2022 Mexico Open at Vidanta Sunday tee times, TV and streaming info

2022 Mexico Open at Vidanta Sunday tee times, TV and streaming info

The PGA Tour is south of the border for the inaugural Mexico Open at Vidanta.

The 7,456-yard, par-71 Greg Norman-design is located in Puerto Vallarta and opened in 2015.

Jon Rahm, the second-ranked player in the world, entered the third round with the lead and will do the same when he tees it up on Sunday. After a sluggish start (five straight pars), Rahm took the lid off with birdies on Nos. 6 and 7. He’d add two more on the back, along with a bogey, for a third-round 3-under 68.

He leads by two over Kurt Kitayama and Cameron Champ.

From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know for the final round of the 2022 Mexico Open at Vidanta. All times Eastern.

Mexico Open: LeaderboardPGA Tour Live on ESPN+

1st tee

Tee time Players
8:35 a.m.
Joshua Creel, Austin Smotherman
8:45 a.m.
Callum Tarren, Brett Drewitt, D.A. Points
8:55 a.m.
Bryson Nimmer, Tommy Gainey, Wyndham Clark
9:05 a.m.
Ben Kohles, Matt Wallace, David Skinns
9:15 a.m.
Kevin Na, Matt Jones, Pat Perez
9:25 a.m.
Mark Hubbard, John Huh, Carlos Ortiz
9:35 a.m.
Lanto Griffin, Robert Garrigus, Justin Lower
9:45 a.m.
Sung Kang, Graeme McDowell, Lee Hodges
9:55 a.m.
Brian Stuard, Greyson Sigg, Turk Pettit
10:05 a.m.
Brendon Todd, Brice Garnett, Kevin Streelman
10:21 a.m.
Anirban Lahiri, Abraham Ancer, Scott Piercy
10:32 a.m.
Martin Trainer, Hayden Buckley, Peter Malnati
10:43 a.m.
Emiliano Grillo, Doug Ghim, Gary Woodland
10:54 a.m.
Scott Brown, Cameron Tringale, Michael Gligic
11:05 a.m.
Alvaro Ortiz, Kelly Kraft, Kiradech Aphibarnrat
11:16 a.m.
Aaron Wise, Trey Mullinax, Sahith Theegala
11:27 a.m.
Ryan Blaum, Grayson Murray, Sebastian Munoz
11:38 a.m.
Jonathan Byrd, Bill Haas, David Lipsky
11:54 a.m.
C.T. Pan, Brandon Wu, Charles Howell III
12:05 p.m.
Adam Long, Chez Reavie, Tony Finau
12:16 p.m.
Wesley Bryan, Stephan Jaeger, Brandon Hagy
12:27 p.m.
Aaron Rai, Andrew Novak, Patrick Reed
12:38 p.m.
Alex Smalley, Satoshi Kodaira, Hank Lebioda
12:49 p.m.
Nate Lashley, Patrick Rodgers, Davis Riley
1:00 p.m.
Jon Rahm, Kurt Kitayama, Cameron Champ

TV, streaming, radio information

You can watch Golf Channel for free on fuboTVESPN+ is the exclusive home for PGA Tour Live streaming. All times Eastern.

Sunday, May 1st

TV

Golf Channel: 1-3 p.m.
CBS: 
3-6 p.m.

Radio

SiriusXM: 1-6 p.m.

STREAM

ESPN+: 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

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.

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Golf instruction with Steve Scott: For better drives, you have to create more lag

Golf instruction with Steve Scott: For better drives, you have to create more lag

Having trouble with the driver? Can’t seem to square up the clubface with the big stick? Well, this week, we have a tip for you that will hopefully have you hitting more fairways.

Steve Scott, Golfweek‘s Director of Instruction, is back with Averee Dovsek with a tip for hitting your driver better and more consistently.

Click here to watch previous episodes of “Golf Instruction with Steve Scott” including Gator-clamp putting, iron play, and flop shots.

Click here to sign up for Golfweek‘s free weekly Get Better newsletter. You can also sign up for six other free newsletters, sent right to your inbox.

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This 90-year-old Florida golf course that hosted Gene Sarazen and Sam Snead expected to be turned into 1,400 homes

This 90-year-old Florida golf course that hosted Gene Sarazen and Sam Snead expected to be turned into 1,400 homes

LAKELAND, Florida — One of Central Florida’s oldest golf courses, Wedgewood Golf Course, has been sold to possibly make way for a 1,400-home development, according to a report in the Lakeland Ledger, part of the USA Today Network.

Here’s more from the Ledger:

According to the paper, Mulberry-based SJD Development LLC purchased the 117-acre property for $4.5 million in December from Kanes Golf of Florida, owned by Sun Shin, according to records from the Polk County Property Appraiser’s Office.

Former Polk County Commissioner John Hall and Jonathan Hall, a partner with Ronin Assets, filed a request with the City of Lakeland on April 1 to have nearly 111 acres rezoned under a Planned Unit Development for a residential community. The father-son duo hope to mix single-family homes, townhouses, multifamily apartments and a 150-bed assisted living facility in a project dubbed “Gibson Trails.”

“Many golf courses are no longer profitable to operate as golf courses and in many cases, such as Wedgewood, they are actually losing money. Due to changing market conditions, a great number of golf courses are being repurposes into residential communities,” the developer says in the application.

The request is scheduled to go before Lakeland’s Planning and Zoning Board on May 17. If approved, the course could become home to 16 single-family homes, 204 townhomes and 1,028 multifamily units arrayed in three- and four-story buildings.

Wedgewood was originally known as William L. Hutcheson Golf Course when it was built in January 1931. The original 18-hole, par 73 course was the second to open in Lakeland after Cleveland Heights Golf Course, which is owned by the city.

