Ko takes lead at LPGA Marathon Classic

The current fortnight on the PGA TOUR correlates to and aligns with the administration of final exams across the country right now. It wasn’t the original plan but the rescheduling of the Valspar Championship immediately preceding this week’s Wells Fargo Championship has set up a pair of the toughest tests for membership. Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, is poised to host 156 who have registered. Scroll past the projected contenders for its similarities to Copperhead, how it sets up this week, how Max Homa prevailed in 2019 and more. RELATED: The First Look | How the field qualified POWER RANKINGS: WELLS FARGO CHAMPIONSHIP Tuesday’s Fantasy Insider will include Patrick Cantlay, Patrick Reed, Joaquin Niemann and former Wells Fargo Championship winners Rickie Fowler and Jason Day among the notables. When both Copperhead and Quail Hollow last staged their respective competitions in 2019, they ranked a respective 1 and 2 among the hardest par 71s of all non-majors. Further consider that Quail Hollow’s scoring average of 71.762 reflected a significant drop from its 72.132 as the hardest par 71 in a non-major during the 2017-18 season. It had served as the backdrop for the 2017 PGA Championship for which it debuted as a par 71 after playing to a par of 72 as host of the Wells Fargo Championship from 2003-2016. (Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, North Carolina, hosted the 2017 edition of the WFC.) Quail Hollow also is the longest par 71 on the PGA TOUR, although this year’s maximum walk of 7,521 yards reflects a reduction of 33 yards, all as a result of the decision not to use the back tees on the par-3 17th hole that now tips at 190 yards. Like Copperhead’s closing three holes dubbed The Snake Pit, the last three at Quail Hollow Club also has a nickname. It’s The Green Mile. The par 4-3-4 sequence averaged a collective 0.780 strokes over par in 2019. As compared to all holes on the course, they ranked third, first and second, respectively. No. 17 was the fourth-hardest of 197 par 3s in all of 2018-19, while the finisher was 24th-hardest of 522 par 4s. Given the challenge nearest the finish line, whoever prevails will want to be the front-runner when he pencils in his score on the par-5 15th hole on Sunday. Max Homa birdied the last of the trio of par 5s in his final round before closing bogey-par-par for a three-stroke breakthrough victory. For the week, he scored 2-over on The Green Mile. The length of the course in conjunction with greens that are slightly above average in size promotes the bomb-and-gouge equation, and that has had merit over time, but Homa converted on his coronation with his shortest sticks. He finished inside the top 25 in distance of all drives, greens in regulation and proximity to the hole, and then led the field in Strokes Gained: Putting and ranked second in scrambling. He also paced it in par-4 scoring and ranked T2 in par-5 scoring. Inclement weather early this week will have moved on by the time balls are in the air on Thursday morning. Primarily sunny skies and probably dry conditions will allow for zero interruption throughout. It also means that the bermudagrass greens will have an opportunity to reach 13 feet on the Stimpmeter. This elevates the importance of avoiding the primary rough measuring two-and-a-half inches. Extremely comfortable daytime highs in the 70s will get shoved away with a high in the mid-80s for the finale. It’s also when wind will most influence decisions. ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled. MONDAY: Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Sleepers; Fantasy Insider SUNDAY: Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Rookie Watch * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which also publishes on Tuesday.

