Daly gets 1st title since ’04 with Champions win
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Daly gets 1st title since ’04 with Champions win
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Munoz remains ‘Top Gun’ at The Greenbrier ClassicMunoz remains ‘Top Gun’ at The Greenbrier Classic
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. – Notes and observations from Saturday’s third round of the Greenbrier Classic where Sebastian Munoz set himself up for his first PGA TOUR win with a steady 2-under 68. The Colombian sits 14-under and leads by two over Robert Streb (65) at 12 under. Rookie Xander Schauffele (66) and former prodigy Jamie Lovemark (66) will also try to chase down a maiden PGA TOUR win from three back at 11-under. For more from Old White TPC check out the Daily Wrap. MUNOZ MOVIE NIGHTS Sebastian Munoz has turned off his phone and retreated to his room for 1980s movie nights as he tries to stem the nerves during his battle for a maiden PGA TOUR win at the Greenbrier Classic. The 23-year-old Colombian, who prior to this week had finished no higher than T27 on the TOUR and ranks 198th on the FedExCup, has led through all three rounds at the Old White TPC. His two-shot buffer over Robert Streb in his first 54-hole lead on TOUR and represents the chance to significantly change his life bringing with it significant nerves. Knowing his phone would be blowing up with well wishes and social media notifications he simply turned it off. “I am going to try to do the same thing. I’ve had my phone off since Thursday. We’re going to keep it that way,â€� he smiled as he explained how he kept a calm demeanor. After Thursday’s hot start Munoz retreated to his room to watch 1980s classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and after another good effort Friday kept the theme going by watching Rainman. Slightly superstitious he will once again find an 80s classic and is considering Top Gun for his Saturday night flick. As for tomorrow’s final round? He hopes keeping a simple game plan will allow him to continue on to victory. “I’ll try to play boring golf. I try to hit the fairway and hit the greens,â€� he said. “I’ll try to keep it steady, but you just take what you can get.â€� And he will try to continue to make putts. Munoz leads the field in Strokes Gained: Putting at an incredible 9.181 through three rounds making 396’1â€� worth of putts. STREB SADDLES UP FOR REVENGE Two years ago Robert Streb had the chance to win the Greenbrier Classic, joining a four-man playoff for the title. Just getting there had been an impressive effort given he broke his putter at the turn on Sunday and putted with a wedge on the back nine that yielded five birdies. Ultimately, he was unable to get the win but the 2015 McGladrey Classic champion has the chance for revenge this week, starting Sunday just two back in second place. It’s a timely performance as he currently ranks 137th in the FedExCup. “I’m trying to put that aside and trying to just focus on winning here and see if we can play well,â€� Streb said. “Hopefully the points will take care of themselves.â€� Streb’s Saturday effort was highlighted by a brilliant hybrid out of the rough on the par-5 12th hole from 232-yards that almost went in the hole. The resulting eagle and round of 65 has him in great shape. “Maybe I left a couple out there coming in, but hopefully have a chance tomorrow,â€� he said. SHOT OF THE DAY ROOKIE XANDER READY TO ATTACK When Xander Schauffele nabbed a top-5 finish in just his second PGA TOUR event in the fall last year he was already liking his chances of a trip to the FedExCup Playoffs. With four made cuts out of the blocks in his rookie year the confidence was starting to certainly build. But then six missed cuts in the next eight starts followed and by the time he headed to the U.S. Open last month he had faded to 135th on the FedExCup list and was in danger of losing his card. The 23-year-old then surprised plenty by contending at Erin Hills, finishing in a tie for fifth, catapulting him back into the high confidence realm once more. Decent