Tiger Woods rested and ready for Farmers Insurance Open

AUSTIN, Texas — Three down after the first seven holes against Justin Thomas, Luke List just wanted to make their match last until the 18th hole. List managed to do exactly that on Wednesday in the first round of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. Overcoming such a large deficit against the FedExCup leader is never easy, but List also had an unexpected challenge to overcome. He had to use a wedge as his putter for the final 11 holes.  Frustrated with his putting as he walked to the 8th tee, List took a swipe at what he thought was a small group of bushes, only to realize there was a brick wall behind them that took the brunt of the punishment and bent his putter in the process.  “It bent the putter a fraction of an inch just below the grip,” List said. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t use the putter the rest of the way. It was stupid on my part.” With his putter out of commission — a club bent outside the course of play is deemed non-conforming — List switched to a lob wedge and something clicked. He went on to halve the next five holes before rallying with three birdies on Nos. 13-16 — the highlight was an 18-footer for birdie on 15 — to take the match to the last.  Thomas birdied the final hole for a 2-up victory in the rematch of their playoff at The Honda Classic, which Thomas won on the first hole. This was just Thomas’ second win in seven matches at this event. He went 0-3 in his debut in 2016 and 1-2 last year. “I was thinking about it, how bad that would hurt if I couldn’t get it done,” said Thomas, who was battling the effects of strep throat after having his wisdom teeth removed two weeks ago. “He hit some great putts and he made some good ones when he needed to. “I told Jimmy we just need to hit a lot of greens and make him have to make putts with that wedge. He made — I was looking at a putt that was going to possibly win the match there on 15, and he makes it and I have a nasty lip-out and lose the next hole. Next thing you know, I’m looking at maybe losing the match” List’s furious charge on the back nine with a lob wedge in his hands was reminiscent of Robert Streb’s final round at the 2015 Greenbrier Classic, where he managed to card five birdies while using a sand wedge on the greens. He played his way into a four-way playoff won by Danny Lee.  List, the No. 60 seed, wound up making more birdies with the wedge (three) than he did with his putter (one) on Wednesday. Despite his lack of success with the putter early in the match, List said the plan was to get the club back in game shape for the final two matches. “I’ll get the club fixed and it’ll be ready to go tomorrow,” said List, who’s making his debut in this event. “I have two more matches so anything can happen.”

Click here to read the full article…

Click here to read the full article…

MCKINNEY, Texas — Something about the AT&T Byron Nelson brings out the best in K.H. Lee. He won it last year. He won it again Sunday. He beat a stout field with a final-round 63 that included two clutch putts in the last three holes and a two-putt birdie on the par-5 18th. Lee knew he would need it. In the group behind him, Jordan Spieth nipped at Lee’s lead throughout the back nine as other players faded. Lee figured Spieth would birdie the last hole — so he would need to, too. He coasted his 24-foot putt to 4 inches. Lee won by a shot at 26 under par. He joined Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus and Sam Snead as back-to-back winners of the AT&T Byron Nelson. He also moved up 88 spots on the FedExCup points list, from No. 116 to No. 28. Lee, who was born and educated in South Korea, said his second career victory modified his goals for the current season. He wants to make the cut in the PGA Championship, which he missed last year. He also said he intends to make the TOUR Championship, which he missed last season by one spot. “Hopefully this season will be better than last year,” he said. Lee proved to himself Sunday that he can achieve his goals. He wanted a solid front nine. He made five birdies. He wanted to keep his momentum on the back. He played it in 32 strokes, including an eagle on the par-5 12th. He had a tricky putt of 11 feet on the par-3 17th. He said a short prayer and buried it. He held off a number of tested players, most of them with more wins than he, on a day when low rounds were plentiful. The leaderboards around TPC Craig Ranch could barely register scores fast enough. Xander Schauffele and Hideki Matsuyama, who played early, ascended. Charl Schwartzel, Alex Noren (64), Matt Kuchar (64), Peter Malnati (66) and Christiaan Bezuidenhout (67) made charges as the blazing afternoon wore on. But those who started near the lead kept pace. Those players — Jordan Spieth, Sebastian Munoz, Justin Thomas and James Hahn — had their own opportunities. With the entire field clear through the front nine, 10 contestants had a realistic chance to win. Schauffele, who survived the cut on the number, shot a near-flawless 61 to lead briefly. Spieth tied Lee minutes later at the ninth with a birdie, his fourth in five holes, and when Spieth took three putts from 8 feet for a bogey on the next hole, Matsuyama birdied the 15th to replace him. The race was on. Then Lee eagled No. 12 to reach 24-under. Schauffele was done. Lee birdied the 13th. He was now the one to catch. No one could. “Last year I missed the cut at the PGA Championship,” Lee said. “So my first goal is next week play well, hopefully make the cut.” There are two other majors. Then the FedExCup Playoffs. “This helps,” Lee said. “This is really good.”

Click here to read the full article…