Day: August 31, 2020

Horse racing leaders move to set national safety standardsHorse racing leaders move to set national safety standards

Looking to halt doping scandals and horse deaths marring their sport, thoroughbred racing leaders Monday announced the launch of an integrity and safety authority to create national standards replacing the patchwork of state regulations overseeing the industry. The authority will help set industry-wide standards for medication use, track surfaces and other safety standards to protect thoroughbreds and their riders and ensure the sport’s integrity. The long-discussed initiative will be backed by federal legislation to be introduced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

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Padres get Clevinger from Indians in 5th trade in 3 daysPadres get Clevinger from Indians in 5th trade in 3 days

The contending San Diego Padres acquired Mike Clevinger in a multiplayer deal with the Cleveland Indians on Monday, bolstering their rotation with another bold move ahead of baseball’s trade deadline. San Diego got Clevinger, outfielder Greg Allen and a player to be named from Cleveland for a package of young players that included outfielder Josh Naylor, right-hander Cal Quantrill and catcher Austin Hedges.

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PGA TOUR and ZOZO Inc. announce ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP will move to Sherwood Country Club in California in OctoberPGA TOUR and ZOZO Inc. announce ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP will move to Sherwood Country Club in California in October

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – PGA TOUR and ZOZO Inc. officials today announced that the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP will not be played in Japan as scheduled this October but will instead move to Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California Oct. 22-25, 2020. Due to unprecedented challenges and the unique circumstances which led to the move to the United States, officials said the tournament will be known as the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD this year. Last October, the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP was launched as Japan's first official PGA TOUR tournament at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Chiba. Tiger Woods emerged victorious following a three-shot victory over Hideki Matsuyama and tied the all-time record of 82 PGA TOUR victories held by Sam Snead. "The PGA TOUR is grateful that ZOZO Inc. has partnered with us to host the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD this October," said Ty Votaw, PGA TOUR Executive Vice President, International. "Considering ZOZO Inc.'s main business is in Japan, the decision to hold its event in the U.S. underscores their commitment and support towards our sport, communities where we play and the PGA TOUR. We are truly thankful for our partnership with ZOZO Inc. and the Japan Golf Tour Organization." Votaw added: "Following last year's successful launch, our players will no doubt be disappointed to miss traveling to Japan to play in the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP this year, but we look forward to returning in 2021. Through the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD, we are excited to showcase another strong field and deliver world-class golf to fans in the U.S., Japan and around the world." President & CEO, Kotaro Sawada, ZOZO, Inc. said: “It is unfortunate that we are unable to have the PGA TOUR stars in Japan this year and we're sorry to the faithful Japanese fans who have been eagerly waiting to welcome the players back to Japan and to see them back out on the course. However, we are pleased to be able to host this year’s ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP in the U.S. at the acclaimed Sherwood Country Club. During this difficult time, we look forward to dedicating this year's tournament not just to the fans in Japan, but to fans around the world. We are proud to be able to provide an opportunity for the players to compete and our team will continue to work closely with the PGA TOUR to stage a world-class event this October." The ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD will now be part of a three-event swing on the West Coast in October as part of the early 2020-21 PGA TOUR Schedule: the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas, Nevada (Oct. 8-11); THE CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK in Las Vegas, Nevada (Oct. 15-18); and the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD to be held at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California (Oct. 22-25). The ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD will feature 78 professionals, including the leading players from the 2019-20 FedExCup points list, players designated by the Japan Golf Tour Organization and sponsor exemptions. In addition to the US$8 million purse, ZOZO, Inc. is planning various charity activities in Japan, the proceeds from which will be donated to fund programs and measures to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus among other things. Sherwood Country Club is a Jack Nicklaus Signature designed golf course and has hosted numerous PGA TOUR-sanctioned events in the past, including the Greg Norman hosted-Shark Shootout, World Challenge hosted by Tiger Woods and a PGA TOUR Champions event. Woods also played David Duval in an exhibition billed as the "Showdown at Sherwood" in 1999, which Woods won 2&1. "Sherwood Country Club and its Members are honored to host this year's ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD and welcome golf's greatest players as our guests for the week. We are greatly appreciative to ZOZO Inc. for this unique privilege. Our staff throughout the club are excitedly preparing the club in anticipation of this extraordinary event and look forward to once again working closely with the PGA TOUR. Sherwood's scenic Jack Nicklaus Signature design will provide an exceptional background for a memorable week of golf during an unforgettable time," says Rob Oosterhuis, PGA, General Manager and CEO of Sherwood Country Club.

