PGA Championship 2019: The golf world belongs to Brooks Koepka, you might as well get used to it

“Official Virtual Reality Golf Game of the PGA TOUR” to integrate PGA TOUR tournament courses into GOLF+ beginning with TPC Scottsdale and TPC Sawgrass early in 2023 PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The PGA TOUR and GOLF+, the leading VR golf game in the world, today announced a long-term deal that makes GOLF+ the “Official Virtual Reality Golf Game of the PGA TOUR.” The agreement will also see the creation of new PGA TOUR game experiences where GOLF+ players will be able to experience exclusive, interactive content and features tied to real-world PGA TOUR tournaments. Using a Meta Quest VR headset, GOLF+ users will be able to compete on select TPC Network golf courses and other PGA TOUR tournament courses beginning with TPC Scottsdale and TPC Sawgrass early in 2023. These in- game PGA TOUR experiences will offer players exclusive tournament competition within the game. Additional tournament courses will be added in the coming years to join the GOLF+ roster of world-class venues. “The PGA TOUR is excited to work with GOLF+, the leading golf game in the emerging VR gaming market,” said Len Brown, PGA TOUR Chief Legal Officer, and EVP, Licensing. “The GOLF+ VR platform is a forward-thinking way to enjoy the sport that is appealing to gamers and golfers of all levels, and an innovative way for people to play the game of golf and grow the sport globally. The TOUR will support the partnership with new courses, ShotLink powered by CDW data, shot trails and video highlights from PGA TOUR competitions.” GOLF+ will have rights to use PGA TOUR marks, rights to advertise within TOUR media and TOUR partner platforms, plus content and video rights allowing GOLF+ to create unique, in-game experiences. “We look forward to working with the PGA TOUR as it provides the ability to present unparalleled interactive tournament experiences to our players in VR,” said Ryan Engle, Co-Founder and CEO of GOLF+. “We are both committed to using innovative technology and interactive experiences to reach new golfers worldwide and grow the game we love.” Golfers and other athletes who have joined GOLF+ as investors include Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, World Golf Hall of Famer Ben Crenshaw, Tom Brady, Steph Curry and Mike Trout. “Beyond providing one of the best VR sports experiences in the world, GOLF+ will now offer a new way for fans to enjoy the excitement of the PGA TOUR,” said Rory McIlroy. “This technology has the power to not only bring new people to the game of golf, but also evolve the way the PGA TOUR is seen and experienced by golfers and gamers everywhere.” “When I was a kid, I always dreamed of making it to the PGA TOUR and testing my game inside the ropes against the best players in the world,” added Jordan Spieth. “It’s great that fans and future TOUR pros are going to be able to use this platform to get a taste for what it’s like to compete on the PGA TOUR.” Designed to be complementary to traditional golf, the GOLF+ VR experience removes typical barriers such as time constraints, greens fees and weather to allow users to play anywhere, anytime. For those who have never picked up a club in the real world, it offers a stress-free way to learn, play and practice at their own pace. Avid golfers can enjoy realistic physics and life-like recreations of some of the most iconic courses in the world. In less than a year since launch, the platform’s hundreds of thousands of golfers have played over six million rounds on the platform. GOLF+ is currently available on the Meta Quest 2 platform for $29.99. The game comes standard with original course designs, Topgolf, and a mini golf experience called Pro Putt. Players can add the famed Pebble Beach, Pinehurst No.2, The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island and Wolf Creek Golf Club as in-app purchases. GOLF+ allows for both single-player and multiplayer options, making it ideal for solo practice or a social round.

