As game becomes more global, two Americans top Race to Dubai

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico - For Joaquin Niemann's 1-month-old cousin, life could hinge on whether $2.1 million is raised within three months. A surreal but true statement. RELATED: Niemann’s generosity helps family facing long odds Niemann has committed his Mayakoba Golf Classic presented by UNIFIN paycheck in support of cousin Rafita Calderon, who has been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy. The disease is treated by "the most expensive medicine ever," said Niemann - a drug called Zolgensma - which must be administered within the first 100 days of a baby's life to be most effective. This week, fellow pros are wearing ivory ribbons in support of Calderon, and Niemann is finding "special" inspiration in playing for a cause greater than himself. The 22-year-old Chilean opened the Mayakoba Golf Classic in 5-under 66, one off the lead in blustery Thursday conditions at El Camaleon GC. For Niemann, a high finish in Mexico would go a long way in bolstering his young cousin's fight. In his last start (The RSM Classic), he donated $152,450 - a combination of $5,000 per birdie, $10,000 per eagle, and his winner's check. Fellow pros, family and friends have also donated to a GoFundMe page organized by Niemann, titled ‘#SalvemosARafita - 100 days for Zolgensma.' The hashtag translates to ‘Let's Save Rafita.' "It's always extra motivation trying to play for him and get some more money for him," said Niemann after completing his final seven holes Thursday in 5-under. (The support) is big for me and for my family in Chile. Having all the support from all the people here on TOUR is really amazing, and also from Mexico. "The tournament, they're helping me a lot to tell a little bit more of the story of Rafita, and I'm happy for all the support of the players. We're fighting for him." Last week, Mexico's Carlos Ortiz played nine holes with Mayakoba Golf Classic organizers, leading to a pro-am fundraiser on the picturesque par-3 fourth at El Camaleon. An island green was created between the tee box and green, and the tournament raised more than $2,500 toward Niemann's fundraising efforts. This will supplement GoFundMe donations ($120,000 and counting) and Niemann's pledges via his play. Opening-round leader Russell Knox sported an ivory ribbon on Thursday, as did Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Sebastian Munoz, Marc Leishman and many more. Since Niemann joined the TOUR in 2018, he and Ortiz have developed a close friendship. Ortiz describes the youthful Niemann as "like a kid," and was more than happy to play a small role in facilitating support for Niemann's family. ‘He's always loving," Ortiz said. "I love hanging out with him and having a good time. "We're in a position ... if we can help, we should do it. I think (the tournament) is doing a great job, and we're going to try to do the same thing, the best we can to save this kid's life." Donations to #SalvemosARafita can be made here.

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Our experts debate whether Tiger will end his drought (they say no) and which big-name player could be in big-time trouble (that’s you, Jordan).

