Golf solutions: November 2023

Tiger struggles to commit, Tony Finau adds speed and Jordan Spieth's 'electric factory round' among 5 things from Hero World Challenge

NASSAU, Bahamas – Tiger Woods threw a clump of grass in the air on the eighth tee. He did so not once, not twice, but three times as he tried the to judge the breeze and calculate the club to hit and the distance to carry at the par 3. His concentration broke for a moment, something uncommon for him but it became a recurring problem as the round continued.

“I just didn’t quite commit to what I was doing and feeling,” he said.

Woods’ game showed some rust on Thursday. On the bright side, he made four birdies, but he carded five bogeys and a double bogey for a 3-over 75 at Albany Club in the opening round of the Hero World Challenge. Still, it was a victory of sorts just to be back in his element, playing competitive golf for the first time in 235 days since undergoing surgery to fuse his right subtalar joint after the Masters in April.

“You take it for granted, I guess, when you’re playing all the time,” he said. “OK, the wind, it’s coming up, move the ball back, you just kind of lean on it just a little bit, just flight it down a little bit, add a couple yards in. Instead of reacting to it, I was thinking about doing it. Then as I was thinking about it, should I do this or not, by then I’m pulling the trigger. I shouldn’t really pull the trigger. Hit a bad shot. I kept doing it time and time again. It was a lack of commitment to what I was doing and feeling. I’ve got to do a better job of it… Now I know mentally what I need to do better. I think that’s something that physically I knew I was going to be OK. Mentally, I was really rusty and made a lot of errors in the mind that normally I don’t make.”

Woods showed he still has plenty of power, ripping six drives of more than 300 yards. Woods noted he has less mobility after his injuries and as a result, his hips are going forward before the club is reaching the top and limiting how far the club goes back. It’s allowing him to create more power with a more efficient coil and a smoother transition. In all, he hit six of 13 fairways, 10 greens and took 30 putts, the best of which was a 48-foot bomb for birdie at No. 11.

We’ve seen this before.@TigerWoods couldn’t help but smile after a long birdie. pic.twitter.com/dX2aNbdQHh

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 30, 2023

He hit one wild drive at No. 15 to the left and paid the price, trying to whack his second shot from a bush and barely advancing it. That led to a double bogey and he compacted the error with bogeys at No. 16 and 17. There was plenty of curiosity about how Woods would play among the competitors in the 20-man field.

“Looks like he could suit it up for the Dawgs on Saturday,” said Brian Harman of his beloved Georgia Bulldogs football team that is set to play in the SEC Championship game and a reference to Woods’ buff physique. “He is one heck of an athlete. I hope he feels good, I hope he’s moving good, I hope he’s pain free and can play a little bit more.”

After the round, Woods said on multiple occasions that he felt sore. “Everywhere,” he said, and when pushed to name where he felt it most, he added, “Leg, my back, my neck.”

Three more guaranteed days of Tiger is, as Fred Couples put it, Christmas comes early. On Friday, he’s paired with Rickie Fowler at 11:02 a.m. ET. Here are four more things to know from the first round of the Hero World Challenge.

Hero: Friday tee times

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/Bb8h3Jl

2023 Hero World Challenge Start Time Friday, Tee Times, Pairings & ESPN+ Live Streaming Coverage

Entering round two in the 2023 Hero World Challenge, Tony Finau leads the field at -5.

Finau shot -5 on Thursday in the first round, tied with Brian Harman for the lead.

Looking for players’ tee times for the second round of the 2023 Hero World Challenge, plus TV and streaming info? We’ve got you covered below.

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

Tee times and pairings

Hole 1

Time	Players
10:51 AM ET	Will Zalatoris, Wyndham Clark
11:02 AM ET	Tiger Woods, Rickie Fowler
11:13 AM ET	Viktor Hovland, Justin Rose
11:24 AM ET	Sepp Straka, Keegan Bradley
11:35 AM ET	Jason Day, Sam Burns
11:46 AM ET	Lucas Glover, Justin Thomas
11:57 AM ET	Matt Fitzpatrick, Max Homa
12:08 PM ET	Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler
12:19 PM ET	Cameron Young, Jordan Spieth
12:30 PM ET	Brian Harman, Tony Finau

Round 2 TV & streaming information

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

Thursday Coverage: Golf Channel
Friday Coverage: Golf Channel
Saturday Coverage: Golf Channel, NBC
Sunday Coverage: Golf Channel, NBC

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/Bb8h3Jl

Former Trump National Golf Club server claims she was sexually harassed in new lawsuit

A former server at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster has filed a lawsuit alleging that she was sexually harassed by a supervisor, and then tricked into signing an illegal non-disclosure agreement by an attorney for former President Donald Trump’s lawyer.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in New Jersey’s Middlesex County Superior Court, does not name former President Donald Trump as a defendant.

The server, Alice Bianco, a resident of Middlesex County, claims in the lawsuit that, when she joined the club’s staff in 2021, her supervisor, Pavel Melichar harassed her and attempted to kiss her forcibly. The lawsuit states that Melichar provided Bianco with short uniform skirts and a bottle of Remy Martin, claiming it was a “birthday present.” The suit further alleges that Melichar required Bianco “to engage in sex as a quid pro quo for continued employment and ‘protection.’”

The lawsuit claims that Melichar boasted to Bianco about his influence, showing her videos of Trump praising him, in an effort to communicate that he had a close relationship with the former president. The alleged quid-pro-quo sexual harassment continued from May to July 2021, according to the lawsuit.

After an incident when Bianco tried to pull away from Melichar’s attempted sexual assault, the lawsuit claims Melichar retaliated against her, giving Bianco unfair job assignments and allowing his other servers loyal to her to steal her tips.

