Expert Picks: The Genesis Invitational

CROMWELL, Conn. – Notes and observations from Saturday’s third round of the Travelers Championship, where Jordan Spieth birdied three of his last four holes to shoot 66 and keep the lead. Boo Weekley had a 5-under 65 to reach 11 under, a shot back, while Daniel Berger (66) came in at 9 under, in solo third as he aims for his second win in the last three weeks. For more coverage from TPC River Highlands, click here for the Daily Wrap-up. SPIETH LEANS ON PAR SAVES Jordan Spieth made three birdies in the last four holes to maintain the solo lead for the third straight day in this, his first career start at the Travelers Championship. Still, what stood out to him were two par saves. He missed the green right at the 490-yard, par-4 fourth hole, but got up and down with a chip and a tap-in par. At the 227-yard, par-3 fifth, Spieth splashed out of the right greenside bunker and made a 16-foot putt. He didn’t even need to putt at the sixth hole, chipping in for birdie from 28 feet. “I thought those two up-and-downs along with obviously the chip in on 6 were massive,â€� Spieth said. “I very well should have been 2-over through six holes and I was 1-under. “So, I stole some there around the greens, which is what I’ve been looking to do when something gets a little bit off elsewhere. It was really nice to see, through there, to gather that momentum and kind of calm down and get into the round.â€� Much as he was throughout his Player of the Year season in 2015, Spieth was lethal around the greens Saturday. He hit just 10 greens in regulation, his lowest total of the week, but was 3-for-3 in sand saves, and took 24 putts. Not surprisingly, he’s leading the field in strokes gained: around the green for the week, but he’s also first in strokes gained: tee-to-green. That’s a tough combination to beat. Should he win Sunday, it would mark his first wire-to-wire victory since the 2015 Masters, and his 10th title on the PGA TOUR at just 23 years old. CALL OF THE DAY WEEKLEY BACK IN THE SWING Jordan Spieth hadn’t met with the media in 24 hours. Boo Weekley hadn’t met with the media in — well, he couldn’t remember how long. “A lot of faces in here I ain’t seen in a while,â€� he said as he sat down after his round, in which he fired a back-nine 30 to play his way into the final twosome with Spieth on Sunday. Weekley has three TOUR victories, but hasn’t won since the 2013 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. At 43, he could have been excused if he thought his best golf was behind him, especially since he came into this week at 193rd in the FedExCup standings. His best finish all season? Well, that would have been his thrilling tie for 37th place at the Puerto Rico Open. But one good tournament can change everything, and Weekley has been back to his old self at TPC River Highlands thanks in part to a relatively new putter and left-hand-low stroke. The putter is an Odyssey that Matt Every had given up on at Colonial earlier this season, and that Weekley’s coach wound up with only to give it to Weekley. It’s working. Weekley made 128feet, 4’inches of putts Saturday, and was third in strokes gained: putting (3.261). Like Spieth, Weekley finished strong with birdies on three of the last four holes. “I change putters like I change underwear, man,â€� Weekley said before estimating he’s gone through about 20 different makes and models this season alone. Spieth smiled at the prospect of playing with Weekley on Sunday. “I hope I’m having as much fun each day as Boo’s having,â€� Spieth said. “I mean, he lives it up. It’s fun to be around Boo. He’s always very nice to everybody he sees, has some kind of a joke. If he’s had a couple pops, you barely understand him with his country accent. “He’s a guy everybody very much respects and really likes being around, and that’s fun, that’s fun to play with. He’s a really good ball striker who, a couple events that I’ve been involved in, in the heat of things, he shot very low numbers on Sundays. He’s not afraid to do so.â€� CASEY THRIVES WITH CADDIE SUB Paul Casey’s usual caddie, John McLaren, asked for this week off and Casey granted it. He also let McLaren pick who would caddie for Casey in his place, and the veteran McLaren, who is known for his long socks and high-top sneakers, picked Shannon Wallace. So far, so good. Casey, who lost to Bubba Watson in a playoff at the 2015 Travelers, shot 66 to get to 8 under, just four off Spieth’s lead. “Shannon’s perfect,â€� said Casey, who came into this week 27th in the FedExCup race.  “He’s been on the bag for Faldo and some guys. Maybe he hasn’t had the results he’s wanted as a caddie. And I love the fact that he’s channeled his inner Johnny Longsocks this week and turned up with long socks to try to make me feel better. “We failed to get him high tops,â€� Casey added. “That’s the only thing I’ve failed, on my behalf. I’ve known Shannon for a long time since we’ve been on TOUR. So, a good blend. We actually, worryingly for Johnny, we are working very well together.â€� WIND KEEPS PLAYERS ON THEIR TOES The wind gusted from 8-16 mph when it blew, but sometimes it stopped entirely. Paul Casey said Saturday was the toughest day so far. Keegan Bradley (66) called TPC River Highlands “a tricky little courseâ€� in the gusts. Boo Weekley admitted he was posing over approach shots only to watch them come up 10 yards short. “First time I’ve ever played here with the wind blowing this hard,â€� Weekley said. And those were the guys who played well.   “It’s tricky today—we have a north wind, which we haven’t seen all week here,â€� said Canadian David Hearn, who shot 66 to get to 7 under, five off the lead. “So it just makes — especially on the back nine, you get into those chutes and around those water hazards, and it just makes it a little tricky to pick your lines when you’re not used to this wind.â€� Players went off both tees in threesomes to accommodate a storm that dumped a modest amount of rain on TPC River Highlands overnight and Saturday morning. ODDS AND ENDS C.T. Pan, who played for Chinese Taipei in the Rio Olympics (T30) last summer but lives in Bellevue, Washington, took advantage of calm morning conditions for a bogey-free 64. He tied for second at the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year, but is 88th in the FedExCup after missing 12 cuts in his last 17 starts. “This is my first year,â€� said Pan, who leads the field in scrambling (11/11). “I keep telling myself if you just keep knocking on the door, one day will be your day.â€� … Keegan Bradley (7 under), who is going for his first TOUR win since the 2012 World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, made a 40-foot birdie putt at the fourth hole to kick-start his round. “That was a big putt,â€� said Bradley, who hit 16 greens in regulation for the second straight day. “Then I made a really good [12-foot] birdie putt on 13, a hole I needed to birdie. So a lot of good putts I holed today.â€� Bradley is 56th in the FedExCup standings, with his best result this season a T4 at the Farmers Insurance Open. … Daniel Berger, 12th in the FedExCup, erased a three-shot deficit as he successfully defended his FedEx St. Jude Classic title two weeks ago. His deficit going into Sunday? Three shots. “Couple weeks ago I was in the same position and got it done,â€� Berger said. “So obviously trying to run down Jordan’s going to be tough, but if I play well, I’ve got a chance.â€� …  Charley Hoffman, who took the outright lead after going eagle, birdie, birdie, went 4 over for his last three holes in a 68. He’s at 6 under, six shots behind. BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

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JACKSON, Miss. – It was a simple fix. It usually is. Cameron Champ was unhappy with his ball-striking after the second round of the Sanderson Farms Championship. He FaceTimed his coach, Sean Foley, in search of an answer. “I just get really short with my backswing and I don’t allow enough time to lay it off at the top,â€� Champ said. “I get swiping it left.â€� He started Saturday with a solid warm-up session on the range. He ended it with a four-shot lead in just his second start as a TOUR member. “I was able to give myself a lot of chances,â€� he said. The kid from California who’s gained attention for his prodigious tee shots now has a chance to be known by a more meaningful title. “PGA TOUR winner.