Tale of the tape: Tiger vs. Phil

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Golf’s most high-profile equipment free agent is a free agent no more. Srixon and Cleveland Golf announced today that Brooks Koepka has joined its TOUR staff. As part of the new deal, the four-time major champion will play a Srixon driver and irons, Cleveland wedges and a Srixon golf ball. Koepka will also carry a Srixon staff bag. The 31-year-old began working with Srixon’s TOUR Department earlier this year and played the brand’s ZX7 irons throughout the 2021 PGA TOUR season. He won the Waste Management Phoenix Open with the irons in play. “I am very excited to join my good friends Shane Lowry, Graeme McDowell and Hideki Matsuyama as a Srixon and Cleveland Golf TOUR staff member,” Koepka said. “I’ve been an equipment free agent for the past few years, so it will be fun to be involved with a company on a daily basis and be able to contribute to the development of their future equipment. “I put the ZX7 Irons in play in January and it is the best iron I have played on TOUR. I look forward to kicking off our new partnership this week in Las Vegas.” Speaking on the Koepka signing, Rodney McDonald, Vice President of Tour Operations at Srixon, said: “We’re extremely proud to have Brooks come on board as our newest staff member. He’s one of the best players in the world and brings his major championship pedigree and validation to our brands. We’re excited for Brooks to join the Srixon and Cleveland Golf family and look forward to supporting him out on TOUR.” Koepka will make his debut as a member of Team Srixon/Cleveland at Capital One’s The Match on November 26th against Bryson DeChambeau. Here are the Srixon and Cleveland clubs Koepka will play, along with the assumed stalwarts that will remain in his bag. Driver: Srixon ZX5 (9.5 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade M2 Tour HL (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX Irons: Nike Vapor Pro (3), Srixon ZX7 (4-PW) Shaft: Fujikura Pro Tour Spec 95 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW) Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore – Tour Rack Raw (52 Mid, 56 Mid, 60 Low) Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 Putter: Scotty Cameron T10 Select Newport 2 Prototype Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord (Midsize) round Ball: Srixon Z-Star Prototype

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With The RSM Classic this week, we’ve arrived at the conclusion of official PGA TOUR competition in 2022. The next tournament on the schedule is the Sentry Tournament of Champions on Jan. 5-8. Because this is the last Draws and Fades column until then, the annual extended listing of birthdays in the interim foot the page. RELATED: Horses for Courses, Statistically Speaking The RSM also concludes Segment 1 of PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf. Every gamer will be refreshed with three starts for every golfer by the time Kapalua is ready to host. Also, as persistent reminders via email (and in this space) have explained, the PGA TOUR Fantasy stand-alone app will be discontinuing after the RSM. You’ll still be able to play PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf in the app dedicated to the PGA TOUR and on the desktop. Speaking of the PGA TOUR app, today it was announced that it’s been overhauled. Nothing was untouched. So, play around and become familiar with it. You’re going to have much more control over how you use it, too. The announcement included a note that the website also is undergoing evolution, and that gaming experiences will be included in the process. Of course, we’ll update everything that concerns what we do with fantasy and other considerations when it makes the most sense. Lastly, I want to extend a personal message to you. Because your loyalty is most important to what we do here, I’ve always said that without you, there’s no me. I’d be changing tires on golf carts somewhere if not for your support. I’m always listening to your needs, so the fun never ends for me to adapt and grow with you. With the fierce and ongoing support of the PGA TOUR to supply space and oxygen for our community, the experience is as fulfilling as any other. We’ve all done it together and will continue to. The future is fascinating. Thank you. Raising a glass to you and yours for a peaceful