Bianco learned about an unnamed co-worker writing a letter to Trump’s personal staff about Melichar’s alleged sexual harassment, the suit says. The co-worker alluded to Bianco’s experiences in the letter, the suit says. The letter is dated July 19, 2021, according to the suit. After the letter’s delivery, Bianco received a call from human resources, prompting her to hire a lawyer, the suit says.

Trump attorney approached victim, suit claims

Alina Habba, a member of the club and an attorney for Trump, allegedly approached Bianco, posing as a friend, and discouraged her from going public, the lawsuit claims. According to the lawsuit, on Aug. 5, 2021, Habba invited Bianco to her car during her shift and suggested signing a “simple” non-disclosure agreement with a $1,000 per day penalty for violations, in exchange for a “paltry sum.”

The lawsuit claims Habba “groomed” Bianco into believing she was a friend, and her law firm drafted the non-disclosure agreement. Habba said to Bianco, “You don’t want to go public with this, I’ve been raped, I can help you, I can protect you.”

The agreement allegedly included false assurances about taxation and payments for therapy. However, New Jersey has prohibited non-disclosure agreements in workplace harassment cases since 2019.

Weeks later, it became public that Habba worked as an attorney for Trump.

The lawsuit seeks to address the alleged harassment, coercion and the legality of the non-disclosure agreement, emphasizing violations of New Jersey law regarding workplace harassment settlements.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/Bb8h3Jl

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan to meet with Saudi Arabia's PIF governor, confirms ‘firm target’ of Dec. 31 for deal

Jay Monahan confirmed Wednesday negotiations remain ongoing concerning the PGA Tour’s framework agreement to create a new, for-profit golf entity alongside Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

The Tour’s embattled commissioner spoke at the New York Times’ DealBook summit and also said he plans to meet with the PIF’s governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan next week to “advance conversations” and the Dec. 31 deadline is still a “firm target.”

“We’re having conversations with multiple parties,” said Monahan, echoing statements Tiger Woods made earlier in the week. The commissioner also noted “another co-investor with significant experience in business and sports” could be included.

Golfweek was first to report the short list of outside investors earlier this month, which included the likes of Fenway Sports Group and a group of influential individuals referred to as Friends of Golf.

“The PGA Tour is going to be in a position where the athletes are owners in their sport,” Monahan said of the planned for-profit entity. “What’s most important to our players is that they go from the model of being independent contractors to being owners.”

Woods was surprised and frustrated by the announcement of the framework agreement back in June and has since joined the PGA Tour Policy Board as a player director.

“I think all the parties are talking and we’re aggressively working on trying to get a deal done … We have multiple options. But still, we would we’d like to have a deal done December 31,” Woods said Tuesday. “And that’s what the agreement said and all parties understand that. But there are other options out there.”

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/cQgaj2u

Who's caddying for Tiger Woods at the Hero World Challenge? Here's the audacious story of his big break

NASSAU, Bahamas — Rick Rielly, the longtime director of golf at Wilshire Country Club, still remembers the first time Rob McNamara showed up to work for him.

“He was 13 or 14 years old and 80 pounds sopping wet,” he said. “He shows up with a towel, he might’ve had a ball retriever and I had him sit on the bench outside the golf shop until something opened up for a single because the caddie yard was a bit gruff in those days.”

Thirty-five years or so later, McNamara has a single bag for the next four days at the Hero World Challenge – the one and only Tiger Woods.

With Joe LaCava, Woods’s caddie since 2011, having moved on to Patrick Cantlay last year when Woods was sidelined following surgery to his right ankle in April, Woods was in need of a bagman this week – and likely at the PNC Championship and beyond – and turned to his right-hand man in McNamara, who has been one of his closest confidants for more than two decades.

“He’s seen me hit a few shots,” Woods said, underselling the value McNamara has brought to his game since he went without a coach beginning in 2017.

All those years ago, McNamara’s father, who had a thick Irish brogue and lived in the neighborhood, talked his way past the gate at Wilshire, a private club not far from Hollywood, and charmed Rielly into giving his son his start in the game. McNamara was shy with a goofy laugh and a thick head of curly hair, but before long members took a liking to him and he worked his way into the bag room while also developing into a decent stick. He went off to Santa Clara University in Northern California and played on the golf team, graduating as a physics major in 1997, just as Tiger was getting started as a worldbeater. But it was golf not science where McNamara eyed making his mark.

After college, Rielly’s father, Pat, moved into the picture as an important figure in McNamara’s career development. Pat was a former PGA president and director of golf at Annandale Country Club in Pasadena, and hired McNamara as an assistant pro, working in the shop. It wasn’t long before McNamara realized the club pro ranks wasn’t the path for him.

Tiger Woods celebrates with Rob McNamara, Vice President of TGR Ventures, as he comes off the 18th green at the 2019 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

He did a stint at a start-up golf website but when that company went under, Pat assisted on his next big break. When McNamara showed an interest in working as a sports agent, Pat asked his other son, Mike, who worked at IMG – the sports marketing giant founded by Mark McCormack – to arrange an interview. Pat was a good judge of talent, and McNamara got hired in 2000 as an account manager. Shortly after he moved to Cleveland and started at the firm that represented Arnold Palmer, Annika Sorenstam and Woods, one of the company’s top executives, Alastair Johnston, invited McNamara to his office for a get-to-know meeting.

“It took only a few minutes for Alastair to explain that in all his years Mr. McCormack had never weighed in on a hire at my level before, but after one short call with Pat that all had changed,” McNamara told Golfweek in 2022. “Pat somehow managed to convince Mark, a power-broker attorney and sports-marketing pioneer, that I was the only possible candidate that could handle the job and that it would be a massive mistake for IMG to miss out on this random ex-college golfer who at 24 years old had little to no experience.”

