STEVE STRICKER

The Americans have what otherwise would look to be a commanding lead in the Presidents Cup.

Justin Lower lost his PGA Tour card in brutal fashion when he three-putted from 60 feet on the final hole of the regular season.

(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)Davis Love III has appointed his final two assistant captains for the Presidents Cup. Love officially named Webb Simpson and Steve Stricker as assistant captains on Tuesday for the Presidents Cup battle next month at Quail Hollow. The 36-year-old has played on three Presidents Cup teams, including in 2019 when the United States beat the International Team 16-14. Stricker played on five Presidents Cup teams, most recently in 2013, and he served as the Presidents Cup captain in 2017 for their win at Liberty National. Stricker also was the Ryder Cup captain in 2021 at Whistling Straits, which made him just the third person — along with Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer — to captain a winning Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup team.

Shanshan Feng was planning to retire after 10 years of professional golf.

AKRON, Ohio — (AP) — Jerry Kelly won the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship for the second time in three years Sunday, breaking away with two late birdies to beat defending champion Steve Stricker by two strokes. Kelly closed with a 2-under 68, taking the outright lead with a 15-foot birdie putt from the fringe on the par-5 16th and running in a 10-footer on the par-4 17th. Kelly also won at Firestone in August 2020 and finished second last year. The 55-year-old Stricker, also from Madison, matched Kelly with a closing 68. Sticker missed a chance for his second major victory of the season after taking the Regions Tradition in May in Alabama.

AKRON, Ohio — (AP) — Jerry Kelly shot a 5-under 65 on Saturday for a share of the third-round lead with Alex Cejka in the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship. The Principal Charity Classic winner last month in Iowa, the 55-year-old Kelly had six birdies and a bogey to match Cejka at 9-under 201 on Firestone Country Club’s South Course. 1, getting the ball in the fairway, so I can have control of my irons,” Kelly said. The 51-year-old Czech-born German is chasing his third senior major title after winning the Regions Tradition and Senior PGA last year. The 51-year-old New Zealander won the Senior PGA Championship in late May in Michigan for his first senior major victory.

AKRON, Ohio — (AP) — Steven Alker shot a bogey-free 4-under 66 on Friday for a share of the second-round lead in the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship with Joe Durant, Tim Petrovic and Alex Cejka. A three-time winner this season and the Charles Schwab Cup points leader, Alker had three straight birdies on Nos. A few more putts would be nice, but yeah, at Firestone, just fairways and greens around here.”Alker won the Senior PGA Championship in late May in Michigan for his first senior major victory. Defending champion Steve Stricker had a bogey-free 65 to join Ernie Els (68), Woody Austin (66) and David Toms (69) at 5 under. Stricker scrambled to save par on his final hole.

AKRON, Ohio — (AP) — Alex Cejka birdied two of the final three holes for a 6-under 64 and a two-stroke lead Thursday in the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship. Alker, with three victories, and Jimenez, with two, are the only multiple winners on the PGA Tour Champions this year. The tournament is the second of three straight majors on the PGA Tour Champions schedule. Padraig Harrington won the U.S. Senior Open two weeks ago at Saucon Valley. He went from the U.S. Senior Open to the Irish Open and next week is at St. Andrews for the British Open.

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Harrington never lost the lead at Saucon Valley on a day when he made it hard on himself. He is the third straight player to win the U.S. Senior Open in his debut, following Jim Furyk last year and Stricker in 2019. Before Stricker could make his final birdie, Harrington made his 30-footer to be assured of staying in front, and his lag putting was superb when it needed to be. Harrington won three majors on the regular tour, the first one at Carnoustie in 2007 when he rallied to win the British Open in a playoff. Harrington and Stricker each have a senior major this year, with Stricker winning the Regions Tradition in Alabama a month after returning to the tour from a six-month break recovering from a virus.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — (AP) — Padraig Harrington finally knows what it's like to overpower a golf course, and it has the Irishman on the verge of a U.S. Senior Open title. Harrington reached both par 5s in two, hitting 5-wood to 7 feet on the 608-yard 12th hole at Saucon Valley, and his 5-under 66 enabled him to open a five-shot lead going into the final round of the Senior Open. He was at 12-under 201, five shots clear of former U.S. Senior Open champion Gene Sauers, who birdied the last two holes for a 68; and PGA Tour Champions rookie Rob Labritz (69). Harrington, who turned 50 last August and is playing his first U.S. Senior Open, stretched his lead to as many as nine shots. “He's got a lot of length out here,” Els said of Harrington.

