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Epson Tour's arrival in desert marks step toward LPGA return, but obstacles still remain

Epson Tour's arrival in desert marks step toward LPGA return, but obstacles still remain

PALM DESERT, Calif. — Is this really the first step for the LPGA to come back to the Coachella Valley?

Could playing the Epson Tour Championship at the Indian Wells Golf Resort truly open the door to the LPGA’s return to the desert after the women’s tour left following the 2022 Chevron Championship, ending a run of 51 years at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage?

Officials at the City of Indian Wells have not been shy about how they covet the LPGA returning and making sure that return happens at the city-owned golf resort. As the Epson Tour Championship comes to the resort this week to award 15 tour cards for the 2025 LPGA season, the possibility of an LPGA return to the desert is tantalizing.

But it is hardly a slam dunk, either.

Lots of cities in the country would love to host a professional golf event, anything from the LPGA or PGA Tour or the PGA Tour Champions. But the things that have to fall into place for any such tour to bring its traveling road show to your town are numerous and varied.

The LPGA had a great date in the desert at the end of March and the start of April with the Chevron Championship, the major championship played under various names at Mission Hills Country Club. But that date in the first quarter of the year was gobbled up by the PGA Tour Champions with the Galleri Classic. Could an October date, with weather that can be fantastic or very hot, fit into the LPGA schedule down the road?

The Players Course at Indian Wells Golf Resort will be the home of the Epson Tour Championship this year, with the Celebrity Course the possible home in 2025 as the Players Course undergoes major renovations and re-routing. Some of those renovations will be designed to accommodate a big-time tournament better than the course’s current configuration. Will the LPGA look at the reconfigured course and approve?

The simple translation for that is money. A sponsor has to carry a large part of the cost of producing a tournament, from setting up the golf course to television costs to the purse of the event. The City of Indian Wells is the sponsor of the Epson event, but the city might not want to carry the burden of an entire LPGA tournament. That would mean finding either a title sponsor or at least a presenting sponsor to throw some money into the pot. Remember, a new event in the desert would still have a purse of at least $2 million, if not more.

Every tournament requires someone, either one person or more likely a group of people, to push for the event and convince everyone else that the tournament is a great idea. In the case of an LPGA return, the City of Indian Wells has already taken over that responsibility, so this category gets a check mark.

Again, this shouldn’t be much of a problem with so many well-established and strong non-profits and charities in the Coachella Valley. Picking just one might be the problem here. Finding legitimate candidates will be easy.

So the ball would seem to be in the fairway of the LPGA. The city wants an LPGA event and is willing to put at least some of the money up for such a tournament.

The LPGA must answer the other questions. Is the golf course right? Is the time of year right?

But there might be a much larger question. Since the LPGA already left the Coachella Valley after a 51-year run, and with the tournament that was played in the desert so iconic and so important, does the LPGA want to return to the desert at all?

Any LPGA event that comes to the desert will run the risk of being compared to the major known for decades as The Dinah. Even if a new tournament might be two or three years away at best, the newcomer will have to find a way to make itself important enough to not be overshadowed by the old tournament.

In some ways, that would make an October date, as the LPGA winds down to its CME Championship, a big selling point for a new event.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/YGSODKa
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Eric Axley makes an albatross in Monday qualifying to earn spot in Furyk & Friends

Eric Axley makes an albatross in Monday qualifying to earn spot in Furyk & Friends

Eric Axley, among the 50 golfers entered in the Monday qualifier for the PGA Tour Champions event this week, is moving into the main field after one of golf’s rarest shots.

He’s one of three moving on after he shot a 66 to finish a shot behind Kris Blanks. Garrett Willis shot 67 to be the third golfer to get into the field at the 2024 Constellation Furyk & Friends at Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville, Florida.

Axley, though, has the best story to tell. He was 3 under with just two holes left and on the outside looking in before he made some magic happen, holing out from the fairway for a 2 on the par-5 17th hole, a 499-yard par 5 on the Dye’s Valley course at TPC Sawgrass.

That’s right, he made an albatross to jump a handful of golfers and secure a spot this week.

Having just turned 50 in April, Axley has only played in four senior circuit events this summer. He has one PGA Tour victory, the 2006 Valero Texas Open, making him one of 16 left-handers to win on the PGA Tour. He also has two Korn Ferry Tour wins.

The odds of making what’s also known as a double eagle are about 6-million-to-1 for the average golfer and about a million-to-one for a professional.

Axley competed in Q School last November but came up short in his bid for full status on the Champions tour in 2024.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/YGSODKa
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Golf GPS Devices vs. Laser Rangefinders: Which is Best for Your Game?

Golf GPS Devices vs. Laser Rangefinders: Which is Best for Your Game?

Working your way around a golf course can be like solving a puzzle because distances, hazards and slopes all need to be dealt with in order to piece together a good score. However, two modern pieces of equipment can help make drawing circles instead of squares easier: golf GPS devices and laser rangefinders. While both are designed to provide accurate distance measurements, they do their jobs in different ways, and both have their benefits and drawbacks depending on your style, level of play, and budget.

