DJ storms to the front on moving day at PGA

HOUSTON - Adam Long was confused when he arrived for the first round of the Vivint Houston Open. Not because he was arriving at a new venue, one that hasn't been used on the PGA TOUR for more than half a century. He was surprised to see spectators for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. "There's people walking around and I was like, ‘What's going on?'" Long said after shooting 68 on Thursday. "Completely forgot. It's nice. It gets you excited a little bit, gets you fired up. It's nice to hear some claps out here when you're fortunate enough to hit a good shot." The Vivint Houston Open is the first PGA TOUR event in the United States to have fans on-site since March. Two thousand tickets were sold for each round of the tournament. Last week, five hundred fans per day were permitted at the Bermuda Championship. "It’s great having fans back out again," Texas native Scottie Scheffler said after shooting 67 on Thursday. "The energy was definitely a lot different than us just being out here by ourselves." The return of spectators is part of a measured approach by the PGA TOUR to re-introduce galleries. The PGA TOUR will work with local authorities each week to determine if spectators can safely attend and determine how many should be allowed on-site. There will be no spectators at the three events remaining on the PGA TOUR schedule this year. "As we work toward gradually permitting ticketed spectators and special guests at PGA TOUR events, we remain committed to health and safety as the No. 1 priority," said Tyler Dennis, the PGA TOUR's Senior Vice President & Chief of Operations. "Every week may look different, as we need to be cognizant of what is reasonable in each market, based on the current COVID-19 climate, local and state protocols and, of course, how the venue is set up to accommodate density guidelines. We appreciate the collaboration with the Bermuda Championship last week and Vivint Houston Open this week in their thoughtful participation in our Return to Spectators plan." Jordan Spieth described the presence of fans with a word that hasn't been uttered often in 2020. "It certainly felt more normal as we were playing today and especially as we were finishing up, just the look of it is way more normal," said Spieth, who is a Player Director on the PGA TOUR's Player Policy Board. "Obviously if we're able to do it safely, that's a huge win for the tournaments and the TOUR, so hopefully it continues to go well like it did this morning." Scheffler said he was "extremely comfortable" with fans on-site. "I think the PGA TOUR’s done a great job keeping us safe and keeping the fans safe," he said. "I think it’s great that they have the freedom to come out here and watch. Pretty much everyone was wearing a mask that I saw, so I felt very safe out there on the course." Tony Finau, who shot 69, said he appreciated hearing applause when he was announced on the first tee. "Right out of the gate, when they said my name on the first tee, it was cool to have some people kind of cheer. It's been awhile since I've heard that," Finau said. "It feels nice to have some of our fans back and just look forward to having all of them back in bunches."

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Here are nine tidbits from the opening round of The RSM Classic that gamers can use tomorrow, this weekend or down the road. Be looking for the Emergency 9 shortly after the close of play of each round of the tournament. Change in Course: Yesterday, 22 of the top 27 players posted their rounds on the par-72 Plantation course. With similar weather conditions on the cards Friday, I thought those playing Plantation would have the advantage again. Wrongo. Of the eight lowest rounds of the day, seven were carded on the par-70 Seaside course. The winning scores the last two years have been 22-under-par and 17-under-par, so there are still birdies to be made on the weekend. What’s Cookin’?: Veteran gamers will remember the summer of 2015 when Austin Cook burst on the scene. He racked up five T22 or better finishes in his first six events, which included a T11 and a pair of top 10’s. Flash forward two years and he’s posted two top 25’s in three starts in the new season playing from the Web.com priority list. His bogey-free 62 on Seaside was the best of the day. Add that to his bogey-free 66 on Plantation yesterday, and he’s our leader by one. Hey, Bud. What’s your problem? No problem at all! After an even-par round at Plantation yesterday, Bud Cauley jumped right back into the tournament by signing for 63 on Seaside, moving him up a whopping 83 places (T12). The first two years Cauley played here he finished T15 (2011) and T20 (2012) but the last two years he’s MC. He’s already posted a top 10 (T7, Safeway Open) in three events this year. Hubba Hubba, Bubba: Bubba Watson, coming off his worst season since his rookie year of 2006, made his season debut this week. I guess gamers love a famous name as almost THIRTY percent of you made Watson the sixth-most selected player in the PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO game. After shooting a 71 at Plantation yesterday, he repaid your faith with 64 on Friday that included 23 putts and a double bogey. He moved up 61 places and sits T12 entering the weekend. Welcome back, Brandt: The last time we saw Brandt Snedeker in tournament action he was firing a final round 64 at TPC River Highlands (T14). His sternum injury caused him to miss time and eventually change his swing. The change is working as he hit all 14 fairways on Thursday and nine of 14 on Friday. A pair of 67’s positions him inside the top 10 at T6. OAD Crash and Burn: Charles Howell III was the most popular selection in the PGA TOUR Fantasy One & Done presented by SERVPRO. His percentage was almost DOUBLE of second choice Kevin Kisner. With three holes remaining, he sat three-under on the day and one shot above the cut line (-4). After a double on No. 16 and a bogey on No. 17, he was two shots underwater. Brutal result for gamers as Howell had never MC in seven previous trips. OAD Crash and Burn II: PGA TOUR Fantasy One & Done presented by SERVPRO gamers saw the fourth-most selected player, Ollie Schniederjans, fall short as well. There are two schools of thoughts in OAD that will always push and pull gamers. With only 48 tournaments, there’s no need to select players off the radar. Just play the chalk! Others suggest fortune favors the bold and stealing top 10’s throughout the year with outliers is the key to victory. Chose wisely, my friends. Blame me for Jamie? Nope, but you’re welcome for Howell! Turn your furor to Rob Bolton as Lovemark was his choice in the experts One & Done. After a win with Patrick Cantlay at Shriners, I have thrown out Kevin Chappell (MC) at Mayakoba and Howell (MC) this week. I’m not expecting the phone to ring from that group anytime soon! Fantasy Golf is hard, Part 1,293,399: Si Woo Kim (MC) was third last week at Mayakoba and didn’t break par in two chances this week…Patrick Rodgers (MC) gave it a sniff last week and returned to a course where he was T10 last year…Mac Hughes had a baby, changed his name and was defending for the first time. That’s a full plate, and his MC is not surprising…After my terrible suggestion of lining up Brandon Harkins for Friday, move cautiously with my next suggestion. Kevin Streelman is bogey free through 36 holes and finished T6 in 2011. He’s played 10 rounds on Seaside and four of them are 66 or 67. Good luck!

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Below are the biggest movers up the FedExCup ranks following the RBC Canadian Open. MORE: Latest FedExCup standings

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