US Senior Open Golf Stephen Dodd tees off on No. Stricker, whose U.S. team of stars throttled Europe in the Ryder Cup, did some nifty work of his own to overcome a sloppy start. Jay Haas, the 68-year-old who on Thursday became the fifth player in U.S. Senior Open history to shoot his age with a 67, had to settle for Tom Watson's age Friday. Rob Labritz, the longtime club professional who earned a PGA Tour Champions card this season, had another 69 and was two shots behind Harrington. Harrington who turned 50 last August, is playing his first U.S. Senior Open and still has plenty of speed in his swing to handle the thick rough still wet from Thursday's rain.

PGA Tour Champions Golf Kirk Triplett walks off the ninth green after finishing his first round of the PGA Tour Champions Principal Charity Classic golf tournament, Friday, June 3, 2022, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) (Charlie Neibergall)DES MOINES, Iowa — (AP) — Kirk Triplett shot a 9-under 63 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead over Jerry Kelly, Ken Tanigawa and Brett Quigley after the first round of the PGA Tour Champions' Principal Charity Classic. A three-time winner on the PGA Tour, he won the last of his eight senior titles in 2019. I know I’m a great putter, but I haven’t been putting well.”Said Stricker: “I’ve been around Jerry a long time and I’ve seen his tendencies with his putting. Steven Alker, the Senior PGA winner Sunday in Michigan, was at 67 with Fred Couples, Alex Cejka and Rod Pampling.

Kirk Triplett shot a 9-under 63 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead over Jerry Kelly, Ken Tanigawa and Brett Quigley after the first round of the PGA Tour Champions’ Principal Charity Classic.

PGA Tour Champions Golf Steve Stricker tees off on two during the final day at the Regions Tradition, a PGA Tour Champions golf event, Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt) (Vasha Hunt)BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — (AP) — Steve Stricker completed at a wire-to-wire victory Sunday in the Regions Tradition, closing with a 4-under 68 for a six-stroke victory and his fourth PGA Tour Champions major title. Stricker's second Tradition win at Greystone Golf & Country Club came in his third event since returning from a six-month absence for health reasons. Stricker spent nearly two weeks in the hospital during his health scare and lost 25 pounds. “I didn't know what to expect coming out three weeks ago,” Stricker said. Stricker has finished all 10 rounds since his return inside the top 10, including a tie for second at the Insperity Invitational.

Steve Stricker completed at a wire-to-wire victory Sunday in the Regions Tradition, closing with a 4-under 68 for a six-stroke victory and his fourth PGA Tour Champions major title.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — (AP) — Steve Stricker shot a 4-under 68 to maintain a two-stroke lead Friday over Scott McCarron and Padraig Harrington in the second round of the Regions Tradition, the first of five PGA Tour Champions majors. He had only his first bogey of the tournament on the par 5 fifth hole but never lost his lead. “The three-putt kind of put a little skid into my round really quick,” said Stricker, who was captain of the winning U.S. Ryder Cup team at Whistling Straits last year. McCarron, who started on the back nine, had a five-birdie, six-hole stretch before his only bogey of the round on No. 15 to highlight a 70 after joining Wes Short Jr. in second place after the first round.

If you didn't know much about pro golfer Steven Alker before he turned 50, there's a reason.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas — (AP) — Steve Stricker wanted to stay in bed Saturday morning and some of the players at the Insperity Invitational probably wish he did. Stricker took advantage of calm conditions with a 7-under 65 for a three-way share of the lead in his return to the PGA Tour Champions. He was playing solidly and then surged into contention with five straight birdies, most of them in the 10-foot range except for one birdie that he chipped in. Instead, his 5-iron from 187 yards came out straight at the flag, and Jobe expected it to go in the water. Right in the middle of it all is Stricker, whose last competitive round was Oct. 10 until this week.

“It was good some shots, some wayward shots that I got away with. “I think 67 was a really good score. "I didn't feel very comfortable over it, didn't really commit at times. And I did, but I got away with them and live to fight another day kind of thing. “But again, I’m glad I’m out here and feeling better.”___More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Steve Stricker is back to golf after six months and it looked as though he was never gone.