Hutcheson was president of the carpenters union for 36 years starting in 1915. The union, for carpenters age 65 and older with 30 years’ membership, was one of the largest building-trade unions in the nation.

The Carpenters Home Cemetery still remains on the southeast side of the golf course behind the former 10th hole.

The property has changed hands several times over the years. Its name was changed to Wedgewood Golf Club in 1983 after undergoing a redesign by Lakeland course architect Ron Garl. The course has attracted famous golfers including Gene Sarazen and Sam Snead.

To read more of this story, click here and subscribe to the Lakeland Ledger for more great local journalism from Central Florida.

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Augusta National champion Anna Davis, 16, delivers eagle-birdie-par finish to make cut in LPGA debut

Augusta National champion Anna Davis, 16, delivers eagle-birdie-par finish to make cut in LPGA debut

Anna Davis knew as she stepped onto the 16th tee at Palos Verdes that a change of strategy was in order. The 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion was 4 over for the tournament and two shots outside the cut line in her first LPGA start at the inaugural Palos Verdes Championship presented by Bank of America.

“I knew that I obviously had to make something happen to make the cut,” said Davis, who is playing on a sponsor exemption. “I knew that I had to be kind of aggressive going into the last few holes.”

Davis, 16, reached the par-5 16th in two and made a 40-foot putt for eagle to vault up the leaderboard.

“Like I knew it had to go in and I made it,” said Davis, “so that was cool.”

She then set out to play more conservatively on the last two holes but wound up with a bonus birdie on the 17th hole to give herself a cushion. Davis’ eagle-birdie-par finish over the last three holes put her in a share of 52nd for the tournament at 1 over. She shot 71-72 in her first two rounds on the LPGA.

Anna Davis hits a shot during the first round of the Palos Verdes Championship presented by Bank of America. (courtesy of LPGA)

Hannah Green holds a three-shot lead over the field at 9 under with No. 1 Jin Young Ko, Lydia Ko, Minjee Lee and Megan Khang in a four-way tie for second.

Davis’ chill vibe and signature bucket hat helped make her a popular champion at Augusta. The high school sophomore is currently ranked 47th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Aside from last week’s Monday qualifier on the LPGA, this is her first competitive start since winning the ANWA.

Davis tees off at 9:20 a.m. local time alongside Xiyu Lin.

“It was my goal to make the cut so I’m glad that I could do that,” she said. “Yeah, it’ll be cool to play this weekend.”

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Photos: Del Monte, one of the original courses in California, turns 125 years old this weekend

Photos: Del Monte, one of the original courses in California, turns 125 years old this weekend

Called the oldest U.S. course west of the Mississippi River to still be in continuous operation by its owner, Pebble Beach Resort, Del Monte Golf Course is celebrating its 125th anniversary this weekend. It seems the perfect time to check out a few photos of how it was going then, and how it’s going now.

Del Monte Golf Course, in Monterey, California, opened in 1897 with a nine-hole layout designed by Charles E. Maud. An amenity of the Hotel Del Monte, it was expanded to 18 holes in 1903. It was the site of the first California Amateur Championship in 1912 and hosted the Western Amateur in 1916, among the first top-tier competitions in a long string of events that included the PGA Tour Champions from 2005-14. It still is the site of the Monterey Open and the Monterey City Amateur.

Among the remaining early courses in California, the Presidio in San Francisco actually opened a year earlier than Del Monte. But the Presidio was briefly converted to a military practice field during the Spanish-American War in 1898, leaving Del Monte with the claim as the oldest course in the state in continuous operation.

Del Monte has seen many changes through the years, as would be expected. Pebble Beach Resorts reports it was further expanded and incorporated as Del Monte Golf and Country Club in 1912, then William Herbert Fowler redesigned it in 1920. It was rerouted in the 1960s to accommodate a highway, and it reopened in 1970 with three holes – Nos. 6, 7 and 8 – designed by Roger Larson.

Today the course plays to a tight and tidy 6,356 yards with a par of 72.

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Scammers allegedly pilfered $500,000 from The Landings Yacht, Golf and Tennis Club

Scammers allegedly pilfered $500,000 from The Landings Yacht, Golf and Tennis Club

A residential development in Fort Myers, Florida, lost half a million dollars in the second alleged fraud scheme to surface among Southwest Florida community associations this year.

A scammer gained access to The Landings Yacht, Golf and Tennis Club’s money through its payroll services company Paychex, according to the community’s attorney, documents from its board of directors and a report filed with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

The Landings theft has unfolded at the same time that 35 other Lee and Collier county homeowners associations have filed a civil suit against their former property manager, American Property Management Services. The associations are accusing the company of using its access to their accounts to embezzle more than $8 million. APMS has denied any wrongdoing. The Landings is not involved in that civil case.

“At this time there is no evidence our prior processes were flawed,” The Landings’ board of directors wrote in an October 2021 message to owners. “We were following common financial process used by similar organizations. The breakdown occurred outside our organization.”

An initial Lee County Sheriff’s Office report suggested the theft stemmed from a hack of Paychex’ systems.

“It appears that Paychex (payroll services) was hacked which gave the hackers the ability to gain access to (The Landings’) bank account information,” a sheriff’s deputy wrote in an incident report.

But Paychex disputed that description in a statement to this news organization, saying the result of a sophisticated fraud, not a hack.

“This was an isolated and unfortunate incident impacting one of our more than 700,000 clients. To be clear, at no time was the Paychex network inappropriately accessed and no client data have been impacted,” Paychex said in a statement.

Robert Caves, a Fort Myers-based community association attorney with the firm of Becker & Poliakoff, said in an interview that association boards should have internal controls to monitor spending and ensure employees do not abuse their access to accounts.

But even strong internal controls might not be sufficient if a scammer gains access through an external payroll company, Caves said.

