DeChambeau may unveil new driver at Masters

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Sergio Garcia rushed to the first tee and raced to the finish line Thursday in THE PLAYERS Championship. RELATED: Leaderboard | Mickelson sees positives at THE PLAYERS Most importantly, he avoided the kind of wreck that allowed TPC Sawgrass to live up to its reputation as the course where anything can happen to anyone at any time. Garcia thought he had plenty of time to get from the range to the 10th tee to start his round. The sun was in his eyes when he looked at the clock, he wasn’t sure what he saw, jogged the rest of the way and had a minute to spare. Then he fired off a 7-under 65, capped off by a birdie-birdie-eagle finish for a two-shot lead over Brian Harman. It was a solid day that became brilliant over the final three holes. Garcia only had to look next to him to see what kind of damage the Stadium Course inflicted, even on a pristine day of pleasant sunshine and a mild breeze. Rory McIlroy, the defending champion, opened with a double bogey from the trees. He hit two in the water on the 18th and made a quadruple-bogey 8. He wound up with a 79, his worst score since his opening round at Royal Portrush in the 2019 Open Championship. When darkness brought the first round to a halt — 21 players didn’t finish — there already were 13 scores of 80 or higher. That included Henrik Stenson with an 85, his highest score ever on the PGA TOUR. There were 22 scores of triple bogey or worse. Garcia took eight shots to play his final three holes. Byeong Hun An took 11 shots on the par-3 17th hole. The Spaniard feels comfortable on a course that causes anxiety even in good weather. “For some reason, it just kind of fits my eye,” said Garcia, who won THE PLAYERS in 2008 and has twice been runner-up. “I see what I want to do pretty much every hole, and then it’s a matter of doing it.” Harman played in the afternoon and was hanging around par until he began the back nine with three straight birdies, shot 31 on the back and wound up with a 67. The Open champion Shane Lowry took bogey on his final hole for a 68 and was tied with Corey Conners and Matt Fitzpatrick. Bryson DeChambeau, coming off his victory last week at Bay Hill, had to take a little off his driver on the par-5 16th and had 9-iron left, setting up a birdie-birdie-par finish to join the group at 69. The small number of fans — by Sawgrass standards — saw a little bit of everything. It started early with McIlroy, who shot 43 on his opening nine holes. “The big number on 18 didn’t help and then doubling the first wasn’t helpful, either,” he said. “It’s hard to recover when you just haven’t played good. If you take that 18th hole out, it still wasn’t a very good day.” Stenson hit into the water on consecutive holes for a double bogey and a triple bogey. He put two more in the water, including one of 18 balls in the water on the island-green 17th. Ian Poulter (77) sat for lunch with McIlroy, Stenson and Tyrrell Hatton (76) and posted video of this fearsome foursome that combined to go 29-over par. “Oh, what a bunch of muppets,” Poulter said. Rickie Fowler, the 2015 champion, had three double bogeys in his round of 77, leaving him in danger of missing the cut. Dustin Johnson took double bogey on the par-5 11th and eagle on the par-5 16th in his round of 73. Jordan Spieth missed only two fairways and had to settle for a 70. Garcia’s lone bogey came after perhaps his best shot. From the pine straw next to a tree left of the first fairway, he hooked an iron that came out low and right to left with enough run that it settled 25 feet away. And then he three-putted. The most remarkable round might have belonged to Hoge, who managed to get through 18 holes without a bogey. “It was a good, solid day, kind of what you want here on the Stadium Course,” Hoge said. “I haven’t been hitting it that well coming in here, so I just tried to hit a lot of greens and stay out of trouble for the most part.” Sebastian Munoz was at 4 under with one hole to play, that being the 18th, and a shot into the water led to a triple bogey for a 71. He tried to take out the positives of five birdies, and that’s what makes this tournament so tough to predict. There are plenty of birdies available. It doesn’t take much to erase all the good work. “You do have a lot of wedges in your hand,” Munoz said. “Par 5s are reachable. So yeah, we do have a lot more chances than a usual course. But I mean, danger is around the corner on every hole.”

