Players laud Payne’s accomplishments

Here are nine tidbits from the third round of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide that gamers can use tomorrow, this weekend or down the road. Jack Nicklaus’ Muirfield Village Golf Club, just outside Columbus, Ohio, has hosted for the 42 previous events and plays 7,392 yards to a Par-72. PAIN OR GAIN These were the top-10 picked golfers in the PGA TOUR Fantasy One & Done presented by SERVPRO: With another day of excellent scoring conditions, MVGC played under-par for the second day in a row. We saw plenty of movement in both directions from the most selected players! The roller coaster rolls on tomorrow as thunderstorms are forecast for the afternoon. Trying to beat the weather, tee times are now threesomes off No. 1 and No. 10 starting at 7: 30 am and concluding with leader Bryson DeChambeau (-14), Patrick Cantlay (-13) and Kyle Stanley (-13) at 9:30 am. Make sure your lineups are sorted tonight! Also, LIVE STREAMING will be provided on PGATOURLIVE.COM and CBSSports.com starting at 11 am. Alone Last week at Colonial, Bryson DeChambeau birdied his first two holes on Saturday from T6 and looked to be in the fight. He played the rest of his round in three-over-par and finished the round T31. This week on Saturday he racked up a bogey-free 66 to move into first place alone after 54 holes. His only win on TOUR was last summer at the John Deere Classic where he came from four shots off the lead. That’s where Justin Rose will start tomorrow with Tiger Woods one behind the Englishman. Recent Experiences Patrick Cantlay will make up one third of the final pairing tomorrow as he also posted 66 in Round 3. Unlike DeChambeau, Cantlay picked up a pair of eagles, including an ace on No. 8, but squared two bogeys for his total. Like DeChambeau this is only his second event at MVGC. He’ll be looking to join the group of multiple winners this season as he picked up his first at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas last November. Rear View Mirror Kyle Stanley and Joaquin Niemann both posted 70 from the final two-some Saturday and will sit one off DeChambeau’s lead. Stanley won last summer at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farms in a playoff and has a pair of top-10 finishes at MVGC, including T6 last year. In Niemann’s two top-10 paydays this year he’s closed with 67 (Valero) and 66 (Colonial) but he wasn’t one shot off the lead. If he cards four or five-under tomorrow again I’ll LOVE his chances but I’m more interested to see how he reacts with a chance to win! Large Cat Prowling With a birdie on No. 15, Tiger Woods was tied for the lead on 11-under. With bogeys, plural, on two of the next three holes, Woods donated two shots to the field and eventually ended the day T7. He’s leading the event in SG: tee to green and proximity but his putter hasn’t blown up yet. He finished Round 3 69th in SG: putting (of 81 players) so it’s back to the practice green again tonight. He had troubles closing rounds at THE PLAYERS and don’t look at his front nine vs. back nine scores from this week either. Since he’s my O&D this week, I’ll be in charge of the pompoms tomorrow! On Your Marc I usually mention at least once during the week about #Play72. The most difficult part of fantasy golf is waiting for it to end some weeks and this is one of those weeks for the Marc Leishman supporters. He made the cut on the number and faced the MDF on Saturday before making six birdies to move to T37. He’s first off tomorrow on No.1 and will have perfect greens to putt. Don’t give up just yet! Moving Day Rory McIlroy fired a bogey-free 64 for the lowest round of the week and moved up 58 spots to T11. He has a wonderful top gear that was on display with an eagle and six birdies. The 63 he fired in the first round in 2014 is still his best so he’s hardly in uncharted waters. … We haven’t mentioned Whee Kim since he fell in a playoff at the Shriners to Cantlay. His best payday since the first weekend in November was the following week when he cashed for T45 at OHL Classic at Mayakoba. He moved up 28 spots to T7 after 67 in Round 3. He’s second in SG: putting for the week. Moving Day: Wrong Way Just when I think I’ve solved the Jason Day mystery at MVGC he drops 24 spots to T28 in Round 3. On another day with optimum scoring conditions, the Aussie and club member limped around in 74. There were only six scores worse than 74 Saturday. … The frustration for gamers who back Henrik Stenson at MVGC continued again in Round 3. The Swede couldn’t bounce from his 66 in Round 2 as he dropped 12 spots to T21 after an even-par 72. He’s painting fairways and greens but his trusty short game hasn’t been on point. … MDF claimed eight players including Kevin Kisner and Adam Hadwin as more than 78 players made the 36-hole cut. Study Hall Round 1 scored 72.558 (+.558) and there were just three bogey-free rounds. Round 2 entered the history books as it was just the 13th round in history to average less than 71.00 (70.458). Round 3 fell right in the middle at 71.173 (-0.827). … Byeong-Hun An (5th) is the only player with two bogey-free rounds (Rounds 2 and 3). … Francesco Molinari, like Rose, is looking to win back-to-back events as he’ll begin the final round of the Italian Open one behind England’s Lee Slattery.

