Rahm 2 back of Ryder at Torrey in bid for 3rd straight win
3 in the world, is 18 holes away from potentially winning his third straight start and taking over at No. While Rahm heated up on a gorgeous, calm day on the municipal course overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Ryder parred his last 12 holes for a 72, missing a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th. Ryder was at 12-under 204 through 54 holes while Rahm was 10 under. He shot an 8-under 64, the best round of the week on the South Course, to move into third place, four shots back. Rahm said Torrey Pines has been his favorite venue since “before I ever did anything, really.
wftv.comPGA Tour fall swing winners and losers: Rory McIlroy shines, Rickie Fowler misses opportunities
Winner: Rory McIlroyWhile Rory McIlroy’s biggest accomplishment this fall came on the DP World Tour, his spot in this list is an easy one. Then on Sunday, McIlroy finished fourth at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai — which officially earned him a fourth win in the European Tour’s season-long race. I think my worst finish of the European Tour events I played this year was 12th at the start of the year in Abu Dhabi. Loser: Rickie FowlerRickie Fowler has needed a Tour win for what feels like forever. He won in back-to-back weeks last fall, and quickly played his way into the Tour Championship.
wftv.comFinau sails to 4-shot victory in Houston, 3rd win of year
Finau won only once in his first 185 tournaments upon joining the PGA Tour. “I've always had belief, but confidence when you win is contagious,” Finau said. Finau seized control with a 62 in the second round ahead of the change in weather and was superb in his bogey-free round of 68 in Saturday's cold and wind. He rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt on the second hole, and then quickly pulled away from the field. Finau holed a 7-foot birdie putt on the fifth, made a 40-foot birdie putt on the par-5 eighth and capped off the front nine with a 20-foot birdie putt.
wftv.comFinau ties career low with 62 for early lead in Houston Open
HOUSTON — (AP) — Tony Finau finished his opening round with a string of birdies and then took the momentum right into Friday, making 10 birdies to match his career low with an 8-under 62 to build a big lead in the Houston Open. Finau was at his best late in the round at Memorial Park, finishing with three straight birdies. Finau and the other early starters had relatively calm conditions, and he knew Friday morning was the time to score. “Thirty-six holes is a lot of golf left, and it's trickier to score with a north wind. But I'm looking forward to the challenge.”Finau has had a 62 four previous times, most recently at the Canadian Open this summer.
wftv.comPresidents Cup 2022: Jordan Spieth leads Team USA to 9th straight win
Team USA rolled to an early win over the International Team on Sunday afternoon at Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina, marking their ninth-straight win at the biennial event. It also marked his first singles win in either a Presidents Cup or a Ryder Cup. Though Si Woo Kim made three birdies in his final five holes to get Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay topped Adam Scott to get a second point for Team USA in his singles match. Si Woo Kim for the win! “I wanted that putt more than anything in the world.”The International Team now had hope, which didn’t sit well with Spieth on Saturday night.
wftv.comBMW Championship last qualifying week for the Presidents Cup
St Jude Championship Golf Adam Scott, of Australia, hits off the sixth tee during the third round of the St. Jude Championship golf tournament, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey (Mark Humphrey)WILMINGTON, Del. — (AP) — Getting to the Tour Championship isn't all that's at stake this week in the second FedEx Cup playoff event. BMW ON THE MOVEThe BMW Championship has the distinction as the only FedEx Cup playoff event that moves around. STAT OF THE WEEKFour PGA Tour rookies are in the top 30 of the FedEx Cup going into the BMW Championship. No more than two rookies have ever made it to the Tour Championship, most recently in 2020.
wftv.comCameron Smith has claret jug and now eyes No. 1 in the world
Both are first-time winners on the PGA Tour this year, and a victory in a FedEx Cup playoffs even carries even more weight — $2.7 million to the winner and a guaranteed spot at East Lake for the FedEx Cup finale. 1 player in the world and in the FedEx Cup since March, missed the cut. Smith has steadfastly refused to talk about it, only to say he's only thinking of the FedEx Cup. That was shortly before a California federal judge denied a request by three LIV golfers to play in the FedEx Cup playoffs. That’s what I’m here to do is to hit good golf shots and make birdies."
wftv.comFedExCup Playoffs: Tony Finau, fresh off back-to-back wins, trying to ‘defend’ title in Memphis
(Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)Tony Finau understands the situation he’s in this week at TPC Southwind. 7 in the FedExCup standings, the highest he’s been heading into the playoffs in his career, but Finau is fresh off of back-to-back wins, too. Now he’s attempting to defend his title — though he did that at The Northern Trust last year — after a week off. It's definitely the most momentum I've carried into the Playoffs," Finau said Tuesday in Memphis. While he’s playing perhaps the best golf he’s ever played on Tour, Finau has struggled at TPC Southwind.
