Jason Day wins Farmers Insurance Open in playoff

Winner – PGA/U.S. Open Championship Jason Dufner Martin Kaymer Justin Rose Jordan Spieth Winner – The Players Championship Rickie Fowler Winner – British Open Phil Mickelson Henrik Stenson Winner – World Golf Championship Event Russell Knox Shane Lowry Winners of the Arnold Palmer Inv. & the Memorial (Last 3 Years) Matt Every William McGirt Tournament Winner in Past Two Seasons Ryan Armour Aaron Baddeley Daniel Berger Jonas Blixt Greg Chalmers Tony Finau Fabián Gómez Cody Gribble Emiliano Grillo James Hahn Russell Henley Mackenzie Hughes Smylie Kaufman Chris Kirk Matt Kuchar Peter Malnati Grayson Murray Rod Pampling D.A. Points Brandt Snedeker Chris Stroud Brian Stuard Vaughn Taylor Jhonattan Vegas Career Money Exemption K.J. Choi Ernie Els Retief Goosen Sponsors Exemptions – Members not otherwise exempt Padraig Harrington Johnson Wagner Sponsors Exemptions – Unrestricted Ben Crane Bobby Gates Hunter Mahan Lee Westwood Designated Sponsor Exemption Yuta Ikeda Shubhankar Sharma PGA Section Champion\Player of the Year JJ Wood Past Champion of Respective Event J.B. Holmes Matt Jones Top 125 on Prior Season’s FedEx Cup Points List Bill Haas Chez Reavie Charles Howell III Lucas Glover Keegan Bradley Luke List Ian Poulter Scott Brown Jamie Lovemark Sung Kang Rafa Cabrera Bello Sean O’Hair Robert Streb Bud Cauley Kevin Tway Danny Lee Kelly Kraft Jason Kokrak Patrick Rodgers Morgan Hoffmann Chad Campbell Kevin Streelman Cheng Tsung Pan Whee Kim Harold Varner III Nick Taylor Camilo Villegas Scott Piercy Michael Kim Scott Stallings Byeong Hun An Martin Flores Richy Werenski Ryan Blaum Geoff Ogilvy Robert Garrigus Steve Stricker Derek Fathauer Tyrone Van Aswegen Harris English Dominic Bozzelli Nick Watney John Huh Blayne Barber Rory Sabbatini J.J. Henry Top 125 (Prior Season Nonmember) Thomas Pieters Major Medical Extension Ryan Palmer Jon Curran Bob Estes Andrew Loupe Leading Money Winner from Web.com Tour & Web.com Tour Finals Chesson Hadley Top Finishers from Web.com Tour Prior Season (reordered) Tom Hoge Brandon Harkins Alex Cejka Martin Piller Peter Uihlein Beau Hossler Aaron Wise Talor Gooch Sam Saunders Ben Silverman Tyler Duncan Nicholas Lindheim Brice Garnett Abraham Ancer Jonathan Randolph Xinjun Zhang Seamus Power Stephan Jaeger Troy Merritt Corey Conners Andrew Putnam Shawn Stefani Adam Schenk Tom Lovelady Rob Oppenheim Lanto Griffin Bronson Burgoon Joel Dahmen Cameron Tringale Keith Mitchell Michael Thompson Roberto Díaz Nate Lashley Ethan Tracy Jonathan Byrd Brett Stegmaier  

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After a two-week break, the new PGA TOUR season begins with the Fortinet Championship in Napa, California. Cal product Max Homa will return to defend his title from last season, when he would win twice and qualify for the TOUR Championship for the first time in his career. Last week he was named as a captain’s pick for the U.S. Presidents Cup Team. FIELD NOTES: Homa, who finished fifth in the FedExCup, edged Stanford product Maverick McNealy, also in this week’s field, at Silverado last year… There will be plenty of Presidents Cup flare in Napa before the squads assemble at Quail Hollow. The International side will have Hideki Matsuyama, Corey Conners, Taylor Pendrith, and Cam Davis, while Homa and American assistant captain Webb Simpson are also playing… Korn Ferry Tour graduates making their debuts as full-fledged PGA TOUR members include Justin Suh, who topped the combined Points List and will be fully exempt this season; Erik Barnes, who at 34 will be a TOUR rookie this season; and Kyle Westmoreland, who was No. 25 on the Korn Ferry Tour Finals Points List and will become the first graduate of the American Air Force Academy to play on TOUR… Zac Blair and Kyle Stanley are playing their first events of a major medical extension… Sponsor exemptions include Harry Higgs, Dylan Wu, Chris Gotterup and Jacob Bridgeman… Jason Dufner, Ryan Moore, and Jimmy Walker are using Career Money Exemptions this season and will be in the field in Napa… Other notables include 2020 winner Stewart Cink, plus Californians Cameron Champ (the winner here in 2019) Rickie Fowler, and Rookie of the Year nominee Sahith Theegala. FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 500 FedExCup points. COURSE: Silverado Resort and Spa (North), par 72, 7,123 yards. Located in the heart of California wine country, the course, opened in 1955, was refreshed by TOUR legend turned broadcaster Johnny Miller about a decade ago. This is the seventh playing of the Fortinet Championship at Silverado. The layout moves through mature trees and has undulating fairways and challenging greens. Last season’s scoring average was 71.038 as Max Homa relied on impressive ball-striking (second in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green, sixth