Golf solutions: November 2021

In-depth preview of this week's Hero World Challenge including key stats, strokes gained data and picks

It’s time for a trip to the Bahamas.

The biggest stars in the game are headed to Albany for a little getaway, where they’ll also play some golf.

Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge took a year off last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but returns with an enormous amount of juice. Why you may ask?

Because Woods himself will be on-site all week. Oh, and we heard from him for the first time since his accident at his press conference Tuesday (first time for all media, his interview with Golf Digest earlier in the week was fantastic).

Another storyline to keep an eye on: Jordan Spieth is teeing it up for the first time since becoming a father. Say it with me, folks: Perspective.

Golf course

Albany Golf Course
Par 72
7,309 yards
The Ernie Els design features a links-style layout, where the winning score will be somewhere around 18 under.

Weather

Day	Conditions	Percent chance of rain	Wind & Direction
Tuesday	Partly Cloudy	7 percent	8 MPH (NE)
Wednesday	Mostly Sunny	11 percent	10 MPH (E)
Thursday	Mostly Sunny	9 percent	9 PMH (NNE)
Friday	Partly Cloudy	6 percent	12 MPH (ENE)
Saturday	Partly Cloudy	14 percent	10 MPH (E)
Sunday	Partly Cloudy	23 percent	9 MPH (E)

Key Stats

Data Golf has Strokes Gained: Approach as their far-and-away most important stat for the week, and it makes sense. If you look back at the players who have won at this golf course over the years (Henrik Stenson, Jon Rahm, Hideki Matsuyama), they’re all fantastic iron players.

At a course with relatively large fairways, I always like to keep an eye out for the bombers. I’m not saying you have to be a long-ball hitter to compete here, but distance doesn’t hurt when you need to go low to win.

Data Golf information

Course Fit (compares golf courses based on the degree to which different golfer attributes — such as driving distance — to predict who performs well at each course – DataGolf): 1. PGA West (Palmer), 2. Warwick Golf and Country Club, 3. Detroit Golf Club

Trending (among the players in the field): 1. Justin Thomas (last three starts: 4, T-18, 3), 2. Bryson DeChambeau (T-31, 2, 7), 3. Rory McIlroy (T-14, 1, T-6)

Percent chance to win (based on course history, fit, trending, etc.): 1. Justin Thomas (8.7 percent), 2. Viktor Hovland (8.3 percent), 3. Bryson DeChambeau (7.9 percent)

Twilight 9

Download this week’s episode to listen to Andy and my preview of the Hero World Challenge: Apple | Spotify

Betting odds

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds a full list.

Rory McIlroy (+700)

Collin Morikawa (+750)

Justin Thomas (+1000)

Viktor Hovland (+1000)

Jordan Spieth (+1200)

Bryson DeChambeau (+1300)

Xander Schauffele (+1300)

Tony Finau (+1500)

Scottie Scheffler (+1500)

Abraham Ancer (+1500)

We got killed at the RSM Classic with Russell Henley missing a top 20 finish by a shot. Good news: We’re still in the green over the last five events. We’re going to have to hit a winner pick this week with only 20 players in the field.

Betting card for the Hero World Challenge

Rory McIlroy – Top 5 (+125)

Rory McIlroy celebrates after winning the CJ Cup golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The last time we saw Mr. McIlroy on the PGA Tour, he was lifting a trophy on the 18th green at the CJ Cup in Vegas. However, the last time we saw McIlroy on the golf course, he went full Hulk-mode on his shirt after finishing T-6 failing to convert on yet another 54-hole lead.

This will be McIlroy’s first appearance at Albany, but I think his game fits the course pretty well. Plus, when he’s in the field, I will bet on him. Every time.

Collin Morikawa – Top 5 (+130)

Collin Morikawa of the United States celebrates with the Race To Dubai trophy following and the DP World Tour Championship trophy after winning the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 21, 2021, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Here’s my thinking: One of these two guys will finish in the top 5. If both hit, great. If not, we’ll still pocket some cash.

Morikawa will become the No. 1 player in the world if he wins in the Bahamas this week. He’d become the second-fastest player in history to reach the top – you could probably guess who was the fastest.

His last start ended with new hardware for his trophy case.

Matthew Fitzpatrick – To win (+2000)

Matt Fitzpatrick of England tees off on the 10th hole during the first round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course on October 28, 2021 in Southampton, . (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

I wanted to select a guy who comes into the week under the radar. Great in the wind, fantastic ball-striker, and can absolutely roll it.

Fitzy won in Spain a month and a half ago, and finished runner-up to Morikawa in Dubai in his last start.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/2V95qPJ

QBE Shootout: Steve Stricker withdraws, Rookie of the Year Will Zalatoris replaces him

Former QBE Shootout champion Steve Stricker has withdrawn from next week’s event due to a lingering, non-COVID-related virus.

PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Will Zalatoris has replaced Stricker in the 24-player field, and will team with Stricker’s scheduled partner, Sean O’Hair.

Stricker had withdrawn from the PGA Tour Champions Charles Schwab Championship earlier in November. He is the defending champion of the Chubb Classic, Naples’ Champions event that will be played Feb. 14-20.

Stricker is a former part-time Naples resident. He sold his residence in Quail West earlier this year. He was the captain of the victorious U.S. Ryder Cup team back in September.

Stricker won the Shootout in 2017 with O’Hair, and in 2009 with Jerry Kelly. He has played in the Shootout 12 times.

Steve Stricker 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. (Photo by Butch Dill/Associated Press)

This will be Zalatoris’ first appearance in the QBE Shootout. He is one of five players in the field for the first time.

Zalatoris finished runner-up in his debut start at the Masters Tournament this spring and was tied for sixth at the 2020 U.S. Open. The former Wake Forest star began this season with no status on Tour, but had eight top-10 finishes and was named Rookie of the Year. He is currently 32nd in the world rankings.

Will Zalatoris hits his tee shot on the first hole during round two of the Fortinet Championship at Silverado Resort and Spa on September 17, 2021 in Napa, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

The QBE Shootout will once again feature a scramble format during the first round, a modified alternate shot format on Saturday and a final-round better ball on Sunday.

Greg Hardwig is a sports reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. Follow him on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: @NDN_Ghardwig, email him at [email protected]. Support local journalism with this special subscription offer at https://cm.naplesnews.com/specialoffer/

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/2V95qPJ

Schupak: Why Tiger Woods should play the PNC Championship

During his first press conference since being involved in a one-car accident that could have killed him, Tiger Woods was asked to recall the first day he walked again without crutches, or any other help.

“I did it maybe probably a little earlier than they suggested,” he said, a classic Tiger non-answer that told you everything you needed to know.

Of course, he’s ahead of the timeline given by doctors — he’s Tiger Woods. He lives for a challenge and this may be the biggest one of his life. Tiger said going from immobile in his hospital bed for several months to able to walk into the press conference on his own was “a longer process that I thought.” But here he is, already able to play some holes.

Who thought that was possible back in February during the around-the-clock coverage of his accident and pronouncements by the medical staff made it sound doubtful he’d ever play let alone walk again?

So, here’s something I didn’t think I’d be typing nine months later: Tiger should play in the PNC Championship in Orlando in a few weeks with son Charlie.

It may sound crazy, though organizers of the event are holding a spot for Woods should he come to his senses. Tiger may deem it too soon but hear me out. While Tiger lowered expectations about a comeback, saying he “has so far to go,” and “is not even at the halfway point” in his recovery, he sees a future in the game and did say, “I’ll play a round here or there, a little hit and giggle, I can do something like that.”

If that isn’t the PNC Championship, a 36-hole team event that pairs 20 winners of prestigious titles alongside a family member in a scramble competition, I don’t know what is.

Tiger cracked a tired joke about being four years away from riding a cart, a reference to playing on PGA Tour Champions. Well, guess what? Carts are kosher at the PNC Championship. Give him one of those handicapped flags and let him drive it on the green if need be, as far as his fans are concerned. In other words, having to walk 72 holes, which makes a return to competing on the Tour a non-starter for the time being, is a non-issue at the PNC. He can drive his cart, skip shots, put his ball in his pocket when he wants to and let Charlie do the heavy lifting. In short, this is the perfect spot to dip his toe back in the water for playing competitive golf again.

Tiger said he’s been stroking putts with “old faithful,” and can out-chip and out-putt the best players in the world. Well, let Charlie bang driver from the forward tees and hit approach shots and Tiger can do his magician thing around the green. When they played for the first time in this friendly exhibition last year, Tiger often skipped hitting tee shots anyway knowing that he couldn’t rip one past Charlie.

Tiger Woods watches as his son Charlie tees off on the 12th hole during a pro-am ahead of the PNC Championship on Dec. 17, 2020, in Orlando, Florida. Photo by Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Is it too much pressure for a 12-year-old kid? Possibly, but Charlie proved a year ago that he can handle the bright lights of the camera. He thrived in the spotlight, and, as a matter of fact, he stole the spotlight from his famous father.

Something tells me that Tiger has had the PNC event circled on his calendar for the very reasons I’ve mentioned. My lasting takeaway from watching Tiger and Charlie play at the PNC Championship last year?

I had never seen Tiger look so happy.

It’s been a tough year for Tiger, and there’s no better medicine than a smile.

