DraftKings preview: The Honda Classic

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – GN Media – an affiliate of Greg Norman Company (GN) – announced today that the PGA TOUR will join an expanding list of companies partnering with Shark Experience, where the TOUR will distribute its live programming to enhance the on-course experience. The PGA TOUR joins a robust list of industry leaders including Verizon and Club Car to deliver unprecedented connectivity, content and customization to the course through a connected golf car experience. As part of the new strategic partnership, the PGA TOUR will contribute live and on-demand coverage from more than 30 TOUR events via PGA TOUR LIVE, as well as all weekend telecasts produced by CBS and NBC Sports. Golfers in Shark Experience cars will be able to watch PGA TOUR events as soon as Shark Experience launches in the spring. “The PGA TOUR is leading the way in growing the game, so partnering with their organization on our innovative technology was a natural fit,� said Greg Norman. “We are aligning with the industry’s best and most innovative companies and are thrilled to have the TOUR on board to deliver the programming and content that golfers crave.� “The PGA TOUR is continually looking for avenues to grow the game and share our content,� said Rick Anderson, Chief Media Officer at the PGA TOUR. “Shark Experience is a perfect example of modernizing to move the game forward.� Leveraging Verizon’s leading 4G LTE network technology, the connected golf cars include a high-definition touchscreen display and built-in speakers with Bluetooth connectivity – all exclusive to Club Car golf cars. Golfers will enjoy live PGA TOUR coverage and curated content from Verizon, including streaming music via Slacker Radio, live sports and highlights, news and entertainment, Greg Norman golf tips, dynamic yardage information, and more. Shark Experience is currently in pilot and will preview at the 2018 PGA Show in Orlando at the Club Car booth #2928. The new technology will roll out at select golf courses across the U.S. throughout 2018. In addition to the curated content available at launch, features including hole-in-one technology, food and beverage ordering, Shot Tracer and more will become available as the platform continues to evolve. For more information, visit www.sharkexperience.com

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Beware the underdog. Before you dismiss the International Team ahead of the 2022 Presidents Cup, take a moment to remember the 2008 Masters. South Africa’s Trevor Immelman won the green jacket just a few months after emergency surgery to remove a tumor from his abdomen. Tiger Woods was the runner-up. Fourteen years later, Immelman will try to author another upset. He will be the International Team’s captain for the upcoming Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow. His squad, seeking its first victory on U.S. soil, will face a home team that’s coming off a record rout of Europe in the Ryder Cup. After a heart-breaking loss at Royal Melbourne in 2019, the Internationals are 1-11-1 all-time in the biennial team competition and haven’t tasted victory since 1998. Forget Mt. Everest, this is a climb to outer space. But as the majority writes off the International challenge, the steel inside the talent that will join Immelman’s squad grows. In Melbourne, Captain Ernie Els solidified a bond that defied the cultural differences of the team. Immelman was watching closely as one of Els’ assistants. Young stars without old scars took up the challenge and brought enthusiasm to the cause. And now history beckons. They have the chance to be part of something that will be remembered for a long time. A chance to put their legacy on the sport they love. The expectations and pressure will all lay with the U.S. Team and Captain Davis Love III. Most think they are unbeatable. Beware the underdog. International Team candidates have been accumulating points since the 2021 Open Championship on a proprietary calculation that operates similarly to the Official World Golf Ranking. Points earned from the 2022 PGA Championship through the 2022 BMW Championship will get a 25% premium. To help you prepare for the upcoming Presidents Cup, here are a dozen names to consider for the next International squad. This is supposed to be a fun exercise so don’t yell and scream because your favorite player wasn’t included (players are listed in alphabetical order).  Abraham Ancer  Country: Mexico Age: 30 Previous Presidents Cups: 1 (2019)  Current Presidents Cup ranking: 4 Ancer is no stranger to feeling like an underdog. In fact, he revels in it. The pride of Odessa College may be small in stature but he’s large in heart. Ancer’s performance in Melbourne was awesome despite the fact he went down in Singles to Tiger Woods (a Sunday showdown Ancer asked for). His 3-1-1 record in his International Team debut might have been enough on its own to get him another crack at the U.S. Team, but he’s improved even further since then. His long-awaited first PGA TOUR win came on the big stage when he took out the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational in 2021. Ancer, who emphasizes driving accuracy in an age of power, has been firmly ensconced in the top 20 of the world ranking since that win. His team-first attitude exemplifies what the new Internationals are all about. He was runner-up at Quail Hollow in the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship, showing