How Golf GPS Devices Work

Golf GPS devices connect to a network of satellites to measure distances to various points on the course, just like the GPS system in your car determines where you are as you drive. By cross-referencing your location with a pre-loaded course map, a GPS device can tell you the distance to the front, middle, and back of the green, as well as any hazards or doglegs along the way. Modern GPS devices now come in the form of watches, handheld units, and even mobile apps that can be downloaded to your smartphone.

GPS: The Advantages

Garmin S42 GPS watches
Garmin S42 GPS watches (Garmin)

There are some distinct advantages to using GPS as your distance-measuring system of choice, and the first is convenience. Whether you opt for a watch, a stand-alone unit or a smartphone app, golf GPS devices can continuously show you how far away you are from hazards, specific areas on a hole and different areas of the green. As you move, those numbers automatically update.

Golf GPS devices also typically come with other handy features, like the ability to keep your score and manage games you are playing with your partners. In some cases, golf GPS devices can pair with tags that go on your clubs so they track your performance over time and generate stats on your game.

Shop all GPS options

GPS: The Disadvantages

The downside of using a GPS device can be the level of accuracy. We’ve all been behind the wheel when our car’s GPS device shows on its map we need to turn now, but the road where we turn is 30 or 40 feet ahead. That tiny margin is not a big deal when you are driving, but golfers are demanding and want the highest level of accuracy possible. The technology that powers GPS devices has improved a lot over the years, but it can still be off by a couple of yards.

There is also a slight chance that a course you play has not been mapped, though most GPS devices come with tens of thousands of courses pre-loaded, so this is likely not a big deal.

What can be a big deal, however, are subscription fees. Some higher-end devices require paid subscriptions to unlock all their features, so take that into account before you make your purchase.

How Laser Rangefinders Work

Pointing a laser rangefinder at your target and then pressing a button shoots a beam of light out of the unit. Then, measuring how long it takes that laser beam to reflect back to the device, it calculates the distance. So, no, you are not Luke Skywalker, but you are shooting laser beams when you use a golf rangefinder.

2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur
Rianne Malixi of Philippines uses a rangefinder on the Par 3 course alongside her caddie during a practice round for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club, Friday, April 5, 2024. (Chloe Knott/Augusta National)

Laser Rangefinders: The Advantages

First and foremost, laser rangefinders are the most accurate way to measure the distance between you and your target. Most units are accurate to with a yard from farther out than Bryson DeChambeau can hit a golf ball.

You also never have to worry about whether a golf course has been mapped when you use a laser rangefinder, and several models now come with a Slope function that can measure the upward or downward angle to your target and then reveal “plays like” distances. A few can even tether to your smartphone via Bluetooth to add wind, elevation or atmospheric information to the Slope calculations.

Shop all laser rangefinder options

Laser Rangefinders: The Disdvantages

Laser rangefinders can’t measure what they can’t see, so you need to be able to see your target to make them work, and that can be tricky on blind shots.

Lasers can also struggle in rainy or foggy conditions because water droplets and vapor can disperse the laser beam and make it harder for the unit to attain the reflected light beam.

Holding the unit steady enough to hit your target can be challenging for golfers who have unsteady hands, making laser rangefinders frustrating to use. And, for inexperienced players, finding and locking onto a target can be tricky. Anyone who has used a laser, at one time or another, has accidentally shot the distance to a tree or object behind the green instead of the flagstick.

GPS vs. Laser Rangefinder
(Taya Gray/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Golf GPS or Laser Rangefinder: Which is right for you?

Your decision ultimately depends on your playing style and preferences. If you prefer quick, comprehensive information and hazard management, a golf GPS could be a solid choice. For beginners and golfers who lack consistency and precision, GPS devices also provide more than enough accuracy.

If you are an elite golfer or a player who requires the highest level of accuracy, a laser rangefinder could be the way to go.

Below are several golf GPS and laser rangefinders you might want to consider.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/kuIqAHT
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Inside the U.S. team room Friday night after getting swept 5-0 and how 'locking them in a room' led to victory

Inside the U.S. team room Friday night after getting swept 5-0 and how 'locking them in a room' led to victory

MONTREAL – U.S. Captain Jim Furyk stood at the 18th green late on Friday afternoon when Si Woo Kim drained a 15-foot putt to complete a clean sweep of the five foursomes matches to tie the score at 5-5 in the 2024 Presidents Cup.

“That was a massive putt by Si Woo Kim to make it 0 and 5,” Furyk recalled on Sunday.

At the time, Furyk wore a smirk on his face that said, Really? This cannot be happening again.

After all, as the U.S. Ryder Cup captain in 2018 in Paris, Furyk’s team jumped to a 3-1 lead in the first session only to be swept in the second session. Then the European rout was on. Déjà vu all over again?

Furyk is nothing if not a fighter and he formed a plan. He had been contemplating for as many as four holes, he said, how he was going to address the team and what messaging to deliver.

“It’s easy to buy in when things are rolling; it’s hard to buy in when things aren’t going well,” he explained.

In that moment, Furyk conceived a plan.

“I told the (assistant) captains on the golf course, I think what I’m going to do tonight is instead of standing up and giving a rah-rah speech, let’s lock them all in a room and let’s talk it out,” he said. “Let’s hear what they have to say, what they felt and saw on the golf course.”

They met as a team and Furyk started but he didn’t say much. “I didn’t need to,” he said.