“Where you have a vendor that apparently had this occur, there may not be anything that the association can do even if it is properly internally approving the payment of invoices,” Caves said. “If there’s something going on in the backend of Paychex, it’s harder to anticipate that you can prevent that.”

Caves said he does not know of any other cases where a third-party scammer may have compromised a payroll services company.

Paychex confirms theft investigation

Paychex, a $47-billion company based in Rochester, New York, confirmed to The News-Press/Naples Daily News that it is cooperating with an investigation of the alleged theft.

“While we generally cannot comment on pending legal matters, we are aware of the issue impacting The Landings, and have been cooperating with law enforcement,” Paychex director of corporate communications Chris Muller wrote in a statement. “We take fraud prevention very seriously and dedicate significant resources to risk mitigation.”

Paychex founder Tom Golisano has lived in Naples since 2009. The billionaire has become a major philanthropic force in Southwest Florida, including donations of $5 million to help launch the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples and $20 million to establish the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.

Efforts to reach Golisano through the publicist for his recent business book were unavailing.

The theft is being investigated locally by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Economic Crimes Unit. A public information officer confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.

Federally, the Secret Service is investigating The Landings’ case and thefts against other companies possibly committed by the same Florida-based fraudsters, the community’s attorney, Jason Mikes, said in an interview. The Secret Service does not comment on the existence of investigations.

To date, no criminal charges have been filed in the case.

The Landings, which has 1,200 housing units built around a golf course, tennis courts and a marina in Fort Myers, learned of the fraud in September, said Mikes, who separately represents the 35 associations suing American Property Management Services.

“While it was a significant amount of money that was taken, fortunately they had been very prudent with their finances,” Mikes said. “There has not been any drop off in services.”

The Landings took in $10.6 million in revenue in fiscal year 2021 and has more than $1.7 million in capital reserve funds, according to minutes from its annual meeting in February. The community had two crime insurance policies from Travelers and Swiss Re and is still trying to recover the funds from its insurers, according to Mikes.

“Working with our insurance carriers is simply very frustrating. There is however no indication that any of the liability or errors happened inside The Landings,” Landings board president Gary Suhadolnik wrote in a report for the community’s annual meeting. “While sounding like a broken record this continues to give us the belief that our insurance carriers will eventually provide a recovery of the missing funds.”

Swiss Re did not return a request for comment; Travelers confirmed it is investigating.

“As a matter of policy, our company prohibits us from discussing any claim or customer details,” Travelers director of corporate communications Michael Witmer wrote in an email. “We continue to work with our insured and there is an ongoing investigation.”

$500,000 in unauthorized transactions

The Landings learned of the alleged $500,000 fraud from its accounting firm on Sept. 1, according to a report the community filed with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office six days later.

Bank records showed that unauthorized transactions from The Landings’ account began on May 21 and continued through August, according to a sheriff’s office report obtained in a public records request.

The community immediately filed a claim with its insurance carriers and tightened its internal controls, its board of directors said at an October meeting.

“We recognize many of you have feelings of anger and frustration, as does the Board,” the board wrote in an October message to owners published in board meeting minutes.

In mid-January, a Lee County Sheriff’s Office Economic Crimes Unit detective told the community’s general manager, Doug Marcotte, that the Secret Service was also investigating the case, Marcotte wrote to Mikes in an email obtained by this news organization.

Later that month, a Secret Service agent told Marcotte the theft appeared to be part of a broader pattern of fraud involving 30 “entities” and at least 13 banks.

“He said they did not believe that it was ‘high end’ thieves, but rather appeared to be low tech drug groups between Orlando and Miami,” Marcotte wrote in an email.

Paychex told this news organization that it was not aware of other related incidents.

Criminal justice investigative reporter Dan Glaun can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @dglaun.

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2022 Mexico Open at Vidanta Saturday tee times, TV and streaming info

2022 Mexico Open at Vidanta Saturday tee times, TV and streaming info

The PGA Tour is south of the border for the inaugural Mexico Open at Vidanta.

The 7,456-yard, par-71 Greg Norman-design is located in Puerto Vallarta and opened in 2015.

The week started with a field of 144 players who are competing for a $7.3 million purse.

Jon Rahm birdied the 18th hole to get to 12 under and he will take a two-shot lead into the weekend over Alex Smalley. Andrew Novak is third at 9 under, three back, along with Cameron Champ, Adam Long, Patrick Reed and Trey Mullinax. Friday’s cut came in at 2 under.

From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know for the third round of the 2022 Mexico Open at Vidanta. All times Eastern.

Mexico Open: LeaderboardPGA Tour Live on ESPN+

1st tee

Tee times Players
10:53 a.m. Cameron Tringale, Scott Piercy, Brett Drewitt
11:04 a.m. Nate Lashley, Wesley Bryan, Michael Gligic
11:15 a.m. David Lipsky, Alvaro Ortiz, Brice Garnett
11:26 a.m. John Huh, Emiliano Grillo, Doug Ghim
11:37 a.m. Kelly Kraft, Kevin Na, Martin Trainer
11:48 a.m. Satoshi Kodaira, C.T. Pan, Peter Malnati
11:59 a.m. Anirban Lahiri, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Ryan Blaum
12:10 p.m. Charles Howell III, Sebastián Muñoz, Matt Wallace
12:21 p.m. Jonathan Byrd, Hank Lebioda, Patrick Rodgers
12:32 p.m. Kurt Kitayama, Aaron Rai, Davis Riley
12:43 p.m. Trey Mullinax, Brandon Hagy, Scott Brown
12:54 p.m. Andrew Novak, Cameron Champ, Patrick Reed
1:05 p.m. Jon Rahm, Alex Smalley, Adam Long

