Shriners Children's Open 2024 Friday tee times, PGA Tour pairings and how to watch

Shriners Children's Open 2024 Friday tee times, PGA Tour pairings and how to watch

Shriners Children's Open 2024 Friday tee times, PGA Tour pairings and how to watch

What a start for Taylor Pendrith.

The Canadian lit up TPC Summerlin on Thursday morning, shooting 10-under 61 in the first round of the 2024 Shriners Children’s Open. He holds a three-shot lead over a host of players chasing him at 7 under.

Two-time defending champion Tom Kim struggled out of the gate, as he was 3 over thru 5 holes, but he turned it around to finish at 2 under, though he’ll have work to do Friday to make the weekend and keep the chance of a three-peat alive.

The purse at the Shriners Children’s Open is $7 million with $1.26 million going to the winner. The winner will also receive 500 FedEx Cup points.

Shriners: Leaderboard

From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know for the second round of the 2024 Shriners Children’s Open. All times listed are PT.

Shriners Children’s Open Friday tee times

How to watch, listen

ESPN+ is the exclusive home of PGA Tour Live. You can also watch the Shriners Children’s Open on Golf Channel free on Fubo. All times ET.

Friday, Oct. 18

Golf Channel: 5-8 p.m.

Sirius XM: 2-8 p.m.

ESPN+: 9:45 a.m.-8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 19

Golf Channel: 5-8 p.m.

Sirius XM: 3-8 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 20

Golf Channel: 5-8 p.m.

Sirius XM: 3-8 p.m.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. Golfweek operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/KOaHszW
Best golf jackets for cold weather golf in 2024

Best golf jackets for cold weather golf in 2024

Best golf jackets for cold weather golf in 2024

Temperatures around the country are continuing to drop, which means it’s time to start loading up your wardrobe with pieces to keep warm on the golf course throughout the fall and winter.

In this list, we’ve searched the internet for some of our favorite golf jackets from brands like TravisMathew, Vineyard Vines, Rhoback, Tiger Woods’ Sun Day Red and more.

Whether you’re looking for a puffer jacket, a bomber jacket, a casual look or anything in between, we’ve included it in this list for you.

If you’re looking to load up your wardrobe for fall, check out these fall apparel lists that we’ve already released: Best golf vests | Best golf hoodies | Best long-sleeve polos | Best golf sweaters | Best golf quarter zips | Best fall golf apparel

Radmor Golf – Chappie Recycled Jacket

Radmor Golf Chappie Recycled Jacket

Radmor Golf Chappie Recycled Jacket (Radmor Golf)

Price: $135

Why you’ll love it: This jacket is one of Radmor’s most popular pieces, and for good reason. The design is simple yet stylish and it’s perfect for the golf course, the range or the 19th hole.

Shop Radmor Golf Chappie Recycled Jacket

Sun Day Red – Insulated Grid Jacket

Sun Day Red Insulated Grid Jacket

Sun Day Red Insulated Grid Jacket (Sun Day Red)

Price: $250

Why you’ll love it: Tiger Woods’ Sun Day Red offers a variety of high-quality apparel and its Insulated Grid Jacket is one of the most versatile pieces available. It’s available in two colors.

Shop Sun Day Red Insulated Grid Jacket

Malbon Golf – Keith Haring Sherpa Pullover

Malbon Golf Keith Haring Sherpa Pullover

Malbon Golf Keith Haring Sherpa Pullover (Malbon Golf)

Price: $198

Why you’ll love it: Malbon Golf does a fantastic job with collaborations and this pullover is part of one of the newer collabs with Keith Haring. This versatile piece is good for the golf course or errands.

Shop Malbon Golf Keith Haring Sherpa Pullover

Vineyard Vines – On-The-Go Voyager Performance Jacket

Vineyard Vines On-The-Go Voyager Performance Jacket

Vineyard Vines On-The-Go Voyager Performance Jacket (Vineyard Vines)

Price: $228

Why you’ll love it: Vineyard Vines is known for its quality and this jacket is no exception. It’s the perfect piece to grab before the weather gets colder.