This also is why he’s worked so hard to get to this point. It’s not about climbing to the top of Mount Everest anymore, or 19 majors. Tiger said it is about being able to be involved in the lives of his children, noting that he’s “not the hip, cool dad at times,” and needs to keep up with the lingo.

Tiger could use a few days of being Tiger. The best part of Henni Koyack’s exclusive interview with Tiger was when he talked about his son and how a bad temper was affecting his golf scores. Tiger told Charlie it was OK to let the anger out — as he was prone to do — but to never let it affect the next shot.

“The next shot is more important than breathing,” Tiger taught him.

The PNC Championship can be one big teachable moment, not just for Charlie but for Tiger to prove to himself that he can not only accept his current station in life with a right leg that may never be what it used to be, but enjoy his new role in the game, even if that role is as a ceremonial golfer.

Just sitting next to his son in a cart, chipping and putting and doing some version of the thing he loves most is a victory of sorts, and a milepost on his way to eventually playing on the PGA Tour again and as he so eloquently put it, “clicking off a tourney here or there.”

Both father and son can probably use playing in the PNC Championship more than either of them really know.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/2V95qPJ

'Don’t doubt him:' Justin Thomas and more PGA Tour players react to Tiger Woods news

NASSAU, Bahamas – News that Tiger Woods said he has accepted the reality that he may never play at the highest level again, his body broken to the point he wouldn’t be able to get ready to compete, quickly spread through the Hero World Challenge, which has attracted 20 of the game’s best players.

Woods also said he’d still have a great life even if he never returned to the PGA Tour, but if his body allows, and he finds the intensity once again to rise from the damage, he’d try to play a few tournaments a season on the PGA Tour.

Plus a few “hit-and-giggle” events.

That was welcomed news from his peers, who are grateful to see Woods again after a horrible, one-car rollover accident in February nearly took his life. Whatever Woods’ future holds, the players said, it’s just great news that he is back and potentially could make enough progress to return to the PGA Tour.

Here are some of the player’s reactions.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/2V95qPJ

Greg Norman equates Saudi and U.S. cultures: 'Just look at America with racism ... it’s just ugly'

In his new position as CEO of LIV Golf Investments — a group backed by the Public Investment Fund, operating on behalf of the government of Saudi Arabia — Greg Norman has revived his concept to rival the PGA Tour, offering guaranteed money to a select few of the game’s top players through a limited schedule.

As the organization’s frontman, Norman recently doubled down when discussing whether or not he sees any issues in partnering with a Saudi regime that has been widely scrutinized for human rights violations.

In an article published in the Financial Times, the former World No. 1 insisted he’s not being used by the group to clean up its image.

“No, I have not been used for sportswashing because I’ve been to Saudi Arabia, and I’ve seen the changes that have taken place,” Norman told the Financial Times.

Norman also equated racial issues in the United States with social issues in Saudi Arabia.

“Every country has done horrendous things in the past … just look at America with racism, for example, it’s just so embedded here, it’s just ugly,” he said.

LIV Golf Investments has created a firestorm of speculation about which PGA Tour stars might compete in Saudi-backed events and how the top two established tours, the PGA Tour and the European Tour, might react to seeing their best players poached.

The rival league led by the Saudis looked to partner with the European Tour this spring. In May a group made multi-million dollar offers to several of the game’s best players, including then-world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose, with some offers reaching the neighborhood of $50 million.

Soon after, the PGA Tour partnered with the European Tour and announced a new pot of $40 million called the Player Impact Program to “recognize and reward players who positively move the needle.”

LIV Golf Investments instead partnered with the Asian Tour and has committed more than $200 million to a series of events over the next 10 years. Norman and the Saudis unveiled a glimpse of their vision in a private meeting attended by a handful of golf media outlets in New York City.

The PGA Tour has continued to fight back the threat of the new rival Saudi league, planning a huge increase in player bonuses in 2022 and also boosting prize money at limited-field events significantly, Golfweek reported Nov. 22. The Tour’s most lucrative cash grab – the FedEx Cup bonus pool – will lavish even more money on top players, jumping to $75 million from $60 million last season.

Despite those increased bonuses and prize funds on the PGA Tour, a group of notable golfers – including stars such as Mickelson, Johnson and DeChambeau – on Nov. 29 appeared on a list of players committed to compete in the Saudi International as part of the Asian Tour. The PGA Tour and European Tour – recently rebranded as the DP World Tour – have promised undetermined consequences to any of either tours’ players who do play in rival LIV events on the Asian Tour without receiving exemptions, which the PGA and Euro tours have vowed not to approve.

Norman was a natural choice to front the new series. In 1994, he proposed the World Golf Tour, a series of eight no-cut events intended to bring 40 players together. The plan was shot down by the PGA Tour, and then-commissioner Tim Finchem announced the World Golf Championships in 1997 adhering to many of the same principles.