and loving holiday season. POWER RANKINGS WILD CARD Webb Simpson (-120 for a Top 40) … BetMGM has a top-40 market this week, so I’ll capitalize. Then again, it’s a slight to retreat into it for a guy with a glossy record in this tournament. He’s 10-for-10 (that includes a mid-tournament WD in 2017 due to a family matter) with two silvers and a bronze among six top-15 finishes. Aside from that unexpected departure five years ago, he’s finished outside the top 40 just once, and that was by one stroke in 2014. While that’s the kind of overwhelming support every course-history buff savors, he’s been a fraction of his familiar self throughout 2022 and since he suffered a herniated disc in his neck. In his most recent seven starts, he’s cashed just twice, neither time for a top 50. DRAWS Matthew NeSmith (+160 for a Top 20) … Never mind the Wild Card, if I had a Power Rankings Plus, as in a No. 16, it’d be him for the RSM. After a wicked T9-T2-T9 in consecutive weeks in October, he settled for a T53 in Houston, but the expectation is to reignite in the Golden Isles. He’s perfect in three visits with a pair of top 15s and a T29 (2021). And zero worries about the fit on paper. His approach game is sublime. There hasn’t been a first-time winner this season, but he belongs on the short list this week. Sahith Theegala (+150 for a Top 20) … Because of his firepower, it’d be easy to reserve a slot in the Power Rankings every time he plays, but that that is the thought, that’s already enough respect to continue to lean into his possibilities. What never should be downplayed is how often he generates chances. Since splashing as a rookie last season, he’s 30-for-37 with 14 top 25s. Ironically, he missed the cut in his debut at Sea Island last year, but don’t let that stop you from rostering given this short of a promise that he’ll cash. Ben Taylor (+160 for a Top 40) … Sure, it looks like a cinch to endorse the Englishman after his solo third in Houston, but he already had been building toward something special. He just hadn’t put four impactful rounds together yet. Lower the expectations this week but invest with gusto for another contribution in his second try at Sea Island. Troy Merritt (+300 for a Top 20) … He was a Sleeper for the same bet here a year ago and finished T22. That’s OK because it wasn’t a bad beat. He closed with 65 to make it interesting. It was his fourth payday in his last five tries at Sea Island. Now he’s rested since a T3 at Mayakoba. Henrik Norlander (+150 for a Top 40) … When he shows, it’s Groundhog Day at Sea Island. One of the playoff victims in 2016 ripped off four consecutive paydays culminating with a T5 in 2019, and then a positive COVID-19 test thwarted his appearance in 2020. Missed the cut last year, but he presents wonderfully in DFS once again, albeit fractionally due to his propensity to miss more cuts than he makes. Only two paydays in six starts this season, but both went for a top 25. Ryan Armour Wyndham Clark Nick Hardy Chris Kirk Matt Kuchar David Lipsky Taylor Montgomery Taylor Pendrith Scott Stallings Brendon Todd Odds sourced on Tuesday, November 15th at 6 p.m. ET. For live odds visit betmgm. FADES Robert Streb … Maybe as a flier in DFS because both of this PGA TOUR victories occurred in this event, but the 35-year-old has only one other top 25 (T25, 2015) in his other six tries. He’s had just one top 25 (T11, 3M) since April and has missed four of six cuts this season. In short, he’s only a horse for the courses. J.T. Poston … From my consistently conservative position, he’s a bit out of reach despite a handful of electric performances in recent months. Just 1-for-6 at Sea Island (T14, 2019) and he missed two cuts in his last three starts with a cut. Yes, it’s splitting hairs for a guy who’s found a new gear, so there’s reason to slot him as a contrarian in a tournament where he’s earned little faith. Francesco Molinari … Well, I liked him to a point at Mayakoba, but he finished 68th (of 68) in what was his second appearance. He’s making his debut at Sea Island this week, so he’s getting two baptisms by fire for the price of one. If anything, cut up a unit and throw a shard of it into a Make the Cut prop. He’s done that six consecutive times worldwide since July. Tyler Duncan … Included only because he broke through here in 2019. He missed the cut in both return trips and he’s 1-for-6 this season