LPGA Tour’s Kang to take break, focus on health

Doc Redman isn’t one to do things the easy way. Consider his 2017 run to the U.S. Amateur title. Redman, who had just completed his freshman year at Clemson, had to survive a 13-man playoff just to get into the match play portion of the championship. Then, when he reached the scheduled 36-hole finale, Redman found himself facing defeat head-on, falling 2 down with two holes to go. But he went eagle-birdie to take Texas senior Doug Ghim into sudden death where Redman birdied the first extra hole for the victory. So, should we be surprised that Redman majored in actuarial mathematics at Clemson? Not exactly one of the easier curriculums offered there but he learned to love numbers and the many calculations that can be done while a student at Leesville Road High School in Raleigh, North Carolina. “Once I got to college, I decided I wanted to do something a little different,” Redman said. “A lot of people go into business, especially in golf, business or finance. So, I decided I want to do some different and keep going with math. “At Clemson, there’s math and then there’s a few, I guess, focus areas. And that was one — financial math and actuarial science. I only stayed two years, so I didn’t get like crazy into it, but it was a lot of fun and it got really tough, but it was cool kind of diving deeper and doing something a little more focused than most people.” Actuarial science analyzes risk assessment using mathematics, statistics and financial theory. Actuaries are found in the life, liability and health insurance industries, as well as in pension management and social welfare programs. “For life insurance, per se, it would be (figuring) what’s someone’s chance of dying in the next, whatever, 10 years,” Redman says. “Like, it’s kind of sad … but yeah, it’s trying to figure out I guess pricing out insurance plans and things like that. “And I’m sure that’s, that’s the most common thing but I think a lot of people don’t really realize, but math and just risk assessment’s kind of everywhere. So, I think there’s no shortage of jobs in if you know how to do math.” Granted, Redman’s friends at Clemson – the ones who probably only used math to figure out if they had enough money in the budget for pizza and beers that weekend — were often “totally surprised” by his choice of majors. “What the heck are you doing?” he remembers some saying. But Redman did well – in fact, he had all As and only one B as a freshman. His record was so impressive that he received the Outstanding Freshman Award from the College of Science’s department of mathematical sciences. Clemson’s golf coach, Larry Penley, and Cynthia Young, the dean of the College of Science, made the presentation to Redman for “shooting low and aiming high,” she noted, during one of his math classes. Penley, who is retiring this year after 39 years at the helm, brought the U.S. Amateur trophy and showed some of Redman’s highlights. He pointed out the sophomore’s name along with Tiger Woods, who won it three times and four-time champ Bobby Jones. “It was nice to have Coach there and I didn’t necessarily want to go up and accept it in front of everyone, but it was fun,” Redman says. “I was, like, what the heck’s going on? Why is he here? He definitely didn’t want to be in any sort of math class. So, I knew something was up.” Redman didn’t have any such warning when his phone rang the night before the U.S. Amateur championship match, though. On the other end was Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney. “I didn’t have his number at the time, so I just happened to pick up and it was him, which was really cool,” Redman says. “And then he called me again after and we talked a little bit. “He just loves seeing Clemson athletes do well. And he’s such an inspirational guy. He’s the same as he is off cameras he is on. And it was really good to have a call from him.” Redman had met Swinney, who is an avid golfer, several times. In fact, while Redman has yet to play 18 holes with the Clemson football coach, the two had filmed a segment for Swinney’s TV show at the putt-putt course at the football team’s practice facility. So, what was Swinney’s pep talk on the eve of the title match? “He just said that was right after they beat Alabama on the final play,” Redman says, remembering the 2016 title game, Clemson’s second of three national championships. “So, he said just kind of take it a hole at the time and do your best and the Clemson family’s proud no matter what. So yeah. It was really cool.”

