MATTHEW WOLFF

Dustin Johnson is on a roll in the Saudi-backed LIV series.

— (AP) — Matthew Wolff became a footnote in LIV Golf history with the first hole-in-one, an ace that carried him to a 7-under 63 and a one-shot lead over a pair of newcomers Friday in the LIV Golf Invitational-Boston. One of those newcomers was British Open champion Cameron Smith, among six players who recently joined the Saudi-funded league. Smith and Niemann highlighted the batch of newcomers that included Anirban Lahiri (66), Harold Varner III (67), Marc Leishman (70) and Cameron Tringale (71). I think this is the future of golf,” Smith said earlier in the week. The ball took one-hop and disappeared into the cup for the first ace in the fourth LIV Golf Invitational series.

Matthew Wolff is now a footnote in LIV Golf history.

Matthew Wolff became a footnote in LIV Golf history with the first hole-in-one, an ace that carried him to a 7-under 63 and a one-shot lead over a pair of newcomers Friday in the LIV Golf Invitational-Boston. One of those newcomers was British Open champion Cameron Smith, among six players who recently joined the Saudi-funded league. Smith broke a wedge with a shot from behind a tree that allowed him to save par, and he finished with a 45-foot eagle putt for a 64.

LIV Golf had been expected to announce additional players from its inaugural event outside London three weeks ago. LIV Golf also said Monday that Carlos Ortiz of Mexico is joining, one week after Abraham Ancer of Mexico signed on. 119 in the world, won his only PGA Tour title in the Houston Open in 2020. The Portland event is the first of five LIV Golf events scheduled for the United States, the first time PGA Tour members are competing on U.S. soil the same week as a PGA Tour event. Players who compete in LIV Golf are suspended by the PGA Tour.

The Saudi-funded LIV Golf series has added three more players to its roster for its second tournament.

Matthew Wolff will be joined by former PGA Tour winner Carlos Ortiz in this week's LIV event outside of Portland, Oregon, its first tourney in U.S.

Fowler still has a chance to earn first alternate status if he were to win at least a 7-for-1 playoff when play resumes or if leader Sean Jacklin falters.

Wells Fargo Golf Matthew Wolff, left, shakes hands with his caddie, right, after his putt on the 18th green during the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship golf tournament, Thursday, May 5, 2022, at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm golf club in Potomac, Md. Playing with freedom and joy, Wolff bogeyed the par-5 second hole at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm but was flawless from there, shooting an opening-round 65 on Thursday to share the early lead at the Wells Fargo Championship. “If I get in a spot where I'm in contention or if I'm by the lead, I'm sure going to feel nerves, but those are the nerves that I like to feel,” Wolff said. McCarthy, who was born in nearby Rockville and graduated from Georgetown Prep and the University of Virginia, is treating this one-and-done hometown Wells Fargo Championship more like a major. McIlroy, who won his third title at Quail Hollow last year, appears equally comfortable at hilly, tree-lined TPC Potomac.

Jason Day describes himself as “obsessed” with the new swing he's working on with instructor Chris Como.

A new year means the start of the PGA Tour's new media rights deal.

A new year in golf brings several questions that will take time to sort out.

The list included Matthew Wolff, Mackenzie Hughes of Canada and Ryan Palmer, who are exclusive members of the PGA Tour. The final ranking, along with other criteria, puts the field at 83 players. 50 in the world at the end of the year was Takumi Kanaya of Japan, whose 67 in the final round of the last Japan Golf Tour event moved him up to third place. Kanaya will be one of three Asia-Pacific Amateur champions from Japan in the field, joining current champion and world No. The other six players to get in through the world ranking were Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Fitzpatrick, Lee Westwood, Tommy Fleetwood, Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Min Woo Lee.

Talor Gooch is one round away from his first PGA Tour victory.

Not even the best season of her young career is keeping Nelly Korda from trying to get better.

