Officialsportsbetting.com Golf Betting Kang eagles last, takes 2-shot lead in Las Vegas

Kang eagles last, takes 2-shot lead in Las Vegas

Sung Kang eagled his final hole Thursday in the Shriners Children’s Open for a 10-under 61 that gave him a two-shot lead after the first round.

Click here to read the full article

Tired of betting on your favorite sports? Check out some casino game at Uptown Aces Casino! Here's a list of Uptown Aces casino bonus codes that will get you started with some nice bonuses.

Veritex Bank Championship
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Hank Lebioda+2000
Johnny Keefer+2000
Alistair Docherty+2500
Kensei Hirata+2500
Neal Shipley+2500
Rick Lamb+2500
S H Kim+2500
Trey Winstead+2500
Zecheng Dou+2500
Seungtaek Lee+2800
Click here for more...
The Chevron Championship
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Jeeno Thitikul+900
Nelly Korda+1000
Lydia Ko+1400
A Lim Kim+2000
Jin Young Ko+2000
Angel Yin+2500
Ayaka Furue+2500
Charley Hull+2500
Haeran Ryu+2500
Lauren Coughlin+2500
Click here for more...
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy / Shane Lowry+350
Collin Morikawa / Kurt Kitayama+1200
J.T. Poston / Keith Mitchell+1600
Thomas Detry / Robert MacIntyre+1800
Billy Horschel / Tom Hoge+2000
Aaron Rai / Sahith Theegala+2200
Nicolai Hojgaard / Rasmus Hojgaard+2200
Wyndham Clark / Taylor Moore+2200
Nico Echavarria / Max Greyserman+2500
Ben Griffin / Andrew Novak+2800
Click here for more...
Tournament Match-Ups - R. McIlroy / S. Lowry vs C. Morikawa / K. Kitayama
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy / Shane Lowry-230
Collin Morikawa / Kurt Kitayama+175
Tournament Match-Ups - J.T. Poston / K. Mitchell vs T. Detry / R. MacIntyre
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
J.T. Poston / Keith Mitchell-130
Thomas Detry / Robert MacIntyre+100
Tournament Match-Ups - J. Svensson / N. Norgaard vs R. Fox / G. Higgo
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Ryan Fox / Garrick Higgo-125
Jesper Svensson / Niklas Norgaard-105
Tournament Match-Ups - N. Hojgaard / R. Hojgaard vs N. Echavarria / M. Greyserman
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Nicolai Hojgaard / Rasmus Hojgaard-120
Nico Echavarria / Max Greyserman-110
Tournament Match-Ups - M. Fitzpatrick / A. Fitzpatrick vs S. Stevens / M. McGreevy
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Sam Stevens / Max McGreevy-120
Matt Fitzpatrick / Alex Fitzpatrick-110
Tournament Match-Ups - W. Clark / T. Moore vs B. Horschel / T. Hoge
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Billy Horschel / Tom Hoge-130
Wyndham Clark / Taylor Moore+100
Tournament Match-Ups - N. Taylor / A. Hadwin vs B. Garnett / S. Straka
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Nick Taylor / Adam Hadwin-120
Brice Garnett / Sepp Straka-110
Tournament Match-Ups - A. Rai / S. Theegala vs B. Griffin / A. Novak
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Aaron Rai / Sahith Theegala-120
Ben Griffin / Andrew Novak-110
Tournament Match-Ups - J. Highsmith / A. Tosti vs A. Smalley / J. Bramlett
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Joe Highsmith / Alejandro Tosti-130
Alex Smalley / Joseph Bramlett+100
Tournament Match-Ups - A. Bhatia / C. Young vs M. Wallace / T. Olesen
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Akshay Bhatia / Carson Young-120
Matt Wallace / Thorbjorn Olesen-110
Mitsubishi Electric Classic
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Steven Alker+700
Stewart Cink+700
Padraig Harrington+800
Ernie Els+1000
Miguel Angel Jimenez+1200
Alex Cejka+2000
Bernhard Langer+2000
K J Choi+2000
Retief Goosen+2000
Stephen Ames+2000
Click here for more...
Major Specials 2025
Type: To Win A Major 2025 - Status: OPEN
Scottie Scheffler+160
Bryson DeChambeau+350
Xander Schauffele+350
Ludvig Aberg+400
Collin Morikawa+450
Jon Rahm+450
Justin Thomas+550
Brooks Koepka+700
Viktor Hovland+700
Hideki Matsuyama+800
Click here for more...
PGA Championship 2025
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy+500
Scottie Scheffler+500
Bryson DeChambeau+1400
Ludvig Aberg+1400
Xander Schauffele+1400
Jon Rahm+1800
Justin Thomas+1800
Collin Morikawa+2000
Brooks Koepka+2500
Viktor Hovland+2500
Click here for more...
US Open 2025
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy+500
Scottie Scheffler+500
Bryson DeChambeau+1200
Xander Schauffele+1200
Jon Rahm+1400
Ludvig Aberg+1400
Collin Morikawa+1600
Brooks Koepka+1800
Justin Thomas+2000
Viktor Hovland+2000
Click here for more...
The Open 2025
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy+500
Scottie Scheffler+550
Xander Schauffele+1100
Ludvig Aberg+1400
Collin Morikawa+1600
Jon Rahm+1600
Bryson DeChambeau+2000
Shane Lowry+2500
Tommy Fleetwood+2500
Tyrrell Hatton+2500
Click here for more...
Ryder Cup 2025
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
USA-150
Europe+140
Tie+1200

Related Post

The First Look: Sanderson Farms ChampionshipThe First Look: Sanderson Farms Championship

