Miura signs Ancer as its first ever PGA TOUR ambassador

In the streetwear scene, the adidas ‘Triple Black’ Ultraboost has been one of the most hyped sneakers over the past few years. Now, adidas Golf is bringing the coveted ‘Triple Black’ colorway to the course through special editions of the TOUR360 BOOST 2.0, TOUR360 Knit, and Crossknit 2.0. All three models feature a black BOOST midsole, the first time adidas has created golf shoes with a colored BOOST midsole. Why is this important? Well, it all has to do with style and aesthetics. Until now, all adidas BOOST golf shoes featured a white midsole. When combined with a black upper and black outsole, the white midsole created a high level of contrast, breaking up the uniformity of the look in much the same way a white belt disrupts the flow of an outfit from top to bottom. On the other hand, this sleek ‘Triple Black’ colorway creates a clean appearance, especially when worn with black pants. In the streetwear scene, the adidas ‘Triple Black’ Ultraboost has been one of the most hyped sneakers over the past few years. Now, adidas Golf is bringing the coveted ‘Triple Black’ colorway to the course through special editions of the TOUR360 BOOST 2.0, TOUR360 Knit, and Crossknit 2.0. All three models feature a black BOOST midsole, the first time adidas has created golf shoes with a colored BOOST midsole. Why is this important? Well, it all has to do with style and aesthetics. Until now, all adidas BOOST golf shoes featured a white midsole. When combined with a black upper and black outsole, the white midsole created a high level of contrast, breaking up the uniformity of the look in much the same way a white belt disrupts the flow of an outfit from top to bottom. On the other hand, this sleek ‘Triple Black’ colorway creates a clean appearance, especially when worn with black pants. Proprietary to adidas in partnership with BASF, BOOST is a lightweight foam comprised of thousands of popcorn-like TPU beads that are steam molded and pressed together in the midsole shape for specific a shoe model. The biggest advantage BOOST has over traditional EVA midsoles is its energy return. In fact, adidas says BOOST possesses an energy return of greater than 84%. Standard EVA materials are said to have an energy return of between 50% and 65%. Another benefit of BOOST is its durability. Over time, EVA will begin to collapse, but BOOST does not break down, and it maintains its properties even in extreme heat and cold. adidas first integrated the BOOST technology in a golf shoe with the adipower BOOST model in 2015. Later that year, the brand took another step forward by combining a full-length BOOST midsole with its 360Wrap technology in the TOUR360 BOOST. Adding color in the form of the black BOOST midsole on these special editions is the next progression in the evolution of the BOOST technology on the fairways. The special edition black BOOST colorway is available now in the TOUR360, TOUR360 Knit, and Crossknit 2.0 models.

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Michael Thompson already has playing privileges locked up for the 2021-22 season by virtue of his win at the 3M Open in 2020. But he’s on the outside looking in as far as the FedExCup Playoffs are concerned – and he has a very important reason for wanting to make it into the top 125. “If I were to say that I’m not thinking about it, I’d be lying,” Thompson said. “I think it’s nice that I have a multi-year exemption to rely on; however, getting into the FedExCup Playoffs guarantees me into THE PLAYERS Championship next year, so that’s essentially what I’m playing for.” Thompson, who started the Wyndham Championship ranked No. 128, shot a 64 on Thursday at Sedgefield Country Club that left him tied with Sung Kang, Chris Kirk, Scott Piercy, Hudson Swafford and Ted Potter Jr. for second, two strokes off the pace set by Russell Henley. When darkness suspended play for the day (after a weather delay of two hours and seven