIlroy using his friend Harry Diamond rather than a more professional looper like veteran Steve Williams. Kaufman was quoted as saying, “I felt like Harry Diamond really should have stepped in on the 15th hole.” “I don’t really ever see Harry stepping in a ton. Rory always, if he has a question, he’ll ask, but for the most part, Rory kind of goes and does his thing…”

Rory didn’t mince words defending Diamond during his interview. “You know, it’s certainly unfair. Hank Haney has never been in that position. Smylie has been in that position once…I just wish that you know, these guys that criticize when things don’t go my way, they never say anything good when things do go my way. So where were they when I won Dubai earlier this year or Quail Hollow or the two FedEx Cups that I’ve won with Harry or the two Ryder Cups or whatever? They are never there to say Harry did such a great job when I win…”

Rory seems motivated. He might lap the Scottish Open field this week.

Continue Reading

News

Keegan Bradley Surprise Pick to Captain 2025 Ryder Cup Team

Published

on

In a move nobody saw coming, the PGA of America selected Keegan Bradley to Captain the 2025 Ryder Cup being hosted by Bethpage State Park on the heralded Black Course. Ever since the US was trounced by the Europeans in Rome last fall most on this side of the pond presumed Tiger Woods, winner of the 2002 US Open at Bethpage, would be named the US Captain. Bradley, a 6 time winner on the PGA Tour (including the 2011 PGA Championship), at 39 becomes the youngest US Ryder Cup Captain in 40 years.

ADVERTISEMENT

A Surprise Even for Keegan

How shocking was the Bradley pick? Keegan never interviewed for the position. He received a call Monday from 2023 Captain Zach Johnson, PGA of America President John Lindert and PGA of America Special Advisor Seth Waugh offering him the position. “I didn’t have one conversation with anybody until I was told I was the captain” said Keegan at his introductory news conference today. “I had trouble when they called me. I felt funny after the call because I don’t think I reacted in the way they were expecting me to. I was in complete shock. And it was heavy.” “I don’t think I’ll ever have a bigger surprise in my live, but something Seth said to me was, you know, ‘Your number was called. It’s time for you to step up.’ And when he told me that, I sort of…it sort of hit me. You know that this is a heavy job.”

Bradley’s Bethpage Connections

There probably isn’t a US professional more familiar with the Black Course. While from New England, Keegan attended and played golf at St. John’s University in nearby Queens, New York. During the time he played for St. John’s there was a poorly kept secret that the SJU team had access to the Black to practice weekly. Former St. John’s coach Frank Darby and former Director of Agronomy (superintendent) Craig Currier had an arrangement by which the SJU team would park at the maintenance building lot on the opposite side of Round Swamp Road from the clubhouse on Mondays when the Black is closed. As long as the team members only played holes 3 through 14 and didn’t cross Round Swamp, nobody would be the wiser. Of course, there was that one time…”my senior year we were playing…and we were just like, ‘we’re going over.’ “We did it. We went over. And we got in so much trouble. They called the police…”

Continue Reading

Trending