Rory McIlroy ‘experimenting’ with new speed

The Ryder Cup starts Friday at Le Golf National outside Paris. The U.S. is seeking its first win on foreign soil in 25 years. Will it happen, or will the European team bounce back from its loss two years ago in Hazeltine? Our staff writers weigh in with their predictions. SEAN MARTIN Senior Editor Winning team: USA (14.5 to 13.5) USA MVP: Tony Finau. The rookie may not go undefeated, but a winning record from the last man picked will be crucial in such a close match. European MVP: Sergio Garcia. Yes, he had a lackluster season, but the Ryder Cup will re-ignite his flame. Comment: The United States will win on foreign soil eventually. May as well be this year. This strong U.S. contingent has won its past three team competitions by a combined 51.5 – 36.5 margin. It won’t be easy, but they will get the job done. The U.S. is too strong from top to bottom. MIKE McALLISTER Managing Editor Winning team: USA (16 to 12) USA MVP: Tiger Woods. Fresh off his first PGA TOUR win in five years, he’ll carry the momentum into this week with a dominant performance. European MVP: Ian Poulter. His form fell off a bit in his last few TOUR starts, but he’ll deliver the usual passion and spunk that we expect from him against the U.S. Comment: Honestly, I’m not sure it’ll be all that close. U.S. has more guys in form and too many young players without scar tissue. Don’t expect them to be fazed in the least on foreign soil. CAMERON MORFIT Staff Writer Winning team: USA (14.5 to 13.5) USA MVP: Brooks Koepka. No one is on a better run of excelling on really hard courses. European MVP: Francesco Molinari. He’s had the best season of any European and is tough to beat right now. Comment: The U.S. will run out to an early lead, but outmanned Europe will keep it close with the home crowd urging them on. In the end, the score will reflect which side has the better players, and the U.S. will win a road game for the first time in a quarter century. JONATHAN WALL Equipment Insider Winning team: USA (15 to 13) USA MVP: Patrick Reed. Always finds a way to raise his game to another level during the biennial matches. He’ll do it again on foreign soil.  European MVP: Tommy Fleetwood. Has the game and confidence to make a major statement as a rookie. Comment: The U.S. team is stacked. It’s easy to see Europe keeping it close, but there are too many questions at the bottom of the roster, namely a lack of consistency from some key captain’s picks. Going with experience over a couple of hot hands winds up being the difference for Thomas Bjorn. BEN EVERILL Staff Writer Winning team: Europe (15 to 13) USA MVP: Justin Thomas. He will prove he’s the next “liferâ€� for the U.S. team. European MVP: Justin Rose. He’s killing it right now and accuracy is going to be a key factor. Comment: The home team will set up conditions to negate the U.S. firepower and the crowds will put the visitors off their usual swagger. HELEN ROSS Contributor Winning team: USA (14.5 to 13.5) USA MVP: Patrick Reed. Captain American loves this stage, and he’ll especially enjoy taking his curtain calls before the partisan European crown. European MVP: Justin Rose. Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia immediately come to mind – and I expect both to rise to the occasion — but you can’t ignore the way the new FedExCup champ has been playing. Comment: It’s time for the Americans to win the Ryder Cup in Europe. It won’t be a runaway but the U.S. has been building to this ever since the task force was formed.  ROB BOLTON Fantasy Insider WINNER: USA (15.5 to 12.5) USA MVP: Patrick Reed EUROPE MVP: Thorbjorn Olesen COMMENT: Both teams have moxie, so this will be a terrific battle. Europe has the experience on the course and we should expect captain Thomas Bjorn to have an impact in what sets up as a transitional edition for the hosts. However, the Americans are as deep as they’ve ever been and the evolution of the new team philosophy is still fresh and fun. MIKE GLASSCOTT Fantasy Contributor Winning team: Europe (15 to 13) USA MVP: Brooks Koepka continues his ascendancy with another big performance but it’s not enough to push the Stars and Stripes over the finish line.  European MVP: Ian Poulter lives up to the expectations and cements his place as one of the greatest of all time in this format. Comment: The European rookies are buoyed on by the partisan crowd and play with freedom as Bjorn’s “old guard” holds up their part of the bargain. The USA struggles to find enough fairways and continues their struggles away from home in this event.

