NHL mock draft: Projections for all 32 first-round picksNHL mock draft: Projections for all 32 first-round picks
Will Shane Wright go No. 1 to the Canadiens? Do the Devils go for a forward or a blueliner? Our predictions for the first round.
Will Shane Wright go No. 1 to the Canadiens? Do the Devils go for a forward or a blueliner? Our predictions for the first round.
Will Zalatoris is 16th on TOUR in driving distance this season, averaging 312 yards per drive. He’s jumped seven spots – and five yards – in that statistic over last season. The added distance came after switching to a longer shaft in his driver at the start of the year. Now he thinks a new driver could add another half-dozen yards to his tee shots, thanks to the new TSR3 driver. Like the TSi3 he was using at the U.S. Open, the new TSR3 has 8 degrees of loft, is 45.63 inches long and is equipped with a Fujikura Speeder 661 TR X-flex shaft. The TSR3 driver is part of a family of drivers (TSR2, TSR3 and TSR4) and fairway woods (TSR2, TSR2+ and TSR3) that Titleist officially launched to PGA TOUR players at the recent Travelers Championship. Eighteen players switched into a TSR driver at Travelers and 13 switched to a TSR fairway wood. Most notably, Jordan Spieth switched into a 10-degree TSR3 driver and J.T. Poston used a 9-degree TSR3 driver in his win at last week’s 2022 John Deere Classic. Zalatoris switched into an 8-degree TSR3 driver for the Genesis Scottish Open. The tournament features 14 of the top 15 players in the world, and that includes Zalatoris, who sits 13th in the world. He is ninth in the FedExCup and sits atop the DP World TOUR Ranking thanks in large part to his success in the majors this year. After a sixth-place finish at the Masters, he was runner-up at both the PGA Championship and U.S. Open. “The first time I got to see (the TSR3) was actually at THE PLAYERS Championship,” Zalatoris told GolfWRX.com. “Immediately, I was seeing the mishits were way better. My speed is up a little bit, about 1.5 mph ball speed. Same shaft, we really didn’t change much at all, it’s just the new head. Obviously, what they did is they took the technology and expanded it throughout the face. With Titleist, I mean, we push the limits enough to where it’s basically, there’s only so much we can do, but with the mishits being that much better, you might see my driving average pop up six yards just because of the mishits going that much farther and that much straighter, too.” “Acoustics are a little bit different. I always put a lot of hot melt in my woods, because I like that kind of dull sound. We didn’t put as much in this one as the last one. It sounds a … little bit quieter. … You can hear just a slight difference. When you hit one good, it just feels so hot off the face, and especially, like I said, the mishits are the things I’m amazed by, because normally if I hit one off the heel, I might go down to about 180 mph, and I’ve been hitting a couple on the heel and I’m about 182 mph. Like I said, that’s where you’re going to see that extra six yards out of me.” In addition to the new driver, Zalatoris is also using a TSR3 16.5-degree 3-wood, equipped with a Fujikura Ventus 8 X shaft this week.
NORTH BERWICK, Scotland – Billy Horschel wasn’t surprised by the results of a recent ancestry test. Turns out nearly three-quarters of his lineage could be traced back to the British Isles. It makes sense for a man who employs an English caddie and statistician, roots for an English football club and last year picked up one of the biggest titles of his career in the same country. Horschel, the 2014 FedExCup champion, has increasingly set his sights overseas as he enters the second half of his career. The importance of overseas success was emphasized by his college coach at Florida, Buddy Alexander, and Horschel said that watching DP World Tour events in the early mornings only added to his interest. This week, he’s playing the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick. He isn’t an exception in this field, though, as the tournament is co-sanctioned by the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour. This week, 14 of the top 15 players in the world are gathered in the East Lothian region of Scotland. Horschel is one of them, having reached a career-high of 11th in the world ranking with his recent win at one of the TOUR’s three elevated invitationals, the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday, as well as last year’s wins in the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play and the DP World Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship. But he was one of just four Americans competing in Germany two weeks ago at the BMW International Open (the other three were members of the DP World Tour, and not the PGA TOUR). It wasn’t Horschel’s first trip to Europe this year, either. He came to England for a vacation in the weeks between the Masters and PGA Championship, attending two matches of his beloved West Ham United and playing golf with some of the friends he’s made in the country. Horschel said his family has lived in Florida for the past century, but he’s embraced the United Kingdom, as well. “I love that they can have a crack, I love the sarcasm and that British humor but they never take themselves too seriously,” he said