PGA featured holes: WGC-Bridgestone

AVONDALE, La. – Jordan Spieth and Ryan Palmer were smiling away on the 17th tee on Friday at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans having ground their way to 8 under par and well in contention. While not playing their best, the duo had found a way to get it under par in the alternate shot format while many others struggled – and were geared up for a good finish and a run on the weekend. And then it all went pear-shaped. A loose 6-iron off the 17th tee from the multiple major winning Spieth found a watery grave and led to a double bogey. It hurt. But it wasn’t a death knell. Yet. On the final hole after Palmer found the fairway off the tee Spieth pushed a 4-iron into the water once more. After a penalty drop Palmer dumped a wedge shot into a fried egg lie near the green and Spieth left the ball in the sand trying to extricate it. Another double bogey and a 74 meant missing the cut by a shot. “I had a couple really bad swings,” Spieth lamented. “I cost our team an opportunity which really sucks given how hard we fought today. It’s not a good feeling. It’s much worse than if it’s just you.” Palmer refused to lay the blame at Spieth – saying his fellow Texan was the main reason they were even in a good spot to begin with. He hopes the partnership returns for a third time next year. “We both struggled a little bit all day, but our short games kept us there the whole time,” Palmer said. “It’s fun. It’s a blast. I wouldn’t trade anything in the world for him (as a partner). It’s the game of golf.” Spieth will next play at The PLAYERS Championship in a few weeks hoping for better form. “I struggled with my swing really both days. Just didn’t hit the ball well at all,” he said. “We held it together for a while and then it finally just came out. Unfortunately, all we needed was two more swings.”

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Veteran Danny Chia secured his sixth appearance at the prestigious CIMB Classic after defeating rising star Gavin Green with a birdie on the second hole of a sudden-death play-off at the CIMB National Championship on Friday. Overnight leader Chia battled to a final round of three-under-par 69 at TPC Kuala Lumpur after overcoming an early triple bogey with eight birdies for a tournament aggregate of eight-under-par 280. Trailing by three at the start of the day, Green forced extra time with a glorious 66 highlighted by seven birdies. After both players shot pars in the first extra hole at the par five 18th hole, Chia then claimed his third success at the qualifying tournament for the CIMB Classic with a birdie from six feet. With the CIMB National Championship, previously known as the SapuraKencana National Classic, offering a coveted spot in October’s US$7 million CIMB Classic only to the winner, the 23-year-old Green will take heart that he will likely earn a spot in the PGA TOUR tournament through the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit. Currently fourth on the money rankings, Green needs to remain in the top-10 as of October 9 to qualify for the CIMB Classic for the second successive year. The highest ranked Malaysian on the Official World Golf Ranking as of October 2 will also earn a spot in the CIMB Classic. Rookie professional Amir Nazrin Jailani finished a creditable third after signing off with a 69, which included a missed birdie attempt at the 18th hole which would have put him into the play-off while Ben Leong, who held a one-shot lead at the turn, settled for fourth position following a 70 to finish two back of the play-off duo.

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An International Golf Federation official says that ideally organizers for the women’s Olympic tournament would let players know prior to the start of the third round that the event would be shortened due to a looming tropical storm.

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