PGA TOUR integrates BetMGM odds into upcoming telecast

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico – Things were looking good after Russell Henley shot what appeared to be a 2-under 69 in the second round of the Mayakoba Golf Classic. At 7 under overall, he was on the first page of the leaderboard. And then he wasn’t. While sorting through his bag in search of golf balls to sign and give away after signing his card, Henley realized he had inadvertently used a different type of Titleist Pro V1x during the round, violating the PGA TOUR’s One Ball Rule. Related: Leaderboard | Tringale, Seiffert make back-to-back aces “It was a small dash, a different way it was marked that would have been easy to overlook,â€� said TOUR Rules Official Brad Fabel. “He came to us and said he didn’t know how it had gotten in his bag.â€� The eight Rules of Golf officials on site conferred for about an hour and a half and even brought in the USGA to weigh in on the matter. “We researched it pretty thoroughly,â€� Fabel said. There was no question, Henley said, that he’d used the ball. He gives balls he’s put into play to his caddie to mark accordingly, and the Pro V1x in question was marked as such. That left two questions: Where had this single, differently marked ball come from (just to satisfy his curiosity) and for how many holes had he used it, i.e. how many penalty strokes would he take? Where it came from would have to wait, but ultimately, Henley decided he’d used it on holes 9, 10, 11 and 12, costing himself two shots per hole. He had made par on all four holes, but now four straight double bogeys would turn his 69 into a 77, leaving him outside the cut line. The mix-up ends Henley’s made cuts streak at eight, including the last four starts of last season and the first four of this season. He took the news well. “He was great,â€� Fabel said. “I’ve got a ton of respect for that gentleman.â€� Here is the USGA’s explanation: “When changing balls, the player is permitted to substitute a ball of another brand or type unless the Committee has adopted the One Ball Condition of Competition (see Appendix I; Part C; Section 1c). This optional condition (usually referred to as ‘The One Ball Rule’) is generally adopted only in events that are limited to professional golfers or highly-skilled amateur golfers. Generally, this condition of competition is not adopted in club-level competitions.”

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The 2018-19 PGA TOUR season moves into the Asia Swing this week with the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It’s the second of 43 regular season events, to be followed by the reformatted three-event FedExCup Playoffs next August. The Golf Channel will provide live coverage for all four rounds, with the first two rounds starting at 10:30 p.m. ET (10:30 a.m. local time) on Wednesday and Thursday. The final rounds will begin at 11:00 p.m. ET on Friday and Saturday. Here’s a look at the Featured Groups for the first two rounds (FedExCup ranking in parentheses): Keegan Bradley (T84) – Hot off his victory in last season’s FedExCup Playoffs the former major champion is set for a resurgent year. Three top 10s here in four starts including runner up last season. Kevin Na (T84) – Looking to make it five trips to the season finale in six years with another good season. Three top 10s here in six starts. Gary Woodland (T84) – Runner up here in 2014 and 2015. Returned to winners circle last season and enjoyed the taste of victory. Tee times: Rd. 1 (9:40 p.m. ET); Rd. 2 (8:30 p.m. ET) Brandt Snedeker (T2) – Heartbreaking fade over the back nine Sunday last week has him fired up to atone in the heat of Malaysia. Paul Casey (T84) – Buoyed by Europe’s Ryder Cup win Casey is set to prove last season’s win in Tampa was not his final act. Marc Leishman (T84) – His breakout 2016-17 season was followed by a solid, yet winless, 2017-18 leaving the Aussie motivated to find a higher gear once more. Tee times: Rd. 1 (9:50 p.m. ET); Rd. 2 (8:40 p.m. ET) Kevin Tway (1) – Riding high after a breakout maiden PGA TOUR win last week at the Safeway Open. Billy Horschel (T84) – Just as his beloved Florida Gators continue to improve Horschel’s intensity is lifting for the start of a new season. Si Woo Kim (T84) – Former PLAYERS champion looking for a fast start in Asia to better his 55th place finish in the FedExCup last season. Tee times: Rd. 1 (8:40 p.m. ET); Rd. 2 (9:40 p.m. ET) Justin Thomas (T84) – Two-time winner of the event after coming out on top in 2016 and 2017. Gave up his FedExCup crown last season and wasn’t happy about it. Can kickstart his chase here. Pat Perez (T84) – Defending champion who played insane golf a year ago. Scoring average an incredible 66 over the four days. Ryan Moore (T2) – His last four trips here include two wins and another top 10. Worst result was T17. Oh … and he’s coming off a T2 playoff loss in Napa. Primed. Tee times: Rd. 1 (8:50 p.m. ET); Rd. 2 (9:50 p.m. ET)

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HONOLULU, Hawaii – Former FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy has revealed he has a heart irregularity that he must monitor throughout his career but hopes it’s not a major issue. The 13-time PGA TOUR winner and four-time major winner made the stunning admission in an interview with The Telegraph but then clarified the seriousness on his Instagram account. McIlroy, who suffered from a rib injury for most of last season, is slated to return to the PGA TOUR at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February after playing in the Middle East on the European Tour. He has had nearly four months off. “The rib’s fine, no problems whatsoever – I had an MRI scan on my thoracic spine and all was OK,� McIlroy told the Telegraph. “But I’ve got a bit of an irregularity with my heart that I have to keep on top of. “I have a flat T-wave and I’ll have to get an echo [cardiogram] on my heart every six months and an MRI scan every year.� McIlroy, reacting to the news exploding across the golf community, took to his social media to quash alarm. “It’s really not that big of a deal and nothing to worry about, apart from getting an annual check up, like you should do anyway,� he said in part of his Instagram post. “I feel there’s been a big reaction to it in the media which there really shouldn’t be. I’m fit and healthy and can’t wait to get my 2018 season started in Abu Dhabi next week.� In the original newspaper interview McIlroy went on to explain the problem originated after falling ill in China a year-and-a-half ago. “I suffered a really bad viral infection in China 18 months ago and they told me that’s the reason that I have this thickening of my left ventricle and there’s a bit of scar tissue,� he told the paper. “For now, I just need to stay on top of it and have to stay fit. Hey, I was planning on doing that anyway.� The 2016 FedExCup champion will get a chance to test the strength of his heart with plans to play possibly six times in seven weeks on the PGA TOUR once he returns.

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