Inside the Field: U.S. Open

The PGA Tour stays in Hawaii but moves to Honolulu for the Sony Open. Our experts offer their best bets for the event.

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Hoatong Li could become the first local winner on the PGA TOUR’s Asia swing after an impressive opening to the World Golf Championships–HSBC Champions in China. The 24-year-old Chinese star – who will make his Presidents Cup debut in December for the International team – fired an 8-under 64 at Sheshan International Golf Club to lead by one over Frenchman Victor Perez. Since the PGA TOUR began playing official events in Asia in 2009, a native of the host country has yet to find their way to the winner’s circle. This season has seen the streak under threat with Byeong An going close (T6) in Korea at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES. Hideki Matsuyama (second) was closer still in Japan at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP. Now Li – a two-time winner on the European Tour – has set himself up with a great chance. “Today is a pretty good start and good beginning,â€� Li said. “Obviously it would be great joy for Chinese golfers and Chinese golf fans to have a Chinese player winning a WGC-HSBC Champions here in China, but for the next three days, anything could happen. “So I don’t want to think too much about it. I just want to focus and concentrate on the upcoming three days because anything can happen. I just want to do a good job to keep this momentum going for the next three days.â€� Li had missed four of his last seven cuts around the world leading into the event, but said a return to his old clubs sparked a turnaround. He was pleasantly surprised. “I didn’t feel good with my new irons, and I actually had to change back to my old clubs this week to feel more comfortable in my own swing and putting,â€� he explained. “I switched back to the round grip and find the rhythm a lot … totally changed my swing feeling.â€� Li was a clear crowd favorite on Thursday despite playing in a group with the always popular Phil Mickelson. Mickelson also draws a crowd in China and has been doing so for years. In fact, a decade ago he posed for a photo with Li who was 14 at the time as an up-and-coming junior.

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Jordan Spieth was born, raised and still resides in Dallas, Texas. It's home, the city where he met - and later married - Annie, his high school sweetheart. Some three hours and 200 miles south down I-35, though, there's another place that feels like home. The place where a proud Texas Longhorn was part of the 2012 NCAA Championship-winning men's golf team as a freshman. And, with this week's stop on the PGA TOUR in town - in Austin, for the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play - it was a time and place to leave a lasting impact on the community, too. Jordan, Annie and the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation (JSFF) shared that significant grants will be made to both the First Tee - Greater Austin and Dell Children's Foundation, the TOUR event's two primary beneficiaries. "Austin has and will continue to be a very special place to our family," Jordan Spieth said. "There is really great work being done there, and our (Jordan Spieth Family) Foundation is thrilled to have an impact in this city in 2021 through two amazing grant partners." First Tee - Greater Austin and Dell Children's are both in the heart of Austin, along with many other JSFF grantees that also support Austin-area families. These include the Huckleberry Foundation, Carson Leslie Foundation, Heroes for Children, Armed Services YMCA and Freedom Alliance. "The First Tee of Greater Austin has prioritized making golf accessible to all youth, regardless of background, experience or ability," Jordan Spieth said. "We are confident that with a proper learning center, their impact will only grow. "What excites us the most is that in addition to growing the game of junior golf, one of our foundation's mission pillars, this learning center will allow First Tee - Austin to offer ancillary support services such as tutoring, seminars, community events and more." Another of the foundation's pillars - pediatric cancer - was the focus of the grant to Dell Children's. "Dell Children's Foundation is such an important part of this community," Annie Spieth said. "The JSFF grant will support vital staff such as child life specialists and social workers, whose roles provide an extra layer of care for children and their families needed throughout their journey." The Jordan Spieth Family Foundation offers a platform for the Spieths to lend time, help grow awareness and offer financial support for four philanthropic areas. In addition to junior golf and pediatric cancer, the pillars include special needs and military families. In total, the foundation has 25 grant partners this year alone across the four pillars.

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