Shop Vineyard Vines On-The-Go Voyager Performance Jacket

7Diamonds – REV Puffer Full Zip

7Diamonds REV Puffer Full Zip

7Diamonds REV Puffer Full Zip (7Diamonds)

Price: $165

Why you’ll love it: If you’re a golfer who likes to head to the course when it gets chilly outside, this full-zip puffer from 7Diamonds is the jacket for you. It’s available in three colors.

Shop 7Diamonds REV Puffer Full Zip

Rhoback – Fulton Hybrid Jacket

Rhoback Fulton Hybrid Jacket

Rhoback Fulton Hybrid Jacket (Rhoback)

Price: $184

Why you’ll love it: Rhoback is one of the most popular brands in golf and this jacket is one of the brand’s best pieces. It’s available in three colors and is perfect for on and off the golf course.

Shop Rhoback Fulton Hybrid Jacket

Devereux Golf- Script Windbreaker

Devereux Golf Script Windbreaker

Devereux Golf Script Windbreaker (Devereux Golf)

Price: $94

Why you’ll love it: Upgrade your style with this awesome jacket from Devereux Golf. It comes at a great price and will instantly become one of your favorite pieces in your wardrobe.

Shop Devereux Golf Script Windbreaker

TravisMathew – Venture Sherpa Jacket

TravisMathew Venture Sherpa Jacket

TravisMathew Venture Sherpa Jacket (TravisMathew)

Price: $189.95

Why you’ll love it: It’s tough to beat the look of a sherpa jacket on the golf course and this one from TravisMathew is one of the best on the market. It’s hooded and will keep you toasty during cold days playing nine or 18.

Shop TravisMathew Venture Sherpa Jacket

Holderness & Bourne – The Ashby Jacket

Holderness & Bourne The Ashby Jacket

Holderness & Bourne The Ashby Jacket (Holderness & Bourne)

Price: $205

Why you’ll love it: When it comes to golf apparel, Holderness & Bourne is second to none. This jacket is available in three colors and offers a classic look for the golf course.

Shop Holderness & Bourne The Ashby Jacket

Johnnie-O – Corsair Bomber Jacket

Johnnie-O Corsair Bomber Jacket

Johnnie-O Corsair Bomber Jacket (Johnnie-O)

Price: $148

Why you’ll love it: Johnnie-O is one of the brands in golf to offer a bomber jacket, and we think it’s an underrated look for the golf course. This piece is available in two colors and is a great versatile piece for your wardrobe.

Shop Johnnie-O Corsair Bomber Jacket Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/0beEjSl
Every day is a gift for cancer survivor Ian Gilligan, who earned a spot in the 2024 Shriners Children's Open

Every day is a gift for cancer survivor Ian Gilligan, who earned a spot in the 2024 Shriners Children's Open

Every day is a gift for cancer survivor Ian Gilligan, who earned a spot in the 2024 Shriners Children's Open

Get ready for a wave of “Let’s go, Gilly!” cheers this week at the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas.

That’s the nickname of Ian Gilligan, a 21-year-old senior at the University of Florida who won the Southern Highlands Invitational to earn a berth in the PGA Tour field this week at TPC Summerlin.

Gilligan shot 8-under 208 to win the event, beating Oklahoma’s Jase Summy by one shot for his first college victory since transferring from Long Beach State, where he earned second-team All-America honors as a sophomore. In August, Gilligan won the prestigious Western Amateur, claiming the title after surviving a grueling 11-hole playoff against one of his college teammates.

That was nothing for Gilligan compared to surviving a rare form of lymphoma, one that only 20 kids worldwide had. He was diagnosed at age 15 and received chemo for seven months during which time his budding golf game was placed on the backburner.