The Australian still believes the PGA Tour doesn’t properly compensate players and believes the new series could offer a better solution.

“You look at that value that’s been generated through other sports, for other players and other franchises. Golf has never recognized that or had the ability to capture that market,” Norman told the Financial Times.

Interestingly, Tiger Woods was asked about the potential for a new rival league during a press conference Tuesday in advance of his Hero World Challenge.

When asked if a player sought his advice on whether or not to play, Woods said that decision would be up to the player, although he will remain faithful to the PGA Tour.

"It's going to be his decision. I've decided for myself, and I'm supporting the @PGATOUR. That's where my legacy is … I have an allegiance to the PGA Tour."

— Tiger Woods on what he'd tell a player considering leaving for a Saudi-backed series.

— Golfweek (@golfweek) November 30, 2021

“I understand that some of the comparisons are similar to when Arnold and Jack broke off from the PGA of America to start the Tour. I don’t see it that way,” he said. “I think the Tour has done a fantastic job, (commissioner Jay Monahan has) done an unbelievable job in a very difficult time. During the pandemic, there was ample opportunity for players to leave. We were the first sporting tour to start, so with that, yes, did we have some protocol issues at times? Yes, we learned on the fly. But Jay and the staff have done an incredible job of that. I think the Tour is in great hands, they’re doing fantastic and prize money is going up, it’s just not guaranteed money like most sports are. It’s just like tennis – you’ve got to go out there and earn it.”

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/2V95qPJ

Tiger Woods grateful, surprisingly upbeat as he faces an unknown future

NASSAU, Bahamas – Relentless Father Time is a foe.

As is his damaged right leg and foot.

And the troublesome back remains a constant battle.

But as a painful year nears its close, a surprisingly upbeat Tiger Woods is facing down his future in a different manner.

He’s been down this road before following scandal and surgeries, one of the most harrowing being his return from spinal fusion surgery a few years back. This time, however, following his horrific one-car, rollover accident last February that nearly cost him his right leg, let alone his life, the 15-time major champion is OK with the prospect of never playing again at the game’s highest level.

But he’ll give it a go.

“I don’t foresee this leg ever being what it used to be, I’ll never have the back what it used to be, and the clock’s ticking,” Woods said Tuesday at Albany ahead of Thursday’s start of the Hero World Challenge that he hosts and has attracted 20 of golf’s best players.

“I’m getting older, I’m not getting any younger,” he continued. “All that combined means that a full schedule and a full practice schedule and the recovery that it would take to do that, no, I don’t have any desire to do that.”

Still, there is an avenue Woods said he could choose to go down to try to return to the PGA Tour. He said he could pick and choose a few tournaments, like Ben Hogan did at the end of his career after he survived a brutal head-on car crash.

“He did a pretty good job of it, and there’s no reason that I can’t do that and feel ready,” Woods said. “I may not be tournament sharp in the sense I haven’t played tournaments, but I think if you practice correctly and you do it correctly, that I’ve come off surgeries before, I’ve come off long layoffs and I’ve won or come close to winning before. So I know the recipe for it. I’ve just got to get to a point where I feel comfortable enough where I can do that again.”

He’s been moving in the right direction for some time now, setting little milestones to conquer. First leaving a hospital bed after three months and getting outside to feel the warmth of the sun, then leaving behind the wheelchair he needed to get around, then tossing aside the crutches.

Earlier this month, he posted a three-second video of himself hitting a wedge. He has now progressed to playing a few holes.

Making progress pic.twitter.com/sVQkxEHJmq

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) November 21, 2021

On Tuesday, Woods walked into the media center at Albany without aid, slowly but without a limp. He smiled throughout his 40-minute presser. His upper body has certainly expanded, especially his Popeye arms.

While he remains in pain, he is at peace with his current state and the rehab road he eyes, especially knowing that he is lucky to be alive and fortunate to still have his right leg and foot, for amputation was on the table.

And his way of life is back, and his two children are at the ready to fill his heart.

“I’m very grateful that someone upstairs was taking care of me, that I’m able to not only be here but also to walk without a prosthesis,” he said. “Some dark moments, but then again, as I was making progress through it, I could see some light and that was giving me hope. I’m able to participate more with my kids and their activities and more just life in general. I’m on the positive side. I’m on the better side of it.

“But I’ve still got a long way to go.”

As far as a target date for a possible return – say the PNC Championship in mid-December – Woods isn’t eyeing the calendar.

“I’ll put it to you this way: as far as playing at the Tour level, I don’t know when that’s going to happen,” he said. “Now, I’ll play a round here or there, a little hit and giggle, I can do something like that. The USGA suggested Play It Forward. I really like that idea now.

