Phil bests Tiger on 22nd hole, wins $9M ‘Match’

While history shows several longshot winners at The RSM Classic in recent times, including Robert Streb (300/1 in 2020) and Tyler Duncan (150/1 in 2019), bettors are ignoring that trend when it comes to pre-tournament betting at the BetMGM online sportsbook. The PGA TOUR’s final FedExCup event of the calendar year has seen action coming for those nearer the top of the boards, perhaps in response to dominant victories from Tony Finau and Russell Henley in the last two weeks. As of Tuesday, Tom Hoge, who is tied for the second-best odds at +2200, is pulling in the most tickets (7.2%) and second-most handle (10.1%). Matthew NeSmith, who is tied for the seventh-best odds (+3300), is drawing the most handle (11.5%) on the second-most tickets (4.1%). These selections are likely based on course fit at the Sea Island Golf Club’s Plantation and Seaside Courses. The first two days will be split between the two courses, and then play will exclusively be at the Seaside Course over the weekend. Both courses are not particularly long, and distance is not required to have success; it’s more about accuracy. This is why it’s no surprise these two players are taking in the action. Hoge is ranked ninth this season in greens in regulation, while NeSmith is 146th in driving distance but 24th in greens in regulation. NeSmith also has solid course history with finishes of T29-T15-T14 in three starts at the event, with 10 rounds of 68 or better in 12 tries. Meanwhile, Hoge finished fourth at the event a year ago. Both players have seen their odds move quite a bit. Hoge opened at +3000, while NeSmith opened at +5000. Current Handle & Tickets Handle Matthew NeSmith – 11.5% Tom Hoge – 10.1% Keith Mitchell – 9.4 Andrew Putnam – 7.1% Harris English – 4.5% Tickets Tom Hoge – 7.2% Matthew NeSmith – 4.1% Seamus Power– 3.6% Sahith Theegala – 3.3% Jason Day – 2.9% Following Tony Finau’s withdrawal, Brian Harman is the betting favorite at +1800. Harman is drawing 2.6% of the tickets and 0.7% of the handle. In terms of scoring, there should be plenty of birdies. The winning score was -22 a year ago and -19 in 2020. * Visit BetMGM.com for terms and conditions. 21+ years of age or older to wager. BetMGM is available in AZ, CO, DC, IA, IN, IL, KS, LA, MI, MS, NJ, NV, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV, or WY only. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Paid in free bets. Free bets expire in 7 days from issuance. Minimum deposit required. Excludes Michigan Disassociated Persons. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO, DC, LA, NV, WY, VA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-800-GAMBLER (IN, NJ, PA & WV), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA) or call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), call or text the Tennessee REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN) or call 1-888-777-9696 (MS). Sports betting is void where prohibited. Promotional offers not available in Nevada. 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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Brett Stegmaier is no John Madden. He doesn’t fear flying so much that he keeps an Amtrak schedule handy. He doesn’t own a luxury RV – complete with sauna – for those long cross-country trips like the famous NFL coach turned sportscaster once did, either. But even so, Stegmaier admits that he gets nervous when he steps on a plane and squeezes his 6-foot-3 frame into one of those cramped middle seats. “I wouldn’t say I’m afraid, I’m just kind of uncomfortable,â€� Stegmaier says good-naturedly. “It’s not my favorite thing to do. But I don’t like freak out or anything.â€� Madden actually did, though. He stopped flying in 1979 when he suffered a panic attack after getting on a plane in Tampa. Madden steeled himself and made it through the flight but hasn’t flown since. In Madden’s biography on Wikipedia, there’s even a section on his aviophobia. Stegmaier has a similar entry in his on PGATOUR.COM – right after his favorite TV shows, movies, sports teams and websites. It says: Not many people know that he is afraid of flying. Stegmaier says his aviophobia might actually stem from a long-standing fear of heights. In fact, he remembers a family trip to Toronto where the CN Tower was on the sightseeing agenda. At the time, the needle-like CN Tower was the tallest in the world. “And I wouldn’t go up in it,â€� recalls Stegmaier, who was 10 years old at the time of that vacation. “It was probably the first time I ever (realized I was scared of heights). I think I was embarrassed about it. Now I just kind of laugh about it.â€� Stegmaier can drive over tall bridges but he doesn’t know how comfortable he’d be if he were walking across them. And don’t even mention those high-rise hotels. “If I’m on the tenth floor of a hotel and there’s a balcony, I’m super uncomfortable with going outside.,â€� Stegmaier says. “I’m thinking if I slip and fall — you think the stupidest things.â€� At the same time, though, Stegmaier doesn’t mind looking out into the wild blue yonder when he’s buckled up in a plane. In fact, he’ll take another flight if no window seats are available. “If I can look out the window, I’m way more comfortable than sitting in the aisle,â€� Stegmaier says. “It’s weird. I don’t know how to explain it.â€� And while lots of aviophobics fear take-offs and landings, it’s the cruising part that bothers him. Oh, and the turbulence, even though Stegmaier knows flying is the safest form of travel. “There’s not much really I can do,â€� he admits. “I stare out the window. That’s the only thing I do. Even if we are in the clouds, I stare out the window. “Then once we land after a rough flight, I just feel an intense amount of relief. I don’t say I’ll never fly again, I just don’t look forward to it.â€� When he can drive between tournaments in four hours or less, don’t be surprised if you find Stegmaier in a car. But his fear of flying didn’t deter the second-year PGA TOUR pro from flying to Malaysia last fall. And that flight was 16 hours. Of course, he was flying business and had a seat that converted into a flat bed. “If I’m stuck in the middle in the back, I would be super uncomfortable,â€� he says. “… I was totally fine on that flight. “The hour and a half flight from Atlanta to Palm Beach, I don’t look forward to those at all.â€� Interestingly, Madden’s wife Virginia had her pilot’s license. And Stegmaier’s sister works for an airline — and “loves everything about flying.â€� Her husband flies propeller planes. “Which I won’t get into,â€� Stegmaier says firmly. “I don’t do that. I don’t even like the (regional) jets. And I don’t fly privately.â€� Still, flying is a necessary evil – kind of like going to the dentist, Stegmaier says. After all, PGA TOUR sanctioned events are played in 21 different states and nine different countries this year. “This would be a tough job if you didn’t want to get on a plane,â€� Stegmaier says with a wry smile.