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Note: The USGA, who owns and operates the U.S. Open, controls all digital streaming and broadcast rights to this event. For more information on how to watch this week, please visit the U.S. Open’s website. PGA TOUR LIVE coverage will resume on Thursday, June 24 at the Travelers Championship. The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced tee times for the first two rounds of the 2021 U.S. Open Championship, Thursday (June 17) and Friday (June 18). Torrey Pines South hosts for the first time since 2008, and will play at 7,652 yards as a par 71. Scroll below for the full pairings. RELATED: Nine things to know about Torrey Pines | DeChambeau and a history of ‘bomb and gouge’ Thursday, No. 1 / Friday, No. 10 (All times PT) 6:45 a.m. / 12:30 p.m. – Sahith Theegala, Chino Hills, Calif.; Edoardo Molinari, Italy; Greyson Sigg, Augusta, Ga. 6:56 a.m. / 12:41 p.m. – Chris Baker, Brownstown, Ind.; J.J. Spaun, Los Angeles, Calif.; Fabian Gomez, Argentina 7:07 a.m. / 12:52 p.m. – Patrick Rodgers, Jupiter, Fla.; Robby Shelton, Birmingham, Ala.; (a) Pierceson Coody, Plano, Texas 7:18 a.m. / 1:03 p.m. – Russell Henley, Columbus, Ga.; Mackenzie Hughes, Canada; Harris English, Sea Island, Ga. 7:29 a.m. / 1:14 p.m. – Francesco Molinari, Italy; Henrik Stenson, Sweden; Shane Lowry, Ireland 7:40 a.m. / 1:25 p.m. – Matt Fitzpatrick, England; Tyrrell Hatton, England; Viktor Hovland, Norway 7:51 a.m. / 1:36 p.m. – Martin Kaymer, Germany; Webb Simpson, Charlotte, N.C.; Gary Woodland, Topeka, Kan. 8:02 a.m. / 1:47 p.m. – Tony Finau, Salt Lake City, Utah; Abraham Ancer, Mexico; Daniel Berger, Jupiter, Fla. 8:13 a.m. / 1:58 p.m. – Si Woo Kim, Republic of Korea; Kevin Na, Las Vegas, Nev.; Bernd Wiesberger, Austria 8:24 a.m. / 2:09 p.m. – Jimmy Walker, San Antonio, Texas; Ian Poulter, England; Ryan Palmer, Colleyville, Texas 8:35 a.m. / 2:20 p.m. – J.T. Poston, Sea Island, Ga.; Adam Hadwin, Canada; (a) Joe Long, England 8:46 a.m. / 2:31 p.m. – Luis Fernando Barco, Peru; Dylan Meyer, Evansville, Ind.; (a) Matthew Sharpstene, Charlotte, N.C. 8:57 a.m. / 2:42 p.m. – Mario Carmona, Mexico; Wilson Furr, Jackson, Miss.; Davis Shore, Knoxville, Tenn. 12:30 p.m. / 6:45 a.m. – Zach Zaback, Farmington, Conn.; Steve Allan, Australia; Eric Cole, Delray Beach, Fla. 12:41 p.m. / 6:56 a.m. – Hayden Buckley, Tupelo, Miss.; Taylor Montgomery, Las Vegas, Nev.; Jordan Smith, England 12:52 p.m. / 7:07 a.m. – Chez Reavie, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Richard Bland, England; Troy Merritt, Meridian, Idaho 1:03 p.m. / 7:18 a.m. – Robert MacIntyre, Scotland; Victor Perez, France; Matt Wallace, England 1:14 p.m. / 7:29 a.m. – Tyler Strafaci, Davie, Fla.; Hideki Matsuyama, Japan; Bryson DeChambeau, Clovis, Calif. 1:25 p.m. / 7:40 a.m. – Adam Scott, Australia; Sergio Garcia, Spain; Bubba Watson, Bagdad, Fla. 1:36 p.m. / 7:51 a.m. – Dustin Johnson, North Palm Beach, Fla.; Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland; Justin Rose, England 1:47 p.m. / 8:02 a.m. – Matt Jones, Australia; Brendan Steele, Idyllwild, Calif.; Cameron Smith, Australia 1:58 p.m. / 8:13 a.m. – Carlos Ortiz, Mexico; Zach Johnson, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Lanto Griffin, Blacksburg, Va. 2:09 p.m. / 8:24 a.m. – Sam Burns, Shreveport, La.; Chan Kim, Gilbert, Ariz.; Thomas Detry, Belgium 2:20 p.m. / 