No other tournament in golf is more fickle than Match Play.

Viktor Hovland took advantage of an early start with a 66 to lead the Arnold Palmer Invitational by two shots at Bay Hill.

The Florida swing on the PGA Tour resumes with the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

Zach Johnson has been formally introduced as the 30th captain for the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

Two-time major champion Zach Johnson is taking over as Ryder Cup captain, leading an American side trying to end 30 years without a victory on European soil.

NAPLES, Fla. — (AP) — Already the oldest winner in PGA Tour Champions history, Bernhard Langer completed a wire-to-wire victory Sunday for his record fourth Chubb Classic title. The German star became the oldest tour winner in October at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in Virginia. Langer also won the event — in its 35th season, the longest-running PGA Tour Champions tournament in the same city — in 2011 at The Quarry and 2013 and 2016 at TwinEagles. The six-time Charles Schwab Cup seasons points champions also won wire-to-wire in 2013 and 2016. He won the Bermuda Championship on the PGA Tour in the fall of 2020.

NAPLES, Fla. — (AP) — Bernhard Langer maintained a two-stroke lead Saturday in pursuit of a fourth Chubb Classic victory. Langer won the event — in its 35th season, the longest-running PGA Tour Champions tournament in the same city — in 2011 at The Quarry and 2013 and 2016 at TwinEagles. The two-time Masters champion has 42 victories on the 50-and-over tour and has won six Charles Schwab Cup season points titles. “It’s nice to have a two-shot lead, not a one-shot lead,” Langer said. He won the Bermuda Championship on the PGA Tour in the fall of 2020.

NAPLES, Fla. — (AP) — Three-time champion Bernhard Langer shot his age Friday to take the first-round lead in the Chubb Classic. He has bettered his age once and matched it one other time on the tour. “It’s just fun shooting your age,” Langer said. “So, I’m just very, very happy to be able to play, coming back to playing and playing pain-free. He won the Bermuda Championship on the PGA Tour in the fall of 2020.

Scottie Scheffler outlasted Ryder Cup teammate Patrick Cantlay on the third hole of a playoff in the WM Phoenix Open for his first PGA Tour victory, making a 25-foot birdie putt that had just enough momentum to tumble in.

(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File) (Charlie Neibergall)MADISON, Wis. — (AP) — Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker is recovering from a health scare that featured a soaring white blood cell count and inflammation around his heart, which hospitalized him for two weeks and caused him to lose 25 pounds. Stricker said a COVID-19 test came back negative, a few weeks later he felt well enough to go deer hunting. Stricker said at one point his heart rate was 160 beats per minute for two hours. “I was pretty sick, from what they tell me.”Stricker said blood tests indicate the inflammation around his heart is coming down. My skin is hanging.”Stricker can only wonder how much the Ryder Cup took out of him.

Wisconsin.

Ryder Cup FILE- This combo of 2021 file photos show golfers Bryson DeChambeau, left, and and Brooks Koepka. While the 2020 U.S. Ryder Cup team includes DeChambeau and Koepka, who have made their dislike for each other abundantly clear over the last few months. (AP Photo/File) (Uncredited)Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau will finally get their match, even if it’s just 12 holes. STAT OF THE WEEKTiger Woods won his first PGA Tour title 25 years ago in Las Vegas and earned $297,000. FINAL WORD“Nobody turns into a genius drinking.” — Shane Lowry on unruly fans at the Ryder Cup.

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

Sam Burns now has two PGA Tour titles this year.

The last PGA Tour scheduled for a Saturday finish was the 1996 Phoenix Open, the year the Super Bowl was played in Tempe, Arizona. The extra game means the tour will go from Torrey Pines to Pebble Beach to Phoenix to Los Angeles. “We appreciate Farmers Insurance’s collaboration and innovative thinking with this shift in competition days,” said Tyler Dennis, president of the PGA Tour. The Americans didn't lose a session in the Ryder Cup for the first time since 1967. That’s just the reality of sport.” — European captain Padraig Harrington after a 19-9 loss in the Ryder Cup.

The PGA Tour is moving the Farmers Insurance Open off a big NFL Sunday.

