Phil Mickelson finishes strong to hold on to 36-hole lead at Desert Classic

The TOUR’s return to mainland after two weeks in Hawaii suggests everything is “normal” and back on schedule for 2021. Kinda. The 62nd edition of The American Express in Palm Springs is anchored in its usual spot on the calendar, but will look markedly difference this time around. Gone is the first pro-am field of the season and the three course rotation that has provided the road map in the Coachella Valley since 2016. The amateur partners, crowds and La Quinta Country Club will all hopefully return in 2022, but will be sitting this edition out because of safety concerns. RELATED: Power Rankings | Expert Picks | The First Look The good news is the show must and will go on. The Stadium Course at PGA West will resume host duties as it has since being reintroduced for the 2016 edition. The Nicklaus Tournament course also holds its place and will serve as the second track used before the 36-hole cut after Round 2. The top 65 and ties return to Pete Dye’s Stadium Course for the final 36 holes to determine the 62nd champion of the event. The 2021 edition will be different as the Nicklaus Tournament track has returned to the original green sizes after a renovation. The larger targets, now pushing almost 8,000 square feet on average, will be able to have new pin placements on brand-new TifEagle Bermuda. The Stadium Course, with greens averaging only 5,000 square feet, has added 34 yards to bulk up but neither Par-72 will touch 7,200 yards. Rob Bolton has also suggested a hint of weekend weather could muck things up. It’s no secret that the featured courses in this event annually rank as some of the easiest on TOUR. The Nicklaus Tournament track was only surpassed in under-par scoring the last three years by La Quinta. Each year since 2016 the Stadium Course has also moved in this direction as it dropped from No. 16, to No. 10 and to the sixth-easiest course on TOUR after last year. These resort courses have generous fairways, minimal rough and perfect putting surfaces and that’s the formula for going low. Toss in weather that is non-existent minus sunshine and blue skies and it shouldn’t be a surprise why the winning score the last five years has been almost 24-under par. The pros know it is birdies-or-better-or-bust this week and that should free up all the shots in the bag. The first full-field event of 2021 will feature 156 players chasing down a purse of $6.7 million with $1.26 million plus 500 FedExCup points going to the winner. Andrew Landry will look to join Johnny Miller as the only players to defend the championship. Phi Mickelson will serve again as the official host. Recent Event Winners Stats Recent Winners and Notables 2020: Andrew Landry (-26, 262) Fired 67 from the final pairing to win for the second time on TOUR. … Defeated Abraham Ancer by two shots. … Roller coaster final round as he led by six at one point and was tied (Ancer) with three holes left. … Tied the tournament record in the new rotation. … Avenged his 2018 playoff defeat to Jon Rahm (not entered). … Only needed 99 putts. … Missed seven of his previous eight cuts on TOUR entering the week. … Won on fourth attempt. Notables: Ancer (2nd) closed furiously with a course-record tying 63 after 65 in Round 3 on the same track; circled 26 birdies for the week. … Scottie Scheffler (3rd) posted 70 from the final group and was three back on debut; posted 64 at NT with a double! … Sepp Straka (T4) signed for 66-65 on the South Course for the week. … Sam Burns (T6) matched Ancer’s 63 in the final round. … Sebastian Cappelen (T6) would have been 11-under if LaQuinta wasn’t in the rotation. … Tom Hoge (T6) played the courses being used this year in 17-under. … Ryan Moore (T6) was T2 GIR. … Rickie Fowler (T10) co-led after 36 but 70-71 on the weekend stuck him in reverse. … Sungjae Im (T10) racked up 24 birdies and an eagle after T12 2019. … Only Ancer posted better rounds on the SC than Grayson Murray (T10) and his 66-64. … Andrew Putnam (T10) was T4 in putts per GIR. … Tony Finau (T14) posted the low round of the week at NT with 62. … Charley Hoffman (T63) and Max Homa (T48) posted 63 at NT. … Scheffler and Carlos Ortiz (T48) each carded three eagles. … Ancer led the field with only two bogeys. … Cut was 9-under after 54 holes. 2019: Adam Long (-26, 262) Rookie won in just his sixth start with his TOUR card at age 31. … Sat three back after 54 holes before winning by a shot. … Birdie at the last wrapped up a bogey-free 65. … Only needed 98 putts. … Chipped in TWICE on the back nine Sunday. … Set the tournament scoring record after the addition of the SC in 2016. … Posted 63 on NT, low round of the week. … Only blemishes were a double and two bogeys. … Missed seven of eight cuts across KFT and PGATOUR entering the week. Notables: Phil Mickelson (T2) lipped out for 60 to open and led by two after 54 holes. … Adam Hadwin (T2) led the field in Par-5 scoring average and hit the top six in his fourth consecutive appearance (DNS 2020). … Talor Gooch (4th) closed with 64 on SC to add to his 65 on NT from 2018. … JT Poston (T7) signed for 64 on NT in Round 3. … Vaughn Taylor (T7) circled 25 birdies. … Patrick Cantlay (T7) was T2 GIR but closed with 71. … Sean O’Hair (T9) also had 25 circles on the card. … Michael Thompson (T9) joined Cantlay with 71 in the final round, the only two rounds in the 70s for players in the top 10 on the week. … Sungjae Im (T12) and Zach Johnson (T28) each posted 64 on SC. … Roger Sloan (T12) led the field with 29 birdies. … Cut was 9-under after 54 holes. 