The curly hair is long gone but McNamara has gone on to become Woods’ right-hand man, with an official title of executive vice president of TGR Ventures.

In his early days at IMG, new media was new and he was a digital native, who helped protect Tiger’s rights.

“None of us knew what it meant, and Rob figured it out,” Mike Rielly said.

He became part of Team Tiger with the likes of Kathy Battaglia and Chris Hubman, later leaving IMG altogether when Woods formed his own company. Outside of Mark Steinberg, who has served as Tiger’s longtime agent, McNamara’s been one of Tiger’s most loyal and longest-tenured associates through thick and thin, a contemporary who speaks the same language and a second set of eyes and ears he depends on. It’s a remarkable trajectory from teenage caddie to being in the inner circle with the greatest golfer of his time in a relationship where the respect goes both ways.

“Seeing Robert on TV today, it’s pretty cool to see a kid who started out being overwhelmed and look where he is today,” Rick Rielly said. “He got his break and he took it.”

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/cQgaj2u

Golfweek's 2023 Holiday Gift Guide: Best personalized golf gifts

Most golf brands offer personalized gear to make your next purchase truly unique. They also make fantastic gifts for the golfer (or golfers) in your life, so we figured we’d throw together a list of some of the best personalized items just in time for the holiday season.

Throughout November and December, Golfweek has released dozens of gift guides covering every aspect of the game including apparel, equipment, tech and more.

In this list, we’ve compiled some of the best personalized items from brands like Callaway, Wilson, Titleist, Stitch and more.

If you’re interested in our other gift guides, these are worth a look: EQUIPMENT | GIFTS FOR HIM | GIFTS FOR HER

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/cQgaj2u

Viktor Hovland is attempting to do something at Hero World Challenge that he said he's never done

NASSAU, Bahamas – Viktor Hovland is attempting to do something at this week’s Hero World Challenge that he said he’s never done before at any level in golf – win the same tournament three consecutive times.

Not even Tiger Woods has achieved that feat at the Hero, where he is the tournament host. Woods is a five-time champ and won the event in 2006 and 2007 but in 2008 he was unable to go for the three-peat. Hovland is well aware of all this and said he’s up to the challenge.

“It wouldn’t suck or else I wouldn’t be here,” said Hovland, who took a few minutes between his practice session on Wednesday to talk to Golfweek.

A year ago, Hovland arrived at Albany Golf Club as the defending champion but he wasn’t happy with the state of his game. Winning surprised Hovland but it was a good lesson that he didn’t need to play perfect golf to hold the trophy on Sunday.

“I played great obviously, but I didn’t feel great going into it and I still managed to win,” he said.

But he also refused to be complacent and earlier this year, he changed swing instructors to Joe Mayo, who helped him revamp his short game, which had been holding him back at tougher courses. Hovland won three times in all on the PGA Tour and climbed to third in the Official World Ranking. But to a lot of people, himself included as he stated on Smylie Kaufman’s podcast, he’s been playing the best golf of anyone.

The Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings has him second behind only Scottie Scheffler while Data Golf ranks him first and as the 16th best-player all-time in terms of his peak performance (between the British Open and the DP World Tour Championship).

Hovland no doubt is the hottest player in the world, having won his two most recent starts on the PGA Tour at the BMW Championship and Tour Championship and then played a starring role in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory.

His performance has earned the respect of his peers.

“What he’s done kind of this entire year, especially starting at Memorial, it doesn’t surprise me at all because I’ve seen it,” said Collin Morikawa. “I’ve seen it for years. I’ve seen it in college, I’ve seen it even when we first turned pro.”

Veteran pro Jason Day is convinced he could pull off three in a row this week against a 20-man field, which includes the return of Tiger Woods.

“He’s got confidence,” Day said. “Viktor’s played such a good stretch of golf. I don’t know how he spent his break. It really depends whether he’s been hanging with friends or grinding on his game but he’s certainly capable of more great golf.”

Hovland said he took 3 ½ weeks off after the Ryder Cup and visited Norway, and then went and finished T-2 at the DP World Tour Championship. Asked to explain why he’s had so much success at Albany Golf Club, a course designed by Ernie Els, Hovland said, “You’ve got to hit it straight and it blows a lot and I like playing in the wind.”

Hovland is sharing a house this week again with Morikawa, a two-time major winner, but he won’t have the same room this year as the FedEx Cup champ got upgraded to the master bedroom.

“I had the master bedroom the past two years and that hasn’t worked out for me, but it has for him,” Morikawa said. “So I decided, and I texted him yesterday to make sure he was taking the master bedroom. We showed up at like 3 a.m. (Tuesday), so it was nice to find my little guest room in the corner. He’s got everything he needs.”

And should Hovland repeat it definitely won’t suck, as he put it, but it will mean he’ll need a new roommate when he returns next year.

“If he wins, I am going to find someone else to stay with,” Morikawa said. “Something has to change, something has to give.”

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/cQgaj2u

Justin Thomas's diet is over: 'If you guys hear of me doing that again, tell me to stop'

NASSAU, Bahamas — The year of living dairy and gluten-free is over for Justin Thomas.

Chalk it up to a failed experiment but credit to Thomas, the two-time PGA Championship winner, for leaving no stone unturned in his quest for greatness. But living gluten-free and giving up his guilty pleasure of pizza only resulted in being a glutton for punishment: he failed to make the FedEx Cup Playoffs and dropped from No. 8 to No. 27 in the world this year.

“It wasn’t exactly during my best stretch of golf, so I would say if I had it over, I would not do it,” he said Tuesday during a press conference leading into this week’s Hero World Challenge. “Yeah, it’s one of those things, I don’t really give 50 percent too much. I feel like if I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it. I’m going to want to know how it is.”