Newly elected World Golf Hall of Famer Retief Goosen tees it up for the first time since getting the call, while Ryan Armour defends a title for the first time as the PGA TOUR comes to Mississippi for the 33rd consecutive year. Lucas Glover, fresh from retaining his card via the Web.com Tour Finals, joins Goosen to give the Sanderson Farms Championship two former U.S. Open winners. The roster also includes former FedExCup champion Bill Haas, trying to lock down full TOUR status as he plays out a medical extension. FIELD NOTES: Sungjae Im, fourth at the Safeway Open after winning the Web.com Tour earnings title, tees it up in a short turnaround after playing THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES in his native South Korea. Im, Armour and J.J. Spaun are the only entrants to take on the trans-Pacific turnaround. … Jhonattan Vegas, unable to compete on the Asia Swing while dealing with passport issues in his native Venezuela, resumes his season in Mississippi. He tied for 53rd at the Safeway Open. … With the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking qualified for the WGC-HSBC Champions in China, Dylan Frittelli (No. 73) is the highest ranked player in the field. … Im and Glover are among 49 graduates in the field from the Web.com Tour Regular Season or Finals. The only absentee: Finals money leader Denny McCarthy. … Dicky Pride is set to make his 20th start in Mississippi, extending his own longevity mark. FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 300 points. STORYLINES: Mississippi has become a haven for first-time winners, with five of the past seven champions making it their first. Armour’s victory followed Cody Gribble (2016), Peter Malnati (2015), Nick Taylor (‘14) and Chris Kirk (‘11). … In all, 11 players have made the Sanderson Farms Championship their first PGA TOUR triumph. … Haas, who missed a chunk of the spring after injuries in a fatal auto accident near the Genesis Open, has two starts left to earn 68 FedExCup points that would lock up full TOUR privileges for 2018-19. A top-10 finish in Napa earned him an extra start. … Goosen tees it up for the first time since a missed cut at the Wyndham Championship in August. He’s seeking his first top-10 finish since the FedEx St. Jude Classic last June. … U.S. entrants have won 21 of the past 23 editions in Mississippi, including 13 of the past 14. Canada’s Nick Taylor won in 2014, snapping a run of 10 straight U.S. winners, and England’s Luke Donald captured the 2002 edition. COURSE: Country Club of Jackson, 7,421 yards, par 72. Utilizing the Dogwood and Azalea nines from a 27-hole complex built by Dick Wilson in 1962, CCJ now enjoys its fifth year as Sanderson Farms host. Six Mississippi State Amateurs have been contested at CCJ, most recently in 2015, and the Southern Junior Amateur made an appearance in 2014. The club, which dates back to 2014, also played a key role in Mississippi history as a 1962 raid on the Carnival Ball turned up gallons of illegal liquor and prompted legislators to end the state’s prohibition. 72-HOLE RECORD: 263, Dan Halldorson (1986 at Hattiesburg GC). CC of Jackson record: 268, Cody Gribble (2016). 18-HOLE RECORD: 61, Keith Clearwater (2nd round, 1996 at Annandale GC). CC of Jackson record: 62, Roberto Castro (1st round, 2015). LAST YEAR: Armour finally captured that elusive first PGA TOUR victory, pulling away with a 4-under-par 68 for a five-shot triumph. The 41-year-old Ohio native was the only man to break 70 all four days, opening with a 66 and carding nothing worse than a 68 for the entire week. A third-round 67 opened a five-shot gap heading into the final day, and six birdies kept any challengers at bay. Victory came in Armour’s 105th career TOUR start, dating back to 2007, and he had just four top-10 finishes during that decade. It also came just a month after regaining his card via the Web.com Tour Finals, where a runner-up showing at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship secured his status. Chesson Hadley led the chase pack, his second top-three finish of the new season after earning his card back via the Web.com Tour Finals. Jonathan Randolph, from nearby Brandon, Mississippi, was third after a closing 67. HOW TO FOLLOW TELEVISION: Thursday-Sunday, 2:30-5:30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). PGA TOUR LIVE: None. RADIO: Thursday-Friday, noon-5:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 1-5:30 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com).

Click here to read the full article

Seven things you should know about MedinahSeven things you should know about Medinah

