Genesis Open, final round: Leaderboard, tee times, TV schedule

TPC Sugarloaf, along with the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF), hosted the sixth annual “Mason’s Twenty-Fore Straight” 24-hour golf marathon this past June, raising an unparalleled $205,000 in 2021, shattering the previous record of $137,000. With nearly $750,000 in total raised since the inaugural event, proceeds benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and Sydney’s Incredible Defeat of Ewing’s Sarcoma (SIDES), raising awareness and funds in the fight against pediatric cancer. In honor of Mason Glassgold, who just days before his 11th birthday lost a courageous, three-year fight against a cancerous brain tumor, “Mason’s Twenty-Fore Straight” marathon was created by family friend, TPC Sugarloaf’s General Manager, Mike Maloney, along with Mason’s stepfather Matt Wilson – to honor him and support the many other brave children battling the disease. “This 24-hour golf marathon has had participants travel from near and far to help us in this fight,” said Maloney. “Obviously, this much golf can be grueling, , but it is the least we can do to honor these little warriors who deal with so much pain and show so much courage each day in their battle against this terrible disease.” The event aligns deeply with the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s robust “care, cure, thrive” commitment, helping families of kids with brain cancer navigate the disease’s challenging course, while funding science to treat pediatric brain tumors. During the marathon, two players on each team must remain on the course for the entire 24-hours – playing through back pain, headaches and tired feet, experiencing just a small amount of pain and exhaustion a child going through treatment for cancer can feel. “The partnership with TPC Sugarloaf for the Mason’s Twenty-Fore Straight event goes beyond just raising money,” says The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, President and CEO, Courtney Davies. “It encompasses the full mission of the PBTF, as they care for children with brain tumors attending the event and provide unique opportunities for survivors on the golf course. Their passion to make an impact in this disease space is inspiring, and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation is grateful to be a part of this event.” To learn more about the event, visit Mason’s Twenty-Fore Straight. For more information on TPC Sugarloaf, please visit www.tpc.com/sugarloaf.

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Martin Laird … The Scot has slumped in recent months, but he always emerges from hibernation in the Valley of the Sun. He’s also among the bevy of PGA TOUR members who will be sleeping at home this week, and he’s been a fixture at TPC Scottsdale since he first qualified in 2009. In 11 starts, he’s cashed eight times, four of which for a top 10. For various reasons, the final round has been his bane as he’s broken par only once in the last six finales, but his scoring average in his last 24 competitive loops overall is 68.75. Matt Jones … Like Laird, the native Aussie is a local resident, but Jones hasn’t qualified since 2017 when he needed a sponsor exemption to crack the field. He finished T36 for his fifth straight cut made in the tournament. He committed to this year’s edition on merit and with six consecutive paydays worldwide in tow, the highlight of which a victory at his national open in early December. He launched the streak with a T20 in South Korea and he opened the season with a T10 at Greenbrier. Bud Cauley … En route to a T4 at PGA WEST two weeks ago, he revealed that he had knee surgery in the fall. That explains why he sat out after a T9 in Houston, but both results are evidence that he was well enough then and feeling good again now. In his last 10 starts, five of his six cuts made went for a top 25. Inside the top 40 on TOUR this season in Strokes Gained: Putting, scrambling, par-5 scoring and adjusted scoring. Also 4-for-5 at TPC Scottsdale. Chesson Hadley … The last time he was included in this group, he finished T18 at the Shriners in October. It’s the best result of his last 13 starts. His track record at TPC Summerlin is terrific, so it was an easy call for the tall drink of water. His history at TPC Scottsdale isn’t as strong, but it’s getting there. He’s 3-for-4 with a T5 in 2018 and a T20 last year. When he’s on, his irons are responsible. Thus far this season, he’s 29th in greens hit, T33 in proximity and 15th in Strokes Gained: Approach-the Green, but he’s also 34th in putting: birdies-or-better, so there’s fire to follow the spark. Kiradech Aphibarnrat … Remember this guy? The Thai turned 30 last July and qualified for his first FedExCup Playoffs, but it was a disappointing summer and early fall until he finished T8 at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES. It sparked a modest consecutive cuts made streak of five that remains active as he pegs it at TPC Scottsdale for the third time. He placed T33 last year while averaging only 11 greens in regulation per round (T66). He did his work on the greens, slotting third in both Strokes Gained: Putting and putting: birdies-or-better percentage. It’s his strongest skill, so this week’s objective it to set up more scoring opportunities to let it shine. NOTE: Sleeper is a relative term, so Rob uses unofficial criteria to determine who qualifies. Each of the following usually is determined to be ineligible for this weekly staple: Winners of the tournament on the current host course; winners in the same season; recent major champions; top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking; recent participants of team competitions.

