PGA TOUR 2K21 puts you against TOUR stars on TOUR tracks

LOS ANGELES — Joaquin Niemann had an idea how Riviera was playing Thursday when he saw no one from the morning draw posting better than a 5-under 66. RELATED: Full leaderboard | Riviera Romance – Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and stars start hot in LA He hit the ball so well in The Genesis Invitational that he didn’t even bother paying attention to anyone else. When his round ended, Niemann had an 8-under 63 to match the lowest score for the opening round at Riviera and build a three-shot lead. “Sometime I think about a score,” he said. “Today I was hitting it so good, I had fun just getting into the shot. I didn’t really think of the score. But then on 18 I was thinking about. I wanted to make birdie so bad. I wanted to to make one more.” Niemann is the ninth player to open with a 63 at Riviera, a list that starts with Charlie Sifford in 1969 and was done most recently by J.B. Holmes in 2019. Four of the previous eight players to start with 63 went on to win. “You always work to have these kind of days. You always know that you’re never going to have these days four days in a row. It’s a good way to start,” Niemann said. “I know it’s going to be different days during the week, so I’ve got to be ready for everything and have the best attitude for it.” Jordan Spieth had seven birdies and joined a group at 66 that included WM Phoenix Open winner Scottie Scheffler and Max Homa, who had one of several big moments on the first tee. It started with Tiger Woods, the tournament host to went from being a 15-time major champion to the starter on the first tee. He wanted to introduce Aaron Beverly, who received the Charlie Sifford exemption to play in the elite field. The tournament is celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the year Sifford — the first Black golfer to win on the PGA TOUR — was born. For Homa, it was a new experience on a familiar course. He grew up in Southern California and Riviera was the PGA TOUR event he often attended. He had to fight back tears when he won last year. And he was a little nervous going to the tee and knowing he would be introduced as the defending champion. “It was cool. I got a nice ovation,” Homa said. “And playing with two great guys, two of the best players of all time, added to that a little bit. But it was fun. I’ve been on this tee a million times watching and playing now, and to get to hear that was pretty special.” He played with Dustin Johnson and Adam Scott, past winners at Riviera. Johnson has gone more than a year since his last win at the Saudi International, and it doesn’t appear that’s going to change. On the 10th hole, he went from fairway bunker to the back slope of greenside bunker, chipped it to a flatter lie, left the next one in the sand and made double bogey. He opened with a 73. Collin Morikawa, another LA kid, and Justin Thomas were among those at 67. Even in ideal conditions — pleasant sunshine, very little wind — all but Niemann were held in check. Half the field broke par. That included Jon Rahm, the No. 1 player in the world, even if he had reason to believe his 69 felt much worse. He was second in the field to Niemann in the statistical category that measures play from tee to green. Only four players had a worse time puting. Rahm raised his arms in mock triumph when he made a 4-foot birdie on the par-4 eighth, his 17th hole of the round. It was the second-longest putt he made all day. The longest was on the next hole, when he made a 5-footer for par. The tournament now has Woods as the host and has been awarded elevated status, meaning it has a $12 million purse and the winner gets a three-year exemption. Add that to Riviera and all its reverence, and it’s not a surprise all 10 of the top 10 in the world are playing, along with 19 of the top 25 in the world ranking. That doesn’t guarantee big-time winners. Woods, even in his best years, never won at Riviera. For someone like Spieth, it would be extra special given the location. “If I could pick one non-major (or) PLAYERS Championship to win on the PGA TOUR, it would be here,” Spieth said. “I love Riviera. I think it’s arguably … it’s in the conversation as the best golf course in the world.” Spieth has one big win at Riviera, part of the Texas team that won the NCAA title in 2012. He looked as though he had a chance to take it lower than 66 until losing a little momentum with a pair of bogeys. Scheffler is coming of his first win last week in the WM Phoenix Open, and he was more tired than usual, which is a good problem to have. His round turned on the par-5 opening hole with a 7-iron to 2 feet for eagle, and he closed out his round with an approach to 4 feet on the ninth.