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Never before has so much attention been devoted to the cutoff for qualification into any PGA TOUR event via the Official World Golf Ranking. But never before has Tiger Woods been the focal point of that hope. By one one-hundredth of one point, Woods wedged into the limited field at this week’s World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at the deadline. And let’s face it, because he’s an eight-time champion on Firestone Country Club’s South Course, we’d be engaging in an entirely different conversation without him in attendance, exponentially more so than usual. All 73 who qualified are committed. More on what Firestone presents, how Hideki Matsuyama prevailed last year and what’s in store beginning next year, scroll past the ranking. Barely broke a sweat at Glen Abbey … or maybe he didn’t. Out front in numerous statistical measurements on the PGA TOUR. Winner at Firestone in 2016 despite a third-round 73. He was the only golfer at Carnoustie with four red numbers and he finished T2, but he’s an even better fit at Firestone where his 2014 title is one of top 10s in seven appearances. Thriving in his prime. In position to win almost every time he laces it up. Second on TOUR in adjusted scoring. In 12 appearances at Firestone, he has a T2, a T3, a T4 and a T5. Ignore his lackluster track record at Firestone. He’s scaled into previous unchartered territory in the last two months. Due to his experience, there’s zero reason to expect a letdown now. Oh, how the stars have aligned for this opportunity. Where else better right now to chase down his next victory? It’d also be a storyline conclusion for Firestone, but he’ll need to adjust off the tee. With four consecutive top 10s at Firestone and recurring appearances on leaderboards throughout this season, he’s a constant threat. Currently 11th on the PGA TOUR in adjusted scoring. Remains as consistently strong as anyone. T7 at the European Open was 11th top 20 in 14 starts in 2018. Three straight top 20s at Firestone; T5 last year. Ranks seventh in adjusted scoring. Proving that class is permanent, coasted to a T6 in his debut at Glen Abbey on the heels of a T12 at Carnoustie. Will need to downshift a bit from his aggressive style at Firestone. What could have been if not for a second-round 77 in debut here last year (T28). Five top fives since the Masters, including a win in native Spain. Sits 15th in GIR and third in birdies-or-better percentage. Statistically as balanced as ever. T20 in adjusted scoring. Enters with top 20s in each of his last four starts. Runner-up finish at Firestone last year the best of five top 10s. Grazed his elevated expectations at Carnoustie, for a while at least. Backpedaled to T9 with a closing 76, but it was his first top 20 since the Masters. Three straight top 15s at Firestone. Easy to forget he’s won twice this season, but he also arrives with top 20s in his last two starts and he’s still the rabbit in strokes gained: putting. T12-T3-T24 at Firestone since 2015. Continues to build one big block at a time. Unflappable and fearless. T6-T2 in last two majors. Placed T13 in Firestone debut last year; ranked T2 in proximity for the tournament. Given his skill set as a tee-to-green monster and value as the defending champion, he gets benefit of the doubt upon arrival. After three straight top 20s, he went 0-for-2 in Scotland. The benefit of the missed cut at Glen Abbey is a couple of extra days of rest after getting beat up at Carnoustie (T39). T6 (2015) and T17 (2017) at Firestone. Fourteenth in adjusted scoring. Drifted from his objective to be more consistent, but that early-season success yielded the opportunity to relax, including after becoming No. 1 in the OWGR for a time. Second in FedExCup points. The streaky Dane is on another upswing. Since winning in Italy in early June, he’s added three top 15s, including a T12 at Carnoustie. Also placed T10 at Firestone