â€� His incredible length has already landed him on the cover of Golf Digest. No TOUR player wants to be a sideshow, though. They want to be known for shooting the lowest score. That’s what truly matters. “It’s great you can hit it far, but if other parts of your game aren’t good you’re not going to be able to play the game,â€� Champ said Thursday, after shooting a first-round 65 at the Country Club of Jackson. He has held at least a share of the lead after each round this week. He’s now four ahead with just 18 holes remaining at the Country Club of Jackson. Second-year TOUR player Corey Conners, who got married last week in Canada, is his closest pursuer. It takes more than long tee shots to amass such a large 54-hole lead. He’s missed just 10 greens this week while showing exceptional skill with the shortest club in his bag. He’s eighth in Strokes Gained: Putting, making nearly half of the putts he’s faced from 10-20 feet this week. He’s 4 for 7 from 10-15 feet. The advantage he has on the tee shouldn’t be underrated, though. He leads the field in driving distance, averaging nearly 307 yards on all tee shots. Nine of his 14 tee shots traveled longer than 310 yards in Saturday’s warm conditions, including six over 320. He confirms what the Strokes Gained stats have shown us. Length off the tee is an invaluable asset. Just look at the way he has decimated the par-5s on this century-old layout. He’s birdied 10 of the 12 he’s played. On Saturday, Champ hit iron into all four. Twice he hit 8-iron. His physical skills are obvious. He displayed internal fortitude, as well, on Saturday. He was clinging to a one-shot lead when he came to the par-4 12th hole, the hardest on the course in the third round. His wedge shot from the rough took a big bounce and stopped some 20 yards over the green. His ball was laying on a tight lie and he was staring at a lake on the other side of the putting surface. Champ opted for the safe play, a bump-and-run, but his chip shot stopped short of the green. He holed the next one for an unlikely par. He took control of the tournament with birdies on the next three holes. He parred the final three for a 64. The rookie matched the day’s low score while playing in the final group for the first time. He was still an amateur this time last year, preparing for the second stage of Q-School after helping the United States dominate the Walker Cup at Los Angeles Country Club. He successfully navigated Q-School, then won on the Web.com Tour in 2018. His first taste of the spotlight came at last year’s U.S. Open at Erin Hills. He was in the top 10 at the halfway point before finishing T32. “That was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been,â€� Champ said. “I feel like I’ve grown as a player and understand how to approach the game when you’re in this position.â€� His experience will help him in his pursuit of his first PGA TOUR title. His length won’t hurt, either.

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NICHOLASVILLE, Kentucky – Saturday will be a fingers-crossed kind of day at the Barbasol Championship. Severe weather on Friday set the schedule of play back significantly and there is a 70 percent chance of a repeat performance by Mother Nature when the new day dawns. Troy Merritt was one of the lucky ones. He waited out the first delay and then scooted in with a 67 that gave him a two-stroke lead about 30 minutes before play was called for the second time at 3:25 p.m. Billy Horschel also was able to finish, firing a 66 that left him in solo second at 13 under. Richy Werenski and Tom Lovelady weren’t so lucky, both stranded on the 18th hole when the siren sounded. The second storm was particularly furious. Tornado warnings were posted as thunder rumbled, lightning strafed the sky, rain came down with a vengeance and tree limbs fell to the ground. The Military Outpost hospitality tend ended up in the pond on the eighth hole. Homes and hotels in the vicinity lost power and nearby streetlights went on the fritz. At 5:50 p.m. tournament officials made the decision to suspend play overnight. A total of 23 players in the afternoon wave had yet to tee off, including Brittany Lincicome, the eight-time LPGA champion who is just the sixth woman to play in a PGA TOUR event. “We suspended for the day because of rain that was still expected and maintenance would need a couple of hours to get the golf course ready – which would be dark,â€� said Steve Carman, the PGA TOUR Tournament Director. Play is scheduled to resume at 7:30 a.m. Carman estimates that approximately 5 hours and 40 minutes are necessary to complete the second round. Once that’s done, the cut will be made and the third round will begin in threesomes off two tees. With any luck, the third round could be completed by Saturday night. “We played enough golf today that it could be accomplished,â€� Carman said. “But we’ve got to get a break from Mother Nature. “The forecast is for a 70 percent chance of pop-up thunderstorms similar today but hopefully not as severe.