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LOS ANGELES – Lanny Wadkins has sat on the Riviera Country Club throne for 37 years but Joaquin Niemann is coming for him at The Genesis Invitational. A day after smashing the 36-hole scoring record at The Genesis Invitational, the 23-year-old Niemann took down the 54-hole mark and the Chilean star now stands on the precipice of securing the longest standing active 72-hole tournament scoring record on the PGA TOUR. Wadkins put up a 20-under 264 at Riviera when claiming the 1985 tournament and it has stood firm since. But Niemann is hunting after his 63-63-68 start left him at 19-under 194 with a round to play. One should never count chickens before they hatch but the elevated, Tiger Woods hosted Genesis Invitational appears Niemann’s to lose as he sits three clear of rookie Cameron Young (16-under) and six shots ahead of third placed Viktor Hovland (13-under). Only Justin Thomas (12-under) and Collin Morikawa (11-under) are also within eight shots of his lead. Eight shots is the largest comeback for the tournament, by Ken Venturi in 1959. Niemann’s 54-hole mark topped the previous 196 from Mike Weir (2004), Dustin Johnson (2017) and Justin Thomas (2019). His 36-hole score of 126 bested the previous halfway record of 130. If he closes on Sunday at the storied Riviera, he will join the greats. “I’m having the best time of my life right now. I just try to keep it calm, but yeah, I’m enjoying it a lot and I just can’t wait to have a good day tomorrow,” Niemann said. “My speed (on the greens) has just been so good this week and that’s the thing that helps a lot… they’re so fast and every putt can run away from the hole pretty quick, so the speed has been good.” Should he go on and win, Niemann will also be the first wire-to-wire winner since Charlie Sifford in 1969. If the Wadkins record falls, the longest standing mark will belong to Payne Stewart’s 264 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational 34 years ago. After bursting onto the scene claiming his first PGA TOUR win at the Military Tribute at The Greenbrier and joining the International Presidents Cup team as a 20-year-old in 2019, Niemann has since found himself in the shadow of other young players. Despite starting 2021 with back-to-back runner-up finishes in Hawaii, it was a missed chance last summer at the Rocket Mortgage Challenge that really stung. Niemann shared the 54-hole lead with Troy Merritt but both were bested by Australian Cam Davis in a playoff on Sunday. Niemann went 72-holes without a bogey, only to make one in the first hole of sudden death to miss out. He believes he’s learned from the experience and intends to enjoy the moments come Sunday at Riviera. “Rocket Mortgage, I played great golf there. Obviously, I didn’t make any bogeys that week. Sometimes things go your way, sometimes things don’t go your way,” Niemann said. “I think I put myself in with a big chance to win the tournament and it just didn’t happen. I’ve just got to learn from that and go with a better attitude the next time you’re there.” But what of the chasers? Young’s scoring has been prolific also this week yet somewhat overlooked due to the leader. On Saturday the rookie pulled within two shots of the lead before a costly double bogey on the par-3 16th. The two-time Korn Ferry Tour winner seeks to become the first rookie to win on TOUR since Garrick Higgo claimed the 2021 Palmetto Championship at Congaree last season. A former Wake Forest standout with Will Zalatoris, Young leads the field in Strokes Gained: Putting (+8.008) and Driving Distance (313.8) through three rounds and looks to go one better than his T2 earlier this season at the Sanderson Farms Championship – his lone top-10 in 11 previous starts on TOUR. He’s not ready to hand anything to Niemann just yet. “Anytime you start Sunday three back, whether you’re in tenth or second, you have a chance. Anybody out here can shoot 8 or 9 under and you just never know when it’s going to be you on a Sunday,” Young said. “I’m still right there, I’ve only got one guy ahead of me. He’s a great player and I know he’s playing really well, but you just never know what can happen. Tomorrow that three shots can be gone in a hole and three shots can go the other way in a hole, so we’ll just have to see.”

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