“He was smiling through it,” Ethan Schloss, a teammate of Gilligan’s on the Galena High golf team, told NCGA Golf Magazine. “Even when I saw him in the hospital, he was smiling. He had a really good attitude through everything.”

Returning to the course was good for his soul.

“Felt like I was just a normal kid again and having fun,” he said during a pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday.

A year later, in 2019, the product of the Junior Tour of Northern California competed in a Korn Ferry Tour event. His family moved to Nevada so he could focus on his game and have better access to courses, and he became the 2021 Nevada Golfer of the Year.

Gilligan still visits an oncologist once a year for blood work and an MRI and has passed the five-year window during which the likelihood of a cancer relapse is greatest. He still sports a Livestrong bracelet and will wear the logo on his golf shirt this week.

Ian Gilligan at the 2024 U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota. (Mike Ehrmann/USGA)

“I’ve had a lot of people reach out about like they’re going through something similar to what I had,” said Gilligan, noting he’s been contacted often via Instagram. “I know what they’re going through. It’s always nice to help other people and give them some reassurance or tell them what to expect.”

Gilligan already got a taste of playing in the big leagues in July and proved his game is Tour-ready – or at least trending that way. Gilligan received a sponsor invitation to the Tour’s Barracuda Championship in Truckee, California, about 40 miles outside of his adopted hometown. With his high school teammates cheering him on, Gilligan made the 36-hole and finished T-40. This week in Las Vegas, he’ll be an inspiration to the kids at the Shriners Children’s Hospitals, a network of non-profit hospitals and pediatric healthcare systems for orthopedic, spine, burn and other specialty care. He’s in the field on another sponsor exemption, having earned it the hard way and knowing his performance could be a boost to his PGA Tour U ranking.

“To earn it is definitely a little different,” Gilligan said of the college victory to secure his spot in the field. “Feels really good.”

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/0beEjSl
Davis Riley odds to win the 2024 Shriners Children's Open

Davis Riley odds to win the 2024 Shriners Children's Open

Davis Riley odds to win the 2024 Shriners Children's Open

The Shriners Children’s Open will take place at TPC Summerlin from October 17-20, and Davis Riley will be among the golfers participating.

Anticipating big things from Riley this week? Here are some different ways for you to put money on him.

Shriners Children’s Open details and info

  • Date: October 17-20, 2024
  • Course: TPC Summerlin
  • Location: Las Vegas, NV
  • Previous Winner: Tom Kim

How to watch the Shriners Children’s Open

Catch all the action with Fubo! Get live sports and shows without cable. Click here for a free trial and start streaming today.

Riley odds to win the Shriners Children’s Open

Odds for the Shriners Children’s Open are available, and Riley is listed at +17000. That means wagering $10 on Riley would give you $1,710.00.

PGA odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Tuesday at 8:59 PM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

Riley odds to finish in the top 5 at the Shriners Children’s Open

The latest odds on Riley to finish in the top five at the Shriners Children’s Open are +3000. If you decided to bet $10 on Riley, you’d end up with $310.00 if he did so.

Riley odds to finish in the top 10 at the Shriners Children’s Open

Odds for the Shriners Children’s Open are available, and Riley is listed at +1200 to finish in the top 10. That means betting $10 on Riley would give you $130.00.

Other betting markets for Riley at the Shriners Children’s Open

You can also bet on whether a player makes the cut or misses it, or which golfer will be the leader at the end of the first round. For every event, there are 3-ball matchups to bet on, when three players are grouped together and teeing off at the same time. You’ll also find a bunch of one-on-one matchups. Just pick who you think will finish with the best score that day!

Riley recent performances

Riley has taken part in 21 tournaments this season, taking home the win in one of them. He has also come away with . In his past four appearances, Riley has an average finish of 42nd. Riley has average finish of 42nd at this event in two trips, including a personal best 28th-place.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/iHz1lGQ
2024 Shriners Children's Open Start Time Thursday, Tee Times, Pairings & ESPN+ Live Streaming Coverage

2024 Shriners Children's Open Start Time Thursday, Tee Times, Pairings & ESPN+ Live Streaming Coverage

2024 Shriners Children's Open Start Time Thursday, Tee Times, Pairings & ESPN+ Live Streaming Coverage

The 2024 Shriners Children’s Open, with a total purse of $7M, is set for October 17-20 at the par-71 TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tom Kim won the tournament a year ago.