he has a handle on the course, as well. Lucas Herbert  Age: 26 Previous Presidents Cups: 0  The young Australian is a quirky character who in the past hasn’t always come across as a team kind of guy. But the experience gained from two wins in Europe, followed by his maiden PGA TOUR win at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship late in 2021, make him a distinct candidate, as does his maturation as a person. The lofty self-confidence Herbert carried early in life was misunderstood by others at times, but as his communication skills have evolved, so too have his stocks. The 26-year-old has a serious passion to be part of the squad and won’t be afraid of any opponent. Herbert could be used to fill numerous pairings given the all-around strength of his game. He hits it long off the tee – great for Quail Hollow – but proved on the short Bermuda course that he can win without a reliance on the big dog. He also was one of the top putters on the DP World Tour (European Tour) in 2021. Garrick Higgo  Age: 22 Previous Presidents Cups: 0  As a young South African on the rise, Higgo is one player Captain Immelman will certainly have his eye on. He’s been a fan for a long time, having captained the youngster in the Junior Presidents Cup in 2017. Now the 22-year-old is looking to be the first player to go from the junior team to the senior squad in the competition’s history. Higgo is another player flushed with healthy distance off the tee and he has already won three times on the DP World Tour (European Tour) and once on the PGA TOUR (2021 Palmetto Championship). He shows wisdom and maturity beyond his tender years and does not appear easily intimidated. Forced to grow up fast after losing his father in a car accident as a 9-year-old, Higgo has also had the benefit of mentorship from golf legend, and former International captain, Gary Player. Sungjae Im Country: South Korea Age: 23 Previous Presidents Cups: 1 (2019) Current Presidents Cup ranking: 1 Im will be an especially important cog in the team given his ball-striking prowess and ability to score under all conditions. His 2019 teammates were in awe as he displayed every shot in the book with expert precision, earning the nickname ‘Iron Byron.’ He backed up their confidence with a 3-1-1 record in Melbourne, despite being just 21 at the time. Since then, he’s won twice on the PGA TOUR, including the recent Shriners Children’s Open. His accuracy off the tee makes him a great option for Immelman in both team formats, while he’s a candidate to play all five sessions because he’s no stranger to playing copious amounts of golf as one of the TOUR’s most regular players. Marc Leishman Country: Australia  Age: 38  Previous Presidents Cups: 4 (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019)  Current Presidents Cup ranking: 8  A selfless performer who deserves nothing more than being on a winning Presidents Cup team. Leishman is now a six-time TOUR winner and, with Cameron Smith, has the potential to provide a killer duo for team play. While the two were surprisingly not used together in 2019 after the analytics suggested they were better suited with other partners, they’ve since combined to win the 2021 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Leishman’s 4-9-5 record over four Cups might not read well, but the affable Aussie remains undefeated in Singles play. Hideki Matsuyama  Country: Japan Age: 29 Previous Presidents Cups: 4 (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019)  Current President Cup ranking: 5 This is shaping up as a watershed Presidents Cup for Matsuyama, who had an incredible 2021 by becoming the first Japanese man to win a major championship. He also added a win in his native Japan, at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP, to his green jacket. Heading towards what would be his fifth International Team, the time has come for Matsuyama to take a strong leadership role both on the course and in the team room. His record of 6-7-4 is admirable, as it’s come while playing for four losing teams. The sting of a late collapse in the 2019 Singles should inspire a will to atone. Matsuyama was 4-up over Tony Finau through 10 before surrendering the lead over the next four holes. He managed to regain the lead on 16, but let a vital full point slip away by three-putting the 17th hole. If the International Team is to prosper, it’s almost certain Matsuyama needs to be a key factor. It’s a big ask because while his ball striking is usually top notch, his putter is streaky . He’s no stranger to Quail Hollow, having finished T5 at the 2017 PGA Championship. Victory was in his grasp on Sunday, giving him more motivation to atone. Joaquin Niemann Country: Chile Age: 23  Previous Presidents Cups: 1 (2019) The unfriendly 0-3-1 record during his International team debut is certainly something to mull over, but so too is his maturation since the trip to Royal Melbourne. Niemann hasn’t added to his lone TOUR win since his Presidents Cup debut, but he has shown a true passion for the cause. His 2021 featured three runner-up finishes, so it’s not like his form is poor. His infectious personality is also important for the team dynamic. His youthful exuberance rubs off on his teammates. He also shapes as a possible partner for Abraham Ancer, particularly if Leishman jumps in with Smith. Louis Oosthuizen  Country: South Africa Age: 39 Previous Presidents Cups: 4 (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019)  Current Presidents Cup