Marc Leishman: Shank was good, but not his best

Tiger Woods’ return to Japan also marks another return from knee surgery. Woods recently had an arthroscopic procedure performed on his left knee. RELATED: Tiger to release official memoir “Unfortunately, I’ve been down this road with my knee before,” Woods said Monday in Japan. “This is my fifth operation on it. I understand what it takes to come back from it. It’s been nice to have movement again and not having it catch and lock up.” Woods, who had arthroscopic surgery two months ago, played the made-for-television “MGM Resorts The Challenge: Japan Skins” event on Monday. He’s also competing in this week’s ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP, the first PGA TOUR event in Japan. Narashino Country Club, which is located about 30 miles northeast of central Tokyo, is hosting both events. Woods won five skins on Monday, finishing second to Jason Day in the four-man competition that also included FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama. Woods’ latest surgery repaired minor cartilage damage in his left knee. He planned to have the procedure after last year’s Hero World Challenge, but delayed it after winning the TOUR Championship. His knee troubled him all season, becoming more bothersome after he won the Masters in April. “I figured I would keep rolling with it,â€� Woods said. “I tried to get through it the rest of the year and it progressively got worse and got to where it was affecting even reading putts. It started affecting my back and the way I was walking and trying to play.â€� After the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP, Woods isn’t scheduled to compete again until his Hero World Challenge. Whether he will play in the Presidents Cup is undecided. The ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP will be Woods’ final start before he announces his four captain’s picks. Woods made the cut in half his six starts since his Masters victory. He finished T9 at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide and T21 at the U.S. Open. He withdrew with a mild oblique strain after shooting a first-round 75 at THE NORTHERN TRUST, and his season ended after a T37 showing at the BMW Championship. He finished 42nd in the FedExCup. “(The surgery) made me more hopeful that I could … play this week, play Hero and play Australia,â€� Woods said. “The way I was feeling toward the middle part of the year, it was going to be a tall order to be able to do it all. “I’m excited about having this end-of-year run where I’m feeling much more fit and I don’t have the achiness that I’ve been dealing with for the last couple years.â€� Woods has won twice in Japan, at the 2004 and 2005 Dunlop Phoenix. He said he would like to return next year to compete in the Tokyo Olympics. Woods watched the archery competition at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. “It would be an honor to represent my country in the Olympic Games,” Woods said. “Right now I’m ninth in the world ranking and hopefully in the next year I can have a good year and qualify and represent my country.”

Click here to read the full article…

Click here to read the full article…

First Tee – Greater Trenton participant Raymond Jin is not the first person who has been impacted by the organization’s programming. He’s one of many. In 2019, Jin participated in the Wells Fargo Succeeding Together contest, in which he submitted an essay with hopes of winning the grand prize – a spot in the Wells Fargo Championship pro-am with any TOUR player of his choosing. “As I progressed through the program, First Tee completely changed me as a person,” wrote Jin. “Because of First Tee, I am able to make a difference in the lives of young people and those in my community. I am passionate about working with people and mentoring.” What was once a dream then became reality. Jin received a video recording from TOUR player Max Homa, sharing the news that he, out of all of the submissions, had been selected as the first-place winner. Two years later, with many top players in the field, Jin chose to be paired with Rory McIlroy in the pro-am. McIlroy, a supporter of First Tee, was able to mentor Jin and share some life advice. “You don’t have to try to make friends; rather, you naturally resonate with certain people and communities; find your people, and you’ll feel right at home no matter where you go,” said McIlroy. Just months later, through the RSM Birdies Fore Love Program, McIlroy earned $50,000 to donate to the charity of his choice for recording the most birdies at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP. Already a supporter of First Tee and seeing how their programming impacts those like Jin, McIlroy decided to donate his charitable dollars to the youth development organization. The donation has helped to further the mission of growing the game of golf and preparing young adults for their future careers. Like McIlroy, fellow TOUR player Hideki Matsuyama also chose to support First Tee with the $50,000 he earned through the RSM Birdies Fore Love program at the 2020 Houston Open. Matsuyama kept the funds local, donating to the Greater Houston chapter. Although the First Tee – Greater Houston chapter is a newer program, Matsuyama’s donation has helped to ensure it doesn’t miss a beat in recruiting students in the local community. Classes began this year in March with full participation across all levels of programming. With Matsuyama’s donation, more coaches are being trained to expand upon the programming, helping to take more students off the waitlist and into the classrooms. In just seven months, First Tee – Greater Houston now has over 350 students in programs each week, developing their skills in golf and leadership in the community. A year from now, one could imagine how many more Raymond Jins will come through First Tee, all with the support of those with passions for junior golf such as McIlroy and Matsuyama and the RSM Birdies Fore Love program. More about RSM Birdies Fore Love In collaboration with the PGA TOUR, RSM Birdies Fore Love will again donate $1 Million to charitable organizations through an on-course competition over the first ten events of the 2021-22 PGA TOUR Season. In addition to weekly winners, the top three players who accumulate the most birdies (or better) throughout those events will earn $300,000, $150,000 and $50,000, respectively, for children- or family-focused charitable organizations of each player’s choice. Last year, Corey Conners (147 birdies or better) won the overall program, followed by Sepp Straka (141) and Sungjae Im (139). Conners chose to spread the love and donate $240,000 to the Corey & Mallory Conners Family Fund, $50,000 to the Ben Curtis Family Foundation, and $10,000 to Mia’s Miracles.

Click here to read the full article…