“To see some of my shots fall out of the sky a lot shorter than they used to is a little eye‑opening, but at least I’m able to do it again. That’s something that for a while there it didn’t look like I was going to. Now I’m able to participate in the sport of golf. Now to what level, I do not know that.”

In 2015 at the Hero World Challenge, a somber Woods felt his career could be over, saying, “Where is the light at the end of the tunnel? I don’t know. I think pretty much everything beyond this will be gravy.”

Well, that gravy included victory in the 2018 Tour Championship, his fifth green jacket coming in the 2019 Masters, and his record-tying 82nd PGA Tour title later that year in the Zozo Championship. Those moments provide him inspiration, just as teeing it up with Charlie or playing soccer with daughter, Sam. He is thinking about carrots at the end of a long tunnel and he’s ready to go after them.

“I have a long way in the rehab process of this leg and it’s not the fun stuff of the rehab,” he said. “It’s just reps and breaking up scar tissue and things that really hurt. So that part of it’s not going to be fun, but the challenge of it is.

“I enjoy the challenge of getting in there and trying to push it to the next level, sometimes it’s two steps forward, one step back, but you’ve got to go through it. I enjoy that part of it and maybe one day it will be good enough where I can get out here and I can compete against these best players in the world again.”

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/2V95qPJ

Tiger Woods interview highlights: Backing the PGA Tour over rival leagues, a timeline for his return and more

A day after Golf Digest published an exclusive interview with Tiger Woods about his future, the 15-time major champion addressed the media for the first time since his single-car accident in February on Tuesday morning.

Woods spoke to reporters live from his Hero World Challenge event in the Bahamas and began by praising his TGR Foundation, which recently celebrated a 25th birthday. He also addressed his most-recent recovery and how it compared to that of his 10 other surgeries.

“This one’s been much more difficult,” said Woods. “It’s hard to explain how difficult it’s been to be immobile for eight months. I was just looking forward to getting outside, that was a goal of mine, especially for a person who’s spent his whole life outside.”

Here are some of the highlights from Woods’ first post-accident press conference.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/2V95qPJ

'(Amputation) was on the table': Tiger Woods didn't shy away from how serious his leg injury really was

Tiger Woods addressed the media for the first time on Tuesday in the Bahamas, a few days before the first round of his Hero World Challenge gets underway later this week.

After his car accident in February, the severity of Woods’ injuries couldn’t be understated. Seemingly everything in his lower right leg was shattered, and many questioned if he’d ever walk again.

“I’m lucky to be alive and to still have the limb. I’m very grateful that someone upstairs was taking care of me … (amputation) was on the table.”

The conversation is no longer about if he’ll ever walk again, but if he’ll ever play again. He touched on that possibility, and if he’ll ever be in a field on the PGA Tour down the road.

“As far as playing at the Tour level, I don’t know when that’s gonna happen. I’ll play a round here and there, a little hit-and-giggle, I can do something like that.”

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/2V95qPJ

Lydia Ko gorgeous Swing & Slow Motion_Tour Swing Analysis: Lydia Ko

Welcome everyone, golf friends Today, Gary Bates of the Gary Bates Golf Academy will provide a Tour Swing Analysis for Lydia KO. He's a certified v1 video analysis coach and a PGA teaching professional. Lydia Ko is a fantastic player with a lot of future.

She was ranked number one in the world when she was just 17 years old, and she is now 23 years old. After 21 international victories, she's a truly remarkable golfer.

For now, she's been on tour for six years (hard to think she's only 23), but let's look at her motion and see what we can learn:

With earnings of NZ$2.061 million on the LPGA Tour so far in 2021, Ko has now banked NZ$17.401m in her illustrious career.

Lydia Ko is no stranger to success After several years of struggles, her game is again trending in the right direction. Here's how

This is an excellent analysis. Another thing we'd say Ko, like other pros, excels at is a straight left leg at the follow. For leverage, use the ground. And we love it.
Please leave your feedback below.

Lydia Ko Facts: Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics:

Sources: golf.com & Gary Bates Golf Academy

'(Amputation) was on the table': Tiger Woods didn't shy away from how serious his leg injury really was during Tuesday's press conference

Tiger Woods addressed the media for the first time on Tuesday, a few days before the first round of his Hero World Challenge gets underway later this week.

After his car accident in February, the severity of Woods’ injuries couldn’t be understated. Seemingly everything in his lower left leg was shattered, and many questioned if he’d ever walk again.

“I’m lucky to be alive and to still have the limb. I’m very grateful that someone upstairs was taking care of me … (amputation) was on the table.”

The conversation is no longer about if he’ll ever walk again, but if he’ll ever play again. He touched on that possibility, and if he’ll ever be in a field on the PGA Tour down the road.