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It’s a big week on the PGA TOUR with the playing of their flagship event, The PLAYERS Championship. The best players in the world will be in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, to take on TPC Sawgrass, which means some tightly bunched golf odds this week at the BetMGM online sportsbook. Some weeks it makes sense to take a shot on the best player in the field. The problem with that this week is 17 of the top 18 players in the world will be teeing it up. With so many big names to choose from, who is generating the earliest action? World No. 2 Collin Morikawa has golf odds to win of +1400. As of Tuesday morning, those are the second lowest in the field, trailing only world No. 1 Jon Rahm at +1200. Morikawa is pulling in 15.8% of the handle, by far the most in the field, and the second-most tickets (7.7%). Morikawa, who recently celebrated his 25th birthday, is making just his second appearance at the event. He finished in 41st place a year ago. That may seem uninspiring, but two things are going his way when it comes to generating good vibes at TPC Sawgrass. He shot a final-round 66 a year ago, which was tied for the best score on Sunday. And in 2020, when the tournament was canceled after one round due to COVID-19, he shot a four-under-par 68, which was tied for seventh. In less than three full seasons on the PGA TOUR, Morikawa has quickly become one of the game’s best players. He has five TOUR wins, including two majors, as well as a win at the DP World Tour finale last year. In addition, he enters the event in good form, having finished in the top 5 in his last three starts on home soil (The Genesis Invitational, Sentry Tournament of Champions, and The CJ Cup). TPC Sawgrass is a course that will reward players with the best all-around game. The winner likely won’t be the player who simply drives it the best or putts the best. It will be the player who hits the mark across the board, particularly in the approach game. Morikawa has one of the best well-rounded games on TOUR, leading the Strokes Gained: Total metric. Current Handle & Tickets Handle 1. Collin Morikawa – 15.8% 2. Brooks Koepka – 9.4% 3. Patrick Cantlay – 6.3% 4. Scottie Scheffler – 5.9% 5. Xander Schauffele – 5.4% Tickets 1. Brooks Koepka – 8.7% 2. Collin Morikawa – 7.7% 3. Patrick Cantlay – 4.7% 4. Jon Rahm – 3.9% 5. Xander Schauffele – 3.9% In terms of early movement, defending champion Justin Thomas saw his odds go from +1200 to +1400, and Rory McIlroy went from +1600 to +2000. Meanwhile, last week’s winner at The Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, Scottie Scheffler, went from +2200 to +2500. The last two years have seen the tournament decided by one shot, so it should be an exciting finish. And there should be some decent scores, as the last 12 editions of the tournament have had the winning total finish at double-digits under par. * Visit BetMGM.com for terms and conditions. 21+ years of age or older to wager. BetMGM available in AZ, CO, DC, IA, IN, LA, MI, MS, NJ, NV, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV, or WY only. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Paid in free bets. Free bets expire in 7 days from issuance. Minimum deposit required. Excludes Michigan Disassociated Persons. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO, DC, LA, NV, WY, VA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-800-GAMBLER (IN, NJ, PA & WV), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA) or call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), call or text the Tennessee REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN) or call 1-888-777-9696 (MS). Sports betting is void where prohibited. Promotional offers not available in Nevada.

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Tiger Woods’ revolutionary state-of-the-art entertainment complex PopStroke is set to reveal its first location outside of Florida next week with the 82-time PGA TOUR winner taking to Twitter on Tuesday to confirm the new Houston, Texas location will open on December 16. The complex is a modern take on miniature golf that features two 18-hole putting courses designed by Woods’ TGR Design team along with a restaurant, full-service bar and family-friendly amenities. The Houston PopStroke location will be the fifth fully operational venue, with the first opening in Port St. Lucie, Florida earlier this year and others already running in Fort Meyers, Sarasota and Orlando. Future plans have locations opening in Glendale and Scottsdale, Arizona, as well as Tampa and Delray, Florida, both scheduled for 2023. “Putting is a universal part of golf that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels,” Woods stated in a press release last year. “It has been rewarding to see the broad and diverse group of guests enjoying their experience at PopStroke, and I look forward to seeing players make those long putts in locations throughout the South and Southwest. Each new location will have a different course design and layout giving players unique putting challenges as they travel across the country.” Gone are the windmills and animatronics of old, replaced by brutal bunkers, swerving undulation, and hole locations fitting the tastes of the 15-time major winner himself. While playing a full-length Tiger Woods’ designed course might break the bank of the average golfer, a full day of play at PopStroke will run around $25 for adults, with discounted rates for children. “Some of my happiest memories are spending time with my pops on the golf course having putting contests,” Woods says via the PopStroke website. “I’m looking forward to others enjoying time with their kids at PopStroke.” Woods will take to the course with his own son, Charlie, at the PNC Championship later this month. The duo will look to win this year after coming in second to John Daly and his son in last year’s event in one of the most popular events of the fall season.

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