8:35 a.m. – (a) Ollie Osborne, Reno, Nev.; Peter Malnati, Knoxville, Tenn.; Brian Stuard, Jackson, Mich. 2:31 p.m. / 8:46 a.m. – John Huh, Dallas, Texas; Johannes Veerman, Houston, Texas; Zack Sucher, Birmingham, Ala. 2:42 p.m. / 8:57 a.m. – Rick Lamb, Nashville, Tenn.; Michael Johnson, Birmingham, Ala.; Carson Schaake, Omaha, Neb. Thursday, No. 10 / Friday, No. 1 (All times PT) 6:45 a.m. / 12:30 p.m. – Andy Pope, Glen Ellyn, Ill.; Brad Kennedy, Australia; Thomas Aiken, South Africa 6:56 a.m. / 12:41 p.m. – Yosuke Asaji, Japan; Marcus Armitage, England; Jhonattan Vegas, Venezuela 7:07 a.m. / 12:52 p.m. – Cameron Young, Jupiter, Fla.; Wilco Nienaber, South Africa; Guido Migliozzi, Italy 7:18 a.m. / 1:03 p.m. – Brian Harman, Sea Island, Ga.; Tommy Fleetwood, England; Matthew Wolff, Agoura Hills, Calif. 7:29 a.m. / 1:14 p.m. – Collin Morikawa, La Canada, Calif.; Justin Thomas, Louisville, Ky.; Brooks Koepka, West Palm Beach, Fla. 7:40 a.m. / 1:25 p.m. – Kevin Kisner, Aiken, S.C.; Billy Horschel, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; Matt Kuchar, Sea Island, Ga. 7:51 a.m. / 1:36 p.m. – Max Homa, Valencia, Calif.; Xander Schauffele, San Diego, Calif.; Phil Mickelson, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. 8:02 a.m. / 1:47 p.m. – Jason Kokrak, Hudson, Ohio; Cameron Champ, Sacramento, Calif.; Corey Conners, Canada 8:13 a.m. / 1:58 p.m. – Paul Barjon, France; Sam Ryder, Atlantic Beach, Fla.; Ryo Ishikawa, Japan 8:24 a.m. / 2:09 p.m. – Dylan Frittelli, South Africa; Martin Laird, Scotland; K.H. Lee, Republic of Korea 8:35 a.m. / 2:20 p.m. – Rafa Cabrera Bello, Spain; Adrian Meronk, Poland; Sung Kang, Republic of Korea 8:46 a.m. / 2:31 p.m. – Akshay Bhatia, Wake Forest, N.C.; (a) Andrew Kozan, West Palm Beach, Fla.; Alvaro Ortiz, Mexico 8:57 a.m. / 2:42 p.m. – James Hervol, Hopkinton, Mass.; Hayden Springer, Trophy Club, Texas; Roy Cootes, Rolling Hills, Calif. 12:30 p.m. / 6:45 a.m. – David Coupland, England; Taylor Pendrith, Canada; Wade Ormsby, Australia 12:41 p.m. / 6:56 a.m. – Tom Hoge, Fargo, N.D.; Bo Hoag, Columbus, Ohio; (a) Joe Highsmith, Lakewood, Wash. 12:52 p.m. / 7:07 a.m. – Erik van Rooyen, South Africa; Christiaan Bezuidenhout, South Africa; Charl Schwartzel, South Africa 1:03 p.m. / 7:18 a.m. – Garrick Higgo, South Africa; (a) Cole Hammer, Houston, Texas; Joaquin Niemann, Chile 1:14 p.m. / 7:29 a.m. – Lee Westwood, England; Stewart Cink, Atlanta, Ga.; Paul Casey, England 1:25 p.m. / 7:40 a.m. – Will Zalatoris, Dallas, Texas; Scottie Scheffler, Dallas, Texas; Jordan Spieth, Dallas, Texas 1:36 p.m. / 7:51 a.m. – Marc Leishman, Australia; Jon Rahm, Spain; Patrick Reed, The Woodlands, Texas 1:47 p.m. / 8:02 a.m. – Patrick Cantlay, Jupiter, Fla.; Louis Oosthuizen, South Africa; Sungjae Im, Republic of Korea 1:58 p.m. / 8:13 a.m. – Kevin Streelman, Wheaton, Ill.; Branden Grace, South Africa; Charley Hoffman, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. 2:09 p.m. / 8:24 a.m. – Sebastian Munoz, Colombia; Rikuya Hoshino, Japan; Brendon Todd, Athens, Ga. 2:20 p.m. / 8:35 a.m. – Wyndham Clark, Denver, Colo.; (a) Matthias Schmid, Germany; Matthew Southgate, England 2:31 p.m. / 8:46 a.m. – (a) Spencer Ralston, Gainesville, Ga.; Dylan Wu, Medford, Ore.; Justin Suh, Las Vegas, Nev. 2:42 p.m. / 8:57 a.m. – Luis Gagne, Costa Rica; Kyle Westmoreland, Daniel Island, S.C.; Christopher Crawford, Bensalem, Pa.