APTOPIX Houston Open Golf Matthew Wolff lets go of his driver in reaction as his tee shot on the eighth hole goes left into the rough during the final round of the Houston Open golf tournament Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) (Michael Wyke)HOUSTON — (AP) — Jason Kokrak had reason to believe he shot himself out of the Houston Open on the back nine Saturday morning. He played it 10 shots better when it counted Sunday afternoon, making four straight birdies for a 5-under 65 and a two-shot victory. Kokrak couldn't help but think back to Saturday morning, when he returned to complete the second round and went the other direction. Kokrak hit wedge to 5 feet for a fourth straight birdie.

Jason Kokrak is the Houston Open winner after a big rally on the back nine.

Scottie Scheffler is closer than ever to his first PGA Tour victory.

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — (AP) — Viktor Hovland was hitting it so well he had no trouble taking on a big risk, and it paid off Saturday with a big finish for a 9-under 62 and a two-shot lead in the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba. That gave him a two-shot lead over fellow Oklahoma State alum Talor Gooch (63), and he was three clear of Justin Thomas (64). Hovland went with driver and it landed about 15 feet beyond the pin and rolled just off the edge. Gooch had a birdie putt that spun out of the cup on the 18th. He did his best work earlier on the back nine, rolling in a 30-foot birdie putt on No.

Wolff had no trouble making birdies on the day after he opened with a 10-birdie round of 61. That dropped him to 13-under 129, still in the lead and looking to be in command of his game. “It was a hard finish, but I was really happy with how I played today,” Wolff said. Following a round like I had yesterday, it’s not always easy to come out and keep on making birdies and glad I proved to myself that I could do it. He finished with a par for a 64 and wound up within two shots of the lead.

Wolff hit only one driver Thursday, followed his script of keeping the ball in play and ripped off a 10-under 61 to match his career low on the PGA Tour. It gave him a two-shot lead among early starters in the World Wide Technology Championship. Sergio Garcia and Talor Gooch had the low scores from the afternoon at and joined Kirk and Billy Horschel at 64. “I should be and I will be more pleased with the turnaround, but at the moment I’ve got to figure out how to just get off to a little bit better start,” Thomas said. He couldn't see with great clarity at dawn, but he knew he hit a good shot and his caddie thought he saw it rolling on the green.

Sungjae Im has run the tables in Las Vegas.

Right behind was Wolff, one of the more dynamic young players who is comfortable with where he is and how he's playing. Wolff hit a pitching wedge on the 514-yard 16th hole and made eagle from 18 feet that led to a 65. Schenk was at 18-under 195, the second time he has held a 54-hole lead. Six players were separated by three shots going into the final round at TPC Summerlin, a group that includes Sam Burns. He has family with him this week from California, and he has another shot to win in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS — (AP) — Sam Burns won the Sanderson Farms Championship five days ago and is trying to put it behind him. Not only has Burns won twice in the last six months, he also lost in a playoff at a World Golf Championship and finished one shot out of a playoff at Riviera this year. "This week is Shriners and preparing for this week, trying to make sure Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday that we are giving ourselves the best opportunity to play well this week. While Burns remained hot, that wasn't the case with some others who contended last week at the Country Club of Jackson. Scottie Scheffler, unbeaten in three matches in his Ryder Cup debut two weeks ago, shot 67 and also was outside the cut line.

Sanderson Farms Golf Sung Kang of South Korea adjusts his glove prior to driving off the 18th tee during the second round of the Sanderson Farms Championship golf tournament in Jackson, Miss., Friday, Oct. 1, 2021. “Last few weeks I wasn't driving it very good, but my iron play was pretty sharp and my putting was pretty good,” Kang said. Las Vegas marked the return of six more Ryder Cup players on both teams, and the Europeans seemed to fare well. The par on his penultimate hole is what he savored because of the momentum he saved, especially with how he finished. He knew the eagle putt was good before it reached the hole.

Sang Kang was doing everything right except putting his tee shots in play.

Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka are finally getting their day in the sun.

The 32-year-old English birdied the first four holes — making a 27-foot putt on the par-4 second — and added birdies on Nos. Of his four PGA Tour victories, two have come this season: the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January in Hawaii and the Travelers Championship in June in Connecticut. English has won two of the four times he has led or shared the lead after an opening round. Herman, seeking the fourth PGA Tour victory of his career, is in contention after a difficult mid-season stretch in which he missed eight of 10 cuts. After birdies on 16 and 17, he briefly tied English for the lead at 6 under.

