Winner’s bag: Rory McIlroy, RBC Canadian Open

HILTON HEAD, S.C. – It was only one putt. And it was just the first round of the RBC Heritage. But that 8-footer Jordan Spieth made for birdie on No. 9 at Harbour Town Golf Links onThursday, his final hole of the day, felt important. It got him back to even par for the tournament and headed into an uncertain second round with a modicum of momentum. “It’s one stroke, but to shoot over par versus even is actually kind of a big deal,â€� said Spieth, who is six shots behind the leader, Shane Lowry. “It doesn’t feel like the golf course beat you today. It’s a three-round tournament, just kind of one round, tied the course.â€� Spieth felt like he stayed patient and kept himself in the hunt on a day when he could have shot 2 or 3 over. The man who ranks 212th in driving accuracy only hit eight fairways on this tight, tree-lined Pete Dye creation but his iron play was spot on as he managed to find 15 greens in regulation. “One of my irons went in the water, but it’s the best 8-iron I’ve hit in a year-and-a-half,â€� Spieth reported. “I caught an into gust when it was supposed to be down. Another one of my missed greens, two of them were kind of just on the fringes. “All in all very pleased with what I did to get myself on or around the greens in a couple of strokes. And I really have to bust it out here.â€� The putter was another story, though. Spieth felt like he had the lines but had trouble adjusting to the speed after playing on those lightning-fast greens at the Masters where he tied for 21st last week. Related: Lowry cards bogey-free 65 to lead | Donald returns to RBC Heritage after back injury | Featured Groups, tee times | Insider: Big week for small ball | Kisner keeps perspective as lifelong friend battles tumor  And with winds expected to blow 20-30 mph – and gust to 40 – on Friday, Spieth knows the contrast between the speeds at Augusta National and Harbour Town will only be more pronounced. “I really got Augusta’d out here,â€� he said. “What I mean is I was still putting to the speed of Augusta. I haven’t fully made the transition away from that. “And as we are expecting high winds, I’m sure the greens will slow down even more to make it fair. I’m really going to need to dial in my speed on the greens. Just tough out there coming off last week to this week, to get yourself to pop it harder than you really want to.â€� Spieth, who is playing the RBC Heritage for the first time since 2015, is looking for his first top-10 in 12 starts this season. In three previous appearances at Harbour Town, the affable Texan has finished 11th or better, and to hear him talk, one wonders why he took the four-year break. “I feel like I’m doing myself a disservice, just because it’s after the Masters, not coming to this event,â€� said Spieth, whose career-low in Hilton Head is 62. “I’m trying to play golf courses where the greens and the grass type and the conditions suit my game. “And I haven’t done a great job in my scheduling this year thus far with this new schedule. But I think adding this event was really good for me.â€�

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Quick 9: Spieth equipment move gives pause

