Jon Rahm outlasts Davis Thompson to win The American Express

After finishing runner-up at last year’s PNC Championship, two back of John Daly and John Daly II, the father-son duo of Tiger and Charlie Woods set its sights on chasing a title this weekend at Ritz-Carlton GC outside Orlando. Team Woods delivered on expectations in the opening round, carding an 13-under 59 to enter Sunday’s final round in a tie for second, two back of leader Team Thomas. The father-son duo of Justin Thomas and his dad Mike, playing alongside Team Woods on Saturday, carded 15-under 57 in the opening round. Team Woods caught fire with eight consecutive birdies or better on Nos. 4-11, carding seven birdies along with an eagle at the par-5 fifth. The day was full of smiles, fist bumps and club twirls, along with some good-natured needling between the Woods and Thomas duos. RELATED: 6 equipment tweaks Tiger Woods made into PNC Championship | Live scoring | Charlie moves back a set of tees for 2022 Here’s a hole-by-hole breakdown of how Team Woods navigated Saturday’s opening round at the PNC Championship. Hole 18 (par 5, 557/500 yards) Tiger pulls driver on the day’s final hole and flushes it down the center of the fairway, providing a chance to get home in two on the reachable par 5. From 242 yards, Tiger pulls a long iron and produces a high cut that tracks toward the left corner of the green. He leans in anticipation as the ball sails through the air; it catches the green, releases and settles to leave a 25-foot eagle attempt. With no intention of leaving the eagle try short, Charlie’s putt has plenty of pace but slides by on the left side, running out 8 feet past the cup. Like son, like father; Tiger’s eagle putt also misses left and runs out, leaving 6 feet for birdie. No picnic for Team Woods on the final green. As he has all day, Charlie putts first, and he delivers to close out the round. His birdie putt falls into the cup, left-center, and he picks up his dad’s coin accordingly. A closing birdie and a 13-under 59 for Team Woods. Team Thomas makes birdie for a 15-under 57 and a two-stroke lead over Team Woods and Team Singh into Sunday’s final round. Team Woods 13-under thru 18 Hole 17 (par 3, 168 yards) Charlie plays a high cut on an aggressive line and executes a proper golf shot, the ball landing soft approximately 20 feet below the hole. Tiger tugs his tee shot slightly left; it bounces in the fringe and trickles into an adjacent water hazard. Charlie putts first on the right-to-left bender and produces a smooth stroke with perfect pace, but the ball drifts just to the left, well within tap-in range. Tiger’s putt tells the same story, missing slightly left of the hole. Routine par for Team Woods on the penultimate hole of the day. The hole is not complete without Tiger displaying some prankster ethos; he takes the flagstick and pretends to try and trip playing partner Justin Thomas with it. Team Thomas (14-under) is currently leading the field, after all. Keep Justin and Mike on their toes. Team Woods 12-under thru 17 Hole 16 (par 4, 425/375 yards) Tiger pulls driver and uncorks a beauty down the left side of the fairway, opening things up for Charlie to play aggressive from the forward tee. Charlie takes driver and makes a bold strike, but the ball drifts right and finds the adjacent water hazard. From 125 yards, Charlie plays first on approach and asks for it to cut. it doesn’t quite listen, as the ball lands and settles in the left fringe, but just 25 feet from the hole. Tiger plays next and has a similar wish for it to move left-to-right, but the ball flies slightly past Charlie’s and comes to rest in the fringe some 40 feet from the hole. Playing from his own position, Charlie goes first from the fringe and elects to chip. He employs an aggressive mindset and the ball has plenty of pace, but it races past the hole and rolls out to 15 feet. Tiger plays next on a more conservative pace; the ball comes to rest 4 feet short, leaving a knee-knocker for par. Charlie’s par putt drops in the right-center of the cup, and Team Woods matches Team Thomas’ par on the hole, keeping pace within two strokes of the Team Thomas lead. Team Woods 12-under thru 16 Hole 15 (par 4, 467/423 yards) Tiger pulls driver and tugs it slightly; he doesn’t catch it