last year. Making his tournament debut if you can believe it, so his only weakness at Firestone is inexperience. Seven top 10s this season, 17th in strokes gained: tee-to-green and 12th in adjusted scoring. Slides back on the horse at Firestone where he finished second in 2015 and added top 20s in the last two editions. It’s all about the comfort level for the three-time winner in 2017-18. With ongoing struggles with putting, he’s evolved into a plucky fit with a semi-regular record of top 20s in 2018. Since 2010 at Firestone, he has six top 15s, including the 2011 title. POWER RANKINGS: WGC-BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL RANK PLAYER COMMENTS Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson, Webb Simpson, Alex Noren, Matt Kuchar and Patrick Reed will be among the notables reviewed in Tuesday’s Fantasy Insider. There may not be a fairer test than Firestone Country Club. Because of its predictability, it’s both the kind of track on which a returning participant can rely on finding his game as well as how it stacks up in real time against the best in the world. With no cut, the mindset is simplified to perform over 72 holes. The stock par 70 tilts at 7,400 yards for the 12th consecutive edition. Large bentgrass greens will run as fast as 12-and-a-half feet on the Stimpmeter, although if the forecast for early-week rainfall holds true, surfaces could be a touch slower. Primary rough is allowed to grow to three inches. Last year’s field of 76 averaged 70.497 on the scorecard, which just about hits the historical bull’s-eye. Hideki Matsuyama equaled the course record of 61 in the final round for a come-from-behind, five-stroke runaway. There’s a perception that Firestone is long even by today’s standards. However, the par-5 16th that tips at a TOUR-long 667 yards boosts the overall yardage disproportionately. The 10 par 4s average just shy of 449 yards. Furthermore, accuracy off the tee is more important than distance, but neither of those two components are as important as hitting the greens in regulation and putting. Nine of the 12 who finished inside the top 10 here last year ranked inside the top 15 in GIR for the week. Seven slotted inside the top 15 in strokes gained: putting. Comparatively, only three who finished inside the top 15 in distance of all drives and just four inside the top 15 in fairways hit were among the top 10 on the leaderboard. This isn’t to say that length is irrelevant; rather, Firestone is a second-shot track where length is bonus at times. Matsuyama finished outside the top 20 in both distance of all drives and accuracy off the tee, but he co-led in greens hit, ranked T2 in proximity and paced the field in strokes gained: tee-to-green (surprise, surprise). The pursuit for the Gary Player Cup will occur in warm and humid conditions. Daytime highs will rise into the upper 80s on the weekend. There is a reasonable chance for rain and storms on Friday. Wind is likely to be a non-factor. Once the last stroke is made, it’ll signify the end of an era for Firestone in its recurring role as host of a PGA TOUR stop. In April, it was announced that the tournament will be relocated to TPC Southwind in 2019. However, as part of a four-year agreement with the PGA TOUR Champions, Firestone will transition into host of the Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship next year. Just in case you were wondering, Woods becomes eligible for the 50-and-older circuit in 2026. ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton reviews and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled. MONDAY: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings (WGC-Bridgestone) TUESDAY*: Power Rankings (Barracuda), Sleepers (WGC-Bridgestone), Facebook Live, Fantasy Insider WEDNESDAY: One & Done (WGC-Bridgestone), One & Done (Barracuda) THURSDAY: Champions One & Done * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO, which also publishes on Tuesdays.