wftv.comFedExCup Playoffs: Who is on the bubble this week at the Wyndham Championship
(Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)The FedExCup Playoffs are just a week away, which makes the Wyndham Championship the last chance golfers have to secure their spot in the postseason. Here’s who needs a big week, and who needs to avoid a slip, in order to advance into the FedExCup Playoffs. 7 in the FedExCup standings despite sitting in the 30s just two months ago. While he hasn’t played since the British Open, Rory McIlroy is having one of his best seasons in years. FedExCup ScheduleHere’s everything you need to know to follow the FedExCup Playoffs this fall.
wftv.comFinau wins Rocket Mortgage for 2nd straight PGA Tour victory
Rocket Mortgage Classic Golf Tony Finau reacts after making his putt for par on the ninth green during the final round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament, Sunday, July 31, 2022, in Detroit. Finau, the Salt Lake City native with Tongan-Samoan heritage, began his stretch of success last August at The Northern Trust, where he had his first victory in five years and 142 PGA Tour starts. Finau stopped another drought in Detroit, winning for the first time in six attempts when he had or shared the 54-hole lead in a PGA Tour event. 17 and a closing par, he broke Nate Lashley's tournament record of 25 under set in 2019 during the inaugural PGA Tour event. The PGA Tour will close the regular season at the Wyndham Championship, with the North Carolina event opening Thursday.
wftv.comTony Finau, Taylor Pendrith tied for Rocket Mortgage lead
Rocket Mortgage Classic Golf Tony Finau drives off the second tee during the third round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament, Saturday, July 30, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) (Carlos Osorio)DETROIT — (AP) — Tony Finau shot a 7-under 65 on Saturday to match Taylor Pendrith at 21-under 195 with a round left in the Rocket Mortgage Classic. A stroke a ahead entering the round, Pendrith birdied four of the last five holes for a 66. Pendrith opened with 6-foot birdie putt to take a two-shot lead. Finau went ahead at 17 with a birdie, and Pendrith tied it again with a birdie on the 54th hole.
wftv.comPendrith takes 1-shot lead over Finau at Rocket Mortgage
Rocket Mortgage Classic Golf Taylor Pendrith drives off the 11th tee during the second round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament, Friday, July 29, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) (Carlos Osorio)DETROIT — (AP) — Taylor Pendrith of Canada shot a 7-under 65 on Friday to take a one-shot lead over Tony Finau into the weekend in the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Nobody heard of him and next thing you know in one year he’s on the Presidents Cup team, and Cam’s headed that way, too. And in Detroit, Young showed Love up close what he can do. Pendrith said matter of factly that he can compete with the best when he's healthy and has showed that so far at Detroit Golf Club.
wftv.comFinau, Pendrith share lead at 64 at Rocket Mortgage Classic
Rocket Mortgage Classic Golf Tony Finau drives from the ninth tee during the first round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament, Thursday, July 28, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) (Carlos Osorio)DETROIT — (AP) — Tony Finau, coming off his third career victory on the PGA Tour, and Taylor Pendrith shared the first-round lead at 8-under 64 on Thursday in the Rocket Mortgage Classic. He hit all 18 greens in regulation for the first time in 728 PGA Tour stroke-play rounds. Pendrith, a 31-year-old PGA Tour rookie, surged into a share of the lead with five birdies in a seven-hole stretch on his back nine. Pendrith is atop a leaderboard for the first time on the PGA Tour following an opening round.
wftv.comFinau wins 3M Open by 3 with late surge, Piercy collapse
APTOPIX 3M Open Golf Tony Finau places the ball to his chest and reacts to his putt for par on the 17th green during the final round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club in Blaine, Minn., Sunday, July 24, 2022. James Hahn surged up the board with a 65 to match Piercy and Tom Hoge (70) at 13 under. On the daunting par-5 18th, Finau found the water off the tee to face one final challenge. With Piercy looking on from the fairway, Finau made a 3-footer for bogey to seal it. Finau, who tied for third at the 3M Open in 2020, jumped from 30th to 17th in the FedEx Cup race.
wftv.com3M lead shared by Im, smooth-putting Piercy after 1st round
3M Open Golf Scott Piercy hits the ball at the 18th hole during the opening round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club in Blaine, Minn., Thursday, July 21, 2022. (Erica Dischino/Star Tribune via AP) (Erica Dischino)BLAINE, Minn. — (AP) — Scott Piercy shot a 6-under 65 to share the 3M Open lead with Sungjae Im after the first round Thursday, fresh off several significant changes he made in search of a late-season boost. Playing in the second group of the day off the first tee, Piercy made 151 feet worth of putts. 14 player, Matsuyama landed in the water three times on the unforgiving and lakeside 18th hole and took a quadruple-bogey 9. Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters winner and a fourth-place finisher at the U.S. Open earlier this summer, tied for seventh at the first edition of the 3M Open in 2019.