cleanly, and it holds up well back of the ideal resting place. That’s where Charlie comes in. The younger Woods plays next with driver and launches a high fade down the center of the fairway, flirting with a bunker but settling a few yards shy. Prime position to attack the flag. Charlie plays first from 140 yards and plays a slight fade that finds the green but leaves a lengthy birdie try of 35 feet or so. Tiger tugs his approach long and left; the ball settles slightly closer than Charlie’s, but still leaving a 25-foot birdie attempt for the team. Playing from his dad’s spot, Charlie putts first and is tentative from the get-go, the ball coming to rest 4 feet short. Tiger’s putt has enough pace but misses 4 feet left, meaning the team will have some work to save its par. Charlie goes first on the par try, and the putt slides right of the hole. Tiger is up for the save, though; his slippery par attempt slides into the left side of the cup. In the meantime, Team Thomas makes birdie to move to 14-under thru 15; Team Woods now trails the lead by two. Team Woods 12-under thru 15 Hole 14 (par 5, 565/526 yards) Charlie plays first with a high fade and a “Fore right,” but the ball settles in a strip of rough just short of the bunker, leaving 224 yards into the par 5. Charlie gives the green a go with a fairway metal, playing a high cut that finds the fairway some 50 yards short and right of the green. Safely near the green, this frees up Tiger to play boldly on his approach, and he executes with a crisp cut and club twirl; the ball lands on the front of the green, 20 feet from the cup, and stays there. Tiger smiles and points to his son after the ball settles. Charlie putts first and pulls it slightly, as the ball misses on the left side and runs out a couple feet past. Tiger’s eagle putt does the exact same; the ball misses comfortably left of target. Charlie has no trouble cleaning up the birdie, though, and Team Woods moves within one stroke of the lead, which is now shared by Team Singh (F) and Team Thomas (thru 14). Team Woods 12-under thru 14 Hole 13 (par 4, 352/317 yards) Charlie pulls driver in attempt to give the green a go; he makes sound contact, but it is unclear where the ball ends up. After waiting for the green to clear ahead, Tiger pulls driver to give it a go. The ball sails left and seemingly catches a thicket of trees guarding the left side of the fairway. The duo jumps in the cart to drive toward its fate. Team Woods arrives in the fairway to find Tiger’s ball in pine straw, with a line to the green but tree trouble on the backswing. Charlie plays first and hits a proper pitch to the center of the green, leaving 25 feet for birdie. “Awesome shot,” his dad notes in approval. This frees up Tiger to take a more aggressive line over a bunker, and he doesn’t miss a beat, playing a high and spinning pitch to within 7 feet. Charlie putts first and delivers, the ball finding the center of the cup. From a potential bogey to a birdie, the Woods duo stays within two of current leader Team Singh (with a closing birdie to post 13-under 59). Team Woods 11-under thru 13 Hole 12 (par 3, 191/158 yards) Tiger plays first with a mid-iron that sails long and right, the ball coming to rest in a strip of rough between the fringe and a water hazard. Charlie pulls 7-iron and grimaces immediately upon impact before hopping on his right leg to brace the pain. The ball splashes in the water hazard to the right of the green, meaning a short-game test will be required for Team Woods to escape with par. On the chip shot from well below the putting surface, Tiger judges a high flop beautifully, the ball landing on the front of the green and releasing to within 2 feet. Charlie takes his time on the par try and has no trouble. A good save for Team Woods, which stands two off the pace of current leader Team Singh (12-under thru 17). The par ends Team Woods’ streak of eight consecutive birdies or better, three off its record pace, 11 straight birdies (Nos. 6-17) in the final round of last year’s PNC Championship. Team Woods 10-under thru 12 Hole 11 (par 4, 410/375 yards) Tiger pulls driver and maintains the good vibes, launching a pure strike down the left-center of the fairway. Charlie plays first on a wedge approach from 100 yards, producing a controlled