Putter switch propels Scottie Scheffler to closing 62 at Mayakoba

If there’s one thing Roy Williams loves almost as much as he loves basketball, it’s golf. Williams didn’t start playing the game seriously until he was in college after a stint on the freshman team at North Carolina convinced him that coaching, not playing basketball was in his future. But he needed a competitive outlet, and golf was it. Williams learned the sport by reading instructional magazines and watching golf on TV, trying to emulate swings like that of his favorite player at the time, Arnold Palmer. The game he once thought was “silly,” when he lived across from Asheville Municipal as a kid soon got its hooks into him. Williams, who retired on April 1 with 903 wins and three NCAA titles as head coach at Kansas and North Carolina, has played with the likes of Michael Jordan and Tom Watson and President Barack Obama. His happiest games, though, are still with his regular group that his calls his Fox Hole buddies. The Basketball Hall of Famer played Augusta National two days before he announced his retirement, although he admits his mind wandered. He’s a member at Pine Valley and Quail Hollow and Pinehurst, among others, and is the first to tell you he’s been “spoiled rotten” by the opportunities he’s had. “For me, if they’ve got smooth greens and grass on the fairway, it’s a great golf course,” says Williams, who carries a single-digit handicap that will likely improve as he plays 3-4 times a week in retirement. “But those legendary courses are awful fun to play. “But if my buddies were in Asheville and they called and said, let’s go to Muni this afternoon, I’d be right there with them.” On Wednesday – which is Roy Williams Day at the Wells Fargo Championship — Williams plays with UNC football coach Mack Brown, former Kansas golfer Gary Woodland and Wake Forest’s Will Zalatoris in the pro-am at Quail Hollow. He recently spent more than 45 minutes on the telephone talking about his favorite memories in the game. Here’s an edited version of that conversation. All my buddies think I’m outright crazy, competitively. And I don’t think so. I just think it’s a normal thing. One of my assistant coaches was trying to get his keys out to open the door and I got mine out quicker and put it in and said, ‘Beat ‘cha.’ He said, ‘I didn’t know it was a competition.’ I said, ‘Everything’s a competition.’ But it was the challenge of golf. I love being outdoors and it was very, very hard. And so, I loved it. I made one of the best decisions I ever made my first year as a coach in high school. I was going to be an assistant football coach and the head basketball coach. And the principal said, ‘Roy, I hate to do this, but I really do need you to coach a spring sport, too, because we’re short on coaches.’ And I said, ‘Well, what sport are you thinking about? He said, ‘I’ll give you a choice, baseball or golf.’ And I played baseball from the time I was 11 years old on and everything I remember about the coaches are awfully positive things, except for one thing. I remember them lining off the field and dragging the field and picking up pebbles, but I’ve never seen a golf coach mow a green. So, I told the high school principal, I said, ‘I’d like to coach the golf team. And he asked me if I could beat one of the other coaches who also wanted to be the golf coach. And I said, yes. And so, I became the golf coach.’ When Michael (Jordan) was playing here I was one of the first guys, if not the first, I really don’t remember exactly who was first, but I had him out there hitting balls. And I’ll never forget this. And you’ve heard a story about him breaking Davis Love’s driver the week of the NCAAs, I think. And then I think Michael, in the spring of ’84, when he decided to go pro I had him play with me and I think it was the first tournament he ever played in at Chapel Hill Country Club. And over the years we played several rounds. Some of them were very memorable. The best group I could ever imagine playing if you’re a basketball guy was me, Michael Jordan, David Robinson, John Stockton and Charles Barkley, we played a fivesome at the original Dream Team practice out in California because I was coaching a group of eight college kids that were scrimmaging against the Dream Team. And so, we’d practice and then we went to play golf. But first day we went, that’s who it was — me, Michael, John Stockton, David Robinson, and Charles Barkley. Oh my gosh. How could any basketball person do any better than this? Michael was the best player. Michael and I, John Stockton’s pretty good, too. They’re a little better than David and Charles, but Charles was much better at that time. He didn’t have the hesitation in his swing at that time. He really didn’t. I mean, he would shoot 80 to 85 and he was fine. It was fun. We did have some bets. And I think we were rotating partners, every six holes kind of thing. But then Charles was after David Robinson the entire time. And all of a sudden, finally, David agreed to a bet, so he was going to play Charles for $5 on the last hole. And so, when we were on the tee, Charles Barkley started yelling, ‘Hey, everybody, David Robinson’s gambling.’ But we didn’t play for that much money, but there was some money that changed hands. I guess it was the day I retired, Michael and I were visiting on the phone and he was saying so many nice things. And I would say nice things about him and how much I appreciated his help and support over the years. And then I said, one other thing. I said, Michael, when I get a chance, I’m coming to your course and I am not paying. He just laughed. We’ve had some fun with the golf over the years. We called it the Doug Moe Invitational. Doug had been a great player at North Carolina and played professionally, coached in the NBA and Doug would do the invitations and we’d go down (to Pinehurst) and play. And it was it was tremendous amount of fun, and it was more high dollars than I would normally play for but so much fun. And a quick one — it will show you how crazy times were. We were at Country Club of North Carolina, I think it was, a car pulls up and two little boys, jump out, go run across, up to the first tee, two pieces of paper and get Michael to autograph them. They ran right by three people, got Michael’s autograph, turned around and ran back to the car. The three people that were standing with Michael on the tee box were Dean Smith, Jerry West, and Dr. J — and they didn’t even ask any of those people for their autographs. They got Michael’s and got back in the car. As for the most nervous I’ve ever been, it’s one of the Doug Moe Invitational deals. We’d have a Ryder Cup contest, and it was all tied at the end. So, they picked me and one other guy to go out and play on this one hole for $300. And it wasn’t just my $300, it’s the other, I think there were 12 guys on these teams, so for the other 11 guys. So that was a little bit pressure. But no, I’ve been really fortunate. I could play with Michael and Coach Smith and people like that. A couple of years back, three years back, I guess, the year that Jason Day won the tournament in Charlotte, I told everybody that both of us birdied 17 and hit the same club. I hit my 7-iron from 155 and he hit his 7-iron from 210, I think it was, but I did knock it in from about 40 feet off the back of the green in the hole for a birdie. So, I told everybody Jason Day and I both birdied at 17 with the same club. But I will tell you that, I guess for a split second, I was a little nervous, September 21st, 2019. I got a chance to play with President Obama and it was really fun. … Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Maryland. We played 18 — me and him played two of his guys that worked for him, some younger guys, I called them young pups. I said we’re going to take on the young pups. … He called ‘em young pups the rest of the day. But we were on like 15 and he said, Coach, I heard about you playing so fast. You’re dragging us around. He says, we may have time to play nine more, do you want to play nine more? I said I’m in. I’d seen a recruit at 7 a.m. that morning. So, I’d already got some work done. So, we played 27. I guess when he was trying to become the Democratic nominee, it was the spring of 2007 and he came on his campaign through Chapel Hill. And then one of his guys that worked for him was a friend of one of the guys on my team. He loved to play little pick-ups, so we played. We set it up in the Smith Center in the practice gym where my entire team got to play pickup with President Obama. And it was great. And he was so gracious to all those kids. It was really an inspirational thing to me. And I really liked him to begin with, just loved the way he treated me, my team, all that kind of stuff. And so, then he became President and then he picked us to win the championship on the bracket on national television in 2009 and we did win, so then we went to the White House. And then he was campaigning in ‘15, I guess it was fall of ’15, for Hillary (Clinton). … And he was there and asked to say hello to my team again. We took a team picture and he said, how’d you play this summer? I said, not bad. I’d love to play with you one day. He said, let’s make that happen. And so that year he came over and watched us play Duke at Duke. And it was the famous Zion Williamson blow-out shoe game. And he came to our locker room before the game and went to Duke’s locker room and the whole bit. And so, the same guy that had helped set up the pick-up game was still working for him. And I said something to him, and he said, no, if he said that, he said he means it. And so, I got in touch with him, and we set it up. I gave him any day that ended in a Y and any number that was less than 31. He could pick any month, any day, and I’d make it happen kind of thing. But it was one of the great rounds that I’ve ever played just for enjoyment. I was just so awestruck about how he treated everybody. And it was just a great, great day for me. Not too many people know that. I mean, they really don’t. I’ve got a picture of me and President Obama when we finished, but none of the sports writers, I never gave them that information about playing with him that fall or anything like that. … It was like playing with my buddies and yet he was President of United States. Well, I think that’s what golf does. I really believe that. I mean, golf allows people of different backgrounds, different ages, different everything to enjoy being out there on the golf course, playing that game. And I think that’s part of the beauty of playing golf. People have asked me if I had a fantasy foursome and I’m being very sincere. I say, no, I don’t because the most fun I have playing golf is playing with my buddies. So, if it were me, if I could choose a group to play with, it would be my regular buddies. And that’s what I love more than anything. I’ve always said I don’t care that much for business golf at all. When I’m out there, I’m trying to beat their butts. And that’s what Coach Smith loved, too. We loved to play with each other, and he’s been known to make a few wagers, to say the least. I was his partner a lot. And we had, we had a great deal of fun beating Bobby Knight and his partner on two different occasions. And Coach Smith loved that part of it, too. Best score at Augusta National was 77. So, we started on 10. I played pretty well and get to the seventh tee and I’m 2 over. I