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GUYANCOURT, France – Rickie Fowler was the last player to leave after another losing Ryder Cup press conference in Europe. Unfortunately, the cart he was driving would not start. With a coffee cup in his left hand – champagne glasses are reserved for winners – Fowler stretched his hand under the dash, fiddled with the switch, then stepped lightly on the gas. Finally, the ignition came on, and Fowler was on his way, back to the team room to join his fellow Americans in licking their wounds after being thrashed by the Europeans. It was a fitting goodbye for a 17.5 to 10.5 defeat that becomes the third worst for the U.S. in Ryder Cup history. Only the defeats in 2004 and 2006 were more decisive – and if you consider that the U.S. won the first three matches on Friday, that means they were outscored 17.5 to 7.5 the rest of the way. In fact, Sunday’s result was worse than the 5-point loss the U.S. suffered four years ago at Gleneagles. It was during that losing press conference that Phil Mickelson criticized the way Captain Tom Watson handled the team, and a task force soon emerged to help the Americans solve their Ryder Cup problems. It worked two years ago. But the Americans clearly still have issues – mainly, that they cannot win on European soil. It’s been 25 years now, and the problem is getting worse. Beating Europe in the U.S.? That’s not the issue. Hazeltine showed us that. Beating Europe on the road? Maybe it’s time for another task force. That’s where the focus should be. Four years from now, the Ryder Cup is scheduled for the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome. Europe’s best player that week may very well be its best player this week – Italian Francesco Molinari, who became the first Euro to go undefeated in a single Ryder Cup. He will be 39 years old then and surrounded by 11 other players who will share a singular goal and purpose. Let’s go ahead and make the Europeans the favorite right now. Yes, the knee-jerk reaction to Sunday’s loss is to focus on how to win back the Ryder Cup in two years at Whistling Straits. But the real question becomes: What will they do between now and 2022 to win in Italy? Jim Furyk – who stands to garner most of the criticism, as Captains generally do when their teams lose – said he will work with the PGA of America and the Ryder Cup committee to improve on areas that were lacking for this week. “I’ll definitely go through things that are in my head,� said Furyk, who did not reveal the specifics of those things. One of the obvious things is making sure the Americans are acquainted with the course – and perhaps making sure the American players are best suited to play that course. The fear entering Friday’s first day was that the tight, driver-unfriendly Le Golf National would pose issues for big American bombers. That seemed to play itself out, as the U.S. found more trouble off the tee than its counterparts. The best American player this week was Justin Thomas, who just happened to be the only American who played the French Open at Le Golf National this summer. Others came for practice rounds before The Open Championship, but it was clear that the Europeans – each of whom had played in at least one French Open, and had a combined 236 tournament rounds to 8 for the Americans – were a better fit. “We thought this course suit us and our style of play,� said Rory McIlroy, the PGA TOUR’s driving distance leader who may have been the only European to feel at a disadvantage. He still won two points. Furyk, however, denied that lopsided course experience played a big part in the outcome. “I offered the invite and I had more players show up for that practice round than I could have hoped for,� Furyk said. “We were prepared. I feel like we played our practice rounds and we understood the golf course. We got outplayed.� Furyk, to his credit, took the blame for the loss, saying he would gladly take the same 12 players into battle once again. He knows he will be second-guessed for decisions such as breaking up the Jordan Spieth/Patrick Reed pairing, or picking Phil Mickelson to play a tight course in which he ranked second-to-last on the PGA TOUR in driving accuracy. Everything was done with reason, input, thought through. Then it’s up to us to execute, and we just didn’t quite execute. “Some of you might question some of the decisions,� Mickelson said, “but everything was done with reason, input, thought through. Then it’s up to us to execute, and we just didn’t quite execute.� Certainly the two most decorated American players didn’t execute. Mickelson and Tiger Woods were a combined 0-6-0 this week, with both players losing their Singles matches Sunday. Woods had a key 2 and 1 loss to Jon Rahm in the fourth match when the Americans needed every single early part to shake the European confidence. “Obviously very disappointing,� said Woods, whose 0-4-0 record is his worst Ryder Cup performance, surpassing his 1/2-point effort in 2012. “Those are four points that aren’t going towards our site. It’s going towards their side. … It doesn’t feel very good because I didn’t help my teammates earn any points.� Woods may get another chance. Mickelson may not. He will be 50 when the next Ryder Cup is played. “This could very well, realistically, be my last one,� he said. If it is, his final shot won’t exactly be one worth remembering. Trailing the entire match to Molinari, Mickelson was 3 down going to the par-3 16th. Another halved hole would end the match, so after Molinari found the green with his tee shot, Mickelson went for broke … and found the water. He quickly took off his cap and extended his hand to Molinari, conceded both the hole and the match. It was a bitter ending for the most experienced player in Ryder Cup history. Can he get one more shot? “I’m motivated now to work hard, to not go out on this note, and I’m motivated to play well these next two years to get back to Whistling Straits and show what I can do in these events, because this week was not my best,� Mickelson said. This week was not America’s best. No one will be surprised if they bounce back two years from now. The reasons that the Americans were favored this week – incredible talent and depth – are not going away. The young core remains. They will only get better. And if the course is set up in their favor – as it was for the Europeans this week – all the more reason for optimism. But it’s 2022 that the U.S. should be worried about. By then, it will be 29 years since the last time the U.S. Ryder Cup team has won on enemy territory. “We want to be successful in this event,� Furyk said. “We want to grow and we want to get better, but we want to do it here in Europe. That will be the goal four years from now.� Four years seems far away, but it’s never too early to start finding solutions. Perhaps the first order of business is finding golf carts that are easier to start.

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