strike that lands within 10 feet, just short and right of the hole. Tiger follows with a wedge that tracks toward the flag but pulls up some 20 feet short. Team Woods sticks to its strategy of Charlie putting first, allowing the elder Woods to study the break and gain intelligence accordingly. Charlie takes care of business on the front end, as the ball holds perfect pace and drops in the right-center of the cup. Another birdie for the Woods duo. Team Woods 10-under thru 11 Hole 10 (par 4, 387/355 yards) From just 62 yards, dead center of the fairway, Charlie plays first with a flip wedge. He chunks it and knows it immediately; the ball fails to reach the green, settling in the front fringe. Good thing he has an 82-time TOUR winner as his partner, though, as Tiger confidently strikes a controlled wedge that lands within 3 feet of the hole and stays right there. A fairway fist bump is exchanged between father and son. Charlie takes his time on the short birdie try before draining it, center-cut. Routine birdie for Team Woods, which is now 8-under across its last seven holes, making a significant move up the leaderboard in the process. Team Woods 9-under thru 10 Hole 9 (par 4, 453/389 yards) After splitting the fairway on his tee ball, Charlie plays first from just 117 yards out. (Tiger didn’t even hit a drive on this hole.) Charlie produces a one-handed follow through, as the ball lands in the fringe and settles on the front-right portion of the green, some 30 feet from the hole. Tiger plays next and is displeased with the ball flight, as it misses in a strip of fairway left of the green, a similar distance from the hole as Charlie’s. The duo selects Charlie’s birdie try from the front of the green, and Charlie plays first. He gives it plenty of pace but the ball misses right of the cup, scurrying 6 feet past the hole. Tiger has been heating up on the greens as the day has progressed, and this hole is no exception, as his well-judged birdie try catches the right side of the cup and drops. Birdie for Team Woods and a front-nine 28, the lowest opening nine by any team Saturday — matched shortly thereafter by Team Thomas. An enthused Tiger pumps his fist twice and slaps his leg, and Charlie tosses his dad the birdie ball before the duo exchanges a fist bump. Team Woods is now just three strokes off the leading pace of Team Leonard (11-under thru 13). Team Woods 8-under thru 9 Hole 8 (par 3, 200/170 yards) Tiger plays first with a 6-iron, hoisting it high in the air and seeing it hang out right, pin-high, leaving some 20 feet from the right fringe. Charlie plays next with a smooth strike that tracks toward the flag and settles safely on the green, 15 feet below the hole. Charlie putts first and misses just on the left side, buckling his knees as the ball rolls past the hole. Tiger doesn’t miss a beat; the ball starts left and turns right toward the center of the cup. It drops in the middle for another Team Woods birdie, as Charlie raises his fist with approval. The team is now 6-under across its last five holes, after a comparatively “slow” 1-under start through 3. Team Woods 7-under thru 8 Hole 7 (par 4, 363/329 yards) This short par 4 yielded a mid-range birdie try for Team Woods, heating up after a birdie-eagle-birdie stretch on holes 4-6. Charlie surveyed the scene on a 15-foot birdie attempt, playing slightly up the hill, and delivered a confident stroke. “Good putt, Charlie,” exclaimed his dad, with the ball still 6 feet out. The ball tracked toward the cup and dropped on the left side. Charlie raised his putter, as did Tiger, who provided a head pat of appreciation to commemorate the moment. “Welcome to the Father-Son, Charlie,” quips playing partner Justin Thomas as they head to the eighth tee. Team Woods 6-under thru 7 Hole 6 (par 4, 422/380 yards) Playing their approach from light rough, just 69 yards from the hole, Charlie plays a high, soft wedge that lands within inches of the cup and releases some 20 feet past. Tiger plays next, electing to position his ball in the pine straw for improved spin control to a front hole location; sure enough, the ball lands 10 feet past and sucks back to leave a short-range birdie try. Charlie plays first on the 8-foot birdie attempt, and it tracks toward the hole but burns the edge. Tiger, forever