hit a good drive and hit my second shot and the caddie said, Coach, that’s eating it up. And the pin was stuck left behind the bunker and it buried in the top of the bunker and I had to hit it out sideways and knocked it up on the back. Walk off there, made 7, but then I parred eight, nine for 77. But I love it. It’s a challenge. And when they Tiger-proofed it, they Roy-proofed it, too. There’s a lot of guys named Roy that don’t shoot the scores they did there at one time either. I had made the decision (to retire) and I was trying to just get my mind off of it. But I would hit a shot and then I’m walking down to the next shot and I’m still thinking about what I’m going to say on Thursday. So that was the most difficult two rounds of golf at one of the greatest places in the world (Augusta National) to be enjoying golf. And usually, I lose myself into the golf round, but as I say, I knew what was coming on Thursday and I felt comfortable with the decision, but what was I going to say? How was I going to say it? Was I going to remember to thank everybody? Was I going to make it something that I would feel good about the way I announced it? So, my mind was straying off the golf course quite a few times. The reason I was giggling was because that’s the silliest Roy Williams being Roy Williams. Yes, we went to Scotland in 2010. We had a great time. We played 36 a day for six straight days and just loved it. … When we got to St. Andrews they had a lottery going. So, there were eight of us … and they picked four of us to play and the other four would be playing on the New Course. … And I was one of the names that got pulled that could play The Old Course. …. I said, no, if all eight of us can’t play, none of us will play. And so again, later that night, I told the other three guys who were also chosen. They were mad at me, but it was just Roy Williams. … It’s who I am because team stuff has always been the most important thing to me in my life outside of my family. … And so, looking back on it, I made a lot of bad decisions, but that’s kind of ranked up there. It’s the second worst golf decision I’ve ever made. The worst? Oh, this one’s easy. We lose in ‘92, the NCAAs. I’m at Kansas and a car dealer had a place out in Palm Springs. And another friend of mine had a place in Palm Springs. So, Wanda and I went out there just to hang out and spend a couple of days. The other guy I’m playing with is Russ Meyer, the CEO of Cessna, who was a Kansas guy and was really a great friend to me. We’re on like on No. 16. And the plane comes over the course and he said, that’s Arnie. And I said, what do you mean? He said, yes, Arnold Palmer. He’s going to have lunch with us. You’ve got to be kidding me. And so we just play in and it was a great day.I made four 2s — I birdied every par 3. Sure enough, Arnold Palmer sits down and has lunch with us. He was sitting right beside me. And I was thrilled. I kept calling him Mr. Palmer. He kept telling me to stop calling him Mr. Palmer. I said Mr. Palmer, I can’t do that. And one time he said, well, Coach, he said, we’re going to play 18 more if these guys are man enough. You going to be able to play with us? And I just died. And I said to him, I said, Mr. Palmer, it’s just my wife and I out here. And she’s back there by herself. And I told her, I was just going to play 18. He said, well, maybe we would get a chance to do it some other time. And so, I go back to the little apartment condo and I tell Wanda immediately what I had done. I thought I was going to get some credit. She said, that’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever done in your life. So that was the dumbest thing in golf that I’ve ever done. I thought I was going to get some credit. I got no credit. All I got was criticism. (Gary Woodland) was in college at a Division II school in Kansas and we played them. There were only four non-Division I teams in the whole state of Kansas. And every year I would play one in an exhibition game and give them money to help their program and one in a regular game to get them. And then the next year I played the other two. So, we’re playing Gary’s team. … And we were really freaking good. And he had to chase Kirk Hinrich around the whole game. The story is that he went to the basketball coach and said, I’ve just realized that basketball is not my future. And after that year, he left and transferred to Kansas to play golf. I played probably 12, 15 rounds with Tom Watson. So, basketball and golf has taken this little kid from Western North Carolina so many places that it’s hard to even imagine. I’m as lucky as you can possibly be. In ’94 the PGA is at Southern Hills in Oklahoma. And I’m walking around with his teacher Stan Thirsk and Tom’s missed a 4-footer, missed a 5-footer, missed a 6-footer. I’d say, gosh, if he could just make a putt, if he could just putt as well as I putt, he’d be in the lead. And Stan Thirsk gave me the greatest compliment ever. He turns to me and said, Roy, if he could putt as well as you putt, he’d have won four more majors. And that was something. … Dana Quigley tried to steal my putter once. He said, no basketball coach can put that well. So, I’ve had some good stories and good times with those guys. I’m as lucky as I can be, and I want to watch them win a hell of a lot more games before I go croak. ‘Cause it’s what I really wanted to do was coach, win a championship and then the next day croak, but it didn’t work out that way because I didn’t feel like I was doing as good a job, but I love watching them. I love the program. What the University of North Carolina and North Carolina basketball did for me, it was off the charts. So, I’m as lucky as I can be and feel good about it.