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Here are nine tidbits from the second round of the THE PLAYERS Championship that gamers can use tomorrow, this weekend or down the road. THE PLAYERS Stadium Course TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, has been the host since 1982 and plays 7,189 yards to a Par-72. PAIN OR GAIN These were the top-10 picked golfers in the PGA TOUR Fantasy One & Done presented by SERVPRO: The cut landed at 1-under-par 143 and will include 80 players in Round 3. After the round the field will be cut again (MDF) to the top 70 and ties. People’s Choice Playing with buddy Sergio Garcia and Jason Day, Henrik Stenson continued his excellent form on TOUR despite a triple-bogey eight on his second hole of the day. He rallied to post a clean card with five bogeys to remain in the hunt for the weekend (-6). The Swede has had two bad holes in his first 36 as he had only one bogey on Thursday. He’s T2 in GIR and T5 in scrambling. Wonderful Webb The second-round spotlight belonged to Webb Simpson and he didn’t have any competition. He stood on No. 17 tee on 11-under for THE ROUND. A birdie-birdie finish would have equaled 59 but sadly his tee ball bounced off the railroad ties and off the back of the green. Insert Pete Dye smiley face here. Simpson made double and parred 18 for 63, tying the course record set last by Colt Knost in 2016. He also tied the 36-hole scoring record (129, -15) set by Jason Day, who also shot 63 (Round 1), in 2016. Simpson gets to claim the biggest 36-hole lead, five shots, in history, all to himself. Brilliant. Fowl Moods Second choice Rickie Fowler had it to five-under on the day and three-under for the tournament before doubling consecutive holes (Nos. 6 and 7) and falling to 1 over, MC. Fowler has followed up his 2015 master class on Sunday with MC in 2016 and T60 last year. His lowest round in the last eight is 70. … Rory McIlroy birdied No. 16 and just needed to par the final two holes to earn a weekend tee time. He rinsed his tee shot on No. 17 and missed a six-foot putt to have a chance on the final hole. His streak of five consecutive weekends at TPC Sawgrass crashes out. Savage. … Francesco Molinari entered the week with second-best scoring average EVER. In his last three visits he posted T6, T7 and T6. Now in eight events, he owns four top-10 finishes and four MC. #AllOrNothing. I got nothing this week. Sad! Charl(es) Charging With only one bogey as his only blemish after 36 holes, South African Charl Schwartzel is keeping up his hot play. He was a last-minute replacement for countryman Branden Grace (#NappyFactor) at the Zurich Classic and finished third with Louis Oosthuizen. He collected T9 cash last week in Charlotte and now sits T2 after Friday. His best finish at TPC Sawgrass is T26 in 2011, the same year he won the Masters. … Charles Howell III also had a clean card on Friday as he backed up his 68 with 67 to sit T5. His best payday in 15 previous tries is T56 so his investors shouldn’t start lighting off any fireworks just yet. Movin’ On Up Jason Day posted a bogey-free 67 to move up from T27 to T8 in Round 2. He pegged 15/18 GIR after only splitting half of the fairways but he’s getting the ball in the hole. He’s seven back. … Bryson DeChambeau circled seven birdies and signed for 67 to climb 28 spots to T11. He’s not even the best of the bunch for maiden voyagers as that honor goes to Xander Schauffele (T8). Streaking Former World No. 1 and former champion Martin Kaymer finally MC in his 10th event. … New dad Branden Grace will cash for the fifth time in five tries. He’s currently T34 and that would be his best finish. … Rory Sabbatini collected T6 on his last visit in 2015. He hasn’t MC in 12 events in 2018 and checks in T17. … Emiliano Grillo is 13-13 on his own ball this season. … It’s seven consecutive weekends at TPC Sawgrass for 2004 champion Adam Scott after 69-68. He grabbed his broomstick putter again this week and reverted to a driver from 2010. Whatever is clever! His best finish this season is T13 at The Honda Classic, another tough Florida course. MC HOF In addition to the heavy hitters listed above, Hideki Matsuyama (79-69), Louis Oosthuizen (78-71), Cameron Smith (76-75), Phil Mickelson (79-73) and Brandt Snedeker (82-72) didn’t sniff the line. Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas are the marquee names who snuck in on the number. Study Hall Friday’s scoring average was 71.273 versus 72.014 in Round 1. … There were six bogey-free rounds on Thursday and six more on Friday. … Jamie Lovemark (67) and Patrick Reed (68) joined the bogey-free parade in Round 2. … #Area51 Steve Stricker backed up his opening round 67 with 69 in Round 2 and is T8. … Sean O’Hair WD after Round 1.

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