Day: March 6, 2019

Justin Rose returns to PGA TOUR competition after four-week breakJustin Rose returns to PGA TOUR competition after four-week break

March 6, 2019March 6, 2019| 18:56

ORLANDO – Justin Rose has won at Jack’s place, the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, in 2010. He won Tiger’s tournament, the Quicken Loans National, in 2014. Now the defending FedExCup champion returns to the PGA TOUR to try and take care of unfinished business at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. Rose was third at Bay Hill a year ago, his fifth top-10 finish at Palmer’s tournament, and comes in especially rested this time around. The last time we saw the 38-year-old Englishman, picking up his 10th TOUR win at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, was Jan. 27. “I had four weeks off at home,â€� Rose said, “just purposefully just sort of putting some gas back in the tank. Really sort of counteracting a lot of travel and the back end of last season, and certainly winning in San Diego kind of helped make that little break feel justified, in a way. “It’s always nice to—it’s tough to take time off when you’re way behind on the FedExCup and guys are earning points left right and center,â€� he added, “but to get those points under the belt early in the season made this time off, this planned time off, feel a little less stressful in a way.â€� Any way you look at it, Rose has come close to winning at Bay Hill, with seven top-15 finishes since 2006. Last year he was close to the winner, paired with Rory McIlroy for the final round. If Rose’s progression at Bay Hill mirrors the progression of his career, a slow, steady rise to the top, then it seems logical to assume he’ll soon raise the trophy—perhaps as early as Sunday. He should have fresh legs. He disconnected from the TOUR during his four-week break, but not completely. He was not unaware of Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka winning and finishing T2 at the World Golf Championship-Mexico Championship and The Honda Classic, respectively. The three have jockeyed for the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking, which could change hands again this week.   “I generally look at the PGA TOUR app on the Sunday,â€� Rose said, “and then if it’s getting interesting I might watch the last three or four holes of the telecast to see what’s going on.â€� He’s not watching like the average fan, though. “I like to watch golf when I can get an insight into the competitors that I’m facing,â€� he said, “and really you only learn that down the stretch on a Sunday, so that’s when I tune in just to see how guys are handling it and the business end of things.â€� Vacation is over, and Rose says he’s beginning “a block of workâ€� that will start at the Arnold Palmer, pick up speed at THE PLAYERS Championship, and move on to the WGC-Dell Match Play (his first start there since 2016) and the Masters Tournament. For Rose, the business end of things starts now.

Click here to read the full article…

Read MoreRead More

Style Insider: Fowler’s gear for the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard is fit for a KingStyle Insider: Fowler’s gear for the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard is fit for a King

March 6, 2019March 6, 2019| 16:46

Rickie Fowler has a history of honoring people and places with his fashion choices. For the first round of the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, he rocked a pair of plus-fours as a tribute to Payne Stewart, who captured the 1999 U.S. Open at the historic venue. At the 2018 Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, Fowler donned an untucked Aloha shirt. The last two years at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, Rickie honored Arnold Palmer’s life and career with special footwear, apparel, and accessories. This year, Fowler has teamed up with Puma and the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation on an updated range of gear that once again serves as a tip of the cap to the King. Throughout the week, Rickie will sport custom Puma Arnold Palmer ‘P’ Hats and Limited Edition IGNITE PROADAPT Shoes. Joe Skovron, Fowler’s caddie, will tote a custom stand bag created by Cobra and Vessel. Puma’s snapback ‘P’ caps have been Fowler’s favorites over the last two seasons. The special edition versions for the Arnold Palmer Invitational are available in white, white/green, and pink, Palmer’s go-to color. On the front of the hat, Palmer’s iconic red, yellow, white and green Umbrella logo offers a bit of shade for the ‘P’ design. From the top to the bottom of Rickie’s look; Fowler will lace up a limited-edition version of his new the IGNITE PROADAPT kicks from Puma. This new model for 2019 combines the sophistication of a traditional golf shoe with the comfort of a sneaker. The custom design features Palmer’s Umbrella logo in a “dancing� pattern on the heel and the interior of the shoe. Custom pink sockliners include the Umbrella logo along with a famous quote from Palmer, “I never felt like I didn’t have a chance to win.� The shoe is further adorned with a green Puma formstripe, Cat logo, and heel. The limited edition stand bag is the result of a collaboration between Cobra and Vessel. It is designed with all the features of a Tour Staff bag at a fraction of the weight. Again, the Umbrella logo is prominently displayed throughout the white and green design. A limited number of Fowler’s custom Arnold Palmer items are available at select retailers, giving fans the chance to join Rickie in honoring Mr. Palmer. Additionally, a small quantity of the custom caps, stand bags and shoes, personally autographed by Fowler, will be available for purchase at pumagolf.com, with 100% of sales supporting the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation.

