Rory McIlroy misfires in final group again

The annual Champions Tree Planting Ceremony for the Sentry Tournament of Champions took place on Wednesday, January 5 at The Plantation Course at Kapalua. The ceremonial tree planting tradition was implemented during the 2020 Sentry Tournament of Champions to mark the beginning of the Champions Garden located within the Pu’u Kukui Watershed Preserve on Maui. The ceremony included 2021 defending champion, Harris English, and Ritz-Carlton, Maui Kapalua Cultural Advisor, Clifford Naeole, who performed a Hawaiian blessing during the ceremony before the tree was taken to Pu’u Kukui to be planted in the Champions Garden. The Pu’u Kukui Watershed Preserve is the largest private nature preserve in the state of Hawai’i. Extending more than 9,000 acres on Maui’s West side, the pristine area is home to some of the rarest endangered flora and fauna in the islands and a vital water source for Maui’s community as well as one of the wettest spots on earth with over 400” per year. “Learning about the tree and the community and what it means to everyone that this tournament comes here, and for Sentry to be part of this is amazing,” said English following the ceremony. “I can come here for years and years and hopefully bring my kids or grandkids and get to see the tree and just be a part of this community.” A small team of conservationists are passionate about preserving Hawai’i’s precious ecosystems and ensuring the safety of the water source. These ongoing preservation efforts, including the Sentry Tournament of Champions annual tree planting ceremony, ensure the continued health and safety of these precious natural resources for generations to come.

Click here to read the full article…

Australian golfer Lucas Herbert completed a wire-to-wire victory at the Irish Open on Sunday, shooting 4-under 68 in the final round to win by three strokes.

Click here to read the full article…

NAPA, Calif. — Bryson DeChambeau hasn’t had much chance to get familiar with his wedge after changing to a graphite shaft this week. The Northern California native certainly looked comfortable enough Friday as he attacked pin after pin to surge up the leaderboard at the Safeway Open. DeChambeau shot a bogey-free 8-under 64 on Friday to take a two-shot lead in the Safeway Open. DeChambeau had a 12-under 132 total at Silverado Country Club. The 26-year-old matched two others for the best round of the day and was in line to extend his lead, but left a 20-foot eagle putt short on No. 18. “It’s always fun to come out and play to the potential you know you can,” DeChambeau said. “The greens got a little bumpy this afternoon but they’re still rolling nice enough to make some putts. I was able to control my line, control my speed and have a couple of them drop in.” DeChambeau missed the cut at the season-opening event at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier, didn’t play in last week’s Sanderson Farms Championship and got off to a slow start this week with an opening-round 68 that left him four shots back. After beginning the second round with four consecutive pars, DeChambeau birdied No. 5, sank a 35-footer for birdie on No. 6, then had a tap in for another birdie on No. 8. He opened the back nine with three straight birdies, made another birdie on No. 14 then closed with a final birdie on 18. “I knew if I could go work on my swing like I did yesterday and come out and feel comfortable like I did today, I’d come out and shoot a low number,” DeChambeau said. Nick Watney was second after a 65. Watney needed just 22 putts to complete his round and stay within range of DeChambeau. “(The greens) are getting a little bit crispy right now, but they rolled pretty pure for me,” Watney said. Justin Thomas made nine birdies and matched DeChambeau with a 64 that left him tied with Nick Taylor (66), Dylan Frittelli (65), Adam Long (68) and Cameron Champ (68) at 9 under. First-round leaders Adam Scott and Andrew Landry tumbled down the leaderboard. Scott struggled off the tee most of the afternoon and shot a 73 to fall into tie for 14th at 6 under. Landry shot 74 and drop to 5 under. A few big names won’t be playing over the weekend. Phil Mickelson shot 69 but was doomed by an opening 75 that included a quadruple bogey. Defending champion Kevin Tway bogeyed the final hole for a 72 to miss the cut by a stroke. “The way I see it, there were eight par 5s and I’ve got to play those 4 to 6 under par to have a chance to win,” Mickelson said. “I played them 4 over. So there’s eight to 10 shots right there on simply the par 5s. It tells me that some areas are OK, but that’s the area that I’ve got to improve on.” Tony Romo, the former NFL quarterback and current CBS analyst, also missed the cut, following an opening 70 with a 78. If he had made the cut, he planned to skip Sunday’s NFL broadcast in Chicago between the Bears and Minnesota Vikings.

Click here to read the full article…