Day: October 24, 2019

Leaderboard: Zozo Championship first roundLeaderboard: Zozo Championship first round

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Cameron Champ’s grandfather Mack passes away at 78Cameron Champ’s grandfather Mack passes away at 78

Mack “Popsâ€� Champ, who was in hospice care in Sacramento, California, when his grandson Cameron delivered an emotional victory at the Safeway Open last month, has died at 78. The cause was cancer. The connection between grandfather and grandson took center stage at the Safeway in Napa as Cameron prevailed for his second PGA TOUR victory, earning a spot in the upcoming Sentry Tournament of Champions and The Masters Tournament, which will be his first. Cameron’s parents are not golfers, and it was Mack who taught him the game. RELATED: How Champ’s grandfather paved the way Cameron called his grandfather, “The most loving man I know.â€� Mack Champ was introduced to the game when his oldest brother, Clyde, found a rod and bent it into an L shape before taping up the grip for their first golf club. They hit balls in the open fields by the railroad tracks near their home, as they weren’t allowed on the course except as caddies. Although he lived through racial discrimination as he grew up in Columbus, Texas, about 75 miles west of Houston, Mack didn’t let it dim his outlook. “It’s not where you come from,â€� he said, “it’s where you’re going.â€� (Cameron had the words stamped on his wedges.)  Not allowed to play on the nine-hole course where he caddied for 75 cents a loop, he would take up golf in the Air Force, at courses and driving ranges in Germany and England. He taught himself the swing in part by reading “Sam Snead’s Natural Golf.â€� His son Jeff was a minor-league baseball player – a catcher – but Cameron was a golfer. Mack, who got close to scratch while playing overseas, bought Cameron his first golf clubs and recognized his talent. They hit Whiffle balls over Mack’s house. Mack also caddied for a teen-age Cameron at the PURE Insurance Championship, a PGA TOUR Champions event that incorporates members from The First Tee. It was toward the end of last season when Jeff told Cameron that Mack had cancer. After the season, Jeff revealed that it was Stage IV. Chemo gave Mack some time, but when he stopped being able to keep down food and water, he knew the end was coming. “One day he called me and said, ‘I’m ready,’â€� Jeff said. After his emotional win at the Safeway, where he wrote “POPSâ€� on his shoes and golf balls and led the field in driving distance, Cameron dedicated the win to his grandfather. “I think it was just kind of meant to be,â€� he said.

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Gary Woodland makes statement at ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIPGary Woodland makes statement at ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP

Tiger Woods doesn’t have to look far to find a hot player for one of his four captain’s picks for the U.S. Presidents Cup Team that will play the Internationals at Royal Melbourne in December. Gary Woodland, the guy right next to him atop the leaderboard at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP. RELATED: Leaderboard | Woods rebounds from slow start to share lead “I mean, obviously, I’m off next week, so I can think about that next week,� said Woodland, the reigning U.S. Open champion, who shot one of just two bogey-free rounds in tricky winds at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Chiba, Japan. “Right now I’m just trying to continue the golf tournament, give myself a chance on Sunday. “He knows how much I want to be on that team,� Woodland added. “I’ve talked to him about it. So for me, I’ll just go out and play well and everything will take care of itself.� Woods will make his four captain’s picks, as will International Captain Ernie Els, on Nov. 4. Woodland hasn’t made much noise since he won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach in June, but there were bigger things in play. After experiencing complications and tragically losing one of their two twins in 2017, his wife, Gabby, gave birth to identical twin girls in August. The U.S. Open champ narrowly missed qualifying for the Presidents Cup on points, and finished a lackluster T55 at his season-opening start at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. Tee-to-green issues lingered after creeping into his game for the latter half of last season. Still, it was assumed that the 35-year-old Kansan was a favorite for one of Woods’ picks. (As is Woods himself.) At 7,041-yard, par-70 Accordia in the first round, Woodland only strengthened his case. He led the field with a 1.39 putting average, and he and Woods shot identical 64s on a day when the field average was over par (71.155). Several big names struggled. Reigning FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy, making his first start of the new season, shot 72. Jason Day came in with 73, as did countryman Adam Scott. Jordan Spieth shot 74. Justin Thomas, coming off a victory at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, shot 1-under 70. Woodland, encouraged by his 65-66 weekend and T3 finish at THE CJ CUP, kept right on going. His lackluster tee-to-green play after the U.S. Open now seems to be a thing of the past. “I worked so hard on short game I kind of lost ball-striking a little bit,� he said. “After Vegas, I put a lot of work in; the ball-striking’s coming back where I want it. I’ve got to rely on that, and when I putt it well, good things will happen.�

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