ranking: 3  The South African veteran is a rare International player who can boast a winning record in this competition. His 9-6-4 mark should be enough for Immelman to ensure his compatriot is on the squad (if he’s healthy). Oosthuizen’s 2021 season was one of success, but also heartache. He produced eight top-10 finishes, four of them runners-up, but was without the elusive second PGA TOUR win. One of those near misses was in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where he and Charl Schwartzel fell in a playoff against Leishman and Smith. Oosthuizen also has top-3 finishes in four of the last five majors, though no wins in that span. As he nears 40, another big win seems deserved – as does being part of a historic, and victorious, Presidents Cup team. If it came at a venue where he had a near miss (T2, 2017 PGA Championship), then all the sweeter. Adam Scott  Country: Australia Age: 41 Previous Presidents Cups: 9 (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019) Current Presidents Cup ranking: 9 What better way to celebrate a record 10th Presidents Cup appearance than with a win. You can be sure the veteran Aussie would celebrate such a moment with tremendous vigor. Scott has the dubious distinction of owning the most match losses (22) and most Foursomes losses (9) in Presidents Cup history. He may hold those numbers for the rest of time, but they’d be blips on the consciousness if he led an International Team to the biggest upset of all-time. Much like Matsuyama, Scott’s issues in the event can be partially attributed to his efforts on the greens. While his swing has long been known as one of the silkiest in the world, and his ball-striking when at its best is what helped him to the world No. 1 ranking in 2014, his putting can be unpredictable. When Scott putts just halfway decent, he contends. When he has an off week, he becomes ripe for a match play plucking. Cameron Smith  Country: Australia Age: 28 Previous Presidents Cups: 1 (2019)  Current Presidents Cup ranking: 2 Smith is the potential spiritual leader this squad needs. He lives for team play. Two of his three PGA TOUR wins have come at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, further proof he could become the Ian Poulter of the Internationals. Smith played just three times in the 2019 Presidents Cup, and not at all in Four-Balls, after the analytics pointed elsewhere. He managed a 1-1-1 record with an inspirational Singles win over Justin Thomas, where he overturned an early three-hole deficit, to keep the team’s Cup hopes alive. Since then, he’s proven his worth tenfold, winning his first individual TOUR event, and saluting with Leishman in New Orleans. He has also been a central figure in a few majors, not to mention the fact he sports one of the best mullets in golf history. Erik van Rooyen Country: South Africa Age: 31 Previous Presidents Cups: 0 Current Presidents Cup ranking: 7 There were key moments in 2021 that saw van Rooyen hit the major headlines – one of which the South African wasn’t proud of. But they showed glimpses of why this man could be a great addition to the International team. He won his maiden PGA TOUR event at the Barracuda Championship. The Barracuda’s modified Stableford format, where birdies and eagles are worth extra points, showed van Rooyen can go low when it counts. That mentality is crucial in a Presidents Cup. Then he opened the FedExCup Playoffs with back-to-back top-10s to qualify for his first TOUR Championship and prove he can hang with the best. He made headlines earlier in the year at the PGA Championship for smashing a tee marker in a violent outburst of frustration. Van Rooyen publicly apologized for the incident, but it did show a distinct fire inside. If Immelman can focus that fire, van Rooyen could be a breakout star. Jhonattan Vegas Country: Venezuela Age: 37 Previous Presidents Cups: 1 (2017) Current Presidents Cup ranking: 12 Vegas has a palpable enthusiasm for the Presidents Cup, and it hasn’t waned in the four years since his debut. A three-time TOUR winner, Vegas has the game to threaten the U.S. players if he can bring his best to the table. His lone point in the 2017 Cup came in a Singles win over Jordan Spieth and he’s coming off a 2021 season that boasted three runners-up. Vegas has the length game to give Quail Hollow a shake and has a previous top-10 at the course. MORE NAMES TO CONSIDER There are many other candidates that could find their way in the mix. Some to keep in mind include: Christiaan Bezuidenhout: South African with four worldwide wins since 2019. Corey Conners: Canadian ball-striking machine was unlucky not to be part of the 2019 squad. Jason Day: Australian has a Wells Fargo Championship win (2018) and was T9 at the 2017 PGA but needs to show a renewed desire to be part of the team. Cam Davis: Big-hitting Aussie broke through with a win on TOUR last season and could push for selection. MacKenzie Hughes: Showed aptitude for the big stage at both Open’s in 2021. Takumi Kanaya: Former amateur standout is following in compatriot Matsuyama’s footsteps. A matter of when, not if, he will join the Presidents Cup ranks. Min Woo Lee: After Herbert, the brother of LPGA star Minjee and DP World Tour winner is the next in line to fly the Australian flag forthe International Team. Carlos Ortiz: Broke a long drought of Mexican winners on the PGA TOUR in 2020. Mito Pereira: TOUR Rookie with the potential to make a run at the squad and join compatriot Niemann as Chilean reps.

