Obama, Bush and Clinton manage to avoid Trump at President’s golf tournament

Round 2 of the Valero Texas Open takes place Friday from TPC San Antonio. It’s the 100th anniversary of the event, and big names such as Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth are in the field. Spieth is also the defending champion. His win at last season’s Valero Texas Open marked his first victory on TOUR since 2017. 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, 4 p.m.-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday, 1 p.m.-3:30 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3:30 p.m.-6 p.m. (NBC). Sunday, 1 p.m.-2 p.m. (Golf Channel), 2 p.m.-6 p.m. (NBC). Radio: Thursday-Friday, 1 p.m.–7 p.m. ET. Saturday, 3 p.m.–6 p.m. 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 FRIDAY Marquee Group Jordan Spieth, Corey Conners, Charley Hoffman Featured Groups Hideki Matsuyama, Hudson Swafford, Chad Ramey Abraham Ancer, Tony Finau, Brandt Snedeker Featured Holes: No. 3 (par 3), No. 7 (par 3), No. 13 (par 3), No. 16 (par 3) ESPN+ BONUS COVERAGE Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Matt Kuchar Bryson DeChambeau, Gary Woodland, Luke List Rickie Fowler, Ryan Palmer, Ryan Brehm MUST READS Russell Knox leads by one at Valero Texas Open Top 10 Valero Texas Open events Inside the history of the Valero Texas Open Q&A: Ben Crenshaw

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At the end of the day, PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year Sungjae Im says he might just need a touch of luck to take the final step to victory. The South Korean young star, still just 21, has once again shown why many believe he will become a regular winner on the PGA TOUR with a solid 6-under 66 to open the World Golf Championships–HSBC Champions. It left Im just two shots off the lead behind local favorite Haotong Li and in a tie for third place. A win was the only thing missing from Im’s impressive rookie season in 2018-19. He notched seven top-10s from an incredible 35 starts and was the only rookie to make it to the TOUR Championship, where he would finish 19th in the FedExCup. In five starts during his sophomore season, he’s already been runner-up after losing a playoff at the Sanderson Farms Championship and finished last week’s ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP tied for third. But rather than show frustration due to other young stars such Matthew Wolff and Collin Morikawa having already won, Im chooses to focus on his constant ability to contend. He’s missed just one cut – at the Open Championship – in 16 starts since June. “The feeling is consistency, it’s pretty good to be top-10,â€� Im countered when asked what was missing in his chase for a trophy. “If my putting is helping me out, and also my luck comes to me, maybe I can win.â€� Im won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour so he is no stranger to closing out tournaments. This week also represents the last week for Presidents Cup hopefuls to state their case for captain’s picks. Im is already considered a favorite to get a call from International Team captain Ernie Els but is looking to leave no doubt whatsoever in his readiness.

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AVONDALE, La. – Branden Grace wanted to make something very clear – he’s actually younger than Justin Harding, his partner this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Evidently, there’s a perception that Grace, who turns 31 next month, is the grizzled veteran compared to the boyish-looking Harding, who turned 33 in February. “I just want to state that,� Grace said. “A lot of people are asking me. He seems too young.� And so is their partnership that’s in prime contention entering Sunday’s final round of Foursomes at TPC Louisiana. A third-round 61 in Four-balls (the low score of the round) moved them to 22 under, just one shot off the lead shared by Jon Rahm/Ryan Palmer and Scott Stallings/Trey Mullinax. Although the two South Africans have known each other for many years, having played against each other as juniors, this week is the first time they’ve competed with each other. Grace, of course, has teamed with Louis Oosthuizen as one of the International Team’s most productive duos at the Presidents Cup. Harding, meanwhile, has never made a Presidents Cup team, and is making his first start at the Zurich Classic, as he plays mostly on the European Tour. “This might be the first time we’ve actually played together as a team or as a partnership,� Harding said. “We tend to play against each other more.� Grace and Ooosthuizen were partners at TPC Louisiana in 2017, finishing T-24. They were supposed to play together last year, but Grace withdrew to be his wife as she delivered their first child. Related: Tee times | Rahm/Palmer an unusual partnership that works | Day/Scott team misses cut at TPC Louisiana This year, Oosthuizen played another South African star, Charl Schwartzel, thus leaving Grace with Harding. While Oosthuizen-Schwartzel missed the cut, Grace-Harding have a chance to win with a big showing in Sunday’s Foursomes. “I got fired, so I had to look for a new partner,� Grace joked. “Obviously I made a good pick.� So why has it worked with this first-time duo? Well, obviously the talent is there. So is the South African kinship and camaraderie. “Look, both of our games are similar. We’re a good match,� Harding said. “We like to keep each other quite jovial out there on the golf course, lots of jokes and some banter – which probably shouldn’t be shared – but it’s good fun.� Added Grace: “He’s a better putter than I am. I get streaky but he is definitely better. We have fun out there. We give each other hell, as well, and we take it the right way.� It’s obviously working this week – and it’ll likely give International Team Captain Ernie Els something to think about in December when he decides on his pairings at Royal Melbourne. Of all the partnerships involving players from International Team countries, Grace-Harding have by far been the best. For once, they’re finally on the same side of the battle.

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