Tiger Woods at The Open, Round 3 updates

CROMWELL, Conn – CROMWELL, Conn. – Given the disparity of their resumes and PGA TOUR travels, it was easy to look at the final pairing in the Travelers Championship Sunday – Brendon Todd and Dustin Johnson – and find yourself searching for ways to accentuate the contrast. One thought jumped out at me: Todd once missed the cut in 25 consecutive tournaments – nine to end the PGA TOUR season in 2009, all 13 Korn Ferry Tour starts in 2010, then the first three KFT events in 2011. Johnson, meanwhile, has never gone more than 30 PGA TOUR starts without winning. RELATED: Winner’s Bag: Dustin Johnson | Frustrated McIroy says ‘decision-making was terrible’ | Gordon finishes T3, earns Special Temporary Membership Digest that one more time – the biggest drought in Johnson’s 13-year career is 30 tournaments. And that’s only happened once. In fact, only three times has he had winless stretches of 24 or more tournaments. OK, the human spirit loves the underdog, so it was easy – and almost mandatory – to embrace Todd and how he twice has traveled back from the abyss to find success on the PGA TOUR. From the early turbulence in his career, Todd won on the PGA TOUR in 2014. Then over the next four seasons he missed the cut in 43 of 55 starts. Yet here he was again, bouncing back with remarkable character, the winner of two tournaments in the fall portion of the 2019-20 season, at 18-under and leading Johnson by two strokes as they began the final round at TPC River Highlands. What wasn’t to love about how Todd personifies the human spirit? Nothing, of course, except that sometimes you find yourself guilty of taking things for granted and Johnson’s record is one such example. It is, especially in this age of remarkable balance in professional golf, impressive how consistent he has been since joining the PGA TOUR in 2008. I would argue that inasmuch as there is hoopla over Bryson DeChambeau’s physique and marvel about Phil Mickelson’s longevity and fascination with all things Tiger Woods and infatuation with the Rory McIlroy’s warmth, what gets the short end far too often is Johnson’s uncanny steadiness. Might we say he’s a freak of nature? Austin Johnson, his brother’s caddie, laughed, but shook his head in agreement. “He is that, for sure.” It was twilight at TPC River Highlands, no more than a hundred people on hand in these strange pandemic days to witness what was Johnson’s 21st PGA TOUR victory. Starting two behind, Johnson made four birdies on the front, turned in 32 to overtake Todd, then seemingly headed into runaway victory with another birdie at the 10th. Ah, but this is the Travelers Championship, where wildness always happens – and it did so again. No surprise that Johnson hit some turbulence coming home – he pulled his drive OB and bogeyed the par-5 13th and he hit a 3-hybrid nearly into water at the short, par-4 15th, then had to roll up his pants and go in and hack his second shot back into play. “I hit (that tee shot) very poorly,” bemoaned Johnson, who did salvage par at the 15th with a deft third shot. “I don’t know what was going on with my tee shots.” He clearly didn’t come up with a remedy, because after a brief delay for dangerous weather, Johnson returned with his worst swing of the week – a sliced tee shot into a bunker at the par-3 16th. His third bogey of the day left him at 19-under, just one ahead of Kevin Streelman, who had burned the edge of the hole from 26 feet at the par-4 17th. Come on, if you know Johnson’s saga, a part of you was wondering if this would be yet another of those squanders. The 2010 U.S. Open, the 2011 Open Championship, the 2015 U.S. Open. Heartache, each one. But here is what sits at the heart of Johnson – he took ownership of all those mishaps and he has never failed to shake it off. But forget the slips at 13 and 15 and 16. What Johnson did at the par-4 17th (fairway, green, two putts from 32 feet) and the par-4 18th (on a day when he hit just 7 of 14 fairways he thumped it 351 yards dead center, wedged it to 18 feet, and two-putted for 67 – 261) speaks to the talent that has stood front and center on the PGA TOUR stage for 13 seasons now. It was career win No. 21 for a guy who arguably is the purest athlete on the PGA TOUR, a guy whose swagger along should be considered one of his 14 clubs. Oh, there were contributing factors on this day (Todd struggled mightily, failed to make a birdie, shot 75, and plummeted into a share of 11th; Streelman couldn’t birdie any of the final five holes; and Mackenzie Hughes produced too little, too late to fall two shy) but don’t dismiss the specialness to Johnson’s win. To start, there is something that shouldn’t get caught up in a logistical tug-of-war. This is Johnson’s 