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ERIN, Wis. — Following concerns by some U.S. Open players that Erin Hills’ thick seedhead fescue was too penalizing, maintenance crews on Tuesday morning cut back the tall grass on four holes. That didn’t stop the discussion, though, especially since the decision was not met with universal approval. Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, two of the favorites this week, each said the generous fairways at Erin Hills were more than enough to compensate for the fescue bordering the original mown rough. They were surprised to hear the fescue has been reduced at hole Nos. 4, 12, 14 and 18. “We have 60 yards from left line to right line,â€� McIlroy said. “You’ve got 156 of the best players in the world here. If we can’t hit it within that avenue, you might as well pack your bags and go home. These are the widest fairways we’ve ever played in a U.S. Open.â€� Added Spieth: “I don’t think the golf course is unfair, by any means, because of the fescue. We have a wide enough area to hit it and you need to drive the ball well in order to win a U.S. Open.â€� The issue came to light on Monday after a social media firestorm that included Kevin Na’s Instagram video in which he tossed a ball into fescue, took two swings, then lost his ball. Others also worried about losing a ball on a shot just a few yards from the fairway. Justin Rose, who has a favorable impression of Erin Hills, noted that “this hay is more than a stroke penalty because there may be nowhere to drop it.â€� Physical concerns also were voiced. Jon Rahm noted that he didn’t want to practice any shots out of the fescue for fear of injury. “No need to injure my wrist this week before I tee off,â€� he said. USGA Executive Director Mike Davis acknowledged Monday that the fescue was “thicker than maybe we would have anticipated.â€� The wet spring weather in Wisconsin was a contributing factor, as was the irrigation pattern of the fairways. Some of the irrigation water sprinkled into the fescue closest to the fairways, thus creating the most penal areas. Paul Azinger, the 12-time PGA TOUR winner who is the head analyst for Fox Sports’ coverage this week, visited Erin Hills three weeks ago and said the fescue then was “brutal but manageable.â€� His reaction when he saw the course again two days ago? “Oh my god. That has really grown.â€� He described the fescue on the right side of the 12th hole as “impossibleâ€� and that the right side of 14 was “like a joke, dude. There’s Lyme disease waiting to happen in that.â€� But those areas are not reflective of the entire course, said one of Erin Hills’ architects, Dr. Michael Hurdzan. He noted that the majority of the fescue on the course was thin and wispy, with just 5-8 percent of the thicker variety. Hurdzan suggested the fescue was not any different than some native areas that players encounter at the Open Championship. “If this was gorse instead of fine fescue, we’d all say, well, it’s just gorse,â€� Hurdzan said. “But because it’s grass, somehow we feel it’s an unfair penalty. I don’t think we should.â€� Davis said the USGA had already cut back on the fescue within the last week, so Tuesday’s actions apparently were not the first time adjustments were made. But the timing made it seem like a reaction to the complaints. The issue might not be as polarizing if the fairways weren’t so wide. According to Davis, the fairways are 50 percent wider – and sometimes double the width – than generally seen at traditional U.S. Open courses. He noted that the 10th fairway could fit “three fairways at Winged Foot,â€� which will host the U.S. Open for the sixth time in 2020. In order to maintain architectural integrity, the USGA was determined to keep the fairways wide. But some of the holes will be playing into a crosswind, creating concerns that tee shots could still find their way into the fescue. “By and large, we feel that the hitting area for the holes is wide enough and it will be a good test,â€� Davis said. “If you hit it wayward, it’s penal – no doubt.â€� That’s fine with McIlroy. “I get that it’s thick or whatever, but it’s a hazard,â€� the 2011 U.S. Open winner said. “… It’s a U. S. Open. It’s supposed to be a tough test. And if guys can’t put it into play within a 50-yard zone, I don’t think they’ve got much to complain about.â€� Spieth acknowledged that the fescue created “essentially two water hazards – two hazards on each side of every single hole. You have a wide enough area in between to where it’s fair and yet tough. But if you hit it into that stuff, there’s a chance you just have to hit back to the fairway with pretty much taking a penalty stroke.â€� Azinger suggested the USGA might be more concerned than pace of play than simply making the course a less penal for players. Having walked to areas where marshals were attending fairways, Azinger noted that it would be tough to track a ball heading into the fescue, thus increasing the possibility of lost balls. “That’s probably as high a concern as anything because you have pace of play issues if you are losing balls,â€� Azinger said. “The marshals are handcuffed if that happens and you have a lost ball. That’s going to wreck the pace of play. I have to believe that that was what they took into consideration more than playability.â€� No matter the reason, Azinger was glad to see Na’s video. “He did the USGA and the U.S. Open a great service by drawing attention to the severity of what we got this week,â€� Azinger said. “People criticize Kevin Na but I thought he was brilliant.â€�

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