Parel takes 1-shot lead in SAS Championship

SAN FRANCISCO — Dustin Johnson lost his yardage book and still found his way through an enormous crowd of contenders Saturday, making eight birdies at Harding Park for a 5-under 65 and a one-shot lead in the PGA Championship. Nothing ever comes easily for Johnson in the majors. In this case, his brother had a spare yardage book. Even that might not have stopped Johnson from making his most birdies in any round of a major. RELATED: Full leaderboard And he needed them all. Johnson was among eight players who had at least a share of the lead at some point Saturday, a wild third round of low scores, long putts and endless possibilities. One possibility is Brooks Koepka hoisting the Wanamaker Trophy for the third straight year, which hasn’t happened since Walter Hagen won four in a row in the 1920s when it was match play. Koepka was one shot behind when he made a few careless mistakes, ran off three straight bogeys and had to birdie the 18th for a 69 to stay within two shots. Scottie Scheffler, the PGA TOUR rookie from Texas, bogeyed his last hole for a 65 and was one shot behind with Cameron Champ (67), who grew up in Sacramento and has the most powerful swing on TOUR. Johnson was at 9-under 201 as he goes for his second major title. For all the chances he has had, this is only the second time he has led going into the final round. “I’m going to have to play good golf if I want to win. It’s simple,” Johnson said. “I’ve got to hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens. If I can do that tomorrow, I’m going to have a good chance coming down the stretch. … I’m just going to have to do what I did today. Just get it done.” Among the cast of contenders are major champions like Koepka, Jason Day and Justin Rose, and fresh faces like Scheffler, Champ and Collin Morikawa. Also right there was Bryson DeChambeau, thanks to a 95-foot putt for birdie on his last hole. Turns out he can hit long putts, too. Missing from all this action is Tiger Woods, who didn’t make a birdie until the 16th hole and is out of the mix for the fourth straight major since his emotional Masters victory last year. A dozen players were separated by three shots. Haotong Li, the first player from China to lead after any round at a major, was leading through 12 holes until his tee shot didn’t come down from a tree. He made double bogey, dropped two more shots and finished four shots out of the lead. Johnson didn’t have smooth sailing, either, especially when he couldn’t find his yardage book. He thinks it slipped into the bottom of the golf bag, and he didn’t feel like dumping his 14 clubs all over the ground to find it. Austin Johnson, his brother and caddie, had a spare. Johnson shot 65 even with a double bogey on the ninth hole. Mistakes like that might be more costly on Sunday, the first major without any spectators. There was some concern that so many people in contention and no noise on the golf course might make it difficult for contenders to keep track of what’s going on. Then again, Johnson won the U.S. Open in 2016 at Oakmont without knowing the score as the USGA tried to decide whether he should be penalized.

Click here to read the full article…

Imagining a course with 18 of the most merciless holes in U.S. Open history

Click here to read the full article…

Old Westbury, New York – As attendees stroll the fairways at THE NORTHERN TRUST, the first event in the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs, they will be able to taste a slice of New York, as the tournament announced today that Junior’s Cheesecake will be served onsite, along with some of its other famous items. Served at the tournament’s Taste NY Marketplace, an upgraded concession and fan destination, Junior’s is one of several new food venues meant to capture the unique, world-class food culture of Manhattan. Featuring fashion, food and do-or-die drama as the top 125 players in the FedExCup compete on a world stage, THE NORTHERN TRUST will be played at the prestigious Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, New York, from August 22-27, 2017. Founded by Harry Rosen in 1950 in Brooklyn, Junior’s landmark restaurant is known as the home of New York’s best cheesecake. Today, Junior’s has several locations, from the original on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, to the theater district on Broadway in Times Square, and even at the Fox Tower Hotel at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. This August, Junior’s will add a new location during tournament week at THE NORTHERN TRUST, giving players and fans the chance to experience one of New York’s favorite traditions. “We look forward to showing PGA TOUR players and professional eaters from around the country what New Yorkers have known for over 67 years,â€� said Alan Rosen, third-generation owner of Junior’s Restaurant & Bakery. “We look forward to serving some of our signature items like Reuben’s, corned beef, pastrami and of course cheesecake at THE NORTHERN TRUST.” The recipe for Junior’s Cheesecake remains unchanged, featuring only the finest ingredients like premium cream cheese, fresh heavy cream, eggs and a touch of vanilla. In 1973, New York Magazine conducted a blind taste test and rated Junior’s the best cheesecake in New York, and since then, it has won several accolades and awards including the “Best Overall Mail-order Cheesecakeâ€� from the Wall Street Journal and “Best Food Gift NYâ€� from People Magazine. Junior’s will also be serving other items, like its famous Reubens, onsite. Junior’s will be available at THE NORTHERN TRUST in the Taste NY Marketplace as part of a partnership with New York State. Located in a shaded area adjacent to the 16th fairway of the Glen Oaks Club, Taste NY will sponsor the venue and feature menu items from various iconic New York restaurants that will be announced in the lead-up to the event. The area also features various other enhancements and is open to all fans onsite. New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “We are proud to sponsor the Taste NY Marketplace and highlight all of the great New York restaurants and businesses who make some of the best food and beverages in the world. The Taste NY Marketplace will be an exciting destination for THE NORTHERN TRUST fans and spectators who are looking to sample locally made products and unique dishes from iconic New York restaurants.  We look forward to connecting even more consumers to New York agriculture and cuisine.â€�  THE NORTHERN TRUST will kick off the FedExCup Playoffs at the Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, New York, August 22-27, 2017. For more information and a behind-the-scenes look at the tournament, visit thenortherntrust.com or follow the tournament on Twitter and Instagram @TheNTGolf, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheNTGolf. To purchase tickets, please visit www.thenortherntrust.com or call 844-868-7465.

Click here to read the full article…