Thomas, who turned 30 in April, explained earlier this season that he noticed his energy level was low when he competed in extreme heat, so he decided to do some blood work and food sensitivity tests, which resulted in him committing to follow a diet prescribed by Dr. Ara Suppiah, chief medical doctor for NBC Sports and Golf Channel. Thomas told Golfweek in August he ordered three gluten-free pizzas when he got back to the U.S. from the British Open.

“I was supposed to go six months of dairy free, a year of gluten free,” Thomas reminded his questioner. “I think like the six months was right when I was over in the U.K. for Scottish and British and I’m like I’m not going to start this back up in the middle of a tournament because I didn’t know how my body was going to react. Literally not having anything for six months, I thought there was a chance my body would freak out. After shooting about 400 the first two days at The Open Championship, when I got to Minnesota I got a gluten-free pizza like on Monday or Tuesday and I swear I could have cried, it was so good. “

Thomas had previously joked that he might give up one of his Wanamaker Trophies for a pepperoni or meat lover’s pizza.

“And honestly, I just slowly implemented dairy again the next two weeks and I didn’t feel any different, which I was shocked, to be honest. I was pleasantly surprised. I called Ara, who I’ve been working with. I’m like, I’m having gluten, I don’t feel any different after having this again, so I’m going to have it and see how it is. And here we are.”

Thomas said reigning British Open champion Brian Harman put it best. “Basically if you just play like crap for a year, having to diet, then you just go back to it. That’s what he told me.”

And this is what Thomas told the media: “Yeah, if you guys hear of me doing that again, tell me to stop.”

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/lUQ14w2

Breaking: Luke Donald named European Ryder Cup Captain for 2025

Luke Donald has been named as the European Captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York.

The 45-year-old Englishman returns to the role having led Europe to a 16½ – 11½ victory against the United States in the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy, earlier this year.

He will become Europe’s first repeat Captain since Bernard Gallacher performed the role in three consecutive Ryder Cups in 1991, 1993 and 1995.

Donald will be aiming to become only the second Captain to lead Europe to victories both home and away, following Tony Jacklin who achieved the double at Muirfield Village in Ohio in 1987, retaining the Ryder Cup following his team’s victory two years previously at The Belfry, in England, in 1985.

“Great opportunities don’t come along very often in life, and I’m a great believer that when they do, you need to grab them with both hands – this is one of these moments,” Donald said. “I’ve been fortunate as a player to have had many amazing times in the Ryder Cup over the years and so to add being a winning Captain to that, to form bonds with the 12 players like we did in Italy and to get the result we did, was very special indeed.

“The Ryder Cup means so much to me, so to be Captain again and have the chance to create more history by becoming only the second European Captain to win back-to-back is exciting.

Team Europe captain Luke Donald arrives at the first tee during day one foursomes round for the 44th Ryder Cup golf competition at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

“There is no question that being a Captain away from home is a tough task. But I have never shied away from challenges throughout my career and it is precisely the kind of thing that motivates me. I can’t wait to get another 12-strong team to Bethpage in 2025.”

Initially, Donald was overlooked as 2023 Ryder Cup captain as Europe selected Sweden’s Henrik Stenson for the job, but Stenson was stripped of the honor when he bolted for LIV Golf, the upstart league. Donald was the second choice then, but he’s clearly the first choice now, and Team Europe decided not to wait to see whether any of the European players who departed for LIV and had previously appeared to be in the pipeline for captaincy, such as Lee Westwood or Ian Poulter, would return to the fold.

Donald was a member of the last European Team to win on American soil at Medinah Country Club in 2012, when he led Jose Maria Olazabal’s side out in the singles, securing the first blue point on the board in one of the most famous comebacks in the history of the biennial contest.

During his playing career, he represented Europe in the Ryder Cup four times as a player, being part of a winning team on all four occasions, contributing 10½ points from his 15 matches.

He then served as a Vice Captain in 2018, under Thomas Bjorn, and Padraig Harrington in 2021, before becoming Captain for the first time at the 2023 contest in Rome.

Donald has won five times on the PGA Tour and another eight times on the DP World Tour and ascended to No. 1 in the world for a total of 56 weeks. In 2011, he became the first player in history to top the money lists on the European Tour (now the DP World Tour) and the PGA Tour in the same year.

“I have had a nice individual career; I have accomplished a significant amount as a player. My most special moments have been in The Ryder Cup editions, and being able to share that in a team atmosphere,” Donald said. “[Being captain] felt like a lifetime achievement award when I found out that I was given the honor and privilege to be nominated as captain. It is something that I do not take lightly. I think about it every day and more specifically around what we can do to give our team the best chance of success and to build that right culture and environment…Everyone knows how special The Ryder Cup has been as part of my career and this is an opportunity of a lifetime. It is a big responsibility but I am going to try and enjoy the journey.”

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/lUQ14w2

Collin Morikawa shakes things up, parts ways with longtime coach

NASSAU, Bahamas – When Collin Morikawa won the Zozo Championship in Japan last month, he was coy about the fixes to his putting stroke that helped him shoot a final-round 63 and coast to a six-stroke win, snapping a two-year streak without a victory. It turns out he also buried the lede.

“Right before the Ryder Cup, I let go of my long-time coach, Rick Sessinghaus for — we’ve been working for just over 18 years, which wasn’t easy,” Morikawa shared for the first time publicly on Tuesday during a press conference ahead of the Hero World Challenge, a 20-man unofficial event held at the Albany Club. “He’s more than just a coach, he’s one of my really good friends. He’s someone I’ve always looked up to, someone that’s been there for every step of my life essentially, not just in golf but just kind of living life, right?

“It wasn’t easy, and sometimes things happen like that. But 18 years is a long time. Not many relationships that I can say with a lot of people that I’ve had relationships for 18 years, and real relationships where I’m talking to them every week, right? So that wasn’t easy at all.”