wftv.comMcIlroy defends Canadian Open title in strong LIV response
Canadian Open Golf Rory McIlroy watches his tee shot on the 17th hole on his way to winning the Canadian Open golf tournament in Toronto, Sunday, June 12, 2022. McIlroy had his first title defense on the PGA Tour, even if he had to wait for it. The Canadian crowd was enormous having been kept away since 2019, and thousands surrounded the 18th green as the threesome of McIlroy, Thomas and Finau finished. Greg Norman, who runs the LIV Golf, said in a story in the Washington Post that McIlroy had been “brainwashed” by the PGA Tour. “Twenty-one PGA Tour wins, one more than somebody else.”It was a dig at Norman, who had 20 career tour wins.
wftv.comFinau shoots 62, shares RBC Canadian Open lead with McIlroy
Canadian Open Golf Tony Finau, of the United States, watches his tee shot on the 17th hole during round three of the Canadian Open golf tournament at St. George's Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Saturday, June 11, 2022. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) (Nathan Denette)TORONTO — (AP) — Tony Finau birdied the final hole Saturday for an 8-under 62 and a share of the RBC Canadian Open lead with defending champion Rory McIlroy. ”McIlroy had a 65 to match Finau at 11-under 199 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club. “I’m just happy to give myself a chance, be in the final group,” McIlroy said. “Once I saw, I think Tony had got to 10 or maybe 11, I think I was on like 8 or 9 at the time.
wftv.comNot everyone seems to mind the Saudi-Pebble Beach tradeoff
Adam Scott was among the first batch of players the Saudi International announced as playing its Asian Tour event next month, and now he no longer is on the list. The means he won't need a conflicting event release from the PGA Tour, nor will he be required to play the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am twice over the next three years, the stipulation for PGA Tour members going to Saudi Arabia. A Saudi tournament spokesman said only that Scott's playing schedule has changed, and he will only play Abu Dhabi and Dubai before preparing for “the big block” of PGA Tour events.
news.yahoo.comMaui musings: Finau happy to be back and feels he belongs
(AP Photo/Fernando Llano) (Fernando Llano)KAPALUA, Hawaii — (AP) — Tony Finau has been in Hawaii long enough to become a motivational speaker. Finau arrived three weeks ago to spend time with his wife's family near the North Shore on Oahu. I said, ‘I’m definitely not going to tell you guys how to play football because I would be way out of my lane,'” Finau said Wednesday. This is one of those tournaments, when you win a golf tournament you look so forward to this week. Spieth arrived a week early, playing down the Maui coast at Makena, traveling for the first time with his wife and 6-week-old son, Sammy.
wftv.comDeChambeau leads a holiday event shaping up to be much more
NASSAU, Bahamas — (AP) — This holiday event in the Bahamas is taking on a little more meaning for Bryson DeChambeau seeking a small measure of revenge and for Collin Morikawa pursuing a more noble goal of reaching No. The group one shot behind included Koepka, of course, who made a 12-foot par putt on the final hole for a second straight 67. They won't be in the final group on Saturday, though DeChambeau would appear to relish that chance. Morikawa and DeChambeau present a sharp contrast in their games and personalities. He missed consecutive cuts in the fall before his win over DeChambeau in a 12-hole match (that lasted only nine holes).
wftv.comThe Latest: U.S. takes 6-2 lead after Day 1 at Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup Golf Team USA's Bryson DeChambeau hits a drive on the second 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) — The Latest on the Ryder Cup (all times CDT):6:40 p.m. The United States took a 6-2 lead for its largest opening-day advantage at the Ryder Cup since 1975. The morning foursomes are shaping up nicely for a U.S. team trying to regain the Ryder Cup at home. The opening Ryder Cup matches have all moved to the back nine, with the U.S. ahead in three and Europe leading in one. The star of the show early on Day 1 at the Ryder Cup is Jon Rahm’s putter.
wftv.comThe Latest: Europe salvages tie, still trails at Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup Golf Team USA's Bryson DeChambeau hits a drive on the second 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) — The Latest on the Ryder Cup (all times CDT):6:10 p.m.Tyrell Hatton made a 7-foot putt on the 18th green to make birdie and salvage a half-point for the struggling European team late on opening day at the Ryder Cup. The morning foursomes are shaping up nicely for a U.S. team trying to regain the Ryder Cup at home. ___11 a.m.Europe has captured the first point in the Ryder Cup, but trails in the remaining three matches on the course. The opening Ryder Cup matches have all moved to the back nine, with the U.S. ahead in three and Europe leading in one. Europe has won the Ryder Cup in nine of the last 12 meetings.