in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee) to capture his third TOUR title. STORYLINES: This marks the final tune-up before the return of the Presidents Cup… It’s a big week for rookies on the PGA TOUR and Korn Ferry Tour grads keen to keep TOUR status for next season… Earning valuable FedExCup points in the fall has become even more important as only 70 golfers will earn their way into the first event of the FedExCup Playoffs… This marks the end of the wraparound-season era after a decade-long run. The PGA TOUR will return to a calendar-year schedule in 2024… Notable Korn Ferry Tour grads this season include Carl Yuan (who topped the Regular Season Points List), Robby Shelton (two-time winner in 2022), Paul Haley II (re-earned TOUR status for the first time in 10 years), and long-hitting Brandon Matthews. 72-HOLE RECORD: 262, Cameron Beckman (2008 at Grayhawk GC), Kevin Sutherland (2008 at Grayhawk GC), Troy Matteson (2009 at Grayhawk GC), Rickie Fowler (2009 at Grayhawk GC), Jamie Lovemark (2009 at Grayhawk GC). Silverado record: 267, Stewart Cink (2020) 18-HOLE RECORD: 61, Mark Hensby (2nd round, 2007 at Grayhawk GC), Kevin Stadler (2nd round, 2008 at Grayhawk GC), Troy Matteson (2rd & 3rd rounds, 2009 at Grayhawk GC), Mike Weir (4th round, 2009 at Grayhawk GC), Chesson Hadley (2nd round, 2017 at Silverado). LAST TIME: Max Homa fired a 7-under 65 – tied for the low round of the day – to win by one over Maverick McNealy. It was Homa’s third PGA TOUR win, and he would later bank his fourth victory at the Wells Fargo Championship. In the final round at Silverado he birdied three of the last four holes on the front nine, bogeyed the par-4 10th, and dunked his approach for an eagle on the par-4 12th. He followed that with birdies on No’s 13, 16, and 17 to nip McNealy, who was leading Homa by three with seven holes left. It was a wild finish for McNealy – who was hunting for his first TOUR title – as he birdied No.16, double-bogeyed 17, and eagled 18 to shoot a 4-under 68. Mito Pereira finished 16 under, his third-place result kickstarting a 2021-22 campaign that saw him contend at the PGA Championship and ultimately earn a spot on the International Presidents Cup team. HOW TO FOLLOW Television: Thursday-Sunday: 6 p.m.-9 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) Radio: Thursday-Friday, 3 p.m.–9 p.m. ET. Saturday-Sunday, 4 p.m.-9 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com/liveaudio) For outside of the U.S., click here for GOLFTV powered by the PGA TOUR PGA TOUR LIVE PGA TOUR Live is available exclusively on ESPN+ • Featured Groups: traditional PGA TOUR LIVE coverage of two concurrent featured groups

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AUGUSTA, Ga. – Statistics have an ever-expanding role on the PGA TOUR, but the Masters is one week when artistry and elegance are emphasized over analytics. The flora and fauna of this former nursery provide an unmatched beauty, while the slick putting surfaces and severe slopes of Alister Mackenzie’s design require players to exhibit a delicate touch. RELATED: Tee times | How to Watch | Expert Picks | Power Rankings | Pros talk hole-by-hole | Tiger’s equipment “I think one of the great things about this course is it forces you to be creative,â€� Rory McIlroy said in his pre-tournament press conference. “The massive, tall pines, the contrast between green grass and the white bunkers, the yellow flagsticks, there’s so many things to look at and be aware of. It paints a picture for you.â€� That doesn’t mean that the numbers should be ignored, though. So, on the eve of the Masters, here are five interesting statistics to consider. 1. Augusta National is known as a course that can produce large swings in scoring, especially on Sunday. The par-5s offer eagle opportunities while penalizing missteps. The sloping greens have swales that can funnel well-played shots toward hole locations while leaving difficult putts and chips for those on the wrong side of the ridges. To get a better look at where Masters champions distance themselves from the field, I looked at the Strokes Gained in the last 10 years by the players who have led the Masters after 72 holes (winners and playoff participants. That’s a total of 15 players and 60 rounds. The leaders were two holes – Nos. 3 and 14 — that are often overshadowed by some of their more famous brethren. “I wouldn’t have guessed 3 and 14, but it makes a lot of sense because those holes can be a tap-in 3 or a quick 5 or 6 if you hit it in the wrong spot,â€� said one longtime TOUR caddie. The third hole is the shortest par-4 on the course. One player, Tommy Fleetwood, even drove it last year. But large fairway bunkers protect the left side of the fairway and the left side of the green is protected by a deep swale. Many players use nothing more than a long-iron off the tee and have a wedge into the green, but the penalties can be severe if they don’t execute either shot. No. 14 is often overlooked because it sits between the second nine’s two famous par-5s. The 14th also is the only hole on the course without a bunker. There are multiple hole locations where players can use slopes to funnel their ball toward the hole, though. Players are left with a difficult putt or chip if they’re on the wrong side of the swale, though. As expected, the players who led the Masters after 72 holes did most of their damage on the second nine. Their play on those famous holes accounted for 55% of their Strokes Gained on the field. 