Jordan Spieth seeks to continue Pebble Beach success

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Golfer Kevin Kisner and his wife Brittany have been recognized with the annual Augusta University President’s Award for outstanding philanthropic support to the Children’s Hospital of Georgia. President Brooks A. Keel, PhD, announced the news May 5 during the President’s Spring Celebration. “One of my greatest honors as president of Augusta University is to present the President’s Award to those who have made a remarkable impact on our institution,” Keel said. “It takes a leadership gift from people in our community like Kevin and Brittany Kisner to truly make a difference in what we do here. The Kisners are not just giving money, they are helping us build a dedicated program in pediatric development and behavioral health that will serve children and impact them for their lifetimes.” Since the Kisners could not attend the spring celebration, President Keel presented them with the award earlier in the week when the couple visited the Health Sciences campus to present a $1 million check to Children’s Hospital of Georgia, Augusta’s only children’s hospital. “I’ve always wanted to give back once I reached a platform such that I could give back,” said Kevin Kisner, an Aiken native and professional golfer who has earned four PGA Tour victories and 45 Top 10 finishes. “Everyone can give something, and we hope we inspire others to give,” said Brittany Kisner, co-founder and board chair of the Kevin & Brittany Kisner Foundation. Brittany Kisner said she first noticed a need for more pediatric development and behavioral health services at Children’s Hospital of Georgia several years ago when she worked there as a speech pathologist. Health experts report that the pandemic has intensified this need. The Kisners presented a $50,000 gift to Children’s Hospital in December 2020 to help start a part-time clinic for children with these health challenges. A year later in November 2021, the Kisners pledged $5.3 million to help establish and name a center for pediatric development, behavioral health and wellness. Their $1 million gift this week was the first installment of this substantial commitment. “We felt like we started so small in what we were able to do, but through personal giving and giving of the foundation, and then going out to other donors and asking them to give to this endowment, it is unbelievable that we can reach a point where we could receive an award like this,” Brittany Kisner said. “To be thought of by the president that we’ve done enough to get an award with his name on it – that’s pretty spectacular,” Kevin Kisner said.

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The PGA TOUR heads to Korea next week for the third edition of THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, the first of three events in a row in Asia. Brooks Koepka returns to defend at the limited-field event, along with first-year winner Justin Thomas. Jordan Spieth makes his 2019-20 PGA TOUR debut while Phil Mickelson will play in his first CJ CUP. FIELD NOTES: Seventy-eight players will compete next week at the Nine Bridges Golf Club on Jeju Island, including no less than a dozen Korean players are scheduled to play, and that total will likely be more once the full field is set. They’re led by reigning PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year Sungjae Im… Jordan Spieth will make his 2019-20 TOUR debut. The 2015 FedExCup champion finished 44th in the FedExCup standings last season… Justin Thomas, who won the inaugural CJ CUP, returns to action… Eight players who are confirmed participants of this year’s Presidents Cup (including five from the International side) will be in the field… Rookie star Viktor Hovland tees it up for the first time since a T10 at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier… Defending champion Brooks Koepka’s brother, Chase Koepka, fresh off competing at the First Stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Q-School Qualifying Tournament, is in the field on a sponsor’s exemption. Chase and Brooks also played together at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open where the younger Koepka finished 67th (big-brother Brooks missed the cut)… Patrick Reed, who finished ninth in the FedExCup standings last season, will make his 2019-20 TOUR debut. FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 500 FedExCup points. COURSE: The Club at Nine Bridges, 7,196 yards, par 72. The club opened in 2001 and quickly became one of the first South Korean venues on the LPGA Tour. It has played host to the PGA TOUR since 2017. Ironically, the course only has eight actual bridges. STORYLINES: The CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES is the first tournament on the PGA TOUR’s Asia swing. The TOUR then heads to Japan for the inaugural ZOZO Championship, followed by the WGC-HSBC Champions in China… Jordan Spieth hasn’t played on the PGA TOUR since The BMW Championship, but will be making his season debut. Spieth had only four top-10 finishes last year, but all four came in his final 10 tournaments. He hasn’t won on TOUR since 2017… Sung Kang was the last South Korean to win on the PGA TOUR. Kang captured the AT&T Byron Nelson last season. 72-HOLE RECORD: 267, Brooks Koepka (2018) 18-HOLE RECORD: 62, Ryan Palmer (Fourth round, 2018) LAST TIME: Despite a sizzling, course-record 62 by Ryan Palmer in the final round, Brooks Koepka managed to hang on to win the CJ CUP by four shots. Koepka, who would go on to win twice more last season, shot an 8-under 64 in the final round. Gary Woodland finished runner-up after a 9-under 63 to close out the championship. Woodland, who was five shots behind to start the day, pulled even after going 6-under through his first seven holes, but Koepka caught fire on the back nine and put some distance between him at his chasers. An eagle on the par-5 18th highlighted a 7-under 29 for his final nine. Palmer ended up T3 alongside Rafa Cabrera Bello. HOW TO FOLLOW Television: Wednesday-Saturday (ending Sunday), 10 p.m.-2 a.m. ET (Golf Channel). PGA TOUR LIVE: None. Radio: None.