Tony Finau spoke first and Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa – guys Furyk said “aren’t the loudest” – were among those to chime in. One by one, members of Team USA stepped up and shared what they have used in their career to pick themselves up off the mat in their own low-lights.

“In moments like that, if you can be vulnerable and you can share, it really pulls people together,” Furyk said. “Friday night could’ve been a little bit of a panic and it was a very calm night, a very right the ship and let’s get out there.”

The alarm sounded at 3:30 a.m. the next morning, and Furyk and the team climbed on to the team bus to the course at 4:15 a.m. Even before balls were in the air, Furyk knew his team was in a good place.

“The look on their faces coming off the bus on Saturday morning, I was jacked up,” he said.

The U.S. claim three of four points in both the morning and afternoon session to stake the team to an 11-7 lead and seized back all the momentum.

“To see how we all responded spoke to the character of the team,” Finau said. “Today the Cup was won but we really won it yesterday. That’s what separated us, gave us a big cushion and all the pressure was on them to try to beat us.”

It would have been a stain on a Hall of Fame-worthy resume to be a two-time loser as U.S. captain, to be the one at the helm when the mighty U.S. finally went down to defeat to the Internationals. But as the victorious captain of the 2024 Presidents Cup, Furyk sounded a bit like Coach Norman Dale in the movie Hoosiers when he said, “This group is special, they really are.”

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/kuIqAHT
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Watch: Kevin Kisner follows through on bet, takes shirt off after Max Homa hole-out

Watch: Kevin Kisner follows through on bet, takes shirt off after Max Homa hole-out

Tarps off, boys.

During the Solheim Cup, Alison Lee and Megan Khang’s caddies Jack Fulghum and Taylor “Shota” Takada made a bet that if one of their players holed out, they would take their shirts off. Two holes later, it happened.

Well, Max Homa was watching from home, and he posted on social media about the interaction. That’s when Kevin Kisner chimed in, saying if Homa did it at the 2024 Presidents Cup, he would do the same.

Well, Homa holed out. He did so on the first hole Sunday of his singles match against Mackenzie Hughes. And while it didn’t happen immediately, Kisner eventually did follow through on his end of the bet once the celebration began.

Ain’t no thing.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/kuIqAHT
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Tom Kim accuses members of U.S. team of cursing at him at 2024 Presidents Cup

Tom Kim accuses members of U.S. team of cursing at him at 2024 Presidents Cup

MONTREAL – Tom Kim may only have a record of 1-2 in this edition of the Presidents Cup but he has been a thorn in the side of the U.S., an excitable player pumping his fists, dancing around the green after making an assortment of lengthy putts and egging the crowd to make more noise.

All of that is fair play in team competition but Kim accused the American side of crossing the line into unsportsmanlike behavior.

“It got a little feisty out there. I could hear some players cursing at us,” Kim said during a post-match press conference after he and partner lost a thriller to Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele. “That part wasn’t really, I don’t think there was good sportsmanship there. But it’s all part of the fun. I understand it. So the U.S. Team definitely motivated us to go out there.”

Later in the press conference, without naming names, Kim reiterated that he was disappointed with some of the comments directed at him and partner Si Woo Kim.

“You see me out there throwing fist pumps and jumping on the green. It’s all part of it, I get it. I just don’t think there’s a need to look at someone and curse at them. I just don’t think there’s a need for it,” he said. “I understand it. I don’t get hurt about it. My feelings don’t hurt at all. I hope there’s no negative comments. That’s not what I’m trying to do here.”

Presidents Cup: Leaderboard | Gala photos | Photos

When Cantlay and Schauffele met the media, they were asked for their version of what transpired and both expressed surprise at Kim’s accusation.

“I felt like Pat and I, we treated the Kims with the utmost respect,” Schauffele said. “We’re trying to quiet the crowds down when they were hitting. We’re trying to quiet the crowd – go back on film, quiet the crowds down when we were hitting. It was fair take, give and go.

“I have no clue if anyone was doing any of that. I don’t believe any of our guys would do something like that. So I’m not sure what he was hearing.”

Kim’s opponent in a Sunday singles match? American Sam Burns, who won’t back down from any negative comments he hears – even from the fans.

“If they’re going to come at me, why shouldn’t I go at them? That seems fair to me. If people are going to shout out behind ropes or whatever and say whatever they want, just because I’m inside of them doesn’t mean I can’t yell back at them,” Burns said. “I think there’s appropriate times for it. I think you’ve got to let them know that you’re not scared of what they say and you’re not afraid of a couple laughs with their buddies. They think they tell a good joke. So, yeah, I like it.”

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/igTpzAQ
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'He's an assassin:' Patrick Cantlay does it again in near darkness on Saturday to give U.S. 11-7 lead

'He's an assassin:' Patrick Cantlay does it again in near darkness on Saturday to give U.S. 11-7 lead

MONTREAL – Patrick Cantlay is a menace late on Saturday afternoon in big international team competition.

One year after he gave the U.S. a glimmer of hope at the Ryder Cup in Rome with a clutch putt in the gloaming to beat Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick, Cantlay sank a 15-foot birdie putt at 18 at Royal Montreal to win an exhilarating match that gave the U.S. an 11-7 leading and may have broken the International Team’s spirit. Teammate Sam Burns called him an assassin and Cantlay’s partner, Xander Schauffele echoed that sentiment.

