Leaderboard: The Memorial first round

LAS VEGAS - The talk around the golf course before the final round of THE CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK was the winner was going to come from the penultimate group. A snap poll of media and volunteers nearly all said as such. They were right. Sort of. Because when pressed who would win from said group, not one person stumped for Jason Kokrak. Instead it was Xander Schauffele or Jason Day who were garnering the love. A few people dissented and said Russell Henley would keep hold of his overnight three-shot lead and win from the final group. RELATED: Final leaderboard | What's in Kokrak's bag? Perhaps we didn't ask the right people because it was Kokrak who reigned supreme after perhaps the putting performance of his career helped him to a final round 8-under 64 that lifted him to 20-under and ultimately a two-shot win. With just a little research we would have known Kokrak is part of at BetMGM-sponsored crew who often play Shadow Creek - one of the more exclusive courses in the U.S. While the majority of players in the field this week had never played the course or had less than a handful of rounds at the place, Kokrak guesses he's been out here "north of 20 rounds." "I have played quite a few rounds here at Shadow Creek so I know the greens pretty well, I know the little intricacies of this place. Not like some of the local caddies, but it is definitely a place that I feel comfortable at," he said. And he played with that sort of familiarity, leading the field in Strokes Gained: Putting for the first time in his now 10-season career. His caddie David Robinson was also instrumental in the result. It was he who suggested a change to a longer 36-inch putter recently and it was Robinson who is in charge of the green reading in the duo. "I would characterize it more D-Rob’s work. He reads them pretty dang good. And I did a good job of hitting the spots where we were trying to putt it to," Kokrak said after gaining an incredible 10.293 strokes on the field on the greens, including 3.570 in the final round. "He gave me the tip to go to the 36-inch putter just to kind of stand a little bit taller, get the putter more in the palm of my hands. Ever since that happened I feel great with Bettinardi and we dialed it in and started rolling it pretty nicely for the last month or two." The win was a drought breaker for the 35-year-old. Prior to this week he'd had 232 starts without a win and had built up plenty of scar tissue from close calls. There had been six top-three finishes without a trophy to this point. "Being 10 years, I definitely had some scar tissue ... If you’re not nervous, you’re not alive … I definitely had some nerves going ... but I think I knew in my own mind that I was going to get it done, it was just a matter of time of me getting out of my own way and letting it happen," Kokrak said. "Because my game is right there with the best players in the world and I just need to continue to believe so and if the putting’s there for me, we’re going to be right there in contention." On Sunday he saw off Day early. The Australian was finishing off his warmup when he felt a twinge in his neck. Then walking towards the first tee it completely locked up and left him in serious discomfort. With no time for treatment he tried to play but was walking off halfway through the second hole. Not long after, Henley was falling back and neither Talor Gooch nor Lanto Griffin - who were playing with the overnight leader - were taking advantage. Schauffele was, though. Kokrak watched Schauffele birdie three of the opening five holes to make his push for the lead. No matter. Kokrak birdied five of the first eight, including four in a row from the fifth to the eighth. He pushed to 19-under with birdies at Nos. 10 and 11 only to see Schauffele fire up and come after him. When the four-time TOUR winner slotted home a 46-foot putt from the fringe on the par-3 13th, he had joined Kokrak on top and a match play scenario had virtually ensued as they sat three clear of any other players. When they came to the famed finish at Shadow Creek, the par-5 16th, par-3 17th and par-5 18th the pair remained tied. But both found trouble on 16 and had failed to reach the green after three shots. Schauffele couldn't get up and down from greenside rough. Kokrak did from a greenside bunker. And from there he knew he was looking good. "I know it’s hard to make birdie on 17 because that flagstick has so much undulation near it," he said. Sure enough, the two made par leaving just the finishing hole to navigate. The known long-hitter just pummeled his ball 342 yards into the fairway, a shot he said, "was the biggest key for me." It forced Schauffele to match, and he couldn't. His tee ball hopped into the left rough, effectively ending his chances from that point. "He pushed me along just as I was probably pushing him along, making a couple birdies here and there. I think our better ball game would have been pretty decent today," Kokrak said of the duel between the two. "It was very nice to come up 18 and have a one‑shot lead. Xander’s a great player, he’s eighth in the world or something like that and a proven TOUR winner. To solidify my first win here against a great player like that makes it a little more special."

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Seamus Golf knew its golf business was about to slow, or stop, because of the coronavirus pandemic. But it saw an opportunity to shift, and help, all at the same time.

