Expert Picks: John Deere Classic

FedEx is joining forces with Heart to Heart International to donate $100,000 towards their ongoing COVID-19 relief efforts. They'll do so this week by starting off the FedExCup Playoffs at THE NORTHERN TRUST with a birdie challenge between two PGA TOUR players. Justin Thomas - the 2017 FedExCup Champion, who enters this year's Playoffs ranked No. 1 in the FedExCup - and his close friend and fellow University of Alabama golf product, Bud Cauley (No. 80), will compete to donate the $100,000 to Heart to Heart International in their name. The player that makes the most birdies, or better, at the end of the tournament will ultimately win that right. "We are incredibly thankful for our relationship with FedEx and for this donation. Through this kind of generosity, we are better positioned to fight COVID-19 and work to stop the transmission of the virus," said Kim Carroll, CEO of Heart to Heart International. "That is why Heart to Heart International was founded, and we are so grateful to our supporters and partners for making it possible." "This birdie challenge at the first event of the FedExCup Playoffs is a great way to bring visibility to Heart to Heart International and provide them additional financial support," said Jenny Robertson, SVP of Integrated Marketing and Communications at FedEx. In support of the positive impact that FedEx and Heart to Heart International have on their communities, Thomas and Cauley will be wearing special shoes during THE NORTHERN TRUST that highlight the relief efforts of the two organizations. The shoes were designed by Roly Padron at Nomad Customs. "Nomad Customs does an unbelievable job, whether it's a simple or complex design," Thomas said. "I wore the shoes they did in Memphis, and I'm hoping these shoes will bring some more good vibes for an even better cause." The shoes have been designed in red and purple, for Heart to Heart International and FedEx, respectively, to both represent the partnership and FedEx Cares' global community engagement program. That relationship between FedEx and Heart to Heart International has been instrumental throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, the partners have helped to deliver a vast amount of PPE (personal protection equipment) to communities in need. Even further, the relationship, which started in 1995 between FedEx and Heart to Heart International, began so they could work together to respond to disasters around the world, delivering more than $2 billion worth of medicines and supplies to 131 countries. This collaboration strengthens communities through improving access to healthcare, providing humanitarian development and administering crisis relief worldwide. Based on identified need, Heart to Heart International delivers shipments of essential relief supplies and deploys experienced and self-sufficient teams of credentialed health care practitioners, disaster response personnel and logisticians to facilitate the provision of direct patient care. From the beginning of the pandemic, Heart to Heart International has relied on FedEx to ship masks from China over to their distribution center in Kansas. With the partnership, + International has been able to distribute more than 170,000 medical masks to healthcare workers in Kansas City. Other local areas in Kansas have also been helped with the distribution of these masks, along with a few towns in the neighboring state of Missouri. "FedEx is proud to work with Heart to Heart International year-round in support of their humanitarian relief efforts," Robertson said. "By making our powerful global logistics and distribution network available to them, we increase their capacity to serve people in need."

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SAN ANTONIO — Zach Johnson birdied the par-5 18th Saturday at the Valero Texas Open for a share of the third-round lead with Andrew Landry, a stroke ahead of course record-setting Trey Mullinax. Johnson shot a 4-under 68, holing a 10-footer on 18 to match Landry at 13-under 203 at TPC San Antonio. Landry birdied the 16th and 17th in a 67. Johnson won the tournament in 2008 and 2009, the last two times it was played at LaCantera. The 42-year-old Iowan won The Open in 2015, the most recent of his 12 PGA TOUR titles. The 30-year-old Landry is yet to win on TOUR. Mullinax had a course-record 10-under 62. He played the AT&T Oaks back nine in 7-under 29, going 6 under on the last five with eagles on the par-5 14th and 18th and birdies on 16 and 17. He also birdied Nos. 10 and 12 and bogeyed 11. Ryan Moore was two strokes back at 11-under after a 70. Sean O’Hair had a 65 to join 2015 champion Jimmy Walker (67), Chris Kirk (68) and 2013 winner Martin Laird (69) at 9-under.