Tuesday from The Renaissance Club, the venue for this week’s Genesis Scottish Open. “They care about what they are doing, they are very serious, but they can get away and relax.” Horschel was the first American since Arnold Palmer to win the BMW PGA Championship and finished the year ranked second in the DP World Tour Rankings behind Collin Morikawa, who became the first American to win the tour’s season-long race. The strategic alliance between the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour was strengthened this year, and the 10 PGA TOUR cards that will now be awarded to the DP World Tour’s top performers was one of the most revolutionary items announced. If the past year is any indication, however, the alliance also will increase the number of Americans competing on the DP World Tour. Will Zalatoris currently leads the DP World Tour Rankings. Justin Thomas ranks sixth and Morikawa ranks 12th. They’ve accumulated points via the major championships and World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, but they also will need to play four DP World Tour events outside the majors and World Golf Championships to be eligible for the season finale, the DP World Tour Championship. The Genesis Scottish Open is one such event. “I always had a fascination with The European Tour,” Horschel said. “I didn’t take advantage of it earlier in my career and now I’m somewhat on the back end, planning on playing another seven, eight years, and as of right now I want to be able to take advantage of that opportunity and play (the DP World Tour) and play tournaments that I’ve watched growing up.” Horschel, 35, said he will likely stop playing at some time between the age of 40 and 45, similar to his friend, Justin Leonard, who won the 1997 Open Championship and 1998 PLAYERS, but played his last full TOUR season in 2015, when he turned 43. Like Leonard, Horschel wants to be home for his kids’ events and games. Until then, a handful of DP World Tour events each year are likely to be part of his schedule. This year, he also plans to play the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in St. Andrews, defend his title at the BMW PGA Championship and possibly play the Italian Open at next year’s Ryder Cup venue in Rome. He may have to remove the Italian Open from his schedule, however, if he makes the U.S. Team for the following week’s Presidents Cup. He is 10th in the U.S. standings. The top six after the BMW Championship will earn an automatic spot on the team, and Captain Davis Love III will round out the team with six Captain’s Picks. After playing last year’s Dunhill with his father, who quickly endeared himself in the pubs of St. Andrews, Horschel is scheduled to play this year with Mark Noble, who’s nicknamed Mr. West Ham because of his legendary tenure with the club. Horschel has rooted for the team since watching the movie “Green Street,” which features the club. West Ham’s logo is on his bag, as well. By embracing his past, Horschel has opened a new chapter in his career.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – PGA TOUR officials, on behalf of the Federation of PGA Tours, HSBC and IMG, today announced that the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions will not be played as scheduled in 2022. The decision was made in conjunction with the China Golf Association due to ongoing COVID-19 related restrictions. “We have worked with all Tours, as well as the China Golf Association, on the viability of hosting the WGC-HSBC Champions this fall, but unfortunately the logistical implications forced the difficult decision to cancel the event,” said PGA TOUR Senior Vice President, International, Christian Hardy. “We are thankful for HSBC’s partnership during these trying times as we continue to navigate the changing COVID-19 climate.” With the cancelation of the WGC-HSBC Champions, the Butterfield Bermuda Championship will be played as a stand-alone event with full FedExCup points and an elevated purse of $6.5 million. The tournament returns to Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, Bermuda, the week of Oct. 24-30.
If you’re a veteran of PGA TOUR Pick ‘Em Live and you live in the United States, then this might be your first experience watching windows open in between rounds. As Rob and Glass have shared for months, results may vary depending on your lifestyle. Rob has witnessed Top 20 bets unlock at 2 and 3 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday and Saturday nights. Glass also has been up early enough in Eastern Time on a Sunday to modify his Top 20. While it’s not unprecedented, it’s also not reliable, and even if it were, the window is short-lived and at a time of day when the majority of Americans are not holding or staring at glowing rectangles. Set aside that roll of the dice for the Genesis Scottish Open. The Renaissance Club is five hours ahead of Eastern Time and eight hours clear of Pacific Time. It begins on Thursday at 7:15 a.m. local time. That’s 2:15 a.m. at Casa de Glass and 11:15 p.m. on Wednesday at Rob’s desert abode. Wind it back even further, that’s 10:15 p.m. on Wednesday in most of Alaska, and 8:15 p.m. in Hawaii. How convenient. So, include additional peeks at the interface in your evening plans. No promises, of course, but it might make that