a student of the game, delivers on the teach with a beautifully judged left-to-right slider, as the ball drops in the right side of the cup. Birdie for Team Woods to keep pace with the field. Team Woods 5-under thru 6 Hole 5 (par 5, 558/528 yards) Tiger plays first with a soft cut driver that starts up the left side and fades back into the center of the fairway. Charlie pulls driver and backs off upon starting his initial downswing. “We’ve seen that move before,” quips the broadcast team. “It’s in the genes,” remarks Peter Jacobsen. Charlie recalibrates but immediately drops the club upon impact and loses his balance, nearly falling to the ground. Playing from dad’s drive, Charlie selects fairway wood off the deck, 229 yards out. He plays a high fade that reaches the front of the green, leaving 40 feet for eagle. Tiger also plays a fade and stares it down, the ball landing on the green hole-high and funneling into the fairway just right of the green, some 30 feet away. It makes for an intriguing decision regarding which ball to select. Team Woods opts for Tiger’s shot, leaving a short chip shot for eagle, playing from slightly below the hole. Charlie stubs his chip, the ball barely reaching the putting surface, provoking a remark of dismay. His dad makes quick amends, though. Tiger judges the chip to perfection as the ball lands just on the putting surface, checks and releases into the hole. Eagle for Team Woods, as Tiger and Charlie each pump their fist. Tiger raises his putter to a roaring crowd, and the duo shares a smiling fist bump. Team Woods 4-under thru 5 Hole 4 (par 3, 182/147 yards) Tiger plays first and selects a 7-iron. He stares it down; the ball hangs just right to leave some 25 feet for birdie up the hill. Charlie plays next with a three-quarter motion on a short iron; the ball settles in the fringe short-left, some 40 feet from the hole. Tiger’s shot will be the play. Charlie’s birdie try is on line but settles a few inches short, right in the jaws. Tiger plays next with a teach from his son, and he takes advantage, the ball tracking with perfect pace and dropping in the center of the cup. Charlie raises his putter in appreciation. Team Woods 2-under thru 4 Hole 3 (par 5, 529/510 yards) Charlie hits his drive and immediately grabs behind his left ankle upon impact. The younger Woods reportedly injured his ankle while hitting balls earlier this week. Playing off Charlie’s drive short-right, Tiger calls “Fore left” upon hitting his second shot. Meanwhile, playing partner Mike Thomas hits driver off the deck for his second. Team Woods faces a 55-yard third shot from pine straw left of the green. Charlie plays first and hits a punch wedge that sails some 30 feet over the green. Tiger plays it safe with a controlled punch that settles safely on the green, 20 feet short of the hole. Charlie’s birdie attempt tails just right; he removes his hat in dismay, placing it over his eyes. Tiger gives his birdie try an aggressive rap but hits it through the break, as the ball misses on the left side and rolls some 5 feet past. Charlie has no trouble, though, cleaning up the par. Team Woods 1-under thru 3 Hole 2 (par 4, 410/380 yards) Tiger and Charlie each split the fairway, leaving a short-iron approach into the green. Charlie stuffs his approach inside 8 feet; drawing cheers and a fist-bump from his dad. Charlie proceeds to drain the 4-footer for birdie, matching Justin Thomas’ 15-foot birdie from moments before. Justin Leonard and his son Luke have raced to a 7-under start through 7 holes, meaning birdies in bunches will be essential in order to stay around the lead. Team Woods 1-under thru 2 Hole 1 (par 4, 395/380 yards) Tiger and Charlie take the tee, wearing matching pink-and-red shirts and black trousers. They’re paired alongside close family friends Justin and Mike Thomas, who won the 2020 PNC Championship and proceeded to show up at the Woods household on Christmas Day wearing the event’s champion belt buckles. This time around, Tiger and Charlie aim to add these accessories to their holiday attire. Team Woods selects Charlie’s drive from the right side of the fairway. Tiger plays a wedge approach to the right fringe, while Charlie’s approach settles left of the right-tucked flag. Both players miss the 18-foot birdie try up the hill, and the team settles for an opening par. Team Woods even thru 1

