Flawless Ko storms to Canada victory

Players hear the fans at the loudest hole in golf wagering. Sometimes they even get in on the act.

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Cameron Smith and Jonas Blixt return as teammates in the PGA TOUR’s only two-man format after winning last year’s event at TPC Louisiana in a Monday playoff. They beat Kevin Kisner and Scott Brown, who will also come back as partners looking for redemption.  They’ll all be dealing with a stronger field as 18 of the world’s top 30 golfers will tee it up in New Orleans. Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson headline that group as the Olympic gold and silver medalists pair up for the second year in a row. Sergio Garcia/Rafa Cabrera Bello and Bubba Watson/Matt Kuchar make up the other two teams that feature both players in the world’s top 25.  Here’s everything you need to know to follow Thursday’s first round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans: Round 1 leaderboard Round 1 tee times HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN (ALL TIMES ARE ET) PGA TOUR LIVE: 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. TELEVISION: 2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (GC) (Golf Channel simulcast stream) RADIO: 1:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com) NOTABLE PAIRINGS 12:44 p.m. Jonas Blixt/Cameron Smith, Patrick Reed/Patrick Cantlay 12:57 p.m. Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson, Bubba Watson/Matt Kuchar MUST-READS Clutch Cam Stories behind the walk-up music Format change brings potential Sunday volatility Power Rankings Brooks Koepka returns  

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Brooks Koepka is looking to wrap up the top spot in the Wyndham Rewards a week early with a win at the World Golf Championships – FedEx St. Jude Invitational. Koepka overtook Matt Kuchar as the FedExCup and Wyndham Rewards leader with his tie for fourth at The Open Championship last week, his fourth top-four finish in major championships this season. The current PGA TOUR Player of the Year won the PGA Championship and was runner-up at both the Masters and U.S. Open. He also won THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES this season. As such, he is now on top, but just 37 points ahead of Kuchar, who had led since he was runner up to Kevin Kisner at the World Golf Championships – Dell Technologies Match Play in late March. With 550 points on offer to the winner this week at TPC Southwind, Koepka could theoretically wrap up the top spot with a victory along a poor outing from Kuchar, among others. There are 500 points on offer to the winner of the Wyndham Championship next week, so any lead over that mark after play in Memphis would secure the title and the $2 million Wyndham Rewards Top 10 bonus. Of course, Rory McIlroy (142 behind), Xander Schauffele (507 behind), Gary Woodland (548 behind) and others can still have a significant say in the outcome. “(Winning the FedExCup is) the goal every time you step out and play an event out here on the PGA TOUR. You’re trying to build up FedExCup points, you’re trying to build as big as a lead as possible,â€� Koepka said. “That’s why we play, to make it to Atlanta. I’m sure everybody that tees it up on the PGA TOUR, that’s their goal, to make it to Atlanta and to have a chance to win. “So to be able to put myself in the spot that I have, it’s been an enjoyable ride to say the least and I think (winning the FedExCup) would just cap off a two-year stretch of great golf.â€� Koepka is not yet slated to play the Wyndham Championship, but has until Friday afternoon to commit. He did not rule out signing up, but said his early play in Memphis would dictate that. “If I do what I’m supposed to do this week and win, then everything takes care of itself. But yeah, there’s a lot of scenarios that can happen,â€� he confirmed. “I don’t know the actual breakdown of them, but there is a possibility that next week I could be out there and playing for a lot. So we’ll see where everything kind of falls.â€� Koepka is also in a battle with Jason Day, Dustin Johnson and a few others for a $1 million bonus in the Aon Risk Reward Challenge.

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