Matt McCarty shot -23 to end up on top at the Black Desert Championship, with Stephan Jaeger shooting -20 to finish second at Black Desert Resort.

We have what you need to know going into the first round of the 2024 Shriners Children’s Open, including player tee times, plus TV and streaming info.

Watch the PGA Tour all season long without cable! Start watching now with a free trial to Fubo. And catch PGA Tour Live streaming, plus tons of other live sports and programming, with ESPN+.

Tee times and pairings

Time Players
9:55 AM ET
Chan Kim, Robby Shelton, Ryan Moore
10:06 AM ET
Hayden Springer, Callum Tarren, Patrick Fishburn
10:17 AM ET
Charley Hoffman, Ben Griffin, Richard Hoey
10:28 AM ET
Austin Eckroat, Gary Woodland, Francesco Molinari
10:39 AM ET
Taylor Moore, Lee Hodges, Luke List
10:50 AM ET
Ryan Brehm, K.H. Lee, Daniel Berger
11:01 AM ET
Chad Ramey, Davis Riley, Seamus Power
11:12 AM ET
Zac Blair, Scott Piercy, Eric Cole
11:23 AM ET
David Lipsky, C.T. Pan, Roger Sloan
11:34 AM ET
Chesson Hadley, Will Gordon, Brandon Wu
11:45 AM ET
Ryan McCormick, Norman Xiong, Dan McCarthy
2:45 PM ET
Vince Whaley, Joel Dahmen, Greyson Sigg
2:56 PM ET
Doug Ghim, Jacob Bridgeman, Joseph Bramlett
3:07 PM ET
Pierceson Coody, Aaron Baddeley, Ryan Palmer
3:18 PM ET
Matt McCarty, Tom Kim, Kevin Yu
3:29 PM ET
Stephan Jaeger, Cam Davis, Tom Hoge
3:40 PM ET
Trey Mullinax, Kurt Kitayama, Davis Thompson
3:51 PM ET
Emiliano Grillo, Kevin Kisner, Adam Schenk
4:02 PM ET
Danny Willett, Beau Hossler, Ben Taylor
4:13 PM ET
Morgan Hoffmann, Lanto Griffin, Justin Lower
4:24 PM ET
Tom Whitney, Alexander Björk, Ian Gilligan
4:35 PM ET
Rafael Campos, Paul Barjon

Hole 10

Time Players
9:55 AM ET
Matthew NeSmith, Bud Cauley, Ben Silverman
10:06 AM ET
S.H. Kim, Michael Kim, Alex Smalley
10:17 AM ET
Sami Valimaki, Ben Kohles, Justin Suh
10:28 AM ET
Taylor Pendrith, Rickie Fowler, Nick Taylor
10:39 AM ET
J.T. Poston, Jhonattan Vegas, Harris English
10:50 AM ET
Camilo Villegas, Webb Simpson, Harry Hall
11:01 AM ET
Matt Kuchar, Chris Gotterup, Adam Svensson
11:12 AM ET
Carson Young, Nate Lashley, Troy Merritt
11:23 AM ET
Taylor Montgomery, David Skinns, Matti Schmid
11:34 AM ET
Alejandro Tosti, Tyson Alexander, Mark Hubbard
11:45 AM ET
Trace Crowe, Kevin Dougherty
2:45 PM ET
Keith Mitchell, Chandler Phillips, Henrik Norlander
2:56 PM ET
Sam Ryder, Tyler Duncan, Kevin Streelman
3:07 PM ET
Andrew Novak, Hayden Buckley, Dylan Wu
3:18 PM ET
Nicolas Echavarria, J.J. Spaun, Nick Hardy
3:29 PM ET
Cameron Champ, Brendon Todd, Andrew Putnam
3:40 PM ET
Erik van Rooyen, Chez Reavie, Patton Kizzire
3:51 PM ET
Adam Hadwin, Brice Garnett, Peter Malnati
4:02 PM ET
Maverick McNealy, Carl Yuan, Ryan Fox
4:13 PM ET
Martin Laird, Sam Stevens, Garrick Higgo
4:24 PM ET
Joe Highsmith, William Furr, Nicolo Galletti
4:35 PM ET
Adrien Dumont De Chassart, Christo Lamprecht, Neal Shipley