10th tee

Tee times Players
10:53 a.m. Joshua Creel, Brendon Todd, Chez Reavie
11:04 a.m. Pat Perez, Sahith Theegala, David Skinns
11:15 a.m. Bryson Nimmer, Mark Hubbard, Tony Finau
11:26 a.m. Carlos Ortiz, Gary Woodland, Kevin Streelman
11:37 a.m. Brian Stuard, Ben Kohles, Hayden Buckley
11:48 a.m. Brandon Wu, Greyson Sigg, Turk Pettit
11:59 a.m. Tommy Gainey, Grayson Murray, Matt Jones
12:10 p.m. Sung Kang, Abraham Ancer, Graeme McDowell
12:21 p.m. Stephan Jaeger, Austin Smotherman, Lee Hodges
12:32 p.m. Lanto Griffin, Aaron Wise, D.A. Points
12:43 p.m. Wyndham Clark, Bill Haas, Robert Garrigus
12:54 p.m. Justin Lower, Callum Tarren

TV, streaming, radio information

You can watch Golf Channel for free on fuboTVESPN+ is the exclusive home for PGA Tour Live streaming. All times Eastern.

Saturday, April 30th

TV

Golf Channel: 1-3 p.m.
CBS: 
3-6 p.m.

Radio

SiriusXM: 1-6 p.m.

STREAM

ESPN+: 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sunday, May 1st

TV

Golf Channel: 1-3 p.m.
CBS: 
3-6 p.m.

Radio

SiriusXM: 1-6 p.m.

STREAM

ESPN+: 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

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.

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Jon Rahm makes 8 birdies Friday, leads by 2 at the Mexico Open at Vidanta

Jon Rahm makes 8 birdies Friday, leads by 2 at the Mexico Open at Vidanta

When Jon Rahm was asked to name his favorite shot from his second-round 66 at the Mexico Open at Vidanta, he didn’t have to think hard. There were eight birdies to choose from but the reigning U.S. Open champion locked in on his tee shot to 3 feet at the par-3 ninth hole.

“The 6-iron was perfect,” Rahm said.

Rahm’s card on Friday at Vidanta Vallarta contained a few hiccups along the way – three bogeys were scattered at Nos. 2, 10 and 16 – but eight birdies were good enough to build a two-stroke lead over rookie Alex Smalley at the halfway point of Mexico’s national championship, which dates to 1944.

“I feel like I might be a little bit more satisfied with today’s score than yesterday,” Rahm said. “Yesterday I felt like I was really under control and relatively speaking stress free, right? Today was a bit more of a grind, but still a really good round of golf.”

Rahm’s round began on a high note with a 28-foot birdie putt at the first, but he sprayed his driver at the second right, chipped out sideways and failed to save par. Then he bounced back with a 15-foot birdie putt at the third and tacked on two more birdies at six and nine to grab sole possession of the lead. Four birdies on the back nine were offset by two bogeys to stake him to the 36-hole lead at 12-under 130.

“Is it a surprise?” PGA Tour SiriusXM Radio analyst Mark McCumber said. “I don’t think so.”

Mexico Open: Leaderboard | PGA Tour Live on ESPN+

Rahm is seeking his first win since last June at the U.S. Open. He hasn’t missed a cut since the Fortinet Championship at the season-opener in September, but has dropped to World No. 2 and hasn’t recorded a top-10 in his last four stroke-play starts.

By Rahm’s high standard, it qualifies as a slump. But Rahm, the heavy favorite this week, looks hungry to get back into the winner’s circle in a country where he already has notched two third-place showings at the WGC-Mexico Championship at Chapultepec, and is seeking his seventh Tour title.

“I can’t really complain about anything I’m doing right now, so hopefully I can keep that good ball-striking going and keep rolling it the way I have,” he said.

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Southern Hills pro dishes on Tiger Woods' practice round ahead of PGA Championship in Tulsa

Southern Hills pro dishes on Tiger Woods' practice round ahead of PGA Championship in Tulsa

Cary Cozby’s phone hasn’t stopped blowing up.

That’s no surprise after the director of golf at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, spent Thursday caddying for Tiger Woods during his practice round for the PGA Championship.

Cozby noted he dropped a towel on the first hole and forgot to rake a bunker at the third while talking to Tiger’s right-hand man, Rob McNamara, who joined Tiger for the round and had Cozby’s 13-year-old son Banks on his bag.

“I thought I was going to get fired on four tee,” he said.

Speaking on “A New Breed of Golf” with Michael Breed on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, Cozby recounted receiving a call from the PGA of America informing him of Tiger’s impending visit and being told “you can’t tell anybody.” He described Tiger’s visit as akin to the Beatles showing up at his club.

“It’s amazing what he has to deal with on a daily basis,” Cozby said. “He came through the gate. He didn’t even come to the clubhouse because he knew what he’d have to deal with and went straight to the range. They sent a text said, ‘Hey, we’re on the practice tee. I’ll meet you on the first tee.’ And of course our clubhouse is open so we probably had 20 people, the patio, the golf shop’s right off the first tee. So there were probably 20 members that slipped out there to watch him. He didn’t look up, hit his shot. Second hole, there’s a helicopter. Fourth hole, there’s 50 to 70 people up on the hill overlooking that hole. And by the time we get to six there’s 30 to 40 people in the trees across the street with television cameras and phones and pictures, and [saying] ‘We love you, Tiger. Go get ’em, Tiger. Great shot, Tiger.’ Just amazing.”

Cozby, the 2016 PGA Professional of the Year and son of Jerry, a club pro in his own right and former Golfweek Father of the Year, has been the director of golf at Southern Hills since 2015. He competed in the 2021 Senior PGA Championship and knows a thing or two about the golf swing. He had this review of Tiger’s swing from his up-close look.

