Blimp goes down at US Open

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Freddie Jacobson did not want to shake hands. He wasn’t trying to be rude, but after three hand surgeries – two to his left thumb, one to his right wrist – it’s best to avoid anything that might cause pain or a relapse. “Can’t afford any more hand injuries,� Jacobson said. Fist-bumping is OK, though. So that’s the preferred greeting for now. There’s been lots of opportunities for Jacobson to fist-bump the first two days at The Honda Classic. With rounds of 69-67 that left him at 4 under and near the top of the leaderboard entering the weekend, the Swede shot consecutive rounds in the 60s for the first time at a PGA TOUR event since the 2016 Wyndham Championship. That might not sound like much, but given what he’s endured since then, any positive achievement is worthy of celebrating. It was soon after the 2016 FedExCup Playoffs that Jacobson underwent his third hand surgery. He didn’t return to action until the 2017 Honda Classic but was not competitive in his next few starts. Then at THE PLAYERS Championship that year, his left thumb became a problem again. He tried to fight through with one more start but couldn’t find any stability, as the thumb weakened. So he shut it down for the rest of the year. He considered having another surgery but opted instead to hold off, hoping that rest and proper rehab would be enough. Meanwhile, he and wife Erika also were starting the process of moving their family to their native Sweden, wanting to give their three children – including son Max, who underwent open-heart surgery after being diagnosed with a heart defect in 2015 – the opportunity to enjoy their home country’s culture and language. Jacobson ultimately missed the entire 2017-18 TOUR season, finally returning last fall at Las Vegas. Playing out of the Major Medical category, he has 18 starts to earn 333 FedExCup points to keep his TOUR card. Through his first seven starts, he has just eight points, as he’s missed five cuts. He started off this week thinking his struggles would continue – he had lost the feel of his swing while battling the winds at the Genesis Open and Puerto Rico Open. “On Monday, I thought no chance,� Jacobson said. But after two productive practice days with swing coach Mark McCann, his spirits improved. He teed off on Thursday in a positive frame of mind and has mostly stayed out of trouble on a tough PGA National course. He was a bogey-free 2-under on his last 13 holes Friday. ‘It’s the first week I’ve felt since I kind of disappeared on TOUR that my short game and focus around the green was back,� said Jacobson, who once lived nearby in Hobe Sound. “That’s a good base for me. I need that base.� And he just needs to stay healthy, get back into a rhythm, get some rounds under him. The problem, of course, is that there are no guarantees. A handshake that’s too strong, an unexpected bend of the wrist – anything could set him back. “I just hope it holds up for awhile, so I don’t have to do any more surgeries,� he said. “Get some continuity, playing and practicing. That’s the key. “It’s tough when the body can’t recover after practice. You practice for a day or two, and the you have to take a number of days off. That doesn’t really work out here if you want to make the cut, at least.� Jacobson, the 2011 Travelers Championship winner, has battled through several injuries during his lengthy pro career. Mentally, he’s always been able to bounce back and regain his form. This time, though, it’s been a challenge. “It’s been the toughest one to get back from,� he said. “… This was too long. I lost my feel. Hard to get my head in the game.� But now, he says, he’s ready to put the pieces together. The first two days at PGA National confirmed that. Of course, the weekend will determine just where he stands when the pressure ramps up. And if he plays well this weekend and you want to congratulate him? Well, don’t take offense if he offers you a fist instead of a handshake.