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The Regular Season has been nothing short of “regular” but it will conclude this week with FedExCup Playoff spots up for grabs at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, NC. The end of the line is a familiar one as Sedgefield has hosted the final Regular Season event annually since 2008. Eligibility for the 2020-2021 season is not on the line, but only the top 125 players will advance to THE NORTHERN TRUST next week. Usually the only Donald Ross design on TOUR during the Regular Season, Sedgefield was joined this year and last by another, Detroit Golf Club. Kris Spence oversaw the redo here in 2007 and another in 2012, which included adding Champion Bermuda greens. Sedgefield plays 25 yards longer this season as a new tee box was added to Hole No. 14 but still doesn’t stretch over 7,200 yards. Champion Bermuda greens are above average in size and always roll perfectly, hence the low scores. RELATED: Power Rankings | Expert Picks The Par-70 is protected by 52 bunkers and five water hazards but the openness and lack of rough makes it annually one of the easiest tracks on TOUR. In fact, it has played as the easiest or second-easiest Par-70 over the last three seasons and spits out low scores as the rule, not the exception. Wrapping up at the Wyndham means four days of breaking par and keeping any score with 70-something off the card. J.T. Poston will look to become the first to defend his title and win on this track for a second time. He’ll lead the field of 156 competing for a piece of the $6.4 million purse ($1.154 winner) and those very last, precious FedExCup Points (500 winner). Recent Winners at Wyndham 2019: J.T. Poston (-22) Final round 62, tied for the lowest winning score for a winner in tournament history to win by one over Webb Simpson. … Bogey-free winner for the first time ANYWHERE on TOUR since Lee Trevino in 1974. … North Carolina native won for the first time on TOUR. … Trailed by three shots after each round. … Fantastic performance included T2 Fairways, first GIR, T3 Proximity and T1 Scrambling. … Fourth consecutive winner to finish top 3 in Strokes-Gained: Approach. … Third winner in four to finish first or second in Strokes-Gained: Tee to Green. … Tied tournament scoring record. Notables: Simpson, the last native North Carolinian to win before Poston, (T2) and Billy Horschel (T6) co-led the field in par-breakers. … 2015 champ Si Woo Kim (T5) closed with 64. … Josh Teater (T6) was only one of two players in the top 30 to sign for a round above 70. … Brice Garnett (T6) played in the final group and closed with 70. … Sungjae Im (T6) opened with 62, one of three on the week. … Cut was 4-under, as lift, clean and place was in effect the first two rounds. … Top 47 players 10-under or better. … Four rounds above 70 of the top 40 players. … Two players broke into the top 125 (Patton Kizzire, Andrew Landry). 