13th season on the PGA TOUR and he’s won at least once in each of them. Only Arnold Palmer (17), Jack Nicklaus (17) and Tiger Woods (14) have started their careers with wins in more consecutive seasons. No, he hasn’t won every “calendar year,” because he didn’t prevail in 2014. What he did do was win the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in the fall of 2013, which was part of the 2013-14 season. But while you’re splitting hairs and tackling either side of that debate, my intrigue shifts over to wonderment. Has this man ever – and I mean ever – played an entire season of shoddy golf? “No,” he said. “I don’t think so – and I hope I don’t start anytime soon. I mean, I put in the work, so I feel that my game should be spot-on all the time.” He indicated that was great to win, because it’s been a while, but guess what? It’s only been 20 tournaments since his last win, the WGC-Mexico Championship in 2019. When he won the U.S. Open at Oakmont in 2016 it ended his worst dry spell, a whopping 30 tournaments. He then went five tournaments before he won again, then he went six before winning not one, not two, but three in a row. His dry spells since then? Nine tournaments, four, eight, two, 11 and the record one of 20. Honestly, enough about guys bulking up, crushing it long, playing into their 50s, and all the other storylines. How about deep appreciation for a guy who consistently provides a high caliber of play? We are told it’s tough to win on the PGA TOUR but the flip side is, it would seem to be impossible not to throw in a clunker of a season here or there. Johnson might be the exception. Offer that great respect.

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MELBOURNE, Australia. – Notes and observations from the third round of the ISPS Handa Melbourne World Cup of Golf where teams played the Fourball format and team Belgium set up a handy five shot lead. LEADING LIGHTS Thomas Pieters brings plenty of fire. It appears Thomas Detry brings the ice. The youthful team from Belgium have combined expertly to take the ISPS Handa Melbourne World Cup of Golf by the scruff of the neck. A 9-under 63 on Saturday has pushed the pair to 19-under and a five-shot advantage heading to Sunday’s final Foursomes session. Pieters, 26, has three European Tour victories to his name and plays with an aggressive tone. Detry, 25, has what appears to be a more measured approach to his golf, much in the vein of your Justin Rose type characters. The steadiness of Detry has allowed Pieters to wind up when it matters and it has worked a treat. “It’s always nice when you know your partner’s playing some great golf, it gives you a lot of confidence and you can play some pretty free golf,â€� Detry explained. “I tend to be pretty relaxed … and I guess not much went wrong, but he seems to be a very enjoyable partner.â€� The first hole on Saturday was a perfect example. Pieters hit a wild tee shot trying to bite off some extra distance and basically left it to his teammate from there. Detry was unflappable and made an important par on his own. “At the beginning of the week, I said we never say sorry when you play as a team,â€� Pieters said. “We’re both trying our hardest and everybody’s going to hit bad golf shots.â€� Tomorrow is a different beast. The Foursomes, or alternate shot, means the fire and ice really have to mix well. On Friday they were one of only four teams to shoot under par in the format. And it is the volatility that has the chasing pack still feeling like they’ve got life. But the leaders don’t intend to play defense. “The strategy, we are going to play out there and be aggressive,â€� Detry said. “We might as well win by 12.â€� NOTABLES AUSTRALIA: Local hopes of a sixth World Cup title are still alive after Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith combined to shoot a 7-under 65 on Saturday to move to 13 under and into a tie for fifth. But they will need something impressive in Sunday’s Foursomes as they sit an ominous six shots back of the lead. Given they shot a 4-over 76 in Friday’s alternate shot session it will take some turnaround to mount some pressure on Belgium. “It’s going to be really important for us to get off to a good start, really get ourselves in it, give them something to think about, because if we’re not a few under through five or six holes, they can sort of cruise,â€� Leishman said. “It would be good if we could get the crowd into it. If we get the fanatics roaring, and friends and family, a lot of people supporting us, that would be great and they might notice. We’ve enjoyed that so far this week and it would be nice if we could make tomorrow our best day.