The second leg of the FedExCup Playoffs brings us to the proud golfing city of Chicago. Plenty of history has been made in this area, much of it happening at Medinah Country Club. At nearly 100 years old, the club has many stories to tell and this week’s BMW Championship at Medinah No. 3 will add to those. Here’s what you need to know about this famous club. RELATED: FedExCup standings | Course, field preview | 125 One-liners: Quick look at Playoffs participants 1. It was founded by a group of Shriners from Chicago’s Medinah Temple in the early 1920s. The original founders were looking for a country retreat where they could execute their vision of building the best country club in North America. They decided to create three courses, which the club still has today. Tom Bendelow, a world-renowned Scottish course architect, was retained to design the original three golf courses. Also on the grounds for early members — of which there roughly 1,500 — were tennis courts, a gun club, a baseball diamond, equestrian center, bridle paths, Lake Kadijah, a ski jump and toboggan slide as well as a log cabin warming hut. Such was the scale of the club, the Chicago Tribune reported the railroad agreed to change the nearest station from Meacham to Medinah and also agreed to “erect a station harmonizing with the oriental architecture of the clubhouse.â€� To this day, the tennis courts, gun club and Lake Kadijah remain a focal point and an Olympic-sized swimming pool has been added. The Shriners-only membership clause was removed at the end of the 1930s and the club now hosts a diverse membership. 2. Course No. 3 was originally designed for Medinah’s ladies. Completed in 1928, the No. 3 course was overhauled not long after in the 1930s with the help of A.W. Tillinghast. Fearing a potential membership drop after the Great Depression, Medinah officials wanted to begin hosting high-profile tournaments, and the No. 3 course had the kind of topography that could toughen up the layout. Then in 1986, Roger Packard renovated to prepare for the U.S. Senior Open (1988) and the U.S. Open (1990). In 2002, Rees Jones completed a complete course renovation in preparation for the 2006 PGA Championship. Prior to being a major championship venue, it hosted the Chicago Open and Western Open at times. Golf legends including Harry Cooper, Byron Nelson, Gene Sarazen, Jacky Cupit and Billy Casper have played and won national tournaments at Medinah. Course No.1 was opened in 1925 and was redesigned by Tom Doak in 2014. Course No.2 was completed in 1926 and has been redesigned recently to return to its original look. There are now seven tee boxes in play to suit all levels of golfer — be it juniors, families and championship-level players. 3. Tiger Woods has won both PGA Championships held at Medinah No. 3. Woods prevailed at the 1999 and 2006 PGA Championships. In 1999, a young Spanish upstart named Sergio Garcia gave him a run for his money on Sunday. Woods had set up a comfortable cushion on Sunday as Mike Weir, the 54-hole leader, had stumbled badly and was on the way to shooting 80. The 23-year-old Woods looked certain for his second major win with a five-shot lead on the back nine until the 19-year-old Garcia stirred things up. He made a big birdie on the par-3 13th in the group ahead of Woods and stared back at him when it went in. Woods made double bogey. Garcia would then produce an incredible shot on the 16th after his tee shot rested against a tree. He ripped a 6-iron, with his eyes closed, around a bend and onto the green. As it climbed up towards the elevated green, Garcia sprinted after it to see the result. In the end, a clutch par putt on the 17th helped Woods hold firm to win. “I said when I turned pro that I wanted to be the No. 1 golfer in the world,â€� Garcia said at the time. “And so I knew I was going to be a rival for Tiger. But I said that I want to be a rival, but always being friends like we did today.â€� In 2006, things were much easier for Woods. While he was tied with Luke Donald through 54 holes he wasn’t troubled on Sunday and his final round 68 led him to a 12th major championship. He won by five shots over Shaun Micheel. 4. Sam Snead and Jack Nicklaus coughed up U.S. Opens at Medinah. The U.S. Opens held at Medinah all have fascinating stories. Cary Middlecoff (1949), Lou Graham (1975) and Hale Irwin (1990) are U.S. Open champions from Medinah while Gary Player (1988) won the U.S. Senior Open at the venue. In 1949, Middlecoff came through despite Sam Snead coming in as hot favorite. Snead had won his previous four events, including the Masters and the PGA Championship. With two holes to go in the final round, Snead was tied for the lead with Middlecoff in the clubhouse and looking at a third major of the year. “But on the 193-yard lake hole 17th, Snead ran into an old and despised chum – his Open bugaboo,â€� the AP reported at the time. “After laying his tee shot on the fringe of the green, he took three costly taps at the ball and there was another championship gone out the window. His first putt was six feet past and then he rimmed the cup with his next try – but the ball stayed out.â€� The bogey meant he’d settle for runner-up for a third time. With another runner-up in 1953, Snead never did claim the last leg of a potential career Grand Slam. In 1975, Jack Nicklaus, already the Masters champion, was just one shot back with three holes to play. He had begun the final round tied for 15th, a distant seven shots back, but made a big move and by the 16th tee had just two players ahead of him. In the lead-up to the tournament, Nicklaus had declared this season one of his best chances of winning a calendar Grand Slam.   But three straight bogeys to finish his final round dashed those hopes. In the end Nicklaus, who preferred to play a fade, couldn’t get a manufactured draw to hold firm. When asked afterwards how he felt about the Grand Slam now, Nicklaus said, “Slammed. This one was the key to the Slam. This is the one I didn’t feel as confident about because of the course design. I conceived an artificial right to left swing. I wasn’t happy with it all week but it’s what you need here. I got away with it today until the 16th.â€� Graham and John Mahaffey each dropped shots coming in but managed to tie at the top, with Graham winning an 18-hole playoff on Monday. In 1990, Hale Irwin was given a special exemption as a former two-time champion to play the U.S. Open. He hadn’t won in five years. He was tied for 20th through three rounds before a final-round 67. He made five birdies in the final eight holes, capped by an incredible 60-foot putt on the 72nd hole. It was enough to force an 18-hole Monday playoff with Mike Donald. In the playoff Irwin was two shots back with three to play. After 18, he was tied. On the first hole of sudden death, he made a 10-foot birdie to become the oldest U.S. Open champion to date at 45. “I had said that three championships would be indescribably delicious,â€� Irwin said. “Well it’s every bit that. Because I’m so old I feel blessed.â€� Player’s senior Open success also came in an 18-hole playoff. He beat Bob Charles. 5. Team Europe will always enjoy it after “The Miracle at Medinahâ€� in 2012. It was one of the greatest Ryder Cup comebacks of all-time. Down 10-4 with two matches left on the course Saturday afternoon, Europe looked dead and buried. Enter Ian Poulter. Playing with Rory McIlroy in Four-ball against Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson, Poulter found the zone. Five closing birdies sent the Englishman into a frenzy and he helped secure the match, 1-up. With Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald beating Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker by the same margin, the score heading to singles would be 10-6. Surely still unsurmountable … On Sunday, knowing they would need to produce the biggest comeback in Europe’s history, things started with McIlroy mistaking Central Time with Eastern Time and needing a police escort to barely make his match against Keegan Bradley. McIlroy was part of Europe’s stacked early Singles lineup. He, Donald, Poulter and Justin Rose all produced epic victories over their American counterparts to swing momentum back. Rose made some huge closing birdies against Phil Mickelson and by the time that match was over the score was 11-11. With Garcia and Lee Westwood winning matches, it all came down to Martin Kaymer against Steve Stricker. The German nailed a 5-foot putt to secure perhaps the greatest comeback of all-time. The final score would read 14.5-13.5 after Woods conceded a half to Francesco Molinari in the meaningless anchor match. 6. Major winners Tommy Armour and Ralph Guldahl were former Medinah club pros. Armour was born in Scotland and served in World War I before he came to America and turned professional in 1924. He won the 1927 U.S. Open, the 1930 PGA Championship and the 1931 Open Championship. His stint at Medinah was from 1933 to 1944. Armour’s many students included Babe Didrikson and Lawson Little. Armour was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1976. From 1945-48 Guldahl was at Medinah. He won the 1937 and 1938 U.S. Opens and the 1939 Masters. He was on the 1937 Ryder Cup team. He was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1981. 7. It boasts an iconic clubhouse that was recently dubbed the best in Illinois by Architectural Digest. In the mid-1920s, while the courses were under construction, Richard G. Schmid was hired to plan and design the clubhouse. Schmid blended classic lines of Byzantine, Oriental, Louis XIV, and Italian architecture lending to the style and elegance still evident today. Schmidt Brothers Construction Company served as the general contractors for the clubhouse that cost $1 million (the equivalent of about $14 million today). All three brothers (Otto, August, and Ernest) were Shriners and charter members of Medinah. The rotunda and murals were the work of club member Gustav A. Brand, a German-born artist. Brand’s work was featured on the Chicago Medinah Temple and other historic sites. On its dedication day in 1926, 15,000 people attended, according to the Chicago Tribune. In 1997, fine art conservators completed a full restoration of the clubhouse, all including all interior frescos, murals and decorative stenciling.