Harris English shot an 8-under 62 on Thursday to match his lowest PGA Tour score and take the first-round lead in the FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

Andy Sullivan was among the last to make the field at the British Open and part of the first group out when play began.

Mackenzie Hughes and Louis Oosthuizen brought the memories of Tiger Woods at Torrey Pines back to life.

US Open Golf Russell Henley waits to hit on the ninth green during the second round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Friday, June 18, 2021, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. The former college golfer of the year award winner at Georgia turned pro 10 years ago and has won three times on the PGA Tour, the last one in 2017. But when a layout like Torrey Pines punishes mistakes as richly as it rewards birdies, it puts every golfer on the defensive and brings steady, short-hitting players like Bland and Henley into the mix. Just as revealing was the answer Bubba Watson, who’s at 3 under, gave when a reporter asked about his comfort level at Torrey Pines this week. “I’m going to be honest with you,” Watson began his reply.

Richard Bland, a 48-year-old Englishman who won his first tournament just a month ago, is tied atop the leaderboard at 5 under at the midway point of the U.S. Open.

US Open Golf Louis Oosthuizen, of South Africa, plays his shot from the seventh tee during the first round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Thursday, June 17, 2021, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. The opening round of the U.S. Open has been suspended due to darkness with 36 players left on the course. The start of the round was delayed 90 minutes due to fog before giving way to bright sunshine on brutally-tough Torrey Pines. The second round will start after completion of the first round on Friday. The Spaniard added a 7-foot birdie on the short par-4 second hole and is two behind leader Russell Henley as darkness creeps up on Torrey Pines.

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) (Marcio Jose Sanchez)SAN DIEGO — (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. Open (all times local):Christiaan Bezuidenhout has made a move up the U.S. Open leaderboard after holing out for eagle on the par-5 18th hole at Torrey Pines. Bezuidenhout laid up on the 574-yard 18th and hit a 93-yard shot that took two hops and spun into the hole. ___6:15 p.m.Russell Henley has set the early target at the U.S. Open with a 4-under 67 at Torrey Pines. Koepka was among those off to a strong start in the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. The greens at Torrey Pines are proving to be no bargain, either.

US Open Golf Phil Mickelson plays his shot from the 12th tee during the first round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Thursday, June 17, 2021, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. ___6:15 p.m.Russell Henley has set the early target at the U.S. Open with a 4-under 67 at Torrey Pines. Koepka was among those off to a strong start in the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. The greens at Torrey Pines are proving to be no bargain, either. The U.S. Open waited 13 years to return to Torrey Pines.

US Open Golf Russell Henley watches his shot on the first green roll wide of the cup during the first round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Thursday, June 17, 2021, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) (Gregory Bull)SAN DIEGO — (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. Open (all times local):6:15 p.m.Russell Henley has set the early target at the U.S. Open with a 4-under 67 at Torrey Pines. Koepka was among those off to a strong start in the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. The greens at Torrey Pines are proving to be no bargain, either. The U.S. Open waited 13 years to return to Torrey Pines.

APTOPIX US Open Golf Matthew Wolff plays a shot from a bunker on the 11th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Thursday, June 17, 2021, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) (Marcio Jose Sanchez)SAN DIEGO — (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. Open (all times local):1:20 p.m.Matthew Wolff already has experienced the ups and downs in golf at age 22. Koepka was among those off to a strong start in the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. The greens at Torrey Pines are proving to be no bargain, either. The U.S. Open waited 13 years to return to Torrey Pines.

The opening round of the U.S. Open has been suspended due to darkness with 36 players left on the course.

Already the most fickle event in golf, the Dell Technologies Match Play on Friday was an endless frenzy. “You just never know what can happen out there," Billy Horschel said after beating Max Homa on the third playoff hole. 64 seed in Match Play history to make it to the weekend. 60 seed, while Erik van Rooyen (62) advanced by beating Daniel Berger with a par on the second playoff hole. The eight playoffs to decide group winners broke the previous mark of five in 2017 since group play began six yeas ago.