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Here are nine tidbits from the third round of the 100th PGA Championship gamers can use tomorrow, this weekend or down the road. Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis plays 7,316 yards to par-70. Know Thy Enemy These were the top-10 selected, plus one, golfers in the PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf game presented by SERVPRO. Round 2 was completed before 11:00 a.m. Saturday morning before Round 3 tee times began at 11:30 a.m. The cut landed on 140 (E) and for the first time in the history of the majors, +1 did NOT make the weekend. Of the 81 who made the cut they play both weekend rounds as there is no MDF in the major championships. Sunshine and hot temperatures made for ideal scoring conditions for the third round running. 54-Hole Leader After tying the PGA Championship record with 63 in Round 2, Brooks Koepka raced out of the blocks in Round 3. He was cruising with a five-shot lead as he went out in 30 before a pair of bogeys kept the field interested. He eventually signed for 66, tied for the second-best round of the day, and his total of 12 under par will give him a two-shot cushion in Round 4. He’ll look to join Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players to win the U.S. Open and PGA Championship in the same season. Shotgun Rider Australian Adam Scott, as his investors will remind me, only has one top-10 payday this season on the Zoysia fairways at Trinity Forest (T9). He’ll play in the final group after posting the round of the day, 65, with birdies on two of his last three holes. He’s played the final three holes in 4 under the last two rounds and has plenty of experience in big moments. Beware the Injured Golfer Rickie Fowler is dealing with an oblique injury but gutted out 69 and will begin Sunday in the penultimate group with Jon Rahm. He’s three back but sits third in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green. He hasn’t made anything this week but only has five total bogeys on his card. As long as he wakes up feeling well he should be in the fight on the back nine. Rahm-bo Fowler’s playing partner is also three back and is also looking to find answers with the putter on Sunday. Jon Rahm hasn’t squared a bogey in his last 45 holes but he resides in the bottom half of Strokes Gained: Putting. The good news is he’s in the top six in both Tee-to-Green and Approach-the-Green and that doesn’t hurt. He’s chased before this year as he signed for 3 under at Augusta on Sunday for solo fourth. First Time for Everything? Tiger Woods has never won a major championship in come-from-behind fashion but he’ll have a chance to change that Sunday. After back-to-back rounds of 66, Woods is in with a shout as he’ll begin the final round four shots behind Koepka (T6). The key for Woods will be simple in the final round as he’ll have to find some fortune on the back nine. He’s 2 over for the week on the inward nine and hasn’t broken par in three tries. Moving Day Daniel Berger has been battling a wrist injury but admitted before his round it’s go-time. He stepped on the gas after his opening nine of 41 to post 12 under in his last 45 holes. He moved up 21 spots to T15 after 66 in Round 3. … Xander Schauffele is looking to claim his third consecutive top-10 payday in the majors after T6 at Shinnecock Hills and T2 at Carnoustie. His 67 moved him to T15 and like Berger sits just one shot out of the top 10. Moving Day: Wrong Way Dustin Johnson didn’t make a birdie through the first 14 holes and saw the field run right past him as he was 5 over. Birdies on three of the last four holes saw him post 72 (+2) rally to T21 but he was T5 to begin Round 3. … Kevin Kisner played in the final group Saturday for the second year running and the results were similar. His 72 last year saw him maintain his lead but his 72 this time dropped him from second to T12. He finished T7 last year. Study Hall It keeps getting “easier” and that’s hardly a surprise after the weather. Round 2 finished under par at 69.594 while Round 3 was a tick lower at 69.500. … There were three bogey-free rounds in Round 3 as club professional Ben Kern joined Rahm and Berger in this elite club.  … Tony Finau has circled 18 birdies to lead the way but is T57. … Englishman Matt Wallace made a hole-in-one on No. 15 with a 5-iron from 232 yards. … The top four plus ties get into the Masters next year. … Every winner in recent memory has been in the top five entering Sunday.

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