Time for Red Sox to step up after ‘inexcusable’ night at FenwayTime for Red Sox to step up after ‘inexcusable’ night at Fenway
Time for Red Sox to step up after ‘inexcusable’ night at Fenway
Day: May 2, 2017
Featured Groups: Wells Fargo ChampionshipFeatured Groups: Wells Fargo Championship
This week we head to Wilmington, North Carolina, and the sumptuous Eagle Point Golf Club, which is serving a one-year stand-in for Quail Hollow Golf Club as the host course. (Quail Hollow, in Charlotte, 220 miles to the west, will host the PGA Championship on Aug. 10-13.) Designed by Tom Fazio and opened in 2000, Eagle Point is characterized by rolling terrain, massive oak trees, hundreds of pines, meandering streams, and bright white sand—these qualities, plus its impeccable condition, have drawn early comparisons to Augusta National. Eagle Point is one of Golf Digest’s top 100 courses, and while it has never hosted a PGA TOUR event, the Port City is no stranger to professional golf. The Azalea Open at nearby Cape Fear Country Club regularly drew star-studded fields, and 60 years ago was won by Arnold Palmer. PGA TOUR LIVE is scheduled to air from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Thursday and Friday. After Featured Groups, the coverage will switch to Featured Holes at 3 p.m. ET. The Featured Holes are the 223-yard 15th, the longest par-3 on the course—which generally plays into the wind—and the signature hole, the 442-yard 17th, where a creek runs up the left side and the second shot plays uphill to a large, two-tiered green. PGA TOUR LIVE can also be viewed on Twitter (pgatourlive.twitter.com) from approximately 7 a.m. to approximately 8:15 a.m. ET Thursday and Friday. MORE: Tee times (Note: All times Eastern; FedExCup ranking in parentheses.) THURSDAY Adam Scott (78), Jim Furyk (138), Patrick Reed (97): All three players are looking to jump-start seasons that have been good but not great. Scott, a 13-time TOUR winner, is coming off an encouraging T9 at the Masters and would seem to be a good fit for the Augusta-like Eagle Point. Furyk, the winner of the 2006 Wells Fargo and runner-up in 2005 and 2014, will look to transfer his success from Quail Hollow to Eagle Point. And Reed’s T14 with partner Patrick Cantlay at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans broke a streak of three straight missed cuts. This threesome also offers a Presidents Cup preview. Reed ranks 11th in the U.S. Team’s point standings, while Scott is third in the International Team’s rankings. Furyk already has been named one of Steve Stricker’s Captain’s Assistants. Tee time: 7:45 a.m. off 10th tee Dustin Johnson (1), Davis Love (213), Bill Haas (23): Almost no one in the field has played Eagle Point, but the top-ranked Johnson, returning from a freak back injury that knocked him out of the Masters, has won in his last three starts and would seem to be a good fit for any course that has 18 holes. Love, 53, also is looking to bounce back from injuries, his most recent being a broken collarbone. Haas has been a model of consistency so far this season with seven top-20 finishes. Tee time: 7:56 a.m. off 10th tee FRIDAY Paul Casey (29), Jon Rahm (4), Wesley Bryan (15): All three players are riding hot streaks, with recent first-time winner Bryan (RBC Heritage) the latest to hoist a trophy three weeks ago at Harbour Town. Rahm also notched his first win earlier this season, at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines—one of five top-10 finishes this season, the second-most on TOUR—while Casey is clearly knocking on the door after a solo sixth at the Masters. Tee time: 7:45 a.m. off 10th tee Phil Mickelson (45), James Hahn (98), J.B. Holmes (91): Defending champion Hahn is grouped here with 2014 Wells Fargo winner Holmes, plus Hall of Famer Mickelson, who is still looking for his first TOUR win since the 2013 Open Championship. Runner-up to Rory McIlroy at the 2010 Wells Fargo, Mickelson seemed like a perennial contender at Quail Hollow. But given the numerous similarities between Augusta National and this week’s host venue, the three-time Masters winner might like Eagle Point even better. Mickelson has nine top-10s in 13 starts at this event, including four consecutive finishes of 11th or better. Tee time: 7:56 a.m. off 10th tee
2017 Wells Fargo Championship preview2017 Wells Fargo Championship preview
Dustin Johnson returns from injury as the Wells Fargo Championship moves from its normal venue to Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, NC.
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