PGA TOUR announces its first Official Tequila partnership with Maestro Dobel Tequila

  CHARLOTTE, N.C. – It doesn’t take much for Rory McIlroy to contend at the Wells Fargo Championship. Five swings on Wednesday evening did the trick this time. McIlroy, making his first start since a difficult defeat at the Masters, headed to the range after feeling rusty in Wednesday’s pro-am. A quick look at the TrackMan made him realize that his clubface was closed through impact. “It almost feels like I’m trying to hold the clubface square for longer,� McIlroy said. That swing thought worked Thursday. He shot a 3-under 68 that left him one shot off the lead after the morning wave. McIlroy, who’s making his eighth start of the season, is 32nd in the FedExCup after a win in March at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. He hit just four fairways Thursday but still gained strokes off the tee by averaging 325.4 yards on all tee shots. More importantly, he hit 14 greens. And the putting lesson with Brad Faxon is still paying dividends, as McIlroy gained +1.6 strokes on the greens. “I love this place,� said McIlroy, who turns 29 on Friday. “I feel like I don’t have to play that well and I can still get it around.� McIlroy has finished outside the top 10 just once in seven Wells Fargo starts, including two wins. He set a course record in each start, shooting a final-round 62 in 2010 and third-round 61 five years later. Jason Day was on the practice green in 2010 when he watched a frustrated McIlroy walk off the ninth green after making the cut on the number. Two days later, McIlroy was holding the trophy after making 17 birdies and an eagle on the weekend. “He’s explosive in that way,� Day said. “It’s very similar to what Tiger does. He’ll come to a course and he’ll like it so much that he’s very dominant on it. This is a driving golf course. If you’re a good driver, you get the opportunities. He hits it long and straight and obviously he’s putting better.� Quail Hollow lets McIlroy hit a lot of mid- and long-irons and swing aggressively off the tee. The towering trees that frame the fairways help him envision the proper shot. When asked if it reminded him of Augusta National, McIlroy laughed and said, “I’ve just won here a couple times. That’s about the difference.� Of course, McIlroy needs a Masters win to complete the career Grand Slam. This year’s edition was his closest call at Augusta National since he completed the other three legs. A third-round 65 put him in the final group with Patrick Reed, but even during that remarkable round McIlroy could tell his game was not in top shape. “I was sort of holding it together,� he said. And it fell apart under the Sunday pressure. He shot a final-round 74 to fall into fifth place. He spent the week after Augusta National binge-watching television shows (Billions), reading books (The Chimp Paradox, Essentialism) and drinking wine. “Erica had to drag me out of the house,� he said. “Once I got back in my routine, I was fine.� He confirmed that Thursday. He’s back to his old ways at the Wells Fargo Championship.  

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Phil Mickelson will continue his Ryder Cup legacy as part of the captaincy crew after being formally named as a Vice Captain for Steve Stricker’s U.S. Team for the 2021 Ryder Cup later this month at Whistling Straits. Stricker named Mickelson, a veteran of all 12 Ryder Cups since 1995, along with Fred Couples, as Vice Captains to join the previously announced Davis Love III, Jim Furyk and Zach Johnson to join his squad for the Sept. 21-26 contest against Europe in Wisconsin. “I’ve been staying in close contact with both Freddie and Phil, talking about all things Ryder Cup, for a while now,” Stricker said via statement. “They provide honest and impactful feedback, and both have such a passion for the Ryder Cup. I’m honored that they were willing to join our Team and help put us in the best position to win in a few weeks at Whistling Straits.” Mickelson had been fighting for a place as a player in the team after becoming the oldest winner of a major at the PGA Championship in May but sits 20th on the points list and failed to qualify for the TOUR Championship, the last tournament before Stricker adds his six captains picks to his six automatic qualifiers. “I’m humbled and honored to be a part of this year’s Ryder Cup as an assistant captain. Thank you Captain Stricker for including me and I hope to help in an way possible. GoUSA,” Mickelson tweeted in response to the news. His playing record will now seemingly end at 18-22-7 in Ryder Cups, with his 47 matches a record for the U.S. Team. He also holds the U.S. record for most fourball points won with nine and most Ryder Cups with 12. Collin Morikawa, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay were locked in as qualifiers last Sunday night as the top six. Those next in line vying for the last six positions decided by Stricker next Wednesday include Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, Harris English, Patrick Reed, Daniel Berger, Webb Simpson, Scottie Scheffler, Jason Kokrak, Sam Burns, Billy Horschel and Kevin Kisner. While it is Mickelson’s first foray into the captaincy squad, Couples has experience having been a Ryder Cup Vice Captain in 2012 alongside Love III. Couples was a victorious U.S. Team Presidents Cup captain in 2009, 2011 and 2013 and a captain’s assistant in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Couples also played in the 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995 and 1997 Ryder Cups.

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Justin Thomas first had his Titleist wedges stamped with the nickname “Radar” when he was just 10 or 11 years old, a reference to his pinpoint accuracy with his shorter clubs. It’s a nickname that can be traced back to Mike Reid, who won twice on TOUR in the 1980s, but Thomas has introduced it to a later generation. Thomas, now 29, still has “Radar” stamped on his Titleist wedges, but it’s no longer unique. There’s an another “Radar” at this week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship. Joohyung “Tom” Kim, the 20-year-old winner of last week’s Wyndham Championship, has multi-colored “Radar” stampings of the same moniker on the back of his Titleist wedges. It’s no coincidence, though. In a video recently posted to Titleist’s Instagram account, Kim explained that he was inspired by Thomas when Titleist’s Vokey wedge rep and master stamper Aaron Dill put the stamping on his wedges. “I saw JT’s (wedges), you know, I’m a big fan of JT,” Kim said in the video. “His wedge game is incredible. I saw (the stamping) a couple of years ago and thought, that’s what I need, as well. I mean, it’s radar, and that’s what you want with the wedges. I’ve been using (Titleist wedges) for a long time, and Aaron’s been really cool to do some crazy stamps, and it looks absolutely incredible.” Kim elaborated on the stamping in his Tuesday press conference at TPC Southwind, saying, “I’ve been watching this TOUR for my whole life and I’m very, very interested in the players who are at the top of their game. … It was kind of matching of what I wanted to do, as well. So I kind of did copy him a little bit, but I want to say it’s kind of mine, too.” Although Thomas says “Radar” is a “nickname that nobody calls me,” Kim may soon be getting a bill (albeit a fake one) for a cut of his recent winner’s check. Thomas jokingly told the press on Wednesday that he’d may slip a fake invoice into the rookie’s locker for his trademark infringement. When asked if Kim’s emulation of his longtime stamping makes him feel old, Thomas replied, “I would prefer to look at it as more of an honor than old.” Kim can make most of us feel old, however. He’s the first PGA TOUR winner born in the 2000s and the second-youngest winner on TOUR since World War II (only Jordan Spieth was younger).

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