Garzón Tajamares Golf named first PGA TOUR Preferred golf course

How it works: Each week, our experts from PGATOUR.COM will make their selections in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf. Each lineup consists of four starters and two bench players that can be rotated after each round. Adding to the challenge is that every golfer can be used only three times per each of four Segments. The first fantasy golf game to utilize live ShotLink data, PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf allows you to see scores update live during competition. Aside from the experts below, Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton breaks down the field at this year’s THE CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK in his edition of the Power Rankings. For more fantasy, check out Rookie Watch, Qualifiers and Reshuffle. THINK YOU’RE BETTER THAN OUR EXPERTS? The PGA TOUR Experts league is once again open to the public. You can play our free fantasy game and see how you measure up against our experts below. Joining the league is simple. Just click here to sign up or log in. Once you create your team, click the “Leagues” tab and search for “PGA TOUR Experts.” After that? Pick your players and start talking smack. Want to represent the fans against our experts? SEASON SEGMENT

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Charles “Buddy” Buder, a volunteer celebrating 50 years of service at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut, was selected as the 2022 PGA TOUR Volunteer of the Year. With the award, the PGA TOUR will donate $10,000 to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a longtime Travelers Championship beneficiary and the charity of Buder’s choosing. Buder was recently surprised with the honor. Unofficially known as “The Mayor” of the Travelers Championship, Buder first began working as a tournament volunteer as a marshal in 1972. In the late 1980s, he was asked to become a walking scorer, where he has served ever since. Buder later became a co-chairman for the walking scorers committee that he proudly leads today. In addition to Buder’s 50 years at the tournament, he also worked nearly 50 years at Travelers’ corporate offices. In 2019, he officially retired after 47 years. Upon learning of the award, Travelers committed to matching the PGA TOUR’s donation and will provide an additional $10,000 to the charity of Buder’s choice. “Buddy is known and loved by everyone at the tournament,” said Nathan Grube, Executive Director of the Travelers Championship. “His enthusiasm and motivation for why he volunteers is contagious. Not only does he represent what is so amazing about the volunteers on the PGA TOUR, he is always trying to recruit the next generation of volunteers as well. He knows how rewarding it is and wants everyone to experience it. We are a better event because of Buddy, and we look forward to his 51st year in 2023.” “We were very proud to learn that a longtime volunteer of the Travelers Championship was chosen for this honor,” said Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Travelers. “Being named the 2022 PGA TOUR Volunteer of the Year is a testament to Buddy’s hard work and loyalty to making the Travelers Championship world-class. And the fact that he celebrated his 50th year volunteering this year makes this recognition even more special. We were happy to match the PGA TOUR’s generous $10,000 donation.” PGA TOUR tournaments would not be possible without the support of volunteers, who not only help events operate with unsurpassed guest service, but also contribute to the overall charitable impact. With the support of more than 100,000 volunteers annually demonstrating the PGA TOUR Volunteer Service Excellence priority standards of safety, competition and hospitality, the TOUR assists approximately 3,000 charities each year. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations to maximize charitable giving, and to date, tournaments across all Tours have generated more than $3.37 billion. The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, which was founded in 1988 by Paul Newman, provides summer camp experiences as well as year-round hospital and family outreach programs to thousands of children with serious illnesses and their families – all completely free of charge. “I am truly warmed to be able to make the donation to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp,” said Buder. “When my daughter, Becky, was four years old, she was diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic. She stayed at the John Dempsey Farmington Medical Center in Farmington, Connecticut. Her roommate for five days was Michelle, a seven-year-old who was battling cancer. When Becky received her daily shots, Michelle would comfort her, saying, ‘you’ll be okay, Becky.’ We found out later that Michelle had passed away. I will always remember those five days that Becky spent with Michelle. “Being a volunteer allows us to not only be in the presence of the finest players in the world on the PGA TOUR, but to help generate millions of dollars for charities around New England like The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. I am so glad to be among the charmed circle of volunteers. Although we work different tournaments throughout the TOUR season, our commitment is the same – to help raise money for the many worthy charities throughout the world. I am very honored to have been chosen to receive this prestigious award.” The Travelers Championship, won by Xander Schauffele in 2022, will be played June 22-25, 2023, at TPC River Highlands.

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PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico - Akshay Bhatia won't reach legal drinking age in the United States until January 31, 2023. But he's quickly proving that he's of age to contend on the PGA TOUR. The 18-year-old Monday qualified into this week's Mayakoba Golf Classic presented by UNIFIN, and he's maximizing his opportunity. Bhatia has opened in rounds of 67-69 at El Camaleon GC, comfortably inside the top-15 midway through the final full-field TOUR event of the 2020 calendar year. There was a learning curve for Bhatia, to be sure. He missed the cut in his first seven TOUR starts, admitting that urgency to earn Special Temporary Membership was too much of a focal point. Bhatia made his first TOUR cut at the Safeway Open in September, finishing T9. A weight was lifted, and he's continuing to display his immense potential in Mexico. "After that, I felt like I belonged," said Bhatia of the significance around his Safeway Open top-10. "It showed I could play, that I could score well. I feel like I'm doing everything right as far as practice ... I feel like my good is good enough, and that I can compete out here. So it's just a matter of time. "I'm excited to keep playing out here, and for the opportunities that I've gotten." After turning professional in fall 2019, Bhatia missed by six strokes at Second Stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament last fall. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, putting on hold his efforts of earning TOUR and Korn Ferry Tour starts via Monday qualifiers. There may have been a silver lining, though. Bhatia carved out a mini-tour schedule that extended through the summer months, building confidence by stacking low rounds. While several his age are debating their college choices, Bhatia is developing a veteran mindset in the professional golf ranks. "I haven't really thought about it," said Bhatia when asked whether Special Temporary Membership has been on his mind this week. "Any chance I get to play the PGA TOUR, I'm just going to try to play as well as I can. "If you asked me that last year, I would've been thinking about that a lot, and it's just amazing how much experience can change perspective over a year. Being 18, it's helped me a lot versus 17." Bhatia was born in southern California and now lives in the Raleigh, North Carolina area, where he plays out of TPC Wakefield Plantation. There, he has cultivated a frequent practice-round grouping with TOUR winners Chesson Hadley and Grayson Murray, as well as Korn Ferry Tour pro Stephen Franken. He's learning the value placed on low scores in professional golf - noting the confidence gained via carding rounds of 62 and 63 in mini-tour events this summer - and embracing lessons shared by his veteran practice partners. "It's fun just having a good, solid group of guys that like to play and can help each other out with experience," Bhatia said. "I had a really good summer in mini-tour events and just learning how to be in contention, how to shoot low ... and that's what you have to do out here." Bhatia could earn TOUR Special Temporary Membership (which brings the ability to accept unlimited sponsor's exemptions) by accruing 288 non-member FedExCup Points - the equivalent of No. 150 on the 2018-19 FedExCup standings. He earned 70 non-member Points via his Safeway Open finish, and could move further toward the mark with a strong weekend in Mexico. He's no longer thinking along those lines, though. He's enjoying the competition amongst the mangroves at El Camaleon GC, and looking forward to the weekend ahead. "I've got to say," Bhatia said, "it's pretty fun being able to compete with these guys."

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