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THE OVERVIEW FORT WORTH, Texas – Want to know how to play a golf course? It’s usually wise to ask a club member. Or a PGA TOUR pro. Ryan Palmer checks both those boxes at Colonial. Not only has he been a dues-paying member since 2010 with hundreds of rounds under his belt, Palmer also has three top-5 finishes in the DEAN & DELUCA Invitational. That includes last year when he was the tournament leader eight holes into the final round. He eventually tied for third, four strokes behind playing partner Jordan Spieth, who birdied his last three holes to claim the title. “It was awesome being in that atmosphere,â€� Palmer said. “… I just remember some of the putts Jordan would make. I still tell him today, some of the putts he made, you just don’t make. I play all the time with all the members and nobody makes ‘em.â€� In other words, executing shots remains the most important factor in winning. But having a little course knowledge doesn’t hurt. And no one in the field knows Colonial better than Palmer. Since 2009, Palmer has recorded 19 rounds in the 60s here – second most behind two-time winner Zach Johnson’s 26. “I know exactly what to do on each hole,â€� Palmer said. While Palmer doesn’t want to reveal all his secrets, he did provide a few this week that some of the Colonial newcomers – including rookie Jon Rahm and last week’s winner, Billy Horschel (who played Colonial as an amateur but is making his first start here as a pro) — will likely appreciate. Take the 408-yard par-4 10th and the 387-yard par-4 17th. “I know 10 and 17 play short in the second shots,â€� Palmer said. “Don’t tell anybody else that.â€� Too late. How about the 190-yard par-3 13th? “I know 13, the wind is never into you,â€� Palmer said. “It may feel like it, but it’s never into you.â€� Or the 389-yard par-4 second. “I know when you can’t carry the No. 2 bunker on the right,â€� Palmer said. “I know when you can’t get to the left bunker.â€� Or the 483-yard par-4 third. “I know when you can carry the three bunkers on 3 in certain winds.â€� How well does Palmer and his caddie James Edmondson (also a member and a multiple club champion) know Colonial? They rarely reference their yardage books. “We just get the number and we go,â€� Palmer said. “I know how to hit certain drives off this golf course. It helps me a little bit knowing I can kind of freewheel it and let go and hit driver everywhere.’’ “This course is a bonus knowing a lot of things because it’s such a shot-making golf course. You know, a lot of times players say this golf course takes the driver out of their hands. Well, it’s in my hands all day just because I’ve done it enough.â€� On Sunday night, he’s hoping something else will be in his hands – the giant Leonard Trophy inscribed with the names of all Colonial champions. THREE PLAYERS TO PONDER Jordan Spieth No surprise he’s already won once at Colonial. Will not be a surprise if he wins multiple times here. Billy Horschel No one has won the DFW Double in consecutive weeks, but Horschel has a habit of stringing wins together. Phil Mickelson Has won twice at Colonial but making his first start here since 2010.  Glad to see you back, Phil! THE FLYOVER A closer look at the Horrible Horseshoe – hole Nos. 3 (483-yard par 4), 4 (247-yard par 3) and 5 (481-yard par 4) – the toughest three-hole stretch on the course and one of the toughest on the PGA TOUR. Since 2003, the stroke average for those three holes is a cumulative 0.465 strokes over par. Last year, the three holes ranked among the toughest four holes on the course (along with the par-4 ninth).  THE LANDING ZONE The 445-yard par-4 12th is the most difficult hole on the back nine at Colonial. Last year, it yielded just 47 birdies while playing to a stroke average of 4.102. Along with having to navigate a dogleg left, players often face a headwind on their approach shots. Check out the scattershot chart of all the tee shots struck at the 12th hole last year. WEATHER CHECK It’s going to be hot (98 degrees on Friday!). It’s going to be windy (gusts of 30 mph!). And there’s a chance of thunderstorms at least one day. Seems like that’s usually the case at Colonial, although Sunday could feel slightly different than the other three days. TEMPS: Temperatures could soar into the high 90s for the first three rounds, with heat indexes possibly reaching the lower 100s. A cold front could make things slightly more tolerable on Sunday. RAIN: Scattered thunderstorms are in the forecast for the final two rounds, with an increased chance to 60 percent on Sunday. WINDS: One of Colonial’s primary defenses is wind, and there should be plenty this week, with gusts from the south reaching 30 mph. Could be interesting on Sunday if the cold front brings a shift in the wind direction from the north. For the latest weather news from Fort Worth, Texas, check out PGATOUR.COM’s Weather Hub. SOUND CHECK “They are everything you want in three holes of golf. We’re going to be very smart. We’re going to play conservative. We would love to make birdie on ‘em, but we’re going to make sure we put ourselves in position to make par.â€� – Billy Horschel on Colonial’s Horrible Horseshoe. ODDS AND ENDS 1. A LITTLE BIT OF SPAIN. Jon Rahm won the Ben Hogan Award in 2015 and 2016, so he’s been to Fort Worth. But he never was able to play Colonial during his visits. This week was the first time he’s seen the course, and he said it reminds him of some of the courses in his native Spain, particularly Valderrama. “Visually a little different, but it’s very similar,â€� Rahm said. “You have to hit a lot of irons off the tee in Valderrama and it’s precision golf. You have to keep it in the fairway and hit those tiny greens. In that sense, it does remind me of lot (like Colonial).â€� 2. MUSIC TO HIS EARS. Billy Horschel will be listening to rock band Kings of Leon this week. That’s what he was listening to last week in Irving, and his week ended with a win at the AT&T Byron Nelson. “Didn’t matter what song it was,â€� Horschel said. “Any song that stuck in my head that week.â€� Three years ago when Horschel won the final two Playoffs events of the season to claim the FedExCup, he was listening to British pop band Bastille, particularly one specific song (although he couldn’t recall the title). “It was funny because going to the course every day at the TOUR Championship, I was listing to Alt Nation on Sirius XM and that song came on every day when I was driving to the course, which was so ironic. “Driving to the course the final round and I’m like, ‘Oh man, the song is not coming on today.’ I pull in the parking lot and it came on and I sat in my car until it finished playing.â€� 3. BACK-DOOR KING. Last week, Matt Kuchar tied for ninth, having moved up the leaderboard on the weekend after making the cut in a tie for 17th. Since 2010, Kuchar has 32 “back-doorâ€� top-10 finishes in which he started the final 36 holes outside the top 10. That’s the most of any player in that span. One of those other “back-doorâ€� finishes came last year at Colonial, when Kuchar was tied for 44th after 36 holes but shot 63-68 on the weekend to tie for sixth. WATCH THE PREVIEW

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