efforts at the Travelers Championship (T14) and the Quicken Loans National (T35) have moved him to 94th on the FedExCup list entering the Greenbrier Classic, virtually securing a Playoff berth. “Knowing that I have a job virtually taken care of for next year is a huge relief,â€� he said. “It frees me up to maybe go at a few more pins tomorrow. Really get aggressive at times and push for a win. “You can only do as much as you can with the swing and with putts. But if I can kind if keep this attitude, never know what can happen. “I don’t really know what’s going to go on with by body and how my mind works, but hopefully I can prepare for it properly.â€� CALL OF THE DAY   LOVE CHASES HISTORY Davis Love III will attempt to create history on Sunday as he looks to become the oldest winner on the PGA TOUR. A Life Member on the TOUR based on a minimum of 20 victories (21), Love III carded a third-round 2-under 68 and will enter the final round at T5, four strokes behind. A victory Sunday would come in Love’s 741st official PGA TOUR start at the age of 53 years, 2 months and 26 days breaking Sam Snead’s record of 52 years, 10 months and 8 days at the 1965 Wyndham Championship. Love would also set a record for most years between first and last victory on the TOUR (30 years, two months and 20 days since his first win at the 1987 RBC Heritage). “I don’t think much about age. I think I want to get out and compete. There is a reason why I keep having surgery and coming back and doing the rehab and trying to play,â€� he said. “I think I can play out here. I watch Vijay (Singh) go out there and pound balls and keep having a good finish here and there, keep making the FedExCup 125. I want to keep doing that. I want to keep staying out here and competing. “I’m just trying to hang in there. I feel like if I can make some putts I can still compete with them.â€� ODDS AND ENDS Jamie Lovemark (T3), in search of his first victory in his 113th PGA TOUR start, owns runner-up finishes at the 2009 Safeway Open and 2016 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The former prodigy admits there will be nerves but he’s excited about the prospect of a breakthrough win. “I think everyone feels more comfortable as time goes on. I’m 29; I’m getting kind of old. So hopefully get one of these someday soon,â€� he said. “Everyone is more nervous on Sunday. That’s fine. That’s why we play. Not a huge deal. Just got to take it slow and give myself a lot of decent looks and don’t be too aggressive going into the greens.â€� Defending champion Danny Lee (64-68-70) sits six back in a tie for 8th. After making the cut on the number (his first made cut in four tries at The Old White TPC), Phil Mickelson posted a 1-over 71 Saturday to fall to T61. Opening this week with rounds of 69-67, Greenbrier resident Bubba Watson (T67) struggled to a 5-over 75 Saturday, his first-over par score in 15 rounds at The Greenbrier Classic. Smylie Kaufman (T54) has a current streak of 258 consecutive holes without a three-putt. BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA Munoz needs just 9 more feet of putts in his final two holes to get to 400 feet of putts made this week😳😳😳 #isthatgood — Teryn Schaefer (@TerynS_PGATOUR) July 8, 2017 🔥 🔥 🔥@jsmunozgolf has the flat stick dialed in.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/b5jCY0GI8P — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 8, 2017 Missed green? No problem. Robert Streb (@therealstrebber) converts from 91’6″ on his opening hole. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/tovjnvg6yS — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 8, 2017
Horses for Courses: THE PLAYERS ChampionshipHorses for Courses: THE PLAYERS Championship