Round 1 TV & streaming information

You can watch the PGA Tour for free on Fubo. ESPN+ is the exclusive home for PGA Tour Live streaming.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/iHz1lGQ
Washington & Lee men call their shot, win 2024 Golfweek October Classic

Washington & Lee men call their shot, win 2024 Golfweek October Classic

Washington & Lee men call their shot, win 2024 Golfweek October Classic

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. — When Washington & Lee’s men’s golf team arrived at Sandestin Resort’s Raven Course, the players called their shot.

“They were going to win, they said that when they got here,” Washington & Lee coach Pete Gyscek said.

And win they did.

Washington & Lee captured the team title at the 2024 Golfweek October Classic on Tuesday, holding off a charge from Sewanee to top a loaded field that included a majority of the top teams in Division III golf. Washington & Lee finished at 30-under 822 for the 54-hole tournament, which is believed to be a record.

Golfweek October Classic: Scores

“I am proud of them,” Gyscek said. “They came down, and they did not let up just one thing. They played every hole aggressively. They said they were going to do that, and they played really well.”

Six teams finished under par, with Sewanee coming in at 23 under to claim second. LeTourneau was third at 6 under while Methodist, the 2023 champion, and Lynchburg tied for fourth at 5 under. Oglethorpe was the other team to finish in the red at 3 under.

At the preview for NCAAs, Washington & Lee placed second and was making a late charge for the win. Then, the next tournament with an even stronger field, they led going into the final round but ended up in second.

That was motivation for this week, and it started with the team captains.

“We have only seven players on our team and two freshmen in the lineup, which is always something different,” Gyscek said. “I’ve got two seniors who are the best leaders in the country. It’s as simple as that. Leadership, and they help the young kids.”

One of those seniors, Jonathan McEwen, was a part of a three-way tie for medalist honors at 11-under 202. Joining him was freshman teammate Elias Malakoff and Carnegie Mellon’s Justin Chan.

Sewanee’s Colin Edwards was solo fourth at 9 under while LeTourneau’s Corbin Barton came in fifth at 8 under.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/iHz1lGQ
Overseeding desert golf courses is a challenge with temperatures staying high into October

Overseeding desert golf courses is a challenge with temperatures staying high into October

Overseeding desert golf courses is a challenge with temperatures staying high into October

PALM DESERT, Calif. — Like most residents of the Coachella Valley, Nick Leitner is amazed by the weather in the Coachella Valley the last few weeks.

“These temperatures have just been insane to the point where I’ve been here close to seven years now and I’ve never seen Oct. 1 at 115 degrees,” said Leitner, directory of agronomy at the 36-hole Indian Wells Golf Resort.

Leitner’s interest in the unseasonable heat is different than most people in the desert who are complaining about temperatures over 110 degrees in October. With October the traditional month for overseeding golf courses and other landscaping in the Coachella Valley, Leitner’s concern is getting cool-weather rye grass to germinate and stay alive in the high temperatures.

“It’s just taking as many precautions as we can. The use of fungicides and phosphite to be able to combat for disease because when you have water and heat, diseases are really present, and it can go and wipe out that cool weather grass in a matter of minutes,” Leitner said.

What is overseeding?