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DUBLIN, Ohio – Jack Nicklaus says he still believes Tiger Woods can break his major championship record and has stamped Woods as one of the players to beat at this week’s the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide. Speaking as the host at Muirfield Village, the 18-time major winning Nicklaus said he’s not prepared to write off the 42-year-old Woods when it comes to adding to his 14 majors, despite the fact we are coming up on 10 years since Woods last hoisted a major trophy. Nicklaus did concede Woods needed to learn to win again and figured The Memorial Tournament that Woods has won five times prior would be a great place for it to happen. Woods has 79 PGA TOUR wins but after multiple back surgeries hasn’t won since 2013. “He is a tough competitor, he’s a hard worker, and he’s still driven. So that’s why I never counted him out,â€� Nicklaus said of Woods winning again. “I still think he’s got a shot at breaking my record. But whether he does or he doesn’t, even with 10 years passing, it doesn’t make any difference. I think he’s still, he’s still a great athlete and a great golfer.â€� In eight starts this season, Woods has finished inside the top 12 five times including a runner up finish at the Valspar Championship. He has continually knocked on the door of victory without quite getting it done. Nicklaus is still amazed Woods is playing at all after four back surgeries, including fusion surgery last year. “I am very happy for him. I never thought he would play again after the fusion. I am not a doctor but I never dreamed you could fuse somebody and they could go play golf,â€� Nicklaus said. “It’s amazing… maybe his strength may have saved him. I am sure it helped him.â€� The last time Woods was at Muirfield Village was in 2015 where he made the cut on the number before shooting a career worst 85 in the third round. But Nicklaus says that memory can be forgotten amongst the wins in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2009 and 2012. “We all play bad rounds. Tiger’s swing right now is probably better than it was. If Tiger can just play reasonably well tee to green, with his short game, he will be in contention,â€� Nicklaus continued. “I think that he’ll win when he believes it himself between his ears. “When he really starts to believe that – and maybe winning here would be one thing that would (help that) … I think he’ll win and do I think he’ll win majors again? Yeah, I think he’ll win majors again.â€� But now he has a plethora of young stars standing in his way. Players who Nicklaus feels may not have had the immediate success they’ve experienced had Woods not had his lengthy periods away from the game in the last decade. Nicklaus said other players “all folded up their tents and went homeâ€� when Woods would move up a leaderboard in his prime. But without his presence in recent years, the likes of FedExCup holder Justin Thomas, and players like Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Jon Rahm and Hideki Matsuyama have all emerged. “While he was away from the game all these young kids have come along and learned how to play and learned how to win,â€� Nicklaus said. “So he doesn’t have the fear factor that he had when he was playing.â€�

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With the first major championship on the horizon next week at the Masters, the Houston Open serves as the final chance to “win and get in”, if not already qualified. The Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas, will host 144 players of which 125 will be looking to cash their ticket to Augusta National Golf Club for the wonderful pomp and circumstance. With 19 players using this event as a tune up, don’t be surprised if one of the “others” steals this last-ditch chance to pop into the field. Of the last four winners at this event, three have taken advantage of being the last man in the field at the first major of the season. As fantasy players look to tighten up and gain every advantage before next week’s Masters, the pros in the field are trying to do the same. To entice a deeper and tougher field leading up to a major, the Golf Club of Houston has taken multiple steps to mimic Augusta National since assuming host duties in 2006. The majority of the changes were completed before the 2009 edition and have held true since. Pros who use this a tune-up expect the same conditions annually and GCH has obliged by making their greens perfect, creating closely-mown chipping areas, minimizing rough and are using the same mowing patterns as Augusta National. The course will tip out at 7,441 and play to Par-72 and luckily for all involved, the course was not significantly damaged after two hurricanes last autum and should be ready to go. Last year Sung Kang matched the tournament course record with 63 on Friday while Russell Henley matched the tournament record posting 20-under-par 268 in his victory. TALES OF THE TAPE (WINNERS) For the third time in four editions the eventual winner came from well off the pace to win at the Golf Club of Houston. Henley made up four shots on the final day posting 65 that included an incredible 10 birdies. His round was so good that he also squared a double on No. 9 and a bogey on No. 18, yet he still won by three shots! While his putter was white hot, his ball-striking was also on point and that led to a tournament-tying-best 27 birdies for the week. His 20-under total matched Phil Mickelson (2011) for the lowest total since the move to GCH. Sung