Ko, Hataoka share LA Open lead after 2nd round

Patrick Reed never trailed in a 2-and-1 victory over Jordan Spieth at the Match Play. The match ended when Reed hit a 40-foot putt from behind the 17th green that looked as though it would go 8 feet by until it ran into the cup for a birdie.

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Round 1 of the Travelers Championship takes place Thursday from TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. The deep field is scheduled to feature the top four players in the FedExCup standings, led by No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Harris English returns to defend his title from 2021, which he won in an eight-hole playoff over Kramer Hickok. Those set to compete include Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Sam Burns, Patrick Cantlay, Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele. Here’s everything you need to know to follow the action, including Featured Groups for PGA TOUR LIVE and newly expanded and extended coverage on ESPN+. Click here for more details. Leaderboard Full tee times HOW TO FOLLOW Television: Thursday-Friday, 3 p.m.-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday-Sunday, 1 p.m.-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3 p.m.-6 p.m. (CBS) Radio: Thursday-Friday, 12 p.m.–6 p.m. ET. Saturday-Sunday, 1 p.m.-6 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com/liveaudio) For outside of the U.S., click here for GOLFTV powered by the PGA TOUR PGA TOUR LIVE PGA TOUR Live is available exclusively on ESPN+ • Main Feed: primary tournament-coverage featuring the best action from across the course • Marquee Group: new “marquee group” showcasing every shot from each player in the group • Featured Groups: traditional PGA TOUR LIVE coverage of two concurrent featured groups • Featured Holes: a combination of par-3s and iconic or pivotal holes FEATURED GROUPS LATE THURSDAY/EARLY FRIDAY Harris English, Marc Leishman, Patrick Cantlay Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Zach Johnson Sam Burns, Joel Dahmen, Keegan Bradley EARLY THURSDAY/LATE FRIDAY Kevin Kisner, Rory McIlroy, Webb Simpson Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, Tom Hoge Tony Finau, Sungae Im, Luke List MUST READ Power Rankings Expert Picks The First Look Inside the Field Insider: Davis Riley is a superstar in the making

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On the range at the 2019 Valero Texas Open on Monday, Titleist unveiled new TS4 drivers, an addition to its previously released TS-family drivers that are being played on TOUR and currently sell at retail. Titleist has found tremendous success on the PGA TOUR so far with the TS2 and TS3 drivers, winning the driver count at multiple PGA TOUR events, and the company reports that they are “the most played driver models this season on the PGA TOUR.� “TS drivers have exceeded all our expectations both on TOUR and with golfers around the world,� said Josh Talge, Vice President of Marketing, Titleist Golf Clubs. “When it comes to driver performance, TS has shown that it’s no longer a one- or two-horse race.� However, the company says there remains certain players who can improve their driving performance with the TS4. The new TS4 driver is an “ultra low-spin� design, which Titleist says will produce about 300 rpm less spin compared to its current models. This product is reminiscent of the 915D4 drivers that were a low-spin option in the 915D-series of drivers. “While we know most golfers find their best fit in a TS2 or TS3 driver, there is a percentage of players out there with distinct performance needs, such as aggressive spin reduction,� Talge said. “TS4 is the ultra low-spin driver that still produces exceptional ball speed. If you want to hit it longer but are having trouble controlling spin off the tee, TS4 was made for you.� Like the previously released TS drivers, the TS4 drivers have a titanium construction with thinner crowns and faces than previous Titleist models. By removing weight from the crown and face, Titleist was able to reposition CG (center of gravity) to optimize ball speeds without sacrificing forgiveness. The difference between the TS2/TS3 drivers and the new TS4 is that the CG of the new TS4 is positioned closer to the face and lower in the club head to reduce spin. You’ll notice the positioning of the SureFit Flatweight is near the face on the sole, rather than on the rear of the sole. Also, while the TS2 and TS3 drivers are 460cc heads, the TS4 is 430cc, which is a smaller profile that better players prefer, according to Titleist. The smaller, pear-shaped head decreases drag for faster swing speeds, too. Of course, with a smaller head and repositioned CG, there is a sacrifice that may hurt forgiveness for some players who don’t always hit the center of the face. “When it comes to ultra low-spin drivers, there’s always going to be some tradeoff in terms of MOI,� Talge said. “But for those golfers who create too much spin because of the way they deliver the club head, we know through our player testing that TS4 can give them greater distance consistency versus what they would see in a higher-MOI product.� Titleist’s TS4 drivers ($499) will hit retail in late June, and they will be available in 8.5, 9.5 and 10.5-degree lofts for righties (only 8.5 and 9.5 heads offered for lefties). Each driver has Titleist’s SureFit hosel for loft and lie adjustments, and they come stock with a selection of shafts including Project X Even Flow T1100 White, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black, Mitsubishi Tensei AV Series Blue, and Mitsubishi Kuro Kage Black Dual Core. For more on the TS2 and TS3 drivers, click here. 

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