2. Justin Rose is a popular pre-tournament pick, and for good reason. He’s finished second in two of the past four Masters. His worst finish in the last five Masters is T14. Rose’s strong iron play is one reason for his success. Good approach play is important at Augusta National, where trying to two-putt from certain portions of the putting surface is nearly impossible. Rose has finished second in greens hit in each of the past four Masters. He’s hit 213 of 288 greens hit in that span (75.7%). That’s 15 more than the second-best player on that list, Jordan Spieth. The field has hit 61% of greens during that span, which would equate to 176 greens hit over the last four years. That’s nearly 40 fewer than Rose. 3.  Rory McIlroy has played in 10 Masters. There’s been a stark contrast between the two halves of his Masters career. He didn’t have a top-10 in his first five starts at Augusta National, though he did hold the 54-hole lead in 2011. He was 8 over par in his first five Masters. He’s 23 under in the past five Masters and has finished in the top 10 all five times. The biggest difference has been his performance on Augusta National’s famed second nine. In his first five Masters, McIlroy gained a cumulative 0.4 strokes on the field. Of course, that includes his 43 on the second nine in 2011, when he lost 7.4 shots to the field. Even without that performance, his performance on the second nine in his first five Masters pales in comparison to his play there over the past five years. He’s gained 31.8 strokes on the second nine in the last five Masters. That’s accounted for 65% of his Strokes Gained over the previous five Masters. He’s 19 under par on the second nine in that span, compared to 4 under on the front. 4. The Official World Golf Ranking debuted right before the 1986 Masters. Jack Nicklaus was ranked 33rd in the world when he completed his historic victory at age 46. The average world ranking of Masters champions has been 15.3. Tony Finau, who finished 10th in his Masters debut last year after dislocating his ankle during the Par-3 Contest, is 15th in this week’s world ranking. The last three Masters champions have all ranked outside the top 10 in the world ranking. There have never been four consecutive Masters champions from outside the top 10. That may not be a good omen for Tiger Woods, who’s ranked 12th. That’s actually a higher position than when he arrived at Augusta National for the 1997 Masters. Despite winning three times in his first nine PGA TOUR starts as a pro, Woods was ranked 13th heading into his first Masters as a professional reason. 5. Francesco Molinari arrives at Augusta National after winning last month’s Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard and a third-place finish at the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play. He needed just 73 holes to win his first five matches at Austin Country Club. He’s one of the hottest players in the game. Molinari picked up his first major at last year’s Open Championship, then finished sixth at the PGA Championship. Molinari’s career year was spurred by improvement in two areas that are important at Augusta National, driving distance and putting. Molinari shot a career-best 286 at last year’s Masters en route to a T20 finish, just one off his highest finish at Augusta National. Molinari, long known as a short and straight hitter, gained about 20 yards last season. Molinari used Augusta National’s eighth hole to illustrate how his distance gain has paid off. Long hitters can carry the hazard to reach the green in two. Molinari had to aim away from the bunker, then lay up. “A couple days it was warm and a little down-breeze. I carried the bunker and I was able to hit 5-wood or 4-iron into the green,â€� he said. Molinari’s Strokes Gained: Putting has improved by more than a stroke last year. He was losing nearly a half-stroke per round on the greens last year. Now he’s picking up a little more than a half-stroke. He’s jumped from 182nd to 23rd in that statistic. Molinari’s improvement (+1.05 strokes per round) in that statistic is the largest this season. A former Masters champion, Adam Scott, has the second-largest jump (+0.97).

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