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Summertime presents numerous opportunities for all walks of PGA TOUR membership. As some rank-and-filers moonlight on the Web.com Tour and others even deeper in the trenches break into fields on the PGA TOUR Champions, the movement for playing time in standard TOUR stops can be dizzying. This is one of the reasons why I always tweet all field changes. Even if you already know that you don’t have to register for Twitter to read my page (like any website), you may not know that all of my tweets that aren’t replies to others appear on the FANTASY page at PGATOUR.com. The format of my TWITTERFEED truncates for length, but you can view entire messages by clicking on my avatar, the left arrow or the heart. I almost always tweet the updated Qualifiers, but that page will be appointment reading next week. At the conclusion of this week’s RBC Canadian Open, the top 70 on the year-long special money list will earn exemptions into the PGA Championship. To complete the field of 156 at Bellerive Country Club on Aug. 9-12, the PGA of America then will use a combination of the golfers outside the top 70 with those outside the top 100 (traditionally) in the Official World Golf Ranking. This is why the field is annually considered the deepest in professional golf. Whichever resource(s) you choose to use, you’re covered. PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO My roster for the RBC Canadian Open (in alphabetical order): Tony Finau Charley Hoffman Dustin Johnson Brooks Koepka Matt Kuchar Joaquin Niemann You’ll find my starters in Expert Picks. Others to consider for each category (in alphabetical order): Scoring: Tommy Fleetwood; Martin Laird; Keith Mitchell; J.J. Spaun; Jimmy Walker Driving: Keegan Bradley; Joel Dahmen; Tommy Fleetwood; Billy Horschel; Martin Laird; Keith Mitchell; Sam Ryder; J.J. Spaun; Gary Woodland Approach: Keegan Bradley; Stewart Cink; Joel Dahmen; Chris Kirk; Chez Reavie; Sam Ryder; J.J. Spaun; Steve Stricker Short: Billy Horschel; Kevin Kisner; Martin Laird; Brandt Snedeker; Jimmy Walker Power Rankings Wild Card Billy Horschel … Loyal readers understand how this pick can oscillate between something of a sleeper to an up-and-comer to a talent who should be in the Power Rankings but has been demoted. It’s also served the role as an extension of the Monday column. That’s where the co-runner-up at the Barbasol Championship fits in. Notoriously streaky, our confidence should remain high given he finished T17 at the Quicken Loans National in his previous start. The T2 at Keene Trace wasn’t unexpected inasmuch as it didn’t align with his usual preference for tough tracks. From strokes gained: off-the-tee (16th), greens in regulation (34th) and par-5 scoring (T14), he checks every box that projects success at Glen Abbey, and he’s 23rd in strokes gained: putting for good measure. Draws Chez Reavie … Celebrating the 10th anniversary of his breakthrough title at Glen Abbey this week. It’s rolled around at a great time because he needs a reversal of fortune as he arrives on an 0-for-4 skid. He’s survived the cut in the last four editions of the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey, posting top 25s in the last two. The success and experience here should lay the foundation for confidence to let his skill as a sharpshooter to shine once again. Stewart Cink … Still lacing it tee to green. He followed consecutive top fives with consecutive top 25s, including a T24 at Carnoustie. Tied for fifth at Glen Abbey in 2015 and makes his fourth straight visit. Adam Hadwin … At 55th in the Official World Golf Ranking, he’s tops among Canadians, but that still represents a mild slide in recent months. He’s overcome below-average putting compared to his reputation. Still, as one of the most reliable to make any cut and with experience and some success at Glen Abbey (a T7 in 2015 most notably), he’s a safe own no matter your format. Ben Silverman … The rookie from Canada is getting his first look at Glen Abbey in competition, but he carries the buoying effects of a T12 at the Barbasol with him. Going to come cheap in DFS, so give him a chance. Jimmy Walker … I’m buying for at least one more week, but he’s probably overvalued in DFS. No stranger to Glen Abbey having placed T14 in his last visit in 2016 and still among the better scorers on TOUR. Gary Woodland … Glen Abbey is the kind of yard where Gary can get his groove back. Since his playoff victory at TPC Scottsdale in early