PGA TOUR and Getty Images expand photographic services partnership

Click here to read the full article…

PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan met with select members of the media on Sunday at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, touching on a variety of topics. A few of the highlights: 2019 PRESIDENTS CUP QUALIFYING. The 2019 Presidents Cup in Australia is scheduled for the week of Dec. 9 – two months later in the year than when the 2017 event at Liberty National was played. Monahan expects adjustments in when teams will be formed; in 2017, qualification ended after the second FedExCup Playoffs event. “I think that there will probably be more flexibility in 2019 than there might be in a different year, just based on timing,� he said. “I think the captain selections would probably move themselves closer towards the competition than the end of the FedExCup season. The specifics of that, we’re kind of working on right now.� Monahan said the TOUR will assess, as it always does, the format of the Presidents Cup, but that there will not be an overreaction to the U.S. Team’s lopsided victory at Liberty National. “This is not about responding every year to what the score is,� Monahan said. “You go back and you got to look at the next 20, 40 years and make certain that you got a format that’s sustainable. … It’s hard to say where it will net out but at this point, the same rules are going to apply as we go forward, which is the team with more points is going to win.� 2019 PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP. Monahan said that when the PGA TOUR schedule is revised for the 2018-19 season, THE PLAYERS Championship will be played on the third weekend of March. THE PLAYERS will be moving to March starting that year, while the PGA Championship moves from August to May, allowing the FedExCup Playoffs to be moved up to an earlier completion. Monahan also said the 2019 portion of the schedule will once again be held in Hawaii, with the Sentry Tournament of Champions in the first week of January, followed by the Sony Open in Hawaii. In another schedule tidbit, Monahan expects to have a week off between the end of the 2018-19 season and the start of the 2019-20 season. “It’s likely that you would see a little bit of separation,� he said. He added that “good progress� has been made toward finalizing 2018-19 schedule and that it may be announced “in a couple months.� RICKIE’S UNTUCKED SHIRT. Consider Monahan a fan of Rickie Fowler’s Hawaiian shirt that he debuted in the first round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions. “I was at my house on Thursday night watching the opening broadcast and I thought it was fantastic,� Monahan said. “… Obviously, he’s someone that’s very thoughtful. And he was respecting Hawaiian culture and everything that makes this island and this area so great, and he did it in his own way and brought a lot of attention – not just to Rickie but to the tournament, to the area. … I think it’s representative of what makes our athletes so special. I don’t see any negative to it.� PGA TOUR/LPGA TOUR CO-EVENT. Monahan said he remains in discussion with LPGA and its commissioner, Mike Whan, about having an event that would include pros from both tours. He called the Sentry Tournament of Champions a “logical� option but not the only one. “That’s something that we’ll continue to talk about as we go down the road,� Monahan said. “And we’ll continue to talk to the LPGA about – if not here, how do we accomplish this at one of our tournaments. “That’s something that I’ve talked to Mike about at length and it’s something that we think is important, and I would like to think that we’ll get there at some point.� TIGER’S RETURN. Tiger Woods is scheduled to make his first start on TOUR in a year at the Farmers Insurance Open the week of Jan. 22. “We have been so fortunate that some of our young players and our players generally stepped up and carry the game forward,� Monahan said, “but to bring Tiger back into the mix and have the question that you’re asking out in front of everybody – I think it’s going to be fascinating to watch and we’re blessed that it’s happening.� CHARITY. The PGA TOUR and its tournaments across all tours announced Sunday that it generated more than $180 million for charitable causes in 2017, a record amount for a single year (click here for more details). That brings the all-time total to $2.65 billion. “It’s kind of weird – we talk about numbers, and numbers are numbers and it’s really hard to put your arms around it because they’re so big and they’re so significant,� Monahan said. “But it’s obviously the impact that our tournaments are having and our players are having by virtue of their participation in tournaments and support of the tournaments, which is the most powerful … “It’s a big part of who we are. We like to think that we do it better than anybody else – and we’re going to keep growing that number. That’s our scorecard.�

