Park Hyun-kyung bags first professional win at Korean LPGA Championship as live golf returns

CROMWELL, Conn. – A few hours can complete a rich, flavorful circle. That was the emotion that consumed J.J. Henry as he renewed a summer tradition at the Travelers Championship this week. It was Henry’s 21st start at his hometown event and while he missed the cut for just the third time since 2002, in one way it was his most memorable appearance. That’s because he got to spend quality time inside the ropes at TPC River Highlands with his pro-am caddie – 14-year-old son Connor. “I don’t know if he’s quite ready to do it in a (competitive) TOUR event,â€� laughed Henry, “but that’s why I wanted to get him out there and kind of get the experience inside the ropes in a pro-am. Hopefully, sooner than later, he can do it again.â€� Beyond the father-son bonding, Henry fully appreciated what the experience presented. Back in 1998 when Henry, recently graduated from TCU, received a sponsor’s exemption into this tournament and made his PGA TOUR debut in a way that still warms his heart. His father, Ronald J. Henry Jr., caddied for him. “So, to have things come full circle 21 years later and have my 14-year-old son out here … it’s a big deal.â€� Though Henry has settled in Fort Worth, Texas, not far from his beloved TCU campus with his wife, Lee, and two boys, home will always be this New England state. He was a standout athlete in Fairfield, 50 miles south of TPC River Highlands, and everything about golf started with his father and his grandfather, Ronald J. Henry. (Little-known fact, but while he’s forever been called J.J., his real name is Ronald J. Henry 3d.) J.J.’s grandfather played golf at Fairfield High School alongside a future World Golf Hall of Fame member named Julius Boros, while his father was an accomplished amateur who played six times in The Amateur Championship in the U.K. and twice in the U.S. Amateur. The caddie stuff was handed down. Ronald J. Henry Jr. caddied for his father, then brought J.J. out to The Patterson Club as his caddie. It was only natural, then, for Ronald J. Henry Jr. to caddie for his son twice in the U.S. Amateur, but most especially here in J.J.’s debut in the Travelers Championship 21 years ago. Now that Connor has caddied for J.J., even if was the Monday and Wednesday pro-ams, “it puts things in perspective,â€� said J.J. “I’ve been fortunate to play out here (on the PGA TOUR) 19 straight years, so have boys old enough (younger son Carson is 10) to know what dad does and travel around a bit, it’s kind of cool.â€� For all the major championship starts and the Ryder Cup berth he earned in 2006, what the 44-year-old Henry covets about his PGA TOUR career is the association to this tournament. The first of his three PGA TOUR wins came here in 2006 when he took a two-stroke lead into Sunday’s round, shot 67, and finished three ahead of Hunter Mahan and Ryan Moore. Since his 1998 debut, he has only missed it once. To know that his love of the game was fueled by his father, Henry doesn’t take this time with his boys lightly. Brining Connor to TPC River Highlands as his caddie is “a great way for young kids to learn,â€� he said. It also feeds a growing thirst. “He’s kind of got the bug, which is good for me.â€� Henry said he always remember a conversation he had years ago with David Toms, who said that his passion for the game was rejuvenated when his son, Carter, showed an interest in golf. “When the kids say, ‘Hey, dad, let’s play,’ it’s good for me. It spurs you on to play and practice. “We can almost help each other out.â€�

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Patrick Reed comes into the World Golf Championships-Workday Championship at The Concession with a ton of momentum. He’s not only the defending champion (from last year's edition in Mexico) but also comes in fresh off a victory a few weeks ago at the Farmers Insurance Open. All in all, it’s looking like "Captain America" is making a big push to play for Captain Steve Stricker in the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits later this year. When it comes to his equipment, Reed is quite the interesting case study. He’s basically a free agent hybrid with his only contractual obligations being to Japanese iron maker Grindworks. Beyond that, Reed is a player who isn't afraid to test the waters across the board. The Grindworks relationship has been a successful one for Reed. Not only did he have the opportunity to put his own expertise into an iron, but it also gave the industry a look at just how detailed Reed is in regards to his equipment. As an ambassador, the 2018 Masters champion has done an amazing job of promoting the Japanese start-up, which from a personnel standpoint, is packed with some serious club making talent. Grindworks CEO Kiyonari Niimi, who is a 40-year veteran of the club making business as well as a member of the honored International Clubmakers Guild (ICG) Hall of Fame, gives the company serious gravitas. So too does former president of the legendary Endo forging house Kenji Kobiyashi. Reed recently gave aspiring TOUR player and APGA regular Charles Penny II the gift of Grindworks after being inspired by an email he read. "I read his email about him as a person, as well as what his dreams and ambitions are in golf and how hard he’s working on it and his goals," Reed said. "And when I sat back and actually read all the stuff that he was saying and all the things that he was trying to get to and his goals and ambitions, I was like, man, this is somebody I would love to try to help out." You can get the full story here. This week at The Concession, Reed will try to keep the momentum going as the season of championships is coming fast and furious. Take a look at what he had in the bag for his victory last year and what he has in play this week. 2020 World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship Driver: Ping G400 (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X 3-wood: Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero (15 degrees @ 13.9) Shaft: Aldila RIP Alpha 75 TX (42 3/8 inches) Hybrid: Callaway Apex (20 degrees @ 18.8) Shaft: Aldila Rogue Black 105 TX (40 inches) Irons: Grindworks Patrick Reed Prototype (4-PW) Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM7 (50 @ 51 degrees), Titleist Vokey Design SM8 (56, 60 at 61 degrees) Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 Putter: Scotty Cameron Tour Rat I Ball: Titleist Pro V1 Grips: Golf Pride New Decade MCC Black/White 58 R (2 wraps double-sided tape) Current equipment setup Driver: Titleist TSi3 (9) Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 125 MSI 70TX 3-Wood: TaylorMade SIM (15) Shaft: Aldila Rogue Black 130MSI 80TX Hybrid: Callaway Apex Pro (20) Shaft: UST Mamiya Recoil Prototype 95 Irons: Grindworks Patrick Reed Prototype (4-PW) Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 Wedges: Artisan Proto (51), Vokey SM8 (56-08M), Vokey SM6 (60-04LAD+ @61) Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 Putter: Scotty Cameron Tour Rat Ball: Titleist Pro V

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