MasterCard pauses deals with 2 LIV Tour golfers

HAMILTON, Ontario – On the first tee Sunday at the RBC Canadian Open, a fan tried to offer Rory McIlroy a Canadian $1 coin. As he was sipping a bottle of water, McIlroy dug into his pocket and pulled one out. He was already prepared. Related: Leaderboard | Winner’s bag | McDowell’s strong finish earns him spot in Open Championship “I’ve been marking my ball with a loonie all week, and it might have to cross the border and come with me,â€� said McIlroy with a laugh, who received the coin from a Canadian at an off-site event on Tuesday. “I said, ‘sure, why not? Every little bit helps.’â€� The ‘lucky loonie’ has a long history in Canadian sports, but Sunday at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, McIlroy didn’t need any luck. He was precise and surgical. He was impressive and composed. He had a bounce in his step, which wasn’t surprising, since he shot a 9-under 61. McIlroy won his 16th PGA TOUR title in dominating fashion, winning by seven shots over Shane Lowry and Webb Simpson. “I don’t know what golf Rory is playing today,â€� Lowry said, “but it was just incredible.â€� In the process, McIlroy shot his best four-day score ever on the PGA TOUR. He couldn’t help but think what could have been, however. McIlroy made five birdies on his front side for a 5-under 30 before adding four more on No’s 11-14. He bogeyed two of his final three holes, but sandwiched in an eagle on the par-5 17th for good measure. Had he birdied 18, he would have shot 59, something he’s never done. McIlroy once had a putt for 59 the week before the Masters in 2016 at the club he plays at in Florida, and he left it short. That came into his head when he hit his bunker shot on 18. He wished it was a putt for 59 and not a bunker shot, but at least, he said, he didn’t leave it short. “I had a chance to shoot 59. Sorry for being disappointed up here,â€� said McIlroy to laughs. “I played 17 wonderful holes. I was 10-under through 17 holes and I shot 4-under on the back nine with two bogeys, so that was pretty good too. “I’m playing well. I found a little groove and I want to keep it going.â€� His 61 was his lowest round on TOUR this season – by two shots (first round, WGC-Mexico) – and it came after missing the cut at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, his first missed cut of the season. He said he didn’t feel as though there was a huge gap between last week and this week, however. “That’s golf,â€� he said. “It’s something people don’t quite understand at this level. The margins are so fine and so small. It could have been, even last week, if I had made a couple extra birdies on the back nine I would have made the cut and I could have produced a weekend like this and won the tournament. “So, something like this is always around the corner.â€� McIlroy had the crowds firmly on his side all week, and said he’d be back in 2020 to defend his title, much to the delight of the Canadian faithful. He started his week watching the Toronto Raptors game last Sunday and said he was texting with star Kyle Lowry – who, McIlroy said, plays 36 holes a day during the off-season – about golf and the series. He ended the week wearing a Lowry jersey and hoisting the trophy. “I’ve been very fortunate to get a great reception all week. One of the cool things as well is that people are rowdy and chanting, but they know as soon as you go to hit the golf shot it’s deadly silent. They get it,â€� McIlroy said of the Canadian fans. “They were having fun and being loud but they still respected the traditions and values of the game. It was a perfect blend.â€� McIlroy said he played Sunday with a little more freedom than in weeks’ past when he had a chance to win, but ended up not bringing home the trophy. He moved to second on the FedExCup standings, and said his aggressive play Sunday paid off in a big way. His confidence grew all week, he said, and to have the freedom to swing away and be committed to what he was doing, was the difference. McIlroy had a little Canadian luck on his side, too.

