Thomas holds off Spieth at TPC Boston

The Asian Swing ends with the first World Golf Championships event of the 2018-19 PGA TOUR season. It’s a stellar field – 20 of last year’s final 30 in the FedExCup standings are in China, including FedExCup champ (and defending HSBC champ) Justin Rose. Also, 35 of the world’s top 50, including Player of the Year and new No. 1 Brooks Koepka. Call it the Shootout in Shanghai. THE FLYOVER The shortest par-4 on the PGA TOUR last season is the drivable 288-yard 16th at Sheshan International. In fact, just four of the 551 par-4s played on TOUR were less than 300 yards — and yet the shortest hole wasn’t the easiest. The 3.716 stroke average on the 16th last season ranked it as the 14th easiest par-4 on TOUR. LANDING ZONE Based on recent history, it’s likely the 603-yard eighth will be the toughest par-5 on the TOUR this season. In two of the past five seasons, it has ranked as the toughest par 5. A year ago, it ranked second among the 163 par-5s played on TOUR, playing to a stroke average of 5.113. Only the 14th at Pebble Beach was a harder par-5, and just seven par-5s on TOUR played to an over-par score. The eighth generally is not reachable in two, with water potentially impacting tee shots and second shots into a shallow green. WEATHER CHECK From meteorologist Guy Nestor: “Good weather conditions continue into Wednesday and most of Thursday before another frontal system moves through the area. Rain will be likely Friday morning then high pressure follows with great weather setting up for the weekend.â€� For the latest weather news from Shanghai, China, check out PGATOUR.COM’s Weather Hub. SOUND CHECK I’ve only been world No. 1 for three days. I haven’t found too many challenges in those three days.Love. Hair. And humor. But love first. I’m in a much better place this year than I was this time last year. BY THE NUMBERS 550 – FedExCup points available for this week, 50 more than a regular PGA TOUR stop. 7 – Chinese golfers in the field, including Hao Tong Li. The 23-year-old from Hunan is ranked 54th in the world. 150 – Number of career PGA TOUR starts Rory McIlroy has made, including this week. He’ll be seeking his 15th TOUR win. SCATTERSHOTS A year ago, Justin Rose was playing the pro-am round at Sheshan when he turned to his manager and declared that it was time to put together a run and play “some great golf here.â€� Recalled Rose: “I felt very hungry and motivated to just try and find another level.â€� Rose won the HSBC, the first of four wins in a 15-start stretch that would eventually lead to the FedExCup and a brief stint at world No. 1. “This tournament absolutely did kick-start some great golf for me that’s lasted the best part of the year,â€� he said. Dustin Johnson is making his only appearance in the fall. After this week, he will not play again until the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii the first week of January. And he won’t start practicing again until early December. “That’s when I get excited and fired up and get ready to get back to work,â€� he said. Taiwan’s C.T. Pan has played Sheshan International, but it wasn’t in competition. After missing the cut at the 2007 Volvo China Open at nearby Shanghai Silport, he had a free Saturday, so he made the 15-minute drive to play Sheshan International, which had opened three years earlier. It took him 11 years, but he’s finally back. “I remember it vividly. I told myself, I wish I could be here any time soon, and today I’m here and that means a lot to me,â€� Pan said.