After Morikawa won the 2020 PGA Championship at Harding Park, the PGA of America was quick to celebrate the special bond as part of an advertising campaign. Sessinghaus is a longtime teacher in Southern California and heads up the FlowCode Golf Academy in Burbank. He began working with Morikawa at age 8.

“I was on the right side of the driving range at Scholl Canyon Golf Course when his dad walked over to me and asked if I’d work with his son,” Sessinghaus once told Golfweek. “Collin was with him and he had this big smile on his face and his cute little golf bag. And after two swings, I said, ‘You bet I will work with him.’”

But Morikawa also noted it was time.

“I had to do it, I just felt like it was time to make a change at some point. What I saw kind of over the past two years wasn’t to my expectations and standards and goals what I wanted,” he said.

Morikawa, 26, won two majors and reached No. 2 in the world in short order but he struggled to produce his once reliable fade that allowed him to take the left side of the course out of play. He began working with short-game coach Stephen Sweeney late last year to remedy shortcomings in his putting and chipping and it paid quick dividends.

He raced out to a big lead at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January but couldn’t finish the deal as Jon Rahm blew past him with a 63 on Sunday. He also lost a playoff to Rickie Fowler at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in July. Despite going 27 months without a win, he finished in the top 30 this season in the FedEx Cup and represented Team USA in the Ryder Cup in September.

Morikawa said he began working with noted instructor Mark Blackburn, the 2020 PGA of America Coach of the Year, whose stable includes Max Homa and Justin Rose, before the win at the Zozo.

“Obviously, there’s no better way to start, but this is just the tip of the iceberg for us to kind of dig in and really know what we’re going to do,” Morikawa said.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/lUQ14w2

Hero World Challenge TV coverage: How to stream or watch Tony Finau | November 30 - December 2

Mark your calendar for November 30 – December 2, when Tony Finau and the rest of the etrants tee off at Albany in Nassau, Bahamas to golf in the 2023 Hero World Challenge.

Finau has competed in 22 events in the past year. He won one, and his average finish was 25th, with one top five.

Keep reading for all the information you need to know about Finau before the the 2023 Hero World Challenge, including how to catch the action live on TV or via live stream.

Hero World Challenge coverage on Fubo and ESPN+

Want to watch the PGA Tour all season long, including featured groups of the biggest names in golf, live feeds of the most famous holes on Tour, plus tons of awesome golf films from the history of the sport? Sign up for ESPN+ to access PGA Tour Live! You can also sign up for a free trial of Fubo and catch all the nationally televised Tour action, plus plenty of other live sports, shows and news from your favorite cable channels.

Tony Finau stats and recent trends

Over his last five appearances, Finau has one top-10 finish and two top-20 finishes.
Over his last five tournaments, Finau has carded a score that’s better than average in one of those outings.
He has carded an average score of -4 over his last five tournaments.
Finau has made the cut four times in a row and will look to continue his streak this week.

Tony Finau at the 2023 Hero World Challenge

Albany measures 7,449 yards for this tournament, 448 yards more than the average course on the Tour over the past year (7,001).
Players have recorded 69.5 strokes per round and an average score of -5 over the last year on Tour. Events hosted on this course have a lower scoring average of -8.
Courses Finau has played over the past year have measured an average of 7,354 yards, 95 yards shorter than the 7,449-yard Albany for this week’s event.
Over the past year, the events he’s played have a scoring average of -5 among finishers, which is higher than the -8 average at this course.
Finau has four top-10 finishes, with one of those being a top-five finish, in his last four trips to this tournament. His average finishing position over that span is seventh.
In his last four attempts at this event, he’s made the cut each time.
Finau last played this event in 2022 and finished seventh.
He carded a score in one round that was among the five best of the day his last time here.

Want to make sure you don’t miss Finau in action at the 2023 Hero World Challenge? Sign up for Fubo and get live sports and shows, without cable!

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

Every winner of the PGA Tour's Rookie of the Year Award (some names may surprise you)

The silly season debate on who deserves to be the Rookie of the Year will make for an interesting few weeks during the PGA Tour’s offseason this winter, as both Eric Cole and recent winner Ludvig Aberg are the frontrunners vying for the honor.

The PGA Tour has given the Arnold Palmer Award to its Rookie of the Year annually since Robert Gamez was the inaugural winner in 1990. Many a major champion have earned the honor – including the likes of Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Jordan Spieth and Scottie Scheffler, to name a few – but a few of the winners may surprise you.

Meet all 33 winners of the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year Award.

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

Schupak: Remembering Eddie Merrins, The Little Pro

Word that Eddie Merrins had died on Thanksgiving Eve hit me like a cold bucket of water as I gathered in the kitchen with family and monitored the making of the next day’s feast.

Merrins, who died at 91 in Los Angeles was one of golf’s most respected professionals, a championship-winning coach at UCLA, a beloved figure and an institution at Bel-Air Country Club. In recent years, as pro emeritus, he could still be found there impeccably dressed in a coat and tie and white-knit tam o’shanter, ready to impart his wisdom to another golfer desperate for help.

I had the privilege of writing a story for the 2013 U.S. Open print preview issue on the 5-foot-7 Merrins, affectionately known as The Little Pro, and it was the start of a beautiful friendship. Without fail, he’d seek me out at every Masters, U.S. Open and PGA Championship he attended – add me to the list who received an impromptu lesson from Merrins, who advised me to start my swing in New York, flow through Chicago on the way to Los Angeles. I’d be called to the front desk of the media center at the Masters or come back to my desk and find a note that I could come to find him setting up shop on the range. One year, I dressed to the nines in a tuxedo for the Ben Hogan Award as his guest at the ceremony held annually on the Monday of the PGA Tour stop at Colonial. He’d often welcome me to Bel-Air for a get-together when I was in town for Riviera, including one time when he walked all 18 as I played.