Click here to read the full article…

Reigning FedExCup champion Dustin Johnson headlines a Vivint Houston Open field that also features past FedExCup winners Henrik Stenson, Brandt Snedeker, and Texas native Jordan Spieth. Lanto Griffin will defend his first TOUR title at Memorial Park Golf Course, which was totally redesigned (with input from Brooks Koepka) by famed architect Tom Doak for 2020. The public course in Houston - which sees approximately 60,000 rounds per year - will be part of the TOUR schedule for the first time since 1963. FIELD NOTES: Johnson and Adam Scott are set to make their first starts on the TOUR since testing positive for COVID-19... Brooks Koepka will return to the golf course he had a hand in shaping... Mickelson is 2-for-2 with PGA TOUR Champions victories this season but decided to tee it up in Houston instead of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship. Mickelson won the Houston Open in 2011. The last Houston Open at Memorial Park also was the first PGA TOUR win by a left-hander. Bob Charles won at Memorial Park in 1963, the same year he won The Open Championship to become the first left-hander to win a major... The last three Houston Open winners including Lanto Griffin (2019), Ian Poulter (2018), and Russell Henley (2017) are part of the past champions contingent... Four of the top 10 on the current FedExCup standings (Stewart Cink, Garcia, Martin Laird, and Hudson Swafford) are in the field... Justin Harding, Kyle Hogan, Dawie van der Walt, and Jhonattan Vegas are amongst the sponsors exemptions. FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 500 FedExCup points. COURSE: Memorial Park Golf Course, par 71, 7,021 yards (yardage subject to change). The TOUR makes its return to Memorial Park for the first time since 1963. Founded in 1912, Tom Doak, who redesigned the course with the help of Koepka, took flood-prone land and added elevation and improved drainage. The TOUR's best will see a totally different Memorial Park Golf Course for 2020 with holes that have been both lengthened and shortened, fairways widened, and trees removed. "Other than winning a golf tournament, it's one of the coolest projects that I've been involved in," Koepka told FOX 26 Houston last year. STORYLINES: The Vivint Houston Open will be the first TOUR event in the U.S. since THE PLAYERS Championship to have spectators on site... The event, for 2020-21, was moved from October to November to accommodate the changes to the schedule due to COVID-19... The tournament returns to Memorial Park Golf Course for the first time since 1963... Griffin proved how valuable a solid fall could be, as he rode his victory in Houston all the way to The TOUR Championship last season. 72-HOLE RECORD: 266, Curtis Strange and Lee Trevino (1980 at Woodlands CC), Vijay Singh (2002 at TPC Woodlands). Golf Club of Houston record: 268, Phil Mickelson (2011), Russell Henley (2017). Memorial Park Golf Course record: 268, Bob Charles (1963). 18-HOLE RECORD: 62, Ron Streck (3rd round, 1981 at Woodlands CC), Fred Funk (3rd round, 1992 at TPC Woodlands). Golf Club of Houston record: 63, Johnson Wagner (1st round, 2008), Adam Scott (1st round, 2008), Jimmy Walker (1st round, 2011), Phil Mickelson (3rd round, 2011), Scott Piercy (1st round, 2015), Sung Kang (2nd round, 2017). LAST TIME: Griffin held off Scott Harrington and Mark Hubbard, a trio of Korn Ferry Tour graduates from the season prior, for his first PGA TOUR victory. Griffin calmly rolled in a 6-foot par on the 72nd hole to secure the win. He had moved to the top of the leaderboard only two holes earlier after draining a 35-foot birdie on No. 16. Griffin, a two-time Korn Ferry Tour winner, held of Harrington, who shot a 5-under 67 Sunday, and Hubbard, who shot a 3-under 69. All three were looking for their first TOUR victories. Harris English, Xinjun Zhang, Talor Gooch, Carlos Ortiz, and Sepp Straka all finished T4. HOW TO FOLLOW Television: Thursday-Sunday, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) PGA TOUR LIVE: Thursday-Friday, 7:50 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (Featured Groups) Radio: Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com/liveaudio).

