2017-18 PGA TOUR season schedule released

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JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Led by former champion Dustin Johnson it was all systems go for a number of the regular season’s best players in the opening round at THE  NORTHERN TRUST. The marquee group of 20-time PGA TOUR winner Johnson, former PLAYERS and U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson and Spanish star Jon Rahm – playing together based on their FedExCup position – scorched Liberty National. With the TOUR Championship already secured the trio might have been wary of a little complacency slipping into their game but they needn’t have worried. Johnson – who finished seventh in the regular season – posted an impressive 8-under 63 to sit just one shot behind Troy Merritt’s early lead. Rahm, 10th in the regular season, opened with a 64 while Simpson (ninth) kickstarted his Playoff run with a round of 65. RELATED: What you need to know for FedExCup Playoffs | Woods starts slow | Merritt moves off bubble “Everything looked easy and we fed off each other. One of us was always close and we were trying to get it closer than the next person and making putts,â€� Rahm said of his group dynamic. “There was a good vibe in the group going on. It’s a little bit easier because the greens are so soft. Dustin finished with almost five in a row … We definitely fed off each other.â€� Johnson was the champion of THE NORTHERN TRUST in 2011 and 2017 on different courses. He wasn’t content with his start, heading straight to the range afterwards. Since having won the World Golf Championships – Mexico Championship in February and finishing runner-up at the Masters in April and the PGA Championship in May, Johnson’s results have trailed off. A pair of T-20s are his best in his last five starts. “I’ve been working pretty hard on my game the last month or so. Finally felt like it’s coming around. Obviously today was a really good score, but just want to make sure I keep it that way,â€� Johnson said of his decision to hit the practice range. “Any time you shoot 8 under, no matter what golf course, you know you did everything well. Today I drove it well and hit a lot of really good iron shots. Rolled the putter nicely. “Every Playoff event is big, and you really want to get off to a good start in any of them.â€� While not playing with the others Rory McIlroy – who is second in the FedExCup – also started hot with a 65 of his own. The quartet are looking to put pressure on FedExCup leader Brooks Koepka who opened with a relatively pedestrian 1-under 70. McIlroy had to watch Koepka go past him in the final round of the recent World Golf Championships – FedEx St. Jude Invitational but this time it was the American getting lapped by his playing partner. “You’ve got to expect the guys like DJ or Rahm or any of the guys that are in the top 10 of the standings are going to come and play well,â€� McIlroy said. “I’m pleased with the start. Bogeyed the first hole, which was the 10th, but played really well after that. Played 7 under from there on in with no bogeys. “I saw some better iron shots than I did in Memphis. I drove it just as good. I putted nicely. It’s so soft out there, you need to shoot low scores this week to have a chance … so just going to try to have to keep the foot down. “It’s definitely a golf course that you’re going to have to keep being aggressive on this week.â€� The player at the top of the standings following next week’s BMW Championship will start the TOUR Championship at 10 under. That player will have between a two and 10 shot lead over the field that is staggered based on FedExCup position. Any of the current top 10 is likely to project to top spot with a victory in New Jersey.

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WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Joaquin Niemann was an 18-year-old amateur when he arrived in West Virginia two years ago and tied for 29th in the only PGA TOUR event he played outside of the U.S. Open. In 2018, he improved to a tie for fifth at the tournament. Now he has a chance to become the first player from Chile to win on TOUR. Niemann shot a 2-under 68 on Saturday to take a two-stroke lead in A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier. The 20-year-old Niemann was 15 under with a round left in the season-opening event at the Old White TPC. “I just feel like I’m almost a member here,” Niemann said. “I just like being out here. Always when you play on a course that you know already it helps a lot. I think this is the course I have played more on tour.” Niemann had a bogey and three birdies, including a 4-foot putt on the par-5 17th. “I’m just really happy the way I’ve been playing,” Niemann said. “This course is really good for me.” No third-round leader has gone on to win the tournament. Nate Lashley, Richy Werenski and Robby Shelton were tied for second at 13 under. Lashley and Werenski shot 65, and Shelton had a 70. Adam Long and Scotty Scheffler were 12 under. Long shot 70, and Scheffler had a 71. Lashley’s story is well known by now. In 2004 his parents and girlfriend were killed in a plane crash in Wyoming. After resuming his career in the PGA TOUR’s minor leagues, he won his first tour title at the inaugural Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit in June after slipping into the field as an alternate. “My mentality is I’m definitely a lot more relaxed,” Lashley said. “I’m just playing, just trying to take that as experience, the way I played in Detroit. You know, I really just kind of kept to myself that week and really just focused and tried to block everything else out. I feel like I’ve done a good job of that so far.” Lashley made bogeys after finding the rough on the par-4 11th and the greenside bunker on the par-3 15th. He chipped in for eagle from 36 feet at No. 17. His tee shot on the 179-yard 18th came as thunderstorms arrived in the area and play was suspended for about 50 minutes. Upon returning, Lashley three-putted from 70 feet. Werensky finished No. 126 in the FedExCup standings last season, one spot from qualifying for the Playoffs. He got his PGA TOUR card back for this season in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. Werensky said that he didn’t get discouraged after missing the Playoffs. Heading into the Korn Ferry Finals, “I had like a, I don’t want to say an epiphany, but just like, `Hey, man just chill out. Relax. I know I’m good enough.” Shelton was tied for the lead with Niemann and Scheffler after the second round. Shelton was 2 over for the day until making birdies at the par-5 12th and par-4 14th. He hopes to use his two wins on the Korn Ferry Tour last season to help stay calm Sunday. “You got to be super patient,” he said. “I mean, it’s hard to do, but hopefully I can manage my nerves tomorrow.” Kevin Chappell couldn’t capitalize on the 11-under 59 he shot Friday, the 11th sub-60 round in tour history. He had a 73 on Saturday and was eight strokes behind Niemann.

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