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Editor’s note: Stewart Cink will receive the Payne Stewart Award presented by Southern Company next week during the TOUR Championship. One of his best friends on the PGA TOUR, Ben Crane, pays tribute to this year’s recipient. I met Stewart in 2002 when I was a rookie on the PGA TOUR. I don’t know exactly how we met, whether we were hitting balls next to each other on the range one day or saw each other at the TOUR Bible study or what. But as I got to know him, I was impressed by how he was guided by his faith and committed to his family. He immediately became the person that I wanted to emulate in the way I played golf, the way I loved on other people and the way I love my family.    He’s always been there for me. I remember at THE PLAYERS Championship the following spring, I shot 79 in the first round. I was basically a mess. I was down on myself. I was wrestling with fear. I wasn’t feeling good about my game at all. So I decided to call Stewart. As we talked, he didn’t make me feel like there was something wrong with me.  He just affirmed that this is very natural and he told me to remember that my identity is not golf, right — it’s in who God says I am. He said that God made me and loves me and when you’re experiencing fear, you’re thinking about yourself. Stewart told me he’d had similar feelings. And it was like wow, you, too?  You’re a legend out here, you’ve had so many wins and such a great career. I’m like, wow, even him. So, his words of encouragement really lifted me up. I went out there in the second round and shot 68, and even though I missed the cut, I felt so much more positive. He walked me through it successfully and honorably, and as luck would have it, we got paired together the next week in the final round of the BellSouth Classic. I actually ended up winning that week, and I attribute a lot of that to Stewart’s words of encouragement. I really do. Another thing about Stewart is that he’s really funny. He’s witty and self-deprecating in a welcome-you-in kind of way. Stewart brings out the silly side in us and he can make the smallest little Curb-Your-Enthusiasm thing, like, so funny. I don’t know anyone on TOUR who doesn’t love Stewart — and trust him, too. That’s why he’s been elected to the TOUR’s Policy Board so many times. He just seems to have time for everybody. And if you ever want to have a good conversation with him, ask Stewart about barbecue. He LOVES that. I just got a Big Green Egg, so when I grilling something, I always text Stewart and his coach Mike Lipnick for pointers. They’re so good, they’ve won real barbecue competitions. I mean, they’re the masters. You know, it’s interesting. Stewart loves the game, but his No. 1 goal in life is not to be a better golfer. That can easily get away from us out here. We can get so focused on it and 9 out of 10 people in our lives refer to us in terms of golf, too.  You can lose yourself in that. But Stewart has done a great job of seeking his identity in the Lord and it shows.  And then there’s his family; his wife Lisa, who is a really spectacular person, and their two sons. The way he talks about them and always makes time for them is something special. The boys are grown now, but he used to go home so he could watch the boys play hockey. My wife Heather and I are always kind of looking to them to see how they’re managing this life — as players, we’re on the road 20 or 30 weeks a year, and our family is probably only out five, six times. It’s a challenge and the two of them have made the best of it. Stewart just loves Lisa so much, too. Obviously, that was shown pretty publicly when she was diagnosed with cancer. He’s like, golf, this means very little to me. Heather and I have had some very tender moments with them as couples post-diagnosis, talking about the meaning of life. It’s just sweet to watch them draw closer to the Lord, draw close to each other and he’ll tell you his marriage is stronger than ever because of it. He was the first person I asked who wasn’t a pastor to teach at our Bible study group. It’s fun to hear players and how they’re walking out their faith on TOUR. He spoke and it was so great. We were immediately like, would you speak again? He just talks about his own struggles and his own fears and it’s just honest. It’s very easy to present a false sense of self but it takes a man to be really honest.  Stewart does a great job of this in my opinion, and it just welcomes people in. He is a really special person and I can’t think of anyone better to receive the Payne Stewart Award.

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