We last spoke on June 9 and I could tell his health had deteriorated and his son, Michael, who was often by his side during his travels, complained that he wasn’t getting the care he needed. We made plans to meet up at the U.S. Open but it never came to be. Little Pro kept his word and made it to the course for the final round but I was out on the sixth tee watching Rory McIlroy play. Ten minutes later, I texted him and his son that I’d be back at the media center shortly but we never connected. Regrets, I have a few.

After getting home from the holidays, I dug up my copy from that Merion story and I’m borrowing liberally from it here because it tells the story about how for more than five decades, Merrins gave lessons to everyone from Bing Crosby to Arnold Palmer to Celine Dion and Rickie Fowler to a fellow groomsman at a wedding as the bride walked down the aisle.

“He said he was having a problem with his balance,” Merrins recalled. “What was I supposed to do?”

The man was born to teach, or so he discovered at Merion Golf Club, where he competed in the 1971 Open, and more importantly, the place his life as a teaching pro took shape.

“The discoveries I made there are still the bedrock of my teaching philosophy today,” he said in 2013.

How he arrived at Merion is a story in itself. At 24, Merrins turned pro on the eve of the Lake Charles (Louisiana) Invitational in April 1957, and cashed a check for $250. Next he qualified for the U.S. Open at Inverness Golf Club. Off Merrins went to Ohio to pursue the life of a touring pro. Or so he thought, until one night, prior to the U.S. Open, when he bellied up to the hotel bar and the direction of his life was altered.

Tommy Bolt and Walter Hagen delivered a rookie indoctrination he’d never forget, but it was another conversation with Ed Carter, who ran the PGA Tour at the time, that would shape his future. Carter informed the diminutive Merrins that Merion was seeking an assistant pro whose primary responsibility would be to play with the members. As Merrins put it, “I was looking for a job to support my habit, which was golf.”

Intrigued by the opportunity, Merrins dashed off to Philadelphia for an interview after missing the cut. There he met Francis Sullivan, the former state district attorney and personal attorney for Ben Hogan, who became a surrogate father to Merrins and later godfather to his son, Michael. Sullivan served on the board that hired Merrins on the spot.

So did Jacques Houdry, who coined Merrins’s nickname, “The Little Pro.” Houdry served as best man when Merrins wed Lisa, his bride of more than 50 years in a 1961 ceremony held in New York City. Need more evidence that the Merion members adopted him as one of their own? Consider this: “We had our wedding reception at the old Park Lane Hotel and a whole train carload of people from Merion came along,” Merrins remembered.

From 1957 until 1960, he played regularly with Guy Bates, the club champion, Andrew Davis, who once recorded 10 threes in a row at Merion, and A. Ross Crane, a Philadelphia dentist who told Merrins he might not be the best in town but he was the most expensive. He never charged Merrins a cent.

Architecturally, Merrins called Merion the finest golf course he’d ever seen.

“It’s a masterpiece,” he said. “I remember the two reigning architects of the day were Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Dick Wilson and both of them would walk around Merion all the time just to get ideas, to get visions to use in their design work.”

Merion shaped Merrins into the pro he would become. He had a passion for the game but not a love and respect for it until he spent time there, he said.

Merrins had turned pro to play the game. But at Merion, Merrins was required to teach and discovered he was a teacher at heart. His exploration of the swing happened on Merion’s lesson tee. It’s where he formed the basis for his instructional book and (later video) titled, “Swing the Handle.”

Merrins spent the winter of 1959 under the guidance of Claude Harmon at Thunderbird Golf Club, then left Merion in 1960 to become the head professional at Rockaway Hunt Club in Cedarhurst, New York, where he replaced Dave Marr.

Merrins was living the life of “an itinerant preacher.” He quit the Tour in 1962 to take the head pro job at Bel-Air, and so began a life of service.

“Being a pro golfer means caring about yourself,” Merrins said. “It seemed like a selfish existence to me. I wanted to do more.”

So Merrins spent a lifetime spreading the gospel of golf, even when it meant demonstrating the top of the backswing with an umbrella in an airport, adjusting a grip during an earthquake, or fixing a groomsman’s balance at the altar. The Little Pro, by way of Merion, always had a cure for the common swing.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/Lj283p4

Where to play golf around Las Vegas: Golfweek's Best 2023 public-access courses

Ready to make a break from the casinos or hectic pace of the Las Vegas Strip? If you’re looking for the top golf courses around Sin City, Golfweek’s Best has you covered.

If you’re willing to drive a bit, there are several courses in this region that appear on the Golfweek’s Best rankings of top public-access layouts in Nevada. All the courses listed below are within an hour’s drive of Harry Reid International Airport, which sits adjacent to the Strip. But it’s not as easy as pulling up our state-by-state rankings, which list Nevada courses that might be a considerable drive away.

For this exercise, we used Google Maps and punched in each course as of a regular Saturday morning to determine drive times. Keep in mind that traffic near Las Vegas, especially around the Strip, can be slow – take all these times with a grain of salt.

Included with this list is a general map of where to find all these courses. Each one on the list below is represented with a number on the map – keep scrolling to see the numbers.

Included with each course is its position in Nevada on the Golfweek’s Best public-access list. For any course that appears on our other popular rankings lists, those positions are included as well.

More: Where to play public golf around Orlando and Central Florida, Chicago, New York City, South Florida and the Phoenix/Scottsdale area

A little background: The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce all our Golfweek’s Best course rankings.

The courses on this list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or casino, or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time – no membership required.

Shop discounted hotel rates in Las Vegas

(Google Earth/Golfweek)

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/Lj283p4

Paul McGinley to replace Paul Azinger as lead analyst at NBC Sports — at least for one week

NBC Sports is replacing one Paul with another in the booth – at least for one week.