Kang opened 65-63 (-17) before fading to second (71-72). Henley rode his wave of momentum to T11 at the Masters, the best finish since Anthony Kim was third in 2010. One stat pack that jumped off the page was the top seven in strokes-gained: putting all finished inside the top 12. The 2016 edition was interesting for a few reasons. The final group included eventual champion Jim Herman and Jamie Lovemark, both looking for their first wins on TOUR. One shot behind them entering Sunday was Dustin Johnson, Henrik Stenson and Russell Henley, all TOUR winners. Herman beat Lovemark (T18) by eight shots and held off Stenson by a shot and Johnson by two to pick up the check. Similarly to Henley, Herman had a great week on the greens and tee-to-green. The top 17 players posted four rounds ABOVE par for the WEEK and none were signed for on the weekend. You can see where Lovemark’s 76 got him! Following the stat above, the top nine in strokes-gained: putting all shared T13 or better for the week. Daniel Berger led the birdie category with 23. J.B. Holmes bombed and gouged his way to success in 2015 reminding gamers that hitting fairways while nice, is hardly a requirement this week. Taking the crooked numbers out of play is an acquired taste so it’s hardly shocking that the average winner here is in his mid-30’s. Holmes didn’t find many, if any fairways, but his opening round 65 and closing round 64 proved there’s more than one way to win on this layout. He began the final round six shots off the lead, the same as Matt Jones in 2014, before going out in 29 and posting 64 to get into a playoff. His 64 is the lowest by a winner and his third round score of 73 was the first over-par tally by a winner since 2004. He held off 2008 champ Johnson Wagner and soon-to-be Masters and U.S. Open winner Jordan Spieth for the title, defeating Wagner on the second playoff hole. Russell Henley led the event in ball-striking and Scott Piercy opened with 63 to tie the course record. NOTE: Golfers inside the top 25 in each statistic on the 2016-17 PGA TOUR are listed only if they are scheduled to compete in the Houston Open. * – Finished inside the top 10 at the Houston Open since 2013. Par-4 Scoring Rank Golfer 1 *Jordan Spieth 6 Tony Finau 6 Justin Rose 6 *Rickie Fowler 6 Lucas Glover 6 *Chez Reavie 15 Brandt Snedeker 15 Ian Poulter 15 *Daniel Berger 15 *Matt Kuchar 15 *Keegan Bradley 15 Jamie Lovemark 15 Robert Garrigus Strokes-gained: Putting Rank Golfer 1 Michael Thompson 2 *Rickie Fowler 3 Luke Donald 6 Jonas Blixt 8 Mackenzie Hughes 10 Shane Lowry 14 *Rafael Cabrera-Bello 15 Cody Gribble 18 Peter Malnati 21 Whee Kim 23 Blayne Barber 24 Camilo Villegas 25 *Russell Henley Bogey Avoidance Rank Golfer 1 *Jordan Spieth 2 Chad Campbell 5 *Chez Reavie 7 Ian Poulter 8 *Matt Kuchar 9 *Charles Howell III 10 Lucas Glover 11 *Rickie Fowler 11 *Bill Haas 20 Martin Flores 22 Tony Finau 23 Seamus Power 24 John Huh 25 Ryan Armour Greens in Regulation Rank Golfer 1 Martin Flores 4 *Jordan Spieth 5 Ryan Armour 6 Lucas Glover 9 Robert Garrigus 12 J.J. Henry 14 *Luke List 15 Chad Campbell 17 Tony Finau 20 *Keegan Bradley 25 Justin Rose Strokes-gained: Tee-to-Green Rank Golfer 2 *Jordan Spieth 9 Justin Rose 10 Ton Finau 13 *Luke List 16 *Rickie Fowler 18 Byeong Hun An 20 Lucas Glover 21 *Ryan Palmer 22 Ian Poulter 25 Bud Cauley GCH will try and protect par with water in play off the tee in over half of the holes, slick greens, deep bunkers and closely-mown areas. The multi-tiered greens will reward those who hit the proper section and test the putting acumen of those who don’t. GCH annually ranks as one of the “wettest” courses on TOUR as its water hazards gobble up plenty of errant shots. Scrambling for pars this week isn’t going to cut it but squaring bogeys are worse. No player has defended or won multiple titles since the move to GCH in 2006. Of the last four winners, none have any other TOUR event victories since their win at GCH. Weird. There are two schools of thought from pros this week as to why and why not to play. Many have remarked in interviews before and after the event that they prefer their “practice” to be measured. Chipping and putting in the backyard, while helpful to some, doesn’t do it for others. Whereas the greens here roll true and putts continue to go down for birdie, Jordan Spieth reminded us before last year’s event that while GCH has fantastic greens, NOTHING compares to Augusta National in this department. That’s another reminder that experience is a massive factor next week. Course Ratings: 2015: 11th easiest of 52 played; -1.145 strokes below par. 2016: 23rd-most difficult of 50 played; -0.115 strokes below par. 2017: 24th-most difficult of 50 played; -0.018 strokes below par.   Rob Bolton’s Power Rankings will give you more juice for the week so make sure you stop by. It’s also who I trust with the weather each week so pay attention! NOTE: The groups below are comprehensive to assist in data mining. Inclusion doesn’t imply automatic endorsement in every fantasy game as all decisions are specific to your situation. CONFIDENCE MEN Selected golfer swith multiple cuts made sorted by rank on the tournament’s money list. BUILDING CONFIDENCE Sorted by best finish, selected golfers who are either finally finding form on the course or are still relatively new to the tournament but have enjoyed some success. OTHER SIGNS OF CONFIDENCE Sorted by most recent top 10s, selected golfers for whom it’s been a few years since their last.

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