Rehearsing jokes, sleepless nights: Tour players’ tales of the first time playing with Tiger

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NICHOLASVILLE, Kentucky – No one told Tom Lovelady he wasn’t fun to be around anymore. “People are still rooming with me this week,â€� he said with an easy smile. “Must not be too miserable.â€� But even so, Lovelady knew he needed an attitude adjustment. He was letting the bad shots get to him and the missed putts gnaw at him. It was counterproductive, and he knew it. “I finally said, I’m sick of it,â€� Lovelady reported. “I don’t care what bad breaks I’m going to get, I’m going to live with it because everybody else gets the same. “Really just came from inner belief and motivation.â€� His new mindset has paid dividends this week at the Barbasol Championship. Lovelady made four straight birdies starting at the 14th hole on Saturday en route to a 65 that left him 18 under and tied atop the leaderboard heading into the final round. Lovelady, who will be looking for his first TOUR victory, has plenty of company at the top. He’s tied with Robert Streb, who matched the day’s low round of 63; the resurgent Hunter Mahan, who had a 64, and Troy Merritt, who had a 69 and set the first- and second-round pace. Lovelady, who played at Alabama with Justin Thomas and Trey Mullinax, is hitting on all cylinders at Keene Trace Golf Club this week. He ranks first in driving distance, second in Strokes Gained: Around the Green and No. 1 in Strokes Gained: Total. So Lovelady – who turns 25 on Monday — knows he’s doing something right, and he hopes to keep things on an even keel for the final round. “Just treat each shot for what it’s worth, and if you hit a bad shot just go get up and down,â€� he said. “I think that that’s the mindset that I’ve had this week. It’s just been really good for me. “Past few weeks I’ve struggled. Just been tired and I’ve kind of let that get me. I just got fed up with it. Mentally this is one of the better weeks that I’ve had and it’s shown, and looking forward to tomorrow.â€� NOTABLES Amazing what a little bit of job security can do for a guy. Sam Ryder earned some last week when he tied for second at the John Deere Classic, moving from 148th to 115th in the FedExCup in the process. He came to Kentucky a little more relaxed, as a result, and after Saturday’s 63, his seventh consecutive in the 60s, Ryder has a chance to win his first PGA TOUR event. “It’s given me a lot of confidence,â€� Ryder said after the bogey-free round at Keene Trace. “And also there’s a little bit of a monkey off my back in terms of the pressure of trying to keep my job for next year. So it’s allowed me to play a little more freely and just kind of trust my game.â€� Ryder will start the final round at 17 under and one stroke off the lead. He was looking forward to the late tee time, too, after having to play 36 holes on Saturday. “I can feel it in my legs and hips and stuff,â€� Ryder said. “I’m definitely in need of some rest going into tomorrow. But when you start making a bunch of birdies and you get 7, 8, 9-under, a little bit of adrenaline will carry you through those last few holes. QUOTABLES A lead is — it’s kind of a false word or leading you in the wrong direction because you’re going to play somuch golf tomorrow and there are going to be so many fluxes and you’re going to need all 18 holes to try to pull away from these guys.Probably a fan’s paradise. Everybody is going to have a chance at it. Probably come down to who is hitting them close and making the putts. SUPERLATIVES Lowest round: Robert Streb, Sam Ryder and Blayne Barber each shot 9-under 63s. Longest drive: Tom Lovelady had Nos. 1 and 2 in this category. He hit one 371 yards on the 14th hole and 349 on No. 13. Hardest hole: The ninth hole, a 421-yard par 4, played to an average of 4.096 with nine birdies, 50 pars, 12 bogeys and two double bogeys. Easiest hole: The sixth hole, a 516-yard par 5, played to an average of 4.178 with three eagles, 54 birdies, 16 pars and just four bogeys. SHOT OF THE DAY

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The second leg of the FedExCup Playoffs takes place this week from Caves Valley in Maryland at the BMW Championship. The top 70 in the standings qualified, and the field is stacked with stars. Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Cantlay share the lead with many big names chasing them. Sunday is the final round for golfers to make it into the top 30 of the FedExCup standings and earn themselves a tee time at East Lake for the TOUR Championship. Here’s everything you need to know to follow the action, including Featured Groups for PGA TOUR LIVE. Leaderboard Full tee times HOW TO FOLLOW Television: Thursday-Friday, 3 p.m.-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday, 12 p.m.-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3 p.m.-6 p.m. (NBC). Sunday, 12 p.m.-2 p.m. (Golf Channel), 2 p.m.-6 p.m. (NBC) PGA TOUR LIVE: Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. (Featured Groups). Saturday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. (Featured Groups), 3 p.m.-6 p.m. (Featured Holes). Sunday, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. (Featured Groups), 2 p.m.-6 p.m. (Featured Holes). Radio: Thursday-Friday, 1 p.m.-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 1 p.m.-6 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com/liveaudio). TOURCast: Get shot-by-shot info in real time with shot tracks and video with TOURCast. TOUR Pulse: Get the PGA TOUR app to utilize TOUR Pulse, which provides users the ability to experience a mix of content, such as video highlights, written hole summaries and stat graphics on every player after every hole they complete. FEATURED GROUPS Collin Morikawa, Max Homa (Tee times) Jordan Spieth, Kevin Streelman (Tee times) MUST READS Polar opposites Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Cantlay face Sunday showdown Wild ride for Bryson DeChambeau leaves him tied with Patrick Cantlay at BMW Championship FedExCup update: Rory McIlroy keeps FedExCup and BMW Championship dreams alive Bryson DeChambeau narrowly misses historic 59 Recovery to play huge role as hot, humid conditions hit BMW Championship Storm remnants bring preferred lies into effect for BMW Championship Five things about Caves Valley The 15 best moments in FedExCup Playoffs history

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