Former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley will be in the chair formerly occupied by Paul Azinger as the lead analyst for NBC during the Hero World Challenge, which begins on Thursday in Nassau, Bahamas. A spokesperson for the network confirmed the news to Golfweek after the Irish Independent was first to report.

Paul McGinley, the former European Ryder Cup captain, will be in the chair formerly occupied by Paul Azinger as the lead analyst for NBC, a spokesperson for the network confirmed, when it broadcasts the Hero World Challenge, which begins on Thursday, in Nassau, Bahamas.

Azinger had one event remaining on his contract that was up at the end of the year, but negotiations to renew stalled when Azinger countered and NBC reportedly pulled its offer and parted ways with the 12-time PGA Tour winner.

McGinley, a 56-year-old Irishman who won four times on the DP World Tour and served as winning Ryder Cup captain for Europe in 2014, is no stranger to American golf fans and to the Golf Channel/NBC team. He’s a longtime TV commentator for Sky Sports in Europe and has contributed to Golf Channel’s “Live From” show from the majors for the past two years.

McGinley will work in the booth with NBC lead anchor Dan Hicks and also team with analyst Curt Byrum in a three-man booth in what has the feel of a tryout.

The Independent noted, “McGinley’s [TV] future will likely depend on how he does in the Bahamas and future events over the next few months.”

“They obviously need a fill-in this week and as I’ve done some work with them this year and am part of the Comcast Group I’m filling in,” McGinley told Golf Digest. “That’s all. No more than that.”

Azinger had been NBC Sports’ lead analyst since 2019 following the retirement of Johnny Miller.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/Lj283p4

LPGA Players: Sex Symbols or Athletes? Beyond the Fairway: Addressing Objectification and Embracing the Future.

The LPGA Tour is one of the most popular sports leagues in the world, and its players are some of the most recognizable athletes in the world. However, despite their athletic achievements, LPGA players are often objectified and sexualized in the media and by fans.

A recent study by the University of Southern California found that the top 10 Google search terms for LPGA players are all related to their appearance. The most popular search term is "LPGA player body," followed by "LPGA player legs," "LPGA player swimsuit," and "LPGA player cleavage."

These search terms suggest that many people are more interested in LPGA players' bodies than their athletic abilities. This is a problem because it can lead to objectification and sexualization of these athletes.

Objectification is the act of treating a person as an object, rather than a person with their own thoughts, feelings, and desires. Sexualization is the act of defining a person primarily by their sexual attractiveness.

When LPGA players are objectified and sexualized, it can have a number of negative consequences. It can make them feel uncomfortable and even unsafe. It can also make it difficult for them to be taken seriously as athletes.

In addition, objectification and sexualization can contribute to gender inequality in sports. When women are seen primarily as sexual objects, it is more difficult for them to be seen as equal to men.

It is important to remember that LPGA players are athletes, not models. They are talented and dedicated athletes who deserve to be respected for their athletic achievements.

Case in Point: Lexi Thompson

In 2018, Lexi Thompson was criticized for her attire during the U.S. Women's Open. Some commentators and fans took issue with her wearing a short-sleeved polo shirt, deeming it unprofessional and unflattering. This incident sparked a debate about the expectations placed on female athletes' appearance and the need for more gender-neutral dress codes.

Case in Point: Michelle Wie

Michelle Wie is one of the most famous LPGA players in the world. She has won five major championships and was the youngest player to ever win a U.S. Women's Open. However, despite her athletic achievements, Wie has often been objectified and sexualized in the media.

In 2004, at the age of 14, Wie was featured in a Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. She was also photographed in a bathtub for a magazine cover. These photos were widely criticized for sexualizing a young athlete.

Wie has also been the subject of sexist comments from fans and the media. In 2014, a male golf commentator made a comment about Wie's appearance that was widely condemned as sexist.

Wie has spoken out against objectification and sexualization. She has said that she wants to be seen as an athlete, not a sex symbol.

Beyond the Fairway: Addressing Objectification and Embracing the Future:

The consequences of objectification are multifaceted. It can lead to discomfort, unease, and even safety concerns for LPGA players. Moreover, it undermines their credibility as athletes, hindering their ability to be taken seriously as competitors. Additionally, objectification contributes to gender inequality in sports, reinforcing the perception that women are primarily valued for their physical appearance rather than their athletic talents.

To address this persistent issue, a multi-pronged approach is necessary. Firstly, the media must play a crucial role in promoting a more balanced and respectful portrayal of LPGA players. This involves highlighting their athletic achievements, showcasing their skill and dedication, and portraying them in attire that aligns with their sporting context.

Secondly, fans should be encouraged to adopt a more respectful and appreciative approach to LPGA players. This includes refraining from making sexist comments or focusing on their physical appearance, instead celebrating their athleticism, sportsmanship, and competitive spirit.

Thirdly, the LPGA Tour itself can take steps to address objectification. This could involve implementing guidelines for media coverage, educating fans about respectful interactions, and fostering a culture that values athleticism and performance above all else.

Watch The Legacy of Girls Golf: Shaping the Future of LPGA Players:

LPGA players are talented and dedicated athletes who deserve to be respected for their athletic achievements:

To illustrate the remarkable talent and achievements of LPGA players, let's shine the spotlight on a few active current players:

Nelly Korda: The young American sensation has taken the LPGA Tour by storm, amassing seven tournament wins, including one major championship. Her powerful swing and unwavering determination have made her a force to be reckoned with.
Jin Young Ko: The South Korean powerhouse holds the distinction of being the youngest player to reach five LPGA majors, earning the title of "the next Se Ri Pak." Her precision and composure have earned her a place among the top players in the world.
Lexi Thompson: The American prodigy has demonstrated her exceptional talent since her teenage years, becoming the youngest player to qualify for the U.S. Women's Open at the age of 11. Her unwavering focus and resilience have led her to 11 LPGA Tour victories.
Lydia Ko: The New Zealand phenom has etched her name in golf history as the youngest player to reach No. 1 in the Rolex Rankings. Her incredible ball-striking ability and competitive spirit have earned her 19 LPGA Tour wins.