“As far as playing at the Tour level, I don’t know when that’s gonna happen. I’ll play a round here and there, a little hit-and-giggle, I can do something like that.”

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/2V95qPJ

'Clock's ticking': Tiger Woods on his recovery and why there's no timeline for his PGA Tour return

Woods spoke to reporters live from his Hero World Challenge event in the Bahamas and began by praising his TGR Foundation, which recently celebrated a 25th birthday, and the field of players who made the trip to the Bahamas. This week’s field is the strongest in Hero’s history and features eight new players.

“This one’s been much more difficult,” said Woods of this recovery compared to that of his countless others. “It’s hard to explain how difficult it’s been to be immobile for 8 months. I was just looking forward to getting outside, that was a goal of mine, especially for a person who’s spent his whole life outside.

“As far as playing at the Tour level, I don’t know when that’s gonna happen,” Woods said about a timeline for when he may play again. “I’ll play a round here and there, a little hit-and-giggle, I can do something like that.”

“To see some of my shots fall out of the sky a lot shorter than they used to is a little eye opening, but at least I’m able to do it again. That’s something that for a while there didn’t look like I was going to. I’m able to participate in the sport of golf, now, to what level? I do not know,” he continued.

“The clock’s ticking, I’m not getting any younger.”

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/2V95qPJ

LPGA Q-Series: Eight-round grind features a major champ, college stars and two Solheim Cup players

With no LPGA Qualifying School in 2020, the depth of this year’s Q-Series is particularly strong. Consider that there are six players in the top 75 of the Rolex Rankings in the field, including No. 14 Ayaka Furue, No. 18 Atthaya Thitikul, No. 38 Hinako Shibuno, No. 53 Hye-Jin Choi, No. 67 Na Rin An and No. 71 Emily Kristine Pedersen (pictured above).

The field of 110 players will play eight rounds over the course of two weeks at two courses on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. The first week (Dec. 2-5) will take place at Magnolia Grove (Crossing and Falls courses) in Mobile, Alabama, followed by a hybrid course at Highland Oaks Golf Course in Dothan (Highland and Marshwood courses) on Dec. 9-12.

The top 45 players and ties will receive LPGA status for the 2022 season. Those who do not receive LPGA status will have Symetra Tour status for next year.

Scores will carry over from the first week to the second. There will be a cut after the first week to 70 and ties. College players in the field who enter as amateurs can defer LPGA membership and accept at any point until July 1, 2022.

Players who finished in the top 45 at Q-Series in 2019 were seeded Nos. 129 to 174 on the initial LPGA Priority List. Most full-field events range from 120 to 140 players.

Here’s a look at some of the key players.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/2V95qPJ

Tiger Woods opens up to Golf Digest on future: 'I don’t have to compete and play against the best players in the world to have a great life'

For the first time since his single-car accident in February, Tiger Woods has spoken about his future on the golf course.

The 15-time major champion spoke with Golf Digest about his year since the Los Angeles accident, his return to golf as well as his son, Charlie. Last week Golfweek reported that the PNC Championship was holding a spot for the father-son duo who amazed fans at last year’s event.

“I don’t have to compete and play against the best players in the world to have a great life. After my back fusion, I had to climb Mt. Everest one more time. I had to do it, and I did,” said Woods. “This time around, I don’t think I’ll have the body to climb Mt. Everest and that’s OK. I can still participate in the game of golf. I can still, if my leg gets OK, I can still click off a tournament here or there.”

“I think something that is realistic is playing the Tour one day—never full time, ever again—but pick and choose, just like Mr. (Ben) Hogan did. Pick and choose a few events a year and you play around that,” Woods said. “You practice around that, and you gear yourself up for that. I think that’s how I’m going to have to play it from now on. It’s an unfortunate reality, but it’s my reality. And I understand it, and I accept it.”

Watch the full interview here.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/2V95qPJ

'A true trailblazer and gentleman:' Golf world reacts to the passing of Masters legend Lee Elder

The game of golf has lost a legendary ambassador.

On Monday it was announced that Lee Elder, who became the first Black man to compete in the Masters Tournament in 1975 at Augusta National Golf Club, has died. He was 87 years old.

At the 2021 Masters, Elder joined Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player as an honorary starter on the first tee, but was unable to swing due to his health. As the news broke, the golf world reacted on social media to honor the pioneer for diversity in the game.

Here’s a sampling of how the golf world reacted to the passing of the trailblazing Lee Elder.

PGA Tour

Lee Elder has passed away at the age of 87.

In 1975, he made history as the first African American to compete in the Masters Tournament.

Lee was honored this past April at Augusta National and his legacy will surely live on. pic.twitter.com/1o05rephKt

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 29, 2021

Jack Nicklaus

Lee Elder was a pioneer in so many ways. Yes, he was the first black golfer to play in @TheMasters, but that simply underlined the hard work Lee put in to further the cause of everyone who has a dream to play on the @PGATOUR and thinks there were too many barriers before them.

