Koepka: There was no fight with DJ

The International Team hosts the U.S. Team this week at Royal Melbourne for the Presidents Cup. Here’s all you need to know in how the four-day event wil work in Australia. 2019 Format: The Presidents Cup competition consists of 30 matches: Thursday – 5 Four-Ball matches Friday – 5 Foursomes matches Saturday morning – 4 Four-Ball matches Saturday afternoon – 4 Foursomes matches Sunday – 12 Singles matches In 2019, a minor format change will be implemented, stating each player shall only be required to play a minimum of one match prior to the final-round singles matches. This is a change from previous years when players were required to compete in two matches prior to singles matches. All matches are worth one point each, for a total of 30 points. There are no playoffs, with each side receiving a half point if a match is tied after 18 holes. In a change inspired by the events of the 2003 Presidents Cup, if the competition is deadlocked at the end of Singles play, the competition will be deemed a tie and the teams will share the Presidents Cup. FOUR-BALL: Each member of a two-man team plays his own ball, so four balls are in play on every hole. Each team counts the lowest of its two scores on each hole, and the team whose player has the lowest score wins the hole. If the low scores are tied, the hole is halved. FOURSOMES: Each two-man team plays one ball per hole with the players taking turns until each hole is complete. Players alternate hitting tee shots, with one leading off on odd-numbered holes, and the other hitting first on even-numbered holes. The team with the low score on each hole wins that hole. If their scores are tied, the hole is halved. SINGLES: Each match features one player from each team. The player with the lower score on each hole wins that hole. If their scores are tied, the hole is halved. Unlike stroke play, players don’t have to complete each hole in match play. If a player concedes a stroke – almost always a putt – to his opponent, the opponent picks up his ball, takes the score he would have made on the next stroke and moves on to the next hole. Team: The team is the entire 12 players and captain(s). This year, Tiger Woods is a playing captain for the U.S. Team. Advice: Any counsel or suggestion that could influence a player in determining his play, the choice of a club or the method of making a stroke. Each team may appoint one person who may give advice to members of that team. Such person must be identified to the Committee before giving advice. Side (not team): A side is a player, or two or more players who are partners (Foursomes or Four-ball) Partner: A partner is a player associated with another player on the same side. Opponent: In match play it is never a competitor, always an opponent or player. Order of Play in Four-Ball: The balls belonging to the same side may be played in the order the side considers best. Committee: “The Committeeâ€� is the committee in charge of the competition. Referee: The referee is one who is appointed by the committee to accompany players to decide questions of fact and apply the Rules. He shall act on any breach of a Rule that he observes or is reported to him. A referee’s decision is final. Observer: An observer is one who is appointed by the Committee to assist a referee to decide questions of fact and report to him any breach of a Rule. Honorary Observer: An honorary observer is one who is appointed by the Committee to assist the observer. Reckoning of Hole (status of match): Reckoning of holes is kept by the terms: so many “holes up,â€� or “tiedâ€� and so many “holes to play.â€� Dormie: A match is dormie when a side is as many holes up as there are holes remaining to be played. Concession of next stroke, hole or match (Rule 2-4): When the opponent’s ball is at rest or is deemed to be at rest under Rule 16-2, the player may concede the opponent to have holed out with his next stroke and the ball may be removed by either side with a club or otherwise. A player may concede a hole or a match at any time prior to the conclusion of the hole or the match. Concession of a stroke, hole or match may not be declined or withdrawn. Claims (Rule 2-5): Any claim or dispute which arises between sides shall be made to the referee before any player in the match plays from the next teeing ground or, in the case of the last hole of the match, before all players in the match leave the putting green. Practice (Rule 7) is allowed as follows: 1. Before or between rounds, a player or players may practice on the course. 2. During the round, a player shall not practice either during the play of a hole or between the play of two holes, except that, between play of two holes, the player may practice putting or chipping on or near the putting green of the last hole played, any practice putting green or the teeing ground of the next hole to be played in the round, provided such practice stroke is not played from a hazard and does not unduly delay play. Strokes played in continuing the play of a hole, the result in which has been decided, are not practice