Ryder Cup Golf Team USA players pose with the trophy after the Ryder Cup matches at the Whistling Straits Golf Course Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Sheboygan, Wis. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Ashley Landis)SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — (AP) — The kids are more than alright. After America's youngest Ryder Cup team handed Europe its biggest beating ever, they're more than a little cocky, too. It's harder to win over there,” said Jordan Spieth, who played on two previous losing U.S. sides. For all the fun and games, the goal Stricker set heading into the weekend — that this team could change the U.S. Ryder Cup culture in a meaningful way — appeared close to a done deal. “It’s not just the strongest U.S. team I’ve seen, but they all played well this week,” said Lee Westwood, a European stalwart with 11 previous Cup appearances.

A young and hungry U.S. squad didn't just take back the Ryder Cup.

The best player on the U.S. Ryder Cup team also happened to be the oldest.

Ryder Cup Golf Team USA captain Steve Stricker greets fans on the second hole during a Ryder Cup singles match at the Whistling Straits Golf Course Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Sheboygan, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (Jeff Roberson)SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — (AP) — The Americans won back the Ryder Cup and perhaps a whole lot more Sunday, sending a strong message to Europe with a powerful performance from their youngest team in history. Scottie Scheffler, one of six Ryder Cup newcomers for the Americans, took down the No. “I woke up this morning and I was trying to tell the guys, ‘Let’s get to 20 points,’ because this is going to be the next era of Ryder Cup team for the U.S. side," Patrick Cantlay said, finishing an unbeaten week with a win over Shane Lowry. The Americans were young, yes, and very good, with four of the top five in the world ranking. ___More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2021 The Associated Press.

The Ryder Cup is going back to the Americans.

When they finished another dominant session of foursomes, it started to feel as if this Ryder Cup against Europe was close to over. The Americans won their third straight session by with another 3-1 margin, pushing the lead to 9-3 going into Saturday afternoon's final session before the 12 singles matches. Garcia's second win this week gave him 24, setting the Ryder Cup record. Playing his 10th Ryder Cup, he had said that going 5-0 without Europe winning the gold trophy would amount to a bad week, and those feelings might be put to the test. Rory McIlroy sat out for the first time in a Ryder Cup in the morning and returned for fourballs alongside Ian Poulter.

All the drama Saturday at the Ryder Cup was to see if Europe could make a game of it.

Ryder Cup Golf Michael Jordan watches at the 11th hole during a four-ball match the Ryder Cup at the Whistling Straits Golf Course Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, in Sheboygan, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (Jeff Roberson)SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — (AP) — Americans hit three unforgettable shots on the opening day of the Ryder Cup and two went for naught. Captain Steve Stricker's young squad patiently built the biggest U.S. opening-day lead since 1975, pummeling defending champion Europe in both the foursomes and fourball matches Friday for a 6-2 cushion. While the fast start wasn't new — the U.S. team has gone seven straight Ryder Cups without losing the opening session — the solid finish was. His partnership with Garcia enabled his countryman to notch a 23rd win, tying Nick Faldo for the Ryder Cup record. Tony Finau, who was paired with Harris English, made six birdies on his own ball in his fourball match, and described the experience like riding a wave he didn't want to end.

The U.S. Ryder Cup squad zoomed out to its biggest opening-day lead since 1975, pummeling defending champion Europe in both the foursomes and fourball matches to build a 6-2 cushion.

Woods sent a group text through captain Steve Stricker to American players, saying he was behind them in their battle to regain the cup. “Tiger’s not with us in person but I know he’s watching and talking to Stricker a lot,” Harris English said. So it’s nice to have his support.”Stricker said he got the text Thursday and sent it out to the team on Friday. He said Woods wished players good luck and shared a few personal observations. In eight Ryder Cups, Woods earned 14.5 points but had an overall losing record and only played on one winning team — the 1999 team that won in a huge final day comeback at Brookline.

Tiger Woods isn’t at Whistling Straits, but several U.S. players say he helped inspire them to a big lead in the first day of the Ryder Cup.

APTOPIX Ryder Cup Golf Team Europe's Sergio Garcia reacts after winning their foursome match the Ryder Cup at the Whistling Straits Golf Course Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, in Sheboygan, Wis. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Ashley Landis)SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — (AP) — The first point of the Ryder Cup belonged to Europe and its fearsome new Spanish Armada. Garcia earned his 23rd win, tying Nick Faldo for the Ryder Cup record. Spieth tried to extend the match with a shot that was as much about the landscape of Whistling Straits than the Ryder Cup. The Americans see this Ryder Cup as crucial to change the tide in what has been European dominance for the last quarter-century. “It's just the first session,” Garcia said.

