The swap between Arizona and Los Angeles was interesting and could provide a notable boost in value for Tobias Rieder.
Here are nine tidbits from the first round of The Honda Classic that gamers can use tomorrow, this weekend or down the road. Be looking for the Emergency 9 shortly after the close of play of each round of the tournament. Know Thy Enemy These were the top-10 picked golfers in the PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO. People’s Choice No champion has defended at the Champion Course at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida but that didn’t stop you all from making the 2017 champ the No. 1 selection above. Usually posting 71 on a par-70 layout in round one isn’t anything to write home about. With the wind blowing and the greens a bit crusty, T36 with a round OVER par isn’t the end of the world (T36). There were only 20 players in red figures in round one. Morning Show Another week, another Alex Noren sighting as the Swede is having little trouble adapting to TOUR courses. His 66 (-4) in the morning wave included five birdies against only one bogey. After the round he suggested on television that the key was an “iron paradise”. He’s fifth in strokes-gained: approach-the-green and was also fourth in strokes-gained: putting. Nice combo. Â Afternoon Edition Webb Simpson matched Noren’s score, total birdies and bogeys in the afternoon wave as they share the lead after 18 holes on 66 (-4). Simpson is making his first appearance here since 2011 and had only one previous round of eight in red figures (67). He leads the tournament in strokes-gained: putting. Wood(s)land Tiger Woods ground out a round of even-par in the early wave. I’m not sure what’s going on here as gamers made him only the 17th-most selected player in the PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO after he was the 13th-most selected last week. I guess the MC scared a few off but today’s round of even-par should rekindle some interest. If he’s on your bench, you have a very difficult decision for tomorrow afternoon but the way he hit it tee-to-green today has the arrows pointing up! … Gary Woodland has never missed in five tries including cashing T2 last year and T6 in 2011. Of his previous 19 rounds entering the week, 10 were par or better. He sits T69 (+3) but hit 10 of 14 fairways and 12 of 18 GIR so I’m sticking around for round 2. Worry? Who Me? If the wind blows all day again like it did on Thursday, I’m going to suggest that +3 should find the weekend comfortably. The forecast suggests even breezier conditions for Friday morning with a slight decrease later in the afternoon. Remember, since 2013 only three players have posted all four rounds in the 60’s so don’t let one in the black get you down. Morgan Hoffmann, who shot 67 in round one (T3) did it last year as he tied second. Justin Thomas, who also shot 67, performed the feat two years ago as he took home T3 cash. Ryan Palmer’s quartet of 60’s saw him enter a playoff quartet in 2014 that was eventually won by Russell Henley. Â Collateral Damage Rory McIlroy, who made a double-bogey seven on his final hole to drop from T21 to T56, gave some interesting thoughts last week at Riviera regarding playing with Woods. He suggested the “circus” which surrounds him in the gallery each time he plays is a “two-shot disadvantage”. The Twitter-verse suggested today that the galleries following today were larger than both Torrey Pines and Riviera. Woods was even today but his playing partners, Brandt Snedeker and Patton Kizzire, both carded 74 (+4). Â The “Nappy Factor” Conundrum Mac Hughes opened with 69 last year and eventually collected for T66 in his first appearance. This year his opening round 67 included a run of six birdies in seven holes on the front nine after firing two-over-par on his first nine, the back nine. He bogeyed his last hole to sit one behind the leaders. Hughes, whose wife gave birth to their first child in late October, entered the week without a paycheck in eight events this season. There’s always an exception to any rule! Study Hall There were only two, bogey-free rounds on the day as Daniel Berger (T3) and Adam Schenk (T12) shared that honor. … Bud Cauley posted 80 and WD as he cited a bothersome wrist … Martin Kaymer also cited a wrist issue as he hung it up after his 75. According to Kaymer’s Twitter feed, this is his first in-tournament WD in his career. At No. 82 in the OWGR we won’t have to worry about whether or not he’s playing in the WGC-Mexico Championship next week. … Danny Lee walked off the course with three holes remaining as he told officials he was dealing with a family issue. Thoughts and prayers for the Lee family at this time.