Viktor Hovland of Norway plays on the 1st Hole during the final round of the PGA Tour Mayakoba Golf Classic, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020. It sure didn't look that way at the Mayakoba Golf Classic, where he captured another PGA Tour title with another big putt at the end. It was the first time since the Mayakoba Classic began in 2007 that it was won with a birdie putt on the final hole. Hovland won the Puerto Rico Open in February for his first PGA Tour title by holing a 30-foot birdie putt on the last hole. The former NCAA champion at Oregon also was going for his second PGA Tour win, the first one coming at the AT&T Byron Nelson two years ago.

Five-time and defending champion Tiger Woods dropped a turn-back-the-clock round of his own, relying more on experience than current form to post a 68. “There is a sense of ease when I come here, just because I understand how to prepare for this golf course,” Woods said after hitting 10 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens. Small wonder, then, that Woods flashed a wide grin when asked what was most encouraging about the round. “This golf course, as much as I’m trying to attack it, it can bite back,” he said. Still to be determined is how much firmer the greens and the rest of the golf course will get.

FILE - In this Oct. 28, 2019, file photo, Tiger Woods celebrates after winning the Zozo Championship golf tournament at the Accordia Golf Narashino country club in Inzai, east of Tokyo, Japan. The Zozo Championship is the second Asia-based event to move to the United States this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. PGA champion Collin Morikawa was at Sherwood back then, as a young spectator looking for an autograph (he didn't get it). The happiest memories belong to Woods, who won his tournament five times at Sherwood and was runner-up on five other occasions. The Zozo Championship made its debut last year in Japan, and it was a big success despite rain that wiped out one day and led to a Monday finish.

He had to return to the par-3 17th in a three-man playoff to finish the job with a birdie. “It's been a while since my last one, and you have some doubts at times whether you're going to get another one,” Laird said. To see that putt go in, it was pretty special.”It was the third time Laird has been in a playoff in Las Vegas, all of them involving three players. He still had status that carried over because of the shutdown, but fell so far down the list that he needed as sponsor exemption for Las Vegas. Laird needed a pair of top-10 finishes in opposite-field events at the end of the 2019 season just to keep his card.

LAS VEGAS – Bryson DeChambeau put on another power display Thursday and it worked just as well as when he won the U.S. Open. “I was not happy it didn't go in, but I'll take a 62,” said DeChambeau, who won this tournament two years ago. It was the perfect recipe for Las Vegas, with the warm desert air and barely a breath of wind. This is the only tournament DeChambeau plans to play ahead of the Masters on Nov. 12-15, which means skipping a pair of big-purse, no-cut fields in Las Vegas and California the next two weeks. DeChambeau played alongside two other big hitters, U.S. Open runner-up Matthew Wolff and Cameron Champ, who hits it as far as DeChambeau without looking as though he's trying as hard.

The first one was early in the week, when he played a practice round at Winged Foot with Phil Mickelson. NEW LIFEThe PGA Tour stop in the Dominican Republic should be a candidate for comeback tournament of the year. Neither the LPGA Tour nor the PGA Tour, or the majors they play, have had fans this year. The only spectators in the U.S. have been on the PGA Tour Champions in South Dakota. ... Sam Horsfield of England, who played his college golf at Florida, is playing the PGA Tour event in the Dominican Republic on a sponsor exemption.

Over the course of four days, DeChambeau unnerved the folks who run the U.S. Open and carved up Winged Foot’s unyielding reputation one divot-sized slice at a time. In the bargain, DeChambeau turned one of the golf’s foundational myths — the game is about how many, not how — inside out. It’s called the “bomb and gouge” strategy and DeChambeau has become both its loudest and most successful advocate. There’s no way to know how long DeChambeau will have that same advantage nor whether he’ll hold up over the long run. DeChambeau shredded that defense by cutting the corner with a tee shot that measured 365 yards.

Matthew Wolff, of the United States, walks up to the 15th green during the final round of the US Open Golf Championship, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Mamaroneck, N.Y. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

The player Wolff was chasing, Bryson DeChambeau, didn't make those kind of mistakes. After carrying a two-shot lead into Sunday, Wolff shot 5-over 75. While giving all respect to DeChambeau, Wolff was hardly convinced he'd played 10 strokes worse than Saturday when he shot 65 to take the lead. In fact, were it not for DeChambeau, this would’ve been some kind of walk to the 18th green for Wolff. DeChambeau, who was just behind Wolff on the same line, rolled in his clinching par putt and thrust his fists up to celebrate.