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NAPLES, Fla. — Gary Woodland and Charley Hoffman shot an 8-under 64 in modified alternate-shot play Saturday for a share of the lead in the QBE Shootout. Woodland and Hoffman birdied the final three holes to match the teams of Emiliano Grillo-Graeme McDowell and Brian Harman-Patton Kizzire at 19-under 125, with a better-ball round left at Tiburon Golf Club. Grillo-McDowell and Harman-Kizzire, tied for lead with Bryson DeChambeau and Kevin Na at 59 after the first-round scramble, each shot 66. Na and DeChambeau were a stroke back after a 67. Luke List and Charles Howell III shot 66 to get to 17 under, and LPGA Tour player Lexi Thompson and Tony Finau were another stroke back after a 67. Defending champions Steve Stricker and Sean’ O’Hair were 15 under after a 67. NOTES Graeme McDowell/Emiliano Grillo (125/-19)  Birdies came at Nos. 2, 6, 8, and five-consecutive on Nos. 10-14. They took bogey at the par-4 third and par-4 15th  McDowell is making his seventh start in the QBE Shootout, with runner-up finishes in 2017 (Shane Lowry) and 2010 (Darren Clarke). Grillo is making his first start in the QBE Shootout  In five starts this season on the PGA TOUR, Grillo has collected three top-15 finishes, highlighted by a T2 at the CIMB Classic  In his most recent start this season on TOUR, McDowell finished T11 at The RSM Classic  The second-round lead/co-lead at the QBE Shootout has held up 17 of 29 times. The last 36-hole leaders/co-leaders to hold on for the win was Steve Stricker and Sean O’Hair last year  Eleven players have won the QBE Shootout in their first attempt: Mark O’Meara (1989), Curtis Strange (1989), Fred Couples (1990), Scott McCarron (1997), Hank Kuehne (2003), Rod Pampling (2006), Woody Austin (2007), Keegan Bradley (2011), Brendan Steele (2011), Harris English (2013) and Cameron Tringale (2014) Gary Woodland/Charley Hoffman (125/-19)  Team made birdies at 6-8, 10, 14 and 16-18 for an 8-under 64, the low round of the day  The lowest score in Modified Alternate Shot belongs to the 1990 team of Fred Couples and Raymond Floyd (57)  Woodland is making his fifth-consecutive start in the QBE Shootout, with last year’s T4 finish with Brendan Steele his best showing  Woodland is coming off a 2017-18 PGA TOUR Season which included a victory at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, his third career TOUR title. So far this season, he has amassed three top-10 finishes in five starts, highlighted by a solo-second at THE CJ CUP @ NINE Bridges  Hoffman is making his fourth start in the QBE Shootout, with T3s in 2015 (Daniel Berger) and 2016 (Billy Horschel) his best showings.  Horschel and Woodland are playing together for the second year (2016/T3) Patton Kizzire/Brian Harman (125/-19)  Birdies came at Nos. 6, 7, 10, 13, 15 and 17. A bogey at the par-3 eighth was offset in part by an eagle-3 at No. 14  While Kizzire is making his first QBE Shootout Start, Harman is making his second (w/ Pat Perez in 2017/T3) On the strength of PGA TOUR wins at the 2017 Mayakoba Golf Classic and 2018 Sony Open in Hawaii, Kizzire finished the 2017-18 season ranked 30th in the FedExCup standings Harman amassed a career-best eight top-10 finishes in 2017-18, good for a 48th-place finish in the FedExCup standings  In four starts this season, Kizzire’s best showing is T15 in his adopted hometown of Sea Island, GA at The RSM Classic. Harman, a Saint Simon’s Island, GA resident, also secured his best finish in four starts at The RSM Classic (T32) Miscellaneous Notes  With a win this week, Stricker and O’Hair would become the third team to successfully defend their QBE Shootout title; Brad Faxon/Scott McCarron (2000, 2001) and Jeff Sluman/Hank Kuehne (2003, 2004)  Founded by World Golf Hall of Fame Member Greg Norman in 1989, this week’s QBE Shootout marks the 30th playing of the event.  Tiburon Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton Resort in Naples, Fla. has now been home to the QBE Shootout for 18 consecutive years (2001).  The 12 two-person teams were selected on the following criteria:  Defending champions  The top 12 available players from the 2017-18 FedExCup points list  10 special exemptions (a minimum of four come from the top 40 on the PGA TOUR career money list)  Competitors in the 2018 QBE Shootout have combined for 90 victories (80 on the PGA TOUR and 10 by Lexi Thompson on the LPGA).  Ten of the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking are in this week’s QBE Shootout, highlighted by Bryson DeChambeau at No. 5.  Players making their first start in the QBE Shootout: Cameron Champ (with Kevin Kisner), Kevin Na (with Bryson DeChambeau), Andrew Landry (with Luke Donald), Emiliano Grillo (with Graeme McDowell), Luke List (with Charles Howell III), Patton Kizzire (with Brian Harman) and Harold Varner III (with Bubba Watson).  Two former FedExCup champions are among the 24-player field: Brandt Snedeker (2012) and Billy Horschel (2014). Snedeker celebrated his 38th birthday during Saturday’s second round.

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