The deepest field in golf will tee it up with heavy hearts for the biggest prize pool in the game at Pete Dye’s Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Of the 125 TOUR players eligible, 122 are teeing it up this week and the 47th PLAYERS will be contested, in part, by 47 of the world’s top 50 players. On the line for the second consecutive March will be the biggest prize in golf: A purse of $15 million, including a winner’s share of $2.7 million, plus 600 FedExCup Points. RELATED: Power Rankings | Expert Picks Dye’s masterpiece returned to the March portion of the schedule last year. Sadly, that would be his last PLAYERS, as he passed away in January. His legend and legendary track will frustrate, taunt and mislead the world’s best again this year. The Stadium Course features no two consecutive holes routed in the same direction, so judging the wind is always top-of-mind. Speaking of mind, don’t let it play tricks, as angles into fairways and greens don’t always appear what they seem. The genius of Pete Dye was planting the seed of doubt and forcing the player to make a decision. Having a strong conviction this week won’t hurt either! The course isn’t long, but can play so this time of year as the over-seeded rough and greens are more receptive since they haven’t dried out over the spring. Without run-off or run-out, fairways become easier to hit, but distance is sacrificed, favoring the power players, as usual. It’s another week of TifEagle greens, wind, sand, water and Palm trees, but this time with the deepest field in golf. RECENT WINNERS 2019: Rory McIlroy (-16, 272) Began the final round one shot back of Jon Rahm (T12) before posting 70 to win THE PLAYERS for the first time (10th attempt). … Opened 67-65 to co-lead after 36 holes with Tommy Fleetwood (T5). … Led the field in Strokes-Gained: Tee-to-Green and Par-3 scoring. … Became the third winner in the last four to lead or co-lead the field in bogey avoidance. … Opened 2019 on TOUR T6 or better in his first five events. #Hawt. … Cut was 143 (-1). Notables in the field this week: Jim Furyk (2nd), all 48 years of him, tied 54-hole leader Rahm for the low round of the week (64) and finished just one back. … Furyk was looking to become the first local to win since Fred Funk (2005). … Jhonattan Vegas (T3) closed 67-66. … Dustin Johnson graced the top 10 (T5) for the first time in 11 tries and posted all four rounds in the 60s. … Brandt Snedeker (T5) ended a streak of three straight MC and co-led the field in birdies (23) with Abraham Ancer (T12). … Webb Simpson (T16) provided the best title defense since Adam Scott (T8) in 2005. 2018: Webb Simpson (-18, 270) Led or co-led every round en route to a four-shot victory in his ninth attempt. … Set 36-hole record (-15) and tied the 54-hole record (-19) in the final event during May. … Led by a record seven shots after Saturday. … 73 tied the highest score in the final round for a winner. … Missed Greg Norman’s tournament record by five. … 63 in Round 2 tied the course record. … Last in the field in driving distance yet first in fairways as May played firm and fast. Cut was 143 (-1). Notables in the field this week: Debutant Xander Schauffele and Jimmy Walker shared second four back. … Jason Day and Jason Dufner shared fifth. … Tommy Fleetwood (T7) started his hot streak. … Brooks Koepka tied the course record (63) Sunday for T11. … Defending champion Si Woo Kim T63. 2017: Si Woo Kim (-10, 278) Won by three shots in just his second attempt and became the youngest winner (21). … Only player double-digits under-par. … One of three players to put all four rounds at par-or-better. … Led the field in scrambling, bogey avoidance (T1) and Par-4 scoring. … Just seven rounds in the 60s on Sunday and his was the only one without a bogey! Notables in the field this week: Louis Oosthuizen and Ian Poulter shared second. … 54-hole leaders Kyle Stanley (T4) and J.B. Holmes (T41) didn’t break 75 on Sunday. … Francesco Molinari (T6) picked up his third top-10 finish in a row. … Adam Scott (T6) picked up his first top-10 payday since 2007. Key stat leaders Top golfers in each statistic on the 2019-20 PGA TOUR are listed only if they are scheduled to compete this week.  * - previous top-10 finish here since 2015 or previous champion Strokes-Gained: Tee-to-Green  1 *Rory McIlroy  2 *Justin Thomas  3 *Hideki Matsuyama  4 *Adam Scott  5 Patrick Cantlay  6 Paul Casey  7 Byeong-Hun An  8 *Dustin Johnson  9 Corey Conners 10 Jon Rahm 11 *Xander Schauffele 12 Brooks Koepka 13 *Tommy Fleetwood 14 Jason Kokrak 15 Emiliano Grillo 16 Gary Woodland 18 Matthew Fitzpatrick 19 Kevin Streelman 20 *Webb Simpson 21 Tony Finau 22 *Henrik Stenson (2009 winner) 23 Joaquin Niemann 24 *Sergio Garcia 25 *Lucas Glover (T6, 2017; 3, 2010) Strokes-Gained: Putting  1 Denny McCarthy  2 Jordan Spieth  4 *Graeme McDowell  5 Andrew Putnam  6 Aaron Baddeley  7 Patton Kizzire  8 Wyndham Clark  9 Vaughn Taylor 11 *Webb Simpson 12 *Brandt Snedeker 13 *Rickie Fowler 14 Pat Perez 15 Harris English 16 Billy Horschel 17 *Justin Rose (T8, 2019) 19 Peter Malnati 20 *Kevin Kisner (P2 debut 2015) 22 Patrick Rodgers 23 Sam Ryder 24 *Ian Poulter 24 *Rory McIlroy Par-4 Scoring  1 *Rory McIlroy  1 Brooks Koepka  3 *Justin Thomas  3 *Webb Simpson  3 Jon Rahm  3 Patrick Cantlay  7 Cameron Tringale  8 Nate Lashley  8 Brice Garnett  8 Joaquin Niemann  8 *Rickie Fowler  8 Sam Ryder  8 *Lucas Glover  8 Scott Piercy  8 Charles Howell III  8 Patrick Reed  8 *Chez Reavie  8 Ryan Palmer  8 Abraham Ancer Horses   Rory McIlroy: Of the last seven, five are T12 or better, including the only player to win in March. Sergio Garcia: All-time money leader and 2008 champ has cashed in 16 straight; closed 67 last year for T22. Adam Scott: 2004 winner in March has taken home T12 or better the last four years; only Garcia has more rounds in the 60s. Webb Simpson: Hard to ignore T16-WIN-T16 in the last three editions. Jason Day: 2016 champ closed out the May portion with T5 (-13) and began March with T8 (-12). Jim Furyk: Local has cashed in 18 of 23 over his career for second-best on the money list, but he’s 49. Caution. Cut Makers Matt Kuchar: 2012 winner has been paid in 10 of his last 11 visits; T26 last year but soft conditions won’t help him or Furyk. Caution. Tommy Fleetwood: T7 in the final May event (-12) and T5 (-13) in the return to March last year. Hideki Matsuyama: Six trips have resulted in five weekends with the worst being T23; T8 last year. Justin Rose: Four straight and five of his last six with T8 last year, which included playing the final 54 holes 14 under. Ian Poulter: Stayed all weekend in 13 of 16 including six straight; nine-under (T3) after 36 last year before fading. Justin Thomas: Perfect from five tries and all four rounds par-or-better last year.
Curtis Luck sits two shots back at Desert ClassicCurtis Luck sits two shots back at Desert Classic
LA QUINTA, Calif. – Curtis Luck could dramatically change his season with a good weekend at the Desert Classic. The 22-year-old Australian will start Saturday in second place after missing four of his first five cuts this season. He sits at 14-under 130 (64-66), two shots behind fellow U.S. Amateur champion Phil Mickelson. Mickelson is the 36-hole leader following Thursday’s 60 with a 4-under 68. Luck and Mickelson both have 16 birdies this week, the most in the field (Mickelson also has an eagle), but now they have two rounds remaining on PGA West’s Stadium Course, the toughest of the three courses in use this week. Luck made eight birdies in each of his first two rounds, but also had two bogeys Friday. MUST READS: Round 2, Desert Classic “Just like yesterday. Very solid, lot of greens, a lot of fairways. Just missed a couple of short ones today, unfortunately, on the greens,� he said. He’s needed just 23 putts in each of the first two rounds. He is T79 in greens hit (25 of 36) but first in putts per green in regulation (1.44). Luck, the 2016 U.S. Amateur champion, is playing his first season as a PGA TOUR member after earning his card via the Web.com Tour Finals. He didn’t qualify for the Finals until the last week of the Web.com Tour’s Regular Season, finishing sixth at the WinCo Foods Portland Open to jump inside the top 75 on the money list and qualify for the four-event series that is the only source of PGA TOUR cards. Luck posted two top-10s in the four Finals events to become a TOUR member. Now he’s trying to turn around his season after a tough start. A 50th-place finish at the Sanderson Farms Championship is his best showing this season.