A balky putter cost him any shot at a second U.S. Open title. Unable to get much going from the start, Johnson closed out his tournament with a even-par 70 on Sunday in final round. The 2016 U.S. Open champion opened this year's tournament with a 3-over 73 and never really got on track at Winged Foot. “I felt like I hit a lot of good putts, just none that went in the hole,” Johnson said. Fred Couples (1979), Brad Faxon (’83) and Phil Mickelson (’90, ’91) and are among previous low amateurs at the U.S. Open.

Bryson DeChambeau was not the least bit concerned by the narrow fairways or the ankle-deep rough that shape Winged Foot into historically the toughest of all U.S. “You can’t take Bryson out because obviously he won, but shooting even par for four rounds at Winged Foot is pretty exceptional," Wolff said. It was a breathtaking performance, four rounds at par or better, the first player to manage that at Winged Foot. Opens at Winged Foot among 894 competitors, DeChambeau is only the third to finish a tournament under par. Still to play was the back nine, where so much has gone wrong at Winged Foot over the years.

He led DeChambeau by two strokes entering the final round. Wolff shot 75 to finish second, six strokes back. Overnight leader Matthew Wolff was 2 over, picking up his second bogey on No. It was an ugly start to the final round for Rory McIlroy and Harris English. Leader Matthew Wolff is at 5 under and started his round with a drive that hit the fairway.

Bryson DeChambeau, of the United States, checks his lie on the 15th green during the third round of the US Open Golf Championship, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, in Mamaroneck, N.Y. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Using a combination of muscle and mind, DeChambeau carved out an even-par 70 Saturday in the third round of the U.S. Open to remain in contention for his his first major championship. DeChambeau was in contention Sunday at the PGA Championship before finishing fourth and was 22nd in the 2020 FedEx Cup standings. DeChambeau opened with a three putt on the first hole and pulled his second tee shot left, leading to a second straight bogey. The next tee shot went a mere-for-him 329 yards and he converted that into a seven-foot birdie putt. He was unable to hack the ball over the huge slope at the front of the green and watched a nine-foot par putt just slide by the hole.

Patrick Reed, of the United States, reacts after missing a putt on the eighth green during the third round of the US Open Golf Championship, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, in Mamaroneck, N.Y. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)Patrick Reed loves the grind. It was replaced by a two-hour barrage of missed fairways and terrible lies, all exacerbated by a putter that seemed to deteriorate by the minute. Reed made six bogeys and a double over the back nine and shot 8-over-par 43 to finish his day at 7-over 77. “Well, I got all my bad shots out of the way,” Reed said when asked what he took from the round. Over the last nine holes, Reed missed seven of eight fairways, and averaged 1.77 putts.

The only number that mattered to the 21-year-old Californian was a two-shot lead going into the final round. “Anyone in my position would be frustrated, especially with having the lead going into today," Reed said. It’s the U.S. Open, and I have a lead,” Wolff said. “I’m going to try to keep my nerves as calm as they can be. I did everything that I could do up until this point, and tomorrow I’m going to go out there, I promise you I’m going to try my best.”He was at 5-under 205.

Maybe because the two players atop the leaderboard heading into Round 3 at the U.S. Open are not exactly — how to put this? More irritating, from the players’ perspective, is that Reed seems to thrive in tough spots like the one he finds himself in at the moment. If the past is prologue, almost no one else on the ground at Winged Foot has a realistic shot. The one thing you can be sure of is that Winged Foot will be at the center of the drama. “The wind can make a par-3 course difficult, so put that on a U.S. Open setup, it’s going to be even more so,” Schauffele said.

