Everything to know before Presidents Cup

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The roars were never louder. Tiger Woods won his fifth Masters on Sunday in dramatic fashion, taking the lead on the 15th hole and sending the patrons at Augusta National into a frenzy as they witnessed one of the game’s greatest players of all time claim his 15th major championship. “It’s overwhelming, just because of what has transpired,” Woods said. “Last year I was lucky to be playing again. At the previous year’s dinner, I was really struggling. I missed a couple of years not playing this great tournament. To now be the champion … 22 years between wins is a long time. It’s unreal to experience this.” Woods had never come from behind to win a major. Until Sunday. It was also Woods’ 81st PGA TOUR victory and his first since winning the TOUR Championship to end last season. Here’s a hole-by-hole look at Woods’ final round. RELATED: Final leaderboard | What’s in Tiger’s bag? | Tales of Tiger’s equipment Tiger hole-by-hole (Round 4) ROUND 4 STATS: 10 of 14 fairways hit, 15 of 18 greens in regulation, 32 putts 18 (465 yards, par 4): Tiger fits his tee shot between the trees, and it leaks just into the second cut. He has a two-shot lead, so he only needs a bogey to win. His second shot knicks a tree limb, though, and falls short and right of the green. He’ll have to get down in three from about 50 yards away. He pitches safely to 10 feet and his par putt just slides by the hole. The stage is clear for Woods, and he taps in for his 15th major championship and fifth Masters title. It’s also his 81st PGA TOUR victory, leaving him one short of Sam Snead’s record. (Overall: 13 under, winner)   17 (440 yards, par 4): Tiger is in complete control. Another tee shot down the middle of the fairway and an approach shot safely onto the green. Woods hit his approach shot to 10 feet, then two-putted for par to take a two-shot lead to the final hole. (Overall: 14 under, solo leader) 16 (170 yards, par 3): Tiger, now the solo leader of the Masters, takes advantage of the traditional Sunday hole location, hitting an 8-rion within 3 feet of the hole. He makes the birdie putt. TWO. SHOT. LEAD. (Overall: 14 under, solo leader) 15 (530 yards, par 5): Tiger’s strong driving continues with another high fade into the fairway. He hit the middle of the green with a 217-yard approach. The two-putt gives Tiger Woods his first solo lead of the week. He’s 13 under, one shot ahead of three players. (Overall: 13 under, solo leader) 14 (440 yards, par 4): A high power-cut finds the fairway, leaving Tiger just 157 yards to the hole. He hits it 15 feet left of the flag, just left of a slope that would have funneled his ball closer to the hole. Woods watches as the slick birdie putt slides by the hole, but he taps in for par to stay in a share of the lead with Xander Schauffele and Francesco Molinari. (Overall: 12 under, tied for the lead) 13 (510 yards, par 5): Tiger is tied for the lead! He slips at impact, but his tee shot still finds the fairway. He’s left with just 161 yards. He misread the wind, but he’ll have a 30-footer for eagle. He two-putts for birdie to reach 12 under and tie Xander Schauffele and Francesco Molinari for the lead. (Overall: 12 under, tied for the lead)  12 (155 yards, par 3): After his par on 11, Tiger is second up on the 12th. They have to wait for the group ahead of them to putt out, though. Woods hits his tee shot safely on the left side of the green after Molinari’s tee shot hits into the bank and rolls into the water. Tony Finau follows Woods into the water. After a lengthy wait while they took their drops, Woods lags his 51-foot birdie putt about 6 feet short of the hole. Woods makes it to tie the lead for the first time this week. There are seven players separated by a shot. (Overall: 11 under, tied for lead) 11 (505 yards, par 4): Tiger blasts driver well right of the trees, but he has a clearing through the trees. He blasts a low draw onto the green from 178 yards, leaving himself a downhill, 30-footer putt. He burns the edge, but two-putts for par. A good recovery. (Overall: 11 under, two shots behind) 10 (495 yards, par 4): Woods starts the second nine alone in second place, just one stroke behind Francesco Molinari. He takes fairway wood off the tee, trying to bend a draw around the corner. Woods leaves his shot out to the right, though, and his ball comes to rest in the pine straw. He’s 213 yards from the hole, but his ball is behind a magnolia tree. Pitching out is his only option. He still has 170 yards remaining for his third shot, which he hits to the back fringe. He two-putts for just his second bogey on the back nine this week, ending a streak of 19 straight bogey-free holes on that half of the golf course. (Overall: 11 under, two shots behind) FRONT 9 STATS: 4 of 7 fairways hit, 8 of 9 greens in regulation, 16 putts 9 (par 4, 460 yards): Tiger’s 288-yard drive is nicely placed, down the right side of the fairway, leaving him a nice angle on the dogleg left hole. From 168 yards, his approach brings a smile – of disgust – as his ball ends up at the back of the green on a front pin. Length of his birdie putt? 70 feet. No worries, as he judges it perfectly, aiming it right toward the fringe and letting it roll down toward the hole. A tap-in par and a sigh of relief. Molinari follows with another critical par to maintain the lead at the turn. (Overall: 12 under, one shot behind) 8 (par 5, 570 yards): His 310-yard drive is drifting right, but crisis averted as it finishes in the second cut with a nice lie. Much