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The PGA TOUR announced today the four Featured Groups for Thursday-Friday at the PGA TOUR’s Regular Season finale, the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina. Full groupings and starting times for the first two rounds of the Wyndham Championship will be released officially at approximately 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 11. HOW TO FOLLOW Television: Thursday-Friday, 2 p.m.-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday, 1 p.m.-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3 p.m.-6 p.m. (CBS). Sunday, 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. (Golf Channel), 2:30 p.m.-6 p.m. (CBS). PGA TOUR LIVE: Thursday-Friday 7 a.m.-6 p.m. (Featured Groups). Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. (Featured Groups), 3 p.m.-6 p.m. (Featured Holes). Sunday, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (Featured Groups), 2:30 p.m.-6 p.m. (Featured Holes). Radio: Thursday-Friday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday 1 p.m.-6 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com/liveaudio). FEATURED GROUPS (FedExCup Rank) Brooks Koepka (92), Jordan Spieth (94), Justin Rose (103) • Koepka is making his first start at the Wyndham Championship since 2015 (T6); entered the top 125 in the FedExCup standings for the first time this season with his runner-up at the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational two weeks ago • 2015 FedExCup champion Spieth, who lost to Patrick Reed in a playoff at the 2013 Wyndham Championship, is looking to improve his FedExCup position of 94th and qualify for the TOUR Championship for the first time since 2017 • With a ninth-place finish at the PGA Championship, 2018 FedExCup champion Rose moved from outside the top 125 to No. 103 in the FedExCup standings; he will compete at the Wyndham Championship for the first time since 2009 Webb Simpson (3), Sungjae Im (5), Brendon Todd (9) Notable: All three players enter the week inside the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 • Simpson has seven top-10s in 11 starts at the Wyndham Championship, including a win in 2011 and runner-up finishes in each of the last two seasons • Im, who held the lead in the FedExCup standings when the season was suspended, finished in a tie for sixth in his debut at the 2019 Wyndham Championship • Todd, who held the 18-hole co-lead at last week’s PGA Championship (T17), is one of four players with multiple victories on the season (Bermuda Championship, Mayakoba Golf Classic) J.T. Poston (58), Brandt Snedeker (96), Sergio Garcia (134) Notable: Each player in the group has at least one Wyndham Championship title • Poston earned his first PGA TOUR victory at the 2019 Wyndham Championship; the tournament holds the second-longest streak on TOUR without a back-to-back winner (Sam Snead, 1955 and 1956) • Snedeker, winner of the 2012 FedExCup, won his second title in the event in 2018 after opening with a 59; he is one of 10 players to shoot a sub-60 score on the PGA TOUR • This is the second time Garcia will enter the Wyndham Championship outside the top 125 in the FedExCup standings; in 2018, he entered the tournament No. 131 in the FedExCup standings and finished T24 to move to No. 128, missing the FedExCup Playoffs for the first time in his career Patrick Reed (6), Paul Casey (54), Shane Lowry (131) • Reed, who won his maiden PGA TOUR title at the 2013 Wyndham Championship, can finish the Regular Season as high as No. 3 in the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 with a victory • With a T2 at last week’s PGA Championship, Casey made the biggest jump in the FedExCup standings of anyone in the field (67 spots from No. 121 to No. 54) • 2019 Open Championship winner Lowry enters the week No. 131 in the FedExCup standings; he has qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs twice in his PGA TOUR career (2016, 2019)

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JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — Tony Finau ended more than five years and 142 tournaments without winning with a dynamic charge on the back nine and big miss from Cameron Smith to capture the rain-delayed THE NORTHERN TRUST in a playoff Monday. RELATED: Final leaderboard | Updated FedExCup standings Finau was three shots out of the lead when he ran off a birdie-eagle-birdie stretch at Liberty National, the last one a 30-foot putt across the 14th green. He closed with a 6-under 65. Smith had a rally of his own with two late birdies, missing a 25-foot birdie chance on the 18th in regulation that would have won it. He closed with a 67. That was as close as the Australian came to winning. With the win, Finau moved to No. 1 in the FedExCup standings. On the 18th in the playoff, Smith hit such a wild drive that it sailed over the retaining wall that separates Liberty National from the edge of the Hudson River. Finau had already pounded his drive down the middle of the fairway, and the playoff at that point was effectively over. That’s just what Finau needed — no drama, and more importantly, a victory. Since winning the Puerto Rico Open in the spring of 2016, Finau had eight runner-up finishes, three of those in a playoff, and 11 finishes in the top three. Now, one of the most likeable players in golf goes to the top of the FedExCup standings and No. 8 in the Ryder Cup standings with one week left to be among six automatic qualifiers. He was the guy who did everything right but win, and now that burden was lifted. Finau, who had to save par from the bunker with a 6-foot putt on the 18th in regulation to finish at 20-under 264, only had to two-putt for par in the playoff. He lifted his head to the sky and fluttered his lips in sheer relief. “It took just about everything I had,” he said. And it took some help from Smith, who two weeks ago lost a chance to win a World Golf Championships with a wild drive on the 18th. Jon Rahm contributed, too. Rahm looked to be in control all afternoon, even as Finau began his big run. The world’s No. 1 player was bogey-free, made birdie on all three of the par 5s and threw a wedge into 3 feet for another birdie. It came undone quickly, though. Rahm’s tee shot found the bunker on the 15th and he missed a 6-foot par putt. On the reachable par-4 16th, he caught all ball with a pitch that sailed 30 feet by the pin and cost him an easy birdie. He didn’t get another look at birdie over the final two holes, saving par from a bunker on the 17th and having to lay up from a fairway bunker on the 18th, where he closed with a bogey and a 69 to finish alone in third. “I haven’t been able to digest it,” Rahm said after his round. “My son put a smile on my face so at least I’m not in a terrible mood.” There were other big winners Monday, starting with Keith Mitchell. He was at No. 101 in the FedExCup, and only the top 70 advance to the BMW Championship. Mitchell needed a big finish and delivered with three straight birdies for a 69 to tie for eighth at 13-under 271. “We thought 13 (under) was good,” Mitchell said. “When I had that putt on 18, I had to make it in my mind. Fortunately, I hit a great putt.” Tom Hoge started at No. 108 and tied for fourth to advance. That was his best finish of the year, and it came at just the right time with points counting quadruple. Also moving on to the BMW Championship later this week were Alex Noren, Erik van Rooyen, Harold Varner III and Harry Higgs. Van Rooyen was in contention on the front nine until he hit two shots in the water on the par-3 11th and made a quadruple-bogey 7. Finau all along had 20 under as his target, and caddie Mark Urbanek told him at the turn to deliver his best back nine of the year. He shot 30, and that turned out to be enough. The final round was postponed on Sunday as Hurricane Henri approached, and the edges of what became a tropical storm at landfall dumped more than 6 inches of rain on Liberty National. There was another four-hour delay in the morning and spectators were kept away. They missed quite a show, and a popular winner.

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