SAN ANTONIO – 2017 champion Kevin Chappell returned to San Antonio today to participate in the Valero Texas Open’s annual Media Day and is among a list of early player commitments announced by tournament officials for the 2018 Valero Texas Open, scheduled for April 19-22 at TPC San Antonio’s AT&T Oaks Course. Sergio Garcia, the 2017 Masters champion and currently ranked 11th in the world, has committed and will be making his first start in the Valero Texas Open since 2010. The Spaniard has won 10 times on the PGA TOUR, including THE PLAYERS twice and 36 times worldwide. Garcia has played on eight European Ryder Cup teams since 1999 and has rarely fallen out of the top 15 in the world since 2000. Chappell is currently ranked 36th in the Official World Golf Ranking and 42nd in the FedExCup standings. He’s one of seven champions of the past decade committed to the third oldest PGA TOUR event on the schedule. Among them is World No. 23 Charley Hoffman (2016), 2016 PGA Champion Jimmy Walker (2015), Steven Bowditch (2014), Martin Laird (2013), Brendan Steele (2011) and two-time major champion Zach Johnson (2008, 2009) The tournament has also received commitments from World No. 17 and Olympic bronze medalist Matt Kuchar; World No. 21 Brian Harman; 2017 U.S. Ryder Cup captain, past FedExCup champion and major champion Jim Furyk; 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell; two-time major champions Martin Kaymer and Retief Goosen; 2009 Open Championship winner Stewart Cink; FedExCup champions Billy Horschel and Brandt Snedeker as well as five-time PGA TOUR winner Ryan Moore and four-time PGA TOUR winners J.B. Holmes and Camilo Villegas. Chappell sank an eight-foot birdie putt in front of a huge crowd on the final hole Sunday for a one-stroke victory over 2017 U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka, who was warming up on the range for a possible playoff. It was Chappell’s first PGA TOUR victory. Chappell finished tied for fourth in the 2016 tournament and now has three top-five finishes, including a runner-up in 2011, in his eight starts in San Antonio. “Prior to coming to San Antonio last year, Kevin had finished in a tie for 7th at the Masters and certainly was playing some great golf. His dramatic finish here marked the second consecutive year we had the winning putt occur on the final hole, adding more lore to our historic event,â€� Executive Director Larson Segerdahl said. “We look forward to seeing Kevin defend his title against the likes of Sergio Garcia, Matt Kuchar and other top PGA TOUR players this April.â€� Joaquin Niemann, the top-ranked amateur player in the world, has accepted a sponsor exemption to play in the tournament. Niemann, a 19-year-old from Chile, will turn pro after this year’s Masters, where he earned an exemption for winning the Latin American Amateur Championship last month. “We are excited to have this incredible young talent in our field this year,â€� Segerdahl said. “We have always prided ourselves on providing opportunities to promising young players and we look forward to seeing Joaquin use his start in the Valero Texas Open as a stepping stone to earning his PGA TOUR card.â€� This initial collection of players has accumulated eleven major championships and 106 PGA TOUR wins. Players have until Friday, April 13 at 5 p.m. ET to commit to the Valero Texas Open. They can withdraw from the tournament at any time.
The months of waiting are finally over — there are 15 baseball games on Friday. There’ll be plenty to watch for when almost all of the 30 teams take the field for their Cactus and Grapefruit League openers.
With the first Spring Training game finally being played this week, there are sure to be players who emerge with breakout performances to win an Opening Day roster spot. MLB.com takes a crack at predicting which dark horse candidates across the league could make their team out of camp.
Larry Nance Jr. announced Thursday night that the NBA has worked it out so he can switch from No. 24 to his father’s retired No. 22 with the Cavaliers. Larry Nance Sr.’s jersey was retired by the Cavaliers in 1995.
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays prospect Brent Honeywell left the mound during a live batting practice session with what the team diagnosed as a right forearm strain.
In the aftermath of allegations of harassment toward employees in the Mavericks organization, the NBA is instituting a confidential hotline for team and league employees to register concerns of improper conduct, according to a memo obtained by ESPN.
Doctors reportedly cleared the prized Missouri freshman for all basketball activities on Thursday. Now he must decide whether to risk his NBA draft stock by playing.
The New York Knicks will start Emmanuel Mudiay at point guard Thursday night against the Orlando Magic.