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The man in the arena at the Puerto Rico Open qualifier was medalist Christian Salzer, who rebounded from a three-putt bogey at the opening hole to card 7-under 64, earning his first career PGA TOUR start. The 23-year-old who turned professional last June had made just one start in a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event, missing the cut at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Astara Golf Championship presented by Mastercard in early February. The North Carolina State alum has mostly tested his game on mini-tours. In his professional debut, he finished T3 at the 2021 Mimosa Open on the GProTour after carding rounds of 64-65-68. He felt like his game had been solid all year, he said, but hadn’t really cashed in until Monday. “Whole lot different than college golf,” Salzer told PGA TOUR Digital after the round. “Pars are good in college, but they don’t cut it in professional golf no matter what level you are. Mini-tours teach you to keep your foot on the gas and keep making birdies.” Salzer, who chalked up eight birdies on Monday, always believed he had the talent to compete on the PGA TOUR. But it has taken time and veteran advice from former North Carolina State golfer and 2010 PLAYERS Championship winner Tim Clark to propel Salzer’s game. “Tim told me something once when we were at his house for a college tournament,” Salzer said. “He said that the club and the golf ball don’t know what the shot is for, or how much it means, or what could go wrong. It resonated with me and put things in perspective. Golf doesn’t change or get harder. No matter the situation, only the player can put the pressure on and make it harder.” Salzer will look to channel that newfound perspective this week as he makes his PGA TOUR debut at the Puerto Rico Open. Patrick Flavin qualified for his second PGA TOUR event of the season after posting a 6-under 65. Flavin’s T17 finish at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship was tied for best for a Monday qualifier this year until Martin Contini’s finish at The Honda Classic last week. Alejandro Tosti tied Flavin at 6-under and will make his PGA TOUR debut at the Puerto Rico Open. Tosti becomes the third Argentinian in the last two weeks to qualify for a PGA TOUR event. The 4-for-1 playoff to decide the last qualifier for the Puerto Rico Open ended on the fourth extra hole when veteran Brett Stegmaier made birdie. His most recent PGA TOUR start came at the 2018 Wyndham Championship, finishing T11. Drew Nesbitt, Brian Carlson and Brian Richey fell just shy of Puerto Rico Open entry via the 4-for-1 playoff. It marked the second consecutive week in which Richey lost in a Monday qualifier playoff, after he competed in last week’s 16-for-1 playoff at The Honda Classic qualifier. Here’s a capsule look at the four Puerto Rico Open qualifiers … Christian Salzer (7-under 64) Age: 23 College: North Carolina State Turned pro: 2021 PGA TOUR starts: 0 Notes: Will make PGA TOUR debut at the Puerto Rico Open … Made Korn Ferry Tour debut at the Astara Golf Championship presented by Mastercard, resulting in missed cut … Played four years of college golf at North Carolina State … Finished senior year with 71.57 scoring average, which was 12th lowest in program history … Prior to North Carolina State, Salzar ranked as the No. 2 junior in the state of South Carolina … Won the 2015 South Carolina Junior Championship … Represented the United States at the 2015 Can – Am Championship. Alejandro Tosti (6-under 65) Age: 25 College: University of Florida Turned pro: 2018 PGA TOUR starts: 0 Notes: Will make his PGA TOUR debut at the Puerto Rico Open … Has two top-25 finishes in three starts on PGA TOUR Latinoamerica this season … Currently No. 18 on Totalplay Cup… Finished inside the top-10 three times in eight events on PGA TOUR Latinoamerica in 2019 … Won the 2019 Termas de Rio Hando Invitational on PGA TOUR Latinoamerica … Turned pro in 2018 … Had already recorded two finishes inside the top-20 on PGA TOUR Latinoamerica as an amateur … Played collegiately at the University of Florida … Was 2017 Golfweek First Team