Click here to read the full article…

Read MoreRead More

Disposable Heroes: Why does the NFL no longer value free-agent safeties?Disposable Heroes: Why does the NFL no longer value free-agent safeties?

March 6, 2019March 6, 2019| 16:22

The safety position has changed a lot through NFL history. Once upon a time, there were free safeties to covered intermediate to deep receivers, and strong safeties to hung around the box and attacked running backs when they got past defensive linemen and linebackers. That’s still true to a point

Click here to read the full article…

Read MoreRead More

Three share pole position for new Arnold Palmer Award/Rookie of the YearThree share pole position for new Arnold Palmer Award/Rookie of the Year

March 6, 2019March 6, 2019| 16:00

ORLANDO – A few weeks ago, Martin Trainer couldn’t have imagined he would be vying for an award with Arnold Palmer’s name on it. Then he won the Puerto Rico Open to become the third rookie with a victory so far this season, after Cameron Champ (Sanderson Farms Championship) and Adam Long (Desert Classic). And on Monday, Trainer, like everyone else, got an e-mail with the news that the PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year award was being renamed the Arnold Palmer Award. “It’s pretty cool to have his name associated with it because he’s such a legend,â€� Trainer said as he took a break from his preparations for this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. “I haven’t seen the trophy. How is it?â€� Answer: Like everything else Palmer, it’s pretty cool. Champ, Long and Trainer are among the 122 players at Bay Hill Club & Lodge gearing up to play one of the biggest tournaments of the season even as they process the Palmer legacy. The swagger. The cool factor. The 62 TOUR wins. And with Palmer’s name on the top-rookie award, he’s even more top-of-mind for those vying for the newly renamed honorific. “He won his final one where I won my first one,â€� Long said of their shared connection to the Desert Classic as he toured the Arnold Palmer Experience, a museum-like activation at Bay Hill. Long and Palmer are also linked by the Arnold Palmer Invitational: Long first attended the API as a fan when he was 11 or 12, and Palmer signed his hat. Aaron Wise, last year’s Rookie of the Year, also toured the Arnold Palmer Experience on Tuesday. So did Robert Gamez, who won the first Rookie of the Year award in 1990 after winning two tournaments, including what was then called the Nestle Invitational at Bay Hill. He checked out Palmer’s trophies and medals, watched some of his most famous shots. “I think it’s going to be a great thing for the award, and for the TOUR,â€� Gamez said. Fellow API competitors Daniel Berger (2015), Keegan Bradley (2011), Ernie Els (1994), Rickie Fowler (2010), Chesson Hadley (2014), Charles Howell III (2001), Marc Leishman (2009), Vijay Singh (1993) and Brandt Snedeker (2007) have also won the Palmer/ROY award. This season’s three rookie winners have all impressed in different ways. Champ, 23, has wowed with his booming drives and leads the list at 19th in the FedExCup. Long, 31, impressed even Phil Mickelson, one of his playing partners in the final round, as he coolly rolled in a 14-foot birdie to win the Desert Classic. He’s 24th in the FedExCup. Then there’s Trainer, 27, who is perhaps the streakiest player of the group. He has six missed cuts in 10 starts this season, but when he’s on, he makes it count. He won twice on the Web.com Tour last season, and his victory in Puerto Rico boosted him to 49th in the FedExCup. “It’s crossed my mind a few times,â€� Trainer said of the prospect of winning the Arnold Palmer Award for top rookie. “I have a chance. It’s going to be stiff competition, obviously, and there’s still a lot of time left. It’s one of those things; you don’t really focus on it, but it exists. It’s a huge honor, obviously. You go down in history, which is kind of cool for a rookie who’s just trying to get established and stay on the PGA TOUR and make a living.â€� Long sounded a similar refrain. The biggest perk of winning, he said, was simply job security. “My schedule was looking a little bleak there for a while,â€� he said. “I wasn’t sure what events I’d play in, but we’re going to have to reevaluate a little bit of the schedule and make some decisions. I have control over that now, which I didn’t have before. “THE PLAYERS is going to be outrageous,â€� Long continued, letting his mind wander ahead one week. “I can’t wait. I mean it’s one of the biggest events of the year. I mean, it’s huge. It’s gonna be—that’s gonna be insane. It’s so cool.â€� The whole world opening up before you? Yes. Very cool. Sort of like Arnold Palmer himself.

Click here to read the full article…

Read MoreRead More