“I think it’s pretty fitting, it being all dark and all,” he said. “I could barely see him out there. Reading the putt with him was pretty entertaining, using some light from the board. I can tell you one thing, I’m never going to play him in the dark or at night. I’ll just wait for the morning.”

Cantlay’s birdie sent the Americans circling the green into a frenzy and secured a 1-up win over South Korea’s Si Woo Kim and Tom Kim in a match that had everything: incredible putts, hole outs, theatrics bordering on unsportsmanlike behavior, pettiness and it all coming down to a putt off at 18. It was the type of match that no one deserved to lose but Patty Ice proved he has a little more ice in his veins.

“Man, did it feel good when P.C. made that putt there in the dark,” Schauffele said.

This was a rematch of Saturday’s foursomes at the 2022 Presidents Cup in which the South Korean pair stole a full point and knocked off the seemingly invincible American team. Kim squared already had knocked off Americans Keegan Bradley and Wyndham Clark in morning Four-ball when they were the top two putters of the session.

And they weren’t done making putts. In the afternoon, the Kims fell 2 down through six holes. It was at six where Cantlay refused to give a short putt to Kim, and when the hole was over he pantomimed measuring the length of his putt that he was forced to make. Ian Kim or should we say Tom Poulter – he certainly has a way of getting under the skin of his U.S. opponents much like Ian Poulter once did at the Ryder Cup – answered with a 38-foot birdie putt at the ninth and danced around the green with an array of fist pumps. His theatrics pumped up the crowd and he celebrated in similar fashion one hole later when Si Woo Kim sank a 15-foot birdie putt to even the match.

The back and forth affair also included ridiculous par saves at 11 with Si Woo Kim drilling a 19-footer and Cantlay answering from 16 feet. Every time the U.S. pulled ahead as it did with a win at 13, the Internationals bounced back with a win as it did at 14. Schauffele made his own bomb from 33 feet at 15 and the Americans celebrated with a restrained knuckles tap and Schauffele giving Cantlay a slap on the butt.

Kim’s approach at 16 missed right and plugged in the grass above the greenside bunker. Schauffele was the one who eventually found it during a mad search by players and caddies and the Internationals were granted a free drop.

“He got a great lie,” John Wood reported on NBC.

Still, Si Woo Kim was shortsided and anything inside 5 feet would be outstanding. Kim opened his sand wedge wide and lofted his ball high in the air. It landed softly and turned into the hole. As Sahith Theegala had dubbed it earlier in the week, a Mongolian Reversal of the highest order as instead of a good chance of falling 2 down with 2 to go, the match suddenly was tied once more.

“Hurt more than I thought it would,” Schauffele said. “Pat and I were sitting back there, we both have match play minds, and we both said Si Woo’s going to get this up-and-down, and then he holed it. Pat looked at me and said, ‘I guess 4 is not enough, we’re going to make some birdies.’ That’s exactly what P.C. did coming in.”

Did he ever.

“That was big,” U.S. Captain Jim Furyk said. “If you had to hand select someone to hit a big putt on your team, I think Pat would come to a lot of people’s minds.”

Cantlay’s 17-footer, aimed “a cup outside with some speed,” made sure the U.S. wouldn’t lose the final match. Si Woo Kim still had a chance to tie the hole but he finally flinched and missed a big putt from an inch closer than Cantlay.

This was the ninth career Presidents Cup match for Cantlay and Schuaffele together, the most in event history. They’ll likely play many more in the years to come but it will be hard to top this one when Patty Ice was Patty Clutch.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/igTpzAQ
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Presidents Cup 2024: Sunday singles matches, tee times, scores and how to watch

Presidents Cup 2024: Sunday singles matches, tee times, scores and how to watch

Thanks to a clutch birdie putt on the 18th hole in the dark, Patrick Cantlay put Team USA in front by four points entering the Sunday singles session of the 2024 Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal Golf Club.

Taylor Pendrith and Adam Scott took care of business for the International Team in the first match of the afternoon, beating Max Homa and Brian Harman, 2 up.

However, it was all Team USA after that, with the Americans earning the last three points of the day to head into Sunday with an 11-7 advantage.

Here’s a complete look at the Sunday singles matches.

Presidents Cup: Leaderboard | Gala photos | Photos

Sunday singles matches for 2024 Presidents Cup

Team USA leads 11-7

Tee time Team USA player International Team player
12:02 p.m. Xander Schauffele Jason Day
12:14 p.m. Sam Burns Tom Kim
12:26 p.m. Scottie Scheffler Hideki Matsuyama
12:38 p.m. Russell Henley Sungjae Im
12:50 p.m. Patrick Cantlay Taylor Pendrith
1:02 p.m. Keegan Bradley Si Woo Kim
1:19 p.m. Tony Finau Corey Conners
1:31 p.m. Wyndham Clark Min Woo Lee
1:43 p.m. Sahith Theegala Ben An
1:55 p.m. Collin Morikawa Adam Scott
2:07 p.m. Brian Harman Christiaan Bezuidenhout
2:19 p.m. Max Homa Mackenzie Hughes

How to watch the 2024 Presidents Cup

Sunday, Sept. 29

Round 4 singles, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET, NBC, Peacock

Live from the Presidents Cup including Closing Ceremony, 6 p.m. ET, Golf Channel, Peacock

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/igTpzAQ
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Can this PGA Tour event find another sponsor before next season? The pressure is on

Can this PGA Tour event find another sponsor before next season? The pressure is on

As the 12th and final year of sponsorship for Wayne Sanderson Farms at Mississippi’s only PGA Tour event is nearing an end, there is no better way to find a new sponsor than to show off at this year’s tournament.

