2017 RSM Classic preview

The final round of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open gets underway today. Here’s everything you need to follow the action. Round 4 leaderboard Round 4 tee times HOW TO FOLLOW Television: Thursday-Friday, 4 p.m.-8 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday-Sunday, 5 p.m.-8 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) Radio: Thursday-Friday, 2 p.m.-8 p.m. ET. Saturday-Sunday, 3 p.m.-8 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com/liveaudio). NOTABLE TEE TIMES (ALL TIMES LOCAL) Matthew Wolff, Jim Furyk Tee time: 8:20 a.m. Pat Perez, Sam Ryder Tee time: 12:50 p.m. Kevin Na, Patrick Cantlay Tee time: 1:00 p.m. MUST READS Na hoping putter stays hot on Sunday Na shoots 61 to take 54-hole lead Finau shoots 62, looks to force Tiger’s hand and earn Presidents Cup pick Brooks Koepka cedes weekend spotlight to younger brother Chase after missed cut Hahn rebounds from snowman to make the cut Cantlay continues TPC Summerlin dominance DeChambeau after second-round 68: ‘I just can’t get a normal round in’ Monday qualifier Wu impresses in TOUR debut Chase Koepka bests Brooks in opening round: ‘He’ll hear it over dinner’ Mickelson makes last-minute putter change Lower weight leads to low score for Mickelson DeLaet returns after nearly two years Scott, Trent share UNLV and Aussie bonds The Flyover: Quick look at TPC Summerlin Top 10 rookies to watch What to expect during the fall schedule Sign-up and play Fantasy Golf

Click here to read the full article…

As the pre-eminent tour in the world, the PGA TOUR is continually evolving to better serve its players, fans, sponsors and media partners. That was illustrated again Wednesday at the TOUR Championship as PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan announced further enhancements to the TOUR and its schedule. Four key items highlighted Wednesday’s announcement, which built upon the innovations introduced earlier this year to bring the game’s top players together more often. Additional Elevated Events for 2023, and a commitment from top players to compete in at least 20 PGA TOUR events per year, were announced, as were an expansion to the Player Impact Program and guaranteed league-minimum earnings for full TOUR members. The addition of four Elevated Events brings the total to 12 for next season. Top players have made an unprecedented commitment to play all 12 events, in addition to the four majors and THE PLAYERS Championship, and add three PGA TOUR events of their choosing to their schedules, Commissioner Monahan announced. “Our top players are firmly behind the TOUR, helping us deliver an unmatched product to our fans, who will be all but guaranteed to see the best players competing against each other in 20 events or more throughout the season,” he said. The additional Elevated Events – which will join the Sentry Tournament of Champions, The Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, Memorial Tournament presented by Workday, World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play and the three FedExCup Playoffs events (FedEx St. Jude Championship, BMW Championship and TOUR Championship) — will be announced in the coming weeks and have purses of at least $20 million. An expanded Player Impact Program and the introduction of the Earnings Assurance Program were also part of the announcement. Effective this year, the Player Impact Program will double to award $100 million to 20 players who resonate the most with fans and media. New metrics also will be implemented to better capture awareness from both casual and core fans. The Earnings Assurance Program replaces the previously-announced “Play15” program. All Korn Ferry Tour graduates and above in the TOUR’s priority ranking who compete in at least 15 events will earn no less than $500,000 per year, as the TOUR will fill the gap for players who fail to meet that benchmark. A travel stipend program also will be implemented for non-exempt members (players in the 126-150 category and below). Those players will receive $5,000 for travel and tournament-related expenses when they miss the cut. The stipends will not impact tournament purses. Other changes include added benefits for TOUR Championship qualifiers and enhancements to the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Beginning this year, qualifying for the TOUR Championship will bring a two-year exemption and qualify players for the following year’s Sentry Tournament of Champions. The Sentry will also award 550 FedExCup points to the winner, aligning it with the player-hosted invitationals (Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard and Memorial Tournament presented by Workday) and World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play. Finally, players will earn life membership immediately upon reaching 20 wins (eliminating the requirement for 15 years of membership). “Today is a culmination of a strengthened partnership between the TOUR and the players, and amongst the players themselves,” Commissioner Monahan said. “It’s unprecedented for our TOUR and a testament to who these guys are and what they believe in.” Here is a closer look at Wednesday’s announcements: 1. Top players will commit to at least a 20-event PGA TOUR schedule (assuming they qualify), which includes: A. 12 Elevated Events 1. FedExCup Playoffs A. FedEx St. Jude Championship – $20 million B. BMW Championship – $20 million C. TOUR Championship/FedExCup Bonus Pool – $75 million 2. The Genesis Invitational – $20 million 3. Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard – $20 million 4. the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday – $20 million 5. WGC-Dell Match Play Championship – $20 million 6. Sentry Tournament of Champions – $15 million 7. To be announced: four additional Elevated Events – purses of at least $20 million each B. THE PLAYERS Championship – $25 million C. The Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, The Open Championship D. 3 Additional FedExCup events (of the player’s choosing) 2. For the 2022-23 season, a “top player” will be defined as: A. Players who finish in the top 20 under the current Player Impact Program AND players who finish in the top 20 under the revised PIP criteria 3. Expansion of the Player Impact Program A. Reward 20 players a total (up from 10) for 2022 and 2023 B. Total bonus pool of $100 million (previously announced as $50 million) in 2022 and 2023 C. For 2022, any player on the revised criteria list who is not on the current criteria list will receive a payout equal to 20th position (most likely two or three players) D. Players will receive their PIP bonus at the end of the season after competing in the 12 Elevated Events and three non-elevated events, as outlined above 4. Launch of “Earnings Assurance Program” A. For fully exempt members (Korn Ferry Tour category and above) B. Guaranteed league minimum of $500,000 per player (TOUR funds any gaps in earnings) C. Rookies and returning members will receive money up front D. Must participate in 15 events E. Replaces “Play15” Program 5. Travel Stipend Program A. For non-exempt members (126-150 category and below) B. Receive $5,000 for every missed cut C. Subsidizes travel and tournament-related expenses D. Does not impact tournament purses

