Jon Rahm comes up aces and takes 36-hole Memorial lead

TULSA, Okla. – Count Rory McIlroy among the interested consumers of the copious preview content that precedes every major championship. McIlroy had never played Southern Hills before this week, not that a previous appearance would have helped much. The course underwent a dramatic renovation by Gil Hanse since it last hosted a professional tournament. To get ready for this week, McIlroy watched flyover videos from online outlets like Golf Digest and The Fried Egg to get a feel for the course. He went so far as seeking highlights from last year’s Senior PGA Championship at Southern Hills. “Just did a little bit of digging online, and it sort of seemed pretty apparent that this is an approach shot and short game — like iron play and chipping is going to be really important this week,” said McIlroy, who also shared the videos with his caddie, Harry Diamond. What once was a traditional major test, with thick Bermudagrass rough lining narrow fairways and greens, has been reimagined. The fairways have been widened and short grass is more prevalent around the greens. The new design fits modern trends while also harkening back to the Golden Age of course architecture. After playing practice rounds, McIlroy did say that the course seems wider than it appeared on video and that, despite the plethora of short grass around the greens, putting from off the green is often not an option, requiring players to execute touchy chip shots from tight lies to a putting surface that sits above them. “I think he’s done a wonderful job with it,” McIlroy said about Hanse. “Love the green complexes. I love that he gives you options off the tee. “I think you’re going to see a lot of different strategies this week, guys hitting driver where maybe other guys aren’t and vice versa. It’s a really good track. I really enjoyed playing it yesterday, and I think it’s going to be a wonderful test this week.”

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JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Former FedExCup champion Brandt Snedeker has been a pretty annoyed spectator of late when it comes to the TOUR Championship. Snedeker has qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs in all 13 seasons of the season-long competition’s existence, but has been unable to get to the final hurdle in recent times. The nine-time PGA TOUR winner failed to make it to East Lake over the last two seasons, a place he loves having won the TOUR Championship and the FedExCup there in 2012.  But with a scintillating 8-under 63 on Saturday at THE NORTHERN TRUST, the 38-year-old has given himself every chance to lock up his return to Atlanta nice and early. Related: Leaderboard | Watson headlines FedExCup eliminations | New TOUR Championship format aims to creates excitment Coming into the Playoffs, Snedeker sat 33rd on the points list, knowing the top 30 after next week’s BMW Championship get a ticket to the TOUR Championship. His third round at Liberty National featured two eagles in a three-hole stretch (Nos. 6 and 8), five birdies and left him at 12-under for the tournament, giving him the early clubhouse lead with several golfers still out on the course. “My rookie year on TOUR when I shot 61 in San Diego, I did it. That would be about the last time,â€� he smiled while recounting his two eagles. Should he win on Sunday, Snedeker is likely to move as high as second in the FedExCup standings. Any high finish at Liberty National would ensure his play at Medinah is purely about positioning for Atlanta. “For me who has been outside of East Lake the last few years, my main goal is to get into East Lake to make sure I have a chance and build on that tomorrow,â€� Snedeker said. “With the new format (at the TOUR Championship), obviously being as close as you can to the leader going in is going to be a huge deal more so than years past. “Everybody is trying to make as many points as they can and get as high as they possibly can.â€� The FedExCup leader heading to the TOUR Championship will start at 10-under, second place at 8-under, third 7-under, fourth 6-under with fifth at 5-under. Players ranked 6-10 will start at 4-under, 11-15 at 3-under, 16-20 at 2-under, 21-25 at 1-under and 26-30 at even par.

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