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The PGA TOUR announced today that Jordan Spieth has been elected Chairman of the Player Advisory Council (PAC) by the TOUR’s membership for the 2018 calendar year. Voting ended on Tuesday, February 13. The 16-member PAC advises and consults with the PGA TOUR Policy Board (Board of Directors) and Commissioner Jay Monahan on issues affecting the TOUR. Spieth, who prevailed over Billy Hurley III for PAC Chairman, will succeed Davis Love III (2016-18) on the PGA TOUR Policy Board next year. He will serve a three-year term (2019-2021) as Player Director along with Charley Hoffman (2017-2019), Kevin Streelman (2017-19) and Johnson Wagner (2018-2020). “Having a player with Jordan’s pedigree and perspective will be a tremendous addition to the PAC this year and the Policy Board starting in 2019,� said Monahan. “We certainly looked at this as a win-win for the TOUR, as both Jordan and Billy were excellent candidates and both will make significant contributions to the TOUR in helping to shape policy.� The 24-year-old Spieth is an 11-time winner on the PGA TOUR and captured the 2015 FedExCup title. Last year, the Dallas native won three times and advanced to the season-ending TOUR Championship for the fifth time in as many attempts, finishing the season No. 2 in the FedExCup standings. A member of three U.S. Presidents Cup Teams (2013, 2015, 2017), Spieth played collegiately at the University of Texas. The PGA TOUR announced the 16 players serving on the PAC for 2017 on January 10: 2018 Player Advisory Council Daniel Berger Paul Casey Stewart Cink Chesson Hadley James Hahn Billy Hurley III Zach Johnson Matt Kuchar Anirban Lahiri Geoff Ogilvy Sam Saunders Jordan Spieth Chris Stroud Justin Thomas Kyle Thompson Cameron Tringale 2018 Player Directors Charley Hoffman (2017-19) Davis Love III (2016-2018) Kevin Streelman (2017-19) Johnson Wagner (2018-2020)  

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First Tee – Greater Trenton participant Raymond Jin is not the first person who has been impacted by the organization’s programming. He’s one of many. In 2019, Jin participated in the Wells Fargo Succeeding Together contest, in which he submitted an essay with hopes of winning the grand prize – a spot in the Wells Fargo Championship pro-am with any TOUR player of his choosing. “As I progressed through the program, First Tee completely changed me as a person,” wrote Jin. “Because of First Tee, I am able to make a difference in the lives of young people and those in my community. I am passionate about working with people and mentoring.” What was once a dream then became reality. Jin received a video recording from TOUR player Max Homa, sharing the news that he, out of all of the submissions, had been selected as the first-place winner. Two years later, with many top players in the field, Jin chose to be paired with Rory McIlroy in the pro-am. McIlroy, a supporter of First Tee, was able to mentor Jin and share some life advice. “You don’t have to try to make friends; rather, you naturally resonate with certain people and communities; find your people, and you’ll feel right at home no matter where you go,” said McIlroy. Just months later, through the RSM Birdies Fore Love Program, McIlroy earned $50,000 to donate to the charity of his choice for recording the most birdies at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP. Already a supporter of First Tee and seeing how their programming impacts those like Jin, McIlroy decided to donate his charitable dollars to the youth development organization. The donation has helped to further the mission of growing the game of golf and preparing young adults for their future careers. Like McIlroy, fellow TOUR player Hideki Matsuyama also chose to support First Tee with the $50,000 he earned through the RSM Birdies Fore Love program at the 2020 Houston Open. Matsuyama kept the funds local, donating to the Greater Houston chapter. Although the First Tee – Greater Houston chapter is a newer program, Matsuyama’s donation has helped to ensure it doesn’t miss a beat in recruiting students in the local community. Classes began this year in March with full participation across all levels of programming. With Matsuyama’s donation, more coaches are being trained to expand upon the programming, helping to take more students off the waitlist and into the classrooms. In just seven months, First Tee – Greater Houston now has over 350 students in programs each week, developing their skills in golf and leadership in the community. A year from now, one could imagine how many more Raymond Jins will come through First Tee, all with the support of those with passions for junior golf such as McIlroy and Matsuyama and the RSM Birdies Fore Love program. More about RSM Birdies Fore Love In collaboration with the PGA TOUR, RSM Birdies Fore Love will again donate $1 Million to charitable organizations through an on-course competition over the first ten events of the 2021-22 PGA TOUR Season. In addition to weekly winners, the top three players who accumulate the most birdies (or better) throughout those events will earn $300,000, $150,000 and $50,000, respectively, for children- or family-focused charitable organizations of each player’s choice. Last year, Corey Conners (147 birdies or better) won the overall program, followed by Sepp Straka (141) and Sungjae Im (139). Conners chose to spread the love and donate $240,000 to the Corey & Mallory Conners Family Fund, $50,000 to the Ben Curtis Family Foundation, and $10,000 to Mia’s Miracles.

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