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Since the launch of the FedExCup era, the Quicken Loans National has been a staple as a stop in the Mid-Atlantic. It is once again this week. TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm hosts for the second consecutive year. As projected in its return to the PGA TOUR after a comprehensive renovation 10 years prior, it played up to the hype as a tough test. In fact, last year’s scoring average of 71.458 was highest among all par 70s in non-majors last season. Furthermore, only PGA National, annual host of The Honda Classic and where the winds always howl in late February and early March, has scored higher among par 70s in non-majors over each of the last six seasons. Scroll beneath the ranking for details on how TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm sets up, the statistically predictable defending champion and what’s in store beginning in 2019. Still chasing his first victory of the season but he’s logged a pair of seconds among eight top 20s in 14 starts, including in each of his last three. Tied for third at TPC Potomac last year. In a tailspin at the moment, but the leash is longer for heads of the class. Five top 10s in 2018, including a runner-up finish a month ago in Texas. Shared fifth place here last year. In arguably better form than prior to his victory last year. Three top 15s in his last five starts, including a playoff loss at Muirfield Village and a career-best T15 at TPC River Highlands. After going Win-2nd in England and his native Italy, respectively, he placed T25 at Shinnecock Hills. TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm is an ideal site for his tee-to-green mastery. The latest example of how a veteran can find a groove and coast. The 36-year-old sat 133rd in FedExCup points a month ago but has since climbed to 50th on a T13-3rd-T2 burst. Shinnecock Hills put a halt to his surge sparked at the Masters. Prior to his T56 at the U.S. Open, he connected six straight top 25s, three of which for T6 or better. Ten consecutive cuts made upon arrival, including a pair of second-place finishes. Among the best putters on TOUR but also above average in manufacturing scoring opportunities. He gets his first look at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm this week. He’s been strong overall but has lacked consistency. Greens averaging just 5,300 square feet will accentuate his aerial attack. He’s a virtual lock for a 2017-18 TOUR card, so everything in the interim is a bonus. That allows the affable Thai to continue to free-wheel and build on a fantastic 2018. With a T4 at TPC Southwind and a T2 at TPC River Highlands that including a career-low-tying 62 on Sunday, he’s back on the radar. It’s also more evidence of his wife’s inspiration. Although last year’s playoff victim celebrated his 39th birthday on June 20, he continues to hum along just as he always has. He’s 19-for-21 with four top 10s among 12 top 25s this season. Close call at Muirfield Village proved that he’s poised for a breakthrough. It was his sixth top-15 finish worldwide since late January. Ranks 18th on TOUR in strokes gained: tee-to-green. Profiles similarly to the defending champion and ranks T20 in par-5 scoring. Tway also comes in with top 10s in three of his last five starts after dropping hints of something special all season. You know he’s eager to get back out there after settling for second place in his last start at TPC Southwind. Perfect in his last eight with five top 20s baked in. Tenth on TOUR in GIR. Since turning pro, all three of his cuts made in six starts are top 10s. The 19-year-old wasn’t sure he was going to hang off the tee but he’d rank 29th in distance of all drives if eligible. RANK PLAYER COMMENT POWER RANKINGS: QUICKEN LOANS NATIONAL Si Woo Kim, Gary Woodland, Kevin Na and Bill Haas will be among the notables reviewed in Tuesday’s Fantasy Insider. Although there were the customary multiple paths en route to contending at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm a year ago, it made sense that the man who emerged as champion of the Quicken Loans National was and remains one of the PGA TOUR’s preeminent ball-strikers. Kyle Stanley has crafted out his career as a longer-hitting tee-to-green surgeon, a particular skill set that he displayed here last year. He led the field in strokes gained: off-the-tee, green in regulation and strokes gained: tee-to-green. He also finished T20 in distance of all drives, third in fairways hit and sixth in proximity to the hole before surviving one hole of sudden death with Charles Howell III and extinguishing David Lingmerth’s bid for a wire-to-wire title. (Lingmerth placed T5.) In line with the expectation on unfamiliar bentgrass greens, Stanley prevailed despite losing ground to the field of 120 in strokes gained: putting, surrendering 1.1 strokes with his wand over 72 holes of regulation. It’s the kind of formula that might not work as well this time around given that as of Monday afternoon, 71 in this week’s field competed in last year’s edition, including nine of the 12 who finished inside the top 10. The only stretch on the 7,107-yard layout that presents any reasonable chance for momentum exists on holes 12-14. All three averaged under par last year, the only connection between at least two such holes. Both of the par 5s (Nos. 2 and 10) checked up under par, but together they ranked as the most difficult set of par 5s of all par 70s all season. Simply put, there is no letup along the walk. Even though more experience will be logged at TPC Potomac this week, a new book of knowledge will introduced next year as this tournament is moving to the Detroit area. It was announced a month ago that the title sponsor has agreed to a long-term partnership that includes the migration of the event to Quicken Loans’ hometown. For its last spin in the region this week, warm and humid conditions will remind everyone of the season with Independence Day right around the corner. There won’t be much relief for gradually increasing daytime highs into the low 90s, but the absence of wind should result in lower scores than last year’s breezier challenge. ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton reviews and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled. MONDAY: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Sleepers, Facebook Live, Fantasy Insider WEDNESDAY: One & Done THURSDAY: Champions One & Done * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO, which also publishes on Tuesdays.

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