minutes), Thompson had moved up to No. 97 in the projected FedExCup standings. Staying patient was the key on a hot, humid Thursday. Thompson started on the back and made four birdies in his first seven holes, but then bogeyed the 18th. He bounced back with birdies at Nos. 1 and 2, then negated another bogey at No. 4 with a 15-footer for eagle at the fifth. The 64 was the Alabama grad’s lowest on TOUR since he shot the same score in the first round of the 3M Open a year ago. “I feel like I’m actually hitting the ball well enough that I can give myself a chance to win this tournament, too,” Thompson said. “As long as I stay positive, stay hydrated, keep my energy levels up and just continue to believe, I think I’m going to have a good opportunity come Sunday.” NOTES: Rickie Fowler, who came into week ranked No. 130, has not missed the FedExCup Playoffs in his previous 11 seasons on the PGA TOUR. A round of 71 on Thursday didn’t help the cause, leaving him projected at 132nd when play was suspended for darkness. … A closing bogey after the rain delay dropped Tommy Fleetwood back outside the top 125. He had just eagled No. 15 and birdied the 16th to gain momentum in a round of 66. “I had a great putt, really thought I had made it, but overall, a solid start to the tournament,” Fleetwood said. He started the week at No. 136 in the FedExCup and is now projected at 129. … Adam Scott, who came into the week ranked No. 121, Matt Kuchar (No. 124), Bubba Watson (No. 71), Brandt Snedeker (No. 93), Justin Rose (No. 138) and Ryan Moore (No. 142) have never missed the FedExCup Playoffs. … Scott gained some breathing room after a 66 left him projected at No. 116. “Obviously the season hasn’t gone how I wanted, and I feel like I’m kind of playing with house money,” Scott said. “I mean, I’m not really thinking about it, I’m more interested in getting my game into the shape I feel it should be, and it’s getting closer.” … Kuchar also made a positive move with a 66 that left him projected No. 118 … Rose, who found out he’d won the Payne Stewart Award on Wednesday, shot 4 under, as well, but only gained seven spots in the projections. … Moore, who won the Wyndham Championship in 2009, lost ground after a round of 68 that left him projected No. 145. … Both Watson and Snedeker are comfortably inside the 125 projections – Watson at No. 71 and Snedeker, a two-time winner of the Wyndham Championship, at No. 100, although he lost seven spots after Thursday’s round of 69. …Two players are projected to move into the top 150, which would give them conditional status on TOUR for the 2021-22 season. Andrew Landry started the Wyndham Championship ranked 156th and stood 149 after a first-round 65. Rafael Campos is on the bubble, moving one spot in the projections after shooting 64. … Only one player, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, is projected to move into the top 200, which would give him access to the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. He started the day ranked No. 204 and was projected 192nd after opening with a 66. PLAYOFFS BUBBLE WATCH Here are the players who were projected to move in and out of the top 125 when Thursday’s first round at Sedgefield was suspended due to darkness. PROJECTED IN Scott Piercy (126 to projected 91) – Piercy, who posted his only top 10 of the season last week when he tied for third at the Barracuda Championship on Sunday, made two eagles in his round of 64. He is tied for second. Michael Thompson (128 to projected 97) – Thompson made six birdies, an eagle and two bogeys in shooting 64. It was his lowest score at Sedgefield in seven appearances. PROJECTED OUT Ryan Armour (122 to projected 126) – Armour couldn’t get anything going on Thursday – making four bogeys, one double bogey and just two birdies in a round of 74. Patrick Rodgers (123 to projected 127) – Rodgers will return to complete his first round on Friday morning. He was 2 over through 16 holes when play was suspended.

