McCarron, Goosen, Gillis share Ally Challenge lead

Webb Simpson earned his sixth PGA TOUR victory at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Here’s a look inside his bag. RELATED: Final leaderboard Driver: Titleist TS3 (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei Blue AV 65 TX 3-wood: Titleist TS2 (15 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue 70 TX 5-wood: Titleist 913Fd (18 degrees) Shaft: UST Mamiya VTS 86 TX Hybrid 1: Titleist 913Hd (21 degrees) Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X Hybrid 2: Titleist 913Hd (23.5 degrees) Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 Irons: Titleist 620 MB (5-PW) Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design Raw SM7 (54), Titleist Vokey Design Prototype (60 degrees) Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 Putter: Odyssey Tank Cruiser V-Line Ball: Titleist Pro V1 Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Click here to read the full article…

THE OVERVIEW OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. – The FedExCup Playoffs are accustomed to starting in unknown territory. For the fourth time in 11 years, the opening event will be held on a course making its PGA TOUR debut. That means no track record, no horses for courses this week. A field of 120 players will tee off Thursday at Glen Oaks. Any one of them could find an immediate liking to the 7,346-yard layout and make the first big move towards the FedExCup. Don’t be surprised if this week’s winner of THE NORTHERN TRUST is, well, a surprise. “No one’s ever seen it,â€� said Justin Thomas, the current No. 2 seed. “We don’t know what to expect.â€� Added 2015 FedExCup champ Jordan Spieth about a new course: “It brings in more of the field.â€� Consider the 2009 Playoffs. The opening event was held at Liberty National for the first time. Heath Slocum, who entered that week ranked No. 124 in points – in other words, next to last – beat Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington and Steve Stricker by a stroke. As a result, Slocum moved to third in points. That 121-position increase remains the biggest jump in Playoffs history, and Slocum remains the poster boy for the FedExCup’s version of the Hail Mary. On the flip side, defending FedExCup champ Rory McIlroy usually struggles out of the gate in the Playoffs – in part, he says, because he lacks familiarity with the courses. He was T-56 in his first look at Ridgefield and T-19 in his first start at Liberty National. He’s won each of the other three Playoffs events at least once – and twice at TPC Boston, next week’s venue — but he’s never come close to winning THE NORTHERN TRUST. “I think I’ve always been comfortable around the golf course in Boston,â€� McIlroy explained. “I think here, because the venue changes most years, that’s maybe a factor.â€� That’s not to say the big dogs can’t thrive on a new course. At Ridgewood in 2008, Vijay Singh won a three-man playoff to start his drive toward the FedExCup. And at Plainfield in 2011, with Hurricane Irene barreling toward the area, Dustin Johnson won the tournament shortened to 54 holes. Patrick Reed is this week’s defending champion. Even though he won’t get the opportunity to defend at Bethpage Black, Reed doesn’t consider it a detriment to play a new course. Those with the best form will generally find their way into contention on any course. “If it’s at the same venue, you go in there and sometimes you almost go in too confident,â€� Reed said. “If you’re too comfortable with place, you kind of get lazy around the golf course. “So any time you win, if it’s a new venue, it doesn’t really matter because at the end of the day, whether you know the golf course or you don’t, whoever is hitting the ball the best, whoever is putting the best, whoever is making the lowest score is going to win the golf tournament at the end of the day.â€� THREE PLAYERS TO PONDER Hideki Matsuyama He’s practicing with FIVE putters this week; will decide Thursday on which one to use. Consider it golf’s version of The Bachelor. Rory McIlroy Tiger’s the only two-time FedExCup champ. Will Rory’s body hold up long enough to make a serious run at joining the club? Phil Mickelson Has two chances to play in NYC area in the next six weeks. This one’s guaranteed; the other (Presidents Cup) isn’t – at least not yet. GET TO KNOW GLEN OAKS It’s the first PGA TOUR event this course has hosted. Here’s what you can expect: BOMBERS PARADISE. Course superintendent Craig Currier was asking some of the players earlier this week about their first impressions. “All seem to think it will favor the bombers,â€� he said. The fairways are generous – somewhat like Erin Hills at this year’s U.S. Open. That should bode well for somebody like Brooks Koepka, the winner at Erin Hills. “If the guys can pipe it 330 down every fairway, that’s a big advantage,â€� Currier said. Said Jordan Spieth: “It’s a big hitter’s golf course. Wider fairways, extremely thick rough with big greens. It reminds me of like a Congressional, even like a Muirfield, Jack’s place.