better than Molinari, who landed in the bunker. From 258 yards away, Tiger pulls the 5-wood and it comes out hot. “That may be on the next tee box,â€� he jokes as the ball rumbles past the green. From behind the green, near a camera tower, Woods chips back onto the green, leaving him 7 feet for birdie. But before his attempt, Molinari rolls in on his own birdie. Tiger matches him to stay within reach. (Overall: 12 under, one shot behind) 7 (par 4, 450 yards): The winds start to gust as Tiger steps up to the tee, so he backs off to reset. It’s a wise move, as his drive travels 296 yards and split the fairway. With 146 to the pin, Tiger’s approach is perfect – above the pin, with the ball rolling back and just missing the hole on the right side. It’ll be an easy 2-foot birdie, and with Molinari off the green and short of the right bunker, this could be a pivotal hole. When Molinari misses his 11-foot par save, it’s the first time in 50 holes he’s suffered a bogey (the second longest streak in Masters history) and the first time in 20 attempts all week he’s failed to successfully scramble. Tiger then taps in for birdie and the two-shot swing. (Overall: 11 under, one shot behind) 6 (par 3, 180 yards): Tiger gets a much-needed spark with a terrific tee shot that hits short of the pin and stays on the shelf, giving him a look at birdie from 11 feet. But his putt dies off to the right, and after he taps in for birdie, he stares at the hole and the lost opportunity. With Molinari successfully scrambling again for par, the potential two-shot swing turns into a par push. (Overall: 10 under, three shots behind) 5 (par 4, 495 yards): In each of the first three rounds, Tiger’s drive at this renovated hole found the left-side bunker, setting up bogey each day. This time, it’s a little victory, as his 278-yard drive stays in the fairway this time while both of his playing partners scatter the gallery on the right. Tiger leans on his approach from 219 yards but his ball stays right, finding the green but on the other side of the ridge from the pin, 39 feet away. It’s a difficult birdie putt, and Tiger’s ball finishes 11 feet away past the pin. His par save slides by on the left, and he suffers his fourth bogey of the week at this hole. Meanwhile, Molinari successfully scrambles for the 18th time this week to extend his lead to three shots. (Overall: 10 under, three shots behind) 4 (par 3, 240 yards): His tee shot is on-line but is a club short and ends up rolling off the front of the green, with the pin in the back 31 yards away. Tiger’s chip leaves him 10 feet short of the pin, and his par putt clips the right side. The bogey gives back the shot he gained on the previous hole and halts the momentum. (Overall: 11 under, two shots behind) 3 (par 4, 350 yards): Like Molinari, Tiger opts for a long iron off the tee to take the bunkers out of play. His downhill wedge shot from 126 yards draws cheers, as it stops pin-high left, 8 feet away. He’s the only one of his group to find the green in regulation, and it pays off, as he buries the tricky fast birdie putt to move within one shot of Molinari’s lead. “It’ll be an interesting chess match to see who blinks first,â€� says CBS’ Peter Kostis of Tiger vs. Molinari. (Overall: 12 under, one shot behind) 2 (par 5, 575 yards): Tiger’s first use of driver on the day doesn’t go well, as his 245-yard tee shot sails into the pine straw on the left side under the trees. Perhaps a bit fortunate, he’s got an uphill opening to punch out into the fairway, leaving him 217 yards for this third. He asks for it to get up “a littleâ€� but it’s about a yard short of optimal. The ball bounces onto the green, but he’s left with a 59-foot birdie putt. His lengthy attempt offers a wide berth around the left side of the hole, and he rolls in the 6-footer to save par. With Molinari and Finau missing their birdie attempts, Tiger must feel like he got away with one after the poor drive. (Overall: 11 under, two shots behind) 1 (par 4, 445 yards): Tiger tees off last in his group, and not surprisingly draws the biggest cheers. With 3-wood again off the tee – he wants to avoid the bunkers on the right – his 277-yard drive ends up on the left side of the fairway. His second finishes 27 feet on the front part of the green, but his aggressive birdie attempt slides by on the left side. A stress-free par start. (Overall: 11 under, two shots behind) Tiger pre-round notes A few fun facts entering Sunday’s final round: Woods enters his round at 11 under. Each time he’s been 11 under or better through 54 holes at Augusta National, he’s won (2005/-11, 2002/-11, 2001/-12, 1997/-15) His 205 score (11 under) marks his best opening 54-hole total since 2005 (74-66-65—205), his last of four Masters wins. Seeks his fifth Masters title and 15th major championship victory while chasing Jack Nicklaus’ record in both (Masters/6, Majors/18). A win Sunday would be his 81st on the PGA TOUR, one shy of Sam Snead’s all-time record. At No. 12 in the Official World Golf Ranking, he’s the highest-ranked former champion in the field At 43 years, 3 months, 14 days on Sunday, would become the second-oldest winner: Jack Nicklaus/1986 (46 years, 2 months, 23 days) Would become the seventh player in his 40s to win the Masters (Jack Nicklaus/46/1986, Ben Crenshaw/43/1995, Gary Player/42/1978, Sam Snead/41/1954, Mark O’Meara/41/1998, Ben Hogan/40/1953) Ranks T2 in Greens in Regulation with 43/54 behind Thorbjorn Olesen (45/54). Best finish in five starts this season came in last start – T5/WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.  