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With the official Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada sidelined this season due to issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tour announced Friday that it will hold a series of four tournaments for players residing in Canada. The tournaments are set for Langford, British Columbia, and Caledon, Ontario, in August and September, all events contested under the direction of the Mackenzie Tour and its staff. The Canada Life Series will feature two 54-hole events at Bear Mountain Golf & Tennis Resort Community in Langford on Vancouver Island and two more at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. Fields will consist of Canadian professionals and elite amateurs, as well as Mackenzie Tour members, regardless of citizenship, who are already in Canada. Officials anticipate field sizes between 90 and 120 players, with purses set at $50,000 (CAD) per event. Exempt players for the Canada Life Series will include any Canadian professional who has held status on any of the PGA TOUR’s International Tours since 2018 (Mackenzie Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and PGA TOUR Series-China). In addition, six sponsor exemptions will be used by Golf Canada for its national team members. Canada Life will receive two sponsor exemptions, while both host facilities will have two sponsor exemptions each. The Tour will fill the fields on a first-come-first-served basis if the exempt categories don’t reach their limits. “It was certainly disappointing when circumstances surrounding COVID-19 required us to cancel the 2020 Mackenzie Tour season. We were poised for a great summer of golf, but we never lost sight of the purpose for this Tour, which is to give players opportunities to play tournaments on quality golf courses,” said Scott Pritchard, Mackenzie Tour Executive Director. “Canada Life has been an incredible partner in helping us put this together, and with two terrific venues—Bear Mountain and TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley—we will stage four exceptional tournaments. “To be able to promise the top player from the Canada Life Series additional playing opportunities next season on the Mackenzie Tour only enhances what we’re trying to do, and we’re extremely pleased that will happen,” Pritchard continued. The player who earns the most points during the four tournaments will be granted conditional Mackenzie Tour status and guaranteed six tournament starts on the 2021 Mackenzie Tour. In addition to those playing opportunities, Golf Canada will also award the top player a spot in the 2021 RBC Canadian Open. The players finishing in the second-through-fifth positions on the final points standings earn conditional 2021 Mackenzie Tour status along with two guaranteed Mackenzie Tour tournament starts. The players finishing between Nos. 6-10 earn a discounted rate into one of the 2021 Mackenzie Tour Qualifying Tournaments. “At Canada Life, we believe in helping Canadians achieve their potential. The Canada Life Series is one way we can do that,” said Jeff Macoun, President and Chief Operating Officer, Canada, at Canada Life. “We’re very proud to be able to provide Canadian-based players the opportunity to advance their careers.” The first two Canada Life Series tournaments will be at Bear Mountain’s two courses, both designed by World Golf Hall of Famer Jack Nicklaus and his son Steve. The Canada Life Series at Bear Mountain: Mountain Course is from August 10-12, while The Canada Life Series at Bear Mountain: Valley Course is August 17-19. The Mountain Course has twice hosted PGA TOUR-affiliated golf, the PGA TOUR Champions’ 2016 and 2017 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship. Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie won the 2016 event, while American Jerry Kelly prevailed a year later. “Bear Mountain’s two courses are quite diverse, and Jack and Steve designed them in such a way that we think the tournaments will certainly have different feels to them while at the same time providing excellent tests of golf,” said Rob Larocque, Bear Mountain Director of Golf. The Series will observe a one-week break, allowing players to travel to the other side of the country for the final two events, outside Toronto. The Canada Life Series at TPC Toronto’s links-style Heathlands course is set for September 2-4. The following week, September 9-11, the players will once again tackle the Heathlands, one of three signature Doug Carrick courses at TPC Toronto, for the Series’ closing event, the Canada Life Series Championship. TPC Toronto is also no stranger to PGA TOUR-affiliated tournament golf. It has been home to the Mackenzie Tour’s Osprey Valley Open presented by Votarantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates since 2018, with the eventual Mackenzie Tour Player of the Year in each season winning both editions of the tournament—Tyler McCumber in 2018 followed by Paul Barjon in 2019. McCumber is currently a PGA TOUR member, and Barjon is playing on the Korn Ferry Tour. “The Mackenzie Tour is a familiar and important partner of ours, and we’re thrilled to be hosting two Canada Life Series tournaments here in September. We look forward to seeing some outstanding players compete on the Heathlands and follow in the footsteps of Tyler, Paul and the other champions who have played here over the last two years,” said TPC Toronto President Chris Humeniuk. “It was gratifying to see TPC Toronto enthusiastically embrace this concept. We planned to play the Heathlands for the 2020 Osprey Valley Open, and we will now use the Canada Life Series events as a chance to showcase this spectacular course to these players,” Pritchard added.

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