Overseeding is the process of transitioning from warm-weather grasses like Bermuda grass to cool-weather grasses like rye or bluegrass. Bermuda turns dormant and brown in the winter temperatures in the desert, but the triple-digit heat of the summer kills the cool-weather grasses. To keep courses green, they must overseed in the fall. In the spring, the rye grass dies off naturally and the perennial Bermuda springs back to life.

October is the transition month because temperatures, particularly at nighttime, make it possible for rye grass to germinate. At the Indian Wells Golf Resort, with two courses, Leitner and his crew have already overseeded the Celebrity Course, but the heat has caused concern about how effective the overseed will be.

“I’ve already got germination out there, which is fantastic. Now it’s just trying to move ahead,” Leitner said. “The ideal nighttime temperatures that I am looking for are between 65 and 70 degrees. That is ideal. So we have germination, now it’s just trying to manage it to the point where the rye grass doesn’t start melting out because of how hot it is or that the Bermuda grass doesn’t take it over.”

Those nighttime temperatures haven’t been seen in the Coachella Valley this fall.

“Dating back to the 21st of September, the Palm Springs area has not had a low below 70,” said Kyle Wheeler, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego. “There actually was a brief period when it was in the 60s, but that was a couple of days in the middle of September. But since then, it has been much higher.”

One way to combat the heat is with water, but overwatering the grass to keep it cool can lead to the threat of disease, Leitner said.

“Water management, making sure that you are not throwing too much water to the point where you can cause disease, or it becomes oversaturated,” Leitner said. “The seed won’t germinate during that.”

Even if the seed does germinate, the heat forces Leitner and his staff to take extra precautions on some areas of the course.

“You are focusing on a lot of your south-facing slopes, hot spots that you have to be able to make sure that seed is getting enough water. So it is a balancing act,” Leitner said. “From that point, just kind of hoping and praying that temperatures will start dropping, and whatever misses you have or the seed didn’t germinate, we’ve got to come back in and fix that after the fact.”

At Indian Wells Golf Resort, like other golf facilities that have multiple golf courses, the overseeding schedule is staggered so that one golf course is always available for play. So while the Celebrity Course was being overseeded, the Players Course remained open for public play and the Epson Tour Championship that ended Sunday. The Celebrity Course re-opened last week, while the Players Course closed on Sunday.

“I’ve been monitoring the 10-day (forecast) for the last month and next week when we go to shut down the Players, temperatures look like they are going to start being ideal,” Leitner said.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/8MuekW7
This college golf coach is the best speedgolfer in the world. No, really!

This college golf coach is the best speedgolfer in the world. No, really!

This college golf coach is the best speedgolfer in the world. No, really!

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. — Lauren Cupp is always on the run.

She’s the men’s and women’s golf coach at Hamilton College in New York, her alma mater. She and her husband, Wes, own Rome Country Club. The couple has three children, ages 10, 7 and 3.

When she’s not running around the country coaching her teams, handling her duties as a mother and more, she’s running on the golf course.

No, literally.

Cupp is a speedgolfer. And not just any speedgolfer. She’s a world record holder and the best female speedgolfer in the world.

Cupp’s women’s golf team is at Sandestin Resort’s Links Course this week for the Golfweek October Classic, which comprises one of the strongest fields in Division III history. Not only did she start the women’s team at Hamilton, building them into a top-25 power, she has become a global star in speed golf, even if the sports isn’t as popular in the United States as places like Japan, where she’ll head in a couple weeks to compete in the Speedgolf World Championships.

Golfweek October Classic: Scores

“I’ve been able to connect with people from all over the planet, which is pretty cool, through this little dorky sport,” Cupp said.

Hamilton golf coach Lauren Cupp is the top-ranked female speedgolfer in the world. (Photo provided)

Cupp is an accomplished golfer herself, but when her daughter was born 10 years ago and her time became more restricted, she wanted golf to remain a part of her life.

Enter speedgolf.