— Jack Nicklaus (@jacknicklaus) November 29, 2021

U.S. Ryder Cup team

Today we are saddened by the loss of our teammate and friend, Mr. Lee Elder.

A true trailblazer and gentleman, we honor Lee's memory and the lasting impact he made on the game. pic.twitter.com/ylHnI6W7jo

— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) November 29, 2021

LPGA

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Lee Elder.

Lee was the definition of a trailblazer, and his impact on the game of golf will never be forgotten. pic.twitter.com/B4ALpbUgzL

— LPGA (@LPGA) November 29, 2021

Harold Varner III

Look out for the ones coming behind you. Lee Elder was an incredible contribution to the game and made history because of his talent, not just because he was African-American. I’m fortunate to have had the chance to learn from him. My prayers to the Elder family at this time. pic.twitter.com/FBPtzdmkro

— Harold Varner III (@HV3_Golf) November 29, 2021

USGA

The golf world lost a true trailblazer in our 2019 Bob Jones Award recipient Lee Elder.

Elder was 87. pic.twitter.com/slJlVfhPoz

— USGA (@USGA) November 29, 2021

Sports Illustrated

RIP to the legendary, Lee Elder pic.twitter.com/hYwhqW7lon

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 29, 2021

DP World Tour

We are very saddened by the passing of Lee Elder, a pioneer who leaves a lasting legacy in our game. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends at this time. pic.twitter.com/OcK4MUnOMs

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 29, 2021

Masters

Lee Elder is joined this morning by special guests including his family, representatives from Paine College and a group of Black PGA professionals. #themasters pic.twitter.com/C9AJSlypF4

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 8, 2021

PGA of America

We’re saddened by the passing of 45-year PGA Member Dr. Lee Elder, a trailblazer whose legacy has made significant positive impacts on the game we all love. https://t.co/P1jdD25JXx

— PGA of America (@PGA) November 29, 2021

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/2V95qPJ

Hero World Challenge Thursday tee times and TV info

The long Thanksgiving weekend is over, everyone has returned to work and live tournament golf is back on TV as the limited-field, star-studded Hero World Challenge tees off Thursday in the Bahamas.

The field was permanently expanded to 20 players this year, up from 18. Also new in 2021: the winner of the Players Championship earns a spot in the Hero field, bringing Justin Thomas into the fold. Collin Morikawa is making his Hero debut. Olympic gold medalist Xander Schauffele is in the event and he’s paired in the first round with the 2016 gold medal winner, Justin Rose.

Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau, who squared off last Friday in Vegas in Capital One’s: The Match, are also playing.

Hosted by Tiger Woods, the 2020 event was canceled because of the COVID pandemic. Henrik Stenson won the event in 2019. Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas is the venue once again.

This will be the sixth time the tournament is held in the Bahamas. The Hero World Challenge benefits the TGR Foundation, Tavistock Foundation and Bahamas Youth Foundation. All times listed are ET.

11:05 a.m.	Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton
11:16 a.m.	Scottie Scheffler, Sam Burns
11:27 a.m.	Webb Simpson, Daniel Berger
11:38 a.m.	Harris English, Tony Finau
11:49 a.m.	Patrick Reed, Abraham Ancer
12 p.m.	Henrik Stenson, Viktor Hovland
12:11 p.m.	Justin Rose, Xander Schauffele
12:22 p.m.	Collin Morikawa, Rory McIlroy
12:33 p.m.	Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka
12:44 p.m.	Bryson DeChambeau, Jordan Spieth

TV information

Thursday, Dec. 2

TV

Golf Channel: 1:30-4:30 p.m. ET

Friday, Dec. 3

TV

Golf Channel: 1:30-4:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, Dec. 4

TV

Golf Channel: 12:30-2:30 p.m. ET
NBC: 2:30-5 p.m. ET

Sunday, Dec.5

TV

Golf Channel: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. ET
NBC: 1-4 p.m. ET

We recommend interesting sports viewing and streaming opportunities. If you sign up to a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/2V95qPJ

Pebble Beach AT&T Pro-Am field decimated by commitments to Saudi International

The field for the 2022 Pebble Beach AT&T Pro-Am is likely taking a major hit, assuming the PGA Tour grants waivers to the slew of players who are preferring to play in the Saudi International in February.

That means five-time champ Phil Mickelson won’t be at Pebble Beach. Nor will two-time winner Dustin Johnson. Or Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, Xander Schauffele, Adam Scott or Bubba Watson among many others.

On the flip side, the 2022 Saudi International, in its first year on the Asian Tour schedule, features the strongest field in the history of the tour.