“Every piece of it is very, it’s simple,” Cozby said. “He never once swung anything out of perfect rhythm. So he never went out of shot. Some things I just noticed, like his grip is perfect. It’s just perfect. And he never missed one shot anywhere close to an inch left to where he was looking. If he missed it, just hung a little to the right. I went through every shot, as you might guess, last night just thinking about it. And it was, if he missed it, he just hung it a little right. Or he just misgauged the wind. It was windy yesterday. And I think he hit one shot that, it was heavy and Rob goes, ‘The wind got that.’ He goes, ‘No, I hit a [inaudible] shot with my six iron instead.’ So that was about the only shot that wasn’t just on the button. And watching him pitch around the greens, I can tell you this, I was pretty nervous holding that putter.”

When Breed asked about Tiger’s stamina and ability to handle the walk at Southern Hills, Cozby said, “Obviously his gait’s permanently, I’m guessing, different. And he walks gingerly or just kind of like he is favoring it, but, and he was maybe looked like he, late in the round [was] hurting, but he didn’t say a word. Of course, he didn’t complain about any of that. My guess is he got back from Augusta and he assessed it and knew what he was dealing with and went back to work just based on what you know about him for the past 25 years. And I think he’s, I mean, he’ll be fine and he hits it so good. And does everything, he chips it and putts it incredible. Just fun to watch. He forgot his sand wedge so just had his 60. Left it in the backyard he said.”

When they reached 18, Cozby estimated more than 100 members watched on the hillside.

“It looked like the Beatles were here when we walked off 18,” Cozby said.

Tiger signed a ball and glove for Banks, but scooted before Cozby could ask for a photo. McNamara said they’ll take one together in May when Tiger returns for the championship – is that confirmation he’s playing? – but Cozby won’t be lacking for a keepsake from his experience.

“I’ve had 300 people text me a photo,” he said.

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Best Push Carts for 2022

Best Push Carts for 2022

Push carts are more popular now than ever and really hit their stride during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. People wanted to get out of the house and get some exercise, and push carts became the sensation we always knew they could be.

There are many different types of push carts, all of which are a fantastic alternative to throwing your bag on the back of a golf cart.

Using a push cart can be just as fast as riding in a golf cart and even more enjoyable. Hacking your way to the mid-90’s isn’t so bad when you’re walking with fresh air and sunshine shining down upon you!

Best for 2022: Golf Bags | Stand Bags | Golf Pants | Golf Shoes

We occasionally recommend interesting products, services, and gaming opportunities. 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.

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Jonathan Byrd admits his 15-year-old son outdrives him by 20 yards

Jonathan Byrd admits his 15-year-old son outdrives him by 20 yards

Jonathan Byrd has five PGA Tour wins and has earned more than $20 million in his career.

But recently he passed one of those other milestones in golf that many dads eventually come to know all too well: his son now routinely outdrives him.

Jackson, who is 15 now, started bombing it past his old man last year when he was 14.

“He hits it about 20 by me,” Byrd said after his first-round 64 at the Mexico Open at Vidanta. He’s one of five golfers tied for the lead at 7 under. “He hits it as far as the two guys I played with today. It’s humbling.”

Mexico Open: LeaderboardPGA Tour Live on ESPN+

Byrd, 44, played alongside Alex Smalley and Taylor Moore Thursday and will again Friday for the second round.

Earlier this year at the AT&T Pebble Beach, Byrd recorded his first top-10 in three years. Overall, however, he’s missed the cut in six of the 11 events he’s entered this season. His last win was at the 2011 Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

2022 Mexico Open at Vidanta

Jonathan Byrd tees off on the 12th hole during the first round of the 2022 Mexico Open at Vidanta in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. (Photo: Eduardo Verdugo/Associated Press)

But this week, his first 18 holes south of the border proved encouraging.

“It’s just any tournament you play well. … if I go out and beat my 15-year-old son, it gives me confidence. If I go beat Grayson Sigg or take money off of him or Keith Mitchell at home, that gives them confidence just when they beat me. Winning feeds itself and gives you confidence, so I’ll take anything at this point.”

As for those friendly matches with his son?

“The problem is he’s getting better and better and he keeps hitting it further and further and I keep hitting it the same distance. It’s just another challenge. I love watching my kids do anything, especially when they’re doing it well.

“My son’s a great golfer and I love watching him play. It brings me great joy, but it’s also fun for me to go out there and compete with him.”

And while the younger Byrd may be longer off the tee box these days, there’s more to golf than that.

“Still got to get it in the hole.”

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/NQyFlC1

Augusta National champion Anna Davis, rocking her bucket hat, opens with a 71 in LPGA debut at Palos Verdes

Augusta National champion Anna Davis, rocking her bucket hat, opens with a 71 in LPGA debut at Palos Verdes

Anna Davis admitted to feeling some nerves Thursday morning in the lead-up to her LPGA debut. But by the time she got to the tee, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion said she was fine.

It’s a week of firsts for Davis, 16, who hails from Spring Valley, California, but finds herself in the Los Angeles area for the first time.

“I think it was pretty much like every other tournament I would say,” said Davis, who opened with even-par 71 at the Palos Verdes Championship presented by Bank of America.

“There weren’t like as many people, but I’m expecting for the next few days leading up to see some more people out here. See how that goes.”

Davis, who is playing this week on a sponsor exemption, started on the back nine at Palos Verdes Golf Club and was 2 under through her first five holes. She hit 12 fairways, 10 greens and took 29 putts.

“Yeah, I missed like a few putts leading up, but as I got to the back nine my ball striking was kind of bad,” she said, “so I didn’t give myself very many chances.

“I kind of stayed strong and finished at even.”

Minjee Lee paces the field at 8 under with World No. 1 Jin Young Ko one back.

