Fame won’t go to Tom Kim’s head

Erin, Wis. – The United States Golf Association has implemented several changes to procedures to ensure another rules fiasco does not affect this week’s U.S. Open at Erin Hills. A year after eventual champion Dustin Johnson was embroiled in a final round rules drama the governing body has acted decisively. Johnson was initially cleared of causing his ball to move on the green early in his final round at Oakmont last year before being told the issue would come under further review and a penalty was likely. As such he played the final holes unsure of exactly how big his lead was but ultimately prevailed by three shots (a one-shot penalty was enforced post-round) to claim his first major championship. The uncertainty and resulting uproar prompted several changes. “After last year’s U.S. Open we made the commitment to review all of our championships and rules and related protocols and procedures and we’ve done that,â€� Senior Managing Director of Championships & Governance John Bodenhamer said. “Our focus over those months has primarily been three things. To expedite our ruling process to ensure that we’re more timely in our rulings. To be decisive in our decision making. And to more effectively communicate to the players and to all.â€� Steps to make it happen include:     • The ability to immediately mobilize their five person rules committee who will now be in close communication with each other at all times.     • The identification of Thomas Pagel, the senior director of rules, as the “white hat refereeâ€� who can make instantaneous decisions that will be deemed final.     • The enhanced use of technology with four on course video review locations and tablets in the hands of the committee to get quick access to vision if needed.     • The removal of walking rules officials for the first time since 1991, instead moving to static model whereby two officials will be stationed at each hole, giving them every opportunity to be ready for all possible occurrences in their jurisdiction.     • The adoption of the local rule introduced to golf back in December whereby a ball or ball marker that’s accidentally moved on a putting green can be replaced without penalty.     • And the adoption of the new decision from April that says the naked eye and reasonable judgment standards will be leaned on when it comes to reviewing issues. “These and other steps that we’ve implemented we think will allow us to really expedite our rule-making process and be decisive in our communications, which were two things that perhaps we fell a little bit short last year,â€� Bodenhamer continued. “But we’re committed this year to expedite it and we’re excited about it. Our main goal is for this week to be about the players and their journey to the final round. They’re the story of this championship. As such, we are very much looking forward to an exciting and great 117th U.S. Open”

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The PGA TOUR heads to The RSM Classic at St. Simons Island, Georgia for the final official calendar event at Sea Island Golf Club. Two courses will be in play, Seaside and Plantation, as players look to earn the last FedExCup points on offer for 2022. Here’s everything you need to know to follow the action, including Featured Groups for PGA TOUR LIVE. Leaderboard Full tee times HOW TO FOLLOW (ALL TIMES ET) Television: Thursday-Friday, 12 p.m.-3 p.m. ET. Saturday-Sunday, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. (Golf Channel) Radio: Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. ET. Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com/liveaudio) PGA TOUR LIVE FEATURED GROUPS THURSDAY Harris English, Kevin Kisner, Brian Harman Webb Simpson, Zach Johnson, Justin Rose Seamus Power, Joel Dahmen, Jason Day Mackenzie Hughes, Robert Streb, Matt Kuchar FRIDAY Seamus Power, Joel Dahmen, Jason Day Robert Streb, Mackenzie Hughes, Matt Kuchar Harris English, Kevin Kisner, Brian Harman Webb Simpson, Zach Johnson, Justin Rose MUST READS The First Look Power Rankings Expert Picks How burnout helped Ben Griffin rediscover his competitive edge How Davis Thompson transformed his putting to cash in on his talent

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Justin Thomas, a 13-time PGA TOUR winner at age 27, seemed to have very little left to learn on TOUR until last month. He's been learning ever since. After Thomas missed a par putt in the third round at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, microphones caught him using a homophobic slur. Told later that the outburst had made the broadcast, he was mortified. He called it humiliating, embarrassing and inexcusable. Now making his first PGA TOUR start since Kapalua, Thomas was apologetic and said he has been working to try and answer the questions from Kapalua. Questions like how the word wound up in his head, how it came out in a burst of anger, who it affected, and why. "I apologized many times for what I said," Thomas said from the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, where he finished T3 and solo third the last two years. "But I didn’t publicly say - which I feel terrible about - that I didn’t apologize to the people that were affected and offended by what I said, and I feel like I should take the time now to say that." Thomas was dropped by his clothing sponsor Ralph Lauren but has said he respects the decision. His first priority has not been to find a replacement, he said Tuesday, but to use the episode as an opportunity to grow as a person even as he competes on the game's biggest stage. "I’m continuing to try to progress and get better each and every day and each and every week," Thomas said. "I’ve had some great conversations with a lot of friends, and the amount of support and sponsors and family friends that have reached out, that’s probably meant a lot more than a lot of people know. That’s kind of what’s helped me get through all this." Rory McIlroy, who is making his first start at the Waste Management this week, said in Abu Dhabi that Thomas "realized he made a big mistake ... and completely owned up to it. He said he messed up; he's going to try to be better. And you know, Justin is true to his word." Thomas said his parents, other friends, and remaining sponsors also have reached out. "Even for instance like last night," he said, "I had a talk with Titleist and a lot of the high-ups in their company just in terms of the stuff that they’ve done as a company and diversity and inclusion training, and now I have the opportunity to kind of be a part of that training with them. "They sent that invitation out to me," he continued, "and that’s - it’s stuff like that to where just like they’re wanting themselves to get better, they are offering me if I want to be a part of that, too. Again, like I said, it’s stuff like that that kind of has really kept me upbeat and kept me in a great mood and kept me very optimistic about the growth that I can have."

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