Kuchar ends Tour drought, wins in Mexico

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – New NBC golf analyst Paul Azinger has no doubts that Tiger Woods will one day surpass Sam Snead to become the PGA TOUR’s all-time winningest golfer – albeit with one caveat. “If Tiger’s healthy – assuming no more injuries – 100 percent. That’s what I think,â€� Azinger said. “If he gets hurt, it could go right to zero.â€� Woods will enter next week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard with 80 career wins. That leaves him two shy of Snead’s record, meaning the 43-year-old Woods needs to win three more times to stand alone in the record book. Woods won the TOUR Championship to end last season, his first victory in a five-year stretch that included four back surgeries and a limited number of starts. Last week’s T-10 at the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship was his best result in three starts this season. Azinger, who replaced analyst Johnny Miller earlier this month and worked his first full tournament in the NBC booth last week at Mexico City, spoke to the media Thursday at The Honda Classic. Azinger said it’s definitely doable for Woods to catch Snead. “There’s just no way if he’s healthy enough that he won’t… break that record,â€� said Azinger, who’s not as sure about Woods winning four more majors to match Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18. “The major record, that’s a whole ‘nother animal. But the all-time wins list, I think he’s going to get that. I hope he does it at one of our tournaments.â€� Azinger is impressed that Woods has bounced back from his back injuries to regain a winning form. “He’s just adding to his legend, he’s adding to history,â€� Azinger said. “Tiger is a living, breathing walking miracle.” “Whoever fused his back, they should name that something. They named the elbow, the surgery Dr. [Frank] Jobe did on Tommy John, they named it Tommy John surgery. It got a name. I think that fused back needs a name too.â€�

Click here to read the full article…

Go ahead, try to make the argument that golfers aren’t athletes after watching Brooks Koepka muscle his way to a second consecutive U.S. Open victory.

Click here to read the full article…

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – American John Catlin, a three-time winner on the European Tour in the last nine months, was hit with a slow play penalty during the opening round of the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course. Catlin, the world no. 80 from California, received a one-stroke penalty for a breach of the PGA Championship Pace of Play Policy, after failing to head a warning following an initial slow time. Catlin’s first bad time occurred on the par-5 16th hole, his seventh of his round, where he took 74 seconds for his second shot and received a warning from the rules committee. His second bad time, that induced the penalty, took place on the par-4 3rd hole, Catlin’s 12th of the day. The 30-year-old took 63 seconds for his second shot, resulting in the one-stroke penalty, turning his par into a bogey. It’s the first slow play penalty at a major championship since 14-year-old Guan Tianlang was penalized a stroke during the 2013 Masters. The PGA of America adopted a Pace of Play Policy under Rule 5.6b(3) of the Rules of Golf to encourage and enforce prompt play in the 2021 tournament. Catlin, who is in the field via a special invitation, finished with a 3-over 75 in his first major championship round.

Click here to read the full article…