Davis has a busy summer lined up thanks to her big win at Augusta. She also has an invite to the Cognizant Founders Cup next month as well as the U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles, Amundi Evian Masters and AIG Women’s British Open at Muirfield. Davis said she’ll fill in other events around the majors.

The high school sophomore wore her signature bucket hat Thursday at Palos Verdes, making her easy to spot.

“I’ll walk around and some of the girls will recognize me and they’ll say congrats,” said Davis. “That’s kind of funny.”

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/NQyFlC1

2022 Mexico Open at Vidanta Friday tee times, TV and streaming info

2022 Mexico Open at Vidanta Friday tee times, TV and streaming info

After its annual stop in the Big Easy the PGA Tour is south of the border this week for the 2022 Mexico Open at Vidanta.

The field of 144 players is competing for a $7.3 million purse at Vidanta Vallarta, the host course for the next three years that will play to a par 71 at 7,456 yards.

World No. 1 Jon Rahm entered the week as the betting favorite and he backed it up on Thursday with a 7-under 64 to join the group tied atop the leaderboard after the first round.

From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know for the second round of the 2022 Mexico Open at Vidanta. All times Eastern.

Mexico Open: LeaderboardPGA Tour Live on ESPN+

1st tee

Tee times Players
8:45 a.m. Jonas Blixt, Tommy Gainey, Peter Uihlein
8:56 a.m. Kelly Kraft, Max McGreevy, Rafa Cabrera Bello
9:07 a.m. Ryan Armour, Grayson Murray, David Lingmerth
9:18 a.m. Matt Jones, Tyler Duncan, Sung Kang
9:29 a.m. Michael Thompson, Nick Taylor, Luke Donald
9:40 a.m. Kevin Streelman, D.J. Trahan, Anirban Lahiri
9:51 a.m. Brian Stuard, Matt Every, John Huh
10:02 a.m. Jason Dufner, Derek Ernst, Stephan Jaeger
10:13 a.m. Adam Svensson, Paul Barjon, Manuel Inman
10:24 a.m. Ben Kohles, Curtis Thompson, Ben Willman
10:35 a.m. Jim Knous, Brett Drewitt, Roberto Díaz
10:46 a.m. Seth Reeves, Andrew Novak, Jose Antonio Safa
1:45 p.m. Vaughn Taylor, Scott Gutschewski, Aaron Rai
1:56 p.m. Brice Garnett, Arjun Atwal, Ryan Blaum
2:07 p.m. Austin Cook, Danny Lee, Hayden Buckley
2:18 p.m. Cameron Champ, Jon Rahm, Charles Howell III
2:29 p.m. Patrick Reed, Brendon Todd, Sebastián Muñoz
2:40 p.m. J.T. Poston, Nate Lashley, Aaron Wise
2:51 p.m. Pat Perez, Camilo Villegas, Sahith Theegala
3:02 p.m. D.A. Points, Peter Malnati, Sangmoon Bae
3:13 p.m. Wesley Bryan, Bill Haas, Brandon Hagy
3:24 p.m. Brandon Wu, David Skinns, Jeffrey Kang
3:35 p.m. Dawie van der Walt, Dylan Wu, Bryson Nimmer
3:46 p.m. Bo Hoag, Ben Griffin, Patrick Flavin

10th tee

Tee times Players
8:45 a.m. Greg Chalmers, Scott Brown, Mark Hubbard
8:56 a.m. Chris Kirk, Ben Martin, Matt Wallace
9:07 a.m. James Hahn, Scott Stallings, Johnson Wagner
9:18 a.m. Tony Finau, Abraham Ancer, Kevin Na
9:29 a.m. Carlos Ortiz, Gary Woodland, Graeme McDowell
9:40 a.m. Robert Streb, Martin Trainer, Adam Long
9:51 a.m. Russell Knox, Emiliano Grillo, Cameron Tringale
10:02 a.m. Andrew Putnam, Scott Piercy, Kramer Hickok
10:13 a.m. Aaron Baddeley, Roger Sloan, Doug Ghim
10:24 a.m. David Lipsky, Austin Smotherman, Alvaro Ortiz
10:35 a.m. Joseph Bramlett, Kurt Kitayama, Isidro Benitez
10:46 a.m. Jared Wolfe, Joshua Creel, Jose Cristobal Islas
1:45 p.m. Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Davis Riley, Lee Hodges
1:56 p.m. Satoshi Kodaira, Richard Johnson, Patrick Rodgers
2:07 p.m. Jonathan Byrd, Alex Smalley, Taylor Moore
2:18 p.m. Chad Ramey, Richy Werenski, Lanto Griffin
2:29 p.m. Chez Reavie, C.T. Pan, Kevin Tway
2:40 p.m. Seung-Yul Noh, David Hearn, Hank Lebioda
2:51 p.m. Fabián Gómez, Mark Hensby, Ricky Barnes
3:02 p.m. Adam Schenk, Wyndham Clark, Trey Mullinax
3:13 p.m. Robert Garrigus, Bo Van Pelt, Vince Whaley
3:24 p.m. Michael Gligic, Greyson Sigg, Turk Pettit
3:35 p.m. Ben Crane, Justin Lower, Armando Favela
3:46 p.m. Chase Seiffert, Callum Tarren, Santiago De la Fuente

TV, streaming, radio information

You can watch Golf Channel for free on fuboTVESPN+ is the exclusive home for PGA Tour Live streaming. All times Eastern.

Friday, April 29th

TV

Golf Channel: 3:30-6:30 p.m.

Radio

SiriusXM: 1-6:30 p.m.

STREAM

ESPN+: 8:45 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 30th

TV

Golf Channel: 1-3 p.m.
CBS: 
3-6 p.m.

Radio

SiriusXM: 1-6 p.m.