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Tony Finau, ranked 30th in the FedExCup after two runner-up finishes this season, is one of the headliners for this week’s 3M Open in Minnesota. With the PGA TOUR season reaching its final stretch, Finau is seeking his sixth consecutive TOUR Championship appearance. His impressive ballstriking is the reason for his consistency that makes a trip to East Lake an annual occurrence. This year, he ranks in the top 25 of Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green (13th), Off-the-Tee (21st) and Approach-the-Green (17th). Finau ranks 125th in Strokes Gained: Putting, however, and has taken steps over the last couple years to improve that aspect of his game. Below we will highlight three interesting nuggets about Finau’s unique putter and preparation. 1. Finau has a drawn-on alignment aid In the modern world of equipment design, small tweaks can be made to golf clubs with a few clicks of a button within CAD (computer-aided design) files, but Finau’s alignment additions are a bit more old-school. Last year, Finau worked in close collaboration with Ping through its PLD (Putting Lab Design) platform to build a custom putter. Finau’s PLD Anser 2 model, which was crafted based on his direct feedback, measures 37 inches and has 5 degrees of loft. Everything from the length and loft, to the depth of the face milling marks, was tested and approved by Finau. Like many golfers, Finau preferred a single line in the back of his putter head to use for alignment at address; his white-painted line pops particularly well off the black head. Finau’s putter includes two subtle, yet unique, additions to the head. If you look closely at the heel section of his putter, you’ll notice white/silver markings in the small notch between the hosel and the topline of the putter, and in the far heel portion of the head on the crown. According to Finau, the additional markings help guide his setup, making sure that he gets his hands and eyes aligned the same way every time. If he accidentally makes a small deviation from the norm, the markings won’t appear properly to his eye at address, and he’ll be triggered to make an adjustment. 2. He can hear loft? PGA TOUR players are so finely-tuned that they’re able to tell the difference in minor loft adjustments just by looking down at the club. It’s even more common for them to be able to see performance differences from loft changes; more loft, for example, will generally lead to higher launch angles and spin rates on the golf ball. According to Tony Serrano, Ping’s Senior Design Engineer, Finau can actually hear the differences in loft with his PLD Anser 2 prototype putter. On the outdoor practice green at Ping Headquarters in Phoenix, Finau was hitting lag putts with his custom-built putter and noticed a small issue; he could hear it was impacting the grass more quickly than he was used to, telling him the ball was launching too low because the putter had slightly too little loft. “He automatically noticed the difference in the loft coming off the face, because the loft was a little different than his previous gamer,” Serrano explained. “He was like, ‘I could hear that right away.’ “I don’t know if it was so much coming off the face, but the way it was interacting with the turf, he could hear that it wasn’t rolling right. So we went and did some testing and took video, and he was right. It had too little loft on it, so we had to adjust it a half-degree or so, and he took it back out, and he said, ‘Now we’re back where we need to be.’ But he knew right away, he could hear how the ball was rolling off the face.” That’s a new level of awareness. In the end, Finau settled on 5 degrees of loft being ideal for his custom Anser 2. 3. Finau’s putter drills When PGA TOUR players take to the practice putting green, they don’t mindlessly hit a few putts to get the speed right and head to the course. They practice with a purpose, seeking to instill the proper technique and feels into their putting strokes. Finau uses two drills, in particular, that stand out. GolfWRX has spotted Finau on numerous occasions flipping his putter 90 degrees and putting with the extreme toe side. Additionally, Finau was recently spotted at The Open Championship using a True Pendulum Motion (TPM) Putting Aid made by Ixia Sports. The aid attaches to the shaft of any putter, and by tucking the putting sticks of the apparatus underneath the arms, it helps reduce wrist activity and create more of a swinging motion. Coming off a T28 finish at The Open Championship, Finau is set to tee off at 1:33 pm Eastern at TPC Twin Cities on Thursday for the 3M Open. Pay careful attention to his putter, setup and stroke during the event to see if you can spot the subtle differences.

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