Click here to read the full article

Day victorious at MGM Resorts The Challenge: Japan SkinsDay victorious at MGM Resorts The Challenge: Japan Skins

Jason Day comes home with a flourish to take out the MGM Resorts The Challenge: Japan Skins over Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Hideki Matsuyama. All four players had a chance to take the title on the final hole, but it was the Australian who prevailed with a clutch birdie to take the trophy. Day won three skins with a birdie on the par-3 3rd, then collected four more on the par-4 17th with a clutch 12-foot par putt. The former world No.1 and 12-time PGA TOUR winner then claimed the par-5 18th hole $100,000 super skin with an up-and-down birdie under the lights. Below are the final results and hole-by-hole recap of the action. Related: Leaderboard | Everything you need to know about MGM Resorts The Challenge | PGA TOUR Visual Stories: MGM Resorts The Challenge JASON DAY: Skins: 8 ($210,000) | Fairways: 7 of 13 | Greens 11 of 18 | Putts: 27 TIGER WOODS: Skins: 5 ($60,000) | Fairways: 5 of 13 | Greens: 10 of 18 | Putts: 26 RORY MCILROY: Skins: 4 ($60,000) | Fairways: 5 of 13 | Greens: 13 of 18 | Putts: 28 HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Skins: 1 ($20,000) | Fairways: 3 of 13 | Greens: 10 of 18 | Putts: 25 Hole No. 1 (Par-4) Leading us off is Tiger Woods. He takes driver and it’s headed left. Next up is Jason Day, and his driver is also a little to the left and finds the rough. Rory McIlroy’s driver is headed to the right. We have our first “fore!â€� call! And last but certainly not least – especially in the fans’ eyes – Hideki Matsuyama’s driver also drifts left and finds the rough. First on approach attempt is McIlroy, but from the tree line, he comes up short. Woods changes clubs, takes 9-iron and is not on the dance floor. Day shows them all how to play from the rough and hits it expertly in close. Matsuyama can’t respond and also comes up short. Woods takes a couple of hacks from the left side of the green and is conceded a bogey. McIlroy and Matsuyama can’t chip in and take pars. Day has a 6-footer for birdie and Woods tells him to “lag it up close.” Day makes sure it gets there with pace, but it lips out hard off the right edge. The first chance at cash goes begging. RESULT: $10,000 Skin halved. Hole No. 2 worth $20,000. TIGER WOODS: Fairways: Miss (0 of 1) | Greens: Miss (0 of 1) | Putts: 1 (1) | Skins: 0 RORY MCILROY: Fairways: Miss (0 of 1) | Greens: Miss (0 of 1) | Putts: 1 (1) | Skins: 0 JASON DAY: Fairways: Miss (0 of 1) | Greens: Hit (1 of 1) | Putts: 2 (2) | Skins: 0 HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Fairways: Miss (0 of 1) | Greens: Miss (0 of 1) | Putts: 1 (1) | Skins: 0 Hole No. 2 (Par-4) After all four players missed the fairway on the opening hole with driver, they all pull irons on the second and all find the short grass. But on approach, only Woods and Matsuyama find the green as Day and McIlroy spin their balls back hard off the surface. McIlroy’s opening effort with putter from the fringe is a shocker and has both Day and Woods holding back laughter. Day from the fringe lags up close and makes par. Woods birdie try from 20 feet goes well long. McIlroy lets Woods know – “At least I can blame it on the fringeâ€�. Meanwhile, Matsuyama has a putt to win $20,000, but it stays out to the right and he secures the half to set up a three hole jackpot worth $30,000. RESULT: $20,000 Skin halved (Day, Matsuyama, McIlroy, Woods). Hole No. 3 worth $30,000. TIGER WOODS: Fairways: Hit (1 of 2) | Greens: Hit (1 of 2) | Putts: 2 (3) | Skins: 0 RORY MCILROY: Fairways: Hit (1 of 2) | Greens: Miss (0 of 2) | Putts: 1 (2) | Skins: 0 JASON DAY: Fairways: Hit (1 of 2) | Greens: Miss (1 of 2) | Putts: 1 (3) | Skins: 0 HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Fairways: Hit (1 of 2) | Greens: Hit (1 of 2) | Putts: 2 (3) | Skins: 0 Hole No. 3 (Par-3) It’s just 152 yards here on the third and Woods is up first. He has yanked it hard to the left and it’s bounced hard off the concrete path. It’s bobbling around and won’t end up in a good spot. Day stands up next and stiffs one to inside 10 feet. McIlroy blocks his a little right and finds the green, but faces a monster birdie putt. Matsuyama knows he needs to step up and while he finds the fringe, it is under the hole and in a makeable spot. Woods, in fact, has watched his ball come all the way back down the path and leaves him a wedge back up to the elevated green. He overshoots into a bunker. When he gets there ,McIlroy has to let him know he’s still away. Woods splashes out, but not close enough. He is given a bogey. McIlroy’s long putt is tracking the entire way, but comes up just a foot short. Matsuyama’s putt from the fringe gets caught up and is not even close, leaving Day a chance to get on the board. He makes no mistake and collects the three jackpot skins as his putt falls in from the left side. RESULT: $30,000 Skin won by JASON DAY TIGER WOODS: Fairways: N/A (1 of 2) | Greens: Miss (1 of 3) | Putts: 1 (4) | Skins: 0 RORY MCILROY: Fairways: N/A (1 of 2) | Greens: Hit (1 of 3) | Putts: 2 (4) | Skins: 0 JASON DAY: Fairways: N/A (1 of 2) | Greens: Hit (2 of 3) | Putts: 1 (4) | Skins: 3 ($30,000) HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Fairways: N/A (1 of 2) | Greens: Miss (1 of 3) | Putts: 1 (4) | Skins: 0 Hole No. 4 (Par-4) Golf courses in Japan often have two greens, and the fourth here is no exception. On this hole, players have been given the option to go for whichever green they choose and they