â€� UNDULATING POA ANNUA. The comparison is to Bethpage Black except with more movement. “A lot trickier than Bethpage,â€� Currier said. Since the majority of the field have never played Glen Oaks prior to this week, those players who can figure out the poa annua greens the fastest will also have the advantage. Probably not a good sign when Hideki Matsuyama said Tuesday, “That will be challenging for me.â€� Said Currier: “These greens are our best defense. They’ve got a lot of subtle breaks. With these guys not knowing them, I think the greens might surprise them a little bit.â€� 4-INCH ROUGH. Like at Erin Hills, for the tee shots that do miss the generous fairways, a price will be paid. Currier said the 4-inch bluegrass rough will be consistently tough. “If they hit it in the rough this week, it’s going to be truly be a penalty for them,â€� he warned. Said Patrick Reed: “The penalizing part around this place is, you know, hitting in that rough. If you’re playing out of the rough, you’re going to struggle. But if you’re out of the short grass, you’re going to be able to go out and shoot a number.â€� BACK-NINE FIREWORKS. The front nine is 378 yards longer and more difficult than the back nine, Currier said. The par-4 first is nearly 500 yards and to a skinny green. The second is the longest par-3 on the course. The par-5 third is nearly 100 yards longer than its counterpart on the back, and Nos. 4 and 5 are longish par 4s. Meanwhile, Nos. 11, 13, 14 and 18 are scoring holes; 18 particularly for the long hitter. “Somebody could post some low scores on the back,â€� said Currier, who estimates the back nine will play 1-1/2 shots easier than the front. THE FLYOVER Here’s a look at the final three holes at Glen Oaks – the par-4 400-yard 16th, the par-3 233-yard 17th and the par-4 475-yard 18th. THE LANDING ZONE The 11th is a drivable par 4, listed at 323 yards on the scorecard. Water guards the left-side of the dogleg left hole and a small pot bunker left of the green will likely gobble up a few shots, so laying up to the fat part of the fairway will likely be the play. With such a short par 4, birdies should be in abundance, right? Not so fast, said course superintendent Craig Currier. “Even if you lay up there, it’s really easy to spin it in the water,â€� he said. A year ago, Glen Oaks hosted the Met Open – and the 11th was the hardest hole on the course, said Currier, playing to a stroke average of nearly 3/4ths over par. WEATHER CHECK Should be terrific weather all week. Pleasant temperatures. No rain in the forecast, light winds for the most part (picking up a bit on Friday). Winds may shift on Sunday; if so, players may need to adjust. For the complete weather forecast from Old Westbury, New York, check out the PGA TOUR’s Weather Hub. SOUND CHECK I moved into a new house that fall or winter and figured that counted. I was up in the air about potentially buying that house, and then that kind of pushed it. ODDS AND ENDS BACK TO WORK. Justin Thomas is making his start since winning the PGA Championship and moving to No. 2 in FedExCup points. He said winning his first major has yet to set in. “I was shocked by that,â€� he said. “I don’t know if it was because I had so many obligations or just things to kind of do. I never really wanted to celebrate or enjoy it. I just was so tired and I wasn’t in a mood to really do anything.â€� ANY COURSE IS FINE. Dustin Johnson (No. 4 in points) has four top-10s – on three different courses — in his last six starts in this event. He thinks Glen Oaks will offer him a similar opportunity this week to contend. “I really like the golf course,â€� he said Wednesday. “First time seeing it today. I’m a big fan.â€� FEDEXCUP CHAMPS. Vijay Singh (2008) remains the only winner of THE NORTHERN TRUST to go on and win the FedExCup. Two of the last three FedExCup champs have missed the cut in this event – Jordan Spieth in 2015 and Billy Horschel in 2014. A year ago, Rory McIlroy tied for 31st at Bethpage Black. A message from our sponsor: United MileagePlus® members, you can use your award miles to enjoy The Northern Trust from the comfort of the United Airlines Fairway Club, located on the 16th Green. You and a guest will enjoy complimentary food and beverages while watching the top PGA TOUR® players compete. Limited quantities available on-site. Click here for details.