Wayne Sanderson Farms’ run as a full partner with Jackson and its PGA tournament has been a historic one.

However, the 2024 Sanderson Farm Championship will be the last for the company as the title sponsor of the Jackson PGA Tour stop.

While its contract runs through 2026, the company decided in August to move on as the title sponsor, but remain as a major sponsor for the tournament, which is held at the Country Club of Jackson.

That leaves tournament director Steve Jent searching for a 2025 and beyond sponsor as this year’s tournament gears up to kick off next week.

“I feel really good in general for next week. The weather looks great. It’s going to be a chamber of commerce type setting, for sure,” Jent told the Clarion Ledger.

Also, Jent believes the tournament is on track for its main job, which is raising money for charity. He said early returns look like last year when the tournament helped raise $1.5 million in charitable impact benefiting Children’s of Mississippi and other Mississippi charities.

Since becoming title sponsor in 2013, the Sanderson Farms Championship has raised more than $17 million for charity including Children’s of Mississippi and other Mississippi-based causes.

“With both Mississippi State and Ole Miss on the road next week and with the weather looking great, that should help our crowds,” Jent said. “So, yeah, I feel great about next week.”

But as much as great weather and great crowds and a great field of players will make this year’s tournament great, making this year’s tournament great is important in showing a potential new sponsor the value of signing on for the future.

“We are still working on what 2025 looks like, and we still have some time to figure that out,” Jent said. “But yes, we want to use next week to entertain anyone that might be interested in being the title sponsor. Having said that, the clock doesn’t run out after the tournament ends next week. We have time still to work with the PGA tournament and come up with just the right plan.”

2023 Sanderson Farms Championship

Luke List of the United States celebrates after after a putt on the first playoff hole of the final round of the Sanderson Farms Championship at The Country Club of Jackson on October 08, 2023 in Jackson, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Sanderson Farms history

Mississippi has been a PGA stop since 1968 when the tournament was known as the Magnolia Classic and was played in Hattiesburg. The tournament has had several names and sponsors over the years, including the Deposit Guaranty Classic from 1986–1998, the Farm Bureau Classic from 1999–2006 and the Viking Classic from 2007–2011. In 2012, it was called the True South Classic because it didn’t have a title sponsor. Sanderson Farms has sponsored the tournament since 2013.

Sanderson Farms also spearheaded to the move from Annandale Golf Course in Madison to the Country Club of Jackson, which continues to be recognized as one of the top courses in the nation.

The tournament has a $7.6 million purse with a $1.368 million winner’s share. Luke List is the defending champion and the Sanderson Farms Championship has a field of 132 players and a cut to 70 players.

2023 Sanderson Farms Championship

A general view of the Country Club of Jackson water tower during the third round of the Sanderson Farms Championship at The Country Club of Jackson on October 07, 2023, in Jackson, Mississippi. (Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images)

What’s next?

Despite the uncertain future of the tournament at the moment, Jent said the future is still bright.

“I believe this cat still has some of its nine lives left,” he said. “Over the course of the history of this tournament, it has definitely seen worse days. I think we’ve built something, between Century Club and our sponsors and everyone that has volunteers, we have built something that will be appealing to someone out there that wants to be our next title sponsor.”

With that in mind, Jent has every intention of putting the tournament’s best foot forward for next week.

“This is a great showcase for us, there is no doubt,” Jent said. “Not only is this a great showcase to the world for Mississippi, it’s a lot of fun. There are great parties, a great atmosphere and great golf. You can cut any way you want to, but there will be 132 of the greatest players in the world here in Mississippi next week. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that. I think that is how we are really approaching everything.”

Ross Reily can be reached by email at [email protected] or 601-573-2952. You can follow him on Twitter @GreenOkra1.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/7V0TaMl
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Best men's golf pants for 2024

Best men's golf pants for 2024

Fall is here, which means your days on the golf course are starting to get a little bit chillier. So, it’s time to load up your wardrobe with warm clothes to get through the next several months.

In this list, we’re focused on golf pants.

To guarantee you’re stocked up, we’ve searched the internet for some of the best golf pants on the market from brands like Nike, Lululemon, Peter Millar, Brooks Brothers, Radmor Golf, Vineyard Vines, Puma and more.

If you’re looking for more fall apparel, check out these lists: Best golf vests | Best golf hoodies | Best long-sleeve polos | Best golf sweaters | Best golf quarter zips | Best fall golf apparel

Best men’s golf pants for fall 2024:

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/7V0TaMl
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Presidents Cup 2024: Saturday morning four-ball matches, tee times, scores and how to watch

Presidents Cup 2024: Saturday morning four-ball matches, tee times, scores and how to watch

On Thursday night, it looked like things could get late early for the International Team at the 2024 Presidents Cup after the United States swept the opening four-ball session and held a 5-0 lead heading into Friday’s foursomes matches.