don’t even have to announce which one it is. It is part of a charity challenge where $100,000 will go to the winner’s charity of choice. Woods, Day and McIlroy split the fairway from the tee, but Matsuyama has tugged his tee shot left and it has found a watery grave. After a drop, he takes a rip for the putting surfaces, but still has work to do. He wedges on to the right green in four shots. Woods refuses to tell Day which green he’s going for and ends up splitting the two. Day’s approach is fat and misses the right green short. McIlroy takes dead aim after his monster drive and has a great look at birdie on the left green. With Matsuyama and Day unable to make par on the right side, McIlroy is in great shape, but his birdie try never looks good. Woods, meanwhile, gets up-and-down for par and now McIlroy has a little 3-foot knee-knocker for a half. He makes it to send this skin to the next. RESULT: $10,000 Skin halved (McIlroy, Woods). Hole No. 5 worth $20,000. TIGER WOODS: Fairways: Hit (2 of 3) | Greens: Miss (1 of 4) | Putts: 1 (5) | Skins: 0 RORY MCILROY: Fairways: Hit (2 of 3) | Greens: Hit (2 of 4) | Putts: 2 (6) | Skins: 0 JASON DAY: Fairways: Hit (2 of 3) | Greens: Miss (2 of 4) | Putts: 2 (6) | Skins: 3 ($30,000) HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Fairways: Miss (1 of 3) | Greens: Miss (1 of 4) | Putts: 1 (5) | Skins: 0 Hole No. 5 (Par-3) At just 177 yards, this should be a snack right? Not quite. Day goes first and finds the water that guards the right side of the hole. Woods goes next and makes sure he doesn’t do the same, but instead goes well left into a bunker. Amazingly, McIlroy follows Day into the water, leaving Matsuyama a free shot at the green. The crowd is excited for what they hope will be the local man’s big chance, but he hits his 8-iron fat and becomes the third participant in the drink. The water boys all chip up inside 10-feet and Day secures a bogey for them all. Woods splashes out of the sand to five feet and has it for the win. He goes mini-Kevin Na and walks it in despite some trash talk from his competitors trying to get in his head. The 81-time PGA TOUR winner gets two skins for his trouble. RESULT: $20,000 Skin won by TIGER WOODS. TIGER WOODS: Fairways: N/A (2 of 3) | Greens: Miss (1 of 5) | Putts: 1 (6) | Skins: 2 ($20,000) RORY MCILROY: Fairways: N/A (2 of 3) | Greens: Miss (2 of 5) | Putts: 1 (7) | Skins: 0 JASON DAY: Fairways: N/A (2 of 3) | Greens: Miss (2 of 5) | Putts: 1 (7) | Skins: 3 ($30,000) HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Fairways: N/A (1 of 3) | Greens: Miss (1 of 5) | Putts: 1 (6) | Skins: 0 Hole No. 6 (Par-5) Time to showcase some power on our first par-5 after everyone finds the fairway, but it’s still a long way home. Despite all four going with muscle, no one finds the putting surface in two. McIlroy is in the sand, but the rest are coming up from the grass. Day’s chip is the best of the bunch as it stops about six inches from the cup and is an easy birdie. Woods is unable to match it from about 18 feet. McIlroy tries to do so from 12 feet and is successful, so we move on. And it’s time to up the ante with skins now worth $15,000 each hole so the next will be worth $25,000. RESULT: $10,000 Skin halved (Day, McIlroy, Matsuyama). Hole No. 7 worth $25,000. TIGER WOODS: Fairways: Hit (3 of 4) | Greens: Hit (2 of 6) | Putts: 2 (8) | Skins: 2 ($20,000) RORY MCILROY: Fairways: Hit (3 of 4) | Greens: Hit (3 of 6) | Putts: 1 (8) | Skins: 0 JASON DAY: Fairways: Hit (3 of 4) | Greens: Hit (3 of 6) | Putts: 1 (8) | Skins: 3 ($30,000) HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Fairways: Hit (2 of 4) | Greens: Hit (2 of 6) | Putts: 1 (7) | Skins: 0 Hole No. 7 (Par-3) Time for some fun with some supreme athletes outside the realm of golf. It is the rugby challenge hole, given the Rugby World Cup is currently taking place in Japan. We will go with two-person teams in a scramble format. The two-man team that wins gets $100,000 from FedEx Cares donated to the International Youth Foundation in their names. Each golfer gets a former rugby star to join them. First up is Mike Tindall, who was part of England’s 2003 World Cup winning side – he gets to play with Woods. Despite just 144 yards on the par-3 to negotiate, the rugby boys feel a little nervous. Tindall makes a good pass at it, but it misses the green left. Woods bails him out though with a beauty to 10 feet. Next up is Australian Wallaby legend George Gregan. This little guy was famous for chopping down men twice his size in his heyday. His golf shot heads well left, though. His countryman Day steps up, though, and hits it about 10 feet right of the cup. Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll steps up next and takes it right over the pin. Adrenaline has got the better of him just a little and it’s onto the back fringe. McIlroy gives the team 20 feet with his effort. Brian Habana from South Africa is next… boy he was lightning fast in his day… he has airmailed the green despite a great strike. Matsuyama finds the surface but it will be a lengthy putt for his team from some 35 feet. Habana comes up a little short but then boooooom! Matsuyama drains it and Habana leaps onto his teammate… can’t imagine Hideki was ready to lift a huge rugby guy today! Not to be outdone, O’Driscoll takes aim from 20 feet and drills it home! This rugby star can putt! Tindall and Woods fail in their attempts and Gregan misses on the right side. Day cleans up the hole with a birdie of his own. RESULT: $25,000 Skin halved (Day, McIlroy, Matsuyama). Hole No. 8 