In past years the PGA Tour granted releases to its members for the first three Saudi Internationals when it was a European Tour event. Last summer the PGA and European tours announced a strategic alliance, which removed the Saudi event from the European Tour (now DP World Tour) schedule and was widely interpreted as a joint effort to stymie any rival tours.

Others seeking to skip Pebble for the Saudi: Graeme McDowell, Abraham Ancer, Lee Westwood, Tommy Fleetwood, Henrik Stenson, Kevin Na, Jason Kokrak, Tyrrell Hatton, Adri Arnaus, Rafael Cabrera Bello, Paul Casey, Jason Dufner, Shane Lowry, Joaquin Niemann, Louis Oosthuizen, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson, Harold Varner III and Jhonattan Vegas.

The PGA Tour has not granted releases for members to play the Saudi International. The Tour has until 30 days before the first round to decide on waivers. Per previous reporting, players who compete without a waiver would likely only face a fine.

— Eamon Lynch (@eamonlynch) November 29, 2021

Due to changes on the PGA Tour schedule, the AT&T is the first weekend of February in 2022. For many years, that Waste Management Phoenix Open held that spot, but that tournament was pushed back a week in order to stay on the same weekend as the Super Bowl, which is a week later due to the NFL’s new 17-game regular season.

Golfweek’s Adam Woodard contributed to this article.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/2V95qPJ

Photos: Lee Elder breaks Masters color barrier in 1975, returns as honorary starter in 2021

Lee Elder, the first Black man to play in the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, died Sunday at the age of 87.

Elder broke the color barrier at the famed Georgia golf club in 1975 after winning the 1974 Monsanto Open at Pensacola Country Club in Florida.

Elder was chosen to help kick off the 2021 Masters, joining Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player on the first tee as an honorary starter. Unable to swing and using an oxygen tank to assist his breathing, Elder used a driver for balance. When he sat down during a round of applause after being announced, he said, “That feels good.”

Check out photos of Elder through the years below.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/2V95qPJ

Lee Elder, first Black golfer to compete in the Masters, dies at 87

Golf pioneer Lee Elder, who in 1975 became the first Black player to compete in the Masters Tournament at Augusta National, has died.

Elder learned to play the game crosshanded as a caddie in rural Dallas. Ted Rhodes, another black pioneer who served as a mentor, changed him to a traditional grip and Elder would go on to dominate the United Golf Association, the tour for Blacks in the era of the PGA’s Caucasian-only rule, before earning his PGA Tour card in 1967, winning four times and qualifying for the 1979 U.S. Ryder Cup team.

“When I first qualified for the Tour, in 1967, I said I wanted to get that one thing that had not been accomplished out of the way. The Masters was the one tournament that hadn’t been integrated,” Elder once told Golfweek.

Two years before Elder qualified, a group of politicians urged Augusta National to invite Elder, but their request was rebuffed.

“We are a little surprised as well as being flattered that 18 Congressmen should be able to take time out to help us operate a golf tournament,” Augusta National co-founder Clifford Roberts wrote. “…We feel certain someone has misinformed the distinguished lawmakers, because there is not and never has been player discrimination, subtle or otherwise.”

Elder earned his way to the Masters holing an 18-foot birdie putt on the fourth playoff to beat Peter Oosterhuis in the 1974 Monsanto Open at Pensacola Country Club in Florida, at the same course where a few years earlier he had been refused entrance into the clubhouse and changed his shoes in the parking lot. To understand the world at the time it is important to remember that Elder was whisked away to the clubhouse, and for good reason.

Lee Elder at the Augusta National Golf Course during the 1975 Masters. Photo by The Augusta Chronicle

“I didn’t know why until we got in the car and they said they had received calls that if I won they were going to kill me,” Elder said. “We got so many calls like that.”

During the week of the 1975 Masters, he bounced between two rental houses just to be safe, and stayed up late with friends playing cards and trying to wrap his head around what it meant to break the color barrier at the Masters.

“My friend said to me, ‘Do you really know how much you’ve done?’ I said, ‘I feel like I do. I feel like I made a contribution to society.’ They said, ‘No, my man, you’re breaking the barrier that had been in existence for a long time,’ ” Elder recalled.

On a misty morning, 46 years ago Elder wore green pants, a green shirt and a green sweater. He was asked if he’d like a rainsuit. “And mess up this pretty green?” Elder said.

In April, Elder was back at Augusta National when he became the 10th honorary starter in Masters history.

“Today Lee Elder will inspire us and make history once more,” Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said. “Lee, you have the honors.”

Elder, who used oxygen to assist his breathing, had a full set of golf clubs at his disposal at the first tee box and used a driver for balance, but he was unfit to hit a shot. When he took a seat to another round of applause, he said, “That feels good.”

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/2V95qPJ