Patrick Reed embraced every aspect of it Friday when the U.S. Open lived up to its reputation as the toughest test in golf, and so did Winged Foot. Amateur champion and current muscleman who powered and putted his way to a 68, the lowest score on a day Winged Foot played to an average score of 75.25. After an opening round in which 21 players broke par, Winged Foot allowed only three players under par. Because I’m pretty tired.”There's still 36 holes to go, and no indication that Winged Foot is going to get any easier. “I love when it’s hard, when you have to be creative on all different golf shots,” he said.

Not coincidentally, the big question heading into Round 1 was whether the century-old course would prove too tough even for the world’s best golfers. In five previous Opens played at Winged Foot, only two players have ever finished the tournament under par. We’ll find out whether, and how much, the USGA feels stung by the assault on par beginning with Round 2. And there’s plenty of spots left on those fast greens where a clown’s mouth would actually be a welcome distraction. “They certainly were looking to have the lowest scores (in the first round), given the conditions that we have as well.

6:40 p.m.Benign conditions at Winged Foot have led to some rare low scores at the difficult course. The 24-year-old is competing in his second U.S. Open after a stellar junior career and playing at Wake Forest. 2:35 p.m.Phil Mickelson opened his return to Winged Foot with two birdies but gave both shots back over the next two holes. Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa were waiting on the second tee when Spieth in the group ahead arrived in a golf cart. ___7:30 a.m.Brandon Wu kicked off the 120th U.S. Open with a drive into the right side of the fairway at Winged Foot.

Collin Morikawa poses with the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the PGA Championship golf tournament at TPC Harding Park Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in San Francisco. Since then, he has played 28 tournaments around the world and already has three victories on the PGA Tour, one of them a major championship. That alone puts him among the elite, except that Morikawa didn't need to win the PGA Championship to feel that way. When I woke up today, I was like, This is meant to be. This is where I feel very comfortable, Morikawa said. Rare is Sunday at a major with so many possibilities at the beginning, at the turn and down the stretch.

BLAINE, Minn. Michael Thompson birdied two of the last three holes Sunday for a 4-under 67 and a two-stroke victory in the 3M Open, finishing off his second PGA Tour win seven years after his first. Thompson finished at 19-under 265 at TPC Twin Cities. With Long in the clubhouse, having played five groups ahead, Thompson had two putts to win. Finau was the only one in contention this weekend who'd already secured his U.S. Open spot, thanks to his seventh-place finish in the FedEx Cup standings last year and No. His tee shot was well wide of the fairway, and his fourth try from the rough did not reach the green.

Richy Werenski celebrates after a birdie on the 18th hole to give him the lead of the during the first round of the 3M Open golf tournament in Blaine, Minn., Thursday, July 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton- King)

Richy Werenski celebrates after a birdie on the 18th hole to give him the lead of the during the first round of the 3M Open golf tournament in Blaine, Minn., Thursday, July 23, 2020. The 24-year-old, who's winless on the PGA Tour, followed up with a 67. You know youre playing good golf, Finau said. Thompson, who played in the first group of the day with a 6:50 a.m., moved even with Werenski on the 194-yard 17th hole. The big thing is just try not to overpower the golf course, stay within myself, make good, comfortable swings, Thompson said.

Tony Finau tees off on the fourth hole during the first round of the 3M Open golf tournament in Blaine, Minn., Thursday, July 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton- King)BLAINE, Minn. Richy Werenski made a short birdie putt on the par-5 18th for an 8-under 63 and the first-round lead Thursday in the 3M Open, while Dustin Johnson withdrew because of a back injury after a 78. The 24-year-old Werenski is winless in on the PGA Tour and ranked 248th in the world. Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Tommy Fleetwood and Finau were the only entrants in the top 25 of the world ranking. At the end of his first nine, Johnson started the 599-yard, dog-leg 18th hole with a solid drive off the tee.

Bryson DeChambeau pumps his fist after a birdie putt on the 10th green during the final round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament, Sunday, July 5, 2020, at Detroit Golf Club in Detroit. With jaw-dropping drives and some clutch putts, DeChambeau won the Rocket Mortgage Classic by three strokes Sunday for his first victory of the season and sixth overall. DeChambeau shot a 7-under 65 at Detroit Golf Club, birdieing four of the first seven holes and closing with three straight. He made a 30-foot birdie putt at No. 16, a short putt for birdie on the next hole and uncorked a 367-yard drive to set up another short putt at 18.

