How to watch RBC Heritage, Round 2: Featured Groups, live scores, tee times, TV times

Russell Knox … It’s not often that a PGA TOUR member cracks this field by winning an event on another tour, but that’s what the Scot achieved when he prevailed in his homeland three weeks ago. It chased a co-runner-up finish in Paris the week prior. Despite a leaking Official World Golf Ranking that reached a nadir of 145th in the second week of June, he’s been showing promise time and again en route to a series of top 20s, which served as his calling card when he crashed on TOUR four years ago. He’s also reconnected with an elevated level of tee-to-green proficiency and now sits 54th in the OWGR. With all of that serving as the foundation for this week, there’s also the not-so-insignificant fact that he placed T5 at Firestone last year while mired in a slump during which it was his only top-25 finish from late April through early November. Austin Cook … It’s an achievement for any true PGA TOUR rookie to gain entry into the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. Because of the longer-term success required to qualify via the Official World Golf Ranking or earn a coveted spot in the last team competition that triggers an exemption, the easiest – and certainly fastest – path is to win a qualifying tournament. And, of course, that’s not easy. Yet, here he is at Firestone. A year ago at this time, Xander Schauffele was a winner (Greenbrier) with three top 10s and positioned at 31st in the FedExCup standings. Today, Cook is a winner (RSM) with three top 10s and slotted 27tn in the FedExCup. While he doesn’t motor it off the tee like last season’s Rookie of the Year, Cook’s bag is as balanced as any veteran would want while sizing up his first go at this week’s test. Andrew Landry … No profile is airtight, but the first-timer at Firestone is a solid fit as an emerging tough-track specialist. When he broke through for victory at the Valero Texas Open and later en route to a T8 at the Quicken Loans National (where it’d be unfair to use runaway winner Francesco Molinari as a good example of the challenge of TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm), Landry’s tee-to-green game was on point. He also flashed a taut game around the greens and didn’t do any damage with his putter. That blend of skills will work just fine in Akron. Brendan Steele … The winner of the season-opening Safeway Open is 30th in the FedExCup standings, so he’s in a great place with the Playoffs on the horizon. He has seven top 20s in 2017-18, but it’s been almost five months since his last in stroke-play individual competition (T20, WGC-Mexico). At T25 in total driving and ninth in greens hit, he’s poised for another top 20 this week. The 35-year-old came within a stroke of that bubble at Firestone last year and placed T24. Ryuko Tokimatsu … The 24-year-old from Japan qualified when he won the Bridgestone Open on his home circuit last October. The tournament was limited to just 36 holes due to inclement weather, but he won again in May and added a runner-up finish at the JGT Championship two weeks later to climb inside the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking at the time. He leads the Japan Golf Tour in earnings and ranks second in par-5 scoring despite his profile as a ball-striker.

Click here to read the full article…

• COURSE: Sedgefield Country Club (Ross), 7,127 yards, par 70. The 1925 Donald Ross design was one of two courses used for the Greater Greensboro Open’s 1938 debut and now stands as the lone Ross layout to serve as a regular PGA TOUR stop. Sedgefield later became an alternating site, before a 1961-76 run as host that included Sam Snead’s 1965 triumph that was the last of his record 82 TOUR victories. Sedgefield also holds a place in college sports history as the site where the Atlantic Coast Conference was founded in 1953. Following a 2007 restoration to its original specifications, the Greensboro event returned to its roots after a 31-year hiatus. • FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 500 points. • CHARITY: The Wyndham Worldwide Charitable Foundation, which supports enrichment of the lives of children around the world via education, wellness and conservation. Other beneficiaries include The First Tee of the Triad, the Crosby Scholars Community Partnership and the Piedmont Triad Partnership. • FIELD WATCH: Davis Love III, whose victory two years ago at age 51 made him the third-oldest winner in PGA TOUR history, and 2015 Open Championship winner Henrik Stenson top the marquee for the final event before the FedExCup playoffs. … Though the roster features just five of the current FedExCup top 30, all but 15 from Nos. 90-190 are entered. … Back woes will keep reigning champion Si Woo Kim from defending his title. The 22-year-old Korean withdrew after his opening round at the PGA Championship. … Kevin Kisner is the only entrant among the current top 10 in FedExCup points; Stenson is highest in the world rankings at No.8. … Haotong Li, third at last month’s Open Championship after a closing 63, tees it up on a sponsor invitation. So will Dru Love, the fifth time he joins his dad in the same PGA TOUR field. • 72-HOLE RECORD: 259, Carl Pettersson (2008), Si Woo Kim (2016). • 18-HOLE RECORD: 60, Si Woo Kim (2nd round, 2016). • LAST YEAR: Kim claimed his first PGA TOUR victory in record fashion, parlaying a second-round 60 into a five-shot romp. The Korean pro’s 10-under-par 60 established a new Greensboro record, just missing a 50-foot birdie putt at the finish that would have given him a historic 59. Kim took a four-shot lead into the final day, and a 14-foot birdie on the 72nd hole closed out a 67 allowed him to match Pettersson’s tournament record. At age 21, Kim also became the youngest TOUR winner of 2015-16, and second-youngest in Greensboro history behind 20-year-old Seve Ballesteros’ victory in 1978. The victory came just five weeks after Kim lost a playoff to Aaron Baddeley at the Barbasol Championship in Alabama. Luke Donald’s closing 67 was enough to finish second, one shot ahead of Hideki Matsuyama and Brandt Snedeker. • STORYLINES: It’s the final chance for players to crack the FedExCup playoffs lineup by moving into the top 125 on the points list. A year ago, Shawn Stefani and Kyle Stanley were the only men to make the move. … Daniel Summerhays (124th), Geoff Ogilvy (125th) and Cameron Tringale (126th) are the players currently on the bubble. … Farther back, former major champions Graeme McDowell (131st), Retief Goosen (161st) and Padraig Harrington (199th) are entered, along with Hall of Famer Ernie Els (213th). … Only three men have come to Greensboro at 140th or lower in the FedExCup standings and left with a playoff berth. • SHORT CHIPS: In the 10 years since the FedExCup playoffs debuted, an average of 2.6 players have booked a late playoff spot in Greensboro. Three editions have seen five punch their tickets, including two years ago. On the flip side, no one did it in 2013. … Kim was the sixth winner in the past nine editions to close out a 54-hole lead, though immediate predecessors Love III (2015) and Camilo Villegas (2014) did it in come-from-behind fashion. … Though winning scores have differed, four of the past five editions have seen the runner-up post 16-under 264. • TELEVISION: Thursday, 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Friday, 2-4 p.m. (GC). Saturday-Sunday, 3-6 p.m. (CBS). • PGA TOUR LIVE: Thursday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. (featured groups), 3-6 p.m. (featured holes). • RADIO: Thursday-Friday, noon-6 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 1-6 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com).