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HONOLULU – Tom Hoge had never held a 54-hole lead on the PGA TOUR before Saturday but he has held the 36-hole lead – with Tiger Woods. Hoge’s third round 6-under 64 at Waialae Country Club, after opening 65-65, has him one clear at the top of a stacked leaderboard. Given Waialae often gives up multiple birdie chances, all 13 players within six shots of the lead would fancy their chances on Sunday. But Hoge starts in front. One clear of Patton Kizzire and Brian Harman. With Kyle Stanley (two back), Chris Kirk (three back) and Russell Knox and Ollie Schniederjans (four back) the nearest other challengers. All but Schniederjans are already PGA TOUR winners so he has his work cut out for him. Hoge will try to learn from his experience with Woods – back at the 2015 Wyndham Championship – where he was unable to keep pace amongst the heat of competition. Back then he shot a 2-over 72 when paired with Woods to drop to T21 and out of the mix. Woods shot 68 that day to remain in contention. (Ultimately Woods finished T10). “Looking back, I started the week 130th in the FedExCup so I needed to have a good day, and I didn’t play as well as I needed to on the weekend,â€� Hoge recalled of his round with Woods. “It’s all perspective in professional golf. To go through that environment and to play in that makes it easier for the next time.â€� He’s certainly a better player for it now. And one who has had more experience in the clutch. Like at the Web.com TOUR Championship last year when he needed to make a late charge to even get his TOUR card. He birdied seven of his last 12 holes to make it. “I started the day somewhere around 30th and I was like one over through seven holes or something. I was looking like it was going to be back to the Web.com,â€� he said. “Finally pulled off a few good shots to get things going. I got to the last hole, and I saw that I was probably out if I missed the putt, and I got a 15-footer and made it. “Events like that kind of go under the radar. I didn’t win the tournament, but to pull it off – it is a lot bigger playing for your job next year than winning a tournament sometimes.â€� Tomorrow he will try to secure the win and his job for at least another two years. CALL OF THE DAY OBSERVATIONS SPIETH TRUSTING PUTTING PROCESS: The ball just hasn’t been going in the hole for Jordan Spieth in Hawaii (short of a miracle 91-footer Friday) but he’s working hard at correcting his putting woes going forward. After needing 30 putts in Round 1 and 33 in Round 2, Spieth used the flatstick 31 times on Saturday during a 4-under 66. He made just 56 feet of putts in Round 3, the longest being 6 feet, 9 inches. As such he sits nine shots off the pace. “Stay patient, it’s a process. I’m getting back to the setup and comfort level that I had in 2015 and ’16 that went away a bit last year,â€� he explained. “I’m very pleased that Cameron (coach) did some unbelievable research and video recovery to figure out where things need adjustment to get back to being able to stroke it with freedom. It’s just going to take some rounds. I thought today was close, I just didn’t hit putts hard enough. Every single putt I missed, I missed low. So I’ve got to go out tomorrow and make that adjustment and take higher lines.â€� KIZZIRE CONTINUES CLUTCH SEASON: Patton Kizzire lost the FedExCup lead last week but the OHL Classic at Mayakoba champion wants it back. Now third on the list behind Pat Perez and Dustin Johnson, Kizzire can wrestle the top spot back easily given the other two are not in the field. He’s just 48 points off top spot. “The focus has started to move towards the FedExCup. Guys are really focusing on that and to get a leg up and kind of get a fast start,â€� Kizzire said. “I’m chasing that trophy. Everybody wants to be No. 1 at the end of the year and to play well coming down the stretch at the TOUR Championship. That’s a goal of mine, and I’m looking forward to that.â€� FINAU MAKES FIRST ACE: Tony Finau had made 10 holes-in-one in his life before Saturday but never one on the PGA TOUR. That changed on the par-3 17th hole at Waialae. His 8-iron from 179 yards was perfect. “I put some height on it because I knew that was the only way I was going to stop it on that green. I think most of the complaints on that green are because the ball doesn’t stop,â€� Finau said. “I just hit a perfect shot. The chances of that happening in a tournament is pretty cool. That was a special moment for me.