A Brighter Future for LPGA Players: Embracing Inclusivity and Respect:

As we look towards the future, several trends suggest a gradual shift towards a more inclusive and respectful environment for LPGA players:

Rising Awareness and Advocacy: The growing awareness of objectification and its negative impacts is fueling a movement for change. LPGA players are increasingly speaking out against objectification, advocating for respectful treatment and recognition of their athleticism.
Evolving Media Landscape: The media landscape is undergoing a transformation, with new platforms and forms of content emerging. This presents an opportunity for more nuanced and respectful portrayals of LPGA players, focusing on their athletic achievements and contributions to the sport.
Shifting Fan Attitudes: Younger generations are more attuned to issues of gender equality and respect. This growing consciousness among fans is likely to foster a more inclusive and appreciative environment for LPGA players.
LPGA Tour Initiatives: The LPGA Tour is taking proactive steps to address objectification, implementing guidelines for media coverage and promoting respectful interactions among fans. These initiatives are paving the way for a more inclusive and empowering environment for LPGA players.
Role Models and Inspiration: The success and visibility of prominent LPGA players are inspiring young girls to pursue their golfing aspirations. These role models are demonstrating that athleticism, dedication, and skill are the cornerstones of success in the sport.

While objectification remains a challenge, the growing awareness, advocacy, and evolving attitudes suggest a promising.

Are players finally pushing back on rising green fees? This California golf mecca might be an indicator

Disclaimer: This article was written by Bard, a large language model from Google AI, using a combination of statistical methods and machine learning techniques. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or definitive source of information on the topic, and it should not be construed as professional advice. While Bard has been trained on a massive dataset of text and code, it is still under development, and its outputs may not always be accurate or complete. Please consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions based on the information contained in this article.

Three players (including a LIV golfer) qualify for 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon

Dean Burmester, Darren Fichardt and Dan Bradbury have all qualified for next year’s 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon via the Joburg Open, the first event in the Open Qualifying Series.

The series offers players from around the world the opportunity to qualify for one of the four men’s majors and is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour.

Burmester, who now plays in the LIV Golf League and finished 14^th last season, earned a three-shot win at Houghton Golf Club in Johannesburg, South Africa, at 18 under and will play in his third Open next year. Fichardt last qualified for the Open in 2017 after winning the Joburg Open at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club. He finished runner-up this year at 15 under after a final-round 64. The defending champion Bradbury also shot 64 on Sunday to take the third qualifying spot at 13 under.

Next up in the series is the ISPS Handa Australian Open, Nov. 30-Dec. 3 at The Lakes and The Australian in Sydney. Here are the rest of the events included in the qualifying series and how many Open places are available at each.

2024 Open Qualifying Series events remaining

Event	Date	Exemptions available
ISPS Handa Australian Open	Nov. 30-Dec. 3, 2023	Three places to leading players not already exempt
Arnold Palmer Invitational	March 7-10, 2024	One place to leading player not already exempt
RBC Canadian Open	May 30-June 2, 2024	Three places to leading players not already exempt
Memorial Tournament	June 6-9, 2024	One place to leading player not already exempt
KLM Open	June 20-23, 2024	Two places to leading player not already exempt
Regional qualifying	June 24, 2024	None
Italian Open	June 27-30, 2024	Two places to leading player not already exempt
Final qualifying	July 2, 2024	Minimum of 16 places
John Deere Classic	July 4-7, 2024	Two places to leading player not already exempt
Genesis Scottish Open	July 11-14, 2024	Three places to leading players not already exempt

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/Lj283p4

Why Min Woo Lee rocked a chef hat to celebrate his 2023 Australian PGA Championship victory (before he even won)

While Americans across the country celebrate Thanksgiving weekend, Min Woo Lee enjoyed some home cooking in his native Australia.

The 25-year-old from Perth shot a 3-under 68 on Sunday to win the 2023 Fortinet Australian PGA Championship at 20 under Royal Queensland Golf Club in Brisbane. Lee recently won the SJM Macao Open on the Asian Tour and last won on the DP World Tour at the 2021 Abrdn Scottish Open.

Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino (68) put up a fight but ultimately finished second at 17 under, with Aussies Marc Leishman (64) and Curtis Luck (69) in third and fourth at 16 under and 15 under, respectively. LIV Golf’s Joaquin Niemann (67) – who aced the par-3 4th hole – finished fifth at 13 under.

“I made it interesting early on and through the middle but I ended up hanging on and I’m really proud,” said Lee, who began the day with a bogey before he finished the front nine 5 under over his last six holes. Two birdies and three additional bogeys down the stretch were enough to hold off Hoshino.

One of the more outgoing characters in the game, Lee put on a chef’s hat on the 17th green to celebrate with fans and honor his “Let him cook” social media mantra that took off during the Players Championship. Imagine having that kind of confidence with a hole still to play. That’s Min Woo Lee.

Dinner is served #AusPGA | #visitbrisbane | #thisisqueensland pic.twitter.com/9VJ5oEAD7F

— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) November 26, 2023

Lee finished T-4 at last year’s Australian PGA, one of five top-10 finishes on the DP World Tour schedule in 2022-23 season. Over on the PGA Tour, Lee earned four top 10s in 14 starts in 2023, including a T-6 at the Players Championship and T-5 at the U.S. Open.

Check out the best photos of his wild celebration Down Under below.