R&A denies report British Open will be canceled

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico - Andy Ogletree doesn't remember writing the note. But he's quite happy he kept it. As a third-grade student in Mississippi, Ogletree penned a note to himself regarding life and career aspirations. In the note - dated February 20, 2008 - he said he wanted to become a pro golfer because "they make a lot of money" and "they also get to travel a lot." This week, Ogletree gets his first chance to make money as a professional golfer. After finishing T34 at the Masters (gaining entry via the 2019 U.S. Amateur title), the Georgia Tech alum announced his decision to turn pro on November 19 - sharing his third-grade note via a Twitter post. Ogletree will compete in this week's Mayakoba Golf Classic presented by UNIFIN on a sponsor's exemption, and he'll aim to earn enough non-member FedExCup points this season to earn either TOUR Special Temporary Membership or a spot in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. "One of my best friends growing up, his mom was my third-grade teacher. She was going through some old files and cleaning out some of her storage, and she came across a letter that I wrote in 2008," said Ogletree in explaining the note's origins. "She gave it to my mom. My mom's also a schoolteacher at our local school, so she was like, ‘Hey, I think you might want to have this.' "This was a couple of years ago ... my mom framed it, put it in my room knowing that one day I would be a professional golfer, and she's like, ‘This is going to be super cool.' Super fortunate that she kept that letter, but it was definitely a cool way to announce turning professional." Ogletree graduated from Georgia Tech this past May with a degree in business administration, and now lives in Atlanta with TOUR member Vincent Whaley, a fellow Georgia Tech alum. The 22-year-old gleans insight on TOUR life from Whaley and fellow Yellow Jacket alums like Stewart Cink, Chesson Hadley and Matt Kuchar, among many others. "I feel comfortable asking any of them for tidbits or advice that I might want to know about," Ogletree said. Beginning this week, he strives to channel that advice as a touring pro. And his third-grade self is smiling.

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Gary Woodland shot an 11-under 61 to tie the course record Friday and join Marc Leishman in a share of the second-round lead at the CIMB Classic. Woodland and Leishman (62) were at 14-under 130 on the revamped TPC Kuala Lumpur West course. Woodland’s bogey-free nines of 30-31 matched the 61 that Justin Thomas shot while winning the event in 2015, his first of two titles in a row in Kuala Lumpur. Shubhankar Sharma (64) and Paul Casey (65) were tied for third, one stroke behind. Both golfers had stretches of four birdies and an eagle in five holes. First-round leader Bronson Burgoon shot 69 and was two strokes behind, tied with Scott Piercy (67) and Austin Cook (68). Thomas shot 69 and was five strokes behind. Defending champion Pat Perez closed with a birdie to shoot 69 and was nine strokes off the lead. Ernie Els shot 72 and was 10 strokes behind. There is no cut in the 78-player field.

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Alex Noren (+275 for a Top 20) … Golf fans in the United States can be spoiled by international talent, specifically among the contingent that pulls double duty on the DP WORLD Tour. For every household name from Europe, there are many more who have tried once and haven’t returned. It’s even more challenging without picking off a PGA TOUR victory at some point, but the Swede has cracked the code. Now in his fifth consecutive season on this circuit, he’s all but desisted from jetting to his home continent for playing opportunities. It’s in part due to drifting outside the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking as the 2019-20 season began, but he’s also connected with consistently strong form. In a phrase, less is more. The 39-year-old now is creeping up on the top 50 once more (at 56th) thanks most recently five top 20s in his last 10 starts. He’s also cashed twice in three tries at Muirfield Village with a personal-best T13 last year. Lanto Griffin (+500 for a Top 20) … When you associate his surname to these parts, he’s not the Griffin who rushes to mind. In fact, he’d have to prevail probably in at least three consecutive editions of the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday to begin to share even a fraction of a breath with the default reference to Archie Griffin. The former running back at Ohio State remains the only two-time winner of the Heisman Trophy (1974, 1975). But hey, Lanto didn’t pick that fight, and he’d be elated with even one title at Muirfield Village where he’s making his third straight appearance. He’s gathered momentum of late with a four-bagger that was sparked by a T15 in Mexico and a T6 in the testing conditions at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm. His skill set of improved play closer to the cup is in direct correlation to this week’s challenge. Pat Perez (+400 for a Top 20) … At 104th in the FedExCup, the 46-year-old is poised to qualify for the Playoffs for the 14th time in 15 opportunities. The only time he’s missed is when he sat out the last two-thirds of the 2015-16 season to recover from surgery on his left shoulder. He set up his latest chance with consecutive top 10s on the West Coast Swing where he’s always done damage, but he’s missed only two of 10 cuts since. Now he’s fresh off a stretch-best T12 at Colonial where he led the field in total distance of putts converted. Since 2008, he’s 10-for-10 with four top 25s at Muirfield Village. Stretching for a top 20 now is aggressive, so consider a complementary consideration for a top 40. C.T. Pan (+333 for a Top 20) … Although it can stretch beyond 7,500 yards, Muirfield Village is equal opportunity for all performers. One does not need to send it off the tee to contend, or even prevail, but the 30-year-old holds his own with the driver despite ranging to just 5’6”. He hasn’t sniffed the leaderboard in three prior appearances, but he hasn’t slammed his trunk – sorry, it’s 2022 – depressed the button on the key fob to lower the liftgate, either. Now, he’d have his hands full with the monster pair of par 4s to close out a final round for victory, but reduce your expectation for a top 40, anyway. Since finishing ninth at Riviera three months ago, he’s 8-for-9 with four top 40s and three others for which he was exactly one shot too many to finish inside that bubble. Danny Willett (+650 for a Top 20) … His membership exemption for winning the 2016 Masters expires in just two months, and he’s currently 155th in the FedExCup, so we’re going to learn, as will he, what the 34-year-old Englishman is made of with the clock ticking. Muirfield Village is positioned to help as he’s perfect in three trips with a scoring average of exactly 72 (that includes an 82 among the 12 rounds). He’s not quite simmering upon arrival but he’s cashed in eight of his last 10 starts worldwide, including a T12 at the Masters and a T16 at the British Masters that he hosted four weeks ago. Odds were sourced on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. For live odds, visit BetMGM.

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