Packed leaderboard sets up Sunday drama at Wells Fargo Championship

Editor’s note: Ernie Els is writing a blog in 2017 and this is his latest installment. For more information on the World Golf Hall of Famer, visit www.ernieels.com. First of all, big congrats to Justin Thomas on his first win in a major. He hit some great shots and holed key putts…when he really needed to. That’s what it takes to win one of these.  Actually, after having played with Hideki Matsuyama in the first two rounds I thought it might be his week. When he’s on, his ball-striking is incredible. There are not really any flaws in his game; he’s got the whole package, as they say. But as we all know, it’s not the easiest thing in the world to win a major. You need a lot of factors to go your way. Hideki has paid his dues now, though, and I believe his time will come.  For me … well, playing in my 100th major championship was obviously a cool milestone and a proud moment, especially when you see the other golfers on the 100 majors list (see stats at the bottom of this report). But for me right now, it’s all about fighting hard to get something going, some momentum rolling. My hunger for competition is as strong as ever. So, with that in mind, we move on now to this week’s Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club. It’s the final stop on the PGA TOUR before the start of the FedExCup Playoffs and my team tells me that I need a win to get into the Playoffs. A runner-up spot would mean we probably just miss out. But I can’t go into the week with math on my mind. Just got to treat it like any other tournament and commit 100 percent to playing my best golf from the get-go.  It’s my seventh appearance here and, as always, it’s a real treat to come and play this beautiful old Donald Ross design. Sedgefield is one of the premier private clubs in America and was host venue for the Greater Greensboro Open. In fact, it was here in 1965 that Sam Snead won his last, and all-time record 82nd PGA TOUR event, at the age of 52. Davis Love III also won this tournament a couple of years ago at the age of 51. So maybe there’s something in the water at Sedgefield for us old guys! Joking aside, this is a course that I’ve enjoyed playing over the years so I’m looking forward to teeing it up and hoping for a strong week. Finally, a quick update on our Els for Autism Golf Challenge, which is enjoying another successful run in the U.S. & Canada this summer. Please click here http://www.ernieelscentre4autism.co.za/events.asp for information on how to take part.  Meanwhile, over in South Africa the Drive to SA Open series paid its first visit to The Els Club Copperleaf on July 27, where the guys there put on another great show. Thank you to Juan Geyser, the new golf director at Copperleaf, and to Jacob Mocherene who I hear worked tirelessly to make this day a success. Thanks also to Carl Manser from EOH who entered 24 players; glad to have you all on board! And congrats to the winners, Branus Viljoen and Johan Steyn. The next stop is at another course that has a special place in my heart, Kempton Park, on Sept. 7. Click here http://e4agolf.com if you’d like to take part in that. Follow me on Twitter @TheBig_Easy. The 100 Majors Club 1. Jack Nicklaus – 164 majors 2. Gary Player – 150 majors 3. Tom Watson – 145 majors 4. Arnold Palmer – 142 majors 5. Raymond Floyd – 127 majors 6. Sam Snead – 119 majors 7. Ben Crenshaw – 118 majors 8. Gene Sarazen – 112 majors 9. Tom Kite – 109 majors .Mark O’Meara – 109 majors 11. Bernhard Langer – 104 majors 12. Sir Nick Faldo – 100 majors Ernie Els – 100 majors Phil Mickelson – 100 majors

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Ping’s 2021 putter line features both traditional and new putter models designed to offer multiple options for each stroke type. With its emphasis on fitting, Ping has taken great care with the line to optimize each model with different blends of materials and technology best suited to each head shape. Ping’s VP of engineering Paul Wood told us that upwards of 70 percent of golfers favor inserts/softer feel, so the company was determined to offer a full range of insert-style putters to complement the solid-faced Heppler line. The objective in developing the insert for the 2021 line was to create a successor to the Sigma 2 line that offered a similar soft feel with some performance-enhancing technology and new models. Ping’s engineers are continuing to use a dual-durometer insert that feels softer on shorter putts and firmer on longer strokes. Wood indicated the shallow, uniform groove technology (previously known in-house as the Bubba Watson Groove due to his early involvement) came straight from feedback from tour professionals by focusing on optimizing player perception more than anything to do with the physics. In addition to the dual-durometer insert, Wood said the other key to the 2021 line is every putter uses multiple metals that have been selected based on the head shape. ”Each putter in the line has a combination of heavier and lighter materials positioned to maximize stability and keep a low center of mass,” Wood said. For example, the blade putters use steel with tungsten around the perimeter for greater stability. However, that formula would be too heavy in the larger mallet putters, such as the Harwood, which has an aluminum body with tungsten inserts. Finally, in terms of technology across the line as a whole, Wood told us there are four main ways players line up the ball: the top rail, a long central alignment, ball framing lines, and an alignment feature that directly meets the ball. Across the whole line, there is something for everyone and each model focuses on one or two of these primary alignment styles for ease of alignment. Speaking on the 2021 line, John K. Solheim, Ping president said “We’ve engineered a lot of score-lowering technology into the 2021 putter line through extensive research and tour player feedback. All of the models are developed with higher MOI through strategic use of various materials, including tungsten, steel and aluminum, to provide the forgiveness and accuracy golfers expect from a Ping putter. The dual-durometer insert features uniform, shallow grooves to give golfers a soft, responsive feel for more consistent distance control with the precise touch they need to hole more putts.” Ping 2021 putters: The models The Anser, Anser 2, and Anser 4 combine a stainless-steel head with tungsten heel and toe weights to elevate the timeless designs to the highest MOI in company history. While in the Kushin 4, DS 72, and Tyne 4, a steel weight is positioned in the heel, and tungsten is used to the toe to optimize the center of gravity locations for each model. The Fetch and Oslo H merge together a cast 304 stainless steel body with an aluminum sole plate to position mass around the perimeter of the heads for highly forgiving mallet-style designs. For the new CA 70 head, a stainless steel sole weight is used to lower the center of gravity of the putter, which features a body mostly constructed of aluminum. The largest of the new designs, the Harwood offers the highest MOI in the line thanks to its 6061 aluminum body and 93 grams worth of tungsten weights positioned in the four corners of the head. Specs, availability, prices The new 2021 Ping putter line will be available in a total of 11 different models including one in an armlock configuration and come in both right and left-handed. The putters are each fitted with one of three original Ping-designed grips intended to maximize the putter performance based on stroke fit. The PP58 – A mid (87g) standard-sized pistol shape made of rubber and designed to help square the face at impact is the standard grip on the Anser, Anser 4, Kushin 4, CA 70, DS 72, Tyne 4, and Tyne C. The PP60 – Another (86g) midsize option, pistol design with a rubber under-listing with larger flat surfaces for increased face awareness. A new rubber outer layer features a unique texture to enhance a golfer’s sense of touch. It comes standard on the Anser 2, Fetch, Oslo H and Harwood. The PP58-S – A pistol-shaped midsized grip featuring a straight taper and predominantly flat surface to aid in clubface awareness. All of the 2021 Ping putters are priced at $270, except for the Harwood and Harwood armlock, which are priced at $380. Click here to purchase.

