Expert Picks: RBC Canadian Open

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Not once in his five Masters appearances had missing the cut crossed Jordan Spieth’s mind. Not until he finished his first hole Friday. A bogey dropped Spieth to 4 over par, matching the most over par he had ever been at Augusta National. Through all of Spieth’s struggles this year, there was always optimism that Augusta’s magic would be enough to snap him out of his slump. Missing the cut would have marked rock bottom in a season where he has yet to finish in the top 25 of a stroke-play event. The 2015 FedExCup champion is 170th in this season’s standings. He’s been chasing green jackets, not the cut line, in his brief Masters career. On Friday, he had to ask his caddie to clarify the Masters cut rule. “I’ve never been anywhere near it,â€� Spieth said. He didn’t have to worry for long. He quickly turned things around, starting with a birdie at No. 2. Then he birdied 9 and 10 and added two more at 13 and 14. He was bogey-free over his final 17 holes. He hit 13 greens and 10 fairways Friday, three more than the previous day. “My pars were more stress‑free and I was able to have a lot more looks at birdie,â€� he said. “Overall my putting performance still hasn’t been quite as good as it’s been in previous weeks, but I know how it can. The hole can look kind of big out here sometimes and hoping for that on the weekend.â€� Spieth is six shots off the lead, the largest deficit he’s ever faced halfway through the Masters. “I feel really good about today’s round,â€� Spieth said. “I’m six back, if I can somehow cut it to three by Sunday, then I feel like I have a legitimate chance.â€�

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ALBANY, Bahamas – Sixteen of the 18 playing spots in the 2019 Hero World Challenge have been announced. Among those committed to the end-of-the-year PGA TOUR event include Tournament Host and 2019 Masters champion Tiger Woods, 2019 U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland, defending tournament champion Jon Rahm and past champions Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson. 2019 Hero World Challenge field: Name, Country Dustin Johnson, USA Justin Rose, England Justin Thomas, USA Jon Rahm, Spain Patrick Cantlay, USA Tiger Woods, USA – Tournament Host Xander Schauffele, USA Bryson DeChambeau, USA Tony Finau, USA Webb Simpson, USA Patrick Reed, USA Gary Woodland, USA Rickie Fowler, USA Matt Kuchar, USA Bubba Watson, USA Kevin Kisner, USA Two exemptions will be announced at a later date to round out the 18-player field. This year’s tournament will be held Wednesday, December 4 – Saturday, December 7, 2019 at Albany, marking the fifth consecutive year the event has been held in The Bahamas. The Saturday finish will help accommodate the players’ travel schedule to the 2019 Presidents Cup, to be played in Australia the following week. Proceeds from the 2019 Hero World Challenge will benefit the TGR Foundation and ONE Bahamas Fund. Founded by Woods, NEXUS Luxury Collection and members of the Albany community following Hurricane Dorian, ONE Bahamas Fund has pledged $6 million towards the rebuilding of The Bahamas with a dollar for dollar match in hopes of raising $12 million to help those impacted by the hurricane. Live television coverage of the 2019 Hero World Challenge will be provided by GOLF Channel during all four rounds and by NBC during the final round. Good-any-day grounds tickets and a limited number of premium hospitality packages for the Hero World Challenge are available for purchase here. 

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Corine Remande, the 49-year-old fan who was hit in the face by a golf ball at the Ryder Cup in France, says doctors told her she has lost the use of her right eye after fracturing her orbital bone and suffering an explosion of her eyeball.

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