Youth is being served for this U.S. team in the Ryder Cup.

No team in sports embraces the underdog label like Europe's Ryder Cup squads.

No team in sports embraces the underdog label like Europe's Ryder Cup squads.

One of last year’s many casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic was the Ryder Cup, which had to postpone its biannual event one year, to this fall.

They won big together outside Paris three years ago, going 3-1 in the team matches. “We’ve had a pretty good game plan from a while back, and we’re putting that into play,” Stricker said. Eleven years later they were both major championship winners, and their pairing together at Le Golf National in the last Ryder Cup was as natural as a plate of steak and frites. Between them, they would account for four of the 10.5 points scored by the U.S. in a Ryder Cup otherwise dominated by Europe. More importantly, they won two points in foursomes, the alternate-shot format that the U.S. always seems to struggle with in the Ryder Cup.

Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas almost surely will be paired together in both foursomes and fourballs beginning Friday at the Ryder Cup.

As if there wasn’t enough suspense and second-guessing of the Ryder Cup captains in past years, a nod to the COVID-19 pandemic could make things more topsy-turvy than usual this time around. The last time the envelope was actually opened was at the Belfry in 1993, when Scotsman Sam Torrance had to withdraw because of a foot injury and his match against Lanny Wadkins — whose name was in the U.S. envelope — was ruled a tie. Under the current agreement, Stricker would be able to replace a single player with anyone he chooses — from non-playing assistant captain Phil Mickelson to a player who flies in at the last moment.

Ryder Cup Team USA captain Steve Stricker and Team Europe captain Padraig Harrington answer questions at a new conference for the Ryder Cup at the Whistling Straits Golf Course Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, in Sheboygan, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) (Morry Gash)SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — (AP) — Padraig Harrington had a tight grip on Ryder Cup trophy Monday as the European captain walked through a white-tented corridor toward the stage for the opening press conference. Brooks Koepka injured his left wrist again during the final round of the Tour Championship, and then he attracted the wrong kind of attention from a magazine interview that raised questions how much he really enjoys the Ryder Cup. He has cooled his spat with Bryson DeChambeau, who has been training as much for a Long Drive competition right after the Ryder Cup. Only one matters to Stricker, and it's wrestling away the Ryder Cup from Europe. Stricker said he has only spoken to Koepka and is confident he's ready to go.

American and European players have arrived at Whistling Straits for the Ryder Cup.

— (AP) — Darren Clarke won the Stanford International on Sunday for his third PGA Tour Champions victory of the season, beating K.J. Clarke, the 53-year-old major champion from Northern Ireland, closed with a 5-under 65 at Minnehaha Country Club, birdieing the par-4 18th to match Choi and Steve Flesch at 12-under 198. Clarke won the TimberTech Championship in November for his first senior title and took the Mitsubishi Electric Championship in January on his next tour start. U.S. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker (67) was 9 under. Retief Goosen (69) was 8 under with Alex Cejka (71), John Senden (65) and Steven Alker (67).

Sergio Garcia is still the youngest Ryder Cup player in history.

Choi closed eagle-birdie-birdie for a 7-under 63 and share of the first-round lead with Darren Clarke in the PGA Tour Champions' Stanford International. The 51-year-old South Korean player won eight times on the PGA Tour. “It’s very comfortable here, everybody is supporting Sanford and the tournament is going good and the golf course is in beautiful, fantastic shape. “I just liked this golf course from the first time I came here and I’ve really, really enjoyed it.” said Clarke, who shot 62 on the course last year. Stricker, set to lead the United States against Europe next week at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, birdied the last two holes for a 67.

Brooks Koepka says in an interview with Golf Digest that Ryder Cup week is hectic and takes him from his individual routine and leaves him no time to decompress.

In-person classes are resuming at Howard University as the school investigates last week’s cyberattack. Howard canceled all classes on Tuesday after its computer network was compromised by a ransomware attack. CBSN technology reporter Dan Patterson has more on the ongoing investigation.

During a White House briefing on Wednesday, press secretary Jen Psaki said the U.S. could roll out vaccine boosters to Americans while also donating vaccines to other countries, calling the question of whether to do one or the other "a false choice."