2018: Jon Rahm (-22, 266) Defeated Andrew Landry in a four-hole playoff for second win on TOUR. … Sat two back before final round 67 forced playoff. … At 23 years 2 months became second-youngest winner behind Jack Nicklaus (23 years 0 months). … Only fifth international winner. … Played Par-5 holes 13-under (T1). … Best round was 62 at LaQuinta. … Won in second visit. … Solo second at Sentry Tournament of Champions prior. Notables: Andrew Landry (P2) didn’t have a bogey in his first 59 holes. … Adam Hadwin (T3) picks up his third podium in three years. … John Huh (T3) circled 25 birdies and posted 66 on SC, second lowest round of the week. … Scott Piercy (T6) also had 25 birdies and a 66 on SC. … Austin Cook (T14), behind 63 at NT to open, led after 54 holes by one but carded 75 on Sunday. … Grayson Murray (T14) and Nick Watney (T50) shared the low round of the week on SC with 65. … Defending champion Hudson Swafford was T29. Key stat leaders Top golfers in each statistic on the 2019-2020 PGA TOUR are listed only if they are scheduled to compete this week. * – Top 10 finish here since 2016 ** – Previous Champion Par-5 Scoring Average Golfer 4 *Patrick Cantlay 6 Wyndham Clark 6 Matt Jones 10 Gary Woodland 10 Kevin Streelman 10 James Hahn 18 Alex Noren 21 Cameron Davis 21 Paul Casey 21 *Sam Burns 21 **Jhonattan Vegas 21 *Sungjae Im 21 *Scottie Scheffler 28 Mark Hubbard 28 Tony Finau 28 *Charley Hoffman 32 *Patrick Reed 32 Lanto Griffin 32 *Grayson Murray 32 Will Gordon Strokes-Gained: Approach Golfer 3 Russell Henley 8 Cameron Tringale 9 Paul Casey 10 Gary Woodland 11 Doc Redman 13 Emiliano Grillo 16 *Brendan Steele 18 *Patrick Cantlay 20 Branden Grace 21 Tony Finau 22 Cameron Percy 23 Matthew NeSmith 24 *Jason Dufner 26 Russell Knox 27 Jimmy Walker 29 Chez Reavie 30 Chesson Hadley 31 Nick Watney 33 *Scottie Scheffler 35 *Tom Hoge Putting: Birdie or Better Golfer 5 **Patrick Reed 11 Kristoffer Ventura 13 *Scottie Scheffler 14 Denny McCarthy 15 **Charley Hoffman 16 *Grayson Murray 17 Wyndham Clark 19 Chesson Hadley 20 Bronson Burgoon 21 Danny Lee 22 *Patrick Cantlay 25 *Rickie Fowler 28 *Sungjae Im 29 Tony Finau 30 Maverick McNealy Horses for Courses

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In normal times, the tee shot Collin Morikawa hit on the 16th hole Sunday at the PGA Championship would have resulted in deafening cheers. Instead, it was met with a few claps. At age 23, he hit a shot for the ages to win the year’s first major.

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The second major of the calendar year will be played this week, in November, at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. The Masters hasn’t been cancelled since the days of World War II and the 2020 edition wasn’t going to be added to the list. The tournament committee decided during the early days of the pandemic that the Masters would be rescheduled to the fall. RELATED: Power Rankings | Expert Picks | Sleeper Picks As November arrives, this will be a different Masters. Patrons will not walk the fairways or fill the grandstands built around the greens and tee boxes. Roars won’t be heard on the back nine on Sunday. But, a champion will still be crowned and a Green Jacket will still be awarded and semblance of normalcy will return to golf, at least for a week, this week, in November! Dr. Mackenzie’s par 72 (7,475 yards) track laid over the grounds of the Fruitland Nursery usually produces a winner with five-plus appearances on the resume before slipping on the Green Jacket. Of course there are exceptions to that “rule” but after 83 tournaments, that’s a solid number. Augusta National is filled with decisions to be made and is not a “see it, hit it” golf course. Uneven lies are the trademark in the fairways. Undulation on the steep, sloping A-1 Penn Bentgrass greens mandates the ball to below the hole. Five water hazards will shape the leader board on the back nine. Experience will take on many shapes this week. Where to leave the ball when the lie is not perfect. Trusting the putt will break to Raes Creek. When to attack with opportunity presents itself. When to accept par and move on because the wind is swirling. How to handle the pressure of holding off the best players in the world as they clutter the first page of the leaderboard Sunday. And it sounds like Mother Nature will have her say as well as rain is in the forecast starting