difference you’ve wanted – and needed – all along. Register for PGA TOUR Pick ‘Em Live here and monitor Rob’s and Glass’ progress as Influencers. For a broader explanation of the format and FAQs, click here. TOURNAMENT TO WIN Glass … Lucas Herbert (+6000) The Aussie has something brewing at The Renaissance Club as he’s cashed T4 the last two editions. Golf on the water doesn’t bother him as he won in Bermuda last fall and picked up an Irish Open last July. Toss in he was T9 in his Irish Open defense last week and I’ll gladly start here. With the lumber in the field, I’ll be able to have a backup selection waiting and at decent value as the weekend progresses if I’ve screwed this up. Rob … Aaron Rai (+6600) One of the three winners of this tournament at The Renaissance Club – the last two of whom are in the field (Min Woo Lee, 2021, +10000), the Englishman obviously knows what it takes to get the job done. He’s also properly prepared with a T9 over in Ireland last week. He’s rapidly reacclimated to his home circuit. TOP 10 Rob … Joohyung (Tom) Kim (+2000) Let’s gamble! After swinging and missing on the “Top USA Player” curveball for the John Deere Classic, I’m elated to have this bet back. I’m also going to trust – I know, silly me – that, unlike last week’s experience, the window for this familiar target will reopen after every round. (That’s written with anecdotal experience contributing. If you’re new here, for the record, there are no guarantees that any bets will unlock, much less when. That’s the gamble.) The Tank Engine is making his first start as a 20 something. He’s 61st in the Official World Golf Ranking, immediately ahead of the likes of last week’s winner, Adrian Meronk (64th) and last year’s Scottish Open champion, Min Woo Lee (69th). My thinking here is simple and selfish. He’s a force abroad and he’s not going to be shut out of picking off a top 10 on the PGA TOUR on which he’s connected for top 25s in two of his last three starts, including a 23rd-place finish just before his birthday at the U.S. Open. Glass … Victor Perez (+850) I’m not sure how or when the window is going to be opened/closed this week, so I’m heading in a more conservative direction with the Frenchman. He’s never missed in three tries here, so he’s familiar enough. He ran off a streak of five from six before the U.S. Open, which included a win, T3 and T8 plus nothing worse than T33. No transatlantic travel this week or last should help. TOP 20 Glass … Jorge Campillo (+900) The Spaniard rolls in with solo seventh last week in Ireland backing up his T15 in Munich the week prior. Of his last five starts, four have gone for T21 or better, so we’re not breaking any new recent ground here. Based on my weeklongs here, obviously my preference is for guys who play or who have played on this side of the pond and who have been in some form. If my angles are poor, my sleep schedule will follow! If it’s usually 6am on weekends, I’m hoping the time change is more around midnight ET this time around! Rob … Joohyung Kim (+900) You and me both, partner, although ya gotta try out my West Coast time zone one of these seasons. It’s brilliant. As for my philosophy here, obviously if I like Kim for a top 10, this is a no-brainer. Hoping that this unlocks during awake hours always is a nailbiter, but the time travel should benefit those of us in the U.S. If it does unlock, then we should be able to apply the process to next week’s Open Championship as well. ROUND 1 LEADER Glass … IS RORY McILROY PLAYING??? I can’t believe I overthought that two weeks ago in Canada. It will not happen again! Since he’s out – HE’S NOT PLAYING, OK??? – I’m going to ride Scottie Scheffler at +2500. En route to a T12 in his first visit last year, the tall Texan posted 63 in Round 2. When he’s in the mood, he has no problem going low. A fast start is needed and no better time to do it starting at 8:05 in the morning. I’ll be rolling out of bed when the second wave is teeing off so I’ll have time for adjustments. Rob … Jon Rahm (+2500) Here’s where living in Arizona costs me; well, other than the unrelenting heat in the rare moments when I refamiliarize myself with the outdoors. By the time I’m alert and wired in on Thursday morning, there’s a decent chance that this bet will be locked for the day. So, my range of focus is the entire field. Who knows, maybe that’s exactly what I need to turn my luck. As it turns out, and as it often does, the morning wave will have the better of the wind. In these climes and at this latitude, that’s a big deal, so I’ll take one of Scheffler’s playing partners on the 10th tee. Rahm placed seventh in his debut at The Renaissance Club last year. He opened with 66 and carded no higher than 69 in the third round. NOTE: While Glass and Rob typically stick with their selections as detailed in Pick ‘Em Preview, they are allowed the right to make changes at any time.
Max Scherzer struck out 11 in six scoreless innings against the Reds on Tuesday night, leaving after 79 pitches and showing no issues with his speed or control.
Four fans attending a postgame July 4 fireworks show were struck by bullet fragments from what police said appeared to be “celebratory gunfire” outside the Coliseum.
Dodgers outfielder Chris Taylor has a left foot fracture and will be out indefinitely.