â€� The Australian pair are also cognizant of International Presidents Cup team captain Ernie Els impending arrival and want to leave a lasting impression ahead of the 2019 biennial competition that will also be held in Melbourne. MEXICO: Abraham Ancer’s love affair with Australia continues after he and partner Roberto Diaz posted a 7-under 65 to move to 14 under and a tie for second place. Ancer, who won last week’s Australian Open in Sydney, is looking to create a new wave of excitement in golf for his home nation. Mexico has never won the World Cup of Golf and their best finish was a T7 way back in 1953. “A win would be awesome not only for us, but for our country as well,â€� Ancer says. “It would be something incredible and it would be obviously a dream come true winning such a big tournament for our country.â€� KOREA: Former PLAYERS Champion Si Woo Kim buried a final hole birdie to ensure Korea moved into a share of second place with a round to play. Along with Byeong An the pair are looking to bring the country its first World Cup title. They acknowledge the five-shot deficit will be tough to overcome but given the Foursomes format can be volatile have certainly not given up hope. “You never know what’s going to happen,â€� An said. “We definitely need our best golf and it’s not going to be easy but lifting the trophy definitely will be a bonus in the career, that’s for sure.â€� An confirmed a win would be not be enough to earn them exemptions from mandatory military service in Korea. “This wouldn’t count. But the title and money would still be nice,â€� he grinned. USA: It has not been the week Matt Kuchar and Kyle Stanley were looking for after a 6-under 66 was still not enough to give them any hope of procuring a 25th title for the USA. They sit well back at five under overall in a tie for 21st amongst the 28 teams. ENGLAND: Ian Poulter and Tyrrell Hatton shot a 5-under 67 to move to 13 under and into a tie for fifth. Sitting six shots back it will take a big effort to claim their first World Cup since 2004 and third overall. ITALY: A 6-under 66 from Andrea Pavan and Renato Paratore moved the Italians to second place but they were far from happy with their efforts. Sitting seven under on the round through 13 holes they came to the par-5 14th looking to put further pressure on Belgium near the top of the leaderboard. But instead they inexplicably walked away with a double bogey as both players lost their way. Birdies on the 16th and 17th holes reestablished their place as the nearest chasers until another bogey on the final hole left them five back. “Belgium are playing well obviously, so I feel like it’s going to be tough, but in golf you never know, especially in foursomes,â€� Pavan said.  SHOT OF THE DAY

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Rory McIlroy had a forgettable finish at the Farmers Insurance Open, his final-round 73 dropping him into a tie for 16th place. Still, he was having trouble moving on after a Rules incident from the 18th hole in Saturday's third round. McIlroy's ball veered into the right rough, and when he got to it, he saw that the ball was embedded. He took relief, but when he later watched videotape of the shot, it was clear that it had bounced once, so it hadn't embedded in its own pitch mark. So how, then, had it embedded? “I was sort of questioning myself on Sunday,” McIlroy said Wednesday from TPC Scottsdale, where he will be making his first career start at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. “Did I do the right thing? Did I play by the Rules? Did I see something that wasn’t there? "It was a bit of a rough Sunday night," he continued. "I just started to doubt myself a little bit, which is not like me.” As it turned out, McIlroy said, the PGA TOUR got an email Monday that explained it: A volunteer confessed to having stepped on the ball. "The TOUR got an email on Monday from a volunteer saying that he didn’t tell me at the time and he should have, but he stepped on the ball to find it," McIlroy said. "... I guess at the end of the day I almost took the wrong relief because I should have taken relief for a stepped-on ball, which means you can place it instead of drop it. At the time I didn’t have that information." The incident received additional scrutiny because eventual winner Patrick Reed also had taken embedded-ball relief earlier in the round at the par-4 10th hole. Rules officials stressed that both McIlroy and Reed took proper relief. "I at least felt better about my actions knowing I did the right thing, that I did take relief for a ball that was embedded or stepped on," McIlroy said. "So it sort was nice that that came to light, because I was questioning myself on Sunday a little bit. It’s funny how these things all work out at the end."

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