Click here to read the full article…

Let’s turn back to the clock for a moment. Remember when Danny Willett owned a one-shot lead over Max Homa as the duo stepped onto the 18th tee in the final round of the Fortinet Championship? Of course you do. It was only 10 days ago. But were you monitoring PointsBet’s app or website for live outright odds for both? If you weren’t, Homa was +300 after they matched pars on the par-4 17th hole. He had been as long as +400 before converting the 4 to retain position one back, but the par-5 finishing hole was the easiest on the course all week. No doubt you, like me, figured that Homa was going to need to hole out for eagle at the last just to have a chance for a playoff. Of course, Homa did hole out, but it was for birdie. It’s not necessary to rehash how Willett was unable to swerve away from the fire because that’s not the point of this exercise. Homa’s odds to win throughout that saga still didn’t exceed +300 at PointsBet. Setting aside the business savvy of the algorithm or executive decision not to be at greater risk – remember that Justin Thomas was +25000 to win early in his back nine of the PGA Championship – the moral of this matter is that even when it seems that victory is certain (for the guy who eventually doesn’t win), the board did not allow the chance to swing for a deeper fence in the face of said certainty. Unless you’re battling for prize money entering a finale, your Top 10 and/or Top 20 are poised to pay and you’ve hit on at least one tie in a 2-ball that projects to propel you into the mix, consider just sticking with your early pick if he’s still in the hunt. No, your odds aren’t as strong as a coin flip, but the grass won’t necessarily be greener on the other side. Like the Fortinet at Silverado Resort and Spa’s North Course, the Sanderson Farms Championship also is contested on a gettable stock par 72, but this one likely will require 20-under or lower to prevail. Have fun! Register for PGA TOUR Pick ‘Em Live here and monitor Rob’s and Glass’ progress as Influencers. For a broader explanation of the format and FAQs, click here. TOURNAMENT TO WIN Rob … Sam Stevens (+12500) We live in a different world than the one that yielded six consecutive breakthroughs at Country Club of Jackson through Sebastián Muñoz in 2019, but the construct of this field begs to open with a non-winner. If you’ve read me long enough, you know that I’ve poured a lot of faith into pedigree, and the rookie is bursting with that. It’s not easy to be targeted to play collegiately at Oklahoma State University, but that’s where he refined his game as he was coming of age. As an upperclassmen, his teammates included Viktor Hovland, Matthew Wolff, Kristoffer Ventura and fellow rookie Austin Eckroat among the notables. Stevens turned in a solid rookie season on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022 before securing his first PGA TOUR card at the Finals a month ago. He finished third on the KFT in greens hit, 11th in scoring average and ninth in the all-around. Glass … Hayden Buckley (+12500) For those of you new to our game, welcome aboard. This is your second reminder after the first one at Fortinet that there’s no reason to open with chalk. The ability to change your winner all weekend allows us to dream pre-tournament and hope our longshots work out. Buckley is Mississippi-raised, played his first professional event here and hit the top 10 last season (T4) at 20-under. The fairways and GIR machine just needs some cooperation from his putter, and I’m all set! Until I’m not. TOP 10 Glass … Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+400) The days of loading a long shot and trying to catch the window are gone for me. I’m defaulting to the more conservative side so as not to get caught locked out on the weekend. I was disappointed that Captain Immelman didn’t play his fellow countryman more last week. Bezuidenhout didn’t lose and he was holing everything he looked at on Champion Bermuda greens. He’s loosened up and he makes cuts for fun, plus he has a rep on Bermuda. Rob … Sahith Theegala (+240) Given that he’s atop my Power Rankings, I’ll take this “risk” all day long. I know that we’re gambling here, but like Glass, I’m so gun-shy about being shut out from having the ability to revise the pick that I’ll trade some peace of mind to reduce the possibility of being inconvenienced at 2 a.m. Arizona time. TOP 20 Rob … Emiliano Grillo (+170) Playing this more conservatively than usual because of the inconsistency of when the bet will unlock, if it does at all. A reversal in putting has guided him back into the mix among probables to contend. He chased the pair of co-runner-up finishes in July with a T19 at the BMW Championship, and then opened this season with a T25 at Silverado. Already seasoned at CC of Jackson with three paydays in as many appearances as well. He’s No. 7 in my Power Rankings, so I considered him for the Top 10 (at +380), but again, I’d rather set and forget at shorter odds than roll the dice for just a few more coins. Glass … Philip Knowles (+900) Let’s gamble! Top five in fairways and birdies last season on the KFT while sitting 18th in putting. Fantastic close to KFT season included a T2, T10 and T17 in his final four events. Now that he’s got the first one out of the way, it’s time to swing it and make some birdies. ROUND 1 LEADER Glass … J.T. Poston (+3300) Six appearances here with five rounds in the 60s to begin, including a 64 in 2020 and a 66 in 2021. He’s off No. 10 in the fourth group of the day, so I’ll have plenty of time to rearrange if necessary. Super on Bermuda and three of his last four opening rounds on TOUR are 66, 64 and 65 plus his 62 to open and WIN the John Deere Classic in July. We’ll see if he delivers this time! Rob … J.T. Poston (+3300) Robby see, Robby do. Keeping it simple and throwing my dart at the guy who opened his T2-Win blast over the summer with 62s. He kept it floored for most of the rest of the way, so he’s still feelin’ it. As Glass alluded to, Poston goes off 10 at 7:33 a.m. local time. The nines at CC of Jackson essentially are equal in their level of difficulty, or relative ease as it were. However, Poston’s R1 scoring average in six trips is a sporty 67.67, so it doesn’t matter to him. NOTE: While Glass and Rob typically stick with their selections as detailed in Pick ‘Em Preview, they are allowed the right to make changes at any time. Responsible sports betting starts with a game plan. Set a budget. Keep it social. Play with friends. Learn the game and know the odds. Play with trusted, licensed operators. CLICK HERE to learn more at HaveAGamePlan.org.

Click here to read the full article…