STREAM

ESPN+: 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sunday, May 1st

TV

Golf Channel: 1-3 p.m.
CBS: 
3-6 p.m.

Radio

SiriusXM: 1-6 p.m.

STREAM

ESPN+: 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

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/NQyFlC1

Annika Sorenstam is returning to U.S. Women's Open at Pine Needles. Here's all the reasons why.

Annika Sorenstam is returning to U.S. Women's Open at Pine Needles. Here's all the reasons why.

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – As a Hall of Famer and 10-time major champion, Annika Sorenstam has nothing left to prove on the golf course.

An eight-time LPGA Player of the Year and the only woman to shoot 59, Sorenstam won 72 LPGA events and competed in a men’s PGA Tour event during her 16-year career.

She thought she was done with competitive golf in 2008. Then, after a 13-year break, she returned and won the 2021 U.S. Senior Women’s Open.

That victory opened up an opportunity to compete in the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club, the site of her dominant win in 1996.

In just over a month, the 51-year-old Sorenstam will return to Southern Pines for her first U.S. Women’s Open appearance since she retired nearly 14 years ago.

During a conversation with reporters Tuesday at a media day ahead of the championship, scheduled for June 2-5, Sorenstam highlighted several reasons for her return.

“Obviously, honored to get an invite. That is a nice gesture and I wanted to appreciate that,” Sorenstam said.

“Peggy (Kirk Bell) was next, coming here. And then, my kids wanted me to play. They’re like, ‘C’mon, Mommy.’ Also, I’m working with these young girls and many of them — these young ladies — have played in the Annika Invitational the last few years.

“To have them out there to continue to support and inspire, you’ve got to be in the mix to talk about what it’s like, so it keeps me a little more relevant when I mentor some of these girls. Now I can do that a bit more with ease.”

Favorite foursome

During her time away from professional golf, Sorenstam has formed a favorite foursome that includes her husband and caddie, Mike McGee, and their two children, 11-year-old Will and 12-year-old Ava.

“This isn’t necessarily about me trying to do a comeback, it was more about the family,” she said.

Prior to her eight-stroke win at the Senior Open last August, Sorenstam’s kids had only seen YouTube clips of her at the peak of her powers on the golf course. In June, they’ll get to see their mother compete against the best of the best.

Annika Sorenstam

USGA Director of Communications Julia Pine, producer Adrienne Gallagher, managing producer Staci Green and Annika Sorenstam discuss the documentary film “Becoming Annika” at Sunrise Theater in the Southern Pines, North Carolina. (Photo: Jason E. Miczek/USGA)

“It’s pretty neat, especially our son who is very into sports. He knows every statistic there is. For him to just see it and live it is a big deal. He’s really been my practicing partner. We’re out there together hitting balls. I’m a righty, he’s a lefty, so I’ll toss a bucket in the middle and we can hit,” Sorenstam said.

“I want to inspire him, too. I want him to know you don’t wake up and there’s a trophy at the door. You have to put in the work. I think they see that. … I’m hoping that this will feed him and he can live his dream and do whatever he wants.

“The same thing with our daughter. It’s like when you have a passion you gotta do it, but you gotta put in the time. That’s hopefully the message I’m sending to, not only my kids but, hopefully, people in general who have some kind of hobby and want to pursue it. It’s never too late to continue.”

The pull of Pine Needles

Would Sorenstam have played in the U.S. Women’s Open this year if it had been at any other site?

“No, I would not have,” she said. “I’m pretty sure about that.”

A quarter-century after a six-stroke victory at Pine Needles, Sorenstam reflected on the place that allowed her the chance to form a lasting bond with the late Peggy Kirk Bell, who passed away in 2016 at the age of 95.

“Peggy couldn’t pronounce my name, so she called me ‘Heineken’ for some reason,” Sorenstam said. “I had to explain to her that I wasn’t from Germany and I don’t drink beer. That was our internal joke the whole time I knew Peggy.”

A World Golf Hall of Fame inductee and longtime Pine Needles owner, Bell continued to grow closer with Sorenstam every year.

Sorenstam, who felt she owed it to the Bell family and the USGA to compete in this year’s championship, hasn’t forgotten some of those shared experiences.

“Mrs. Bell would drive up in a cart and she would park next to me and watch me hit balls and have a smart comment, and then she would leave and come back and I would meet her for lunch and she took me into her office,” she recalled.

“I didn’t know that much about her the first time I met her but she was showing me all these photos on the wall and she would fly around in a plane and I thought to myself, ‘She’s one tough cookie.’ ”

Inspiring the next generation

After leaving Pine Needles on Tuesday afternoon, Sorenstam made her way to Sunrise Theater for the premiere of “Becoming Annika,” a documentary that will debut May 10 on Golf Channel.

At the conclusion of the film, an all-female production that highlights Sorenstam’s career, she addressed a row of young girls in the crowd.

Annika Sorenstam

Annika Sorenstam walks the red carpet for the “Becoming Annika” move premiere at Sunrise Theater in the Southern Pines, North Carolina, on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. (Photo: Jason E. Miczek/USGA)

“I think that dreams do come true, if you put your mind to it and you put your effort into it. My dad told me a long time ago that there are no shortcuts to success,” she said.

“Golf turned out to be my vehicle, my story, and that’s why I give back to the ANNIKA Foundation. I want to inspire the next generation of young girls, just like yourself.”

Sorenstam’s ANNIKA Foundation, which she started in 2007 near the end of her career, focuses on supporting girls’ and women’s golf around the globe. A return to the major championship stage offers Sorenstam another opportunity to inspire that generation.

“I’ll never forget Will looked at me and said, ‘Don’t worry, Mommy, Jessica and Nelly Korda’s ages together is what you are.’ That really didn’t make it any better, but obviously the honor of being invited here is very special,” she said.