Tour Championship Golf Tony Finau hits from the tee on the second hole during second-round play in the Tour Championship golf tournament at East Lake Golf Club, Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, in Atlanta. Stricker chose the next four players in the Ryder Cup standings — Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth and Harris English — along with Daniel Berger and Scottie Scheffler. His record here at the Ryder Cup is pretty darned good. Stricker said U.S. rookies have compiled a 40-29-17 record in the Ryder Cup dating to 2008. Stricker was captain of the Presidents Cup team in 2017, and he was an assistant Ryder Cup captain the last three times.

They were the next four in the Ryder Cup standings. The Ryder Cup is Sept. 24-26 at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. He finished 14th in the Ryder Cup standings. Among the six who qualified, two-time major champion Morikawa and FedEx Cup champion Cantlay have never played in the Ryder Cup. The four picks who will make the Ryder Cup debuts are Schauffele, English, Berger and Scheffler.

Steve Stricker has filled out his U.S. Ryder Cup team with six captain's picks.

Tour Championship Golf Brooks Koepka hits from the tee on the third hole during second-round play in the Tour Championship golf tournament at East Lake Golf Club, Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) (Brynn Anderson)ATLANTA — (AP) — Three weeks before the Ryder Cup, four-time major champion Brooks Koepka withdrew from the Tour Championship after injuring his wrist from hitting a tree root. Koepka said pulling out on the 13th hole at East Lake on Saturday was a precaution. “It's the same wrist I had issues with in ‘17 and ’18,” Koepka told a PGA Tour official before leaving. The Ryder Cup is Sept. 24-26 at Whistling Straits.

Brooks Koepka has pulled out of the Tour Championship with a left wrist injury after hitting a tree root.

Patrick Reed says he was battling for his life with bilateral pneumonia.

(AP Photo/Terrance Williams) (Terrance Williams)ATLANTA — (AP) — Phil Mickelson is returning for his 13th consecutive Ryder Cup, this time without his clubs. “I’ve been staying in close contact with both Freddie and Phil, talking about all things Ryder Cup, for a while now,” Stricker said. “They provide honest and impactful feedback, and both have such a passion for the Ryder Cup. “Fred Couples texted me this week and said it looks like he’s going to be one of the assistant captains, and so he’ll be up there,” Cantlay said. It will be the second time Couples is an assistant captain at the Ryder Cup.

Phil Mickelson is returning for his 13th consecutive Ryder Cup, this time without his clubs.

Fans who yell “Brooksie!”.

Patrick Cantlay has earned a spot in his first Ryder Cup.

Rory McIlroy suddenly has found a pep in his step.

Tony Finau is a winner on the PGA Tour again.

Rain overnight and more during the third round left the TPC John Deere soft and prone to low scoring, and just about everyone took advantage. He led by one shot over Brandon Hagy, who is still looking for his first PGA Tour victory in his 93rd career start. Ten players were within three shots of the lead, all of them knowing what it would take in the final round — birdies. Even so, he still has a chance at his first PGA Tour title. Of the 20 players within five shots of the lead, seven have never won on tour.

List ran off seven birdies in an eight-hole stretch in the middle of his round, his only par on a 12-foot birdie chance on the 15th hole, and posted an 8-under 63. That gave him a one-shot lead over Sebastian Munoz going into the weekend at the TPC Deere Run. List is still searching for his first PGA Tour victory, though that wasn't front and center over the last month. “I was able to keep hitting the fairway, which out here is premium, and I was able to attack from the fairway,” List said. Among those making it to the weekend was Steve Stricker, the 54-year-old Ryder Cup captain and three-time John Deere Classic winner.

John Deere Classic Golf Zach Johnson tees off on the 16th hole during the first round of the John Deere Classic golf tournament Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Silvis, Ill. (Jessica Gallahger/The Dispatch – The Rock Island Argus via AP) (Jessica Gallagher)SILVIS, Ill. — (AP) — Sebastian Munoz never knows when the switch will come on and the putts start to fall, but he recognized it happening Thursday in the John Deere Classic. Munoz was motoring along when he closed with five straight birdies at the TPC Deere Run for an 8-under 63, turning a solid day into a share of the lead with Chesson Hadley. “It's funny because when I make a lot of birdies, I usually play a little more safe and pick my spots. That will leave the three-time John Deere champion some work to do Friday afternoon to make the cut. “I'm not used to getting up at 5 in the morning anymore to play,” Stricker said.