Speedgolf is scored with two results: the number of strokes taken plus time elapsed from the first tee shot to the final putt dropping. If Cupp shoots 75 in 55 minutes and 30 seconds, her score would be 130.30.

She started when her daughter was in a stroller, pushing her around while starting with 9 holes at a time. She and Wes watched an ESPN clip of the sport, and while there were frustrating moments at first, they were hooked immediately.

“I could do like nine holes and like 48, 49 minutes with the stroller just jogging,” Cupp said. “Then I found out it was a sport you could play competitively.”

And in speedgolf, you don’t need a lot of time to finish a round.

Cupp lives at Rome Country Club, and she can look out and see when the final groups of the day are nearing the 16th and 17th holes. That means it’s time to sprint off the first tee and get a quick 18 in.

Hamilton golf coach Lauren Cupp is the top-ranked female speedgolfer in the world. (Photo provided)

“That’s the best thing about speedgolf is that you can practice it quickly in the morning before the kids are even awake,” Cupp said.

Ranked as the No. 1 female speedgolfer in the world, she holds the world record with a 1-under 72 in 50 minutes and 48 seconds at Teugega Country Club, another course in Rome. She shot the round in the 2021 New York State Open.

Earlier this summer, Cupp won the U.S. Speedgolf Open, which she and Wes hosted at Rome Country Club. Instead of an 18-hole sprint, it was a 54-hole marathon. The event was comprised of the first 18 holes on one evening, and the next day was an 18-hole round in the morning and then again in the evening.

Cupp has used a Sunday bag for close to 10 years, and she normally carries five clubs: a driver, 6-iron, 9-iron, wedge and putter. That’s more than a majority of high-ranking players. However, she’s considering changing to a silo golf club carrier, which is a small device that clubs clip into, before the World Speedgolf Championships next month in Tokyo.

“I do think I’m faster with it,” Cupp said. “I know I’m faster with that than the bag. The issue for me is the putting. So right now I’m like tucking it under my armpit and putting with two hands. I just cannot get into the one handed putting, which is what a lot of people do. I struggle enough with two hands.”

Her fame has risen in the United States, though the sport isn’t as big yet. Cupp has been featured on national news outlets and been an incredible advocate for the sport, but she remains grounded. Hamilton is where her heart is.

She played volleyball and competed in track and field while a student at Hamilton. The school didn’t have a women’s golf program, so she started a club team. In 2012, Hamilton made women’s golf an official sport, and Cupp became the head coach, where she has remained since. Cupp took over the men’s job in 2017.

A couple weeks ago, a pair of Cupp’s men’s players were near the end of practice, and it was getting dark and cold. They decided to play speedgolf the final two holes, something that made Cupp smile when the two were sprinting down the fairway with their full bags.

They both finished practice with a pair of pars.

“They both joked it was a lot better than the last time they played 17 and 18,” Cupp said.

Hamilton golf coach Lauren Cupp is the top-ranked female speedgolfer in the world. (Photo provided)

There have been other times Cupp’s players have played speedgolf, as well. The fast-paced environment of the sport, combined with the fundamentals of golf, can challenge players and force them to hit different types of shots and be creative. More often than not in speedgolf, a player is between clubs, forcing them to be creative and be an athlete, an invaluable lesson when faced with a difficult circumstance on the course.

“There is something to be said about that, about just being an athlete, getting the ball in the hole in the fewest amount of shots, not getting caught up with all these swing thoughts and TrackMan parameters and things,” Cupp said. “And there’s certainly value to those things. But there is something to be said about just remembering that you’re just an athlete playing a sport, and we’re just trying to get the job done.”

Cupp’s life is nonstop, like a round of speedgolf. But no matter how busy her schedule gets, when there’s free time and an open course in front of her, Cupp will blaze new records and continue growing the sport that has taken over her life.

“I have become a much better golfer playing speed golf,” Cupp said. “I’ve had a lot of really cool opportunities.”

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/8MuekW7