“Being a past champion here is very special and my relationship with Peggy and her family. The last 14 years has really been trying to inspire the next generation of girls. I figured if I tell them to get out of the box and try different things, and explore and live your dream, then I’ve got to do that too. You can’t just say and not do. So I think we just decided to let’s do this.”

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/NQyFlC1

Tiger Woods spotted in Oklahoma for practice round at Southern Hills ahead of PGA Championship in May

Tiger Woods spotted in Oklahoma for practice round at Southern Hills ahead of PGA Championship in May

When last we heard from Tiger Woods at the Masters, he was non-committal about whether he would play in the PGA Championship, the season’s second major.

“We’re excited about the prospects of the future, about training, about getting into that gym and doing some other stuff to get my leg stronger, which we haven’t been able to do because it needed more time to heal,” Woods said. “We’ll get back after it, and we’ll get into it.”

Apparently, Woods is doing just that as his private airplane arrived at a Tulsa, Oklahoma airport on Thursday. Woods was expected to play a practice round at Southern Hills Country Club, the site of the PGA, beginning May 19, where he won the 2007 PGA Championship by two strokes.

Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis, citing multiple sources, reported that Cary Cozby, the head professional at Southern Hills, served as caddie for Woods, who planned to walk all 18 holes.

Woods, 46, shocked the world in April when he competed in the Masters less than 14 months after being involved in a high-speed single-car accident in February 2021 that nearly resulted in amputation of his right leg. Woods opened with 71 at Augusta National, made the 36-hole cut, but began limping as the tournament went on and finished 47th.

In a post-round TV interview, Woods said he intended to play in the 150th British Open at St. Andrews in Scotland, where he won twice, and that he hoped to play at the PGA. He later committed to the J.P. McManus Pro-Am, a two-day event at Adare Manor in Ireland to be held the Monday and Tuesday before the season’s final major.

Woods entered the PGA Championship and U.S. Open to be held June 16-19 at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., before the deadline but that was simply a formality to give himself options rather than a firm commitment that he’d be healthy enough to walk four rounds. At the Masters, Woods declared himself a game-time decision and it wouldn’t be surprising if he takes a similar cautiously optimistic attitude about playing the PGA and beyond.

The visit to Tulsa on Thursday for Woods was a pit stop en route to Las Vegas, where Woods will host Tiger Jam, his annual charity fundraiser for the Tiger Woods Foundation on April 29-30.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/yZcmJBu

Nichols: Michigan won its first women's Big Ten title but, on paper, Michigan State really won. Here's why things need to change.

Nichols: Michigan won its first women's Big Ten title but, on paper, Michigan State really won. Here's why things need to change.

The University of Michigan captured its first Big Ten title over the weekend with sophomore Monet Chun setting a new conference scoring record (8-under 205) en route to her first collegiate victory. It was a long-awaited sweep for a Wolverine team that entered the championship at Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the No. 1 seed for the first time in program history.

The team that hoists the trophy at the Big Ten Championship, however, isn’t always the same team that wins on paper in the eyes of the NCAA. The conference has long used a 6-count-4 format, which isn’t accepted by the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Committee.

The official results that are used for rankings purposes actually use the traditional 5-count-4 format. Before the tournament begins, coaches must designate a non-counter for the tournament. On paper, Michigan State won the 2022 Big Ten title by five strokes over Ohio State and Michigan finished third. That’s how it was tabulated in the rankings, too, which play a part in who gets selected to the NCAA postseason.

Augusta head coach Caroline Haase-Hegg, who both played and coached at Purdue, would like to see the cloud of secrecy and doubt that surrounds the Big Ten’s format disappear.

“There’s just something about that asterisk that it always gets skewed,” she said, “that you have to see who actually quote unquote won.”

For the past three years the championship was held, the team that took home the trophy at the Big Ten, wasn’t the same team that won in the 5-count-4 format. In 2021, Michigan State won the 6-count-4 format, but Nebraska won the 5-count-4. In 2019, Ohio State won the trophy, but Illinois and Purdue shared the official win. Or unofficial depending on how one looks at it.

How can there be two champions and two scoring systems at the same event?

Even more perplexing is the fact that the men’s Pac 12 Conference Championship has used a 6-count-5 format for decades and the NCAA men’s committee accepts those results, along with several regular-season events that do the same.

Michigan coach Jan Dowling was blown away to learn just recently that a 6-count-5 format is acceptable in men’s college golf. Michigan State coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll felt the same, believing it to be a Golfstat software issue until she inquired over the weekend.

The lightbulb went off when Spartan assistant coach Caroline Powers-Ellis learned from her husband, who coaches on the men’s side at MSU, that 6-count-5 is an NCAA recognized format in men’s golf.

Why can’t it the same for the women?

“I would really like the committee to reconsider,” said Dowling, “and would be curious to know why they haven’t in the past.”

Julie Manning, chair of the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Committee, said that in her five years on the committee, she has yet to see a request from coaches that the rules be changed. The 6-count-4 format has been in place for decades, but Manning said she isn’t aware of why it wouldn’t have been supported in the past.

Big Ten players obviously aren’t told when they’re the designated non-counter. Coaches keep that secret. The whole idea to play six came about to give an additional player an opportunity to compete for a conference title. Now that substitutes are allowed in the postseason, Slobodnik-Stoll believes the 6-count-4 format to be even more helpful in prepping her team.

Part of Dowling’s recruiting message at Michigan was to tell potential players that they could come be part of the first Wolverine team that lifts the Big Ten trophy. For a player like fifth-year senior Ashley Kim, that was on her goal list all five years.

And they did it. The Wolverines have the trophy.

It’s time the NCAA sees it that way, too.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/yZcmJBu