February, he’s connected for only one top 25 (T23, Memorial). After a similarly quiet lead-in to last year’s RBC Canadian Open due in part to a personally challenging few months, he rose to a fourth-place finish. J.J. Spaun … It’s impossible for gamers in particular not to love how he plays the game and how he carries himself. His profile as an attack artist is ideal for Glen Abbey. Only short-sighted course history buffs who can’t look away from a pedestrian 1-for-2 record (with a T41 in 2015) will ignore that he’s still a talent on the rise. Slot him into your DFS lineup without hesitation. Steve Stricker … Forgoing the last major on the PGA TOUR Champions for his first trip to Glen Abbey since a T63 in 2015. With this and one more start on the PGA TOUR this season, he’ll retain his voting privileges as a member, but he’s 141st in the FedExCup standings, so the greater urgency is to kick it into gear to make the FedExCup Playoffs. Worth the price tag in DFS, especially. Keegan Bradley (all) Tyler Duncan (DFS) Jim Furyk (DFS) J.B. Holmes (DFS) Chris Kirk (all) Jamie Lovemark (all) Patrick Rodgers (SERVPRO) Fades Troy Merritt … While victory is always a bonus, he trended toward something special before emerging with the title at the Barbasol Championship on Monday. Now, because he converted instead of, say, merely recording a top 10, we have to guard against a letdown even though this isn’t his first rodeo. His 1-for-3 record at Glen Abbey doesn’t help (or hurt, depending on your perspective), but it doesn’t matter, either. Sergio Garcia … Just his 12th start of the season and he’s 132nd in the FedExCup. Teased gamers with a T12-T8 ramp into The Open Championship, a tournament for which he’s a perennial short-lister, but he missed the cut at Carnoustie. Now he’s getting his first look at Glen Abbey since his debut in 2000, but even contrarians have to shop elsewhere based on a primarily lackluster 2018 that includes MCs in all three majors and a 70th at THE PLAYERS. John Huh … Erased the last shred of doubt to get into the Playoffs with a T7 at the John Deere Classic. Now 95th in FedExCup points, it’s entirely about building, but it would be the first time for that to happen in five appearances at Glen Abbey. He’s never made the cut and his scoring average is 73.625 in eight rounds. Bill Haas Si Woo Kim Shane Lowry Ryan Palmer Andrew Putnam Returning to Competition Rory Sabbatini … Withdrew after a first-round 72 at the John Deere Classic. An explanation wasn’t released. The short week extended his drought without a top-35 finish to five straight starts. He’s enjoyed success at Glen Abbey over the years, most recently in the forms of a T11 in 2015 and a faded T23 last year. So, there’s merit to fractional ownership in DFS. Notable WDs Austin Cook … With starts at Firestone and Bellerive lined up the next two weeks, and after going T5-T34-T28 the last three weeks, this is the perfect time for a breather. Beau Hossler … The first-time PGA TOUR member has enjoyed a phenomenal season. While short of a victory, he’s finished second twice and banked over $2.3 million and sits 32nd in the FedExCup standings. He’ll qualify for the PGA Championship at the end of the week. Chesson Hadley … Currently 18th in the FedExCup standings. He’ll gain entry into the PGA Championship at the conclusion of the RBC Canadian Open. Martin Kaymer … This would have marked his 11th start of the season. Positioned 216th in the FedExCup standings, he’d need to contend at the PGA Championship to trigger more playing time in the Playoffs. Short of that, he won’t reach the membership minimum of 15 starts for the second time in four seasons, which means that he wouldn’t be fully exempt in 2018-19 during what is the last season of his five-year exemption for winning the 2014 U.S. Open. Derek Fathauer … Easily the most surprising of all of this week’s early withdrawals. He’s 136th in the FedExCup standings. Interestingly, the last time he withdrew after a commitment deadline and before an opening round was at last year’s RBC Canadian Open. Denny McCarthy … Withdrew early from last week’s Barbasol Championship as well. No news has surfaced to help explain why and he’s inactive on social media. Sits 146th in the FedExCup. Nate Lashley … In his return from knee surgery, he missed the cut on the Web.com Tour last week. The rookie is taking this week off. Power Rankings Recap – The Open Championship Power Ranking  Golfer  Result 1  Dustin Johnson  MC 2  Rickie Fowler  T28 3  Justin Rose  T2 