worth $40,000. TIGER WOODS: Fairways: N/A (3 of 4) | Greens: Hit (3 of 7) | Putts: 2 (10) | Skins: 2 ($20,000) RORY MCILROY: Fairways: N/A (3 of 4) | Greens: Hit (4 of 7) | Putts: 1 (9) | Skins: 0 JASON DAY: Fairways: N/A (3 of 4) | Greens: Hit (4 of 7) | Putts: 1 (9) | Skins: 3 ($30,000) HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Fairways: N/A (2 of 4) | Greens: Hit (3 of 7) | Putts: 1 (8) | Skins: 0 Hole No. 8 (Par-4) Back to regular programming for the par-4 8th. McIlroy is the only player to find the fairway as Woods hits right rough, Day hits left rough and Matsuyama goes deep in the woods. Japan’s favorite son is unable to escape on his second shot and takes himself out of the hole, but the three other approach shots set up what looks like an ‘around the world’ putting challenge. They have the hole surrounded from around 12 feet or so. Day misses, McIlroy slides his right, but Woods makes no mistake. “How about that? It’s all about timing,â€� Woods grins as he cleans up $40,000 with a birdie. RESULT: $40,000 Skin won by TIGER WOODS. TIGER WOODS: Fairways: Miss (3 of 5) | Greens: Hit (4 of 8) | Putts: 2 (10) | Skins: 5 ($60,000) RORY MCILROY: Fairways: Hit (4 of 5) | Greens: Hit (5 of 8) | Putts: 2 (11) | Skins: 0 JASON DAY: Fairways: Miss (3 of 5) | Greens: Hit (5 of 8) | Putts: 2 (11) | Skins: 3 ($30,000) HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Fairways: Miss (2 of 5) | Greens: Miss (3 of 8) | Putts: 0 (8) | Skins: 0 Hole No. 9 (Par-4) The boys are laughing on the tee here after reading the yardage book. It simply says of the right side – “It gets dicey over there.â€� Matsuyama and McIlroy are going to find out after missing wide. Woods is also right, but just in the first cut while Day finds the fairway. From the trees, Matsuyama threads the needle to escape, but has found the crowd on the left side of the green. McIlroy is blocked out from the green, but carves a shot nicely onto the surface, albeit some distance from home. Woods – the new leader – gets it aboard nicely. Day takes advantage of his position off the tee and goes over the flag to set up a nice look at birdie. McIlroy and Woods nerding out on golf altitude talk on the way to the green about the World Golf Championships – Mexico Championship and how they adjust their numbers. Matsuyama chips up and on to give himself a look at par. From almost downtown Tokyo, McIlroy almost nails his birdie try as it skirts by the edge. Woods hammers his uphill birdie try and it jumps over the cup… maybe he should have left the pin in. Day has a chance to win $15,000 with his birdie try from 20 feet but it is low all the way and he’s pretty annoyed at himself. Matsuyama misses his par try, but is given bogey. Woods and Day clean up pars to send us towards a $30,000 10th hole. RESULT: $15,000 Skin halved by Woods, Day, McIlroy. Hole No. 10 worth $30,000. TIGER WOODS: Fairways: Miss (3 of 6) | Greens: Hit (5 of 9) | Putts: 2 (12) | Skins: 5 ($60,000) RORY MCILROY: Fairways: Miss (4 of 6) | Greens: Hit (6 of 9) | Putts: 2 (13) | Skins: 0 JASON DAY: Fairways: Hit (4 of 6) | Greens: Hit (6 of 9) | Putts: 2 (13) | Skins: 3 ($30,000) HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Fairways: Miss (2 of 6) | Greens: Miss (3 of 9) | Putts: 2 (10) | Skins: 0 Hole No. 10 (Par-4) Woods, Day and McIlroy go with less than driver to find the fairway here, but Matsuyama is ready to get aggressive as he tries to get on the board. He bombs his drive over the top of the others and while it rolls into the first cut, it is in great shape. They are playing to an elevated green here and Woods goes deep into the green. McIlroy throws a dart though and is in near-concession range. Day comes up a little short onto the fringe, but Matsuyama gives himself a great look to match McIlroy. Day is unable to make birdie but secures a par. Woods does the same. Hideki drains his short birdie putt, but McIlroy stops his chance at cash by making his tap-in also. The two players without a dollar send this to a $45,000 11th hole. RESULT: $30,000 Skin halved (Matsuyama, McIlroy). Hole No. 11 worth $45,000. TIGER WOODS: Fairways: Hit (4 of 7) | Greens: Hit (6 of 10) | Putts: 2 (14) | Skins: 5 ($60,000) RORY MCILROY: Fairways: Hit (5 of 7) | Greens: Hit (7 of 10) | Putts: 1 (14) | Skins: 0 JASON DAY: Fairways: Hit (5 of 7) | Greens: Miss (6 of 10) | Putts: 2 (15) | Skins: 3 ($30,000) HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Fairways: Miss (2 of 7) | Greens: Hit (4 of 10) | Putts: 1 (11) | Skins: 0 Hole No. 11 (Par-4) Day splits the fairway, but no such luck for the other three. Woods and Matsuyama miss on the left side, while McIlroy loses his way right into the crowd where it cannons further right. “I hope that was the cart path and not someone’s head,â€� McIlroy says with concern. Woods is giggling a little as he’s left himself way back, leaving him to debate with caddie Joe LaCava on their strategy. Having to hit 3-wood into a par-4 green, Woods misses into the right bunkers on approach. Day also finds the right bunkers. McIlroy, playing from the wrong hole, finds the green as does Matsuyama from the left rough. They might have another chance to get started here. Woods’ ball is buried in the sand and he’s lucky to muscle it out. Day also has plenty of work left to make a par after his sand shot. Woods comes up short on his fourth shot and is given bogey. Day does the same. Matsuyama’s birdie putt is a curling downhill effort that he tries to baby in, but has to settle for par. McIlroy has a shot at $45,000 but it slides by and