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Adam Long (+400 for a Top 20) … From multiple angles, he took care of business at Mayakoba where he had recorded podium finishes in both prior appearances. His performance this time wasn’t as gleaming but he still signed for four red numbers and a T22. That extended his laughable trend of nine consecutive top 30s – when he’s made the cut – in his last 26 starts. That’s right; he missed the cut in all of the other 17. Hopes remain again in Houston where he finished T11 with four rounds of par or better last year. Martin Laird (+400 for a Top 20) … The Scot saunters in having connected top 25s for the first time since July of 2019. After a T11 in his title defense at TPC Summerlin, he finished T22 at Mayakoba. Always strong from tee to green, and with a little pop when he needs it, Memorial Park suits his long game, so he’ll need to tighten the screws on his putting that cost him a shade over four strokes en route to a missed cut on the track last year. If he does that, the next target would be another top 25. He hasn’t had three in a row since early 2015. Luke List (+375 for a Top 20) … He last appeared in Sleepers for the Sanderson Farms Championship and answered the bell with a T17. In the interim, he’s added a T7 at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP. He can be fairly judged as a long hitter and little more, but in the last four months, he’s 7-for-10 with a pair of top fives to open that stretch. Just like with Laird, the putter is List’s nemesis, but it cost him only 1.40 strokes en route to his missed cut here last year. It’s important to add that he wasn’t showcasing the kind of overall form that he has been lately. Taylor Moore (+300 for a Top 20) … Not all momentums are alike, but he can’t be unhappy with his transition from a torrid 2021 portion of the Korn Ferry Tour to his foray on the PGA TOUR. With a pair of T10s to open the KFT Finals, the 28-year-old born in San Angelo, Texas, fortified his position in the opening graduate reshuffle. and sat out the finale. After missing the cut at Silverado, he went T17-T24 before sitting out the last four weeks. It’s too early to judge his skill at this level, but early on he’s aligning with what got him here in the first place. En route to a win, a second and two thirds among 13 top 10s on the 2020-21 KFT, he ranked T6 in total driving, 10th in greens hit, fifth in ball-striking, sixth in scrambling, sixth in the all-around and fourth in scoring average. Dawie van der Walt (+800 for a Top 20) … Although he’s a native South African, he’s a local. He lives in Kingwood, which is north of the city, and it’s not a small thing that he’s stayed given the fact that Hurricane Harvey flooded his home in 2017. This will mark his fifth career start in the tournament, four via a sponsor exemption (including this week) and once as an open qualifier (2018). The first three were forgettable but there was magic in the air when the event moved to Memorial Park in 2020. He sat T4 at the midpoint and T6 entering the final round. A closing 1-over 71 on what was the easiest day for scoring bumped him back to a T20 that remains his second-best finish in 34 career PGA TOUR starts. The 38-year-old came close with a T22 at the season-opening Fortinet Championship, which was an extension of form on the Korn Ferry Tour where he concluded its campaign with three top 15s in four starts to earn his second TOUR card. Odds were sourced on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. For live odds, visit betmgm.

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HARTFORD, Conn. - The Travelers Companies, Inc. and the PGA TOUR today announced that they have reached an agreement to extend Travelers' title sponsorship of the Travelers Championship through 2030. The company has been a partner of the tournament since its inception in 1952 and has served as title sponsor since 2007. This agreement will make Travelers the longest-running title sponsor in the event's history. As part of the sponsorship extension, Travelers will remain the Official Property Casualty Insurance Provider of the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions and Korn Ferry Tour. "So many historic and exciting moments in golf have happened at the Travelers Championship over the years, but it's the amazing moments that are made off the course that capture the real value of our hometown tournament," said Alan Schnitzer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Travelers. "As a company rooted in taking care of its customers and communities, the charitable mission of the Travelers Championship reflects who we are as an organization. This tournament is important to so many people across the region - both as an economic driver for the state and as a funding source for hundreds of charities - and we are proud to continue its legacy for years to come." Since Travelers became title sponsor, the tournament has generated more than $20 million for nearly 800 nonprofits. All net proceeds from the Travelers Championship go to charity, and the funds raised each year have increased substantially, from $650,000 in 2007 to $2.1 million in 2019. The 2020 Travelers Championship, held as a TV-only event due to COVID-19 restrictions, generated more than $1.6 million. "The Travelers Championship has established itself as a premier PGA TOUR event, thanks to the inspirational leadership provided by Travelers, the dedication of thousands of volunteers and the passionate fans who watch or attend every year," said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. "Connecticut and the PGA TOUR are fortunate to have a company like Travelers that helps deliver an outstanding experience every year for our players, for golf fans and for local nonprofits. We are extremely excited about the future of the Travelers Championship." The tournament has been recognized with 15 "Best Of" awards from the PGA TOUR over the past several years, including Tournament of the Year in 2017, Players Choice in 2017 and 2018, and Most Fan Friendly Event in 2010, 2012 and 2017. "The Travelers Championship wouldn't be possible without the overwhelming support we receive from people across the state and the thousands of volunteers who help each year," said Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Travelers. "The event may be branded with our company name, but this is really Connecticut's tournament. Together, we have made it one of the best stops on the PGA TOUR for players and fans." With Travelers as title sponsor, many significant enhancements have been made at TPC River Highlands, including the addition of a 23-acre practice facility, a multimillion-dollar course improvement project and a 40,000-square-foot clubhouse, which opened prior to the 2019 Travelers Championship. The tournament purse has also increased by $200,000 annually for six straight years, reaching $7.4 million in 2020. "We have amazing fan support and an incredible title sponsor that works hard to make our event bigger and better year after year," said Nathan Grube, Travelers Championship Tournament Director. "We have achieved tremendous success working with Travelers and the PGA TOUR, and we couldn't be more grateful for their partnership. I know the best is yet to come, thanks to them, as well as all our major sponsors and supporters across the state." Schnitzer concluded, "We are grateful to the PGA TOUR for its partnership, and we appreciate the support of the TOUR players, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Nathan Grube and his team, our employees, the volunteers and the fans for helping us make this world-class event possible." The 2021 Travelers Championship will be held June 21-27 and will feature many of the game's top players, including the defending champion, reigning FedExCup champion and current top-ranked player in the world, Dustin Johnson. The first and second rounds, as well as early coverage of the final two rounds, will be broadcast live on Golf Channel, and the third and fourth rounds will be broadcast live on CBS. For more information, visit TravelersChampionship.com.

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