â€� Finau still clearly remembers his first ace. “I was 9 years old – the Blue course at Doral on the 15th. I was playing a little Doral junior public links. Hit like an 8 iron from 115 yards and one-hopped in.â€� NOTABLES Justin Thomas – The defending champion shot a 4-under 66 to move to 10-under in a tie for ninth. “There’s a lot of birdie holes left. You can definitely go low out here, and I know that I can, but it’s just a matter of doing it. I’m glad that I’ve put myself in somewhat of a position to be in contention a little bit.â€� Brian Harman – The 36-hole leader sits just one shot off the pace after a solid 68. “Just a little looser today,â€� he said. “Missed a few tee shots and didn’t have as many chances as I wanted to. But I’ve got a feeling tomorrow is going to be all right.â€� Sam Saunders – Arnold Palmer’s grandson is an outside chance at a maiden PGA TOUR win after rounds of 67-67-66 have him T9 and six back. QUOTABLES I was like, if it’s my time, it’s my time.Part of you thinks get a Mai-Tai, go to the beach and get a front row seat.I was a little more uncomfortable today than I thought I would be. Hopefully, I’ll settle down a little bit tomorrow.I scored very nicely yesterday but just was kind of nervy. I just woke up this morning, and I was like why am I nervous? I mean, I just shot 64.It’s funny because I played a little bit, and then I got married on December 3rd. So a couple of weeks off and then I came back after that, and I didn’t feel like I knew which end of the club was right. SUPERLATIVES Low round: 7-under 63 – Webb Simpson made a move up to T9 with his round featuring an eagle, six birdies and just one bogey.   Longest drive: 369 yards – Justin Thomas on the par-4 14th. He made birdie.   Longest putt: 63 feet, 5 inches – Matt Jones on the par-4 12th for a birdie. Easiest hole: The par-5 ninth played at 4.368 with two eagles, 51 birdies, 20 pars, two bogeys and one other. Hardest hole: The par-3 11th played at 3.303 with seven birdies, 40 pars, 28 bogeys and 1 double bogey.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Notes and observations from Thursday’s first round of the PGA Championship where Thorbjorn Olesen and Kevin Kisner each birdied the 18th hole to grab a share of the lead at 67. The two own a one-stroke lead over Grayson Murray, Gary Woodland, U.S. Open champ Brooks Koepka, D.A. Points and Chris Stroud, who won last week’s Barracuda Championship. Murray playing a home game Grayson Murray was born, raised and still lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, which is only two-and-a-half hours from Charlotte. Until this week, though, the 23-year-old had never played Quail Hollow Club. Considering the significant changes to the course made last summer, though, maybe it was good for Murray to come to the PGA Championship flying blind, so to speak. After all, the 68 he shot in the first round that included a 32 on the extremely challenging back nine left him one stroke off the lead. Murray shot 83-81 at the 2013 U.S. Open in his only other major appearance. “This course is very tough,â€� Murray said. “I played about as good as I could. I had some putts that could have dropped but that’s how golf is. I’m very pleased with the round today.â€� That 7:20 a.m. start came early. But maybe it was only fitting that a native North Carolinian hit the opening tee shot of the first PGA played in the state since the 1974 event at Tanglewood. And he had plenty of fans urging him on as the round progressed. “It was nice to have a lot of friends and family out there supporting me,â€� he said. “You hear, ‘Go Grayson, let’s go.’ It’s good motivation for me.â€� Murray didn’t even know he was in the PGA field until two weeks ago when the rookie won the Barbasol Championship. He also vaulted from 124th to 58th in the FedExCup with the win and locked up a two-year exemption and trip to Maui for the SBS Tournament of Champions in January. “People ask me was it a relief or excitement,â€� Murray said. “And it was excitement. … Getting that first win was huge confidence-wise. “I can’t say how hard it is to win out here. I can’t stress it — what these guys do, what Jason Day or Rory or Jordan or Hideki, people take that for granted. It’s unbelievable. Hopefully I can be in that category in the next year or two and be in their shoes. “Right now, I’m just trying to get that second one.