All-America and First Team All-SEC … Made the 2015 SEC All-Freshman Team … Won individual portion of the 2017 SEC Championship at Sea Island, Georgia … Won first and last event while playing for the University of Florida … Represented Argentina at the 2014 World Amateur Team Championship in Japan … Finished T2 with Lucas Herbert in the 2014 Eisenhower Trophy for individual play, three strokes shy of winner Jon Rahm. Patrick Flavin (6-under 65) Age: 26 College: Miami (Ohio) Turned pro: 2018 PGA TOUR starts: 2 Cuts made: 1 Notes: Will make second start of the 2021-22 PGA TOUR season at the Puerto Rico Open … Qualified for the 2021 Butterfield Bermuda Championship and finished T17 … Has made two cuts in three events on the 2021-22 PGA TOUR Latinoamerica … Best finish was 18th at the 115 VISA Argentine Open presented by Macro … Played five events on the 2020-21 PGA TOUR Latinoamerica, recording one finish inside the top-10 at the 61 Abierto Mexicano de Golf … Played 13 events on the 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour, finishing T5 at the Evans Scholars Invitational presented by First Midwest Bank and T10 at the Wichita Open Benefitting KU Wichita Pediatrics … Finished T5 in the Forme Open at TPC River’s Bend and T7 at the Forme Tour Championship on the 2021 Forme Tour … Played 16 events on PGA TOUR Latinoamerica in 2019, winning the Bupa Match Play and finishing inside the top five in two other events (Shell Championship; 66 JHSF Aberto De Brasil) … Two-time Miami (Ohio) Athlete of the Year … Stands No. 658 on the Official World Golf Ranking. Brett Stegmaier (5-under 66; birdie on fourth hole of 4-for-1 playoff) Age: 38 College: University of Florida Turned pro: 2006 PGA TOUR starts: 80 Cuts made: 40 Notes: Puerto Rico Open will be Stegmaier’s first PGA TOUR event since the 2017-18 PGA TOUR season … Played 34 events on the 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour … T11 at Live and Work in Maine Open was best result … Opened 2019 Korn Ferry Tour season with back-to-back finishes inside the top-10 in the Bahamas … Best Korn Ferry Tour finish was second at the 2014 Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by MISTRAS … Played on the PGA TOUR from 2015-16 to 2017-18 … Best finish was T2 at the 2015 Shriners Children’s Open … Stands No. 915 on the Official World Golf Ranking. Notables to fall short of qualifying: Brian Richey, Chase Koepka, Tom Lovelady, M.J. Maguire, Erik Compton, Mickey DeMorat, Jamie Lovemark, Max Sear, Daniel Wetterich, Ben Silverman, Kyle Reifers, Marcelo Rozo, Andrew Svoboda, Andrew Loupe, Nicholas Thompson, Stephen Stallings Jr., Mark Baldwin This week’s Puerto Rico Open qualifiers will aim to build on the momentum cultivated at The Honda Classic last week. Three of The Honda Classic’s four open qualifiers survived the cut. Argentinian Martin Contini was T7 heading into the final round at PGA National (Champion) before finishing T16. It was the best finish by a Monday qualifier so far in 2022. Rick Lamb, who qualified last Tuesday morning after making eagle on the first hole of a 16-for-1 playoff, carried his quality play to PGA National and finished T30. It was his best finish on the PGA TOUR since the 2017 Wyndham Championship. Sam Stevens, medalist at The Honda Classic qualifier, was T19 heading into the final round before carding 4-over 74 and finishing T55. 2021-22 Monday qualifier statistics Top-25s: Martin Contini (T16, The Honda Classic); Grant Hirschman (T17, Sanderson Farms Championship); Patrick Flavin (T17, Butterfield Bermuda Championship) Best finish: Martin Contini (T16, The Honda Classic) Most times qualified: Patrick Flavin (2); Kyle Wilshire (2); Ben Silverman (2) Last event’s qualifier results (The Honda Classic): Martin Contini (T16); Rick Lamb (T30); Sam Stevens (T55); Fabián Gómez (MC) Next PGA TOUR qualifier: Valspar Championship; Southern Hills Plantation Club, March 14