with a solo 72nd at the Shriners. Joseph Bramlett … Although he doesn’t resonate most weeks, it’s worth noting that he’s 4-for-6 this season with a pair of top 15s, so elevate him among your free agents in full-season formats, if applicable. Meanwhile, he’s 0-for-3 with zero red numbers at Sea Island since 2019. Tyson Alexander Dean Burmester Cameron Champ Peter Malnati Sam Ryder Adam Svensson RETURNING TO COMPETITION n/a NOTABLE WDs Tony Finau … So much for the betting favorite, the No. 1 in my Power Rankings and winner in three of his last seven starts. An undisclosed injury was cited. See you at Kapalua, big fella. Si Woo Kim … He’d have been a tough own, anyway, as he’s missed three straight cuts at Sea Island and always presents best in the long-term. That said, he’s opened the season 4-for-4 with a top 10. Erik van Rooyen … Among the throng that was going to miss the cut in Houston, so instead withdrew during their second round instead of completing it on Saturday morning. So, his RSM debut remains on ice. Since returning to competition after sitting out three months with a neck injury, he’s just 2-for-5 worldwide and without a top-30 finish. Brendan Steele … Walked off Memorial Park during his final round with an injured back, so this decision isn’t surprising. The 39-year-old is 2-for-5 on the season with a T18 at Congaree. Mark Hubbard … His brother, Nathan, tweeted that Mark had surgery on a toe scheduled for Monday. This followed a disqualification in Houston. All things considered, if he’s going to have consecutive setbacks, the timing couldn’t be better. He’s 48th in the FedExCup and will have two months to recover before the season resumes after the holidays. Ryan Moore … Cashed in his last two starts and sits 139th in the FedExCup. He’s burning a career earnings exemption this season, so he can be choosy with his schedule. Sure, it’s odd that he’d sit out the last official stop of the calendar year, but he’s never appeared in the tournament. In that context, it was unusual that he committed in the first place. RECAP – Cadence Bank Houston Open POWER RANKINGS Power Ranking Golfer Result 1 Scottie Scheffler T9 2 Sam Burns WD 3 Russell Henley MC 4 Aaron Wise T22 5 Joel Dahmen T9 6 Maverick McNealy T27 7 Denny McCarthy T53 8 Taylor Montgomery T57 9 Mackenzie Hughes T16 10 Jason Day T16 11 Tony Finau Win 12 Matthew NeSmith T53 13 Sahith Theegala T22 14 Sepp Straka MC 15 Davis Riley T27 Wild Card Hideki Matsuyama WD SLEEPERS Golfer (Bet, if applicable) Result Charley Hoffman (+375 for a Top 20) MC Scott Piercy (+450 for a Top 20) T16 Wyndham Clark T16 Beau Hossler MC Walker Lee MC BIRTHDAYS AMONG ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE PGA TOUR November 15 … none November 16 … Scott Harrington (42) November 17 … none November 18 … Matti Schmid (25) November 19 … Kyle Stanley (35); Max Homa (32) November 20 … none November 21 … none November 22 … none November 23 … Mackenzie Hughes (32) November 24 … none November 25 … none November 26 … Vince Covello (40) November 27 … none November 28 … none November 29 … none November 30 … Smylie Kaufman (31) December 1 … D.A. Points (46) December 2 … none December 3 … none December 4 … Matt Every (39); Harry Higgs (31); Sahith Theegala (25) December 5 … Ryan Moore (40); Lucas Herbert (27) December 6 … none December 7 … Luke Donald (45); Billy Horschel (36) December 8 … Brandt Snedeker (42) December 9 … Wyndham Clark (29); Matthias Schwab (28) December 10 … Brian Stuard (40) December 11 … none December 12 … Nate Lashley (40) December 13 … Rickie Fowler (34) December 14 … Brian Gay (51) December 15 … Sam Ryder (33) December 16 … none December 17 … Tim Clark (47); Davis Riley (26) December 18 … D.J. Trahan (42) December 19 … none December 20 … none December 21 … none December 22 … Richy Werenski (31) December 23 … Daniel Chopra (49) December 24 … Vincent Norrman (25) December 25 … none December 26 … none December 27 … Charley Hoffman (46); Doc Redman (25) December 28 … none December 29 … Martin Laird (40) December 30 … Tiger Woods (47) December 31 … Adam Svensson (29) January 1 … none January 2 … none Responsible sports betting starts with a game plan. Set a budget. Keep it social. Play with friends. Learn the game and know the odds. Play with trusted, licensed operators. CLICK HERE to learn more at HaveAGamePlan.org.

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