Leishman cruising at BMW Championship

Now that the freshest crop of Web.com Tour graduates has broken the seal on the 2018-19 season, it’s time for the most successful of returning PGA TOUR members to begin capitalizing on opportunities procured. Beginning with this week’s CIMB Classic in Malaysia and extending into next week’s second annual THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES in South Korea, the top 60 available in the FedExCup standings from last season are exempt. While sponsor exemptions and members of the Asian Tour and KPGA will populate fields of 78 for each event, the FedExCuppers will serve as the majority of both. Scroll beneath the ranking for details on the comprehensive renovation that TPC Kuala Lumpur underwent since last year’s CIMB Classic, what it’s taken to contend on the course in its five-year history as host and more. Tuesday’s Fantasy Insider will include defending champion Pat Perez, Louis Oosthuizen, Kevin Na, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Thomas Pieters among other notables. Because the first two events of the three-week Asian Swing are limited-field invitationals, Web.com Tour grads have known that they’d have this time off before the Sanderson Farms Championship on Oct. 25-28. For the busiest of the grads, this is their first break of this length since early April. For those qualified and committed to either of the next three tournaments (including the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in China the same week as the Sanderson Farms Championship), the transpacific trip guarantees FedExCup points and earnings as there are no cuts. TPC Kuala Lumpur presents the first test. It’s a stock par 72 tipping at just 7,005 yards. Although last year’s scoring average of 70.663 registered a three-year high, it’s been one of the most gettable tracks of the season. However, how it scores this week remains to be seen. All paspalum grass has been replaced with bermudagrass. The combination of Celebration tees and fairways with TifEagle greens replicates the agronomy at TPC Sawgrass, for example. Hot and humid conditions with the omnipresent threat of rain and storms will cap Stimpmeter readings at 12 feet, while TOUR-average targets may repel approaches until mature. Still, with rough no longer than two-and-a-half inches and perennially soft conditions, low scores are projected in these climes. Pat Perez aims to become the third consecutive two-time defending champion of the CIMB Classic. Ryan Moore (2013-14) and Justin Thomas (2015-16) preceded. Perez co-led his field in greens in regulation en route to 23-under 265, but he ranked outside the top 10 in both putts per GIR and birdies-or-better with the putter. With new putting surfaces, the premium of creating scoring opportunities rises. ShotLink technology will not be utilized in any of the three events in Asia. ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled. MONDAY: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Sleepers, Fantasy Insider WEDNESDAY: One & Done, Twitter live fantasy show THURSDAY: Champions One & Done * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO, which also publishes on Tuesdays.

Click here to read the full article…

Day 1 was filled with drama at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play as big names like defending champion Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy lost their matches and other players, like Zach Johnson coming back from 4-down to half the match, pulled off the unthinkable. Day 2 promises to be just as exciting. Watch the action on PGA TOUR LIVE.  Round 2 leaderboard Round 2 tee times HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN (ALL TIMES ARE ET) PGA TOUR LIVE: 10:15 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. TELEVISION: 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (GC) (Golf Channel / NBC Sports LiveExtra simulcast stream) RADIO: 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com) NOTABLE PAIRINGS 10:52 a.m. Jordan Spieth vs. Haotong Li 11:36 a.m. Jason Day vs. Jason Dufner  MUST-READS Match recaps: Day 1 at WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play  Day 1 superlatives List hands tough, despite putting with his wedge

Click here to read the full article…

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The PGA TOUR Policy Board announced today that Mark A. Flaherty, an Independent Director for Goldman Sachs and former Vice Chairman of the Wellington Management Company, has accepted an invitation to join the Board as an Independent Director. Flaherty replaces John McCoy, who stepped down at the end of 2018. One of five Policy Board Independent Directors, Flaherty joins Chairman Edward Herlihy, Victor Ganzi, Mary Meeker and Randall Stephenson. “On behalf of the PGA TOUR, we’re thrilled to have someone with Mark’s character, career accomplishments and deep knowledge of the global financial markets join the PGA TOUR Policy Board,� said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “In addition to these qualities, Mark has a special passion for the game that will make him a tremendous asset to the PGA TOUR as an Independent Director.� Flaherty has been an Independent Director for Goldman Sachs since 2014 and currently serves on the Audit, Risk and Governance Committees. During his tenure at Wellington Management Company, Flaherty served as the Director of Global Investment Services and as Partner and Senior Vice President, as well as Vice Chairman of Global Investment Services. Prior to Wellington, he worked at Standish, Ayer, & Wood where he was a Partner and Director of Equity Trading.  “The current and former members of the PGA TOUR Policy Board have done an outstanding job over many decades navigating and driving change in the world of professional golf,� said Flaherty. “I’m very fortunate to have this opportunity to play a role in improving the PGA TOUR experience for fans, players, sponsors and other partners in a rapidly changing global environment. I learned the game of golf at an early age from caddying, and I owe a lot back to the game for the life lessons and experiences it has given to me.� A graduate of Providence College, Flaherty also is a member of The Newman School Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors for Boston Scholar Athletes and is a former member of the Providence College Board of Trustees. In addition to the Independent Directors, the PGA TOUR Policy Board includes four Player Directors from the PGA TOUR, four Player Directors from PGA TOUR Champions, and a PGA of America Director. The Board is tasked with directing business strategies, establishing corporate policies and regulations, setting financial objectives and ensuring the financial success of the TOUR.

Click here to read the full article…