Click here to read the full article…

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Anne Bogenrief, a volunteer with more than 21 years of service at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (Dublin, Ohio), was honored Thursday as the 2021 PGA TOUR Volunteer of the Year. With the award, the PGA TOUR will donate $5,000 to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where Bogenrief’s daughter, Caitie, was treated at birth. Bogenrief has been a volunteer at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday since the mid-1990s. In 1992, when Caitie was born, they spent the first two months of her life in the Memorial Tournament Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Caitie was eight weeks premature and rushed to the hospital at birth, where she underwent lifesaving surgery just days after her delivery. Anne began volunteering at the hospital, and, with the hospital’s connection to the tournament, at the Memorial shortly thereafter. She is currently a Captain of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Committee in charge of Spectator Services – a top leadership position. “Anne has been an incredible contributor to the Memorial Tournament for over 20 years and counting,” said Dan Sullivan, Executive Director, the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday. “She is always ready to support the tournament and serves as a bright light that perfectly represents the thousands of volunteers that help make the Memorial one of the top tournaments on the PGA TOUR each year. I speak for the entire tournament team when I say that it is a wonderful feeling to be surrounded by people that are caring and selfless and want to give to others. The Memorial is indebted to Anne and all of our volunteers for their dedication and willingness to help this event raise critical funds for Central Ohio charities, specifically Nationwide Children’s Hospital.” Tournaments would not be possible without the support of volunteers, who not only help events operate, but also contribute to the overall charitable impact. With the support of more than 100,000 volunteers annually, the TOUR assists approximately 3,000 charities each year. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations to maximize charitable giving, and to date, tournaments across all Tours have generated more than $3.2 billion. “I am immensely humbled by this amazing recognition,” said Bogenrief. “My involvement initially stemmed from a desire to give back to Nationwide Children’s Hospital for the wonderful care our daughter received in the NICU, but over the past two decades, it has blossomed into a passion for the Memorial Tournament, it’s patrons, staff and volunteers. I’ve always felt that I receive far more than I give to this great cause and am eternally grateful to the Nicklaus family and the Memorial staff for continually seeking ways to create exciting new tournament-related events that expand the impact on Nationwide Children’s Hospital, both from increased funding as well as community awareness and support. I accept the PGA TOUR Volunteer of the Year Award on behalf of each of the 2,500-plus volunteers who make the Memorial Tournament a world-class event. Without their dedicated service, the ever-growing impact the tournament has on the Central Ohio community would simply not be possible.” The Memorial Tournament presented by Workday, won by Patrick Cantlay in 2021, will be played May 30-June 5, 2022.

Click here to read the full article…