AKRON, Ohio — (AP) — Steve Stricker won the Bridgestone Seniors Players Championship on Sunday at difficult Firestone for his second victory of the year and third major title. Eight strokes ahead in the third round and four in front entering the final round, Stricker closed with an even-par 70 for a six-stroke victory over defending champion and Wisconsin friend Jerry Kelly. The U.S. Ryder Cup captain opened with a 63, shot 68 in the second round and 70 in the third. He was coming off a victory two weeks ago in the American Family Insurance Championship, the tour event that Stricker runs in their hometown of Madison, Wisconsin. The 54-year-old Stricker earned a spot in The Players Championship at the TPC Sawgrass next March.

AKRON, Ohio — (AP) — Three opening birdies gave Steve Stricker an eight-shot lead in what looked to be a runaway in the Bridgestone Seniors Players Championship on Saturday. Stricker started missing greens and missing putts until his lead was down to three shots. He steadied himself with a birdie on the par-5 16th and wound up with a 2-over 72 to lead Jerry Kelly by four shots going into the final round. “I had a five-shot lead starting the day, I’ve got four now, so all in all I didn’t give away too many,” Stricker said. Starting with a five-shot lead, he birdied the first three holes to stretch his lead to eight shots over Paul Broadhurst and 10 shots over Kelly.

AKRON, Ohio — (AP) — Steve Stricker increased his lead to five strokes Friday in the Senior Players Championship, following an opening 7-under 63 with a 68 at breezy Firestone. “It was a little bit more of a grind today,” Stricker said. “I didn’t make a bogey, but I made a couple good saves for pars that kept the round going. Stricker has six senior victories — two of them major championships — after winning 12 times on the PGA Tour. “I think it’s a case of him (Stricker) having to come back to the field rather than us catching him,” Broadhurst said.

The British Open could have big crowds at Royal St. George's.

Phil Mickelson had a clear picture that he could win a major championship at age 50.

Champions Tour Golf Alex Cejka, of Germany, tees off on the seventh hole during the final round of the Regions Tradition Champions Tour golf tournament Sunday, May 9, 2021, in Hoover, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) (Butch Dill)BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — (AP) — Alex Cejka won the Regions Tradition on Sunday in only his third PGA Tour Champions start, beating defending champion Steve Stricker with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff. A childhood refugee from communist Czechlosovokia (now the Czech Republic), the 50-year-old Cejka made a 14-foot birdie putt on No. He made his first two PGA Tour Champions starts as a Monday qualifier, and tied for second at the Chubb Classic. Stricker made about a 13-foot birdie putt on the final hole to force the playoff when Cejka two-putted for par after a poor bunker shot. Stricker had won both previous times on the PGA Tour Champions when holding the 54-hole lead, the Regions Tradition and U.S. Senior Open Championship, both in 2019.

Alex Cejka won the Regions Tradition on Sunday in only his third PGA Tour Champions start, beating defending champion Steve Stricker with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — (AP) — Defending champion Steve Stricker made a long eagle putt on the final hole for 7-under 65 and the third-round lead Saturday in the Regions Tradition, the first of five PGA Tour Champions majors. Stricker moved a stroke ahead of Alex Cejka with the eagle that got him to 14-under 202 at Greystone Golf & Country Club. Made a good putt.”It was shades of Friday when Stricker moved into a four-way share of the lead with a birdie on No. “Winning here a couple years has given me confidence that I can play well around here,” Stricker said. Cejka and Stricker shared the second-round lead with Jerry Kelly and Darren Clarke.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — (AP) — Defending champion Steve Stricker birdied the final hole Friday for a 3-under 69 to move into a four-way tie for the lead halfway through the Regions Tradition. Stricker joined Madison, Wisconsin, neighbor Jerry Kelly, Monday qualifier Alex Cejka and first-round leader Darren Clarke atop the leaderboard in the first of the PGA Tour Champions' five majors. It was a huge turnaround from a rocky PGA Tour Champions debut in February when he closed with a 78 in Arizona. Two-time champion Bernhard Langer's 69 put him only two strokes back in pursuit of his 12th PGA Tour Champions major title. “I need to cut out the bogeys,” Pride said.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — (AP) — Darren Clarke took the lead Thursday in the Regions Tradition, opening with a 6-under 66 in the first of five PGA Tour Champions majors. The 2011 British Open champion from Northern Ireland had a one-stroke lead over Stephen Ames and Jerry Kelly at Greystone Golf & Country Club. “Majors are majors, it doesn’t make any difference which tour they’re on,” Clarke said. Clarke started on the 10th hole with back to back birdies and added three straight birdies before making the turn. He added birdies on Nos.