Click here to read the full article…

The practice green at Kapalua during the Sentry Tournament of Champions was pretty bare after competition rounds in early January. The PGA TOUR winners who had earned their way to Maui were generally easing their way back into things after the holiday period and grinding out more practice after a tough 18 holes with significant elevation changes in high winds. The majority of players arrived with their extended families and/or friends and were making the most of island living by hanging out at the beaches or hotel pools or participating in activities like ziplining and whale watching. So you can understand the post-round exit times were usually pretty rapid. Quality time with loved ones beckoned. Gary Woodland had as much reason to rush out to his family – if not more – than anyone. The four-time PGA TOUR winner’s wife Gabby recently gave birth to twin girls and the pair also have 2-year-old Jaxson to entertain. Jaxson was also set to be a twin but the Woodlands tragically lost his sister when Gabby’s water broke at just 16 weeks. It took ferocious work by doctors to ensure Jaxson didn’t suffer the same fate, and when he was born 10 weeks premature, the battle continued. But now he’s a healthy toddler and was bouncing around the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua hallways desperate for some Dad time. Woodland loves nothing more than time with his son and daughters, and of course Gabby. Jaxson would get plenty of quality time but not before Woodland hit the practice putting green to do some work. It wasn’t extensive – perhaps 10 to 15 minutes – but it was every day. You see, Woodland is determined to strengthen his short game, as he knows it is the last piece of the puzzle to take his game to even greater heights. The 35-year-old’s win at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach last year was part of his most successful season on TOUR, when he finished 15th in the FedExCup. The win, and two runners-up, formed part of eight top-10s for the season. He has continued the impressive run by notching three top-10s this season in just five starts while also being part of his first U.S. Team at the Presidents Cup. Now Woodland returns to the Waste Management Phoenix Open – where he was the champion in 2018 – and a year removed from his famous encounter with Amy Bockerstette. Seeing the special Olympian’s tenacity and strength and just overall positive attitude as she made par at the famous 16th sent Woodland to a new maturity mentally. Her mantra – “I got thisâ€� – has now become his also. It is why he did the extra work post round in Maui when he did. Woodland wants to make the most out of every second he has. He could have been content to win his major championship and just left it at that. He could allow his standards to slip and just live off the notoriety of a great week on an iconic course. But that’s not the competitor’s spirit. And this guy is a true competitor. The former college basketballer has desire running through his veins. “Aspirations are a lot bigger than last year … everybody asks about setting goals … my goal is to get better every day and if I continue to get better every day the sky’s the limit,â€� Woodland says. “I want to be the best player in the world. I want to stay there. I don’t want to just get there. If I get better every day, the short-term goals that I do set, I will accomplish.â€� Those short-term goals are focused on his short game. Woodland has spent the last few years improving under swing coach Pete Cowen, and then adding putting guru Phil Kenyon is taking him to new heights. But more improvement remains on the agenda. Over the previous four seasons, Woodland has an average ranking of 14th in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee; 19th in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green and 16th in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green. Last season alone he ranked first on TOUR with approaches greater than 200 yards, 10th from greater than 275 yards, 18th from 175-200 yards and 31st from 150-175 yards. Clearly he has been hitting it pretty well from distance. On the other hand, he had an average ranking of 111th in Strokes Gained: Around the Green and 136th in Strokes Gained: Putting during the previous four seasons. Last season, among his success, there were some other numbers that did not make for fun reading. The 35-year-old was 181st on TOUR on putts inside 10 feet. He was 148th in scrambling; 129th from outside 30 yards, 156th from 20-30 yards and 144th from 10-20 yards. In approaches from 50-75 yards he was 167th, and 74th from 125-150 yards. “The short game, I have got to improve. I consider myself one of the best drivers in the world and the ball-striking is continuing to get better, but I need to improve the short game inside of 100 yards especially.