Click here to read the full article…

As the PGA TOUR heads to California for the third week of the 2019-20 Regular Season, Thursday-Friday featured groupings for the Safeway Open have been released, with a number of stars making their respective PGA TOUR season debuts including Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Adam Scott, Hideki Matsuyama and Bryson DeChambeau. RELATED: Tee times | Power Rankings | Course, field preview To watch the featured groupings on Thursday-Friday, fans in the United States can tune into the Golf Channel telecast (2-6 p.m. PST on Thursday, 3-6 p.m. PST on Friday). Additionally, PGA TOUR LIVE, the PGA TOUR’s Over-The-Top subscription service, has expanded its coverage to the fall and will broadcast Thursday-Friday at all domestic PGA TOUR events during the fall portion of the 2019-20 schedule. PGA TOUR LIVE can be viewed via subscription on NBC Sports Gold (www.nbcsports.com/pgatour) and Amazon Prime Video Channels (amazon.com/video/pgatourlive). FEATURED GROUPS (ALL TIMES LOCAL) Justin Thomas, Brandt Snedeker, Jim Furyk Thursday, 12:35 p.m. (No. 1); Friday, 7:50 a.m. (No. 10) • 2010 FedExCup champion Furyk making first-ever start at the Safeway Open • 2012 FedExCup champion Snedeker held the 54-hole lead at the 2018 Safeway Open and finished runner-up to Kevin Tway in a playoff • 2017 FedExCup champion Thomas finished T3 (2015) and T8 (2016) in his last two Safeway Open starts Phil Mickelson, Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay Thursday, 12:45 p.m. (No. 1); Friday, 8 a.m. (No. 10) • 44-time winner Mickelson, who won 2019 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, is looking to extend his record streak of 12 consecutive U.S. Presidents Cup Team appearances • Fresh off an All-America career at Cal, Morikawa won the 2019 Barracuda Championship in his sixth professional start • Cantlay captured the 2019 Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide and played his way onto the 2019 U.S. Presidents Cup Team   Kevin Tway, Bryson DeChambeau, Francesco Molinari Thursday, 7:50 a.m. (No. 10); Friday, 12:35 p.m. (No. 10) • Defending champion Tway finished 31st in the final FedExCup standings, just missing out on his first trip to the TOUR Championship • DeChambeau, winner of the 2018 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, was one of six fall winners last season to qualify for the TOUR Championship; member of the 2019 U.S. Presidents Cup Team • Molinari, who captured the 2019 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, will make his first-ever start at the Safeway Open Adam Scott, Hideki Matsuyama, Sebastian Munoz Thursday, 8 a.m. (No. 10); Friday, 12:45 p.m. (No. 10) • Scott is set to make his ninth consecutive Presidents Cup appearance for the International Team as the event returns to Melbourne in December • Matsuyama, poised for his fourth Presidents Cup, looks to return to the winner’s circle after a winless 2018-19 campaign • Colombia native Munoz captured last week’s Sanderson Farms Championship and sits No. 1 in the FedExCup standings HOW TO FOLLOW Television: Thursday 5 p.m.-9 p.m. ET; Friday 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday-Sunday, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) PGA TOUR LIVE: Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. ET (Featured Groups) Radio: Thursday-Friday, 3 p.m.-9 p.m. ET. Saturday-Sunday, 4 p.m.-9 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com/liveaudio).