Jones won the Honda Classic by five shots Sunday, a final round of 2-under 68 good enough to finish the week at 12-under 268 at PGA National. J.B. Holmes was in the final group with Jones, three shots back to start the day, and his chances were gone very quickly. He ended up with a costly final-round 79 for Holmes; second place, where he started the day, paid Hagy $763,000 while the tied-for-46th finish paid Holmes $19,070. AdHe went on to make double bogey there, and when Jones birdied the par-5 third Holmes’ deficit had gone from three to eight shots in about 45 minutes. “You can't get a tougher golf course to win on than this one, in these conditions," Jones said.

“I'm happy to go low with the ball flight and I'm probably a little more conservative when the wind is up," Jones said. That’s when his woes started, and what became a nine-shot turnaround between he and Jones began. Jones grabbed a share of the lead with a birdie at the par-4 14th. And when Wise made bogey at the par-3 15th, Jones was the outright leader again. “Just keep doing what I'm doing," Jones said.

Wise shot his second straight 6-under 64 on Friday to take a three-stroke lead into the weekend at the Honda Classic. The 128 total is the lowest 36-hole score at PGA National since the tournament moved there 15 years ago — and marks the first 36-hole lead of Wise’s PGA Tour career. Wise birdied the last to finish off the 64, the eighth round of 64 or lower surrendered by PGA National this week. He opened with a 69, then shot 62 — the fourth score that low in Honda history at PGA National — Friday. Jones (61), Wise (64) and Russell Henley (64) had the 64s or better Thursday; Hagy, Ryder, Wise, Brice Garnett (64) and Stewart Cink (64) had them Friday.

Conners surged into the lead with a 25-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th hole — his second eagle on that hole in two days — for a 3-under 69 and a one-shot advantage over former Bay Hill winner Martin Laird (67). He was two shots behind, along with Viktor Hovland and Lanto Griffin, who each had a 68. The forecast featured plenty of rain Saturday, which figures to make Bay Hill play longer and tougher, while also keeping the greens from getting as crusty as they were last year when Tyrrell Hatton won with a closing 74. He won at Bay Hill in 2011 on a final round so tough a 75 was enough to get the job done. He played in the morning, had a pair of birdies and came to the 16th, the easiest at Bay Hill.

“It’s been a wild ride for the last year and a half and very frustrating,” Koepka said. That's where he chipped in from 32 yards for his second eagle of the day to break a tie for the lead. AdFive strokes behind Jordan Spieth and Xander Schauffele entering the round, Koepka shot a 6-under 65 to finish at 19-under 265. “It was a good day to learn from some mistakes,” Schauffele said. Schauffele and Spieth each drove into the water on 17 to end their chances, then both birdied 18.

The PGA Tour has selected Love to be U.S. captain for the Presidents Cup in 2022 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was captain when Europe rallied from a 10-6 deficit to beat the Americans in the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah, and he was Ryder Cup captain for a rare U.S. victory four years later at Hazeltine. He also was an assistant captain in the Ryder Cup under Corey Pavin in 2010 and Jim Furyk in 2018 and is on the staff of Steve Stricker this year. The Presidents Cup was supposed to be played this year until the COVID-19 pandemic led to the Ryder Cup being postponed one year to this September. ... Tony Finau has 35 finishes in the top 10 since the start of the 2016-17 season on the PGA Tour without winning.

And no one is more concerned than Ryder Cup officials. THE RYDER CUPNo other golf tournament relies so much on noise than the Ryder Cup, which is why it was postponed from last September. Phil Mickelson has played in every Ryder Cup since 1995 — Morikawa wasn't even born then. Since the last Ryder Cup, Lefty has finished a combined 84 shots behind in the five majors he made the cut. McIlroy, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas all have had moments of brilliance.