Click here to read the full article…

The 2021-22 PGA TOUR regular season has arrived at its final fortnight. It always feels like the last few days of senior year in high school. Once class it dismissed, the field for the FedExCup Playoffs will be determined, as will the qualifiers for the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. Many golfers will reunite sooner and later, while some never will. Get those yardage books signed now, fellas. RELATED: Play Pick ‘Em Live | The First Look | Inside the Field Donald Ross designs will serve as the stages for both of the next two tournaments. Detroit Golf Club hosts this week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic for the fourth time, and a field of 156 has assembled. For what it should expect inside the ropes, how Cam Davis completed the mission en route to his breakthrough victory, and more, continue reading beneath the ranking of those projected to contend. POWER RANKINGS: ROCKET MORTGAGE CLASSIC Webb Simpson, Adam Scott, Matt Kuchar and Cameron Tringale will be among the notables reviewed in Draws and Fades. Although its bones can be traced to the 19th century, Detroit GC very much caters to the 21st-century approach of relying on advances in equipment to mitigate trouble found off the tee, the worst rough of which will reach four inches. In short, it pays to be long. That said, much like Ross’ Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina, site of next week’s Wyndham Championship, Detroit GC allows for all skills sets to shine. Proper tracks oblige like that. The stock par 72 tips at 7,370 yards for the second straight year. There are two courses on the property – the North and the South – and almost all of the North Course is utilized. Because the par-4 third hole uses a tee on the South Course and a green on the North Course, the routing for the RMC is classified as a composite. Not unlike last week at TPC Twin Cities, capitalizing on the par 5s in Motown will matter. They frequently do on par 72s but compared to its siblings – the par 3s and par 4s – the four par 5s stand tallest. Last year’s field averaged 4.71 to position Detroit GC as T16-hardest among 51 courses during the super season of 2020-21. En route to his playoff victory, Cam Davis led the field in par-5 scoring at 4.25. He was bogey-free 12-under with an eagle and 10 birdies. Even though he’s one of the longest off the tee, his skill set has played up on shorter tracks more often, so last year’s success is evidence both of how the course rewards execution and his capacity to adapt. It’s a good thing, too, because the Aussie didn’t dazzle like most winners, but he maximized on his chances. He ranked T24 in greens hit, but he averaged just three GIR above field average over 72 holes, 55 to 52. Yet, he ranked second in converting his looks into par breakers. Detroit GC made possible his coronation as a PGA TOUR winner with spikes of brilliance atop a balanced bag. The 5,150-square foot greens feature a common blend of Poa and bentgrass. They should reach the max prepared length of 12½ feet on the Stimpmeter deep into the tournament, too. After early-week rain passes, sunny and dry conditions will drop anchor. Wind could be a mild factor early, but it won’t be generating any headlines. Daytime highs will be in the 80s. It’s customary summer weather in the Lower Peninsula. ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.com’s Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous perspectives. Look for his following contributions as scheduled. MONDAY: Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Sleepers, Draws & Fades WEDNESDAY: Pick ’Em Preview SUNDAY: Medical Extensions, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Rookie Ranking * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which also publishes on Tuesday.

Click here to read the full article…