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Power Rankings: TOUR ChampionshipPower Rankings: TOUR Championship

Remember who won the 2019 TOUR Championship? Of course you do. That's because Rory McIlroy was the FedExCup champion. It's the new norm of the FedExCup Playoffs. Whoever prevails in 72 holes at East Lake Golf Club will go into the annals as the 14th winner of the FedExCup. The Starting Strokes scoring system returns this year. For a review of how the format debuted, what the field of 30 can anticipate inside the ropes when the tournament begins on Friday, Sept. 4, and more, continue reading beneath the ranking. NOTE: This full-field Power Rankings includes starting score for every golfer in the field. RELATED: The First Look | Inside the Field POWER RANKINGS: TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP Opening score in relation to par for each of the 30 qualifiers for the TOUR Championship is a reflection of respective value entering the finale of the 2019-20 PGA TOUR season. For the uninitiated fan, the feeling is like starting a tournament with one round already complete. Despite the advantage of a head start, there are still 72 holes to play to determine the result and there is no cut. And that's not insignificant. Consider that in just the 13 tournaments since the season resumed in June, only four winners either led outright or co-led entering the final round. No matter the iteration of the Playoffs format, when McIlroy prevailed here last year, he became the 10th consecutive FedExCup champion who didn't begin the TOUR Championship as the top seed. It's a stretch that included the first time he won the FedExCup in 2016. Tiger Woods (2007, 2009) is the only other multiple FedExCup champion, but he was the top seed in advance of both of his finales. Last year, McIlroy seeded fifth and with an opening score of 5-under. Combined with his actual 72-hole total of 13-under 267, he finished with a score of 18-under, four lower than runner-up Xander Schauffele, who started at 4-under as the 8-seed. Top seed Justin Thomas opened 10-under and finished T3 after completing 72 holes in just 3-under 277. Among other notables in the context of opening position, 2-seed Patrick Cantlay started at 8-under, shot 9-over 289 and finished T21 at 1-over. Paul Casey, who started 16th at 2-under, finished alone in fifth, while Dustin Johnson, who started 14th and one stroke lower, tied for last. The highest finish among the fivesome who started at even was Bryson DeChambeau. His aggregate of 4-under 276 was good for a T12. The 2020 version of DeChambeau is the poster boy for how to tackle East Lake; that is, hit it long and find it, even in primary rough clipped at two-and-a-half inches. Rees Jones' redesign(s) of Donald Ross' renovation of Tom Bendelow's creation is a firm, fair par 70 that tips at 7,346 yards, and it's been the only host of the Playoffs finale. Already for the fifth consecutive edition, the nines are reversed, so the old par-3 finisher is the ninth. No. 18 is a par-5 measuring 590 yards. The greens are a little larger than average and the par 5s annually rank among the easiest sets of all courses. With seven birdies and a par on the sixth and 18th holes last year, McIlroy led the field in par-5 scoring at 4.13, but DJ ranked T5 at 4.38, so he didn't compensate on the 16 holes that aren't par 5s played four times each. That reinforces the premium of ball-striking around East Lake. En route to victory, McIlroy ranked T3 in fairways hit, T5 in greens in regulation and led the field in both Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee and Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green. In a small field, it's more about creating scoring opportunities (and limiting big numbers) than it is about going low, especially on a course that averaged 70.033 last year, closest to par of every course last season. As long as its managed in moderation, putting is secondary and likely won't define the champion. MiniVerde bermudagrass putting surfaces are on the slicker side at 13 feet on the Stimpmeter, and they'll have a terrific chance of maintaining the speed, even in the predictably hot and humid conditions in store. After two days with highs in the lower 90s and only a chance of rain, a system will make its presence known by Sunday's third round. Daytime highs will drop as much as 10 degrees through Labor Day. Wind might impact club selection for a short period of time with the cooling, but that's barely worth the mention. All earnings at the TOUR Championship are classified as unofficial bonus money, but the winner of the tournament will be credited with an official PGA TOUR victory. All qualifiers will be treated to carte-blanche scheduling throughout the 2020-21 season. Included in the perks for advancing to the finale are exemptions into the Masters, the U.S. Open, The Open Championship and the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship in 2021. Also, for this season only, each is exempt into the Sentry Tournament of Champions. ROB BOLTON'S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM's Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled. MONDAY: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Fantasy Insider * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM's Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which also publishes on Tuesday.

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