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Here are nine tidbits from the final round of the 147th The Open Championship gamers can use tomorrow, this weekend or down the road. Carnoustie Golf Links in Angus, Scotland, United Kingdom plays to Par-71 (36-35) and is hosting for the eighth time. Champion Golfer of the Year Francesco Molinari fired a final-round 69 to post eight-under-par 276 to win The Open Championship by two shots. Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Kevin Kisner and Xander Schauffele all shared second place. Molinari’s first major championship was also the first for Italy as he picked up his third win in his last six events worldwide. Even more impressive than his recent run of form, Molinari didn’t make a bogey in his final 37 holes as he tamed the feared Carnoustie on the weekend. He was 74th of 79 players in hitting fairways but still kept squares off his card and he made par-saving putts all day. His winning round included 13 consecutive pars to begin Sunday and finished with his second birdie from five feet on the 72nd hole. Playing with Tiger Woods, it was never going to be easy, but he looked anything but fazed by the situation. He joined Justin Rose as the only two players to post both weekend rounds in the 60’s as he signed for 65-69. The 35-year-old has now rattled off T2, T20, T25 and WIN in his last four majors as he’s in the form of his life. Know Thy Enemy These were the top-10 selected golfers in the PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf game presented by SERVPRO. Not even a pair of firsts in his last five events plus a runner-up finish last week at the John Deere Classic could convince a majority of gamers to stick Molinari into the lineup! Don’t worry, he’ll be in the other three majors for the next five years and The Open Championship until he’s 60. PAIN OR GAIN These were the top-10 selected golfers (plus one) in the PGA TOUR Fantasy One & Done presented by SERVPRO: It was incredible to see five of the top six players in the conversation at some point on Sunday. Molinari should be a popular selection at the PGA Championship at Bellerive next month or the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational before that. Winning for the first time on the PGA TOUR didn’t bother him so I doubt a major championship will cause him to shut it down. … Of the last 12 major champions, 10 have been first-timers. Only Koepka and Spieth have won more than once. Justin Time After making birdie on the last Friday to make the weekend, England’s Justin Rose took full advantage of his second chance. He backed up his 64 on Saturday, the lowest round of the week, with a grandstand finish on Sunday. His 69 included an eagle on No. 14 and taking the clubhouse lead after making birdie on the final hole for the fourth round in a row. His T2 is his best Open Championship finish and is his fifth top-10 in his last five starts worldwide. Return of the McIlroy In his last four Open Championships Rory McIlroy has nearly won them all. His T2 this week adds to T2 (’14), WIN (’15) and T5 last year. It’s not a surprise he heats up this time of year and this week he put all four rounds in the red this week. Sadly he didn’t make anything besides the monster eagle on No. 14 in the last round. Gamers do know when he turns on the class, it’s time to jump on board and they will have MULTIPLE events to use him coming down the stretch. X Marks the Spot If Xander Schauffele (T2) was your entrant in this week for lowest score of Class of 2011, please step up and claim your prize! Playing in the final group with Spieth won’t do anything except enhance his confidence moving forward in his second season on TOUR. His four top-10 paydays this season have come on Riviera, TPC Sawgrass, Shinnecock Hills and Carnoustie. He’s played six majors over the last two years had has three top-six finishes including the best of the bunch from this week. Scar Tissue Kevin Kisner shared the 54-hole lead with Spieth and Schauffele but posted 74 Sunday to share second. Kisner was the solo 54-hole leader last summer at Quail Hollow Club at the PGA Championship and also posted 74. He’s now played from the final group and the penultimate group in two of the last four majors. Remember in 2015 when he lost three playoffs before finally breaking through? This was his first top-10 paycheck since Harbour Town the week after the Masters. Sunday Stunners Tiger Woods led in the final round in a major championship after his first 10 holes on Sunday. He was seven-under before doubling No. 11 and squaring a bogey on No. 12 to knock him out of the top spot. He rallied for a birdie on No. 14 and shared T6 three ways, just enough to get him to No. 50 in the OWGR and into the field at the WGC-Bridgestone in two weeks. He’s won that event eight times and this will be the final year it hosts this or any PGA TOUR event. … Eddie Pepperell was T16 at Erin Hills in 2017, the last major he played before T6 this week. … Kevin Chappell is now working with Sean Foley. I’d say it’s working after picking up his first top 10 (T6) since API in March. … The defending champion, Jordan Spieth, and runner-up, Matt Kuchar, from Royal Birkdale both cashed T9. It’s Spieth’s second top 10 in the majors after solo third at Augusta. It’s Kuchar’s first top 10 since Houston in late March. I didn’t know Carnoustie had such healing powers. I thought it was supposed to be difficult and punishing! … Tony Finau has hit the top 10 in all three majors this season after finishing T9. Study Hall As predicted by many Marcus Kinhult (T61) and Erik Van Rooyen (T17) led the field in fairways with 42 of 60 (70%). … Tommy Fleetwood (T12) and Finau (T9) were Nos. 1 and 2 in GIR. … Molinari was joined by Koepka and Cameron Davis (T39) in circling the most birdies for the week with 17. In 2007 the leader in this category circled 18. … Gary Woodland has never MC in seven Open Championships but only has one top 25 (T12, 2016). … Jason Dufner has now made the weekend in seven straight across the pond. … The 2019 Open Championship will be contested at Royal Portrush. The Barbasol Championship has been fighting weather all weekend and is currently suspended in Round 4. The top 20 players haven’t been on the course yet.

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