4  Brooks Koepka  T39 5  Alex Noren  T17 6  Jon Rahm  MC 7  Tommy Fleetwood  T12 8  Francesco Molinari  Win 9  Patrick Reed  T28 10  Paul Casey  T51 11  Zach Johnson  T17 12  Rory McIlroy  T2 13  Marc Leishman  60th 14  Tyrrell Hatton  T51 15  Branden Grace  MC 16  Sergio Garcia  MC 17  Jason Day  T17 18  Phil Mickelson  T24 19  Justin Thomas  MC 20  Hideki Matsuyama  MC Wild Card  Jordan Spieth  T9 Sleepers Recap – The Open Championship Golfer  Result Byeong Hun An  T51 Alexander Björk  MC Nicolas Colsaerts  MC Jason Dufner  T51 Paul Dunne  T67 Grant Forrest  MC Ryan Fox  T39 Dylan Frittelli  MC Emiliano Grillo  MC Russell Henley  MC Jazz Janewattananond  MC Anirban Lahiri  MC Hao Tong Li  T39 Thorbjørn Olesen  T12 Thomas Pieters  T28 Matthew Southgate  T67 Julian Suri  T28 Peter Uihlein  MC Matt Wallace  MC Chris Wood  T28 Power Rankings Recap – Barbasol Championship Power Ranking  Golfer  Result 1  Chris Kirk  T40 2  Joel Dahmen  T15 3  Brian Gay  6th 4  Tyler Duncan  T49 5  Billy Horschel  T2 6  Corey Conners  MC 7  Sam Ryder  T7 8  Whee Kim  T66 9  Scott Brown  T21 10  Andres Romero  T21 Birthdays among active golfers on the PGA TOUR July 24 … Danny Lee (29) July 25 … none July 26 … none July 27 … Jordan Spieth (25) July 28 … Frank Lickliter II (49) July 29 … Harrison Frazar (47) July 30 … Graeme McDowell (39); Justin Rose (38); Sam Saunders (31)

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BILLY HORSCHEL EARNS SEVENTH TOUR TITLE AT THE MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT Billy Horschel missed the cut at last week’s Charles Schwab Challenge, but a pep talk from wife Brittany on their Saturday flight home provided a spark. “She said, ‘Would you rather make the cut, finish middle of the pack … or go home, work with T.A. (coach Todd Anderson) and have a chance to win at Memorial?’” The inquiry proved prophetic, as Horschel authored a 13-under total at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday for a four-stroke win over Aaron Wise at Muirfield Village GC. Horschel used a 7-under 65 on a tricky Saturday to gain separation from the field, and he kept his distance with a final-round 72. The 2014 FedExCup champion earns his seventh TOUR title – also his first individual stroke-play win since 2017 – and he accrues 550 FedExCup points, moving to No. 10 in the season-long standings. A 53-foot eagle on No. 15 Sunday allowed Horschel to soak in the moment over the final three holes, made sweeter by the attendance of his wife, parents and three kids – who raced onto No. 18 green to ask, “Did Daddy win?” As evidenced by Horschel’s congratulatory handshake from tournament host Jack Nicklaus, indeed he did. TOUR RETURNS TO CANADA The RBC Canadian Open returns to the PGA TOUR schedule after two years of cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The TOUR will take over Toronto as the best players in the world get their first look at St. George’s Golf and Country Club since it last hosted in 2010. FedExCup leader and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler headlines the expansive field while Rory McIlroy returns to defend his title from 2019. Other big names making the trip include PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas, THE PLAYERS champion Cameron Smith, Sam Burns, Tony Finau, Matt Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry (who finished T2 in 2019), Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton and Patrick Reed. Nearly two dozen Canadians will tee it up at their national Open, led by Corey Conners, the top-ranked Canadian in the FedExCup standings. The winner of the RBC Canadian Open will receive 500 FedExCup points. VIDEO OF THE WEEK MIC CHECK “I think I kind of blacked out for a second when it went in … to kind of see it go over the lip and fall in, I just – you’ve got pure joy as a reaction there. Again, I blacked out. I’m not sure exactly what happened.” – Adam Hadwin on his reaction following his hole-in-one on No. 16 in the second round at Muirfield Village. BY THE NUMBERS 49 – Billy Horschel played a stretch of 49 consecutive holes without a bogey or worse en route to his win at the Memorial Tournament. 6 – This will be the sixth time that St. George’s Golf & Country Club has hosted the RBC Canadian Open, with Sweden’s Carl Pettersson winning the last iteration in 2010. 1 – Wins on the Korn Ferry Tour for Davis Thompson after he claimed the REX Hospital Open. COMCAST BUSINESS TOUR TOP 10

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