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The Monday qualifier for this week’s Palmetto Championship at Congaree was held a day early to accommodate U.S. Open qualifying, but it didn’t lack any of the inherent drama. The final spot in the Palmetto field came down to an eight-man playoff, which was won by Brant Peaper. Akshay Bhatia, Hayden Springer, Garrett Osborn, Stewart Jolly, Peyton White, Charles Huntzinger and Evan Grenus joined Peaper in the playoff. Cody Blick, Tain Lee and former NCAA champion Broc Everett will join Peaper in the field. Lee has qualified for three TOUR events this year. The Palmetto Championship will be the second PGA TOUR start of Blick’s career. He made 10 birdies Sunday en route to shooting 7-under 65 at Belfair in Bluffton, South Carolina. He finished in the top 15 of the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada’s Order of Merit (now known as the Forme Tour) in both 2017 and 2018. Following his success in the Great White North, he famously shot 63 in the final round of the Korn Ferry Tour Q-School after getting his clubs stolen hours before teeing off. Blick was sidelined with a back injury 10 starts into the 2019 KFT season, however. He failed to keep his Korn Ferry card after missing the cut in all six of his medical starts in 2020. QUALIFIERS Cody Blick Age: 27 College: San Jose State Turned pro: 2016 PGA TOUR starts: 1 Cuts made: 1 PGA TOUR earnings: $7,128 Twitter: @blick_golf Notes: The Palmetto Championship will mark Blick’s first start on the PGA TOUR since the 2017 Barracuda Championship (T61). Blick missed all six cuts on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2020 while playing on a medical extension. He made two cuts on the PGA Latinoamérica Tour in 2020, finishing T52 at The Championship at Echelon Golf Club and 52nd at the Classic at The Club at Weston Hills. Tain Lee Age: 31 College: Claremont McKenna College Turned pro: 2011 PGA TOUR starts: 2 Cuts made: 2 PGA TOUR earnings: $32,315 Notes: The Palmetto Championship will be Lee’s third career PGA TOUR start (all in 2021). He finished 69th at the Farmers Insurance Open and 59th at the Valero Texas Open after Monday qualifying for both. … Lee won the Jack Nicklaus Award in 2010 as the top player in NCAA Division III. Broc Everett Age: 26 College: Augusta Turned pro: 2018 PGA TOUR starts: 3 Cuts made: 0 Twitter: @Brocandroll10 Notes: Everett has made three starts on the Korn Ferry Tour this season, making one cut (T54 at Pinnacle Bank Championship presented by Aetna). Most recent PGA TOUR starts came in 2019 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Wells Fargo Championship. Everett won the 2018 NCAA individual title. Future PGA TOUR players Doug Ghim (3rd), Scottie Scheffler (6th) and Matthew Wolff (T7) finished in the top 10 that week. Everett played baseball, basketball track and golf in high school, and was member of several choral groups. Brant Peaper Age: 26 College: Indiana Turned pro: 2013 PGA TOUR starts: 0 Twitter: @peapshow25 Notes: This will be Peaper’s PGA TOUR debut. He played three events on the Korn Ferry Tour between 2016 and 2018 and made the cut in six of 30 Forme Tour starts between 2014 and 2019. Was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2013, including a win at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate. NOTES Notable who missed qualifying: Hayden Springer, Akshay Bhatia, John Augenstein, M.J. Daffue (AT&T Byron Nelson Monday Qualifier), J.J. Killeen. 2020-2021 Monday Qualifier Statistics Last event’s qualifier results: AT&T Byron Nelson, M.J. Daffue (MC), John Lyras (MC), Dylan Meyer (T68), Tom Lovelady (MC) Total money earned by Monday qualifiers on TOUR this season: $651,473 Best Finish: M.J. Daffue (T12, Sanderson Farms Championship) Next Monday Qualifier: Travelers Championship at Ellington Ridge Country Club (Monday June 21, 2021)

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