â€� Murray credits Josh Gregory, who used to be the golf coach at Southern Methodist, with helping turn his season around. He hired Gregory the week of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard and the results were almost immediate – he missed his fifth straight cut at Bay Hill but then made 10 in a row. “My short game has really elevated since I have been working with Josh,â€� Murray said. “My time management, I’m out here practicing for a purpose now.â€� And Murray has another purpose this week. He may be young and he may be less experienced than some but he knows he has the game to compete. “Honestly, that win took a lot of nerves off,â€� he said. “I’m freewheeling it now. … All the world class players are here, so I’ll have to play my A-plus game probably right now to win where some guys may be able to play their B-plus and win. “Hopefully I’ll be at that stage of my career soon.â€� Reed’s game coming around Patrick Reed came to Quail Hollow in a positive frame of mind, even if the rest of his body was a little fatigued. The 27-year-old is competing in his ninth straight event – on two continents, no less – this week at the PGA. Two of those, played in Scotland and Germany, were sandwiched around the Open Championship, all three of which counted toward his European Tour membership. The rest were in the good old USA. Reed showed no signs of being tired on Thursday, though, as he fired a 69 that left him two strokes off the lead. Reed, who has won five times on TOUR, has yet to post a top-10 in a major, with a tie for 12th at the 2016 Open Championship his best in 15 appearances. “I feel like it’s moving in the right direction,â€� Reed said when asked about his game. “I got to keep my energy level up. Being my ninth week in a row, you have to save your energy for tournament rounds.â€� Reed said he hadn’t planned on playing nine straight tournaments. But the 2016-17 campaign hasn’t been up to his standards with just two top-10 finishes, and Reed prefers to work on his game between the ropes rather than beating balls. “If I don’t feel like things are going exactly how I want to, I don’t want to go home and try to work on it at the range,â€� he explained. “I can go to the range and it the ball perfect every time. I want to fix it on the golf course. That’s why I have been playing a lot.â€� While Reed is 54th and safely in the FedExCup Playoffs that begin in two weeks at THE NORTHERN TRUST, where he will defend his most recent title, The Presidents Cup is a different story. The fiery Texan ranks 11th in the standings with the top 10 automatically qualifying and Captain Steve Stricker making two picks on Sept. 6. “Those team events are always on my mind,â€� Reed said. “The way you take care of those is go out and play good golf. I don’t sit there and focus on standings and what you need points-wise. “At the end of the day you win a golf tournament, it takes care of itself. That’s been the way I thought about I everything when it comes to World Ranking, FedExCup, the Playoffs, Presidents Cup, Ryder Cup, any of those team events. If you go out and play golf like you are supposed to, it’s going to take care of yourself. That’s all you can control.â€� Quail Hollow suits big-hitting Woodland To say Gary Woodland is a fan of the changes made at Quail Hollow might be something of an understatement. The new holes suit his eye and the 196 yards added by architect Tom Fazio pose no problems for him. “I hit more drivers now than I ever did,â€� said the man who ranks 14th on TOUR in distance off the tee. “… Almost like they did it for me, I think.â€� Woodland demonstrated his affinity for the course on Thursday with a 68 that left him one stroke off the lead. He made four birdies and dropped just one shot to par. Interestingly, the putter, which has been uncooperative this year, was the key to Woodland’s round. He came into the week ranked 182nd in Strokes Gained: Putting but finished the day ranked in the top 10. “I haven’t made putts in a long time,â€� Woodland said, adding that seeing birdies drop in his first seven holes set the tone. In an attempt to shore up his putting, Woodland worked with Brad Faxon early in the week and Steve Stricker on Wednesday. “I talked to two of the greats,â€� he said. “I picked up some things definitely.â€� Most of his conversation with the Presidents Cup captain on Wednesday focused on his setup. More importantly, Woodland was trying to let things happen rather than focus on the fundamentals. “The day before a major, it’s all about freeing it up,â€� he said. “We’re not trying to do too much. Just get comfortable was the big deal.

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