â€� Woodland admits. “And the putting, which I’m working on, is getting better but I still have a long way to go.â€� Woodland admits making the move to go to Kenyon was tough to swallow at first. It was thrust upon him by his inner circle after one too many ball-striking clinics that was soured by average putting. For Woodland this meant swallowing a little pride. “A lot of us out here, we are where we are because we’re so confident in what we do,â€� Woodland said. “But it got to a point where for three or four years I was right around 40th to 50th in the world and I just wasn’t getting any better. “Luckily I’m surrounded by great people who told me I need to go find some more help because I was frustrated where I was. They were frustrated dealing with me on a daily basis. But to get better, sometimes you’ve got to take a step back. It was hard to do initially but it’s definitely got me where I am today.â€� Woodland hasn’t just set on-course goals. He has included personal off-course goals as well. And the melding of the two ensures his focus is heightened. “I have to appreciate the great times and the year that I had was amazing obviously on and off the golf course, but I need to continue to be a not just a better golfer but a better father and better husband,â€� Woodland continues. “Becoming a father, it’s been way better. I am now leaving the golf course at the golf course and that’s something I wasn’t able to do before. If I played bad, I’d take it home. I’d dwell on it. Now my kids don’t give me time to dwell on it. They want to have fun; they want to play. And that relaxes me. And it puts life in perspective really quick.â€� This is also why he hits the putting green post round. It is part of the process of getting better at golf and fatherhood at the same time. Whether he had 20 putts in a round or 35, he’s putting in some work. “It’s the stuff I know I have to do. That’s all routine based,â€� he adds. “That’s a mental thing for me. I feel comfortable when I go home knowing I did that. That helps me on the golf course also because it keeps me in the moment. I know when I’m at the golf course, I need to be focused there because when I get off the golf course, I don’t have that time that I used to have.â€� While the personal motivation is enough to keep him on track, the fact Woodland has now finally tasted team golf at the professional level is another huge inspiration. As a Presidents Cup rookie, Woodland went 1-2-1 at Royal Melbourne and now wants to add many more to his resume. As a rookie, Woodland had to deal with a little friendly hazing. He carried some bags, cleaned some shoes, took care of unpacking some clothes for his teammates … and he loved every minute of it. Next up is this year’s Ryder Cup, where Woodland is looking good sitting third on the U.S. Team points list. “I’ve always wanted to be on a U.S. team and when you miss it, you know it’s just another year you miss. But now being on the team and experiencing all that … I don’t want to miss another one ever again so I’m going to continue to work hard and hopefully lock that up myself,â€� Woodland said. “The Presidents Cup was as good and better than I expected. The bus rides, the team room … and to be honest with the golf itself I was a little more nervous than I thought I’d be. It’s a little different when you’re playing for somebody else and your country. “Off the golf course it was the best week I’ve had on TOUR. The hazing, it was fun stuff, but I look forward to getting to not be in a rookie at the Ryder Cup.â€� The work will continue for Woodland in the coming weeks to ensure he meets the new lofty standards. So if you’re looking for the Kansas native after a round at TPC Scottsdale this week, make sure to check the practice green first. Chances are he’s there.

Click here to read the full article…