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FedExCup titleholder Justin Thomas returns to the site of last summer’s PGA Championship triumph, headlining a strong field at Quail Hollow Club in the final event before attention turns to THE PLAYERS Championship. Two-time Wells Fargo champion Rory McIlroy and fellow winners Rickie Fowler and Tiger Woods are set to play their first competitive rounds since the Masters. For Woods, it marks his first visit to Quail Hollow since 2012. FIELD NOTES: Newly crowned Masters champion Patrick Reed is back with hopes of building on major momentum – not only from Augusta but his share of runner-up honors at last year’s PGA. … Reigning U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka also tees it up for the second consecutive week after three months off to rest a wrist ailment. … In all, the lineup boasts nine of the top 15 in the world rankings and 14 of the top 25. … Chilean teen Joaquin Niemann, whose first professional start saw him place sixth at the Valero Texas Open, makes his second at Quail Hollow. Though the former world amateur No.1 already had a sponsor invite, he can pocket it for later by virtue of his top-10 finish. … Two entrants have yet to miss a Wells Fargo Championship start – J.J. Henry and Rory Sabbatini. FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 500 points. STORYLINES: Though Thomas isn’t defending champion – Brian Harman is – he’s the last man to win at Quail Hollow when five birdies in his final 12 PGA Championship holes proved enough for victory. He also tied for seventh at the 2015 Wells Fargo. … Woods makes his seventh start of 2018, coming off a share of 32nd at Augusta National. After finishing no worse than 11th in his first four visits to Quail Hollow – including a 2007 win – he’s missed the cut in his past two visits. … Phil Mickelson once again seeks his first Wells Fargo victory, despite 11 top-12 finishes in 14 previous visits. Last year, he placed 18th. … Since the tournament began in 2003, Lucas Glover (2011) is the only man to post all four rounds in the 60s. Last year at Eagle Point GC, no one had more than two sub-70 rounds. … Five of the past eight defending champs have not been around on Sunday, and only McIlroy – fourth in 2016 – has followed up with a top-25 finish. COURSE: Quail Hollow Club, 7,554 yards, par 71. Back in its usual spring slot after a one-year hiatus to host the PGA, Quail Hollow comes back with even more bite than before. With upgrades from Tom Fazio that included three redesigned holes, Quail Hollow took the top spot among 2017’s toughest courses and it wasn’t even close – more than a half-shot tougher than No. 2 Augusta National. Originally laid out by George Cobb in 1961, the course already was known for its “Green Mile� closing stretch annually deemed among the toughest on TOUR. Quail Hollow was the original site of the Kemper Open (1969-79) and later the World Seniors Invitational (1980-89) before Fazio was brought in to get the course ready for the TOUR’s 2003 return. 72-HOLE RECORD: 267, Rory McIlroy (2015). 18-HOLE RECORD: 61, Rory McIlroy (3rd round, 2015). LAST YEAR: Harman made up for a poor chip by curling home a 28-foot birdie putt at Eagle Point’s final hole, capturing a one-shot triumph over Dustin Johnson and Pat Perez. It capped a birdie/birdie finish for Harman, though things didn’t look so optimistic after his attempt to hit the par-5 final green in two went long and left – followed by a chip that just snuck onto the putting surface. The putter saved him, though, watching the ball steam into the hole for a hard-way birdie. When Jon Rahm failed to chip in for eagle moments later, Harman had his second PGA TOUR victory. Johnson was seeking to win his first start since a slip-and-fall mishap forced him to withdraw from the Masters, draining a 15-foot birdie at No. 18 to draw even with Perez. Rahm was alone in fourth, two shots back. HOW TO FOLLOW TELEVISION: Thursday-Friday, 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday-Sunday, 1-2:45 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (CBS). PGA TOUR LIVE: Thursday-Friday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. (featured groups), 3-6 p.m. (featured holes). RADIO: Thursday-Friday, noon-6 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 1-6 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com).

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