once again the two guys without a skin halve the hole and make the next worth $60,000. RESULT: $45,000 Skin halved (Matsuyama, McIlroy). Hole No. 12 worth $60,000. TIGER WOODS: Fairways: Miss (4 of 8) | Greens: Miss (6 of 11) | Putts: 1 (15) | Skins: 5 ($60,000) RORY MCILROY: Fairways: Miss (5 of 8) | Greens: Hit (8 of 11) | Putts: 2 (16) | Skins: 0 JASON DAY: Fairways: Hit (6 of 8) | Greens: Miss (6 of 11) | Putts: 2 (17) | Skins: 3 ($30,000) HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Fairways: Miss (2 of 8) | Greens: Hit (5 of 11) | Putts: 2 (13) | Skins: 0 Hole No. 12 (Par-4) Another hole with an elevated green awaits. Three guys bomb away to reach a steep downhill section hoping to get to the bottom of the slope. They all roll into the first cut on the right. Day goes left and is in the trees up on top of the hill. No worries, though, as he finds the green on approach. McIlroy, however, almost slam dunks his approach into the hole and Matsuyama goes over the pin to also get a good look. Woods appears to stick his shot also, but he’s spun it back just enough to catch a ridge and feed well back from the hole. McIlroy is now talking about Brooks Koepka’s comments last week when he dismissed a rivalry between the pair by saying, “I’ve been out here for what, five years. Rory hasn’t won a major since I’ve been on the PGA TOUR… so I don’t view it as a rivalry.â€� McIlroy says “What Brooks said wasn’t wrong. He’s been the best player in the world the last couple of years, four majors… don’t think he had to remind me that I hadn’t won one in a while but I love Brooks, he’s a great guy, obviously super competitive like we all are. If you take what Brooks said out of context then obviously it can become this big thing it has become but Brooks and I are good, we are good friends and I’ve been really happy for him to see how good he has played over the last couple of years.â€� Day is first to putt for birdie, but it goes well past. Woods also can’t convert from the wrong tier. Matsuyama has a little collar to work around and can’t make birdie, but makes par, leaving McIlroy with a chance for the big cash. Day secures par for himself and Woods in the process. McIlroy then steps up and drains the birdie to clean up four skins and $60,000 to join Woods with the most cash so far. RESULT: $60,000 Skin won by RORY McILROY TIGER WOODS: Fairways: Miss (4 of 9) | Greens: Hit (7 of 12) | Putts:2 (17) | Skins: 5 ($60,000) RORY MCILROY: Fairways: Miss (5 of 9) | Greens: Hit (9 of 12) | Putts: 1 (17) | Skins: 4 ($60,000) JASON DAY: Fairways: Hit (6 of 9) | Greens: Hit (7 of 12) | Putts: 2 (19) | Skins: 3 ($30,000) HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Fairways: Miss (2 of 9) | Greens: Hit (6 of 12) | Putts: 2 (15) | Skins: 0 Hole No. 13 (Par-3) We’ve now hit the section of the course where each skin is worth $20,000. This 143-yard par-3 isn’t offering much defense, and all four take dead aim and surround the flag. Day is away first from some 20 feet, leaks it a little right and settles for par. Woods, from around 16 feet, loses it on the low side. Matsuyama has eight feet straight up the hill and makes no mistake. He pockets $20,000 after McIlroy’s six-footer takes a hard lip out. All players are now on the board. RESULT: $20,000 Skin won by HIDEKI MATSUYAMA TIGER WOODS: Fairways: N/A (4 of 9) | Greens: Hit (8 of 13) | Putts: 2 (19) | Skins: 5 ($60,000) RORY MCILROY: Fairways: N/A (5 of 9) | Greens: Hit (10 of 13) | Putts: 2 (19) | Skins: 4 ($60,000) JASON DAY: Fairways: N/A (6 of 9) | Greens: Hit (8 of 13) | Putts: 2 (21) | Skins: 3 ($30,000) HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Fairways: N/A (2 of 9) | Greens: Hit (7 of 13) | Putts: 1 (16) | Skins: 1 ($20,000) Hole No. 14 (Par-5) It’s one-club challenge time! FedEx Cares is donating $100,000 to International Medical Corp in the name of the winner on this par-5. McIlroy considers going 5-wood, but backs it off to a 5-iron. It looks like all four players have decided to use mid irons and all but McIlroy find the fairway. Day and Matsuyama choose 6-iron. Woods has a 4-iron. Woods talks about his junior years where “Dad would give me a 7-iron and say ‘figure it out.’â€� Day’s hitting his third from the left rough and is short. Matsuyama is also hitting his third from the left rough and has found the green. Woods comes in from the fairway, just hits the left fringe and hangs up. McIlroy, from the short grass, finds the right side of the green. Day, using a 6-iron from the greenside bunker, hits a ridiculous shot to close range. Woods bumps his 4-iron down to close range also. McIlroy, putting from long range with his 5-iron, lags it up nicely and makes par. Matsuyama has a putt to win, but leaves it short and then misses a short one to halve, but Day cleans up behind him to jackpot the hole. RESULT: $20,000 Skin halved (McIlroy, Day, Woods). Hole No. 15 worth $40,000. TIGER WOODS: Fairways: Hit (5 of 10) | Greens: Miss (8 of 14) | Putts: 1 (20) | Skins: 5 ($60,000) RORY MCILROY: Fairways: Miss (5 of 10) | Greens: Hit (11 of 14) | Putts: 2 (21) | Skins: 4 ($60,000) JASON DAY: Fairways: Hit (7 of 10) | Greens: Miss (8 of 14) | Putts: 1 (22) | Skins: 3 ($30,000) HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Fairways: Hit (3 of 10) | Greens: Hit (8 of 14) | Putts: 2 (18) | Skins: 1 ($20,000) Hole No. 15 (Par-4) A drivable par-4 has the players licking their chops but Matsuyama, McIlroy and Woods all lose their tee shots to the right. Day, playing last, plays smart out to the left and just short of the putting