Hideki Matsuyama of Japan hits on the 17th fairway during the third round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament, Saturday, July 4, 2020, at the Detroit Golf Club in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)DETROIT Matthew Wolff had a roller-coaster round that went well enough Saturday to give him a three-shot lead in the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Wolff shot his second straight 8-under 64 to move into position for his second PGA Tour victory. He was at 19-under 197 at Detroit Golf Club. None of the top five players is at the Detroit Golf Club, where Simpson (No.

Chris Kirk drives on the 15th tee during the second round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament, Friday, July 3, 2020, at the Detroit Golf Club in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Chris Kirk drives on the 15th tee during the second round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament, Friday, July 3, 2020, at the Detroit Golf Club in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)DETROIT – Webb Simpson and Bryson DeChambeau were expected to be contenders at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, taking advantage of a relatively weak field and course by PGA Tour standards. And, now he’s out here trying to win a PGA Tour event." Simpson won the RBC Heritage two weeks ago in South Carolina, finishing at a tournament-record 22-under for his second win of the season and seventh of his career. None of the top five players is at the Detroit Golf Club and the field includes just 18 of the top 50.

Another appeal to the Sunday made-for-TV exhibition, The Match: Champions for Charity, is a chance to see Tiger Woods swing a golf club for the first time in 98 days. One difference is the players will be in their own carts, whereas the four PGA Tour players last week carried their bags. Mickelson won their first made-for-TV match over Thanksgiving weekend in 2018, a pay-per-view event that ran into technical problems and was free for all. Woods was going for his seventh straight PGA Tour victory when Mickelson beat him at Torrey Pines in 2000. After this exhibition, golf has two weeks before the PGA Tour is set to return at Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas.

(AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)Fans who had been starving for live sporting events had their appetites somewhat sated last weekend. Network executives knew the first weekend with multiple live events would draw good numbers but for the most part they exceeded expectations. It is also only the second weekend this season that Bundesliga matches were viewed by over 100,000 fans on Fox Sports 1. Fox's strong weekend continued with the NASCAR race at Darlington, South Carolina, averaging 6.32 million. Tirico anchored the golf coverage from his home in Michigan, while Mike Joy and Jeff Gordon called the NASCAR race from Charlotte.

It was the first live golf on television since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down golf and other sports on March 12. We dont want them having to wear masks and be doing what weve been doing for the last number of months. McIlroy criticized Trump on the McKellar Journal podcast this week for politicizing the pandemic and says he would not play golf with him again. Tirico raised McIlroys name as being among those who have played with Trump and what they talk about on the golf course. I guess the ones that dont, I dont get to see as much.

Rory McIlroy delivered the money shot Sunday as live golf returned to television for a Skins game that revealed plenty of rust and raised more than $5 million for COVID-19 relief funds. Down to the last shot, McIlroy barely stayed on the shelf left of the pin, measured at 13 feet. The final carryover gave McIlroy and Johnson $1.85 million for the American Nurses Foundation. Fowler's seven birdies were worth $270,000 in a separate fund from Farmers Insurance, while McIlroy made four birdies in regulation worth $175,000 and Wolff had three birdies for $135,000. The last live competition on TV was March 12, the first round of The Players Championship.

(AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)Live golf returns to television on Sunday, and it might not look entirely familiar except for the players. The only rake on the golf course will be carried by a PGA Tour rules official. Farmers Insurance is pledging $1 million toward birdies and eagles that goes to healthcare workers, and PGA Tour Charities has an online donation program during the telecast. Within the golf community, the golf course is a big part of why people are excited about it, McIlroy said on the podcast. The PGA Tour has had 10 tournaments canceled or postponed since the last one completed, the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Tirico is one of many announcers who has had to trade the press box for a home office. Tirico will be in the corner of his office in Michigan, some 1,300 miles away. The soft return of golf includes testing for COVID-19, thermal readings, social distancing and limited access. Rich Lerner from Golf Channel is doing play by play, with NBC analysts Paul Azinger and Gary Koch. You could get a lot of people become Matt Wolff fans if he has the game he showed in Minnesota, Tirico said.