But the Internationals were out for blood on Day 2 at Royal Montreal Golf Club.

Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im got the party started early, defeating Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, 7 and 6. Schauffele and Cantlay have now lost three straight foursomes matches in team events.

When all was said and done, the Internationals swept the Americans and tied the Presidents Cup through 10 matches.

Presidents Cup: Leaderboard | Gala photos | Photos

Saturday four-ball matches for 2024 Presidents Cup

The Presidents Cup is tied, 5-5

7:02 a.m. ET: Adam Scott/Taylor Pendrith (INTL) vs. Scottie Scheffler/Collin Morikawa (USA)

7:20 a.m. ET: Corey Conners/Mackenzie Hughes (INTL) vs. Tony Finau/Xander Schauffele (USA)

7:38 a.m. ET: Si Woo Kim/Tom Kim (INTL) vs. Keegan Bradley/Wyndham Clark (USA)

7:56 a.m. ET: Hideki Matsuyama/Sungjae Im (INTL) vs. Patrick Cantlay/Sam Burns (USA)

How to watch the 2024 Presidents Cup

Saturday, Sept. 28

Round 3 four-ball, 8 a.m. ET, NBC, Peacock

Round 4 foursomes, 1:40 p.m. ET, NBC, Peacock

Live from the Presidents Cup, 6 p.m. ET, Golf Channel, Peacock

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/7V0TaMl
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After Ryder Cup heartbreak, Keegan Bradley adds exclamation point to U.S. domination in four-ball at 2024 Presidents Cup

After Ryder Cup heartbreak, Keegan Bradley adds exclamation point to U.S. domination in four-ball at 2024 Presidents Cup

It was always Keegan Bradley.

Playing in the fourth match with Wyndham Clark on Thursday during the four-ball session at the 2024 Presidents Cup, Bradley made his return to team competition for the first time since 2013. This time, he earned his way onto the Presidents Cup team thanks to his victory at the BMW Championship last month in Colorado.

And the fiery Bradley returned with a fire that is needed at these competitions, and it’s a big reason why he was selected to be the Ryder Cup captain next year at Bethpage Black.

Bradley poured in a birdie putt on the closing par-4 18th to clinch he and Clark’s match 1 up against Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Taylor Pendrith. He and Clark weren’t perfect on Thursday at Royal Montreal Golf Club, but as the Internationals missed putts and struggled down the stretch, Bradley put the nail in the coffin on a dominating start by the Americans, a powerful fist pump letting out the frustrations and disappointment of the past decade.

Presidents Cup: Leaderboard | Gala photos | Photos

“It was 10 years of pent up energy, it looks like, of not playing these,” Bradley said. “I just had such a blast out there today. It’s really fun for me to be out here with these guys. I told Wyndham on 17 or 18 just how much I missed being out here and doing this.”

This is the third time the Americans have swept the opening session of the Presidents Cup, and it’s the 10th time they’ve led after the first session. They’ve won every time doing that.

Bradley and Clark were 9 under on their best ball Thursday, the best of any American team. On his own ball, Bradley had five birdies, including on the opening hole

The fieriness of Bradley is needed at events like the Presidents Cup, and he returned with flair on Thursday.

When he poured in the closing birdie to clinch the 1-up victory, he let out a massive fist pump, which was one of many during the match. He and Clark had plenty of reasons to celebrate down the stretch.

“This morning when I heard the national Anthem and I was seeing the boys getting ready, I was really emotional. It really took me by surprise,” Bradley said. “There’s been a few times this week where I’ve been emotional about this week. I’ve said I didn’t — there was a point in my life I never thought I’d get to do this again.

“To be able to be out here with a totally new group of guys and guys that really, I’m not afraid to say, I’m 38 years old, and I look up to all these players here. It’s really been an inspiring week for me, on and off the golf course. I just love being around them. They’re funny, they’re fun, and I just am really proud to be in the same room with them playing this tournament.”

Keegan Bradley celebrates with Wyndham Clark after a putt on the 18th green during Thursday’s four-ball matches at the 2024 Presidents Cup at the Royal Montreal Golf Club. (Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Last year, Netflix cameras captured the heartbreak as Zach Johnson called Bradley to tell him he would not be on the U.S. Ryder Cup team. Bradley still hasn’t unpacked his bag from his lone appearance in that team competition. Then this spring, he was announced as the U.S. captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.

Before winning the BMW, he was set to be an assistant captain for Jim Furyk at Royal Montreal. Then he won, and this week became about his on-course performance.

That’s exactly what the United States needed.

“I always feel like I’m always trying to suppress my emotions on the golf course, and what I love about this tournament is you’re able to let them out,” Bradley said.

“It’s really just a blast.”

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/QohrLAx
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Isabella Fierro tee times, live stream, TV coverage | Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G, September 27-29

Isabella Fierro tee times, live stream, TV coverage | Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G, September 27-29

Mark your calendar for September 27-29, when Isabella Fierro and the rest of the field hit the course at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, AR to golf in the 2024 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G.

In the past year, Fierro has competed in 18 events. Her best finish was 23rd, her average finish was 41st, and she made the cut five times (27.8%).

Keep reading for all the information you need to know about Fierro before the the 2024 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G, including how to catch the action live on TV or via live stream.

Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G TV channel and live stream info

Isabella Fierro Tee Time

  • Round 1: 9:43 AM ET

Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G coverage on Fubo and Peacock

Want to catch LPGA Tour events all season long without cable? Sign up for Peacock Premium to access select LPGA events, plus tons of other live sports and shows! 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.

Isabella Fierro stats and recent trends

  • In her last five tournaments, Fierro has not finished in the top 20.
  • She’s qualified for the weekend in one of her last five events.
  • Fierro has not posted a score better than the tournament average or finished within five shots of the leader in any of her last five tournaments.
  • She finished 1-over relative to par the only time she made the cut.

Isabella Fierro at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G

  • Pinnacle Country Club measures 6,438 yards for this tournament, 591 yards shorter than the average course on the Tour over the past year (7,029).
  • Players have recorded 69.25 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.
  • The average course Fierro has played over the last year (6,617 yards) is 179 yards longer than the course she’ll be playing this week (6,438 yards).
  • Over the past year, the events she’s played have a scoring average of -3 among finishers, which is higher than the -8 average at this course.

Want to make sure you don’t miss Fierro in action at the 2024 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G? Sign up for Fubo and get live sports and shows, without cable!

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/t3PZB0w
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Alexandra Forsterling tee times, live stream, TV coverage | Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G, September 27-29

Alexandra Forsterling tee times, live stream, TV coverage | Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G, September 27-29

The 2024 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, AR is taking place September 27-29, and Alexandra Forsterling is one of the linksmen looking to take down the tournament and secure a part of the $3,000,000.00 purse.

Forsterling has played in 14 tournaments in the past 12 months. Her best finish was 27th, her average finish was 47th, and she posted the best score of the day zero times.

Keep reading for all the information you need to know about Forsterling before the the 2024 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G, including how to catch the action live on TV or via live stream.

Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G TV channel and live stream info

Alexandra Forsterling Tee Time

  • Round 1: 2:54 PM ET

Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G coverage on Fubo and Peacock

Want to catch LPGA Tour events all season long without cable? Sign up for Peacock Premium to access select LPGA events, plus tons of other live sports and shows! 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.

Alexandra Forsterling stats and recent trends

  • In her last five appearances, Forsterling has an average finish of 50th.
  • In the last five times she’s played a tournament, she has made the cut four times.
  • Forsterling has not finished within five shots of the winner or posted a better-than-average score in any of her last five appearances.
  • She has finished with an average score of 4 those four times she’s made the cut.

Alexandra Forsterling at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G

  • Pinnacle Country Club will play at 6,438 yards for this event. Over the past year, the Tour has normally played on longer courses, with an average distance of 7,029.
  • Over the last year, Tour stops have seen an average score of -5, while Pinnacle Country Club has a recent scoring average of -8.
  • The courses Forsterling has played over the past year have an average distance of 6,580 yards, while Pinnacle Country Club will play at 6,438 yards this week.
  • Events she’s played over the past year have seen players average a score of -1 relative to par. That’s higher than this course, which has a scoring average of -8.

Want to make sure you don’t miss Forsterling in action at the 2024 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G? Sign up for Fubo and get live sports and shows, without cable!

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/t3PZB0w
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Golfweek staff predictions for Thursday's four-ball session at 2024 Presidents Cup

Golfweek staff predictions for Thursday's four-ball session at 2024 Presidents Cup

To borrow a phrase of famed boxing ring announcer Michael Buffer, let’s get ready to rumble!

Canada’s Mike Weir, the International Team captain, is the Wayne Gretzky of golf and he’s determined to win the Presidents Cup on home soil, something he and his teammates failed to do the last time the biennial competition was held at Royal Montreal Golf Club near Montreal. Meanwhile, Jim Furyk isn’t concerned with the fact the U.S. have a 12-1-1 lifetime record in the competition; he just wants to make sure the U.S. side wins for a 10th straight time.

The drama begins Thursday morning at 11:35 a.m. ET with five Four-Ball matches and there were some surprising captains’ choices. We break break down each match, make our predictions and take our best guess at who might be leading after the opening session of the 2024 Presidents Cup.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/t3PZB0w
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'I’m forever grateful!': Solheim Cup stalwart and 3-time LPGA winner Ally Ewing announces retirement

'I’m forever grateful!': Solheim Cup stalwart and 3-time LPGA winner Ally Ewing announces retirement

On Wednesday, three-time LPGA winner Ally Ewing announced her retirement on Instagram. This comes less than two weeks after Ewing and Team USA beat the Europeans at the 2024 Solheim Cup, 15½-12½.

“I’m forever grateful! Thank you to the LPGA and many many others,” her caption read.

She will finish out the season and is in the field for this week’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.

Ewing, 31, won the 2022 Kroger Queen City Championship, the 2021 Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play and the 2020 LPGA Drive On Championship since her rookie year in 2016.

The 19th-ranked player in the world represented the United States on four occasions at the Solheim Cup (2019, 2021, 2023 and 2024), compiling a 3-12-1 record.

Ewing isn’t the only member of the U.S. squad calling it quits, as Lexi Thompson announced her retirement earlier this year.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/t3PZB0w
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Does experience matter at the Presidents Cup? The Internationals have a huge advantage over the Americans, if so

Does experience matter at the Presidents Cup? The Internationals have a huge advantage over the Americans, if so

Does experience matter at the Presidents Cup? It can’t hurt.