surface. Woods recovers from the forest to the fringe of the green. Matsuyama goes full Phil Mickelson and throws up a huge flop shot over the trees to find the green. Day’s ball runs through the fairway and his chip comes out hot, but leaves a birdie chance. McIlroy finds the bunker near the lip and hacks it out, leaving the closest chance of all four. Woods hits his putt brilliantly and it tries its best to trickle in before stopping short. Matsuyama’s does likewise. Day is above the hole and misses on the right, leaving McIlroy a chance for the win. It is so fast and he barely touches the ball. It catches the left edge and lips out. Moving on to the 16th where $60,000 is on offer. RESULT: $40,000 Skin halved (McIlroy, Day, Woods, Matsuyama). Hole No. 15 worth $60,000. TIGER WOODS: Fairways: Miss (5 of 11) | Greens: Miss (8 of 15) | Putts: 1 (21) | Skins: 5 ($60,000) RORY MCILROY: Fairways: Miss (5 of 11) | Greens: Hit (12 of 15) | Putts: 2 (23) | Skins: 4 ($60,000) JASON DAY: Fairways: Miss (7 of 11) | Greens: Hit (9 of 15) | Putts: 2 (24) | Skins: 3 ($30,000) HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Fairways: Miss (3 of 11) | Greens: Hit (9 of 15) | Putts: 2 (20) | Skins: 1 ($20,000) Hole No. 16 (Par-3) A par-3 of 184 yards. We are starting to lose light. Matsuyama finds the middle of the green, McIlroy sticks it to 10-feet, Woods follows up by getting inside him at about eight feet and Day matches Woods to set up a putting contest. Woods talks Olympic golf and says he’d love to make the U.S team for 2020 in Toyko. Matsuyama is unable to convert birdie from long range and McIlroy sees his effort dive under the hole. Woods makes no mistake with his right-to-left curler, leaving Day with the chance to halve the hole. He gets it to go and it will be $80,000 on the 17th. RESULT: $60,000 Skin halved (Day, Woods). Hole No. 17 worth $80,000. TIGER WOODS: Fairways: N/A (5 of 11) | Greens: Hit (9 of 16) | Putts: 1 (22) | Skins: 5 ($60,000) RORY MCILROY: Fairways: N/A (5 of 11) | Greens: Hit (13 of 16) | Putts: 2 (25) | Skins: 4 ($60,000) JASON DAY: Fairways: N/A (7 of 11) | Greens: Hit (10 of 16) | Putts: 1 (25) | Skins: 3 ($30,000) HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Fairways: N/A (3 of 11) | Greens: Hit (10 of 16) | Putts: 2 (22) | Skins: 1 ($20,000) Hole No. 17 (Par-4) Now we are playing under lights! Matsuyama, Woods and McIlroy miss left off the tee and Day loses his to the right. Matsuyama’s approach finds the right bunker. McIlroy and Woods have tree issues. It forces them to play low. McIlroy skips through the green to the grandstand behind the hole, while Woods airmails the putting surface and cannons into the wall of the stands, almost getting a rebound. Day misses long also. Who can scramble the best for $80,000? Matsuyama gives himself a par-saving chance from about 14 feet. Day chips down to about 12 feet. McIlroy flops it brilliantly to six feet or so. Woods’ flop goes long and leaves a lengthy par attempt, which he fails to make. Matsuyama watches his try slide under the hole. Day nails his putt, leaving it up to Rory to send these skins to the last, but it hangs up on the high side and Day cleans up a cool $80,000. He takes the lead now at $110,000, but with No. 18 worth $100,000, anyone can still win the day. RESULT: $80,000 Skin won by JASON DAY TIGER WOODS: Fairways: Miss (5 of 12) | Greens: Miss (9 of 17) | Putts: 2 (24) | Skins: 5 ($60,000) RORY MCILROY: Fairways: Miss (5 of 12) | Greens: Miss (13 of 17) | Putts: 2 (27) | Skins: 4 ($60,000) JASON DAY: Fairways: Miss (7 of 12) | Greens: Miss (10 of 17) | Putts: 1 (26) | Skins: 7 ($110,000) HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Fairways: Miss (3 of 12) | Greens: Miss (10 of 17) | Putts: 2 (24) | Skins: 1 ($20,000) Hole No. 18 (Par-5) The par-5 finishing hole is at 562 yards and under the lights. McIlroy is right off the tee and under a truck holding the lights. Woods is left in the trees. Matsuyama is in the right first cut and Day, fresh off his big win on No. 17, is in the middle of the fairway. Woods plays a beautiful, hooking stinger out of the trees and back into play. Matsuyama heads into the right trees with his approach. Day wants his shot to go hard… but it comes up short in the bunker. McIlroy tries to shape a miracle shot, but fails to pull it off. It’s scramble time for $100,000. Woods, now in the best shape, wedges his third to about 20 feet, but it is above the hole on these slick greens. Matsuyama is buried deep in the woods but spots a gap… he can only advance it to the sand. Day, from the bunker, hits his third superbly to tap-in range and secures birdie. Matsuyama almost holes out from the bunker to halve, McIlroy almost chips in to do the same, but ultimately, Woods is left with a putt to force a playoff hole. He left it well short, and just like that, Jason Day cleans up $180,000 over the last two holes for a total of $210,000.â€�It was fun. It’s nice to be able to beat the caliber of player I did today,â€� Day says after accepting the trophy. RESULT: $100,000 Skin won by JASON DAY TIGER WOODS: Fairways: Miss (5 of 13) | Greens: Hit (10 of 18) | Putts: 2 (26) | Skins: 5 ($60,000) RORY MCILROY: Fairways: Miss (5 of 13) | Greens: Miss (13 of 18) | Putts: 1 (28) | Skins: 4 ($60,000) JASON DAY (WINNER): Fairways: Hit (7 of 13) | Greens: Hit (11 of 18) | Putts: 1 (27) | Skins: 8 ($210,000) HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Fairways: Miss (3 of 13) | Greens: Miss (10 of 18) | Putts: 1 (25) | Skins: 1 ($20,000)

Click here to read the full article