â€� Fingers crossed. “Just hoping to start the next round,â€� Merritt said. “That’s about all I’m thinking about. … We just have to see what the weather does. We can’t get ahead of ourselves. There is no sense really in setting a number when you don’t know exactly what the weather is going to do. “Just do the best I can do is try to stay ahead of whoever is behind me.â€� NOTABLES Hunter Mahan has fond memories of Kentucky as a member of Paul Azinger’s victorious Ryder Cup team. The 2008 matches were held at Valhalla, which is about 80 miles from Keene Trace Golf Club, and marked just the second American win in the last seven meetings between the U.S. and Europe. To say the partisan crowd was loud would be an understatement. “It was unlike anything I’ve seen or been a part of,â€� Mahan said. “It didn’t feel like golf. Felt like a rock concert half the time. Just great intensity, fire, but so much fun.â€� Mahan would like to make another great memory in the Bluegrass state this week at the Barbasol Championship. He fired a 68 on Friday had moved to 10 under and within four strokes of Troy Merritt’s lead when play was suspended due to impeding storms. The six-time PGA TOUR, whose last win came in 2014, is looking for his first top-10 since he tied for fourth at the 2015 Deutsche Bank Championship. “Once your technique goes and you can’t swing the way you normally have, no amount of confidence or whatever is going to help,â€� Mahan said. “No amount of practice, if you’re doing something wrong, you’re just going to keep doing it wrong. Finally feeling comfortable, finally feeling like I know how to attack pins and I know how far I’m going to hit the shot and all those things that encompass being confident on the golf course and not having any fear of the result. Troy Merritt started the second round where he left off, making an 8-footer for birdie on No. 1 and two-putting from 45 feet for another at the par-5 second. He went on to follow that sizzling 62 with a solid 67 that left him at 14 under and owning a one-stroke advantage. Friday’s round wasn’t without the occasional miscue – he had gone bogey-free in tying the course record the previous day – but Merritt wasn’t complaining. “We had a lot more lengthy birdie putts today than we did yesterday, but all this all pretty solid day,â€� he said. Merritt played with Mahan and said seeing all those putts go down – he made seven birdies while Mahan had five – helped him keep the pedal down. “It’s always nice to play with a guy that’s making birdies, especially if you’re keeping up or maybe doing slightly better, just because we want to see good golf, too,â€� he said. “We’re golf fans. We want to see guys play well because it’s going to make us play well.â€� Like Mahan, Merritt is hoping to end a victory drought – his last came in 2015 – and play his way into the FedExCup Playoffs for the first time in two years (CK). (Merritt is currently 131st in the standings.) Josh Teater grew up and still lives in Lexington, Kentucky, which is about 45 minutes from Keene Trace. So it’s not surprising that the Morehead State graduate has many friends in the gallery and a host of sportswriters hanging on his every word. Teater spent the better part of six years on the PGA TOUR and is currently playing the Web.com Tour in hopes of getting his card back. He ranks 31st on the money list and could be playing in the Web.com Tour event in Omaha this week but when he was offered a sponsor’s exemption for the Barbasol Championship it was a no-brainer to say yes. He’s making the most of the opportunity, too, firing a 66 on Friday that left him in a tie for fifth when play was suspended due to inclement weather. “This is kind of my major,â€� said Teater, who won the 2004 Kentucky Open on the Champions course. “Has been since they announced it, you know. Top 25 on the Web does get you on the TOUR, but a win here also does. That’s what we’re shooting for. I wouldn’t miss it unless I was across the pond.â€� QUOTABLE It was huge. I saw kind of the note on the scoreboard, and I didn’t even really think about it when I had that one-footer to tap in. Sometimes you’ll mark them; sometimes you won’t, but I’m glad I tapped it in.

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