Tuesday night and continuing throughout the day on Thursday. The weekend is a 50-50 proposition as of this writing. Drainage conditions are “good”, but that will depend on how much rain arrives. Near record temperatures, in the good direction, should allow hands to stay warm and backs and muscles to remain loosened up. Tiger Woods has been the guest of honor in Butler Cabin five previous times, one behind all-time leader Jack Nicklaus, and will lead the field of 92 after his victory in April of 2019. The purse last year was $11.5 million with Woods taking home $2.07 million plus 600 FedExCup points. Sergio Garcia and Joaquin Niemann have both WD due to COVID-19. Recent Winners and Notables 2019: Tiger Woods (-13, 275) First winner in 14 events not to reside in the top 10 after Round 1 as he was T11. … Played from the final group on Sunday. … He was the only past champion in the final four groups. … Hit 80% GIR for the week. Notables: Dustin Johnson (T2) posted 12-under, his best four round tournament total and his fourth consecutive top 10. … Brooks Koepka (T2) picked up his first top 10 in four starts and has played his last six rounds in 16-under. … Xander Schauffele (T2), led the field with 25 birdies, opened with 73 but played the final 54 holes 13-under in just his second tournament appearance. … Jason Day (T5) claimed top 10 finish No. 4 after tying the low round on Sunday with 67. … Tony Finau (T5) played in the final group with Woods and Francesco Molinari after his 64 on Saturday, T-Low Round of the week. … Francesco Molinari (T5) led by two with seven holes to play yet also led the field in putting and scrambling. … Webb Simpson (T5) first top 10 included 64 on Saturday. … Patrick Cantlay (T9) closed the weekend 64-68 for his best finish in three trips. … Rickie Fowler (T9) is now 24-under the last two years, better write that down. … Jon Rahm (T9) is now 24-under in his last seven rounds here. … Only seven, bogey-free rounds. … Sunday tee times moved into the morning hours Sunday to avoid afternoon weather. … Bryson DeChambeau (T29) circled nine birdies to open with 66 to share the first round lead with Koepka. 2018: Patrick Reed (-15, 273) Seventh and final first-time major champion of the decade. … Was looking to become the first player ever to post all four rounds in the 60s but closed with 71. … Led by three after 54 holes over Rory McIlroy. … Played the Par-5 holes in 13-under (record is 15-under). … Only one top 10 in majors prior. … Entered the week on the back of three straight top 10 finishes. Notables: Rickie Fowler (2nd) closed 65-67 to miss a playoff by a shot. … Jordan Spieth (3rd) opened with 66 to lead by two and closed with 64 to post the low round of the week. … Jon Rahm (4th) opened with 75 and played the final 54 holes 14-under, including a 65, for his first top 10. … McIlroy (T5) fired 65 to get into the final group then posted 74 to only beat four players on Sunday. … Cameron Smith (T5) closed with 66 for his first top 10. … Henrik Stenson (T5) first top 10 in 14 starts. … Bubba Watson (T5) first top 10 since his two wins. … Marc Leishman (9th) picked up his second top 10 in seven starts. … Tony Finau (T10) closed with 66 in his first appearance. … Dustin Johnson (T10) picked up his worst finish in three years. … Four players double digits under-par. 2017: Sergio Garcia (-9, 279) – Not Entered (COVID-19) 74th major championship and 19th Masters for his first major championship. … Won the first playoff hole. Notables: Justin Rose (P2) led the field with 22 birdies, played in the final group and picked up his third consecutive top 10 (T10, T2). Led by one with two holes to play. … 2011 champion Charl Schwartzel (3rd) led the field in Par-5 scoring (12-under). … Matt Kuchar (T4) picks up his fourth top 10 in six years. … Paul Casey (6th) cashed in the top six for the third consecutive year. … Rory McIlroy (T7) and Adam Scott (T9) rounded out the top 10 of those entered this season. … Par-3 Contest was rained out. … Only 15 players under par. … Only two rounds in the 60s Round 1. Key stat leaders Top golfers in each statistic on the 2019-2020 PGA TOUR are listed only if they are scheduled to compete this week. Strokes Gained: Approach the Green 1 Justin Thomas 2 Collin Morikawa 4 Tyrrell Hatton 5 Hideki Matsuyama 6 Webb Simpson 7 Viktor Hovland 9 Paul Casey 10 Gary Woodland 12 Corey Conners 17 Dustin Johnson 18 Patrick Cantlay 19 Rory McIlroy 21 Tony Finau 27 Jimmy Walker Par-5 Scoring 1 Sungjae Im 2 Lanto Griffin 3 Collin Morikawa 4 Xander Schauffele 7 Scottie Scheffler 8 Hideki Matsuyama 9 Sebastian Munoz 12 Adam Long 12 Justin Thomas 15 Tony Finau 17 Dylan Frittelli 18 Corey Conners 18 Billy Horschel 20 Patrick Reed Bogey Avoidance 1 Webb Simpson 2 Jon Rahm 4 Xander Schauffele 7 Bryson DeChambeau 8 Justin Thomas 12 Abraham Ancer 15 Zach Johnson 18 Paul Casey 19 Tyrrell Hatton 21 Hideki Matsuyama 23 Brendon Todd 24 Adam Scott 26 Brandt Snedeker

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