When it comes to this year’s biennial bash, which begins Thursday at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Canada, there’s a stark advantage for the International team in terms of experience in the competition between the United States and rest of the world, excluding Europe.

Of the 12 golfers on the American team, four of them are rookies, and the remaining eight have 11 combined appearances at the Presidents Cup. This week, Adam Scott will make his 11th start in the competition.

With stalwarts like Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth not competing, there are some new faces for the Americans, like Sahith Theegala and Wyndham Clark, the latter of who competed in Rome last year in his first team competition.

For the Internationals, however, three players have competed in at least four Presidents Cups, and they have only two rookies in 2024, including Canadian Mackenzie Hughes.

Presidents Cup: Tournament hub | How to watch

With the Americans owning a 12-1-1 advantage in the competition, it’s hard to say experience does matter, but perhaps this year can be when the International team gets an overdue victory.

Here’s a look at past records for every 2024 Presidents Cup competitor in Montreal.

Americans

Player Times played Overall record
Scottie Scheffler 1 0-3-1
Xander Schauffele 2 6-3-0
Collin Morikawa 1 2-1-0
Wyndham Clark 0 Rookie
Patrick Cantlay 2 6-3-0
Sahith Theegala 0 Rookie
Sam Burns 1 0-3-2
Tony Finau 2 3-2-3
Russell Henley 0 Rookie
Keegan Bradley 1 2-2-1
Brian Harman 0 Rookie
Max Homa 1 4-0-0

Internationals

Player Times played Overall record
Hideki Matsuyama 5 7-10-5
Sungjae Im 2 5-3-2
Adam Scott 10 18-25-6
Tom Kim 1 2-3-0
Byeong Hun An 1 5-11-4
Jason Day 4 1-2-2
Corey Conners 1 0-4-0
Min Woo Lee 0 Rookie
Christiaan Bezuidenhout 1 1-0-1
Taylor Pendrith 1 0-4-0
Si Woo Kim 2 4-3-0
Mackenzie Hughes 0 Rookie

 

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/sG3l62Q
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TaylorMade releases collegiate MG4 wedges and TP5 balls

TaylorMade releases collegiate MG4 wedges and TP5 balls

The college football season is only about a month old, but it has already created more twists and turns than a 20-foot birdie putt at Augusta National, which, in case you are unaware, is only about two hours from Sanford Stadium where the No. 1 University of Georgia plays.

Whether you are cheering for the Bulldogs, the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Texas Longhorns, the Miami Hurricanes, the Michigan Wolverines or a host of other schools, TaylorMade has just released some college-logoed gear you might want in your bag: MG4 wedges and TP5 golf balls.

The Collegiate MG4 wedges are identical to the standard MG4 wedges but have been designed with the logos of several big schools, including Clemson, UConn, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, LSU, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, North Carolina and Miami (FL).

TaylorMade Collegiate MG4 wedges

TaylorMade Collegiate MG4 wedges. (TaylorMade)

Available in 52, 56 and 60-degree versions with True Temper Dynamic Gold 120 steel shafts and Golf Pride Tour Velvet grips for $229.99 each (right-hand only).

TaylorMade is also offering Collegiate version of the 2024 TP5 Pix balls that feature the logo of Alabama, North Carolina, Michigan, Georgia and Texas for $64.99

TaylorMade Collegiate TP5 golf balls

TaylorMade Collegiate TP5 golf balls are available for many large schools. (TaylorMade

Finally, golfers who want to support their school can also now get Collegiate 2024 TP5 or TP5x for $59.99. These balls are available for Air Force, Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Army, Auburn, BYU, Cincinnati, Clemson, Colorado, Creighton, Delaware, ECU, FAU, Florida, Florida State, Fresno State, Georgetown, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Gonzaga, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Marshall, Maryland, Miami (FL), Miami (OH), Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, Montana, Navy, Nebraska, New Mexico State, North Carolina, NC State, Northwestern, NYU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, Pepperdine, Pitt, Providence, Purdue, Rice, Richmond, St. John’s, St. Joseph’s, San Diego State, South Carolina, South Florida, Southern Illinois, Stanford, Syracuse, TCU, Tennessee, Texas, Texas State, Texas Tech, UCF, UConn, UNLV, Utah, Utah State, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Virginia, Wake Forest, Washington, Washington State and West Virginia.

All of the Collegiate MG4 wedges, TP5 Pix and TP5 balls are available on taylormadegolf.com.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/sG3l62Q
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Photos: Presidents Cup golfers and wives take on red carpet at the gala in Montreal

Photos: Presidents Cup golfers and wives take on red carpet at the gala in Montreal

The red carpet is out in Montreal.

The 2024 Presidents Cup begins Thursday at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Canada, but Tuesday night was one for formal attire. Players and captains, along with their wives and girlfriends, took to the red carpet for the Presidents Cup gala.

Members of the United States and International teams donned their finest gear at The Ring, a sculpture in Montreal.

In the competition, the Americans lead the all-time standings at 12-1-1. The Internationals are looking for their first win since 1998.

Presidents Cup: Tournament hub

Take a look at some of the best photos from the 2024 Presidents Cup opening gala.

Source: Golfweek https://ift.tt/sG3l62Q
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