Click here to read the full article…

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Jason Day is primed to go on another giant run according to those who know him best. Over a run of 17 tournaments in 2015-16 Day won seven times on the PGA TOUR including THE PLAYERS, the PGA Championship, two FedExCup Playoff events and a World Golf Championship event. He was a dominant world No. 1. But after his 2016 victory at TPC Sawgrass it started to fall away and his next 32 starts on TOUR came and went without a trophy. There were extenuating circumstances. First an ongoing back complaint. And then a cancer diagnosis for his mother and a miscarriage for his wife. Concentration was gone. His desire lacking. He admitted to burnout. But the now 30-year-old has found his hunger again. And those close to him can sense a big shift. Their message to everyone? – look out. Day won the Farmers Insurance Open in February and the Wells Fargo Championship last week giving him two wins in his last seven starts. He was also runner up at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am this season to move to second in the FedExCup standings. “Potentially you could look at it as the start of another run for sure,â€� coach Col Swatton says. “I’m not surprised. That’s what he should be doing. Everybody knows that if he’s healthy and focused and committed than he’s a player who should win multiple tournaments each season on the PGA TOUR. It’s just a matter of him buying into that. “I don’t want to put the cart before the horse but all we have to do is keep doing the little things right. Putting the work in, preparing well for events and then let everything flow from there.â€� Day has stated some of his new goals including wanting to win the FedExCup, becoming Player of the Year and returning to World No.1. He knows the only way to do it is to win. And that is something he knows how to do having now done so 12 times in his career on the PGA TOUR. “I am hungry again now. I want number one back. I want to achieve more. There is a lot more to do. The climb back up the mountain can be very motivating,â€� he says. “There are no excuses.â€� And while he certainly hopes some dominance can return to his game he has learned thinking ahead is fruitless. The only way to get it done is focus on the now. “It’s about what got me here. How hard I’ve worked. I’ve got to keep doing it,â€� Day adds. “As long as I keep up the work ethic it should keep building and the wins hopefully keep coming.â€� Tiger Woods, the man who has spent more time at the top of the game than anyone, implored people to understand the difficulty of dealing with family issues as intense as Day faced while trying to juggle golf. Having seen his friend Day get to the top before Woods says he can do it again. Particularly now he has a new weapon in his arsenal. Woods says Day proved last week he can win without his best. “That’s learning how to win. I’ve won out here numerous times not playing well but found a way to score and get the job done. And that’s what he’s doing,â€� Woods said. “There’s no wonder he struggled and didn’t play well (last season), his mind wasn’t committed to it. But now that he’s fighting through it and he’s on the upward tick, you can see that he’s able to put the time in, and when he puts the time into it and he’s devoted, he knows he can get to No. 1 player in the world.â€� It is not just on the golf course that Day has shown change. The women in his life – wife Ellie and his mother Dening – have also seen the shift. Dening, who is in remission for her lung cancer and is “doing very wellâ€� is extremely happy to not be part of any distractions any more. She admitted to screaming at the television while watching Sunday’s final round at Quail Hollow as Day kept things interesting with some scratchy play. But it was exactly what she needed to see to be at peace in the end. “He would relax when he’s near the top, but the good thing is he would fight again when things went bad. Those qualities he is famous for are back,â€� Dening said from Australia. “He thankfully isn’t as worried about me and is more focused on his game. It is good to feel better and it is a nice bonus that it has lifted some worries from him. “Sometimes I would tell him that he was running out of time to use me as an alibi. I told him whatever it is to be, it will end up as it should be. If it is my fate it is my fate. “But it was hard for him to accept that.â€� In Ohio for checkups in February Dening knew her boy was back in the right frame of mind. “I could see it in the way he was in his routine and practice. Every day he was practicing, and his mind was clear. Nothing was hindering him like it was before,â€� she added. “I feel he has some really big wins ahead of him.â€� The person who sees him the most – Ellie – is also brimming with confidence. Now pregnant again with their third child, she couldn’t be happier. “It feels very much like it did back when he was winning a lot,â€� Ellie says. “He is more resilient again in his golf and at home.â€� For Ellie it is great to see him win. But it is better to see him happy. At times, when his desire was starting to waver, she worried for Jason. But now there are no worries. “I can just tell he’s in a better space,â€� she says. “When you are around someone a lot you get a sense of when they are most settled, and his focus and drive are certainly back. “It’s great to see him smiling so much.â€� If the winning run does continue you can be sure there will be plenty more smiles.

Click here to read the full article…