Click here to read the full article…

The Asian Swing ends with the first World Golf Championships event of the 2018-19 PGA TOUR season. It’s a stellar field – 20 of last year’s final 30 in the FedExCup standings are in China, including FedExCup champ (and defending HSBC champ) Justin Rose. Also, 35 of the world’s top 50, including Player of the Year and new No. 1 Brooks Koepka. Call it the Shootout in Shanghai. THE FLYOVER The shortest par-4 on the PGA TOUR last season is the drivable 288-yard 16th at Sheshan International. In fact, just four of the 551 par-4s played on TOUR were less than 300 yards — and yet the shortest hole wasn’t the easiest. The 3.716 stroke average on the 16th last season ranked it as the 14th easiest par-4 on TOUR. LANDING ZONE Based on recent history, it’s likely the 603-yard eighth will be the toughest par-5 on the TOUR this season. In two of the past five seasons, it has ranked as the toughest par 5. A year ago, it ranked second among the 163 par-5s played on TOUR, playing to a stroke average of 5.113. Only the 14th at Pebble Beach was a harder par-5, and just seven par-5s on TOUR played to an over-par score. The eighth generally is not reachable in two, with water potentially impacting tee shots and second shots into a shallow green. WEATHER CHECK From meteorologist Guy Nestor: “Good weather conditions continue into Wednesday and most of Thursday before another frontal system moves through the area. Rain will be likely Friday morning then high pressure follows with great weather setting up for the weekend.â€� For the latest weather news from Shanghai, China, check out PGATOUR.COM’s Weather Hub. SOUND CHECK I’ve only been world No. 1 for three days. I haven’t found too many challenges in those three days.Love. Hair. And humor. But love first. I’m in a much better place this year than I was this time last year. BY THE NUMBERS 550 – FedExCup points available for this week, 50 more than a regular PGA TOUR stop. 7 – Chinese golfers in the field, including Hao Tong Li. The 23-year-old from Hunan is ranked 54th in the world. 150 – Number of career PGA TOUR starts Rory McIlroy has made, including this week. He’ll be seeking his 15th TOUR win. SCATTERSHOTS A year ago, Justin Rose was playing the pro-am round at Sheshan when he turned to his manager and declared that it was time to put together a run and play “some great golf here.â€� Recalled Rose: “I felt very hungry and motivated to just try and find another level.â€� Rose won the HSBC, the first of four wins in a 15-start stretch that would eventually lead to the FedExCup and a brief stint at world No. 1. “This tournament absolutely did kick-start some great golf for me that’s lasted the best part of the year,â€� he said. Dustin Johnson is making his only appearance in the fall. After this week, he will not play again until the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii the first week of January. And he won’t start practicing again until early December. “That’s when I get excited and fired up and get ready to get back to work,â€� he said. Taiwan’s C.T. Pan has played Sheshan International, but it wasn’t in competition. After missing the cut at the 2007 Volvo China Open at nearby Shanghai Silport, he had a free Saturday, so he made the 15-minute drive to play Sheshan International, which had opened three years earlier. It took him 11 years, but he’s finally back. “I remember it vividly. I told myself, I wish I could be here any time soon, and today I’m here and that means a lot to me,â€� Pan said.

Click here to read the full article…