2018: Brandt Snedeker (-21) Fired 59 in the first round to set the course record and a foundation for wire-to-wire victory. … Won by three shots over CT Pan and Simpson. … Only player to win at Forest Oaks (2007) and Sedgefield. … Only fifth 59 of 10 to go on to win. … Missed tournament scoring record by a shot. … Not surprisingly only winner in last six top 10 Strokes-Gained: Around the Green. … Top 10 Par-4 scoring (T3) same as the last six winners. … Only winner in last six (T51) outside top 10 in driving accuracy. Notables: Pan was tied with Snedeker on No. 18 tee box before hitting it OB. … Simpson closed with 62, his best ever. … Jim Furyk (T4) closed with 63. … Brian Gay (T6) had a 63-62 Friday-Saturday. … 2009 champ Ryan Moore (T6) opened with 63. … Cut was 3-under. … Top 40 10-under or better. … One round OVER par in the top 25 players. … Two players broke into the top 125 (Harris English, Nick Taylor). 2017: Henrik Stenson (-22) Set tournament record (Par-70) as he made his one-shot 54-hole lead stand up. … Opened with 62 and trailed by one to Matt Every. … T8 fairways, T3 GIR, 1st Proximity and T3 Strokes-Gained: Putting. … T2 Par-3 and Par-4 scoring. … Led the field in Birdie-or-Better Percentage. … Won on fourth visit. … Second highest OWGR winner (No. 8) in tournament history behind Hal Sutton (No. 4) in 2000. Notables: Simpson (T3) opened with 63 finished four back. … 36- hole leader Ryan Armour (T4) posted 61 in Round 2, good for co-low round of the week with Every. … Rory Sabbatini (T6) picked up his third top 10 in four starts. … Shane Lowry (T7) was joined by Davis Love III (T10) and Harold Varner III (T10) to round out the top 10. … Cut 3-under. … Top 27 10-under or better. … Four players advance to the FedExCup Playoffs. Key stat leaders Top golfers in each statistic on the 2019-2020 PGA TOUR are listed only if they are scheduled to compete this week. * – Top 10 at Sedgefield since 2015 Rounds in the 60s 1 Mark Hubbard 2 *Sungjae Im 9 Brendon Todd 13 Doc Redman 13 *Brian Harman (T6, 2019) 19 Patrick Rodgers 19 Henrik Norlander 22 Harry Higgs 22 Harris English (never MC in six) 24 Brian Stuard 24 *JT Poston 24 Carlos Ortiz 24 Maverick McNealy 24 Talor Gooch Greens in Regulation 1 *Jim Furyk 2 Kyle Stanley 3 Aaron Wise 5 Corey Conners 7 Russell Henley 8 *Josh Teater 9 Will Gordon 10 *Paul Casey (T3, 2015) 11 Harris English 12 Doc Redman 14 Nick Watney 15 *Brice Garnett 17 Pat Perez 17 Matthew NeSmith 19 Henrik Norlander 24 *Harold Varner III 25 Russell Knox 25 Chesson Hadley Birdie-or-Better Percentage 4 *Webb Simpson 7 Seamus Power 9 *Patrick Reed (2013 winner) 14 Chesson Hadley 16 Anirban Lahiri 17 Will Gordon 22 Bronson Burgoon 25 Maverick McNealy 26 *Sungjae Im 29 Xinjun Zhang 30 Sebastian Munoz 31 Denny McCarthy 32 Danny Lee 33 Peter Uihlein 35 Charl Schwartzel Greenbacks in Greensboro Webb Simpson: 2011 champ has cashed in 10 of 11 with nine top 25s and seven top 10s. Hit the podium the last three seasons and is 57-under over that stretch with all 12 rounds in the red. Scoring average 66.79. Brandt Snedeker: 2018 champ has been paid off in 10 of 12 with six of those in the top 10. Five straight at the event includes three inside T5. Billy Horschel: T5 2016 began a run of four straight weekends and includes T11 2018 and T6 last year. Of 30 rounds career 27 are par or better including the last 19. Ryan Moore: Enters with five straight at Sedgefield under his belt. T10 in 2015 adds to T24 in 2017 plus T6 on his last visit in 2018. Rory Sabbatini: Top 10 results in three of his last four visits but paydays in all of them. Patrick Reed: Never missed in five chances and the last four are all T24 or better including his win. Sergio Garcia: 2012 champ has never cashed worse than T29 in four starts at Sedgefield.

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