wftv.comUnderdog Euros have Yanks where they where they want 'em
Europe’s perennial Ryder Cup underdogs have the Americans exactly where they want them. According to golf’s most reliable metric — strokes gained — Yanks top the list in driving (Bryson DeChambeau), approach play (Collin Morikawa), sand saves (Brooks Koepka) and scrambling (Patrick Cantlay). In fact, the only category in which they trail their counterparts from across the pond is confidence. With good reason: Europe has won seven of the nine Ryder Cup matches played this century, including a split of the four on U.S. soil. “We all know in Ryder Cups, there’s a fine line between playing too much, trying to stay fresh, fine line, 36 holes a day,” Harrington said.
wftv.comThe Americans prepare for the 'big one' at home Ryder Cup
APTOPIX Ryder Cup Golf Team USA's Xander Schauffele hits to the third green during a practice day at the Ryder Cup at the Whistling Straits Golf Course Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Sheboygan, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (Jeff Roberson)SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — (AP) — The Americans are running out of excuses in the Ryder Cup. He played his first Ryder Cup in France three years ago. 1 player in the world and the leading points-scorer in Ryder Cup history. “Spanish legacy is deep in the Ryder Cup and I'm hoping we can start a new tradition,” said Rahm, referring to the “Spanish Armada” of Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal, the best tandem in Ryder Cup history. It's not much different from what the American Ryder Cup team faces.
wftv.com6 rookies on Ryder Cup team; Berger, Scheffler in, Reed out
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.
wftv.comStricker fills out US team with 4 more Ryder Cup rookies
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.
wftv.comCantlay takes final automatic spot on US Ryder Cup team
BMW Championship Golf Patrick Cantlay holds the trophy after winning the BMW Championship golf tournament, Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021, at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Md. — (AP) — Patrick Cantlay earned the sixth and final automatic spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team by winning the BMW Championship on Sunday. Because of the pandemic that delayed the Ryder Cup one year until Sept. 24-26, qualifying began the day Tiger Woods won the 2019 Masters. Cantlay and Morikawa will be making their Ryder Cup debuts. That means Reed, if healthy, gets a chance to play at East Lake in what could amount to an audition for the Ryder Cup.
wftv.comSpieth, Phelps, Under Armour founder in a pro-am together
Some pro-ams get Jordan Spieth's attention more than others, and such was the case Wednesday at Caves Valley in the BMW Championship. Also in the group was Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympic swimming champion with 28 medals. Phelps grew up in Maryland.
news.yahoo.comTony Finau ends 5-year drought and wins Northern Trust
Finau was three shots out of the lead when he ran off a birdie-eagle-birdie stretch at Liberty National, the last one a 30-foot putt across the 14th green. Finau had already pounded his drive down the middle of the fairway, and the playoff at that point was effectively over. Rahm's tee shot found the bunker on the 15th and he missed a 6-foot par putt. Mitchell needed a big finish and delivered with three straight birdies for a 69 to tie for eighth at 13-under 271. The final round was postponed on Sunday as Hurricane Henri approached, and the edges of what became a tropical storm at landfall dumped more than 6 inches of rain on Liberty National.
wftv.comRahm happy with 1-shot lead, not so much with FedEx format
I don't think it's fair,” Rahm said Friday after another bogey-free round at Liberty National, this one a 4-under 67 for a one-shot lead over Tony Finau. 101 in the FedEx Cup and needs a high finish to be among the top 70 who advance to next week at the BMW Championship. He was among 28 players outside the top 70 in the FedEx Cup who missed the cut. “At the end of the day you could win 15 events, including both playoff events, and you have a two-shot lead,” Rahm said. He just knows the FedEx Cup is a trophy he'd like to have.
wftv.comThe Latest: Morikawa, Finau making inroads at British Open
British Open Golf United States' Collin Morikawa play his tee shot from the 7th hole during the second round of the British Open Golf Championship at Royal St George's golf course Sandwich, England, Friday, July 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) (Peter Morrison)SANDWICH, England — (AP) — The Latest on the British Open (all times local):10:15 a.m.Collin Morikawa is enjoying his first links test. Tony Finau is another American making a run at Royal St George’s. The world's best golfers are encountering overcast conditions and a light breeze at the start of the second day at the British Open. And birdies were proving hard to come by early on at Royal St. George's.
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