Morikawa, caddie split; Greiner reportedly on bag

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It’s the first major in more than a year … and the first of seven majors in the next 12 months. It’s also the first major — in well, ever? — without fans. So yeah, there’s a bit of a different feel entering this week’s PGA Championship. No wonder CBS’ Jim Nantz says, “We are about to enter, starting Thursday, the greatest stretch of golf in the history of the game.” Oh, and Brooks Koepka is going for his third consecutive PGA title … in case you hadn’t heard. RELATED: Tee times | Power Rankings | Tiger not concerned about lack of reps THREE PLAYERS TO PONDER THE FLYOVER This scenic finishing hole wraps around Lake Merced. Players must carry the lake with their tee shot and decide how much of the dogleg-left they want to cut off and whether they want to lay up short of the fairway bunkers on the right or carry them. The back of the green is on a narrow shelf. LANDING ZONE The 16th hole offers a drivable par-4 late in the round. The hole plays 336 yards but it is guarded on the right by a thick strand of cypress trees and Lake Merced on the left. The PGA of America has said the tees will be moved at least one day to give players a good crack at the green. It’s a great opportunity to make a move late in the round. WEATHER CHECK From PGA TOUR meteorologist Stewart Williams: “The coastal trough, responsible for the cloudy and cool conditions, is expected to lift to the northeast on Thursday. After some morning cloudiness, partly sunny skies should return during the afternoon, allowing, temperatures to warm into the low- to mid-60s. Low clouds and patchy fog will be possible each morning Friday through weekend. Partly cloudy skies is expected each afternoon with highs in the mid 60s.” For the latest weather news from San Francisco, check out the PGA TOUR Weather Hub. SOUND CHECK This is a big-boy golf course. Got to hit it straight and put it in the fairway. It’s going to be quite long. I think it kind of plays into my hands. BY THE NUMBERS 13 – Number of rounds Brooks Koepka has held at least a share of the lead in majors since 2017, the most of any player. 36 – Number of rounds Justin Thomas has held at least a share of the lead on the PGA TOUR in the last four seasons, the most of any player (Dustin Johnson is next on the list at 28). 62 – Number of rounds Dustin Johnson has been inside the top 10 of the leaderboard in majors since 2009, most of any player in that timeframe. 46 – Cumulative under-par total for Tiger Woods at the PGA Championship, the most under par of any player in this event in the last 23 years. 192 – Cumulative under-par total for Rory McIlroy on par 5s in major competition the last 13 years, the best performance in that category by any player. 1,206 – Number of birdies in major competition by Phil Mickelson in the last 25 years, most of any player in that span. SCATTERSHOTS NO-FANS MAJOR: While PGA TOUR pros have become accustomed to the no-fans environments since the resumption of the season, this will be the first major played without fans. “I don’t know if anyone in our generation has ever played without fans in a major championship,” Tiger Woods said. “It’s going to be very different. But it’s still a major championship. It’s still the best players in the world. We all understand that going into it, so there’s going to be plenty of energy from the competitive side.” Added Jon Rahm: “You don’t need anything special or spectators to make us aware or make it known that it’s a major championship. It just feels like it. You’re aware of it. It’s as simple as that.” CAREER SLAM CHASE: For the fourth time since winning the Open Championship in 2017, Jordan Spieth will seek to complete the career Grand Slam at the PGA Championship. He’s finished T28, T12 and T3 in his first three attempts. “It’s something that I really want,” Spieth said. “It’s probably the No. 1 goal in the game of golf for me right now is to try and capture that. I’d love to be able to hold all four trophies, and this is the one that comes in the way right now. Between this event, THE PLAYERS, those are kind of the two events that I haven’t won that are the two that I really would like to.”

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The PGA TOUR and the Waste Management Phoenix Open announced that fans will be able to experience the excitement and drama of the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale through a live 360 and virtual reality (VR) experience during all four rounds of competition at the upcoming Waste Management Phoenix Open, February 1-4. The live VR experience can be viewed on Samsung Gear VR headsets on a global basis through the “PGA TOUR VR Live� app available on the Oculus store. The “PGA TOUR VR Live� app will also launch on Daydream by Google – available on the Google Play Store – at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, giving fans an additional way to experience hole 16 at TPC Scottsdale. In addition to Daydream, fans can also view 360 content through TOUR’s mobile app. The app will be compatible with a Google Cardboard. For fans who don’t have a headset, the 360 video experience will be available on Twitter and Periscope during all four days of the event, and for the first time ever, via the PGA TOUR app on iOS. Using any smartphone, fans will be able to watch live, 360 video from the 16th hole during Waste Management Phoenix Open. Fans can find the coverage starting on February 1 at twitter.com/PGATOUR, by following @PGATOUR on Twitter and Periscope, or by downloading the official PGA TOUR app from the App Store. “The 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale during the Waste Management Phoenix Open is one of the most exciting in golf,� said Rick Anderson, PGA TOUR Chief Media Officer. “We look forward to bringing that excitement to our fans who can’t physically be at the tournament through live virtual reality. They will be able to experience all the thrills from home.� As the exclusive live virtual reality provider of the PGA TOUR, Intel will produce the live VR experience with Intel® True VR technology, providing unprecedented access to areas on the course that can’t be experienced – even by fans on-site. Intel True VR uses panoramic, stereoscopic camera pods to create a more natural and realistic view from any direction for a more immersive VR environment. Up to eight cameras will be placed around the 16th hole, in addition to a dedicated sideline reporter bringing a unique aspect to the experience. Teryn Schafer will be reporting live for the duration of the tournament. “Intel True VR technology turn sports into amazing immersive experiences, and Intel is always working with our partners to deliver new ways for fans to get closer to the action,� said David Aufhauser, managing director, Intel Sports Group. “We’re thrilled to work with the PGA TOUR to continue delivering compelling experiences with Intel True VR technology at the Waste Management Phoenix Open by leveraging our technology – from the cameras to the data processing to our application platform – to create interactive ways for fans to participate.� THE PLAYERS Championship in 2017 marked the first time Twitter distributed a live 360 VR experience during a major sports event. Following THE PLAYERS, the PGA TOUR and Intel announced an exclusive relationship to produce and globally distribute live virtual reality (VR) and live 360 video at six PGA TOUR events in 2017 and 2018. The TOUR Championship and Presidents Cup in 2017 also featured live VR coverage. The collaboration between the PGA TOUR and Twitter follows the live streaming relationship announced in 2016. Twitter’s early round distribution of PGA TOUR LIVE coverage, viewable weekly at pgatourlive.twitter.com, has averaged almost half a million unique viewers each day, and more than 70 percent of those are under the age of 35.  

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